Monday, December 22, 2014

Out In the Wild


It has been a long time since I have been to a forest...Well! Nearly like one...Taman Negeri Bukit Panchor, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang... SignALS (Signs of Allah From Science) Programme..half day event.

A highway of huge ants...making their way across the grounds...a giant millipede which curled up as my feet nearly stepped on it, while getting the necessary stuffs from the boot of my car.

The children were so happy. Cute faces, laughing and having a good time...learning about Science. Pondering and reflecting about nature and Greatness of Allah, The Creator..Alhamdulillah...







Concepts of Bernouli’s principle (blowing balloons using some chemical reaction stuff).. Balloons which will not explode even when placed atop a lighted candle, and balloons which act like magnets..recycling from nature craftwork...it was really great!

The half day ended with bangs... balloons exploding here and there...by happy children.

While on our way home, we got the biggest bang. Was driving the car when something suddenly moved on the windscreen. Lo and behold! A snake! (Must have slithered down the branches of trees where I  parked the car in the shades.)

Good thing I did not jam on my brakes. All three of us just screamed our heads off. Seeing a group of Indian men waiting for a wedding feast at a small village, I pulled the car to a stop and sped across the road, leaving my two friends still screaming with fright. I must have sounded very scared because, about 20 or so of them came running to help. A swift blow with a stick and the snake was flung off a nearby ditch.

“Good thing you did not land this car with you in it, in that ditch!” one of the merry men roared with laughter.

We waved goodbye to them frantically..ever so grateful for their concern and kindness...

(No photo was taken..how could we? Our hands were trembling too much!)

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Thank you, Allah…






















It rained last night…yes! Alhamdulillah…

Thank you, Allah...

For an hour or so, it went. Heavy and strong…..

My other half and I were so happy, we went out, to have a feel of the heavenly drops on our heads, even though the clock showed that it was a quarter to midnight…our neighbours might have thought we have gone crazy…we did not care…





















It was such a wonderful sight! Our droopy plants because of the long duration of heat spell, suddenly became alive and swayed in the winds, amid the pitter patter, as though they were enjoying themselves…singing and dancing, full of praises to the Bringer of Life…

This morning, we had a garden breakfast…taking in breaths of fresh air (which days before were affected by the haze).



Last week, we tried or hands on playing badminton (not because someone said something about the game, which became an issue, okay? :-) ) but because we just wanted to loosen our hinges and get our sweats out. But then, only for a few minutes. The sweltering heat pushed us back indoors. But at least we still had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast in the garden.



We moved into this new abode of ours just a little over a year ago. 


Since then, it has given us countless moments of pleasure and serenity…




Talking about the recent bouts in Dengue Fever…This morning, I made some cuttings of the tiny blue flowery fragrant leaved plants which I bought from a flower garden at Sungai Buloh quite some time ago. The lady who sold it said the plant is from China and loves the sun. “It is a natural mosquito repellent, you know?”  

I think I believe her because there are hardly any mosquitoes around the garden here. The cuttings were for my colleagues and friends…easy to propagate. Just place the cuttings in soil and watch the leaves unfold…Insha Allah…they add a vibrant colour to your garden too!



Thank you Allah, once again…for everything…




Saturday, February 22, 2014

............................Hello! I am back!



Salams to all!

 It has been such a long time…really!

Actually, I went into hibernation…to pen a new book then…to transform a Ph.D thesis of a student of mine whom I co-supervised, into a book that a man on the street would be able to digest.

The manuscript was completed in about 4 months. However, all the ding-dongs took a whole lot longer…and I was on the verge of despair…

Then, I vowed that I would not update my blog until I get the book published.

It has been 3 years now…the book is nearly ready to be published…all the red tapes. Plus the difficulty in identifying a capable illustrator. 

Then, there was good news. An excellent illustrator was found! My co-author and I were absolutely thrilled and dumbstruck by the results. We decided that the illustrator deserves some portion of the royalty when the book is out. We were very excited too…because we are nearly there…the dream to see the book on shelves of bookshops. However, at the last minute, after proof reading and looking at the wonderful drawings, some adjustments need to be made…and we still have to wait…too bad! Sad…

So, while playing the waiting game…and seeing an old blogger of mine has suddenly come ‘back alive’ (she has been ‘dead’ for longer then I did (4 years)), I decided to be like her too! To be alive and kickin’….

So, I am sharing this little girl’s blog (my first grandchild Nuha Insyirah Mohd Khalil Izwan, her mum Nusaybah Mohamad Sofian – The Little Storyteller  )…Enjoy!

PS. Not bad for a little nine year old, eh?