New home

If you remember reading my blog entry on 16 September 2009 entitled "Poor and Neglected", I talked about how poor my cousin Jaafar is, and the struggle his sister Cham and I experienced in trying to get housing aid from the government. After over 2 years finally in 2011 the new very basic house was ready for occupation. It was very gratifying to see the brick wall of the house is not white ants infested, the roof is not leaking and there's proper toilet.
So today, I drove alone from PD in the morning to join the kenduri kesyukuran attended by the village people and the Ahli Dewan Negeri who represents the area. It was quite a confusing day for me when almost everybody acknowledged me by my mother. They are my distant cousins, uncles and aunties whom I have not met for ages, a golden opportunity for rekindling old relationship with my saudara mara.
It tickled my heart when my my cousin Cham said Jaafar refused to get rid of the little shack they lived in for a few months when the house was being built. He has formed an attachment to it and spends his daytime there but comes in the main house only at night. Part of the plastic covering of the shack is torn. But we are sure, eventually he will come around and accepts that the new house is his.
After lunch with typical Negeri Sembilan spread such as masak lemak ayam cili padi, labu and ikan sepat goreng which were delicious, I bade farewell and drove back to PD.
Mok is alone at the apartment though his food, trays and water were provided, I still worry. He loves laying around at the balcony especially when there's lots of wind. Mok's condition is not good at all. His kidneys are getting worse. My children and I are in fear for the day he is going for good just like Raisa did. I know I would be heart broken. We are giving him a lot love and making his life more comfortable. But giving him his medication is always a big tussle. He is smart. When we thought he had swallowed his pills, he walks away and spits them out. Many times I felt so frustrated and begged him to take it - as if he understands.
Going to see my 'Jantung Pisang' on Monday. Rania, I miss you so very badly!