Thirty-Six and Thankful

I know... I've been meaning to write since we arrived in Kuala Lumpur on our one-way ticket more than two weeks ago. August seems to be hurrying its way through - too fast for comfort (and sleep!). It is my favourite month because together with my nephew, father and brother, our numbers go up by a notch in August. I'm now thirty-six  and thankfully so. Thankful for all these and more:

• The husband who loves me more than I'd normally imagine. He works very hard to make us happy. If you ask him, he'd say "wife not happy, everyone's not happy". So through the years he's fine-tuned his antennae to the point of knowing how I would react or feel (emotionally and physically, wow!) towards things. In fact, these days I think he knows me better than myself! For example, he'd stop me from eating something and substantiate it with a list of possible consequences of eating it. (Which usually leads to a trail of unhappiness for all.) He makes me laugh, my Frenchloaf! 

• That we are finally landing on our feet with JL's new job (he started on the 1st) and the handover of keys to our next home today. In the next few days we'll be moving in with all our stuff shipped in the container from France weeks ago. It will take a couple of weeks for us to fully unpack everything, perhaps adding a new piece of furniture or two thereafter. We're both glad it's coming to a close - this living out of suitcases in temporary accommodation for two, whole, years. One may think it a luxury hopping from one hotel to another. Well it is, indeed, much as packing up your valuables and double-checking that the safe is locked every, single, time before leaving the room. Finally we can make our own meals at home and eat better. Did I mention the 5-6 kilos that eating out had "blessed" me with? It's really unhealthy. 

• The people we've met in the past two years who've made our life less stressful. This includes staff from the places we've hung out so often they became part of our life: Zainab our housekeeping lady who gave me a shawl the day we left (I must add, she chose the colours which she knew I would wear!); the concierge personnels who still remembered us when we walked past where we lived one recent afternoon; Raju and his Burmese buddy whom we used to see when we made it for breakfast; and Babu who would wave to us even when we're just passing by his workplace. These are the ones who've really seen us through our highs and lows, at times they knew more about us than our friends and families. They're the guardian angels who kept us company for months.

• Friends who kept in touch and cheered us on because they've been there, done that and got back up stronger. And then friends who inspire us with their purposeful ways of living life to the fullest. And friends who walk with us, especially the Young Lady who courageously chose to experience a foreign-speaking country all by herself.

• Families who are always there when we need their help and support, and who also know when to step back and just listen, and who'd find just about any darn thing to celebrate (valid reason for a great meal and some drinks, that's why). And especially so, the kids in our families who'd ask how we were, where we were and when they'll be seeing us again -- all so innocently because they enjoyed our being around, or just curious why we moved about so much -- they're truly lovable.

It's been a roller-coaster ride since 2010 and the carriage is slowing to a halt. Lest anyone thinks I'm disappearing in the next few days, it's because of the moving in, unpacking, and reuniting with some old-time favourites at home. It is also because - thanks to the two- to three-week processing time for Astro - there won't be any internet connection nor cable TV in the apartment.