Haven't blogged in the longest of time. Friends complained....but fell on deaf ear. Hmmm.....am getting good at giving excuses.

Perhaps this is because, I am just sick and tired of the office politics that goes around here. So much so, I have been updating my resume. Funny how people update resumes only when they unhappy....(or is that just a simple fact?) Have been updating and updating and still not quite done. Am I a perfectionist? Not!!

Now, I have to excuse myself (for real). Just received the audit report. Upcoming...shall write about auditors...

Meeting with the Officials

Yesterday, I had a meeting at one of the Government agency. The meeting began at 2.45 pm and lasted 2 hours.

There were 6 Government officials, while from my company there were 5 of us. The meeting was Chaired by the Government official and it started with some funny comments and informal conversations. But as the meeting went on, I realized that the Chairman just loved to repeat himself. I figured it could be his age or he just loves repeating. And I also realized that the moment me and my colleague looked down at the papers in front of us, he would ask us if we had problem. (Though my colleague and I were just scribbling messages on the paper) So each time he called out my name wondering if everything was okay, I would have to quickly think of some items to discuss. This game went on for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The last 15 minutes, they served us the guests tea and kuihs. What a relief that was.

My conclusion about this meeting? They have lots of time to repeat what they've said. They loved making jokes on services providers like us. The meeting was not even supposed to be chaired by a person of his title. This meeting was not even necessary. It could have been done via a couple of emails. Gossshhh....At the end of it, I was tired beyond words....

Girlfriends

I can't seem to recall when was the last time I met this old schoolmate. Maybe it was during one of the festivals I think when she visited me with her darlings, big and small.

I must say I was pretty ashamed that I had to text her asking if she was still working at the old place. Hmmm....friends need to know other friends workplaces...just in case. Anyways, upon confirming, I asked if we could meet up for lunch. And despite of having to drive at 110 km/hr, I made it to her office within 12 minutes but parking my car took longer than that. Calling her, I complained about the parking and there she was at one of levels, holding two spots just for me..lol

And there she was. I used to call her "Momma C". I've known her since we were both 18 and she was always in charge and had full control of things. Though we've grown into motherhood and I sooner than her, she'll always be Momma C to me, she's the thinker, the resolver.

I only had about an hour of her lunch time. But just in that 60 minutes, we exchanged notes as quickly as we would put on our shoes. Into our conversation, we pulled in other people of importance in our lives, our dear friends, our family, our jobs...ow, just about everything that matters, I guess. Maybe this is what set us women apart from men. We get right to the point and out.

Lunch was simple but wonderful. Exchanging of ideas were great. To tell the truth, driving at 110, wasn't actually to beat the time. But rather an anger that had built up that morning. Having lunch with Momma C changed my mood. Thanks to you :):)

Girlfriends are rather unique. They may not be related. But somehow, they're connected.

I find it rather offensive and of poor taste that people do the following on facebooks and blogs:

1. are very specific on the dates they missed their periods
2. take photos of their pregnancy test kits and display it on their blogs. I'm sure you know where the test kits have gone to, before the result is displayed on the little window, the hygiene factor
3. people who post themselves with their spouses on their beds looking dazed as though the photo was taken right after their bed workout
4. photos of spouses snuggled together on their beds
5. employees who slam their colleagues on facebook, whereby the slammed colleague is also on the facebook. Ahem...where's the integrity here? Is that person worth being a friend on the facebook? And a whole bunch of other friends commenting on the same post
6. office politics
7. people who swear that their friends will diminish from the face of the earth

Hmm...i mean, those are very personal stuffs, personal opinions, personal beliefs. I strongly stand by the fact that these social marketing tools are meant for social use. Not office, not in bedrooms, not in politics (where ever that applies).

It is after all SOCIAL, remember?

Bottled Up

Bottling up feelings, making assumptions and not being able to get through to people is very frustrating and hurtful.

The Boss That I Had

I've been away for quite some time from my musings, mainly because the pressure of work and the decisions that I've been forced to make. It is quite ironic that while we ponder of what to decide and how to convey, others have already decided for you. I find that simply outrageous. But outrageous it may be, it has been decided, like it or not.

So here I was caught in a very unpleasant situation, between two people I admired and have worked with. I secretly wished that this situation happened say 20 years ago and I was in the center of 2 gorgeous hunks..mmm...that would have been an incredibly wonderful experience. Sigh....20 years later it was a tug of war between 2 individuals, both in the range of 50 year olds. While I had to disappoint one, the other seemed like a hungry tiger. Just waiting....

Tomorrow will be my last day serving the boss whom I have been with since Nov 2001. The boss who made me laugh and frown, angry and sad, who also made me work late. I still recall a situation on January 5, 2007. I was expecting my third baby and was due anytime. He insisted that I should be the only one drafting a letter to the CEO of one of the biggest investment company. Till to date, I don't understand why it had to be me. But there I was really really pregnant working till 10 pm that night. But I did ask him though "what if go into labor?". His reply was "I will take you to the hospital, even if it means you mess up my Benz. But you need to complete this letter". He really doesn't know what it means like to have a baby, typical of men. The next day my gynea gave me a week long medical leave. And exactly a week later on January 12, 2007, I gave birth to a beautiful girl.

This boss also had the welfare of his staffs close to his heart. On two occasions when our bonuses were good, he ensured that a portion of it was kept away for staff activities. One year we went on a trip to Pangkor Island and the following year we flew to Tioman Island. I must say that those were some of my best vacations. Though I was in the organizing team, I had so much fun. Unfortunately, those bonus payout years have long left us. But the memories are still vivid. Imagine going on rounds on jet skis, banana boat rides, midnight boat rides, snorkelling, island hoping, endless hours spent in the water (both the sea and the pool) and all those freaky but fun telematches. Sometimes, it's just simply fantastic to get away from work and from home. Just good to let your hair down, literally.

Of course, there were times too that I wondered what I was still doing at the office at 5.30 am. Where was the practicality of working 12 hours non-stop. I simply hated the last minute preparation that had to be done. Weirdly, I keep asking the same question year in year out, but this trend has never changed, much to my disappointment. This year, I shall break that trend.

Well, so many things have happened professionally, that is. I must say that I had grown too to a much better position and have been able to gather lots of experience. Times were good and times were bad. But life goes on. Yes, in a way I am sad to leave this boss behind. At the same time, I am kinda looking forward to better times with the new boss. Hmmm....expectations are running high...

Monday will see a new beginning for me, right or wrong. I shall take in the new portfolio positively. Here I come Mr.....

Quite ironic that we moved away from the neighbor with Great Wall of China to a place where the neighbor has built or rather is still building The Forbidden City for his family and his dog/s. Talk about running away from sickening neighbors. I'd welcome any constructive ideas on how to mitigate this situation....

Good ol' Villa de Kinrara

Moving houses could be a daunting task. No matter how much preparation is done, it will never be enough.

I finally moved out from the house that I had lived in for the past 14 years. I still remember vividly the very first time I stepped into that house. It was November 14, 1994. Just a day after my wedding reception at Century Park Club. I was thrilled at the thought of having a new home, a new life with the man whom I will share the rest of my life with. I remember walking through the house going through every room and creating wonderful dreams together with my husband. It was such a joyous moment. Life was much simpler and preparation for the house like kitchen cabinets, grille works etc was less costly then. Nevertheless, it took us about 9 months to move in from the date of my first visit since we had to wait for the Certificate of Fitness and to complete all the other works. By the time we moved in I was 4 months with my first child.


Settling in with a growing tummy was another challenge. But Alhamdullillah, my husband was very helpful. We made a pact. He cleans the house while I cooked and ironed clothes. Cooking was a breeze but ironing the clothes brought tears to my eyes. I have always and will always hate ironing :(


We took our own time in getting things for the house. Many months passed before we even got our first couch. In fact I remember going couch-shopping with my 40 day old daughter. Changing her diapers in the car and walking in and out of furniture shops. We looked around until we found a set that we both liked. The sales lady told us that the fabric was waterproof (and I challenged her for a demo!). We bought this set. This happened in the first quarter of 1996.


Since then, many things have happened in that house. Many happy moments, sad moments, depressing moments, angry moments, all that emotions etc. We had two more children while in this house. The wailing and fighting of the children. The falling, the rushing to the clinics and hospitals in the middle of the nights with contractions, sick children, husband and myself. The trophies from school. The waiting at the door for the children to walk home from school. My daughter’s accidental somersault down the stairs. The tantrums from all the members of the household. The helpers who were good to us, the helpers who ran away. The helper who put my 4 month old girl in her pram and walked to God knows where, but thankfully came back home. The neighbor who saw this but only informed me after the helper ran away. The neighbors who stole our parking spaces, our sweet mangoes. The neighbor who blasts old Chinese opera songs. The neighbor who replaced the fence between our house and his by placing a replica of the Great Wall of China. Now that was the breaking point. The point that brought the need for us to find a new home. Plus maybe the fact that the house is getting smaller or rather the children are growing, not forgetting the tones of stuffs (unwanted mostly).


For 14 years and 4 months, this house held the breaths, voices and thoughts of my family. January 2, 2010 was a momentous moment for us as we moved out to our new house. That couch that we bought in 1996 followed us despite the wear and tear. And yes, it is still waterproof. What we left behind? Hmmm…..there’s just so much of junk, thanks to my hubby. As I emptied the rooms I couldn’t help but wonder where and when my husband bought or brought the things he had. What is left behind are all his numerous computer peripherals, books, books and more books, electrical gadgets, the list goes on. My stuffs? They were just mostly the kitchenware & clothes. I’m planning to giveaway my books to the libraries. The kids had their share of toys, books, clothes as well. I went through my eldest daughter’s clothes and picked out many items still in excellent condition to be handed down to my youngest. Funny that I used to get Sommerset Bays, East India for my eldest and now I am putting them into family re-cycle bin for my youngest.


Anyway, we now officially carry our new address. At this house. I didn’t have the time to visualize my future as I did with my previous home. We were just all too busy with our work, being year end and needless to say, preparing the new house for occupation which practically took months. What started out as a “within the budget project” exploded along the way. There are just many things that I wished I had done or prepared differently, that could have saved me money. Ironically, despite all that we have done, there is still a long way to go before it can be close to perfect. Just as before, we shall take our own time to get what we need.


Nevertheless, I thank Allah that all is well. I know that this new beginning in a new year at a new home will be an uphill task especially adjustments to the house, the neighbors, the environment, etc. But I shall take it as a challenge. I now visualize that my three children will grow up beautifully and successfully in this new home. I see them getting married and I see my grand children running around. Since they now have rooms and bathrooms of their own, festive seasons will not be a problem, as it is now at my parents. I hope to spend more time cleaning the house instead of leaving it to the helpers and I definitely want to spend more time with my brand new oven. I would also need to teach my children that they need to take care of their own bathrooms ;).


The wailing, fighting, running and falling, laughter and tears have all begun. Indeed, I just love coming to a place called home.


Goodbye Villa de Kinrara (the nickname we had given to our ex-home). I pray that Allah has better plans for us all.