New Year Resolutions

Some people never believed in this. This group of people thinks it is all crap. I on the other hand, do try and make New Year Resolutions because unlike the group mentioned, I try to make my New Year Resolutions work. It sort of gives me a focus on some of the things I will like to achieve for the current year.

I don’t like long term goals usually so the period of one year is the longest period for me to base my resolutions on. Before I think about this year resolution, maybe let me review the resolutions that I made last year.

2004 was quite clearly one of the worst years as far as I can remember. Think one of the resolutions I made was to reduce the frequency that I am late whenever I am going to school or meeting my friends. As my friends can testify, this resolution was errr just empty talk. (lalalalalala I tried for a while eg like 7 days before I realize old habits die hard =p )
Other resolutions include doing well for exam (unfulfilled), getting a gold for IPPT(I failed ): ) and I cant bear to go on any longer….. Sob Sob…….

On a brighter note, there were bright spots among an otherwise gloomy year which is best forgotten. I pluck up the courage to try new stuff. Think it been some since I tried anything new. Activities such as learning Korean, Tennis, taking Arts module alone are some of the more significant things that I have tried. Other not-so-worthy-of-mention activities (but I will still mention anyway) are self cooking at home, dyeing my hair, giving tuition and starting this blog.

But with a New Year, it represents a fresh start and a clean slate to begin anew! = ) So some of the resolutions for the New Year includes……

1. Learning HTML

With my starting of a new blog, I thought it would be useful to learn html. It has been my desire to learn this for quite some time and I will utilize my time during Attachment to pick up some skills and to engage in activities which I have always wanted to do but unable to find the time to.

Update: I suddenly remember that I and my friends had this BC website that has been largely ignored for a couple of years. Think the new HTML skill that i pick up here will be applicable in that website to refurnish it to its glory state of yester-years.

2. Trying to keep this blog active.

I realize my writing skills have deteriorated some what over the years. Not to say that I was a good writer before, as least, I thought I wasn’t this poor. Time to dust off those rust from my brain and try to write intelligently, interestingly with a touch of humor and making use of satirical jokes even to get my points across.

3. Having a successful IA

I know this sound vague and I have purposely worded it so. I am keen to pick up some relevant skills from my XXX company and to understand more about the industry.

4. Knowing more about the major roads/expressway/buildings in Singapore

I have always been someone with a very poor Sense Of Direction (SOD). My SOD is so poor till I might have difficultly remembering the path that I have taken say 15 minutes before. Some males claim that they don’t have to encode the direction which they have taken to mind, and it is a “mere instinct” in which they know which path to take. Apparently, I was born a freak and didn’t inherit this set of useful genes from my parents.

Oh one interesting thing about me. I almost never ask for direction. 99.9% of the time. Just a personal thing.

5. To rectify some of my personal shortcomings

I did not manage to overcome my problem of not being punctual although I did state it as one of my major resolution for last year. This year, I have done likewise and made it a major resolution so hopefully wont just pay lip service to it. I do understand the frustrations of my friends when they have to wait for me so I am trying hard to think in their shoes and so errr urging myself to leave the house earlier.

6. Pass my IPPT

I think it was a personal blemish on my record that I failed my IPPT. Maybe I was a little overconfident of accomplishing this “small” task considering that I was an athlete in my younger days. Apparently, what little fitness that I had over the years had deserted me without leaving me a note. I strive to reverse this personal blemish/humiliation by engaging in a healthier lifestyle of sports and diet. Silver will be my target for my IPPT in 2005. The $200 dollars will come in useful!

Can only think of six goals in the meantime. Will continue to add to them when something comes to mind anytime during the year. How about you? Any personal wishes for the year? May all your wishes come true!

The Red Mist

Singapore has finally regained the Tiger Cup! YEAH! The Kallang roar was restored to the National Stadium one last time before the stadium is demolished.

In a match where the Lions raced to a 2-0 lead at half time, the Cup was ours even before the final whistle was blown. (Singapore would need to concede an unimaginable five goals in the second half alone to throw away the title due to the Lions having a 3-1 advantage in the first leg.)

Perhaps we won a little too comfortably for there wasn’t any big hoo ha in the second half and at times, the crowds were actually a little quiet. Some fans didn’t even stay on to see the Lions lift the trophy on its home turf. But what the heck we won. = )

Most of the fans have faithfully done their bit for the Lions in this all important match up; dutifully coming in red tee shirts; cheering for their fans from the first whistle till they had a hoarse voice; screaming (and cursing) at the referee and assistance referees whenever a decision went against Singapore; not raising to the bait when the Indonesia fans appear to taunt the home fans sitting nearest to them; most of the fans have behaved in a way that made me beam with pride. WELL DONE Singapore!

It was an unusual sight in the afternoon when males and females from all ages, all walks of life were clad in red, making their way to the National Stadium from all over the island. Think this is possibly the only time that I have ever seen so many people dressed up in red tops. (nope not even National Day come close)

And what now after the Tiger Cup? Not to be complacent and continue the good work from here. The primary task after basking in glory will be to replace the older members of the team when they retires and continue to introduce budding talents into the national squad by using the local S-League as a development grounds. With the foreigner-citizenship program, any deficiency in the current squad should be adequately shored up.

Let hope that we take a step closer to Asian Cup success!

Interesting Incidents in Workplace – Acting busy (“.)

Everyone knows that you can't be busy ALL the time in the office. Be it the 5 minutes before lunch break or the 15 minutes before you knock off, so everyone and I mean everyone ranging from the boss to the lowest in rank (which is me by the way) indulge in a show of acting busy.

Well it takes some experiences to tell someone who is really busy apart from someone who is acting busy. I am not ‘there’ yet… and unable to tell the imitation from the genuine product.

Well, today I served as the office boy and was sent to pack the storeroom…. After heaving and shoving for two hours I return to my seat, tired and bored. That was when I started peering over my shoulder to the colleague who was sitting a stone throw away.

Let call him Mr B. (B stands for Bee actually since he always seem to have lunch 5 minutes after everyone else departs and talks louder whenever it is a business call and whispering when his wife or kids call… laughs)

Anyway, Mr B was picking up some remaining cardboard and proceeded to look for a pair to scissors to do some handicraft. Intrigued by what he was going to do, I proceeded to tilt my body in his direction and was watching earnestly what his master piece was. Perhaps I was observing him too openly cause he realize that I was looking at him after he proceeded to cut a tiny piece of cardboard from the big piece. He gave me a quick one second glance that spelt “you should be doing your work too. What are you looking at?” kinda look on his face. (Yes it is hard to imagine a facial expression of one second contains so much information but do exercise your powers of imagination. = ) )

Realising that my voyeur attempt had failed, I quickly proceeded to do likewise which was to switch on my computer and started typing. It doesn’t really matter what you are typing actually. Nobody really cares.

*To prove my point, this entire entry was typed during work and I received no interruptions from my colleagues who all thought I was busy at work. And no, I don’t know what that small piece of cardboard was eventually used for. My guess is that it is probably used as to place cups on to prevent stains on the table. *

UPDATE:

Derrick asks the company clerk to collect $10 from me. It appears that I was mistaken about the not paying part. I should have known better – “There is no such thing as a free lunch!” All I can pray for (weak pun intended) is for him to expand so thick around his waist so much so he can’t see his toes. = )

Fill you guys in next time!

Return of Derrick

And for the sequel let welcome the “Return of Derrick.”

I just realize I missed out on a very important thing. I forget to describe his appearance, which is extremely crucial for my audience, meaning you to forge a better understanding of him.

Think he is in his mid forties, married with kids, and errr errrr with a pair of golden specs looking every inch like that secondary school that you dislike. (use your powers of imagination!)

Anyway, my second encounter with Derrick was better. (Since he treated me to some sumptuous dishes for lunch, I have decided to grant him the royal pardon and promoted him to the rank of Derrick, no more mean nick names for him. that is until he cross my path again…! )

It turned out that one of the more senior staff of the company have been posted overseas and as the boss he is throwing a farewell dinner at a *drumrolls please* coffeeshop..! (very stingy but that is another story) for departing staff and others including me lowly intern staff.

Anyway towards the end of the lunch, when everyone were more of less full, and the dishes on the table have only unremarkable remainders such as fish bones and bits and pieces of vegetables… Derrick spoiled his redemption by asking me TWICE to finish up the food. Thanks Derrick, I am an intern not your servent. Even my colleague besides me has to snuff out her giggles when it was pretty clear there wasn’t anything much left on the plates. I have to repeat myself twice to get my message across. He had the cheek to say something like “young man cannot eat huh?” after I rejected his good offer the first time round.

Anyway, Derrick has a weekly meeting with the staff. Will update you again when I go through the next stage of hell – the weekly meeting with Derrick!

Me myself and Derrick

This entry is a little overdue but well as some say “better late then never”. This is regarding my stay in XXX company. (name changed to protected innocent parties involved)

First day of work procedures were more or less what I expected. I reported at the main HQ at 830 and subsequently briefing revealed that my actual working place is at Serangoon which was something I was secretly hoping since it is nearer my house.

Then I figured out how to go to my new office and managed to find it after some navigation. I reach the office one hour before lunch time and was just in time to receive a brief lecture on my job scope before I was interviewed by the big boss.

So everything went according to plan or was it?......

Transcript of the interview with Mr De-prick (names aptly changed to protect the innocent).
Words in italics represent my inner thoughts.

De-prick: So you are the new guy?

Me: Yes. (Duh!)

De-prick: So what do you wish to obtain at the end of your stay here?

Me: Pick up some relevant work experience and learn some skills and blah blah blah for quite some time……. (so predictable….)

De-prick: What do you do during your weekends with your friends?

Me: (abit stun at the question…)
Errrr…. I ….. sometimes watch soccer with my friends.
(What does he want to know???)

De-prick: What sort of books do you read?

Me: (stun again….. is this some beauty contest???)
Errr….. Besides textbooks… (my feeble attempts at a joke… he didn’t laugh) I read mostly mystery and thriller novels.

(I am already quite puzzled and surprised at my treatment)

De-prick: Are you a ‘A’s students? Scholar?

Me: No (softly)

De-prick: Which JC did you come from then?

Me: Tampines JC.

(I am now puzzled, surprised and felt a tweeny little bit insulted)

De-prick: Do you view porn?

Me: (totally stun into silence)
….??.....?????.......????????......????????
(did my ears hear wrongly….. and yes my dear friends you never read wrongly as well)


De-prick: Did you ever stumble into porn sites while surfing?

Me: (OHhhhhhhhhhhh that was what he meant lah…. Duh. English so lousy.)
Errr yes sometimes you will accidentally click onto those sites.

De-prick: So who teach you morals?

(That is none of your business you fat piece of lard. You deserve the bloody nick that I gave you De-PRICK)

Me: MY PARENTS! (raising my voice to show my defiance)

De-prick: (speaking in a much softer voice now that he knows he has agitated me)
Ok. I just wish you to know that you are not suppose to break the company rules, be punctual for work, do not be absent without notice or reason and……blah blah and ……blah blah and (on and on he goes like a Duracell rabbit)

Me: Yes I will bear that in mind. (Hello, I am 23 not 13….)

De-prick: Do you know what are the two secrets to being successful?
Free of charge ? (laughs at his own joke)

Me: -_-" I don’t know.

De-prick is apparently in the mood for more crap.

De-prick: They are (drum rolls please)
1. the people you mixed around and
2. the books you read

Me: Ohhhhhhhhh (he is so bloody stupid he didn’t know it was in a sarcastic tone and he smiled at me
thinking that I have suddenly become enlightened and an aura of golden light was hovering
above my head)

(Clock strikes 1230… time for lunch break and I was finally SAVED and spared from answering more pagent questions and revealing more of my tastes for movies, females and fashion and other what not that he might possibly want to know from me)

Luckily for me the rest of the day passed in peace asking me to do mundane tasks such as taking photos. It is late. Time to fill you in another day!