Chinese New year celebration?????

Chinese New Year is just round the corner but the usual thriving activities are glaringly missing. It is understandable as people is very worried about the dreaded RECESSION........ According to analysts, this might be the worst economic downturn in decades, matching the great depression.

We read from the papers that people by the thousands or tens of thousands will be lay-off this year alone sent shivers to workers, especially the breadwinners. The picture is gloomy and it is better to save as much as possible before the onslaught came. I hope we can overcome this economic tsunami, albeit the harsh way. Just crossed our fingers.

Back to the festive mood, hey, in fact there is no mood at all. People of chinese origins are more concern about their bread and butter rather than waiting for the celebration. With people jamming the banks to withdraw whatever money they have, it is imperative for them to be prudent. The customary reunion dinner suffer some setback when i heard from friends that they might give it a missed (for outstation ones). They do not want to overspend unnecessary.
In my case, i skipped because of my impending transfer back to kl. Therefore, i will be spending chinese new year in kk.

It will be a very modest celebration for most families and i intend to follow too. Traditions has to take a back seat this time as bread and butter is more important. I am sure our forefathers will understand our predicament.

Anyway god bless you all and A VERY HAPPY KONG HEE FATT CHOY.........

Wong Kwok, Danger in our swimming pool

Watch out, residents!!! This is the advice given to all those who wants to take a dip into our supposed standard sized swimming pool.

Last week during our usual rounds with daniel, we decided to visit the swimming pool. From the sight of it, the water is not fit for human usage. It is dirty with algaes growing from within the pool. Some sort of insects are visible under the water. We also noticed that certain tiles underneath the pool are missing. This is dangerous as it could hurt your feet.

We decided to ask the personnel on duty and he told us that it had been reported to management at least one month ago. We were taken aback, if it is true, then taylor hobbs or wong kwok should be taken to task for their inaction to rectify the problem. Do you need to have an accident to occur before action can be taken?

Just do something or else just get out from Country Heights. We won't be surprise if there is a decline in your collection.

Wong Kwok, Service Charges

At last, i received the service charges yesterday (Sat). Looking at the amount that i had to pay and in advance too for three months, I ask myself in view of the many problems since last year and coupled to the unco-operative attitude by taylor hobbs and wong kwok, i am reconsidering adhering to the statement requesting payment in advance.

I personally feel that taylor hobbs are not doing their job despite repeated reminders and requests to do so. The numerous complaints that i had forwarded felt to deaf years to a certain extend i could not hide my displeasure at their unprofessionalism attitude.

I feel that this is the right and only time that we as owners of country heights apartment should exercise our only avenue to inform them that WE ARE THEIR PAYMASTER and nobody else.
The fair play of "WE PAY YOU DELIVER" should be strictly respected and nobody can take this away from us.

For your information, i have not seen any sweepers doing their duties at my block since Dec 2008 even though they are supposed to be paid to do the job. All i see are owners/residents doing their bit because they are duty concious or simply they are put-off by the debris around the common area. Such simple and straight forward duties that taylor hobbs cant even provide and they have the cheek to ask for payment for work done.

Meanwhile, i shall kiv the payment until i have discussed with CHARM AJK.

RECESSION

Signs of recession is imminent. Banks are restructuring their lendings, reducing credit limits and other tightening procedures to their customers.

Consumer and purchasing power is shrinking as evident in markets in Sandakan and Lahad Datu. The normal pre-celebration fanfare is missing. Even the traditional "kam" mandarin oranges is not that bountiful. The limitations are there. The atmosphere is also there, very dull.
The signs are really there. It's time to tightens up our belts, no doubt about that. The truth really hurts.

We have faced it before so we know how to tackle it but this time is more serious. So we need to double up our efforts to overcome this problem. Have fate in yourself, work doubly hard but not smart (it applies when economy is good), be prudent and save as much as possible.

Never give up and hope and you will eventually succeed. Even when you fail, never despair because that can bhe repair...........

PLEASANT SURPRISE

Yes, i was astounded this morning when i notice that contractor workers were trimming the shrubs while another batch were cleaning and arranging bins at the rubbish centre so early.

I shook my head further when joyce called and inform me that the defective gates were back to normal. Wow! How come just overnight and everything is being attended to at such a record time. Really unbelievable at the speed they worked.

Or had it got to do with last night meeting CHARM had last night. Maybe it leaked out and the guilty parties had no choice but to make a superb effort to remedied the problems.

Just before noon, daniel handed me the document that we promised to hand it to the "interested parties" this afternoon. This is a national agency who so kindly aceeded to our request for assistance. AJK CHARM discussion at 1pm were majority attended, much to my surprised. In fact majority of them took half-day off to show their commitment towards Country Heights.
At about 3.15 we went to fetch them and reached Country Heights at around 4 pm. It was raining heavily but we get down to work almost immediately with everyone of us including our guests braving the heavy rain.

The visit lasted until 5.30pm and we thanked them profusely for the assistance. We shall meet again after the have completed their work. We pray that it will be fruitful in this respect. We were soaked to the feet but that did not dampened our spirit.

I would like to thanked all present for their unselfishness and sacrifices in making this visit a very fruitful. Again, this is yet another beginning........

WONG KWOK, IT WORKED!!!

Greetings all residents of Country Heights Apartment,

This morning i had a pleasant phone call from one of the "certain parties" that Country Heights Apartment Resident Members (CHARM) approached. They inform me that they have gently notified the various parties involved of the seriousness of the rubbish saga at Country Heights.
I thanked them profusely and they told me to brief them in a few days time to gauge the situation.

At about one i saw mdpg dumpster came and do their job. Second trip was around three, this time with the chinese lady from taylor hobbs supervising.

It is expected that mdpg will scooped up the remaining rubbish soon. Dear residents, CHARM has already done all they can and we look forward to your continued support to ensure our rights are protected.

CHARM will be checking with other "certain parties" for follow-up attention.

FIRST DAY OF 2009

Yeah! Today is the first day of 2009 and what a day it is to be. Morning went for breakfast with family on a borrowed car (phew! at least i still got buddy who cares). Then return car back when my friend Ricky called for yam cha.

In the afternoon came back and do some blogging and then have a nap. Later Daniel called and we go for a walk aroung Country Heights. The dreaded rubbish eye-sore is still there. Anyway we have done the needful and we are just waiting from response.

Looking back, what a year it was 2008. So much had happened and i lost count of it. The political tsunami in the country really caught me off-guard. This in a way had taught us not to be complacent. Always on the look-out, who knows you might be the next to get caught off-guard.

Business wise, i got more wiser each year. Business is good but sometimes you need all four angles in positive mood before you can say your biz is good. Anyway a decision had been made and i am looking forward for my next phase of my career in KL. It's all the way again but i am ready to face the new challenge that beholds me.

Personal note, its up and down just like a jigsaw puzzle. I need to get all the pieces back together to complete my life. Some parts are still missing but i am confident that i can overcome it. Putting back all pieces will take time but that can be achieved.

Social responsibility is where i put my time and effort at the place where i am staying, Country Heights Apartment near Penampang when i am an active member in the residents committee. We are really trying our best to fight for residents rights with management. As long as i am around i shall contribute to the best of my ability.

Year 2008 had been great.....lets see 2009.