Day 17

We ushered in the new year at our new office in the uber-ulu FP. I can't believe that my life next year will be dictated by the shuttle bus schedule as it has been for the past 3 days. :S

 Behold my new workspace... with its open concept

 New but cramped

 The pile of things that didn't make the cabinets

"Fishbone" design layout

Day 16

December is a month of feasting, and cooking!

Baked some muffins for xmas. They're self-made, not from cake mix. Finally succeeded after 2 attempts. The first batch didn't rise enough cos of the leavening powder in the self-raising flour. The second batch came out much prettier as it "mushroomed" more. Together with the delightful wrapping that Liang bought, they make for wonderful gifts!

Last night I also succeeded making broccoli and cheese quiche. It was spectacular. I didn't hv any idea what to cook with the brocoli and cheese in the fridge so I went online to google. Got lots of results for brocoli and cheese soup *eeew*, but eventually found a recipe for quiche. Leng and I watched a 3 min video before trying it out. Luckily it beat all expectations, even the crust was great. :)

Day 15- We're moving

Pictures before the BIG MOVE. I'll definitely miss my roomy cube, the standing cabinet, the wall shelves, close proximity to the washrooms and pantry...

Day 14

Took a day-off work today to go to the dentist. Am secretly pleased with myself for discovering the shortest bus route to the polyclinic. It was a bit of a disappointment that I didn't need any fillings. The receipt read : Polishing (simple), Scaling (simple), Consultation (short). "Simple" and "short" is a wonderful thing, but for someone who took leave just to be in the dentist's office for less than 10 mins, you kinda feel shortchanged. I'm increasingly conscious of the fact that I'm developing some kind of a 'bad habit' which sees me enjoying the 'royal treatments' at the dentist, hair saloon, TCM clinic etc. haha.
(btw the list doesn't include the doctors'. maybe it's bcos there are too few doctors to patients they need to keep the consultations short, but I find that the interactions is too impersonal for my liking.)

My boss told us some time ago about the 5 Languages of Love: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, Physical Touch. Without doing an assessment test, I think it's clear which I'm drawn to. lol

Anyway the rest of the day went well too. Caught some shut-eye and was able to read the book MN lent me. Plus, I succeeded in baking chicken wings for dinner! :) Looking fwd to more off days.

Day 13

A 45 min talk revealed that the past 25 years of my life has been all in vain. My mum knows so much about "the other me" but she knows nothing about "me". I need a spokesperson.

Day 12

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wah lau i am so jealous of both of you
you get to spend time with my fave mti person
and he gets to spend time with my fave spring person
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It's colleagues like these u count on for smiles in depressing times.

Day 11

The presentation to POI is finally out of the way. It was pretty daunting to present to so many VIPs, especially when you're such a small fry (and you're presenting after your DCE) but I think I did ok. WL and TL didn't say much after that, but KHoe did beam at me from across the table so I guess at least there was one person in the room who thought I did ok. It was a privilege to meet so many eminent people, including a Nobel laureate, who all seemed pretty friendly. Great bunch of nice people. It was a great encouragement to see that they gave serious thought to the discussion questions posed, but I think I was too stressed and stretched this week to the extent I fell sick. :(

Day 10- Gifu

It's my 9th day in Gifu now and I must say this small prefecture has amazed me quite a lot. It's not big in terms of population (only 420,000) but it's big in its hospitality and culture. I suspect that excellent service culture is more or less consistent throughout Japan, but this is my first time to Japan and to experience first-hand the kind of service that will touch your heart is incredible.

For example yesterday we took the wrong bus. Although the bus driver didn't speak English, after we communicated to him that we wanted to go to Takashimaya, he apologetically informed us that that was the wrong bus and pointed out the bus stop opposite the road and told us to take Bus K. He also waive the bus fare for all 5 of us. And as if that was not enough, he turned off the engine, got out of his seat and walked us down the bus, pointed us to the correct bus stop and reminded us to take Bus K. How can you not be impressed? Even though you know you took the wrong bus and got loss, you feel good about it! Yesterday at the SME Symposium, I was exposed to the concept of "experience industry" as opposed to "manufacturing industry" and "services industry". I think the bus ride we had meant exactly this. The Japanese do not see themselves as providers of 'bus service' or 'a means of transport'. They're in the business of getting you to your destination safely, comfortable and on time.

It's an equally touching experience when it comes to the food here. The cost of living is extremely high here, especially food and transport. But you have to admit that the food quality and packaging way better than any part of the world. You take a stroll along the supermarket aisle and you feel like trying every single drink there is on the shelves. This trip has been especially fulfilling since I managed to try different types of exquisite food like sea urchin sushi, grilled Ayu fish, Hida beef, juicy abalone, blue cheese, foie gras, caviar, the sweetest honeydew in the world, melt in your mouth scallop, and waffles with delicious whipped cream & maple syrup etc. (some of them for the first time).

to be continued....

Day 9

Am kinda disappointed with myself today as 2 of my presentations to senior management within this week didn't go too well. I probably must admit that I didn't prepare well for it, but I still don't quite agree with the general sentiments that you have to script your presentation in order for a smooth delivery. Somehow I think I stumble more when I prepare a script because I'm too preoccupied with trying to recall the talking points that I can't structure my sentences clearly and my grammar goes awry. And it so happens that this week, CE made a comment on lousy presentations that every of the bosses' are now scrambling to lecture their subordinates on presentation skills. I suspect I'm probably one of the cause for CE's comment since I did present terribly in front of him last week but it really stresses me out today when my boss got others to critique my presentation today in front of everyone in the department. Appreciate the feedback, but surely there wasn't the need to do it in front of everybody? Sigh.

Today a customer complaint was forwarded to me. The customer said "the person in charge of updating the website should be sacked since he's not doing his work at all....blah blah blah". Although the person he's refering to isn't me, I cannot understand why he had to use such strong words. Honestly, we're providing a free service if we put the stats online. For everyone's convenience, we go through the effort to obtain the info and post it online. Maintaining this comes with a cost too. Pretty much understand his frustration, cos I experience this everyday, but there are laws governing the use of stats in this country. There are limitations to the stats collection infra here as well. As far as I know the ppl who generate these stats are already doing the best they can. And not many ppl can do the job. My intern who joined us for just 1 mth described the task as "simply a nightmare".

I've just completed my Intermediate 4 Jap this week. Good news is I passed the written test which is an achievement cos I needed a high score to average out my poor faring at the mid-term test (I failed). Bad news is I failed my oral test by just 1 mark and I've got to go for a re-test tomorrow. Sometimes I wonder why I go out myself under so much stress taking up Jap. Have to cope with mid-terms and finals every 4 weeks. Quite inclined to drop this and go for something less stressful, perhaps dancing or speech & drama, but it seems a waste to do so after coming all these way...

Looking forward to the 1st weekend without Jap class.

Day 8

I've watched 3 inspirational movies recently- Invictus, Goal!, and The Shawshank Redemption.

Invictus- The film tells the true story of how President Nelson Mandela, then newly elected, united Africa which was then racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

Goal- A cinderella like story, except that the lead is a guy. This guy, Santiago Munez, leaves home to chase his dream of becoming a professional soccer player after being discovered by a 'scout' that he really owes big time for getting him a tryout with Newcastle. The guy finally makes it to be in the main team.

The Shawshank Redemption- The most remarkable of all 3 movies. I've never heard of this movie before TL and XC recommended it as a must-watch. Like Invictus, this film starred Morgan Freeman. Although he was not the protagonist, the story was told from point of view and it had a very WONDERFUL commentary. It was a guy who was wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife. He spent 20 years in prison, changing the workings and people inside it. There were many issues that the film visited- institutionalism of inmates, homosexuality, narcissism, friendship, money laundering at the top, just to name a few. My favourite scene was where Andy Dufresne was being dangled over the ledge by the Captain and he bargained for not just his life but also for '2 pints of cold beer for each of his co-workers'.

Red: [narrating] And that's how it came to pass that on the second-to-last day of the job, the convict crew that tarred the plate factory roof in the spring of forty-nine wound up sitting in a row at ten o'clock in the morning drinking icy cold, Bohemia-style beer, courtesy of the hardest screw that ever walked a turn at Shawshank State Prison.

Red: [narrating] You could argue he'd done it to curry favor with the guards. Or, maybe make a few friends among us cons. Me, I think he did it just to feel normal again, if only for a short while.

It is how people handle such tricky situations that speak volumes of them. This guy was cool and calm, and he put his 'co-workers' before himself. Most impressive. He was also determined that he dug a hole out of prison by himself.

Interestingly, the lead characters of all 3 films had some poem/ song/ quote that motivates them. I couldn't catch the ones from Goal! and Shawshank, but here's the one from Invictus:

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

Day 7

May day off-in-lieu offered me an opportunity to go shopping with Leng. Lol. It was her treat at kfc. Hmm really hard to date this sis of mine out....our multiple attempts to go for prata in the morning during her term period didn't materialised, neither did watching Shuttle Island this weekend take place. And today she's starting her internship, means there's even lesser time for her sister me *grumbles*. But it's ok Leng- for your next treat, I'll wait.

Day 6

To celebrate me getting my bonus plus promotion!

The expectation of Young Singaporeans

How true, but nothing's going to change. This is natural selection. :)

Young Singaporeans should have confidence in their future, says DPM Teo
Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, April 6

The questions flowed easily in the highly interactive dialogue with Mr Teo himself seeking clarifications and feedback to some of the questions posed to him. In fact one of the issues that got the audience in stitches was a call for longer maternity leave which prompted Mr Teo to get his young audience to think about loosening up and not to over—plan parenthood.

Mr Teo said: "You want to wait for perfection before you decide to get married, you want a perfect man or this perfect woman to come along but this doesn’t exist! It just doesn’t exist! You’re looking for this 10 which doesn’t exist maybe 8.5 will do or 7.5 will be alright and then you just adapt to each other.

"Then you want to wait for this perfect house to come along before you actually tie the knot. Then you want to wait for this perfect moment in your married life before you have your first child, and you don’t want to have your first child unless you’re sure your child can score 250 points in PSLE. Nobody can guarantee that! I’m not suggesting that we all become promiscuous but we can all loosen up a bit."

Day 5

Haa such 'shiokness' to be on 1 week vacation. Well not exactly 1 week of PLAYING, but at least it's 1 week OUT of OFFICE! Best of all, I got my passport stamped lol....

Went to Genting from Sun-Wed. The sole intention was to experience sth different, but I really wanted to come home while I was there. The moment we stepped into New World Hotel, it was so different from what I'd imagined à la Cameron Highlands. I wonder why do people always compare the two when they're so vastly different. But well, I got to visit the theme park and the casinos which was an eye-opener....so many old folks there sitting by the slot machines and the gambling tables. omg. I was expecting young people! We walked ard but since none of us gambles we didn't stay long and that was fortunate cos 10 min in there, you gotta wash ur clothes already cos of the cigarette smoke. Yucks. I think a tour of Genting shld only take 2 days at max, just enough to take all the trill rides at the theme park and walk ard a little. There's really nth much to see nor shop there.


Oh but during the trip, I realised how super 'low maintanence' I was :/ The only thing that got me jumping at the breakfast buffet table was dao see hee porridge (fried dace with black beans), and at the hotpot buffet it was the seaweed which I ate the most. Of the entire trip, it's actually the RM6 cable car ride with made me happiest. Haa....such a loser.

But anyway I don't think I'll be going back to Genting again cos I so cannot take the high altitude there, the noise pollution and air pollution. Next trip will be to the rural areas or at least somewhere more outdoorsy.

So glad to be back. On Thur, went with Tim to attend OSA dinner and caught up with some ppl we haven't met in ages. We ditched the 'student-ly' affair and headed to the Guild Hse for dinner instead. It was good cos it was Tim's treat all the way. So nice to have such generous friends haha :p Good to meet old friends and make new ones :)

After Jap mid-terms yesterday, met Liang at Queensway and bought a pair of sports shoes for him! Haa lucky boy, hope he appreciates what a wonderful sister I am. lol. Sheesh, think I'm getting abit high from just recalling the retail therapy....I'll be back again~

Day 4

A minor achievement this month. It was a test of dexterity and patience to put this dreamy fairytale like carousel together.

Day 3

Here's a picture from D&D last week. It was a roller-coaster day that I'll remember for a long long time..... Glad for my pals in the office who enabled Cyberella to go for the ball! :♥)

Day 2

Opps I haven't been updating this blog very often....

Been super busy lately. In Jan we were dealing with workplan sessions, E2020, staff gathering, in Feb we were dealing with the Budget/ PQs, in Mar we're dealing with toopeeass meeting and troublesome professors who can't get my name right =/

At end Jan, XC said we just finished the Battle at Helms Deep and going on to Fight for Middle Earth. What he forgot was that we had to divide ourselves to battle in Gondor, Rohan, Lothlórien, Mirkwood, at the Lonely Mountain and at Dale as well.

Not much to update except for work, maybe there'll be more to update after d&d today.

Day 1

Areas to focus on in 2010:

1) Swearing off buffets--- I've to keep the damage low. It's incredulous to spend to put on weight.
2) Keeping my creativity--- To preserve my creativity, I am going to read more and be more observant and appreciative of the-world-outside-the-office.
3) Having a viewpoint--- This is most critical at work. I've figured that I better start the clockwork in my mind before the bosses shoot questions at me out of the blue. I've had enough heart-stopping "so SY what do you think?' moments in 2009 that if I get one more in 2010 that I can't answer, I....I....I....
4) Falling in love--- Quote Titus: "In a r/ship, you must fall in love not just once, but many many many many times".

Day 21

The year ended with blast- a well-deserved break! Did you know I only took 3 days leave after working for some 17 mths? What a workaholic lol.

Went to Batam with Cat & gang for a 2D1N Rest & Rejuvenate Package at the Golden View Hotel. It was not particularly fantastic, but it was a good experience. Afterall, I've never been to Batam before.

We followed the tour group, and the itinerary included visiting imitation goods shops, shopping at Batam City Square, visting the Kwan Yin statute, the Da Bo Gong temple, dry goods shop, the minature museum (see above), a 90min massage, and seafood lunch at the Golden Prawn. We also caught "Alvin & The Chipmunks 2" at the superbly-classy cinema there for some S$3+, and tried the sauna and KTV (also equally posh, but not very high-tech) at the hotel. On the last day, LY even battled with a wasp/bee....tough battle, but he finally killed the wasp.

Was not exactly relaxed and rejuvenated after it, but I enjoyed being out of town.