after a week's work..

• finally got back to work
  
• one week had passed and I spent most of the first week getting myself ready for the tasks ahead
• have a nice big office for myself and a lot of other goodies that come with the job
  
• learning a new accounting application and enjoying the impressive computer services in the office
• for a change, I will now spend more time in the office and my wife more time at home. Baby will have to spend two & a half day in nursery weekly
• baby still on hunger strike whenever she's at the nursery. She's not as chubby as before after three weeks of strike. The current solution is for me to go over to the nursery during lunch hour to feed her
• really grateful and thankful to get this job, and hoping to get another one like this after the contract ends
• the best thing of all, I'm again able to dress up smartly for work. :)
  

severe/extreme weather warnings

• the Met Office has issued severe/extreme weather warnings for North West England
• expecting heavy snow and strong wind over the next few days
• it'll be really cold again
• said to be the coldest winter
• why the coldest when I'm here?
  

first outing in UK

• went on a holiday to Edinburgh and Newcastle during the Christmas break
• posted pics on Facebook but never have the time to post any here
• follow the links below for pics and blog by my wife
• this is lazy but smart blogging
• a few things I realized during this trip (1) other friends live in warm nice houses, we live in a chiller. (2) Meals with cili potong taste much better (got addicted again to chilli)
  
• 5 hours & 20 minutes -along the way to Edinburgh & 1st night there
• Edinburgh Castle
• The Royal Mile
• Edinburgh New Town
• The Elephant House
• Royal Yatch Britannia
• Tantallon Castle
• Newcastle
  

the big impact

• the credit crunch is slowly showing its impact all over the world
• economic conditions in the UK are in pretty bad shape
• companies are calling in administrators, closing down outlets, firing staffs and downsizing
• heard news that conditions in Malaysia are not good as well
• some having to accept pay cut, forced leave, no bonus or increment, etc.
• but one should be grateful to remain having a job and securing a fixed monthly income

how to cope with the credit crunch?

1. spend wisely and avoid buying things that are not needed (remember our needs & want)
2. monthly savings are still required, even when the govt keeps on encouraging us to spend
3. cut down eating out. it's just too expensive. cooking your own meal will be fun and most importantly, cheaper.
   
4. save energy (electricity, petrol, gas). also helps to make the earth greener.
5. pay off credit cards' usage on time. don't let the amount incur any interest.
6. work harder! make sure you don't become the redundant one.
   

2009

• first update for the new year
• started the year horribly
• baby got really sick and admitted to hospital for 9 days
• but she's slowing recovering now
• thanks for all the well wishes and encouragements
• will update again soon. i'm really tired too
  

Merry Christmas

• Merry Christmas!!!
• May all of you have a blessed and joyful Christmas
• No Christmas present coz Santa is busy with something else....
• Recession?
  

Year end

It is the time of the year again for the Christmas and new year celebrations. Well wishes and blessings are exchanged, hoping that everyone will have a merry Christmas and a good year ahead.

It is also a time to reflect back what were done and what not. I have done a lot of things over the year, but there are still a lot of other things that I have not done as well. Time will never be enough for me to do everything I wanted to do. And even if I have the time, there will be other limitations forbidding me in doing so.

One of the most significant events of the year is the temporary relocation to Liverpool. After almost three months, I have yet settle myself comfortably here, still without a permanent job, and still trying to cope with the cold weather. There's just a lot more to be done here and all I need now is to pick myself up, gain back my self confidence and be positive. That's not easy but I am really trying very hard to do just that.

It is most saddening to leave my parent alone in Kuching. This is the first time that I'll be away from home for such a long time. I've enjoyed the comfort of home under the care of my parent for 31 years and suddenly getting out of that comfort zone is really hard to bear. I miss them a lot. I miss home so much.

Other family members are dearly missed as well. My sister's family, my in-laws, uncles and aunties, cousins, etc. Will miss all the get-together and visiting, as well as the good food they always prepare for me, knowing that I like to eat so much.

Miss my bunch of friends as well. Will surely miss all the gatherings and drinking sessions during this festive period and Chinese New Year. They are still thinking where to gather for CNY as I will not be able to host one this coming CNY. I am certain someone else can do the job. Someone will have to take over for the next three CNY. Great bunch of friends. You guys and gals are dearly missed, especially this festive period.

My job also has to make way for my relocation. I remembered that evening that I had to break the news to my superior and then to my boss. I got the words out to my superior, but just do not know how to tell my boss about it. It was my superior who eventually told my boss about it. It's really sad because they've been treating me so well over the last 5 years. I've learned so much from them as well, not only stuffs in the corporate environment but a lot more other things that I could not possibly learn and experience elsewhere. I am ever grateful to have the chance to work so closely with them.

Those are the major "costs" that I paid for coming to Liverpool with my wife and chubby kid. But it is worth paying as I am now able to be with them all the time. Similarly, I will miss them so much if they are here and should I stay back in Kuching. I just cannot imagine how depress I will be then. The opportunity cost forgone will be much greater. This is the right decision.

Many of us will be setting new goals and things to achieve in the coming year. I don't really set goals and targets for myself. Just want to be happy and healthy. What is the use of setting target and goals that will be forgotten in less than a month? It may be useful to many, but doesn't work for me. Everything around us is changing so fast and it is now near impossible to forecast what will happen the next day. So basically goals and targets set will have to change as the surrounding factors change.

I am ending this year on a low. Just want to spend this festive season at home with my wife and chubby kid.