Back to earth

Phew!

This was tiring week. But I survived 4 days of trying to stay alive inside a small conference room with a bunch of Caucasian men and three very stubborn Japanese. My only communication to the outside world during these few days were through a few YM conversation, and even those were stolen moments while I pretended to look attentive and clever while simultaneously typing away on the minuscule blackberry.

My nihonggo was more rusty than I imagined. This was so embarrasing. My only excuse was that I haven't spoken a word of it (except whatever on restaurant menu) for eight years. Hmph!

And somebody needed to knock me on my head! I did not even noticed that Amri had his swimming test last night. We were in even in the same pool. Only that Amri and his group were at one end of the pool while my friends and I were in the middle. I was tired to begin with and simply exhausted after a few mini laps around the pool. Nope, I could not managed 50m non stop. Not this week. Went straight to bed after came back from pusat akuatik and woke up in the morning smelling faintly of chlorin. *Sigh*. Swimming is hazardous to your skin and hair. Anyway, thanks to Mdm Gart whom despite juggling three plus one junior swimmers by herself (didn't see Mr Gart last night) had indirectly managed to let me know about it. 12 hours later, that is.

Well, glad the week was over. I promised Amri a new kickboard if he passed his test but I doubted that cheeky boy will stop at just a kickboard. Coincidentally, there was a sport warehouse sale somewhere in Bandar Sunway. I could use a few new stuffs myself. But first, I needed to catch up on my beauty sleep.

Two years ago

It rained heavily in the evening so we fetched Amri and his bicycle from school. It would be too dangerous for him to cycle.

Mdm Gartblue got it right, it was that time of the year. Creepy wasn’t it? But was it only two years ago? I felt like it was a lifetime away. Read her entry here. Trust her to keep track of all historical event in Shah Alam.

Here is my entry two years ago - Shah Alam Flood Serious backbreaking cleaning up followed for weeks afterwards. And car repair costs that I wished I could forget. I could send Amri to a posh private school for four years with what hubby paid for his merc repair. It was not even working properly after that.

Well, heavy rain no longer sent me into a panic mode, unless it involved a flash flood on the road that I needed to use (and I was unfortunate enough to be driving the merc). Seriously, car makers should make all cars flood proof.

Midlife crisis

Not mine, though. But I'm surrounded with men in various stage of midlife crisis. And it is starting to drive me up the wall. You wouldn't believe that all these nonsense are coming from well educated men. Mr. OM, who could come up with the most complicated engineering design within minutes were having doubts about his position in the organisation. And lately his insecurities were extended to his other benefits, i.e accomodation and company car. Honestly, I wouldn't dream of taking all those things away from him. Pretty soon, he would be having nightmare of me or anyone else for that matter, taking away his phone, his room, company credit card or probably his reading glasses.

What happened when Mr OM met Mr SS, who himself was having his own crisis? It was like having two extra boys to look after. Add a few more men to that equation and I am quite ready to throw my own tantrum. My only mantra this few weeks was 'if I could handle Amri and Adam, I could handle these men'.

I am quite prepared to ignore the long face,the sulking, the childish emotional outburst, the power struggle and the occasional signs of depression (read: alcohol) but all of these are putting strain on company operation. In the absence of a GM, it is up to me to make sure things are under control. What am I supposed to do? A friend said, men going through midlife crisis are best left alone. But I can't do that, can I? I need all of them to run the company.

*sigh*

Anyway, God still have mercy on me. Just when I thought I'd be in real trouble this week, with Japanese guests coming over and another couple of middle age Big Bosses flying down from US to meet the Japanese, a few things begin to happen. Mr. OM is down with conjunctivities and some other cornea infection that he ends up with only 50% vision. Thus, he is safely confined at home for now. One less man to deal with. Big Boss no.1 has urgent matters at some other continent so he is safely on the other side of planet earth. Mr Power Hungry is sent to offshore and will be there for the next two weeks. Mr.SS is playing hide and seek with first ex-wife due to alimony matter and is under court order to present himself somewhere so he'll be occupied for quite some time. Hopefully the court will find him guilty of not paying alimony and chuck him in jail for a few months. Two others are sent for training at UK and I hope the brits will keep these two frozen until I managed to catch my breath. Err...what season is it now over there?

Help me God....I am too young for this. I want to go back being just an FC and enjoy my life.

So. The forecasted bleak week is actually turning out to be quite fun. And I'm invited by the Japs to a dinner with belly dance show.

For brief explaination of midlife crisis, read here

I just hope, after being so understandable with these men, I will be allowed to show up at work one day and claim that I am having a raging PMS and feeling a wee bit murderous.

Perkampungan Hadhari

At Pulau Wan Man. Which was very near to my in law's place. We could even walk there if we want to but it was a newly constructed place so it was barren of shady trees and extremely hot. Actually, that place was not really completed yet. But some peole were in hurry to show off Masjid Kristal, which thankfully, looks nicely done. There were supposed to be some miniature replica mosques from all around the world but sadly, were not fully ready yet. Not that they were impressive anyway.

Stragely, people arrived in droves to visit the half completed place. Some parked their cars by the roadside in front of our house. And prepared to walk all the way in their lovely dresses and high heels. Once, I even considered renting out umbrellas and flat shoes. Poor visitors, they didn't know better. I am pretty sure the place will be grand once it is fully completed, provided whomever building it will remember to plant lots of shady trees, provide covered walkways with plenty of dustbins, plant green, green grass and finish up the roads properly. And of course, clean toilets.

We did visit the place. But we went there at night, very near closing time. It was less dusty at night but still happening enough. Masjid Kristal was awesome, especially at night.The towers were emitting light which changed colours every few minutes. It was simply breathtaking to look at. But of course, as were other grand mosques of Malaysia, it was not designed to have natural ventilation. Which is sad because of its position by the riverside, it could have all the natural breeze if designed properly. Instead it would be a power guzzler, with the lights in its towers and internal airconditioning. Stunning, nontheless.

Give the place a few more years, with proper care and maintenance, it will be a lovely place. I'll visit the place again the next time we did our 'balik kampung' trip.

Amri and Alif


Life was a bliss, but only when you were on holiday at your parents or in laws place. They boys were nowhere in sight but I was perfectly sure they were well taken care of. Just hope that they did not do too much damage somewhere. We were in and out of the house with just the two of us (like..ermms...10 yrs ago?)But....if one of the kids were to follow, just resign to the fact that all six of them will follow. Heh!


Adam enjoying himself at masjid kristal

Anyway. Syawani will be 10 on 14th Feb so we decided to celebrate it earlier. So hubby and I were out hunting for cakes, party stuffs and spaghetti things. Adik did cream caramel that though not up to everyones standard, it was perfect to me. I love the not too sweet and slightly burnt sugar taste. Honestly!

We attended the other wedding (groom side). By today, I had already talked myselves into relaxing my silly dress anxiety.

eh...where are the rest of the photos?

Another side of moi

When we arrived yesterday, Mie announced that there will be a wedding tomorrow and another on saturday for us to attend. For the friday wedding, we were to be a part of groom entourage.

Yikes! I did not bring my baju kurung. Or anything remotely formal.

In the past, these kind of things rarely bother me. I'd just borrow a dress or two from any of the ladies in the family (non family members pun boleh). But somehow, over the years I've morphed into someone very private and at times, snobbish. The laid back years were gone. So I dragged hubby to town (Tganu roads/traffic still baffled me), bought a dress and a tudung to match then only began to relax. Until the next morning that is.

For some reason, the wedding would take place around 10.30 am. The earliest wedding I had ever attended. So we were to be at groom's place by 9.30am. At 9am I realised that even though I had a nice blue tudung and baju kurung (embroided lagi), I did not have suitable handbag and shoes. I had a sling bag (need both hand to pinch/drag two boys at the same time)and a maroon sandal. No time to go out and buy another. So, I just borrowed my sis in law's black pump and made do without a bag. And felt out of place and extremely self concious all the way from Losong to Gong Kapas and back.

Confirm, I am vain!

To make my silly vanity worse, both boys refused to come with us. So I had nothing and no one to take my mind off the missing shoes and bag.

Sigh.....how did I turn into this person? Next time I'll travel with the whole wardrobe with me. To think that I used to travel with just one knapsack...

Anyway. We ate nasi minyak at 10.30am. But then, this is Terengganu. Nasi minyak is practically breakfast.

From Cherating to KT

We had another fine morning of sun and sea. Took the boys to the beach after replying a few emails and gosh...it was already very hot. The boys played happily for quite some time before suddenly Adam screamed. My heart skipped a few beats.

It was nothing actually. Just that he stepped on some siput sedut like creatures that were still alive and moving. But when Adam was scared, there was really no point of trying to comfort him. He kept on screaming, ran all the way from beach to the poolside with Amri and I behind him and straight to a shower booth. He then proceeded to turn the shower full volume and vigorously scrubbed his feet while still sobbing sadly. Amri just stood by gaping at him and trying to comprehend the babbling that came with the sobbing. Apa daa... Half a minute later, he was fully recovered and jumped into the pool.

Intan & Co came to visit us on Thursday afternoon and took us out to a sumptious gulai kawah lunch at a well hidden place. I wouldn't know how to go there again on my own. God... I'd surely put on weight if I were living here. Food were really cheap. Last night we had ikan tombak bakar plus some other side dishes and vegis and it came to only RM38.

Bade farewell to Intan and her troops after a very heavy and noisy lunch (read: 5 kids) and drove straight to KT. Amri and Adam slept all the way.

Adam and Irfan. Amri was too busy eating to join in the photo


OUr compulsory stop. Lemang by the roadside

A night at Cherating

Amri came back from school on Monday and told us that school would be off on Wednesday. Cool. I frantically searched online for a place to stay overnight at cherating and managed to secure a place at Suria Cherating. Never been there before but hubby said it belongs to his friend's wife, plus it provided wireless broadband so it was good enough.

Actually, it was pretty good. We were given welcome drink and a ground floor room. It was small but open directly to a beautiful garden equipped with children playground and a pool on the left. Long sandy beach was just a shout away from the pool and garden. The boys were super happy.

View from our back door














The boys alternating between the pool and the beach. I'm a bit scared of the wave actually.
















Amri in power ranger pose


















Anyway, just in case people (all five of you who read this blog) thought I was one of the tai-tais that could set off to a holiday destination at a whim, the answer is NO. Not only I was overload with my own unfinished works (too many CNY lunches) but I was (and still am) also taking over the management of the company in the absence of a boss. Anyway, no escaping from work as I was well equipped to work from any part of the world, provided it has internet. Plus, I am the self pronounced last minute queen. I worked best in haphazard condition and the boys and I could go a few days with a few basic essentials missing. Or at least, they could.

note: maxis broadband network coverage is worse than hampeh in this part of the world, luckily the resort provided wireless broadband for free.

This is the ultimate reason I could escape from office