Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Wales: 2005-2006: part 1

Getting that opportunity to stay for another year in the UK was a relief for me (then) partly because I wasnt ready to go home yet, and I was enjoying the perks of being a well paid doctor in the UK...haha...must admit you can do so much more when there is more dosh...weeheeeee. March' 05 Bro and I were driving in my 9 year old 5th hand maroon Vauxhall Vectra from London to Cardiff for my interview when on the M4 between J17 and 18 (pre Bristol) the car started to slow down for no apparent reason and the yellow light showing some part of the engine blinked on the dashboard. We were lucky I was driving on the slow lane so managed to get on to the hard shoulder. All inall, the timing belt broke, and we had to be towed to Cardiff! Thank god the interview was the next day! Blessing in disguise, I got the job! So another year in the UK, albeit in Abergavenny Wales! (I bought my 2nd hand Polo soon after that....!)

London-sick initially, but the Welsh are very welcoming and friendly I found my 'new family' in no time. Mala, Beth, Saira and oh Kian were mad! Kian...I miss his gayness (pre + post lasik). Malaysian Kian is an awesome-awesome friend, one who makes me miss home and makes me cook homefood so he doesnt get home sick. Silly Kian. Mala - my twin - was also my best gurly gurly where somehow somewhat we would turn up to work wearing almost the same coloured top and pants...and we also own the same pair of skirt from Mango...bought separately from different places before we knew each other! How freaky was that! Mala is my sister I never had...miss u babes! We went on our road (+ shopping) trips to London, our drive to work together daily and our mad thurs nite outs dancing in Cardiff town (u're trully Caerdydd if u've been to the Philly!). Oh I have to mention Tom (Bampy), Abbas (50p), Aled and Jamie and Ian - my night duty mates, and Rob n Amanda. My 1st HO - Paul (who pulls all the girls) and then James (truly english) and Aby....

A truly good year to end my decade stay in the UK!

p/s Im glad Facebook was created because this is the only way I can keep track with what my Abers are up to!












The purpose

Why I created this blog initially was to make a momento, a sort of memoir of what I have done over the last decade when I was away from home. Since I owned a digital camera only 2 years back, I will try to scan pictures from way back then...

Rain rain go away

It's 2300hrs and it has been raining non stopped since 1630hrs. Im sure there are few places that are heavily affected from this. The weather has been temperamental lately. Started a week ago when there was the mini typhoon. A few nights ago there were strong gustly winds that brought down all the fancy multi-coloured lit up adverts for the birthday celebrations. That was scaryyy. Never seen things like that happen in Brunei. Im sure this year's birthday celebrations and all outdoors' cafes and restaurants arent as merry as it has always been. No one wants to be trapped out there...no one wants to drive where there are trees along the road...just in case one may land in front of your car...or on your car! And when you're driving where there are no trees you can see the lightning....noooo! Staying indoors is way way safer!

So i did. Then the 4 hour electricity cut happened. Rang the 144 hotline....and they are soooo helpful! NOT! I was all hot and sweaty. Yuck. So glad when bro came and we went out to buy some wrapping cellophane for the wedding gifts. While we were out Mom and Dad popped by. So that was lovely. Lights, TV, internet and aircon returned just a mere 1.5 hours ago.....relief!!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

almost 1 year

i want a holiday. i just wanna be off work.

This is where i wanna be...


pix adapted from www.shangri-la.com


instead i'm here 5 days a week in here...





my first year is almost up working in RIPAS. I cannot wait for my entitled 2 week mandatory leave! Yay! I have so many plans but I know I should not plan. Enjoy the holiday as it goes, i keep telling myself. Oh what the heck, i will do some planning. Some is the key word here. I wanna go to a nice beach resort, not that we dont have one here. I just wanna be somewhere not in the country. I thought I should venture and explore more of Asia, closer to home. Perhaps Borneo. C'mon, even my 'orang putih' friends know Borneo in and out...I find myself all quiet when they all babble about how fascinating this island we live in. So after much dwelling and thinking, hubs and i have decided to go to KK for a bit of R+R. Yes, Borneo -tick, Beach - tick, Resort - tick. We may even go diving or snorkeling...that is if we have the guts to. We'll see. Yay yay...

It will be a lovely break after bro's wedding. I cant wait....for both.





Saturday, June 16, 2007

1 down, 2 to go




P.A.S.S.

The only 4-letter word I have been praying for! That had not only made my day, but also the people around me. Alhamdulillah.

It doesn't end there. 2 more before I become the senior.

How I wish I could have a Serendipity's Hot Frrrrrrozen Chocolate!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Hope for the best, Expect the worst

(flower from dad's pond)


Tis been a while. Lots of things have happened. Life and death and how these make you a stronger person.

From the last blog we were expecting our arrivals. Alas the 2nd trimester was a rough journey. Admissions in and out of hospital with our high risk pregnancy ended with the depart of both our babies. As advised and warned by our obstetrician - high risk it was as one placenta there was only. At 19 weeks did we receive the unfortunate news from the routine scan, and delivered to 2 baby boys - Abdul Rahman and Abdul Rasyiid. Will be in our hearts always. Love u both.

What we can say is that we have appreciated life and death at a another level. Made us stronger and better people and love each other and the people around us more. Do not forget to say 'I love you' whenever u can.

I have always been a planner; organise things so everything fall in place nicely. I have now learnt things that in life don't plan too much. Live life as you go along. Enjoy and live the moment....