Farewell 'Braai' to Alwyn, Donna and Amelia

BBC weather forecast predicted the weather for the weekend on 18/07 and 19/07 is going to be rain, windy and miserable in most of the areas, possible floods for some high risk areas due to the low pressure from the North sweep across the U.K. It just mean cancel your outdoor B.B.Q for this weekend. Not very good for us as we already planned to throw a SA 'Braai' (mean B.B.Q) for Brits' family on 19/08/07 to say goodbye for Alwyn, Donna and Amelia.

On that morning it was raining softly, the sky was grey and threatening to rain for whole day. We kept peer out the window to check the weather, at the end we convinced that we were not going to have the 'Braai' and will have the meats all cook in my NU-Wave cooker and eat indoor. About 2pm, the rain stopped and the chance for the 'Braai' was 50/50. Tell you what... we did our 'Braai' in our back garden, a bit of windy and some soft rain at the end, but we all enjoyed the 'Braai'. Sometime I was confused where I was, either in U.K, SA or Fillipine, as I was always surrounded by South Africans or Fillipinos rather than with my own nations. Riana, Magda, Riana's mum and dad, Alwyn, Donna, Amelia, Ena, Jacques and Ena's mum and dad were all South Afrians and me, the only Malaysian Chinese for this special occassion.

SA 'Braai' is kind of different from others, "meaty, meaty" B.B.Q as you can viewed in the photo, using the low heat of the burning charcoals rather than fire or flame to cook or burn ??? the meats. As usual Mielie (baked sweetcorn with eggs and cheese) and special baked potatos in cheese are the special SA dishes were cooked by Riana. Thank !...... Ena to bake the nice cake for the dessert. Well, I also contributed my cooking skills, I prepared sparing rolls, seafood rice noodles and gingers yellow chicken rice. The 'Braai' in this house is just a bit like 'West meet East'.

Chat chat chat ....for all the females under the gazebo (we put up this gazebo months ago) and the opposite sex, the males all at the other end of the decking chat chat chat...about drinks, they tasted different type of alcohols, including Chinese D.O.M. I told them that is lady's alcohol drink, they said like medicine, Ha ! Ha !.........I forget to mention that D.O.M is widely used for the lady during their confinment month (first month after giving birth).

We all enjoyed this gathering and the 'Braai'. Sad to say farewell to Alwyn, Donna and Amelia, I do not think I will meet them again, but I will get up date of their news from Riana or Magda when they go back home to SA for holidays. Bye and all the best to all three of you.

My friend, Mags

I haven't seen Mags for ages, so we arranged for a lunch out on 16/08/07. Usually we will see each other every now and then, either in her house, my place or in Edgware where a place half way between us. Mags was my former colleague, and we know each other for nearly 10 years, started from her single life to become a mum to Niamh and recently got married to her partner, John. She looked so lovely in her wedding dress. That was my first time attended the Irish wedding (both parents are Irish, all her and his relatives came from Ireland for this special occassion therefore that was real Irish wedding I presumed). Started from the Catholic wedding service at 2pm, the dinner at 4pm ,and afterward party and dance till 11pm (That was the time I left the party). I was really enjoyed it. Thank ! Mags for invited me for your wedding.

We still keep in touch after I left the hospital in the North London, and moved to Central London hospital (My reason to leave this hospital was I need more challenges in my work..... ) Think back I had great fun to work with her, we made jokes or giggles always, either we worked side by side or when she was in-charged in the unit . Mags is doing very well in this field, she was a staff nurse first, promoted to sister couple of years later on and now she is senior sister in that unit. Well done mate !!!

Very fortunate two of us were arranged to go to Birmingham Children hopsital together to gain some experiences (??????) in children ICU for two weeks which dated back in year 2000 ( I think the year is correct!!! Sorry I am quite forgetful now) . Mags decided to drive to Birmingham. It worked well for me because I did not mind to be a passeger. But I forgot to tell her that I was a very bad luck passeger for the owner of the car, everytime I sat in people's car, 3 out of 10 need to call AA for services or something will happen to their cars (either car key locked in the car, the car suddenly stop working, bump to other car and more ........I felt shame to list them out, if you are one of them you will know what I mean, sorry......... I felt really bad when they said their cars never have such problems before...) This time was even worst because Mags' car exhaust pipe fell and drag on the motorway half way to Birmingham. AA services was called and he removed the exhaust pipe, told us that we still can used the car but need to fit new pipe later. The car made a lot of noise, sound like sport car, without the exhaust pipe. Ha........! Sport car.............!!!! It was cost £100 to fit the pipe. What a good old time !!!! Ya ....

We met up in Edgware this time. Chat chat chat ...have a cup of coffee and meal at Nando. Niamh is going to be 2 years old in few months time and she is such a lovely girl. Niamh has a ginger colour red hair and ocean blue big eyes, she is so lovely and cute. We will continue to keep in touch.

Amelia and London Brits

Brits' family is our South Afrian neighbour and they are planning to move back to their homeland for good. 'Home Sweet Home', unfortunately I still don't know when I will plan to move back to K.L for good, you know......actually I enjoy the freedom here, less pressure from family, society and .........therefore I still can not answer you when I am going home ???????????

Good neighbour is not easy to find, it is by chance and luck, to know Brits' family, Alwyn, Donna and little baby Amelia (Milo had moved back to SA) such a joy and fun, lot of SA B.B.Q. Think back our downstair fomer neighbour, it was horrible experiences, **&%??(*&^ foul mouth words and shouting always in their household, poor us had to put up with this for nearly two years, we had called police twice for their violent arguments, the reason to involve the law force was because they have two small children with them. At the end, the partner ended up in prison and the single mum moved out. Now we have quite a nice neighour, thank God.

Back to the title 'Amelia and London Brits', Amelia is only five months old, she is such a sweet baby, we all adore her and like to babysit her. It is such a fun and joy to babysit Amelia, especially now she is starting baby talks, some cute and funny words and always smile when someone talk to her. I feel a bit sad that she is leaving us, therefore we decide to buy something special for her, a gift from three of us, Auntie Riana, Magda and Estee.

After a long discussion we all agreed to buy her a special teddy bear. This is not a normal teddy bear which just buy it from any shop or shell. In fact this bear has a heart, birth certificate and special wishes from three of us to little Amelia. Before the bear was born, we have to give her a name, think, think.....Aha ! named her 'London' and surname 'Brits'. Ha ! 'London Brits' sound likes 'London Bridge' Great!! it is a good name because it reminds them their time in London.

Firstly, we made a journey to Regent street, Henley Toy shop, bear factory department to choose the bear. Secondly, the outfit was chosen and then the factory staff fed the bear with cotton ball in the special machine. Not the last but the most important and vital process was to make the payment, it costs £32, to the cashier. Once the payment went through, the bear was born and it is belong to Amelia. Final step was to register 'London' in the computer, so she could get her legal birth certificate, Ya...........mission completed.

Bowling

6:45 in the morning while I was going from bed to bed to obtain all the nursing update for the morning shift handover, usually chat, chat, chat with my colleagues at the same time. I suggested to some Fillipinos' colleagues that to go out for meal or somthing after the night shifts, Wilda suggested to play badminton in the park (Good idea ! but not really good to play badminton in the park, windy man........ !!!) At the end, all agreed to go to Trocadero for 10-pins bowling, Ya.............I like to play bowling.

You know as usual......this say she will come, that say he will come also, but on that day (07/08/07) only Wilda, Maileen, James and I, 4 people turned up. Good at least 4 of us !!!!!!!!!!! James is Maileen's boy friend who work in other ward, thank for coming James to join us, you would not regret it, I promised !

Trocadero in Piccadilly circus is the place where we like to go for bowling. I was surprised to know that Maileen and James never play bowling before. Well......hope they will enjoy and grow on it. For the safe side, we only booked for one game each. From the photos you can see how Maileen and James were enjoy playing bowling. OH.........James really grew on it, and he suggested to play the second game, good sport man! So we played two games each. Tell you what, may be ageing or I need some bone supplement or need more exercise, I started feel some pain on my left knee, hip, buttock, right elbow and wrist, it was horrible to have such feeling of pain after one game. NO..no..no..not ageing, must be too tired after 4 night duties.

Wilda was also enjoyed watching us. Cheering, laughing, lot of ...lot of ...body and facial expression from us....Maileen and James played really well. Shame on me, my score was not that good consider I play it before and taught them how to play, anyway it was just for fun not competition as what I thought (I feel much better now, ha.........) !

James even suggested we should play bowling more often, may be ITU vis Manvers ward, good ideas I will work on it. Wait till next time then.

Good bye !! Milo

Milo is going to South Africa for good. Oh ..........I, Magda and Riana are going to miss you. Due to on night duty, I do not think I will pop to Donna's house to say good bye to Milo, so take care and farewell..........Enjoy your flight to SA, Milo.

When I first heard about her name "Milo", felt some sort of familiarity because milo is a brand name of a popular chocolate drink in Malaysia. Everyone drink milo, either Chinese, Malay, Indian, young, old, very old, straight or gay......all like to drink milo 'O', milo ice or milo panas (hot). I used to drink milo with condensed milk when I still at home, but not now, funny eoungh ........I don't really miss it.

When Donna and Alwyn (South Africans) moved to Herefordshire two years ago, Milo is also staying with them ,and their flat just two door down from where we live. Through them, I start to get to know Milo. She is still young on her age, very small build, cute and pretty. Although she is quiet and shy, Milo is quite energetic and run fast, shame.... she is not in any sport team because she is not allow to.....................

Donna and Milo like to walk in the park together. Few occassions I met them in the park, I always have a few greeting words with Donna, Milo was not really say a lot most of the time, but she likes to use different way to express her friendliness to me. Sometimes, I also saw she and Alwyn walked very closely into the park as well, especially at night or early morning from my window, Oh!!!!!!!!!......................What are they doing there........?????????????

Funny enough I do not know what is Milo's Nationality, but luckily she can understand Afrikan and English. Now she is moving to SA, so she would not have any problem to settle in SA. She will stay with Donna's family for few weeks and then move out.

Lucky you, Milo ! Enjoy the sunshine and miles and miles of space. Bye and take care !!!!!!!!!!! Milo.

I will miss you, Milo...............