To the end of Aug

Weather is getting worse in SG! Hot to the max… I woke up sweating for the past few days and have no mood to go out at all this weekend… so, no NATAS fair! I hope Fivestar is doing a good job in the fair and get my tour confirmed… I don’t want to think of plan C in such a short time…

Office has been busy :( My companion has left and my bosses have come back… that equals to triple workload from the previous week (Ok I admit I didn’t do much before that :p) Boss started to brief me of new aspect of PMO work: Financials… This aspect is more painful than the others.. I didn’t know the contacts, the methodology, and even the terminology… I could feel the frustration from my boss as he tried to explain and wanted to meet the month end close at the same time. It took me a thick face and a lot of poking to finally understood what he wanted me to do…

Now fulfilling his command is another headache! Haha.. plus the fact that my other colleague in Germany is on leave, I can hardly concentrate for 10 mins without getting a call. Maybe glen’s advice to work from home is not a bad idea… Apart from the fact that I need to make international phone calls frequently...

Talking about phone! Google now comes back with Voice, after scraping off their Waves. Cant believe they are integrating it with their gmail! Plus giving free calls to US! Too bad I don’t have anyone to call from US :( Anyway, I’m really curious to see if they can beat Skype on this market… Let’s wait for time to answer!

Despite the recent critics to Manila bus hijacking incident, I found a new Philippines idol after Christian Bautista… her name is… Charice! Her voice is comparable to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey! Pretty much in love with her whole album at this moment :)

Food wise, Thanks to Winson, I tried something new again this week! :) Tian Fu steamboat @ Tanjung Katong. The place was quite far, but the food is really worth it. I was surprised that almost everyone there comes only after reservation, but thanks that we did manage to get a seat after 15 mins. We ordered the package for 4 with tom yam & chicken soup. The ingredients are super nyummy & fresh (with Winson kept pointing that the prawn’s is still moving). Overall, I like the package menu (which claim to have only the best ingredients) but will definitely came back for its buffet (yes, the quantity side!!) next time :p


Paradise Steamboat - Some of its mouth-watering ingredients

I was never a fan of Twilight Sagas, but this week, I watched its parody “Vampire Suck”, and started to appreciate its original movie. The parody was really lame T_T After the parody, we watched the “Eclipse”, which seems to have endless talking with 2-mins of battle scenes. I still don’t understand from which side Edward looks handsome.

It’s almost 7pm now… and the weather is still as warm as the afternoon weather. Aaa…

Melting,
ED

7th Month of Lunar Year

It was a nice week. I am enjoying myself more than what I expected when my boss wasn’t around :p I did stay until 10++ for our weekly call on Thursday, but apart for that, I never left after 7. haha…

Anyway, I predict that my life-wheel will turn upside down next week. My boss is back, my colleague go for 2 weeks MTA leave, and it’s the mid of 7th month! (I think I’m getting a bit superstitious these days) Well, at least I won't be too surprised if it does happen...

Anyway, I get my Japan visa! In two days! I have to say that Japanese are really that efficient. Even mum and dad have also gotten their visa. Yay! Now waiting for confirmation of the Japan tour itself (keep fingers crossed)

Friday was a farewell day for some people that I know :( It’s also the last day for my dear neighbor, who has been accompanying me for the last 5 weeks. I’m so gonna miss you… You have been one of the rare people who really like food like I do! Haha.. Thank you so much Pooja… I learnt lots from you… and I am wishing you all the best for your bright future :)


Dinner @ Marche, Credit to Baggi, the photographer

Saturday, we went to Pasir Ris Park for family game event :) It was quite fun… I met up with new people, get goody bag, and feel quite bad to be snatching a ball from a 4 years old kid during the game =.=’’ I should have just let her win… Sorry kid… I hope auntie didn’t scare you off!


The multinational Team - Korea + Japan + Indonesia

After the Family game, we went to Bottle Tree park for prawn fishing with Henny cs. Two hours and I didn’t manage to get a single prawn T_T There are 10 of us and we only caught 6 prawns. We looked with amazement on how some of the fisher there caught a big tiger prawn every few minutes. At the end of the day, when we were busy BBQ-ing our 6 prawns, two uncles suddenly came to us and gave us almost all their catches! They did it out from pity seeing that we have so many people but so little catch. In the end, we we’re BBQ-ing more than 30 prawns… courtesy from the uncles. Thanks so much!! It’s really fresh and nyummy :)


The Prawn Feast

After the prawing and eating, we went home and I grumpily washed my muddy shoes, bag, sock, cloths, etc. It took me almost an hour before I got it done and went for dinner. After dinner, we watch “Salt”, which was very captivating until the very end :) I was so awake throughout the show, and dropped to sleep right after the movie. Kudos Angelina Jolie!

Sunday, we went to swim at NTU Alumni Club (Thanks roomie!) We were astonished to find that there was no one in the swimming pool, and I started to connect it to the 7th month of lunar year again (where we shouldn’t swim in the dark =_=) I think the real reason is that arrived slightly too early. People started to pop out half an hour afterwards. After the swim, I went for a nice big chicken rice brunch… There goes my swimming calories’ burnt.

Reached back home, I did my weekly chores. After the chores, Winson came and tempted me with a new iPhone game: Antrim Escape. It’s similar to Crimson & Viridian Room, where we are depicted stucked in a room and needed to find clues to get out. Nice addictive game! I easily spent two hours on that… and now waiting for the sequel to be out.

Finally putting down the game, I then did some research of itinerary for my bro’s visit. Singapore is too small! I can’t find anything to fit into 7 days in Singapore T_T I was looking a lot at restaurant (Jumbo, No Signboard, etc) and my stomach growled by itself. After having dinner (Tian Tian Curry Rice, Bukit Merah), I sent out the itinerary to brother… now see what they say… hahaha..

Time was already 11 by the time I finished… now doing some research on how to downgrade my iPhone 3GS as it’s hanging every other minute… didn’t manage to find anything safe enough for my 5-watt-eyes consumption… hence I’m just gonna shutdown and sleep…

Till next week!
ED

Friday the 13th

My week after last long weekend was quite horrible... due to the fact that there is a monthly forum on Wed, which preparation I normally started on Monday, now squeezed to only one day.

There is nothing new that I stayed late on Tue for preparation, Wed for the execution, and Thurs for the weekly call. At least, I managed to run away on Friday at around 7pm.

Yet, Friday being the 13th + month 7th of the lunar calendar, I had series of unfortunate events – thanks that they were all small stuff. It started with me woke up late, have a bad stomachache, then my dad called and asked about some travel questions which I can’t answer, and I needed to wait for 15 mins for a bus.

In the office, the coffee dispensed was run out of milk, my computer suddenly reboot itself, my email was frozen before I can send it, and I again was not feeling well when I went for lunch.

I thought those were ending when I was leaving office (by waiting for another 15 mins), but I was proven so wrong. The worst happened after that.

I went to Chinatown to pick up the accommodation & transport details for the Japan Visa application. When I reached there, the staff told me the person went out for dinner, and he didn’t leave any message before he left. I have to wait for half an hour, after the staff tried to call him but his mobile wasn’t on.

After that, he came back and gave me the letter, without saying sorry. I quickly scanned through the letter. The arrival date is wrong. The departure date is wrong. The tour name is wrong. Even my mum’s designation is wrong. And it took them 2 weeks + 5 follow up calls to come out with that kind of letter? I lost my temper and blasted him on the spot. I was angry not only because of this, it has been stacking from the past two weeks. I don’t know how come I get this kind of agent serving me! Horrible.

In the end, he blamed everything to his boss (“My boss was handling this and she made so many mistakes”) and asked me to come back tomorrow when his boss is around. I know that in the end, there is nothing I can do but to come back the next day, but at least I’m happy to spill it all out. He treated me like a dumb person. On the day I paid, he said the letter will be ready in 3 days. After that when I called, he said that due to long weekend, he needed few more days for confirming the ticket and hotel. In the end, the ticket date is wrong and the hotel is not even in the letter. And he wants me to accept everything just like that?

I was so furious and kept grumbling throughout the night (so sorry, Winson). Thanks that I get it right at least on the next day. Few more mistakes discovered, but since the boss was there, she made the changes on the spot.

My Saturday was a day I’m quite proud of. 4 of us (with Handy, Jessica, and Winson) finally went to MacRitchie reservoir and completed the longest trail – 11km! Can you believe that? I didn’t give up, but my shoes did… The rubber felt off right after the trekking =.=’’


After conquering the 11 km trail

After the trekking and nice great lunch, I went back home, freshen up, went to Chinatown, then slept for few hours until dinner. Back from dinner, I watched “Furry Vengeance”, a cute movie about smart animals.

On Sunday, I cancelled my swimming appointment (sorry, roomie :( ) and slept until around 10. My leg still hurts, but at least I didn’t sprain my ankle this time :D I spent my usual Sunday routine… called home, lunch, get myself a new chair @ IKEA, dinner, get myself a new pair of shoes from Queensway… and now preparing myself for Monday. My boss is leaving for Germany… I will be a free devil next week!

And my achievement for this week? :)


My Plants vs Zombies

Gold medal for Plant vs Zombie! I finally completed the game :) No more late night fighting and dreaming of the Zombies, hopefully.

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!
ED

Strictly No Work Related Post :)

11.30 PM.

I can’t believe this long weekend is ending!!

I thought I would have ample time to do lots of things… clock is ticking to the end of Monday now, and I haven’t even gone to the 15-mins-away IKEA for my long broken chair :(

Anyway, I had fun throughout this weekend :)

Friday, had a dinner @ Vivo with the gang… make a bet and lose… I should have never bet with Glen. I kept insisting that the guy in the Kim Gary’s menu is the Kim Gary himself… but was proven wrong…! I don’t understand… if Kim Gary himself is an artist, why doesn’t he just promoting it himself? Now I owe Glen a dinner. Huh :(

Saturday, I woke up as early as 7am for the Henderson Waves’ walk. I have been wanting to go there ever since I first saw the place during my first day at Alexandra office… it was more than a year ago! Special thanks to Henry & Winson for finally making it happens :) You two are the best company… throughout the sun and rain. Haha.


The two idiots :D (pic taken by the third idiot)

After the walk, we had lunch at the newly opened food court near PSA. I was quite surprised that it opened for weekend, more surprised that there are actually quite a lot of people eating there.

Reached home, I spend 2 hours playing Plants vs Zombie, and then went to Bugis for a date with Citra :) Meeting her always reminds me of how unhealthy I’m… Her style is 4 times gym per week + veggies for every meal + sleep at 10 / 11 pm. I will be very proud of myself if I can fulfill one of them.


The game I'm addicted to at this moment

That day, I explored a mall called Bugis Tower, had dinner at a vegetarian café (but totally didn’t look like one!) and awesome dessert @ Tom’s Palette. The ice cream was really good, and they like to experience with different flavor. I love the apple pie one! And they even have tea tarik flavor, which I missed to try…


Sinful Stuff

Back home, I watched “After Shock”, which almost made me cry in the last minutes. I’m always weak with movie with family’s theme :( Anyway, good story line… I’m glad that it was indeed a happy ending :)

Sunday is always my slacking time. I promised my friends to go for Macritchie walk at 8am but cancelled last minutes as my leg was still screaming for rest. Sorry, pals T_T lets do it next week! In the end, I slept until 12pm, did my weekly chores, had my noodles, played my game, and went for KFC dinner! Back from dinner, had some ice cream, and watched a movie "Operation: End Game". I was totally lost with the movie. Don’t really understand the plot up till now. And one liner review in wikipidia doesn’t help much :(

Monday, we went for Steamboat @ Teck Whye. It supposed to be lunch, but the place was too charming that we stick there from morning to evening. We played a card game called “Saboteur”. Despite the name, whoever played the role as Saboteur is normally lost =_=’’…


Steamboat @ Teck Whye

Back home, I did my other part of chores – ironing, eating some fruits, playing some games… and now… I guess it’s the time to sleep :)

Happy Birthday, Singapore!
ED

Hi, Aug!

I completed the Chop Sushi iPhone game and get engrossed into another winning game: Plants vs Zombies. I saw this game in the Top 25 when I got my iPhone. It has been almost 8 months now, and I still see the game in the Top 10 list. Thanks to Winson, I got the chance to try the game in Windows… and I must say… it is really addictive! Ever since it got installed on Saturday, I guess I have spent almost 12 hours for the game! Urgh (not something to be proud of, actually) I would have finished it if only I don’t have to work tomorrow… Man life is tough with so much temptation T_T


Plants vs Zombies. The Plants are really cute!

Talking about work, I’m back from my 3-day busybody in Manila. Even though I stayed in hotel and office most of the time, it was still quite a nice experience. Right when I touched down in Manila, I was greeted by someone with the name of death ^^; The immigration officer lady’s name is “Mati”, which means "Die" in Malay. I was quite surprised to see her name, and I guess she realized it too, because in the end she said “yes, I know, that’s my name”. ^^;

It was around 9.30 when I reached hotel. I didn’t do much on Sunday... Spend sometime watching Animax and slept at around 12.


Makati Shangri-La, Manila

I woke up at around 6.30 the next day… had a quick shower and then headed for breakfast. I was really impressed with the buffet selection. I had 3 breakfast there, and I never repeat anything that I ate. The spread are just… amazing! I tried one new juice over there… it’s banana + orange + skippy peanut butter with ice blend. It was surprisingly refreshing.


The buffet that I love so much

After the amazing breakfast, I headed to the meeting location, which brought another surprise for me. The meeting room is a café! I was kind of expecting a more office location, but no, it’s a café! With spoon and knife and fork all around. With the waitress serving food all day long. I can’t ask for more for a business trip.

Not-so-formal Meeting Room

The meeting goes from 9am until 6pm… then continue with debrief until around 8pm. We planned to go for dinner at first, but I was unable to finish my MOM by that time.. in the end asking for dine-in service and continued with my work until around 12am.

The same things repeat for the next day, with the only difference that I went for dinner @ Hardrock café this time and finished my work only at around 3am.

Makati, Hard Rock

The very next day, I got a warning from my director for sending mails at weird hours T_T he was serious when he said that I should reduce my work and enjoy life more. He was not the first one saying this, but somehow his words impact me more. Now I’m trying to make it a rule for not sending email after 8pm. See how much it will reduce my workaholic life style. Whoever colleague taught me to send mail at wee hours to impress superior needs to get an upper kick from me.

On Thursday, I woke up at 4.30 and dragged myself to airport. I was really sleepy through out the journey back, so sleepy that I didn’t click a picture of my breakfast (which I never miss before). Once I reached back SG, I took a good 2 hours nap before heading to office at 4pm. Thanks that I continuously connected to office when I was in Manila, I don’t have a lot of backlog to clear. I chaired the weekly call until around 11pm, then headed back to home and dozed off.

Friday to Sunday are 3 weird days. It was so cozy on Friday, super hot on Saturday, and almost like typhoon on Sunday. The wind blew off my pillow case! :( Event hough i have double clipped it, but it's still gone. I tried to look for it downstairs but no avail...

I got confirmation from my tour agent that there is no way she can confirm my tour on Sept to Europe… so I executed plan B for that. Even for plan B, the travel agent said that they are still pending 1 more person to confirm the tour. Hope that I don’t have to plan for Plan C anymore. Time ticks to fast and it’s now only 1 month to Sept! Gosh.

Long weekend next week!
ED