Letter to my Senior Vice President

Senior Vice President

Company Name

Company Address

Dear Sir,

NOTICE OF RESIGNATION FROM MY CURRENT POST (RETRACTION OF MY RETRACTION OF MY EARLIER RESIGNATION LETTER)

With reference to the above.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity in meeting you last week to further discuss my future in the company. I would also like to thank you for your 'generous offer' in response to my earlier resignation letter.

As much as I'm honored by the counter-offer, a statement during our meeting urges me to rethink my position. In my humble opinion, one person might be wrong, two person might make the same mistake, but its highly unlikely that 7 people could make a judgement error in believing in my potential.

To work under someone who does not believe in your ability, is non-conducive at best. To be able to give one's best, I do believe the whole system should be supportive rather than stifling. But then again, I realize that I'm just a small fry in a big ocean, and the system does not  necessarily bend to one small fry wishful thinking.

Last but not least, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the company for giving me the chance to grow as a better person, personally and most important, professionally in this field.

Yours sincerely,

Soon to be ex-staff

What would you do on a hot Sunday afternoon?

Weekends are usually filled with attending weddings. Most events starts serving food at 11am to 4pm, with the bride and groom slated to come for the main event, the 'bersanding' at around 1.30 or 2pm, and its not uncommon to have to attend more than one wedding on any given Sunday. Yesterday was Pendek's bersanding ceremony, but we decided to attend another distant cousin wedding earlier in the morning, on the other side of town first.

Younger brother had gone out earlier to fetch his fiancee, and we were to rendezvous on the way. The weather is getting hot and the thought of a cold drink would be heavenly. Suddenly, Father quipped, "Nak singgah minum cendol?" as if reading my mind. Mother nods in agreement. "Yus won't be ready so soon, right?" I added. So its agreed, cendol it is. And where else are we to have our cold, refreshing bowl, if not "Cendol Leman Dawi'.

For all my existence, I have heard of this famous 'cendol'man, but I haven't had the chance to savor his special cendol. To the uninitiated, cendol is a popular Malaysian dessert in which strands of green cendol (starch noodles) are served in a cold, cold mixture of coconut milk, brown sugar syrup and shaved ice.

What's so special about Cendol Leman Dawi is that his servings are quite huge AND your next or extra helpings are free of charge. FREE? Not only that, he also serves barley drinks (also free of charge), and you can even 'tapau' for your friends, all of it on the house. Now, thats a powerful marketing tool. Who could say no to freebies?

Mother says the owner, En Leman Dawi can be a bit odd, and at time talk incessantly to his customers. He memorizes some geographical information on the states of Malaysia and some sort of an entertainer. That aside, his 'cendol' sells very fast and as at 12noon, there are at least 30 customers at his new location in Sg Gadut R&R, Seremban. He now occupies all 5 stalls there.

Not bad for someone who starts circa 2001, with just a small stall along the Rembau-Seremban road.

Blood is always thicker than water

As I was walking with Mother, she asked me a question, a matter of factly.

"Masa pergi rumah Induk Kecik Hari Raya hari tu, anak-anak Induk buat tak tahu je kat awak ye?" She posed, "Mak Tih yang kata macam tu. Ye ke?"

I take a second to answer. "Ala Mak. Macam biasa je. Takde apa la" Choosing my word carefully, "masa Induk dan Pak Ali datang hari tu, hormat macam biasa. Maybe diaorang (my cousins) tak biasa kot, lagipun dah lama tak jumpa". Mother nods her head. " Tak menjadi kudis pun, kalau diaorang tak tegur saya", I added.

It reminds me that as much as things have gotten better between Mother and her in-laws, her relationship remained strained with Induk and her children. Mother was hurt when my cousins chose to ignore her at Rozi's wedding, and were not invited to any of my cousins wedding. Mother really adored them because she doesn't have a daughter of her own.

I was a bit disappointed that they treated Mother like that. I have never coldly ignore Induk or Pak Ali, because Mother had always instilled in us to respect our elders. When Mother had a tiff with Grandma and Pak Uda, she insists that its only her who have problems with them, not us. Grandma is still my Grandma, and Pak Uda is still Mother's brother.

Whatever happen, you can be rest assured Mother, that you have taught us well and we will always respect the elders, however bad they have wronged you. Why should we stoop to their level? Let them be a bit awkward to have kindness showered on them after all the hostility. Would that not be more ironic?

Wedding bells

Nowadays, wedding are no longer held exclusively during school holidays. 

It seems like every weekend we will stumble upon a wedding or two somewhere. Where weddings are concerned, anytime is a good time it seems :) The next three weekend, two of my cousin will be married.

Last night was Pendek's (this is his nickname, really) solemnization event in Seremban. we were told that it will be held after 'Maghrib' prayers at the 'surau' near the bride's house. I was stuck in KL and were only making my way back to SMKA around 550pm. Mother was furious as youngest brother had left earlier, and in anticipating heavy traffic to Seremban, planned to go at 600pm. Miscommunication it seems, as I thought Mother will be going with youngest brother to the event.

Driving in excess of the highway speed limit, i managed to reach SMKA at 635pm, and radioed Mother ahead so that I do not need to wait too long. At 645, we make our move and knowing that it'll take only another 20 mins to Seremban exit, I drive slightly below speed limits, as the roads were wet due to a downpour. We reached the bride's place, negotiate traffic jams (I don't know why its always jammed up in Seremban) and the fact that I have never been to the place, manage to reach there by 'Maghrib'.

After prayers, we were wondering where are the others? All of us are supposed to wait here. A few phone calls later, it seems that it is postponed until after 'Isyak'. What are we supposed to do? Just wait it seems. Nearing 'Isyak', our relatives starts trickling in. Almost all my uncles and aunties managed to find the place (well, they did came for the engagement earlier). I saw Pendek there. Fairus is there too. All must be well, or so I thought.

Suddenly, it is learned that Pak Tih has not arrived yet. A few frantic call were made as everyone is already there. It seems that the dowry and 'hantaran' is with Pak Tih, hence the solemnization could not go on without him, hehehe. Fairus were instructed by Pendek to look for them but unfortunately his car is blocked in. The clock is ticking, and the 'imam' is already there. Its a bit awkward as almost everyone's there, but it could not be started yet.

I offered to look for Pak Tih and instructed Fairus to get into my car. Mak Tih called to inform that they had stopped at one place, which i'm familiar with. We fetch Pak Tih's car, and without another delay, managed to get him to the 'surau' in one piece. Its almost 9.20pm and everybody's getting restless. The solemnization went well and at 945pm, Pendek is officially someone's husband.

The funny thing is, Pak Tih went to the loo, and misses the solemnization.

Congratulations Fadzli and Nurul on your wedding.

Projek Rampisari? What is that?

This is to announce that Projek Rampisari commences 1st February 2008. Keep coming back for updates.

Is grass always greener on the other side?

I was browsing to a friends blog and learnt that she had been offered a job, which pays more at another place. The place she's working now, while has been good in the sense of increasing her practical knowledge in work, do not recognise her hard work and at times smack right of favoritism. She works hard, but unfortunately some of her colleagues belittles her contribution and downright bullies her (maybe its satisfying to bully a bigger person?)

So, after careful consideration, she tendered her resignation much to the chagrin of the company. And who knows, offers come pouring in, right after that. She was even courted by another big company, being interviewed at the CEO's house. Maybe sensing something, the current company counter offered and even threaten to delay her salary in the current month. She relented and retracted her resignation letter.

Apparently she must be very special. So much so that, the big company offered an even bigger salary and more perks to boot. Now she's thinking whether she had made the correct decision to retract her resignation. Well meaning friends are telling her that its a no brainer, just go for the bigger fish. After all, the package offered are very much mouth watering.

Some of us are presented with such choices and at times, the choices are not so clear. I remember a saying, 'The grass are not always greener on the other side of the fence". With higher renumeration, come higher responsibility, expectation and who knows, maybe less free time. Sometime we struck gold and ended up doing what we love to do, for the rest of our lives. But most of the time, we make do with what we have and hope for the best.

When in doubt, look for enlightenment. Only He can assist you in your time of need, for He knows everything. Good luck in whatever decision that you take my friend. You are the one living out that decision, not your friends, however well meaning they can be.

2007 : The year in retrospect

2007 has been a mixed bag, some good and some decisions could be better. But those decision taken is mine, and mine alone, so I have to live with the consequences for the rest of my life. So where do I start?

I don't know where to start. Maybe I should just concentrate on the future (and learn from the mistakes of past year). Hmm, i might just do that.