What a crazy-interesting year it has been...

It's already the last day of the year and I have piles and piles of outstanding tasks to complete. Can't I just clean up my in-tray (shred all the documents) and start fresh come the new year?

I wish I could!


2008 has been a very challenging yet interesting year for me.


This year, I...

... have upgraded myself, career wise, and have learned the ropes on how to become a successful corporate player.

... took the plunge and became "Mrs. Judge".

... have managed to rekindled my relationship with Dad only to realise that it was never meant to be.

... learned the true value of friendship.

... learned not to depend on others to get things done.

... was forced to grow up...


Next year, I...

... hope to progress well in my career - to be able to do the things I love to do.

... hope to be able to find a suitable house to call home.

... hope to be a better person - better daughter, better wife, better sister, better friend.


Thank you to all of you that have been involved, either directly or indirectly, in making my 2008 a memorable one. Let's hope 2009 will hold many more great adventure for us all!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Cheers!







binx: hope to blog more in 2009!

People just love to speculate...

Scene 1

As I was driving back home from work, I received a call from my cousin...

Cousin: You know what?
Me: What?
Cousin: I had a dream last nite...
Me: What was the dream about?
Cousin: I dreamt that you were pregnant!
Me: What?!!! How come I was in your dream?
Cousin: I don't know... I was actually thinking of myself getting pregnant before I went to sleep and tup tup muka you yang turned up in my dream... Enter frame betul!
Me: Hah!
Cousin: That's why I called.. So ARE YOU PREGNANT?
Me: I don't think so...
Cousin: Nevermind.. Let's just wait till the end of the month.. I really have a feeling that my dream will come true real soon....
Me: Riteeeee......


Scene 2

I was walking towards the photocopier machine and a colleague stopped me on the way and felt my tummy...

Colleague: Binx, are you pregnant?
Me: Huh? Where got!
Colleague: This looks like a bump....
Me: No larr.. that's just my perut buncit larr..
Colleague: Are you sure...?
Me: VERY sure...


Scene 3

I just love to eat assam and now I have bottles of assam on my workstation all the time. However, little did I know that my bottle of assam had raised some speculation about me...

Tea Lady: Awak ada asam atas meja ye?
Me: Ha ah laa kak.. Memang suka..
Tea Lady: Haa awak tau tak, the Legal Manager tuh pagi-pagi duk hendap meja awak..
Tea Lady: Dia siap panggil akak tadi cakap.. "Haa kak.. dah start makan assam dah budak nieh.. mesti dah berisi..."
Me: Ya Allah... like that osso can ah?


Scene 4

I was explaining to my boss about the current task at hand when I noticed that she was not actually listening to me and instead was actually looking at me with a funny expression on her face...

Me: What are you looking at?
Boss: Binx, are you alright?
Me: Yes, I'm fine thank you. Why did you asked?
Boss: Are you sure you are alright?
Me: Yes.. I feel fine... *confuse*
Boss: Are you pregnant?
Me: No! Why did you ask?
Boss: No... You look pregnant...! And I think you ARE pregnant!
Me: I don't think so..
Boss: Are you late?
Me: Well... yeah... but I don't think I'm pregnant...
Boss: You better check... *grinning happily*
Me: eerrm... okay....





So I was 'late' for almost 10 days.

Everyone thought that I WAS pregnant.

However, no.... I AM not pregnant.

I was LATE!





binx: stress stress.....

Hari Raya for Bibik (Part VII)

Salam Aidil Adha buat pembaca sekalian...

Sekali lagi Bibik mampir ke belog ini untuk mencoretkan kisah lebaran Bibik pada kali ini.

Hari raya kali ini sungguh mencabar bagi Bibik karna Bibik terpaksa memasak segala juadah hari raya saorang diri. Buat pengetahuan kalian, mertua Bibik telah pergi menunaikan fardhu haji pada kali ini. Jadi, Bibik serta suami terpaksa menetap di rumah mertua Bibik sepanjang pemergian mereka selama sebulan setengah ini.

Tugas Bibik telah bermula sejak hari Sabtu lagi. Hari itu adalah hari jadi adik suami Bibik. Oleh karna ibuk mertua Bibik telah berpesan agar jangan lupa untuk meraikan hari jadi anak bongsu nya itu, Bibik telah memasakkan makanan kegemarannya: spaghetti bolognaise bersama meatballs. Iya Bibik memang pandai masak masakan orang Itali. Sedap nya sehingga licin mangkuk tau... :)

Hari itu juga Bibik telah diminta membuat popiah special Bibik. Oleh karna sudah lama juga Bibik tidak makan popiah, Bibik dengan sukarela membuatnya. Waduh, tidak sia-sia Bibik membuatnya karna semua orang suka sekali makan popiah Bibik. Adik suami Bibik sehingga menyatakan bahawa itulah popiah yang paling sedap dia pernah rasa! ehem.... Senyum Bibik sampai ketelinga.... :)

Pada siang Ahad pula Bibik telah memasak sambal tumis udang bersama petai dan juga burung puyuh goreng. Malamnya pula Bibik bikin ikan siakap stim limau dan telur dadar bersama cendawan. Memang seronok memasak jika ada orang yang gemar memakannya. Berbaloi rasa usaha Bibik...

Setelah selesai makan malam, Bibik telah mula memasak hidangan untuk hari raya keesokkan hari nya. Menu untuk hari raya kami sekeluarga ialah nasi himpit, kuah kacang special dan jugak sayur lodeh.

Oleh karna Bibik kepingin ingin memasak kuah kacang yang pernah dihidangkan oleh saudara Bibik dahulu, Bibik telah meminta resipi nya awal-awal. Rahsia kuah kacangnya ialah ia dicampurkan daging serta daun limau purut... Waduh waduh... Enak sekali kuah kacangnya. Sayur lodeh Bibik jugak menjadi walaupun inilah kali pertama Bibik memasak nya. Selama ini Bibik hanya menolong Ibuk Bibik menyiapkan rencah-rencahnya sahaja. Kali ini kiranya Bibik telah lulus kursus "practical" Bibik yaaa.

Baru sebentar tadi adik-adik telah meminta Bibik masakkan Maggi special Bibik untuk mereka. Jangan ingat Maggi itu tidak berkhasiat.. Cuba tumiskan bawang besar, cili padi serta halia dan kemudian masukkan campuran serbuk kari nya. Jika mau lazat lagi, campurkan beberapa kepingan wantan udang dan di biarkan mendidih. Campurkan juga telur dan sayuran sebelum dihidang... Memang lazat i tell youuuu... ooppsss.. Bibik terberbahasa mat salleh pula... :D

Jika kalian perasan, raya kali ini Bibik memang tugasnya didapur sahaja... Penat nya tuhan saja yang tahu. Tetapi Bibik sangat suka sekali dapat memasak untuk keluarga Bibik. Diharap pabila mertua Bibik pulang nanti, mereka dapat lihat yang anak-anak mereka tidak dibiarkan kelaparan, malah sekarang makin gemuk dan buncit.. hehehe... Itu termasuklah perut Bibik sekali....

Jadi itu lah korban Bibik pada tahun ini. Bibik telah berkorban masa rehat Bibik untuk menjaga keluarga suami Bibik. Bagaimana hari raya korban kalian?




bibik binx: takziah kepada mangsa-mangsa tanah runtuh dan juga banjir...

Travel log: Kemamang

I was in Kemaman from Monday til yesterday (Wednesday), attending the E.C.er seminar organised by one public sector organisation.

Personally, I was really disappointed with the organizer/seminar as they were not attentive enough to invite relevant speakers for each industry specific session that they had determined. I mean, how can they invite the head of business development of the national airline carrier cargo company to talk about the maritime industry? Seriously??? Even the speaker himself was shocked when he received the invitation, but he came anyway. And the topics discussed was mostly unresearched topics that should have not been discussed as it is not possible to be implemented in the east coast region. Macam mana laa orang gomen organise seminar nieh. It was a waste of my precious 3 days! Dah laa PM yang opened the ceremony pun gave a long-winded speech that nearly put everyone to sleep... I was surprised that he was not reading any script during his speech.. Padan laa panjang berjela...!

Well, the trip was not a waste entirely laa.

The trip itself was OK. I got to stay at the Awana Kijal Hotel (my 2nd time there) and got to enjoy a brief one-hour javanese massage after the long day at the seminar.

Furthermore, I got to finally taste the famous Tong Juan stuffed crabs. OoOOOoooo... it was really really good. I even tapau'ed it back for Mr Judge and siblings back home.

Then, when we went to purchase the keropok lekor at one of the local shops, we were served piping hot cengkodok-like keropok lekor (basically, it is the lekor bater without the excessive flour and before it is formed into the long snake-like shape). Perghh... memang lazat sehingga menjilat jari... Dah laa free! And the makcik even asked us to "take and go" (prounce it in a terengganu dialect).. Basically she had asked us to "take away" laaa. hahahaha.....

I did not realise that the journey to Kemaman only takes 3 hours (well if you were to drive at the speed of 180 km/hr on the highway la). If that is the case, lepas nieh selalu sokmo laaa I pegi Kemaman... Syok jugak...




binx: next stop - penang!

Confession of a Jet Setter

Tajuk macam bagussss aje kan....

I just got back from a day trip to Langkawi. My second day trip there for the month. It might not be my last for the year too...

I don't really mind going to the yard there though. Out of the three yards that we have, I love going to the Langkawi yard the most. Mana tak nya.... Breathtaking view, beautiful and expesive yachts everywhere Plus, I get to borong lots and lots of chocolates!

However, what I actually want to blog about it the terrible service that I have experienced with our national airline yesterday.

On my flight to Langkawi

All the passengers had boarded the plane and all set for departure. Suddenly, the co-pilot made a weird announcement:

"Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, errr.... welcome on board MH1430. I am (I can't remember his name). There is errrr... a slight delay to our journey to Langkawi as the flight engineer is errr.... currently checking erre... 'something' in the air craft. eerrr... It might take us err... 20 to 30 minutes to rectify the problem......bla bla bla..."

The mere mentioned of the word "something" got everyone suspicious, especially after having heard of the terrorist attack news in Mumbai. Dah la bagi announcement pun takde confidence langsung... I know it was not a scripted announcement, but I think it would have been better if the announcement was made by the head steward.

2 minutes later, the head steward made another annoucement:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we regret to inform you that we need to empty the aircraft in order for the flight engineer to change the battery of the aircraft. The change will take around 20 to 30 minutes and we shall continue our journey to Langkawi once the problem is rectified....."

WTF!

Change the battery? Aren't they suppose to check every component of the aircraft BEFORE allowing the passangers to go on board?!

The change too around 20 minutes but it took them at least another 20 minutes to take off from KLIA. Consequently, we landed in Langkawi airport almost an hour behind schedule!

My flight back to KL later that evening was also delayed. However, it was due to the terrible weather.

I know that the 'red low cost carrier' is championing the 'on-time guarantee' cause. And so far I have yet to experience any delays after they have launched the campaign.

How I wish that the national airline can do the same. They should not be complacent about their service because they know that most of their corporate clients will definitely prefer to fly with them rather than the 'red low cost carrier'. However, I know for sure that there were a lot of disgruntled passangers yesterday that was comparing the level of services between the two airlines and were highlighting their intention to switch airline should the level of service by the national carrier does not improve.

Hey... my company did not spend RM799 for my ticket to get a lousy service! I for one would rather fly with the 'red low cost carrier' if it means no waiting and on-time arrival guaranteed.




binx: i'm off to kemaman on monday *sob* *sob*

Ahhhhchoooo....!

I have been sneezing non-stop ever since I stepped in the car this morning!

Arrghhh..... I hate being sick... And I've been sick for over 4 times this year, which is more than the usual 1 time a year.

I wished I got myself an MC today. Then I would not have to sit in the 2 management committee meetings scheduled today....

Gosh... I really hope that the sneezing fit would not start later. How laa to control your sneezing? Habis laa nanti all the members of the senior management demam pulak....







binx: the new template is a work in progress...

An update... finally!

Things have been crazy lately.

Work has been demanding. We (my colleague and I) have been asked to do all sort of tasks, from a simple task of organising a management meeting at a hotel, to drafting a letter to the Country's #2 on a Saturday until late night and hand-delivered it to the BIG boss's house that very night and collected it the very next morning (on a SUNDAY!) to make necessary amendments before sending him a fresh copy to be delivered, travelling to all the Group's yards, coming up with all the strategic reports with ridiculous datelines (without knowing the first thing about what was to be expected out of the reports).

We are the Jack of all trades and a master of none. We seemed to be doing everything that our dear boss throws on our plate and more! Never did we complaint on the strain that it had taken on our lives.

Our stress level had shot up to the level where we are thinking of jumping ship (again!). I kept going home and requesting for Mr Judge to buy me a push-cart where I can start selling 'goreng pisang' in front of our apartment... It is better to sell 'goreng pisang' than to be subjected to all the nonesense that people throw at us at the office. At least, I'll get paid accordingly while not having to worry when my ass is going to get kicked.

I get tired even thinking about it. *sigh*

On the family front, we'll be staying at the in-law's for the next month or so coz FIL and MIL are off for their Haj trip this coming Thursday. We are instructed to hold the fort and look after the Mr Judge's siblings while FIL and MIL are away. There goes our privacy of having our own cozy little nest with warm and comfy bed. However, I guess that is the sacrifice that you have to make once you are married kan... Oh well, let's just hope that the arrangement is not permanent (I bet FIL would love to make it permanent).

"Here comes the wicked step mother... heheheh"

Wish me luck on the new temporary venture!




binx: i'm off to Langkawi! *sigh*