Having addicted to all Dora's merchandise; from the DVD movies, Tv shows, story books, activity books, sticker, etc, Khairah's love towards that character grows even fonder with her Dora's doll! Khairah take her everywhere, and now Dora has become her first preference above Annabel and Upsy Daisy. Besides being a big fan of Dora, she couldn't resist watching every episodes of Peppa Pig, Princess Holly and Bens Little Kingdom, Show Me Show Me, Jimmy Jammers jingles and Humf.


But lately, she knows by 8 o-clock it would be mum and dad's TV slot time, and she resorted amusing herself with other activities. I confess i find it very hard to follow the Brits' children 7.00 p.m bedtime. But wont put it into a fuss as we also want to spend time playing with her and listening to her stories from her long day activities at the nursery or at Aiesyah's. I always find it a miracle every time Khairah's decided to get down to bed earlier than 9.00 p.m, but still in a good motivation for around 9.00-9.30 p.m and can read her stories, one after another in a calm voice and maintaining my beautiful voice singining lullaby and nursery rhymes, but will gradually transforming into a monster by 10.-10.30 p.m in order to force her to sleep.

One of her favourite activities at home is drawing. The photo below is her first 'proper' drawing of our small family. Although not by your average standard, at least something resembles people. I'll let the photo do the rest of the talking.


I had a wide spread smile looking at this and she proudly hold that weasel and tell off the story behind that drawing to me and hubby. I know this will invite some of you guys hinting me of having another one, well i hope it will become true one day, please pray for our readiness and may Allah open our heart and give us strength towards that.

Have been craving for either laksam or laksa Johor..But finally chose laksam for breakfast date with Meda.. Selamat terasmi belachan kiriman my MIL..Thanx to Kak Long as the official exporter...The menu is also as a treat after my meeting with sv earlier yesterday. Meeting went well with all agendas covered-my sv has prepared a nice letter to support my study extension and most importantly highlighted the normal duration of 3.5 years study in Britain. We also spent time looking at the slide prepared for ISDA in 2 weeks time, with suggested improvements mailed to him earlier this morning. Explained briefly to him on the WITS-IEFG results, but will need further discussion next time. Also a peek into latest progress on the terminal update task, i havent work out on it much. As usual, my beloved sv remind me again subtly to think about the problem without worrying much on other people's work..So now i am trying my best to digest through the problem (or at least wondering around, you Tube video hopping, etc), hoping sparks of ideas will come flowing..

Here goes some pics from my London trip with Kak Long and her family. We are so lucky to secure a parking at a rather cheap rate. Khairah got so excited meeting Aiman again, after last seeing each other Dec last year. This time around both are so chatty, they even stay late, though their mothers dozing and showing off their best sleeping positions; not to mention their fathers at their best snoring tune. At last i had to force them both to sleep, and was practically pinching Khairah to make her sleep..Haha..a desperate solution, worrying she needs energy for tomorrow's outing.



















Started the day with breakfast at MSD canteen..Had nasi lemak paru while Adee treat himself to roti canai. Nothing for Khairah since she is still cranky, both from lack of sleep and a small accident-got her finger clipped at stroller. Hubby overlooked Khairah still had her hand at the latch, and it got stuck when he straightened the stroller. Poor Khairah burst into tears and screaming "auww!!" repeatedly when i took her into nearest the hotel lavatory. Tried to lessen the pain by icy cold water and she the little finger got swollen a bit.




In the pouring rain, we next caught the train at Bayswater St. towards Westminster St. for London Eye flight. Treat the kids to children amusement facilities nearby London Eye before our slot at 1.30 p.m. Khairah got so excited looking at the giant circle but after half way through the flight, a Mary-Go-Round caught her saight. So she dragged me there. Being first time, Aiman looked a bit scared but Khairah had a joyous time.






































The clock pointed around 2 p.m, we walked cross the river to another train station towards Covent Garden market. Evening tea at our fav Ben's cookies before headed off to the Transport Museum. I am personally impressed with the display and attraction offered there. 10 pound adult, 6 pound for student. Kids go free. Oxford Street, in an attempt to visit Harrods. Frustrated because Harrods is actually in different route, we filed into bus 94 towards Bayswater for another night. Hubby n Abg Faizal shot off to their room at the 5 minutes distant MSD, 11 pound per nite for student, 15 for adult.

Had big breakfast at Subway opposite Bayswater St., even ordered an extra set as packed lunch. Met a Malaysian couple who suggested a good studio for rent, at Hyde Park Suite, he got in at £58 under www.bestlondonapartments.com. So a shout out for those planning to visit London!



Stopped at Liverpool Street, the first destination was Piccadilly Lane, a Sunday Market with many goods ranging from normal label to high brand, at affordable price. Ignoring the busy market, Khairah shifted into her world with her new Dora doll while enjoying the fried prawn ball on sticks, sold at the Singaporean Halal Noodle stall. The adults had mixed deep fried seafood also on sticks, but from Spanish stall. Next, revisited Big Ben, giant clock. Initial idea for a pic with London soldier cancelled as there was a special ceremony there and the soldier is nowhere around. Had lunch at the open area opposite Palace of Westminster, with all the kids enjoying the green parchment and chasing each other. After that break, continued to Harrods through Knightsbride St. Lastly, bought some souvenirs at a shop which offers special discount for Malaysian back at Bayswater and dinner at the Inn Noodle, a halal Chinese restaurant. The food are certainly yummylicious.
After packing our stuffs, we began our journey home. Smile plastered on our face, the chatting along the way on how sweet the journey was-seeing Kak Long, Abg Faizal and the kiddos. Kak Long spent another day in London the next day at London Duck Tour before their flight that Monday night, while hubby and me back to our routine in Bristol.

** update: forwarded by Che Is, a room in London at 35 or 40 pound per night, for 2 person sharing http://45londonstay.blogspot.com/

I took a week of sick leave from school last week firstly for recovering after accidentally sliding down the bus stairs in a trip and then for fighting oval viral infection, which apparently never fails to penetrate my immune system every winter. But now i am back to catch up things and most importantly to prepare for a meeting on afew things including application for study extension with my sv tomorrow.

Had a weekend break in London with my SIL which though short, but brings such a warming feel to me. Because our trip was a last minute, on the first note all of us cramped in kak long's room in Berjaya while the second nite Adee and Abg Faisal set off to MSD, just opposite of Berjaya. Spent a couple of meals at MSD canteen which brings me nice surpirse looking at the dishes plates at the food display, Just like in Malysia's stalls. Really miss them. Also, had time at Halal Subway and a Halal Chinese Restaurant, which i have a string feeling belongs to a Malaysian because the staff speaks Malay even they are Chinese.

Despite the rainy Saturday, but i really enjoyed going around London especially with my new winter jacket and sling bag (yippie). Furthermore, looking at happy Khairah playing with her two boy cousins, each around 6 months gaps and enjoying her tale on places she visited and done such as the London Eye, a ride at her fav Mary-Go-Round and the Transport Museum. I was really impress on the complicated yet modern and well-managed transport planning. Began to appreciate the art-of-technology adopted since hundred of years ago, when hopping tubes and even going on escalators. On Sunday had a quick tour at the Picadilly Lane off Liverpool Street which i managed to get 3 pairs of River Island pants, each at 10 pound. Seems to me this place is a bit like Petaling Street, just that they got original and branded stuff, but rejected due maybe to overrun stock and such things. And also after the earlier disastrous and testing week, the gathering blows me more motivation to continue and colour the last bits of my life here. Thanx to my husband whom i thought had the biggest test so far in our marriage, having to look after sick me and playing father very well indeed. Alhamdulillah.

As usual, i had a little b reak just now and took time to check out on website link forwarded by a friend on Story of Teddy Stellar and it has definitely spring me watery eyes. It is a really touching, a morale-fictional story on how making a big difference could bring a big impact to someone's life. It is about the experience of Mrs. Thomson, a teacher who picks up strength to really 'teach' a student nicked as Teddy. At first Teddy to her is a boy without many friends, miserable and underperformed. But one day after she checking a report on Teddy's and referring to his previous teacher's review, she realised Teddy is an orphan who had to struggle after his mother got terminally ill. Then there was a moment during Christmas when Teddy past his gift wrapped in used and crumpled grocery paper. Of all the shiny and beautiful wrapped presents from the rest of the class, Mrs. Thomson chose Teddy's. All the children laughed looking at the missing rhinestones bracelet and a used perfume in the box. But Mrs. Thomson put it on proudly and applied some of the perfume on her wrist. After class, Teddy went to see Mrs. Thomson and said she smelled just like his mother when she was still around.

From then on, Mrs. Thomson pour more interest on Teddy. Going into secondary and then college, Teddy still contact her from time to time, until one day he sign his letter longer, with an M.D. Most touchingly when Teddy invited her to his wedding day when Mrs. Thomson sits in a place usually reserved for the mother of the groom, wearing the bracelet Teddy gave her and applied the perfume, of smell of his mother celebrating their last christmas eve together. I searched and found a few links to this story and short the movie that i watched was from here.

Well, i will stop now and back to my piling works. See you all around and thanx for visiting :)

Ya Allah..aku baru je call adik aku..Alhamdulillah sempat jugak bercakap dgn ayahanda dan bonda sebelum mereka check-in. Mereka bertolak ke Tanah Suci Mekah untuk menunaikan Haji. Alhamdulillah..sungguh besar kekuasaan Allah..mmg hanya Dia yang menentukan segalanya..

Bukanlah aku takde call diorg sebelum ni..rasanya since tau diorg nak bertolak ni at least 1 hari 2 3 kali aku call adik, mak dan ayah aku..bertanyakan apa perkembangan terkini..yelah.banyak benda perlu disiapkan..dengan diorg kena setup kebun, uruskan pasal persiapan terakhir haji, dan lain2 cerita2 biasa...mmg rasa nasib baik aku sempat cakap..mmg timely. dari setengah jam lepas dok try call dr lab ni, tp network pulak down. so i keep trying and comforting still ada masa..it was just in the nick of time..

Terasa sedih aku..sbb mak dgn abah sempat cakap 1 aat je, mengingatkan aku untuk jaga diri dan keluargaku di sini.. aku rasa sangat sedih sebab tak dapat tolong diorang buat persiapan bersama2, aku tak dapat bayangkan camne keadaan diorg kat balai berlepas tu..tupun lepas cko dgn diorg tadi, aku biar je fon on sbb at least dpt dengar suara adik2 dan saudara mara yg lain bersalam2an dan memberi ucapan kepada mereka. Kebetulan pakcik Zali dan isteri, kawan baik abah pun turut sama dalam rombongan ni, walaupun pakej berlainan. Mungkin Allah makbulkan doa dan kata2 mereka yg sejak dari dulu kata anak pegi haji sama2..walaupun masa tu zaman ayahku dan pakcik Zali muda dan diorg bukanlah golongan yang betul2 mula simpan duit untuk haji dari awal.

sebenarnya nyaris2 parents aku ni tak dapat pegi haji tahun ni. Since tahun lepas, lepas abah pencen ARB baru diorg mula mengumpul duit utk pegi haji. masuk nama tahun lepas, tapi duit tak cukup kuota. Then tahun ni nama mak aje yang naik, then merayu supaya abah dapat pergi sebagai mahram. Mereka pergi pajek muasasah. Pakcik Zali pergi under pakej. dan menurut abah, singakt betul masa prepare dengan masa bertolak. makluman bertolak hari ini hanya diketahui Sabtu lepas. so 4 hari je untuk buat persiapan. nasib baik persiapan2 lain dah tersedia. Khabar emak ramai juga yang datang masa kenduri Selasa lepas..itupun aku terlepas juga..hmm...sedar tak sedar banyak yang aku korbankan semata2 untuk berada di sini..

Ya Allah...sepatutnya aku tak perlu risau, cumanya mendoakan mereka.. aku tau, dan aku redha di atas segala ketentuanNya. tetapi memikirkan dan mengingatkan ada tragedi orang menunaikan haji, dan membayangkan mungkin tidak dapat bertemu mereka lagi..masyaallah..aku dah minta maaf pada mereka sbb tak dapat bersama2 mereka secara fizikal..hanya menolong mana yang termampu..itupun tidak sebanyak mana. itu semua kerana aku di sini mengejar cita2 dan menunaikan kewajipan..hanya pada Allah untukku mengadu..semoga Allah memberi perlindungan pada mereka, memberi kesihatan yang baik, memudahkan urusan mereka dan memberi kekuatan pada aku meneruskan perjuangan ku di sini..

Semoga adik2ku akan bersepakat dan menjaga diri sepanjang ketiadaan ayahanda dan bonda..aku tiada daya melakukan apa2 selain daripada berpesan dan berdoa..mmg Allah itu Maha Kaya..sampai sudah jemputan ke rumahnya untuk ayahanda dan bondaku..semoga mereka selamat dan mendapat haji yang mabrur..Insyaallah

Secubit Garam:

Bulan Dan Bintang Di Pagar Pelangi

Terkedu dan kelu bila melihat, bulan di langit dgn cahaya pelangi mengelilinginya dan sebutir bintang yg bersinar terang. Mulut tak henti mengucapkan Subahanallah...... Dan dalam hati terdetik, apa yg Allah nak tunjuk di sebalik semua ni..

read more @ secubitgaramnor67.blogspot.com

Alhamdulillah kami di Bristol telah pun menyambut Aidilfitri 11 hari yang lepas. Hajat hati nak update blog ni lebih awal, dan konon2nya ada a few materials prepared, but since banyak keje and kemalasan, dan diriku ini yang tak kreatif dan kurang sihat, so i had to put it aside.

So sebelum terlupa, selamat hari raya, maaf zahir batin dari kami di Bristol.

Macam biasa, the final day of Ramadhan was a Saturday, so we had an iftaar jamie. So upon confirming that the Syawal moon is sighted, kami pun bertakbir setelah selesai berbuka. Sesungguhnya, bunyi takbir itu telah membuatkan diriku ini sebak; partly sbb rasa bersyukur sbb akan menyambut hari kemenangan dan sebab dah selesai puasa. And also because sekali lagi akan menyambut hari lebaran ini di perantauan.

Sebenarnya rasa kesedihan itu sudah banyak berkurangan berbanding tahun2 sebelumnya. Alah biasa tega biasa. Tapi, walau rasa semeriah dan setenang mana pun perasaan ini, mmg tak dapat digantikan dengan nikmat beraya dan menyediakan persiapan raya dengan keluarga dan sanak saudara tercinta.


Macam Noris, salah satu cara untuk mengurangkan kerinduan beraya di Malaysia ialah dengan masak2. Oleh sebab ramai yang dah predict mmg Sabtu tu final day puasa, aku pun sekonyong2nya sibuklah menyediakan juadah2..lagipun untuk raya nnt macam biasa ada pot luck. So i had prepared nasi impit, lemang, kuah kacang, rendang dan pulut kuning. Nasib baik kuih raya ah buat masa wiken 2nd week tu, itupun nasib baik ada, and sbb buat berjemaah dgn kak As.

After takbir Sabtu tu, sempat jugak rehearse untuk anak2 MCB buat persembahan untuk keesokan harinya. Then pegi rumah Kak Za (venue Eid) untuk sediakan bahan perap ayam dan kambing goleks. Dalam pukul 2 baru smpi rumah, then terus gosok2 baju. Then, keesokan paginya bangun, tak sempat breakfast, Khairah pun tak mandi, terus gi rumah Kak Za. Rupanya dah ramai yang dah sampai. .memang luas kawasan sbb garden Kak Za mmg luas, combine pulak dengan garden orang sebelah yang orang Malaysia jugak. Mmg nampak meriah dgn orang bakar ayam dan kambing goleknya, dengan khemah untuk solat, meja makanan, kerusi dan tentunya dengan orang2 yang semuanya ngecun ngetop menggayakan baju2 raya masing2. Siap dengarnya ada yang baru dapat baju the day before raya, pos laju la, pas kat org yg spouse dtg sini la, macam2...ktrg nasib baik dah dapat baju 6 bulan sblm raya lagi..over tak over..hahaha.

Lepas solat hari raya, semua yang ada terus menyerbu meja makanan yang mmg penuh dan sarat dgn bermacam2 makanan. Alhamdulillah... kiranya semua makanan ada, tinggal cara buatan tu takde la tradisional. mcm lemang aku tu pun, tanak dalam rice cooker, then roll pakai sushi roller n then bakar dlm oven..nasib baik ada daun pisang, so kon2nya ada la bau2 lemang sket..nasi impit pun, ada yg pakai nasi impit segra tp aku tanak n tekan2 kasik padat. lepasla untuk makan sendiri2...lepas semua orang kekenyangan, dihiburkan pula oleh DJ Jamal Robot dan persembahan anak2 MCB. I am so proud of them. Memang semuanya berbakat dan sayangkan seni budaya Malaysiana walaupun berada di perantauan.

Dalam pukul 4 aku dah sangat2 keletihan dan rasa ala2 nak pengsan, dan Khairah pun dah mengambuk2 sikit sebab badan letih tapi taknak tidur sbb nak main dgn kawan2 yang sangat ramai. so ajak Adee balik. Once masuk je dalam keta, Khairah terus tido dan sambung kat rumah dalam 1 jam setengah. Kesian dia kepenatan sebab tidur terganggu dengan ktrg yang ke sana sini malamnya and sbb paginya bangun awal. Memang rasa meriah raya tahun ni. Firstly sbb open space, majlis pun lancar, persembahan budak2, takde terkejar2 dengan masa sbb biasanya kat dewan, so ada limit time, cuaca pun cantik, rasa mcm panas kat mesia je. 20-25C if i'm not mistaken.


Sampai kat rumah, sempat jugak masak lemang lagi untuk bawak ke open house Enny. Rumah dia dekat je dengan rumah ktrg. Tu pun aku rasa macam nak pengsan jugak sbb rasa tak cukup tidur and kat rumah Kak Za pun busy. Tapi nasi baik sempat jugak ambil gamba dgn baju raya ai..heheh..


The next day (Isnin) Adee dah kena masuk lab sbb on Tuesday his sv nak jumpa while ai dok rumah berehat, call2 mesya dengan Khairah. But oleh sebab rumah ktrg sempits, and tak buat open house tapi masak ala2 request and kena bagi2kan ikut batch, keletihan terasa berpanjangan sbb dalam 3 nights dlm 1st week tu hosting rumah sbb org datang. Leceh jugak kena masak banyak2 kali ni, and each time dtg dalam belasan orang. Then, weekendnya g open house orang. So terasa jugak la meriahnya walaupun sangatlah penats and study pun takleh ponteng sbb keje banyaks!! Tapi saya sangat rasa happy dan bersyukur. Lagipun tengok family kat mesya pun semuanya happy2 juga. Diorg pun dah biasa agaknya :)

N then, busy sikit jugak sbb ada student mesya yg baru dtg and duduk dlm building sama dgn my flat, diorg @tingkat 2 while i am at ground floor. So jadi host untuk refreshment diorg and smpi ke malamnya, org datang beraya. Tis weekend pun dah ada orang invite untuk open house, so makan makan makan...Student California yang duduk opposite my flat pun agak terkejut sbb masa dia dtg hr tu and tanya brp lama sambut raya, aku terlepas pulak cakap raya sebulan..heheh..lepas ni Insyaallah nak buat gath untuk block, kena la explain balik..happara aku ni kan?

So kesimpulannya raya ktrg kali ini lancar dan meriah, Alhamdulillah, syukurr..so kena catch up balik la dengan study yg rasa kurengg sket bulan puasa hari tu. Ok, i'm leaving now. esok nak jumpa sv, ada lagi nak kena siapkan. chow chin chow!

It was almost 1 week ago now that i had the opportunity to be on air with 2 other frens, Hani and Iz. We were organizing a show on Ramadhan Experience in Malaysia in the Br*stol C*mmunity Radio. It was a sister's slot and they passed it to us to talk a bit on Malaysia. The one hour slot started at 10.00 am just flew away, and i had a splendid time. It was such a worthy experience and i am glad that i took the challenge, although i had to skip my after suhr nap, just for the sake of preparing the last script/note for the slot. I was fidgeting although forcing my eyes to close.


Although we had a rehearsal the previous day, acting i was still anxious and had to write down everything for contingency planning just in case we got extra time, no respond from listeners, or any other unwanted conditions. Despite these, i campaigned to a few frens and relatives to join us in the show (online). Were u there?

We started by introducing oursleves and a few facts about Malaysia. The first topic was on how Ramadhan is firstly marked in Malaysia. We touched on the announcement, the moon sighting, and all the excitement people got when flocking together in fron of the TV. The SMS greetings, etc2..~Ohh..i miss that!!~

Next, Tarawikh in Malaysia and how it differs from here. Apparently here they still do 8-20 rakaat but they dont practise much on the dzikr. We also talked about morey in Malaysia. How we breakfast, and most excitingly, the Ramadhan Market. Perhaps the closest here is the food market, except in Malaysia all is halal. We also mentioned on buffets and activities during Ramadhan, like tadarus/quran reciting, charity (this with organisation and even celebrities sponsoring the event at hotel, restaurants and others), special Ramadhan shows like Jejak Rasul and cooking show, some specific practices like cleaning the graveyards, etc..
Then we moved to Eid preparation. This of course was on the everywhere-everything-evergoing-everoverspending-SALE, covering clothes, home furnishing, cookies, etc. Without missed then, the traditional foods for Eid.

We played a couple of nasyid songs and Eid songs. This has distracted me from the stiff-and nervous voice at the starting, Especially because there was a little techncal problem at the beginning, which has made my voices and Iz's unclear because the technician in charge forgot to switch on our mic.


But towards the end, it was all such a relief and felt like time just flew away. We got a few responds also, messages from people here: Malaysian and others, whom seems glad to learn about Malaysian culture. The ones from Malaysia were from my aunty ^_^ But we only had 1 call because after talking to the first caller, in euphoria, we forgot to switch on the button to allow more incoming calls. This is revelaed just after finishing the show, because a few friends texted me saying they couldnt reach the line.


So all in all, i had great time, and happy that we managed it quite well (at least i didnt go all mute). I feel good because i think i had srahed and promote Malaysia to a broader community and because this maybe a once-a-lifetime event for me :)