Dinner and Pieces

Ye Caspian Sea

Yes, we still play football even though it is 8 deg C...

Iran is just on the other side of the mountains...

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I'm very upset that I will miss the alumni dinner this year. It will be on 1st December and since I will be leaving on 25th November to go back to work, there is no possibility that I will be in town then.

What I wish for is a photo. You know who you are - I want a photo of the two of you. Or the three of you. The four of you, I'm not choosy. How I wish I could be there. OK, the photo, please.....

I have a few more days before I go back. My next trip home which is already in the bag is in January. Somehow, I kinda cherish the chance to sit down longer and do more work. I have not been there long enough. But at the same time, thinking about going back makes me miss Lina, Nazzim and Sofia. About the best solace that I could get while I am over there, missing my family, is that there are a few others like me. Shahimi, Mior, Captain Ahmad, to name a few. Thinking that they must miss their family as much as I miss mine do help. If they can rough it out, so can I. But boy, they sure do cover their feelings well.

Aina, a niece of mine, is getting married on 15th December but I could not make it back home because of work. Nazzim and Sofia will be taking the PMR and UPSR respectively next year and about the only time we have before they start school is around the last week of December. Lina will have to do everything herself. I'm not there to take half of the tasks on the first day of school like we have been doing these last seven years. Life is cruel sometimes.

The best thing about going away is that we get come back. Happiness is when you board a plane on the way home, even though it will be 19, 24 or 32 hours with stops at God knows where before you see your loved ones. It would be wonderful if I am packed with goodies but at times I am not. Read Nazzim, "Papa, bring us something other than chocolates only tau?" That one time I came back laden with gifts for everyone, my luggage had to go walkabout for four days. That luggage was laden with two handbags, three Clark shoes, a Clark pouch and a host of other goodies. I knew I was a winner when Lina liked the handbags and she actually is using one now. About the only thing was "Uh, you bought both in black?" Silly me..... Ah well, you lose some, you win some.

I need to get some sleep for this whatever seminar or conference tomorrow. The family is here with me, for this somewhat impromptu unplanned but we'll take whatever we can under the current circumstances holiday.

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Where I'm At

This photo is a test. A picture of people, OK,OK, women going to the Tulkuchka market, the second biggest open market in the world. Don't ask about the biggest, no one has been able to tell me that.

Been back for Raya, been back to work and going home again for work. Moved into the apartment and that's a relief. I could not take the hotel anymore. At least now I could cook Maggi in my own kitchen. The apartment is nice. Two rooms, two bathrooms and a gorgeous view of the city. And for the first time in 21 years, I cooked!!! I'm still alive, ain't I?

The only thing to do when I am away from Lina and the children is to bury myself in my work. And work expands the time allocated to it. It is a different life when you do not have anyone waiting for you to come home from work. No messages from Lina or Sofia or even Nazzim at times asking me will I be late or otherwise. Lunch is usually at the few places where someone decides to go. About the only thing to look forward to is the soccer matches each Saturday, before the weather gets really cold, the pool games Friday night the yet tobe reactivated bowling sessions, at a shorter alley. Uneven too, they said. But beggars can't be choosy. Well, there are things to look see at night but some things in live will have to change. There are some things that you could just dip the end of your pinky istead of sinking your whole arm. It is getting cold. Brrrr..... I made the mistake of spending a few minutes outside without a sweater or a jacket and paid the price. I'm still sniffling. Iwent up the trail up the mountain which borders Iran. Last Tuesday it was at our supply base on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Yes, with places with names like Neka, Makachkala, Balkanabad and Baku. The hotel was supposed to be the best there but it was bare. Ah well, I got a good reception at the training centre and the supply base and a dinner of lamb curry with 8 other countrymen was simply simply great. Trust me, when living alone in a foreign and relatively unknown (where are you going?), each and every chance to interact is to be cherished.

Good to be going home but somehow I feel guilty about leaving work for two weeks. The internet helps. Well, Let's enjoy home.

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