A Time to Kill

Its not that I have a lot of time doing nothing, even though I am now spending most of my time doing not exactly what I am supposed to do. But, on my defense, life is full with humps and bumps. No one can expects silky smooth sailing in the ocean, can't we? (Except during my turn to go to oil platform by boat when the chopper is fulled with client's staff, I do expect a smooth journey on sea)

Back to A Time to Kill. BBC aired this movie after Match of the Day (a program where they show all goals from this week EPL games. You see, here in the UK, I can only watch one game (sometime two) per week, via Sky Sport 1. And that after paying hell lot of money to subscribe the channel. So this program is the nearest possible replacement of live games).

I love Grisham's works, in fact, I am now in the process collecting hardback version of all his novels, as it can be found here as cheap as 50p in boot sales. I had seen this movie a few times, yet it failed to make me not to watch it again. Apart from lovely, sweaty Ashley Judd plot, I think its almost perfectly match to my imagination when I read that novel. For me, it is up there with The Shawshank Redemption, although Rita Hayworth poster is the only female element noticeable in that movie.

I fancy this kind of movies compare to the likes of John Rambo thingy, you know, one with pack of action. If you know the movies I had downloaded from internet, I'll bet you'll be surprised.

Anyway, if you accidentally missed both films, its about time for you to start downloading and watch it. You won't disappointed, that I am very sure.

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Bonfire night was celebrated 'widely' here. A few kids (and adults) unfortunately were presented with air times in BBC night news because the accidents they experienced with fire crackers. Ohh, they do sell fire crackers here, big one..but, like alcohol, you have to produce your age identification before buying them.

But, if we compare that to our malaysian standard, I think all the accidents reported were not worth even a minute in our TV3's Buletin Utama. For instance, how can you compare a burned hand with a lost hand? Or, minor face injury with lost of eye? That is one thing we can beat them British. We are by far my friends, more creative than our colonial master.

Melting point

It seems like my sons, at the tender age of 5 and 3 respectively, discovered that at certain temperature, certain material will change it physical form from solid to liquid. In addition to that, once it in liquid form, it can flow flawlessly.

They run that experiment in our house fireplace and the result is..walla..an abstract piece of art.

I threaten to force them to do the cleaning, and after some shouting and acting, both floodgate opened wide. And, at the end, this is the outcome.

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On the weather front, it is not officially winter just yet, but first batch of snow (in the form of sleet) fell yesterday night, after we came home from dental hospital. It was about 7pm and effort to take pictures out of it was unsuccessful. The kids enjoyed it very much, since they were asking about it since the very first day they were here. The mum seems to be unimpressed with it, maybe she had enough of it during her time in Nova Scotia.

Anyway, its very cold right now, so much so to go out throwing the rubbish into the bin involving thoughtfully decision making ala HAZOP session. One have to consider the consequence out of the action.

At least, I never lock myself out in cold weather. If you wonder how it feel though, maybe you want to consider to drop a line or two to this friend of mine. He has vast experience on that subject matter.

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Trick or treat..Happy Halloween everybody

Bila bunga-bunga (daun-daun) berguguran

The chilly autumn is officially here. The weather has been kind so far, but the wind is so strong and chilly you can see people already don their bennie hats and gloves.

Ahh, and the rest of the troop was already here, to be exact, three weeks ago. The eldest already attending school here while the second is ineligible for nursery class since he was 15 days younger when they start the term (term start at 1/9). And their ever-reliable officer, has started her busy life as a student, attending classes (consist of 4 people!!!) and clinical sessions. Between that, she has to cook for the boss and the platoon, which in Newcastle's cool weather find that their appetite towards food is in increasing manner.

We spent our hari raya this year with the mum attending classes, the eldest in the school while the adik and abah make effort to other people houses to taste hari raya delight. At the moment, my PhD program has to make way for the dentist to attend her classes/ clinics. We still try to find the formulas to overcome this, hopefully we will find it before it too late for me. So, my weeks from now on will be like this;

Monday - Send abang to school and then go to lab (since the dentist does not have classes on monday)
Tuesday - Send abang to school, jaga adik, ambik abang, jaga adik+abang)
Wednesday - Send abang to school and then go to lab (since the dentist does not have classes on wednesday)
Thursday and Friday - Send abang to school, jaga adik, ambik abang, jaga adik+abang)

So, I guess I can be considered as a part time student. Since I have to move in group now, I have no choice but to turn my back on my environmentalist side. I had bought a car since they arrived but still commute on bus to go to university. Not because the environmental concern though but more on economically awareness for the fact that I already bought one year £200 bus pass.

Selamat Hari Raya everyone

Pilot - who wants to be a pilot

Second post in the same day, wow, that must be some record for me.

Anyway, click this line, read the article, and pay a special attention to para 7.

I used to like Iron Maiden, but this is new to me. I don't know about this, nor I seeing it coming.

How good are we?

I've been keeping this post as a draft long enough now. Been busy lately with works, as 9 months report's due date looming not far ahead of me.

We are approaching the third week of Ramadhan now, and as it is late summer here in Newcastle, I have my Imsaq at 4.00 and Iftar about 20.00 hours. Lucky thing is, the temperature hardly reach 15 C. For the first two days, I had my iftar all by my self, with self made ayam masak merah and a mug of hot chocolate. Kicap is a must, so I had that too. Thats all, no fancy murtabak, jus tembikai and all. But, I am still fortunate compare to some people in some countries, so no complaint there. Now, I usually break my fast in University Mosque, where they serve beriyani arab with kambing and ayam.

I was also fortunate to perform my terawikh prayers in three different mosques here. Thanks to friends that came and chauffeured me since I have no means of transport yet. The first mosque, predominate by Pakistani and performs 20 rakaat of terawikh. The 'hafiz' recites the ayats to fast for my liking, and the solats were performed in lightning quick.

The second and third mosque, predominate by Arabs, and both perform 8 rakaat of Terawikh. But, the pace is slower, so slow that they finished almost at the same time with the previous mentioned masjid. I like the way the imams in both masjid perform their terawikh though, cause it seems that they put their soul into their solats.

Its amazing when in the middle of ayats, you can hear the Imam sobbing, and followed by the jemaah as well!!! I guess that the advantage of being Arab, where automatically you can understand what Imam recites. We (read: me) can only guess what the ayat is all about. I mean, we do understand that 'nar' is hell, 'firdaus' is heaven and other simple words, but that's all. And when they performed 'qunut' during 'witir' (here they start reciting qunut from the first day of terawikh), its touching your heart deeply, eventhough for people like me, again, that can only guess what the doa is all about. The way the Imam recites the doa, is so soft, touching and most of jemaah cannot stand but to cry on hearing that. And, it is a long qunut too. I don't know, I just did not have that feeling during all these years of terawikh.

Bottom line is, as a muslim, I think it is a privilege to understand arabic. Is it to late for us to learn arabic at this age? I hope not, as people said, nothing is too late in this life.

My Name is Jonas

I'm Newcastle's new signing. My name is Jonas

First game of the season (premier league season it is) and as usual, United started with not so good result against another United.

I now knew what the hype is all about this premier league, after visited open day training of Newcastle United in their so called fortress, St. James' Park. This open day was not publicly advertised, it was only circulated among email of the members and yet, when I stepped in the stadium, the first and second tiers of the sections opened on that day were full with the supporters.

And, even Newcastle United is so professional in their training. Wonder what it feel inside Theatre of Dreams

Some of the pictures. More in www.flickr.com/photos/budakjawi/

Just When You Thought The Day Gonna Come

If my original “countdown” exercise still on schedule, 7 days from now I will aboard a flight to Amsterdam and in the very next day I will meet my family there. If only…

It turn out that it not going to be that way now, thanks to UK Visa Office (and UK Embassy). Suddenly they feel that they need to interview my maid, and set the appointment on 27th of August. So, everything change, and it’s not for free.

1) My Newcastle – Amsterdam ticket – I bought the cheapest one, hence no change allowed. Crash and burnt £150.
2) Two Amsterdam – Newcastle tickets (for my maid and me) – Changes charge at £30/ tickets, plus upgraded required. Approximately £100 for two tickets
3) My trip to Amsterdam, may be by ferry, or by train via Brussels, £100
4) Changes on my family tickets – I don’t know. Rumour was it cost about RM 500 per ticket.
5) Depression of being alone for another a month or so, including puasa and sahur alone – PRICELESS!!!!!!!

But, I am optimistic. Let restart the counting

29 days more………….