Leaving on a jet plane......

Yipee! After being in OZ for almost a year, Ruth and I are finally going home to Malaysia! The packing almost done, with last minute reminders to the neighbours to keep an eye on the house, collecting the mail and arranging to pay the utility bills on online.

Looking back, it had been a roller-coaster and challenging journey. We made many new friends and experienced a different culture and the goodness of our God. I must say that I improved my culinary and driving skills. When I was a FTWM, I hardly cooked or baked. It was all done by my indonesian maids. Here in OZ I had no choice but to cook and bake as eating out is rather expensive and, of course I promoted myself to "the indonesian maid". So, we still enjoyed malaysian dishes and kuih-muih even in OZ.

Ruth also made new friends and experienced many "firsts". Initially, it was a struggle for her to adapt to the method of teaching here, which is different from Malaysia. As a result, she did not do very well in her studies. But, she is willing to work hard and improve herself.

But God is good. My faith was strengthened and spiritual life encouraged when I joined the Disciple I studies and the bible study in the Women's Fellowship at Church.

A visit ...

All my life I have never visited a nursing home. Of course, I have seen pictures and read stories of those old, sick and infirmed folks who were put into the homes so that they can get better medical care and attention. And, also horror stories of the residents being murdered or poisoned for their money, etc, etc.

I had the opportunity to visit one such home today. With Christmas around the corner, our church women's fellowship group organized a visit to a private nursing home to share the Christmas message and sing carols. This is the first time that I had seen upclose and firsthand the residents of home, most of whom are elderly, infirmed and confined to their wheelchairs and beds. I was told that most of them are senile and suffering from dementia. Many would sit still for hours, staring vacantly into space.

The scene touched me deeply. I can imagine that once, maybe not too long ago, these folks were young, strong and able-bodied men and women. The ravages of time, old age and disease does not spare anyone. But they are well taken care of by the staff and workers of the home. Our sharing and spreading of Christmas cheer brought a brief respite and a message of hope. After all, Christmas is indeed a season of good tidings, joy, hope and love.

I also met the owner of the home, who to my surprise was also a Sarawakian from Sibu but married to an Australian.

So to date.......

Alas! It had been aoens since I updated my blog. No good excuses hah!

Time really flies. Ruth and I had been here for almost a year. We had settled down somehow. Our initial adjustments were both difficult and challenging. Ruth had to adjust to her new school and the system of teaching here, which is more interactive rather than rote feeding. I had to adjust to the new environment, the Aussie "slang" and being away from the familiar. During the first few months, I was very tempted to pack my bags and make a beeline for home. It is big challenge to learn to drive here as my driving skills back home in Malaysia were already "lousy".

But we gritted our teeth and hung on. We joined the local Methodist church and the members and pastors were a great help. They helped us settle down and brought us around to get our stuff and things. Thank God for them.

I worked for 3 months as a catalogue distributor but quitted after a fall. It was tough, tiring work and pays very little compared to the other occupations. I was not in good health as my gynaeological problems aggravated. I went for a minor surgery in August and the prognosis is not good. I will be going back to Malaysia for further treatment.

We experienced our first winter and it's blurr.... cold. And the summer is freaking hot. Ruth is still adjusting to school but she is coping. Hopefully, she will continue to improve and do well. That's all for the time being.

A new move,,,,,,

Schools nationwide in Malaysia started a week ago. But Ruth is still enjoying her "honeymoon" holidays which includes her daily swim, watching her favourite Korean movies and doing some homework that I assigned her. Her new school terms starts on 1st February and thereafter, she will be busy with exams, projects and assignments. Something new for her to work on.

In the meantime, we are also busy packing our stuff and things to start our new life in Perth, Australia. During our last trip in December 2009, we managed to rent a 3 room duplex which is within walking distance of Ruth's school. Rentals in Australia are terribly expensive, taking into consideration the exchange rates. Ruth and I might have to look into some part-time jobs to pay some of the bills.

Hello 2010!

Time really flies. In a few hours, we will be bidding adieus to 2009 and ushering in 2010. As usual, it is also a time of reminiscences, recollections and making new resolutions. First of all, all praise to our Lord for his love, blessings, goodness and graciousness.

I must say that 2009 had been a challenging year. Ruth sat for her PMR in October and she passed with all straight A's. She wasn't sure whether she could do that well but we had been praying all this while and God answered our prayers. Praise His Name!

In anticipation of our move to Malacca and thereafter Australia, I resigned from my job since October 2009. After being a tax-payer for the past 26 years, it is a new experience altogether. A complete role reversal from being a FTWM to a SAHM. Our move was, albeit, quite a smooth one, but not without glitches, and Ruth will start her Year 11 at Willetton Senior High School in Perth, Australia next February. Of course, there will be some adjustments along the way, but we just have to trust the Lord to see us through.

Home to Malacca

Well, the MIA part. It had been 3 days' since we moved to Malacca. The final packing and stuffing our effects into the 20 foot container had been really one tired and frantic week but we managed to clear the house before the new owners move in.

After calling Bintulu home for the last 15 years, it was with mixed feelings that we left this quaint, friendly and fast growing township. No doubt, memories of those good, bad and not-so-good times will always remain close to our hearts. Not forgetting our friends, acquaintances, ex-colleagues whom we had " grown-up " together with. Thank you for prayers, care, love and concern during these years. God bless you all.

We are looking forward to our settling down in Malacca. Ruth is still enjoying her holidays and taking advantage of hubby's condominium facilities to enjoy her daily swim and walk.

To date......

Well, I have away for around half a month. Time really flies. Ruth started her Japanese course for beginners two weeks ago and she seems to be enjoying it! She can recognize some Japanese characters and speak several sentences. Hopefully, by the time she completes the course, we will have no problem communicating and reading those signboards on our next visit to Japan. Managed to take 3 days off to visit mum in Sibu. She was thrilled to see us and once again, we enjoyed her herbal chicken soup and sweet sour fish.

As for me, it's one month since my early retirement from work. Housework seems to be an inevitable routine now. Somehow, I missed the excitement and tempo of working life. But, occasionally, I do get calls from my ex-colleagues and friends for chit-chats and advice.

The packing is well on the way. Just last week I gave away 4 bags of used clothing to the Red Cresent Society and donated lots of old magazines, books, etc to my regular newspaper and scrap collector. But still plenty more to go.