Friday, September 21, 2007

RAMADHAN RANDOM POST

Hmmpfh.

3.05 am. Too early for sahur.

Saw the 8.00pm news earlier. The bit on Nurin brought tears to my eyes. How the little girl had suffered, molested that way. How her dad is in denial despite the DNA test confirmation. Wondering how the sick bastard(s) who did all that, can go on living with a clear conscience. Sickos!

Accompanied Sis & kids to the Immigration Dept today to get their passports done. OK, I don't get this - all documents were complete, and the kids were presented at the time the documents were submitted, but why oh why do the kids have to be presented again at passport collection time? Surely it's gonna be the same kids, only by then they'd be cranky like hell after waiting for 2 hours at the stifling hot and humid office - the airconditioning was so poor that they've got a standing fan installed infront of every other counter (there's 13 counters). On top of all that, after waiting for about an hour, they informed us that the passports won't be ready today after all, 'coz their staff leave the office early during the fasting month. Wattafark?!!

Will be in Brunei for a few days next week, insyaAllah, accompanying some family members. Anyone can advise me on the to-do's and to-go's there? All I know about is the Jerudong Park and the Kampung Ayer. I wonder what to buy as souvenirs, what specialty dishes they have, what other places to visit? But nothing too adventurous though, coz there's little kids in the group.

Everything feels empty lately. Going through the days without any highlights at all. Am so bored these days, have resorted to practicing the pocho-pocho from Youtube. How pathetic is that? Haha!

I need a life.

Hmmpff.... still too early for sahur.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

LOSING MY GROUND

I'm such a glutton for punishment, I am.

Why do I keep hurting myself?

Like a wounded fox, I'd slink away for a while to lick my wounds.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

WEAR IT PROPERLY LAH

It's becoming a trend at my workplace, for Departments to provide or subsidize technical vests or jackets for their staff. The vest or jacket has the Department's name and the staff member's name embroidered on the upper right or left chest, and the Department's motto embroidered on its back. To keep costs down, the material used is usually inexpensive, and single layer without a lining, which means it's not thick enough to actually provide warmth to its wearer. Silap haribulan, nampak el-cheapo la pulak.





Personally, I don't find any particular function to these items of clothing, aside from creating a sense of brotherhood among its wearers, which may or may not be a good thing. Or perhaps they feel excited to have a custom-made vest or jacket, as the owner's name is embroidered on his/her piece, which again may or may not be a good thing. Risky, as any unbecoming conduct in public would instantly smear the wearer and his Department's name. Hmm, on the other hand, this may become a good disciplining tool, yes?





Do clothes make a person? I'm not much of a fashionista, but I prefer to see clothes worn properly as they were meant to be. For example, the vest is supposed to be an inner outer-wear, in that it's worn outside a shirt but usually with a blazer over it. Only in your own private space do you wear it without a blazer. But the people here seems to think a vest looks so grand, so it's worn as an outer wear, everywhere. The technical vest with pockets all over, that's usually worn by technical people like a handyman, is also proudly worn as a grand outer wear, everywhere.





Same goes for the jacket, which design usually looks like a sports jacket or wind-breaker otherwise worn by highschool kids in it's country of origin. And I swear, they think this is a 'corporate look' that's supposed to enhance the Department's image. It's ok for normal staff to wear those in their own office, but some middle-management group (read : senior officers, higher ranking than moi) even wear those to official assignments like inter-departmental meetings (ok lagi la) and meetings with clients and outsiders (oh tidak!).





Of course, don't judge a book by its covers, yadda yadda yadda. But when someone higher ranking than yourself becomes a fashion victim and proudly displays his 'wanna-be'ness, it's very awkward lah, knowing other people in the room might be thinking "hek eleh, buruknya!" during the meeting. Worse still if the wearer happens to be a cocky bastard, as some middle management happen to be, sheesh!





So yesterday when the boss mentioned that the department will be providing such jacket for all staff, after a brief silence, I politely asked if I could top-up the price with my own money, and have a blazer made instead. Not surprisingly, the other officers all voiced their assent, and my boss heaved a sigh of relief. You see, she herself hates the fashion fauxpas among the middle management group, and was having terrible visions of her subordinates walking into meetings dressed like a cyclist or a handyman.





Hmm... tak salah berpakaian kemas, tapi biarlah kena caranya. Apa-apa pun, segak sungguh si pemakai baju melayu lengkap dengan kain samping dan songkok... huuhuuhuuu...

Thursday, September 13, 2007

SALAM RAMADHAN

Received many SMS greetings on the eve of Ramadhan, a few of which I reproduce here, to extend the same greetings to you, my cyber friends!

"Jika doamu dimakbulkan, tanda Allah menyayangimu, jika doamu lambat dimakbukan, tanda Allah ingin mengujimu, jika doamu tidak dimakbulkan, tanda Allah merancang yang terbaik untukmu."

"Selamat beribadah sepanjang Ramadhan, semoga beroleh keredhaan Allah."

"Selamat berpuasa dan semoga Ramadhan kali ini memberi rahmat dan keberkatan berganda buat kita semua."

"Tiada suara semerdu azan, tiada buku seindah Al-Quran, tiada ibadah seindah solat, tiada bulan seceria Ramadhan, selamat berpuasa."

Indeed, may the arrival of Ramadhan bring a reinforcement of iman & taqwa to all of us. Salam sejahtera & selamat berpuasa!

Saturday, September 08, 2007

GOOD MORNING

A colleague just got married a few days back. Today was his first day back at the office. As usual when we bump into each other, the standard greeting is "hi good morning" " how are you today?" "fine, fine, and you?"

Today, he wished me a good morning. And in turn, I asked him how he was.

With twinkling eyes and senyum simpul meleret, he answered "I'm more than fine, kak!"

*sigh*

It's been soooo long since I've felt 'more than fine'. Too long!

*sigh*

Bleargh!