Monday, the sixteenth of February, was an exciting day for me. Instead of turning right at the last traffic lights just before the office, I just went straight on and then turned left into Jalan Gallagher. There's a slight flutter in my tummy as I drove by the three-storey office building to the other side. I turned into one of the covered carpark and parked the car. The digital clock on the dashboard recorded 7:41.

I picked up my handbag and the fabric work bag. Since I hadn't had any breakfast, I decided there's ample time for a quick one. I climbed the wooden stairs to the canteen. At one of the tables was my new Big Chief having a hot drink! He smiled and said, "Hi!" That was all the welcome I needed. I decided there and then, I was going to enjoy working here.

The first day was pretty full. There were two meetings in the morning, and another one in the afternoon. There were a lot of terminology that were new to me. There were a lot of procedures to learn and follow, not to say the many regulations to get acquainted with. I only got around to my new room at around a quarter to four. But the day set the mood for my new job. My adrenalin glands has started functioning overtime. I was already enjoying the work!

The rest of the week was pretty hectic. There were a myriad of things to do. I am very lucky to have a very supportive team. Although there were only four of us in the section, everyone seemed to know what to do. At the end of the week, we were joined by a new member. Hurray! Just what we needed. She's good with Microsoft Word and Excel. She was computer trained when she was working for FELCRA for two years.

The twentieth of February is another turning point. It's the day my mother brought me out to this world many, many years ago. Ouch! Don't remind me how long ago! Early in the morning, there were cards and smooches from the kids. A lovely romantic card and big hug from you-know-who. To round the day up, at noon, the lively Three Cute Mahs from across the highway came to drive me to Taman Tunku for a ladies' bash. We had five flavours of cheesecakes. After going through three of them, we couldn't eat anymore. Gebu Cute Mah was getting high on the cheesecakes. Lonjong Cute Mah was starting to pick on her plate. Medium Cute Mah had to try one more flavour. We had kept the nicest cheesecake for last, but none of us could eat anymore. The cheesecakes will have to last us for the next seven years! Well. just three, maybe.

To wrap up my first week, there was a Raya Spread for the Department. I met our former bosses who had retired, but were still their spunky selves. Haji Khairi said he had read the article I sent in for the book he was working on. He said he liked my writing style. Wow! This is really a great week. I hope it's like this, every week of the year!