One Night in Winter

February 4th, 2012

4.30 in the afternoon, we were on our way to Derby after leaving all the children at a friend's house.  It was a birthday celebration of another good friend and we have planned to go from the beginning and what more we have a couple of friends going with us.

Our way north started quite pleasant in the beginning. Fifteen minutes into the journey Brother Ahmad pointed out, "See, the cloud over there? It looks so heavy, it will be snowing shortly."

"It was predicted to snow by 5 p.m today."

"Oh yes it will."  So, around 40 past 4, it started snowing, the soft rainy like like snow and by the time we pulled up at one of the Motorway Service Area around Northampton, it was full-blown snowing.

And by the time we reached Derby Convention Centre, it was Winter Wonderland.  The Birthday celebration itself goes well with of course great food.  We were entertained by a duo doing the ABBA numbers - it was a very pleasant evening! (Thank you Kak Intan & David - Many Happy Returns, David!)

When we started back it was still snowing and we have to make our way very slowly.  A few cars skidded making us more careful and determined to arrive home safely - between us, we have 5 children to come home to.

It was a bright white night when we reached Luton - Bro ahmad & Kak Yati tried to convince us to stay at their place for the night but since Mi was quite confident of getting us home, we thanked them and make our way.

Unfortunately for us, the journey home was not so smooth.

It was uphill where we live.  Half way, the car just cannot pull through.  So, we have to park the car by the roadside and make our way walking in the snow with our feet splashed sploshing deep in the newly fallen snow.  What a sight we must be.  A pair of parents with 4 young children walking in the snow in the wee hour of the morning.  Fortunately none of the children complaint.

"I know I wish for it to snow, but not this much snow..." said Mia

"But all of you always want adventure.  This is adventure!" I said

"OK then.  Snowball fight?"

You never know which way it may go with children. So we walked all the 1 plus miles home and it was not a night for us.  For we have to fight the cold that night - our heater just not working!

Happy Weekends Everyone :-D

Mummy & Son Talk

Aqil celebrated his 6th birthday on Jan 27th.

The night before his birthday, during our snuggling time before sending him to sleep, he asked me one question, which of course led to another.

"Mummy, how old is Danish when I am 13?"

"He'll be 21."

"When I am 20?"

"He'll be 28."

"When I am 52?"

"He'll be 60"

"When I am 68?"

"He'll be 76."

"Will you still be around when I am 76?"

"I am afraid, Darling,  I will be long gone when you are 76."

"Danish?"

"He'll be 84.  Maybe he's still around but we never know, Darling.   Only God knows..."

"Then who is going to take care of me if both of you are not around?"

At this point I was already in the brink of laughing. But, before I could say anything, he continued.

"Never mind, it's alright! I will go to your Mum.  She lives alone.  I will join her.  Surely she will take care of me. She loves me."

And I was like, if I am long gone by then, for sure my Mum won't be around....

Anyway, I just told him.

"It's alright, Darling... When you are 76, you will have your own family to take care of you. But, if none of then are willing, just register yourself at any of the Retirement homes... they have a lot of facilities and support there, but, I tell you what, you will be alright..."

"Ok Mum..." and he was asleep not long after that.

Well, .... I cannot comment much, can I? When I told my Mum, she was laughing, saying,  "At least, even though we are far from each other now, he is aware that I love him.

All of us love you, too. :-D

Leaping Salmon

The first time I heard about leaping salmon was many years back when watching National Geographic with my Dad - it is so intriguing watching the salmon fighting its way upstream to spawn and sadly to die as well.  I also remember seeing physical changes to the salmon as it makes its way from the ocean to the spawning ground.

So, during my first Autumn in Dundee when I heard that there are a few spots in Scotland where we can watch leaping salmon, I was so excited but somehow I couldn't make it then.

Anyway, I finally managed to do so last Wednesday (Oct 26, 2011).  And what an experience it was!  Though there are are few spots throughout Scotland, we went to the closest to Dundee. It's at Buchanty Spout somewhere not far from Crieff (What a lovely town it is!). I think it is one of the best kept secret Perthshire ever have. I am still very tired of the journey as such, do enjoy the photos.

The sign to Buchanty Spout

It's an awesome view, trust me!

Our first leaping salmon!

The second!

The view from the bridge

Till then - Enjoy your weekends :-D

Look who's talking....

Just as I was about to lie down and have my own me time that fine Saturday afternoon, Aqil and Damia rushed into my room.

"Are you married to Baba?" asked Aqil snuggling beside me.

"Of course I am!" I said

He sit up, faced me and said, " If I am a boy and married to a girl and a baby come out, will the baby knows the boy and the girl is married?"

"Ok. I get what you mean..."

"Exactly!That's why I never know if you are married to Baba. I never see it!"

Goodness me! Just what are they learning at school nowadays?

I haven't yet quite getting into responding to him when Damia who pulled herself closer to me started asking.

"Do you love Baba?"

"Yes I do."

"Are you happy with him?"

"Yes, I am."

"Do you know that if you are ever fed-up with him you can divorce him?" (Well, she's asking me this so gently and so full of  innocence.)

I was shocked actually but I simply asked back

"Will you define divorce for me, please."

"When a party brought a flower to another party and say I'm sorry, and the other party who supposed to answer said No, then you get a divorce." She responded triumphantly. I don't know if I have to cry or to laugh - I mean seriously!

Oh my Dear God! What are these young children exposed to nowadays? Is it simply freedom of speech? I can't remember discussing marriage or divorce with my parents when I was 5 or 7 - I don't even think about these words. And I can't imagine what trouble I will get into if I do ask these or even suggest these topics when I were at that age!

Anyway, I am very glad that I didn't faint that day. Is it because we are lenient with our children that they know they can discuss anything with their parents. That reminds me of what happened a week ago.  I was in the kitchen with my husband preparing lunch when I asked my eldest to go to the shop and get me a copy of the "People's Friend" magazine - oh yes, call me whatever you like but I love this magazine. 10 minutes later he pushed open the kitchen door, magazine in hand in what I can described as shock and anger, "Oh my Goodness!I think I lost my virginity!" Both my husband and I were so shocked we cannot respond immediately.

"You're gone for 10 minutes and lost your virginity?! What happened?" I finally asked when I finally found my voice - better be an explanation.

"There no People's Friend at the Cooperative so I went to Nisa! I was flipping through the magazine, yeah, and not one! but two! Can you imagine? Two magazines with topless women as cover! Oh my God!" he rushed the words with one breath in pure disgraced.

Oh Dear! One of these days both my husbands and I are seriously in for heart attack!  I'm not entirely sure nowadays which is more shocking - to be a child or a parent. At times, I felt so exhausted by these children, I started to wonder if they are really mine? Ours?

Anyway, in case you are wondering about Damia's suggestion, my husband and I are still very much in love with each other. You can ask him. He's beside me now.

Till then :-D

Ramblings ........ Oh No!

Salam & Great Evening Everyone :-D

Again, it is a very long while before I am here again but Thank you Kindly, for those who visit this space of mine.  Today, I reached home early - not because I turned over new leaf like it's my new resolution or anything but because I have to attend my daughter's Parents' Evening.  Since my husband works evening, I have no choice but to go - at least before the teacher thought that my daughter has no Mum! Damia joined this school on September 5 this year and I have never been to her morning coffee, assembly, etc,.. So, today is the first for me to meet her class teacher - Mrs W.

My slot was set at 5.30 p.m.  So, in order not to be late I left the office at 3.15 p.m - acting like the irresponsible employee who couldn't care less if she meets the deadline (that's on the surface - deep down, my mind was in turmoil!). The first part of my journey - by underground from Hyde Park Corner to King's Cross St Pancras went well.  As I stepped into the National Railway station, there was a lot of people waiting and queuing! My heart skipped a beat! Not again! The train to Bedford is delayed due to signalling problem! Gladly, after about 15 minutes, the train finally approached.  And 15 minutes later it stopped! This can't be happening! Not on the day when I was about to meet my daughter's teacher! I was getting very restless when the train was moving again! Thank Goodness!

Well, you see, I am the kind of person who should not be left alone without anything to do.  Such, I always carry a book with me so I can read during my train journey. Now, as it happened, I didn't carry any book at all. Not even a note book to write something on.  Reason behind this is, other than my love for reading and so-called vocabulary enriching, to stop my mind from wandering.

You see, as I don't have anything to do - though I did try to close my eyes to catch up on sleep - forget it! after 3 minutes, pretending to sleep can be very tiring - so, my mind started wandering.  It is already 4.18 and I haven't even reached St Albans yet... Hmm... and the bus interval to where I stay is every half hour. Oh Dear! Looks like I don't have time to fetch Mia from home.  Maybe I can just turn-up on my own - put up a string of apologies to the teacher for not having time to get my daughter in order to keep my 5.30 slot? Another thought comes to mind - what if Mrs W is not convinced that I am Mia's Mum? And she refused to discuss Mia's development at school with me? What if she thinks that I am an impersonator? What if she thinks that the real Mia's Mum paid me to go instead of turning up herself? I mean just in case Mia is doing very badly at school.  To help ease my mind, I text my husband - as usual there's no reply. So I text my friend at the office, " Is it alright to turn up without my daughter?". "It's ok." came the reply. "Won't the teacher thought I am an impersonator or paid to go?" I asked. "Actually I have never been. Not sure!" You should by now why I love my friend/s! :-D

Just as I was trying to figure out what to say to the teacher, there was an incoming text - just a simple "Yes" from my husband. Oh Dear! At the rate the train is going I can say goodbye to my 5.30 slot. But somehow, by some twist of luck - more likely just trying my patience, I managed to arrive at Luton Station at around 4.30. I rushed out, walking like a madman (madwomen in my case!) to the bus stop. But, you see, the short cut to the bus stop is through a shopping mall. And woman being woman - though I was hard pushed I managed to dropped by Boots to purchase 2 concealers - I know you must thing that I am mad! For that few moments at Boots, I was.

Not a few steps after I left Boots, my phone rang - Oh no! My home no!
"Yes?!"
"Mum, where are you?" came the voice of my eldest.
"I am on my way to the bus stop, Darling! Why?"
"You know your slot is at 5.30, right?"
"Yes Darling. Why?"
"Well, it's 5 to, now. you better be quick." like he knows of his Mum's detour!
"OK. I am running now - there's a bus at 2 past! I'll be there Darling. Just tell Damia to get ready, OK?"
And I was running - I mean really running like my-life-depend-on-it kind of running! Especially when I saw the bus was about ready to leave. I made it somehow! By the skin of my teeth!

Maybe, it is good for you to know that both Damia and I managed to make our slot.  I won't discuss in detail what Mrs W informed me about my daughter but she said I should be extremely proud of her. And for Maths, she is doing Year 4 work despite being a Year 3. Well, I just hope she keeps up the good work!

Till then :-D

Ramadhan Kareem Everyone :-D

I received through my office email a few days ago a message from a friend of mine in KL ,"when are you going to update your blog?  It has been a long time!"  Oh Dear, if he knows that I am practically killing myself to cope with everything!

The children is on Summer break now.  As my beloved husband landed himself in a part-time job (evening job), I am technically on flexi-hours.  Well, over here if you have school going children, you can actually opt for flexi-hours.  I said "technically" as on paper, my office hour is from 7.45 a.m to 3.45 p.m.  It is just that somehow, though more often I arrived the office before 7.45 in the morning, I found it hard to leave at 3.45 p.m not that I don't want to! Just how could I simply leave everything especially when it is only done mid-way? Beats me even thinking about it!

A lot happened since my last entry - the saddest being the passing of my M-I-L after nearly two years battling with the Big C - never being one asking to be pampered she fights through until her last breath - leaving us all in her sleep.  No more bubbly chat, no more asking for recipes, no more expecting her here this Autumn.....planning a trip up north and no more expecting the exceptionally tasty food she always prepared for us... This Eid, there'll be no more calling her seeking for her forgiveness and prayers - she's in our memory now with a very special place in our hearts. May she be in peace with her Creator, in His loving embrace...Amin...

For us who were left behind, life has to go on.  Until the day when we too will be summoned...

Back to my friend Idzni's (the Irish guy) email. He was asking about the Ramadhan over here - besides no    Pasar Ramadhan and no mums and aunties, sisters and brothers to tumpang berbuka - Well, we go through our Ramadhan very moderately really.  And since there are a lot of Muslim populations here in Luton, our Tesco and Sainsbury put up Ramadhan Mubarak posters and stocked in more Halal Meat and Halal Chicken" sections - and though we cannot get stall-bought mee goreng, kuay teow and the like, we still can buy the ingredients and cook them ourselves - Bury Park is never short of briyani, pilao and kebab - we have Halal KFC here too. As for Tarawikh, we have Islamic Centre, Jame' Mosque and no less than two others - all in all, it is about the same except perhaps the length of fasting that we have to do daily now that it is summer - the early days of Ramadhan, it is from around 3.40 a. m to around 9.00 p.m but I am really glad my Damia has been fasting in full except for the days when 1. it was so cold and her tummy ached, 2. she accidentally took the offer of peanuts from her brother Aqil (cheeky!) and cried when she realised what she did; 3. yesterday when her tummy ached and her Dad asked her to break her fast.  All-in-all it is quite well done as she's only 7.

Eid? Maybe this time I will take a day leave.  If not, I will go to work imagining in my head the song "Dari Jauh Ku Pohon Maaf" from the moment I stepped into St Pancras.  Or maybe "Dendang Perantau"? Well, that depends really.  Oh yes, talking about Eid, I have yet to give my Sister the details for the Baju Raya that I need for the Office's Eid Reception! Wait aah... Along! I love you :-D

Till then! Have a Great Ramadhan and a Great Weekend Everyone :-D

 

Source of image : Moon over Uni of Dundee from the Dundee University website

Last Weekend

It was a very fine Saturday last weekend. The weather was really really good and since I decided not to go to work, we have quite a fun Saturday together.

Since moving down here, our Saturdays were no longer filled with trips to the farms or sea side like we always did when we were in Dundee. Anyway, after reading from the newspaper a fruit farm located around 30 minutes from where we stay started opening its door for strawberry picking - so, we decided to check it out. And what fun it was! For not only the fruit farm also has an adjoining area for car boot sales, it has a good size play area as well - of course the children are overwhelmed! So, let me just share some of our photos!

Ready for a good harvest. But where are the others? Well, they never learn that you can get good strawberries at the nearer plot. Even in this case, they always thought that the grass is greener in the farther field - in this case, the strawberries are redder at the farther plots

Post harvest

Farm Worker - under protest?!

Danish! How do I get down?!!!

Hmm.... Not a high as I imagined!...

Where do I go now, Danish?

All four in the various stages

Here I go...!

 

Join us Mumsie!

Kids and climbing goes hand in hand.....

So, where are the parents? Just waiting while enjoying the strawberries?... Hmm.... no wonder the abdomens are getting bigger!

We are on top of the world!

Nope! This is not the Statue on top of the Empire States Building! Nor a participant of the Olympic run

Busy up there? What? congestion? Hmmm....

Well, it is just a few hay.....

When we reached home, still with the fruit-picking spirit, the children asked their father if they can pick the cherries to which their father succumbed to.  Well, the photo below, though it looks like we are nicking the neighbour's cherries, we're not! Take a careful look of where the tree is. It is our side of the fence. It is ours - errr... our Landlord's actually - but mind you, we were given the permission.  You see, there are more ripe cherries at the branches where it grows to the neighbour's side of the fence.

Father & son team - trying their hardest for a good harvest! It is dangerous for the Father to climb the ladder and "rest" against the fence. Err.... let's just say, it is not good for his health - such the service of the Son was very much required.

Why do you have to go to the other side?

So, these are the result of our pickings last Saturday.  And in case you wonder what become of the strawberries? Well, here it is ....

Turned into Strawberry Cheesecake

Care for some? :-D

Hope you have enjoyed your Saturday like we did! Sunday? Well, that'll be a different story....Cheers!