A simple wiring job at KLIA........

Its a very simple job, really. Everyone took one look at the photos agreed. But you know me when it comes to simplicity: Nothing is simple. The job is to relocate the system and its junction box so that the server rack next to it can have its doors closed properly and also, so that a person can enter behind the rack easily without pretending to be Ally McBeal.

Things went wrong the moment we arrived at KLIA. Usually, to gain entry to the cargo area, you would need to spend a lot of time waiting at the gates so that the Customs people would let you in. And if you're lucky enough, the second gate would take an even longer time. But unfortunately, we got past both gates within minutes instead of the customary two hours. Because we arrived too early, we could not start work at the documents said "after 1130". And we had to wait until after 1215.

And after five hours of work, the customer thought that we did the wrong thing. The original plan was to move both system and junction box to above the fax machine. Initially, I wanted to suggest to have them move vertically upwards near to the ceiling but as soon as she had shown me the sketches done my SOMEONE who FORGOT to tell me about it, we followed the plan. Unfortunately, this plan was not "approved" as the customer assumed we would take it to the Manger who will then approve it. Unfortunately, that SOMEONE assumed the customer would do it instead. By this time, both of us were dead tired and were in no mood to counter anyone and so, I diplomaticlly told the customer, we followed the plan and also explained the logic behind the move. By the time she agreed, both of wee already rushing out and into the van to go home because it was already past five in the evening.

Moral of the story:
If the customer is clueless about everything even after the meeting, never ever let the customer have a lot of free time watching you as they can start to think about things.

This is the phone system and its
junction box. The phone system
is almost 15 years old and is still
working fine. Go Toshiba!

I let my technician mark and remove the cables out
of the junction box. Indirectly, I am training him

I quietly snap some weird photos in
the office such as this radio with a
makeshift antenna tied to the
sprinkler system

Half an hour later, it was all ready and we removed the
junction box, leaving a square hole on the wall.

After much drilling and stuffing, the
new relocated junction box is ready.

Ta-daa! All done! And this is where
the customer has started to think...

As for the hole in the wall, my technician came up
with his own solution.

See the difference? The juntion box before (left) and
the one I rearranged (right). The customer was very
impressed but wanted it moved elsewhere....

At the Customs, we tore our bands. My techician mentioned
that it reminded him of going to Sunway Lagoon. For me, it
was more like going into the Zoo. Both places needed tags
like these.