We forgive

‘Please forgive me for all my wrongdoings, intentionally or unintentionally. May you be well throughout the year’

Isn’t that the typical greetings and wishes we make for one another every single time this blessed month of Ramadan is ending and the glorious month of Syawal approaching?

So much so that I once wondered- when we seek for the forgiveness from others especially during Ramadan, do we really mean it from the bottom of our hearts or it is just cultural and a mere lip service?

In the Qur’an Allah has described the Believers as
“those who avoid major sins and acts of indecencies and when they are angry they forgive.”
(ash-Shura 42: 37)

Orthosiphon stamineus

I had one of this planted but died last year. My father in law made a few cuts from the shoot while it was alive and now he donated back three of these plants to me. This is the first bloom during this rainy season and the reason I wanted to keep having this in my garden is to attract butterflies. Many butterfly species are fond of Cat whiskers plant and one of them is the beautiful common albatross.

Orthosiphon stamineus (Malay: misai kucing) is a traditional herb that is widely grown in tropical areas. The two general species, Orthosiphon stamineus “purple" and Orthosiphon stamineus “white” are traditionally used to treat diabetes, kidney and urinary disorders, high blood pressure and bone or muscular pain. ~wikipedia

Oh, another thing! Have you ever noticed that when people say not to be "judgmental" they never say it after they are judged to be something good? This is because they don't care about being judged, they just care about being judged poorly.

Little things that make me happy!

My friend just returned this bike after I loaned it to him 10 years ago when her daughter's bike was stolen. It's a pretty cool one which I bought in 1990 for around RM800. I felt happy that I had it again, and excited to use it. The bike has served me well during this month of Ramadhan with the daily visit to Pasar Ramadhan and trips for tarawikh. Now I'm back looking for the original parts of this 1981 C70 GBO which I can see a few have been substituted. So excited, that I'll be getting delivery of another moped, 1980 C70Z tomorrow.

I have that a lot, little things that I buy - anything from books to fruits and juice - make me happy after I buy them. There is something exciting about the fact that I now possess whatever I buy, and get to use it as I please. I get really excited about little things like nail-clippers, cutters and tools in my workshop. Some said something sarcastic about me being satisfied with the 'little things in life'. Do such things also make you happy, or do you not really care about the little things that you buy - or gift from someone?

EDIT: A peek at my new toy.
Thanks for viewing!

Eve of Ramadan

Mother. This is the sky that I just captured during the eve of Ramadan. It is beautiful with fantastic cloud formation against the sunset sky. This is the first Ramadan without you and all the things I have always done with you in the eve of Ramadan are still very fresh in my memory. Does everyone take so long to get over losing their mother? Perhaps the question is does anyone ever get over losing their mother? How can I think of you less? When I see my hands and feet, they become your hands; the shape of my nails is an imprint of yours; the skin crinkles over my knuckles in the same pattern. How can I allow you to recede into the background when I see you daily in my reflection in the mirror? You are in me, I am part of you, even in your absence. And these daily reminders keep the hole of that absence close to the surface. I wish to be strong going through this belssful month and I am not thinking about the coming Raya (Eid Mubarak) just yet - at least for now.