The Reader

Buku 555

This morning,I was pleasantly suprised to see the latest design of the famous Buku 555 lying on my son's study table(click on the photo for bigger image).In the old days, the background was plain yellow and the numbers are slightly red(if I could remember correctly).The notebook(Buku 555) was a gift from his friend and he uses it to record his homework TODO list.By the way,the Buku 555 costs RM0.70.

My first encounter with this Buku 555 was when I lived in a hostel located near the present UPSI in the mid 60's.Most of us were on scholarships and our parents sent us RM10 to RM20 a month via registered letters(no ATM yet at that time).We use to buy roti(bread) on credit from a roti seller who pedalled his way into our school compound with a big round basket(about 3 to 4 feet in diameter).When our money arrived via registered letters or we got our scholarship money,then we met him and totaled the amount and settled the debt.A few tried to get away;-)

Personally I don't like the Buku 555 design(old version),so I have been using the Japanese manufactured notebooks all this while.Only lately, I discovered the moleskine notebook manufactured by an Italian company-Mudo and Mudo.

Whatever it is, I am pleased to note that Buku 555 has evolved to its present state and remains relevant.I think it is alive and kicking.Everyone in my family has his notebook, except my wife.She has her own diary.

Buku 555 is very Malaysian.The notebook means different things to different people.I try to avoid it because it reminds me of "buku hutang"(book of debts).Please leave your comments to share your personal experience with Buku 555.

Note:Our Buku 555 may be as famous as moleskine notebook if someone can can create a story about it .Stories can do wonders in marketing...

The Notebook,then The Wedding

The Notebook
Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

This novel is the start of my love affairs with other books written by Nicholas Sparks.Today, a fellow book-crosser lent me her book entitled The Wedding-written by the same author-the followed up to The Notebook-the story of an ordinary man who goes to extraordinary lengths to win back the love of his life...

Chocolate indulgence is its name!

  Chocolate indulgence is its name! 
  Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

I have to exercise every weekend now because of this thing.I bet if you touch this cake, you will come back for more..

To all chocolate lovers out there,I disclaim all liabilities if by watching this photo, you will crave for it...

Our roots

Never forget our roots,no matter what it looks like..

Bookcrossers Meeting-Feb.,2006

All booklovers are invited-members and non-members of Bookcrossers:

--- In [email protected], "Emily" <auntyjo57@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Peeps!
>
> Our February Meetup is confirmed for:
>
> DATE AND DAY:
> Sunday, 26th Februry 2006 at a new venue (see below):
>
> VENUE:
> Alouette Restaurant Francais Sdn Bhd (as in the song)
> Shop lot no: 308, Third Floor, Amcorp Mall
> Tel: 017-697-3857
> French Chef: Jean-Luc Lundy
> Owner: Rena Lundy
> Operating hours: 10.00am till 10.00pm daily
> Open 7 days a week for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Catering
>
> TIME:
> 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm
> Whoever is early, please secure tables/seating for 6-10 persons at
> the restaurant and (keep calm while waiting for the rest to turn
> up!). And do try to be on time! And no shopping first!
>
> Recommendation from the menu: The Beef tongue!
>
> Enjoy de Meetup!
>
> Warm regards,
> Emily aka AuntyJo

Belief and good deeds

30:14	On the Day that the Hour will be established,- that Day shall (all men) be sorted out.	وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَفَرَّقُونَ
30:15	Then those who have believed and worked righteous deeds, shall be made happy in a Mead of Delight.	فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَهُمْ فِي رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ
30:16	And those who have rejected Faith and falsely denied our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter,- such shall be brought forth to Punishment.	وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَلِقَاء الْآخِرَةِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ

"It is important to note that good works are mentioned as a necessary adjunct of the faith.In order to enter Paradise,belief is not enough but good works should be the spontaneous outcome of the true belief".-excerpt from Words That Moved The World by Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad.

Other than earning a living to provide food,shelter and clothing etc to our families,what other good deeds we have done to  earn the pleasure of Allah swt so that we would be included  in the group of people  mentioned in ayat 15 Surah Ar Rum?

One of the way is to list down what good works we have done last month or last year.Then plan to do at least one good deed once a week.If we could do that, in one year we could have achieved 52 good deeds!At the moment many of us do good deeds on ad hoc basis.

Today is the last Friday of Muharam 1427,why not we start to inculcate a culture of al-muhsinun[the people who do good deeds]. Let's ponder on these ayats below:

51:15	As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs,	إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
51:16	Taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them, because, before then, they lived a good life.	آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ
51:17	They were in the habit of sleeping but little by night,	كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ
51:18	And in the hour of early dawn, they (were found) praying for Forgiveness;	وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
51:19	And in their wealth and possessions (was remembered) the right of the (needy,) him who asked, and him who (for some reason) was prevented (from asking).	وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ

Free reading,anyone?

Yesterday, I dropped by at The Borders to look for some new arrivals.After failing to get a book that I am willing to pay for it,I moved to the magazine section.There I observed quite a number of people flipping through the various types of magazine. What fascinated me was about an old lady,squating on the floor with a few magazines on her lap. Then she took out a notebook and started copying something from the magazines.

I donot know what was her interests, but she was taking notes.May be she was doing research on how to improve her gardening.But what ever she is doing, she is not buying any magazines. To me ,that is free reading.Is it right or wrong? The best part is no one from the bookshop stopped her doing that.

As a regular visitor to a few bookshops in KL,I also noticed a few people who sit on a bench provided by Kunikuniya(near the lift) and read books for free.When my wife accompanied me to the bookshop,she will go straight to the magazine section and but seldom buy any magazines. May be she was doing her own research as well...I better find out what she is up to;-)

By the way, some good magazines cost more than RM30.This is too much to pay.

If you happen to see an old man squating on a floor in a bookshop reading some expensive managzines,please go near him and ask,"Are you The Reader?".

Note: The photo shows a book I bought last week and I am still reading it.For details,just click on the photo and it will pop up.

I do enjoy reading book while having coffee.This cafe is located within a bookshop.

Islamic Calligraphy

Allah is enough!
Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

Last Sunday my neighbour invited me to his house for a high tea of 'lontong'.It was fantastic!

While we were having conversation after the tea, my eyes caught the photo on the right hanging on one of the walls.I was interested to get one for my house ,so I asked him where he bought it.To my suprise ,he told me that it was a gift from the maker of "Kelambu Baitullah". The old and used one was cut up and turned into one like this.

Since I could not get one of those pieces,a photo of it is good enough.

Work of art by The Crab

Art on the beach-2
Originally uploaded by Mohd Adib Noh.

This photo was taken by my son when he went back to my kampung to visit his grandmother.

The location is Pantai Irama,Bachok and I guess this was done by a crab.It looks like a flower.

Billions wasted

From The Star today:

Billions wasted

BY JACK WONG

KUCHING: Billions of ringgit have been wasted in repairing public buildings and amenities due to Malaysia’s poor maintenance culture, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The money, he said, could have been better used to provide new amenities for the people.

“Due to poor maintenance of buildings and amenities, we have to allocate big sums of money for repairs. This is a loss,” he said. 

We engineers have talking about it decades ago.I got nothing much to say now.By the way,I left the Government service more than 20 years ...{Panjang cerita}(borrowed from Gukita comment some where in my blog.)

May be those of you are in government service would like to give your comments.