ASPEC Christmas Gift Exhange 2007

Gifts all wrapped up under the Christmas tree for the office gift exchange.

Sometimes partings are never easy, especially with people you considered good friends. When Li Mor finally got her offer to study in Australia, we were overjoyed for her good fortune. Also she was smiling widely because she was leaving before the string of mega Projects for the firm. When she finally tendered her resignation letter she casually came to the back and said, "people, I've just got my offer, sorry to leave you all in this mess, but to compensate, I've peanut butter and chocolate sweets" as she waved about a jar of M&M like goodies. On her last day we decided to bring forward the annual office Christmas gift exchange so that she could be in it. Each of us were required to buy something to the tune of RM15 which each will draw lots to see who's gift they'll get. Last year;s moment was when Lily heard wrongly and instead of RM15 she went and got an entire dinner crockery set worth RM50. Whoever got that was beaming with joy. This year nothing as untoward as that happened thought she got a lot of jokes about it.

It wasn't much of a big affair, after office hours, we were all rushing for something and had to head out for Li Mor's farewell dinner at the same time. Once the lots were drawn everyone was busy opening their gifts. Among the lot were a cute white and red doggy shaped salt and pepper shaker that Li Mor got, a handphone rest for Phinie, I got a pen, a wind up music box for Yoon Lee, A box of pineapple tarts for Fareini, Candle lamp for Siti, chocolates for Ms Lau, a cute bear for Jamie, water bottle for Johan, pillow for Ari, espresso cup set for Yau, a herbal tea infusion for Mr Yoong, among others. It was a fun affair and it did uplift me a bit from the depression I was having right before the event. Here's to another Christmas, we've survived. And oh It's been a year since I've worked at ASPEC so here's an anniversary cheer as well.

Drawing lots to see whose gifts they got

The office during the gift exchange

Ms Lau, Jamie and Johan with their respective gifts

Li Mor with her cute doggy salt and pepper shaker and Yau who is a non coffee drinker with her espresso shot set

Fareini peeking into Siti's gift from Cheng

Phinie receiving her third handphone rest during the annual Christmas exchange

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Times Fly By

Recently I looked back and was astonished that a year has just passed me by. It was a year since I moved back to KL to work and it was a year back that I started my job at ASPEC. It was a year full of ups and downs, happiness and bitterness, regrets and joys. The faces of people in the company has changed so much within this year, people came and went, some old faces are still there but are joined by many new ones as well. Each and everyone of the are good friends though we too have ups and downs in our daily dealings with each other as well. Time never remains static and people change and looking back I believed I did as well. Some changes I didn't quite appreciate like my increasing girth due to the kind of job I'm doing and a reliance of a car rather than walking, in other matters I think I have matured a degree. I still think I have a long way to go and I am still fresh and stumbling about. I've learnt an appreciation of the kind of work I had to do and the high demand it exacts from a person. I've learnt that I love being a social person, I joined Flickr and met many new and interesting people who have shown me that life can be varied and crazy, I've met many colleagues that have helped me in coping with the transition from studying to actual nit gritty work. As I mentioned, time has flown and soon in about less than a fortnight I'll be 26. It seems so old. Well hopefully the following year will see better tidings and even more experiences for me. Cheers.

Our company personnel during our Chirstmas gift exchange in 2006 includes Ina, Saravanan, Kin Voon, Ana, Siti, Cheng, Li Mor, Joo Sin, Jason, Kai San, Angel, Lily, Yoon Lee, Phinie and Nikki.

Another picture of us all at ASPEC here seen at PJ Hilton during our Company Christmas Lunch.

A year from then new faces dots the group while many old ones are no longer there: Yau, Yoon Lee, Saravanan, Ana, Siti, Cheng, Phinie, Li Mor, Fareini, Lily, Ina, Ethan, Kai San, Mr Yoong and Kin Voon. Soon after Li Mor was to leave to further her studies.

During Li Mor's farewell dinner at the Palace of the Golden Horses.

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Lab Space

The inner chamber of the UV chamber for culture preparations with all its accompanying laboratory apparatus. Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 2006.

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Working Life

It's been a week of work and things are getting quite into fast gear now, leaving less time for more leisurely pursuit as in the past few months but its ok and adjusment to life in Kl isn't too bad. There was a promise I made previously and that was my principle not to blog about work, since most of the projects are sensitive to outside circulation and the fact that personally I think it's a bad idea to do so and open me up to uneeded and unpredictable outcomes. But besides that there are basically a lot out there about my life that can be talked about. The past few weeks have been a daze, weekends seem to pass by so quickly in a blink of an eye and before I even know it the end of December is looming near its halfway mark. Relative upon relative have come to visit the condo and my dad and I playing host else there's the frenzied shopping sprees to furnish my new pad else there are friends or errands to run. Was planning to attend the Kl Flicker's meet up next Sunday with print exchange and Pixart product showcase but had to scrap that when my name was added to the team headed to Jeram for a public presentation. It would have been nice to meet some of the local Klites photographers and participate in activities but maybe next time then.

Even as I abhor blogging about my current work place I have no such inhibition with my alma matter, UMS. Recently the new rule change by the Post grad department leaves much to be desired such as the new minimum payment of RM1000 for the semester fees whereas previously it was RM500. Also the rules requiring to pay in full semester fees unless I submit my final thesis within three months from notification whereas my seniors paid only the minimum while their drafts were being revised. It would seem to me like they are just a money grubbing lot and not keen to promote scholarship who are interested to further their education. Luckily I'm trying to escape from that place as fast as I can at least now if I've to deal with frustrations involving government and departmental red tape at least I'm getting paid for it.

Will most probably be travelling a lot from now on, flying off to Kelantan on Monday for another presentation. Itching to travel and at least my job will give me a chance to do so but still most of the time will be devoted to report writing and research in an airconditioned office. Well that's working life, with Christmas nearby and my first pay check materializing in a few weeks I'm looking forward to a good new year and putting aside some savings for a new computer by early next year then at least I can finally play Oblivion and Neverwinter Nights 2 muuuahhhhh!!!!!

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