Order, Order

tatty-teddy.net © 2001-2004 Inge

There's something I realized about myself recently. I really like to keep the order of things. Although, I'm not necessarily the one keeping the order (which explains my disorderly sanctuary) but things that are not kept in order annoy me; things like:-

1) Drivers / motorists not keeping to their lane when driving, turning, changing lanes, etc;
2) People not indicating when they wanna turn or change lanes;
3) People who do not flatten their empty juice / milk cartons when discarding them;
4) Roads that are not perfectly laid and/or filled with pot holes;
5) Colours that do not match (or not tastefully mismatched);
6) Residential estates that are clearly not properly planned;
7) Parents who think it's OK to spoil their kids;
8) Bosses who do not respect his employees nor value them, however good they are;
9) Women who wear the pants in the family;
10) Documents that are not formatted properly and/or sentences that use a million words to say one thing.

Oh, one more thing. I love making lists. *smile*

Slow Down Process

This is something I'd like to remember when stress gets the better of me.

An interesting reflection : Slow Down Culture

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned
companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think?" Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europename Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalized world.

*Source Unknown

My Darling English Parents (et al)

I've never posted pictures on my blog... until now. The Beeston Oasis now has its own website and the pictures they've posted brought back tears to my eyes.

Bob, still looking young and dandy! I miss his words of wisdom and kind composition.



This picture reminds me of the times I spent at the Oasis Kitchen with Pat while she cuts up meat or cake or pudding and I observe and learn while being tempted to eat whatever food she has prepared, even if I was just so full (of food).

I love you, my English parents, and miss you so so much!! But wait, there is more....

Matt and little Lucy at Christingle. I could not find a picture of Christy though.


The entrance of the Beeston Oasis. The sight of it was always a relief to me especially when I had to walk to church on a winter Sunday.

Surprise Response

tatty-teddy.net © 2001-2004 Inge

Never underestimate the power of a kind or encouraging word. It does wonders and brings people together in ways unimaginable.

*Image taken from http://www.tatty-teddy.net/vcard/index.php.
Tatty Teddy is drawn by Mr. Mike Payne and is property of Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd.

Traffic in the Morning and Chinese Houses

When they closed the roads recently due to some useless practices for some celebrations (this was in the morning DURING peak hours too), I was stuck in traffic for 2 whole hours before I arrived at the office. 2 questions :

1. why must they close the roads during peak hours knowing FULL WELL that it will add to the already really bad traffic; and
2. if they were to close the roads and it has to be during peak hours, why did they not re-direct traffic properly to minimize the traffic.
   

In the mist of my frustrations and moving only 2 inches per minute, I decided to wipe up my dashboard, arrange my shoes nicely, rearranged my glove compartment, found some rubbish to throw out when I see a bin later. When that was done, I was still stuck at the same place. SIGHS.

Then I started to observe people. One man was so resigned to the fact that he'll be stuck there he decided to wind down his windows and smoke. He opened a fresh new box of cigarettes, then THREW THE WRAPPING OUTTA HIS CAR. No doubt, it's not as big as a ball of rubbish but still... I'm amazed that at this day and age, where technology is so readily available, where education is found at the tip of our fingertips, where we capable of building highways and high buildings, we still have people who lack civic mindedness; simple things like not littering. Today's a cigarette wrapper, tomorrow's a tissue, who knows what's gonna happen if everyone does that. Is it because we are so caught up in "advancing" that our people's minds are not?

Then as I approached the toll area and the road widened, I noticed cars stuffed themselves into every nook they can find. My head was screaming "Don't you realize that if you don't follow the queues, you'll make traffic worse!!!!!" Cars were inches away from me, believing they can stuff through the small space between my car and the car next to me. Thankfully they believed correctly, otherwise I'll be whopping some butts by now.

Back to the office at 10.30am, I was happy that it was only 2 and a half hours to lunch break. I was back to civilization, with people who believed as strongly about littering as I do.

Yesterday I helped mom clean up her kitchen. Or should I say, clear up. As we cleared, we discovered empty glass bottles and jars from ketchups, jams and peanut butters, empty bottles we never use, empty plastic containers saved from eating McDonald's sundaes and mango puddings - which of course we never used. I prompted my mother to throw these away coz we'll NEVER use them. She finally did, but not without hesitation. I told her she's only cramping up her kitchen and she does not need these stuff. Almost had to sit her down and look her in the eye. She finally agreed with me but in the last attempt to defend her keeping those thing, she said I'd probably do the same when my turn comes and I have my own place.

I hereby declare, I'm a "throw-er". Have decided to be a few Chinese New Years ago, and will always be. Sweetie, not to worry, I will throw away things more than you do. At least I won't keep used gum! I do want to be a milimalist and I will be, whether I'm related to the chinese mentality or not. From now on, we throw away the containers of everything, from ice creams to chili sauces - why in the world would you keep them thinking you'll use them when you won't and then going through the same thing again next year?

Anyway we ended up with 2 huge bags of stuff to recycle. And that's not even the end of it.

Ok, I admit, when it comes to notes and books, I'll usually keep them eventhough I don't use them. I promise to repent.