Rest of CNY Holiday

Monday

Didn't do very much at all. Abang Lim and family, or at least most of the family, went home. Did just go out to shop at the market.
Aida keep whining about her tummy again. Last poo on Saturday.
My tummy is OK, still eating small meals, to be safe.
Slept so long in the night didn't need a midday nap for once.
Aida is a little bit disappointed though as Abang Lims two youngest kids stayed she don't have anybody to play with. Or rather they wouldn't concentrate their attention on her as much as they used to. Their own age cousins are more interesting. She seemed to enjoy herself anyway though.
Adam keep climbing the concrete stairs at an agile speed. Just got a minor bump, but you keep worrying that he will make a bad knock on the sharp edges.

Tuesday
Time to go home. Waited till after Zuhur though. That turned out to be a big mistake, more about that later.
So relaxed in the morning, kept reading the book a brought. The bear and the dragon by Tom Clancy. Must be the thickest single book I ever been reading, 1100+ pages. Will take a while to finish I think.
Anyway had our lunch around 11:30 before we started the washing up process. That is shower our selves and the kids. It takes a while. Especially as you have to fight with Adam to get nappies and clothes on. Sounds like we torturing him. Dressing Aida is easier as long as you manage the first little step. Catching her and keep her still long enough to get started.
Then packed everything into the car. Get the kids in and get going. Managed to leave just before 14.
Driving to Malacca was as usual. You end up behind somebody who's driving 60km/h. And people with eyes and brain see that the free space in front of is 100 odd meters before you catch up with the next car doing 60km/h. In other words, most of the time, there is no use of overtaking. So you would settle in for a nice calm ride, if it was for the case that Malaysians seem to be lacking at least one of the two features mentioned above. So it is always someone, more than one actually, that have to squeeze by on the heavily trafficked road. Whom you will catch up with at the next traffic light and the one after that and so on. Just slightly more cars between them and you.
The problem started when we reached the highway. Jam, jam and jam and some thunder showers as well. The total travelling time increased by 40% and lots of queueing. AT least we were not involved in any of the accidents we saw. The toll ended at 13 crashed car and 7 accidents. A new record, unless you count all the watermelons during Hari Raya, one by one.
Gonna leave in the morning when it is possible, to avoid all the hustle.
Had a quick look at Sut's son that was born on Sunday. Cute with a odd head shape, will look more normal in a couple of days.
Home safe and sound, well except for Aida. Still no poo so she kept whining most of the way home and she still didn't manage to do anything when we came home. Still had a lot for dinner though.

Wednesday
Dropped the kids at the nursery. Little bit sad when you have a chance to spend the day with the kids. But needed to do a good cleaning of the house and it will never be properly done with the kids around. Still took four hours so it was obviously the right choice. I will get time with the kids over the weekend anyway. Norida is having some sort of course.
I managed to make brownies though. Turned out a little bit weird, thanks to the crummy gas oven. Didn't want it too hot so turned down the heat a little bit. Kept it at 75% or so. Came back and realised the flame gone out, so it wasn't cooked at all. At least the gas stopped, so it didn't keep leaking for half an hour. Ignited the flame again and continued. Looked more like chocolate cake than brownies, but it tasted good. Very filling though. Had a piece and felt stuffed.
Norida went to visit Sut after the afternoon tea, fiddled some things at home before went to pick up the kids. Adam sleeping, managed top get him to the car without waking him, but not into the car seat. Didn't matter as he fell a sleep as soon as we started moving. Aida still hadn't made use of her sausage factory, so she was a little bit grumpy.
Had to wait 15min at home before Norida turned up, which gave Adam a chance to sleep and the toddler to play in the car.
Got up and started to prepare for dinner and bathing of kids. Adam no problem, but his sister was really grumpy as she hadn't pooed since Saturday.
SO forced her to sit on the toilet till something plopped out. Smelly. But she was much happier afterwards. Even though loads of crying in the sausage process. Have to do something 'bout her tummy. Norida want to start giving her a mild laxative. Don't really like the idea as I think that would make her dependent on that to poo. Will take her to the doc for some advice.

That was that holiday. Will be a while to the next one.

Weekend 18-19/2

The tummy problem stayed all over the weekend. On Saturday it was really painful. Spend the afternoon laying on the bed trying to minimize the pain. Some pressure release did the trick and was feeling OK in the evening. Was really tired however. SO early sleep, but not a very peaceful one. First the fireworks around midnight, people watching TV in the middle of the night and my kids whining didn't make much of a peaceful sleep. Though they seemed quite OK Aida didn't have much problem with coughing and Adam just woke up crying once. Nightmare.

Realised that I got nauseous as soon as I ate too much (which is not very much in a normal sense). So had a cup of coffee, slice of bread and two corn crackers for breakie. Adam had his standard ,messy poo in the morning so gave him a shower early on. After that just waiting till everybody is ready to go. Actually didn't wait until everybody was ready. Left first, really got nauseous on the roads last year so better go first and have the chance to stop without interfering anybody else. Trip went well and reach Paloh (my mother in laws "hometown", village really) around 11. Kids didn't sleep as good as thought.
Got there and the munching started. Took it carefully due to my tummy. Aida favored the crisps, keropok and the 100plus and so did I in fact. Tried the other stuff as well; kuih rose, pineapple tart, cornflake cookies, love letters and many more. After that they served lunch, didn't feel hungry and didn't dare to eat so I lay down and relaxed instead.
The kids enjoyed all the other kids to play with. Though Adam got carried around a lot.
Tried to leave at 15 something. Got a short distance when we realised that we forgotten the camera bag, so turned back.
Got a bit further this time when we realised we forgotten Adam's beaker. So back we went again.
Went to Ayer Hitam to see if they had any cheap potter and other stuff. Ended up getting a Barney bolster fort Aida, a big Garfield cushion and a conkat game.
Got home and prepared kids for the night and our selves. Put the kids to be around 21. The one to fall a sleep first was me. No wonder after the crappy sleep the night before.
So when Norida was "rocking" Adam to sleep Aida came out of the bedroom and demanded rocking to sleep as well. I woke up briefly when Norida carried Aida to bed, but that was more or less the only time I woke during the night. Slept so tight we missed Fajar. Forgot the alarm clock and kids usually wake up, so you don't even need it.

Tummy problems...soon holiday.

Aida was a bit grumpy on Tuesday, because of her tummy.
But it got really bad on Wednesday as she hadn't pooed since Saturday. Tried the same trick again, by putting her on the toilet and let her fight it out. She ended up with a big blob plugging her anus. It really was hard. So after her trying for around 20min I thought it wouldn't work and she needed a doctor. So had to dress her again and get going. Really kept whining as she was plugged. But off we went. Carried her around in the clinic while we were waiting. Got tired and had to sit down and she did some more whining and pushing.
And after a while it was out turn, getting in to the doctor I realise she is smelly. She was that before as well, cause of farting. But now it feels stronger. Anyway the doctor ask to feel her tummy so I but her on the bed. Take a peak in the nappy and see a blob, she actually managed to get the plug out. Doctor still think she need an enema, so have to clean her a bit first.
Get the enema get some medicine and go home.
Well at home she poo some more, quite a bit more actually. Not a surprise after the enema.
Didn't poo yesterday hopefully she will do it today.

Woke up the day afterwards, Thursday that is, and was feeling really lousy. Spent 20 min in the toilet but still nauseous. Breakfast, off to work, but no improvement. Kept feeling nauseous, stuffed and hungry. Well always nauseous and varying between hungry and stuffed.
Seem like I got my gastric problem back. But feeling much better today but much more diffuse. Will have to take it easy and rest over the holiday. Chinese new year is on Sunday and second day is holiday as well and if the holiday is on Sunday we get the next day that is not a holiday as a holiday, so have Tuesday off as well. College closed on Wednesday so have to take leave then. Would have done it anyway so it doesn't really matter. Five day off eeeehehehe. Will be nice as I want get a break in May.

So Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Weekend 10-11/2

Weekend with work again. Not for me though, at least not strictly speaking. Had to take care of the kids which might be just as hard or harder then working.
Adam was no problem, generally he is very easy to take care of. That generally goes for his sister as well. But not this weekend. She keep having a recurring problem with constipation which is basically caused by she doesn't want to poo. So when she get the urge she keep complaining and squeezing her but so she don't poo. Got fed up, so I brought her to the toilet. And made her sit on the toilet until she pooed. Took a while and a bit of crying, but she was a much happier girl afterwards.
The rest of the day went nice and smooth.

On Sunday we went shopping in the morning. We were up early as Adam had soiled his bed and himself. So showered him at five something in the morning and than Aida woke. So just had to get started with the day.
The rest of the day was spent lazying around at home. Had a nice afternoon nap together with Adam. Aida slept in her room.

Friday 9/2

Could think it was Friday the 13th.
Not a very luck day.
All classes took forever so I didn't leave until 17:30.
Forgot my mobile so I stopped by a pay phone to call Norida. So she wouldn't sit and wait in the car.
Instead it turned out she had an accident and was at the workshop getting a valuation of the fixing cost. So I had to go to the workshop and pick them up.
Relieved that she were at a workshop. Meant that the damage was to the car.
So started driving, traffic was absolutely terrible. If you are European you don't know the meaning of terrible traffic until you drive in Asia. It's not like it's bad queuing like it is in UK on Friday afternoon's. But people keep driving the crazier than ever. Yeah it is possible.
So I turned up Metallica to keep me calm. That was a mistake. Blew the speakers. Haven't got new ones yet.
Finally mad it to the area where the workshop is. There were loads of them. So kept looking but couldn't see wife or car. So I started looking for a pay phone instead. Finally found one, that would just make emergency calls. Assumed it was not an emergency not finding a specific workshop. So looked a little bit more. No pay phone. How ever I passed a furniture shop so I thought I asked them to borrow their phone.
They guy in the shop didn't understand English. But repeatedly saying phone and pointing at the phone, gave me a "OK go ahead" look. So I dialed Norida and ask where she is. Got the instruction and found her and the kids.
She had hit a motorbike, which had crashed the lights on the left hand side, broken the bumper and dented the bonnet. The biker had to be taken to the hospital but nothing serious.
My only wonder was, what on earth do you have a bumper for it breaks just by a hit motorbike. A Volvo bumper seem to be able to bump a bit at least. Maybe it for fills it purpose.
So had to decide what parts we wanted original and what to have use cheaper copies. Got bumper original and the rest copies.
Then we could go home after a busy week. Aaaaah

Car stereo

The best buy of any electric stuff since I bought my stereo in UK. So nice and relaxing listening to Heavy Metal while driving. Really helps you stay calm when a j**k-a** almost crash your car.
Favourtites for the moment are:
Ride the lightning - Metallica
Number of the beast - Iron Maiden
Songs & More Songs - Tom Lehrer

Adam 7/2

Just a little update on Adam. Still not walking, though he have started a training program. He use the chairs to get up and then he walk around with them. He even learnt how to control them so he can go where he wants. As long as there is no carpet there.
Still just two teeth, but the two top ones are getting closer.

Car stereo.

The Cd player is working fine. The speakers how ever does not make justice to Metallica, Rammstein and Tom Lehrer.
Better get new ones are a more quite car so I can enjoy them in peace.

Weekend 3-4 February

Aida still coughing so still darn tired even if I had some times to catch up with the sleep.

On Saturday we just relaxed and went for another house check. Is more off the way for me, but Norida would probably get closer to work. 2.5 storey corner lot for a good price. But it is in the middle of the industrial area in Balakong. So it is loads of immigrant workers staying in the area. Definitely reduces the security factor. The other minus factor is that the rest are mainly Chinese. Nothing against Chinese as neighbours if it wasn't for their fondness of dogs, which is not at all linked with their care for them. They might let them run free roaming the neighbourhood and keep to many in their small yard so it is a h**l of a noise sometimes. I agree that there is every bodies right to have animals, but you have to take your responsibility as well. And if you want to legislate about better care of animals they Chinese society cry "Muslims hate dogs". The truth is Muslims don't like people who doesn't take care of their dogs and we are definitely not fund of stray dogs. But who is???? Nobody (or very few people) would complain if the dogs were cared for in the same way as done in western Europe (minus France). Enough of dogs.

Sunday.

Went to Malacca and the Malacca Zoo. Were OK, not like the ones I've been to before. Smallish and some of the animals looked like they needed some more care. Aida got very excited when a Elephant past us while having our lunch. She jumped up and start running after it saying "Elephant, Elephant". She got really close to the leopards as well. She was standing by the window watching them when the black one came up and started scratching the window just in front of Aida. She is slow. Took her 3 seconds to react and move away from the window. After that she was glued to the window again. The thing you miss from Sweden is the patting area, were you can play with small farm animals (goats sheep and rabbits). Plenty of lemurs and small primates, they were cute.

After the Zoo visit we went to Abang Lims house for a kenduri (dunno how to spell). And a nap. Still tired afterwards anyway.

After the kenduri time to clean up the kids and drive home. Blimey the evening traffic in Malaysia is terrible. Just as many cars on the road and they actually manage to drive worse than during day time. You must have really naughty kids to actually favour travelling at night. Will try to avoid that as much as possible. Actually drive very seldom at night anyway.

Thurday 1/2/2007

Yawn! Sorry just tired. Aida is having a terrible cough so you will come into our room at night, every time she wakes up. And she will whine so she wakes up Adam. So as prevention I slept with her on the sofa bed last night. Not too bad, she woke up less than ten times and no coughing. Though she coughed really badly when she was going to sleep so we didn’t turn in until 23:xx. That is far too late if you been woken up before 4 in the morning and didn’t manage to go back to sleep afterwards. Other than that she is quite OK.
Adam just past the ten month mark and still not walking. He has been crawling for 4 months though and are good at it so he hasn’t realized the need for walking yet. Even though I got a surprise over the weekend. Was watching TV when Adam suddenly walked past. Ok he was using a walking cart. We have tried to get him to use by positioning him for walking, but he just sit down again. Now he got up by himself and started walking. Kan själv ha. (Swedish for can do it myself).Even if is lagging his sister in walking he will probably beat her in talking. He has actually started already. He say “Mama” “Da” (short for Aida), “Pa” and “No”. That’s what I realized at least, could be more. Oops Aida has fallen asleep on the couch, better get her into her room before Adam wakes up and start making noise. Better give her her medicine so she doesn’t wake up coughing her lungs out. Be right back.
Done. Had to put a nappy on her as well.
Holiday today, so home taking care of the kids. Norida has some work to do, so she has went to office. Will be back 15:00 so we can go out and look for a car stereo. Never been a great radio fan and Malaysian radio stations haven’t managed to do anything to change that and my cassette deck is kaputski. So generally I listen to the radio for a short while ‘til me dose of Malaysian radio is filled, 10-15minutes that is. Or till I can’t find a station with good music. Not really any shows that compare with the BBC 2 ones that I got fed in UK.
We are still house hunting. We have find some nice houses, just can’t decide if it is worth the RM10k-20k you can save by get a lelong (auction) house. We’ll see we’ll see.

Afternoon addition: Got out and got myself a CD player for the car, a Panasonic that can play mp3 as well. I haven’t tried more than the radio yet. Will see if the speakers can stand “Enter Sandman” or I might need new speakers as well. Will let you know how it works.