Recently blogged about wanting a Coach bag, and happened to talk to V about bags. He commented that he wanted to get an LV notebook bag, and he concluded to himself that if he wants the bag and he can afford it, then he should buy it and not hesitate because of the price.
Read big seed's post on pronunciation and i commented that i likely would not need to know how to pronounce the brand names as i wouldn't be buying from them. Later, in light of V's comment, i wonder if i'm just being stingy or being practical?
To me, the branded luxury goods are just that -- branded luxury. I'm sure there are other items out there that can perform the same function but at a fraction of the price. So why bother to pay such a bomb for them? Is it for the prestige of being able to advertise the goods for the luxury house? Or are they really that good? After all, even the 'normal' items can last given the same TLC you would lavish on a luxury item. A cheap silver ring can last as well as an expensive platinum ring if both are treated equally, right?
Perhaps its just a desire in me to pamper myself? That's just normal, isn't it? And yet i find it hard to justify to myself why i should pay $200 for the Coach wristlet when the little fabric wristlet big seed and little plum gave me for my birthday (via a very interesting birthday box in NBD) can serve the same function.
My shopping habits have changed somewhat, perhaps due to influence from dear. I used to be a magpie, getting every shiny thing that catches my fancy. Nowadays i consider a lot more before giving in. I used to think nothing of renting books at Sunny, yet when i was waiting for J today, i saw a lot of books that caught my eye yet didn't get any cos i can get similar books at the library (boogers not withstanding).
Isn't it ironic? When i was young and have lower purchasing power, i want so many items. Yet when my spending power increases, my desire to buy drops. sigh...
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Naughty boy, Horus!
Dear commented that Horus behaves very differently when he is alone with him. I was on night shift last night, so it was only the 2 boys at home. Dear told me that last night in bed, Horus bit his toe so he spanked him. Horus fled off the bed and waited till dear was lying still before venturing up again. Dear opened one eye and glared at Horus, and the poor boy (the cat of course!) jumped off the bed again. But in the end Horus jumped up and happily trod all over the bed before settling down for the night.
He also noticed that, without me, if the bedroom door is opened, Horus would not jump on the bed unless Dear was on it and allowed him to do so. If i'm at home, Horus will make himself comfortable without any invitation, whether i am on the bed or not.
Every morning, Horus never fails to cry for his food as early as 0530hrs, or if the door is closed, he cries sporadically from 0530hrs but wails persistently the moment he hears movement (of course from me!). But this morning, dear didn't hear anything until he got up at 8am. Then when he saw Horus sitting by the door, Horus just gave a loud 'meow'.
That's so different from the treatment i get! Not fair!
Loofah
When we were at Malacca i got dear to go get the loofahs (what's the correct spelling for it?). Being a typical male, he bought 8 and happily walked back. When i later asked him why he took so long to reach the hotel, he said the loofahs were so light, he only realised that half of them fell out out the plastic bag when he was approaching the hotel, so he walked back to try to find them but to no avail. Sigh...
Passed 2 of the loofahs to mil, and she was quite happy (i think!) cos she didn't tell me to get them at all. I saw that she uses them as a dishwashing sponge, so thought it might be good for her. heh heh, score points? ;)
She later asked me how much they cost, and i told her RM3 each, which surprised her cos she recently paid RM20 for one at JB. Wow, talk about a sharp knife!
Met J today for lunch, after my night shift, to pass her 2 loofahs, one for her and another for A. Its quite long, about the diagonal of a big Robinsons plastic carrier. Hope she likes them! Quite a funky shape (and smell!) and squishy but firm, too. :)
Passed 2 of the loofahs to mil, and she was quite happy (i think!) cos she didn't tell me to get them at all. I saw that she uses them as a dishwashing sponge, so thought it might be good for her. heh heh, score points? ;)
She later asked me how much they cost, and i told her RM3 each, which surprised her cos she recently paid RM20 for one at JB. Wow, talk about a sharp knife!
Met J today for lunch, after my night shift, to pass her 2 loofahs, one for her and another for A. Its quite long, about the diagonal of a big Robinsons plastic carrier. Hope she likes them! Quite a funky shape (and smell!) and squishy but firm, too. :)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Broken set
We used the fondue set that we received for Christmas (won't mention who gave us the set cos don't want to hurt their feelings) for the first time today after finally finding the chocolate buttons at OG. I prepared the crispy chicken and cut up the fruits when dear told me he was on the way home, and finished all the cutting by the time the key turned in the lock. Just in time!
While stirring and waiting for the buttons to melt, we heard a 'PIAK!' sound. We couldn't see anything wrong, so i thought it was just the fork falling and hitting the stoneware bowl. After eating the first few slices of apples, dear told me there was a crack in the heart. A broken heart! That's not good! sigh... :( Anyway we had quite a lot of fruits to finish, yet dear still managed to lick up all the melted chocolate. Without the fondue top, i'll have to use a water bath for future fondue...
dear happily slurping up all the melted chocolate!
Guess i'll have to use the heart-shaped bowl as a decorative container now, and think of what to use the base for later. Anyone with any ideas how to reuse a porcelain/stoneware bottom fondue burner?
see the crack in the middle? It extended all the way to the base. so sad! :'(
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Shopping and sales
Met big seed early this morning. Actually she called me even earlier, but i was hanging out the clothes so didn't hear the call. Anyway, she still turned around and came back to meet me, even though she was already at Potong Pasir and so near her home! Thanks big seed! haha!
Went to Ngee Ann City cos big seed wanted to see the offerings at Coach. Was quite tempted when i saw this cunning little lilac leather hand-strapped wallet/purse. So sweet looking! And lilac! On top of it, big seed had a 10% discount too! So i was considering and pondering, but in the end decided not to get it. It costs about $200 after discount, and i figured that i should just save for goodness knows what. It was with great reluctance that i told the saleslady that we only wanted 1 item.
The design is something like this, but all in lilac. sigh...
I saw another bag, very similar to my old Coach bag but of course updated in looks, that i liked. Considering that there are so many canvas designs and those all leather bags seemed so metal, i think that was a find! But it costs $749, and i really don't need another leather bag. I just want it! So pretty! So nice! sigh... Left Coach empty handed but big seed was the happy owner of 2 items. Then we detoured to Takashimaya, where she bought a pair of shoes. We went up and i saw a little Kipling bag! And it has 2 little monkeys! Or are they gorillas? Whatever... but it costs $54.90 before the 10% discount, and its just another thing that i want, though i desperately need a little reticule that i can carry around during work, which can fit in my walkie-talkie, handphone and a small purse. Right now it all fits into my hand, which makes it difficult to do my checks. sigh...
So in the end, big seed went back home happily while i walked to Centrepoint. Popped into M&S and found another pair of $20 jeans! heehee! Of course i bought it, as well as a top and some undies. Still trying to continue to stock up on red articles and managed to find 2 more. :) Bought a total of 7 items at a hefty discount, so was quite happy with my booty. :)
As for my search for the reticule, i may just go to Great World City to the bag shop beside Chomel. Hopefully they will have something that i like... and definitely at a fraction of $200! but i still like that lilac bag... though not the cost!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Abuse of power
Had a bit of an unpleasant encounter today.
I think one of my client's junior staff is going to pull rank and 'tekan' my site. Why? All because we hired someone that he doesn't like who was previously employed by the other buildings. And now he is spreading some talk about this new staff and bringing up all the previous wrongdoings.
I was asked by my client today about why this guy was chosen. I told MW that i believe people will change. Circumstances are now different and as we grow, we mature so for me, i will take him in but i still will monitor his work performance. I also spoke to the new guy and told him that whatever happened, he has to show all that things are different now. Show them that it is not as before!
However SL called me just now. I told him what i told MW, but i also shared with him my concerns that D, who was the one hasseling me for the whole 30 mins with 3 calls, may have a personal vendetta against this new guy and may then use his power to make life difficult for me. I also told SL that i believe people do change -- else what's the point of the garmen asking us to support the yellow ribbon project? or is it another 'do as i say; don't do as i do' thing? -- and that i will seek their approval before confirming him 6 months later. SL told me that while he supports my view that people do mature and change for the better, i have to consider the practical aspect and weigh my lofty ideals against the very real possibility that i will be facing an attack by D and his ilk.
I have to tell S all these tomorrow. If D & his buddy J want, they can stir up all the technicians and go around to make our life really miserable. So now it is between balancing the P&L or in giving someone another chance. What can i do? I believe in people changing -- i'm quite a softie at heart -- for the better but between this and seeing the possibility of having too much deductions, i think i have to go for the bottom line and ask S to transfer the new guy out. If he changes, he has to show people outside how he changes. He can't show these biased people at this site.
And i can only say, shame on you D & J! What you judged people with will be used to judge you at judgement day.
I think one of my client's junior staff is going to pull rank and 'tekan' my site. Why? All because we hired someone that he doesn't like who was previously employed by the other buildings. And now he is spreading some talk about this new staff and bringing up all the previous wrongdoings.
I was asked by my client today about why this guy was chosen. I told MW that i believe people will change. Circumstances are now different and as we grow, we mature so for me, i will take him in but i still will monitor his work performance. I also spoke to the new guy and told him that whatever happened, he has to show all that things are different now. Show them that it is not as before!
However SL called me just now. I told him what i told MW, but i also shared with him my concerns that D, who was the one hasseling me for the whole 30 mins with 3 calls, may have a personal vendetta against this new guy and may then use his power to make life difficult for me. I also told SL that i believe people do change -- else what's the point of the garmen asking us to support the yellow ribbon project? or is it another 'do as i say; don't do as i do' thing? -- and that i will seek their approval before confirming him 6 months later. SL told me that while he supports my view that people do mature and change for the better, i have to consider the practical aspect and weigh my lofty ideals against the very real possibility that i will be facing an attack by D and his ilk.
I have to tell S all these tomorrow. If D & his buddy J want, they can stir up all the technicians and go around to make our life really miserable. So now it is between balancing the P&L or in giving someone another chance. What can i do? I believe in people changing -- i'm quite a softie at heart -- for the better but between this and seeing the possibility of having too much deductions, i think i have to go for the bottom line and ask S to transfer the new guy out. If he changes, he has to show people outside how he changes. He can't show these biased people at this site.
And i can only say, shame on you D & J! What you judged people with will be used to judge you at judgement day.
Orchids and hibiscus
While waiting at the 2nd link on the northern side on Monday, i noticed that the sides were lined with hibiscus -- is there such a word as hibiscuses for many hibiscus? -- bushes. So i commented that our neighbours are practical to line the immigration with such hardy bushes as they seem to need little care.
That led to a discussion by all in the car about national flowers, and we concluded that somehow, when the national flower was chosen, they seem to reflect the nationality very well, at least for us and our neighbour.
Look at the hibiscus. Its is practical and easily grown, requiring little care -- of course it needs some la! But doesn't require too much -- and is able to survive basically much on its own. However, the orchid is rather exotic and requires proper drainage to survive well, careful tending and quite a fair bit of TLC. Throw these two flowers into an empty open field and the hibiscus will grow better than the orchid, which will probably need to be on another plant for its drainage.
Think -- doesn't this sound familiar? How many of us are hibiscus at heart while orchids externally, and how many of us are orchids through and through?
That led to a discussion by all in the car about national flowers, and we concluded that somehow, when the national flower was chosen, they seem to reflect the nationality very well, at least for us and our neighbour.
Look at the hibiscus. Its is practical and easily grown, requiring little care -- of course it needs some la! But doesn't require too much -- and is able to survive basically much on its own. However, the orchid is rather exotic and requires proper drainage to survive well, careful tending and quite a fair bit of TLC. Throw these two flowers into an empty open field and the hibiscus will grow better than the orchid, which will probably need to be on another plant for its drainage.
Think -- doesn't this sound familiar? How many of us are hibiscus at heart while orchids externally, and how many of us are orchids through and through?
Monday, May 19, 2008
A very short Malacca trip...
... but very fruitful! :)
Went to Malacca with 8 pairs of dear's friends on Sunday morning and came back 36 hours later. Left with a small gym bag, came back with 1 shopping bag and 1 45cm x 30cm x 20cm tray full! :) A very short but fruitful trip!
It was basically a shopping and eating trip. How so was it eating? We set off after meeting at Esso GP, then drove 45mins to Kulai for a dim sum breakfast. 1 hour drive later, we were at Muar for a bak kut teh lunch at 1130hrs. After that was a long drive -- including a 1.5hour jam at Malacca city -- to our hotel for checking in. After that was shopping, then meeting up again at 1900hrs for dinner. Nandos! *liu kou shui*
After dinner, we went to the newly opened Carrefour for grocery shopping -- where dear bought that crate, ostensibly for his stuff in the car but which i think was for my future shopping expeditions! :P -- and followed by a trip to the night market, where i bought stuff for the office girls.
found this at Carrefour. so cheesy! and sounds quite horny too!
The next day after breakfast, dear set off with G for reservations and errands for me -- gula melaka + loofah -- while i accompanied Dot for HER shopping fix. Lunch was at a Nonya restaurant -- what else, we're in Malacca! -- but all the meals were approved by our group. In fact, the guys surprised dear by presenting him with a plaque, which dear commented happily later about to me. :) So sweet of them!
the 'CAPT' came about during the pre-trip planning
Now for my spoils... 10 pairs of shoes!!! (dear thinks it is my booty. :P ) How much did i spend on them? An average of RM$32 each. muahahaha...
Top row from left, the shoes cost RM36.72 (SGD15.79), 28.72 (12.35), 39.51 (16.99), 28.72 (12.35).
Middle row from left: 35.91 (15.44), 35.91 (15.44), 36.00 (15.48), 30.00 (12.90)
Bottom row from left (non-approved by dear): 19.50 (8.39), 22.95 (9.87)
The shoes came from Vincci (5 pairs, 4 pairs for which i borrowed a card from a fellow shoe enthusiast at the shop for a 20% discount -- thank you lady in the green patterned tank top if you're reading this!), Nose (4 pairs, storewide 10% discount) and Nonya Heritage for the clogs. This is the reason why i seldom buy shoes here. After paying less than RM50 for my shoes, how can i bear to buy the shoes here?
Dear insists i needed to take another photo with all the new shoes i still have, but i must say that i only have these 10 new pairs! The remaining are OLD pairs, just that they are unworn yet. heehee... So here they are...
dear says 'gosh!'
Saturday, May 17, 2008
snack attack!
Mummy went to TBP yesterday and passed a bag of Japanese pancakes to me (via big seed). Being forgetful, i left it on the table and went out for dinner. Dear showed me the result:
Yup, the culprit's paws are just beside the red plastic bag. He managed to open the plastic and paper bags and stole 2 of the pancakes to munch. Then later when i ate the rest, he also poked his little head and munched a bite from all of mine! Sigh...
Yup, the culprit's paws are just beside the red plastic bag. He managed to open the plastic and paper bags and stole 2 of the pancakes to munch. Then later when i ate the rest, he also poked his little head and munched a bite from all of mine! Sigh...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Early day tomorrow
Going to bed soon. Got to be at airport at 0400hrs tomorrow as part of the weekly inspections. Yup, got a clause in the contract that the RM -- that's me. sigh -- has to be in at least 3 times per month to conduct inspections. That comes up to practically a weekly inspection!
All that i can say i'm glad for is that it at least gives me a half day, cos i need only to clock in 8 hours then i'm off. So i've arranged for aircon servicing tomorrow afternoon. heehee... :P But it means i won't be getting any sleep until tomorrow night, ok! At least i left 1 hour earlier, so was able to take a short nap just now.
For those grumbling about their working hours, be glad you aren't in the service or maintenance line. Its really a bo-mee-bo-jit type of life! If you think i'm talking about you, then you're probaby correct. But i don't know who 'you' are; if you feel there's a slight chance i'm referring to you then it may be true. haha! No offence, ok? :) pax! pax!
All that i can say i'm glad for is that it at least gives me a half day, cos i need only to clock in 8 hours then i'm off. So i've arranged for aircon servicing tomorrow afternoon. heehee... :P But it means i won't be getting any sleep until tomorrow night, ok! At least i left 1 hour earlier, so was able to take a short nap just now.
For those grumbling about their working hours, be glad you aren't in the service or maintenance line. Its really a bo-mee-bo-jit type of life! If you think i'm talking about you, then you're probaby correct. But i don't know who 'you' are; if you feel there's a slight chance i'm referring to you then it may be true. haha! No offence, ok? :) pax! pax!
My new number is...
In the end i went for red. So for all out there, my new number ends with 55! Send me an email or text if you want to confirm the number. :)
Waste of time
I know dear considers me blogging as a waste of time, or rather more accurately, he views my blog with an indulgent eye, something along the line that even though its a waste of time, at least it keeps me off the streets (and shops!) and at home. Someone also told me that her husband considers it a waste of time.
I read books leaning towards the fiction section. H commented once that she only reads non-fiction as she considers fiction a waste of time.
I did loads of cross stitch when i was in NBD -- there's nothing to do after office hours as we aren't really allowed out -- and some of my friends felt it was a waste of time and money.
Do i really waste so much of my time? Why do i get comments that whatever i do is wasting time?
I wonder, what then is not wasting time? I feel it is a matter of perception. For example, blogging. Sure, i don't make a living of blogging, nor do i expect people to read it, though i am always pleasantly amazed whenever i read comments cos it means someone actually cares enough about me to comment! It is, to me, somewhat like a diary, and gives me an outlet to fent my frustration within limits, of course. Those non-sensitive issues can be aired out and i use intials so no names are mentioned up front. What can i do otherwise? If i were to bottle up i'll go mad, and i would be viewed as crazy if i were to go around scowling and muttering to myself. So i blog.
Why do i read fiction? Cos i'm constantly amazed by the plots the authors can come up with. Take a look at the romance genre. Its usually boy meets girl, boy falls for girl or vice versa, boy/girl overcomes odds and they marry. That's the basis of most romance fiction. Of course, add in some humour or prejudice on one side, plot twists, historical facts -- hey, i learnt quite a fair bit about English history from the Platagenets to Regency England! -- and taa-daa! Another romance novel is born! (btw, i skip the sex scenes. Quite err...)
These things keep me occupied, either in hand or mind, so i don't think it a waste of time. If i want to be tit-for-tat, then i'll say that playing computer games/PS2/XBox/PSP etc is a waste of time (and money!) for example. You just sit down and spend so much time in front of the tv! Nothing is learnt, right? But gamers would probably say it builds up hand-eye coordination etc.
Its all a matter of perception, i feel. But as long as what you do does not take you away from your main priority, then i don't think what any of us does is a waste of time. :)
I read books leaning towards the fiction section. H commented once that she only reads non-fiction as she considers fiction a waste of time.
I did loads of cross stitch when i was in NBD -- there's nothing to do after office hours as we aren't really allowed out -- and some of my friends felt it was a waste of time and money.
Do i really waste so much of my time? Why do i get comments that whatever i do is wasting time?
I wonder, what then is not wasting time? I feel it is a matter of perception. For example, blogging. Sure, i don't make a living of blogging, nor do i expect people to read it, though i am always pleasantly amazed whenever i read comments cos it means someone actually cares enough about me to comment! It is, to me, somewhat like a diary, and gives me an outlet to fent my frustration within limits, of course. Those non-sensitive issues can be aired out and i use intials so no names are mentioned up front. What can i do otherwise? If i were to bottle up i'll go mad, and i would be viewed as crazy if i were to go around scowling and muttering to myself. So i blog.
Why do i read fiction? Cos i'm constantly amazed by the plots the authors can come up with. Take a look at the romance genre. Its usually boy meets girl, boy falls for girl or vice versa, boy/girl overcomes odds and they marry. That's the basis of most romance fiction. Of course, add in some humour or prejudice on one side, plot twists, historical facts -- hey, i learnt quite a fair bit about English history from the Platagenets to Regency England! -- and taa-daa! Another romance novel is born! (btw, i skip the sex scenes. Quite err...)
These things keep me occupied, either in hand or mind, so i don't think it a waste of time. If i want to be tit-for-tat, then i'll say that playing computer games/PS2/XBox/PSP etc is a waste of time (and money!) for example. You just sit down and spend so much time in front of the tv! Nothing is learnt, right? But gamers would probably say it builds up hand-eye coordination etc.
Its all a matter of perception, i feel. But as long as what you do does not take you away from your main priority, then i don't think what any of us does is a waste of time. :)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Red or Orange?
Tomorrow or the day after would be the deadline for choosing the number for number retention.
I had signed up with orange 10 years ago. Back then they were the underdog, so i thought it would be good to give the incumbent some competition. Mine was the first number, ie i was the first owner of the number. Happily used it until 2 years ago when dear asked if i wanted to change to red, as he saw that red was giving a new phone for $0 for a new line, and the phone would have cost us $600. So we both changed, and did the number retention.
Now with the full number portability, the red telco has sent me a letter asking me to decide which number to retain. And its only the red who's sending me sms, the orange isn't interested at all. Maybe its because i'm using the red line, but the number came from the orange group, so why aren't they asking?
I had toyed with keeping the orange number and eventually going back to them after my contract expires, but with their lack of interest, maybe i'll just do nothing and keep the red number by default.
I had signed up with orange 10 years ago. Back then they were the underdog, so i thought it would be good to give the incumbent some competition. Mine was the first number, ie i was the first owner of the number. Happily used it until 2 years ago when dear asked if i wanted to change to red, as he saw that red was giving a new phone for $0 for a new line, and the phone would have cost us $600. So we both changed, and did the number retention.
Now with the full number portability, the red telco has sent me a letter asking me to decide which number to retain. And its only the red who's sending me sms, the orange isn't interested at all. Maybe its because i'm using the red line, but the number came from the orange group, so why aren't they asking?
I had toyed with keeping the orange number and eventually going back to them after my contract expires, but with their lack of interest, maybe i'll just do nothing and keep the red number by default.
Responsibility
CEO came down last Wednesday to meet the client for the monthly meeting. He came slightly early and was asking me about the situation at my site, whether the staff are working, their happiness level etc. After listening to my grouses, he commented that if he had a choice, he would not want the kind of responsibility that he has with his position (he is only 2 years older than I). I replied that with great power comes great responsibility. He commented that i'm a movie buff! It seems what i said came from Spider-Man 1. Is it? Hmm...
But really, every one is responsible for something. The cleaners are responsible for ensuring the cleanliness, the supervisors to check and manage them, the ARMs for the whole shift, the clerks for payroll, myself for the entire team, including their welfare and the CEO would be for the whole company. The cleaners may look and me and envy me sitting in the office whole day or me being able to bark at them and the supervisors, but they don't see my stress. Likewise, anyone can see my CEO and envy his appointment, car, salary etc but not see his stress.
The higher you go in the corporate ladder, the more you have to worry for the ones below you. And of course, the higher you fall. But i think a good leader would also look below and care for the ones down there, cos they form the mass upon which the ladder is supported. How he leans on the ladder affects the direction, but without the mass below, his ladder is wobbly as he would be at the top. Sometimes i see some ladders and wonder where the world is the guy's empathy for his subordinates.
Then again, i must say that of those companies that i've worked with, not including the 1st big organization, the bosses care about their staff. Even for the 1st, i do have good bosses who are concerned about us. Then again, there are also those who just use their staff as a shield and perform as postmen, with little contribution from what myinteration with them. Yet i have to respect their appointment, if not their character, as the org has placed them as my boss. But for such leaders, i find it hard to work for them.
For me, i give my supervisors and ARMs trust that they discharge their work properly, but i will guide them or give them hints if they seem stuck. But with my penchant for detail, i think they can't stand me cos i really bark at them if i don't see things moving. I need to improve my memory though, cos i find that i forget quite a fair bit. sigh...
But really, every one is responsible for something. The cleaners are responsible for ensuring the cleanliness, the supervisors to check and manage them, the ARMs for the whole shift, the clerks for payroll, myself for the entire team, including their welfare and the CEO would be for the whole company. The cleaners may look and me and envy me sitting in the office whole day or me being able to bark at them and the supervisors, but they don't see my stress. Likewise, anyone can see my CEO and envy his appointment, car, salary etc but not see his stress.
The higher you go in the corporate ladder, the more you have to worry for the ones below you. And of course, the higher you fall. But i think a good leader would also look below and care for the ones down there, cos they form the mass upon which the ladder is supported. How he leans on the ladder affects the direction, but without the mass below, his ladder is wobbly as he would be at the top. Sometimes i see some ladders and wonder where the world is the guy's empathy for his subordinates.
Then again, i must say that of those companies that i've worked with, not including the 1st big organization, the bosses care about their staff. Even for the 1st, i do have good bosses who are concerned about us. Then again, there are also those who just use their staff as a shield and perform as postmen, with little contribution from what myinteration with them. Yet i have to respect their appointment, if not their character, as the org has placed them as my boss. But for such leaders, i find it hard to work for them.
For me, i give my supervisors and ARMs trust that they discharge their work properly, but i will guide them or give them hints if they seem stuck. But with my penchant for detail, i think they can't stand me cos i really bark at them if i don't see things moving. I need to improve my memory though, cos i find that i forget quite a fair bit. sigh...
Saturday, May 10, 2008
little black
Went with dear, parents, little plum and A for dinner to celebrate Mother's Day. We were at Taman Jurong, near my parents' first home, for dinner at a neighbourhood coffeeshop. Pa quite likes this place, i think.
The dinner was ok but a bit rushed as the shop was crowded and busy. But while between the courses, i saw a little black cat. So cute! Someone was nice to have him sterilised and he was weaving between the tables. Of course i just had to wave him over and stroke him. He has all black fur and pretty yellow eyes, and a black nose and black whiskers! So nice and black! He will blend nicely with the deco at home, but i doubt Horus Boy would welcome him. And dear too.
sigh... :(
The dinner was ok but a bit rushed as the shop was crowded and busy. But while between the courses, i saw a little black cat. So cute! Someone was nice to have him sterilised and he was weaving between the tables. Of course i just had to wave him over and stroke him. He has all black fur and pretty yellow eyes, and a black nose and black whiskers! So nice and black! He will blend nicely with the deco at home, but i doubt Horus Boy would welcome him. And dear too.
sigh... :(
Friday, May 9, 2008
Working life
Got to know a guy in the custodian office cos i'll see him whenever i go for the daily terminal meeting. Chatted with him 2 weeks ago and learnt that he is from NTU and looking for another job. So being the kaypo that i am, and since big seed told me once that my 2nd company is still looking for staff, i asked him if he's interested. Gave him the HR's number as well as the GM's email address too.
Well, he came to look for me today. Told me that he just came back from an interview and he was told he'll be a zone engineer if he's employed, so i told him the scope of work that i knew the zone engineer did when i was still there.
He then made a comment that he now knows what type of work i'm suitable for. Does he? Really, i learnt quite a bit from the first company, which taught me to be detailed in what i do, specific in instructions, forceful in instructions, cover yourself like crazy -- all cc and bcc -- and from the main organization, to care for subordinates, amongst other things. The values? All summarized for the officers in this: Low Low Down Payment For Executive Condo!
In fact, H was just commenting that i'm really suited for paperwork cos i'm detailed and thorough. I think that's just typical civil service lor. If not then will kena from boss, y'know?
I'm happy doing paperwork and reports, and i get quite a high once i complete a submission. One thing that i do, when presenting any reports, is to think of possible 'attacks' to my proposals so that when crafting any proposals or answers, i tend to phrase my reports to cover myself. More often than not, i end up with either a very convoluted report or one that is so simple there is nothing to attack. haha... I think i'm too cynical sometimes.
But in the end, do i want to be a tai tai? Just read little plum's and S8's posts, is being a tai tai so good? I don't want a career; this i am very clear about ever since i started work. All i want is to do a fair day's work for a fair day's wage, and if the company gives me more than i need, then i'll be happy and spend what i have! :P But really, to have a career is not what i had in mind when i started work, but to be a tai tai is not what i want too, unless i have children and it more economical to stay at home to mind them.
Hmm, can see that if this is my report, i will be re-writing it cos its not very organized! And i'm not cos i'm still in quite a daze from this week's working hours. :(
Well, he came to look for me today. Told me that he just came back from an interview and he was told he'll be a zone engineer if he's employed, so i told him the scope of work that i knew the zone engineer did when i was still there.
He then made a comment that he now knows what type of work i'm suitable for. Does he? Really, i learnt quite a bit from the first company, which taught me to be detailed in what i do, specific in instructions, forceful in instructions, cover yourself like crazy -- all cc and bcc -- and from the main organization, to care for subordinates, amongst other things. The values? All summarized for the officers in this: Low Low Down Payment For Executive Condo!
In fact, H was just commenting that i'm really suited for paperwork cos i'm detailed and thorough. I think that's just typical civil service lor. If not then will kena from boss, y'know?
I'm happy doing paperwork and reports, and i get quite a high once i complete a submission. One thing that i do, when presenting any reports, is to think of possible 'attacks' to my proposals so that when crafting any proposals or answers, i tend to phrase my reports to cover myself. More often than not, i end up with either a very convoluted report or one that is so simple there is nothing to attack. haha... I think i'm too cynical sometimes.
But in the end, do i want to be a tai tai? Just read little plum's and S8's posts, is being a tai tai so good? I don't want a career; this i am very clear about ever since i started work. All i want is to do a fair day's work for a fair day's wage, and if the company gives me more than i need, then i'll be happy and spend what i have! :P But really, to have a career is not what i had in mind when i started work, but to be a tai tai is not what i want too, unless i have children and it more economical to stay at home to mind them.
Hmm, can see that if this is my report, i will be re-writing it cos its not very organized! And i'm not cos i'm still in quite a daze from this week's working hours. :(
"My Choice"
Been seeing a lot of print advertisements for a particular small glass bottle of black liquid. It features students in their uniforms -- i think -- and holding a small glass bottle of the liquid while smiling. The print beside says "My Choice" while extoling the qualifications of the child. I suppose its encourage parents, especially mothers, to buy the bottled liquid for their children?
However, i wonder if any of them are really convinced. After all, these students are known only after the release of the national examination results. Before the release, how would any one know they would top their cohort? Was the liquid regularly consumed before the exams? If not, the bottled drink would not really contribute to the results, would it?
The advertisement really gives the impression that the constant drinking of the liquid will improve your alertness etc, thus improving your results and so the top students were constantly drinking them. But are these students being paid to hold the bottle and smile and say 'My Choice' after their results are out, or did they really drink it before the exams?
If more the latter, me feels a slight tinge of misrepresentation somehow...
However, i wonder if any of them are really convinced. After all, these students are known only after the release of the national examination results. Before the release, how would any one know they would top their cohort? Was the liquid regularly consumed before the exams? If not, the bottled drink would not really contribute to the results, would it?
The advertisement really gives the impression that the constant drinking of the liquid will improve your alertness etc, thus improving your results and so the top students were constantly drinking them. But are these students being paid to hold the bottle and smile and say 'My Choice' after their results are out, or did they really drink it before the exams?
If more the latter, me feels a slight tinge of misrepresentation somehow...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
so tired
Been getting up at 5am this whole week cos V is away at an overseas seminar, so i'm covering the morning duties. At first arranged with Z that i'll cover M-W, now it seems i've to cover T-F too? Sigh...
I'm pooped! :( Lots to blog, all swarming and milling around in my over cluttered mind, but no energy to sieve them...
I'm pooped! :( Lots to blog, all swarming and milling around in my over cluttered mind, but no energy to sieve them...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Maid to measure
Read an article yesterday or the day before on maids, and how the writer felt that, in view of Singaporeans not knowing how to treat maids, there should be no maids at all.
Maids are, after all, employees. Just as you would not want to work without any day of rest for your company, why should they be any different? Unless you are implying that they are 'mothers', whom we know 'work' non-stop?
But i feel one main reason why employers make their maids work non-stop is that of cost. It comes from the $5k deposit, the maid's loan and the maid levy. Add it all up including the board and lodge, and the cost of the maid is almost $1,000 every month. In the end it all boils down to dollars and cents.
First, the $5,000 deposit. The employer is to put down the $5,000 deposit as surety that the maid would not run away, get pregnant or basically misbehave. Looking from a selfish point of view, why should i bear the cost if someone misbehaves? If i have to, then i'll just make sure this person is with me at all times. If it means my employee has no day off, its just too bad. After all, if my employee runs off or has a bun in her oven, who will pay my lost $5k? Given this, is it any wonder maids have very little days off? Its not a small sum, and why should i risk it? I wonder, why doesn't the government make the maid bear the cost?
Next, the maid's loan. I recall big seed was paying for Umi's loan the first part of her contract. Why is this so i wonder? Why must the employer bear the cost of the employee's loan? The PRCs i know who work here take a loan too, but they are the ones bearing the cost of the loan. The company doesn't really care how much is the loan they incur as the company is just paying for the PRC's labour. Shouldn't this be the case? Why should i pay for you to come here to work? You should be the one to borrow what you need to come over here to work, then work to pay off whatever loan you took. If i have to pay for your loan, which is none of my problem, why should you rest?
Then is the maid's levy. I pay for this amount every month, whether you rest or not. Why then should you rest?
Last but not least is the board and lodging. Whether you work or not, i have to pay for it. Similarly, why should you rest?
With all these, is it any wonder that it all works against the maid? Humans are generally selfish and want the best for themselves, and would try to recover what they can. I think for the maid to have benefits would be for them to bear the cost of their loan and the $5,000 deposit. With these two main costs borne by the maids, i think it would be easier for them to ask for and to obtain their days of rest.
As for me, i don't think i would ever want maids if i have to bear their loans and the risk of the them misbehaving. If i need to, i'd rather pay for a part-time maid to clean the house and, where possible, seek a company that employs Singaporeans even if i have to pay more. Idealistic? Perhaps. :)
Maids are, after all, employees. Just as you would not want to work without any day of rest for your company, why should they be any different? Unless you are implying that they are 'mothers', whom we know 'work' non-stop?
But i feel one main reason why employers make their maids work non-stop is that of cost. It comes from the $5k deposit, the maid's loan and the maid levy. Add it all up including the board and lodge, and the cost of the maid is almost $1,000 every month. In the end it all boils down to dollars and cents.
First, the $5,000 deposit. The employer is to put down the $5,000 deposit as surety that the maid would not run away, get pregnant or basically misbehave. Looking from a selfish point of view, why should i bear the cost if someone misbehaves? If i have to, then i'll just make sure this person is with me at all times. If it means my employee has no day off, its just too bad. After all, if my employee runs off or has a bun in her oven, who will pay my lost $5k? Given this, is it any wonder maids have very little days off? Its not a small sum, and why should i risk it? I wonder, why doesn't the government make the maid bear the cost?
Next, the maid's loan. I recall big seed was paying for Umi's loan the first part of her contract. Why is this so i wonder? Why must the employer bear the cost of the employee's loan? The PRCs i know who work here take a loan too, but they are the ones bearing the cost of the loan. The company doesn't really care how much is the loan they incur as the company is just paying for the PRC's labour. Shouldn't this be the case? Why should i pay for you to come here to work? You should be the one to borrow what you need to come over here to work, then work to pay off whatever loan you took. If i have to pay for your loan, which is none of my problem, why should you rest?
Then is the maid's levy. I pay for this amount every month, whether you rest or not. Why then should you rest?
Last but not least is the board and lodging. Whether you work or not, i have to pay for it. Similarly, why should you rest?
With all these, is it any wonder that it all works against the maid? Humans are generally selfish and want the best for themselves, and would try to recover what they can. I think for the maid to have benefits would be for them to bear the cost of their loan and the $5,000 deposit. With these two main costs borne by the maids, i think it would be easier for them to ask for and to obtain their days of rest.
As for me, i don't think i would ever want maids if i have to bear their loans and the risk of the them misbehaving. If i need to, i'd rather pay for a part-time maid to clean the house and, where possible, seek a company that employs Singaporeans even if i have to pay more. Idealistic? Perhaps. :)
All hung up
What is behind the meaning of red lanterns and ang cai? I passed by a slab block yesterday and saw that every floor had at least a household with red lanterns or ang cai, or both.
I know mummy only hung up the ang cai the first cny after big seed was married, and she has hung it up every cny after that. So i suppose that's that? But our ang cai has no words on it, and these ang cai has.
As for the red lanterns, i am even more unclear about its significance. I only know that they are hung where the ladies of the night have their 'offices', and that they were featured in the film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li called 'To Raise The Red Lantern', where the red lanterns were hung in front of the household doors of the wife where the master of the house would spend his night.
Any one out there able to explain the significance of the red lanterns and the ang cai? I would like to know, if only because i am Chinese and i suppose its a cultural thing. (I once asked an Indian why they hung up mango leaves in front of their door, and he said its because the mango is sacred to them. When i asked why do they hang up the leaves, he said he doesn't know. I don't want to be like that!)
I know mummy only hung up the ang cai the first cny after big seed was married, and she has hung it up every cny after that. So i suppose that's that? But our ang cai has no words on it, and these ang cai has.
As for the red lanterns, i am even more unclear about its significance. I only know that they are hung where the ladies of the night have their 'offices', and that they were featured in the film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li called 'To Raise The Red Lantern', where the red lanterns were hung in front of the household doors of the wife where the master of the house would spend his night.
Any one out there able to explain the significance of the red lanterns and the ang cai? I would like to know, if only because i am Chinese and i suppose its a cultural thing. (I once asked an Indian why they hung up mango leaves in front of their door, and he said its because the mango is sacred to them. When i asked why do they hang up the leaves, he said he doesn't know. I don't want to be like that!)
Shut down?
We don't subscribe to newspapers and i will either collect the free 'my paper' and 'Today' at the MRT station if i can, or occasionally buy ST or read the online news from 'Today'. I don't watch much television programmes too. As such i'm pretty much out of touch with news. :P
Yesterday's article was something about shutting down or yesterday was a 'Shutdown Day', and ST interviewed some notables -- i suppose they are notables in our sunny island, although i don't know who they are -- on how it would affect them.
Are all these really effective?
I think the main change should be from within. If you are in a line of work where constant contact is required, how would it be possible to switch off your pc and handphone? Imagine a plumber, an electrician or a maintenance personnel; they are usually on 24-hour standby in their contract. I know, cos i was on 24-hour standby for 11 years. How could i possibly switch off my handphone or pager, back when pagers were the 'handphones', when i needed to be easily contacted by my units?
But what i could do to reduce the electricity consumption is to use the fan instead of the aircon, taking a bus instead of driving the car, or going to the library or shopping centre to enjoy the free aircon. All these are possible and within my limits. And more practical than a total shutdown!
Sometimes i wonder what organisers and the participants are thinking of when they sign up. Yes, the organisers have a good intention, but somehow i feel they don't really get the full message across. And the celebrity participants? Its free publicity!
In the end, what was the message of the 1 hour power shutdown on 29 March? At least, i think it was on 29 March. Switch off your power supply for 1 hour and lets make a statement and save Mother Earth! This seemed to me to be the message of that very publicized day, or hour, as it were. But i think the message should have been continued, that there should have been a follow up to show people that the reduction of electrical consumption is for our benefit, and not just have some newspapers to cover the hour shutdown. Wow, but so what? That was my feeling when i read the next day's articles.
Perhaps we need to understand the main aim of the drive, even if the organisers do not know it themselves, before we participate in it ourselves. (that's why i didn't blog, cos i don't need to blog for my livelihood! :) )
Yesterday's article was something about shutting down or yesterday was a 'Shutdown Day', and ST interviewed some notables -- i suppose they are notables in our sunny island, although i don't know who they are -- on how it would affect them.
Are all these really effective?
I think the main change should be from within. If you are in a line of work where constant contact is required, how would it be possible to switch off your pc and handphone? Imagine a plumber, an electrician or a maintenance personnel; they are usually on 24-hour standby in their contract. I know, cos i was on 24-hour standby for 11 years. How could i possibly switch off my handphone or pager, back when pagers were the 'handphones', when i needed to be easily contacted by my units?
But what i could do to reduce the electricity consumption is to use the fan instead of the aircon, taking a bus instead of driving the car, or going to the library or shopping centre to enjoy the free aircon. All these are possible and within my limits. And more practical than a total shutdown!
Sometimes i wonder what organisers and the participants are thinking of when they sign up. Yes, the organisers have a good intention, but somehow i feel they don't really get the full message across. And the celebrity participants? Its free publicity!
In the end, what was the message of the 1 hour power shutdown on 29 March? At least, i think it was on 29 March. Switch off your power supply for 1 hour and lets make a statement and save Mother Earth! This seemed to me to be the message of that very publicized day, or hour, as it were. But i think the message should have been continued, that there should have been a follow up to show people that the reduction of electrical consumption is for our benefit, and not just have some newspapers to cover the hour shutdown. Wow, but so what? That was my feeling when i read the next day's articles.
Perhaps we need to understand the main aim of the drive, even if the organisers do not know it themselves, before we participate in it ourselves. (that's why i didn't blog, cos i don't need to blog for my livelihood! :) )
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Birthday cakes
Read a post in sweeteepye's blog about birthdays in schools. Quite amusing!
I remember big seed would also celebrate her seedlings' birthdays at her boys' school at Little Skoolhouse and also at the kindergarten. I also remember the time when i went with her to the Concourse to get stuff for the goodie bag and asking her why she didn't just buy some snacks and get it over and done with. Her answer was that she doesn't want her sons to eat any of those snacks and, when it comes to her 'turn', she doesn't want to waste money getting stuff that other mums may just discard, so she'd rather spend the extra time and money getting toys to stuff in the goodie box -- yup, she got the little boxes from IKEA; you know those 3 small plastic boxes in a set found in the kids' section?
I recall vividly her effort in finding the items that would fit into the goodie bag and working within her budget and myself wondering if other parents would appreciate her efforts, and telling myself mentally, no way would i do this! But then, i wonder. Is it so much a kid thing or would it be a parent's thing to return the 'favour' by other parents?
I know my middle seedling is always upset that he doesn't get to celebrate his birthday at school -- his birthday is in middle of March which, more often than not, falls during school holidays -- and just taking his as a typical kiddy reaction and using him as a typical example, i wonder if kids use guilt tactics to make parents to prepare and bring goodie bags to school? "Why everyone can celebrate birthdays at school and i cannot? You don't love me one! *scream and whine*" I can just imagine this going on in most households. *shudder*
With that in mind, why do parents give in? Yes, it probably is to stop the whining at home -- i suppose it can get very irritating -- but who the world are the first set of parents who did it and why? Is it to show off? I recall i only had a few such cases in my growing up years and remember thinking to myself, wahhh... But back in the '70s -- yup, you can guess how old i am now -- life was a bit more different and households were still more prudent and so such celebrations were more rare.
I feel it is a bit more of a 'need to return the favour' that makes parents do it. The type that makes us calculate the cost of a gift given and so to return a gift of a like value? After all, no one likes to be obligated to someone else. But someone really has to stop this!
I hope that when it comes to my turn, if ever, it would be a school rule that celebrations of birthdays should be at home and no goodie bag or birthday cake is to be brought to school. i hope...
I remember big seed would also celebrate her seedlings' birthdays at her boys' school at Little Skoolhouse and also at the kindergarten. I also remember the time when i went with her to the Concourse to get stuff for the goodie bag and asking her why she didn't just buy some snacks and get it over and done with. Her answer was that she doesn't want her sons to eat any of those snacks and, when it comes to her 'turn', she doesn't want to waste money getting stuff that other mums may just discard, so she'd rather spend the extra time and money getting toys to stuff in the goodie box -- yup, she got the little boxes from IKEA; you know those 3 small plastic boxes in a set found in the kids' section?
I recall vividly her effort in finding the items that would fit into the goodie bag and working within her budget and myself wondering if other parents would appreciate her efforts, and telling myself mentally, no way would i do this! But then, i wonder. Is it so much a kid thing or would it be a parent's thing to return the 'favour' by other parents?
I know my middle seedling is always upset that he doesn't get to celebrate his birthday at school -- his birthday is in middle of March which, more often than not, falls during school holidays -- and just taking his as a typical kiddy reaction and using him as a typical example, i wonder if kids use guilt tactics to make parents to prepare and bring goodie bags to school? "Why everyone can celebrate birthdays at school and i cannot? You don't love me one! *scream and whine*" I can just imagine this going on in most households. *shudder*
With that in mind, why do parents give in? Yes, it probably is to stop the whining at home -- i suppose it can get very irritating -- but who the world are the first set of parents who did it and why? Is it to show off? I recall i only had a few such cases in my growing up years and remember thinking to myself, wahhh... But back in the '70s -- yup, you can guess how old i am now -- life was a bit more different and households were still more prudent and so such celebrations were more rare.
I feel it is a bit more of a 'need to return the favour' that makes parents do it. The type that makes us calculate the cost of a gift given and so to return a gift of a like value? After all, no one likes to be obligated to someone else. But someone really has to stop this!
I hope that when it comes to my turn, if ever, it would be a school rule that celebrations of birthdays should be at home and no goodie bag or birthday cake is to be brought to school. i hope...
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