Bye bye 2013

I look forward to 2014 with great anticipation. 2013 has come and it will go soon. Let's hope 2014 will bring much laughter and happiness, just as the previous years have done. I have plans for 2014. Lets see if they all come to fruition. Anyway, bye bye 2013......... 

2013 is ending

The year 2013 is ending. This is the year when I started working again, after vowing to retire for good in 2011. This is the year when my motorcycle license come in handy, after not being in need for more than thirty years. I bought a motorcycle to travel to and from work, something I never thought I would do. This is the year when Maryam Maisarah was born, my second daughter. She was supposed to be next year but she couldn't wait. This is the year when I became a landlord. I rented out my house in Senawang, Seremban. This is the year when I passed my tourism guide exam but didn't take the license. It is something I really love to do but circumstances forbids. 2013 holds many memories, just as in previous years. I look forward to 2014........

With all their heart

For two months at least, the baby will sleep as and when she likes, meaning morning, evening, night or whatever, it does not matter to her. Her sleep pattern is as she wishes. That also means my sleep will be disturb. This is something I have to brace for. After two months, then her sleep will have a routine to it. A few hours in the morning, a few hours in the afternoon and the whole night long. By then, I can go back to my normal sleep I hope. This is only talking about sleep. There are many others. That's how it is, bringing up children. Parents change their lifestyle, their routine, their life pattern just to suit their children. And parents do them with all their heart.

One issue settled

I handed over the keys to the house to the agent yesterday. Cleared my things, did a few minor repairs before leaving the house at about 6.30pm. For the next few years at least, I won't be going to Senawang as often as in the last few months. I have rented it out. Now that's settled at least one issue is out of my mind. I can move on to other things. First and foremost, my responsibilities to the two small kids.

Renting is the best option

Today I am going to Seremban to clear the house of our things. Some plates, brooms, mattress etc. I have managed to find someone to rent the house starting first January 2014. I am glad that it is settled. Otherwise, it was always on my mind thinking what to do with the house. I can't sell it cause the tax would be too much to pay. I can't stay there cause its too far away from my place of work in KL. In the nd, renting out is the best option.

Give me the strength

At fifty seven, I should be playing with my grandchildren! But here I am, with a baby son and now a baby daughter. Its tough for sure but then that's the life I have chosen so I have to bear with it. Its tough because I thought I am passed all these. Its over for me. I have brought up four children. I have given my all to ensure they have the best I can give. Its tiring as I have always said but it is also rewarding and it gives plenty of satisfaction. Now they are adults. Suddenly, I have to go through it a second time, after a gap of almost twenty years. First Akid, now Maryam. Akid is only one year seven months old. Maryam is only a few days old. Oh Allah..give me the strength to bring up my children to become your faithful servant, forever. 

Maryam Maisarah

Finally she has got a name. Its Maryam Maisarah. Maryam as in the mother of the prophet Isa a.s. and Maisarah means prosperity. She was only 1.9kg at birth. Small but strong with an iron will. She signaled her imminent arrival early in the morning when the water breaks. Barely three hours later, she arrived. All along I was thinking it will be sometime later in the day or even at night but no, that morning itself she came. As a result, I missed watching her emerging from her mother. The only one of my six children that I missed.

Sleepless

Its the beginning of sleepless nights and sleepy mornings. Last night for example, the baby woke us up many times with her cries. It was almost every half an hour. As a result, we couldn't sleep, having to give attention to her.  Akid has been magnificent so far. Perhaps it hasn't sink in yet for him. He is still doing his usual thing, full of energy with not a worry in the world.

I must not understand tired

Now I have four sons and two daughters. Four have grown up, all of them university graduates. One already married and living in Australia with her husband. In bringing them up, I have given my all. Time, effort, money and whatever else so that they become man and woman I can be proud of. I may not be the best but believe me, I have tried my best. Now they are all grown up, no longer living with me but they are always in my mind. I can only pray that they keep on loving and obey Allah, keep on loving and follow the Sunnah of His prophet Muhammad SAW and In sha Allah, their lives will be a success, in this world and the hereafter. 

Now I am starting all over again. The cycle repeats. I will try my best just as I have done earlier. Tiring is a word I must not understand. Instead, I look forward to a fulfilling time, bringing up children even at a ripe old age of fifty seven.

Under observation

She was not supposed to be born until 20th January 2014. But alas....she couldn't wait. On 24th December, almost three weeks earlier, she came into this world. As a result, she had to be kept under observation in a separate room. Almost twenty four hours later, I still couldn't hold her in my arms. Today the doctor is going to decide if she is okay. If so, she can go home. I hope everything's fine, In sha Allah. 

No 6

She came all of a sudden. Without any warning. Without waiting for anybody. Of all my six children, she is the only one I was not in the labor room when she came into this world. At about 6.45am, the mother saw liquid flowing out from her. We suspected her water had break. Got ourselves ready and  drove to the hospital. Once we got there, the mother was quickly put in the labor room. It was almost 8.30am. One and a half hours later, she was born. So fast. I had to look after Akid so I couldn't enter the room. Anyway, all along I was thinking that it won't be happening soon. Maybe later in the day. 

Pictures

 Cameron Highland

 Langkawi

Sekincan

Its a no no

Would love to go to Cameron Highland for my holiday but from experience, now is not the time. Why? Its the school holidays. The place will be packed with people so much so you can't move. Its the same everywhere. Langkawi, Melaka, Pangkor etc.All the popular holiday destination is a no no at this time of the year.

Its a merry go round

Becoming a football manager is one thing I would like to do. Not so much for the job itself but because failure means you get the sack. That's when it gets interesting. The compensation you received is enough for a whole lifetime. Its millions of dollars. Who wouldn't want it? Not only that. Your reputation remains intact. The sack does not do any damage to your it. When another opening emerge after somebody else get the sack, you apply for the job. Your chances of getting the job is as good as anybody. That's how it is being a football manager. Its a merry go round.

I learn everyday

I'm on holiday now. Won't be in the office till next Monday. Time to take a break for some relaxing time and unwinding. Have no plan to go anywhere except stay at home Maybe go for a few short outings that's all. Its almost a year since I started working again. Till today, I am still enjoying my second wind although work related problems as usual come by the dozens. I'm back doing the technical stuff, something I have left for so many years. So far I have been able to pick up what's left inside of me besides learning new things. I learn everyday!

Back home

Was in Seremban on Saturday. Came back from Bintulu the night before on a 7 pm flight. Reached KLIA about 9.15 pm. After staying a while at the house in Senawang, headed for Ulu Bendul recreational area. Unfortunately Akid was so sleepy by that time that he slept the whole time. Thought we wanted to have him enjoy the cool water of Ulu Bendul but that was not to be.

Its plentiful

In Bintulu once again. Took the 4pm flight from KLIA. Reached Bintulu about 6pm. I'II be here till Friday. After that it will be the weekend. Come Monday I'II be on leave till the end of the week. Nine days in total. Looking forward to it as I have not had a long holiday for quite some time already. Meantime, it will be meeting first tomorrow and Friday. One thing I like about the hotel here in Bintulu is the water coming out from the shower. Its plentiful. Having a bath is the most satisfying thing.

You are a rich man

The way things are going, I will not be surprised if the special one becomes the next manager to lose his job. The pressure to succeed is so great, the owners will not accept anything less. A top four is the minimum. Having said that, I don't mind being sacked if I were them. The compensation is beyond the imagination of most people. You are a rich man.

All is well

Haircut over. Everything ok now

Haircut

Getting a haircut is a harrowing experience for Akid.

I can only be grateful

Akid is going to have a baby sister soon. Not long to go, most probably in a month's time. For me, it will mean child number six. At fifty seven years old, I should be playing with my grandchild but if that's what God has ordained, I can only be grateful. It is tiring no doubt, especially for one as old as me to be bringing up children. For me, those days should be history. Anyway, no use dwelling on it. I am living in the present now. As I said earlier, I can only be grateful to Allah.

There will always be another day

Its good to be at home in the morning instead of being in the office. Its Saturday off course. Time to unwind and relax. I have a few things to do later in the morning as well as tomorrow but they can wait. For now let me just relax and enjoy the moment. As usual, I did my morning prayer at the nearby mosque. Came back, read the Quran a little bit. Saturday has always been the day I look forward to because of the football. Tonight there will be football matches galore. In my younger days, when my favourite team lose, so will be my day. However, these days, it matter not. There will always be another day.

A nasty accident

Had a nasty fall yesterday off my bike. I was heading back to the office from Subang Jaya after going to a bank when it happened. I was riding at a slow pace following the heavy traffic on the road. A motorcyclist overtook me when suddenly she lost his balance and fall right in front of me. I had no time to swerve away from her. Instead I knocked into her motorcycle. As a result, I also lost my balance and fall. A motorcycle behind me also went the same way as he knocked into my motorcycle. There we were, the three of us, lying on the road with our motorcycles. Luckily, none of us were badly injured while our motorcycles also survived. I had a few scratches but generally was alright.

As it turned out, the stretch of road where it happened was slippery as it was covered with oil. Many other motorcyclist suffered the same fate.

Its baffling

What is happening in Thailand? It seems to me that mob rule is taking over. How can a country function when the law is not respected? They have a democratically elected government but they want to throw it by street protest. Its mind boggling to say the least. What if they succeed? Will they last? Another group will do the same thing to them and another.....and another......and another!

Its the Holiday season

Thinking of going to Melaka again but the school holiday is putting me off. I'm pretty sure Melaka will be crowded, so crowded that it becomes unpleasant. Just like Cameron Highland. Its a nightmare to be there at this time of the year. So, where will I go? I'm planning to finish off my leave for the year during the Christmas week. Take four days and I have nine days of break in total. Maybe just stay at home, waiting the arrival of my new baby girl, In sha Allah. 

Sunday jotting

Another defeat. What is happening at Man U? Defeat after defeat! They have taken only two points out of a possible twelve. That is really really bad. At this rate I don't think they will even make it to the top four. Missing out on Europe. Wow! That's frightening.

Nowadays I only drive my Mercedes when I go for the morning prayer at the nearby mosque. After that the car stays parked the whole day. I'm thinking seriously of selling it. What's the use of having the car when I don't use it? Even when I use a car, I usually drive the Viva, Its more economical, easy to park, easy to move around in a jam etc.

At Masjid Mujahiddin Damanasara

Stop over on the way to a wedding.

Would be a miracle

When David Moyes took over the reign at Manchester United from Alex Ferguson, nobody thought that after a few months, Man U would be struggling, stuck in the middle of the table. There's a real danger they might miss the top four, missing out a place in Europe, something that have been taken for granted all these years. Why? The same players that won the title last year are still there. Don't tell me their skills have disappeared overnight. if they were good enough to win the title last year, they should be good enough to win it again this year, or at least be in the top four! The way things are going, achieving a top four would be a miracle.

Rain rain rain

Its been raining almost everyday this week. Everyday I had to put on my raincoat. Sometime I get a bit wet even with the raincoat on but still its much better than getting stuck in jam. When it rain, the jam gets worse. I ride my bike passed hundreds, even thousands of cars, crawling because of the jam. I don't how long it took them to reach home but the frustration must be immense. I know because just a few months ago, I was one of them. That's when you start driving on the emergency lane, in defiance of the rules. Sometimes you get stopped y the police.....

Rain, rain, rain

Yesterday it rained the whole day. In the morning I had to ride in the rain. Going back in the evening, again I had to ride in the rain. The only consolation was when I saw all those cars stuck in a jam. I thank myself for I am not one of them although riding in the rain is certainly not one that I enjoyed, even with the raincoat on. I managed to reach home in forty minutes. Driving a car, it would have taken much longer for sure.

More wedding photos

Akid as usual will find the time to sleep even at the noisiest of events. Either he is asleep or he is up to his antics. There is no such thing as a relax time for him.

Wedding galore

Was at a wedding over the weekend. The long school holiday has started and so has the weddings. Every weekend, every where, day or night, weddings abound. Sometimes invitations come by the dozens. You have to pick and choose which one to go. To go to all of them is certainly out of question.