Start of school holidays.

Hooray! Probably my kids wouldn't have any hints that I am actually the one who's the happiest when the school holidays are here! It feels sooooo good to turn the alarm clock on my handphone to OFF.

To start the hols, we went back kampung to visit the grandparents and took them to 1 day tours around. Sat to Gua Tempurung and Sun to Camerons. It was surely enjoyable. Came back today taking half day off. My poor baby, when she was jostled from her sleep, she blurrily saw the familiar surroundings again and started crying... poor girl, must be traumatized that the holidays are over.

Well, good times sure whizzed by when you are having fun, don't they?

That night before, I made a date with my dad who just came home from work happily when he knew that we would be home last weekend. You just can't miss the joy in his voice over the phone. It was about 11.30pm when we finally made it for supper at Lou Wong for Nga Choy Kei, poor fella, I can imagine how sleepy and tired he was, considering he normally sleeps at 8pm! But he was still beaming happily like a child when we were having supper. And for that, I always feel happy to be spending time just doing simple things like this with him.

He was sure overjoyed too when he knew we were going to Camerons. And to Camerons it was. Though when he knew we went to Gua Tempurung, he was visibly upset that we didn't wait for him. Anyway, he didn't complain for he can join us up to strawberry land.

While we were there, I received a call from my aunt, who told me an uncle of mine (my dad's cousin brother, with the same surname) has passed away. I was so sorry and sad to hear that piece of news. We had earlier visited him in the hospital sometime after CNY, and I had the feeling it would probably be the last time I ever see him again.

Yeah, so it seemed to be the case. His family travelled over to accompany him back to his home in Melbourne and what we heard was he was in and out of hospital since. Well, he had lived a good life, I suppose, being 80+, died peacefully with his family at his side. I wasn't considered to be really close to him, but somehow, I have a high respect for him all my life, remembering all those memories when we would go to his big home during CNY.

While we were in Melbourne for holiday in 2003, he was among those friendly relatives who insisted to treat us a meal and gave us a warm welcome.

I feel so sad. When my mom called my brother to tell him about this news, he asked what they are doing to pay "pak-kum", and how he can chipped in too. At that point of time, I wondered, what's exactly the point of doing anything when the person is dead? I surely hope he would take more trouble to come home more often to visit our parents too before this happens to anyone of them. All those "reasons" of can't be home... I really am speechless. Anyway, I'm not washing dirty linens in public here, it's not good of me. But I need a place to vent it out of my system, really.

Having said that, I am trying my best too to let my husband and children spend time with his parents, however distasteful and not-up-to-standard-and-not-up-to-expectations a daughter in law I am. That was why I suggested to my hubby to take some time off to balik kampung, and instead of staying at our own room in a different house, I agreed to stay put with my inlaw's house this time. I suppose my intentions had gone un-noticed and un-appreciated, but seeing them happy and my hubby's satisfied, never mind la. Just fast fast gulp away all the "unpleasant" things or rant it out to my good friends' ears, which they are happy to hear all about it also.. haha..

And that's why it's so important to have close girl friends, who share the same problems I am facing and after ranting and bitching, supported by them, I feel much lighter and happier already.

Now, just let me enjoy the rest of the school holidays...