Spain

See you again on the 20th March 2010

Chapter Two

He gave her a sharp look, wondering who this girl was standing in front of him, smiling and holding a white A4 sized envelope. She was quite young and could not be more than 25 years old.

“Yes?” He repeated himself, louder.

The change of tone must have startled her, that she pulled herself together to finally say something to him.

“Hi! I am Mia, the HR Executive of this company. Welcome on board Mr. Burton!” She said it in one breath, as if she was reading it from a scripted dialog repeated over and over again.

Like a junior cadet to her sergeant, she quickly extended her hands, straight towards him.

Politely, he stood up and took her hands. He could feel that there was a slight shiver and it was cold. “O Gosh, I must have scared her”, and suddenly he felt like a big bully and pitied her.

“Why don’t you sit down, Mia? “ He walked behind her and pulled a chair

“Oh. Thank you.” Her eyes twinkle and she looked at him like he had just given her a 12 months bonus.

“Hmm, ok the reason I am here is to pass you your contract” And she slided the white envelope nearer to him. “Here you go, please verify and see if everything is in order”

Henry took the envelope and tore off the cellophane tape that sealed the envelope together, pulled out a stapled 5 pages of contract.

“Hmm.” He sighed, showing a slight disappointment as he read the first few lines of the contract.

“Anything wrong Sir?”

“Yes. There is.” He held the tip of his glasses, pushed it back so it stayed comfortably on his nose.

“My name is wrongly spelled. It’s Henry Alexander Burton as in B.U.R.T.O.N”.

“Hang on! Are you saying that I had typed your name wrongly? It couldn’t be! I always re-checked my work and Mr. Zachary will not sign if it’s wrong” She was flustered and defensive, which irritated him the more.

“Look, Mia” He spoke in an authoritative voice. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I think I would know how my name is spelled”

“O .. ok. Sorry. Err sure I’ll amend it and return to you later” She quickly took the document and the envelope back.

She frowned and studied the contract in front of him. ‘Er .. and anything else Sir?”

He was surprised to see that she was still sitting there, submitting herself to more damaging agitated remarks, but at the same time he was impressed by her courage to be able to do that.

“No. That’s all”

“Oh. Ok then. I’ll come back to you shortly” And she gave him a weak apologetic smile.

He nodded and took back to the earlier documents that he was reading.

Mia walked out quickly from the room. She wished she could just run, in fact she felt she wanted to run away the moment he said he found an error.

“That was so damn embarrassing. Gosh! And what a miserable first impression I have made on myself!”

Firstly, she was at awe when she saw him leaving her speechless in front of him for a few second, and secondly, if that were not enough, she blurted out a very stupid argument, on how his name should be spelled? She was puzzled and wondering what has gotten into her.

She sat at her desk, looking at the document, thinking how she could make it up to him.

Chapter One - The Beginning

It was a quiet Monday morning.

No one was at the office yet. Mia had just switched on the air-conditioning. The smell of the stale carpet fills in the air. It would take some time before the air-conditioner pumped in some fresh air and cools down this 20 year-old building.

Suddenly out of the silence, sounds of footsteps rumbling from the front door towards her cubicle. A 5’4” slim tall lady wearing a grey collared shirt and a pair of black pants rushing with an emergency- red- alert face searching for her good friend.

“Mia!” She stopped. She was panting, trying to catch her breath.

“Hey, cool down my friend. What happen?”

“Have you met him?”

“Who? ”

“The new Head of Sales. Oh. My. God! He has this look that could make you fall on your knees okay!”

“Every guy in this company would be able to do THAT to you Anna.” I smiled at her, a single 34 year old System Engineer.

She pulled down her shirt with a defensive look and about to justify her statement.“Huh! You shall wait till you see him! You know he is ..”

Suddenly she stopped.

An elderly bald man stepped in.“Err .. Morning Mr. Zachary ” Anna said sheepishly and quickly pacing her way out.

“Morning girls, Mia, have you greeted our Head of Sales, Henry Burton? He is waiting for his contract.”

“O yaa, ya, yes... err I am about to see him.”

“Hmm….” There was a sound of unpleasantness in his voice. He walked into his room and quietly unpacked his document bag.

"Oh dear. Another management level staff has joined in, hopefully not another big headed guy".

Curiosity was mounting up. “Is this Henry as dropped-dead-gorgeous as Anna claimed to be?”Anxiously, she paced her steps towards his room, with his contract in her hand. With the blinds wide opened, the morning sun glares into the room, giving it a sense of life. Yes, after so long this room was finally occupied.

A well-built, broad shoulder man, smartly dressed in a white shirt and blue silk tie, was sitting at his desk wearing a pair of glasses reading a document. The sunlight glare did seemed to distract him, he looked intensed. That must be him!

“Morning, Mr. Burton” she said.

He looked up at her. “Yes?” His front dark hair sweeps slightly across his face.

At that very moment, her heart beat stopped, and blood rushed up to her head. She was numb and for awhile she felt as if she was charmed by a magical spell. Behind those glasses was a pair of charming, glittering eyes.

“God! Anna was right! He was so absolutely breathtakingly stunning!”

And Mia found her soul floating on the thin air as the story of her fairy tale began.

Note:
Dear Readers,
This is an introduction of a book, if you like it please vote yes.

Crossroads

Life is what you make out of it.

You could choose either to continue living as how you did 20/10 years ago and thinking what might have been if ....

Yes, if. One syllable word that would make you stop, halt and think, leaving you on a crossroad.

A crossroad between the safest way or the road of desire chasing your dreams.

A crossroad between the happiness of your children at present or painful steps but will lead to a better future.

These, from a woman who thinks too much would stopped her chasing her dreams. Until she realize that ... life is what you make out of it.

I'm BACK!

Bonjour!

Its been quite some time since I last baked (and wrote) :)

Now I am back, feeling excited and inspired with new ideas... Nothing is more refreshing than a good holiday ..

As you would have read (or seeing my pictures ehem ..hehe) I went for my graduation in London, and took a slight detour to Paris.

Paris -- a place where I told my friend 'the place where you find peace, where it took all your worries away and as if you have reached the end of a rainbow'.

It's so beautiful, the people are all laid back -- no rush, and you can take your time going from one place to another. Their architecture represents their history and I was amazed of how they have had kept them in good condition after all these years.

Anyway not all are pretty. On our first day, my friend was picked-pocket by a group of young sweet teenage girls. It was so fast! They could even zipped the bag back as if they had never opened it!

She lost 200 Euros + 200 Pounds + 200 MYR -- gosh! Luckily she did not kept all her money at one place. That was the ugly part. But it also witness a true friendship.

One of our classmates had generously extended some cash (on loan) to my friend. Friends like him are hard to find ~ and it all started with MBA - International Business Cohort 10A.

The rest of the stories will be continued later, probably at the pictures I posted below.

Until then, bye.

London

UEL

Graduation Day @ Barbican Hall

Beautiful Paris

In this beautiful city of Paris

When love could come in a breeze

Wherever I see, men, women lovingly in two

And woke me up from my dream where nothing is true ....

It was a 7am on Saturday morning and there were less traffic on the streets. After long hours on the plane (don't ask me how long, I am still confuse on the time conversion), we have finally reached Paris. A place where I only dreamt of setting my foot onto, much to the overwhelming fact that I was about to be there for 4 days.

As excited as I was 18, on my first day in college, the same feeling appeared again... I was tired, but my mind refuse to rest. I looked out from the window, feeling amazed on everything I saw.

The french taxi driver drove us from the Charles Gaule Airport into the highway. It was Autumn, and the leaves had fallen down leaving some on the branches, with faded yellowish green. I looked in awe ... even the willows look so great to me.

We passed by few hotels and some small towns and later into a street where we saw something like a car boot sale.

Interesting! Quickly in desparation I spoke to my friends, 'Hey we must come here!'.

'Yeah' Mary said in agreement.

I took out the small translation book from my bag, "Poo vay voo mur lur mon tray sewer set cart" (Can you show me where is this onthis map?) Tried very hard to sound French .. but to my disappointment, the driver laughed out loud. OMG... I must pronounce it wrong and meant something else... Goshh okay I gave up, feeling embarrased.

Suddenly Mary exclaimed from her seat sound something like "que cela" meaning What This? With a sign language showing the street.

A.. Paaa something something. Trust me remembering words you're not familiar is such a chore!

Then finally we reached a street called Rue La Fayatte, to the hotel where we stayed.

IBIS hotel, that's the name. The rooms are all with en-suite, too comfortable for a budget traveller like us.

EURO 99 per room that is .... hmm okay my subconsious calculator automatically translate that as RM500. Wow ... looks like its not so 'budget' at all.

Well our Big Boss classmate paid for it in advance of course, with a big relief to us then .. (but not so ...when we were back hehe)

Vegetarian Pizza at Gare Du Nord

Announcement

To all my customers and readers, I wish to inform that I will be away from my dearie oven from this Friday, 6th November 2009 until middle of December 2009, as I will be travelling during that period.

Thank you for your support, my oven will be 'back to work' in mid December 2009.

London Bridge is calling me ..

There's no cake pictures to be displayed today but I need to write my thoughts down or else I can't sleep!

My MBA mates called me today, persuading me to join them (earlier they said they are not going!) to go for our graduation in London. Gosh!! I really wish I could follow them but the graduation date is on 26th November 09, end of autumn and beginning of winter! And I can't stand being cold!

But I really wanna go as I've never been to London and this is a good reason for me to go. Marina offered me to stay with her aunt while we are there ... so at least I don't have to think about accommodation.

But I still need to spend on flights, my graduation fee, food and of course, winter clothes.. It's going to cost me a bomb, and on top of it I have already committed to the boys that I'll take for a holiday to Penang in December. I have bought the ticket but need to book the rooms which going to cost me at least RM 1500 excluding food and other miscellaneous expenses.

Gosh.. this is difficult. If I want to go, I need to make maximum effort to increase my cake sales. But would it be enough time?

Sometimes I wish I could just be 'woman' and let everything being taken care off. No bills to think about, no fees --- nothing and probably just the 'additional' expenses ... Then probably I would have signed in for this trip without having to think twice!

A bite of bitterness

7 July 2009. A 35 year old woman who worked in an NGO at TTDI (part of me wanted to write down the name of her employer if its not because of my friends there.. grrr) called and enquired about my cakes. First she asked about my price so I gave her the range. And later she asked if I can do Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cake and I confidently said yes.

She asked to look at a sample so I explained that I have not done TMNT before but she can look at my work and judge. She insisted on a sample bafore she can decide -- so I said okay I'll mould one for her.

So I stayed up until 2 am that night, kneading the paste, mixing the colours until to the exact match and the result, Mike -- one of the TMNTs - completed.

Early morning, quickly emailed the picture to her. quoted RM 150 for a 2 kg chocolate cake -- buttercream base but with all four Ninja Turtle sculpted in 4 different fighting actions (which is way below the market price considering hers is my first TMNT).

Waited until noon but no reply, nor a call from her. So I called her up - And guess what she said, Emm this is not what we are looking for. It has no weapon .. so I explained that I will only do the complete set once she confirmed order which she has not. And yet, repeatedly she said its not .... what they are looking for. I asked again if it is too expensive, she chuckled and said no ... again saying the same phrase and she said bye.

If I have not called would she even call me? Nope I don't think so she has the guts because I think she knows its not ethical -- unless which I hope not, she has no morale and just not bothered.

OMG!! No apology.. no nothing .. the sample cost me nearly RM20 excluding the effort spent on it. Goshhh... anyway I believe what goes around will definitely comes around. Isyyy gerammmnyer!

And my Sifu was correct when she said, you should avoid this kind of customers. Should be able to read from the first reaction of asking a sample. They need to be blacklisted! So my fellow baker friends we should form an association. And this people should be blacklisted from our list of clients. Anyone wants her name? Email me.

Latest Addition to the Menu

4 July 2009. Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Filling. I was doing my weekly shopping at Bagus and saw the ready made strawberry filling. Hmm .. it gives me an idea to add that in my cupcakes. My hubby said this is just nice as it is ..... No buttercream, no sugarpaste please he said. Well I tend to agree .. eventhough part of me whining ... 'allaaaaaaaaaa'

Stress and Strawberries

9th June 2009. It was already 9pm. I received an sms from my Boss that she will be away on medical for 2 weeks. Yaiks!! Why is this happening now? .. Well, itulah dia ... manusia hanya merancang Tuhan menentukan..

My luck seems to turn around 360 degree in less than a week ... Bip.bip. Another message came in.

" What happen today? There was commotion about the bonus payout.." Apparently, someone lodge a complaint to the management who as usual did not further investigate before bashing into our Head's office..

O gosh!!! This is really upsetting .. and I have to face the music alone, without my Boss this week.
It was already 10.30pm when I finished confiding to my boss of what happen at work today. Tried to rest, tried to console myself .... but .. I just can't sleep.

So I woke up, looked at some recipes -- and decided to try this new Strawberry Cake recipe. My hubby came by.. "Dear? Its 11pm... You have an order tomorrow?" .. Nope I said -- this is my stress theraphy. Baked 25 cupcakes and mould a rabbit (initially) ... and slept at 2am.

Woke up early in morning and cream the cakes. Hmm this time the rabbit does not look nice at all. So I plucked her head off and mould a bear head instead. .. No time to change everything! Got to rush to work and brought some for colleagues to taste the new recipe.

And yup ... they liked it! Hmm probably it's time I'm seriously considering opening a cake house.

A Tiramisu to Celebrate

7th June 2009. Today I invited Mak, Abah, my brother and his family to have lunch with us. Mak made my favourite Crab in Coconut Milk, we stimmed some fish, made some vege... Simple lunch. Then the dessert ... my 1st attempt making a Tiramisu.

Tried to add the caramel and fried peanuts as decoration but the caramel harden so fast that it became something like 'kacang bipang!!' instead. Aduss it was so hard that I can't decorate it well. Hmm probably by adding some choc cream can help to 'cover' the unsightly deco.. hmmm didn't work that well either. Must, must try this again.

Hmm bila boleh makan kek ni?? My brother said .. Alamak kesian la pulak . Okay okay let snap a picture before we 'demolish' this fugly cake..

Dissertation

5th June 2009. Today is the deadline for my MBA dissertation submission. And at 12 pm I was still typing my Chapter 5! Gosh .. unbelievable, the magic of stress, words comes smoothly as if I have memorized the whole chapter.

Sharp 1.30pm Adeline from WIM-UEL called, she said I was the only one who has not submitted. OMG!!! This is definitely not helping ... my heart was beating fast as if I was chased by a dinasour!

Okay, I took a deep breath ... "Subhanallah 10x " ranting softly.. Now the final touch, this year, UEL added a new requirement -- all thesis / dissertation need to be attached with a Reflective Summary, some sort of diary or challenges I faced in completing this research.

Woookay ... now typying, thinking, as fast as I could (hmm need to add some 'fiction' here)... and on the dot at 3.30pm, I have completed everything. Altogether 12,000 words ...Alhamdullillah .... Ran to print and bind.. And finally reach WIM-UEL at 4.30pm --just half an hour before they close. Huh .. this is really, really last minute work!!

And yes!!!! Habis dahhhh ....Merdeka!!! This requires some celebration!

Lil' Flowers Cupcakes

5th April 2009. My sifu Zura taught my to use tip 103 for simple icing flowers. So .. tried the first time.. Showed to her .. and guess what she said "Niza, you should used the tip the other way round".

LOL ha ha ha and I taught they pretty cute.. perasan sendiri rupanya.

Red Roses Cupcakes

1st May 2009. Tried out Martha Stewart's vanila cupcakes but reduced the sugar and replace milk with cream. Tasted nice but the oven failed me the 1st time --- the temperature was not consistent. The first batch was out--- did not cook well, can still taste the egg .. yaksss.

Gave to Mak, who is quite meticoulous when it comes to Art or Bakery, commented that:

1. The design of the roses are too 'rough' -- need to finetune or change to other design with petals.. Gosh ... tingginyer standard. Cek kena pi belajaq dulu Mak .. :)
2. I need to change my oven or I'll end up making more that I should in case the oven's themostat broke down again..

Spoke to hubby and suggested that instead of buying a new oven, lets borrow Mak's oven. O dear ...that means transporting that big oven all the way from BG. Can't even imagine how to carry them into the car. NVM .. I might bake again tomorrow and see if I can 'play around' with the themostat.