Your BIG Year

Indeed I have expanded my exposure. In a span of 2 months time, me; the Virgin Theater have experience a stand-up comedy, a comedy theater and now a musical comedy theater at Istana Budaya :) I was there for Cuci The Musical, Last Kopek. Actually, this is the third and last installment. It was good and entertaining. No wonder the people have commented that our local theaters are way much better than our local movie industry.

CUCI THE MUSICAL is the story of four brothers: FAIRIL (Afdlin Shauki), KHAI (Hans Isaac), JOJO (Awie) and C' Tan (Nabil) who operates 'Cuci-Cuci Services', a small window washing company - and their dreams is to one day be good enough to be the company that services the exterior of the tallest twin-towers in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers at KLCC. The brothers are given the opportunity to make their dream come true when Cuci-Cuci Services are invited to join the Window Washing Olympics (WWO) - a competition run by, Citi Jasmin or better known as CJ (Vanida Imran) - that awards the aforementioned contract to it's winner. Coincidentally, the defending champions of the WWO are 'Wira Maju' , a company owned by CJ's boyfriend, WIRA (Douglas Lim). Meanwhile CJ's father, the TAN SRI (Harun Salim Bachik), keeps a watchful eye over the proceedings, concerned that his daughter might not be making the wisest choice in having WIRA as her partner for life. Sparks soon fly as KHAI and CJ develop an attraction to each other and simultaneously CJ's personal assistant, Farah (Dina) falls heavily for JOJO. The audiences get to experience the trials and tribulations - ups and downs - laughter and tears - love and heartbreak along with a dose of good old Malaysian comedy as they follow the four brothers on their journey. This enthralling and classically heartwarming tale of the under-dog struggling against all of the odds is sure to capture the hearts and touch the souls of the audience.

I love the upbeat songs (all of them were written by Douglas Lim), especially when the strongest voice in the house belts it out. Songs that are sung by Afdlin, Awie and Dina always manage to perk you up. I especially love the love song between Awie & Dina. Both Hans Isaac and Vanida Imran are not that vocally strong. However, they make up for it by presenting their strong acting skills. Apart from the fabulous 4, which you know is going to be fabulous and hilarious, I always enjoy the scene when Dina and Douglas Lim take to the stage because of their good comedic timing and delivery.

The set is one of the nicest sets that I had ever seen. Kudos to the Set Director or whoever you may call it to be. The set is not bland and amateurish. As a matter of fact, it was big, it was expressive, and I especially love the tiny details that they put into it. I felt like giving the Set Director a standing ovation because to me, it was kind of impressive. I laughed out loud a lot of the time and based on the crowd, they felt the same too. It was awesome. It was great. It was a success. I love Vanida Imran. Make no mistake. I think she is one of the best actresses in her generation. She was good in this. But there is something lacking. I think the something is the comedic timing. Maybe the script just called on the heroine to just look pretty and be fawned over. I don't think she have a great comedic timing. Sometimes she hit it, sometimes she don’t.

Overall, I really have to thank James for organizing this for me. We were supposed to sit at the RM120 section but thanks to James's friend who was the Stage Manager, we end up only paying RM60 for a RM180 seat :) It was in the front and I can see everything very clearly. As this is my first real theater experience, I did not mind investing in it and I already knew that it was going to be pricey before-hand. And for that money, I want a great experience and I have it :)

Exodus

Yes, I’m in the papers :)
It was a feature write-up on the Coleman Event which I have earlier attended.
The Star, Star Metro Section, Page 48.

Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Coleman, UFL, Bandar Sri Damansara – recently, one of my supplier...Coleman organized a CNY cum Appreciation Lunch for all of its retailers & dealers. I was invited for the function. Thus, I brought along both William & Henry and also Stewart to represent Juan Carlos who cannot make it on that day. There, we bump into Miss Siew Mei & Danny; our English competitors :) I also bump into Pietro who is representing Hong Kong. What a nice catching-up session that we have after so many years. We had a nice lunch. All of the hypermarket competitors was sitting at the same table together for the first time ever :)

The Appreciation Award was also nice…I think this is the first award recognition that Team Baz ever have :) Even though, D33 did not manage to hit the purchase target for 2011, getting such an acknowledgement is indeed very touching and grateful. I am humbled. This is my third time that I am visiting their premises. They have grown a lot. They know where are their weaknesses as a whole and are moving forward to enhance their brand by diversifying into apparels which is a very good strategy because with that, they will be a very complete sports solution partner in the market. And this is also the only supplier where I know their staffs from top to bottom. It’s a medium-size company, a small people community but it feels like one big family. Everyone knows who I am, everyone knows a little bit about me, everyone looks out for me, and everyone accepts me. This year, as it is my first time leading a team, I too also have this burning desire to create a community for them. And finally, at the end of the event, each of us also received a Deuter travel bag as a souvenir :) Cool

Behind the shinny resume

In my new mobile phone, I have discovered that there was an Angry Bird game application in it :) Which I am sort of addicted to it right now. It’s a no brainer for sure, but hey its fun :)

This game was developed by the Finnish computer game developer called Rovio Mobile.
In the game, the players use a slingshot to launch various type of birds at the pigs stationed on or within the various structures, with the intent of destroying all of the pigs on the playing field. As the players advance through the game, new birds will appear, some with special abilities that can be activated by the player. On each level, the green pigs are sheltered by structures made of various materials such as wood, ice, steel and stone, and the objective of the game is to eliminate all of the pigs on the level. Sometimes, the players even have to damage the structures, causing them to collapse to eliminate the pigs. In various stages of the game, additional objects such as explosive crates and rocks are found in the structures, and may be used in conjunction with the birds to destroy the hard-to-reach pigs.

There are several different types of birds that are used in the game. In the earliest levels, the basic red bird is the only one available. As the player advances through the game, additional types of birds become available. Some birds are effective against particular materials, and some have special abilities that may be activated by the player after the bird has been launched. For example, a blue bird can separate into three small birds (which is a favorite of mine), a black bird can explodes, and a white bird can drop explosive eggs. The pigs themselves also appear in different sizes. While the small pigs are relatively weak and are easily destroyed either by direct hits or by debris from the damaged structures, the larger pigs are able to sustain more damage. In addition, some pigs wear helmets as armor, making them even more resistant to damage; pigs with crowns can take the most damage.

Each level starts with the number, types, and order of birds pre-determined. If all of the pigs are defeated by the time the last bird is used, the level is completed and the next level is unlocked. Points are scored for each pig defeated as well as for damage to, or destruction of, structures, and bonus points are awarded for any unused birds. Upon completing each level, the players receive one, two, or three stars, depending on the score received. The players may re-attempt to unlocked levels as many times as they wish in order to complete them successfully or to earn additional points or stars. Plus both of the birds & the pigs are cute too :)

Anyway, a new Angry Bird game is set to launch today in the West. It is called Angry Bird Space. In the new game, the birds and pigs are sucked into outer space by a vortex. Apart from the new environments, the game also features a new character and new powers for the birds. Five of the original characters have new looks and superpowers, and there is one entirely new character that turns elements into ice on contact.

All Work & All Play

Sunderland 1 – 0 Liverpool.

How are we going to qualify for the Champions League next season?! :( We are still stuck in the seventh place.

Wamp & Stomp

You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want

You think you've got the best of me
Think you've had enough the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby, you don't know me, 'cause you're dead wrong

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes you fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on, over you
You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You tried to break me, but you see

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes you fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking 'bout me
You know in the end the day you left is just my beginning
In the end

-Kelly Clarkson: Stronger-

This song have been keeping me going lately…

The Unlimited GOD

With feet to take me where I’d go,
With eyes to see the sunsets glow,
With ears to hear what I would know.
I am blessed indeed.
The world is mine;
Oh, GOD, forgive me when I whine :)

- Source Unknown –

kruMania

Last Weekend, my Baby Sis brought me to DUMC (Damansara Utama Methodist Church) or better known as the Dream Center. Yup, that was the place that was raided by the JAIS Department last year. We were there for the Four Forty Records’ 5th Anniversary Event! And in conjunction with their birthday, they brought together a family reunion for one night of fun. 440 Records is a recording label managing some of the biggest local celebrities in Malaysia; including Juwita Suwito, Altered Frequency, Liang, Tony Leo and Terry Yeow. They are a bunch of energetic individuals to ever come out of Malaysia. These individuals are passionate about making a difference in what they do and their music serves as an anthem for this generation to live out loud without compromising their values. The music was good but it was too loud most of the time, so it was hard to hear what the singers are singing. But overall, I have a fun night out :)

Cinta Kura-Kura

Performance Appraisal - just had my work performance review done with Stewart. It went alright. It’s not too bad considering that I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. I don’t even know how to evaluate myself at all :) Stewart has given me both of the positive & negative comments. The positive are - that I am honest, a team player, mature enough to make decisions, to run the business…while the negative are…that I am not that open minded nor patient enough when there are new changes. As fas as I know, I am the most patient & adaptable person in the room. I always believe that if you don’t try, you never know what the outcome will be like. Unfortunately, the changes that the French incorporate are like a brick wall in front of me. It is wrong. It has proven to be wrong. We have historical data to back it up yet we are still repeating, doing the same thing all over again. It’s like going in circles with no conclusions. They have never come up with something that for once convinces me that it is workable. So, how am I going to be open minded, receptive and embrace it openly?

A classic case will be – our First Avenue store in Penang. It’s a mini-hyper store format. At least 90% of the selling floor has to be grocery & fresh driven, no…the top management wanted branded non-food stuffs to be made available as well, such as the Tefal & Maxim frying pans, Luminarc glassware…we have already open USJ 19, Bangsar South and Axis…yet we still repeat the same mistake. Malaysian customers will prefer to go to the more bigger hypermarkets or departmental stores if they need to buy such household items. And now, we have to waste our time to re-do our assortment review for the First Avenue store, which in the first place can be avoided if we do things the first time right.

The only significant improvement that I have to applaud is the Forecast Tool and the Top Project. So, I am doing things MY WAY, which is a bit painful because I am going against the current. I no longer believe :)

All Saints

Arsenal beat Liverpool 2 - 1 :( Sucks

Living Rock & Roll

Work Tales – The Stationary Buyer have left us abruptly. She was supposed to leave at the end of March, but all of a sudden…she drop da’bomb and leave just like that. We even haven’t found her replacement yet. I heard from Celtic that the Stationary Buyer took up the Rocket Internet’s offer, holding the Vice-President position with a very impressive salary package.

So, Stewart asked me whether I want to expand my portfolio…I want to pengsan already. I firmly said NO. My plate is full. As a matter of fact, it is too full. I am thankful that Stewart sees that there is potential in me to grow, to lead, to deliver…but with the current situation in D33 which is in a very upside down mess, I have to turn down the offer. I want to fix the department first and foremost. William & Henry are just begining to settle down. As a team, we are still finding our tempo. I hate to let Stewart down. Since Celtic left last year, Stewart have been there for me, who is never selfish in lending me a helping hand or as a friend to talk to when the need arises. Therefore, I have proposed that Victoria should be given the chance to try on this Stationary portfolio. Victoria is another hardworking character with passion, commitment, with a wide smiley face and big heart. It’s very encouraging to be surrounded by her positivity every day.

Doing well in the Leisure category in 2008 and later on in the Furniture category last year was indeed a record and an acheivement by itself. However, that was my past, a very good past. Now, I have to leave it to Mrs. Simon, John Doe & Azreen to fight their battles and I have to fight my new war in D33. Actually, I have to thank GOD that Juan Carlos & Stewart have been very kind & generous to me thus far. This March is already my third month onboard D33…the figures is still not there yet. I cannot set a timetable for when the results can come along. Hopefully, what the team is currently doing right now will be a trigger for more good things to come in the future. We have to show personality & character and have to bounce back as quickly as possible if we take any wrong turns.

I am still remain very doubtful on my Toys Strategies :( If it fails, then I have to dismantle the whole thing and start all over again. Now I am dividing the Toys into 2 zones – the General Toys zone & the Branded Toys zone. In the Branded Toys zone, there are the A Brands, B Brands & C Brands. Trust me, this walk it’s not at all peaches and honey. Sometimes I get bored and become irritable. VERY irritable. Sometimes I also feel very insecure about my own market worth. I was tired and cheerless at times.

My Plan B will be - I will have to segment it by family. For example the Infant Toys Category. The first element will be for Fisher Price, the second element will be for Playskool, the third element will have FunTime, the fourth element will have general blocks in tubs, the fifth element will consists of general toys that comprises pull-along toys, lights & sounds toys, rattles, shape sorters etc. The Eva Mat will be park in the sixth element. I want to contribute yet I feel lost sometimes because there are no one particular Toys suppliers that are specialize in one area. All of them can help you to find any type of general toys that you need. Thousands of them. And to tap into a particular brand, the suppliers just opt to buy the license from the manufacturers. And Toys is also a very lively category and their life span is so short. A few months back – ToyStory & Cars 2 were such a huge thing where every children wants a piece of it and now that the animation is over, where the children want something else, all of the balance stocks have become aging stocks. Thus, I only choose to keep the evergreen brands like HotWheels, Barbie, Nerf etc.

I subsequently find myself in one of the most devastating moments in my career life right now and I also don’t know when I will be able to recover from it :) I am also so humbled by this challenge. But I thank GOD for always being there for me. Quite simply, my strength and stay :) Every day GOD makes me want to be a better person. It’s true what they say…that GOD is fair…every one must have shit in their lives. No one gets to live a perfect life while others get shit. We all will have the same amount of pain, struggles and misery. It’s the stuff that makes one stronger, older and wiser. Not the bubbly happy moments. If you haven’t had any shit in your life yet, wait for it. It’s coming. I’ll put my money on it :) Change is a process of growth.

Excitement Overload!!!

James & I drop by at the PJ Life Arts Center in Jaya One for the second time in the month of February. This time around, we were there to watch the Comedy Court; featuring the very talented Indi Nadarajah & Allan Perera. This time around their comedy sketch is entitled “Not Guilty”. I have noticed that everyone in attendance was very well dressed and very good looking too! All the men had very yummy haircuts and sharp shirts & pants, while all of the women wore sexy cocktail dresses or stylish casual gowns.

The sketch is divided into 3 segments: ‘Who Wants To Be A Billionaire’ which is upgraded with all of the latest scandals in Malaysia. Then the second segment is on Loga & Singam, which deals a lot with the matter of the Bar Council and the Law. There are also little touches on the Bersih Rally and an ex-Deputy Prime Minister acquittal. The third is the Obedient Wives Club (OWC). Both of them are accomplished comedians and actors. They can play a Chinese un-educated businessman, Indian educated lawyers and Malay aunties to the tee. The tone, the body language, the expressions, the dressings, the make-up...all of it were so real and convincing.

I couldn’t stop laughing :) What a good way to de-stress myself.

Before that, we had duck rice for dinner. James took me to this nice place in PJ Uptown. It was lovely. The duck meat was soft and it fell off the bone easily. I was genuinely surprised that the food was good, simple, hearty and delicious :) After the session ends, we have coke & chicken wings at Fonterra.

I really enjoy the comedies. And I have indeed expanded my range from stand-up comedy to comedy theater. All in one month's time. I wonder what is next in store for me :)

The secret sisterhood of heart breakers

Jom Bali – Trix was in town the other day, so Damian & myself manage to grab lunch with Trix. It was such a rare opportunity as it was getting harder & harder to meet up with Trix. Trix have decided to resign from the French, leave KL and explore a career opportunity in Singapore. Trix have been there for almost 2 years now. Trix got an awesome job in a cleaning company that specializes in the healthcare industry. As usual, we swaped stories about the current going-ons in our life. Even though, Trix is a Johorean and the families are residing in Kahang but life as an expatriate can be hard at times. Being in a foreign land. Away from family and old friends. Some days can be pretty rough. Singapore is a totally new ball game compare to KL. The Kiasu & competitive culture is very prevalent over there. Because Singapore is a very small country, employees tend to stick with one company for a very long time, some may even work there for life, thus they eye any newcomers very suspiciously. But I know that Trix is made of a strong character and Trix will certainly triumph and prevail in any given circumstances. Trix is a survivor.

Overall, it was a very nice session. Being with Trix & Damian are always nice. Hugs, kisses and good conversations always leave me feeling like life is wonderful :) That’s why I always appreciate every single friend that I’ve made along the way. Especially my girlfriends. I love the chats, the chilling out and laughing and especially all of the fun things that we’ve done together. But most importantly, I love the support we give each other. It is begin to be very hard to see The Others (my fellow colleagues from the M13 days) more often as time goes by…but luckily there is always Trix who always be the glue that will forever keep us connected. Trix is always there. There's something very comforting in knowing that :)

Jooi Brothers

Attended a colleague’s wedding the other day in Bangsar. One of the best highlights of Angie’s wedding that night was the Shark Fin Soup that the restaurant serves. The soup really has fins in it :) Yummy! I know that everyone is on an anti-shark fin soup drive at the moment. Some well established hotels & restaurants have even removed the soup from its menu. Very good Corporate Social Responsibility approach. Many young couples also have opted to not having the soup in their wedding dinner anymore. Worldwide, people have commented that it was very cruel that the fishermen throw back the wounded sharks back into the seas after removing their fins. Because the sharks are finless, they are left to die cruelly because they can't swim anymore.

As for me, I’m not an ANTI shark fin soup person. As a matter of fact, I love them. The fins are tasteless but the broth is delicious. However, I will not order them but I will take the soup if it is being offered to me…anyway, it is also not very nice to reject people kind offer right? :)