Alhamdulillah I made it safe and sound to Tanah Merah despite the awful driving condition (sleepy + traffic jam) . We spent the first two days of my holiday here because tomorrow we’ll be celebrating Hari Raya in Pasir Mas. As usual I did pretty much nothing here in Tanah Merah since I’m practically useless in the kitchen. So I did the next best thing i.e sleep and sleep some more he he!
My in laws were clearly delighted to have Adam back in town. He’s like the centre of their universe. Everything revolves around him today. Yesterday Linda and I went to the Pantai Timur supermarket nearby for some last minute shopping. The road leading to that place was congested with people but lucky for me we went with a bike so we could just cilok through traffic and get there in no time at all. Yesterday’s buka puasa menu was home made ayam percik and salak (sarak) lada, two of my favourite dishes in the whole wide world during Ramadan. This time I made myself a bit useful and helped to lit up the charcoal grill.
At night I let Adam play some sparklers in front of the house. He really enjoyed himself playing with those sparkers. So much that he cried when we ran out of them. Linda’s sister arrives around 4:30 pm today and we left for Pasir Mas shortly after that. At least they can turn their attention towards baby Hani then. I tried to pay my zakat fitrah at the Tanah Merah mosque but the queue was quite long I gave up after 5 minutes and left. I was expecting a major traffic jam on the road leading into Pasir Mas but traffic was surprisingly clear today largely thanks to those traffic cops who were directing traffic and making sure nobody parks along the road causing unnecessary congestions. Thankfully there was hardly any crowd queuing to pay their zakat at the Pasir Mas mosque so I’m done with my responsibility in like less than a minute. It’s RM14.40 for 3 persons this year.
All my siblings, Lina, Faiz and Izni were already there we arrive at Lot 173 Lorong Che Nor Pesaka today. Faiz and Izni arrive on the two days ago with mother while Zaidi dropped of his wife and kid and disappears into thin air. Seriously, I don’t know what’s wrong with that guy. Even if you don’t like our grandma much, at least he should have had the courtesy to come into the house and meet my family for a while. Were where his manners?
Enough about that, tonight we played some more sparklers on the porch. Adam was having the time of his life burning more than a dozen sparklers tonight. Lina’s kid was to small to be playing with them so he could only watch from afar but still enjoyed himself tremendously all the same. If you were a foreigner who just got here tonight, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d arrive in some kind of war zone, hearing all those loud explosions coming from numerous firecrackers from around the neighbourhood. Like I said before, it’s not so hard to get your hands on illegal firecrackers here. They were sold literally everywhere and the stalls grew like mushrooms on a rainy day during the last week of Ramadan.
Okay it’s almost 2:00 am now and I really should be sleeping if I’m planning to stay awake at the mosque tomorrow. And yes I did manage to connect through dial up networking tonight but with Faiz’s notebook instead. Go easy on your loan money bro cause they won’t last forever you know.
p/s: Zaidi had just arrived a few seconds ago. Looks like he doesn’t drive back to JB after all.
11 October 2007
6.00 am
Missed Yet another sahur today.
7.15 am
Send Adam to the nursery and Linda to work
8.15 am
Fill up car and check tire pressure
8.45 am
Do laundry and write a few posts for my blog
11.30 am
Finish my blog posts, read newspaper
1.15 pm
Finally get to sleep
4.10 pm
Waken up by my phone alarm. Still feel I haven’t had enough sleep. Must go to a cyber café in Serdang to publish those posts
4.50 pm
Finish posting entries for blog. Went to bazaar Ramadan nearby to get some food for berbuka
5.25 pm
Pick up Adam from nursery, went to 7-eleven for mandatory daily visit
7.04 pm
Berbuka at home with Adam. Chicken rice was ok but Linda's nasi lemak ayam goreng berempah looked and tasted so much better
7.25 pm
Pick up Linda at KTM Serdang
8.00 pm
Try my best to get some sleep. Attempt proved to be futile. Adam kept bugging me nonstop. Still feel sleepy. Sure die wan like this.
8.45 pm
Give up on sleep attempt. Wait for Angkasawan blast off on tv. Poor dude. They couldn't have chosen a worse time to go to space.
9.35 pm
Mom came by to park her car here along with Faiz and Izni. They'll all be leaving in the morning
10:00 pm
Sets off rom home. Turn back after 200 metres. Linda left her make up stuff at home. Although she said it’s okay if I didn’t turn back I know deep inside she’ll blame me if she doesn’t look pretty this come Hari Raya.
10.35 pm
Finally sets off from home. Traffic from Seri Kembangan to Gombak generally clear save for a few congestions in Wangsa Maju and Cheras. Loads of car on the road but traffic was smooth. Saw at least 2 accidents along thev way
10:50 pm
Stop at McDonalds somewhere in Hulu Klang. Bought Chicken Foldover meaning to eat for sahur
11.40 pm
Arrive in Bentong. Decide to take alternative route through Sertik/Mempaga to raub. That road sure very quiet one. If woman in white dress sits at the back, I hope she’s not wearing seat belt ha ha!
1.00 am
Stop for toilet break just outside Raub. Felt sleepy already here
3.05 am
Passed Kuala Lipis. Traffic started building up right about this time. Came to a complete standstill several times from Lipis to Merapoh. Rain doesn’t help. People cutting queues %#±&@!
4.10 am
Arrived in Merapoh. Too sleepy to drive. Stop at a desolate surau to sleep. Wake up half an hour later to eat Chicken Foldover that I bought earlier.
5.35 am
Arrive in Gua Musang. Stop at Shell for fuel
6.00 am
Stop at a R&R outside Gua Musang for toilet break & subuh prayer. The place was packed with people but no choice. It's the only R&R you'll find in Kelantan.
7.45 am
Arrives in Kuala Krai. Felt sleepy like hell.
8.35 am
Arrives safe & sound in Tanah Merah after 10 hours & 470 kilometres of driving. I don't think I can do that anymore in the future, drive at night especially without enough sleep. It's just too dangerous. Sleep all morning
Missed Yet another sahur today.
7.15 am
Send Adam to the nursery and Linda to work
8.15 am
Fill up car and check tire pressure
8.45 am
Do laundry and write a few posts for my blog
11.30 am
Finish my blog posts, read newspaper
1.15 pm
Finally get to sleep
4.10 pm
Waken up by my phone alarm. Still feel I haven’t had enough sleep. Must go to a cyber café in Serdang to publish those posts
4.50 pm
Finish posting entries for blog. Went to bazaar Ramadan nearby to get some food for berbuka
5.25 pm
Pick up Adam from nursery, went to 7-eleven for mandatory daily visit
7.04 pm
Berbuka at home with Adam. Chicken rice was ok but Linda's nasi lemak ayam goreng berempah looked and tasted so much better
7.25 pm
Pick up Linda at KTM Serdang
8.00 pm
Try my best to get some sleep. Attempt proved to be futile. Adam kept bugging me nonstop. Still feel sleepy. Sure die wan like this.
8.45 pm
Give up on sleep attempt. Wait for Angkasawan blast off on tv. Poor dude. They couldn't have chosen a worse time to go to space.
9.35 pm
Mom came by to park her car here along with Faiz and Izni. They'll all be leaving in the morning
10:00 pm
Sets off rom home. Turn back after 200 metres. Linda left her make up stuff at home. Although she said it’s okay if I didn’t turn back I know deep inside she’ll blame me if she doesn’t look pretty this come Hari Raya.
10.35 pm
Finally sets off from home. Traffic from Seri Kembangan to Gombak generally clear save for a few congestions in Wangsa Maju and Cheras. Loads of car on the road but traffic was smooth. Saw at least 2 accidents along thev way
10:50 pm
Stop at McDonalds somewhere in Hulu Klang. Bought Chicken Foldover meaning to eat for sahur
11.40 pm
Arrive in Bentong. Decide to take alternative route through Sertik/Mempaga to raub. That road sure very quiet one. If woman in white dress sits at the back, I hope she’s not wearing seat belt ha ha!
1.00 am
Stop for toilet break just outside Raub. Felt sleepy already here
3.05 am
Passed Kuala Lipis. Traffic started building up right about this time. Came to a complete standstill several times from Lipis to Merapoh. Rain doesn’t help. People cutting queues %#±&@!
4.10 am
Arrived in Merapoh. Too sleepy to drive. Stop at a desolate surau to sleep. Wake up half an hour later to eat Chicken Foldover that I bought earlier.
5.35 am
Arrive in Gua Musang. Stop at Shell for fuel
6.00 am
Stop at a R&R outside Gua Musang for toilet break & subuh prayer. The place was packed with people but no choice. It's the only R&R you'll find in Kelantan.
7.45 am
Arrives in Kuala Krai. Felt sleepy like hell.
8.35 am
Arrives safe & sound in Tanah Merah after 10 hours & 470 kilometres of driving. I don't think I can do that anymore in the future, drive at night especially without enough sleep. It's just too dangerous. Sleep all morning
9 October 2007
As today is my last day of working, I tried to finish all my unfinished jobs before I balik kampung tomorrow. I hate to take a leave or holiday knowing that my colleagues will be doing my job when they have other things to do (how noble!). So last night Bujal and I went to Taman Melawati to deliver a notebook and a printer to a customer there. She’s one fussy woman. She made us setup everything, test the fax machine, printing and Internet connection as well. We didn’t finish until around midnight. Then this morning we went to deliver another pc to Setapak. Lucky for us I knew the Gombak/Cheras area a little or else it’ll take us forever to locate those addresses. Then we head straight to Puncak Alam to continue what I didn’t finish on Monday. It’s not my fault really. I waited for hours for a transport (a 4WD) to take me to Satellite B and after I got one the owner of that Kembara called me after just half an hour asking to return his ride. Now how are we supposed to do our job like this? If you’re low on transports, for God’s sake buy more! It’s the same story today. There’s no 4WD left to borrow when we got there this morning. So we waited for a while and then we left. Next time you want us to do anything at the site offices, better get a 4WD ready or just forget it.
Back at the office, The Boss made us do a little bit of gotong-royong you know cleaning up the storage rack and stuff. So everybody in our department worked together re-arranging things and dispose off a lot of junk and boxes. We were exhausted and dirty all right but since most of us start holidaying tomorrow, it doesn’t matter much. After that we did the annual bersalaman & bermaafan ritual (shaking hands & asking for forgiveness) with each other and of course with The Boss. I was the first to salam with the boss cause I was in a hurry to leave and he was sitting there by the doorway so I thought what the heck, let’s get it over with. It’s true what they say, sorry seems to be the hardest thing to say (especially to The Boss). Why, he also asked the same from me and the rest of the staff. After all we’re only human and we make mistakes all the time. I left office feeling really good today. Like an enormous burden being taken off my shoulder. Lastly to Bujal and Irwan, you guys take care now. I know you’ll be working for two more days one because you guys hail from Selangor and two because Irwan is still new so like all good new colleagues do, they stay back so that people from far away land like us can go back early he he.
Today my family went for berbuka at Giant in Kinrara. Yes you heard me right. It’s just too hard to ignore and resist really since I drive past it almost every single day. Nevertheless after today’s visit I still say Giant sucks! The chicken rice I tried at their food court sucks, the Milo drink is rather stale and the security guard almost didn’t let me in with my sweater on. Fer fook’s sake it’s raining and cold out there, can’t you leave a man and his sweater alone? Do I look like a thieving crook to you? Do they assume all their jacket-wearing customers are out to steal from them? So no class there at Giant. Anyway I said almost because I did get in with my sweater on but my wife did notice one security guard pointing to another about my sweater as I walked in casually into the store. Had they stopped me at the entrance I swore I will let they know exactly what I think of Giant to them out loud and then go home. They last time they did that to me in Kelana Jaya, I grab my wife, turn back immediately and left. To Giant Malaysia and GCH holding, YOU GUYS SUCKS BIG TIME! EVERYBODY, DON’T GO TO GIANT GO TO TESCO OR CARREFOUR!!INSTEAD BECAUSE IT’S A LOT CHEAPER THERE ANYWAY!! There you have it.
Back at the office, The Boss made us do a little bit of gotong-royong you know cleaning up the storage rack and stuff. So everybody in our department worked together re-arranging things and dispose off a lot of junk and boxes. We were exhausted and dirty all right but since most of us start holidaying tomorrow, it doesn’t matter much. After that we did the annual bersalaman & bermaafan ritual (shaking hands & asking for forgiveness) with each other and of course with The Boss. I was the first to salam with the boss cause I was in a hurry to leave and he was sitting there by the doorway so I thought what the heck, let’s get it over with. It’s true what they say, sorry seems to be the hardest thing to say (especially to The Boss). Why, he also asked the same from me and the rest of the staff. After all we’re only human and we make mistakes all the time. I left office feeling really good today. Like an enormous burden being taken off my shoulder. Lastly to Bujal and Irwan, you guys take care now. I know you’ll be working for two more days one because you guys hail from Selangor and two because Irwan is still new so like all good new colleagues do, they stay back so that people from far away land like us can go back early he he.
Today my family went for berbuka at Giant in Kinrara. Yes you heard me right. It’s just too hard to ignore and resist really since I drive past it almost every single day. Nevertheless after today’s visit I still say Giant sucks! The chicken rice I tried at their food court sucks, the Milo drink is rather stale and the security guard almost didn’t let me in with my sweater on. Fer fook’s sake it’s raining and cold out there, can’t you leave a man and his sweater alone? Do I look like a thieving crook to you? Do they assume all their jacket-wearing customers are out to steal from them? So no class there at Giant. Anyway I said almost because I did get in with my sweater on but my wife did notice one security guard pointing to another about my sweater as I walked in casually into the store. Had they stopped me at the entrance I swore I will let they know exactly what I think of Giant to them out loud and then go home. They last time they did that to me in Kelana Jaya, I grab my wife, turn back immediately and left. To Giant Malaysia and GCH holding, YOU GUYS SUCKS BIG TIME! EVERYBODY, DON’T GO TO GIANT GO TO TESCO OR CARREFOUR!!INSTEAD BECAUSE IT’S A LOT CHEAPER THERE ANYWAY!! There you have it.
7 October 2007
Today I missed sahur again for the umpteenth time. I did set my alarm at 4.45 a.m but I woke up , turn it off and woke up an hour later too late to eat anything. Usually I’m the one who wakes up the wife to cook but when the alarm clock himself overslept then no sahur it is. All the same, I went on with my plan of washing the car right after the Subuh prayers. About time too cause my car is like so filthy after going to the construction site in Puncak Alam week in and week out. I choose to wash the car early in the morning cause I’ll get all sweaty and very thirsty if I did it during the day. Finished washing the car (wash + vacuum) around 7.30 and then continue with some house cleaning. Linda was pleasantly surprised when she woke up to find the house all clean and shiny. Most of the time I’m a lazy slob at home but sometimes when I got the cleaning bug, I could surprise a lot of people.
This weekend I spent most of my time playing the demo version of my all time favourite pc game, Football Manager 2008. Anyone who lived under the same roof with me for the past 3 years should know by now whenever a new version of Football Manager came out, I’ll be hooked to the pc 23/7 (only 1 hours to eat/sleep/bath/everything else). So for a couple of week every year, Linda will loose all contact with his husband because of that game. Let’s just say she’s not a fan of that game. But lucky for her it’s only a demo version. This demo version ends during the January transfer window and I can hardly wait for the full version to come out this Christmas.
Later this afternoon we went to Alamanda in Putrajaya meaning to berbuka at the food court. Alas when we got there all the tables were fully occupied and it’s only 6 o’clock, over an hour to go before Maghrib time. So we decided to eat at Seri Mutiara instead and after another round of a really sumptuous meal we grew to like that place more and more every time.
Did you catch that new Proton commercial, the one with the ghost in it? It’s freaking hilarious!! But I’m gonna be surprised if it doesn’t get complaints from certain quarters soon. Adam was terrified with that ad. I can’t forget his petrified look. I hope he won’t be having nightmares or anything after this though.
This weekend I spent most of my time playing the demo version of my all time favourite pc game, Football Manager 2008. Anyone who lived under the same roof with me for the past 3 years should know by now whenever a new version of Football Manager came out, I’ll be hooked to the pc 23/7 (only 1 hours to eat/sleep/bath/everything else). So for a couple of week every year, Linda will loose all contact with his husband because of that game. Let’s just say she’s not a fan of that game. But lucky for her it’s only a demo version. This demo version ends during the January transfer window and I can hardly wait for the full version to come out this Christmas.
Later this afternoon we went to Alamanda in Putrajaya meaning to berbuka at the food court. Alas when we got there all the tables were fully occupied and it’s only 6 o’clock, over an hour to go before Maghrib time. So we decided to eat at Seri Mutiara instead and after another round of a really sumptuous meal we grew to like that place more and more every time.
Did you catch that new Proton commercial, the one with the ghost in it? It’s freaking hilarious!! But I’m gonna be surprised if it doesn’t get complaints from certain quarters soon. Adam was terrified with that ad. I can’t forget his petrified look. I hope he won’t be having nightmares or anything after this though.
5 October 2007
Previously it was my house. Now my office, particularly my department is one big mess. Today for example the workers drilled several holes on the wall beside my desk causing thick layers of dust everywhere. Nevertheless I know all those mess is temporary and the whole renovation process is for our own good. So I guess I’ll have to cope with all that for a while. I’ll be working for just 2 days anyway next week cause on Wednesday its balik kampung time! Yippee!!
I didn’t go to Puncak Alam today. Instead I had to deliver 2 servers and one notebook to Shah Alam. Went to pick up Linda at Bukit Jalil LRT station later in the evening. That’s when we got caught in some major traffic jam in the Bukit Jalil – Kinrara area we only get to eat after 7.30 p.m. That’s it. Next time I’ll use the PLUS highway no matter what.
In the evening as I was trying to fill up my car, suddenly I saw the dreaded DECLINE message on the screen at the pump station. I’m pretty sure I paid at least half of my credit card bill last week, why they still do this to me?? So I called up the credit card company and they said there’s a bit of a delay from CIMB in updating my payment. No wonderlah, ceh.
I didn’t go to Puncak Alam today. Instead I had to deliver 2 servers and one notebook to Shah Alam. Went to pick up Linda at Bukit Jalil LRT station later in the evening. That’s when we got caught in some major traffic jam in the Bukit Jalil – Kinrara area we only get to eat after 7.30 p.m. That’s it. Next time I’ll use the PLUS highway no matter what.
In the evening as I was trying to fill up my car, suddenly I saw the dreaded DECLINE message on the screen at the pump station. I’m pretty sure I paid at least half of my credit card bill last week, why they still do this to me?? So I called up the credit card company and they said there’s a bit of a delay from CIMB in updating my payment. No wonderlah, ceh.
4 October 2007
Back to work as usual today. Off to Puncak Alam again first thing in the morning (like what else is new?). Today I’m tasked to create Internet sharing at Satellite A. That’s the construction site way up the hill, some 4.5 kilometers from the main site office. I’ve never done that before so I had to follow some instruction from Bujal over the phone. So by then end of the day I’ve learned how to create Internet sharing using a Free Proxy software. It’s real easy really. All you need are two network cards, an Internet connection and the Free Proxy software. Once you get it all set up, you can share one Internet connection with all pcs in the office.
I’m just amused to see the shiny happy faces of the people in Satellite A when I got them hooked to the Internet. It’s like Hari Raya came early for them or something. Now they can finally surf the net, check e-mails, downloadporns stuff, not to mention YM like crazy. I spent almost the whole day there and things weren’t all smooth sailing you know. My first attempt at creating the connection worked intermittently and not until an hour later did it finally works. Then I had to set up the proxy numbers into all the pcs in that office. I finished work around 4.30 p.m and got back just in time to pick up Linda, then fetch Adam and we berbuka at Port Aroma today. We went to Seri Mutiara for berbuka twice already and Port Aroma is like crap compared to them. But then again I heard Rina like, own that place or something cause they go there like everyday so I had to ask explicit permission from them first before I go there often :P
I’m just amused to see the shiny happy faces of the people in Satellite A when I got them hooked to the Internet. It’s like Hari Raya came early for them or something. Now they can finally surf the net, check e-mails, download
3 October 2007
As you all know, my company has acquired the office block next door a few months back. The renovation works started a few weeks ago and at the moment I can say it’s almost halfway there. Last week they’ve hack a hole through the wall just a few metres from my desk to fix a door going next door. So you see my entire department is all dusty and messy due to the ongoing works next door. My desk is covered with dust everyday and it’s a matter of time before I get sick from all the pollutants in the air.
Nevertheless I have to commend my fellow colleagues like Rizal, Bujal, Pejoi, Sudin, Irwan & Abg Din who’d been burning the night oil working next door these past few days. Although we’ve hired a contractor to do most of the renovation job we still had to do the electrical and cabling jobs ourselves. First because to save cost and second, we’ve got people who’re more than qualified to do those jobs rather than pay somebody else to do it. They started working from around 9:00 p.m until the wee hours in the morning. Wish I could help them too but alas I have other obligations to fulfill (ye ke?).
Today I’m sorry to say that I didn’t fast. I had a serious bout of diarrhea since yesterday and up till this morning I’ve been coming and going to the loo about 6 times already. So the doctor gave me a jab in the butt and advised me to take those medications for my own good. So I didn’t fast today. It must have been those ice cubes that I bought from the mini mart nearby. I’m the only one who drank iced drinks in this house and since my wife and kids are unaffected my guess is those ice cubes must be polluted with germs. Coincidently my wife also didn’t go to work today cause she’s been having some serious stomach pains and nausea all morning. So there we were just the two of us at home, Adam sent to the nursery earlier and guess what we did? Nothing of course! (what were you thinking?) You know we can’t do it during the day (or else there’ll be grave consequences) but I must confess the temptation was there and my wife chose this very moment to be extrahorny friendly with me!
Lucky for me those pills I swallowed made me very drowsy and I slept (all by myself) in the living room all afternoon. Oh what bliss! For once I can sleep all I like during the day without Adam bugging me. Then again when I had my dinner during Maghrib prayers, somehow I felt slightly gloomy and not so cheerful probably because I didn’t fast today.
Anyway Linda’s on her third month of pregnancy already and she started wearing her maternity clothes to work everyday now.
Nevertheless I have to commend my fellow colleagues like Rizal, Bujal, Pejoi, Sudin, Irwan & Abg Din who’d been burning the night oil working next door these past few days. Although we’ve hired a contractor to do most of the renovation job we still had to do the electrical and cabling jobs ourselves. First because to save cost and second, we’ve got people who’re more than qualified to do those jobs rather than pay somebody else to do it. They started working from around 9:00 p.m until the wee hours in the morning. Wish I could help them too but alas I have other obligations to fulfill (ye ke?).
Today I’m sorry to say that I didn’t fast. I had a serious bout of diarrhea since yesterday and up till this morning I’ve been coming and going to the loo about 6 times already. So the doctor gave me a jab in the butt and advised me to take those medications for my own good. So I didn’t fast today. It must have been those ice cubes that I bought from the mini mart nearby. I’m the only one who drank iced drinks in this house and since my wife and kids are unaffected my guess is those ice cubes must be polluted with germs. Coincidently my wife also didn’t go to work today cause she’s been having some serious stomach pains and nausea all morning. So there we were just the two of us at home, Adam sent to the nursery earlier and guess what we did? Nothing of course! (what were you thinking?) You know we can’t do it during the day (or else there’ll be grave consequences) but I must confess the temptation was there and my wife chose this very moment to be extra
Lucky for me those pills I swallowed made me very drowsy and I slept (all by myself) in the living room all afternoon. Oh what bliss! For once I can sleep all I like during the day without Adam bugging me. Then again when I had my dinner during Maghrib prayers, somehow I felt slightly gloomy and not so cheerful probably because I didn’t fast today.
Anyway Linda’s on her third month of pregnancy already and she started wearing her maternity clothes to work everyday now.
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