Wife's Wishlist

Apparently the people in my blogging circle are too busy to blog so I've decided to write something just for the sake of!

First, here's an article on how men should treat their women, from a Muslim perspective. It has some good pointers for people regardless of religion or race I believe. Read on!

How to be a Successful Husband

1. Dress up for your wife, look clean and smell good.When was the last time us men went shopping for designer pajamas? Just like the husband wants his wife to look nice for him, she also wants her husband to dress up for her too. Remember that Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would always start with Miswak when returning home and always loved the sweetest smells.

2. Use the cutest names for your wife. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - had nicknames for his wives, ones that they loved. Call your wife by the most beloved names to her, and avoid using names that hurt their feelings.

3. Don't treat her like a fly. We never think about a fly in our daily lives until it 'bugs' us. Similarly, a wife will do well all day - which brings no attention from the husband - until she does something to 'bug' him. Don't treat her like this; recognize all the good that she does and focus on that.

4. If you see wrong from your wife, try being silent and do not comment! This is one of the ways Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - used when he would see something inappropriate from his wives - radi Allahu 'anhunn. It's a technique that few Muslim men have mastered.

5. Smile at your wife whenever you see her and embrace her often. Smiling is Sadaqah and your wife is not exempt from the Muslim Ummah. Imagine life with her constantly seeing you smiling. Remember also those Ahadith when Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would kiss his wife before leaving for Salah, even if he was fasting.

6. Thank her for all that she does for you. Then thank her again! Take for example a dinner at your house. She makes the food, cleans the home, and a dozen other tasks to prepare. And sometimes the only acknowledgement she receives is that there needed to be more salt in the soup. Don't let that be; thank her!

7. Ask her to write down the last ten things you did for her that made her happy. Then go and do them again. It may be hard to recognize what gives your wife pleasure. You don't have to play a guessing game, ask her and work on repeating those times in your life.

8. Don't belittle her desires. Comfort her. Sometimes the men may look down upon the requests of their wives. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam set the example for us in an incident when Safiyyah - radi Allahu 'anha - was crying because, as she said, he had put her on a slow camel. He wiped her tears, comforted her, and brought her the camel.

9. Be humorous and Play games with your wife. Look at how Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would race his wife Aisha - radi Allahu 'anha - in the desert. When was the last time we did something like that?

10. Always remember the words of Allah's Messenger - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "The best of you are those who treat their wives the best. And I am the best amongst you to my wives." Try to be the best!

In conclusion: Never forget to make Dua to Allah - azza wa jall - to make your marriage successful. And Allah ta'ala knows best !!

Prices skyrocketing everywhere

I am feeling more and more frustrated about living in Singapore. The cost of everything goes higher and higher, and my pay is fixed. My mind just can't figure how the government devises its policies.

There are several things in my mind. First the 20% increase in the power supply bills. Firstly, the provision of public goods usually lies with the government so that it can be affordable to the common man. This seems to no longer applicable, at least not in Singapore. What is hypocritical is the series of ads that were run on saving on your bills, etc etc. They were only softening the ground to spring this sudden increase in the cost of one of the basic necessities in life. I feel so bamboozled, like I am a fool. Granted, am sure the cost of fuel, etc has gone up but to suddenly foist a 20% increase on its citizens is cruel. Perhaps it would be better to have a free market in this instance than have the government provide basic necessities.

For example in the US, you can choose which company you want buy your gas from. Competition is borne to make the prices offered more competive isn't it? Anything is better than having these ill explained sharp increases dumped on you.

And what does the media do, being the fourth estate - they merely are the mouthpiece of this villany. When will our voices, the voice of the common man be heard when the media is not doing any service to us, or facilitating the opposing view of the government. But then again, am I the only one feeling this way - cornered with no opportunity to live, to breathe?

Secondly, I found out yesterday, that for the balloting exercise as well as half a yearly sales - that if I wasn't working for 24 months continuously, i am NOT ELGIBLE for the $30,000 HDB Top Up Grant. Why not?? Who can explain this incredibly stupid clause? So why bother with your so called pro family policies when I can't even afford a place to live? I shall sign off now before my blood boils and spews out through my ears!

Dismal Birthday Lunch

I am determined to blog about my experiences henceforth, forget spelling, grammar, sentence structure. "Just write" is my new motto! (Zai's inner voice goes, "shouldn't you be writing your term papers instead" Hee hee

Anyways, in this entry I am venting once again, this time about service.

I had taked dead Noushi to his brithday lunch yesterday. He was really sweet on my birthday, he had come by during my lunch and we had some of my favourite food, pasta. He prefers Indian food (of course, duh!) and I decided to take him to one of the restaurants on Race Course Road. I had heard of Copper Chimney before and was especially keen since I enjoy Indianised Chinese food. My family used to thoroughly enjoy Indian Wok, when the previous chef used to cook up a storm. The manager was very personable and the epitome of great service staff. He made the family feel like we were VIPs every time we went there. Anyways, that was the old Indian Work, now everything about the place sucks!

Back to Copper Chimney, Noushi and I were the only people there when we went. They are now located opposite Mustafa Centre, on Syed Alwi Road. The decor looked sparse, and I was really expecting a conducive ambience. The pictures on the website are certainly misleading.

Once I walked in, I didn't really get good vibes at all. We should have changed our mind then and there but I was too excited about passing my gift to him that I overlooked the initial tardiness. The service staff were waiting around the kitchen area instead of coming to take our order. When the guy came, he had a sullen face. We ordered saffron rice, chinese style cauliflower, one naan, tandoori chicken and prawn masala. Later I ordered some sesame lamb that sounded yummy.

I wish I had taken a photo, but the food, especially the sesame lamb was soaked in oil and salty. I must say that the rest of the food was average, and nowhere near worth the money that I paid for. Another staff brought the bill, and the general feeling conveyed by all the service staff was "How dare you disturb our siesta." I really felt like we were intruding their space. They were unfriendly and had a dour expression. The only bright spark in the whole experience was having my sweetie pie with me. The place certainly left my mouth with a bad taste! A big X to Copper Chimney!