As 2010 Approaches – Part Three (Second Half of 2009)

My almost-empty workstation

I’ve packed most of my stuff at the office. In four days time, I shall report to my new outfit, and take on a new role. My boss spoke to me just now of my move there (since he is also the Managing Director there), that I would soon be promoted to the GM of this new outfit, handling QHSE matters as well. He fears several things: firstly, that he might lose me to other industries that would pay me better (the lowest offer from a non-oil and gas company I’ve received so far is RM40K per month). Secondly, that I might be too engrossed at my new office, that I would no longer have time to play any role at where I am right now. But, he also sees me playing the role of a regional QHSE person. Promoting me to GM is the only way for him to pay me what the industry would pay a person of my qualification (lowest offer so far: RM56k per month not including allowances, offshore allowances etc). Since I will also be getting a 2-month contractual bonus at this new place (over and above bonus based on profits), it would allow Wifey and I to have a slightly better life than what we already have now. I don’t want to become rich like some people who would post photos of them with a fan of RM50 and RM100 notes etc. Money is NOT my God that I have to have a certain amount in order to help people. To me, even a 10 sen coin would help someone in need of money, as long as it is given with sincerity.

Now, let’s get back to what has happened in 2009:

JULY

On my birthday, I got to launch a ship on behalf of the company. How many people do you know get to launch a ship on his birthday?

Delivering a speech before launching the ship

The KPV Kapas after the launch

And then, of course, I went to the PKFZ, on the invitation of the lovely Miss Forlorn Soldier, to test the P46 and P56 ultra-fast patrol boats.

The P56

The P46

Posing with the Forelorn Soldier while doing 58 knots

Mid-July, we launched our tender-assisted drilling rig.

The TADR behind me

AUGUST

In August, we went to Perhentian again. Wifey and Dalie did their open water diver course, while Renek and I enjoyed our dives.

Dalie and Wifey doing their theory bits

Dalie and Wifey’s first time breathing underwater

Our first underwater pic together

Mid-August, I went to do the toughest short course I have ever done: NEBOSH IGC. 14 sleepless nights, and countless nervous breakdowns. Luckily, Wifey came to make sure that the pressure was relieved. And we spent the first day of Ramadhan 2009 together, breaking fast at the same place as we did the previous year.

Revision time

Breaking fast the first day at the same place as in 2008

SEPTEMBER

September coincided with the second half of the month of Ramadhan. And that meant going diving again:

Spena, Wifey and Nanster at Batu Malang

Time for berbuka puasa

Fasting month also meant the numerous berbuka puasa sessions at home and elsewhere, and one was when all the setans gathered at the house and took a group photo:

The Setans (front row from left to right): Spena Wululululululu, Aiz, Dalie
(back row from left to right: Wifey, Bro Rina, HANTU KOLOM, Makcik Hana

And we went back to Batu Pahat for Hari Raya – and while we were there, I think we were more excited about what we were going to do on the 3rd day of Hari Raya:

The cousins

Which was…going to Tioman to dive! And it was a good trip. We were joined by my brother, Joe, his wife, Mel, and kid Adam.

Wifey beneath the Salang jetty

OCTOBER

I spent most of my October offshore, overseeing the completion, testing and commissioning, of the company’s latest vessel, the KPV Kapas. This is the same vessel that I launched 3 months earlier.

The KPV Kapas

My cabin and bunk

Testing her FiFi systems

Standing outside the bridge during sunset enroute to Bintulu

Upon my return, we went to Tioman again. This time with Gombak4Life and family, and my daughters Hana and Fazira.

Hana and Wifey off Soyak island

NOVEMBER

A week after our trip to Tioman, Wifey and I went again to Tioman accompanied by Nanster. Although the monsoon had already started, we were greeted by very good weather. It was the final weekend that the waters off Tioman was diveable.

Glossodoris atromarginata at Magicienne Reef

Jasmeenis duamata at Magicienne Reef

The end of the dive season also meant we had to find some alternatives to entertain ourselves. The answer came in Wifey’s cousin’s The Comedy Club KL.

The gang at the Comedy Club

In November, we went down to JB for Syed Khairul and Jasmine’s wedding. That meant we got to go eat and stuff, and met another Setan – Esty.

Wifey and Esty at Lavendar

DECEMBER

The final month of the year. We finally moved to our new house. And it was also this month that I learnt of my move to the drilling operations side. We had our first meal at the house finally with daughters Hana and Fazira, and my stepson Yunus.

The first meal

Wifey’s cousins, Kuki and Sara, came to the house and put up a night here. Together with my daughters, Hana and Fazira, we went out for dinner at Uptown, and Sara later destroyed my stepson Ali’s bed.

The two weirdos: Kuki and Sara

Kuki laughing after Sara destroyed Ali’s bed

Spena became the first friend to have a full meal at the house:

Wifey serving Spena

On Christmas eve we went karaokeing. Although it was just the five of us, we enjoyed ourselves that night. And thanks to Spena who initially did not want to sing, we only left for home at 4.30am after she was done singing.

Spena and Wifey singing while Bro Rina slept

During the final week of December 2009, we had a Christmas party at Pondok Juan’s, made a trip to Melaka to visit new-mother, Aiz.

We also celebrated Wifey’s birthday during the Christmas party:

Wifey and the earrings I gave her for her birthday

The group during the Christmas party

Listening to Aiz’s story

With 8-day old Alif

And on New Year’s eve, we hosted a small dinner for friends and family. Those who came were Renek, Dalie, Komar, Spena, Razlin, Zack, Normi, my sister-in-law Mel and my brother Joe. My brother-in-law, Shah, was there too.

The group photo when new year came

With that, I wish you all a very happy new year; hopefully it will be a much happier one than the ones before it.

Take good care, and hope that you’ll still be reading my final entry for 2010 on 31st December.