Short burst of freedom

Today, I am suddenly free. It’s just so amazing that it needs recording. After continuous non-stop working (except 15-45min lunch, depending on whether I have to go and buy something or just eat what I have) and OT-ing (dinner at 9pm, but with some munching of junk food in front of the computer) for about a couple of weeks, I suddenly am sitting in front of my computer with no work temporarily.

This is not something to rejoice about actually. Other members of my team experienced difficulty with backlog in their area (nothing I can do to help), and the manager has raised the “Red Alert” to our counterparts in Singapore to help. Suddenly, all our work has been taken over… and with great speed, I might add! Those people at spoke (we here are known as hub) are amazing. I am truly impressed watching the backlog clear before my eyes as I monitor things through the system query. There is definitely something to be said about their efficiency. Sort of like piranhas attacking the load that we had. Take note that I do not mean that my team members are inadequate in their skills. It’s just that we are so very short of manpower and the ones that we have are new to the current operations. We are still under observation by our clients in Singapore and, therefore, try our best to achieve the quality that is their service standard, even at the expense of speed. Sigh… we are constantly told that QUALITY is the MOST important thing. Raising the “Red Alert” is okay. But, it doesn’t look too good to do it that often. It’s the second time this week, and it’s only Wednesday. Malaysians’ abilities and reputation may be at stake here.

Whoops! Some work coming in now…. Off!

*** Two and a half hours later

Man! I thought I'd be able to leave work at 5:15pm or about 5:30pm today with the system going down at 7pm for some IT work and red alert at 3pm. Didn't happen. Left about 6:15pm but that is still pretty early... and I am eating my leftover spagetti at 7:30pm while typing this. It seems like pretty normal dinner!

Alas! The return to normality will not last. What's normal to others is not to me. I shall have to continue slogging away, especially near month end closing (looks like it's the office till 10pm... now where's my sleeping bag?). How come month end started two weeks ago?