Saturday, November 7, 2009

All By Myself ...

I haven't really been blogging or even doing any internet surfing for the past couple of days due to the really crazy workload I have. We've got some crazy projects running in the office which requires a constant hands on approach not to mention some back breaking tedious labour work as well.

We recently (more like a month ago) purchased one of those large format ink-jet printing machines, the kind that can print buntings, banners, backdrops, stickers and a host of other things to complement our existing digital printing machines and people are becoming aware of its existence and are starting to give us more jobs.

We're not a big setup but a nice small one and that means that my boss and me have to practically get down on our hands and knees to do the final finishing for all the jobs we get which is really back breaking to say the least. In fact we just finished a huge order yesterday and have another set of orders lined up for next week which means my blogging time will be quite limited ... siggghhh ...

Anyway, that really wasn't what I wanted to talk about. My boss rents a small room at the back of the office to this elderly gentleman, somewhere in his 60's I think. Initially he was just renting the back room to run his small format printing business but now he's also staying in the office. I don't really know the history of this guy except that he's not married and don't really have a family.

I don't really interact with him all that much, not because I'm snobbish or anything but simply because I mind my own business most of the time. Since our new machine came in, my boss kinda hired him to help us out and he's pretty eager, sometimes a little too eager that he gets on both my boss's and my nerves. But with him being much senior than both of us we don't tell him off out of respect.

Not to be mean or anything but he's also a little weird in the head. Many a times you can hear him in his room talking to himself or simply sitting in the pantry and smiling away. Then there are times when he will just run into my boss room, excitedly and forcefully tell him to get a pen and a piece of paper, write down a particular number and force him to buy one of those Magnum 4D lottery numbers which till this very day has never won anything, not even close.

Now that he's more or less working for us, he gets on my nerves quite a bit by insisting we do the production work his way, not that I really listen to him all that much. I still do things my way. But he has his fair share of genius ideas that helps us to get things done much faster, if only he wasn't so insisting about wanting to do everything his way. I can't blame him though, he's at an age where he thinks he knows way better than us 'younger' people. I suppose everyone goes into that phase eventually.

But what really got me thinking was the fact that he lives in a small rented back room in the office all on his own. What happened to his family? Doesn't he have any siblings? What about kids? Has he even been married before? Is he all alone in this world?

He doesn't have much friends because people think he's a little weird. Most of the time, he only talks to me, my boss and some of our regular clients. There I am after work happily heading home to my family in this nice house, sitting and having my dinner and then watching TV and stuff while there he is, all alone in this tiny room, having to go out and buy his dinner every night with no family to call his own.

I do feel sorry for him at times but then maybe that's the life he chose. Maybe he wants to be independent and live on his own. Maybe he can't get along with family or relatives and they kicked him out or something. I don't know and I really don't want to find out the reason anyway. All I know is I don't think I could live without my family and my close friends and I hope I never have to.

I'd probably lose my mind if I was all alone most of the time with no one to talk to and I'm so thankful that I have wifey by my side to constantly irritate all the time ... LOL! What about you guys? Do you think you could live on your own in your old age? Stay in a small little room at the back of some office? With no one to talk to, no family or friends? I know I couldn't.

With that all said and done, have a great weekend :D

Note - And if any of you need to print buntings, banner, backdrops, stickers, posters, profiles, booklets, wedding cards, business cards ... well just about anything that can be printed on ... you all know who to look for, right? :D
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36 comments:

  1. LOL sempat lagi mempromote bah.

    Anyways, my eyes were twitching and my jaw dropped as I were reading about the "senior" who rented the small space at your office. OMG! *eyes twitched again. Oh gawd, I'm still staying with my parents. Well at least I don't need to share my room. I don't mind being alone in my room but I get bored sometimes and bug my friends.

    Befriend the "senior" who knows he'll tell you his story ;) kekekekek

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  2. nope,i dont think i could live without my loved ones.

    happy weekend to you and family,nick!

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  3. that's a scary thought. living all alone with nobody to irritate or get irritated. even though i do enjoy my own space, but not 24/7 lah. boleh jadi cuckoo!

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  4. I remember the quote, "no man is an island" and I strongly believe in it. But maybe it's not true to all because there is this man you said who is living all by himself, lol! Perhaps that the reason why he's weird and why he's talking to himself at times, hahaa!

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  5. Maslight - Hahaha, you noticed!

    Being alone once in a while can be good for the soul but for the rest of your life? Aiyoo very frightening la ...

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  6. Carol - same here la Carol. Frightening thought though.

    Happy weekend to you too :D

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  7. Soulie - It is, it really is. Once in a while be alone, okay kan? But not all your life.

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  8. Marlene - I've heard of that quote too but I suppose there must be a reason for him to be living in a rented room in an office. One day I just might ask him ...

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  9. talking by himself?gee that's weird...i think he is a loner...perhaps there's a story behind his loneliness that no one knows?hehe

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  10. Being old and alone is very sad. Nobody really likes to be alone 24/7 if they can. Everyone has their stories and reasons.

    Sometimes people talk to themselves maybe becos they missed a loved one. They still feel their presence. Or they don't have anyone to talk to.. other people avoid them like a plague.. so they end up talking to themselves.

    We all have much to learn from each other :)

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  11. Poor thing la the fella...now I feel bad thinking abt him sitting all alone right now in that little room... :(

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  12. Maybe he's alone, but not lonely... some people actually love the solitary life. I'm not very sure about my stance on it just yet, but I'm fine being left alone for a while...

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  13. Your and your boss have a good heart. I do feel sorry for folks like that too. Maybe they're used to living alone.

    I feel lonely even when the kids are not at home for the day!

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  14. I tak bleh hidup la without family & friends. Hehe..u cuba-cuba la befriend the fella Nick, mana tau he'll tell you his life story...:)

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  15. Sweet-Girlicious - I'm sure there is more to it than meets the eye ... gee, that sounds like the tagline to the Transformers la ... LOL!

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  16. Anny - It is, that's why I feel sad for this guy at times. I'm sure there is a reason for his situation. Now I'm really intrigued to find out more about his history. Maybe I'll go ask him, who knows and he might just tell me, maybe no one ever bothered to ask him before, rigth?

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  17. Marzie - I know, I felt bad the other day just thinking about it too ...

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  18. Terra - I suppose you're right but in my case, I cannot survive without interaction. Short periods of being alone is fine, but for all my life? I think I'd go crazy ...

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  19. BT - I guess he is used to living alone but I still feel saddened by it at times. Everyone should have someone they can go back to at the end of the day ...

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  20. Mama Mia - I intend to find out his real story little by little ... hehehe ...

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  21. right :) old folks all have lotta stories to share if there's someone who's willing to lend an ear sometimes :D

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  22. Anny - I just hope he's not the long winded kinda person ... habis la like that ... hehehe!

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  23. Have you ever thought of asking that guy WHY he lives like that? And if he really IS alone in the world? Because I am DYING to know!!

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  24. Meleah - LOL! I will ask him, give me some time to build up the courage first ...

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  25. Be careful though, he might give you the Kungfu kick! :D

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  26. i was about to leave a comment on how sad is the old guy when i saw ur Ads..heheheheeeeeee Sempat lagi lah you!!

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  27. He sounds like one of those crazy uncles everyone has in their family. ;o)

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  28. Okay but I am DYING to know!! I hope you work up the courage soon! I am sure the answers will make some FABULOUS blog material too!

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  29. Nessa - Kungfu kick? ROFTL! You know, he just might be liable to do that!

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  30. Kadusmama - LOL! Mesti la ad in some adverts here and there. Cari makan ... hehehe ...

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  31. Meleah - LOL! Hang in there, hang in there. Still building up the courage to ask him ...

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  32. Nessa - Hahaha ... aiyoo if you see this old man, you also will be a chicken la ... better be a chicken than have my head kungfu kicked in by him ... LOL!

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  33. Ahh, now I know who is this old man you're talking about. I'm more interested to know about how you do all sort of print jobs. Probably should just pay you a visit because me and Soulie has always been wondering about printing rates. We got all these ideas about products but shudder to think about the prices.

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  34. Bem - LOL!

    I would be glad to help you out with printing prices and all that. Don't worry, it's not as expensive as some people make it out to be. Let me know what you need and I'll check out the cost for you :D

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