Serendipity

I was really chuffed to find out that this film was on telly, late last night.

I first saw it a few years back & just love the story, of how, two strangers finally reunite after several years apart.

In the film they visit a quaint chocolate/patisserie in New York called Serendipity 3.

Skip forward a few years to 2005 & I'm in NYC with my family for my 4oth birthday celebrations. The morning was spent visiting Tiffanys and Central Park. In the evening my husband called a taxi and off we went for my birthday meal.

Lo and behold we stopped right outside Serendipity 3!! I was so chuffed that he'd remembered the restaurant from the film. No such thing! He'd been advised to take me there as they are well known for their chocolate desserts and he knows that I love chocolate! Also loads of famous people like Beyonce and Nicole Kidman go there too.

Anyway it turned out to be the most fabulous meal starting off with Frrrozen Hot Chocolate which is their speciality. I also did a little shopping in their shop buying a Betty Boop mug & some Frrrozen Hot Chocolate mix to make some up back at home.

So here are some pics of us at Serendipity and if you're ever in New York I'd highly recommend you going.

All dressed up

Taken at home just before leaving for a Christmas party at Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly 14th Dec 2007

Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!!!
I'm so excited as are the kids. Imran's promised faithfully to go to sleep early but I doubt that happening lol!
We did all our food shopping on Saturday as Akber had to go to work this morning. The first time he's ever had to work on Xmas Eve but it did mean that we didn't have to fight the crowds at the food store. So I had a nice relaxing day, getting up late, reading a few more chapters of my book Daddy's Girls and a leisurely lunch.

I've tried desperately to upload my photos but I can't seem to locate them on my new laptop, so until I do I thought I'd do a little Xmas quiz that I saw on Ally's blog http://www.allys-space.blogspot.com/

FUN XMAS QUIZ
Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate yummm though I love Starbuck's gingerbread latte too.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Oh yes Santa wraps them up...a different paper for each boy so they know which ones are theirs!

Do you hang mistletoe? No

What is your favorite holiday dish? Roast and all the trimmings.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Getting all excited on Christmas morning at the prospect of opening my presents and eating loads of yummy food.

Can you ice skate? Yes I learnt when I was a girl guide.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No but when we went Christmas one year in Switzerland at my sister in laws we celebrated Xmas on Christmas Eve so all the presents were opened then too.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? It’s only a 4ft artificial one but many of the ornaments are very special. Three baubles with the boys names painted on. A cuddly santa sits at the bottom guarding the tree alongside a Canadian moose and a snowman on skiis!!

Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it as I hate being cold but earlier this year when we had snow we took the boys up to the park & had a fabulous time playing in the snow.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with family, watching tv, playing games & generally eating too much.

What is your favourite Holiday Dessert? Christmas cake from Marks & Spencer.

What tops your tree? An angel made by Imran about 3 years ago.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? The kids leaving a glass of milk & mince pie for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph.

Which do you prefer giving or receiving gifts? Giving definitely, I get so much pleasure from it.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? Can’t just pick one so I have to list two: Last Christmas by Wham & Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea

Candy Canes on the tree? Nope but I do put something in the tree every day for the kids to find either a chocolate or some pennies.

Almost Christmas!!!

I love this time of the year!
Everyone's always in a good mood and looking forward to the holidays. The tree is up and present wrapping is well under way. All my cards (except for the neighbours!) are written and posted....spent GBP 22 on postage!!!
Had the day off on Friday so made a trip up to Lakeside to pick up a few more pressies. Still got a couple more to get....thanks darling hubbie for giving me such short notice on getting a present for Simona!!
Kids are at school till Wed but I still have to go in on Thursday as we have a training day. Hussein is off to Birmingham on Thursday morning to spend a few days with my parents and at his aunt's.

Friday Akber had his works Xmas do. It was a black tie event at Fortnum & Masons. As partners were invited along too, I got all dressed up in a lovely black sari. The kids took photos of us in front of the tree before we left in our taxi. I'll upload the photos later. Akber looked very dashing!
We had a lovely time. The food was just divine and the company great. I got on very well with the other people on our table especially Jerry and Pam. The highlight of the evening was the entertainement. They had booked a mind reader who also hypnotised some of the guests. He was very good. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. All in all it was a lovely evening.

23rd October 1988

Since discovering Facebook I've haven't been on my blog so much!! Opps sorry but as it's my wedding anniversary tomorrow (19 years!!) I thought I'd share a couple of los I did a while back for a cj belonging to my friend Dawn Silver.

Went to a Scrapping for Wishes crop a couple of weeks back & managed to wear myself out by doing all the classes!
Anyway here's some of the things I made - a canvas & a lo.

Happy 14th Birthday Hussein

Opps I've been a bit lapse in keeping this blog up to date.

But heh it is Ramadhan & obviously things get a bit hectic! Only a week left to Eid so hopefully I'll keep on top of stuff.

Today is No1 son Hussein's birthday. Have a great day darling. Presents this evening!!

It'll probably be a shop bought cake but I'm hoping to make a go at making the Rocky Road crunch bars that Nigella Lawson made the other night on tv.

Happy Friday peeps lol!

It's been a busy week since my last post. Hussein & Kaizer are back from their hols. It's nice to have the family all back together.
But that also meant returning to work!! I had to attend a course on Monday at the Teacher Training Centre but had Tuesday off with the kids. Of course, because Hussein & Kaizer had been away, that meant a last minute shopping spree! Luckily, not clothes, but spent over £30 just on new pens & pencils & cases. Phew!!
Wednesday was Imran's first day in Juniors. I admit I was a little tearful because I feel he's growing up so fast so suddenly. He looked so smart in his blazer & tie. Here he is holding up the sign for his new class.

Hussein & Kaizer then returned to school the next day. So now begins the endless circle of sandwich making, school runs, making sure the pe kit is packed etc etc.

On Saturday I went to a sleepover!! Yes I know it sounds a bit odd especially as it's usually a teenage girl thing. But hey it was great fun. I got together with my girlfriends at Rashida's weekend home - a fab new flat right on the beach at Shoeburyness. There was 9 of us ..Mehz & Nabila couldn't make it. We had such a laugh but I didn't have my camera so no pictures. We just lazed around the flat chatting, laughing, eating & drinking & eating some more, watching a Bollywood movie. Finally went to sleep around 3-4 and up again at 8.30. Had a lazy breakfast out on the decking watching the tide come in. It was so relaxing with the sun on your face watching the jet skis out in the water. Of course we had to eat some more so had bhel puri & pani puri. That was the perfect end to a lovely weekend. Here's to our next sleepover!!

And here is the birthday boy and his candles..

We had a great time last night. Imran was fascinated at the wonderful atmosphere in the restaurant. He thought the animals were fab & the thunderstorm noises were a great touch. The highlight of the evening was when the whole restaurant sang happy birthday to him whilst he was standing on the chair holding his massive dessert bowl which has 7 lit candles & sparklers in it.
I'll upload some pictures later.

Kaizer (DS2) is flying back this evening from Switzerland where he's been staying with my sil. He's been away for 3 weeks and it sure has been quiet at home!! Hussein (DS1) is back from Canada Sunday morning so things will be definitely be back to normal!!!

I'm still a little intimidated by this blogging lark. I have so much to learn before I'll be confident on here. So bear with me!!

Happy 7th Birthday Imran

What a great way to finally start my blog than by wishing my baby boy Imran a wonderful happy birthday. I can't believe that he's 7...the years have just flown by.

I'm taking him into London shortly to meet up with his papa and then go for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.