Mother:”Is it just me or is it a bit cold?”
Daughter:”Why don’t you put on a cadigan or wear one of your shawls.”
Mother:”I don’t have a shawl.”
Daughter:”Didn’t you just make one?”
Mother: “I did, but I gave it away”
Daughter:”You mean that after all those shawls I’ve seen you knit, you still don’t have one?”
Mother: “Yes.”
Daughter: !!!

Today marks the start of a new year according to the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is lunar based, unlike the Gregorian calendar which is solar based, as you probably already know. Like most countries in the world Malaysia uses the Gregorian calendar, but Islamic events are observed according to the Islamic calendar. One of the characteristics of a purely lunar based calendar is that a year is about 10 days shorter than its Gregorian counterpart. This means that even though this year - 1429 - starts in January, 1430 will already start on December 29th. It also means that the Gregorian dates for the two Eid celebrations are not the same every year.
And did you know that every year the people of Malaysia mark New Year 3 times? This year it happens in the space of less than 6 weeks: January 1st, January 10th, and February 7th. The latter will mark the start of the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese calendar.

Idag er det starten på et nyt år i følge den islamiske kalender. Den islamiske kalender er månebaseret i modsætning til den gregorianske som jo bekendt er solbaseret. Som de fleste andre lande i verden bruger Malaysia den gregorianske kalender, men islamiske mærkedage beregnes efter den islamiske kalender. En rent månebaseret kalender adskiller sig fra sin solbaserede kollega ved at være ca. 10 dage kortere. Det betyder at det er islamisk nytår igen allerede den 29.december 2008, og at datoerne for de vigtigste islamiske højtider, nemlig de 2 Eid’er, ikke ligger fast på samme tid af året, som f.eks. julen gør det. Vidste du i øvrigt at man i Malaysia kan holde nytår 3 gange om året? Denne gang endda i løbet af kun 6 uger: d. 1.januar, d. 10.januar og d. 7.februar. Sidstnævnte er datoen for det kinesiske nytår.

Tags: calendar, islam, kalender, Malaysia

To everyone who took the time to read/comment in 2007, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and hope to “see” you again in 2008.

Many wishes of a Wonderful Christmas to those of you who celebrate. I hope you’re spending it with people you love, and who love you.

Herfra sendes mange ønsker om en rigtigt dejlig jul til dem af jer der fejrer. Forhåbentlig sker det i selskab med dem I holder af, og som holder af jer. Ekstra mange hilsener til Hr og Fru Hansen - jeg ringer i aften!

Not mine, but my sister just delivered the latest twig on the family tree.
Welcome baby girl E - I can’t wait to meet you!

Tags: familie, family

Many wishes of a blessed and joyful Eid ul Adha to all who celebrate, but most of all to DH who won’t be celebrating with us. Selamat Hari Raya sayang - we hope Scotland isn’t too cold!

Mange ønsker om en rigtig glædelig Eid ul Adha til alle muslimer.

Tags: familie, family, islam

I thank you all for your concern and offer my apologies for the previous post. Angling for pity is not my usual style. I hope!

Jeg takker for pust og ønsker om god bedring og undskylder hermed det forrige indlæg. Selvynk er ikke min sædvanlige stil. Håber jeg!

A slipped disk.

Av min ryg!

The key to improving survival from cancer is early detection. Personally I’m not convinced that regular screenings or breast self-examinations are necessarily the most important means to this end, but I still went ahead and had my first mammogram on Saturday. Here are the first and only pictures you’ll ever see of my unclothed right breast:

Having the x-rays taken were not really painful, but somewhat uncomfortable. Nothing abnormal, though an ultrasound revealed a small water cyst in my right breast. I also had a pap smear done. It was quick and painless. No need for a special gown or stirrups either.

You may wonder why I would have the mammogram and post this if I am not convinced of the benefits of regular screening. I had the mammogram because I am at raised risk for breast cancer. Having weighed the cons and pros of screening and my responsibilities as a mother of 4 under-aged children I decided this decision was right for me. Under different circumstances I would probably haven chosen differently. Mostly I am posting this in order to encourage you educate yourself about cancer, because what you don’t know could hurt you or someone you care about. Cancer can strike anyone. It has no regard for colour, faith or social status. Please, if you don’t know already, please find out about the risk factors, symptoms and screening methods for cancers such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, rectal cancer, skin cancer (melanoma), prostate cancer and uterine cancer. Make sure you get your information from a variety of sources so that you can make truly informed decisions.
But, I am also posting this to tell you that if you do believe in the benefits of screening then you shouldn’t let worry or fear about the procedures hold you back.

This post is specially dedicated to Anne, DH, Else, Erna, Far, Farmor, Gurli, Gustav, Henning, Inge, Jeanne, Lynda, Marianne, Mor, Nete, Niels, Svend, Svend Åge and Tove. To some in loving memory, to others in grateful appreciation that they are still here.

Tags: cancer

I found my first grey hairs today.

I dag fandt jeg mine første grå hår.