That Friday Onward

Friday again.

Each Friday in November 2011 has been hectic. I vividly remember Friday, November 4, 2011, two days before Aidiladha.

Kamal and I decided to spend the festive holiday in Kelantan, with our parents. As always, we preferred to travel after office hour. More specifically, after Maghrib. Not that Friday though. Of all dates, my friends and I needed to present our analysis paper at a seminar scheduled on November 4, 2011, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. At 11:00 p.m., my little family braved the traffic congestion to Kuala Lumpur to fetch Joey, Khalish's half brother.

The four of us joined the balik kampung exodus half past midnight. Twelve hours later, we eventually reached Ketereh. Double the normal travel hours! Hello, Saturday afternoon!

☙

Once in Ketereh, the knackered co-drivers and passengers were treated with lunch, and, of course, Ayoh and Mok's happiness. The next two hours were heavenly as we had a siesta.

The household was up and about again for the latest addition of our big family's Majlis Aqiqah. Khalish, well rested, was hyped about every single thing around him. Thank you, everybody, for humouring the little boy's antics. 

Special thanks to Ayoh and Joey, Khalish's closest chums throughout the holiday. They were never tired of Khalish, even when the little boy seemed impossible to handle. 

In Bunut Satut, all the attention was on Muhammad Abid, the one celebrated during the Majlis Aqiqah. His mother commented that he has Unclish's lips. Kamal and I replied, "Abid is way more handsome than Unclish!" 

Yes, Unclish is a short form for Uncle Khalish.  

And, Kamal and I would love to describe Khalish's look the way P.Ramlee did. "Lawa tiada, manis ada."

Congratulations, Nazri and Farah! Welcome to the clan, Abid!

☙

Aidiladha on Sunday, in Bukit Mas. Sumptuous breakfast was followed by solat sunat and majlis ilmu. Alhamdulillah, Kamal and I learned more about our-true-selves from other knowledgeable friends and family members who shared their voices in the majlis ilmu session. 

Khalish stayed still with crayons and papers, but, he requested for a brunch in the middle of the session. Joey joined us. I later stayed outside the hall to let the boys play. Iina and her children kept us company. Before Ayoh, Mok, Kamal, Joey, Khalish, and I went back to Ketereh, we had tea at Jack and Sha's new place. 

We returned to Bukit Mas the next day for a wedding.

When we were not elsewhere for events, we chilled in Ketereh. Kamal and I want to be back there for a longer period next time, just to relax with Ayoh and Mok.

 ☙

When Tuesday arrived, the four travellers packed our belongings with heavy hearts. There was the sadness of farewell. There was also the anxiety of another exodus on the highway. One of Kamal's elder sisters came to Ketereh to help Mok with breakfast and lunch preparation. You read it right: lunch. How Kamal and I enjoyed the delish nasi goreng kerabu up until dinner time. For the children, we made a number of stops along the East-West Highway. 

One compulsory stop for Kamal whenever he used the East-West Highway was Yut Loy, a Chinese restaurant famous among Malay College Kuala Kangsar old boys. Unfortunately, the only food immediately available was toast. Forty-minute wait for other foods. Thus a late lunch in Tapah. Quick dinner in Sungai Buloh.

All in all, we had a good break from the norms. 

☙

Today, here I am, in front of the computer, writing not only in Chech: Eccentric, but also in Word and PowerPoint. Assignment, assignment, assignment. All need to be completed before a course in Pahang during the weekend. 

O, Fridays of December 2011, may you be kinder, please? 

I love being inspired creatively. For the photo templates in today's post, my thanks go to:

Little Pink Strawberries for the glitter banner in gold,

Pugly Pixel for the fabric strip in grey, and

Three Paper Peonies for the paper in Adore series.