Movement Control Order (18.3.20 - 9.6.20)

It was the 8th of March, 2020 and as usual, the weekend calls for a family outing. The destination this weekend is the Titiwangsa Lake. It must've been a year and a half since we last set foot here after the phased closure of the city park for renovation and upgrading works. The result is fantastic, to say the least. With separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, the entire area is fenced up now. The most outstanding feature has to be this misty canopy walk. This outing turn out to be our final family outing in the city before we were confined to our home.

On 15th March, we made it a point to walk around the community lake to generate appetite for dinner. There were also a few other residents who were still hanging around. As the sun set and nightfall fell, it was an ominous sign that our lives would be changed, well at least for the next few months. The Movement Control Order was extended in 5 phases, the final being the period 13.5.20 - 9.6.20. During this phase, we have more freedom to move around, albeit still in a restricted way.

Working from home (WFH) may seem like a good proposition to stay employed or is it? Having no experience of WFH, it was certainly an experience in itself. There's many distractions around the house. Besides replying to e-mails, I took the opportunity to complete the online training subjects available on the company website and chalk up the training hours. It's quite stressful to plan out activities that would keep me on my feet as if I'm in the factory.

If work life is so flexible at home, what can i do during the weekends? Well, this garden refurbishment project was accomplished over 3 days. Plucking the weeds and unwanted labyrinth of tiny roots across the lawn, re-arranging the flower pots and laying out the new bed of river pebbles that will form the new focus point for the garden. 4 hour sessions daily and on the 3rd day, I'm very satisfied with the 'new' garden. This garden project ends at least 5 years of procastination!

During the MCO, most of us are wary of going out for fear of contracting the virus in public areas. So, many would choose to cook at home, at least one meal. Every day, the 3 of us would automatically gather in the kitchen at about 1830 hrs and work together to prepare dinner. My task would be to chop garlic, onions and vegetable. Daughter would help out with the vegetables too. She's also the oven chef now. Wifey would be the dish creator and through her, we had many delicious dinners together. 

Before I discovered free internet movies, I would usually finish night time watching tv serials, from 2030 - 2230 hrs. Experimenting with knowledge gained from the internet, and luckily for that, I had a food project which is to serve pineapple in a different method. Slice the fruit diagonally across its natural lines instead of wasting time cutting the skin that we usually do. After a friend shared links to free movies, I've never turned back since. It's movie night every day and at least 3 movies daily over the weekend and public holiday.

I'm lucky to have a lot of memories recorded in photos. Started from my mother who makes it a point to take photos every now and then, especially our birthdays. I would never have been able to look back at my childhood days otherwise. And the habit continues with me, having being bitten by the photography bug since the age of 20, where I had my first RICOH film based camera. This photo was scanned from printed photos. To keep myself occupied during the MCO, I've been scanning old photos and now at Album # 29 and many more to be done. In the process, I glance back at times past and rekindling memories of loved ones who have left the family into the netherworld. I had my first digital camera in 2003, as a farewell gift when I left Singapore to settle down in Malaysia, my birth coountry. There's more new memories to be created and as thehapiwanderer, I'll make sure of it.

Besides photography, riding motorcycle is another past time of mine. After owning the Yamaha FZ150i for 4 years, my current ride since last year is the Yamaha Mt-09. During the MCO, there's plenty of roadblocks everywhere. So, travel is limited. However, as the number of cases reduce, the control has been relaxed and we're able to travel beyond the 10 km limit. Therefore, it's an opportune time to continue my hobby of riding. And today found my in this fishing village located at Pulau Indah, Selangor. It's good to smell the sea again. The air is now more fresh with less pollution. Hope earth will be revived during the pandemic as industrial activities are reduced. The new normal will be the wearing of masks, social distancing and focus on hand hygiene. Thank you, COVID-19!

MCO Phase 1 : 18.3.20 - 31.3.20
MCO Phase 2 : 1.4.20 - 14.4.20
MCO Phase 3 : 15.4.20 - 28.4.20
MCO Phase 4 : 29.4.20 - 12.5.20
MCO Phase 5 : 12.5.20 - 9.6.20