Fidget Widgets

Just a few days ago, my boss and his bosses were on the dinner table talking about the latest mobile phones and how we are to keep abreast with new technology. My boss knows well that I have always kept an eye on his TYTNII a.k.a TITAN a.k.a the Kaiser super duper PDA/Smartphone the first day he bought it. He suggested to the CEO that she should sell her mobile to me. She brushed it aside and said although it was not user friendly (she have the same phone), she must have the discipline to keep it for 2 years to ensure that the money paid for has served her purpose (whatever that means!).

While surfing my calender in my office this morning, my boss strolled in and gave me his HTC S730. Okay it's no TITAN but it's looks all brand new. Boy, was it a surprise! He showed me the reason, it was the Samsung OMNIA in his pocket! Dang.

Well, I told him if he wants the 2nd hand value back (and I was prepared to dig my slim wallet out), he said, "No need". Dang! What does that mean? Was it a gift? Is this a sign that he was trying to engage me and buy loyalty? Currently, I am working with my ex-boss (he's part time now doing some projects for my CEO) and he knows how involved I get with him. He also knows that now my CEO want direct feedback now from me instead of waiting for his sluggish actions.

I'm being too childish. My boss is not that kind of person that buys people over (but he is) or engage a person so that he favours him (saw him doing that before though) or induce someone to change his mind (which he does so convincingly sometimes witout you even noticing it). I have a simpler reason, he need me as his colonel. A colonel that works like a dog for such a measly pay, kick asses and leave his with the praises for the gangly regiment, a colonel that wades through thick mud and booby traps all over the boardroom. Honestly, I willingly and readily do his dirty job without much contention. Damn, I do not only deserve my monthly pay packet but this as a bonus too.

Oh and by the way the Dopod C730 which have served me well for 9 months was from him too! Hahah! It is a good phone and I am considering to give it back to him. In any case, I did exchange my Plam Treo for this C730 - should i give him back or sell it? The last time I check, the Dopod was fetching Rm350 on eBay. To me, it is worth a fair bit more like RM500. This I must consider over a few weeks (until then it becomes a feeble matter and I will forget about it altogether).

Ha! Notice the plural on the title? Yes!

It a white-boxed UK version of the Garmin 610 with Bluetooth capability. A discontinued model since launch in 2007 but I got it for a song! GBP110 including VAT. Bought it over the cyberspace and have it shipped to Bender's abode in Brimingham. Later it was hand-delivered to Ahpek's BIL house. Sent me to just before Hari Raya in time for my Sitiawan trip / holiday / my BIL wedding.

I have actually used Bender's unit before when I was travelling to SIN. Works fantastic and it is very accurate. To make it even more sweeter, Bender bought his unit at GBP150 (saving me 50 quid), I've also asked that Bender to buy me a pouch at 10 quids and a XD 4MB card at RM75. With that 4MB card, I'll squeeze in about 1,000 songs or 5 movies in MP3 format, can I?

So far the white-boxed unit worked fine despite Ahpek's feeble attempt to scare me of the worthlesness of the unit in Malaysia, his stunt roller coaster ride with loose pants containing the unit and his lack of response to my sms pertaining to my delivery of this unit. Ahpek, much obliged. Mucho obrigato amigo!

Thanks also to my bradder (who chooses to remain annonymous for fear of retribution by MALSINMAP)who was kind enough to put me through all the shit-load of guenea-pigging in purchasing, paying and getting it delivered. In anycase, if he had done any good, it was loading the GPS up with MAL SIN maps. Thanks bro!

Now that I am a confirmed widget nerd, I am now empowered to talk crap and shit down on you when it come to widgety gadgets.

Now if I can just configure my calender thingy and by the way, where the heck is the XD card slot har?

Vision 20 : 20

Kelly and I had breakfast this morning passing by Tan Chai Ho’s service centre in Jalan Ikan Emas. It was nailed close like a coffin. In any case, I don’t see Khalid Ibrahim’s service centre anywhere in Bandar Tun Razak. Where the fark is my MP anyway? He’s now the Menteri Besar of Selangor and now also my MP in KL too? How is he going to resolve our woes and effectively represent me in parliament?

I asked Kelly, “Will I be a good MP?” Without hesitation, she replied yes.

“Would you not think that I will accept bribes?”

“No, I don’t think so”

“Perhaps those bribes comes in millions!”

“Nolar, you sibeh honest wan”

That has kind of re-affirm me that I should be contesting somewhere and somehow for a seat under whatever banner. That’s the Malaysian spirit. Contest if the grassroot support is strong. Sure boh? The “grassroot” may be accepting another RM100 for voting for another sucker. Besides, my wife, my grassroot might vote against me. Who bloody hell knows?

That is what the Umnoputra thinks. Obtain so-called “grassroot support” where they got knocked down, then left rigfht centre by their own party members for losing by more votes than their own existing party members in the recently Permatang Pauh by-elections ie. There are indeed some Umnoputras who voted for the opposition.

Why did Anwar Ibrahim ask that his wife vacate that seat for his return? This is utter waste of the taxpayer’s money. Was he not supposedly to bite onto the Farkface Chinese boobswagger guy who taped Lingam’s place or Khalid’s MP-ship? Truth is, no one in PKR wants to hang on to thin air. They want something, some position, somehow for themselves. And it’s only human nature. Not only that, these 2 idiots do not want to surrender their seats to DSAI owing to their personal greed. Personal greed exist everywhere and in all parties and in all forms, me included. I want perks should I join politics, I mean real perks not like RM100 per diem. I want multi-million contracts which I can sub-contract it out. I want to buy expensive cars and live like a parasite too if an opportunity presents itself. Don’t you?

But I really doubt if I can really place myself into that sort of trap. This trap can mute a person like me. I would be reserved, not willing to speak up and act like a real mouse. How would one be effective if he’s on the take?

Before you go. Here, 20 for you, 20 for me.

A Case of Co-incidental Fasting

Okay I admit that I do sometimes feel like fasting with our Moslem friends to see how far my patience can actually stretch. It is common amongst faiths descended from Abe to fast, Buddhist monks to go on no food and water for days (yes, water for days) or even Mahatma Gandhi which have such will to ensure the Brits gets the idea they are not welcomed and get the fuck out of India. This whim happened only to me when the Moslems in Malaysia go fasting. This will continue to become a whim as long as my spirit does not have the will power. Put it another way, even if my sprit is willing, the flesh is not willing. I have to have uric and lactic acid build in my temple of trash.

Last weekend was a test of fasting of sorts. The gang and I decided to head out to Mid Valley to find some good deal on the home decoration fair – be it wallpapers or paint, wrought iron grilles to engineered wood. Dandily, we parked out car and just before I lock the car, panic struck me. I checked my wallet, there wasn’t a single ringgit in my wallet. Kelly took all the money out from my wallet for Sunday morning wet shopping at Taman Midah. Nope, no ATM cards as well. At that time I was prepared to use my credit card and have lunch but heck, what about the parking? I frantically search my super gay-pink coin pouch but I left it at home. Not even a single cent! Locked our car and sat ourselves silly and started to call my sister who is known to prowl this mall on weekends if they were coming. Nope, not today. I was truly stuck in Mid Valley with my family. Boy, I have not felt so stupid in many years now. The though of asking a retailer to charge more into my CC and taking a balance was also there but I thought that wasn’t too ethical and wonder if these retailers are willing to do so. I have decided to send a lengthy text message to my friend who would probably make a visit here. I must have sent around a dozen of them.

As I waiting for response, Kelly was so stressed up. Chloe have not had breakfast and Abigail was getting cranky. Kelly felt responsible for taking out the stash from my wallet but of course, she wasn’t to be blamed – I should have checked my wallet. Calls came in, first up it was my uni-mate, Ah Kow (yes, the dog, not a puppy but literally a biatch with testicles) called and told me he’s heading towards the Summit and will drop me some cash. Grabbed my first offer. I felt obligated yet a feeling of remorse as I seldom call him and when I do, he responded to my rescue. I’m a half-bred canine if he’s a biatch!

Next up was PuPPy. He sms-ed me and told me he’s heading my way. Well that’s before he threw some sarcastic remarks of how early I was shopping already in Mid Valley. Well that’s PuPPy for you. He had the foresight to text me if help was already on the way that I should text him back so he can go to his favourite haunt in 1 Utama. Yah, you biatch – high street shopping for this pedigree. Looking back if my wife had wanted to do shopping in 1 Utama and if I were to divert to Mid Valley, I would. Okay, you biatch – not such a great deal too. I would have done that for you too. *Snigger*

It was KPM a.k.a Mr Wong Yee Liang who finally called and said he will be there during lunch time with a friend. He was also closest to me in Sungei Besi having breakfast with his friend. I made sure that he was in no way have inconvenienced him, I took his offer and rejected both the biatches as they were still at home.

He finally came in a Proton Edar-stickered Waja in which I cannot miss and grabbed RM50 from him. Much obliged KPM. You have truly saved me and my family from inflicting more self-pity onto ourselves.

Of course, everyone responded. Each and everyone I text responded without fail. Some were late to repond and some were pitiful but everyone responded. For this I am forever so grateful and touched, even their thoughts counts. Thank you my friends.

Kelly and I shared the same thoughts. We are caught by the fact that we have not a single cent. We are deprived of buying an ice-cream for our girls, have a small meal or even pay for the parking. These thoughts of having no money was evident and so surreal. Our thoughts went hyperdrive and started to think about the poor family who had not even the means to have a proper decent meal, let alone the lavish things that RM50 can provide. We were humbled and our poor childhood crept in. Indeed we are remorseful on how we spend money treating ourselves mad. Even by putting it this way, it is an understatement. We should really count our blessings and make each day and meal count. For tomorrow we may never have it again.

Is this what we should be feeling when you fast? Being deprived of the things that you love to do? Eat, shop and sex too? I think it is. I have a new-found respect for the poor.

p/s BTW, we had McDonald with some cut-out McChicken coupons instead of Tai Thong dim sums and paid for the parking. To make you proud, we did not buy anything else!

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.