Mein Ne Daikha Tha Un Dino Mein Ussay - Mohsin Naqvi

- One of my all time favourite poem by Mohsin Naqvi - 

Main ne dekha tha un dino mien Ussay
Jab wo khiltay gulab jesa tha, 

Us ki palkoon se neend chanti thi
Us ka lehja sharab jesa tha,
Us ki zulfoon se bhegti thi ghattaa
Us ka rukh mahtaab jesa tha,
Log parhtay thay khal o khad us ke
Wo adab ki kitab jesa tha,
Bolta tha zuban khushbu ki
Log suntay thay dharkanooon mien ussay 
Main ne dekha tha un dino mien ussay

Sari ankhien theen aainay uske
Saray chahroon mien intekhab tha wo,

Sab se ghul mil ker ajnabi rahna Ek darya numa sarab tha wo,  

Ye khawab hai ke wo haqeqat tha
Ye haqeqat hai ke koi khawab tha wo,

Dil ki dharti pe asmaan ki tarah,
Sorat-e-saya-o-sahab tha wo, 

Apni neendien usi ki nazr hoeen
Mein ne paya tha ratjagoon mein ussay 

Main ne dekha tha un dino mien ussay

Jab wo hans hans ke baat karta tha
Dil ke khaimay mein raat karta tha
Rang parhtay thay aanchaloon mien ussay  

Main ne dekha tha un dino mien ussay

Ye magar dar ki kahani hai
Ye magar door ka fasana hai
Us ke mere milaap mein haail
Ab to sadiyon bhara zamana hai 

Ab to yun hai ke haal apna bhi
Dasht e hijran ki shaam jesa hai
Kia khabar in dino WO kesa hai...

Main ne dekha tha un dino mein ussay !

SQL Server 2005 Installation Error: SOURCEMGMT: Source is invalid due to invalid package code (product code doesn't match).

Today I was installing SQL Server 2005 first time on one of my test computers where SQL Server 2000 was running earlier. I uninstalled SQL Server 2000 and was running the SQL Server 2005 installation when encountered error on the setup of MSXML. The log file gives the following description of the error.

SOURCEMGMT: Source is invalid due to invalid package code (product code doesn't match).

A google search returned a very useful article that helped me resolve this error and I was able to complete the installation successfully.

Thanks to the blogger for sharing this.

World Cup 2011 and Suspension of the Three Pakistani Players

Recently ICC has rejected the appeal by Salman Butt and Muhammad Amir against their suspension, which is very unfortunate (and I think is un-fair with the players since ICC doesn't seem to have any authentic proof of the involvement of them in the whole drama).

Looking at the difference in behavior and response by ICC to the news of involvement of players of other teams in similar scams or the incidents of match-fixings (recent one is of an Indian player's link with a close associate of a bookie) compared with those involving a Pakistani cricketer makes you think about its fairness and unbiasedness towards Pakistani cricket and its fans.

Because of this evident disparity in ICC's code of conduct, I am only afraid that the investigation and the decision making on this incident is going to take an amount of time that will not allow these players (if proven innocent) to take part in the 2011 world cup. If this actually did happen, touch wood, (at this time it is just my scared thought) it will be a proof of the involvement and influence of those elements who do not want Pakistan cricket to flourish and especially who are hoping to get some benefit with these star players sitting out in the matches against Pakistan during the world cup.

I only wish to be wrong in thinking this and hope & wish that ICC reaches to the fair and genuine decision as soon as possible to allow these players to prepare for the big event in appropriate time and correct frame of mind.

May the honesty and truth Win! Ameen.

ZPANDA & 3 Es

The other night I lost the game of Scrabble for not being allowed to add a new word to English dictionary 'ZPANDA' :P I already had the word PANDA on the board and needed to use Z (10 points) somewhere in last bit to make more score but ..alas there was nothing but a loud laughter on my innocent attempt to make ZPANDA :P

I also had 3 Es and there was a word that I mead earlier QUIT, had I noticed that and added an E to the end, I could have scored 46 points (tripple word option). But the scrabble champion in my home, SS, had that spotted and me, disappointed on not being allowed to make ZPANDA made some other word in a bid to score maximum and missed QUITE too, losing the game by about 74 points :-(. In the end it was a wonderful game and we had good fun playing after about 6 months.

Later we added ZPANDA in our scrabble dictionary to mark this day in our happy memories

Urdu Language

Urdu hai jis ka naam, hum jantay hain Daagh,

Saray jahan mein dhoom humari zuban ki hai

Its translation in my poor English will go like:

                                               Its known as Urdu, everyone knows that Dagh,
                                               It is a very popular language in the whole world



I just love this shair (poetic verse?) and could not stop myself posting it on my blog as this was on my mind since this morning.

Hope the "likeness" is mutual.

Late Night Pizza

I love Pizza anytime anywhere. Tonight we (me and SS) had dinner; Zeera Rice with Black Chickpeas. It was a delicious meal we had stomach full. Had a nice cup of coffee after that and started watching 3rd and last part (until now) of Ice Age movie. Simply loved it, a nice and funny movie to watch. Suddenly after we finished watching, felt a bit of craving of eating something delicious - this is normal with me actually :P Whenever I'm home my mind always working on what to eat next :D I like to think that this is common disease among men so...

Actually there is one pizza base sitting in our fridge for last 3, 4 days and I just cannot get my 'hungry side' of the mind off it. I know this that as long as it is in the fridge, this greedy mind and gluttonous stomach of mine won't rest. I said greedy mind because for me the appetite for the food is a mental state - it does not have to be actual state of hungry stomach. Pretty awesome haan :P lols.. Anyways, so I decided to do a favor to my "greedy mind" and baked the pizza and lo & behold! it is here. Yayyyyyyyy !!!

Gotta go now - byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :P

(ummmm - its yummmmm - Oh I just realised that I LOVE PIZZA; anytime anywhere !!!)

Christchurch earthquake - Sep 4th

On 4th Sep 2010, Christchurch - the city of gardens was struck with a power series of tremors. The first earthquake was the most powerful and scary with magnitude 7.1 as recorded on the Richter scale. It rocked the city horribly and teared apart the earth many inches wide. The buildings were collapsed, cars parked on the roadside and/or under the buildings were damaged badly enough to be scrapped. However, luckily and thankfully no one died and only few might have got few injuries.

But that is not what I am going to write about here as there are a number of articles, reports and columns that can be found on this topic. I am just writing this post to share a link that shows the series of earthquakes Christchurch was hit with from 4th Sep onwards within 24 hours. The total earthquakes recorded and counted on that day were 1495 as recorded by this website. This webpage show this series on the map with the location of the earthquake, the magnitude and its impact. On one side it is interesting to see this but actually it was a horrible horrible thing - ask someone who has felt all these shocks within 24 hours' time only.

I have few friends there and it was a relief to know that they were all safe and sound. However I felt sad for the city as I have seen its gorgeousness and just can't imagine to see it turned into a pile of rubble over night. However the caring and loving people of Christchurch will bring its attractiveness back and the city of gardens will continue to be one gorgeous city also known as Ōtautahi.

Today: 05 Oct 10

Went to office after a long weekend today, Tuesday the 5th Oct. It was a public holiday on Monday on account of Labor day. The long weekend was kind of boring mostly apart from Friday evening and Monday afternoon. Friday evening my friend with his family came to visit us and stayed for few hours. We had good time chatting about general things over a cup of tea and some snacks - thanks to SS for that. Monday afternoon we went out with friends for brunch and then to beach from there. Later in the afternoon we came home and then again back to our favorite spot in the living area with our favorite lappy :P

Tuesday was 'back to work again' day. As usual it started boring and me literally dragging myself to office. It was not that bad a day, as Sun was out shinning and comparatively I wasn't feeling that sleepy either. But just the usual "don't want to" day after a long weekend finishes. However at work I got an email from my manager that made my day actually. It was about a positive feedback from a client about the support that I provided to them. It was extremely positive feedback and I felt happy and motivated.

Apart from that it was a pretty usual day. However when I came back home, SS was doing Skype with Swedish people and another positive and encouraging feedback that I received from there was about my diet and health related efforts. Seems like maintaining and controlling the intake of calories in my food is paying off. I felt much relieved; phewww. Oh you don't have an idea how much I was worried about the weight gain in past few months. But just for the records, that "worry" does not mean to go on some crash exercise or training courses. That's kinda too much to ask from me :P But I have been trying as much as I could - don't ask "how much" was that - lols.

The day for me ended on a nice movie - Ice Age The Meltdown. It is actually a nice movie. I am starting to like this now. Can't wait to watch the last part and that I will do tomorrow and to do that I need to sleep now so that today ends and tomorrow comes soon.

So goodnight for now!!!

zzzZZZzzz

Lahore to Sydney: via Auckland

When I was working in Total Parco in Pakistan, I wanted to come to Australia to work but I end up coming to Auckland to join Olympic Software. I never thought of coming to NZ to live or work but then I also never thought that I will miss it after I leave to settle in Australia finally. When I reached in Auckland in April 2008, at first I didn't like it much and kind of feeling home sick and even thought of going back Pakistan - home. But with the passage of time, I got use to of the new life style and surroundings. I actually made some very good family friends there and spent two very beautiful years of my life in Auckland - New Zealand.

After two years in Auckland, I accepted a job offer from a company (Professional Advantage) in Sydney and shifted to Sydney in June 2010. When we were in transit mode (preparing to shift), I did not feel that excited about it the way I would have if I were shifting directly from Lahore to Sydney. May be the main reason for that was because I have made some very good friends there and got settled in the country. I also (I can say now) liked the life style very much there. But anyways, this was a decision that I had to make to achieve the objectives that I have in my mind.

Now that I am in here in Sydney, I am missing Auckland more, esp the life with friends there and once again I am going through the same phase that I first experienced in April -May 2008. But I know this is normal with me and I will be back to normal after sometime. At the moment, while we are finding our new street address in Sydney, also finding out that though Sydney is a 'happening place' but it is also one of 'the' expensive cities. But hey, good things come with the price tag that I have willingly chosen to pay. So I am happy to be here and looking forward to explore the city in next few weeks to come.

By the way just one last thing I want to mention that I am excited about. We went to inspect one car (Honda Civic) today, since I need to buy wheels too and I liked that neatly and well kept car. I am expecting to hear from the seller tomorrow hoping to that he will offer me to buy within my budget. I will be a happy man to be mobile again as I didn't have one since December 2009. So lets see if that becomes my car number 2 or not. Fingers X-ed.

I Like ...

I like Pizza to eat; anytime, anywhere and especially right now (@ 12:24am) I really am craving for a hot and yummy Chicken Fajita with hot chilli sauce and a chilled can of coke. I am thinking that if I had wheels and this place to myself only, I would have gone by now to either do a take away or buy stuff to bake one at home - I wish...

I also like Issey Miyanke perfume a lot. There is a good discount on a range of good perfumes that are selling at Hall 6 ASB Showgrounds from 11th March to 14th March 2010. I just saw in the brochure and feel to buy many of them - can't resist perfumes, want to have all of them - I wish..

I like to just sit on a comfy couch in the evening with either my laptop watching some movie or 56" inch wide screen playing some random programs and I'm just sitting watching them without even processing what's going on in front or around. Just don't want any interruption or disturbance and relax and enjoy the time without no tension of 'waiting for things to take shape' or 'worrying about shifting to new address' etc - I wish..

Today I also saw a very lucrative deal on laptops worth 1400$ of HP laptop with specs like 2.02 Ghz, 4 GB DDR RAM, 512 MB graphics card and 320 GB HDD along with laptop bag, printer, paper rim and wireless key-board and mouse. SS liked that as well and wanted to buy but then again this future planning is taking precedence on all other things. I like these things settle down as soon as the weekend tomorrow - I wish..

I like iPhone and BlackBerry Storm. I like iPhone better mainly because of its sleek and eye-catching design and sensitivity in use. Plus all that list of functions in there. I like BB Storm as well mainly because it is a BlackBerry and secondly it has a similar GUI as that of an iPhone. I want to buy iPhone but it is so stupid to expense 1100-1300 NZD to buy just a phone especially when all I have to do with that is make calls and use as a music player. Other than that, I know I won't use it much for any other functionality when not in office. Anyways, I still like it and wish to buy it - I wish..

I like to travel by bus between home and office. It takes the driving hassle away on the same boring route every day plus it keeps me active as well because I love observing people around and seeing new faces. I like to observe people around me (don't judge me wrong here) as how they look, how are they carrying themselves, what they might be thinking, what they are doing while they are around etc etc. Sometimes I feel that someone may be noticing me as well as I am noticing others and that makes me feel real uncomfortable ONLY for the reason that I don't want others to judge me wrong. The only problem in traveling by bus is have to wait at the bus stop and this is what I have been hating most lately - waiting. I wish the public transport system be bit more efficient and follow the time table but I wish..

By the way, there are many things one likes and so do I have a long list which I am not going to mention here all. Only a few things that were on my mind. Last but not the least, I like to have a glass of milk with Rooh Afza - yumm. I don't have to wish for this in fact have to get off my seat and grab it from the kitchen.

Until next time....

Christchurch - the city of gardens

This is, I guess, the 4th time I came to Christchurch and this time I have got totally different feelings about the city and have different experiences touring around the city.

I remember the first 2 or 3 times I came here, I had an unfriendly (no offense please) feeling of the city where I don't see many faces passing out courtesy smiles as they pass by. When I went out after work for dinner on the Riccarton road, there were only a few places open and mostly were closed. That was the only road or area I have strolled around during my first couple of visits and to make an idea of the whole city based on that much was not fair but even then I couldn't avoid having the wrong 'unfriendly' feeling.

This time, the 4th time, I got the time and conveyance to look around more of the city and, to be honest, I just loved the city and am feeling kind of bad for having a wrong assumption of the place in first place. But then that was just abt 1 street only :P

The most attractive thing I found and liked about the city is its old-fashioned buildings and architecture. The color-ful poles along the street, the brick streets, a small river Avon running through the city center and not to forget the beautiful trams that run through the city all day. The amazingly beautiful Arts Centre (the Old Christchurch College) building is a master piece of architecture, I must say. I just loved its corridors, the 'blue water' pool, and that piece of art work hanging in the air right in the middle of the main yard of the centre. Such a beautiful beautiful place to work/study. I would just love to study here if I could.

The old fashioned english style homes really give a nice touch to the surroundings (at least that's how I feel) and the different dressing styles of the people here: the funky, the cow-boy, the gangster's, the biker-boys and what not.

There was a nice dinner place, called Dux-de-Lux where my work-colleague, Phil Walsh, took me tonight. It was a very famous place as I have noticed that almost all of the tables were taken and people were standing in the queue waiting to order their food. Later I found out my guess was correct as the food was very nice and was more than enough for two people (like me and Phil who like to eat) :P

The quick walk through the center of the city, the Cathedral Square, was my favorite thing. There was the huge Cathedral right in the center of the square with loud sound of church bells, and in front of it there were two guys in the buffalo's costumes - don't know what were they doing there but it just added some nice affect and color to the whole scene. On the right of the Cathedral there was a colorful tram stopped there, on a tram-stop where you get onto the tram or get off it and take a walk around the city center.


On the left side of the church, there was a huge pole which was basically a nice piece of art as well made of metal with an open mouth on the top. It was a beautiful place to spend one of your nice and quiet evenings there, just sitting there on one of the benches and watching the world around sipping through your cold drink.


Around the square there are some very nice souvenir shops from where I bought a couple of NZ famous stone, jade and a small ring for SS and now I am hoping that she likes 'em :P I also have bought models of Christchurch Tram, I think they are beautiful and will add to the beauty of my living room - that I plan to decorate once I have my own place (somewhere in future - don't know when) :P DD (day dreamer) ? at least it is free :P


Umm.. I can write more about the city but for that I need to see more of it :P I may actually get to see more of it tomorrow and for that I have to sleep now, lolz. In short, unlike all my previous visits to Christchurch, I am loving it now and liking the place and I intend to come back again with SS :P (I'm not sure if I get time and a chance for that but will do if I get one).

Christchurch - Sorry for making a wrong assumption about you earlier !!!

Swimming

I am not a good swimmer because I never took any swimming lessons at all. I just wanted to learn it myself, like watch others, and do it yourself (the famous DIY approach :P - not very convincing example?).

If it was not SS, I would not have started going to pool regularly, so a big thanks to her for the push. I have always loved swimming, even in those times when I couldn't even swim one inch but this does not mean that you can't love a thing, right? So yeah I always wanted to swim but never could do for many reasons, mainly my laziness. But since I have started going to Lloyd Elsmore pool, I can now do one lap in one go :P (yeah it may be funny to someone who can swim fine but for me it is pretty good learning - so am happy). Today I tried to do reverse swim or back-swimming (whatever you call it) and I was amazed to see that I could do the half of the lap that way. I loved it.

Swimming is a lot of fun and good workout as well (well kind of). Plus you got to see and meet more people just like 2 days ago I met a guy who came to the pool with his 3 or 4 years old boy. He is from India and a very nice family. Today we went his place at dinner after swimming. His wife made very nice chicken biryani and some chicken gravy dish, the food was delicious. Had a good chat with them as well. So yeah I was saying that 'swimming is fun' ;) hehehe

We also bought the swimming goggles today and although it irritates me but it has a positive affect on the body movements under water because now you can open your eyes safely and see under water. It really helps improving confidence under water and swimming. Thanks again to SS to buy it for me otherwise I was not convinced to spend couple of bucks on 'em :P

After the efforts of almost a month now (during which I didn't go swimming every day though), I can swim across the lap in one go but my near future (say 2 weeks) target is to do the full round (go and return) in one go like without a pause or resting for a while. It will be then when I think I can say that I can swim (please please, let me say that much after this, thanks). I hope that I stay regular (at least 3/4 times a week) because this is the only physical activity that I am doing at the moment. Although I want to go running and gym as well but guess I'll have to keep something in the contingency bag as well for just in case I get bored from swimming :P

I think after writing (and reading if anyone is) all this, it is now quite evident and lucid that I do love swimming and that I want to continue it. Let's hope and see if that happens (I would like to be optimistic for now).

Random

Once again, I found myself convinced to start blogging and this time I'm feeling the commitment to myself that is telling me that I'll be regular at blogging this time :P let's see how strong this commitment inside me proves to be, I'm sure not strong enough :P Anyways, the idea is to have a space where you can dump all the thoughts on your mind to pacify it, and this gave this name to this space - my blog, Pacifier. I really don't know if this will really be the place to pacify myself by dumping all my thoughts, ideas, worries, plans here and hoping not to be judged or will prove otherwise. Either way, I want to give it a try because sometimes I feel to write, don't know what, but feel to write something or anything that comes to my mind. Just like now I am writing, not making any sense at all but still my hands are typing and I am having this same feeling to writing, so.. Today was not a very good day, I guess, for me. When I woke up in the morning, tried to make madrasi curry omelette it did not come out very tasty, and I am very sensitive about my breakfasts especially on a holiday.

Later, watched u-19 worldcup final match between Pakistan and Australia which Pakistan let Australia won by giving away their wickets. The poor show of professionals always make me angry and irritated, it was sad to see juniors loosing after having a wonderful tournament in which they remained unbeaten until the final game.

After the match, did some facebooking and youtube-ing but due to above-mentioned events, was not having very exciting day although the weather today was great - exactly what I love. Dark grey clouds with slightly cold wind, beautiful and romantic. Went for swimming that finally helped refreshing the mood and cleared the irritation. At the pool there was a small kid who came for swimming with his father. He was so confident in the water and was playing with his father, was pleasing to see him playing.

Since we returned from swimming, I am sitting in front of my laptop and writing tweets and reading my friends' tweets. Twitter is, I think, equivalent to the status updates on facebook. All you can do on Twitter is put a 140 characters long text and that is it (I may be wrong as I am still learning to use it). While reading tweets of friends, came across a colleague's blog and started reading it. This then motivates me again to create one and start dumping all my random thoughts to that. So here I am.

Apologies to those who have wasted their time reading this page, but no apologies really because this is my space and I will write here whatever I want or think. I would appreciate if you just read it and not try to judge me, else be my guest :)