Miss Paris is back!!!!

Iman arrived back home this afternoon after being away for 10 days. Despite the long journey she was on good form and Jack and Ayden were so excited when the car came up the driveway. So many stories of Disneyland, Paris sights, museums, the hotel... it seems she had so much fun. Staying at the Meurice and travelling around Paris in a chauffer driven limousine it would be hard not to. At her age my first experience of Paris was going up and down a tour bus - still it was Paris and I still remember that first trip and the excitement of going up the Eiffel Tower.

Iman came back with a full suitcase and an additional box (?). Jack and Ayden got very cool shirts, pants and a toy car each. Iman came back with a new wardrobe (very chic). Donncha got a shirt and myself a tshirt together with this Eiffel tower - I love holiday souvenirs and I have always wanted one of these. Mind you wish the slippers came in my size!

We will try post some pictures from Iman's Paris adventures soon.

Our Favourite Miri Restaurant

With Iman away we felt the boys deserved a little break so we headed to Miri for the weekend. Our first evening there we headed out to our favorite seafood restaurant and Jack's choice for the night - LOBSTER! Apologies to all the vegetarians and animal campaigners out there but these two guys Donncha chose did go straight to the cooking pot - but they were good!!!

Though Jack chose to have lobsters, the dish we really tucked into were these fresh scallops lightly stirfried with ginger and spring onions. Think these were alive too.

The unlucky but very nice lobsters

One of many scallops

One very happy boy that evening!

A much loved Grandfather

I have briefly mentioned my paternal grandfather Dato Haji Mohamed Taib on this post. I was only a baby when he passed away and have no memories of him so it was a nice surprise to see these pictures of him at an Aunt's place in KB.

Curry for Breakfast?

Most people would balk at the thought of having curry for breakfast but for the McCarthy family this is the perfect saturday morning breakfast. In fact, we've kind of taken things to a new art form - Donncha and Iman normally head off to buy the Indian fried bread (roti) and curry (and sneak in a quick Indian 'pulled' tea while waiting). On this particular morning, Jack when told to stop dripping curry on his pyjamas, decided to copy his uncle Jagabar and eat his roti shirtless !!!!

Nothing beats a family breakfast !

Jack realising that he may be the subject of a blog post

Autumn in Paris !

Iman has always been an independent little girl so it comes as no surprise that she left yesterday for Paris (with her Grand Parents, aunt and cousin Zahra). She was really excited to be heading there on the A380 (her second time on board, one more than her Mum as she kept telling us). While away, she hopes to be able to see the Eiffel Tower, do some shopping and head to Disneyland Paris.

It was a challenge for all of us to see her heading off (without looking back) - Maria missed her immediately but was really proud of her little girl. I miss the noise and believe it or not, it can be quite quiet around the house with just the two boys.

Iman and Zahra ready to take off !

We are happy to report that they've made it to Paris safely - the food on the plane wasn't too nice (Singapore Airlines have a harsh critic - she should try other airlines!), she can see the Eiffel Tower from her hotel room (never seems to happen when I stay in IBIS chain of hotels) and traffic is at a stand still outside the hotel.

Our KB outing

Hari Raya is the best time to catch up with family we don't often get to see. Last week Hanna and I took the kids to KB to visit our great-aunt and cousins.

It is Nini Tengah's second appearance on the McCarthy blog having appeared with her younger sister here. My late grandmother never told us much about her youth and her family and we learnt quite a lot that morning including how my grandparents met. And contrary to us thinking that they came from a family of 6 siblings, there were 12 of them altogether but only 6 survived into adulthood . And only three survive today with the passing of their eldest brother A. Haji Mahmud in his late nineties during Ramadan.

At our Uda Jita's house who is one of my father's first cousins

And at Usu Ahmad's house. He is the younger brother of Uda Jita. His youngest daughter is the owner of this blog.

On the menu there was ambuyat, a Bruneian staple. It resembles white sticky gooey paste which is eaten with a sambal sauce. Delicious but an acquired taste. Jack loves it and tucked in right away!

Fun raya evenings

The big discovery for the kids this raya is fun with sparklers. Even Iman who is not very keen on fireworks is enjoying them. And I have been trying to take photographs of them which is proving to be very challenging!

1st Day Pictures 2009

We had a long but enjoyable first day of Hari Raya. We started the day with the boys going to prayers at the mosque with Donncha, the cousins and Grandpa. It as their first and they did well until a toilet break was required.

After some breakfast - and that was nice after a month of fasting! - we fitted in more family photographs.

And this was the calm before the visitors hit. Our first guests arrived about 10:30 and flowed on till the last visitors left by 5:30. I estimate the number of visitors for the day to be between 250 and 300.

Fasting nearly over....

Today is the last day of Ramadan and tomorrow will be the first day of Hari Raya. Last night the whole family broke fast at my parents house awaiting news of the moon sighting and we took some family photographs which with the little ones is always a challenge!

Dad with the three oldest grandchilren

Jack receiving his green packet which he was very excited to open!

A very shy Ayden with Mama

Donncha and the boys with matching shirts and haircuts!

Best smiles from Ayden and Kaka Tin

The second part of the evening was all about loud bangs. Donncha and I went out earlier without the kids to stock up on our fireworks. We let off the smallest box and it was pretty impressive so looking forward to the bigger ones. Not bad for under 100 euro!

The fun stuff

Ayden, Iman and Jack watching from a safe distance from inside. They still dislike the loud bangs but get excited about the whole thing. More to come tonight!