The Countdown

I'll be departing for Dubai in a few days.....I got an email saying that they have already had my apartment ready over there.....but I opt to stay with Amin for a couple of weeks because I'll be going to Tehran a few days upon arriving.

I haven't packed my things yet.....not much actually....just my clothes, shoes and a few necessary things.

I'm busy completing the documents needed for my kids school admission. So far, there's just one school that gives a really positive response. So, I think I'll settle for that school. I'll elaborate about it in my later entries.

I don't have much to do in the office now (my adopted office in the Kit Design area).....just surfing the net and straighten out a few things.

I plan to have a "doa selamat hi-tea" this Saturday....just for my neighbors and the Surau folks.

The Nippon Express guys will come on Monday to pack things that we want to ship to Dubai. I spent the whole evening a few days ago to get some tea-sets and a few other things out from my storeroom under the staircase. Most of them are our wedding presents that have been sitting in there since we moved almost 7 years ago.

Now, we are waiting for my pay day to buy some luggage bags and other things that we need to bring.

It will be a busy couple of days for me. Can't wait to get this over with and start afresh in Dubai.

My wife still has some things to sort out such as her loan with the govt and the local banks.

Amy from HR said I can get my flight ticket today....I'll go and get it this morning.

__________________________

We had a farewell lunch yesterday for my colleagues here in Kit....Arkma will be following his husband to Miri and Tee will be concentrating on his insurance business.....next month, Ka Fai will also leave to pursue another career in Singapore......Ito san will have a big headache soon....hehehee.....BTW, the photos from yesterday's lunch can be viewed in the photo section.

__________________________

The Legacy.....

I have less than 20 days to go before I depart for Dubai.....provided the production in Iran is delayed.....Nothing much to do actually....just an assignment that my caretaker boss here in TVOPA Kit Design gave me about the QC System Standards for our Kit factories. I'll take that in my stride....

Last weekend I went back to Rembau....most probably my last home visit for the next couple of years....(but I'll come back once a year for the Home Leave)......Got a wedding invitation on saturday....one of our distant relative....and another on Sunday....my wife's cousin.

Got a taste of Ayah's rose apple (jambu "tetek"...hehehe)....One wonderful thing about my father is that he has a really green finger.....Incidentally, my late Atuk (mak's father, his father-in-law) also had the same attribute....That's why our family is blessed with a durian orchard on the foothill overlooking Pekan Rembau and another in Kg Senama Hulu....Mak said that the durian trees are mostly planted by Atuk.....he also planted some other fruits (petai, cempedak etc). I counted, maybe around 40+ durian trees.....imagine if one tree bares 100 fruits.....hehehe....Saudagar durian beb.....But I don't honestly think that Atuk planted them all to get rich.....I know he wanted his kids, grand-kids, great-grand-kids etc. to enjoy the fruits of his labor..... I still remember when I was small....leaving with Atuk and Uwan...when he came home from his "job" at the Kerala Restaurant in Pekan Rembau, he would change into his "baju kebun" and mounted his Honda Cup 70 and went on to his next "job".....taking care of his orchard...usually alone.....(that's the real Minang spirit...can't stop working).....

In some sense, Ayah is just like that.....he just can't stop working....sitting around makes him restless....So, it's a good thing that Atuk left us with the orchards....Ayah has a lot of things to do...things that he love.....Mak didn't inherit them.....she's just the caretaker because she's the only child who lives in Rembau....my other uncles and auntie live in other states. Atuk told her that the orchards are for everyone.....that's why when it's "musim buah" Mak will call everyone to come and take their share.....Atuk wanted everyone in our hugely extended family to enjoy what he has left us with.

Deep in me....I feel that the orchards might be entrusted to me.....hey...I'm the oldest son and am one of the grand-kids that are close to Atuk.....But, I will be ready when the time comes....to continue Atuk's legacy. He's not wealthy....but what he left us with is worth more than any money in the world.

But this year, I will miss the "musim buah".....what a pity....I'll be in Dubai when the the first Durian buds blossom....

Anyway.....I know it will always be there....for years to come.....Many thanks to Atuk. May Allah bless his soul. Al-Fatihah.

Dedicated to the loving memories of:

Hj Hussain Talib, Hjh Ramah Hassan, Hj Abd Aziz Napi & Hjh Puteh Husin