Shenzhen/HK Biz Trip

Just got back from the biz cum leisure trip. And I am sick already, I am having splitting headache and body ache. I refused to get on the weighing scale for fear of sleepless nights over the weigh gain. Anyway, if I ever gain weight, I guessed I deserved it. I pork out too much.

Let's start from the first day. I checked-in to Shangri La hotel in the late afternoon. And man, that is one of the posh hotels in Shenzhen. It is capacious, the room has a roomy bathroom that accomodates a bathtub with attached TV, a standing shower room and etc. The room itself has a study table, dressing table, walk-in-wardrobe and living area. I was particularly fascinated with the attached TV in front of the bathtub. It made me spent 20 more minutes on top of my usual bathroom routine.

Walk-in-wardrobe

Dressing table

Study and living area

Bed

That's me after 4 hour flight and 2 hour jam at the custom

My first meal of the day after arrival. Fish and Chip from the room service.

Some days when I feel like having breakfast on bed...

So here are some of the food I had in SZ...

I am a big-eater, I ate... the following... for one of the nights...

Deep fried chicken soft bones (I liked it ALOT!)

Buttered Scallops and Mushroom (Ultimate sinful)



Assorted sashimi

Drunken clams

Grilled cow tongues

Grilled Scallop - too busy with eating...no pic

Assorted Maki - too busy with eating... no pic

Then on another night, I had steaks...

Sea urchin (uni)

Kev's steak

I had steak with foie gras and we also had escargots baked in cheese mushroom and placed on top of mashed potatoes.

I already felt a tinge of regret for binging, there goes my yoga, there goes my running...

How about something less-sinful?

I shopped alot this time round. Almost end up with a hefty purchase in the airport, lucky I did not go ahead with the purchase.

My luxurious purchase...

Prada dancing shoes

Kev's Prada keychain and he also bought a Prada belt

The most expensive purchase for this trip. Ferragamo wedges. Costing almost SGD1k.

Miu Miu wallet

They are not all!

My other purchase...

Zara and H&M

H&M

Tommy, Timberland, Hugo Boss

Uniqlo

Apart from the purchase on top, I also bought alot of clothes in some bargain districts, unlike Kev, he only prefers branded. He did not even buy a single tshirt from the bargain districts!

The shopping and pigging out did not stop after we cross the border to HK, it got worst, especially for Kevin.

And at the airport, our flight was delayed and we had 2 meals 2 hours apart because there was nothing we can do except to eat! And since I only bought 2 Disney t-shirt in China, I decided to go for Disneyland stuff for Ziv at the airport.

How much did I spend? I don't even want to think of it.

How do you know...

that you got through your probation period in your new job?

Here's how.

I launched my company portal to view my to-do list. Ran a search on my name. Page refreshed!

Congratulation! You have 122 items on your to-do list!

Not that I daunted by the amount of tasks assigned to me and not that I am under the gun to get things done. Its just... Erm... Maybe... Unfortunate.

So what happened?

So what happened when your colleagues bring you around for French food and other exotic food during lunch?

You get fat. And that's me.

I feel fat!

Bonjour Parisz

Salut!

I will be on business trip to Paris from 20 to 26 Sept.
Totally clueless about Paris. First time there.

naïf!! (clueless)

Haven't really have any idea what to buy there. Maybe I don't really look forward to the trip. I rather go there for holiday.

Au revoir!

First day of new job and Taipei Trip

It wasn't really long since my last day at EDS.

Where we still had fun at Sakura, a massive farewell party for about 4 of us in the group. On 17 August, there were a total of 6 staff left the company on the same day.

Well, its time to embrace the new job. What is there to embrace?

People strolled in to the office at about 10am. I reached the office at 9am and almost thought I came in on a weekend. We shall see, more updates on the new stint.

By the way, Taipei was great fun. We practically splurged on every thing from the flight via SQ to lux hotel, Grand Hyatt. Within the short 3-day trip, the money spent is beyond our understanding.
We spent about 600sgd during the first 3 hours at the wholesale centre (straight after we touched down, and took the MRT).

I turned on the TV everyday to learn about the catastrophe that plagued Taiwan, it was sad. It had turned to become a political issue rather than a natural disaster. I know, some people are to be blamed, for playing MJ throughout the night, let's just hope that it is a lesson learnt for the Taiwan govt.

More pics on Taipei, not really alot, since this is a hardcore shopping and feasting trip.

The Tradition

Travelling in between job swtich seemed to be a tradition for me. And this time there is no different. I will be off to Taipei for a few days for some sort of shopping retreat with Kevin. For bulk purchase, you know what number to dial. Hehe...

My Farewell with EDS

The departure gets tougher as the day draws near.

I couldn't wait but to send out the farewell email a day before my last day. Just to see the replies. My favourite part of the depature.

***********

Hi colleagues and friends,

Tomorrow will be my last day after an eventful and challenging year at EDS. I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you for every valuable experience accumulated, friendship made, opportunity offered and good times shared during this one year.

I am honored to have been through the commissioning of the first project milestone of SOEasy and some serious friendship blossomed from the late night work.

I think everyone has the mentality that the grass is always greener, and here I am, crossing over to the other side of the fence, and hoping that it is a green pasture. I count myself lucky to have something and someone to make saying goodbye so difficult and well, a farewell is necessary before we can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.

To you-know-who-you-are, let’s continue our gossip at

Celeste Wong
P.S Am sending this out a day earlier, cause I don’t knw when I will part with my laptop.

***********

I hate to say goodbye.

23rd July 2009

No news is good news, however on 23rd July 2009, I have two news. And they are good news.

Firstly, I was offered a job (banking industry) and secondly, we sold our flat at 4k above valuation price, it took us about 2-3weeks to get an offer from a buyer and 1 week after we got our valuation report.

Both are good news to me, but I am not entirely happy. Not that I am disgruntled, hoping for more. In fact, I am thankful for every thing that happened and thank God for what has been given to me and my family.

I feel a tinge of sadness amid of the laughter and champagne popping. It’s true. I know I will be missing the house, missing my neighbours, missing my colleagues, missing my boss, missing just about everything and everyone.

So, the house first…

This year’s Christmas is going to be very different. I know it is early to mention about Christmas, but the thought of spending this festive season in an unknown venue other than my abode of about 5 years seemed, ineffable. It is a mixed feeling of both perplexed and forward-looking. To me, the first flat is just like first love. People usually left their first love and gain experiences in relationship as they move on, and first love is always the most unforgettable relationship. And for the case of housing, you know that you have to let it go in order to get the extra moolah for future investment. It is painful, very painful. After putting in so much effort in the renovation, months of design brainstorming, and the fact that it will soon no longer belong to us, makes me feel lugubrious. Well, I know, to get to another level of life, it has to start somewhere, and that was it.

I am not even sure if we managed to get an apartment just in time for us to stay; currently we are looking at nearby location near my in-law or either Novena. There are still lots of uncertainties and confusion at this point. But we are just hoping to get our dream house as soon as possible.

So the snapshots of our lives...

Now, about the job…

Interview has never been so difficult. Resignation has never been so easy. For this new job, I went for 3 face-to-face interviews, 2 tele-conferences from France and 1 test. And after 1.5months of ding-dong, I got the job. The offer? Better than expected, over-offered, gain of 26% annually and coming March will be bonus month. Phew.

Resignation was easy. I sms-ed my boss, R the day before my resignation so that he’ll be the first person to know about it. I venerate R loads, he was more than a mentor, a friend, just like my Grandpa. He knows what is best for me, and he supported me fully. He wasn’t concern about who-is-going-to-do-my-job, he asked me about my new position and if I was really happy. He offered to write me reference letter, he asked everything about my new job. I was touched. In my life, I have always been blessed with best-est boss. And that actually makes all the resignation kinda hard. Despite that this was the easiest throughout my working life it doesn’t mean it is less painful. That was struggle in me and from his sigh, I know R is unwilling to let me go, however, he knows leaving is good for me and has my best interest at his heart.

The road ahead is going to be full of ambivalence. I have been through that umpteenth times (and I really mean UMPTEETH times) as a matter of factly, this is the 7th job on my resume. I should be able to get through it.

BTW, this job may require me to travel to France occasionally, how about some shopping with the new fat stipend?

The season to go

Despite news of unemployment reaching its peak of all times and the thinning of the Recruitment papers on every Saturdays, it doesn’t seem to hinder people from leaving their profession crossing over to greener pastures or even taking a break off work, pursuing their dreams.

I have several farewell dinners to attend this week and expecting more to come.

Maybe we should all live by;

Life is what you make of it. You never know what come next.

Interviews

You know what? It feels absolutely odd and risible to interview someone at one moment and the next hour, I was being interviewed. I have been searching for a job rather reluctantly ever since the fact that the acquisition reality starts to kick in. Not that I don't enjoy my job, its just the acquisition is driving me up the wall, higher and higher.

Anyway, something good (finally) happened recently. I was asked to take a writing test for this new job as part of the job requirement, and I did well. So now its time to decide, 'to go or not to go' again. I hate to do this.

Anyway, while I was dialing Kevin's number to break the good news to him and opening my mailbox all at the same, I received an invitation from The Hour Glass. Is this a SIGN?

New job? And maybe a new watch too?

No News IS Good News

Lying on the couch, hearing the susurrus of curtains luffed by the breeze. I feel tranquil, on a long weekend like this. Apart from my sick leave on last Monday and Tuesday, I am glad that we all are hale and hearty with no one being sick, especially Ziv. I hope this is not ephemeral. Keep my toes crossed.

Perhaps I was on medical leave in the beginning of the week, staying awake at work for the next 2 days seemed unattainable, often, I lulled into a somnolent state while reviewing documents. Or maybe I am senescent, or maybe its time that I slow down at work. Or maybe, its time to take a break from work. I mean, working, totally.

In separate news, Ziv is now more enthused in talking; he will repeat what I say, sometimes. And he will only say it to me and only me, not to Kevin, when I asked him to repeat for Papa. And Papa thought I was seriously hallucinating that the Son is talking. I am glad that these days, Ziv is more risible despite knowing that going school is a FACT and not a CHOICE. I am relieved to see him being in his jovial and humorous self. He inherited my humorous.

Some updates about my life:
1. Boss has given me 3 helpers at work. (Look out for a dedicated blog entry for that!)
2. Cindy has just given birth to a bouncy baby gal.
3. New Arrivals! I am getting a new Chanel bag from London.
4. I quitted exploring dinner options outside on weekdays, I have ordered Ting Kat meals that deliver to our doorstep!

Life is good!

My Sassy Office Admin

Oh sorry, wrong title up there. It should be My Stupid Office Admin.
I have 3 admins in my office and one of them was actually a noob joined just about 5days ago.

One of them is my good friend. The other two twits? No comment.
Both of them just do not cut out to be an admin. Why do I say so?

Old hag admin – OHA
Fat ignorant admin – FIA

FIA likes to say ‘jilo’ instead of zero.

Some funny moments in the office… that brightens my gloomy days.
OHA: Can you please enter your password?
FIA: Okay. How come my password doesn’t show? It shows ‘stars’.
OHA: It’s like that one, don’t care.
For goddess sake, SECURITY!
[I figured out the helpdesk reply myself, obviously]
FIA: Hello, I need help.
Helpdesk: Yes, what is your net id?
FIA: , can you repeat after me?
Helpdesk: , what is your contact number?
FIA: , can you repeat after me?
Helpdesk: , how may I address you?
FIA: , can you repeat after me?
What the hell, if I am the helpdesk, I’ll ask her what is her problem. Well, with the risk of repeating her problem after her when she replies.

OHA: Hello Jamie….. (her daughter)
Daughter: Mummy
OHA: How is your day? Have you eaten? You better eat early, cause you will be late for your test if you don’t eat early.
Daughter: [Poor gal probably has no chance to talk because her mother is a yakking machine]
OHA: Are you prepared for the test?
Daughter: Yes, but I am scared.
OHA: Why are you scared? Go and pray to God and tell God to help you, Mummy loves you okaaaayyyyyy. Mummy is so sorry that I cant be with you because Mummy got to work and Mummy is so busy in the office okaaaayyyyy. Be a good gal okaaayyyyy.
Damn it. Whasupp with ‘okaaaayyyy’, damn twit. I hate her ‘okkaaayyyy’. No biased against any religion, but its sad to have to reply on God for school common test.

OHA: [Ask around] What is the number for Pizza Hut?
Me: (Obviously she is asking me cause at 8pm, I am the only one around in the office and she is ordering for the engineers and myself, since she is not calling my name, I just remained silent.)
OHA: Anyone know?
Me: (I think she is really idiotic)
OHA: Celeste, do you know?
Me: (Finally, I have a name) I shook my head, I don’t know. [Said to myself, BLOODY FOOL 2353535]
OHA: Okayyyy I think I will call my son.
[Calling son, son refused to tell her, half an hour later, got it from Internet]
OHA: Hello PIZZA HUT?
Operator: Yes.
OHA: I want to order pizza. What is the current promotion?
Operator: Currently, our set….
OHA: We are ordering from XXX (Company Name), can you quote us cheaper? Or else I don’t want to order from you next time.
Me: [thinking she is really a nut case]
OHA: Can give more discount? We are from XXX.
Operator: Sorry, all are controlled pricing.
OHA: Ok what time you all will reach office?
Operator: 45mins to 1 hour.
OHA: What?! So long? I want to go home already, if you come late, I will just go.
Me: [damn idiot]
Operator: Sure we will be there 45mins to 1 hour.
OHA: Okaaayyy faster come hor.

Since the day they joined, I started to fathom, there are really damn stupid people in this world. I thought those forwarded emails from friends that illustrated those conversation with helpdesk are dumb enough and properly made-up to jazz office workers up, but I was so wrong. Am really cheesed off!

Nagging

Our trustworthily office administrative assistant left us in the lurch and up the creek after her holiday trip to Korea. She had so many days of leaves to clear that she nonchalantly bided us “Goodbye” after 3 days at work and 2 days on medical leave. There go my expenses claims. I bemoaned her sudden departure and blamed myself for accumulating up to 2 months’ worth of claims on my in-tray, hoping that the fairy godmother can wave her wand so that everything get entered to the SAP.

Anyway, after a week or so, a substitute came in. She is a 50 odd year old frail looking lady, who adopted some sort of weird slang. I figured that she is trying very hard to ‘blend’ in to the expat environment just like many others here, mysteriously contacted the “slang” epidemic. And I tell you, it sounded bad bad bad. She, on the other hand, is very much less trendy than the former one, who usually will take much pain to match her shoes with her handbag and apparels. She was rumoured to be our ex staff who left the company years ago and decided to return to work force for some reasons which I haven’t got wind of.

After a few dealings with her, I realised she is just like my mum, a widely loathed fuddy-duddy old woman who cannot seemed to stop “educating” those whom she thinks are younger than her, forgetting that she is the noob, not us. She and my good friend cum colleague, who happened to be also an admin, are like arch enemies.

Let’s call the fuddy-duddy woman, E.

E likes to shrink from her responsibilities and divert all of them to my friend, who is definitely not a door mat but a fire cracker, of course that results in lots of “tongue-wagging free show” in the office. And E likes to give a standard excuse for the first month of work, “Sorry, but I am new, I don’t know the rules.” Which is a pain in the ass, especially you know that she is lying through her teeth.

E likes to coax to her primary school level children on the phone loudly, and speaking and teaching them all the wrong grammar strange English slang that I really pity them.

E is an “award-winning” actress by the way. My friend told me that during her interview with E. She was told by E that she is a very family pro woman who will not work overtime. And my friend told her, that it is alright because we can always work from home. However, E, being the greatest actress, will always make sure that she stays later than her boss and the moment her boss left the office, she will start demonstrating the legendary 5-second packing skill to us all. “Vrroomm” she is gone with dark smoke.

Anyway, she is not the only best actress in the office, there are plenty of them here who behaved very much like E, afraid of boss for no reason, shrinking from responsibilities, action-packed in office for nothing, some from finance, some from HR. Isn’t it miserable to juggle between work and acting skill and still have to monitor bosses’ locations? I pity these people, living their lives depending on others tremendously; even to the extent of knocking off on time is like a dream to them unless boss is on medical leave.

Sometimes I wonder, since they are willing to spend vast amount of time in the office, then why are they still shrinking from their responsibilities, if so, aren’t they doing nothing in the office while waiting for time to past? Isn’t that more boring than not working?

Sometimes I feel sick of the job, however, at this point of time, many said that you are considered the blessed one with a job right now.

Well, I say, that depends on what kind of job you are having there.

Weekend is never a weekend

Been down with a nasty flu since Friday. Have been sniffing and snuffling in the office and some colleagues have been avoiding me like I am a plague. Can’t blame them, cause who wants to fall sick over the precious weekend.

I have been gearing up for a delivery milestone for the end of August, so this week and the coming week is going to be hectic. Some said that I am a workaholic, but I am enjoying every bit of the job because it makes me occupied.

I sent out emails on Saturday, I sent proposal out on Sunday and it doesn’t make me any miserable cause the fact that I am enjoying my work. In fact, I am happily tugged under my quilt with a laptop on top of my lap. Kevin has to literally drag me out of my smelly pajamas and oily hair to catch a show later.

7 Aug 2008 - Goodbye! and Hello!

Goodbye!

I bided DSTA goodbye on 6 Aug 2008. The sumptuous buffet dinner with 10 other colleagues at the Furama City Center marked my egress of the company. It’s amazing that I can befriend with a bunch of fun-loving colleagues during my short 2-month stay. Initially, I used to think that they are dreary bunch of people, but was utterly wrong. Now, it feels sad that I am leaving the company, my colleagues, my understanding boss who in fact, supported my decision to leave cause he knew that I was given a better opportunity and prospect in my new employment. At one time, I felt that I was insensate to leave my boss in the lurch when I barely worked for 1 month in the company and served 1 month notice.

******

Hello!

7 Aug 2008 marked the new beginning (yet again) of my working life. One word to describe my first day of work, “wearisome”. Not because of the work load, but I need more sleep. I felt mentally stressed, cause of the constant change of environment. Month of May I left ST, End of May I joined DSTA, Left DSTA during early August and here I am in this new company, new environment and new boss.

I woke up early for the day and drove to CK Tang where I parked my car. Time checked, it was half an hour before 830am and since I had some time, I decided to walk down the tunnel to Orchard MRT and then to Ngee Ann City where my office is located.

Many of us had the impression that the women working in the town area should looked like top business women, wearing Armani trouser suit and crisp white shirt with hair drawn off face. That was so so so wrong! Since I was early, I surveyed the bustling streets, people were striding along but they wore normal office wear and some dressed seemingly casual. I could safely refute the hearsay that women in town dressed better or looked better than those working in the sub urban areas. It is proven, by me.

Anyway, when I entered my office at 830am, I was one of the earliest to arrive. Even my boss came 15min later. I was given a warm welcome and hug by my boss’s wife. She was such an affable lady and she actually recognized me, even though I was wearing my hair extension. I wondered if she noticed.

I was told to sit together in a room with my boss and given a new laptop. My boss did not give me any work for the first 2 days caused I was supposed to get myself acclimated especially on the HR piece. I was brought around for induction by my boss, he introduced colleagues whom I will be working with to me and majority of them were Caucasians from the States. So there, my new job has a very different working environment as compared to the previous companies. It is quite worrying since I have no experience working in such an environment.

The office is full of vigor, people were always gathering around and discussing about work, loudly. Cause Caucasians seemed to speak louder than Asians. One thing worth mentioning about my company is the vending machines. There are vending machines in every nook and cranny (drinks, snacks – chocolates, biscuits, cup noodles) and guess what, they are all FREE of charge. Suddenly, it feels good to work in such environment as compared to the previous one. I need a more energetic working atmosphere to get myself occupied.

My boss told me that the company practices “flexi-timing” where I can choose to work from home if I need to, and if there is nothing much to do, I can just leave and go home earlier. And I need not be at work at such early timing as he noticed that I was quite early. Little did he know that I am avoiding ERP.

Soon it was 530pm, for once, I didn’t feel that the time was crawling despite doing nothing. I dragged my heels and walked towards CK Tang for my car and headed home.

Welcome to My Office

It is a quarter to noon. I have been doing nothing since the day begin. Maybe I should also add, I have been doing nothing productive since the day I started on my new job.

Apart from some stale course notes which I have to skim through, briefly, I am, for most of the time, genuinely clueless about what I supposed to do in this new job and what is expected from me.

Sometimes, I get lost in my day dreams, sometimes, my eyelids become heavy and most of the time, I feel like going home to take a rest. That's how bored I am.

The padded lime green partition in my office that separates me and the other colleagues or rather I prefer to call them cubi-mates (since I don't talk to them cause we 'served' different departments) from seeing each other, but that doesn't always prevent us from over-hearing each other's conversations.

What I heard from the snips of loud conversations always revolve around, lunch venues, online games, upcoming movies and whatnot, anything except work. Once in a blue moon, perhaps you will overhear something like, "Oh, we have to submit the proposal on...". Now, that is RARE.

The journey to the toilet IS an exhilarating one. All sorts of windows showing on the monitor screens, like Online Soccer Manager, online forums, Meebo, MSN, MP3 and the best part, they don't even bother to Ctrl-Alt-Tab when caught visiting such websites. Brazen. Even their cubicles look 'motivating' with pictures of demure, dainty and dyed-hair Japanese sirens, ever good looking Andy Lau, famous mumbler Jay Chou and the passe groupie (which I deemed) F4, etc...

So what will you do, if you are not doing work? Answer is almost universal, people EAT. Tea break is usually almost straight after lunch. Eat to kill time, eat to stop yourself from sleeping, eat to establish rapport among colleagues and eat to brighten gloomy days... The piling tibits on each of our desks tell people we are bored and the office looks like provision shops with assorted crackers, gums, chocolates, ice-creams etc.

And not forgetting to mention about the dress code for my office? Be it contract staff, permanent staff, dread-to-come-to-work staff, to them everyday is Dress-Down-Friday. Jeans seems to be the staple apparel for all. Yeah, some women actually did dress well for office but you know, when you see others dressing down, I somehow lost the mood to even put on makeup and dress-up.

That is how environment changes a person, I guess.

So that is my office culture, the place where I will be, most of the time.

First Day of Work

First day of work is always the most unforgettable day for some. For me, I WISH I CAN FORGET ABOUT IT ASAP.

Samuel told me, "Its like that one la. You will get used to it!"

I agreed.

The Workload

So far, nothing much, I was asked to read through some course notes for the first 2 days. No laptop for the first day, that also means no internet access. My colleague sitting next to me is kind enough to lend me her laptop to go online to surf net and check emails.

On the second day, I got an Acer laptop, hooray... Internet access is on the way!! Actually I was pretty surprised that I was granted internet access as I have heard from ex colleagues that my company usually don't grant internet access to staff due to security reasons. But anyway, I GOT IT, so it doesn't matter, why? how?

I anticipated that the workload will be heavier as time goes by. Cause I was told about the plans of the department and was involved in several roles. (my goddess...)

The Colleagues

It is always nice to be the youngest in the company. Like I have always been in all my previous companies. This time I FEEL OLD.

Those colleagues although are merely 2-3 years younger than me, but somehow I still feel OLD cause, not generation gap but "lifestyle gap". They are all single, some attached and definitely have NO KIDS. While I am married with a son. So see the gap?

I feel that even among colleagues they don't seems to be close, very often lunch time is so quiet. No one talks. Although they are young, but somewhat life-less. Rarely do they joke, rarely do they gossip, rarely do they chat... Almost doze off during lunch.

Oh yes, the best 'entertainment' during lunch time is tour NTUC. How cool?!

Anyway, how coincident, I met a ex Singtel colleague who happened to work in the company for like 2 years. She told me loads about the company culture and our conclusion is, "NUA". The pace of the company is SLOW and she told me that she waited 1.5 years for an email address and till to-date, she has not get it. So efficient huh?

Anyway, being in such company has its good and bad points. Will just play along...

Transport

I am the super blessed one according to the colleagues... Kevin drives me to work and pick me up from work everyday. Even though he keeps complaining about the traffic, the jaw-dropping ERP charges ($6.50 per trip), still, he wakes up in the morning with me. He is so sweet. And when it rains, he will park his car opposite and arm himself with an umbrella to wait for me at the main gate, cause apparently the security system of my company is super stringent and he cannot park his car within the company to wait for me. His birthday is coming, I definitely have to splurge on something nice for him.

Culture

Guess, all IT companies cultures are the same. Reporting late for work is so common and universal. I adapted to the culture on the second day and reported to work at 915am instead of 830am and went off on time at 6pm. During office hours, people will gather in front of one table to talk and lunch time is always 15mins before noon cause the common excuse, "wanna avoid lunch time crowd".

Anyway, its too early to judge if I will stay long in this job, long as in complete the contract, but one thing for sure, I will not continue another year of contract with them. For several reasons which I am too lazy to state. I look forward to be a SAHM by the end of this year and having baby no. 2 soon.

Yawn...

Gloomy 8th May 2008

“Goodbye” IS the hardest word.

Indeed, it is.

8th May 2008 is a gloomy day for me; it marks the completion of my service in ST. The decision to move was not done on the spur of the moment, thanks to the advices from close friends and colleagues. At one time, I was like suffering from abulia that I couldn’t seem to make any decision.

I left with mixed feelings.

Feeling of relief, I will not need to do something that is irrelevant to my career and facing importunate tasks everyday.
Feeling of sorrow, I will leave the comfort zone and moving on to a complete foreign company.
Feeling of sadness, I will be leaving the chummy and thoughtful colleagues.

2 years of service. Not considered long, but I have made some very fine friendships, which I will always cherish.

How great is it, when your boss is also your good friend?

I was blessed with a good boss and yet, still chose to go. Sometimes I blame myself. For letting her down, not be able to assist her through her hardest time. I really feel bad.

My extremely nice colleagues treated me to a lot of farewell lunches and they even showered me with gifts. I am deeply moved.

My boss even gave me a MINI ME figurine (see picture above). She is so sweet. It’s not the gift but the heart to do something for me before I left. I even feel more like crying.

Does the figurine look like me?

Anyway, I should not look back on decision made, even though I could be wrong leaving this time. I just have to look forward.

Snakey...

Ok, right, I am double-boiling snake soup again. Composing my blog entry during office hour.

Sometimes I noticed that the people in my office are always busy typing and I wonder how many of them are actually concentrating on their work. So I peeped.

The conclusion? Here’s my list of what people do other than… working… in my office
1. reading and forwarding “junk” emails [as if they are some important emails]
2. internet messaging [make it seems work related, helping company to save telephone charges]
3. composing blog [with a minimized screen]
4. surfing net [with a minimized screen]
5. viewing online photos [with a minimized screen]
6. reading blogs [with a minimized screen]
7. talking, gossiping, joking [in a serious business-like tone]
8. eating, drink coffee, make coffee, cooking or heating up food to “pollute” the entire office [looking feeble as if you really need to eat else you will faint]
9. looking at fishes in the aquarium [but try to make ppl believe that you are thinking about work or at least hope to get some inspiration from fish watching… I hope…]
10. doing personal stuff [anything and normally this involves using the company’s resources, such as printer, photocopying machine, files etc]

Here’s just 10 things that people would normally do and can safely get away with it since much of the snake eating activities involve your laptop or desktop, which makes you look real busy (provided your acting skill is superb) of course there are others more innovative and excellent time-killing ideas such as playing games etc…

I think employers should not impose strict rules on employees to concentrate on their work every minute and second, I mean, everyone needs a break, imagine, having to wake up at such shitty hours (8am?), and work till the sun sets before going home. I can’t imagine leading such life and I already feel like a loser when I am typing this out.

Buddhists think that if one recarnates to a human being, it means that he or she has done plenty of good deeds in his/her previous life, I wonder why? Is it really “fun” to be a human when you work the shit out of your entire life to secure 3 meals a day and perhaps some other indulgences. Looking at Coby, I realized that life can be very simple and fulfilling. Isn’t this what life should be?

Moving Forward…

I am moving on to a new job and a new environment. Feeling pretty excited and a little bit anxious. Wonder how’s the other place like, the colleagues are like…

In life, changes are inevitable. I hope my change is for better and not for worse.