Hari ini saya tidak bekerja. Hari ini saya luangkan masa untuk keluarga dan anak2. Esok, lusa, tulat dan seterusnya lain cerita.
Lepas 13 haribulan boleh ambil cuti ganti ya, Bos?
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Shaking things up a little
It's happening again.
A month ago I thought it was all over, but the curiosity reappeared in a different form. Maybe it's the setting and location. All the same, I don't know if I should welcome it.
I need a distraction. Like a nice sporty Peugeot 206 Coupe Cabriolet.
A month ago I thought it was all over, but the curiosity reappeared in a different form. Maybe it's the setting and location. All the same, I don't know if I should welcome it.
I need a distraction. Like a nice sporty Peugeot 206 Coupe Cabriolet.
Or an Audi TT Quattro .
For now I'll just have to settle with zooming up and down the 40km stretch of highway between Alor Setar and Gurun in a Chevrolet Optra 1.8 to release my angst, with Catatonia's 'Road Rage' blaring on full volume.
Apparently they've never had a female Instrument engineer here before. Maybe that's why the people I work with appear so quiet and timid, the young ones especially. My peer group don't really seem to care whether I'm there. Well, it's time for me and my dream sports car to change that.
For now I'll just have to settle with zooming up and down the 40km stretch of highway between Alor Setar and Gurun in a Chevrolet Optra 1.8 to release my angst, with Catatonia's 'Road Rage' blaring on full volume.
*****************
It's been three days in Gurun, not counting the one-day trip last week. I don't know if I'm making friends or enemies.
Last week, the project team took me out for a nice lunch. On Monday, it was the bosses' treat. Yesterday I might have bruised and battered a few egos with my 'technical governance' approach that I was left all alone to fend for myself. Of course, it could just be my out-of-whack overly sensitive nature and they had simply forgotten I was there.
Today I had lunch with some guys and a lady from the Electrical dept. One of them is a colleague's brother, who also happened to be one of my student trainees a few years' back. Another one was a really funny guy who unabashedly offered me a place in his heart on a shift basis. Cute approach, but no thanks.
Apparently they've never had a female Instrument engineer here before. Maybe that's why the people I work with appear so quiet and timid, the young ones especially. My peer group don't really seem to care whether I'm there. Well, it's time for me and my dream sports car to change that.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Reds chapter 3
One month goes past. Two. Three.
There is a visit to his territory. No, she is not really part of the official entourage, just trailing along to provide some support to the main team. And the event they were participating in did not involve him in any way.
But she catches a glimpse of him walking by, and her heart skips a beat. She looks away.
Time passes. An hour or two.
This time he meets her by chance. He smiles. It lights up his face. She had never seen him smile that way before
She takes the smile, folds it away into a corner of her memories. To be opened and gazed upon for months to come without ever seeing him again.
There is a visit to his territory. No, she is not really part of the official entourage, just trailing along to provide some support to the main team. And the event they were participating in did not involve him in any way.
But she catches a glimpse of him walking by, and her heart skips a beat. She looks away.
Time passes. An hour or two.
This time he meets her by chance. He smiles. It lights up his face. She had never seen him smile that way before
She takes the smile, folds it away into a corner of her memories. To be opened and gazed upon for months to come without ever seeing him again.
Reds
They just could not stand each other.
It was a test of wills, a clash of egos. On home turf they were both leaders, respected by their peers, rightfully placed on a pedestal by their followers. But now, in strange territory, they had to fight for the right to be heard.
The last exercise truly angered her. Earlier in the day they had both been selected to be in the same group of ten, which he had allowed one of his younger men to lead. However, out of natural respect - or perhaps fear of reprimand -the new chief kept refering back to his erstwhile captain, who gladly issued commands that he expected everone to follow. It had cost them a victory, when his instruction was in direct contrast to her proposal, and she had been correct. In fact his decision had put them in so much trouble that their team received a public telling-off, much to the delight of the others.
A classic battle of the sexes was set up. The whole camp could sense that these two were just never going to get along. They were cordial, even friendly with everyone else, but avoided having a conversation between themselves. She could hardly wait for the week to be over so she could avoid seeing him ever again.
It was a test of wills, a clash of egos. On home turf they were both leaders, respected by their peers, rightfully placed on a pedestal by their followers. But now, in strange territory, they had to fight for the right to be heard.
The last exercise truly angered her. Earlier in the day they had both been selected to be in the same group of ten, which he had allowed one of his younger men to lead. However, out of natural respect - or perhaps fear of reprimand -the new chief kept refering back to his erstwhile captain, who gladly issued commands that he expected everone to follow. It had cost them a victory, when his instruction was in direct contrast to her proposal, and she had been correct. In fact his decision had put them in so much trouble that their team received a public telling-off, much to the delight of the others.
A classic battle of the sexes was set up. The whole camp could sense that these two were just never going to get along. They were cordial, even friendly with everyone else, but avoided having a conversation between themselves. She could hardly wait for the week to be over so she could avoid seeing him ever again.
Monday, 15 June 2009
Colour my world
If I were still single and someone wanted to win my heart, he doesn't have to spend money buying me shoes or clothes or jewellery. Or designer handbags. All they need to get me is stationery. Instead of a bouquet of red roses that may wilt after a couple of days, send me a gift basket of products picked from a corner of the MPH Megastore.
Notebooks. Writing pads. Pens. I positively SWOON over a set of 48 colour pencils from Faber-Castell or crayons from Crayola. Heck, even post-it tabs. And a nifty case to carry them all in.
Leave me in the stationery section of a bookstore and I feel like I've died and gone to heaven.
Not that I'm a particularly talented artist or writer. But these are just some of the pens I am beginning to collect:
Saw a 'Best Buy' set of 6 comprising of brown, turquoise, light green, emerald green, magenta and purple. Justification for buying it: I can split them between me and my sisters. Unfortunately, my sister already bought a set. They're just as bad as me if not worse. Still untouched - the pens, I mean. The sisters too, come to think of it.
Started buying these Stabilo pens loose, adding them to my collection 1 or 2 at a time. Then found this set of 20. Again, most of the time it just sits pretty on my desk at the office.
Almost have the whole range. I redeemed RM40 discount vouchers from Parkson, but needed to spend them within a week. Bought 7 of these then and there, together with a small notebook and a pencil case. My excuse: I had to attend a so-called meeting afterwards and needed something to take notes with.
Notebooks. Writing pads. Pens. I positively SWOON over a set of 48 colour pencils from Faber-Castell or crayons from Crayola. Heck, even post-it tabs. And a nifty case to carry them all in.
Leave me in the stationery section of a bookstore and I feel like I've died and gone to heaven.
Not that I'm a particularly talented artist or writer. But these are just some of the pens I am beginning to collect:
Saw a 'Best Buy' set of 6 comprising of brown, turquoise, light green, emerald green, magenta and purple. Justification for buying it: I can split them between me and my sisters. Unfortunately, my sister already bought a set. They're just as bad as me if not worse. Still untouched - the pens, I mean. The sisters too, come to think of it.
Started buying these Stabilo pens loose, adding them to my collection 1 or 2 at a time. Then found this set of 20. Again, most of the time it just sits pretty on my desk at the office.
Almost have the whole range. I redeemed RM40 discount vouchers from Parkson, but needed to spend them within a week. Bought 7 of these then and there, together with a small notebook and a pencil case. My excuse: I had to attend a so-called meeting afterwards and needed something to take notes with.Sunday, 7 June 2009
Greek Odyssey Day 9: Athens-Dubai-KL
Our last day in Greece. Although we spent the night at the Airport Hotel, we decided to take an early bus into the City of Athens to visit the National Archaeological Museum, specifically to check out the golden horde excavated from the Mycenaean royal tombs. We arrived at the Museum just as it was opening. Luckily for us, the museum was free-entry since it was off-season.
Some early arrivals who got there before us.
These golden masks were found covering the faces of the royal male dead.
Golden plates covering royal male infants.
Pieces of gold jewellery for the women.
This is what they would have looked like on Mycanean lady.
Golden plates covering royal male infants.
Pieces of gold jewellery for the women.
This is what they would have looked like on Mycanean lady.
Other exhibits in the musuem included weapons:
A reconstructed racing chariot.
A private collection donated to the museum. Here is an earring, with a diagram of how it is to be worn.
Egyptian artifacts, including mummies.
The bright and airy display of the Museum. Muzium Negara tak nak upgrade macam ni ke?
A courtyard near the Museum souvenir shop.
A reconstructed racing chariot.
A private collection donated to the museum. Here is an earring, with a diagram of how it is to be worn.
Egyptian artifacts, including mummies.
The bright and airy display of the Museum. Muzium Negara tak nak upgrade macam ni ke?
A courtyard near the Museum souvenir shop.
Near Monastiraki station, an old mosque was converted into a folk art museum.
Bright display of fruits outside Monastiraki train station.
The remains of Hadrian's Library, next to the Folk Art Museum.
An inscription from the Quran above the entrance to the mosque.
The colourfully decorated mimbar of the mosque.
Bright display of fruits outside Monastiraki train station.
The remains of Hadrian's Library, next to the Folk Art Museum.
An inscription from the Quran above the entrance to the mosque.
The colourfully decorated mimbar of the mosque.
We had time to walk the streets of Plaka to do some souvenir-shopping.
There was also a weekend flea market, where everything and anything under the sun was up for sale - including these.
A mini-train the colours of the Greek flag along the streets of Plaka.
Another old mosque, but this one is closed to the public.
Remnants of the Roman Agora.
A mini-train the colours of the Greek flag along the streets of Plaka.
Another old mosque, but this one is closed to the public.
Remnants of the Roman Agora.
Back at the airport to catch our afternoon flight to Dubai.
A very satisfied traveller.
There was no Emirates business lounge, but due to its affiliation with Swiss Air, we were granted entrance to the Swissport business traveller's lounge.
Goodbye, Greece.
Just one last reminder: Greek salad on the inflight menu.
I'm heading home I've done my time. Last call pre-takeoff.
Goodbye, Greece.
Just one last reminder: Greek salad on the inflight menu.
