Patience is truly a virtue

                                                       Let me be the better person.
                                                       Let me be the better person.
                                                       Let me be the better person.

In search of the patience and confidence I once had eons ago. To stand up and protect myself from unnecessary things and people.

Regrets

Regrets. Something that plays a huge role in everyone's life. Don't come saying you've never had regrets in life before cause that's a shame. You've been living in a bubble then. 

I have far too many regrets in life that it weighs on my mind alittle too much sometimes. The "what ifs" and "if only" linger frequently that I despise myself for  even thinking about them cause its simply holding me back. From a cheerful and brighter future. 

However, I have to thank my "regrets" for moulding me into who I am. For allowing me to meet certain people in life. 

And for that, Alhamdulillah! 

Weekend roadtrip

The best decision we've met thus far was to rent a car and go for a short day trip together. Of course nothing beats my birthday trip to Manchester he planned but last weekend was simply awesome. 

Despite the bad weather, we drove to a pick your own fruit farm, Charleton farm! If we had wellies on, im sure we wouldnt mind getting wet while picking the fruits. We managed to pick sweet cute little strawberries before heading in for brunch and some warmth. 

Of course I slept in the car afterwards cause I had a happy tummy while he drove to Dunnottar Castle. The view was breathtaking and scary at the same time. 

And oh! If you do happen to head down to that area, be sure to visit The Bay fish and chips and Aunty betty's for ice cream. They're soooo Masya'allah!

To more roadtrips together or even with others insya'allah! 

Companion

When we're young, we crave for attention. We craved to be acknowledged by people and be popular or even to be proud to have many friends. I was never popular but I often hung out with very popular people. They're well known throughout the school and even if someone recognizes me, its because I'm always with the ''cool kids''. (Definitely not a cool kid. lol) I call them my friends. There was no such thing as an acquaintance for me back then.

My definition of a friend however has changed over the years. A friend is someone who is always there for me in times of need. Someone who accepts my shortcoming, guides and supports me at the same time. Someone who is able to forgive me and be a real companion for the sake of Allah swt. If there is one thing I have learnt thus far, is that we should seek companions who are seeking paradise in the hereafter.  

As a result, my circle of friends reduced drastically. They're whom I now call my companions. Some of them would be described as 'havoc' by some but somehow these are the people who stayed true to their beliefs and remind me about it from time to time.  Don't get me wrong. I didn't just drop some people off with the mindset, ''...I'll probably do more sin than good if I'm with them''. We somehow just drifted apart. 

And today a remarkable lady, a mother of two, reminded me just how important it is to find a companion who is able to do all of the above. (She is not havoc people) She gifted me something I've been wanting for ages. The qur'an reading pen! MasyaAllah! Allah swt is truly great. In times of despair, He sends someone to remind me to constantly turn to Him no matter what. That is truly a friend indeed.

''Content yourself with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His approval, and do not let your eyes turn away from them out of desire for the attractions of this worldly life, and do not yield to those whose hearts We have made heedless of Our remembrance, those who follow their own low desires, those whose ways are unbridled.” (18:28)

Wee hours thoughts

"Remind yourself that it is okay not to be perfect"

Ikhlas, redha and tawakkal. 

A timely reminder for me definitely. It's time to put my well-being first before anything else. 

Lately my posts have been rather depressing but my life isn't. Okay maybe it is every once in awhile but that's just part and parcel of life and I'm grateful for that. Alhamdulillah! 

Why oh why

Oh how people never fail to disappoint one another. Am i really unapproachable?
I can assure you my life is pretty mundane but if you want to know details, please approach me. Unless you're some stranger trying to get some insights of my personal life, please ask me. I'd be happy to share.
Stop putting the third party in a spot. Thank you.

Bittersweet news

Today is definitely a day full of good news. Alhamdulillah! A cousin of mine got engaged and a very good friend's just graduated from university. Everyone knows I'd be lying if I were to say I'm okay. We left for uni at the same time but Allah has better plans for us. 

Insya'allah I'll be fine. 

A beautiful reminder for us all and to all students, YOU CAN DO IT!

Often times we forgot that life is not that simple. We forgot that we will be tested in every way possible even though we pray five times a day, do sedekah etc. We become really proud people.

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested?” (29:2)

For I was once like that. In fact I just realized that yesterday. As a student studying abroad, we get tested a lot and people back in our home country just don't see it. They took their family members' presence for granted while we cherish every single moment we can get.

I had my first paper yesterday. Everyone thought it was going to be an easy pass (according to our seniors) but oh dear God. You could see the trembling hands and hear the slight sobs as we sat through the one and a half hour paper. I knew then the moment I was alone, I would be bawling my eyes out. Truth be told, the moment I arrived home, I went straight under my duvet and started crying. Only Allah knows what I was feeling then. Having failed once and having to take a year out, I just didn't want to go through that anymore. Not when I know my parents will be disappointed in me.

It may sound trivial but when you've studied so hard and put in so much effort, you just don't want to see it go to waste. Then when things like this happen, you'd wonder if it was all worth it. If it was actually meant for you.

And then Munir gave me a beautiful reminder.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…”  (2:286).


I forgot. I forgot that Allah will always test us to lead us back to Him. I have been proud. Too proud that I forgot He is able to test me in any way possible and exams are just one of it.

I've never felt so comforted after hearing that particular advice. I'm reminded that there will always be something waiting for me at the end of the tunnel (in this case, NEXT TUESDAY)
I feel so much at peace right now and Insya'Allah throughout this entire week even though the last two papers will be a killer.

I shall end this post with another beautiful reminder for all of us. Never sway from believing in Allah. If something is too much for you too bear, never blame it on Him. Instead, turn to Him. Ask for His help. Insya'Allah, He will guide you along. (=

قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا

“Say: ‘Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allâh has ordained for us…’” (9:51).

3 years - more babies

Just three years ago when I started working, there were more single ladies than mummies. During my short stint, two of them got married and one got engaged. 

Today, most of my ex colleagues are mummies with fairuz joining the bandwagon this morning and only a handful of us are single still. Oh what three years has done to us. 

Did I mention FAI GAVE BIRTH THIS MORNING?!

I thought she was playing a prank on me only to realize she was actually being serious.

Masya'allah Allah is great. We were all planning and awaiting for his arrival in June but Allah decided to bring him into the world earlier than expected. Everything happens for a reason. Alhamdulillah baby boy is healthy and aunty nora cant wait to see you! 

Of highland sheep and cows

I finally have the time to blog about my trip to Isle of Skye with love and the girls. Well, not really cause I'm suppose to be editing my summary and submit it as soon as I can but I feel restless and so, I decided to write this up instead. By the end of the trip, we didn't really want to see these sheep and cows anymore cause they're just everywhere! Literally!

The trip was fun while it lasted. The things we talked about in the car was omg. Precious though as I'm sure everyone knows by now that I'll sleep in the car no matter what. I WAS SUPPOSE TO KEEP MUNIR COMPANY! :p
I guess this trip was something we really needed to get closer and Alhamdulillah so thankful that no one feels left out. I hope not.

To many more trips Insya'Allah guys!

This was basically what the roads were like in Skye. Part of me feels glad that I'm not the one driving. Somehow even I don't trust myself with these kind of roads. heh!

 

 Masya'Allah! The fairy pool. I wasn't expecting a lot from this place since everyone was telling us to not get our hopes high. I promise you this isn't photoshopped.

Loving this place and I know, I wasn't dressed appropriately. None of us were. We just made do with whatever we had.

My amigos

YES! They were looking at us. How awesome is that?!

 Yumni's favourite! We were looking everywhere for a highland cow. Kind of jakun since we dont see them in Singapore. Heh!

The sun needs to share its warmth alittle here.

Just when I thought it's going to be an awesome week since I have been receiving vitamin D for the past 4 days here ( the sun is very shy), it started hailing today. Yaaaayy! -.-''

Aberdeen never fails to disappoint.

On a side note, crunch time since exams are in three weeks and I've barely covered much and I still have an assignment due in two weeks. At times like this, I wish I could just get married and be a stay at home mum or become a tai tai. Money grow on trees right? hahaha!

Finally closing a chapter.

About four days from now, you'll officially be someone's husband. I knew this day would come eventually but I didn't think it would be that fast. If this news came to me a year or two ago then maybe I would have bawled my eyes out but I didn't. You did not cross my mind for the longest time until someone mentioned you. Alhamdulillah!
I have been mentally preparing myself for this day since donkey years ago.To all those asking about how I am coping, Alhamdulillah I'm fine. I've not been getting sleepless nights whatsoever. So that's a good thing. I think I took it in better than I expected it to be. Alhamdulillah! I was expecting probably some tears, wailing, no appetite etc.
I'M EXAGGERATING. I'll still eat. I love my food too much.

And to you, I sincerely wish you a blissful marriage. One that will last til Jannah. Amin.

Known

Work is piling up and here I am writing up a post. This is after all procrastination at its best. Part of me feels like I should just disappear for a while and return when the storm's over but that would just be selfish of me.

Being too comfortable is very dangerous. Be it with what i'm doing, who i'm hanging out with etc. Now is a very good example. I am sitting on my bed (red alert) attempting to do my records/journals. We all know this will not end up well but let's be positive okay.

Am I getting ahead of myself by doing and thinking of things that are beyond my control?
I should stop.

"She rolled down the stairs"

Alhamdulillah for a brand new day even though I slept for the most of it. We tend to take things for granted really. Like how we could make use of our limbs. We've never really considered what life would be like if we were ever short of a limb.

The past day or two have been quite a challenge for me. Literally. I had to hope around on one foot or bear with the pain if I wanted to walk on both feet. I had a massive fall in uni yesterday right before a lecture (awesome timing) and I could barely stand. So very grateful for the help that came. In fact, one of them was the DEAN OF STUDENTS OF THE UNI. yaaaayy meeee!

Spent close to six hours in the a&e just to get it checked. Alhamdulillah! no fractures but a really bad sprain. That's all. I definitely have something against stairs. I'm sure of it. But I guess what really touched me was how everyone got really worried. Got the ENTIRE kampung melayu Aberdeen down the moment I'm in the hospital. heh!

To a better looking non-fishball ankle soon insyaAllah!

Snow, laksa and brownies on a Sunday

Its been pretty cold the past few days and it snowed the entire day yesterday. There goes our plans of going out. Hopes crushed but it isnt all that bad. We stayed in and had laksa and fudge brownies!

Yumni's laksa was to die for! Alhamdulillah for awesome friends who brought awesome stuff over to the negeri orang putih. Didn't regret that huge serving I had. I'll just have to think of burning it another day. *bluek*

Love helped me out with baking today. In fact, he's been helping out every time i make something(not very often) for the kampung melayu Aberdeen. Gotta love my man who helps out alot in the kitchen. Heh!

I love you too! Heh!

Disappointed.

I can't say I don't know where we went wrong because I do but I'm appalled at how things turned out. I know I'm trying. Are you?

"Now you know who your friends are right?"

Joy

So today I decided to pay my list of pick up lines given by Munir a visit. Cheesy as hell but I love them simply because I cant come up with any spontaneously. Funny how I thought I was an awesome late night(Singapore time) whatsapp/skype companion for him when in fact he was trying to woo me with all those pick up lines. *aaawww*

That aside...



I'VE BOOKED MY FLIGHT BACK HOOOOMMMEEE!

Booooyyy, you're about to cross the liiiiine

"I wish that I could be like the cool kids,
'Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids."


Guess I'm not cool enough to be your friend but that's okay. I'm not here to please anyone but it amuses me how you judge a person like that before getting to know him or her.

Let's go meet everyone and be an awkward monkey again soon.


"Did you know Munir is with Nora?"
"Yaa.."
"But why?"


WHAT. DO. YOU. MEAN. BY. WHY?

THIS.
Got me sooooo flustered.

E X A M S A R E T I R I N G

Too many people getting engaged and married these days. So many that I'm seeing pictures of them on all social medias almost every weekend.
Weekend comes and the girls will ask "Who got married/engaged today Nora?"
They've yet to reach the 'wedding invites' stage yet though.

No wait, I've got friends who have kids already!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm truly happy for all my friends who are off the market. I feel no sense of jealousy when I see the pictures. I'm taking my own sweet time (thanks to my studies) and I still have to work people! Heh!

OKAY! 10 minutes up! Back to revision. I just want to get it done and over with these exaaaaamsss =(

London. Istanbul. Frankfurt.

Our holiday is coming to an end. Heading back for Aberdeen tomorrow and sooo not prepared for exams. Insya'allah we'll be fine (=

Thank you for the memories ladies.