It was a really hearty break fast of sumptuous buffet spread for the 1st day of Ramadhan. It was actually a belated treat for my 2 best Cancerian friends, Shaggy and Litsanity...which was long overdue after a few cancellations and postponements...together with the usual suspects, Mr & Mrs Koh & OPS.
Therefore I decided to go light and healthy for my sahur, the pre-dawn breakfast during Ramadhan. I wanted to get cereals of a different kind after a midnite movie but the lousy underground 24hr mart has only the one above but it was actually quite tasty..haha..
One night I heard a knock on my door; Who can it be,I wasn't quite sure. I open the door and am filled with glee; The visitor ahead is no stranger to me.
I welcome the guest with utmost delight; For I know it has come to give me respite. An air of happiness fills the space; My home now seems, a better place!
Have you any clue who this visitor could be? Yes! its Ramadhan,the month of mercy. The pious and righteous can't await its arrival; Others seem to greet it, with waves of denial.
For Allah s.w.t. we fast from dawn to dusk; For Him our breath is the fragrance of musk. The muslims who pray and fast with zest; Are aware of the rewards of this month manifest.
Throughout this month we weep and repent; Now is the time to strongly lament. And those who shun this sacred month; on the Day of Reckoning will face the brunt.
In the last ten nights,hides the Night of Decree; Allah s.w.t then awaits for his slaves to plea. The angels descend with Gabriel a.s. in the lead; To check on the steadfast and record every deed.
A feeling of grief now fills my heart; As the month of Ramadhan will soon depart. So lets make a start and worship Him alone; Now that the worth of this month is known.
It was our 2nd lesson and the topic of discussion for the week was,
THE FUTURE: POST-COLD WAR,
POSTMODERNISM, POSTMARGINALIA
[Playing with Slippery Lubricants]
by
Apinan Poshyananda
It was really a tense and uptight class with an erudite art-historian and well-respected writer, as our tutor. My classmates and I were put at the end of seat throughout our 3 hours tutorial WITHOUT any break wat-so-ever...
Who is Apinan?
Who are the audience of this reading?
What was the Post-Cold War?
What were referred as The Slippery Lubricants?
These were some of the questions that were thrown at us during the tutorial & although we might have the answers..it was really overwhelming just to look into our tutor's eyes..and to form sentences in our head without sounding gibberish when we delivered them to him...hehe..
Well..btw did i tell you that this module deals with Issues in Comtemporary Art in Southeast Asia.
My apartment is a corner corridor unit with a little space next to my door with a metal ladder leading to the roof...well im on the highest floor. Anyway..after class on Friday nite, I found an NTUC trolley being 'parked' at that space next to my unit. They were also some cabinet parts, apparently left for awhile now, after a neighbour at the lower unit renovated their kitchen.
I was pissed.. that i did not do anything when they first appeared & now with the trolley, my neighbours have inconsiderately and slowly turning this space into a store area.
I was pissed.. cos I have seen a toy car, those for 4 years old to sit and 'drive' with their legs.. disposed at the same space before BUT i have kindly brought it down to the garbage area at the void deck.
I WAS EXTREMELY PISSED, that i immediately wrote notes on A4 papers & pasted them on over the trolley and the cabinet parts.
PLEASE THROW THESE AWAY!
THIS IS NOT A STORE AREA!
Well after i returned from my JB trip last nite, the notes were gone..& so was the trolley..apparently some neighbours felt guilty!
Saturday, August 15, 2009 In previous years, my Hari Raya baju will usually be purchased during the last days of Ramadhan, however this year there will definitely be no last minute shopping for me. Last nite, i ambled my way to JB to collect my new bajus...yes i have tailored made 2 pairs of bajus for Aidilfitri 2009, well i am only revealing them on Hari Raya itself..haha..
Anyway..a trip to JB would not be complete without makan & more makan...& with the fantastique exchange rate..everything looked so appetising & mouth watering. I chanced upon the famous XXL chicken cutlet of Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, & its halal..HURRAY!!..& OF COURSE the mandatory shopping! WAJIB!...hahaha
..& i managed to catch G.I.Joe there too..& its only RM$11.00...thats like SG$4.50!!..haha..cheap! cheap!
Friday, August 14, 2009 Last week Friday, was my last day in GSS... after an arduous 6 weeks as a guest-cum-trainee-cum-relief personnel..haha.. Anyway, as part of my last observation and my last class with them, i showed them an MTV by Nickelback entitled 'If Today Was Your Last Day'. It was actually a lesson on MALAPROPISM, but i linked to the song & i instructed the class to write me an email based on the song & what they might do if it was really their last day that day. That was their last assignment. The end results were varied..some were way out-of-the-world ridiculous but most were really earnest and poignant. They really wrote like tomorrow was too late...some rather sentimental & emotional..
Just take a look at the lyrics below & take a listen to the song..
My best friend gave me the best advice He said each day's a gift and not a given right Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind And try to take the path less traveled by That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last Leave old pictures in the past? Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day? Against the grain should be a way of life What's worth the price is always worth the fight Every second counts 'cause there's no second try So live like you're never living twice Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past? Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see? Reminisce old memories? Would you forgive your enemies? And would you find that one you're dreaming of? Swear up and down to God above That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?
If today was your last day Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars Regardless of who you are<>br>
So do whatever it takes 'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life Let nothing stand in your way' Cause the hands of time are never on your side
Thursday, August 13, 2009 The extra room has been vacant since my last tenant left in June. I have many viewers since then..all Koreans - a few students, a teacher and a contract worker..but no taker so far. Anyway, i received an enquiry this afternoon..from a young lady who showed interest in renting my room...although i was actually looking for a male housemate. She immediately sent me a foto of 2 gerls in skimpy midriff tank top. And when i asked her what are those fotos ..she replied that those are the 2 gerls that were interested in my room.
I told her I was looking for a male tenant cos it would be inconvenient to have a woman..or in this case 2 women, living with a single young man. I also added that I am a Muslim- has she not heard of the term 'khalwat' ?
Guess what was her reply? "..but we dont mind!"
I rather sleep alone for now..then stay with these 2 bimbos...haha!..can faint..
Monday, August 10, 2009 My ex-cadets have decided to celebrate our nation's 44th birthday at my place with a mini steamboat that refuse to work at the last minute .. I had to replace it immediately as i did not want to disappoint them after they came with bags loaded with food. All dressed in red or white, it was the dress code of the evening, as we watched the NDP09 & @8.22pm we stood up & took the pledge with full of pride..proud to be a Singaporean.
Sunday, August 9, 2009 Went to another wedding yesterday afternoon...well its not JUST another wedding BUT...but thats a different entry altogether...haha...
It was a long journey to the east for the wedding..missed a bus but took the wrong bus instead..& wasted precious minutes waiting for another...half of my Sunday was gone..
As i was saying to someone after the wedding...its like an expecting mom-to-be having to travel a long and out of the city route to satiate a craving..HAHA..
Yesterday during the National Day celebration, the school has allocated 2 hours in the earlier part of the morning to fold the crane for the 'Rice that Binds' Charity Drive. Our class did our part and proudly managed to fold 3050 paper cranes ..which equates to 305000 grams of rice ..HURRAY!! Well..it was also my last day in the school..
IT is Called the Rice that Binds, Tong Seng Produce will donate 100 grammes of SongHe Rice to North West for every crane folded. The rice will be given to residents under the CDC's food ration scheme.
My practicum school has decided to embark on this charity drive by involving the whole school as part of the National Day celebration. Yesterday was the trial..a practise of sort..hehe
Thursday, August 6, 2009 They listened attentively. They did their work conscientiously. The finished their homework promptly. They participated actively. They are a bunch of 15 years old with mammoth aspirations & equally gigantic dreams. It was a privileged to share and exchange knowledge with all of you.
GOOD LUCK in your coming SA..and all the very best for your O levels next year...
IT was supposedly to be a week of rest and tranquility, as we prime ourselves for the new term in NTU right after our nation's 44th birthday..but it was not to be. We were given an extended week due to the LOA..which was not a fault of ours..& while our friends are enjoying a rather extremely long weekend, me & the chosen few are still here enduring another week of reliefs..among others..but i reckoned some of the students in some classes are making this stay more worthwhile and bearable..haha..
Monday, August 3, 2009 Many Singaporeans have complained that this year National Day song is not as melodious as previous years.
'I believe that an NDP song should inspire a sense of national pride and belonging. The song should be easy to sing along to. It is very disappointing that this year's song is not..' commented one reader of the Straits Time.
"It sounds like NDP is trying to be hip but has bombed instead. It is hard to hum to..'', opined one listener.
Well...you cannot please everybody..but maybe you would like Mr Brown's version better...haha..
Saturday, August 1, 2009 It was my niece's bday a few days ago & the dress that I bought her was a little too snug, so off we went to the mall again with the bday girl in tow..another excuse to go shopping..haha.. Anyway, we ended up at the ice-cream parlour & she was busy clicking the camera away when was bored with her ice-cream.
