A blog about all happenings

2 Papers Completed, One To Go!

2006-11-02T00:18:00.000+08:00

This is such a tiresome week for me. Just completed my 2nd paper of my 4th semester at SIM today. It's a paper based on IT. Thought that since I learned this in TP, should be not so difficult. However, upon seeing the question paper I almost choked. Really stupid questions that they ask man.

"Name 3 different coding scheme used in a computer. Identify and contrast the difference between them. Based on it, explain which coding is better for Chinese characters" *the question something like that la.

Well, the 3 are ASCII, EBCDIC and UNICODE. *surprised that I can remember this kind of stuff*

My point is, who the hell doing a business course needs to know this kind of stuffs? Lucky I browse the notes and happened to mentally note the information. Well, there were some crazy questions in there too.. and I'm mortified at the level of difficulty of this paper. If me, an experienced guy in IT finds it tough, imagine the rest of my classmates who are all older than me (some are even parents long time liao) ... Some left after 30mins into the paper. They gonna aim for the supp paper instead.

Anyway, one last paper to go. Business Finance. This is the toughest. Die lah. One day tomorrow to study before the paper on Friday.

On a good note, lucky me made another sale - Lady Luck smiling on me.

Took less than 3 weeks to close this sale of a 2+1 condo at Costa Rhu. Apparantly the Tanjong Rhu stretch is currently extremely active due to the proposed IR in 2009. Most funny part is that I already start to ease off marketing activities due to my pending examinations to study when another agent called me.

"Kenneth ah. My customer called wanna arrange viewing again. I think he might make an offer"
Another viewing later and the offer was made and finalised within 2 days. At least I don't have to worry that unit for now. Ironically my first impression of the family was that they probably won't want to even consider making an offer. I guess sometimes you can't just assume everything.

My next job is to market 3-4 units of apartments at The Icon @ Tanjong Pagar. This one is a new territory for me as the development is still in progress and will be only ready for occupation in 2007 July. This is what we call a Sub-Sales whereby the ownership of the apartment change hands before the place has been built. Recently The Sail@Marina Bay has garnered attention whereby investments made a killing over there and pushed record prices to a new high. I'm hoping the high prices over there is going to divert some investors over at The Icon. We'll see after I complete my exams this week.

Meanwhile I'm just gonna hang out with my classmates after the exams and take a long deserved rest and hopefully go get a tan this weekend!

Ryan turns 1 year old

2006-10-24T00:32:00.000+08:00

Happy birthday little Ryan!

My friends are doing well!!!

2006-10-12T10:21:00.000+08:00

Just a casual surfing of my good'o friendster to see how all my dear friends are getting on a beautiful Thursday morning. Guess what I've discovered?

If my dear o'friend (u know who u are!) u are reading this, all I can say is.. That's the best eye-mask I've ever seen. You must be sleeping well these days with that on.

So what are you using for the haze these days huh?

KNNBCCB

2006-10-06T00:28:00.000+08:00

or view the website here

Evolution Videos

2006-10-05T12:38:00.000+08:00

Videos of the Evolution in action. Dream Car. Period.

Remembering things

2006-10-05T00:19:00.000+08:00

I'm in front of the computer, having a bowl of maggi mee before I embark on my project. Sigh. Ever since I graduated from National Service, my time has been split mostly between work and studies (decided to enroll into SIM) and of course the GF. It's not that studies is bad but there seems to be no time for anything at all outside the usual office hours. I need to seriously reconsider whether I shall continue furthering my studies when I get my diploma.

I miss hanging out with all my friends. I miss playing computer games. I miss rollerblading. I miss sun tanning. I miss the times when I had nothing to worry about, just thinking only what I shall do next to entertain myself.

The times I truely enjoyed was just before I entered NS. At the computer store where I was most familiar with. My colleagues were part of my life and we slogged like mad. I could still keep in touch with friends because they would look for me once they had problems with their computer. I enjoyed helping fix their computers as they felt so happy after that. I felt happy too! Then after work it was off to party at Zouk or Mhd Sultan. Or enjoy a nice Japanese meal with hot sakae at our favourite Nanya Monya at Bugis. I still remembered Sharon the nice waitress who got the chef to make a Japanese omelette with letterings on top. Everyone in the restaurant sang the birthday song for me. I had to gulp a cup of sakae with every one who did. Crazy times!

Damn, why I always reminisce in my blog.

Examinations. Again!?

2006-10-04T16:17:00.000+08:00

Another long while since I blogged.

Latest changes in life include a friend going overseas for her course for 6 months alone. Awesome. I wished I had chances like these to forgo work and go to study/play but I've gotten used to earning my own keep so it's no go for me unless I strike toto/big sweep/4D but the probability is zero coz I'm too niao to even spend $2 to try my luck. :P It's not as if my luck is very good anyway.. Hope my friend have a good trip abroad.

Alas, recently got into my first car crash along at Eunos highway also. I got distracted as too many things going into my head that moment and I left my eyes off the road for a short moment and suddenly I was braking for my life on the right most lane fast approaching cars that seemed to pop up over the slope(which was not easily seen). Turns out a bottleneck jam up ahead and everyone e-breaked to zero. Apparantly I was around 100km/hr when i saw the jam ahead. Whamp bamp and "oh shit" ...

Although I braked hard and skidded, it was still moving when I hit the Honda City in front. Came out of the car and the guy's pretty new car had the rear bumper dented real bad. As I slowly turned my head to look at my own half-expecting to see my front all tore up, I blinked and wondered.

Only the number plate was bumped up and cracked.. but the car was physically alright. Hurzzzzz.. Lucky me.

Anyway, noticed another similar accident the next week at the same stretch. Only that it involved 5 cars this time. LOL. But that crash really shook me up and I also bought a new bluetooth headset to prevent getting caught using phone while driving. Last time while closing a deal I got pulled over by some police car in front of me. Was too engrossed talking over the phone and didn't realise some officers seated at the back was staring at me! Luckily he let me off with a warning. Phew.

Moving on to daily life, been pretty involved in work/studies. Examinations are headed towards me in 1 month time and we had to submit 3 individual and 3 group projects this week. What's with all the projects man!!! .. As i'm blogging now I have to head to SIM later in the evening to meetup for another project submission tomorrow. Give me a freaking break!!!

Work seems rosy this month. Closed assignment of a childcare centre at Frankel Ave and i rent ed out another big restaurant unit at Merchant Square in the month of September alone. The sale of the shophouse at New Upper Changi Rd is due for completion near end of Oct and I've almost secured a new tenant for the new owner.

It seems that I have started to move up the ladder to take on bigger projects rather than the HDB 1/2 shop ones that I did when i just started out. In a way it is difficult and slower but somehow it's challenging as well. Besides with studies it's tough trying to have dinner and get to SIM after each viewing. Just 4 more months to end of my studies, endure and endure! More opportunities and listings headed my way now but I'll go nuts if I accept them during my examination month. Arghh.. The Icon, 4-Rm HDB Flat, Nail Spa takeover, People's Park Complex leasing, etc.. stress ah...

Although things seem to be better for me, however I might think of leaving the company together with my Dad to join a new agency. With my track record I can probably negotiate a better commission sharing scheme rather than the one I have now. But it's still in the works and I probably will do only obtaining my CEHA realtor certification course. My heart always aches when my commission gets smaller after the company gets a cut. Sigh.

Hope things get less crazier after my examinations and perhaps I can get a tan and go clubbing like the past!

Why make things so complicated? Sigh!

2006-08-07T23:06:00.001+08:00

I'm so blardy pissed off with the IT deal that I was handling out of goodwill. Over this period of time, it took me at least 4-6 trips down to the company to service their server network and hardware.

My cousin James took up the offer of reinstalling their server network and in the end got implicated in their pickiness as well. Whenever their server network is down, I get bombed with their calls and sometimes I have to be there immediately coz they can't do their work when the server is down. It's a small size company so they don't have the budget to employ an IT staff.

I made nothing from it yet I had to go down to their new office so many times and do this and do that. For what? Fuck. Each time I'm down, they will take the opportunity to ask me do this and that. Waste my blardy time which can be spent on closing deals which is worth frankly to be honest - more worthwhile.

For example, I helped a family-run business to sell off their business after 3 months! I did it while others couldn't. In the process, I helped the old tenant get some money for retirement, helped the new tenant with arrangements and solved the leasing executive's problems. I charged full commission from all 3 parties. Nobody bargained at all because of the amount of negotiation discussions I had to do. All parties involved in this became friends with me and we chatted beyond official stuff each time! Well, the only thing was that they demanded that I buy durians after we finalise the takeover sometime later this month to celebrate. Haha. This is what I call job satisfaction. And they want me to handle their property matters after this - referrals. Cool yah?!

Compare this with the IT shit I've been losing appetite over. Why should I put myself in this position? Especially since I'm now doing property full time and I have to study my SIM course 3 times a week.

Tomorrow I gotta ask them to look for someone who is really into IT servicing. It would be fair to both me and them I feel. I can't neglect my full time job (ok it's flexible hours but it's demanding as well) and they can't afford to have down-time. It would be in everyone's interest that I shall not handle their servicing issues anymore. I can't please everybody. But the least I could do was do something true and fair to myself.

Food... What food?

2006-07-25T11:32:00.000+08:00

I want a break.

Sian sian sian.

Deprived of food at home as home emphasis on healthy eating (which means sucky food lah), mood is at an all time low!! Argh. What's it with brown rice and plain veggies and a occasional meat dish DAY AFTER DAY!? Healthy living? I'll die earlier diagnosed with food intake mistreatment. I don't mind health food actually. Just not the same o' shit everyday.

*sulk*

Back to back affairs

2006-07-22T00:32:00.000+08:00

School starts!

So far school has been a boring affair. I managed to attend 2. I missed today's lesson because I was packed back to back with work. Literally! I hate myself for letting work interfer with my studies. In fact it started to already in the first week of school. If this goes on, my grades is going to suffer in the long term. I tried to hard to get improved grades last semester. Although nothing fanciful, at least my effort paid off. I firmly believe in the phrase "you reap what you sow".

Apart from my usual property matters, I am handling con-currently a company IT deal as well. Oh man I feel so damn tired. I would have skipped the company IT deal if I had the chance. But since I was serving them since NS times, I can't stop now. Anyway, it's extra income for me. I just hope I don't screw the server up as it has been giving a bit of problems here and there. The company's data is so important. I'm recommending a emergency power backup unit + backup solutions for them. I hope they don't complain and give it a miss. Coz once the server konked out and i was forced to go down within hours. What if I was elsewhere? What if I was overseas? What if I was not free? Their operations just stopped there. No one was able to work as all their data was on the server. No Internet. No emails. It was nerve wreacking for me. What if I couldn't repair it on time? I realised that their company server was mission critical. I must make sure it's 100% up.

Anyway this month is been a fulfilling month for me! I closed a commercial shophouse deal within 1 week! I'm jubilent over this deal because 1) It's my first sale, the rest were rentals 2) I asked for above market commission, which the owner gave! :)

I should hopefully be closing an eating house deal next Monday. I hope the tenant won't run away..... I spent alot of time on brokering the deal. If it goes... Sigh. I'll hate myself for it. I lost an office deal today as well. I guess you'll never close the deal all the time. I just have to learn handle the disappointment when things don't go 100% your way.

Hopefully I'll be able to close the 2nd deal next week and I'll be another step closer to buying my favourite car. I'm literally staring at the car pictures day after day. It's what keeps me moving.

BMW 320i - Nice butt! But I believe the experience of driving it is just a simply press and go kind of feel. Not worth paying the premium for the brand though.

My long time affair with Mitsubitshi Evolution. Now in it's 9th incarnation, I wonder which series it'll be by the time I got $$$ to buy one.

The Toyota Mark-X. Parallel imported only. Looks good. The boot looks like a BMW. And the price is the cheapest of the lot. And you get quality without paying a premium. I think this car suits me best actually.

I guess I shall just go to sleep now and stop daydreaming.

Rosy outlooks?

2006-07-15T13:48:00.000+08:00

Closed a deal finally! Rental as usual!

My first office rental is about to close soon, client given in-principle intention to lease the office. Finger's crossed. Next week hopefully I can get the deposit! Fat commission for this one.

Busy week for me. Friend's mom in town to source for a HDB flat. My first HDB transaction. I hope I don't make any bloopers. Later going for viewing at Toa Payoh.

Almost securing exclusive agent rights to a HDB commercial shophouse. Tomorrow I will stage my client and get them to sign it. Hope my sincerity will allow them to give me the rights. Then I can finally market the property as "Sole Agent". Then with the proceeds from the sale, I can help source another property for the owner. Hopefully the proceeds from both deals I can put a downpayment for an Evo? Fat hope I guess. Sigh.

Another coffeeshop talk is that someone is selling his commercial shophouse at a very good price. I must move fast on this one. Due to changes in CPF regulations in July, wonder how's the market reacting to it.

I'm also sorta like involved in a sourcing for a developer for an en-bloc project worth multi-millions in River Valley. As this is a super big deal, I enrolled the help of some senior associates whom I can trust. If by miracle of God and all conditions fit like a jigsaw puzzle, cowabunga!

After a empty month during the World Cup, the market seems to be moving again. Will I be able to ride the wave and be able to balance relationships of my family, gf, friends? I hope so.

Oh yah, school is reopening. Shit.

World Cup Finals Ends with a Lucky Draw Prize

2006-07-11T00:45:00.000+08:00

It's been a empty month for me. Two deals flown away, I'm still awaiting an answer from a customer for an eating house near Club Momo. Hopefully I'll know the answer by Tuesday afternoon. I hope this month will be not so quiet for me. It's tough being a commision based earner and having such heavy expenses. Maintaining a car and advertising take a huge chunk off my pocket every month. Shucks.

Went to Jas's birthday party at MOS. Kinda happening as he held it in the special red room on the 2nd floor that is out of bounds to outsiders. Everyone had fun. Saw Ann Kok there. Bumped into Phyllis Quek outside too. Didn't do much there though. Just have drinks and accompany my little pig as well as do a little bit of catch up with everyone. But I still get tired everytime before everyone else. Had to leave early again. Sorry guys.

We went the next day to Clarke Quay to watch World Cup final. Apparently it's organised by FHM Singapore and we had tickets. And this was the only match I get to watch for WC 2006!! *evil grinz*

The event is in open air at the middle of Clarke Quay square below the giant umbrella structures and surrounded by conservation shophouses. There were lots of FHM girls, foosball competitions, Tiger beer and there was also a fashion show by the FHM girls.

Before the show started, there was a lucky draw. Although I did not close any deals this month, guess what?

FHM Lucky Draw First Prize

My mouth dropped when I heard my name. "And the first prize goes to Kenneth. Lim.... Rihao! Is he here?"

I raised my arm and walked quickly to the stage. Went up collect prize, take pic with FHM girl and 2 hosts. She damn tall man. But hot lah.

Won a Pioneer DVD-Recordable HDD player, Davidoff Perfume, $100 SMRT taxi vouchers and a soccer ball which I gave to Raj. Really taico man. I was even joking to my friend when we went to the toilet before the lucky draw that I would win the first prize.

One of my friends also commented "Not bad ah.. You don't really watch world cup then ask you come to watch then u decide to attend and u get the first prize."

Italy played well for 1st half but France did better in the 2nd half. I can't believe Zidane actually head butt that guy. I mean it's his freaking last WC match. Really mad. Definately all over the news tomorrow I bet. But I heard he is still Footballer of the Year. Yah think he deserves the award.

See ya next time World Cup. Congratulations to Italy! Ma Ma Mia!

Japanese Spa Pranks

2006-07-11T00:42:00.000+08:00

A new funny Japanese prank! Super funny as well!

PortaToilets

2006-06-25T16:35:00.000+08:00

The Japanese are really farking funny people.. Hahaha! Share this with everybody!!

The Bak Chor Mee pod cast

2006-06-01T13:12:00.000+08:00

Concerns were raised in the papers today regarding podcasts and the world of blogging's effects on the recent General Election. I'm not going so much into the details. But here's a link to the "The Persistently Non-Politically Podcast" by the MrBrown show which is damn hilarious. Talking about a man who order bak chor mee and claims that he didn't want pig liver. The mee uncle proved him otherwise with a footage of his IN-STALL CCTV and demanded the guy to explain why he claimed he said he didn't want pig liver when in fact he didn't mention anything about it at all. Damn hilarious!

the mrbrown show 1 May 2006: the persistently non-political podcast no. 6

Full cycle of a property transaction cycle completed.

2006-05-29T23:42:00.000+08:00

My watch and my new mont-blanc pen which was a present. They go well together eh? :)

Today went to the office to submit my commission and met up with my seniors. As it is my first time submitting my commission, I was like a bit blur here and there. Filled up the form and went to submit the forms and the cheques to the counter lady. To my horror there were another form to fill at the counter. In my haste to fill up the forms as they required each cheque to be accompanied by the form, I mixed up the details for every single cheque (there were 3) and there was one submission which I had to do in cash. When I told the lady I was submitting one portion in cash, she told me I had to submit the exact amount. Not a dollar more or less. -_- Completed the three submissions first, rushed down to grab a drink and went up to finalise it. The lady was like "This isn't your first time right? :)" I was like.. "Yah man its my first" She grinned and said never mind I'll get the hang of it. I proceeded on to check with her regarding attending the real estate course and she was a bit amazed that I haven't even attend any courses yet I closed two deals. Self-study and 24 hr consultation with my dad and his fellow agents mah. :D Anyway, I missed the sign up period again.. Today was the first day of the course and it's full. Next one in July. FUCK!!!! I think my SIM course will start by then. Screwed up again. Anyway a pleasant surprise, my bank referral fee just flew in and I immediately collected it at the counter(the rest of the commissions they have to deduct the agency share and issue back to me a few days later) and I immediately threw the cheque into the quick cheque deposit downstairs. WoOohOooO.

Anyway, finally I experienced the process flow from prospecting of clients till signing of contract till commission collection and submission. Ho say. Now I have to keep myself busy with moving house. It seems like it's gonna take 1-2 weeks. Cock up. Sometimes I wonder why my parents can't do things in a timely, co-ordinated matter. Always a bit here and there. They too free never mind still wanna eat into my time sometimes. Just when I tried to check with them the E.T.A, they told me that the painting of rooms and the house will not be done by the painters. It's a DIY. Means I have to paint myself. Wah lan eh!!! By when can i move in!?!?!?!?!

On my own.

2006-05-27T02:29:00.000+08:00

The customer I met recently was more tougher than the previous one. Sigh. Super calculative and stingy. And I thought I was a super calculative person. Well I guess I'll meet all sorts of people now. No longer inside the bubble wrap of an organisation where everyone is family.

Went Balcony with my friend to have a drink. Seems that I haven't been chilling out for a while. Our topics can't exclude work it seems. Adulthood is tough.

Dollars and sense.

2006-05-26T00:01:00.000+08:00

Well well it's almost the end of the week. Finally collected payment from the commercial HDB shop at Blk 416 from both landlord and tenant. Now waiting to collect payment from Blk 89 before I go submit to my company on Monday. Finally have some results to show after so long (although technically I started on Mid-April which was then I finally got my namecards that time) so I heaved a sigh of relief. Closed both within days and hopefully my River Valley deposit will come tomorrow. By then it will be a grand total of 3 deals this month. :)

I hope to start saving up for things in life that most people want I guess.. A car and a house... But in this generation, it's not that it's not possible. It's just how long it takes to finish paying for it. In this new globalised market, job security is practically non-existent. Business fail 9 out of 10 in the first 5 years. Going through SIM made me think alot about the value of money. Now I hardly dare to spend on unneccessary things (although i still spend a small fortune on food) that I find won't last me more than 2 years.

Hence, although it's easy to take out a bank loan on a car or house.. but a car starts depreciating the day you buy it. depreciation + expenses + rising cost of fuel + interest installments = Serious $$$ flying away man.

It's the same for housing loans. Out of a $1000 monthly installment, maybe $800 goes to interest and only $200 goes towards paying your outstanding. No wonder it's so competitive in banking industry. Some serious money to be made here. Renting a place to call my own? Nah.. You pay rental every month, end of the day you move somewhere else and all that $$$ goes to the landlords pocket and u have nothing.

Hence, I must work hard and save more money. A car (preferably a 2nd hand Evolution 8? *grinz* ) and a house will come in time. Taking out a loan is inevitable. Paying in full is impossible. Unless I strike Toto. Which has a probability of exactly 0 too since I dun gamble. Working smart and finding ways to secure financial stability shall be the main focus for year 2006.

Days of securing deals.

2006-05-22T01:33:00.000+08:00

Close another deal today!! Signed the contract effortless unlike my first one which was tough as shit! Feel good slowly building up the momentum! Hope to close at least 4 by the end of the month. Although the money's good, but I feel I'm like beginning to be a lifeless workaholic.. and a boring sick one at that. Coughing and wheezing each time I try to talk. Ugh.

So far both are commercial HDB shops which I closed in a matter of days. I guess I'm lucky. Hopefully my residential River Valley unit can be secured tomorrow as the client says she'll settle the deposit in the evening. But I'm a bit skeptical about customer's promises as I got played out by one bastard who said he will place the deposit which led me to cancel all other client viewings and waste one week of anxious waiting. Pray that this lady will keep to her word or else history will repeat itself and I'm gonna get screwed by the landlady. Even if the landlady doesn't say anything, I'm gonna SCREW MYSELF!!!!

My Dad's has been of great inspiration to me and has supported me constantly throughout my learning period. Probably buy him his dream handphone as a token of appreciation for his teachings. He is now a grandfather already but more obsessed about handphones than me. Lol. But to be fair, I use a normal V3 and my needs are mainly voice calls so I'm not so interested about handphones. But talk about the latest computer gadgets and chips on the market ; and I shall drool like a doggy waiting for his meat diet! :) And I always get scorned by my parents when they see me playing Battlefield 2. "Huh? Still playing kids game?" and they give me that kind of look. :<

Seems like another happening night coming up soon at MOS wif Ahbeng's birthday approaching.. Just saw the emails correspondance among them. Probably can relax a bit for now but I shall not slack too much .. I have a habit of 'engine' taking too long to start.. But now my engine seems to be taking too hard to shut down and rest.. Or is it just what one does when he's considered an adult? Career? Money? Although I should be concentrating on them, but I feel I've given up so many things that I have love to do.

Good times and bad times

2006-05-19T22:49:00.000+08:00

At midnight before my birthday, I received a Mont-Blanc pen and a birthday cake delivered personally by my little pig! Super shocked! How thoughtful of her.. I told her it will come in useful when I 'close' a deal tomorrow and guess what? I did! :)

Seemingly getting the hang of the realtor's life now, I don't feel so stressed already. Especially since I've broken my personal egg and getting more deals now, I feel motivated and proud to be a property agent. I wanna hit five figure sum!!!!!! *blah*

Went to watch Da Vinci at the new Picturehouse. Quite interesting to see what you've read being acted out. However I felt at times that the show left out some bits and pieces here and there but overal I enjoyed the show immersely and it was value for money. Went in at 955. Came out at 1240am! 2 over hours!

Moving house soon, got the keys for our new place at Simei area. Looking forward to 'chop' my own room, preferably with attached toilets (bathtub optional) and big enough to put my computer table, a decent sized bed, big windows. Dunno can squeeze jacuzzi in or not.. wahaha.

Let the good times continue.... and results of my exams never to come.... May my new pen run out of ink due to non-stop signing of contracts. :D

Ikezukuri Squid

2006-05-13T13:45:00.000+08:00

Don't know if you guys remembered but last year in one of my articles, I wrote about the Japanese culinary gourmet Ikezukuri whereby a fish is sliced up alive and served literally to your plate?

It's sashimi basically except the actual fish is still alive and watching you eat it! Dunno where you can find it in Singapore though. I am pretty interested in trying it but until now I haven't seen a place selling it, i think you'll be able to find it in expensive Jap restaurants.

I found a video recently.

Ikezukuri Squid Version

Check it out!

Stress-Relief in Horizon

2006-05-10T23:00:00.000+08:00

Well well well.. Finally the long eagerly awaited day has come. The last day of my examinations. Although it's the last paper, it's the toughest one too. I have been preparing for this paper a couple of days now... Now that it has finally come, I kind of wondered how it would turn out. Only 18 hours later shall I know once I see the paper. :X

Goodbye to long hours of brainwork. At least for a few months. :)

However though.. I won't be able to enjoy my holidays much as I intend to attend the proper realtor course prepared by my agency. It's around close to a 2 month course and it is gonna bore me from 7-10pm 3 times weekly. So far I have read through all the materials and learnt them by heart but attending classes are still prefered. Followed by CEHA certification which all realtors need to possess by 2008 otherwise they can't be realtors. Hmmm. I forsee a battlefield of fallen ahpehs and aunties who fail the paper.. *grinz* Hope I can pass lah... :/

After a long while, I'm finally moving away from Bayshore. Gonna go stay in a new place in Simei. Envisioning my own room to be super cool, gonna go shop for new furniture with my Progress Package (Courtesy of Garmen) and get a few gadgets. With more privacy now, I can finally play *cough*cough* i mean work on the computer in my own room instead of the living room.. :)

Now that politics and exams are soon to be over, hopefully my stress is gonna only come from property related stuff for now. It's been a tough month. I'm glad relief is finally in sight.

Exams, Rental Mania, Movies, MOS!

2006-05-06T14:38:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I finished my first SIM paper at SIM in record breaking time. Took around 1.5 hours to finish a 3hr paper. Alas, I left a couple of questions empty as I had nothing to write on it!

A quick check with the rest showed that they also dunno what the *beep* the clean white paper with a couple of questions were talking about. But they tried to bull their way through even though we all agreed we had not come across it in the lecture notes (the textbook might have something though, but that's another issue then. Hardly anyone reads the freaking txtbook!). I decided to reserve my ink instead. Shit.

Watched MI-3 with my gal later on to destress before my other 2 papers next week and it was realllyyy GOOOD! Not so exaggerated and slick like the first 2 eps but it was tastefully done and realistic. Lido 1 in Digital format really rocks man. And my little pig got the center seats, amazing despite buying the tix like 2 hours before only on a crowded Friday. After months of boredom, new exciting movies coming out! Silent Hill (think Constantine), Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and Da Vinci Code. Watch it guys!

Almost on the verge on inking my Letter of Intent for a rental at River Valley the night before my exams. Lucky my paper was at 3pm next day, so I finished my viewing and went a all-nighter at SIM. My client wanted to wait next week to put the deposit because he was waiting for his Employment Pass but he assured me. Gave him my assurance too. Didn't have to Co-Broke with other agents which meant I earned my full commission if it goes through. Ho say liaoz.

My Harvey Avenue client called me waking me up from my slumber this afternoon(ya, rarely sleep beyond 12pm these days but I did) and told me that his neighbour next door is willing to let me introduce clients to sell the next door at $1.9m as he intend to fire his current agent on exclusive for refusing to co-broke with others.

Meanwhile I hope to close his current house rental on 3rd week of May after his full house renovations is completed. Kind of queer guy. Who buys a $1.4m house opposite his current house to rot for three months not touching it to renovate it fully to only RENT it out later? Or sell hopefully together with his neighbour to a developer to rebuild (which meant the renovations will go to waste!)? All I say is.. got money everything also can.

I hope I'm able to close at least 2 deals this month. That would be the best birthday present to myself. Yah, my birthday is coming. Presents anyone? Hehz!

I would also like to mention thanks to Jason for the below. :)

Examinations and work

2006-04-29T16:29:00.000+08:00

I went ahead with a massive advertisement on Thursday if I'm not mistaken, placing 3 ads in the Classifieds. I advertised for AMK Central, Chinatown coffeeshop and Harvey Ave. The night before, I was so nervous that I woke up at 4am and couldn't get to sleep till 6am.

I wondered what would happened if no one called? Questions I didn't know? It was expensive to advertise just like that when I was competing with other agents out there advertising the same property - I had no exclusive agreement.

However, all my fears dissolved when calls started pouring in the morning. A family hastily wanted to view my property for rental at Harvey Ave. But they didn't get to view the inside as owner was not in Singapore. Hours later, he called and ask me to go down. I immmediately went and met up with him to view the house. I called the family to come down and view. In the middle of viewing, another family called and wanted to come down immediately. I arranged again and everything was completed by 9pm. A heave of relief as I went on my own with no experience whatsoever. I gave myself 7 out of 10 and I'm determined to close this deal. I'll know the results in 3 weeks. :)

I also ventured into unknown waters when I called regarding a cafe/pub at Merchant Square. I went with my dad to observe the area and the place. We were measuring the area of the place when out of a blue a lady looked at me and mention my name. She was the one I spoke to in the afternoon and she was wondering how come got two persons looking and measuring the place - she figured should be me. We had a discussion and I think we had some progress. I want to give my best for this project too as if it's done well, there may be potential that I can handle their office leasing.

Literally running around day and night, I'm worried about my SIM exams for next week. I hadn't got time to study so I guess I'll do some intensive revision tonight. Should catch up on some rest again.

I'm beginning to have some anxiety panic. When will I successfully close my first deal? Would I flunk my examinations next week? People around me have been supportive towards everything but somehow I just can't settle down without some results. I MUST DO IT!

Words of console

2006-04-22T13:46:00.000+08:00

My first photo advert in the Classifieds today. I'm glad it turned out alright. However my glorious moment was overshadowed by tons of veterans with multiple picture and listings plastered all over the pages. :/ Well, there's always a first time. For now, I'm still Mr. Rookie.

Darlene, a friend of mine who's now intending to stay put in Aussie after her stay chatted me up just now. She said I was very brave to switch to this line as it's a tough industry. I told her I was probably reckless that was why I did it since I had to prepare to forgo any income for at least 3 months. The reply I got was "you the super motivated kind mah.. I'm sure you can do it" Upon hearing that I was kinda touched.

I mean, who nowdays will actually chat with you intending to talk to you about your own stuff? From Aussie as well since she's now studying there. Really appreciate that conversation I had wif her.. Since I'm now kinda stressed out over work and my exams will be due in less than 2 weeks, I felt relieved after that talk.

Soon I will be bringing my little pig out for a skating session. She can't skate so I'm teaching her.. Hope she don't get any injuries or else I'll probably not have any good days after that! After that is rest and relax followed by Sentinel later in the night with Team 469ners. Tomorrow will bring my friend cum customer to look for her dream home in Tiong Bahru/Redhill. I hope I can help her find her dream home soon.

Talking about skates, my Solomon FSK skates literally gathering dust on the shoe rack. *sighz in disbelief*

Property Matters

2006-04-22T05:19:00.000+08:00

Apologise for the lack of updates. Recently trying to pick up all the ways of the trade of a property broker. Needless to say, the going has been tough uphill. I'm quite optimistic that I can be alright in this industry although most of the agents there are like 30 to 50 years old.

I finally get the namecards which I've ordered like.. 3 weeks later? The guy delayed me until I got quite worried that I might never get it. Nevertheless I did and it was up to my expectations. Now left the finding the sellers part. This is extremely tricky and tough. Tons of agents are already probably serving your home right now, dumping flyers into your mailbox. I feel that visiting customers is probably the most efficient method but however it's rather hard to cover a large area. I decide to focus on the East area for residential and try out commercial properties in the town area as these are the areas I'm familiar with.

Currently what I have on listings so far. :)

Icon 2+1 rooms @ $600,000
3 Storey Inter-Terrace Westwood Ave @ $700,000
3 Storey Inter-Terrace Jln Angin Laut @ $1.15 million (Sellers are.. haha. Nvm)
Retail outlet at Far East Plaza @ Rental ($13psf)
Retail outlet at Lucky Plaza @ Rental $15,000 (So ex!)

I have people looking for rental units at Simei and Yio Chu Kang.

Damn kuku, what I have on hand, no buyers yet. Yet buyers are looking at places which I don't have. Tough luck!

In today's Classifieds (Sat) in D22 - House For Sale, I finally placed a photo picture. Cost me extra $20. Ouch. Hope I get some response soon.

Hope I have good news to blog next time.

Regards,
Kenneth Lim (",)

End of Saturday Project Meetings...

2006-04-03T17:23:00.000+08:00

Finally presentations and projects at SIM has been settled. It's been a good 2-3 months of Saturday meetups to complete my team projects. Somehow Saturdays don't feel the same anymore, kinda idle nowadays. Hurz.

A little bit on my property career path... En bloc sales seem to be the hots these days. On hand got one lobang of owners wanting to launch a collective sales on their semi-detached houses. Me and Dad are now following up tightly on this issue. Imagine a rookie being part of a successful en-bloc project! My only fear is that with no fixed office hours, the slacker in me starts to take over. I hate it when I slack. But I still do. Fugged.

Right now my little nephew Ryan is crying now. He seems to be getting brighter and bigger each day! Immersely cute, he distracts my parents attention all the time. Which is GOOD of coz so they can't bother me. Haha. Lucky fella, has every stage of his growing up scrutinised and digitally stored on pictures and video clips. I'm not sure whether naked baby pics of yourself is considered good or not though. Hurz.

Busy life as a Self-Unemployed

2006-03-14T23:50:00.000+08:00

Wah busy busy busy... Although nowadays can afford to wake up late and sleep late, the things I have to do are so much different. Today did my first research on a private property on a lead. Contacted the customer and me went house-viewing! My ever first. On the road to success? At least I had the first step taken.

Checked valuation with Les as well as one home loan agent from OCBC on the property. Meanwhile I'm still in midst of negotiations with him for a better deal on a property my family is purchasing. Basically he can get the sale if he can offer a deal that is better than OCBC. Dunno whether he can fight for better interest rates or not but either way I'll be entitled to my own agent referral fee but I oso want him to get the sale naturally. We can refer each other cases in time to come too. Both of us depend on referrals just as much.

Later on went for revision at King Albert Mac with my project mates. Wah.. Stuck at chapter 2 on Management Accounting with 8 more chapters to go before THE TEST on Friday. Stressed!! Projects aplenty with 3 on the horizon within the next 3 weeks to submit.. $#@$#@$. Frankly apart from being stressed, studying at 25 is really hard. When I was young, I sucked up everything that I read and listen during classes. It was only a matter of revision only. Nowadays, nothing seem to go in and I hardly comprehend what I'm reading nor listening. Am I old or wat? Fuck.

An hour ago, Raj called me and told me that he would like to pitch hardware and software solutions in his presentations for his network solutions and outsource the deals to me if any. I like the flexibility of being a property agent as it allows me to sideline - in this case, IT projects as well as my studies at nights. I'm still waiting for my first commission though. :X

Oh yah, went for pepper crabs at Still Road near Joo Chiat on Sat with daughter, han baos and my gf. Queued for 45 mins and when it was our turn, we requested to order 2 crabs. The auntie 'huh where got enough' at me and suggested 3. Lan lan ordered 3. Expecting each of us to incur at least $25 damage. The black pepper crabs were solid, yummy.. Bagus.... We ordered a kang kong side dish as well. When the bill came and I took a look at it... I was astonished. "$54" that's like less than $14 each!!! A plate of stingray at Bedok North 85 costs me $8-10 each time. We're talking crabs here! I decide to suggest this place for dinner for my next group outing with my class mates or friends. :)

My Ministry of Sound membership card is still lost in Singpost land. Where is it?! Anyway it's supposed to be temp card only, the official card will be out in April. Guess I just have to wait then. In the meanwhile, I just went there the other day for Hanny's birthday. It was wicked.. Lots of people and lots of drinks... And of coz lots of pukes from birthday boy. Hahaha.. My plan to drive home early to go for Sentosa the next day failed miserably as the guys didn't wanna let me go home. In the end went home at 4am. Kaoz.

Pretty long update. It's still early, guess I shall go read up on some notes. Till again.

New career beckons

2006-03-10T01:29:00.000+08:00

It's been slightly over a week since I left the bank. Basically life has slowed down for me. More relaxed, less stress, basically the slacker's life! Wahaha.

To prepare myself for my new career in property, I have did a bit of research and read some books. Dad has been bombarding me with information intensely and I'm trying to absorb whatever I can. I've been to HDB Hub to witness a sale of a 5-room HDB flat and got to know some property agents in the process. Just registered at Propnex and burned a minor hole in my pocket. Sigh.... The courses all crash with my SIM schedule so in the end I intend to attend the property courses after my semester exams.

In the meanwhile, technically speaking I can do property though I lack the skillsets and knowledge. Haha. How ironic. Although there's a light at the end of the tunnel, I'm worried that I might run out of gasoline (read:$$) before that. Stressssss. Gotta run around checking out places every day now and when the time comes, it's time to advertise in the papers once I get some deals listed.

Lucky I managed to land myself 2 computer deals this week. Enough to cover myself for around half a month. :D

Anyway, gonna enjoy myself to the max this weekend. Anything else can wait. Hope to meet up with the 469ners at MOS as well as my dear colleagues on Sat and Sun. :)

Transactional Job Resignation Complete

2006-02-28T00:54:00.000+08:00

The day finally came. As I walked into the bank and sat down in front of my desk, my heart seems to get heavier and heavier. People seems to be aware that I'm leaving already, can see them eyeing me each time I walked out of the office.

Last day already, should probably say good bye. Typed out a simple Lnote to them before I went for a break downstairs. Jac said my Lnote seems so sad. Was it? It seemed quite neutral I felt.

I seemed to have so much unfinished business. Couriers and letters flying in here and then. Hmmm. Lucky my darling helped me with some of the applications of which incentives otherwise I would not be entitled to after they are processed after I'm gone.

I went over to say farewell to one of my friend from the opposite department. I keep choking on my words. Hmmm. How to say goodbye in person to my own team? Decide to keep a low profile and wait for the time to go. Chose a wrong date to leave also as I have my paper at SIM later on but there was a meeting that they say I'm supposed to go. I guess at least goodbyes have to be said.

As I reached there, I realised that they bought a cake. After some words from the manager, I'm supposed to say some words. I tried but in the end, I guess my teary eyes did the talking.

Missing you guys but I'll always be around for some of you. You will know who u are. :)

Missing so many things

2006-02-26T23:08:00.000+08:00

It is once again another entry into my blog on the eve of my last day at Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation. Mixed feelings as it's been one year since I first started into banking culture and it has been one of good and bad experiences as well.

As usual the timing seem to fit nicely with my schedule with SIM test and examinations coming. The last time I left Citibank oso when my exams came and I had amble time to prepare. This time I'm gonna put in lots of effort for my semester as I didn't do well for the last. I did badly for sales as well as my papers during last year. I thought I was able to balance both nicely but alas, I'm always out of energy by the end of the day at the bank. Who said desk-bound sales was easy?!

Tomorrow will be the day to say goodbye to people whom I've worked together for quite sometime. I haven't informed some of them yet. Never really have much time to interact in office anyway. :/

Received this 1:18 model gift of my favourite rally car from her as a Valentine's Gift. Initially I groaned because I thought she would have brought me the real mcCoy with COE prices dropping and Singapore Budget $$$ gift to Singaporeans. Decided to accept the model since it's Valentine's and she was sweet! I'll buy the real car after I collect my winnings from Singapore Pools on 1st of March when the Singapore Big Sweep comes out! :D

On Sunday, I went to the Asian Aerospace 2006 with her. It was a trip to Singapore Expo Mrt followed by a shuttle bus which cost $2 each to send us to the exhibition. The last time I went was at least 7-10 years ago! Since it's the last year Singapore will be hosting this show, decide to go there lor! $21 each sia.. Vomit blood.. But took lots of pictures.. The souvenirs are all high quality paper bags. Knn.. I think all the pins were taken up on Saturday. Below are some of the pics.

Apache Longbow. One of the most fearsome helicopters in warfare.

Airbus A380. Singapore Airlines got the first shipment of this mega passenger plane spanning 3 stories! Everyone stood up and cheered when they saw it! It was really damn huge.

My favourite F-16!

F-18 Hornet! Belongs to USS Kitty Hawk because I saw its sign on the fuselage.

I'm so gonna miss so many things right now!

:(

Lift Services, The Villa Bali

2006-02-12T18:56:00.000+08:00

Finally got a chance to stay at home on Sunday. Today at Bayshore the fire alarms keep going off.. As a result the lift services all stopped. My parents had to walk from level 13 all the way to ground floor. Later on my elder brother asked me to help out two of his stewardess friends to carry their flight luggage down due to this reason. But the problem is.. They are situated on a separate block and they live at level 29!!! Wah lan!! I walked 13 floors down and upon reaching the ground floor....

"Lift services resumed" Argh... Naturally my services was not needed anymore. :P

Went to meet the guys for coffee last night, involving the biatches of 469.. :D We went California Starbucks and catch up with each other. Wah. News of change of my relationship status travels fast. All congratulating me and commenting that I got a particular taste in girls. Had me tickled when one after another made the same comment oblivious of the other's similar comment too. Maybe it's true.

We went to this Bali-styled chill out bar "The Villa Bali" www.littlebali.com at Alexandra Road.

Initially we were told it was full house but got friends inside so we went in. The manager told us this place is usually pack all week, only Tuesday and Wednesday half-full. I was thinking what makes the place so good? After I went in, I discovered it was damn big and cooling.. Beats Altivo anytime. 22,000 feet of it. Woaah... Got little huts all over the place, island bar, restaurant styled chill out corners, etc.Prices were reasonable. I decide to go there again soon. We had red wine, assortment of cocktails, baby squid, fries, wedges and beef balls(which I didn't get to eat!).. And of coz, usual jokes and crap from everyone especially Kev. It was a good night out from my usual stressed up life.

Dipping sales....

2006-02-09T18:38:00.000+08:00

Oh man.. My sales are slipping into oblivion!! No matter how hard recently I try, I can't get sales in! Shucks! :(

Now in the office when most of my colleagues has gone home, I have to do OT. Sian sian sian. I'll be leaving the organisation soon, to embark on a new career path. Uncertainties lies ahead for me! I hope this year would be one that defines what I wish to attain in my life..

Time to leave the office soon, still have to go home do computer delivery. At least got addition source of income. :D

Stupid Wendy still can crack jokes in front of me!!! At least here not so boring. I need a toilet break.. Argh. Gonna run liao..

Change change change

2006-02-04T12:16:00.000+08:00

It's been a long while. Yes. Some of you must be complaining that I have neglected my blog! Well, school has restarted and at the end of three 3 days a week reaching home past 11pm, blogging is not exactly the thing that you would like to do first.. And yes, some of you might have known that I have lost my membership at the singles club.... :P Nevertheless, life still goes on. Just that some priorities have shifted and responsibilities added on that's all. :) You guys wun be able to find out more from here - I decide to keep my private life with her, well.. private. :D

I have just started my new semester at SIM HQ, initially I thought it was at the SIM Uni campus but to my despair, we are having our classes at some ulu buildings of Ngee Ann Poly. I pay higher school fees to study in a classroom which is so retro and lacking in some facilities which we have grown accustomed to in SIM Namly. Damn it. Someone should do something about it! On the good side, the smaller class means students will be more attentive to the lecturer. I haven't kicked the habit of sitting at the rear of the class. Good side is I pay attention in class and almost never lose my attention or fall asleep - it still happens la! Hurz.

Careerwise, it's going downhill. Lack of motivation and unbalanced odds for some of us really make some of us fume. I'm already considering a career switch already and it's a matter of time now since my contract will lapse in April. I think I delayed so long is due to all of my collegues whom I have grown to love and dote on. But some catalysts have already taken effect and sooner or later the unevitable will come. :/

Tonight shall be going Ministry of Sound as Nick and Les asked me to go. Haven't hang out with them for quite a while so I shall probably go and mingle with them and other friends tonight.. Wanna accompany my little pig but since she's with her friends now and I've gotta meet my friends later, better for us to meet up on Sunday instead.. :)

Things to do..
--------------
Insurance paper M5
Revision for past 3 chapters for 3 modules.
Suntanning?
Repair of THREE computers and a change of house for my computer components. (Yay!!)
Pay my traffic fine which didn't get waived in the end :/
Pay Starhub over $130 this month. An increase of 3 times my usual bill. Ouch.
Claim M5 payment for me and her from 'Daughter'
Print letter

Why so many things to do huh!?!?

First entry for 2006!

2006-01-10T16:06:00.000+08:00

Christmas and New Year has come and gone. Over this period of festive times managed to meet up with a lot of friends. Nowadays its raining non-stop cats and dogs. On one hand it's cosy and great to sleep in my bed but on another hand it's hard to be outside while raining!

While driving along Eunos outside Comfort Driving centre one evening while rushing home in the exceptionally heavy rain, I almost bumped a foreign worker down. He was wearing dark clothes and using something to shield his face. Due to the rain, I slowed down already. All of a sudden around 10-15 metres out my headlights shone upon him STROLLING in the 4 lane road! Right in the centre of the car, I immediately braked and horned him but he didn't react and continued sashaying in the heavy rain. Missed him by a metre or two as he jaywalked across. With this kind of attitude, I should have knocked him down. :p

Today is another public holiday. Staying at home is just great till my mom comes home and starts questioning me on my activities outside as well as the computer business. I'm so farking sick of it. Once the stocks have been cleared I'm just gonna kiss it goodbye.

Battlestar Galactica has restarted in the US and I download the episode that my 2nd n 4th brother has nagged me to find ever since the last episode of the previous season ended with "To Be Continued". This show is just so awesome! Cyber-galactic war between humans and cylons who are essentially robots but some of them actually evolved into human-like clones so it's even more harder to tell the difference between friend or foe as they infiltrate the human society. Rock on!!

Maybe going down MOS on Wed with a few friends. Haven't stepped there since its opening night. Tales of queues and such as kinda made me rethink about going there. Saw in the news that the ang mor manager from MOS got fired after customers complained their dissatisfaction about the queues. I think he purposely made the crowd queue even though it was not really packed inside. If it was so packed that people had to queue, he wouldn't have got fired for that right? I do not believe in queuing for entry to a club. I come out to have a good time, not to sweat out in the roads. Heheh. I will cut queue if that happens. :p

Christmas is coming

2005-12-24T01:06:00.000+08:00

It's been a tiring week. Think I spent too much time on BF2. The initial temptation led me to lead a couple of late nights even on weekdays!! Result? A straight dip in my sales and an MC! Haha.. Fuck. I'm turn 25 in a couple of months and I'm still hooked on games? Shame on me. I must reverse this trend.

Anyway, glad that I managed still get some things done. I bought gifts for everyone in my department today. Nothing fancy but I hope it made their day. My two 'wives' seemed quite happy with theirs. ;p 'Daughter' liked hers too. :)

Orchard Road and Bugis are a bitch to navigate during this year end season. MRTs are so crowded yet the intervals are so long. One time the MRT was stuck there for quite sometime, but eventually left WITH THE STATION DOORS OPENED. This only proves one thing.. Too much people to handle already, we need a new Orchard Road. *Grinz* Waited one hour for our cab booking on the way home today. End up tio tua.. I book another one, came within 10mins. Haiz!!! Super jam pack at Orchard today.. Everyone's shopping. Economy not bad huh? Heh heh!

I'll be spending time with her on Christmas eve. Probably means we'll usher Christmas in together. It's not so much of Christmas that I'm happy about.. It's the fact it is with her bah. Just hope we can both pass Christmas happily together can liao. Will it be possible?

New Toy and Ministry of Sound

2005-12-18T23:25:00.000+08:00

Couple of things over the past week.. :)

Let me see which shall be the first priority. Alright I guess this one should have priority. One fine day during work while quietly doing my work, a sudden urge to upgrade my computer came along. I immediately opened up a couple of windows to do some research and stuff. After work, I just headed down to Sim Lim Square. Looked for my old friend who was still working there after all this years. Chatted up with him and the rest of the old folks who were there. In fact, I've got friends on every level! Mingled around and checked out the various hardwares available. Finally got myself...

Yay! A Gainward 6600GT 128MB DDR3 AGP card! Just realised that the trend is heading towards a new kind of platform, PCI-Express. Geez, it's moving too fast that even a geek like me is having trouble following it. Anyway, got a fantastic deal. It was selling like 20-30 dollars off a cheaper brand and a friend was like even "I can't give u a discount for this one as we're clearing stock" I was like no problem man.. Didn't even wanted one anyway, it was a steal at that price! Man I missed hanging out at Sim Lim tinkering with hardwares and stuff. And I'm not even going into my 2nd purchase which was BF2 and the late night gamings.. heh heh.

Ministry of Sound opened on Friday. Woot. Before I reached there which was like 9pm I receieved a call that there are like over 100-200 people there queuing already. Eric was a good sport to come down and fetch us down there. Before we reached the place we saw 2 live horses and cowboys there for an event! How often do you even see a live horse? The horses looked real groomed and nice with their horseshoes clicking the floor each time they moved. (don't get your feet under theirs ladies..)

As expected, I saw this huge crowd there.. Patrick got special invites and I managed to reach him just in time to get it for me and my friends. There was this invite that Jason gave me... Couldn't be used though they said later it could. Hmmm. Anyway, saw this small opening, just walked in.. Lucky me.. Happy queuing folks.. :P

Okay, I think MOS is great. It has various rooms, freaking huge, wonderful sound systems and a great beautiful crowd. But it's just the opening.. We'll see. Met up with 469ners for a short while but kind of awkward there so I went back to my other table.. Maybe I was tired out to mingle wif them.. Sighz. Bumped into many many more frens over there.. Made friends with a ang mor guy who was here alone and we chatted about lotsa stuffs.. Maybe next time we'll go clubbing together.

It seems like a quiet December month. Hmm... Cloudy and dizzling. Just like my mood. Haiz!

End of my eye-sight?

2005-12-09T13:39:00.000+08:00

I'm having problems making out the time from the clock on the wall in my office around 10-15 metres away. A quick check with my fellow colleague confirms this. Sometimes I need to squint at things from a distance and I can't seem to focus at people properly. What is happening?!? Could this be the end of my perfect eye-sight dynasty?

I think I'm just too tired from facing the screen. I need a break. :(

Christmas beckons, ushering in the end of the year

2005-12-08T23:51:00.000+08:00

I realised that this blog is beginning to be read by more and more people. Initially people telling me things like "you this and that - i read it from your blog" felt kind of cool. All of us demand attention, be it us an introvert or extrovert. Extroverts will always want attention, introverts secretly crave attention. It's a human thing. After all, what's the meaning of our existence if no one pays attention to us?

However, some things are not meant to go beyond just me and the reader. But it does and often more than not it is not in a positive light or at least this is what I feel. Hence I'm beginning to feel more and more restricted from what I wanna type down.

I think i wanna go attend some property talks soon, guess I need to get my ass moving to register for the seminars. And it's probably not going to be just one.. Hafta attend seminars by each company like PropNex, ERA, etc. Probably undergo some training stuff, courses, certification..

I just buang my Health Insurance a few days back. Damn unhappy about it. Now subsequent exams on the same topic will not be subsidised by the bank. This paper is incredibly boring. I hate insurance and still ask me study this one. Pengz.

Things to do include paying school fees, some additional planning for some other issues. Boring boring boring. I feel kind of unhappy over the past few days. I don't have to feel this way though. :/ I hope I can solve one problem a day. A year has 365 days. I don't think I have so problems to solve bah! If I can solve one problem a day, optimistically speaking I shall only need less than a month! Woah!!! Ya easier than said huh.

I wanna draft out my Christmas wish list but it will lead me to a conclusion. I'll be so happily stating the things that I want. But end of the list you'll realise that you will never get everything you want in life. Even if u did, you won't be satisfied still. Life's a bitch and it will be.

Cheers to unlimited wants, short bursts of happiness and laughter!

Somebody kill me please..

2005-12-07T21:57:00.000+08:00

As usual, play and pause and let it cache fully before playing. :)

I aspire to be like him one day!

2005-12-07T21:36:00.000+08:00

Once you play, should click pause and let it cache fully before playing it again for maximum enjoyment!

Video Conferencing!

2005-12-04T17:01:00.000+08:00

Now and then my brother and my sister-in-law living opposite block from us will occasionally do a webcam chat over the Net. With the increased bandwidth from StarHub for uploading, now images are more fluid!

Usually I will do the typing as I don't have a microphone. So Hwei would talk and I would reply to him by typing. (Ya damn kuku) Anyway, today Hwei and Janice are both eager to webcam and grandma heard his voice while sitting in the living room so what we did? Of course all of us squeezed to play webchat. The new video conferencing feature of MSN can now full screen! Damn cool.

Grandma kept replying to Hwei despite the fact I keep reminding her that our side don't have a microphone. An idea stuck me! I decide to use my venerable Motorola V3 to speakerphone-chat! How cool is that? But I'll still buy my microphone later on la!!

Below are some pictures of the 'event'

A new family! Hwei, Janice and Ryan

Wah lau, Ryan looks damn big up close... Nevertheless very cute.. Look at those super big pupils!

Powered by MSN, displayed by AOC 19" LCD, heard and spoken on a Motorola V3 and occurred on a boring Sunday. :D

A normal day at work.

2005-12-02T15:16:00.000+08:00

My bank's system seems to be undergoing maintenance today. I can't do work at all, good in a way that I can get to surf net(which I'm already sick of) and slack around.

Anyway, what's going on tonight? Apparently my bank is having an event at Rouge tonight, so most of us are going there! For the lucky draw of course as I heard they are giving out IPODs and stuff(I hope I finally can win something for once.. At a company event, just priceless... fingers crossed). And of course they have free flow. That doesn't mean I'm going to drink like mad over there. Just that it means I don't have to spend $$$$ on drinks. Good. Very good. Probably not staying long. Oh well, see how it goes bah.

I'm getting some directions finally as the year approaches to an end. I'm proceeding to my 3rd semester at SIM next year, probably wrapping up my computer bizness as I feel that a lot more $$$ and effort has to be pumped in for me to get something out of it - something that i feel i no longer have zest for. I hope to still do freelance computer assembly for customers though. There's just something about going to Sim Lim Square and selecting parts afterwhich I go home and assemble that I enjoy. It's like getting paid for playing wif computers. :P

As for my career, probably moving forward with my plan B. What is plan B? It's a plan that you execute when plan A doesn't work. Haha!!! I have to start preparing for my Plan B by start of next year already so that I am in the advantageous position to start when I embark on it. I hope this gamble will pay off. I really do and I will do whatever it takes to succeed. Some most probably think I can't make it - that I'm sure. I must work super hard in order to make this life of mine a fulfilling and successful one. Nothing is more important.

Sian, the system is still down. Shit man. I'm so bored.

East Coast Park

2005-11-27T20:56:00.000+08:00

I went to eat lunch with her at East Coast Park today. While we took a stroll, I came across some family event thingie.. Look! Sandcastle leh!

This is some big floating objects in the sea.. Can climb up and suntan!

Seeing bladers there made me think how long I have stopped skating already. :/

Memory walk down lane

2005-11-27T20:42:00.000+08:00

My big brother Hui sent me this picture. Bloody hell, wonder where he dig up one. It shows me and my younger brother Daniel. Damn cute hor? Hahah.

Super high drive - Not sex drive

2005-11-26T00:11:00.000+08:00

One fine day she asked me what makes me so sure I wanted to be a MSM. A few messages later I think we were both frustrated with the replies we gave each other. What is it that fuels my desire to be what I want to be?

Today, I hit the highest sales target in my tenure at the bank. Maybe set a record in the department itself.. I'm not sure but it sure felt good! :) Messaged her to let her know... guess what? "You think I believe u?" Well, can't blame her for that, after all she's enjoying a holiday somewhere right now - she wouldn't be convinced.

The feeling of sales achieved is really great. The 'high' that I get from getting sales in my job is what drives me more and more furiously each day. Frankly speaking going out,clubbing and stuff no longer satisfies the need that I crave for right now - success and satisfaction I get from acquiring sales.

That's probably why I want to switch department to join mortgage. If getting sales of tens of thousands each day makes me feel the way I felt today, imagine the next higher level whereby I'll be dealing in hundreds of thousands and millions?

I was sort of demoralised by my manager who gave us a review of our directions in the coming future yesterday. Apparently the gist of what I interpreted his reviews was that in order to make it in MSM, qualification-wise I was insufficient and it takes much more than just qualifications to become a MSM. Basically I fucked the qualification part and I dun even need to talk about the rest. Overall feeling I get is that he won't be that keen to push me up. I felt I'm again short-changed on what I thought I'll be getting. AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME! What happened to the belief that experience counts more than qualification? Or capability? Somehow topping the scales in cross-selling efforts and being in the upper cohort of the sales figures consistently don't really count? Are we looking at pure performance and track figures now or some other issues that don't even matter in this aspect?

The normal keep-sensitive-things-to-himself me told a few that I won't be renewing my contract - no matter what. With no clear path for the next one year, I see no reason to. I'll see what I can to secure an interview at least for the MSM position - with or without help. Some have said I can fit into the role of MSM(true or just nice words) but most importantly is my own self-confidence. That I dare say I do not lack of.

I have a relatively secure plan B - one that might even promise me better remuneration than a MSM if I do it properly. So nothing's gonna stop me. Not even scorns and remarks from others. So what if I'm don't have qualification?

Money money money

2005-11-22T23:43:00.000+08:00

It has reached that time of the year once again, where rain and cold temperatures take over. You know it has come when your mom and your maid start wearing slippers in the house. Haha. Damn kuku watching them.

My partner Jac has been bugging me about ways to make lots of money fast. When we started chatting (at the expense of my sales..), I started to relate to her how I made money since poly days. The details of course are not meant for publishing here as it would probably get me into trouble should someone be jealous! We have decided to be partners if a feasible proposal comes up. Legal or illegal. Hahah.

What I mean is that this is the age I should start learning all the ropes of how to make money in this world. All my peers are masters of SPENDING money. Or at least encourage me to do so. I need to know more MAKE-money people to be like them. Reading Rich Dad Poor Dad wouldn't make me a freaking millionaire. If it could, there would be hundreds and thousands of millionaires. It probably could equip me with the concept of money-making though. But that's about it. The rest is up to me. Sighz.

I could go the route of illegal businesses. That would be the easy way out. It will be very exciting. Challenging authorities. Money laundering. Hot exotic cars. Surrounded by babes. Late night partyings. Wearing hot labels.

Or I could go the legal way. Boring. Doing mainstream stuff. Worrying about loans for the next 5-30 years once I get my car and apartment. Doing boring stuff. Buying clothes only when they have at least 20% discount.

Either way it only goes to satisfy your needs and wants. It depends. How much do you need. How much to you want? Go figure. For me, I definately want much more than I need. That's my curse. :(

French Aids Poster

2005-11-22T20:59:00.000+08:00

French Aids Poster.. Don't mess around.

A new look!

2005-11-21T00:02:00.000+08:00

I've changed my blog layout and it feels refreshing! Spent quite a while designing it and searching for ideas. What a boring and useless way to spend a Sunday evening.

Frankly speaking, life's really boring after you enter NS. In the past you had to study and do your projects, mingle with friends after school, chat on the phone, etc etc. In secondary school, being in the table-tennis and badminton team took up quite a fair bit of my time too with trainings and competitions.

Now as I grow up.. After work, it's pretty dull and I hate coming home nowadays. Parents are busy with their own work and I'm busy with mine. Likewise with each brother of mine(3 in case u wonder how many). Grandma is weak and fragile now and needs constant care.

Anyway, I went out on another date with her again. Supposed to watch movie but ended up all the tix were full - Singaporeans got nothing to do but watch movies only. We had dinner, got to know each other better. After that we decide to stroll from Plaza Singapura to Bugis and we side-tracked into Chjimes as well. Kind of refreshing change from the usual clubbing and stuffs. It's funny how we can chat vividly sometimes yet in the office I hardly talk to her. Well, keeping it low-key is better I guess.

I went gaming with the guys at Parklane on Sat after work. It's great reliving my old past time as we haven't been LAN gaming together for years! We played CS - Source and Quake. After 3 hours, we came out feeling dizzy and lost! Haha, we were indeed rusty but the session had a touch of deja vu to it. It was a all guy's night out afterwards at Zouk but somehow we ended up with girls all over the place! Hanny destroyed the session by meeting his gf at Zouk and I danced with Vicky and her friends too. Haha. All Guys Night officially ended after 30 mins in Zouk.

Another week coming up. Targets to hit once again. I haven't done up my newsletter yet. Fark.

Adios.

The reasons why I don't like home

2005-11-16T23:44:00.000+08:00

Just had a shouting match with my mom again. Despite the fact that this is probably one of the rare occasions that I am home for dinner, she has chosen to ruin the moment again. Probably that's the reason I don't like to go home. I'm a pretty homely person to start with in fact, I prefer to get home to charge up for work the next day, to watch the latest dramas that I download from the Net, browse the Internet, chat with fellow homely friends. However, the thought of going home to face her is just a tough hill to climb.

The topic of our quarrels this time is dinner. Since I had a maid and I'm tired, I just asked the maid to bring me my dinner. Got scolded by that, kept asking me to learn to take food myself, etc. Wah liew. Then when i ate my dinner in front of my monitor, she kept scolding and scolding non-stop saying I should eat my dinner first and do things later. I mean it seems logical when u look at it in print but in actual situation, it just pisses the hell out of me when all I wanted was to tuck into my long-delayed dinner at 930pm. Ignoring, retorting, reasoning - non of it worked. Haiz. I just tell her this is the reason why I don't wish to come home so early. It's either this or that. Questioning me about my computer stuff, saying that I waste time watching shows, saying I don't read the newspaper (fyi there's something called www.asia1.com.sg, by the way i set that as homepage on YOUR computer for you to read too)

I always tell myself to get along with people, sometimes even at my own disbenefit like paying more, or asking back for money that I lent out(by the way I always forget, so if you remember you own me $$$, please return on your own accord, thank you!), etc. How is it that the person I should be most comfortable with is the one hardest to get along with? One of the simple ironic brain teasers of life.

Anyway, I'm not the rest of my family members, to do what she perceives is correct,to keep her happy or just to avoid her nags or scoldings. I refuse to be domesticated. I mean it's been like that since I was a farking chow ah beng in secondary school. Now grow up to become a struggling banker and yet i still get screwed by her up down left right. Argh. When will it ever end?

I miss the simple pleasures of life when I was living in Simei with my younger brother and my grandparents. Although we lived in a HDB flat, life was peaceful and free. Our parents were busy with their cafe(still are, sad to say now they can afford to be more slack, hence I'm seeing them more often at home these days) and we hardly saw them. To me, freedom beats living together in some high-class residential area and having conflicts with them.

Nowadays I'm contemplating to move out on my own. But I know it is quite difficult for now. My pay is not good enough to do so. I would have to learn to be more independant and do everything myself. But what if I could? What would it be? Let me see.....

It would be a fantastic apartment with a master bedroom for me and my other half and the view would face the new Marina Bay developments. When the night falls, the view will be fantastic, with the sea lighted up by all the ships and the casinos probably so bright that they block out all the light from the stars above. The living room will house my plasma tv with 7.1 Dolby Digital speakers. There will be a nice sofa with additional side sofas in case our friends pop by so we can all watch movies together. There will be a small fridge that just houses drinks so we don't have to keep going to the kitchen. There will also be a bar counter with high stools, where we can just have some drinks and discuss boys stuff.

Another room would house my books and computers and her stuff. Work related stuff and discussions will be all there. There will be a big L-work table and some additional chairs in case some business clients pop over or need some place to discuss work. There will be of course printers, faxes, scanners etc. Who knows I might work from home or do some business on EBay?

The kitchen will be small because we'll probably dine out most of the time. However, there must be pasta ingredients just in case. And instant noodles. Eggs. If my future partner is a good cook, thank gods in the heavens above. Haha.

We might probably keep a dog.. If we do, it's probably because she insists. I like playing with dogs but picking up their poo and maintenance is just too troublesome. Unless our dog can learn to do its business in the toilet bowl then ok 100% no need to discuss further let's just get one straight away! Wahaha.

Ok time to wake up... And back to hard reality!

Fists of Fury

2005-11-12T12:04:00.000+08:00

Met Les and Diana for shopping with dinner on Friday night. Burnt a hole with a Levi's 508. Been so long since I bought a pair of new jeans! Yay! Les bought shirts and pants for his initiation at Standard Chartered. Yo sucker, all the best! Diana bought shoes and some toy thing for her friend's child. Got new contract some more. Nice work!

Mid-way, Vixie called me to join Rose's hotel room to have some drinks because she booked the room for 3 days to celebrate her birthday. It's at Pan Pacific Hotel by the way. Girls nowadays really cash rich to celebrate their birthdays at hotels huh? Hehs. Initially had no intention to go as I felt I would feel awkward there as probably I would find a few unfamiliar faces but Vix said that she personally invited me so I should not disappoint them. Decided to go at 12am after we ended our shopping trip. Little did I expect what was in store for me at Pan Pacific. (no RA stuff la! Wah lan!)

Went up to 28th floor and saw 4 girls with 2 guys. Playing Red Indian! I quickly joined in and wished Rose happy birthday. Rose if ya reading this, treat's on me next time yah?

Wah, the drinks they mixed were horrible.. Half a glass of Vodka Raspberry with 7-11 added to the brim. I kanna one time I already kong ka kiao. Anyway didn't have a full dinner so drinks of such horrideous nature was definately out for me so I drank less. Decided to lie down on the pillow as it felt comfy and cooling. Dozed off shortly.

Around 3-4am I was awakened by shouting. Two of the girls were at blows with each other and stuff. What the hell was happening? One of them was throughly disturbed as what Vix said, Emily Rosed. Took quite a few of us GUYS to restrain her from landing blows on another one of our friend. Never seen a woman with such fury with no logical explaination - they said it was over a handphone. WHAT THE HELL!?

After lots of struggling and shouting, finally someone knocked on the door. The hotel bouncer has arrived. He dragged her out of the room and all the way to the lift. Me and two girls followed suit and brought her stuff along. They called her husband (yes she's my age and married) and she just slouched on the sofa. Two more persons came up to inspect the situation and suggested to carry her down. Dunno how come it came to this but I ended up have to carry her MYSELF. Someone whom I barely knew. Argh. Ok never mind I carried her to the lift - the kuku security just started to press the lift button(should have pressed it earlier!) and I had to stand watching the numbers jump SLOWLY from 1 till 28. Oh yeah, I just had a backsprain the other day.

As I entered the lift, I had to hold on and wait the numbers count SLOWLY AGAIN from 28 to 1. OMG~! After leaning on the lobby couch and finally puking over the carpet and MY HANDS, her husband arrived and took her away.

Extremely disturbing night and must have been extremely depressing for the birthday girl to have such a thing happening. I hope everything will not escalate out of hand between the group. :/

View of Pan Pacific Hotel from the 28th Floor as I was leaving in the morning.

Power ranting

2005-11-10T23:54:00.000+08:00

The weather is changing already. Yesterday night, there were some serious thunders and showers over my area. I wonder if that's the reason for feeling lethargic over the past few days. Having backache since noon. Argh. I feel like shit now. My neck feels so tight, I wonder if it's due to stress or some other reasons. I need a massage!

Strong showing for the CCBT team recently. Wendy is picking up amazingly fast and that's good because that means she won't get the boot. I always tell her that I'm so disappointed and hope to celebrate the day she leaves the bank but of course that is not the case. I hope my reverse psychology work on her and strengthen her mentality. Everyone else is also doing kind of well. Seems like we're having another record month! Jac is also a strong performer now and she sells crazy campaigns. She also challenging me on our sales. I like that! Healthy competition. She complains about not hitting the target every single day. Power partner. Can motivate me to excel even more. Haha.

I'm no longer sure of a transfer now since I found out that I don't meet the qualifying education level for the position. Hmmmmm. Contradicting thoughts but well.. LAN PA PA LAN. Well, still doing fine so far. So see how it goes bah!

Went with my Dad on Saturday to buy handphone for my mom.. Look very long. I decided to choose the black Motorola V3 for my mom. It's the best looking phone, slim and good voice quality - endorsed by me as i'm using the silver one currently. Bring home liao, Dad suggest I use the black version. Hmmm. I brought both phones to Mom and asked her which she liked. She chose my own silver V3! Now I got new phone to use.. Black colour V3. Then today when I came back.. I found my old V3 on the table. Mom say too difficult to use, stick to her 8250. Now I got two V3. $#@&(*$#&@($*&#@(*$#@ !!!

Dad helped me arranged for a meeting of a ex regional director of DHL. Woah! My computer business suddenly got a boost. Kind of funny.. A young guy with 3 ah peh go lim kopi.. Talk about bizness.. Suddenly I felt like a little kid.. Same time I felt vulnerable. Although I knew my stuff, seated there was a veteran. I heard he is hugely successful with educational centres all over the world (he's into education now).. Well, I guess probably can only leverage on this old man to help me now. *Pray*

Tomorrow is the last working day of the week already! Hurray! And no clubbing for me. No no no!

LOL!

2005-11-06T14:37:00.000+08:00

Please don't do that again! Anyway the picture is pretty cool.

The Art of Clubbing

2005-11-04T23:11:00.000+08:00

It's time to mellow down. November seems to usher in the era of clubbing because the hot topic nowadays is 'chionging' (tasteless word to use by the way) but for me, tonight i'm just gonna stay home, listen to some jazz CD which I bought in town the other day and clear my backlog of paperwork at home. Bills.. Filing... Thinking of what to do with the rest of my computer stock... The mere mention of it gives me headache. Ideas ideas where art thou?

I'm going to boycott Devils' Bar. It's really rubbish. The atmosphere suck, the songs are horrible and the ventilation is not working if there is one. The crowd control is sub-standard. The bouncers are incompetent, only know how to carry balls with members and friends of the boss but with the exception of one, who helped me find my car key when I lost it a few months back. Please give me a slap if you see me there.

Zouk/Velvet, Balaclava are alright and so is Acid Bar. Do visit these cool places! Clubbing is only cool when you go with people who are like-minded. Discuss about issues and stuff. Make friends. Understand each other better. People-watch. Observe. Improve working relationships or build a basic foundation for that matter. Investigate the dirt on someone. Whatever!

To do -

1) Dress up - Nothing pisses me off to see people dressed horribly for a night out. If you wanna club, dress up. Tastefully. Or else stay at home and watch TV. Who taught you how to dress like that anyway?!

2) Leave the Singlish and Hokkien vulgarities at home. You don't have to slang like you just came back from overseas. Just BASIC ENGLISH! If you must, make sure I'm not around or pretend you don't know me. We know it takes a higher level of learning to reach "bloody f***" or "chow *******" for that matter but we dun need to know your level of intelligence.

3) Don't give a black face. If you're unhappy about something, fix it or go home. People come out to have a good time, not to see your kuku face, pamper u or cheer you up.

4) Make conversation. If you wanna rattle on and on about something, make sure they are at least interested to know. Or at least engage the audience or return the favour by chatting them up. Or else, talk to your teddy bear at home.

5) Be prepared to go home alone. If you happen to stay near someone who's driving, that's a bonus. Otherwise, spare a thought for others. Unless they offer to drive you home of coz.

6) If you're driving, prepare to send at least 3 persons who will 'magically' be 'along the way'. If you're lucky, you'll go home straight!

7) If you're the organiser, at least arrive early. Don't leave your friends waiting. If you're invited, don't keep them waiting as well before going in too. At least not for too long. *wink* We know what's fashionably late but even stars suck at fashion at times.

This is what I think and what I practice.

What about you?

Holiday again!

2005-11-02T21:42:00.000+08:00

It's another public holiday day tomorrow! This week sure is hard to work with alternating holidays after each working day. Can sense that everyone is on holiday mood - seats are empty, customers all on leave, etc. My leave is all spent on my examinations! Argh!

Well, I had a good time on Deepavali. Woke up around 10 plus to prepare for my date but ended up meeting her around 230pm due to some glitches with my hp not receiving her smses. Wah lau of all time my hp must malfunction during this time, swey. Almost spoil my day.

Not going into details, but we went town around afternoon. I really enjoy Orchard road in the afternoon. You guys should try it out sometime. I aim to hit Orchard Road next time in the mornings, enjoying a cuppa coffee with my newspaper at a coffee joint waiting for time to pass and money to fall from the sky. That would be a great day.. Hehz!

Had lunch, watched a movie, did some shopping and ended with coffee. Slowly walked towards the MRT..

"So what are you going home to do?" she asked. Before I can think of something, "To update your blog?"

Argh.. So you know! :) I grinned sheepishly and laughed it off. I'm cool...

Three more days to my date

2005-10-29T11:48:00.000+08:00

Three more days to my date. It's been quite a while since I had one. It was not easy. Well. Actually all it took was another second sms since she replied to the first one that she won't be free on Sat. The second crucial sms actually would determine if she is interested in proceeding further or as Hitch would say "she is already interested when she says she's going out with you. Now is up to you not to SCREW IT UP" or not a chance at all.

Lucky for me, we decided to go out on a public holiday. Less stress, not so tired after work. In fact, she suggested it. That's cool. I hate a situation like one-ways where I do all the talking and the only response is either yes or no. That would be very agonising.

It's time for me to put some decent work in a relationship if I do get one. My past fews really sucked due to me and probably only me who can't really commit properly and seriously to one without being distracted. Nowadays I find I can't commit properly to all my other commitments due to lack of a relationship. How ironic huh.

Ice Cold Beer, No.5 and Velvet

2005-10-29T11:24:00.000+08:00

Went pubbing at Ice Cold Beer and No.5 which is situated behind Orchard Emerald on Friday. It's like a secret heaven for executives to chill down after work and talk about latest happenings. I went with Vixie and Wendy to meet a group of MSMs for drinks before heading down to Velvet.

What struck me about No.5 is that peanut shells is like all over the floor and bar. Very interesting ... I thought everyone there were monkeys or something. Hahz. Mingled with the MSMs and found out that generally they all look younger than they look... Maybe due to the fact that a MSM handles cases ranging from $500k to a few million for a single client - it'll be better to look more 'experienced' to meet customers.

The AVP is a damn friendly guy, smart looking indonesian chinese chap who has no qualms about letting his hair down after work to party like mad. And he's only 27. Hmmm... Getting more tempted to request for a transfer over. Dress executively-smart, earn big bucks, party just as hard, know people who are already 'there' and who knows what u can progress to.

We headed down to Velvet around 9 plus 10. Got to know a few more people down there. One of the female MSMs whom I met in Thumper weeks back introduced herself to me again. She said she always see me around the HSBC lobby and that we smile to each other but never ever toked so now get to break the ice. I replied that I already knew her name at Thumper that time but she said she had no recollection of the event that night. *wonder who i was toking to that night!*

I believe that I'll never be drunk again. Coz I have been drinking regularly *not in large amounts of coz!* and I'll probably puke before I get drunk. My friends always say my face turns into a kind of funny red and I usually control my intake after that so as not to look wierder than I already look.

1 more plus hour before I can go home to sleep from work now.

A Steakly Experience

2005-10-24T23:41:00.000+08:00

I suddenly remembered one incident at SIM when I went there for revision before the next day exam a week back.

I went to the restaurant where they served pizzas, pastas, etc. I ordered a black pepper steak from the guy. He asked me how I wanted it. I answered him "medium" twice. Twice means he checked with me yah? That's good. While waiting for the steak, he was like commenting and grinning to his fellow mate. "The size of it became so small! Lol!" I sian 1/2, nvm la it's meant to be. And is this your first time doing steaks?!?!

After that, he put my mini steak on the plate and poured mushroom sauce over it.

"Eh eh man, I wanted black pepper steak.. Why are u pouring mushroom sauce?"
"Oh you never tell me that.. Usually we would pour this sauce.."

-_- you damn full of shit.. then why call it black peppar steak?

Sensing that I already pissed about his lack of logic, he hurriedly added, "Actually the meat itself is called black pepper steak, the sauce we use mushroom sauce."

You bloody cockneh, you think I first day eat steak is it? I was so tickled by his incredible low IQ or his pathetic attempt to cover up this blooper that I decided to laugh it off and said it was alright. *gracious me... omg!*

As I sat down and proceeded to cut it, ended up that it was WELL-DONE! Well done to you lad, really well done.

Zouk Reopening

2005-10-23T11:03:00.000+08:00

I went Zouk on a Friday night. My friend was queuing up and waiting for me so I literally flew down as I was late.. (Sorry to Pat!) Zouk had reopened after its renovations so tonight was her first night of reopening. It was crowded as hell outside and inside as well. But inside was cooling and we managed to find seats. I didn't really find it crowded so I guess Zouk did a good job of crowd control.

Lots of beautiful people as well as ang mors as well. A few extra plasma screens. Extended VIP section. A central toilet wash fountain. In Phuture, there was this really huge screen at the dance floor. Damn bright... Didn't venture further as I would have been squeezed like a prata later on or that exit sign would be elusive.

Lots of camera crew that night... Flashing away like nobody's business. They seemed to focus on the crowd rather than the people by only taking pics where there's a jam occuring.

A friend called and told me he arrived outside. I went out to meet him and saw that it was jam packed wif tons of humans outside. Thinking that it would be crazy to queue, I decide to stand near the front of the queue... Merge in... Then these couple of sweet things asked some people from behind to move in, then i made my move. "Hey man, just go in now. Trust me." then i just pretend to look around for friends while i ushered him into the queue. Ahahahaa.

"Now you know why the queue never moves." Another friend came and i executed the same trick for her but ended up Zouk stopped admission and her friends didn't dare to cut the queue.

Another incident happened when i was seated wif my friend in Zouk while my other group went to check out Phuture. There was this gal who was throughly drunk and her friend brought her over. "hey can i have this seat?" *can i say no? of coz la...* then she plonked her friend down and 2 of them took care of her while she kept requesting for her drinks. They were like toking to each other when the drunk gal started to lie on me and stuffs like that.. "ehh ehh sorry!!! my friend is drunk!!! *as if i dunno...* it's her birthday today " i turned to my friend and say "lol it's her birthday man.. we should offer her our drinks and wish her happy birthday!" we laughed it off,decided wisely to conserve our limited supply and continued to enjoy the crowd and the music.

Then she started leaning on me again and her friends kept yulping.. she turned round and kept saying "who the hell is he?? who is he? who is he? x 1024 x 768 times".. Pengz.. Decided to go explore Phuture and leave the lost child alone wif her friends...

Mind Visualisation

2005-10-22T21:41:00.000+08:00

Finally my month of torture is over. Glad that I made it this far. Lack of sleep and a social life outside work and studies really kinda mind-fucked my brain into having incomprehensible thoughts. Trying to organise my daily routines into a systematic order, not as and when I feel like doing it. I'm already 24. Hehz!

Had an interesting experience while studying for my last paper "Organisional Behavior". I met up my study mates for last minute revision the night before. This module is really lots of brainwork. Questions are all theories, have to sprout out all the correct terminology. I tried out some technique of memorising which i seen before and it kinda worked. I look at the terminology. I visualised a image of it. Then I linked it with another image of a terminology. I managed to memorise Maslow's Theory Hierarchy with that shit man!! Waha... Well it's more complicated but I'll simplify the theory...

Physiology > Safety > Belongingness > Esteem > Achievements.

I pictured me at a table having Macdonald's (satisfying physiological needs), then looking at my computer doing my work (job safety) and after that talking to the gal i like - [fill in your name here] (Social belongingness) and one day I get promoted (esteem) and in a couple of years I set up a elite department of sales and marketing channel(achievements).

Sounds crappy but my friends were like.. does it work... then.. he went on inventing his own imaging about motorcycles and helmets and he was like .. "wah!! works!! haha" and the next day morning before exams another friend was like " eh rihao i tested out ur method.. blardy hell it works! how come never teach earlier! "

Good thing was that... That topic came out and all of us remembered the terms.. That was some serious good shit! Too bad we had lack of time to prepare for the whole paper..

Places

2005-10-22T21:27:00.000+08:00

HSBC @ Atrium and Plaza Singapura - Workplace

Sim Lim Square - Where computer lovers meet and cheap buys to be made

Orchard Road - Place to spend your money at!

Google Earth

2005-10-16T19:17:00.000+08:00

This is where I stay. Google Earth is damn cool mam. Hah hah!

The Memphis Belle

2005-10-15T22:40:00.000+08:00

I just watched the Memphis Belle DVD, courtesy of my 2nd bro Khang who borrowed it from his friend. I watched this show on LD (anyone still remember the big ass Laser Disc format?) in my secondary school years if I still remember correctly.

It is a war story about this particular B-17 bomber who was going on her final 25th mission to bomb the Germans and her crew. Very inspirational story about how they overcome the odds to finally come out of it alive and become war heros. I just found out that the last member died recently on 1st Oct 2005. He was 85 and his wife who's name was on the plane itself during those years stayed with him till the end and accompanied by his descendants.

Very oldies type of movie, a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood movies that I watch. The hairstyles of the 1940s, their sense of fashion, their culture, their way of life. So much different then. Although it was the war era, you can feel how free they were then, not much worries. Life was hard but it had meaning. I'm still pondering over the meaning of mine, as well as what to do with it! Haha.

Studies, work, money, material things. Is life just all about these things?

Back to my studies. ZzZz.

My thoughts as examination approaches.

2005-10-14T22:53:00.000+08:00

Finally it's Friday. Next week is examination week. My exam mood is still cool at the moment. I'm amazed by my own lack of self-initiative to feel panicky at this very moment in time. 2-3 months of lessons whereby spent sleeping in lectures and smsing people and not a single day of revision during that period of time. How am I going to survive this examination?

I have shelved my core leave and used it for a full 5 days next week for my examinations. After all, I don't see the need to get a vacation. One of my major concerns are my examinations and once it's over, I'll be so relieved that I'll probably party the whole month after that. In fact, Zouk reopens on the very next day my exam ends - 22nd October if I'm not mistaken. I'll definately drop by.

Found out that Mortgage department just employed two new Mortgage Sales Managers (MSM) while I was talking to a AVP recently. I recalled that I came over to HSBC whereby I could progress to MSM. I'm thinking of asking for a transfer over there but I hope to at least complete my contract which ends in April. Furthermore, I'm not sure if I am cut out for the job. But I could see future in it. Staying in the office from 9-6 is getting boring although my collegues are fun loving people.. At the end of the day, it's the career path that you choose that's the most important bah. I've learnt much from my current job but I can only walk so far here it seems.

Nowadays all I can think of are my career options. Nothing else seem to interest me more. With the exceptional of one or two matters definately.. But this is definately long term.

Me and my newsletter team for HSBC CCBT/ARF Newsletter Issue 3!

No transfer, new shirts and examinations!

2005-10-08T13:40:00.000+08:00

The job transfer didn't materialise as the position wasn't created in the end.
Anyway it's ok, I still hope to create some results here in my current job as I haven't been shining bright lately. This month seems promising, from what I see on my Key Performance Index. Hope to top the charts on Monday when the updates on performance is out on Monday. However I've got exams coming up in the later part of the month. Extremely tight timing already, I'm imposing a self-curfew on myself after job. No outings, no movies, no coffees, dinners, etc. Straight home from now till 22' Nov ; my last paper.

Will take the opportunity to study at home, maybe talk to my grandma whom has been discharged for quite sometime. Quite hard seeing her laying in bed sleeping most of the time when I come home. Sometimes she can't even talk to me properly, getting blur. Indeed saddening. Lucky I have my maid who is very close to her attending to her needs 24/7. My maid even gave up ending her contact, she was supposed to go back home to her family. I'm very grateful to her.

Went to tailor made two shirts the other day at Far East Plaza. The material is very good and it's custom made to my body size with cuff links and such. Made one with pattern and one just pure white. My dude got it done in two days. Was $150 poorer for 2 shirts. But the cutting was indeed solid and surprisingly I liked the pure white material alot! The tailor told me he usually charge $150-200 for a shirt for expatriates, since he knew my friend then give me this price (wonder if it's true.. haha) - even show me his past receipts to prove it (the ang mos could be carrot heads wat, or their huge size required more cloth so charge more? :D) Decide to wear one for a collegue's wedding (again!?!) at the end of this month.

Finally decide to blog as Han Bao Bei force me to stay in the office with her while she transfers her songs into her MP3 player. Just my luck to be indebted to her for buying a few mcbreakfasts in the mornings - and it's not even on her... haha. Anyway, good lah, or else go home sure lie on the bed to sleep also.

I want top sales, pass my exams, get a gf, ip nano, better health for my grandma and a better nicer tan. Will these materialise? I want to be more pro-active in getting what I want instead of waiting for things to happen. :)

Change in Job - Scope

2005-09-27T23:39:00.000+08:00

A change in job scope. Outdoor client meetings. Supposedly pay increase. All within a span of few months. Good chance to learn something different in a new sector of banking environment - experience to be gained, records to set?

Never once have I not answered for my own performance at work. Working hard for recognition for my efforts and to prove to myself that I'm capable when it comes to focus and dedication.

Behind the scenes I'm still left unanswered for some issues. Even though everything looks pleasant on the surface, there are still things I'm left wanting. This change just accelerated the timeline.

The Myth

2005-09-25T10:53:00.000+08:00

On Friday, went to watch The Myth which was produced by Jacky Chan with Eric, Wendy, Gladys and Shirley. The show was pretty good. The usual Jackie stunts were there meaning that they were purely there as entertainment.

Pretty kick ass movie with the storyline morphing between the past and the present life of Jackie who was a brave famous general in the past and a archaelogist in the present. I enjoyed his fighting scenes throughly, very stylish and fierce. The female casts are also pretty eye-catching! :) I'll give it 4 stars!

Headed to Rouge later on with two of my colleagues Eric, Wendy to meet a friend, Traven from HSBC as well. Had free entry. Rouge is pretty good! With live band singers like John Molina (I think I spelt his name wrongly), it was a great night with great live songs and nice R&B music. I was pretty high on that night but Saturday didn't have to work but needed to work on project.

I was the emcee for Adeline's wedding last Sunday. Needless to say, the nervousness was there the moment I woke up that day. Took the script and went through it countless times - I was doing the Chinese language part and I couldn't even go through some of the words smoothly before getting tongue tied! Went to pick up the girls who stayed over at her place to celebrate or rather grieve over her last night of singlehood and we headed to Warren Country Club where it was held. It was located in Choa Chu Kang, meaning literally from East to West of Singapore! I spent time rehearsing the script with Ashy and Cynthia who were very helpful with the chinese words.

I still remembered vividly my first entry into the restaurant with the lights dimmed to almost pitchblack with a punchy song with drums been played as me and my companion Karen waltzed along the pathway carrying two hello kitty lanterns(idea by karen, rejected unsuccessfully by me). While walking we were like "HelllooOooOoO everybody!!!" Wah, kind of got shocked by my own voice been played out loud by the several JBL speakers in the restaurant. It was cool yet nervous at the same time but I guess all the orientation speech I gave during my NS stint at my firestation at open house helped alot as I did not really get frightened by so many people looking at me. In fact, I think I looked around but never really into their eyes or expression.

Felt like I was in control, if I messed up, it was due to me and only me. So i ignored everyone's expression and just proceeded with the schedules like the solemnization ceremony, march-ins of Adeline and her husband, champagne popping, yam senging and etc etc. Getting the feel of it already so I started to crap on stage just to cheer things up. While the couple was pouring champagne I went "Wah... Just look everybody... They are so nervous I can see their hands jun already! Haha!" A particular table went wild with hysterical laughter and I looked in the direction. All my colleagues there laughing like mad. LOL!!

Ok la, the night ended not without bloopers as well however I shall not mention it here. It was a great experience and I don't mind doing it again for a friend.

Till again.

A long absence

2005-09-12T01:54:00.000+08:00

I'm back! Haven't been blogging lately. I haven't been in the mood lately due to numerous projects and quite a few activities lined up over the past weekends.

Grandma has been in the hospital for a few weeks too and that has pretty much affected everyone in my family as well. I hope she gets well soon. Due to my busy schedule I can't visit her everyday but I try to do as often as I can. Or else she'll scold me for not visiting her. :P

Been listening to chinese songs lately after a few KTV sessions with my colleagues and friends lately. I'm shocked to discover that I can't sing Chinese songs for nuts as I only know how to sing Daniel Chan songs and the occasional one or two other singers. My poor skills in Chinese also doesn't help at all too! I'm such a ulu pandan.

Just worked on the newsletter issue 2 till 2am just now. Hope to launch this soon. Heh heh. Gonna make fun of some of them by revealing their pictures and nicknames in the newsletter, manager included. Wahahahah.

I just tio a stupid fine again. For changing lanes on a double white line road. I didn't even realise this kind of offence oso they catch. Suckers, never pull me over, just send me a summons letter. $130!?! I don't even know if I really did commit the offence or not. Wah lan... swey leh.. Writing a appeal letter tomorrow to try to waive off the charges. Dunno if I can succeed in that but no harm trying.

My colleague's wedding is less than a week away from today. I'm the emcee for her wedding.. All eyes will be on me when I speak. Ahem.. The last time I remembered I spoke to a large crowd numbering more than 50 was during primary school where I was chosen to go on stage to talk about a book. I was so nervous that I think I uttered the F word over the microphone. Wahahahaha... I must not malu this time. I am doing the Chinese part some more. *vomit blood*

Gotta go sleep...

The Fly

Old Folks Home

2005-08-28T22:17:00.000+08:00

After work on Saturday, me and my colleagues all visited the Lion's Home at Toa Payoh. It's a nursing home for the old and destitude. It was organised by HSBC and we all HAD to volunteer but anyway, it has been a while since I did something for charity.

Lions Home

Upon reaching the home, we were shown a presentation about the home and residents and the representative of the home briefed us on the Dos and Don't when interacting with the residents eg. asking them where they come from, why are they there -> definately no nos.

There were 3 songs that they wanted to sing to the old folks. Personally I don't know why would they suggest to sing to them. Plus the choice of songs were pretty ugh but as appointed media coverage photographer of the event for my newsletter, I didn't have to sing so WHAHAHAHAH!

The HSBC Choir Team practising

The audience...

Actual Performance - Bravo!!

After that was followed by some interactions with the resident session. It was quite a bit daunting for most of us to interact with them but we just did our best and try to make them comfortable. They were generally quite friendly but some were quite awkward towards meeting us.

The residents were served food sponsered by us. The food sure looked delicious with sushi, kways and tarts. Initially we were apprehensive about serving them the stuff as most of them seemed to be toothless. However to our surprise, all of them finished their food and some asked for second serving!!!! I don't think they get food of this calibre at the home which is rather saddening.

After that, we had to say goodbye to the residents. It had been a enriching experience for all of us and we hope that the folks at the home will be happy about our visit. All of us have been all occupied about work, relationships and financial problems that we have neglected charity but I'm quite glad that this event has given us the opportunity to do something for once. Beats donating $$$ and wondering if it goes to them, gold fittings or first class air seats.

What do you do when you have a camera and gals sitting in your passenger seat?

It's in their genetic nature. :/

Anyway, you have been treated to an early preview portion of my HSBC newsletter issue 2. Blog readers get privileges. *grinz*

Problems and Focus

2005-08-23T00:05:00.000+08:00

Why am I faced with so many problems daily? Big or small, nevertheless they linger around my mind all the time. Even after work, I come home to a whole different set of issues to handle.

Something big happened on Saturday. I'm so guilty I found out only when I reached home at 3am and charged my handphone to only receive the message at 4am. If only I had not gone out that night.

Whatever the case, all these problems is just a test for me I guess. I must face them straight on and face to the consequences. I need to change myself for the better. To better focus. To better understand. To be more in touch with situations and people around me.

As my SIM team mates commented "Don't know why you so slack now, last semester you were so siao on.." and hence my moodiness dragged our school projects down. Power of influence I guess! :P

Gotta get my act together. FOCUS!!

The reasons why I listen

2005-08-17T17:23:00.000+08:00

I'm on leave for Wednesday and Thursday. Now come to think of it... Why didn't I take leave on Thursday and Friday instead? In that case, I would have a super long weekend. But anyway, was in absolutely no mood for that as this two days are for me to solve some of the problems that had plagued me for quite sometime. Or else it'll be bad for me in the long run, colleagues are commenting that I've been looking glum lately. :(

Went for some drinks and to look for a friend who was spinning at MIA yesterday night. Although it was quite deserted due to it being a Tuesday night, I was treated to a live performance by two guys who absolutely had the voice and skills. Alas to say they neither seemed to have the looks nor package, else they would have been in Singapore Idols. Then again it seems that they didn't make it through(they did took part) due to their age. Well, they did mention idols not talents ya? Hahah.

Someone commented that I never seemed to talk about myself, rather introvert type that keeps things to themselves. I heard her mention this on two occasions. I'm pretty surprised! I beg to differ. The actual fact is that I've learnt that people tend to talk more about themselves rather than listen to others. It's a fact. That's why this blog is all about ME. Coz now you are in a state the mind that is now interested to find out and know about ME. (o-o) oh.. not because you're just all about yourself? Er, maybe but who cares right?

Few people are good listeners, I've observed at work. Person 1 talk about something, person 2 simply ignore, talk back to 1 about something else. If I was person 1, simply pissed. Hurz. Let the others do the talking, don't waste my time and saliva. Some would rattle on about themselves and their problems, the rest hafta smile out of politeness. Isn't it a torture? I'll rather talk about something that concerns everyone.

People who like to talk all the time, will soon realise that no one wants to listen to them anymore. Because it's a 2-way communication process, not 1-way. Simple as that. Would you want someone to listen to you and give advice? That someone would also like the same thing too.

I don't mind listening to others coz I like to listen to their experiences, work, etc. In fact, I like to probe for details even. I even got friends in the undertaker business - heck, they even coincidentally handled my grandfather's funeral. They assured me they'll do a good job.

Through listening, you can gather info of which you can process to present it in a informative format that you can comprehend and derive decisions which you can make to your own advantage for the intention of self-satisfaction or profit. <-- conjured pure bullshit of a line. lol

Hahaha, I sounded like a lecturer.

My bad.

To her who said I keep all to myself - I will only tell you if you are sincerely interested. Or else I might just be wasting my time. :) I wish for happiness for you be it me or someone else. :)

Wise words...

2005-08-14T11:36:00.000+08:00

Flirting with danger seems appealing, but it could just complicate things needlessly right now. Why not have a nice, meaningful conversation with stability instead? It might be just what you need.

National Day, Newsletter and Golf

2005-08-13T20:15:00.000+08:00

National Day has came and passed. Watched live fireworks at Marina Square on the eve of the occasion 5 mins right after I walked out of the cinema theatre. Damn lucky. Watched Wedding Crashers. Quite a hilarious show man, I was laughing my ass off on my seat as I watched this one. Haven't watch any decent shows in a while, where have all the blockbusters gone? Increase the ticket prices but the standard is still not here nor there.

The newsletter had just got published and circulated around the sales department. Comments from the top are "very good!" and "well done" etc. I haven't heard any bad comments as yet but any of it probably will not be able to reach my ears anyway. I will publish the first two pages of it here. The rest of it has details for internal circulation so I better not show it. Everyone eagerly looking forward for subsequent issues but am i getting a higher pay for it? Nope. Kinda fed up with work issues lately but hope things turn for the better.

The green apples adorning my desk balcony. To date 9 of them and still in good shape. Whaaha. Anyone hungry?

Today after going to the cafe in the morning, I went home and discovered I left the keys inside. Damn blur of me despite the fact I slept at 1030pm yesterday. Yah, friday night some more.

Called Khang in the end and joined him for golf at NSRCC near Changi Airport. Went to the driving range to look for him.

"Wanna play?"

"Haven't played since Dad stopped golfing. 8-10years?"

But i still tried la, since I had nothing to do. Apparently after Khang refreshed my memory and gave some pointers, I just tried and voila! Balls flew far and high. *stunned* Only problem is the generally they are not straight and tend to steer to the right. Will fix it the next time I try golfing again. Hehz! I averaged 90-130meters! Asked Dad about it and he told me it was a very good result despite my first sorta try. *Playing as a kid doesn't really count! :D*

Mr Khang and his winning shot!

LIFE IS BORING. I GOTTA GET OUT!

My Astrology Reading - Quite zun

2005-08-10T23:06:00.000+08:00

Section 1: How You Approach Life and How You Appear To Others

You are a natural diplomat, reasonable, tolerant, fair, always willing to listen to varying viewpoints, and ready to see the other side of an issue. Even if you strongly disagree with someone, you will try to find points of similarity and agreement rather than emphasizing the differences. You often avoid taking an extreme or one-sided stance on anything. You have a strong desire for harmonious and pleasant relationships, and express a spirit of cooperation, compromise, friendship, and fairness. You very much want to be liked and because of your need for approval and acceptance, you are easily influenced by others' opinions, especially when young. You so much want to please that often you will suppress your own intense or unpleasant feelings in order not to offend others. Sometimes your politeness is interpreted as phoniness or wishy-washiness.

Section 2: The Inner You: Your Real Motivation

You are a steadfast and patient soul, capable of tremendous devotion, dedication, endurance, and constancy. The ability to follow through and stick with things is one of your greatest assets. Once your course is set, you pursue it tenaciously until it is completed, stubbornly resisting any attempts to sway you from your purpose.

Newsletter Pictures, PGI

2005-08-06T00:37:00.000+08:00

I'm having a sales drought right now. WTF?! And they are rewarding this month's top contributor with watches? Such convenient timing! Must choot my pattern liao or else they think I'm a sick cat. But indeed I'm already sick. Sore throat and stuffed nose. Crap.

My stocks have arrived! 3-5 big boxes by DHL. Sighz, no time for anything but work, study, sleep, surfing, bath and shit. I hope I'll sell off the stuff soon or else some people will raise their eyes at me for sure. Aiya, I can do it!!!

Had a photography session today. Usually cameras would only mean that someone is leaving. Indeed someone is but the main reason for this session is to prepare the photos for the launch of one and only bhb CCBT/ARF Newsletter. I mean wtf? Create a newsletter and send to everyone's mailbox? Initially I thought the manager's doing the forwarding, now he ask me to do the forward. I see alot of green apples given out by HSBC's "Own it live it" health campaign flying towards my desk. -_-

We rock HSBC. Period.

The Poster Gals of CCBT

Raoul and Resident Restless

I write it out for you har.. You should psycho the customer this way.. Max out the credit limit.. Remember to tell him not to let his wife know or she'll explode!

Alright you guys, I have the biggest head ok?

Most importantly,

I passed my first financial/insurance paper PGI today at Suntec! This is the most knnb taico pass i have ever achieved. I only studied half of the book(and half is already alot already) but I still managed to pass. I'm over the farking moon over this one. I better don't play play with the next one on the 12th. Heard it's tough. I MUST DO IT!

Guru of Sex

2005-07-31T21:11:00.000+08:00

One of the shows I did overseas sometime back. I hope to hold a similar show at Esplanade soon!

Lost and found

2005-07-31T19:23:00.000+08:00

I always wondered what would I do if I lose the car-key while I'm out. It came true. Apparently I was hit by the curse of the HSBC CCBT team. My friend had just lost her handphone a couple of days ago and she was so distressed by it. It was my turn on Saturday night.

Decided at the last minute to join a few friends for drinks. A rather uneventful night with just drinks and some small-talk. I was dogged out by table-tennis,swimming and sauna earlier in the day and wasn't really prepared to go out for drinks actually. But decided not to let Saturday go to waste. At 430am, I stepped out of the club. Later on I joked to my friend.

"So whose house tonight? Yours or mine?" *sniggers*
"You go back your home and I go back mine." *serious*

Jokes continued for a while and my friend debating for me to send her home. Then I felt for my key. Eh!! How come don't have? Kept going through my pockets. Jialuck!!! Not there!!!

Went back and looked around in the dark at my original seat. Not there. Went out to find my friends and I was seriously stoned about what to do. My mind was already going through the S.O.P for this kind of situation.

Take a cab home, call my younger brother for the spare key, take a cab back, drive home.

Wah this sucks big time.. Determined not to be beaten by the curse of CCBT, we decided to go back together to our table and look around. My friends started looking and I looked for the bouncer. A smart-looking indian/malay chap was standing near the bar. I went over and told him I lost my keys. He was like paying like half-attention to me and perhaps more on the babes dancing around then suddenly his eyes went big and "you lost your CAR keys?" Eh... Yup. He immediately radioed people and asking if they found anything and they replied negative. He told me to wait about 10-15 minutes more and I went back to sit at my place. Later on he came and used his torchlight and after a while he was like..

"hey what's ya name!"
"Errr... Rihao" *don't tell me u find me familiar or you know me from somewhere.. I'm pretty distressed and stoned as of now*
"How does your car key look like?"
"Black lor.."
"Like Mercedes carkey right"
"Er... I think so la.."*I don't own a Mercs so I don't know wat!!*
Then he showed me the key. Wah!!! My key!!!
"Don't tell me you have it all along ah?"
"No la.. I found it behind the curtain, how can I be sure it's yours and not someone else?"
*wah bloody hell still can joke with me*
"You follow me to my car lah then I open for you."
"Sure ah? You send me back after that?" "Ok where?" "Woodslands"
"Ok la!" *You just saved me over $30 in taxi fares and a whole lot of convenience!*
"No la joking! Just standard procedure for people claiming their lost and found."
"No problem next time I buy ya drink when I come back again! Bye!"

Hell of a night.. Had me worried to bits. But in the end, I survived the curse. Haha.

My friend was like.. "So unfair. I never found my handphone."

Juggling for success

2005-07-24T23:51:00.000+08:00

Today I just placed another major order for Innuzen. Instead of a keyboard/mouse in-house designed-packaged product, I'm expanding the product range to include thumbdrives/card readers OEMed by others. When everything is ready and the ball has started to roll, I envision to order casings, motherboards, graphic cards, etc.

During dinner with my biz partner, Mom advised me to quit my current job and focus on this entrepreneurship. She repeated it a few times too!! I'm frustrated just as well. But when I do things, I don't leave things incomplete.

When I was jobless after I ORDed, Innuzen was stuck midway with the design proposals overseas. I had to get a job and make ends meet. Now after Citibank and at HSBC currently, the Innuzenic engine decide to to run and even fiercer than before with new product offerings and further horizons like Perth targeted.

I admit I'm greedy. I want the best of both worlds. Apart from a secure respectable job at HSBC, I want something of my own - Innuzen. In the meantime, I'm getting a diploma and hopefully a degree. HSBC offered to sponser financial papers and I'm studying for it too. I don't know what the fuck am I doing all of this for.. Whether for others or for myself. All I know is that it is good for my future endeavours and I just take on it one thing at a time.

As I mentioned, I don't leave things incomplete. It would be unwise to drop things at either end. Reputation and credibility, I work for. Scorn and distrust, I avoid.

I figure if I plan my schedule well, I might just be able to juggle everything perfectly. Might. We'll see in a few months!

Happiness or rather the lack of it

2005-07-23T22:00:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts for you loyal blogereaders and friends. I'm pretty involved in alot of things right now. So much that I can hardly sit and relax at home - that kind of feeling whereby your mind keeps grinding and grinding even when you're seated.

For example after I came home today after work, I'm immediately bombarded by mom with accounting fees amounting to $550 for Innuzen. Had a heated argument with her over the issue - they are considered decent investors but wily business foxes always like to take advantage of them in small details. This stupid accounting fees is one of them. Though it is a need, I was not informed of them. Anyway, don't wanna reveal details here. Gonna fucking screw whoever wanna take advantage of my family or me if I ever come to know about it again. Thereafter, Dad came swiftly after to chase me for his 'marketing' printouts for the cafe. ZzzZzZzZ.

Life these days seem to thrive on disasters and scandals. London bombings, charitable organisations, Huang Na Murder, etc. Are we humans so pathetic and deprived of happiness these days? Or is it just Singapore? Or is it just me? Are carefree days a thing of the past? Are we able to drop everything we have at the moment and run off into the horizon with our loved ones with no worries in tow?

Why CEOs like Dubai/Cheebai earn $600,000 while others earn $600? Yes, you've heard this word unfair so many times. It really IS!! But I'll rather be the one envied by others than envy others. Sooner or later I believe I can figure out how to leverage on things I have to get an unfair advantage over others. I can. I must. I will. Then I can say to those snobs, "Who's the biatchh now!"

At work, I'm surrounded by complains, office politics and sales targets. I'm pretty much a Switzerland when it comes to such things but I will retaliate when I'm stepped upon - which happened a few times. Why should I care about others when they didn't take note of my feelings or situation?

Maybe we should indulge on enjoyment, spending money, clubbing, babe-watching, illegal racing, daydreaming, forget about watching our diet and drink ourselves silly. In that way, I'll look forward to every new day with zest and vigour. Perhaps we should all think of the good things that makes us happy?

Enjoyable Things In Life

My Razr this is sleek and none can fight it in terms of pricing, seemingly unscratchable metallic or is it titanium casing and the 262k TFT screen. :)
My 19" inch LCD at home can handle up to 10 gals on MSN simultaneously, less if they have webcams as video needs more space
Colleagues at work but always try to take advantage of me :X
MidiLand 5.1 Dolby Digital Speakers Rock the house down baby ; only when grandma's out
Babe-Watch at SIM but main motive is to study alright?!
Clubbing To see and be seen. To dance to the rythmn. To puke when I geh-kiang drink too much.
Driving it's not the wheels - it is who's behind it!
Friends whom i meet up with now and then. I may not be always around you guys but i'll always make the best out of it.
Skating to show off my skills or rather the lack of it.. they say it keeps us fit but i don't see the results leh.
Suntanning but Sundays are particularly cloudy this month.. Call it CloudDay la..
BitTorrent My staple diet of movies, drama and music comes from this program. Call me cheapo and stealing but I dun make millions. You'll probably ask me to burn you that movie or drama too.
Coke Cluck! Pssttttt... Slurp... AhhHhhhhhHhhhhh.. Blurp.

Editor-In-Chief of HSBC / CCBT S.O.C Issue Vol.1

Memoirs of my first fire - Part 2

2005-07-16T12:45:00.000+08:00

Continued from previous post...

I immediately jumped off the pumper and headed straight for the equipment cabinet at the back. The sense of urgency was strong with all the bystanders looking at me but I had to keep my cool. I grabbed all the equipment that was needed and turned around. Everyone was already in the building. "Damn.." I looked and saw hoses being laid out so natural instinct told me to follow it into the building.

The building was no glasshouse. The electricity was out and it was dark. The sunlight was barely reaching in so I had to keep following the hoses and climbed up the stairs. I could hear voices and it was smoking bad so I wore my mask and switch on my oxygen tank. When u breath from the tank, you feel like Darth Vader cos that's exactly the sound u make. I could hear a high sissing sound and i realised that the mask was leaking air. Shit. But damn just keep proceeding.

Moving low below the smoke, I saw my other firemen. They finished laying out the lines so me being the nozzleman, took over and connected my nozzle to the hose. "WATER ON!!!!!" I shouted and the message passed on till it was heard outside and the water came in.

The room on fire was totally smoking. There was nothing to be seen beyond the door as it was all smoke. I just moved forward with the guidance of my senior and sprayed in. I could have done it with my eyes closed because basically i see shit. As i watered in a radar manner, the only exposed part of my neck near my ears felt extremely hot. I turned left, the heat from the right came. I turn right, the left came. I finally appreciated my fire jacket - although it feels like an oven inside and sweats u like hell, it is fire-proof and protects you from the heat.

The sissing from my mask slowly emptied and I checked my oxygen level. Ending soon. Had to move out. Another fireman arrived and I signalled to take over. I went out to take a breather and saw the smoke has turned to white colour meaning the fire has been put out. After the action was over, we observed the fire scene. Everything has melted and the roof even collapsed! The windows were cracked out and everything was a mess of melted goo and whatever was left of it. Stayed till investigations was over and went back to the station.

I went up to my dormitory and started on my packet of chicken rice. Barely through the food, the alarm went off and activated us again. Groaned I did, smiled and jumped off the sliding pole 3 storeys down to my fire pumper to head to another one of the countless fire and rescue incidents in my course of duty. :)

Close up on a Honda Accord, trashed. Blood from brain on the floor.

Crashed into a SBS bus at high speed round a corner. Saved two, one died on the spot.

A beautiful view you'll say. A wretched situtation to fight fire. No nearly hydrants, armed with only canvas beaters and boots to put out the fire.

Taking a break.. "Mum! I'm at a fire! Damn big! Come take pictures of me in my stylo milo outfit!"

I'll rather take this than the shuttle bus+mrt I take to work everyday.

Memoirs of my first fire - Part 1

2005-07-10T10:22:00.000+08:00

After I graduated from Civil Defence Academy in 2003, I was posted to Changi Fire Station. That morning I was excited t0 be finally considered a fireman. Yet still I was very much a greenhorn. My uniform was a crisp one, compared to the senior peers with their crumbled seasoned material. Early in the morning, I was assigned the duty to be on the Duty Officer pumper. Basically the first big ass fire engine that arrives at a fire. Cool!

In the midst of my morning drill (damn, i probably forgot some of the steps already), the station siren went off. People started running around heading towards their equipment and I was flabbergasted. I couldn't hear what the voicecom speaker was saying. I asked someone and he said Duty Officer activated. Shit!! Immediately grabbed my equipment and fire jacket, run towards my pumper. We rushed out of the station within one minute stipulated time and pee por pee por towards somewhere.

"Where we heading?" I asked. I was informed that one of the buildings in Changi Prison was on fire but it could be a false alarm. "Better be safe than sorry, you do 'this' you do 'that' you in charge of the water, LIM! you be hoseman!" "Roger"

While I was enjoying the scenery and the wind that rushed in the cabin as the fire-engine turned and horned at every car in front to give way, someone shouted "This is big.. You guys start preparing now." I turned round and saw a thick waft of smoking rising out in the horizon. Holy shit, my first day on the job and I get this. Who cares, haven't heard of anyone on their first duty getting a big fire and killed in action yet. Not so swey la. Started wearing my mask, helmet, jacket and finally my oxygen tank. All this had to be done in the fire engine with 5 other people, not a simple feat.

We reached the prison and turned into a lane. Lines of high ranking police officers lined acrossed the road, scrutinising our fire-engine as we drove in. One of my best section commander I got to know later in my course of duty said, "So many big crabs around, you guys better DO a GOOD JOB and FLY towards the fire! Don't forget what you're assigned and which equipment to bring!"

We finally saw the building on fire and man it was totally smoking on the 3rd floor. We came to a halt. "GO GO GO!"

To be continued...

The first representative product of Innuzen

2005-07-10T00:08:00.000+08:00

My early prototype model

Fruits of my labour. The Innuzenic Experience will soon be felt in computer stores around Singapore!

Excited excited excited! Coming soon to a computer store near you.

Shot down over friendly territory

2005-07-08T22:54:00.000+08:00

I have my ways and I know how things wiggle. How things look are simply how people twist their words. I know who is on my side and who isn't AND who act like they are on my side - I simply act dumb and unoblivous but in the back of my mind it's the feeling I know it.

Here I am, trying to build up good relations and people are destroying it amongst themselves, making everything so tensed up. Even I am involved too? Great. This time I'm hit but I'm still standing. Just another set of situational data for me analysis, maybe will come out with a hypothesis when I wake up tomorrow.

Club Momo'ed with one of my computer bizness associate on the launch of Ladies Night last Wed before my colleagues came along later in the night. Quite a happening place. Free flow also. Great! When my colleagues came, my associate was awe-stuck. "These are the people you work with? You must be one lucky man!" Yah right, you haven't seen what they do to me in the office. Hahaha. But i'm slowly standing my ground and sending missles, arrows over to them. You KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

So many things to do this week. The computer products are being manufactured (finally), the cafe's computer got virus'd, SIM and the shitty 3 hour lectures AFTER WORK.. rushing down to another company during lunch break to service their computer network... I'm dying soon.. And I have to work this Saturday! CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB.

Overall, mood of this week sucked. Nvm, I'll just focus on resting over the weekend and catch up on sleep, War of the Worlds and of course the SUN. Another new happening coming up on Monday. :)

Kuku Pictures

2005-07-06T00:00:00.000+08:00

Me and Kuku Les at SIM on first day of our 2nd Semester. Unbelievable boring lectures again once more.

Coming soon: Feel 100% 4 - Hao Er Xin (Gladys: LOL! Combined team effort of Cynthia, Ashlyn and Raoul)

Les trying to hide the fact that he has a round face now and Diana's pearlie whites.

What kind of girl?

2005-07-04T00:50:00.000+08:00

Are my expectations too high? Do I know what I want in a relationship? Am I able to accept the flaws that are inevitable in someone? Am I even comfortable in proceeding beyond the friendship level of the opposite sex? Am I ready for one right now? Am I even sure whom I want to be with right now?

Bachelorhood seems good. You get to do whatever you want, talk freely to anyone you want, go out with anyone you want. When I was at Club Momo last Sat, the only other thing my friend could dance with apart from his gf was wiggling his butt against the subwoofer. He could never be separated from the girl. That was one hell of a funny sight. Envy? Maybe, maybe not.

Still waiting for someone to spend a romantic night with though. Someone who can be into me as I am into her. Someone who gives me a special feeling. Someone who makes me care about her more than myself. Someone who can make me shower gifts on her coz it makes me happy. Someone who can make me wanna do the wooing thing.

1. Intelligent
2. Beauty
3. Gentle
4. Caring
5. Hardworking
6. Good background
7. Into me
8. Into me
9. Into me
10. Into me.

I guess that's what i want in a gal for now. :)

An Epic War in HSBC

2005-06-30T23:55:00.000+08:00

Today was the last day of the month. With a $3 million target for this month to be achieved with our headcount of 10-12, we were looking at around $300,000 each. A few of us surpassed that but not everyone did. We were desperate. We were squeezed. We were unable to accept defeat!

With an average of $100k submission per day, we are looking at $230K today! The un-avoidable email came into every single one's mailbox. The man wants everyone to concentrate, no surfing of Friendster or porn sites(;p), no wasting of time for unrelated work stuff(asking u gals to stop looking at your mirrors and putting on ya makeup!!!) and total focus on sales acquisitions.

A battle for the top 3 contributors of the day was hence borne ; top 3 get one less Saturday duty. bottom 3 gets additional one. 3 updates for the whole day. A furry of activity was generated - keyboards clicking away, mice moving all over and telephones off the hook and lots of talking for the whole day in a normally quiet office. I was stressed and alot of people were hot on my heels for the top performer as I'm holding on the no.1 position for 1-2 weeks already.

As each update came in, everyone was excited and calculating how much more to hit our target.. Before lunch time, we already hit our daily average! Wow!!! The 2nd update came with several shuffling of positions and some incredible contributions. Another email came, if we hit target, get to go off early today by 5. Chiong ah.....

By 4:45, alot of people were calculating and finally...

Team Sales Target EXCEEDED

Everyone yelled like mad, manager said we have set a milestone in our pioneer setup and breaking barriers month after month. Latest email reveals that VP has congratulated our team all the way from HongKong, "FANTASTIC TEAM"

As the din quieten, I was still silently at war with myself. I was barely a feather away from my own personal target. A couple of customers wanted to delay till tomorrow to do their applications. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dropped from 1st to 3rd place in a matter of a couple of hours. Anyway, team spirit is unbelievable today. I love this team.

Updates as per requested

2005-06-29T23:31:00.000+08:00

I've been living like a hermit for the month of June. Basically cutting down alot on outings and clubbings. Nowadays usually would be hanging out at the MacDonald's at Plaza Singapura after work. Expenditure was exceptionally high over the last month, literally had to sideline to sell computer parts online and go servicing computers in order to make ends meet. I feel so stressed.. Appetite gone down quite a fair bit.

The Manager has given me some good news today on my career advancements but I'll be forced to make a choice but generally either way will have good and bad. One will be flying solo elsewhere but has significant higher pay and status but the other will be still within the team. Which should I choose? :/ I've grown quite accustomed to the rest of the folks so this will be a very fine decision to make.

Few days back, Lao Da Hwei passed me a brand new set of DLink Wireless Router + USB adapter. Wooohooo... Shiok. It supports UPnP and I feel the net is now currently more responsive now!! I consider it barter trade la, passed him quite a lot of spare computer parts from my garang guni expeditions. :P

SIM is opening soon on July 4th already. It's time to hit the books with some serious reading already.. I've booked two financial papers (generously sponsered by HSBC) at the start of August. I don't intend to FAIL!!!! I shall never fail another paper again. It became a habit in poly era and a nasty one at that.

Should I buy a new graphics card to play Battlefield 2???? *fish, considered working adult already still play games.... * but this should be forgiven as I dun gamble. :)

Goofing at work, bad campaigns, Batman Begins

2005-06-21T21:45:00.000+08:00

Goofing around with Cynthia and Vicky after work! My precious darlings!

Lunch at Lao Bei Jing @ Plaza Singapura with our VP

Damn bored with my campaigns at work these days, pretty bad rates compared to Citibank, DBS and OCBC. From what I know, since we are pioneers of HSBC, they are testing out all the various marketing methods and rates. To me, I'll just say heck care and kill off the competition with the lowest rates. *grinz* But then again, the people at the top are professionals with MBAs and stuff I bet. I'm just an aspiring money-tree harvestor for now. :)

Another good news is that probably a promotion, pay rise is on the horizon at year's end. That's pretty fast considering the fact that I have been with the bank less than one year. Seems like good times all the way so far. A bit hard to digest till now. Great working environment, pretty, sweet thoughtful colleagues, career advancements, etc. Let the good times roll non-stop pls..

Went to watch Batman Begins with Leslie on his birthday. Indeed a good show, really draws the audience's attention and links the prequel up pretty nicely to the previous shows unlike Star Wars - Return of the Sith which kinda rushed events regarding the evolution of Darth Vader. Initial D and War of the Worlds are on my list of shows to watch next.

Things to look forward to

2005-06-19T23:08:00.000+08:00

HSBC Neon Pen

Cool eh? The pen can change light at the touch of a button. Press a few more times and you activate a colour showcase where it changes colour constantly.

Things to look forward to

1) My commission - This is the month which I get my commission, first month only got the basic only. Wonder how much I fared. :/

2) Skating at East Coast Park

3) Batman and Stealth

4) Haagen-Daz

5) Financial papers at the end of the month (yaya let's get it over and done with)

6) SIM school reopening! With all the aunties and uncles and the occasional babe or two. Zzzz..

7) Another date with her?

8) A IT service maintenance with a company. Just sent a draft outline over. If it goes through, I'm so gonna be rich rich rich!!

9) nVidia 6800GT 128MB Video Card. My Ti 4200 can't even start Battlefield 2! Age is slowly catching up with my supercomputer. :(

10) Maybe another date again? Maybe maybe????

Fuck la, life's too short to do boring stuffs, I need to get out more.

Ikezukuri - Chef D'oeuvre of Freshness

2005-06-14T15:23:00.000+08:00

Finally took leave on Tuesday to end 8 non-stop days of late nights and early mornings. Managed to steal some sleep till 11am before Vicky called me up about some office matters that needed my attention. Arghhhhhhhhhh... But felt good when I woke up. No bodyaches, only muscle aches that came about from the gym session with Les a couple of days ago.

The sun was great so I immediately took a shower and went down to the swimming pool. There is just SOMETHING about weekdays here that I love hanging out. No little kids running around, families having BBQs, friends visiting that leaves a sense of tranquility and calm when I just chill by the poolside. The pool looks bluey and sparkling and the place was just occupied by a couple of persons minding their business and reading books - basically enjoying a nice afternoon.

Basically life is good but how can it be great without a can of bright red cooling Coke and listening to a Creative muvo playing the acoustic version of Maroon 5's She'll Be Loved? :) I also had the time to read two days worth of newpapers that I sinfully neglected to do.

Probably going for a billiard session later with Les and Zhenhao who just came back from Australia for term break. Wonder which one of us still has the skills. Hehz.

By the way, I read in an article about this guy who owns a travel agency on one of his unique culinary experiences. He went to this Japanese restaurant and ordered a plate of sashimi. The fish is still in one piece, not the usual slices at normal restaurants. Apparently when he was eating it, he saw the fish blinking at him. He turned the fish head towards him and it blinked again. Astonished, he asked the chef. The chef informed him that the fish is still alive and has to be consumed before it dies. If not it will be considered bad luck! Wah liew.

Ikezukuri
Ikezukuri or literally "live masterpiece" requires the highest skill in preparing raw fish. A live fish is selected from the restaurant's fish tank; in some restaurants, the diner himself makes the selection. The chef then prepares it by slicing the meat off one side of the backbone. The sashimi is then placed amongst a seaweed garnish and carefully arranged against the carcass, which still trembling, is set bowed as if it magically jumped out of the water and onto your plate. Ikezukuri is without a doubt the chef d'oeuvre of freshness.

Weekend Woes

2005-06-10T22:34:00.000+08:00

Finally the weekend is here. For most people, it's time to party and make merry. It's so demoralising that I have to sacrifice this weekend to slog at the cafe. They are so gonna make it up to me when they come back. Haha. Nah, just joking. Grandma is already so old already, she can still slog the whole day at the cafe from morning till closing whipping up her signature rojak ; how can i lose to her? ;p

Today I received a praise from my manager over the email. Initially thought the email was addressed to me, to my horror it was addressed to everyone in the department. Saying I'm the top 3 performer, etc etc. Die la, the month isn't over yet, means I gotta slog like mad coz the rest will be so wanting to trash me in my sales. Bring it on! :P

Another good news is that I'll probably be converted to perm staff in a few months time if all goes well. That only means performance-based bonuses, more annual leave and i might be issued a gold credit card (platinum would be nicer though.. blah they're just plastic representations of haolianess).. woohoo.. I hope everything goes well under my manager's leadership. He's been great towards my welfare so far.

On the downside of my life, me and her is not talking so much. Guess the initial wave of jokes took its toll on me. Sigh. Anyway at least the heat's cooling down.. Haha, I suck when it come to handling this kind of stuff.

I'm still being introed to strangers as Raoul. Always getting wierd looks. I don't think people will blink if I'm called Dick instead. Blah.

Today wore a nice jacket that i rarely wore to work. Someone said 'wa andy lau', the other retorted 'dun insult leh'. 'oh insult him?' 'no, andy lau'. in the morning kanna already. guniangs... all i did was wore something nice for a change on casual fridays.

My BitTorrent speeds are still like shit. 30-40K max.

And I just realised no ants are on the table tonight. My poison trojan ant nest destroyer is unbelievable. Whahaah. They take the poison food back to the colony and when they feast, everyone will probably die from a slow but painless death. Sorry but no ants allowed in my house, you guys expanded till inside my bedroom. That's too much.

Tough times ahead

2005-06-09T21:09:00.000+08:00

It's been a rather busy day! But then my hardwork paid off handsomely.. My sales hit a all time high.. did 3/4 of the amount i did for the whole of one month in ONE DAY! WOOHHOOOOO!!!! Accompanied by several credit card and overdraft acquisitions that popped in unexpectedly, I'm a very happy man. :P

Although my work is keeping me busy, I am now missing everyone of you guys, the team 469ners, my kakis like Leslie, August, Diana, Tabitha, Fungyi, Patrick, etc etc etc. Haven't contacted you guys for like weeks or even months. But I'm sure everyone is just as busy.

Dad and Mom went overseas this week for around 10 days. The job of handling the family business falls on our family members. I think mine is the most siong already. Work for Monday till Friday, then have to take over from them on on Saturday and Sunday. When will I truely get a life? When can I be like anyone decent who can go out after work to meet their other half or go KTV sessions? Or maybe even just take a walk along Orchard Road just to chill out? WHY!! ARGHHH!!!!

I can't remember when was the last time I bought tickets for a movie. The most recent Star Wars tickets were free so that didn't count. I haven't shopped for clothes in dunno how many months.. Wah liew. Getting lethargic as days goes by. I think I better apply for leave on Monday. The first time I ever applied for leave since Citibank days. I surrender! I'm not a bloody machine.

Accompanied by financial papers sponsered by the bank at the end of June and SIM lessons starting in July, my leisure days seem distant.

NKF NKF you are such a pain in the ass.

2005-06-07T21:50:00.000+08:00

Went down to Central Mall to collect a cheque from one of my clients today, great, i needed the extra cash this month. Luckily had Dad to pick me up after work as he was in the vicinity. Inside the car, my phone rang. It was a marketing call from NKF. *duhz*

I can even picture the lady who was speaking to me in a heavily Indian-accented voice and probably reading out her pitch to me from a script laying in front of her.

Thank you for supporting NKF blah blah blah all these years.. *ya cut to the chase, what's up* We would like to send you a Friends card(or something) so that you and your friends can contribute to the pooooor kids. *WTF?! Are you guys nuts or something? Do I sound like a primary school kid? Donation cards are so 1988!!!!* Immediately I rejected, in fact this was the 2nd time they called me. This one lagi worse. Had the cheek to say "But these kids are so poor things!!!!" Dohzz...

I guess I don't have to comment on their practices as I guess the papers hugely reported their big goldchest quite sometime back so everyone knows. But trying to solicitate money by tugging at the Singaporean's generousity is no difference from those people who use kids to beg. Unless the funds go 100% to helping the needy, I'll rather contribute in some other ways. Otherwise, it's either going to their bank accounts or paying their salaries.

Crazy right.. I'm still so pissed. They have their own people to solicitate money, now wants to use the public to SOLICITATE MONEY AND PASS IT TO THEM!!

A Day at Work

2005-05-31T22:23:00.000+08:00

Work ended early today at 5:45pm. Open-forum with the top brass of HSBC Call Centre at 6pm. Touched on topics like migration of job functions to Malaysia side. Apparently some will be reassigned new job options. Likely that some will be unable to adapt to new work functions and leave. Also touched on job advancements. Glad to know he is willing to help those who are serious about their jobs.

However, our team staff strength will still be growing. Means migration doesn't involve this team - that's how important we are? Cocky huh? Who cares! Apparently I'll get to bring my Dell 17" LCD to whichever office I move to later on. Wahahaaha.. It's my property already! Ho say liao la.

Forum ended. Went off early downstairs to grab some fresh air. Gals came along.

"Let's go BodyShop!"

"Do what?"

"Buy stuffs."

"Dun wan la.."

"Come on!!!" and drags.

"Blah..."

Inside Bodyshop and extremely bored. Went walking elsewhere and went back 15 mins later. Still buying. ZzzzZZzzz.... Hangs around.

"Wow, didn't know you're the type that accompany girls to buy things."

.....................................................

Pictures

2005-05-29T12:42:00.001+08:00

Hwei's Birthday (According to Chinese Calender - Grandma)

My F-16 flight simulator. The joystick costs $429 initially. It is modelled exactly like the real thing, down to the cold aluminium finish. Apparently the simulator is as real as it gets according to pilot reviews. Sold it off to a real pilot while I was in NS. Now it's selling over $500!!!

Citibankers/HSCBers - Dynamic, quick to adapt, ready to challenge competition anytime.

2005-05-26T23:47:00.000+08:00

I moved into a nice bigger office on Monday. Apparently alot of bigwigs are situated here so my team must take care not to get into trouble with them. But I love my new corner.. Apparently I have a kick-ass Dell system with 17" LCD (Everyone elses are just fat CRT mamas). My fax machine and copier situated right behind me and i have a workstation just on my right. Very condusive for working. Yippie.

Scandals running amok all over HSBC. Even I was not spared. But it was just a movie(and it was Star Wars!!!!!) and I had free tix. Sigh. I hope I'll survive this episode or else things gonna be wierd between us. I sense tension each time we talk. Argh.

Papercuts. Freaking painful. They're just small cuts yet the pain they inflict is so much more. Amazing how a piece of paper can hurt you. Just like people. Never underestimate their potential to bring you down. You know what's worse than papercuts? Your favourite finger having a paper cut trying to eat crabs..

When it was my birthday, Ahma suggested a birthday cake.. I waved it off, saying I'm so old already.. Would be funny to have a cake for my birthday. Guess wat? She got one for my lao da AhHwei today!!! Damn funny. Got 3 big and 1 small candles.. LoL.

My colleague Gladys took this and sent this to me. For the uninitiated, Raoul is the name that HSBCers are calling me. Apparently my old-fashioned chinese name is always misprounced hence the name came about.

The BBQ

2005-05-22T02:31:00.000+08:00

As it was my birthday on Wednesday, I took the opportunity to organise a BBQ with my family and my colleagues who were nice enough to buy me presents despite the fact we have only been together for a few months.

My maid,grandma and 2nd bro, khang, were also very helpful, handled alot of the things so that I could concentrate more on taking care of the people who attended. They made it all happen! General comments are that the food was good and I don't look like my brothers.. TMD. The gals commented that Misako (Khang's gf) was very elegent and beautiful. Khang should be flying in the clouds if he sees this.. pun intended.. since his gf literally flies among the clouds every week..

Somehow along the BBQ I got stranded in the middle of nowhere, 4 of my colleagues played mahjong which I barely understood and the rest of the bunch of gals were talking about really girlie stuffs which I don't think are appropriate for me to hear. Argh!! But well, hope they had a good time.

I am so dogged out not by the BBQ but because I went clubbing at Onyx the night before. Then had to wake up early in the morning to go buy food for the BBQ then go cafe help out for a while. Shucks.. And it's Zouking on Sunday night with team 469ners with several friends' birthdays as well!! Going to be so panda eyed...

Presents so far:

Long sleeved shirt from the ex-Citibankers.
Short sleeve shirt from new HSBC colleagues
Silver Cufflinks from Darnie.
Wallet from Hwei.

Really appreciate it man!

What's in a name?

2005-05-18T00:16:00.000+08:00

Raoul.
That's what my colleagues are calling me now. Although it sounds exotic, hunky, stylish.. On me it is sooooo .. I don't know.

Apart from that, customers are looking for me by the name of Rinao(Renault?!), RenHao, Rao. They even got nicknames for me already. Argh. Should I get myself an English name? Maybe I should. Even my name in the computer system is spelt Ri Hao Lim. Why they separate it I do not know. Grrrr.

I'm hoping to work overtime on a constant basis now. Hopefully some will also O.T together with me, at least it won't be so lonely and quiet in the office. O.T = More money, more sales, dedication to what I do. At most spend less time in front of the computer at home, etc. Have to forgo dinner with family at home though.

By the way, today is my 24th birthday ; 18-05-1981. Finally completed two revolutions of the lunar calender. Hehz. Glad some people still remembered and even called me at the tick of midnight. Very touched and I really appreciate it alot. Little things like this makes me feel warmth and comfort in this materialistic world.

Hope on my birthday something special will happen. I've made a wish. Hope it'll come true. :)

Telecommunication Breakdown

2005-05-15T19:54:00.000+08:00

I found it wierd that I haven't received any SMS since Saturday evening. I tried to send a SMS to myself but it never came. I checked my hp's outbox and to my horror alot of smses never got delivered. This phone oso cock, sms never send out at least let me know what. Switched the hp on and off, tried sending one sms and 5 came in. From YESTERDAY 6PM onwards. The one i send to myself still haven't come in. Blah. Did the routine again. Another few came in. WTF!??!?!!

Now seems to be working fine but I'm skeptical of SMSes. What if I sms a gal I was too shy to talk to and she never replied? Was it because she was not interested in me or because she didn't receive it? What if I smsed someone to say I had to cancel the appointment?

Nowadays I always call directly.. Rarely SMS. No wonder hp bills getting more and more expensive. Damn.

Situation Awareness Alert

2005-05-14T14:43:00.000+08:00

Started my Saturday morning working today. I was feeling quite refreshed in the morning, despite the fact that I clubbed at ChinaBlack the night before till 230pm. Basically I never liked ChinaBlack because the crowd really cannot make it. Anyway was on the guest list so didn't have to pay so why not? Anyway, the lethargic'ness started to kick in around 12pm and I started to feel extremely stoned. Did just an hour of OT.

Started to dislike some people at work already. Backstabbers. People who add salt and pepper. People who make a big fuss out of something miniscule. Those who make assumptions. Those who 'gong my lan jiao wei'. I decide to stop being a nice guy. I'm getting more product securements, bigger amounts - making full use of the available methods to enhance services and securing transactions. I shouldn't be letting office politics and bullshit to affect my work performance. I don't need to care about what others think. I don't need people to like me. At the end of the day, I just want to hit my targets and maintain my route towards financial stabilitity.

Anyway, my Coke reduction programme is proceeding fine. Drinking less of it at work and outside. Replacing it with more lemon teas, vodkas, beers and whiskeys. Lol. Decide to ban myself from drinking it at home - either iced-milo or plain water. Hope to see results soon.