Gombak and KL

One thing about Gombak that is a plus is its close proximity to KL. If you look at the sky towards KL, KLCC dominates. It can be clearly seen. That's how close it is. People here go to Chow Kit for their groceries. They go to KL mall. They go to KLCC. All are close by. I never knew this place until I started living here. It was alien to me. My idea of KL and its neighbourhood was Subang Jaya, PJ, Pantai, Damansara. Now I'm beginning to know Gombak and its surrounding like Setapak, Danau Kota, Titiwangsa. There's plenty more to explore around here. I will do that in good time.

Bintulu

Its a Saturday

People come, people go. And so it was yesterday when two of our colleagues left. They have been assigned elsewhere by their company. All the best to them. As for me, yesterday I was feeling a bit under the weather. It blows hot and cold, on and off, just like the English weather, unpredictable. The doctor did a blood test on me a few days ago. Yesterday I received the result. It seems that I'm in danger of being a diabetic. Must cut down on my carbohydrates. Must exercise more as well but time these days does not permit. I need to find the time somehow. Even in the house, if I can, I need to exercise. 

For another day

Gombak is much nearer to my work place in PJ from Cheras. If the road is clear, it will be only twenty minutes. From my experience so far, driving the car or taking the motorbike don't make much difference. The traffic jam is not so bad. Even if there is a jam, it will not be more than an hour before I reached home unlike Cheras when it can be two hours or more. 

The place where I am living right now is very much like a village. In the morning, there will be the fishmonger riding through the village, sounding his horn to alert the housewives. In the evening, the bread man will come riding in. He carries a whole lot of bread with him that the motorcycle can hardly be seen. In the morning, its the cockerels that wake you up. Its a peaceful little village but surprisingly, there's plenty of stories to tell. And that my friend, will be for another day.

Set to continue

Looking forward to the weekend. A break of four days because of the public holiday on Tuesday. That is good enough. After that I'm heading back to Bakun for a few days. Looks like my story in Bakun is set to continue. How it will be, for how long, when……only God knows. Anyway, this coming trip will shed some light to the questions. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying life back in KL.  

How it was then

When I started work many years ago, the computer was a very rare item. They were mainly big big things, like the cupboard. The typewriter was still the main instrument for writing letters and so on. Personal computer, laptop, handphones, E mails etc was off course unheard off. When the handphone first came into being, it was bulky and heavy. I had one the size of a car battery. Even the fax machine was not invented yet. How things have changed. These days, we cannot live without all these gadgets. I wonder how it was then?

Still enjoying it

While in Bakun, I had the opportunity to play a few game of football. Although I cannot play like I used to, I still enjoy a kick or two every now and then. I have to control my running, my movement on the field. Otherwise I can hardly last a few minutes!

You cannot defy age

Roger Federer is the latest person to succumb to it despite all his effort. Muhammad Ali couldn't prolong his boxing career no matter how much he wanted it. Many other people tried to beat it but they all failed. That's right. You just can't do it. Try as you may, mother nature takes over. If you are wondering what I am talking about, it is about age. Age will catch up with you, sooner or later. Already in his thirties, his best playing days are over, even if he is reluctant to admit it. He never get beaten so early in tournaments before but now its happening. As for me, age has certainly caught up with me. I still want to play football but only for a few minutes. I cannot play the full ninety minutes.

Good morning

A sign of age

I cannot believed it when I saw Man City got beat by a lower rung team. Then I heard that Chelsea was also beaten by an even lower rung team. Tottenham got knocked out as well. Man U survived to fight another day. Only Arsenal got through. That's the football story over the weekend. Over in Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona marched on followed closely by A Madrid. In Germany, Bayern Munich has no worthy rival. Its a one team show. Nowadays, I don't follow too much the football. Not like before when I was young. I just read the headlines. A sign of age perhaps.

Its Monday again

The weekends is over as soon as it started. That's how fast it goes. I was busy throughout Saturday and Sunday getting the house in Cheras fixed, dealing with the property agent to find a tenant, attending a wedding and many other things. Suddenly its Monday once again, a new work week has begun. I look forward to next week when I planned to take leave on Monday. Tuesday being a public holiday, that will give me four days of break including the weekends. 

Wedding invitations

This wedding event this weekend mark the start of many other wedding event for which I have received invitations. Next week I have two, day and night. The week after I have another two, also day and night. On top of that there's an invitation for an Aqiqah event next week, also day time. Wow! Looks like I will be having a busy weekend for the next two or three weeks.

Wedding invitation

I reached home at about eight. After that I had to rush to a wedding invitation. Lucky thing the event was held near my house. I took the bike and made it just in time for the main event, the eating. Met and saw many relatives but had no time to mingle around. I wanted to make sure I left before everybody does. Otherwise, it will be a long queue at the exit door as everybody waits their turn to wish the bride and the groom. With about a thousand people, the queue can be a long one indeed.

So fast

The house in Cheras is finally ready for rent. I did the final touches to the paint yesterday including touch up here and there at several other places. At 3pm, I met the property agent whom I had called earlier. Showed him the house while he took some photographs. He said he will come again at seven with a potential client. I drove home after that. On reaching home at about eight, the agent called to say the house is already booked. So fast. So now I have two properties which I rented out. I need one more. 

Its all in the mind

Hello! Its Friday once again. The hours and the days go so fast its unbelievable sometime. Very soon it will be February, then March, then ……. Come to think of it, I'm already fifty eight going on sixty. I'm a senior citizen. I get half price for some bus ride. Some young concern citizen has given up their seats for me. Allah is great. You grow old without feeling it. Age is just a number, some people say. I think its true. Off course you are not as energetic as before but everything else is normal. Just like before. Just like ten years ago, or twenty years ago or thirty years ago. Its all in the mind.

Selfie

Trying out my monopod.

Big room

Due to circumstances, I stayed in the royal suite while in Bintulu. The room is so big I tend to get lost in it. There's a Jacuzzi as well. Felt like a millionaire for a while. Enjoyed the comfort while it lasted. Don't know if I will ever get to stay in such a room another time. 

Good morning

The price of oil is so low these days. I wonder if it will get even lower. Iran has predicted that it will go to 25USD a barrel. That could be rock bottom. Its unthinkable that this would happen just a few months ago. I don't know what is happening that makes the price go so low? Been doing a little bit of reading but they were mostly speculations. What's the real story?

The Asian football championship is going on at the moment. Unfortunately, the time is not right. I have not seen any of the matches so far unlike the last championship when I saw almost everyone of them. I was following Japan closely then cause I like their play. Short passing game, clever movements off the ball, running around in tight spaces. Just like the Barcelona of old. 

For the future

The house in Cheras is ready for renting out. I have peeled off the wall paper in the master bedroom because some of it has torn off. I have repainted the wall with yellow color. Now it looks nice and new. Next Sunday, I will meet a property agent with a view of getting the house rented, in sha Allah. That will bring in some extra cash which I am terribly in need these days. I plan to buy two more houses in the next few years. One for me to stay and the other to rent out. That's why I need to keep on working. Hopefully that will take care of the future, for the wife and the kids, in sha Allah.

Sleep

When they are asleep, I will have some peaceful time for myself. That's when I can do some reading, watching or just relaxing with a culpa of coffee. Once they are awake, its a full time job looking after them. Its tiring as I have always said especially for me who is going through it all over again a second time after more than twenty years. On the other hand, its enjoyable, a lot of fun and it keeps me active. In the office my brain is working doubly hard. In the house, my body is working doubly hard. That makes for a healthy living, don't you think so.

Hectic time

Been busy the last few days. Meeting the whole of Monday morning, then flew to Bintulu later in the day. Stayed overnight for the visit to Samalaju Industrial park the next morning. After the visit, took the evening flight back to KL. Reached home at almost 11 pm. This morning, I'm back in the office. A very tiring journey but nevertheless, an interesting one. The visit to Samalaju was very enlightening. Now at least I know the development of the SCORE corridor, a very important element in the well being of Bakun.

Not that much

Finally I did it, or at least half of it. Even then it was almost three before I left the house in Gombak to go to Cheras. As a result, I only managed to do half the job. Today, I hope to do the other half In sha Allah. After that the house should be ready for rent. otherwise, the house is just lying there not giving me any income, unlike the house in Seremban which is providing me with steady cash every month. Not that much but its okay.

The England days

Weekend ahead

Another week is coming to a close. I look forward to the weekend ahead. I need to go to my house in Cheras to do some minor repair before renting it out. Been postponing the job for weeks already. No more procrastinating. Do it now! 

Morning Jot

Suddenly the rain stopped. It's been hot the past few days. This morning, the sun shines brightly. Its a beautiful day. Let's hope it continues.

Since I finished my stint in Bakun, I have not gone back there yet. There was a meeting two weeks ago in Bakun but I managed to give it a pass. It was too soon to go back. However, next week I have to be in Bintulu. This time I will have to go, no doubt about it. Besides, its only Bintulu, not Bakun.

Three days in a week, I drive to work. The other two days, I ride. On Monday and Friday, I will take the bike to work. Somehow, it seems that on those two days, the traffic is heavier. 

Never ending

From my rented house to my office in PJ is only about twenty minutes by car, that is if there is no traffic jam. All my life, I have live in the other parts of KL, in and around Subang Jaya, PJ, Shah Alam, Klang, Sungai Buloh. Gombak was foreign to me. Now I am getting familiar with Gombak. One thing I noticed. There's a good number of mosque here, some within walking distance of each other. It is near to KL city as well. Now if I go to a shopping complex, it is more than likely that it will be KLCC cause it is nearby. IKEA and the others are near as well. Just a short drive on the Duke will get you there. All in all, its a new experience for me. As the prophet said, learning is a never ending process.

Gombak

This is the view of my rented house in Gombak. Took the photos while walking back from the local Surau after the morning prayer. That's the plus point, walking distance to the local Surau. Generally, its okay. Situated in a Kampong area but very near to KL. Everybody knows everybody here. In fact most of them are related especially my wife. Her uncles, aunts, cousins and close relatives all live in this kampong. Don't know how long I will stay here. Maybe a few years until I have enough to build my own. Never for once thought I will live here and in this kind of houses but then again, that's life. 

Today

Surprisingly, the roads were free of cars when going back from work yesterday. I was expecting massive jam. Must be the parents taking leave to send their standard one children to school. 

In the office, as usual, its work and more work. There's many things to do, issues to settle, letters to write, presentation to prepare, meetings to attend, decisions to make……hmmm…… it keeps me on my toes.

Back home, Akid is busy with his toy cars. He is also adapt at using the I Pad. One thing for sure, I didn't teach him. He taught himself. Maisarah is also growing up fast. She is a delight. Tired mind and body disappear on seeing her.

After the flood

Monday again

Its Monday once again. I rode the motorbike to work today just to see and asses the situation now that the schools have reopened. Form what I noticed this morning, its not very good. Traffic was heavy early in the morning, it was slow moving. That's in the morning going to work. Coming back from work, its going to be a lot worse. I will see today but judging from experience, my hunch is going to be true. 

Yesterday

The Viva broke down while driving back from IKEA with the family. Lucky thing it happened near the house. I was able to walk back to the house and used the other car to pick up the family. After that I walked to a workshop nearby to get help. I have a feeling the workshop charged me higher than usual knowing my situation but then again, these things happened. Unscrupulous people are in abundant but so are the good people. You will get to meet both sides of the divide in the course of living your life.  

With Maisara

Selfie

Trying out my new toy, using Bluetooth.

Not too bad

It rain early in the morning. That put paid to my plan to ride my motorbike to work. Elsewhere in the country, the rain is coming back and so is the flood. I hope it will not be a repeat of what happened recently. People are still recovering from the shocked. A second wave of flood would be devastating. Yesterday I experienced the first traffic jam since driving my car to work It was bad but manageable. Gombak is not that far away from my place of work, so its not too bad.

Its the worse in history

Its was raining throughout the night. Even this morning, there was slight drizzling. I hear over in the east coast, it was also raining yesterday, heavily. What we worry about is that it might cause a flood again. The North East Monsoon is blowing at full blast, causing havoc and destruction everywhere. Many people have lost everything because nobody expected it to be such a massive flood. Its the worse in history!   

Maybe some other time

I quite like the Bakun stint. I got to know a lot more about Sarawak, especially Bintulu. Its a town that is growing fast. if I have the money, I would invest in some property there. I'm quite sure, the investment will be a good one. I would have like to explore Sarawak more. Areas like Belaga, Kapit, taking the boat ride to Sibu, the Niah caves etc. but time does not permit. Pontianak in Indonesia and Brunei was also in the mind as they were close by but alas….couldn't find the time to make the trip. Maybe some other time. 

Becoming a master chef

So far so good. Three days I have been driving, no jam but I must remember, the schools have not reopened. Once that happened, things will change considerably. For sure, the traffic will be heavier. Its a no brainer. After almost four months working in Bakun, to be back working in PJ feels a little bit different. Four months there, I have almost become a master chef. If it had been longer, I could have taken part in the master chef competition and possibly win! No….just joking. All I did was to cook maggee mee. 

Life is like that

The move to Gombak was because I was always away from home due to work. Therefore, to be closer to her parents and family was the logical choice as they can then help to cope with the two babies. Unfortunately, the move also cause other problems to surface. Its solving a problem but at the same time introducing new problems. But I must say, at my age, I have come to accept problems as they come. I know problems will exist, as long as we are living an active life. To be without problems is to be dead. So, as I have always said, I take them in my stride. Come today, gone tomorrow. Life is like that.

Had a good time

After more than a year, this morning I drove my car to work. Surprisingly, the traffic was ok. Took me just about twenty minutes to reach the office. Perhaps its the school holidays. Wait till next Monday when the school reopens. Then I will know the real situation. Hopefully its not so bad cause like it or not, I will have to drive the car. Brace myself to face the jam again unlike the past open year when I don't have to worry about the traffic. It was good while it last. 

LRT ride

Took the kids out for a ride on the LRT. It took twenty minutes to reach KLCC. As it was on a Sunday, the LRT was not crowded. Just perfect for the kids to enjoy the ride. Akid was excited, looking here, there and everywhere while Maisarah was too little to know anything. She stayed quiet throughout the ride.

Tough at times

There's a lot of difference in bringing up children twenty, thirty years ago as compared to now. Now there's the internet. My two and a half years old son knows how to use the I pad. Nobody taught him but he knows somehow.  Those days, pampers cost a bomb. As a result, we don't use pampers so much. Now, pampers is an everyday affair but then the necessity teaching the babies to piss or pass motion at the right place is not there anymore. Those days, we taught them as early as possible so that the house don't get smelly with their leftovers. I am going through it all once again after a break of more than twenty years. Its tough at times but I shall cope, in sha Allah.

Fathers and grandfathers

Was at a wedding of a friend's son. We were together in Brighton many years ago, barely in our teens. Time have changed off course. Now we are fathers and grandfathers. We are marrying off our children one by one. Two of mine already married. Two more to go. I have one granddaughter. Looking forward to have more grandchildren. Meantime, I have also two babies which I have to take care. Its God's will. I accept it with all my heart.

Weekend at home

Busy with the kids during the weekend.

Like it or not

Looks like my love affair with the motorbike will have to stop, for the moment at least. The way my renumeration is structured is such that I have to drive the car in order to get the full benefit. Otherwise, I will lose quite a sum. Not that much but for me its big enough that I will drive the car to work. So, the motorbike will only be used for other things now, not for going to work. I will have to face the jam again...agh..... Its something I don't look forward to after more than a year of avoiding it. But what to do. Sometimes, there are things that you have to do like it or not.

Will happen again

Things are really bad over in the east coast where the flood happened. From what I heard, read, saw, its like a tsunami has struck. Some have lost everything except the clothes they are wearing. How I wish I could be there to lend a helping hand. Hopefully, the new year will bring cheers to the affected people. They need it. 

After a few days of holiday, I will be back working starting today. It will be in PJ, not Bakun Alhamdulillah. However, I am not discounting anything, knowing full well how things can changed. It has happened to me many times before. It will happen again, I'm sure. 

Its the new year

I was fast asleep when the new year came. Too tired after the day's exhaustion. Anyway, welcome 2015. Its a time of the new year when plans and resolution are made. Favourite among the resolutions is to slim the body. Unfortunately, it also rank highest among the broken resolution. As for planning, what else if not travel. For me, I have a few things in my mind. First is off course to be a humble and obedient servant of Allah. Then its to continue working and earn a salary. I need that in order to bring up my family. Next is to get my house in Ceras rented out. That will bring in some much needed cash. Then I also plan to go for a holiday. Having done the passports, most probably it will be in another country. There are others definitely. In sha Allah, they will all materialise.

Welcome 2015