Wow.

I just heard that Bergson proposed to Mei last Sat. I can’t wait to hear the details!

Yes, I know that’s so girl.
Yes, I know that’s another one on the bandwagon. I’m so glad for them!!

[Oh, and I found a team member who lives really near me in SS17. Double WOW, I'm going to suggest we carpool. That should save me at least RM200 a month!]

I’m a little cog wheel, round and snug.

Today’s the middle of my fourth week in WK. Next Monday, I qualify for the company jacket. Yay! Well, I like it ‘cos it’s soft and comfy to snuggle in.

Other than a bout of restless boredom yesterday and today, it’s been a good ride. I like the view so far. Roger told me that this job was a secure, boring one with limited possibilities for advancement, which is true. But it’s also still a young set-up that’s in the process of growing. By that, I’m referring to the Cyberjaya operations and not CCH or WK.

So. I’ve attended three team meetings with our Asian publishing mangers in the past two days and a company-wide meeting last Thurs with Kay More, our managing director. The new kid on the block, fresh out of training and taking it all in. While I haven’t done any work yet, I’ve been able to follow them bigwigs as they talk about visions and missions and all the bigwig stuff. It’s actually rather exciting to hear all the goals and plans and see the big picture, and see where your role in turning the huge machinery of CCH Asia.

Kay More went through our overall strategies in 2007, while Audrey and Belinda-the Asian publishing mangers-covered strategies in each of the countries we are in: Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and China. This included each country’s target markets, market profiles, CCH’s market position and our competitors. There were figures, revenues and percentages galore in Belinda’s presentation on Monday!

I personally enjoyed Audrey’s session yesterday the most. It was a rather informal session on the evolution of our products and how our customers use them. Her session gave insight on why our managers make the demands that they do and the nature of the industry itself, with its cycles and peaks. The last meeting with Belinda on our product development process was informative but not entirely memorable 24 hours later. And no, I didn’t take any notes.

All in all, I’m rather proud of my company’s history, market position and products. And this is not just an at-first-sight infatuation or the idealism of a green work-drone. I was very proud of my former workplace too. Basically, I like to take pride in my work. Which means when I finally start working on my product, I’d better do it well. Which means I should refresh my memory soon on what I’m supposed to do instead of wasting all my time away now.

Oh, how I love thee, let me count the ways!

I like the way my life has been shaping up these past three weeks. Never in my life have I had such a consistent, disciplined routine.

Now, I
1) drink enough water every day (never before),
2) check and clean my car on schedule (miracles do happen!),
3) manage my laundry flawlessly, (no more accumulating tonnes of clothes to wash and iron! All my mending’s done!) and
4) read my Bible regularly in the morning (finally getting the hang of morning devotions)
5) Picked up my habit of bring fresh fruits and veg to eat at work.

I help out with the dishes most days and I cooked dinner on Sunday night from scratch. Of course, there are still areas to improve on. Like going to bed on time so I can get rid of the shadows beneath my eyes. And regularly exercising, drinking milk and taking my vitamins. Well, I still dislike the idea of pill-popping but hey, welcome to Responsible Adulthood!

With all its trappings of financial independence, disposable income, the feeling of having finally gained a wee bit perspective of life and a solid track record of God to draw upon.

You know, it’s supposed to be the start of the era of the Stable, Committed Relationship. It’s About Time. According to Me Thinks. Yet, here I am still as single as a stick stuck in the middle of a Prairie. Which isn’t quite where I want to be, just to clarify.

So my last post on relationships referred (primarily) to hot-headed college kids. The wide-eyed, idealistic and unknowing type. I quite think I’m past that stage-whether I really am, who knows? I do know that I don’t like not being with some one, to borrow Roger’s phrase. I want to Snuggle and Cuddle and Do Nice Things With and For. And despite being told so, twenty-four doesn’t seem “…still young to start looking for a prospective partner”. It doesn’t seem so to me. Besides, the girl I sat next to during training’s married with a young daughter.

She's twenty six.

Even Roger (look here!) and Jon are jumping (okay, okay; slowly climbing) onto the marriage bandwagon. Somewhat. A couple of years back, they would have gone into convulsions and started foaming at the mouth if you mentioned the ‘ big M’ word to them, especially in front of their respective partners. But that reaction has become a thing of the past. And you know what?

These guys are my peers. In my age-group. And it’s not like they’re isolated cases. The theme of matrimony has been playing steadily in the background for a while now. Even our Christmas musical dealt with it,look set to intensify as more young couples take up premarital counselling or start talking about taking it. Oh, joy.

Someone told me yesterday that sometimes, God gives you something when you stop looking for it. which was a departure from our usual family-in-conflict orientation. Things Maybe that’s a good strategy. But…

But men don't like to stop and ask for directions.

It started at the end of last year. One by one, relationships I knew were shaken. It seemed to be the season for storms and earthquakes as 2006 closed.

I’m talking about couples. Both couples I know and couples I know about.

Some didn’t survive. Others did, but with gaping holes and makeshift patches over portions of walls that have blown away. Yet, the occupants still continue to shelter under the creaky roof of that relationship. Where else is there to go anyway?

So all relationships are tested. Ultimately, all relationships also disappoint.

So what’s wrong here?

It’s sad to see two hearts start out with all the best intentions in the world, and then shipwreck on rocks they didn’t see.

If only they had stopped to ask for directions.

Scratch

Let's be Pooh and Piglet.
You'll be the Pooh and I'll be Piglet.
Pooh and Piglet.


Tiddly-tum, rum-ti-tum.
Pom-

POM!