Flowers - Brighton Beach, Melbourne

Really amassed with the flowers. It a different type that grows near the beaches. Colourful and beautiful. Make the sea side more attractive. As you Mesmerising the beauty of the beach you will enjoy the loveliness of the flowers grows along the beaches.

Wonder’s of Brighton Bathing Boxes

Absolutely an interesting 'wonders' to see on the beach along Brighton Beach, especially at Nestled on Dendy Street Beach popular with it Brighton bathing boxes. A Bayside icon and cultural asset. Really interesting. Small built houses, with different colours and decoration. From far it looks so beautiful. It the only remaining place which has a so call bathing boxes. I am not sure if we could rent it but definitely it own by somebody and come here during weekend especially during this kind of weather like today. How nice...

Rainbow

It was drizzling on our way back while waiting for the bus. Was really amassed, I saw two rainbow side by side on the sky.

Shopping

Yus and her staffs came to our place yesterday at 2.30pm. Me, Yuhanis , Yus and the rest went out for shopping. Azimah was really looking forward for this. We went around Footscray area first later on we had kebab for 'Lunch' (late lunch).

We left for High Point immediately but in the end Yuhanis who shopping a lot than the rest. :)

Private Room

Last week I found a place which I could spend my time study or writing without somebody disturb me. I just realise it and never think of it before. There are private rooms/carrels with or without computer that you can use. The rooms are really nice. I tried 2 times last week. Great, really great. Now I have choices of place study. if I don't want to be disturbed and focus on my reading /writing I will come to this place. Other than that I will stay in my working station in the faculty.

This Journey

How tough to initiate
How intricate to embark on
Nevertheless,
It is the journey
I have chosen
To the future as if is hard to accomplish…
No easiest way
Nor
No easiest mission to attain
Something you must go from beginning to end
And value the moment when there is triumph

This Journey just begun
There is still along way to go
The best is yet to come

Preparation
Strength psychologically
Persistence
And self-esteem
It all I need
And from the Mercy of Allah
Accompanying the journey
Pending
That moment
Is yet to come
May this journey effortlessly cruise
To it fate

And this is the Journey……………
Will never end
Till the moment arrive.

The Greatest News of all

Well today Steve told me the other good news. First was my ethics result last Friday and today news regarding the financial back-up for my study. Steve had been keeping this good news since last week. He wanted me to enjoy my excitement for the ethics result and wait for the right moment to tell me the best news of them all.

Steve just promoted to Professor last week, and because of his promotion he received a grant amount of AUD 20 000 for research in which it goes for my research study. My other supervisor Assoc. Prof. David Hare (Cardiologist , Austin Health) had another grant worth AUD 25 000 for this study too. In total now the study will have financial back-up AUD 45 000 (three quarter from the total budget) which is more than enough to start the research. Now I can start the research this January without any worries. Alhamdulillah. Prays to Allah Al Mighty. I have never been so bless. We will still hoping to get another additional AUD 10 000 - AUD 20 000 by end of this year ensure for a full total amount of budget required for the study.

I am so motivated and excited, I can't really wait to start the research. I will always pray to Allah pray for the kindness and blessing and to allowing me complete the research study in time, and prays for strength mentally , emotionally and patience until my PhD study completed. Amin

Reunion

I remember the last time I met Yus (Dr. Yusnizar-in picture, one who wear spectacles) was 3 years ago when she came for a meeting at Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Medical Faculty, University Malaya. We were in the same department during our Specialist/Master Medicine training but she was in Rehabilitation Medicine Unit while I was (and still until now) with Sports Medicine Unit. Nice of her to come and visit us (me and Yuhanis). She with the rest of her staffs Azimah (Physiotherapist-picture,rising her right hand) and Kak Aziah (Staff Nurse) all from Seremban Hospital are attending training/workshop at Royal Melbourne Hospital since 20th October for a month. I met Azimah during the World Wheel Chair Games at Christchurch in year 2003 as we were the Medical Team for Malaysian Paralympic Contingent.

We really had a good time yesterday. We were talking and eating and talking and eating. LOL. I forced them to come again this weekend, but this time around they will cook for us. :) . We are planning to go out one of these day before they off back to Malaysia. Hopefully.

Flamington Racecourse from Footscray

Flemington Racecourse from Footscray Park.

Last year when I was first came to Melbourne, I am not really sure what is Melbourne Cup all about. Then I realise on the day itself. It is one of the biggest Horse Race in the World. It is a big event in Melbounre and had been established as a public holiday. The carnival already started since last Saturday. Today is the biggest party/event/race of them all.

So coincidence, the Flamington Racecourse is just near by my house. You can see it from the Footscray Park clearly. I went for cycling early this morning and saw many people started built their tent, having barbecue and picnic near the river in front of the Flamington Racecourse. How exciting. You can't blame them it is a holiday, and so fortunate today's weather is really great, warm and shiny day. Maximum temperature will be 21C.

Well here is a little bit of Melbourne Cup History.

Melbourne Cup Day is Australia's most famous Tuesday. The first Tuesday in November, Australians everywhere stop for one of the world's most famous horse races.

The Melbourne Cup has long been known as an urban fashion parade. The race track was one of the few places in colonial Australia where high society and the lower classes came together socially. The first Australian race meet, held in 1810, established the culture of the Melbourne Cup and was organised in Sydney by Governor Macquarie as part of a plan to improve the cultural life of Sydney.
The racecourse was designed as a neutral meeting place for colonists of all classes - military officers, convicts and free settlers. The Subscriber's Ball, organised with the 1810 race meeting, was attended by 'all the Beauty & Fashion of the Colony' (Sydney Gazette, October 1810).at Flemington, from the 1880s onwards, the crowds transformed the race meetings into a fashion spectacular.

The rest of the information you can get it through the Internet.

LISTEN............................

Listen to the sounds..........

Early morning , Sunday morning

at PierView Cottage,

Raining though with strong wind.

Listen to the sounds....

Felt so peaceful

Even though the weather not so friendly...

But,

Listen to the sounds....

Feel happiness....

Wish it will last for ever.....

Motivational Message

Received an email from Del ('My so called Motivator') this morning. I sent to her an email last Friday after the good news. She was among the first person whom I told about my ethics results. I was looking forward for her reply. It did. This was what she said;

Hi Nahar from London,

That is indeed wonderful news. Congratulations. I am so pleased for you. And I am not surprised how emotional you feel and felt. The Ph.D is such an emotional roller coaster and for many of us a real person test in our belief in ourselves and our work (and ultimate worth). Of course, our worth has nothing to do with the Ph.D but sometimes it feels like it does. It is good to show your human ness to your supervisor I think. I am sure he was supportive and encouraging.

This is very good news. getting ethics through hospitals here is no easy feat.Great to hear. Have a great day - and weekend. I am sure you will now :-)

London is wonderful and surprisingly warm for this time of year...about 19 degrees today. Good weather to wander about. I#ve had three workshops in a row and now have the weekend off...Yee ha

Stay in touch and let me know how things progress,

Kind regards,

Del

The Trip to Great Ocean Road

We started our trip at 10.30 am from Adel's house. Me, Adel's, her husband, the two kids and her friend's 'Mocca'. We have decided to take the Princes Freeway and Princes Highway to reach Port Campbell. It was really a long journey. W stopped had our lunch at a town called 'COLAC'. We had pizza for our lunch. The pizza was great and cheap. Mmmm, :)
Then we continue our journey and it took us another hour an a half to reach our destination Port Campbell.

Port Campbell, Great Ocean Road

We reached Port Campbell, Great Ocean Road at 4.00 pm. Nice small town with a lot of motels, home stay, restaurants and shops. Our place PierView Cottage just in front of the Pier itself. Really - really nice place with a nice view, The Pier View. We unload our things a away we go to the 12 Apostles. Yee haa.

Loch and Gorge, Port Campbell National Park, Great Ocean Road

First stop, we went to Loch and Gorge one of many Amazing things at Port Campbell National Park other than 12 Apostles etc. Spent sometimes at Loch and Gorge. Nice and amazed with the nature at this place. It is a nice tourist attraction.

Welcome to 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road

It was drizzling and so windy when we reached the 12 Apostles. But still we were really fascinated by God Creation. Never imagine i will be coming to witness this place. 12 Apostles, it a beauty and nice scenery too. Too bad the weather was not so great that day.

PierView Cottage, Port Campbell, Great Ocean Road

Glad we have chose stay at Pierview Cottage, Port Campbell. It was a nice house to stay. Even though at first when we browsed the Internet trying to search for a place to stay for a night at Great Ocean Road, we don't have any idea where to stay. So fortunate, Pier View still not vacant and we made our booking straight away. We still don't have any idea about the house. We reached the house at 4.00 pm Saturday afternoon. Was really amassed with the house. Nice view just in front of the pier. When we got inside the house, wow it was really nice, so fully furnished, heater, TV, oven, 3 bed rooms. Perfecto, everything was there. The price was really reasonable AUD 160 for a stay. With four adults and 2 kids it was a nice place to stay. I will recommend this house to who ever come to Port Campbell.

Port Campbell itself is a nice small town. So many motels and places to stay in this town. And the important thing is, Port Campbell just less than 10 minutes drive to the great 12 Apostles.

Disaster

The weather was really bad since yesterday. Even it keep on raining until this morning. Was really windy through out the night. It shows, we saw most of the tree fell down and block half of the road. Most of the motorist had to drive slowly.

Castle Cove, Great Ocean Road

View from the edge of the clift of Castle Cove

View from top of the hill at Castle Cove. Some area of the lower ground along the great ocean road was flooded.

On our journey to reach Apollo Beach, the weather was really worsening. It was still raining all the way. We already started facing obstacles and some part of the road block by Tree fall but we still decided to continue the rest of the journey go through all the way back to Melbourne using Great Ocean Road route.

We stopped at Castle Cove for a while since it is one of the attraction area along the Great Ocean Road track. As we stop at Castle Cove, I have noticed some part of the Dairy Farm area was flooded and never thought that the road was flooded too. Then to our frustration it was flooded. Most of the car can't crossed the the other side of Great Ocean Road. We have decided to abandon our plan, since first the weather was really bad and will not enjoy the scenery, second because of the flood. We turn back take other route to reach the highway and get back to Melbourne. It was disappointed though but we have no choice. It alright we will come again next time.

Geelong Pier View

We stopped at Geelong on our way back to Melbourne. After a hard time driving back from the great ocean road we finally stop at Geelong Pier area. Most of us wanted to take some pictures here (especially Adel was extremely excited, haha sorry Adel). Then we went to have our lunch at the Smogy's. It serve buffet halal food. Was OK, and only cost us AUD 14.50 per person. So eat all you can, and I did. :)

Finally, we reached Adel's house just before 7 pm. Was really exhausted though, but we did enjoyed our time even though the weather was not great at all and even we unable to go other places along the great ocean because of some of the route was flooded. Anyhow, might go there again some other time.

A Trip to Twelve Apostles

It a great start to my New Chapter. As a treat (just coincidence, already planned this trip earlier), I am going to Twelve Apostles and the rest of Great Ocean Road today with my friends. We are going to stay for a night at one of the cottage home stay in Port Campbell. Will try to have a great time today.

Tears of Joy - The New Chapter

I had an appointment with Steve this morning as usual at 10.00 am. Once I met him in his office, he showed me a letter. I read the letter, suddenly I became so emotional. I can't help it. I have never been so emotional like this in my life. And I had never expressed my emotion to anybody. Tears start dropping slowly (sobbing) but with full of joy and relief. I feel embarrassed though, being so emotional in front of Steve. Steve was so understanding and comforting me. 'Well done Nahar, you did a great job. You should be happy now.' Yes I am, really really am happy and relief.

Finally, after 5 months of waiting at last my ethics application from Austin Hospital had been approved. All those hard work, 2 months completing the ethics proposal with great difficulties not only to Austin Hospital but to another 2 more ethics committee with additional of 3 months submitting - resubmitting to Austin Hospital (since other 2 ethics committee had approved the application earlier, and Austin Hospital is the toughest among the rest. They really scrutinised the application words by words). Did all the corrections, amendments and additional requirements by the ethics committee. Sleepless nights. 2 hours travelling went and back from the hospital. Sometimes almost everyday ( since the hospital located 1 hour by train from VU footscray campus). It was really drained me out emotionally and mentally.

This is not something new to me actually. Submitting ethics for research is something not unusual for me at University Malaya Medical Center, but now I am out of my comfort zone and comfort area. Far away from my home country and do everything on my own. Meeting people you don't even know and nobody knows you. Sometime you will get frustrated and depressed. But, today is the day that gave me a new chapter in my life. Prays to Allah AlMighty. Alhamdulillah. I have never felt so relief and full of joy. But still the worst is yet to come. Anyway, I will cherish this moment. This will give me a starting point, moral support and confident to get through and completing my journey.

This journey will still continue and will end with great success. Amin.

Home Inspection

Yuhanis told me last night the real estate agent want to do house inspection today. Realise that we have been renting the house for a year, so now is the time for them to do the inspection. Our land lord had allowed us to stay in until we finish our study. Since the house is under the Real Estate management all the house necessity are being take care by them. Not sure what is the reason, there is possibility they wanted to increase the house rental. Mmmmm......... Well not surprising though, my friend staying at other place same real estate agent told their house rental had been increased and the most important thing is the price of Australia Mortgage had increased. Since few months back price of houses, either you want to buy or rent increase incredibly. Pity for some of the Australians. Some of them can't rent a house or don't even have house to stay.

Since morning after i came back from campus at 8.00 am, start cleaning a bit here and there. Not much actually just to make sure everything is OK and in place. We are ready, just wait until they come at 5.30 pm.