Razee In A Gaze

I am more than a mere 10 minute test. However, it is an eerie feeling to realise how close this is to home.

Effin' headshrinkers. :)

posted from Bloggeroid

I never seem to ..

Learn.

Sometimes it us better to say no to people.

Especially when not saying no translates into causing myself some difficulty.

Can't seem to develop the ability to just decline helping people.

Most times I feel stupid for being so easy. Other times, I feel like I have done a good thing.

Many will say I have done a favour and that is a good deed well done.

So, If I have done a good deed, why is it so hard for people to simply return the deed in a fair amount of time?

I never seem to.......

Learn.

posted from Bloggeroid

Grrrrrr!

What happens when one feels cunty!



Eat some Ice-Cream to cool off!

posted from Bloggeroid

Can you not tho!

Gahh. Something new every day. Every day.

posted from Bloggeroid

Hipster-Crazy Food Fad

Saw a peculiar video on the net recently about a new dessert called 'Raindrop Cake'.

You know, this one below.


Barely 2 seconds into it, the chef in me clawed out all upset about the thing being called a cake when it is literally an agar based glop of water.

Guess what? These people also agree that it is NOT a cake by any definition.










Them Hipsters are a weird lot I tell you.

posted from Bloggeroid

Langkawi Food Quirks

One interesting quirk about Langkawi is that halal Chinese style hawker food can be very hard to find.

I have lived here for more than 40months and have not once found a place that offers good dry style Pan Mee.

The local Malaysian eatery chain Old Town Coffee does have a version of it but the taste is far from what I would call delicious.

And therefore I pounced on a bowl offered in one of the lowerground foodstalls at IPC (formerly known as Ikano Power Center), Mutiara Damansara.




This was relatively similar to the one we created in Malaysia Airlines' Golden Lounge a few years back.

And what a joy it was to be able to partake in this scrumptious densely textured noodle dish redolent with sweet, spicy chilli and salty undertones.

Unfff.

posted from Bloggeroid

Gahhh!! Lesson in HDD Lifespan

The laptop HDD died today.

Essentially destroying years of memories in the form of pictures, videos and other choice digital knick-knacks.

All my years of stuff from my MH days to the current timeline is lost. Quite possibly, forever.

@#%&#%+

posted from Bloggeroid

Stupid Things On The Net: Party (Huh, Really?)

Oh, but you did attend the party. 

Remember a few months ago,

 when you did the horizontal tango?

Gahh!

If I could split myself into 10 persons I would have less to worry about work. Running a team of 20 persons is driving me up the wall.

Gahhh!

FB Farce

Imagine going through your FB feed and stumbling upon a post about a certain 'wakil rakyat' in Langkawi given an extra new task

So people were commenting, essentially congratulating the chap and them suddenly you reach a post by a commenter you know asking said Wakil Rakyat to impose Hudud Laws and Hapuskan GST.

Dude! Really? Seems a whole lot disingenuous to ask for implementation of the hudud laws when you partake in a lot of recreational drinks and chemicals.

Wow.

Langkawi Chronicles: Shifting Goalposts.

Another round of inspection.

Another round of shifting goalposts.

posted from Bloggeroid

End of the line brotha!

You may recall that a few months back I was that close to letting a new staff go for being absent from work. Gave the kid a chance, let him rejoin us after a short 'cooling off' period.

All was fine for a few weeks, then he started not showing up for work. Not long stretches of course, just a day of being missing. When contacted, he would not respond either the SMS or the calls we do.

Counselling sessions, Show cause letters an even Warning letters were issued in trying manage this problem of truancy. But alas to no real lasting effect. The kid will be apologetic and be on the straight and narrow. And about a month later it will repeat.

Thus I am certain that a career with us is not what he is after. A  few weeks ago he was absent again and it was his final strike. We were to raise a motion to let him go, but his team mates appealed on his behalf asking to give him a last chance. When he is around he certainly can work sufficiently well. So I relented.

Sat him down with the team to go over the final ground rules and he was told in no uncertain terms that this is the last chance.

A few days back, he did it again. He has already used up his chances and get-out-of-jail tickets. That is that then.

Sigh.

The ties that bind!

I recently acquired a new staff to replace another that was about to leave. Did the screening as per usual and ending with an interview session. The kid seemed like a suitable candidate. Correct previous work experience too. The first few days he was sufficiently capable. Then one day he did not turn up for work. When I contacted him, he said he was unwell and on medical leave. He did seem under the weather the few preceding days.

The next day he came back to work and was again in the swing of things, as we were neck deep with a group based handling. When I asked him about his Medical leave documentations, he stated he did not have one. Apparent he was so ill he could not go to the clinic (then why did you tell me you were on MC?). Disciplined him accordingly and let him continue his work.

Then a few days later, he was absent again, the next day as well. On the third day of absence, I contacted him to ask him if he was interested in continuing his employment.  Alas, my calls went unanswered.  Wrote him off as absent without leave and prepared a motion for dismissal due to absence for 3 days.  I also left him voicemails and SMS so that he could respond in case there were mitigating circumstances.

I also contacted his next of kin but they too did not answer my calls or respond to my voicemail/sms. Submitted the motion for dismissal back to HQ and he was let go. On the 4^th day of absence, suddenly at 7.30pm, during Maghrib prayer time, his father contacted me appealing for his son’s continued employment with us.

Somehow, the kid and his family got into a tiff and he had not returned home for 2 days. Dad also asked me to, in his own words, to ‘Tarbiah’ the kid when he returns to work, which I understood as give a dressing down on work ethics. He went further to state that the Kid’s brother had been recently thrown out of their home due to ‘Ketegaq’. His voice suggested to me that he seemed proud of doing so, as if it made him an accomplished disciplinarian. He did not know however that I have already filed for his other son’s dismissal.

Reading between the lines, I made the assumption that this staff of mine may have a hard time at home with a peculiar disciplinarian. I texted the kid to come in and present his case to me and we will see how to proceed from there and to collect his pay due.

The kid dropped by 3 days later and after careful questioning (I have my methods); I came to know that his dad had already kicked him out the first day of the tiff. He had gone out with a few friends and slept at their place, waking up really late for work. He had rushed home to get cleaned up and rush to work. In his haste he had been questioned by his mom and dad and some regretful reactions occurred. Being young and hot-headed, he lashed out and unfortunately, so did his dad, throwing him out.

Despite my mind screaming out not to care, my heart pitied that this kid is like a lost lamb.

I probably should not, but I want to give the kid another chance so that by acquiring a job with us, he can prove to his family that he wants to change for the better.

I have a bitter taste in my mouth, as what kind of father would kick out a 19 year old onto the streets like that, along with his 22 year old brother before him. Both kids have not returned home since. What sin would cause a father and mother to do such a drastic move like this?

What happens if your kids fall into even worse kinds of people and start abusing drugs? Or start committing crimes due to hardship? Or they fall ill or get involved in horrible traffic accident? What would your tears mean by then Dad, Mom? There is a host of possible bad things that can happen to young people of there without supervision, care and love. Sure, stay positive and hope no bad thing will occur. I would rather be prepared and be sure.

And the Darwin award goes to......

I am sure there are many more layers to this story than was implied. I still would err on the side of caution.

So, to parents, if you are not ready to become real parents, stop doing the horizontal tango and burdening yourselves with the responsibility and honour of raising a child. The world will be a better place without you breeding and transferring your pathetic notion of a parent’s infallibility to your progeny.

Don’t hide behind the religious duty of procreating and cultivating humanity when you can’t even understand the flawed, yet fundamentally innocent mind of a child.

Buat malu Mak Bapak saja nanti!

I pray to God I don’t do this to my own kids in the future.

BR1M = Bagi Rasuah 1 Malaysia?

At first reading, the twisted 'Bagi Rasuah 1 Malaysia' wordplay on BR1M elicited a snicker from me. But then after a while, I realised what a cruel statement it actually is. 

So you say the Government is bribing those are entitled. Your statement also by default suggest those who receive the BR1M are corrupt and love receiving bribes.

So if you have an Aunt/Uncle, Granny/Atuk, or who ever, or the poor,or a lonely Anak Yatim who is eking out a living in receipt of the financial aid to also be pemakan rasuah? 

Tolonglah orang melayu ku. Jangan lah mulut jahat sangat. Ataupun adakah hati kita dah jadi terlalu hitam hingga semua yg berbeza dari kita layak di hina. 

Kadang kala rasa macam Melayu semakin mundur. 

Ke, sentap kerana permohonan bantuan untuk diri sendiri ditolak? 

Go and stab yourselves in the eye and rid us of your idiocy!

Holiday of Meh

So here we are, closer to the end of the year, much to be happy about all that has happened.

Planned to take a bit of leave for some personal holidaying but the wish got hijacked by a greater want. So drove home, and just killed time doing things i didnt really feel like doing.

A whole week passed me by filled with errands and driving from one destination to the next. Strangely like every other day for the past year.

o_o"

I need a holiday from my holiday really. Oh well.
Syukur anyways.

posted from Bloggeroid

Mind Fart!

Gahh!
Did a stupid
a few days ago!

Down For The Count

So here we go again. More upheavals at my former workplace.

Apparently the decision had been made to reassign for 4 staffers into another area. While the right to move personnel around lies with the management, it should ideally be done after taking into consideration the affected personnel's contribution and background is suited for the new area.

It will not do for the management to just willfully plonk staff into area that is not suited to their skills set. service personnel with food and beverage expertise would do best in an area with similar needs. This will ensure the staff and the intended target area both benefit.

It is folly to force a carpenter be a butcher, as much as it is folly to turn a race car driver into a fisherman overnight. Would you ask an electrician to fly an aircraft?

So, the issue here is why did this happen? My guess, supported by my own learning and experience, is that the powers that be has failed to understand the core competencies of its own manpower, and therefore failed to effectively utilise them.

Now, in an effort to disguise this inability, the seemingly ineffective staffers are 'redeployed' to an area requiring extra hands. training can certainly be provided to the affected persons, even proper career planning meetings to delineate the company vision and strategy for the staff, but all this still comes with the added sacrifice of employee morale and time. Reality however, is often in the negative end of the spectrum; minimal training, most cursory briefing and
consultation.

I can not make the accusation that this move was done with other intent as i havent any proof, but it certainly can be construed to reek of nepotism and the ultimate result of misdirection. Affected staff often have to deal with the unsavoury perception of being unwanted bad apples or non-performing workers. Their former contribution becoming less than a footnote.

Surely the powers that be are not that unseeing right? A leader who should be involved from end to end in an operation such as customer management & food and beverage service must realise that their manpower is wasted by not assigning the right tasks. If steps are not taken to remedy the underlying problem, then penalising the staff is the easiest way out.

It is my fervent hope that the leaders concerned use the opportunity to look back and fix this problem, and for the staff to also look inward and analyse what they may have done (or not do, if such is the case) so that both parties can have a common ground for reconciliation. Assuming of course both sides still care enough for one.


Otherwise, perhaps being rejected is indeed a positive thing. New challenges can be good for the soul.


Why do i even care one could ask? Because watching something beautiful fall into ruin is a horrible thing. Letting it continue is even worse

posted from Bloggeroid

Getting My Goat!

Saw a few pictures posted on FB today.

They were of the staffers in my former workplace enjoying some hot beverages and what appears to be Lasagna. My eyes were immediately drawn to the fact that they were eating and drinking right in the open in what should be the guest dining area.

The FB timestamp suggested that the post was put up at about 5 AM. Sure, they could have done so when the place had closed for the day (a very short window, but yes, still quite plausible). But there they were, happy grins and posing for the camera, possibly in full view of customers.


That really got my goat!

F&B staffers should not have been allowed to consume food and beverages in guest areas. Full stop.

Shit like this was unheard of during my time there. I was a difficult person to please, and I refused to let up the high ideals I hold that was taught to me.

Apparently, it would seem that since the start of the new vendor operations, fewer and fewer people cared about keeping high standards. Fewer still are those who monitor service operations.

It breaks my heart. I alert this to a few of my former colleagues and they related that this indeed was the result of reduced monitoring on the contractor's part.

I don't know why I care so much about it but I am not going to take it lying down. 

Langkawi Chronicles: Regression.

Been here a while now. Been patient for a long while now.

Yet some have opted to equate kindness with me being a pushover. I told myself before I did this Langkawi gig to not be the mean professional bastard I was while in KLIA.

Heck, the first week I was here, someone contacted my wonderful assistant asking whether En Razee 'Garang tak?", and the answer was no.

But after so many months of trying to inculcate good habits and behaviour amongst some of my staff, and to always 'Do it right the first time', the nice way is not going to quite work. So, the next logical step is to crack the whip.

Coaching and counselling can only work to an extent.

Whip it is then.

Get your sorry asses back to work!

Sod It!

So here I am, working in Langkawi, enjoying my new life and learning new things.

Then I get a message from a friend (and former MAS mate) that new things are happening in MAS and they are interested in setting up a new F&B Product Development Department in MAS. They have already appointed a new VP and things are moving along fairly quickly.

My friend then asks whether I would be returning to MAS after I complete my 1 year Leave-Without-Pay this coming 30th October 2013. I am flattered really, that a few close friends and colleagues had suggested and supported my return.

About 2 months back, a different former colleague and ex-Uni mate contacted me and offered me a position in his department.

A month ago, the new boss of my old department, also suggested my return.

Now, despite what people would say, flattery does win influence over people (and I admit I use it like a useful weapon sometimes), but I can't shake off the feeling that I will be yet another tool. A mere cog in the scheme of things, where people who have no real inkling of what it takes to conduct Food & Beverage Service well, lord over the people who actually win and keep customers.

Strange really because I miss my KL life and MAS Colleagues terribly, some of whom are very nice people. The date is looming closer by the minute, yet I really can't honestly say whether I will come back to MAS. Oh, the irony of it, the return of the prodigal albeit rant-y, son!

Right this very second though, I do feel like fucking screaming to those who let it come to this. After all the insult and ignominy you put me through, you finally realise I was actually adding value to the team and company? That I added a special esprit de corp to the team? After years of downplaying, to the point of running me to the ground financially, you expect me to happily skip back to square one? And you finally think I had made several excellent developments, and had vision?

Sod it! Thank you very much.

Come back with a good offer and then we'll talk. Sure, it ain't all about the money honey, but it pays the bills.