Hands to Work And Hearts to God

Getting up the corporate ladder is not difficult at all. It's your continued consistency in behaviour and ability to stay on top that counts. That's performance I guess.

I have mulled over a couple of months now if I should go back to deputise my ex-boss in a subsidiary. Factors that prompted me to go back are as follows.

1. I do not wish to be part of the senior management team that do not think anymore. The culture is so bad that my current boss was almost sucked into it without him knowing it at all. Thinking is so much more an integral part of planning and a process that time and effort should be based on. As a result of "no think through" on the processes, the management loses focus, direction and the way forward. I cannot subscribe to this mentality and will not subject myself to be a yes-man. I believe that we must focus our efforts on the opportunities available but not ALL opportunities. Spreading resources thin, making too many staff multi-task on matters of feeble in nature, divesting in venture and forgoing where the bread and butter come from is too much for me to take and sink in.

2. I have fought the war with loonies for almost 5 years now. I need to seek greener pastures and more room to develop myself. Dealing with internal warlords is much much more difficult than dealing with an external client. I have given sufficient time for my boss to deal with his boss but he almost threw in the towel. It is not that I could not face the reality but heck it has been a lousy 5-year and I have been subdued from delivering my best.

3. Then there is Henry. My ex-boss whom was left in the lurch when it comes to finding his successor. I'd admit that I have learnt a lot from him as a taskmaster and he would continue to surprise me with his antics and his senility (Shhh! He does not take these words too kindly.) But I am sure that he is all so happy to receive me with open arms as he has no one to leave his legacy to. And he's a bloody tough act to follow in exceeding his profit target by 53% last financial year!

4. I guess I am going back to my inner nerd or becoming a "brick & motarian" instead of this online business. While I do admit the future of travel is online but I do get my own autonomous region to manage albeit a much smaller scope of currently what I am handling. (Talk about another warlord in his fiefdom!) But this would allow me to focus and go down on my hands and knees to tighten up screws with a motley crew of 70. I have worked with many of them before and there is also a gang which is young, bright, exciting and have the tenacity to run the extra mile or two.

The downside provided me some reservations not to move.

1. I would be labelled as "the guy who made it all the way to the top and fell all the way down". I am at the top of my game and yet I choose to dirty it all over again. The cyclical downfall is too drastic - making all the way up the corporate food chain and to reach down the limbo stick. The fact that I now occupy prime office space of 400sf and moving down to another half the size does creep in.

2. But most importantly, I feel sad that the company for not being able to utilise me to the best of my capability despite my capability and willingness to climb those peak and dive into the Bermuda Triangle. I feel that the company can actually do much better if realise their mistake earlier and made the positive changes at a quicker pace.

Or perhaps it is my mistake?

Perhaps I have failed to fathom the qualities of being a corporate raider and speak aloud when I was supposedly to be quiet. Perhaps I was too naive to voice out my intention to shift - I should have put up with it and stay in that ladder as long as my fingers can cling onto. Perhaps I should have sunk myself into the mentality of my bosses.

My rise was truly meteoric (yes?) 13 years and all the way there to the corporate office. Perhaps I should have stayed more sober and quietly presenting results which are favourable. Perhaps I was engaged by the retiring forces in the company that put me in a different perspective to view life after retirement and what the company has done for me and what now (after retirement) it will do for me. Too many suppositions, I suppose.

I have made the decision to move. Hands to work and hearts to God. I shall leave it as that for the time being.

Comedy Court

You are not so funny afterall. I have seen you chaps almost every year and you are tired, boring and Indy just had a heart bypass. : )

You've passed your time. Move on and show some really good satire and move away from politics. I have had enough of you. I'm bored larh...

Ghost in Avillion

I have lost count how many times we have stayed and visited Avillion, Port Dickson. However, evertime we visit it, it looks different and has something new to offer. This time, we went there on the 1st day of the Hungry Ghost month and it is said that the 1st Day is where the Gates of Hell opens it door and spirits are left to roam on earth.

I was in Admiral Marina in the afternoon for a meeting and brought the gang there. I left them at APD and came back in time for dinner. Kelly was not too happy about me leaving them for a meeting elsewhere.

Dinner was in PD town a few stone's throw away for the Pasar Malam. We had Curried Paku-Pakis, Stir Fried Sliced Fish with some vege, oysters omelet and ku-lou-yuk. Cost me about RM35. Those dishes can feed 3 adults but we were hungry. Very good meal, best I had so far in PD and without paying any tourist price. I will recommend this place to my colleagues next week when we have our HR Conference there. The place we had our dinner was a detached shop lot, not hygienic but Kelly was ready to put up with it. Family workers and the kitchen is in the front and full monty for all to see. The kitchen was relatively clean, I've seen much worse a kitchen before.

We bought some fish keropok, corn and a pair of RM10 sandals for Kelly. Cheap! I'd rather buy stuffs like that here than near the beaches or the hotel. We even went to the Store and have a look see. We kinda pity the shopowners as the business was appalling. Kelly and I tried to put our thinking caps on and see what sort of life we would have in a sleepy town like PD. No life! No shopping complex and I will turn into an uncle sitting at coffee shop with my legs on a stool drinking kopi-o-kow. Sorry mate, not my cup of tea.

We went back to our hotel and wanted to walk around taking some shots. Chloe was dying to go back to the hotel room and play Princess Bed and Abby was getting restless (and weighty too!) Nevertheless, we still managed to walk around and found a wedding taking place. 7 tables by the beach. This couple must have been bored with ties and shoes. Something similar to a gwailo wedding, they were walking kaki-ayam style. The MC was so cocky and wasn't much fun, at times he was just bordering nasty. The coupled must have done him wrong somewhat. So you single people out there who wants me to become your MC, you better think twice!

While taking some shots like these... (BTW, good hor?)

I took one that looks like this. Aiyoh, Kelly was so terrified that while I was driving, she asked, "I just want to ask lar hor... if you took any pictures of something that you shouldn't in APD" while on our way back to Mantin. What do you mean? I took pictures of people taking a bath? Gosh, have my of any sorts have not been fully revealed to my dear wife as yet?

Good gracious, what could it be? Haiya... ghost only niah....kekkekek... nothing my prayer or my exorcism acts could not handle larh.

Went back to Room 606 at the Cochin finger, whack a few green tinnies and I dunno what happen liao. I slept like a pig and a dog combined. I have always slept well in APD. The rooms are rebuild especially the wooden portion of it. New flooring, roof trusses, bed and wardrobe. they maintain them quite well though for other portions which are made out of tiles, bricks etc.

Woke up and finally saw the gym under construction, doesn't it look like a sore thumb jutting out in grey? I hope they will paint it.

A view from the balcony. My neighbour was trying to peep through and look at my 8 pieces of prime beef, albeit now all rolled into one big beer gut. Nevertheless, I think she was overwhelmed by my handsome voice. Bah, humbug... looks like rain is underway. It rained the whole morning. Kelly was undecided whether we should head out onto the beach before it pours or head out to the restaurant for breaky.

We finally decided to make a mad-dash to the restaurant located about 300m away and greeted with this...

...and this too...

Pity Kelly, she had to climb over it. Who does not dear? An earful again. Breaky was OK. Nothing fantastic to eat though. My sunny side up ended up in fried egg. But the cheese and nasi lemak was face-saving.

Nothing to eat? What is wrong with you daddy?

Abby enjoying her breaky. Can she eat or what?

We sat around and watch people. We saw some Koreans, Gwailos, Pak Arabs, Stinkapurians and Taiwanese. we're the only Malaysian there whacking nasi lemak. Nothing could dampen our spirits when the gang and I are together.

There was this chap who was busy sweeping the floor. Wonder why he did that despite the rain still hammering the side walk. Ah, it must be for the guests so the humpty-dumpty ones might not fall and APD will not get sued.

Raining mar...nothing to do so sleep on daddy's tummy lorh!
Finally, a break in the heavens for the lights to shine. Battle stations everyone! Swimsuit attire.

***My bags are packed and I am ready to go***

On da way to the beach...

Someone decided to gatecrash...
Swell time for my fountain for joy!

You think I might need some suntan lotion?
We quickly check out to reach mantin for lunch with Kelly's mom. We have had better holidays but this is probably the first for Abigail. Ghost or no ghost, we hope she had fun as much as we did.

Functional Meeting Rooms in Sunway Lagoon

Had a meeting at Sunway Lagoon Resort. The meeting room has a very good layout, good design. Hidden power points, jacks and overhead projector.

Free wi-fi at extremely good speed, free brewed coffee, free snacks, free use of projector, free use of meeting room, free lunch, free teabreaks, free flipcharts, free parking. All free!

How I wish my office meeting rooms would be this nice.