London & Paris

Feels like everything will not get ready on time...the packing..finding thermal wear for everyone..cleaning the house...etc..etc... The plus of is that kids and Azlan is on leave 18/12..the day we will go to Bahrain and board the BA flight to London..we planned to leave for Bahrain after Asar and have dinner at Ponderosa and go to the airport..but..we are not sure how the causeway is going to be like since its the eve of Eid Ádha..

Anyway...I have lost the pack of trip planners that indicates things we want to do..well..since everyone help to clear the house on Thurs&Friday before the Tea-4-Guests on Friday..it might have been chucked away somewhere..Gosh..I hope I find it especially the table indicating do what and when things...

Among all the things I wanted to do..I hope we have enough time and the weather will be fine and may all of us be in the best of health..insyaállah..

Wet London and Gay Paree here we come...

Decorative Painting Projects..

More projects can be found at http://decorativecrafts.blogspot.com

Free hand drawing practising the strokes...might as well get it in frame form.. the leaves and calyxs still did not turn out well..I am using PLAID as it is quite easily available in Zamil stores and it cost about SR6 per 2 oz bottle...in Jarir I can get a 15% discount but most times required colors are not available.



























The first picture frame I painted using One Stroke style..but the design doesnt turn out well..


















Terracota Flower pot..basecoat with Licorice and using comma strokes for the flowers..



















2nd.picture frame...this time tried to be more adventurous....



















This is orinally stove burner covers bought at Jameel store...after sanding and repainting the base to different designs...it looks more promising...




















For the covers..the leaves are still my biggest problem to get the right color match...but for my own use..it seems quite nice..at least I did it myself...wish I have more time to practise. For some time now I have been under the weather...mainly coughing and block nose and sometimes feverish...I hope I will be better soon...at least for the trip to London & Paris soon...

EID MUBARAK FIESTA.....

After reading Elisa's entry in her blog http://elisataufik.blogspot.com/... Iwas kinda of smiling non-stop thinking about the past 8 days of EID. Let me just write down my own version of the same cahin of events....

Wednesday Oct. 10....
At 9:00am..went to Ana Zul's house to discuss the final food preparation for our combined open house....together discussing were Ana, Kamisah,Aida & Shalita..we had quite a good and fun discussion plus cooperation to get the 2nd. Eid feast into action...Before going home, Ana provide us with Laksa, kicap and some other stuffs that she says she has huge stocks..ehem...I know where I will be going if I am short of certain things...

Final Iftaar pot-luck at Khaloud....I brought as usual Saadedin cake... well I am not a good dessert maker except maybe for Cake Pisang...but the bananas I was supposed to mash and turn it into a cake has gone sour..excuses..excuses... Zaharah mention that Eid might fall on Friday eventhough they are going to sight the moon on Thursday. So..we shall be fasting 29 days if Friday is Eid day.

Thursday Oct. 11...
Wake Azlan up from his deep slumber..."" Az..bakpe lah dok tidur macam tak boleh bangun-bangun..I ni pun puasa jugak...."" I remember grumbling to him to wake up as I have plans to do my final shopping this morning...We manage to sneak out of the house about 9:00 am... Stop by the Oriental stores to get final stuffs in preparation for Eid... I feel I still have enough time to prepare whatever there are.... Since I have got most of the stuffs..I feel quite relax anticipating the Eid announcements...prepare for Iftaar after Asar and roasted the peanuts in advance... make rendang daging cili api and also rendang ayam...doesn't matter that it's about 1x a year I do this..I hope it will turn out ok...left the 2 rendangs still wet and not fully dry so that we can have it for Iftaar also...

Pick-up Ayman at about 4:00pm...ask him to clean the tables outside etc..etc..

After Isya'prayers...at about 8:30pm..Kimey sends SMS saying that Eid will be Friday...i.e. tomorrow. earlier on after Maghrib..Hannah&I was watching the TV hoping that we can know if EID will be announce...we watch bahrain TV and it did announce something after Maghrib... since we dont know Arabic it was same as useless information...still we wait..but already I start to panic..what if Eid is tomorrow than I have quite substantial things to do....

Still in my telekung..once got the message...jump up and remove the telekung since already done Isya'with Azlan....straight to the kitchen and start to touch everything but do nothing.... Hmm..where to start...ok...gave the peanuts to Azlan to remove the skins..I boiled the nasi impit....cut up the chillies, onions..and so on.....well..everything was done by about 1;30am..

Friday...October 12..EID Mubarak...Eid Mubarak...
Azlan and the boys were late arriving at the mosque...they started prayers at 5:50am... So..alternatively we prayed Eid ourselves in jemaah in our surau....in fact the kutbah given were beneficial to the kids and understanable since Azlan gave it..

Had breakfast of nasi impit,rendang and kuah kacang....about 9:00am head for Ras Tanura for the 1st. Eid open house at Ghazali's house...wow..nasi beriani and the lots.. I was impressed..how could I manage next...Than went on to Sukhairi&Faridah's house and follow on to Zul&Izzah house...so in the end we only return to Dhahran at about 5pm..we did not follow the gang convoy as we were thinking that we want to head home earlier and also get some time to speak to the hosts...if there's too many people than it will be next to impossible. Next after Maghrib..went to Khaloud..Eid pot-luck..by this time everyone was tired and full and I am worrying about preparing for 2nd. Eid open house combined at my place....Still had a fun time with friends and families there...

to be cont....

Bowling At Ras Tanura

Hannah Last Day of Elementary School end June 2007

Turning 45....

Had my besday yesterday....couldnt believe that alhamdulillah..I have reach this day with minimum mishap...in my mind there are 1001 things that I wanted to do more...will time be mind....

Why I didn't think of half on these to do much earlier in life..I believe again time might be a constraint plus the fact the it never enters my mind...

But my doa to Allah swt...may the time I have will have my iman focused and strengthen... Allahumma inni iman nafiah..wa rizkon thoiyibah, wa ámalan mu ta qobalan...

Ramadhan Mubarak.....1428

Ramadhan datang lagi...alhamdulillah masih lagi disini...masih lagi kalut nak merealisasikan janji buat Ramadhan yang ini...tidak diketahui samada akan berjumpa Ramadhan lagi maupun Ramadhan ini dapat dilalui hingga akhir..Namun semuanya ketentuan Allah swt juga..akan dilalui dengan tawakal atas apa yang daj tertulis dari azali cuma ia tidak kita ketahui qada' dan qadar nya..oleh itu terus terusan usaha memperbaikki diri selagi nyawa masih ada....

Sedar tak sedar dah hampir 2 bulan summer holidays July dilalui...masih lagi tak berkesempatan untuk update blog buat merakami isu-isu diri sendiri khusus nya...

Sambil2 menunggu orang balik dari Terawih...maka terkenang sekejab...dah masuk 7 kali tak berkesempatan berpuasa sepenuh nya dengan Adzrul...dari waktu adzrul dimatrik sehingga kini di Russia....sayu juga hati mengingati anak2 terpaksa membesar dan menguruskan diri sendiri...nama nya ada lagi papa dan mama namun kita semua berjauhan..waktu2 akan datang tak juga tau if dapat lagi berpuasa dan beraya bersama...Ayman pun dah masuk kali kedua berpuasa di boarding school di Bahrain...cuma untungnya weekend dapat bersama berpuasa... tapi masa2 akan datang nampak tak menggalakkan sangat..mungkin setahun dua lagi sewaktu summer bulan puasa jatuh maka waktu cuti sekolah dan mungkin akan dapat berpuasa dan beraya di Malaysia...insyaállah...

Semoga dapat menambah pahala bagi diri dalam bulan mulia ini dimana ganjaran dari Allah swt berlipat ganda...mari kita rebut setakat mana yang mampu...

Ramadham Mubarak......Ramadhan Kareem...

2 Years On...May Allah swt Blessed Her Soul...

It's been 2 years since mak passed away...sometimes it feels just like she's still there home.. I missed her funeral due to flights were fully booked. She passed on just about 10 days b4 I was due home..it was not meant to be...

May Allah swt forgive all her sins and have mercy on her...Amin..

Nak Balik Cuti Dulu......

After the 5th Grade Band concert...Ibu & Anak Berposing...

Floral Crafts

Sometimes I couldn't resist trying out making the floral accents shown below...I don't really care how it turns out as it is something that i made myself and I just love trying. If it looks good than I will keep and pack it properly..if it doesn't..still I will find a place for it in the house. But last week...Ana ask if I can make some for her....since I still have a lot of flowers brought over to Dhahran from Malaysia 4 years ago...I make the pieces shown below...it was an enjoyable time for me and I still got hot glue burns no matter how careful I am...

Practise...practise...and more practise....

I am still not giving up in trying to get the strokes right...I believe I am getting better at making some parts of the roses...but still impossible at the leaves which look seemingly easy todo but try putting everything together..I make a mess out of it...but I guess it will take some time to manage to get something resembling of what I can see in Aniza & Artezan..plus many2 others. I am quite happy as I am learning on my own from books...just wait till I can get hands on teaching from the experts...July will be quite hectic...but I hope I will get the opportunity...

Umrah Trip Pt.3

Umrah Trip Pt. 2..

Umrah April 2007

During the last school break, we went to Makkah for umrah together with Halim&Amira and kids. We took a flight from Dammam to Jeddah and by van to Makkah. All in all I guess..the trip was successful with not much hassle encountered. Amira and the girls completed their umrah with not much of a problem and there was I having to drag my feet along...dugaan...anyway.. after checking in the hotel we decided that the guys will go first while the gals take some much needed rest and will do umrah after the guys came back. That was our plan since thinking it was hot in the afternoon and the girls will have a better time to follow us moms if we go after Asar... but after laying down and not able to sleep much...we decided why not give a try like..we go perform our Zohor first and if it is not that badwhy not proceed slowly to Tawaf...so we did just that...it was Amira and her girls first time so we want to do it slowly...but what was amazing..the two girls Aisya and Khalisa take it all in their stride while we go around 7x the Kaabah... Subhanaullah...them being 4&5 year olds only and under the blazing sun after zohor and the sweat trickling down my back...we completed it with ease and with a few tears here and there as we have done it and proceed to Saei...we decided it's better if the girls go on the wheel chairs and we follow suit...Amira & Hannah were together after the girls while I got left behind a few rounds as my feet has started dragging....but again alhamdulilah it was completed well...this time I have to all on my own meaning the doas and such..usually I rely heavily on Azlan. Everyone heave a sigh of contentment as we have completed this important sunnah. The following few days were as good if not better with everyone going for jamaah and Jumaah prayers..although some jamaah we just managed to get space or in time for outside the actual Masjidil Haram..on the compound outside...

LIFE & LOVE....

The passage below was forwarded by a very good friend of mine. Thanks Tim...it sure brings some tears to my eyes..and it makes me think...think and think and smiles...my shoulders are much lighter...

Sometimes we forget or take for granted the little things in life that we are blessed with. Friends, family, siblings, and loved ones. We usually complain more about them rather than compliment the positive traits that they have.

I received the story below from my colleague, and decided to share it with whomever that happens to drop by my blog. Makes you sit back for a moment and think a little harder before you start complaining again :)

*****My husband is an engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders. Two years of courtship and now, five years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it.

The reasons of me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness. I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings. I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.My husband is my complete opposite; his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about LOVE.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce."Why?" he asked, shocked."I am tired. There are no reasons for everything in the world!" I answered.He kept silent the whole night, seemingly in deep thought. My feeling of disappointment only increased. Here was a man who was not able to even express his predicament, so what else could I expect from him?And finally he asked me: "What can I do to change your mind?"

Somebody said it right... It's hard to change a person's personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question.... If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind."

"Let's say; I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death. Will you do it for me?"

He said: "I will give you your answer tomorrow...."My hopes just sank by listening to his response. I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass,on the dining table near the front door, that goes....

My dear, "I would not pick that flower for you, but....please allow me to explain the reasons further....." This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading...

"When you use the computer you always mess up the software programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city. I have to save my eyes to show you the way. You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches every month. I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom.You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails and help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand...and tell you the colour of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face... Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die ...

"My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting... and as I continue on reading... "Now, that you have finished reading my answer, and if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk..." I rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone... That's LIFE, and LOVE. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.

Love shows up in all forms; even in very small and cheeky forms. It has never been a model. It could be the dullest and most boring form ... Flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands... AND THAT'S LIFE ... The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.

I think this is a very good advice from a good friend...Jazakallah..

Anak-ku Sayang...

Kesilapan Dalam Mendidik Anak-Anak.

Sumber : Jalinan Keluarga diubahsuai dari Kuliah Mingguan Surau An-Nur, 10 Jun 1998 oleh Ustaz Khalid Haji Mohd Isa

"Harta benda dan anak-anak kamu hanyalah menjadi ujian dan di sisi ALLAH ada pahala yang besar." (Al-Quran Surah At-Taghabun, 64:15)Anak-anak adalah amanah dari ALLAH s.w.t. dan ianya sebahagian dari ujian ALLAH s.w.t. kepada kita hamba-hamba-Nya. Sebagai ujian, ianya akan dipertanggungjawabkan. Orang yang malang ialah orang yang mempunyai ramai anak tetapi anak-anaknya tidak membawa kebaikan kepadanya di akhirat.

Rasulullah SAW diberitakan telah bersabda: "Tahukah engkau siapakah orang yang mandul. "Berkata para sahabat : "Orang yang mandul ialah orang yang tidak mempunyai anak." Lalu Rasulullah SAW berkata : "Orang yang mandul itu ialah orang yang mempunyai ramai anak tetapi anak-anaknya itu tidak memberi kemanfaatan kepadanya sesudah ia meninggal dunia."-(Maksud Al-Hadith )

Ini mungkin disebabkan beberapa kesilapan dalam mendidik anak-anak.

Kesilapan pertama:

Kurang berdoa

1.1 Kurang berdoa semasa mengandung. Antara doa-doa yang digalakkan diamalkan semasa mengandung ialah :--Saidul (penghulu) Istighfar-Doa memohon rahmat (Al-Quran Surah Ali 'Imran, 3 : 8-9)-Doa memohon zuriat yang baik (Al-Quran Surah Ali 'Imran, 3 : 38)-Doa agar anak mengerjakan solat (Al-Quran Surah Ibrahim, 14 : 40-41)

1.2 Kurang berdoa semasa membesarkan anak. Doa-doa yang digalakkan diamalkan semasa anak membesar ialah :--Doa agar anak patuh kepada ALLAH s.w.t. (Al-Quran Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:128)-Doa diberi zuriat yang menyejukkan hati (Al-Quran Surah Al-Furqan, 25 :74)-Doa supaya nama anak membawa kebaikan kepadanya.

2. Kesilapan kedua :-Banyak memberi belaian Tarhib (menakutkan) daripada Targhib (didikan atau motivasi).Seperti : menakutkan anak-anak dengan sekolah menakutkan dengan tempat gelap menakutkan dengan hutan rimba atau bukit bukau menggunakan kekerasan dan paksaan semasa menyuruh anak tidur.

3. Kesilapan ketiga :-Tidak tegas dalam mendidik anak-anak tidak menjadualkan kegiatan harian anak-anak terlalu memfokuskan anak-anak kepada sesuatu aktiviti sahaja tanpa mengambil kira perasaan mereka.

4. Kesilapan keempat :-Menegur anak secara negatif mengeluarkan kata-kata kesat dan maki hamun kepada anak-anak (terutama semasa marah).membandingkan anak-anak dengan anak-anak lain atau anak orang lain.

5. Kesilapan kelima :-Memberi didikan yang tidak seimbang antara jasmani (physical), rohani (spiritual) dan minda (intelektual) ramai yang lebih mementingkan pendidikan minda dari pendidikan rohani

6. Kesilapan keenam :-Kurang memberi sentuhan kepada semua anak-anak sedangkan Rasulullah kerap dilihat mendukung cucu-cucunya dan mencium mereka. Diriwayatkan oleh Aisyah r.a. : Pada suatu hari Rasulullah SAW mencium Al-Hassan atau Al-Hussien bin Ali r.a. Ketika itu Aqra' bin Habis At-Tamimiy sedang berada di rumah baginda. Berkata Aqra' : "Ya Rasulullah! Aku mempunyai sepuluh orang anak, tetapi aku belum pernah mencium seorang pun dari mereka." Rasulullah melihat kepada Aqra' kemudian berkata : "Siapa yang tidak mengasihi tidak akan dikasihi."-(Maksud Al-Hadith Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim)

7. Kesilapan ketujuh :-Penampilan diri yang kurang anggun dan kurang kemas ibu bapa tidak menunjukkan cara berpakaian yang kemas dan yang menepati kehendak syarak bila berada di rumah, iaitu berpakaian secara selekeh atau berpakaian seksi di hadapan anak-anak.

8. Kesilapan kelapan :-Susunan rumahtangga yang tidak kemas. Ini mengakibatkan anak-anak terikut-ikut dengan cara itu dan membesar menjadi pemalas dan selekeh.

9. Kesilapan kesembilan :-Kurang menghidupkan sunnah di rumah seperti memberi salam, makan berjemaah, beribadah bersama-sama, dan sebagainya. Dalam menjawab salam, lazimkanlah menjawab salam dengan yang lebih baik dari salam yang diberi.

10. Kesilapan kesepuluh :-Tidak menggantungkan rotan di tempat yang mudah dilihat oleh anak-anak. Dalam Islam, merotan anak dengan tujuan mendidik adalah satu sunnah.

11. Kesilapan kesebelas :-Kurang mendedahkan anak-anak dengan model yang cemerlang seperti para ulama' dan orang-orang yang berhemah tinggi dan berakhlak mulia. Anak-anak juga patut didedahkan dengan sembahyang jemaah, kuliah agama dan aktiviti-aktiviti yang bersesuaian dengan akhlak Islam.

12. Kesilapan keduabelas :-Bertengkar di depan anak-anak. Ini akan menyebabkan anak-anak rasa tertekan dan membenci salah seorang dari ibubapanya.

13. Kesilapan ketigabelas :-Membenarkan orang yang tidak elok sahsiyahnya masuk ke dalam rumah kita, baik dari kalangan sahabat sendiri ataupun sahabat anak-anak, kerana ini akan memberikan contoh yang tidak baik kepada anak-anak yang masih membesar.

14. Kesilapan keempatbelas :-Kurang mengawasi rancangan-rancangan yang ditonton samada dari TV ataupun video. Pengawasan dalam hal ini adalah penting kerana kebanyakan rancangan dari media ini menonjolkan akhlak yang kurang baik seperti pergaulan bebas lelaki dan perempuan, pakaian yang tidak menepati syarak dan perbualan yang boleh merosakkan agama anak-anak.

15. Kesilapan kelimabelas :-Terlalu bergantung kepada pembantu rumah untuk mendidik anak-anak. Sebagai ibubapa kitalah yang akan disoal di akhirat kelak akan anak-anak ini. Oleh itu adalah menjadi satu kepentingan kita untuk berusaha memastikan anak-anak terdidik dengan didikan Islam.

Wallahu'alam

The Internet Line Was Down...Kaput...

For the last few days the internet line was a problem..and in fact it is still is..Today I just manage to get a connection to view messages etc...The IT team says they are working on it as we are using the company supplied facilities in the compound. So..wait lo....

Anyway.. i will try to be more organized and orderly with this blog. Hello to new contacts..love reading your blogs..but nak panggil nama apa ya...let me know. Hello to "newly contactable" friends..let's not loose contact ya...

Today it rains in Dhahran..this is unusual for the time of year...and the day is heating up and steaming soon. We are reaching the 50 C ++ already..and the company temperature recorder will stop recording after 50C since it involves more "humane"issues for those who works in the sun...

One thing to look forward to..today I'm having lunch at Tandoori House with friends while the family will feast on Nasi Goreng..he..he..As for dinner..hmm..still a few hours to think about it...

Have a good weekend for those Thurs&Friday areas...

Apam Tepung & Moist Rich Banana Cake

Food..food..and more food galore...since yesterday..the nite activity has been nothing but eating with friends. But all for a good cause...yesterday nite was after the religious talk by Ustaz Lah... we had Nasi Dagang & Ikan Tongkol by Linda Zamri of Khaloud Village..sure happy neh..to get the invitation. I was thinking from morning what shall I do to bring to the makan-makan time. Finally decided on a banana cake since I had some bananas ripening rapidly...either cokodok or banana cake. Found a recipe from mama.fifi recipes blog and try it out..sure is moist..!! Sampai takut nak makan thinking of the butter in it...

Tonite pulak..got a dinner invitation from Azizi&Shalita..promised to make Kuih Apam..been letting the mix rise since morning and now it is in the steamer..not sure how it is going to turn out..this is the terrible time of waiting...sometimes it turns out sticky and too soft but sometimes it turns out just nice..same recipe..same hands mixing it..but not sure of the focus...

Will put in the photos of these two delicacies later...

Yup..It Rains a Wee Bit in Dhahran Today and a Sandstorm is Happening

Look out my window just now and saw a few droplets of water on the cement slabs..but raging quite fiercely outside is a sandstorm....this syamals are normal as the north winds will blow usually will bring it weather of change...

You would not want to be caught up outside as the sand will get into everything....Oops..Just remembered ..could have knock my brains out...I got to raise up my car screens!!! A bit tooo... late..the sand has got in the car...!!!

Hannah Kamilah and The Suicidal Bird...

This is a photo of Hannah in 3rd Grade 2004/2005 for the Middle-East Festival at Dhahran Hills School.....she was about 9 that time...yesterday she was in the school talent show..teaming up with 3 other friends playing trumpet,sax and thrombone..I couldnt figure out the song but she sure is trying out to do many things..I keep on wondering if I was still in Msia..will the kids be this involved and I will have the time listening to their presentation and sit for more than 2 hours.. Anyway..I got a free Latte courtesy of Amy Mehta.. something about if its small change dont argue who will pay.. Huh..beats me what it means but I guess..I am lucky to get all these treats.. I offered to pay though but sometimes I am the receiver...also because I was not really well for 2 days.. had to miss my Tajweed class...and..got a bowl of soup from Ana also yesterday.. Jazakallah Khairan..Lucky me...

Anyway...this morning as I was sending Hannah to school again.... after missing the bus !!!... at the 4-junction of Al-Hasa and Arabian Gulf Road... as I was moving on after stopping at the STOP sign...a bird suddenly dive down and hit the car!! WOW..suicide and die lo..I guess as much from all the feathers that was blown away...I was..Oh! my god.. I am not the one who hit it but rather IT was the one who hit me....

We have this thing about all the animals on the road if it was killed..the small animals that is..cats..birds...who's to be blame..So we decided ehemm... if the animals were the one who come to us and in a suicidal mood no matter how we want to avoid it but it just came on collision than it was their fault...Fair huh?? But if we were the one who purposely go and chase IT to satisfy some killer instincts in us than we will be the one to answer.... Ayman use to say that all these animals that we have or may have not killed on the road will be waiting for us in the afterlife and Says...Hey..You....Remember what happen between us??? He..he..it's payback time....!!

Anyway....on the way back from school... I came along the same road and did not see any dead bird supposedly laying around on the road near the place.. probably it survived the crash...

Today..it is already hot about 33 deg C this morning but the sun/sky sure is downcast.. would there be rain?? If it happens than it is a first off thing I guess and will be the first ever to happen in the almost 4 years that I have been here...

Counting the days to Cuti-Cuti Malaysia...29th. June 2007...

2nd. Sunday in May...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY....

To all the mothers out there..you know who you are and what you are.. we can only try as best as we can... without requiring compensation..without ever giving up.. success rate sometimes not so good.. standards have to be changed often..methods have to be learned hands on..sometimes..all it takes for the rewards of the sheer hard work are just..a small wet kiss and mom I luv you...

Picnic at Ras Tanura

These are 2 photos out of many that was taken during the picnic. It was a fine day at the RT beach on Thursday...although it was quite hot when we left home at about 2:30pm..The turn-out was great..most who committed to come did come. in a way the picnic was for Bro Saleem who taught some of us Tajweed and Arabic..and this is just the Msian group plus the Dayaji,Hasani,Senawi and a few "bachelor"guys. In fact, a friend of Azlan from Jubail was there. He was actually invited by Harun of RT. The food was marvelous...mainly msian fare besides the BBQ..we do not want to make it a big ahssle for everyone to prepare..but I guess sometimes when we prepare food we always have the fear of "What if it's not enough?" and so we prepare extra for the just in case..imagine if 20 families in this pot-luck have this "Just In case " theory...we end up with more food that we can eat...But..it was FUN..FUN...although I wish..I could have circulate more among all the ladies and talk much..much...more. Get to know how they prepare their food and so on about kids and stuff...Insyaállah maybe next time...

As for me...this planning give me the opportunity to learn about the portions for catering...the left over food was quickly taken up as "ta-pau" stuffs and got re-heated up over the following days..which is a tremendous help...

Last but not least...Jazakallah ul-Khair....May there be a next time...