Happy New Year!

New Role...New Office...New Start. A week on my new role in the new office... so far so good.

Twins had lunch with Godma

Huimin brought the twins and her mum to Tampines 1 to meet me for lunch @ Dian Xiao Er.

What I have been occupied with lately?

1. Company annual charity festival.
Finally it has come to an end. For the past couple of weeks, I have been lunching in and staying late to help pack, consolidate the pre-sales orders of cakes, achar, curry puffs, muffins, jewellery…, pluck 6 kg of dao ge (yes… bean sprouts) and cracking my head on our stall decor cos I’m the designated creative director.

We came in top again, bringing in $16K++. Somehow I feel that everyone have their own personal agenda, it’s a competition to outshine each other, to show off what you can do, to satisfy one’s ego and to save face. These are carefully and beautifully camouflaged under 2 powerful words – Teamwork & Charity.

Of cos there will always be some background helpers who do not mind chipping in but more importantly; have no choice. Through this event, I got to know some people better and also see the true colours of others.


2. Roller Blading
Yes! I’ve finally gotten my own pair of blades & protective gears, put them on and made that first step.

I thought it would be difficult and ending up with bruises all over, but thanks to my “blade nanny”, I am able to stand, walk and slowly glide under an hour.

It was fun but not when SGNs half your age, with much less protective gear, fly past you with laughter. Kids….don’t know how to protect themselves. Tsk tsk….

BIL's ROM @ Les Amis

BIL’s ROM took place at Les Amis, Shaw Centre on July 8, 2008, 11.15am.

This fine dining restaurant is rather classy and food tastes great.



Chandelier


And more chandelier


Elegant setting of fine dining






Label on the napkin - Made in Italy for LES AMIS






Solemnization took place here specially set up at the other end of the function room.






Nice wall picture along the corridor.


Wine Cellar




Chilled butter for the bread of your choice...

Sourdough bread


Walnut bread


Raisin bread and many more...


Champagne








Specially customized menu.


First appetizer - Anchovies with vegetable Ratatouille


Second appetizer - Seared Tuna loin, artichoke & cherry tomatoes






Main Course - Choice of Pan-seared Mulloway, ratatouille with Chorizo or


Braised veal cheek, seasonal vegetables and mashed potato


with rice (taste like chicken rice)


First dessert - Lychee-orange flower medley


Second dessert - Baked beaten egg white with pistachios, green tea chocolate and something that is hard on the outside but soft inside.


Vanity top at the ladies


Gourmet tea


Back view of my BIL's newly wedded wife.


Hand Bouquet

It's all about service

We have been shopping for the ideal solitaire ring for weeks and finally narrowed down to a few particular specifications and setting that fit our or rather James’s budget from Goldheart.

If I’m paying for a big ticket item from any outlet of the same Company, I rather go to the one that provides me with the best service.

Thanks to the crappy service at Tampines Mall outlet, we went back to Anna at Clarke Quay who continues to serve us with passion.

In short, we were very pleased with the service provided by Anna from Goldheart @ Clarke Quay.

Anna adjusting the angle to show us the laser inscribed serial numbers on the girdle of the diamond.

Dream a Little Dream of ... FROG!

Last night, I dreamt of frogs... lots of tiny grayish slimy web feet reptiles. They scared the hell out of me. Surprisingly, it’s that bad to be dreaming of them… hmm…

From Dream Lover Incorporated...
Old dream interpretation books say that frogs are a good omens and represent happiness and great friendships. From a more modern point of view, frogs may be considered symbols of the unconscious because they live in the water. Frogs also represent transformation of the positive kind.


From Dreammoods...
To see a frog in your dream, represents a potential to change or to do the unexpected. The frog may be a prince in disguise. Alternatively, the frog may suggest uncleanness.

To see frogs leaping in your dream, may indicate your lack of commitment. You have the tendency to jump from one thing to another. Alternatively, it may suggest that you are taking major steps toward some goal.

To dream that you are catching a frog, signifies your carelessness concerning your health.

To hear the sounds of a frog in your dream, signifies that you visit with friends will not accomplish anything that you wanted it to.

A Wedding Gift

One of the aunties gave me this diamond with ruby white gold pendent from Lee Hwa as our wedding gift.

Interim Update

Ever since I started work, I haven’t had a good opportunity to pen down my thoughts on things that I have encountered and happenings around me but I’ll try. I have short term memory and these little notes will help me to remember and recall my thoughts in future.

Last week, I sat for my term one exam. The marketing paper was kind off expected cos of the ‘explicit’ exam tips given by my lovable flamboyant lecturer John. Although the questions were no surprise, it’s a test of your writing speed and how well you were with comprehension back in primary school. Stupid as it may seem but I actually have problem with spelling. I’m so used to ‘writing’ with the computer and most writing application comes equipped with this excellent spell check feature that I dun bother if the word ‘traveler’ is spelled with one or two 'L'.

The only downside is when I conveniently, blindly accepted the word suggested by the computer to replace a wrongly spelled word… like instead of Annual, I typed Annal and it came out Anal… “please refer to the Anal report attached…”

To finish 5 case studies in 2 hours was the major challenge for all especially for the more seniors. I have classmates who are retired and in the late 40s and most haven’t sat for any writing intensive exam for the last 10 years. The last time I struggled to finish a paper using a pen was like 3 -4 years ago when I was attempting for CITPM. It was hell…

The hospitality & resort mgmt paper was tough although there weren’t many materials to study on. There were only 4 questions but every question was a killer. It’s testing our general knowledge of the tourism industry, the cultural and political impact on the host country. There really was no right or wrong answers but how you argue and justify the case that you presented.

Most of us are not from the industry so naturally won't know the technicality unless you read a lot of newspaper and have great general knowledge. Sad to say that I only managed to flip the LIFE section of the straits times at night or early morning while in the toilet and knowledge wise… it’s really very general.

Anyhow, I’m really grateful to have such experienced, wonderful and fun lecturers for my tutorial class. Thanks to their selflessness that we get to know actual industrial practices which I find more important and valuable than purely delivering from the book. I see passion in what they are doing… I hope I can have that passion too.

Talking about passion at work, it’s coming to 2 months since I joined back as a contract staff. I’m really happy and surprised to be warmly welcomed by my colleagues and even the CIO. I can tell that he wanted to give me a hug but he is a shy man… very shy.

My bosses are keen to convert me to be permanent and have arranged for jobs to keep me occupied. All seems smooth and too good to be true but how can my salted veg life be sweet? Politics has always been a favorite game played in this company and that is one of the contributing factors why I left previously. I can never outwit, outsmart, outdo these people and it’s not my nature to do so.

Chili (not her real name, her identity cannot be disclosed to protect myself), once my supervisor, my teacher, my example, my friend, my colleague for 10 years is playing the game against me. I was really shocked and bottom line disappointed. My return is actually a threat to her.

Now situation seems to have improved. I hope she has sorted out her thoughts and realized that I can never be a threat to her and it’s never my intention to sabotage anyone’s career.

Despite the little unhappiness, I’m still happy that I’m back and I’m still me.

Marina South Pier

19 Jan 08, 8pm