Sun 21.4.2024.
Yesterday, Saturday, was 11 Syawal, 11 days since Hari Raya Puasa. Jack had invited me to his place for a Raya celebration. I accepted and tried to rope in Hank, Aziz Hitam and Kamaruddin Basir, offering to provide transport. In the end only Aziz came, and that, too, because I went to his house first.
Hank, despite agreeing earlier, gave the last-minute excuse of the cleaners coming to the house at noon. Kamaruddin, who lives just 5 houses away from me, said his back is hurting. Aziz I hauled in after visiting him at home in TTDI. His wife declined joining because of her arthritis, which was quite obvious. Idah was being left alone because Dekna had gone to her m.i.l's, and asked to come along, and made the threesome to Jack's Section 14, 1975 bungalow in the old section of PJ.
The KL drive on 17/4 reminded me of the traffic woes befalling travellers this Raya season, and made me plan the 9.30 departure for Aziz's house, and then Jack's 2 pm-party. Moving from TTDI to Section 14 PJ would require some time because of the urban congested holiday traffic. In the end it took 3 whole hours from Seremban to TTDI, and another 3 whole hours back to Seremban. I reached home just as the Isyak prayers were called. That was an 11-hour Saturday outing !
I reminded Jack that my first visit was decades ago with the late Husin Hj. Ali, our classmate from Kampong Galau, Seri Menanti. Today I said I'm bringing another classmate from Kampong Galau, Seri Menanti - Aziz. Incidentally, Rosmah Mansor is also from the same kampong.
We used to stay not far from Aziz's house, at Damansara Utama, 1978 -1995, when I moved back to Seremban. Around 2003 I sold the house, because, at first, No.1 Son didn't want to stay on. I believe Adib was the reason for that. Then No. 2 Son took over, but didn't want to stay on also, and Ija was probably party to that move. When the vacated house began to leak here and there, I sold it, and made 8 times the original outlay. Now the houses in the area is worth 3 times what I got !
The 1 Utama shopping complex was built during our stay in Damansara Utama. But the complex had been expanded to more than double in size since. The last time Idah stepped into 1 Utama was 1995 - 30 years ago. So after dropping Aziz home, she wanted to see the inside of the huge 1 Utama mall. We went. And nearly got stranded in the parking bay. The machine is non-cash. They're that now, dammit. It had swallowed my parking ticket. Only the arrival of another shopper saved the day.
We took some photos at Jack's, but forgot to take any at Aziz's. The 5 of us in the photo - Jack, his wife, Aziz, my wife and I - I calculated had a total of 397 years in age. Good Lord ! Well, we were classmates from Standard 6, TMS, in 1957, the Merdeka year, until Form 3, 1960. Before that I was in MES Tanjung Malim. My father was teaching at the SITC 1951 - 1956. In 1961 I joined FMC (later to become RMC).
I'd liked to chit-chat some more with Jack, reminiscencing old times, but the host had other guests who kept coming. As I said to Aziz, let's keep in touch. We don't know when we'll meet again.
It was close to Magrib when we approached the newly reopened Seremban R&R on the PLUS, returning home, and decided to stop and check the renovated place. Both of us hadn't been here since they closed for renovations. Well, let me say that I'm both happy and sad to see the new premises.
I'm happy to see an enlarged place of rest and recreation, with all the improved appointments. The shops are rearranged to offer bigger eating-room made comfortable by the very high roof and large fans. The toilet and prayer-room facilities appear to be roomy and well designed. The parking, for both normal and heavy vehicles, looks well-provided. The over-parking woes we see on the twin old R&R on the opposite side of the highway should not happen here.
But I'm also sad. I expect to see the rubbish disposal problem enlarged with the larger area. Expect to see disorganization because of the bigger area for that happening, both inside the premises and on the expanded parking area. Expect selfish behavior from Malaysians to spoil the enjoyment of the rest and recreation supposed to be offered. The solution ? Enforcement. I didn't see this yesterday, both in the system and the personnel. My hope ? The planners have this in their drawing board. After all, Seremban R&R has just been reopened, and many things are still not operational yet. That's another key word - the operations.
It was good to renew old friendship. You can't buy that. But new things happen, too. Accept that.
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