Day 7

Went to collect my biometric passport today. Did you know that the new passport no. is different from your NRIC? Pa said that it's so that if the passport is lost, you can write off the passport no. but not the NRIC. Cool, makes sense. It's also cool that the new biometric book looks just like the old book except that it has an embedded chip inside it, which of course you can't see. Third amazing thing abt passports is how the photos never fail to capture the most unglamous side of you. I thought I was finally done with ugly looking passport photos- the last one stucked for *omg* 10 years, but no... For the next 5 years, I'll be the freaky-girl-with-half-eyebrows. But whatever, at least it looks better than its predeccesor. I thank the msian customs guy who gave me the excuse to be rid of the old photo, cos he wrote in my passport "renew photo, final" using no less than a black ink pen.

Have managed to learn how to control the direction after blading down a slope today. This is after a few falls of course, but it's really an achievement. I've been trying to pick up new skills recently, one by investing in a pair of rollerblades and two in signing up for Elementary Japanese course. The hefty price for this is that my weekends are burnt out and I get an earful every week for treating home as a hotel, but I will take it in my stride.

I meant to upload a pic of my new blades, but I can't find the cable for my phone:(

Day 6

There's nothing like a good weekend, especially one where all the time is delicated to yourself. I felt totally recharged after last week's long break. Plus this week's May Day holiday, I hope I'll be able to have more breakthroughs next week.

Nothing much happened this week, except that I finally submitted my application for the Ucard. Spent so long trying to get a passport size photo for it. Not that I didn't have any, but to find one that was "passable" was like asking for the moon. Anyway, I was asking the lady about subsequent renewal fees when she said, "Just renew la, why not? Just let lim swee say protect you" .....Dots.... I did a double take. LSS? I don't need (want) his protection. Union protection brings to mind those days where men & women raised their fists and shouted slogans like 'fight for workers' rights', days where tv was still black & white, ....days before I was even born. But wait a minute, what did I just signed up for? Ucard lar, what was I expecting? But seriously, i didn't know that there were still people out there having the sort of mindset that there was this "dai gor" that was covering their backs.

The pre-baby-boomers generation at the workplace really stun me sometimes. There is this other bizzare incident where I was talking to this guy when he said "我的内人..." "内人?".....More dots.... I can't believe people still refer to their wives like that! And he used it not just once but all the time. Still can't help cringing every time he says that.