Live in our Live out

Recently had an interesting debate with cousin-in-law about live-in or live-out maid is better. Reason this topic came up was because the Indonesia government are working to implement no live-in Indonesian maid from 2017 onwards. I guess the intention was to ensure the maids have proper working hours and social life. Also, in case of any abuse or unwanted situation happened, the maids have ways to call for help.

I was not debating whether which way it should be but rather have anyone asked the girls themselves what is their preference? Now, please understand I am purely debating from the point as a Malaysian and not about how other countries treat their maid. And the information of how the ME treat their maids, frankly, I hope someone will shoot them.

As Malaysian, although we are not well-off, my parents on several occasion to take on live-in maids. Those days, only readily available are Indonesian maids. Philippine maids are story for the rich back then. And most of this maids, are probably 18 or 19 years old only. It was the first time they have even been out of their village, what more to say to another country. Most times, mom have to teach them how to turn on and off the light switch, use the stove, water pipe and so forth. They are that naive and the idea of them having to fend for themselves outside on the salary that they have, frankly, it is really inviting for trouble. Not to mention the possibility of being cheated...


Anyway, I am sure there are those of us that do prefer live-out maid that only comes certain hour every evening to help out with the housework and daily chores after office work. And I am not denying there are those that abuse their maids but I would think in Malaysia, most of us are basically good people and we treat human as human. We dont expect them to do more than what we are willing to do.

So, at the end, what I been asking over and over again, did we ask what these Indonesian girls what they want? Did anyone ask employers what they want?

Lazy weekend

2.5 months on the job. I am being optimistic and so far, things are looking up abit. The team is starting to trust me and 'remember' to involve me in their daily work activities. The AM is still trying her best to mess with me but I just ignore it. As long as things move, I refuse to play what she is playing, too bad then if she dont go with the flow. After all, she is still reporting to me and I am her boss! HAHA!~ *EVIL LAUGH???*

Nothing much happening in my life nowadays. Public holiday on Friday for Malaysia day. Didnt do much. Babe and I went to IKEA after our breakfast of tomato kueh teow at Alex stall. Was hoping to buy the baby's mattress pad but it is still out of stock. Guess hubby will need to go there on his own when I am back in Kuching next month.

Saturday, hubby had to go work half day. So, I did my usual Saturday thing when hubby had to work, i.e. send his uniforms to laundrette to iron, breakfast and home to cook lunch for us. But Saturday I didnt cook this Saturday. Instead, packed his favourite mixed pork porridge and bought half roasted chicken for babe since I had late breakfast, i.e. brunch! After lunch, we just laze around basically doing nothing and went to the night market at around 530pm to find fresh chicken wings for dinner. Deep fried those and that is what we had for dinner :)

Sunday, I am sweating all over actually. Hubby has taken the initiative to vacuum the floor without me nagging. So, me being me, cant just sit on my butt and let him the work, went around and help him pick up the things and tidying them. So, end up, I am now sweaty and hot eventhough it is going to rain soon. I woke up around 11am this morning and babe slept till almost 1pm.

I cooked fried rice, heat up yesterday chicken mushroom soup and wah lah, LUNCH! HAHA! My 4-legged monkey, aka Ginger also had her lunch and now she is lying down in front of the door to sleep as well as making sure that we dont slip out of the house without her knowing. All in in all, it is going to be a lazy Sunday I think.

We do plan to go out later though after the rain stopped to drive around and see if we can find any baby nursery near here or my work place. Only around 1 month left before I go back to Kuching....time flies...

I must be a superwoman!

Yup! After all, in just 1.5mths since I join the company, I have been stabbed by my own subordinate and being accused (hinted anyway) by my boss that I am playing office politics and 'groups'! I never know people perceived me to be so terror and terrifying that from the get-go, they must 'hit' me immediately. If I am not the receiving end here, it would be funny lor!

But I think, in all this, I did make a judgement error and hope that it will not come back to bite me in my butt later. Anyway, like the famous saying goes, it is no use crying over spilt milk. Best is to make the best of the situation and move on. This really got me looking forward to my maternity leave. I am pending my MD to approved additional 30days of maternity leave/sick leave/ or whatever they want to call it on top of the normal 60days. Although, I guess they do not want to create a precedent unless they intend to make it policy to have 90days maternity leave across the board.

In the last 2 days, I have never feel so stressed in my entire work life! Normally, when starting a new job, I will be the happy go lucky one and is happy to wait till my boss give me further instruction. In the meantime, I will explore and learn on my own where I can. But it seems that here, it will be learning on my own all the way especially since the person that you thought will be assisting you and subordinate engage me in a power struggle. Well, too bad then because I am here and am here to stay. So, she need to get over it and work with me else be left behind at this status quo.

I also made up  my mind that I will just do my work to the best the I can, keep straightline and follow procedures and instructions from my boss. I rather not play this game. So much simpler and happier this way. I have always been a believer in good honest performance will be rewarded in the end. Got blindsided recently! ANYWAY, ALL THE BEST TO MYSELF!
Good thing it is public holiday tomorrow! So, can stay at home, sleep and do NOTHING! LOLZ! But hubby is asking, what we having tomorrow? On the happy note, the one-size-fit reusable diapers will be delivered to my office by Thursday! Cant wait to see it. Hope it is as cute as the photos in the website. Definitely will take some photos and post it in my baby blog!

I am ALIVE! ^_^

Hi! Now that I have time on my hand, time to start updating this place again..well, at least for the next few weeks till I start at my new place *grin*. For those that know me personally, yes yes yes, I am a grasshopper hopping yet again to a new place. But seriously, if you are in my position, you would be doing the same thing. Never in my 10years+ of working life, just after 2 months in a new work environment, I am throwing in the towel and makes be wonder if it is worth taking this job up simply for better pay and benefits. A friend of mine (SK) was actually telling me that it is my hormones making me feel this way and I should fight it. No offense my friend, I have tried to fight it for last 2 months but after being stabbed repeated at the back by colleagues that you thought are your friends (all in the space of 2 months), I decided I do not have the tolerance to play this advance level of game that is being played here. EVERYTHING and I do mean everything is about position & office politics here!

And to make matter worse (and confirmed my decision), people are actually spreading rumors (again, from someone that I assumed is a friend) that I am resigning because I am asked to by my manager. Seriously, I do not know what such rumor will benefit the person but I guess maybe the person felt all powerful and mighty? If someone can shed light on this, please, feel free to enlighten me.

So, today, I will be calling my boss @ 5pm to re-confirm that I have not changed my mind about the resignation and to ask him to let me know how he wants me to proceed with the passdown. We spent about 45minutes last Friday to discuss my resignation. Most time was him trying to convince me the prospect of working in the company, i.e. financial and career path. No doubt, if the economy continues to boom, the financial return will be good too. As for career path, I seriously do not see beyond where I am now. So, yes, I admit very frankly (admitted to the interviewer as well) that I made a mistake by tendering from my previous company which offers me immediate promotion upon receiving my resignation and clear career path to top management.

But, looking back, every move I made enrich my knowledge and experience. Except while in this company, I never have any regret leaving my previous companies because each decisions was made with careful deliberation and sound judgments. The lesson I learned? Never resign simply for financial benefits because I believe if money is the motivator, most of the time, the job will not motivate you. Take me for example, by joining this company, my salary actually increase leaps and bounds, the benefits were so much better and job scope (on paper, theoretically) sounds so much simpler. But I overlooked the work culture in the company which is totally different from my tolerance level.

Anyway, last day will be 30 Jun. CANT WAIT! HAHAHA!!

Life is Jackpot...

Wow.. I thought I will never ever be in the mood to do this again. Things has been moving at a crazy speed nowadays. Maybe I am growing old but sure makes me wish that I can find some way to slow down and yet still making the same (or more) mullah monthly. H...A...I....which leads me to dream of winning the jackpot! Crazy gal I know but I can dream right???? Imagining if I do win millions, what would I do? Of course, first thing, QUIT my job immediately! Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against the company, colleagues or boss and so on but I just need a long long long break without stress! Even now, on MC and I have actually been working from home since 7am with 2 hours cat nap in between. Was just too worried to sleep well.. Hubby coming back in while for lunch. Hopefully, can continue my sleep after that. Need to send out the updated report at 7pm later tonight. Hhmm..maybe I can get my gal to send it out. Just items left..should be pretty straightforward...

Definition of TIME MANAGEMENT

YAWN! So bored. Babe downloaded UFC from the internet and is watching it on the tv. Never liked watching bloody sport like that. I am actually surfing jobstreet! hahaha! Yar yar, I know, I am a JOBFROG. Hubby also complaining how come I am looking for new job after just 1 year. As usual la, he will have lots of comment la. But seriously, I am not the only one thinking of changing okay.

I mean people that have working at the company since it started was also leaving. Turnover in the company is so high now that the HR hiring person is so busy all the time. Lots of interview and even new hire left after just a month or two and some even just after a few weeks. The worse is when one of our colleague just suddenly dont turn up for work and not contactable at all.

I was asking my colleague today, what is the definition of time management because whenever we cant find time to finish our work (because we are OVERLOADED) and when we explained to our boss we simply couldnt find the time, he will say manage your time or learn to manage your time. So, my question to you all is what is the definition of time managed? Does managing time mean that working till 10pm or 11pm everyday? Or doing work that requires 20 hours in 10hours?

I mean, okay, we have 24 hours in a day but does that mean that I am suppose to send 20 hours of it to finish the work EVERYDAY? If this is just occassionally in order to finished up urgent work or handle crisis, then I can understand. But here, it is almost everyday. And to make matter worse, the list of responsibilities keep piling up. I realised that in this organisation, the more efficient you are, you are not being rewarded in kind. Instead, the boss will make sure to give you more responsibilities because you have idle time now!

When in actual fact, there is not idle time because there are other daily activities on top of the extra projects that we need to complete.

Anyway, time to get out or else I will become the most inefficient person and start to make sil unexplainable mistakes simply because we are rushing for time.

1 day only? GAWD!

Oh dear! It seems that everytime I update my blog nowadays, I start with apologizing for the infrequent update nowadays. Simply too lazy to do it. Sometimes, I do have the sudden inkling to want to share my current life with everyone but somehow, the urge just passed by. It seems to be much simpler to just type a few words in the facebook to let friends and families know what I been up to nowadays. But once in awhile, mind you, very occassionally, I do just am able to sit my butt down in front of a laptop or PC to type one of my super duper long posting.

So, let me what has been happening first. After the trip to Jakarta, my next trip was actually to the Batam Island for a day trip via Singapore! Yah, you read right, DAY TRIP. Basically, what this means is me waking up at ungodly hour of 5am and left the house on a taxi at 5.30am to go to LCCT. Catch my flight to Singapore and from Changi Airport, fight my way (err..not really fight la but it does feel like a battle when venturing into unknown alone)..fight my way to the Habourway Jetty to take my ferry across to Batam Island.

I, of course, thinking to safe company some money (and with great sense of adventure), decided to take the train from the airport to the jetty! Thank god at the airport, there is the traveller center where there are friendly people to provide maps and precise instruction which train to get on, station to get off and reboard on another train and where the final stop. I had to change train twice (!!) before finally on the right train bound for the jetty.

At the jetty, unknown to me, the counters are actually in a shopping mall and so is the departure counter AND custom since I am basically going out of Singapore into Indonesia. Anyway, I landed at Singapore airport at around 9.30am and only finally reached the jetty departure hall at 11am, i.e. 1/5hours later. (Later, I found out that if I have taken the taxi, I would have been at the place in 30min!!)

Jetty took 1hour to reach Batam Island(Left at 11.30am Singapore time, reached at 11.30am Indonesia-time. Cool huh? But my bodyclock all screwed up!! HAHA!). Despite the heavy downpour, the ferry was relatively smooth ride. Reached Batam jetty, my colleague and customer picked me up and we went for lunch before going to the customer office (NOTE: Lunch in Indonesia). The meeting was until 2.30pm and we race back to the jetty so that I can catch the 3.30pm ferry back to Singapore so that I can get to the airport on time to catch my flight back to KL.

I reached Singapore jetty at 5.30pm (I lost 1 hour due to time zone difference) and decided to walk around the shopping center for awhile to see if anything interesting. Then feeling super tired, follow the sign to the taxi stand at 6pm. I finally reached the airport at 6.45pm because it is the traffic peak time in Singapore and traffic jam (but trust me, the jam is nothing compared to the one in Jakarta!)

Checked in and then my silly stomach complained rather loudly. I remember a sign pointing to foodcourt when I was walking around like an idiot this morning looking for help to get to the jetty. Anyway, I found it and am super duper happy! Why? Because it is non-halal!! And I also found pork bun in a bakery! WAHAHAHAHA! A big big big happy thing for non-muslim Malaysian because basically almost EVERYWHERE here is halal food!

I finally home at around 11.30pm that day. And as I described my trip to hubby, I suddenly realised that I had my breakfast in Malaysia, lunch in Indonesia and dinner in Singapore. All in less than 20hours! This is definitely something that I wont ever forget.

Next trip? 29-30 Jun will be in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. 17-21 Jul will be in Kuching (Yeahhh!!!). 5 Jul on leave because want to clear the leave in lieu (we are awarded 1 day off for public holidays that fall on Saturday but we need to clear it within 1 month from the holiday date or else burn). 9-11 Jul will be at a camp half way up Genting for teambuilding. 2 Jul will be having dinner at KLCC for the customer appreciation nite organise by Sales and Marketing. 7 Jul is dad's birthday. And I think I am suppose to arrange a trip to either Surabaya or Medan (or both!) in Jul too. 

Not sure if I can survive it but I sure hope my new staff will be on board soon. I am up to my brain with all the work. DROWNING DROWNING!!!! Ashame to say that lots of work behind schedule but I just cant find the time. I mean, at the end of day, by 8pm, after having worked for more than 10hours, how the hell want to think and concentrate ah?? 

MY GAWD! The long posting and it is only talking about 1 day trip! Wait till y about I post my 2 or 3 days trips! HAHAHAHA!!

p/s: They finally remembered not yet give me my confirmation letter and I am expecting to receive it from HR anytime soon. Frankly, I dont know if this is good news or not because it means that once receiving the confirmation letter, I will need to provide 3 months notice if I ever got a better offer elsewhere vs the 2 weeks now :P

Short talk: NAUGHTY DAY!

I did something naughty today! HAHA! Should I be telling? Let me think first..HAHA! OK OK! I went to work really late today. I only reached the office at around 11.30am today. Reason, well, I got called for a job interview. SSHHH..

And guess what, I will be going for a 2nd interview on Monday. LOL! Unexpected but something that I did wish for. So, again, LOA is working ^_^

Dun wan to talk too much abt this yet till I got the job offer. So, wish me luck!! ":)

I AM A IDIOT!

Okay okay..I should be more diligent in updating my blog or else people will actually stop reading one day? :P Just that sometimes I do not feel the urge to write as much as last time here anymore. Guess as more and more people know about this space, I am more and more reluctant to put down my personal thoughts and feelings that sometimes are not so nice at all. I know some of you will tell me that this is after all my personal space and I can do whatever I want and say what I feel like. But the deal is, well, I know this is where most of my good friends come to when they want to know what is going on with my life. 

SOOOOOOOOOOO, after much thinking and more thinking, I decided I will keep this space and perhaps keep another space for my more personal thoughts and feelings (BABE, dont even bother trying to find it okay because you will never find it :P)

Phew..Glad to have that out of the way.

I actually had been super busy since last Oct2009, yah, ever since I joined the company that I am with now. The work itself is actually not as stressful as the previous job but its all the paperwork and phone calls for last minute demand that took most of my attention. It has always been my passion to find ways either through enhancing the existing system or proposing new ones so that work are more efficient. Sort of like leaving behind a legacy when I am no longer working for the company (yah, I definitely dont expect to stay with a company forever..that is a fact la)

The thing is, my boss keep piling on new responsibilities on top of what I have now. I mean, sometimes it feels that it definitely does not pays to be more efficient or effective that those around me. I am after all hired to handle customer service but recently, the boss has start to ask me to travel and visit customers to build better rapport with them. On top of that, he is expecting me to go visit our sole distributor's dealers.

I mean, that involve alot of traveling and obviously, when I am on the road, in a plane or at the customers' place, I am not able to handle the paperwork required! Okay, so he approved to add headcount to the customer service (and I will say after super long battle) but that takes time. It is never easy to hire people that fits but worse still when the people that the resume HR forwarded to me really SUCKS!

And last Friday, went into his room to inform him of my itinerary for my trip to Jakarta the following week, instead, he told me to sit down. I knew immediately what he will say. I just knew it! And it is extremely frustrating because I never agreed but I am starting to get emails & assignments related to it. I am really not sure how will myself and the CS exec going to able to handle all the additional workload. Inevitably, some of the work will definitely gonna slide and standard drop and I absolute hate that! How to be efficient & effective when at the end of the day, you are simply to tired to think?

Oh, er..I better start from beginning?

When I was on my way back from my daytrip from Singapore last Wednesday (this is another story to tell altogether), while waiting at the airport, I got this sms from the logistics exec that he just tendered his resignation. I found out that he actually told almost everyone in the company. Anyway, at the back of my mind, I was wondering who will be taking over the responsibility of logistics area since the exec has not been confirmed and he only need to give two weeks notice, ie. much much too short a time to actually find a replacement. (come to think of it, since I have not gotten the official confirmation letter, it means that I am also only require 2 weeks notice????)

I guess at the back of my mind, I have already suspected what will happen because either its that or another colleague of mine will be asked to do it and frankly speaking, she is also super bogged down already.

Anyway, after I seat down, boss asked if I know the latest update & news. Of course I knew and I asked him when is the exec last day. AND I also asked my boss what is his plan to replace the vacancy (YAR, idiot right me?). The way he responded to me, I knew he was testing the water especially the way he beat around the bush. Bottomline is, Jen, I need your help to monitor and guide the logistics. 'A' will handle the operations but I need someone to take hold his hand and basically monitor and track to make sure that things go according to plan.

'B' will be sharing this responsibility with you. When 'B' is back, we will have a group discussion on how to share this plan. So, blur to whether I actually agreed and what exactly is the new responsibility, I got out of his office. An hour letter, got an email for the standard operation procedure in logistics for loading flow and processes. Guess who is the person-in-charge????  GGGRRR!!!

Sigh! I keep telling myself to see the positive side. For example, I will be getting a new headcount. So, can pass the paperwork that I am doing now to the new person and concentrate on strategic management of the team. And I am traveling again (LOA works!). Eventually I hope to travel to Paris, Thailand and other sister companies around the world. I am learning more, experience more, seeing more and hence, improving my resume and attractiveness to the headhunter. Very very good chance of promotion very very soon (YAR R, your J buffet coming reality nearer and nearer?).

All, in all, pretty good. I just need to hang in there. Just hope I can do this long enough till something really really good come along for both babe and I....keeping my finger crossed!!! PG PG PG PG!! :) 

NOT WORKING TOMORROW!! YAHOO!! HOLIDAY!!

Lalalalala...Tomorrow not working! Tomorrow not working! No need to check the calender lar. Tomorrow is not weekend, only Friday. Not working because after the follow up with the doctor today, he decided to give me another day off and hence, the whole of 2 weeks not working since last Monday. Last week was no fun at all obviously because of the pain. But I must say, except from the sore back and thigh after walking or sitting for 2 hours or more, I actually had a pretty relaxed week.

On Monday, decided to pick up 'geng' and went for blr (banana leaf rice laaaa, not base lending rate *grin*) for lunch. Had been thinking of it for ages since moving to Setia Alam area. Finally decided not to wait for Friday in case the doctor says I am fit to go back to work on Friday. Normally we will go on Friday because then we can have Indian dessert called payasam. It is an acquired taste. Sort of like a combination between sweet bubur caca and spices. Drooling just thinking about it. I wonder if I can tempt the guys to go there tomorrow..hhmm...

Anywayyyyyyyyyy, let see la. By tomorrow I might not want to have them anyways. Babe has been making subtle hint about my weight. I think he is worried because of my recent tear and slipped disk caused by the 3 level disk degration (sp?) thingy. The thing is, the safest exercise for me now is swimming and I have NO IDEA where is the nearest swimming pool at Setia Alam here! Anyone out there have any idea? I dont mind paying each time I use the pool but I really do not want to join any club membership just to use it. Really a waste of money actually.

The next option would be yoga. Saw a banner near the shops today that there is yoga classes available. Run it through the doctor and he thinks it is actually very good but I need to make sure that the instructor are legit and remember to tell him/her about my back problem so that he/she can guide me on the proper exercise to do. Also, he asked me to looked up on Mckenzie Balkeln exercise (gosh, I hope I have the spelling right. The doctor handwriting *shake head*).

Oh yah, guess what he told me too. No amount of calcium or vitamin D will help with the 3 level disk degration as there are no blood vessel that goes to the disk and hence, no nutrient will go to it. And since it is also not a type of bone, calcium wont help either. However, I will continue to take Anlene though to help ensure that my bones are strong. Damn, I have this vision of hunchback when I turn 60 ~>_<~

On the positive note, I went for a job interview today! I know you will wondering didnt I just start a new job? Well, mind you, I didnt actively hunt for job. Just occassionally glance at the vacancies that jobstreet sent me via email if anything interesting pop up.Other than that, I was pretty intense on making this work and excel. After all, I strongly believe that all industries are really small and words will carry if you are good at things.

So, I actually didnt hunt for any vacancies. It hunted for me! Got a call awhile back regarding a position and was told someone recommended my name to this job agency consultant because the person think very highly of my ability (yeahhh dehh!! bloated ego!). Anyway, today was the first interview and (again bloated ego!), the interviewer (COO of the company) got so excited to get me on their payroll that he wanted to call his boss (the MD) to interview me because he is sure if the MD likes me, HQ will agree too.

He actually took roughly 20minutes to try and search for his boss top and down but unfortunately, was not able to find him. So, he decided to call HQ directly to give me on the spot interview! Yar, insane huh? But rationality must have hit him because he realised it would not be a good idea because HQ did not have my resume yet. HAHA! So, we agreed to reschedule it to another evening to meet the MD.

I left the office after that. After all, what else is there for me to do there? But imagine my surprised because less than 10minutes later, as I was driving through the tol, he called me again and said he located his boss and asked if I am driving. (err..yar, of course la). HE actually tried to pursuade the boss that I should be still nearby and want to ask me to come back and meet the MD for an interview. In the end didnt la because I think the MD have something going on and that was around 1pm already. (LUNCH MAR!!)

So, next Monday going back to work. I was teasing babe, next week might be the week I tender my resignation (again). But we will see how it goes. Hhhmmm...never know I am so GOOD!!!!! WAHAHAHAHAHA! HAiyaaaaaaaa, let me feel proud for awhile la okie :P Ok..more calm liaw and humble.....

I am alive!

I am here! YAYYY!!! HAHA! Yar, I know..practically disappeared from cyber-world for more than 2 months. Not by choice mind you..had to since I quit my previous job and had to return the super new company laptop and at the same time, my home laptop decided to go die on me. So, I paid for 2months of internet for NOTHING! If you ask how come I dont go online while I am in the office, well..number 1, I am simply too frigging busy to even think of doing any chatting, blogging, surfing or anything that is not related to work...

2ndly, the office network is monitor by the group IT. Hence, never wise to do much blogging especially when this is where I release all my frustration about EVERYTHING! Would not be wise say something like:I am damn bored at work... right? HAHA! But I am not bored at work la. Far from it, I am so busy that I am practically doing overtime almost everyday. Official office hour is 8.30am to 5.30pm. I will usually only leave office at 6.30pm and that is consider as early. Most time, I only leave at 7pm.

I can only thank god that I am staying near enough now that I dont have to fight stupid jam. To be frank, the work itself is a no brainer. Just that there is so much paperwork and baby sitting that so much time are wasted. Imagine, just to get the requisition approved, need approval from the boss on the purchase requisition form and then the procurement have to enter into the system we are using which the boss have to approve another round! To me, so much redundancy work....

There are alot of other areas that I can see is doing similar redudant repeative non value add work and I am trying to slowly reduce the inefficiency but there is only so much that I can do as one person. Can be very frustrating because it is not a simple matter of telling the group the goal but also need to spell out EXACTLY how to reach the goal. Even missing a single step in the process to reach it will mean the whole group will be stucked at the particular item for ages!!! GGGR!!! Anyway, we will just wait & see.

Short one for now. Want to watch tv! :P

30 second Speech

I cant help but wanting to share this with all of you (after a long long disappearing act :P)

VERY SHORT, MOST EFFECTIVE AND HOW TRUE...


30 second Speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola)

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you ' re keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back..

But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it."

WORK EFFICIENTLY DURING OFFICE HOURS AND LEAVE ON TIME. GIVE THE REQUIRED TIME TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS & HAVE PROPER REST.

October 9, 2009 - HOROSCOPE!

My horoscope yesterday:

Your horoscope for October 9, 2009
The weightiness of the past few days seems to be lifting, and you will find that there is a slight breeze building up that will help to fuel your fire, Jen Lu. By having built a solid foundation, you have created a reliable launching pad from which to take off. Communicate what you have learned with others. Allow your opinion to be heard. A great deal of useful information will be exchanged.

I must say, this week has been a long but short week. Am I confusing you? Long because it seems that there are so much to learn and short because it seems that there is not enough time. It felt as if it has been decades since I joined this company but in actual fact only been less than 10 days. Well, today would be day-10 to be exact. How was it so far? Well, I can only say now I understand how this company can grow to 209,000 employees in over 60 countries! The group activities not only include business or profit making but also employee social well-being, safety and health as well as social activities.

I am involved in so many things on top of the daily activities that it is making me dizzy just thinking about it. But that alone would not have been a great task, challenging but not impossible to do since there are many guidelines from the group HQ. What irks me is actually despite being part of a big consortium, the processes and things are done, the daily task handling are still so primitive! And I can hear the exec keep sighing and banging her stuff around while going about her work (Not sure if this is for my benefit as the her new superior but definitely need to talk to her about that later).

I wonder if my manager is trying to 'cleanse' the department of oldies that simply cannot cope with the additional more challenging job requirement as part of a group. I seriously do not know but was informed on Tuesday that the prod planning manager is resigning. He has been with the company forever and decided to leave. The rest of us in the department are actually less than 2year-old and most are less than 1-year-old. Knowing my boss, he will most likely look for someone that have the drive and initiative to look for improvement to make things more efficient and effective.

I think we really need it. Looking at he complaints from customer the pass few months this year, some of the complaints are really due to really silly human error that if ever happen, should only happen once and not repeatedly!

Anyway, back to the horoscope, the weightiness lifting yesterday, how true. Because I actually see the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter and brighter with each passing days because I can see some things that I can do in order to make things more efficient! Yar yar, I know, I am crazy. It just work but friends that knows me will know that I can never just lie still if I can see something challenging but improvement that is within my power or knowledge to do. I think that is why babe sometimes say I am being silly for being so passionate.... hehehe.....

2nd last day

PHEW! FINALLY, tomorrow is the last day of work at my current company. Immediately after that, Thursday will be my first day. And guess what, I have not start clearing my cubicle. I think I have a couple pair of shoes under my desk and some girlie stuff in the drawers! Oh, and also some containers and cups in the pantry. Hope I wont forget anything. Feeling kind of weird actually because till today, I am STILL doing work and STILL redirecting my colleagues to the new fella taking over the job.

Guess they are still trying to get use to not having JenJen around to ask question that they can get answer to almost instantly. And I can see the new fella is getting really stressed out now with the amount of work that he took on. I think he is already wondering what did he get himself into. I keep hearing him sigh and say "so much to do". All I can say is that I been doing it for more than 1.5 years. Just need some getting use to of course, all the 12 items in the list that our US boss told him he need to make sure he pick up and do.

Anyway, colleagues brought me out for my farewell lunch at Italiannies today. The food was so-so & nothing to shout about but we had great fun laughing and snapping lots of photos. 3 of us brought DSLR cameras and another a G9. We are slightly high and excited with the cameras and it being the 2nd last day for me. I think we were easily the noisiest crowd there. But who cares. We had fun. We can see the waiters and waitress had fun watching us making a fool of ourselves. HEHE!

Then, we walked around 1u for awhile to walk off our lunch and take some more photos. After that, of course back to office. That is where I got bombarded with lots of last minute questions from the guy (I call him puppy because he sit next to me and sharing my desk since the day he arrived from Taiwan like a lil faithful puppy!) and Merv also started to get worried.

Something that he said got me thinking because I was wondering why he is asking me all this questions that puppy should do. Turn out he is worried because they have been taking it for granted that I am here and based in the same office and it a simple matter of walking over to my cubicle if he need any information or do some brainstorming. In order word, took me for granted la! :P HAHA! But I am ok la. At least I know this people will FEEL the lost when I am not around. HEHE!

So, I sent my farewell email too already to the colleagues. Monday was emails to vendors and customers. And since Monday, been getting lots of emails, skype and calls asking me if puppy is taking over my job responsibilities, what is my role now. I think most of them expect either I got a promotion or transferred to another department especially since our co just bought over a company in Taiwan.

Some were pretty shocked when I said I resigned and last day is on 30 Sep! One vendor even go as far as asking me how come I NEVER mention to her that I am leaving. All I can say is that it is not my decision but my boss requested me not to mention anything to anyone of the vendors and customers yet till Monday. No idea why and not keen to ask as well because I might be shocked by the answer as usual.

A colleague who is the boss of the engineering department even ask if I am really leaving because he heard I resigned but thought I changed my mind because nothing seem to be different! I guess they are shocked because I still go about doing my work till well, today! But no choice. I simply cannot just let go like that la especially when I imagine my poor customers and vendors. Not to mention all the hardwork to pull in deliveries. So, while puppy work hard to download and assimilate all the information, I had to be the temporary firewall. HEHE!

YAR YAR! I am sot already with excitement! WOOHOO!!

Stupid stupid stupid

It is less than a week to my last day of work in this company and yet the COM still have the ability to irk and makes me feel like screaming at the top of my lung in frustration. Imagine this conversation among all the other members of the team and also a colleague from Taiwan that is going to take over my job scope:

COM: You are not suppose to contact end customer A.
Me: Yar but customer told us that we can contact his end customer A. He gave the authorisation to end customer A to communicate shipment with me.
COM: But this is not acceptable. You are not suppose to deal directly with end customer A. You should only deal with customer.
Me: BUT customer AUTHORISED and gave the permission to communicate on shipments related to this product.
COM: No. Can you guarantee that customer will not refuse to acknowledge the shipping arrangement made by you via the communication with end customer A. Can you be sure customer wont do this?
Me: ****PENGSAN AND 3-LINE". But COM, customer told me via EMAIL cc all the bosses that end customer A can deal directly with me.
COM: There is an email? Does the email cc his boss?
Me: Yes.
COM: Then it is ok.

ARGGH!!!!!

Case2, came meeting, same group of people:

COM: Lets have training 10am to 12noon today for him.
Me: Can we do this after lunch? I need to call customer for urgent shipping matter.
COM: Why do you need to call customer?
Me: Customer requested I call him once I have the final quantity for shipment today so that he can give me the final instruction.
COM: But shouldnt customer have provided you the shipping instruction earlier?
Me: Yes, normally they will but because this shipment is urgent and they need to know the final quantity so that they can make intelligent shipping priority to their end customer.
COM: No, this is not necessary. This is why I want to be in the training so that we can make sure no last minute things like this done. Send customer email to tell him the final quantity and ship tomorrow.

ARGGH!! ARRRRRGGGGGGGGH!!!!! First of all, customer said it is important and I have already promised customer that I will call him to let him know the final shipping quantity so that he can give the correct shipping instruction. Second of all, just because you are the boss does not give you the right to preach one thing and do another thing. What happen to 'think for the customer'???? Third of all, stop be so blardy unprofessional. Just because the candidate that I introduce for this job said that bosses need to be supportive and respect his subordinates AND you felt it is hitting a sharp arrow at you, it does not give you the right to be so idiotic and try to get at me at every opportunity.

I do not have control over what she will or will not say to you during interview. And so what if she said that? It is the TRUTH! BOSSES NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND RESPECT HIS PEOPLE! JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT AND FEEL THAT SHARP SHARP ARROW SHOOTING & SHITTING AT YOU, not my PROBLEM!

Thank GOD I did not change my mind about leaving this stupid job. I think I am really stupid to let this get to me like this when my last day is 30 Sep! IF it was not for the benefit of the customers and my team members, do you think I will even bother??? This is not very nice of me BUT I hope whatever bad karma will go to you 100x worse than the way you treat your subordinate! STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID!

Crazy Old Man

I know I will be leaving all this behind in less than two weeks and I should not let it affect me. But it is pretty hard not to feel hurt and unappreciated when I been working hard to make sure that me resigning would not affect the team much. So, it is really upsetting to hear someone said straight to my face in front of other members of the team that he thought I no longer consider myself part of the team. And this is simply because I have not been keeping him in my email loop!

Really hurtful and irritating especially when I have done nothing but THINK of the team! If I do not consider the team, why the world do I bother to push the vendors so hard the last 2 weeks to pull in the deliveries so that it will not clash with the golden week holiday in China early Oct! In fact, in each meeting that we been having, I have been reporting improvement that the vendors were able to make in the delivery schedule after monitoring, pushing, begging and even threatening!

Did he think that the job just get itself done if I dont do anything about it. Did he think that if I do not put any effort to THINK of the team, things will somehow be ok? BLARDY IDIOT COM! And just because someone that I recommended for to replace me said during the interview that a boss need to be supportive and respect his people, I am automatically the prime suspect for such statement. Or perhaps I am the one telling my friend to say that to him? AGAIN, BLARDY SHALLOW COM!

To think that I actually have regrets for resigning from the company last few days. Talking to R about the potential that this company has and the career prospect, it makes me think perhaps I can reconsider my decision. But after today, it has reaffirmed my decision is the right one for me. No more doubt. Just a positive outlook of the next adventure in my career.

Sometimes I wonder, why the hell does the company do not do SOMETHING drastic already. How many more good people need to leave the company before anything will be done? Yar, it is easy to find a replacement but can the company be sure that the replacement will be as good as the person that they are replacing? And even if the person is, will he or she be able to work well in the team as we are now?!?

But I cant help thinking, did they dont even know how lucky they are to have this team? The few things that kept me going when I came home too stoned and tired to even cry is my husband, my friends and my team members! The only few regrets that I have about leaving this job is leaving the guys from my team to suffer. I hope and pray they know when to get out when things get too unbearable and have the strength to fight back. DONT LET THE BLARDY COM BULLY YOU GUYS!

I still cannot understand why God gave me COM though. Perhaps it is to make me look within myself, learn and know when to accept defeat. Perhaps it is to show me how 'unique' a boss can be. Or maybe so that I know myself better and push myself to higher level? Or it is simply to remind me of my goal to climb the career ladder?

Looking at the big picture, I know I have gained more than I lost. I can just imagine, 10 years from now, looking back into this chapter of my life, I will smile at my foolish optimism and naiveity.

LONGG WEEKEND! YAHOO!

The smurf-song keep playing in my head!!! I cant get it out!! ARGGH!!! It keep on going 'lalalalala' over and over and over again. If you know the smurf-song, you know how irritating this is if that is all the music that keeps on going on like a broken record and you just cant turn it off!! GGRRR! This is all my babe's fault! He was teasing one day by lala-ing the song and since then, whenever I want to lala-ing, automatically this song will pop up!

ANYWAYYYYYYYY, today is Tuesday and it will be the weekend soon! I am going on leave this Friday for the pre-employment medical check up. Been given strict instruction to start fasting from 8pm onwards. Apparently it will be a very complete check up that will start at 9am and most probably only finish around 2pm. And it is at Subang Medical Center. I was told that I must remember to bring the letter from my new company or else I will have to pay RM500+ first and claim later. DEFINITELY will make sure I remember to bring the letter. No way la, RM500! Crazy!

And then it will be the start of a long weekend since Monday and Tuesday next week is public holiday. At first, babe and I thought we should go to Cameron Highland since we never been there before. Maybe for a 2night, 3 days stay. But in the end decided to forget about it because for one thing, it will be peak season and for sure there will be surchange on top of the normal price. For another, it will definitely be super crowded! We both do not like to go for holidays at crowded places.

So, what do we do then? I am thinking of baking up a storm and babe is thinking of bbq (AGAIN!). Babe and his bbq! He is going gaga over bbq-ing. But I dont mind. It mean that I can stock up on my smoked chicken again. Good for making salad. And bbq should be healthier than deep frying right? Anyway, up to him la as long as he clean up the bbq pit and balcony after that. Me, as usual, have to wash up la, what else!

So, I am thinking of baking but not sure if I will or not because might end up being super lazy and just decided to forget it la. I still have some three-layer pork and spare ribs. So might just roast that in the microwave oven again like I did for the Special Crispy Roast Pork. I dont want to grill or roast the sparerib as I think it is tastier if can smoke it on the bbq pit! Oh well, see how la. I guess most important is have fun! :P

Crazy brazy arazy?

10.18am and I am done with most of my work for the day! I was actually at the office before 7.30am and started work almost immediately (almost la..make a cuppa thick coffee to jolt me awake first!). I purposely skipped my usual routine of going to the mamak for breakfast before coming in to the office because I want to catch my customer in US before they finish work for their day. And since I was already in the momentum of things, decided to complete other tasks pending for the day too. So, now, I am left hanging with nothing much to do. Guess the coffee turbo charge me more than I know it will! :P

So, now, I am sitting here, counting down to my last day. Today is 10 Sep, mean that another 20days to go out of which only 10days is actual work-day. Others are either weekend, public holidays or me clearing leave. And at the moment, still no news of the replacement. I guess next week must really start handing over and 'training' the rest of my colleagues in my department to take over my work. Hopefully, they will get someone in soon. Pity my colleagues! On top of what they need to do, now added responsibilities but not choice and this is not long term!

I am also excited about the weekend. Already thinking and planning what to cook and bake! Going to try and make the crispy rolled roast pork this Saturday. Cant resist after seeing some really fantastic photos that makes the saliva start drooling even when I just think about it now. Will make sure babe take lots and lots of photo and share it with you all. Make you guys drool too. HEHE!

Babe has also been asking how come I don't bake chocolate cake anymore. EGAD! I thought he was the one that told me dont bake. And then suddenly asked me how come I dont bake anymore. I asked him that and guess what he answered me. "Dont listen to me la" 0_0!!!!!! HAHA! MEN!!! So pretend one! Want to eat, just say la! SHEESH! So, I am planning to bake flourless chocolate cake and also if got time, the rich chocolate cake that I made that time. I have a few bars of dark chocolate and also rum & raisin dark chocolate in the fridge which I purposely bought during bargain time for baking.

Am also tempted to make chicken curry pie. Remember the apple pie that I made a few weeks back? Well babe was saying he likes the crust but not the filling since he is not a fan of baked fruits. He suggested putting canned chicken curry in the crust instead.

But I am thinking, instead of the canned chicken curry, why dont I make my own with chicken, potatoes and some leek? That should taste ok right? Or maybe I shouldnt risk it and just use the canned ones? Or maybe instead of making pie, I should make small pastry puff with the chicken curry? That would be interesting. But not sure babe will agree with me or not. I still prefer apple pie!

I was also exploring the net for making chocolate from cocoa bean at home. Blame it on Astro. I saw this cooking show on Astro Travel & Living channel 703 (cant remember the name of the show). It is the show where this guy is a chocolatier and makes his own chocolate. He actually went and buy his own whole container of cocoa bean to make high quality 100% cocoa chocolate. 100% cocoa chocolate mean that there is nothing else added to the chocolate other than cocoa, no sugar nothing. So, it does not taste like our conventional store-bought chocolate that has sugar mixed it in.

Instead of sweet, the 100% cocoa chocolate is really bitter. He was trying to promote using chocolate in cooking. Yap, not just baking but COOKING! In one of the show that I actually managed to catch, he was coating pigeon with a layer of melted 100% cocoa chocolate and wrap the chicken with streaky bacon. He then bake them in the oven! I know, the idea of chocolate, meat and bacon, weird combination!

But seriously, I think it is pretty cool and am interested to try the idea. But where in the world am I going to find 100% cocoa chocolate!? So far, the highest cocoa contain chocolate that I ever seen is 90%. And I am not so sure this will work because there will be some sweetness in the 90% cocoa chocolate and this is the not the taste that I desired to go with my meat and bacon! Sweet, bitter, meat?

ANYWAY, enough about food for now. I will definitely share photos if I do go crazy with baking and cooking this weekend! ADIOS!

Double Jeopardy!

YAWN!!!! Wednesday! Thank GOD! I am starting to go out of my mind although today is just the second day of work for this week. Lots of things to do as usual. The one day yesterday actually felt like a few days. But I got 2 happy news yesterday from two different colleagues/friends.

One of the colleague in my department apparently thought I am just 27/28 instead of 32!! HAHA! Well, has been a long time since anyone think that I look younger than my age. I think it has something to do with the stress that I put myself in. (Yar, I am the one that put myself in that stress level because no matter what, emotions and feelings are determined by me la no matter what the external factor that cause it).

Back to the topic, yar, been awhile since anyone thinks that I look younger and dont believe my actual age. I remember when I was working in Kuching, in my late 20s, people always mistaken me for college students. I remember once, when I was in the airport getting ready to fly to KL to meet babe for a holiday, me with my laptop backpack, in jeans and tshirt, queuing up to board the plane. Like everyone else, we sort of feel like kindred spirit after having to wait for hours due to flight delays.

One of the lady queuing in front me with a kid chatted with me. The usual small talk between strangers, i.e. where you going? What you doing there? Where you studying or working? Although for my case, it is always where you studying.... So, when I tell them no-no, I am working and I am in my late 20s, that usually got them looking at me all over and trying to assess if I am bluffing. I will then whipped out my business card and hand it over! That was fun and good old days. So, it just goes to proof my theory, stress and demotivation makes one look older! So, cheerios people! Smile more and be energised!

The second happy news that came was from K. Apparently she was having a private chat in one of the meeting room with her superior and suddenly her boss ask her, Jen resigned? (No idea how he knew but he knew anyways). K confirmed that I hav resigned and he said 'Jen has been handling a lot of things ..and from what I know she is very efficient". WOW!! My nose grow really big with pride! HAHA! Even manager that dont deal with me at all knew that I am efficient! That really boost my confidence!

So, that was yesterday. I wonder what other good news will come my way! :P

BULL POOP?

10.45pm, Friday - in the living room and blog hopping while babe sleep on the bamboo mat in the living room and watch Shanghai Noon. Yar, the show that has repeated a thousand times. Ok, no a thousand time but at least a few hundred? Dont know why in the world do they repeat some of this movies so many times! As if we dont know or watch it already.

Anyway, babe is suffering from gout pain on his right feet again! He has been in pain since last Saturday and got abit better on Tuesday when he took some anti-inflamation and painkiller that the doctor gave him on Monday when he went to collect his MC. Dont really know what is the matter. Getting kinda worried because he is getting his gout more often in the pass few months. We have been controlling our food and making sure no beef or lamb (which is why I still have so much lamb slices in the freezer!). Mostly we eat chicken and occassional pork nowadays. And he is taking oat every morning except weekend.

His blood pressure has dropped to pretty normal level but somehow the gout just keep coming. We suspect it is the hand held massager that we got from OTO a few months back. It seems that he will get really bad gout everytime he use the massager on the base on his feet. So, we decided to stop using that and see what happen. But in the meantime, he just had to ride out this gout episode till its over! Sigh....So worried about him la! Trying to make him to go exercise with me more. Maybe yoga but now is not a good time to start and join a new yoga session since we might move soon.

Am thinking of moving nearer to where babe is working now since I will most likely be working somewhere near there too in a couple of months. I am still waiting for the bloody offer letter that I have been expecting since Tuesday! No idea why so long, either too many red tapes with many layer of approval or people are just taking their sweet time. (Although the hiring manager actually told me he needs someone in 'yesterday'). I guess he is the only one sensing the urgency? DRATS!! I just hope I am not going in for another cleaning crew job.

Anyway, if I do get this job and accept it, it would mean the logical and cost saving option would be to move nearer to it. At the moment, babe going to work mean:
1) I had to wake up early and arrived office by 7.30am eventhough my official office hour is 9am-6pm
2) Babe had to drive 45minutes just to get to work
3) Average tol per day to and from work is RM10
4) Average petrol per week to and from work is RM80 (this is after petrol price dropped to current level. When it was at its peak, had to pay a whopping RM120-150 per week)

But moving to the new place although would be great because it will deminish all the above and we can get a proper landed place to rent, it would also mean that we will be far away from everything and everyone we know! Now, whenever I want to, I can just drop by at 1U or Ikea or Curve. All this places just minutes drive from my current apartment/condo. It also mean that it is easy to meet up with Tif whenever we want to for dinner or meals. And on top of that, SS2 and Taman Megah is simple affair.

Moving to the new place would mean learning everything new. It is almost a totally new world. I know that I told the interviewers that distance is not a problem. After all, I flew over South China Sea to KL and work. But frankly, the distance scares me. Would I at the spur of the moment decided to drive to 1u for shopping? Would I have the time? Would I find new short cuts from there to Sunway? Or is there any cool movie places? Of course, Tesco, Giant and Carrefour are there but then again, it would not be the same. ARGHH!! Changes changes! How hard it is to accept changes?

But on the positive note, I will out from the dominating COM (you figure out yourself what COM means ok! ^_^) And I will have a more productive life with manageable stress. At least I will get myself back. Yup, the super confident lady that knows EXACTLY what she want to do with her life. One month ago, about now, I wont be able to tell you what I said 30minutes ago is true if COM just ask me the 'are-you-sure' or 'why-you-do-that' question. I know, I shouldnt have let this affect me but try having those comments that makes you feel stupid thrown at you everyday for 1.5yrs... And then tell me it shouldnt affect me!

Anyway, today, the old akak (some1 in HR la) also dropped me a stupid insensitive skype. I was on mc since Wednesday and turned out she decided she wants to talk to me about the change in reporting structure for me, the day that I was down with really bad sorethroat, running nose, teary eyes, i.e. flu. Short of a fever, I would have believe I have the dreaded H1N1 (Luckily its not or else I would be in hospital?) Thursday, still bad, so still on MC. Friday (today) went back to work, saw the email sent to me on Wed by old akak stating that she wanted to see me but I was on MC again (as if I intentionally go on MC or is it better I just go to work and infect everyone?). Decided to pop in her office to talk to her in my super sexy voice and asked if she want to talk now. She told me that she have an interview at 9.15am and told me she will skype me later once she is done.

I say fine. What else could I say right? So, 11.45am, still no skype from her, we went off to lunch. I got back, skype message received at 11.55am, from old akak of course, apologising not able to meet me today since she need to catch the afternoon flight back to Singapore but she will be here on Monday and will meet me then if I am in! BLARDY BULL POOP! (Yes, Bull poop sounds nicer that BS right?) What does she mean with that? She hear me with my flu-strucked voice. Even the vendors are in shocked that I am in office today.

Another good motivator for me to say sayonara eh? To tell you the truth, if it were not for COM, I wouldnt mind staying at all. At the time where other semiconductor companies are retrenching people, they actually gave us bonus and increment. Company sounds stable despite all the capacity problems with the vendors but finding ways to solve the problems are actually very satisfying. Money was good but then again, money isnt everything especially when it starts to effect health and mental state. It aint worth the pain and suffering no matter how much I love this job! (Pain and suffering = high blood pressure, low immunity, hormone inbalance that cause period delay..just to name a few). So definitely not worth it! Correct or not? COLLEK COLLEK! :P

As I was saying in one of my other post, life changing experience this week and even better one next week. Everyday is a lucky day for me because I am letting it happen. And everyday, something good happen because I believe it will happen no matter what. As one of MelancholyThong said give thanks to God, life is good because I can still afford to rent a good apartment, can afford to go out and buy food from the market, still have friends that truly care for me, know love through babe, still can afford to pay crazy prices just 2 simple slices of nyonya kueh. So, give thanks. Oh! And still have job to go to! :P