A new government?

My mind occupied with Danau Merbau, PRU14 has taken a back seat, almost. Nomination day has come and gone. As expected the opposition had to overcome various obstacles in order to file their nomination. Six failed, of which two or three can be considered victims of double standard. This election will be an interesting one. The scenario has changed. The ruling party thought they had it in the bag when they managed to split the opposition coalition.  They have PAS in their pocket now, a very friendly party. However, a new party suddenly emerged led by Dr M to strongly challenge them, something they had not reckoned with. Then Dr M and Anwar combined to fight their common enemy, something nobody ever thought would happened. I never thought it would happen, not even in my wildest dream. Now the opposition has a PM in waiting. They are fighting under a common banner. They managed to sort out their election candidates well before the election date. All of the above never happened before. Its a united front. So based on the above, I strongly believe we will see a changed in Government come 9th May.

Almost there

The grill and the awning are done. Still to be done are the railing and the curtain holders. After that I am almost done except.......water and electricity.

Still waiting

The first target is almost gone. Water and electricity still very elusive. Don't know when I will have both of them. Meantime all I can do is wait. Very frustrating indeed. At least for the electricity I know the process is ongoing but for the water, don't know what is happening. Couldn't get hold of the contractor who was supposed to arrange it.

Awning and grill being fixed

Little princess

Like sister like sister

Thiller in Rome

The temptation was just too much. Liverpool vs Roma Champions League semi final match was a match I had to see live on TV, even if it was at two forty five in the morning. In the end, I was rewarded with a superb match of contrasting fortune. Roma controlled the game for the first thirty minutes or so but couldn't score. Then their midfield suddenly vanished. Liverpool took over with Salah leading the charged. They scored five goals during that period. Understandably, they slacked off after that allowing Roma to come back, scoring two in the process. Still, Liverpool has the three goal advantage to bring to Rome. Can Roma do a miracle once more? They did it before in the quarter finals against Barcelona. Whatever it is, I foresee a thrilling match. Will not want to miss it for anything!

Morning routine

My normal routine after the morning prayer, memorising the Quran. Usually it will be about half and hour to one hour. Would be great if it could be longer but I find my mind getting tired after a while. Can't go for more than an hour. That's why I really would like to give it a try at a tahfiz school. Then it will be more systematic, there will be somebody to guide me and the going will be faster. On my own, its a slow slow process because there's nobody to push me except myself. Also the memorising is not that solid. Give it a real try. See if I can cope.

Big brother with his younger sisters

Sunday outing

Went to Danau Merbau on Sunday afternoon. The main purpose was to take the measurement for the curtain. Managed to do that despite the kids making it very difficult with their antics. After that took the short drive to Pantai Remis in Jeram. Was quite surprised that there was already a big crowd although it was only about half past three then. As the afternoon progressed, more and more people came. At about half past five, we thought it was a good time to head for home.

Lunch at Danau Merbau

Enjoying home cooked lunch at Danau Merbau, cooked and packed from our house in Gombak. As the electricity and water are still nowhere to be seen, it was quite a hot afternoon by the verandah. Nevertheless, it was fun. After lunch, started taking the measurements for the curtain.

Alhamdulillah

After what seem a long wait, to me at least, I finally received a letter from TNB telling me to pay a certain amount at the nearest TNB office. This is with regard to my application for electricity connection to my house in Jeram. The work to connect the electricity will proceed after I have made the payment. Alhamdulillah. The process is moving. My hope to get the electricity before the end of the month is still very much alive. Now for the water connection. There have been absolutely no news whatsoever of the application. I need to do some checking to get the latest.

No 5

My daughter in Australia has given birth to another baby boy last week. That's my fifth grandchildren, comprising of two boys and three girls. Congratulations. So now I have seven children (four boys and three girls) plus five grandchildren. Not a big number but growing in sha Allah. No, not in the number of children but grandchildren. At sixty one going on to sixty two, I am too old to have another child. Alhamdulillah, I am grateful and content with what Allah have given me. Couldn't ask for more. 

This morning

This morning all the kids woke up very early. Don't know why but Akid was wide awake as early as half past four. When I woke up to prepare to go to the surau, Akid was already restless, tossing around on the mattress. Told him to go back to sleep but he wouldn't. When I came back from the surau, Akid was already having the television on, watching his cartoons. Soon after, Maisarah and Munirah woke up as well. Perhaps because of the noise from the television. In a way, its good for them to wake up early as later at night, they will sleep earlier than usual. By half past ten, everybody would be worn out, fast asleep.

Quiet week

Its a very quiet week this time. Monday and Tuesday I was at home except for going to the surau for the prayers. Can't do much with the Danau Merbau although there's a lot of things that I want to do. Without the electricity and water, I am paralysed. All I can do is wait. On Wednesday I was in Shah Alam for a meeting with the land owner plus another. Looks like I will have a neighbour in front of my house in the not too distant future. Its going to be great as we will be occupying the back portion of the land. Its a dead end so let's see what can be done about it!

Danau Merbau

Its a long wait........

Wait....wait.....wait

Waiting for the electrical and water connections is like waiting for the rambutan to drop from the trees. You don't know when it will happen! All you can do is wait and wait and wait....... hoping against hope that finally one day the waiting will be over. Its very disappointing to say the least. I hope to move before the end of this month but at this moment in time, it looks like a distant hope. After that, Ramadhan will come. If possible, I don't want to move during the fasting month but then again, if that is what is needed, I will do it in sha Allah.

Back to running again

After almost a month of break, I went jogging again yesterday. Not in the morning as has been always but in the afternoon at about five thirty. As expected, my legs felt like they were wearing shoes made of stone. My lungs felt like it was about to burst. I couldn't finish the course this time. The afternoon heat took its toll as well on my already tired body. When I run in the morning, I am fresh as I had just woken up after a good night sleep. Running in the afternoon is something else. Even before running, the body is tired already because of the normal daily activities. Now, I need to find the consistency. Must run every few days if I want to keep fit and healthy.

Start again

Been a long time since I went jogging. Need to start again after a break of over a month. If I don't start soon, it will be the fasting month in a few weeks. The it will be another long break. Hmm...... Getting a bit lazy these days. My weight has also gone up a bit.

Let's see

Its all about the coming election these days. All my whatsapp group talks nothing but the election. Its getting hotter by the day. I have a feeling its going to be a good one for the opposition this time. Let me be brave and predict that the next government will not be a continuation of the present one. I will also predict that this election will see the demise of the moon party. Hmm..... let's see.

Alhamdulillah

It was a busy Saturday for me. Early in the morning, I headed to Danau Merbau because the door and window grills need to have a final measurement before production at the factory. Appointment was at nine thirty. I had to leave the house before eight in order to make it there on time. I am a slow rider thus the ample lead time needed. Once that's done, I suddenly felt the urge to solve a minor problem with the pipe. For some reason, the final connection of the pipe after the meter to be and the pipe going to the house is still not done. I decided to take matters into my own hand. Searched high and low for a plumber in Ijok but finally found one in Puncak Alam. Unfortunately, he is free only on Sunday. I said okay but just after reaching Desa Coalfield on the way home, received a call from a friend of his to say that he is willing to do it immediately. Apparently, he has been informed by the earlier about my request. I rode back to Puncak Alam, met him at the agreed place and led him to the house. Within a few minutes, he got it done. Alhamdulillah. I was very happy and paid him handsomely. His wide smile says everything.

At Kimi's house

Kimi just received the keys to his house in Elmina. Nice area just off the Guthrie corridor expressway with a very large public garden thrown in as well. Good for jogging. I am thinking once I moved to Danau Merbau, I can ride my bike on weekends to this place for a nice jog. That would be great! The kids had a lot of fun running around the garden. 

At Danau Merbau

Did my zuhur prayer at the mosque in Puncak Alam on Tuesday after visiting Danau Merbau. The contractor came to do measurement for the grills and awning. After that rode back home to Gombak this time using the old Kuala Selangor road. With the motor, I can try all the roads. Now I am very familiar with the roads in Bt Cerakah, Parit Mahang, Bukit Hijau, Puncak Alam and the areas surrounding it.

Unethical

After the kids to their preschool, we drove all the way to Tanjung Karang to a shop dealing with grills, awnings, railings etc. From the internet, the price looks good. Cheap and within my budget. That's why went although very far away. Unfortunately, once we got there, the real price was given and its not what it seem. Its expensive for some items while cheap for some items. I was disappointed of course having come so far. I guess that's how they strategise their marketing. It is not ethical. Its bluffing. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I experienced this. Many others have done the same!

What's in the mind?

Wedding reception

Wedding reception of a friend's daughter at A Park, Pulau Meranti, Pucong. Quite far off the beaten path but the place is nice and beautiful. A wonderful garden setting set in the middle of nowhere. Getting there was quite a task but once there, all is forgotten as the place and the food takes over.

With Munirah

Went to DIY at Sri Rampai, Wangsa Maju to browse and look for a few things. Took the opportunity to have cendol at one of the restaurant there. Was told its one of the most famous cendol in town but I was not overly impressed. Its like normal to me. I like the one in Chow Kit road better. Their durian cendol is one of a kind.

The electrical connections

Was at Danau Merbau yesterday to meet up with a TNB worker for the electrical connections. He wants to make sure that the poles TNB is going to put up will not obstruct or disturb any of the other land owners plan. Most of all, he wants to be certain that no pole will be blocking somebody's gate later on. Had quite a lengthy discussions to find the best route. Alhamdulillah. In the end, a solution was found. He was satisfied and so was I. So, I think the electrical connections has no worry anymore in sha Allah. Its all system go. Its the water connections now. Still no word from Syabas.

No deficit budget

Was also at a few shops dealing in grills and awnings at Desa Coalfield. Had a good discussion with one of them but his prices are quite high. The railings I plan to fix at the verandah will cost me a fortune. The prices for the grills and awnings are quite reasonable although I think I can get cheaper prices elsewhere but where? Hmm.... I'm on a real tight budget. Can't afford to balloon it too high above my budget. I don't have supplementary budget as well unlike some people although it can only mean one thing, more debts. I am working on hard cash. No cash no talk. That means no deficit budget.

Moving house

I plan to move to my newly built house in Jeram on 1st of May. As of now, there are a few minor outstanding works still to be done but that's not a worry. They can be carried out later. The major thing is the electrical and water connection from the authorities. Once that's done, I can start preparing for the move. Don't know if it can be ready before 1st of May. I am still hopeful anyway. Can't wait to move. After all, staying in the present house in Gombak was meant to be a short one only. One year at the most but it's almost four years already and I'm still here. Just like when I rented a house in USJ before. It was meant to be only a year but the house in Sg Buloh took a longer time to be completed. In the end, we stayed more than three years.

Elephant sanctuary Kuala Gandah, Pahang

From our place in Gombak, it was slightly more than an hours drive to reach the place, exiting at Lancang. It was a hot day but the kids had fun all the same. Seeing the elephants for real for the first time in their life. It was quite an experienced.

At a junction about three km away from the elephant sanctuary where the right will lead you to the deer farm, we stopped for lunch at a stall by the roadside. As usual, in Pahang, its Tempoyak Ikan Patin. I'm not a fan but this stall serve one of the best Tempoyak Ikan Patin I have ever tried. Worth it.

Elephant sanctuary Kuala Gandah Pahang