Soyez bienvenus à Paris

It's my first business trip since I moved here. To get to know my staff and for them to know me, my boss and I have planned a series to visits to the key locations of the business and Paris was chosen as the first location.

I got to Paris at around 7 PM. My boss took a different flight, so I was alone taking the Metro to the city. On the way I got off at ? to grab a kebab from a restaurant I know. It's not that the kebab is so good, it's just that it's the only want I know in Paris that is halal. I'm sure there are a lot more in other areas. By the time I finished the last piece of the meat, it was already turning dark. I reached the hotel close to 11.

The hotel was very quite nice by European standard. If you are familar with hotels in KL, I can probably say it's similar in standard to the Coronade hotel in Bukit Bintang. The only difference is, it has more more "stars" than Coronade. In the past, coming from Malaysia, I was always booked to a small cheap 3 star hotel. I guess, that's why Malaysia is classified as a Lost Cost Country, which in effect makes the staff Low Cost Employees.

It's been more than 2 years since I was last in Paris. It was not so clear in my mind the direction to the office, but I managed to find it in the end. My boss hadn't arrived when I reached the office. I was welcomed by the head of the IT group there. I was later joined by my boss and the rest of the group. For a start we did a round table introduction of each other. It was kind of weird to be facing my subordinates who were all mat salleh. They did some presentations about the organisation there, their roles and responsibilities and budget figures. Before the session ended, the group expresses their gratitude of us visiting them. According to one of them, it's very uncommon that you get your boss' bosses coming down from head office. I felt a bit chuffed.

All in all, the cost of me coming to Paris for one night is about 600 Euro! I was very surprise when I saw the price of my flight ticket -- it's 700 CHF (equivalent to 470 EURO)! Plus the hotel another 150 Euro. And I can't believe that it's common for some people (mostly in the management group), to live in one coutry and work in another - e.g. live in UK, but work in Switzerland. These people normally stays in the country of work in the weekedays and go back home in the weekend. That's must be costing a fortune to the company! Try requesting a similat thing in Malaysia (live in KK and work in KL for instance), you'll be shot by HR.

First visit to Poland

We touched down in Warsaw International Airport at around 8 PM plus. Quite an old looking airport building .. the kind that you'd expect to see in Eastern Europen countries. The queue at the passport control wasn't that long. My boss got through without any question. I was standing behind him. When my turn came, I was expecting to let through easily also. What is there to expect otherwise. But, I forgot, with due respect to my boss, the whities always get special treatment. I was asked by the immigration officer if I had an invitation letter to attend the meeting. What a stupid question. Why should I have one? I would understand if I needed a visa to enter the country. I don't. Poland is in the EU. Malaysians do not need visa to enter any EU countries you moron! Having been told I didn't have one, he asked for the full address of the office which I had no idea of. I questioned why he let my boss in, who was there for the same purpose as I, but bombarded me with all the unnecessary questions. He didn't answer to that, but instead insisted on the office address. Thank god, I found it in the Domino light directory which I had just replicated down onto my notebook two days earlier.

It was such a disgusting discrimination!

The Rules of the Game

It's coming to five months I'm in my new position in Switzerland. It takes me this long to understand what my job is all about. It has been a huge change in how I perceive a job. Coming from technical background, I'm used to seeing the product of my work. I used to spend hours a day coding and the product was a software. I managed an IT department and product was the end-to-end service to the end users. And in this new job, I wondered what I was actually doing? Where was the value add? I felt like wasting my time at times. There were occasions when I was just writing and reading emails for most of the day. Then, there were meetings, some of which I wasn't sure what we got out of them.

Now, I can conclude the following about the job:

1. It's not about creating products, it's about communicating.
2. It's not about micro management, it's about macro management. This is the hardest part of the job for me.
3. It's not about waiting for work, it's about creating work (for yourself and for others). There are times when you have to create work for yourself to justify your position (it's pathetic when I think about it). But then again, hey what the hell ... it's part and and parcel of the being at the this level. Everyone is doing the same thing.
4. Finally, it's about politic - the one thing I was so concerned about before coming here. Believe it or not I even bought a book about winning office politics. It's a delicate thing that can either take you the top or plunging you down. The easiest way to ensure your safety is to be close to one or more of the bigger guys that know intimately one or more of the super bigger guys who can protect you in the event of you stepping into traps. I comes handy to me now because my boss supports me always and there is also one very influential senior person that knows me very well. This should protect me for now from any devious intention. But, it wouldn't last forever. Someday, I'll needs to build my own self protection mechanism or even better master the art of political maneuverism.

Positions at this level are created to build the communication channel between the top and the bottom of the organisational hierarchy. You don't have to be good at anything, but communcation, to play the role. You don't need to know about IT infrastructure for example, but you need to know what questions to ask the experts. It's all about asking questions, giving opinions, rationalising things and communicating. People below you won't say your are stupid just because you don't know things - because you are the management, you are not expected to be the expert -, people at the same level won't call you stupid, because they themselves don't know that much either. So, as long as you talk confidently, giving good reasoning, admit you are not the expert, then you are safe. And when communicating, as long as you are within the political boundary, nobody is injured, BUT it doesn't mean that you won't get injured.

I'm more cautious about certain things now. For instance, when replying an email, I must understand what the political impact would be if I say certain things in certain ways or if I CC it to certain people. CCing an email could hit someone right in the heart and he/she might retaliate. When making a statement, always base it on some supporting information (ideally facts, but normally some "reasonably reliable" info from other parties is sufficient). Avoid making blind assumption.

There is obviously a lot more for me to learn. It's a different ball game together from what I was used to. I think it'll take me one year to master all the rules.

Read some tips on ... "Win at Office Politics Without Selling Your Soul"

Weekend break in Paris

Another meeting in Paris.

It's Thursday, and I have just finished another meeting with other top IT guys in Paris. I'm not at the airport and neither am I at home. I'm actually in small hotel near Rue La Fayette together with my wife and daughter. We'll be spending the tomorrow and the rest of weekend here in Paris - first plan for tomorrow --> Disneyland.

I'm currently hooked up to a private unsecured wireless access point. Signal is not so good. So better be fast.Time to sleep.

Grüezi ... What??

Grüezi (pronounced "greatsi") is probably the first word that one would learn in the German speaking region of Switzerland (Zurich, Basel and Berne and the vicinity). It's the first word that I caught uttered by the locals, and the first one I couldn't find in the High German list of vocabulary. The word essentially means "greeting" or "hello" in Swiss German (the Swiss version of German Language).

For record

For the record, the following were done:

CT Bank : Enrollment for eStatement
Effective now, no paper statement shall be sent to me. Statements can downloaded
from the web site once notified through Yahoo mail.

CT Bank : Request to Change Correspondence Address and Telephone Numbers

CT Bank : Request to Change Payment Due Date to middle of the month

Standard Chartered Bank : Request to Reregister Internet Banking User Name and Password
Correspondence Address and Telephone Numbers had already been changed. Future statements will be sent to Switzerland
DUE DATE NOT CHANGED!! Remain on 5th of every month

HSBC : Correspondence Address and Telephone Numbers changed. Future statements will be sent to Switzerland
DUE DATE NOT CHANGED!! Remain on 5th of every month

Direct Access : Correspondence Address and Telephone Numbers changed. Future statements will be sent to Switzerland
DUE DATE NOT CHANGED!! Remain on 5th of every month
Balance as of today RM 234.68

May Bank : Correspondence address cannot be changed over the phone. What lah! Will require written request to faxed to Menara Maybank (Fax # 03-2078916)

Merdeka Dinner

Just came back from the Merdeka Dinner in Zurich. A bit knackered. Baby is fast asleep. She’s probably as tired as me.

The turnout wasn’t as big as I’d anticipated. Apart from us, the rest had been in the country for many many years. One or two were very snobbish, macam bagus sangat. Some were very friendly. This one Abang Mat had been in Switzerland for more than 30 yrs. He came in the 70’s and decided to settle down. The couple I’d met at the airport last night also attended the function. In fact we came by the same bus from the Oerlikon train station.

Once the disco started, we left. Too loud for the baby, and it was past her bedtime.

Back in Switzerland

I’m on the train to Baden from the airport.

Earlier on the way back from Paris, I bumped into a friendly Malaysian couple with a young daughter who were also on the same flight coming back from Paris. The husband has been living in Switzerland for more than 20 years! That’s a freaking long time. Strangely enough, the wife and daughter remain in Malaysia (??) but come to visit regularly. Apparently, they’d also be attending the Merdeka dinner in Zurich Renaissance Hotel tomorrow. That’s good. We’ll see each other again. According to the wife, there will a mock Hari Raya celebration at the embassy in Berne on the 9th (September). That’s next Saturday. Alamak! That’s the same day an old friend from the old Petronas-BTU days and the wife are coming. Macam mana daaaaa…?

Paris again

Sitting in the airport lounge waiting for the flight back to Zurich.

I was back in Paris for the 7th or 8th times, but this time only for one night. The plan had been to fly in the morning and returned in the evening, but I’d then decided to go a day ealier (I wasn’t that keen to wake up so early in the morning and rush to catch the first train to the airport.

I arrived at CDG airport at around 7+ PM and immediately took the train to the city. Since it was through Trocadero area, I got off at St. Michael Notre Damme and, as I normally do whenever in Paris, to have a kebab in a halal take away (can’t remember the name) in the area. Not the best kebab in the world. Possibly the worse, but I guess the atmosphere that keeps pulling me there. Plus, it’s halal!

The time I reached the hotel it was already 10+. Wow! As expected, it was such a nice hotel. That explains the price hmm .. (EUR 145, the most expensive I’ve stayed in Paris). It still puzzles me why I had always been booked in cheap cheap hotel (like EUR 80 per night with basic facility) in the past whenever I came here from Malaysia? 3rd class treatment? May be.

Masak Lemak Cili Padi Ayam

Realising the immediate need (I had two invitations already, and it’s obvious that next one has to come from me), I begin to revive my cooking skill. I tried masak lemak cili padi ayam for lunch today (recipe from http://resepi.mesra.net/) and amazingly, it turned out not so bad.

I think the next one I’d want to try is Kari Ayam Tanpa Santan (http://resepi.mesra.net/Detailed/5062.shtml) and possibly another simple dish like masak kicap or something. For side dish, may be cucur udang.

Just after I cooked, I got an SMS from an ex colleague from Kertih who had just flown in for an interview with my current employer. Kind of weird. He left the company I'm currently attached to in Malaysia for Petronas. Now leaving Petronas for the company's HQ here in Switzerland. I invited him for lunch. Lucky him that I’d just finished cooking. Good luck for the interview tomorrow. Hopefully another Malaysian couple in town.

Another Malaysians Gathering

An old colleague who just got married recently invited
us to a dinner last night. The best thing was she
cooked nasi lemak … her first attempt. It was
lovely. I wouldn’t say perfect, but for a first timer, plus a Chinese
the sambal was extremely good - as good as what you could get from stalls in
KL.

Those at the dinner: The host couple (I worked for the
same company with the wife about 5 years ago before I
joined the current company), a Malaysian couple with 2
boys (the husband is my colleague), another
colleague who is half Swiss but very Malaysian in all
aspects except the looks and lives just opposite us,
one Malaysian guy who used to work here in Baden,
now with Shell but thinking or returning to Baden, and
us.

Hopefully there are more to come and .. with no excuse
it has to be at our place.

New Country, New Life

It has been almost 2 months now since I arrived in
Switzerland. It was not easy in the beginning and it
still isn’t that much different now. Regardless of how
many friends you have here, your life is as good as
not knowing anyone. People are in general not very
friendly and don’t expect anyone to help you when you
are in trouble “free of charge”. It’s sad to see that
old folks have to live either on their own or taken
care in nursing homes at their own expenses becoz life is
so expensive that very few of the family members can
afford.

For the amount of money that I’m paying now, I
was expecting something much more spacious, but what
I’m getting, as others in this country, is just a
small apartment with two bedrooms with a shared coin
operated washing machine and a dryer. To make things
worse, one of the coin boxes are located so high up on
the wall in such an awkward position that most asian
women would find it hardly reachable. And for my wife
she can’t even touch it with the tip of her finger
(well… she’s a bit shorter than the average asian
women).

I got a shock of my life today when I received an
order to appear at the local police station because
I’d used the wrong garbage bag. Due to some
misunderstandings, I used the black and not the blue
canton-approved bags. A guy found an envelope with my
address buried in all the shits in the bag, took the garbage back to me and
later made a police report. It really pisses me
off! Thankfully my secretary helped to call the police
station and as a result I don’t need to make the
appearance. But I will still receive a warning letter
… duhhhh. What even more annoying is that,
apparently there were a few black bags which obviously
mean some other people have also gone against the
rule, and possibly intentionally, and I was just the
unlucky one!

Zurich Street Party

The event I’ve been waiting for! Zurich Street Parade 2006. As the saying goes …. a picture speaks a thousand words … enjoy!

Meetings

Today for the first time I sat in a meeting with other top guys from the IS management group. I had been a little apprehensive in the beginning in case I didn't portray the confidence ... basically I just wasn't sure how to behave. The leap that I took to reach this position had not been without any hurdle. There were a lot of questions thrown at my boss as to why me - too young, no experience. He probably had some tough moments having to answer them, but I respect him for standing by me and persisted on taking me on board.

The meeting turned out fine. They were just normal guys. Not the kind that I'd had imagined. I was a semi formal meeting that takes place at the end of every month. It's when the sector gets updates from the businesses of things that have taken place in the month, any issues that they might face, and also a time when businesses share ideas and information. It's pretty much talk, talk and talk, present some PowerPoint slides, may be argue here and there a bit for one whole day. Not to forget the lunch break in the middle. Most of the things discussed were very alien to me. I spent most of the time listened and tried to make sense what they were all about. I'll find out about them later from my boss.

Hmmm ... is all that these people do? Meetings, meetings, meetings?

After one month at sea

After one month at sea, our goods finally delivered the local mover Welti-Furer. 3 hours job and all our things are indoor and the furniture assembled. We pretty much have all the essential stuff, except for may be a couple more wardrobes and a single sofa bed which we have ordered from IKEA.

With the weekend around the corner, we have sufficient time to unpack and arrange things before moving in late on Sunday or early Monday morning.

29″ TV

Now that I’ve learned quite a bit about the life here, I decided to rent a car for the weekend to go buy a TV set and take our things from the current service apartment to the our newly rented apartment in Nussbaumen.

On Friday, I went to book a Ford Mondeo station wagon from a local garage ExtraGent. For 66 Swiss Francs, I got to use the car for 24 hrs. Sound cheap huh! It’s not! There is an additional charge for every kilometers you drive. So, I have to make sure I never get lost not to waste the mileage.

Early this morning I went to get the car. Kind of wary to drive initially thinking of the different driving side to the one I’m used to. But, it wasn’t that confusing after all.

We went to InterDiscount (the only electrical good chain shop which I think exist in this county) to get our TV set. For 399 Swiss Francs we got outselves a 29″ Schneider flat TV. Paying it was easy. Taking is up one floor above to our car was also not bad. But to lift it up into the back of the car was the hardest task. With such weight and box size, it felt like impossible in the beginning. Since we had no choice (don’t expect anyone to help you here), I decided to put the baby on the stoller, let her cry, and with the combined male-female strength of my wife and I, we held our breath and justttt managed to get it into the car. I hope I didn’t damage any part of my back muscle.

And as expected, taking it out of the car into the apartment was also quite demanding … but we managed.

We are ready to move into the new apartment next weekend ….

IKEA

Since we needed a couple of wardrobes, we decided to go and check them out at the local IKEA store in Spreintenbach (a short bus ride from Baden). Hmmm … comparing it with the store in KL, I have to say it is just dull and nothing much to shout about. The building is kind of old. The elevators are more like those used in warehouse than in a shopping complex. The interior design is not like what is synonymous with IKEA. And one particular thing which is NOT like IKEA that I’d always known is it costs 95 Swiss Francs to deliver my goods. What? Have I misheard it ?? And it took 3 weeks. Am I in Switzerland or India? So, do you assemble them too? Oh, yes. That’s another 95 Swiss Francs. This is crazy. Since we found what we wanted, and the sale was still on, and realising that we had to get them delivered no matter what, we ordered 2 wardrobes, one single sofa bed, one coffee table, one computer table and one small round decorative table. There you go, since it costed so much to get them delivered, we might as well get everything now.

I caused a bit of chaos when the cashier didn’t understand me and I didn’t understand her on the way out. What I learned is that always choose young cashier. If you go for those as old as you mom, don’t be surprise if you end up using sign language.

First day at work

I officially reported for duty today. A mixture of feelings. Excited and worried at the same time. Excited that there are new things to learn (I hope), worried if I get killed too early.

In my RM 689 two piece suit, I arrived at the HR department just after 8. After being briefed of bits and pieces I was taken to my desk. Seemed that there weren’t that many people around. May be most were still on summer vacation. I wasn’t sure if my boss had forgotten my first day of he just didn’t bother it. But, he wasnt around. Lerr …

I wasn’t long in the office. After getting my photo taken for staff access card, I went back to the hotel to meet up with the housing agent to go and see a few apartments.

Touching down in Switzerland

Going back a couple of days: At around half six, 30 July 2006 we touched down at the Zurich International Airport (Flughafen Zürich) greeted by what seemingly a nice, warm European summer weather albeit early morning. With excessive luggage with us (I paid RM 4200 for the excess weight!), we didn't waste a single second and went straight to catch a taxi to the city in Aargau where I'd be based for at least the next two years. The baby was in happy mood, which was good - thanked to the 11 hour she had had in the plane. The taxi ride took about 20 minutes, and costed 115 Swiss Francs (CHF in abbreviation)!. Forget about conversion to Ringgit. The value of 115 against 20 minute already sounds atrocious. It's probably the most expensive 20-minute taxi ride you can ever find in the world. Our first introduction to the renown extravagant Swiss life.

Who doesn't know about Switzerland being THE place with excellent courses for hotel and catering management. Ask anyone who in the hotel industry and they will tell you exactly this. We arrived at the hotel with the expectation that there would be a concierge ready to help us with the luggage; after all this hotel was supposed to be the best in the town and the favourite among the top guys in the company. But, as saying goes in Malay "jauh panggang dari api". The only staff on duty were the receptionist and another girl whose appearence suggested that she's probably in the housekeeping department. They had no choice but to give us a hand with the luggage although from the body language I could see they weren't happy. The remark "What do you have in this bag? A stone?" was enough to convince me so. We didn't care. We were tired. We needed a bath. We pay for the service. So shut up! And just do it.

Albeit the shortcomings in the service, the hotel is really nice is a really nice hotel, housed in a newly renovated old building located on the bank of river Limmat.

I’m still serving the SAME company! Don’t you see it?

One of the terms of my latest contract which I requested for amendments recently is the probationary period notice of termination. Although I never experienced having to leave my employee within the probationary period and I don’t think I will experience one with my new position, enforcing 7 days for notice period in my contract I think is very harsh! Justifications: 1) I am a foreign staff who will suffer greatly should such termination takes place due to the commitment that I have, which the company is fully aware of, and 2) I am a god damn existing employee of the organisation! Why is it that you need the probationary period when you can easily get reference of me from people in the Malaysia's office?? After all we are working under the same umbrella. The policy just sucks! Or it could be that they just took the standard contract template, pasted my name and sent it off. duhh ….

Why should I suffer for the Company?

Having lost my mobility premium that was initially offered in the original package I turned to my HR department to see if they can assist to pay for it. My expectation was quite high since my boss had said it should be possible. But it wasn’t to be. HR refused with a big No! I was quite upset. Had I known that the chances were gonna be this slim I would have included mobility premium in the list of items for negotiation in my email to the HQ yesterday. Sigh … . Never trust nobody. Now I have to go back to the HQ and ask them to consider giving me the mobility premium as well.

Being in this company, in general, I repeat .. in general, based on my observation, and I believe others would agree, if your skin colour is other than white, chances are you will get second class treatment when it comes to career development. You may reach a certain level but it won’t be far. Albeit multinational, it is not in totality. This is a rare opportunity and a big step for me. No doubt about it. HR should realise this and should support a fellow Malaysian relocate in comfort. Other expats from Europe, Australia, US etc are majority on expat package. Why am I denied such a privilege when the HQ surprisingly is willing to give? huh ??? What lah ! If Malaysian cannot support Malaysian, dunno how we can continue to hold on to the “Malaysia Boleh” spirit.

Development of my Transfer Contract

Finally, the new contract for my transfer arrived last week. As anticipated, some benefits were taken out from the initial offer as it is now a local package rather than the so called the long term transfer policy or genuine expat package. As far as the annual salary is concerned, the figure is pretty much the same if looked at in totality. Not an issue. But, the overall package is probably slightly less attractive than the original. I immediately sent my response with requests on certain aspects to be amended to ensure I’m not in the losing end and every part of my family’s and my interests are well protected. Some might think I’m too demanding. But, to me it’s better to work it out now than later. After all I’m going there with a young baby and a soon to be unemployed wife. If I were a bachelor, I probably won’t have pushed so much for negotiation.

Looking at the way things go now, I begin to see my self sitting at my new work desk on 1 July. Even if they refuse to give all that I’m trying to negotiate for, I think I will just make the jump. It’s a big big jump. Exciting, at the same time worrying.

my little one dozing off @ Devi’s Corner

Courts Mammoth

The oil price is rising again! The highest so far @ 72 USD a barrel. I was looking forward to hearing the response from the government when I got to know about the news. It didn’t take long. The PM gave his comments last night in the prime time news. Not a very intelligent one I would say. I was expecting to hear more than just “Kita kena fikirlah apa nak buat”. For a visionary and wise leader, he should’ve anticipated this, and be ready with the strategy to reduce the impact. The 4.4 billion save from the earlier cut on the subsidy is now wiped out with the new increase. So, stop all the hoo ha with the plan to improve public transport system etc. There is no more money lah! Although it is assured no further increase in the retail price of petrol in the country for this year, no one can guarantee NO FURTHER INCREASE on 1 Jan 2007, months down the road or the subsequent year. 50 cents increase on 1 Jan 2007 can be possible. That’s not this year … but damn, the precentage of the increase! That is as good as saying “don’t worry … we won’t ask to pay more this year. You can pay in installments starting next year.” It will not help the people if the PM thinks like a “Courts Mammoth” manager.

….
waaa … I’m tired of all these crap from the country’s premier

… deleted on 28 Jan 2007 …

To extreme, may require great grand parental guidance

New update on my transfer

At 2.30 PM today I received a new update on the my contract. It’s confirmed that the whole thing is taking a big turn with the plan to change my initial package to something that is not as good (from my view point). Although it is negotiable, I don’t see how it will include everything that was initially offered to me. I’m upset with this latest development. I will be talking to my (potentially) new boss later today to hear his insight. Sigh …..

Read MyKad With Astro At Home

Has anyone tried the below? Does it really work? Just got it in an email from a colleague.

Read MyKad With Astro At HomeOur Astro could read MyKard. We don need to buy the card reader or go to the National registration office to read our MyKads. What we need is our Astro set.
Follow the steps & you should be able to read:

1) Turn on your Astro and TV
2) Turn to Channel 800 (ITV) & wait for it to download and display a menu
3) Go to the MyKad & Credit Card Reader menu by scrolling down
4) After the processing, the set would prompt you to insert your MyKad to the
2nd Astro Slot. Just insert in with the chip facing you or facing up.(try facing up or down)
5) You would see your details on your TV screen shortly. You can also read your
credit card details.

***

I'm stuck in the mess!

My mind seems to be stucked in the mess of my transfer process. For some reason, I keep thinking about the shit as if I could find a solution. My thought goes on like a marry-go-round, round and round and round with no end. I don't really want to think about it, but still I think about it. ARGHH! I'm going crazy.

A picture I took while enjoying my roti canai this morning - cute girl showing off her g-string and super mini skirt . .. what a nice desert ;)

I love my new O2 ATOM!

Mutinational Co. with Local Thinking ...

I’m getting really fed up with the way my transfer to the head office is being handled. Not only that it's now taking weeks, there is also a possibility that the initial package offered will be replaced with another that is less appealing! Everything is supposed to have been settled towards the end of March when I was in Switzerland with my other half for the so called “orientation trip”. To my surprise, when I returned, the local HR here was not happy with the ways things were handled and the package that had been offered to me. (#x%x*$@$ ... To make things worse, some top guys started questioning my eligibility for the position which they mistakenly thought a very senior post at the sector level. What ! where was the communication??? That, from what I just heard is already settled. Now, what’s left is the package. I’m determined that IF THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE IS NOT PUT ON PAPER, I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE TRANSFER! It has become the issue of principle and ethics now.

My other half has been making noise when things kept on getting held. I understand her predicament, but things are out of my control now. All I can do is chase and wait. What we were preparing has to be put on hold. And if things don't go through I dont know how I will pay the thousands of ringgit that have been spent of things that are meant to be brought together when we move. The baby's stroller itself is already close to 1000 Ringgit. All have so far been charged to credit cards. It was supposed to be a wise decision to buy the things in stages whenever there were sales considering that I'd been promised a mobility premium which would be paid prior to my departure. But, now they'd like to revisit the promise! fucker!

To be honest, the excitement that I once had is fading now. I'm getting so tired with all these SHITT!!

Fat attack

Up until before Aum gave birth, one activity which I rarely missed was playing badminton - at least once a week, most of the times twice a week. Before she got pregnant, I went to gym whenever I had time both after work and in the weekend. Now, since the baby came, things have changed for the worse. For the past one year, I've probably been to the gym less than 20 times with only 2, 3 times after we had our baby. I begin to feel the additional fat all over my body predominantly around my stomach which essential means bad news! It's damn hard to get rid off, and can potentially result in other health conditions in long run.

With some little determination to improve, I started to organise badminton games again with Rizvi and a few others every Thursday. The first started last week and second tonight. The long rest has really taken its toll. I had never had the side abdominal pain for long time after I started my gym a 2 to 3 years back, until last Thursday. I knew it was an indication that my fitness level had taken nose dive and if I don't try to improve, I will probably be going back to square one.

So many things to do

Now that I know I'd be leaving Malaysia pretty soon, there are tonnes of things that I need to do. Gulp!

1. Cancel all credit cards except CT Bank, HSBC and Direct Access.
2. Inform all banks about new correspondence address in Switzerland
3. Cancel Streamyx and house Telephone
4. Sell my car
5. Get Alesha's insusrance policy doc from agent
6. Renew Amway annual fee
7. Take up ASB loan
8. Give money from car sale to Abah to settle Eet's tuition fee
9. Send aquarium and fish to sister's
10. Fix the toilet
11. Sevice air-cond
12. Possibly purchase a new stove
13. Set up auto-debit for condo's maintenance fee
14. Pay outstanding tax to Inland Revenue
15. ... and the list goes on

My Last Getaway

It's time to say good bye. The past three days have been fantastic. It's probably the most memorable company getaway I've been too for the past 4 years. Could be the best of all time. Most would agree I'd think.

The official night party was a lot of fun with games, lucky draws and karaoke competition. As compare to last year (which were close to R-rated), the games were probably on the tamer side. But fun. So much fun that it's hard to forget. The night didn't stop there. Some of us continued to party till 3 in the morning. At the end of it I was so knackered that I knew I'd get sick the next day. To make things worse I joined a few of my colleagues to go and look for some food at a small 24-hour stall located about 3 km away (They told me it was just outside the hotel compound. bullshit!). And we walked there! Can you believe it walking in the dark that far at 3.30 in the morning just to get a plate of oily fried noodle (I wonder if cooking oil is extremely cheap in Terengganu) and teh tarik. And having to do it just after 2.5 hours of non-stop dancing was really pushing me to the limit. Not to mentioned the effect of team building activities the day before.

I got back to my room at around 4.30. Took a quick shower and went straight to bed. At 6.30 I got up and struggled to get back to sleep. Argh! forget it. Took another shower ....

I think I will skip work tomorrow.
What's important now is to get a face mask before seeing my baby ... dont want to her to get sick too ...

Man ... I feel really really bad ............................

Getaway in Awana Kijal

It's 12.30 am and I'm sooo sleepy. Just finished some presentation slides for Beijing office. Gotta wake up early morning for the trip to Awana Kijal... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ....

Party Time!!

The transfer process is rolling

The Swiss office and HR department is talking now. I could expect to sign some transfer related documents documents soon. In the meantime Ayen is busy preparing things, .. all sort of things - shopping for baby stuff, preparing checklist of things to ship etc.. Thank god I have such an efficient PA. I'm too busy snoring to do them myself ;)

In the office, the process of finding my replacement has kicked off. An old friend was recommended by a close friend. Good opportunity for him.

The Chronicles of Lana

I've been pretty busy (or could it be just plain lazy ...??) for the past two months, hence the un-updated blog.

Apo dah jadi, apo dah jadi ... sampai sekarang dah ada baby ....

Finally ... finally .. I'm a father. Look at my cute little girl above. Isn't she gorgeous? With her good friend Fat Pooh, they are both enjoying 20 hours a day of hibernation.

On 15 December 2005, at 1.30 PM, after exactly 12 hours of labour, my wife successfully delivered our first baby through C-section at the Gleaneagles Intan Medical Centre. What an experience. It all started at around 12.30 AM of the same day, when I was awaken by Ayen telling the mother about some blood stains. It was not that chaotic at all, as I had had expected. Half asleep, I gave my mad advice to Ayen to just wait a little longer until the pain came. According to the gynea a couple of days earlier, she would not deliver until the earliest, 20 th. or so. So ... 15th was just a bit to earlier I would think. So, no need to panic I told myself. However, being a good husband, I took the initiative to call the hospital and sought for advice. The immediate response was, bring your wife here now, and let us check. Hmmm ... OK. Nah ... can't be the time yet. Off we went to the hospital. Out of the three of us (me, Ayen and and my mother in law), I was the one least prepared. Without changing, with only a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and sandles, it was obvious to anyone that I was treating it like a short visit to the hospital. Short was never it .... .

At around 1.30 AM, I was advice by the mid-wife on duty to go down to the front desk and register my wife for admission. Erk ... is it really THE moment? The 12 hour agonising period (to my wife lah) begins NOW! .. tik tok! tick tok! Realising that I could be there for a few (or many) hours, I went back home to get change. Duh! The labour room was damn cold. Could not tahan.

Shortly after I returned, Manchester United took Wigan in an English premiership match (on a small tele in the labour room). What a match! The spirit of the Wigan players trying to bury ManU was amazing. So was my spirit in giving support to Ayen.

The labour when on and on and on and on and on ... untillllll noon. The baby was at the same position as it had been 8 hours earlier. No sign that she was descending more. Let's opt for C-section, advised the gynea. Half hour felt like half a day. The operation started at 1 PM, the baby was taken out at 1.30 PM and the mommy was pushed out of the operating theatre at 1.45 PM. Every one was safe. fewh! alhamdulillah.

The first thing I noticed about my baby was she had such a big, pretty pair of eyes. When I was doing the azan, I noticed she looked up and down, as if looking at me and observing the surrounding. What a pretty little creature.

I was so damn sleepy the night after. The last time I stayed up all night I think was when doing a project tender proposal 5 years ago.

The baby and mommny were discharged on the 17th of December. All happy to be back home.

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