Baklava and Dates

Mustafa one of my patients gave me a bag of gifts last Saturday when we met during the get together picnic day. He knows I like fresh dates. He gave me  some of 'fresh' dates and non sweetened dried dates too. Above all he also gave me a box of baklava. Hmm too much sweets. :-) . Love baklava though. I will eat only one a day, I think it will take me more than 2 weeks to finish it all. Yummm

Pan Mee at Kopitiam

I Had Pan Mee/ Noodle at Mamak Old Town Kopitiam during lunch time on the Weekend. 
( Senang citer Mi Kicaplah, :-) )

The Importance of Walking

I received an email from Jo about the importance of Walking
Read through and see what do you think about it
:-)

Walking can add minutes to your life.

This enables you at 85 years old

to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing

home at $7000 per month. 

I like long walks,

especially when they are taken

by people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking

is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,

before my brain figures out what I'm doing..

   

I joined a health club last year,

spent about 400 bucks.

Haven't lost a pound.

Apparently you have to go there.

Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',

I wash my mouth out with chocolate.

The advantage of exercising every day

is so when you die, they'll say,

'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'

If you are going to try cross-country skiing,

start with a small country.

   

I know I got a lot of exercise

the last few years,......

just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older,

because there's a lot more information in our heads.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

   

AND MY FAVORITE....

“Every time I start thinking too much about how I look,

I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave,

“I look just fine.”

Deanna made Scones

I have been waiting for this scones from Deanna for such a long long time. I have asked Tony if he could bring scones during the get together event. Which they did (Tony and Deanna). Nice soft and moist scones and put on bit of jam, yummy. I have made scones few times but not as soft as Deanna scones. Even to day (after 2 days) the scones still soft and moist. I need to learn from Deanna. I told Tony and Deanna, I want to visit them again. 

Can't wait to learn from the expert. 

Always on my mind

I am Humbly honoured and privilege 

Each one of them has made huge contribution in my study, one as being on of my supervisor, one as being my research coordinator, one as helping out organising students to work with me while the rest participated in my study. Sadly though the program had come to an end. Kindly and helpful and voluntarily participated in this program. There are individuals, knowing them gave me a wide range of knowledge and experiences from their diverse background  and ethnicity. 

At least, here I felt I have been appreciated as a person and individual not like last Wednesday, finding fault and thinking of Uni world ranking. Not motivating at all and make us at guilt and depressing. Anyhow.....

I will really missed each one of them. Thank you guys for being a special part in my life and each one of you will always on my mind. 

The Get together picnic

Jay fetch me at Heidelberg train station at 8 am, then we went to Ruffey Lake Park straight away so we can book a better spot for our activity. Which we did. Early morning the weather was really nice even though later it became cloudy.  

I already approximate between 25 - 30 people coming for the picnic and they did turn up as predicted. I was pleased and happy with more than 50% of my patients came. Imagine if 15 people bring at least a plate of food, how much food we had yesterday. Most of them were healthy food though, including my food low calorie and low fat beef rendang  since I used skim milk, light cream and light coconut milk and also lean meat, :-) . Amazingly most of the food finished, :-). That how it should be anyway but the left over there were few 'Students' will make sure there is nothing left behind. :-) Including me.  

I am pleased everybody had a great time. We went for walking for about 45 minutes around the lake then we had nice chatting with each other, speech by me and by Prof. Hare and lastly the group photo. We will definitely looking forward to have the get together picnic again before I leave Melbourne for good during summer.

The Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster

Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster , the place we are having our get together picnic with all the patients who had participated in my study project. Nice place. Thanks to Greg who recommended the place and thanks to Jo too who brought me and showed me around to this park and other places before I decided we going to have it here at Ruffey Lake Park.

Huge area with a lot of walking track

Has a nice lake where you can enjoy the scenery while walking or jogging

Think before you say

When  you are at the top don't always look up.

At times, you need to look down

but not look down at the person.

Don't always think people should be like you

and

do like what you did

Most of the time it is not the same. 

Situation, problems and need.

Just because you are at the top

and

just because you are more experience

and more knowledgeable

doesn't mean you know everything

Just because you are at the upper end 

You don't have right to find others fault

unless it is really their fault

But still, 

do not jump into a conclusion

You are not helping instead you are irritating others

Careful  with what you said it might and will hurt others...

•  

Be humble

Open your mind

Listen!!!!!!!!!!!!

Understand

Then think! 

Make a decision to solve  not to find fault

Try to be in their shoes not your own shoes!!!!!!!!!

People are individuals

different need and different problem to encounter 

then they will appreciate with your effort

doesn't mean you solving their problems

but

at least you are giving a shoulder to cry on

a motivation

for them to continue

and ease their stressful moment

Then they will like you and remembered you

Not hating you and cursing you.

Careful with what you said

Because most of the times words can hurt as sharp as a knife.

(thanks for your concern guys, I am actually not sad but angry and I am still angry)

De motivated

Team of evaluation from UM in Melbourne since Monday

Met all staff to evaluate us.

Today was my turn

Initially I felt confident bout my plan of action

But after the interview

I felt so bad

So so DE motivated

As if all this time I am wasting time do nothing

**************

I was and I am still upset

Had Explained all the obstacles I faced as for them is nothing major.

As if purposely done not to get it done early

****************

Felt so so bad and so so upset

Only god knows what I have gone through.

Weekend Get together

Organising a get together picnic this Saturday with all my patients, students and the consultants. One man show again but this time round I will get everybody involve by bringing a plate. Joms one of the patients had volunteered help me to find a suitable place. Thanks Jo.

• 
  

Nice to see all of them again after awhile. Hoping at least half of my total patients will come to the get together picnic. Some of them had completed few months back so It will be a great opportunity to meet them and find out hows everybody been keeping them self active or otherwise. I have been sending mails and emails to everybody since last Friday. Until to date I had received good feed back from more than half of my patients. Everybody sounds excited and looking forward for the event, non from the student though and most of the bosses not coming except the cardiologist and the research coordinator. Frankly I am a little bit disappointed. Anyhow

Can't wait. I am looking forward to see everybody on Saturday. Hoping it will be a nice day.

Lemon Biscuits

I have made it on Saturday night the day after I went to Sam's house. His wife give me a plate of lemon biscuits that day for morning tea. Look interesting and taste very lemony. Love it. I asked for the recipe. Then I made it. Easy. Well knowing me I had changed the recipe a little bit. I don't use oil, because in the recipe there is a cup of oil instead I used low calorie low fat butter. It gave the same results with low calorie low fat lemon biscuits. Yumm :-)

Blooming Orchid in Spring

I always like orchid flowers.

On my last visit to Sam's house there were non.

Now in spring there are many and more to come.

His wife has a small area for Orchid plants.

Beautiful

Sam's House again

Pay a visit at Sam's house on Saturday as promised. I want to see how he is and how he manage with the exercise at home. He has reasonable good exercise equipment. As usual pick me up at the station. Taught him a little more in detail how to use the equipment and supervised him doing his routine exercise. His coping well, only sometime his wife said he gave so much excuses. :-)

Egg, Toast and Cheese

I don't feel in a good shape this morning. I catch cold since last Thursday after meeting my supervisor at Deakin University. It was chilly southerly wind that day. Anyhow I had a good rest last night even came back home early yesterday. It just not me, anyhow...

• 
  

I got up then I thought I would like to have egg and toast. Bull eyes half cook eggs. Frankly I never like it when I was a kid. My Mom always made it and I just through it away, my Mom was really angry at me. Lately I like to have it this way. It remind me of my childhood. Yes you might think I am feeling home sick, actually I am. It been too long now but I don't have any choice. I still have another few more bit to finish and not going back without my PhD Degree. Gosh it getting tougher each day.

• 
  

Well as for now I am having my egg, toast and cheese with black coffee to energize myself for today. I have a list of things to do including home visit to my patients house.

How much I weigh after a week of Eid AlFitr

Common things happen in our society, supposedly during Ramadan I lost weight. All the time during Ramadan I will loosing weight 4 -5 kg easily. Then after that once Eid started don't have to wait too long just a week, definitely will put on weight. Gosh. All those days what a waste for such an effort.

But, since last year, I managed to drop a lot even after Ramadan. Managed to control all the temptation and being active. Since last Ramadan till before this year Ramadan I lost 11 kg. I didn't loose it drastically though gradually, by walking and running and do bit of weight training but not into building muscle but more to muscle endurance. To have that lean and tone and defined body.

During Ramadan this year I managed to maintain, frankly don't want to loose to much coz I am already 64 kg but yet I drop 2 kg. Anyhow I succeeded to maintain my weight between 63 - 64 kg till to date. It will be a huge challenge though when I got back home next year. My pants is already size between 29-30 inch and my shirt is between 37-38. I eat as usual, still have ice cream, chocolate cake, pizza etc. All those food will taste nice if you have it in moderation but not if you ate it too much.

Train Card problem

Since I have been using this MyKi card when it first started, untill now i had faced many many problems even today. Many time the scan on and scan off system having so much problem.

Today in theI managed to get out from Melbourne railway station to go to the ATM machine then when I try to get in the card unable to trigger the gate to open. I couldn't get into the station to catch the train, i missed the train. Tried all the gate it didn't open still until one of the officer came and check the card. He was surprised because he said the card already scan on supposely the gate should open but it didn't. He finally let me in and remind me to scan off. This is not the first time though I have faced this problem so many time and even many time I can't get out from the station. Stupid card system.

Patience

conservatory Fitzroy garden, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Sometime I think I am not up to my supervisor standard

I am always under estimate myself

or may be I am so fussy or perfectionist, which I don't think I am

but That what my colleagues and supervisor told me

Don't be to cruel to yourself , You doing fine..

I am always admire with my supervisor he always patience with me

nice and motivated

Especially at this point where I am at the verge of breaking down.

Just 1.50

On my way back home, I stop by at Woolworth to get some groceries. Lucky maybe, once I got in the sales person give each costumer a plastic bag. There were stock of trolleys with Veg and other produce, you just need to fill in the bag which will cost you AUD 1.50. Fill in two bags and I got all I want for the week. Potatoes, onions, mangoes, varieties of apple, avocado, banana .....fill in as many as I could. Greedy yehh....:-) . Upon weighing, more than 4 kg for two bags with only 1.50 each bag. Enough for the week and safe cost.

Nice Spring day

After all those nice food and eating too much during the celebration week. (For me it was considered too much). Time to burn out those extra calories.

Walk and walk and jog and walk and bit of weight training. I prefer cardio rather than weight training.

Like today even last Sunday after Adel's open house.

And today even better it is a nice sunny day in spring

Nice to have a morning walk.

Adel's Open House

Had sudden invitation today just to get ready to Uni, yes Uni on Sunday. Anyhow...

I called Adel, why 'lah' so sudden other wise I could make and bring her my 'Kuih Siput'. I told her I will stop by on my way walking to Uni.

Not many people invited since it was so sudden but I have seen few familiar faces at the Open House. Nazim cook few dishes. I just had my lunch at the Mamak Old Town Kopitiam in the city so couldn't eat much.

Had taken few picture shots with my usual photo model :-), sorry yerr Adel.

Adam showed me his missing tooth. Funny.. :-)

Lil miss Amanda always like posing. B E A U tiful Amanla

:-) purposely write Amanla instead of Amanda

Another famous Lil Miss Amanla pose :-)

In the end I ate too too much. Full stomach. Gosh...I have to go for a walk which I am anyway walking to Uni..

Kuih Raya Kuih Siput

Nak buat tak terbuat buat juga. Baru buat hari ke dua raya tadi. Tak perr lah buat juga kan. Acuan nak buat memang tak ada tapi improvise lah. My Mom pernah pesan kalau buat kuih siput ni kalau tak ada acuan, gunakan jerr ujung garpu. Banyak lah pulak buat adonannya tadi, simpan separuh buat nanti nanti. Itu pun tadi dah banyak buat. Tercapai juga cita cita nak buat Kuih Siput.

(P/S for Jo, This is one of our traditional 'cookies' during Eid celebration. The technique of making this 'cookies' as similar as the Italian make gnocchi. The differences are, we used plain flour with a mixture of spices and then we frying it. )

First Day of Eid

Day one of Eid Al Fitr,Woke up early

Still thinking as If I am still fasting. Get ready to go for Eid Al-Fitr prayer

It Friday It is a working day no holiday

I went for the prayer at the City Mosque started at 7.00 am

Then visiting friend had 'beef rendang', ketupat and few more.

I didn't cook much, made myself rendang, 'serunding daging' and had glutinous rice cake'

Eve of Eid AL-Fitr

Today is the last day of Ramadan,

Just break my fast for the last time for this year.

'Alhamdulillah' able to complete the whole month of Ramadan without any difficulties and good health.

Looking forward for month of Shawal.

Wishing everybody Eid Al fitr,

(Minal aidil walfaizin, maaf zahir dan batin.

Semoga segala amalan di bulan Ramadan dirahmati Allah)

Confirm Melbourne Raya Jumaat

Para Majlis Imam Imam di Victoria telah menetapkan hari Eid Al Fitr untuk kawasan Victoria jatuh pada hari Jumaat 10 september 2010. Sekian Maklum. (Sumber Maklumat Islamic of Victoria)

Few More Days

Just few more days Ramadan will come to an end then Eid Al Fitr the celebration after a long fasting month will start. In Australia Eid Al Fitr is most possible going to be on Friday 10th September 2010. Not much of preparation though compare if I am in Malaysia. Think this year going to be my 5th Eid Al fitr in Melbourne. There is no public holiday though I might have an appointment with my supervisor or I might ask a favour from him to make it a miss this week. Will see how it goes.

Everything is just recycle. No new cloths, still have good one which I have bought a few, during sales last few years and last end of the year sales. No new Malay cloth for me too because I don't think I will use much here anyway (already have 2). Just for taking pictures maybe. :-) .

For me is just being simple and understanding the Essenes behind what Ramadan and Eid AL Fitr meant for rather than spending money too much just for those few days. I will missed giving 'token' to my family, freind, staff and kids for this Eid Al Fitr because it a financial crucial time for me here in Melbourne. After this I won't get any more monthly elauns from my scholarship only depend on my salary which is I doubt will be enough, anyhow will see how it goes.

I will cook good food though and invite few of my closest friends and bring food to my department. It will be more exciting talking with the staff and the head of the department when you have this kind of celebration in the department. It will be interesting coz I will be the center of the attention, :-). They will definitely enjoy and appreciate it especially the kind of food I always bring. :-)

Badak Berendam

Made a desert for breaking my fast today called Badak Berendam

Conservatory Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne

Blooming spring flowers in Conservatory Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne.

Colorful flowers in the conservatory including some insects. :-)

Mee Bandung Batu Pahat

Today from Nahar Kitchen Style cooking, I made a special delicacy from my home town famous noodle which called Mee Bandung Batu Pahat. I used my mom secret recipe and I kept the integrity of the recipe and didn't modified at all from my mom recipe.

If somebody ask me the recipe yes I will give them the recipe but the one secret ingredient I won't tell. :-) Because it is a secret.

At exactly 6.01 pm Melbourne time I break my fast with today's special menu Mee Bandung Batu Pahat.

Bonn a petite. :-)

Nahar's Kitchen style "Kacang Pool"

I have decided to make "Kacang Pool" (It is a middle east style of curry using foul me-dames/Fava Bean/Broad Beans) for my breaking fast menu today.

It easy to get broad beans here, either the dry broad beans or fresh broad beans. Last time I got fresh broad beans from one of my patient. Today I went to groceries shop and bought 2 packets of dried broad beans. I boiled it but not over cooked it. Then I peel the skin and blend it but not too fine.

I made the sauce; blended onion and garlic, the spices includes; ground coriander, ground cumin and curry powder mix, and also chili paste). Cook all the ingredients then lastly put it in the blended broad beans.

The meal just ready on time for my breaking fast at 6.01 pm Melbourne time. Put on top of the curry fried egg (bull eyes) and serve it with bread. In this case I bought bread rolls from bakers delight. Mmmmmmmm yumm. Bonn a petite

Vegetarian Curry Laksa

Usual spot at Old Kopitiam to break our fast yesterday

And you know what, the staff already recognised us and smile. May be we are now one of the regular customer even though only once a week. :-)

Had vegetarian laksa

and a glass of 'Air Mata Kuching'

I am confused

Dumpling chicken and prawn, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Not sure what to have today. Hmmmmm (thinking)
It has been along day and been so bored even though busy with all this data from my research, made me more confused. For the first time I feel so awkward. Usually I will have patients coming for training and testing but now no more. I think it will take a while for me to get use to it.

Anyhow, hmmmm what cooking today. Not sure yet, but definitely I will have my breaking fast in the city after work. Tomorrow I will definitely make something interesting. Just wait and see. :-)

Don't you want to stay here?

Spring is coming, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

All most all my patients had asked me the same question. Do you like Melbourne? Don't you want to stay here in Melbourne? I told them no. I am not, I am going back to my country. I have obligation, I have service contract and I want to serve to my people and my country. "But why, here is much better than your country, you will get better pay bla bla bla bla............". Smile and I am consistent and persistent with my stand.

Frankly speaking if I have the choice, I will definetely not going to stay and work here. The main issue is all I don't like the working environment here is not friendly and very teritorial. I don't feel comfortable at all. I only feel comfortable with my patients they were friendly and very comforting. They also knew the situation of this working environment especially in the hospital where I am doing my research project. Not all though. I like most of the staff with the department where I am at but the rest......... Sometime money doesn't mean anything if you don't like the place where you work.

Spring coming soon???

Today is actually supposed to be the first day of spring season. Flowers already started to bloom for the last 2 weeks. But the weather is still winter weather. Wet and chilly early morning till night time like today. They predict that the wintry weather will still continue for few more weeks.

Last Day Emotional Day

It not the time to say good bye yet, but it is time for the program to end. Last Monday, Nicholas one of my post grad student who help me out with the exercise program almost break into tears. So attached with everybody in this program. Just imagine some of them had been in the program for the last 2 years.

I am so pleased with what they had achieved. I cannot described how happy I am for them. From someone who had problem walking for such a distance even need to stop in between to catch a breath then they became much fitter and healthier and have to remember that other than having diabetes they also have heart disease or heart failure. Better blood pressure reading, better blood sugar results and so many more. Really really really am happy for them.

All of them will missed the gym where the program had been going on for 2 years and all of them said they will missed me, I felt so honoured and I will missed each one of them. Their characters , fun jokes and joy everything. I will cherish it all. Suddenly I feel so emotional, surely been trying to be macho in front of everybody not to cry. I almost though break into tears but as I said I will never cry. Gosh what a day. Anyhow I made a promise to everybody we will have a get together soon and I will give everybody a memento to remember. I wish everybody all the best and hope they will continue and maintain what they had achieved.