Thursday, February 19, 2026
We walk all the side streets to get steps in - there's no hike today. In the corner triangle, over a dozen teen boys are kicking a ball in bare feet or flip-flops. Ouch.
The padel ball court is coming along at a former restaurant. One of the reasons the place wasn't popular before is because their security guys didn't pick up the garbage tossed onto the property by the neighbors. Today there's a huge heap of bags and other trash right outside the new facilities. The dump is just around the corner.
I pass two helpers going to work. There is not a single other walker, on a route that usually has dozens. I'm happy to have dogs for company.
After the walk, we settle in at home. The old lush garden (below) has been erased at our former home, but I do enjoy sitting on the new Porch with my laptop.
After frying part of an onion and green pepper in olive oil, I add chopped tomatoes. With broth, it simmers for about 10 minutes. I add the leftover pasta, a big scoop of chili peanut sauce, and another of plain yogurt, heating it through for 5 minutes = what my body is craving. I enjoy a second helping and freeze the rest for a future meal.
It's done. Today is the end of a long season. We no longer have access to the old house.
I hand the last sets of housekeys to the daughter of Ibu Wigar, the lady who asked us to rent her house before Christmas, over 11 years ago.
The photo shows how Indonesian Muslim culture and dress have changed since 2014, from traditional Indonesian clothing to Saudi-Sunni religious garb for women. I find it fascinating to watch new rules emerge because my PhD is in Intercultural Studies. The biggest cultural and religious shifts seem to happen during the month of Ramadan.
Ibu Wigar never wore a headscarf on her beautiful silver hair. Until recently, neither did our neighbors, who had distinguished careers as scientists and doctors. Now, most female Muslims in Bandung cover their heads with some kind of cloth. Schoolgirls must wear a hijab as part of their school uniform. Some women even adopt the strict Middle Eastern fashion of a black burqa (face and body fully covered).
At that time, we didn't know where Ibu Wigar lived. She chuckled and pointed to the other side of the empty lot beside our first place. She lived one house away. Behind the gate, all you could see was the massive roof, so we'd never noticed it before.
It's a flower kind of day. The bougainvillea at the top of someone's gate is stunning.
On another street, a huge yellow bloom is having its own party.
We checked it out and moved in as soon as she moved into another family home. The house lived up to its potential. She came to visit a few times and seemed happy where she had moved. She had the warmest laugh and the manners of a princess.
Ibu Wigar died a few years ago, as did the nephew who managed it for the family. We met other family members last week at the walk-through we requested = they know we left their house and property in good condition. W wants the security deposit back.
Friday
The article - 2 weeks worth of research - is gone. Wiped as clean as if it never existed. W explains how to allow remote log-in. I try for a long time without success.
A boy and his parents are looking for a nerf gun. "Anyone have one?" they ask the Yard Sale WA. How about 8 of them? They come by and the youngster is delighted to spend part of his Chinese New Year gifts on them.
Veronica and I walk in the afternoon, stopping in at Alice's.
I've brought chocolate mousse along - which is divided and enjoyed. This hedge blooms outside someone's gate. I have to stop - it's such a pretty pink.
On the way down the hill, we stop in at a new restaurant in the former residence of the New Zealander who was the hiking leader years ago.
Veronica remembers what rooms were where. Carol repatriated long ago but they're still in touch. When Veronica sends a photo of the diners to Carol, she gets this response, "What are all those people doing in my bedroom?" haha
The food is reasonable - both in taste and price.
I still can't download the remote log-in - and my 25+ pages of graphs and charts are still gone.
Saturday
After a walk with Gypsy, I put the house to rights and try again. Restart the computer (a few times, just in case). Finally, in a remote settings menu, I find a permission that is turned off. Does that need to be on? I click it. A few more clicks and the permission for remote access downloads. I have never been in that computer file so who knows why it's off?
W logs in from his meeting, and works for over an hour. No luck. The entire saved file has disappeared. If W can't find it, it's permanently lost.
The editors just sent a reminder of the due date but I almost don't have the heart to start over. All that's left are a few screenshots of data, which I'd inserted into the document. The citations for them have been deleted, along with the outline, the questions I want answered, and the completed paragraphs. Citations must be included. I can't remember where I found the data - UGH UGH UGH UGH. From where are the decade-by-decade reports I'd gathered? Not much overwhelms me - but tech complications or detailed lists of how-tos make my head swim. I mostly leave that for W to sort out.
I am frustrated, ready to send a "sorry, no luck" to the editors before I toss my computer into the pond. Instead, I eat some chocolate and drink a stiff cup of tea. And open a new document. Save it to the same place as before. All my writing lives there. (Previously, none has disappeared.)
I open the history tabs from this week, finding some information but missing the rabbit trails of details. The computer is on the fritz all day, too. For great chunks of time, it won't open apps or do searches.
In the afternoon, the first session of Tanikota3 opens. Three groups of children are learning English. Almost 50 kids and over a dozen moms show up, along with a few dads. The moms ask for their own class so they can keep up with their kids.
Most parents are fasting until sundown but the kids take a piece of banana bread as their snack. It's not a favorite. They prefer store snacks so we arrange to do that from now on.
The dogs sleep in the shade under the trees, waiting to be off-leash. They roam the yard at night, faster than any security personnel.
Sunday
W delivers a tribute at a friend's memorial service. Mel was not only a very intentional mentor but also a beloved family member. I'm up at 4AM to join online.
The prayer room is quiet this morning.
After the Gathering, some teachers and I head for lunch at Maxi's. Then we have a nice visit at our place.
The way things come and go always surprises me. Two things happen while our guests are here: a few weeks ago, I set out a huge book that is "for someone." I know it's not for me so I put it on a table in the living room. Today, a happy guest claims it.
I bought extra ubi (sweet potatoes) last week; this morning, the person who wanted a kilo declines them. She's about to travel. "You can give them away to someone else."
Today, when I ask Magi (who loves cooking) if she wants the kilo, she says, "We don't have an oven."
Well, I just happen to have 5 big fully-baked ones that went into the oven last night. Off they go.
Everything looks better with the flowers that have been dropped off at the side door.
#TitikBadudu has outdone herself again. A few pops of color accent the green and white bouquet.
Close up, it's even lovelier.
Read more:
* Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living and has not let our feet slip. Psalm 66:8-9
* May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
Moravian Prayer: Risen Redeemer, when the morning rays reach our countenances, our souls warm. You comfort us to motivate, delegate, and instigate goodness and grace in a cold and sometimes bitter world. Amen.
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