I had a lot of mixed feelings about joining the annual dinner organised by the company this year. But I signed up anyway feeling that as the head for Johor, I should be paving the way for all the staff. I couldn't join last year due to a close relative's wedding.
So, off I went on Friday reaching Lanjut Golf and Beach Resort located a few miles north to Kuala Rompin. Our Johor staff who took the bus had reached. Some were still lingering at the reception waiting for their rooms to ready. It was 4.30pm and apparently 4 bus loads of previous occupants had left earlier leaving the housekeeping staff in chaos to ensure rooms are made for the next occupants. My room was available the moment I reached.
Upon registration, Linda, the committee, showed me a flipchart board showing the colour-coded groups for sporting activities on Saturday. I am supposed to the house captain for red team. Wow...I felt I am the underdog because all other house captain are guys. Sports could be second to nothing to them. But, oh well, I am here and I am given the task so I will have to show some leadership. Ok...at least I am comforted by familiar names. There's Linda, Razak, Hadi Ayob, Hadi Sham, Fairuz, Fazlinda, Mazwan, Noor, Shukri, Selamat, Asri who are Johor staff. Radhiff and Puan Jun indicated that they are under instruction not to participate in the games. Oh...ok...I have Mr Mok who could be my assistant.
I proceeded to the pool and met Ir Nazri and a few other people and chat. It was amusing to see Ishraqi and family already enjoying themselves at the poolside. I chatted a bit with them and En Shahrol who just came back from purchasing a pair of sports shoes. Yup...we heard people complaining that they don't know that there'll be sporting events. Oh well....something the committee needs to address in future. Then, off I went to shower and get ready for dinner.
Pleased with my dressing for dinner, I head off towards dinner located at the Billfish Bistro. As I passed the reception, Radhiff said "I've got good news for you...you are to join the directors and Dato CEO for dinner at 8pm at the sea sports cafe." I retreated back to my room and waited again. At last close to 8pm I ventured out again only to spot a few of guys loafing near porch with a view to the sea sports cafe. A few minutes afterwards we saw our Chairman and his wife walking out from their chalet so we joined them and directed them towards Sea Sports Cafe.
I made conversations with Puan Sri for a while until Dato' CEO and wife arrived. To make way for other directors, we joined a few tables and sat among managers. Dinner was meat, seafood, At 9pm, we excused ourselves to join the staff briefing. The briefing was in progress as we entered the room. I make my way to the back of the room. Briefing of the next day's itinerary was made and the teams were asked to go to their respective groups.
As the Red Team House Captain, I had to take the lead. So, team members were invited to participate in giving their ideas of the name. Long and behold, the team decided on "The Red Warriors". Fiery in spirit like the dragon in the ancient Chinese, merah menyala semangat waja as sung in the Jalur Gemilang...all the attributes of a warrior.
We proceeded to draw our house flag. At the centre, a shield with a dragon, crossed swords and wings on both sides marking the warriors always armed to battle their way and ready to shield themselves from enemies. It was an impressive design much credit to our graphic designer and hard work to colour by the rest of the warriors...we all loved it. Each team had to brief the names that they have selected and the design of their flag.
Orange team called themselves D'Orange but much to our chagrin their orange became halloween pumpkin over crossed pirates bones.
Green team named their team Eco Warriors. A sight of a flat top mountain with the lanjut "money tree" in the centre.
Blue team donned 1Biru promoting harmony among all. They challenge to meet the next day to prove themselves.
Last but not least, the Red Team with pride announcing to all that we are the Red Warriors with warriors fighting spirit and I explained the various elements on the flags. At the end, I mentioned that whatever it is that the others may say, let's see what happened the next day.
D-Day 15 October 2011
It was a hot gruelling day as we battled the morning with league beach soccer, beach volleyball and tug of war. 3 rounds of 10 minutes of league beach soccer were enough to drain the team as there was only a handful of us. It was great to win the first game. We were high spirited after we won tug of war which made the Red Warrior winning 2 out of 3 games. I left the team before beach volleyball started to get some mineral water and 100 plus for the Red Warrior and when I came back the team only managed 3rd placing.
We came back at almost 2.30pm for treasure hunt. We have to gather 6 clues altogether and a few items according to the organiser. Luckily, we have a team member from Lanjut Resort itself to direct us after we decipher the clue. So, from the sea sports cafe, we ran to Casuarina to find our second clue. Then it was the buggy area to spot the 3rd clue. Then to the old runway area. We spent longer time here as we brought to the organiser only a tyre and expecting to receive a clue yet we were told the clues are at the runway area. Off we went back. So fourth clue obtained we ran to decipher the next one which was supposed to be located at a gent's toilet. The guys rummaged through the gent's toilets near the reception then headed to the gent's toilet next to the bistro. We were confused and suddenly one of the team member who couldn't participate and was looking on led us to the garbage bin outside the toilet. We rummaged through the garbage and there they were our clue together other teams' clues torn into two. We read through our clue. But we did not need to get the 6th clue as our team member from Lanjut had found it earlier. So, with all 6 clues, we ran to the organiser located at the flying fox area. It was sweet victory to be the only team who manage to complete the Treasure Hunt. Huhu...pat at the back team. 3 out of 4 games.
By then, we knew we would be the overall champion so I was contemplating to walk over paintball. Since there are team members who wanted to continue with paintball, I let them choose the game of their choosing. I have always wanted to try flying fox and I waited there. The rest of my team members went for a game of paintball and they actually won. How exhilirating! We won 4 out of 5 games.
Dinner started late from what supposed to be at 7.30pm. A few of us were getting grumpy because registration was supposed to be at 6.30pm yet hardly a few tables were full by 7.30pm. Anyway, it was exciting to be entertained by the Johor staff who put up great performances.
The zapin, joget and ketchup song.
The prize giving for the games was one of the highlights as I received the prizes for the team one after the other. Also for the overall champion. I beemed with pride for being the lady house captain the underdog who won....accepting the challenge trophy but I realised it was the hardwork of the Red Warriors who kept the spirit of fighting. Yes, we definitely had fun and that was one of the highlight of my day.
My next highlight came when they turned the room to total darkness and Jamal Abdillah came in with his rendition of Kekasih Awal dan Akhir.....thereafter, 5 - 6 more songs. Boy....that was entertaining as I've not been to a live show for ages. I really enjoyed the concert with Sheila Majid once upon a time.
That summed up the highlights of the company annual dinner for me. The others may have their own version but that could be in their blog. Others have given a lot of feedbacks about food and prizes but I just want to walk away with remembering those two. I didn't want to attend in the first place but since I did, I made the most out of it and that's what matters to me.
Que sera sera!
