New maid, new menu

28th February 2009

For the past week or so, we have been enjoying a huge range of new menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are quite lucky because our new maid has experience working with a Chinese family, and thus knows well about Chinese-style cuisine. Being half Chinese, daddy has always been fond of such type of menu. These pictures below are posted especially for beloved Wawa Jay and Ngangah... jangan jeles aaahhhh!!! Hehehe...

Soy sauce chicken with mushrooms

Hmmm... Not bad for a first impression...

Well presented sausages for Safiya and I

Prawns... yummmyyy!!!

Mummy says our appetite has suddenly improved!

Beef curry with potatoes

Nasi Lemak with condiments for breakfast. Daddy says the anchovies sambal was extra delicious, plus quite spicy for that extra 'kick'...

We especially enjoyed the chicken,' foo chuk' and mushroom soup

Another yummy treat for the hungry tummy


Having shown you all those pictures, this doesn't mean that mummy and daddy bids farewell to days in the kitchen. I guess the excitement and enthusiasm proves to be infectious... they have created these delicious meals too!

Daddy's sweet and sour fish with cucumber and carrot

Mummy's tang hoon salad (glass noodles)

Also mummy's creation... prawn fritters

And... mummy's version of mini 'roti john'

Happy National Day

23rd February 2009

Wishing all viewers happiness in conjunction with Brunei's Silver Jubilee National Day (25 years) today. May Brunei continues to be blessed with peace and harmony for centuries to come.

Regards
Syafi, Safiya & family

Metallica fan

22nd February 2009

Last night, we attended a small family gathering at Wawa Nani's place (daddy's eldest sister). Actually, it was scheduled for last weekend night, but the plan had to be postponed due to mummy's sudden need for surgery. Now healthy enough to enjoy a good time, we were glad that all other family members agreed to meet up last night. Those present were Wawa Jufri and family as well as Ngangah and family.

The main reason for the gathering is to satisfy our craving for Wawa Nani's soto and which mummy especially had been wanting to taste ever since we were still in Australia. We all had an enjoyable meal, and we unanimously agree that Wawa Nani's version is the most delicious we have ever tasted (we even think that she beats the famous soto trade names in Brunei!)... Hehehe...

Just to show you how delicious it was, Safiya has a step-by-step way in enjoying her meal:

First, put the noodles in your mouth... and opppsss! If the fork is not for you, hands are okay too!

Slurrrpppp...!

And there you go, mission successful!


To brighten up the night even more, us cousins decided to entertain our parents with karaoke, and we sang some silly 'songs' and 'tunes'. We are all below 6 years old, so perhaps you can just imagine us babbling and making up our own songs.

Hehehe... Actually the true star of the show is cousin Adam, probably the youngest Metallica fan ever! Watch this video and see how Adam memorises the words of the song, the tv screen doesn't display anything!

copyright reserved

A cheered-up mummy

18th February 2009

Life goes on... Mummy is still resting at home after her surgery, and will be returning back to her office starting this Saturday. We're very proud to see that mummy is doing really well. In fact, she seems to be more active than before, taking care of Safiya and preparing dinner for daddy in the afternoon. Good for you, mummy dearest!

To pass the time yesterday, mummy and Safiya indulge in a 'girly' bonding activity; little Safiya requested that her toe nails be painted with henna. She also took beautiful and funny shots in front of the camera, revealing how she is quickly turning into a 'young lady' or as we like to say, she's now a little person.

Our young lady

Safiya says, "Mummy, I'm a monster!"... Hehehe, isn't she cute?

Pretending to sleep... hehehe...

An original pose by Safiya

The henna on such tiny toe nails

In the evening, it was my turn to attend a doa selamat ceremony at the residence of HRH Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam, in conjunction with HRH's birthday. Mummy stayed home since according to the Malay tradition, mummy is still 'dalam pantang', a period within which a woman who has given birth is expected to stay home for complete recovery. The period usually lasts for 40 days, but I guess in this case, it's only 7 days for mummy since she has to go to work soon.

Anyway, we appreciate Her Royal Highness's invitation and from all of us, Happy Birthday!

Taking a picture with HRH Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam

Yummmmmm!!! When it comes to enjoying food, I'm the champion!

Australia momento no more

16th February 2009

Ever heard of 'anembryonic pregnancy'? No? Mummy didn't know about it either, until it happened very recently. The term, also known as 'blighted ovum' refers to when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo does not develop. In other words, cells develop to form the pregnancy sac, but not the embryo itself.

Sounds unusual right? Who would have thought that it could happen, after a positive pregnancy test, and when the belly have started to show? Just imagine, mummy had found out she was expecting when we received news that there is no visible developing embryo on the ultrasound.

Frustrated, of course, and definitely sad too. Mummy first learned about the diagnosis about two weeks ago after her first ultrasound, and was given two weeks before a miscarriage will occur naturally. Still hoping for a miracle, mummy waited anxiously until finally last Friday some bleeding occurred. Daddy rushed back from Seria and brought mummy to Jerudong Park Medical Centre (where Safiya was born) and after a second ultrasound, mummy's doctor confirms the same finding.

Since mummy had the minor bleeding, her doctor suggested a D&C (dilatation and curettage), a surgical procedure in which the cervix is dilated and the lining of the uterus is scraped. This means that mummy and daddy had to choose between the desire to continue on hoping, or follow the doctor's advice. In the end, they decided to go on with the procedure in order to avoid any infection, as well as any risks to future pregnancies due to blockage of the fallopian tubes.

When Safiya and I woke up the next morning, mummy and daddy already left for mummy's surgery. We visited her in the afternoon, and I straightly asked mummy if the "baby" has come out. When mummy said yes (actually referring to the surgery), I asked where the baby was. I was confused when mummy said there's no baby, but soon stopped asking questions when I see her sad expression.

So, what causes this? According to a [source], a woman’s body recognizes abnormal chromosomes in a fetus and naturally does not try to continue the pregnancy because the fetus will not develop into a normal, healthy baby. This can be caused by abnormal cell division, or poor quality sperm or egg.

Another [source] suggests that a woman can choose to wait to miscarry naturally (or until knowing for sure there is absolutely no hope) provided there is no fever, excessive pain nor excessive bleeding and has stable vital signs. It must be noted though that a baby may not be seen on an ultrasound when the pregnancy is merely a few weeks old, or if the mother has a 'retroverted uterus' (tipped or tilted uterus; i.e. uterus that tilts back towards the rectal area).

We hope that this sheds new information, and if it happens to anyone (we hope not), have a proper check-up and get second opinions before making any decisions. But when health is at stake, it is worth it to follow the doctors' advice. After all, they are the experts!

For now, we hope that mummy gets well soon, and hopefully another blessing will come around to cheer up mummy and daddy, as well as us too!

Here are pictures, in memory of our short term sibling...

Mummy's pregnancy test, carried out in Australia mid-December last year.

Mummy's first ultrasound, when the pregnancy is around 11 weeks old. Notice the black area? That is where the baby is supposed to be developing, but this finding shows an empty womb.

Another boy cousin

11th February 2009

Congratulations to my aunt, Bungsu Diana and hubby on the birth of their first baby last night. We were very delighted to hear the news, and a little bit surprised since Bungsu was scheduled to deliver some time during Brunei's upcoming National Day celebration towards the end of this month. Oh well, guess the baby couldn't wait to meet everyone!

Welcome to the family, cousin Syahmi!

Lunch at Pizza Hut

7th February 2009

Welcome to the month of February, everybody! Lately Brunei feels like Brisbane during early winter due to the frequent rain for weeks. Of course the only resemblance is the cool air, and minus the rainfall and flash floods!

Anyway, just want to share some pictures of our recent family lunch at Pizza Hut. For those wanting to have a satisfying 'Italian' lunch with a good bargain, you can go for the set meals. We had a penne pasta dish, a two-toppings pizza (tuna on one half and honey garlic chicken on the other) and a beef lasagne. Thanks mummy and daddy for the treat!