Afternoon at Hospital Ampang

Often, I would be at Hospital Ampang to either deliver talks or attend a meeting. Today was the first time that I was there as a visitor. My brother-in-law developed an abscess which needing operating and he was admitted via the Casualty yesterday. Anita was with him all day sorting it out, while I was on call at Subang.

I must say that the experience was much better than she expected and my brother was given great care.

Finally, after my morning rounds, I went straight across town to Ampang, joined by Anita. It was about time that my brother was wheeled into the operation room. He was nervous.

Then, one of the House Officer recognised me. She said I used to teach her at UM. Always nice to know.

My brother-in-law waiting for his brotherMy brother was just being wheeled in. I had to go to the lobby as the phone signal at the operation theatre waiting room was a bit suspect. Being post-call, I was sure my phone would be ringing.

The operation should take under a couple of hours. My father and brother-in-law was also on the way in, and I would wait to fetch them from the lobby.

I still needed some rest after the busy night last night. I would probably be sleeping in the bench at the waiting area before long.

I must say that our experience thus far as a patient and family members had been great. Hopefully it would continue to stay as so. ‎

Our Turn

This was 30 minutes before berbuka

Every year, we had an evening which contribute for the breaking fast, or berbuka in Malay. The pseudo-Arab among us preferred the term iftar. Last evening was our turn. We ordered the food in while the Surau prepared the venue and the drinks.

It turned out that yesterday evening being a Friday night, the Surau was packed. We only ordered food for 250 people. About 300 turned up. Nightmare.

The children killing time before berbuka by wading the small pool before heading to the surauWe managed to get more rice but still it could've been more. The same happened for the post-Tarawikh feast, or moreh. We indexed some laksa, but towards the end, there was hardly anything left.

Heading back homeBetter up the preparation when we do it again next year then ...‎

A New Addition

On the way back from the kenduri in Penang, I stopped by at Kepala Batas to visit my cousin who had just had a baby girl. Her first.

That gave me an excuse to stop by my hometown. Again, the rain spoilt the trip, but visiting her and her baby made it worthwhile.

The old kampung house I was born in remained in disarray. Nothing much I could do as my Uncle inherited it after my Grandfather passed away, and they lived right next door. Sigh!

And Back Again

After the stop over at Kepala Batas, it was time to head back home to KL. Good thing I didn't have to so the driving. Anita's driver was around for that.

We planned for one quick stop for refuelling near Kuala Kangsar soon. ETA at KL would be around 9pm.

So Long Pahang Road

Ever since the passing of my Grandmother, there had been discussion about what to do with the plot of land she lived in at Jalan Pahang, Penang. It say right smack in town, next to an intersection. The lots next door had been converted into either apartments or shop lots. It was worth quite a bit.

She had 12 children, and the name on the title wasn't just her alone, but it had three other of my Grandfather's sibling on it. We knew that it was going to get messy.

I had decided from the very beginning to have nothing to do with it. My Dad and his cousins needed to sit down and thrashed things out. They had a good offer and the whole group decided to take it. And then came the nitty gritty of how to decide the proceeds.

There had been some disagreements but it was ironed out amicably. My Dad eldest brother was the most vocal and took the task of clearing up any disputes. The other siblings stood by him and a deal had been struck.

My Aunt who still lived there with her children had to move and the deadline was the middle of next month - June.

This afternoon, another Aunt of mine organised a kenduri as we were planning to move out from the lot, and well as for her plans trip to Mecca next week. That was the reason behind the day trip back to Penang today. And it was all worth it.

A lot of people turned up. All the siblings and cousins were there - mainly from the generation above me. I came along with my sister, Mum and Dad. Anita couldn't make it unfortunately.

I didn't grow up there - I went to school in Kepala Batas instead. Dad and his siblings moved there in the late 60s when my Granduncle brought the piece of land for his brother - my Grandfather - and his 12 children. My Granduncle was a famous Doctor back then, and he appreciated the sacrifices my Grandfather made while they were growing up. He looked after all my Dad's siblings and was close to me when I was young as well - he was a Paediatrician.

He retained the title to the land so that we didn't have to pay the taxes. I remembered that he even installed a phone line to the house when phone lines were not common yet.

My Dad younger siblings felt the loss more as they grew up there. My parents had their wedding there. Most of them had since moved on leaving only my Aunt who stayed with my late grandmother.

The crowd was too big for me to snap many photos. I still got some old ones somewhere on my hard drive. That would be a treasure. I realised today that that would be the last time I would see the old house as it was. It was kind of sad. Once I thought about purchasing the land to leave it as it was, but I knew it was going to be an idea that would not end well ....

So long Pahang Road ....