Gombak and Ceras

Been about four months since I moved to Gombak. There are some plus points while there are also some minus points. All in all, that's the way life is. Nothing can be perfect. Going and coming back from work is a plus point cause its near and the notorious jam of Ceras is absent. On the other hand, banks are not so near as in Ceras where all the banks, local or international, are close by. Being a person with so many dealings with so many banks, Ceras was very convenient. The local surau is walking distance from my rented house in Gombak. In Ceras, its nearby but still, I have to drive. Those are the few things that are different between living in Ceras and Gombak. Having said all that, its all in a day's life. 

Go elsewhere

I can never understand why people are willing to queue for food. I am not talking about the poorest poor. That I can understand. This is about standing in line for food when you can get it elsewhere in a more comfortable manner, without wasting much time, maybe cheaper plus tasting just as good. Yesterday, I decided to drive to the famous Jeram seafood restaurants by the sea. There are two restaurants actually. Both were packed. At one of them, I saw people standing in a queue. They were waiting for their turn to identify the fishes that they wanted. What a long process. I immediately decided to go elsewhere.

Get it all back

At the local surau, I am now the occasional 'imam'. Occasional because I am working and therefore unable to be at the surau at every prayer time. On weekdays, I am usually at the surau only for the Isya prayers. On weekends, if I don't go anywhere, I will be at the surau for the other prayers as well. However, nowadays, whenever I am there, I will be asked to lead the prayer. Its been a long time since I have done that on a regular basis. More than ten years ago. Its like turning the clock back. In a way, its good cause it forces me to recall all the verses in the Quran that I have memorize before. Get it all back!

How's that?

Its funny sometime the things that are going on in the political world. In Syria, the US of A is in cohort with so called allies of Iran to fight the regime. In Yemen, the US of A is in cohort with other parties to fight against so called allies of Iran. So, in one area of the world, they are bosom buddies but in another area of the world, they are sworn enemies. How's that? 

Fast asleep

After more than a month, I'm back on the plane heading to where else but Bintulu and on to Bakun by road. Funny thing today the plane arrived at Bintulu until it came to a complete stopped but I didn't know anything. I was fast asleep. The stewardess had to wake me up. By then, almost half have left the plane. The thing is I didn't know when I fell asleep cause before that I thought I heard the pilot saying over the microphone we are landing shortly. Nice to be back in Bintulu although I didn't stop anywhere in town. One thing I noticed. There are constructions all over the place in Bintulu. Its a real booming town. 

Back to normal

The school holidays are over. That means its back as usual, the roads I mean. I leave the house early, about 7am. Still, it is much better than when I was living in Cheras. It was 6.20am. Same thing when I was living in Sg Buloh. It was not later than 6.30am. Off course when I was riding my bike. it was 7.30am or later. The time is mine to choose. That's why I miss riding my bike to work. The convenience is unrivaled. The only drawback is if it rains. Even then, there's the raincoat. These days I still ride my bike to work sometime, for the love of it.  

It is an accepted thing

In Islam, there are many different views on many different subject. This has been the case after the death of the prophet. When Rasulullah SAW was around, there was no problem because people will go to him for advise on things they are not sure of. He was the reference but after the prophet was gone, people has no one to refer to. That's when the many different views start to come about. Even the prophet recognised this for he once said that the different views are actually a blessing. So, that is how it is today. It is an accepted thing.

Hmm.....

I have not gone jogging for months already. Just couldn't find the time. I notice my stomach is bigger than usual. One thing bad about Gombak. There's no proper place for exercise. There's lake Titiwangsa but because its the only place around, it gets crowded, especially on weekends. I can't jog in such a situation. People gets in the way. If you are not careful, might knock into a child. So, I don't know where I can jog .....hmm....

Big Girl Now

She is a big girl now. When she first came into this world more than a year ago, she was only 1.9kg. She had to be placed in a special care room because she was smaller than the average baby. I remember saying to myself, so small. Her thigh was the size of my thumb. Alhamdulillah, she has now grown into a beautiful baby. So full of energy, strong and brave. In sha Allah, grow up to be an obedient servant of Allah.

Salam

Its great

Its the end of the work week once again. To put it simpler, its Friday once again. Been busy with work as usual. Work will never end, that's for sure cause if it ends, I'II be out of job. At home, Akid and Maisarah provide me the relief after a hard days work. Its tiring, no doubt about it but its satisfying. Its enjoyable. Its fun although sometime it can be taxing on the mind and body. That's how it is bringing up children. I went through it all more than twenty years ago. Now I'm going through it once again. Akid is learning to talk. Maisarah is learning to run. Its great.

Skip lunch

There's a few restaurants in the vicinity of my office. Most of them I have tried a few times. Most of them, after a while, I get bored with the food or cooking. However, there's a new restaurant that opened a few months back. I gave it a try. Somehow, I found the cooking very much to my liking. Since then, I have been frequenting this restaurant every lunch hour. However, I don't know how long it will last, this liking I mean. I hope for a very long time cause otherwise, I have to start looking for other restaurants for my lunch. Or maybe I should just skip lunch!

Hassle to drive

Was in a hotel in KL attending a presentation by a company on Tuesday. It was a one day event but after the morning session, I headed back to the office. There's plenty of things to do and also the topic under discussion had very little to do with what I'm doing. There's a little bit, maybe 10%. That's why I decided I'd better spend my time in the office than waste my time at the hotel. At least I can do some useful work. By the way, I rode my motorbike to the hotel. Too much of a hassle to drive.

At Lan's wedding reception

Enjoying the evening

Enjoying some time at the Lake Garden after arriving and checking in at the hotel.

Taiping

Its great to be back in Taiping. This is the town where I spent my teenage years, from 13yrs old to 17 yrs old, form one to form five. This is the town where I used to cycled everywhere. To school, to the shops, to the mosque, to the library, to watch movies, to play football. I knew this town in and out. I grew up here. I had many friends here, teachers, classmates, schoolmates. Now all I have are the memories. I left this town about forty years ago. I know some of my friends are still here but I don't have their contact number. The school where I had my education is still standing but its a far cry from the school that I used to know. The teachers that taught me are all gone now. Its a strange town now, to me at least. So many things have changed. Only one thing remains. Taiping.    

No way

Its only 9.30pm but I'm all alone in the hotel room in Taiping. What I mean is I'm the only one still awake. All the rest are asleep. The long journey from KL this morning must have taken its toll. Its a welcome departure from the norm nonetheless. Normally even at 12 midnight, the kids would most of the time be still wide awake, especially Akid. With them sleeping, at least now I have some time to myself. I am tired too after driving from KL but I'm not sleepy. I was sleepy at about 3pm just now when we just reached our hotel room but with the kids wide awake and active, there's no way I could have slept.  

Delicious 'Popiah'

I have been having this running nose that is bugging me. Its been around for a few days already, refusing to go away. The problem is when before sleeping at night I thought of taking take the medicine but that's when the nose goes dry. So I end up not taking any thinking that I'm okay already. Then next morning it comes back. Hmmmm……

Will be driving back to Taiping for a nephew's wedding tomorrow. Will stay in Taiping for a night as the wedding is on Sunday. I'm thinking already of the delicious 'popiah' and Mee banjir Mak Jah.

Visit to Janamanjung

A day trip to Janamanjung yesterday for a meeting. Paid a visit to M4 as well. Great to be meeting old friends again. Off course the circumstances are different now. Some are still working with TNB while some others have retired and joined other companies, just like me. Manjung is doing well while M4 is already on Reliability Run.

Sunday

Maisarah enjoying her evening walk around the house.

This was on Tuesday

Time for a quiet lunch. Difficult to find the time these days with the kids around. Akid was around but  thank fully he was in his own world for much of the time. Busy looking at the water fountain. 

Good morning

What a beautiful morning after the relentless rain last night. The sun is bright and sunny. The sky is clear. A cheerful beginning to the day. Last night it was raining heavily. I thought this is supposed to be the dry season. In the social media, 1MDB is getting widespread coverage. Under any other circumstances, this is good but not this time. Then there's the news about the head of a subsidiary of Felda who is being held for investigation. Very early this morning, Man U were knocked out of the FA cup by Arsenal. I booked a hotel room in Taiping for the coming weekend. Hope everything is okay as I have not received any confirmation like I normally do.  

Unless…...

I spent the weekend recovering from the weekdays. It sleep and more sleep. A neighbor a few metres away celebrated his son's wedding by having a wedding reception. on Sunday. A few of us had to move our cars from our normal parking spot to cater for this event. For a while, I was stump as to where to park my cars. The houses are so close to each other that parking has always been a problem. Everybody protects their territory religiously. Finally I had to send one of my cars to my in law. That's how it is living here in Gombak. I will have to put up with it for a few years at least unless…...

Just thinking aloud

Maisarah is one year two months plus. Of all my children, I think she is the one that most resemble me. She is the only one I missed being in the labour room. The rest I was there to give support and encouragement to their mother. Maisarah, before I knew it, was already out of her mother's womb. She is also the only one I missed being there when she was beginning to walk. I was in faraway Bakun. Is this a sign of things to come? I will be missing more in the years to come. I will be 78 when she is barely 20 years old.

A stone throw away

The new condos that was launched a few weeks ago is within walking distance from where I'm staying now. It will be an integrated development with a shopping complex, parks, gardens and off course the condominiums. It will be completed stage by stage, taking 10 years in total. A different Gombak will emerge once it is completed. I doubt very much if the house I'm staying now will survive the onslaught. Not this one but the others that will come, surely. They are getting closer and closer. Its walking distance now. Soon it will be a stone throw away.

On weekends?

Now I wish to work for as long as I am needed. Maybe up till 65 years old. Working keeps me healthy. It worked the brain, keep it alive and active. It also ensures that I have my breakfast and lunch at almost the same time, everyday except on weekends. Only for dinner does the time varies quite a bit cause its at home. If there's one thing that I'm not happy about is that I don't have time for exercise. Early in the morning I'm rushing to work. I won't leave the office till late in the evening, usually after seven. So, where can I find the time to exercise. On weekends?

Out of the blue

A friend of mine is joining the workforce again after retirement. Its quite a surprise because he has been enjoying retirement life in the paradise island of Langkawi thus far. When I was a retiree a few years ago, I enjoyed the free time and carefree days that it gives, so much so that there were times when I lost track of the days. I went to a bank to do business only to be told by the guard at the entrance that the bank is close because its a public holiday. I enjoyed the five times daily prayer at the nearby mosque. I enjoyed the freedom of not having to rush to work early in the morning, braving the horrendous traffic along the way. I didn't ask to come back to work. I was offered. Alhamdulillah, it came out of the blue and at a time when I really needed it although at that time, I didn't realise it. 

Bloody expensive

The way I see it, Gombak cannot escape the development that is rapidly encroaching upon it. Already, condos are a plenty in this once sleepy hollow on the outskirts of KL. More are being built. One was just launched a few days ago but what surprised me was the price. The asking price is more than half a million for a 850sq ft -950sq ft condo! So bloody expensive. I would have thought the size would be bigger, between 1200 to 1600sq ft. Maybe because of its proximity to KL. That's why they dare to ask for such a price.

A plesant ride

Went to the office with the bike yesterday. I needed to take my regular supply of medicine from a private hospital therefore I decided using the bike was the best way to get there. Early in the morning, well before the hospital was fully opened for business for the day, I was already at the pharmacy to get my medicine. Its opened 24 hrs. All the way to the hospital, I was thinking how much I missed riding the bike to work. Its so convenient, enjoyable too. The cool morning breeze blowing in my face, the feeling of freedom, the smooth ride with no interruptions. They all add up to make it a pleasant beginning to the day.

Hmmm…..

The kids are all over me even when I am taking a much needed rest.

Better take the bike

Went to PJ section 14 this morning to do some banking. I reached there at about 7.30am. Still early or so I thought but what I experienced surprised me. I couldn't find a parking space! At this early in the morning, the parking lots have all been taken up. In the end, I just gave up. I should have known. Half my mind, I was thinking of taking my bike this morning. Unfortunately, I didn't. Next time I must make sure. If I want to do banking even early in the morning, I better take my bike. 

Just another Saturday

Woke up in the morning for the Subuh prayer. After that browse the internet for a while before going to a nearby Mamak restaurant for breakfast. Came back home, the kids were still in their slumber. Later in the afternoon, went out again to a restaurant to buy some food for lunch. Tried to catch some sleep in the afternoon after the Zuhur prayer but was not able to. With the kids awake, its just impossible. At about 4pm, went with the whole family first to buy pampers at a Manjaku shop in Wangsa maju, then took the car through a mobile wash next to the shop. After that, went to Sri Rampai cause there's a bank transaction I needed to d. Later stopped at a Petronas station for the Asar prayer, then went to another bank for another bank transaction. On the way home, stopped by a developer's showroom to view an integrated development coming up in Gombak. Who knows, I might have some fund to buy a unit! By the time we reached home, its almost 7pm, time to get ready for the Maghrib prayer. That was how I spent the Saturday.