Living with Sarah

It's finally completed yesterday. What a day. The day actually didn't start early enough. It's a school day so had to send Aliyah to my parents' place. Then we started cleaning up the house. The grill guys didn't show up, but it was OK because the only work outstanding from them is the installation of the iron rods. We can wait. We actually didn't know where to start cleaning first. The workers have cleaned the rooms upstairs, however, the whole level was still quite dusty. Then Hubby and Miqdam tried to install the cooker but then found that it doesn't fit just by like one millimeter. It seems that nobody thought to test the size these whole time including us! So Miqdam had to go back and get the grinder. Oh no! The grinder! The tiles need to be worked on so the whole kitchen will be covered in dust (again!). So, we decided to go back home, get some rest and ready ourselves for Report Card day. After fetching Aliyah from school (about her later), sent Aliya...

Finally the end is very close. I am so, so glad the work is almost completed. It's been quite an adventure. Today, the grill guys completed all works in the house. Tomorrow, they will install the iron rods for the concrete fence. All lights and wiring works have also been completed. This evening we even got Dylan to come install a new fan - with shorter blades for the kitchen. The current one looks so dangerous. I bet if my brother Abang Ben were to come into the kitchen, his head will be millimeters from the fan. He's like 6' 2" you know. The sliding door has received its grill Tomorrow Miqdam's guys will complete all touch ups. Late afternoon, they will clean the house. Really? I just got to know just now that Miqdam's services also include cleaning up the house (termasuk samak sekali). We already planned cleaning up the house on Saturday morning and I have already visioned Hubby and me terbongkok-bongkok mencuci lantai... So, Saturday we'll do some moppi...

The contractors missed the deadline. It was a stressful weekend especially for Hubby. The contractor for grill appointed by Miqdam did a bad job. I ni malaslah nak sebut perkataan "inilah contractor Melayu" but then memang dah teruk. Certain windows were OK, but there are a few which did not fit or like an inch smaller, but they crammed the grills anyway. The one at our bedroom was so flimsy, Hubby managed to pull the grill down. We installed the grills not to make the windows look pretty, we wish for security. Kalau nak cantik memang tak payah pakai grill lagi cantik. And they scratched the tinted windows. Miqdam had a hot day on Saturday, not only from the heat, but also some "high notes" from Hubby. We don't really put the blame on him, but I guess he trusts those contractors fully based on previous works and didn't come to check. They even forgot to make emergency exits for the bedrooms. That's the law now, we don't need to request. Hubby took a ...

I went to visit on Wednesday afternoon and the house was full of activities - Miqdam's workers doing touch-ups and 2 vans of workers doing wiring and installation of lights. So, most of the lights already installed but touch-ups are needed because certain parts of the walls were being hacked (again) for new wiring. Our little chandelier at dining area. First picture of the house at night :) Hubby sent me a few pictures he took when the house was still under development. We used to park our car at the top of the hill every weekend and look down at the house seeing work in progress. Blood, sweat, tears and effort have gone into acquiring and renovating it. Sacrifices by both of us. That's why I sangat-sangat angin and sedih when ada orang dengan selambanya kata nama I tak ada pun dalam S&P, so if anything happen, senang. Senang apa? Senang get rid of me and you stay at that house? Some things are sacred between a husband and a wife. Like this house. There's a long...

It was a busy and so very tiring week. We are still waiting for the rest of the wiring and the grills to come in. We had a QC session with Miqdam yesterday and everything should be completed this week. I so very wish! A lot of our stuff are already packed and a house full of boxes is not a pretty sight. Insyaallah the buka rumah will be this Saturday. Hubby took 3 days leave last week from Wednesday to the weekend and he spent those days being a "buruh kontrak". He did touch-ups, painted the bathrooms, practically scrubbed off the paint for the stairs railing and repainted it (such perfectionist), even repainted the sliding doors at the stairs because I accidently "scratched" it with a rug and thinner. He came home everyday exhausted and flat. I had a meeting and presentation on Wednesday and Thursday, so my only contribution was to rush home after my work was done and bought him lunch. But I managed to clear my schedule on Friday and joined him. I cleaned up the to...

Only 2 things are left now - the remaining wiring and installation of lamps and fans - because the wire man was on leave for the whole week and have yet to show his face, and the grill - the reason is a mystery to me. Hubby has been busy doing touch-ups and cleaning-ups since last Friday. We have also started packing so our current house is in such a mess. There are boxes everywhere. Which are good places to play for Bubu the kitten. Anyway, here's the latest addition to the house - I don't know what to call it - it's a nyatoh sliding door covering the store room. So, now we can turn the space by the stairs into a sitting place with low table and cushions without having it look like it's right in front of a store room. Other than that the house is basically as clean as be - not too clean because more dust will come in when they start grill and wiring works. But at least we can start really cleaning up the rooms upstairs now which we plan to do these few days and insist ...

Wardrobes were installed yesterday. Aliyah's wardrobe - in white and red. Ours in walnut - very safe colour. The sliding door in the middle is a mirror. Full length. Magic mirror. With a slimming effect. Because we stood in front of the mirror and Hubby did magic. He was wearing a white shirt tucked in and can see his boroi stomach very clearly. Then he took out his shirt and posed sideways, the "boroiness" lessen. That's why I say it is a magic mirror. Or may be holding one's breath and sucking in one's stomach contributed to the magic...

A lot of progress this week. Everything will be completed by next week, insyaallah. We plan to get my father to "buka rumah" next Saturday and move on Saturday the week after. All windows have been installed. The lights and fan at living room also installed. The rest will be next week. We selected this pair of nice crystal lights at very affordable price. This shop we went to at Section 5 Bdr Baru Bangi is good. Dylan, the guy we deal with, gave good advise and good price too. We got those lights at half price. Oh, he's the one who drives that Clio Renault I wrote about. Towkey kedai lampu pakai Clio... Ish, ish... The kitchen cabinet has also been installed. Now the workers will complete the cornice and the small red tiles on top of the window. We also ordered this bench for the kitchen. Hubby wants a place for me to sit and rest kalau balik kerja terus masak. We already bought a few cushions to put on top. Kalau susun cushions tu siap boleh baring lagi :) Also good plac...

We achieved a lot this weekend and I am so very tired. After breakfast this morning we watered the grass and the pokok lengkuas and pandan we planted yesterday. Today tambah satu lagi pokok - halia. Hubby tanamkan pokok lengkuas at my taman herba petang semalam. Those cowgrass are the squares I dug up at my parents' place. Next week nak kena gali lagi. The barren spot now looks a teeny weeny bit better with some cowgrass, lengkuas, pandan and halia. Next week nak tanam serai, kunyit and bring over my pokok cili and limau purut. Our garden now - spots of grass sebab nak jimat belanja sikit. Andy, the guy from the nursery said they will look better in a few weeks' time. The empty spots are for our future gazebo and pond - yang belum tau bila nak buat. From another angle. That's my little yellow frangipani. FOC from Andy. Another palm tree - the fox tail on the right - is also FOC. He's given good service and price thus far, so let I'm going to promote him. His nursery...

My day started early today. Hubby had to work, so I'm the one doing the chores for the new house. The guy from the nursery was supposed to come plant the last tree - a frangipani - at 9am. I was there at 9am sharp, brought along a plastic stool so that Aliyah could sit. She is so prim and proper, she doesn't like her clothes dirty. But the guy rescheduled. Then, had breakfast with my brother Angah and a visit to the new surau (the one I'm collecting funds for). The work is progressing well with funds from donors. Then, back to the house to wait for another contractor to come install auto-gate. However, now there is this super-huge garbage bin right in front of the house for the debris and I tested opening the gates but they can't be opened entirely. Called Hubby and he rescheduled the installation. Miqdam was also around and he advised to paint the gates first because he needs to take the gates out to be sprayed. After that, went to my parents' place. I then started...

The progress for this week. We target to move in this school holidays. The walkway has been fully tiled. The left side will be pebble-washed. The work at the garden started yesterday. They planted palm trees and now working on Japanese grass. I visited this morning, all work should be completed by today. Hubby putting markers on the places not to be planted with grass. Kerja keras... My kitchen with the red tiles. I so love this. Our bedroom has been painted. Feature wall red, the rest green - Hubby said "therapeutic" green. Err... to whom it may concern, jamban I tak de nak cat warna lain ye.

The end is near, I was promised the end is very near. Quite a lot of activities this week. We met up with Miqdam at the house yesterday evening to finalise stuff. The grills will come in next week. And the rest of the details will also be completed. I wondered for the whole week why oh why that wall on the left is left not painted. Nak kata cat habis, memang ada. Miqdam said the top part does not conform to its pair. Apparently the workers followed the rest of the fence so he wanted it fixed. I see... tak perasan pulak. My nephew is a perfectionist juga... Painting work completed for the concrete fence. We chose green. Taklah match sangat. But then when the grass and trees come in, should look better kot. The new extension has also been painted in orange like the rest of the house. The back portion paiting job also completed. My little princess in her royal chamber. The room has been painted in a nice pink for the feature wall and light purple all around. The princess said she prefer t...

I'm so happy this week. The workers have started painting! They completed the 3rd bedroom - in Apple White. Very nice. Smells nice too. The kitchen is now in progress. We selected this orange shade for the kitchen. In the bright afternoon sun, looks kinda "peachy" colour. Nice. The doors are now red. So are the railings of the stairs! Miqdam raised his eyebrows when I chose red at first. But I said I want a bright house. I don't want too many "safe" colours. The water filter has been installed. This will solve my laundry problems - no more brown spots on whites when there's water problem. The Chinese guy who installed this said to Hubby - "sekarang mandi tak payah pakai sabun!" Haiyaa... itu macam ka?

I dropped by this morning. Progressing well. The concrete fence has all received the under coat paint. Not outer paint, I silap. Apa la... This morning the workers were working on the plaster ceiling for the kitchen. The tiles I chose for the wall at the kitchen top. They arranged the design on the floor first. Really hope these look nice on the wall and suit the kitchen cabinet Walnut colour we selected.

Hubby completed the sketch of his garden design. And last night we had dinner with Miqdam to discuss progress work and also the new idea. So happen that his workers just finished the fish pond at the bungalow he's currently doing, so we might go have a visit this weekend. Aliyah might be getting her little river and bridge after all. This Saturday an outdoor water filter will be installed, so there will be people coming to clean up the water tank and set up the water filter. Hubby jumpa one hardware store kat Seri Putra ni yang boleh bayar installment. Bagus... Hubby's sketch. Boleh la kan :) Design dia ada stepping stones, cengal gazebo, fish pond/little river with bridge and stepping stones, the trees to plant and a putting green.

Week 13 already? The end looks so near yet so far. Our refinancing process baru nak start next week between the 2 banks. Reason? Affin Bank kata too many applications for refinancing. Letih la nak cerita pasal banks ni. So, we probably will get our money in 2 weeks' time, if we are lucky. Today Hubby took me to this nursery yg byk jual cengal products. Excellent place. Kalau ada duit, memang macam-macam boleh buat kat garden tu. Now we are having second thoughts about the little fish pond we put a little deposit the other day because at that nursery, we saw this beautiful small man-made river complete with a tiny bridge across it. Aliyah sure suka punya. She did request one actually! So, Hubby tengah mendesign the new idea for our garden. We plan to have Miqdam do the basics ie dig out the pond and cement it, and we do the finishing DIY way. Save cost. Anyway, we visited the new house in the morning, then deposited Aliyah at my parents' place - Mak Long dia ada. After our trip ...

When I was sick last week, Hubby did all the monitoring of our new house. I datang pun dengan mind yg not working so properly. This morning baru I really go and had a good look. The workers are working elsewhere today. Miqdam must have an urgent project to finish. Ini actually gambar last week. Hubby kutip shards of broken tiles yg dia later nak buat stepping stones for the garden. This was taken last Friday. Hubby balik kerja terus clean up the windows yg dah tinted tapi kena plaster ceiling sikit. Hubby I ni memang rajin jaga barang :) Cornice for for living area dah siap. Hubby yg pilih design cornice ni. Too many design options I pening. Tiles for kitchen top dan siap and yg dlm half way thru. Last Saturday we finalised out kitchen cabinet design - we chose yg terus sampai ceiling pasal I tak nak habuk kumpul kalau yg 2 feet punya tu. Macam-macam benda boleh terkumpul kat atas tu... Not much difference in price - a little less than RM1K. Worth it lah buat. Plaster ceiling & cor...