Saturday, January 26, 2008

Babies Day Out

Since it is still winter and the weather is so nice to do outdoor activities, we decided to have our breakfast in one of the famous bakery shop in Khartoum, Ozone. It is a bakery shop plus cafe with lots of tables for us to enjoy our breakfast. While we were having such a lovely time, the kids were having fun playing at the small park near the area.

This is one of the place that we will hang out for some time out with the kids.


The next player for Arsenal/MU

Erica is practicing to become one too...


Am enjoying my breakfast....


While hubby playing with Ehsan

Good Bye My Friend......

The count down had come to an end. Our dear friend, Razman n Adila went back for good to Malaysia today. They had been staying in Khartoum for 3 years and it is time for them to return back. It was a sad evening to send them off at the airport. We may not spend so much time together but we do share some problems and stories when we meet up.

We wish them a happy journey and good luck in new upcoming life in Malaysia. We gonna miss both u!!!


Us at the Assaha a few nights back


A dear friend that would be miss.......

Thursday, January 24, 2008

10th month of Erica

Erica turns 10 months old today. And at 10 months Erica had grown up to be such a beautiful girl. She may have had several differences compared to Ehsan at this age, but she is growing up healthily. I would like to recall her development for the past 10 months.

1. She started to roll over by herself 1 week after we came back to Sudan - 25th August 2007. She was 5 months old.

2. At the age of 6 months she started crawling.

3. She started standing by holding to sofas at the age of 8 months.

4. We thought that since she had already started standing she would start walking as early as Ehsan but it turns out she was just 'lazy' to do so. Instead she can stand still without any help at the age of 9 months.

5. She had her first tooth on 10th January 2008 whilst Ehsan had his at the age of 1 year old. She now has 2 teeth.

6. She loves and likes to eat especially the food that I prepared. She can eat everything and anything! It is easy to care for her.

7. She loves to bathe. She would cry once the shower is turned off.

8. She is very hard to please especially when she wants to sleep. She would crawl over the bed to find her best spot before she could start dreaming.

9. Being the only daughter as of now, she is hubby's beloved lil girl! She would look for hubby the moment she wakes up in the morning. I guess she's going to be Baba's daughter when she grows up!

10. And the obvious thing that differs from Ehsan is that she has loads of hair!

But what ever different they had, we love them as the way they are. They make our live happy and give meaning to each and every day for us.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

New Layout for new year

It was already 2 years since we moved into this apartment. Ever since then we didn't do much with the entire look of it. Since all the furnitures provided are based on Arabic taste plus we are not going to settle over here, so we just make do. The very first things we bought way back 2 years ago was 2 new carpets. We bought it because the floor was bare and didn't look nice and also the carpet provided by the company doesn't suit the entire furniture. Sofa brown carpet blue...!

And after 2 years and having 2 growing up kids we guess we need to change the layout to suit the condition of the kids. Y did I said that?

The pictures below shows the layout when we first moved in. We made it look more like a 'cordon' since it helped Ehsan learn to walk. We did bring his walker in our kontena but it only arrived after 3 months; by that time it was useless as Ehsan had started to run already.


We also turned the other side of the living room into a play area for Ehsan.


So now after we had Erica we have to arrange back to make it look more spacious. Y??? It made our apartment look bigger. Ehsan can use it as his 'football field', and Erica can start her walking lessons using her walker in a spacious area. Plus we hanged some on the wall.



The playing area still remains, but with the extra addition of a new television for both the kids to watch their cartoon DVDs. Since Ehsan always - and still does - conquers the main television we have, hubby is so nice to bought a new one for him.


As for me, my 'spending time' area also had a new look with a new cabinet bought all the way from Malaysia. So now I had all the files nicely organized at the cabinet and also a more empty table for me to do my work.... (so where's my TV, abang??)


Monday, January 21, 2008

Macaroni Bakar

Today was my turn to teach the cooking class. The menu is just a simple one. Baked Macaroni!. The only problem is I am very good at remembering to take pictures at other classes but not during mine. So these are the only pics available for my keeping.

I would also like to share this simple recipe. The trick is to use the stove instead of baking it in the oven. But make sure the pan you are using wont burn it out.

Enjoy!!


Lakonan semula dari actress yang sporting


Posing after class

Bahan :

250 gm macaroni – rebus & tos

3-4 sudu besar marjerin

3 biji bawang besar – potong dadu

4 biji lobak merah (size sdg) – potong dadu

1 tin cendawan butang – potong dadu

2 tin tuna – mayonis / pedas

6-8 biji telur – blend

1 paket cheese keping

Garam


Cara-caranya:-

1. Panaskan marjerin hingga cair dan tumiskan bawang besar hingga nampak translucent.

2. Masukkan lobak merah biar hingga empuk dan masukkan cendawan.

3. Masukkan tuna dan kacau hingga sebati.

4. Perasakan dengan garam dan masukkan macaroni yang telah direbus

5. Tutup api

6. Tuangkan telur ke dalam adunan macaroni tadi dan kacau biar sebati. Padatkan adunan.

7. Susun cheese di atas permukaan adunan dan masak lebih kurang 30 – 45 minit.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

2nd Anniversary

Anxious, excited, happy, nervous, sad are those feelings that I had when we first came to this continent 2 years ago. I was happy for the new experience and lifestyle that we would face. Nervous for what those unexpected things. Sad that I have to leave behind my career and opportunities that came at that time. But I always remember what my parents & parents-in-law always said - "Ikut je husband pegi mana even kalau dia masuk hutan". So that was what made me think deeper and made the decision to follow hubby.

Imagine the feeling when you first see the country from the sky and it has little to compare with when landing at KLIA. You can see lights everywhere. The feeling worsened when I first saw the condition of the airport -the so called 'international' airport - at that time. There has been changes (still not a KLIA!) but better than before. I had to make do with the limited rations that we brought with us; our 'kontena' would only arrive 3 months later. Tension la jugak masa tu. Dah la Ehsan only drink a soy base milk which is not available here. Even though I thought I was prepared mentally and physically, but I faced difficulty when actually facing the situation myself.

It was winter when we first arrived. Having to be in the kitchen all the time and constant contact with cold water made my skin terrible and horrible! It was sore, cracked and also luka - it just made me so depreseed during the first few months here. But I was lucky too - I made some nice friends, friends who can share and exchange views on 'surviving' here.

Having stayed here for the past 2 years I can see a lot of positive and negative sides:

+ve side :
1- I got to bring up my kids my way, by myself, without interference
2- Sudan has taught us to be independent, wiser and mature
3- To appreciate and always be thankful of how lucky we are to be Malaysian
4- I got to prepare the food for the family everyday without fail. (once in a while bila malas tak kira la....!)
5- I get to experience my kids' development and achievements. Kalau kat Malaysia selalunya bibik yang dapat tengok dulu.
6- The country is much safer compared to Malaysia.
7- Learning about a new culture and religion. Even though it is a Muslim country but they follow Mazhab Hambali which is different from our believe.
8- In term of food, there is nothing to worry about since the meat is slaughtered in the islamic way.

-ve side :
1- The weather is too hot during summer. (50 degree days!)
2- The country is full with orang-orang yang 'bodoh sombong'.
3- Full of reckless drivers
4- The Facilities are not up to date
5- The quality of work here is not good

So on our 2nd anniversary of our arrival in Sudan, I am grateful to be brave enough to leave all the good things and opportunities in my life to bring Ehsan and follow hubby to Khartoum. We celebrated by going on a picnic at Burri Beach (yes, even the Nile has a sandy beach!). We just let Ehsan & Erica spend the time playing in the sand, making sand castles and putting up the Jalur gemilang. (The weather was nice, but a bit cold so the kids needed to wear extra layers).


Erica trying to rake the sand


Ehsan making a sand castle


...a happy moment for both of them

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Relax....

Having put on the last entry how I love cooking now, there are also days that I just love being lazy and do nothing. Having said so, yesterday I had my rest since PETRONITA organized a farewell party for Adila in the morning. So there goes my lunch covered for that day. As for hubby he wanted to have bread dip with left over kuah masak merah. Senang tugasku...

Later that nite, a friend of ours; Salinda had invited us to have dinner at a new Thai & Mexican Restaurant. She is a Malaysian Punjabi married to David, a Scottish working with DAL Motors. The best part is there are NO Mexican food in the menu. Apada.... But the tomyam was superb that now I can find my new place when am lazy.



Kak Husna & Adila

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Parties.....

Am not a good cook nor a bad one. But since coming to Sudan I learned alot about cooking from main dish to dessert. It is a big achievement (to me lah especially...) for me as my mum likes to compare me with my only sister. Name it, she knows how and what to cook. She even has her own home base catering business. But now after her illness, she had to stop and concentrate on her health.

Since I had the confidence of my own cooking, we had invited several friends who are going back for good to Malaysia, new family and not so new family to our house in separate occassion. The 1st batch (10th January), we organised tea for Kak Nura and Nazlyn. I cooked some laksa johor and choc chip muffin. Kak Nura is going back to Malaysia after 5 years living in Sudan. While Lyn not so new in Sudan followed the husband who attached with Malaysia Embassy.


Laksa Johor

Choc Chip Muffin

Kak Nura & Azlan's family

Nazlyn & Azam

The 2nd batch (14th January), we threw a simple dinner party for Paska (hubby's boss) and Razman. Paska just brought the family to join him while Razman is about to leave for Malaysia after 3 years attached in Sudan. The best part was when my guests gave me a big hand for my first attempt at making Tiramisu and Udang Garam Masala. Actually the Udang Garam Masala I used the Patak's base je hehehehe..... (who cares..). Whatever it is, it is an honour to someone who start with zero and now have something to talk about cooking.

Nasi Beriani

Ayam Masak Merah

Udang Garam Masala

Acar

Tiramisu


Razman & Adila & Paska's family

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Salam Maal Hijrah....

DOA AKHIR TAHUN

Doa Akhir Tahun di baca 3 kali pada akhir waktu Asar atau sebelum masuk waktu Maghrib pada akhir bulan Zulhijjah. Sesiapa yang membaca doa ini, Syaitan berkata........

"Kesusahan bagiku dan sia-sia lah pekerjaanku menggoda anak Adam pada setahun ini dan Allah binasakan aku satu saat jua. Dengan sebab membaca doa ini, Allah ampunkan dosanya setahun"

Maksudnya:

Allah SWT berselawat ke atas penghulu kami Muhammad SAW, ahli keluarga dan sahabat-sahabat baginda dan kesejahteraan ke atas mereka.

Wahai Tuhan, apa yang telah aku lakukan dalam tahun ini daripada perkara-perkara yang Engkau tegah daripada aku melakukannya dan aku belum bertaubat daripadanya. Sedangkan Engkau tidak redha dan tidak melupakannya. Dan aku telah melakukannya di dalam keadaan di mana Engkau berupaya untuk menghukumku, tetapi Engkau mengilhamkanku dengan taubat selepas keberanianku melakukan dosa-dosa itu semuanya. Sesungguhnya aku memohon keampunanMu, maka ampunilah aku. Dan tidaklah aku melakukan yang demikian daripada apa yang Engkau redhainya dan Engkau menjanjikanku dengan pahala atas yang sedemikian itu. Maka aku memohon kepadaMu.

Wahai Tuhan! Wahai yang Maha Pemurah! Wahai Yang Maha Agung dan wahai Yang Maha Mulia agar Engkau menerima taubat itu dariku dan janganlah Engkau menghampakan harapanku kepadaMu Wahai Yang Maha Pemurah. Dan Allah berselawat ke atas penghulu kami Muhammad, ke atas ahli keluarga dan sahabat-sahabatnya dan mengurniakan kesejahteraan ke atas mereka.

DOA AWAL TAHUN

Doa Awal Tahun dibaca 3 kali selepas maghrib pada malam satu Muharram. Sesiapa yang membaca doa ini, Syaitan berkata....

"Telah amanlah anak Adam ini daripada godaan pada tahun ini kerana Allah telah mewakilkan dua Malaikat memeliharanya daripada fitnah Syaitan".

Maksudnya:

Allah SWT berselawat ke atas penghulu kami Muhammad SAW, ahli keluarga dan sahabat-sahabat baginda dan kesejahteraan ke atas mereka.

Wahai Tuhan, Engkaulah yang kekal abadi, yang qadim. yang awal dan ke atas kelebihanMu yang besar dan kemurahanMu yang melimpah dan ini adalah tahun baru yang telah muncul di hadapan kami. Kami memohon pemeliharaan dariMu di sepanjang tahun ini dari syaitan dan pembantu-pembantunya dan tentera-tenteranya dan juga pertolongan terhadap diri yang diperintahkan melakukan kejahatan dan usaha yang mendekatkanku kepadaMu Wahai Tuhan Yang Maha Agung dan Maha Mulia.

Wahai Tuhan Yang Maha pengasih dari mereka yang mengasihi dan Allah berselawat ke atas penghulu kami Muhammad. Nabi yang ummi dan ke atas ahli keluarga dan sahabat-sahabatnya dan kesejahteraan ke atas mereka.

Friday, January 4, 2008

For Farah & Rafek.....

Even though the wedding had passed a few weeks ago, but I still feel the 'heat' of it... Hehehe.... Terasa macam kita pulak yang kahwin.

Anyway in this post I just like to put up the entry of my hubby's work especially for his only sister. It is the montage that he had been work it on for the reception at the Dewan. I'm always impressed with his work. He has the creativity and patience to do things. And that's what I like and love about him....

Feel free to watch the montage.....


Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy New Year....

It will be a memorable celebration for us. By right we were supposed celebrating new year with my friends in Pac Pac, Sepang. Instead, I had to take care of sick people and also being sick as well. It was horrible. Hubby and kids got diarrhoea and vomiting. It's all started with Ehsan a few days before. Then Erica start to have diarrhoea. On the new year eve hubby pulak started to vomit and had diarrhoea. He had been in and out the loo for several times that I had a sleepless nite. Having to care for 3 sick people at the same time was not good. In the end I also surrender.

Luckily my parents was still in KL and they had been so nice to come over and look after us. My father still believes in traditional medicine even though his father is a German. He had been so kind finding the guava leaves and grind it till it became a paste. He then put the paste on Erica's stomach and bind it with cloth. Even though we are already advanced but I do believe in traditional way sometimes. It worked on Ehsan when he got sick in Sudan and my father did the same thing.

Being a parents especially a mother you will never feel better unless to see your family in good condition. After several days of peace and quiet, Ehsan and Erica bring back the life to the house.

p/s.... So moral of the story, bila tahun baru patutnya banyakkan ibadat and not planning to go out and celebrate it with friends. Hehehehe.......

Spidey Ehsan - soon after he recovers