Market at your doorstep

Waiting for the electricity and water connections can be frustrating. It always seems to take a long time, even though it is not really that long. That's the problem when you are over eager to move into the new house. Can't wait for the connections to be completed. I have lived in Gombak for almost four years. Knows the place quite well now. Here in Kg Sungai Merali, the market comes to your doorstep. Every morning, there will two or three Bangladeshi coming on their motorcycles bringing with them fishes, vegetables and anything else that you might need in order to cook for the day. The fishes are fresh and comparatively cheap! I still cannot get it in my mind how they manage to bring all those items on their motorcycles. At night, there will be the bread man. He also brings all kind of breads on his motorcycle to your doorstep. Come rain or shine, his hoot will surely sound at about eight, every night without fail.

Having fun anywhere

Three is a crowd

Activity for today

The plan is to take the children to the Kuala Gandah elephant sanctuary in Pahang this morning. It is situated a bit after Bentong but before Temerloh. A day trip would suffice, taking about one and half hours to reach. Anyway, at this moment of writing, the kids are still asleep. Lets see how it goes. Last night, there was a blackout at about two in the morning. The electricity didn't come back until almost three. Alhamdulillah, the kids slept soundly throughout but I had to make sure they were comfortable without the air condition nor the fan. As a result, I am having the lack of sleep syndrome.

Ready for school

Early morning routine for Maisarah. All ready for school while Munirah is also up and about. She is always the one to wake up first although she doesn't go to school. While the mother takes Akid and Maisarah to school, Munirah will be with me in the house. She is a good girl as she doesn't cry or pull a tantrum wanting to follow.

Only the memories remain

Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd (SHSB), the company that managed the Bakun power plant in Sarawak is no more. The Bakun power plant itself has been taken over by Sarawak Electricity Board (SEB) thus there is no need for SHSB anymore. I retired from SHSB on 10th July 2016. A year and a half later, on 28th Feb 2018, SHSB also ceased operating. It was good while it lasted. I worked for almost four years, from Feb 2013. Gained a lot of experienced, made many friends, met many intresting people. Enjoyed my time there although the challenges were a plenty. Anyway, it is now history. Only the memories remain.

Back to school

Was in Jeram yesterday to hand over the school application forms for Akid and Maisarah. Next year Akid will be be in standard one. It will be the start of busy times for him. Morning it will be the normal school while afternoon its the religious school. For him, it will be the beginning of a long journey of acquiring wisdom and knowledge. I pray that he will find it fun, enjoyable and fruitful In sha Allah. Maisarah meanwhile will still be in Tadika for another year.

As for me, this will be my second journey on this well trodden path. I have gone through it before with my four earlier children. It was a successful one if I may say so. Twenty five years later, I am embarking on another journey with three more kids. In sha Allah it will also be a success.

Danau Merbau 23/3/18

Besides the electricity and water connections, I still need to do the grills, awning, curtains plus railings. After that its finished. My target date is still 1/5/18. In sha Allah it can be done.

Strange

Politics can be baffling at times or most of the time. Yesterday they were sworn enemies but today they are sworn bedfellows. Who could have predicted that Dr M and Anwar would be on the same team again after their very famous altercations that had the whole country riveted? I bet nobody could have foreseen that? Now they have teamed up to fight a common enemy! The election is getting very close. I can feel the heat everywhere! I predict a close fight between the two big factions while one group will see its demise.

Look at myself

I love sports including tennis. Talking about tennis, one very successful player is Nadal but its not his tennis that got me thinking. It was what he said recently. When asked how he feels now that Federer has twenty grand slams after winning the Australian open while he remains at sixteen meaning catching up Federer has just got even harder now. He said I don't worry about Federer or what he does or achieve. I look at myself and my career. I have done very well indeed. Sixteen grand slams, numerous other titles all over the world, world no 1, fame, fortune etc. What I have achieved is beyond my wildest dream. What more can I asked? For that I am thankful. Always.

In answering the question, he taught me a very valuable lesson too. The secret to be happy and grateful always is to look at yourself. In sha Allah

Health is wealth

At sixty one years old, I can consider myself fortunate as I am still as healthy as can be. I can't expect to be able to play a full ninety minutes of football running at full blast but I can still hold my own when playing the occasional futsal with people half my age. I can still jog comfortably non stop for a few kilometres although I have stopped doing the speed runs. Too taxing for an old man like me. Nonetheless, I am grateful to Allah always for I have many friends my age who struggle with their health. In sha Allah I hope I am able to maintain my health for as long as I can. After all, I have three small kids to look after.

How can that get lost?

I have not been to the surau for quite a while. Just need to recollect myself as I am having an anxiety problem. Suddenly my memory can completely shutdown while reciting the versus, even the short and simple surah that I have been reciting for years. Its scary to say the least while its happening. How can that happened? I don't know! It never happened before. The longer surah, yes. That happened many times but its understandable. They are long. I don't recite them too often. The memorising could be is not enough and many many other factors! But the shorter ones! The ones I have been reciting for years, from as far as I can remember! How can that get lost?

Yesterday

Its time for my monthly supplement of medicine. Alhamdulillah this time I only need to go to TNB's clinic as the clinic had all my requirements. If before after taking my medicine at the clinic, I had to go to Pantai Medical after that for more medicine as the clinic don't have them. Now, its all available at the clinic. It was all fast and simple. Within ten minutes it was over. After that went to Tabung Haji Ampang to transfer some money to my bank account. There's more payment to be made for the house in Jeram soon so I need to be ready. Then headed for ACE Hardware at Damansara to browse around. I will be needing some of them for the house. By the time I reached home, it was almost 3pm.

Munirah is two years old

She is two years old. A big baby already getting very cheeky and playful. Taking care of her is a handful what with her bagful of antics. The days seems shorter with her around, becoming chaotic and unpredictable, turning a dull day to one full of life. As your father I will give my best in sha Allah so that you will grow up to be a muslimah, a humble and faithful servant of Allah.

A fighter

With the Tiger back, golf is getting exciting again. Remarkable achievement after just a few rounds of golf. Only a few months ago people were wondering whether Tiger Woods would be playing competitive golf again. In most peoples' mind, he is a has been. A back injury that won't go away plus personal problems  have taken its toll on him. But we all have not reckoned with Tiger Woods. He is not for nothing arguably the best golfer in history. Now, its a question of when, not if, he will be back winning again. That includes the majors for sure.

Completed

Alhamdulillah. Completed. Only a few minor things here and there left to be done. Otherwise the work is completed. Now its the waiting game for the electrical and water connections from the authorities which we had already applied. Hopefully it won't take long. From previous experienced, water connection is quite fast but electricity will take some time. However, with TNB an ISO certified company now, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be of help.

Danau Merbau 13/3/18

Pokok Melaka

Hmm......

Its Friday once again. Day in day out, week in week out day, month in month out and before I know it, one year is gone. That's how life is. I am sixty one going on to sixty two. How did I get to where I am today? I was a kid. Then I was a teenager. Then I became an adult. Now I am a senior citizen. The phases in life passed through like the wind that blows in the night. You don't see it. You don't realise it. You only become aware of it the next morning when you wake up but by that time its long gone and you can't get it back. Just like my sixty years. They are gone and will never come back. Just like the wind that came and .............  disappeared

Danau Merbau 8/3/18

Was at Danau Merbau yesterday to look at the latest progress. Alhamdulillah, everything looked fine. Also went to a few grill and awning suppliers at Desa Coalfield and Puncak Alam to have an idea of what is available and what are the costs like. Wanted to have a look around Ijok as well but time was short. Had to get back to KL to fetch the kids from pre school. Now that I know what the costs are like it will certainly help in my planning.

Backyard

Scammers

Losing RM 2.3 million to a scam is just unbelievable but that's what happened as reported by the Star paper today. It all started after the victim received a call from someone claiming to be from a bank telling her she has an outstanding loan. The funny thing is she has no loan but these damn scammers are so skillful that she fell for the trick, finally ended up losing her money, to the tune of 2.3 mil. Hmm....... I have received such calls myself, twice already but alhamdulillah, I ignored those buggers. Good thing I was aware of such scams, having read them in the papers previously.

Being a retiree

Been watching a lot of sporting events on television. Being a retiree, I sure have plenty of time. Those days when the event carried on till morning, I will not be able to continue watching as I have to go to work. Now there is no such thing. I can watch till the end. This is especially so for the PGA golf tournaments in US. The coverage will usually start at 4am and carries on till 7 or 8am. It gets interesting towards the end but that's where I have to stop watching as I have to go to work. Those days I mean. Now I watch till the end. Even if there's a playoff, I can still watch it. Like this morning, my eyes were suddenly wide awake at 4am in the morning and then refused to close. So, I get up, do my Tahajud. Then, while waiting to go to the surau for the morning prayers, I was able to catch the Man U vs C Palace match for a short while. It was worth it. Man U salvaged a stunning last gasp winner to clinch the match.

Danau Merbau 3/3/18

Went to the house yesterday to see latest progress. Thought I wanted to do some measurement for the curtains, awning and grills but with the kids tagging along, found it impossible. They were busy running around the place, touching here touching there, putting their feet here, there and everywhere. They played with the sand, the bricks and stones lying around the house and anything else they can put their hands on. I can't do anything else except to keep a lookout for them.

Afternoon prayers

Did our afternoon prayer at Puncak Alam mosque. There was a wedding event going on at the place. It was also raining heavily when we got there. As such, there were many people, people attending the wedding, people wanting to do their prayers and people who couldn't go anywhere because of the rain although whatever they wanted to do at the mosque has been done. Alhamdulillah, the mosque is big enough to accommodate everybody.

Eco development at Puncak Alam

Later on went to have a look at ECO Setia housing development at Puncak Alam, a five minutes drive from Danau Merbau. Impressive settings and decorations.

Thirty seven years in between

Beside the big gap in age, there are other vast differences between her and me. I am a Master degree holder with a basic degree in engineering while she didn't even complete her lower secondary school education. I am a bit of a spendthrift while she, as most women are, loves to spend. Maybe because of my age, I am cool headed while she is a real hothead. I have seen the world, done this, done that with no more mountain to climb while she is only beginning with the whole world ahead of her. So, what make us stay and click together? Only Allah knows. Alhamdulillah, its been almost seven years already.

Danau Merbau it is

From Pondok Merbau to Desa Merbau and now, Danau Merbau. This last name is more appropriate. Pondok is too common a name. Desa is not quite right because desa means village. Its a house, not a village. Danau is the correct one. Danau means a small house or a hut. My house is small so Danau is the correct word to describe it. In addition, I kind of like the word Danau because it is akin to the name of the lake in front of Pak Hamka's house, Danau Maninjau in Batang Pinang. What a beautiful name! Danau Merbau doesn't sound as beautiful but it will do. So, I officially announced the new name for the house, Danau Merbau.

Coming to a close

After almost four months, Danau Merbau looks like it will be reaching completion soon in sha Allah. Everything is in place alhamdulillah. Almost all minor outstanding works are done. The backyard is almost completed. The walls surrounding part of the house is also almost completed. All in all, I can say its a job well done. I'm satisfied and happy. Now its just waiting for the water and electricity to be connected. In sha Allah, my target for 1st of May is very much within reached.

Boys will be boys

and girls will be girls