Past, Present & Future

I think many of you have noticed that I have not been updating my blog as regularly nowadays. Reason is that I have been totally bogged down with tons work and hardly have time to blog hop…..let alone blog but I always make it a point to visit all of your blogs everyday no matter how busy I may be ( some consolation huh? )

Happy to say that I finally found me some time to pen down a few words of happenings of the past, present and future…..

Past few weeks have been torturous like hell for me…..workload increased two fold….datelines to meet….schedules to plan…..migitation plans to present…..progress claims to quantify and justify………etc.

Happy to say that despite the extra shit, I have been coping quite well * what with the fasting month and all that jazz ) . I sincerely hope it’s a trend that will maintain itself until the conclusion of this sickening project.

Just recently been told of a project that our team might be required to undertake in the year 2008….a one and a half year project in Abu Dhabi. I am praying ever ynight in the hope that we will be able to secure this job asap. Money/Salary is good……will miss my family like heel though but its for their future and betterment that prompted me to register my name. Work for 1-2 years and I will be a debt free man….house, car and loans will all be fully paid with left over for my kids education. Will be keeping my fingers tightly crossed. ( kat, what’s your answer to my offer if I ever set foot in Abu Dhabi? Once in a while ok la….not everyday ma…I shy wooh..kekekkekee ).


Looks like I will be facing this batch of client again because of another project that will be secured by my company in the very, very, very near future….sheeeesh! Will my nightmare never end? Woe is me!!!!!!

Anyway, that’s the life of a “Jack Of All Trades and Master Of None”


2 every1 his/her OWN…………..

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Holiday - Work = ???

THERE!!! It’s OFFICIAL…I am the new Planner cum Document Controller cum Commissioning helper guy ala “Jack Of All Trades and Master Of None” guy…

KNN…now would be a good time to freak out huh?

Pissing in my pants cause I am scared that I will not be able to cope with the extra workload generated by a project of such magnitude ( RM38 million )…

I have kept my mouth shut to the top honchos with the hope that come year end the reward will be justified….but I am not placing too much hope on that cause I has been in the company for far too freaking long to know how they operate.

Thanks a heap Kat, Judy, Marsha and Toh for your advise…..will belanja you guys kau kau if……let’s see when the time comes.

For now, I am shutting off my brain to work matters and shifting my focus to tomorrow where I will be flying off to Langkawi for a holiday with my family ( Friday till Sunday….will be offline during that period ).

Screw the work cause the shit will forever be present…no point worrying about that now.

My plan for Langkawi is:

- to hire a van and drive round the island
- take my kids island hopping where the activities will include swimming and feeding eagles
- visit the famous Langkawi Aquarium
- go for a ride in the cable car
- HAVE FUN

I hope that I can get some great pics for my blog on this trip.

Till then

2 every1 his/her OWN…………….

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Maximum Overdrive

Finally found me some spare time to park my butt and blog…..pheeeew!

Its been a long and tiring week for me and my colleagues….

What with starting up the Chilled Water System, handling complaints from our client ( more nowadays…could it be the after effect from fasting? ) and what nots.

Here I am, looking forward to my upcoming holiday with my family in Langkawi this Friday ( 21st September ) and BOOOOOOOOOM!! A bombshell was dropped straight into my arse…

One of my colleagues resigned ( a job in Bahrian ) and I was assigned to TAKE OVER his duties…..notice that special emphasis has been made to the word “take over”

TAKE OVER meaning I have to do his duties with the present workload that I have…KNN…I doubt if they will increase my pay for this particular load of shit huh?

Somebody close to the Management told me to take up this “challenge” without asking anything extra because the company’s policy is work first and talk later…

So how? Should I just swallow everything that is thrown to me OR should I voice my concerns?

My workload is near max as it is…who do they think I am? Super “freaking” man ar?

Would sincerely appreciate any suggestions that you might have dear readers…thanks in advance.

2 every1 his/her OWN…………………….

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Do That To Me One More Time

Day in, day out we might be faced with the predicament of doing things the correct way. What does it mean by doing things “the correct way”? How does one define “a/the correct way”?

I have experience many forms of “correct ways” through my years of working which I will be more than happy to list down. Please bear in mind that all have their own pros and cons………..and to each their own:

The Book Worm Way
This way entails a person to refer to every single damn detail from a contract or an official form of written agreement or something to that effect AND execute the said job as per guideline.
Pros :
1) The job will 95% be as accordance to required specifications
2) The person in charge will have a clear and defined system of work
3) Job status report will be 90% accurate
Cons:
1) Not practical for jobs with short lead time as a lot of detailing is involved
2) Worker moral will surely decline due to extra high possibilities of rework
3) One sure fire way to get ones car a free “sun roof”
4) One sure fire way to end up in hospital because of the incurred cost over run due to item 2.

As and Where and How Way
This style requires the person(s) to change OR modify to suit whatever they see fit in order to complete the job as per stated in whatever form of written agreement that binds.
Pros:
1) One can get the work done on schedule and as per specifications
2) Can work on jobs that require a short lead time
3) Easier to control overall costs
4) Win – win situation might/will be created between client and main contractor
5) Blue Eye boy of the Management

Cons:
1) One might get in shit for changing the construction or supply specification at the end
2) Job reporting can be quite a chore
3) One might get in deeper shit if one is working with people of “The Book Worm Way”

Bulldozer OR Anything Goes Way
Requires the person to bulldoze their way through the job irrespective of how many non conformance issues that may arise from doing so.
Pros:
1) Job will most likely be completed ahead of schedule
2) Profits might/will remain OR increase
3) Superman in the eyes of the Management
4) Everyone loves a reckless sonofagun
5) No need for frequent meetings as progress of job can be charted visually
6) One sure fire way to make everyone love you ( except the client )

Cons:
1) The client will not like you for not being systematic
2) The client will hate your lack for details
3) Increase the chances of rework
4) Job reporting is busted to hell
5) Schedule is shot to pieces ( you will complete ahead anyway )

Personally I feel that the “As and Where and How Way” suits me just fine till this day but currently I/we are facing a lot of unnecessary problems just because some self centred arsehole on the client’s side is stiff like a shit stick and is of “The Book Worm Way”.

Based on the above illustrations, which is your ( preferred ) way?


2 every1 his/her OWN………….

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The Beginning Of Time

Sometimes I sit and start to daydream about events since the beginning of time…. for me it was 36 years ago….

I miss the live with no commitments ( except exam time )
I miss going out with my parents
I miss collecting rubber seeds with my brothers
I miss spider fighting
I miss flying a kite
I miss playing with my cousins
I miss the neighborhood kids
I miss playing football everyday
I miss Penang
I miss walking to the market with my Grandma
I miss my Uncle( he is the youngest in the family on my mum’s side )….I miss him a lot…

When I was a kid ( long time ago woooh ), I always make it a point to go back to Penang during the holidays. How I wish that my uncle is alive today…..can imagine the fun of having a few mugs and goofing off with him….

He has always treated me good…..I will generally get what I want…all I need to do is ask and he will surely have it in his hands when he comes back from work. He even left me his motorbike and riding jacket after he passed away….

It was who that taught me to be myself, to be independent and to speak my mind….a million thanks will not suffice…sigh!

My parents liked him a lot as well. It was he that helped us most during the economic downturn in the 80s. Don’t know where we will be without his assistance. I am not shy to say that I have been poor before…heck, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth but I am proud to admit the fact that my family has been through some hard times.

I remember following my dad to a secluded spot in the forest for the purpose of shoveling and bagging compost. We would then sell the bagged compost to the nurseries in Sungai Buloh for RM1 per bag and they in turn will sell to the consumers for RM2 per bag.

There was a time where I followed my dad to sell pre packed biscuits. He would drive to an office building where we would walk floor by floor and knock on every door just to sell biscuits costing RM2 per pack. Thankfully there were a lot of leng lui che che and aunties who would always help us out….my sincerest thanks go out to them and God Bless.

Within a blink, I was in my teens………

There was this particular uncle who would appear whenever it was the school holiday period to offer me a daily paid job as a plumber’s apprentice ( RM35 p/day ). I would always take him up on his offer despite objections from my parents. Mixing concrete, carrying concrete, hacking and joining pipes will always leave me flat by days’ end but I enjoyed the job and the company of my fellow workers.

Sometimes I wonder if the early experiences in life moulded me into who I am today. At least I can hold my head up high and say that I am proud to know that there are friends aka brothers out there that are willing to sacrifice a lot for me ( and me for them ). By saying that, I also know that there are people who can’t stand the sight of me BUT I am who I am…I can’t and won’t change for such a minority group…they can go to hell and back for all I care.

The most important things in my life today are my family……

I can still be a super hothead sometimes but I tend to pull the handbrake when I think my wife and kids. Come to think of it, having a family of my own has calmed me down a lot.

Neways, Jamie will always be Jamie….so go figure

2 every1 his/her OWN………………

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The Pain, the pain...sigh!

Sigh!!!!! have to go to Sudan again next week.........no choice as its part of a deal I made in exchange for approved leave for me to take wifey on a shopping binge in Bangkok.

Wifey has been making snide remarks for some time now....remarks like:
You still remember your sons?
You remember their names?
Can you recognize your sons if you see them?

Wah Lau Eh...really kena cha kaulat from Wifey...so much so that my balls are starting to hurt!

I don't really blame her though...have been travelling a lot these 2 months and seldom at home. I can imagine her face when I tell her that I have to go to Sudan in order for me to take her to Bangkok...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

Neways, thats part of my scope of work as a lorry driver which is loosely translated to = Jack"ass" Of All Trades and Master Of None...

Hope everything turns out well....wish me luck dude and dudettes...

2 every1 his/her OWN.........................

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