Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The First To Many More Conversations Like This

Me: How does your budget mechanism go by?

Him: Well, it's like fixing a deadline. If I could finish the project in two weeks, I'll inform my superiors that I need three weeks so in case there are more to what I estimate, I'll have the extra week.

Me: In other words, if you put a budget of RM350, you actually mean you want to spend only RM300.

Him: Well. If the amount is slightly higher, we still have extra money to cover this price difference. Say, maybe the price is RM320. But if the price is less than RM300, we can put that extra RM50 in our savings account, or use it for other necessities.

Me: What kind of budget is that?

Him: There are certain situations whereby we might over-estimate.

Me: Mine works differently.

Him: How do you go by then?

Me: You see, there are two kinds of budget.

Him: Which is?

Me: The first kind, is the proposal budget. You ask for more than what you actually need, in case the amount exceeds your estimation.

Him: That's mine right?

Me: Yes. The second one, is when you put the exact or maximum amount you could allow.

Him: Hmm. That is yours?

Me: Yes, because my concern is to spend the money that does not exceed the budget, so you have to make the limit clear to me. In this case, RM350 must means RM350, not RM300.

Him: Where does my mechanism apply?

Me: When I ask for money from you, I'll have to ask for slightly more in case the amount might be higher than what I estimate. So, there might be surplus, there might not be.

Him: A-ha. So I give you the maximum amount that I could allow you to spend?

Me: Something like that.

Read more »

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

A Short Tragic Story.

Once upon a time, in the southernmost state, there were five best mates who called themselves the Fab Five. Their friendship was struck when they were unknowingly snared into a dungeon and bound into enslavement by the most powerful curse that could only be broken when September ends.

They were made up of four gallant girls and one quiet and wise guy. The fairest girl was known as Jen the Criticiser who’d silence Paul Moss anytime she opens her mouth. The nicest girl was known as Ainie si Cantik Manis who was the most diplomatic among them all (let’s pretend we’ve never heard the word ‘pretty’). The third member of this secret clan is known as Survivor The Crazy – who has a warped and sudden sense of humor and quite boyish in appearance. The fourth girl was Scary Carneyz, who, when she narrowed her eyes, all hell break loose. Finally, the only guy who got stuck with the girls was hailed as The Chairman, whose main role was to ferry the girls around in his BMW.

They were insaparable lots, forever emailing each other in between doing their menial chores, going for lunch (voted the most favourite time of the day) and lunch was always raucous. Because they were the youngest lots, they were always bullied into staying back in the dungeon until late at night of which the only reason they stayed sane and intact is because they had each other (apart from the soothing voice of Jen criticising the keepers of the dungeon). Of course, you couldn’t really count in The Chairman’s offer to push Jen The Criticiser on her chair around the dungeon 20 times as a sign of sanity. The Fab Five were a crazy bunch of people anyway.

During the Untouchable Days, the Fab Five hang out at bowling alleys and after tiring themselves out, they hunted for the best eating place to fill their stomachs. Scary Carneyz thinks that is the main reason why she gained so much weight that she had to starve herself during latter days, but she doesn’t deny that they had so much fun.

Then one day, everything changed.

The curse was broken.

New people came to the dungeon and The Chairman switched clans.

Jen The Criticiser finally got her wish to break free and earn more elsewhere.

Scary Carneyz transferred to a quieter, more uptown and chic dungeon, still enslaved.

Thus, the Fab Five were forced to disband to follow their own destinies.

But in their deepest hearts, they wish that maybe someday, they can get back together. Maybe open a café like they used to talk about over dinner.

The End.

Read more »

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Little anecdotes

Ever since I came back from my Raya hols, I had a feeling like my head is being dunked under-water so my thoughts are all murky and soggy. You know, you got a feeling when you try to think hard, everything turns out fuzzy like a photo captured under water.

I tried to be more organized to help me think more clearly but even the effort is hard to achieve. It makes me exasperated.

Luckily, that didn't affect me from accomplishing my tasks. I managed to clear off a lot more things than before the raya break - I guess I really needed that break because at that point, I had gone stagnant. I was tired and fed up with everybody at work and everything that needed to be done. Now that I had unwind, things start to roll smoother and faster. Let's just hope to God that everything turns out ok.

Perhaps my under-the-water experience has got to do with my well-being. As soon as I got back to KL, I was down with flu. It's very easy for me to catch that bug. When I studied my horoscope, Geminis or those born in June are susceptible to lung-related diseases. Apparently, our lungs are quite sensitive. So we are most prone to flu, cough, etc.

I'm also worried about something that keeps tugging at the back of my head. I wish I can tell it here, but it's kinda private. The problem with me is I'm such a worrier. I think I need to straighten out my desk again and do my laundry tonight so I'll stop worrying and start focusing on more important things. Like my next 5 years plan. Yeah, right.

Read more »

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Interior Decoration

My aunt is a secondary school teacher and on top of that, she frequently chairs most activities at her school. She teaches kids in the morning and gets involved in activities in the afternoon. Who says being a teacher is an easy job? I wouldn't want to be one unless they pay RM5K a month. Hehe.

Anyway, that leaves her no time to decorate her home for Hari Raya and no puns intended, to even tidy up. But whenever she has the time, she dedicates full energy into tidying up. I think the tidying up & organizing things habit run in the family. While I am more into physically arranging stuffs in orderly manner, my sister has the ability to organize people and events.

So in the two days that I was at her house, I took the time to help in whatever ways I could. I did laundry, hang the clothes dry while watching hens sunbathing with spread wings (I didn't know chickens like sunbathing before or maybe they are just showing off in front of me), swept and vacuumed the house, and forced my obliging brother to help me. There is no way a guy who has superior strength than mine gets to lounge about in front of tv while I sweat off doing house chores. Nuh-uh. Orang lelaki pun mesti buat kerja rumah. Ingat kiteorang ni orang gaji atau pembantu rumah ke?

At first I wanted to do the 'before & after effect' but if my aunt ever stumbled here, I think she'll be mortified so I'll just post the after effect. My aunt's house is divided into three areas - the living room area which stretches long instead of wide, the tv area and the kitchen. She likes furniture made of wood / mahogany. Lastly, her floor is made of white, big tiles. The kind that I like. This is how her living room looks like after my brother and I finished rearranging the furniture:

Luxurious look

In warm effect

When I'm in the mood, even the carpets have to be perfectly aligned together #OCD

She said she bought this because she can't resist herself. Love at first sight punyer hal...

I'm not very good at taking photo yet but this is one of my favourite pix

A close-up

A view from top

There are a few more photos but I think these few already give you a good impression of how her living room looks like. Hehe.

We are going back to my kampung today and I will only update my blog after Hari Raya. So adios.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Selamat Hari Raya and minta maaf zahir & batin! See you all after Hari Raya break.

Read more »

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Jalan-jalan di pasar Ramadhan Mukah

Memandangkan aku akan balik kampung hujung minggu ni, aku amik peluang ni untuk mengambil gambar pemandangan di Mukah. Mukah ialah sebuah bandar yang majoriti penduduknya berbangsa Melanau. Malah Ketua Menteri Sarawak berasal dari Mukah. Hampir setiap bangunan di sini i.e. bangunan pentadbiran (Menara Pehin), masjid baru, stesen bas, pasar tamu, etc. mempunyai rekabentuk seperti 'terandak' iaitu topi yang dipakai oleh orang Melanau suatu masa dulu. Topi ni berbentuk kon dan mempunyai corak yang menarik:

Sumber imej: http://anggunhandicraftnsouvenir.blogspot.com/

Bangunan pentadbiran bahagian Mukah dipanggil Menara Pehin Setia Raja (Kalau tak silap aku sbb orang kat sini panggil Menara Pehin je). Semua jabatan kerajaan ditempatkan di sini.

Petang hari kedua, aku mengikut mak saudara ke pasar Ramadhan di pasar tamu Mukah. Bermacam-macam jenis kuih yang menarik terdapat di sini .Tapi aku tak amik semua la sebab dieorang hairan tengok aku asyik snap gambar je, bukan beli pun!

Pemandangan di pasar tamu

ABC yang menarik

 

Kuih senyum. Aku pun tak tau naper dipanggil kuih senyum!

Kuih celorot, kuih tradisional di Sarawak. My faveret

Kek lapis yang menarik dijual RM30 untuk ukuran ni. Tak tau apa nama kek ni tapi tak silap aku ada nama 'Aiskrim..'

Kek lapis lagi - RM15. Kek lapis Sarawak berlainan sket sbb ianya dikukus dan ada corak yang menarik

Pasar tamu Mukah ni terletak bersebelahan dengan stesen bas Mukah. Aku tak sempat amik gambar stesen bas ni tapi aku amik gambar bas je. Korang kat sana asyik merungut pasal perkhidmatan bas tak de aircond la, buruk la dsb tapi orang kat sini rilek je naik bas apa saja pun asalkan selamat sampai. Kadar kemalangan di Sarawak melibatkan kenderaan awam pun amat sedikit. Yalah, nak pandu lelaju camane, bukan ada highway pun:

Pengangkutan antarabandar menggunakan bas ekspres, salah satunya ialah Trans Borneo (bukan Transnasional ye). Bas dalam bandar pulak ialah bas jalur biru yang takde aircond tu. Tapi kat Sarawak tak kisah la sebab udara kat luar bukan macam kat KL yg berbau asap

Next entry aku citer pulak pasal aktiviti aku mengemas & decorate rumah mak saudara aku sebab aku boring & tak tau nak buat apa. Hehe. Aku nak amik gambar sebelum dan selepas tapi terlupa nak amik gambar sebelum tu. So, tengok je la hasilnya lepas 2 hari menyapu, mengemop & mengalihkan perabot sesuka hati aku! 

Read more »