78-65 Days (The last 2 weeks)

Well, for a start the last 2 weeks had been busy but emm, great.. I supposed. For a start, I got feedback from someone who commented that my blog is too wordly.. o.k, will try to keep it short.

The last 2 weeks past by real fast, maybe it is becos I am really tight up with all the company work as well as all the lunches/dinner etc.. yes, somehow, I am involved in 1 or 2 function each week, the good ones are those that got free food and also got free gifts to bring back.. the bad ones are those who I had to pay and not enjoyed the food so much.. next week I am attending a 2 days seminar so free food again and hopefully some free gifts..

I am a bit tight on my financial now, having get an advanced of my company salary 2 weeks ago as part of my NS pay.. so kinda overspent.. emm, sian ah.. but emm, have to struggle a bit and slogged through to the next pay day on 9th Nov.. good thing is I had paid all my credit card bills for the month and also some outstanding loans..

Yesterday was Halloween, I went back company to work cos like I said, I need money so need to clock some OT... $10 an hour is a good rate considering most companies dun pay their exec staff OT.. I love this company!! I was asked to help out in the decoration for the CDAC Volunteers' Night event which is in some Bottle Tree Park in Yishun.. figure that I got too much time on hand so took a super long bus rate which I did not enjoy.. anyway the event kicked off real good, I am tasked to me the bouncer... had to hold a toy axe and wear a stupid cap and made sure everyone dressed up.. not bad.. but later decided to get some make-up.. fake blood and dark eye shadows.. also ended up been nominated to compete for the Mr Halloween compeitition.. which I had to do a catwalk.. but emm, I did not win.. overall, great evening and kudos to Jenny for organising the event..

I also managed to get back in contact with Zhu, which is good.. considering that I have not been able to contact her for a while now.. had a real good chat with both of us talking about anything under the sky.. I met up with a ex-colleague to get some advice on how to sustain the relationship, she was also from China and had followed her husband to come over to Singapore to work.. she had like met her husband for less than a handful of time before they got married, most of the time, they contact by phone or MSN.. her advice is real simple, show care and concern.. called during birthday and special occassion.. send flowers and make the ger real comfortable with your approach and lastly and most importantly, get to know the parents and let them know you better, cos she used to be like Zhu.. dun wanna leave her hometown and parents but with encouragement from her parents, she decided to move on.. sounds real simple to do but emm will take a lot of effort.. for a start I must be firm that Zhu is the ger I am looking to settle down with.. there should never be 2 minds when coming to Love.. good luck to me.

I am planning to have my monthly sushi today but emm the great Divine One is tied up with fulfiing the wishes of his followers so Sushi have to come later.. anyway remember, next meal your turn treat hor! I also missed the claypot rice, next week must die die organise a claypot rice dinner or go down myself since I will be in town for my seminar.. for your info, the claypot rice stall I am talking is at beach road market at the basement level facing the road/Golden Mile.

Of my indulgence and obsession.. I am still obessed with my hobby and emm sad to say, I indulgence another large sum of money in the cardboards I love so much.. this have to stop soon.. I hope.. I still love to buy 4D and recently my luck had been quite o.k.. last week kena $500, although it seems a decent sum, it is nothing to scream about considering that I spent $700 that sunday on my root canal treatment.. emm, I also need to learn to balance my sums.. gains and losses.. if not I will always have the perception that I am in positive financial territory when I am in fact in deep financial shit...

I have been trying to plan my holidays, especially on when to go down to Hainan again. Tigerair recent got a 50% promotion but emm, even with the cheapest ticket, the total adds up to about $220++ with the airport taxes constituting 75% of the fare.. darn.. no wonder someone told me budget isn't really that cheap and it is better off paying abit more to get a proper plane... There is a lot of thing on my mind now.. for a start I think I wanna do a Penang-KL-Malacca-Singapore expendition tour.. done that before but that was when my Penang friend was having his holidays and we drove down from his hometown in Penang to KL to jalan jalan then to join his family who is holidaying in Malacca.. going alone is a bit sian also.. emm, wonder if I can get anyone to join me.. I was also contemplating donating some money to the late Mr Lim, the founder of Genting International.. got a bit of itch to try my luck..

While planning my holidays, I am also planning on how to spend my bonus.. ya, it is still quite far away from Bonus day but emm, I had to plan so that I used the money wisely.. for a start, I hope to get at least 1.5 mths (after pro-rate) so that I can used the money to clear a credit card bill and also pay my mom back the money I owe her as well as giving her a good allowance for Chinese new year.. if there is any extra then saved a bit and used some for my personal expenses.. but emm, always plan and have expectations but ended up most of the time disappointed... what if only 1.25 or 1 mth...

Lastly, just to let everyone who is reading this know that I am getting on well, just abit of loneliness kicking in at times and occassional frustrations from work.. take care.. later..

85 -79 days (Boring ICT Week)

In camp training or ICT is suppose to be fun, a time for you and your fellow comrades whom you had not met for the past year to meet up and reminiscene (I've check, this is the correct word) on the good old navy days. A time to laze around and keep your mind free from all the hassle and buzzer of life.. but not when they is just too much lazing around...

For a start, this ICT had been short of enjoyable.. rather..time-wasting or time-consuming is the word. Almost everyday, we were made to wait and wait for further instructions, even when it is obvious that we had nothing to do for the day.. in short.. it is sheer tortune..

8th Oct (Monday) - Report to camp in my nicely ironed number 3 uniform (thanks mom..), was proud to be in this uniform although the pants did not fit so well and makes me looks a bit sloppy. Also have to dig out my good old NOKIA phone cos camera phones are not allowed inside the camp. Told a real long mrt ride to Lakeside.. I can't believe that a year ago I was taking this trip daily with ease.. the journey sure took a long time.. on the train was contemplating whether to take the Navy bus or the feeder bus, since I have no navy pass. Decided to try my luck at Lakeside and get on the bus without anyone asking.. anyway I am not entering the camp what.. Standard reporting arrangement, gather at the auditorium and take attendance, followed by some boring lecture. That take away half a day.. was expecting to go back early but emm, the time just drag on.. finally got released at about 5 pm... sian ah... ah oh yes, no thanks to the blur sotong officer who missed the Staff Sergeant name and named me as the IC instead.. Got home, have dinner and was lazing around, decided to msg the SDU ger but she never reply.. oh well.. David msg for supper, call J but he say may be late cos working.. fell asleep at about 9 pm.. woke up real tired so msg the guys saying supper is cancelled.. forced myself to type out a namelist of the guys I am in charge off with their phone numbers, I know this will come in handy.. slept at about 1 am..

9th Oct (Tuesday) - After been told of the schedule the previous date, I planned to go back to clear my e-mail if the day ends early. Also need to forward Sue's resume to HR for the planner/buyer position. Reach camp and changed into my overalls. Was wondering why so many people in number 3 when I was told that the irg was number 3 for the day lectures.. emm, but I wasn't inform what.. then was told that they only mentioned it after releasing us at the auditorium the previous day, I probably missed it as I was one of the first guys to rush out.. Those in overalls were made to sit in the front row and our names were taken down.. it was then to the "why people know, you dunno" thing with some idiot NS Officer.. I tried to argue back but was hold back by another guy... who told me no need to argue.. the officer is always right.. ended up no punishment but next day going to have uniform inspection.. sian see bor.. another day of lazing went by and today we were released even later.. figure that since it was already 5 plus, no point for me to go back to company but guess what.. while having my dinner, my boss called me and asked if I can go back to company as he was having class and they need someone to certify the confined space entry.. figure that since I also wanna go back to clear e-mail and I gonna get a refundable taxi ride back to company, I agreed to go back.. also called David and J to arrange to meet for supper.. At the company, after certifying the entry, went to cleat my e-mails, nothing in particular.. read Sue's e-mail.. quite touching., and forward her resume to HR. Hope all goes well.. left at 9:30 pm to meet the guys at Circuit Road Hawker centre.. drink and chat till about 11:30 pm before David send me back home in his nice red Beetle.. on the way talk abit about Mr J but emm surprisingly David did not criticized him as he used to do.. emm, went home clear e-mail and slept at about 1 am.. and oh, the SDU ger message me in the morning, she was sick so did not get my message the previous day, wish her get well soon but did not call..

10th Oct (Wednesday) - Could not get back in time so took a cab to camp.. it was ex.. cost me about $25.. was almost late so never go to the locker room to keep my bag.. the inspection went well except for one of my guy who was on MC yesterday, I was unable to contact him also.. he was in overalls during the inspection but managed to stay clear of trouble.. cannot remember how time passed but was told we have night sailing, think we only came back past 9 pm.. was offered a ride to Clementi which I accept graciously.. shared a cab with one of my guys staying near my area.. tomorrow had to report at 0730 hrs so asked him to share cab in the morning.. the f-up thing was that they was no dinner catered during the sailing unlike the previous year, we were told to consume combat rations.. real tired so have dinner, shower, abit of TV and then hit the sack..

11th Oct (Thursday) - Another day of waiting.. reach at 7:30 am.. wait for almost 2 hours before start sailing.. was oly restricted to base.. program was to load the army vehicles on and off... did only one cycle and they call it quits for the day session... ended at about 12:30 pm and was told to go for lunch and report at 3 pm.. reported at 3 pm but was low tide.. no gangway to go up the boat, some daring guys took the dangerous method of jumping onto the structure of the boat.. decided against doing that and also asked my guys not to do the dangerous act.. the navy is OHSAS 18001 certified so they are supposed to handle this risk.. told the officer that I am not going to get back the boat if no proper access is given.. was told to go for canteen break and report back a 4 pm... waited at the wharf at 4 pm then see CO and some other officers coming by to check the situation.. told CO about the danger of jumping over... was told to R&R till 7 pm.. chat with the guys at the mess and was told dinner was the same as lunch.. so offered to buy pizza so placed order.. pizza was late but managed to get onboard in time.. had a great pizza meal with some of the guys... do somemore loading and unloading before calling it quits at almost 9:30 pm.. hitch a ride to clementi and shared a cab back home.. long and tiring day..

12th Oct (Friday) - Suppose to be a off-day for all company staff but I was on ICT... sian see bor.. last day of exercise.. endure... report at 8:30 am and was told to R&R till 1.30 pm.. more waiting.. was expecting an exercise with the army but was informed tha no exercise, we just do our routine drills at Pulau Sudong.. went on board at 1:30 pm but was told to report back at 3 pm as only sailing at 3:45 pm.. sian ah... during lunch meet up with an ex-medic, chat about the old times and about a senior medic I used to like.. apparently she is going to divorce the guy whom i hate and is currently hanging out with a airforce captain.. emm, I know the guy was a good for nothing but then if I did managed to get her..I am also not so well off now.. anyway wish her all the best lah.. sail at 4 pm.. went to sudong was having a nap when woke up by the other IC, told me OC when to have FFDC drill.. I wonder.. what for.. gather the guys but before I can give any briefing... was told to gather as the crew will be giving a demo.. turns out they did not have the essential items onboard so have "simulated" training and briefing before calling it quits.. spent time chatting with the guys.. finally finished at about 9:30 and reach base at almost 10 pm.. have some milo and coffee as supper and return my stores... was approached by another guy staying in hougang to share cab so asked the guy who send me to clementi to add in another guy.. when reaching clementi.. the guy who was supposed to share cab just disappear.. call him and he told me he changed his mind and will be taking MRT.. shit him... reach home almost midnight.. cannot sleep so clear e-mails and laze around till almost 2 am before hitting the sack..

13th Oct (Saturday) - Today is Hari Raya, thought I might be invited to visit someone's home but no invitation.. spend the morning listing my cards on ebay... have a short nap in the afternoon.. woke up at 4 pm and cooked myself some noodles.. dun feel like going out so spent the next few hours lazing and surfing internet.. managed to control myself from visiting Singapore Pools.. after a light dinner, called Zhu but never picked up phone.. also message the SDU ger but no reply.. msg Zhu also but also no reply... getting a bit sian down here.. luckily going back to working routine next week... watch a bit of soccer before hitting the sack..

14th Oct (Sunday) - Pretty boring day so far... woke up at 8 am and proceed to list more cards for sale.. told myself I need to raised USD$3000 in 12 months... dunno raised the money for what but emm, just some plan to keep my mind occupied... wonder what I can sell to hit the target... Dad brought breakfast.. had laksa and beancurd.. real full.. proceed to call Mike for a chat... have a great chat.. he is becoming a father in March.. congrats.. after call, proceed to call Zhu but phone was off.. I think maybe she is not at Qionghai.. but then she may be just ignoring me.. sad but true.. I just have to accept the fact.. I am supposed to go and get a hair cut but emm, just dun feel like going out just yet...

Sometimes when you got too much time on hand, it gets really lonely when you have no one to talk to... I missed Zhu but emm things just doesn't seem to be working out.. I feel sorry for the SDU ger.. sorry but it is just not the right time now for me to know someone else... sorry... emm, actually I should be happy.. nothing is really bothering me at the moment except for the love thing which shouldn't actually be that distracting since Zhu and me never really got started... emm, still a long way to go before the end of the year and there are so much things that need to be done.. Meng Chye.. you have to stay focused...

Emm, have to help GM do his assignment.. hope I can garnered enough willpower to start soon.. have a great sunday and week ahead everyone...

92 - 86 days... Life is Great!

Life is great! Especially when you get free meals, free drinks and lots of companionship all week round. I would say that this had been a great week.. if only this would continued..

Monday (1st Oct) - Nothing much happened at work.. emm.. just that I wanna work OT but have some outdated mails to post so emm, have to go down to Singapore Post Centre at Paya Lebar. I was expecting a long queue since it was the start of the month.. those people who like the personal touch thing.. will go and pay their bills by cash.. emm, with all the technology and IT age thing.. why can't people go by GIRO or pay online or some other queueless method.. I wonder when is this going to end.. anyway, took me 40 mins to get to my turn, it doesn't help when there is only 2 counters serving, 1 with a new staff.. Got home at about 7:30 pm, have dinner and nothing much to do (I going in camp soon.. so no mood to do anything..) so decided to call the SDU ger.. Emm when she picked up the call, I tried to use my cold calling method to talk to her, see if she say "sorry I dun want or I dun need". hahah but think she got problem digesting what I say until I mentioned about SDU. That must had triggered her mind.. then we started talking or rather i am doing most of the talking.. the conversation went well lor, lots of giggles and laughter emm, but it seems like she is the submissive type which emm, may not really suits me.. anyway, see how it goes. I did not call ZHU as I dun wanna have the feeling that I am doing a 2 timer thing..

Tuesday (2nd Oct) - Same thing at office, struggling to finish the stupid blue file things.. doesn't help when I am having bad stomache.. but emm, I am not going to take MC, trying to establish a personal best record for no of days without taking medical leave... Ivan from RT arranged for a dinner at Paramount this evening and was looking forward to it.. try to make the date go by real fast but having extended breakfast, lunch and teabreak.. soon it was end of the workday and time for the dinner... I was told we are going for a ala-carte buffet which emm, based on my stomach condition may not be so good of an idea but emm, I dun care as long as I got companionship... I reach Parkway and manage to find my way to Paramount, I think the last time I went there was about 10 yrs or more ago... the building is made up of 2 sections, one side is the shopping centre and the other the hotel.. as there was no seats at the hotel lobby (the seats was actually quite near to the cafeteria so dun wanna end up spending $$ on coffee). I went into the shopping centre and behold what caught my eyes, sweet things was moving around the area, all skimpy dressed.. oh my I am going to get a nose bleed. I looked around and found out that there was 2 pubs at level 1 so from my level 2 position, I looked and scanned around the gers (mostly filipina I think).. emm, oh my.. I am getting a bit dizzy up there.. anyway, finally Ivan came along and we proceed to wait for the rest outside the restaurant.. Jerome was late and as usual David the organiser was late also.. The restaurant was actually Tung Lok the famous chinese restaurant and the food is great even for a ala-carte buffet.. After the meal, Jerome, Ivan and me decided to check out the scene as Jerome was going for a smoke.. emm, I must comment again.. nose bleed... when we came back, David told us that he had footed the bill... tried to pay him but emm, he say we can organised again and rotate between us.. emm, anyway, it was a great dinner and I enjoy the companionship from my new friends..

Wednesday (3rd Oct) - Dun recall anything significant, just that I finally got to work OT... still have to meet Mya before she fly off with her hubby to shanghai.. Called Zhu at night, she was with her friends, talke to her for a while but emm, like no topic to talk and she not like talking much.. so asked her to pass the phone to her friend's hubby and talk to him for a while mostly exchanging regards.. then pass the phone back, chat for a while more on brainless issues and wish her goodnight.. I think my work and work therapy may be working as I dun feel so heart-broken now...

Thursday/Friday (4th & 5th Oct) - These 2 days have to go down Bedok in the evening for meeting, rushing to finish off some stuff before I go for my in camp next month.. Getting a bit worried on a company project thing on cost-savings, have spoken and met up with the vendors and all seems well but emm when I discussed with the person who is supposed to be doing this project, he seems reluctant to accept the proposal.. Kind of make me worry as I had taken up quite a look of the vendors time and make them seems that their proposal is promising.. sorry guys.. Went off to the Singapore Post Centre again to send some stuff, there was no queue this time... how ironic... anyway, finish my stuff and went to Popular to buy a book.. yes, a book.. it was but Mary Bukoh (933 DJ).. her brother is working in my company.. so emm, figure that I can passed the book to him to get it signed.. a bit bo liao but... emm.. that is just some of the things you can do to divert your mind away from the less happier things..

Boss was sick on friday so was informed that the meeting with Purchasing Dept had to go on.. dunno what to prepare.. just call Bedok to prepare some documents and went down.. Was slightly late due to some last minute issues.. anyway, taking into account how these people are, I try to be very careful on how I talk but as usual, my PR skills prevails and they openly offered to help to work on this issues with us.. not too bad.. at least i got one less thing to think of.. eh, wait a minute.. ain't I suppose to find more things to keep me worried so that I dun think of the less happier things... emm.. Meet up with J.. we had mac (I realised that I had not enough money in my wallet when paying my meals.. fxxk where did all my money went?). Not to mentioned too much but we discussed on some sensitive issues and emm, I can just hop he gets over it soon..

Saturday (6th Oct) - Having a 7th month organising committee dinner this evening.. I spent the whole morning lazing around before proceeding for my Kidsread... was slightly late as I hanged out a bit too long at Singapore Pools (dun ask what I doing there... it is nothing great)... Today everyone was late for the training but surprisingly the kids was seated quietly in the room... rush to get everything done... do spelling.. some art and craft and story-telling with the other volunteers.. Was also informed by Jenny (my ex-classmate working at CDAC) that there were some hand painting thing today.. after finish the class with the first batch.. proceed to have spelling with the second batch.. after which the older kids and the other volunteers came into the room to do the hand painting thing.. the kids were supposed to hand print on a paper bag which would be used as a goody bag during the volunteers' nignt on the 27th.. anyway, all I can say is that it is a big mess... the watercolor was too dilute.. there were too many people in the room... there was no proper area identified for the bags to dry... emm, mess... Anyway, finish the stuff and it was still early so meet up with William at Clementi.. we had a good chat.. emm, I supposed on him and maybe daniel are the only person who remains in contact with me after I left the agency.. I also mentioned about the ger who left the agency... emm, I simply cannot understand why she would leave and also condemned almost all the people down there.. people that show their concern and care for her.. maybe she is just a crusader as what I used to be... I used to dun contact people from my ex-company once I left... even if they used to be on very god terms with me.. not sure if she will read this but if it is not too much of an inconvenience to you, I would like you to return me the things you still owe me... sorry if it sounds crude but emm, since you dun appreciate the concerns people show to you then I think I am better off showing my concerns for my our friends.. the dinner went off nicely.. food was not that great but emm.. a lot of jokes and laughter.. and ya.. I was the youngest among the organising committee.. most are in their 40s, 50s and some in their 60s.. but emm, I think it is a good way to hang out with your ex-colleagues and also to retain my chinese values.. thank you O.D.E for giving me a chance to get involved.. after dinner, proceed to Spencer's house to have a drink.. the guys at all there... including Mr J... he was still not himself... anyway... was real tired by then... chat and have some drinks and then proceed home to hit the sack... tired...

Sunday (7th Oct) - Not sure what I gonna do... went to the market to buy food and also to join my fellow singaporeans in their queuing exercise.. manage to do 2 sessions at the Lor Mee and Fried Carrot Cake stall... first session lasted for 30 mins and 20 mins for the other... good work guys.. let keep up the spirit of queuing and hope we make it as an offical sports in the next olypmic games.. Wanna call Zhu or the SDU ger but emm, just dunno what to say... called David, he was in JB but agreed to meet tonight for dinner... then maybe have a drink at a pub.. tried my navy pants and oh.. I think I lost a bit of weight.. or is it becos of my recent stomach problems... gonna take nap and wake up to see the F1 race... I hope Lewis Hamilton wins...


Lastly something for the guys who may read it to remembers..

My Insurance Policy -- to the person whom I talk to... pls plan for me based on my needs and also do consider my present financial situation

The Ger who Left and Condemned Everyone -- Kindly return me what you owe me and if you still wanna be friends, pls drop me a message.. If not, nice knowing you and good luck for your future endeavours...

Mr J - life goes on...

Thanks and have a great week everyone...