My Kind of Labour Day
30th April 2007, Monday
Queer as it seems, April to me feels like a rather long month perhaps the ICT has a full responsbility of why is that so...May spells some additional dough for me to save (most probably for the autumn trip), a month long of setting at booth at CSC (actually only 4 dates to note down), as well as a few events to highlight my otherwise routine and mundane life...
Earlier the year, there was an interesting email circulating around to illustrate how one can fully utilize their annual leave to align with the limited number of public holidays we have to get as many days of rest consecutively as possible... Those holidays which fell upon a Tuesday or a Thursday woulc naturally signal the chance to take leave on the Monday before or Friday after to quantitate a good 4 days of rest including the weekends...
For the Labour Day tomorrow, I duly took today off as did BY as in my workflow a day disrupted would means I couldn't do much the day before..so might as well just rest one more day at the comfort of my home...
For the entire super duper long weekend, domestic-based was surely the theme...
I had a compelling urge to just rot at home on Saturday but somehow still made my way to my pilgrim at Bencoolen Street...
That evening me and my missus went to get the wedding gift for Selina's solemnization next Sunday which otherwise we might totally have forgotten about...
On Sunday, mirroring that the week before, we just went on a drama (note not dorama) marathon, and this time round the highly-raved "Heroes"...This NBC series which went in the style of a comic book relates how a few totally unrelated personnel bestowed (or some been unwillingly engineered) with super human powers like lavitation, spontaneous regeneration or even hearing people's thoughts come together with lives intertwined to resolve an global issue though a lot of question marks on our heads that require resolution...
Much in the style of "Lost", this series bang on gripping storyline and massive cliffhangers at the end of every episodes and it makes absurd seems realistic...and just wanna make people wanting to know about the truth as soon as possible...However if they follows the footpath of "Lost" which got everyone interested at first but drag to nowhere by season 3, it would surely leads to a mammoth anti-climax that can make people spit on the franchise...let's hope not...
Over the weekend, I have some contact with my otherwise seclusive bunch of Wreckers buddies...
TW is deemed to bring his other half to my place soon though now 12th May would be the faithful day, everything is still in the air...
We had a good half hour chit chat on the phone at work on Friday when he was as he claimed taking a sabbatical from work... Our conversation mainly concentrates on my renewed interest in console gaming as well as other aspect of our otaku lifestyles as well as catching up a bit on our lives at the moment...There was traces of corny jokes which we are so aligned to indulge in everytime we chat and it makes me all alive again as only my buddy could...
Yesterday caught a rare glimpse of CS online and immediately check things out with him...
Not surprisingly he jumped everyone's gun to get his own PS3 and other gaming guru has a lot to say about the new glistering Sony gadget and even coined a gaming session in the near future which got me all buzzing by the end of it...
I would be seeing the final member of the Wreckers, Foo at Sel's solemnization at the Singapore Art Museum next Sunday and hope it wll be a good get-together with Cheryl be attending as well...
Then perhaps in a month's time, we can have a long overdued wrecking good times again!
All in all, a nice break away from all the confusion at work (even though I have only clocked merely 4 days of work last week after 2 weeks absence) and gleefully immerse in my own style of Labour day recreation for the next 48 hours or so..
Japanese word of the day: 楽しみに~ta-no-shi-mi-ni~(Looking Forward) Life is always in a dire need to have something to look forward to...
How I Get My Groove Back (At Work)
25th April 2007, Wednesday
Back to the usual hustle bustle...the constant jostling for space on the MRT, the wry attempt to wake up on time so that I could be in the office by the usual early hours though my missus cost me that on both days this week...
More importantly sharing that disgruntle and agony of work with respect to the amount of workload we had to cover yet the usual band of suspects had the luxury of loafing off at work...
I knew a whole line of work will be awaiting for my hands to grace upon, however the scenery at work generally remains the same as a fortnight before...
His Beautiness who was supposed to take over my platform only manage to conjure one measly plate by the end of it...it's fine 'cos it was due to the preparation time however he blatantly lied to KM, his comrade at another platform that he would require a timespan of 2 weeks to do a task barely requires 3 days, so that he could swindle his way for time to spend surfing the net and chatting with his gay friends online during work hours...once again he never fails to make my blood boil...
Fortunately Mr Shitty Green pants are back to the States not that his presence will really mean anything just a main focus of irritation...
Many were surprised that I got back to work almost instantaneously but my first attempt to familiarize with the protocols after a close month of absence (I haven't been doing this a few weeks before I left for reservist as well) was not without any problem as I missed out on a few detrimental steps which require repeating thus wasting precious time...
However deep within me, I had to fulfill excellent results as shown in my almost sparkling past records and to be able to show I am more than capable than His Beautiness in terms of lab work which is quite obviously so...
However in terms of acting skills which could match perhaps many famous award-winning actors in the world today, our local gay-"naughty little girl" was able to outdo himself with more swashbuckling performance in front of the superiors...another classic example was kissing up to the deputy director with regards to the visit of a princess of a neighboring country who comes on diplomatic visit...
Beside the usual routine work (which even our stoic colleague KM had ranted recently that he was bored with work), I had been eager to get back my lost stamina as I hit the gym after such lengthy absence...
It was also good to chat with the main man of the gym, Faruk whom I always have hearty chats with especially with my beloved Red Devils being 90 minutes into the Champions League final after a 3:2 reversal last evening against AC Milan and he hoped (like thousand of others) that his beloved Liverpool could usurp the mighty Chelsea to formulate a classic final of 2 ancient rivals...
It was quite obvious that I was losing breathe easily while working out on the treadmill or with the weights which requires a few more session to get me back into shape again..especially after all the oily food from Taiwan...
One attractive aspect about these coming weeks would be the revelation of how much performance bonus everyone is getting..
Since I have joined in June (2 months after the actual work year begins), mine should be pro-rated in accordance to the exact number of days I have contributed to the current company..that's how pragmatic the financial side is...
On the flip side, I am getting some bonus from my previous company as well for that 2 months prior I have joined my current workplace which I have collected the letter informing me of the exact amount and let's say if the bonus over here is as alluring as the one I got from my previous employer, I would be a very pleased man..and the autumn Japan trip well secured financially...woohoo!
Japanese word of the day: 毎日の粉砕(daily grind) I am still more settled with my current work routine than grinding it out for the military
Glad to be Home...
23rd April 2007, Monday
So the much-dreaded ICT had concluded with much relief from myself...
Once again I was adamant that I am not cut for this military shit and the regimental lifestyle is as much daunting as entering a dark, perilous chasm...
When someone from the unit taunted me near the end of the exercise on whether I would like to return to Kaohsiung the following year, the compelsion of showing my middle finger with ire was tempting...
The first few days there were especially painful for me as I badly missed my missus, my family, the warmth of my home and everything I regarded vital to my life which was blatantly non-present during the stint...
The living conditions onboard the ship was as miserable as I had anticipated with a mess filled with rowdy and restless fellow NS-men who had it worse off than ourselves...
The narrow bed made sleeping difficult and the heads or toilets to non-naval personnel was a frightening experience as you had to brace yourselves for a toilet bowl which may make you nauseous and I am not referring to the poor sea state...
The food was rather atrocious and being a big factor of morale boosting, it sure didn't go well with many of the ship crew and even the main boss on the top...everyone took the opportunity to order food from the delivery service offered from the base whenever we are alongside the wharf...
The people who are still in the force were once again wearing fake smiles and exert their poor ability to convey messages without irritating the hell out of us NS-men...
The liberty sessions were aplenty as many raided the 2nd biggest city of Taiwan as if it was really that enjoyable...Prices for food and shopping are as high , if not higher than our own country and I had not grew accustomed to the food on offer by the end of the trip...I was glad to be around some honest lads who strayed off the areas of vice which many naval men would indulge and waste their money on...By the end of it, I was glad to spend barely $150 for the trip without any gift to mention for anyone back home...then again this isn't Japan nor Thailand nor do I have the notion of basking in this foreign land as if I am on holidays...
The only point of salvation for me and to keep me sane was the 4 other lads from my unit suffering the brunt of this misery odyssey as myself...especially a veteran known as Chee who was my comrade to keep watches with and the main focus of entertainment...It was only a pity this was his swansong as he reached his big 40 and needn't do anymore ICTs as he claimed though his show or arrogance (well he is obviously glad that this was his last) seems to draw the people from HQ to threaten to extend his service years, much to his fear...
By the time we board the chartered flight on Eva Air on Friday, we were the most glad to be liberated from this misery...
Of course, his interest in Japanese animation especially Bleach allowed us to converse beyond the usual topic...
Back home, I tried to make up lost time with the missus over the weekend and reacquinted with the good people from La Tendo...
The shop itself was pleasantly revamped for the better and reveals signs of reminiscence to the early days of 2004 when there was actually room to manuveur around the shop...
There was a new helper in the form of Vincent's niece from China, Tian Tian who seems to shared her uncle's seamless ability to make friends with anyone...
The usual badminton on Sunday and then just basically slack at home to watch the 12 parters of the 1st season of HBO's "Rome" which depicts the rise and fall of Julius Cesar and with close renactment to the historical testaments with some fictitious elements filled with sleaze and violence, you can ensure I am easily hook to the series which I duly complete by this afternoon..now seeking the complete season 2...
I had initially intended to take a day of leave to recuperate well enough to get back to work but seems like the amount of work is piling every second as I typed this post...I never shunt myself from work so far and most probably won't, at least I needn't put on a false smile and treated as a nobody as thos sad cases in the Navy...
And of course there is the bonus package to look forward to at the end of this rainbow after the bitter times of ICT....
Japanese word of the day: 苦い(Bitter) I sure am whenever I had to don that blue naval uniform and go through the motion to fulfill my obligations to the government...
Changing Mindset
6th April 2007, FridaySupposed to be Good Friday, but ain't so pleasant for me at all..woke up with slight hangover from last evening beer-drinking session with my future nakama for the next week or so when the skeletal Warrant Officer, Burt who is the new WO in charge of the NS men from the HQ kept "blanjah" us cheap Tiger Beer in the WO mess near the base...
It had been a while since I doused so thorough with our local beer which I personally do not favour much, but it had been a great chit chat session and gear us for the 2 weeks long trip as a tight unit..afterall we have only like a miserable strength of 5...
After a prompt haircut at the neighbourhood saloon which was rather reluctant since I did had a hair cut barely a week back but seemingly still too long for their likings, I came home, in seek of my dog tag which was an item on the wanted list for safety reason...I haven't seen my metal tags for ages and thought I would never need to see them again, but after rummaging through the room, I was all fustrated and in pique for the search was in vain...
In the end, Beach Road Army Market seems to be the only viable choice to acquire a new pair... Thank goodness for the holiday, thus Dad could transport us in his off-peak plated car with total legitability...
However the weather was rather punishing even by local standards....and totally sap my energy for the rest of this holiday...
I left work on Thursday with a rather heavy heart as my grave mistake the day before surely didn't go down well with my supervisor who is stoically by the book...I left with the prospect of more work to be done when I return a fornight later, but more importantly my previous sparkling record had been blemished by this unavoidable mistake while His Beautiness' recent tweak into a hardworking nature and even staying late into the evening got Shitty green commending him in front of BY... The current mood both of us felt from work is that the bosses seem to be over critical over our performance and attempting to gnash the little bit of juice from our cores, perhaps is their way of recognising our capability though we are hoping for a significant pay increment...
I was quite ashamed to reveal my pay to anyone these days as they would be astonished that how I am underpaid...which is all so true...although the stress is proportional to my low pay, I surely do hope for more money to spend...perhaps have to change my mindset about my career...maybe not
Anyway has pretty much changed my mindset about the upcoming ICT, adopting the "just finish and scram" ideology and to minimise any problem that might jeopardise a issue-free trip to Kao-hsiung...The companionship should be ok with a renowned senior joker around, entertainment should be assured...
The living accomodation is arid at best but should be able to bear with it through...overall doubt it will be a torture as first postulated, and really a golden opportunity to get away from that hustle bustle in the workplace...
Physically I should be up to it but think my left ankle seems to be slightly sprained from the exertion in IPPT yesterday...bummer...
Seeya all in 2 weeks time!
Japanese word of the day: 発想 ~ha-ssou~(Mindset) Perhaps people should change the mindset that I am earning comfortably...
It ain't an April Fool's Joke
2nd April 2007, Monday
Someone is suffering from a chronic bout of Monday blues and though I was close to take the credit, I believe BY has the rightful honour to say it's all hers...
A week away from work usually means work might pile skyhigh and e-mails came as avalanche by the following Monday you hit office..However those last minute ones from our francias supervisor and Mr Shitty-Green Pants can pretty suffocating in terms of content...
The first thing she saw me this morning, she was proclaiming how she was having nightmares and all jittery about coming to work today...Then reading the mails which she refused to access at home, just justify the fact that it is time to call it a day in this company and seek greener pastures (what's new...)
I know she is those kind who likes to bemoan about ordeals encountered at work and at times can be a wee bit irritating but this time I can really sympathise with her regarding the barrage of new tasks the bosses just fabricated overnight assuming we are unfailable robots who will cater to their every needs and meeting every unreasonable deadlines...
We had a rather lofty meeting with the bosses as they are at wits' ends with some results we derived from the concentration check of some newly acquired samples from our friendly Hong Kong collaboraters...That we didn't came out with a resolution and I was adamant it is down to the inferior samples, it was really up to the obstinate bosses to ponder about...
Then more new jobs were created and my final 2 days (disregarding the afternoon when I had to gallop back to my old unit of Tuas Naval Base for a pre exercise brief) at work before my ICT would be filled to the brim with work to be accomplish....
I had to hail a cab down to Tuas which could be cheaper if I actually know the correct route...
A series of speakers made a beeline for a rather long brief (quite oxymoronic if you ask me) to induce a horde of listless NS men to sleep...
Suddenly with so much shit to handle at work, the ICT comes in the most ideal time... though the idea of going to Changi on Thursday by 7.20am for IPPT seems nondescript...
Mom held her birthday in advance since her actual birthday is weeks away on Saturday and ever since we moved to the present apartment almost a decade back, we haven't had such a celebration for her with my maternal relatives filled the limited square feet my living room floor can hold and mahjong tables set up for those tiles fanatics...
I thought the din will get to me but I was pleasantly wrong though still I wasn't such a social animal when comes to my own relatives as before, hiding in my own den for most of the time...
I was glad that the young nephews and niece weren't too playful to contemplate with the idea ot tempering with my figurines...My cousin Diana's sons were dutifully introduce to the magic of Studio Ghibli anime movies by an uncle who is still very much a child within...
It was a raity not to hang out at La Tendo over the weekend but with the new NDS Lite. there seems to be a lack of mundane and restless moment at home...even overstaying at my in-laws seems ok...haahaa...I am such a paltry husband...
It's still very early to say it's every penny well spent but it sure meets my expectations for entertainment values..if only the battery could last a bit long..I will have no qualms...
Now I just hope I can smuggle it to keep me free from boredom for my ICT...
Lastly, this is my 2nd anniversary to my blog...though it hasn't been updating as frequently this year especially but still a great channel to vent some fustrations in life...
Japanese word of the day: 冗談~jyo-tan~(Joke) Some can make people cry rather than laugh...
