The beginning of the end

This computer is beginning to give me problem. Its about six years old. Bought it in 2011 I think. I love it because was cheap, it is light weight, about 1.3 kg only with a fifteen inches screen and the speed was the best available then. Of course now it is not so fast when compared to the newer ones. It was functioning well but when there are kids with itchy fingers around, it certainly has taken its toll. They would touched here and there especially when I am not around even after being told not to do so. Hmm......kids will be kids. Even little Munirah can't keep her tiny fingers off this computer.

Looking forward

I am learning and discovering more about the places and areas surrounding my soon to be new house in sha Allah. The areas on Puncak Alam, Jeram, Ijok, Sungai Buloh (the one near Jeram), Kuala Selangor, Bukit Cerakah and many others. There's the famous Pantai Remis in Jeram where there is a restaurant that serves a mouth savouring Assam Pedas. There's historical Kuala Selangor with many attractions for the visitors. There's  the fireflies and many others. There's a lot to be discovered. I will have my hands full. 

Last Saturday

Was busy last week buying the tiles, lighting and fans for the new house. On Saturday last week, sent them to the site. Attended a wedding earlier in the day. Met many friends from my student days in England. The host was a classmate in Brighton and later we both went to Surrey University. So, it was two groups of old colleagues, one from the college days in Brighton and the other from the university days in Surrey. How we have grown. We are all over sixty now!

Ex Surreyians

Difficult part

Akid is a big boy already. Five years old and growing. Soon he will be a teenager, then a young man  and finally he is ready to strike on his own. That's the most difficult part of being a parent. The separation. You kind of lose your children when they grow up. I miss my children terribly especially the four who are not living with me anymore. It's hard on the heart but it's something I have to accept. 

Alhamdulillah.....

The tiles work is mostly over. Just a little bit left overs here and there. I bought the tiles for the verandah yesterday at Meru Klang. They will send it today to site. Hopefully that  can start as soon as possible. Was at Desa Merbau  yesterday. The windows and the doors are being fixed. Today I will be buying the down lights and the fans. The work on fixing them can start as well. It looks like all system go! I'm very happy. In sha Allah by the middle or end of February, the house will be completed. Then its only connecting the water and electricity.  Sure there's still plenty of work to be done outside the house but that can be done later.

Desa Merbau 24/1

Desa Merbau 24/1

Too many

The last one week I have been watching a lot of live sporting event on the TV. There's the Australian open tennis, the SMBC Singapore Golf open, the Abu Dhabi golf, classic, the US PGA, the Premier league, The malaysian Masters badminton......the list goes on. They are all shown live. That's the privilege of being a pensioner. I can have the luxury of watching all of these sporting events without any interruptions. Before, I would have to take a miss sometime. For example, the US PGA is shown live in the wee hours of the morning local time and finishes at about 8 or 9 in the morning. That's when it is reaching its climax but that's where I always missed out cause by then, I have to leave for work. Now, there is no such thing as rushing for work.

Alhamdulillah

Allah has His own way of doing things. After more than three years of being the Imam at the local surau, I thought it was time for a change. For someone to take over the responsibility of leading the prayers but unfortunately, I couldn't see it happening anytime soon. I couldn't see anyone capable among the regulars. Therefore, it was more of a forlorn wish than a hope. Then it happened. The tahfiz boy who corrected me once before when I was leading a prayer is back. He has completed his studies. This time he is back for good. I wasted no time is asking him to be the Imam whenever he is at the surau. After a while, it became the norm. Now he does it without me having to ask him. And he is a regular too. Alhamdulillah.

Good progress

 The tile work is almost completed. Only the kitchen and the bathroom still to be done. In sha Allah, by the middle of next month, the house will be ready. Off course there are other works still to be carried out but that will be later. The gate, fencing, perimeter wall, a bit of landscape, another garage, backyard, electricity and water connection etc. Those will be done bit by bit in sha Allah. Some will depend on my financial well being off course.

Ride to Ijok

Decided to ride my motorcycle to Ijok. Not that far actually. I've ridden to Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and the likes. Those places are further I think. On the way there, tried the Persiaran Mohktar Dahari road going through Puncak Alam. Coming back, used the Latar Highway. My verdict, using the highway is better anytime. The road is straight, surface is smooth with no potholes and not many vehicles all along the highway. All in all, I really enjoyed the ride. Should do it more often. Beside the fun and the thrill, the money stays in the pocket as the petrol is minimal while there is no toll costs.

Visit to Desa Merbau

Its winter

Peninsula Malaysia is experiencing unusually cold weather the past few days. I have to put on extra clothing especially in the morning in order to feel comfortable. That, mind you, with the air condition and fan turned off. Taking a bath is a no no without the heater. I shiver from the cold water when taking the wudhu'. When going for the morning prayer, the cool weather makes it a pleasant experience. How long this situation will last I do not know. The weatherman has been saying that it might last till February. Wow! Its winter time.

Shuttle bus to Glenmarie G & CC

Excited to be at the EurAsia golf event but disappointed in the outcome. The Asian team was outdone by their European counterpart, losing the singles badly after doing well in the foursomes and four balls the first two days. I was really hoping for a good showing from the team but unfortunately, they were met by the Europeans who had their guns blazing from the first minute. Still, good show by the Asian team. Next time, there will be a better showing definitely.

Desa Merbau 13/1/18

Good progress

Work is going on nicely at Desa Merbau. The ceiling work is done, now its the tiles. Progress has been good ever since the work began a bit more than two months ago. I was there yesterday in the afternoon. Managed to get the nearest neighbour electric and water bills, Alhamdulillah. They are necessary when requesting for electricity and water connections later.   

On the way back, decided to try the road going through Puncak Alam leading to Shah Alam, now named as Pesiaran Mokhtar Dahari. As expected, the road is very busy now. Fifteen to twenty years ago, the road was empty. It used to make for a pleasant driving but not anymore. Housing developments are everywhere along the road.

The EurAsia golf tournament

While driving through Shah Alam yesterday, decided to stop by Glenmarie Golf and Country club, where the EurAsia gold championship that is being held. We knew it was late as the event had already concluded for the day. Sure enough, there were not that many people at the venue as many already left. We managed to strike up a conversation with a lady security guard who gave us complimentary tickets for the event. Apparently she had quite a few tickets which she kept in her drawer. It was kind of her.

One morning

Desa Merbau 9/1/18

Desa Merbau 9/1/18

Amazing

At ninety two years old, he is the designated Prime Minister of the country should his group wins the general election. That's a fact! Difficult to believe but believe I must. It is as if they cannot find anybody else but to pick a ninety two years old man. No! There's no one else. That's why they have to pick him. The only other person they could have chosen is in jail at the moment. At ninety two he still has the physical strength, the presence of the mind and the will to go on a treacherous journey that surely is not given on a silver platter. It is going to be a long long road.

Tahfiz Muda

Been following the Tahfiz Muda program on TV recently. Enjoy watching those kids reciting the Quran quite flawlessly. It may be only the last chapter but it still is impressive. What amaze me however is that the youngest contestant is only five years old. At five years old, most children don't even know how to read. What  more to read the quran and be able to memorise, not one, not two but seven chapters of the quran already. Wow! That's amazing. Well done to the parents. It is not an easy thing to do yet they have done it.

Sunday morning

Still having fun

Now that Akid and Maisarah are at a new school, our daily routine has changed a little bit. Their school session only starts at 10.30am and ends at 2.30pm when at the old school it was 8am and 12noon. So, we have some time in the morning. Breakfast has to be early so that by the time the kids are up, the business of breakfast is over and done with. Before, it was sending them to school first, then breakfast. In the afternoon, the kids won't be back home until about 3pm. Before it was at about noon. Anyway, it does not matter, as long as both of them are still having fun at school. By the look of it, they are enjoying it, new school or not.

Back to school

School session starts again for Akid and Maisarah. Its a different pre school this year but it does not matter to them which is good. They are still having a lot of fun. This one is much cheaper than the previous one as it is government run. Don't know how long they will be at this pre school as we will be moving to our new house in Ijok as soon as it is ready. Three, four, five months maybe?  

The new year

What was I doing on new years eve? On my bed trying to sleep, that's what! As the clock struck twelve midnight, I could hear the sound of firecrackers in the distance. Its the sign that the new year was here but I was too tired to bother. I was more focused on trying to fall asleep. What is in store for me in the new year? I hope to be able to move to my new house latest by the middle of the year. Meantime, I need to improve on my financial status. How I am going to do that I have no idea. Things might not look so bright at the moment but I have to keep faith in Allah. He works in His own way. As a humble and obedient servant, I am forever grateful.

Birthday celebration

Attended a birthday bash for a relative on the wife side yesterday. More for the kids to have some fun.

Wedding invitation

At Putrajaya on 30th Dec 2017. Quite a big do. I was there very early and left early too. A friend from TNB days marrying off his daughter.