Poh Ling's Farewell Party

After weeks of on and off preparation, finally the farewell party is on.

No doubt Poh Ling is shocked and surprised on the farewell party that dedicated to her. She really did not expect this farewell party as she is not really leaving the company but merely change of department and floor, reporting manager, jobscope and employment status. Actually we still can see her in the company and catch her for lunch.

Thus, there is a small debate by certain parties if the farewell party is really neccessary or can we do it in early October instead. For me and the team, the farewell party is indeed needed and neccessary because Poh Ling really work very hard, harder that anyone in the team to close the deals. Due to that, she was admitted to hospital few months back as she suddenly vomitted blood in the toilet. It was her ulser in the stomach that caused the blood vomitting. We sometime do joke about it as there is a Chinese proverb saying, "Work till vomit blood" and that is what happening to her. We purposely choose today, 30 September 2009 as the farewell party as Poh Ling is reporting to new role tomorrow, 01 October 2009. Somehow, someone insisted very much to postpone it to early October. For me and the team, what is the meaning of the farewell if it is done after the person is gone from the department or team? Furthermore, Poh Ling will be very busy as she is taking over someone else role. No matter how, the winning is with us, we managed to get the approriate approvals to have it today.

Back to the situation of the farewell party. After I thanks her on behalf of the department on the two (2) years of services, Poh Ling give a short speech expressing her feeling and expression during her two (2) years services in the department. She said that she learned a lot and thanks everyone for their guidance and assistance during her services. Then, Bakar handle over Poh Ling's farewell "goodies" bag to her.

Then, the feast started while Poh Ling keeps asking everyone what's in the "goodies" bag. Everyone keeps quite and just tell her to open the presents by herself. She is really excited over the events. Others are eyeing on the foods especially Wendy's "All-People-Like" bakery this time is cupcakes with chocolate, strawberry and blueberry as favours. Aside from Wendy's "All-People-Like" bakery, we have fried mihoon, curry chicken, potatoes wedges, mix fruits and Malay (Hari Raya) kuih-muih and packs of potato chips.

Before the feast really started, Bakar called for the group photo. Everyone who is in the farewell party tooks there position and "cheese" for the camera. Poh Ling is very busy after that even barely have the time to eat so am I as I am her photographer! She tooks individual photo with few colleagues before finally managed to pull out the sentimental "messages and wishes book" scrap by me which full of messages and wishes from the "goodies" bag.

Photos of Poh Ling's farewell

She tries to read the messages and wishes but on and off there is someone who wanted to take individual photo with her. Eventually the sentimental "messages and wishes book" becomes the "signboard" in every photos. She really excited during the whole party.

Both of us finally managed to sit down after a session of photographing and the people started to move away from the party as they are full with foods. What left for us is some curry with one or two pieces of chicken whereby I did order the whole chicken! *sigh* Luckily the Wendy's "All-People-Like" cupcakes are still available. I managed to eat one chocolate and strawberry cupcakes while Poh Ling ate one strawberry cupcake as she complainted it is very filing. The last one that we not managed to eat, she passed to Aniza who is busy with her work earlier preventing her to attend the party.

As she was excited over the presents in the "goodies" bag, she decided to open the presents not even finishing her fried mihoon. She keeps complaining why I wrap in such a difficult way for her to open the present as she do not want to tear the beautiful wrapper. At last, she tears the wrapper due to her anxiousness knowing what it is. Poh Ling is in shocked to know that it is a WD 320GB external harddisk as her first present! She said that she did not expect this and she knows it must cost us a big chunk. I keeps ensure her that we managed to get the funds and ask her do not worry much as this is what she really deserves.

She continues to unwrap the second presents and she is in shocked again to know that it is a pouch for her WD 320GB external harddisk! Then, the third present, she is so happy to know that it is a wireless mouse. The fourth present is a 4GB Kingston thumb drive given by All Media.

Everyone also thanked me for organizing this farewell party. I as the organizer is happy to know that everyone enjoyed the party especially Poh Ling. This is a satisfaction being a organizer whereby you know everyone is enjoying the party. All the previous hardworks, secret discussion and hiding of the scrapbook during the messages and wishes writing was worthy especially on scrapbook making.

Everyone compliment on the creative works I put on the scrapbook eventhough to tell the truth, I am first time doing this scrapbook. In fact, I am not really 100% satisfy with this scrapbook especially the side binding. I feel like I can do better and more creatively. Perhaps I just put a very high expectation on it or it is really just a normal stuff of scrapbook?

My first scrapbook for Poh Ling's farewell