Tuesday 10 April 2007

Points to ponder

Christians - By Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean living.'"
I'm whispering "I was lost,
now I'm found and forgiven.

"When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Saturday 7 April 2007

The one about the posting

Posting. A word that can send shivers down the spine of anyone working in the government sector. You see, in government service, we (government servants) are sent to our respective workplaces based on posting. Anyone could be posted anywhere. Can be quite scary ler.

Anyways, I got a post in Perak during my housemanship year. During that time, I was 'lent' to an institute in Petaling Jaya. This means, I'm actually working (or rather, training) in PJ, while "holding" a post in Perak. Confusing? Yeah. It is confusing.

Then once I'd completed the houseman year, I was supposed to work in Perak (where I'm posted) but a miracle happened! I was transferred to a research institute in Kuala Lumpur! This kind of transfers are quite rare, as in 'normal' circumstances, once being 'lent' out, we have to return to our post and work there. So... miracle number one!

Thinking all was fine and dandy in the research institute in KL, I was transferred to a new institute two months later. This new institute is currently based in KL so not much of a change there. In fact, the institute is currently operating in the premise of the research institute I was posted to. However, this new institute is about to become 'privatized'. This means that I would not be fulfilling my compulsory service requirement if I stayed on once that happens (the privatization). Since I had to serve in the government sector for another 2.5 years, I was advised to apply for a transfer before the privatization happens, which was exactly what I did.

Yesterday (Good Friday... and indeed it was a good Friday!), I received news that my transfer has already been approved (considered very fast, as it took less than a month since I'd started the application process!) and that I will have to report to the new posting on 16th April. And, on top of that, I got my first choice of posting locations!! Wow, another miracle!! Praise the Lord! Woot!

Will have to go for my induction course from 12th onwards, so will have to call to postpone the reporting date. Looking forward to the new posting, which is actually the institute where I did my housemanship training, so not that much learning curve before I get used to the new post... yay! Will miss my colleagues, who have become very good friends... do keep in touch ya?

Friday 6 April 2007

In search of... Damansara Heights!

Went to Damansara Heights yesterday. Had to look for Menara SBB, which is now CIMB, I suppose... So, got some idea where it is from Eric, said a prayer for direction and a parking lot within the bank premises (so it's free!!) and then headed off. Already left later than I'd preferred. Which reminds me... I still need to go down to get some forms to fill... sighz... keep forgetting!!

So, after a quick prayer, I left the office. And lo and behold, I didn't really see the directions that Eric referred to! But there was signage to get there, which I'd followed... And, yes... I got there! And even better... the parking lot I prayed for... was there!! It's superbly difficult to find parking in that area!! A lady and her friends were about to enter their car by the time I reached the parking lots (there were only 4!) and so... yeah... answered prayer!! Woot!

In the end, I figured out why the directions didn't seem to be as how Eric described it... I was on a different road!! Sighz.. my fault lar.. I thought I was on Sprint, but after discussing the landmarks along the way, it seems that I was on a part of Penchala... well, at least now I know, right? =)

Wednesday 4 April 2007

Minutes of 'fame'...

Yesterday, I had too many minutes of fame. Yeah, so many people want their '5-minutes of fame'... But trust me, you don't want it the way I had it, haha!

I'd left my car's headlights on (*slap forehead*) after I finally secured the parking lot. This motorcyclist took a long time to get the idea that he was in my way... grr!! I suppose all the energy that went into getting him to realize that kinda resulted in me forgetting about the lights, sigh. (Time to whip out the gingko??) Oi, a lot of energy went to that effort wei... some more after managing to successfully 'sleep-drive' to work ler!

Went for the computer course I'd signed up for... then at 10am, my colleague called. Quietly picked up the call lar. "Oi, you left your car lights on lar!" *dsshhh* So, I excused myself from the class and went to turn off the lights lor. Then I tried to start the engine, just to see if the battery has died already... And that's how the 'too many minutes' began...

The car won't start... The alarm went off... *sweat* Anyone and everyone who passed by stared as they went past. (Now that I think about it, how come none stopped to help ler... aiyoh!) Thankfully, my colleagues came to the rescue! Finally got the car jump started from one of the company cars. (Yeah, I know where the drivers' room is now, haha! Yes, there is a room for all the drivers!!) After the whole thing was over, there were a few people who came to me and told me that they saw the lights on, but... didn't know which department I worked at (this is excusable, since the lady is my parking neighbour only), forgot to tell me (*sweat*), don't know where I was (acceptable, since I'm not in my 'usual place'), blah, blah, blah!! I was sooo tickled by the irony! =P

Well, still... a few people to thank... Lim, for being the 'muscle' behind the task (hehe!)... Vino, for the company while I let the engine run to charge the battery... Lai, Rae and Yoges (good to see you, Yoges!!) for their company too!! The kind soul who lead me to the drivers' room... The company car... The jumper cable... Okok, getting carried away here, haha! Well, it was good to know that there was help to fix the problem... and it came speedily too... Managed to get the car started in about 15 minutes from the time I'd let the alarm rip! Praise the Lord for providing so many kind souls along the way!

Ok, today, I checked and double checked before leaving the car... haha!! Still a bit 'paranoid' kua... haha!! Yes, in case you were wondering, I DID turn off the lights today! Enough 'fame' lar... The lady (my parking neighbour) knew I was a pharmacist ler... and I don't even know her wan!! Never even spoken to her before! Scary!! Sighz... I guess that's what you get being the only pharmacist here! So much for being just a face in the crowd in an unknown territory...