D.I.Y - HIGH TABLE

Salam & hi to all,

Alhamdulillah, my late dad has taught me many things about construction works. i remember helping him to complete our house in Kuala Kangsar when i was 12. he asked me to climb a 13 feet of height beam to catch the bricks he threw from below. being a bit boyish during my youngster years, playing with hammer, nails and climbing trees were my normal activities after school. if i didnt take up accountancy as my major in university, i think i would be a carpenter or civil construction contractor by now haha..

now, apart from the pharmacy, hardware shops is one of my favorite places to visit. i would be like a monkey in an orchard, to see any sophisticated working tools such as bosch and other 3 in 1, or 5 in 1 functions of tools. i know this is crazy.

ok, enough about theoretical stories. lets go to the practical. i want to share with you on how to make a high table.

here we go, you are going to need...

WORKING TOOLS
make sure your hands are dry, and when changing the driller blade, switch off the electrical switch to avoid any accidents.


ONE LEGGED STAND
bought from ikea. it comes in 3 parts, the adjustable leg, a plate and a cover


TABLE TOP
4 x 1.5 feet..also from ikea. actually you can get any measurement of table top but i guess it wont be much stable if its too big (you can use an unused solid door and cut it into a smaller measurement - not necessary from ikea)


PROCESS
STEP ONE
put on the plate as shown in the picture. tighten it well.


STEP TWO
press the plate to make sure it is really tight.


STEP THREE
with the upside down position, put the plate (that holds the stand) at any desired position leaving an adequate edge of the table top. use suitable screw nail (as long as the screw nails wont go exceeds the top surface of the table top)


STEP FOUR
tighten the screw nails from the plate onto the table top.


STEP FIVE
put the cover of the stand (actually this is not necesssary, since it cant really be seen from above the table top, this process can be omitted)


STEP SIX
drill 2 holes on the wall, put the wall pluck. drill 2 holes as well on a piece of medium wood plate (any measurement). put a suitable screw nail to each holes and tighten the screw. this is to support the table top. (sorry no pictures on the drilling works, as my 2 hands were fully occupied)


STEP SEVEN
put the table top which edge leans on top of the small wood plate.


STEP EIGHT
nail the edge of the table top (can use normal 1.5 inches wood nails or screw nails)



VIEW
from beneath the table

from side


ITS DONE !
get a high chair to match with the table. cute and nice.


if this is the first time you ever hold/use an electrical driller, please pay extra cautious, read the manual first and do it slowly. its advisable to ask some experienced person in this field to observe you while working, in case you are unsure in some steps. be confident of your self and good luck!

CHOCOLATE DRINKS

Salam & hi to all,

gladly to announce that i have found the substitute for chocolate drinks for my family, YEAY!...

i know you might be smiling to see the mentioned 'substitute' which is also another chocolate drink haha...can anyone refuse chocolate drinks? i could not resist even.

why did i swift from the previous chocolate drink brand to this one? one of the reasons is because they are manufactured by muslims in my country, and to give moral support to muslim manufacturers here, i need to buy and consume the products. Of course, they are tasty and the price is reasonable (actually cheaper!)

ok, to be honest, that is not the main reason actually. the 1st top reason why i stopped consuming the previous chocolate drink product is because they are manufactured and distributed by a company that has different, contrast policy of human rights with the one i am having right now. what ever their motto is, i am slowly limiting my options on buying their products gradually and eventually i hope to stop buying any of the product they manufacture. why do i sound so firm and serious? is it not just about selling and buying? NOPE. its about human right's principal according to any written law and its consequence goes beyond business transactions.

i am not a problem maker and if they were politically neutral, i wouldnt have any problem with them or any of their products (which is halal & good). the reality, they are not neutral and everybody knows this. By consuming their product, we are similarly helping their business to grow and financially, they are getting stronger and stronger. they brag telling and declaring to the world that they pay their social responsibilities by giving donations/contributions to THE EVIL AUTHORITY who has the 'license' to invade, oppress and eventually 'cleans' the people of Palestine for one purpose - to glorify their RACE and to humiliate ISLAM. Obama knows this, and even though they seem to have the same double standard policy on Palestine, i hope his brain works smarter and more sophisticated than bush. havent you realized that we unconciously weakening the spirit of the people of Palestine by consuming their products?

coming back to chocolate drinks or chocolate beverages, as chocolate lover, this food 'hijrah' is a bit 'painful' to me. i always believe, one day Palestine will get its victory. people there have invested their blood and lives for the freedom, and what have we contributed? where is our commitment? as for myself, i know i need to be istiqamah (consistant) in my jihad (struggling) to put a boycott on their products. the time is up now for us to be united and show our buying power. nevertheless, this company conquers almost all of my favorite snack food products *sigh*...this is difficult but i know i can get through this insyaAllah.

How about you? it took me many years to gain the strength to say NO to some of their products. Alhamdulillah, i have stopped shopping in TESCO, purchase any drinks from STARBUCKS, etc etc etc and refrained myself from consuming few products (unless i dont have any other options). How all these years i have been indirectly supporting their evil massacre movement of my brothers and sisters in the sacred land. how could we condemn the injustices of the arrogant israelis, and go to Mc Donalds on the same day to have lunch? How could we just watch and ignore the blood tears of the Palestians?

How could we continue consuming this without any guilt?

IRANIAN RICE

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

Salam & hi to all,

do you know how Iranians cook their rice? went to my client's restaurant in Kota Damansara, to collect some payment and at the same time, to give him some moral support by ordering some of their food.

having nothing to do, i asked his permission to enter the kitchen to observe and learn how they cook their rice. For iranian food fans out there, here is something to share.

Type of rice
you dont have to buy an imported iranian rice which is terribly expensive (RM 20 per kg). just get any basmathi rice


step 1
soak the 1 kg rice grain for 3-4 hours with 1/3 cup salt


step 2
boil water in a pot, and put the rice grain in it for about 10 minutes. wait until they become semi soft


step 3
pour 1 bottle cap/ 2 tablespoon of lime juice in the boiling pot


step 4
throw the water and all into a strainer, rinse lightly (not thoroughly) with running tap water.


step 5
put the rice in another strainer, and steam it for 20-25 minutes



step 6
to decorate the rice for serving, mix a bowl of rice with zafran/safron (not artificial coloring) you can get zafran in liquid form or powder. you can decorate the way you like.


step 7
some like rice with butter, you can mix it with butter if you wish. oh ya, dont forget, iranian rice is so nice to eat with kebab (chicken/beef/lamb) this is chicken kebab.


i love eating iranian food, especially the authentic gormeh sebszi. good thing about iranian cooks is they dont know how to use monosodium glutamate...but the impractical thing is, they spend time hours and hours in the kitchen !

for me iranian chef are patience cook in preparing their food thus, they deserve a compliment....and therefore i will keep the complaint to myself.

but.....scientifically/medically speaking, plastic when heated releases particles that might cause cancer to our body if being consumed, that is one point i failed not to complaint about.

i intend to get a stainless steel strainer for them as a gift once their cheque is cleared, insyaALlah.

CAT'S STORY

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

Salam & hi to all...

Alhamdulillah, i have just recovered from mild food poisoning, was bed ridden for 2 days. My system seemed very weak nowadays, eating something with lots of preservatives or too spicy can cause me to this sometimes. I didnt really enjoy eating during eid, in other word it wasnt a food party for me after all compared to the previous years where i would do 'cookies tasting/testing' to every cookies served on the table haha...i lost some of my eating appetite and i hope it isnt a sign of any internal deseases..

Anyway, our topic today is about cats and its about cats of my own. i was given a big test from Allah SWT and i dont know what to do actually. My cats have gone crazy these few days and the change of their poo and pee pattern really drives me mad! its home soiling and i couldnt sleep in my own room for the stinking urea smell! i have thrown few pillows and today, i am going to get rid of my mattress. *sigh*

i know its about patience and its either i get rid of them all or try to find alternatives solution to this problem. i know they are trying to communicate with me as most cat psychologists tell so in the net on the changes of the poo pee habits. Ok, i am open to any communication, no problem with that, but meanwhile, they have to understand that i couldnt allow them to sleep in my room and make my pillows and mattress as their toilet anymore!

i have browsed some photos over the net and this one really looks nice. My car porch isnt as big as shown in this sample photo, but i think if i were to transform the porch into this, it would be their haven!



looking back at their photos, i think i am going to keep them but this time they are going to be in semi outdoor until they behave and we shall start our 'communication' haha...

disturbing my daughter while performing her solah

2 of them disturbing me at my work station

neighbour's cat, Olen...always a guest

Panda with his normal pose

Canon, who loves running tap water

Kiera, who loves to jump onto anyone's shoulder with her long sharp nails *ouch*


I read in some FB posts that our prophets loved cats and frankly speaking, i love cats too not just for their cuteness, but for their understanding during my hard days..they have their own way of listening, and whenever i talk to them, i know that they sympatize :p

FANCY MEAL

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

Salam & hi,

I reached home late today, at almost 6pm, therefore i didnt have the chance to go to the supermarket to shop for groceries. slept few times while driving, luckily it was during a long queuing at the traffic light.

I tried to catch a nap, but couldnt. tired and sleepy but couldnt sleep! i need at least 20 minutes nap. then something came across my mind. Food! I was thinking about eating donuts since yesterday, and guess what, it gave me the energy to get up, and drive to Big Apple Donuts to get 'rid of those mind distractions' :p


mouth watering donuts !


so this is my meal for breaking fast today. simple. i was looking for anything that is green in my refrigerator, due to my green vegetables were out of stock. Opened the refrigerator, and saw a medium sized avocado. ok, looking green enough haha....so a small portion of white rice, cherry tomato, fried fish in spicy chilly sauce and avocado..hmm..right match?


something wasnt right with the combination, and i mean the taste not the color. just could not take it with the fish and rice. the avocado looked quite inviting still. i must have it, else it would be damaged. got an idea to make it as desert. Luckily i still have some honey, yeay!


look at the shiny creamy avocado slices with honey. the taste? better than ice cream, no kidding! simply delicious!!


then....again 2nd desert, haha...a cup of herbs coffee, 7 figs and 1 donut filled with lemon cream cheese...superb!!


to be honest, i couldnt finish the coffee nor the figs. eaten 5 figs and put back the remainder in the container. brought the coffee and warm water to my room to drink it after Maghrib prayer. after finished conducting the prayer, sitting and leaning to the wall, i played with Torch Light, my kitty and enjoyed drinking slowly my herbs coffee...


and he enjoyed drinking my warm water, haha...cute :)


this is not my normal style of eating, but once in a while, i think its ok to enjoy some fancy meals. I didnt run for many days now, and yet....craved so many sweeties *sigh*..anyway, today, my works were smooth, most of my outstanding jobs had been delegated and completed...i felt blissfully cheerful, what a nice happy day, Alhamdulillah :)

TUNA CHEESE CROISSANT

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

Salam & hi to all,

this is something to share. For busy people like me, this is easy to make and you wont be frustrated of the output. Its risk free, even if they were spoiled, they can still be eaten :p

YOU ARE GOING TO NEED THESE ITEMS :-


CROISSANT (I BOUGHT THEM READY MADE FROM THE SUPERMARKET, HAVENT LEARNED HOW TO MAKE THEM :P )


KNIFE, TO CUT THE CROISSANT INTO HALF


ANY NORMAL BUTTER


SHREDDED CHEESE


CANNED TUNA IN OLIVE OIL. YOU CAN USE TUNA IN WATER AS WELL. YOU CAN USE DIRECT FROM THE CAN, OR CAN FRY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OIL, GARLIC AND UNION, JUST TO ADD THE NICE TASTE AND AROMA.

STEPS

FIRST OF ALL CUT THE CROISSANT INTO HALF, YOU CAN CUT COMPLETELY OR LEAVE A BIT PORTION, SO THAT BOTH PIECES STILL ATTACH TOGETHER.


APPLY SOME BUTTER ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE CROISSANT, THIN OR THICK IS UP TO YOU


SPRINKLE SOME SHREDDED CHEESE


SCOOP AND PUT TUNA ON BOTH SIDE OF THE CROISSANT AND AGAIN SPRINKLE SOME SHREDDED CHEESE ON TOP OF IT


THIS IS HOW THEY LOOK LIKE. PUT IN THE MICROWAVE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES


WALLA ! COOKED


FOLD BACK THE CROISSANT AND THEY ARE READY TO BE SERVED.


AND THIS IS HOW YOU EAT IT :)
good luck !

BUSINESS COACHING AND HOPE

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

I like the idea Dr Imad puts in his talk HOPE and i would like to relate it to business environment of understanding. This is going to be a bit technical of business issues, but i guess, my writing is not that technical therefore it is comprehensibly easy to understand (i wish haha)

As a business consultant and coach, I have witnessed horrific emotional condition of businessmen when their business empire colapse. Believe me, being there, during times of intense economic downturns, by just watching their tremendous stress, i felt the spark. Even now, looking at the economic crisis intensifies, some of my client didnt achieve any goal, whatever they name it, strategic goal, achievable goal, yearly goal etc..goals made by themselves, maybe because they were mired in micro managing their enterprises? Thats what i think, but not until i really sit down with them and listen to what they have to say. This is called a dynamic conversation. To be honest, sometimes, listening and just listening whining with the ahaa ahaa is really tiring. I might do day dreaming playing with my cats rather than to see a wreaked face in front of me, my bad haha..(just joking). Actually this is the best medium to test our skill in communication, we (business coaches) can challenge ourselves with the effectiveness and efficiency of communication and scale our performance.

How to deal with clients who seek our professional services during their despair time? Its a norm in anybody to lose their composure especially if they are faced with extreme difficulties and hardship, specifically with corporate issues. Who can help them in getting the 'idea' in order for them to have peace of mind and personal contentedness in order to stay focused on the greater tasks ahead of them?

As a business consultant, i know i am a person who gives consultancy, sits there and show sympathetic face for hours, actually, i dont have that patience haha...As a business coach, we sit there, with free judge mental attitude, 'big ears' to listen carefully, would provide the clients the right perspective not just in overcoming difficulties but also to help the clients in finding new opportunities amidst the crisis, the field that they themselves having knowledge and optimism to start venturing into. We dont suggest but we ask for their suggestions, suiting to their capabilities. Coach sees differently from what consultant can see. We ask the right question to be asked and we dont ask question that we have forcasted the answers. We act as if we dont know anything but show interest and enthusiasm in getting to know whats next and whats next with our 'weapons'. Interesting right? Thats why I love this job. Do you know that the science of business coaching began to bloom in late 90s as the world faced intense economic meltdown?

As in general, our role is to create the awareness among our clients on how to achieve their goal, using the pulling factors element around them. It other word, we are helping them to promote a well rounded psychological reinforcement for a better business environment. As for my case, i prefer the solution focus approach in coaching. It saves time and most of the coaching issues can be easily untangled.

Then, who solves the problem? We? ah aaa....not us. Business coaches are not angels who fulfill one's hope/wish to get it all over with. We just facilitate, and help using and applying our coaching techniques and methods to 'wake up' our clients' mind from being 'absent' to face the business chaos. Do you believe me, my coach buddy's told me that his client (he didnt disclose his client identity as its in the ethic of coaching) has kept his trade problems in his mind for more than 20 years but only voiced it out once being asked by that coach? How was that happened? with certain basic of listening tool technique, a coach would be given the trust he needs in order 'to dig' more. Trust between the 2 parties is important, and coaching presence with empathy is essential to be achieved in order to get this.

come back to my question just now..who solves the problem? the answer is the problem barrier would solves his or her problem with the help of others. Well, the others might just assist, but this is nothing close to predetermined succes written in anywhere. Therefore, with all the assistances and services rendered by consultants, counselors and coaches for example, the client need get up and start applying to his 'change management' and, put the hope and pray to Allah SWT to ease up the way for succes.

Actually, business coaching isnt just important to someone's career but also for the company and to whoever 'married' to his company haha...again, a coach doesnt lead a client to succes, but help the client in getting back to the right path to recovery. We will provoke the clients' mind or pose questions which the client may like, or dislike (normally we know the constructive questions are) as we see, that most of our client who is in despair in business, actually has lost sight of the most important strategies that will rebuild the business. They know that, but kept to them and to themselves. Its good if they were to admit it, as more ideas would surface and gradually, they would see the 'light' to get out from the the tunnel named 'great mess'.

Business coaches charge per hourly basis but setting hope and tawakkal (put effort and dua) to Allah SWT, costs zero penny.

THE MAN WHO FED AN OLD BLIND JEW

Salam & Hi to all,

it has been many many weeks i havent wrote anything, just finished my latest sports event which i've taken part, it was the Ipoh Century Ride 2010, which total distance of ride was 160km, completed within 7hours 35mins haha (the fastest was 4 plus hours only)

Anyway, i am going to write a true story tonight, about an old Jew who was blind, jobless, maybe did some beggar work near the market place to survive and also known by the public in that territory as a person whose mouthful with vulgar swearing towards the Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. Surely he hated the Prophet s.a.w, more than he could say. Weird, he had never seen who he was swearing all those while. people who passed by would just ignore him be in his poor neglected condition. No one seemed to care of his welfare and considered as a nuisance....except to one man.

This one man, made feeding this old blind jew as his routine...until one day, this kind man stopped doing his usual feeding activity. As usual, that blind old jew would shout saying that the Prophet was the cause of his bad luck for that day and continue cursing the beloved Prophet s.a.w. as his way to throw his tantrum. He was governed by hatred which benefited him nothing.

On the day the Prophet wafat (passed away), the market place was not busy as before. After Saiyidina Abu Bakr was appointed to become the new khalifah (leader), he tried the best he could to continue what the Prophet s.a.w has been practicing during his reign. The sunnah was what the Prophet s.a.w left for us to follow were all in the knowledge of Saiyidina Abu Bakr. He felt that there was something still undone.

So, one day, he asked Saiyidatina Aisyah, her daughter and also the wife of the Prophet s.a.w, about what were the thing that the Prophet would be doing that was not known to him. He wanted to ensure the 'continuation' of the Prophet's activities during his life.

She told him that the Prophet used to feed an old blind jew at the market place. In no time Saiyidina Abu Bakr rushed to the market place and searched for the mentioned blind old jew. He saw an old blind man, sitting at a corner, busy cursing the Prophet s.a.w out loud. Realizing that there was a 'stranger' near him, the old man yelled at Saiyidina Abu Bakr asking him to go away. Saiyidina Abu Bakr told him of his purpose to be there was to feed him. The old blind jew scolded Saiyidina Abu Bakr telling him that he didnt want anyone but the only man who used to feed him daily.

Saiyidina Abu Bakr tried to convince him that he was the person who always feed him everyday. with anger he yelled 'no, you are a liar, the man's voice is soft not like yours'. Saiyidina Abu Bakr smiled and soften down his voice and tried to put the food into that blind old man's mouth.

Again he yelled saying 'the man who used to feed me, will never give me hard food, he will chew it first then slowly put it into my mouth, else i would be chocked!' in his full temperamental voice. Saiyidina Abu Bakr was saddened, his eyes were soaked with tears and ran on his cheek. he chewed the food to small pieces and kindly put into the readily opened mouth of that arrogant old man.

Then when he wanted to put another chewed food into the old man's mouth, again that ungrateful old blind jew yelled ' the man who used to feed me will never force feed me, he will wait until i swallowed the food completely...and he will do that until i am full ! '. Saiyidina Abu Bakr's hands were shaking for him couldnt bare his emotion and burst crying. It was a quiet moment, and after a while, he asked the old blind man who was the person who treated him with full of kindness and love.

with a sober tone of voice, the old blind man answered ' how would i know, he just came to me everyday, talk softly to me asking me whether i am hungry, and kindly feed me until i am full....i never asked his name anyway '. With tears and semi husky voice (due to refraining himself from sobbing), Saiyidina Abu Bakr told him that he man who fed him daily was the beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., the man that he has been cursing everyday.

It was told that before his last breath, the blind old jew had converted to Islam. Islam came to him and he found Islam, through the beauty of akhlakh and sahsiyyah (attitude) of our beloved Muhammad s.a.w. The Prophet s.a.w could be praying and setting duas to Allah to give taufik and hidayah (way of truth) to the old man everytime to put food in his mouth. Subhanallah.

This story telling has no personal agenda except for educating the true beautiful character our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). we should be inspired with all actions and doings of kindness shown by the chosen one.

"..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."(al-tirmidhi:hadith19)