A special day

Special day for me but might not be to everyone..

Today is a first day my kids here start schooling for the new term. Nadira-year 8, Nabila – reception n Hakeem- nursery. The one who’s very most excited is Nabila. She wears a totally new different kind of uniform today. She had been talking non-stop n counting days about going to the school since we’re back here to Oman.

Yesterday she wanted to sleep ealy so that she can go to school fast. She was so excited preparing her school stuffs. Same goes to Hakeem that non-stop looking at his new Ninja Turtle - Leonardo lunch bag. I guess it's like his dreams come true for having that bag!

As usual, today is a busy day for me. Early in the morning preparing breakfast n foods for their lunch box. Send them to school. Today is also after a long time break, catching up with my girlfriends. Hello n kiss here n there. Exchanged news n gossips!! Rushing back homes – house chores!!

Today is also a day when I am a year older. Thanks to Allah S.W.T for giving me all the healthiness n prosperous. I wish that I will always be in a good health, long life n happy with my family.

p/s: hubby - tq so much for the lovely card n gift. Kids – lovely bracelet & mug. Umi – tq, u always knw what I want. Haji & Rohaya - tq fr the wonderful dinner n gifts (made my night so special). Tq for all the wishes frm friends n relatives back in Malaysia. love u all.

UPSR today

nurul

mughni

amirul

I have 3 people that are close to my heart who are having their UPSR today. I wish them all the best n hope that they will do well in their examinations – to get 5A.

Nurul – my dearest daughter, Mukni – my ‘anak menakan’ n Amirul – my ‘ anak buah’.

I pray to Allah that all of you will do well. Insyaalah.

Women with 'Niqab'

DUBAI –– Aysha Obeid couldn't get a job as a shop assistant in Dubai because of the veil that covered her face, exposing only her eyes to the outside world. So to improve her employment prospects, Obeid stopped wearing the veil. "No one takes women with niqab in the retail sector," said Obeid, 22. While women who cover up for their faith may expect problems getting some kinds of work outside the Muslim world, those in the region also say they have trouble getting jobs -- particularly ones requiring them to interact with the public.

It is common to see Emirati women in the workplace, most wearing elegant robes and head coverings, but those wearing the niqab which leaves only the eyes uncovered are rarely seen in front offices. "Women in niqabs do not sit at the counter. They take administrative jobs," said Abdullah Naser, a manager at a Dubai post office. "Clients need to know who they are talking to." Face veils have been a hot political issue in many countries over the rights of wearers to attend schools in secular societies or become policewomen, teachers or other jobs that involve interacting with the public.

They are particularly common in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia where many women cover their faces in public, driven by conservative traditions and powerful clerics who advise that Muslim women must wear the niqab. In Dubai, the most modern emirate where multinationals keep their regional hubs and expatriate non-Muslims make up a large proportion of the population, women who wear the niqab find it hard to get jobs. "Some companies have a policy preventing women from wearing their niqab during work hours, such as banks for example," said Nora al-Bidour, public relations manager at Tanmia.

The niqab has also caused controversy in Egypt, the most populous Arab country, where an increasing number of women are wearing the veil. In June, a court ruled that a U.S.-accredited university was wrong to bar a female scholar who wears a face veil. In the United States, Saima Azfar, an immigrant from Pakistan, plans to wear her niqab when she interviews for jobs once she passes her medical board exams in Chicago. "There are Muslim women doctors I know who went through the licensing process here," explains Azfar, 34. "They told me that if you have the talent, then nobody will deny you a job for wearing a veil." Zerqa Abid says her niqab has not curtailed her career.

Now a communications and marketing consultant, Abid worked as a news editor for U.S. broadcaster NBC and ran a TV station in Pakistan. "I have proven to people that a covered woman can do whatever she wants, can be successful, can be a career woman," she says. While she does meet curiosity and confusion among her colleagues, Abid, 38, says that American laws allow her the freedom to work and wear niqab, with an important drawback. "I am still not welcome on the screen because of my face cover," she adds.

In the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia, the niqab is a rarity. Even in the staunchly Muslim province of Aceh, where women are required to wear headscarves in public as part of sharia, or Islamic law, the niqab can hardly be seen. Siti Nurlaila, a Muslim activist who abandoned her niqab a few years ago, said in Indonesia the niqab was worn mostly by a tiny group of Muslims who follow Wahhabism, an austere form of Sunni Islam as practiced in Saudi Arabia.

"In Indonesia, the general public see people who wear the niqab as strange and people often tell their children to avoid us, or even say that we are criminals," she said. "Even my teacher who inspired me to wear the niqab has stopped wearing it," she said. In Turkey, wearing a simple headscarf is a struggle for women who are banned from covering their heads at work in public sector jobs under the country's secular laws and are discouraged from doing so in the private sector as well.

Source : Reuters, Times of Oman

Maid kicked, stomped child

This is just another psycho that got lost on earth. Either she needs attention or she is very sick. Might as well send her out to the hell!

Saturday, 01 September 2007

SHE was kicked so hard that she was sent sprawling to the floor.
When the three-year-old got up, the maid grabbed her by the hand and started kicking her again repeatedly. Again, she was sent sprawling like a rag doll. Like a woman possessed, the maid repeatedly stomped on the girl’s frail body. She stopped after a while, but continued stomping on the girl moments later.

This cruel act by an Indonesian maid was recorded by a young couple using a webcam installed in the living room of their condominium in Jalan Kuching. But it could have been a different story if the couple had not had the presence of mind to make the recording.

Read more.. http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Friday/Frontpage/20070831122822/Article/index_html

10th anniversary of Princess Diana death

Prince Harry has told a service to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, that she was "the best mother in the world". Family and friends joined Princes William and Harry for the service at Guards' Chapel near Buckingham Palace.

Harry told the congregation, which included the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles: "She made us and so many other people happy." The Bishop of London said it was now time to "let Diana rest in peace".

Harry, who was 12 when his mother was killed, said her death was "indescribably shocking and sad", and changed his life and that of his brother forever. He added: "When she was alive we completely took for granted her unrivalled love of life, laughter, fun and folly".

The Royal Family were cheered as they arrived at the chapel. "We both think of her every day. We speak about her and laugh together at all the memories." Prince William, who was 15 when Diana died, gave a reading from St Paul's letter to the Ephesians which asked for inner strength.

Admirers of the late princess have tied flowers and cards to the gates of Kensington Palace - her former London residence - as they did in 1997 after her death. Members of the public have also left bouquets and gifts outside Althorp, where Diana is buried, at the gate of Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where she was born, and near the Eternal Flame monument by the tunnel in Paris where she was killed.

Princess Diana died, aged 36, along with her companion Dodi Al Fayed, 42, and chauffeur Henri Paul, when the Mercedes they were in crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997.

The princess's death provoked an unprecedented outpouring of national grief, with hundreds of thousands gathering to mourn outside Kensington Palace, where they left a sea of floral tributes. Thousands more later lined the route of her funeral procession.

Source : BBC News

Malaysia 50th Merdeka

Happy Birthday Malaysia. Today we celebrate our 50th year of independence – MERDEKA! Regrettably me & family n others who stay abroad will not be able to celebrate this year’s golden anniversary of Merdeka at our homeland. But being Malaysian, the 31st August will always be the memorable day in our life.

It was on 31st August 1957 when history was made as the Union Jack was lowered and the Malaysian flag hoisted, with the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj leading the people in the famous shouts of Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! (Independence!)

Malaysia has come a long way to come to where she is now - a modern nation full of vibrant and colourful culture and people. From a nation that depends so much on agriculture to a developing country full of promise in many areas of the economy, I’m proud of Malaysia’s achievements over the years.

Saya anak Malaysia. I love my country n proud of it. Even though I won’t be able to join the parade, watch the fireworks or free concerts.. I still do have the Merdeka spirits.

MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!

p/s: 12.00pm Malaysian time last nite, we were having dinner - Khabooli chicken briyani..

Reasons why Malaysians love their Independence

1. We get an extra public holiday.
2. It actually means something now when we say “I am willing to die for my country”.
3. Merdeka Sale!
4. Oooo, fireworks… cantiknya.
5. We can no longer recite the Rukunegara but as long as we can sing along to Merdeka songs by Sudirman.
6. Malaysia Boleh. We have our very own Malaysian Book of Records to prove it!
7. We were the first country to achieve a peaceful independence by holdings talks with the British.
8. Merdeka means balik kampung with only half volume of cars on the highways (the other half are headed towards shopping mall).
9. It’s a day all the different races of Malaysia can really celebrate as one.
10. We speak, read and write good English and it’s only our second language!
11. We’re bangsa Malaysia and not just Malays, Chinese or Indians that gets the day off for Eid, Chinese New Year and Diwali.
12. We stick mini Malaysian flags on our cars, motorbikes or bicycles for a whole month and no one dare say it looks silly.
13. It’s the best excuse of the year to party, get hangover the next day and call it patriotism.
14. Merdeka day means traffic jam lah! Excuse not wanting to leave the house.
15. Another reason sends multiple sms to wish “Happy Merdeka” making everyone (especially telcos) happy.

Source: Going Places