My first work day in Ox year

Off went the Rat, here comes the Ox… In a blink of an eye, CNY is already on its 3rd day… The preparation for CNY always seems to be mountainous, but the festive season will be over before one realized it.

The indulging super long weekend ended so fast that I was feeling blue going to work today. I regretted not taking another day off – the roads were empty and trains had no crowd. However, most people in my office, being non-locals, were already running at full steam, dampening my CNY mood certainly. Of course, I know very clearly the main reason why I resisted so much about getting into office – the person sitting next to me…

And I did lose my cool with some people in office today. :O I always have little tolerance for nonsensical stuff especially at work, but I have managed (or so I thought) to mellow that down quite a fair bit nowadays. Yet, my mood was biting me so much today that I almost blew off my top! Obviously, my low tolerance could not be hidden nor my irritated tone could go unnoticed. But well, what was done cannot be undone. I just hope I did not start myself on the wrong foot. :(

I would re ground myself of course, me attempting to be the sensible me… So tomorrow will be a better day. *fingers crossed*

“My vision, commitments dictate my actions, not my feelings, assessments or evaluations…”

BUT I should seriously consider if I should take a day off this Friday…

My last clearing in the Year of Rat

When a friend can walk out of you because of that little bit of money, I think it is a little hard to swallow.

Objectively, it is a fair transaction – I pay you the right price, you come and work for me. Some other people pay you a higher price, you move on. There is nothing that I can do or stop it from happening. But the line gets blur when I am talking about a friend here, not to say I am talking only a mere three months here.

When you asked for that price which can compensate you well for your move, I got it for you. When you are in for these few months, you are obviously not as busy as I am, for I think I should give you time to adapt. When you are late or do not come to work, I close one eye...

Yet, after a short stint of three months, you said you want to move back to your ex-company. You said they are going to retain the operation in Singapore instead of the initial plan to shift the team to Bangalore eventually, thus they wanted to hire back people like you who need no training. They have come up with a pay package to match your existing pay, and with that come the $1k London shift allowance, which you think make a huge difference to your income … You have also found a whole string of all other reasons to justify your decision.

I have told myself to draw a clear line between work and friendship. Thus I had not wanted to make you wrong nor want to exploit on feelings… cos I know there will be no end to that. There is also no point getting someone to stay and be unhappy about that. So I had a chat with you very objectively, minus all feelings and assessments, and let you get to where you want to.

But really, it is indeed upsetting if I let all my feelings get to me. As a friend, you had never considered the difficult spot (and the possible shit hole) that you had landed me into by your actions and decision. You have also not appreciated much of the many things that I have done for you here. All you think of is you, yourself and money. So I really wonder what am I to you- a tool that you can make use of and to leverage on?

I do know our vision and thoughts are different, so it is each to his own – there is nothing wrong with your decision. There should be no hard feelings at all, and I don’t think I will have. The issue itself is not a big deal, but it is just tougher to swallow the tints of disappointment in your characters and our friendship...

P.S. Do not exploit me of my trust, love and sincerity... for I can be very vulnerable when it comes to all these.

It's all grim news

World economy now is going downhill, we are in a worst recession after the longest time. What can poor employees like me expect? No job security, no bargaining power... Life is going to be tougher... Better tighten wallet and save more, for I am not as rich as Tan Yong Soon...

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Reuters - Wednesday, January 21

By Neil Chatterjee and Jan Dahinten

SINGAPORE, Jan 21 - Singapore's economy shrank the most on record in the last quarter of 2008 and the government forecast a 5 percent contraction this year and a possible fall in consumer prices, which may prompt a one-off currency devaluation.

A government declaration that the economy was suffering its worst ever recession and official forecasts of a continued slump suggested to analysts the central bank could push down the centre of the trading band for the Singapore dollar, effectively devaluing it to help the key export sector.

The grim figures, largely a reflection of Singapore's exposure to the slump in global trade, also pave the way for an expansionary budget on Thursday as the government scrambles to shelter the economy from the worst global financial crisis in decades.

"The Singapore economy is going through its sharpest, deepest and most protracted recession," the Trade Ministry's Second Permanent Secretary Ravi Menon told journalists.

Government data showed gross domestic product shrank in the fourth quarter at a deeper-than-expected and seasonally adjusted rate of 16.9 percent, the biggest fall on record and the third consecutive quarterly contraction. Provisional figures had reported a 12.5 percent slump.From a year earlier, gross domestic product fell 3.7 percent.

That left 2008 growth at just 1.2 percent, an abrupt turnaround from a 7.7 percent expansion in 2007 when the stock market <.FTSTI>, financial services and property prices were booming.

The government downgraded its view of the economy for the second time in just three weeks, reflecting the rapid deterioration in the global economy that has seen much of the developed world slip into recession.

Singapore now sees GDP falling between 2 percent and 5 percent this year, which would be the worst performance on record, with consumer prices flat to down 1 percent.

"The official acknowledgement of deflation risks keeps alive a strong possibility that an eventual downward band re-centring could be on the cards in April," said Kit Wei Zheng at Citigroup, adding it could also restore some cost competitiveness.

However, the central bank said on Wednesday its monetary policy stance was intact after it moved to zero appreciation for the currency in October to counter the global financial crisis. It said it had no plans to review policy before a scheduled meeting in April.

Singapore manages monetary policy by adjusting the value of its currency in a secret trade-weighted band.

梁文音【最幸福的事】

How to resist falling in love with this song? I really do not know. Btw, the highlight of this MV is at the end, so be a little patient.

歌詞:

你撐著雨傘 接我那次
已經足夠我 記得一輩子
我懂後來你 不是不堅持
愛情本來就 沒萬無一失
淚水離開了 你的手指
那不如讓它 留在這信紙
我想女孩子 最貼心的是
讓愛的人選 結束的方式

我最幸福的事 當過你的天使
趁鼻酸能掩飾 讓我們像當時擁抱最後一次
最幸福的事 吹蠟燭時你總為我許願的手勢
為摯愛的人 在左邊心口保留位是最幸福的事

可惜愛不是 童話故事
不能夠永遠 依賴著王子
再難過其實 隻剩兩個字
我怎麼忍心 為難你解釋

我最幸福的事 當過你的天使
趁鼻酸能掩飾 讓我們像當時 擁抱最後一次
最幸福的事 吹蠟燭時你總為我許願的手勢
為摯愛的人 在左邊心口保留位置 是最幸福的事

那一陣子有你 美得不像現實
多高興每一幕 都微笑著靜止

我最幸福的事 牽著你的日子一段愛
從開始 即使分開我們 都對彼此誠實
最幸福的事 對那片海用力大喊永遠的樣子
想得起那時 那天和你傻笑著認識 是最幸福的事

Mary Jane!

This is my newly bought pair of Mary Jane Crocs... after a failed attempt to buy my running shoes (yet again!) at Queensway.

There is a 30% discount, so I think it is a great buy to replace my green Athens Crocs.

I'm easily satisfied, so am happy with this great buy! I got the cutie studs too (at a discount too, of course!)... Haaa...

I must say Crocs are really comfy walking shoes! Never judge slippers/shoes by their appearances...

Oh Women...!

We have more and more women joining our team in our office in these recent weeks
And one of my colleagues shares the same sentiments as I do -
It's worrying cos we know how some women can complicate things, not to say they cat fight
There are thousand and one things women compare amongst themselves
Looks, figure, age, status, dressing, make-up, bags, shoes... the list can go on and on
Some women obviously can be very threatened by younger, prettier and more energetic newbies
Some others resist that there is another woman more powerful, more assertive in the same room as they are
Some just cannot stand the fact that they are no longer the centre of attention
So they resort to stunts of all sorts to get to where they want to be...
Conversations such as "she is a bitch", "she did this, she did that” and “like and dun like" blah blah blah start to storm the grapevine...
Women can be worst creatures on earth when they start to get insecure
These undercurrents are worse than chemical warfare itself

At the end of it all, I think it eventually boils down to self confidence - knowing who you are, where you stand in terms of your own beauty and capabilities
We all are unique individuals with different personalities, looks and strengths, appealing to different people and excelling in different areas
Embracing fully who we are will make us shine brightly amongst the crowds...
Yes, it's easier said than done...
And ... I am also a woman...

My 2009 Declarations

Decide to do these few in 2009:
A marathon, a climb and a few dive trips;
Staff an advance, aim for greater heights at work, and spend more times with loved ones...

To be:
Be open, loving, passionate, focused and determined...

Simple? Yes??? (You sure?!)

Period.

What a first week

Last week was only the first week officially into the New Year at work, but it had already presented a fair share of challenges to me, driving me almost nuts…

I wonder how all can develop over the months and where I will be by then. Some things, there aren't instant solutions; for others, the situations do not seem to happen in my favour.

Is it a bad omen for the year? Or maybe I am over worrying, for things will all fall in place eventually…

Whichever, I definitely will not sit around and wait for the sky to drop or the hare to run and bang its head in front of me. At times like these, it is always wise to be constantly on my toes.

Let's wait and see… Bless me.

My 2008

A late post, but I did do my review and reflection of 2008. On hindsight, the year did not seem bad afterall - it is always a blessing to have all things to work out eventually, isn't it?

Work had been very challenging as I struggled my way through… There were countless moments when I sat at my desk and pondered hard over what was the appropriate next step. And my bonus sucked big time as compared to others when I got my adjustment letter in Nov. But it was all rectified when my boss gave a pretty good pay increment thereafter.

Relationships with family hasn't been easy - heaps of effort to get them handled, and they drove me nuts very often. Fortunately, there wasn't any big issue that could not be resolved, and together with the support from Dan, so I should not be complaining.

I did 2 marathons in 2008, which is the first time…and after 3 years from my first full marathon attempt in 2005. There were improvements in each run, which was something for me to celebrate about. Running - it is about ability and determination to finish a run even though I am not built for it and I am less than half past six at it. My learning and results from running are used to support all other areas in my life when I face crunch times.

I did 3 a-week long diving trips in the year too. Diving opens up a different world and experience… It is awesome to see so many remarkable living things in the sea. Besides, it is amazing how one's mind will never be on anything else (like work or dinner!) underwater…

All being said, I wish for a better and smoother year in 2009…