Ayden's Party

We had a small birthday party for Ayden last weekend attended by all in the compound. We were also joined by my cousin Ernie and her five kids. Poor Ayden was carried though it all by Jack, Iman and the cousins.

Hanna and Fanily gave Ayden a small push car. He immediately took to it and has become one of his prized posessions.

Jasmine and Amin made and decorated a massive chocolate cake. It was real yummy. All the M&Ms on it helped speed up the afternoon for all the kids.

Iman and Jack flanking Ayden for the highlight of the afternoon. Jack blew the candle and I think Ayden helped to cut the cake!

Digital Kids

My niece Zahra brought home a piece of homework a few weeks ago which had her drawing what her grandmother played with when she was little, what her mother played with and what she plays with today. I think my mum's and my sister's were on the lines of kites and hopscotch. Of course they are games that kids play as well today but has been well over taken by the likes of PSP and Nintendo which Zahra had as her game.

It made me think, my kids will never know life without an iPod and will never experience having to rewind a tape over and over again to hear a favourite song. We have played Jack's favourite "Umbrella" in the car so many times that if it was on tape I don't think it will be well by now. The same goes for the old VHS tapes - always send them back to the video shop rewound to the beginning!

As for the digital camera, (and this is really the reason for all this) my kids are forever picking up my camera and snapping away either taking pics of themselves or anything they can see - in Jack's case it is always himself as he hasn't figured out which way round the camera should be. This would have been unthinkable when I was growing up - wasting exposures on the camera was a big no-no.

So here we have it two decent self-taken pics out of a dozen or more blurred ones.

Ayden is 1

Happy Birthday to our baby Ayden on his first birthday. We will have a little party on Saturday when Donncha get's back. Thanks to Aunty Mairead, Granny & Grandad and Aunty Savita for calling to wish him a happy birthday. Ayden loves being on the phone so he was all smiles. I've been trying to teach him to blow for Saturday - he's got some tough competition out there for the one candle. Iman says she'll blow and Ayden can make the wish! I'll be posting pics.

Iman's School Trip

I joined Iman's Reception year yesterday on their first school trip. I had several errands to do so I missed the first stop which was to the Jame Asr' Mosque. The second part of the trip was to the Royal Regalia building. When I was little it was called the Churcill Building with a statue of Churcill in the original courtyard and the attraction in the building was an aquarium which was a bit dark and scary for me as a four year old. Really I think it was just a collection of glass tanks but I was made to believe that they had a collection of piranhas!

I was late and missed the group photograph (which was in the BB today - Iman looked great). And I also missed all the instructions with regards to the questionnaire that I was handed along with my own group including Iman. And the fact that we had to lock away all handbags with camera and mobile phone. I did manage three pics before I was told to put everything away - just as well really as I had forgotten to recharge it and had no battery power left.

I can't really talk much about the exhibits or what everything is called (should have paid more attention to that questionnaire). It's an impressive exhibition and I was impressed yesterday as I was seven years ago when I first went there with Donncha. So the tv monitors don't work when you press the buttons but who ever watches those screens in museums anyway. It was an enjoyable morning with Iman and her friends. The girls were really good for me - each only disappearing a couple of times - but the staff there were excellent, very friendly and helped out with the kids.

Jack & Friends

Jack made new friends during Jasmine's open house on sunday. Here he is with Hasnah's sons (an old friend of Jasmine's from school). You can't see the younger boy's sinjang but both boys were wearing the real mccoys with the older boy being able to fold it by himself without any help. Impressive because I know grown men that stuggle to put them on!


Here's Jack with my cousin Ernie's son. Adam is four months younger than Jack.

Swiss Hotels

Well, another night, another city, another hotel but this one takes some beating. Reminds me of when I was 7 and used to spend my summer holiday's with my grandparents. The only difference in the room is the TV plus I guess the ensuite although it does match the decor of the bathroom in my grandparents house in Tipperary.

Met with with Swiss Mama and her expanding family last night - had almost given up on them as their GPS system doesn't seem to work well without manual intervention and of course, my hotel is not in a well travelled part of Geneva.

Looking forward to Friday morning when the plane starts to head east again altough it's a short trip home before heading to Chennai next week.

PopPop

If there was one thing that this Hari Raya has made it for Jack is the fireworks. I grew up with fireworks, Hari Raya would not be the same for me without them. They were not legal when I was growing up but everyone still had them. My sisters and I used to divide our stash into three equal piles that we would play on the first three nights of Raya. The smell of the white smoke, the excitement from lighting a rocket and running away quickly....it's all happy memories for me.

Wanting my own to experience the joy of fireworks during this time of year, I decided to introduce them gently by buying a small selection of tame ones. Iman have always enjoyed them but Jack naturally was not keen on them, initially running away screaming and then only watching from faraway. But one thing that he did take to immediately are the little "pop...pops" or "magic rocks" which are tiny parcels that give off a small bang if thrown to the ground or stamped on. Three or four weeks on, it has now become a daily habit for Jack and with Hari Raya now fading away I will have to start weaning him off his mini bangs. Even Ayden can sit forever just watching him throw them to the ground and then stamping on the ones unexploded.





As for actual fireworks, Jack no longer looks away with fright but jumps about with excitement a safe distance away. Even Ayden protests when he's taken indoors, he wants to watch everything firsthand. Luckily our neighbourhood shop is still selling the stuff but once that runs out we will have to raid my nephew Amin's stock when he's not looking!

Back to Cork

Donncha flies back to Cork today for the weekend so I thought I would use the opportunity to post pictures from our holiday. We wish we could be there this weekend especially Jack who always talks of Grandad, Grannie, Aunty Mairead, Aunty Eilis, Uncle Sean and forever looking for Aunty Emma!

Ayden and Kittens

This picture of Ayden is for Donncha who is away all this week and next week in London, Cork and Geneva. Ayden loves the camera and each time I get down to his level to take a picture he crawls over at speed with his tongue hanging out and laughing madly.


And today my sister Hanna found a new litter of kittens behind her kitchen and being the cat lover that she is, sent the mummy and kittens to Jasmine's house. I rehoused them in a new box this evening (and we have plenty of all shapes and sizes) so they are now happy and cosy in their new home. Amin my nephew is certain that the mummy is one of ours but I don't remember seeing a pregnant cat around the place. Anyway she'll be hanging around for a while.

Open House

Hari Raya is the time to take family photos. Go into any Bruneian household and you will always find a family portrait taken during Hari Raya usually in matching outfits. The last time my family attempted this impossible task was three years ago and it was not a success. We did not attempt it this year but we did manage to get all ten grandchildren together which in itself is a miracle! Not a masterpiece but considering the age range, having them all smiling and looking at the camera qualifies.
Jack was very proud to be wearing his new hat especially with matching outfits. Donncha did well for the day considering he hadn't eaten properly in 48 hours while travelling from India. Ayden as usual was all smiles throughout the day.

Iman made a trip to the hairdressers with cousin Zahra and came back with beautiful curls and sparkles in her hair. It helped to lighten her mood after a bad start to the day. Visitors wise, Iman had more friends come round than us and that's something we're going to have to get used to.

Selamat Hari Raya...

...to all our friends celebrating Eid.

The oil lamps are in the driveway are lit and looks fantastic. A couple of years ago my family gave up on the normal coloured bulbs that decorate houses at this time of year and instead going back to the traditional oil lamps - it's much simpler no need to replace bulbs and it's handy for the fireworks. Don't know what it is this year but the fireworks seem to be bigger and louder. Donncha a.k.a Mr. Meldrew was not impressed when we tried to put the little ones to bed.

We've got two big days ahead of us, welcoming, greeting and of course feeding. The usual menu....saffron rice, chicken curry, beef rendang, pineapple patchree and lots of nibbles and sweets to go with it. Look forward to having a decent lunch but even more to my first breakfast in 30 days....a big pot of tea and a big bowl of porridge!

Now I have to insert the $$$ into the green envelopes which is a bit like leaving the wrapping for Christmas Eve!

Hari Raya (Eid) only around the corner

Well, 3 weeks down and one to go. Brunei is getting ready for Hari Raya (almost like the build up to Christmas except without the parties). As usual this year, we are greeting guests for the first couple of days - something we look forward to, enjoy the experience (meeting old and new friends) and then get a chance to relax once it's all over.

This year, Iman will have a few friends from school visiting so it will be interesting to see her in action. Jack will have a ball this year no doubt, hopefully no repeat of last year's escape attempt when he befriended an ambassador's wife and decided that he was going with her in the car.

I've had my wings clipped when I attempted to negotiate a game of golf on the second morning .... no success there.

Meanwhile, I'm off to India for the week - back on Friday. The moon sighting happens on Thursday but everyone is confident that they won't see the moon and Hari Raya will be on Saturday. If somehow my religious friends manage to sight the moon on Thursday, I think I will have to walk home from the airport on Friday for missing the first day.....

Ramadhan and all it involves

Immediately on returning to Brunei, we headed straight into Ramadhan - fasting month, which means that Maria and I are loosing a little bit of weight (not eating, drinking or anything else during daylight hours). We are already in week 2 and looking forward to the end. The Pineapple Tarts have already started to make an appearance so you know that Hari Raya (Eid) is coming soon.

Each year, Maria's parents open their house for visitors which is a great time to meet up with people (almost like Christmas). It's likely to be a slightly less eventful this year, as last year on the second day of Hari Raya, we had a new arrival (Ayden).

A Trip back in Time

While having a late lunch in Cobh after a visit to Fota, we were lucky to catch a glimpse of the "Jeannie Johnston", a replica famine ship as it sailed (well, motored) up into Cork Harbour. With the photo in black and white along with the old Naval buildings in the background, you could almost imagine the scene from another era.

Carrots and Parsnip

Our children enjoyed the food in Ireland especially the potatoes and Grannie's gravy. Ayden tucked into the carrots and parsnip one evening even insisting on feeding himself!

Out In the Garden

What Iman and Jack enjoyed most about being in Ireland was playing out in the garden for hours and hours. The weather was lovely for the two weeks so most afternoons they sat out playing, running, skipping or just hanging out. Pictures above look like there was a serious discussion going on! Aunty Mairead bought them the little chairs complete with little table and umbrella.

Bunratty day out

The furthest we wandered from Cork with the children was probably Co Clare to visit our friends Claire and Rob who were down from Dublin. It was fantastic to meet them again after two years and meeting their children Luke and Elsa. As the pictures tell, the children got on great.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is a must stop on the tourist map. Lunch at the Creamery was a bit chaotic with five children under 5 but we managed to get everyone watered and fed. It had stopped raining (only day it rained on us in the two weeks) so we headed into the park for a walk. Unfortunately thanks to a tour group that trooped ahead of us we never managed to get into the restored castle so I can't say what's in it but the folk park was great fun. It's made up reconstructed farmhouses, cottages and shops showing what everyday life was like in rural Ireland about 100 years ago. There was a lady making pie in one house, a teacher in the schoolhouse (who scared Donncha) and real sweets in the post office! There was even a storyteller in one house and she just talked and talked about the old days and what life was like. You could spend hours listening to her if you had the time. It was fascinating and such talent to just talk and talk - must be the water around there!

We finished the day with a trip back to the Liddy farm for tea and rhubarb crumble - Claire we're still thinking about it! It was lovely to meet Claire's parents again who we haven't met since Claire and Rob's wedding in 2003. Unfortunetly the cows decided to stay away but the tractor and the explanation of where the cows get milked etc made up for that.

It was late by the time we got back at Cork with a quick stop in Mallow for McD's. Everyone was on strike so we had to get them out of the car. An excellent day out and great to catch up with the ever expanding Micallef Clan (!)

Apples and Giraffes

We spent a morning at Fota and saw the giraffes, zebras, fed the ducks etc. There were lots of monkeys but none as animated as the ones we see at Supasave but the kids were happy to run around and play on the slides. Feeding the ducks were a big hit.

A neighbour of Donncha's parents kindly invited us down to her garden to collect cooking apples. Kids were very excited to do this as was Sitty. It brought me back to the orchard at my first boarding school Bedgebury where cooking apples actually tasted good!

Recovering from jetlag

After 24 hours travelling, we finally managed to arrive into Cork's spanking new Airport only to find that there we no trolleys available - Welcome to Ireland .......

Needless to say it's been a challanging couple of days with everyone coping or not coping with jetlag - worst offender so far has been Sitty !!!!

The kids have settled in well and are now very familiar with 'Rumah Grandad' and have reacquainted themselves with old friends.... hanging out with Ruari below
Ayden is enjoying the Irish Summer ......
Walking the dog ..... both Jack and Iman take turns ....

Iman appears to take a running jump at a slide

Jack is facinated with his dad's unshaven look - much like his uncles in Brunei

Day 1 and we head to see the Voyager of the Seas pulling to Cobh Harbour - impressive sight.... Iman was not impressed however as she fully expected the ship to sound it's horn !

Where we sported and played.....

Mostly packed and almost ready to go. Listening to Cork's 96fm would make you change your mind with talk of bullying etc on the streets of Cork but I much prefer to think of Cork as below.

So, it's Brunei, Dubai, London and finally Cork on Saturday morning