High Trust Working Condition

Baruch, Y., & Nicholson, N. (1997). Home, Sweet Work: Requirements for Effective Home Working. Journal of General Management, 23(2), 15–29 on page 24 states: 

    As one (respondent) puts it "... homework (telework) is for those who enjoy work"

This research was done more than 30 years ago. A qualitative study (i.e. interviews) were conducted involving home workers and 2 types of jobs were deduced by the researchers as suitable for home-working:

(1) low autonomy, easy to control remotely, technologically simple jobs e.g. data entry; telephone inquiry agents; word-processing

(2) highly autonomous, complex, high discretion = these jobs are governed by self-management, self-control and high trust e.g. programming, IT and support services 

Some jobs that were considered unsuitable for home-working were high contact jobs e.g. doctors and teachers. A lot has changed since then, now I am teaching primarily from home, and there are doctors that do remote consultation and operations.

My takeaway point is this: we continued working throughout 2020 and 2021 broadcasting lectures from our homes and handling 101 different types of administrative and supervisory work... and the university did not shut down, we did not sleep on the job, and more importantly the word did not topple over. Yes there were challenges here there and everywhere, and I am not discounting any of those experiences, but the point is : it IS possible. In fact, it has been done!

So, to our managers who initially and vehemently denied our applications for flexi-work (and to this day still equates showing our faces at work to 'working'), eat your heart out. We worked, in fact we worked MORE. We had our flexibility and we NEVER abused the trust. What MORE do you need? I know they probably expect our souls too, but I think we have collectively given enough. I love my colleagues and I do happen to work with the bestest people around, but now is a great time to unwind.

And on this last day of 2021, I feel blessed to be able to stay away from the office for 2 solid weeks and do nothing, and think | reflect. 

I am still working, on my PhD and am so glad I have this time to maneuver.

1000th Post?

Just a teaser, because now I am on post number 922.

I should be able to reach post number 1000 faster, since for each post there is no minimum word count.. or a specific format.. or research/ referencing.. or original thought.. or anything!

Let's do this, and make it happen. I am a writer [my supervisor says I write well, bless his soul!] and my books will be well-received by the world.

How about that!!! (I am speaking into existence and I will achieve my dreams)

My Hubby

It is important to have a sense of self, and to be happy alone, no matter what 'status' you may have: single, in a relationship, or married, or whatever.

This message I impart to my daughters and sons, and I hope they understand it. Each of us is born alone, some may get children to take care of, some may stay alone, some may stick with pets either physical or virtual, some may be challenged with continuous hardship, some may appear to live a charmed life but fights his/ her own battles the world does not see. Whichever status is bestowed upon us, please choose to be happy, and be yourself.

A friend of mine married about a year ago (for the third time) and she waxes lyrical about "my hubby this" and "my hubby that", a phrase that to her has become a compulsory sentence starter. For others it has become tiring because she has no original thought anymore. 

Life is indeed interesting. What we choose to see/ say may not be what everyone can digest. I hope I will always be appreciated, that I will say good kind words that heal peoples' soul, and not be irritating. I know I can be, for sure, but I hope it is mostly to people who loves me or are more forgiving than the average world citizen. And for this, I love my hubby for being the most loving, forgiving, caring, funny person ever! [How about THAT for original thought 😂😅]

Saying Goodbye | Premonition

Mom's younger sister "CikNun" passed away on 6 October 2021.

Last night my younger sis dreamt of her. Our late CikNun was at our house to take care of mom, and after that she went home to her Pasir Mas home, sat at the dinner table & watched her children and husband up and about. We always remember CikNun fondly because she has a HUMONGOUS heart. 

Hers is a house where we can go anytime and we would be welcomed and well-fed... regardless of the time of day, no matter if the trip was planned or not. There will always be something to eat, and she will always ask us to stay longer, and mean it (well you know how some people say this but would actually appreciate you leaving early/ earlier).

About 2 weeks before she passed away she called my mom and said she dreamt of their elder and youngest brothers, their late mum and dad.. and had wondered what the dream meant. Eventually she was diagnosed with covid-19; her lungs were flooded; her heart failed and she passed on. 

I for one is a rather scientific person. I do have basic belief that there are entities walking this earth besides humans and I respect the spirit of the forest and what-have-you's, and normally do not believe in nightly dreams carrying significant meaning... but in the above examples, both dreams appear significant. My sister's dream suggests that our aunt is looking out for us and remembers her sister and her family; and our aunt's own dream of meeting those who have passed on seems to have conveyed a message of her own limited time.  

Al-fatihah to all family members, friends, and wonderful souls who have left us. May they be happy in Allah's embrace. Till we meet again.

Mother Dearest | Human-Animal Conflict

Mom was 'attacked' by an alpha monkey nearly 2 months ago. It bit her thigh and behind her ankle. A minor operation was made to clean her wounds & stich back the ankle tendon. She was initially bedridden and my younger sis came from Kuantan to take care of mom. Now mom is able to walk using the walker. In fact, today she walked to the car by herself for her hospital appointment. 

She had initially felt guilty for getting injured > she shouldn't have left the house when the monkeys were outside, she said > she felt uncomfortable asking the children do things for her. She was also fearful that she will not be able to walk again, which the doctor negated & she was reassured very convincingly that one day she WILL walk again.

Actually this injury brought us siblings together. We rallied and did every part possible to make mom comfortable. We supported where we can. I suppose we may feel that we could have done more, myself included, however together we did a whole lot.

My sis and brothers and for a short period, me, have learnt to be a carer for her. We probably wouldn't have volunteered at a care centre otherwise, but caring for mom made it meaningful. She took care of 8 of us, what's with all of us taking care of 1 mom, right?

In every hardship, there is a hidden blessing (in our case, many!). I hope and pray that mom will be around for as long as Allah wills, so that we can be kind and decent children to her. Love u lots mom 💖

Malaysians rendering help

This story is probably one of the most touching, amongst many: Konvoi Balas Budi

In 2014 a huge flood hit Kelantan, an East Coast state. 

Huge help were rendered by many Malaysian from different regions, Selangor included.

In 2021, Kelantan had a chance to return the favour. 

They're now on their way southwards, with 4x4s and lorries containing various supplies for their Selangor brethrens.

Most heartwarming to see Malaysians rallying together in unity, 

instead of being riled up with conflict & controversy.

May their journey be smooth and their good deeds remembered well by fellow Malaysians.

Mechanical/ Electrical things and the Flood

Many parts of Malaysia have been hit by flooding: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/thousands-malaysia-displaced-after-non-stop-rainfall-2021-12-18/

We're talking major flooding here, which almost never happened (especially not in recent history) & completely unanticipated by folks in the central region. 

There were people waiting on the rooftop to be rescued and they were unable to take other possessions with them: https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2021/12/900914/lebih-12-jam-berlindung-atas-bumbung-surau

Water has subsided today, however many survivors are now in shelters & unable to return home yet.

Many cars have been submerged and floating in different parts of the country, hopefully not too far away from where they were originally parked.

Heavy electrical items like washing machines and refrigerators have been damaged, and there are other more urgent priorities instead of saving these machines. Owners are advised to let the items dry before switching them on. 

My heart goes to the affected individuals. May they be granted patience in this trying time.

He's My Rock

This post is related to this news: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2016/mar/22/tracey-emin-married-rock-love-intimacy

An artist Tracey Emin married a rock, literally. Her husband now lives in her garden in France.

Around the world, different people have married different inanimate things, such as this man who married Hatsune Miku: https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/features/article/3069257/japanese-man-marries-hologram-virtual-idol-hatsune

I can probably see why such events happen in people's lives. There may have been in unsuccessful relationships in their past; or certain members of the human race may have disappointed them; or they are expressing their individualism; or they are seeking a unique relationship.

Personally and especially if they have experienced bad relationships in the past, or just have busy lives.. I understand why marrying a human may not work. A rock or a hologram won't likely question where you have been, or wait for you to come home to have dinner with, or complain if you have bad breath/ poor hygiene/ are getting older. No infidelity, no divorce, no heartache, no talk-backs, no arguing. And if anyone harasses you for a date, you can just say "I'm married", and that's it really. It is probably a choice that I won't make myself, but to each his/ her own.

How Grandmamas are called around the World

My paternal grandma was called Embah Wedok. "Wedok" means "female" in Javanese. Embah basically refers to the "grand" position. Embah Lanang was the term for our grandfather, "lanang" meaning "male".

My maternal grandma from Kelantan was called Mek. Directly translated, "Mek" means mother. We were supposed to call her Tok Mek instead but didn't understand the language much, so she was our "mother" linguistically 😀

Both of them have passed on, Embah Wedok in 2007 and Tok Mek in 2014.

Just now during an "aqiqah" get together we chatted about accepting the 'grand' title. The event celebrates the birth of our friend's third and fourth grandsons born this year. 

Another friend of ours married off their son in September and doesn't seem too ready yet to be called "nenek" (that's grandma in Malay). She preferred to be called Nana or Lola by her grandkids (once they materialise).

I did some googling and found some other terms to call grandmas around the world. The German "Oma" seems ok, not too shocking like "nenek". I might use that one, and hubby will be called Opa. In Korean Oppa also means brother. He would like that 😉

https://www.itsrosy.com/Our+Favorite+Grandma+Names+Around+The+World