Party Time

It came a day early, but I didn't think Puan Anita was complaining. Farha, and gang had sprung a surprise for her, a birthday cake on their Aidilfitri open house. She was not expecting that, especially my less than enthusiastic response to her request to pick her up from home. I asked her to get the driver out instead.

I had to endure a 45 minute ham from my clinic to get to Farha's even though it was on the other side of Subang Jaya. Unbelievable. And my friends manage to keep their mouth shut about the cake until I turned up!

She was surprised. The cake was gorgeous, but the highlight for me was the tiramisu prepared by Azida. Gleefully I took some home for afters!

We hung around for a bit, mainly embarrassing ourselves with tales of the old times in the UK. Surprised at the collection of photos that Farha had kept, it was rather strange to look at how different but the same we were. Great stuff!

Thanks again Farha, Azi, Yatt, Itul, Syahril and Debby plus the others for making it an afternoon for Puan Anita.

It has been a While

The past week hasn't been great - apart from van Persie grabbing a late hat trick to deny Southampton a famous win. It started off with food poisoning in my part, then a small accident and my in-laws maid running away from the house. Puan Anita seemed to be under a lot o stress.

This week also also going to be a busy one for me with my colleagues going away to conference. I had to man the shop. No biggie, but I could do without those outside stresses.

To add to things, we were also in the middle of apartment hunting and sorting out the loans and mortgages was energy-sapping. A few other things at the office - medical insurance updates, medical license and the rest was adding to my crops of grey hair.

Things were simmering down nicely now, and I was more or less back to normal routine. More updates and photos should be coming more regularly very soon .....

Welcome Back

After 22 years in England, Itul finally returned to Malaysia for good, and would be reporting to work next week at my old place, UMMC. She had been back since before Raya but we only get to meet her last week, and again during Syahril's open house in Bangi last Sunday. It was the last for the day for us after having food earlier at another friend's house. No wonder I put on a few kgs.

She was understandably apprehensive, which reminded me when I reported for duty at Universiti Malaya some time ago now. It seemed like ages ago. I was not really sure what to expect, how my new colleagues would be like and in the first six months, it was certainly a shock to the system - both good and bad - from time to time. There were bad habits which I picked up since, but it was part of assimilating into a new work culture.

I made the transition - with some pain and headache, but I was glad that I did. I certainly returned to Malaysia at the right time, with starting a family as well as my Dad-in-law's heart condition. I was sure things would pan out just as well for Itul.

All the very best!

KL Back to Normalcy

I overslept this morning, and driving from Gombak to work, I paid the price. Put it this way, I was reminded of how the traffic in KL was actually like. The crowds were back, schools were opened. and the customary an hour's morning commute to work was back. Bless!

I set off well after 8 and by the time I reached work, I was rushing already to start my morning rounds. Luckily thee was no clinic for me on Monday mornings. I was able to take my time going through the cases, before returning to the apartment for lunch and to pick up the Wii console we left there yesterday when we rushed from Bangsar to Gombak.

Afternoon clinic was a lot lighter and I was able to catch up on some paperwork, and of course ad the news. Last weekend was a busy one with all the admissions after the Raya break and visits to friends and family.

Julia visits Zehn

The dinner went well. Although the initial plan being just my parents to come along, my sister and her family came along as well which was great. And I was able to hang around for the few hours they were at the apartment while Siti for the admission to come through. And dinner was great.

The children brought their swimming gears along but the moment they got over into the apartment, they just parked themselves in the playroom. No swimming then. And it was havoc.

Anita cooked nasi minyak complete with the condiments. We chatted until it was time for me to start my evening rounds. And even then, the children were still playing. We better get them to pack their clothes next time to spend the night here.