A tribute to Aris Rizal Fernando Abdullah (Christopher Fernando)

I don't know him personally but those who followed the trials of Anwar Ibrahim in the late 90s would remember his courage and determination.

This is how Az, one of his nieces (a close friend of mine) remembers him:

"He was very generous.He was kind to everyone in the family"

Az said there were 3 hovering helicopters on the day of his funeral.I hope they were from the media.Who else would be interested in a dead body?

Anyway, for a man who worked so hard to bring order in this country (he was a Criminal Law Lawyer), I say my fatihah and yassin.May Allah letakkan rohnya di kalangan mereka yang diredhoi.

Meeting old friends

masih cuba muda

So I met up with Jag after almost 3 decades (she insisted it was 2 decades...ha ha...just like Kim who thought we are all STILL a year younger this year...everyone has problem remembering..already!).Andrew joined us.Liz was having a flu upstairs the Petronas Tower and felt too sick to come down and pass us her virus.We were at the DOME.

After lunch and catching up with each other's news, Jag and I went to the Petronas Art Gallery.Most impressive esp this chap's digital work as he remembers the history of the nation.Can't remember his name, though.

H and I are still working on the conference proposal.I hope she will submit soon and that no one will plagiarise our ideas/concept paper.A few people have said yes they'd join us in Oct if it works accordingly.

Anyway..a pic I took with Jag and Andrew at KLCC today.Jag leaves for Melbourne next week.Andrew soon (to wild life and surfing).I am tired just thinking about the need to re-programme the self every time you move to a new country/migrate (to new climate, new culture, new driving system, etc).I'll stick to my annual vacation abroad.It's more short term. :))

Birthday talk

To all: thanks for texts and emails on my birthday and any forthcoming well wishes.We celebrated early this year since yesterday was a public holiday (New Year for the Islamic calendar) so we went to One Bangsar..wahlau...so many choices (see http://www.onebangsar.com/home.html) but we opted to go mediterranean this year, at Saffron ( http://www.saffron.com.my/).You guys should check out this restaurant.It's not as elaborately decorated as the Japanese, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Thai and other restaurants of the same row (Jalan Ara, Bangsar where bungalows are converted to hype restaurants) but the foods/fruit juices/desserts..subhanallah...so nice! The tapas range is particularly delightful and price is reasonable (about RM100 per head for so many dishes, fruit drinks and dessert..OK lah tu.If you go to hotels..RM100 per dish per head).

For the first time, we didn't know what we were eating...we kept asking each other..what is this? how do you eat it? etc etc...For an aging (old) woman..that's quite kinky.Ha ha.

At the end of the evening, my lips and tongue were "lebam" (bruise colour) I don't know which entry caused it.There were too many colours (natural colours from vegetables/herbs, etc) I told Nik, "Maybe we should go to the Emergency...maybe I'm having a heart attack...something wrong with my heart/blood flow.."

Yup, I was my age alright!(health whines)

May you have a good one yourself as we plod along.

p/s unfortunately I forgot to re-charge the batteries so no pics this year.I only managed to take Nik's pic.Will that do? (at least you get to see some of the Saffron dishes...)

Chua Soi Lek:Framed and Fell

A lot has been said of Chua Soi Lek, former Minister of Health but I think he did the right thing by resigning from ALL positions of power. http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1298973,00.html?f=rss

We wish him well.

We made it!

2008 is here! Alhamdullilah..another year to work on perfecting ourselves (and improve our relationship with other people, the environment and God)

I'll just laze around today. Then perhaps feed the ducks.