Deco : BollyNite

(Here)

I was tasked to lead the deco (construction) team for our office's annual dinner. I  contributed a few ideas for the Bollywood theme (since I have involved in a BollyNite before) and the larger team came out with the final proposals. What I need to do is to turn them into reality.

I gather a few people with artistic flair whom I knew could deliver a quality work. We discussed on the resources, work delegation and timeline in 10 minutes, then we started to do whatever we need to do.

Love working with creative people. You dont have to monitor them closely or teach them how to do anything. THEY JUST KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND THEY DELIVER ON TIME. Thanks Ena, Aziz and Ayie.

My main tasks are to construct a replica of a film reel, an arch for the entrance and a movie clapper. These are only 20% of the whole deco elements. I only did the film reel. The rest, and another 70%, were taken care by Ena and Ayie. Gila terer mereka ini, bolehla saya pencen buat kerja2 begini lepas ni. I do have a lot of works and meetings in between preparing for this event.

I only focused on this from day one.

These creative duo did a good job constructing the arch. I just gave them the dimensions. It finished the next day. They didn't talk much while doing the work. That's how serious and professional they are! See my reel in progress there? ;)

Ena did the clapper 

Special thanks to Syazwan and Ikram who brought this huge film reel to the venue, on motorcycle! The giant reel doesnt fit in the MPV or a van or our bus. We've tried it all.

We laughed really hard looking at this. And I laughed harder when I arrived at the venue - when they informed that it fell off the motorcycle due to the strong wind, broken and I have to put it together again on the stage. I didn't mind at all. I came prepared because I need to set the reel on the stage and add in the 'film'.  

The film reel was designed as a continuity from the backdrop. It goes in from one side and came out from the other side. I am not good in explaining but this is how it looks like at the other end.

 The photobooths 

There were gazebo, umbrellas, red carpet area with papparazi and other deco elements, but I didn't have the photos. I didn't attend the event. I took a day off because my dad was scheduled to have eye procedure that day.

Deco: Raya @ My Office

(a while ago...)
I was tasked to lead and come out with Raya deco proposals in a few hours (long story short - I was preparing for my study leave so I do not want to involve in any adhoc project in between completing my outstanding  works in the office. BUT, the person in-charge stepped down and no one wants to take up the challenge. The Senior Director called me and requested me to lead the team).

So I said YES. I came out with a proposal in three hours. The theme is orange. I went to the office the next day to obtain the Senior Director's approval, then presented it to the Project Manager. And lastly, to our Datin President, for approval. They said YES. And I started to buy the materials the day after. All these happened during my three days leave. 

Not to mentioned, a lot of Alice mode in between.

So, these are the simple decorations that I did with the team for our Raya:

Lantern-like welcoming element for the ceiling and tents.
Thank you Mas Ayu for printing these and get the team to hang these around the venue :)

Then I overheard someone said, I may not be able to beat last year's IG frame for photo booth. Well, sir, I didnt like to beat anyone's design, fyi. Everyone is good in their own way. But I do made this. I know how young people likes to take photos in a huge frame nowadays. It has real fabric curtain, btw. It is so heavy that we need to hang it using a steel chain.

My signature block letters.
I made it from scratch. I got help from Ain, my colleague with a limited vision and a few others, but Ain was with me until the end. She's a very good companion. 

Although she knew cant see that much, she did asked me whether she could help me a bit to paint the block letters. Are you kidding?? OF COURSE YES!! I told her she have to paint all the blocks herself because I have other things to complete. She was extremely happy because she was never been given a chance to paint anything before and now I trusted her to complete the most important and largest deco element! I can see the joy of a five years old radiates out from her eyes and smile when she started to dip the brush into the paint... right until she completed the last block. 

I completed the look with a thick orange paper on the black block letters.

I plan to construct 'RAYA @ MITI' but then I received a directive to add in the word 'NETWORKING'. So I rushed to get a thick styrofoam board and a foam cutter. I wanted the word 'networking' to be in a cursive form, as a contrast to the rigid 'RAYA @ MITI'. Constructing 'networking' in a block form would be realllllly time consuming.

Again, Ain was there to get the projector running in the hall and helped me to trace the letters onto the board. Freehand would not work this time because we are running out of time. I need to have a consistent lettering (stroke, height, thickness) and have them cut by the end of the day. I need them to be painted the next day.

I get PUSPANITA ladies to help me with the paint work. It was Ain's idea to paint it in orange at the sides and leave the front part white (well, I asked them to paint it white anyway to cover the bubbly Styrofoam surface). It turned out great!

One day before the event, I was asked what is my plan for the lobby? I was like.. I have no plan for that +_+ It was not in my initial (agreed) proposal. "Please create something for the lobby to greet all the Excellencies and honourable guests" .

Okay... (put on thinking hat now)

I remember a pair of exhibition panels in the preparation room. I asked Mas Ayu to get his friend, a guy who happened to have a mak andam sister, to see me. I need to borrow A LOT OF FLOWERS from him, I didnt care if the flowers are not orange. I just need FLOWERS. I manage to rent these precious flowers for free of charge.

Meanwhile, I started to alter the official event backdrop into a smaller version (A2) for the panels. A few people came to put together the posters, flower and the lampu lip lap. The last minute project completed. We have two of these at both side of the lobby.

I try not to let anyone down because this is the important event for the office. Last minute 'networking'? you got that. Need something at the lobby? You got that too. As long as I have a huge group of dedicated people to help me, I will deliver the work on time :) 

We do have some small-scale deco works to ensure the consistency of the theme throughout the event. Since all tables will be equipped with festive cookies and various snacks containers, I have designed a Raya tag for them and tie it with orange and black ribbons.

We also have orange chewable candies that we just poured on the tables. Personally, I didn't like hard candies because it took a long time to dissolve. I prefer chewable candies. They can eat it while waiting for the event to start or after the meal to get rid of the after taste. Or just simply take it home :) Unfortunately I didn't manage to take a photo of the candies.

These are the deco for our last Raya event in this building.

Thank you for the opportunity and trust given to me and my team. And thank you PUSPANITA team for your hard work and dedication! 

I received a few requests to construct the block letters for wedding planners/mak andam, after the event. Unfortunately I have to decline. I need time to prepare for my study leave. Sorry all. 

HLP2015 : The interview

Since my proposal was on industrial development, I equipped myself with the historical and latest figure of our country’s GDP and relevant aspects of industrial development in Malaysia.

I went in with another candidate, who planned to further her study at the local university. In front of us were three panels with different background and expertise, and the questions were…. quite provocative. The only female panel keep asking on who will take care of my child, whether I will attend the class should one of my sons fell sick, how my husband will keep up with four kids and why can’t I just study at the local university. I also tried hard to justify why and how my undergraduate degrees in architecture (yup, two degrees) could help in my Master in industrial development. There's a will, there's a way.

Two of them really pushed me to pursue my Master at local university because I have four kids (or they were just provoking) while one was very keen of me going abroad – yes, you, Dr. Fuad!. They said they will give me conditional approval – I have to get accepted to an outstanding university – or else just pursue my study in Malaysia. I don’t know whether it is a yes or a no, but I started working hard on my statement of purpose afterwards.

HLP2015 : The application result

It was really a torture to wait for the result and counting days until I feel like losing hope. I started to doubt the content of my proposal, I read it over and over again for a few days until I reached a point to which I agreed that the proposal was rubbish. Begitu paranoid. Then I started to get busy with the preparation of my attachment in Delhi, then 11^th Malaysia Plan until I have no time to think about it.

Until I received an SMS - while driving back from the office - saying that the result has been published online in eSila. Without any delay, ok that was overly dramatic, AFTER TWO traffic lights, I pull over from the main road and started to hyperventilate. I was literally shaking and my hands were cold. I tried to type in the username and password. Guess what? I failed miserably. I cant even remember my username.

I opened my inbox to retrieve the information. Then I managed to log in. The font was so small. I tried to make it bigger but somehow I accidentally log myself out. HOW IRRITATING WAS THAT?

I logged in second time. And there it was – Permohonan : Berjaya (Luar Negara). A step closer to the academic world!

I was extremely happy…until I scrolled down and read about the interview....

Graphic Note 101 : The talk

(Saturday - random stuff day)

I was requested to deliver a talk on Graphic Note - that's what I call my work - before I left for Manchester. I didnt only do mind map, but I combine my day-to-day note-taking with sketchnote. It is the hybrid and I call it Graphic Note.

I didnt expect many people would turn up since I posted the ad at the last minutes. I emailed the HR Training Unit to borrow some markers and some post-its notes for my talk. To my surprise, they didnt only agreed to supply everything that I need for the session, the HR officers were also interested to come and find out what my notion of Graphic Note is all about! I was speechless!

The session went well. I have the best participants! I love to see my boss enjoyed the session very much. Everybody has tried their best, pushed their limits during the practical sessions and in the end, we laughed at each others' drawings! That was the best way to end the day.

I glad to share the knowledge and skills with the rest. I hope it will benefit them as much as it benefited me.

HLP2015 : Psychometric Test

I need to sit for an online psychometric test.

It requires me to answer around 300 psychology questions in 1 or 2 hours (?). Sorry guys, I keep forgetting the details! 

HLP2015 : The day it travels to Putrajaya

After I submitted the application forms, it was screened at a Ministry-level. I need to pass that one first before my proposal is sent to Putrajaya. I really hope I got the buy-ins from the top management on my proposal. I was told, among 20+ submitted, the Office will only send 11 (I can’t remember the exact number) for JPA’s consideration.

I was on my way to my office and I met the HR staff in the elevator. He carried a box with a huge H L P letters, I assumed he just came out from the screening session. I asked him whether he is going to Putrajaya (without any intention to know further). He said Yes, and he told me my proposal is IN THE BOX.

Alhamdulillah. I didn’t tell anyone. There’s a hope.

HLP2015 : Application – The university

Choosing the university. Oh my. 

There were nearly 200 universities (both local and abroad) in the list to choose from. I chose to study aboard, so it left me with around….well, nearly 200 universities. I keep my option open. I didn’t have any particular university in mind that time. I spent three days to go through EVERY UNIVERSITY WEBSITES to find the suitable school for me - in the US, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, NZ, Japan, you name it. 

It was EXTREMELY HARDDDD to explain the STRUGGGGGLEEE that time. My eyes hurt. Unfriendly and hard to navigate websites add to the pressure. I was not only looking for suitable school, I also have to scrutinise the admission criteria. Some school only look for economics graduates, some require prerequisites in statistical analysis or econometrics. There were a few with application period that has comes to end.

To my surprise, I only found one (The University of Manchester) that suit my plan and does not require undergraduate degree in economics. I exchanged a few emails with the course conveners and they assured me that this course is right for me. 

Then I just add in another two (on international trade), for the sake of filling the form.

I fill in the forms and submitted it to the HR Department one day before the deadline. I pray for the best and I leave everything to Allah.

Map everywhere!

My map on the office's fixed glass window.

This is how I de-stress (enjoying the view outside) and thinking about work (the mind map) at the same time. LOL.

Ramadhan activities

Similar to previous years, we had Ihya' Ramadhan programme, tadarus (same old group), iftar and tarawih, daily (free) breaking fast meal at our cafe for officers who stayed back late, weekly tazkirah, khatam Al-Quran programme and distribution of bubur lambuk and gulai kawah.

Ihya Ramadhan. We received a box of dates

It has been a great month. Alhamdulillah. Here, we really cherish the beautiful month of Ramadhan. I love my office.

Khatam AlQuran. Everyone received bunga telur, pulut kuning and rendang 

Our humble Minister and his deputies distributed bubur lambuk and gulai kawah to all staffs

Change is good

Bye bye old room. 

Under the recent reorg, my unit is now under a different section. Change is good.

I wipe clean all the furniture before I left.

Helllllllooooooo new roooom....

Full of dust, old documents, papers, old personal belongings and books.

I took half of my working day to took out everything and wipe clean all furniture. I cant tolerate dust and dirty workplace. So I dont mind taking time to make sure the room is spotlessly clean before I come to work the next day, on 1st of Ramadhan and starts new.

I treated myself with these in between work and moving out / in.

I love changes.

TOT : Insan Hebat

In one of the TOT games, every group need to list down the qualities of Insan Hebat and present it to the floor.

iM4U 2015 : The Day

The programme ran smoothly.

I arrived at the site at 7am. I was running here and there because that's how a paranoid project manager should be. lol.  

The event was officiated by the Hon Minister. We provide free health check up services including pap smear, healthy lifestyle exhibition, talk on entrepreneurship, interactive booths on entrepreneurship, fun dance by my colleague, a Zumba trainer, FREE MARKET (the coolest of all!), futsal tournament, sukaneka, pertandingan menyumpit, interesting demonstration by Fixie Family using *duh* fixie and bar street workout (second coolest).

Items for the Free Market

Free basic check up. The Pap Smear was performed in the nearby Klinik 1Malaysia

Bar street workout

The event was a success.

I went home and sleep. It was an exhausting two months preparation.

I wish all the best for the next year's team :)

Oh BTW, our programme was captured in today's newspaper.

iM4u 2015 : The Prep

I have a very good team this year.

I was away for 3 weeks attending courses and my assistants managed to complete all important tasks. I am no longer a micromanager :)

Two days before, I was struggling with the speech for the Minister, brief for the Deputy Minister and some small scale designs for money envelopes and charity bags. 

In the afternoon before the day, I went to the Minister's house to brief his spouse on the programme. Then we went straight to the site. The tents were up, hampers were ready, all items for Free Market has been carefully transported to the site and I manage to finished the media statement (the best PRO was in my room to invite the media at the very last minutes) as well as MC script before I headed home at 8.30pm. 

I have a very good sleep that night knowing everthing is ready for the big day tomorrow :)

1M4U : Collecting used items for Free Market @ PPR

I am currently managing a volunteer activities under 1M4U programme. Among others, it includes a Free Market, where we gather used items from everybody in the office and give them away at the selected PPR.

Please click for a larger image

If you want to donate used (or new) items, please contact me. Collection period is from 11 to 25 May 2015. The Free Market will be on 30 May 2015.

Mentoring a colleague with limited vision

I am working with a special officer, Norain. She has a limited, B2 vision. 

I am so excited to explore her cool reading gadget, see how she work using the laptop with Job Access With Speech (JAWS) - a software that talk back and see how she manages everything. This is new for me. 

Ain taught me the meaning of strong will and determination. She is very excellent in her work. She usually completed her task on time. Alhamdulillah for this valuable experience, and the great colleague.

Door-to-door service

Today, my office library has visited my division for their Door-to-Door Service (read, a group of librarians push a trolley full of books and you can borrow any four books for two weeks). I LOVE THEIR VISIT! I took the opportunity to return the magazine I borrowed earlier (how cool is that? - they sent the magazine to you and they collect it from you when your are done reading it). If that does not make the laziest person to read at least one book in one year, I dont know what else does.

The interesting part of this service is the librarians not only bring books from our library, they are bringing books from the National Library's collection too!

I borrowed two books from the National Library. 

Keep it up library!

Magazine delivery

My office library will notify everybody via email on the latest magazine available in the library. We just have to pick up the phone, call them and the magazine of your choice will be delivered to your room within five minutes. I just got these delivered to me. Excellent service!

I missed this issue of The Economist earlier because I was away attending Research Methodology course for two weeks.

Work-life balance.