Happy New Year? Alhamdulillah, Happy New Year indeed.

Assalamu 'Alaikum

In the office last Friday, the 6th day of 2012, I still wished people happy new year and they reciprocated my wishes with excitement. Taking the cue from that, I still think it is not too late to wish the same to you, so  Happy New Year to you all.

Yes, 2012 is just another year to some, but it means a lot to others who wanted to start with a clean sheet and all that, new resolutions, targets, goals, you name it. I wish you Allah's blessings and may you achieve your new goals for 2012.

We had a great closing of 2011. On the New Year's eve we hosted my mother in law's 66th birthday. My bro & sis in laws from Bandar stayed over and our kids enjoyed having their cousins around. We moved the fusbol table to the main entrance and let the kids (and a few adults :P) enjoy.

Our new year however did not start well.  On the first public holiday of 2012, I was called in to the office to help the communication team with their press conference following a minor oilspill.  After four hours away, I made up to the family by taking them out to the beach to see and also show them what had happened and then grabbed dinner.  Alhamdulillah the beach was already cleared by the time we went there, but the kids simply enjoyed being at the beach including taking pics with one of the oil spill response transport.

The above photos were taken from The Borneo Bulletin. 

The bottom picture showed the volunteers from Brunei Shell's 

business partners helping out with the cleanup

Iman, Aaeeshah (hidden) and Muhammad with one of the

 Oil Spill Response equipment, sort of special version ATV 

to help with pulling the oil booms and other equipment

Our company men, doing their regular inspection to ensure

 no more spill made shore after the cleanup. 

The next day, school reopened and Alhamdulillah kids were alright, returning to their normal routine without much fanfare.  Muhammad is now in Year 6 preparing for his PSR (Primary Certificate of Education). Iman got promoted to Year 3 and Aaesshah is no longer in kindy, now in Year 1.

I was however concerned that the school now requires every student to use the school's exercise book (with the school logo).  Nonetheless, I bought the exercise books from the school for my three children for nearly $55, although I felt I could save $15 or even $20 if I were to buy them from the shops.   It's not much, yes but for those families who earn just enough to get by, it would be a burden.  After all, an exercise book is the an exercise book, right?  The logo doesn't make a difference at all, so why bother? I pick my battles, so I relented in this case.

On a different light and a cheery one at that, we welcomed the arrival of my new nephew Awangku Ariff Rayyan bin Pengiran Azirul Ridzuan, a baby boy to my younger brother and his wife born at 5.28am on Sunday morning, 8th January.  Alhamdulillah Rayyan looked healthy, and weighed 3.7kg.  We were up early on a Sunday for the hour long drive to see Rayyan, who was sound asleep all the while we were there and was not at all bothered with the attention. He even posed for us!

Baby Rayyan, sound asleep and thinking :-)

Abang Muhammad, Kaka Aaeeshah, Ngangah Girl and Kaka Iman.

 Ngangah Haji behind the camera :-)

Till next time, Happy New Year to all. Be safe always.

Wassalam

Mr G

ps - on the way home from seeing Rayyan, we saw two cars involved in an accident. I believed it was caused by a car making a U-turn (legal) but not anticipating the speed of the oncoming car, he got hit at the back and swerved.   The driver felt pain on his back so we told him to sit tight and wait for emergency services once we've confirmed there was no bleeding.  The other driver was ok, his car badly damaged at the front and he was thankful that he wore his safety belt.  2 points to note here: Situational awareness and using the safety equipment.  If you are on top of that, InsyaAllah things should be alright.