Since I started blogging, I have been in contact with so many wonderful people from all walks of life. It did not take long before they occupy a special place in my heart. I feel blessed.
In the rush to settle the logistics after my homecoming, we were set to spend our first Saturday afternoon in SP. It was an invitation that we got while we were still in Norway. It was K’s (Lyana’s hubby) birthday.
As we approached their housing area at the time they were expecting us, I called and informed that we were not coming after all. Lyana’s desperate *Haaaahhhh!* was too pitiful that I had to come clean almost immediately. Then, over the phone, came the direction to their house from where we were. Straight, left, right, wait!wait!wait!, straight, wait!wait!wait! left and straight on until the waterfront. Let me just put it this way, I did threaten her that I would turn back and go home instead!
Finally we saw K’s boat under their porch and Lyana came out to welcome us. A young mom with a dazzling smile. We hugged and giggled like two school girls skulking from school. We greeted the birthday boy (!) and handed him his gift and the plastic bag containing two all-Norwegian buah tangan. Like all perantaus, I think he was sincerely happy to receive something from the homeland. I was almost embarrassed that we did not get more stuff for him.
A very sweet but rather reserved Emil looked at us from far. I walked towards him and handed him his gift. I asked for Odin as he was nowhere to be seen. Missy pointed to the lace curtain and there he was, all drenched in sweat hiding behind his mother’s lace curtain!
Lyana and hubby were great hosts. As the men got to know one another, Lyana and I chatted along like old friends. I laughed so much that day. They say time flies when you’re having fun but that day, time was flying at supersonic speed. So guess how much fun I had? Not to mention how big the slice of cake that Lyana cut for me. Pure torture! ;D

Oh! the kids… Spike enjoyed talking to K and all my three kids seemed uplifted that there is another family like us here in the north. Lyana’s Emil who was reserved in the beginning was soon running around, jumping up and down and making as much noise as the rest. All was forgiven and forgotten regarding the circumcision that took place a bit more than a week earlier ;D
Just before we left, EJ decided to turn on the tap and spray Emil. It was not much but it was enough. That was when the siren went on and we ran for cover, promising to meet the next day in Alor Setar!
The next day, we stood waiting for our guests at the base of the Alor Setar Tower. I spotted Kak Ezza and Abang Aziz @ the old rascal (!) walking towards the tower. I walked halfway to meet her. We hugged and we both simultaneously expressed how fortunate we felt to be able to meet each other that day. After 15 minutes of waiting for the Mauseths, we decided to take the lift up to the restaurant first. There we were shown to the table that I have reserved earlier that day. A few minutes later, Lyana arrived with her family.

As we waited for the meal to be served, I was pleased to see our small group consisting of people who had never met one another before were talking freely across the table about all sorts of stuff. We shared a lot of good laughs that day.

The kids were strategically seated at the next table where they practically ran their own show. They were quite well behaved for being 4, 5 and 7 year olds. I think they got along very well with one another. They chatted and laughed, gesticulated wildly, dipped their keropok in their chicken soup (!) and mixed each other’s drink. I had to go to their table a couple of times to remind them that a surprise was coming if they behaved well. 

Our meal was peaceful and the ladies got to chat uninterrupted almost all the time. I interjected some questions across the table to signal to the husbands that we acknowledge their existence…still! The rotating restaurant was causing somebody to be a bit scared so I did what any good host would do, I asked the waitress whether it is possible to turn the speed a bit faster!
When the waitress brought in the desserts, the kids were so impressed with their banana splits. I love looking at them giggling, admiring all the colours, fruits and biscuits that served as decoration.

EJ ate up his love-letter biscuit and headed straight to DH, who was busy talking to Abang Aziz. Without the father realising, he took the father’s dessert biscuit. Only then did he (EJ) realised that all the ladies and K were looking at him. I waved to EJ, signalling that he should take the biscuit and return to his seat asap. As all of us laughed, DH realised what was happening and blurted out *You little rascal!*. I couldn’t help pointing out that he was actually talking to *the old rascal* just a few moment ago before he got ‘mugged’ by *the little rascal*!!
Once the meal was over, we went down to the viewing level. The kids were running around and looking into the binoculars. Missy spotted the Buddhist temple and insisted that everybody had a good look too. Lyana’s Emil who was a bit on the small side was lifted up by Missy.
*Be careful, he might fall down* I said.
*He’s small still but he MUST see this, Mama!*

Since I have written so much about my growing up in Alor Setar, I pointed out my childhood home and St Nicks to both Kak Ezza and Lyana. Those to me, are special places and I would not be me if I did not point them out. It was very windy up there that day. Another minute there, we might just be parachuted down with the help of our baju kurung-s. DH insisted on taking a few pictures of the blogging sisters before we headed down.

The bullet @ glass-walled lift was not everyone’s cuppa tea. As Lyana strategically pushed the children in first so that she could stay closest to the metal door (thus avoiding looking out and down!), little did she realise what she had created. Soon we had four kids shouting:
*Oooooo we’re falling into the hole!!*
*Agghhhhh! we’re going to crash! HELP!!!!!*
Once down, we said goodbye to Kak Ezza and Abang Aziz, with a promise to meet up again soon in KL. I was so pleased to get the chance to meet them that day and I look forward to seeing them again soon.

The two NorMal families stayed on for an hour or so more. None of the kids were willing to go home just yet. So we let them play for a while longer. EJ caught a small lizard and came straight to me and Lyana. Bad move! As the two mothers were trying to recuperate from the shock, the kids rushed to the fathers and not long after that, they took turns to hold the tiny thing. Hmm.

We finally said goodbye at around 8pm. I hugged Lyana just like I would hug my younger sister, had I had one and I hugged her two toddlers, promising to see them again soon and that we’ll have a lot of fun together.
When we drove home that night I had a smile on my face and such a good feeling in my heart.
Simply wonderful…