My Second House Guest @ Bagan Lalang???

I put in question mark because as of this moment of typing, I have no idea if he will show up. It is now 9:33pm. He told me yesterday he will overnight tonight so I said fine. Then this evening he said they have to do some set up after the day's work is done. So I dare not ask if it will be late and what time because I want him to feel at home and I don't want to be too pushy until I push him away because ... because I really, really want him here in my home so I can clean after him, cook for him, and admire him. So who is this individual? Why none other than the Case Man

Yup, the entire day is spent in agony waiting for his arrival

I have some other stuff to share but nothing monumental except I finally got my electric cooker - had to drive all the way to Tropicana Mall @ Damansara and cooked my first dish tonight! French beans in XO mushroom sauce. Hehehe!

So now I am going to play some games and wait until he arrives or call him around 11:00pm if he doesn't

Wish me luck, yes?

My First House Guests @ Bagan Lalang

My parents and sister said they will visit me on Sunday. I thought they wanted to come for breakfast because here, in Sg Pelek, the breakfast is really good. But then this morning on second thought, I SMS them and what a good thing because my sis replied that they would depart after breakfast! Ah well ...

So there I was toggling away on computer and doing miscellaneous house cleaning, my phone on its perpetual silent setting and dad had texted me that they had already left the toll!

Naturally they were parked @ Public Bank and wandering around by the time I reached there

They had a quick look at my place and generally satisfied except for comments on clearing the weeds and getting rid of the ants. Other than that, it was all green! Thank goodness again! Next, I decided to take them to Tg Sepat since even sis had yet to go. We arrived and ate the pau. Everyone agreed it was no big deal. Tried the coffee and agreed that it is super thick. They bought the bottled juices and we headed down to the jetty - so called Lovers' Bridge!

Fortunately, it was crowded with lots and lots of people just coming in, walking around, buying knick knacks from that over-dressed shop in front before eating at the famous restaurant. As I have tried before and didn't like it and it was crowded, we went to the one adjacent ... and it was ... to me, at least, crappy too!

Oyster omelette - kinda strong flavour and salty!
Mantis prawns - overcooked until shrivelled and hard!
Shark - too gamey!
Ribs - almost no pork meat!
Veg - okay

See? Maybe I am too picky?

After that, we just wandered a bit more and they set off for home

So tonight, with the heat of the day, I am now going to go get me some BEER!!!!!

Dad's Birthday ... so like how old is he?

Yeah, that's a real question and I am not just posting it for the shock value to get you to read my blog. Seriously, I am seated here in front of my laptop typing this out and wondering and honestly, and to a certain extent, shamefully, I have no idea

I guess I will have to ring up my sis later to find out ... hahaha!

So today is a Friday ... and I had a nice leisurely time. I got up, went for a simple breakfast, did some household chores, did my layman's analysis of ID with big words wrapping it up to sound professional (hahaha) and then drove to 1 U. That's the only time I was stressed actually. I arrived and not knowing their schedule I was merely wandering around. Do I have enough time for a movie or a massage? I don't know

Anyway, it was nice for once that I am the person to pick up mom and dad instead of them picking me up in Penang. Yup at the ripe OLD age of 40 going on 41, I finally did it! Wow! I didn't even realize the significant of that until I typed this

You see, in all the years, wherever I worked, they never visited so I never had to pick them up. How nice, right, if they had gone to places where I have nice cars because inspite of what my dad says, I know he likes his cars as well except that he can never afford them

So with so many options to choose from, dad chose ... get this ... Penang hawker food at 1 U. After he just stepped down from the bus from Penang to KL, he still wants his Penang food. So naturally this place is pseudo Penang. Hehehe!

Aside from that, whole day is quiet until evening. Then we went to Noor's restaurant, Il Taverna or some name like that. A bit hard to find because it was not on the main row of the shops but behind and we had to circle, park and walked. On top of that, there were no frontage lighting and you would not know it exists if you didn't literally walked right up to the shop, peered within and enquired if open or not because on a Friday night, at 7:30pm with NO customers??? It is supposed to be both drinking and makan zone but yet so little customers

Service was obviously good because there were no other customers but food was hit and miss. We started with mushroom aioli and it was quite stringy and flat. The asparagus and egg was exactly like it sounds - breakfast? Then came our main courses of fish curry (powdery  taste), nasi lemak (good) and pasta olio with shrimps (looks nasty and tastes equally bad)

Ah well ...

Then comes the really stupid part of me ... I rushed back to Sepang hoping to have Case Man as my first overnight visitor and guess what? By the time I reached, he had gone to bed in hostel. ARGH! I was soooooo looking forward to it ... and one of these days, maybe I should take a real photo of him sleeping or without his shirt ... I can just visualize him in his briefs ... ahahahahahaha!
Okay, time for me to sleep!

Damansara ... finally signed!

Yes, as I sit here in my sis' condo in Ken Damansara with pouring rain outside, that's the main thing I have to share. I know, I know. This has been going on for months but can you believe the shit?

So here is what happened

I drove down after a hurried cup of coffee in Pelek town ... and then at the office to my surprise, the Balinese Germ is not around only the Swiss Germ Cheese (hahaha)! No offence intended but as I want this to be anonymous I have to use such nicks so that at least I remember who they are years later

Anyway, when both are in, we discussed my terms and his main challenge is cash flow. He said if he doesn't get paid, for a while, it is fine. This is from the Swiss but you can see, this is not shared by the Germ. The Germ kept on in jovial tone said it's time to get money from the owners and get ourselves paid should the owners not be able to raise sufficient funds to see the project through. He is right. This is the practical world view. Otherwise all our efforts would have been wasted and if this first project screws up before we secure the next, then it can mean the end of the company

Anyway, if the Swiss is sincere, then why in the world is he challenging me for the fees?!?!?! In the end, we agreed to a compromise and he increased my fee to SGD2.5k until hotel open first 60 days. Then on a sort of retainer of SGD1k unless there is other works

Then we talked about shares and I said it is up to him and as a friend, I wouldn't insist. Naturally, he said he was the one who invited me first and he would like to honor that offer. Well so would I if the business is a success but I wouldn't want to be sued later on if I close deals without him, right? And that's what this all boils down to. Right now, he has 1 property and I have one. Mine doesn't pay that well at the moment but his may have financial difficulties. In short, both have challenges

The challenge is who gets the next few properties and as for the Germ, with all his connection, why can he not secure a single client?

Anyway we talked here and there and I was stunned at how they are going to tackle the next client - Rice Miller of Penang. Basically they searched internet for contact details and intend to write a letter of introduction to that company and hoped that the company will meet up with them?!?!?!?! Wow! If that company does so, then I will say that they are blessed because they have nothing to show for it. And that company that intends to spend RM250m on their development is taking a risk by paying top dollar to my partners and yet not even getting a branding in return! Hah!

All the best to them. If I want, I may just pick up the phone and call them and be direct and humble and get a slot to see that Jennifer lady, yes? Sigh!

FIRST ART COMMISSION!!!

Dear Diary or Dear Readers or Whatever,

Today is yet another exciting day in my life, the life of Mr "Adrift". Hahaha! Honestly, I felt a wee bit of adrift because I am kinda lightheaded for most of the day. This is probably due to the past four days of uneven sleep patterns (Friday until today Tuesday). I always have this problem when I am at my sis place in Damansara as there is temptation to click on the TV, read, surf internet, snack, whatever ... you know what I mean, right?

So yes I definitely think it is lack of sleep, insufficient water all day, too much coffee, etc.

But what is really exciting is that TODAY a 5-star luxury/ boutique hotel in Thailand wrote and confirmed that they wished to commission me for 2 paintings for their new hotel's coffee house! I am so excited. This is my first real paying commission. I offered to opt for room-in-lieu. It is obvious because I definitely want to be there when my painting is there! And take photos and this will show the art world that I am a new voice and that my works are recognized! It's finally stage 2

Stage 1 is me doing the work and trying to pimp it to anyone who would want to see

Stage 2 is having someone recognized and paying for it

So what am I doing now? I have emailed back some ideas and the process that I will work and keeping fingers crossed everything goes well. I actually have a very simple idea. As you know by now, I do everything more cerebral and I spend time thinking through a piece rather than the artistic expression part. I do not want that soul searching, pain inducing side of the artist. I want only the type that can be cured with a Panadol

Aside from that, I had a nice meeting at my ex-employers head office with my investors. Hehehe! I know, right? We had a 2 hour-or-so chat and as expected, my ex, the Kungfu Master and the Werepig dropped their pants, so to speak. I cannot think of the right phrase. I mean, I know we are supposed to be friendly business partners but the werepig was impressed when he found out that they are involved in concerts and race car event contractors! Dude! I mean, WTF!

As for the kungfu chap? Well, he was impressed with some of the waterworks they did and said that he went to Singapore to view it. That shows he is not an up-to-date developer or master developer. That shows the company is lucky because of political connections and getting the land. S|IGH!

Anyway, good for my investors. I just hoped when deal goes through, everyone remembers to pay me!

But the art part? Psyched!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first meeting with our Damansara investors

I cannot believe this. We set a meeting at 10:00am. I had breakfast with Unca J and he offered to drive me there. I was a wee bit tensed because I was wondering if I go with him how I would get back, right? And true enough, we had to follow until we got lost. So I quickly texted my biz partners that I might be about 15 min late and guess what? Real Malaysian. They were even later than me!

When I got there, I saw a chap outside and figured he might be the majority partner - Chinese, carrying nothing but handphone but rather than take the plunge, I got up and requested for usage of the meeting room

And now comes the WHAT A CHUMP MOMENT x 2 moments!

First up is halfway through our meeting with the Project team, both me and the G guy were making side comments on how weak the PM was as the G was meeting the PM for the first time and to our surprise, our S partner who has been helping the owner for the better part of the past year and the owners thought they were completely satisfied with the PM. DUDE! The guy came with a Hugh Grant accent and literally was waffling. Everything he was briefing only with no clear cut solution and indecisive and not even strong to bang contractors and consultants. I mean, imagine telling everyone that the safety sprinkler is okay for levels 1 to 8 but from 9 onwards it ends at doors of rooms?!?!?! If it should be in the room, then tell the contractors, right? That is merely one of many examples

Chump 2 ... towards the end after the contractors etc have departed and we were summing things up, the majority partner, the Chinese chap actually said that I am so good that they wished that they had known me a while back at the start of the project! That serves my S partner right as he is even now trying to cut my charges to SGD1.5k. I mean, SGD1.5k?!?!?! Hello ... go find yourself an accounts officer, okay???

Ugh!

The highlight is we went to WIP and the G paid for beer and snacks. The downlight is that there are no cuties for me to watch. I looked all round but no one attracted my eye. Sigh!

Launching ... CCI

Yup today is the day. Is it an auspicious day? I don't know. It's 2nd April 2013: 2+4+2013: 2019: 12:3 or 2+4+2013:12:3. So I think it is okay

Why do I say it is officially today? Well, today is the day I ceased with the Gee Pee Tee i.e. my last in-office day. More on this topic later. As I already have been in the planning for what comes next, I can consider this day to be the day

What is CCI? I thought over this and decided to use my own name and tag the word International at the end. Why International? Well, I have worked in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, UAE and Seychelles. Different companies, different roles but I was there!

Okay. So what else happened? Well, this next bit is a downer. I found out DOSM has left. Shocker. I thought they would confirm her and she would accept the confirmation. Didn't know she wouldn't and that they would screw her. So the whole place is going up in flames in sales because no proper handover, no proper staff handling guest enquiries, etc. And with the entire HRD departure to be replaced by potential cronies who enjoy backstabbing each other, that's 2 departments down. On top of that, F&B is yet to stabilize as the German is yet to arrive and with a generally lazy Exec Chef who doesn't check breakfasts at all or even spotcheck dinner closing ... and you have a serious problem brewing all over again ... but what-the-heck, right? Not my problem as per the werepig

And now the really nasty bit. The Safety Dude came and bugged me several times in my office. To my utter surprise, he then sat and didn't leave. After 5:30pm, when I finally wrapped up to go off, he started calling me and trying to find me. I was busy moving so I didn't bother and he said he wanted to know if I have departed but I said I am permitted to stay on for a while. He said that's not what he was told. So rather than fight, I texted and then emailed the Werepig and as expected, I don't know who is right or wrong but the pig said it wasn't his instructions. Now if it wasn't his, why would HRD do that, right? Aiyah be a man with some balls!

Aside from that, that really spoilt my night, nothing else of note happened. Hah! Actually to me my life seemed to be full of events from one day to the next, eh? And I am still not a millionaire or a celebrity. Hehehe!

1st April = April Fool's Day = so was I fooled?

Well, yes and no

Hope everyone out there had some fun, at least, because this is one day where I noticed it has lost its lustre some what. Sure everyone still knows it is April Fool's day but few people bother to come up with gags anymore. Maybe this is because all those commercial people cannot figure out an angle to make big bucks yet unlike say Valentine's?
For me, I woke up, rushed through breakfast, said my farewell to Cory and waited for the driver. I was half-n-half because of my appointment at SH. I was there last year but I met so many people that I was worried either I do not recognize their faces or worse ... I won't mention names because I sure as heck will not remember names, knowing me ... heh!

But to my surprise, everyone was nice. I was with the Yes Dude and we had a nice time chatting and drinking coffee and he was proud of their excellent brew which was excellent indeed. Then came the Mah Man. And I was surprised as he was not too keen. Apparently the first thing he did was check forex?!?! Was he a speculator of forex? I cannot say because it is odd that he was looking through all that. Then he talked about his days as a GM and whatnot and didn't seem keen so I pressed on and showed my presentation and that got his attention!

He was impressed with all the luxury resorts in exotic locations and he asked if I know about city hotels. So I showed the KL, Dubai property and that sealed the deal! He even told the Yes to ensure I was signed up

I hung around the rest of the day at their place listening to their architects and people debate

And finally Hadi dropped by ... we exchanged a few words ... and then I left ... and as there was so much time to go ... I decided to head for the nearest mall which was one of those residential boring kind of place ... still I got a haircut out of it and wanted to shop ... walked through three times with nothing to buy ... sigh!

Now it's at the airport waiting for my flight back and tomorrow is my final day at Gee Pity