Flat tummy in 10 weeks?

Illustration only: Bukan perut sebenar yer...

I've always been a potato couch person rather than a regular gym visitor person. I rather eat less to maintan my weight and body shape. If I put on a bit of weight and looked chubby-er than usual.. I'll be just fine. Recent self-realisation strikes me that (antara bukti2nya, lari 200m pun dah pancit, main futsal tak sampai 5 min dah semput, bukak tutup jam pun tak kuat..huhuhu) , exercise is not just about building body shape. I need to workout to increase my body strength and energy which I'm lacking now.

My resolution?... I'm visiting the gym again!! I know that, to do so (going to the gym) regularly is a really really tough task. Even, the possibility of 'cuci mata' looking at hot guys workout in the gym can't really inject my spirit (maybe I know that most of them are gays kot..hehehe). But I will try my best.. huhuhu.. SEMANGAT!!! (bak kater Bintang dlm citer Intan tuh)

p/s: After 10 weeks.. dapat jadik cam 'After' tu ker?

Terima Kasih - atas kehadiran dan doa restu

Inilah hasil kerja hujung minggu imah for the past 3 weekends (yang kononya boleh disiapkan dalam 5 hari nih). Seronok jugak buat benda alah nih, although imah akan cuba sedaya upaya utk tak membuat benda remeh temeh nih for my own wedding.. hahaha.. jauh lagi perjalanan my own wedding tuh.. aper2 pun, just got a confirmed news recently that my own family wedding is coming soon this year!!!! Siapakah gerangan yang akan berkawin itu? Ajim? ataupun Mak Imah? ataupun one of the cats? huhuhu..wat saspen jer...

Smarter Planet Series: Extract oil and gas efficiently

We all feel the impact of higher oil prices. The average Malaysian feels the effect when he orders his favourite meal at the mamak stall because an increase in oil prices translates to an increase of everything else in the supply chain. As we move towards a renewable future, we need to shape our hydrocarbon present in ways that are more efficient, affordable and protective of the environment.
- Ou Shian Waei, CGM, IBM Malaysia

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[Read about how we make oil and gas smarter in The Edge]

Courtesy of Comms, IBM Malaysia

Alamak!

Alamak! Kena 'Touch n Go' oleh Angah plak.. huhuhu.. Angah!! Tak nak jawab boleh tak?!!! tapi stiker tuh cam comel..hehehehe

1. Copy badge "2008 Cute Blogger Award" di atas untuk diletakkan di blog anda - OK dah.
2. Link/ceritakan kembali siapa yang memberikan award ini kepada anda
Angah kusayang!!! Saper Angah ni ek? Yg penting bukan kakak No.2 imah.. hehehe.. Salah seorang kakak RizAngels yg imah kenal waktu fanatik ngan AF6 dulu.. 1st time jumpa waktu kat Melaka.. kami bukan setakat dijodohkan duduk se-apartment dan sebilik..tapi juga sekatil..wahh!!!panas..panas..panas..

Seorang yang caring.. kelakar tahap membasahkan gusi.. pendengar yg baik-citerla aper pun masalah kat dier, gerenti dia dengar.. kreatif- imah sangat suka membaca nukilan2 jiwang nyer yg sungguh menusuk kalbu..seorg 'mesin informasi bergerak'..hahaha..kira boleh 'scroll' macam2 info dari angah nih especially filem2 terbaru di pasaran..friendly.. fun.. the only person yg imah kenal boleh tepek ENO kat mate..huahuahua.. mmg best sgt dapat berkenalan dengan angah..

3. Setiap blogger mesti menyatakan 10 fakta/hobi diri sendiri sebelum memilih penerima award seterusnya.. (anda di-tag!)
- Sangat suka kucing.. Kucing tepi jalan pun imah boleh layan.. huhuhu
- Minat muzik and menyanyi.. paling suka..menyanyi dalam keta.. huahuahua..
- Tak boleh hidup tanpa TV.. punca informasi and hiburan saya..
- Like to keep things simple and not complicated.. If membuat sesuatu menjadikan hidup/keadaan lebih complicated.. imah akan choose untuk tidak melakukannya..
- Most first impression of people about me is that imah sombong or/and diorg takut/segan ngan imah. Tak taula kenapa yer..
- Seorang yg berdarah gemuruh..hehehe.. kalau kena buat presentation or buat anything depan org ramai..otomatik terus menggeletar satu badan..hahaha..
- Kali terakhir bercinta adalah tahun 2002..wah!!! 6-7 tahun gak tak mencintai dan dicintai..hati yg penuh kegersangan nih.. (terasa poyo sekejap ngan statemen last tuh..hehehe)
- Tak suka org cakap tak serupa bikin.. mmg sgt tak suka.. "cakap jer lebih, kalau x buat tak gunala!!!"
- Went to 9 different schools dari Darjah 1 - Form5 (SRK Padang Tembak, SRK Lembah Keramat, SRK Taman Melawati 1, SRK Kem Terendak, SRK Kelana Jaya 2, SRK Taman Permata, SMK Lembak Keramat, SMK Batu Lintang, SM Sains Kuching)
- Tak tahan sejuk..especially air-cond..

p/s: phew...tamat jugak.. susah jugak nak listkan 10 fakta nih..huhuhu

4. Anda perlu memilih 6 penerima award seterusnya dan menyatakan nama mereka di blog anda.Akhirnye dah menghampiri ke garisan penamat... sapa ekkk yang layak. Bukan senang nak bagi penamaan calon-calon nih sbb semua yang dikenali hebat-hebat belaka.
Gerenti grup RizAngels telah 'TnG'..huhuhu.. So calon-calon saya adalah, in no particular order..
1. Sayayangayu aka Ayu
2. Bukan Loser aka Mizzy
3. Asrul
4. Anything is Possible aka Dikla
5. The never Ending Story aka Mama Anem
6. Dunia Oren, bukan nama sebenar

"Serlahkan Transformasi Diri Anda"..Katanya..

Dah abis dah AF7.. Raser sekejap jer 10 minggu.. Imah still mengikuti lagi perkembangan rancangan ini, walaupun dah kurang fanatik sikit kalau nak banding waktu musim2 AF yg awal2 dulu (AF1-AF3). hehehe.. Kalau dulu TV @15 tuh bukak 24-7.. konsert, diari tgk ulang2, mcm dah takder rancangan lain.. pastu siap tgk kat internet lagi for extended version.. tapi sekarang both imah and mak dah berubah..hahahah..

Seperti musim2 dahulu.. konsert akhir adalah tali pengukur pencapaian budak2 AF nih..oops, tahun nih..ader mak budak sekali.. hehehe..Adakah mereka berjaya menyerlahkan transformasi diri mereka? Siapa yang paling dekat memenuhi kriteria tag-line 'transformasi' AF tahun nih? Kalau nak compare persembahan konsert2 akhir musim2 lalu, imah rasa konsert tahun nih a bit suramla (walaupun rata2 kata meriah, but I don't feel like it was..huhuhu). Tak berapa ke-ba-bom..and tak berapa tertarik-menarik-the bom!!!.. Mungkin sebab pemilihan lagu.. or sebab diorang nervous-1st time wat show kat stadium besar.. or pelajar tak berapa serasi dengan lagu baru lagi.. whatever it was..diorg dah buat sedaya upayala kan.. (I thought konsert ke-9 diorg lagi best dan menghiburkan).

Akhir konsert..Hafiz telah dinobatkan sebagai juara AF7 tahun nih. Layak ker? Berdasarkan bakat dan keupayaan dier every week.. He is the deserving winner. No doubt about it. If he's given a chance to have a more impactful song to sing, (cam lagu I believe I can fly tuh), mungkin malam tuh akan jadi lebih magical buat Hafiz.. Walaupun disindir Adlin, "vokal mantap jer tak cukup dik".. but I guess, he should present his strength over anything else first right? Kalau dengan vokal dah boleh memukau penonton.. buat aper nak susah payah tergolek2 , slide sini and sana and melompat2 atas pentas? Aper2 pun, imah tidak menidakkan keperluan creativity and arts in performance. Memang best kalau persembahan vokal yg bagus diiringi oleh memorable stage performance.

However..utk pilihan peribadi Transformasi AF7, imah tujukan buat adik ...Akim!!! It's not because imah dah minat dier from 1st konsert or bukan sbb dier org Johor k but he did lift up to the transformation tagline- kire ader peningkatan yang ketara from Week 1 till final. Utk final, he did a not bad 1st attempt utk persembahan lagu baru sendiri.. and a great performance for Bencinta (bak kater Edri Hashim.. penuh dgn aura..sampai terpercik2..hehehe). Suka ngan konsep persembahan tuh.. but vocally takleh lawan Faizal Tahir la n still got rooms for more improvements.. maybe tenaga dah terabis kat tarik2 tangan tuh kot, sampai dah takder daya nak menjerit.. huhuhu.. utk tahap beginner.. it was goodla..I don't think I can compare bdk sethn jagung ngan Faizal Tahirkan.. hehehe..

Aper2 pun Good Luckla untuk mereka.. Hope that, apart of singing, diorang tak lupa untuk terus belajar dan mempertingkatkan diri..

p/s: banyak betul rancangan realiti pertandingan nyanyi nih.. and ramai betul yang nak jadi penyanyi..huhuhu..

Smarter Planet Series: Diagnosis for a smarter nation

"Health is an important asset in the development of human capital in any nation. A healthy workforce is fundamental to the contribution of a well-functioning economy. Smarter healthcare is instrumented, so our health systems can automatically capture accurate, real-time information...improving and consolidating health information management and facilitating evidence-based decision-making."

.- Ou Shian Waei, CGM, IBM Malaysia

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[Read about how IBM makes healthcare smarter in The Edge]

Courtesy of Comms, IBM Malaysia

A Song for Mama

Walaupun dah ketinggalan sikit.. Tapi imah nak tepek jugak lagu nih.. Happy Mother's day to all moms!!!



Mama..u're the queen of my heart!!! and I will always love you..(except biler time kena marah)..hehehe..

Saya Sebagai Seorang Pekerja Pt3 - Home Sweet Home

I was back for good in Feb 2006. Straight away, I start my work application. Thru postal, hand-in, Jobstreet.Com, Career Fair, etc. At first, I still pursue actuarial type of work or at least in insurance companies. Got a couple of interviews. But, since I'm a bit 'dungu' in insurance terms and knowledge, I failed each time..huhuhu..

1 month past. I was still unemployed. I don't think being unemployed for a month stressed me out that much, but again, the needs of income came in a way of patience. Since my dad passed away, we (the family) need to stand in our own feet. My brother had already working and get his own source of living. My mother obviously has her own income from my father's pension which actually enough for me, her and the family stuffs (bills, foods and household stuffs). But, to a certain extendla rite?.. I can't expect my mom to buy me a new sandal.. I can't expect my mum to buy me new shirts for interviews.. I can't expect my mum to still give me RM50 everytime I want to go out with friends for movies n stuffs..This little things made me need my own income very much.

From previous experiences in UK, employment agency is the best source for fast-track employment. I follow my brother's advice 1 day, to register at Kelly Services. On the day itself, I was recommended to a job at a Healthcare Centre (the company: KLIC) as an Admin Assistant. I was told that, the owner is an expat, so I'll be perfect for the job. OK, whateverla. I just want a job. tak kisahlah, working for a mat salleh ker aper. Looking at the manager's name(Dr. Nick Boden), the fisrt image came to mind was an old-white hair-beardy-nerd looking mat salleh doctor.. hahahah.. (Dr Nick was not even close to my imagination..hehehe..he's much good looking, at least at that time la..hehehe)

I was very nervous on my first day. The job is like the usual admin job - more receptionist-admin tasks more or less. Taking phone calls, note petient's appoitnments, welcomed patients, handling payments and do daily reports. While working at the centre, I still continue on my quest for permanent employment. I later got a job offer as an Admin Executives in a logistic company at KL Sentral and with that I hand-in my resignation at the centre. However, my services are still needed at the centre (kononyela...) when then, Dr Nick counter an offer for me to work as a permanent staffs there. For my own-self development, he offers that I handle the administration and the management of the centre- in addition to my usual receptionist-admin tasks that I used to do before. Since I like to work there, I chose to stay. Plus, both offers job descriptions that are pretty much be the same, except if I stay, I don't have to move to new office and much closer to home. hehehehe..

I worked there for 1+ years. It's not a big, well-known company. But, I learned a lot while working at the centre. What I did was like a bit of everything. I was the receptionist.. I was the customer service.. I was the sales person.. I was the cashier.. I was the admin ops.. I was the credit control admin.. I was the 'accountant'.. I joined them doing marketing, bukak booth bagai..even to the part siram pokok bunga pun I'll do. I put my passion to the job and the centre. I like what they do. I love the people in the centre and the chiropractic organisation family. I like meeting the people who came for treatment. Meeting the people was one of the great experience. The good and bad. The level of people who came there. From a CEO of a company.. to a producer.. to a minister.. a governor..to a sports-person.. executives.. expats.. I met them all. To have a chance of having conversations with this kind of people that I would rarely have an opportunity of in my real life was just mind blowing. Although, sometimes, some customer will give you a 2nd grade treatment because you are behind a receptionist desk and looked down on you, it's just makes me stronger and learned more about life and people. I have to accept the fact that, not everybody will treat you nice.. They are bitches and bastrads out there and I need to experience it and see it with my own eyes.

I guess after a while.. I want to move on. No direspect to the company. It gave me the best first job experiences ever but I want to explore more and experience new challenges. My aim will be to work for an MNC company. Again, I went to recruitment agency for assistance and Manpower was the one who introduced me to IBM. Honestly, I dont know much about IT industry and IBM brand. Before the interview was the first time I know about what IBM do. It offers diverse opportunities from sales, marketing, finance and consulting positions which attracts me the most. The position I was recommended was Marketing Operations Specialist. At that time, the thing I had in my mind was on the possible opportunities for me to go for a Marketing Intelligence or Business Consulting position in future (my so-called 'dream job'). All I need is to break in into the company. Tak kisahlah under what position and I did, as a contract staff for a year. After my contract expires, I was lucky enough that the manager, had believe in me and offers me a Regular/permanent position in IBM as a Marketing Operations Specialist as well but now handling ASEAN/AP region. On 1st Aug 2008, I was finally a true IBMer and still are till present.

What I do as a Marketing Operations Specialist then? hmm.. Marketing Operations is about performance, financial management, strategic planning, marketing resource, and skills assessment and management.
What most of us do are:
1. Defining and managing systems and tools
2. Developing and implementing metrics, infrastructure, and business processes
3. Establishing and communicating best practices
4. Managing the overall marketing budget and budgeting process and
5. Identifying and deploying technology to support performance measurement and reporting

where in my current role, I'm only specialised on No. 4 function. So the job basically involving budget allocations to countries, budget performance reporting and subject matter experts on finance and accounting processes. Every quarter, I will sick to my stomach to ensure the team did not over/underspend.. huhuhu.. I'm not sure how long I will enjoy working in this role, the department or the company..just wait n see la.. where my fate will bring me after this..huhuhu.. aper2pun I'm not in the state of searching anymore which I guess is a good thing.. :)

I don't have that much experiences as a pekerja yet. But every journey I took in each job provides a whole new experience and learnings. I'm having a great journey as pekerja so far. Hopefully it will continue to be better and better..Hope I will continue to be a good pekerja and have my share of contributions to the nations.

p/s: No more Pt 4 folks.. hahahah.. Maybe coming soon.."Saya Sebagai Seorang Surirumah" plak...hehehe..tapi biler ek boleh di publish? hmmm..

Saya Sebagai Seorang Pekerja Pt2 - From tele-marketing to 'Floor Engineer' (kata asrul..hehehe) to data entry to housekeeping..I had it all..

After my degree, I decided to further my studies. At Glasgow this time..Scotland so-called shopping heaven..Studying in Glasgow was a total different experience for me than before because I went there as a 'FAMA' student. (self-funded, father and mother scholar..hehehe). And, when we (my bro and I) planned to go, what was sufficient financially was only our tuition fees and I was expected to find my own source of income for accomodation and foods. Things had not going as planned for my brother because, he struggled to get used of the living and studying environment there. I was also struggled to find time for part time work due to tight schedule of my studies. The classes were 9am-5pm everyday, plus extra hours after that for group assignment discussions (sometimes until late nite), which can dragged to my weekends since that's the only available time for all of us to discuss and do assignments. sigh...

It was only on my 3rd semester, when I finally get a chance to earn some income. Through JobCentre, I went for a job-trial as a market researcher for a market research company. It was 6pm-10pm shift job, pays GBP6.50/hour. As long as it did not overlapped with my class timetable, I was OK with it. Since the position title was market researcher, I had the feeling that the job more or less would be about calling people and answer questionnaires or something. I guess, my early prediction was wrong. I didn't really know back then that for a profit-getter organisation, anything associate with marketing should lead to generating revenue, although if it's just a market research. So it's not a 'you-ask-questions-and-the-other-person-(potential customer(s)-answer' kind of market research task. In some point, you will need to use your charm and influencing skills to the person you call to be interested to buy/use the product or services you're researching about and make them agree for the sales person (the tele-sales people) to call them later. I was struggled at first because, I am not much of a talker but the script did helped a lot..ha ha.. Since, I was working for evening shift and it obviously dinner time, it's quite hard really to get people attention. I got a lot of yelling, cursing and angry attack because of that. The database can sometimes turn you down, where the person had made it clear they are not interested but the other staff did not mark them appropriately, the name would pop up again on your screen on random ( even worst, if at the same day itself), and the results..you'll get the yelling. The job will pretty much depends on your performance as well (you can get extra bonus of being top performer). There's obviously certain target that you need to achieve. Thing s are OK when you're new coz your target can be pretty reachable. But as time goes by, you definitely need to gear up your game and that's where the pressure came in. I don't think I had much passion on the services they're marketing and I don't really give a damn on persuading the people as well. Plus, I have so much pressure in my studies already, I don't think, I need to add more stress to my life (need to reach the target, getting people being rude to you on a day-to-day basis, etc). So, I call it quit..huhuhu..

I later, found a job early in the morning, which suit my class timetable. It was a cleaning duties in a store called TK Max. I worked 7am-9am every morning then straight-away went to class after that. I can cuci mata while cuci the floor and pick my favourite stuffs..hehehehe... The job was very easy, sweeping and moping the floor and wiping mirrors. The pays? hmm.. I think it was GBP5/hour and it was just enough for my ASDA/TESCO (groceries) expenses and shopping cravings..hehehe.. From 1 cleaning to job to another, I was recommended by fellow Malaysian students to work at UGC Cinema plak, 4hrs per shift (6am to 10am), pays GBP 5.5/hour. Since it offers longer hours, I chose to work in the weekends at first, until I finished my semester. During my dissertation writings, I extended my working days to 5 days a week although sometimes, I do volunteer to do more to cover MC staffs. Had such a blast working here, not because I enjoyed collecting pop corns, drink waste, snacks and condoms so much..but the job was like a 'treasure hunt' quest. If you're lucky, you can get all kind of 'treasures' that people left behind inside the cinema hall the day before. Umbrella, GBP1 syillings, gloves and the best treasure of all.. Handphone!!! I'm not really proud of my doings and behaviour here. hehehe..But as Abg Zaki told me, "Buat aper nak rasa bersalah. Saper soh depa tinggalkan? Kalau imah tak amik, org lain yg amik".. hahaha..Setelah mendapat sokongan moral dari orang ramai..imah kuatkan semangat utk terus mengambil aper jer benda yg imah jumpa..hehehehe..In addition to being treasure hunter at the cinema, once in a while, when the supervisor got a cleaning tender somewhere else, she would recommend me to come a long. Yeay!! Extra hours!! Extra $$$!! By this time, people already gather, that my savings are mountaining..hahaha..working everyday and on weekends as well..huhuhu.. One of her usual tender was a cleaning duties at a horse-race stadium. It was my first time went to a horse-race track and some of us did put a bet on those horses. ha ha ha. While collecting glasses and rubbish, I did get a chance to have a peek on the races and good looking socialites at the VIPs podium.. hehehehe..It was good fun..I'm loving my life as 'Floor Engineer'.. and Hygiene Specialist..hehehehe..

After finished with my dissertation, I decided to find a fulltime job instead. So my friend/classmate, Fey and I went to a recruitment agency and the first assignment I got was a temp job as Data Entry Clerk, my first office job.. hahahah.. Got better pays of course, and for once, at least no brooms or mop or cleaning detergent involved. hehehehe.. Since I know, temping job will not be forever, I searched around for permanent employment. Through, newspaper ads, I came across a lot of Business Development position in various marketing firms. The ads looks interesting - Welcome to freash-grade, thus no experience needed since training will be provided and opportunity to run your own marketing firm in 1-2 years. So, I chose 1, and booked for an appointment for an interview. The office looks great and professional. The people looks confident and well-dress as well. Everything that you would expect a marketing professional would be. After being briefed about the company, the job ladder and stuffs, I was introduced to my so called mentor of the day. He was not bad looking..hmmm.. yummy yummy.. He's doing marketing for a low-cost phone line providers and the type of marketing he's doing? Face-to-Face, Door-to-Door , House-to-House marketing. So I follow him around for a day and observe the tasks. I've always been very skeptical about this kind of job and as if reading my minds, he kept telling me to keep an open mind throughout the day. Honestly, I agree for some type of services and products and promotions, direct contact marketing like that is the most effective way. But the job was totally not for me. And thinking of security issue, wondering around alone in the city that you know very little about and go house-to-house and inviting yourself inside strangers' home. It's just not suitable for me I guess. No running marketing firm in a year for me then.. hehehe.. Since that, I ignore all similar job adverts.

After a while the searching brings me to one of my former employer again, Marriot Hotel. I was maid in Scotland again.. huhuhu.. at that time this was the only fast track employment I can easily get hold of before I can find proper job. It's just so easy..I went to their open interview and the next day you can practically start working. And it puts at least GBP700ish inside my account. Kire OKla..Just enough for everything (if you live in such moderations, of course). Obviously, I need some $$$ to continue my living. Gas and electricity bills obviously did not came cheap- (At this point, I really missing campus life (living in Yarrow), where all these utilities were covered and I don't have to worry and sleeping in coldness to save). Kalau nak tunggu permanent employment somewhere else, mati kelaparanlah saya..huhuhu..Since I already had my experiences being a housekeeper before, things were fine. I had my own floor/division and was very semangat to ensure the rooms under my care were spotless.. So semangat nak jadi housekeeping cemerlang..hahaha.. and most importantly, I like it that I can watch TV while working.. hehehe.. (sempat tgk live EPL matches lagi kekadang..hehehe)..The most challenging part through this employment was during fasting month. Lucky it was winter time. So, the break fasting time was quite early..around 4pm-ish, although, I only managed to eat hotel biscuits only..huhuhu.. Because the job was based on shift-rotation, you won't have a fix weekends day offs. Not just that, because of the unpredictable rotation, I can end up working 9 straight days (can be even more if my next break schedule on the weekends) before getting the 2 days break. I hate weekends off because it will be useless anyway. The supervisor will desperately calls you up early in the morning asking u to turn up to work to cover absent staffs. (Obviously hangover cases la..grrrr..dah tau kerja next day, lagi nak gatal2 minum sampai mabuk..).

I'm not sure at one point, how long I should work that hard before getting the job I really want and suit the qualification. It was uncertain to me at that time, of when, I would get my 'office' job. Not a data entry job. Not tele-sales or tele-marketing job. But a real job. A professional position. Life was fun there. And I am comfortable there. But I guess, the pepatah saying, "hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, lebih baik di negeri sendiri" is true. After my graduation day, I bin my plan to stay and work in the UK and decided to just go back home (Malaysia) and being close to family, where I should belong. I guessed, things can be much easier for me back home and I might be very much in demand..I think so..

How's my life as a 'pekerja' in Malaysia, then? To be continued...hehehehe..