March 2009

The Archives

Axes Falling
03.31.09 | Permalink |Economy, PP, Work| Comments Off

Every day I am hearing corporation cutting headcount to size the company according to their revenue. Yeap axes are falling everywhere and it is faster that we can avoid. I am so tired of it that I want to stand still. If it falls on me, let it be. I have been through many rounds of recessions because I have been working for this company for many years.

The first round, it was in the year 2000 I believed I was very anxious and there were 3-5 rounds after that. I am pretty much immune to it by now. Somehow the axe is always avoiding me instead of me falling on me. When I was working in KL, the last company I was with was also retrenching. They cut all of my colleagues in my dept except me. I was so disappointed in a way because I really had planned to move to Penang. Well, I went to plan B and spoke to HR, volunteering myself. She was kind to give me something.

Today, I am pretty sad because I heard a few of my colleagues were affected. It makes me just want to volunteer myself, if I could. Ultimately the working environment is not the same anymore. Morale is at the bottomless pit.

One of my colleagues just tempted me, saying with the tax exemption benefit it is good money. I have been with the company long enough to get a good package. Hrmmm…should I volunteer? Maybe I act as if I had Mesothelioma. If I did get the package, I will definitely take my family for a good vacation.

Popularity: 3% [?]
Japanese Paper Dolls
03.31.09 | Permalink |Craft| 3 Comments

I just love doing origami. I picked up origami when I was in my primary school. I remembered my first origami was folding a sampan. My mom thought me how to do that. Later I picked up more and I know how to fold birds, airplane, cup, ball, shirt, flowers, etc. I like doing things with my hands.

Now I am folding Japanese Paper Dolls. I wished to learn how to fold 3D Japanese Dolls. It will be kind of cool. It is amazing how the Japanese can come up with lovely creation. You can turn this into a bookmark too.

I will get more lovely Japanese paper in Isetan when I am down in KL. Maybe fold a few Japanese dolls and frame it up. Looks like it will be my next project. After that, I will probably put it out to bid in eBay. How much do you think I should sell it for?

Popularity: 3% [?]
Of Busy & Ranting
03.29.09 | Permalink |PP, Rant| Comments Off

Lately I am so busy with my work as I have a big project and it is about to go into implementation stage. With this economy downturn, resources and expenses are tight. I just have to make do with what I have.

I had a few late conferences and sleepless nights to complete the project. However I am glad I have very good team players who do their parts. I cannot wait for this project to move to completion and I can go for a nice spa.

Sigh, with this stress, I saw a few acne are spouting out. I need acne treatments desperately.

A little ranting here, I hired in an extra hand to help me in my other project while I can concentrate on this project. You see many people demand a high salary because they claim they have many years of experience. However most of them cannot translate their experience into performance. Anyway it really drives me crazy to see a simple report with many mistakes. I have to spend time to review his reports, not just once but a few times. Help me please!

Popularity: 2% [?]
Caller From Mars
03.25.09 | Permalink |Rant, Service| 2 Comments

I was about to head home from office and the phone RRRRRRINGGGGG….grrrrhhh

Me : Hello, Michelle speaking.

Caller: Hello, please can I speak to Michael XXX? *always pronounce my name wrong*

Me : Michelle XXX speaking.

Caller: Hello, please can I speak to Michael XXX? *ok didn’t get through to her*

Me: Michelle XXX here. There is no Michael. How do you spell her name?

Caller: M I C H E L L E

Me: It is pronounced as Michelle, not Michael.

Caller: Oh sorry. Please can I speak with Michael?

Me: There is no Michael, only Michelle. Hey I am rushing for time. What do you want?

Caller: I am from CIMB Telemarketing. I want to speak with Michael. Is he around?

*I give up, she still insist that M I C H E L L E is pronounce as Michael. She is also expecting a male. Gatal Betul*

Me: Sorry I am not interested. *hang up*

Now you know why Malaysian needs more English subjects in school. If you are promoting stuff, please ensure you know how to pronounce your customer name. It also reflects poorly on the company to send out marketing staffs and does not provide any customer service training to them. Isn’t it a golden rule to get your customer’s name right first before selling?

Second golden rule is to LISTEN to your customer. I already told her that she has mispronounced my name. Or could it be she doesn’t know the meaning of the word “pronounce”. Sigh.

I really wanted to ask her name and call her something else. It really annoys me when someone called me Michael. Just spoil my Wednesday evening!

Popularity: 3% [?]
Breakfast With A View
03.23.09 | Permalink |Travel| 1 Comment

On Saturday, I had breakfast with a view. I must say that it is really refreshing. Away from the hustle and bustle lifestyle. I was enjoying my delicious nasi lemak with a lake view of Bukit Merah. A short journey of 45 minutes driver from Penang Island.

Bukit Merah Resort is famous for its waterpark where children go there for splashing and water play on a hot summer day. Besides the waterpark, you can enjoy the nice lake scenary or visit the Ecopark where a small zoo of animals resides.

I booked myself into the Laketown Resort. It is a 2-3 stars hotel. The rooms are spacious for a family. One thing lacking there is good food. They do have a variety of local Malay’s stores, offering local delicacies but most of they are spicy food. The food was just ok. Lots of room for improvements. All I can say, I did enjoyed myself there.

Popularity: 2% [?]
Industrial Products
03.23.09 | Permalink |Living, PP| Comments Off

Reid Supply is the global distributor of industrial products. It has so many products from clamps to tooling to metalworking to hydraulics and others. I may need some of these DIY tools for new condo project.

With the economy downturn, I may want to do some minor renovations myself to save some money. One thing I like about Reid Supply is for any industrial products, the website allows you to specify the measurement, material, type, length and other details. It can help you search the right fittings. I love their knobs, levers and handles.

Hey, it is also having clearance sale on certain items. Go and have a look!

Popularity: 2% [?]
Poor Courier Service
03.18.09 | Permalink |Service| Comments Off

I got a package from someone and the courier service Skynet failed to deliver it after many attempts. They really drive me mad. First, they called me on my off day at 3:30pm while I was having a nap. The customer service asked me whether will I be home? I told them I am and he put down the phone, not giving me time to ask any questions. He didn’t tell me when he will be coming.

He turned up at 5pm and I went out to fetch my son. If he told me the time he was coming, I could have waited for him. I cannot just sit around the house does nothing and wait for them to come.

I told him to come during my lunch time at Xpm, next day. Second attempt, he came. Xpm – 40 minutes and expect me to be there like I don’t work.

The customer service calls me again and this time it was a lady. She asked me whether they could deliver to my office.

CS: What is your company address?
Me: XXXXX
CS: How do you spell that?
Me: *oh no, spell it for her*
CS: Address?
Me: Free Trade Zone
CS: Apa tu?
Me: *sigh*, just put FTZ
CS: Thank you

I cannot stress that English is very important in school. Any day I am for Maths & Science in English! I am so proud of us every time a foreigner say to me, Malaysian do speak fluent English. It means more jobs here too!

Popularity: 2% [?]
Penang Sakura
03.15.09 | Permalink |Penang| Comments Off

Ever since this picture had been published in the newspaper, lots of people or photographers came to this street to enjoy the beautiful flowers that blossom. Actually the trees have been blooming beautifully every year. However this year, due to the rainy weather and the right time, it has bloom very beautifully.

Yes, Penang does have a sakura street. Everytime I passed this street, I been asking my the other half to take some pictures. It was like 2 months ago when not many people discover the place. Oh well, due to his busy schedule, it didn’t happen.

For those of you who are interested to know where this is. It is the street from PISA to Pantai Mutiara Hospital called Persiaran Mahsuri. A little word of advice, if you are a photographer, be careful of incoming cars and not too carried away with photo taking. It can be dangerous. There are some silly photographers who stood in the middle of the road to take pictures. It is very dangerous to do that.

Today, I saw a family wearing winter clothing and have their pictures taken. Sorry no snow in Penang yet.

I wished the govt will plant more of these trees and make Penang famous.

Popularity: 3% [?]
Malaysian DreamGirl Part II
03.08.09 | Permalink |RealityShow| 4 Comments

Well, well, well, Malaysian Dreamgirl is back for season 2. I managed to catch the auditions online episodes and boy, I cannot wait to share this with you. After watching the auditions, I felt many went into the wrong competition.

However, they have my votes on these categories:

Malaysian Miss So Not Prepared Winner

Malaysian, Miss Opps Wrong Country Winner

Malaysian Miss Weight Required Winner

Malaysian Miss Bubbly Winner

Malaysian Miss Dreaming Winner

Malaysian Miss Hair Clips Winner

Malaysian Miss Try To Be Cute Winner

Malaysian Miss Wrong Audition Winner

Malaysian Miss Most Outspoken Winner (She even gave a long lecture to the judges)

Malaysian Miss Overdressed Winner (Sorry, Kenny Sia is not one of the judges this season)

Malaysian Miss Blur Winner

Malaysian Miss Fierce & Comedian Winner

Malaysian Miss Blonde Winner

Malaysian Miss Excited Winner (High Pitch Too)

Finally the 12 finalists…….*drumroll*

Congratulations to you 12, I guess you can start gathering your friends, relatives and fans to save enough money to vote for you. It will be very tough for you because not only you have to compete with one another, you will have a lot of criticism from the judges, pressure from the competition and probably some drama between your competitors or fans. You don’t need luck, you need money to win. Opps….

At the end of the day, there is only one winner. You and I, both know who is the ultimate winner, the one with all the money in the bank.

Hey how come only 1/3 episode for Penang, Ipoh and Johor but 1 whole episode in Kuala Lumpur. Anyway if you haven’t watch it, go watch it!

Pictures Credit: MalaysianDreamGirl.tv

Popularity: 3% [?]
Oh TNB
03.06.09 | Permalink |Service| Comments Off

Today I went to PBA (water utility) and TNB (electric utility) office to get a new meter install in my condo. First I went to PBA, I must applaud them for great service. They have given me good information. I walk in and the service officer processes my applications within 5 minutes. PBA has a very good centralize system.

Next, I went to TNB. First obstacle, the customer service personal with no smile and asking me what do I want. I told her that I wanted a new meter at my condo. She asked me where the condo is. I gave her the particular. She told me to go to another branch for the application. I believed that the branch is the nearest to my property. No centralize system which causes the customer a little hassle.

Comeon, it is not so difficult to have a centralize system right. PBA can do it, why TNB cannot? All they have to do is to key in the application and transfer to the nearest branch. Why do you need the customer to go to the nearest branch? Ini system tak boleh jalan!

By the way, I think Malaysian pay more to TNB than PBA! Service is poorer than PBA.

Another feedback is, I asked her so TNB opened this Saturday. She told me no, only Mon to Fri. I asked her this Monday open, she said yes. I asked her again but this Monday, Prophet Mohd birthday. She shakes her head. The security guard sitting next to her said “Tidak buka” meaning close. Sigh, now I have to go on a working day down town!

Popularity: 2% [?]
Pig Out Session
03.06.09 | Permalink |Food, Work| Comments Off

I had another great departmental dinner today because my big boss visited us. Of coz when he comes, we usually ask him to treat us a good meal. It is a good to build relationship among the team. He is a great joker because he tells great stories that made us laugh. It was a very good dinner indeed.

At least we have fun despite all the sad news about economy crisis, retrenchment and pay cut. Free dinner is always a good way to help boost up the morale.

We went to Spice Market Rasa Sayang for buffet dinner.

Popularity: 3% [?]