A Long Day ........................

Hmmm ... As the topic shows, yea. I had rather a long day today but Alhamdulillah, all were done, perfectly, I must say :)

My day at work started as early as 7am today. We had a short meeting at 7.10am, which was rather 'unclear' as we couldn't really hear what was delivered. But one thing for sure is a Director from our Ministry is coming to our office this Tuesday ~ my birthday :) Then I managed to finish up my paperwork in an hour, which deadline is tomorrow. Luckily I saw the memo or else, I'll be in trouble! A few minutes to my next assignment, I was given another paperwork to do. Alhamdulillah, I managed to do it on time before leaving the office. Phew! I am good!! :p

Without lunch, I had to attend two meetings ~ one at the office, another at the Ministry. By 2.45pm, I sped up to OBBD Department to book a one day trip to Temburong for a camp I am organizing this December. I'll get the cofirmation of the booking by September the, manager said. I hope it'll be confirmed ...

By 3.45pm, I arrived at the Ministry, seeing the officers I work with. Our proposal for Brunei-Singapore Adventure Camp 2008 is finally approved, Alhamdulillah :) The meeting lasted at 5pm. I was starving so I had my late lunch a.k.a. my dinner at Ceri Cafe, at Serusop. People! I love the Cafe Latte with Caramel! :)

Now, I'm going off for a good rest. I should go to bed 'late' tonight! I went to bed early last night but today, I was feeling 'sleepy', maybe cause I am used to 5 hours of sleep. I had to drink coffee at work to keep awake! Last night I went to sleep at 10pm ~ 8 hours of sleep for me. Weird huh! Those who are good in Science, feed me with an explanation to this please :p Thank you, mwahz! :x

AAC VCD :-D

I went to VDC-DVD shops today, actually looking for a Filipino movie "One More Chance" but found AAC instead --> "Ayat-Ayat Cinta" :) Sharul bought the VCD but I keep it at the moment. Why? He's reading the novel now so I want him to finish it first then watch the movie hehe ... Well people, he's NOT stupid so he made me promise NOT to watch it just yet till he finishes reading the book. I got him, he got me back! Cheh! :p

Here's the VCD cover. The one without the scarf is Maria, the one with the 'jilbab' is Aisha and the man is of course, Fahri. They fit the characters described in the novel I must say :)

Sharuuuuuul!!! Finish reading now will ya!!! Ish!!!!

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A Start!

It's just past 11pm now. Today was a fine day. A good start for me entering the world of health and fitness, aiseh! ;) As usual, workloads are piling up. Got memos coming in for up-coming meetings and sharing sessions. I attended a meeting today at Menglait. Lasted for almost two hours, not bad. So I reached home at around 4pm. I didn't have my lunch so I cooked dinner for everyone, which was my late lunch. Mum went home late today. She was exhausted so I just sent her off to the living room so she could watch her Filipino series "Sanay Wala Nang Wakas". She's watched it over and over. One thing I realized is that, Filipino and Korean series are full of drama and romantic story lines. Both are entertaining, and addictive!

Well, back to my health and fitness programme :p So, after a bit of dish, I went out to HB Stadium, did my warm-ups, then some walks. It was my first outdoor exercise (not that I did any indoor :p) and it was a good sight seeing lots of people jogging and walking along the walkways. I am sure I walked at least 2 km today but Sharul insisted on saying we only walked for 1 km :s Dude! It felt like MORE than that! I did a bit of jogging towards the end but I know I can't force myself just yet as I still have my cough and asthma.

After jogging, we went visiting Mamashasha at the hospital. We were there for almost an hour ~ Shasha was there so I lost track of time. Being with her has always been entertaining! After that, we went to Ward 9, visiting Sharul's grandpa who had just been admitted there today. He fell and cut his left chin. A lot of his family members were there so we just stayed for a while.

Next, we went dinner at Matadoe at Beribi. I crave for pastas lately people! I hope it will be over soon or else, all my effort to health and fitness will be wasted!

So, a start to healthy life today and yeah! I have started having oatmeals for breakfast since last Saturday :) I love it and it has sped up my bowel system. Another start of healthy programme --> jogging for an hour, 4 times a week; Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I can do it! Yes I can!! :D Wanna join?? :p

Weekend Joy!!

Today, after Subuh prayer, I couldn't go back to sleep so by 9am I planned to go out to have some breakfast ~ tesliur murtabak ku yoh! Haha. Then my lil sister came to my room telling me about our cousin's Nikah today. Dude! I forgot about that! So yeah, I got ready and by 10am, we reached our uncle's place at OKBI. We met our cuzzies whom we seldom meet. It was nice.

Then we went to Amit Yah's place. I haven't given her the chocolate I bought for her in KK last time. Been so busy that I didn't manage to. There, we all laughed when they told us that they we getting ready to attend our cousin's Nikah, which had just finished. My dad had mistakenly texted Amit Wahab saying that the function was from 10.15 to 12pm. Haha. That's my dad people!! Luckily we went to their house or else, they'd be the only ones going there hehe...

Later at 2pm, I had my foot reflexy and body massage. It was painful but relaxing. I hadn't had my massage for almost a month so yeah, every part of my body was aching. Usually, I have it every two weeks but as I was busy last month, I didn't have the time to do so.

After the massage, I had my late lunch at one of the Pasta Restaurants in Kiulap. Sharul went with me of course! Man! I eat a lot lately! And I think it has to do with HIM too! Cause I am happy everytime I am with him :)

By almost 6pm, we went to Jerudong Beach. I wanted to see the sunset. But then, the parking space was full so off we went to Tungku Beach. I didn't have my camera so I took the sunset pictures using my phone and his phones ~ yea, he has two!

So people, here are some of the sunset pictures we snapped. Just wanna share with you all! :)

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~~~~ Yea I know! Now you know why I love sunset, don't you :) ~~~~

Today!

The day at work was the usual but was a breathe-easy, Alhamdulillah :) In the afternoon, I attended a Hyperstudio Certificate Giving Ceremony in Gadong. I met lots of familiar faces. Apparently, there's going to be a sharing session meeting at the Ministry this Saturday; a sharing session on the course 'The Heroes' and I attended last month. Rumour has it that every participant in the course would be asked to give sharing sessions to other officers in the Ministry. I love the idea actually! I miss working with 'The Heroes'! :)

Before today's function started, Hjh Norral, a friend who was going to receive the certificate too, took me window shopping at Giant The Mall. We had dimsum and milo ping there :p It was nice! After the function, I went to RIPAS Hospital to visit Mamashasha who is now admitted in Ward 11. Alhamdulillah. Her operation went well, for four hours! I took Sharul with me. He has always wanted to get to know Mamashasha, maybe cause I always talk about her everytime we go out. We bought her a tin of oatmeal biscuits and some apples. I also took her certificate on her behalf.

We reached the hospital after 5pm. On the way to the parking lot, I took out my notebook, showing Sharul the video I took on Shasha when I hung out at Mamashasha's place last week. Sharul laughed at Shasha's cute acts and smart gestures :) I wanted to show Mamashasha the video but Sharul disagreed. He said, it's not wise to make a patient who has just had an operation to laugh. So, I left my laptop in the car.

In Ward 11, Mamashasha was sitting in bed with bandage round her neck. Her family was there too. They all smiled seeing us come. She said she might have more than eight stitches this time! Then she showed me the scars she got from the numerous injections. I was speechless looking at them ... I pity her, especially when she told us that it was painful everytime she swallowed.

Sharul was quiet at all time at the Ward. Mamashasha's sister, who was busy sewing her 'baju' asked me about him the moment I sat next to her. Mamashasha and I exchanged look with her question. I think by the time we left, she was telling everyone about me and Sharul. I don't mind! I am proud seen with him :)

Leaving the Ward, Sharul told me what a lovely family Mamashasha has. I am more glad knowing that he likes me being friends with her :) Then she texted me, saying how 'good' me and Sharul look together! I gotta say, I feel ... good too!

Today, I am happy people! 1st, I get the chance to meet The Heroes again soon. Then, Mamashasha is now fine, Alhamdulillah. It's a great relief really! Now, knowing Sharul and Mamashasha are friends, also not forgetting the moments I had with Sharul today. It was ... an amazing feeling ...

This morning, he took my car out to the garage. He never wants me to suffer bringing my car to any garage whenever it is broken or needs servicing. This afternoon, when I picked him up, he told me I looked beautiful today and he felt 'shy' when I waved him from my office's window when he drove off the driveway. When he said all these, I felt ... 'shy' too :)

We had dinner at Charcoal after visiting Mamashasha. It was his first time there and he loved the food. The waitress gave me the wrong order but I took it anyway, not feeling happy but glad putting the poor waitress out of her misery. She apologized for the wrong order and begged me to take the dish instead of cancelling it, saying that her salary was only $10/day and the dish cost more than that. I looked at Sharul and he smiled so yeah, I took the food saying "You owe me one." Sharul was proud of me! :)

Today, I am happy! Yes. Very happy :)

Allah Bless Us All ~ dedicated to Mamashasha

I stayed at home today, went online, updated my blog here then continued reading "Ayat-Ayat Cinta". I have finished reading it a few hours ago, amazingly shed tears towards the end of the story. I started reading it about three weeks ago. Took it everywhere I went, even when vacationing in KK and Miri. The book has taught me a lot about loyalty and faith in Allah and His Holy Al Quran as well as His Rasul Muhammad Salallahu 'Alaihi Wassalaam.

I am a type of girl who loves sharing things that I love or enjoy doing. So since reading the book, I have told everyone about it at work. Now I have a long line of coleagues waiting to borrow it. I have to apologize though cause the first one on the queue is Sharul :) He was there helping me to find the book. So yeah, he deserves to read it first! Sorry people! :p

Now Mamashasha is reading it too. I had been telling her about it and since then I had been helping her to find the book, even looking for it in KK and Miri but without luck! A few days ago, she texted me saying she had found the novel!! I was so happy now that I could share the story with her. Unfortunately, she is now admitted to the hospital and is going to have her operation tomorrow morning. We chatted online today and tonight. I wish her well and hope that everything will be just fine.

Mamashasha is a very close friend of mine outside work. If my close friends at work are the BLA+1, she is my close friend both online and offline. She is funny, mature, understanding, caring and honest. I respect her for that and appreciate her more and more each day. I once told her, "Why didn't we meet earlier? We could be the closest childhood friends ever!" She smiled to that. That's Mamashasha I know. She smiles to something she agrees on and argues to something she thinks wrong while I listen to her every point. Despite her age, 2 years younger than me, sometimes I feel that she is older than I am in some ways.

Now that she's hospitalized, I am worried sick about her. I pray that she'll be fine. She is loved and needed by all; Shasha her lovely daughter, her husband, her family and of course myself. We just know each other for a few months but we are as close as those who have grown up together.

I told her to read "Ayat-Ayat Cinta" whenever she has the time. The book helps build my faith in Allah and His Rasul. I hope it will do the same to her, especially in time she is in at the moment.

Allah bless you Mamashasha. Allah bless us all...

Ayat-Ayat Cinta ~ Love Verses~

Hello people! I am reading a book entitled "Ayat-Ayat Cinta" written by Habiburrahman El-Shirazy, an Indonesian author. A friend of mine has caught my attention on the book, saying how good it is that I finally bought it. Believe it! I had to go to a number of bookstores looking for it! He was right! It's a novel people are crazy about. And now, I am crazy about it! I had to leave it in my car to make me stop reading it!! It's so addictive that I have to stop myself or else I can never have my home-rest after work. Besides, it's a good book that I just don't want to finish it sooner. I am enjoying reading finally people! :p

It's made into movie now and I heard that it's popular back in Indonesia. I haven't watched it, though my mum and the rest of my family have ~ I want to finish reading first! I went online and I found the movie's blurb. I guess you all must be wondering what the book (movie) is about so, read through. You'll get some ideas about it...
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Fahri bin Abdullah is a poor, intelligent student who wins a scholarship to complete his graduate degree at Egypt's esteemed Al Azhar University. Very disciplined and dedicated by nature, Fahri embraces his life in Cairo, completing his studies and translation of religious books with full enthusiasm, exactly according to pre-determined targets.

Only one goal is left unattempted: the pursuit of marriage. For Fahri is innocent and pure, and doesn't believe in the concept of relationships prior to marriage. He is inarticulate and shy around women. All his life, only two women have been close to him -- his mother and grandmother.

Life changes drastically in Egypt for he suddenly finds himself surrounded by four beautiful, distinctly different women.Maria Girgis, a shy, open-minded Coptic-Christian neighbor who is attracted to the teachings of the Holy Al Quran, finds herself falling in love with Fahri (a fact she only reveals to her diary).

Nurul, a student at Al Azhar like Fahri, is the Muslim daughter of a renowned Indonesian cleric. Fahri feels unworthy of her and thus ignores his feelings for her, leaving her confused and guessing.

Noura, an abused Egyptian neighbor, develops strong romantic feelings for Fahri, who in turn simply sympathizes with her situation. His romantic rejection destroys her and eventually leads to a false accusation of rape.

Aisha, a German Turkish student in Cairo haunts Fahri with her beautiful eyes. Following an incident on the metro where Fahri defends her against narrow minded bigoted Muslims, both immediately develop feelings for each other.

As the story unravels, the protagonist makes the audience face the daunting decisions he himself faces, and forces us to marvel at his undying loyalty to the true ideals of Islam as he ultimately makes the choice of a lifetime.

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I'd like to add some more to that...

It's a book that teaches us the value of humanity, peace and equality, not only to the world of the Muslims but also those of others. It teaches us morality through its flowing beautiful story while at the same time showers us with the holy messages taken from the Al Quran and Al Sunnah Salallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam. Readers' minds flow and wonder the true beauty of Islam in this book. It is suitable for all readers, Muslims or non-Muslims.

I do hope it has its English version. I'd love to share it with all so everyone will know that Islam is NOT just a belief. You will know what I mean after reading this book...