.: Selamat Datang :.

Alhamdulillah!

We finally got the letter from Putrajaya Immigration! After months of waiting and feeling down in the dumps, we finally got the letter to bring my in-laws over. Am I ecstatic? Definitely! 

There are no words to describe what K and I are feeling at this very moment. Absolutely no words. We are just more than thankful that our application got through. 

What's next?

Chaotic last minute arrangements to bring my in-laws over. There is a lot to prepare. There is the visa collection, booking the plane tickets, right down to the nitty-gritty. Then there is also the need to oversee our ever hectic schedule. Loads to do, with little time to spare. 

But what matters most is... my in-laws could finally come and stay with us in Malaysia for a few months!

Counting the days till that happen.

11.59am, Malaysia Time

.: Far Ahead :.

The saga continues.

Almost a month has passed since I submitted my documents to the immigration in Putrajaya. Until now, I have not received an update regarding the status of my application. And I have grown tired of calling and trying to get updates.

I am at my wits' end. I had wanted to bring my in-laws over to spend time with us. We have not met them for more than 2 years, plus the winter there can be horribly miserable. Year after year, the winter season does more damage to their fragile health and they suffer from ailments because of it. Perhaps I was too naive to think I would be allowed to bring them to spend the entire winter season here.

At least I have tried. And Alhamdulillah, my in-laws understand the complexities. 

Yet, I still have that nagging feeling that I could and should have done more. 

Each time I express this to K, he tells me I should not be too hard on myself. Some things are just beyond our control and we should just accept it. Perhaps it is not the right time. Or perhaps, there is a better reason why it takes like forever each time we have to deal with the immigration. Take it as a trial, our trial.

Yes; this is not Jannah. Until the last breath is drawn, we will always be tested. The one thing I keep telling myself each time I feel disappointed with something.

There is still a lot to be learned.

12.48noon, Malaysia Time

.: Meet My In-Laws :.

Not exactly.

We had gone over to Putrajaya to apply visas for my in-laws. Not sure of the outcome yet as they are still in the midst of processing the application. Plus I still need to provide them another document, which is pending on my employer's side. Other than that, I really hope the application goes through as it had been more than two years since my husband and I last met them.

I have to admit, I had the jitters prior to submitting the application. I was worried whether I had all the right documents and whether I would qualify as a sponsor. 

Alhamdulillah, things went far better than expected. We managed to get most of our documents ready in JB. When we went to Putrajaya, both the immigration and Wisma Putra officers were extremely helpful and our application was accepted that very morning. And I was assured that my combined income, from my employer and my writing gigs, would be sufficient to qualify me as a sponsor. 

I was elated. I am still elated. Never had I ever imagined things could go this smooth.

Now I just hope and pray that my employer sends the document soon so I can forward it to the immigration. 

Counting stars.

5.21pm, Malaysia Time

.: Buy Nothing :.

Does that make sense?

Earlier this year I came across a group on Facebook called the "Beli Nothing Project (Klang Valley)". Here's an excerpt from the group:

Buy Nothing. Give freely. Share what you might not need anymore.  

Post anything you would like to give away, lend or share among neighbors & friends or even a future friend here.  

Ask for anything you would like to receive for free or borrow. Keep it legal & civil. No buying or selling, no trade or bartering as we are a gift community.  

Kindly arrange the logistics among yourselves... It may be a good idea to just give or take from someone nearby. 😁  

Let's start small & see where it takes us.

To be honest, I find the concept remarkably intriguing. I have quite a number of things that are still in good condition and here is a platform that would allow me to give it all away, for a good cause. 

Lo and behold, my new mantra: Goodbye things, hello minimalism!

In reality, my imaginary minimalist dream was a far cry from the idealistic reality I was pinning for. The fact that the group mainly consists of members from you guessed it, Klang Valley, made it quite impossible for me to part with any of my things.

I, am in Johor Bahru.

And I would rather not go through the hassle of posting the items over because the postage fees for some of the items could cost a bomb and I prefer to give the items to people within my locality. 

Weeks, months went by and after I did a bit of occasional digging around, I eventually found.... a local chapter!

There is a Beli Nothing Project (Johor Bahru)!

Plus I found a similar group - the Johor Swap Shop

I reckon both groups could potentially be my happy place. 

Goodbye things, hello minimalism!

4.31pm, Malaysia Time

.: Jazz Festival :.

Not exactly.

Planned to attend the Jazz Festival at Puteri Harbour. Too bad things didn't turned out as planned because both Mr Husband and I were still feeling slightly under the weather.

Even so, we did go over to the venue earlier in the day. The festival was supposed to start at 5pm, though by 2pm, they were already in the middle of the preparations. Seats were well-arranged and we managed to watch a bit of the rehearsals. 

We went back around 4pm. Could have stayed for another hour but I was already feeling weary from all the walking. 

Later at night, a friend of ours shared some photos and videos of the festival. Everything looked and sounded amazing. 

Next time, maybe?

PS: Decided to do away with the font size. 

12.34 noon, Malaysia Time

.: LTSVP :.

Confession.

In less than a month, we will make that biannual pilgrimage to Putrajaya to renew Mr Husband's visa. 

Honestly speaking, I do not look forward to it. I get tired just thinking that we had been making the biannual trips to Putrajaya from Johor Bahru for the past 2 years or so. And the thought that it may continue for years to come, drains me.

But we do not have much of a choice. 

The LTSVP (Long Term Social Visit Pass) for PRC citizens can only be applied in Putrajaya. 

Thankfully, the process usually takes a day, or two tops to complete. Plus the whole pilgrimage thing sort of gives us a chance to visit family and friends in Kuala Lumpur.

Having said that, do I expect any changes to the policy with the new government?

Definitely! 

I would go beyond ecstatic if the renewal process can be done in Johor Bahru. That would be the ultimate dream come true! A longer LTSVP would be double happiness for me. Looking further ahead, an online renewal system would indefinitely bring the entire process to a whole new level.

The things I would do to even get one of those dreams. Keep on making dua. Keep on praying.

For now, I guess Mr Husband and I are still stuck with making that biannual pilgrimage. All about making the best of things. 

Road trip!

12.20 noon, Malaysia Time

.: New Malaysia :.

New hope.

And today, he became the Prime Minister again. 

Welcome back. 😊

11.01am, Malaysian Time

.: On creativity :.

Still there?

An article to complete. A couple of half-baked invoices waiting to be submitted. A handful of assignments I conveniently keep for another day. I should really start working on those items, yet I spent the entire afternoon designing our latest marketing materials.

Am I happy with these? 

Honestly?

Not quite. 

But these will have to do for now.

Friday is here again.

12.29 noon, Malaysian Time

.: April :.

For there is no fool.

Going through the stuff at home feels like going on a journey into the unknown. You never know what you will find in one box or the other. Be it a bag, a book, or a broken piece of toy, each item is attached to a particular memory - a memory that you never thought still lingers in the depths of your soul. 

And through that memory... you are reminded.

Reminded of how things were. Of how things have changed since then. Of how things could have turned out, if you had taken a different approach. 

Things change, people change, even feelings change. But memories, memories remain constant. And they are capable of bringing you back to how you were, after drifting off for so long. 

Making amends.

12.02am, Malaysian Time

.: Edible Park :.

A stroll.

"and that's when I asked myself, where has all my worrying got me?" 

Khaled Siddiq 

A thought. 

7.37am, Malaysian Time

.: Detaching realities :.

Minesweeper.

Ever felt like with every move you take, you are getting closer to stepping on a mine? One wrong move, and instantly, all your hard work gets blown apart.

Or do you feel that you are only moving closer to your goals? Of finally achieving all you have ever worked for. 

Strike a balance between the two extremes.

Entering February 2018. 

8.19am, Malaysian Time

.: Iqra:.

Read.

Have dealt with far too many who did not read, or make the effort to read thoroughly. Oftentimes I get tired, frustrated, with such people as they made things much difficult for me. 

Can't help but wonder, even after countless times of texting, emailing, the exact same thing, did they intentionally choose to not read it?

Were they having reading difficulties?

Or did they have a hard time comprehending things? 

Tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, think good thoughts, and letting it slide. 

But sometimes, it just gets too unbearable.

Read.

The first command that many fail to abide to. 

Choose to be kind and just read.

It will save your time and spare the sanity of others.

Undefeated.

8.40am, Malaysian Time