News from Down Under

I have so much to say and really don't know where to start. Ebrahim and myself are presently working at this manganese mine in a small outback camp called Woodie Woodie. It's a 3.5hr flight from Perth and it's so remote you simply cannot believe. I'm sitting under a satellite dish in the middle of nowhere writing this mail.......could u do this years ago? Today was 37deg cel and the temperature often soars to 55 deg cel......and Aslam, you think SA was hot after Saleeha and yourself returned from Germany! We will return to Perth next Monday. This was a a great chance to see the outback...nothing to see really, drove about 400KM and saw NOTHING, absoutely nothing......but just the feel of the vastness is amazing. Met a guy who lives out here and his closest neighbour is 250Km away.....he lives, eats and sleeps in his cattle ranch and he would not trade his home for anything in the world. Also saw these road trains.......monster of a truck that tows upto four trailers......in total there are almost eighty tyres, yes 80.....the driver tells me that he starts to break about seven km before the town, I remember this famous Stanger saying "if don't apply breaks at the Tinley Manor turn off, you will miss Shakaskraal and end up in Umhlali....remember the old road -R102..am I going crazy but maybe I'm home sick. Talking about home, yes we do miss the family and friends back home. We are very fortunate to have Ebrahim and Suleman around to show us the ropes. The kids are really enjoying it (nine kids in total......now those that know all the kids names, raise your hand!!...ha ha ha). There are so many parks and outdoor activities for the kids. The Swan river and sea is really beautiful and I know where I'll be spending most of my summer days. These Australians are way too organised, everything is in order and there is so much of red tape that it's sometimes irritating. Speed limits are 50km/h in a residential area and 110km/h on the freeway.........will have to get used to this or else my licence will be suspended (no chance of giving a twenty buck or buying the cop a coke here) Khatija is well and busy helping Hajra to pack. Once we are settled she wants to continue with her aromatherapy. Ebrahim and Hajra will be moving into their new home soon. Suleman and I are assisting Ebrahim to wire his house. Perth also gets hot and dry...it feels like Stanger without the humidity. We are looking for a place to rent and should move in before our container arrives from SA (mid Jan). We bought a car....a burgundy 95 Toyota Camry station wagon and I also have a job. I start on Jan 05th at a ship building yard. Two luxury passenger cruise liners will be built here and then sailed to France. I'm looking forward to it because I was never involved with marine electrical. I will also be studying part time (need to write 4 exams between Feb and June). I'm sure everyone would want to know whether we will make Perth home but only time will tell. The initial plan is to get over with the two years and decide after that. So all of you, better visit us soon. All the best to Sameera and Qasim, hope all goes well with the delivery...I'm sure Qasim will post a few pics of the baby on the website. Zaynab, happy belated birthday...I didn't forget...just didn't get a chance to call /e-mail. As'ad, hope you haven't changed your mind about visiting us! Yunus, hope you guys have a great Hajj, make lots of Dhua for us and the rest of the ummah. Naseem, enjoy Stanger hospital.....don't try anything silly or you will be on e-TV. Farhana & Zahedah, stop flying to exotic islands and visit us, Fathima, we miss Desai's meat and the braai's are not the same without your'll. Naeem, come over for a while as there is heaps of work in the civil eng. industry. Can't name all my cousins here but to all of you, please keep in touch and hope to see you guys sometime. I will fwd some pics soon.

Assalaamu Alaikum,
Ashraf & Khatija

khatijachohan@yahoo.com
ac_chohan@yahoo.com
chohan_a@hotmail.com