Birthday Mak!

Today, LiL wanted me to tell everyone that she has read all of the comments and really appreciate the nice words, kind thoughts and prayers. She was deeply touched by your kindness.
She wanted me to say on her behalf " Thank You!".

I too want to thank you - for you have made someone I love dearly happy.
It is amazing how strangers can reach out and bring cheer and happiness to our lives.

LiL has been a friend to me since 1979. We were two young students doing our degree courses in Portsmouth way back then. She graduated with an Electrical & Elecronics degree and returned to Malaysia to build her career with Telekom Malaysia. She progressed to a senior position before resigning in 2002 in order to follow me on my expatriation. We were married on 13th Nov 1983 and been blessed with six most wonderful children. We have lived in Kuala Lumpur, JB, Singapore, Jeddah, and now Dubai. It is our hope that one day - we will return to Malaysia, a place we always call home.
Thank You again!



Below is the original Entry on LiL's birthday!

It is nice having grown up children. They can help with houseworks, be excellent sparring partners for a game of table tennis, teach me how to down-load songs from internet and even reminding me of significant events!
Amirul for instance sent me an email below.
Not that I have forgotten - oh no!! Hehehehe
See this email from Amirul.

B'day mak‏
From:
amirul ariffin (alien_g@hotmail.com)
Sent:
Sunday, February 10, 2008 1:54:55 AM
To:
ayah (ariffinm@hotmail.com)

ayah, o ayah..b'day mak tuesday ni.. ayah dah ader plan ker ntuk mak? nak beli present ker?
I took Amirul's reminder to also mean enquiring with a suggestive tone to participate in the planning to celebrate. So I replied....


RE: B'day mak‏
From:
ayah (ariffinm@hotmail.com)
Sent:
Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:05:56 AM
To:
amirul ariffin (alien_g@hotmail.com)

You ALL buat la birthday kad special punya. Pas tu beli present lah - kumpul duit setiap orang contribute. Along boleh contribute lebih sebab dia dah dapat gaji...

luv, A.
Then I received a reply back.

RE: B'day mak‏
From:
amirul ariffin (alien_g@hotmail.com)
Sent:
Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:08:40 AM
To:
ayah (ariffinm@hotmail.com)

eh2, kami2 pulak yg kene.. hehe
ayah tak buat aper2 ker?
That was where we left the exchanges of emails.
For LiL and I, we don't really celebrate birthdays, similarly we don't celebrate valentine days, mothers or father's or any other days like that. However we do take the opportunity to say - "I remember this day - because I love you" kind of messages lah!

"Happy birthday dearest!"

Pernah satu masa dulu aku bertanyakan isteri tercinta - apakah sebaik2 hadiah untuk mu dari ku?
Jawapnya ringkas - kasih sayang mu!
Tanya ku lagi - Jika kasih sayang itu dapat ku botolkan sebagai hadiah - apakah yang akan kau buat dengannya?
Jawapnya spontan - akan ku simpan di hati ku!
Lalu aku bertanya - jika aku ingin memberi satu kebendaan sebagai hadiah, apa kah yang paling bermakna bagi mu?
Jawap isteri ku - Semua itu sudah kau sediakan, aku cukup bersyukur dengan semua yang ada.



Sewaktu itu, apa yang kami ada tidak lah semewah mana. Namun, begitulah isteriku - orangnya tidak banyak meminta dan bersyukur dengan yang ada.
Ingin sahaja aku memberi tahu isteriku - dialah sebaik2 hadiah dari Allah untuk ku dan anak2 ku.

Your present unfortunately will not be arriving in time - still in the mail. Slow la pulak process nya kat sini walaupun dah lama di masukkan kedalam peti surat!....hehehe
Hanya "Sepucuk surat cinta dari ku" sebagai menghargai kehadiran mu di dalam hidupku - kerana aku cinta kamu!