Maureen, an agent for a book publisher in the USA, got in touch with me a while back to buy the North American rights for the above photo that Wuan took at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Sabah. The offer was US$150 for one time rights or US$275 for future rights. We opted for the latter for all print and electronic ancillaries. We used the earning that amounted to RM876.29 (RM887.95 before deducting bank commission) for a 38L Aipo dry cabinet to store the Nikon D60 and a Lowepro Fastpack 250 backpack that can accommodate the DSLR and my notebook.

Five years - that is how long you have been gone. That is also how long I have been carrying this one guilt. I lied to you. Yes, I lied to you early morning one after Wuan had helped you change. We told you we had planned to get married two years down the road. Why two years? Because I wanted to settle the loan for the apartment that we were living in first.

Mum, in reality, we lied. I lied. We had no plans to get married then. I had roped Wuan into it because I wanted to give you a reason to go on fighting. I wanted you to have something to look forward to and not give up. I could see that sparkle in your eyes when we broke the news. At the same time, you were also worried how her parents would not accept me. Wuan assured that she would talk to them.

I had not seen you as cheerful as you were on that morning for a long time already. I could sense that you were already looking forward to that one day to see me getting married and that one day when you would get the daughter that you had always wished for. I thought I got it all figured out. I thought that you would steel your resolve and overcome the illness. I had expected you to live for many years more.

I also remember a few days after that when you were suddenly struck by hypothermia and how you had cried so desperately and repeatedly called out my name. I knew what you wanted. You thought that you would breathe your last then but you refused to go just yet because you wanted to be there to see Wuan and I get married. At the hospital, after the blood transfusion, I was relieved to see you get better. You even told those who had visited you that your son would get married. That was how happy you were despite the suffering that you were going through.

Wuan had taken good care of you. She had helped clean you and and helped you changed. She was the only person who had willingly done that for you. At the hospital when I told you that Wuan would have to go back to Kuala Lumpur the next day you covered your face with the towel and cried. Tears were rolling down your cheeks.

You were sad that Wuan had to go off. You feared that you would not be able to see her again. Wuan assured you that she would return in July and would want you to take good care of the plants that she had put outside our apartment. You assured her that you would.

You did not live long enough to see us get married. You did not even live long enough to see her again after that. I know for sure that even at the very last moment, you had wanted for Wuan to see you for one last time. You fought. You hung on. But Wuan told you to let go if you could not wait and that she would understand. She did not want you to suffer. If only you could wait a few more hours. But you had to go. Your time was up. The angels came took you away. And you left me forever.

Ma, I may have lied to you five years ago but Wuan and I really got married on October 20 last year. You now have a daughter-in-law! You now have a daughter that you had always wished for! We could feel your presence when we sealed our marital vows that afternoon. Even though you could not be there in person anymore we knew you were with us in spirit and had blessed us. Thank you. Thank you so much Ma.

Rest assured that Wuan is taking good care of me now like she had promised she would do and like how she had taken good care of you during those trying times. I pray that you will find serenity wherever you have gone to now that I am married. That was the only thing that you had wanted for me. It has finally come to fruition. Rest in peace now Ma. I am in good hands. I believe that you are too. I love you. Till we meet again.

Our only kitten Patches has died. He did not come back for dinner last night. He did not come back for breakfast and lunch today. When Wuan got back from work just now, she found him lifeless outside two houses away from ours. We do not know what happened to him.

Patches, or as we would prefer to call him Patchy, was eight months old. He would follow Wuan in and out of the house, mewing after her for attention. When he was not following Wuan, he would crawl into the cargo net under my wheelchair to rest. We are going to miss him. Farewell my dear friend and thank you for all the wonderful memories.

Dell offered a 2-year extended warranty after I sent in a email complaining about the problem with the XPS M1330 and I had accepted. The initial offer was a one-to-one exchange for the notebook or a 1-year extended warranty. I am still waiting for the confirmation and further details from Dell.

While politicians from both sides of the political divide are going for each other’s jugular, the rakyat are suffering silently and at the same time desperately trying to make ends meet as price of essential items keep soaring. It makes one wonder whether these politicians have the interests and welfare of the people in mind. Gajah sama gajah berjuang, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah (Malay proverb: While the elephants battle it out, the mousedeer is killed in between). What has become of Malaysia today?