2022 bid

www.qatar2022bid.com

While UAE gets ready to celebrate its National day on the 2nd of December, Qatar is also preparing for its own National day on 18th December - all over the corniche, lights and decorations are going up ahead of the big day but perhaps an even more exciting thrill is the decision day for the Qatar 2022 bid, which also happens to be tomorrow, 2nd December. So while UAE celebrates National day , Qatar will be eagerly waiting to hear who will be the host city for 2022.  Good luck Qatar and Congratulations UAE on your 39th Birthday!

Read more »

Play dough time: Fujitsu Project Task

Look what I made for my first project task - 

Make something typical of the country you live in.

 Like it?

Bluepearl (c) - play dough time

Bluepearl (c) - play dough time

Read more »

My dazzling AH530

My LIFEBOOK AH530  arrived at work today leaving me smiling completely. I could not resist waiting until I get home, so i opened up right away at the office and most of my colleagues came over to see my new toy. There were "oohs" and "aahs" along with wonderful compliments.

The size took me by surprise cause it is much much bigger than my current 13.3 inch and while travelling with this big guy will become a bit of a problem, I do however  believe it is a small price to pay for this really great piece of machinery. I love the dazzling jet black smooth operator look which does however make for messy finger prints. This made in germany laptop surprised me when I opened it up to see that it had an arabic spec keyboard. I love it even more now!!!! The additional number pad makes for good use when I have to complete reports so that was a great value add.

BluePearl (c) - my dazzling jet black LIFEBOOK

BluePearl (c) - my lifebook in it's box

BluePearl (c) - Letter from the LIFEBOOKTeam

BluePearl (c) - 2 star Green IT label And Intel I7 core processor

BluePearl (c) - My arabic spec keyboard with seperate numeric keypad

The spill protection is great for the clumsy like me as I often tend to love having my cup of tea close by, when I blog. I love the feel of the keys - smooth and yet easy to follow on. It's 39.6 cm featuring a 1.3 Mpx Webcam with digital microphone, Bluetooth and 11n WLAN.

Fujitsu's  Green IT label to the right of the laptop is eye catching and re-assuring of Fujitsu's commitment to the environment. I love that my laptop is lighter on earth's health. 

To see the more on this laptops spec, click here

Read more »

A sad day

BluePearl's granny (mom's mom) passed away this morning.

انّا للہ و انّا الیه راجعون والله عالم 

May Allah make it easy for her and grant her a place in Jannah, Inshallah

I am so glad I called her yesterday and told her just how much I love her.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٦٠

(60) It is He Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then He raises (wakes) you up again that a term appointed (your life period) be fulfilled, then (in the end) unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you of that which you used to do.

Read more »

A story about a LIFEBOOK and me

"We have chosen you to become one of 53 LIFEBOOK4Life Insiders! If you are still interested, please confirm your participation under the following link..." is what the e-mail dated 3rd November 2010  read. Did I just get accepted to test the new range of Fujitsu's LIFEBOOK's? Oh yes I did!

It was only a week ago, that I saw this advertisement pop up while I played my daily game of Monopoly online at Pogo and at which stage you had to select your needs for the laptop...and now wow! I got accepted...still breathing and re-collecting, awing myself with surprise, I clicked through and entered the LIFEBOOK blog where indeed all was very much a reality.  As I wait for my laptop, the fun and challenge of testing these LIFEBOOK's will run over a 3 week period with everything being documented on the blog itself. So follow me and the other Insiders who will be sharing their impressions of a designated LIFEBOOK.

Thank you to Fujitsu and the Project Team!

Stay tuned as I uncover my new LIFEBOOK in the next few hours...

Read more »

Fajr and still wide awake

I'm sleepless as they come, so let me just share my favorite verse from this mornings read

وإن يمسسك الله بضرّ فلا كاشف له إلا هو وإن يمسسك بخير فهو على كل شيء قدير

And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things. 

Have a fabulous Sunday...Eid Holidays are over. Its back to work for me!

Read more »

Eid holiday moments

Previously I wrote a post about desert fun, so during this Eid holidays we were invited to one of the desert camps at Um Messaied. It was a well spent time there - the pictures speak for themselve!

BluePearl (c) - view from the camp

BluePearl (c) - kids riding 4 wheelers (Rhino, Polariz, Kawasaki) on the sand

BluePearl (c)

BluePearl (c) - one of the tents all lit up night

BluePearl (c) - arabic tea being brewed

 BluePearl(c) - fun in the sand

Read more »

A reminder

Far too often, I meet people who profess to be good people yet their actions and ways denote an entirely different impression.  Set your face firmly towards Allah and ask Him, the Almighty, to guide you always keeping you on the straight path. Seek refuge in Allah from the whisperings of Shaitaan for surely, he, Shaitaan is full of mischief and loves that we do wrong.  Offer help where necessary, visit the sick, for every garment you buy give away an older one that you no longer wearing, make a dua for a stranger, play with kids especially orphans if you have a chance,  give away your pocket change to someone who needs it, don't complain so much, don't ask for much, be patient in your trials, finish what you put on your plate because someone else is not as fortunate as you, love what you have - thank Allah for it and most of all be  consistent in your ways!





BluePearl loves those who are CONSISTENT| PATIENT| KIND| HUMBLE| GOOD| RESPECTFUL| HONORABLE| LOVING| CONTENT & HONEST in all dealings.

Make the sky your heart and the earth your humility

Hope your week will be filled with the after-glow of Eid

Read more »

عيد مبارك

Read more »

Making some noise

The good news is I managed to sort out my satellite - the frequency setting was wrong. I been catching up with your blog posts over the weekend and I have to say I found alot of great informative posts - I am just going to put down a few notes here of possibly somethings sitting in my head with referral links to associative posts of the same topic or just direct you to a blog I think you should go have a look at. It's great that we can learn so much from each other (or even support each other for that matter) in this global multi-cultural virtual village.

1. Indonesia's volcano is still erupting - It is about three weeks since eruptions began from its crater leaving ashen ruins of villages and a death toll of about 250 people as well as about 400,000 people sheltering in evacuation centres. It's really sad. Have a look at Mustika's blog for a local's point of view.

2. I am glad to announce that Deros, one of dear bloggers, has reverted to Islam. Allahu Akbar! She has performed her first prayer over the weekend. I urge you all to support her. Deros if you need any assistance, we are here to help you. May Allah keep you strong and assist you in your new life as a muslim, Ameen, Inshallah!

3. Tomorrow is the day of Arafat, some will be fasting tomorrow while others will be completing the rituals of hajj - whatever you doing, set some time aside to make dua as it is a special day. Rose water has done a good job of explaining it so go over and read her blog...Also for other hajj stories, visit With a Saudi Accent and The Strangers Diary. 

5.  Bosnish Muslimah is starting off her new perfume business and to kick it off, she has started a new blog - it not only promises to provide information on oud and perfume but I believe some direction for young enterpreneurs. 

6. Naz has disappeared - go over there and write her insane comments so she reappears. It seems the move to her new home has been so exciting that she forgot about us! It is just not acceptable! *pfft*...Oh and the same time, it seems that Crafty Muslimah, Veiled in Hayat, Solo Muslimah, Mrs Handbag and TeaBreakThoughts have donet the same - I am missing your posts ladies! Im disappointed!

7.  UmmAbdulAziz has put up a nice post on sickness dua - I knew the first one but I never knew of the second one. Interesting - thanks for that darling. As for IamFarsilla - my dear darling, you are beautiful - don't stress! And have a look at this delicious cake recipe

Moving on, I wont be going to South Africa - I'll be in Doha. Our holidays start tomorrow - I am looking forward to some relaxing time before returning to work on Sunday (20th Nov), It's cute though that my Adha will be taking place in SA while I am here. May Allah accept my intentions, Inshallah! Have a great week ahead!

Read more »

Sheepy Humor

I am sure you will agree with me that sheep have to be one of the cutest animals - I just adore them and possibly more because I have childhood memories with them.





 May Allah accept our Ad7a this year!

Read more »

Hala Weekend

I just managed to lock myself out of my satellite channels so I am sitting here trying to figure what I did wrong. You know the last two months have been strange months - I am not sure if you will agree but, for me it seemed everything just did a 360. Perhaps, I thought, this is Allah making me think about what I want from life or just setting me on a new stepping stone, yeah - a bit of a turbulent step that was! I am one of those people that never plan - how much of a good thing that is, I am not sure but even if I did try and draw up a plan I either go off that plan very soon or can't get my mind to decide what I want to do. Yeah, sadly I am one of those people! 

Alas the seasons are changing, 2010 is coming to an end, the fortunate start winding up their hajj,  muslims around the world prepare for Eid-ul-Adha and then there's me -  sitting here trying to fix my satellite and going to leave you with this very beautiful song called "Marrat Sana" meaning "A year has passed"

Ps: Next week I'll be doing some technology posts featuring some exciting news that includes a lifebook from Fujitsu...keep an eye out for that!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Read more »

Cherry Blossom

Read more »

Deros, no no no

Oh dear Deros

It seems that the sunshine from this end of the world was lost today too...look at how it rained...

BluePearl (c) - rain drops on my window driving home this afternoon

DEROS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO STOP BLOGGING YOUNG LADY!

All those who agree, please go over to her blog and tell her so! 

Read more »

Pharaonic culture found in Saudi

Saudi officials on Sunday announced the discovery of the country's first-ever artefact from pharaonic culture - a 3 100-year-old inscription carrying the signature of King Ramses III.

The inscription was found near the north-western Saudi oasis town of Tayma, about 200km southeast of Tabuk, a key stop on ancient trade routes, said Ali al-Ghabban, a senior museums and antiquities official.

The inscription was found on a rock and carries the royal signature of Ramses III with a double cartouche, Ghabban said in a statement.

[Source: News24.com]

مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ ﴿١٠ 

(10) Whosoever desires honour, (power and glory), then to Allah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allah unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish. [Surah-Al-Fatir]

Read more »

Timeout

This blog has officially declared a timeout!

Whatever you doing, stop now!

Grab the Mic and shout out your plans for Eid or anything random you feel like saying.

Read more »

3abaya

I am not one to post about abaya's but I have an invite for a show in Dubai which I can not attend so I am sharing it with you. Here are the details.

Read more »

Truly formulated Emirates style

If you a formula 1 fan, you will understand my excitement over the upcoming grand prix race happening this coming weekend in Abu dhabi. It's the final race for the 2010 season at the Yas Marina Circuit between the 12-14 November -   Renault has taken lead so far but I am pretty sure that Mercedes is going to fight all the way to the finish.  





But perhaps something more exciting for all those inner child adults and kids alike is not so much the Grand Prix itself but that the host city, Abu Dhabi is kicking off the race week in true fashion with the opening of the Ferrari World Theme Park. The Park is nothing short of impressive boasting the fastest roller coaster in the world, "Formula Rossa" along side other rides and entertainment - one would expect nothing less from the Emirates city, only true innovation and class to the say the least.  So let me leave you with this video and link to the website so you can decide for yourself.

Impressive, right? Well then, if you in Abu Dhabi this weekend, make a pit stop at the Theme Park & Have fun!

Go to the FerrariWorld website

Read more »

Weekend memoirs

Alhumdulillah, Eid-ul-Ad7a, the "Festival of Sacrifice",

is around the corner and how fast it is approaching. Coming from a family that has a background in the meat business, Eid-ul-Ad7a has always been a busy time for us - playing with fat cuddly sheep to watching them being slaughtered, witnessing others storing their carcasses in our cold rooms and seeing the smiles on the faces of the poor as they receive their share of Adha. I remember one Eid, my dad took me along with him to watch our bull being slaughtered...on the drive there, I had all sorts of pictures in my head about how the bull would actually kill us before anything else and just maybe the string holding him might come loose...once at the slaughter house I was surprised to see that things were alot more sophisticated that my imagination. We walked up to a huge open room with slaughter livestock being queued, a whole lot of rails and hooks and there it was a square den where our family adha awaited his turn - within seconds a man stunted him to put him off and then he was slaughtered...

it was over in 5 minutes. How sad I thought while my dad told me, you should not feel sad about this -  we are doing it for Allah's sake. How right he is! 

I hope you all have made intentions to make Adha this Eid and Inshallah may Allah accept it too, Ameen!

وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٦

(36) And the Budn (cows, oxen, or camels driven to be offered as sacrifices by the pilgrims at the sanctuary of Makkah) We have made them for you as among the Symbols of Allah, wherein you have much good. So mention the Name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines (for sacrifice). Then, when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat thereof, and feed the poor who does not ask (men), and the beggar who asks (men). Thus have We made them subject to you that you may be grateful. [Surah Al Hajj]

Have a great weekend!

Read more »

Sun Halo

While browsing through the South African paper today, I was pleasantly surprised to learn of a 'Sun Halo'. Johannesburg residents were witness to this somewhat of a miracle earlier this week which is visibly a round rainbow, seen around the sun  - the rare phenomenon only appears on occasions when the sun is seen through a fine layer of moisture between the earth and the sun. Sun halos are the result of ice crystals trapped in cirrus clouds, in the lowest layer of earth's atmosphere.  The crystals act as prisms, reflecting light that mimics bands of colour found in a rainbow. Allah-u-Akbar - is this not of the most beautiful creations of Allah!









[3 pictures in this set - click here to see more]

    

Pictures sourced from the News24 Gallery

Read more »

Hajj 2010 Showcase 5: Saudi Arabia's New Monorail

Saudi Arabia has not only launched the world's largest clock this year but it has now introduced the first train system in Makkah's history after completing the first stage of the project - it is reported that it will transport nearly 130 000 pilgrims during this year's hajj easing road congestions caused by thousands of cars near Makkah. 





Three different types of tickets will cover all holy sites in Makkah and will allow the pilgrims to take the train into the city to perform their rites before returning to their residence inside or outside the city, Ajel online newspaper said, quoting Habib Zain Alabidin, Undersecretary at the Saudi Ministry of Municipal affairs. "The ticket's price is set at SR250 (US$ 67) which will cover a full trip into and out of Makkah for seven days…another ticket is priced at SR100 (US$ 27) for four days," he said. 

[6 photos & 1 video in this set - click here to view more]

Mashallah

Source: YouTube & "Madinah Makkah Hajj Train" Islam Newsroom October 18, 2010 

Read more »