My Dadajee’s Super Sweet 70th Birthday!

If you were to choose one inspirational person from your life, who would it be? Your mum? Your dad? Your teacher? Greta Thunberg? The world has so many motivational people out there, but it takes someone special to stand out to you personally. For me, that is my Dadajee!

I have always looked up to everyone in my family. My parents, for not only being present in my childhood, but for being involved; my aunt @drauntie.uk, for being an amazing role model; and of course, my Mamajee @adamdidam, for being the bright spark in my life.

But Dadajee is something else altogether. He is all of these things – and more! There are over a million words in the English language, but not a single one can fully describe just how PAWSOME my Dadajee is!

Dadajee has always been the one everyone in our family looks to for advice. They say that with age comes wisdom, but as far as I can tell, wisdom came to him before age did! After all, he was the one that taught Mrs Mom, Dr Auntie, Mamajee, and everyone else the valuable qualities they have today – take, for example, speaking confidently, a skill which Dadajee taught so well it has even been passed on to Fatimah!

So earlier on, I said that there are no words to describe my Dadajee, but if there’s anything that comes close, it would be ‘jack of all trades’! That’s right, Dadajee is multi-talented, and even after knowing him for 13 years, he still never fails to surprise me with his skills. His many talents account for his ever-interesting personality – not a dull moment goes by when you’re with my Dadajee!

But most importantly, my Dadajee is LOVING, KIND, FUNNY and HUMBLE! If there is anyone I would follow in the footsteps of, it is my Dadajee. And what with the loss of our beloved Mamajee, when we were all struggling, Dadajee proved just how CARING he was by holding us all together when the glue that bound us weakened with the loss. Truly, I aspire to be just like my Dadajee when I grow up!

Dadajee’s 70th birthday is certainly a day we all look upon as a day to celebrate not Dadajee’s age, but himself, as a person with a brilliant character! After all, it is not age that defines a person, but their values and characteristics. Dadajee deserves to be celebrated, and we are all very lucky to have him!

Happy 70th Birthday Dadajee! May Allah make this a day full of joy and cheer. May He grant you many more happy, healthy years of life and may He reserve you the highest place in Jannah. Last but not least, I just want to say that I love you with all my heart, just as you are, and that I never want you to change, because you are already PAWSOME!

Love,

Omar Mukhtar – Dadajee’s 1st Grandson

p/s: Please come back to visit soon! All of your family here in the U.K. miss you very much…❤️

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A Poopy Story…

 

This half-term in Science, we’ve been looking at biology, specifically the development of babies. So, the Science department decided to adopt some babies so we could examine their growth over the next few weeks. Relax…they weren’t real human babies! They were only baby chicks, and really, the chicks were actually eggs to start with. So don’t worry, no human babies were harmed during our Science lessons!

I was actually lucky enough to witness the first few baby chicks hatching! The picture above is of me before the half-term holidays (credit to my friends Prnay and Daniel for the photos) when the Science teachers decided to give us a little treat and let us stroke the hatched chicks. You might think that it was enjoyable, and it was, until that sweet moment turned into chaos! Literally all the chicks started pooping on all of my friends! In the end, everyone was less concerned about the chicks than they were about washing chick poop off their clothes and avoiding the chicks as much as they could. I was lucky enough to quickly put down the chick in the picture the moment before it did a Number 2! So overall, my first experience holding newborn chicks was not what I expected!

When we had all sat back down (and all the chick poop was washed away) one of my classmates asked the Science teacher what would happen to the chicks when we finished learning about Biology. In response, the teacher said, “Well, they’ll be sent back to the farm where they came from and, in a few months time, they’ll be…well, they might be on your plate the next time you go to KFC!” And that’s how the teacher successfully managed to keep the class quiet for the rest of the lesson – you should have seen our faces then!

Have a PAWSOME Wednesday,

Omar Mukhtar a.k.a. The Pawsome Lion

p/s: Have you ever been pooped on by an animal? Share your #poopystory!

 

 

A Night In Stratford-upon-Avon…

Wednesday was our last day in school before the Christmas holidays, and it’s sure been a busy first term for me at King Edward’s School, but nevertheless an enjoyable one. Since it was Christmas, the school treated the Shells (this is what KES calls Year 7) to a special night out at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon to watch a performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’!

The show is based on the book by Charles Dickens, and it was a hugely entertaining show! But before the actual show started, entering the auditorium itself was really exciting. It was packed with people, and the 120 or so boys from KES took up only just about a quarter of the total seats! I was sitting in a seat high up, and I had a great view of everything happening on stage – lucky me!

When the lights finally went up on stage, I saw the set for the first time, and I can tell you one thing: it. Was. Amazing! The play was set in the Victorian times, and the team did a brilliant job of recreating the cobblestoned streets lined with cramped little houses! The set really made it look like another world!

The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy, grouchy old miser who is more in love with money than any other person. When he comes back home on the night of Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his dead business partner, Marley, that foretells the visit of three more spirits in the night. When these Ghosts – the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Christmas Yet To Come – arrive at Scrooge’s household, they attempt to encourage him to become a kind, generous man like he used to be as a child. But will old Scrooge change his ways in time to celebrate Christmas?

To go with the great actors were great costumes! The traditional Victorian attire was amazing, but not only that, I particularly liked the great green gown that the Ghost of Christmas Present wore! It reminded me of a real forest with berries and bushes!

Special effects were also top notch; there are brilliant fog and ice effects, ‘snow’ falling from the ceiling, and even a bed that rose out of the stage floor! I especially enjoyed the moment when Scrooge put his hand right through the ghost of Marley, his dead business partner! I still can’t figure out how they did it, but I guess that’s the magic of it all! The dance numbers were also well-practised and ‘funky’, as you might say!

I really enjoyed watching ‘A Christmas Carol’. It was heartwarming, funny and magical all at the same time! With astounding actors, brilliant costumes and tremendous special effects, it was a truly PAWSOME show!

*Media Source: Google Images*

Giving Thanks On This Special Day!

 

 

Twelve years ago, I was sent as a blessing from God to an amazing couple who I am now proud to call Mrs Mom and Mr Dad. They said I was their #LuckyNumber1, but really I am the one who is blessed to have such PAWSOME parents!

Some may think I was born with intelligence, but that’s not the truth at all! My parents were the soul source of all my skills. They identified my interests, and from day 1, they guided me and eventually helped to shape me into who I am today! I am often complimented for my skills, and I really appreciate it! But I must say, all this praise should be going to my parents! Behind every great child, there are two even greater parents! In my case, that is Mrs Mom and Mr Dad! They have made a lot of sacrifices to make my future as bright as it can be!

 

 

So for my birthday, I insisted my parents not to get me any gifts or even a cake. Anyway, it feels wrong after knowing that Mrs Mom endured more than 24 hours of labour pain to bring me into this world! Not forgotten, my parents had to go through a lot of challenges to raise me in a foreign country away from their families. If I told you all the things they did for me, from pregnancy until now, it would be endless! I couldn’t possibly repay them enough!

So today, on my twelfth birthday, I humbly ask everyone to pray for my wonderful parents, Mrs Mom and Mr Dad! All acknowledgement is due to them! Because honestly, they’re the ones who deserve it, not me! I mean, look at all the things that they have cherished over the years. They still kept most of the things from the pregnancy days up until now! Believe it or not, they have my lock of hair from my first haircut and even the pregnancy test! Not only that, there are lots of other bits and bobs too!

As for me, I’d like to give my parents a great big THANK YOU, a warm hug, kisses and prayers and, most importantly, the sincere love that only a truly grateful son can give! Thank you, Mrs Mom and Mr Dad! You’re the greatest gifts that any child could ever get on his birthday!

“The best presents are those that are given to you on the day you are born: your MOTHER and FATHER!”

– Omar Mukhtar
a.k.a. The Pawsome Lion
Sunday 2nd September 2018

 

 

The Lemon & Banana Boy!

Lemons are sour but this boy is sweet,

Ali’s his name, his cuteness can’t be beat!

Ali’s so sweet he makes sour lemons,

Sweeter than sugar, as sweet as a melon!

Ali love bananas, he loves them a lot!

He finds them so tasty, you should give them a shot!

This cute little boy just can’t live without

A banana a day, without it he’ll pout!

Bananas and lemons, both yellow in colour,

One is sweet, though, and the other’s sour…

But look what Ali’s done, it’s such a wonder!

He’s totally rocking this stylish T-shirt,

(the fruits are making me hungry for dessert!)

Bananas and lemons, who’d have thought,

Somebody could flaunt such a style?

The sweet with the sour, it just doesn’t click,

But Ali can make anything fit!

Ali, of course! His cuteness is great!

That and his new look, impossible to hate!

Bananas and lemons, sour and sweet,

Ali is WEARING them – isn’t that neat?

A poem by Omar Mukhtar a.k.a. The Pawsome Lion

Written for my little brother Ali!

My Last School Report!

Is there such a thing as school-sick? Because if there is, then I am SCHOOL-SICK! This was my last school report, written by my class teacher, Miss Patrick. As you can see, it is very detailed! When I first received it, I was awed, not by the length of it, but by the fact that she didn’t miss a single detail about me! Just thinking about the amount of effort she put into it touched me! This is something that I will never forget. I will definitely treasure this forever! And in case you’re wondering, yes, that bouquet of flowers that Miss Patrick is holding was from me! 😊

Have a pawsome Wednesday,

Omar Mukhtar

a.k.a. The Pawsome Lion

Books, Glorious Books!

Holidays are the best times for you to READ! Don’t just sit around playing games, spend time with your nose in a phone or watch Netflix day in, day out! Make the most of that free time and get stuck in a good book! And if you’re travelling to spend the holidays someplace away from home, even better! Kill time by reading a book! Whether you’re on a plane, in a car, travelling by bus or cruising in the sea, read! You can read anywhere: in the kitchen, in the garden, at the park, at the beach, or even in the bathroom!

Here’s my latest catch, some of which were bought by Mr Dad (thank you so much!), but most borrowed from my local library. So far, I have managed to read 8 of them, which leaves me with another 9 to go! Stay tuned for my next posts, I’ll be sharing more about the books I’ve read with all of you fellow bookworms!

“When people ask me if I like reading, it’s like asking me if I like breathing.”

Here’s a complete list of the books as seen in the picture, from top to bottom:

1. Through The Mirror Door – Sarah Baker
2. Grandpa’s Great Escape – David Walliams
3. The Wonderling – Mira Bartok
4. The Bolds In Trouble – Julian Clary
5. Book 3 of All The Wrong Questions: “Shouldn’t You Be In School?” – Lemony Snicket
6. Wildwood – Colin Meloy
7. Under Wildwood – Colin Meloy
8. The Midnight Gang – David Walliams
9. My Arch-Enemy is a Brain in a Jar – David Solomons
10. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain
11. Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
12. A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
13. The Song From Somewhere Else – A.F. Harrold
14. The Tiffin – Mahtab Narsimhan
15. Wilderness – Roddy Doyle
16. Where The World Ends – Geraldine McCaughrean
17. Where My Wellies Take Me – Michael Morpurgo *missing from the picture*

Thank You Malaysian Digest!

This post is specially dedicated to Ms Hana Maher and the team at Malaysian Digest! Thank you so much Ms Hana for writing an EXCLUSIVE FEATURE about my humble self! Words can’t describe how much I appreciate it! Also, thank you so much for speaking so highly of me! I am very grateful! I’m so humbled by your kind words! As always, the write-up was very well-written and high-quality, and, just like your previous articles (some of which have been displayed in my school), it was written with great care and not a single detail was missed! I loved reading it, not because it was about me, but because Ms Hana’s style of writing is truly captivating! In fact, why don’t you give it a read? I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

Click the link below ⤵️ to read the full article:

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/frontpage/29-4-tile/747393-exclusive-meet-the-british-born-m-sian-who-was-offered-a-full-scholarship-at-top-uk-school.html

It’s not just Ms Hana who deserves thanks – the whole team does! I’d also like to say a special thank you to Ms Deza, the Editor of Malaysian Digest, for honouring me with this EXCLUSIVE FEATURE! Ms Hana, Ms Deza and the Malaysian Digest team are brilliant people who have been supporting not only me, but my whole family, and continue to do so! I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many supportive people, including all of you, my beloved readers! On behalf of my family, I would like to again thank Ms Hana, Ms Deza and the team at Malaysian Digest for all your kindness! May God reward you handsomely! Not forgotten, to all my dearest readers, your PAWSOME support is highly appreciated! Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers!

p/s: Stay tuned for another EXCLUSIVE FEATURE on Malaysian Digest where Mrs Mom and Mr Dad will share their parenting secrets very soon! 😉

Happy Birthday Dadijee!

It was Dadijee’s birthday on Friday 8th June 2018, and it was a very special day indeed! Dadijee is an amazing grandma to all three of us – me, Fatimah and Ali – and a brilliant mother to Mrs Mom! She’s an ideal role model: she’s kind, considerate, and loving! She’s always there to help us and support us in bad times. She is willing to spare her time to listen to us, and she will always have some handy words of wisdom to share! And of course, her cooking is PAWSOME! But most of all, she’s loving! She’ll always be there to comfort us, as a grandma, mother and friend!

So today, I wish Dadijee a very Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday Dadijee! May God bestow all the greatest of blessings upon you! And what could be better than celebrating her birthday than when we’re all here together? Yes, that’s right, Dadijee and all the family just arrived on Thursday, right on time for her birthday! It’s so nice to have the family together for this special occasion! And as my gift as a grandson to a grandma, a special poem specially for one of the amazing people in my life!

A Brilliant Grandma

A Poem By Omar Mukhtar, The Pawsome Lion

She is a brilliant grandma,

With special qualities,

She’s kind, unique and sweet,

And puts up with my frivolities!

She is a brilliant grandma,

A brilliant cook too,

And so much food upon the plates,

It’s more than I can chew!

She is a brilliant grandma,

And on her birthday,

A thank you

Is the least I could do

For all she’s done for me

But I think I’ll start with that

Thank You and Happy Birthday!

p/s: Dear God,

Please shower my grandma with the greatest of blessings and reserve her the best place in Heaven – she really deserves it!

Love,

Omar Mukhtar a.k.a. The Pawsome Lion

123 Countries…And Counting!

Did you know that my blog has been read by 123 countries and counting till date? Unbelievable, right? There are a total of 195 countries in the whole world, and 123 of them have read my humble blog!

I started blogging way back in 2015 at the age of 9. I’ve been through such a long journey since I started, and learnt so much along the way! For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to write. I recall writing from as young as the age of 4! And before I could even write, I expressed my passion of writing through drawing! From there, I built up my skill in writing. I can see now why Mrs Mom says I was ‘BORN TO WRITE!’

The main purpose of me launching this blog was to encourage more people to read and write. Reading and writing open up the imagination and increase creativity, which is why I think it is very vital in today’s modern society. It’s important to challenge ourselves to read every day, however much you do, because reading leads to writing. Whether you read one page a day or one chapter, you just need to remember to keep it consistent, the same way with writing too.

I Thank God for blessing me with my greatest skill, writing, because without it, I wouldn’t be who I am today! Also, I want to take the opportunity to THANK all the people who have been reading my blog and showing me immense support! I mean, 123 countries? I couldn’t ask for more! I can still remember when I went for my interview at King Edward’s School, the interviewers were surprised to find out that an 11-year old boy could attract readers from all over the world! To be able to write is one thing, to get people from over 100 countries to read your work is a completely different story!

Without my family, teachers, friends, and of course, you PAWSOME readers, I wouldn’t be where I am today! I really appreciate all your kindness and PAWSOME support. Keep calm and carry on reading so that TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!