We finally arrived at Syez’s house (my niece) house at about 2.00pm. Her husband Din and their three pretty girls were waiting for us. My sister, Syez’s mum, was also there having arrived in York the day after we arrived in UK. The two younger children appeared awed on meeting us. They have not seen us before and were therefore quite apprehensive I guessed. They and Najla were even cautious initially, sizing each other up. The elder daughter remembered us although it has been four years since the last time she met us. The children speak fluent English, Yorkshire English, and Najla was just staring blankly at them in wonder!! Every time I speak Malay to them they replied in English. They will have a lot to change, especially in language, when they return and attend school in Malaysia. That would probably be in a couple of year’s time since Syez, although completed her doctorate, is staying back for a couple of years to lecture in the University here.
We had a lot to talk about and lost time to catch up with. I had some photos taken at the recent silver jubilee family gathering stored in a thumb drive and passed it on to Din to copy and for everybody to view. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening chit chatting and the children were playing with each other. Najla took a long time to settle in. She kept asking her mum to take her home; that she did not want to sleep here; and so on and bla bla bla….. I think it is all because she could not communicate with her cousins. She even threw tantrums and gave her mum a rough time.
One of our activities the next day was to send the three children to school, Anis in Primary, Amira in preschool and Yasmin in nursery, all in the same location within walking distance from the house. This was also an opportunity for us to take a walk around the neighborhood even if it was just a short walk. Later in the morning we took a short drive to see the town. A very old town.
One of the buildings we noted was built in 1585, that’s more than 400 years ago. It must have been refurbished many times over but the wooden structures appear to be very old and had been well preserved. The wood structures were slotted together using wooden pegs with no evidence of metal nails being used. 
We spent about two hours going around the town and browsing in the shops there some selling traditional Yorkshire products and some modern day designer goods. We were more interested in the local crafts and home food, chocolates and sweets. The time came for us to say goodbye to Syezlin and family. We left at about 3.30 pm to return to Tenby. Its about 340 miles to Tenby from York and estimated travel time was six and a half hours, a long drive indeed. We were unlucky as the motorway out of the midlands southwards was busy that afternoon and we were delayed at some stretches. However we caught up lost time at some traffic free stretches and arrived in Tenby at just about 10 pm, tired and aching in the joints! Anyway, tired as we were, the trip was worthwhile even if it was just an overnight one. We were glad that we could make the trip and caught up with these kinfolks in York. May be yet a while before we can meet them again and hence it was better to make the trip now than wait until we have more time later, as it may just not happen! But we do look forward to be able to make the trip again later, God willing, and may He be pleased…….
MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
York and Tenby.
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