Williams

I seldom talk about my duty travels because well, apart from the 'duty' and side shopping
after working hours,  I don't feel much like a traveler or even a tourist,
for the fact that the objective is the work (and nearby shopping).
The places I went mostly are not the tourist spots therefore no such thing as sight-seeing
(unless we have a rented car or weekend to go a bit far). But again, most of the time,
we prefer to get things done and return home as quickly as we could.
That means we would avoid weekends at all cost (unless the place is really worth going)
and spend time home recovering from jet-lags. Or perhaps it's not everybody, but us mostly. 

But it would be sad not documenting the travels for I learnt a lot in most of them
be it the places I went, people I met or people I worked with.

And so I decided to write the experience in a whole different form and it is not
totally about the travels because again, I am not a traveler/tourist.

My recent travel was to Detroit, Michigan for a technical meeting with a jet engine manufacturer, Williams International. Detroit is an industrial automotive district having the Ford, Chrysler and a lot other. And we had never heard of Williams engines before.

Our outbound ride was on ANA Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Being in the industry, there are a lot of things that impressed me on daily basis. I was trying to pull down the window shade when I realized the windows don't come with a pull-down shade but a button to darken/lighten the window visibility and boy, I was impressed!
And ANA has bidet for the toilet bowl (even MAS doesn't), how cool is that.

Hilton Garden Inn, Novi, Detroit.

'twas nearby a shopping area that is 30 minutes walking distance (because we didn't have our own transportation) and I think it's a love-hate situation for I love US big stores and compound, but only if you have car to move around. I spent bunch of hours walking that few days more than I did in months. And despite our currency plunge, things are still cheaper there.

Back to business.
It turns out that Williams is a leading engine manufacturer for most private jets beating the major ones like GE, Pratt & Whitney etc. And oohhh it feels like home going through their facility because it is similar to Honeywell site (not ours, but the parent company in Singapore) in much detailed scale and that is partly the reason why I was tasked for the job with my superior.

These are my takes during the travel.

Williams Wisdoms : 

1. Dr Williams was a mechanical engineer for the Chrysler Corporation before starting his own company to develop and build small gas turbine engines. 

2. He believed the large turbine engine on passenger aircraft can be scaled down to reduce the size, power-rating and cost where it will create the demand from smaller aircraft manufacturers which were on piston engine technology. 

3. He believed it is easier to design and develop something small and have them scaled up. Rather than having technologies for large equipments and scaling it down. 

4. Large engine manufacturers still struggle scaling down their engines and Williams has successfully scaling up theirs. 

5. He believed they should do everything in-house and minimize outsourcing for they can manipulate the design to the smallest of parts for cost-design effective and efficiency, therefore maintain the product exclusivity. 

6. Williams philosophy is to have the design engineers working in production area for a great design may be impossible to be produced. Limitation in technologies and materials are keys for innovation. 

7. People in Williams has a long retention of average 39 years of experience for the top management. It is an indication of people staying for a good working environment. 


Start small, scale up, develop inhouse capabilities to futher manipulate the idea, designers work together with the executors and stay together for us to know it inside out and be distinctive.
  • Monday, October 12, 2015

Thank you

Despite the animosity I’m feeling towards our current environmental condition
(and political and economical and … the list goes on) with regards to the ones accountable
and the ones effected, I was finding ways to let things go as easily (to be grateful with what is
and to be more appreciative when thing gets better – which I totally believe in).
Having said that, I’d like to emphasis that feelings and actions are fully autonomous.

After all, this is how winter looks like. I sometimes intentionally turn on my car air-condition
to the max and pretend it is so (though I despise low temperature).

I know it is a topic very sensitive to some
especially those with health conditions, but anyways…

I'd like to sincerely thank Indonesia.
No, not for this haze. You as a country - should not be hold accountable
for the action of few unscrupulous people or corporations. You as a country - should not
be blamed for the misconduct of your citizen.

I know how it feels because we hate it just as much when the global community blames
our nation for some foolish individuals. Similar to your second man.

I'd like to thank Indonesia for reminding us how we love our hot scorching sun
and heavy downpour and clean air. I'd like to thank you for reminding us how luxurious we have been living in this piece of land full of bliss. Screw all the deceptions of our living condition.
We had it all and we surely will have it all again.

And I'd like to thank you for this lovely vid and wonderful hearty song.
I've fallen in love.

Float - Songs of Seasons

We belong, we belong, we belong here
where the vibes from our old songs returning
With the force of a longing heart we’re here again
Timeless seasons calling
Rain of reasons falling
We belong, we belong, we belong to you
And the memories yet to come soon
will lead us back to you again
Songs of seasons calling


Good job Tourism Indonesia.

p/s: Noticed a sweet shortest love story unfolds in merely one minute?  Watch again.
  • Friday, October 02, 2015

A glimpse of heaven

etc

It was months ago… or may be in the past years.

The vision was kinda cloudy.
I was lying on a spread of grass, under a tree.
Under the shadow of a low rise tree with lush green shades of leaves
overlooking colourful flowers just a little distance away from my feet.
I felt I could touch the leaves just by lifting my arms.

But my daughter was lying on right arm just the way she likes it.

It was so serene and peaceful. It was so beautiful.
I raised my head to have a glance of the surrounding.
And I whispered to my daughter,
Cantiknyaaa sini Qyrin Auliaaa…” 
talking to her as if she understood me… 
(I felt like she's an adult lying on my arm).

And the vision quickly faded.

I felt bad for voicing out my feeling now that it ended.


Then I noticed my baby was still a child; not an adult I felt she was.
Still lying on my right arm.
We were in our bedroom, the temperature was just right
and the bed was so soft & cozy, I knew it was not just another dream.


It felt so real it didn't feel like a dream. 


I hope Allah, in all His mercy,
permits and grants us the entry.
  • Thursday, April 30, 2015

Al-Fatihah

etc
Now what has gotten into me.
Tak pe sementara rajin menaip ni, kita tulis je.
Terkenan menaip utk WTF (refer previous post).

So, the last book I've read recently was Catatan Mat Lutfi.
Itu pon masa I was on home-quarantine for conjunctivitis
=___="
I don't know whether it can be considered as reading a book because it feels like reading his blog anyway. Some articles are actually excerpt from his blog but some seemed to be taken direct from his own diary. After all, of late, it's been  how most freelance authors produce books.

Bottom-line, it is interesting. Something I'd definitely suggest to others.
I've always love his work, by  the way. There are parts that move you to tears
and there are parts that burst you out ROTFL.

But this one part just got stuck in my brain.
*bisur'ah - gesaan "Cepat! Cepat!"

Considering the hadith making comparison of Sirat-al-Mustaqim to 'lebih halus daripada rambut dan lebih tajam daripada mata pedang' (Hadith Riwayat Muslim), I'd assumed it will definitely
not visible to our naked eyes.

I really hope and prayed that when the time comes, I'd remember to read Al-Fatihah.
I should have always read it consciously especially in my solat
(you know how we always get on auto-pilot mode).

[1] Dengan nama Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani.
[2] Segala puji & syukur bagi Allah, 
Tuhan yang memelihara & mentadbirkan sekalian alam.
[3] Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani.
[4] Yang Menguasai pemerintahan hari Pembalasan (hari Akhirat).
[5] Engkaulah sahaja (Ya Allah) Yang Kami berserah,
dan kepada Engkaulah sahaja kami memohon pertolongan.
[6] Tunjukilah kami Sirat-al-Mustaqim.
[7] Iaitu jalan orang-orang yang Engkau telah kurniakan nikmat kepada mereka,
bukan (jalan) orang-orang yang dimurkai, dan bukan pula (jalan) orang-orang yang sesat.
  • Friday, April 17, 2015

2015

etc
I arrived fashionably late to 2015.

Had a hectic New Year celebration with my niece's aqiqah back in my hometown
and I knew my first few months into the year were shattered
when my director declared a 3 weeks duty travel for me.
My January dissipates just like that.
Well, not just like that like that. Had a twin A330 aircraft deliveries in Toulouse but the task has became so generic it's almost like a holiday (without your love ones, so still not fun!)
and I hate looking forward to the stack of desk jobs pending and piling up upon returning.

 And I don't want to sound ungrateful but I despise winter travels let alone for triple the normal duration. Oh, the freezing temperature, the winter jackets, the thermal wears, the layers of outfits for 3 weeks, the luggage full of food stocks and my babies are awayyyy. 

With the miracle work of Allah, I arrived at Schipol airport boarding room
for our transit flight to a familiar face.
"I know you! Papa Humaira & Naqib!"
 Kelakar jgk la husband Faeza macam redha je jawab,
"Oooo kenal kat blog..."
I knew someday mungkin akan terserempak jugak because we're in the same field,
tapi tak sangka we got to work together for 3 weeks.
Well, work, eat, travel, shopping. Such a kind & dedicated person.

Also had a chance to spend a couple of days in London and a short day trip to Monaco (again) and also Amsterdam. And thanks to my jet-lagged brain, I mistakenly deleted the whole folder
of pictures in my phone (!!!) so basically I have no proof of existence for a whole year.

Other than those of social media.

Shattered. But gotta live with it somehow.
And don't talk to me about cloud.


That kinda sums up my January.
February I turned 23.
And March we turned 5.


And poof, it's almost Ramadhan.
  • Tuesday, April 14, 2015

WTF (pun intended)

etc
There's this particular thing I (we) had to do that fractured my motivation.
For the record, it is not something unethical to start with. I see it as favour close to pointless turned into obligation that is wrongly placed. Or at least that is how we feel. But we do it thinking somebody will have to do it anyway. May Allah bless us with the reward.

It goes on a rotation cycle of 2 to 3 weeks and the burden is shared among us. 
We call it WTF coz it sounds like one. The thing itself and its content. 

There are days when I'm up to it that I returned home like a zombie and A noticed this.
Well, he kinda understand how the system works but I think he forgot I was with him
before I was even in the public service. What I'm saying is my foot was once set outside
the grass. However, I like the garden I'm currently stepping in except for the fact that
we had to deal with some shits as there are animals crossing. 
Well, that's kinda harsh but I'm not taking it back :P

Every field has its animals anyway.


It's strange the effect WTF has on us. There are days we (my colleagues and I - apparently we share similar symptoms - due to stress, I guess) crave for excessive shopping, binging, sleeping and a list of bad habits. 

So, I told A about my fractured motivation and how it has soaked up all my interest to even do my (common) favourite things. Therefore, on those affected days, I even declared I do not want to run my role as a wife or a mother or even myself. He led me to figure out that I should be doing something different to curb this and I realised that I should be reading books again.
It's not like I have not done enough reading lately, but well, those books on the bookshelves,
you know what I mean.


And I guess blogging is also one of it.
;)
  • Saturday, April 11, 2015

Silent Treatment

etc
I'm seriously giving you a silent treatment.
Have you even noticed it?
You better be!

In all my words still I would define it as silence.
;P


I have, in fact, questioned my own silence especially when everything started
and keep unfolding themselves (myself, I mean) throughout my moment of silence.
And it has been quite a discovery, I'd say.

And it just occurred to me *yesterday that I was probably in denial. I have to come to term with it. A lot had happened and discretely affecting our life though we pretended like it goes on like it’s supposed to be. We tried to deny it. But it is not something that we can simply defy.


I figured a hole in my soul.


Perasan nak marahkan seseorang atau sesuatu tapi tak ada orang atau perkara
yang boleh disalahkan atau disabitkan kesalahan melainkan hanya redha dan terima.

Aku redha dan terima lubang di jiwa, Ya Allah.
May we all rest in peace.

Just like 'em all.
*yesterday - DCA 2014 video recap

  • Friday, April 10, 2015