Smile Ayden

Most of the time Ayden is happily sucking on a dummy. Pull out a camera and he gives you his best smiles. And from about 11 months he has has been doing the "Aaarrrgggghhh" face for the camera and it just get's better.

Upgrade in Technology and a nice chat

Maria finally got her belated birthday present today - A Canon PowerShot A720 which means that we will all be subject to Maria trying out all options (she's reading the manual as I type!). While Maria snapped, Ayden and I enjoyed a walk in the garden.

We spent a night away last night, just Maria and I, without the kids. We headed due south to Miri, spent the afternoon at the hotel spa and had a relaxing evening with dinner. Needless to say we missed the kids but it was great to get away - they had a ball sleeping with their cousins although Jack insisted on going back to his house at 6am - sorry Pipi .... 

Tungku Beach With The Boys

The plan for the evening was to take the kids to the Yacht Club but Iman had her own plans (!!!) so instead we ended up taking the two little guys for a play on Tungku beach. They both loved it and Ayden kept wanting to go into the water and feel the waves. Jack was more reserved and was more worried about keeping his shorts dry. Bless him.

St Patricks Day Celebrations Relocated

Last year we spent an excellent evening celebrating St. Patrick's Day in the Dubliner Bar in Bangkok with Iman's teachers (who had become friends), Roland along with Fred (who claims Irish Ancestry) and Judy. An excellent evening was had by all watching rugby and drinking dirty Irish water.

This year, initial plans called for a party at home - a decent idea which would involve a band (or a least a lad with a guitar) and friends claiming all sorts of links to Ireland (some even with an Irish passport). However, sanity and three kids have prevailed, bookings have been made and we're off to Bali.

Nusa Dua Hotel, Ku De Ta and days filled with entering and leaving the pool calling ! It feels like we are visiting cousins that we haven't seen in a while as the last time we were at the hotel, Jack was 5 months. We've got to know the staff quite well and no doubt they will keep the kids entertained every morning feeding the ducks while we have breakfast.

To all expecting a party - my apologies

Pictures from the Hash

Here are some pictures from last night's hash. It was an excellent long jungle run with good views and a couple of waterfalls thrown in. It was refreshing to walk through the cool streams and to an extent clean our boots but unfortunately only to go back into the mud.

It was the Chinese New Year run and afterwards we were treated to a Chinese dinner complete with the New Year yee shang for good luck.

 

Our First Kids Hash

On Sunday we took Iman and Jack to the kids hash at Crocodile Beach. Iman has been looking forward to this for a while and was very excited. Jack was just very happy to see sand, sand and more  sand! 

It was a very nice short run through the jungle but due to the heavy rain the day before we did have to go through some very wet bog before coming out onto the beach. After the shout out the kids proceeded to get dirtier and we had to have a big hose down before packing them into the car. Thankfully I had listened to some advice not to change them immediately after the run. I just wished I took some pictures but by that stage we just wanted to bundle them into the car. We all had plenty of fun and a great way to quench a thirst on a sunday afternoon!

Belait Boat Trip

On Saturday Donncha and I went all the way to KB - an hours drive and very far by Brunei standards - to join a boat trip on what was probably the wettest day in Brunei. It had rained since the early hours of Saturday and by the afternoon the temperature was down to 22 degrees. A far cry to the usual 33/34 degrees and for us rather nippy. But thanks to the needles and pins we soon got into the spirit and immersed ourselves into the green scenery of the Belait River.

The journey in total took about 3 hours and the highlight is the now deserted village of Kuala Balai. Amongst its ruins is a small hut on the river bank housing remnants of what is thought to be Japanese skulls from the Second World War. A stark reminder of a past war and the headhunters of Borneo, both now relegated to the history books. Brunei is not part of the tourist trail and a real shame considering its raw beauty and hidden treasures such as this river trip but for the sakes of our beloved sleepy Brunei and our tranquility we would not want it any other way. 

Thank you to Brian and Cath for including us on this special afternoon.

Zahra is 6

Happy Birthday to my niece Zahra who is most probably exercising her excellent shopping skills in Singapore!

Roses? No Thanks!

If ever there was an equivalent of a Scrooge for Valentines day then that would be me. I have never really been a fan of the day even in my teenage years - maybe due to the lack of anonymous cards or roses I received! And as I got older I just thought what a rip-off day it really is - all the pressure to buy roses, cards, balloons and whatever else tickles ones fancies! And the must to go to a restaurant serving a Valentines special menu with romantic concoctions. I remember Donncha and I trying to find a non-Valentines restaurant in London one year - thank god for the Chinese takeaway!

Now after saying all this I will be gobsmacked if a bouquet of roses did appear on the doorstep tomorrow morning - from Donncha of course. He is spending the day in Dubai and probably the best thing for me tomorrow is being able to call him once again after being unreachable in Beirut. 

Birthday Greetings...

to my sister Hanna

This was probably Hanna's 6th or 7th birthday. The lady next to Hanna above is our late paternal grandmother Datin Hajah Nafisah.

Dinner At The Cowleys

We had dinner over at our good friends the Cowleys last night. A big welcome back to Gavin's parents are who currently visiting from the UK. 

On the menu was beef stew! But not any ordinary stew, Gavin made a fantastic chilli and chocolate beef stew. It was also served with pasta and not the usual mash - which made a great change. There was a lovely salad of baby cos, avocado and pistachio nuts and to go with it, a refreshing strawberry dressing. Well done Gavin! Also to Elysia for the yummy chocolate cake and to Donncha for the Jerudong coffee to finish! 

Elysia also showed us what to really do with the Rubik's cube. She completed the whole thing several times under three minutes!

Our Little Angel!

Friends and family often tell us that Ayden has a very mischievous face and smile. I think these pictures say it all!

Where Has The Jungle Gone?

We are blessed in Brunei to be surrounded by the pristine rainforest and I have only recently started appreciating our natural environment. Last night the hash was off Jalan Muara in an area that has been frequented by hashers and walkers for years. It was therefore a huge surprise to me that a huge chunk of the jungle in that area has been razed for a new development with major roads cutting through what used to be jungle running trails. 

Though not of my doing I suddenly felt very guilty. I do not agree with hindering development and progress but at the same time it's a great shame.

Naturally Good!

Our self-taught resident pastry chef has been at it again. This time baking about 30 cakes - chocolate, cheese and carrot to give away as presents to our Chinese family friends celebrating the New Year. 

I will not apologize for being biased but with the exception of my very good friend Savita in Bangkok, I think my sister makes the best cakes ever, well at least in Brunei. Bruneians have a serious addiction to everything sweet and there is currently (or has there always been?) a frenzy to taste the best cake, pudding or tart. As they say the proof is in the pudding but alas there is no public tasting and you will have to take my word for it that they are exceptionally good. To those partaking in the Chinese New Year celebrations - should you be lucky enough to come across one of Jasmine's creations....take a deep breath and enjoy!

Hash Night Dinners

My inspiration for our dinner this evening came from a foodie blog I read a couple of days ago - the humble beef stew. My mother-in-law Liz in Ireland does a fantastic beef stew especially good on cold winter nights. And in Brunei I've decided it's a great dinner for hash night. But I don't think I could get away with serving it at a dinner party - I can already hear Gavin Cowley's voice ringing in my ears - "Beef stew?! Is that the best you could come up with?" - actually I lie, I have served beef stew once but it was Guinness beef stew for a St Patrick's Day party - I had to include something Irish in the buffet - what was I thinking of entertaining 30 people with only 4 weeks to Jack's birth!

Thankfully the kids enjoyed their dinner this evening. I am not a foodie blogger / stew expert so no tips on this blog. I ended up having roti w/curry sauce and a few bevies after a long grueling hash through the jungle. Guess with plenty of frozen beef stew it will be the same for next Tuesday unless of course ...we decide to have a dinner party over the weekend! 

Sshhh....Don't Tell Anyone Else...

Was what I told Iman when I showed her the bird's nest precariously hanging on a plant outside Hanna's front door with the little bird inside. And she screams "Hariz....come look at this!". 

Hoping now that they won't bother the nest as they are pretty keen to see the baby bird. I have also promised pictures to take to school. So no pressure little bird!

Everybody Is A Winner!

To top off a busy week we had the Junior School Sports Day this morning. Thankfully for our year groups it was in the gym and not in the morning sun. The kids had a fab time, all wearing their house colours and making lots of noise. There were fours races for each year group and for each race every kid received a ribbon. 

It was great to see your child run the races (and she did very well) but then it was a long wait until the next race. Parents were getting itchy feet and younger siblings were starting to get cranky or fall asleep. Iman eventually let me go after the third race.

Zahra is Red House

Hariz is yellow

And Iman with her blue tshirt and all four ribbons