Wow!
I had not updated in over 12 months. I suppose blogging is something of a habit – once you get into it, you can’t stop. And once you get out of it, you can’t keep up.
But I felt compelled to record the last 12 months for posterity.
What happened?
Well, for starters, I spent my 29th birthday (December 2009) in tears. And I mean, in snivvelly, snotty nosed tears. It was like I was turning 30 a year before I actually did (although in my mother’s mind, I turned 31 years ago). Mama and Iman were away, and I spent it alone, generally feeling very sorry about myself.
Then the new year came, and, trust me, had I known what was coming my way, I would have checked myself into a hospital somewhere and asked for a drug induced coma to see me through the next 12 months.
In February, I interviewed at The Big Yellow Bank, for a coverage position. Unfortunately, while my first informal chat was lovely, my second round of interviews was with a J4CKA55! I left the interview close to tears, never having been so traumatised in my life. I realised quickly that even if I was offered a job, working under such a person was not an option. Luckily for me, something about my application struck a chord, and I was asked to reinterview at a later date with the J4CKASS’s boss.
In March, Dublin came back from, well, Dublin. And we immediately fell into a not-quite-a-relationship. It was rocky, and painful, but thrilling and passionate at the same time. I found it hard to settle into what was deemed to be a grown up relationship, his definition of one anyway. I don’t think I will ever be grown up enough to have a similar definition for what a relationship should be.
In April, I ceased to be an employee of Deloitte Malaysia. After 5 years of blood, sweat and tears, I handed my resignation to the Cockroach and told him in no uncertain terms as to why I had to leave. Unfortunately, he was not clever enough to understand my words. I then proceeded to send an email to the Global Managing Partner and CCed the regional MP, telling them why exactly I had issues with the firm. Chaos ensued, with my father getting involved. Oy Vey.
In May, Dublin (or Man as he is known is my circle of friends), celebrated his birthday, the first in Malaysia after being away for 11 years. I gave in to his demands for a camera, which cost me over RM3K. Not to mention other frills. Nevermind, it was part of being in a relationship. We continued to slave away at getting him gainfully employed. By this time, I was the sole employee of MW and LCM’s new outfit, and adjusting to no longer being a Deloitte employee. In the meantime, my application with The Big Yellow Bank was finally moving, albeit at a snail’s pace.
In July, Man was finally offered work at the Seaside Oil Company, with a lot of help from Ah Ching *hugs Girl*. Pay was okay, higher than mine although less than what he was hoping for. Our relationship continued to be rocky and vibrant. Mentally, I was crossing off dates on a calendar and was surprised that we made it pass the 3 month mark. No pressure. Oh, and Azie became a Mummy. The world would never be the same again.
August (and fasting month) came, and with it, came an offer from The Big Yellow Bank. With a heavy heart, I said goodbye to Ah Ching and Ms Chin and my beloved bosses MW and LCM, not to mention my clients, Mr Wobbly and Mr Hunger. Things got even more hectic as I moved downtown to Jam Central and Man and I tried to juggle our increasingly demanding work schedule, as well as my family and friends (which he resented). In the meantime, he was scraping money together to buy his dream car, Rose, who was going out of production.
September (and Raya!) came along, and Man finally makes it pass my gate to my house. Unfortunately, despite being introduced as ‘just friends’, Mama and Abah took an instant dislike to Man, citing attitude issues. I don’t know where they got that idea from, given that he barely spoke two words to them. Iman also started getting ready to go back to the UK after being home for a year – that was a painful adjustment for all of us who were used to having her underfoot. Mama especially.
Work was full swing in October at The Big Yellow Bank, and personal life was also full swing. My turtles got sick. I lost sleep. I lost turtle. I got new turtle. New turtle got sick. New turtle made big turtle sick. (I’m stealing slightly from November but it was a loooooong period of sick-well-sick-well). Man got Rose, his new wife. I sold my faithful Gen2 and starting shopping for a new car.
In November, I got news that Che Dah was sick. Breast Cancer. Particularly virulent. I decided that the job with The Big Yellow Bank wasn’t as important as Che Dah, and I quit. I kept her company before she left for treatment in the US, and I looked out for the boys while she and Uncle Deen were away. Somewhere in between, Uncle Din (Mama’s side) had a heart attack. Stressssssssss.
December came, and with it came turning 30. Fortunately (!) I had an exam on that day, so the reality of the birthday only hit at 9.15pm after the papers were collected and counted. Kim and I decided to commiserate at Johnny’s after the exam. Also got an offer from Angie on a very exciting project which I jumped on. Literally! The end of 2010 was in sight and it was looking up.
For my birthday, Man had asked me what I wanted. I was, at the time, planning to go on an extensive roadtrip, and so welcomed contributions to that. Other than that, all I wanted was a nice card. Unfortunately, the roadtrip got truncated and chopped up and was finally a holiday in Penang for Xmas with Iman and her wife. Oh well. Man and I did go for a meal at Tony Romas while he accompanied me Xmas shopping (like a fiend!) at the Gardens.
Oh and I bought a new car. A VW Beetle. No, not brand new, not even second hand. But *I* bought a VW Beetle. And its MINE!
Fast forward 2 weeks later. I have called it quits with Man, mentally and emotionally, if not in person. I think he feels the same way. Our last fight just brought everything to a head. I hesitated calling it off, because that would mean we wouldn’t be friends. But I’ve already come to a point where it’s not worth it anymore. And no, I never got my birthday card, let alone a birthday gift.
Jas and I have started online dating. Because we’re only 30 for a year in our life, and we want to make sure it counts!
The opportunity with Angie disappeared because of things, things, things. I am slightly frustrated. But I do believe that things happen for a reason, and I don’t question how the cards fall. At the moment, things are in a mess – Mama is depressed because Iman has gone back, and some people around her are being idiots. Che Dah is still fighting, and we’re still fighting with her. Work is still a question mark, and the offers that are starting to materialise are exciting but impossible. And I have a new car to pay for.
Oh well, at least my turtles are well for now.
Here’s to hoping 2011 doesn’t follow the same thread as 2010 and 2009. Change, please. Bring it on!
