This July 6, 2026 suddenly thought of a song, a spiritual one I believe. I will go to Google and see what I shall find. Not using Artificial Intelligence. I, with the help of Grandson Cole, deleted it from all of my devises. It is SO freeing, allowing me to be more creative. Sohail Nakhooda the famed editor of Islamic reported the my writing improved.
He: And I have to say now, that you do not use Gemini your prose is more powerful and helps you reflect more sharply on your blog. I am writing in the afternoon. It is nap time. It was a most productive morning. Sandman escorted me to the Penang HSBC bank, receiving future good news. I just need a little bit of patience, about eight days worth. Hahaha
Back to the spiritual. This information from Google.
The song tells the story of a mother on her death bed, telling her children, “no matter how bleak the situation seems, the struggle will soon be over.” Many artists have recorded this simple masterpiece, including Joan Baez and Harry Belafonte.
These are the lyrics.
All my trials Lord, soon be over
I had a little book was given to me
And every page spelled Liberty
All my trials Lord, soon be over
If religion were a thing that money could buy
The rich would live and the poor would die
All my trials Lord, soon be over
Too late my brothers, too late, but never mind
All my trials Lord, soon be over
All my trials Lord, soon be over
.
This from the Islamic Faith. It has far greater meaning to me. It is a poem from a book, Nouri, My Light.
Otherwise Be Gone
This world is temporary
Do you not see?
And yet you ask why I am the way I am
My life here is almost over
The way I live now has a lot to do
With where I wish to be in the hereafter
Be close to me
Love me
Just lead me to Jannah
I will not settle for anything less
Otherwise
Be gone
The sources for this are Quran 30:21 “ Just one of his signs is that He created mates from you from yourselves, in order that you may find satisfaction in them, and He has put love and mercy between you.
There is also an Hadith. “By Allah! This life, compared to the hereafter, is just as insignificant as when one of you dips your finger into the sea; let him contemplate what his finger will come back with.
This pearl of wisdom is also provided. The world’s surface is also shifting. All that looks glorious and beautiful in the present world, such riches, honors, fame and so on, are all mere show and appearance, having nothing solid and substantial to them.; all fluid and short lived, are passing away and there is nothing firm and permanent. It is follow for believers to act as though surface values are permanent.
Just the other evening I reached out to a trusted, erudite man of the Islamic faith. . My question was one of direction. Weather I should aim for fame? here would I find this fame? The worldly pursuit? As I type wordy pursuit realize that the answer is contained in those words. A conclusion I had come to with the advice of this knowledgeable man.
He: Allah brings guidance through lots of people but the main thing is to pray to Allah and let Him guide and it requires patience to hear Him. But no need to rush anything just enjoy your new life in Penang and then in Kuching and each day lived is a blessing and an opportunity to one closer to God. The rest of things in life usually fall into line to the destiny he has written.
Keep well and goodnight. I have to work and stay off my phone.
Me: Good night my dear Go to work great guy. I do listen and pray but thanks for the guidance. Says the five year old Muslim. Hahaha.
Woke up the next morning after receiving guidance from Allah.
Me: Good morning. I listened to you and then to Allah, No Raffles aiming to be the Writer In Residence for me. It was worldly fame I was seeking. Worldly fame is temporary and an illusion. I now feel at peace.
He: 🙏
I am suddenly feeling much more centered in all matters. This again a conversation with the knowledgable man.
Me: By the way, I am not going to live in Kuching. Staying in Penang. Will do my mandatory month later in the year. My life is here, not there. I am surrounded by love here Alhamdulillah..
He: It sounds like a great plan and Penang sounds like a perfect place for you to live and relax. Alhamdulillah it sounds like great news.
The title of my July 5, 2025 blog promised that the “Continuing Saga of Chef Ton Alexis McBride would be told. Then this sentence: “The strange saga of Chef Ton and Alexis McBride will continue be more food for the fodder. Fodder was defined. “As you shall soon see – that is not the correct use of the word for the July 11, 2026 dinner at Sood’s, right next door to yf. How convenient.” However, the saga shall not be told and I have decided against attending the extremely expensive dinner. As you can see from the attached photo of the brochure the dinner is priced at 890 RM per guess. Divide that by four that is more than $250 US dollars. Instead I can dine at Mojo’s, eat delicious food prepared by Grandson Cole. He does not have the credentials of Chef Ton. Chef Ton earned a degree in economics but then trained at the Culinary Institute of American. It could be that economics is on his mind, not food. Hahaha Grandson Cole learned to cook by working in restaurants. He was born in Penang of Chinese parentage. The Chef Ton, Alexis McBride saga is rather amusing. Chef Ton has said on more than occasion: “Darling I miss you!”. But how can he miss me if I do not go away? I have. I am back in Penang but the cost of entry is too dear. These are the synonyms of the definition of the dear I am using: costly, highly priced, big-budget, overpriced, exorbitant, extortionate; immoderate, extravagant, expensive, upmarket, over the pricey, steep, stiff. Definitely not inexpensive. I have my Sarawak ten year visa to fund. After that is in place I will be funding charities, such as the . Yayasan Arshad Ayub (Arshad Ayub Foundation) which is dedicated to helping Malaysians achieve their full potential through education support, scholarships, and human capital development programmes. I was taken to brunch by three board members on June 26, 2026 and there was gifted by the book I quoted: Nouri, My Light.
Photographs will include dishes created by Grandson Cole, Mojo Chef. The brochure adverting the ‘dear’ Sood’s dinner. Also a photo of my ‘daughter’ Lychee mentioned in a prior blog, her photo not included accidentally. It included the following message.
Me: My daughter. Obviously not genetic. Her accomplishments behind her. And she is self supporting and no labor pains. Hahahaha
