Lembu is Missing - But Replaced

This small kitten, aptly named "Lembu" by Yameen who have been with us for a few months, suddenly went missing. It came to us during the fasting month, frail looking and thin. We took it in, takes good care of her and even made ready a cosy bed for her in the kitchen. But suddenly, one fine day last week, she left and never came back.

"Lembu"

One fine evening, while walking back home from the field, Ang was followed by a small cute little kitten. Then, according to him; 3 other kittens emerged out of the bush and together followed him. We took all the 4 kittens and since then takes care of all of them.

We have not named any of them as yet. It has been 3 weeks now and they are all healthy, cute and very manja.

Guiding them were at first not easy, however after a few coaxing by our Kak Yanti, they all now know where to do their 'business' and sleeps together with Kak Yanti in her bedroom.

They might by somebody's cute little kittens. We know that as when they arrived, they are all cleaned and already cute. If anybody comes and claim them, we will gladly give them up, if it is the real owner who comes to claim!

There you have it Meen. Lembu had been missing for about 3 weeks. She had been 'technically' replaced by 4 other cute ones, aren't they ???!!!

Thought 23NOV2007

ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Get to know yourself - what you can do and what you cannot do - for only you can make your life happy. Believe that by working, learning and achieving, you can reach your goals and be successful.

Believe in your own creativity as a means of expressing your true feelings. Believe in appreciating life. Be sure to have fun everyday and to enjoy the beauty in the world.

Believe in love. Love your friends, your family, yourself and your life. Believe in your dreams and your dreams can become a reality.
by Susan Polis Schutz

Terrible or not, difficult or not, the only thing that is beautiful, noble, religious, and mystical is to be happy - Arnaud Desjardins

Thought 22NOV2007

TWELVE LIFE VALUES

The Value of Time

The Success of Perseverance

The Pleasure of Working

The Dignity of Simplicity

The Worth of Character

The Power of Kindness

The Influence of Example

The Obligation of Duty

The Wisdom of Economy

The Virtue of Patience

The Improvement of Talent

The Joy of Origination

extracted from 'Management Thoughts' by Promod Batra, Golden Book Centre Sdn Bhd, reprinted 1995

The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have, and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach - Chinese Philosopher Lin Yu-Tang

Apai's Convocation - 21NOV2007

Today our eldest son Fairuz (Apai) graduated Bachelor of Science - Architecture (2nd Class Upper) from University Teknology MARA.

One of our proudest moment having children.

The beautiful sunny but hot and humid day does not damper loads and loads of parents who came from all over the country to watch their children received their scroll.
We had special access right and parking right next to the hall, as Dean Mala has VVIP sticker since she need it to attend her Faculty's Convocation. The rest of the parents were transported in by UiTM purple coloured beautiful busses.

May the world be kinder to our children - starting life

Thought 21NOV2007

THE COOKIE THIEF
A woman was waiting at an airport one night, With several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shop, Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see, hat the man beside her, as bold as could be, Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between, Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene. She read, munched cookies and watched the clock, As the gutsy "cookie thief" diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!" With each cookie she took, he took one too. When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do. With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half. He offered her half, as he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother, This guy has some nerve, and he's also rude, Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!" She had never known when she had been so galled, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, Refusing so look back at the "thieving ingrate." She boarded the plane and sand in her seat, Then sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her luggage, she gasped with surprise. There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!" If mine are here," she moaned with despair, "Then the others were his and he tried to share!" Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!
Valerie Cox - extracted from 'a 3rd serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul', Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen, Health Communications, Inc; 1996

Tough times don't last, but tough people do - French Proverb

Thought 20NOV2007

A LEADERSHIP PRIMER - [lesson 16]
{this is the last in the series}
"The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise"
Too often, the reverse defines corporate culture. This is one of the main reasons why leaders like Ken Iverson of Nucor Steel, Percy Barnevik of Asea Brown Boveri, and Richard Branson of Virgin have kept their corporate staffs to a bare-bones minimum - how about fewer than 100 central corporate staffers for global $30 billion-plus ABB? Or around 25 and 3 for multi-billion Nucor and Virgin, respectively? Shift the power and the financial accountability to the folks who are bringing in the beans, not the ones who are counting or analyzing them.
General Colin Powell - Chairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of Staff - Former Secretary of State - USA

Always talk big and you will never be forgotten - French Proverb

Thought 19NOV2007

A LEADERSHIP PRIMER - [lesson 15]
Part I : "Use the formula P=40 to 70, in which P stands for the probability of success and the numbers indicate the percentage of information acquired"
Part II : "Once the information is in the 40 to 70 range, go with your gut"
Don't take action if you have only enough information to give you less than a 40 percent chance of being right, but don't wait until you have enough facts to be 100 percent sure, because by then it is almost always too late. Today, excessive delays in the name of information-gathering breeds "analysis paralysis." Procrastination in the name of reducing risk actually increases risk.
General Colin Powell - Chairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of Staff - Former Secretary of State - USA

Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something - French Proverb

BSU - Operations Dept, Affin Bank - Gathering 18NOV2007

For the 2nd time, they organised a gathering of all former and present Branch Supervision Unit staff of Operations Department AFFIN Bank. This time it was at held at Renaissance Hotel. About 45 people attended the gathering. Some brought grown up kids, growing kids, small children and cucus.Rahim, Sidah, Me, Midah and Midah's daughter.

Norazha, Mrs Norazha, Midah & Fazi

Banyak nak cerita - Khamsiah & Sidah

Some others invited could not make it. They will be organising another one soon. Some thought that it would be nice to organise them every half-yearly. After all they do get great bonuses from AFFIN, so what's the problem.

Alin, Sidah and Hariana (dah kurus)

It was a wonderful idea to hold these gatherings so we may keep in touch and not forget each other when the meetings and interactions are done continuously.

The whole gang (most of them) were there.

Gathering started from 12:30 pm and is supposed to end by 4:00 pm. Somehow or rather, due to lots of old stories to be talked about and some catching up to do, we ended leaving Renaissance Hotel at 5:30 pm after the buffet tables have been cleared (macam suruh balek je).

Spending some time for photographs

The group photos before we left

It was 5 hours well spent. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Looking forward to the next one.

Ampang Road Boys School 1971

Dr Dzulkifly Hashim, my primary school friend send me this photo (with his wife Mar, in it). I could not remember when and where this photo was taken. But it must have been Form 3 in Ampang Road Boys School, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

As far as I can remember, standing the most left is Ahmad Zaki (who was once Director of Pusat Terjemahan Negara), then Shukran (then lived in Kg Dato' Keramat), then me. Standing most right is Khairuddin and next to him is Fadzil (Ahmad Zaki's twin brother). The twins used to live in the Jalan Bunus Flats next to the river on Jalan Tun Razak (now where the flyover connecting Tun Razak to Ampang over the river - near Megan Philleo). I used to live at the Jalan Aman (Jalan Damai) Police Barracks. I could not remember of the girls at all (apparently they all went to Ampang Road Girls School) next to our school (behind Sucasa).

Thought 16NOV2007

A LEADERSHIP PRIMER - [lesson 14]
"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand"
Effective leaders understand the KISS principle, Keep It Simple, Stupid. They articulate vivid, over-arching goals and values, which they use to drive daily behaviors and choices among competing alternatives. Their visions and priorities are lean and compelling, not cluttered and buzzword-laden. Their decisions are crisp and clear, not tentative and ambiguous. They convey an unwavering firmness and consistency in their actions, aligned with the picture of the future they paint. The result : clarity of purpose, credibility of leadership, and integrity in organization.
General Colin Powell - Chairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of Staff - Former Secretary of State - USA

Love is the dawn of marriage, and marriage is the sunset of love - French Proverb