Eid Mubarak 2019 All!

Salam w.b.t and hello all,

Wow, wow, wow, wow.it has been a while. I mean it is a long time since I updated my blog.

How are you guys doing? I am doing alright. I have a lot of things that I need to update on this blog.

I have time now. So, I would like to update my whereabout for the last 1-2 months.

I was offshore, then get off the rig. I went home on 31st May, off course for a vacation with Eid celebration. The initial plan for vacation was 3 weeks.

First off, I just bought one way flight ticket to go home. For the return, I did not buy because I was not 100% sure if I will be back on 23rd July. The date I told the managers. Well, normally it can be earlier or later depends on the operation.

I travelled home and my mother and my second sister picked me up from the airport at night.

Week #1

It was quite busy as we were preparing for Eid. Packing bags to go back hometown in Pahang, cooking, shopping for groceries, and all. Typical family preparation for celebration - You know it better!

So, all four of us went back to our kampung in Felda Chemomoi, Bentong, Pahang. To my surprise, all the members will celebrate their turn at our kampung. So, it was a huge gathering. They did not know I was back until I arrived. Met the family members, my cousins, aunties and uncles as well as my grandfather's new wife with her kids.

My family on my mother's side is not that extensive. So, it was good to catchup and meet with them. I remember my cousin - Muttaqim the last time I think I saw him was ages ago. When he was in his secondary high school - Maybe. I don’t remember. Now, when I saw him, I saw a young lad. No longer a boy who is running around with a pampers full with poo. Duh..time flies really fast.

 

Muttaqim and Atok


Pretty much that's our family member on my mother's side



After staying at kampung, we went back to our home on the second day of Eid. The traffic was not too bad. As it is well known to be a very congested traffic on highway during any major celebration in Malaysia.

 

Ladies yaw

Towards the end of Week #1, we were preparing for our small family vacation at Kuala Terengganu. 

 

Week #2

 

We departed to Kuala Terengganu on Saturday. Departed very early in the morning around 3AM. Took turn to drive between me, my mother, and my sister. Off course, I just drove for one hour and slept all the way as I had not fully recover from the jet lag.

We were closed to the Draw Bridge. Fortunately, the grand opening of this bridge happen during our vacation

We were staying in Kuala Terengganu for 4 days, 3 nights. We rent an apartment - complete with kitchen, living room, 3 bedrooms, and facing the ocean. It was great.

 

Houses, cemeteries, and beach that can be seen from the apartment's balcony



Visited Taman Tamadun Islam. Various replicas of famous Islamic attractions around the world. One of it is Masjid Suleiyman from Instanbul

At Pantai Batu Burok

After the short vacation in Kuala Terengganu, we finished off the remaining week in Batang Kali. My youngest sister went back to work.

Did I tell you that my mother has a lipoma at her back? She has it since early of this year. The size was quite big, 10 by 10cm, she worried but she did not want to go for operation to remove it. The reasons were (1) it is not growing anymore, (2) not cancerous, thus not dangerous, (3) expensive.

Then I advised her, (1) we never know if it is actually will stop growing. If it is stop, that’s good. But what if it is not?, (2) That’s good as it is lipoma only, which means this can be removed immediately by a small surgery, (3) Don’t worry about cost.

So, I brought her to KPJ Rawang to kind of force her. But, in reality it was expensive. So towards the end of the Week #2, we have been surveying small clinics to see if they can do the operation. At the end, we came to the clinic closed to our home. The name of the doctor was Dr. Deep but he said this lipoma is too big and the amount of anesthetic in his clinic will not suffice. So my mother need to go to real hospital with operation theater.

Before we left, he suddenly called us in and said he can refer to his friend, a general surgeon at Hospital Ampang. It will be a bit expensive, but when we compared with KPJ, definitely 3 times cheaper. So, I said to my mother, lets do this.

The name of the doctor is Dr. Akbar.

 

Week #3

In this week, not much actually as I was preparing to go back to Doha at the end of the week. We got in touch with Dr. Akbar by Whatsapp and phone calls to arrange appointment, verbally describe the lipoma and all, (unbelievably supportive) and he said he will try his best to get a session on Monday and Tuesday. Then, he said it will be very busy so he only managed to get the session on 25th June, the next week.

So, we were fine. For me, since I haven't booked any flight yet, I can extend for another one week to accompany my mother.

 

Water dam closed to our home in Kuala Kubu Bharu

Throughout the week, I managed to fast for 3 days. Chillax at home, finished reading several books. Had a mini open house as my mother's cousin, practically my uncle came to visit us. Excellent. Also, went out for shopping to buy stuff for me to bring back to Doha.

Also I have promised to meet up Kak Daeng and Aisyah when I come back to Malaysia. However, I could not make it. This week has been a little bit of overwhelmed for me. I just wanted to relax and have me-time.

 

Week #4

Been busy accompanying my mother for her surgery. She admitted into the hospital on Tuesday morning, had surgery later in the evening. It was two hours surgery, and overall nearly 4 hours in the OT. As she entered, her blood pressure skyrocketed, and Dr. Akbar was preoccupied with other patients. After she finished, she stayed in the monitoring room for more than 1 hour as no nurses available to transfer her back to the ward.

My mother at Pantai Batu Burok before operation. She was worried.

After that, she was wheeling out of the OT to the ward. She was already awake, and one hour later she ate the porridge and fillet O' fish burger bought from Mc Donald opposite to the hospital.

Me and my second sister overnight in the hospital ward to accompany her.

The next day around 5.00PM, she got discharged from hospital. She was doing fine after she got discharged. The next day, she went to the morning market, supermarket, and drive around to buy durian and all the exotic fruits for me. So I can eat before I go back to Doha.

Two days after that on 28th July, I was on the flight travel back to Doha. I used Sri Lankan airline and transit in Sri Lanka. Arrived in Doha at night.

Well, that’s pretty much what's going on with me last month.

Now I am at the rig - land rig, as usual drilling.

Before I came to this rig, I told my mother, I am disappointed and I want to come home for good. She said, come back if you firm with my decision. I think I will share on separate entry on this particular event.

But, I really want to go home for good.

Take care for now and see you again in the next entry.

Salam w.b.t.

P/S - I read "This is going to hurt" by Adam Kay. I bought it at KLIA while waiting for departure to Doha. I read the synopsis at the back of the book, immediately smitten by it. It was hilarious and I giggled alone most of the time. Find this book, it is worth to read. As a doctor, he contributed his piece on this book. When I compared to what I am doing now, I have nil contribution in developing the society. Duhhh...

My first Ramadhan in Aberdeen

Salam w.b.t. and hello folks.

I don’t have fancy pictures of food, restaurants, whatnot to be posted on social network. But, I would like to share so far what it is like fasting here, in Aberdeen. Ramadhan 6 today.

Maghrib is around 10.15 pm, and Subuh is around 2.10 am. So, I have approximately 4 hours to before I start fasting again. Well, compared to Finland and nearby regions, they have less than an hour. So, 4 hours. Should not complain much.

Also, I shared with my workmates about Ramadhan, fasting, and basic ideas why Muslim fast.

*

Kris: I have an energy drink in my car. I can nip out and give it to you.

Me: What? Energy drink? No, no. When I say fasting, I mean no food, no drink, nothing goes inside our body.

Kris: What??! I thought you cannot eat only. You can drink. What if you dehydrate?

Me: I haven't reach that level yet, and I can assure you it won't be until dehydration. If it is too much, I will just break my fast. So, don’t worry.

*

Alan: Toon, are you fasting ey?

Me: Yeah. Do you want to try to fast with me as well?

Alan: I don't think I will make it. If I don’t eat and hungry, I will be grumpy and have my period all day.

Me: You are the first man I know that can have period ;)

*

Workshop supervisor came and asked me several questions about Ramadhan and fasting. After our chat, I told him, I am not really good at explaining stuffs but I will try my best to answer.

He said, "Nah, don’t worry. You already answer all my questions. Before this, we did not have a chance to ask this sort of thing here. Since you are here, we can ask you".

"I will try my best to address all the questions, Fincham".

*

They are curious, curious on many things. They asked about headscarf, hajj, mosques, and many other things. Some even asked about marriage (Hahahaha). Most of the times, I doubt if I have properly explained to them since I am not that alim.

Anyway, Ramadhan Mubarak to everyone. No matter where we are, we are aiming the same objective, to be a better person.

The view of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat. I went there last month.

P/S - The responsibility is bigger

Eid 1435 Hijrah

Salam w.b.t and hi all,

How are you guys doing? First and foremost, I would like to wish all Muslim Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin. In Malaysia, the Hari Raya is celebrated on Monday. I am not sure about other places because the celebration day could be different. When I was in Perth, the night before Hari Raya (1 Syawal) will be where everyone become confuse and everyone will wait for everyone to text or post on Facebook whether tomorrow is Hari Raya or not. Otherwise, we will have to fast one more day. So, how is your Eid Celebration?

Mine was not so much happened. My family and I celebrated Hari Raya in Batang Kali and this is our first time celebrated it here. We did not go back to our hometown which is in Bentong, Pahang. Also, this is the first time celebrated with my family after 3 years lived in Australia. A lot of first time, yeah? Haha…Nevertheless, as I said before, not much happened. My sisters worked part time and they celebrated Hari Raya at their workplaces. Whereas for me, I stayed at home with my mother. Seriously, I did not even wear new dress or baju kurung as people always do during Hari Raya. I just wear t-shirt and slack, that was it. There is no open house invitation from other families and from my friends, which made me a little bit disappointed. Well, maybe everyone is too busy to count me in, who knows, right?

I think Hari Raya this time was the least fun compared to previous years. Well, many factors contribute to this but I would not tell it here. Anyhow, I am still grateful and thankful to Allah for all the blessings I have, such as I still have my supportive mother, diligent sisters, a place called home, food to eat, healthy body and mind, and many more which of course will take days to list them down. Overall, Alhamdulillah for all the countless blessings and love poured by Allah.

Since there is not much to share, I think that is it for this entry. I wish everyone is doing great and have a fantastic time with families and friends. Take care and see you in the next entry. Salam w.b.t.