当机会出现，你是否会抓住它？
可否牺牲一个稳定的将来，为了追求梦想？在这之前，你需要爱人与亲人的支持。
朋友们说得对，长大了，人生的选择变得少了，但每个抉择都带来更大的后果。生命中的棋与步，以越难退回了。勇敢往前冲！
Friday, November 02, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Online shopping's addictive!
After being in The States for simply a short while, we have gotten the kick of purchasing online. First, there was Abercrombie & Fitch, then Aeropostale. It is just so convenient! Besides, we get the goods in just a few days.
Back home, it's hard not to succumb to the appeal of online shopping. And a result of this is:
Unveiled..
$222 worth of Vitasence skincare products!
Wahaha. But I did save some $111 - 33%, with products to last me a year!
Back home, it's hard not to succumb to the appeal of online shopping. And a result of this is:
Unveiled..
$222 worth of Vitasence skincare products!Wahaha. But I did save some $111 - 33%, with products to last me a year!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
More NYC photos
Shopping at Woodbury Common Premium Outlet, one of the big factory outlets. We took an hour's bus ride to the place and another 1.5 hours back.
Clear blue skies (ok, with some drifting clouds) and the green hills behind. WW & his sis, WY.
Subway in NYC
World Trade Centre used to be behind.
Chinatown in NYC. Good (by NYC standards) Chinese food and si mu nai chai (hong kong milk tea)!
Italian Street in Chinatown. As the name suggests, there are Italian restaurants and shops along this street. Together with some Italians, probably.
Park in Chinatown
Court, along the way from Chinatown to Wall St.
Wall St.
That's NYSE behind me! Wonder if it looks like SGX in there?
The ferry to Statue of Liberty. No, we didn't make the trip there, as you know, we don't like crowds (excuse, haha).
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Things do not work when you need them most!
Like how there was a massive jam along ECP this morning when I needed to attend a 9am meeting and couldn’t be late. As a result, my usual 845am bus fetched me to office only at 905am. Good thing I wasn’t the latest and I didn’t quite care.
I like my new attitude to work. In fact, it makes things more efficient!
I like my new attitude to work. In fact, it makes things more efficient!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Been a while!
Haven’t been updating in a long while! It’s either I lacked the inspiration or there wasn’t sufficient time.
In between, I’ve been to the States, specifically New York City. Explored a little of Ontario – Niagara Falls as well as Washington D.C. Although no where is better than home, the break from the work and more generally, the routines of life, was good. Good till a point where I’m starting to feel nothing is more important in life than life itself. Work is secondary to the need to fulfill own needs and wants. Thus, for the past two days I have been going back slightly earlier than my usual timing, wanting to do more things of my own interest. But alas, I found myself dozing off at 10+pm almost straight after dinner.
A break away from your familiarities does give you new insights. This morning while walking down the CBD from MAS to my office building, I noticed the fast-paced white-collared workers beside me, breezing through the crowds, always on a rush. I wasn’t happy that another lady wanted to cut into my path from behind and stepped up my pace to outdo her. That’s it in this world, everything’s competitive and fast-paced.
These days I’m still considering the thing I’ve been thinking about before my holiday. Should I pursue the Masters degree, and take it full-time? Recently there have been more opportunities surfaced for a possible alternate in career that gave me more considerations, which is a good thing. But then at the end of the day, when can I start living my dream?
Lamenting aside, during the NYC trip, we – WW, his mama, his sis and I – were with WW’s sis and new-born baby. She’s a cute little thing aka xiao bu dian who seems good-natured (at least to us; to her mama we don’t know) and has a pair of sparkling round eyes. She has the privilege of getting the green card and perhaps, the access to a more liberalized world. I wouldn’t mind working in the US, but given the limited entertainment options (museums, musicals and shopping – ok, maybe shopping aside), I prefer living in Sweet O’Singapore.
More photos to come. Perhaps tonight!
In between, I’ve been to the States, specifically New York City. Explored a little of Ontario – Niagara Falls as well as Washington D.C. Although no where is better than home, the break from the work and more generally, the routines of life, was good. Good till a point where I’m starting to feel nothing is more important in life than life itself. Work is secondary to the need to fulfill own needs and wants. Thus, for the past two days I have been going back slightly earlier than my usual timing, wanting to do more things of my own interest. But alas, I found myself dozing off at 10+pm almost straight after dinner.
A break away from your familiarities does give you new insights. This morning while walking down the CBD from MAS to my office building, I noticed the fast-paced white-collared workers beside me, breezing through the crowds, always on a rush. I wasn’t happy that another lady wanted to cut into my path from behind and stepped up my pace to outdo her. That’s it in this world, everything’s competitive and fast-paced.
These days I’m still considering the thing I’ve been thinking about before my holiday. Should I pursue the Masters degree, and take it full-time? Recently there have been more opportunities surfaced for a possible alternate in career that gave me more considerations, which is a good thing. But then at the end of the day, when can I start living my dream?
Lamenting aside, during the NYC trip, we – WW, his mama, his sis and I – were with WW’s sis and new-born baby. She’s a cute little thing aka xiao bu dian who seems good-natured (at least to us; to her mama we don’t know) and has a pair of sparkling round eyes. She has the privilege of getting the green card and perhaps, the access to a more liberalized world. I wouldn’t mind working in the US, but given the limited entertainment options (museums, musicals and shopping – ok, maybe shopping aside), I prefer living in Sweet O’Singapore.
More photos to come. Perhaps tonight!
Monday, October 01, 2007
GardenAsia Oktoberfest with fellow young peers
Tian & I with the rest of young ones from my company at GardenAsia, a rather ulu nursery along Neo Tiew Crescent. Luckily we had someone sent us there.
Cheers to our beer samplers. These include beer from Paulaner's, Brewerkz, Pumproom and Archipelago
With the rest - Bain, Fang Rui, Lorraine, Sharon & Jennifer
Sharon & Lorraine
All having fun!Random photos
Me @ Kopitiam. Can't recall where.
Cutting WW's white hair while he snapped a photo in the wardrobe's mirror
Snip!
WW's new house's balcony, with the evening sun
The bar counter
Me at the balcony
Teabreak with WW at Serangoon Garden food centre
Becoming our favourite weekend hangout place for teh & afternoon snacks
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Enslaved
Company rule #xx - Produce a medical certificate (MC) for your absence at work due to illness or discomfort.
Don't understand why companies have to treat working adults as children. When I'm sick, I just want to stay at home and self-cure using natural remedies or simple household medicine. I don't see the need to visit the doctor every time. To visit the doctor just to get an MC sometimes become more of a chore. You're sick and trying to avoid the air-con, but still have to drag yourself to the clinic and wait in the queue to be attended to. What's worse, some doctors treat you with the mentality of treating schoolchildren. They think you are visiting them just to escape work and not really that you're unfit for work. Won't that time be better spent sleeping away, letting the body recuperate?
We should adopt the approach of the Europeans. Just call to inform you are unwell for the day and your boss will exempt you based on trust and not on some slip of paper. A good employee would not abuse this trust while those who would are not worth keeping in the company for long anyway.
Stepping up to the bigger perspective, I feel corporate stifles one's freedom and enslaves us employees. You are bound to the office (or work-related venues) for at least eight hours a day, have to report to your bosses, report on your deliverables and get graded every half-yearly or yearly.
Such a caged life!
Don't understand why companies have to treat working adults as children. When I'm sick, I just want to stay at home and self-cure using natural remedies or simple household medicine. I don't see the need to visit the doctor every time. To visit the doctor just to get an MC sometimes become more of a chore. You're sick and trying to avoid the air-con, but still have to drag yourself to the clinic and wait in the queue to be attended to. What's worse, some doctors treat you with the mentality of treating schoolchildren. They think you are visiting them just to escape work and not really that you're unfit for work. Won't that time be better spent sleeping away, letting the body recuperate?
We should adopt the approach of the Europeans. Just call to inform you are unwell for the day and your boss will exempt you based on trust and not on some slip of paper. A good employee would not abuse this trust while those who would are not worth keeping in the company for long anyway.
Stepping up to the bigger perspective, I feel corporate stifles one's freedom and enslaves us employees. You are bound to the office (or work-related venues) for at least eight hours a day, have to report to your bosses, report on your deliverables and get graded every half-yearly or yearly.
Such a caged life!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
回顾中秋
I recall vividly how we used to play lanterns at our old house during Mid-Autumn festivals. The 3 of us siblings had our own favourite lanterns or for the earlier years, just simply the usual paper lanterns. We burnt the candles, carefully stuck them at the bottom of the lantern and carried the whole piece around our house. It seemed like we used to have a spare room in the old house (or that it was spacious and rather under-utilised) where we played with the lit lanterns. The best and most fun part was the burning. Due to the unsecured candles, the lanterns often got burnt by the loose candle (with its flame) and caught a mini-fire. We would then throw the burning lanterns on the floor and stamped on them when they were near dying-out.
That were the childhood days.
In NUS, as the festival coincided with inauguration for the Freshmen, there were beautiful lightings hung on the trees around the UCC. My hall stay during my last year of studies was at Sheares Extension where these lights could be seen. There was this happy festive hanging in the airs. Though I didn't get to carry lanterns or eat mooncakes then, I recalled enjoying the festival still just by absorbing the beauty of the colours and lightings.
WW and I have spent 4 Mid-Autumn festivals together. Heh, but I can't seem to recall the first 3 occasions except the last. We went up to Kent Ridge Park with a mooncake in hand and some lanterns. When we were about to start the mooncake feast, we realised we didn't bring along a knife and WW used his keys (wrapped with tissue) instead for cutting. There was a platform set up and we just sat on one of its edge, munching our mooncake and taking in the night view of Kent Ridge and Pasir Panjang houses below. We don't usually make deliberate efforts to spend occasions like this together (since we both don't really fancy mooncakes) but seize whatever opportunities we have.
The sweet little moments in life. How we wish for more of them amidst our busy work lives.
That were the childhood days.
In NUS, as the festival coincided with inauguration for the Freshmen, there were beautiful lightings hung on the trees around the UCC. My hall stay during my last year of studies was at Sheares Extension where these lights could be seen. There was this happy festive hanging in the airs. Though I didn't get to carry lanterns or eat mooncakes then, I recalled enjoying the festival still just by absorbing the beauty of the colours and lightings.
WW and I have spent 4 Mid-Autumn festivals together. Heh, but I can't seem to recall the first 3 occasions except the last. We went up to Kent Ridge Park with a mooncake in hand and some lanterns. When we were about to start the mooncake feast, we realised we didn't bring along a knife and WW used his keys (wrapped with tissue) instead for cutting. There was a platform set up and we just sat on one of its edge, munching our mooncake and taking in the night view of Kent Ridge and Pasir Panjang houses below. We don't usually make deliberate efforts to spend occasions like this together (since we both don't really fancy mooncakes) but seize whatever opportunities we have.
The sweet little moments in life. How we wish for more of them amidst our busy work lives.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Frustrating Work
It’s disappointing at work when you tried hard for something but do not get the outcome desired. And it’s not your fault but the lack of commitment from fellow colleagues. Or perhaps it’s the culture here – fire-fighting and projects consume most of your time that you have little or no time left for other important matters.
That’s why sometimes I wished I were in the upbeat, open-culture place instead.
But thinking doesn’t help. The next step is to seriously consider and plan the 5-year roadmap. Where is my guiding light?
That’s why sometimes I wished I were in the upbeat, open-culture place instead.
But thinking doesn’t help. The next step is to seriously consider and plan the 5-year roadmap. Where is my guiding light?
Sunday, September 09, 2007
SoC Dragons 2002/03 gathering
Our gathering @ PaulanersIt has been a while! Till a point where I couldn't differentiate who are from my junior batch and who from my junior's junior batch. Only remember XL and I are the oldest.
Five years on, we all are still in the IT industry. Perhaps with the exception of Steven and Julian, who manage to do more of IT-related work in cable and financial services sector. And me la, the one who still doesn't know where to venture for non-IT work.
Sam, Tong (the two guys at back row right-end) and I still meet up rather frequently and keep in touch with one another's happenings. With the others, we don't meet that often and with this gathering brought some pleasant news from some of them. Julian is engaged with his other half and XL is getting married to Stephen on the 19th of this month. Congrats! Another two marriages are from Tong & YJ and Jack & JY. Wedding bells chiming everywhere!
Boo. I've been having headaches almost everyday since two weeks back. What's happening?
简单就是美
Our extended weekend was simple.
I got a slice of experience of being in his office, mapping his previous description of the office to the images I saw through my eyes. The blue walls, the windowless space yet being sufficiently spacious, the messiness (actually it wasn't that bad) of his table and the unwashed mug on his table with residual coffee at the inner bottom. Then, there was the greenness surroundings, the vastness of the landing fields and the craft he has spent often racked his brains over for. In a way, his workplace allowed him the flexibility and freedom of movement, which I suppose he values quite a fair bit. Yep, I appreciate him bringing me around and introducing to the place he works at every workday.
Then it was bread-baking at home on Fri after the hangar open house. Spent 3 hours plus getting the two loaves of raisin bread out; happy that it was a success! Luckily there was an engineer at home to help adjust the oven temperature and timings. The under-performing Takada oven would have to go soon! WW and his parents found it of some standard, but too bad my own mama papa just dumped the whole loaf into the fridge and didn't cover it up. Thus it became a little too dry. But mama sang praises of it nevertheless. Didn't know one could be so proud of a bread loaf. Hoho
Saturday we were shifting some flower and plant pots and some furniture from Hillside Drive to Blandford Drive. WW and family will be moving to their new house on coming Friday. The new house is very-almost done and all the lightings, deco and feature walls are completed. It's beautiful place; can't wait to own a piece of it! Haha... (just kidding)
Today is Papa's bday and we headed off to Mong Hing Teocheow restaurant. Busy Shou Bi came down directly from his hostel at NTU and went back to his hall after lunch. Such family meals out are not that frequent anymore now that Shou Bi has his own very-packed life in uni. He has joined the Motoring Club and ODAC in uni. Hope he still has time for studies and don't end up with one more year of studying. Furthermore, Tian spends most of her weekend with Hen, sometimes wii-ing away. Good thing WW likes dinner at my place and we have that with mama papa almost every Sunday evening.
Reflecting back, it is a bliss to lead a simple life. Both WW and I don't ask for much, we live our days doing what we like (most of the time), don't particularly have to handle unpredictabilities in our lives and are pretty easy-going. To soak in the late afternoon sun earlier today, we went downstairs to fly a kite at the open area beside my HDB block. He controlled the kite movements while I released/wound up the kite string. It was a simple old-day childhood activity yet it could bring us relaxation and joy. You really don't need a lot to be happy.
I got a slice of experience of being in his office, mapping his previous description of the office to the images I saw through my eyes. The blue walls, the windowless space yet being sufficiently spacious, the messiness (actually it wasn't that bad) of his table and the unwashed mug on his table with residual coffee at the inner bottom. Then, there was the greenness surroundings, the vastness of the landing fields and the craft he has spent often racked his brains over for. In a way, his workplace allowed him the flexibility and freedom of movement, which I suppose he values quite a fair bit. Yep, I appreciate him bringing me around and introducing to the place he works at every workday.
Then it was bread-baking at home on Fri after the hangar open house. Spent 3 hours plus getting the two loaves of raisin bread out; happy that it was a success! Luckily there was an engineer at home to help adjust the oven temperature and timings. The under-performing Takada oven would have to go soon! WW and his parents found it of some standard, but too bad my own mama papa just dumped the whole loaf into the fridge and didn't cover it up. Thus it became a little too dry. But mama sang praises of it nevertheless. Didn't know one could be so proud of a bread loaf. Hoho
Saturday we were shifting some flower and plant pots and some furniture from Hillside Drive to Blandford Drive. WW and family will be moving to their new house on coming Friday. The new house is very-almost done and all the lightings, deco and feature walls are completed. It's beautiful place; can't wait to own a piece of it! Haha... (just kidding)
Today is Papa's bday and we headed off to Mong Hing Teocheow restaurant. Busy Shou Bi came down directly from his hostel at NTU and went back to his hall after lunch. Such family meals out are not that frequent anymore now that Shou Bi has his own very-packed life in uni. He has joined the Motoring Club and ODAC in uni. Hope he still has time for studies and don't end up with one more year of studying. Furthermore, Tian spends most of her weekend with Hen, sometimes wii-ing away. Good thing WW likes dinner at my place and we have that with mama papa almost every Sunday evening.
Reflecting back, it is a bliss to lead a simple life. Both WW and I don't ask for much, we live our days doing what we like (most of the time), don't particularly have to handle unpredictabilities in our lives and are pretty easy-going. To soak in the late afternoon sun earlier today, we went downstairs to fly a kite at the open area beside my HDB block. He controlled the kite movements while I released/wound up the kite string. It was a simple old-day childhood activity yet it could bring us relaxation and joy. You really don't need a lot to be happy.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Franz Liszt's Liebestraum (Dream of Love)
And meanwhile practising hard on this which I started half a year ago.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Next Step - A Change
Our generation, who grow up in a competitive environment, don't quite like failures. Perhaps it's due to our protective studying and living conditions. But must remember, 失败乃成功之母！
Next month onwards will see a different me. It's time to dress a little more my age, starting with make-up to dressing. Got bonus on Friday and can splurge on clothings for a revamped wardrobe. Time for a refresh!
New thrusts:
Next month onwards will see a different me. It's time to dress a little more my age, starting with make-up to dressing. Got bonus on Friday and can splurge on clothings for a revamped wardrobe. Time for a refresh!
New thrusts:
- Professional make-up for work
- Revamped dressing - feminine or professional pieces
- Set new direction for next step in career, which may lead to:
- Taking up either baking, CFA or finance courses
Monday, August 20, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)