What’s been happening

I’m at the office now doing my temporary work at Boots Building. My manager is at a meeting and I’ve mostly finished the work she gave me to complete while she’s in the meeting. So I decided to write an entry for today. I haven’t been well these last two days. Got a slight fever and a bad cold. My nose has been blocked for sometime now so I can’t breathe properly which is always irritating especially when I’m just about to sleep. But enough of my moaning!

Yesterday I had a pleasant surprise. Anne, one of my best friends from my MRSM days, left me a message in my shoutbox. I’ve lost touch with her for quite some time. Come to think of it, the last time we spoke was at my wedding reception in Malaysia 2 years ago (and a bit). Luckily she left me her email so I sent her one this morning. I hope she will write back soon. Another of my best friend, Joanna, got married last December which I couldn’t attend because of my work. She and her husband actually held a small get together to celebrate her wedding last Sunday in Cardiff but again I couldn’t make it. And yet again the cause of it…my work. I really really wanted to go but what can I do. I guess in life we have to sacrifice some things in order to achieve other things. Actually that was just a small sacrifice. I’m sure Allah has destined for me to encounter much bigger sacrifices which I hope I will be able to face steadfastly.

Another thing which I haven’t written about but has been talked about everywhere in the world has been the tsunami the hit Asia on 26 December 2004. As a Muslim I believe that it was a message from Allah. A message telling us to remember the hereafter and not just be swamped by worldly problems and pleasures. I must keep in mind that life will not last forever and one day we all will die. But seeing the devastation in Asia it just hits home the point that you can die instantly. I pray to Allah that such a thing wont happen to me or Abang or my family and friends. Futhermore, because Malaysia was also hit by the tsunami it really is something to think about. I’ve always thought that Msia is a peaceful country because it has never been in the path of any natural disasters and I thought that it would always stay that way. But I guess I was wrong. If Allah wants to send you a reminder then ANY thing can happen at ANY time.

I got a link to the song ‘Indonesia Menangis’ from someone about the Asian Tsunami disaster. I think the lyric, be it simple, is a good reminder to us about Allah’s power and mercy. Unfortunately it's in Malay or Bahasa Indonesia so if you don't speak or read any of those languages then you won't be able to understand the lyrics. If I have time I'll translate the lyrics.

My wonderful chef..Abang

As any other Tuesday, I had my weekly meeting at 10am with my supervisors. Everything went fine I guess. Just need to finish up writing and make sure the explanations are made based on what I think the external examiner wants to know and might ask. Next week and the week after I won't be having any meetings so I've got to get as much done as possible within these two weeks. I'm aiming to get 2 chapters done so that I'm back on track in order to be able to submit my thesis by 1 April. So I'm going to do some writing tonite before The OC starts.

Yeay! The latest season of The OC starts today! Can't wait to watch it. Plus there's the latest season of ER and there's also Desperate Housewives. For you guys who don't already know, I'm a TV addict. But I'm learning to cut back coz I need to do more writing every night. Luckily my lovely and wonderful husband has taken over the task of cooking every weekday so that I can come home after work and eat quickly before working again. Don't know what I'll do if Abang were not here. I don't think other men would do the same some men think that a kitchen is not a place for a man. But I guess nowadays men are more willing to help with housework and chores. Even so, I sometimes feel guilty of having Abang cook for me everyday but I'll make it a point to cook something special on the weekends.

I guess that's all for today..got to write some more...

Been silent for a while

Lots has happened but most of whats been happening are all realted to my work. Yeah...work, work, work. It's that thing thats been dominating my life will continue to do so until the day I hand in my thesis.

These first few weeks of the year have been rather uneventful. We started work as usual and all throughout this week and last week Shah and I have been busy invigilating. It wasn't the usual exams that we had to invigilate though. We signed up for invigilating exams for students with special arrangements. I have to say that it was a real useful experience but I wished we had thought it through much better before signing up to invigilate every morning of every single day of the 2 weeks. On my final day of invigilating, I got to invigilate a visually impaired student. It was a truely eye opening experience. I have to admit I never realised there were blind students at the Uni even when in truth there were many of them. Watching the student answer his exams yesterday left me feeling awed and also very lucky to be able to have full use of my eyes. Even though theses students can't see, they still have lots of determination and courage to study right up to university level. If it were me, I can't even imagine how I would cope woth being blind. I wonder if I would have even a fraction of that students determination.

Yesterday was also Eid-ul-Adha. As on any Eid day, I wore my baju kurung to the Uni. However, Shah and I didn't go for Eid prayers coz of the morning invigilations. Apart from wearing the baju kurung, yesterday was just like any other day. I didn't cook any Raya food, i.e. rendang, kuah kacang, nasi impit, the night before coz I was so tired and so busy. Anyhow, tomorrow Didi and housemates have invited us over to thier place for a kinda potluck raya celebration. So I'm very excited to be able to eat all the delicious food tomorrow.

Anyway, I've got to get ready to go to work now. Will write again next time...

Holidays ending soon

One more day left and we will have to go back to work. I really need to start writing again but it's so difficult. I will have to do some tonight coz I'm feeling guilty as hell. I don;t like feeling this way but I can't help it. I've promised Abg that I'll start concentrating on my work after all the shopping I've been doing on Boxing Day and the day after. On Boxing Day, Aryss, Izaty, Lisa and I went to Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham. It was fun coz I got a new handbag and a book by Dan Brown for Abg. They day after that we went to Nottingham city centre and I got 2 new pairs of shoes and some clothes. I'm very satisfied with what I got and now I have to study hard.

If I want to graduate this July, I've got to finish writing an submit my thesis by February.I really must meet that deadline coz I don't want to make us stay here longer than middle of this year. I've made lots of promises to Abg and I wont want to have to break any more. Kesian kat Abg! So, I guess that's all for now. I'll try and write now and again but I can't promise when. But don't worry, I love this blog too much to let it just be abandoned in cyberspace.