Wishful Thinking...

Do you realise how fast time flies? Sometimes while you are doing nothing too...tup..tup..dah weekend..Eikk..banyak lagi benda yang tak terbuat ni! And than again I will come up with a resolve that next week I shall do better...

Well..the matter of fact is that being alive is an unsure thing but death is definite...Being alive we need to cherished the time that we still have to honor our promise "Laillahaillallah..". How do we do this..by all deeds that we do in the time that we have..How so...?? Believe in Allah swt mercies and the forever forgiving...Like a talk given by Prof. Jamal Badawi recently...Rasullullah saw. draws 2 points on a sand and draw a straight line between these 2 points...then he draw several other lines that is not straight but still linking the two points....He says the shortest distance between two points will always be the straight line. Think about it !! But this short distance is full of trials and tribulations while the longer line is merrier..this depicts part of life...we dont have to bother about much and we still move on and at the end of the day we wonder where has our life gone too...while the straight line...the trials and tribulations are actually the difficulty that we feel to fit it into the needs of this life...we found such difficulty to bring along our religion with us..we want it to be something private..it is and yet it is not...How do we go about doing this? Always remember Allah's mercies and that HE knows whatever it is and since we dont know..HE gives us freewill to choose..good or bad, right or wrong..in order to make good choices we need to educate ourself...we need good companions...we need reminders...etc...etc....being human...easily we fall and easily with faith we can come up again....Understand that this world is temporary even with all its glories....that the Hereafter is what we should aim for...and yet we fear..fear of the judgement of the wrongs that we did...the backbitings..the promise to Allah swt that we forgot along the way..the promise to obey HIM...but always believe that whatever it is only Allah swt knows....so we should not despair in knowing this...and keep on trying..there's no despairing and giving up!!

Well...what I want to say was just about WORRYING...we worry too much...will I pass the test.. will I have enough money...we lose sleep over things... and yet worrying about things like this we did not do anything to overcome it..we just worry for the sake of worrying...Since its already predetermined from 50000 years b4 earth is made so what we do has no basis in changing what is predetermined? Our Qadar...means measures... Here is where we oversimplify by thinking... whats the use of trying for example....since Allah has decree it all... Yes our life has been predetermined by Allah swt but we did not know what it is...we do not know what our actions can do...but by the choices that we have..the freewill to decide we can make good and bad decisions... thats why we have the Quran and Hadith to guide us...Its not as easy or as difficult that we might think..but definitely we need to seek knowledge..explore... find out from scholars for those issues that requires elaboration..do not merely take the word of someone whom we are not sure of their expertise...like going to a heart surgeon for consultation while the pain is only about your tooth..should have gone to the dentist first..Seek from those in the right field to make us understand...

Like my ustazah use to say also...Emm..I want to learn Arabic or memorize this doa..but we did not go and find a teacher..we did not do any homework...we did not take action..we just wish it and hopes everything will come to us without us doing nothing...When somebody ask something we tend to give out fatwa's...not really answering the questions...We say Ooo..this is Haram..this is Halal...Need to understand this more....

He..he...reminding me that the class is just next Sunday & Monday and I havent start on anything....thats when I find that time is wheezing so fast by me....

Youth..Teenagers..Kids..Tough Love...

Somedays just seems to be dragging by..most times I wish that things esp. life are without hiccups but than again it would not be life...

When your kids are small you only worry about feeding them right most of the time. So that they grow up healthy and strong. Slights here and there is normal cause most times eventhough rebellious you can always catch them and hold tight.

Teenagers are another world of its own. Do you know that "youth" is a term from teenagers till about 40 years of age ? Beyond 40 than you are a mature adult..he..he..he.. No wonder life starts at 40..But than come to think of it...there's many truths behind this statement. Reflect back on your life and you are sure to come to some truth about this...Anyway...from this statement what is expected that once you reach 40..you should have all the maturity in life to settle down and be more organized in life..If at 40 you are still easily tick-off or unaccountable for many of your actions than growth in terms of the grey matter up there might have been stunted somewhat.. Well..believe me some says all your experience in life should culminate once crossing this number and you can therefore chart your life or what remains of it still...so that each and everyday is cherished till the day do us part..ehemm... Something basically simple to say will be...if forever you are hard headed cursing here and there..now its more expected that you are more calm not easily perturbed by the small intricasies that you face daily life...

But will all this calmness works if you were to work or face with your teenagers? I am facing 3 teenagers right now. A friend use to say.."What ?? You are a teenager? Soo..You can kill people now?".. I understand what she means behind it...As if once you are a teenager you got a license to kill or do just about anything...

How can you protect them and let them go thru this phase with less glitches and bruises.. especially when it comes to matters of the heart...Not really with the opposite gender but with families and friends and those they come in contact with as they move along...I guess in wanting to establish their identity they will face many heartbreaks or breakdowns? This is the worse case...

I shall write more about this...I am still overwhelm by it all in wanting to give the right support and advices to my now teenagers. At the same time..I am hurting to see how they are facing the insecurities but it also hurts at how they hurl back their insecurities on the things they are more accustomed to.

What I Have & Have Not Been Doing....

Have's....

• Been practising some memorising of As-Sajdah..manage the first 5 ayahs...slow..ee..
• Going to Monday classes..that's why the memorizing above...
• Been straightening up my collections of book..am trying to sort them by interests...
• Clearing up my laundry and ironing...just my tudungs still in the basket..been thinking that it's such an easy task but still not get done...
• Completed paying this month bills and last month daily monitoring...
• Did an entry update...shucks...wish it was more..
• Got my frozen curry puffs, keria and cok badak..he..he..easy peasy tea treats..
• Been to MK a few times for tea-tarik's...
• Been caught in a few arguments near and far...hate these issues...
• Have manage to resolves certain issues which relate to the arguments..
• Manage to still enjoy foods and life..see..speak..listen...manageable health...syukur to Allah swt for all these small wonders on top of the big ones...

Have Not's...

• Been reading much..
• Been practising my painting strokes..
• Not taking the walk as promised..maybe today..
• Been revising my tafsr..arghh...
• Manage to complete my pantry clean-up..only done the refrigerator...hope to complete b4 repat..
• Keep my temper in check esp with the young ones...
• Been getting the extra few hours night sleep..still abt 5hrs...
• Been actively doing anything at all..just bits here and there
• Even try the cup-cakes recipe that I got..

No matter what...Adzrul and friends manage to get the letters from embassy for status re-affirmation...Totally have move forward in some areas than last month..spiritually that is...

Wanderings Of My Mind....

The week that was leaves me in a very complicated emotional state or rather too many of the what if's and what I want to do and not get done...Too much lazing on my back didn't help either. Anyway...for what it's worth I believe everybody including myself got a couple of things completed...So the week that was....

Sat. 4/26....Been crazily trying to memorize certain vocabs in order to do a test on my Quran translation..Urghh..been at it for a few days...more like cramping weeks of lessons into 3 days...Been throwing bits of that vits and this vits in order to jog my memory....I feel uncertain and to come myself down...said to myself that whatever is the effort I know I am getting the hasanah although the results or outcome may not be in passing the test...but I least I begin to put together some words...

Sun. 4/27...The test!!! Nervewrecking I can say...got the paper and couldn't believe that I cant read the writings..my heart beats so fast...I believe poor copies and handwriting was the cause and not really that I dont know most of it..ha..ha...Halfway thru..I give up says that I got to do it again the following week...sheer mistake as I have again not been studying and tomorrow is Sunday again...

Mon 4/28...Couldn't really remember what were the main things I did except for preparing Zayd's stuff for going to Riyadh for his SAIK band festival..he was blowing this mean thrombone.. but I guess his refusal earlier in going stems more out of nervousness than not knowing what to play..I guess the talk with Mr.Elkins on prev Wed helps to calm his nerves and look forward to the trip as something that is going to be fun...

Tues. 4/29...Just the 3 of us at home...the morning part of my day started off quite good but I got caught in an argument..Got to watch my fuse not to be easily ignited..Myb the way its being thrown or maybe its the truth of the question...the teacher was saying that we are not really focusing on the subjects for class..we want to stick to the safe side..knowing numbers.. colors.. time..That for me was still a struggle...mainly due trying to convert every meaning 3 ways..Arabic-->English-->BM-->Arabic..thats how my brain is accepting it right now..Maybe the age ka?? No wonder it takes ages to grasp and she's not happy of the rate we are going..

I was frank in my intention to learn a new thing and on top of everything that I put myself in I believe its not fair to say that we are not focussing and not spending time say 1 hour a day...I do believe with more time spend I can eventually get it right but my excuse was that I am having much to do...but I also think I can be organize and do better but when she says that as if we just do for whims was not fair..there are some in the class who are really good but some who's eager and says anything are not really that far away ahead of me..he..he..just being mean here... I feel bad for honestly saying what I did..but maybe its just something of my fuse being short again...

Evening time - when for a walk around the golf course with Azlan before Maghrib..completed it in an hour which was great for me...but then dinner at MK almost tip everything off...but sheer bliss the tea-tarik and mee mamak ( fried spagetti MK style)...

Wed..4/30...Lunch was simple as we got invitation from ASB for dinner which definitely going to be a spread as usual. It was definitely fantastic..I envy her for cooking all those lovely stuffs..Well..it get me thinking that what do I know..except for the few mastered recipes I didn't kknow more..I wish I could but in having reliable suppliers before back home makes me leaving the culinary skill aspects of what I should do behind and not really being ashamed of it until NOW...anyway..I manage to put together sort of a Bread Pudding...without the vanilla sauce..I feel so small beside the carrot cake with cream cheese topping by Aida..another sort of a mix cake too..puddings and apams and tapai..the lot...

Thurs ..5/1..its Labor Day!!! But I am still in labor not of the birthing kind...Got to get up early and take everybody for breakfast to MK that is..the labor wa sin getting everyone up so that we can reach MK early and get back to camp by 10:30 bcos Hannah has her Girl Scout Bronze Award - First Aid presentation today...At breakfast get to meet everybody which was fun..fun... and rush back to camp and got to volunteer for the day...being on my feet was not a good idea for that long a time....

What I regret today was my unexpected blurting out my assumptions...shouldn't have done it but it happen...it might hurt somebody if the assumption is wrong or just by talking abt it...The eyes might not see the actual truth...Anyway...I believe I am ahead in my assuming so thus the trouble...shouldnt have bothered too..but sometimes I tend to let my heart go..I cannot judge on the same principles that I carry...Well..just for saying it out here...I believe a family unit should have a consideration for each other in the unit i.e. between husband & wife, parents&children and between siblings. But then again the care and considerations may not be the same for everybody..but myb due to some privy that we got to know way back makes what we see today looks a little bit off-sided. Well..in coming to Saudi..many ladies had to forgo things that they are use to doing..like going to work and earning under their name..but when does this earning not become so important and not having this doesnt even indicates that your freedom is at stake..?? The feeling of having to depend on somebody even for the small pocket money you need to get things..does not have to be a sign of your independency being taken away from you...of you not being useful....Ya..lah..sume nak kena mintak...so terasa rendah diri juga kadang tu..said a friend. Maybe in my case I have been taking for granted many situations that I share with my husband... I didnt have to resign but I want to resign..many people says I will regret it financially but I say know I wont and I still wont..I got the pleasure of spending someones else money..and the pleasure of setting my own time and rules for what I want to do..this is bliss..But anyway... life here is in a way dependent on the husband in a lot ways...if he does not take you anywhere outside of time spend when he's working and you are home..basically the days just fly by... Not saying that I want to keep him to myself all the time..but hey..if he feels like being there with me I am fine with it..basically he doesnt want to do things by himself...but I did tell him..Nanti orang ingat I tak bagi you buat apa2 pulak nak berkepit je dgn I...but truth of the matter is..its been like that since early on..now that I got to again think about it..sometimes ya you need your own space..but then why should I complaint...

Zayd returns abt 8:00pm on a bus who had had AC problem from 50miles back..the kids were running the bus and rolling on the grass...He was saying how fun it was...Lucky that he got to go..huh..huh...

Friday..5/2...Adzrul says the qualification paper for matric is obtained and should not be a problem to sit for his finals. earlier there were an absolute no...no....until get the approval. spend the nite looking for cup cake recipe instead of studying..but hey..I manage to memorize ayat 1-4 of Sajdah...very happy abt it..but got 4 more to memorize by Monday.. have fun drooling on this Chocolate Cupcake.

Solat Qasar

Thought that I would write this down as a reminder to myself...as often we get it wrong for not really understanding as to the different school of thoughts. Wew can get similar clarification from Arab News, Islam-On_line and this explaination by Sheikh Mohammad Salah from Huda TV...

Qasar ~Shortening of one's prayers.

When : You make intention to travel.

Opinion #1. - Travelling any distance even less than 80km.

Opinion #2. - As long as you are travelling with no limits to the number of days ~Qasar & Jama

Opinion #3 - * More commonly accepted.

• If you travel and decided that it will be more than 4 days, than you can opt to do prayers regularly after the 4 days.
• Your travel is up to 4 days - than you may shorten and combined the prayers during this time~ Qasar & Jama'
• If you are not certain/ sure of your travel days than you can shorten your prayers as long as you are in this state.

In addition - If you are travelling and it is Friday than you do your Friday prayers while a traveller, you can after Jumaah pray your Asar ~as shortened and combined.

Note : Qasar only the 4 rakaah prayer to 2 rakaahs and Jama' for Zohor & Asar vice versa and Mahrib & Isya vice versa.

Waállahualam ~as quoted from the session of Ask@Huda this morning. We can decide to do which will be a benefit to us. We cannot miss our 5 daily prayers and sometimes we are in a situation so we can do our prayers without any haste or missed. It helps as many of us will be travelling especially summer. Another state to understand will be the Jama' prayers that you can do in a state of need and not done as a habit or regularity and solat "hormat"waktu..what are they and its meaning.

'Kindly advise to that I may err..the good from Allah swt and the mistakes purely my ignorance.

Cerita yang Terdelete....

I make a posting about this few days ago but somehow not sure why it did not get upload but deleted instead.. I go like this..Uh..uh..Ohh..Ohh...penat..hilang pulak!! I was just writing about the feeling of togetherness that I felt recently..with the kids and hubby... firstly it was the spring break...so Ayman had a week leave while Zayd and Hannah had a month..originally plan to go for umrah but unfortunately due to a lady monthly thing...it was cancelled...so Azlan spend the week sending the car for service..sleep..sleep..and more sleep...plus makan-makan in between. Anyway...the Tuesday b4 Ayman got to go back to Bahrain...we decided to go to Bahrain...just to spend the day elsewhere instead of everyone under their blankets..We left abt noon and head straight to Ponderosa for lunch..here is when I felt the togetherness thing when everyone was munching...and talking and laughing...the one missing was Adzrul...but than we sit in the same spot that we did when he was here the last time...after Ponderosa we went over to Seef Mall... the kids was thinking of getting a game cartridge for PSP...as often as I tried telling them that the PSP is not theirs..it is mine...tactic ngumpan sebenarnya...

Well..since they did not find anything else to check on and the movies are not the one they like we proceeded to Dana Mall pulak... a drive across the highway from Seef...**it's fun to go to Bahrain during the weekdays as there are ample parking space and no jams to get to the parking space..* At DM we decided to watch 2 movies each...the kids watch the new Jim Carey movie Horton Hears a Who.. Az&I decided on Jumper...weird movie but somehow we are watching alot of this tak masuk akal stuff these days..it is better than talking about others per say..not that we indulge in talking about others...but just comparing two nonsense... The kids had fun I think..keluar movie tu full of praises...lepas tu mintak makan...since the next movie was in 2 hours time..we decided to go to Geant to buy some groceries..org duduk saudi gi beli beras kat Bahrain..sebab harga beras dah gila2 kat Saudi...eg. 5kg Tilda in Saudi is SR58 and in Bahrain is SR45...kat Bahrain still the old price..so ngangkut lah a few 5kg bags..funny thing is the 5kg bags if x2 is cheaper that the 10kg bag....tak sure why... than we got back to Dana Mall a very short drive from Geant and snack on something and watch the 2nd movie we plan earlier..Vantage Point....as the movie finish..we drove back to Saudi... everyone was tired..sleepy but had fun no doubt...

End of Spring Break...

T.G.I.F...



Today being Friday was sort of a relaxing day although the weather outside was bad...very bad sand storm...visibility almost nothing...but thats life in Saudi...I guess..the weather will get hotter soon...My throat has beinn scratchy the last few days...



To start the day...Azlan & I went for breakfast at the Hobby farm....I use to wonder why they call it hobby farm since its for horses..sorts of horse stable's...Anyway...I dont waste my time to ponder over it....Breakfast were coffee and waffle for me and coffee and sandwiches for Azlan...its the best time of the weekend when we can sip coffee..talk...and the kids were still sleeping at home...we just tapau whatever for them..if they complaint..always the answer will be "You have to make your own bfast next time ya..."and the urgh...and grumble...mumble....and..wake up early to have your choice..!!..What I will say to their backs....



The day when by pretty quick though...after Jumaat prayer...Azlan decided to go to the office to look over things...since he was on weekend duty and nobody seems to ring him up updating whatever...so he went to check for himself....we decided after Mghrib to went out for dinner to Malaysian Kitchen in Khobar...we tend to call it MK now...

Adzrul is 25 years old today.....

Time flies so fast....it is now 25 years since I had adzrul...He was my first and frankly the easiest birth....How I miss those times...but for evrything that has happen Allah swt plans always beats that of ours..May we always have HIS blessings...

April 25 years ago..1983

A bit short of time here..but just want to write this short entry..I remember 25 years ago in April 1983..I was in Carbondale, Illinois..at Queens Apartment..shucks..couldn't remember my room number but it was the one beside the laundry...What was important..I was ripely pregnant at this stage with my first born...huffing around just to get by the days...Delivery was just around the corner...I was in the midst of preparing for exams mid-semester..wishing that i could sit for all of them before my maternity..actually there were no maternity leave..just I will be missing some classes till I am fit enough to move after giving birth...I was just 21 then...Azlan were going to start his Spring break in the coming week and we hope that birth will be around this time...

We were anxious..scared..and thrill at the same time..but we are more or less prepared...I have met some of my lecturers that if I were not present in class in the coming week b4 the spring break..my reason will be that I am having a baby..I remember some shock faces..but pointing at my tummy my excuse for asking for resitting my exams during the spring break was accepted...

How time flies..soon I will be celebrating that particular day in spring that our bundle of joy was delivered...25 years ago...in the wee hours of the morning...

Post- PRU-12

Today..I was smiling after knowing the results of the Malaysian PRU-12. Yes..a wave of wanting CHANGE has swept Malaysian citizens..thus the results that we see. Each and everyone need to know their standing..the reasons why..not just follow-follow neh..It is not that bad in thinking why not try it at least once...CHANGE..that is...the fear for change even in our own personal life is sometimes too scary to think about..Why??..bcos we have all the what if's in our mind..worst case if it is worse than existing situation..this is what scares us usually...moving from something predictable to something with uncertainty..Uncertainty bcos we do not know what is step 2 from step 1....BUT..if we never ever try to CHANGE..we will never know how it is going to be...Worst case for PRU...in4~5 years time you can always again use your power to effect another change... The changes will be in those who are in power to set the policies and manage it's running...the worker or those that runs it will be the same people toiling day in day out..the difference will be in focusing on what matters most..Nobody will lose their job just bcos of the change-over of top management like what will happen in 4 states...unless the person itself has some issues that now somebody will take a look at...the one who runs the show will be different but the ones who work for the show will be the person who is hired for the job all along...Nahaslah..bila tukar governance so tons of people will be laid-off..tak macam tu...

BRAVO to all those people who open up their heart and decide to take up CHANGE...the fears in your heart..let it be..definitely it will be fan by all the media news that you read..infact today in Utusan..it has already printed down that the BA cannot get their heads together to govern..they started with who will be the MB for Perak...Huh..3x..Huh...Why la..lo...Be fair...wait and decide... this is not anymore for us..it is for our kids and kids future..It is already tough making ends meet as it is..lets try to make the future of Malaysians will be something that there'll be benefits for all to share...I am not really into politics..to me no matter what.. it is tough for all those in it...But as long as the reps will work for their constituents..bring forward the needs of the people in parliment and try..try..no matter how hard..I guess..something will surely come up. I guess...for BA it will give them the chance to invoke changes...to prove..what can be done...even for BN definitely they will need to work harder..they will not be resting on their laurels too much...At the end of the day..we must give the HAQ to the deserving no matter who they are..do not deny the Haq for the good that somebody do...Open up our mind and hearts and our eyes and ears and even our nose will get the sense of it all....

My heart was in shreds looking at the photo of TGNA with tears falling down his face... my doa for that day are that people will open up their hearts and mind..May all the "hantus"pangkah BA...May Allah swt give guidance to the voters and May we be Sabr for whatever the on-goings will be..Alhamdulilah..Allah swt show us the way..The wins are not an easy thing to carry or run...it is an amanah with lots of trials..definitely BA have to work together..not just their heads but their heart too...I hope they will and find a way to resolve issues between them..and rule collectively with consensus...prove that the fears we have are just that..fears of the unknown....DSAI is still relevant definitely....at the end of the day we are Malaysians...lets start behaving as Malaysians to break all barriers..teach our children no matter what..we are from the same country...have the same fears and the same ambitions..may it will be a brighter future for everyone....

Living In Aramco - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

This coming July'08 will be Azlan's 5th. anniversary with Aramco. Not bad..he got a SR1500 gift certificate and for sure..you know who will it be going to..May Allah swt. make it easy for him in anything that he do...anyway..when we first got here we were the first Malaysian family... although there were 1/2 Malaysians too..those married to another passport holder. There were those who were Msian but has now become holders of other country citizenship. But after 5 years there are now about 50++ families scattered in Dhahran, Udhailiyah, Ras Tanura and Abqaiq...Dhahran being the most populated and nearer to the Al-Khobar and Dammam and just a causeway away abt 45mins from the country of Bahrain. So..I guess those who got to stay in Dhahran got the better deals in terms of amenities..although you can be easily tempted with all the sale that is always going on. Probably those who stay in other camps will be able to save more money compared to us here Dhahranians... No matter what..I guess in Aramco that's where you can find the most varied citizens from around the world..just go to the schools and you know what I mean..the most mixed marriages...all in all it is quite a unique community.

Honestly...I dont venture out of the house much as I am without any help at home...got to do the 1001 things myself that the house and family needed..almost always 24 hrs on call...but basically no complaint as I got my equal share of fun the way I want it..But 3 mornings in a week I attended classes...this got me going and meet more fun people..like minded in the way we want to learn new things..so got to make sure I can maintain the consistency of going to the Quran & Arabic classes...There are always something going on..like the Womens Group..Garden Group and plus if you volunteer in schools for certain activities. You might end up having no time to devote to what your house or family need...sometimes I have a houseboy come to clean the windows and toilets etc..but since he's back to India not sure till when..I havent yet get a replacement...On camp there also have a few snack bars, a cafe, a restaurant, a dining hall, a movie theater, swimming pools..hiking tracks..sporst facility, library, bowling alley, golf field, a hobby farm for horses..beautiful beach when its not hot... a great wall climbing area, art classes, individuals who also provide services like gifts, beauty, piano lessons, dance...you name it and almost always its available.. so life here is not too bad..once you get bored with not finding anything to do you can always go away for a short or long holiday. We were in Lon&Paris for 2 weeks, now planning for a 5week trip to Malaysia and in between maybe umrah to Makkah, weekend in Bahrain..thats what sums up your life here....

But the things you will almost always miss being here are relatives and the time....the food you once love but in actual fact not that healthy for you always..though it taste great and looks wonderful...But for me, the best thing will be seeing my children grow from my own nurturing... seeing more smiles each day between us...although the age is now slowly creeping up...

Zayd & Hannah

Student Lead Conference ~Sunday Feb. 10, 2008..Aramco School, Dhahran.

Trios at the 7th grade hallway...waiting for Zayd's turn..

Zayd at his famous locker...

Hannah & Papa front of the date tree...

In front of 7th. grade building...

Hannah waiting to be called in...

Hannah & Mrs. Lunsford her 6th. grade Oasis and Math teacher...

Student led means the kid got to present and show/tell their parents what they have been doing. Their progress in school that is...well..Hannah has great grades and Zayd has make some big scale improvements in Science from C- to now a B+ avg...wonder if he can maintain them... Here are some photos of them around school...

Plaques or Signs and Such'

Decorative painting attempts...

Here I have manage to make some " Welcome "signs. I know it is still not as per what I have read in the books of what it should look like but I can see some improvements in them...i dont mind saying so..ehemm..Still..I am feeling a little sad as my book orders have lost its way...I hope that it will reach me eventually..although my heart is sinking each day it did not arrive...

Anyway...here goes... the 1st. try was the one with lots of roses top and bottom..than I read somewhere it says to do the lettering first..2nd attempt I bough a template and was quite happy the letters are straight but Hannah hates it coz'to hear it looks too straight..huh...3rd attempt I do the tracing transfer and colored the lettering in first..but it is a mess..but I was quite happy with the roses and leaves...I guss as I practise it will be better...Hannah ask...No other flowers kah Ma...? Maybe later... thought if its difficult it might give me a challenge..I guess should have followed the advise to start with a daisy first...but I was so geram...in awe..of all the beautiful paintings of Aniza,Nora that I see on the web...

Swags and Such...

Craft Extravaganza...

Last week was quite eventful as I manage to complete eventhough half way some of these arrangements. As it would normally happen, I will fell in love with some of them and reluctant to part with it for its rightful owner. Anyway...I still have some stuffs left to duplicate them. Now its to make the paper ribbons or silk and attached it and they will be done. Soon enough will be with their rightful owners. I know they will like them as much as I do....but still I hope what I have made is as per what they have in mind...This is usually the difficult part for me to do if the items are custom ordered..I rather just make them ahead and have the available stocks on display and chosen by those who like them...next will be in calculating the costs for each piece..main will be the material cost and than the workmanship. Since I bought the silk flowers from Malaysia last summer..some air freight charges has got to be added...here my cake scale comes in handy...

Paris ~24th. December 2007

It was a day spend around Paris driven by Shahrul while Bal spend 2 hours queuing to get the tickets to go up Eiffel...Jazakallah Bal... We went up to almost the top floor of Eiffel..I couldn't believe it that I have reached this landmark....all this while I have just been looking at pictures and read about it...Awesome....

I will do the summary later on..Just to get these photos uploaded first..

Zayd's 14th Birthday ~Paris Disneyland -23rd. December 2007

Zayd's 14th Birthday was spend / celebrated in Paris Disney...there was no cake but the whole day from 10am till about 8pm we were there. Although we did not manage to get on most of the popular rides due to extremely long queues..even for the Fastrack pass..but we did have a go at a few rides..we started with the Spinning Tea-Cups..next to the Carousel of Horses than to Dumbo Flight...Pirate Ship...Run-Away Train..River Boat Ride...

All in all..it was an extremely fun filled day although cold..we have lots of pictures taken but in the end...everyone was pretty tired by the time we got to the hotel. The toilets were surprisingly very clean...I was hesitating for a long time to go bcos of the crowd and thinking about how the place will be..but I shouldn't have done so as it was surprisingly well taken care off..

Transportation to and from hotel was great...it is a must to have a hotel with shuttle service. Whether we will come again to get on more rides...insyaállah..or maybe to DisneyWorld in Florida...

Paris Disneyland

Will update soon...

Hannah Kamilah's 12th. Birthday ~21/12/2007

St. Pancras Station..19/12/2007

Collecting our tickets at St. Pancras and having some snacks...