Totally random note: 30th day into the New year, 6th day into the lunar new year..

Hmmm... time flies.. And it's a new year marked with challenges.. at least it ain't that bad as last year... And nope, no big bonus.. CUZ of the less than perfect performance due to the bouts of depression that led to loss of concentration and hence.. sucky performance @ work.. Oh well, you reap what u sow.. At least, i think I can just fulfill the a&b pledge, with NO frills to spare on anything else...

No visiting this year.. cuz was down with bad stomach cramps and haha indigestion.. oh well.. it's okie la.. at least i cleared my sleep debt.. and fellowship with my bed.. :)

Caught the love matters show on cny's eve.. I guess I am definitely NOT the targeted audience.. I was not the least tickled by the jokes (not to mentioned I don't comprehend hokkien... and yep, I'm born and bred in Singapore.. just happen I'm not a hokkien and the only dialect I understand is Cantonese.. :) i love HK! - out of flow..haha). Though the story was set in Malaysia, some of the sensational affairs were used as storyline in the story.. like the poly's girl sex video that was posted on you tube.. And sad to say.. I found the last part of the show.. extremely silly... Oh well.. the crowd at the cinema were laughing happily away.. BUT for me.. not amused.. But then again, was there to accompany my parents to the show.. (though, they too found it boring.. I was surprised.. cuz my mom rather like the local prdtn.. like the i not stupid? (though i can't really identify with the struggles la..but at least, there's plot..) or the money no enuff? (similarly.. I don't really like it to.. hard to identify.. but I'm certainly not the "higher mortal" typesy - neither am i lesser mortal.. )

Guess Day 2 of CNY was the best... save for the "o-kim" encountered for a couple of hours later in the day.. but that was compensated by the nite out @ city space with a few of my cg gals.. My first time there.. but heard abt it from e. (e mentioned that he might pop over that night, but didn't see him.. but nope, not the reason why i'm rather supportive of the idea of adjourning there after dinner @ mof.. ) Hmmm it's really a great place if you wanna talk.. and the singer there is good!! :) Though the "lian" in me won't mind the new asia bar too. I like loud music (but no techno. haha)

some pictures... here we go!

 my first drink.. White forest.. I like this.. Vodka! hehe. :) I like the way the cherry sinks to the bottom of the glass.. :)

blur shot

Slightly better... :)


Snapshot of city! I like the vibrancy of the lights from the buildings.. :)

Back to work on wed.. and slogged hard.. sorta.. Found that I could clique rather well with my new colleague, wy (a year younger than me.. but haha she is my reviewer @ work.. sigh why i itchy finger switch line? gotta start from scratch again..).. Think she's more real than the nice but kinda flaky colleagues ard.. sad to say, but feel that my sm-es rate the PR-one much higher than the PR-shy us. Oh well..not learning a lot actually... perhaps, i should consider wy' suggestion to the big 4.. dunno la.. pray..

Attended the zone meeting last nite.. thought it was meant for the working adults but there were more youths than the adults.. (quite the norm rite, since this is like EXTRA since no cg this week... no obligations to turn up for some..) I was dead beat (since I only slept 2 hours that day.. self-inflicted cuz was touching pix taken.. and playing with pet @ pet society and hunting mouse. haha) BUT once pastor started sharing.. aiyah, conscience pricked.. cuz it's just like a reinforcement of what God has impressed upon me since the start of the year.. NOPE, it's not like only in weekend sermons that I got motivated.. *(contrary to what one ex-leader presumed me to sense.. I don't wish to dwell on that but aiya, that really hurts loh,when he presumed without even following up on me.. and ya, i saw him on fri after the meeting and flash him a-PR-hi-smile. cuz I have nothing to say to him. And ya, he's someone that I need to get over .. cuz aiya, seeing him is liken to seeing the crumpled &crippled of the past.. (one of the barriers to breakthru' that pastor shared..).. And ya, I believe the breakthru is near... else i don't know how long else I will have to wait.. Now too late to regret to take ryan's word seriously then.. i hope i won't miss this boat this time...

To summarise: Key to breakthru = Desperation.. (having the other 3 D (dream, diligence & dreams) ain't sufficient. gotta mix those with desperation.
And the barriers that a desperate man faces in midst of seeking his breakthru'-

1. Paralytic. He gotta break through from being a paralytic. i.e. face what's crumpled and crippled in life.
2. Crowd. He need to break through from the crowd. i.e. stop adopting the consumers' mentality. *i.e you just consume and consume but don't put what you consume into action.
3. Scribes. He needs to break through from the scribes, i.e. stop being a contemplator!
   
4. Roof Top. He needs to break through from the root top, i.e. Think big, don't be contained.. Don't place a psuedo ceiling when God hasn't.!!
   

Tsk.tsk. I need to find back that mustard seed that seemed to have been embedded somewhere in storage... time to work..

Frankly, I know why pastor suddenly pop the verse that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" while sharing with the working adults on the up & coming plans. All looked dull and tired. Seriously, i only mouth the verse... though i knew I oughta echo.. Aiyah, so hence the short "sweet" word that was shared by steven to all those in his subzone lo.. Had a good fellowship with summer after the session at bk..cuz we were both famished.. :)

And that resulted me in waking late..and the problematic wheeze again.. went doc, got my 3rd mc of the year for the irritating cough.. doc suspect it may be asthma cuz my lungs were apparently VERY congested.. (i couldn't breathe deeply even with my mouth..) very tight breathing.. hence he linked me up to a machine to inhale some medi via a mask over my nose/mouth area.. apparently to clear up some of the congestion.. It clears partially hence i gotta go for a re-assessment tmw am.. after taking the chunks of medi he has prescribed me with.. hopefully no need to do an x-ray..

Since I felt better.. after two hours, went for my resistance training in the afternoon.. oh well.. was bombed by e for the totally unhealthy and irrelevant food I'd consumed.. tsktsk.. funny way to put it across that I'd ate not very healthily... haha he said I was disobedient.. tsktsk. at least he didn't whack me (maybe he has compassion on me since i went for workout despite on "mc" -which i admit.. i keng abit.. it's a naggin prob, but i will live just sleeplessness at nite due to difficulty in breathing.. ) Think he was pleasantly shocked when i reappear in gym while he was training his next client after i left.. played the good samitarian and bought him some carbon cuz he was ls-ing.. should be quite bad cuz he took off a few minutes during our session.. and shops in the raffles area close rather early.. think pharmacy will be closed by the time he knocked off.. so.. played the good gal lo.. 将功赎罪 for the binge eating during cny.. (cuz i made lame excuses to explain why i ate trashy food..)

Hmm nightfall again.. am experiencing the tight chest feeling again.. Tsktsk. hope it's not asthma.. haha

Shock revelation when I was counting no of years I'm in choir.. cuz jimmy asked.. weet-u-weet.. since july 03. That's really long.. and i'm still nua-ing ard.. haha... on a separate note, I need to stop procrastinate and do something to improve my vocals...

"to receive" or "to receiving"? "Reply or revert?"

Since young, I've been inculcated this grammar rule on infinitives. (Infinitives = the root of a verb plus the word "to"). The verb form after the word "to" remain. i.e. Correct usage: I look forward to see you next week. Incorrect usage: I look forward to seeing you next week.

What sparks off this post was my sm (read: senior manager, not the provocative term sm) insisted that it is grammatically correct to write "We look forward to receiving your written confirmation..." instead of "We look forward to receive your confirmation..." (Initially, I've drafted "We look forward in receiving your confirmation....but she changed it to "to receving..."). She said she understand that we have been taught that the verb being "to" need not be changed to continuous tense in school, but in this case, it's an exception..

Not convinced, I goggled the web but did not find anything that support her stand. Oh well, since she insists that in business writting, it is deemed grammatically right to use "to receiving" (since the quantum of salt she has consumed over the years is much more than the amount of rice i ate.. - translate to the old chinese saying - another form will be "she crosses more bridges over the years than the distance I've walked ).

Similarly for the word "revert". Frankly, the meaning of "revert" is not synonymous to "reply". Yet, in business writing in Singapore, as far as i know, they like to use to the word "please revert by next week" when what they meant was "please reply by next week". According to dictionary.com, the closest meaning of revert (when you are referring to "reply") is " to come or go back (as to a former condition, period, or subject)". So.. when you ask someone to revert by next week, does that mean that you want the person to go back to its original form by next week?? 打回原形? 哈哈!!

Spring cleaning...

Oh yes, my room is still in a mess.. my old textbooks and notes still hiding in the cupboard.. Read: they are at least a decade old... Don't think i will ever flip my 'O' leved biology textbook - it was my fave text - though not my favorite subjects.. oh well.. the fave was maths.. oh well incidentally, those two were my best grades.. haha.. read: I am actually ONL:Y figures-inclined in the academic years.. which explains the blues i get from working.. at least currently... sigh.. i'm JUST not the practical typesy! Prehaps it runs in the family - at least my generation :: my bro writes for a living..oh well.. i wish i've the gusts like him to work in the industry that was contrastly different to his bac. perhaps it's about time...

Frankly, my face was longer than a horse's after receiving that white envelope.. (same feeling as receivng that white envelope after the bv audition.. )oh well.. it's just as well.. but then again.. that pertains to the rewards (or whatsoever) that comemsurates the degree of effort place into the work. Definitely was adversely affected by the lowlow valleys in 08..

Still I was reminded that all these pertained to last year..Principle of sowing and reaping.. you sow rotten apples, you get rotten apples.. At least, I reap real friends in return.. and the chance to restore..

Okie.. spring cleaning the phyiscal room after cg later..

meanwhile, almost dragged my feet to the instalment three of the workshop with bro Poh. Was reminded of His omnipotence.. and yes, all those acts that may seemed insignificant to me, were special and important to Him.. But, still I was holding back.. or rather.. perhaps the passion level has depleted greatly due to... BUT I guess the past few months of pampering (ie. idling...) was long enough..  And yes, I still need to give steven an answer... when? Time to throw away the old and look forward to the new.. 

And haha.. val, I'll prolly contact your "cher: soon since haha even the mass workshop that the zone has arranged will be taught by ur cher.. though of course much cheaper.. but it falls on sat and i have to work (drag!) but i think i can afford a one on one.. yes, despite the miserable amt of monetary reward.. oh well. at least with that.. I tithed,, and fulflled the buidling fund - partially.. should be done deal by Apr. oh well.. at least I still get to fulfill that vow , Though my carnal mind was telling me.. don't and treat yourself to the gadgets or the list of material wants to satisfy the soul.. but nah, that didn't work.. so.. :) delay = x = denial.

And out of the blue during the session, suddenly remembered what someone said (think was eugene) had prayed for me a few years ago.. that he saw steel bars after steel bars being instilled in me.. and that Holy Spirit reminded me that those are still there..

Time to throw away the old and embrace the new... faith and fear can't co-exist. Now I know why faith has been hiding..

as expected...

Oh well.. as expected... thanks to the whole chunk of turbulence in 2008... the rewards of 2008 stinks big time.. imagine less than the pro-rated last year. What shall i say... People around are busking with joy. I am NOT. Thanks to wonderful experience in 2008 due to the whole-great-and wonderful experience in the valleys that affected my work as well...  Okay, it's not others fault, but mine rite?

If you are a friend, please don't ask me abt bfb.. it's a big stinking one.  Oh well, unless your fave passtime is to rub salt.. I may give u a blank look.  Really.

Oh well.. maybe it's just sufficient to fulfill the a&b amt (i hope)

Dawn

Pix was taken sometime ago in cab on my way to work. Love the sight of sunrise. Reminds me of God's creations. Like you and i. 
And dawn comes after dusk. What's true in the natural applies to the spiritual. Isn't that what unique of the Bible? Truth will only unfold to those who diligently seek and find. 


After cg on Fri, whle talking to a member, I was truly dismayed to hear from her that she found the Bible irrelevant and boring. And she's supposedly a cgc! Man, what kind of spirit will she impart to those in her group? She prefers to read books of teachers' of great faith like Dr Cho, then to get first hand revelation from God.
Pauline and I tried to encourage her to start seeking God for first hand revelation but she seemd ah unmoved.
Guess this the consequence of the 'convenience' society. And even aftr so many personal sessions with the cgl, still have not caught his spirit. Maybe some peeps are denser. I pray for conviction to strike her.
Anyway dawn comes after dusk. I think 2009 is gonna be a different year.

Exciting. Yah, being 'parablictic' here.

Bloggìng frm w660i, enroute to jw. :-)

A bitsy butterflies...

Frankly, what I am tasked to do tonight is in fact the segment that I found most challenging (aside from the word) - cuz you gotta be quick thinking and ya, know how to wrap up nicely and appropriately.. - This was in fact one of the segments that i tried to siam while i was helping out ( with no sucess..) cuz public speaking ain't my forte..

Was rather surprised to receive a text from charlene to ask me take tis segment - cuz ya, I'm "post-less" one ma (and usually these are done by the cgc - me 无名小卒 mah) ahha.. at most, I do songsheets (haha effortless for me one...). I'm still in the unique-circumstance of transit ( i hope the admin matters will be sorted out soon.. it's been 6 months already!) and doing birthdays.. (haha very low-level activity)... Nah, I will just render my help in ways that I could.. the title.. i already realised is just a title.. 稍微有点"看破红尘" (okay, not to that extreme..)

Hmmm, that being said.. I was glad it has been a refreshing week so far.. Monday night was supposed to meet cgl, steven, for a fellowship/sharing session with some of the other members which last min became a mega-session of goal-setting session. Frankly, I'm pretty amazed at the 轻浮 attitude some have towards the goal-settings.. I thought we are responisble for setting our own goals, and not brainstorming with one another for the goals for meant for yourself? Oh well, what steven shared was really word from heaven.. Plan.. Dream Big... Live it Up.. Throughout the past few weeks.. big thoughts that have popped up in the course of time (obviously not come to pass yet) reappeared... Why not right?

That being said, there still a long way to go on the road to recovery... at least I'm on my way.. Can't imagine how life will be should I have stayed on.. ( gosh! good grief not!)

And last nite sharing session with bro Poh was yet another recharing session.. Though the  "thomas" nature came up - the doubting nature.. cuz ya, majority of those present were either :guitarist, worship leaders or cgl or pcgl.. saya = none of the above = just a normal choir member..  Yet i was reminder of this.. that if He has not called, I would not be here... repent..

Was pretty surprised that feli jio-ed me to her condo gym before cg starts.. haha .. oh well.. it's good to have a workout buddy.. yay! healthy day today... (after the pack of bee hoon consumed...) haha.. Shall not have butterflies cuz me just a vessel ma.. and haha I know the default line to wrap up... though that's not very good lor..

And I will seriously consider about the val's suggestion.. :) just need to email her right??

What you post = your nod of approval? (NOT)

I've decided to remove one of the post. - the silly forwarded post on Yoga. Cuz one anonymous reader commented that "you don't post things that you don't agree". Oh well, just thought that it was an interesting "alternative" view on yoga - since it's been linked with religious practices.. Perhaps, the anonymous reader found it offending and stumbling?? Oh well, then i remembered Romans 14.

Romans 14

The Law of Liberty

 1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.11 For it is written:


      “ As I live, says the LORD,
      Every knee shall bow to Me,
      And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Since this being a free-access blog, I ought not act as a source to stumble the faint-hearted. I don't want your blood on my hands... That being said, I feel that whatever one posted DOES NOT necessary EQUATES to one's stamp of approval.  Sigh, i guess not everyone can read between the lines..

14 days into the new year

WOot.. It's the 14th day into 2008.

So far, it has been a great 14 days.. Looking forward to the session with brother Poh.. And attending with the rest of the ex-choir gals in my cg - my cgl, kei & summer.. :) It was a great session last thurs, cuz what was shared was partly revelational, partly reinforcement to what Holy Spirit has constantly reminding me while I sorta pretend not to hear...tsktsk...

And another happy vanity thing.. Some of the stubborn fats in the thigh area decided to dissipate for good.. :) [Pleasantly pleased that my colleague commented that aiyo u so small size - no lor.. i fat.. haha.. just a wee bit smaller than before...](gotta held on to my skirt while running for the bus this morning.. - so unglam!- cuz it was hanging percariously on the hips.. Thank God that the worst did not happen)! Can now happily fit into a size 26 levis, or a size 34 bottom (for that fit-look )/ 36 (for the comfy fit). Okie.. pure bimbotic.. haha.. but just a plain evidence that the traditional remedy for excess baggage - exercise (without paying huge sums to the beauty slimming centers) works! {alright, coupled with watching what you consume... and having a friendly friend to train you helps! haha.. cuz that make look forward to training every week.. :)] Though there's the lower abs that tsktsk not  too pretty still - haha.. soon soon... Anyway due to the ultra hanging syndrome that most my skirts/pants face - I gave myself the liberty to get new stuff.. Oh well.. i need to wear something presentable to work right (not the hanging drab (which most of the work pants are now.. ) - and i hate wearing shirts.. thank goodness i didn't buy those ridiculously expensive ones - the most i splurge was a ralph lauren one (the sole one i possessed)...). Bought a cute dress with detachable suspender (Deliberated for half an hour to get the 36 or 34 cuz it's the comfy vs fit.. i reckon i could only go smaller.. so 34 is the safer buy.. haha... like you care on my decision.. whatever.. since this is a bimbotic paragraph... ) & a work dress that was on sale from zara..

hmmm another 15 minute to knocking off.. Going to Chinatown later to soak in some CNY spirit.. will continue later in the night on less bimbotic stuff... 

Serenity

Since the start of 2009, I've made it twice to the pasir ris park that's like a few minutes away..  It's certianly a great way to start the day. Pure serenity of the beach during weekday evening - cuz no campers and no kids.. Morning wise is kinda great too.. just that it would be perfect if the "considerate" peeps who rent the bbq pits would clean up the mess after renting pits.. If not for the cleaners who were busily cleaning the trash left behind by these inconsiderate bunch, it would be perfect ground for the nesting ground for the mices and roaches..

That aside, I love the sea breeze, the serenity of it all. Really peaceful.. Perfect place to gather thoughts.. great place to do qt but kinda not too safe cuz of the campers (cuz a good number of them are foreign workers..) And strange as it may sound, presence of God hits me suddenly while i was leisurely jogging along the coastline (leisurely cuz it was really SLOW.. but i was just trying to wake my body up and haha recovering from the activities on Sat - PT followed by cardio followed by 3 bowling games) ..

Simple truths drawn -

1. The dawn always comes after the dusk...

Am looking forward to the dawn.. the light is beginning to shine.. :) Things are definitely looking brighter now than 365 days earlier.. At least, the pieces are slowing forming the picture that was all messed up earlier...

2. Be a good finisher!
Just like running in the natural realm, once you start the race, the only thing you can do is to finish it. It ain't logical to U-turn back to the starting point... same applies to the race in the spiritual realm..

And haha I'm getting hooked to running.. haha. :)

Honour

This morning, I was greeted by a friendly smile from the SBS bus captain and a chirpy good morning.. (And some mornings, when I boarded bus 17, the very friendly bus captain will always greet you when you board & alight the bus.. isn't that a great way to start a day?) But I noticed, apart from me and a few who returned her smile, the rest of the commuters, some pluigged into their music devices, walked passed her.. Despite what vocation they are serving, one oughta respect one another... Being in the service industry doesn't make them lower than you are.. even if they are serving you...

A couple weeks ago, one of my cg member raised this question, "Why must I know who the other pastors/ leaders are?". I was shocked at this question.. Perhaps, this has not cross my mind, or perhaps, it was inculcated since young to respect others and give due respect to those in authority. I drew an analogy that she would probably know those who are senior management in her company. Once again, I was (un)pleassantly surprised that she only know her direct boss and the big boss.. To her, it's not important.. And she was not convinced that the least we could do to honour our leaders is to greet them.. not too sure if she is bothered to find out who the other pastors in the church are.. (I don't blame her not knowing the leaders in the zone since there are so many of them... but at least the leaders rite, cuz these are ministers of God..) Well.. I know she is convinced by the message this afternoon.. :o (for the record, she ain't a new friend, or new believer...)

Oh well, I guessed I belonged to the generation in which the education encourages us not to challenged the norm.. or simply obey.. but then again, it makes perfect sense to respect the authority as well as those who are "under" you..  Perhaps, this thinking makes it easier to digest the biblical principle of giving honor to the leaders that God has placed over your life (whether you like them or not..) And yes, greeting them whether they know you personally or not is the least you could do..


Question: How often that we have treated those around us with less respect that they deserved?

People, be it those who have authority over you, or your peers, or those serving you. are all God's creation.. And all of them are important in their eyes..

sigh.. I repent against the disdain I show towards those who oozes pungent smell (those who are not that sensitive in the nose or simply bo-chup) and those who talk in decibel levels that you can hear them despite wearing the inner ear types of earpiece..

Failed system?

Recently read a friend's anguish blog post on the "failed" education system in Singapore.  Can't fault her for her disgust in the standard of English spoken/ written by her peers/ or whatever that she had came across. (she being a lit undergrad, naturally passionate about English language.)

To a certain extent, the advent of the Internet and the text-message has resulted in the deteriorating level of written English. Oh well.. it is not easy to master both the English language and the Chinese language. As the old saying goes - Jack of all trades, master of none.

Me = I'm a product of the old-education system whereby a selection of my cohort are given the opportunity to study both the English language and mother tongue as it's 1st language upon enrollment into one of the Secondary School under the SAP scheme... ( Think that they used to term it "EL 1 & CL1) and if I wanted to, I could take on a 3rd language as well..  Frankly, I prefer the use of mandarin compared to English, firstly, that was my sole source of spoken tongue till Primary One.. (till i was forced to learn English cuz my class - being the class with elder siblings in the school, hence the sole class with 10+ Malay students.. cuz my sch is a hokkien-clan related sch.. VERY cheena one.. Imagine.. the school actually has this incentive award - "Speak Good English" award to get the students to speak in english (rather than the mother tongue). The winner get to wear the "award" - a badge for one month? For the record, in my 6 years @ TNS, I only got it ONCE.. haha. that speaks for the level of English..  And yep, it's the worst subject in my Os, the sole B in the seas of sharp pointy alphabets.. {spoiler!)

English, though being the universal tongue, isn't a pure language too.. Click on the wiki link for details. So what's the fuss of Singaporean speaking Singlish? After all, it's like the common dialect of the nation. But yup do it at the appropriate time - such as informal gathering.. Certainly, not in those black-tie events.. or you risk being the joke of the day...

After all, we aren't natives of England, hence please don't fault us for failing to speak Queen's English or with the "much-coveted" American accent/ slang.  On the contrary, being of Asian desent, ought not we(the Singaporeans) be fluent in their respective mother tongue, be it Mandarin, Malay or Tamil?


Oh well.. although I prefer the western/english media (written/music/literature), I ain't potato nor banana.. (Potato - a term describing the chinese taking to the western culture etc) Banana - with similar meaning, just that it's more vivid - Banana - yellow skin, white flesh. Very apt  description of a non-chinese speaking Chinese!

After all, language is meant for communication. Question: Which is of greater importance - to write/converse in a manner in which is free of grammatical errors (written form), or in the case of conversation - the perfection pronunciation of each & every word. Yet, not all may understand... Note: Not everyone is linguistically-inclined.

Personally, being brought up in highly cheena environment, naturally, my preferred conversing language is Mandarin. I should be able to pass off as a Taiwanese (just that my command of vocab ain't that extensive..) and yes, i do fumble with the occasional *h or without h Or the n or ng sound" And yes, the poor grammatical sentence structure of a Singaporean irks me too.. But, i won't go to the extent of correcting their pronunciation/ sentence structure right in their face - if we are purely conversing - why the hassle?  If it really get on your nerves, do it subtly... or risk irking the party you are correcting.

Perhaps that explains why I can grasp the Japanese language easier than French ( my ge module in ntu.. ) And frankly, i forgotten most of my french already... haha..

That's enough for now.... :) Man, sounds like a topic for a GP essay... haha

nah, this post not found in the multiply blog.

welcome 2009!!

Was intending to usher in the new year in warm cosy home as I was rather tired after working very long hours every day after Christmas due to the peakpeak period... my cgl has invited us to his cozy place in AMK for the countdown.. but the ulu-ness factor of the location has deterred me a bit.. and on the morning of the new year's eve, mandy texted to jio for countdown @ marina sq with the choir angels.. (Oh man, MS? it'll be packed like sardines .. and i don't want to jostle with the throngs of peeps on train home for the few moments of fireworks display...) So, decided to be AS (anti-social) and to head home after attending the dinner invi (extend by my group controller to the various departments directly under him) @ Dover..

Was actually rather sleepy (cuz of the late nights and haha after the hitting the treadmill for 45min and a brief resistance training and haha two glasses of red wine & 1 glass of white @ the dinner) hence told mandy i was heading home for zzzz.. Then my colleague invited me to her church countdown party @ Bishan ... which sorta prompted me to head to AMK lo.. (afterall, hitch a ride there mah...) Hence, ended up shopping like an aunty (and was lost in the isles in AMK fairprice... ) for the stuff requested by master chef eugene... Elated to see vory there at cgl's place.. :) was rather surprise to see max there cuz.. haha thought it was a cg thingy?? haha.. nevermind.. was glad there ushering the new year with my spiritual family lor... haha and ended up as a maria again (like the time @ kei's place) cuz haha of master chef eugene... was fun still... and think it's a new year i drank quite a bitsy.. like 2 glasses of lime/vodka/gin connoctation ( lovely!!) and perhaps 2 glasses of white/red wine? but haha nope, was still very sober.. (just sleepy by the time cab headed home ard 4+)

New year day was spent sleeping... and ya.. sleeping.. hence have yet start on the goal setting yet.. haha.. but it was a good start so far.. Won a bright red luggage case in a lucky dip yesterday @ Tangs.. the lady @ the counter was more excited & happier than me cuz it was like one of the top prizes? (According to her, worth > $200 - ) and it was the first to be given out so far.. haha.. Didn't intend to splurge that much but seeing that i was $1 away from a lucky dip (cuz replenished my nite cream & serum ), or $101 away from two lucky dips and a can of abalone.. i figured perhaps, the prizes & the abalone can cover up what i spent.. hence.. haha..bought a pair of mary janes from clarks.. :) (lovely!)
And in turn, i managed not to cab, but lug the luggage, two pairs of shoes, and a pair of dumbbells up the train then bus home.. Thank goodness I've pair of strong arms.. haha.. :)

Goal setting this weekend.. :)

Aftermath of events in December....

It’s now the 2nd day into 2009. Nope, I haven’t managed to sit down to do embark on goal setting yet. But don’t think I would procrastinate for too long. (But I won’t be as stubborn as last year as to waste the whole year away – in the wake of the juvenile reaction to the long vacation.)

It was hectic hectic from Mid December 08 to the very last day of December, cuz it was my SUPER peak period. Yet silly me decided to volunteer for the Christmas drama, not expecting serious dance moves (oh well, some peeps feel that my moves aren't BIG enough for the stage and too stiff - and tried to "help" by singling you out to openly correct even @ the last moment - despite the fact that there were some who made the wrong moves, yet went undetected.. - double standard?) Was working OT every nite after Christmas day cuz i was "ordered" to take leave despite highlighting the fact that I've only half a day leave left and it's super busy period for me (my turnover time for each case is 48 hours lo - cuz the auditor set the deadlines for the accounts to be at 2 Jan, hence tax provisions should be in asap... ) - (which I'd informed the i/c immediately upon receipt of the rehearsal schedules - which she did not request to try taking leave - hence it is reasonable to take it that it's alright for me to turn up after lunch time for both 23rd & 24th ( cuz I'll need to take two days leave - which I only have one day - to be around for the full run AND I'm not required at jw and hence, i'd initially applied for leave on 23 am only. AND it's super busy period and it's not good to inconvenience others to cover you on urgent stuff when it's up to the neck with work for everyone...) YET there are working adults who were allowed to appear in the afternoon both 23rd & 24th. Double-double standard? Or simply because they bo-chup? I don't know.. but peeved indeed I'm over the inconsistency of the treatment... Cuz the i/c texted me this "Can you take unpaid leave for the two days as all will be required at the full run.. if not you might be taken out.." UNPAID leave? And it's like LAST minute unpaid leave during SUPER PEAK period... Man, why don't you just ask me to resign? Question: if you are the boss and your employee asked you for unpaid leave (because you're required to attend rehearsals when your company is facing tight deadlines and manpower shortage.. how would you rate him/her...) Yet, despite telling her my situation (that my boss won't be happy about me taking leave in midst of peak period and i don't have leave already - paid leave or unpaid leave, any boss won't be happy when u are missing during peak period... - ) she texted me to try asking my boss.. And I'm am darned peeved at how understanding this person is. To cut the story short, (and thank God for the favour of man) GM allowed me to take an advance leave after consulting my two Senior managers on the status of work progress... BUT.. upon realisation that two to three peeps appear after lunch time/ and evening time (!!) on 23rd and on the actual day itself... (cuz they were working) how fair do you rate the incident? Frankly, i regreted being so guai to ask for the favour, cuz in turn, the time there was spent (kinda in vain)... don't get me wrong, if I'm not that tied up with work, i don't mind be there the whole day when required.. but since you can make an exception for those working peeps, why not me when i have more than vaild reason and yet you request me to take unpaid leave in BUSY period (come to think of it, i should have just make my stand and at most forgo the drama lo..)

Oh well, can't really fault her since she ain't really in the workforce and doesn't understand the mechanism behind. Btw in some organisation, taking unpaid leave = pro-ration of your bonus & leave entitlement in the year which the unpaid leave was taken... And taking urgent leave for not life and death matter - how well does it reflect on your performance??

I understand that your strictness was due to the fact that many were missing (10 out of 30+) on the sunday rehearsal... There were only four more days to the actual day and some were missing due to not-so-urgent reasons and to some, that was only their first time attending the rehearsal!! Hence, director was obviously not pleased with the attitude of the choir angels.. (cuz missing of mass peeps meant plotting of position - mission not very possible).. and the clowning around at the wrong time and wrong place adds to the displeasure that some of the dramatists (ie. those in drama) have shown towards the "choir angels"... oh well.. truly, the uncalled for behavior has earned a not very good reputation for the choir... Perhaps, they were unaware of it? Sigh.. there's a time & season for everything...

Man ain't perfect but then again, you could try to be fair... at least show consistency in decision making .... oh well... all in all.. this will be the last time I'll be involved.. but as i was walking out of the hall after the last performance on 25th, the many hands I saw in the air that responded to the altar call... i know it's worth it all... :)

What I took away from this christmas:

• catching up with lovely gals like jolene, sheena and mandy.. :). At least I get to spend the christmas eve before the first service (at the expenses of taking leave) chilling away from 11+ to 4pm @ TM.. Luxury right?? :)
• an opportunity to observe what lies beneath... what you see might not be what you get.... and i rest my peace...