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.

My Dear Friend...

I received a message from my dear friend Mokhtar yesterday. "Shell we meat at the library at 11.00 on Monday?" Well, translating it in BM, "Kulit kerang, boleh kita daging kat Library pukul 11.00 hari Isnin?" I can't help smiling. That's my friend Mokhtar - A PhD student from Libya. Though I am only doing my Master's Degree we shared two classes - Emerging Financial Markets (5EM) and Accounting Aspects of Corporate Governance (5CG). Somehow, he has to join the two classes though he is only required to take exam of only one (5CG).

I was busy studying for my Investment paper when I received the message. Before that he called asking whether I am free to have a discussion for 5CG. I told him I have a paper today and I need to revise first before I can go for discussion. If not we will end up wasting time.

One thing about Mokhtar though, he never pronounce my name correctly which pissed me off at times. I have corrected him on every occasion but he still throw away the first "a" in my name and add it at the end. But somehow, knowing that I am fighting a losing battle I try to accept that he will never get it right. Which lead me to another question ; Mokhtar is a Libyan, I heard him communicated in Arabic with his fellow countryman on a few occassions and mind you, my name is an Arabic name - well, let's forget it. Anyway, Mokhtar is still in my list of friends.

At School, I am the only Malaysian. Though at first I am not sure if I am going to make friends with anyone - you see, though I am friendly but I am not the one to make the first move (unless they are much much older and I feel that it is my duty to at least smile and greet them)- I always am quite unsure if anyone want to be friends with me. And quite frankly, except for my core subject which I can't help taking, the main criteria for choosing the other two subjects was based on NO group work required I am not even sure if anyone wants me in his/her group.

Anyway by some touch of lucky strokes, somehow I managed to make friends - a very international crowd at that - Andrea (from Hungary), Dilshad and Sanzida (from Bangladesh), He He and Nicole (from China), Yannick (from Cameron), Mokhtar (of course) and Monica. Well, up until now, we are quite close.

Oh yes, talking about that I haven't got anything for Andrea, Yannick and Monica yet. Hmmm.. what am I gonna get them for Christmas?....

(Sources of images : map of the world from http://www.nature-worldwide.info/; roses from http://www.flowerexpert.com/)

...On My Way To School

Though it is only an 8-minute bus journey from my house at Dickson Avenue to school (the School of Accounting & Finance) at Perth Road, I can't help meeting some interesting characters along the way. One day, just a few stops before mine, a charming elderly lady with a sweet pleasant smile (she reminds me of a pink rose) boarded the bus and sat beside me. "Good Morning" I greeted her. "Morning Dear." And our conversation went more or less like :

"What do you read?"



"Finance."



"Aah... I used to read there many, many years ago. It used to be St. Andrews (University of St. Andrews). You see, I was born and bred here in Dundee. When I came to know that I am to make the journey to St Andrews and spend alall my remaining college years there, I was so sad and crying most of the time."



"But St. Andrews is just half an hour across the River Tay."



"That's right. But I was homesick all my 4-years there." And we were laughing like old buddies.

Well, this morning I was thinking of buying a Christmas Card for her. I know the chances of meeting her is quite slim. I don't go to class anymore now as we have completed our classes for the first sem. I am going to have another 2 papers to complete my first sem and then wait in anxiety for my results. But maybe if I just get the card ready with a small present and carry them everywhere with me in case of a chanced meet, it could work. It is not everyday that you have a good laugh on your way to school, don't you?


(Sources of images : University of Dundee from www.educationuk.org; pink fairy roses from www.mooseyscountrygarden.com, St. Andrews - own collection)

Life ... Dundee

Dundee is still considered relatively lower in terms of living cost than other cities in Scotland (cannot say the same with England, though). Or perhaps because we are here on our own funding we are very cautious about spending. Only at Errol (the biggest car boot sale at this part of Scotland) we can let ourselves offguard.

Errol has somewhat become like an epidemic for us around here, me included. Since our kindly neighbour Taufik introduced us to Errol the first Sunday we're here, we never missed it yet. In fact we are looking forawrd to it. It's like some kind of therapy on one side or just, hmmm... I'm not sure.

Well, here there is nothing much to do except going to class, library, having discussion and meeting your lecturers should you want to discuss anything further on the courses you are taking. This sem I am only taking three subjects. And that is 2 hour class each per week for each subject. In a week there are only 6 hours of class. Too little, you may asked? Well, though there are only 6 hours of class, the reading list for each subject can go as long as River Tay. At this level, one is required to be mature enough to have the responsibility of being able to study and to read all the journals and website of interest in the reading list - well, it is quite tough though!

So, Errol comes in handy as a place of therapy - here the price of each item on sale starts from 50p (last week I bought 3 Daniel Steel books - Wanderlust (Love it - read it for so many times before but still wanting to read it - that's it, after my exam ended on December 17, 2009), Secrets and Fine Things - all three for 50p. Weeks before, we bought a thick hardcover book of Thomas the Tank Engine for £1 but the seller threw a 2 or three smaller books as well, we bought 2 Thomases for £1.50 and we got two Thomas & Friends jigsaw puzzles for free. By the way, our Aqil is crazy over Thomas. And Mia, she got a dollhouse with all the accessories for £2.

Oh yes, did I tell you? It gets dark by 4.30 now. And though some days it's sunny, it is still cold and windy - though we have a playground close-by, it is too cold to be outside - so, as an alternative we let our children get the toys/books of their fancy each week to occupy their time. We can't let them be dull boys and girl can we? Even Danish and Hakim who had just arrived two weeks ago are looking forward to Errol.

Other than Errol, we made our purchases at Charity Shops - a lot of them around - St. Margarite's Hospice, British Red Cross, British Heart Foundation, Shelter, Save the Children Charity Shop and of course Oxfam. Though we bought my laptop quite expensively when we first came (well, brand new at Currys) now we know where to look for cheaper goods - none other than Dundee Gumtree - Life is quite good. But of course we frequent Tesco (their reduced item sections at the end of the day is not bad either)and Al-Noor Halal Food for our groceries, Pound Stretcher and £1 shop for things like laundry basket and the like, all-in-all it is bearable.

They Are Here!!!

I saw them almost coming out of the entrance. But I can't embrace them. A uniformed officer came to me and said "I have to ask you a few questions before I can let them go!" Not wanting to go against any rules or regulations I succumbed to her wish. And yet deep inside, I became impatient - can't she just let me hug them first? It's been nearly two months and now this. Can't I at least hug them? Then I will answer all the questions even if it takes a whole day. But looking at her face I know there's no chance for me to apply my wish into practice.

Then the questions came. Though she kindly explained it is formality I can't help feeling intergorrated.
"Who are you?"
"You have an identity with you?"
"Let me have you passport please, for verification."
"What are you to them?"
"Why do you leave them in the first place?"
"What are you doing here in Dundee?"
"How long are you going to be here?"
"Where do you study"
"What subject did you read?"
"Who will care for them when you have to attend class?"
"What is your husband doing here?"
By the time we are finished, I was so.. exhausted.
"Ok. Thank you M'am. I have to do that - You do understand it is part of my job? And thank you. Believe me, your children have been very good and very pleasant to have. They are very polite and they have very good English - a credit to you. Please wait here while I get their passports stamped. Thank you." And she left. And we have to wait a few minutes before I can really embrace my children. How I miss them. Damia and Aqil who have been watching from far came running hugging their brothers. My husband who's trying to keep it cool just can't hang on anymore - How good it is to be united again. Finally after nearly two months I have all my family members with me. Danish and Hakim sre here in Dundee. With me. With us. Life feels so complete. They might be naughty at times - they may not be model children. But they are mine! And I love them fault and all!

Yes. They have been travelling as Unaccompanied Minors. Taking Emirates from KLIA with a stop-over in Dubai and taking connecting flight to Glasgow - I feel so proud of them! Though there are officers in-charged making sure that my children arrived safely in Glasgow - I can only thank them and pray that they have a good pleasant life - Thank you so much for bringing my children to me. And maybe for some, it is nothing but to me, I am proud of them for being brave in taking the journey - their first ever long-haul trip alone. And Thank You Al-Mighty for bringing my children back in my arms.

Rain, Rain Go Away!....

It's been one month since we are here. Summer changed into Autumn. Though it's a beautiful sight what with the leaves turning brown, gold, red and yellow, it is hard
to enjoy the beauty - Rain marred it all. Though I like rain but if it keeps on raining whole day for a few days - sometimes day and night, well, it dampens the spirit and it affects sanity too!

Yes! It's been raining. Sometimes half a day but more often the whole day and night and lucky for us that we are staying further up the hill. If not, we will be joining our neighbours who are staying at lower places - it's flooding there last weekend.

However, last Wednesday was such a beautiful day. It's a day too good to spend inside. However, I have no choice. I have to be in the library for group disussion. All of us would love to just bask in the sun but the thought that we are here to study and that exam is just around the corner stopped us from doing so. Hmm.... (the downside of being a student).

Anyway, raining or not, I managed to get my husband to drive us around the area. Here let me share some photographs from our "short-drives" to Glasgow (to purchase tickets for my two children to come over), Perth (to Parcelforce Office to send the tickets to Malaysia - oh yes! by the way, the Royal Mail is on strike here!), Broughty Ferry (the beach), Abroath (buying fresh fish) and St Andrews (what else? Charity shops....!). Opps, the photos are not quite in that order(:< I am suppose to complete the first draft of my Corporate Governance paper this week but if it is not raining tomorrow I would like to go for a drive to the 5 glens in the Blairgowrie area. Not quite a devoted student am I?

A Right Move?.......Perhaps

Well, I guessed I have a little time today and decided to visit my own blog which has been neglected for quite some time. Yes, as per my last entry, I am now in Dundee slaving myself with classes, books & lectures - perhaps it's a good way to re-start a new beginning (Well,if it's true that Life begins at 40, then I guessed I've made the right move ???)

Anyway, we arrived Dundee after quite an "adventurous" journey. Our journey started very early - I woke up at 3.00 a.m. worried if I missed the 5.45 a.m. hired-car which we have booked while we're still in Shah Alam. I packed and re-packed everything to fit our 2 hold-alls, 1 knapsack and 2 sling bags - we're flying to Glasgow Prestwick with Ryanair and the carrier has a strict policy of luggage allowance - each passenger can carry three luggages for check-in but the weight of all three must not be more than 15kg. So, though we have only three "luggages" but they are heavy as they carried some papers and documents I have collected for my dissertation. So, you can imagine how I worked out the formula in order not to be charged with extra weight... until finally I gave up and decided to just pay for whatever the excess going to be.

Our hired-car arrived at 6.00 a.m. and after asking us if we have everything in including the children, whisked us off to Stanstead Airport. And of course! As I predicted we were "Overweight" and though I've made up my mind to pay, I was not prepared when the total excess was 7kg which cost us £105. But, somehow the guy at the counter kindly told me in a whisper he'll only charge me £90. Well, OK. After paying my penalty, we were given our boarding passes. And we relaxed a little and trying to enjoy the flight.

Now, when we reached Prestwick, we found out that the Buchanan Bus Station where the Bus which will bring us to Dundee is located, is in the city of Glasgow - and that's about 40 minutes by bus or 30 minutes by train. So, we made our way to the train station after buying some snacks - actually it was quite embarrassing when your children kept on coming to you with different snack at a time asking "Is this halal, Ibu?".


And guess what? The train which supposed to bring us to Glasgow City Centre did not turn up on time. So, we missed the bus that will take us to Dundee Seagate Bus Station. We ended paying another £47 for new tickets. The one that we missed cost us only £18(on-line price - actually everything here is very much cheaper through on-line transaction including electricity bill).

Our bus journey from Glasgow to Dundee was a very pleasant one. The scenery is awesome and the children, tired by this time sat quietly. And as I turned my head to the seat beside me, I met a very peculiar scene.... Yes!!!!After all these years, during our travels other than by car, I finally saw my husband reading!!! Hmmm...Amazing!

When we arrived at Dundee Seagate Bus Station we were almost immediately met by Taufik (we have been in contact with him & his wife since we're still in Malaysia, thanks to Mahzan of "Ini Jalan Yang Kupilih" - Taufik was also responsible in finding our flat and ensuring that we can immediately occupy the house - Thank you Very Much Taufik & Aeni and of course the Kommuniti Melayu Dundee (Ustaz Amin, Ustaz Lutfi, Zaquan, Mahadi, Shi, Khamshah, Ika(2), Nor, Ina, Zul, Mahmud, Fa, Alia, Liana(2)and so many others - sorry kalau nama tak tersebut but you know who you are, right?) who have been very kind and friendly and welcoming. Thank you so very much. Hopefully all of us will make our journey here a success.

Oh yes, let me just leave you guys with the view from my kitchen window. Till then (:-D