Angelina jolie gifts waterfall to brad

“Khawab hotey hain dekhney ke liye

In main ja ker magar raha na karo ! ”

A poet said the above verse in urdu language but he may not know that “money” can buy dreams and Angelina Jolie’s gift on Brad Pitt’s birthday is an example of that! Remember those days when men used to promise impossible gifts like stars for their loved ones but todays’ lovers do have the monetary power to bring such dreams to reality. This time its not a man who has given an unconventional gift but a lady!

Angelina Jolie, the actress-director, 36, purchased a waterfall and surrounding land in California as Pitt’s combined Christmas and 48th birthday present, in order to provide him with the property for his dream home.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: “Brad has always loved Fallingwater and his first trip there was unforgettable. Angelina wanted to get him something incredibly special and, because she knows how much he loves architecture, she thought this would be perfect.

“She hopes this will be a hideaway for the family. Brad has dreamed of a home with the sound of a waterfall cascading under the house.

“Brad has always wanted to design his own house. He wants to pull all aspects of nature, light, glass and varying levels into the concept. This is the present to top all presents.”

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Zardari aur Shareef

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Zaradi cuts the cake

Mr Zardari’s smile while cutting the cake shows that he was not even discouraged by Bilawal not getting an invitation to the Royal Wedding. President of Pakistan cuts the cake to celebrate the Queen’s 85th Birthday and of the Royal Wedding between Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton, during ceremony at UK Embassy in Islamabad on Friday, April 29, 2011.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, senior officers and people from various walks of life were among the guests.

Speaking at the reception arranged by British High Commission, the President expressed his best wishes for the newly married couple and prayed for happiness in their future.

British High Commissioner Adam Thomson said, “The two happy events mark the start of a tremendously exciting period for the UK and the Commonwealth. The Queen’s birthday is also an occasion to reflect on the close ties that bind UK and Pakistan. ”

This was all done (maybe) in good spirits but for a common Pakistani like me there are two options either we get  frustrated thinking that the President of a country faced  by so many challenges has nothing better to do then cutting a cake to celebrate Queen’s birthday!!or laugh at it….

“Begaani shaadi main Abdullah Deewana” We all know this famous proverb of  Urdu language which means that an  irrelevant person (Abdullah) celebrates wedding of a stranger with more excitement than the relevant people.

You can see an example of this ‘muhawara’ in the picture above.

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Mausummery lawn 2011

Its an early Mausummery Exhibiton in Islamabad this year. Any why not? Lawns are raining and reigning from all directions.

Mausummery lawn will be exhibited in Islamabad on 5th, 6th and 7th April 2011 at Marriot Hotel. The hall is packed with ladies as usual and they are buying at a pace which frightens me as if they are hoarding lawn this summer. Everything around us is getting dearer and so is the clothing.

The price of a 3 piece suit is Rs. 1650 + 500 for the embroidery if u want it.

Price of 2 piece suit is Rs 1100 + 500 for embroidery if…

Mausummery lawn print 2011

They are not selling piece but you will get it only for the suits if their shalwars are finished!!

The thing I liked about mausummery in the past  was that you can buy fabric more or less than a shirt piece and there was no need to buy 3 piece suits. But this time they have packed the suits and are not ready to cut more cloth if one needs to have a longer or a bigger shirt!

Anyways the prints are fabulous and colour combinations are attractive. Prices are higher than last year still people are buying because of the quality of their fabric or maybe the other brands have even higher prices!

Do not miss this exhibition. I would  love to have a at least one mausummery suit in my summer wardrobe.

Mausummery 2011

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Understand Autistic Children

Today on the “World Autism Awareness Day” I would like to share that observing an autistic child has been a learning experience for me. When I met him first he refused to shake hands and make eye contact.  Treating him like any other child and being an ill-informed person on the subject it took me weeks to realize he is different. Until that time he became quite upset and aggressive.

He got admitted in my preschool group when he was not even three years old , I treated him like an ordinary baby. He hardly spoke a word and was like a free spirit who did not listen, respond and did not follow any directions. When I  discussed his behavior with the mom she completely denied everything. Parents here in Pakistan like to be in a state of denial and I fully sympathize with them but we as responsible adults have to take up the matter more practically. As I read  more about autism I seem to love, care and protect him more.

“Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.”

My personal observation about an autistic child are:

• He rarely makes an eye contact or maybe not at all.
• Difficulty in social communication.
• He keeps on repeating what you say or tell.
• Learns everything orally and quite quickly but with no understanding of the concept.
• Smiles and cries for no reason.
• Aggressive towards other children.
• Has started following the daily routine quite nicely like saying ‘salam’ to each child every morning, eating his lunch himself, etc.
• Lives in a world of his own and does not participate in group activities.
• He has learnt names and recognize people but does  not talk to them.

He is four and half years old now and I wished that someone guided me on teaching techniques for such children. Parents living in Islamabad do not have much of a choice if they do not want to label their child as abnormal or special. So they are forced to put them in normal schools. Today on geo tv I heard a speech therapist giving a useful information. She said making them follow instructions and so things is easier if you use pictures, especially their own pictures. She further said these children have a strong sense of time as they know when they eat or sleep without watching a clock.

Signs of Autism

Some physical and environmental factors limit the available nutrients to the brain and body and create additional stress to chemical pathways.Routine blood work often fails to identify the problem.  Biomedical testing can determine more specific abnormalities so the appropriate treatment  can be determined. Father of an autistic child says,

“By just following the results of the food allergy test, where only low level of reactivity was reported in wheat and sugar, I just minimized these two elements from the environment under the supervision of our food nutritionist in Pakistan and within 15 days I have witnessed that my son has started to sit calmly for short noticeable time spans and his impatient violent movements also started to appear to have slightly eased out. Even this change has also been acknowledged by the special school.

After the receipt of the Gluten / Casein Peptide test report we plan to initiate comprehensive follow-up in the light of other reports with the help of our nutritionist and I am sure that the little progress signs witnessed in my son are quite encouraging and my son will soon be a part of normal life. Any parents of an ADHD / Autistic child in Pakistan can get in touch with me to have first hand feel of my personal experience through my cell No 0092-300-8414169.”

New Theory links autism with fever. Read more.

More signs of Autism

Useful links:

www.aactionautism.org

www.autismpakistan.org

www.autism-pakistan.org

Understanding Autism

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Asim Jofa lawn 2011:

Asim Jofa Lawn 2011 is nice, different and original! This is the first time I have seen Asim Jofa’s lawn. The suits have lovely chiffon dopattas. The price range is from Rs. 2600 to Rs. 3800. As the exhibition is over I do not think its available anywhere in Islamabad. (Correct me if I am wrong)

Sana Safinaz Lawn 2011:

Anyone can fall in love at the first sight with this collection. Unique is the word to describe their summer 2011 lawn ! The price ranges from Rs. 3800 to around Rs 4300. ( I have seen  people are selling them in black market for Rs 5000!!! Amazing )

Sobia Nazir Lawn 2011:

Sobia Nazir has designed yet another amazing summer lawn collection. She has a range of  formal to casual designs and long to short shirts too. Its for the people who are bored of the long A line shirts and those who love to experiment. The price ranges from Rs. 2600 to Rs 4000. You can get it from her outlet in Jinnah Super F-7 and at her house too… Check the complete range on facebook.

Bonanza lawn2011

Bonanza Lawn2011:

This was the first lawn exhibition in Isloo so we all rushed to get a look at the fresh print and what a disappointment it was! Everything from the fabric to prints and colours is not impressive. Price range is around 3600 to 3800 which is quite high for the sort of Quality they are offering. Bonanza lawn is still available at Kapas in F-10 and at their outlet in SuperMarhet f-6.

I missed out on vlawn by Vaneeza but a friend told me it was also around Rs 3000 and she has an impressive collection too.

Me being a loyal Mausummery Lawn customer will wait for the their exhibition in Islamabad. They have displayed their new lawn 2011 prints in their store in Lahore and their suits ranges from Rs 1650 to Rs 1700. If you can then rush to Lahore as today was their first day otherwise lets wait for the Islamabad  Exhibition.

Thanks to Facebook all the above brands have their pages….check out the whole range. Good luck to all the well dressed ladies of Islamabad.

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Autumn in Islamabad

As the wind quietly changed, a slight chill has settled into its folds signalling that winter is waiting to creep upon us. Preparation of winter begins as our scenery changes colours! Summer trees are showing all shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. Its like our streets have changed costumes and this change is very pleasant  as autumn is the perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. I simply love these changing colours and my camera fails to capture their beauty. You have to come to Islamabad to witness autumn and everyone should take time out to sit and watch the leaves turn.

common autumn trees in Islamabad

This is how Mohsin Ahsaan, a sad urdu poet describes autumn season.

Yun-hi to shaakh se pattey girra nahi kerty
ke bichar ke log ziada jiya nahin kerty!

Jo aaney waley hain mousam unhey shumaar main rakh
Jo din guzer gaye un ko ginna nahin kerty

Na dekha jaan ke uss ne koi sabab hoga
Issi khayaal se hum dil burra nahin kerty

Woh mil gaya hai to kia qissa-e-firaaq kahain
Khushi ke lamhoun ko yun be-maza nahin kerty

Nishaat-e-qarb, Gham-e-hijr ke ewaz matt maang
Dua ke naam pe yun bad-dua nahin kerty

Hamarey qatal pey Mohsin yeh paish-o-pass kaisi
Hum aesey log talb-e-khoon baha nahin kerty!

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Watching flood coverage on tv screens all day makes us immune and we do not realize the magnitude of the disaster.

Please help these people in whatever way you can. On such days I wish to be “man” so I am free to leave the comforts of my house and do some “real” help.

pakistan flood victims

Pak army supplying food

Millions of people are effected by these floods and today I saw markets in Islamabad full of people shopping happily. There was no shadow of sorrow in their eyes and no urgency in their movements. Are we the same nation who got together after the “oct 8 earthquake”? Are we numb now? It seems like we have stopped feeling the sorrow of others. It long since are nerves are not relaxed, things happen one after the other and we are so used to watching these horrible things and carrying on with our lives.
I wish this vicious circle of disasters, crashes, blasts, drones and killings come to an end. Please help people of our beloved country and pray as ramadan is approaching. Pray for peace, pray for hope, pray for happiness, pray for life!!

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