Ladies only outing...

“Look after my heart - I've left it with you...” - Stephenie Meyer

It was announced last week that our PD Resort will be closed for renovation till July 2006. While the resort is being renovated staff are given the opportunity to stay at a few good hotels around PD resort area at a subsidized rate. Staff will only pay 25% of the room rates.

Someone had booked Guoman Resort on Merdeka Day for our ladies only outing. I joined the gang for a day trip, while the rest stayed overnight. On the way home detour to UIA to send Sara her sandals. She’s going to Langkawi this weekend to research on her project.

Our own Clubhouse...

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet...” - Gandhi

(Water feature @ Lanai Kijang)

The Clubhouse Taskforce is organizing the 'Name the Club' Contest to find the best name for our company's Clubhouse. The Clubhouse is an extension of the Financial Services Resource Centre and will be located behind JKR headquarters, together with the accommodation facilities of the FSRC. The construction of the FSRC and Clubhouse is expected to be completed in January 2007.

With the idea to promote a balanced lifestyle and strengthen the sense of community, it is envisaged that the Clubhouse will be a venue where staff and course participants can relax, network and experience informal learning in an environment of comfort through the provision of a variety of facilities, activities and services.

Do I have to give up my Club membership at BKE Resort then?

Home furnishing...

“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star...” - Friedrich Nietzsche

'

(The club house from 22nd floor...)

 

Last night I didn’t sleep well again. I was feeling melancholic. Nothing to do with Planet Mars or tired soul. I guessed I slept too much the whole day yesterday. And last night hubby snored louder than usual.

We had late lunch at the Mines and spent some time at the furniture fair. At the end, we decided to buy 4 units air-conditioners at HSL and fixed a date for delivery to our Putramas apartment. On the way home, stopped at Home Star Furnishing and ordered a dining table set to be delivered end of September. By then the apartment would be fully renovated and ready for occupancy.

Tonight we slept soundly.

Watch the sky...

“In heaven, all the interesting people are missing...” - Friedrich Nietzsche

'

Tonight, all the way from Melaka I slept and left the driving to hubby.

I know he was tired and sleepy too but I just couldn’t help it. I was drained of all my energy. I was so tired, body and mind. These past few days have been so demanding, with datelines to meet and decisions to make. I was not sleeping well too during these nights.

I thought tonight would be a good time to watch the sky while we were driving on the hi-way. They said that in August the Planet Mars would be the brightest in the night sky. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. And especially tonight, Mars will come within 34.65 M. Miles of earth. If we were to watch the sky tonight at 0030 it will look like the earth has 2 moons. And the next time Mars may come this close will be in year 2287. No one alive today will ever see it again.

And we missed this. Because I was too tired to stay awake.

Wounds that heal...

“The unfed mind devours itself...” - Gore Vidal

The past like some unquiet ghost still moves
Within, too fraught with longing to forget
We have moved on, as is mature and wise
But love, though long abandoned, never dies...

(Nick G)

I’m freezing here!

“Because you can't argue with all the fools in the world. It's easier to let them have their way...” - Christopher Paolini

The Management at the last Senior Officers' Meeting has decided that we will adopt the practice of the Government to conserve power by increasing the office temperature to 26 °C. To show our support to the Government's effort, this new measure will be implemented with immediate effect until further notice.

I have seen a difference in some of the clothing they wear. The men no longer wear jackets and ladies shed off their cardigans or shawls. The temperature is warmer and pleasant in the office area. It used to be either too cold or too warm!

But until now my room temperature has not been raised and still just above freezing point. If this unpleasantly frosty temperature continues to prolong I may be able to catch some snow in my room.

Warong Teh Tarik...

“I can resist anything except temptation...” - Oscar Wilde

We used to have our sunset rendezvous at our favorite warong teh tarik at the Lake Gardern.

But lately, ever since Nasi Lemak Tanglin opens business everyday and extends business hours till 10 at night, we have been visiting the stall almost everyday. In the morning for breakfast and Monday and Wednesday evenings for teh tarik and sometimes Nasi Lemak for early dinner before we go for our classes at Masjid Negara.

A few years back, the Nasi Lemak Tanglin was a small shabby pondok under the giant Angsana trees with branches that droop till they touch the ground. Situated next to the Butterfly Park, they shared business with the makeshift Chinese coffee shop next door. When the children were young, going to eat Nasi Lemak here on Saturday mornings was a family outing. The children loved the Nasi Lemak and the Kuah Daging.

I love the ambiance. It was like having breakfast in Taman Negara, where sometimes we share tables with the monkeys and the crows. We didn’t mind the biji saga scattering into our plates when the pods exploded. Or the crawlies hanging from the trees into our cups of tea. They were harmless caterpillars, which will later transform into beautiful butterflies. We used to eat amidst the sound of chirping birds and crickets and admired the lush greenery. We used to just sit down to contemplate on the beauty of the place. You will find the feeling of peace lingers within the serenity of nature and its surroundings.

Now that they have turned the area into a large parking lot and relocated the warong at the new modern food stalls, I missed the tranquility and peacefulness…

Intermittent service...

“The trouble is not in dying for a friend, but in finding a friend worth dying for...” - Mark Twain

This morning we lingered in bed till 11 a.m. and had late breakfast of toast and half-boiled eggs.

At noon we drove to my office to retrieve hubby's bike. I was about to take the lift to my office when the Security Officer at the counter stopped me and informed that there was no power supply. I should have known. The Service Department is carrying out service and maintenance work to the Switchboard this weekend, which will cause an electrical disruption to all four Blocks.

Even yesterday afternoon we experienced intermittent interruptions in accessing e-mail services. But that was different. The IT Department was doing some anti-virus update exercise. We are lucky that the email is still available through the website. If not we might as well go home and rest. Our works depend so much on computers nowadays…

After my spa session at Dewi Sri, I had a bowl of Mee Rebus before driving home. Whole night was spent on the couch watching tv.

A Belated Celebration...

"The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments..."

 

I had a marathon of meetings starting as early as 8.30 a.m. with the NCAC meeting followed by the briefing to all Commercial banks at auditorium. Skipped lunch and attended a meeting with the Security Department where they shared an insightful story on the recent US$60 million heist at the Central Bank of Brazil. The whole afternoon was busy clearing the supplementary budget and we managed to include the amount in the mid-year review report.

Tonight we had teppanyaki dinner at Keyaki Restaurant, Pan Pacific Hotel. A belated celebration for hubby's birthday! The place is comfortable and warm, with high glass windows on one side providing a scenic view of the landscaped Japanese garden overlooking the swimming pool. Keyaki offers a very extensive Japanese menu list. Privacy is assured as the tables are divided by partitions. We preferred to sit at the Teppanyaki counter and watched our food being cooked by the experienced chef.

Yang, I pray tonight and every night that you will move forward armed with faith and love, discovering the blessings which have been set forth for you. Remembering that I will always love you...

Art Talk...

“Remember, darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good...” - P.C. Cast

Yesterday, amidst the back-to-back meetings and discussions, I attended a talk at the Auditorium on Islamic Art Appreciation organized by the Museum Matawang. Two speakers graced the occasion. Dr. Amir H. Zekrgoo, an Iranian Artist and scholar of art, has been engaged in teaching Islamic art, history of art and comparative art studies in religious and sacred art, among others. He is currently an Associate Professor of Islamic Arts at UIA.

Another speaker was Dr Sulaiman Esa, a Malaysian, prominent practitioner of contemporary Islamic art. Through his art and discourse, he has shown how the sacred can be coextensive with modernism and nationalism. He is currently teaching at the Faculty of Art & Design, UITM.

Topics presented - 'Islamic Art Through the Centuries from the Traditional to the Contemporary' and 'Contemporary Islamic Art of Malaysia : Achievements and Challenges'.

Love is never too much...

“Dreams are always crushing when they don't come true..."

I left the house early. Hubby followed suit on his big-bike half an hour later. The traffic was smooth so I arrived early and had time to do some recital while waiting for him to arrive. We had breakfast Nasi lemak at Tanglin. Whole day today was spent discussing on budget preparation. Don’t even have time to reply sms and answer calls.

After office we met at Tanglin and again I had a round of Nasi Lemak. Twice of Nasi Lemak a day? that’s too much! That was also my dinner for tonight. In class we had a revision session with Uztaz on Ulumul-Quran and we had a few spot questions to work on.

Happy Birthday yang. I love you so very much….

Lethal weapon...

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong...” - François de La Rochefoucauld

'

In the morning we went round some electrical shops to look for some electrical appliances for our apartment. We ended up buying cooker hob and hood and water heaters for the bathrooms. Went to Ikea and Harvey Norman and found nothing interesting. It was raining very heavily when we had lunch at TGIF, the Curve.

In the afternoon, we decided to go to KLIA to retrieve my personal belonging, which has been confiscated by MAS personnel during my trip back from Singapore. I was given 30 days to claim back if not it will be destroyed. They have actually classified my small piece of belonging as lethal weapon or dangerous object. I wonder what can I do with that piece of gadget?

Tonight we had Nasi Ayam Kampung at Stadium Cheras.

Calming snooze...

“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch...” - Bette Davis

Woke up late and washed loads of laundry. Later we went to Rumpun for lunch. The weather was ok but we didn’t have any specific plan so we ended up taking a restful nap in the afternoon. With Mark Knofler singing Sailing to Philadelphia in the background.

Tonight we attended a wedding at the Galeri Seni in Shah Alam.

Strategic Leadership...

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom...” - Marcel Proust

Hotel Renaissance'

I was at the office early. The bus picked us up at 8 a.m. and the conference session started sharp at 8.30 a.m. ended at 12 noon. Lunch was provided but I have a personal agenda with Y and A. We decided not to walk in the haze to Saloma but took a cab to KLCC instead and have noodles for lunch. Rushed back to the hotel and attended the afternoon session of the conference.

The haze is getting better today. Sara is at home. She gets 2 days off from class because of the haze. Tonight’s dinner is McD home deliveries.

The SMC is postponed...

“I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early...” - Charles Lamb

We were in the exit meeting with the Auditor when Sal came barging in the meeting room to inform that there’s an urgent message from the SMC’s secretariat that needed the Director and Deputy Director’s immediate attention.

“Regret to inform you that the SMC 2005 at Langkawi has been postponed until further notice because of concern about our safety due to the hazy conditions. Therefore, all travel arrangements have been cancelled. However, we are making arrangement for Professor Vijay Sathe's session to be held this Friday; 12 August. Please block your diary accordingly and we will confirm the time and venue soonest possible.”

Immediately asked Linda to cancel hubby's ticket too. Wouldn’t want to be penalized for late cancellation.

Worsening haze...

“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it...” - Jean de La Fontaine

(The view from my office)

This morning we arrived early at Tanglin for breakfast but the Nasi Lemak stall was still closed. Arrgh…

We ended up eating roti canai for breakfast instead. The whole morning and afternoon were busy with meetings and discussions. I am not feeling well since yesterday and my nose is running and I am coughing non-stop. Most probably because of the haze and I think it’s here to stay. These pictures were taken from my room at M Floor, in the morning and later from 14th Floor, in the afternoon

(View from 14th floor)

Hubby came to fetch me early and we headed to the club and had time for a round of bowling before Maghrib prayer. We spent half hour in the gym and later stayed in the sauna for a while. Tonight we had Ubi Kayu Rebus for dinner at Warung Tanjung Puteri. And by the time we turned in to sleep both of us have red eyes and running noses.

Everyone should avoid staying in the open these few days.

Brain power...

Amazing... I received this in my e-mail today…

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, The olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tguhoht slpeling was ipmorantt!

Unqualified veterinarian...

“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one...” - Terry Pratchett

'

This morning I drove to Subang alone. On the way, called Bee to ask whether she wants to get out of the house and follow me. But I guessed she could not as I could hear a noisy racket in the background. She said she’s in a middle of a mess, cleaning up the sangkar kucing and playing doctor to her sick kittens. She has 21 cats altogether and half of them are sick!

On the way home, I thought of dropping by at Bee’s place but decided not to as I was feeling very sleepy. When I reached home, the sofa in the Study was so inviting. I napped till sunset and didn’t even hear Sara when she came home. She left for campus again after washing her laundry and I continued sleeping until the doorbell woke me up again.

Laughter, a tranquilizer...

“When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye...” - Cathy Guisewite'

We had toasts and half-boiled eggs for breakfast this morning. Today hubby is having a full-day workshop at The Marriot. I too will be busy with my day, as I have made plans with the gang.

Sara wouldn’t be home for the weekend. She's going gallivanting the beach in PD with her classmates.

Nasi Lemak Tanjung Puteri...

“Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right...” - Isaac Asimov

I had a busy day. In the morning I had a session with my new Manager on his PRIME interim evaluation. His promotion recently has elevated his responsibility to lead a new team. We discussed on his competencies and gaps and reviewed his profile for job-person match and discussed how best he could fit in his new roles as a Manager. I am quite positive of his capabilities. Later, I attended the Senior Officer’s Meeting on behalf of the Director. He has gone for a branch visit in KT to coincide with the branch’s Annual Dinner. In the afternoon, I chaired the Section Head meeting and again reiterated the need to speed up processes. Procrastination has become a habit to some of us and will not gain us anything.

Hubby came after Magrib and we drove to the club. Tonight there were more ladies than the men in the Gym. He walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour. I only managed to cycle for 20 minutes. My running nose was clogging up the nasal passage and made it difficult to breath. I was in the sauna when my Teacher friend joined me and we bual-bual kosong for a while. I like this lady friend, as she is outspoken and unpretentious. I am quite easy with her candor and simple jokes. Later, we stayed a while in the steam room. In the shower, I was feeling dizzy and nauseating at the same time. Most probably, too tired and too dehydrated.

We had Nasi Lemak again for dinner at Tanjung Puteri and surprised to bump into Nik M and hubby. They were having their dinner there too. Nik Aminah didn’t eat anything as she is on a very strict diet. After a brief chat, they went off first and paid for our dinner too. I must remember to call and thank her.

Singapore: On-site approval...

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” - Dr. Seuss

I was in Singapore Mint to check the specifications of the coin samples and after some improvements on the relief of the design and the depth of the edge lettering, approved for the mint to proceed with production.

My Overseas Travelogue: Singapore 2005

Eat right – feel right...

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Today, beginning 7 a.m. staff will be able to enjoy the benefits of the Healthy Food Program at the Cafeteria. The program is to promote good health practices among staff . The café is implementing the new traffic light system in classifying our meals. We just need to follow the colours labelled on the food items. Green for Low in calories and fat. Yellow for Moderate and Red for High. Staff will be rewarded for taking the healthy alternative, Green items enjoy 30% discount and yellow items 20% discount.

As part of the Work-life balance, we are trying to Inculcate good eating habits with food that is identifiable, nutritious, balanced, calorie counted, affordable and of course tasty. We can feast our appetites from a full service sandwich bar, juice bar, exotic local fruits, and signature healthy meals. As a treat , for the first day of the program, there will be a free-flow from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. of local fruits, special fruit punch, freshly squeezed fruit juices and selected snacks.

Today, I’ll try the health food at the cafe. A chance to treat my body and my wallet too.