Rohan is FIVE

Another Birthday.... in January.
Thanks auntie Olga for a nice Russian's birthday card.

Been hot days lately.... hot during day time - hot at night... no respite. [I am loving it though..]

For the cake - yummy mud cake from Coles [cheap and yumm] and I just put some strawberries to make it look a bit 'special' and that recycled ben10 candle again! Rohan didn't mind....

Rohan with "Haka" tongue. That hair is getting it's curl yet again... time to visit Ali's Barber.

Must not forget this : He also needs to renew his passport...

only by Allah's Grace

Everybody knows about the famous disaster that befallen RMS Titanic..

but it happened long time ago and the technology then was nothing compare to the current marine engineering technology (was my attitude really)


This is the flavour of today's soup... Costa Concordia .. err hotsoup that is.


This [lesser known boat] was MV-Geco Sapphire that I, was once her 'tenants'

My stint on that boat was filled with beautiful memories that I hope I would never forget.

Onboard this boat in 1996 - I thought WOW she was huge - Infact her length was only 1/4 that of Concordia...
Here she was - in her glorious day - one of the gem-class boats [there were Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond and Topaz]. I spent 12 weeks onboard this boat, was so proud of her I even got a t-shirt with her photo on it.

I never thought that she would ended up half sank in Bergen port, Norway.... never ever cross my mind.. sure there was titanic but this is Geco's boat... she is much better... bla di da di da.... because I never really care much about what's in the Qur'an.

One time, the engine room was flooded by sea water and some of the crew was going up and down the engine room. We were in Berau Bay in Irian Jaya at that time and I thought 'cool', can I go down for a look? this fellow navigator said 'sure, let's go' [he was only a little bit more senior than I was] and as I followed him down to the engine room I heard a stern voice shouted at him 'Take her out! I don't want her in here'. I was only a trainee then.. so, fair enough there's nothing worse than a nosy trainee at the site of an accident. Even so, no need to shout man!

At no time ever when I was onboard that boat, I thought the boat can actually sink.

When the titanic movie came out the following year [the one with Kate and Leo] - I remember feeling slightly ill, in my guts, in the picture theater thinking about that engine room incident... but Sapphire was still floating by then.

Shortly after migrating to Tassie, my mate forwarded her half-sank photo to me... geeee wheeeez... that ill gut feeling again!


Who would think this mighty Concordia will be on her side???

S31@31 [Yusof Ali's interpretation]: Seest thou not that the ships sail through the ocean by the Grace of Allah?- that He may show you of His Signs? Verily in this are Signs for all who constantly persevere and give thanks.

Tripovich Street. Brunswick

I stumbled upon this place as I was walking down Sydney Road. Actually the live music and the need to use a toilet made me wonder into this area.
Such a lovely atmosphere. There's an italian restaurant with lotsof patrons spilling out into the pavement. There were hardly any empty tables available by the time I left the place [not that I was hungry -remember that humongous afghan meal?]

'Hacienda -like' building belongs to Tom Padula. He has an 'international languages bookshop'. Interesting character. I felt sorry for him that his shop isn't as popular as the restaurant nearby and he also whining about the mediterranean supermarket across the main road - that "lotsof people going there to feed their stomachs but none come into his shop to feed their brains"

We exchanged few things about our languages and he showed me his collections of 'nice shiteries' from all over Italy and Spain.. a nice guy. He is very passionate about poetry.. he has a book of poetry in Italian and English .. I am not very poetry-loving person but I am sure it sounds nicer in Italiano than in English...
According to Tom this graffiti was done 2 days prior....
and Yes I did find a toilet around this area! phewwww..

Afghani Food- pt. 2

Next time I want to try 'badenjan' [eggplant]..

I bet it's nice - yummmm

Afghani Food

Can't say that I am familiar with Afghani Food. Last Saturday I had a wonderful experience, dining at one Afghani joint in Brunswick's Sydney Road. I walked past this shop so many times in the past but I never thought of going in... a bit 'under-developed' looking and normally nobody's in there... this time I thought why not give it a try. Not knowing what to order... I thought 'lamb briyani'
What a big serve eh? Honestly it would be perfect for two people.. I have eaten many types of briyani before - this was one of the best.
The chutney was really really nice - I must find a recipe for it - I think it has a bit of chillie, tomato, mint and???? wonderful!

Just when I thought - gee what a big meal I would never finish this... out came the bread... can't tell if the bread is nice coz by the time I tried the bread I was pretty stuffed!

I had traditional lassi [whisked yogurt drink with a bit of sugar and water and sprinkled with ground cardamom - so heavenly - I had to ask for another glass of lassi.

The price is $30 [which is WOW] - considering it's perfect meal size for two people..
Those carpets are to cover the plywood .. apparently he was doing some renovation...

Arrrgh - I felt so bad for not finishing the meal.. thinking so many hungry kids in Afghanistan and here I am wasting awesome food... [I finished the chutney though]

I also felt guilty for eating more than I should... [yeah right!]

Owner was sooooo nice he was chatting (more like gossipping) about Taliban... Osama.. Gulbudin, Afghanistan, Iraq bla di da di da.... [to be honest I was more interested in the meal than Osama but I listened along]...

According to this man - the capture of Osama was all staged --- Americans need to be seen as world's heroes. He reckoned Osama still alive n kicking and is kicking Obama's ass (behind the scene).

Later on the day I met a taxi driver from Pakistan, he also reckoned Osama's "capture" is actually an "action drama" with Hollywood taste to it. He said he was there in that particular city when it all happened. Osama, he said, actually died of some sort of kidney disease about three years ago.

The truth is out there [eerie music of X-files everybody]... but I think there is some truth in what these two gentlemen has said to me.

After that big lunch I had to wonder down the road and by the time I walked back up (4 hours later)- I went in again to have another round of lassi... shamelessly I admit [I wish I had kept the leftovers from lunch... hahahhaha]

My Kitchen Rules

I can't wait - honestly!... Waited 5 years for this...
I hope the new kitchen will have 'no-shitery' rule...

Been doing some spring cleaning - aiyoyo... My bin is already "chocha"..

Must have "no-shit-toy" rule also.. Hisham... Hisham!

The new kitchen is scheduled to go in on the 10th of Feb... In the mean time I got to find a space for everyday cooking stuffs! hmm very challenging!

Maybe we should just have sandwiches for the next 3 weeks [could be good for my 'diet']

muahahahahahahaha

106 ! Whatelse is new

This is NOT me...I am slim and I am OK... [LIKE BLOODY FUN!]

The good news is I don't have asthma.. Bad news is I am way over 100 kgs again! [drat!]

The doctor was telling me - " only eat small portions, 30 minutes exercise everyday, no snacking bla bla bla di da di da"

I said " I know all the theories of losing weight -- it's the practical that I failed.. can't you prescribe something that will curb my homongous appetite?" [I didn't actually used the word humongous to her]..

she refused - saying that those pills will do more harm than good ---- now now... just use your ..... she pointed to her head...

then she print out a page of "Obesity: how to lose weight wisely" and scribbled on it:

* 30 minutes brisk exercise daily [walk or swim]

* 3 smaller meal/day - smaller plate

* drink more water

* no eating between meals

If you do this you will lose weight....

[GOSH DON'T I KNOW ALL THESE ALREADY]

Then she went on "would you like to come back in 2 months time, to see how you doing?"

[WHAAAAT? another $69 --- to your already fat 'super'? - No thanks]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmmmm I wonder those ironing I did this morning can be considered as exercise???

mind you I almost never iron my outfits.... [I only use my iron when I do patchwork]

Launceston Aquatic Centre

Chips time after swimming [yeah.. very healthy dahling]

Maryam and Madiha --- Leyza's kids

Two plus size models [one is plus plus plus size]

I totally love my burkini.

but it is quite a logistical nightmare going to swim with kids - - I have to help them changing and constant

worrying about the health and wellbeing of ...1...2.... where's the other one??! ok there he is...

5 minutes later - one................... two..... aarrghhhhh - where's the other one....

[p.s Rohan managed to get stucked on giant slide.. lucky one girl went up and took him down.. hmmmmmm - there will be a long break before the next aquatic centre outing- you betcha]

More birthday related pictures

Flourless orange cake from 'tant pour tant'

Cake with recycled Ben10 candle

Sliced turkey - gone in 60 seconds!

Birthday Card from auntie Olga [all the way from Murom] - Thank you auntie Olga!

Not in the photos : his birthday presents : color by number kit from auntie Leyza and nice book about Tasmanian wild lives from auntie Aminah.....

He is one happy boy...

Aladdin's 10

I still can't believe it... He is 10.. soon high school and ???? Dare not even think about it...

O is going to be 7 next month

... and my baby is going to school this year!

Wonder what my life would be without these three little men...

They came in today and had lunch with mummy - now off to home - maybe get a cake on the way... so we all have simple birthday cake tonight... insyaallah.

I never throw any party for them... we always have simple cake and that's it....

I have no big expectations from any of my kids... only hope... I hope and wish they will be a "muslim"

sweet and simple [I supposed that's a huge expectation already] ... that they join us in Jannah...

If Lut can have his daughters, Ibrahim and his sons --- please Allah I want my sons.

Rohan wanted Ironman

Wakakaka - anyway - we all had a good laugh..
Orion btw loves the Indiana Jones --- but he changed a few things... like few colors etc...

Want a good laugh?

This is the mario quilt design that I got from the net

But Orion wants Indiana Jones quilt [why?? he thinks his mum a genius seamstress?]

OK... laugh everybody! -- but that's not all.....

Table runner gone wrong!

Inspired by this diamond table runner - I thought I should make many of these...... but

I got frustrated half way and did a short one for Hisham's blackwood tv stand instead...

You see... my greens didn't have a point like it should... I must rethink of the measurements..

Also it's a bit hard to sew on a bias..

The points should all look like this... nevermind - I will try again... time is not on my side though :-(

Arrggh already 2012

Still haven't study a bit.... no mojo!

Yesterday I cleaned up my sewing area.... whoaaaaaaa too many fabrics not used yet... I must abstain from spotlight until I use at least 50% of my stash...

Maybe I should do small projects - like table runners.... easy to manage and I am not sure if I am ready to quilt big projects...

This top I did during Christmas holiday --- just squares [from a charm pack] pictures of fruits and vegies... I thought it will make a cute table top. I can't wait to practise some free motion on this quilt.... must hunt for the missing foot press...