courtesy call

I can't believe it has been more than 72 hours since we arrived from Melbourne and nobody has come pay Leah a visit. I mean our close relatives. Close in terms of relations, i.e. first cousins, aunts etc and close in terms of distance. Most of us live only about 15 minutes away from each other. So what's the excuse?

Alia asked if we 'are ready to receive guests or still overwhelmed by relatives'? Because that is to be expected, wouldn't it? A newborn comes from 4000 miles away. A relative you haven't seen for 10 months. One would expect people, relatives, at least to come and visit. How wrong would one be.

We arrived early Thursday morning. Breakfast was supposed to be arranged by my aunt who lives with my grandmother. But because we arrived 35 minutes early, it became 'too early' for her and apparently she had errands to do. Which includes sending her 27-year old senior executive daughter to work. Fair enough. We decided not to disturb Nenek too early in the morning so we had breakfast at home - nasi lemak for all, dry biscuits for me, yum! - with just the family.

Then I thought, hey maybe this aunt will bring Nenek over in the afternoon! Nope. At night, after dutily fetching her daughter? Nope. What about the others? Nope. Hmm, maybe because the next day was a working day. Fair enough.

Then comes Friday, I had my urut mid-morning and a drama mid-afternoon (which needs an entry by itself! - or not), so it was good that nobody checks in.

Another urut session on Saturday and still no one. Until about 2pm when Nenek appears at the door when me and Leah were sleeping. With the maid. Sent by the same aunt. And where is she? Just got back from kubur apparently, not good to come see the baby. Fair enough, I don't want any bad aura around Leah too. But where's the harm in popping your head in from the door and say hello?

Well if you ask if I am a little pissed off, the answer is yes. I expected a little better. I have always been too caring about other people, calling - even once direct from Melbourne to Glasgow - just to congratulate on a pregnancy, buying gifts when I come back from Melbourne - passing stuff to Mama to give to the kids even when I don't come back (and not getting a thank you), remembering every single birthday, etc. I'm not asking for much, just a little acknowledgement for my first born.

Maybe I merajuk because from the very beginning, i.e me being pregnant it was never a big deal to them. And when my mom came to Melboure, I honestly expected something, maybe some words of encouragement. Fine, out of sight, out of mind. Mama said maybe because they knew I was coming home, so we should just wait?

Well, ada kenduri doa selamat, tahlil and sambut puasa at Nenek's today and I don't really want to go. Because I truly can't believe that I have to bring Leah to them - whilst in my pantang. Never in a million years could I have predicted this to happen.

What a joke. Poor baby Leah. What an environment to grow up in eh?