I'm trying to summon up the words to describe my last 3 weeks. Hectic, tiring, scary, exciting, and perhaps crazy...somehow I felt like a caged bird! (More on this strange cage-bird syndrome later)
I am now, Alhamdulillah, slowly (catching a few breath of relief) settling down into a new nest. That's right, I'm out of the in-laws' nest! Hoorah! :D Few have asked; some more blatant than others-
what did your in-laws do? I find it quite disturbing that lots of people have such negative perception of in-laws. In fact, I find it offensive. Hey, these are my parents of my beloved! And my parents too...
Truth be told, had they been the ultimate parents-in-law from hell it would have been easier to move out. huhu... I am forever grateful that they are not such people, in fact they are such warm and loving parents; who helped us a lot during our first year of marriage.
Then comes the ultimate question-
then why move out?Easy enough. Privacy. My own kitchen. My own rule as regards to living. I pondered a long time whether I was being selfish. I am. and I've come to term with this fact. Grr its a pain to admit it.Anyway.
After weighing some of the pro's and con's and getting some advice from those who've been married more than few months- I decided to tell husband my wish. And him, being Mr. Perfect agreed.
We are living in a flat now. It says apartment on the bill, but a place without a lift do not deserve to be called an apartment. And..yup. Our hut is on the
fourth floor. It doesn't bother me. Its clean & airy, gated and do not have weird people trotting around without passport. huhu!
We started to gather bits and pieces to make the place looks like home. What a precious experience, to start life with someone. Everything seems fresh, there are lots of territories yet to be discovered, and we wonder a lot. How many kids we'll have, what we'll be like when we are old and cranky, who will die first, and how long it will take him to marry another if I die. The last part came from me. heheh. I wonder if other wives have thought of that too.
Anyway there are lots of things that are not quite settled yet. The drawers are there, but I haven't filled it yet. We've got the pots & pans but the stove is not working yet, and right at this moment there are two plumbers working hard to change the leaked water tank.
The water in the bathroom has not been regular in its flow, and most of times there are no water coming out at all for the last four days. Fortunately the kitchen tap is functioning and that's where get our water to shower and stuff. I have also been washing our clothes by hand the last 2 days. How nomadic! and quite tragic too since my dad bought me a very nice washing machine. What an awesome gift! I didn't feel anything when he gave me a gold bracelet, but a WASHING MACHINE where I can make my clothes smell like the laundrette is heaven! Hasben do not share my excitement. He is still besotted with his new big black fridge-lots of space to put his various favorite drinks, and lots of ice to make. He has gained 2 kg's since moving here! hah! The funny thing is we went to his friends' Aqiqah kenduri and all his schoolmates claimed dia dah kurus! He was totally basking in the compliments too ("why, thank you, I know right!") GRRR this guy memang nak kena cubit betul. I'm trying HARD to control his diet. It's not easy!
Back to the story I felt quite angry at the landlord for taking this lightly (oh, it will come soon. you'll see) and even angrier when I saw hasben patiently filling the basin with water and carrying it to the bathroom. He shouldn't be doing all this!
This morning I called the landlord and rather harshly (mind you MY harshness is never extreme) reminded her that the water is not functioning and she better do something about it today. I think she knows that I meant business (an angry wife is dangerous!!!) and made a call to the management office. They said its a problem with Indah Water and asked me to make a report. I called them; only to be received with laughter on the other end. I was supposed to call Syabas, not Indah Water. How very professional of them. I didn't see how calling the wrong place can be funny. (at this stage nothing was funny anymore-I have turned into a Godzilla). Thankfully the Syabas people were quick to respond to my report. They asked me whether the whole house is out of water or just a particular tap/area. I said just the bathroom. They kindly told me that I'll have to call a plumber; for they'll only be responsible if the whole house is short of water.
Allah is most perfect in His plans. The day before while at my in-laws I saw a plumbing ad and saved it just in case. The 'in-case' happened quicker than expected.
The plumber came (in a funky four wheel drive! I guess I was expecting a dirty guy in Pagoda? hehe. how stereotypical kan. Plumbers are rich I tell you!) and blinked at the old rusted tank (that's what it felt like anyway, he checked everything so quick)
Him: "You gotta change that filthy old tank mam!"
Me: "How do I that?"
Him: "1200."
Great.
I asked him to call my landlord, I figure it'd be easier. All I heard was foreign Chinese sound out of his mouth, and suddenly he boomed out at me. "Now you talk!" and gave me the phone. The landlord asked me if I have money to pay upfront first. Yeah, like I would have 1200 in my pocket any other day. "No..." And I let them talk further. The plumber than said, "Okay! We'll do it. I send 2 workers soon. After that we go pick money from your landlord."
Before that I made a little deal with him that if the landlord says okay with the project he'd make an extra pipe for me to use for the washing machine. He agreed. I'm happy to solve the water problem, and my landlord's happy that I'll stop bugging her on the phone.
Phew! That's one problem solved..
There are so many little incidents that's happened, I wish I can capture them all in words. All we have are sore & tired bodies to remind us of the experience...
This whole month I have not done any freelance work except for a week long research project which I decided to pull out from. I'm still trying to figure out what would work best for me. I can't be doing housework all day, I'll die of boredom.
Alhamdulillahi ala kulli hal.
Its the blessed month of Dzulhijjah, hubby will be 32 (or 27 as he claims) in a week, and its our first anniversary few days after. There are so many things to be thankful for, my marriage, my health, this new place, this religion, this way of life.
Most of all I'm just thankful that I am still alive, which means there is another chance to keep striving to improve myself.
In my head, I want to be an excellent wife.
In my head, I want to devote myself to Islam.
It's so easy typing it here.
What's on your head and heart is important; but what's more important is how you manifest that belief and want into reality.
Safe & sound, striving & hoping.
Himalaya shampoo-great to clean the scalp. Faree'ah had cradle cap, as is normal for babies, after switching to this shampoo, and cleaning her head using all natural baby oil her head cleared.
So far we go for Diapex / Drypers. last longer. Pampers is great too, but pricey.
Ring sling. Great for quick trip to supermarket/ to listen to lecture. Just have to under dress baby, because it gets quite warm when she snuggle up inside the pouch. Wish I bought it sooner so could wear it from day 1. hehe. Now that Faree'ah is almost 6 kg, I wear this for no more than one hour. Black is best to match any outfit...and hide stain!
