Crime and Punishment

I'm on board :)

How could they? How could anyone do such things? How could you live with yourself afterwards? And how must it feel to be a child whose parent is doing that to you? I keep asking myself why some of us can do such things, but I have no answers to them. I was not brought up with a strong Christian faith but I know that GOD loves his children very much. But I wonder…if GOD truly loves little children so much, why does he let them suffer so heinously? So inhumane. I used to feel that every criminal, no matter how violent they are, should be given the chance to rehabilitated and contribute back to the society. I certainly never supported the death penalty – now I wonder if there can be any punishment too great for those who maim, rape or murder innocent little children. Lets declared that these children voices does matter.

Something beyond balance

Me & her…we have a hate-and-love relationship…we are aware of each other strengths & weaknesses…we have our own territory…yet we still remain so competitive, hungry & greedy for more. I don’t know…perhaps in our previous life…whether I owned her or she owned me…but I thank GOD for putting her in my life. Because of her…I’ve got the monetary increment and the title adjustment. I feel that this promotion happen because of her…not of my own capabilities. I feel like a puppet; in a way. In some ways, I was worried how I’d take it but it’s gone well so far. I am sure that Snow Petrol is not that blind & ignorant as well...Snow Petrol will not simply make such a decision. I would say that 70% is based on my own capabilities and the other 30% is contributed by her. In reality, so many things in life are beyond my control.

see my big smile

Today, I spent my Christmas Eve at Menara Axis…being Santa’s little elves…helping to wrap up presents (there were tons of toys, plush toys, stationary sets, books etc) that will be given away to the children at the UM Hospital. Thanks to Roddy & team for organizing such a meaningful event…I bet the children will be very delighted when they woke up the next morning to see a nicely wrapped present placed beside their bed. It’s very important to remember people on this ocassion, especially these small children because life is very precious. Everyone is special. I never thought that I would be able to do this kind of thing…volunteering my time & energy. I used to do volunteer work…but that was ages ago when I was back in university. I wrap up so many gifts already…I think I am already a pro and can be a qualified professional gift wrapper at Memory Lane :) And it's really nice meeting & working along side a group of strangers that came together today to make this project a sucess. We, the volunteers (from a very diverse backgrounds) are indeed happy that we can participate & contribute to this Christmas assignment.

So, Merry Christmas everyone :)
2010 has been a truly defining year for me. It was a year that I learnt that attention to detail and having proper systems is crucial. It has given me a new perspective on life, and I can’t wait for too long or wait forever for things to happen, I’m not getting any younger :) I've brokendown; torn myself up and now created a brand new me to continue this journey of mine. Instead of trying to fight it, I want to work harder on accepting it and enjoying it because there’s so much to gain. I'm a wild animal on a mission to Realize Powerful Ideas, Connecting The Dots, and Have Loads Of Fun. I'm only interested in being responsible, being on the level and not doing any dumb s**t :)

"Shark in the Water"

It's the end of the yingze’s era…now it’s a new beginning under the Edwardian reign. I have finished doing my handover of my portfolio (D33: Bicyele, Camping, Sports & Nautism and D34: Live Plants & Live Pets) to Edward…hopefully Edward can bring my babies to greater heights. These may be small categories but they hold such a big potential. Edward has a very impressive resume…with a background in stastistics, strong experience in Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, have worked in New Zealand retail business for several years, Edward is someone who is passionate about life, a hard & serious worker with a good sense of responsibility, excellent command in English and is always organized & timely. My babies are in safe hands.

I am not being boastful here…from August 2008 till October 2010…the figures may not be the best internally, but my performance (representing the French) was the best in the retail market. Now all of my competitors are copying me. I am glad that I have set such a benchmark for them to follow. I also feel very lucky and blessed that I was a part of this strong Team Baz. Managing the portfolios was a dream. Even for D34 – I manage to find a new pet supplier to push up the sales and also developed a new sub-category: water fountain for garden landscape purposes. Thank you GOD for holding me together. I would not have walk this far.

Now it’s time for me to move on. Yes, life’s been absolutely full-on the last couple of weeks. And, the last couple of days even packed in some extra punch in all sorts of ways. In fact, things had been so crazy that I sort of lost this little ‘happy place’ that I’ve been in for a while. And, the knowledge that the next couple of months will probably continue to get crazier is even overwhelming me a bit right now. We will be getting our 2011 financial budget, new set of contracts to be negotiated, new directions & strategies etc. Sometimes I become overly caught up with these everyday routine that I haven’t slowed down enough to think and plan carefully. So it’s the time again where I need to find a little quiet space in between to evaluate and plan...and these will help to refresh and empower my overall well being. I need to start to envision again...I dream lots... it's never a bad thing :) It gives me direction; it shows me my ultimate goals and the many precious memories I hope to achieve in my future. The near futures are my life hurdles...the distant futures are the beautiful triumphant days which make difficult times worth all the effort.

I am celebrating opportunities :)

clash of the titans

Attended Rufus’s wedding in Tapah – Natalie, Tin Min, Damian & myself make a short road trip up north. It was a beautiful wedding, fill with great food; especially the chunky satay meat and it was nice to catch-up with some of the Sales Managers, Division Managers, Store Directors from the store team & the Suppliers that came that day. So happy for Rufus :)

This is the person that gave me the kick start to my corporate career with the French. The best individual I have ever worked with. The best support you can ever find in a work place. We are good friends and enjoy working together. I will always remember and miss the battles we fought together. The way we always stood up for and took care of each other. The way we always shared knowledge and helped one another. The stories and memories of our adventures that we will laugh about for the rest of our lives. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Rufus's friendship and guidance. No matter what others say, I know Rufus have to do what that needs to be done at that time. They will never understand. Wait till Snow Petrol, Felix & Celtic have the opportunity to be in Rufus’s position, then they will know & understand. Now, they only know how to criticize, bad-mouthed and complain. I want to see how good they are.
As for me, I have to be neutral and be in the middle ground as I am serving different Masters now. I can really feel that Snow Petrol is hating me to the max now. Anything & everything, Snow Petrol will refer to Felix and bypassing me. And that sarcastic tone. So annoying. We shall see.
The truth is, no one ever got promoted purely because of hard work. Likability, strategic thinking, networking, being a team player are but a few of the other factors that go into crafting a successful career.

Final wedding for this year – Jeffrey & Theresa. Was a beautiful wedding filled with so much love :)

black swan

Finally something to put a smile on my face :)
Blades Of Glory – this movie is really funny & hilarious. I laughed lots until my tummy ache :)
To me, ice-skating is a sports that combines athleticism and grace – it’s all about execution, precision and accuracy in its lifts, the jumps, the splits, the routines. And when you have the first male/male figure skating pair doing ice-skating together, its fireworks all the way :) There is the Will Ferrell’s macho & loud rock star persona and Jon Heder’s shy & charming character - 2 very different personalities working their way together, getting their chemistry right, being comfortable with each other body & aware of each other presence…the whole buddy-buddy process is just entertaining and comical. Really make my day good.

this world has something for me

I have a feeling that Snow Petrol & Felix…is both angry, upset with me…they hates me. I know that the Qmaxco Sofa was a failure…it was a joint decision that WE make together…but I know that Snow Petrol & Felix put me on the front line to take the bullets from the store team…I admit I was green…that there was not enough market research on my part…I also did not have the courage to speak up in the first place and stop them & eventually I have make a wrong decision…which leads to a very disastrous results. I am not saying that Snow Petrol & Felix is making me the scapegoat…that I have to face the store team alone…or perhaps maybe they are…on the surface, both of them wants the store team to see me as the one who is responsible for this mess. In a way, I also know that I did not project a firm, knowledgeable, experienced, credible, confident image as everyone expected of me. In the eyes of my store people, I did not make a very good first impression and I totally screwed up on my first debut as the new buyer of D31-F. Now, I just want to run very, very far away. I do not want to end the year feeling like this.

Nonetheless, the fighter in me…I will continue to fight on and right the wrong. This blow is rough and I have to go back to the basics. I have made a choice - that I want to work hard, remain committed, diligent, determined & disciplined and not by buying a lottery ticket & hope to get rich overnight! I will take this opportunity to learn from this letdown, to build back that trust & my credibility. Yes, this whole sad chapter may indicate to my bosses that I am weak; but to me there is no embarrassment to say that I am sorry (which i did) and be aware of my own limitations. No one is interested in my own success except for myself. I have to ensure my own success. I am my own best asset and the master of my own destiny, to make my own future. I will find the right way to heal, to inspire, and to succeed.

Meanwhile, I better lay low and out of the radar for a while. More battles are coming ahead. Whatever decisions concerning Qmaxco; made by Snow Petrol & Felix will put me in hot soup…I will be in more deep trouble after this. But they will say that yingze is at fault, not theirs.

'Your worries will come and go. But a Positive attitude can weather anything' – UnKnown.

Lagenda Budak Setan

Now I'm not an idealist, and the knowledge that we don't live in a perfect world helps me make flexible choices in life :) The truth is, I can be a hard nut to crack, plus being a stubborn-headed mule, and controlling at times. I'm also blunt. If a spade is a spade, I don't see the need to dress it up and present it in any other way, why waste words right? Usually when I go cryptic, it's because I just want to play around with the words and see how they turn out. I do notice that being politely menacing can be quite fun at times :) and that sorta results in sarcasm - obviously dim-witted people won't see the arrows shooting at them, which is very ideal :)

nine months later

For the past few weeks, I know that I have been complaining, whining, yelling and mumbling to myself a lot! I know that I am not making any sense at all, I feel tired, I feel lost, confused, beaten…yes, I don’t think that’s a good thing. Or healthy either. Life is not always wonderful. No matter what you read here in this site, I can assure you that my life is not perfect. No one’s is, if that makes anyone feel better. GOD is fair. Life is supposed to be a rollercoaster and we will have its ups and downs. I’ve learn life the hard way…when things got too good…the down came crashing down even harder. So when life is a bitch occasionally, don’t sweat it and embrace it. I try to focus on the good things…it helps move me along…and keeps me sane in the process.

I am never satisfied with anything and want more but not the work to get there. Heh….don’t we all? :)

12 by 12

I know I'm tempting fate by saying that my life right now is good.

Given the circumstances of the past year, the loose ends that needs to be clean up are close to relaxing. Of course, I tend to forget that in my life, there is no such thing as peace and comfort. If we can extrapolate the events of my life so far, this part is the calm lull before some insane hurricane sweeps past, forcing me to once again batten down the hatches and weather it out. Some days I am amazed how I've dealt the things in my life and came out. Sure I do not have much friends and I've had very bad things happened to me and would probably still happen, but somehow, regardless of the hypomanic/depression mood swings, I have handled every moment as they come and in many ways come out a little better because of it. Alright, at this point, I realize I may not fulfill my childhood dream of becoming the ruler of the world. Yet given what I've earn thus far, it's hard not to take some fierce pride in it at all.

During some of my more turbulent episodes, I remember that I used to have someone constantly giving me the advice that I should just surrender to the things that come with life and at the end of the day, I would be more happy because of it. I would often argue that in that surrender, we lose out on the potential of fulfilling not just what we could be, but who we could be. I could not live that life, so full of regretful of "what ifs". However as time passed, I realized that there, maybe...there was some merit to the surrender thingy; and in that wisdom, a compromise between the two ideals; became what that has kept me going in these recent time :)

I surrender to the idea that there is a possibility that I would probably never experience a moment of peace in my lifetime. I surrender to the experiences that have taught me to be a soldier, a fighter. I surrender to the reality that I perceive in which all moments are part of a seemingly endless war. I surrender to the possibility that I have no hope and I am already dead :) So I keep on fighting. I fight because I realize it is what I was bred to do. I fight because I realize I shouldn't have to hate the conflicts that I have to endure every moment. I fight because very few people are willing to do so. I fight because at the end of the day, the collective small victories are worth grinning for than a lifetime of regrets.

Yeah, so I'm a walking balance of contradictions. I surrender because it lets me fight better and I fight because it's the closest I can come to finding some measure of satisfaction and peace in my life. Not many people can understand this. In fact, I don't think anyone I know in my life actually gets why I do what I do, which is probably why I don't have many friends. I know it's not a particularly ideal nor is it mentally healthy for me to keep doing so, but until I can find another beneficial compromise that gets me a social life; I am probably going to remain the forced hermit :) Strangely enough, I'm alright with this arrangement at this point of time. It really doesn't bother me to know that no one is willing to take my hand and let me show them a whole different world to the one they know. Then again, maybe it's because I'm not at one of my extreme moods. You know I'll be screaming a whole different tune in one of those episodes. For now though, let's just savor the lull. Rarity after all breeds pricelessness :)

you may say that i'm a dreamer

Once in a while when my day ends in a less desirable conditions, I will go home mumbling to myself, being depressed, mentally listing down all of the things that I could have done better at the work place. In almost all of these situations I realize that the day didn't turn out so well because - somewhere, somehow, at some point in time during the day, I made a compromise with myself and allowed the cynical confusions of what the world wants of me to take over myself. Honest, somewhat honest, very honest, does it matter? At the end of the day, the verdict's out. We've all failed in our quest to create the ideal world, because, at some point in time, someone makes the choice to compromise, and that, has made all the differences.

The moment the words fell out of my mind, I just realized how sinfully well I've treaded the path of the rat-racer. How well I've played the cards dealt to me, and how disgustingly cunning of a fox I've become, to the point that I've blurred the path being that shrewd corporate mix and the idealistic individual who wants to build an ideal world for everyone. Frustration will follows when you're bent to impossible positions. So you see I don't really like to lie, or kiss ass, or tell the donkey he's a horse, but alas, sometimes, a woman's got to do what a woman has to do just to earn her monthly keep. I don't pretend that I'm perfect.

Outlaw Country

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the loving of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand

There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing
Funny, when you're dead how people start listening

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys
And I'll wear my pearls

-If I Die Young: Band Perry-

'one shot at life'

My greatest challenge has been to overcome my impatience & selfishness. I always want to do everything and go everywhere and get everything done right now, and with my own way. I used to hate to wait for anything or anyone. That was the source of a lot of frustration in my life. Now, I realize that everything happens in its own timing if I’ll just work on one thing at a time and to trust the process of life. Nothing great was built in a day. It takes years to master any craft or trade. It takes years to develop wisdom, grow a business, build a community or change the world.

the truth is hard to come by

Sofa (QMAXCO 299) – first introduction, first project; FAILED.

The store teams are not motivated and encouraged. They have become very critical, demanding, pushy, complaining, questioning, finding faults, being overly negative & non-responsive…they are digging up the past’s dirty dirts, un-earthing the previous mess. They are not giving me the support and do not understand & shared Snow Petrol, Felix & my vision for the D31-F's future direction. Guys, please give me the needed time, space & opportunity to change things and to right the wrong. It cannot be magically done in 1 day time, in 1 week time, in 1 month time. It is going to be a gradual fine-tuning process. I believe the team you build is critical. You cannot do it alone. To make things worst – there is the enemy from within; Celtic have been instigating everyone like nobody business; adding salt & vinegar all over the place. I am exhausted, I am crushed, at my wit’s end, tense.

I know I have stumbled, I shall picked myself up and continue the journey again. Failure is a great teacher if you are willing to learn. My tenacity is my strength. I will never give up on this battle. As Churchill said “Success is not final and failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts”.

sayiwon't

:( Sigh …Snow Petrol refused to release me…and now I ended up doing D31-F portfolio and handover my D33 Bicycle, Camping, Sports & Nautism and D34 portfolio to the newcomer; Edward instead. What happen was…Abby resigned with immediate effect from the HardLine Team because Courts Mammoth was so generous & willing to pay out for the 3 month’s notice compensation. Thus, leaving the Small Appliance category vacant and with urgency, Stewart ask me whether I want to take over the position or not. If I want, Stewart will quickly arrange for an interview session with the HardLine Director and then proceed to get me transferred out soon. I considered and said Yes. I mean, it’s the same level of position as what I am currently doing right now and the position has 2 assistants…why not right? Better than doing D33 & D34. Doing D33 is still ok, still manageable but when you add on D34, it’s really killing me. For D34; where got fire, I just put out the fire. The job is just too much that I can't focus both on the same time. Quantity, but no quality. Besides, my job title glorifies what I do. The position is called Manager. I only manage myself, the suppliers and the store team. What manager is that? So I see it as an opportunity to try a new category and stepping up to learn about managing my own staffs. I know it’s embarrassing to show to my boss that I am weak, but in order for me to survive long, it makes me re-assess my current situation and I decide to speak up. Yes, it makes me realize with my capabilities & resources, I know what I CAN and CANNOT do. It makes me choose. And cull. I’m so sorry but I tried. I just wasn’t as good as they are or as they expected.

Then the dilemma starts. The HardLine Team & the SoftLine Team are neighbors. Snow Petrol and the HardLine Director…both of them looks ok on the surface but in actual fact, the both of them are very competitive; always competing with each other. I know that I need to handle the situation well. I respect Snow Petrol. I seek for Snow Petrol's permission for me to meet up with the HardLine Director. I want Snow Petrol to hear it from my own mouth, instead of hearing it from other people. The latter will not be good. So Snow Petrol firmly said no and I ended up doing Patrick’s portfolio. I am shock. I thought Snow Petrol will retain me in my current position but with additional manpower such as an assistant or a management trainee. Or worst come to worst, if I do not have any additional helper, I will choose to leave once I got my year-end bonus and a new job. D31-F is a very big department, no doubt less suppliers compare to D33 & D34. The hugeness of it…it’s very weighty. I’m in the spotlight right now. I have to re-learn and start from scratch. And like other department, there is a set of problems that I need to solve, there are areas that needs to be improve and there is the assortment review that needs to be done. I have to start from the bottom again; to learn about the items, to understand the nature of the business, to get back the suppliers & the store support.

It has been a very trying time for me. One day harder than the next. My shoulder feels heavy. My steps are slow. My mind fogs. Sometimes I want to scream. Yeah, I know that just like playing football, sometimes I will missed games, sometimes I will have better games.

The Great Adventurer

Work Tales - C________ to stay in Malaysia, Singapore.

French retail giant said on Thursday that it had abandoned the planned sale of its Malaysia and Singapore stores, pledging instead to build up its market share in the Asian nations. The world's second-biggest retailer behind US colossus Wal-Mart; had said this week it was offloading its 42 stores in Thailand and was also looking to sell its 23 Malaysian and two Singaporean outlets. But the firm decided to retain its presence in Malaysia and Singapore following a "strategic review", chief executive Lars Olofsson said in a statement issued in Malaysia. "We have decided not to sell our operations in Malaysia and Singapore because their market position and their growth prospect are consistent with our strategy," Olofsson said. Reports emerged in July that Carrefour was planning to sell its businesses in all three Southeast Asian countries in an apparent bid to consolidate and shift resources to the booming Indian market.
(Source: By Agence France-Presse)

Whew…what a relief…when the news broke out in July…memories of the 2006 take-over starts to come back to me. It was the year where the English have bought over M13. I cannot be that lucky right! Second time take-over? Lighting does not strike twice on the same place. Scientifically & technically. Even though the sales is being put on hold; but it’s for this year, it can’t guarantee what will happen next year right? Besides, I think that the planned auction did not attract high enough bids to convince the French. They are the most calculative race ever :)

going from noise to silence

Whether we realise it or not, we receive GOD’s grace and countless blessings every single day. Our health. Our food. The air we breathe. Security at home and where we live. Our family. Our friends. And that is just to name a few. The problem is, when we receive such blessings (often, too easily as we receive them almost automatically), there’s always a strong tendency for us to take them for granted. After a while, we feel as if things are just meant to be. That we are supposed to receive these blessings. That we deserve GOD’s grace. We EXPECT to continually be given these blessings by GOD.

The Bible tells us about what happened to the city of Jericho and Ai (in Joshua 6 and 7). The city of Jericho was given by GOD to the Israelites. The Israelites did what GOD asked them to do, which is to walked around the city for seven days, and the wall of Jericho collapsed. The Israelites won the war, but they then took GOD’s grace and presence for granted. The Israelites were used to receiving GOD’s grace and mercy, and they felt defeating the small city of Ai would be a piece of cake (especially since the city of Jericho was defeated so easily just earlier on). They did not relied on their own strength, and worse; a man named Achan went against GOD and took the possessions that weren’t his. The Israelites in the end were badly defeated by the people of Ai.

A man can lose his fame and wealth overnight.
A person who eats well and exercises regularly can lose his health in a split second.
A great kingdom can lose its power and dignity in a matter of days.
Yes, a person’s downfall may not always mean he / she has done wrong things that are against GOD. But, let the story of Jericho and Ai reminds us today to always be thankful to GOD for His blessings and presence in our lives.

If we are healthy today, then let’s remember that it is purely GOD’s grace.
If we’re blessed with wealth and material comfort, let’s remember that it is also because of GOD’s grace. Let’s learn to always be thankful for everything that we have.
Let’s learn to be responsible and accountable for all of the blessings that we receive every single day.

(source: Leonny; Our Everyday Things)

To watch. To breath. To smile.

It was so nice to be away from the hustle 'n' bustle of the big city & the big smoke. I took 4 days off from work and went up to Setiawan to visit Troy & the both of us make a trip up to Cameron Highlands together. There’s just something intoxicating about waking up at sunrise in a small town and breathing in the fresh morning air of the bush. It is heavy, dewy, cold, and rich with the smells of wet wood, damp earth and grass. Kampung life. Most of the time I consider myself a city girl. I enjoy crowds, tall buildings, air conditioning, wireless internet connection and hairdryers! :)

2 days with Troy – between the 2 of us, there was tons of laughter, tons of good food (of course!), tons of quality time together. These are the moments in my life that I will always cherish. The both of us Eat, Play & Live. All up we spent many hours on our feet – I was out with Troy sightseeing the town of Setiawan, eating seafood, paying a visit to Troy’s family shipping port (the dock is just terrific, i can see the sea & being surrounded by these huge and luxurious ships. i feel so small. unfortunately the weather has not been that kind to us; or not we would have taken a smaller ship out and sail towards the sea), visit all the strawberries, flowers & veggie farms in Cameron Highlands, bought many potted plants, flowers & cactus, getting our facial and foot massage done & we keep on talking and gossiping which makes me laugh a lot. It was a very good holiday indeed.

It’s a nice feeling that I feel so calm and peaceful every time I’m on a holiday. It helps me to find my happy place. I think living simply brings about a certain kind of happiness and contentment. I should really do it more often. And I should at least try a little harder to bring some of that contented simplicity back into my normal life :)

1% extra

Prince William to marry next year :( So sad…this eligible chap is no longer available in the market. Among all of the pictures that have been taken on William over the past 28 years, I think this self-portrait is still the best. I really like the way he looks when he was only 17 years old at Eton – boyish, charming, fresh-face and cute. Now, still ok-lah, but his hairline is getting thinner, like going to be bold. Never mind, there is still Harry around :)

Ink & Drink

I'm not here to please the whole world, so I'm perfectly all right with the knowledge that for every 10 people who love me for who I am, there will be 100 others who will hate me for the same reason the other people love me for. Like it or not, we're all like that - you can please all, and certainly you're not here to please all!

A wise man once said, that when you start to have people hating you, then you must have done something really impactful. Great people usually have legions of haters :) I do what I have to do. The decisions that I have made is what I deemed as correct & viable at that moment. Only time will tell if it is right or wrong. People will not fully understand this; unless they are in my position today. They can only second-guess.

divider

I don’t get it…it doesn’t make any sense to me…why must the government make History a compulsory pass subject for SPM? Why not English, Maths or Science? Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying that History is not important, it’s just seems unnecessary. Of course, we must learn the past of our forefathers…but I feel History will only drive the students to learn the subject by memorizing the dates, personalities & events instead of generating creative, critical, logical & reasonable thinking. Besides, our history syllabus is not inclusive enough…it tends to favor a particular religious civilization. If it’s gonna be 1Malaysia, then it should be all-encompassing.

On another hand; we have to improve the standard of our English language among our younger generation. If we are to be globally competitive, then we can't run away from the need for a higher standard of English. That's not saying we should not also be fluent in our very own mother tongues. How I wish I could speak other languages as well. Imagine if all of our kids today could fluently converse in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil or Hindi or even Arabic! How powerful that would be! But we must be masters at English. How strong we would be! What a work force we would be able to present to the globalised world. This is so important for us to prosper as a nation and to enhance our competitive work force that is taken seriously around the world.

This time MONTH NUMBER 11!

At a time when the world economy is still uncertain and amid rising prices, I as a Malaysian have questioned the necessity for the RM2.5 billion to RM3 billion tower project after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the project in his budget speech recently. Construction work on the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka Tower will kick off next year. Touted to be the country’s tallest when it is completed in 2015, it will have a gross floor space of 3 million sq ft and 2.2 million sq ft of net floor space. The 5-star green building will be the beacon to create more excitement and to attract more interest to the whole development. This will be followed by two subsequent phases comprising a shopping complex and condominium. The whole development, to be undertaken over a 10 year period, will cost RM5 billion.

The question is, do we really really need another skyscraper in the city? Did the government and the developer (Permodalan Nasional Bhd) take into consideration the impact on the environment (the tower will be built on a 19-acre land adjacent to Stadium Merdeka & Stadium Negara, it's already compact & congested), the impact to the social system, the commercial development which will cause an oversupply of office space in the city & the speculation of higher office rental, the worsening of the already heavy traffic situation and the suitability of the site?

Isn’t it better to put the money elsewhere? That truly benefits everyone from all walks of life. Like building more schools, suraus, temples, churches, fixing the local playgrounds, more community centers, higher interest rates for EPF, no incomes taxes, re-painting the old government-owned apartments & flats, repair the lifts, building more government clinics, availability of more scholarships, feeding the poor, free baby milk powder & diapers, poverty elimination programs, fixed the pothholes so we can have better roads, subsidize for first-time home buyers, helping the Orang Aslis, free toll etc. Another skyscraper is really unnecessary. Whether this project is being funded from the public funding or from the private equity, I still think it's a waste of money.

Malaysia – I don’t think we are going to go anywhere, anytime soon.

tonight the stars, tomorrow the moon

WEIGHT = 53.5KG
IDEAL BODY WEIGHT = 54.9KG
AGE = 28 YEARS OLD
METABOLIC AGE = 25 YEARS OLD
FAT % = 27.4%
FAT MASS = 14.7KG
BMI = 21.4
MUSCLE MASS = 36.6KG
BONE MASS = 2.2KG

Recently, Nestle with Fitness First jointly organized a 14 Days Shape Up Program. So, Mrs Simon, Theresa, Lyan & myself decide to sign up for the challenge where we have to reduce an X-amount of weight in order to win the prize money. We have to follow a very strict eating diet, followed by a vigorous exercise regime. Unfortunately, none of us are qualified :) Instead; we have our BMI test done. And yes, I am absolutely thrill that I am underweight and that my body age is actually younger that my actual age :) But I know that I still need to do some weighting and lifting to firm up my arms, thighs & butt. They are so flabby :(

What’s keeping me going right now is the thought of the bright things that living a healthy lifestyle can bring. I will try to exercise daily, start with small stretchers here and there. Re-energize myself daily. Take care of myself. Eat well. Live well. Have time for myself. Balance my activities. Manage my stress and anxiety. Take one moment to savor my life and my surroundings. Take the time to really enjoy them. Allow myself to glow with happiness each day. And most importantly, find 5 things to be thankful for everyday :)

Red Badge

Finally a win…Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1.
Still…we are at the bottom of the table, still in the relegation zone.
It’s just heartbreaking :(
It will take a huge mountainous effort to move up. As a matter of fact, The Reds will need a miracle to be in the Top 4 and to qualify for the next Champions League qualifications.

Tomm Taw

This movie is real sloooooow.
Simple story line – about a woman; figuring out what she wants out of life. First, she flew to Italy, where she spent 4 months eating and enjoying life. Then to India, where she explored her spirituality. And finally to Bali, Indonesia, where she found love. It’s a rites-of-passage movie for the women. Ok, everybody has a journey, a moment in their life when they need to redefine who they are and what they are looking for. But realistically, how many of us can drop everything and go away for so long & just like that?

Eating In Italy – Rome is all about living in the moment; something that all of us tend not to do very well. Eating is a ritual for Italians. Italian culture has everything to do with food. One thing I learn from this movie is that the food feeds the soul. The food not only makes us full but it nourishes us. We must romance our food :) and we must master the meaning of 'Dolce Far Niente' – the beauty of doing nothing :)

Praying In India – We must be at peace with ourselves...we must forgive, forget and move on. And again, I love India for its colors :)

Loving In Indonesia - Fairytale endings are like it is; fairytales. I think a relationship CAN get better just by simply being WILLING...willing to try...willing to learn...willing to give...willing to forgive and accept...willing to do...willing to love...willing to listen...willing to read a self-help book to improve & seeking professional help!

After a 55 hour week, I honestly just want to be at home in my bed. I suppose I am worn-out about everything. I should be scheming, working hard & climbing up the corporate ladder, but I’m not that way inclined either. In fact, I’m just jaded with the working world that I want to Eat, Pray, Love :)

ruin leads to transformation

Life is so freaking fragile.
I want to be this unafraid of the world, and be undaunted by the prospect of failure.
I want to be this innocent, resilient and optimistic.
I want to be this strong.
I want to be this happy.

second chances

I love ice cream. And I love chocolate. Combine both, and they are lethal & sinful :) Wall’s premium selection – Rocky Road & Double Dutch is absolutely fantastic. These are great for low days. When I’m feeling a little sluggish and down in the dumps. When, let’s face it, I feel like crap; everything in my life is going wrong, and nothing in the world can make me feel better. So I eat ice cream to celebrate the deepness of the depression. They saved me :) I’m thoroughly enjoying it. If I’m feeling stress during my working hours, I will take a McD ice cream during lunch to de-stress myself for a quick fix :) I will immediately feel electrified or energized. I feel alive and buzzing. I will be zippy and fresh and ecstatic. Ice cream is that powerful :) But the crazy thing about me is this, I absolutely, totally enjoy being in the office as well, I really take pride of myself in the work that I do, I love being with people who're my colleagues, and even though my superiors can be incredibly difficult sometimes, it's still nice to be a part of a great big organization; it's nice to head to work, to see my desk, and even though the meetings can be unbearably and crazily long (and many times, unnecessary), I do enjoy being a part of these decision making processes.

Patrick drop da’bomb and Patrick’s last day was yesterday :( I am so going to missed Patrick.
Always let Celtic bullied him. Sometimes, I wonder why Patrick never fights back. How can Patrick stand such abuses, embarrassment, constant criticism…so weak, so dependent on Celtic. Patrick is so down to earth, gentle, mild, has a heart of gold; wish him all the best.

kasi gempak

Alamak…aiyo, this is what the Malaysian Contingent actually wore to the opening ceremony of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. It is so uncool, untrendy, unfashionable…it’s plain U.G.L.Y. Grey & Yellow! It’s dull, no vibrancy. How come our uniforms always look so awful? When can we have decent attire? Can’t the government hire a good fashion designer?
On the other hand, we have already achieved 6 gold medals so far. Yay!

I love fireworks :) TOO stunning.

The Golden Knight

This week, has been a real eye-opener for me. I get to see how cold Snow Petrol is. How manipulative, evil & dangerous Celtic is. Dasyat sungguh. I am wondering, if…if by chance…if I have the opportunity to be in their position one day; would I do the same thing as well? I don’t think so. Perhaps this explains why I am in this position and they are in their position :)

I know that I will not have a mercurial rise in my career. Perhaps, my expectations are too simple :) I have always been the sort that is working and then taking some time off; finding pleasure and inspiration in everyday simple, tiny things in life. For example, when we have KFC for lunch, it was just another lunch to them…but for me; I will devour it slowly, enjoying the taste in every bite, it’s just joyful…finger licking good :) They say that I’m too positive but I believe, if I have lots of positive energy in me…it will attract all the goodness of life to me. Laws of attraction. If that positiveness disappears out of view, well…I keep making up new ones! I’m that easy to please. Ice cream is a good start! But there are certain things that cannot be compromise as well. Of course, I’m too a human being, I have emotional issues too; I do give in to the pressure of life.

I don't care what they have to say. The road is endless. The load is heavy. I will continue to pause, to set down my load for a while, and to appreciate my surroundings. I will stop and rest. I will take a breather before I go on.

Everything old is new again!

These last few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about boyfriends, relationships, marriages & children. Because I have been bombarded with these questions non-stop from everybody since January this year till today – Do you have a boyfriend yet? When are you getting married? You are not young anymore, you know? Who will take care of you when you are old?
And sometimes, I feel clueless on what is the right method or answers in answering their questions without offending them. Like every woman, yes; I too desire to have my own family. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. My main ambition in life is not to get married, be a stay-at-home-mum. For now. I’m sure there are a lot of young ladies out there who is in the same situation as I am. This unnecessary pressure is very annoying isn’t it?

"Why do people get married? What do you think two persons are after when they get married?"
To that, I had turned on my most cynical side and said, “For that extra income via joint finances. To pacify the parents. To answer to the girl’s parents. For logistics reasons. For legal rights to each other’s assets. To have legal sex. To give legitimacy to babies.”
Seriously, with time I’ve found that I have more confidence; I’m more sure-footed and I don’t fret over these small things…I want to be happy and do what I want. I really want to debunk the whole culture of ‘being alone is sad’. Yes, you may not have the husband & children beside you, but you have other family members, friends and community to support you.

Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Not necessary, spinsters live a sad, lonely and dreadful life ok. Each of us has the power to give our life meaning. To make our time, bodies and words into what we want.

'It's Such a Different Ride'

Happy Mooncake Festival :)
Wow, the price of the mooncakes these days is so outrageous. So unaffordable. It keeps going up & up every year. The manufacturers claim that it’s the cost of the raw materials which have went up but I doubt so. I think it’s the overly nice & unnecessary packaging that takes up most of the cost. Ingredients are expensive only when the manufacturers start to be creative and come up with new flavors; such as Charcoal mocha, Spinach, Dragon fruit lotus chocolate etc. Of course it’s expensive. The ingredients are exquisite. The original red bean and lotus paste ingredients are cheap ok. Even the lanterns have been given an upgrade. Besides the original paper lanterns, there are now the inflatable lanterns and battery-operated lanterns. Cute.

Sometimes, some things are best to be simple. I love the whole new creativity and commercialism of this pastry, but there is also a part of me that craves simplicity.
Sometimes I need to strip away the unnecessary add-ons of my life and live simply :)

Every. Single. Day.

Congratulations to IVY & Vic.
A toast to this newly weds; settling into a new life, home & career.
Her big day is finally here. She breathe, stand up straight and smile to perfection :)
The dinner was a very cool, cosy atmosphere. The guest was so excited and hyped up and hooting and whooping and clapping and smiling and laughing. It felt like a great big family reunion, where everyone was best friends.
It was good catching up with Agnes & Chee Hoo, CZ and Jo. We were very giggly and buzzy the whole night. Just the way we like it – chill, chat, wine, good food & mini abalone :) A big Yay. It was definitely a night filled with simple pleasures. The best kind, really :)

Cloud Atlas

My favorite Prince turns 26 this week! :)

And we also celebrated my Mummy’s birthday :) Behind every child’s strength and success is a proud, self-sacrificial mother. Despite our ups & downs in our mother-daughter relationship, the numerous bickerings that we have, clash of opinions most of the time, exchanges of harsh words every now & then, difficult & challenging moments once in a while - Thank You for everything and for being there. I am grateful and thankful for all of my life blessings, and you are one of them :)

I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
'cos I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel the love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she
offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be
blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she
offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she
offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

-Angels : Robbie Williams-

bangkit

I need to go and do some stationeries shopping :( It’s very annoying when my fellow colleagues (either from the same division or different division) who drop by at my workstation, consciously or unconsciously borrowed my stationeries and never returns back. And some of them; when asked, couldn’t even remember where they have misplaced it. And getting my HR Department to approve for stationeries request takes ages. Worst then the government administration. It’s infuriating. The blue pens are always the first to go, followed by color highlighters, staplers and calculators.

A world where a whole lot of people need a whole lot of help and love

Change Your World
Sunway Convention Centre from 6pm – 10pm

It’s a Christian Youth Movement, organized by the Christian Creative & Music Ministry, initiated to mobilize the millennial generation of all races & religions to take City and Nation Ownership as well as to create World In Crisis Awareness. It goes from city to city in Malaysia to create awareness, presenting real life issues and practical solutions towards JUSTICE, MERCY & FAITHFULNESS. It was founded by a husband-and-wife-team of Kelvin & Cathryn Lim. The founders believe that change begins with oneself from which will emanate a ripple effect of selflessness. They have finished their tour in Kuching, Penang, Kluang, Ipoh and they are currently right here in KL.

I was feeling really out of place because the majority of the people who turn up for this event are the youths, the millennial generation; ages 15 to 25 years old. And I’m already like what…28. I think only the founders and the volunteers of the event were the only mature-age people around :) I don't denied that people in my age group are probably busy with their career, family & children, probably do not have the energy & have long-lost-forgotten-their-passion-in-their-hearts, unlike the youths who have too much free time on their hands, and not to mention; it's much easier to put ideas & perceptions into their naive heads...but I think the movement should also reach out to us because we have the experience and the network to make change as well.

The event and the messages have been an eye-opener for me. It kicked off with a power packed concert championed by Relent (a 4 piece devotional indie rock band - they are really good), Hip Hop & Contemporary dance and powerful media presentations via video clips that highlights the important issues. Then it was followed by messages & challenges by Kelvin, YB Hannah Yeoh and Cathryn on how to make a difference in our City, Nation and the World. As Kelvin & Cathryn are just not taking the youths to an event but a journey, the party-goers were challenged to bring change to our city through many initiatives such as How we can help to create more awareness on human trafficking or even take action. How we can help the refugees in our nation. How we can support the government with different initiatives. How we can own our city instead of just complaining. How to make our city, nation and the world a better place. This was done by encouraging the youths to sign up for the movement activities such as feeding the poor, visiting a refugee camp, participate in the various workshops etc. It’s all about Being A P.A.L. (Pray, Act, Lead). Kelvin & Cathryn is planting this movement in every city, giving the youths the exposure and the platform and I really hope that each city's movement will remain sustainable in order to continually to help humanity.

I must admit, I had a fantastic time with the music, I like the way they bring their messages across, inspiring youths that we too can make a change, that there is still hope out there and instead of complaining, take concrete actions. And of course, unlike other Christian events, they are not obsess in converting the non-believers into believers. That would have turn me off completely because I believe that every individual have the freedom to choose their own religion and they have to do it willingly and sincerely and not through force.

Honestly, I'm despondent and tired of the local politics. Is anyone doing anything about the problems that the common Malaysian faces? So, this is where we come in. Don't complain and run away but make things happen. What can you do for your country, not what your country can do for you. We have to continue to fight, to demand, to improve for the betterment. I don’t use the sentence ‘what is right’ because what may be right for one party may be wrong for the other or vice-versa. Betterment, inclusive, holistic & harmony.

I was impressed with YB Hannah’s message. Here was someone who was courageous enough to do something a little different, driven enough to inspire the people around her to contribute to a cause, and motivated enough to do something significant for her community & country. Hannah is the State Assemblyman N:31 for Subang Jaya and I think she is doing a very good job for the people of Subang.

I am not going to take up everything. I am going to start small. Let's start to show more kindness, humanity, generosity, love, understanding; genuine actions...especially in our current community :) Then, good things will start to add up. Yeah, be a blessing to others.

"The life which is unexamined is not worth living” - Plato

Friends. Coming together. Growing apart. Riding a wavelength

A bit late with this blog post :)

C was back in town last month :) we spent a glorious dinner together at Ben & Nick’s Diner with some of our other high school friends. We enjoyed a very good meal, a tranquil ambience and a good catching-up session on our current work & self updates, our travel stories, M’s kids, recalling the good old days and laughing our heads off. Damn it, I forgot to bring the camera that day to take some pictures. I have all of them in one place. Sitting across from C, I seriously can’t recall when I last saw her. Yet, C still looked and feels the same; and so are the rest of them. Of course, our faces may have shown the passage of time, our attitudes, behaviors, characters, opinions, the way we speak & project ourselves may have shown maturity…but deep down inside when we sit down together, we are still the same bunch of giggling teenagers from SMKSSAAS. It has been 11 years since we left school. As we parted our ways and say our goodbyes that night, I was left feeling excited, pumped up and completely energized. I was very HAPPY. And I like being happy. It has been a privilege to have known such a great bunch of people. Making memories together.

And come to think of it, not only with my high school friends, but also my friends from College & Uni; we don't see each other as much these days. Life, work and children & family have gotten in the way. Busyness seems to be a symptom of our society. It’s almost a badge of honor. We rush from activity to activity saying, “I’m so busy.” We even feel guilty if we don’t have something to do every moment. It’s time to get connected again :)

pick n brew

Raya is here again! A year has gone by so quickly! It felt just like yesterday where all of my Muslim friends were just about to prepare themselves for their fasting season and today; they are celebrating. It also just felt like yesterday where I went food shopping at the Ramadhan Bazaar Pasar Malam at the Stadium Malawati car park; buying Kuihs, Kebab, Roti John, Keropok Lekor and Cendol. Raya is all about love, good cheer, fireworks, forgiveness, togetherness and yummy Raya food going all around.

It's a long weekend for me where I can sleep in and do absolutely nothing.

And today is probably my most unproductive day :)

TODAY, TODAY

Happy Merdeka
&
Happy Malaysia Day

The other day, I went to my local post office and got my name registered as a voter for the next general election :) Yes, shame on me. I think the elections are pretty soon. Could be as early as next year. Early March they say. The signs are everywhere. The sudden generosity from the PM across all board. Times like this is when you hope its election season all the time, because the rakyat gets lots of goodies – from salary increments, bonuses, senior citizens discounts, tax subsidize & exemptions, better service delivery, the roads are being tarred and…well, in some places, the local governments do crazy things like changing road signs.

Moving forward, in order to ensure that there is check & balance in the Federal & State government administration, I think it will be good for the BN to win back the states that they have lost back in 2008; namely Kedah, Perak, Penang & Selangor…and for the Opposition to win big in Johor, Pahang, Sarawak & Sabah :) There; both the BN & the Pakatan cannot do any more hanky-panky stuffs, but instead to fully concentrate on the real objectives which are nation building and economic construction.

There’s more to life than increasing its speed

Tomorrow is the 1st of September – by right, if everything have proceed smoothly, tomorrow will be my first day reporting to the English. Yes, a little bit of regret there :) a little bit of doubtfulness. Both emotions still lingering around, on a on-off basis :) The pay & the benefits are good, I know that I will have a much more better career prospects over there, I will only be doing & focusing on D33 (not like now, where I have to do both D33 & D34) and I will be learning & working with some of the best players in the industry; Rodrigo, Atticus, Juan Valentine, Danny & Miguel. Speaking of friends…Juan is already there, so is Haakon, Nikolai, Wyatt, Pierre Andre, Boss and Tommy. Tommy re-joined them several months back. It’s like my comfort zone is already in place. It's like I'm giving it all away all of the good stuffs that could happen to me.

I wanted to leave the French because I wanted a new beginning. I wanted a good change. The opportunity to start all over again was there. There were certain things which needed to be change, and I found those changes to be near impossible here. It is a fact & reality that I will have to shoulder on the 2 departments for the time being and with the conditions of both of the divisions...the KPI will be the hardest to acheive & crack into. Of course, choosing to leave the place you have labored all your life wasn’t an easy and quick decision to make. There wouldn’t be a decision if it wasn’t for the opportunity. Nonetheless, my decisions have been made. In the past few months, I’ve walked one of the longest, hardest journeys of my life. The future remains unknown and uncertain. However, I have always believe that the darkness doesn’t stay forever…sunshine will come again.

But I am very curious, if I do work alongside Atticus & Rodrigo – what will happen? I can see that their Leisure Sports area have shrunk because they have given the additional space to Danny to expand the Toys Department. If I go there, will I be able to secure the place back by justifying that I need to expand the Big Fitness category or do I need to fight it out with Danny :) Or, maybe they don’t even give the space to Danny after all.
Only time will tell…and I will continue my journey, finding myself, to live, be happy, experience discoveries, making memories.

"The past is like a rear view mirror, smaller than a windshield because the future is far bigger than what’s behind us” - UnKnown

you make me writhe with jealousy

The news of the launching of the new Toys Department by the English was all over the place. It was a huge & strong publicity event - it was featured in the English’s latest Hari Raya Catalogue, it was advertised in all of the major newspapers over the weekend, it was kind of–in-your-face-hard-selling-promotion. Danny is shouting to the world that he has arrived and he is here to show you on how to actually run the Toys Department properly. One word: Impressive. The open space layout arrangement was marvelous; all of the retail space that was available was fully utilized to the max, the set-up gives the customers (especially the children) a very modern, educational & fun feel. The assortments were perfect – there is the Flat Price Section, Boys Toys Section (HotWheels, Transformers, Ben 10, Nerf, Bakugan, Ultraman, Flash & Dash, Power Rangers etc), Girls Toys Section (Barbie, My Little Pony & Friends etc), their HouseBrand Toys Section, Family Toys Section (Monopoly, Toy Story 3 etc) and Outdoor Toys. The ID counter was a good idea as well, for the supplier's to highlight their individual domestic & international branding plus it helps to generate additional income. I can see that Danny have done a lot of market & consumer research to conceptualize this new business module that caters to every consumer segment. Danny is very into analyzing what he sees and hears. He notices and remembers every little details. He is very articulate, eloquent and his sentences & expressions are mind blowing. That is why Danny is the best candidate to run the toys business. I finally understand why all of the suppliers & his superiors have always been so supportive of his work. With this new development – I foresee that it will affect our business tremendously. I think that the next category that the English is going to revamp, rebrand & repackage will be Leisure Sports. I will be their next hitting target. I am praying very hard that Rodrigo will not appoint Danny to be in charge of the project :) Otherwise, I am screwed.

On another perspective, the question is; if Danny can do it…..why can’t I? I'm ready! :) I may need to set new goals and revisit on-going ones. Myself...and the categories that I am managing...needs to be evolving with the times too. Have to think outside of the box :)

"You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you" - UnKnown

The Little Prince

Yes; finally...Baby Sis & myself have finished watching the whole DVD collections of HOUSE from Season 1 to Season 5. House & his gang have been accompanying us for the last 9 months. Going to missed them so much :( How are we going to pass our time after this? Like Baby Sis said, we are going to feel so empty without them. At the end of each episode, I'm always in awe of its brilliance. This TV show do not disappoint. I'm totally in love with the story, the multiple characters, the new medical facts that I am learning every week, the sarcastic humor, the tension, the everything; and of course, the great man himself: Dr. Gregory House. This is a classic.

Little by little one walks far

What a lovely Sunday today is...

Attended Ammu's wedding (a fellow colleague from the O & S Department) at the Sri Maha Mariaman Temple in Puchong. The wedding was beautiful; steeped in tradition yet contemporary. Very well balance. It has something for everyone. And I have always loved the Indian's women communities sarees. The colors, the texture, the materials, the cuttings, the detailed designs; bursting with vibrancy & full of energy.

Hanging out with friends - Damian & Matte-Marit at Petaling Street. In the middle of a very hot afternoon, at a very typical dirty chinese hawker stall. Had a big bowl of a very delicious fish porridge with roasted duck :) It warms my tummy and satisfied my appetite, making me chuckle with delight. You guys remind me a little each time to live. And that one can live with very little. What's the material means nothing, it's what intangible that counts. Our collective spirit brings us closer.

Spending all day in my skirt & heels. I'm trying to be a girly girl for today :) I'm not a real girly girl. I'm not into princesses or butterflies. I'm a bit of a tomboy at heart, I love footy, I like to climb trees, I like adventures.

Had a glorious evening nap.

And the feeling that life is going to be A-OK.

"Trust your bliss”

I am currently 28 years old...and for the most part, I feel pretty good :) However...I've got to admit that maintaining my health & physical appearances these days has never been harder. If my body were a car, I'd say that it still runs decently but it sure as hell spends a lot of the time in the workshop these days. My pimples still refuse to leave me alone :( They are terrorizing me mentally & emotionally.

One year, 365 days, countless memories

The 2010/2011 English Premier League officially starts yesterday. At Anfield, it's the start of a new season, a new era. A new begining that promises revival and hope. The team has to stick together, win every matches there is, booked a spot in the Top 3 of the League table, win the Europa Cup, play very hard to eventually lifts the EPL Cup (after 19 years) and to qualify for the Champions League in 2012. A lot of new developments are happening in the club. I would say it's a good progress so far.

They've got a new manager on board; Roy Hodgson. They have 3 new players - Joe Cole, Danny Wilson & Milan Jovanovic. Fresh faces, younger legs, different experiences which will add value to The Kops. They will strengthen the squad from the back line to the front line.

The players have a new jersey too. They are no longer being sponsored by Carlsberg, their official logo will bear the Standard Chartered Bank emblem.

Good news that the Reds Captain Steven Gerrard & Fernando Torres is staying put with the team; instead of signing up with the cash-rich Real Madrid or Chelsea. It's a strong motivator for the rest of the players.

These developments are positive and pretty amazing. It's time to GO GO GO!

Bless my mess

This week, I am in so much pain...tooth-ache, gum-ache, pimples breakout, period pain :(

The tooth-ache & gum-ache pain have subsided a little, but if the pain keep on persisting, I will have to visit the dentist next week. On the acne thingy, for the past few months, there is this tendency for the pimples to consistently grow so big & red & swell on my chin. It hurts and makes me look very ugly :( I don't want to be ugly. And the worst thing is, after the pimples have dried up, it leaves a mark. My skin is not young anymore; therefore it takes a very long time to heal. Which causes uneven skin tones & pigmentation. I try to drink lots of water, I try to maintain a healthy & balanced diet, even though I'm really craving for junk food and oily chinese food. I make sure I poo everyday to detoxify myself. Could it be that the facial products that I am currently using is not compatible with my skin anymore? But, strange, it's only the chin part. Cannot be the job stress. I have far worst working days before, when I have taken on too many responsibilities; more than I can handle in fact; but I still look radiant, collected & fine. Now I look like a puberty teenager. Maybe it's the hormones. The women at work teased me that perhaps I lacked actual sex on an almost daily basis :) If continue like this, I many need to see a dermatologist. Meanwhile, I will drink more water, watch what I'm eating, continue poo-ing, excercise (to sweat more) and perhaps change my facial products.

silence is special

a cute line:

If You Can Remember To Take Gingko Biloba Everyday, You Don't Need It :)

yes, i have a mission to document my every thoughts & experiences, pictures & quotes properly because i seriously believe i will become senile one day, and will truly need this blog for reference :)

Through the empty streets and past the ghostly shadows

Work Tales - problems, problems & more problems...everyday. Pricing error, negative margin, supplier code not recognize in the system, non-deliveries, late deliveries, store team complaint regarding supplier's promoters, movement of consignment counters, D33 & D34 selling floor is being optimized & compacted to the max, store revamping, fasting month is approaching, monthly fees, unfinished 2010 nego tool & contract, sales progress, stock days & stock value...these interferences...makes me wish...I wish...I wish I have taken up Rodrigo & Atticus's offer...put this shit behind me...and open a new chapter. Here, it lacked some direction, purpose & motivation. Sigh. But then again, as long as I am in retail - everywhere is the same. No one's life is smooth sailing. We are all on the same bumpy ride.

Followed Patrick & Celtic to visit our Mid Valley store today. We even manage to catch "The Karate Kid" movie. It's not Karate; it's Kung-Fu. The movie hardly representing a breakthrough in cinematic accomplishment (or a narrative or emotional triumph over the original), it did what Hollywood does best; produce a competent entertainment that offers few surprises but succeeds completely as a crowd pleaser. And yes, Jackie Chan should play more mature-mentoring characters from now on. He is too old to play the hero. As for the young Jaden Smith, he has a rare combination of intelligence, wit and humanity. If groomed well, he will end up good like his parents; not like the other child actors who lost their way.