Visiting Sofie at her newly rented home…

In my earlier posting here, I mentioned about Sofie having to move again after her sister, whom she had been sharing the house rent of RM250 with, was offered free accommodation by her employers near her workplace. With no fixed income, Sofie couldn’t afford to pay RM250 by herself, and so she immediately looked for a new place to rent.

She did manage to get a house at a rental rate of RM150, but nearer to her old place (where the condition was so bad), which means she may need to have her children’s schools transferred yet again. For the moment the children are still schooling at the old school, although they may need to leave their house earlier than usual.

Sofie did tell me (during the Family Day) that she’d be moving to the new place during the week. So on Saturday I called her to ask if she had moved. I needed to visit and bring Saiful, her son, to an optician, as required by the ophthalmologist during his previous appointment. Sofie and her children were all already at the new place. I then asked for the address, and as usual, they themselves didn’t know their new address. I then asked for directions.

“Akak masuk aje *XXX, seberang jalan keretapi tu, sampai kat padang talipon saya. Nanti saya gi ambik naik motor.” (*cannot lah give the actual name of the place kan?)

Again, as I had expected, these clients of mine always ASSUME I know the place they’re talking about just because they are familiar with the place. I know of a pintu gerbang going in to Kampung XXX, so in my mind, that was the place Sofie was talking about.

So when I went this morning, I went straight to the Kampung XXX, but couldn’t find a railway track for me to pass. I then decided to head back to town, where I found a road by the name of Jalan Kampung XXX, and yes, immediately I saw a railway crossing. Drove pass the railway crossing, found the padang, and then I called her. She told me to wait. Within just a few minutes I saw Sofie on a motorbike together with Ika, her youngest daughter.

I then followed her motorbike, and had to pass through some back lanes before reaching her house.

For a rental of RM150, I must say the house is quite spacious. And with not so many things such as furniture, the house looked even more spacious. The moment I walked in, I saw the old mechanical sewing machine that I brought for her last year. Still working and still being used, alhamdulillah.

Further than her old place, but so far things are looking good. She just moved in last week, and already she’s getting orders to supply kuih for the nearby hospital canteen, and also to supply kuih at the nearby pasar ramadhan for the coming fasting month. At least she can work from home, without having to stand too long selling the kuih herself at the hospital canteen or at the pasar ramadhan. And based on the place where she stays, even after Ramadhan she may be able to sell kuih and/or nasi lemak by the roadside near her house.

Yes, so far so good. I do hope she doesn’t have to move again anytime in the near future…