Pootz In Boots

Mine is a life worth living and if I could turn back the clock, I would play the same scene at the same speed with the same players... regrets? Of course I have some but that adds the colours to this life..

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Location: KL, Malaysia

Female (quite obvious, right?), married (for 17 years), have 4 kids - 2 boys aged 16 & 4, the latter we said goodbye to 8 minutes after birth and 2 girls aged 9 & 7. Clocked 18 years of working at the same establishment, into the 19th year (and then I am considered a museum artifact). Working line is doing stuff involving the laws, legal documents and playing with words.

Monday 21 March 2011

Allah, Please Give Us Strength

Ya Allah.... hanya kau yang maha mengetahui, maha mengasihani, maha pengampun dan maha penyayang. Hanya kau yang mengetahui isi hatiku.... hanya kau yang mengetahui perjalanan hidupku, hanya kau yang menentukan segalanya...
Ya Allah.... berilah aku kekuatan iman, emosi, mental dan fizikal dalam menghadapi dugaan dari MU. Aku redha tetapi permudahkanlah segala-galanya bagi kami... terutamanya bagi dia....
Jika ini ketentuanMU, aku redha....

Tuesday 8 March 2011

How Much Am I Actually Worth (In Terms of Salary)

I sometimes wonder.... am I underpaid? Overly underpaid? I know I am not overpaid. I know what I am paid now is sufficient (not lavish and only just comfortable) to see me and family through. My bills are paid on time, my only loan has a very clean track record (save for 2 or 3 Januaries of which I have missed the deadlines because I forgot that my post dated cheques have run-out, but never been fined), my other loan which is in a joined name is also now back on track, my credit card balance is way below 50% of its limit, I pay my zakat (insya Allah & alhamdulillah), I never missed my meals (unless of course I am fasting), I treat the kids when it is due, I go for holidays once a year (where and when and how depends on the circumstances), my kids are clothed, fed, educated, entertained and loved (now that last one should be given regardless), I have performed my umrah and insya Allah, Haj (have to postponed it until baby is more than a year old).

But when people come to know the monthly salary that I am paid, especially those who are in the same profession and/or industry, they would shake their heads profusely and tell me to move on as I shall surely be paid at least 50% more than what I am getting now. And when I browsed through job advertisement, most with 50% lesser years of experience required are paying at least as much as what I am getting. Headhunters are offering me almost double.

So, what is it with me being so loyal with this company and yet people from outside are willing to appreciate me more? I have been with this organisation for 14 years and I have seen it going through changes, mergers, expansion, taking overs, transformations...... I enjoy what I am doing and most of the people I work with. I travel quite extensively and my exposure to challenges are more than most legal advisors/lawyers of the same years of service would have encountered. I deal with big names in the industry. Here, I got to perform my prayers in peace and on-time. The place is only 10 minutes drive from home, 20 minutes if the traffic is really bad. I can walk home everyday (30 mins walk) when it is not raining or too dark.

The only thing that I dislike most these days is the Management's way of making decision. And how bad they are at recognising efforts and commitments. Most decisions are made or influenced by one person. If only that could change, I wouldn't even think of leaving and would serve this company until I'm 55 or longer, if required. And better too!

And I think I am worth at least 30% more.

Thursday 3 March 2011

Kakak Besar Demam

Hmmm... Millie had been refusing food for a few days since Friday, but she had at least 10 currypuffs on Saturday and on Sunday her appetite left again. On Monday she didn't take her lunch, neither at school nor at home. And when I arrived home from work Monday evening, she started to develop a fever and I gave her 2 panadols (for kids, of course) and a glass of water. By midnight she was already at 39 degrees. Argh!!! I started sponging. At 7.00 am, I told Habibi that we have to take her to the clinic and she had to miss school. So, after brushing her teeth and changing into warm clothings, we drove to our family clinic, arriving at 7.30 and to my suprise it was toncilitis! One side of her toncils was red with white spots. Something she takes after my Habibi! She was also coughing but not too bad. I told the doctor that she's been taking very little food and had tummy ache and has been vomitting. So, after prescribing cough, fever and vomit meds as well as augmentin antibiotic (with 2 days MC), the doctor started talking about general things, at which point I asked her when is she on duty at the other branch (for ante-natal etc.) and with a huge laugh she asked... "haa.... ada apa?"... Heheheheheh......
We left the clinic at 8.10, for breakfast. Millie only had a few sips of milo (iced).
I took half the day off to keep her company, to give her meds and to feed her little food. I was at the office from 1.20 to 6.30pm.
At Maghrib her temperature was up again. She wanted maggi with egg and after eating 5 spoonfuls, she drank more water. She took her meds with no complaints and she slept thereafter.
On Wednesdy, she was in better spirit by noon, according to my aunt. I cooked chicken soup before leaving for work and she had that 3 times. She also read the Muqaddam and took more food. And started teasing her baby sister, Zara.
Today, I sent her off to school after she took her meds. She brought home 3 books for homework. I have to be home by 7pm today to help her with the works.
She's definitely recovering. ALHAMDULILLAH!!