Breaking Fast in Manchester

Still sizzling hot

Yesterday Bong's family and my family went to Manchester to send two of the postgraduates to the airport. One of them is going back for good and another one is going back for Raya. Afterwards we went to my friend G's house near Whalley Range before goig out again to break our fast at a restaurant near Rusholme. This area is full of halal restaurants and shops and we were basically spoilt for choices. Finally we decided to try this one shop named Sizzler. I ordered 'Mix Grill' consisting a variation of lamb, chicken, kebab and other stuff all grilled and lumped together on a plate. Of course it was too much for me to handle so I split it with Bong. On our way home there was an accident on the M61 highway so the traffic was heavy. We finally managed to get back to Lancaster around 11pm.

Breaking Fast in Lancaster Part 3

Last night we went to Imran's, a new restaurant opening in the town with a couple of families and friends. They serve buffet style and charge only £4 for adult and £2 for kid under 10. Anything you can eat. Basically they have the usual suspects such as pilau rice, naan, samosas, kebab sausages, lamb curry, chicken curry, vegetable curry, dhaal, salad etc. The food was nice and we had an enjoyable evening.

Breaking Fast in Lancaster Part 2

Last night we were breaking fast in our flat with friends.

Shipping to Malaysia

For the past few months we have been helping Malaysian students especially postgraduates moving their belongings to the ship container as they have finished their study and are going back home for good. We thought of doing it differently, rather than waiting until the end of my study, we would send them bits by bits to Malaysia. This way, our small flat will not be too cramp with all the stuff and encourage us not to spend more on something that will be problematic to bring back home later on. These two large boxes cost us 58.48 pounds for shipping charges and will arrive at my parents' house in two or three months time.

Kuih Raya Making Session has begun!

Spiderman helping Sarah and Kakak June preparing the cups

Ilyas and Sarah proud with their masterpiece

Lancaster Morecambe Badminton League - League Match One

Today is the first league match for 2007/2008 season of Lancaster Morecambe Badminton League. I am still playing for Bailrigg A in Division Two. Last season we were fourth in the league. Our first match is an away encounter against Kirkby Lonsdale B, who were third last season. We lost 5-13 whilst away and drew 9-9 at home to them so the expectation is not that high. Besides, this is our first competitive match and most of us are still a little bit rusty.

But what a nice surprise it is, when we suddenly won both our men and ladies double matches. We are getting more confidence and suddenly we are cruising to an eventual 13-5 win. Paul and I won 15-9, 15-8, which is better than last year when we split at 15-12, 10-15. Tim and I repeat our last season result when we drew at 15-12, 6-15 (last season we split at 15-17, 15-9). And Brenda and I improved a little bit when we drew at 15-2, 7-15 because last season we lost 12-15, 7-15.

Next week match is an away against Ingleton B. We lost 4-14 last season but I had a feeling that this time it will be different.

Sarah Scratched!

Sometimes life can get tough at the preschool. I picked Sarah today in the afternoon and to my horror found her face full of bruises and scratches. Apparently some little girl decided to play rough on her. From the picture you can see injuries on both cheeks, nose and above lips. I guess the other girl might be jealous of Sarah's cuteness. She didn't make a fuss about it though, acting like nothing had happened. Thank God it is nothing serious.

Breaking Fast in Lancaster

Last night, we were invited to one of the postgraduates' house (Novia, June and Fidah) near the town for iftar. They cooked Mee Bandung as the main course. Simply delicious! By the way, those 'pisang goreng' were cooked by my wife :)

Reduce Re-use Recycle

This picture was taken near Lancaster University sports centre. I know in Malaysia we have 'Kitar Semula' which means Recycle but I wonder if they are focusing on the reduce and re-use as well.

Blackpool at Night

Last Friday Huzaini's family and my family went to Blackpool right after we break our fast. There has been a fireworks competition and Illuminations festival (where the streets were bathed in lights during the night) near the beach. After watching the fireworks we went to Promenade to enjoy the lights. There are lots of amusement parks there so we went into one to play some games. It was a good night out.

Congratulations Prof Tai!

The Minister of Higher Education has appointed YBhg. Prof. Dr. Tai Shzee Yew as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Community & Industry Relations) of Universiti Putra Malaysia. The appointment is effective from 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2010. He was my tennis double partner since 2003 until the day I left for the UK. He is a very active sportsman, playing badminton and tennis every alternate days. I can count with my single hand the number of time I managed to beat him in a single match as he always had the upper hand. And to think that he is nearing his 50s! He is even my guarantor for the computer loan that I took to buy this notebook that I'm currently typing on. Well done Prof!

Work of Art

One of these colourings was made by Ilyas. Can you guess it? Well, it's the right one. The left one is made by Haziq, his classmate. I guess Ilyas is not really an artistic person, but who knows, he might be the next Jackson Pollock ;)

Ramadhan

Today is a third day of Ramadhan. The weather has been nice, not too hot and not too cold either. I just looked into the prayers timetable and noticed that in the beginning of Ramadhan the Fajar prayer begins at 5.01am and Maghrib prayer begins at 7.36pm. At the end of Ramadhan the Fajar prayer will begins at 5.55am and Maghrib prayer will begins at 6.30pm. Since the Hijrah calendar is moving 10 days forward every year, fasting in the UK is becoming more like in Malaysia, in term of time for breaking your fast. I remember when I was here back in 1995 until 1997 where Fajar prayer starts around 7am and we break our fast around 4pm right in the middle of winter. You don't even feel the hunger, just the coldness. In few years time, the daytime during Ramadhan will be getting longer though. Maghrib during August will be around 8 to 9pm. Even worse, during the July it will only begins at 9.50pm. I guess it's about time the Malaysian or even Indonesian government started to advertise to the whole Muslim community in the UK to have their Ramadhan holiday in their countries during those years!

Finally...

Finally....

...Ramadhan is here....most blessed month of the year

...my research data has arrived via email...busy period has began

...found time to write a little bit on this blog...will try to keep updating it more frequently

...Rooney can play again

...Saha can play again

...Ronaldo can play again

Dschinghis Khan - Rocking Son Of Dschinghis Khan

First Day at School

Today is Ilyas' first day at Moorside Primary School. He looks smart in his new uniform and pretty excited on making new friends and playing in a new classroom. He is a big boy now!

Michael Jackson - Bad

Weird Al Yankovic - Fat

Moving On

Last weekend the whole Malaysian community helped Jasmin and his family to move to their new rented house. In few days time another family will be going back home and this time it might take several days to finish transferring all the stuff inside the fourth floor flat to the storeroom provided. Where are all the undergraduates when we need them? :)

Madonna - Like A Virgin

Weird Al Yankovic - Like A Surgeon