NO BED OF ROSES IN JB

It was 2003. I was verbally told to get ready to move down South. No letter, no black and white. Just a reminder from Lee Boon Siew, my then News Editor.
Ready or not, I must pack up and told to set up base In Johor Baru as soon as possible. My baby was only about two or three months old and my children needed me more than ever. The eldest was in Year Five and was preparing for her UPSR the following year.
My wife was not to keen on letting me go. My late mother was practically begging me not to go that far.
But then, I have made a promise to myself that I would never say NO to directives. Against all odds, I was adamant to go, convincing my family I would return every week or so.
One fine morning, I decided that was it. I had to go to start a new life. Reaching JB, I found myself all alone in Mutiara Hotel, which was to be my abode for two week.
I visited the JB office and the people were nice. The guard, Amar singh, especially, had a colourful character, thinking he was boss, preventing people from entering the office at certain hours.
On a few occasions, I had to be rough, bulldozing my way to finish reports. He became a friend.
My family came down to visit me after about a week and we had fun together. But when the day came for them to leave, I found myself thinking of something unthinkable. I felt it was not worth it and the only way to get out of the mess was to quit. After sending them off at the KTM station, I went back to the room and cried my heart out. Thinking of the children who were begging me to come home with them.
I was thinking it was a useless sacrifice and was actually contemplating of getting a new job.
But then, as time passed by, there were Press nights organised by hotels and companies and I was invited. No matter how I enjoyed it, I could not return to the hotel room and be alone again.
So, I sought refuge by the seaside of Danga Bay and on occasions, spent nights at MSuites, listening to music by Ayai and the Gang.
I became a regular face and everytime I was there, it would be songs specially dedicated to me, especially blues.
After about 10 days, I felt it was time for me to look for a more permanent abode. Azlan (Mr Fatman), said there was a vacant room in his bachelor's pad in Taman Perling and I took it.
But the feeling of loneliness kept creeping and since the house was a mess, considering the landlord kept most of his prizeless belongings in it, I decided to look for a new house.
Azlan and I went house hunting one day and found a creepy three-storey house which was left unattended for about a year.
Imagine crepers crawling IN the house and the walls turning black. But we decided, that was it.
We called the John the agent and told him it would be refurbished and repainted, if the landlady agreed to pay for the cost.
So, every day, after work, we went home repainting the whole house, cleaned it up and soon it became new again.
To top it all, the neighbour had two daughters and two houses away, a teacher had her sister living with her.
Not bad for a quite neighjbourhood. It was Sungai Perling behind the house and soon we moved in. But those nights when Azlan had to go outstation, I would be having sleepless nights, listening to dogs howling in front of the house, footsteps in the hall etc.
But when mornings arrived, the house turned normnal again.
Azlan bought settees, a dining table, refrigerator and all.
Except for a trying two months when a group of Nepalese and Bangladeshis were our neighbours next door, it was fun.
I would come home every two weeks or so and once, my family came down to the three-storey house. Mine was located on the first floor with bathroom attached while Mr Fatman (he needs bigger space and the exercise) stayed on the top floor.
Then Rocky told me, it was time for MM to make Johor Baru its new home and I would be the Bureau Chief, if I wanted to.
Of course, I gladly accepted it but convincing my family to come down to JB was a daunting task. My daughter was not too keen as she would have to leave her friends behind. I bribed my son with the prospect of having Perling Mall a walking distance away and that actually attracted my wife to it.
I was scouting for a bigger house. John the agent, said there was a semi D house next to his, also in Taman Perling and for RM750 a month, we took it.