THE ROSE GARDEN

I guess those who have been reading my blog must be tired with stories of my boss. Well, me too...tired of telling how miserable my life working with boss from hell (I borrow this term from Adzue :)) Last Friday, at 4.30 pm came the contractor handing the data, we discussed until 5.30 pm (despite my intention to go back at 5pm sharp), and then this boss of mine instructed me to key in the data that day. I told him I was going back to my hometown that night, so if I stayed back, what time will I arrive Melaka and go back to Tg. Malim? He said he didn't care how I wanna do it, since I was taking leave on the following Monday and Tuesday, he wanted the data ready in the network by Wednesday morning. And I swore like hell (of course in my mind!). I felt like being bullied, I knew he did this on purpose. That data is not so urgent, he could have waited until I come back and do it. Besides he already has the raw data if he really wanted to do analysis and furthermore he's so free, he could even key in the data himself if he couldn't really wait until I come back on Wednesday. Arrghh!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, on Tuesday night, my beloved cik HB helped me keying in the data and Wednesday morning I managed to copy it in the network. And this shitty boss when he came, didn't even ask about this. So @#$%%$#$%!!!!

My Sister's Wedding

Alhamdulilah, my sister, Siti Rahimah aka Shima is safely married to her fiancee, Fuad. But of course the whole family worked so hard to make sure everything is smooth as planned. Months of headache thinking about her wedding finally over especially for my mum and my eldest sister, Kakak. Though I didn't go back frequently to TM to help with the wedding preparation but I had helped financially and also lent my ears to hear complaints via phone from Mak and Kakak. I heard these two quarreled a lot doing the preparation, up to the point they cried and hugged after a fierce argument, teruk kan...heheheh. Even the bride was not as emotional as these two. And I was quite glad I didn't stay near my kampung, if not I'm sure I'll be more stressful dealing with Mak and Kakak.

Resignation

Yay!!!! I've finally forwarded letter of my resignation to my company after working nearly 6 years with them. With 2 months notice, I'll be working until end of July. Luckily when I handed the letter, my boss (in my HQ office) was not around, so I was safe from being interviewed why am I resigning (actually I have just received a good increment in March, so the management must be wondering whether it's another good offer) . Can't hardly wait for this 2 months period to over.....

Twins' 3rd Birthday

Their birthday fell on 27/5/08, 2 days after my sister's wedding. We celebrated their birthday at their school. But I was such a fool, I didn't call the teacher and asked how many kids arethere on the day. I did ask the teacher a month ago, and she said at late afternoon, there are 40 kids at the school. So I prepared 40 bags of goodies. Apparently, since now is school breaks, there were not many kids coming to school. When we came, there were only 8 kids there. Lucky I didn't buy the 2kg cake (we thought of ordering the 2 kg cake previously, thinking that 1 kg cake is not enough for 40 kids but I didn't have time to go order, so we just had the 1kg ready made cartoon cake I bought from Jusco).

Minggu ini sesungguhnya akan menjadi minggu yg sungguh sibuk utk aku dari segi career wise and family wise, dan semuanya aku kena buat before Friday ni.

Career wise:

Aku kena siapkan surat perletakan jawatan aku dgn selengkap2nya sbb Isnin nanti aku nak singgah opis KL n drop surat ni....hehehe, dah draft dah tapi mcm aku kena edit here n there. Sungguh pon org kata surat resign x yah nak bagus2, tapi mana la tau esok2 aku nak masuk balik ke, so kena la puji2 sikit diorg kan....

Since aku nak cuti Isnin n Selasa minggu depan (sempena adik aku kawin n besday si kembar), maka haruslah aku siapkan mana2 keje yg penting sebelum bos aku membebel. Dia mmg suka dengki sikit kalau org nak cuti2 ni.

Family wise:

Aduh...ini mmg byk perkara...

Wedding adik aku: aku kena cari tudung utk baju kurung boria (semua family aku yg pompuan pakai baju yg sama), mak aku pesan beli kek span kat Tesco utk makanan ringan tetamu yg dtg, kena beli sandals for the twins, kena buat list utk brg2 yg nak diangkut bawa balik kg.

Majlis bertunang adik ipar aku: since aku x dpt nak balik KB utk majlis pertunangan dia, aku nak kirim satu item brg hantaran. Coklat aku dah beli, bakul n bunga hiasan pon dah ada, cuma aku kena cari masa nak arrange coklat tu dlm bakul. Aku kena pass kan coklat ni kat adik ipar masa nak balik TG Malim ari Jumaat ni....adoi...sempat ke?

Birthday kembar: Besday diorg jatuh on ari selasa, 27/5, dua ari lepas kenduri adik aku. Dan aku dah lama plan nak buat besday diorg kat school diorg. Aku dah tanya teacher school dia apa aku kena prepare utk celebrate birthday diorg kat school. Teacher kata up to me tapi selalunya parents akan bawa goodies n cake. Budak2 ada 40 org, so aku kena prepare 40 gift bags. Semalam dah ku beli coklat n goodies utk diisi dlm gift bag. Terbeliak mata si kembar tgk coklat punya byk. Nasib aku dah mmg ajar diorg x boleh makan selagi belum bayar. Aku belum jumpa lagi gift bag utk isi goodies tu. Yg dijual kat Giant n Jusco mahal sgt. Ada ke 6 beg plastiks aje dah RM3.90. Kang budak2 bukannya appreciate beg plastik tu, mesti buang aje. So aku x mau buang duit beli benda2 camtu. Aku rasa aku akan buat sendiri gift bag. Tapi sempat ke?

Before I came to work at site, I didn't really notice any sexual harassment in my HQ. At least not in my department, coz the male colleagues were decent and nice. But I was kind of culture shocked in the first few months I've started working here coz sexual harassment are quite obvious.

Some guys here give remarks about your figure, talk openly about s*x or give hints with double meaning words, then laugh heartily on the subject discussed. According to the clerk, they used to discuss on the 18SX stuffs in front of her (before I came, she was the only female staff here), even tried to get her involved in the discussion. But she normally ignored them. It was very embarassing to hear what they were talking about. The worst case is the chinese boss himself.

When I first came, they also did it to me but being me, if I don't like, I just snapped at them sarcastically. Eventually they stopped talking 18SX to me or near me (garang kan aku...hahaha). My boss still talks 'dirty' on and off anyway. At one time he called my hp at 11.00 pm, I wasn't sleeping but I refused to answer his call (I never answer his call at odd hours, ok). Next day when he saw me, he said "why u didn't answer my call? were you making love?" in front of 2 others collegues...so rude, huh? Then , there was one time, I was riding with him in his car, surveying old pipes in the oil palm estate, he started telling me his stories with his numerous girlfriends and how he used to drive with them into the oil palm estate to make love. All I said "it's so immoral, isn't it?". He jumped and said "what immoral?" but he kept quiet after that. Anyway, I was scared when he was saying those things, who knows if he has any bad intention towards me...(aku kan kuat melawan dia....)...nauzubillah...

Yesterday, the clerk from another client's office came to my office. We went for lunch together and she revealed to me that she's being harassed by two male colleagues in her office. She's married with two children and the guys who harassed her also are married. When she's alone one of these two guys will come to her and harassed her by saying those flirting, seducing words. Sometimes even touch her hand or face. She told me that she asked another male colleague who is quite wise ( I also know this guy, he's decent and wise) why these men behave that way towards her cause she believes that she has not done anything that attract these guys. The wise guy suggested this lady to change the way she dresses up. Well, I have to admit that she's quite stylish (in comparison ngan aku yg datang keje pakai kemeja buruk, seluar jean n sandal Bata). She wears pants and nice blouses, high heels and puts make-up. Sometimes she wears kebaya and one time she wore kebaya nyonya, she really became the talk in the offices (BP and YP office). She told she disagrees that she should change the way she dresses up because that's the way she is and besides her husband always wants her to dress beautifully everytime even when she goes to work.

Besides her, there is also a female staff at the office, so I asked whether this lady being harassed or not. She said no because that lady is chubby and always wears baju kurung (in another word, not attractive enough la).

Hmmm.....for me, if she's working is the 'normal' working environment, it's up to her how she wants to dress up. But now that a guy had honestly pointed out the possible reason why she's being harassed, isn't it wise enough to change it at least just to see whether it'll make any different? Memang la seorg yg 'gatal' itu akan tetap 'gatal' walau pakai apa pon (remember the system analyst, Suzila brutally raped and murdered even though she wore tudung?) but if we could do something to make a different, why not try it out, right?

All I can say to her is be careful, and try to avoid these guys as hard as possible. I'm just afraid if these guys keep seducing her, she'll fall for them (although I pray that she won't). Don't we hear enough about scandals /affairs between married guys and married ladies, cause marital problems and eventually divorce?

I'm praying so hard that I will not be tested with this challenge...and so do my friends out there. Amin....

I'm so busy off late. Our clerk has gone, her contract ended last April. The client didn't want to extend her service because the project is almost towards end (tapi x abis2 pon!). But other staffs from other office said it was just a way to make my boss quit as soon as possible. There are only two of us left in the office now, the boss and me. So of course la I'm the 'machai' here doing everything. Gone are the days for me leisurely facebooking, blogging or whatever fun stuffs. But since I always consider blogging is good therapy for me, I've decided to make sometime updating my blog. But keep telling myself that only this one entry then I go back doing my work.

With the clerk not around, I'm like 'patah tangan'. Before she helped prepare the reports, just give her a list, she'd print everything and arrange documents. Last week, I was supposed to receive faxes from another office but the faxes never came out. So I kept calling the other office why there was no fax. Turn out, the fax machine here apparently was out paper. Buduhnya haku!

My boss on the other hand gave me new daily task (which was done by our clerk earlier), to take his newspaper from the sundry shop next to our office and switch on his PC every morning. Lucky enough, he doesn't say anything about making him drink, if not maybe I become incredible hulk...hehehe.

It's ok, just another 2 months plus to go. I've prepared the resignation letter, will forward it to HQ by end of this month. So kena byk2 bersabar.

Wokey...gotta to stop now, byk betul keje menanti!!!

The kembara gave problem again...and twice in a day...*sigh* Just last month, the fuel pump went kaput, this time around another thing came out pulak...

First, I was driving to work early in the morning when suddenly the engine went dead. And I was in the midst of overtaking a lorry ( I took highway that morning, nasib baik la!). Half panic, I quickly pushed the emergency light button, and pulled over to the emergency lane. Luckily, there was no vehicle speeding behind my car, if not just imagine the worst...

Since I'm a car illiterate person, I didn't bother to open up the engine coz I couldn't tell what was wrong with the car. So I called up my husband first, just telling him what's going on and not to worry (though I hope he can come instantly, but it was very far, I was about 15km more to reach Yong Peng) coz I was going to call the PLUS hotline. After a while, two PLUS policemen came to my rescue. There was an Indian guy came along with a separate car, who happened to be a guy working for workshop, searching around for car break down. They opened up the engine but upon seeing my fuel meter (which was nearly empty, but not reaching empty actually, it's just doesn't function well), they said my car probably running out of fuel, that's why it went kong. I argued, saying that I knew it wasn't the fuel problem (ok, I said I was illiterate about car but I've learnt few things now) coz I've pumped in petrol before I left Melaka. Though only RM20, (I can pump in full tank at Yong Peng only in order to get petrol claim) I know it's enough to travel from Melaka to Yong Peng coz I always do it. But they did not believe me, ok..that's fine..I think because I'm a lady here and I needed their help, so I stopped arguing. They said they would buy me some petrol at the nearest pump station, so I gave them some money and they left. However, the Indian guy stayed with me. He was just looking when the policemen checked my car, now they had left, he introduced himself properly and asked whether he could look at my car. Well, I know this fellow could be some prankster, taking advantage on my situation but since I have to wait for the policemen to come back, I really needed a company, so why not?

The Indian guy turned out to be a good chatter. And since I had series of problems with my kembara, I tried to act as if I know lots about car, and I think he was quite impressed when I asked him whether my car having the fuel pump problem again ( I just didn't want him to think that I know nuts about car) He also thought that it wasn't about the fuel, but he said he couldn't 'tunjuk pandai' in front the policemen. But he also couldn't tell what's wrong with my car, he said must take it back to workshop (oh yeah? I didn't buy his words, I know things about this ulat towing issues). Anyway, we chatted a lot about many things (it was a long waiting for the policemen to come back). I think the guy willing to stay because if my car really breakdown, he could ask his man to tow my car to his workshop. And as I expected, after sometime a tow truck came. I asked the Indian guy whether he called this tow truck to come but he denied it, saying that it was a coincident that the driver was on the way back from Pagoh going towards Yong Peng. Even the driver said he met the policemen who supposed to buy petrol for me at Pagoh, they were the ones told him about me. And the driver told me that the policemen were having drinks at the time he met them. Oh boy.....

After waiting about an hour, finally the policemen came. They filled up my tank with the petrol, tried start the engine but nothing happened. Then they checked the engine again, connect here and there ( I was totally out of what they were saying) and finally managed to start my engine. The policemen told me that one of the fuse had burnt, now that they have provided the jumper, my car should be ok. I was so relieved at the fact that my car need not to be towed away.

So I resume my journey to Yong Peng. But after I paid my toll fee, my car went down again. And apparently the tow truck was just behind me. He came out and smiled to me and said he knew that this would happen. Takde cakap byk punya, he quickly had my car attached to his truck and I rode with him to go to his workshop. Luckily the workshop just about less than 2km from the toll, and right in front my office. I quickly called my supervisor, Bala to come coz I needed his opinion about fixing my car. Bala came right away. I asked the tow truck's driver how much did I have to pay him for the towing service, he said that was up to me. So I handed him RM20 (I didn't know whether it's the right amount but he took it, thanked me and drove away).

Thanks to Bala, he was the one talking to the Chinese mechanic about my car, I just listened. The mechanic said my car will be fixed by the end of the day, so I left and went to work. Late afternoon I received the call from the mechanic, telling me that I could take my car. And guess how much it was...RM300++. I asked Bala's help to fetch and deal with the mechanic on the high charge coz Bala has been helping me all this while when I have issues with workshops. Bala managed to get the charge reduced but still it was RM200++.

I have just drove a few kilometres away from my office and it went kong again. Luckily I didn't enter the toll, I was using the trunk road, so I called the Chinese mechanic to come. He came, fixed something and asked me to drive back to his workshop. I was really dissatisfied because I have paid so much yet my car broke down again. The other mechanic (I think he's the boss) came to explain. Before he did, I called HB and let the mechanic talked to him. The way the mechanic talked, I knew HB screwed him up. The mechanic said he had changed the fuses and checked the wiring, so only now he knew the culprit was this air-cond relay. He said I have to take my car to car air-cond shop to change the relay (hey, I thought everything is under one roof!). He said I can drive all the way back to Melaka coz he had disconnected the relay off, it would no longer cause the short-circuit problem. I called HB again and he said since the mechanic had confirmed that way, then I just go home. But I took hi-way of course and not turning on my air-cond.

Unfortunately, just about 4km to reach Ayer Keroh toll, my car went dead again!!!! So called HB again just to inform him and then called the PLUS hotline number and waited. Two policemen came after a while (this time from Tangkak section, the morning one from Yong Peng section). And of course their first question was "Minyak habis tak?" So there I was explaining the whole day event about my car. And unfortunately, they did not have any apparatus to provide the temporary wiring to the fuse so they towed my car to the Ayer Keroh toll. One of the policemen maneuvered my car's steering and we had a little chat. He said I was lucky enough that my car did not break down at one spot on the hi-way, somewhere between Pagoh and Yong Peng ( I think he mentioned KM 127) He said, those vehicles having break downs at the area, had experienced their vehicles being shook by "budak kecik". Spooky, huh?

I really felt emotionally down with this constant occurrences of car break down. At the moment the kembara is still parked at the toll, supposed to get mechanic to fix it, but since yesterday was Labor Day, workshops nearby were closed. This morning, cik HB drove me to work all the way from Melaka and currently I'm waiting for him to fetch me up. Pity him has to drive around 400km today but I have no choice. I can't take leave.

This is why I think I can't wait to resign.....