23.5.2021

 

If Allah brings you to it, He will bring it through it.

 

As soon as the alarm went off, I  was on the phone , entered the apps and starting to key in the details asked. But when I reached the part where I was asked to indicate  state, I hit the button and received no response. I tried again and still no response. By that my DIL was on the phone asking me whether I managed to reserve a slot. No .. not not yet. I am stuck on this button to choose the state. I have tried  many times and it just refuse to move on to the next button.

Ahh, she replied. Same here. My friend is trying to register her parents and also cannot go through. System hanged!

 

By that time,  a message came in from my eldest sister informing me she was sucessful, giving me her dates and all. By now I was at the panic stage. That’s my usual mental reponse when cornered.

 

So, I then decided to abandon any more attempts. It suddenly crossed my mind to go and try on my laptop . I went in, hit all the buttons on display and finally managed to secure a slot . I hit a date but now I honestly cannot recall when. I remember trying to find a date that will not clash with my appointment with the oncologist which I think is in  the middle of June. The choice of venue was also difficult to  decide on. So, I hit Shah alam. That means cross district travel. It was either at  UKM in Bangi or  the Ideal Covention Center , Shah Alam. Both are inter district areas.

 

I remember reading the message after that— anda telah berjaya  etc etc. 

 

My DIL told me not to worry, they will contact me within 24 to 48 hours to confirm date and give other relevant details and guidelines. 

 

This episode was from 12.pm to 12.30 pm ! About 30 minutes of the most stressful times ever!  The last time  I felt stressed and panicky was  when I had to go through the MRI machine in 2014!

 

So, its now a wait and see whether I actually managed to secure a slot. 

 

Oh yes. Allah tests different people with different trials,because everyone has a different level of patience, tolerance and faith.

I plan, ’You Plan,

We all Plan

But Allah’s Plan 

Is the Best of all Plans.

“Ya Allah, tiada hal yang mudah selain yang Engkau mudahkan dan Engkau mampu menjadikan susah itu mudah jika Engkau mengkehendakinya mudah”

 21.5.2021

 

The Brain Game

 

Its addictive. I tell myself I need to stop. There are so many other things to do. And yet I still continue on . I have reached level 3646 with a total collection of 25,935 coins.! 

I started on this words game sometime during the lockdown, last year.  Just to pass the time and to take a break from other tasks.  I must admit this games does indeed help to keep my mind alert and focussed. I need to be quick, sharp and thinking ! Sometimes I can focus for almost an hour but there are other times, when I felt  exhausted and tired from other activities, even with simple clues I was not able to solve. A short break and coming back refreshed easily the words would just popped out from the rows of  scrambled letters. I have lost count of the number of times I was placed first over 49 other players! The top 50 players. I am quite curious how many out there are hooked on this game. Hundreds , thousands? It would be interesting to know the actual numbers.

But now , many moons later, the games is becoming too predictive. Tell me, how many themes or clues can one possibly concoct ? This I found out that there were times when I have solved certain themes or clues,   I experienced that flash of  ‘déjà vu’  telling me that I have solved this particular theme  before.And there are certain levels where I can easily solve in less than a minute and at other  times  I can be stucked at a particular  word search, trying out all the combinations possible and once that particular word is unravelled, other words would  just popped out  at a fast and furious pace!

It has been about 5 days now that I have not played this game.I think its time for a closure with this  game. Maybe I will come back to it, maybe not.

 

I have  now embarked on another new game.  A new words game. This game has no particular or specific theme. So far, it is also another game that is difficult to stop. I keep on wanting to solve the next scrambled letters. But this is not as challenging as the first  words crush..  Its more layback.  Simple to the brains.  Brain games for the elderly .

 

Brain or memory games for elderly adults can be not only interesting and entertaining, but can also improve memory, daily life skills, and overall mental health.

 

Exercising the mind to keep it active is as important as maintaining physical fitness and strength in older age. Throughout our lives, our brain is responsible for keeping us happy, and, as we get older, mental health is often a major part of being able to live independently.

To ensure that the brain works as best as it can, the mind needs to be challenged every day. Thankfully, exercising the mind can be fun and easy to do thanks to quick games, tasks and activities that can be enjoyed anywhere and by anyone.

 

It’s time to go window surfing for the next stimulating and challenging brain game.

 

Alhamdullilah. I am thankful for everyday  I wake up.

 

Words of Wonder

Word Crush 

20.5.2021

The Self Monitoring 

 

This is the final day of self-monitoring. Received a  flash message on 7^th May 2021 on my phone informing me that I was in close contact with a positive corvid person. No mention of where it took place.Was instructed to go to the My Sejahtera (MS) apps for further details. Went but saw nothing. Emailed them for further inquiries and the message received was to wait . Due to overwhelming response from the public they were not able to give immediate response.  I understood and I waited. 

In the meanwhile I consulted those who have had the experience of being identified as being in close contact. My sister messaged to tell me to go the MS apps and see instructions under the heading “ Things to do” .I went and it was blank. 

Just a couple days ago my husband was informed of  his appointment date for his vaccination .I logged in  on the MS apps to look for any signs of instructions or updates on my conditions. Then some gut feeling told me to delete the apps and reinstall, which I did. And lol and  behold there it was. Dated from the 7^Th May with instructions to report state of self. Any temperature/fever , any cough, flu, any body aches etc. So, ticked, ticked ticked … and submitted. From the 7^thMay to 17^Th May, ticked, ticked and ticked. 

 And since it is  now confirmed that I had been in close contact with a positive person, I decided to take the next step and go for a swab test. Called up the local clinic. Was told test was available  . Asked me which test are you interested in? I asked what is your recommendation? She said the nose swab will do . By the way I discovered later the term was RTK. Another was the PCR ( throat and nose swab)

 

Arrived at the clinic to find a big crowd of people lined up outside the clinic. Saw a lady in full protective  gear taking  samples from those in the queue. Went in, took a wrapped test kit. Joined the queue. In the meanwhile people were streaming in. Overheard someone telling a small girl was identified as positive and was told to immediately to go wait in the car. Nervous, anxious all in. Trying to not focus on the oncoming uncertainty. Struck  a conversation with those in the queue. About 4 of them  were from the bank/finance company. This was not their first time. They do it quite regularly because of their nature of job. And they can claim reimbursement. Its 150RM for the RTK and about 280RM for the PCR. Apparently this clinic offers a good price, a bit lower than other clinics, so they told me. 

My turn came. I submitted my nose for that dig. It was not bad at all.  Not what I expected. No pain! She was swift . It was over within 10 seconds. 

 

Then I moved into the clinic to join the queue for results and payment. It was long. People tried their best to keep to the SOP, the distancing. But of course there were slacks here and there. After about 20 minutes I reached the counter. Paid for the test and was told to go to the next counter to get a printed copy of the result. In the meanwhile, a nurse was scuttling to and fro looking for a named person . He was tested positive. She called out his name many times and still no  signs of him. Perhaps he must have gone for his breakfast since he saw the queue  for the results was pretty long. That was our speculation!

 

Alhamdullilah . Finally for a peace of mind that I do not have the virus in me. Stopped at the Pharmacy to get a few stuffs and headed home. 

 

And I thought that was the end of the episode. 

 

I got a text message from my cousin . She was forwarding  a lot of messages from many sources on this pandemic thing. So I informed her I was just back from the clinic. I was tested negative. The next question was RTK or PCR? I answered RTK. Then she messaged the rate of accuracy for both – its 60-70% for RTK and 99% for PCR. Hmm.. I went silent. 

 

Then switching to the news. It was reported that the numbers of those tested positive was on the rise , especially in my state And there was now a statement from the DG of Health about  new variant detected from India and Africa. Unlike the first variant, a person may be asymptomatic  with this new variant. No fever, no sore throat etc. This variant was discovered to have gone straight to the lungs ( from an X ray done on a patient) .and for most cases nothing much could be done. It is indeed fatal. 

 

Today, 20.5.2021 is my final of submission of my self-monitoring . Am I supposed to feel a sense of relief that it is finally over?  Or should I still remain cautious over the next few days or so?

 

Well, I am just going to go with the flow. 

 

If it’s meant to be, IT WILL BE . 

17.5.2021

I hear you

 

Sometimes we just need to lend our ears. To just listen. Sometimes the other person just wants to be heard. Really be heard. 

 

And be heard  only when asked. 

 

I see you , I hear you. I don’t have all the answers, but I ‘m going to keep listening and asking question. 

 

And so, go … move on.You are worthy of the very best in life.It is now your choice and no one else’s. 

2  Syawal, 1442 

Yes. It was like just yesterday we welcomed you but now you have completed your time and you have moved on. And it’s now the second day of Syawal. Alhamdulilah. Praise be to Allah.

 

The Quran says 

 

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:183

 

"...But to fast is best for you, if you only knew." -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:184

 

 

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:185

 

"Allah is with those who restrain themselves." -- Quran 16: 128

 

 

The Holy Quran makes it clear that fasting was ordained compulsory on all Muslims and that they have to fast if they are to stay righteous.

 

And the norms  and rituals that we local Muslims would normally do ( besides the mandatory fast from dawn to dust) would be to give zakat, feed the poor and orphans, do tarawih prayers that begin after the last night prayer isyak , read the Quran, pray solat sunat , do the Qiamullai on the last 10 days of Ramadhan and to make dua and to seek forgiveness for past sins.

 

Ramadan is truly a gift from Allah (SWT); an opportunity for Muslims to capitalize on and earn His blessings and a way to seek salvation and forgiveness.

 

During the course of my daily rituals in the month of Ramadhan and as early as the first few days of Ramadhan I did question  myself as to my goal for this Ramadhan. I know at this age I may not be able to give it my all. Quality over quantity or quantity over quality ? Am I expected to finish and khatam all the 30 juzuks of the Al Quran or  would I rather concentrate on reading the tafsirs of the 30 juzuks in order to understand better Allah’s Qalam?

 

Allah  says In the surah Al Alaq,  Allah begins the chapter by saying Iqra Bismi rab bikal lazee khalaq. ( Read in the name of your Lord who created).

 

To read is to utter aloud the printed or written words of the Quran. “to see and understand written words, spelling, and also pronounce. 

 

This is something that we were taught to do . Learning the letters of the Arabic words, correctly pronouncing them. I remember  during those growing up years, my Tok Guru Quran would teach the alphabets, then eventually simple surahs in the Juzuk 30, the Muqaddam. And I remember it was more of group reading .Thus we learned to memorized some of the short surahs. So as far as reading by the first definition was done as soon as we were seen to be cognitively ready . 

 

The next stage of reading  is to become acquainted with or look over the contents of  the Al Quran. To understand to look  at words or symbols and understand  what they mean. This means reading the translation of the holy book, to interpret, to reflect, to recall.

Tadabbur, means pondering over the meaning of the verses of the Qur’an and contemplating them.

 

It is not enough to learn the Qur’an and recite it profusely. But what is required from us is to understand the words and the meaning of the ayat. To know the matter (or the case or what the ayat says) and this cannot be attained except by reading the Tafseer (the interpretation), by heart or heedful mind and not by ears and eyes.  

 

The Qur’an itself emphasizes that mere reading or reciting of it is insufficient. One needs to reflect upon what one reads, and then act upon it. 

 

Allah said: (This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its ayat, and that men of understanding may remember.

 

Being a non-Arabic Muslim, this is one area which I have to work on  and still am doing so. It’s a multi-layer process. First reading the translation gives a an overview of the contents of a particular surah. But it is not a straight forward understanding. There is a need to go into the tadabbur stage . Tadabbur  refers to an integral reflection that can lead to an implied meaning of the words of Allah with their deep and profound messages. This is where I will rely on the experts, the mufassir who is able  to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, context or commentary for clear understanding and conviction of God’s  will.

 

And going through the translations, the tafsir is not a one off ritual. It need to be read again and again. And at this stage, I need to not just  read but to make notes of the important points for each surah. 

 

So much to know. Time is not my side. For this Ramadhan I did not complete reciting all the 30 juzuks. 

 

And  for this Ramadan I chose quality over quantity. 

So be patient. Indeed, the promise of ALLAH is truth. ( Quran 30:60)