Hello Woodie Woodie...

Salaams,

It was nice to hear from Ashraf in the outbacks of Australia. Sounds like he is having a memorable experience. Ashraf always spoke about backpacking across Europe. Although the continent is different the experience will always be with him. Please post some pictures for us to see, Ashraf! Then I can decide if we should visit...just joking we hope to visit soon.

All well in Joburg. Not as hot as Woodie Woodie or even Perth, but hot enough.

Spoke to Cassim from Ladysmith yesterday aftera long time. He is well and gives Salaams. Said that there was a problem with Yunus and haj trip. Make dua that all goes well.

Salaams
As'ad

almost there....

Salaamz to all

Good to see regular postings. Yunus from Tongaat (more
affectionately known as marie biscuit!!) has just left for
Hajj. Lets hope he does not forget us in his prayers.
Internship is almost over, GOING BACK HOME, for community
service and MUMMYS CHOW! (no offence Sumaiya!!).
Read you later

naseem

Sounds good...

Great to hear from both Ashraf and Suleman.... hope that Kathija and kids setlle down. You guys will have to send us pics of all the 9 kids...The outback sounds VAST, makes one think alot. Just chatting to As'ad now, it would be great to visit early next year and experience some of this first hand! have you got a GPS system yet! Sameera is now 34 weeks, time is flying, and we are going to Durban this weekend and the usual Stanger visit as well. Ashraf used to really keep everyone informed about each other, now he is gone... we will have to take that responsibilty ourselves. Please send us pics from Down Under...

Qasim

The Heat is ON!!!

Nice to c that Ashraf is communicating with the rest of the world from somewhere in nowhere. Perth had its hottest day for December in 30 yrs. Anybody want to guess??? A top of 41.5 degrees celcius in the shade at 14h00. at least it is no where as humid as durbs. The electricity utility called western power gets hot under the collar when the temperature reaches this level. Last year they came under heavy fire for not being able to supply enough electricity and had to ask all major shopping centres and corporate buildings including their own to turn off their air conditioners or face power cuts and severe fines. Otherwise all is going well down under. Till next time.

Suleman

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

Just blogging

Salaamz to all. Just trying this out. Hope I can find
some good news to post soon..

Postings

Just wondering whether people are having trouble posting via email. Qasim, As'ad and Ashraf have been able to but I have had calls from Naseem and Yunus about posting. To post send an email to bhorat.blogspot@blogger.com. The title of your email will become the title of the posting and the body of the email will become the post itself. You cant include pictures in the email. Send those to me via email for posting manually.

Please email me if you have any trouble.

Aslam

Back from the cold

As Asad mentioned, Saaleha and myself went over to Germany recently. Saaleha attended a 1 week course at a hospital in Koln which is in Western Germany. After the course we drove through Holland spending 2 nights in Amsterdam. Then we went onto Brussels in Belgium before spending a few nights in Paris. I really liked Germany. Brussels and Luxembourg were nice. Did not think much of Amsterdam although they do have the Van Gogh Museum (which I really liked.) And I loved Paris. Zaynab, Riyadh, Qasim and Sameera had been to Paris last year, and before we left Zaynab told me that she had not liked it at all. We, however, enjoyed ourselves in Paris immensely.

Only arrived back yesterday. Still not over the flight yet but safely home alhumdulillah. The temperature in Paris on our last day as a high of zero. Today the high in Durban is going to be about 30. Not sure which I prefer...what's the temperature in Perth, Ashraf? Send some news through for us. Maybe a few more Bhorats will end up in Perth if you and Suleman do a good enough publicity job.

Salaams,
Aslam

MTN Share Price Dropping!

Salaams to Ashraf and family, hope that all is going well and you guys are settling down. Enjoy the experience and make the most of it. Dont worry, the share price isnt dropping, so you can return to them if you want to come back to SA.

Hot in Jhb, summer is here. Sameera is due at the end of January, not long to go. Salaams to all.

Qasim

Eid Mubarak

Salaams to all,

South Africa feels different without Ashraf around. Hope that everything is well down under. Suleman can now add four more to the sparse Perth population. As for adding any more we will see...

It is very hot in Joburg. Aslam is over in Germany and has been in contact via sms.

Well done to Qasim for pasing his exams, hope that the studies continue.

Sumaiya, Ibrahim and Issa are well.

Salaams
As'ad

Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak to everyone. We trust and pray that the Almighty will grant your duas and bless your family on this special day insha allah.

Aslam & Saaleha

Eid Mubarak!

Salaams to all.Ramadaan just flew by us and we could not ask for better weather down under. Only one Saturday was about 31 deg. Otherwise it was cool weather. It is good to hear from As’ad. Don’t keep us in suspense with regards to your changes. There is a shortage of doctors in WA, then again there is a shortage of people full stop! Anyway this is my second ramadaan in WA, Cas. I have learnt to do without the edible luxuries that we South Africans are spoilt with in this blessed month. I hope that your’ll are enjoying it though. I see the reality of leaving has hit Ashraf. He will be here next Sunday. I hope everything goes well for him. Eid Mubarak.

Suleman

Salaams from Joberg

Salaams to all,

We have been busy adjusting to the new addition to the family and Alhamdulilah Issa has adjusted to us very well.

It has been a hot and dry Ramadaan but alhamdulilah we have coped well. We will be going down to Durbs for Eid and it will be nice to spend it with the family. Will see Ashraf before he leaves for Perth.

Practice is not the fun it used to be and maybe we too will be looking at changes soon...

Salaams
As'ad

Ramadaan

Alhumdulillah more than half of this blessed month has passed. I hope everyone is well and everyone continues to benefit from this month. I was wondering if people woould like to send in photos of themselves and their families before Eid to post on the blog. It would be very nice to see distant relatives again (distant in more ways than one).

Was-salaam,
Aslam

Ramadaan Mubarak

Salaams to all. Ramadaan has begun and I wanted to wish everyone a blessed and prosperous month. How are the times in Australia? How is the weather there, Suleman? Are you missing haleem... or did you take some across! Jhb aint too bad... getting into the groove now.

Qasim

Ramadaan Mubaruk

Ramadaan Mubaruk to Muslims all over the world, especially to our family and friends. May the Almighty Allah grant all Muslims the full reward of this blessed month. Our duas are always with our brothers in Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq and wherever Muslims face oppression and injustice.

The Three Musketeers

These 3 just could not be left out of the spotlight despite Baby Issa's arrival...

Another picture

Another photo of Baby Issa...

Picture of Baby Issa

Baby Issa soon after his entry into this world alhumdulillah...

Time

Congratulations to As’ad & Sumayya on their new born son. How time flies…yesterday we were growing up and today we grow up our kids. Do you remember the family get-togethers at ‘top house’ and the games of bashing (or dodging as some call it). I still remember how Middleburg Cassim used to jump from the lawn over the flower bed and land on the grass at street level. I think that was the closest thing to bunjee jumping back then. Not forgetting the beach cottage…yep those were the days. Sorry I don’t have any stories about walking to school with no shoes! Till next time.

Suleman