Last day of the year...

2004 left me with tons of memories and adventurous journey in life. In January, I gave birth to my beautiful Nabilah after 9-months and 2 weeks waiting. My life changed so much after that. 2-months confinement tested my patience and energy in carring a baby. We celebrated Hari Raya Haji and Chinese New Year joyously. Soon after that, my mother live with me whenever I am alone until Nabilah 6 months old. It was truly a relief having my mother near me and my baby. Near Ramadhan, she went back and I cared for my daughter alone, only during weekend she gets to see her father. Nabilah learned her skills quite fast. She completed her course of learning to walk by 11-months, has already 6 teeth and already eating variety of food including bread, biscuits and lots of fruits. At about the same time, Angah gave birth to a son, Faiz near Aidilfitri. Mak and Ayah at Kemaman renovated their house just before Raya too. We had a bigger kitchen with new rosewood dining table. Kak Ngah were busy with her 'examination kids'; SPM, PMR and UPSR, one kid in each exam. While Along were given higher post in Rela (he's actively involved in the work.. not just his hobby) and I was glad he got it. My husband got his placement to several univs for his doctorate study, passed several English tests (after very little time to study) and now, I'm hoping that he will get through with JPA too. Me myself, I went for tons of work, trips, a long holiday and a healthy growing baby inside me. I'm just glad that everything is well and good with my family this year.



2004 is truly a year to be missed.

Year End..

It is funny when seeing things turned out to be exactly opposite of what you want in a few hours. This morning, I've been busying myself chasing bosses just to get things done the way I want it.. hehe. I got it eventually, felt good about it.. but I won't do it often. Wrote a letter in 15 minutes, talked and convinced them that's the best way to do it.. and I did some cost-savings effort. I wonder whether this kind of thing will be taken into account when they appraise me later.. emm..



Tomorrow will be only half-day working. We were asked by HR to take 1/2 day leave if we have any left. Since it cannot be carried forward, I simply fill-in the application form. Hehe. So this year I got 4 days to keep in the so-called 'tabung cuti' and 7 days carried forward to next year. 29 days and extra 60 days to rest at home.. should plan my holidays properly. Perhaps upgrade my sewing skills or knitting.



Yepp, that's it.

Celebration..

I went back to Muar last Friday evening after work.. traffic was not bad, we arrived on time and Nabilah was asleep as usual. This year I celebrated Christmas at my cousin's wedding in JB. I was a bit cautious when going to wedding now days since last time we went, Nabilah was badly affected by what-is-called 'sawan pengantin'.. not the usual fit but something that can make your baby looks unhealthy and always 'merengek' mainly because the baby actually 'terperanjat' when looking at the bride and groom.. and usually 'mak andam' has this something to recite while mengandam. She got fever that kept recurring. Anyway, her nenek brought her near to bride and groom so that they can kiss her. So far, Nabilah is fine. As always, she will ask someone to bring her near to 'ayam-ayam' at backyard to see. The cocks and hens always fascinated her, don't know why.. it gives me troubles because unless I bring her to see her ayam-ayam, she will reluctantly eat. Something to tell her when she grown up.



It was my parents' anniversary and Mak's birthday on Sunday. A double celebration for all of us. This year I considered myself lucky as I got to be with them to celebrate together with my sister. We bought satay and chocolate cake that evening. Since my sister has just completed her confinement the day before, I could not bring them to eat-out. My parents have their favourite restaurant for tea, and it will be the best place to take them on their anniversary.. and Nabilah will very much like the idea of an outing with her grandparents.. maybe next time, insya'allah. Just before we went back on Monday evening, my Nabilah took her first 4-steps in front of us and her grandparents. Yay! Finally she braved herself to walk unaided. Hehe. Looking forward for weeks to come, she must be getting pretty excited herself when walking. I guess triple celebrations for all of us.



After the tsunami disaster at Penang, and some places in Kedah over the weekend, I am glad that my family are safe and sound. Called my sister-in-law in Subang, and they are all well and good. My deepest condolences to victims' families. Hope there will be no more such disastrous event happen in Malaysia for years to come.

....

Spent the whole morning editting and translating numbers into maps.. Geesh! Hate doing it but what to do. If not me, no one else know how to do it.. and I am too packed to teach others to do it. In fact, I don't dare asking others to edit the files. I presumed more trouble if I do that. I thought my job will become easier if I shared with others.. well, only 10% of it.. the rest, I have to re-check, edit and write it back. They did not finish the job, though. Only part of it. I guess this week will be fully dedicated to editting the syntax. Hope to get it done soon.



By the way, the whole office is busy with KPIs and CPMs forms to fill in. I don't care much as everything is very well taken care of by my immediate boss (his job anyway, why bother..) There's a lot to be done next financial year.. and HQ has given out instructions on their different approach in monitoring our performance. Should done it long time ago, not wait until now.. The group has been given 2 additional workforces; one is for my replacement (or should I say.. my successor.. haha) and the other for new projects. Emm, thinking of passing more work to her-lah.. esp on the wireless thing, should put my thinking cap now...

New baby...

Last Saturday, we went to the clinic to get Nabilah's long overdued 9-months jab.. and my check-up. The doctor said she only need her 12-months MMR, measles and mumps jab next January 2005.. so, selamat lah my little baby daughter tuh.. hehehe.. she kind of 'menyampah' to be poke on, sakit lah.. usually she cried a bit, and then turn to her father. Then came my turn, I've been postponing the checkup which I should do long before Ramadhan. We need to confirm something has developed in me :) and we did. In fact, the doctor said mak dia ni lawak-lah.. because it turned out I've been 17 weeks carring my second child. Emm, an interesting subject to think about at the end of the year. Nabilah was amused to see a baby image on the screen. The baby kicks hard to greet his/her sister.. Quite different from my previous experience with Nabilah.. She kicks when I was at the end of 4th months. The baby kicks hard since after Raya, that was like beginning of the 4th month. I felt terrible during the 1st two months with Nabilah, fevers, colds and headaches were norm at that time. But this time, felt nothing actually until me myself could not believe that I'm carrying a baby. Felt fine and healthy, can survive with Nabilah alone and did not feel sick at all. Strongly felt that the Lingzhi works wonder. I've been eating the capsules 3 months ago. Hehe. Alhamdulillah. I'm hoping to deliver in Malaysia, rather than other places in the world, but my mom must be terrified and tired of handling babies anymore. This year she cared for me (and Nabilah) during confinement in Feb up till April.. and continued help me taking care of little Nabilah until she is 6 months old.. then, my sister gave birth to a baby son in November. Her confinement will end next week. Insyaallah, if everything goes well, I'm expected to deliver end of May 2005. Another 2 months free holidays for me, but I'm a bit worry on Nabilah. She must be damn bored at home when she can go play with her friends at school. I have no doubt that she must want to make friends with her baby sister/brother.. like she did with Faiz. I just pray everything will go as planned. After all, it's all about 'rezeki Allah'.

Breakaway..

At last I can write something on my recent trip to Kota Kinabalu. It has been a long waiting holiday breakaway for me and my husband. With Nabilah getting naughtier day by day, a decent trip is hard to get. Besides some hickups on the accommodation and the flight, I enjoyed every bit of it. We got sea-view double room, instead of the boring golf course-view previously booked. Glad that he mistakenly booked a twin-bed room. Hehe. I stayed at the hotel most mornings, since my hubby has to attend several sessions for the conference. Just sitting by the window with Nabilah, doing nothing other than watching the calm South China Sea and marina parked with luxury boats every morning, made me reluctant to leave this place.



My hubby's friend joined us most of the time. Most of the time, I felt sorry for him because being single, he has to bear with a boisterous 10-months old baby girl and a mother who likes to window shop. I think it's better if he's married and has a baby like us. We are even then. Hehe. Nevertheless, we went to Filipino Market and spent some on pearls. I'm not really into pearls, bought a few for my sisters and two bracelets for myself. Nabilah got a set of chain and bracelet made from white pearls for her 1st birthday (advance present from Ayah). I'm more of handicrafts person, I bought 2 baskets and nearly persuade my hubby to buy a big woven mat. I did not spent much on souvenirs (keychains, and small stuff alike) this time, not much to buy in KK compared during my trip to Kuching last year. KK is not a shopping haven, it's more for overstressed people like myself, who want some peace and away from hectic, busy city life.



Weekends were too short. We rent a car for a day that costs us RM120. Too late for 'kaki Gunung Kinabalu' trip near Kundasang, we went to Tanjung Aru and eat chicken wings with air kelapa. Later, as we were underpacked this time, I bought 2 blouses (cheaper and nicer compared to the usual Jaya Jusco's or Warta's) for myself and a batik shirt for my hubby. We dined out most of the nights, and amazingly Nabilah could stay awake past her bedtime, the usual 7.30 nite nite (maybe because it's dark early in KK .. almost dark by 6.30 p.m.). We had seafood dinner with big ikan kerapu and squids. Could not eat much as the nasi is not cooked to my liking. I ate all squids and most of 'the' fish. Hehe.



After 5 days and 4 nights stay, I sadly left the place. Next year, insyaallah, it will be a very much different type of holiday I'm looking forward too. New season and new experiences esp for my precious little daughter or maybe daughters? :o)

Enjoy life..

I had lunch with my boss and a supplier. We have just finished inspecting the goods sent by the supplier. As everything is in order (I've checked it before..), I did not want to mess up with the boxes (because we need to transport it to somewhere else in a month time) but my boss, being stubborn he is, insisted that we opened up. At last, I managed to 'buat donno' to his request and we just opened one box. I'm not being big-headed but I'm the one who has to ensure that the goods are in good condition later on including re-packing if needed. Honestly, you can just count them from outside (sbb transparent) tak payah bukak box tuh.. ish, letih betul nak explain..



During lunch, this supplier commented to me on my boss. I do agree with him. My boss, being the best researcher in this office, and well-known to most of HQ people, is an expert. He takes his work very, very seriously and sometimes I think he never stops to rest, and he worries a lot. That's maybe one reason why he is so skinny.. hehehe.. His wife is a wonderful woman, who knows how to enjoy herself, even when my boss say '... malas-lah, u pegi sorang-lah'.. One time, we went abroad together, on working trip were my boss with the wife and myself. We look like a family.. she's outgoing, love to shop and tell story about her shopping experiences.. Me, sat there and listened to her because I was out there in the field working 9 to 5.. the shops close at 5.30 p.m.. Huwaaa! No shopping trips for me-lah that time..



Sometimes I realize that I go shopping whenever I feel bad, stress with work or angry with someone. That's my way to let it go. I usually buy things that I have been eyeing for quite some time.. or just go out to eat something delicious.. I remember one time, I'm having bad day at work with too much to think and no one to talk too. I drove to Mines and eat my favourite nasi campur with terung goreng sambal, tauhu telur, kacang panjang goreng and a bowl of fruit cocktail. You just have to enjoy life while you can...

Hard times...

I did not have the 'usual' Monday morning blues today.. pretty unusual but yep, I was working from 9.30 (because we have the usual Monday morning meeting for an hour.. work starts at 9.30 on Monday..) until 5.10, when I decided to check my email and write something. I had a quick lunch at Cempaka Food Court, Billion and went to Cosway before that. Pretty busy Monday for me. It was because I left my laptop power cable in the office during weekend. I cannot work without it, the battery was too low.. Silly me!



I did finish several parts of the guideline, which I need to submit on Wednesday. I did not bother to jot down what my boss asked or rather suggest me to do on the system because I already have it in my mind of doing for a very, very long time. It is just a matter of time. He did not give me enough time to settle things one by one. Sometimes it frustrates me more each day, I cannot do what I really want to do. I have been asked to fit here and there.. to finish up some unfinish business from someone else. It has been so long, almost two years.. when I think the others are escalating more than myself in term of their technical capabilities, to their liking.



This morning, a colleague talked about 'A Butterfly's Lesson'. It strucked my mind, that maybe, in a subtle way, I've been shielded and pampered too much. Until at one point, I felt that I don't have the freedom to choose things that I want to do. Things that I can do better than anyone else. Perhaps, it is a good time to take a long break.



p/s: Wisconsin Univ. has accepted his doctorate proposal. I guess we'll be going there in a few months time :-) Should start thinking of taking the 'test'.. hehehe...

Have a great weekend!

I'm going home. Tomorrow'll be a busy day: morning, go visit my brother at Subang Mewah, afternoon: prepare for Nabilah's resistance to see her father go back to work by flight.. unless she nap in the evening.. hehehe.. Sunday: take care of her, and finish up work (at least power up the pc and write something on the docs..)



Have a great weekend, people!

Going international..

Another top story on Siti's upcoming solo concert scheduled on 1st April 2005 (April Fool?) at Royal Albert Hall, London catched my attention during breakfast. I've checked RAH for her concert but not yet listed online. I wonder how much money her sponsors paid for hiring the hall. Must be a fortune. I'm not her fan, but I do enjoy her songs and she sings beautifully.. not up to my favorite singer, Celine Dion or Mariah Carrey but she's Malaysian.. and opportunity to sing at RAH is invaluable to some extent. After Allahyarham Sudirman (the true singer ever born after Allahyarham Tan Sri P.Ramlee), Sheila Majid and very few Asian singers, it is her chance to expose herself to international level.. but honestly, I think her helpers/coordinators or whatever people around her called themselves, must make sure that Siti can communicate well with the audience (including her pronunciation etc.. ) and project good image for Malaysia during her course. We do not want foreign media to keep on laughing and misintepreting Malaysians' thoughts anymore.

Enough on that.. Friday is always a good day to look for. My stomach is full with Hari Raya delicacies, fruits and cookies. I fried some 'keropok' last night for the jamuan.. and also brought along 'kerepek pisang' for them to eat.. at least, I got the chips finished, so, tak membazir lah. Next week, I won't be around to join the company Jamuan Aidilfitri on Friday. I've asked a meeting to be rescheduled and also have planned what to buy during my so-called vacation. I think I'm having End-of-the-Year Syndrome, which is lethal and highly infectious.. hehehe..

Side note: I've never been inside RAH.. the tickets are too expensive. Perhaps after I earn 5 figures income, I'll go there for a concert or two.

Pizza tonite..

I've ordered Pan Pizza Combo Meal for 2 from Pizza Hut at 4.10 p.m. They despatch them to my office exactly 30 minutes later. Good service, I can say. After eaten a regular Ocean Treasure last Sunday nite, and read Yan blogged on her pizza dinner experience, I 'teringin' lak a pizza snack.. hehehe.. as usual, after office hour while feeding Nabilah with her biscuits, I have to eat something to 'alas perut' before she go to sleep and I can cook something for myself.. but today, my husband is at home because he decided to go home early and not coming to my office.. he must be starving in front of TV. At least we can eat something before I get chance to cook real dishes tonite.. Can't wait to eat my seafood-pizza.. yummy!

Email & Sharifah Aini...

I was a bit energetic this morning, after breakfast with Tesco's Fruit & Fibre in the office. Yep, nowadays, I ate my breakfast in the office to save time and energy.. hehehe. I decided that I need to email this 'boss' from HQ and inform him our difficulties working with his machine. I have not heard anything from him yet, so, my face saving effort is email him first. Hehe. Lately, my unit has been bombarded with questions of reliability.. it seems that they want everything to be fast but honestly, they are the ones who delay everything. From payment to the easiest thing, feedback. Sadly, to them it is always our mistake. Aren't we are working for the same company?



Before going to work, I always watch Buletin Pagi and the first part of MHI on TV3 while feeding Nabilah. That's our routine. Sharifah Aini was on front page of most newspaper in the country, accused of sending 'bad' email on Siti Nurhaliza. And she also been investigated on her false report of being attacked by 'unknown' men near TV3 area. I just wondering, why she wants to do that? Isn't she got her own reputation to take care of? She is a Datuk, a public figure, a well-known singer for ages.. why would she jeorpadize her reputation just because of Siti? Siti emerged in different era, with different kind of image. Very upsetting, indeed.



I guess that's how the world operate. People tend to look at other people and compare themselves, when actually there's no need to do that. Be yourself and be happy.