When Zirconia Became Swarovski

This is a story about a girl named Krystal.

Once upon a time, a girl named Krystal got tired of touching and cutting and washing people's hair. She put down her scissors and strutted out the salon she's working and heading to Wyndham Street hoping to be a Kelly's Girl. She walk into the office for an interview with her bright hair and the recruitment consultant got her a job because she couldn't stand the glare from Krystal's hair.

The next Monday she started her new job temping at Telecom. Many months later, a cute asian guy from Malaysia joined the company. That's where he first heard the word "heaps", heaps of time from from Krystals who heapsly like to utter "heaps". Then many-many months later after god-knows-of-how-many-hours-of-lovemaking, she delivered her first child, a cute baby boy named Darion. She took a year off maternity leave.

And many-many months later, the cute asian guy from Malaysia return to his home-country. And many-many months later, they both work again in the same company, in the same department-temping (work on temporary contract job). But last Friday, a not-s0-new twist. She left the department to join another department as a permanent staff. A dream job for every temps in the company.

As Asia Veli said, thank you for being you and for everything. I'd say thank you for the help you offered me. Since I called you kazillions of times a day. Krystal can you help me with this one. Krystal this... Krystal that...And make you strut that Shakira's-Hip-Don't-Lie hips of yours from resting on that cushy chair a.k.a I'm helping you too!

Once again thanks and this is my tribute to you.

A Very Much Welcomed Unexpected

On the 4th of September, a 7.1 earthquake shook Christchurch city and obviously caused damages to property. Well only 20% of city was affected but NZ media overly reported it. They'll (media practitioner) dig every possible that can fit in prime time news and that includes news of missing pet! Oh well, small country with 4.1 million population any news is better than no news, right?

Anyway Telecom office in Christchurch was affected. I don't know the size of the damages but the only thing I know the operation were shut temporarily and works were transfered to Auckland as part of the business contingency plan. That means, we were doing some job from Christchurch side. Extra workload. I am not whining about the extra job, I just see it as part of our work but what am I talking about now is the wisdom behind all these things.

Just today, I received a thank you letter appreciating the work we've done during the disaster from Telecom CEO- Paul Reynolds. It was personally signed by him. Not a scanned signature as I assumed. I could see behind the paper, the pen mark. Small details like this, by making an effort to sign each letters plus a well worded letter could really made our day, lifted our morale. As I looked around to my colleagues who received the same letter- they were smiling, laughter in the air, joy and I bet they felt their hardwork and effort appreciated. No one has the same face minutes before they got the letter. Except for Cherlyn, she was traveling all over Asia during the earthquake. She got the sun, we got voucher.

Yes. Enclosed with the letter was a voucher. Not a stinky 10 or 20 or 30 but one hundred freaking fifty dollar! I repeat in numerical, 150 dollar! That's more than one day salary for me. We then immediately checked the out net what voucher can we claim. Lots of retailers and the best part was we could choose whichever we want. I could hear everyone saying 'awesome' and 'cool' and 'liqourland' (kidding) all over the floor. New version of iPod Nano screamed in my head.

Personally I found new respect for Paul Reynolds. I'm sure my other colleagues viewed him as a different person now. So Paul, if TVNZ were to produce 'Undercover Boss', I don't think you should do it. First, you way too tall and we all can recognized you within seconds no matter how you disguise yourself and second, we know you appreciate the work we done in the company. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Talk No Shop & Let Your Hair Down Night

I've been asked by several people am I going to participate in this year's Telecom talent time. Without second thought I said no. Back in 2007 I sang a malay song- Melukut ditepi Gantang by my favorite singer Aishah whom back in the late 80's was a vocalist for a Kiwi band knowned as The Fan Club. Apparently me and Aishah has some Kiwi-Malay connection.

Back to my singing, I thought it was disaster and self indulgence. Haha..Even though some people come up to me and complimented me. I'm pretty sure they were so drunk and everything they saw or heard sound awesome. LOL.

This time I told them I just want to be spectator to laugh at them. I did actually. So last Friday at Winchester Bar people from various department within Telecom Wholesale, we let our hair down, talk no shop and enjoy the good company.

Robert Tai emceed the night.

Act #1: Karlo Magno Guadalupe. Man I love to pronounce his last name. I forgot what did he sang but one thing I know it was some oldies song. Had a good laugh seeing him. His expression of love emotion really made the ladies off their chair! And performed twice, special request by Robert Tai after the event was over.

Act #2. Our maori brother Jamed Dawson sang something. Man, why can't I remember what they were singing. What did I drink that night?

Act #3: A musical performance from Voice, Broadband & Billing. It was so hilarious and cleverly done. I almost lost my voice laughing and screaming at them. Teuila & Jay definitely can act. Watch out Shortland St actors!

Act #4: Sorry forgot his name. He played heavy metal kind of guitar. Didn't know the best way to describe it. The crowd loved it. They cheered so much and he came out first.

Act #5: Honestly I never see these guys before. Didn't know which floor they work. The band were good.

Act #6: Just Like A Star by Sisela Latu. She really had mean voice. Not mean as in Cinderella step-sister kind of mean but Corrine Bailey Rae kind of mean. She had a very soothing voice. I could picture her singing for summer tunes. Previously in 2007's talent time she won the first place.

Act #7: The MC introduced this act as The Flower Girls & The Impostor, what a crack up but it suited them well, I think. The three in the group are pacific island descendant and Vicki Chand is an Fiji Indian. Technically, she's still a pacific islander. They performed Hawaiian dance adapted from famous Disney film Lilo & Stitch.

Click here to watch the video.

All acts before judges deliberating the winners.

Me and the Flower Girls & The Impostor. They came out second runner up.