Year 2009

2009 was eventful, work-wise, only because of the very bad start. Gosh, I remember over Christmas 2008, it was "hell". Due to a mistake (or rather, a series of mistakes from the same root cause), we basically lost quite some money... enough to put one's career in jeopardy. And so, 2009 started with mopping all the problem.


Well, 2009 started very bad at work. Was almost alone in mopping the problem and frankly, till date, it's really something best forgotten though we'd probably use this "case" as one where internal controls went wrong (or rather, where there was no internal controls put in place in the first place!).

When I first took over the UT Ops department back in end 2006, I knew I was getting into a department famous for "staying late" and "fighting fire". I guess I survived but you know, there are some problems that only surface at the worst possible time. To put it simply, sometimes there's still fire underground and if the firefighters are not careful enough, the whole forest will burn.

It sucks to drive a bus that was mis-handled for long and waiting to break-down! But life goes on. I probably kept my job because I was not 100% at fault. But hell yea did I learn that being in operations can sometime be only shitty work, and no knowing when bad things can happen if you are not prepared.

And so, 2009 was kind of a year spent on boosting internal controls. We were 'audited' 4 times (2 internal and 2 external). I got to learn the "language" of auditors and though I still feel sometimes they are just "airy-fairy", I acknowledge that they do have valid points. It's just the execution that's always difficult - and I guess that's what I am being paid to do!

Christmas 2009 was a much better one. And I am looking forward to 2010. Family-wise, all was great. I became an uncle and my parents were in town for 3 months. Married life is still blissful though we have settled into a nice routine - tuesdays and thursdays dinner at the in-laws for instance. Thinking of starting a family too but leaving it in God's help. My wife is as supportive as since day 1 and I'm doing my bit by leaving work relatively early (around 7-8) - must work to bring this to 6:30pm... yea!!!

2010.... 2010.. maybe it's time to put the effort to cut down the weight... I'm not below 30 anymore! Time to focus a bit more at work and must think about the next decade or so. WOuld be great to do something for the industry... and for the community. Must look into new routines in our personal life... exercising regularly, cooking regularly, handing out with friends, and getting closer to friends.... we've kind of lost touch with a couple of our friends...

it's looking great though...