Since my last entry yang pasal recipe teh segala macam tu on 31st August tu, I've had quite a week + weekend to end it all with. Permulaan September yang sangat mencabar, memenatkan and also menyedihkan; all in all, marked a rather rough beginning of September 2007...

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A tough beginning...

Early of the week, which marked the new month of September 2007, I was rather busy with work. Extremely busy as work really 'worked' me out. It was all because of last minute requests for this particular package for this particular couple, a rather importante couple to my agency as this couple + the family memang regulars to my agency, and the fact that they memang returning customers to my agency yang membuatkan semuanya a bit kucar kacir la kan. Requesting for a package which requires great deal of attention to their personal and every needs, plus the fact that the package requires traveling passengers to have Visas, made it all lebih teruks. I worked so hard for this one particular package, and I pushed my local (oversea) agents for quotes and pricings and all, and tuptaptuptap by Wednesday/ Thursday last week, after working like mad-dogs, semuanya canceled. No, bukan my customers rejected my quote; this time around, its the other way round - I was the one yang had to say no due to several reasons; penurunan harga yang bound to make my agency rugi from the trip, reducing the package price due to competition with another agency and penurunan itu sangat tidak masuk akal nak dibezakan dengan quotation competitor I... *sigh* Work can be so so sooo stressful kan?...  And to top things out, this is my very first time saying NO to this client. Selalunye diaorang yang disagree and said no ke ape ke, kan? But this time, due to time constraint, cost reducing hence minimizing the profit and all, and the fact that I really tak have strong confident yang I'll be doing well for this package as a whole, contributed to me saying NO and sorry, I cannot buat package ni...

My long winded sms to my client's PA, who so happens to be my friend...

"I'm really sorry to turn down the opportunity to work with you this time but after discussing about this package with BBD, I've come to decide that it is best that my agency tarik diri and allow the other agency utk 'masuk' and get the job. Bukan dengan niat nak make things bad, cuma nak mengelakkan dari things jadi worse. Excluding some of the confirmed items dalam itinerary nih especially the domestic flight tickets will eventually bring us to a result of changes in package pricing plus the air ticket ex KUL as well. On top of that, it is not advisable to proceed sebabkan time constraint and last minute changes may cause increase of cost and for the agreed low total package costing, refering to the deduction of the original price to a great-lower rate as off now, will basically bring not much of a profit to my agency; and eventually I will have to spend more than what I earn for this package. Dear, I am only here to provide the best service for you and my clients, your bosses - and with the reduction of the personalized and attentive services in this package, just to be of a slight difference than my competitor's quotation, then I'm sorry - I have no choice but to say NO and to decline from accepting the job. Reducing the pricing is one thing tapi for the services yang I offer, dengan the new pricing, susah la. Any inconveniences caused from all these are much regretted and pls be reminded that I did not do this on purpose. Things happen for a reason; and I'm sure by now you should realize what the reasons are. Quotation yang diberi agency satu lagi tu, dengan my quotation - in terms of itinerary maybe sama. But in terms of flight tickets ie. dengan which airline and flying dengan what classes (reminder again, I did offer First Class all the way at a better rate), and in terms of quality personalized services, my agency jauh ahead and with the initial pricing, everyone would agree yang I have offered the best. I know you understand the situation; tapi your bosses, my clients - diaorang yang macam tak mau nak paham, kan? Tak per. I harap u tak salahkan I and please know that I sedikit pun tak salahkan u dengan tindakan your bosses yang menurunkan package price mendadak sebegitu rupa. Tapi know this, I hope this doesn't affect our business relationship, plus it doesn't affect our friendship. Please convey my sincere and humble apologies to your bosses, and should they pick the other agency's quotation and decides to proceed with it, please wish them Bon Voyage and have a safe and pleasant trip. And to you dear - I may have disappoint you now (sebab you banyak proposed my agency to your bosses from day 1 and up till now u banyak back up my agency, without expecting anything in return), but I hope you sedar yang I prefer disappoint you now dari I slackkan the whole thing during the tour nanti... Wasalam..."

Long winded in deed, and bak kata Ginger, msg yang dripping with emotions yang tidak healthy for businesses - but what to do; that's how I express apa yang terbuku dalam hati I, kalau bukan utk my clients, at least, biar the PA cum my friend tu understand how I feel...

I thought after sending that sms would make me feel better - nope. Dinch. I felt the same; I felt teruk sangat sebab that was the first time I said NO to a regular returning client... *sigh*... work work work - why la have to be so down like this...

BBD and BBM was upset too about this - and they were lebih upset tgk mek yang jauh lebih upset sebab I've worked my butts out for this package tapi in the end, ado...

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A rather "So so lah..." condition during the rather long week...

With my busy sched at the office/ outside office, and with the beginning of September which marked the Ramadhan promotion month for both Umrah packages and flight tickets and all, I was also busy getting ready for the once-a-year event yang ala ala grand la kat A/S nih. Remember last year, a week before Puasa started, me went to this party at Romzy's wearing that pink kebaya top thingy and stuff, well, this year, would be my second year/ time attending Romzy's event yang dibuatnya annually. True, I tak drag and all since last January for the photoshoot with Tukang Taip. So I was pretty much excited and all about this, buat dress according to the theme/ color concept and all; had 2 dresses made at Ala Mode in Penang; one red empire cut dress for attending the ball/ red carpet, and the other one was made for my show which again, my 1st show of the year since I last performed, which was the night after I won my Miss World title - huiyoh, that was like 10 months ago... Tah la. I was excited and all geared up sebab feeling² nak cover balik penat lelah keje penat during the day (at at times, nights too...) and hoped it'll be a great weekendings katanya... tapi alih²... ado?

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A rough ending...

The party was on Friday; attended by ramai la jugak jemputan si Romzy tu. On my side, CA + date, Tokwanrock + date, Mamizackzaly + date, and the three lesbian- partners Abby, Ginger and Me, attended the party, along with Mak Hayam Nabilla and Papa, and a few other friends from A/S. The party was held kat this one new hotel in Jitra or something la kan. Friday afternoon tu around 3.30pm, G and Abby arrived in A/S and me and CA picked them up and kami gi pusing² beli barang last minute for the event; safety pins and all, Abby siap buat rambut segala and all la kan, then only kami checked in kat our usual spot- ASRC hotel itiew. Things went on smoothly; parcel dari Volks sampai just in time; and siap² bagai and all for near 3 1/2 hours - dresses all well presses; filled with diamontes and all, wigs ready, heels, semuanya - all excited nih. Not so sure about the rest but on my side, dengan my show I've been practicing for a day or two before (show lama, zaman² Bleu Bar club dulu lagi, dihidupkan semula katanya - mati la back from the dead! LOL!), dengan my 2 new dresses yang dibuat dari Ala Mode and di touch-upkan bagai oleh si CA (great job CA! Memang great job!!! Thank you!!!), mek was all geared up, walaupun hari Jumaat tu hujan yang sangat lebats yer dari afternoon sampai ke lewat petang (tu actually petanda dah tu tapi tak sedar akan petanda tu...)... still, mek was all excited nih nak gi to this party. Yerlah; apa la sangat yang happenningnye kat A/S nih. Sekali menjelma, make full use out of it la kan...

Arrived at the party at 8.45pm - red carpet event was from 7pm to 9pm, so we arrived just in time. Memang grand la for a birthday party. Best sangat siap ber-red carpet bagai nih so memang feeling lebih² la dengan the new red evening dress tu... And so lepas tu, mingled around here and there, said hie hey ho and stuffs, pastu dinner served, pastu, showtime. Mek dengan Ginger buat the 1st two numbers as opening show; mek went out firts dengan my Jlo- Ain't It Funny number as opening, followed by Ginger's show. Pastu diikuti dengan 6 7 8 shows dari adek² showgirls under Romzy and friends semua la. Compliments memang patut diberikan pada adek² pelapis nih. Vast.


The event was filled with red/ black/ white dressed guests; evening gowns in red/ black majority, and gentlemen in white/ black yang majority - semuanya happening, best gile - released siket tension dalam kepala hotak aku nih. Dengan adanya awards kepada guests, Best itu Best ini bagai (mek menang Best Sexy - mati la "Award dimenangi oleh MISS LADY" sial si Ginger ketawakan MC yang sebut "MISS LADY" katanya - dan dia ketawa dan lepas tu BARU tepok tangan!!! Bole? Sial la bapok tua tu!!! Hahahaha - and Abby won Best Smile kot, and then Ginger, highlight of the day/ week/ month/ year sangat! Dijemputnya Ginger naik ke pentas nak berikan award utk Best LaZer yer *mark the spelling! LOL!*, alih² pemenangnye jatuh ditimpa tangga kepada dirinya sendiri - cemana tu!? Sesuai la sangat! Hahahahaha...)... and then diselang- selikan dengan shows itu ini (which membuatkan mek upset siket sebab last minute diminta buat show kedua which was not upon my agreement nak perform malam tu - terpaksalah naik stage dengan my red dress yang I wore for the event tu, doing my second number *mujur lah dah ada standby back up lagu...* Beyonce's Dangerously In Love live from Grammy's version katanya *belom upload lagi, nanti dah upload, mek editkan entry nih)... and because of that nama mek jadik buah mulut semua. Yer lah, showgirl lain yang patut giat buat dua show, tapi alih2, mek yang naik stage buat 2 show. Sapa nak jawab?

Everything went on well, up till near 11.45pm, lagu semua distopkan; staff2 hotel sebok kuncikan pintu ballroom - lampu didimmedkan bagai - semua diam; MEK? Mek memBATU diri ok! Asiklah membisikkan kat Ginger yang sitting across the table "MEK WORRIED" katanya... Ginger pon jadik serious. Katanya ada rush... checking... Jabatan Agama... HAIYYYOH! Mek cuak sundel! Yer lah. Checking/ rush PERTAMA dalam sejarah hidup drag mek! And somemore di A/S! Mati la mek! Luckily Ginger ada utk relaxkan mek, walaupun dia pun a bit cuak, with Abby. The rest of my friends yang tak drag, gi as gayboys, senang la depa - nak cuak ape, kan... Nih kami nih. Aiyoh! Insaf japs for like 5 to 10 minutes di saat2 getir! Never ok mek kena dalam situasi cam nih. Harus lah mek CUAK! HELP!

Lepas tu, kunci pintu ballroom kiri kanan belakang bagai, tup tup - 12 anggota ahli Jabatan Agama Islam Kedah masuk kot pintu depan, tak ke macam kesial!? Sebok pintu2 lain, pintu depan, dok terpelahang terkangkang tak berkunci. Harus lah. Pastu, lampu ballroom dibuka bagai - mek dah siap pegang tangan Tokwanrock dan ready nak bawak kuar purse mek kuarkan IC. Mati la mek! Pastu those people sebok berdiskusi dengan organizer event, Romzy himself. Kesian gak dia kan. Niat nak berparty leklok, dah naya kesnye nih. Pastu after like 5 minutes of silensio dan tgk diaorang berdiskusi bagai, kompromi itu ini bagai, alih², Romzy himself buat annoucement and all, mintak bersurai. Ha? Bersurai? Meaning these ppl lepaskan kami freely?! Sesuatuhly enuff, but, TUNGGU BAPAK LAGIK! Ha, terus bergegas mek kuar. Abby dah awal2 meluru kuar; nampak Ginger. She gave me her hand... "Come gal... " Mek paut pada tangan dia - secure siket. As nak kuar, Romzy tak putus² said sorry to everyone, semua guests nye, and to me and G as well. Well, Romz, its not your fault la kan... siapa menduga siapa menjangka. Waktu kuar ballroom tu, pihak jabatan tu sebok dok record video using diaorang nye hp. Mek counted 3 orang dok try amik gambar or record video (mata mek cepat ok, meliar kiri kanan depan belakang bagai tgk semua) and sempat mek mengelak (Thank God for the wig!!!!!!!) sedangkan Ginger and Abby couldn't even be bothered dah pon - yang penting, kuar dengan selamat, dan cha alif bot - balik! (walhal mek rasa depa duaorang tak sedar pon yang ade camera hp sedang dok record/ snappy² nih...)

Waktu kat kereta, mek tak sure la about G and Abby, tapi mek MASIH trauma. Nak masuk kete jer...

"Excuse me akak... leh bergambar sekali?"

AIYOH! Dek non! Dalam keadaan cuak bagai nih ko sempat nak bergambar bagai!? Mek dah tak leh nak senyum dah waktu bergambar tu. Mati la muka cuak. Serious. Mek mengaku! Mek sangat takut dan cuak sangat waktu tu dealing with the first time running into this type of situation... but Alhamdulillah, masuk jer kete, bawak kete terus balik ke A/S and terus balik ke ASRC utk cuci² make up before kuar balik utk melantak makan...

During that late supper tu (dah near 1am dah), kami bertiga berbincang; sape yang pi report? And motif these ppl so kind enuff to let us all go for free, senang2 cam tu jer tak der nak amik nama ke ape ke kan, tgk ic ke ape ke and what not - kan? Sesuatuh sangat like mek said earlier but waktu tu, ala ala macam pikirnya kureng la, but MAKAN lebih la sebab memang tiga2 orang kami semua lapar sangat! Yer lah, waktu event tu, semua ala ala makan control2.

Dealing with malam tu, mek sangat trauma even sampai mek balik ke umah. G and Abby pun ala ala lepas supper and lepas mek hantar diaorang balik ke ASRC, terus called it a day katanya; dinch kuar as planned utk menghirup udara segarinas di stadiumrinas. Mek pon katanya terus balik ke umah mek, and was like, still upset and terkedu terkejut... Nak sangat ending vast - HAMEK!

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Additional emotional to the rough ending - *sob*

Pagi Sabtu tu itself, before mek bangun and gi jumpa Abby, G and CA kat ASRC waktu check out and gi lunchies, mek dapat berita terkejut from Rangnia...

"A**** meninggal dunia 5 minit lepas dengan barah dia tu..."

Innalillah... terus mek terbangun dari tidur mek selepas baca msg tu. A was a dear, very close friend (sangat close sampaikan to one point, MEMANG close - those yang rapat dengan both of us, tahu la historynya...) yang telah pergi buat selamanya setelah nearly a year and a half battling with his brain tumor, which makes me a bit upset sebab for the past 1 1/2 years tu jugak mek tak berkawan rapat dengan dia after one tiny misunderstanding... sebelum tu, nearly a year kami kawan rapat. And lepas insiden salah paham tu, terus terpisah - biarpun ada la bersms and what not semua, and dia ada mention dia kena admitted masuk spital sebab sakit kepala and suspected barah la this and that, my guess was it was just his way of getting my attention - sadcard... Tapi tak tahu rupa²... *sigh* Al Fatihah buat Arwah... Semoga Rohnya dicucuri RahmatNYA dan semoga dia ditempatkan dikalangan mereka yang beriman... ~ Al Fatihah...~

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That's like the simplest way I can describe about my last week and my just passed weending; tak perlu la I add on about Saturday and Sunday yang so dreadful that I ended up gaining another 3 kilos dalam 2 hari hasil MELANTAK MELANTAK MELANTAK! With chocolates, and nasi, itu ini, daging daging daging and all - haiyoh!!! And yes, that explains why I was so diam last week from TB (yer, during the week tu I was busy with work - weekend pulak I was busy comforting myself atas apa yang telah berlaku...)...

LKY: I felt really bad for everything that has happened; and I felt like this past week + weekend has got to be one of the worst week + weekend ever in 2007... Dear God, kuatkan la aku utk teruskan perjalanan hidup and for the rest of this year... The past week and the weeked was sure definite a slow, and upsetting one...