Say what you may - personally I never ever remain awake till midnight on any New Year eve to usher the new day like most around me. For this year New Year eve, or on other New Year eves before, I was always on my normal of the night routine; early to bed and early to rise the following day. While the effluents around me are all in joyous mood to herald the start of a new year, I said my prayer, and then tug my body in bed hoping to have a peaceful sleep for the night. I’ll be in bed as early as 10.00pm on New Year eve, hoping the midnight bombardment of firecrackers from my neighborhood, would not disturb my slumber. This year or before that, at this very minute, before I closed my eyes those in the Pacific islands had already ushered in the new day, while in Sydney Harbor, Australia the countdown is on. For the New Yorkers they are a daylight away for the New Year midnight blitz at Times Square, unlike in Kuala Lumpur, PJ, Penang in Malaysia or Singapore; for at this particular hour, the revellers are already in jubilant mood partying and waiting for the auspicious moment only couple of hours away.
And as the clocks strike twelve, the needle struck the 1st second past midnight, most would be making their New Year wish while passionately hugging and kissing their love ones. Others would take on any available opposite sex around them, particularly those high on drinks or drug hanging around looking for kicks, all in the name of New Year fun. (Please forgive me if it offends some of you out there.)
I had a student buddy in UK early 1970ies who never missed being at Trafalgar Square for the New Year celebrations, for free hugs and kisses from those fair skinned European Girls as the clock struck midnight. We nicknamed him Din the Vampire. He returned to Malaysia few years later with a law degree and was admitted to the Malaysian Bar. He had a successful business carrier as an advocate & solicitor, married to his childhood friend, has 4 children and eventually lost his fangs.
On the home ground we have The latest ‘Mat Rempit’ craze - the free for all illegal racing spectaculars for the New Year Eve Excitements. They are bands of homegrown reckless motorcycle riders showing off their riding stunts to their ardent followers and onlookers. These bands of ‘Mat Rempit’ will raced through the night as the yonder sky lighted with fireworks heralding the new day. The winner in the this outlawed contest would win a virgin teen to spent the night with, while the unlucky one would have their vehicles impounded by the police, and charged for dangerous riding.
As the tradition has it: come New Year, one has to have new resolutions of which after sometimes all would be totally forgotten. Old habits die hard, as the saying goes. This is true. Wishes made, and wishes forgotten.
As of the 1st January 2008 Germany and France joined other European countries to totally ‘banned smoking’ in bars, restaurants and in some public places. Can you imagine, a smokeless October Fest in all Bars & Restaurants beginning 2008 in Germany?
But Germans as they are, known to be disciplined lots, so I am optimistic the campaign would garner some success. In lesser-fare France the ban would not take effect immediately on the very morning of the 1st January 2008. According to the news report full enforcement would only be in place, a few days later. But believe you me; one cannot totally eradicate livelong habits of most hardcores. Although the campaign would record favorable successes there would also be lots of defectors, and absconders.
Okey!! Go on promise yourself - No Smoking, No Drinking, No Womanizing, No Drugs, No Vice......and no more bad habits. Turn to a clean slate...and have a promising New Year. Who cares if you abscond the next day. You'll have yourself to blame for all your missdeeds.
Renowned American humorist and author Mark Twain once said: “Total abstinence is so excellent and thing that it cannot be carried to too great an extent. In my passion for it I even carry it too far to totally abstain from total abstinence itself.’ On the lighter point here is an anecdote from a TV Personality Johnny Carson of The Tonight Show” I know a man who gives up smoking, drinking, sex and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.”
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So now, you label me a paranoid hah………an unreasonable character, an individualistic dirty old man, a patriarch thinking too much of myself for not heralding the start of the New Year with pomp like all others, would you?
I beg to differ. The Muslim New Year would be celebrated on the 1st Muharram, coming 10th January 2008. Religious congregations are being planned by most Muslim world over. All Muslim are duty bound to take note on that. So would be me……
With that, I rest my case.
And as the clocks strike twelve, the needle struck the 1st second past midnight, most would be making their New Year wish while passionately hugging and kissing their love ones. Others would take on any available opposite sex around them, particularly those high on drinks or drug hanging around looking for kicks, all in the name of New Year fun. (Please forgive me if it offends some of you out there.)
I had a student buddy in UK early 1970ies who never missed being at Trafalgar Square for the New Year celebrations, for free hugs and kisses from those fair skinned European Girls as the clock struck midnight. We nicknamed him Din the Vampire. He returned to Malaysia few years later with a law degree and was admitted to the Malaysian Bar. He had a successful business carrier as an advocate & solicitor, married to his childhood friend, has 4 children and eventually lost his fangs.
On the home ground we have The latest ‘Mat Rempit’ craze - the free for all illegal racing spectaculars for the New Year Eve Excitements. They are bands of homegrown reckless motorcycle riders showing off their riding stunts to their ardent followers and onlookers. These bands of ‘Mat Rempit’ will raced through the night as the yonder sky lighted with fireworks heralding the new day. The winner in the this outlawed contest would win a virgin teen to spent the night with, while the unlucky one would have their vehicles impounded by the police, and charged for dangerous riding.
As the tradition has it: come New Year, one has to have new resolutions of which after sometimes all would be totally forgotten. Old habits die hard, as the saying goes. This is true. Wishes made, and wishes forgotten.
As of the 1st January 2008 Germany and France joined other European countries to totally ‘banned smoking’ in bars, restaurants and in some public places. Can you imagine, a smokeless October Fest in all Bars & Restaurants beginning 2008 in Germany?
But Germans as they are, known to be disciplined lots, so I am optimistic the campaign would garner some success. In lesser-fare France the ban would not take effect immediately on the very morning of the 1st January 2008. According to the news report full enforcement would only be in place, a few days later. But believe you me; one cannot totally eradicate livelong habits of most hardcores. Although the campaign would record favorable successes there would also be lots of defectors, and absconders.
Okey!! Go on promise yourself - No Smoking, No Drinking, No Womanizing, No Drugs, No Vice......and no more bad habits. Turn to a clean slate...and have a promising New Year. Who cares if you abscond the next day. You'll have yourself to blame for all your missdeeds.
Renowned American humorist and author Mark Twain once said: “Total abstinence is so excellent and thing that it cannot be carried to too great an extent. In my passion for it I even carry it too far to totally abstain from total abstinence itself.’ On the lighter point here is an anecdote from a TV Personality Johnny Carson of The Tonight Show” I know a man who gives up smoking, drinking, sex and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.”
-------
So now, you label me a paranoid hah………an unreasonable character, an individualistic dirty old man, a patriarch thinking too much of myself for not heralding the start of the New Year with pomp like all others, would you?
I beg to differ. The Muslim New Year would be celebrated on the 1st Muharram, coming 10th January 2008. Religious congregations are being planned by most Muslim world over. All Muslim are duty bound to take note on that. So would be me……
With that, I rest my case.
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3 comments:
Gostei muito desse post e seu blog é muito interessante, vou passar por aqui sempre =) Depois dá uma passada lá no meu site, que é sobre o CresceNet, espero que goste. O endereço dele é http://www.provedorcrescenet.com . Um abraço.
Love to read your comment in English Language.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I personally would respect all Muslim to herald the Ma'al Hijrah of the Muslim Celender.
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