Let's Parr..day...!

Today we were invited to a birthday party (Umayr pronounced it as 'parday'...soo Aussie..lol) of the son of one of the post-graduate students. So, we left Kak Long and baby (and Ammar because he was acting grumpy) to attend the party. When we arrived (we were quite late) they were already treasure hunting. There were quite a number of people that I knew from when I came before this so I was able to mingle. Lots of food, balloons and children.. It was a thematic party - ninjas! (if I knew I would wear black, cover my face and brought a sword...okey, okey it's a children's party not grandmas'). The birthday boy was Rayyan (at first I thought it was 'Ryan'). A lovely name which is the name of one of the doors to paradise for people who fast.. Here are some pics of the erm...'parday':

Lots of food for everyone

Fun time for the parents: dads dressing  moms like ninjas - with newspaper..

Time for a pinata..

The birthday cake - edible leggo blocks as decorations

Okey..that's the birthday boy (in ninja gear), waiting patiently for the singing to stop so he could cut the cake..

Giving out medals for winners (everyone gets one)

A proud medal-getter..

Here's Umayr with a big gun and his Jedda..

Everybody lining up for a picture

The birthday cake already half eaten - yummy

Well, I should say that Rayyan is one happy boy today. Happy birthday Rayyan!

After a week in Adelaide..

It's freezing here in Adelaide.. today it's extra cold - 10 degrees Celsius at the moment. Right now I'm wishing for Malaysia's hot and humid weather (where I'll be wishing for a cooler weather - human beings are weak creatures who are not satisfied with what they are given..Astaghfirullah!) Anyway, here I am.. already a week here in Adelaide. Arrived from Melbourne last Wednesday. I was in Melbourne for about a day; reaching Melbourne before midnight on Tuesday 2nd of October and then catching another flight to Adelaide early Wednesday evening.. It was good to see the grandchildren again - Umayr is much friendlier now (doesn't mind being hugged and kissed - used to emphatically say 'no!' if you get anywhere near him) but little Ammar is being wary of strangers.. And what about the new brother? Amru is such a sweet little baby.. sleeps most of the time and not fussy at all!

And here he is..sleeping peacefully

Here is Umayr having fun on his trampoline

And Ammar upset because his brother has taken away the chair that he used to climb up the trampoline..

Mowing the overgrown backyard now that it's spring..

Orange tree at backyard

Sweet and juicy

Peaches - growing..

Apricots - still green..

On Sunday we left Kak Long and the baby and went to 'Jack Cross' Sunday Market. Time to stock up on fresh food - usually cheaper here. It's just like the night market (Pasar Malam) in Malaysia only it's during daytime..

Bang Long with the Kailan we bought (3 bunches for $2)

Frozen ikan kembung or mackerel they call it here

Umayr posing for the camera

Well..what do you know...they sell scarves for Muslimahs too!

Ammar scowling for the camera..lol

Tuesday was Umayr's school day. He goes to Kindy school twice a week.. (Tuesdays and Thursdays - I think all they learn there is mostly social skills..). Umayr wanted to bring his baby brother for show 'n tell but his mom said no.. so he just had to be satisfied with the truck he got at 'Jack Cross'!

Ammar sending brother off, too. Umayr with a hat on to play outdoors in the hot sun (what hot sun??)

Islamic Kindergarten

Hanging his bag..

With one of the teachers (and the truck for show n' tell)

In one of the classes

Kindy School part of the Islamic College..

Students arriving at school..

Here's Ammar looking cute and confident in the chilly weather..

And here he is keeping warm, and watching his favourite movie on the ipad

 A few pics from Melbourne:

A yellow sea of Canola flowers

The 'halal' KFC at Weribee shopping centre where I went shopping with friends

The 4 lovely kids (Yahya, Raudhah, Taufiq and Afiq) belonging to the friend whom I stayed with in Melbourne. Thanks guys!

It's sleeting outside and I'm very eager to zip up into my sleeping bag right now. I hope the weather will get warmer soon..I still have 5 more weeks to go... help!

Third Grandchild!

Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah that a third son was born to our daughter-in-law today, the last day of September (due tomorrow actually). I am supposed to go to Adelaide to look after things while the daughter-in-law is in confinement so now I'll be 3 days late. Right now I'm in Meru, arriving from Kuala Terengganu late yesterday afternoon. I'll be flying to Melbourne on the 2nd of October and catching another flight to Adelaide the next day... to say hello and assalamualaikum to our new grandchild! I'll be staying there for about 42 days (will miss the hubby but he and Kak Lang will be joining us for Eidul-adha in about 3 weeks time, insyAllah). It's fortunate that Adik's flight back to Cairo is just 2 days after mine so he'll be seeing me off at the airport instead of the other way round. I still have time to cook beef rendang for him to take back to Cairo tomorrow, insyAllah! God, I've lots of packing to do.. Anyway, here are some pics from Bang Long's and a friend's FB:

Clearly upset at having been thrust into the world a day early..

Calm and serene with mommy

Little Ammar is big brother now..

 So, congratulations Bang Long and Kak Long for the new addition to the family! Will be seeing you guys in 3 days time, insyAllah..

A Trip to Pulau Kapas

We've been living in Kuala Terengganu for over 3 years now and last Saturday was the first time we went to one of the few islands Terengganu is famous for! Tourist come here mainly to enjoy the beautiful beaches especially those surrounding the islands. Well after being pestered by the kids to make the trip, we decided to go to the nearest one which is Pulau Kapas (literally: 'Cotton Island'). We actually started out quite late during the day; nearly noon. The jetty where we took the boat to the island is at Marang which is about 20 minutes from our home. The journey by boat (or ferry as some people call it) was only 10 minutes and we were one of the two families on board (the other was a foreign couple with a baby). Below are pics from the trip:

Adik and Kak Lang (and family from Germany in background)

The captain! (or guy who manned the boat..lol)

Brother and sister posing for the camera

Smiley baby

Ready with life jackets.. Alhamdulillah nobody fell into the water.. (didn't bother with them on way back though!)

Approaching the island

It was a blazingly hot afternoon...yet peaceful

Our lunch and tea

I prefer the shade - spent time reading and napping..

Hubby napping too

Not for these youngsters..time to snorkel

Playing with the fishes

The water was crystal clear..

I didn't capture this or 2 of the above pics.. the hubby did. (I wasn't about to leave the shade and be sun-burnt or get my feet wet..oh no no no!)

Hey, the kids caught a 'Nemo'!

After a few minutes in captivity (in the sandwich container) he was let go (back to his parents...bye bye Nemo!)

Late afternoon..Wow what a view..subhanAllah!

Time to go home (not our boat though)

I did get my feet wet after all because the boat couldn't get near enough to the beach.. *sigh*

I truly appreciate the beauty of the island, the sea and the beaches (MasyAllah..) and understood why tourists flock here. But on the down side, the sights of bikini-clad women traipsing around are just not encouraging to one's iman...(Astaghfirullah..!)