1 whole tired day...

Its been quite some time since I last blogged, almost going to be a week! Phew!

So, today was really really REALLY long day!!! Had an excursion in school. Initially I didn't wanted to go. But since it was COMPULSORY (I still didn't care, but my Mum was the one who forced me to go), I decided to go.

After sahr, subuh, started my laptop to listen to my Sheikh's bayan. Then I went to get ready, and watched the 2nd half of the program. While listening, I was either TRYING to fall asleep (to show Mum that I'm THAT tired, make her ask me to sleep, and skip the excursion), or I REALLY started to sleep (as I was really tired). But, I know that I was pretending. And I didn't feel like cheating Mum.

Decision was made to finally leave my house and go to school!

Reached school on time for the excursion. Waited for some time for the rest to come. Then left school. Oh ya, as my friends didn't take this module, they need not come. And hence was really worried about who was going to sit beside me in the bus (1 of the reasons as I wanted to skip this!! But hey, you gotta congratulate me for taking a brave step to overcome this challenge!!) Yeah, while everyone was sitting in the bus, waiting for the teachers, I was just looking out the window to surprise myself later to know who my partner was.

And guess what?

It was my 1 of my teachers who sat beside me. THAT WAS SO SO SOOO AWKWARD!!!! But it was okay. I can't remember who started to talk first, but we talked!! (I mean, I find it difficult to always start or keep a convo, and furthermore a TEACHER!! It would be difficult to really talk comfortably to your own teacher for like half an hour?) Ok, but we didn't really talk that long. As far as I can remember, there were 3-4 exchanges between us. After that as I didn't know what else to talk about, it ended there.

Ok, enough about talking!

We reached the 1st location. Walked here, walked there. Then there was a finale ending kind of talk and we listened to the speakers who were the employees of the company. As I was alone, and hence free to sit anywhere I wanted, I went and sit in a row of girls, with 3 empty chairs at the start of the row. I went and sat beside one of the girls. (let's call her Pauline) Then while waiting for everyone to settle down, suddenly Pauline started saying something to me! I was like surprised! I mean, we have never talked before, and she started talking as though we were already friends.

Now and then she started saying about things that was happening at the talk. We became friends! I was happy that I got a buddy! (or at least some one to hang out with throughout the excursion) I always believed she was very quiet, and didn't realise she can start a convo out of nowhere!

Then after the talk had ended, we moved on to our buses (sad that we were from different class). Reached 2nd location, but before that it was lunch break. I went along with Pauline to find seats, and that place was so crowded! We would have walked 3 times back and forth the whole stretch of stalls. And I still can't believe Singaporeans are still using the tissue method to chope seats.

Truthfully, never in my life have I ever seen tissues on top of tables that were meant to be 'reserevd'. Till I watched (what was the drama?) ah, it was, 'The Pupil'. One of the episodes was about this tissue issue (nice huh? :) But I seriously feel this should be like banned or something. Why can't one person in a group wait and take care of things, while the rest go and buy their food? Seriously I can't believe adults act this way. I'm proud to say that throughout my entire school life we have never used tissue to chope seats.

Ok, so back to the story. Pauline and I decided that the only way was to share seats with some one. We found one guy sitting and sipping his coffee, and Pauline went to ask him. He said ok, and we sat. She went on to buy her meal, while I was sms-ing Rini (what could I do? I couldn't possibly be looking at people eating, which would arouse my hunger sense, but still the whole aroma of the stalls made me feel a teeny weeny bit hungry).

After lunch, at the 2nd location, I went along with her. What I feel something different about her is that, her convos are so different and how do I say? Hmm, just different, from the convos I normally have with people. That was the plus point! She could talk about anything and everything!

Then we moved to 3rd location. This is where we had to be separated (also in the buses, but, location0-based separation) We had to be split into two groups to save time.
 After that when it was time to go home, she went first with some others as they lived nearby the 3rd location. I had to go back to school, and from there as usual take my bus and train.

And I don't know what is the reason but I really found my bus taking a really really long time to arrive! I could not be patient anymore as the bustop crowd grew larger. So I went to the other side and took my bus. Technically, the other side is a longer route, but still, I would be able to take 3 buses there instead of 1 at the usual here. Bus came quickly. It was a double decker. I decided to go up and take a nap till my stop. Then decided not to as the bus had started moving, and I didn't want to climb the stairs awkwardly. I should have at least gone up at the next stop, but too lazy.

Then comes the mrt station. I do not know why it takes damn long for the trains to arrive! Like almost 8 mins at Jurong East. When I saw the screen at first, it showed 3 mins. But it didn't arrive! Trains on the other sides except at the one I was waiting for, came and came ad came. Crowds grew again behind us, and infront of us at the other side of the platform.

Finally realised that the 3 mins train was arriving at a different platform! SIgh, I can't believe I still do not know how to read these signs. My train came, I stood at the centre, grabbed the pole (that's what you call it right?), as I prefer to hold onto something. I can struggle alot to stand without holding onto anything, and especially if I'm carrying my baby (laptop). Then this old man, who came from the opposite entrance, came and first hold onto the pole, then decided to lean back. I quickly took my hand away! I also can't understand why people should lean onto poles!! You are preventing a million lives from holding onto the pole!!

Then I was like standing trying my best not to topple over, or step onto someone's feet if I lose my balance. But the thing is (which I don't know whether to say it is a good thing or a bad thing) the train went extremely slow! Slower than usual! I really wanted to get back home asap to grab some sleep. But if it had gone fast, chances are high of me toppling over.

My stop came, walked, walked and walked more to reach home! Then I saw Lucifer (neighbourhood cat) sitting so cutely at the neighbouring block beside mine! I looked at it and smiled, Lucifer looked at me and just kept on staring (of course, cats don't really smile). Reached home, and wanted to rest awhile before praying. Then as you know me, fell asleep. But alhamdulillah, Allah woke me up for me to pray.

Had iftar consisting of mee goreng (made by my granny who passed some to us), instant roti prata (made by Rini I guess), idiyappam (made by Mum), to accompany the prata and idiyappam, mutton curry, porridge, mocha cake, and tea. Couldn't taste my Mum's mutton curry, as I ate mee goreng, but nevertheless the mee goreng was AWESOME!!! :D

This was my whole day of events. Inshaa'allah, must sleep soon to wake up for sahr tomorrow, and inshaa'allah, I could get my hands on the mutton curry. Speaking, of it my stomach is doing something, so gonna grab an oreo!! Till we meet again, toodles!!! :)

Ramadan Day 1

Today is the 1st day of school for this year in Ramadan. Yesterday night, as a family, we went to Masjid Abdul Gafoor mosque, to do our tarawih prayers, (a special prayer during Ramadan). After praying tarawih, a blessed feeling that on the 1st night of Ramadan, (in our Islamic calendar, night comes before day) we have kick started well!!! Allah made us pray. Then to satisfy hunger pangs, went to Anandha Bavan restaurant to have our dinner.

After that, returned back home, slept to wake up early for sahr. But I could not even sleep. However much I try to, just could not sleep, maybe it was because I had an afternoon nap. Or it was because of the tea I had before sleeping.

Woke up for sahr and while I was completing half my plate, my Dad was rushing me to eat faster, as Subuh was nearing. I am naturally a slow eater. I don't know how people can eat so fast. Usually the last to complete my meal in family and also with my group of friends. Maybe because I savour the tastes of each grain and spice. After finally finishing, drank some water, and my mum made tea, and also asked to finish a cup. I drank the liquids, and finally managed to say my niyyah, (a form of intention for the upcoming task, which is in this case, "I'm fasting for the sake of Allah").

After Subuh, and some thikir, my mum asked to switch on my laptop to watch my Sheikh's bayan (speech). Then we watched the live program. It was (what should I say?), hmm, beautiful? Yeah, it certainly was. And we were lucky to have been able to watch that program as last year, the program did not work. It was definitely beautiful, as my Sheikh came to our house through the program. I really want him to come to Singapore! I really want to meet him. One could listen to his bayan for hours. The way he teaches us about who we are and who is Allah. Even though it was only for half an hour, it was defnitely worth watching. What more could I ask for to start off my day, by meeting my Sheikh? :)

Then it was time to go to school. The day went okay, but now and then I was tempted to get the water bottle from my bag, to take a sip, then I realise its Ramadan and hence I didn't even put a water bottle in my bag. After that went back home, with plans not to take a nap, as I decided to sleep properly at night. I also told Rini not to, but she didn't listen to me and was already asleep, as I came back from the restroom. Since it was about 5.45pm, I decided to past my time by playing games in my handphone. But I should have done thikir. 

Then, I was really bored of the game, and decided to just lie down for awhile, and had set alarms just in case I really sleep. Then what? I slept, alarm rang, snoozed. Until my Dad, came from the other room to wake us up, as it was nearing time to break our fast. He asked "have you prayed Asar?", and I got up, said no, and went to take wudhu. He scolded (in my dictionary), said (in Rini's dictionary) for sleeping without praying. And I felt bad. I know, it may appear, as though its a small thing or even NOTHING for some people, but I'm abit like this. I always feel bad, if anything negative comes from my parents. And Rini, she's a thick-skin girl, one ear go in, the other out. But I can't be like this. 

After breaking fast with dates, samosas, mee siam, porridge, and tea, it was time for Magrib prayer. After praying, my Dad went to mosque, while my mum went to visit her ill friend, so me and Rini were left at home. 

Now, I have prayed Ishak, read 2 Ains of the Qur'an, but yet to complete my goal of thikir. Rini spoilt my counter while throwing it to me, she threw higher, and it fell on the floor. Now, only the 1st digit can be seen. :( My mum, who is a nagger forever (rhyme time, hahah) would start her nagging whenever she realises that my counter is spoilt. 

But its ok, I could use the tasbih. And, I really hope, my parents bring me and Rini to the mosque to pray. One thing to expect for tomorrow, would be my Sheikh's bayan. Since I wrote about his bayan, I would like to share what I remember from the program. 
- Firstly, he said that during Ramadan, we are nearer to Allah than ever before. Why? Because, we are not eating, or drinking, and we are also obeying His orders which is to fast.
- Another thing is that, it is important to eat later for sahr (dawn time), and break the fast immediately upon Magrib (dusk time). 
- It is also important to think of Allah's mercy to us. He is the only living, He is the owner of knowledge, intention, energy, sight, hearing, speech. Allah has given these 7, to us to remember Him and worship Him. These 7 qualities do not belong to us. Our 7 qualities, are the opposite of the above 7 mentioned. 

These are some of things I remember from his bayan. Excited for tomorrow!!! So, till then toodles! :)