THE SIGNS OF THE COMING OF EID UL-FITRI

There were already signs Eid is just around the corner. I start to receive goodies from friends.

Cookies from Puan Radziah Hassan, an ex-colleague of SMK Dato' Jaafar.

Fruit Cake from Puan Sim Poh Mun, an ex-colleague of SMK Dato' Jaafar.

Another bottle of cookies but not from an ex-colleague, but from my gastronomic adventure buddy, Mr. Redzuan.

We have already fasted for 20 days for the year 1447 Hijrah [Muslim Calendar], another 9 or 10 more days to go.

 

THE SUPPOSEDLY COFFEE SESSION AT TSUTAYA BOOKSHOP

I was at AEON Tebrau for another reason. I stopped by at Tsutaya Bookshop to look for an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, Mr. Zulhelmi, who was the manager there.

There was a cafe in the bookstore so one could read and enjoy the coffee at the same time.

The coffee machine was not working so I had to settle for the refreshing iced lemonade. Mr. Zulhilmi recommended the cafe latest dessert: Lava Matcha [Soft] Cookies that came with a scoop of ice cream and sliced strawberry, and it was heavenly.

Mr. Zulhilmi then took me for a tour around the bookstore and to my surprise, there were more than just books sold here.

The rare item in the store would be the book by a Japanese author which had a price tag of RM10K plus.

I immediately fell in love with this mini oven and I am still thinking about it now.

Another items on the shelves which I would buy were the local diffuser and perfumes that bore scents like Nasi Lemak, Teh O Limau and Lychee Syrup.

Thank you Mr. Zulhilmi for both the tour and the treat at Tsutaya. He used to give me free coffee before this when he was with Starbucks last time. Hope to see you again after this and let me reciprocate your kind gestures.

RAMADHAN IS THE MONTH OF GIVING

My Ramadhan gift for this year arrived today. Thanks to Dr. Fauziah Abd. Rahim, a friend of the UPM TESL Class of 1993, for the Eid cookies. Even though she is residing up north in Jitra, Kedah, it is not impossible to get anything delivered to the down south part of the country.

May Allah repay your kindness in many folds in this holy month of Ramadhan.

THE FIRST PARCEL FOR EID ARRIVED TODAY

   28TH MARCH 2024    ~ A few hours before breaking fast time, a parcel arrived at the front door of my house. Unannounced delivery box is always welcomed with an open heart and the excruciating part was to figure out who the mysterious sender was.

Thank God the name of the kindhearted person was revealed as soon as the unboxing process was done. She was actually in the list of suspected friend as it was a regular kind of activity carried out regularly before the arrival of Eid.

Thanks a lot, from the bottom of my heart, Puan Zarinamahnum Alias [a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993] for the Eid cookies. Only Allah may repay your good deeds in this holy month of Ramadan.

EID COOKIES FROM A FARAWAY FRIEND

 17TH APRIL 2023 ~ I got my Eid cookies from a friend who is currently residing in Jitra, Kedah and that was made possible as there was a middle man, or a middle woman to be more precise, in school.

Thanks a lot Puan Fauziah Abdul Rahim, a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993, for your kind thought and generosity. May you and your family be blessed in this month of Ramadhan, Syawal and throughout the year.

RAMADHAN IS THE MONTH OF GIVING

I received two unexpected parcels today from two friends of UPM TESL class of 1993 comrades, both containing Eid cookies. They arrived separately at different times delivered by two different courier companies. I think by this time I have had enough cookies to last me through the whole month of Syawal.

Thanks a lot Puan Mahiran Mohd. Noor and Puan Fauziah Abdul Rahim, for sending me the cookies all the way from Kajang and Changlun, respectively. Only Allah may repay your kindness in this holy month of Ramadhan.

"It is not how much we give,
but how much love we put into giving."
~ Mother Teresa ~

MY EID COOKIES ARRIVED EARLIER THIS YEAR

My Eid cookies arrived earlier this year and it was a sign the Eid was approaching. It was actually not as early as it should be as the school was ordered to be closed by the Health Department authority due to the pandemic so it was actually a wise decision of my friends to hand over them earlier.

Thanks to all my colleagues of SMK Dato' Jaafar, Puan Wong Minh Chjiat Isabelle, Puan Choo Sook Chein and Puan Tan Yuan Yi, for their thoughts and kindness. I am now happy I already have some cookies for this coming Eid celebration even though we are not sure how things are going to be this year as the number of C19 cases is on the rise. Let's just prat for things to get better.

 

A LABOUR DAY WEEKEND FILLED WITH SURPRISES

When the courier man called, telling me that he had left a parcel at the front door, I did not know what to expect as I did not remember buying anything online.

It was a box of Eid cookies which were nicely wrapped from a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993. The package had traveled all the way from Selangor, I think. Thanks Puan Zarinamahnum Hj. Alias for the surprise and I promise I will eat those cookies when Eid arrives.

Then later in the evening, someone arrived in front of the house, handing over other Eid goodies - pineapple tarts and "Serunding" [dried shredded meat with spices] from another UPM TESL friend, Puan Suhana Abdul Jamal, who is currently residing in Sungai Petani and her sister the delivery girl, Puan Hasanah Abdul Jamal, the one who has become a family friend.

Much earlier when I was in school expecting the visit from the officers from Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia [Health Ministry], a familiar face appeared at the office door on the 1st of May, a Labour Day public holiday. It was none other than Miss Shanu Lingam, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2010]. This should be a formal meeting so I had to maintain professional my demeanour even though I was excited to see an ex-student.

This should be one of the best Labour Day holidays for me, ever. Thanks again to my friends for the Eid's gifts and may Allah repay your good deeds in this holy month of Ramadhan. Even though we stay far apart, generosity and kindness know no boundaries.

A SURPRISE ARRIVED ON THE 28th DAY OF RAMADHAN

It is not yet my birthday but there was someone at the door delivering a bouquet of something for me. It was definitely a huge surprise when an old friend who is staying so far away suddenly had Eid cookies (and a chocolate) in a bouquet sent right at my doorstep.

That should be one of the biggest surprises and I could only say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. Thanks again Puan Sharon Taty Mokhtar, my UPM TESL coursemate (class of 1993) who is now residing and teaching in Kedah, for the kind deed. May Allah shower you and your family with His blessing in this holy month of Ramadhan and only Allah may repay you for your generosity.

THE 3000th BLOG POST - RAMADHAN, THE MONTH OF GIVING

"The meaning of life is to find your gift.

The purpose of life is to give it away."

~ PABLO PICASSO ~

My Eid cookies arrived already at the office in school and this should be a sign that the big day is approaching. I must be lucky to have colleagues/friends who are thoughtful and generous. 

Eid ul-Fitr - 10 more days.

Mid Year School Break - 3 more days....

TIK TOK TIK TOK TIK TOK....

THE COOKIES THAT TRAVELLED

The first box of cookies came all the way from Penang. Being brought to Kuala Lumpur, then the box was passed to someone else, and had to be taken to Senai.

This bottle of cookies traveled a shorter distance, from Kuala Lumpur straight to Senai. Still it had been transported hundreds of miles before reaching me.

with the messenger

The goodies were sent by two friends of the TESL UPM  class of 1993. Thank you Puan Aishah Aboo Bakar and Puan Siti Rohani Awang, for the kind thoughts. And also Puan Salmiah Mohd. Ghazali for asking her son to become the middle man in this transaction. Only Allah may repay your kind deeds. *tears of joy*