..Yep... it has finally been confirmed. Husband is going to be based in good ol' Sinjapoh from January 2006 onwards, for a minimum of 1 year, up to 2 years, on a project. We are heading off on 4th Jan, to do the necessary prelim work - apply for employment pass, look for accommodation, etc. Hopefully we get an apartment as gorgeous as the last one we had in SG - beautiful duplex, with 4 bedrooms all with en-suite, plus a maids room with its own bathroom, a nice big laundry area, big kitchen, huge dining and living room. Fingers crossed!
To all our friends in KL and in other parts of the world - once we have suitable accommodation organised, consider yourself holding an open invite to come for a holiday - just give us a few days warning before turning up is all we ask.
In case you are wondering how to get in touch with us once we are in SG, my M'sia handphone number still applies, and will be on during the day every day. Other than that, you all should have our email id as well... and that is not gonna change.
And for those who are interested - we had a GREAT Xmas celebration. The entire family gathered in PJ, lots of noise, food, fun, talking, present exchanging and photo taking happened on Xmas Eve, which is the family get together time. Xmas Day was our Open House and it was great to see so many of our friends turn up - especially the gang from "T" --> you guys are STILL the best! Of course, we all ate too much (as one does on such occasions), and my poor stomach has not been at it's best since then. My stomach only has another 2 days to recover, cos on NY Eve we are having another get-together of my "hi-tea gang" of ladies, and their spouses (spice?) and kids... which, again, will involve a lot of food, noise, merry making, photo taking, etc. Might need another month to recover from that!
To all reading this blog - Husband and I would like to wish you all the best for 2006, both before and after Chinese New Year. May we all be truly blessed and happy in the year ahead.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
The end of the year is nigh...
... but before I start on that - just a few comments about Julius Caeser:
- Patrick Teoh is still, IMHO, a totally natural and fantastic actor. He definitely did justice to the role of Cassius
- Ari Ratos used his voice well in his role of Brutus, but was rather stiff in the body.
- Nobody else is worth a mention, other than to say they were pretty bad... with the guy acting as JC himself being the worst. Talk about overacting with a vengeance. Wonder if they give Cameronian awards for that?
OK.. back to the end of the year - yes, it is HERE. Omigosh, where did the time go? Xmas is just this coming weekend and then it is the New Year and we can kiss 2005 goodbye.
Husband and I were in Singapore this last weekend, to visit a friend who just had a baby, and to catch up with some other friends as well. Got there on Friday late morning, and left SG on Sunday morning. Stopped in Melaka for lunch at brothers place, and then continued journey to KL. Traffic was amazingly good the whole way - maybe we were early enough to avoid the bulk of the travellers?
Xmas pressies are all wrapped and sitting under the Xmas tree, husband's famous Xmas cake has been made, and suitably marzipan covered - next step is the icing itself. Family get together planned for Xmas Eve as usual, with a pot luck dinner this time instead of getting Mum to cook everything.... the kids, of course, will be paying little attention to the food - they will be just waiting to open the presents up!
My next blog is more likely to be in the new year, so to all and sundry out there, may the year ahead be a blessed one, full of love, laughter and good fortune. May we all get what we deserve, and may we deserve what we get.
And to all ... a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
- Patrick Teoh is still, IMHO, a totally natural and fantastic actor. He definitely did justice to the role of Cassius
- Ari Ratos used his voice well in his role of Brutus, but was rather stiff in the body.
- Nobody else is worth a mention, other than to say they were pretty bad... with the guy acting as JC himself being the worst. Talk about overacting with a vengeance. Wonder if they give Cameronian awards for that?
OK.. back to the end of the year - yes, it is HERE. Omigosh, where did the time go? Xmas is just this coming weekend and then it is the New Year and we can kiss 2005 goodbye.
Husband and I were in Singapore this last weekend, to visit a friend who just had a baby, and to catch up with some other friends as well. Got there on Friday late morning, and left SG on Sunday morning. Stopped in Melaka for lunch at brothers place, and then continued journey to KL. Traffic was amazingly good the whole way - maybe we were early enough to avoid the bulk of the travellers?
Xmas pressies are all wrapped and sitting under the Xmas tree, husband's famous Xmas cake has been made, and suitably marzipan covered - next step is the icing itself. Family get together planned for Xmas Eve as usual, with a pot luck dinner this time instead of getting Mum to cook everything.... the kids, of course, will be paying little attention to the food - they will be just waiting to open the presents up!
My next blog is more likely to be in the new year, so to all and sundry out there, may the year ahead be a blessed one, full of love, laughter and good fortune. May we all get what we deserve, and may we deserve what we get.
And to all ... a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
The "Tai-Tai" life, continued
3 weeks... where has the time gone? I thought I would have loads of free time but that is not quite true. No complaints though, as I would hate to have nothing to do! Haven't started looking for a job yet - which is very remiss of me. A couple of things in the pipeline, which, if they come through, will be in January/February time frame, which suits me well.
Going to see the play "Julius Caeser" this Saturday - supposedly adapted by Joe Hasham to cut it down to 1.5 hours. It will be interesting to see if the cut has affected the story negatively. One of my favourite people, Patrick Teoh, has a key role in that play, as Cassius - the man with the "lean and hungry look"! I think Pat got ribbed so much (since he is not particularly svelte) that he deliberately set about losing weight..... very slim now. Pat.. don't disappear though!
Xmas is approaching and I have almost done with my Xmas shopping. Only ONE person left to go and, of course, the one person left is MALE so it is hard to think of what to buy. Any sensible suggestions would be good! The ones who are most fun to buy for are my neices and nephews. This year apart from a specific gift for each of them, I will be putting together some Xmas Stockings as well, with little fillers in them. Hopefully they like it.
All those of you out there who have not yet done your Xmas shopping, get a move on! Xmas is only 2 weeks away!
Going to see the play "Julius Caeser" this Saturday - supposedly adapted by Joe Hasham to cut it down to 1.5 hours. It will be interesting to see if the cut has affected the story negatively. One of my favourite people, Patrick Teoh, has a key role in that play, as Cassius - the man with the "lean and hungry look"! I think Pat got ribbed so much (since he is not particularly svelte) that he deliberately set about losing weight..... very slim now. Pat.. don't disappear though!
Xmas is approaching and I have almost done with my Xmas shopping. Only ONE person left to go and, of course, the one person left is MALE so it is hard to think of what to buy. Any sensible suggestions would be good! The ones who are most fun to buy for are my neices and nephews. This year apart from a specific gift for each of them, I will be putting together some Xmas Stockings as well, with little fillers in them. Hopefully they like it.
All those of you out there who have not yet done your Xmas shopping, get a move on! Xmas is only 2 weeks away!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
The "Tai-Tai" life, week 2.
Something tells me that not having a full time maid disqualifies me from being a "real" tai-tai :-p (Thank God). When I see the huge groups of expat women sitting outside and inside Coffee Bean or Starbucks EVERY SINGLE MORNING, I am SO glad not to be amongst them. I always wonder why they seem to have no real LIVES to live.... but then, they have their maids to look after house, children, cooking, laundry, etc. Ergo, they have nothing to do themselves, they die of boredom, and to alleviate that boredom they have their coffee mornings, their gin afternoons, their little get togethers...
I have a couple of expat friends who refused to live that life and made themselves useful in other ways.. but they seem to be the exception rather than the norm.
As for me, life is still busy, and I am still surprised by how much there is to do everyday, even if I don't cook. The major plus point of not working is being able to do all chores/tasks, etc during the day, and then having the evenings free to relax with Husband. This is sooooooo great :-)
I have a couple of expat friends who refused to live that life and made themselves useful in other ways.. but they seem to be the exception rather than the norm.
As for me, life is still busy, and I am still surprised by how much there is to do everyday, even if I don't cook. The major plus point of not working is being able to do all chores/tasks, etc during the day, and then having the evenings free to relax with Husband. This is sooooooo great :-)
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Jit is definitely "happening"
Yep, Husband, me, my sister and our friend went to watch "Jit Happens.... Again" last night, and totally enjoyed it. What can I say - he is laid back, relaxed, articulate, talked to the audience as if we are just 'one big happy...', and it made for an evening of fun. As husband says "He is quite a character", and, yes, he is a character. Talks about subjects close to our hearts here in Malaysia - corruption, transparency (or lack thereof), the way we take things for granted and close our eyes to obvious misdoings, the things that are said and done and condoned (or not condoned) in the name of religion... the list goes on.. and all in his own inimitable, peripatetic, multi-syllabic style.
Jit, we are among that bunch of fans who will definitely come and listen to you again, and again, and again, and......
Jit, we are among that bunch of fans who will definitely come and listen to you again, and again, and again, and......
Friday, November 25, 2005
Fitness... or lack thereof
Have just completed my first week of fitness training with a trainer at the gym at Plaza Mont'Kiara. My aims - strengthen my rather weak lower back, tone up muscles and, if at all possible, lose some weight. The instructor (middle name "torturer") is excellent. He knows what he is doing. I have had three sessions of what "seemed" like an easy workout - all three of which left me totally wrung out, sweaty, and shaky at the end BUT (the best part) DID NOT KILL MY BACK. Whoopeeeee!!! He is stepping up the pace next week... let's hope I can keep up.
Other than that, all chores done, all filing done, today I can sit down and read a book, or do some sudoku puzzles.. and then tonight we go to see "Jit Happens... Again" at the Actor's Studio at Bangsar Shopping Centre. Have seen Jit do his stand up comedy once before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Am expecting to enjoy today's session too. There were still a few tickets left (ONLY a few) so if you want to try your luck, go for it. He is worth watching.
Other than that, all chores done, all filing done, today I can sit down and read a book, or do some sudoku puzzles.. and then tonight we go to see "Jit Happens... Again" at the Actor's Studio at Bangsar Shopping Centre. Have seen Jit do his stand up comedy once before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Am expecting to enjoy today's session too. There were still a few tickets left (ONLY a few) so if you want to try your luck, go for it. He is worth watching.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
The "Tai-Tai" life
... well, it's been two days since I started my tai tai life, and this is the first opportunity I've had to SIT DOWN! Mind you, it's been good.. so no complaints.
Rundown of the last two days: Dropping husband off at work, and picking him up later (2-3 hours gone). Supermarket for groceries, buying tons of fruits from our fave Chinese fresh foods vendor who comes RIGHT OUTSIDE our apartment block on Mon/Fri, laundry, the gym (my new fitness training program has started.. OUCH), taking car for fixing a problem and then picking it up again, tidying up the house, getting tickets for various shows a bunch of us are going to see (Pixel - are you going for Julius Ceaser? We are going on the 10th Dec.)... and I still have a ton of ironed clothes to put away, and have to file all the stuff I have not filed for the last two months, and I have to finish my Xmas shopping too (Yes, that does mean I have started it!!).
Hey, while driving husband to work today, we were on Jln Tun Razak, in a traffic jam, stuck right behind a Kancil, where the driver had his BABY on his lap! I don't get it. Are people like this in their right minds? That baby was standing up on his legs, hanging out the half open window, grabbing at his face, grabbing at the steering wheel. IT WAS SO STUPID!! What happens if, God forbid, he gets into an accident. If someone slams into him from behind, or he slams into someone, that baby will go flying straight into the window OR will end up being the 'cushion' between the father and the steering wheel. End result... bye-bye, baby, bye-bye (in the words of Abba). Or what happens if the baby reaches too far out the window and falls out? Don't people THINK before doing these things... or does everyone think "Ah, it'll never happen to me." Hellooooo, wake uppppppp, it can happen to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY. PUT THE BABY IN THE BABY SEAT, strap the little fella in, keep him safe.
Other PET HATES:
- drivers who do not signal when changing lanes
- drivers who do NOT LOOK when changing lanes (worse than not signalling)
- drivers who double/triple park and then walk away from their cars. When you get back to your car, you can't move because of these idiots
- drivers who go through red lights with total nochalance, ignoring the fact that they almost hit you when it is YOUR right of way
- drivers who park so badly they take up 2 slots
- drivers who queue barge and shove their way in when everyone else is waiting patiently in line. Actually this applies in traffic jams as well as other queues
- drivers who do not acknowledge you when you give way to them, a simple wave of the hand would do
- parents who let their children run riot in public places, especially restaurants
- people who talk so loud (whether on the phone or not) that you can share their conversation from half a mile away
- people who do a 100 transactions at the ATM when there is a long queue of people waiting
- ... and the list goes on.
So, what are your pet peeves/hates?
Rundown of the last two days: Dropping husband off at work, and picking him up later (2-3 hours gone). Supermarket for groceries, buying tons of fruits from our fave Chinese fresh foods vendor who comes RIGHT OUTSIDE our apartment block on Mon/Fri, laundry, the gym (my new fitness training program has started.. OUCH), taking car for fixing a problem and then picking it up again, tidying up the house, getting tickets for various shows a bunch of us are going to see (Pixel - are you going for Julius Ceaser? We are going on the 10th Dec.)... and I still have a ton of ironed clothes to put away, and have to file all the stuff I have not filed for the last two months, and I have to finish my Xmas shopping too (Yes, that does mean I have started it!!).
Hey, while driving husband to work today, we were on Jln Tun Razak, in a traffic jam, stuck right behind a Kancil, where the driver had his BABY on his lap! I don't get it. Are people like this in their right minds? That baby was standing up on his legs, hanging out the half open window, grabbing at his face, grabbing at the steering wheel. IT WAS SO STUPID!! What happens if, God forbid, he gets into an accident. If someone slams into him from behind, or he slams into someone, that baby will go flying straight into the window OR will end up being the 'cushion' between the father and the steering wheel. End result... bye-bye, baby, bye-bye (in the words of Abba). Or what happens if the baby reaches too far out the window and falls out? Don't people THINK before doing these things... or does everyone think "Ah, it'll never happen to me." Hellooooo, wake uppppppp, it can happen to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY. PUT THE BABY IN THE BABY SEAT, strap the little fella in, keep him safe.
Other PET HATES:
- drivers who do not signal when changing lanes
- drivers who do NOT LOOK when changing lanes (worse than not signalling)
- drivers who double/triple park and then walk away from their cars. When you get back to your car, you can't move because of these idiots
- drivers who go through red lights with total nochalance, ignoring the fact that they almost hit you when it is YOUR right of way
- drivers who park so badly they take up 2 slots
- drivers who queue barge and shove their way in when everyone else is waiting patiently in line. Actually this applies in traffic jams as well as other queues
- drivers who do not acknowledge you when you give way to them, a simple wave of the hand would do
- parents who let their children run riot in public places, especially restaurants
- people who talk so loud (whether on the phone or not) that you can share their conversation from half a mile away
- people who do a 100 transactions at the ATM when there is a long queue of people waiting
- ... and the list goes on.
So, what are your pet peeves/hates?
Saturday, November 19, 2005
To Perth, and back again
Left for Perth on Mon 14th Nov, early morning.. MAS business class comfort to start the whole journey off well. Plane landed on time (!), got picked up by J, and headed straight back to their house, in a suburb of Perth called Edgewater. G&J have a most amazing house! It is very pretty when seen from the outside, nice and spacious and yet cosy inside, all pretty normal so far, but the "amazing" part is the view out the back.
They are on the top of a cliff, overlooking Lake Joondalup, and the view, as you can see from the picture, is amazing!!
Had dinner at a restaurant called "Hogs Breath" our first night. Totally non-halal, as the name implies, in fact it is an unprepossessing name but the food was excellent, HUGE servings, totally impossible to finish, but we did try our best. No space left for desserts, unfortunately. Hmmm, wonder how a restaurant with a name like that would survive in KL?
G&J have 2 cats (Beanie and Jonty) and a dog (Sophie) who is still a pup. Beanie is a really affectionate cat, loves people and loves being petted... very different from Jonty who is verra macho and only comes for a pet when he feels like it. Mind you, if you stop petting him before he is ready, he will push at your hand until you continue. You do NOT stop till HE is done with YOU!
Sophie is FULL of vim, verve and vigour, and LOVES to lick - which is something I hate - so half the time was spent in trying to stop her from licking me. She is adorable though, very friendly, very loving, loves people (which dog doesn't?), and loved having my husband around as he, like G, loves to rough house with the dog.
Tuesday and Wednesday was spent in driving all up and down Perth, with both G&J.... Hillary's Harbour (Sorento Quay), all around Fremantle, up and down the coast, stopping in many places to have a wander and to take many photographs. Both evenings we vegged out at G&J's home, relaxing with them, watching movies, yakkety-yakking, enjoying the pets, eating chocs, having a couple of glasses of GOOD port. AH, that IS the life :-)
Thursday was a relaxing day at home - barbecue steaks with stir-fry for lunch - followed by icecreams for dessert. Off to Hillary's Harbour again in the evening to catch up with an old friend of my husbands. Not a late night though as he and his wife had brought their kids along and needed to get home at a reasonable hour so they could get them to bed. G&J had kindly lent us their car to get us to and from Hillary's Harbour, so we had no worries about transport. In fact, their house is only about 10 minutes drive from there, so it was very easy for us.
Friday morning was spent on a last "stuff ourselves" and photo walkabout. All the way to Burns Beach for a delicious breakfast at a place called Costa del Sol. Then walked down to the beach to go walking in the water - COLD, you would NOT catch me going swimming there. The water all along the Perth coastline is so incredibly clear and clean, and the most vivid turquoise and blue colours. Crystal blue skies, not a cloud in sight, beautiful breezes.... Anyway, back home by 11.30am so that we could pack up, and then G&J dropped us off at the airport early afternoon, to catch our late afternoon flight back to KL. Sigh.. holiday over.
For those of you who know G and want some more specific news - he is definitely holding his own. Having some tests done this week based on the latest bone marrow samples taken, hopefully the results will show something positive. Despite that he is still the same, lovely, "absent-minded" professor person that he has always been, with his inimitable sense of humour. He and J are taking life as it comes, enjoying it as much as they can. J is totally the same gorgeous lady - loving, caring, cracked sense of humour, still the totally fantastic teacher. They were both absolutely fantastic - made us feel so much at home. I would put them on the short-list of people I would happily be marooned on a desert island with. They did a fantastic job of "showing off" Perth to us as well... consider that my husband has always been totally anti-Perth, and now, after spending the last week with them in Perth, he has actually said he would like to go back, for a longer holiday, and spend more time there! Whoa....is this the same person who, when first asked by J 2 years ago to go to Perth, he said "NO WAY"? Maybe he got kidnapped by aliens and I got someone else instead??
One last interesting tidbit about Perth - I had a book with me when we left for the airport (to read on the flight back). By the time we checked in and got to the MAS Business Class lounge, I didn't have it with me! I thought I had left it in the car, so figured that it was too bad, and tried to forget about it. Then, when we eventually got to the departure gate I saw this very familiar looking book lying there, and realised it was mine!! The staff told me that I had left it behind at the check-in counter, so the staff at the counter sent it to the departure gate! I was most pleased with that! Ian Rankin's The Falls - which I would have been sad to have lost as both husband and I are Ian Rankin fans.
Flight left about 20 minutes late, but same excellent service and food all the way back. Landed 15 minutes late - got through Immigration in record time (20 minutes flat), rushed to the limo counter, and were told that we might have to wait a while for the limo as the train (which a lot of people DO take) was not running to KL due to the tracks being flooded... so, of course, all those "should have been" train passengers, ended up taking taxis. It wasn't really that bad though - we only had to wait 12 minutes in the end. Finally got home just before midnight.. and that was the end of our holiday.
That's it folks... that was Perth and back again. A thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing holiday.. and now we gird our loins for whatever comes next... what with husband starting work on Monday, and me starting my "exercise and fitness" program on Monday too - to try and shake off some of this excess baggage that has kinda planted itself around my waist (and other parts of my body) over the last few years... and, of course, the job hunt begins. Wish us luck!
They are on the top of a cliff, overlooking Lake Joondalup, and the view, as you can see from the picture, is amazing!!
Had dinner at a restaurant called "Hogs Breath" our first night. Totally non-halal, as the name implies, in fact it is an unprepossessing name but the food was excellent, HUGE servings, totally impossible to finish, but we did try our best. No space left for desserts, unfortunately. Hmmm, wonder how a restaurant with a name like that would survive in KL?
G&J have 2 cats (Beanie and Jonty) and a dog (Sophie) who is still a pup. Beanie is a really affectionate cat, loves people and loves being petted... very different from Jonty who is verra macho and only comes for a pet when he feels like it. Mind you, if you stop petting him before he is ready, he will push at your hand until you continue. You do NOT stop till HE is done with YOU!
Sophie is FULL of vim, verve and vigour, and LOVES to lick - which is something I hate - so half the time was spent in trying to stop her from licking me. She is adorable though, very friendly, very loving, loves people (which dog doesn't?), and loved having my husband around as he, like G, loves to rough house with the dog.
Tuesday and Wednesday was spent in driving all up and down Perth, with both G&J.... Hillary's Harbour (Sorento Quay), all around Fremantle, up and down the coast, stopping in many places to have a wander and to take many photographs. Both evenings we vegged out at G&J's home, relaxing with them, watching movies, yakkety-yakking, enjoying the pets, eating chocs, having a couple of glasses of GOOD port. AH, that IS the life :-)
Thursday was a relaxing day at home - barbecue steaks with stir-fry for lunch - followed by icecreams for dessert. Off to Hillary's Harbour again in the evening to catch up with an old friend of my husbands. Not a late night though as he and his wife had brought their kids along and needed to get home at a reasonable hour so they could get them to bed. G&J had kindly lent us their car to get us to and from Hillary's Harbour, so we had no worries about transport. In fact, their house is only about 10 minutes drive from there, so it was very easy for us.
Friday morning was spent on a last "stuff ourselves" and photo walkabout. All the way to Burns Beach for a delicious breakfast at a place called Costa del Sol. Then walked down to the beach to go walking in the water - COLD, you would NOT catch me going swimming there. The water all along the Perth coastline is so incredibly clear and clean, and the most vivid turquoise and blue colours. Crystal blue skies, not a cloud in sight, beautiful breezes.... Anyway, back home by 11.30am so that we could pack up, and then G&J dropped us off at the airport early afternoon, to catch our late afternoon flight back to KL. Sigh.. holiday over.
For those of you who know G and want some more specific news - he is definitely holding his own. Having some tests done this week based on the latest bone marrow samples taken, hopefully the results will show something positive. Despite that he is still the same, lovely, "absent-minded" professor person that he has always been, with his inimitable sense of humour. He and J are taking life as it comes, enjoying it as much as they can. J is totally the same gorgeous lady - loving, caring, cracked sense of humour, still the totally fantastic teacher. They were both absolutely fantastic - made us feel so much at home. I would put them on the short-list of people I would happily be marooned on a desert island with. They did a fantastic job of "showing off" Perth to us as well... consider that my husband has always been totally anti-Perth, and now, after spending the last week with them in Perth, he has actually said he would like to go back, for a longer holiday, and spend more time there! Whoa....is this the same person who, when first asked by J 2 years ago to go to Perth, he said "NO WAY"? Maybe he got kidnapped by aliens and I got someone else instead??
One last interesting tidbit about Perth - I had a book with me when we left for the airport (to read on the flight back). By the time we checked in and got to the MAS Business Class lounge, I didn't have it with me! I thought I had left it in the car, so figured that it was too bad, and tried to forget about it. Then, when we eventually got to the departure gate I saw this very familiar looking book lying there, and realised it was mine!! The staff told me that I had left it behind at the check-in counter, so the staff at the counter sent it to the departure gate! I was most pleased with that! Ian Rankin's The Falls - which I would have been sad to have lost as both husband and I are Ian Rankin fans.
Flight left about 20 minutes late, but same excellent service and food all the way back. Landed 15 minutes late - got through Immigration in record time (20 minutes flat), rushed to the limo counter, and were told that we might have to wait a while for the limo as the train (which a lot of people DO take) was not running to KL due to the tracks being flooded... so, of course, all those "should have been" train passengers, ended up taking taxis. It wasn't really that bad though - we only had to wait 12 minutes in the end. Finally got home just before midnight.. and that was the end of our holiday.
That's it folks... that was Perth and back again. A thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing holiday.. and now we gird our loins for whatever comes next... what with husband starting work on Monday, and me starting my "exercise and fitness" program on Monday too - to try and shake off some of this excess baggage that has kinda planted itself around my waist (and other parts of my body) over the last few years... and, of course, the job hunt begins. Wish us luck!
Friday, November 11, 2005
D-Day has arrived
... yep, it is finally here. Had a whopping big lunch with the entire team - and they gave me the most BEAUTIFUL farewell card and gift anyone could ever have. A group photo, which was taken the other day, beautifully framed. What can one say - except the most heartfelt THANK YOU.
Team, you are THE best... and I hope I get the chance to work with any and all of you again in the future.
Enuff said for today, or I will end up in tears.
Team, you are THE best... and I hope I get the chance to work with any and all of you again in the future.
Enuff said for today, or I will end up in tears.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
2 more days, and counting
This week has been pretty quiet. Handed over my work to 3 different people, told my team that my role where projects are concerned is being taken over by another guy in the office - and they were totally horrified. One member of my team has already handed in her resignation, and I anticipate more to come in the next couple of months.
My team are taking me out for lunch today - have not told me where, but have told me to be ready at noon. I am gonna miss these kids! They are a great bunch to work with. Kinda like the team in my last job - hard working, bright, great attitudes, cheerful... sigh.. I have been SO lucky to always have had people like these to work with in all my jobs so far! I pray I continue to be this lucky!
On Sunday I turn 45 years old - and MAN do I feel old when I say that. How come my mind still insists I am young but my body tells me that I am not. OK, it is gonna be a case of MIND OVER MATTER.. and let's see who wins.
On Monday 14th Nov, husband and I fly to Perth, to spend a few days with our friends. We are not planning an EXCITING holiday - we just wanna chill out, spend time with G&J, veg, and maybe do some shopping and eating and a bit of being touristy. We come back to KL on Friday 18th Nov...
On the 21st of Nov, husband starts his new job - with a company in the Oil & Gas industry. It should at least stop him from feeling so bored every day. I will, at the same time, start a PROPER gym program, with a PERSONAL fitness trainer, for a duration of 4 weeks, in an endeavour to get myself properly into shape, maybe lose some weight, and MOST OF ALL, build up the strength in my very weak lower back.
In parallel, my job hunt will start as well..... so wish me luck. However much I say I want to be a tai-tai, I think the reality of being a tai-tai would drive me nuts. So, let me be a tai tai till the end of the year, and pray for me that I will get a decent job for either January or February next year.
Have a gooooooood day folks.
My team are taking me out for lunch today - have not told me where, but have told me to be ready at noon. I am gonna miss these kids! They are a great bunch to work with. Kinda like the team in my last job - hard working, bright, great attitudes, cheerful... sigh.. I have been SO lucky to always have had people like these to work with in all my jobs so far! I pray I continue to be this lucky!
On Sunday I turn 45 years old - and MAN do I feel old when I say that. How come my mind still insists I am young but my body tells me that I am not. OK, it is gonna be a case of MIND OVER MATTER.. and let's see who wins.
On Monday 14th Nov, husband and I fly to Perth, to spend a few days with our friends. We are not planning an EXCITING holiday - we just wanna chill out, spend time with G&J, veg, and maybe do some shopping and eating and a bit of being touristy. We come back to KL on Friday 18th Nov...
On the 21st of Nov, husband starts his new job - with a company in the Oil & Gas industry. It should at least stop him from feeling so bored every day. I will, at the same time, start a PROPER gym program, with a PERSONAL fitness trainer, for a duration of 4 weeks, in an endeavour to get myself properly into shape, maybe lose some weight, and MOST OF ALL, build up the strength in my very weak lower back.
In parallel, my job hunt will start as well..... so wish me luck. However much I say I want to be a tai-tai, I think the reality of being a tai-tai would drive me nuts. So, let me be a tai tai till the end of the year, and pray for me that I will get a decent job for either January or February next year.
Have a gooooooood day folks.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
To sue, or not to sue, that is the question
For the first time ever, I can say I know someone so unethical and amoral that the world would seriously be a better place without him. And, Yes, this is why I am leaving this company.
I haven't even left yet... and he has already started bad-mouthing me to the company chairman - at least with other folks who left the company he waited till they LEFT before starting his character assassination campaign. I, however, must be SO terrible that he has to start his char-assassination campaign BEFORE I leave. Wow... I must be gooooooood!!
You know, the funny part is that I have more than 22 years in the IT industry, with good references from all ex-employers AND many of my customers... and this "punk" (polite word for someone like him), with less than 4 years working experience prior to this company (and, believe me, he does not seem to have learnt anything in this place) thinks that he has the experience, the expertise, the knowhow, the skills to do a better job than:
- me
- the CFO
- the technical manager
I wonder if he has even ONE ex-employer or customer who can vouch for his capability in any of these roles.
Enuff said..... calm down.... only THREE more days to go.
I haven't even left yet... and he has already started bad-mouthing me to the company chairman - at least with other folks who left the company he waited till they LEFT before starting his character assassination campaign. I, however, must be SO terrible that he has to start his char-assassination campaign BEFORE I leave. Wow... I must be gooooooood!!
You know, the funny part is that I have more than 22 years in the IT industry, with good references from all ex-employers AND many of my customers... and this "punk" (polite word for someone like him), with less than 4 years working experience prior to this company (and, believe me, he does not seem to have learnt anything in this place) thinks that he has the experience, the expertise, the knowhow, the skills to do a better job than:
- me
- the CFO
- the technical manager
I wonder if he has even ONE ex-employer or customer who can vouch for his capability in any of these roles.
Enuff said..... calm down.... only THREE more days to go.
Monday, November 07, 2005
I'm leaving, though not on a jet plane.
This is my last week in my current company, and, for only the second time in my life, I am leaving a job without having another one to go to.
The first time this happened was when my husband and I moved from Singapore back to KL... but, surprisingly I found a new job within 3 weeks of returning to KL. This time I am leaving this company because there is a single person in the company who is, quite literally, the cause of several major migraines - from March this year to now.
No other cause could be found for the migraines I have been having, and an MRI ruled out anything physical in my head (the doctor said the scan showed everything as 'normal', which came as a shock to my husband as he can't believe anything about me is 'normal'.). That left work, or at least some of the peculiar circumstances at work, for the cause of my rather debilitating migraines..... so, what to do lah? Resign, of course.
I am glad I am getting out of here, though I have to say that I have met some really GREAT kids in this company (yeah, yeah, "KIDS", cos I am in my 40's, and they are in their 20's). But don't let my calling them "kids" fool you! They are a great bunch - hard working, bright, great attitudes... people I am happy to have had the opportunity to work with, and people that I would look forward to working with again.
So, 4 more days here... then I am out.
I shall start my hunt for a new job by end of this month..... in the meantime, husband and I are heading to Perth next week, spend some time with some good friends, and generally veg out and relax somewhere away from home for a change.
Then husband starts a new job and I will be a tai-tai while I look for a new job. Wish me luck, cos I sure don't want to be a tai-tai for long.
The first time this happened was when my husband and I moved from Singapore back to KL... but, surprisingly I found a new job within 3 weeks of returning to KL. This time I am leaving this company because there is a single person in the company who is, quite literally, the cause of several major migraines - from March this year to now.
No other cause could be found for the migraines I have been having, and an MRI ruled out anything physical in my head (the doctor said the scan showed everything as 'normal', which came as a shock to my husband as he can't believe anything about me is 'normal'.). That left work, or at least some of the peculiar circumstances at work, for the cause of my rather debilitating migraines..... so, what to do lah? Resign, of course.
I am glad I am getting out of here, though I have to say that I have met some really GREAT kids in this company (yeah, yeah, "KIDS", cos I am in my 40's, and they are in their 20's). But don't let my calling them "kids" fool you! They are a great bunch - hard working, bright, great attitudes... people I am happy to have had the opportunity to work with, and people that I would look forward to working with again.
So, 4 more days here... then I am out.
I shall start my hunt for a new job by end of this month..... in the meantime, husband and I are heading to Perth next week, spend some time with some good friends, and generally veg out and relax somewhere away from home for a change.
Then husband starts a new job and I will be a tai-tai while I look for a new job. Wish me luck, cos I sure don't want to be a tai-tai for long.
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