Independence

Salam Abg Iqie, Abg Afeeq and my princess,

We just celebrated Malaysia's independence day, and in a few day's time, we will celebrate Malaysia's Day. You guys asked Mummy and Daddy if we could go to Dataran Merdeka and watch the whole show. So sorry darlings, Mummy and Daddy knew that there would be thousands of people there and we thought that it would not be a pleasant experience for you guys. We decided to wait for you guys to be a little bit bigger before we take you to the show. But you guys did enjoy the show on the TV. The queen wore red tudung and Rayna liked her :)

At the moment (if you can still remember by the time you read this), Mummy and Daddy are giving you a little bit of independence. You guys are now allowed to play at the playground just the three of you. We don't have to accompany you anymore. It's our way to build trust and let you be more independent. Of course, Abg Iqie will always be told to watch over Abg Afeeq and Rayna. And both of you are always told to listen to Abg Iqie. I truly hope that you guys can depend on each other now and when Mummy and Daddy are no longer around. At the same time, I also hope that you know your boundaries.

When I was your age, I had done a lot of fun things. And I want you guys to have those memories and to remember all of them with fondness. One day, one of you will say "Do you remember when we..." and laugh about it. I want you to have a lot of that. The three of you...

With loads of love always...

Mummy

At the Wee Hours

Dear Abg Iqie, Abg Afeeq and Rayna...

Today, we talked about how you guys wake up almost every morning to go to school over dinner. We laughed when mummy told you how bad you guys were at waking up early. Abg Iqie is always late to school - well... almost every morning :P

Our routine is supposed to be very simple. I wake you guys up, you guys shower, brush teeth, take wudhu and solat subuh. Then do your school bags (if not done yet), then the usual chores - blue bag, towels and water bottles. Yes, it is supposed to be that simple :)

But surprise... surprise... surprise...

Abg Iqie sometimes wake up with "Five more minutes mummy. I'm still sleepy". That is followed with cries of "I want to sleep. Why can't I sleep some more?". After a few threats from Mummy, then only you go to the bathroom. Funny how you used to be the easiest to wake up and the first to complete everything.

It's sometimes very easy to wake up Abg Afeeq. As long as Mummy is the one who wakes you up and escort (more likely walk-hug) you to the bathroom, you are fine most of the times. But you sometimes throw in a few challenges too - like fighting who should shower first, you or Abg Iqie. Then the whole world is turned upside down.

Rayna, so far is the easiest. As long as Mummy is the one who wakes you up and, like Abg Afeeq, walk-hugs you to the bathroom, you are fine. I can just leave you at the bathroom door and know that you will do every thing right.

But... a big but! You guys always forgot to brush your teeth!! OMG... I have to repeat and remind every single morning. And make you go back to the bathroom every time :-)

Then, there's the missing school shirt, school pants and your sekolah agama's samping *rolled eyes* Don't get me started on the water bottles from the previous day(s) that you guys have forgotten to take to the kitchen. Worse... the food container from the previous day(s) *fainted*.

After all the drama in the house, there is the journey down to the car park. If the fight is not about your socks, then it is about your shoes. If it's not about the shoes, then there's always the missing songkok.

I'm going to miss all of them when you guys have all grown up. I wish I could record the drama so that all of us remember what it was like. To remember the morning glory, the trips to school, the lectures that you had with Daddy in the car, etc. etc.

I love you guys so much. Today, we laughed and we had a good time at dinner. And I want to remember that. More importantly, I want you guys to remember...

Till next time, I love you loads...

Mummy

Work for What You Want

Dear Abg Iqie, Abg Afeeq and Rayna...

The three of you sometimes ask Mummy and Daddy why you guys need to do certain things at home. Every school day, the three of you would need to do specific things. Like doing the "blue bag" - putting your shirts and pants in the IKEA shopping bag that we use as your laundry bag, doing the "towels" - putting clean towels in the "blue bag" for you to use at the daycare, and doing the "water bottles" - getting all the water bottles ready for school (two for Abg Iqie, two for Abg Afeeq and one for Rayna for each school).

You guys then have to rotate the chores, switching the tasks among the three of you. Sometimes, you guys fight about who's turn is it to do the "blue bag" or the "towels". And sometimes Abg Afeeq would throw a tantrum, not wanting to do the "towels". His exact words were "I hate doing towels. Why do I have to do the towels?".

Well guys, Mummy and Daddy want you to learn about "responsibilities". We want you to know that you  sometimes have to be accountable for something. When you fail to do something that other people are depending on you to do, there is a consequence. If one of you fails to put shirts in the "blue bag", then you won't have anything to wear at the daycare. The same goes if one of you does not put in the "towels" in the "blue bag", or do the "water bottles". We want to teach you that when you are a responsibility or when people are counting on you to do something, you have to do it well.

Well, there are more reasons to that. We just hope that you are able to learn from these experiences. You shouldn't expect things to be provided for you and that things are all set for you. You guys must remember to work hard and smart for something that you want.

Mummy and Daddy hope that you will be more responsible when you grow up. And not to be like other Gen Z or the other millennials that we heard so much about - like they deserve everything and that they don't have to work for what they want.

Until next time, yours always,

Mummy

Dear Abg Iqie, Abg Afeeq & Rayna...

Dear Abg Iqie, Abg Afeeq & Rayna...

Mummy and Daddy love you so much. And we want you to know that we are proud of you. Remember that every day of your life.

Not long ago, mummy sat down in a hall listening to one ustaz. He talked about messages that mummy and daddy could write to you guys now for you guys to read when the three of you have all grown up. So this is me, writing my first message to the three of you.

Abg Iqie, you are the eldest. My hope is that you will grow up to be anak yang solleh. I also hope that you will be a great leader to Abg Afeeq and Rayna. If you wonder why I have appointed you to be the Ketua Solat at home, that is the main reason :). You are already a confident boy and you always listen to mummy and daddy well. You are so matured already beyond your age. You are the leader already to Abg Afeeq and Rayna.

Abg Afeeq, you are fun to be around with, and playful too. You get along with other people very easily. My hope is that you will grow up to be a responsible person besides being anak yang solleh. I also hope that you will be someone that people can rely on. You are already a very creative boy. You can design anything you want with your lego and some of them are very impressive. But I hope you would listen to me and daddy more often and mind your words too. But you know what... I love it that you like to kiss me and hug me all the time. And I actually look forward to your phone calls, the ones that you always make in the afternoon when you are at school. You make me feel loved and cherished. I also like it when you always tell me what you want to buy me or give me when you are all grown up, places where you want to take me and all :)

My princess Rayna, you are the brain of the family. It's always a joy to see how you love doing your homework without being asked, and reading your books. I always pray that you will be anak yang sollehah. I actually love it when you always want me to put you to bed - our 5 or 10 minutes bedtime rule before I leave your room. That makes me feel special. Your pre-school teachers said you are very bright and an excellent student. I am very proud of you.

You three are the most precious and important things in mummy and daddy's lives. Remember that we love you so much and that we are proud of you.

Till my next message, yours always,

Mummy

Wake Me Up When September Ends

The title has nothing to do with what I'm writing about today :) I just like the song and it happens to be September.

 

The three of them are growing fast. They now have responsibilities at home. Towels are to be hanged after shower. School shoes are to be washed every Saturday. They now wash dishes after meals. On weekends, they clean their rooms and help vacuum the floor. I can't wait for them to be able to cook :p

 

Afeeq is still the laziest, but he is always the one who volunteers to wash the dishes. Rayna is into colouring nowadays. And Abg Iqie is into everything.

 

And those are my life.

 

Ieja

 

 

 

Tidbits of the Three Tots

Abg Iqie is now into computers. But he can only switch it on during weekends. The no-device policy during weekdays still applies.

Afeeq is losing his baby teeth! Two of his front teeth are already missing and he looks funny :P





Rayna can already read - English and Bahasa books. And now she always has a book in her hands.

And me... I had an eye operation with Prof Muhaya about a month ago. And my eyes are now adjusting to the new eyesight. It was a big change for me. I still try to adjust my glasses on my nose although it's not there anymore :P  But I'm getting used to it. Just came back from a follow up meeting with the optometrist and she suggested that I wear glasses only for driving and my eyes would need about six months to adjust. Oh well...

I have also started to cycle indoor. Let's see how that goes...

Ieja

A Comeback After So Many Years

OMG... has it really been two years? My last post was in June 2013. I guess I was not that great at doing something consistently :P

Anyhow, this is a comeback from the grave. A lot has happened and a lot needs to be recorded. Let's just do a summary.

FAMILY

I cannot be happier! Those three rascals are basically growing so fast. Iqie is now 9 years old, Afeeq 7 and Rayna 5. They are like everything to me... my air to breathe and my light in darkness. My heart could just explode with so much love for them. I could go on, but I think you get the message. And they talk non-stop. 

Iqie is much more inquisitive than before. His questions range from science to religion. I am sometimes amazed at the questions that come out of his mouth. From "who is Najib?" and "how does GST affect us?" to "what is metal?" and "how do they make glasses?" kind of questions. And a lot more... And he still cries easily. May Allah bless him. He has a soft and kind heart. Quite obedient. I guess him being a prefect helps.

Afeeq is jovial. The happy-go-lucky kid. He's the kind that people come for fun or to make them feel good. He's always bursting with energy, moving non-stop. Highly inquisitive as well in an active sort of way. He can get away with not doing anything at all when everyone else is busting their butts. Highly creative. He can make up his own games and create anything that is out of this world with his Lego. A softer side of him - he likes me to hug and kiss him. He likes me to hold him. He's also the kind that will tell you that you are being too hard on him (I get that a lot from him). I learned that I need to treat him as an equal.

Rayna is the princess in the house. She's active and not too girly (thank god). She looks tough and highly competitive in a positive way. Of course all parents say that :P. To public, she is soft spoken and doesn't talk much. Her teachers commented that she does her own things at school and doesn't seem to be interested in other kids. What does that really mean? But with us, she just can't stop talking. She's also a hugger. Big hugs, small hugs, you name it. She can just go behind you and hold you tight. 


WORK
I guess things could have not been better. After I've got my heart "broken" by my last employer, I'm now with a more shariah-compliant organisation. Alhamdulillah... I guess I'm heading towards the right direction. All in all, it took me three years to come into full circle of what I intended to become. I guess you can call it a calling, but I've been given the chance.

That's it for now I guess. 

Liza

Managing Your Stakeholders

I came across executives, managers and in fact senior managers who just don't bother to vet through and validate their work before it is sent to their superior or worse, the senior management team. Data is not validated, summarised, and presented well. I would say avoid giving raw data to them (unless specifically requested), instead give insightful statistics. Something that your superior or senior management team could relate to and use to make informed decisions at one glance. That is how you could add value to them.

I seriously believe that you should be careful when you deal with your superior or the senior management team. Wrong impressions could be formed that would not do you good. I came across raw data with numbers and colour codes that I didn't understand. Documents with no headers or titles. Jargons that just made my eyes spin backwards. 

What I would be looking for would be just a simple breakdown data by department, by categories, or just a simple percentage. A header or a document title would be very useful. Some analysis on the percentages would also be nice. And if the situation warrants, some recommendations would be great too.

Funny how some executives just cannot read their stakeholders well. What they would find useful in a report. They are not being fussy or difficult. They just don't have the time to massage the data given in the report. A dashboard type of report will be very appreciated by them as they could see the different trends, glaring issues that would need to be brought up, anomalies, etc. They could then use the intelligence that they have in front of them to make decisions, plan ahead, etc.

Other things that we could do to ensure our stakeholders are well taken care of include finding out in advance how they would like the statistics to be presented to them. In terms of the layout, font / font size, filtering, etc.

Just some of my observations... After all, our superiors and the senior management team would be the ones who would be looking at our performance at the end of the day. So, why would we want to give them the impression that we have low emotional intelligence?

Ieja

Life As It Is

It is that time of the year  again where employers review their employees' work performance and reward them accordingly. And of course, all this is at the discretion of the employer. So, in self reflection, do I feel like I have done my best in 2012. And do I feel like I have been rewarded fairly by my employer?

When I came onboard, I told everyone that I had never experience such extensive appraisal on my work performance. Sure I've been appraised before and sure I've been rewarded with bonus. But I had never felt this kind of level of intensity that people feel about year-end appraisal and about bonus payout as when I am with this company.

When I got my first bonus with the company, I said alhamdulillah and was very happy. I felt that my effort in that particular year was well rewarded. And I kept saying that it didn't matter to me because I had not experience this kind of monetary reward before. Furthermore, I was promoted within a year I was with the company. So, there shouldn't be any complaints, right?

Then, come the second year. I was rated as a high performer still, and the same bonus payout exercise  was done. Then, the letter came with the bonus figure. And this year, I didn't get the $$ as good as last year, and that didn't feel good. I thought, hang on... I performed better than last year and why my bonus was not as good as last year then? There is doubt...

My reaction was perfectly well understood (after a few days of self reflection). I had a good taste of bonus payout, and my expectation had gone up one notch. And when my expectation was not met in terms of $$, I was disappointed. What I failed to remember in the first place was that:

1. bonus was solely at the discretion of the employer. They have the rights not to pay any even if they make loads of money that year.
2. When the employer decides to give bonus to the employee, they have the rights to determine how much.

So, as much as I dislike the fact that I didn't get as much as last year, I forgot that I had not had this for a long time, and that I should be grateful for whatever that I receive. And that whatever amount that was credited into my bank account and was shown on my pay slip, I should have said alhamdulillah first and say thank you to my boss (which I did a bit later, and still was the first one to do so according to him). I should have also not succumbed to the culture of "I deserve the bonus, the company must pay bonus, and I deserve to get more or better bonus despite my average performance."

Thank you Allah for the rezeki you bestowed upon me.

Ieja

How's Life Treated Me So Far

I started 2013 in a high spirit, having had sent Abang Iqie to his first ever primary school, and Afeeq to his kindergarten. 

Then, on the second week of January (13 Jan 2013), I received a call in the middle of the night from my sister in Rawang telling me that my half brother Musa bin Ahmad had passed away in a car accident. We rushed back to Kluang and witness his burial. May Allah bless his soul.

When we came back to KL, I just had such bad feelings about things. I had the urge to talk to my dad about things, but I never made the attempt. I called him a few times after that, but didn't manage to talk to him. There was one time though, I think it was on Wednesday, 16 Jan 2013, that he called me back. We talked briefly, then I passed the phone to my three kids as he always wanted to talk to them, Abang Iqie especially. 

Then on that fateful Friday (18 Jan 2013), my sister text me saying that Abah was warded in the hospital. I called my mum and we talked for a while. Then, I called Abah himself. We had a good chat, and as always I tried to make him feel bad about his smoking, and he jokingly said that he had threw all his cigarettes away. But he also mentioned that he was affected by a few of his friend's deaths after my brother's departure. The whole while we were on the phone, I could hear him trying to catch his breaths. Before putting down the phone, I told him to get some rest and that I would be seeing him soon. 

After talking to him, I just couldn't shake that worry away, like I already knew. And I actually cried in the office. My heart actually sank, and I immediately called my eldest sister, begging her to go back to Kluang and see how Abah was doing in the hospital. I was crying all the time. And when I was doing my Asar prayer, I felt that tingling feeling in my heart, and I was crying in my prayer.

Later that evening, my eldest sister called me to tell me to come home, to see Abah. She said that Abah didn't really look that good, that he was not his usually self.

When I was in the car with Hubby, I told him what I felt and that I wanted to go back that night to see Abah. But he dismissed my feeling saying that I got carried away, and that it was probably nothing. We had an argument in the car, and I will never forget what I said to him then. Though I was still feeling unsettled, I didn't press the issue.

Later that night at 2.30 am, 19 Jan 2013, the call came from my sister saying that Abah had been called by the Almighty. Only He knew how I felt, and how crushed I was...

Six days apart from arwah Musa bin Ahmad, and buried side by side...

Ya Allah, ampunkan lah dosa mereka.

Ringankan lah siksa kubur dan neraka.

Kau tempatkan lah mereka di kalangan orang2 yang beriman.

Al-Fatihah 

Mohd Syirhu bin Ahmad

Nazri bin Ahmad

Musa bin Ahmad

Ahmad bin Jaafar

Abang Iqie's School Orientation

My baby is going to school already? Abang Iqie was all excited this morning. He was going to his primary school for his standard one orientation. Awwwww... he's a big boy already... He's going to Sekolah Kebangsaan Danau Kota.

With Daddy

Waiting to do an assessment

I still think he's too small to go to school

Well.. I think he'll do just fine!

 I was a bit worried at first about him being alone at school. But he was being his usual self, chippy and all excited. Been counting the days when he could actually go to this new school. 

The orientation was OK. The headmaster was talking about the learning experiences that the standard one students will most likely go through, like having to buy own food at the canteen, missing pencils, going on the school bus, etc. I guess those will be the adventures that Abang Iqie will be having. And I'm pretty sure that he will enjoy every single bit of them :)

I'm so proud of my son... today, he was not a boy anymore. He is now my little man...

I feel like crying now... :P

ieja

The "I Should Have" Line

I know I've been neglecting this blog for almost half a year. And not trying to make excuses, my work could be the main reason. And.. I should have been more consistent in updating this blog. Yupp.. that "I should have" line..

I'm not going to write about "closing 2012" kind of entry today although that would be typical of other bloggers. That would tie to the "reflect, introspect and project" cliche line too... the one that I used to write my CEO's year end message to all of the employees :) I'd rather write my "I should haves" entry to ensure that I get my regrets recorded.

The first "I should have" that I have is that I should have been more careful with my expenses. The biggest sin so far. Those holiday packages, the new camera, the Black Friday & Cyber Monday shopping, the e-bay, the mid-year, year-end, all year round sales... arrrghhhh...!!! And the consequence.. I'm now paying more than 2K a month for my credit cards. So "I should have..."

The second one is I should have been more persistent when it comes to Abang Iqie's religious activities. I've been looking around for an Ustaz or Ustazah to give personal tutoring on Iqra', solat, fardhu ain, etc. It should have started early this year, and now it's already December and still no one giving him any lessons. I'm worried that when he has gone to his standard one, he has a lot of catching up to do. Alhamdulillah, he can recite his Al-Fatihah and a few surahs. He also knows his alif, ba, ta. He can write the arabic letters. But I don't think that is quite enough. I would very much like him to be able to read the Quran.

Another "I should have" is I should have bought more gold and silver :) For the investment I mean. I'm not a big fan of gold accessories, but I love silver or white gold. But just for the sake of the future, I should have collected gold or silver bars a long time ago. But I know it's still not too late.. so I've started the collection.

What else..? I have a lot actually. I should have just shouted at those who bitched behind my back. I should have told off a few who thought that they were better than me. I should have been more careful not to trust just about anyone. I should have just told people what I really thought about their work. And more... :P

I hope I will have a good 2013. And hopefully, no more I should haves...

Ieja

I am Lost... (again..!)

I am at a point where I'm trying to evaluate myself and things around me. So many things have happened within this six months that I feel like I'm on a roller coaster. The ride is non-stop and I can puke anytime. At a turn, I can just break down and cry and at another turn, I can just laugh my head off. I know I'm going crazy... ;) 

I have this habit of writing down the things that I want to do, accomplish or have. Over the years, I realise that I have actually achieved some of the things that I had written down (usually in my black book). For instance, I once wrote that I wanted to own this one specific car - so happen that it was a Honda and I did specifically mention that it has to be a Vtec. And I just don't know how... A few years later, I did own a highly sought-after Honda. Just a simple example... 

And when I think about it, I come to a conclusion that after I wrote down what I wanted to have, I may foget about it, but sub-consciously, my mind was working on how I could actually achieve the things that I wanted. After a while, I kind of forgot about the list, but my sub-conscious was still working towards that goal. And when the time is right, you somehow will make a decision that brings you back to your list - sub-consciously. Am I making sense here? 

 Here is what happened... I had forgotton that I wanted a Honda with a Vtec engine. But one day, when I decided that I needed a new car, somehow I decided to have a Honda. And when I made that decision, I wasn't even thinking about the list that I made at all. Only after the car was mine, and after I looked at the list I made a few years ago that I realised that I could tick one item off that list. And I have been ticking off a lot more items from the lists that I made every year..! 

 Well, this is how I feel... your chances of achieving what you want in your life are a lot higher when you explicitly express it or (even better) if you write it down. You may forget about it later, but your sub-conscious mind and thoughts and body are actually working towards achieving it. It may take a while... but you will achieve it somehow... So, there you go... Now, let's see what's next in my lists... 

 Ieja

Another Stumbling Block

We're in our second year of having all the HR personnel in the department being involved in the department's internal projects. I coined the initiative as Towards HR 2.0. The intention is for everyone to have a shift of mind, or the cliche word - paradigm. And the underlying principle is also to have all our processes and services improved. So, all the streams under HR 2.0 initiative are geared towards those two principles.

A few days ago, we had the department's usual fortnightly meeting where all the managers update our HOD on what is going on in the department. And somehow an item that was brought up was HR 2.0 initiative. It was said that there were grouses from the people on the floor about having to put in extra effort to complete their deliverables, that whatever they are doing doesn't carry weight towards their appraisal, and that they are supposed to JUST do their "business as usual" tasks. In other words, given the chance, they would rather not do HR 2.0 initiative!

*sigh* that saddens me, and coming from the managers themselves - it is even sadder! I don't like saying this but in this situation, it appears to be true that Malays are a lazy bunch! They can't see OR they don't want to see beyond what has been given to them. They just want an easy life, free of accountability, and most importantly free ride! And above all, they can turn this into an interesting topic to be debated about (READ AS BITCHING!) when all the time that they take to BITCH can be converted into productivity - by completing the tasks under HR 2.0 initiative.

My boss was over the roof with all these talks by the managers the other day. I could sense his frustration when the managers themselves showed that they did not buy all this 'crap'. He reinforced his stance by saying that if the people on the floor were leaving because of all these, then let them go, because they were surely not cut to be his people.

I'm still saddened by all this. They can go far if they can just stop bitching and be more productive, and most importantly see beyond what is asked of them. It will be interesting to see what they will bitch about when they get the rating of their appraisal back and when they see what kind of bonus they also get. I'm sure the bitching will never stop...

ieja

April is Just Another Crazy Month

Yupp... Just another crazy month. Early April, I took a week off (with all that $$ I got for bonus ;)) and went to Bandung with Hubby. just the two of us. It was our second time there, I think it has become our favourite gateway - without the kids ;)

Since we kind of knew our way around, the trip was a relaxed one. We went to Rumah Mode first, then to all the factory outlets along Jalan Riau. We flew in with a 6 kg luggage and flew back with more than 20 kg. So you go figure ;) When I came home and unpacked, I just didn't know what the bloody hell I bought when I was there... Could I be deceived by the whole idea of Bandung itself?

When we landed at the LCCT, and as we were walking passing the customs, we saw signs that said something like "Barang untuk di ikrar - Things to Declare" and "Tiada barang untuk Di ikrar - Nothing to declare", and all of a sudden, Hubby said "saya nak ikrar dia, dan saya berikrar untuk tidak membawa dia lagi! - I would like to declare her, and I declare hereby that I would not take her anywhere again!" humpppp....

We brought in a 'reinforcement team' to look after the kids. That would be Mak and Ain. Although it was not a good feeling to leave them, we knew we needed the trip to be alone. And the trip did us good :))

We were worried how Rayna would react when we came back. She didn't even want to come near me when we came back from the first trip. She took it really hard. But she was OK when we came back from this trip. So, I guess we could do this again next year LOL.

Today, I'm flying to Penang - a day trip and because of work. And on 18 April, another day trip and to Johor Bahru. And, next in our list is Langkawi for a holiday. All of us will fly there courtesy of Sow & Allan...

Can't wait...

Ieja

When Tears and Sweat Paid Off

In the company, end of March every year is a very significant time. Tension builds up, anxiety heightens and anticipation triples. All because of yearly performance bonus. You'll hear nothing but the talk of bonus everywhere you go - in the meeting room, at the corridors, at lunch, and even in the restrooms. That is the hottest topic of the month - every year. Now that March is almost over, (almost) everyone is relief. They know now whether or not their tears and sweat paid off.

Priceless..!

I for once was very happy. The first time in my life, I was rewarded far beyond my expectations. At times, I felt like pinching myself to make sure that I'm not in a cruel dream. In February, I was recognised as a Future Leader by the management in a special ceremony. What I've done for the company has been specifically mentioned either by my Head of Department or personally by my CEO. It felt good...

By then, my Head has started to drown me with a lot of assignments. And so far alhamdulillah, his comments were positive. And then, on 26 March, I was called to his room for a chat. That was when he told me his plan for me in the company. I was to assume bigger role and responsibilities in preparation for me to run the department :)) How big is that...?? And I have only been in the company for 1 freaking year ;)

Then, came the letter... it said I was promoted to a higher position and that my bonus and increment were THAT MUCH..!! Another OMG...!! In my 12 years of working experiences, I had never been rewarded THAT MUCH... Again alhamdulillah. I thanked Allah, I thanked my Head and lastly, I text my CEO to personally thank him. He called me to 'deliver his key messages' - he wanted me to stay in the company longer!

You know what... in 1 day, all those late nights, those blood and tears spilled seem to worth it. Now I know why people stay in this industry. And the looks on  the faces of the people in the department - priceless!!

Ieja

A Crazy Month February Was..

Wo hooo... February was a crazy month for me. Went to Ho Chi Minh City for four days (11 - 14 Feb) and that was fun. We stayed at Sherwood Residence in District 3 in an apartment belongs to Hubby's cousin. Our stay was great. The kids enjoyed the trip, and I enjoyed the shopping :))

Hello Comrade!

Even Abg Iqie went inside the tunnel

I need to be in the right size for this :)

We went to Cu Ci Tunnel - the World of the Vietkong. It was amazing... I can't imagine myself living underground like that. And the network of tunnels is just amazing. You have to bend to walk inside the tunnels. And of course the tunnels have been widen for the sake of the tourists. But the original ones were a lot smaller. Hubby tried the original size of the hidden entrance, and my god... he could barely fit into it.. Thank god his tummy didn't obstruct his way in :P

Sure can fit or not?

Ce ce ce... Leave the tummy inside

I really enjoyed Ben Thanh market. The shopping was just splendid and that almost cost me the penalty for the extra baggage by AisAsia. The airlines is really a blood sucker...


All in all... Saigon was fun. I love the food and I particularly like the shopping trips (like... when am I not?). Special thanks to our cousins and the family (Kak Na and Abg Alfie and the kids) for the accommodation and for being very good hosts. We'll definitely come back...


ieja

What I'm Into Right Now

There are two things that I'm into at the moment: Adele - Someone Like You, and Nikon D300.

I have been playing Adele's Someone Like You for I don't know how many thousand times. I really don't know why the song seems to stick in my head and on my player. I even wish that I had a voice like her. And those who know me know what kind of voice I have :))

I play her song the whole time I'm in the office and at home, she's on the YouTube. How crazy is that?

The ever so willing models

One of my models.

Another thing that I'm into by accident is photography. The photographer at the office resigned so I'm left with no one to take photos of the company's events but me. So, I've been playing with Nikon D300, and OMG, for someone who has no clue at all about cameras and photography, it is really a challenge. I had to hit the ground running with all the events that require an almost professional photographer. So, I've insisted that I'm sent to a photography class. While that is being arranged, I have the camera to myself to play with. Hence, a lot of "rubbish", but thank god it's digital and not the Jurassic-type of camera that requires rolls of films. So playing with it is quite fun. 

Am still practising...

Haven't killed this one yet!

I know I have a long way to go before I can really master whatever the camera can do. So the first step was to invite my brother in-law to come to give me a quick lesson on the important settings that I need to know. Thank god I did some readings before he came, so the words like 'shutter speed', 'aperture', 'ISO', etc. were not so foreign. At least I didn't have a blank expression on my face when he mentioned those words. It was just a matter of putting the words into the right context. And the quick lesson really helps...

 Obviously, I need more time to practise and more subjects for my practice. And I'm sure the kids would love to pose more for mummy...

Ieja

Abang Iqie, Abang Afeeq & Princess Rayna

The three of them are really my bundle of joy.  I have not once forgotten to thank God for giving me such beautiful things to brighten my life.

Abang Iqie is now 6 and learning to read. He can spell quite well now. He can multiply and subtract quite well too. But he sometimes lacks focus. So Hubby and I really need to see his work after he's done. There were times when he held back his tears because I lost my patience when he was not focusing on his numbers or letters. There was this one time when I really lost my patience and I screamed at him. He held his tears so hard that when I finally finished with him, he ran to Hubby and cried in the room. I felt so guilty and felt like crying too...

Abang Afeeq is now 4 and is a cool and playful boy. I'm sometimes amazed with his I-don't-give-a-rat-ass attitude. He can ignore everyone around him and just go about his business like nothing affects him. But sometimes I can sense his middle child syndrome. He wants the attention, especially when it's bedtime or shower time. I don't mind giving it all to him, and when it is necessary, I always make sure that he is given the priority. But I'm quite worried when he's not eating... He has lost some weight... He's really into cars so he has more than a dozen Hot Wheels cars in his collection. He even has his own Hot Wheels wall-mounted track, and a track carpet to play his cars with.

As for Princess Rayna, she is sweet and so not girly :) Whatever the brothers do, she can keep up with them. They jump on the bed or off the bed... she's right behind them. And knowing that she's quite protected, she sometimes 'demands' things, especially if she sees something that she likes from Abang Afeeq. Poor Abang Afeeq... Rayna really likes to disturb him. She's sometimes his shadow - much to his dislike! So, I have to put up with the shouting and the fighting and the wrestling. She's also very cheeky and learns things very fast. She can understand all of us easily and she can say words that are easy and familiar to her. She's now into bears (her soft toys), but not Barbie-like dolls. Most of the times, she plays with her brother's toys - which are so not girly...

Although sometimes I feel that when we're home, I'm more tired than when I'm in the office, the satisfaction and the good feelings that I have are priceless. I don't mind the shouting, the fighting, the crying, etc. as long as we are all together! 

Mummy loves you Abang Iqie, Abang Afeeq and Princess Rayna... very very much!

ieja

I Am Guilty

I have this guilt that has been hanging at the back of my head for the past few days now. Will I let my ego win or will I let my conscience lead to to do what is right?

I have been arguing with my parents about the renovation that they were doing back home. I was not so agreeable to it. I told them to find a new house and the money can be used to renovate that house instead. To me it's better than spending money repairing and renovating the old house because there are a lot more to do for the old house. But my parents didn't want to listen to me. So they renovated that old house.

When the renovation completed, they came to me asking for more money. Well.. There are other things than what I'm writing about. It's not the money that matters to me. It's about how they didn't want to listen to me and consider my opinions and what I had to say about the whole affair. I gave them the money anyway even when they didn't want to listen to me.

But what frustrates me was, they came to me when they needed things. And I feel as if that is all I am to them. I don't have a say in any matters at all. I feel used.

I came on quite strong to them, and I think I've hurt my mother's feelings. But I am offended too. Most importantly, I feel that I'm being pushed around by my dad and by my sisters.

And I know eventually I will call them and tell them that I'm sorry...

Ieja