At Taman Titiwangsa

Having fun with the family.

The rest is secondary

Days are flying quickly like the blink of an eye. One day to another and another, before you knew it, a week is over. I am counting my days before my second retirement. Only sometime back it was a few months away. Now it is three weeks away. Ramadhan is also fast approaching. Next Monday will the start of the fasting month. I will most probably be working for the first two weeks of Ramadhan only. After that I plan to be on leave prior to retirement. Take a break, ponder on a things before figuring out what is my next move. I need the cash to keep on rolling in, that's the first thing. If I can have that, the rest is secondary.

Alhamdulillah

It happened yesterday at about 12.30pm. We were on the way to Seremban to spend time at the house there. However, as soon as we leave the house while still in Gombak, the accident happened. A car suddenly reversed from the side onto my path. There was actually another car blocking it. As a result, I didn't see him and he didn't see me. The result. A loud bang. Alhamdulillah, nothing untowards happened to the wife and children except for a few bruises here and there. Otherwise, we are all ok. Very quickly, the insurance people were on the scene, saying don't worry, they will do everything. All I had to do was to make a police report. In the end, that's what I did.

All taken care off

Sometime you doubt these insurance people but in desperate times, they can be of great help. Immediately after the accident, I was thinking how best to settle my accident problem. To get the car towed, to make the police report, to make the insurance claim, to get my family home, to find the workshop etc. When they suddenly appear and said don't worry we will do everything, that was like a beautiful song in my ear. We've heard stories of fraudulent claims by these insurance people but at the moment in time, there's not much choice. I just accepted it. It solves all my problem. The accident happened at 12.30pm. By about 2.30pm, I was already resting in my house. Police report made and the car already at the workshop. There's nothing more to do. All taken care off.

Its the bike now

It looks like I will be riding my motorbike to work for quite a while now. My car met with an accident. I have no other car so it will be my bike. Might even be till I retire cause the car repair will take sometime I presume. That's the way it is and that's how it will be. In a way, it is good. Ramadhan is approaching. Taking the bike is better. That way I can get home faster. I can even go to the Ramadhan market to buy some food for breaking of fast before going home.

My regular supply

Went to the hospital this morning to get my regular medicine supply for one month. Been doing this for almost ten years already, I think. Every three months I see the doctor who will prescribed medicine for me for three months. Alhamdulillah, so far this arrangement has worked ok. Was at the hospital till about half past nine before finally I collected my medicine. By the time I reached the office, it was ten in the morning. As usual, there's plenty of work to be done at the office despite this being my last few weeks. Anyway, that's ok. I will work till my last day as I should. 

Exciting times

Maurinho is back! That's some news! Can't wait for the new season to begin. It will be an exciting season for sure with Maurinho, Guardiola, Wenger, Klopp all in action. Then there's off course Leicester, the unlikely champion in waiting. How will they fare next season? In Spain, the big two plus the other Madrid team will again dominate just as in Germany where it will be all Bayern. All the best players in Germany will end up in Bayern. How will not they dominate?

Everything will be fine

Its a real pity I have to retire when I reach 60 years old. It will be in less than two months away. What more its happening at a time when I am just beginning to enjoy my paycheck at the end of the month. What I mean is after a long time, I am now getting more than I need, allowing me to save some for the future. Now when I retire, it will be back to square one. The savings will be eaten away, slowly but surely but I can't replenish it because the paycheck is no more. That will mean a real bad situation unless off course I can find another job quickly. I might not be able to save as much but it will help definitely. That's how it is now and how it will be soon. Nonetheless, I have faith in the grace of Allah. Everything will be fine, in sha Allah.

Who am I

As I have always said, the best job in the world is to be a top football manager. The pay is high. Although being sack comes with the job but then, who cares? It is not a problem. After all, the severance package is worth millions. I can count on one hand the number of top football managers who has not been sacked. Everyone of them has gone through it. Today you can win a trophy but tomorrow you can be sacked! Ask Van Gaal. Ask Anceloti. Ask Maurinho. I would like definitely like to join those illustrious names but then, who am I?

Change of diet

Before, every morning I would order 'teh tarik kurang manis'. Unfortunately, it is still too much sugar or milk. In other words, still manis. Since about a year ago, I have stopped. Now I order tea without sugar and milk. However, my breakfast is still mainly mee, bihun, tosei and occasionally nasi lemak/roti canai. Now I am trying to change that as well. It will be more like to fruits like papaya and green apple,  vegetable, yogurt, bread, corns flakes etc. In other words, I'm trying to change to a healthier food diet. Don't know if I will succeed or not. Its difficult to change after so many years of the old style but its not too late. I will try my best even if my taste buds and stomach finds it strange at first.   

Busy weekend

On Saturday, went to Sg Besi looking for second hand cars. After that, headed straight for Felda Merak Kayangan for a wedding reception. Was supposed to attend another invitation after that but by then the kids were getting out of hand. We decided not to go. On Sunday attended another wedding reception in Rawang. Alhamdulillah, nowadays we have the Waze application to help us. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to find the place. That was how the weekend went. So fast and so soon. Just wish the weekends are a bit longer. Never mind! In less than a month, I will be free again as I will be retiring. I have counted the days. My last day at work will be on June 21st, less than a month away.

We plan but Allah decides

Saturday was at Sungai Besi to conclude the buying of a second hand car. Actually was already there last week. Saw a car that we thought was suitable, not so old and reasonably priced. So, this week, brought all the documents to seal the deal. It was really it. No more looking around but then, we can planned but it is Allah who decides. Somehow, when I saw the car again, it doesn't look like a car I'd want to buy! Then when discussing on the terms, it was not favorable at all. Finally I decided no. In the end, we chose a new car, at another dealer, something that I was dead against before that. We hope everything will go well, In sha Allah.

Weekend wedding invitations - Felda Merak Kayangan

Steep learning curve

Giving talks is not an easy task. It makes it even more difficult when your subject knowledge is not good enough. It gets worse when you are a naturally quiet person. That much I learned when I am giving my religious talk at the local 'surau'. Its a struggle to get the materials for the talk. There are days when I thought I did well and there are days when I thought I was not talking incoherently, meaning doing badly. The fact that my session is only once a month didn't help either but then, if its every two weeks, what do I speak about? It is something new to me, giving religious talk at a surau. In my whole life, I have never done it. Suddenly, at fifty nine, I am doing it for the first time! Its a steep learning curve for me, that's for sure.

Am enjoyable journey

The holy month of Ramadhan when fasting is obligatory is less than a month away. For me, this Ramadhan will be memorable in that it will be the last month I work. From my planning, most probably I will work for about three quarter of the month before taking leave prior to retirement. After that, I will join the unemployed. Maybe I will take a short break before start looking for a job again. Its been more than three years since I first joined my present company. Never thought I would last this long. It has been a good experience. I learned a lot, picked up plenty of new skills and knowledge along the way. I also put to good use my more than thirty years of experienced working with my former company. They have come in handy when I need it. All in all, it has been an enjoyable journey. 

I will be free

Went to Kucing on Tuesday and came back on Wednesday evening flight for a meeting. The meeting on Wednesday drag on till late but I had to leave at about 4pm to catch my flight at 6pm. For the first time, after flying almost every month to Sarawak for the last three years, I get to ride on the airbus, a much bigger plane than the 737. It was nice for a change. Reached home a bit after 9 pm. Again, the trip was maybe my last trip to Kucing before retirement. Its coming soon. Just over a month left of working days. After that I will be free…….. for a short while I hope. I need to work.

Saturdays will be empty

Barcelona won the Prima Liga. Deservingly so. For Real Madrid, it is one match too far. In England, the fairy tale story of Leicester continues unabated. As for Man U, the Champions league is out of reach already with Man City securing the one point they needed. In Germany, Bayern has no equal, winning four straight titles. As the last weekend of the football leagues in Europe came to a close, its back to the drawing board for most clubs. As for me, Saturdays will be empty without the football. There's the European Championship to look for. Otherwise, its going to be a bleak Saturday till August, when the season kickoff again.

The Weekend

The weekends seem to come and go in a flash. The recent weekend was no exception either. On Saturday my mind was preoccupied with my 'ceramah' to be held later in the evening. On Sunday, we went car hunting. The wife's Viva is almost at breaking point. There's an urgent need for a replacement. Besides, when I retire which is soon, I don't need to have my Mercedes anymore. Its too expensive to maintain. So, we are planning to sell the Mercedes and the Viva in order to get an Alza, second hand. After all these years, I have finally learned that buying a new car is a waste of money, unless off course if you are rich. That's why we are going for second hand car. 

Balancing the life

Once in KL, I anticipate a long list of work that need to be completed within the next week or two. There's plenty of things to be done as usual. It will be work and more work. Its a never ending story. On the home front, Munirah is growing well. She will be two months soon, growing slowly but surely. Akid is already four while Maisarah is also growing up to be a big sister now. Its a big learning curve for her, having Munirah as her younger sister., something she is not quite use to. She will learn for sure. She is already beginning to talk. Little words here and there. She picks up fast because she has her big brother as an example. 

Flying home

At Bintulu airport waiting for the flight home. There's a slight delay, from 1.35pm to 2.15pm. Not too bad if it stays that way. Hopefully it does. Been raining since last night in Bakun and all the way to Bintulu this morning. Don't know if this will be my last time in Bintulu airport. Once I leave my present  company, there will be no reason for me to come to Bintulu anymore. In a way, its sad cause I would love to see Bintulu every now and then. Its a booming town. I would love to see Bintulu in say, ten years time. I dare say the town will see tremendous change such that  I would not be able to recognize it   anymore. The three main urban areas in Bintulu would have joined up by then, with all the construction going on now.

Everything has its ending

In Bakun for perhaps the last time. Arrived about five today. Will be here whole day Wednesday. Thursday will fly back to KL in sha Allah. There's plenty to do in KL so I can't stay in Bakun too long although I would like to. The trip to Bakun starts early in the morning, being driven by the wife to the LRT station at Taman Melati. From there took the LRT to KL Sentral where I boarded the ERL to KLIA. Catch the plane to Bintulu before being driven to Bakun in a four wheel drive. All in all, it took almost a whole day. That's the routine I have been doing the last three years every time I go to Bakun. Now its coming to an end. I feel a little bit nostalgic. A chapter of my life is coming to a close. Every story has its ending. Its the same with me.

All three

Its early morning. All three are up but only just.

You never know, do you?

A lot of changes will have to be done in the way we manage my daily life in anticipation of my retirement, which is soon. First and foremost, I have to be prudent in my spending because there is no more cash flowing into the bank account. I will have to make do with what I have in the saving, which is not much. With that in mind, other activities will have to follow suit. It is going to be a bit difficult but in sha Allah, we will manage. Meantime, I will have to look for another job or do something to bring in some money. Might not be able to match what I am getting now but then, you never know, do you?

Spending the weekend

Was in the house most of the weekend except on Sunday when we attended two wedding receptions. One was a neighbor while the other was in Putrajaya. Other wise I was sleeping most of the time, Saturday and Sunday. Catch up on the sleep during the weekend to compensate for the lack of sleep during the weekdays. However, Munirah has been good so far, I must say. She sleeps well at night. Although she cries quite frequently, it is because she wants her food, milk I mean. Sometimes she takes too much, ending up vomiting. Went for my usual jog on Sunday. One round is enough for me because I do speed running 6 or 7 times during that one round. Thus my one round is equivalent to two or three rounds.

He is Brazilian

Firmimo was unknown, at least to me, until Klopp came to Liverpool. Under Brendan Rogers, he was struggling because he was played outside his position. As a result, his best wasn't on display the few times that he was given the chance until finally, he was dropped and disappeared from the scene. Another costly buy that didn't fit in, that is until Klopp came. Klopp knew his strength. Played him in the right position. As a result , he is now striving. Now, the real Firmimo has shown up. What a great little player he is. Just see how he make a schoolboy out of Soldado. His footwork and trickery was out of this world. By the way, he is Brazilian off course.

That's life

Ever since Munirah was born more than a month ago, the daily routine of living has change a bit. For one, my going to the surau has been curbed a little bit. The same goes with my futsal. I cannot join the boys anymore for a kickabout. Eating out is also a no go at the moment. It is just too much of a hassle. It was hard enough with Akid and Maisarah. Add in Munirah and you have an impossible situation. It will like this I guess till the kids grow up. In the meantime, I have to make do the best I can. I have been through it before so its nothing I don't expect. Bringing up children is no kid's stuff. It takes a lot of love, hard work, sacrifices, etc. The sad thing is when they grow up and living on their own, you are almost non existence.

Time are a changing

Looking at the calendar, my last working days can be counted on one page. Maybe a month or a bit more, then I will retire for a second time. This time it will be different from my previous retirement. Then, I wanted to go because I was tired of working. I was looking forward to it. I also had not many commitments anymore as the children have grown up. Now, its totally different. I want to continue working but its compulsory retirement because of age. I dread to think what retirement will mean to me and my family as I have mouths to feed. The children are still young and growing. I will have to take a step or two down in order to meet the daily requirements. Life will be a struggle I guess but I believe life is like a roller cycle. I have been up most of the time. Its time to be down. In sha Allah, I will be up once again. I only have to be steadfast in my believe in Allah and be grateful always.

Health is wealth

Been taking lots of fruits these days. Its good for the health especially when I'm at an age where health is wealth. When I was young, health was taken for granted. I don't really care about what I eat or what I do. Exercise is a word I never care about. Yes, I play games but its because I enjoy playing them, not for anything else. However, today, its different. I play games because I want to exercise. I jog because I want to exercise. I try my best to eat all the healthy food, to exercise, to take care of my health. In sha Allah, I hope to stay healthy. 

Leicester, the champion

The story of Leicester city football club is on every page of every newspaper in the world. It is a topic everybody speaks about. Winning the league against all expectations has made them world famous. Everybody, including me, thought they would falter at one point or another in the long race for the championship but they keep on going and going and winning. Nobody gave them a chance, waiting for the bubble to burst. In the end, they came good. A shock to the footballing world. A fairy tale story of  struggling to make the grade to final success made for the romantics. A story on everyone's lips, to be told over and over again until the new season starts in August but that will be for another day. For now, let us rejoice in the success of Leicester city, an underdog come good. 

A wedding in the village

4 yrs old

Akid is 4 years old on 1st of May.

No go on Saturday

On Saturday we wanted to go to Malim Nawar for a wedding. I knew the traveling will be a bit slow  due to Monday being public holiday. There will be many holiday goers on the road. What I didn't anticipate was the number of vehicles on the road. It was too too many. The highway was packed. It was slow slow driving all the way. We tried going on to an alternative road through K. Selangor but it was the same. It was worse when passing through the towns when the traffic lights come into play. I thought we were getting nowhere. 4-5 hours on the road and we were still far away from our destination. In the end, we gave up. Better to go back home.

All good in the end

What I thought will be a bad day turned out the opposite. I left the house on my bike early on Friday heading towards the income tax department in Shah Alam, thinking I could placed my income tax return in a receiving box and then head back to the office in time for the morning clock in. Unfortunately, there's no box to be seen. This is bad. It made me was unsure what to do next. By the time I decided to join the queue at about 8am, it was already long. My number was 38. However, it was fast. My number was called, the clerk at the counter said better to do e filing. I said I tried before but it was horrible. Can't even get through the website. She gave mew a new password. I rode back to the office and howla! within minutes of opening the website, I have already completed my income tax return. What turned out to be even better was when the calculations done by the computer showed that I have overpaid by a hefty amount! Wow!