Friday, November 25, 2005

On a High

I’m on a high, listening to pop-style Christmas songs.

And it’s Friday today!

Just came out of a meeting with CIO and Management Accounting colleagues, and feeling empowered. :)

The weather’s cold to the extent of chilling, but I’m happy coz it brings along the atmosphere of Christmas. Woohoo~

Going shopping later this evening, yeah. This feeling of giving and sharing brings unlimited joy to all.

Now that the big news is out, our boss is bringing us for hi-tea at Goodwood Park Hotel later. Gradually, the festive mood is setting in, with lotsa parties thrown. There will be another one later at 530pm which is also to celebrate Bull Run success, and I’ll be getting my prize there for coming in 1st runner-up for the team relay. Yay, I can’t wait for December and Christmas!

Plus, today is pay-day!

WOOHOOOO

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Land of Conformity

Fine weather at last after 3 days of relentless rain, which means I can go jogging later in the evening! Yay!

The papers Today mentioned about Singaporeans’ lack of creativity, while pointing out how innovative the Japanese are. The article mentioned the “banana guard”, which is a carrying case for a banana to prevent it from being damaged, designed by a Vancouver-based company. It also stated Singapore needs to encourage more creativity as we progress from doing things right to breaking new barriers.

I always thought our creativity is stifled in this small land. In school, we get spoon-fed with standard answers to typical questions, told to follow step-by-step methodologies and mathematical formulae, and even to the extent of memorising Chinese characters with their meanings, word for word. In the end, we get molded into standard diploma-holders or degree-holders, having the same mindset and being able to follow instructions very well.

And I’m suffering from the consequences now! Can’t seem to think up innovative suggestions, no artistic talents and no bright ideas on how to improve life as a whole. There are a lot of inconveniences in life which can be improved by smart ideas and innovative products, but

No surprise, we lot love conformity and avoid anything that appears different from the crowd. At the workplace, I was faced with circumstances where my comments have to be rephrased as they seemed too direct. During conversations, people don’t quite know how to respond to my frank opinions. Thus, I’ve been a more reserved employee now, speaking up only when necessary. Perhaps there is a need to change environment in time to come.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

A Land of Colours

On the way back home from work, I was sandwiched between a Malay woman and an Indian woman in the MRT train. The distinctive smell was kinda unbearable for me but gotta tong. Her hair was all long and wavy, although it was tied up in a ponytail it didn’t fail to sweep my body whenever she made a movement. Bopian, I’m the penniless commoner cum public commuter.

Traveling in the MRT everyday reminds me of our multi-racial society. Just like today, getting stuck in between a Malay woman and an Indian woman (instead of a shuai Chinese or Ang Moh guy [sidetrack]) brought to my mind the issue of integrating different races in the same country. All along I thought this is a distinctive character of Singapore society, to have various racial groups living in the same community. But after the recent France riots, all other immigrant groups/ minority/ neglected groups surfaced in publicity and made us realise how they have been sidelined in their residing countries.

During the Europe trip last year, WW and I toured mostly tourist attractions rather than the locally-favoured small towns. Thus, we saw the better fronts presented by these countries – cultured performers, accordion players, painters, smart and courteous waiters and store assistants – and mostly are the European Whites rather than say Turks or Africans. However, when it comes to food, they are known for their “fast-food” – Kebaps. That’s a Turkish dish, and prepared by the Turks in small cafes and eateries. But kebaps are considered much a cheaper food alternative as compared to the European food (bratwurst in Germany; veal, goose meat and bread dumpling in Prague; some meaty stuff in Swiss) and other Chinese food served there. So hmm, those racial communities may be making their mark gradually in these second homes.

Yeah, so we should appreciate the racial diversity here better. I work together with a Malay lady and an Indian in my working team, and even benefit from an improvement in my spoken English. No more Singlish!

Monday, November 21, 2005

Land of Opportunities - ?

Happy to have the day off from work which gives me the time and space to do some self-reflection and pondering.

And we had a good workout at the neighbourhood gym, each running 40 mins on the treadmill and also some weight-lifting. And at the end of the session, I lost 0.3 kg (I know, that’s due to water loss, not fats loss). Crazy Tian was running at pace 10.8 (sorry, dunno what metrics that was in) and trying her best to lose her chocolate calories. Now my shoulder muscles are aching.

Last night I took cab back home, and the taxi uncle was telling me stories (as usual) about Singaporean youths and their laziness.

The young Singaporean lot may seem restless, lazy and lack perseverance, but I feel that’s because we don’t see a clear future ahead. There are differing opinions on whether this is a land of opportunities; even if it is, grasping it needs more than sheer determination and hard work. For a rather fresh grad like me, I still can't see the direction to steer ahead. I feel it's about gaining grounds in your area of speciality, in identifying what you do best in and strive hard in that line. Each of us have our special talent. For some it's hidden, for the lucky ones they know it since young. Imagine doing something you can handle better than others, add in a little more hard work and you'll be the best in the field. Perhaps it depends on whether your best talent leads you to a lucrative career. I don't think being a superb mathematician can fetch me big bucks.

Companies no longer used to be like those in older days, where staff loyalty and seniority matter. The hire and fire mentality companies adopt encourages staff to place themselves above corporate, to continuously look out for better opportunities, be it locally or overseas. We can't be blamed for our pessimism; we were born into the career life plagued with words like retrechment, wage cuts, middle managers crisis and see for ourselves the harsh reality of life. The harder we strive for survival, the more we seek for gratitude. Sometimes when not found, we dwindle in self-indulgence and all forms of therapy such as retail and beauty. The quest for gratification in all forms is relentless, never being able to satisfy our souls. That's why the credit card bingers.


Up till now, there is still no clear direction. When will our shady tunnel light up?

Saturday, November 19, 2005

When a car brings you inconvenience

It defeats its original purpose to save time and efforts in transportation. When you get stuck in endless traffic jams, your car seems to be the worst thing you could have and you started wishing you were in the MRT instead. Your blood pressure rises, body heats up and heart beats faster worrying about the fuel consumption and getting cold feet about being stuck in the middle of CTE without fuel to go on.

So, why get a car that makes your blood boil?

Or are there any ways to avoid the horrible jams in crowded Singapore?

Back to the part about WW being stuck in traffic jams every time, I have decided to go to the west to meet him the next time. Knowing he gets stuck in the unbearable traffic jam makes my heart ache and I don’t quite like waiting at the bus stops not knowing when he’ll come by and how long more it will take. Knowing how heavy traffic jams are to fuel consumption doesn’t help too.

These irritations in life can really get to us, despite how we try to keep ourselves upbeat and optimistic. It spoils moods, dampens your spirits and makes a yellow day seems blue (or even black). There are just some days when you can’t help feel sway.

Well, tomorrow will be a better day!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Work Grumbles

I’m somewhat getting sick and tired juggling with my myriad of work demands – attending long 3 hours-plus meetings and minuting them, preparing Board papers and slides, collating data/info for management’s use, consolidating each Function’s targets and goals to a Group level, and doing miscellaneous work such as writing tank-you letters on behalf of my bosses. This work, though providing information knowledge to aid in my understanding of my organisation’s processes and workflow, do not serve specific motivation to me. Especially now that I have core work to do – certification for our organisation’s ITSM processes, I find it hard to keep focused at times.

No longer is the position of TEC Mgmt meeting secretary exciting to me. Being such a rookie, I can’t contribute much (okay, at times I could have chipped in with a few comments, but I worry about being politically correct), thus I keep quiet most of the time. Sometimes I do wish I can speak up more, but that’s just me. Unless I feel superior, the inertia just seems to stay.

So, will life be happier and more contented if we need not pursue such high ambitions? It’s mentally taxing having to push ourselves relentlessly. Grrr.

Monday, November 14, 2005

百份百男友

Two days later it will be bro’s 19th birthday. Last time we used to celebrate with cake and gifts but since last year we’ve gotten more practical – simply give cash. Which also means my sis and I, being the major contributors, will suffer burning holes in our pockets. And our dear brother is greedy. He wants a 1000 plus bucks bicycle (he just got a solid one for $2400 around a year back) and a high-end mobile phone packed with a digicam and PDA function. Every time he sees me, he will persistently nag me for money… as if I’m his money tree. But knowing my attention-seeking brother, he’s just pulling my leg and being out to irritate me. So, I’ll pack $100 in his “birthday ang pow” two days later.

Two days later it will also be our two-and-half years together, yay. We’ve seen each other through different life phases, evolving from when both of us are studying, to a period when I started my career life and him juggling with final year schoolwork stress, to now when both are working. He has helped me mould my character into a more patient (although I still flare up once in a while), more sensitive and a more compassionate person. He’s the lover with the best advice to give, through frank and sometimes harsh tones which make me remember the mistakes I make. A guy with no tempers at all (well, actually only twice when I threw intolerable tempers, heh), always thinks for me before himself, cooks ai xin maggi mee or spaghetti for me, and accepts me for who I am. The last aspect is tough k, at times even Mama says she couldn’t stand my weird temperament which swings from being angry/upset to being jovial in a matter of minutes. So, I’ll bear with the only character I get mad at sometimes – poking more criticisms into me when I need some consolation – and honor WW with a “百份百男友” award!
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Comics paint the best pictures..



Comics - Bird Flu






Sunday, November 13, 2005

Handle Bar

I checked out some of the jigsaw puzzles at Bugis yesterday. Generally, all can be categorised into few series: (i) Winnie the Pooh, (ii) Mickey Mouse, (iii) Snoopy and Woodstock, and others including glow-in-the-dark night scenes or nature shots. I asked WW to choose one from the three categories, but he thought all of them are very kiddish coz they are of cartoon characters. He even made me pay ½ his yearly road tax (jokingly) for choosing such childish stuff. Heh, but jigsaws pictures look better than cartoon ones, with all those gradient colours and beautiful concepts. Now, which size should I get? 1000, 2000 or 4000 pieces?

We dropped by a bar – Handle Bar – later in the night. Located at an obscure place at Lock Road (very near Gillman’s Village), it was a pub unlike the usual. It’s frequented by ang mohs and serious bikers, some of them really gung-ho kinds with long ponytails wearing thick black leather vests. WW and I were one of the few locals around, but we kept to ourselves enjoying our Hoegaarden and Heinekein. The deco in the open-air bar represents that of a Cow-Boy bar with hanging t-shirts, lots of small posters or sign-boards and a pool-table at the middle. The best part is no smoke and no loud music.

It’s nice go chill out at a quiet bar and chatting away on our beers, even though I managed only 20% of my mug. Hee.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Wish List!

Work’s getting so busy that I can’t get a breather.

Sad to say, 80% of my work time this past week was devoted to Management Support. What is that? Things like being the secretary for our TEC Management fortnightly meeting, assisting the TEC Head (CIO) in preparing our Group’s performance plan – targets and goals for FY06 and the medium term – by working with the Function Heads and Management Accounting, and doing up presentation slides. What’s more, I have to impersonate him to fill up a survey administered by MIS Asia. How wonderful.

I want my main project to be kick-started real soon, but scoping it is tough. There are just too many initiatives and changes going on in our organisation. We’re in the stage of requirements specification with external consultants; we have two more potentials ones – one Singaporean firm and the other with ang moh consultants. Somehow I feel it may be tougher working with foreign firms.

No more mention about work. Christmas is coming soon! I have a new wish list, hee. Unlike Miss Shoezgal (=P), I don’t quite go for designer goods coz I have no money. Or maybe I can’t bear to part with my money.

Miss Nottoz’s wish list for Christmas:
(i) Panasonic VS6 mobile phone



Best thing is it has a red version. I like red. Also, a 2 mega-pixel camera with a 2.2-inch, 16M color screen.
(ii) 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle
There is a splendid one with Pooh family lying on the grassy slope, looking into the blue sky above filled with animal-formed clouds.

That isn’t a lot, right? I’m a self-contented lady.

I’m more wondering what to get for my loved ones and dear friends. :)

Friday, November 04, 2005





1. Big Bright Orange Bat
2. WW with his teh and tau sa pau

Photos as promised. Blame blogspot for its lousy photo-posting feature for the delay.

Round-up of the long break

My newly-bought Big Bright Orange Bat failed me today. But let’s just blame the nearby PowerPuff girl, whose string cut my Bat’s, and the uncooperative wind for not sustaining my heavyweight one. Bat, I give you another chance at West/East Coast Park ok? Don’t let me down, after all you’re too prominent to be seen nose-diving all the time. Quite paiseh you know.

Today I’ve played a good part in controlling Steph’s shopping expenses. Also gotta credit Fang for giving her good advice, let how she feels the Mango skirt is too short and will zao geng in it when bending a little or sitting down. Ger, we’ve helped you save more than 200 bucks! XZ will be very grateful to us, hehe.

Last evening met up with Feng and Jun too, chatted up and had our desserts at Bakerzin. Following the two ladies, I ate a slice of cake too – a mango mousse cake. Hee, tks gers for teaching me to enjoy the good things in life. Sometimes we must let our hair down, and not control so much (though my weight is fluctuating at the 45kg mark.. please don’t go up anymore!). Feng, all the best for your Thailand business trip, do your best and make your mark. :)

Today after the shopping trip at Orchard, WW picked me up and we went to Margaret Drive food centre for tea. We had popiah (very nice – only $1 and they use hand-made skin), teh and tau sa pau to fill our tummies. Below is a photo of WW balancing two glasses of teh and a tau sa pau while walking stylishly back to our table. Margaret Drive food centre is a really nice place full of flavour. Though it’s situated at a 老人区,it doesn’t have the old pok flavour and instead is clean and well-maintained. The food there is nice – it is popular for its chicken rice, cha kway tiao and popiah. WW recommends teh at the corner coffee stall too. To me, the place is great as it’s open-air and windy, lets you get a bit of sunshine during the afternoons too. Who needs food courts and high-class restaurants always anyway?

The flu virus is making its rounds again this time, first spreading to Tian and WW with sore throat, then running nose and fever. Now it has spread to me, but I’m fighting hard with medicine. WW has gotten cough on top of his sore throat; I hope he recovers soon. Stupid virus go away!

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Eye in the Sky

Reminds me of our Europe trip, the wonderful times we spent traveling. I miss Europe! How carefree we were then.

Is a somewhat sad and nostalgic song that I can listen to endlessly, everyday.

When I close my eyes listening to it, I can feel myself on the small plane heading to Goteborg, looking out of the window, seeing the vast plain seas and fields below. It is not only the liberal feeling I feel, but only the pinning for someone I’ve missed seeing for close to half a year.

Sometimes I wish I could remember vividly every moment of those days, but realize that would mean I need a period of 3 weeks to playback those fond memories. Are snapshots sufficient? Can’t wait to revisit those scenic places with dear companion.