Fourth trip

Went to Syabas yesterday to follow up on my water application. They say it will take about two to three weeks to process. Mine has been about a month already but still no news. This is my fourth visit to Syabas since this saga started. Met the officer in charge hoping for good news but the moment she told me there is a little bit of problem with the application, my heart sank. Apparently, my meter stand is too low! Therefore her boss refused to sign the approval letter although she as the officer in charge has said it is ok. Sigh....... I said to my self, this is Murphy's law at its best. If things can go wrong, it will! What it means is that there will be more delay. Why is it so difficult to get water? Its been months. It all started with the incompetent contractor who didn't do his work. As a result, I am still without water although the house has been ready for so long. Hmm..... the good news is my contractor has made a fresh application. Now the letter is going to the boss again for signature. Hopefully everything will be okay by this week in sha Allah.

Together again

Wife and the kids came on Saturday. As the house is still without water, we had to find another place to stay. Not very difficult actually as there are many hotels and home stays available in Kuala Selangor, Puncak Alam and other areas within a few kilometres of Danau Merbau. As long as you are willing to pay, there are many to choose from. We finally decided on a condo in Puncak Alam. I would say good in terms of cleanliness, location and price. Near the mosque, Tesco, petrol station and other amenities. A hotel is not within our consideration because for the same amount, you will get only one room. That's a bit too much when you have three very active kids with you.

A few days

They will be staying for a few days before going back to KL. Will come back for good once the water issue is settled, which I hope is imminent. After all, its been almost a month since we made a fresh application to the authorities. Meantime, we have to live this way. Me in Danau Merbau while the rest are in KL. Its not the best of arrangement but its the best we can do at the moment. Once they can join me in Danau Merbau, then it will be back to normal. We will begin our new life in a new house, a new place and with lots of positive anticipation. In sha Allah

Hot, hot weather

Its been hot these days. No rain for the past one month. Only the hot sun and dry days. From what I read in the papers, the situation will remain till October. Wah! Such a long time. Just over a month ago, it was the rainy season. The rain was heavy and consistent such that some places in the kampong experienced flooding. Then the rain stopped and it ha been dry ever since. Need to drink plenty of water. I have also stopped riding the motorbike too much now because of the weather. Only to the mosque and back. Going to other places, I drive the car. Once the weather becomes a bit cooler, I will start riding my bike once again.

Not as expected

Since living in Bukit Cerakah, I have been to four mosques which are around the vicinity. Only the one in Puncak Alam is a bit further. To my surprised, only the mosque in Puncak Alam have professional 'imam'. They are hafiz meaning they have the whole quran in their head. Even the muazzin are hafiz. However, at the other three mosques, the imam are just ordinary. Their capacity to recite the quran is limited. Only what we would call the 'ayat ayat lazim'. Even then only the short and simple ones. I would have thought they are capable of a bit more but no. Very very limited. Jeram, for as long as I can remember, is a place where there are many tahfiz schools. Therefore, the situation as it is is a surprised to me. It is not what I expected.

Cracked heels

One thing I can't do is to walk on cement floor without shoes or slippers. My heels will crack badly. That's what is happening now. A result of walking too much on cement floor. For example, the mosque in Puncak Alam is big. To reach the main prayer hall where it is carpeted, I have to walk across a large area that is not carpeted, only tiles. Before that I have to  take ablution also walking on cement floor. These activities have taken a toll on my heels. They are badly cracked. It can be painful when the crack gets large and deep. I bought a gel to stop the crack from getting worse. It has its effect. The cracks are slowly reducing but not totally. I need to try some other gel but most of all, I need to avoid walking on cement floor barefooted.

Daily activities

I have developed a routine in my daily activities now. Early morning, its to the Bukit Cerakah mosque for the morning prayer after waking up. After that, its to Puncak Alam for breakfast, empty my stomach and have my bath at the mosque. Afternoon its again to the Bukit Cerakah mosque for the afternoon prayer. I will have my lunch at a stall by the roadside near my house after that. Ten sleep, watch TV or do household chores. Later in the afternoon its back to the mosque for Asar prayer. As night falls, its back to the mosque for the maghrib prayer. Then have my dinner at yet another stall near my house. My last visit to the mosque will be after dinner for the Isya prayer. Then its back to the house, watch TV until its time to sleep. Tomorrow it will be the same routine. That's the routine these days.