I just got back from completing a myriad chores, in the hot Malaysian afternoon. After dropping my son off at school, I went to look at some garden furniture; sorted out some banking; picked up some groceries; picked up a couple of indoor plants from the nursery; and renewed my road tax. I was positively dehydrated by the time I got home. Greeted by the dogs and a quiet house - I knew my lil girl was having her afternoon nap.
After a refreshing shower, I checked my email - there was one waiting for me from a good friend. She said she likes my blog and that I spelled out the challenges I faced moving to Ipoh, without trying to dish out any solutions. Life is often just that. Living with its imperfections. Often, we don't have the solutions. Sometimes it's just living with the questions....with a smile and a grateful heart, we'll be ok. Just what I needed to hear - sometimes just what we all need to be reminded of. Gratitude, count our blessings and have time to smile at our fellow human beings.
The fact that I have the mobility and energy to go about doing so many chores, that I have a car to drive about, that I have the opportunity to stay full time at home with my family like I wanted to, that we have a roof over our heads and health in our bodies - these are great blessings from God. My humble thanks.
My friend is so wise - I dedicate today's blog entry to you. You know who you are!
Showing posts with label living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living. Show all posts
17 July 2009
15 July 2009
Not working (in an office) in Ipoh
Actually, I asked for it.
I'd been hassling my hubby for some years now to let me stop working full time in an office so I could be at home and enjoy the kids growing up. The move to Ipoh was the event that clinched the deal for me. So, here I am - in Ipoh, and working full time at home.
It's only been 11 months since I stopped work in August 2008. And it was close to moving time, so I've been kept busy. In between, my hubby and I went to Australia and China in Oct and Nov 2008. Then Ipoh in December.
Pros of not working in an office - I can be with my kids and not have to think about them at work, and feel guilty that I am an absent Mom or that I am putting too much burden on my parents to help me raise my kids. I get to watch my little girl take her afternoon nap, and kiss and cuddle her as much as I want. I get to supervise my son's school work, and take them out for breakfast treats. I can supervise the house chores done by my maid, and I don't mind even doing some of the chores myself, my way.
Cons of not working - I didn't expect to be so tired! I'm thinner now than I ever was since my marriage. Attributable to running upstairs and downstairs, refereeing my kids' fights, driving several rounds a day (to school, back from school, tuition, oh forgot bread - out again etc) and of course, the renovations. And now that we have dogs, I bathe them once a fortnight (I can't understand why my fab sis-in-lawdoesn't have time to bathe her dogs when she doesn't work and doesn't have kids) in addition to tending to the garden. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy these outdoor activities which I did not have when we lived in a terraced house in BU - but I am just surprised that staying home hasn't given me as much "me-time" as I had imagined. Even less, to be honest. In the office, one had chats and coffee with colleagues, and lunch hour. My lunch hour at home now is with the kids, making sure my son eats his whole lunch, then scooting everyone into the car for the drive to school. In the afternonon my lil girl clings to me, and wants Mommy's full attention. I don't even get to pee in private anymore!
But, despite all this, I am truly grateful and thank God that I have the opportunity to stop work and enjoy my kids before their childhood flashes by in a wink of the eye, and they become teenagers (another new ball game!).
Keeping the brain working - Well, there's always Face Book to connect with friends, I read online papers and lately I have volunteered my legal knowledge to ehomemakers, a non-profit organisation helping home-based women be self sufficient. And this blog is my latest endeavour to use my time creatively, for my leisure.
I'd been hassling my hubby for some years now to let me stop working full time in an office so I could be at home and enjoy the kids growing up. The move to Ipoh was the event that clinched the deal for me. So, here I am - in Ipoh, and working full time at home.
It's only been 11 months since I stopped work in August 2008. And it was close to moving time, so I've been kept busy. In between, my hubby and I went to Australia and China in Oct and Nov 2008. Then Ipoh in December.
Pros of not working in an office - I can be with my kids and not have to think about them at work, and feel guilty that I am an absent Mom or that I am putting too much burden on my parents to help me raise my kids. I get to watch my little girl take her afternoon nap, and kiss and cuddle her as much as I want. I get to supervise my son's school work, and take them out for breakfast treats. I can supervise the house chores done by my maid, and I don't mind even doing some of the chores myself, my way.
Cons of not working - I didn't expect to be so tired! I'm thinner now than I ever was since my marriage. Attributable to running upstairs and downstairs, refereeing my kids' fights, driving several rounds a day (to school, back from school, tuition, oh forgot bread - out again etc) and of course, the renovations. And now that we have dogs, I bathe them once a fortnight (I can't understand why my fab sis-in-law
But, despite all this, I am truly grateful and thank God that I have the opportunity to stop work and enjoy my kids before their childhood flashes by in a wink of the eye, and they become teenagers (another new ball game!).
Keeping the brain working - Well, there's always Face Book to connect with friends, I read online papers and lately I have volunteered my legal knowledge to ehomemakers, a non-profit organisation helping home-based women be self sufficient. And this blog is my latest endeavour to use my time creatively, for my leisure.
14 July 2009
Life in Ipoh
Pleasant. I believe I could use this word to describe life in Ipoh. Although possessing city status,Ipoh just doesn't have the energy of a city like KL. Even Melaka feels much more vibrant and "busy" compared to Ipoh.
This could be due to the appearance of Ipoh, which lacks skyscrapers or intimidatingly tall hotels or vast blockish shopping centres. The "city" area is made up of old prewar buildings that have been refurbished (or not) and the newer shops which look like those shops you see in Desa Sri Hartamas. It doesn't give a very city feel to the place, more suburban. Ipoh folk also dress much more casually compared to the KL-ites so there isn't much to look at unlike Jalan Raja Chulan where you could sit around the numerous cafes or stalls and "people watch" all those trendy office workers, shoppers and tourists.
The economy here is much smaller though. There aren't many MNCs here and I guess the only Malaysian company that employs a good number of people here would be Taiko Sdn Bhd, holding company of listed KL Kepong. With so much resources and land available, one wonders why Ipoh just hasn't caught up. Melaka and Johor earn from Singaporean visitors. Ipoh is too far north and sandwiched between the capital KL and manufacturing hub Penang - or so the excuse has been given for umpteen years to explain the lack of development in Ipoh. Be an education centre, then. Go out on trade missions and invite foreign education institutions to set up campuses in and around Ipoh, offer them incentives that beat KL. The standard of living in Ipoh is slightly lower so that would be a plus for students, and with the double tracking rail up (when it is up) and also newly resumed flights to Singapore in 2009, the Perak state govt should really pump up its marketing. But that is a topic for another day.
I am glad that, unlike KL and PJ, which have been stripped of leafy green tress, it is rather green here in Ipoh. The main roads of Jalan Gopeng and Jalan Tambun have nicely manicured road shoulders that converge at the antique fountain smack in the middle of the round-about leading into/ exiting town. At least the trees planted by the local council are "real" trees with branches that spread far and lush leaves, unlike KL and PJ where DBKL and MBPJ in their wisdom, have chosen to plant ridiculous non-shade-providing palms. Just because Malaysia in in the tropics doesn't mean we have to make our cities all look beachy, and windy, you know. What happened to all those grand raintrees and flame of the forest?
I noticed that Ipoh folk are more laid back and friendly. The shopkeepers all have a moment to chat with you. And there is less of that "hurry up" feeling whenever you go out to run your errands. Back in Damansara Utama or SS2 in PJ, I always felt hurried - heck the parking (or lack of) was enough to drive one ballistic.
Luckily for me, I am not a pathological shopper. If you are one, you might not survive in Ipoh. There are only Kinta City and Ipoh Parade, which carry brands like Jusco, Cold Storage, Padini, Nike, Royal Sporting House, G2000, Poney, and the main gents and ladies clothing and shoe lines, but on a much more muted scale. Of course there are lots of independent boutiques around, but style-wise, nah. You would be running screaming back to KL to shop!
Traffic jams? Much much less than KL. Happens only for brief spells at the peak of the usual to school- to work, back from work-school times. And Ipoh drivers move at a slightly slower pace, too. I am always overtaking them.
Scenery? Great. Ipoh is hemmed in by limestone hills all around. So when you are up on the flyover, you can see the green, rolling hills which does good for your soul. Air quality? Good, and being further up north, thank God Ipoh is spared the haze. The sky is almost always clear,blue with white puffy clouds.
This could be due to the appearance of Ipoh, which lacks skyscrapers or intimidatingly tall hotels or vast blockish shopping centres. The "city" area is made up of old prewar buildings that have been refurbished (or not) and the newer shops which look like those shops you see in Desa Sri Hartamas. It doesn't give a very city feel to the place, more suburban. Ipoh folk also dress much more casually compared to the KL-ites so there isn't much to look at unlike Jalan Raja Chulan where you could sit around the numerous cafes or stalls and "people watch" all those trendy office workers, shoppers and tourists.
The economy here is much smaller though. There aren't many MNCs here and I guess the only Malaysian company that employs a good number of people here would be Taiko Sdn Bhd, holding company of listed KL Kepong. With so much resources and land available, one wonders why Ipoh just hasn't caught up. Melaka and Johor earn from Singaporean visitors. Ipoh is too far north and sandwiched between the capital KL and manufacturing hub Penang - or so the excuse has been given for umpteen years to explain the lack of development in Ipoh. Be an education centre, then. Go out on trade missions and invite foreign education institutions to set up campuses in and around Ipoh, offer them incentives that beat KL. The standard of living in Ipoh is slightly lower so that would be a plus for students, and with the double tracking rail up (when it is up) and also newly resumed flights to Singapore in 2009, the Perak state govt should really pump up its marketing. But that is a topic for another day.
I am glad that, unlike KL and PJ, which have been stripped of leafy green tress, it is rather green here in Ipoh. The main roads of Jalan Gopeng and Jalan Tambun have nicely manicured road shoulders that converge at the antique fountain smack in the middle of the round-about leading into/ exiting town. At least the trees planted by the local council are "real" trees with branches that spread far and lush leaves, unlike KL and PJ where DBKL and MBPJ in their wisdom, have chosen to plant ridiculous non-shade-providing palms. Just because Malaysia in in the tropics doesn't mean we have to make our cities all look beachy, and windy, you know. What happened to all those grand raintrees and flame of the forest?
I noticed that Ipoh folk are more laid back and friendly. The shopkeepers all have a moment to chat with you. And there is less of that "hurry up" feeling whenever you go out to run your errands. Back in Damansara Utama or SS2 in PJ, I always felt hurried - heck the parking (or lack of) was enough to drive one ballistic.
Luckily for me, I am not a pathological shopper. If you are one, you might not survive in Ipoh. There are only Kinta City and Ipoh Parade, which carry brands like Jusco, Cold Storage, Padini, Nike, Royal Sporting House, G2000, Poney, and the main gents and ladies clothing and shoe lines, but on a much more muted scale. Of course there are lots of independent boutiques around, but style-wise, nah. You would be running screaming back to KL to shop!
Traffic jams? Much much less than KL. Happens only for brief spells at the peak of the usual to school- to work, back from work-school times. And Ipoh drivers move at a slightly slower pace, too. I am always overtaking them.
Scenery? Great. Ipoh is hemmed in by limestone hills all around. So when you are up on the flyover, you can see the green, rolling hills which does good for your soul. Air quality? Good, and being further up north, thank God Ipoh is spared the haze. The sky is almost always clear,blue with white puffy clouds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)