Being busy makes things easy...really?

Yea yea yea...I haven't updated my blog for a long time. I haven't been a regular blogger for quite some time. I haven't been "regular" in a lot of things lately. My treasure hunting activities is almost non existent. Haven't practiced my photography and editing for quite some time too. Haven't been to the gym for so long, I've put on weight...a lot of weight actually. Not a regular at most things lately.

Basically, it's my new job that's taking up my time. Not at a new place, the same work place but different tasks. Previously I was working shifts, now I'm on "normal" hours. I got my weekends back (yeay to me!). Unfortunately though it comes with lot of heavy workload. Basically what we do (me and the team) is servicing the customers. What was supposed to be "you guys just handle operations" now turns to a whole different ball game. Not only do we have to handle operations issues, we now handle commercial issues, finance, waivals, claims and whatever comes into our view. Jack of all trades, master of none...

I don't mind the challenge actually, I welcome challenges in my working life because it keeps me going. And I actually learn a lot of things as I go along doing my new tasks. What I have issues with is the fact that everyone seems to dump everything on us and washed their hands off it. That really rubs me the wrong way. In one instance, I even got a guy who giggled viciously as he dumped a job that was supposed to be his duty, with the passing remark of : "eh, u kan account champion for this customer kannnn...." eh eh, mat...sukanye hati kau...

I don't complain a lot at work, I would rather have my actions speak on behalf of me. I just put my head down, and do the job at hand. Whatever needs to be done, I will do, no matter how difficult it is. It's not about me, it's about the team, the company as a whole. I wouldn't want to be the weak link in the chain.

And hey, if you can work shift for years and years, you can do anything... :)

Back to reality...

Well, we're back in Malaysia after 4 days of holiday in Bali. Hopefully in several future posts, I'll update on where we went to around the island. It was a wonderful experience for me to just have some time off from a difficult and challenging year so far. And to do that with a person I'm in love with meant so much more. I wish we could spend more time together like this, and hopefully in the future we will.

Anyways, on the way back home, we met the doctor that gave us the flu jab before we went to Bali. He was on the same flight and was surprised that we remembered him. He had brought his young family for holiday and I think he felt the same way we did at the end of the holiday. He summed up things pretty accurately :"well, now it's back to reality..."

We're in Bali...!

Alhamdullilah...we made it to Bali,safe and sound... We're staying at Legian Village Hotel, one of the cheap hotels we found on the internet. Looks okay from the outside, and the live band is playing some decent music at the moment.

If you must know, we're still waiting to get to our rooms...25 minutes after we checked in...oh dear, another delay? Oh gosh, hurry up please...we're hungry and in need of food!

Leaving for Bali...

We're leaving for Bali for a lil bit of vacation. After almost a year of planning and waiting,we're finally going! Haha... As the flight is delayed, as expected (u can't expect much from AirAsia), I thought I might jot down a few things while waiting.
LCCT has improved a lot, I think Malaysia Airports has done a good job at sprucing up this low cost terminal. Despite the many people around, I don't feel cramped or crowded by them. There's a lot of duty free shops, so there's always something that will catch my wife's eyes...hahaha...
The only thing AirAsia needs to improve on their side, for now at least, are their flights' punctuality. The otherwise good service from seemingly endless friendly people on their team is being ruined by flight delays. I don't have experience in managing flights, but I do know enough that something should be done to reduce the delays, and customers do not appreciate time wasted waiting in the boarding lounge.
Otherwise, they might want to change their tagline to "every flight is delayed"...

A tribute to my Iron Lady

My mum was born and raised in a poor family. She used to sell vegetables at the roadside to help the family with some money. She lost her parents at an early age. Throughout her life, she has faced challenges upon challenges, but doesn’t seem to faze her at all. She struggled to bring us up as a family. Among us all, I believe she’s the strongest.

Throughout her life she made a lot of sacrifices; more so for her own family, and her children. And raising one of the naughtiest boy as her son, (that’s me by the way), really tested her resolve. There’s nothing mischievous left undone after I’m through with it, but Mak was always so patient with me.

In her career, she made sacrifices to follow my father’s footsteps around Malaysia, as he was posted to various jobs in the government. The last posting was in Sarawak, where Mak decided it best to follow my dad and look after my younger sister, resulting in her relinquishing a plush post in the ministry.

When she was diagnosed with cancer 7 years ago, she virtually took it in her stride, looking for treatments wherever possible, whenever available, and whatever the options. Modern medicine, herbal medication, you name it, she tried it. There was no stone left unturned.

In all of this, her mind is always focused on the family and not herself. Her determination to battle the cancer was not because she wants it for herself. She wants it so that she is well enough to take care of the family and my dad. She even took “time off” from her treatment a few years back, so that my dad could go ahead with his heart surgery. She pulled me aside this one day, and told me: “don’t tell Ayah, I want him to go for the surgery so that he can be healthy again…my cancer…well, it’s still there…”

Every single day, she would tell us to take care of each other, take care of the family, and take care of my dad. We are a close knit family, and she’s the glue that kept us together.

Her courage in the face of diversity is an inspiration to me in my own life. Despite all her health problems, she would always find the strength to give a piece of advice and encouragement daily to her naughtiest child. Her love, tenderness and warm spirit touched not only me, but others around her as well.

My mum…Mak…Datin Hajjah Kamariah Jalil passed away on 25th June 2009. After a long, brave battle against cancer, she is finally at peace, God bless her soul.

She is my Iron Lady…and I miss her…so very much…