A Conference To Remember

The last week of April had been really busy for me. The conference that I have been working on for almost one year finally took the stage.

Originally targeted for 700 persons but it hit only 500 persons and it is a good number. It is not a world class congress but Asean level and the support from the local has been encouraging. The programme was packed for 2 1/2 days.

The site is crowded with over 21 booths exhibiting their services and products. It has been such a good experience for me managing the entire project. It is like a pregnancy process but it took longer than 40 weeks. So one can imagine the size of the baby "project"....hahaha! The process went through some hiccups...just like any pregnancy you bound to have some difficulties here and there. Finally, the baby is ready to see the world..and some preparation required for the labour, quite a painful one !

There is another event that I organised in conjunction with this Asean Federation of Haematology Conference. It is a CML (Leukemia) event for patients. Some of them look as good as anyone of us. It is heart touching to see how one encourages another to be strong.

At the end of the event, nothing is perfect as much as we hope it will be. We have our own scorecard be it the client, vendor, myself and the delegates. It is hard to please all, but as long as we consciously know our commitment and responsibilities toward the job that matters most. I did my best !

With metta to all !

I am so sick

It has been a long while since I fell sick like this. This time I lost my voice and thankfully I hadn't developed any fever or body ache.

I feel really awful and tired due to the sore throat and energy level is dropping. The worst was I had an event yesterday in the midst of my terrible sore throat. I attended meetings with client and running all over to get things done.

Thankfully the event went well, client is very happy and pleased with all the arrangement. The attendance was 100%. Though it is just a simple appreciation luncheon, I must say it went really well. We decorate the place to create the ambiance for Chinese New Year. I do have to thank the restaurant staff for their great supports from the day I liaised with them. Yesterday the kitchen had to cope with cooking for 120 peoples and the staff were all smiling and yet very attentive to my last minutes request. Maybe I should mention the restaurant...AMARIN heavenly THAI.

Now, I am recuperating from the exhaustion that I have to miss the company trip to HCM. I would love to join everyone but my family comes first. My little girl is down with fever and cough and went for check up twice and still not improving. I need to regain my voice.....I need to be energetic again, that's me.

Have a good weekend !

With metta always :)

What a stressful week

I have just gone through a very stressful week.

It started since last weekend all because of the email from him, then the whole week of managing a meeting follow by the lost of my wallet on Friday.

I must admit that age is catching up and also maybe I haven't been doing this for awhile. Few years back, I have no problem managing travel related events, sleep very little yet full of energy to last the entire duration. This one week away managing on site plus a lot of running around is so tiresome.

Somehow I feel very pressured because of some difficulties and changes made by client. I felt kind of unprepared..but whatever it is, I know I have worked on it and delivered what is best. The result is not as good as I have expected...

The worst was when I lost my wallet on Friday in the middle of a very busy day. It is a full day event that started as early as 6.00am. I only had about 4 hours sleep before that and after the first half of the event, I realised my wallet was not in my bag. I actually panicked and started to look around in the car in fact twice. After about 1 hour later, I decided that I should made a call to cancel all my bank cards. Once that was done...I told myself, they are gone, lets move on and I still have a night event to finish up.

Just as I was so so caught up with the preparation though my heart was not totally focussed, I received a call that my wallet was found in Puchong. No money left as expected..but all my documents were in tact. I felt such a relief but I can't leave to collect it because the event is about to start in less than 2 hours time. Thankfully the event went well and everybody enjoyed the night.

I went to sort out the police report and tt was 12 am and I was so sleepy while making police report. The worst is driving home with my eyes half closed. I could have rammed into some dividers that night. The next morning when I woke up, I heard my maid telling my children "come lets have LUNCH"...oh dear, I slept till noon. The routine for the weekend continued...and picked up my wallet, not very happy to keep the wallet somehow, but happy to see that all documents are there.

The stressful Saturday ended with a nice gathering with my buddies who also came to my rescue because I have no money because no atm card.....We have so much fun from afternoon tea to dinner to supper...hahahaha !

Today, a bit relaxing but still feel very tired and feel like falling sick. Vit C...I need you !

I like to post this video because this is the most hilarious show I watched during the event...! It cheers me up..

Client is happy, I am Happy too

Today is the mid autumn day and it is largely celebrated by families as another reunion other than the Chinese New Year Eve. Many large families do make it a big affairs and I have been receiving many messages wishing each other. I even received a few from friends in China. So nice of them to remember me.

However, today I couldn't be with my kids to celebrate this occasion. I have to work and it is a full day event. It is another product launch cum symposium and this client was initial not very easy to deal with, but thankfully when I took over, somehow the client was happy with my suggestion and tonight the event finally took place and everything went extremely well.

The gymnast was great and they blended well into the evening theme, however the magician was a bit boring initially except for the last part a little exceptional.

Overall, I am very tired but I am happy as the client came to me and said...thank you very much, everything went well and it is a great show. While listening to her compliments, I felt so pleased..thank you.

My day started very early this morning, I took the children for breakfast as I knew I can't be with them the entire day. But I guess it is all worth it..I have planned something with the children tomorrow - a visit to the bookshop to compensate them.

Buka Puasa

It is a month after my very heartfelt event and finally we had our post mortem.

The post mortem only took less than 10 minutes to conclude and basically it was zero critical comment...what a relief... am so glad. Of course in side I am very delighted and happy that my baby event was a success. Most importantly I have enriched my awareness related to Thalassaemia disease and I am even considering helping the association as a volunteer or committee. Honestly, I was just offered to be one this evening.

Our post mortem continued with Buka Puasa hosted by my client together with the committee, and some medical professionals from the hospital. It is a nice dinner where I don't feel isolated either way, I feel the genuine kindness and warm from everyone.

Glad all went well.

Yeah....a great event !

I am all smiling now as the event is finally concluded and it is a success. Yeah !

I only had merely 90 mins of sleep the night before due to the set up and preparation, and arriving at 6.45 am looking energized. I am used to this because of my work nature, and never complaint much about this, why ?? I love my job.

We have almost 90% ready by 7am, just some touching up. Dealing with government involvement, it requires some protocol, especially the salutation list. Well, it was not easy but I thanked the NGO which is Thalassaemia Association of Malaysia (TAM) especially the President for entrusting me this role. He even thanked me in his speech for the dedication and effort towards making this event a success.

The moment the PM's wife has confirmed her presence, we had to work on confirming the invitation list and some of the high ranking officers from the ministry didnt confirm their attendance. And we have to be on our toes at all times. Suddenly all showed up...and thankfully I have prepared for this...even the drinking water, glass are prepared for it.

Just before her arrival, I was running up and down ensuring we are all set. And her official informed me...she has left her residence. All the VVIP were on standby at the entrance to welcome her...and that was the beginning of the launch.

Everything went smoothly...and she left about one hour later. Of coures, in between, there were a lot of play by ear situations. If she wants this..or if she will not attend and etc. So it was exciting and great learning experience.

This is the first time seeing her in person...what is my feeling about her?? I shall not comment here....but I shoke her hand....hahahaha!

So, the actual event rolled out. The blood screening was really busy with a lot of public that came to find out if they are suspected Thalassaemia carrier. I noticed this young girl who was with her parents and she was crying when she read her screening result and whle the counsellor was talking to them.

Apparently her mom is a carrier and yesterday she found out she is a carrier. She can't accept that she is a carrier that she might have a thalassaemia major child in future....poor girl. Actually people like Abithar Bachan is also a carrier and in Malaysia, we are now in developing and advancing into the care of Thalassaemia treatment. Therefore, they are now surviving passed their 20s and even older.

There were a lot of fun activities on stage, the clown entertained the children, breakdance from a local famous dance group BBoy Suicide. We have happy lucky winners who walked home with iPod Nano...and it was all fun, fun and fun.

I drove home feeling extremely tired and almost dozed off a few times on the road..And had a quick dinner and slept right after the dinner..I was that exhausted.

Most importantly my client and the NGO is happy....my objective is met. I hope this awareness campaing has awaken all Malaysian.

Thalassaemia Awareness Day on 9 August 2009

Thalassaemia Awareness Day..the project that I have been working for months is finally reaching out to the public on 9 August 2009.

This is a personal blog but since I like to share this special day with everyone, I have used this site to promote this educational event.

I have been with the patients, parents and NGO who works hard on promoting the awareness of the disease, I feel for them. It is not easy to see a 6 months old baby experiencing a bloated stomach due to the spleen enlargement. And to feel for a thalassaemia major patient going through blood transfusion his entire life time and continuous medical treatment.

Despite all the inconvenience that they have to bear, they are still wonderful people who are as normal as us except that their life will be threatening if treatment and blood transfusion are not done on regular basis.

It is really our responsibility to know if we are a carriers and how to avoid bearing a child eventhough it is only 25% probability of the child is the major. It is better to know and please come for the screening which is free of charge. Counsellors from HKL are happy to speak to you on Thalassaemia.

Please come and join us.....agenda of the day :

• 9 August, 2009 @ Berjaya Times Square
• 0900 hrs - 2000 hrs
• Official launch by Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor
• Blood Donation
• Free screening and counselling
• Chat with patients and NGO
• Great fun activities and Lucky Draw.

See you there !