Hello 2018, Goodbye 2017

2nd January 2018

It's new year again and there's not much progress in my blogging life as I got busy with other things, which to me is a good sign. And since this is an obligatory post that I have to made before the beginning of another blessing year, let us see what's happening in my life without any of those chasing train activities for the past 12 months in 2017. 

Old photo snapped in 2016 as I do not have much new one to share.. hehe

January till December 2017 - Both projects in Gamuda Gardens and Gamuda KK257 were progressing very well. We recruited quite a number of staff to manage the work on site. Some are good, some are ordinary and only very few that performed beyond expectation, thus, Ismail and I has to work harder. We were awarded 3 more contracts in September 2017 and currently we are pursuing for another RM1 Billion contract in Gamuda Cove for the company.

January till March 2017 - I submitted my letter of appeal to Tabung Haji on 1st December 2017 and been attending Hajj weekly courses in Bandar Tun Hussein Mosque diligently. I also submitted an appeal letter to University Malaysia so that I could only sit for 2 law papers out of minimum 3, following the faculty rules. The first departure flight was in July till early September, so I thought that I could submit another appeal letter to Tabung Haji that will allow me taking a flight that departed after 20th August. I was so confident that I could cleared 2 papers last year. It was not the case, however.

Another 1 with the nature!

February 2017 - Naim has finally graduated from his study in Public Relation from MSU. He obtained a Diploma and seriously warned me not to get him to further for a Degree course as he won't be doing it, no matter how hard I tried. He started looking for a job seriously thereafter. In early April, he secured a position as Air Asia cabin crew. In October, he bought a car on his own capacity (guaranteed by this mother of course) and in November he made a RM200K ASB loan after much persuasion and convincing from me. I'm so relieved that he is in a profession that he is enjoying doing since young age. The pay is good too. While at the same time, he did some body building coaching among his friends and clients. 

June 2017 - My heart almost stop when hubby called to informed that Kayla felt from our condominium balcony, 6 floors down and was bleeding. The vet doctor couldn't save her. Hubby buried her at the back of our new house on 19 June 2017 while Syahirah and I cried so hard over her death. On 23rd June 2017, we officially shifted to our new house, a permanent place to stay. It was one big achievement and/or milestone achieved by hubby and I. Kayla's body is near us too. I still am missing her presence.

July 2017 - After months of countless praying, I finally received confirmation for Hajj pilgrim from Malaysia Hajj Foundation. Another good news was Hubby finally agreed to go along with me, so, in the month of July we attended series of intensive course together. I guessed all of my prayers has been answered. Ismail's appeal has also been accepted together with another close colleague of ours, Fadhilah. 

August & September 2017 - I was at my peak of getting an enlightenment and focusing to earn ticket for my after life while on 52 days of the Hajj pilgrimage. It was a wonderful and meaningful journey, incomparable with any other worldly life achievements and/or feeling of enjoyment while travelling/holidaying. I am so at peace and able to forgive myself of my past sins till the present date. The feeling of being forgiven and being given another chance to live is too surreal.

October 2017 - Nothing comes easy in life, I guessed. Our family is being tested again but blissfully overcome those series of challenges with perseverance and patience. For that, I am so heavily indebted to Allah and to those people around me that are willing to accept the tests and challenges together. 

Before I pen-off, I wish to share what I have posted at the Facebook on welcoming the new day of 2018, 1st January. The 100 bucket list challenge are according to what I have achieve thus far.

1. Travel all around the world -31 countries, 128 cities to-date
2. Learn a new language - Currently attending Mandarin Class
3. Try a profession in a different field – Project Manager
4. Achieve your ideal weight – tummy left, challenge 100 sits-up x 365days
5. Run a marathon - Pending
6. Take part in a triathlon - Not sure whether to pursue this or not
7. Take up a new sport - After August 2018
8. Sunbathing in Palawan Island, Philipines - Probably in 2019
9. Go skiing - One day!
10. Trek the Inca Trail - Pending
11. Go horseback riding - Maybe
12. Do an extreme sport - Maybe
13. Climb a mountain – I reached the peak of Mount Kinabalu years ago!
14. Learn a strategy game - Sudoku
15. Connect with past teachers – Terengganu Technical School reunion in 2012
16. Let someone know how much he/she means to you – I confessed to a lot, I think
17. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone – Done this quite a lot, I think
18. Perform a kind deed without expecting anything in return - Sure
19. Make a difference in someone’s life - Sure
20. Be a mentor to someone - Sure
21. Pursue your passion - Achieved this quite a lot too!
22. Start your business - If I have a guts to do it
23. Fly in a hot-air balloon - Pending
24. Sing to an audience - No way
25. Do volunteer work - Sure
26. Befriend a stranger - Achieved
27. Get a drink for a stranger - Pending
28. Walk/Dance barefoot in the rain - Done
29. Run barefoot - Pending
30. Experience a sunrise/sunset – a lot
31. See the Northern Lights - Pending
32. Witness a solar eclipse - Pending
33. Go stargazing - Pending
34. Plant a tree and watch it grow – my gardens
35. Get a pet – what left is Tottie, at present
36. Publish a book – Quran translation + writing 1 now
37. Do public speaking in front of 1,000 people (or more) - Not sure
38. Throw a mega party - Children's wedding 1 day
39. Get a complete makeover - Did this in 2006
40. Join a social etiquette class - Not sure
41. Be a matchmaker: Introduce your single friends to each other (the rest is up to them!) - Done this before
42. Go on a blind date! (for the singles!) - NA
43. Further your education – Currently pursuing Degree in Jurisprudence, 2014/2018
44. Play a (new) musical instrument - Lousy at this
45. Win a lucky draw - Lousy 
46. Take up dancing - Did this in Central Bank and was even performing
47. Learn a martial art - Perhaps
48. Go on a road trip - With family after August 2018
49. Backpack across, at least 10 locations – My train rides
50. Pack your bags and set off for a random location with no itinerary - To tie with item 48
51. Protect dolphins and marine life - Sure
52. Live in a different country for at least 6 months – Experienced this twice, working in Pakistan and India
53. Act in a film (self-production or otherwise) - Perhaps will do this with Nasrul
54. Get featured in the media for something you are proud of – Star paper in 2006 on sharing about savings plan
55. Knit a scarf - will get Adibah to teach me
56. Create your dream home – Completed this in June 2017, our Blue House
57. Whip a home-made meal for your loved ones – a lot, I think
58. Bake a cake for someone special – a lot, I think
59. Go deep into the heart of Mother Nature - Mossy Forest
60. See snow (if you haven’t before) – First experience in Turkey in 2005
61. Live through 4 seasons of the year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter – those travels that I've been at.
62. Read a book on a subject you had never thought of reading - Did this
63. Volunteer at a hospice - Pending
64. Fly a kite - When I was young
65. Fall asleep on grassy plains - Must do this as I only did it in my dreams
66. Contact a company you like just to thank them for their great product/service - Pending
67. Eat a healthier diet - Not continuously
68. Explore a cave – a lot, I think … more in 2018
69. Go bamboo rafting – May do this at Mulu river to reach pinnacles's site
70. Fold 1,000 origami cranes and give them to someone special - Pending, must do
71. Conquer your biggest fear – a lot, I think
72. Tell at least 10 people about your bucket list and encourage them to join you! – on FB, 1/1/2018 & soon will publish them
73. Go on a meditation retreat – Umrah in 2016 & Hajj in 2017
74. Experience an OBE (out-of-body experience) - Not sure about this
75. Start a movement for a cause you believe in - Pending
76. See cherry blossoms in Japan - Soon, with hubby
77. Bury the hatchet with people whom you had conflicts with in the past – Kaabah, 2017
78. Get closure on any past unhappiness – during hajj in 2017
79. Organize a picnic outing – quite a number in the past, more in future
80. Do something completely crazy and out of character – done that many times
81. Fly first class – Hajj 2017
82. Hit bull’s-eye on a dartboard - Pending
83. Visit a volcano - Done in Jogjakarta
84. Fly in a helicopter - Pending
85. Meet someone you can only dream of meeting – Okay but who?
86. Tell your parents and siblings that you love them - Many times
87. Ride a roller coaster - done
88. Go on a cruise - done, Helsinki
89. Try frontline jobs for the experience - Pending
90. Fall in love 🙂 – done in a painful way
91. Be in a conscious, fulfilling relationship – mu husband, Shamsuddin
92. Go on a romantic getaway - soon with hubby
93. Do a somersault - Maybe
94. Visit a castle – done in the past
95. Change the world - My wishlist since young age
96. Help someone in need – done very little in the past, more to go
97. Learn sign language - Pending
98. See the Mona Lisa (in Louvre, in Paris) - done
99. Go to a costume party and dress up as your favorite character – those days in Bank Negara
100. Gain enlightenment – since 2012 till I die

Wow... what a lengthy entry!