Where did my Sat go??

Started the day by doing my laundry and then headed off to the studio after not having been there for a while. It was a waste of time for me because I ended up sitting there for a bit doing nothing and just watching. Headed off to 1U to check on the dress's alteration. Somehow they still didn't get it right so got to leave it there once again.

Went to tapau lunch for grandma and took a shower before heading off for Kickboxing. Unfortunately thanks to the heavy traffic, I know I won't be able to make it on time so I detoured back and slept for a bit because was feeling very sleepy. Not sure why. Then DDT called and off I got ready to leave and met her at her place before left to do what we were going to do. Ended up at Bijou for drinks then.

Pool View from bijou

Met up with DL for dinner at Hartamas later and bought 3 DVDs! I got the Atonement, We Own The Night & Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

A week's training

Ahh...it was finally over. The management has organized a 5 day offsite training for all the marketers at a hotel. It was a very expensive course.

Day 1 (Mon, 31st March)
Course started from 4pm and ended at 6pm. We started had some finger food before the start of it. It was basically an introduction by our facilitator of what to expect throughout the week. Had dinner at the Manhattan Fish Market restaurant in Subang Parade with a colleague.

Day 2 (Tues, 1st April)
Actual course started. Though I live the nearest, traffic can be bad. Facilitator has mentioned specifically to reach 5 minutes to 9am. Course starts at 9am and I reached on the dot thanks to traffic *phew* It was a lot to absorb on the first full day training. It's a lot of theory but at the end of it, there's a game that we have to play. All marketeers inclusive of the TM team were divided into 4 groups aka companies. I was in Company 4.

The game is to see how each company devise their strategies to manage the brands given to them. I was in the only group that didn't have a Mktg Mgr. We also had our TM colleague from Singapore and she's the only representative. Had Japanese lunch for the first time at Miyako. Never knew the hotel has this Jap restaurant.

Day 3 (Wed, 2nd April)
The training continued and got more intense by the day. As competition heats up between the companies, it got really competitive and we don't share our work at all. Good thing is also that we got to know our colleagues better because of the mix of how each company was grouped. Lunch was at the Coffee House.

Day 4 (Thurs, 3rd April)
As usual, more things given by the facilitator to confuse our mind! He has told us right from the start that this training will and is served to mess up the already existing jigsaw puzzle in our brains so it's normal to start wondering and thinking and not feeling comfortable thinking that things that you have known all along suddenly didn't seem quite right. In other words, you feel stupid.

Lunch was at the Coffe House. Dinner was at Miyako, Japanese restaurant. Put up a night in the hotel as we had to work late within the companies because of the presentation due the following day.

Day 5 (Fri, 4th April)
Presentation and wrap up day. Happy to know that we were the 2nd company with the biggest revenue and the biggest growth in share which is ultimately what Shareholders of any MNC sees. We just lost out by 1% to the first company. Oh well, fantastic learning for everyone!

Last lunch was at the Coffee House before everyone split ways. Because of our intense training, our HR director actually allowed us the rest of the day off. Most of us went back because work obviously would have piled up over the week. I did go back and prior to that, headed to the LHDN to collect my E-Pin for E-filing of the income tax submission form.

PM to quit?

Wednesday April 2, 2008

PM denies rumours that he will quit

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has brushed aside speculation that he would step down as Prime Minister.

Bernama reported that the Prime Minister reiterated that he would not run away from his responsibilities.

"I am here. I am here. I am here. They make all the speculations that I want to run away, I've resigned. Why should I resign?"

"My Government has got a strong majority (although) not the twothirds (majority), but very strong...that is the stand of support."

"Why I must run away from my entrusted responsibility," he was quoted by Bernama as saying, after meeting Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said at his office here Wednesday.

Speculation on the matter had been rife in the wake of calls by his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that Abdullah should step down for the Barisan Nasional's poor showing in the March 8 general election.

The BN lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament, winning only 140 of the 222 parliamentary while the Opposition captured 82 seats.

BN also lost control of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah and the majority of seats in the Federal territory besides failing to wrest Kelantan from PAS.

And you wonder why I don't buy Proton....

Monday March 31, 2008

Proton issues recall on its Savvy
Proton is recalling its Savvy over a possible problem with regards to the car’s rear-wheel bearings.

The company said a recent inspection has brought to its attention that water could get into the bearings, which could lead to a malfunction.

The recall has a bearing, for sure ....
“The safety and satisfaction of our customers is a primary concern. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all Savvys for inspection and repair,” Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed said in a press statement.

The recall will affect a total of 34,000 cars. All Savvy owners are advised to take their cars to the nearest Proton Edar or EON service branch for an inspection.

Proton said it would conduct the necessary checks and replacements at no cost to the customer. They can also call Proton i-Care at 1-300-880-888 for further info.

11 years and still into the case

Tuesday April 1, 2008

Judge says Diana's butler "did not tell the truth"
By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell did not tell the truth at the inquest into her death, the presiding judge told a jury in London on Tuesday.


A photograph of the Princess of Wales left by a mourner is adorned with a rose August 31, 2002 on the gates of Kensington Palace on the fifth anniversary of her death. (REUTERS/Chris Helgren/Files)
"All in all, you may think Burrell's behaviour has been pretty shabby," Lord Justice Scott Baker told the jury as he concluded the official inquiry into the death of Diana and her lover Dodi al-Fayed in a Paris car crash in 1997.

Burrell, the butler who called himself "Diana's Rock", faced a three-day grilling from lawyers when he appeared at the inquest in January. He was repeatedly asked how much he really knew about secrets he was supposed to have held for Diana.

In February, Scott Baker asked Burrell to return to court to explain discrepancies between his evidence and comments attributed to him in a tabloid newspaper, but he refused.

"It was blindingly obvious wasn't it, that the evidence that he gave in this courtroom was not the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," Scott Baker said on Tuesday.

In a scathing reference to Burrell's emotionally charged testimony, he told the jury: "I advise you to proceed with caution especially when and if you are left with the impression that he only told you what he wanted you to hear."

The coroner was summing up to the jury after they had heard from more than 250 witnesses over the past six months in an inquest into Diana's death.

Harrods' owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi's father, fought a long legal battle to have the inquest heard by a judge and jury. Under British law, an inquest is needed to determine the cause of death when someone dies unnaturally.

The inquest was delayed for 10 years because Britain had to wait for the French legal process and then a British police investigation to run their course before it could begin.

Both police inquiries decided it was a tragic accident because chauffeur Henri Paul was drunk and driving too fast.

"PROBLEM SOLVED"

Tuesday's proceedings were held up for two hours after the court received a last-minute e-mail from France referring to a possible sample from Paul, who died at the wheel of the speeding Mercedes which was being pursued by paparazzi.

But the judge resumed after an extensive break, telling the jury without going into any detail "The problem has been solved. There is nothing to be concerned about."

On Monday, the opening day of his presentation to the jury, the judge dismissed conspiracy theories held by Mohamed al-Fayed, father of Dodi.

Al-Fayed had claimed Diana and his son were killed by British security services on the orders of Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, because the royal family did not want the mother of the future king to have a child with Dodi al-Fayed.

The 11-member jury is due to be sent out on Wednesday to consider their decision after the judge finishes his summing up. They have five verdicts to choose from.

They can opt for unlawful killing through gross negligence by the chauffeur, by "following vehicles" or by both.

The other two alternatives are accidental death or an open verdict if the jury felt there was not enough evidence to support any substantive verdict.

Copyright © 2008 Reuters

April Fool's Day

Honestly, I almost forgot what the above means. Quite busy with training and minds were all focused there. Lunch was at Miyako, Jap food in Sheraton Subang. I never knew they had it to be honest. Placement was interesting as it was far away from the rooms that we were working in.

My all time favorite soft shell crab sux! The Gindara and Beef was good! yum yum! I feel like a pig to be honest as it's just eating and sitting down. I must control my diet. Yea yea people told me that I lost a bit but that doesn't mean that I can just let go and overeat.

Ahh back to this day losing its touch. My colleague actually told me that she wanted to pull a prank on me and another colleague today. Can ah like that? You tell me haha...no longer syiok d!

Baskin Robbin's Discount

Well, I obviously wanted to try to catch one of the bi-monthly discount that is offered on the 31st of any month. Well places like Subang Parade also can be pack. Imagine Mont Kiara, etc...where yuppies populate! I was there for dinner at the Manhattan Fish Market. Since the Sea Platter for two or three was obviously too much to bear, I skipped the ice cream bit else I think I will probably throw up. Oh well, next time!