The Night Before

Please click the photo above to play the daily videoThere's a particular kind of morning that starts early because the day itself has no intention of easing you in, and this was one of them. No gentle build, no warming up — just straight into it, the way some Thursdays seem to arrive with their minds already made up.

It stayed that way throughout. Plenty of patients, one after another with barely a gap to notice the time passing, the sort of steady volume that doesn't overwhelm so much as simply accumulate. Lunch got squeezed in around a pharma meeting rather than the other way round, eaten at the sort of pace that technically counts as eating but doesn't leave much of an impression afterwards. By the time the afternoon caught up with the morning's momentum, there wasn't much room left for anything but pressing on.

Home after seven, which on a day like that felt less like lateness and more like the natural conclusion of it — the kind of hour that arrives when it arrives, without much say in the matter. Dinner, at least, was a proper one, unhurried in a way the rest of the day hadn't managed, the sort of meal that quietly makes up for everything that came before it.

But the day's real weight wasn't in the clinic. Irfan leaves for London tomorrow, and as of this evening he still hadn't packed — which is either supreme confidence or a fairly transparent way of putting off the moment where the packing makes it real. I recognise the tactic. I may have used it myself once or twice, in the years before I was the one standing in the doorway watching someone else do it.

There's a particular flavour to the night before a departure like this. It isn't dramatic, not really — no one's making speeches, the suitcase will get filled eventually, the flight will go as flights do. But it sits there anyway, a low hum under the ordinary evening, the sense that tomorrow changes the shape of the house a little, even if only for a term. Sad is the right word for it, though it's a quiet sort of sad, more ache than upheaval — the kind that comes from something going well rather than something going wrong.

So: a long day handed straight over to a heavier evening, with a case still to be packed and a goodbye still to be said. Tomorrow will take care of the practical part. Tonight was just for sitting with it.

Holiday Mode On

So, finally time has come for me to take a bit of respite. The plan was to drive to Fraser's Hill tomorrow, but it looked like I had to make a quick stop at the ward before I set off. And then had to go to the bank for a bit of business. I hope that all that could be sorted out by 11 in the morning.

Anita had done the packing earlier and we planned to take off from Gombak. In fact we were already there tonight to get ready. Our maid would also be flying back for Xmas early tomorrow morning. She would be away for close to a month.

Now that the clothes were packed up, time for me to decide which camera to bring. It looked like the A7R2 with a couple of lenses from the looks of it. And plenty of batteries most definitely. Better have some rest tonight ...

The Packing was Done

I was at the hospital until about 3 am last night. And was at my Sister's place before that since the boys wanted to play with their cousin. And with the atrocious traffic from Bangsar to Kajang, it was almost midnight when we reached home. And then in it the phone call. Off i went after dropping Anita and the boys off.

I woke up late this morning - no clinics, just some errands to do. Got my ward work sorted out and it was close to noon when i finally reached hone to pack. Luckily, Anita had already bundled everything in. All that was left was my personal stuffs and gadgets of course.

I decided to bring both my OM-D and GR along to Kota Kinabalu. Hopefully I don't have to be on photography duty because I would only be able to the basics. While there, I hoped I could do a bit of sightseeing and sample the local food. I shall plan that after checking into my room tonight.

So, I have just left KL Sentral, now on the train to the airport after having a spot of lunch with Anita. I might have something to eat at ths airport while waiting for my flight. Travelling is just not my thing...

I wished that I have taken an easier flight so that I could have more time to rest after checking into the hotel later. Bad planning on my part actually. At least I decided to leave on Sunday rather than Saturday evening...

Packing

Instead of packing, we spent the night sorting out the children's homework. They had a swimming event at school this morning, and as a result, they had Monday off. And Tuesday would be Hari Wesak, a public holiday anyway.

I took Monday off, so time to head out of town.

Kuala Kangsar here we come .... after we finished packing of course. In the meantime, time for my Sunday morning ward round ...

All Unpacked

All the stuffs - worn clothes and gifts - were finally sorted out. I was able to get everything sorted out and went through my mails and emails. Looked like tomorrow was going to be a long day. Would need to rest and all. And by rest, I meant sorting out my photos and getting ready to upload onto my server overnight. This was another ritual of mine.

Idlan finished a full 100g bar of chocolate as soon as I whipped it out from the bag. Stuffs for my nurses tomorrow was also set aside already. Puan Anita was also happy with what I got her from Milan. I had dinner - some tom yam - as soon as I reached home as well.

So, ready for work tomorrow then .....