Another Night Out

Kota Darul Ehsan, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

For the last 3 nights, I was not able to put my boys to bed. Tonight, I attended a talk at the Le Meridien at KL Sentral. There was a buffet for berbuka as well. The speaker is a Haematologist from Nantes, France.

It was a mistake on my part to initially drive back home, then having to rush back into town in time for Berbuka. Initially I did not want to go out, but I did promise the Pharma rep that I would go, plus I was meant to give one of my doctors a lift. I just managed to get there in time for Berbuka.

The Berbuka was at a Arab/Mediterranean restaurant on the 8th floor. It was a nice cozy area, but unfortunately the buffet was a disappointment. There was just not enough variety on the food. I just grab some basic stuff and then desert. On the way back, I actually stopped at a gerai for some more food. That was how bad it was.

The talk was quite interesting, but the mistake was to have it right after Berbuka. Everyone was falling asleep. I just had some more nasi goreng from the gerai. Time to catch some zzzz.

Tried to Leave Early

Jam coming out of University Malaya, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Was on call yesterday. Managed to get home for Berbuka, then came back to UMMC for my evening rounds. Luckily, the bed situation was reasonable. We did not have to struggle too much except from the usual difficult cases. I reached home at around midnight.

The queue at the DUKE toll plazaWas rather late getting up this morning after a heavy sahur. Sorted out my referrals in the morning as I will be tied up in the afternoon. We had our two-monthly 'Transplant Meeting', followed by the Medical Department Meeting. This will be the last for Prof Wan Azman as he is stepping down from the end of the month. The meeting finished just after 4.30, and I went straight home, thinking that I will be early enough to escape the traffic.

Unfortunately the traffic has started building up. However, I still managed to reach home, have a shower, then went to Pasar Ramadhan. After Berbuka, I went out to Bukit Bintang to pay up my credit card bills at branch of UOB there. The crowd was quite heavy, and surprisingly, the majority was from the Middle East. I would have thought they like to stay back during Ramadhan since there are feast almost every night. Sorted out my bill, and felt peckish. Had coffee at Starbucks, then some ice-cream, and before I know it, it was already 9.30. Time to head home. In the meantime, I managed to do some window shopping as Anita's birthday in coming up on 9/9/9. Better get something good for her.

Another Sunday, Another trip to Pasar Ramadhan

Pasar Ramadhan 4, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

This thing is kinda addictive. Fasting all day, of course you felt starving come late afternoon. All you can think about is food. It is only natural that you congregate to where food is. In my case, it is Pasar Ramadhan. Considering I will be on call tomorrow, why not?

Went to the same place again, but today, the crowd was even bigger. There were many more shops open. It may have something to do with the fact that I went there a bit later than yesterday. There was also not a mask in sight.

As a family, we decided to stay in the whole day today rather than go out. Idlan is much better today. Today would be his last day of antibiotics. Luckily Irfan was also very well. He did not develop any fever or flu. Woke up this morning buoyed by the fact that ManYoo thrashed Wigan 5 nil last night and Owen got on the score sheet. Well, Happy Ramadhan for you all.

Happy Ramadhan

Pasar Ramadhan 1, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Yup! I bravely stepped out to go to the local Pasar Ramadhan. It was teaming with people, contrary to what I expected. Not many of the were wearing mask. At least they are being sensible. There were plenty of stalls, and all the usual suspects were available. As for me, it is the typical 'air asam boi', 'cucur udang' and chicken wings 'madu'. Got all of them, and really content. Have to wait for berbuka (breaking fast), to see if they taste as good as they look.

Packed!I spent the morning at the doctor's clinic to pick up Idlan's MC which we forgotten yesterday. Alhamdulillah, Idlan is fine today, running around as usual. Come afternoon, a quick drive to Taman Melawati for the Pasar Ramadhan. Even though it is 10 minutes from my house and there are other stalls nearby, I have been frequenting there for the last 15 years, even during the time I was studying in the UK, if I have the chance to celebrate Eid at home.

As I mentioned, there were surprisingly plenty of people. I had to park by the roadside. There were even reporters from TV3 doing reports, and I can see the cameras panning around. The reporter stopped a few people for quick chats. I was concentrating on my chicken wings though! I decided to drive there early, at 4pm to just have a look. It turned out to be packed instead. Oh well!

Since it was only 4.45 when I got home, I went out again for a haircut. The usual mamak joint of course, with the beck neck-twisting action and back massage. Nice, and I still have feeling on my feet!

Trip to the Padiatricians

This dog is hot!, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

Yes! Idlan developed a temperature and everybody at home turned into instant diagnostician! He has H1N1!

I said no, but unfortunately I was the only one who thought so at the house. Not the seven others, and that's not including the servants! He developed the temperature in the middle of the night and my mother-in-law insisted on me driving him to the Casualty. I just pretended I did not hear her, and finally when I decided to speak, I said if we rush him to Casualty we may give him H1N1. She was not impressed obviously.

Before seeing the doctorDespite the temperature, he was jumping up and down wrestling with his brother and playing on his Wii. After some paracetamol, he got better. The next morning he was fine but come the afternoon, the temperature returned. Alright then. Asked my colleague to cover me for the afternoon and took him to Pantai to see their Dr Azam. They are really fond of this former colleague of mine, and does not mind being prodded and poked, as long as it was by Dr Azam.

There was high temperature, but no sign of serious infection. We put him on antibiotics, and before long he was back to his old trick. Back home, my wife was on the internet all night, reading all sorts of ridiculous stories about H1N1. How it is signaling the end of the world etc etc.

My mother-in-law said should he develop another bout of temperature, we should go for second opinion, preferably to a GP that she swears by in Kampong Baru. Allegedly, he once saved her life by a timely intervention of giving her Paracetamol just at the right time .... Huzzah! I am a decent doctor, but I have not yet acquired the skill to cure multiple ailment with paracetamol. Maybe an extra few years in Hogwarts should sort that one out.

Soon after that, the waiting area got thrashed .... hehehe .... Run!Even Idlan's teacher called asking why he missed his kindergarten class. We explained to her that he has fever. We were asked to bring a doctor's letter, which I thought was plainly insulting. Well! The world has gone gaga with this pandemic and we are yet to face the second wave.

Finally, after everything settled down, I managed to settle one final crave before tomorrow's Ramadhan. Yes! I need some KFC, and I want it now! Sorted that one out in double quick time. Have to return to Pantai later today though, as I needed to pick up the doctor's letter. Or maybe I should just forge it! The teacher said a letter from a doctor, not which particular doctor .......