Aug 19 Pre Reception Saturday

So that morning, the cooks came early. At 8:00, the onions were being peeled, and the taters skinned.

Aaa smsed me about taking a dip at the resort, and I would have gone if not for having to move the civic. Instead of dipping in the pool, I was at the One Stop auto accessory shop. The pump costs rm55.00 and the wax abt rm18. I returned to the house at abt eleven, and as I got off, Rizalmi arrived. I shook his hands. He was ex-student MRSM Ps, 8th batch. And I knew him as my Ketua Block...

So anyway, he got the job of helping me power up the tire pump. Poji was also there to help. Once done, we pushed it to Adah's land beside Badri's home. It was noon by the time all the vehicles were placed in the lot.

Then we transfered all our cars except Adah's there. It was a good thing, too, cos within the hour, the 3rd and biggest tent was delivered by the rental, along with round tables for six, complete with red covers.


IT rained that afternoon. The cooling effect was welcoming, and I thanked it by taking a few pictures of the deluge. And a couple of movies, too...

By evening, I was already tired. Aat called as he was already back from his KL course, and had wanted me to pick him up. I told him 10 minutes, and once there, asked him if he would like to eat. I was sure he was hungry. And he was. I got my char koaytiow, finally. And the teh halia ais was a good choice, too. Back to home; Aaa had already left, so it was just me, Jee, tok Ayah, Pak su and Alang left to do the tables. Mak would direct us as to how we should be doing it, and I felt she should just trust us to do our job. But we got the rectangular tables lined up; that was the minimum requirement. Tomorrow, in the morning of the reception, we would finalize the setup.

P.S: My first ride...

18th August Friday Kamunting (2)

Yeah, Friday morning. It was again a day of leisure, but not for the rest of the family. Already, relatives are coming to help out with the prep. Mak Lang of Jelai and Hawa came early. Kak Roziah of Abg Duan came with her sons in the afternoon. I went out for Friday prayers just as mak called for lunch. I said later after I come back. Ayah went later to the masjid and after the 3 prayers (jumaat, hajat and jenazah), I returned home as Ayah went to the kenduri tahlil. Ate alone.

At about 6:30 pm, I got a call from Aat. He was all mysterious like, said that he will pick me up at the gate. He came, and told me in the car that Jaa was waiting at Taiping Golf Resort looking for a room to rent..

Amin and Jee arrived at the same time, late evening, at about 12:30. They'd gone to SP first, and then to the TESCO there..



The gang's all back.. almost!

Thursday 17th at Kamunting

If memory serves me right, today was the day I cut my hair....

Adah and Mala began their day in the afternoon, getting the bunga telor ready for the bridal dais. I took a pic of the floral arrangement upon Mak's request. She also wanted the car moved. I said, wait for the others to be here... Yeah, thank God for small favors...

Amin was busy, too. He got to SP from KT in the morning, stayed until afternoon, and moved to see Poji by evening. He'd also met Mak Ngah Salmina at Derma Korner while waiting for Poji to be done with his soccer. By 7 pm, the two were with the rest of Jee's family in Taman Kim.

Aug 16th Kangar -- JPN SP -- Taiping

The morning was still wet and drizzly as I packed after my shower. Aza was already up. He asked me if I was leaving already. I said yes. It was only nine, and Aza had to be at his office by eleven, so there was some time to kill for breakfast. We had breakfast at Behor Pulai (?), that road to SMS Ps. Not a good nasi lemak meal, either. But the company was great. As we watched the tears coming down the shingles of the stall, we realized one thing; that it's not easy to move once we get rooted down. That's reality..

I left Aza with the Rusa all packed, in the light rain, but as I was leaving Seriapp, the antenna fell off. OK, that's it, back to Seng, I said as I made the U-turn. He has to know about the ac and the antennae. both his handiwork. Made it through the Bukit Lagi roundabout, and Seng promptly went to work on the van. I moseyed the wet market and the eatery beside. They still looked the same. The grocery stores next to the seating stalls were gone -- cars parked on their remains.

Seng completed his work, and billed me RM 60 for the holey ac hose he replaced. We said goodbye again, him promising me that I will be treated to Ikan Bakar the next time I am in town. Yeah, well, that's a thought..


My trip to Taiping was better. I had the ac on, but I was hungry and thirsty. Went to JPN in SP to get Wasil's mykad. Office was closed for lunch. Bummer.. So I made to Mak Tok, had a quick lunch, and left at 2:00. Got the card, and fine of RM11.00. That spoilt my day.. Amin was in KT, and leaving for SP the same evening...

The ride to Taiping began at about three, and at about 5:00, I reached home. At Nibong Tebal, I received a call from Ayah, asking me where I was. He said OK as soon as I'd said NB. I had mixed feelings about many things, but with Jee and Amin, and even Aaa coming in Friday, I was sure I would have some solace soon.

The wedding reception in Taiping was slated for Sunday 20th, so the prep was understandably underway even as I was coming into the driveway..Mak and Ayah were home. I took a quick shower and took a rest. That night, I called up Aat and we went for laksa mexico.

I bagged some for home and 5 for Aat's kids. The laksa lady thought we were mata-mata on night duty.

Aat thought that was funny. When I got back with the laksa, Mak and Ayah were both ready to turn in. Adah, too. It was time to go to bed...

Still 15th -- Nite at Aza's -- again

I'd told him earlier that I needed to stay at his place overnite. A few things were bugging me, and only streamyx braodband could help.. and he had WiFi...

I took some time to rest in the room (Durrah's bedroom) Jee let me have. At 4:00 , I called JPN SP and was told that Wasil's MyKad was found. Yahoo. Told Amin about it. He was elated, as well. So now I have another stop to make on my way tro Taiping, SP and the JPN pickup.

But by five, I was ready to leave. Jee was also leaving for a soccer trial, so we both got out after a drink of hot teh susu. I took my time, allowing Jee to overtake me at Tassoh. It's that orange wira again..
Aza was watering the plants and smoking a stogie when I arrived. I was hot and sweaty, and ready for a shower. But I took the bags in, came back out and stayed with Aza as he drowned his plants. We talked about things. He showed me a plant that was his dad's favorite -- some beany annual popular with curry. Atia, the wife, returned from work, and promptly left with one son to Quran School. She later came back with cubadak and a few other goodies for tea.

News at the tea table included the possibility of Atia having a month stint at a location in the US, so Aza and she had questions which I was glad to answer.


I hooked up to the Net, read my ccac emails and got worried about a particular one regarding ESL placements. That feeling dragged into the night, unfortunately, even when we were having dinner at one of the medans near the Bukit Lagi roundabout. It also drizzled as we were leaving. The cook and the cooking were both forgettable.

Night time; Aza kept me company as I logged on his Streamyx and had a long, long chat with Pah. The TV was showing "The Aviator", a movie about Howard Hughes which I have not watched before. Interesting movie -- crazy character, that Hughes was. Aza's spirits were as low as ever. He's always saying that he needs to get out of uitm. I hope he makes the right move..

We folded at almost two. I wasn't sure how I was going to get up in the morning. But I did, when the clouds broke and rained before dawn.

Shopping at Padang Besar Kompleks

We left at about 2:30 towards the border. Really hot day, with no cloud in sight.

Arau Lunch with Aza

Yeah, I was on my way there when I called him, at the Repoh KUKUM place. He said okay, to meet at the Arau Raiway Station. So there I was, waiting at 11:30. By 12:00, we were at his favorite haunt, and I took the same food he had..plus coke, and then, teh ais......

My first coke in Msia..and how different it tasted..

It was a sweltering day, and the ac wasn't working at all. Seng will have to look at it again...

Aug 15 Morning in Padang Besar and MRSM Beseri

Well, Jee woke me up at seven thinking that I hadn't performed my solat. Anyway, I got up and helped what I could with them ready to go to school. At 7:30, big sis Durrah fell down the drain and had to be cleaned. She'd bruised her head and knee. By 7:40, all had left. I had a housekey, given by Jee. My morning plan? Beseri, and then 11:00 at Arau, and 1:30 back in Padang Besar, for my shopping spree (ahem). So yeah, that was the plan...

But....I had to see Ruzaidi. And yeah, I did, sadly. He's still in good spirits but I could tell that he regretted being in that accident that almost cost his life. But he's alive, I told him, and that he should take up this second chance..

He sang a karaoke, "...sekuntum mawar merah, secebis puisi.."..sad, I could actually hear him sing it even now.. He requested from me a song, and I reluctantly (I am no singer) obliged, by singing JayJay's "Rindu Bayangan".

Well, that and a few pics, and I left, to see the teachers. But they have moved....to a newer building, so I chanced, insetad, on the lab assistants..which was a pretty good find..

I met them all.. collating the midterm of Biology Exam paper...chatted with them like old times. They were the soccer and badminton buddies, and I wished I'd played more with them. But hey, I did kick a few birdies in the bandminton courts..

Nazirah stepped in as I was taking last pics of them. She's the Kamat replacemnt, they said. She's good, I thought..and I took the long way to the gate, which meant going through the new administartive block, and running into Mr Nordin, the Maths teacher. he was the one who first took me under his arm when I was a newbie.. took me to Kangar, showed his house, shopping for gardening tools, the first day of work. And there he was...

But I was late for my 11:00 date with Aza, so I told him, well, maybe next time.. and left..hoping I can be there the next time...

Mat Ros, MRSM library buddy

He came with his youngest, and his wife. Couldn't recall their names anymore. But I know the face. We attended their wedding. I even stayed at his house one evening during one semester's break, getting final grades ready. That was when Pah was at UTM... He's the Felcra Lubok Sireh guy...

They talked a bit about happenings at the MRSM since I left. And I told them mine. And showed footage of Pah building a snowman, and then Amin's wedding pictures, on the iBook.

By midnight, they had to go. I told Mat Ros I wanted to see Ruzaidi, the techguy, and he said that Zaidi will be in tomorrow. 8:30-9:00 would be the best time to get the man..

Jee snapped a couple of pics of me and them before the family left. I should get a few more before I retire, I thought.

Jee's Padang Besar: Tip of the nation

Jee didn't get back until after six. I'd played with his 4 kids. Couldn't figure them out, though. They seem to love making the other cry, or get hurt, and for no reason whatsoever. But I was tired and needed to chill. THe day's been too hot and I was doubting my rm85.00 for the AC recharge was worth it when I drove up to Taman Kim.

But Jee came in. We had tea, and then I took a nap after prayers. Jee said that we're eating out tonight. Why not -- if it's a good place.

Somehow I didn't feel like taking pictures of the kids or the diner we were going to. It was something like a show restaurant, with Thai food and a duet singing songs from different eras on a really loud karaoke set. Yeah, I never could really enjoy food in a loud setting. There goes my reference...

But Jee footed the bill. That was gracious of him. And as we were getting into the car, MatRos called. Said he was coming in 10 minutes. I told him fifteen. We needed that much time to get back to Jee's place.