Taken one very fine afternoon.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
One Hour of my Lunch Break
During the one hour of lunch break I prefer going out for a brisk walk around the block in North Sydney, where I work. It is beautiful around that time when sun is out and shining.
One one such lunch break, I took this walk through the North Sydney Oval Park and there I got a chance to try the camera of my new mobile because the park had so beautiful and rich colours around and it compelled me to capture these on my mobile. A few of these shots I am posting here. The beauty I see in these just make me praise the nature and the creator of all this, ALMIGHTY ALLAH.
It is just so beautiful – I am loving Sydney !
Beautiful addition of the red pole right in the middle of lush green trees.
Walk way & fallen leaves with beautiful scenery in the backdrop.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Pakistan 2012 - Part 2 Memories
Yay! going to visit family and friends in home country. Pakistan 2012 - Part 1
Aaah! that time of the life of an Expat has come and gone in a flash. It never feels enough time when you are on a holiday visiting your family and friends. Anyway this time the trip was special because little me came home for the first time and it was kind of a surprise visit as we reached one week earlier than what we told our families. So it was all very exciting for us and the surprise was very received as well. Everyone was very happy to see us home earlier than expected.
Musa's grand parents were very ecstatic to meet him and his uncles and aunts were eager to pick him up. And he loved being the center of attention among all. His (late) phuppo gave him a nick name (which she never ever have given to any other kid), Mithoo.She left everyone of us grieving few days after we've arrived and that was the worst thing that happened during the visit. May her soul rest in higher places of Jannah.Ameen.
In the same time, Butt family was also visiting Pakistan from Sweden and that let Musa meet his cousin brother Ehan and cousin sister Zainab. It was such a pleasure watching grand parents, uncles and aunts loving their grand son that I so wanted them to live with him so that he gets to enjoy their love. However not every wish can be fulfilled, so I just had to agree with the reality that didn't match the wish. He also received many gifts from them and that caused our luggage to easily cross the allowed luggage limit.
Another highlight of the trip was the delicious Pakistani food that I tried to eat as much as I could in that limited time I had. Although I could not eat all that I thought but still enjoyed whatever I can. For example I had the Hardees Super Star with curly fries at least 4 times during that trip. I just love it !!
The coming back of such trips is always toughest thing for me and it made me feel sad even before I landed there. Thinking about returning makes me home-sick and even though I have been on these trips now for at least 4 times but I think not over it yet. On our way to Allama Iqbal International airport Lahore, I was stuck in a traffic chaos on the Canal road near the Mall Road exit. It took me about 40-50 minutes to get through that chaos and it was then found out that the Police had blocked the under-pass of the Mall road (probably due to some VIP movement - bloody VIPs). It almost costed me to miss my flight. I was very annoyed and I feel bad for the locals that they had put up with that non-sense every day.
Another drama at the airport was at the check-in counter that took sometime before it reached it drop-scene. We were the last one to get the clearance at the check-in counters and through the passport control counters. Musa behaved well on-board and that made our air-travel better that what we thought it could be.
Now that we are back, I am already thinking to plan my next trip in an year's time rather than after 2 years and hoping that I can actually go back in an year's time. Let's see !!
Aaah! that time of the life of an Expat has come and gone in a flash. It never feels enough time when you are on a holiday visiting your family and friends. Anyway this time the trip was special because little me came home for the first time and it was kind of a surprise visit as we reached one week earlier than what we told our families. So it was all very exciting for us and the surprise was very received as well. Everyone was very happy to see us home earlier than expected.
Musa's grand parents were very ecstatic to meet him and his uncles and aunts were eager to pick him up. And he loved being the center of attention among all. His (late) phuppo gave him a nick name (which she never ever have given to any other kid), Mithoo.She left everyone of us grieving few days after we've arrived and that was the worst thing that happened during the visit. May her soul rest in higher places of Jannah.Ameen.
In the same time, Butt family was also visiting Pakistan from Sweden and that let Musa meet his cousin brother Ehan and cousin sister Zainab. It was such a pleasure watching grand parents, uncles and aunts loving their grand son that I so wanted them to live with him so that he gets to enjoy their love. However not every wish can be fulfilled, so I just had to agree with the reality that didn't match the wish. He also received many gifts from them and that caused our luggage to easily cross the allowed luggage limit.
The coming back of such trips is always toughest thing for me and it made me feel sad even before I landed there. Thinking about returning makes me home-sick and even though I have been on these trips now for at least 4 times but I think not over it yet. On our way to Allama Iqbal International airport Lahore, I was stuck in a traffic chaos on the Canal road near the Mall Road exit. It took me about 40-50 minutes to get through that chaos and it was then found out that the Police had blocked the under-pass of the Mall road (probably due to some VIP movement - bloody VIPs). It almost costed me to miss my flight. I was very annoyed and I feel bad for the locals that they had put up with that non-sense every day.
Another drama at the airport was at the check-in counter that took sometime before it reached it drop-scene. We were the last one to get the clearance at the check-in counters and through the passport control counters. Musa behaved well on-board and that made our air-travel better that what we thought it could be.
Now that we are back, I am already thinking to plan my next trip in an year's time rather than after 2 years and hoping that I can actually go back in an year's time. Let's see !!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Pakistan 2012
Despite a bit tragic end of 2011 (reference to blog "Goodbye 2011"), 2012 has started with lots of excitement for me as I (and family) will be travelling to Pakistan to visit families and friends. It will be first overseas trip of Musa when he will meet his grand parents, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Everyone there is anxiously waiting to meet little one as they all are counting days (just like we are). Yes this is very exciting !!!
The preparation for such a trip is multi-folded that includes, 1-shopping, 2-shopping, 3-shopping and packing of those shoppings :P and I'm glad that the major part of this preparation is completed (well almost). The packing cannot start until the last 48 hours before we get on-board.
This time I'm going home after about two years and there are a lots of things to do when I get there. One of the most important (after meeting family of course) is to eat all sorts of local/desi food, hmmm yummy (even the thought of that). The top of the list is 'Halwa Poori', 'Hareesa', 'Muhammadi Nihari', 'Kali Mirch Walay Chanay', 'Bundu Khan ki Handi, Reshmi Kabab, Malai Kabab', 'SnP ka Stuffed Chicken Breast', 'Nadeem Tikka', 'Bhayye k Kabab', 'Liberty Burger', 'Dahi Bhallay' and rest of the list is very long :P
Along with all the excitement, there is a bit of worry about health that I hope the trip goes without any health issues. The shortage of electricity and gas will also make this trip interesting, aah! There will be lots of travelling involved within Pakistan (I'm expecting although I'd prefer otherwise).
The trip is going to begin in few days now and I can already see myself at the halwa poori shop, early in the morning "doing the justice" with my craving for it :D
Here is a "screenshot" of the image that I have in my mind, for you :P
With sincere apologies from those having a weak heart :P
Friday, January 6, 2012
Goodbye 2011
What an year 2011 was for me and my family. It brought some of the best moments and blessings in my life and also has brought me across some un-wanted and not so pleasant moments. However these good and not so good moments all are part of life and one should not complain when something is unwanted in the life rather should be thankful to ALMIGHTY for what good has happened and cherish it. Life should be based on all the good memories while learning from the bad ones so that their repetition can be avoided in future.
So here I am being thankful to ALMIGHTY for blessing me any my family with the best gift of life, my son. He brought me the utmost pleasure and joy of life, cannot thank enough to ALLAH. Life has become so beautiful and feels complete. I come home from full day's tiring job, but when I see his smiling face that washes all the tiredness away in a blink. It is just amazing. You've got to be a parent to feel that and to believe it :)
There were few occasions in 2011 that I wish hadn't happened. But I also know everything in life happens for a reason and for that one should not complain about the hard ships of life and lose hope. We should rather take such events as a challenge and work to steer ourselves out of it while taking note of the dos and donts of the whole event. These notes help you throughout your life to avoid the repetition of those unwanted and unpleasant scenes. I have learned as well from these and will try not to let these recur.
This Christmas and new year holidays I was thinking of touring the width and breadth of city but one last little incident of the leaving year 2011 forced me to sit back and relax, avoiding the Christmas rush on the roads and in the car parks of any mall or picnic spots. It gave me the opportunity to catch up with the lost sleep and clean the Macbook's hard drive of the long copied movies ;) It has been a very boring end of the year and holidays. Never hated any holiday period this much before and hope won't have to in future.
Anyway, to close this post and say goodbye 2011 here are a few of the year's highlights to be listed.
1- Birth of my son Mohammad Musa Shakeel
2- Birth of a baby boy (Ehan Ali) and a baby girl (Zainab Batool) to SS' sister and brother's families respectively.
3- Wedding of my cousin Muhammad Rizwan
4- Birth of a baby boy to Rizwan's family.
Thanking for these bright moments of the year, I say goodbye 2011 and welcome 2012 with these hopes and prayers that;
May 2012 bring prosperity, health and contentment for me, my family, relatives and friends. For my country, Pakistan, may it be a year of peace, glory, respect, growth and free from corruption, lawlessness, injustice and inhumanity. Ameen.
So here I am being thankful to ALMIGHTY for blessing me any my family with the best gift of life, my son. He brought me the utmost pleasure and joy of life, cannot thank enough to ALLAH. Life has become so beautiful and feels complete. I come home from full day's tiring job, but when I see his smiling face that washes all the tiredness away in a blink. It is just amazing. You've got to be a parent to feel that and to believe it :)
There were few occasions in 2011 that I wish hadn't happened. But I also know everything in life happens for a reason and for that one should not complain about the hard ships of life and lose hope. We should rather take such events as a challenge and work to steer ourselves out of it while taking note of the dos and donts of the whole event. These notes help you throughout your life to avoid the repetition of those unwanted and unpleasant scenes. I have learned as well from these and will try not to let these recur.
This Christmas and new year holidays I was thinking of touring the width and breadth of city but one last little incident of the leaving year 2011 forced me to sit back and relax, avoiding the Christmas rush on the roads and in the car parks of any mall or picnic spots. It gave me the opportunity to catch up with the lost sleep and clean the Macbook's hard drive of the long copied movies ;) It has been a very boring end of the year and holidays. Never hated any holiday period this much before and hope won't have to in future.
Anyway, to close this post and say goodbye 2011 here are a few of the year's highlights to be listed.
1- Birth of my son Mohammad Musa Shakeel
2- Birth of a baby boy (Ehan Ali) and a baby girl (Zainab Batool) to SS' sister and brother's families respectively.
3- Wedding of my cousin Muhammad Rizwan
4- Birth of a baby boy to Rizwan's family.
Thanking for these bright moments of the year, I say goodbye 2011 and welcome 2012 with these hopes and prayers that;
May 2012 bring prosperity, health and contentment for me, my family, relatives and friends. For my country, Pakistan, may it be a year of peace, glory, respect, growth and free from corruption, lawlessness, injustice and inhumanity. Ameen.
Monday, December 19, 2011
People - around us
It is very funny how human being behave in situations they come across with. Default setting of their behavior is to safe-guard what they believe (or have heard of) while ignoring the fact that other person is also doing the same. In the meantime, if one of them intentionally or un-intentionally rejects other's beliefs or point of view (in an attempt to look better), the purpose of the whole discussion/interaction dies down right there. Anything after that is usually an attempt to prove each other wrong.
This is because mostly (or I should say commonly), human mind doesn't like to be told that it is or was wrong. It is therefore not a very healthy way of starting a discussion by negating whatever other person has said. Difference of opinion is natural and a healthy thing, but not everyone presents that properly and not everyone reacts to it sensibly. On top of that, we also like to make assumptions (99.9% wrong) that is totally wrong in the act. I think it is NOT fair to make assumptions about others based on your own experiences or observations. People do not necessarily act-all the time according to- what they believe. Making an assumption about someone does two things
1- It is harmful for the assumer him/herself,
2- Point 1.
Or may be I'm 'assuming' wrong that people assume things. May be they know what they are doing but still they do it just to make themselves look better at times? may be I'm right or may be I'm wrong !
For example, people on my MSN, Facebook will tell me that
"You are always online on. Don't you have anything else to do?" or
"You Facebook too much", or
"You are an addict to Facebook" or
"Don't spend too much time on Facebook to ignore your family time" etc etc
I mean they don't know how I use and why and when I use these social websites, therefore they are totally fooling themselves by making these statements that I may be not working or not spending time with my family, haaa! And excuse me, I very well know the difference in someone kidding or no kidding when making any statements.
Just to shut such 'fool' assumers, all I did was change my status to offline. I still spend almost the same time on any website/social platform whenever I want to but now no one (or most of them) don't say these things anymore and in fact if I change my status to online, they will ask me "where are you lost these days?". I don't know what 'people' want 'other people' to do and why would someone would want someone else to do anything in one's life according to their wish or what they think is the right thing to do. I mean how stupid or foolish you have to be to think so?
And then my reply to such people who would comment that I am addict to any website, is that why is it that you always say that? What does that mean (if you know what I mean)? Everyone has got time at his/her hand that one spend to please oneself the way one wants. I choose to spend it my way. Did I ever object on the way others use their free time, watching movies, sports, staying late outside with friends, partying or whatever? It is personal choice. At least I spend most of my time with my family when I spend my time in front of my computer. You can sit at home and do nothing or you can sit in front of computer and browse the wealth of information and knowledge, empowering yourself - while let people assume that they are the only one who know the best of everything.
Funny people !!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Mohammad Musa Shakeel - our cute little sunshine
On 12th of June 2011, ALMIGHTY ALLAH has blessed us with a baby boy Mohammad Musa Shakeel. He is our first child and we are very delighted on his arrival into our lives as he has given a beautiful new purpose to our lives.
From 12th June onwards, the life has changed totally now. Nothing seems more interesting and desirable than to spend time with the little one and to take care of him. I used to have a very lazy and boring daily routine (well many will say its boring routine) as come back from work, watch TV, have dinner and then either watch a movie or else browsing (including facebook, watching political shows etc). But since Musa is born, my daily routine has changed altogether and now I have a very busy routine with my little bundle of joy :-) I am enjoying it very much.
Musa made us proud parents and we are also humble to ALMIGHTY for the blessings.
Welcome my son, Musa.
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