I see these faces in the magazines, I envy them. I'll be looking at the products that comes with that picture to see how I can get such flawless skin.
And NOW I have found the secret to those flawless skin!
Oh man! I tell you! The wonders it can do!! It can make a dark skin fair, a rough skin smooth and much much more! Check out the before and after photos. Roll mouse, over the picture to see the difference.
The secret? It's called Photoshop.
But they have never ever advertised that in women magazines. hmmm.....
Madame Blossom's Book of Poems
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
The funeral
Last Sunday, I followed Uda to a funeral at Pusara Aman. It was for Uda's friend's father. The friend, Mohd is from Maldives.The father was here in Singapore for treatment. Mohd and his siblings could speak English, but the elder ones like the deceased's wife and mother, could only speak their native language, Dhivehi. The body language, something understood by most human (e.g. a sympathetic smile, a smile of appreciation, a hand gesture, hand on the shoulder etc), was enough for us to communicate.
It was clear that the father was a person well respected and liked. Imagine, during the funeral, his Singapore Chinese supplier was present with his wife and son, and so was his friend/competitor from Maldives. I was told that when the father was alive but already bounded to the wheel chair and had to always have the oxygen tank with him, this Chinese supplier of his, had brought the father out to Sentosa. And the most amazing thing about it, is that the father did not speak English and the Chinese man does not speak Dhivehi. But that did not deter the man and the father from being that close. MasyaAllah! I am so touched.
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
Al-Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:13
In the car ride home, after dropping off the family members near town, I saw celebration banners on the streets and people going about their daily lives. After spending the whole morning at a funeral, suddenly some of these things I see, doesn't seem to make sense. Death and Afterlife, Paradise and Hellfire, is a sure thing. What are we doing?
It was clear that the father was a person well respected and liked. Imagine, during the funeral, his Singapore Chinese supplier was present with his wife and son, and so was his friend/competitor from Maldives. I was told that when the father was alive but already bounded to the wheel chair and had to always have the oxygen tank with him, this Chinese supplier of his, had brought the father out to Sentosa. And the most amazing thing about it, is that the father did not speak English and the Chinese man does not speak Dhivehi. But that did not deter the man and the father from being that close. MasyaAllah! I am so touched.
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
Al-Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:13
In the car ride home, after dropping off the family members near town, I saw celebration banners on the streets and people going about their daily lives. After spending the whole morning at a funeral, suddenly some of these things I see, doesn't seem to make sense. Death and Afterlife, Paradise and Hellfire, is a sure thing. What are we doing?
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Trivial things, good and bad
Sometimes we overlook things that seems trivial TO US. We do it and forget about it the next minute.
But it may make a lot of difference to receiving end, much more than you know. This applies to both the good and bad.
Some of the little things, good.
1. Accepting the pamphlet being given away, to help the pamphlet distributors finish their job faster.
2. Making sure the rubbish you throw, especially when it's small, gets into the dustbin properly, and not outside and around the dustbins, to make the garbage collector's work easier.
3. Acknowledging the tea lady or office cleaner, like we do to our colleagues, to make her feel like a part of our team.
4. Putting back a stuff borrowed from someone, exactly at where it was taken from, so that it's easy for the owner to find it.
5. When leaving a place, making sure that the place is as clean as when you arrived, or even cleaner.
Some of the little things bad, but done almost naturally..
1. Exclaiming somebody's inadequacies or what YOU deem as inadequate. (e.g. "hidung dia senget sey...." )
2. Forwarding an email which shocked you off your seat, so that some other person can experience the shock you had.
(unless you're genuinely happy to have received it and want to share your joy with others)
3. Purposely picking up speed, when a car has signalled to filter into your lane so that it cannot do so before YOU.
And horning or flashing your headlights at the driver, if he/she manages to do so.
4. Ignoring the slipper/shoe placed outside a house/mosque, that you accidentally kicked away.
5. Cursing anybody for whatever reason.
"That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups, that they may be shown their deeds.
So, whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.
And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it."
Al Quran, Az-Zalzalah 99 : 6-8
But it may make a lot of difference to receiving end, much more than you know. This applies to both the good and bad.
Some of the little things, good.
1. Accepting the pamphlet being given away, to help the pamphlet distributors finish their job faster.
2. Making sure the rubbish you throw, especially when it's small, gets into the dustbin properly, and not outside and around the dustbins, to make the garbage collector's work easier.
3. Acknowledging the tea lady or office cleaner, like we do to our colleagues, to make her feel like a part of our team.
4. Putting back a stuff borrowed from someone, exactly at where it was taken from, so that it's easy for the owner to find it.
5. When leaving a place, making sure that the place is as clean as when you arrived, or even cleaner.
Some of the little things bad, but done almost naturally..
1. Exclaiming somebody's inadequacies or what YOU deem as inadequate. (e.g. "hidung dia senget sey...." )
2. Forwarding an email which shocked you off your seat, so that some other person can experience the shock you had.
(unless you're genuinely happy to have received it and want to share your joy with others)
3. Purposely picking up speed, when a car has signalled to filter into your lane so that it cannot do so before YOU.
And horning or flashing your headlights at the driver, if he/she manages to do so.
4. Ignoring the slipper/shoe placed outside a house/mosque, that you accidentally kicked away.
5. Cursing anybody for whatever reason.
"That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups, that they may be shown their deeds.
So, whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.
And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it."
Al Quran, Az-Zalzalah 99 : 6-8
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A lesson about death
In the late afternoon today, Nyai, 88 years old, fell, when she was trying to sit on the chair. We were all at Wak Jay's son, wedding, at the void deck. The back of her head must have been hit by the leg of the toppled chair and it was bleeding quite profusely. It became quite a scene, because there were some panic. The bridegroom called for an ambulance which took her to the hospital. I followed in my car.
I'm still thinking about what happened at the hospital.
It's not about Nyai, she's fine Alhamdulillah. The doctor gave her an injection, and stitched up the small cut, and she has since been discharged.
It was what we, Cik Alin, Kak Noor and I, saw at the A&E area, while waiting for Nyai to be treated.
A crying mother was being consoled by her relatives and then there was another family a distance away, also crying. We later found out from overhearing the discussions by the family and friends that a young man and a girl, had been involved in an accident. The girl's condition was very bad, she was unconcious when we saw her being wheeled away. The boy, didn't make it. He was only 23.
There were so many youngsters there, hanging around the A&E area, friends of the victims, I suppose . Of the many friends who were there, some appeared sad, some looked concerned, some were in discussion, probably about the accident, and there were some who looked like they were just in another normal gathering.
I wonder what's going through their minds. This afternoon they were just chatting and joking with him. This evening he is dead. When the time comes, we just go. There is no running away from it.
"Wherever you may be, death will overtake you - even though you be in towers raised high...."
An-Nisa 4:78
The friends looked sad. Yes, they lost a friend. But it's sadder and shuddering to imagine what would be his recompense after his death. Will he get good rewards? Or will the punishment of his Lord await him in his grave? There is NO MORE turning back. Whatever's done, will now be accounted for.
"Say: "The Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord."
If only thou couldst see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Lord, (saying:) "Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard: Now then send us back (to the world): we will work righteousness: for we do indeed (now) believe!"
As-Sajdah 32:11-12
Ya Ghaffar, don't make us and our children and our loved ones, be amongst those whose heads will be bent low, out of guilt and shame before you.
When the time has come for us, please let us die in Iman and in a state truly virtuous. Please forgive us, our many sins and save us from the punishments in our graves, and save us from Hellfire. Ameen.
I'm still thinking about what happened at the hospital.
It's not about Nyai, she's fine Alhamdulillah. The doctor gave her an injection, and stitched up the small cut, and she has since been discharged.
It was what we, Cik Alin, Kak Noor and I, saw at the A&E area, while waiting for Nyai to be treated.
A crying mother was being consoled by her relatives and then there was another family a distance away, also crying. We later found out from overhearing the discussions by the family and friends that a young man and a girl, had been involved in an accident. The girl's condition was very bad, she was unconcious when we saw her being wheeled away. The boy, didn't make it. He was only 23.
There were so many youngsters there, hanging around the A&E area, friends of the victims, I suppose . Of the many friends who were there, some appeared sad, some looked concerned, some were in discussion, probably about the accident, and there were some who looked like they were just in another normal gathering.
I wonder what's going through their minds. This afternoon they were just chatting and joking with him. This evening he is dead. When the time comes, we just go. There is no running away from it.
"Wherever you may be, death will overtake you - even though you be in towers raised high...."
An-Nisa 4:78
The friends looked sad. Yes, they lost a friend. But it's sadder and shuddering to imagine what would be his recompense after his death. Will he get good rewards? Or will the punishment of his Lord await him in his grave? There is NO MORE turning back. Whatever's done, will now be accounted for.
"Say: "The Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord."
If only thou couldst see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Lord, (saying:) "Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard: Now then send us back (to the world): we will work righteousness: for we do indeed (now) believe!"
As-Sajdah 32:11-12
Ya Ghaffar, don't make us and our children and our loved ones, be amongst those whose heads will be bent low, out of guilt and shame before you.
When the time has come for us, please let us die in Iman and in a state truly virtuous. Please forgive us, our many sins and save us from the punishments in our graves, and save us from Hellfire. Ameen.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Going on dutch
A few days before my colleague's last day at work, we went for lunch at Swensen's, to.. err.. celebrate?.. commemorate?.. or just have our 'last lunch' with her. We agreed to go on dutch. I was planning on not eating too much at Swensen's. I don't quite like the feeling of being too full. I thought I would just order Fries and Waffle with vanilla ice cream. Ok, that won't cost much.
However, when I was there, I felt some kind of 'internal mental pressure' to order a full meal. I wanted to avoid all the questions like 'why eat so little??'... 'you're ordering only THAT??', 'Aiyoh.. no wonder u're so small!' I was not in the mood to justify my lunch. I decided to go with the flow. Ordered a set lunch meal. Did my very best to finish it, up to the point where the mere thought of food makes me feel like puking. Then I hated myself for feeling too full.
When it was time to pay for the 'dutched' lunch, the payer divided the whole bill equally by (the number of people who attended, less the girl who resigned).
Hmm.... if I had ordered only fries and waffle - I would have been at the losing end. I'd still have to pay for someone's full meal.
Going on dutch. This term does not spell out the 'dutching' part clearly. How do you share the cost? Do you share it equally or do we pay for what we eat? If we are to follow our Islamic Mua'malat Rules - all terms and conditions must be clear to all parties - so as not to let anyone be at a losing end, unless he is CLEARLY aware of it and agrees to it.
So I started to mentally draft out... or now blogging, the furu' of Going on Dutch.
1. Going on Proportioned Dutch. (GPD)
This is where, the bill is shared in accordance to what the person ordered. The person would also still have to pay for the service charge and taxes that comes with the total bill. So the formula for each person would be.
(Cost of each person's meal/ Total Cost less taxes) * Total Costs with Taxes.
According to the ulama of 'Going on Dutch' (mua), - this type is most preferable.
2. Going on EQUAL Dutch. (GED)
This is where the whole bill, including taxes, will be divided equally amongst attendees, no matter who ordered what. So even if the person goes there to have a bowl of soup, he'd still have to pay part of someone's bigger meal, or more unfortunately a glutton's meal, if there were any in the group.
According to the ulama, this type is obviously not preferable.
3. Going on proportioned Dutch, less the person being treated for lunch by others. (GPD plus)
In this category the person will pay for his own meal, and the equally shared proportion of the treated person's meal, plus taxes.
The formula is a bit more complicated.
[(Cost of each person's meal + (cost of treated person's meal / (no. of pax - no. of treated person)) / Total Cost less taxes] * Total Costs with Taxes.
According to the ulama, - this type is 'harus' or allowed.
So there you have it.. Mua'malat on Going on Dutch. And if any of you ask me to go on dutch - kindly specify the furu'.
However, when I was there, I felt some kind of 'internal mental pressure' to order a full meal. I wanted to avoid all the questions like 'why eat so little??'... 'you're ordering only THAT??', 'Aiyoh.. no wonder u're so small!' I was not in the mood to justify my lunch. I decided to go with the flow. Ordered a set lunch meal. Did my very best to finish it, up to the point where the mere thought of food makes me feel like puking. Then I hated myself for feeling too full.
When it was time to pay for the 'dutched' lunch, the payer divided the whole bill equally by (the number of people who attended, less the girl who resigned).
Hmm.... if I had ordered only fries and waffle - I would have been at the losing end. I'd still have to pay for someone's full meal.
Going on dutch. This term does not spell out the 'dutching' part clearly. How do you share the cost? Do you share it equally or do we pay for what we eat? If we are to follow our Islamic Mua'malat Rules - all terms and conditions must be clear to all parties - so as not to let anyone be at a losing end, unless he is CLEARLY aware of it and agrees to it.
So I started to mentally draft out... or now blogging, the furu' of Going on Dutch.
1. Going on Proportioned Dutch. (GPD)
This is where, the bill is shared in accordance to what the person ordered. The person would also still have to pay for the service charge and taxes that comes with the total bill. So the formula for each person would be.
(Cost of each person's meal/ Total Cost less taxes) * Total Costs with Taxes.
According to the ulama of 'Going on Dutch' (mua), - this type is most preferable.
2. Going on EQUAL Dutch. (GED)
This is where the whole bill, including taxes, will be divided equally amongst attendees, no matter who ordered what. So even if the person goes there to have a bowl of soup, he'd still have to pay part of someone's bigger meal, or more unfortunately a glutton's meal, if there were any in the group.
According to the ulama, this type is obviously not preferable.
3. Going on proportioned Dutch, less the person being treated for lunch by others. (GPD plus)
In this category the person will pay for his own meal, and the equally shared proportion of the treated person's meal, plus taxes.
The formula is a bit more complicated.
[(Cost of each person's meal + (cost of treated person's meal / (no. of pax - no. of treated person)) / Total Cost less taxes] * Total Costs with Taxes.
According to the ulama, - this type is 'harus' or allowed.
So there you have it.. Mua'malat on Going on Dutch. And if any of you ask me to go on dutch - kindly specify the furu'.
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