Tiga Hari Dua Malam (Tapi Kali Ini Berteman!)

By the time you read this entry, I will already be on my way to Penang (yet again) for another 3 hari 2 malam. Before drroza gets choked on her supper or breakfast (depending on when you're reading this), let me tell you that I have my second son to accompany me on this trip.

It's all part of a new tradition I'm starting i.e. to take my children on a bonding-trip before they leave home for university. My second son will be leaving home soon to join Matriculation early in July, so I thought it would be in the best of interest of both him and me to go on a trip together. Just to spend some father-son quality time.

I also did the same with my first son. In his case, I took him to Langkawi (yes, that island which Hiyoshi visited recently). Together with the both of us was my son's good friend. However, there will be no other persons besides my second son and I this time around as he is not too sociable. Also, he's rather close to me compared to the first. So, on this trip to Penang, it'll be just the two of us.

What will I do with him once we're there? Oh, there'll be the usual sessions of nasihat - to be independent, self-reliant, not to go looking for girlfriends yet, taking care of his actions and words.

Next in line will be my daughter - my Kak Baby. I have reminded Bea that she will have to go on that bonding trip with her. Bea has expressed interest in Johore. Perhaps I will also be there to keep a watchful eye on my beloved wife and only daughter hahahaha....

On another note, I'm feeling rather sad as on Sunday, I had sent my daughter and son back to boarding school. Soon, it will be time to send the first back to his place. Then, the only people left in the house will be myself, Bea and the youngest. It's going to be really quiet....

p.s. By the way Hiyoshi, you might want to listen to the music that I've put up at my Xanga bungalow.

It's the 8th of June....

Today is my secretary’s birthday. Unlike most bosses out there, I have a male secretary. Now, don’t you start questioning my orientation. My secretary has been with me for a good 18 years. Told you that I’m an old faithful kind of guy. So with someone who has been with me for this long a time, and been faithful all along, it’s just fair that I keep him with me, right?

He is a very polite, quite good looking young man. He has also been more than a secretary to me. Being a male, it’s easy for him to be my good friend. In fact, he has been the one who I can take with me to movies; otherwise you know that I prefer to watch movies alone. That’s how close I am to him. I even buy him clothes on Hari Raya and his birthday.

As with most secretaries, mine also has his faults. Happy go lucky he may be, but this attribute of his can be nerve wrecking and sometimes Bea cannot stand him leaving things to the last minute. So, at times when I want to see things done and I want him to use his full potential, he can be quite a letdown. However, I can’t be angry with him for too long. He is really a charming lad.

A few weeks back, I had entrusted my secretary to pick up my youngest son from tuition class since I was busy attending to other matters. But guess what happened? My secretary grazed my vehicle against another car. Yes. And he took it for a long scratch. In the end, I had to fork out one thousand ringgit to pay for the other person’s damaged car. And I’ve not even sent my own car for repairs yet. I can’t hope for my secretary to pay the total sum, what with his meagre pay. I suppose this is what you could call the burden of being boss.

Even so, I must say that I’m really proud of him now as he will be furthering his studies in law. I always knew that he had it in him, so you can imagine my joy when he told me that he had gained admission into the law programme of one of our local universities. Even though I will be losing a very much trusted secretary, it’s okay. To him, I wish nothing but all the best. Here’s to a brighter future to you, dear secretary!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you. I want you to always remember that:

You are very special
and you deserve the best.
I wish you a wonderful life
filled with love and happiness.
I hope others bring you joy,
just as you've brought joy to me,
then you can weather any storm
and be all you want to be.

Did I or did I not….meet Hiyoshi?

The above title is actually inspired by my non-inspiration over not having something to write about my Langkawi trip. Hiyoshi has intelligently left us all with a cliffhanger in his part 1. And I’m sure that everyone must have been clicking at his site (me included) from time to time, just to see whether he has posted his part 2. I must admit that he’s a better story-teller than me. So rather than be compared to him, let me choose another area of discussion.

I have been to Langkawi a number of times and there are so many places to visit there. But I always make it a point never to visit all those places of interest in one go (Idaman Suri and the other shopping areas being the exception, of course. And you know the reason for that, don’t you?) I know I promised to post an entry on my “makan-makan” in Langkawi. Unfortunately, food in Langkawi is nothing to shout about. Except for the chendol utara. I particularly like chendol from Utara because they have this authentic pandan flavour. I wish they would be more creative like the Kelantanese that not only add pulut and kacang to their chendol, but also tapai. Have you tried that? You must, if you have not. It’s just heavenly; simply out of this world.

My trip to Langkawi this time around has been more of a relaxed kind of vacation. It’s more of me having the luxury of lazing around; even going to the gym and the sauna at the resort. That makes me feel good, although I don’t really think I’ve been successful in shedding the inches off my waist. Perhaps even adding them, due to the sinful chocolates (Yes, blame it on the chocolates!).

The other reason is because I wasn’t feeling too well, even before going for the trip. I accidentally swallowed a small fishbone whilst having an asam laksa meal at Amcorp Mall prior to Langkawi. And it so happens that this was one little fishbone that that got stuck and refused to dissolve away. So, I brought along my uncomfortable tonsil to my holiday destination. Unluckily for me, it turned out worse (I developed a slight fever) and that forced me to the clinic on my final night in Langakwi. True enough, the doctor prescribed antibiotics – Cephalexin. I still have another six tablets to finish. So now you know, why this late entry. Besides that, my youngest also developed a slight fever, and I had to attend a wedding in KL upon arrival. Aduh sibuknya bila dah tua-tua ni, ye? Walaupun hati senantiasa rasa muda :))

So, back to the title; did I or did I not meet Hiyoshi? I don’t want to spoil Hiyoshi’s cliffhanger. Let him finish with his life lessons. I’m just posting this entry because I felt that I owe it to everybody here since I already told them that I’d be going on this Island trip.

Don’t you get this feeling that when you’re just back from holiday, you need to go for another one? Another solo tiga hari dua malam, perhaps? Now drroza, don’t you go nagging me hehehehe….