The typical delivery routine

First get the groceries from the minimarket and stuff em in my car. Yep, itulah kereta yang saya guna...

...then go to the identified PLHIV's house...

...and deliver the stuff!

After my usual pasar tani routine yesterday, I decided to cook lunch straightaway since I intended to visit Sofie and deliver this month's supply of groceries. Sofie had told me earlier that she needed to go to her son's school in the afternoon as the teachers wanted to meet and discuss matters with parents of students sitting for UPSR this year. So if I were to visit, I'd better do so before lunch time.

By 10 am, I was at the minimarket to collect all the items I had listed down and given to the minimarket owner earlier on Friday. The best thing is I only have to go and collect the things... the bills are given to somebody else i.e. the lady representing the club sponsoring the groceries. Hmmm... wonder if I can do the same for my own groceries... hehehe...

By 11 am I was already at Sofie's house. None of her boys were home as they had activities to attend to in their respective schools, although Saiful had initially wanted to skip the activity at his school when he heard that I was coming. Thank goodness Sofie reminded him of my warning that I won't be visiting them again if they used me as an excuse to skip school! Only Ika, her youngest was home with her mother and so the little girl had to help me carry the stuff down from my car. Sofie tried to help too, but looking at her frail figure carrying a bag of rice, I told her to just "dok diam-diam dalam rumah!"

I saw lots of short wires on the table inside her house. That's Sofie's attempt to earn some extra income for the family after her attempts in trying to get a proper job failed. Nobody dared give her a job, looking at her fragile condition. At least with the wires (she's supposed to insert the wires into something) she gets at least about RM120 a month. Last month her sister who came from another state helped her out and so she managed to get RM190.

During my last visit, Sofie did mention she may want to move to a nearby town. She wanted to start afresh where nobody knows her. Yesterday I asked her again, and the plan is still on. She's just waiting for the right time - probably during the coming school holidays. What I like is the fact that she is already planning to start her own small business... selling nasi lemak and kuih at the new place. She had done those sort of things before she got sick, which means she already has the experience. Only thing is, she doesn't want to be doing the same thing now because the whole neighborhood knows about her HIV.

I told Sofie to immediately inform me once she has decided when she's going to move and when she intends to start selling nasi lemak and kuih. I should be able to help her with the capital needed to start off. Ooops, sorry, not me. I meant my friends and blog readers who had always been kind enough to donate through me to be given to the poor families.

Sofie also told me that a few officers from the welfare department came for their assessment visit recently and she was told not to worry as her application for welfare aid will most likely be approved. However, based on past experiences, I doubt that will be anytime soon... although I do honestly hope things have changed (for the better!).

Sofie is grateful for all the help she's getting. "Sekarang ni pun kalau akak tak tolong harus kami anak-beranak tak makan kot," she said. Oh no, sister, not me, but donors! Hmmph, ni yang orang kata, lembu punya susu, si Pi dapat nama... ;-)

Anyway, remember her son Saiful, the one with the poor vision and needed to see an eye specialist? Well, according to the specialist, Saiful may need to undergo an eye operation. However, he will still need to come for a few more follow ups before the surgery. I suppose he will have to wait until after his UPSR before the surgery. Sigh, the poor boy...