Sketches of Life

We named our internet cafe “Starhawk” because it was hubby online nickname. To us it is a very unique name. Unfortunately because our shop is opposite a hypermarket, our customers do not refer to our shop’s name. Hubby overhead their tele-conversation with their friend when asking for their whereabout. They will tell them that they are in the “Internet Cafe near ABC Hypermarket”. I wonder whether they know that our internet cafe’s name is Starhawk! I think hubby really needs to add spotlights to the signboard.

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Running your own business is very challenging. You have to be prepared not earning a single cent. That is much better and facing a lost. Praise God for His blessings that since we started our business, we did not face any losses; just no take home income for hubby. Yes! I was the sole bread winner for that whole year. Many that we met think otherwise. To most of us when we hear that so and so owns his own business, we will think that he is rich. That is terribly wrong especially for those that start their business from scratch.

Our business is slowly picking up. There are good months and bad months. We started with 15 computers and to date we have 20 already. By God’s grace we hope to add more which also means that we are praying that God will bring more customers to our shop.

My hope, my dream, my wish and my prayer that the internet cafe will be filled with computers and all computers will be occupied most of the time or ALL the time during our opening hours. Sounds like impossible right?

Well, I believe that God will do wonders. He is a miracle working God remember? Maybe one fine day someone from the Marketing Company who is an expert in this field, pops up at our door step offering free service to market our services. We’ll never know how God works.

I can feel the pressures in the office just now. The ISO auditor gave the final warning to my boss about the various non-conforming factors that the company has failed to rectify especially in the area of QC and Production. Well, that is expected because they are so used to doing things the old way. And these are not just for last year but for many years. And because of that final warning, the boss put extra pressures on the employees to ensure that the company conforms to the standards required or else we would lose our ISO accreditation.

I thank God that I would not be long there in the company. Yup, leaving in 2 days time. From the beginning, ISO audit also caused me unnecessary stress and pressure. I am sure that with pressures coming up in the office, I might have to go for values based counseling just to ensure that I do not meltdown. Okay, the work is not as bad as you might think. I had fun working there all these time. But we are human beings and we do feel the pressures at work. Pressures accumulated and unattended to can bring great harm to you.

Hubby kept asking me whether I have told my boss that I am resigning end of this month. The answer is NOT YET. I have already tendered my resignation in March. Another resignation letter? No lar. I have already given her the hint that I am finally leaving end of this month and they have already found my replacement.

Due to the reason price increase of everything and shortage of raw materials, things in the office is quite havoc. So, I do not want to add to their distress now. I’ll help to settle things down and then give them my 2 weeks notice. That would be sufficient because my replacement is a very fast learner; she picked up a lot of my job responsibility.

So far, I am only there to reply email, draft letter and pay bills online for the boss. The only reason they need me there is because of English. What happened to graduates that are proficient in English? They stayed put in the big cities I guess, which offers better pay.

I think I’ll give the bosses the kava kava drink to help them reduce stress in my absence.

When you watch action movie or CSI, many times they will have a scene at the port and you will see many huge boxes around. Those boxes are called crates that is being used to contained equipment and products that does not have its own packing for shipment. Normally they are being used to export valuable equipments. In the movie, they even used these to smuggle illegal immigrants! They are very valuable! I doubt portland crating will allow such practice.

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As we were driving at Melaka Raya, I saw so many lawyer offices. So many lawyers around, how to know which one is good in certain area. Not that these lawyers has website like the City of Omaha lawyers. For Personal Injury Attorney Omaha, you are recommended to hire attorney Larry R. Demerath who has spent the last 35 years helping fellow Nebraskans get what they need to support their recovery from serious injuries resulting from negligence. Our state government should follow their footsteps. Get these lawyers to advertise in the state government websites. As always, make money from your website whenever possible. =P

I noticed that there are a few places in my hometown has the paintball field or whatever you call the place. But I never seen another any paintball game taking place. Either I was there at the wrong time or it is not that popular here yet. I would love to try out the game but my problem is, where to find the team. Any mommy bloggers want to start a team with me?

Hubby did mention that he would consider venturing into this business if the demand is there. We easily get the paintball tanks, paintball guns, goggles, hats, hoodies and other items from ZephyrPaintball.com. Hmmm….now why to find capital for it. I have a huge place for Paintball but no money! hahahaha. Anybody wants to joint venture?

When we first decided to start an internet cafe, hubby drove around town to look for shop to rent. It took us almost a month to finally get the shop lot that we are renting now. We wasted one month there just looking for the right shop at the right location. If you are looking for office space Connecticut, please visit MySquareFeet.com. MySquareFeet is the premier commercial real estate listing service where you search free to find the perfect space for your business.

Last year June was a new chapter in our life when hubby resigned from serving full time in church and started our own business in September. In the same month too, we were blessed with a son that we are anticipating for.

This year June, there is going to be another new chapter in our life. No, I am not having another baby. =P

I am going to be a full time Mommy!!! I am so excited about it. And I really hope that I know how to prioritize my time to spend with my children and my time online. =P

My replacement is here. She came today and it seems that she is going to stay because the company that she were attached too is far worst than mine. I hope she can absorb as much as possible and as fast as possible so that I can leave in peace by end on June 26.

I heard that those companies that has branches across the country, they use the VoIP phone systems to save on phones calls. If your company is looking for the system, why not check out Xpander Communications. They specializes in hosted PBX small business VoIP phone systems for companies looking to improve and explore new technologies such as Voice Over IP (VoIP). Xpander delivers the most user friendly phone systems available thanks to a focus on simplicity, reduced costs, and drastically reduced maintenance. With Xpander, no more dialing 8 digits number. You will only need to to dial 4-digit numbers between all branch, satellite, or home office locations. Your company will also enjoy unlimited free service & support as well as improved long distance and international calling plans.

Are you all for blinds? Well, honestly only the windows in the living hall are covered with Wood Blinds, the rest of the windows my house is naked except the windows in the bedrooms which are covered with curtains.

It is quite costly to have our window clothe with blinds but they are very durable. When we started our Internet Café business, we were not allowed to tint the glass and our other option was to use the Vinyl Shutter for the main entrance and the Mini Blinds for hubby’s office.

So we waited for good bargain to come by.

If ShadesShuttersBlinds.com is here, I would have ordered my blinds from them. They are having Sale now!!!

I’ve got a Shell pen, an Ikea pencil, a Genting ballpoint pen and many other logo pens. These companies really know how to get their name into our home.

Since we use pen and pencil almost on daily basis, this is a good way of advertising. I wonder whether logo pen is proper for hubby’s business. Free pen or pencil for customers to use. Will it bring them back or more will be coming for free pen?

Praise God that hubby’s business is doing well now. He finally has a salary more than RM500 but still less than RM2k. We are praying that one day we could even profit more than RM20k a month. That sounds impossible right? But with God everything is possible if only that is His plan for the business, for our life. Maybe by then we would have branches all over the world and using the VoIP Phone Systems to save cost. As it is, buying a used car also we cannot afford with cash. So you can roughly figure how much we have in the bank.

I went to help hubby to install network cables and rearranging it to make it looks neater. His assistant supposed to help him but his grandmother funeral was yesterday.

When I asked hubby how much those cable cost, to my surprise, it is quite expensive. No wonder some company buys used cisco to cut cost for their networking needs.

Anyway, our work at the shop is half done. Hubby needs to continue tomorrow because I was too sleepy and sneezy. Dusty lar the place.

My lady boss told me that one of her husband’s friends fell and broke his nose at Tesco (Selangor). He slipped when walking on an oily floor right at the entrance. The local Tesco employee did not want to take the responsibility and told him that it was his fault for not being careful!

I guess he must have made havoc there that the General Manager, an Angmoh came and attend to the matter. The GM brought him to the nearest private hospital to get his nose fixed, all expenses borne by Tesco and the GM also get him to sign a paper saying that he would not engage the Personal Injury Attorney in San Antonio or any other attorney to sue the company. For that he received 10 years of free medical for his face!

Will you eat these? I did! Just because the shop that sells the Tandoori Chicken is hubby’s neighbour. The shop is just beside our Internet Cafe.

I wanted to return it and ask them to eat it but considering hubby’s relationship with them, I hold back. I tried not eating the burnt area but some are too tough to remove.

I gave up trying and told hubby that I really need to at least get them to scrape off the burnt part and promise hubby that I will SMILE when talking to them. Hubby knows my temper!

I went to look for the boss even though the employee approached me. Telling him my problem. He scolded the employee who served me the burnt Tandoori and the employee scrape of the burnt part but it was too burnt that after scrapping, it does not look any different.

You know what, hubby left his shop to peep on me. He worried that I create a havoc there! hahahaha. Anyway, he told me that I did not SMILE. Oh well, at least I did not raise my voice or show my angry face or even ask the boss to eat the chicken.
Anyway, I just took the chicken and vow that I will NEVER eat their Tandoori again.

Today is my last day as a full time staff in the company that I am currently attached too. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be a PTWM, that’s Part Time Working Mom.

My morning will be dedicated to work, helping my boss to expand his business to the China market and search for him potential China Manufacturers that would like to joint venture with him.

Most of my administrative job will be handled by my clerks and also the new lady that is supposed to come to replace me but no sign of her yet.

I will be a PA/Secretary to the Managing Director and Assistant to the Finance Director.

Wondering about my pay? If course it will only be half. The only advantage is, I only work 3.5 hours everyday instead of 4 hours because I have to fetch my girls from school at 12noon. I start work at 8.30am.

The rest of my day will be spent making sure my children do their homework, shower, take their nap and teaching them the SWR program. Looks like my time spent on the internet has to reduce. Like that arh, how to earn the other half of my salary???
Praying hard that God will indeed bless hubby’s business.

When I was introduced to accounts in Form 6, I love it so much that I wanted to become an accountant instead of teacher, doctor or lawyer. Well, that is the standard ambition all of us know when we were at that age. But once I step foot in Form 6, I started to dislike accounts. It is so tough and I do not know what the heck the book is talking about. I guess, partly it was due to the direct translation from English to Malay. If the text book were in English, I think I would be an accountant now and reading accounting jobs blog.

Do you know that AirAsia is having promotion now? I was so excited when I saw, One Way to Bali for only RM50. I tried looking for the day that they hid the RM50 but couldn’t find. The cheapest was RM109.90 before tax.

I think ah, there is only one seat with that price. Sales gimmick mah.

Anyway, RM109.90 still cheaper than before. I could save RM200 compared to the rate before but I can’t book now cost the traveling period is from 24 June to 11 Jan 2009.

Still a long way for me to plan coz we are running a business. We might not have a staff by then and hubby might have to work the whole day.

Just hope and pray that God will bless the business and spending extra RM200 to fly to Bali wouldn’t be a pinch to us.

Do you know that the above cost only $8 from Great Discovery: Zenni Optical? These Zenni Optical $8 Rx Glasses are sold internationally too. Maybe I will buy some and sell them at the night market here since my mom and dad plans to sell Nyonya food at the night market soon. I could share their night market spot. hehe. You interested too? Get them at Best Thing Found: Zenni Optical.

I guess if you are working with the government, they will never let you stay put at one location. Once you get comfortable at where you are and good at your work, they will surely transfer you elsewhere then you will have to start all over again. If you want promotion, you have to relocate to where the higher position is available.

If you are in the military, military relocation is inevitable. I read that in US, every 3 years they will be relocated. I pity their children. Every 3 years they have to bid farewell to their good friends and school and begin again in a new environment. I would dread that especially if you are the introvert type of person. But what to do, that is the source of their bread and butter.

Hubby is in the process of upgrading his Internet Cafe. So far, we have a photocopy machine, fax machine, laminating machine, new printer and recently he added a combing binding machine. It is almost complete for the time being.

Next hubby is thinking of getting a TV for the shop. Hmm..I think it is more for him to watch his favorite show when working. In order to do that we need look for tv lift cabinets. Another cost incurred. I don’t think we have the means now.

As I was clocking out for lunch yesterday, I saw the above bundle of Tesco Brochures at the Guard House.

I asked the security guard on duty about it. He told me that the postman left it with him because he is lazy to distribute it. tsk tsk tsk

Any Tesco Top Management reading this blog???

This is what happened to the money you paid to Pos Malaysia.

It seems that many companies are Implementing Six Sigma in their operations. Even though there is not much quality issue in my company’s product but there are always delay due to defective of materials. I think besides the Quality System that my company has, Six Sigma helps to expedite our production line whereby it focuses on process that is only value-added.

14 more days till I tender my resignation. 44 more days till I become a WAHM!

I am so excited.

I wonder what will my lady boss reaction when I hand her my resignation letter. I’m imagine she smiling from ear to ear when I leave her room. “Finally I can save more than 2k a month!”

I doubt she will find someone to replace me since both of my clerks are capable of doing my job except writing in English! I can proudly say that I trained them well. I imparted all my knowledge to them. No holding back.

That is the reason why I can always go on leave whenever I want too. They got me covered.

We finally shifted our girls to their own room and they are very happy about it. And since we have more space in our room, we shifted our computers back to the room. We have more privacy now and hubby said, maybe we should have our own theater seating and watch movies from our PC. Spend money some more??? Not now please. No money coming in, none can go out!

Since I will be working from home starting March. My room will be my office too. Yippee, I have a home office now or should I say, Room Office!

For two weeks already I only “see” hubby in the morning, sleeping when I left home for work. And he would come back to see me sleeping like a baby, with his babies. The only time we communicate is when we see each other online. This is really not healthy in a marriage life.

Today, praised God that he has changed his working schedule. He works from 10am until 5pm. When I arrived home from office, he too has just arrived. I am so happy to see him today!

In my work place, one of my responsibilities is to make sure that the inventory is low. In a manufacturing plant, assets not only take up a lot of the cash but also the space in the warehouse. Since I am also the purchaser, I am in the best position to control the accumulation of assets in the company.

Some huge company, engages Asset Management Recovery Consulting firm such as Surplus Capital Management Group (SGMGT) to provide a comprehensive set of services, including an internet-based utility to help their company systematically and efficiently identify, redeploy and dispose of surplus assets.

Maybe I should start an online shop selling gifts. All the existing gift shop online sells only expensive stuff. What about those who can only afford a gift plus delivery at RM10 only? No online gift shop is available for such budget.

Actually there are a lot of cheap and nice gift out there. Recently I went to look for Christmas gift and I found a bracelet that cost only RM1.50. I got a shock. It was a very beautiful bracelet. I look at the price tag a few times to make sure that is it not RM15.00.

And RM1.50 is the selling price. I am sure the cost is much lower. By selling it at RM10 plus delivery by courier service, I can earn at least RM5.00. Not bad right?

With Ashop ecommerce software, starting an online shop would be a breeze. With their award winning shopping cart software and great technical support and customer service, I would be able to start my business in no time. Maybe I will try their 10 days free trial first.

One of my customers called me up yesterday telling me that she has a gift for me which she will send by courier. Also reminded me to open it at home.

My colleague received it just now. It came in a box and something loose inside. She shakes it then hand it to me. I also shake it!

When I opened it, I saw crumbs! Oh no! She sent me food. Must be cookies or tarts.

This is what I got.

This is what it supposed to look like.

We laughed. I gave one to my colleague and we love it. Love the buttery pastry but the filling is too sweet. Perfect with a cup of hot tea though.

Anyway, it is the thoughts that count. Thank you so much Sara.

p/s: Sara informed me that she has another gift for me. I hope it is not a cat bed, I don’t and won’t have cat at home.