Rest In Peace,Grandma

Yesterday was my paternal Grandma’s funeral, she passed away Friday night.
It was a surprise to all, since she wasn’t seriously ill, just complained from arthritis as far as I know.

I felt so terrible, thinking of all the things I should have done, I should have called more often, I should have visited more often; maybe stay over a couple of days. Actually, I was planning on sleeping over at her place as soon as we came from vacation, we came Friday morning, and she left Friday night!

Whenever I was a bit distant and didn’t call for a while, then visit or call her ,she’d greet me as if I was travelling and came back and goes “ How was your journey?” smiling at me to make me feel at ease instead of going “Haven’t heard from you for a long time. “Or “why don’t you call, did you forget your grandma?”

She always talked to me about Karma , how when I was a baby, mum would drop me at Gran before going to work and She, Gran would feed me, change my diapers and play with me. Then, how now, that she’s old, I go and buy her groceries, and give her, her weekly injection, and run her some errands.

Grandma was the news center in the family. She always spread the word about everything, who’s ill, who did what in their exams, who’s pregnant, who’s moving to another house, who’s travelling, who’s coming,….I wonder now, if we will call each other more often, or will everyone be isolated and no one will know anything as if we were perfect strangers!


I was the only grandchild she babysat, so I was kind of special to her.
Grandma had 4boys and a girl, 13 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren! It was always great when we gathered at her place every Friday, and on special holidays…I’m not sure how that’s gonna happen now, I’m worrying everyone’s gonna get distant, and won’t bother to gather or meet, I really hope that won’t be the case.

Coincidently, Grandpa passed away at about the same time she did, a few days away from the holy month of Ramadan, but that was 6 years ago. So now their house is empty, feels kinda weird!

5 Reasons why I need my phone to awaken!!

My phone is in a coma!

I was calling someone when suddenly the screen turned white!! I could still here it ringing, but the screen is just blank, I can’t get around. Immediately, I went to the Nokia maintenance service, and they said, they may or may not be able to fix this, just give them till Friday.

I lost a lot of numbers which were saved on the phone’s memory. Not really bothered about msgs, pics, songs, videos I have copies of these. But my phone was my:

1) Phone, naturally I feel isolated –especially since our land line got messed up for 2 days now!!-
2) My faithful camera!! I entered photography contests with pics from this phone, and even got published in a magazine!! Oh Plus I made a 3 min movie that I’m planning to share on the blog soon, it’s a thriller ;)
3) I listened to trance music before going to sleep on it... How am I supposed to sleep now?
4) I read a lot of stuff on that phone. I uploaded a couple of books and some scripts that kept me company in my long car/bus journeys.
5) Internet!! I’d log in from anywhere, and just check or send a quick e-mail or search for something…ahhh

I hope I come back and find that it’s back to life, awake from its coma!! I really can’t afford buying a new one now, yet I need it!!

Macaroni Salad

I was supposed to make lunch for the kids , mum told be to saute some veggies, I burnt them!
so I went to my old faithful Macaroni Salad, and here is it, as promised in the El Montaza post

I boiled Macaroni " I choose the spiral ones"

then added boiled veggies " carrots, peas, grean beans"

Then a can of red kidney beans,

one can actually put anything you find in the kitchen "sweet corn, white beans,..etc"

Then I put olives

And chicken chunks " can be replaced by tuna, mashroom, or none :D"

And finally, the French sauce;
Mayonnaise, salt, sugar, vinegar and oil

Mix 'em well!!



Bon Appétit =)

Instrumental : Santorini

Another one of Yanni's, from his Album, "Devotion /The Best of Yanni" .
Santorini is a greek name of the volcanic island located in the Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast from Greece's mainland.

I remember the first time I ever heard this track, was when I was 12 ,attending a wedding cermony and they were doing a fireworks show, and this was the background music. It was played really loud and I felt my heart beating so hard, touched by the power of Santorini.



Yanni - Santorini