Ramblings ...... Part 2

It was -7 last night. And it is a very icy Christmas morning here in Dundee. If any of my neighbour is partying last night, I heard nothing of it. In this cold, I guessed there are a lot of interferences in the sound waves.

Most of the shops (except maybe Global and Al-Noor) will be closed today. The same goes with the public transportation. Our neighbour Taufik had invited us to have lunch at his house today - Ohhh... the thought of walking in a temperature below 0! His house is just about a shout away but... You see there'll be six of us - I can't helped feeling like a mother duck when walking with my children especially when we are in single file! But I know due to the cold today will be the fastest single file ever! Or it will be no file at all! They will be running aimlessly, grabbing the snow at every opportunity to throw to each other along the way. Or perhaps, we'll be bringing the sledge along - it'll be fun for them to sledge downhill. And if Dear Mummy can stand it a bit longer, maybe their wish for a snowman can materialise.

Actually, they have been asking me to build a snowman with them since the first snow last Saturday. I have been letting them out to play in the snow since but most times, not 15 minutes after I let them out, there'll be desperate knocks on the door. And there they are! Wet but happy! And eager to be let in!

There have been a few "short trips" in the snow but today, I have a feeling that they are going to bully me into building that snowman which has been long overdue. I have been avoiding getting out of the house for quite some time now. We'll see.

May be I need to prepare myself for the trip tomorrow. Well, Mi had already agreed to join two other families (Taufik's and Zahir's) to go to Livingston on Boxing Day. Though the prospect of going excite me a bit but the thought of travelling in the cold and the fact that none of our cars are well-equipped to travel in the snow, I am quite unsure. Oh how I wish I can just hibernate in this weather! But perhaps this is the only chance of travelling this hols. I'm pretty sure Mi is not taking any leave and who knows, if I am lucky, we can even detour a bit to visit Edinburgh. Not for shopping - we can do that in Livingston (it's a large factory outlet) but just to see Edinburgh in Winter. They say it is beautiful there.

Well, I've really been rambling don't I? Perhaps it's time to put the pizza in the oven now - yes! we are having pizza for breakfast today.

Cheers! (Am I getting insane.....?)

Happiness..... in the Snow? (:-D

We were just getting out of Global (a grocery shop selling Halal food) when we saw the snow falling down.  It was very much thicker then the earlier snow. My children were so excited "Ibu! Baba! Let's go back right now! Think it's thick enough for a good snowball fight!" shouted one. "Maybe enough for a snowman" said the other.

Mia, the 1st one out running aimlessly!

Well, they rushed out as soon as we parked the car.  Aqil who was tied to the car seat yelled unhappily as he struggled to set himself free. The other three had already started with a good-sized balls.  And Aqil became the first victim of a snowball fight.

And last night, our neighbour Ustaz Lutfi who'll be leaving for Malaysia the very next day gave them a sledge and today :

Danish "happily" being pulled by his father. I am not so sure how he was feeling at that moment as I can hear him yelling all the way down!

                                        
                    Danish looked relieved while Mia took her turn uphill.

        Father and daughter on the way to bid our farewell to Ustaz Lutfi and Ustazah Ashinida.

The first snow ....

Thursday (Dec. 17, 2009) was my final paper for the semester. As I left the Exam Hall, I saw my friend Monica (a Nigerian but has been living in Edinburgh for the past 6 years) looking a bit unhappy. Well, I asked her how was the paper. "It was what I did for my coursework. But everything that I have studied escaped my mind." she said. well, I understand that. I understood how it exactly feels like. In my case, for one of my papers, I did not managed to complete all three questions required. I only answered two - and I am already thinking of re-sitting next semester - no used to think too much about it. It's gone and done with - nothing I can do to make it better - oh... how I wished I could turn the time - but that's not possible and I have to carry on.

I let Monica poured out her frustration to me and I asked her to join me for coffee. It was while we were enjoying our coffee (me - my latte; she - her cappucino) when we saw through the large window at the Union's cafetaria that - Snow is coming down! It kept on pouring for about 20 minutes then it stopped. Then I remembered. My children at home! They have been listening to the weather forecast and since Monday, it was forecasted that it will be snowing on Thursday. The night before they have been asking whether the snow will come down during the night or during the day - they do not want to miss the first snow. And I have promised them if it is thick enough we can have snow fight!

I told Monica about my children's enthusiasm. And she said they will be enjoying Edinburgh if we can travel down - "Princess street is fully decorated for Christmas - they'll love it you know - they'll be some rides as well - do come if you can manage it." Well, I know it must be. Edinburgh must be lovely now, ready for the celebration. How I wished we can really travel down.

After departing with Monica, I rushed home - that's not before I wished her Merry Christmas - Hakim was letting me in "Ibu, I saw, we saw, it was snowing just now but it stopped after some time."

"Yeah! It's still very thin. Let's wait for a few days when it'll get thicker. It'll be a White Christmas then this year! My friend said if we can drive to Edinburgh, we can see how beautiful the city is this time of year."

"Can we?"

"We'll have to wait for your father - after all, we'll have to see whether it is safe to travel - the road will be slippery and the car is not fit for travelling in the snow."

"If we can get it fixed?"

"We'll see. Remember? Safety first?"

And with that, they were capitulated.

It has been a few days now. It was thicker yesterday. But still not enough for snow fighting! And further still from building a snowman.

(Mia on the way to school yesterday. She enjoyed her walk despite the cold. When I reached home after sending her, my fingers were all numb. Took some time before I was out of my coat!)

(Image of University of Dundee from http://www.dundee.ac.uk/)