Driven

Here you go.. a quick pic.. more will follow..

Car

I'm very likely to be collecting my car tomorrow.

In preparation for this momentous event, I've prepared a car collection kit for me to bring along so that i have everything i need.

Ive packed the following:

1. Parking coupons
2. Cash card
3. Street directory
4. An iPod holder



And also:

4. iPod
5. iPod cable
6. Bluetooth headset
7. Music cds - Transformers soundtrack and U2
8. A new key chain



And of course an umbrella large enough for me.

Success

An old pri sch and sec sch friend added me on Friendster that day.

It was quite surreal as i looked through his pics.

He's still the poseur and loser that I remember. I think by any barometer in this society he wont be called a loser. HCJC, NUS then regular in the army now. Got car, doesnt look ugly. Not fat.

But he's still a loser.

We used to be one of the shortest guys in class. Then puberty came and i grew taller than him and i got fatter as well cos i discovered the aunty who sold delicious fried chicken wings in my pri sch. And then he said i got taller cos my fats stacked up and made me taller.

What a weird way to put me down.

But he's a loser. I heard he got retained in JC1. Muhahahahaha..

I hate it when people like to compare and show off. Maybe some people would say that of me but who really gives a shit. Just that day, someone told me this classmate of mine got a car and then when i met him that day, within 2 minutes, he was already telling me how he must save money cos huge burden coming. I purposely didnt wanna ask wat the huge burden was but he managed to bring it up. Oh pulease... wanna get car then dont complain la..

I just got an sms invite to a wedding for my NUS schmate. So nice.

Fong's getting married at the end of the year.

Shortbin's baby coming in Oct i think.

Another of my closest friend is pregnant and giving birth soon.

Frenligal got hitched.

Lim Biskit got an IWC.

Cyster removed the cyst.

My Abu Dhabi bound friend said she wanted to have a good meal with me and Lim Biskit before she leaves because she feels we appreciate good food. Im just wondering if i shld distance myself for her so that when the time comes to say goodbye, it wont hurt so much.

I hope everyone's happy.

一路顺风

那一天知道你要走
我们一句话也没有说
当午夜的钟声敲痛离别的心门
却打不开你深深的沉默

那一天送你送到最后
我们一句话也没有留
当拥挤的月台挤痛送别的人们
却挤不掉我深深的离愁

我知道你有千言你有万语
却不肯说出口
你知道我好担心我好难过
却不敢说出口

当你背上行囊卸下那份荣耀
我只能让眼泪流在心底
面带着微微笑
用力的挥挥手
祝你一路顺风

当你踏上月台从此一个人走
我只能深深地祝福你
深深地祝福你
最亲爱的朋友
祝你一路顺风

Follow Up

As I was having breaskfast this morning, I realised another of my frien, Despair is also tendering after he gets a job, cos his current boss insults his dressing and says he's fat.

So evil. I usually do this behind my colleagues' backs, not in front of them!?! Gosh.

I think there's no such thing as a perfect job, but rather it's a scale of job satisfaction.

Job Satisfaction to me = Pay + Working Environment + Boss + Empowerment + Job Benefits + Nature of Job

Some have more of each factor than other, and some have less.

This entry is actually pointless, i'm jus waiting for my dad to finish breakfast so that he can send me to work.

Jobs

It seems like a time of transition for some people i know.

Shitfong just got promoted to Civilian on 31 July 2007. 9 years and four months since he saw his pink IC. He's looking for a job now. He's quite cute but taken, ladies.

A friend of mine is relocating to Abu Dhabi and it seems like her boss thinks she betrayed him with her departure.

Frenligal recently served out her two month (or was it three) notice and started work at that giant Finnish mobile phone company. She's happy, so it's good.

My sister is thinking of quitting her job cos she hates it and heading into unemployment with two months' notice. Something like Shitfong really.

My recent promotion meant that i now have to serve three months' notice after i tender. It's the Firm's way to deter you from leaving, decrease your marketability, make sure you clear off your work. It left a sour taste in my mouth when i realised it.

One of my colleague's recently resigned. He resigned in the middle of projects. A middle of projects which he has been very lazy to complete and follow up before he resigned. Going home everyday at 6pm. When i heard he resigned, I told my boss to forget the one month's notice. I wanted him out of the office immediately. After lunch that day, admin just told him to leave his laptop and clear his desk.

High handed? Maybe. Appropriate? I dont know. i just didnt want the flagrant attitude he displayed after he resigned to permeate throughout the office.

During my dinner with Cyster and Lim Biskit, i told them i was considering of leaving after the 2008 bonus payout. They were half shocked. I guess i am a bit but im kinda tired.

Actually just today, I told this to Kaitlynn. Does someone stay at a job because of power? You can't right? Power doesnt pay the bills or feed you. But then she said, i wasnt paid too shabbily either to say that im only staying cos of power and not pay. Fair enough. I think i'll move when i become VP, which is 2 more steps... hopefully this is achieved before im 30.

I asked my boss that day if he can pay for the season parking in the office if i got a car. He agreed. Then the next day, he gave me a 5 minute speech on loyalty and how he values it and he gives due recognition. I felt half guilty for thinking of moving.

Ive been quite sianz at work of late and i leave my office at 5:30pm every day to be in time to watch Simpsons on Starworld at 6pm and Friends at 6:30pm. And i reach the office at 9:30ish, which means i come in the latest and leave the earliest. Bleah. Hey, i work when i get home too!

:(

In other news, ill be embarking on long trips again:

1. Tokyo
2. Odawara
3. Nagoya
4. Osaka

This long trip sure eat into one weekend. I hope this happens while in Tokyo then can go Disney Sea which i didnt manage to go back in 2002. I enjoyed the last time i was there.

Then the week after, i'll be going:

1. Sydney
2. Perth
3. Brisbane.

Odd that i just went to Sydney this year and then going again. Hopefully i can go to Gold Coast at Brisbane this time.

Creamed

Lim Biskit was pretty confident to the point of adament that I definitely needed her present and i'd find it useful.



Shiseido Eye Cream.

:(

Presents Continued

Kaitlynn gave me this model car - Honda Integra Type R - in remembrance of my dream car that has stopped production.



Then an MB keychain.



Together with my keys.

Shock

Shockers of shock, i received this fondue set just at 5pm... almost at knock off time..

I found out it was from the Cyster.





One with my penguin lying beside it, tired after a day of activity..

Flowers

I actually got flower delivered to my office today.. but i dont know who...

Weird..

Novus

I went to Novus with Lim Biskit and Cyster to celebrate my birthday. The ambience is pretty good.

Starters of scallops with pork belly and foie gras was good.

Main course of fish was so so.

Dessert of creme brulee was yummy! The waiter even gave me a candle.



One with my watch inside..

Rolling

The presents are coming in hard and fast...

You passed me a box of 12 donuts after queueing for an hour... How sweet...Donuts are my fav!

Removed

The Cyster removed the cyst and the surgeon took some pics. As promised, here're the pictures from the op. Unfortunately, they dismembered the cyst so there's no pic of the cyst as a whole but we are just glad that the Cyster is fine, arent we.

I've put the pics as links as they're pretty graphic.

Gross Picture #1

Gross Picture #2

Gross Picture #3

Gross Picture #4

Gross Picture #5

Gross Picture #6

Presents

It's always good to be back. But doubly good when you see presents on your desk when you return from a arduous trip.

My cyster sister gave me my birthday presents...

Haha.. i nearly bought the Mr. Potato thingy actually.

Cyster

In other news, the cyster went for the op on 19 July and the intruding cyst was removed.

Actually the operation took place exactly during the time when i was taking the super duper bumpy speedboat ride to my resort. I was half msging my friends and also half worrying about the outcome of the operation. My morbid side wondered if both our lives would be snuffed out at the same moment, 3 time zones apart and 2,000 krisflyer miles away. It was a scary thought and I was determined to stay alive and not die a few days before birthday.

All turned well, Im glad. The only downer was that they has to dismember the cyst so no pics for you, my dear readers.

Maldives - Water

And here I am, back into this wonderful resort after 1.5 years, it brings back some memories cos so many things have happened over these 1.5 years. I stayed in exactly the same room type i stayed before so the pics arent going to be new..

Exterior



Room with a view of the sea..



Bed..



I like this daybed area..



Bath tub..



Pic of the other rooms..



As you can tell, my villa is entirely over water. During this time of the year, it's the rainy season, as i mentioned in the previous entry, it rained one night. Actually the speedboat ride to this resort was super bumpy. What would normally take 15 minutes, took us an hour. My colleague puked on the way and i very nearly did too.

In the night that I stayed in this water-based resort, it rained DAMN HEAVILY. So heavy that the ENTIRE villa shook and rocked. I was awakened at 4am and couldnt sleep all night. It was so scary i wanted to move out but i didnt dare to walk out cos it was pouring and the winds were damn strong. I feared for my life. :(

Maldives - Jungle

As mentioned here, I was going to a jungle based resort as well as the water based one i went to in 2005.

Here're the pics..here's the room..



Living area..



Patio..



Direct beach access



Washroom with a garden...



Yes, there's a garden at the back where the washroom is. And the shower (the ONLY shower) is an outdoor shower which you have to get there by stepping on the stones and turning to the right.. SOOOOO DUMB i thought.. as luck would have it, it rained one of those nights and i had to brave the rain to get to my shower and then bathed with the shower and the rain and make my way back in the dark on the stones. Not smart at all! Why would anyone pay US$700 to stay here?

Here's a restaurant that is built above the tree levels... quite cool and cooling..

Good Times

I managed to play mahjong with my friends last weekend. Mahjong happening is always a good thing.

For the first time in my life, i attempted a 13 Wonders stance cos I already had 9 of the cards...

And i succeeded and took a pic of it! As you can see, i had two "发“s and three "白版" s and had to throw the other two away (as shown on the table)




After that, we went to the long kang place to eat. What a good way to end the weekend.. mahjong and a good meal with friends.

Trip

You know it isnt going to be a good trip when you wake up with your eyes all dry after sleeping 4 hours on the plane.

It's so dry that you blink hard and you yawn a bit to wet your eyes.

And then one of your contact lens pop out and flies out of your eye.

And then you try to find it as the plane lands and you get a headache and you keep searching even after the plane lands.

You walk down the steps dejected with one eye blurred as you contemplate spending the next 3 days in sunny Maldives in your spectacles.

:(

Maldives

I'll be going to the Maldives on Tuesday.

Going to a hotel that i've been to back in 2005.

I mentioned it here and here.

Well, this is one of those I'd be staying at. This is the water-based one. I'd also be staying in a jungle-based one, which I've never stayed before.

So i'd be posting the pics of the jungle one when i get there then.

Dumb

i've been wanting to get an access card so that i can pass through immigration (departure and arrival) faster than queuing up. Most of my colleagues have it, so all they need to do it to insert the card and press their thumb onto the machine.. very fast and shorter queue.

I felt restless today and decided that i shld make mine today. I went to the ICA website . Ok, all i need is a passport photo and my passport and S$30. Cool. I have my passport with me. (my passport's with me all the time).

I took a cab down. S$4 and 10 minutes

When i arrived, i realised that i actually had some photos in my office that i could use. Dammit.. never mind, take instant ones lor.. S$5 and 15 minutes.

When i went to the counter, the lady said.. actually i can use my passport and scan at the counter.. no need access card... what the...?!@!@?! how come the website didnt say????????????????????

Taxi back to office S$4..and another 10 minutes..

S$13 and 35 minutes W.A.S.T.E.D

Box

I was kinda peeved with all the stuff cluttering my desk and drawer so i decided to go get a box to put all my stuff...

I'm very glad i bought it..



Here's the box when it's open..



Here's the box when it's filled..



Here's the right side... all my cufflinks and pen..



And my watches and wallet..



So cool...

White

Not many people can look good in a sweaty white polo tee, beneath a white jacket with white pants and white track shoes.

Roger Federer can.

He does it in style with a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title.

Power

Tagged

I got tagged on Silverelf's blog.

Here're the instructions:

Rules of the game:Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names. No tagbacks!

*gulp*

Here goes:

1. I used to want to be the prime minister of Singapore until i realised that it was quite tough to get in.

2. I sleep with stuffed toys.

3. I do manicures and pedicures. (In fact i just returned from a mani/pedi after a hair cut. It was a weekend of maintenance)

4. I'm afriad of lightning. I've a fear of heights.

5. There're no mirrors in all the toilets in my secondary school cos of certain sightings.

6. I very nearly became the president of Physics Club in secondary school but i declined cos i thought it was too geeky and it'd destroy my social life.

7. I dont eat vegetables.

8. I used to be sickly and thin when i was young. Removed my tonsils and appendics. Doctor prescribed appetisers to improve my appetite. It worked.. big time.

9. I cried the first time i failed my driving test.

10. *drumroll* I have obsessive compulsive behaviour. I have pre-assigned mouse buttons to check mail and refresh an internet page. If there're no new mails or no changes to the internet page, I'll keep clicking until something new comes up.

Most of my readers are like to remain anonymous and thus i wont tag them. But do think up 10 interesting facts about yourselves and place it on your blog. Must be fair to me.

Transformers

Even the haute couture crowd has embraced the couture that is the Transformers.

I was reading Business Times this morning and saw some bags that you can transfom...

Amazing really ..

Hermes Silky Pop Bag



Transformability: A leather pouch that pops open into a carry bag. Perfect for those looking for extra storage but don't want to carry out extra baggage.

Price: $1,600

Miu Miu Struzzo Bag




Transformability: Comes with a buckle behind so that the bag can be folded into a shoulder bag.

Price: $5,150

Celine Shopping Bag



Transformability: With the sides opened up, the bag is more casual and makes a good day bag. Once the sides are folded in, the look immediately transforms into something more formal. Great day to night transformer bag.

Price: $2,000

Louis Vuitton Neverfull Bag



Transformability: The bag comes with a clever leather laces system that transforms it either into a tote or a more compact city bag. It can also be folded flat into your suitcase as an extra bag for travelling.

Price: From $950 <~~~ i could actually afford this.

Chanel Coco Croco



Transformability: Like all 2.55 bags, this bag comes with adjustable slings that allow it to be slung on your inner elbow, used as a shoulder bag or as a clutch. The epitome of a day to night bag.

Price: $5,220.

Fendi To You Bag



Transformability: This nifty bag easily folds down into a chic oversized clutch.

Price: Around $3,700. Availability to be confirmed.

Hogan Coullis Bag



Transformability: Comes with adjustible straps at the sides so that it can be expanded or shrunk to whatever size you fancy.

Price: From $1,100-$1,630 (For small to medium range).

Yao Noi

After Phuket, i went to this island called Koh Yao Noi, which is between Phuket and Krabi.

Koh means island in Thai, Noi means small. So Koh Yao Noi means small island of Yao. There's of cos a Koh Yao, which means Yao island.

1. It was a one hour speedboat ride from Phuket to the island. I nearly dieded on the way there.

2. Upon reaching, they told us they only booked 1 room for us. I asked for another room. They said they needed 5 minutes to clear the room. I waited for 5 minutes then asked again. They said five more minutes. I blew my top cos it doesnt take long to find a room cos i knew they were quite empty and I had a meeting in 20 mins.

After another five minutes, they upgraded us to a jacuzzi room

3. The room was perched high on a hill. Very high. Climbing up was a bitch...

4. When i entered the room with the porter, the chambermaid was inside dusting some stuff. I went to the washroom when i saw small and round spherical things on the floor that had a dark-reddish liquid around the spheres. I asked the porter what they were. He said bat shit.

BAT SHIT!?!@!!

I asked him if he was going to clear it. He said no. I had to coerce the chambermaid to clear it. What the...

5. The ride to the meeting was a horrible 30-minute ride in the rubber plantation. I nearly puked when i stepped out

6. I was perched high on a hill in a villa with a thatched roof. It started to rain in the middle of the night and then the lights went out. I freaked out and called my colleague. She was calmer than me.

7. 10 minutes later, the lights came back.

8. And then it went out after 5 minutes.

9. Then it came back on after another 10 minutes.

10. Then my roof started to leak. It was leaking very near the power socket from which my laptop was connected and i was working it. I thought, if i died from electrocution, it'd be a fast one so i continued working.

11. Brunch the next day was lousy

12. Just as i checked out, i reminded them that our speedboat was leaving at 11:30am, just as what we told them the day before. They said no. It was 1230. 1230 was too late for me to catch my plane. I raised heaven and hell and back and all and they managed to have the speedboat leave at 12:00.

12. The one-hour speedboat ride stalled for a while in the middle of the frigging ocean cos the waters were choppy.

I barely caught my plane but i was glad i managed to.

Phuket

Early this week i was in Phuket, before going to this far off island between Phuket and Krabi.

On one of these rare occasions, i could choose a hotel to stay so i choose this one. I was there just last year and liked what i saw. It isnt a branded hotel so it's not that expensive.

I love the clean look of the room





And the large washroom. You can see my luggage there and even my CFA book if you look closely.





And the bathtub looks decent but i just was too lazy to wait for it to fill up.

Car

I got bird shit on my head when i was standing under a tree waiting for a cab last night.

I think i need to buy a car.

Chiro

As mentioned earlier, I went to the Chiro to seek some relief in the crazy world.

As usual, he's very concerned about my single status. As I lie on his table/bed, he told me not to have so high standards in choosing girls. He then gave me a list:

1. The girl must be able to get along with your parents

2. Must be amiable

3. Must be able to communicate

I made a mental note of these as a reference and also so that i can blog it.

He also told me gone of the days that women would bring you coffee when you come home or give you a backrub.

I told him i had him for that, so my eventual wife wouldnt need to give me a backrub.

I could have sworn that he gave me a greater dosage of ultrasound after that.

Comfort

It's Friday after a tough week in Phuket.

I had two horrible meetings in the morning and thought i needed some comfort. I went to the Chiro. The sweet receptionist was there to welcome me again.

After that i decided to needed some comfort food. I went to Sake Sushi to have lunch alone.

I ate:

1. 1 bowl of Kitsune Udon
2. 1 x softshell crab handroll
3. 2 plates of Chuka Hotate
4. 1 plate of Salmon sushi
5. 1 plate of Tuna sushi
6. 1 plate of softshell crab maki
7. 1 plate of baby octupus sushi
8. 1 plate of Unagi sushi.

Damage: S$28.40

*gulp*

Then i bought some baos for my colleagues.

15 chicken baos
15 char siew baos
15 siew mais.

If too much I'll eat for dinner tonight.

I was at the Phuket airport yesterday and spied upon a Dunkin' Donuts stall.



*yummy*

Duck

I found a package on my desk after returning from Phuket this morning.

In it was a duck.

Someone deemed it fun/necessary/interesting to make a donation in my name and sent me the duck.



What do i make of it?

Do i:

1. Need to be more charitable?
2. Need to appear more charitable?
3. Look like a duck?
4. Need to learn how to swim?

No idea