Cycling @ Taman Bukit Cahaya

Exercise and YinFun simply doesn’t jive. I know. For when people think of me, they can only relate me with work, and lazy bum.
Fact: I almost never exercise. Exercise simply isn’t part of my genes. When I think of exercise, I’m already tired before I even begun doing anything.

Approximately 2 years back, I tried joining the gym, thinking that I’d exercise more since I’ve paid for it..
In the end, I still couldn’t be bothered, and totally wasted my gym membership.
*Stupid me…what was I thinking then? To think that I would actually go gym is seriously, unthinkable*
And I’ve been a couch potato since…except for firm events, my only exercise is prolly the walk out to grab lunch everyday. (>.<)

But it did occur to me that my lifestyle is extremely unhealthy, and the only reason why am I not putting on weight is because I eat less when I'm stressed, which is almost every other day, if not everyday.

So, recently, when a friend suggested that we go cycle around the park with a bunch of friends, I happily agreed…only to regret later because I had to wake up at 6.45am (That's earlier than the time I wake up for work!!) because we would like to cycle before the weather gets scorching hot.
But since I've already said yes, I decided to keep my words, and just do it anyway.

At the start, everyone looking happy and fresh~!
From left: Resha, Michelle, Zen and I

This was taken after we cycled up one hill, I think…while waiting for Zen, whom was already lagging behind… teehehehe
With Shanice and Cindy

Things then went downhill for a few of us since…

At mid-point (sorta)..I could barely stand straight…Look how I was leaning to the railing…
From left: Myself, Penny, Wendy, and Zen

After huffing and puffing up and down the hills.. (which really felt like mountains to me)…and some being laughed at for not being able to cycle up the hill..
we finally got back~! YAY~!!!

With Wendy. Was already dead tired by then..

Group pictures before returning the bicycles…
From left: Zen, Michelle, Cindy, Penny, Shanice, Resha, myself and Wendy

I nearly died. The cycle around the park turned out to be cycling up and down the hills…
There were 8 of us, and luckily, almost half of us were unfit, unhealthy, and without exercise.
Zen was even funnier, for the moment she saw the first uphill track, she was already regretting her decision to come… *hahahaha*

But by the end of the day, all of us made it back, successfully, without any help from the ambulance (Thank god!)
And I’d like to think that by the end of the day, none of us regretted doing that…
Miraculously, my legs weren’t painful the next day! Felt a lil tired, but at least I wasn’t experiencing muscle pain, unlike last few tries of me exercising..
Sadly, although my legs and thighs weren’t aching, my butt was…DAMN YOU NARROW SEAT! They should come up with more comfy seats on the bicycle really…bahh!

Ultimately,it’s true that people say, when there’s a will, there’s a way. Who would’ve thought that YinFun and Zen would actually exercise??!
And exercise is definitely a lot more fun when you are doing it with a bunch of friends! What’s next, peeps?!

*Credits to Shanice for the pictures..The ever-so-gung-ho one who could cycle and still hold the camera and take pics…For I was dying just handling the bicycle and myself! Thanks dear for the pics!

A girls’ night out

Everyone grows. We grow old with each passing day, and along the way, we would hope that we grow up along the way.

When we were younger, we would always look forward to that one day where we would no longer be dependent on our parents.
However, with the benefit of hindsight, I truly wished I’m still relying on them, without a care in the world..
Useless and unambitious, I know, but carefree, and happy.

But fact is, we grow. We grow and pursue our own dreams, and hopefully happiness.
We may all start the journey from the same starting point, but surely, most people’s destinations differ.

Zen and I are the only ones left in the firm. Paik Yee has left us for greener pasture outside, which obviously offered her a much better work-life balance, and both Cindy and PawKie has tendered. (Actually, strictly speaking, PawKie was never quite with us, for she joined E&Y instead, but well..still audit)

After what seems like eternity…apparently, the last we met was approximately 2 years ago, we successfully planned for a night out last Friday (23rd Nov 2009). Just us.

Zen and I was having course that day. Both Cindy and PawKie has tendered (hence, have all the right to leave early), so we left early from work, to meet up at Pavilion.
But Friday nights being Friday nights, the city was packed~! It took us approximately 40 mins just to get from one side of the street (Sheraton) to the other end (Pavilion). Bahhh! Could someone kindly remind me why I don’t like heading to the golden triangle? Oh yes, the blardee jam!

It was a good catch-up. The only person missing was Shane, our other uni-mate. Shanice, whom was supposed to be there, could not turn up last minute due to work commitments.

We had dinner at Ichiban Boshi (Sorry, no pics, for we were starved and gobbled down most of the food fast)…

And we then adjourned for desserts at Chocolate.

Our chocolate fondue…and..I-don’t-know-what’s-the-other-one-called. It was pretty interesting though.

PawKie and Paikyee.
I haven’t seen PawKie for ages really. The last time I met her was prolly for the CPA Assignment.

The regulars: Zen and Cindy.

With PaikYee.
The girl who claimed she’ll be there at 5pm, but turned up at almost 8pm! The rest of us were there by 7pm…and oh, she didn’t even have to brace the traffic. Just walked across.. d(o.o)b
So much for work-life balance eh?

The very people that I went university with; we came back together, joined the audit firm(s) together. Some have subsequently moved on, others still doing the same old. I met up with one or two of them every now and then, but it has certainly been a while since we came out as a group.
Somehow, the common reason for not meeting up: Busy with work.
Valid reason or mere excuse? A lil of both, I’d reckon.
What kind of life did we all get ourselves into? I wonder too..

Nonetheless, it was nice to catch up again, and picked up from where we last left off.
Ultimately, we may not all have the same goals, the same directions in life. Yet friends being friends, is that besides enjoying the similarities between us, we respect the differences too.

We are only young once

Surely, we would have heard the phrase “Live life! We are only young once!”
Yet, over the years, haven’t we realised that the phrase are used by certain people when circumstances are convenient for them to say so?
“Go places. See the world. You are only young once. You only live once.”
or
“You are only young once. And this is the time to work hard, so that when you get older, you would have a better life, financially, at least.”

Whether we pick Option 1 or Option 2 is highly dependent on what kind of person we are.
Some would drop everything to travel, and see the world. Others would rather work hard now to climb the corporate ladder to live a comfortable life later.

Yet, in the midst of seeing the world, or in the midst of working hard to climb the corporate ladder, have we forgotten that our parents, and grandparents are also only here with us once? When we were/are young, and busy seeing the world, or climbing the corporate ladder, they were busy aging?

Some people see the world in a simpler manner:
Go see the world, or Work hard.
Yet, others see that there’s only a fine line to fall into the extremes, and a delicate balance to be somewhere in between of having a career, seeing the world, and still have time with people dear to us.

Sadly, with only 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, not many people truly get to have everything. Not many successfully walked that fine line, balancing between the 3.
Afterall, we are only human. We could only do so much. We could only prioritise on what we deem and perceive to be important.
Fortunately, I fall under the latter, for I believe in balancing that, with no easy way out.
Unfortunately, I think I have failed miserably to walk that delicate line.

I could see myself being one of the 3 VERY BUSY child.
What’s worse, I could see my sister being the other VERY BUSY child.

Which makes us wonder, does it really matter to our parents that we are high flyers, successful people when we neither have the time, nor energy to spend with them?
Obviously, we are working hard now so that they too can have a more comfortable life? Surely, that’s what it is, no?
Yet, have we wondered that as much as they may be proud of our achievements, perhaps they would value the time we could spend with them even more?

We can’t do everything. By the same token, we can’t possibly have everything.
We are only young once. We only live once. No doubt. (Let’s not get into the argument of rebirth and life after death here)
Yet, while we are young, while we are still alive and living, how would we like to live our life? That, is a matter of choice.
I may not have successfully balance everything, but I’m trying. I really am. That’s my choice

The phrase “We are only young once” is really nothing more than a justification. Justifying that we should see the world or climb the corporate ladder while we are young is simply an excuse to convince ourselves that that’s the way to live life.
Ultimately, how and what we choose defines us. As a child, and as a person.

Back to where we began

Sports club (KSP) annual dinner always brings back memory.
3 years ago, we stood there, on the stage, performing for the rest.
Yesterday, I sat there and watched the new joiners performed.
What’s more ironic, for whatever reason, we were back at Nikko Hotel this time around. My first KSP dinner was held at the exact same place.
Makes me wonder if this is the end, for as they always say, you go back to where you began.

Anyway, I shall let the pictures do the talking this round, since some people have been complaining about the lack of photos (with faces) in my blog.
Sis, you should be able to recognise a few familiar faces here.

The theme this year is Wild Wild West:

A mandatory one with Zen.

With Jocelyn, my manager. She’s not quite dressed according to the theme, but we reckon she dressed up like some rich ‘tai tai’!

Jason, the Chief of the Red Indian tribe, apparently!

Penny

Clockwise from top: Alicia, Myself, Pooi Yin, Jumaiyah, Elaine, Senshih
Don’t mind my big head. There wasn’t much room to stand in the ballroom. Aren’t the lil red indians cute?

With Amanda and Leyi, my Xyratex teammates…I mean, EX-teammates. Both of them ditched me!

With Hansen. Don’t mind the weird angle. I reckon the photographer was slightly tipsy from the alcohol.

With Peter, the my-good-trait-is-I’m-not-very-lazy guy. Funny man!

From left: Zoey, Funny, Ivy.

From left: Yoong Yue, Melissa, Myself, Isha

With Michelle.

From left: Cindy, Myself, Alicia, Teng Siew, Jocelyn – Some very very nice people that I’ve worked with.

With Siong Sie

Wendymon!

With Li Lin

From Left: Funny, Foong Yi, and Sue Ling. Sorry Foong Yi, I really can’t recall when did you leave the firm…must be my short term memory!

Pooi Yin. Ignore my red face. This is what alcohol does to me!

We then left Nikko Hotel, and after ‘what-felt-like-hours-of-discussion’, we proceeded to head for karaoke session at Gardens.

There were some discussion on whether to go clubbing or karaoke, and while waiting for the call to be made, camwhored a lil more in Cindy’s car.



Clockwise from top: SuZen, Wendymon, Leyi, Kerokeropi, some-monkey-in-which-I-don’t-know-the-name

Cindy the driver, and I

The night ended at 3am, and Cindy fetched me home. Thank you Cindy, for I was so tired by then.
Signs of me getting old.

Some might have realised by now that the faces look quite different from the biennial dinner, Crossroads course aka Senior’s Away Day, and of course, my first ever KSP dinner (Which took place even before I started blogging).
People come, and people go. Most of my batchmates are gone by now (Or leaving). Hence, the different faces.

Conclusion: This may possibly be the last KSP dinner I would be attending. Or maybe not. Frankly, even I can’t be sure. I guess only time will tell.

Murphy’s Law? Maybe not.

Murphy’s law is an adage that broadly states: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
Wikipedia

Had a long week. 2.5 days of training, and another day travelling to and from Seremban-KL meant I woke up earlier than usual. Not to mention, I didn’t get to rest much last weekend too..
It didn’t help that the training was for something highly technical yet crucial and extremely important to the world of accounting in the near future..and they were all…new. At least to me.
If my brain were to resemble a room with loads of drawers, the “work” drawer has surely gone overload, toppled, fell, and now everything’s everywhere in the room.
By the end of the training, I was more “lost” than “enlightened”, and of course, I’m now wondering who was the smart ass who asked me to do accounting and be an auditor. Why am I an accountant? Why?
Oh crap! That was my choice. *Bangs head on the wall*

And right after that, had to head back to Seremban for my unfinished job. Rushed and rushed, hoping to finally get it done so that I don’t have to go back no more, only to realise that it wasn’t quite possible, for there were more issues. Bah! Why am I an auditor? Why?
Oh yeah, that was my choice too. *Slaps forehead*

By Friday, I was knackered. Nonetheless, attended Wendy’s farewell after work, and when I got home, I was in for more shock. (Sorry peeps, no pics on the farewell, as I didn’t have a camera, and have yet to get any pictures from friends) I was told on that day my room is to be repainted, after that mini renovation, but hell broke loose when I saw the color of my room..

Pinkish ORANGE??

Comes in 2 shades too. With EVEN darker orange. (o.O) *Faints*

By the way,they are darker than they look in the pictures actually.
The room looks smaller, and dark…and…..fugly
I was tired, shocked, devastated, angry and lost for word.

I was so stress that night that I tore my blanket apart that night

okok. I didn’t. It was an accident. I pulled the blanket, and it just…tear..

It was so bad that I really could not take it, and hence, got part of it repainted.
Part, because it was really hard to move the wardrobe and bookshelf to paint the other 1/4 of it.

It was repainted the next day:

It’s now white, with a tinge of pink. Of course, I’m still no fan of the ORANGE, but well…I guess I can live with 1/4 of an ugly room, compared to ONE fugly room.
Compromise.

And thanks to my angry self the accident, I have to get myself a new blanket/quilt.
Ok fine, not quite for I wanted to get a quilt for a while, and the torn blanket was just an excuse (I did NOT tear it on purpose though..I SWEARRRR)
I got myself a new goose down quilt, a rather kiddy but I thought very cute quilt cover, and now I’m one happy child again. =)

I’m so easy to please. \(^o^)/

I guess it wasn’t fair to say I had a terrible week. It wasn’t the best, but because I was so tired at the end of it, everything looks worse than they really were.

Nonetheless, I sure am looking forward to a better week this coming week, although am not too optimistic about getting one. Yet, I continue to hope for the better, for hope is the promise of all good things.

When change is inevitable, for better, or for worse

Environment, time, and circumstances. Add them up, mix them a lil, and we get change.
People change over time. People change when environment around them changes. People change due to change in circumstances.
For the better. Or for the worse.

A year ago, I clearly remember I was awed, and shocked when I saw my sister actually got down her car to “reason” with another driver that took her parking.
I couldn’t imagine myself doing such things. Not me. I’m generally the kind that would let it be. Avoid confrontations whenever possible. Hence, some say I tend to get bullied this way. Because I try to avoid confrontations, people take advantage from that.
And although fully aware, I never see them as that big a deal.

Recently though, I scared even myself.
Last Friday, I actually did exactly that. I parked my at the side, got down, and got into an argument with that effing inconsiderate driver who took the parking spot, all these while I have signalled and waited way before he came.
Neither my sis (then) nor I (the other day) got the parking spot back.
But I guess the point is, I was actually so angry that I literally got out of my car to reason with those uncivilized bunch, something I would not have done a year ago.
What’s more funny, all these while my boss was in my car. And for the weirdest reason, she was laughing all the way.
What drove me to act that way, I have no idea. Perhaps I have reached my tipping point, and I’ll simply not take all these bullshit. Perhaps I just want to let them know I wouldn’t go without a fight. Although knowing full well it’s a losing battle, I was just refusing to go down without a fight nonetheless.

Much has changed since a year ago.
Sometimes, it feels like it was only yesterday that I was still in Melbourne, studying with my sister to the wee hours.
Yet, other times, my memory of my life for the past few years seem like a distant past, a blurred memory.

Change of circumstances force people to adapt. Or quit.
Some adapt and change. Others move on. I adapted. For I believe evolution is driven by people, and things that adapt and change, to survive.
Yet, there are times where I sat down, and ponder on that million dollar question; Is all these, subconsciously, taking its toll on me?
Did I perhaps made the right choice, rationally, but the wrong choice, by heart?
Would I get there? Would I be happy when I get there?
Fact is: I don’t know. And I wouldn’t now. But I would, one day. When the future becomes the present, it would be the time for me to find out.
The only question is: Would it be too late then?

Un-learn, and re-learn

Tioman Island

Went to get my open water diver license during my leave. Something I wanted to get since I started work. Yes. It’s that long back…finally materialising
Open water diver license consists of 2 confined water dives (1 on shore for me tho), and 4 open water dives.

The Rengis Island, where our open dives were held in.

Am not gonna go through the details, besides by the end of the day, I have no idea how and when, but I have 13 bruises on my arms and legs, and 3 scratches on my knee..I look like I was abused or went for some harsh military training really.
Although I do reckon it’s helluva lot of hardwork; Carrying the scuba cylinders + weights + all other equipments around. I felt like I was gonna drop dead after swimming out to the boat, from shore. Yes, that’s before I even dive.

The beach, and the chalet that visitors stay in.

It is, nonetheless, an experience worth all the hardships, and injuries..for not only did I learn about diving, and opened up a whole new world in front of my eyes, I learned a fair bit about other matters too.
For it doesn’t matter what works for me here, it worked against me when I’m 30 feet underground/ underwater.
It doesn’t matter how intelligent one is, one needs to re-learn the very basic of things there.
It’s like..everyone that goes underwater is given an opportunity to start over, like it or not.

One needs to un-learn everything they have learned and worked for them before this, and re-learn a new set of skills that contradicts the way of life before this…at least for me.

Sunset from the beach

I believe in efficiency.
A friend once told me I shouldn’t have issue diving since I like to laze around. And being underwater is just like that- Slow and steady.
Except in my world, I believe in working in the most efficient manner so that I have more time to laze around.
A colleague of mine told me that I work too fast, that I even walked and talked too fast.
But it works. Wonders.
Once underwater, the more efficient I try to be, the more inefficient I became.
As I try to move faster, all I get was the feeling of lack of air, hence panic, and a nice few gulps of seawater to wake me up.

I believe that we should climb up.
For it is a whole lot easier to fall back down to ground than to stay up.
Underwater, I struggle to stay down.

I believe in being a skeptic.
It’s part of my job, and hence, part of me.
Underwater, I either learn to trust my regulator and scuba cylinders to provide me with air, or I drown.
Underwater, I either trust my buddy to help me out and help me up, or I risk getting more injuries than I already have. (Especially when I lose my mask)
*Offnote: I swear that I’ll poke them in the eye, whoever they are, if they accidently/ intentionally takes off my mask from now on.. it’s a PAINNNN*

Another picture of the sunset…with Rengis Island at the back

I’ve learned that the very things (breathing) we take for granted under normal circumstances could get very strenuous, and I struggled.
I’ve learned that while I usually have little difficulties with my directions, and rarely do I end up in situations whereby I’m totally lost, I couldn’t say the same while I was underwater. I was totally lost when all I did was swam 5metres away and then back. Even then, I have no one I could ask. Even if there were other people, I couldn’t ask as I was too busy breathing. It was ridiculous.
I’ve learned that the phrase “Easier said than done”..literally. For though the words “Stay calm, move slowly” sounded simple enough, they really weren’t so easy to do.
I learned it the hard way, by taking in gulps of seawater, and nearly choking myself before I came to my senses that if I don’t calm down, I’ll just take in more seawater, until I drown, or pass out.

End of one thing (the river), beginning of another (the ocean)

It took me a while to un-learn all that I’ve learned my entire life, and re-learn them one by one..
And I especially didn’t fancy the fact that I didn’t feel very much in control.
But despite that, despite all that , I enjoyed the experience.

Finally certified! Taken with my instructor, Jai.

Conclusion: With the benefit of hindsight, I’ve learned that if only we let go of our perspective on what’s right, the flip side may be equally as right too. As a noob (novice) underwater, I’m learning. As a person, we are all learning. Learning new skills, knowledge, as well as learning to let go of what’s generally accepted to be right. To think outside the box.

It isn’t just about the end

I remember telling someone “It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it works out in the end..The end justifies its means. No one will ask about the process..”

And so, what earthly business do I have with “it isn’t just about the end”?

I believe in equilibrium. In fair trade. And more importantly, I believe in trade off.
I believe in giving up certain things in return for other things..and so I have. That’s a trade off I understood and accepted.
A trade off I took because I want to be rich.

And because I’m also lazy (Or planning to be), my goal was obviously, to marry a rich man.
It is, afterall, the fastest and easiest way to get rich.
But as much as it is about the goal, I am, not living in a world of my own.
As much as I like to think that the goal is all that matters, it isn’t.
As much as it is only about the goal, it isn’t. It is also about the probability, feasibility, and likelihood.

For those who even bothered asking me, I’ve been telling them that my goal is to marry rich.
Goal: Marry a rich man
Probability: 50% (Either I get to find one, or I don’t)
Feasibility: Assuming I landed myself one, what are my chances in making it lasts? More importantly, what are my chances with the market if I don’t…10 years down the road?
Back at square 1, with obsolete skills. What are my chances?
Likelihood: Taking into account of the probability and feasibility, what is the likelihood of me marrying a rich man? I would say not very likely.

And as such, I am still slaving my life away, in my attempt to make my life, and the lives of the people around me, better.

Goal: Get out of this mess, and get back to where I belong (or so I believed I belonged)
Probability: Highly probable when times were better, highly unlikely when things took a turn for the worse
Feasibility: As I grow everyday, every year, it slowly dawn on me that this is becoming less feasible. Not only because I’m getting used to the life here, I have to also take into consideration of other things – My family, my career, my future. Can I hold off my future indefinitely waiting for something so uncertain? When it finally comes (on that one fine day god knows when), am I willing to let everything go to take that gamble?
Likelihood: As a matter of fact, I have more questions than I have answers. I am, keeping my options open, but I am no longer going for it blindly. Perhaps I have changed. Perhaps circumstances have changed. Perhaps, everything has changed.

If the end is all that matters, I would, by now, married the richest friend I know, and con him to make that move with me.
If only it is that simple. If only life is that straightforward.
But life is full of choices. And in making those choices, we evaluate not only the direct result, but also the indirect outcome it has on us, and the people around us.

Some choices we made, we made them for us and us only.
Some choices, we made, we made them believing it’s the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
While other choices, we made them because we are too afraid to take the gamble. Because we have too much to lose.
Yet, some choices we made, we made them because we know that’s what’s best for us, even if it didn’t feel like it now, even if it’s one helluva difficult call to make.

No. We are not resigning to our fate to determine our life. I still very much believe my fate lies in my own hands.
But we are leaving our options open. Not closing all doors while waiting for the window to open.
In the end, one needs to be realistic about one’s options. We need to see the bigger picture.

Conclusion: I believe in consequentialism. And I believe in opportunity cost, and that when you gain something, you need to lose something in return to restore that equilibrium.
Yet, I cannot make a decision based solely on the end, without taking consideration of my action.
Yet, I felt I have given more than I have gotten in the past few years.
Ultimately, does the end truly justify its means?

When the going gets tough

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going..but does it really?

I had a rough week…
what exactly was so bad about it, I can’t tell…small things accumulated really..
Been waking up early the whole week for courses (Be there on time, or be fined)
The courses were also relatively heavy (compared to the ones we, the batchies attended before)..
What’s worse, it didn’t end there. There were, of course, work and some last minute surprises which catch you off-guard.
Sometimes, it seems like there’s so much pressure on me to get the things done…But as I sat back now, I wonder if the pressure truly came from external sources, or perhaps, it’s just me?
My conclusion: I’m putting more pressure on myself than anyone has placed on me…at times like these, I seriously think perseverance is working against me..
At times like these, I do not know what I’m fighting for, yet I refuse to give up just for the sake of not giving up..

Also, from the course, I have successfully gotten myself infected with sore throat and cough from my team mate whom wasn’t feeling well during the course..
*Sigh*
Then again, I can only blame my bad antibodies.. (T.T)

By Friday, I was exhausted, both mentally and physically…and all I wanted was to take a break, catch a movie with a friend or two, and just de-stress.
So after course (and a lil work), I went dinner with a friend at Tropicana City. Think the place was called Room 18..they serve pretty decent Chinese food…
Then again, there really weren’t that many restaurants in Tropicana City to start with…so our options were really limited.
Went there because we were planning to catch a movie there – The Proposal.
Already bought the tics online the day before, and managed to get some really good, nice seats…
So, after dinner, we headed for the cinema to collect my tics..only to be told they have expired!
After telling the girl/woman at the counter that it can’t have EXPIRED because I have already PAID FOR THEM a couple of times, the confused lady went to the back office to seek help. It turns out, there were some technical glitch with our very beloved GSC computer system, which means we couldn’t get the tics with our confirmation number. *Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue*
They actually asked us to pay again to get the tickets, and fill up some forms to get a refund via e-payment at a later date.. *Chill chilll…it’s all gonna be alright*
And it didn’t end there. I was also told that because they fucked up, the seats that I have PAID FOR has been sold off!
That was the last straw..
I reckon I’m generally an easy customer to deal with, and my dad has told me numerous times that I’ll get bullied by ppl out there..and sadly, I do agree that I’m generally very accommodating.
But a week with lack of sleep, and work related issues, I really do not need another shit to deal with. I literally lost my cool.
I don’t think I’ve ever scolded a stranger like that before, but as much as I pity the fella that’s on duty, I really do not need/want to bear the consequences because their computer system is screwed. That’s really not my effing issue!
All I wanted was an evening where I can just relax, and I get this?!
FUCK YOUR TECHNICAL GLITCH, GSC! That’s your fucking internal problem that should NOT have caused me any inconvenience.
In the end, the damage was done. They’ve sold my tickets. They compromised by saying that we do not need to re-pay for the tickets (they can DREAM ON ABOUT ME PAYING THEM TWICE FOR A MOVIE), and we compromised with not so nice seats…
Lucky thing the movie was very entertaining, and that made me a lot less angry by the end of it.
But I’m utterly disappointed nonetheless, for we customers do NOT expect this kinda bullshit from Golden Screen Cinemas, one of the more reputable cinema operators in Malaysia.
I’m still planning to file an official complaint by the way.

I wonder what have gotten into me. I’m just so angry these days, that I find it hard to keep my head cool.
At the end of it, I pity my dear friend that went to the movie with me. I don’t think any of my friends have seen me so angry and vulgar before.
*Sigh*

Conclusion: Hopefully, the coming week would be better one, for I really had a bad week. Period.

Be cruel to be kind

Which is more cruel: To stay on and suffer, or walk out gracefully while you still can?

I was having a conversation with a friend when he suddenly asked:

What would you do if you found out your colleague isn’t coping with his/her job, stressed and was on the verge of breaking down?
Me: Ask him/her to resign.
Him: (o.O) Got a more politically/ morally correct answer?
Me: Oh…help him..talk to him/her, coach him/her more, monitor him/her closely, offering him/her a hand when needed…etc
Him: Yeah..that’s more like it..

Morally right, no doubt…we should all be kind to those that aren’t coping..etc..but in reality, we are all fully aware that that, although correct, may not be the most practical or feasible solution.

He thought that I wasn’t very nice, but perhaps, the corporate world has always been a dog-eat-dog world, and even more so in view of the global economic downturn.
It has always been a case of survival of the fittest, of evolution..
How often were we being confronted by circumstances whereby it’s either you perform, or be shown the exit door?

As much as we would like to think things are all rosy and good, it is often not the case. Afterall, life itself is full of ups and downs..but is it because one does not know how to deal with the particular person, we show him/her the door? Or perhaps maybe one believes in utilitarianism: The greatest good for the greatest number of people? Afterall, if the under-performing colleague is gone, we may not need to take care of tasks which he/she has not been able to complete due to his/her incompetency.
Perhaps. Or perhaps we just need to understand as bad, as cruel as it sounds, it may actually be the best and kindest thing to do.
That by asking the person to walk away, it is not the end of the world. Rather, it is to give the person an opportunity to start over, to start afresh.
For although the person isn’t doing well here, he/she may do well elsewhere, or in another field. As it is, and always will be, a matter of to whom one’s being compared to.

Perseverance.
“Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible”. -Lord Chesterfield-
I’m one that believes in that. But I also believe that this may not be applicable in certain circumstances, and it is no one-size-fits-all thing.
And this is one situation where perseverance may do more damage than good.

People think that it’s holding on that makes people strong. Sometimes, it’s letting go.
Life is a long journey, with peaks and troughs, with roadblocks every now and then. And some gets it harder than the rest. But why want to continue on a route that you know will do you more harm than good, when we are fully aware that that’s not the only way, and there’s always alternatives.

Conclusion: Walking out of the door is an alternative, not a dead end.
And it may be the best alternative, as cruel as it may sound.