Lesson Learned

Travelling 240km a day means I have to change the oil lubricant every month as the mileage easily reaches 5000km in a month time. When I first got the kembara, I was told to do the car service on my own and get the reimbursement directly from the car owner. So I asked my husband to take care the car service business when necessary. But then since only on weekends my husband would be able to do the monthly oil lubricants replacement, and we always engaged on some other things on the weekends, sometimes the oil lubricant service done when the mileage already at 8000km or more, which I understand not good for the car.

My colleague suggested that I send the car at the workshop in our office block as he also sends his car there. Yes...it's very convenient coz when you come to work in the morning, you just leave the car there and pick it up later. All I have to do is to leave the car key and tell them to get the oil lubricant changed. I never bother to ask what type of oil lubricant they use, or fight for the price. All I know no matter how much is it, I just get the receipt and claim from the car owner. But after few times, I started noticing that the price keep increasing. It's not so much, but still RM1 or RM2 involved in this matter. One time, I did ask the lady who processed the payment, all she said 'harga minyak hitam tu naik'. Well....ok, I didn't ask further...

My colleague who also send his car to the same workshop, later has to change his kembara and this time the car owner of the new kembara is the same owner of my car. So one day he asked me to fax his car service receipt to the owner as I was about to do it as well. And guess what....the same car service, he's paying RM55 and mine is RM67! The owner must be wondering why the bill doesn't show the same figure despite it is issued by the same workshop and same service. And I was like....hah? My colleague told me that he insisted the mechanic to use the 3 litre one for the oil lubricant instead of 4 litres. Apparently mine is 4 litres, and I knew nothing of it. What a shame! I'm such an ignorant person.....DUH! He further explained that if the workshop uses 4 litre, but the kembara only consumes 3 litre, the workshop can use the extra litre for another car. See! I know it's not my money as I always get the reimbursement from the car owner but it is not fair! Maybe because I'm lady, and I don't argue, so they are taking advantage on the situation.

So yesterday, another monthly routine of oil lubricant replacement and I sent the car to the workshop. This time I determined that I will insist them to use the 3 litres one. Upon seeing me, the mechanic quickly came to entertain me and I passed the car key. Here was the conversation:

Mechanic: Tukar minyak hitam kak?
Me: A'aa, tapi pakai yg 3 liter punya tau
Mechanic: 3 litre? Untuk kancil boleh la kak, kembara kena pakai 4 litre
Me: Apa pulak x boleh? Opismate sy hantar sini jugak, dia pakai 3 litre aje.
Mechanic: Tak boleh kak, tak boleh.....
Me: Tak tau la...suka hati la korang cemana pon

And I just walked off. Actually I have given up arguing coz I don't know so much on this thing. I was so sure that they will maintain the 4 litre one. So I told myself if I still receive the same amount as the previous one, I'll definitely stop sending my car to this workshop. It serves them right for not being honest! One of the reason why I send my car to this workshop it's because it's owned by Malays. So I think I should support their business. But if this is how they behave, I think I should teach them a lesson.

So by late afternoon, I came back to the workshop to pick up my car. Surprise! surprise! The amount shown on the bill is only RM55...hehehe. The lady clerk quickly informed me that they used 3 litre. Hmmm....at least they listened to me. They should! I'm the coustomer, and customer always right....don't you think? So I have realized that if you want you right, you have to speak up ok....and please get info, even though only basic info on the car service so you won't get cheated. Being lady and when it comes to car service and workshop, we are easy prey for being cheated. Wanna learn about timing belt now? Hehehe.....

Came Back Safely

Last Friday, 18/1/08, my parents-in-law arrived safely at KLIA after performing their hajj starting last 28/11/07. They looked healthy but tired. Syukur alhamdulliah considering both of them have health problem especially my father-in-law who has various diseases like gout, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problem. My parents also came with us to meet them at KLIA while they waited for their flight to KB in the evening. My husband's brother and his wife also came. Too bad we can't join the rest of husband's family gathering for their return to home. But we are planning to go back to KB during Chinese New Year holidays.

Check out the pictures:

From left: My mum, my parents-in-laws and the twins

My mum and mother-in-law chatting

Brother-in-law and his wife & son at Asian Cafe, KLIA.
One mug of teh tarik is RM5.90.
Teh tarik by machine some more...tasteless!!!

Bipolar Disorder?

Last week I watched Oprah Winfrey show and singer Sinead O'Conner was the guest. If u can still remember, Sinead O'Conner was famous with her 'Nothing Compare' song back in 90's and so well known with her army type haircut. And yes...she still keeps that haircut until now. Sinead appeared in the show to talk about her bipolar disorder problems. Apparently bipolar disorder, which is also know as manic depression makes the person who suffers it, lost control of themselves, doesn't have anger management and depressed most of the time. Sinead said, she cursed people all the time.

So now I suspect that my boss probably suffers from this disorder as well lah! Why? Coz he gets angry so easily over a small matter, he curses all the time and he sucks!!!! If he ask you a question and u are not able to answer it or you answer it wrongly, he will shout at you on top his lung and forever cursing you for that. Once, he came back from site and scolded my colleague who was eating at the restaurant next to our office for some work done at site that he was not happy with. Can u believe it? In front of strangers, and he's making the work affairs a public affairs then! He could have waited until my colleague finish his lunch and get back to the office but that is him....he just crazy! And so many occasions, especially in front of clients, contractors that he would scold us, his staffs using irritating and vulgar words. I guess it makes him feels so powerful by doing that.

Once, he made my site supervisor rewrote his daily report few times before he finally happy with his handwriting. He has sent two-pages letter to a bank complaining on the missing 3 cents from his bank account. He showed to us the letter before he sent it off coz he wanted everybody to know that he's not somebody that can take things for granted...but actually behind his back, we all talked and laughed about it...can u imagine? For the sake of 3 cents? Come on la.....

The most scary part is if you have to ride with him in his car and definitely he's the driver. He drives so fast yet so reckless. He over takes everywhere he wants, at corners, hilly roads, double line, he just doesn't care. And he honks everybody who blocks his path. If I sit next to him, it is so embarrassing when he starts honking.

I feel working under him for the past few months has actually deteriorates my mental health. I'm constantly under pressure...ye la, even before coming to work I have started thinking on what issue I would have been scolded today. Even missing dot on the end of the sentence of the letter I've drafted, would be the source of his anger.......

I think he needs to see a psychiatrist, but I do not have a gut to suggest this to him. He would have lashed out at me terribly. Or if I have to work longer with him, maybe I'm the one end up seeing a psychiatrist....hehehehe.

The New Kembara

My wrecked kembara is now returned to the owner for repair works and they gave me another kembara. The new kembara (not so new by the way) looks so pretty and shining, sure la kan coz it never been to site yet but the performance is not much different from the previous one. This morning when I drove it, lots of cranky noises came out. Bising tul la....but at least bila tekan minyak tu pick up dia ok sket la compare yg sebelum ni. I intend to keep this one looks clean in an out as much possible as I could. Rasa sayang pulak nak bawa masuk site. Kot leh lanyak keta org lain masuk site syok gak. But most of the time keta I la jadi mangsa.

Yg ini kaler silver, sure kalau x basuh selalu nampak kotor giler. The wrecked one kaler merah, ok sket la. Kan better diorg carik warna2 cam biru ke, hijau ke ( ada ke kembara warna hijau ek?) kalau dah tau asik kena masuk site. Nak basuh kat kedai rasa cam x berbaloi aje sbb ari ni basuh, esok dah kotor. kenkadang malu je...driver pompuan, tapi kereta kotor giler. Ada sekali masa isi minyak kat petrol station, budak pam attendant tu boleh tanya 'kereta akak kotor camni akak pegi mana?' Siot punya budak.....aku sengih je la.....

One thing for sure, aku x leh komplen bebanyak pasal kereta ni. Dah nama pon kereta free, nak demand apanya. All this while aku pon x penah own keta sendiri. Keta hb x consider keta sendiri though aku naik and aku drive. Sebabnya ada byk sgt rules. Brg2 hiasan cam bantal ke cover kotak tisu renda2 ke is all out of questions. Tapi bila ada kereta sendiri pon cam skrg ni xde plak aku letak bantal ke kotak renda2 ke...x shesuai la....

Monday blues daa.......

It's Monday again....*sigh*

I don't have mood at all to start doing my works, maybe by writing this post will brighten my day. I still have another O&M document to be reviewed, tidy up all report files, tracing whether contractors have submitted all their RFI, JI forms or else I'll get nice whack from the 'Hitler' boss of mine...hehehe. I guess I get used to it already but it is still annoying. I'm counting days for this project to finish. My HQ has issued letter that we only stay until 31th March 2008. Then I'm back to HQ....don't know whether it's a good thing or not but at least I'll be in peace.

Weekends : I'm so frustrated now that Discovery Home & Health (channel 733) is no longer available and has to be subscribed. I've been considering to omit the 'Learning' package, you know those Discovery channel, National Geographic and add this 733 channel coz I'm so hooked to some programs in 733. Apparently 733 is grouped under this 'Metro' package but the other 3 channels are not attractive at all. So forget it! Why in the world they have to put it together with lousy channels which I hardly watched. Astro should put that 733 under the 'Learning' package instead!

Anyway, I've found a new tv series to get addicted to in AXN. It is called 'Damaged' and it's about attorneys, legal issues but interesting plot of stories. I've given up watching law elements dramas eversince 'Ally Mcbeal' days but this one appears interesting. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be typical 'Law & Order' type. So if u wanna watch too, it is on 9 pm, every Tuesday on AXN. And Glenn Close (from 101 Dalmatians, the evil lady, remember?) is on it. Check it out!

Salam Maal Hijrah 1429

Skrg dah menghampiri Asar, dan penghujung tahun 1428 Hijrah. Selepas Magrib , bermulalah tahun baru 1429 Hijrah. Dan sebagai seorg muslim, azam baru aku sepatutnya bermula ngan Maal Hijrah, maka aku berazam utk menjadi seorg muslim cemerlang dunia dan akhirat. Mari kita sama2 berdoa ok....

Doa akhir tahun yg dibaca 3 kali selepas Asar (sebelum masuk Maghrib)


Doa awal tahun yg dibaca 3 kali selepas Maghrib pada malam 1 Muharram

Syukur Alhamdullilah.....

Org kata malang tidak berbau.....betullah tu....and smlm masa on d way nak gi keje, kereta aku dilanggar treler. Sungguh menakutkan!

Kejadian berlaku masa aku berhenti kat traffic light di simpang tiga kat Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat. Waktu tu kembara aku duduk kat lane sebelah kanan and ada satu treler sebelah kiri aku. Tiba2 ada satu treler datang dari belakang n sondol aku dr bahagian kanan. Horrornya aku masa tu bila tgk badan treler tu betul2 tepi aku. Kiranya treler tu dah makan jalan arah bertentangan tapi nasib baik la masa tu xde kereta dtg dr arah depan or keluar dr simpang sebelah kanan. Aku punya la menggigil masa tu. Yg aku ingat pas treler tu langgar kereta aku, treler sebelah kiri aku bunyikan hon sekuat2nya n kejar treler tu. Actually treler yg langgar aku mmg dah stop tepi jalan tapi agaknya treler yg mengejar tu ingat treler 'prey' tu nak lari, so diorg blokkan treler diorg depan treler 'prey' tu. Aku pulak after a while, barulah alihkan kereta aku kat tepi jalan. Org ramai terus berkerumun kat kereta aku.

Driver treler dan kwnnya yg kejar treler 'prey' rupanya dah cekup driver treler 'prey', an Indian man yg agak berusia. Org ramai dah bising2 marahkan lelaki India tu, n suruh aku gi buat report polis. Lelaki India tu kata brek dia x makan sbb tu jadik camtu and merayu2 nak settle kat situ aje. Aku bgtau dia aku mesti report polis sbb kereta aku tu kereta company, mana boleh aku main settle ikut sedap aje. Mmg la nampak cam x badly damaged. Bahagian belakang kanan remuk sikit sampai penutup minyak tu terkeluar. The whole sebelah kanan kereta mmg calar n side mirror tercabut. Tapi cemana pon mesti report polis gak. Kebetulan balai polis mmg ada kat simpang tu. So aku terus la gi balai polis tu. N brader2 treler yg menolong aku tu pon ikut sekali. I was glad they came along sbb diorg lah saksi kejadian and actually aku mmg dlm keadaan terperanjat n tak tau nak buat apa. Tapi aku sempat la call hb aku n colleague aku about the accident. Brader2 tu dok potpet2 ngan aku ckp maybe that Indian guy mabuk kot so nak selamat kata la brek x makan.

In between making the police report, aku on and off on the phone. Sorang colleague, kebetulan ada kat kawasan tu dtg ke balai polis tu setelah dpt tau dr colleague yg lain. Though x berapa rapat ngan dia tapi I was glad he came coz I have somebody that I'm familiar with going thru the situation. Since itu cuma balai polis biasa, kena tunggu polis dr cawangan trafik dtg buat siasatan. Aku minta hb dtg teman aku coz I really need somebody. My colleague mmg ada tapi x berapa selesa nak suruh dia tunggu sampai prosedur semua selesai. My hb only arrived an hour and half later from Melaka n kami pulak kena pergi ke Cawangan Trafik Batu Pahat utk dapat kan semua dokumen2 siasatan. Patutnya serahkan suma pada owner kereta aku tu tp since owner tu ada di KL, dia minta kami tolongkan dokumen2 penting utk urusan tuntutan insuran. Since aku agak trauma nak drive kembara aku tu, aku tukar kereta ngan hb. Nasiblah kembara tu still boleh jalan.

Bos pulak benarkan aku take the day off, so bila dah settle semua urusan polis, kami terus balik Melaka. Hari ni aku dtg keje drive kereta hb coz owner kembara tu patut pick up kembara tu ari ni and bg kereta lain. Kalau tak kesian hb aku kena drive kembara tu tanpa side mirror.

Skrg ni bila berhenti kat traffic light, aku trauma...asik dok tgk kat rear mirror kot2 ada lori ke treler ke dtg dr belakang n x leh brek gak. And it's difficult to forget how close I was to death. Imagine la kalau treler tu langgar aku direct dr belakang or kalau dia langgar dr tepi pon tapi mkn gak driver seat, survive ke aku? Mungkin Allah bagi aku pengalaman begini utk sedarkan aku betapa ajal tu terlalu dekat ngan kita n bersedia ke aku utk kematian? Yang penting sekali, aku amat bersyukur Allah lindungi aku dr sebarang kecederaaan dan panjangkan umur aku. Alhamdulliah......