Would have been 24...

Today is my late brother, Ayang's 24th birthday. Well, he would have been 24 today, but Allah loves him more and he's no longer with us.

This morning, I went to see Ewin, his girlfriend, to give her something that I bought from NekkRock. She looks very pretty and tall. When I was about to go, she mentioned that today's Ayang's birthday which made me real happy and sad at the same time. Sad because he's not with us today but happy that someone else remembers him, still. I thought I was the only one. Ewin was the stronger between us because she didn't cry, I did...sigh.

Anyway, on the way to KL, I told the kids that today's Ayang's birthday. Hadi said, 'But how are we going to celebrate? The birthday boy's not here!', such honest innocence. I answered that 'Well, we do not celebrate but it's enough for us to remember him'. I was overcome with sadness and when Amir asked why I was crying, Aliah told him that, 'Mak just misses her brother'. Very aptly put...sigh

Yes, I greatly miss him. And I choose to remember him by sedekah some of his insurance money to charity. I want to give some to a project by OOD, and some I already gave to the Rumah Kasih Sayang in BTP (I dropped by on the way back home just now). I also choose to remember him by going to his best friend's wedding in Batu Kurau on Saturday (the journey starts tomorrow morning, insyaallah).

Ayang, semoga rohmu digolongkan dikalangan orang2 yang beriman, bersama mak dan ayah, insyaallah. Amin. Alfatihah... I'll always love you...

Yeay! What a relief!

Dear friends,

I just received news that I'm no longer the warden for block A! Yeay! I've been waiting for this piece of good news for ages...hehehe

The new warden for Block A would be Ali/Yana and deputy warden Nazri/Liza. Good luck people! Do not worry so much about the responsibility because in actual fact you'll have the full support of the whole community in handling it! Trust me, it'll be fun :)

When I decided to go home, automatically it created a vacancy for a new warden. There was a lot of commotion and politics involved in selecting the new warden. (I was left out of the loop most of the times because I was busy packing...hehehe). And I left it to the whole community to decide who should be their new rep... and they've chosen wisely because I know Ali and Yana will do the job to the best of their ability, insyaallah. Actually I've left the warden simcard to Yana before I left (very apt choice, huh?)...muahahaha

Anyway, I feel so happy and the most important thing is that I feel a lot lighter (if only it takes away some of my fat...hehehe).

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every single person in Block A for their full support of the programmes that I was involved in. Personally I loved every single project that we did because we did it together, rain or shine (or in our case, in hot or hotter temperatures)...hehehe. Whatever I did, I did with sincerity and because of that I felt little regrets. I've enjoyed organising the many social events and I'm glad I got to know most of you, personally. I've met many interesting characters and I've learnt quite a lot of lessons from many of you. Thank you for enriching my life.

Dear friends, I also want to take this opportunity to apologise for any wrongs that I have done, intentionally or otherwise. Being me, complete with a set of mouth that has a speed of light, I may have hurt you without me realising it, so I apologise. Whatever happens in Khartoum, remains in Khartoum...hehehe. 0-0 yer...Insyaallah, we'll meet each other again and I wish you a happy and safe stay in Khartoum!

Signing of as Warden for the final time,

Maz

Kantoi...

Just now, I went to Tesco Rawang for the third time...hehehe. After we had brunch, we went upstairs towards Tesco.

But I was distracted by a beautiful bedsheet in Aussino. When I was asking the salesgirl about that particular piece, I came face to face with my colleagues from MPM... and to make matters worse, they were Mdm M (my former immediate boss) and her sidekick Mdm Q... Adehhhh

But, I greeted them nicely, asking about MPM, not that I really care...muahahaha. And when asked whether I'm dropping by in MPM, I told them truthfully that whenever possible I'll be avoiding MPM like a plague... I didn't know why I lied that I was just back for a holiday and not for good. Maybe because I do not want to be pestered to come and report for duty earlier than January 2011...sigh.

I'm sure by now, the boss would know that I'm somewhere in Malaysia...and somewhere in Malaysia I would be for another few weeks or so...hehehe

Quest for a gate...

FYI, my house is without a gate for more than 2 years already. Alhamdulillah, nothing untoward happened yet, but I do not want to tempt fate. I'm already scared by reading all the news in the papers. So far, the area that I live in has been quite safe with a minimal number of break-ins. The neighbours also know each other and always look out for one another. That is very rare in this new age, actually... and I'm grateful.

Last week I asked a contractor to come and assess the mini project that I'm embarking on. I just wanted to tile the front porch, add a gate and build a new fence in front. I also wanted to tile the small area of land at the back of my house and put up a grill surrounding the back of the house. The quotation that he gave me nearly gave me a heart attack on the spot.

The work in front would cost me 14k. 14 thousand, ok?!! To put in tiles would cost me 8k?!! What?!! The front porch is not that big. My house is not that big. It's just a medium cost terrace (20x70) or is it (20x60)? It could just fit one car, for god's sake?!! What kind of tile that he's suggesting to put in? Diamonds?!! Come on, it's just to park the car...Isk...mengarut.

He also promised that he would email me the pictures of the tiles but I've been waiting for about a week and still no email. So, I don't think I'd go for this feller's quotation. I'm still looking around for a quotation, reasonable quotations. I'm not looking for a grand gate (wrought iron and the likes), I just need a simple and practical gate. Is it so difficult to ask?!!

So, my quest for a gate will continue...sigh.

Visits to the doctor...

Today, I brought the kids to the clinic in BTP. Aliah was complaining of a headache and she got a fever. She was a bit shy to tell the doctor while the boys were playing havoc inside the small room...sigh. Hadi was playing with the weighing scale cum height measurement instrument... and of course the smaller feller copied his brother...sigh

2 days ago I brought the 2 boys to the same clinic because Hadi was complaining of a sore throat. It was quite funny really because I just kept quiet while he was telling the doctor of his ailments. He was talking non-stop. He told the doctor that it was quite difficult for him to swallow food and when he drinks, it hurts (though, I didn't see any changes in his eating habits...hehehe, he was eating quite a lot in my observation...hehehe).

The doctor advised him not to take cold drinks, ice-cream etc. He even complained to the doctor that I gave him an ice-cream the day before. The doctor then told him that he could have declined and said no...hehehe (in fact he finished his ice-cream so fast that he asked the other two whether he could finish theirs...hehehe). Anyway, I was kinda proud to see him talk to the doctor with confidence.

Then it was Amir's turn to show the doctor his bleeding nose. He was quite brave but I don't think the doctor understood what he said...hehehe. He was so cute sitting there on his own. I just realised that my boys are all grown up :)

And now, my throat is sore...There could be another visit to the doctor tomorrow...sigh

A busy Sunday...

I just got back from a birthday party in Bukit Ampang...sigh. I'm really tired.

Our journey started around 11.30 am this morning. We rushed to OU to buy present for Wildan, the birthday boy. But once we arrived in OU, everybody was so hungry that we actually ate brunch first at Chicken Rice Shop...hehehe. Hadi ate about 1 and a half plate of chicken rice, can you believe it?!! I was gobsmacked when he kept on asking for more rice... I was just afraid that his tummy would explode...muahaha

After that we went to Toys'r'us. I already warned the boys that we were there just to buy a toy for Wildan and not for them. I've been telling them since yesterday actually. But of course, that was before they entered the shop. Once there Amir whined to no avail. Actually I promised the kids that I would buy them a toy in May (that was two weeks ago), and I've been quite strong mentally and did not buy them any toy so far. But I melted when I saw Hadi cried silently at one of the corner of the shop. He didn't whined which was so typical of him but he just cried silently...sigh. So, what did I do? I 'surrendered'. I bought the boys a Ben10 toy each...sigh. I am so weak...

Then, I went to Taman Tun to their grandparents house. After Zohor, I asked my SIL to drive us to Bukit Ampang for the birthday party. We reached there around 3 pm and I met Mummy Daisy, Uncle Megat's clan and many others. Angah was also there with the rest of the family so the kids had fun.

Intan also acted as the 'games' coordinator' and she organised many kids games...hehehe. I took quite a few photos but sadly couldn't upload those either...sigh. Aliah won the 'limbo dance' and Amir won 'put a tail to the donkey' game...hehehe. Hadi didn't win anything but at least he participated in most of the activities and he kept on making funny remarks to Intan's instructions...hehehe. The theme of the party was 'Cowboy and cowgirl' but my kids refuse to wear the bandanna. Only Aliah was so happy with the face painting.

I finally met Uncle Megat's new wife...hmmm...hehehe. Auntie Arah passed away after a long illness last year and Uncle Megat took a new wife on the 15th of February this year. She's a dietician so she's quite slim but... lack the 'sweet' factor of Auntie Arah. I missed Auntie Arah's boisterousness... hehehe. I still remember some outrageous stories that she would tell us about their younger days. RIP Auntie, he's now well taken care off. Alfatihah, I still miss you...

Then I drove home...the end.

Egypt: Alexandria fortress...

Part of the fortress...

I've been wanting to update my blog for sometime now. Actually I wanted t0 finish my stories of our vacation to Egypt and I have loads of photos to share...sigh. But for the past two days, after various tries, I only managed to upload the above photo...

So, I think I'll just write about Alexandria some other time because I don't feel that the picture give it the justice it deserves. Some day, okay...

Patah kaki...

Today, we're stuck at the house. We couldn't go anywhere as I sent the car to the workshop this morning. I wanted to upload the picture of the dented car but unfortunately I couldn't do so...sigh. I've been wanting to update my blog but something's wrong with blogspot, I guess.

Oh yes, that's another 'present' from my brother, Mamud. When we got back last week, we spotted the dent immediately...sigh. When questioned, he said that a lorry made the dent and he didn't know which one because he found it already dented at the parking lot...yeah! whatever!

But as Along Zali said, 'it's just a car...nothing actually happen to him...'. I have to keep on reminding myself, 'it's just a car...it's just a car...it's just a car'...sigh

So cheap...

I just got back from the night market (pasar malam). I was salivating at the variety of foodstuff on display...hehehe. There was so many things to choose from...nasi ayam, sate, pizza, mee soup, nasi berlauk, fried mee, cakes, yong tau fu, kebab, fruits etc.

But the most important thing, it was so cheap! Nasi ayam in Sudan would cost about sdg7 which is equal to about rm9.80 or even 11.20 when rm was weak. Here, it's just rm3.50. For rm 10, I could buy dinner for the whole family...hehehe

My kitchen's condition is still not fit for cooking, so I'll be scouring the area for good food...hehehe...see ya around!

Exploring Rawang...

For the past few days, I've been driving around Rawang. There's so many new landscape and of course, so many new shops...hehehe

2 days ago, I went to Giants and Parkson in Rawang buying bits and bobs. The boys were crying for new toys but I promised them that I'll buy toys for them in May. That made Amir cried on the spot...hehehe. I managed to get out of Parkson with only needed stuff like garbage bins and bathmats.

Yesterday, Kak Wahida came to clean the house and we finally could breathe a little bit easier. We could also see the floor clearly...hehehe. She's coming again this Saturday, insyaallah.

Today, we went to Tesco. I don't have to go far because Rawang has its own Tesco...yeay! I made my clubcard today...hehehe. It's quite big with a lot of interesting stuff. There's many little shops also to be explored. While I was browsing the aisles in Tesco, I suddenly felt happy because I could buy anything that I want (not like in Khartoum where I had to make do with little things that I had...sigh).

Well, maybe the experience of living in a place like Khartoum made me appreciate being back in my own country more. Alhamdulillah...

My bittersweet homecoming...

Well, I just got back from Sabak Bernam, which in a way completes my homecoming.

Actually, I went there yesterday but I postponed seeing my relatives until this morning. Why? I'm also not sure why. I managed to visit the graves of my brother and parents... It's been awhile since I've been back...

Actually I'm really happy to be back in Malaysia. I just wish... I just wish that my brother is still here... there are so many things that I need to tell him, there's so many funny moments that I'd like to share with him... I'd like to show him how the kids have grown...sigh.

Yes, if only my brother is still alive, I'll be over the moon with happiness. But I do understand that Allah love him more and we can't have everything that we want...sigh

I love you brother... Al-fatihah...

I'm home...

Salam All,

I've been back in Malaysia for about a week already :) I've been super busy...hehehe (since when I'm not busy huh?!!).

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fine. A little bit swamped with events actually. I have so many things to write about, I just do not know where to start (my last days in Khartoum? my journey back home? events in Khartoum? my kids? adik's wedding?)...sigh...

I think I'll be blogging like crazy for next few weeks...hehehe. So, watch this space :)

Whatever it is, it's good to be back...

I'm going home...

In an hour's time, I'll be making my journey home to Malaysia. A journey which strated two years ago ends today. I'm going back to Malaysia for good. So, wish me luck. I'll be blogging on Malaysian soil from tomorrow onwards...so, there'll be no more ' an expat's wife in Khartoum'. Signing off for the last time from Khartoum. Adios.

Erksssss..

Today is the 4th of April and we're going back on the 9th of April... Erkkksssssss! 5 more days and still so much to be done! I'm actually waiting for people from Subalipack to come and start packing our stuff. It was supposed to be on Tuesday but they're free today so, they'll come to my house around 9 am...sigh.

Looking at the state of my house, I'm not sure where to start. I've started packing things here and there...and basically no where...hehehe. It didn't feel 'real' somehow but today the reality kicks in hard...real hard...

So, never mind, please bear with me and hopefully I'll get the chance to stop and blog in the following days...hehehe. If you don't see me, I'm out there packing and tying up loose ends...Adios!