That's life 2 ...

It's madness at the workplace today. I just couldn't get into the flow. I attended a briefing yesterday and was away from work for the whole day. When I went to work this morning I was greeted with piles of work lying on my desk. Sigh! I had to sort out everything according to priority but I just could not get going because many other things cropped up in between. Early in the morning I was greeted by my colleague, 'Welcome back to hell'! It was indeed hell as I had a wonderful day before. You see the briefing was held at a hotel and the food was good. I had a nice time meeting some old friends and also making some new friends. It was indeed heaven there. However, I managed to survive today and hopefully, with the rest tonight I'll be ready to face tomorrow.

jennyiyan's recollections...

TGIF

Thank God it's Friday again. Have been looking forward to this day. Finally, I can relax from the chaos at the workplace. Lately, I've been looking forward to holidays and weekends as I cannot stand the political scene at the workplace anymore. Just want to get away from all these and have some peace. I wore black to work today and one of my colleagues asked if I was mourning for what had happened yesterday in Perak at the State Assembly. One Black day. I jokingly said yes. That is one lesson to be learnt. Because of one person's act and decision we see the people of Perak being subjected to such a situation. If only it had been conducted in a different manner, then things would have been much different. A minor decision, no matter how simple or small it is, is able to change the whole life history of someone or a state or country. So, if we are chosen as leaders we should not just think and make decisions for our own benefit but to look at the bigger picture, the workplace in particular or the state or country in general.

jennyiyan's recollections...

A political scene...

It's been some time now since my last blog. I have been very busy with work and just can't find the time to write. I work very hard and yet I don't seem to be able to complete my work and it is still piling up. At times I feel so tired after work that I just wish I could go straight to bed. I've been missing my exercise sessions too. Sigh! Ever since the general election on March 8 last year, the political scene in the country has been in a turmoil. The same thing is happening at my work place. Well, people say once you have a new head then there will be changes. But some of the changes are too drastic. It's alrite for me because I know I'll adapt eventually but I do not like it when there are two factions at the workplace. I have to be careful with what I say just in case I say the wrong thing to the wrong people which might get me into hot soup. I like an atmosphere where I can say anything and whatever I say will be taken with an open mind. I dislike people who love to carry tales. Yet...we can't get rid of this type of people. Come to think of it, these people actually add colour to our already dull life. Sometimes I wonder where they get the energy to do such a thing. I know I definitely don't have it.

jennyiyan's recollections...

That's life...

It's Sunday again. Tomorrow the madness will begin, again. The first week at work was really hectic. The moment I stepped foot into my workplace, everything started to zoom and at the end of the day, I was practically drained out. Sigh. What a way to begin 2009! All these happen because we have a new head. With a head who is very ambitious, someone who wants changes to be done instantly, all we who are working with her are pushed to the limit. We had to attend meeting after meeting and all these meetings would last a few hours! And there are still meetings for the coming week! Complaints can be heard everywhere. Of course, no matter how unlikeable a head is, there will definitely be people on her side, though very few. People who love to be seen with the head and these are also the people who would get away with things. If they are unhappy with a certain task given to them, they just have to go to her and come up with some nonsensical excuses and they get away with it. They are also the ones who will carry tales. I anticipate a very difficult year ahead because she has laid out all her guidelines and her expectation is very high. However, I have made up my mind to continue to work as I have always done, to do my best in everything and if she is still not satisfied, so be it. One thing that I'm looking forward to at this moment is the Chinese New Year which will be celebrated in two weeks' time. It will not only be a time to be with my beloved Iyan, Ilynne and family but a time where I can really forget about work and just enjoy the holiday. I think it's still not too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2009 and for those who celebrate the Chinese New Year, a very Happy Chinese New Year and may you all be blessed abubdantly with all the good things in life.

jennyiyan's recollections...

Aging gracefully 2

Some people can be very nasty, regardless of their age. They become worse as they age. Is it because they are miserable so they want others to be miserable too? The older ones especially like to find fault with people who are younger than them. Are they jealous of them because they are more youthful and healthier than them? We all know the older one gets, the more sickly he or she will be. So minor things can irritate them easily and they will lash out at the innocent ones. Sometimes for no apparent reasons. An old woman who's already in her eighties, whom I know does that very often. She's plagued with diabetes and an itch all over her body that wouldn't go away. At times she would scratch her hands until they bleed when she sleeps. She takes lots of pills for these. Sometimes, for no reason, she would be nasty to people who are nice to her. I think she is so unhappy that she needs to see others unhappy too. But, what about the younger ones? Could they be having marital problems? Or are they being bullied at home by their spouses? I know of someone who bossess over others at the workplace but is the total opposite at home. At work, she can't see others free or not doing anything, she will make them feel guilty for doing nothing though they deserve the break because she is being treated the same way at home. I hope that I do not do the same to others. I want to grow old gracefully, be consistent in everything that I do and be fair to everyone.

jennyiyan's recollections...

An Untimely Death

I was surfing the internet just now and found out that one of my favourite novelists, Andrew Britton had passed away on March 18, 2008. He was only 27. I could not believe what I had read. A young talent is gone. He had such a bright future ahead, but, who can stop God's will. I can imagine how his family members had felt at that moment. I have actually been looking forward to many more novels from him. It seems that he was working on his fourth novel when he passed away due to an undiagnosed heart problem. I first stumbled upon his novel while browsing for books at the Borders. It was The Assassin, which was his second novel. I fell in love with his writing straightaway and now I am reading his first novel, The American. Meanwhile, I have been looking out for his third novel, The Invisible. Only the hardcover version is being sold. I have to wait till 2009 to get the paperback version according to the sales personnel at the Borders. He had his first novel published at a young age of 21. His untimely death reminds me of Heath Ledger's death, also at a very young age. Both had so much going for them.

jennyiyan's recollections...

Insight

I'm back after a long absence. I just couldn't find the time to write as I've been very busy with work. I don't even have the time to indulge in my favourite activity - reading. Finally, I have the time to do all the things that I like - reading, surfing the net and blogging among others before I'm busy again. Speaking of work, well, we recently had a new boss. As always with a new boss, everyone will scramble to get into the good books of the boss. Well, not everyone of course, I was exaggerating. Numerous things will be speculated by those who claim to know or have heard about the new boss. He or she is like this or that. He or she likes this or that and he or she dislikes this and that. Phew! What an earful! I can't help but marvel at these gossipmongers, if this is the apt word to describe them. Where do they get all these info? Even before the new boss reported for duty, word had been going round about the boss. By the time the boss reported for duty, we sort of had an image of him or her, which, of course was unfair! We had managed to turn the boss into a monster rather than someone who was sent there to help manage the institution. I acknowledge, there are many types of people out there who are capable of doing anything. I personally feel that some of them have the wrong profession. Some of them should have been spies or working with the CIA. As for me, I don't care much about what they do or say as long as they do not include me. I will listen to all these, well gossips are always juicy, right? But I would rather take my time to get to know the boss. For me, I'll continue working the way I have been doing and I don't care about the rest. It's not in me to butter up my boss. I just don't have such talent. Some would bring back gifts for the boss when they go off on a holiday. Some would enter the boss' office and voice their dissatisfaction for others just to show the boss that they are doing their job. Some just love to be seen in the company of the boss, lapping up everything that comes out of the boss' mouth. Then there are those who are appointed heads of certain department who would just delegate their work to their subordinates while they brag to the boss that they have done this and that. They have gotten their heads too big and have forgotten that without the subordinates who have been slogging for them, they would be nowhere near where they are now. Everyone has his or her limit. One day he or she will just burst and there goes the friendship. What profit is there? For me, I believe in democracy. I believe in discussing things and taking into consideration others' opinions before we come to a conclusion. I dislike people who delegate their work to others while they just sit aound gossiping about others. Some who have their heads too big just lose their humanity and love and care for mankind. In a recent incident whereby one of my fellow colleague's loved one passed away, the immediate head telephoned her at home to remind her that she had not completed her work and that she had a deadline to honour. Excuse me! She had just lost a loved one and the funeral had not even been conducted. Can't it wait until after the funeral? Or can't you just help her complete it since you are so free? Or better, since you are so good at delegating your job, why don't you just take the task and delegate it to the others? It's not that she's having a gala time at home. Where is the love and care for fellow colleagues? What has become of humanity?

jennyiyan's recollections...

Aging gracefully

I'm once again at the computer while waiting to go for my exercise. It's been five days now since I last went as it has been raining every evening. Yesterday as I put on my shoes the rain started to pour. Once again I had to put off my plan. Today the weather has been fine so far. I remember before the rainy season started, I've been going for my exercises diligently, to the extent of being called a 'fitness freak'. Well, why do I care so much about exercising? People say that as you age you tend to think more of being healthy and eating healthy food. How true it is. I find that I value good health now more than before. When I was younger, I always said I did not have time for exercise. Why? Because I would rather hang out with friends at my favourite spots, like the shopping complexes or the cineplexes. Now, even the food that I eat reflects my age. No ice, no soft drinks or no oily and spicy food. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit, etc, etc. In short, my food must be healthy food which have lots of fibre. I'm very afraid of falling sick. Whenever I hear of so and so being ill, I feel very sad and think of my own condition. When you are young, all these do not matter at all. Ah, we only live once. So, enjoy life to the fullest. But it's not so these days. I have started to value my life more and this is definitely a sign of growing old. I am so afraid that I would not be able to see Iyan and Mei-mei grow up. I hope to live long enough to see them grow up and be successful in life. However, I know all these lie in God's hands. If my time is up, then I'll have to return to my maker. Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy this life that God has bestowed me.

jennyiyan's recollections...