Run, Bunny. Run!

Category: Life

  • CNY Day 2: Purple Lion

    I have no visiting to do today and I’m just relaxing myself at home, watching TV, accompanying my parents and tweaking purplewabbit.com. Please pardon the mess if you see one. I’m doing live tweaking.

    As I was tweaking the site, came a purple lion! I’m not kidding and I’m feeling so ecstatic! I’m supposed to finish writing the entry for the first day of Chinese New Year but this is just too interesting to not write about it. So, I’m going to post this before I start writing yesterday’s entry.

    Usually, either Mummy, Pappy or Iris would be the one giving away the ang pau since I would be behind the camera, taking pictures of my beloved lions. I do love them a lot. I’m a bit obssessed with it as well. But this time, Pappy was out, Mummy in the room being massaged and Iris in the toilet, which left me the only one to give away the ang pau and I just had to put down the camera. So, no picture of the purple lion but I’m still all happy and excited.

    “KONG HEY FATT CHOY!!” A boy shouted.

    I gave him the ang pau and greeted him “fatt choy” in return.

    A Malay boy was holding on to the lion’s tail and he said, “Ada air tak? Nak minum.”

    For the first time in my entire life, I’m seeing this happening. Normally, they would go away after getting their ang pau. But this one asked me for a drink. Lion must be very thirsty.

    Okay, so I ran my way to the back and got an apple-flavoured packet drink. But I thought I ought to get two, one for the Malay boy, another for the boy who greeted me.

    I was on my way to the front when the same boy said, “Tiga!”

    It was for another boy who’s behind the lion’s head.

    So I handed them the packet drinks and they seemed happy.

    “Thank you oh, lenglui. Thank you!”

    That doubles up my happiness!


    I thought I saw a purple lion. I did! I did! I did saw a purple lion!

  • 1st Day of Chinese New Year

    Day 1 CNY Part 1

    Day 1 CNY Part 2

    Day 1 CNY Part 3

    Day 1 CNY Part 4

  • Reunion Dinner


    Mummy: Do you want to go to the market?
    Little Grace: Which market?
    Mummy: Dirty market.
    Little Grace: Doh wan!

    I woke up at 6am today to accompany Mummy to the market to get ingredients to cook for the reunion dinner tonight. Pappy tagged along too. I used to call the wet market, dirty market I because well, yeah it’s dirty. Each time I go with Mummy when I was still a little girl, I would make my way through the fish stalls with much care, trying to avoid the puddle of mud.

    That was why I didn’t really like going to the “dirty” market. I prefer the “super”market.

    Times have changed and people change. I love to go to the dirty market now. I like to go to any market.

    After that, it was breakfast at Mile 1.5 market. Nice!

    The rest of the day was spent decorating the house and tweaking this site of mine.

    Called a friend to see what she was doing. Then, another friend called me in return. I haven’t talk to her for a long time since she’s now working in Canada.

    Tomorrow morning, I’m going to call a friend who’s in Australia now. She’s not coming back to celebrate Chinese New Year here so I thought of sending her greetings from Sandakan. Thanks to the IDD Card I got as a lucky draw during my company’s annual dinner. I have RM250 of talking time. 😉

    It’s 12 midnight now and it’s a wonder to hear dogs barking at the strike of 12. It’s like they know it’s their year!

    I know it’s my year this year. I hope this year would be a good year.

    Kong Hey Fatt Choy!

  • I’m Home!

    Woke up at 5am this morning to get myself prepared for the flight back to Sandakan!

    Upon arriving KLIA, there was a huge crowd of people. All MAS Airlines passengers onboard domestic flights had to check in at Counter B and this time instead of checking in at respective counter according to the destination, all of us were left with no choice but to queue up for common check in. The line was made up of people travelling to Bintulu, Sibu, Langkawi, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and so on. Therefore, you could imagine how long the queue is. I even worried we may not be able to check in in time, judging by the crowd that’s there.

    Met a friend of Iris when we were queueing up so we offered him a place to stand with us instead of queueing up from the start. I met a high schoolmate of mine too when I was in the departure hall.

    It came to a point where a special counter had to be opened to cater for those flying to Kuala Terengganu or Kuching, I can’t really remember because the closing time for check in is near or dued but they were still people left lining up amidst the long queue. A lady even had to run to the boarding hall, with her high heels took off to catch her flight.

    When we were on board the plane and was seated on the emergency exit row on the right side of the plane, Iris and I saw our primary school teachers seated on the left row. (Iris and I, we attended the same primary and secondary school.) Iris wasn’t sure whether the teachers could remember her. I for sure knew they wouldn’t be able to recognise me, given the fact that I’ve graduated from the school 12 years ago.

    To our surprise, they remembered us!

    After that, more passengers boarded the plane and I was just checking whether I get to meet other people that I know. In came a girl, who used to be my primary school classmate. We smiled and she asked, “Which hospital are you working in?”

    I felt funny why she asked me that and before I answer her, she asked, “Or which pharmacy?”

    “No, I studied IT.”

    She felt weird then for I guess she might have heard from someone somewhere that I studied medicine.

    In fact, coming to think of it now, I could just say I work in a psychiatric hospital since lately I deal with lots of customers with emotional disorder.

    In came another girl, my highschool mate who’s working as an engineer. We just smiled and waved.

    Food was not good since we were left with no choice but to have nasi lemak with squid. Omelette would have been a better choice.

    After 2 hours and 45 minutes, Sandakan greeted us with such warmth and hospitality. I went a bit crazy when the plane landed because I was saying “Yes! Yes!” to Iris, who also seemed very excited and happy to be home again. Same goes to the fella, down here.

    Ducky

    While waiting for our luggage, I could see Pappy waiting outside. Then, he came in without me realising and he gave me a hit on the butt. He does it when he sees me. Mummy came too and we went for lunch and rode in Pappy’s newly bought ancient model of Mercedes Benz with Toyota engine. Cool! It was my first time riding in it today!

    Lunch was yummy and was accompanied with Mummy’s own made barley drink when we reached home. It’s Purple Barley, boiled with a plant with purple leaves.

    barley

    It’s so good to be home! 😉

  • Fearless

    I was physically in the office today but my heart was somewhere else.

    Calls today were problematic but I only got to taste the first half of it since I went back at 1pm today.

    Pressed “G” when I entered the lift with more force than ever because I was overjoyed. You should have seen my stupid smiling look while I was in there alone.

    Tank was empty so I went to pump petrol at the nearest Petronas station. A worker helped me with the pump and I stood there waiting. Then, came a man who asked me for direction. He wants to know how he could get to Ipoh but I wasn’t really sure how.

    Another worker came and he gave me a packet of angpows and said, “Thank you for coming.”

    Picked up Iris and we went to watch Jet Li’s Fearless. It started off with a music video by Jay Chou who composed the theme song for the movie. Iris loves Jet Li.

    And now, it’s time to pack!

  • Still in Process

    I have a new definition of happiness. It’s when customers are complaining and scolding you but you still feel so happy because you know you are going home soon!

    That was exactly how I feel today. Such a bliss!

    I was coughing the whole morning and it was really bad. Even Mr.Boss shares the same opinion. I tried to control it while I was on the phone talking but the more I suppress, the more I felt like coughing my lungs out. So, I had no choice but to let it out which of course wouldn’t sound nice on the other end.

    I kept saying “I’m sorry” after I coughed.

    “Sick ah?” One customer asked.

    I couldn’t even answer him. I coughed in reply to his question. Ahaha! Action speaks louder than words anyway.

    Another one asked, “What happened to your voice?”

    “I’m having cough.”

    “Chinese new year is coming already.”

    I certainly need that reminder because I want to be well before I fly home.

    Of course, you would always get to meet painful customers in a day. I had my share too, which has become more like a norm now.

    Sometimes, it’s hard to put words to be interpreted correctly by others. You want to put it as subtle as possible to soothe the customer who’s already very angry and upset. However, words alone can create more anger when interpreted wrongly.

    I have been telling this lady, “It is still in process.”

    She complained to one big shot in the office who wasn’t very pleased at all.

    She came over and said, “Next time, don’t say ‘It’s still in process’. Say, ‘It’s not done yet’ or ‘Cannot be done’”.

    I am very flexible so if that’s what that particular customer wants to hear from me., I’ll know what to tell her the next time I get her call again.

    But the term, “It’s not done yet” and “Cannot be done” when used can also build up bitterness among customers. They would go, “IT’S NOT DONE YET??!!”

    So you see, you’ve got to customized the words used for different customers accordingly.

    On any normal day, maybe I’ll get a little pissed off but today I just buat duh aje. One and a half more days of nonsense and I’ll be back home, indulging in delicious seafood and no traffic jam to beat, lion dance to watch, friends to talk to, parents to be disturbed.

    There was a terrible jam while I drove home from work. It came to a standstill while I was about to approach the Damansara toll so I heeded Priscilla Patrick’s advice to avoid using the exit at Damansara if I’m coming from Subang. Instead, take the exit at Kota Damansara.

    One stupid car just have to block your way as he’s trying to cut the queue.

    “Grace, honk him!” My colleague blurted out.

    I tried to squeeze my way through the oncoming traffic on my right and once I was out free again, I honked out long and loud.

    “Ya, you must honk him. Doesn’t it feel good to just do that?” She added.

    Yes, it felt so good indeed.

  • Lanterns

    I don’t know about you but I love lanterns a lot. Red ones. And I’ve just taken out the lanterns that have been kept dormant since last Chinese New Year to shine again this festive season. I feel so happy just looking at them.

    I saw some more at The Curve today.

    lanterns

    I love money and I’m sure you do too. Lots of it. But I’ve just spent so much today for Chinese New Year shopping that I’m starting to bleed.

    Oh well, setahun hanya sekali, merayakan hari yang mulia ini.

  • Working Blues

    Pappy replied the email I sent to him about the terrible day I had just a few days ago.

    It was entitled, “Working Blues”.

    Pappy, like Mummy, would always tell me that since I’m being paid to do my job, I should just do it, nevermind the bitterness that comes with the package. Pappy would say, working life is like that.

    So, it makes me wonder whether I’m weak or not strong enough, therefore unable to turn terrible things that happened into positive challenges. Or, it’s just a period of transition from studying life to working life so there need be a time where adjustment would come into the picture (it has been 10 months and I’m still adjusting?) Since both worlds vary, I’m just not accepting the fact that it’s tougher when you come out to work. Or, that my parents come from very poor families and have gone through many hardships (I am sure it would be ten times worse than what I’m going through now) that they think I ought to just hang in there.

    Or, maybe they just want me to feel better.

    Whatever it is, I will just hang in there while looking for better opportunities. I’ve said this for a thousandth times, I know.

    It’s not the job that I can’t do but the emotional torture I go through most of the days.

    I’m okay when it comes to weekend. Maybe that’s why weekend exists. To allow us to breathe and perform some sanity check.

  • Ubat Batuk Cap Ibu dan Anak

    Coughed the whole day. *ahaks ahaks*

    Biggest achievement today was when I managed to locate the 3 copies of papers that meant so much to a customer.

    “Grace, a guy will be there to see you. You arrange it accordingly, okay?”

    The guy came. His name is Tommy. He knew me before I could even speak my name. Handed out his name card to me, which was already held in his hand before I even appear.

    We shook hands. I know mine are cold. They are always cold.

    He gave me a copy of the document but I told him I need 3 original copies. He made a phone call back to the office and then pass the mobile phone to me to speak to the girl.

    “I have already return the documents to you last week or on Monday. Can you help to check for me?”

    Grace went treasure hunting.

    “Grace, did you find it already?” She called again.

    “Nope. Not yet. Do you know who did you pass it to?”

    “I didn’t write any name. But I put it in this big white envelope.”

    Grace approached a colleague who has the highest possibility of having the documents. However, she asked me to check with the Finance department. And so I went to talk to this lady and she didn’t want to even look at me when she speaks, which I totally hate.

    “You ask Ms.L, she would know.” She said.

    “But Ms.L asked me to ask you.”

    “I don’t know.” Still not looking at me and gave me an unpleasant look, which I totally hate too.

    I went back to Ms.L and again I asked her politely of the possibilities of anyone who might have seen the documents.

    Nil.

    I tried my luck with the receptionist since they are the one with the first contact with the customers. She checked on the log book but found no records. I described the envelope to her and she began to remember things. She said it might be with Ms.S.

    However, Ms.S was in a meeting and it would take a while. I could only wait.

    The phone rings again.

    “Grace, have you found it already?”

    “Tak de lah. So now I have to wait for my other two colleagues to come out from the meeting and I will ask them if they have it.”

    “Grace, ini urgent lah. Tolong saya? Boleh tak?”

    “Boleh. Tapi kena juga tunggu lepas meeting.”

    “Boleh tak you suruh mereka keluar dari meeting. Saya urgent ni.”

    “Tak boleh lah. Meeting tu urgent juga. Lepas mereka keluar, tentu saya tanya.”

    “Kalau macam tu, okay lah.”

    Finally, I managed to get hold of the last person who would determine the end of the treasure hunt.

    “Do you remember receiving a white envelope with documents in it?” I asked.

    “Oh…I think I have it in my drawer.”

    She unlocked it and ta da!!! I found it! A bit appalled of why it landed in her drawer but I wasn’t in the mood to start investigating.

    I called the customer.

    “Dah dapat dah. Saya tolong arrange kan lepas lunch okay? Sebab person in charge dah keluar.”

    “Secepat mungkin ya, Grace?”

    Later after that, she called again.

    “Grace, belum keluar makan ke? Cakap nak keluar pukul 1?”

    “Oh, setengah jam lagi.”

    “Grace, thank you so so so so much!”

    Sometimes, that is all it takes. A thank you to make my day, despite the bouncing here and there, people not looking at you when they talk. It was important to her because if I don’t help her, she would get good firing from her boss. And also that the consignee at destination won’t be able to clear the goods from the port.

    Mr.Boss once said, our job is to help the customers and make them feel happy even if it means internally, people may not find us loveable.

    Sneezed the whole day and now I must retire to my bed.