Here, Eventually

Somehow this morning I managed to forget to complete the digital arrival form I need to do before the Malaysian Immigration will let me in to their fair nation. Fortunately the guy on the booth checking our entry was the epitome of patience and didn't complain at all about the hold-up as I did the necessary on my handphone. Completing the form on a phone adds considerably to the bureaucratic torture by the way as hardly any of the drop-down thingamajigs work, but we managed eventually. I say 'we' since the officer himself took my phone to complete the address in Malaysia section for me after the phone resolutely refused to accept any info on the subject from me. The whole experience reminded me of one of life's great truths: the little people caught up in the impossible bureaucracy of their organisations are without fail incredibly helpful.

By the by, we entered our northern neighbour complete with working VEP (which we astonishingly settled about a week ago) and sailed through various toll gantries paying through our e-wallet (working!). So the actual journey up the North-South Highway was a delight. (Except for the massive jam after Ayer Keroh which slowed our arrival in these parts by a good two hours. But you can't have everything.)

But now we're here and it looks like the house is working and we can finally rest. So good night all, and sleep tight. I know I will.

Finishing Off

Almost finished the job-list for the first week of the vacation. Now preparing the on-going list centered on what we need to do at Maison KL, where we'll be off to tomorrow morning. There's always something, as Mum used to say in an irritated manner. I know how she felt, though I'm trying to be happy about the fact there's something rather than nothing. 

The Right Place, Again

Eid al-Adha, 1446

It wasn't overly crowded at Masjid Darussalam this morning whence Noi and I went for the second shift of prayers for Raya Haji. So, in contrast to last year, I found myself reasonably up front and centre for the proceedings. I suppose I feel at home for congregational prayers just about anywhere, but when they are enacted in the place I'm most familiar with the comfort level is palpable.

And later we're off to a very new place for house-warming at Fafa & Idham's recently acquired apartment. Hope they'll be happy there. And comfortable. The omens look good. 

Wobbling

14.40

Just got back from Friday Prayers where I started to feel the effects of today's fast. I'm not used to this, and I've got a fair few scripts from IB to deal with this afternoon. Hope I remain clear-headed!

17.20

I'd forgotten just how sharp a first-day-of-fasting headache can be. Now unfortunately remembering.

22.00

Given the crashing headache I was dealing with as I broke today's fast, getting to the gym later was to some degree unexpected. In fact, I'd sort of convinced myself I wouldn't be going at that point. So now I'm reflecting on the power of habit and just what you can convince yourself can be done just because you've done it before. A key aspect of the challenge of fasting itself, by the way.

Lacking Intensity

I've reached the part of Hamnet that deals with the boy's death and funeral, and it doesn't make for easy reading. Except it's so well written that it's distinctly pleasurable to read.

I think it's the intensity of the writer's apprehension of the world that does it. The novel is life-affirming even at its darkest since each detail is so vivid and alive. Even the dead body of the child. 

I felt a bit flat this afternoon, probably the result of dutifully ploughing through some unrewarding marking, and the contrast with the vividness of what I was reading was marked. But in some ways, possibly most ways, I was happy to settle for my shallowness.

Widening Horizons

We've been switching on our twinkling lights this week, since these are the early days of the month of Zulhijjah, leading up to Eid Al-Adha. A pertinent reminder of a larger world elsewhere and deeper concerns than cleaning bookshelves and marking scripts. Also a way of invoking memories. Not that I've forgotten anything of what we were so fortunate to experience some nine years distant. 

Working Up A Sweat

Spent much of the day perspiring. Even marking IB scripts with a standing fan pointing in my direction was enough to evoke a mild dampness, and when it came to getting the bookshelves vacuumed my t-shirt blossomed with wetness, as did my shorts. My growing sweatiness reached a peak at the gym and since then I've been going easy on trying to get stuff done. Mind you, there's still plenty in store for tomorrow, though I've decided already to adjust my marking targets in a downwards direction. After all, I am on holiday. I think.

In View

As a bit of an experiment the other day I searched YouTube for versions of Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony. It turns out that there are lots, confirmation that the Internet can be a good thing when it wants to be.

The stimulus for my search was finding in my feed a link to a particularly fine version of the masterpiece performed by the Budapest Festival Orchestra. This both sounds good and looks fantastic due to some excellent camera work. The shots of individual players are cunningly selected to illustrate facets of the music, particularly those of the soloists. The visuals make everything sound clearer to a non-musician like myself, if that makes sense. 

And seeing it in action, as it were, I finally have begun to understand why the ondes martenot sounds so beautifully expressive. 

Hearing Restored

The stars aligned last night. I was happily expectant regarding what was in store with reference to Tunggu Sekejap: The P. Ramlee Suite but in the event was completely blown away by the show. Everything about it was sensationally good, starting with Julian Wong's commentary on his wonderfully engaging music. But there was so much more than that going on, not the least a sense of generosity on all sides - performers and audience - that was obvious as soon as the show started. Everyone was there for a good time, and more. The more being a kind of reverence for the magic of creativity at every level.

One of my best nights ever in a theatre, and that's saying something.

And lovely to hear Noi gently singing along to every recognisable melody.