Marines Band Reunion

I attended Marines Band Reunion at the HMS Nelson Gym Last night. It was after my breaking of fast dinner, looking quite smart with my blazer and tie. Crossed over the road I had no clue weather I was late or early and apparently it was quite misty tonight and dark. When I reached there, it was quiet and thank god it was still early. After sometimes, the Band flocked in together and I was chatting with them before they went in for the parade.

It was reunion for the Marines Band and most of the ex Marines Band who attended the function were the seniors who joined as early as in 1940’s. I sat down right at the front row and watched the Band parading up and down. It was around 45 minutes show non stop and it was smashing!. I really enjoyed the night and we moved to Senior Rates for Booze…. Haahaha… They boys were feeling so relieve after the parade and seemed quite excited. BZ to them.

At 2130H, Andrew Spratt waited outside Wardroom gate and I got myself with Jeans and T shirt and with the rest of the boys, we headed to town for clubbing. This would be my first time and I thought it would be a good idea to socialize and breaking the ice with the others. Went to Weatherspoon, Babylon and the last pub which I didn’t know its name. Met another Brunei colleague over there. We started with the crowds and slowly everyone disappeared including Spratt that I could not see him around and I ended up with this chap named Beets, I guess. He is funny though and we stayed until half three and walked home as the boys would be having memorial service in the morning.

SATURDAY, 11 Oct 08

I woke up lazily at lunch time and I felt great today as my back pain and muscle shock has gradually recovered. I didn’t really have any plan for this weekend except for Andy’s invitation for tonight’s Band Reunion at HMS Nelson Gym. I shall see if I have mood to go. Did my laundry and organized my stuff.

My week has been so long and busy now as I am having lots of homework given by both Piano and Cornet Professors this week and I needed to focus on both instruments. Yet, I attended new class on ELEMENT by WO2 Harding. We revised on music theory from scratched so that I won’t miss anything. I was given another homework and reference book on loan.

Did my first physical training with the instructors on every Thursday onwards at 1100H. We had circuit training continuously then few miles run around the Dockyards. My muscle started to get stiff and nearly cramped when I ran and I had to slow down a bit so I won’t get cramped. It was like 2 months now I have never run and now it’s time to heads up for more cardio activity.

Last Tuesday, was my first breakfast in the Wardroom as I missed on Monday. It was the best breakfast ever as I had an original English Breakfast here as I have always wanted. I had Scramble egg with hash brown potatoes, mushroom, tomatoes, Toast, A cup of Coffee and a glass or Orange Juice. What a heavy breakfast and I was quite late for my class. Oppss!

Yesterday, I walked to Portsmouth Mosque to perform Friday prayer. It recalled of my lost bike when that bike used to bring me to the mosque for Tarawikh last Ramadhan. It was only 2 weeks plus that I got to use that bike until it was stolen in London last Hari Raya. Hmmm I walked 30 minutes to the mosque and felt great that I was right on time when I got there.

Dropped by at HSBC down at Commercial Road claiming for my account PIN no which I have not received for nearly 3 weeks now. They would be sending another one to me by around a week. Oh great. It’s quite disappointing waiting for the PIN no as I am desperately in need of getting a mobile broadband so that I could log in internet anywhere anytime. I just wish everything would run smoothly this time and eventually receiving my PIN no safely.

Today is my 4th day of PUASA ENAM. I thought I wanted to complete my Puasa Enam by this Sunday. Hmmm I was supposedly fasting yesterday on Friday because I thought could fast and not attending standeasy. I was practicing on my Piano until Proff Douglass knocked on my door inviting me for a coffee on charity next to the Gym. It was hard to refuse and I had to go. Before I realized, I had coffee and lots of Chocolate. I felt guilty and funny at the same time because I couldn’t resist those Chocolate. Hahaha… Anyhow Syawal has a long way to go and Insyaalah I could complete this.

I was talking to a Chaplain during lunch time at the Dining hall and he invited me to attend Trafalgar Dinner Night which will be held on Thursday, 23rd Oct 08 in the Wardroom. I shall see if my Mess Kit is complete and that would be nice to mingle around especially with such an honor to be invited. Princes Charles and Duchess of Cornwall would be visiting Japan on the 27th Oct, 31st Oct to Brunei then off to Indonesia as part of their official visit. Wow!… I wish I could be there…

MALAM JUMAAT GEMILANG

Last Thursday night, 3rd October 2008, Lancaster Gate Berry House London, marked important day of my life as I finally QHATAM my ALQuran on the 3rd day of Syawal in UK = 1st day Raya in Brunei. I started a week after Ramadhan and intended to complete it before Raya but was a good effort I thought. Alhamdulillah.

Ya Allah, ampunilah dosaku, ampunilah dosa ibu bapaku, terimalah puasa dan amalanku. Berilah aku kesihatan, jauhi aku dari hasutan iblis dan syaitan, berkati hidupku, berikan ku rezeki yang luas dan lancarkan lah segala urusan ku di sini. Amin2 Ya Rabbalalamin.

SOME PICKY NICKED MY BIKE!

It’s been a week now that I’ve not been updated my Blog. Apart from Hari Raya celebration and back to school business, there’s another reason why I felt so NOT in the mood to update. I myself don’t know where to start because apparently there’s so much to tell and I try to summarize each subjects so that I won’t bore any readers if there’s any. I guess I will just jumble up my stories that I am going to cover and it won’t be in order.

I woke up lazily today because I had a back ache. I tried to stretch my back so it might relief a bit. I guessed it must have been from the last Sunday when I moved to the new cabin and I had to carry heaps of luggage in a few trips back and forth. Oh yeah… I got an upgraded cabin and I don’t know how it happened because I thought I have never requested for an upgraded cabin as yet. I planned to request for a bigger room after Ramadhan considering that I would be here for 2 years and it was just on Hari Raya Eves that my request has been fulfilled miraculously by God because I haven’t said anything yet. Or maybe somebody could have done it for me. Yet I won’t complain with my new cabin. It is bigger, nicer, comfy, and spacious with queen bed. Alhamdulillah and I believe in miracles.

It was on Sunday when I got home from London to Pompey = Portsmouth. It was 6 days of my Raya leaves and I returned to HMS Nelson Wardroom. I felt really good to be home. In my heart when I eventually arrived in Portsmouth Harbour Train Station, I said to my self, “Home Sweet Home”. Despite my relieves of coming back, there something left behind not the same as I was on my departure and here’s the story.

My overall Hari Raya Celebration in London was just not too bad. As I said before it is better than nothing and there is nothing to compare to Brunei. In fact I was lucky to be able to celebrate Raya with others because there is few unfortunate people working on that 1st day Raya. I would never forget my Takbir Raya in Brunei Hall and proud to be part of the small gathering to celebrate Raya together with other Bruneian. I would certainly never forget my 1st Takbir Raya recital. Brunei Hall Raya followed by another open house at Brunei High Commissioner at Belgrave Square in London boost Raya mood with lots of food and cakes as well as the crowds. The next day of 2nd Raya was another great open house at the accommodation of our Brunei Embassy down at Kensington.

It was just 2 days of Raya celebration and it slowed down immensely and the rest of the week was just a LOAFING days after a month of my settling down in Portsmouth. I had no where to go and stayed few days in our DA accommodation at Lancaster Gate facing Hyde Park. My loafing in London created a monotonous activity which forced me to explore London with my Bike. I remembered the purpose of me bringing along my Bike.

Getting a London Map would be a good start and I studied the Map and planned my destination. I started cycling down to Brunei Hall and I realized it was just behind Lancaster Gate then off to Waterloo Station. I passed over Marble Arch, Dorchester Hotel and Buckingham Palace and crossed over to River Thames Bridge and arrived at Waterloo station.

Loafing around Leicester Square down at Music shops and logged in Internet for few hours and headed home. Stayed another night in a DA accommodation and left on Friday morning and as I have always wanted to explore more on my own. I checked in at Bayswater HOSTEL for 2 nights and obviously cheaper, £16 per night and I was quite happy with the cleanliness and its security - Hmmmm….. I stayed in a 4 bedded room and felt great having the experience staying mostly with other backpackers from around the globe. Felt a bit strange and scary though at first and it was worth a money for just spending few hours of sleep in a sharing bed for 2 nights.

This is the saddest moment that I encountered when I stayed at the hostel or maybe I wouldn’t blame the Hostel. Some ‘picky bastard’ nicked my Bike after staying a night there and I was shocked then next day as I took out my bike locker key from my jacket and realized my bike was gone forever. I got shocked and I thought I must have parked it somewhere. Hmmmm….. Walked towards Whitley’s speechless and slowly I felt moody. I just bought my bike I guess 2 weeks ago in order for me to go for the Mosque for Tarawih and its gone. What a pity! Certainly I’m going to miss my SCOTT Brand bike which I bought a total of £418 at Fareham. What a luck! Nevertheless I was just ‘Pasrah’ maybe that bike is not meant for me and it may be for the purpose of going for Tarawih and now Ramadhan is over and my bike has gone.

Yesterday on Monday, I walked through the main gate of HMS Nelson and walked for 10 minutes to reach my Music Cell in a cold weather. It would have been better if my bike is still around….Oh yeah, I think this one’s funny. A night I lost my bike, I was stunned on my top double decker bed in that Hostel thinking of my bike and ended up reciting Yassin hoping my bike would be returned. Yet still missing! Uwaaaaaa……..

Hey, look at the bright side, I got my self upgraded cabin now, my Cornet starting to sound good and I’ve started my Piano lesson with Professor today with lots of homework. And the most important thing of all, I feel much more energetic and optimistic focusing on my music……Not forgetting I have been able to fast my Puasa Enam in Syawal for 3 days over the last weekends and hoping to complete them this coming weekends, Insyaalah.

My poor Bike.............

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

Selamat Hari Raya to everyone… I just can’t believe it’s Hari Raya now and this my 2nd day Raya here in UK particularly in London. Today is a 1st day Hari Raya celebration in Brunei. It’s passed midnight here in London and I’m listening to Pelangi FM where Bruneian started their Takbir Raya live at the Mosque.

The feeling is just so SAYU though we celebrated Raya 2 days earlier. Nevertheless, my Raya celebration in London has been so great despite being away from family. It's better than nothing. I wouldn’t imagine my self stuck in my cabin in Portsmouth on 1st day of Raya.

Last Monday was our last day of Puasa here in UK and I never expected Syawal moon would be sighted as I was not ready mentally. I was laying on my bed reading a magazine while waiting for Sungkai when PW Yaakub rang me saying that Tomorrow (Tuesday), would be Raya. I jumped out from bed and got surprised. Then I phoned Fahmi and we planned up to depart to London together tonight. Then I had my last Sungkai in Dining Hall with my Raya eve smile.

I felt so happy that Hari Raya is emerging and at the same time, felt so sad that Ramadhan is over. Cycled to Portsmouth Mosque to pay for Zakat of 4 pound. It was quiet and I said to myself, I’m gonna miss this mosque so much. Packed my stuff and took a train to London Waterloo Station along with my bike. Met Fahmi at station by 2230H and we grabbed a taxi going to Lt Kol Abg Abas apartment at Lancaster Gate. The apartment was so big and we were welcomed by the family. Great and sweet family.

1st day Hari Raya here in UK on Tuesday, 01 Oct 08 / 01 Syawal 1429 meant a lot to me. Dressed up in my favourite white Baju Melayu, Sinjang and Songkok. Fahmi and I walked to Brunei Hall when we arrived there early by 0730H and was quiet. After sometimes, other Bruneian started to appear and we had Takbir Raya down at basement. I couldn’t believe that I made my ever first Takbir Raya that lovely morning in public and felt so great and sayu sekali. After takbir, we had open house makan in Brunei Hall with lovely food and kueh Raya. Alhamdulilah, my 1st day is celebrated with others though not around my family. I met Affendi who is taking his Master in Wales there and then we moved to Brunei High Comm for an open house. Food served was excellent along with Kambing and Serunding. There was Kek Tapak Kuda in London. Yahuuuuuuuuuuu at least felt like home. On my 2nd day Raya, we went out to open house at Brunei Embassy’s house Kensington Garden. Great food with Sateh.

I have been listening lagu Raya from Pelangi FM and witnessed Sembayang Raya live now. I wish SELAMAT HARI RAYA, MAAF ZAHIR BATIN to my family at home and friends wishing everyone a wonderful Hari Raya celebration this year.

HARI RAYA CELEBRATION IN UK