LOSING WEIGHT

Tasha: Mom, I know the secret to losing weight.

Mom: Tell me.

Tasha: Turn your head to the right. Turn your head to the left. Turn your head to the right and left quickly when people offer you food!

Mom: Cool!

GRANDMOMS

Both my grandma and Franco's grandma passed away this year. They had a lot of similarities - my Tok We and Franco's Nonna.

They both were very independent, living on their own until very very late in age.

My tok we made mean pisang murtabak and Nonna made doughnuts to die for.

My tok we would always slipped in some money, no matter how little to her great grandchildren and Nonna would do the same. However, Nonna took the meaning of sustainability to a new level when she made us return the white envelope that she used to put the money in so that she can reuse the envelopes for the next handout!

Nonna is the only one whom I know who drank her wine with Sprite. Salute to you Nonna!

I pray that both of them will be rewarded with the garden of paradise for being such a great person who touched so many lives in this world. They certainly have touched mine and they will forever be missed.

CILC ELVES @ DIVALI HOLIDAYS

The good thing about having only 7 in a class is that I could easily fit half of Tasha's classmates in my living room and that's what we did today. Tasha had Faith, Eznyeta and Balqis over for a project date although I honestly dare not vouch whether they finished the project since I heard a lot more giggling than serious discussion.

After lunch of home made lasagna, the little ladies made scones for tea: Verdict on the taste was only 5/10 but the fun level was 20/10. All in all 25/20 - so kudos to all the little ladies!

The girls' first attempt at making scones

The CICL elves at work! My kitchen was spick and span after that!

The really good looking scones! They just have to work on the dough a bit more!

KNOWLEDGE

Based on the ceramah by Ustaz Huseein Yee @ 10/10/2011 (Al-Khadeem):

One cannot say to have knowledge until one has learnt about it, understood it and practised it.

PACING YOUR RUN

1) During training, if you run wearing a HRM, check the % max HRM that is MOST comfortable for you (therefore you are not panting and huffing while running). Generally it should be in the region of 75% of max HRM. During the race, you can wear HRM and keep it to the same % max HRM.

2) During training, if you are not wearing HRM, keep to the pace by feeling (or what I call rhythmic breathing). When you start huffing and puffing, slow down your pace.

3) If you train on a threadmill like I do, the pace is given to you. During the race, it is easy because you can work it out with your watch and the distance marker. If you have been running 10km in one hour, you want to be on the distance marker on the 6th minute +/- 30 seconds (and multiple thereof).

4) If you train outside on the same route, try to identify the distance (I do this by driving the route and clock it on the speedometer). Once you have done the route and have a good idea of the time it takes you, it is just time / distance calculation and use the watch and distance marker combination to set the pace during the run.

5) Some people rely on certain songs on their MP3 player. If they are running right in tempo with them, then they know they are at a certain pace.

6) Don’t get sucked by the mass race start! The only ones who are able to hold the mad start pace are the Kenyans!

Generally, you always run a race at a higher level than the training pace. Due to the combination of the adrenalin, the energy gel and isotonic drinks, you normally can push yourself by about 5 - 10% of the practice pace.

GOOFING AROUND

One of the many things I missed when Tasha went to CILC was mom and daughter goofing around in between prayer times.

One of my many prayers is for Allah to make easy for both of us to perform solat so that we will be placed amongst the muslimin and muslimah who are true believers in the jannah. Amin.

KOH SAMUI MARATHON 2011

I went to this marathon with no expectation, mainly because I didn't train hard for it. I would be happy just to finish it under 5 hours but I also know that the competitive side of me would not allow me to run so casually.

So, two days before the run, I brought Tasha and Franco snorkelling and kayaking, instead of reserving my energy. It was a fun filled day and if I had to do it again, I would not do it any other way.

I was lucky in the last two marathons that I didn't get the compartment syndrom, which I normally experienced at the start of the runs. However, not wanting to take any chances, I was very cautious with my speed, trying not to exceed 10km/hour while everybody else shot right pass me in the first 100m!

Despite being cautious about the speed, the pain stabbed in that I had to stop a few times to massage and stretch the shin. The pain persisted but I ran through it, praying that it would go away and it finally did 8 km later!

I caught up with Mohan who was running his 134th marathon at km 11 who warned me of the lonely battle that lie ahead. I didn't really understand what he meant until I turned around the bend and saw miles and miles of uphill road! The only comfort I had was the fact that everything that went up would eventually have to come down, and we finally did after almost 10 km of uphill running!


The last 5 km was tough for me and it didn't help that the drink station didn't have any fruits or food to offer after 30 km mark. Running low on energy, I practically "begged" for some Gatorade from a Thai runner who had the luxury of having a full bottle on him! I thanked him and tried to speed off but my legs were just doing its own thing at its own sweet pace.


I managed to better my PB by 14 minutes, finishing the race at 4:34. And that's not all...the best news is that I came in third in my age category and won my first cash prize money in running - 2850 baht.

ASK TO GET

Excerpt from Robin Sharma's The Greatness Guide


You will never know if you don’t even try. There is enormous power in asking for what you want. All too often, our internal chatter prevents us from taking the steps needed to get us to our own unique form of greatness. We are kept small from our inner imaginings – so much of which are lies.

The most brilliant of the best, those who live glorious lives that matter, ask like crazy. They understand that it’s a habit that must be polished for it to shine. And the more you do it, the easier it gets (like any skill). So they ask.

For the support and help they need at work.
For the understanding they may seek at home.
For a win they need for their business.
For a better table at their favourite restaurant.
For a better seat at a sold out concert.

And because they ask more, they get more (success always has been a numbers game). Nothing happens until you ask. People are not mind readers. They need to know what’s meaningful to you.

And if you ask nicely, they just might say yes.

CILC SCHOOL UNIFORM

Drove for an hour to CILC (still trying to figure out the fastest route) yesterday to buy Tasha her school uniforms.

Couldn't believe the bill when everything was totalled up.

RM 640 for school uniforms and that does not include the blazer since the tailor was not there and the leather shoes which we have to purchase outside. With those, the total damage would easily exceed one gran.

At that price, they not only have to continue giving partial scholarship for tuition fees but they may also have to start giving subsidy / interest free payment scheme just for uniforms!

I think I need to look for a second job!

BRUISES AND INJURIES

Since we have upped the frequency of our game and the length of each session, everyone of us has acquired some form of overuse injury and is now seen with a band around some parts of the anatomy to minimise discomfort while playing and to accelerate the healing process.

Sui Lin has hers around the wrist, mine to nurse my acute tennis elbow, Lee Lee's invisible but has gel in her shoes to minimise strikes on the heels.

Eric, the only male player amongst us, who is also my doubles partner today confessed that although physically he is still in good shape, it is usually his ego that is bruised constantly! Whilst there is a glimpse of hope for us to recover from our injuries, no amount of bands can accelerate the healing of a bruised ego! Sorry Eric....

BRANDS

I am a very loyal customer once I find the product that matches my need perfectly but I am not loyal to a particular brand:

The following are my favourites (which means the ones that I have the most based on current inventory)

A) Running Shoes - Nike Vomero
B) Running Tops - Nike High Impact and New Balance at a close second
C) Running Shorts - New Balance
D) Tennis Rackets - Prince
E) Tennis Balls - Wilson
F) Tennis Skorts - Yonex
G) Tennis Shoes - Reebok
H) Tennis Tops - Yonex
H) Polo Shirts - Polo Ralph Lauren
I) Jeans - Calvin Klein
J) Gym Wear - Adidas
K) Work Clothes - Iora
L) Golf Clubs - PING
M) Golf Pants - Marks & Spencer
N) Golf Tops - LPGA
O) Smart Pants - Marks & Spencer
P) Golf Shoes - Mizuno
Q) Yoga Pants - Adidas
R) Golf Balls - Srixon
S) Tennis Bags - Prince
T) Sweat Bands - Adidas
U) Tennis Socks - Prince
V) Running Socks - Mitchdowd and Nike
W) Squash Racket - Wilson
X) Handbags - Etienne Aigner
Y) Gym Gloves - Nike
Z) Gym Shorts - American Athletics

TENNIS ELBOW

I have been plagued by tennis elbow injury (ok....it is not right to call it injury since it is one that is caused by overusage) for the last few months. The pain is unbearable, almost to the point of paralysing and I have lost sleep many a night due to this.

Despite all that, I am still playing tennis 3 days a week - and on 2 of those days, I have morning and evening sessions. So, yes, I spend a lot of hours on the tennis court and the pain mulitplies as the number of hours increase.

Today a MIRACLE happened and I quickly sms Franco to share the good news.

LINI: My tennis elbow pain is gone!

FRANCO: Unlike most people who require rest to heal a tennis elbow, you need to "play through the pain. Further evidence of your
awesomeness!

LINI: I have stopped collecting evidence for my awesomeness. Even the cyber storage can't handle the colossal data!

PACESETTER 15KM RUN

1.45

1:30

This is the first run after our full marathon (42 km) a month ago.

After collecting the medal upon completion of the race, Franco arrogantly said to me, " I feel like I don't deserve the medal cause it felt like I have not done anything yet!"

In my heart "Action betul la pak cik ni sekarang....."

KELAB GOLF MGC/TKC

Bagi tahun 2011, Kelab Golf MGC/TKC telah berjaya menganjurkan permainan golf sebulan sekali. Pemain-pemain veteran handalan yang sentiasa menyertai permainan bulanan terdiri daripada Kak Maznah, Kak Majmin, Kak Sabariah @ Kak Lang, Kak Sharifah Maimunah dan adiknya, Sharifah Zawiyah, Khairiyatun Azlina dan Lini Kazim.

Permainan yang dianjurkan telah memberi peluang kepada ahli-ahli bermain di kelab yang berbeza-beza setiap bulan. Antara kelab-kelab yang telah diterokai pada tahun ini ialah Kelab Golf Awana di Genting, Kelab Golf Staffield di Kajang, Kelab Golf Bangi, Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam di Petaling Jaya dan Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah di Shah Alam. Adalah hasrat ahli-ahli kelab untuk mencuba kesemua kelab-kelab golf di Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor!

Selain daripada itu, keahlian kelab golf kini mencecah dua digit dengan penyertaan 2 ahli baru yang aktif pada tahun ini - Kak Wan Raimah dan Kak Nori.

Kami berharap agar lebih ramai ahli-ahli MGC/TKC OGA yang akan menaruh minat kepada permainan golf dan turut menyertai permainan bulanan yang dianjurkan.

Untuk maklumat lebih lanjut, sila hubungi Kak Sabariah di talian 012-337 3315.

Born to Golf

written for MGC/TKC AGM Updates

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

The feeling when I hit the finishing line at Stadium Likas for my first full marathon was just undescribeable!

Throughout my life, I have accomplished things - I represented house, school, district, state and country in various sports and academic fields and went to win some of these events. I have earned a law degree, a Master's degree and was made a Contracts & Procurement Manager in one of the biggest projects in Malaysia - the billion dollar LRT project at a young age of 26 year's old.

Even after my marriage and the birth of the most precious thing in my life, I went on to test new territories and conquered some, in activities that took my fancy - Scuba diving, golf, piano lessons, downhill skiing and mandarin.

Yes...those all seemed to be major accomplishments but somehow they now look so small and insignificant compared to what I have achieved just a few days ago!

I ran the distance from Athens to Marathon and I still can't believe that I have done it!

BORNEO MARATHON 2011

We did it! We ran all 42.2 km of it.

A lot longer than both of us anticipated but we did it.

Will we do it again?

Over and over! The feeling is just too great to be doing it just once in a lifetime!

Mission Accomplished (6:03)

Born To Run (5:05)

RESULT FROM STANDARD CHARTERED RUN 2010

http://www.kl-marathon.com/reports/check_race_time
No 48 - Half Marathon Women Veteran Category

RESULTS OF BARENO RUN 2011

http://www.sports.my/result.php?event=44-bareno_run_2011&page=4
No. 38 in the Half Marathon Women Veteran category

80 / 20 RULE

The 80 / 20 rule is also known as the Pareto Principle (the law of the vital few).

Generally 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes, 80% of the wealth is owned by 20% of the nation or 80% of sales come from 20% of the Clients.

Applying this to work, it is about identifying and working on the 20 percent that matters. The 20 percent that would produce 80 percent of the results.

I always ask my staff to focus on those things. It is not just about working smart, it is working smart on the right things....

p/s: my boss thinks it is just an excuse to do less for the same money!

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK

Usually I deployed my team to negotiate on the company's or client's behalf. But in this particular case, the pressure to reduce cost by 30% will be too much for my team of professional negotiators to handle. So, I decided to assist. The negotiation started at 10 am and by 11 am we wrapped up the deal.

I was so chaffed that I sms to Franco:

LK: just saved the company RM 100k, all in an hour's work. Now I am going for my wantan noodles.

During my brunch, I read a review on C250 CGI and text Franco the page number of the SUN for him to read.

FR: what a gem! I noticed that after saving RM 100k, you proceeded to contemplate buying C250 instead of C200.

LK: No lah! Anyway, you should see Wesley's face when I came out of negotiation and told him I shaved off 30%. His jaw dropped down to his knees. He asked me how I did it. So, I told him, he doesn't have to learn it, he just have to keep me employed for him to be a hero.

FR: Good girl. You are going to have to be employed for at least the next 7 years.

LK: Alamak, I thought until 2015?

FR: Boleh tapi you will need to increase monthly installment amounts ergo you will need to negotiate a significant salary increment.

LK: Cannot increase salary cause don't want more responsibility. In fact, I am negotiating for the same salary with less hours!

FR: Then year 2018 it is!

At about 2 pm, Franco texted me again:

FR: any more savings?

LK: Nope, having my weekly massage now on the 6th floor!

FR: All in a day's "work", huh?

FROM MARATHON TO TRIATHLON

As part of the cross training for marathon, it was recommended that I do cycling or swimming once a week to provide the overall physical conditioning for the run.

I opted for cycling as my cross as I was told (by a colleague who is a pro swimmer) that I am not an efficient swimmer. The more I attended the RPM session, the more I realise the growing interest in cycling to complement my running regime. The first word that came to my mind after last night's RPM session was DUATHLON.

However, browsing through the web last night, there isn't a lot of duathlon event in Malaysia. In fact there is only one for the whole 2011!

Triathlon seems to be more popular, which is surprising because I always thought that most Malaysians (compared to Western counterpart) do NOT swim!

Anyway, I am determined more than ever now to do triathlon as part of my physical fitness development.

At this stage, two things are required for me to embark on the triathlon journey - acquisition of a bike and engagement of a swimming instructor. The former is currently being facilitated by an old friend - thanks Joe and I am now on a quest to find a triathlon swimming instructor. Anyone who knows of one, please let me know.

BATA

Buy and Throw Away

or

Buy and Treasure Always?

CHARITY GOLF FOR NETBALL MALAYSIA

Venue: Glenmarie Golf & Country Club

Date: 27th March 2011

One of the prizes given away for the lucky draw was the Air Purifier.

Datin Ju who played in my flight asked me: "Lini, Air purifier tu untuk apa?"

My reply: "Kak Ju, to purify the orgasm in the air!"

Datin Ju: "huh!*&$*()&$#^(*()

SUMO WRESTLER

I think a lot about Japan since the earthquake, wondering how the country is doing. Looking through the photos of the time we were there, I found one that deserved to be shared.

They are not the biggest there is but still worthy of attention!

MY RUNNING HISTORY

March 2011: 2:20 (21 km)

November 2010: 2:26 (21 km)

October 2010: 3:37 (30km)

June 2010: 1: 10 (10km)

June 2010 2:20 (21km)

March 2010: 1:37 (15km)

February 2010 0.45 (7.7km)

FACES - SYRIA 2011

The best espresso - sold by the roadside from Serjaellah to Lattakia

The Dead City

CPM LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP 2011

This year’s CPM workshop was held in exotic Bali from March 3rd to 7th. It was also the Nyepi weekend in Bali – a celebration that requires all residents and visitors in Bali to observe a day of silence and non-activity whereby all is required to refrain from turning the lights on, going out in the streets, working, feeding the senses, engaging in entertainment, making noise that might disturb others, travelling or getting out of the house. For those who are very serious about Nyepi, they also refrain from speaking.

Despite the restraints, the team was able to utilise the time together to discuss topics such as total cost of ownership, category management, program management and the purpose of central design office (CDO). To break the monotony, Edric challenged the team with mind boggling activity in the midst of his Value Management session.

The workshop however is not all work and no play. Thanks to SKM People’s effort, our team had a day of cultural immersion with activities ranging from dancing to traditional farming which brought a lot of smiles and laughters, and untapped potential to a new height.

Thanks to all for making the workshop a success. Special thanks to Barry, Ed and Adri for their presence which reflects the epitome of our journey towards stronger Shell / SKM partnership.

Written for: Leaderboard March 2011

COUNTDOWN

35 days to my first marathon.

I am supposed to be running 60 km per week by now. It's Friday today and I have only done 38 km.

Hopefully, between Franco's surprise birthday party on Saturday afternoon, Roc's dinner party on Saturday night and charity golf on Sunday afternoon, I will be able to run another 22 km to make up the number before the arrival of the new week, where the distance clock restart to 0 again.

BORN TO RUN

OUR FIRST MARATHON

The plan was for us to run our first marathon in October this year in Greece but it was way too long to wait. So, I gathered my guts and signed up for Borneo marathon on 1st May in Kota Kinabalu.

May the force be with us throughout the 42kms!

GOLF @ AWANA

Unofficially, I am now the secretariat for TKC Young Girls Golf Club which now has 2 honourary male members - Kak Lang's husband, Abang Ibrahim and Michael, my neighbour since they have been joining us on our last few golf excursions to make up the flight.

The following is my sms exchange with Michael today.

Lini: Dear all, tee off time has been booked for 8 am on 23rd March at Awana Genting. The fee for ladies is RM 75.50 and for men RM
130.50 including caddy, which I was told to be compulsory.

Michael: As long as she is good looking, otherwise, I just have to concentrate on golf and why would I want to do that?

Lini: Between the distraction from the caddie and the tough terrain, you are going to need a lot of balls, prayers and good luck. So, start
praying and bring lots of balls, the useful kind!

Michael: I always carry those with me!

Lini: I thought I specifically mentioned the useful kind!

Michael: You need to go out more!

Lini: I don't need to go out, I just have to go to the Livillas Club House to drive myself to insanity!

FACES - LEBANON 2011

SKIING IN THE CEDARS, LEBANON

We stayed at La Cabane in The Cedars, the only hotel right at the foot of the ski lift. The hotel is new (only opened January 2011 and we were there a few weeks after), in fact when I first saw the hotel I thought that it was still under construction.

But as soon as I went in, I knew I would have a good time there. We spent a lot of time by the fire place, drinking hot chocolate while reading and surfing on the I pad.

The stay was made even more memorable when we met Mustaffa and his family who was so fun and so generous.

La Cabane and its people have a certain charm and warmth that despite a lot of "hardship" that we faced when we were there, it was difficult to be angry or not to fall in love with the place.

The very next day, we decide to hit the slope. It was a hot Sunday and there were oh so many people! (I thought their weekend would be on Friday and was expecting a quiet time on the slope. Turned out, they celebrate weekend like most countries around the world!)

The equipment rental was USD 10 per person and there were shops renting equipment everywhere but we opted for the one right at the foot of the slope. The ski pass was USD 40 per day on weekends. So, USD 150 poorer, we hit the slope and didn't stop until the sun came down and we enjoyed every penny of it...

35 ROOMS, BEIRUT, LEBANON

Everything about this hotel is purrfect....