The One with New Years, 1433/2012/Dragon Year

3 different new years have been celebrated from the month of Nov 2011 - Jan 2012.

1) Maal Hijrah 1433H: 

Muslims around the world celebrate the coming of Maal Hijrah - 1433 on 28th of November 2011

For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: they guard him
by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him any to protect...Ar Rad (13:11)                  

Yes, Allah will not change our fate if we did not strive to change ours.. What is Hijri calendar? From Wikipedia:

The Hijri calendar, also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic holy days and festivals. The first year was the Islamic year beginning in 622 CE during which the emigration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra, occurred. Each numbered year is designated either H for Hijra or AH for the Latin anno Hegirae (in the year of the Hijra). Being a purely lunar calendar, it is not synchronized with the seasons. With an annual drift of 10 or 11 days, the seasonal relation repeats about every 33 Islamic years.The Islamic and Jewish weekdays begin at sunset. 

The Hijri months are named as follows in Arabic:

1. Muḥarram — المحرّم, "forbidden" — so called because it was unlawful (haram) to fight during this month.^[3] Muharram is the second most sacred Muslim month and includes theDay of Ashura.
2. Ṣafar — صفر, "void" — supposedly named because pagan Arabs looted during this month and left the houses empty.
3. Rabīʿ I (Rabīʿ al-Awwal) — ربيع الأوّل, "the first Spring".
4. Rabīʿ II (Rabīʿ ath-Thānī) or (Rabīʿ al-Ākhir) — ربيع الثاني or ربيع الآخر, "the second (or last) Spring".
5. Jumādā I (Jumādā al-Ūlā) — جمادى الأولى, "the first month of parched land". Often considered the Islamic "Summer".
6. Jumādā II (Jumādā ath-Thāniya or Jumādā al-Ākhira) — جمادى الآخرة, جمادى الثانية, "the second (or last) month of parched land".
7. Rajab — رجب, "respect" or "honor". Rajab is another of the sacred months in which fighting was traditionally forbidden.
8. Shaʿbān — شعبان, "scattered", marking the time of year when Arab tribes dispersed to find water.
9. Ramaḍān — رمضان, "scorched". Ramadan is the most venerated month of the Hijri calendar, during which Muslims fast between dawn and sunset.
10. Shawwāl — شوّال, "raised", as she-camels begin to raise their tails during this time of the year, after giving birth.
11. Dhū al-Qaʿda — ذو القعدة, "the one of truce". Dhu al-Qa'da was another month during which war was banned.
12. Dhū al-Ḥijja — ذو الحجّة, "the one of pilgrimage", referring to the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj.

Ok now, what had I done during the break? Seriously, tak ingat dah!!!

2) New year 2012:
People around the world celebrate yet another 20th Century new year..1st January  2012..

I went back to KB to celebrate new year with my beloved mum. We were supposed to drive back to KB and took annual leave on 29th and 30th Dec. However, things did not happened as planned. I was frustrated beyond word! 

He was away on vacation with his family for the whole week (19th - 23rd Dec). His car broke down a few times during his vacation somewhere in Trengganu. They ended up driving back to KL on tow. So his car was in the workshop and he could not accompany me back to KB to see my mum as 'the other' has started teaching. No transportation for 'the other' to move around. He had to stay back. So I went back alone...

Allah betul hendak menguji, benda yang berlaku selalu memihak kepada 'the other'. She got the most of his time and material! Me? I always pray that I will get the most attention from none other than Allah the almighty...Hence the test, the pain...etc! Though frustrated beyond words, I managed to stay sober! No tantrum, no harsh words... he he he..merajuk tu adalah, saya hanya manusia biasa! Ya Allah give me the patient to stay calm and sober for as long as I live!!!

Mak was not feeling very well after coming back from Haji on 9th December. Me and my sisters took turn to stay with her as visitors were expected to come to see her. Sister R went back the first week, Sister M after that and moi, the last one..! I am lucky bcoz less visitors to entertain during the final week of December...

I have a blast hols with my beloved Mak, makan air tangan Mak, watching TV together2, chit chatting...urut2 mak, etc..etc...Mak pulak kemaruk makan, asyik nak masak jer..Anak dia nilah yang untung! Sekali jer anak bertuah ni masak sepanjang cuti tu...yang lain semua Mak sediakan..So saper jaga saper sebenarnya? he he he...Well, she enjoyed spoiling me and I enjoyed being spoilt! 

When I looked back, itu hikmahnya Hubby tak jadi balik, I got to spent quality time with my mom! Just me and her! Days are numbered, bila2 masa Mak atau Moi boleh dipanggil Allah. I missed her so much when she went to perform her Haj..and I cannot imagine how much I would miss her if one fine day, she is called to meet the Creator...The time will come and I just hope and pray that it would not be so near... Ya Allah anugerahkan kesihatan yang baik utk Ibuku and panjangkanlah umurnya...

3) Dragon Year: 

The Chinese people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year and this year is known as Dragon Year.

Mr Google help me to find the history behind the Lunar Year;

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions.People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity". On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. Below is sample of Chinese New Year dates.... 

Animal	Branch	New Year dates
鼠 Shǔ Rat	子 Zǐ	February 19, 1996	February 7, 2008	January 25, 2020
牛 Niú Ox	丑 Chǒu	February 7, 1997	January 26, 2009	February 12, 2021
虎 Hǔ Tiger	寅 Yín	January 28, 1998	February 14, 2010	February 1, 2022
兔 Tù Rabbit	卯 Mǎo	February 16, 1999	February 3, 2011	January 22, 2023
龍 Lóng Dragon	辰 Chén	February 5, 2000	January 23, 2012	February 10, 2024
蛇 Shé Snake	巳 Sì	January 24, 2001	February 10, 2013	January 29, 2025
馬 Mǎ Horse	午 Wǔ	February 12, 2002	January 31, 2014	February 17, 2026
羊 Yáng Goat	未 Wèi	February 1, 2003	February 19, 2015	February 7, 2027
猴 Hóu Monkey	申 Shēn	January 22, 2004	February 8, 2016	January 27, 2028
雞 Jī Rooster	酉 Yǒu	February 9, 2005	January 28, 2017	February 13, 2029
狗 Gǒu Dog	戌 Xū	January 29, 2006	February 16, 2018	February 3, 2030
豬 Zhū Pig	亥 Hài	February 18, 2007	February 5, 2019	January 23, 2031

So what did I do during the long break? I cooked and baked!! Saturday 21st Jan, I cooked Nasi Lemak for breakfast and had our breakfast at home. While I was cooking, Hubby's phone kept on ringing and it continued ringing until at last, he did picked up and answer the phone on the balcony. Then it rang again...

Huhhh! Typical!Bila cuti jer, mesti nak ganggu, she just wanna make sure that he did not stay long...!!!However I was surprised that Hubby did not 'bergegas' nak balik to his other house! In fact, lepas late breakfast and rest for a while, we went to Putrajaya as he wanted to pick up his birth certificate. Unfortunately, JPN was closed for CNY!

Sunday, I went shopping for groceries and I baked Ispahan Caramel Cake inspired by Pierre Hermes famous macaroon flavour - Ispahan, which is actually a combination of Rose, Raspberry and lychee flavours. Monday, as my sister A, from Triang had promised to come, I cooked Mandy Chicken Rice and also invited my other sister, Sister M for lunch. We had lunch and the children had a blast in the pool in the evening.

Tuesday, I baked Oreo Lemon Marble Cheesecake which was actually I wanted to test 2 different recipes of cheesecake, one with meringue style and another one normal mixed and beat all ingredients. I have already baked the meringue style sometime last week and asked some friends to taste it. Verdict? Moi, myself, could not actually tell the different! However a good friend of mine said the the meringue style has softer and fluffier cheesecake texture. 

Oh yes, the whole break I was on pain medication!!Had to took the painkiller everyday...Thank you Allah, at least there are still medication to relief the pain for me to continue living a normal life in this world of Yours the Almighty.