Can Men Really Do Cross Stitch?

That was a bummer. Last 2 days Mr.X and I went to the Read Malaysia Fair at the Mines and suddenly he grabbed that book - Top 100 Cross Stitch Motifs. Yeah, like when on earth are you goin' to find the time to do it? Like when it's school holidays and all our children are in KL while we are stuck at work? So now Mr.X only has 4 days to learn and do 1. That's the challenge.

First, it's the book. Then had to find the shop. Luckily we found one at Tun Aminah just now. Then it's the review of numerous You Tubes on How to Start Cross Stitch. In English, Vietnamese and Chinese. It's the demo that counts. Man...it's time to just do it!

I never knew that he would settle for this kind of interest. It's in the gene, perhaps. Definitely not for me. Simply not me.

All I Want To Do is Have Some Fun

All I want to do, is have some fun.....remember that Sheryl Crow's song? Ohhhh I am really looking forward to have some fun.

 

Husna is in her mid term exam this week. The moment she showed me the timetable for the exam, I told her to study hard and be careful when answering the questions. She came close to my ear and whispered, "Don't worry mama. The exam is so easy". That had really made me laugh out loud. Perhaps she was over already for fun times in the kindy. She really is looking forward for the new school. The real one. That maybe when she can experience the real fun.

 

Huda is the exact opposite of Husna. She just couldn't care less what's going on at school, especially the homework. She just wants to have fun. One day last week, nenek told me Husna discarded Huda's book in the garbage bin in her effort to force Huda to do her homework. Of course Huda cried, since Husna was also beating her at the same time. Husna is forcing Huda to be like her. Very diligent, do homework, be serious, etc, which she is the exact opposite. Homework is a real killer for Huda. You know what she loves the most - gadgets. She loves to play around with the gadgets - handphone, laptop, anything that moves mechanically. So school is just a place to have fun for her. I need to find a good school for Huda to get her to love going to school.

 

Eusoff is obsessed with fans. Electrical fans, toy fans, you name it. The flowers are fans. My brooch in the shape of a flower is also a fan. I like the way he pronounces the word - Phhhaaannn - That would really makes him excited. I just sent him for jab last week. He was 2.3 years when I sent him for the 1.5 year jab. So he has to undergo another 2 jabs around these few months. Ouchhh...my pocket also koyak. No fun at all.

Mr.X is going to TR soon. That means I have to drive to Pasir Gudang everyday from Skudai. Oh man....this is really something that I dread. Maybe hiring a driver is not a bad idea after all. Bila la aku nak dapat driver sponsored pulakkk....

 

Work has been crazy. Tons of emails, meetings, people want to see you on the spot, people want to make an appointment, workers on strike, people don't want to do jobs they promised to do, staff quits, hiring new staff, heaty office which needs new aircond, merger of 2 divisions, people re-shuffle, people don't get paid, making a presentation, etc. The best part of the job - an office with a pretty good view. I could see the Straits of Johor, the road which links Sembawang to Changi, how many ships ply the straits daily, ships coming/leaving the shipyard, government patrol boats, sometimes helicopters monitoring the straits, and also people who are not working when they are supposed to work.

 

That is why I need to have some fun. Some of my family members will visit my nephew in Hartford, UK this school holiday. He is sent there for 3-months training. My sister wants to take this opportunity to discover UK and Paris. Save on accommodation. Try to fit 7 people in 1 flat. It will fit, because it's in UK. Oh how I wish I can join you all. My annual leave only left 10.5 days, after that 5 days minus visiting India in February. If I were to join this trip, I will have to use another 8 solid days. That means 2.5 days for raya and what not after that. That is a major put off. This is the disadvantage when you're working for other people.

 

OKlah, enough of today's thoughts. I will have a major presentation tomorrow to the no. 2 man of the company. I need lots of energy. Time to go for afternoon siesta.

 

 

Dato' Bung Kena Jail

As a representative of the rakyat, Dato' Bung has taken the oath to uplift and abide by the law of Malaysia. However, Dato' had committed an offence when he failed to prove that his additional matrimony was JUST and NECESSARY and he did it by violating the law. As a result, the judge had sentenced him to the maximum fine of both RM1k and jail term of 1 year. But of course, his lawyer would apply for appeal.

 

When you are a "wakil rakyat", you are supposed to be the icons and idols for the citizens at large. Looking at another facade, being a normal person,  when you are in love, all that would not matter. That's why the old saying that "Cinta itu buta" still holds true all the time, every time. Romeo and Juliet, Laila and Majnun, Dato' Alphabet and Dato' Icon of Pop Singer at all times in Malaysia, all are the same. When you are in love, you simply cannot think. Somehow the adrenaline, progesterone, and above all, the pheromones would overwhelm all your other senses.

 

Actually I have got so much to write, but the sensitivity of my writings may affect my current position. Arghhh...bosannya....so nak selamat, kita komen pasal Dato' Bung.

 

I'll Be Back

I miss the old career days...full of serenity and predictability. I used to get between 5-10 emails a day. That was awesome. More time for deep thinking and planning. Gone are the days.

My days now are full of drama. There are just so many people and so many events which have caused the days to be sooooo unpredictable. I have to clean up my inbox almost 5-6 times a day. That is like 20-30 emails in a day. This life is far more complex than the life of Marty Kane, the imaginary figure I had to be while being assessed a few months ago. That excludes knocking on the door asking for approval and people seeking for a short eye-to-eye talk with me. Phewww....meetings and more meetings...ahah... I guess this is a welcome to the world of real business.

It's a short term quick thinking while balancing the needs for long term strategy to be realized. Where on earth to find the time to do that planning and strategizing? During weekends. Forget it. Weekends are time for Tesco, Danga Bay, Taman Bunga, Facebooking, etc etc. Tak termasuk lagik kisah bibik gosok tuala mandi...uhuh...tetiba jer bibik ni dah nampak tua. Maybe masa masuk dulu dia pakai inai, so people believed when she said she was in her 40's. Aku rasa umur dia ni dah 50++ lah.

Dah tak boleh cakap lelebih pulak. Ada orang kata aku dah start cari gaduh. Kata lah apa nak...yg penting niat saya ikhlas. heh heh...aku paling tak suka bila temubual artis bercinta kata "kami sedang mengenal hati budi masing2" sedangkan satu dunia dah nampak mereka holding hands at the red carpet tu...aku sokong kata si Joyah, kahwin jer la...amende nya lagik nak kenal hati budi....tak paham aku la...bagi alasan biarlah logik sikit.

Ini kes dah mula merapu sebab otak berserabut. Kesian kawan aku. Ex-hubby kata investment yg ex bagi dulu tu kira dah cukup utk mutaah dan edah. Mana boleh kira gitu bang oiii...duit masa kawin, kira sedekah atau hadiah la kat isteri. Bila dah pisah, kena lah bayar asing. Ini ada pulak mintak balik. Itu kira buruk siku tu. Camne orang tua2 boleh kata buruk siku eh? Kenapa tak buruk kepala ke, buruk tengkok ke, apsal buruk siku? Kesian betul kawan aku yg sorang ni. Lepas tu pulak aku yg jadik ejen untuk that investment. Kira aku pun enter frame gak kat kes dia nih...inilah namanya dugaan. Sungguh hebat dugaan kawan aku nih.

Ala...aku nak tulis byk lagi nih...tapi si Huda ni merengek nak main game...padahal esok sekolah....berebut laptop dgn anak...

Fun No More

Hari ni aku dah start keje kat tempat baru. Aku dah tak boleh nak merapu. Kalau aku merapu, aku dah tak boleh dok kat situ. Susah betul lah...silap2 aku kena tutup blog ni, takut pulak ada org tak puas hati buat kacau kat blog aku ni...isk....dilemma betullah...

Aku kena jadik seorang yg serious..."my expectations are very high on you"...huhu..."bila lagi nak masuk, cepatlah, kita org ada byk mende nak highlight ni"...wahwahwah...begitu tinggi harapan orang kat aku...aku pun tahu....tapi aku kena balance hidup aku jugak kan...aku kalau boleh tak nak lah dapat penyakit due to kerja...tak berbaloi beb....kita maintain relax ehhhh....tapi kerja tetap kerja la kan....

Tadi aku dah buang kerusi warung kat dlm ofis...ape ke hal, kerusi warong dok kat ofis...terus aku suruh remove...company juta2 tapi kat ofis pakai kerusi warong...memula aku kata ini kerusi mcm kat restoren, then boss aku kata mcm kat Restoren R*****, yg pemes dgn ikan siakap goreng rangup tu....cish...buat malu betul....

Byk betul mende aku nak tukar...ofis kena cantek, baru org respek sikit kan...ini kalau dah dlm ofis ada kerusi warong, apa J****....meja pun buruk semacam...aihhhhh....tinggi menggunung mende yg aku nak kena buat nih...mencabar sungguh....

Aku kena byk doa lah utk buat mende ni berjaya. Insya Allah aku akan cuba praktik apa yg aku dah alami dulu, yg baik2 lah kan.....

Is Change Really Necessary?

I am always pro to changes. I am a strong believer that change or "hijrah" will bring more good than bad. When I look at my past pictures, especially of those with my colleagues in office, the theory has been proven again and again.

There is Mr. I happily working in a renown company in KL, able to own a big home in Shah Alam. Doing what he loves to do.

Then I have Mr. K happily globe throtting to finish his work assignments worldwide.

Mr. A now able to own expensive cars and also enjoy pretty good life in KL.

Mr. M is now very jovial while counting his chips and had the guts to advocate me to move to KL.

Mr. K is now a permanent staff next door also enjoying himself with a more comfortable life.

Everytime I heard their latest news, I would always smile to myself, God bless them and their family. Their decision to move out and change might be among their biggest achievement in life.

 

The only constant thing in life is change. No wonder even the prophet PBUH is advocating for hijrah or change.

 

But, what refrain me from the change?

Of course, there's that dilemma called - comfort zone. Everything is just nice, no need for more headache for adjustment, new life to adapt to, new people to associate with, etc etc. But until when this can last?

 

I have thought many times to quit the company, in fact. For one, my upline in UT has always given a hint and assurance that goes something like this - "I'm sure you can go far if you do this full time". Well, sometimes I did think about it. But then again, thoughts without actions are useless. Everytime I meet that successful UT consultant in town or in UT office, she too would utter the same thing. It's an irony that these people have confidence in me when I myself is doubting it.

 

Then I try to rationalize it. I stay because I think I can do better. I can help better and they need me. Boleh tak gitu? What a bunch of crap. This crap nonetheless has kept me going and enjoying quite the same life for the past few years. To add some variety, I took up UT and in latest fashion, the great Tupperware business. Let see how far I can go. I have learnt a lot while diversifying my life. At work, I am waiting for the last moment, if there is going to be any change soon. I pray that it will. Let me play my part to help soar to a higher level, with those within my control. If it's meant to be, it will. If it's not, maybe Allah has a greater plan for me.

DC Chapter 2 - Part 3 - Darling Who?

When I was in primary school, people would try their best to pronounce my name correctly, and often ended up as  - Nordailin.

When I was in secondary school, people had started to associate the pronunciation of my name to  - Darling. And then they would giggle.

When I started work, again people had dared to straight away called me Darling.

Until now, whenever I mentioned my full name, "Oh, Darling...can easily be remembered!".

And all these associations have mostly been uttered by men.

Ladies on the other hand, would try their best to pronounce my name correctly, and often ended up I told them to call me - Lin. Easy.

 

According to Mr. Carnegie,  a name is the most sweetest and the most important sound in any language to a person.

When you meet someone new, try to remember that name and call it easily, and you have paid a subtle and a very effective compliment. Seriously, I would solute people if they can try to at least pronounce my name correctly. Very few I have found throughout my existence though (very sad case...).

If you forget or misspelt a name, you're in trouble mister! You have put yourself at a sharp disadvantage. To this, I can still recall we used to have a Director whose name ended with Phin. Unfortunately, one of the clerks had written a letter for him to sign but with spelling Pin. He was damn pissed man....he marched into our office and shouted - who wrote this letter? Don't you know that a name is very important? How can you take this lightly? I guessed no one admitted. He just shouted at everyone so that everyone could remember his anger.

 

There are tips on how to remember a person's name better.

1. Repeat the name several times.
2. Try to associate it with the person's features, expressions and general appearance.

I tried this last few weeks when I met my new sister-in-law with her daughters. She has 2 daughters, 1 is Shazlin and 1 is Emma. Shazlin easy to recall as I associated it with Shalin the famous Malaysian Bowler. Emma, well, she does look a little like Raja Ema, once a famous singer. 1 son - Amal. Name is Jamaludin but was shortened to Amal. It really does work.

 

This thing needs practice.

 

When I got a letter from a bank for a settlement, I met En Mazlan, and tried to mention his names several times during our conversation. The next time I visited the bank, I called his name again. When I perpetually refer to En Mazlan, rather than Encik, which I used to do before, he was smiling all over and helped me to settle my bank matters very fast. I think it gave him the power of feeling importance. I had complimented him indirectly, he was happy, and he helped me willingly. Win-win.

 

It is indeed the sweetest sound to a person.