Strange things do happen

I was just browsing the Malaysian papers today (while running my simulations) and I came across an article about another baby abduction in Malaysia. For those who don’t know, a week or so ago a newborn (something like 2 days old) baby was abducted from Sungai Petani Hospital in Malaysia. Luckily, the baby was found 5 days or so later. The baby was abducted by a nurse working at the hospital who was said to have depression due to 2 miscarriages. I was shocked by this incident and when I first read about it I felt so sad for the parents, especially the mother who wasn’t able to even hold the baby after birth because the baby had some breathing difficulties and had to be put in an incubator. If I were she I would have gone mad. After that many Malaysians, myself included, felt so angry that the security at Malaysian hospitals were so lacking. But when I knew it was an inside job I felt slightly better. I also slightly pity the woman that took the baby. Having gone through 2 miscarriages and then to work with babies day-in and day-out she surely must have had a massive bout of depression. But she should have sought professional help. However, if she abducted the baby out of spite and not because of depression then she sure is one bad woman.

Anyway, back to the article today, this time a 3-month old baby was abducted in Sibu by a heavily pregnant woman for the sole purpose of selling the abducted baby. The story goes that the woman came to a house in which the family living there has 2 children and the mentioned baby. The woman went there in search of help from the family to send her to her father’s place to drop of some stuff. But because the father and mother of the family sympathised with the woman’s condition being pregnant and all, they were so kind as to say that they will send the stuff for this woman by taxi while the woman waits at their home with their 3 children. So off they went. Lo and behold, when the father and mother came back the 2 kinds were left outside the house and the baby was gone as was the pregnant woman. Luckily the police were able to trace the woman and recover the baby within 24 hours after the abduction.

I feel sorry for the baby and angry with the pregnant woman for wanting to abduct a child. But I can’t say I sympathise too much with the father and mother of the family. I am more puzzled by their stupidity instead. I mean what do you expect! If you leave your kids with a stranger there is a small chance that something bad might happen to your children. Well, I read this article in Utusan Malaysia. When I read the same news in the New Straits Times, it seems that this pregnant lady was actually a next-door neighbour of the family who must have recently moved there who also had depression because she had to leave her 5 children and her husband. Anyway, I’m guessing that she still can be considered as a stranger if the family didn’t know her that well.

Anyway, I will never leave my children with a stranger. Not even if the stranger looks like a decent person because these days you never know what can happen. Looks can be deceiving as they say. This kind of news from home is very disturbing when you’re just about the move back there and thinking of starting your own family. But then if things were decreed by Allah to happen to you or your loved ones it will happen any time and anywhere.

OK, enough break for today. Back to work!

P/s: Last Sunday, Shah, his friends and I went to Nottingham Castle and went on the Castle Caves tour. It was very interesting. I’ve got some pics to upload and will blog about it later on when I have the time.

Music Music

I'm currently just sitting in front of the computer browsing the net with Westlife's first album playing in the background. Shah is busy playing on his PS2. It's a laid back low key night at home doing nothing other than lazing around. I just wish the night was much cooler than it is now. But I have to say tonight is much better than the previous nights. I think the hottest days were last Saturday and Sunday. Shah and I would not have been able to sleep it we didn't have our ever useful oscillating fan. The fan has been put to good use every summer and without it we just would not have been able to get through the summer time.

Anyway, I started off this entry without any specific topic in mind but since I've mentioned Westlife I guess I might as well blog about songs and artist's I like. Basically any song that sound catchy and nice can be considered as a song that I would like. But not those that are heavy metal or reggea. What else? I don't think I'm in to rap songs either. I quite like the current pop songs and r&b. Although I do like some old songs as well. Particularly the songs from the 80's and 90's i.e. songs that I grew up to. Like the songs by New Kids on the Block, Roxette, Boyz II Men, Wham (no wonder I've got Wake Me up Before You Go Go playing right?), Wilson Philips (do you remember them?) and many more. I wonder where my New Kids cassette tapes are coz I would like to listen to their songs again. Of course I am a fan of singers such as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey (her earlier albums..not the later ones) and Celine Dion. Growing up I was exposed to Gloria Estefan, Billy Ocean, Rick Astley, Kenny G and Dione Warwick by my mum and auntie. Not many Malay songs were played at home and I don't quite know why. But when I was in high school I remember listening to Malay songs. So I particularly remember songs during the late 80s and 90s era.

At the moment I'm trying to find all these kind of songs to keep in my collection. But I'm also pining for Michael Buble's first album coz I think his voice is very pleasing to the ear.

One year..

Yesterday (22/06/05) marks one year of my blogging.

Sadly, I'm not in the mood to write anything interesting now because there are too many things in my mind. Lots of things to do by the first week of July but I'm in no mood to do any of it. Someone said that I'm resting too much but actually I'm bored because of the simulations that I have to do for my viva. It's just giving me c*ap results and I'm so frustrated. I haven't shown the results to my supervisor because I made a stupid mistake that I just realised today. So looks like I'll have to see him tomorrow or on Monday. I'm really wishing I can just stop doing the simulations and just read my thesis and some books for my viva preperation. But I'll have to ask my supervisor first.

Arrghhhhhhh! I feel like shouting!!

Can I take u home?

I'll remember him..

First saw him asleep
On the shed outside the house
My so cute we said

When our keys janggle
He's the cat that always comes
Wanting to be scratched

When he comes to me
All my worries fly away
Makes me smile he does

Soon we'll have to leave
I will surely miss him loads
Will he miss me too?

I wish I can take him with us...

Just the weekend

Last night I got a surprise treat to the cinema from Abang. We watched 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'. The movie was great and we had a nice night. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie looked great together so no wonder sparks were said to fly between the two of them. There were lots of action scenes and the comedy between the two main characters were plentiful. It's been quite a while since both of us have been to the movies mainly because we weren't really interested in the movies shown at that time. But lately there are quite a few that we want to watch. Next week I'll treat Shah to 'Batman Begins' cause he's been wanting to see that movie ever since they started advertising it. I want to watch it too coz it looks interesting. Before the movie started last night we were shown the preview for 'Fantastic 4'. I have to say I'm rather attracted to watch the movie when it comes out. I vaguely remember watching the 'Fantastic 4' cartoons but I have to confess that I can't remember the main characters. But any how, I really would like to watch it.

Tonight we'll be going out for dinner with some friends at Bellini here in Nottingham. I'm hoping it will be good coz I've never been to the restaurant. Then tomorrow we'll be having another group of friends over for dinner at our place. So this weekend is a rather busy one. We're trying to entertain as many friends as we can before we leave for Malaysia just to say goodbye and to exchange contact details. We're really trying to meet as many as possible but I don't think we can meer them all coz most of them have already returned home to Malaysia for the summer holidays. Plus I'm quite busy with studying and I had to move office last Friday.

Yup! My supervisor has asked me to move office because two new-ish researchers have to be in the same room with one of his post-doc staff which is my officemate. And since I'm the only researcher in that room who's almost done with my PhD, I've been 'kicked out' of the room. Luckily the next door office has a spare desk. So yesterday I had to move all my stuff over and boy was it a hard job to do. Over the 3 and 1/2 years of my research I had accummulated stacks and stacks of papers containing my results. I was always unsure of what to throw and what to keep cos I wanted to be safe than sorry. So yesterday I finally had to sort through them all. But me being the unsure person I am still couldn't throw those unused results away so they're all still sitting there inside a box under my new desk. Hence, until the viva is actually over will I then be able to throw them away.

Anyway, that's what I've been and will be doing these few days. I've got to stop now so I'll write again soon.

Unique imperfections

On some days I'm sure most of us contemplate some thing about ourselves which we find to be imperfect or different from every one else. Be it physically or emotionally or personality wise. I do that too some times. But come to think of it we can't keep thinking that way coz it'll just make us worry for no reason. God has purposely made us different from each other so why should we question it any further. Every thing happens for a reason. The reason for me writing about this is because I found this lovely story that was forwarded to me via e-mail from one of my friends. I don't know who the author is so I can't give credit to that person. But I really want to share this with all you guys out there.

The Cracked Pot

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my sidecauses water to leak out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house." Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

p/s: Actually I didn't know what to write but I really wanted to put in an entry. So hope you guys liked the story.

New look & work

I've made my own skin! It's red and I think it's quite nice. I'm quite happy with it. But I'm not put off by my old skin so I will interchange between the two whenever I feel bored. I spent quite some time thinking about the colours and layout. I have to say I'm a perfectionist so it would have taken other people less time to do the simple layout that I did. But I did it anyway and I wont be doing any more layout changes in the near future since there is no more play time for me. I've got to concentrate on studying for my viva. Plus I've still got some simulations to run just in case my external examiner comes up with some questions. But I still have time to read my story books. I'm 3/4 way through Dan Brown's 'Deception Point'. Very interesting book but not as interesting or as fase paced as 'Angels and Demons' or even 'Da Vinci's Code' (the former being the best of the two in my opinion). So I've achieved almost 2 out of the 3 things I wanted to do before I start studying for my viva. Not bad.

I'm currently at the office and I've got my simulation running while I'm writing this. Or should it be the other way round? Anyway, I am telling myself that from next week onwards I've got to concentrate fully on the viva since in 3 weeks time Shah's parents will be here for his graduation ceremony. So I wont have much time to study while they're here. And more importantly 1 week after they leave I'll be having my viva! So I've got to make full use of this 3 weeks. Just a little more work and after July InsyaAllah no more studying for me.

We're not sure where to bring Shah's parents while they're here. One thing is for sure, we'll be going to Hull to visit my father in-law's friend. I'm hoping we'll have time to go to The Deep. I want to see sharks swimming above my head. Other than Hull, we're also thinking of going to Bristol and Bath area. And surely my mom in-law and me included will want to go to the weekly carboot sale. I'm hoping I can find some useful things to bring home to Malaysia. Anyway, if any of you reading this has any ideas on where we all can go between 9-18 July, let me know.

So true

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What kind of blogger are you?

As I expected. I just write on what's been happening daily and I am happy to write about my life. It is kinda narcissistic to write about yourself but I don't mind. I just want a reminder of my life to be there for me to read later on. It's also therapeutic coz it' s a means for me to let of steam whenever I feel stressed. I hope anyone who stumbles upon this blog do not mind my blabbering!

A new phase in life..

I've been lazing around the house but I guess from next week onwards I'll have to start packing. The boxes arrived yesterday and the bubble wrap will be delivered on Monday so I've got to start thinking of what to take home and what to leave. To tell you the truth, I don't quite know where to start. There's just so much to do. We decided to ship door-to-door coz we dont have too uch to bring home. Anyway, that's what I think. We have more things that a single person would have but less than a typical Malaysian family. So we won't need to hire a container for all our stuff. I just hope to shipping costs wont be too expensive.

Well, this means that our life has started to change. Change as in we will be packing up home and setting up a new one in Malaysia. Also change as in entering a new phase in life. Out of the study and couple phase and into the career and family life phase. Every one goes through it sooner or later. I just never thought my day will come. But it has. So I'll just have to face it. I just have to think of it as a learning process. If you fail just pick your self up and carry on. There's not short cut to life. But there's so much things to sort out. Where to live? How to commute to work? How will I handle a career?

InsyaAllah, in 3 months time I'll start working. I just hope I'll be able to become a good lecturer and I hope I've made the right choice. You see, I can't picture myself as an engineer for the company that sponsored my degree. Luckily they have their own private University in Malaysia. So I can opt to go into lecturing which will be interesting as I can teach and also do some research. And I'm hoping lecturing will give me flexibility in my working hours. So I can still be a good wife to my husband and a devoted mother to my future children. In my mind I want to be able to cook for my family every day and be there for my children when they wake up and before they sleep. I want to do everything for them but I guess I won't be able to do so because I have to work. So I'll have to resort to finding domestic help. But even so, I'll try the best I can. I just hope to Allah I'll have the strength to do my best. We'll just have to wait and see...

Awkward feeling

Today was spent doing nothing. I mean nothing related to work. So it felt really awkward. It deels like ages ago since Shah and I went out and just walk around without having to rush home so that I can continue with my work. This morning we went out to town and just walked around. Shah bought me some shoes and then we had lunch at Skinny Sumo. When we got home we just lazed around the house and spent time together. I cooked salmon fillets with parsley sauce and grilled an eggplant. So we're stuffed now and we might watch a vcd soon.

It sounds so boring writing the things I did today. It's been such along time since I blogged and I just don't know what to write. I want to write deep stuff but I guess I'm not that deep a person. So I just write on what I feel and what I go through. Anyway, I'll just have to try harder next time I write.

I've got a list of things to do now that I've got some time to spare before I start studying for my viva:

• start reading Deception Point and Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
• read some of the interior design books I bought
• probably find a new template for this blog

Well, I guess that's all. Shah is rambling about me and my blog. I think I better go and sit with him.

Yeay!! Dah submit..

Alhamdulillah..I've submitted my thesis!!!!

As of 12:15pm today, I'm free from worries. Although that's not totally true coz I've still got the viva to look forward to...not! Even so, I'll be taking a few days off from studies to recuperate from the exhausting task of writing and submitting the thesis. I haven't had much sleep these past 2 weeks coz I've been sleeping at around 3:30am and waking up again at 8am everyday. Shah has been going thru the same routine too. Poor him! He has suffered all the way thru my writing up process even though he has finished his PhD. I've got to pay him back big time! Never mind, I'll be devoting the whole of this weekend solely to him.

Abg, don't worry. I wont just devote this weekend to you. Every free time we have from now on will be spent with you and for us coz I'm so very grateful that you've been very patient with me all through these last 2 weeks. What with all the late nights plus all the running around here and there to get the thesis printed and sorted. I really really really appreciate every thing that you've done.

So, with this, I am officially back to blogging. I've been missing it like crazy!! Blogging is addictive you know? Now I can blog all I want. I know that some of you have been visiting my blog now and again and I apologise for not writing. I am truely honoured that you guys have been vising my blog and I really appriciate it. Now, I'll start writing again. So come back and read ok?

Well, I guess that's it for now. I need to sleep coz my head is hurting. Bye!!