Last Day of March 2008

Its the last day of March 2008 today...all 31 days of it will be history come tomorrow! My balik kampung routine is back as usual being a Monday today.

When we reached kampung at 8.00am, we saw Mami was still at kampung. She had taken the day off to coincide with Uncle Li's off day.

After leaving my stuff, Pa & Ma left for work.
"Have A Productive Day, Pa & Ma!"

When Mami & Uncle Li was leaving, I cried coz I wanted to follow them. Atuk & Wan had to take me for a ride on the motorcycle to stop my crying.

Pa & Ma arrived slightly later than usual this evening. Ma stopped by Terminal 1 to get something for herself.

Wan & I was waiting for Pa & Ma's arrival.

Pa's in-house models.

Pa buys The Star on a daily basis and Atuk would get to read it when Pa arrives. During his school days, Atuk went to an English medium school in Seremban.

Atuk concentrating on the news in The Star.

Pa had his dinner first followed by Ma. Wan had cooked Ikan Tenggiri Masak Lemak with Rebung. Ma loved it that she had two plates of rice.

Later in the evening Mami & Uncle Li arrived from their outing. Unlike Mami who was energetic and cheerful, Uncle Li looked very tired.

Ooops! I thought it was Pa.

Having some fun with Mami.

Waiting for Ma to perform her Maghrib prayers.

Time to leave...Wan & Mami walked us to the car.

We left kampung around 8.15pm and went straight home. Ma & I were very tired that we called it a night early.

Good Nite all. See Ya in April.

Sunday Lunch & Outing

Its a Sunday...a rest day for most people including us. Its also a day to spend with family & friends, do some house cleaning, laundry etc etc.

We did not go out until afternoon to have our lunch.

This is my morning meal i.e breakfast...Ma's Special Homemade Porridge.

After that I was allowed to watch my Alif Ba Ta cd.

I usually have my morning nap about 10.00am but not today. It was close to 12 noon when I finally managed to have a shut eye. Pa joined me too.

As usual with my "Jumbo" close by.

Pa & I were up just after 2.00pm. Ma was grumbling as she was getting hungry and that we had to eat out since there was not much item in the fridge to cook for a decent meal.

All ready with my new hair do by Ma in my new Minnie Mouse Blouse and purple skirt.

Waiting in the porch for Ma to get ready.

Ma wanted to go to Man Tomyam for lunch instead of OT Mohammad briyani. Maybe she's had enough of the 'mamak' food.

There were a few customers at Man Tomyam when we got there. We decided to take the seat at the other end. Ma was not very happy with the girl who served us. She was a little moody and unfriendly. We could see it in her face....bad for business.

Doing a peek-a-boo with the baby seat table.

I got hold of the straw from Ma's drink and started playing with it.

The usual Mother-Daughter pose.

Pa & Ma ordered their usual.

While having our lunch, we heard the rumbling thunder and dark clouds hovering over us. We knew that it would rain anytime. So, we quickly finished our lunch and headed for our car. It was drizzling then.

By the time we reached the Ampangan traffic junction, it rained cats & dogs complete with thunder and strong wind.

Visibility was getting bad.

In the car back seat, Ma & I sat quietly looking at the weather outside.

We decided to go to Parkson since they have covered car park. Along the way the strong wind was swaying the big trees along the road bringing fear in Ma. A few branches broke and scattered the road up to the General Post Office.

Its window shopping for Pa & Ma at Parkson. Ma managed to get herself a blouse.

We stopped by McD to have a coffee break. Burger for Pa and Happy Meal Nugget for me with a toy car given free.

Scrutinising the toy car while Pa was having his burger.

We left Parkson as soon as the rain had stopped. Our next stop was Jusco.

Ma getting my diapers changed in the car.

The sky clearing up after the heavy down pour as we drove down from Level 4 parking.

It was heavy traffic all the way from town until the Seremban Toll exit. Most of the cars were heading north; the usual congestion after a weekend break. It took us 45 minutes to get from Seremban Parade to Jusco!

Having a good laugh with Ma at Jusco parking lot.

We left Jusco at 7.30pm and it was drizzling.

There goes another weekend; another day left of March 2008.

See ya in another post.

Saturday At Rembau

By 2.30pm Pa's car has 2 new front tyres and ready to take its maiden trip to Rembau. We turned back Jalan Loop to join Jalan Seremban-Tampin on our way to Rembau.

Workers at the end of the extended crane boom working on the future bypass for Seremban-Tampin traffic.

The journey to Rembau was surprisingly smooth. We stopped at Fresco Supermarket which was rather quiet for a month-end weekend to get something for Wan. We noticed there many cars parked at the Family Store (FS)...the customers must have preferred the newer FS supermarket.

Pa did not inform Wan about our intended trip to kampung. We reached kampung safely to a quiet house. We woke Wan up from her intended rest. She was pleasantly surprised to see the three of us.

There's so much interesting things to see at kampung; the chicken in the backyard, the fruit trees the birds and insects.

Looking out the door at some chicken outside the door in the backyard. Whenever some food leftover is thrown out, the chicken would make a big rush for it.

Unfortunately, Wan's chicken has been reduced to less than 10 in numbers following their mysterious disappearance from the coup since Wan was away a couple of months back. So is Wan Teh's chicken. Some midnight predators had made it to the coup and helped themselves to the chicken of their choice.

There I was looking out the back kitchen door, waiting and wondering what really happened to the chicken.

This facial gesture tells it all.

Many kampungs nowadays have dilapidated old houses left behind by the younger generations in preference for modern houses in the cities. Its not just for the reason that they have no living parents and relatives but the job prospect out there in the cities is more sought after than the tough kampung work.

This old house behind our kampung house has been leaning on whatever support it has. Only Wan knows the deceased owner.

My other cousins were not back this weekend, so I had no company of my age in kampung to play with. Whatever things I could get hold of became my plaything.

Like this "tasbih"

Even tried to rearrange the "kuih" we bought.

The Saturday Pasar Malam was on in Rembau town. Pa suggested we check it out. Initially Wan was reluctant to go, but after a little persuasion by Pa she agreed.

We decided to go early when it is less crowded and its still daylight. Still, when we reached there, Pa had to park his car round the corner.

Nasi kerabu stall...we bought our dinner here, including Wan!

Alisya looking puzzled when Ma tried to hand a RM10 note to Pa to pay for the Nasi Kerabu...Pa had paid for it earlier.

The cendol was so tempting that Ma could not resist.

At 6.00pm we were already walking to our car. We spent just half an hour at the Pasar Malam.

It was early Nasi Kerabu dinner for Pa, Ma & Wan.

Had some fun with Pa while waiting for Wan to perform her Maghrib prayers.
(Pic from Ma's Nikia cameraphone)

Getting a cuddle from Pa
(Pic from Ma's Nokia cameraphone)

We left kampung after Maghrib reaching home before 9.00pm. I was as usual the first to go to bed. Its been a tiring Saturday.

Good Nite.

Our Saturday

Its a working Saturday for Ma, so I had to stay with Pa until afternoon. We did not have to leave home as early as the other working days to send Ma to work. After all, they need not have to drive all the way to Ma's kampung to send me like Mondays to Fridays.

It was just 8.15am when we left the house. Pa decided to take the Ampangan route.

Ma had earlier packed my stuff just in case Pa decided to accompany his friend who was sending his son to register at Kolej Negeri. After some consideration, Pa decided otherwise thinking of the timing and hassle he & I would have to go through...my sleep, my meal, my rest...etc. A phone call to his friend on our way to send Ma to work settled the matter.

We passed by this billboard advertising Visit Terengganu 2008 just before the Bomba traffic junction.

Soon after dropping Ma off at her office, Pa & I went straight home. To keep me occupied along the way, Pa allowed me to hold his handset. I saw my photo on the front screen of the set.

Looking out the door hoping Pa would allow me to play outside but permission denied...it was getting hot.

The next option is to do some reading...looking at pictures is more like it; like this Animal Book.

Finished my morning dose of milk and plain water.

Followed by my morning nap with my "Jumbo" as company.

By noon I was up again. After being changed and fed with porridge prepared by Ma early this morning, it was time for my Alif Ba Ta cd.

We left the house about 12.40pm to fetch Ma from work. She finishes at 1.00pm. The journey should not take long as not many people work on Saturdays including the government servants.

Looking at our aquarium which is void of the fish.

We arrived at Ma's office before 1.00pm. Since there was no vacant parking space in front of her office, Pa had to wait around the corner of the block.

Ma showed up 20 minutes later. We headed for the Hardy Restaurant in Betaria for lunch.

This is what Pa had...Nasi Putih with Ikan Keli Goreng Sambal, some Ulam with Sambal Belacan & Sayur Paku Goreng.

(Pic from Pa's SE camera phone)

Ma opted for the Mi Soto....and I get to share it with her.

"You want some, Alisya?", asked Ma. Of course I do!

(Pic from Pa's SE camera phone)

"There you go"

(Pic from Pa's SE camera phone)

Its fun time at the restaurant after my lunch.

(Pic from Pa's SE camera phone)

After lunch, Pa sent his car to the tyre shop in Loop Road to get his balding front tyres changed. It was getting unbearably hot. The sound of the hydraulic nut driver gave me a fright of my life. Ma had to console my sobbing.

It's alright...Ma is here

The shop owner got the cue and quickly offered me a cornetto ice cream from his fridge...a trick that worked like charm.

Enjoying the free ice cream in Ma's lap.

Doesn't that look yummy? Hmmm...ice cream on a hot day!

The young man working on Pa's car looking rather serious. He smiled later after this shot was taken.

Now that the new Dunlop tyres have been fitted, the car is worthy of a longer journey. Pa & Ma had decided to drive back to Rembau to see Wan.

We stopped by the Fresco Supermarket to buy some food to bring along to kampung. The kuih stall was already open; so we bought some kuih too.

That story in another post.