A photo at the Dewan Harumanis entryway banner

A Polytech Graduation

Once upon a time, Irfan enrolled into a course at a Polytechnic here in Perlis. Today, nearly four years later, he graduated. I am and will always be proud of him and his achievements. It’s not evident, but the three of us have always been saddled with one handicap or […]

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Hisham and Ain looking at each other at the table

Another Anniversary

Every year, every day I feel thankful for our life together. I has been 24 years; 25 next year! Every year, every day  I marvel at how far we have come from where we were. But sometimes it seems as if we are at a standstill because of uncontrollable circumstances. […]

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The cake was bought across the street at Hannah's Cookies

A 22nd Birthday

Has it been 22 years since I took a photo of the little baby with the 5th edition Call of Cthulhu RPG rulebook? Next month, it would be time for his convocation at the polytechnic. Next year, he’s leaving for a bachelor’s degree programme away. Time flies really fast.

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The home team with the father of the bride

Wangsa Maju Nuptials

Last year, they came to visit us here. This weekend, we visited them in KL for a wedding celebration. We stayed overnight at Taman Melawati, not too far from the Tenth Floor — remember the Tenth Floor? We inspected all the new features of the area, a pronounced difference from […]

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Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir Batin

Aidilfitri 2024

Eid Mubarak, everyone! It is now Hari Raya Aidlifitri once again, and we had another road trip to visit family. This year it was Sitiawan’s turn, so we went to KL first to visit Anya’s family and to check on Tok Ma’s ailing health. Two days before Raya, we headed […]

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The Home Team by the South China Sea

Back to Terengganu

Once upon a time I worked on the East Coast of the country. I left it in 2001 to embark on my own odyssey, askew from what I thought was my path. Terengganu is a beautiful state. I rarely return there because of lack of funds to do so over […]

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Dusun Nakawan

Brunch in the Hills

Technically, it was not that far up the hills. Dusun Nakawan was more like “deeper into the jungle”. By jungle, I mean land cultivated as a fruit orchard. It has been a while since we came here, once, to have a drink perhaps. So this fine Sunday, I thought we […]

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Ain and I

Anniversary Part 23

Married for 23 years. Together for 27. She was amazing then, she grew even better and more capable over the years. I’d thought then it was the most I could ever love another person. It turned out I could love her even more as time went on. Happy anniversary, Ain. […]

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Irfan's birthday gift wrapped

21st Birthday

Once upon a time, Irfan learned how to walk. It was an evening at the 10th floor many centuries ago. He had been trying to stand and walk, I guess, in the interim. Suddenly, he was able to ambulate in what later became his own room, on the brown parquet […]

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Beside the house is a school

Moving Day Doesn’t Happen Every Day

After months of planning (and years of pre-planning, looking for a house) we finally moved yesterday. Thanks to Ain’s effort in looking for and finding a house that we could rent affordably, is comfortable and convenient for Irfan grandparents to move about and use the bathroom. The last time we […]

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One of the two omelettes

August Omelette

Not a lot of things to report, other than I made omelette. This is of course nothing compared to the hundreds (thousands?) of meals that Ain made over the decades. But I thought it has been a while since I made dinner. so here is what it looks like.

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Under the nipah fronds and above a swamp

Cousins Passing Through

And so it came to pass that cousin Razlyn informed us that she was dropping by for a day stop. Her daughters Shahidah and Nabilah (Irfan’s cousins), Siraj – a boardgaming fan, and her were travelling down from Thailand. They were there for a quick vacation by train. Earlier today, […]

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I have been to Port Dickson but I don't remember it at all

A Melaka 2023 Postscript

Previously… Day Three Postscript: Port Dickson Before heading up to KL, we took photos at the A Famosa fort (from a distance), the submarine museum (just the exterior), and stopped for some keria which were super delicious when still warm. Especially in the rain-cooled air. As we headed north for […]

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