Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Nojoud Muhammed Nasser

is a pretty and adorable 8-year old yemenese girl.
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Her life and future could have been very bright like any other 8-year olds but this unfortunate thing happened to her - Not under her own wish.
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She was asked by HER FATHER to marry a man 22 years her senior but instead of marrying him, she was raped by him. [Sick, whoever you are, you're hopeless!!]
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My heart sank and is full of regret of what happened to her after reading from the media:
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SANA'A, April 9 - An eight-year-old girl decided last week to go the Sana'a West Court to prosecute her father, who forced her to marry a 30-year-old man. Nojoud Muhammed Nasser arrived at court by herself on Wednesday, April 2, looking for a judge to handle her case against her father, Muhammed Nasser, who forced her two months ago to marry Faez Ali Thamer, a man 22 years her senior.
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The child also asked for a divorce, accusing her husband of sexual and domestic abuse. According to Yemeni law, Nojoud cannot prosecute, as she is underage. However, court judge Muhammed Al-Qathi heard her complaint and subsequently ordered the arrests of both her father and husband. 'My father beat me and told me that I must marry this man, and if I did not, I would be raped and no law and no sheikh in this country would help me. I refused but I couldn't stop the marriage,' Nojoud Nasser told the Yemen Times. 'I asked and begged my mother, father, and aunt to help me to get divorced. They answered, 'We can do nothing. If you want you can go to court by yourself.' So this is what I have done,' she said.
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Nasser said that she was exposed to sexual abuse and domestic violence by her husband. 'He used to do bad things to me, and I had no idea as to what a marriage is. I would run from one room to another in order to escape, but in the end he would catch me and beat me and then continued to do what he wanted. I cried so much but no one listened to me. One day I ran away from him and came to the court and talked to them. ''Whenever I wanted to play in the yard he beat me and asked me to go to the bedroom with him. This lasted for two months,' added Nasser. 'He was too tough with me, and whenever I asked him for mercy, he beat me and slapped me and then used me. I just want to have a respectful life and divorce him.
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'Nasser's uncle, who does not want to reveal his name, is following the case now as her guardian. According to her uncle, after Muhammed Nasser, the girl's father, lost his job as a garbage truck driver in Hajjah, he became a beggar, and soon after suffered from mental problems.
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Thamer is in jail now. 'Yes I was intimate with her, but I have done nothing wrong, as she is my wife and I have the right and no one can stop me,' he said. 'But if the judge or other people insist that I divorce her, I will do it, it's ok. 'So far, no accusations have been made against her father, who was later released due to health problems, or Nasser's husband, who will remain in jail for further investigation.
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'So far there is no case and no charges, as Nojoud arrived by herself to court asking just for a divorce,' said Shatha Ali Nasser, a lawyer in the Supreme Court who is following Nojoud Nasser's story. Shatha Ali Nasser confirmed that item number 15 in Yemeni civil law reads that 'no girl or boy can get married before the age of 15. 'However, this item was amended in 1998 so parents could make a contract of marriage between their children even if they are under the age of 15. But the husband cannot be intimate with her until she is ready or mature,' said Nasser. 'This law is highly dangerous because it brings an end to a young girl's happiness and future fruitful life.
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Nojoud did not get married, but she was raped by a 30-year old man.' Nasser confirmed that Nojoud Nasser's case is not the first of its kind in Yemen, but it is the first time that a girl went to court by herself to ask for a divorce.
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'We are not planning to return Nojoud to her family. Who knows? Maybe after a few years the same thing will happen to her again,' said Shatha Ali Nasser. 'We are planning to put her in Dar Al-Rahama [an non-governmental organization that works with children], where she can have a better life and education. We do not want her family to pay her expenses, as they are poor.'
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Which Breadmaker ?

I am so enticed recently with this thought to buy myself a breadmaker.
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All thanks to the "yummilicious" pictures posted by mamabliss. Pauline really works her breadmaker (Breville) so well that the produce bakes wonderfully and looked so yummy. I can almost smell the scent of bread from where I'm seated and simply salivate by looking at the pictures.
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Nooooooo........I can't resist anymore but I'm going to get a machine for my household too! Yum Yum...........
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Oh, but then there's this dilema I faced, which label manufactures a trusty breadmaker?
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A quick search in the www returns with a number of bread machines manufacturers in market like Breville, Cuisinart, Kenwood Limited, Morphy Richards, Panasonic, Sunbeam Products and our Japanese favourite Zojirushi.
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At Tangs recently, I chanced upon Morphy Richards but did not manage to see any other due to time constraints. I would still like to review the other available brands sold in Singapore before coming to a decision hopefully soon!
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I'm however in my mind, attracted to a few shortlisted brands like Breville (should be a trusty one since Pauline's bakes are so successful), Morphy Richards and Kenwood Limited. Although my favourite in their other consumer products, Zojirushi's machine is a tad way my budget.
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Fresh apples and Blueberries

There's another office mass order going around in early May.
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Without hesitation, the ANG Mistress joined in of course. Imagine the New Zealand Apples and gourmet Californian Blueberries tagged with a cheaper price-tag.
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Where to find?? Hee....Hee...

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Dr. Henry James Jones, Jr.

Our family dated Dr Indiana Jones yesterday.
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Haha, it was actually Mummy; who had to report to work (in the early morning) at the Vivocity GV Max (a huge theatre though!!!) due to her company's movie event. Hence the House of ANG get to "movie-date" Dr Indy Jones at 10am.
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It was Kiet's first time in the local cinemas and he was very behaved throughout the screening. Most of the time, he was nicely seated in-between the parents, occasionally leaning towards the ANG Mistress, munching the popcorns.
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It was a lovely Saturday morning we had at the theatre, followed shortly by a quick grocery-shopping (food for dinner-time) before heading home for Kiet's post lunch-nap.
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In fact after this experience, we're looking forward to hit the move-theatre again, this time with Kiet tagging along - perhaps we'll need to select child-friendly movies this time. Hmmmm.......the upcoming movie called KONGFU PANDA?
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Friday, May 23, 2008

Good & Rich Cake Roll

I was recommended this durian swiss roll by chance since the colleagues gave it a thumbs up and they're doing an office buying poll.
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Out of curiosity and the love for food (opppsssss, watch that waist!), I ordered a box of durian swiss roll to give it a try.
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When the goods arrived, my first impression after looking at the packaging of the box is; very plain and simple, will the swiss roll really taste nice? Well, after tasting a piece, I'm convinced about this saying that "one should not judge by it's cover". The sponge cake is soft and it'll melt in your mouth while the spread (durian) is just nice - not too thin nor too thick. The durian tasted rich and pungent but it's exactly the way you'll expect from durians isn't it.
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I understand that the bakery is located at 24 Kandahar Street. Their Telephone number is: 6294-3324.
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Each footlong swiss roll costs $6.50/box (for the durian). The forever curious me have also found some other reviews in the web of this cake shop; in case there are other interested food-lovers like me looking for testaments:
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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Watching the Washing Machine


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is one of Kiet's favourite 5 mins past-time these days.
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He'll sit, squat or stand in front of our washing machine and stare at the small front-load 'window', while the machine does it's 'splish, splash, splish, splash', churning those bubbly bubbles as it launders.
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As the boy watches on, his Mummy's favourite past-time; she watches her boy. Hee Hee......**shyless**
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Happy Birthday Master ANG

and not forgetting that you'll be blessed with many happy returns!
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We hope you'll:
.....get whatever you wish to have/own;
.....be blessed with family love and warmth;
.....be happy and live a fulfilled life;
.....have many more wishes to wish for..........heh heh heh
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Joyeux anniversaire !
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Monday, May 19, 2008

HAPPY VESAK 2008!

to all fellow buddhist brothers and sisters out there.
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May the qualities of The Triple Gem give refuge and bless all mankind.
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Our family pray that all the unfortunate victims of Myanmar Cyclone and Sichuan Earthquarke rest in peace and attain spiritual liberalisation.
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To the fortunate survivors & the surviving families, we pray that you'll stay strong for the sake and in support of your loved ones. Although we know that no amount of words can comfort or make up for the loss of their loved ones, we pray sincerely that there will be happiness and bliss to all mankind.
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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sunday

Yet another typical Sunday for us both, Mummy & son.
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We did the usual. Ate our breakfast, watched half an hour of "Doraemon" on Channel 8 at 9.30am, then embarked on an activity - Colour Painting.
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Ms Christine, Kiet's ex-Head Teacher used to tell me this: One of the ways to instill creativity in the child is to let him play with colours. Painting is one good activity for free-expression. The number ONE rule to note is try NOT to restrict the child in whatever he likes to do with his brush and colours, just let him doodle whatever he wishes and guide him along as he gets better.
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With that advice in mind, I asked Kiet to doodle with colours for a start. As he gradually warmed up, I tried to do painting together with him. Hence, I suggest that I share his piece of paper. He'll doodle on one side while I do mine on the other. Yes, he's receptive and happy with my suggestion....hahaha....
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(Master-piece by Mum & Son)
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Later, I progressed to suggest that we draw shapes and colour on them. Yeah, Kiet is happy. He even named those shapes to me while I draw it with a marker. After that, both of us worked our paint on the shapes and of course I tried to encourage the son to paint most of the shapes! HEH HEH.....
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(can anyone tell who painted the shapes?)
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This "Kia-Su" mummy definitely didn't leave out the chance to revise his phonics. I took out a picture of the banana and asked him to ask lustre to it too!
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About 30 mins later, he's showing signs of getting 'bored' with painting. He's reluctant to doodle or draw anything when I suggested it to him. Alright, that means time to stop then. At the end before packing up, I showed him how to 'write' his name.
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After I'm done, I requested him to hold it to pose for a picture. He's delighted and yes, he posed with a big wide smile.
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(See my two row of teeth)
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During clean up, I asked if he was happy to paint today. Gosh, he gave a loud YES!

Friday, May 09, 2008

We're Off

to.....Krung Thep Mahanakorn Amonrattanakosin Mahintara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phonoppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasatan Amorn Pimanawatan Satit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit. Ahhh, in short to the Land of Smiles - Bangkok.


We're packin' our bags and getting ready to depart home in another 4 hours!!! This time, we'll not bring our little boy as we know the challenges we'll face in view of its climate and weather. We'll survive.....till then, check us out later.
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Thursday, May 08, 2008

Mama's Day Gift from a 3 year old

I'm utterly touched by my boy's hand-made mother's day gift when I receive it this evening at the in-law's.
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In a transparent holder lies 2 pieces of little bread finished with a heart-shaped card that reads "Happy Mother's Day!"; the bread is spread with butter and some colourful sugar rice, all lovingly made by Kiet under his teacher's guidance.
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I am so happy & delighted to hold this little handmade from my child for the Mother's day! Oh well, it's kind of hard to describe the feeling but just more than delighted is all I could say.
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Thank you Kiet, Mummy is so proud of your thoughful gift & I love you much much!!!
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Sunday, May 04, 2008

Graffiti Saturday

Another much looked forward day of every week has arrived!
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With Master ANG at work this morning, both mummy and son decided to start their day late! Not long after waking, Mummy brought Kiet out to collect some shower cream orders (staff purchases at value prices!!) from Mummy's colleague at Toa Payoh - Aunty Jen.
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Due to the unbearable humid weather, Mummy decided to abandon the idea of shopping but head straight home after the collection.
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Mummy started preparing for lunch after arriving home while the cheeky boy embarked on his artistic session on the whiteboard with radio music playing in the background.
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He was found shaking his buttocks while scribbing on the whiteboard! The very amused mum hence quickly grabbed the cam and took a couple of photos.
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Nobody could guess what he's drawing - Kiet says it's a snake. Mummy says its "Graffiti" - Expressive art form artist in the making.
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