Stop Calling My Handphone, Biatch!

A local bank called me this morning to do a fund transfer. That was the third time this month! I told the telemarketing girl I wasn't the least bit interested and that for Virgo folks, the only costs we keep running were the occasional credit card bills, all under tight control. Virgo men are reknown fussy control freaks. Okay maybe not fussy, but fastidious?

Anyway the girl had really good customer care technique - damn even I would be very proud of her. She was blah.. blahing about the Int. Rate I'd be saving should I decide to do the transfer. I don't know why... but I guess she so loved the sound of her voice she totally missed the part where I said the bill I had was too small - not worth the bank's friggin' effort.

And yeah Virgo men are really gentle creatures - it's impossible for us to be curt. So for that 5 minutes or so I had to exercise so much restraint. So much so that it felt unnatural that I had to internalise my impatience.

What Was I Thinking?

Guitar lesson last night was a dismal. After a hiatus of 2 weeks my left fingerings were clunky and right-hand plucking was such a beginner's grade affair. To make it worse I clipped the right-hand fingernails. You're supposed to maintain some nails. What was I thinking when I clipped them?

Needless to say the instructor was not amused and he kept on harping how slow we were to sight-read the music and respond correctly. And I being a smart-ass and the only working adult in the class tried to be apologectic by admitting my sub-par performance, all in jest, of course, and how the holidays had kept me busy. Busy? Lol. Busy not-practising, that is.

Something To Keep Me Grounded

Not exactly an Elysian field but one that I can truly appreciate, especially with the dry spell the region is going through right now. An awe-inspiring sight for a spoilt-for-choice, city-creep like me. Picture taken on the way to the Rinjani waterfalls, Lombok.

Resignation and Sea Longings

The above, done.

I stood on a hilly road cliff and took this picture. Looking at the Straits of Lombok and beyond that, Bali sea. Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air simply beckon you. Whether gazing from high cliffs or standing on a beach, is it no wonder many writers are rapt on the margin between welcoming earth and implacable water?



Another reason for taking this break was to mull over my thoughts of quitting. Plus I am not one to turn down any opportunity in the sun, clear waters and sand.

I'm so glad I packed that Deuter of mine because by the time I came back home, I've never in my recollection felt this rejuvenated or sure before . I told my boss of my decision to leave the company this afternoon.

Sail forth - steer for the deep waters only,
Reckless O Soul,

- Walt Whitman from 'A Passage to India'

Far from the Madding Crowd

Ok Ok. I've not been fatihful to this blog lately - for the past week at least. But it's all good my dear readers, it's all accounted for. I went to Lombok to get some well-deserved rest. Did some island-hopping, snorkelling, trekking Rinjani's waterfalls, driving in a 4 by 4 snaking along rural roads and experiencing the breath-taking vistas that lift off months of this bloody stress and call-center toxins I've accumulated. The week was that wonderful.

The flight to Lombok. Mount Rinjani welcomes you.

Now that I'm back here, it's time to execute the plan. Tomorrow, is The Day. I'm saying goodbye to my job for good. I'm having a mid-career change - moving on to a completely different field. Well... I still be in the Quality, Organisational Excellence, Motivational & Business Improvement and all that jazz thingy; it's just that - 'NO MORE CALL CENTER' related stuff for me - I'm severing all ties from the industry which have given me so much.

Orwell

This is what I do for a living – well it's a core function of my work scope anyway. Snoop on people's conversation in the name of quality assurance auditing and monitoring purposes shit. The call centre toxic Orwellian, 'Big Brother' listening on you stuff is beginning to imbibe me with its venom. I think I'm starting to develop a conscience now.

Phone Calls You Don't Ignore

Yesterday I got an unexpected call from the magazine editor but I didn't have the chance to take it. My phone was on silent. A general rule-of-thumb when ignoring calls is that you can brush off your friends' but never, ever your editor's. Especially if you still owe her a story line for the next magazine issue.

Thank goodness I already had something in mind so I just had to pitch the story and angle over the phone. She listened, gave her clever take and so that was it. My next article deadline will be on the 18 March.

After that she followed-up by sending the previous article I wrote in soft-copy. Looks really good and I have to thank some friends who gave up their time answering some questions and issues I happen to include in the article. I will try to put a link to this article once I find the best method. I wish I have the guts to do full-time writing.

Shutting My Mind from the Rest

You know that feeling when you are restless and maybe a little un-centred and you can't seem to focus and you feel like going out there? That's what I feel like right now. I feel like i am gonna give in to slacking and solipsist thoughts all day long.

Just Drive Part 2

Tonight I managed to clear Stage 4. Yup... all I need to do now is to book for the actual TP test.

This One is for Aqil

The results were out yesterday and today is a good day. Thank you God. A nephew of mine did good in his O level exams and I'm just sharing-in the joy. Fabulous!