More pics of the flood

I took the pictures form my front porch. The rain almost stopped but the aftermath stays...

Flood time!

And its not even Monsoon season! But thats what Brunei is all about. You can have rain one minute and bright and sunny the next. But it was VERY heavy rain last night, i mean heavy humangous heavy. I drove almost one hour to reach home after the massage in traffic jam because of the rain. It was dark, wet and scary, people still overtook each other even in the rain, no wonder accidents are very frequent here. I then picked up Ayang from her tuition and by this time, the rain water already overflowed the drain into the small residential road in our house area. Even the main road was flooded so everyone was super slow. The rain didnt stop until about 9.30 pm and the end result was as usual the flash flood. It even reached our porch! That didnt happen very often, usually only the road leading to the house was flooded but this time the rain water really did manage to reach our front door, well almost. I was really worried and i couldnt shake the feeling of being caught up in the flood where the water came into the living room or something. Alhamdulilah, it didnt.

Of course road work and flood work are currently ongoing in this area, but again it hasnt helped at all. Our home is right in the middle of the flood prone area and flooding here is not something new. So we would expect it to happen.

Submission time

Ayang project has to be submitted today. She took it to school today and hopefully she has good marks for her effort, our effort! Here is the end product, not perfect but i think it does look nice considering all of us in the family (its a joint family effort!) who involved in this never done anything like it before. So i am happy.

The car still have problem even after we took it to the workshop a few times and replaced a few parts but still, i am almost giving up. I dont know what is wrong with that car, we are out of ideas. Maybe it would be better if we end up selling it, if people want to buy that is.

Its weekend again, i am planning to go for my massage later. I desperately need one, my neck and shoulder are killing me. This is what driving long distance all the time does to my body. I will go for the massage while Ayang at her tuition class later. Its tuition today instead of tomorrow and it will be on until 7.30pm. I'll have to ask her again later if she wants to stay until that late. I wouldnt want her to. She insisted she wanted to stay as she needed to study even harder. We are getting nearer to her exam so i try to remind her to keep on doing her revision, double it or triple it AND reduce her internet surfing. I want her to do well in her exam since this is the crucial time in her education. We went to the parents/teachers meeting yesterday at her school and i got to listen to the school briefing about the exam and what to expect in her next level next year. Its getting exciting and i would be so proud if she get through her exam and selected to be in one of the science stream classes. But i know her abilities so i am not going to push her. Even she get through marginally i would be more than happy too.

Happy Birthday..

... to my husband. May Allah bless you with abundance of good health and happiness, stay well and safe..

Project Week

Busy with the bamboo... What is that all about? Ayang has to organise and finish up her anyaman project for PMB. We're almost there, though we dont have much time left. The finished product has to be handed over to the school on saturday. We are at the final stages of the project though so its good. I need to get involved in this too, she cant do it on her own, its too bigger project for a 14 year old girl. This is what having a daughter in secondary is all about. But i am not complaining its been fun, we had a good time doing it with our jokes and laughter. Good bonding time although the project is not that easy. Firstly they needed to look for bamboo and bamboo tree, thats when they had to conquer the jungle to get the product. What a challenge for the students and the teachers. And then they had to split the bamboo into thin slices. This was where its geting tough. My father even contributed by doing the slicing. Then our maid sliced it again into thin pieces. The bamboo is notorious, you can get your hands or fingers cut if you are not careful so its not recommended for those with faint hearted and the children. I dont even dare doing the first few stages. So let me tell again what is needed to make an anyaman. here goes: - sharp knifes, spray paint and our Amah!!

Makes me think how daft these people are for asking these youngsters to be involved in something so dangerous. Well, its dangerous if you need sharp knife! I am not very fond of Ayang taking Art for PMB actually. I would prefer her to take something else, like home science for example. She doesnt even like Art in the first place, and we are not from artistic family anyway. So i am hoping Ayang will get good result especially in her core subjects like Maths, English, Science or Geography so she doesnt have to take Art again next year. For me it doesnt help Ayang to accomplish anything. Ayang doesnt even like it. Thats how out of place subject Art is in our household. I didnt even took Art in my school years so i basically have no idea what to expect with this subject. I am learning myself although reluctantly.

Tomorrow we will continue with the project and i am hoping all will be finished by friday. We will have to see how it come about in a few days. Till then, good luck to us!

Dinner at Grand Palace

Yummy... great food and not bad presentation. We enjoyed the food so much, definitely worth the money spent. The hotel was not bad too. We might want to stay here again.

Happy Sunday

We went for jalan-jalan on sunday. Went to watch the rafting classic although it was almost over by the time we reached there. The weather was piercingly hot, couldnt stay in the sun too long. Then we went over the border to Miri for a day trip (supposely) but we ended up staying the night. The hotel was not too bad, it was nice and comparable to most hotels we stayed in. We did a bit of shopping too and dinner was perfect. It western time! I order sirloin steak as usual and it was delicious. Hubby ordered lamb and Ayang her favourite sphagetti. Not bad! It was a good break and nice short getaway although i had a bad headache but i did have a great time.

Its my life

Thats how it goes. My good mood is out of the window. Tough day. Cant seem to shake the demons thats hanging over me like a dark clouds. Trying to soothe my pounding heart, maybe out of nothing, just a misunderstanding but as usual still like a knife piercing my heart, every time. At least today i came home to a smiling Ayang. Her ugama oral went well, its not as hard as she expected. Thats good to know. I am sure she will get through. We both know this year is very important year academically for her, so we are wishing her the best of luck in her studies. What a busy week for Ayang, having oral exam on both classes. But its only temporary come November everything will be behind her. Just waiting for the result, another big moment but i am sure she will get through both exams.

Anyway, as I said, busy week! including the olympic. Read something interesting today. A question is wonder myself. Look at diving competition, i watched one last night. Why is it every time the athletes finish their dive, they go straight to have a shower? Is it because they want to get rid of the chlorine from their bodies, or just to show off, or what??? Well, according to this report, they need to go straight to the shower to warm up their muscle and to avoid it from getting stiff. There are differences in tempreture between the pool and the surroundings so thats the reason why. Cant say why they have to take shower where everyone from the stadium can see them though. Thats another question. Interesting isnt it?

I think its time for me to lie down and wind down for a bit. Need some quiet time on my own. I sure will have a good rest since nobody is here for now. Driving to work and driving home as always can be so tiring. I am not a young thing afterall. But as i said thats my life so thats how it goes.

No longer a child, not yet a woman...

Ayang is moody again today. Sometimes i just dont know whats going on inside her little head. It is so difficult to predict whats on her mind. I know something is up but she always shake her head and says nothing when I ask her. In the end i just let her be. She should know by now i am here if she needs someone to talk. I am not going to push, i know how delicate her feeling is. I've been there, being a teenager is not easy. Especially at her age with her hormones all over the place, where she just begins to realise and aware the whole real world out there. Its the transition period. The most difficult age. Being a mother is hardwork too. I dont want to be too lenient but not too strict too, to have the balance is the most difficult task. I hope i am doing the right thing. Insya Allah.

Happy sunday.

It is a quiet day today after the beautiful night. We went to the Mall, as usual it was packed with people but we managed to get a good parking spot. We didnt have anything to buy in particular but Ayang wanted to check out her fav mag. And as usual it was always late so no go. Dinner was simple tonight but being together with my family is always my greatest joy.

My highlight of the day is the Jon & Kate plus 8 show at 8.30am. The show never bores me. Its about this American couple who has twin girls aged 7 and a sextuplets aged 3 (thats 6 children) so they have 8. Its basically about their lives, how they deal with the kids, how they manage their day to day trials and tribulations. I am impressed with Kate, she is such a strong woman, she handles her family well. Its not easy to take care of 8 kids all under the age of 10. Although she is take charge kind of lady and sometimes harsh to her husband and points at his fault but it can be so overwhelmingly difficult to be on her shoes. I have my reasons as to why i love this show, it hits something deep in my heart. Maybe i will share it here if i feel like it. Anyway, thats my morning. Nothing much but its my chill time and i can only get to do this once a week.

My weekend.

Yummy... my breakfast at Kayu today. Hubby and i went for our usual weekend breakfast at Kayu today after sending Ayang to school. My tummy was grumbling and the meal was delicious. My weekend started last night when we watched Beijing Summer Oympic opening ceremony on tv last night. It lasted until 12 midnight and it was so spectacular. The Chinese did a great job with the show, it was just awesome. I looked forward to watch how they torched the Olympic flame and it was so unique. The bird nest was amazing, all the memories came flooding back when we were in Beijing last March. Didnt expect that we had been there in Beijing during our holiday. We will be watching the Olympic for the next two weeks and see how the Chinese do this time. All the best to them.

Get the hang of it.

What a long day today. I was so busy in the office with the forum. I deserved a good rest tonight and sleep soundly. I just want to relax and floats in the sea. Let the dreams guide me.

Well as for today, for the first time I got to organise a forum for my department. Cant say i enjoy it, cant say i hate it either. I dont know how i feel, its just part of the job. Maybe i need to do this a few more times before i get the hang of it. Honestly it didnt go well at first, i didnt even know how to operate the projector, it was really chaos but i am glad went smoothly towards the end. I am ashamed to say my HSE briefing was awful, i just mumbled the words and was finished in one minute. I need to improve my presentation skills and fast! But its a good experience and i am sure i can do better in time.

Ayang was moody when she called me at work today. She had bad news for the first two days. First she got second in her class, in previous exam she was first. I was a bit concerned too, she has tuition but why cant she improves? Anyway i cant expect too much from her can I? Everyone has his or her own limitations and how far anyone can go. I just hope she will do better next time especially during her exam in October. Number 2 is not that bad afterall. Then she was upset about being eliminated in her spelling bee competition. But i know she did well, she worked hard to memorise all the words and she deserved a pat at the back for the job well done. She is hardworking and i wish all her effort and hardwork will pay off in the end. Thats my wish as a mother.

I also hope i dont push her too much in her study. I know as a mother i want her to do well and the has the best things in life. She is my future. Thats very important. I also know she is a sensible girl, she knows what is good for her and for that i am so grateful.

I think i am rambling, as i said its been a long day, its time for bed and to call it a day.

I am a working mother.

Today my husband asked me to update my blog. Am i up to this yet or what. Does someone has to remind me to update my own blog? Isnt that hillarious?? hehehe. Its about time anyway.

I went for a site visit at work today. My first since i joined this company. It was interesting, well its always like that when you did something for the first time, isnt it. We went to SCOT today and visit the tanks. Some activities are going on so we went to make sure all are in order and in safe condition. Although i didnt know what to expect but tried to absorb as much as i can. To be on a work site is difinitely different from being in the office.

For one, i got to wear a coverall and the rest of the safety gears. Another first for me, i dont need to wear this kind of apparel when i am in the office but here in the worksite its a must! I felt so awkward, couldnt even walked properly in my safety shoes, but hey.. i will get there somehow.

The work site turned out to be under the sun. The weather was just so hot! The heat was simply out of this world and i was drenched in sweat. I pitied those people who had to be there and do their job from 7am to 6pm. I just simply couldnt do it day in and day out. Maybe i am just so used to being in the aircon room all day long. Anyway, its good that the company they are working for really take good care of their welfare by providing good shelter & good safety gears, there was even a big water bottle for them to drink on when they need to replenish their water intake.

Well this is jut the beauty of being in a new department. You get to do different things. I never went to a site visit in my previous job so its good that i got to do this. Its like its a totally different world altogether and i am proud to say, a mother's job is not only in the kitchen and take care of the family.

I may go for another site visit again this week so watch this space.