This year, I was off from work from the 24th of Dec 2009 onwards until today (4th Jan 2010).
Unlike all previous years, normally New Year's countdown was done at home, this year, I choose to do it differently. I arranged with one of my best friend (Sur) to have a year end dinner together.
He had suggested that we have the dinner at KLCC (an iconic location in Malaysia) as he had also plan to countdown to 2010 there with his wife after the dinner and also at the same time, the place is easily accessible with the monorail system.
Then, as we agreed the venue, he proceed to make reservations as we know, it might be packed for year end. Initially he booked a Japanese restaurant. However, after discussion, we change it for some American grills instead. However, for the grill, they do not take phone reservations, so we have to be there early to book for the place.
This time, I brought along my mom to join us for the dinner. My mom have some inconvenience in walking, hence, most of the time, she will prefer to stay at home. However, I told her that we have reserved the place for 5 person - Mr & Mrs Sur, me + my gf + my mom, so she agrees to go.
The traffic was smooth, not major traffic jams anywhere. We arrived there at approx 7.15pm and I found myself a nice parking spot too. We had really great time during the dinner and it was great to have the company of Mr & Mrs Sur together with us.
We were sitted at about 7.40pm, ordered our food and drinks and chatted all the way until the ladies ordered some desserts and me & Sur happily enjoying our beers.
We left the place at about 11pm and all the shops in the mall have been close. However, there was a large crowd outside the building near the KLCC park waiting for the countdown to 2010 and the fireworks display.
I send my gf home after the dinner and then drove back home with my mom. On the way, we did stop by my uncle's steamboat shop to pass some things to the shop only to know that my aunt was admitted to the hospital for abdominal pain.
Anyway, I know my mom was really happy and enjoyed the dinner as she was happily telling everyone of my relative that she went to KLCC for the very 1st time after hearing about it for so long.
Well, there is a Chinese saying - "... been through it one time, growing once.." of something of that notion. I know that after the passing of my dad, I have learn to care greater for those around me. I tend to appreciate those friends and families / relatives around me better.
To all of you out there, cherish the people around you and spend some quality time with them whenever possible.
Hope it is not too late to wish all of you HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!! Have a wonderful year ahead!!!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Last day in the office for 2009
Well, so fast, today 22nd of Dec 2009, it my last day in the office for this year. Tomorrow onwards, I will be on leave for a week and the next time I'm coming into this office it will be 4th of Jan 2010 already.
This year was really interesting year for me. Wrap up 2 major projects in the Maldives and Philippines.
Also, this year, I started to venture to new ground - Australia to tap new opportunities there. My job function over 2009 had also changed from a 100% technical based job to now commercial / sales based job function. Instead of doing drawings, running after project documents, from the last quarter of 2009, my function change to chasing for quotations, understanding and proposing values to customer and writing proposals.
This year, I travelled to lots of place. Been to a few places that I have never set foot before. Places like Trichy - India, Hanoi - Vietnam and Perth - Australia.
I think next year the travelling will be even more demanding. Already now I have already book tickets to Sydney, Australia on the 3rd week of January 2010.
Anyway, with each passing year, it only enriches our experiences and expertise.
Well, its now 1715, its time to run the mail check for the very last time for 2009 and also quickly finish up this last post from the office for the year.
To everyone out there, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010!!!
May All Your Wishes Comes True in 2010!!
This year was really interesting year for me. Wrap up 2 major projects in the Maldives and Philippines.
Also, this year, I started to venture to new ground - Australia to tap new opportunities there. My job function over 2009 had also changed from a 100% technical based job to now commercial / sales based job function. Instead of doing drawings, running after project documents, from the last quarter of 2009, my function change to chasing for quotations, understanding and proposing values to customer and writing proposals.
This year, I travelled to lots of place. Been to a few places that I have never set foot before. Places like Trichy - India, Hanoi - Vietnam and Perth - Australia.
I think next year the travelling will be even more demanding. Already now I have already book tickets to Sydney, Australia on the 3rd week of January 2010.
Anyway, with each passing year, it only enriches our experiences and expertise.
Well, its now 1715, its time to run the mail check for the very last time for 2009 and also quickly finish up this last post from the office for the year.
To everyone out there, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010!!!
May All Your Wishes Comes True in 2010!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Business trip to Perth
Last Sunday (13th Dec 2009), I went to Perth, Australia for a business trip.
I left LCCT, yes, you read correctly, its LCCT via Malaysia Budget Air Line (you know which one I meant) at 2230 flight heading for Perth. The flight is not a pleasant journey at all. The seat is smaller than the normal seat. The seat is not able to incline at all, not even a single degree.
The flight is 5 hours and 45 minutes and I landed in Perth a very tired man at 0530. Good thing is that one of my colleague was there at the airport to pick me up. He was nice and took me for breakfast.
As early at 0700 we were there in the Perth office already to my surprise, almost the whole office had been filled up even though they only start work officially at 0830. On the first day, I worked the whole day until about 5pm, before me and the colleague call it a day and he drove and showed me a bit of Perth City Center and have our dinner.
It was a long day that day, the dinner ended at nearly 8pm and I went to check into to my hotel, well, it is not the typical hotel room, the office booked for me a 2 bedroom serviced apartment. The place was nice, right in front of a marina bay where lots of rich man yatch are parked there.
I took my long required shower and retired early that night to catch up on my sleep which I did not get in the flight all night long.
On the second day, the day starts at 0700 with me walking down to Dome about 4oo meters away from my apartment for breakfast. I had bacon and toast and a latte. My colleague were suppose to pick me up at 0800 but he only arrived at 0830. While waiting for him, I took a long walk around the area. By the way, the area is called as Fremantle. Our drive from Fremantle to the office which is located in Kwinana is approx 30 minutes away.
The second day was not too demanding in the office. We left work at about 4pm and I manage to go around Fremantle city center for a walk and some window shopping. As for dinner, there was a beer brewery there known as Little Creature brewery. After my walk around the city center, at about 6pm (almost all the shops are closed by 1730), I went to the brewery shop to catch a glass of fresh beer. Then, after finishing one glass there, I proceed to their restaurant, which was located next door for some food. I ended up choosing chips and another different beer to go with it. It had been quite a while since I last had chips which is fat and juicy. Those chips you find here are thin and dry. The chips went very well with the garlic mayonnaise and ketchup and of course the fresh beer from the brewery.
I left LCCT, yes, you read correctly, its LCCT via Malaysia Budget Air Line (you know which one I meant) at 2230 flight heading for Perth. The flight is not a pleasant journey at all. The seat is smaller than the normal seat. The seat is not able to incline at all, not even a single degree.
The flight is 5 hours and 45 minutes and I landed in Perth a very tired man at 0530. Good thing is that one of my colleague was there at the airport to pick me up. He was nice and took me for breakfast.
As early at 0700 we were there in the Perth office already to my surprise, almost the whole office had been filled up even though they only start work officially at 0830. On the first day, I worked the whole day until about 5pm, before me and the colleague call it a day and he drove and showed me a bit of Perth City Center and have our dinner.
It was a long day that day, the dinner ended at nearly 8pm and I went to check into to my hotel, well, it is not the typical hotel room, the office booked for me a 2 bedroom serviced apartment. The place was nice, right in front of a marina bay where lots of rich man yatch are parked there.
I took my long required shower and retired early that night to catch up on my sleep which I did not get in the flight all night long.
On the second day, the day starts at 0700 with me walking down to Dome about 4oo meters away from my apartment for breakfast. I had bacon and toast and a latte. My colleague were suppose to pick me up at 0800 but he only arrived at 0830. While waiting for him, I took a long walk around the area. By the way, the area is called as Fremantle. Our drive from Fremantle to the office which is located in Kwinana is approx 30 minutes away.
The second day was not too demanding in the office. We left work at about 4pm and I manage to go around Fremantle city center for a walk and some window shopping. As for dinner, there was a beer brewery there known as Little Creature brewery. After my walk around the city center, at about 6pm (almost all the shops are closed by 1730), I went to the brewery shop to catch a glass of fresh beer. Then, after finishing one glass there, I proceed to their restaurant, which was located next door for some food. I ended up choosing chips and another different beer to go with it. It had been quite a while since I last had chips which is fat and juicy. Those chips you find here are thin and dry. The chips went very well with the garlic mayonnaise and ketchup and of course the fresh beer from the brewery.
I sat at the open area, nicely enjoying the beer and chips and about 8pm, I made my way back to the apartment for my shower and hit the bed at about 10pm because on the next day, I need to catch a taxi from my apartment to the customer's place at 0715am. The customer place is known as Canning Vale which is again, about 30 minutes drive away. My colleague is staying near Canning Vale, hence, it is very near for him to drive straight from his house to the customer's place.
On the third day, I took a taxi at 0715 to the customer's place as scheduled. The taxi there is really expensive. The ride cost me AUD49. After the meeting with the customer at 0800, we went back to the office and on the way back, we had pack some sandwich for lunch. Even the sandwich there is not cheap. I bought myself a chicken, mayo, lettuce & cheese sandwich, it cost me AUD5.80 and a bottle of orange juice which is another AUD3.50. Just for lunch, I spend AUD9.30. In the afternoon, I had another meeting with a supplier in the office and the meeting was really fruitful.
The third day ended at 5pm for me but at 4pm, most (80%) of the people from the office had left the office and luckily the receptionist is still there and she was helpful to book a taxi for me to get to my hotel.
In the evening, because our Asia Pacific General Manager had came to visit Perth office as well, they had organized a dinner at the brewery which I visited yesterday. So my colleague insisted that I join them for the dinner and I get to meet with one of the highest position person in the company and have dinner with him. It was an enjoyable evening.
The dinner ended at about 9pm and I headed back to my apartment to rest for the night as the next morning, I need to leave at 0400 for the airport to catch the flight at 0630. I woke up at 0300 to pack and get myself ready for the taxi at 0400. Accommodation in Perth is not cheap as well. The apartment cost AUD252 per night.
When I reach the airport, the queue for the flight was already building and I waited about 45 minutes before I manage to check in. I quickly made my way to the immigration and cleared the custom and boarded the plane as schedule. Again, it was not an enjoyable flight but the feelings to be home in a few hours kept the spirit up. In the flight, after so many days without rice, I had "Nasi Lemak" from the pre-booked meal.
Good thing is when I reach home, the very next day (Friday - 18th Dec 2009) is a public holiday and I can take a break.
Overall, the trip in terms of work it is very fruitful. I manage to get done what I needed to do and now got a very much better understanding on many aspect of working culture there in Australia. Perth itself is a beautiful place to visit which I think there will be more trips coming along in future.
In Perth itself, my boss and myself had planned for the up-coming trip to Sydney which is schedule to be on the 18th of Jan 2010. This time it is no longer via budget airline thankfully.
On the third day, I took a taxi at 0715 to the customer's place as scheduled. The taxi there is really expensive. The ride cost me AUD49. After the meeting with the customer at 0800, we went back to the office and on the way back, we had pack some sandwich for lunch. Even the sandwich there is not cheap. I bought myself a chicken, mayo, lettuce & cheese sandwich, it cost me AUD5.80 and a bottle of orange juice which is another AUD3.50. Just for lunch, I spend AUD9.30. In the afternoon, I had another meeting with a supplier in the office and the meeting was really fruitful.
The third day ended at 5pm for me but at 4pm, most (80%) of the people from the office had left the office and luckily the receptionist is still there and she was helpful to book a taxi for me to get to my hotel.
In the evening, because our Asia Pacific General Manager had came to visit Perth office as well, they had organized a dinner at the brewery which I visited yesterday. So my colleague insisted that I join them for the dinner and I get to meet with one of the highest position person in the company and have dinner with him. It was an enjoyable evening.
The dinner ended at about 9pm and I headed back to my apartment to rest for the night as the next morning, I need to leave at 0400 for the airport to catch the flight at 0630. I woke up at 0300 to pack and get myself ready for the taxi at 0400. Accommodation in Perth is not cheap as well. The apartment cost AUD252 per night.
When I reach the airport, the queue for the flight was already building and I waited about 45 minutes before I manage to check in. I quickly made my way to the immigration and cleared the custom and boarded the plane as schedule. Again, it was not an enjoyable flight but the feelings to be home in a few hours kept the spirit up. In the flight, after so many days without rice, I had "Nasi Lemak" from the pre-booked meal.
Good thing is when I reach home, the very next day (Friday - 18th Dec 2009) is a public holiday and I can take a break.
Overall, the trip in terms of work it is very fruitful. I manage to get done what I needed to do and now got a very much better understanding on many aspect of working culture there in Australia. Perth itself is a beautiful place to visit which I think there will be more trips coming along in future.
In Perth itself, my boss and myself had planned for the up-coming trip to Sydney which is schedule to be on the 18th of Jan 2010. This time it is no longer via budget airline thankfully.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Supplier's Seminar
Yesterday I did not come into the office. I went for a seminar organized by our supplier. Well, we don't buy from them direct, but we do use a lot of their products by buying it from a 3rd party fabrication company.
This is a technical seminar, hence, the presenter as expected talks on only technical aspect of their products. All attendees are either system designers, fabricators, etc. To sum up I think everyone sitting in the room yesterday would have had a degree in some engineering be it Chemical or Mechanical or Electrical or Civil or Bio-Technology etc. That means all sitting inside are all technical people.
There is a chance in trend that I clearly notice. Previously when you attend these technical seminars, it will be mostly males. However, for the seminar yesterday, it was up to 70% female. It is clearly noted that over the years, there were more and more females is working in the technical field.
Overall, it was a very demanding technical seminar. It started at 0830 and lasted all the way up to 6pm. Nothing outstanding about the seminar, just the usual stuffs that we are used to. I think most of those sitting inside there know the practical aspect of the product more then the presenters themselves.
One interesting thing that happen yesterday is that one of the participant brought along his son to the seminar. This boy is hardly 15 years old. What is this guy up to? Pity the boy. He hardly know anything about the water industries, he is not at all involved and I can see during the whole seminar, he have no idea at all what are the presenter talking about.
Just perhaps because his father wants to attend this seminar, he is drag along. But one thing I see he is enjoying the most is the food they served during the tea breaks and buffet lunch. Perhaps his father wants to save some lunch money or something, hence, the easiest way is to bring along his son. He knows very well when he registers his son, he will be provided a place to sit and lunch and tea breaks. In fact, this person, he owners his own company, he has his wife there in the seminar too. I heard from an ex-colleague of mine, his wife is working for him in the same office, hence, the wife tagged along too! Is the economic that bad that now people have to bring along their families for any free lunches available?
Overall, it was just an average seminar. Nothing impressive. Perhaps they have had their new products in the market for too long already and it had become nothing new to us. I don't think anyone is impressed with the seminar. Although I have to say, I did learn a few new tricks of the trade that was nice to know but not very practical to use, still it is good to know that there are people doing such things.
This is a technical seminar, hence, the presenter as expected talks on only technical aspect of their products. All attendees are either system designers, fabricators, etc. To sum up I think everyone sitting in the room yesterday would have had a degree in some engineering be it Chemical or Mechanical or Electrical or Civil or Bio-Technology etc. That means all sitting inside are all technical people.
There is a chance in trend that I clearly notice. Previously when you attend these technical seminars, it will be mostly males. However, for the seminar yesterday, it was up to 70% female. It is clearly noted that over the years, there were more and more females is working in the technical field.
Overall, it was a very demanding technical seminar. It started at 0830 and lasted all the way up to 6pm. Nothing outstanding about the seminar, just the usual stuffs that we are used to. I think most of those sitting inside there know the practical aspect of the product more then the presenters themselves.
One interesting thing that happen yesterday is that one of the participant brought along his son to the seminar. This boy is hardly 15 years old. What is this guy up to? Pity the boy. He hardly know anything about the water industries, he is not at all involved and I can see during the whole seminar, he have no idea at all what are the presenter talking about.
Just perhaps because his father wants to attend this seminar, he is drag along. But one thing I see he is enjoying the most is the food they served during the tea breaks and buffet lunch. Perhaps his father wants to save some lunch money or something, hence, the easiest way is to bring along his son. He knows very well when he registers his son, he will be provided a place to sit and lunch and tea breaks. In fact, this person, he owners his own company, he has his wife there in the seminar too. I heard from an ex-colleague of mine, his wife is working for him in the same office, hence, the wife tagged along too! Is the economic that bad that now people have to bring along their families for any free lunches available?
Overall, it was just an average seminar. Nothing impressive. Perhaps they have had their new products in the market for too long already and it had become nothing new to us. I don't think anyone is impressed with the seminar. Although I have to say, I did learn a few new tricks of the trade that was nice to know but not very practical to use, still it is good to know that there are people doing such things.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Phone's working
Last week, I wrote about my mobile phone had gone "blank".
As plan, I had got it repaired and now it is working as usual again already. With nice clear voice and ring tones and even the vibration function had came back to life.
However, I might take this phone as my back-up phone, really interested in getting the a new phone. Have been doing some market survey on it and also try to read up the pros and cons about one particular model that I am eyeing on.
Nowadays, mobile phones have become part of our daily items that we must bring along whenever we leave the doors. Whatever doors, be it office doors, house door or even bedroom door etc. It had become so important that when the phone went 'blank' last Friday (4th Dec), I was so tempted to go back home to replace it with my backup phone. Its like a part of you is not working for the day.
Having said that, the Friday went really nice and quiet. As on normal Fridays, I will meet my lovely gf for dinner, it is one of a few times that our whole dinner was not interrupted by phone calls. Normally, when my phone is working, even on Saturdays, my phone will ring with my team calling me to request for some guidance, approvals, reports the current status etc.
Anyway, finally, on Saturday afternoon, I had send the phone for the replacement part and there you have it, the phone is now up and running again. While the phone was in the repair shop, we manage to catch a 2.5 hours movie.
Unlike the original manufacturer which told me they needed a week to diagnose and repair the phone, the shop did it in 3 hours or so. For this experience, I am very disappointed with the quality of service the manufacturer is given me. Perhaps they are just being very very careful as not to over-promised and under-deliver. They have stretch the time-line to an unacceptable timing and now it had cost them their reputation. Honestly, now if you ask me, I will not recommend this brand of product to anyone else. Their product might be good. However, when trouble strikes, their after sales service is really bad.
As plan, I had got it repaired and now it is working as usual again already. With nice clear voice and ring tones and even the vibration function had came back to life.
However, I might take this phone as my back-up phone, really interested in getting the a new phone. Have been doing some market survey on it and also try to read up the pros and cons about one particular model that I am eyeing on.
Nowadays, mobile phones have become part of our daily items that we must bring along whenever we leave the doors. Whatever doors, be it office doors, house door or even bedroom door etc. It had become so important that when the phone went 'blank' last Friday (4th Dec), I was so tempted to go back home to replace it with my backup phone. Its like a part of you is not working for the day.
Having said that, the Friday went really nice and quiet. As on normal Fridays, I will meet my lovely gf for dinner, it is one of a few times that our whole dinner was not interrupted by phone calls. Normally, when my phone is working, even on Saturdays, my phone will ring with my team calling me to request for some guidance, approvals, reports the current status etc.
Anyway, finally, on Saturday afternoon, I had send the phone for the replacement part and there you have it, the phone is now up and running again. While the phone was in the repair shop, we manage to catch a 2.5 hours movie.
Unlike the original manufacturer which told me they needed a week to diagnose and repair the phone, the shop did it in 3 hours or so. For this experience, I am very disappointed with the quality of service the manufacturer is given me. Perhaps they are just being very very careful as not to over-promised and under-deliver. They have stretch the time-line to an unacceptable timing and now it had cost them their reputation. Honestly, now if you ask me, I will not recommend this brand of product to anyone else. Their product might be good. However, when trouble strikes, their after sales service is really bad.
Friday, December 4, 2009
My working Phone
Last week, I realise there was something wrong with my phone. At times, I cannot hear the other person on the other line.
Then I immediately took it to the phone's original distribution center to see if I can get it fixed. However, to my surprise, they, being the service centers for the phone do not keep the parts.
My encounter my the lady at the customer service was initially quite pleasant. She was polite and treated me professionally. She politely told me that she will check and get back to me if I can get it fixed on the first day of the week (Monday) itself. So I agreed to wait for her to call and get back to me.
Then, as promised she called me the very same day at approx 1pm, she told me that as per their working procedure, I have to send the phone in on Monday, then they will take another 3 working days to diagnose the phone and another 3 days to have it fixed. What is this????
It takes the original manufacturer 3 days to diagnose the problem with the phone? Come on what procedure is this? The phone's speaker is not able to function, how come they don't just fix and replace the ribbon? Then another 3 days to fix? You think this is a supercomputer or some high tech gadget is it? This is just a simple mobile phone.
I was so frustrated with the reply, I was so rude to the lady. I pity her for calling and being on the front line. Actually when I step back and think, it is not her fault the company set such a rule / procedure. She was just following the protocol of the company.
At that time, I happen to be going to a shopping mall with my gf and straight away I look for a hand phone repair shop, which I remember seeing it previously. Without a second thought, I went straight to the shop and request the shop to have it diagnose and repair if possible.
The guy just took the phone into the back of the shop for a while and a few minutes later, he came back out and told me the ribbon was faulty and it will take about an hour to fix. Simple right? Why the original manufacturer need 3 days to fix?
Without much hesitation, I immediately agree for the fix and due to the unavailability of the part, it is not possible to have it fix that day. The person told me the part will take 3 days to order. They had also requested my to pay a deposit of RM50 which I did.
Then on Wednesday, I contacted them again and they told me the part yet to arrive but scheduled to be there by Friday (today). When I call to check earlier today, indeed, the part had arrived, but alas, the technician is on leave today and will be back to work tomorrow only.
So, I will get it fix tomorrow. The phone is dying over days this week. It started with the speaker not functioning. Then, on Wednesday, the vibration alert function also stop functioning. Worse it today, even the screen is able to display anything.
Anyhow, the phone had served me well. It had travelled with me to so many places around the world and I always use it to keep track of Malaysian time. Whenever I arrive a different country with different time zone, I will adjust my wrist watch to match the local time, but I will not allow my phone to automatically update to the local time. It will be kept in Malaysian timing no matter where I go. It have received countless of calls and sends hundreds of SMS / MMS. It had also make thousands of calls for me and connecting me all around the world.
So to my phone, don't worry, help / repair is scheduled tomorrow. Be patience and take your rest for the day. Tomorrow you will be good as new again.
Then I immediately took it to the phone's original distribution center to see if I can get it fixed. However, to my surprise, they, being the service centers for the phone do not keep the parts.
My encounter my the lady at the customer service was initially quite pleasant. She was polite and treated me professionally. She politely told me that she will check and get back to me if I can get it fixed on the first day of the week (Monday) itself. So I agreed to wait for her to call and get back to me.
Then, as promised she called me the very same day at approx 1pm, she told me that as per their working procedure, I have to send the phone in on Monday, then they will take another 3 working days to diagnose the phone and another 3 days to have it fixed. What is this????
It takes the original manufacturer 3 days to diagnose the problem with the phone? Come on what procedure is this? The phone's speaker is not able to function, how come they don't just fix and replace the ribbon? Then another 3 days to fix? You think this is a supercomputer or some high tech gadget is it? This is just a simple mobile phone.
I was so frustrated with the reply, I was so rude to the lady. I pity her for calling and being on the front line. Actually when I step back and think, it is not her fault the company set such a rule / procedure. She was just following the protocol of the company.
At that time, I happen to be going to a shopping mall with my gf and straight away I look for a hand phone repair shop, which I remember seeing it previously. Without a second thought, I went straight to the shop and request the shop to have it diagnose and repair if possible.
The guy just took the phone into the back of the shop for a while and a few minutes later, he came back out and told me the ribbon was faulty and it will take about an hour to fix. Simple right? Why the original manufacturer need 3 days to fix?
Without much hesitation, I immediately agree for the fix and due to the unavailability of the part, it is not possible to have it fix that day. The person told me the part will take 3 days to order. They had also requested my to pay a deposit of RM50 which I did.
Then on Wednesday, I contacted them again and they told me the part yet to arrive but scheduled to be there by Friday (today). When I call to check earlier today, indeed, the part had arrived, but alas, the technician is on leave today and will be back to work tomorrow only.
So, I will get it fix tomorrow. The phone is dying over days this week. It started with the speaker not functioning. Then, on Wednesday, the vibration alert function also stop functioning. Worse it today, even the screen is able to display anything.
Anyhow, the phone had served me well. It had travelled with me to so many places around the world and I always use it to keep track of Malaysian time. Whenever I arrive a different country with different time zone, I will adjust my wrist watch to match the local time, but I will not allow my phone to automatically update to the local time. It will be kept in Malaysian timing no matter where I go. It have received countless of calls and sends hundreds of SMS / MMS. It had also make thousands of calls for me and connecting me all around the world.
So to my phone, don't worry, help / repair is scheduled tomorrow. Be patience and take your rest for the day. Tomorrow you will be good as new again.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Going to Perth Australia
This morning was another rainy morning. In fact, until the afternoon, the sky had been cloudy with occasional shower. Anyway, that the weather nowadays.
This morning I left home early for work. My boss came to Malaysia and requested me to pick him up from his hotel. During the drive to the office, we discussed about the trip that I had planned for Australia.
Initially I was planning to fly to Sydney to join some of my colleagues to work on some prospect. However, surprisingly, the air tickets was so expensive, hence, we decided to postpone the trip. Therefore, now there was a requirement for me to work on a prospect in Perth. It is about 3 hours flight away from Malaysia and even the budget airline have daily flights there.
After a few communications with my fellow colleagues there in Perth, finalized a few issues, then I am booking the tickets to Perth. Departing on the 14th December coming back on the 17th December 2009.
I have never been to Perth. This is my very first trip there. My gf had been there and is kinda familiar with the things there. She recommended me some restaurants / food joints that if I have the time I will definitely try.
Lets see how it goes.. anyway, Perth, here I come!!!
This morning I left home early for work. My boss came to Malaysia and requested me to pick him up from his hotel. During the drive to the office, we discussed about the trip that I had planned for Australia.
Initially I was planning to fly to Sydney to join some of my colleagues to work on some prospect. However, surprisingly, the air tickets was so expensive, hence, we decided to postpone the trip. Therefore, now there was a requirement for me to work on a prospect in Perth. It is about 3 hours flight away from Malaysia and even the budget airline have daily flights there.
After a few communications with my fellow colleagues there in Perth, finalized a few issues, then I am booking the tickets to Perth. Departing on the 14th December coming back on the 17th December 2009.
I have never been to Perth. This is my very first trip there. My gf had been there and is kinda familiar with the things there. She recommended me some restaurants / food joints that if I have the time I will definitely try.
Lets see how it goes.. anyway, Perth, here I come!!!
Hardworking Employees
In my office, the official working hours is from 0830 to 1700. In a normal sunny day, by 1730, almost everyone had left the office.
However, today it is almost 1730 now, still the whole office is here sitting at their workstation. I am not sure are they still doing their work or are the surfing the net.
Why today there are still so many people? Simple.. it is raining so heavily out there, no one can get to their car without getting wet. So, everyone is staying back to wait for the rain to stop.
As for me, its the same. Today I am not heading home after work, I will be going for a badminton game, but the game starts at 1800, so still got some time to just pen down my thoughts or the day.
Anyway, now the rain is slower a bit as compared to earlier, I will be shutting down and leaving in a while.
To all out there, be extra careful on the road especially now it is a raining season, the roads are wet. Have a great evening!!
However, today it is almost 1730 now, still the whole office is here sitting at their workstation. I am not sure are they still doing their work or are the surfing the net.
Why today there are still so many people? Simple.. it is raining so heavily out there, no one can get to their car without getting wet. So, everyone is staying back to wait for the rain to stop.
As for me, its the same. Today I am not heading home after work, I will be going for a badminton game, but the game starts at 1800, so still got some time to just pen down my thoughts or the day.
Anyway, now the rain is slower a bit as compared to earlier, I will be shutting down and leaving in a while.
To all out there, be extra careful on the road especially now it is a raining season, the roads are wet. Have a great evening!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
My GF's Birthday
Today, 24th November 2009 is my girlfriend's birthday.
I make sure I woke up early, as early as 7am to call her to wish. She usually drive to work at 0630 from her house reaching her office at 0700. So just as she arrives at her office I called and wish her.
Then, without letting her know, I have made a flower + chocolate delivery arrangement from a florist near her work place to her office. This florist have an online catalogue where you get to see the bouquet of flower you want to send.
When I ordered the flowers, I also check out with the florist if they can add on chocolate together with the deliver and they told me they do, they can offer Lindt chocolate.
Next thing I need to make sure the chocolate is enough to go around the office. I know from our daily conversation, her office should have around 15 or 16 people. Hence, I told the florist that the chocolate need to have approx 16 pieces of individually packed chocolate for her to share with her colleagues and indeed they have it.
After that, I need to make sure that she is working today also. I don't want to send the flowers + chocolate to the office only to find she had taken a day off for her birthday. Good thing, everything went as planned. Actually, she would have gotten the hint that I will be sending something over like that as over the last week or so, I asked her a few times if she is taking leave today and she says it no point as it is in the middle of the week.
Then good thing is that nowadays banking can be so easy. I just need to log on to my internet banking to make payment to the florist which have a bank account in the same bank as mine.
As you can see, it is not easy to plan for surprises. Lots of details need to be attended too. But, internet have made things much easier. I do not need to leave my office chair to browse the bouquet that I want to send, I can make payments and all arrangements via phone and internet banking. In fact, I have not even met the florist or see for myself if the shop is a real shop. I only know that the shop is nearby to where my gf is working (but in a different block). I made payment to them just purely based on trust and faith that they will deliver as agreed.
At about 1030 this morning, I got a SMS from the florist that the flowers and chocolate have been delivered, almost immediately, I got second SMS, this time from my gf thanking me for the flowers and chocolate.
Anyway, Dear, I know you will read this posting, again, I sincerely wish you "Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns"
I make sure I woke up early, as early as 7am to call her to wish. She usually drive to work at 0630 from her house reaching her office at 0700. So just as she arrives at her office I called and wish her.
Then, without letting her know, I have made a flower + chocolate delivery arrangement from a florist near her work place to her office. This florist have an online catalogue where you get to see the bouquet of flower you want to send.
When I ordered the flowers, I also check out with the florist if they can add on chocolate together with the deliver and they told me they do, they can offer Lindt chocolate.
Next thing I need to make sure the chocolate is enough to go around the office. I know from our daily conversation, her office should have around 15 or 16 people. Hence, I told the florist that the chocolate need to have approx 16 pieces of individually packed chocolate for her to share with her colleagues and indeed they have it.
After that, I need to make sure that she is working today also. I don't want to send the flowers + chocolate to the office only to find she had taken a day off for her birthday. Good thing, everything went as planned. Actually, she would have gotten the hint that I will be sending something over like that as over the last week or so, I asked her a few times if she is taking leave today and she says it no point as it is in the middle of the week.
Then good thing is that nowadays banking can be so easy. I just need to log on to my internet banking to make payment to the florist which have a bank account in the same bank as mine.
As you can see, it is not easy to plan for surprises. Lots of details need to be attended too. But, internet have made things much easier. I do not need to leave my office chair to browse the bouquet that I want to send, I can make payments and all arrangements via phone and internet banking. In fact, I have not even met the florist or see for myself if the shop is a real shop. I only know that the shop is nearby to where my gf is working (but in a different block). I made payment to them just purely based on trust and faith that they will deliver as agreed.
At about 1030 this morning, I got a SMS from the florist that the flowers and chocolate have been delivered, almost immediately, I got second SMS, this time from my gf thanking me for the flowers and chocolate.
Anyway, Dear, I know you will read this posting, again, I sincerely wish you "Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns"
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Good Deligator
This morning as any other morning. I reach the office, sat down, start-up my laptop, check the e-mail box for new mails then, log in to our intranet where we can see our other colleagues if they were online.
Then, one of my colleague (Mr. Onion) was online. I think he was waiting for me to come online. The moment my new mail pops up on the screen, his message immediately followed. Mr. Onion is now in Singapore for some site audit, which I think will not be fruitful. Anyway, that is not my call. He wanted me to help him do some proposal work for a sales team member which I am not very keen to work with due to his 'slimy' attitude.
The 'slimy' I define here is that this person (Mr. Dead Eel) is really good in claiming positive credits and push away negative comments. I think in his dictionary there is no such word as "wrong" defined. Anything or any work who face difficulties or not going well is never involved with him. He always pushes everything clean and wash his hands off. His down line or people around him will get all the blame.
So back to Mr. Onion. He message me over the chat space asking me to help him prepare the proposal for Mr. Dead Eel. Good thing that I am now looking after a different country which is beyond Mr. Onion's reach and the potential or prospect there is so hugh that just by doing that one country is enough to keep me occupied for the next few years. I easily excused myself from doing the proposal Mr. Onion wanted me to help him do.
This Mr. Onion is well know to delegate his work. For site surveys, normally we will just go alone. Me and another colleague of mine (Mr. Long) use to go to site alone, do the observation, measurement and then come back to the office to prepare the audit reports and proposal. However, Mr. Onion never do it alone. He always must bring some other colleagues together with him. He will go to site and do simple photographing, crack some jokes, relate with the customer etc. All that need not to get the hands dirty. Pity that person who need to go with him, he will need to run up, down, left, right center to map down the whole plant.
When the boss ask him to explain the reason he need 2 people to go for any audit, his reason is being, he want to be more comprehensive and leave no stone un-turned. As if me and Mr. Long was always leaving or missing details in our audits. Rubbish!!!
He is so good in delegating his work. So, the moment he asked me to help him prepare the proposal, I immediately show him my "Skip" card (as the card game - UNO). I think he must be 'cursing' me now for rejecting his request.
The other thing he is good at is to pretend to be busy and work late when the boss is around. This is very obvious. Whenever the boss is in the office, you can expect to see him at 0815am in the office and he will not leave until 7pm. However, the moment the boss is not in town, he will only come in at 9.30 or 10 am and leave at 4 pm for his tennis game at 5pm.
OK guys and gals. I am sure you all might also have such encounter or have such colleagues that is good in delegating work. Therefore, sometimes, we need to keep some "Skip" cards in our pocket and use it as necessary. However, be careful when using the card. Make sure your card is able to skip properly. Don't forget, good delegator will have patience to wait for you to be free one day and come back to delegate to you the same 'assignment'.
Good Luck!!
Then, one of my colleague (Mr. Onion) was online. I think he was waiting for me to come online. The moment my new mail pops up on the screen, his message immediately followed. Mr. Onion is now in Singapore for some site audit, which I think will not be fruitful. Anyway, that is not my call. He wanted me to help him do some proposal work for a sales team member which I am not very keen to work with due to his 'slimy' attitude.
The 'slimy' I define here is that this person (Mr. Dead Eel) is really good in claiming positive credits and push away negative comments. I think in his dictionary there is no such word as "wrong" defined. Anything or any work who face difficulties or not going well is never involved with him. He always pushes everything clean and wash his hands off. His down line or people around him will get all the blame.
So back to Mr. Onion. He message me over the chat space asking me to help him prepare the proposal for Mr. Dead Eel. Good thing that I am now looking after a different country which is beyond Mr. Onion's reach and the potential or prospect there is so hugh that just by doing that one country is enough to keep me occupied for the next few years. I easily excused myself from doing the proposal Mr. Onion wanted me to help him do.
This Mr. Onion is well know to delegate his work. For site surveys, normally we will just go alone. Me and another colleague of mine (Mr. Long) use to go to site alone, do the observation, measurement and then come back to the office to prepare the audit reports and proposal. However, Mr. Onion never do it alone. He always must bring some other colleagues together with him. He will go to site and do simple photographing, crack some jokes, relate with the customer etc. All that need not to get the hands dirty. Pity that person who need to go with him, he will need to run up, down, left, right center to map down the whole plant.
When the boss ask him to explain the reason he need 2 people to go for any audit, his reason is being, he want to be more comprehensive and leave no stone un-turned. As if me and Mr. Long was always leaving or missing details in our audits. Rubbish!!!
He is so good in delegating his work. So, the moment he asked me to help him prepare the proposal, I immediately show him my "Skip" card (as the card game - UNO). I think he must be 'cursing' me now for rejecting his request.
The other thing he is good at is to pretend to be busy and work late when the boss is around. This is very obvious. Whenever the boss is in the office, you can expect to see him at 0815am in the office and he will not leave until 7pm. However, the moment the boss is not in town, he will only come in at 9.30 or 10 am and leave at 4 pm for his tennis game at 5pm.
OK guys and gals. I am sure you all might also have such encounter or have such colleagues that is good in delegating work. Therefore, sometimes, we need to keep some "Skip" cards in our pocket and use it as necessary. However, be careful when using the card. Make sure your card is able to skip properly. Don't forget, good delegator will have patience to wait for you to be free one day and come back to delegate to you the same 'assignment'.
Good Luck!!
Monday, November 16, 2009
One day trip to Singapore
Last Tuesday (10th Nov 2009), I did a one day trip to Singapore for a meeting with a customer. I took the budget airline which takes off from the Subang Airport, which once use to be an international airport for Malaysia.
The day started early. I woke up at 0530 and left home at 0630 for a 25 minutes drive from my house to the airport. This airport is very near and convenient. Rather than travelling for 45 minutes to the budget terminal to catch the 'other' budget airline which operates very near to the KLIA, this airport is merely 25 minutes away from my house.
The operator uses propeller plane series ATR turbo propeller plane. Hence, it seats only like 70 or so passenger. Normally the jet aeroplane will take about 40 minutes to reach Singapore airport, the propeller plane takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes due to the slower flying speed.
The plane also fly at lower altitude, approx 10,000 ft rather than typical jet aeroplane which fly at 30,000 or so feet. Hence, along the way on a clear sky, I can see container and cruise ships along the Straits of Malacca.
Unlike the conventional budget airline where you have to pay for your food and drinks, this budget airline does provide some muffins and a cup of fruit juice along the flight. No you cannot choose the type of fruit juice, but its better than nothing right?
The flight took of 10 minutes later than schedule, instead of 0820 flight, it only started boarding at 0820 and took off at 0830, hence when I arrive at Singapore budget terminal, it is nearly 10am already.
Then, I boarded a cab to my Singapore sales office in Gul Lane,which took me another 40 minutes and cost me SGD30. By the time I reach and settles down in the office, it is nearly lunch time and a supplier came along to meet me for a lunch. The meeting with the customer that was initially scheduled at 2pm had been postpone by the customer until 2.30pm as the customer had been delayed in the other supplier's place.
The meeting went on until 8pm, just in time for me to catch a taxi again from the office to the budget terminal to check in for my return flight which was scheduled at 10.25pm. I reaches the airport in ample time for me to check-in and have my fast food dinner.
On buying the dinner, I was lucky to win myself a free apple pie with my meal. In Singapore, they have this Mega burger which have 2 chicken patties instead of the normal one piece which they use to serve in Malaysia. Nice and hot from the stove.
Then, scroll around the budget terminal, bought myself a fridge magnet of the "Merlion" as souvenir. Boarded the plane and it took of as schedule. Arrive safely back at the Malaysia budget airport at 11.45pm and went straight to the parking lot to drive my car back home reaching home at about 12.10am.
For the whole day parking it only cost me RM18 which is much cheaper as compared to if I had taken a taxi from my house to the airport which will cost me RM80 for the return trip.
Overall, the trip was a very fruitful one. Although it is demanding, in term of timing, is like I have been on official duty for 18 hours but manage to cross 2 countries in a single day. Travelled nearly 900km in terms of distance within the same day and attended 5 and a half hours of meeting.
Well, that's my one day trip to Singapore for official meeting, which is rather common and I have done it a few times before.
The day started early. I woke up at 0530 and left home at 0630 for a 25 minutes drive from my house to the airport. This airport is very near and convenient. Rather than travelling for 45 minutes to the budget terminal to catch the 'other' budget airline which operates very near to the KLIA, this airport is merely 25 minutes away from my house.
The operator uses propeller plane series ATR turbo propeller plane. Hence, it seats only like 70 or so passenger. Normally the jet aeroplane will take about 40 minutes to reach Singapore airport, the propeller plane takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes due to the slower flying speed.
The plane also fly at lower altitude, approx 10,000 ft rather than typical jet aeroplane which fly at 30,000 or so feet. Hence, along the way on a clear sky, I can see container and cruise ships along the Straits of Malacca.
Unlike the conventional budget airline where you have to pay for your food and drinks, this budget airline does provide some muffins and a cup of fruit juice along the flight. No you cannot choose the type of fruit juice, but its better than nothing right?
The flight took of 10 minutes later than schedule, instead of 0820 flight, it only started boarding at 0820 and took off at 0830, hence when I arrive at Singapore budget terminal, it is nearly 10am already.
Then, I boarded a cab to my Singapore sales office in Gul Lane,which took me another 40 minutes and cost me SGD30. By the time I reach and settles down in the office, it is nearly lunch time and a supplier came along to meet me for a lunch. The meeting with the customer that was initially scheduled at 2pm had been postpone by the customer until 2.30pm as the customer had been delayed in the other supplier's place.
The meeting went on until 8pm, just in time for me to catch a taxi again from the office to the budget terminal to check in for my return flight which was scheduled at 10.25pm. I reaches the airport in ample time for me to check-in and have my fast food dinner.
On buying the dinner, I was lucky to win myself a free apple pie with my meal. In Singapore, they have this Mega burger which have 2 chicken patties instead of the normal one piece which they use to serve in Malaysia. Nice and hot from the stove.
Then, scroll around the budget terminal, bought myself a fridge magnet of the "Merlion" as souvenir. Boarded the plane and it took of as schedule. Arrive safely back at the Malaysia budget airport at 11.45pm and went straight to the parking lot to drive my car back home reaching home at about 12.10am.
For the whole day parking it only cost me RM18 which is much cheaper as compared to if I had taken a taxi from my house to the airport which will cost me RM80 for the return trip.
Overall, the trip was a very fruitful one. Although it is demanding, in term of timing, is like I have been on official duty for 18 hours but manage to cross 2 countries in a single day. Travelled nearly 900km in terms of distance within the same day and attended 5 and a half hours of meeting.
Well, that's my one day trip to Singapore for official meeting, which is rather common and I have done it a few times before.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Monsoon Season
For the last few days, it had been raining almost every afternoon. Yesterdays rain was typically heavy with very strong wind.
When I went home I notice some of the roof of a tea stall had been blown out of its footings. Then, I even heard from my badminton friends that the Subang Skypark Billboard had also bow to the ground.
The climate had changed / shifted a bit from what I had noticed. Normally during the 9th month, the beginning of the Ninth Emperor Festival, the rain will start. However, this year, the rain only came after the 9th day.
Is this due to global warming causing all the climate to offset? Is it due to the El-Nino effect? Or are there other factors that causing this change?
When put into a forum, I am sure there will be tonnes of theories from various experts about this weather pattern shift. But, one this for sure, the low lying area will have the worse effect. Places in the East Coast have started flooding.
When it rains in the afternoon, from my office window, I can see a very wide and deep monsoon drain water start to build up to a mini river within minutes. That proves the forces of nature that nothing can contain it when it leashes its fury.
The roads are wet during this time with patches of water everywhere. So all of you out there, drive carefully. Have a wonderful journey...
When I went home I notice some of the roof of a tea stall had been blown out of its footings. Then, I even heard from my badminton friends that the Subang Skypark Billboard had also bow to the ground.
The climate had changed / shifted a bit from what I had noticed. Normally during the 9th month, the beginning of the Ninth Emperor Festival, the rain will start. However, this year, the rain only came after the 9th day.
Is this due to global warming causing all the climate to offset? Is it due to the El-Nino effect? Or are there other factors that causing this change?
When put into a forum, I am sure there will be tonnes of theories from various experts about this weather pattern shift. But, one this for sure, the low lying area will have the worse effect. Places in the East Coast have started flooding.
When it rains in the afternoon, from my office window, I can see a very wide and deep monsoon drain water start to build up to a mini river within minutes. That proves the forces of nature that nothing can contain it when it leashes its fury.
The roads are wet during this time with patches of water everywhere. So all of you out there, drive carefully. Have a wonderful journey...
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Gardening
Over the weekend, I have been a gardener in my house. I have helped my mom transfer her "money plant" from the previous small plastic pots to a new bigger pot. In case you have never seen a "money plant" this is how it looks like below. From the website, I came to know the scientific name of the plant is "Zamioculcus zamiifolia" (source: www.nparks.gov.sg/blogs/garden_voices/wp-cont).
In fact, one of the plant 'outgrown' its own pot until the plastic pot actually broke apart, exposing the roots of the plant. It looks like in a way the roots are telling to you - "Let me out of this small pot.... It is too packed inside here and I can't breath already... Let me out... "
So, over the weekend, me and my mom cleared out 2 bigger pots and transfer them to their new home. Now they are living happily in their new pots and hopefully they will not again outgrown and breaking their new home.
My mom have more 'green fingers' compare to me. Virtually everything she plant will grow beautifully and blossom with nice flowers. She like her plants so much that she make it a point to water the plants twice a day and catch the destroyer pest when she spots them. Also she have a timing where she will sprinkle fertilizers.
I am kinda glad that the new house my gf and I bought have a front area that can allow my mom to do her gardening. Also, I plan to leave the 2 quadrant circle of soil as it is for the ladies to make a garden. I am sure when we move to the new house, my mom will start her gardening extensively perhaps, more than what we have now in our house.
To all out there, Happy Gardening... Enjoy!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Car Kissing
On Monday, while on the way back home from the office, as I was driving trying to cross a junction outside of my office, a careless lady driver came rear ending my car.
As all usual car accidents, we both stop to agree to meet up at a less busy road nearby. As we got down and discussed, the lady says she wanted to call her "member" to decide on the next step. Me having car-jack once, I became very careful, I quickly walked towards the coffee shop nearby to order my cup of tea while she waited for her "member". This is also to judge if the "member" came alone or in a group. In my mind, if there were more than 2 people came from her side, I will immediately stop negotiating and report the case to the police. Better be safe than sorry.
However, after waiting for about 20 minutes, her 'member' finally arrived. It must be her bf. He came alone and we started negotiating. He told me 2 options, one is to report it to the police, then claim her insurance, the second is to follow him to his car repair shop. Both are not in favour of me. So I insisted that he call his workshop and whatever the cost he is going to pay to his car repair guy, he might just pay me. It works out the price is 150, hence, he paid me 150 for that.
The thing that I feel uneasy is that when someone make a mistake or drive recklessly, how come others have to pay for their reckless act? This is not the first time my car have been rear ended. I think this is the 4th time for my car, although most of the time, the bumper is the victim and the damages stops there itself. I am consider a very careful drive myself. I don't tail-gate, I don't drive too fast, I don't take risky maneuvers, and still people like to "kiss" my car's butt. Weird..
Anyhow, I will be taking leave on Friday to have the bumper repaired and sprayed back to its previous shine. Also, at the same time, need to renew my 2nd car's road tax and insurance which is due sometime in November, hence better do it while I am free.
All drivers out there, drive carefully. Have a great journey!!
As all usual car accidents, we both stop to agree to meet up at a less busy road nearby. As we got down and discussed, the lady says she wanted to call her "member" to decide on the next step. Me having car-jack once, I became very careful, I quickly walked towards the coffee shop nearby to order my cup of tea while she waited for her "member". This is also to judge if the "member" came alone or in a group. In my mind, if there were more than 2 people came from her side, I will immediately stop negotiating and report the case to the police. Better be safe than sorry.
However, after waiting for about 20 minutes, her 'member' finally arrived. It must be her bf. He came alone and we started negotiating. He told me 2 options, one is to report it to the police, then claim her insurance, the second is to follow him to his car repair shop. Both are not in favour of me. So I insisted that he call his workshop and whatever the cost he is going to pay to his car repair guy, he might just pay me. It works out the price is 150, hence, he paid me 150 for that.
The thing that I feel uneasy is that when someone make a mistake or drive recklessly, how come others have to pay for their reckless act? This is not the first time my car have been rear ended. I think this is the 4th time for my car, although most of the time, the bumper is the victim and the damages stops there itself. I am consider a very careful drive myself. I don't tail-gate, I don't drive too fast, I don't take risky maneuvers, and still people like to "kiss" my car's butt. Weird..
Anyhow, I will be taking leave on Friday to have the bumper repaired and sprayed back to its previous shine. Also, at the same time, need to renew my 2nd car's road tax and insurance which is due sometime in November, hence better do it while I am free.
All drivers out there, drive carefully. Have a great journey!!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Changing Role
Looking at the blog, it had been quite a while since I have updated this blog. I was really busy with work for the last few weeks. Did a local travel to the East Coast too over the past week.
Last week (week of 19th of Oct), I was on my annual leave for 2 days on the 20th and 21st of Oct 2009 (Tuesday & Wednesday) as Wednesday is the 4th day of the 9th Month in the Chinese calendar - the 1st Anniversary for my Dad. So fast time flies, it had been a year since my Dad left us. We had some prayers at home for this first anniversary.
On that afternoon, after the prayers, I came to the office to leave together with my fellow co-workers to the East Coast as the meeting with the customer there will start at 0830 on Thursday. Therefore, we have to be there one day earlier to put up a night there to prepare for the next morning's meeting. The meeting were suppose to last for 2 days, but it went so smoothly, we manage to get it done in a day. Hence, we came back on the Thursday evening right after the meeting. We started the journey from our hotel at approx 1830 and reached home at 2200.
Then, on Friday, just before I leave the office, I went to see my boss as for this project, my other colleague seems to be doing all the works since I left on the 20th and 21st Oct. My boss told me he have move me forward from being in Project to Sales role. He ask me to leave this project with my colleague (M) as he now have nothing to do in the office. He is not able to move M from project to sales as he is not fit to do it. He can only do project works, hence, I am the better option to carry the sales role.
I am really glad with that decision. Being in sales role, the task is not as demanding as projects. We only need to prepare proposal and costing and meet with customers and try to secure a deal. After which, it will be left to the project dept for the rest of the items. Also another part is in our sales role, we do not need to "hunt" for customers. The customers will be pointed out by the other core sales team, we only need to support them in return.
Over the weekend, I felt totally relax. It felt like a heavy load just being lifted off my shoulders. After working for 10 years, all the while doing project works, for the first time, I do not have to worry about project works.
Project management is not an easy task. There is lots of things to coordinate. At times I have sleepless nights too when the project is in a runaway train mode. Not only that, being in project also, customer will come after you even when you have completed and handed over the project as typical equipment supplies comes with a 12 months of warranty which I need to attend too as well. Now, all that is all behind me for now. Not sure when is it going to be back on my shoulders. Perhaps not anymore again. Now I just have to focus on writing proposals and work on prospects. Really been looking forward for this time!!
Well, to all readers out there, things change in life for the better (or worse). We need to be versatile to adapt to that change.
Last week (week of 19th of Oct), I was on my annual leave for 2 days on the 20th and 21st of Oct 2009 (Tuesday & Wednesday) as Wednesday is the 4th day of the 9th Month in the Chinese calendar - the 1st Anniversary for my Dad. So fast time flies, it had been a year since my Dad left us. We had some prayers at home for this first anniversary.
On that afternoon, after the prayers, I came to the office to leave together with my fellow co-workers to the East Coast as the meeting with the customer there will start at 0830 on Thursday. Therefore, we have to be there one day earlier to put up a night there to prepare for the next morning's meeting. The meeting were suppose to last for 2 days, but it went so smoothly, we manage to get it done in a day. Hence, we came back on the Thursday evening right after the meeting. We started the journey from our hotel at approx 1830 and reached home at 2200.
Then, on Friday, just before I leave the office, I went to see my boss as for this project, my other colleague seems to be doing all the works since I left on the 20th and 21st Oct. My boss told me he have move me forward from being in Project to Sales role. He ask me to leave this project with my colleague (M) as he now have nothing to do in the office. He is not able to move M from project to sales as he is not fit to do it. He can only do project works, hence, I am the better option to carry the sales role.
I am really glad with that decision. Being in sales role, the task is not as demanding as projects. We only need to prepare proposal and costing and meet with customers and try to secure a deal. After which, it will be left to the project dept for the rest of the items. Also another part is in our sales role, we do not need to "hunt" for customers. The customers will be pointed out by the other core sales team, we only need to support them in return.
Over the weekend, I felt totally relax. It felt like a heavy load just being lifted off my shoulders. After working for 10 years, all the while doing project works, for the first time, I do not have to worry about project works.
Project management is not an easy task. There is lots of things to coordinate. At times I have sleepless nights too when the project is in a runaway train mode. Not only that, being in project also, customer will come after you even when you have completed and handed over the project as typical equipment supplies comes with a 12 months of warranty which I need to attend too as well. Now, all that is all behind me for now. Not sure when is it going to be back on my shoulders. Perhaps not anymore again. Now I just have to focus on writing proposals and work on prospects. Really been looking forward for this time!!
Well, to all readers out there, things change in life for the better (or worse). We need to be versatile to adapt to that change.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Travel to Vietnam - Day 2
Well, today is the 12th Oct 2009, Monday. This morning started early. We met up for breakfast at about 0700 and left the hotel at 0730 for the customer's place.
1st customer is Sumitomo Vietnam. The thing I notice here in Hanoi, Vietnam is that there were really a big plot of land where they house all the foreign companies / factories. The first one we went was at Noi An. The first company that came into view is the very familiar company Panasonic.
In the industrial zone, there were at least 100 + factories located inside. The place was covering a very large area. As we drove towards the first customer, I came across some Malaysian companies have also invested here in Vietnam and have really big production factories here. It seems the labour rate here is really low. A typical production operator cost only about USD200 per month. A technician will be about USD400, an engineer will be about USD600 and a manager will only be about USD1,200. That is the reason lots of companies actually invested here in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to my colleague, which is the manager in-charge of Vietnam, Mr. Lion from Singapore, there were about 42 industrial park here in Vietnam. Just imagine, in every industrial park there were 100+ companies, multiply by 42, there is approx 4,200 companies here in Vietnam in the listed industrial area alone, not counting the smaller clusters.
After spending about an hour or so with the first customer, we proceeded to the second customer ACP. This customer is also a customer to my company back in my home country. This is the main purpose I am here in Hanoi. They have some issues and I am here to try to resolve it.
After meeting the customer's Production Manager, we went for lunch at about 1200 and a typical lunch in Vietnam is not much difference. There were pork, chicken, some rice, vegetable. The appetizer is cut cucumber for dipping with salt and lime sauce. Cooling. Talking about the chicken, my fellow local colleague ordered a steam chicken. It is a "kampung" chicken, hence the tough meat. That is ok with my. However, I was surprise to see that the chicken is not very well cleaned. You still can see feathers sticking to the skin of the chicken. Disgusting!! Normally I enjoy eating chicken skin a fair bit, but this I have to pass.
After lunch we proceed back to ACP and continue to look at the plant and discussed some possible solution. Then, at 1430, we drove for another 30 minutes to meet another customer Enkei, a car sports rim manufacturer. The meeting was short because the Japanese Production Manager could not speak English. This appointment was suppose to be attended together with our Japanese Manager, however, due to some reason, he is only coming in next week. Hence, the meeting was not fruitful.
After that we proceed to another customer to collect some outstanding payment that they have not been paying since 8 months ago. No luck as well. It seems the financial controller have being playing 'tai-chi' with us. She pass us to their Purchasing Manager, which have no idea that we were there to collect payment. Shamefully this is another Malaysian investment company. Alas..
In one day we manage to cover 4 customers thanks to their industrial zone. All the companies are nearby each other.
We called it a day at 1630 and drove another hour back to hotel. Reached hotel approx 1730. Took our shower and went out for another round of typical Vietnamese meal. For the very first time I have tasted a real Vietnamese spring rolls to be dipped in fish sauce.
Called it a day at about 2100 as tomorrow I have a flight to catch early in the morning. Have to leave the hotel at 0630 to the airport.
There were report that some storm in coming into Hanoi. Hopefully it will only reach after my flight have left for home. Touch Wood.
Basically my trip here was fruitful for me as I manage to do what I suppose to do here. Hopefully, the local manager here is able to follow my instructions given and resolve the problem.
1st customer is Sumitomo Vietnam. The thing I notice here in Hanoi, Vietnam is that there were really a big plot of land where they house all the foreign companies / factories. The first one we went was at Noi An. The first company that came into view is the very familiar company Panasonic.
In the industrial zone, there were at least 100 + factories located inside. The place was covering a very large area. As we drove towards the first customer, I came across some Malaysian companies have also invested here in Vietnam and have really big production factories here. It seems the labour rate here is really low. A typical production operator cost only about USD200 per month. A technician will be about USD400, an engineer will be about USD600 and a manager will only be about USD1,200. That is the reason lots of companies actually invested here in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to my colleague, which is the manager in-charge of Vietnam, Mr. Lion from Singapore, there were about 42 industrial park here in Vietnam. Just imagine, in every industrial park there were 100+ companies, multiply by 42, there is approx 4,200 companies here in Vietnam in the listed industrial area alone, not counting the smaller clusters.
After spending about an hour or so with the first customer, we proceeded to the second customer ACP. This customer is also a customer to my company back in my home country. This is the main purpose I am here in Hanoi. They have some issues and I am here to try to resolve it.
After meeting the customer's Production Manager, we went for lunch at about 1200 and a typical lunch in Vietnam is not much difference. There were pork, chicken, some rice, vegetable. The appetizer is cut cucumber for dipping with salt and lime sauce. Cooling. Talking about the chicken, my fellow local colleague ordered a steam chicken. It is a "kampung" chicken, hence the tough meat. That is ok with my. However, I was surprise to see that the chicken is not very well cleaned. You still can see feathers sticking to the skin of the chicken. Disgusting!! Normally I enjoy eating chicken skin a fair bit, but this I have to pass.
After lunch we proceed back to ACP and continue to look at the plant and discussed some possible solution. Then, at 1430, we drove for another 30 minutes to meet another customer Enkei, a car sports rim manufacturer. The meeting was short because the Japanese Production Manager could not speak English. This appointment was suppose to be attended together with our Japanese Manager, however, due to some reason, he is only coming in next week. Hence, the meeting was not fruitful.
After that we proceed to another customer to collect some outstanding payment that they have not been paying since 8 months ago. No luck as well. It seems the financial controller have being playing 'tai-chi' with us. She pass us to their Purchasing Manager, which have no idea that we were there to collect payment. Shamefully this is another Malaysian investment company. Alas..
In one day we manage to cover 4 customers thanks to their industrial zone. All the companies are nearby each other.
We called it a day at 1630 and drove another hour back to hotel. Reached hotel approx 1730. Took our shower and went out for another round of typical Vietnamese meal. For the very first time I have tasted a real Vietnamese spring rolls to be dipped in fish sauce.
Called it a day at about 2100 as tomorrow I have a flight to catch early in the morning. Have to leave the hotel at 0630 to the airport.
There were report that some storm in coming into Hanoi. Hopefully it will only reach after my flight have left for home. Touch Wood.
Basically my trip here was fruitful for me as I manage to do what I suppose to do here. Hopefully, the local manager here is able to follow my instructions given and resolve the problem.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Travel to Vietnam
This morning, I flew into Hanoi, Vietnam with a low cost carrier for official work. It was suppose to be a trip that my boss suppose to be here himself but some emergency had called him traveling back to his home country urgently on Friday. The flight is at 0630, hence, I had left home at 0400 with my regular cab.
The flight here was nothing much. Smooth ride, no delays. Arrived in Vietnam at approx 9am (Local Vietnam time +7 GMT). Upon arrival, the immigration process was smooth. It was a rather small airport, with only 2 sets of baggage collection belts. I waited for almost an hour before my luggage came to me.
Just after collecting my luggage, I went to the Hanoi Tourism Authorities to look for some maps and also book a taxi to the hotel. It cost me USD20 for the trip to the hotel my Vietnam colleague had booked for me - Hanoi Hotel. The ride was about 45 minutes. The roads are full with motorbikes everywhere. The traffic is similar to India minus the honking every 3 seconds.
Upon arrival in the hotel, after checking in, I went to take a walk around the hotel. The hotel is located near a lake - Giang Vo Lake. From my hotel room I can get a full view of this lake. The walk took about 1 hour, after which I sat down in one of the local outdoor cafes for a typical Vietnamese coffee which is something popular here in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, English is not commonly spoken here. Even the menu came in the local language. So I just tried my luck in telling the waiter I wanted some coffee, she opened the menu to a page which written there "cafe something"... so I just 'blindly' pick one - it cost me VND13,000 (USD1 = VND17650). Imagine paying $13,000 for a coffee??? This is a bit beyond my comprehension. Anyway, it works out to be less than USD1. So its ok.
Few minutes after that, my coffee came. It seems like I had picked an expresso. It was served with glass of plain water. I took a snap of the coffee as below.
The flight here was nothing much. Smooth ride, no delays. Arrived in Vietnam at approx 9am (Local Vietnam time +7 GMT). Upon arrival, the immigration process was smooth. It was a rather small airport, with only 2 sets of baggage collection belts. I waited for almost an hour before my luggage came to me.
Just after collecting my luggage, I went to the Hanoi Tourism Authorities to look for some maps and also book a taxi to the hotel. It cost me USD20 for the trip to the hotel my Vietnam colleague had booked for me - Hanoi Hotel. The ride was about 45 minutes. The roads are full with motorbikes everywhere. The traffic is similar to India minus the honking every 3 seconds.
Upon arrival in the hotel, after checking in, I went to take a walk around the hotel. The hotel is located near a lake - Giang Vo Lake. From my hotel room I can get a full view of this lake. The walk took about 1 hour, after which I sat down in one of the local outdoor cafes for a typical Vietnamese coffee which is something popular here in Vietnam.
Unfortunately, English is not commonly spoken here. Even the menu came in the local language. So I just tried my luck in telling the waiter I wanted some coffee, she opened the menu to a page which written there "cafe something"... so I just 'blindly' pick one - it cost me VND13,000 (USD1 = VND17650). Imagine paying $13,000 for a coffee??? This is a bit beyond my comprehension. Anyway, it works out to be less than USD1. So its ok.
Few minutes after that, my coffee came. It seems like I had picked an expresso. It was served with glass of plain water. I took a snap of the coffee as below.
It was nice and thick. Normally I drink my coffee with only creamer without sugar. But this time, the coffee is too bitter to be drank without sugar. The taste was so concentrated, it can wake a sleeping elephant with a shot! I have tasted Vietnamese coffee before, it came with a nice butter scent / after taste. Nice.
I tried to get some food there somewhere near the street, but then I thought myself again, I don't want to pick 'blindly' again. Hence, I make my way back to the hotel instead. I don't want after my food came with some 'exotic' meat e.g. dog, cat etc etc. Better be safe than sorry.
Now I am here in my room, using the free broadband checking my work mails and browsing the internet.
I will be here in Hanoi until Tuesday morning. Tomorrow will start early. It seems we need to leave the hotel at 0630 for a 2 hours drive to the customer's place for a full day customer visit. The plan is to cover about 4 to 5 customers. It will be a long day.
Stay tuned for more posting...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Oversea Posting
This morning was rather an interesting morning. Initially I thought my boss will be flying out to Singapore but to my surprise, he came into the office at about 9am.
He called me into his room to discuss my career future. He had offered me an oversea posting offer. Details of the offer yet to be finalized as he need to seek my agreement first.
This is a short term posting (about 2 to 3 years) with very clearly defined purpose and duration. The purpose is for me to be posted there to setup a working team which will be populated with Project Engineers, Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Draftsman's, Site Supervisor etc. Basically the whole company is looking at a very hugh potential there and we need to setup a working team there to harvest the potential.
As everything is not confirmed yet, for sure, all comes down to the package that the company is willing to offer. Very likely I will be classified as expatriate and be given an expatriate package, in which I am expecting a house, car and allowance in addition to the salary that I am drawing currently.
The thing that is disturbing me the most is with my mom. As I am staying with my mom, I don't think she will want to shift there for the 2 to 3 years. I am planning to have her stay here for that duration and brings her there with me if she is willing. Perhaps just for some short holiday trips for a few weeks / months at times.
Also another matter that I don't know how to resolve it for now is if the posting takes place in Q1 of 2010, I will have very minimal time to go about the renovation as I will be only getting the keys around that time.
As for the others, I am not so worried as all can be arranged with my brother being around here. I can sign all my cheques post dated for all the installments that I needed to pay for my house and car.
I am very fortunate as I have a very understanding gf. Not only she did not object of this posting, she is very supportive to me. I have also discussed this posting with my mom. She did not object much. She just asked a few basic questions and then when I told her I will be more than happy to bring her there with me, she just smile and in a way agrees with it. I told her it will not be for a very long duration, perhaps she can visit me for 2 to 3 months at times. I will want to negotiate with the company to provide me for a minimum 2 rooms apartment so that my mom or even my gf can come and visit me and stay comfortably.
For not, nothing have been finalized. It might just work out that the company thinks it is too expensive to post me there, perhaps it might work out cheaper for them to just bring me in and out as and when required for few months a time - in fact that is the way I prefer it to be. I can be there for say 3 weeks, back for a week and then go there again for another few weeks.
Lets see what happens.
He called me into his room to discuss my career future. He had offered me an oversea posting offer. Details of the offer yet to be finalized as he need to seek my agreement first.
This is a short term posting (about 2 to 3 years) with very clearly defined purpose and duration. The purpose is for me to be posted there to setup a working team which will be populated with Project Engineers, Design Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Draftsman's, Site Supervisor etc. Basically the whole company is looking at a very hugh potential there and we need to setup a working team there to harvest the potential.
As everything is not confirmed yet, for sure, all comes down to the package that the company is willing to offer. Very likely I will be classified as expatriate and be given an expatriate package, in which I am expecting a house, car and allowance in addition to the salary that I am drawing currently.
The thing that is disturbing me the most is with my mom. As I am staying with my mom, I don't think she will want to shift there for the 2 to 3 years. I am planning to have her stay here for that duration and brings her there with me if she is willing. Perhaps just for some short holiday trips for a few weeks / months at times.
Also another matter that I don't know how to resolve it for now is if the posting takes place in Q1 of 2010, I will have very minimal time to go about the renovation as I will be only getting the keys around that time.
As for the others, I am not so worried as all can be arranged with my brother being around here. I can sign all my cheques post dated for all the installments that I needed to pay for my house and car.
I am very fortunate as I have a very understanding gf. Not only she did not object of this posting, she is very supportive to me. I have also discussed this posting with my mom. She did not object much. She just asked a few basic questions and then when I told her I will be more than happy to bring her there with me, she just smile and in a way agrees with it. I told her it will not be for a very long duration, perhaps she can visit me for 2 to 3 months at times. I will want to negotiate with the company to provide me for a minimum 2 rooms apartment so that my mom or even my gf can come and visit me and stay comfortably.
For not, nothing have been finalized. It might just work out that the company thinks it is too expensive to post me there, perhaps it might work out cheaper for them to just bring me in and out as and when required for few months a time - in fact that is the way I prefer it to be. I can be there for say 3 weeks, back for a week and then go there again for another few weeks.
Lets see what happens.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Back from Maldives
I just got back from the Republic of Maldives yesterday. I have been to I think one of the most expensive resort in the Maldives.
In fact, I am involve in the project to built it from ground. When I saw the resort now open and visitors / tourist actually staying inside and using the facilities that I have some contribution makes me feel proud. The meeting went well. We manage to come to an agreement and now the project have finally completed.
However, travelling there is a challenging task. I first took a 8pm flight from Kuala Lumpur and it took about 4 hours to reach Male, Maldives. Upon reaching Male, I checked into the airport hotel - Hulhule. It cost me USD290 for the night. So freaking expensive with nothing impressive in the hotel.
Rested a night there and on the 2nd day morning, took a local flight from Male to Gan. The flight took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Upon reaching there, went to site with the boat provided by the customer. The boat right took about 45 minutes. Arrived just in time for lunch, so went to the customer's staff canteen for lunch. The food they prepared there was I think the best food I have had in the Maldives out of my 8 or so trips there to date.
The meeting started right after lunch and lasted all the way until 7pm. The sky outside is already dark and we have to wait until 8pm for the boat to our hotel away from the island. Boating at night is not interesting at all. You can't see very far away as most of the boats are without any lights. Not sure of the reason why the boats are without headlights. Perhaps they do not want to attract pirates or something. Anyway, good thing is that we arrived safely at shore after 45 minutes of being in the deep sea.
Only took our dinner at 9pm. Had a short meeting with a supplier during the dinner and as the supplier left, we continued to have some beers and chatted until like 1am before hitting the bed.
On the 2nd day, we plan to catch the 8am boat to site. Hence, at 0700, we went to the cafeteria to get our breakfast, to our surprise, the waiter there do not allow us to have any food despite the food being readily available at the trays. He insisted that the breakfast session only starts at 0730. I have exchanged a few words with the waiter and left for the boat. Anyhow, did not miss anything great. We took our breakfast again at the canteen, the food there is much better than the hotel we stayed.
My colleague conducted a short training session for the customer's maintenance team and by 12pm, we left the site to go to the airport to catch our flight which is scheduled at 1520pm. This flight made a transit at a place called Kaadedhdhoo, about 20 minutes away from Gan. Then, flew for another 55 minutes to Male. We touched down at male at 1615pm.
From that time, we sat down in a restaurant to have some snacks and again chit-chatted until like 2020 hrs to check in for my flight back to Kuala Lumpur. At the airport, the check-in counter queue was so long. The people there were so inefficient, hence, I took my chance to queue up at the Business Class line which is much shorter. Then, when my turn came, I show the check in person my loyalty card number and told him that I always check in using the Business class line. He immediately checked me and my colleague in without hesitation. Saves all our trouble of waiting in the long queue.
The flight took off Male to Colombo, Sri Lanka in which it transit for 1.5 hours. After which, it took off again heading towards Kuala Lumpur in which it landed at 0750 as scheduled.
I took the day off to rest at home as the whole night I did not sleep at all. Then in the evening, I again went to the airport, this time is the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, LCCT to pick my gf up as she return from Sabah. She went there on Tuesday morning. Her flight landed at 2100 hrs. Send her home and me and my mom reached home at 2300 hrs.
In fact, I am involve in the project to built it from ground. When I saw the resort now open and visitors / tourist actually staying inside and using the facilities that I have some contribution makes me feel proud. The meeting went well. We manage to come to an agreement and now the project have finally completed.
However, travelling there is a challenging task. I first took a 8pm flight from Kuala Lumpur and it took about 4 hours to reach Male, Maldives. Upon reaching Male, I checked into the airport hotel - Hulhule. It cost me USD290 for the night. So freaking expensive with nothing impressive in the hotel.
Rested a night there and on the 2nd day morning, took a local flight from Male to Gan. The flight took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Upon reaching there, went to site with the boat provided by the customer. The boat right took about 45 minutes. Arrived just in time for lunch, so went to the customer's staff canteen for lunch. The food they prepared there was I think the best food I have had in the Maldives out of my 8 or so trips there to date.
The meeting started right after lunch and lasted all the way until 7pm. The sky outside is already dark and we have to wait until 8pm for the boat to our hotel away from the island. Boating at night is not interesting at all. You can't see very far away as most of the boats are without any lights. Not sure of the reason why the boats are without headlights. Perhaps they do not want to attract pirates or something. Anyway, good thing is that we arrived safely at shore after 45 minutes of being in the deep sea.
Only took our dinner at 9pm. Had a short meeting with a supplier during the dinner and as the supplier left, we continued to have some beers and chatted until like 1am before hitting the bed.
On the 2nd day, we plan to catch the 8am boat to site. Hence, at 0700, we went to the cafeteria to get our breakfast, to our surprise, the waiter there do not allow us to have any food despite the food being readily available at the trays. He insisted that the breakfast session only starts at 0730. I have exchanged a few words with the waiter and left for the boat. Anyhow, did not miss anything great. We took our breakfast again at the canteen, the food there is much better than the hotel we stayed.
My colleague conducted a short training session for the customer's maintenance team and by 12pm, we left the site to go to the airport to catch our flight which is scheduled at 1520pm. This flight made a transit at a place called Kaadedhdhoo, about 20 minutes away from Gan. Then, flew for another 55 minutes to Male. We touched down at male at 1615pm.
From that time, we sat down in a restaurant to have some snacks and again chit-chatted until like 2020 hrs to check in for my flight back to Kuala Lumpur. At the airport, the check-in counter queue was so long. The people there were so inefficient, hence, I took my chance to queue up at the Business Class line which is much shorter. Then, when my turn came, I show the check in person my loyalty card number and told him that I always check in using the Business class line. He immediately checked me and my colleague in without hesitation. Saves all our trouble of waiting in the long queue.
The flight took off Male to Colombo, Sri Lanka in which it transit for 1.5 hours. After which, it took off again heading towards Kuala Lumpur in which it landed at 0750 as scheduled.
I took the day off to rest at home as the whole night I did not sleep at all. Then in the evening, I again went to the airport, this time is the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, LCCT to pick my gf up as she return from Sabah. She went there on Tuesday morning. Her flight landed at 2100 hrs. Send her home and me and my mom reached home at 2300 hrs.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Good Weekend
Well, another good weekend had just flew by. On Saturday (26th Sept 09), me and me gf went to the house of one of her previous university mate in Bandar Seri Putra for kinda of a Hari Raya visit. This gentleman, lets call him Dr. F, is a now working in a local university as the Head of Aerospace Engineering.
During the drive there, we have discovered lots of new roads and highways. Upon arrival at his house, we were served with nice home cooked chicken "rendang" and peanut sauce to go with "nasi impit" and "Laksa". Nice Malay dishes. We sat and talk for about 2 hours before venturing a drive to show my gf the way to the LCC terminal. She is flying off to Sabah on Tuesday.
I can see from the conversation that Dr. F is one of the "outstanding" lecturers in the local university. I can see some hope of the local university to progress further in future. Perhaps he is educated oversea, he have seen the proper way of managing a university from his experiences abroad that put priority on research and funding and now his hands are tied as he is not "powerful" enough to extend his arm to practice it. Hopefully our local universities have more of this lecturer which have this vision.
Then, in the evening, we drop by to our new house to view the progress of the house. It was 99% completed and we (my gf and me) have some discussion on how we want the house to be renovated. This is the home we are building together. I will want to put all her inputs on the interior decoration / renovations to make her feel most comfortable living in it.
After the discussion, we went to my house where she rested and I went to collect my glasses which I have taken to have the lenses replaced. I have opted for a Carl Zeiss lenses but alas, upon collection, the left side of the lens, the optician found a flaw and they are going to have it replaced with another new lens this coming weekend.
For dinner, I took my mom together with us to a chicken rice shop where they also serve "Ipoh Hor Fun" soup and after dinner I send my gf back to her home as my mom also tagged along to enjoy the ride.
There is nothing much happenings on Sunday, just groceries shopping with my mom and there goes the Sunday. Also, watched the latest season of House M.D. which was downloaded by my gf's younger brother. Thanks YT for the movie. Looking forward for more episodes.
Well, nowadays, weekend have not been so routine. We have tried new activities to spend more time together and explore new things that we can do. For this weekend, I think I will get some violin performance from my gf as she need to practise her violin and I had offered my house for her to practice. I am really looking forward for the "performance".
So others out there, what had you done / plan for your weekend?
The coming week, I will be travelling to the Maldives to attend a meeting with a customer and will only be back by Thursday morning.
During the drive there, we have discovered lots of new roads and highways. Upon arrival at his house, we were served with nice home cooked chicken "rendang" and peanut sauce to go with "nasi impit" and "Laksa". Nice Malay dishes. We sat and talk for about 2 hours before venturing a drive to show my gf the way to the LCC terminal. She is flying off to Sabah on Tuesday.
I can see from the conversation that Dr. F is one of the "outstanding" lecturers in the local university. I can see some hope of the local university to progress further in future. Perhaps he is educated oversea, he have seen the proper way of managing a university from his experiences abroad that put priority on research and funding and now his hands are tied as he is not "powerful" enough to extend his arm to practice it. Hopefully our local universities have more of this lecturer which have this vision.
Then, in the evening, we drop by to our new house to view the progress of the house. It was 99% completed and we (my gf and me) have some discussion on how we want the house to be renovated. This is the home we are building together. I will want to put all her inputs on the interior decoration / renovations to make her feel most comfortable living in it.
After the discussion, we went to my house where she rested and I went to collect my glasses which I have taken to have the lenses replaced. I have opted for a Carl Zeiss lenses but alas, upon collection, the left side of the lens, the optician found a flaw and they are going to have it replaced with another new lens this coming weekend.
For dinner, I took my mom together with us to a chicken rice shop where they also serve "Ipoh Hor Fun" soup and after dinner I send my gf back to her home as my mom also tagged along to enjoy the ride.
There is nothing much happenings on Sunday, just groceries shopping with my mom and there goes the Sunday. Also, watched the latest season of House M.D. which was downloaded by my gf's younger brother. Thanks YT for the movie. Looking forward for more episodes.
Well, nowadays, weekend have not been so routine. We have tried new activities to spend more time together and explore new things that we can do. For this weekend, I think I will get some violin performance from my gf as she need to practise her violin and I had offered my house for her to practice. I am really looking forward for the "performance".
So others out there, what had you done / plan for your weekend?
The coming week, I will be travelling to the Maldives to attend a meeting with a customer and will only be back by Thursday morning.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Dishonest day work
As this week's working day only begin on Wednesday, most of the people took the week off. In my office, the whole floor, only 5 of us are in the office as compared to the usual dozen. Some took official annual leave, but there is one particular person in my office who only comes in the morning and goes missing after lunch.
To me this is not the way to work. If you want to work, stay on the whole day. If you want to take a rest at home, you are allocated annual leave that you can take at your convenience. You must be fair to everyone.
While thinking about this topic, another example came to my mind that was told to me by my gf. One of this colleague is also this type of person. He told the whole team that he will be going to a site at a specific time, but ended up not appearing at site. He just used it as a reason to go do some of his personal things and never thought of others. I also heard that a team of people at the site waited for his arrival but he fail to turn up and did not inform them until like 5 something pm.
This is not something new to me when I heard that. I have seen many times with reputable consultants informing the "whole world" about a meeting at a specific date and time and he himself did not come for the meeting.
I understand sometimes we have to handle some of our personal things during office hours as some official dealings with the banks, government agencies etc is not available after office hours and on they are close on weekends.
However, upon we finish with all these, we must get back to work soonest possible. We must cover our own tracks. When we "sneak" out to do our personal things under a specific name / work related destination that we need to go, we must make sure we will also end up there meeting the people we are suppose to meet for work also.
If you just leave the office and informing your fellow colleagues that you are going to a specific site but instead you just went off somewhere and did not turn up at the site, the news will spread like bush fire. It will leave marks on your personal records with your boss if he finds out. Is it worth risking?
When we work, we must be fair to everyone in the office too. Not many of us get the chance to leave the office during office hours officially. Only people that is in direct contact with customers e.g. sales teams, site teams, project teams etc. can leave the office and be on the road during office hours. There were many other people in our company that do not have the 'privileges' to leave the desk. The only time they leave the office is either they are going out for lunch or the are heading home after work. Rest of the time, they need to have the rear glued to their seat during office hours.
Of course, again, I understand working outside the office is not as nice as working inside an fully air conditioned office. Those in direct contact with customers need to face all sorts of characters the customer can put up. Travel long distances by land, sea and air to get their jobs done. Work under the hot sun and wet rains.
When we travel out of office to do some of our personal things, we must also patch up with completing the official duties. Make sure when we go back end of the day, we have work enough to call it an honest day work!!
Therefore, to all of you out there, please consider all the factors and learn to cover up tracks of the dishonest day work. As there is a Chinese saying, "Stealing food to eat, we must know how to wipe out mouth".
To me this is not the way to work. If you want to work, stay on the whole day. If you want to take a rest at home, you are allocated annual leave that you can take at your convenience. You must be fair to everyone.
While thinking about this topic, another example came to my mind that was told to me by my gf. One of this colleague is also this type of person. He told the whole team that he will be going to a site at a specific time, but ended up not appearing at site. He just used it as a reason to go do some of his personal things and never thought of others. I also heard that a team of people at the site waited for his arrival but he fail to turn up and did not inform them until like 5 something pm.
This is not something new to me when I heard that. I have seen many times with reputable consultants informing the "whole world" about a meeting at a specific date and time and he himself did not come for the meeting.
I understand sometimes we have to handle some of our personal things during office hours as some official dealings with the banks, government agencies etc is not available after office hours and on they are close on weekends.
However, upon we finish with all these, we must get back to work soonest possible. We must cover our own tracks. When we "sneak" out to do our personal things under a specific name / work related destination that we need to go, we must make sure we will also end up there meeting the people we are suppose to meet for work also.
If you just leave the office and informing your fellow colleagues that you are going to a specific site but instead you just went off somewhere and did not turn up at the site, the news will spread like bush fire. It will leave marks on your personal records with your boss if he finds out. Is it worth risking?
When we work, we must be fair to everyone in the office too. Not many of us get the chance to leave the office during office hours officially. Only people that is in direct contact with customers e.g. sales teams, site teams, project teams etc. can leave the office and be on the road during office hours. There were many other people in our company that do not have the 'privileges' to leave the desk. The only time they leave the office is either they are going out for lunch or the are heading home after work. Rest of the time, they need to have the rear glued to their seat during office hours.
Of course, again, I understand working outside the office is not as nice as working inside an fully air conditioned office. Those in direct contact with customers need to face all sorts of characters the customer can put up. Travel long distances by land, sea and air to get their jobs done. Work under the hot sun and wet rains.
When we travel out of office to do some of our personal things, we must also patch up with completing the official duties. Make sure when we go back end of the day, we have work enough to call it an honest day work!!
Therefore, to all of you out there, please consider all the factors and learn to cover up tracks of the dishonest day work. As there is a Chinese saying, "Stealing food to eat, we must know how to wipe out mouth".
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Time Flies
So fast, 4 days of weekend & holidays have passed. Today it is Wednesday and I am back to work. The day started with me downloading and reading 60 e-mails, then started to book a ticket for a meeting in the Maldives.
Actually, my work started yesterday at 1500 hrs with a call from my site team member at the Maldives. Then at 1630 hours, I received another call from the Project Manager from Hong Kong requesting me to attend a meeting on the 29th Sept 2009.
The weekend was great. On Saturday, me and me gf went for a movie. We watched "The Ugly Truth". It was really an entertaining show. To my surprise, when we went to the cinema, there was no queue. The barrier lines was so empty, we only stood there for about 3 minutes or so, its our turn at the counter already. We did not make any reservations and hope to just buy any tickets that was booked and not collected, but it will only be released 30 minutes before show time. Hence, we waited for another 15 minutes and went to queue again and got our tickets. Good seats too!!
After the movie, we went for dinner, then pack some dinner back for my mom. Then, I send my gf back with my mom sitting behind enjoying the scene. Upon arriving at my gf's house, she realized that she had forgotten to bring her house key out, so she called her mom to open the gate for her. Then as her mom came out, I think it is the 2nd time both our parents meet each other, they chated as I went into her house to collect some stuffs from her.
On the way back, me and my mom drop by my uncle's steamboat restaurant. Surprisingly, another uncle of mine was also there and we all sat down and talked until like 1am before coming home.
As this is the 3rd Sunday, I woke up at 0700 to go for my volunteer work at Tzu Chi Free Clinic. Then, since Monday is also another holiday, me and my volunteer friend we for a cuppa tea and chit-chat until like 3pm at the mamak shop. After that, I went home and hit the bed as was tired from waking up early in the morning. That evening, my old classmates called for mamak again at our usual gathering spot and we spend time talking from 1030pm until 1230am before calling it a day.
Nothing unusal on Monday. Did not meet with my gf as she went out with her classmates for ladies day out. I did not leave home until like 3pm as my mom asked me to go to the gas shop to see if they are open to get a new gas regulator as the existing unit we have had became faulty. Since its 3pm, I went and bought some "Poh Piah" for tea time. It had been a while since I last have this food. Nyam nyam....
Then, on Tuesday, me and me gf went for another movie "G-Force", an animation movie talking about a group of specially trained spy guinea pigs + a mole. Entertaining!! We watched the 1pm show, so by the time the movie ended, its just nice tea time, we went to a very nice tea shop to have our tea and scones. I send my gf back to her house and me went back to have dinner with my mom.
That's how I spend my weekend and Hari Raya holidays. It was relaxing. That is what holiday is suppose to be isn't it?
Actually, my work started yesterday at 1500 hrs with a call from my site team member at the Maldives. Then at 1630 hours, I received another call from the Project Manager from Hong Kong requesting me to attend a meeting on the 29th Sept 2009.
The weekend was great. On Saturday, me and me gf went for a movie. We watched "The Ugly Truth". It was really an entertaining show. To my surprise, when we went to the cinema, there was no queue. The barrier lines was so empty, we only stood there for about 3 minutes or so, its our turn at the counter already. We did not make any reservations and hope to just buy any tickets that was booked and not collected, but it will only be released 30 minutes before show time. Hence, we waited for another 15 minutes and went to queue again and got our tickets. Good seats too!!
After the movie, we went for dinner, then pack some dinner back for my mom. Then, I send my gf back with my mom sitting behind enjoying the scene. Upon arriving at my gf's house, she realized that she had forgotten to bring her house key out, so she called her mom to open the gate for her. Then as her mom came out, I think it is the 2nd time both our parents meet each other, they chated as I went into her house to collect some stuffs from her.
On the way back, me and my mom drop by my uncle's steamboat restaurant. Surprisingly, another uncle of mine was also there and we all sat down and talked until like 1am before coming home.
As this is the 3rd Sunday, I woke up at 0700 to go for my volunteer work at Tzu Chi Free Clinic. Then, since Monday is also another holiday, me and my volunteer friend we for a cuppa tea and chit-chat until like 3pm at the mamak shop. After that, I went home and hit the bed as was tired from waking up early in the morning. That evening, my old classmates called for mamak again at our usual gathering spot and we spend time talking from 1030pm until 1230am before calling it a day.
Nothing unusal on Monday. Did not meet with my gf as she went out with her classmates for ladies day out. I did not leave home until like 3pm as my mom asked me to go to the gas shop to see if they are open to get a new gas regulator as the existing unit we have had became faulty. Since its 3pm, I went and bought some "Poh Piah" for tea time. It had been a while since I last have this food. Nyam nyam....
Then, on Tuesday, me and me gf went for another movie "G-Force", an animation movie talking about a group of specially trained spy guinea pigs + a mole. Entertaining!! We watched the 1pm show, so by the time the movie ended, its just nice tea time, we went to a very nice tea shop to have our tea and scones. I send my gf back to her house and me went back to have dinner with my mom.
That's how I spend my weekend and Hari Raya holidays. It was relaxing. That is what holiday is suppose to be isn't it?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Long Weekend
This weekend will be a long weekend. It is the Muslim celebration of the Shawal month or commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The exact date is still yet to be fixed as it is based on a very traditional lunar sighting on the 19th of Sept to determine the moon indicating the new month. Prior to this celebration, the Muslim goes thru a one full month of Ramadan or Fasting Month. They are not allowed to drink or eat during the day time.
Hence, if the 1st day falls on Sunday i.e. 20th of Sept 2009, then we will have a four days break from Saturday to Tuesday. No plans for now. Perhaps its just enjoying the break by staying at home or be with my gf roaming around the malls or shopping complexes or perhaps go catch a movie.
Anyway, if the 1st day of celebration falls on Sunday even, I am still going for the monthly volunteering work with Tzu Chi in Klang free clinic.
Don't know if it is because of the fact that too many people is travelling back to home town or perhaps is just a coincidence, I went to fill in my petrol this morning, to my surprise, 2 petrol stations I went to ran out of the RON97 fuel. So have to drive further to search for a third petrol station to fill up.
Well, I not a big fan of visiting places / going for holidays during the festive season as most of the tourist attraction areas will be packed. Everyone is taking opportunities to go for a short holiday. Furthermore, the roads will be jammed. Not going to be a pleasure drive at all.
I have to apologise to my gf for having such a boring bf. Not bringing her anywhere interesting for the holidays.
Anyway, will make the most out of this holidays.. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to those who are celebrating, to those who are not, Happy Holidays!!
The exact date is still yet to be fixed as it is based on a very traditional lunar sighting on the 19th of Sept to determine the moon indicating the new month. Prior to this celebration, the Muslim goes thru a one full month of Ramadan or Fasting Month. They are not allowed to drink or eat during the day time.
Hence, if the 1st day falls on Sunday i.e. 20th of Sept 2009, then we will have a four days break from Saturday to Tuesday. No plans for now. Perhaps its just enjoying the break by staying at home or be with my gf roaming around the malls or shopping complexes or perhaps go catch a movie.
Anyway, if the 1st day of celebration falls on Sunday even, I am still going for the monthly volunteering work with Tzu Chi in Klang free clinic.
Don't know if it is because of the fact that too many people is travelling back to home town or perhaps is just a coincidence, I went to fill in my petrol this morning, to my surprise, 2 petrol stations I went to ran out of the RON97 fuel. So have to drive further to search for a third petrol station to fill up.
Well, I not a big fan of visiting places / going for holidays during the festive season as most of the tourist attraction areas will be packed. Everyone is taking opportunities to go for a short holiday. Furthermore, the roads will be jammed. Not going to be a pleasure drive at all.
I have to apologise to my gf for having such a boring bf. Not bringing her anywhere interesting for the holidays.
Anyway, will make the most out of this holidays.. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to those who are celebrating, to those who are not, Happy Holidays!!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Memory Lane
As my previous posting, I mentioned that I went to Langkawi for a working trip. The hotel we stayed had pass by the hotel me and my gf stayed once.
It was one of our first trip together being a couple. Or more precisely it is one of our first trip taking a plane to the destination. I remembered that time she came back for holidays from her studies and we went to Langkawi for 3 days 2 nights.
As I passes thru the hotel we stayed, I can still remember the time we spend together. The beach the hotel have that is so nice and clean, the swimming pool. The nearby stalls for tasty food we had.
We went there in the year 2005 if my memory serves me right. So fast it was like 4 years ago already. Since then, we had been to lots of places together, Cameron Highland, Frazer's Hill, India, UK, Kuching just to name a few.
I am looking forward for more places to travel with her.
It was one of our first trip together being a couple. Or more precisely it is one of our first trip taking a plane to the destination. I remembered that time she came back for holidays from her studies and we went to Langkawi for 3 days 2 nights.
As I passes thru the hotel we stayed, I can still remember the time we spend together. The beach the hotel have that is so nice and clean, the swimming pool. The nearby stalls for tasty food we had.
We went there in the year 2005 if my memory serves me right. So fast it was like 4 years ago already. Since then, we had been to lots of places together, Cameron Highland, Frazer's Hill, India, UK, Kuching just to name a few.
I am looking forward for more places to travel with her.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Working Trip to Langkawi
I went for a one week seminar to Langkawi. We stayed in a "once a nice hotel". The cruise ships use to dock there with visitor from our neighboring country. However, the situation there is now the opposite.
The hotel was run down, the rooms are not in a good shape. When I first went in the room, just as I open the door, the rooms smells like as if 1,000 people had smoked inside. The smell of cigarettes was so strong that I have to open the glass door to ventilate it for the whole afternoon.
The food they offered was also nothing impressive. All the meals were covered under our seminar packages, all buffet meals, however, after the 2ND day I had enough. The menu seems the same everyday. Especially breakfast. Everyday is the same dish. As for lunch and dinner, the usual dishes are there everyday with only one or two dish that is different.
One this good about the place is the seminar rooms were big and the air conditioner is really freezing cold making everyone sleepy, especially after lunch.
In the seminar, my effort at work was recognised by the management. The company awarded me with Certification of Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) for the work that I have done for the pass year. It was signed by our Group Vice President from the US which happens to be there for this seminar too.
All together we spend 4 days and 3 nights there, in which it was totally roaming in the hotel area only. Non of us left the hotel for the 4 days. Nights were spend by chatting up with colleagues with drinks on the unlimited tap.
During this trip, I manage to meet up with one of a manager which I worked with very closely when I first join this company. He is now based in Australia and he was so keen to see me helping him with his work there. During this time also, grounds were set for the coming year and what is the finale that the company wanted to see by December 2009.
Overall rating, the seminar was good. It manage to set clear the goals for this year and the coming year. Just the venue was not as desirable, but then again, during this slow economic times, at least our department manage to secure budget to organise such a seminar as compared to other departments which need to cancel their yearly seminars and meetings, there is nothing that I can complaint.
The hotel was run down, the rooms are not in a good shape. When I first went in the room, just as I open the door, the rooms smells like as if 1,000 people had smoked inside. The smell of cigarettes was so strong that I have to open the glass door to ventilate it for the whole afternoon.
The food they offered was also nothing impressive. All the meals were covered under our seminar packages, all buffet meals, however, after the 2ND day I had enough. The menu seems the same everyday. Especially breakfast. Everyday is the same dish. As for lunch and dinner, the usual dishes are there everyday with only one or two dish that is different.
One this good about the place is the seminar rooms were big and the air conditioner is really freezing cold making everyone sleepy, especially after lunch.
In the seminar, my effort at work was recognised by the management. The company awarded me with Certification of Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) for the work that I have done for the pass year. It was signed by our Group Vice President from the US which happens to be there for this seminar too.
All together we spend 4 days and 3 nights there, in which it was totally roaming in the hotel area only. Non of us left the hotel for the 4 days. Nights were spend by chatting up with colleagues with drinks on the unlimited tap.
During this trip, I manage to meet up with one of a manager which I worked with very closely when I first join this company. He is now based in Australia and he was so keen to see me helping him with his work there. During this time also, grounds were set for the coming year and what is the finale that the company wanted to see by December 2009.
Overall rating, the seminar was good. It manage to set clear the goals for this year and the coming year. Just the venue was not as desirable, but then again, during this slow economic times, at least our department manage to secure budget to organise such a seminar as compared to other departments which need to cancel their yearly seminars and meetings, there is nothing that I can complaint.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Meeting day
Today is kinda interesting. Spend the whole day meeting, one meeting after another. Good thing that I came in the office early this morning, there was a meeting at 0900. The meeting was done by 1230 and after coming back from lunch, at 1430, there is another meeting again. This one is rather short, it finishes at 1545.
Then, at 1550, a contractor came and meet me to discuss some issues and also I had requested him to give me a quotation for a potential customer which we are bidding now.
Just manage to come up and sit down in my office to do some work. Just winding through for the day and only realize that there were so many meetings for today.
One question remains in my mind.... Is all the meeting the whole day fruitful? Is it going to contribute to the company growth in the coming months? Well, only time will tell.
Then, at 1550, a contractor came and meet me to discuss some issues and also I had requested him to give me a quotation for a potential customer which we are bidding now.
Just manage to come up and sit down in my office to do some work. Just winding through for the day and only realize that there were so many meetings for today.
One question remains in my mind.... Is all the meeting the whole day fruitful? Is it going to contribute to the company growth in the coming months? Well, only time will tell.
Friday, August 21, 2009
100 things about myself
I have seen so many blogger like to list down about themselves. So, I thought it will be kinda nice to do that to myself and see if I can write 100 things about me or not.... lets see...
I ...
I ...
- enjoy driving fast on highways. But not breaking the law of course.. I am a good citizen.. ;P
- like listening to music.
- like sleeping.
- enjoy swimming.
- taught my gf how to swim.
- enjoy playing futsal - indoor football and badminton.
- enjoy good coffee.
- enjoy reading newspaper, "Ping Tan" comics, jokes,"Reader's Digest".
- enjoy trying new restaurants for new type of food.
- like the smell of soil after watering it on hot day.
- enjoy watching movies in the cinema.
- love seeing my gf making funny poses / facial expression, especially they way she "scratch" her nose.
- enjoy helping people in need.
- enjoy hanging out with my friends in "mamak" at night.
- enjoy "teh halia".
- like to learn about medical terms or in a way enhancing my knowledge in medical line.
- was frequently ask by medical doctors am I myself a doctor when I consult them.
- wanted to become a doctor but due to some reasons, I ended up studying engineering instead.
- enjoy good beers.
- love spending time with my gf, even doing nothing, just sitting and looking at each other over a cuppa coffee.
- waking up late in the morning.
- like the 'cheap trills' whereby I will set the radio alarm on weekend to wake up and switch it off again and going back to sleep knowing its weekend.
- like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Italian, Malay, Javanese, Hainanese etc Food... as long as they taste good, I will never hesitate to try them.
- like travelling. Good thing is that my work does required a bit of it, so I have been to many "lovely" place that I might not want to pay by myself to go... hehehe..
- have worked in Kuwait, Pakistan and Sri Lanka before. When I tell people this, they eyes looks as thought it will drop from their sockets.
- tried SCUBA diving once in the Philippines and will want to take it up professionally later together with my gf.
- like small kids and babies - not too young ones though.
- like watching the medical series - "House".
- really hate to be accused for the things that I have not done.
- hold an engineering degree with honours.
- hold a MBA.
- wanted to do LLB after completing my MBA but the fees is too expensive. Also because I just spend a fortune on the MBA.
- like to learn everything I need to learn on the area I work in.
- eat only chicken, pork, mutton and seafood.
- don't eat beef.
- don't eat satay, but I enjoy the "ketupat" and peanut sauce.
- don't eat any other meat than those mentioned above.
- enjoy vegetarian food as much as non-vegetarian food.
- dislike traffic jams.
- enjoy watch Cantonese serial movies.
- speak Hokkien at home with my family member and relatives + my gf's mom.
- can converse in Mandarin, Cantonese, English (of course), Malay.
- can understand Hakka, but can't converse with it fluently.
- can read and write simple Chinese words.
- know how to write my name in Chinese.
- can count 1 - 10 in Tamil language fluently.
- like dogs better than cats.
- wanted to keep dogs but most likely it will be either my mom's dog or my wife's dog after a few weeks / months. So better not burden them too much.
- dislike ironing. I don't do a good job generally.
- like well pressed shirts and slacks.
- always holds to the principle "Honesty is the Best Policy" and do it in all ways of my life e.g. earn a honest living, be honest to friends and families, never tell lies etc.
- can eat the same food for days and days and never get bored with it as long as it is freshly cook.
- am more a technical person than a sales person.
- don't do sweet talks, but i know my gf would disagree... ;P
- initially think this world it is either right or wrong, black or white on all matters, until when I came out to work, there were so many grey areas and learn to adapt to it.
- keep my promises when I make them.
- can eat with my fingers pretty well.
- find it difficult to throw things away cause in my mind you mind need it one day later.
- collect miniature models of cars, planes and would like to collect anything that comes in miniature as long as it is within my budget.
- believe in gender equality.
- am a 1st Dan Black Belt holder in Tae-Kwon-Do martial arts.
- use to have squirrels, rabbits and fish as pets before.
- always think that guys that beats up girls are useless and hopeless guys and should not be forgiven.
- wanted to take up photography and own a SLR camera, unfortunately, until now not able to stand firm on the brand of camera I should buy due to the ever dropping prices.
- have my own room in the office to work in total peace and away from disturbances.
- like the "rojak buah" sold in the night market or "pasar malam".
- dislike office politics and gossips. Will normally walk away when hearing ppl gossipping in the office.
- dislike fishing as I think it is very cruel to hook the fish by the mouth and also its a waste of time sitting there to wait for the fish to bite the bait.
- enjoy orchestra performance and have attended my first orchestra performance in the Petronas Philharmonic Orchestra Hall with my gf.
- enjoy good cakes and muffins.
- enjoy seeing my gf laugh and smile.
- enjoy roller coaster / trill rides.
- dislike salesman who is not familiar with their products and try to sell it to me.
- dislike people that 'hog' the road.
- had my car hijacked however, lady luck was with me, found it back about 1 month later in perfect condition.
- believes in 'cause and effect'.
- think I have higher IQ and EQ.
- am not very good in drawings, my parents always says that my cat looks like dog, however, to my surprise, I manage to score a distinction for the government exam.
- have a very bad handwriting and most of my teachers always tells me my handwriting looks like doctors handwriting.
- find it difficult to write 100 things about myself.
- have not won any lotteries before, but still hope to win it one day.
- plan with my college mate to celebrate our 40th birthday by going to Germany for the October Fest.
- flew all the way to India with my gf just to attend a friend's wedding.
- knew my gf through mIRC chat while I was in the UK in 1998 and now we are couple.
- made some good friends in the UK where until today, after 10 years we are still in-touch with each other.
- lost weight drastically after 2 years in the UK, but gain it back when I came back here to "Food Heaven".
- scored straight As in my standard 6 exam and my Dad gave me a "Lerun" 18 speed mountain bike as a present and also allow me to follow my relatives for a tour to Haadyai & Songkla, Thailand.
- went to Singapore for 3 days just to buy jeans to go to the UK.
- don't wear jeans until I went to the UK.
- had a White Christmas in 1998 when I went Glasgow for holidays.
- took a 10 days, 10 countries Europe tour in the summer of 1999 for a 'glance' of Europe from Brussels until Venice, Italy and back to London.
- attended my gf convocation twice, once in the UK and once in Malaysia.
- got my promotion news over a discussion / drinking session with my boss in a hotel.
- designed, over see the manufacturing, lead the installation and commissioning of the tallest and longest gantry crane my ex-company ever build.
- am a pro insecticide user in which when i see a cockroaches, the first thing that comes to my mind is the roach kill insecticide.
- have most of my T-shirts in white.
- have been wearing the same watch since 1992 until today.
- always put family first in everything I do.
- am glad that I finally can reach my last thing about myself.
- misses my Dad a lot!!! Never one day have passed that I never thought of him. I Miss You Dad!!
There you go... 100 things about myself finally completed. MERDEKA!! MERDEKA!! MERDEKA!! Happy Holidays to ALL!!!!
Interesting journey
Yesterday while I was driving back home, I notice something interesting. As I was passing through the toll, one side of the toll is dry and sunny.
However, just as I entered and pass the toll bar, the sky is pouring heavily until I can hardly see the road in front.
This gives me the feeling like I am in the movie where I drive through a tunnel and a the end of the tunnel is another different world. Well, the nearest movie I can think off for now is the "Stardust", the only difference is that in the "Stardust" movie, they walk through a fence to see a different world while I pass through a toll bar for a change in the weather.
Interesting journey and wonderful weather pattern.
However, just as I entered and pass the toll bar, the sky is pouring heavily until I can hardly see the road in front.
This gives me the feeling like I am in the movie where I drive through a tunnel and a the end of the tunnel is another different world. Well, the nearest movie I can think off for now is the "Stardust", the only difference is that in the "Stardust" movie, they walk through a fence to see a different world while I pass through a toll bar for a change in the weather.
Interesting journey and wonderful weather pattern.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Great Saturday
Last Saturday was really an enjoyable day for me. It is unlike my routine Saturdays. Last Saturday, we broke our daily routine by doing shopping all afternoon and still manage to grab a good seat to catch an evening show of the "Harry Porter and the Half-Blood Prince".
It gave me the feeling as though we had started dating again. It had been long since we last watch any movies in the cinema. I nearly forgot how the cinema looks like. The movie was nice and its long. Almost 2.5 hours.
It was also our lucky day that day. After we decided to watch that movie at 1800, we were lining up at the queue. Then, out of curiosity, I just told my gf to wait in the line while I go and check out on the booking section if the person there will allow me to buy the tickets at it left only 15 minutes before the movie starts. Just trying my luck out, however, I got lucky, the counter guy was kind enough to sell me the tickets without queuing up.
Then, in the cinema, as usual there were so many advertisement, happens that one of the advertisement by bank advertising about using their credit card to buy movies ticket and no queuing required, happens that the cinema number shown on the advertisement was also cinema 5, same cinema as we were in for the movie. So I told my gf, the guy in the advertisement was me.
The day was perfect. My gf manage to get what she was looking for, we watched a movie where we both wanted to watch, timing for all the event was perfect.
Great Saturday...
It gave me the feeling as though we had started dating again. It had been long since we last watch any movies in the cinema. I nearly forgot how the cinema looks like. The movie was nice and its long. Almost 2.5 hours.
It was also our lucky day that day. After we decided to watch that movie at 1800, we were lining up at the queue. Then, out of curiosity, I just told my gf to wait in the line while I go and check out on the booking section if the person there will allow me to buy the tickets at it left only 15 minutes before the movie starts. Just trying my luck out, however, I got lucky, the counter guy was kind enough to sell me the tickets without queuing up.
Then, in the cinema, as usual there were so many advertisement, happens that one of the advertisement by bank advertising about using their credit card to buy movies ticket and no queuing required, happens that the cinema number shown on the advertisement was also cinema 5, same cinema as we were in for the movie. So I told my gf, the guy in the advertisement was me.
The day was perfect. My gf manage to get what she was looking for, we watched a movie where we both wanted to watch, timing for all the event was perfect.
Great Saturday...
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Persistent Mom
My mom is a very persistent person. When she try a new recipe, she will just try and try until she gets it perfect and right.
There was once she was so into making "ang ku kuey", literally translate to red tortise, which is use for prayers, she had tried it so many times until she gets it right and now she can make near to perfect "ang ku kuey". Just in case anyone of you don't know what is "ang ku kuey" below is a typical picture of it.
She had attempted at least 3 times with changing the ingredient a few times until she gets it right.
There was once she tried to cook a type of Thai curry chicken, learning part of the recipe from my Aunt, she had experimented with it almost on weekly basis and she is still not getting it right. There must be some ingredient that my Aunt would have forgotten to tell her and hence, the curry tasted different.
Why I write this posting? It is because, when ever she experimented a new recipe, we will become her guinea pig. Just imagine eating not so Thai curry chicken every Sunday or try her disasterous 'ang ku kuey' so many times. At times, it turns out too hard, at times it turn out too soft, at times the 'ang ku kuey' don't even look like anything close to the picture above. Just balls of red dough covering the sweet yellow paste inside.
However, having said all that, I don't mind being her guinea pig. At least it will keep her occupied and keep her active. Good way for her to spend her time and if it was a good successful attempt, I have good food to eat.
Whenever we took her out for dinner and tried something new, e.g. japanese noodles - soba or udon, after a few mouthful, she will say "... I also know how to cook this at home what".. sounded like why you all spend the money to eat it outside whereas she can cook it at home for the fraction of the cost?
Therefore, when we go out for dinner, when we order something new, we (my brother, my sister-in-law and myself) will always tease her, see, you also know how to cook right. So eat more now and keep the taste in your mind so that you can cook it for us next time and we will end up having a good laugh.
Mom, keep up the curiousity and persistent and hopefully by the time we shifts to our new house later, we will have an oven to allow you to bake, instead of just steaming now and there will be more recipe for your to try out. Perhaps if you learn to make cheese cakes, marble cakes, over baked chicken, salt baked chicken, etc, I will be most happy to be your guinea pig.
There was once she was so into making "ang ku kuey", literally translate to red tortise, which is use for prayers, she had tried it so many times until she gets it right and now she can make near to perfect "ang ku kuey". Just in case anyone of you don't know what is "ang ku kuey" below is a typical picture of it.
She had attempted at least 3 times with changing the ingredient a few times until she gets it right.
There was once she tried to cook a type of Thai curry chicken, learning part of the recipe from my Aunt, she had experimented with it almost on weekly basis and she is still not getting it right. There must be some ingredient that my Aunt would have forgotten to tell her and hence, the curry tasted different.
Why I write this posting? It is because, when ever she experimented a new recipe, we will become her guinea pig. Just imagine eating not so Thai curry chicken every Sunday or try her disasterous 'ang ku kuey' so many times. At times, it turns out too hard, at times it turn out too soft, at times the 'ang ku kuey' don't even look like anything close to the picture above. Just balls of red dough covering the sweet yellow paste inside.
However, having said all that, I don't mind being her guinea pig. At least it will keep her occupied and keep her active. Good way for her to spend her time and if it was a good successful attempt, I have good food to eat.
Whenever we took her out for dinner and tried something new, e.g. japanese noodles - soba or udon, after a few mouthful, she will say "... I also know how to cook this at home what".. sounded like why you all spend the money to eat it outside whereas she can cook it at home for the fraction of the cost?
Therefore, when we go out for dinner, when we order something new, we (my brother, my sister-in-law and myself) will always tease her, see, you also know how to cook right. So eat more now and keep the taste in your mind so that you can cook it for us next time and we will end up having a good laugh.
Mom, keep up the curiousity and persistent and hopefully by the time we shifts to our new house later, we will have an oven to allow you to bake, instead of just steaming now and there will be more recipe for your to try out. Perhaps if you learn to make cheese cakes, marble cakes, over baked chicken, salt baked chicken, etc, I will be most happy to be your guinea pig.
Fully booked night
For this week, all the days after work is fully booked. Why I say that? Well, started from Monday, my futsal friends called, we played from 7.30pm to 9pm.
Then, on Tuesday, I joined my friend for a badminton game from 8pm to 10pm. Yesterday, which is Wednesday, normally it is futsal day, but yesterday I did not go for the futsal. Instead, I went to meet up with my friends for dinner as one of my friend is leaving back to the US and no one knows when will he be back here again.
Tonight, which is Thursday night, normally I am quite free. However, tonight I will be meeting my ex-housemate when I was in the UK. He is now working in our neighbouring country and he is back for a holiday and happens that he stays very near to my house. We will be catching up for the events that went by this year. Last met him is sometime before Chinese New Year early this year. In fact, we have a custom whereby normally one day before the Chinese New Year Eve, we, i.e. myself, this housemate and there is one more guy, the three of us will meet for a cuppa tea or meal.
Then, as usual, tomorrow night, I will be having dinner date with my lovely gf.
So you see, Normally I don't have so many activities at weekdays night. For me a typical weekdays night, except on Wednesday and sometimes Thursday I will play some sports, and Friday dinner. Monday and Tuesday typically I am free and lazying around at home after work. So happens that this week, all the weekdays night is occupied with activities.
Well, time to punch my card and call it a day in the office too...
Then, on Tuesday, I joined my friend for a badminton game from 8pm to 10pm. Yesterday, which is Wednesday, normally it is futsal day, but yesterday I did not go for the futsal. Instead, I went to meet up with my friends for dinner as one of my friend is leaving back to the US and no one knows when will he be back here again.
Tonight, which is Thursday night, normally I am quite free. However, tonight I will be meeting my ex-housemate when I was in the UK. He is now working in our neighbouring country and he is back for a holiday and happens that he stays very near to my house. We will be catching up for the events that went by this year. Last met him is sometime before Chinese New Year early this year. In fact, we have a custom whereby normally one day before the Chinese New Year Eve, we, i.e. myself, this housemate and there is one more guy, the three of us will meet for a cuppa tea or meal.
Then, as usual, tomorrow night, I will be having dinner date with my lovely gf.
So you see, Normally I don't have so many activities at weekdays night. For me a typical weekdays night, except on Wednesday and sometimes Thursday I will play some sports, and Friday dinner. Monday and Tuesday typically I am free and lazying around at home after work. So happens that this week, all the weekdays night is occupied with activities.
Well, time to punch my card and call it a day in the office too...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Mom's Birthday
Yesterday (9th August) is my Mom's Birthday. She did not want to celebrate it, hence, there is no grand dinner, no birthday cake, no birthday song etc.
Yesterday in fact was just simple packed lunches for lunch and dinner so that she need not to cook. My day started early yesterday. I drove to pick my gf from her house to go for the volunteer work. Half way thru the work, she suddenly felt uneasy and hence, we left the place half way thru.
After sending my gf home, I came back to my house and took my shower and went to the temple to pray as yesterday was so happen to be the Birthday of The Goddess of Mercy - "Kuan Yin". This is a very old temple, which the reconstruction had taken place for a few years now but was not 100% completed, maybe due to financial constrains. However, the main buildings and perimeter walls have been fully completed and the architecture of the main building is really good. The painting on the ceiling of the main building is impressive.
After the prayers, I drove my mom to try some new fast food with a joint newly opened near my new house. This fast food chain have good food but it is a bit more expensive then its competitor. But no worries, not that we have it everyday, never mind a few extra dollars. Just something new for my mom to try. And I knew my mom appreciated it when she can comment that the food of this fast food is tastier then its competitor.
Then, we rested at home by just lazying around the house and taking the Sunday afternoon naps, by the time we woke up its already 1900 and its dinner time. Here again, I told my mom not to cook and we went out to pack some food for dinner. So, both the meals she need not to exert her energy, just resting at home for her birthday.
Again, the usual me, I did not wish my Mom Happy Birthday yesterday as I know she did not want to celebrate it due to the passing of my dad less than a year ago. So, I just can wish her in my heart and may all her wishes comes true... Happy Birthday Mom!! Many Happy Returns and May You Have All the Health and Longevity.
Yesterday in fact was just simple packed lunches for lunch and dinner so that she need not to cook. My day started early yesterday. I drove to pick my gf from her house to go for the volunteer work. Half way thru the work, she suddenly felt uneasy and hence, we left the place half way thru.
After sending my gf home, I came back to my house and took my shower and went to the temple to pray as yesterday was so happen to be the Birthday of The Goddess of Mercy - "Kuan Yin". This is a very old temple, which the reconstruction had taken place for a few years now but was not 100% completed, maybe due to financial constrains. However, the main buildings and perimeter walls have been fully completed and the architecture of the main building is really good. The painting on the ceiling of the main building is impressive.
After the prayers, I drove my mom to try some new fast food with a joint newly opened near my new house. This fast food chain have good food but it is a bit more expensive then its competitor. But no worries, not that we have it everyday, never mind a few extra dollars. Just something new for my mom to try. And I knew my mom appreciated it when she can comment that the food of this fast food is tastier then its competitor.
Then, we rested at home by just lazying around the house and taking the Sunday afternoon naps, by the time we woke up its already 1900 and its dinner time. Here again, I told my mom not to cook and we went out to pack some food for dinner. So, both the meals she need not to exert her energy, just resting at home for her birthday.
Again, the usual me, I did not wish my Mom Happy Birthday yesterday as I know she did not want to celebrate it due to the passing of my dad less than a year ago. So, I just can wish her in my heart and may all her wishes comes true... Happy Birthday Mom!! Many Happy Returns and May You Have All the Health and Longevity.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Learning at work
There was a Chinese saying, "Life until old, learn until old". The first time I heard this saying, I truly appreciated this saying. And ironically, I heard this saying from a very senior (in terms of age) person in my old company.
Therefore, in work, I always seek new things to do. I will easily get bored and tired with repetitive stuffs. That is one reason I have been interested with project and design works from the very beginning of my career.
Some might say, project also repetitive work, but I can tell you, not one single project is the same. Thru my 10 years of working experiences in project, I have never came across 2 identical projects. Each project is unique in its given way. It can be the engineering application of it, it can be the economical point of view, it can me from efficiency point of view etc.
I have side track from what I have in mind for this posting. Back to the learning. I have been using a Computer Aided Design software since day 1 of my working life. All the while I was only able to do plans and 2D views. This is not due to the limitation of the software, it is due to the limitation of my know-how to use the software.
I was planning to design the new kitchen of our house, hence, I was busy drawing the plans of the house and front view of the kitchen from various angles. I was really keen to learn how to draw isometric drawings from the day I learned to use the software.Isometric drawings actually gives you an almost 3D view of the drawing.
I have seen my colleague did it and I am sure he knows how to do it well. So without hesitation, today I ask him how do do that drawing and he showed me some new command and there I was happily drawing away the Isometric drawings.
Now, the lesson learn here are 2 main ones. First, never be too shy to ask for guidance. I always have this philosophy in me that I rather become a stupid person for one time by never be shy to ask someone to teach me of the things I don't know, then becoming a stupid person for a lifetime by being shy to ask. There is a Malay saying to this that is translated to be "If you are shy to ask for direction, you will lost your way to your destination." Even Chinese have a saying that translate to, "Direction of the destination is always beside the mouth"
The second lesson is the saying, "Life until old, learn until old".
Therefore, in work, I always seek new things to do. I will easily get bored and tired with repetitive stuffs. That is one reason I have been interested with project and design works from the very beginning of my career.
Some might say, project also repetitive work, but I can tell you, not one single project is the same. Thru my 10 years of working experiences in project, I have never came across 2 identical projects. Each project is unique in its given way. It can be the engineering application of it, it can be the economical point of view, it can me from efficiency point of view etc.
I have side track from what I have in mind for this posting. Back to the learning. I have been using a Computer Aided Design software since day 1 of my working life. All the while I was only able to do plans and 2D views. This is not due to the limitation of the software, it is due to the limitation of my know-how to use the software.
I was planning to design the new kitchen of our house, hence, I was busy drawing the plans of the house and front view of the kitchen from various angles. I was really keen to learn how to draw isometric drawings from the day I learned to use the software.Isometric drawings actually gives you an almost 3D view of the drawing.
I have seen my colleague did it and I am sure he knows how to do it well. So without hesitation, today I ask him how do do that drawing and he showed me some new command and there I was happily drawing away the Isometric drawings.
Now, the lesson learn here are 2 main ones. First, never be too shy to ask for guidance. I always have this philosophy in me that I rather become a stupid person for one time by never be shy to ask someone to teach me of the things I don't know, then becoming a stupid person for a lifetime by being shy to ask. There is a Malay saying to this that is translated to be "If you are shy to ask for direction, you will lost your way to your destination." Even Chinese have a saying that translate to, "Direction of the destination is always beside the mouth"
The second lesson is the saying, "Life until old, learn until old".
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Volunteer Work
Last Sunday, I went to an Outreach volunteer work near where I stay. Actually, I am not suppose to attend for this work as I only participate on 3rd Sundays with this branch.
The outreach utilize a Church area to organise their services. Again, basic medical and dental care are provided with 2 medical doctors and 2 dentist came to extend their services.
However, since this service is provided via a makeshift mobile setup, everything is down to the very basic. The dental chair is the common "lazy man" chair. However, the other setup e.g. vacuum, drilling with water jet etc are the custom build mobile unit type.
The setup is so basic that at times, the light provided is not bright enough that dental assistant have to hold a torch light to shine into the mouth of the patient.
However, one this that I am really impressed is that they never neglect hygiene factor. Everything single equipment are properly washed, sterilized and packed. This is one thing that is crucial as any contaminated tools / equipment will lead to serious negative consequences. Hence, it was not taken lightly.
The event started as early at 0730 and when I arrived, there were so many volunteers already in action already. By 0800, the morning briefing starts and it was adjourn for simple breakfast. Buns, fried noodles, vegetarian curry and some coffee.
Then patient started coming as soon as 0900 and the whole activity went until like 1000 and no more new patient waiting on queue. All the volunteers there were just sitting around and chit-chatting as there is nothing much to do.
Then, by about 11am, the doctors decided to leave since he had waited half and hour and no patient came along. So, we started cleaning the place and packed up everything. By 1230, the lorry came along to take everything away and the place were left as we came in this morning. There is even a group of volunteers sweeping and mopping the floor.
Well, its kinda nice to spend half a day a week to extend your arm to help those in need. Everyone there are all on volunteer basis, hence, you can see everyone there work with a wide smile on their face.
We took our lunch pack and headed home and by about 1245, I am home and taking my shower already. This weekend is the volunteer work in the other branch that me and my gf use to go, it should be another day of fun at the same time helping others.
The outreach utilize a Church area to organise their services. Again, basic medical and dental care are provided with 2 medical doctors and 2 dentist came to extend their services.
However, since this service is provided via a makeshift mobile setup, everything is down to the very basic. The dental chair is the common "lazy man" chair. However, the other setup e.g. vacuum, drilling with water jet etc are the custom build mobile unit type.
The setup is so basic that at times, the light provided is not bright enough that dental assistant have to hold a torch light to shine into the mouth of the patient.
However, one this that I am really impressed is that they never neglect hygiene factor. Everything single equipment are properly washed, sterilized and packed. This is one thing that is crucial as any contaminated tools / equipment will lead to serious negative consequences. Hence, it was not taken lightly.
The event started as early at 0730 and when I arrived, there were so many volunteers already in action already. By 0800, the morning briefing starts and it was adjourn for simple breakfast. Buns, fried noodles, vegetarian curry and some coffee.
Then patient started coming as soon as 0900 and the whole activity went until like 1000 and no more new patient waiting on queue. All the volunteers there were just sitting around and chit-chatting as there is nothing much to do.
Then, by about 11am, the doctors decided to leave since he had waited half and hour and no patient came along. So, we started cleaning the place and packed up everything. By 1230, the lorry came along to take everything away and the place were left as we came in this morning. There is even a group of volunteers sweeping and mopping the floor.
Well, its kinda nice to spend half a day a week to extend your arm to help those in need. Everyone there are all on volunteer basis, hence, you can see everyone there work with a wide smile on their face.
We took our lunch pack and headed home and by about 1245, I am home and taking my shower already. This weekend is the volunteer work in the other branch that me and my gf use to go, it should be another day of fun at the same time helping others.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Retirement Party
Well, yesterday my office had organised a dinner party to celebrate for 4 retirees. 3 of them are guys that retires at the age of 55 and another is a lady which choose to retire at the age of 50.
This is the first time in our company record that there is actually people served for approx 30 years and reaching retirement age. As usual, the retirees were requested to give a short speech and one of speech that hit me the most is when of them says ".... when I first join this company 30 years back, I was young like everyone of you there, and thinking retirement is still a long way to go. Who knows, here I am today, retiring from the company already. So fast, 30 years of working life just went by me."
It made me think myself, even me myself I have been working for 10 years already since graduating in 1999, leaving me with approx 25 years more before retirement. Anyway, for this 10 years, I can see myself change a lot. I had learn a lot of things, be it technical or not, useful or not and I am sure this will not come to an end so fast.
The road before I reach my retirement is still long long way and I will make full use of it to learn and improve myself.
This is the first time in our company record that there is actually people served for approx 30 years and reaching retirement age. As usual, the retirees were requested to give a short speech and one of speech that hit me the most is when of them says ".... when I first join this company 30 years back, I was young like everyone of you there, and thinking retirement is still a long way to go. Who knows, here I am today, retiring from the company already. So fast, 30 years of working life just went by me."
It made me think myself, even me myself I have been working for 10 years already since graduating in 1999, leaving me with approx 25 years more before retirement. Anyway, for this 10 years, I can see myself change a lot. I had learn a lot of things, be it technical or not, useful or not and I am sure this will not come to an end so fast.
The road before I reach my retirement is still long long way and I will make full use of it to learn and improve myself.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Unreasonable Customers
This Saturday I will be working. Yes, you read correctly, working. As all my previous entries, I am working on a 5 days week company, however, this Saturday is exceptional.
This customer is really unreasonable. He is a facility manager for a reputable manufacturing company which would like to outsource one of their facilities and we are keen to take over.
However, it seem this exercise is so "secretive" that we are only allowed to visit the plant on Saturdays when the current operators is not working. To me this is not acceptable.
How can we who wants to take over the facility not able to see the plant in running condition and not allowed to talk to the operators? How can we evaluate the system performance of the plant if we are not allowed to audit a running plant? How do we know if the system is able to run or the specific equipment is in good running condition or not? How do we know what are the daily routine of the operators?
How can you invite people to submit a commercial proposal to operate a facility and not allowing them to know the situation of the facility? It is just like you are trying to rent out a house allow the tenant to view the house physically but not allowing the person to switch on and test all power point and taps to see if the electricity is available or water is connected or not.
This is a very unreasonable customer. The situation is made worse with the ignorance of our sales person who agrees to the customer's unreasonable request. I know sales is very important in the bad economic time, however, being a sales person, it will be your duty and responsibility to explain to the customer the viability of the action customer suggest and not blindly accept what the customer says and be a "Yes Man" all the time.
Another very unreasonable customer is the customers who like to call you at odd hours (odd hours here I define by after 7pm on weekdays) and on weekends. However, on Saturdays I understand as some companies does work on Saturdays, hence, they might not realise that their supplier do not work on Saturday when they call.
I do not understand what the customers are thinking to have call suppliers on odd hours and over weekends. What do they expect us, the suppliers to do at odd hours? Is the matter so important that you need to call people at that time and discuss about it? What will possibly happen if the call is postpone until tomorrow morning? Will the plant be shut down or the factory be closed?
What action can we take if you were to call during that time? 99.9% of the time, the necessary action only can be taken tomorrow morning when the business resume and no action is able to be taken from the time of the call to the next morning. So what is wrong with calling in the morning during working hours instead? Besides not getting your things done over the night, you would have also disturb the person's emotional mind as now he / she have this issue hanging on their mind until the morning. Is that the main intention? How would you like it if this happens to you?
Come on fellow customers, most of us are not for a 24 hours operating company. Hence, please be more considerate. Please do not think that with your few dollars paying to suppliers, the suppliers is obliged to entertain your request 24 x 7. Please respect people's privacy and personal time.
Therefore, to all out there, please be a little more considerate. Think before your put a request to your supplier or call your supplier. Take a peek at the clock or watch before picking up the phone.
This customer is really unreasonable. He is a facility manager for a reputable manufacturing company which would like to outsource one of their facilities and we are keen to take over.
However, it seem this exercise is so "secretive" that we are only allowed to visit the plant on Saturdays when the current operators is not working. To me this is not acceptable.
How can we who wants to take over the facility not able to see the plant in running condition and not allowed to talk to the operators? How can we evaluate the system performance of the plant if we are not allowed to audit a running plant? How do we know if the system is able to run or the specific equipment is in good running condition or not? How do we know what are the daily routine of the operators?
How can you invite people to submit a commercial proposal to operate a facility and not allowing them to know the situation of the facility? It is just like you are trying to rent out a house allow the tenant to view the house physically but not allowing the person to switch on and test all power point and taps to see if the electricity is available or water is connected or not.
This is a very unreasonable customer. The situation is made worse with the ignorance of our sales person who agrees to the customer's unreasonable request. I know sales is very important in the bad economic time, however, being a sales person, it will be your duty and responsibility to explain to the customer the viability of the action customer suggest and not blindly accept what the customer says and be a "Yes Man" all the time.
Another very unreasonable customer is the customers who like to call you at odd hours (odd hours here I define by after 7pm on weekdays) and on weekends. However, on Saturdays I understand as some companies does work on Saturdays, hence, they might not realise that their supplier do not work on Saturday when they call.
I do not understand what the customers are thinking to have call suppliers on odd hours and over weekends. What do they expect us, the suppliers to do at odd hours? Is the matter so important that you need to call people at that time and discuss about it? What will possibly happen if the call is postpone until tomorrow morning? Will the plant be shut down or the factory be closed?
What action can we take if you were to call during that time? 99.9% of the time, the necessary action only can be taken tomorrow morning when the business resume and no action is able to be taken from the time of the call to the next morning. So what is wrong with calling in the morning during working hours instead? Besides not getting your things done over the night, you would have also disturb the person's emotional mind as now he / she have this issue hanging on their mind until the morning. Is that the main intention? How would you like it if this happens to you?
Come on fellow customers, most of us are not for a 24 hours operating company. Hence, please be more considerate. Please do not think that with your few dollars paying to suppliers, the suppliers is obliged to entertain your request 24 x 7. Please respect people's privacy and personal time.
Therefore, to all out there, please be a little more considerate. Think before your put a request to your supplier or call your supplier. Take a peek at the clock or watch before picking up the phone.
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