Yes, we still buy newspapers daily instead of being delivered by newsagent. Yesterday, we were in Ipoh, sending my wife to the dentist while we had tea near my sister-in-law's clinic. Cheng took the opportunity to see aunt and uncle since her return on Wednesday.
Anyway, we went to a number of places in Ipoh before going back to Batu Gajah. We forgot all about the newspapers. When we reached home, Cheng was so tired and sleepy that she was still sleeping soundly in the back seat. Not wanting to wake her, I opened the car doors and later even lighted a mosquito coil!
When my wife came back after another trip to the estate, she said she forgot about the papers. Honestly, she is the one more concerned about reading the papers while I read because it is available, actually would like to boycott the biased mainstream newspapers if not for some interesting articles featured occasionally. Note the irony of buying newspapers not for the news but for the articles (and sudoku, again when available not really addicted to it... I have yet to start doing the book given by Cheng last year!).
Anyway, I suggested to Cheng to take an evening walk together to get the papers... it was past 6.00pm! Stale news actually. We chatted on the way and I mentioned that it is a better and different feel when walking compared to driving. As usual, friends driving past waved as we walked along. Then I suggested going to her friend's stall to see if they have started the preparation for the evening. It was closed and we asked a stallholder in front and she said now they open only on Tuesdays. It was drizzling and dark clouds were already visible. I suggested buying back 'ais kacang' but she said 'might as well eat it while waiting for the rain to stop'. This was the same stall I had my special red bean ice while waiting for the router/modem to be set up days ago. But because she did not like red beans, she chose the usual ABC. We both asked for red syrup instead of 'gula melaka' but a mixture was brought to us. To avoid fuss, I suggested packing off the one with 'gula melaka' for my wife while they make another one.
It was nice to be able to chat over some nice dessert even if before our dinner which my wife was preparing. She is known to take her time preparing food. Anyway, Cheng told me about her recent visit to Istanbul where she attended a housing conference. She was glad to have met someone who knew exactly what she is doing for her thesis! His advice gave her so much motivation that she agreed with my suggestion that it gave her the confidence that 'it is achievable'. Basically, she was told to take it easy (and not be a perfectionist) if she had decided that she is not going to be an academician.
When the rain slowed to a drizzle, we started our walk back. But with Malaysian weather, it changed suddenly and began to pour! Luckily we were already near a bus shelter next to the school which is next to Telekom premises. We took shelter and started another cosy chat. Then she recognised her former tuition teacher walked past and waved at her. Again, after ten minutes or so, it turned to a drizzle and we started our walk back.
When we reached home, my wife asked why we did not call for help as she had expected us to call, and had left her mobile phone next to her in the wet kitchen. Why should we? It was not often I get to have such a nice bonding chance with Cheng, who had actually told us earlier, rather apologetically that she is likely to be based overseas in the near and possibly far future...
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