three.years.on.

Today mark the beginning of my three years working with my present company, although my employment started earlier in the month.

It has been quite an eventful three years of which, I spent two years seconded to Scottish Water Solutions commercial managing a portfolio of infrastructure and capital maintenance works of water and wastewater quality projects.

Whilst seconded, I had wonderful Project Managers who provided me with opportunities travelling around the south west of Scotland visiting many project sites and patient Project Team Members who answer my incessant questions.


The travelling provided me opportunities to get to know my Project Managers better through sharing of life in Glasgow, our individual private lives, technical chats and everything and anything that we can think of. The travelling also provided me opportunities to visit some of the most stunning places around the south west and seeing how treatment plant works. Also, not forgetting the animals that I met along the way.


How can I forget the monthly meet up guys? It was as good as it lasts. Too bad, everyone is away working with their various new employers and locations.

I am currently based in the Glasgow office assisting bids for Pre-Qualification Questionnaires and Invitation to Tender / Negotiation; reorganising our section of the office and document folders; and anything that keeps me out of trouble. Periodically, I assist my colleagues in the Environment sector carrying out environmental monitoring and remediation system maintenance fieldwork in Scotland, which I enjoy immensely.

Recently I was asked what is my best moment or favourite moment at work and I listed the following: participating and completing 2 out of the 3 stages in Construction's Future Leaders 2007 competition; achieving Client Satisfaction score of 97.69%; and being on the Global Knowledge Network. I will soon add going on a week long knowledge transfer programme to The Netherlands to the list too.

I am thankful for the opportunities and the people I meet along the way.

So as a new year begins, I do hope to add more memorable experiences, build better relationships with my colleagues and Clients, and continuously learning from everything I do and everyone I meet.

it's.not.holland

Since I am going to The Netherlands in a few weeks on a transfer programme, I thought I share with you some of my findings taken from The AA Key Guide on Western European Cities which I am currently reading.

Holland Doesn't exist.

The Netherlands is made up of twelve provinces, which include North Holland and South Holland, both in the west of the country on the North Sea coast.

The capital of South Holland is Den Haag, although the largest city is Rotterdam.

The largest city in North Holland is Amsterdam, but the capital is Harlem.

Amsterdam, however, is the capital of the whole country, despite the seat of government being in Den Haag.

It isn't surprising visitors are sometimes confused.

Who would've thought, eh?

Then it goes on with...

About half the land is less than 1m (3ft) above sea level, and much of that is actually below sea level,... A complicated system of sea walls, known as dikes, and pumping stations all help keep the North Sea from flooding in. The very fact that the country exists is a testimony to the determination and ingenuity of the Dutch people.

How ace is that?!

Too bad, I don't think I will be able to go to the coast to see these dikes and pumping stations.

So that is a little insight of The Netherlands for now. When I get there I will see what else I can see and let you know.

not.doing.justice.

Recently I said to TheOtherHalf...

ennazus: Please bear with me and hear me out.

He raised one of his eyebrows.

ennazus: If ever one day we end up having an Aston Martin...

He sniggers and then went on about how and when we will never own an Aston Martin.

I went on with however and whatever way we will own an Aston Martin and just for discussion sake.

He continues to look at me with raised eyebrows.

ennazus: Anyways, when we do have an Aston Martin, what do you think if we go out in the car wearing our 'Sunday Best' t-shirt and shorts?

TheOtherHalf: What do you mean by 'Sunday Best'?

ennazus: You know that comfy t-shirt with the hole and shorts you wear at home kind.

TheOtherHalf: (In disbelief) How can you do that to the Aston? It is so unfair. You are not doing the car justice.

ennazus: (Laughs) I know! Just something I thought about earlier when I was going to pick you up.

TheOtherHalf: I do wonder sometimes what goes on in your head.

ennazus: Yeah, I wonder myself too...

the.sowing.and.being.sowed.

Last weekend, TheOtherHalf and I caught the latest movie Inception.


I’m sure if you Googled Inception, there will be many blogs, articles, reviews and comments about this movie. For certain, I find this a very good movie, this year by far.

To me a good movie is one that you walk out of the cinema or after watching it, thinking, questioning, reasoning and discussing about it. Whether or not you agree with what was in the movie, or the person you are having this discussion with, be it your own mind or another person; it doesn’t really matter.

Inception was one of those movies.


And Inception without a doubt is one of those movies you’ll prolly have to watch another time or more to truly understand it. This is because we will still continue to question and reason what the story is, what the character represents or what the outcome is or should be.

Yes, the special effects were amazing and the accompanying music selection was complementary. And who would doubt the concept of the movie? Just amazing isn’t it?!


Also, don't you think that the part where Cobb and Ariadne sits at the sidewalk cafe and it started 'bursting' is so Sony paint advert? (Which by the way was real and made in Glasgow, the flats has since been torn down.)

If you argue it from the point of view that ‘it’s all in the mind’, yes, I would agree that a lot of quotes regarding the mind reminds us of it.

If you argue that the dream is more real in the dream than after you wake up, that rings true if you like chasing dreams in your sleep.


There are so many interpretation on the movie and I am not here to summarise it all, for each their own after all.

Recently I read a review by film critic, Devin Faraci, Never Wake Up: The Meaning and Secret of Inception. It was a well written and interesting analysis on the film. Whether or not how true it is all about director-writer Christopher Nolan’s perception of film making, a lot of things in the movie does seem to explain what Devin thinks. And as far as my theory of a good movie is, a review with almost 500 feedbacks and increasing proves that this is a good movie.

Of course, would anyone ever thought that Inception was just a story that Christopher Nolan conceived, without really thinking about any hidden meaning; but one that he wanted to leave viewers providing a variety of opinion and interpretation on it?


On this note, perhps we should just enjoy reliving Inception with this well created video clip featuring Edith Piaf's mesmerising voice on Non, Je ne regrette rien.

All pictures from Inception website.

fuel.price.rant

Through observation, I always felt that Aberdeen has the cheapest fuel. However, after observing for a few weeks, I did notice that Aberdeen no longer has the cheapest fuel.

Last weekend’s diesel price per litre was Glasgow 115.9p, Dundee 114.9p and Aberdeen 116.9p.

You do wonder really. Guess I’ll just have to refuel in Dundee from now on. For the distance I do, luckily currently I only refuel every two weeks and get about 62 mpg!

Of course the issue of fuel prices will always be there. So what are we going to do about it? The fuel companies know that they can get away with it. Like it or not people still need fuel. Even if you don’t drive, but take the public transport, that fuel cost will be transfer to you and reach you some ways. And there is only so much walking and bicycling that you can do.

So I guess, as much as it pains me to say this (maybe just a light pinch), guess we just go to live with the high fuel price and pray that it will one miracle day will come down...