TG*IF..

Late last nite, Faiz popped into my room (in his usual cute way, bouncing and half hopping) and announced that Azri dah sampai. My first instinct was to look at the digital clock-- 23.20-- and retorted, "Kata nak balik jumaat, apsal awal plak!" Hahaha.. he was after all 40 minutes early , so it wasn't friday yet!

Yes, son #3 got out from work and hopped on his trusty 'kriss' and came home. Work is in Senai, Johor and home is BBBangi, Selangor. Tired of nagging and scolding him about travelling on the old bike for long distance, now I just resort to lots of prayers.

~~~~~

This morning, woke up and went on auto-pilot.. First stop, is to let my japanese laundry lady start her work, on the way back passed the fridge and took out the marinated tandoori chicken and plonked it in the microwave. Slam shut the door and turn the knob up 2 minutes. Walked to the lounge and turn off the porch lights and open the sliding doors to let the early morning air in. Picked up the pillows (that somehow will always be on the floor), fluff it up and arrange it nicely on the couch, and then walk back into bedroom.

Jump back into bed and (not forgetting to switch off the air-cond) pull up the blankets. Go on snooze. Just then KA got up, she has to go to school for her rehearsal (prize giving day tomorrow). Heard Faiz get into his bathroom. Arghhh.. am not allowed my snooze after all.

~~~

Since the kids are all at home today, Mama decides to cook. Something I had not done for quite sometime now. Hehehe.. while ransacking through the freezer, I saw bag full of some unidentifiable things inside. Threw them in the sink, let it defrost before I decide what becomes of them. After hanging out the laundry, came back into the kitchen and what-do-you-know... the "things" turn out to be bones. I have vague memories of buying them way back..raya haji??

Chuck the bones in the pressure cooker and while that was puffing and whistling away, rummaged through the fridge to see what I could throw in the soup. Hmm.. celery, carrots and potatoes. 

Ok, that's the menu for today. Rice with tandoori chicken and sop tulang.

~~~

After all that cooking, takde selera nak makan. That is why I don't cook. I don't like to eat what I cook. **sigh**  Where can I get buah berangan (chestnuts).. teringin lah pulak..

The Scrooge

My son Azri is thrifty on the verge of being a scrooge.

He heard how his older brother 'ikat perut' to pay up for his wedding, so likewise he wants to be as thrifty to be wealthy by the time he is old.  He budgets only RM5 (3xmeals) daily.  He only have rice with vegetables.  He reckons if the vegetarians can survive on that and still be healthy, why not him!  Any surplus monies, he will put aside and when he has enough, he will 'hadiahkan' himself with fried fish or chicken. 

Recently he found out that the mamak will charge him 20sen for his warm water if he spend less than rm4 for the meal.  He ate 2 roti canai that morning and was charged 20sen for his warm water.  Sometimes he has nasi goreng kampung and gets his air suam free.  Funny though, he doesnt mind paying 20sen for plain water with ice cubes!  A bit mind boggling but that is how my Azri works.

After ranting at the mamak-cashier that day and leaving most unsatisfied (more like he felt cheated), he sat down and makes a plan so that at the end of the day, he comes out as the winner.

So now he goes for his meals at the warong/restaurants with a bottle of drinking water.  He just orders food.  Wait.. if you think that is all.. no, that is not the end.  That drinking water, he brings it home from the water cooler from office.  Daily, he will top up the drinking water at home.

...sigh..  I hope he will not forget his mother when he is older and rich.

Azri dan TN*B

My son Azri lives in a 5 bedroom/3 bathroom bungalow with a friend.  He is a scrooge (haha.. open the dictionary, Azri).  He is determine to get the free electricity usage from TN*B. 

The meter Reader cannot read the meter from the gate.  So, starting 1st of the month, Azri will put up the meter readings on the front gate.  He replaces the notice daily until he gets the bill in the letter box.

He was at the food stall in front of the house, one day, when he saw a car stopped and the driver stepped out of the car and walked up to the gate... to read the notice!  Then the driver got back in and drove off.  The owner of the restaurant told Azri that that happens quite frequently.  People will even drive past, park further up and walk back to check on the notice.  They think it is a "To Let" or "For Sale" sign.

Since they were on the topic - TN*B, the stall owner asked Azri why he got the April bill already.  Huh?  Azri asked to see the bill.  Owner went in and came back with the bill.  Ooo.. what the stall owner saw was the Pay by date.  That month's bill is misaligned.. so the information wasn't in the correct column/row. 

Another pakcik at the next table was watching what went on at Azri's table and asked his friend to 'lookout' for his food, while he went back home.  He came back with HIS bill and he asked Azri to explain why he had to pay extra rm50.  Azri looked at the bill and saw that Pakcik had a rm50 penalty.  (Bill was similarly misaligned).  Azri told the Pakcik to go to TN*B and ask the officers there on that matter.

Azri finished his food and walked back to the house.  Thus, closing the temporary TN*B, 'sesi soal dan saya jawab' 

Hahahahahahahahahaha.. Azri, Azri.. ada2 aje ko nie.

Bourne Mixed Identity

Azri went to pay Atuk a visit after work today.  Azri works today.  No holiday for him.

Atuk was, as usual, resting in his lounger, watching tv. 

Azri:  Atuk.. ni Azri, cucu Atuk.  Azri baru balik kerja ni.  Atuk apa khabar?  Dah makan?

Atuk:  Belum.

Azri:  Dah mandi?

Atuk:  Belum.

According to bibik (the caretaker), he had just had his dinner and bath.  Anyway, he smelt clean and nice.  Atuk..atuk.. dah pelupa teruk.

Azri:  Atuk buat apa tadi?

Atuk:  Syy.. its secret and confidential!

Azri:  Kenapa?

Atuk:  No..no.. dont ask.  I cannot tell.

Ok..  Atuk is speaking in english.  That means he is in his own world.  Azri layan Atuk lagi.

Azri:  Ohh.. what do you mean? 

Atuk:  I currently join the secret service.  I cant remember much.  I'm on a secret mission.

Azri:  What??

Atuk:  Its a big organization, but I cant remember but its big..

Azri:  Who recruited you?

Atuk:  Many contacts.  They come in a van and assign me the mission.

Atuk whispered confidentially to Azri..

Atuk:  Be careful with the people around you.  Then you will know the mission.

Azri:  What's your speciality?

Atuk:  Oh.. I can be a 10 year old kid.

Azri:  You mean you can transform into anything?

Atuk:  Yes.. and I can be anywhere.

Azri:  Since when did you become an agent?

Atuk:  I was one when I was 14 and again recently.  Even a 1 year old can join!

Azri:  Can I join too?

Atuk:  I dont know.  You ask them.

Bibik walks in and asked what Atuk is saying (since she cant understand english).

Azri:  Can you talk in malay?

Atuk:  Yes but these people (other agents) dont understand.

Azri:  Can she join too?  (Pointing to bibik).

Atuk:  No.  No offense but no ladies allowed. 

Azri:  How much do they pay you?  (With Azri, it always boils down to money.. hahaha)

Atuk:  1 Million..

~~~

Azri reckons that Atuk got the idea of being an agent from watching the television.  Atuk loves to talk.  Mostly in indonesian malay and javanese but occasionally he breaks into english.  He must dearly miss company when he chose to live on his own.  Now that he is in a Home.. he has the company to stop him from losing his marbles totally.

Love You Pak.

Not on speaking terms..

My son received a 1st reminder from his alma mater (a university in the northern states). He has to pay RM1370 ASAP, else he cant seat for his exams.

Firstly, my son graduated last year.

Secondly, my son is already working.

So, what on earth is this?

Called them up and asked for some clarification.

Me: Anak saya..... dpt surat dr pihak university, mintak bayaran.

Puan: Boleh bagi nombor matrix dia. Saya periksa dulu.

Me: [matrix #]

Puan: Dia nak grad bulan 8 nie ka?

Me: Haa? Dia dah grad tahun lepas dah, tapi dia tak sempat pergi convo. Baru je dapat scroll dia bulan lepas.

Puan: Boleh dak fax kan resit bayaran scroll tu?

Me: Aikk? Kan dah fax kan. Scroll pun dah dapat.

Puan: Tak dak dalam file. Boleh tak puan fax kan sekali lagi. [hehe.. dia dah keluaq accent north dia]

Me: Sat nooo.. kalu makcik jumpa resit tu, makcik fax kan nooo...

Ish.. depa nie ingat kita tak dak keje lain ka. Sib bek [baik] la, makcik nie efficient, sampaikan surat anak2 pun makcik simpan dan failkan.

Fax lah sekali lagi ke Cik Puan Bendahari dan call balik to confirm yang dia terima.

Me: Makcik yang call tadi pagi. Makcik dah fax kan resit tu. Dah terima?

Puan: Ha.. dah2. Kami baru peksa dengan bahagian pendaftaran. Memang dah keliar [clear].

Awat lah buat haghu. Check lah dulu baru hantaq surat "reminder". Dan awat lah bahagian pendaftaran dan bahagian bendahari tak communicate and update each other. Perlis tu bukan besaq mana pun.. kalu jerit kuat2, bule dengaq..

My son said to ignore the reminder. I told my son, I want closure. I dont want to receive a 2nd or third reminder.. not unless it comes with cash.. hehehe

Azri and Atuk..(1)

Azri goes visit Atuk on weekends that he is not busy and when the weather permits. Azri only have his Kriss to take him on his various trips. He also have to take care of the house in exchange of free lodging. Hahaha..usik je lah Azri.

Atuk was chirpy on Azri's last visit. Azri layan dia bersembang. Tanya if he remembers his children.

Azri: Atuk ingat anak2 Atuk?

Atuk: Ingat. Semua ada nama inggeris.

And he mentions all the names in full.

Must be on his good days. Sometimes he doesnt remember.

Atuk: Atuk bagi nama inggeris so that if they are overseas, it is easy to say their name.

Wahh.. global thinking jugak Atuk nie.

Azri: Azri ni anak Irene, cucu atuk.

Atuk: Saya mintak maaf lah, tapi ini kali pertama saya jumpa awak, cucu saya.

Huh? Hahahaha.. skema lah atuk nie.

Atuk: Jangan amik ati ye..

~~~~~

Atuk memories stop at his 6th grandchild. But since Azri stayed in JB with him, Azri managed to get stories of his past. Stories that I have never heard. Atuk was the strictest of fathers. He ruled with the meter long wooden ruler. Hahaha... THAT I remember...and also the occasional rubber hose. I survived. I love him. Muah..muah..

Monday blues..

My boys wakes up late these days.. so I dont see the hurry to get breakfast.  I sleep in too.  Since KA (daughter) went to PLKN, I only do washing every other day and sometimes every 3 days.  So now we know who fills the laundry basket at home with dirty clothes!  At this rate, I might not have to pay SYABAS at all.  Hahaha.. my son Azri would certainly love that.

Azri lives in JB in his grandfather's bungalow.  He found a job in Senai and so as to save on rental, he decided to stay in Atok's house.  In exchange, he just have to maintain the upkeep of the house and compound.  Before he moved in, the creepers were all over the car porch, the lallang was taller than him (in the backyard).  The water has been cut and meter removed.  In short, the house was in a mess.  But now every weekend, he cuts the lallang and repairs whatever he can.  He keeps a record of electricity usage.  He managed to cut down to less than RM20/month.. in other words, FREE.  If only he stays in Selangor.. he would also get FREE water.

This morning Ross called to say she coming over for a chat.  I have not seen her since we went separate ways in 1975.  But as I was giving her directions on how to get to my place, I remembered Mak Andeh mentioning about the traffic jam on the Federal Hiway.  So we had to cancel the plans.  Never mind Ross, some other day.

Brother in law called to say my niece got a place in TKC.  Congratulations Adi Nadhirah!!