100082016 Thorn among the Roses

Yep, transferred to a newly set up Department and will be in a critical position in there. And I'm married. Darn it. Can''t I just have 9 Wives?

20022016 Where am I Managing?

After what happened today, my Dinner was so much enjoyable that I did not want it to end

Well, things are starting to get very busy for me. And I am a little scared. I am scared because of the notion that I would be so 'occupied' with the projects, that I would lose sight of my actual target. I ma scared things can go South very quickly too. I know my Mentor is still waiting for me but everyone has a limit too.

Let me start my week.

I have recently been 'promoted' to be the Coordinator of a Company Event which will take place tomorrow. So, for the last few days, I had to start planning with my newly formed team. This is not an easy thing for me to do when it came to delegating jobs. In the end, I just had to draw on my own experiences (with my former Bosses) and trust that everyone can overcome the challenges faced with the task given.

Do I like it? In a sense, yes! Not only have I never done this before but I can tell you that this is very exciting. As the days goes by, I find myself trying to make sure everyone is up to date, guiding and listening to them and also, brainstorming when last minute changes were made or cracks discovered. Some would listen to me while some would have their own ideas but the main thing was that everyone knows what they are required to do during that Event. In a sense, this is starting to look a like Management!
 
Although I am still a little behind in reading/feeling how people react to me, I felt that things are moving quite well with most of them being excited with the tasks. There is a feeling which I could not describe today but let me share that experience with you; As I was walking into an office, this girl who is part of my team, was busy with her task. Thinking I was just a normal staff, she waved me off with the usual instructions. However, when she looked up and saw me, both her posture and voice changed. She sat upright, started to smile and immediately brought me up to speed on the Event. And here I am, a normal Engineer.

To be honest, the feedback of fears and stress of this Event was expected. I won't delve much into this but suffice to say (and I could be very wrong too), it could have started when no one in that room could see the whole picture. And we have less than a five daystogo. So, while waiting for the Management to come in, I decided that enough is enough and started to draw The Plan on the Whiteboard. One thing about Mind Maps (as my former Manager taught me) is that you can quickly see the whole picture and fill in the missing pieces just as quick. Once everyone understood the concept, their faces brightened and any doubt that they had earlier was more or less gone. Or maybe I was just imagining things.
But then, a few days later, Magic happened.

In my experience, if a Supervisor/Manager stands next to you and tells you what to do all  the time, the result is quite obvious. Since this is a happy Event, I decided to approach it from another angle. Moreover, I do not feel comfortable telling people what to do all the time. I prefer to guide them and more importantly, see them as part of the team. If a person takes the trouble to come over to talk to you and/or praises you, you will definitely feel the difference and the result shows! So, as I took the back seat, I saw a lot of beautiful ideas flowing about and more importantly, I witnessed teamwork. Everyone is happily going about their tasks!

Will this Event succeed tomorrow?
Am I doing this correctly?
I'll just have to trust my Team...





In the beginning, I was just the photographer.
But things changed when I started to draw a Mind Map...

Coming back to Home Base

And just after two weeks in Kuching, it was time for me to go home for the Chinese New Year.

Its a Once in a Year thing for all Chinese all over the World, apart from Ching Ming (All Souls Day) to come back to their Paternal Home and have the all important Dinner on the Eve with their Siblings and other Family members on the who were unfortunately dragged along through marriage. Its also a time of patience and tolerance where everyone has their own ideas of doing things and how to take it when you lose at gambling.

But for me, I am just glad to be home to see my Wife and kids. The Flight for me, felt rushed because everything happened so fast. The 1hr 45mins felt like half an hour. This was was very noticeable because when I arrived earlier, the previous flight took less than 30 minutes for the passengers to alight, refuel and also, process the luggage. Then again, maybe I was anxious to get back.

So, on the very day itself, I needed to get the Grenadines (most of them) to my friends since I'll be going back next week and it would be a rush to do it by then. Plus, it could be a hit and miss too since everyone would still be away. After that, it was off to Mid-Valley for some CNY Food (OK, tid-bits) and a nice Family Dinner.

This was the meal served on board MAS. It must be that my flight was not the Lunchtime flight...
But man, that Chicken Sandwich is good!

Landing in another 20 seconds or so...
This guy slept though everything, even the meals.

My choice of seat was limited since the online check-in showed only less than 10 seats left.
By the time I boarded it was full. On hindsight, I chose the back since the front was already taken. So, I just sat back and enjoyed the commotion.

I would like to congratulate myself for choosing a yellow luggage as it was so easy to spot. But at the same time I was worried it might split open due to the 6 bottles of Grenadine inside. When it went through the X-Ray machine, I was asked what it was. When I replied it was Grenadine for friends in West Malaysia, they all understood.

I have never imagined carrying so many bottles of these was so hard to the point that it almost sprained my back and dislocated my wrist.

Kristine trying out the Authentic Kek Lapis. This was the Watermelon flavour.

After the first bite, she was literally hooked...

Kaelynn trying out the Grenadine straight and with milk while trying out her new Cheongsam

OK, so only my Wife and I liked it. She said its almost the same fruity taste as that Green Slurpee

Speedy Video are selling these...

And I only wanted these, but at RM39.90 just for the sound, its a little too much for me.

I was a little too late as this guy got the last Girlfriend for sale...

The Girls were asking for Chicken Rice and since 'The Chicken Rice Shop' was nearer than the Ipoh Chcken Rice, we went there instead. But personally, I felt that latter tasted different than the one in Jln Gasing.

The Girls are really growing!

Mid-Valley's CNY deco is so meh  this year.

Getting Fat in Kuching

Yeah, I feel that I'm starting to get fat here. When I first came over to work in Kuching, some were worried that I would be starved for food or I could not look after myself. But truth to be told, I was very well taken care of over here. For starters, we were given lunch boxes everyday and for the past few nights, I was treated to delicious dinners by my Bosses.

 And just to show you, here are the photos taken for the past week.

Darn. I was actually looking forward to having a semi-bachelor life again.

When I first arrived in Kuching, I was asked what local delicacies I would like to have and so, I chose Kolo Mee.
Man, this is a far cry from the ones I had in Bangsar!

After that, it was time to clean the place and also get some more food.

I have yet to order a tong of Gas but for the time being, the rice cooker will do.
Anyone who has gone overseas to study would bring a rice cooker with them and they would soon find out that it can cook more than just rice!

The next day would be my first day a the Job. And this is my first Lunch Box, which tasted delicious when I used my hands.
Strangely enough, they have never witness a Chinese eating with their hands. I was used to this because of my previous Jobs.

The next day, it was an Official Lunch and it really opened my eyes!

The dish on the top right which I thought was Paku Pakis but this was different.

I forgot what this was called but its a crispy version of oh jean.

This is the local vege and it tasted incredible!

Fish was great too and the sauce was excellent

For dinner,it was the same delicious Vege again!

Nice! Wow!

The main reason for coming here was the Peking Duck

Once the skin was finished, they cooked the duck meat

The next night was Korean food but also, a friend went to the street behind to get these delicious chicken wings!

 

BBQ beef

Not sure what this is called but back home, my Wife would tell me its Saba fish

I call him the Beef Inspecctor beccause he was checking the BBQ beef all the time

Dessert

Dinner at Bumbu Gabe, which serves real authentic Indonesian food!

The rice was cooked with pandan leaves but look at the four sauces at the back

The best sauce was the sweet red one on the bottom left with the green on the top right.

Delicious!

Just choose the food that you want and they will cook it for you

This is a pre-CNY Celebration Dinner in a Chinese Restaurant which we totally enjoyed ourselves.
The Dinner was really an eye opener for me

Oh, yeah! And everyone at the table had it except for one.

Friday Night Dessert Drink.
A first for me, which is Avocado and Milk

I like how the sugar was presented. No, it was not for my drink, though.

Saturday Breakfast, another first which is Sarawak Laksa

Sunday's Breakfast

BBQ Pork Laksa...

Trip to Damai Beach. Lamb and Salad

Satay from Escobar

Chicken Wings to die for

Escobar's Specialty: Butter Fish
The Chef knows how to cook it well as the fish did not taste overcooked and its flesh was still springy and breaks cleanly into chunks.

Forgot what it was but its definitely not kerabu

I had half a glass but eventually ordered Ice Blended Ribena

My Boss's morning brekkie

While I had pork porridge. I will chose fish the next time

And tonight's dinner...