Bread and butter #52 (:S)

I don't feel good physically and psychologically.

Rushed to office (been rushing to office recently because I know I have something to be done) this morning, did the billing thing, and handed it up to CM to check. Along the way, we made some editions and I made some mistakes. I have to keep walking up and down the office. I felt like I was doing up my mid-semester essay, just that this time round, I'm not only accountable to myself. I'm accountable to my organisation as well. Professionals aren't supposed to make silly mistakes, right?

After that, had a long meeting with CM to talk about the progress of my work. Sometimes I kind of dread it. Did an appraisal for my first attachment, did it again for my second attachment (brings back the horrific memories), and now I need to do it again and again, at least once a year? =(

But I cannot doubt the benefits of doing it. It helps to maintain our professionalism, keeps a check on the way we deliver our services, highlight our own strengths (and of course, weaknesses) so that we can better develop ourselves professionally and personally, etc.

Thereafter, I took lunch with LC, not forgetting to develop my work photos as well. Then, my whole afternoon was spent preparing for tomorrow's Review Meeting- digging for materials to present, re-collating statistics and presenting them in a presentable manner (thanks BT for offering me a sample), and typing my Progress Report. Luckily, in nature, the report is brief. If not, I might have to camp in office tonight... and cockroaches might come out to accompany me... NOOO...

Anyway, I think I have an internal prejudice against rushing reports or calculations. My body automatically switched from happy mode to sian mode, and by late afternoon, I'm already half-dead with a slight headache to accompany me on the way home.

So, tomorrow is the Review Meeting. I can't say I'm totally prepared, and I'm not going to prepare too much, because after so many meetings, I realise that most of the time my planning is rather redundant. What matters is the response there and then.

Can the super busy busy people teach me how to stay calm and be able to perform tasks when there's not much time left? I simple cannot stand it when I'm focusing on a thing and someone else is asking me to do another thing. Just happened today, but I think I exaggerated or perhaps, I misunderstood. Was so fed up. Here I am busy with certain things, and extra expectations are piling up on me. NO! Give me a break, don't give me a deadline like today. I have no time for you!

Don't poke me when I'm stressed. I'll explode.

Shall go to bed early. Tomorrow's another long battle... Fight on!!!

Bread and butter #51 (Type and type.)

Not bad, not bad. Office is pretty quiet on Tuesday and Wednesday, as most people were at a conference. I felt like I did a lot of things. Recordings, though not completely done, are half-way done. Managed to send out the flyers in time on Tuesday- was so stressed up about them on Sunday, collate feedback from groupwork, settle all the small small things like claims and reimbursements... when the small small things build up, they can really be a burden.

Managed to have some free food on Tuesday and Wednesday too. Saved a few dollars at least, yeah.

Going to type my invoice for billing, prepare for Friday's meeting, develop groupwork photos, type my progress report (very important!), and pass the deposit to the zoo personnel. Tomorrow's going to be another long day of work... typing and typing... and having two sessions. And after that, I'll owe myself two (more) session recordings.

Expressions on Facebook.

I was happily sending growing gifts to my dear friends this evening.Was so guilty that a silly mistake of mine made Bessey worked more. =(
Also, thankful that Chris is around to help me destress. Glad that brave people (like SM) are around to catch cockroaches... -screams-
And of course, to my dearest... missing her...

And lastly,
Shiok that although I can't punch this stupid man physically, I can punch him via facebook. Stupid BT. Now this scolding is REALLY from me, Miss Cindy Koh! --> Eat shit lah you.

To hell you go!

I have no food on my desk, other than the Chinese medicine I had a few weeks back. Don't know where the ants come from.
I killed 32 ants today. Killed more after I uploaded this photo. The big sticker postcard is really useful. I just have to smack once and they're dead. Yeah!

Calvin and Hobbes quotes.

Been playing around actively in Facebook, and I love the Calvin and Hobbes quotes! Here's a new one I got! Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.
-Calvin

Bread and butter #50 (Complaints, as usual.)

Though I enjoy stoning in front of my laptop, I still like to occupy my time- try to do things and not jus sit and laze around every time. A day is fine, but lazing around a few days is not fine! So, I've brought home some work to do. May seem workaholic, but I do have some pieces of work to be done and they've been left on my desk untouched for at least a few weeks?

I think I have problems getting my points across some times. There were times when I babble and babble, and I ended up seeing a lot of blank faces (audience). Must make it a point that I speak slower and I speak in simpler sentences, so that I can be totally clear of what I'm saying. Oh my god, am I making sense?

Nothing I do is my fault. -Calvin

I guess it really fits how I feel now. I really felt like I was at fault. But it's not totally my fault. I may sound defensive, but if I had another chance, I would have consulted someone and stopped whatever I was doing. But then again, I wasn't offered the chance to consult anyone due to time constraint and many other unforeseen circumstances. All I can do now is sigh and just go ahead with what is expected of me. I'll just chiong and finish it. Can't push it away anyway. I definitely don't feel good about it, but there's nothing else I can do.

I don't really like people to comment negatively on my profession. Who likes negative comments anyway? I definitely enjoy hearing positive comments. Was chatting with a taxi uncle, and he was saying,

So late liao, still need to come out and work ah?

Bo bian leh, need to do home visit.

Wah! This job is not easy woh!

..It's almost equivalent to receiving affirmation and recognition for what I do for a living. A few days back, my mum's friend was commenting that I must have a lot of patience in order to be in this field, and all my mum did was to give me a skeptical look. Oh well.

I also don't welcome comments which stem from a weak understanding of my profession. Bloody hear about my job, or simply ask me questions first. I will answer them with patience if only you give me a chance to do so.

It's not going to be easy to find someone who really understands what I want, I guess.

Harvest Thai with Beauties and a Beast.

Went Harvest Thai, located at ACS Barker, with Beauties and a Beast. The Beast is getting more and more chauvinistic, kept criticising and cursing any female drivers on the road, and stressing about why males are the stronger sex. Think I would have strangled him if he was not driving.

All of us order a drink named Harvest Thai Harmony, hoping that it'll bring about harmony, haha. Unfortunately, Elayne and Alvin didn't like it. I thought it tastes special, and has a twist in it.

Here's old bear finishing the last sip of it.

What a blur photo. The waitress insisted to take a photo for us although we planned to set a timer instead. After dinner, we wanted to go to the toilet, and all we saw was...FAR end. Hahahahaha... we were laughing like crazy at Alvin until we saw this...
-_-

Bread and butter #49 (放工后!)

Witches and angels abound!Getting ready for Dazzle and Delight. =)
Lyn's birthday present: CC Sutra. Guess which one is from me!
I forgot (think I didn't even read carefully) to limit the length of my sutra... so mine is the longest one, but it's written with much sincerity using real life experience okay!

This is...

...always a comforting sight. =)

Today someone almost fell asleep in office woh! Asked me to buy coffee, never return me money and claimed that I was not good enough to er-hem woh... sleepy to the extent of messing er-hem's own hair!

Nonsense aside, thanks for taking your time to answer my dying queries on (my god) Sunday, and thanks for offering so voluntarily to go for the home visit with me. 谢谢你!!!

When stress arises, times like these are heaven-sent! =)

Okay, I shall play that with LC when we're all alone in office in December, haaaaaaa!!! =D

Bread and butter #48 (Home Visit Blues and Reds ;))

Just finished my home visit for today at about 9 plus. It's not possible to arrange an earlier timing, as the guardian is only free in the evening. So on that part, I will have to be a little self-sacrificing... have to work late. That's one of the blues of home visits.

But actually I don't mind working more, doing more for my students as long as they benefit from what I'm doing. Ultimately what I hope is that my work benefits them.

Anyway, another blue is that I've been walking down the same street for as many as 3 times a week, such that I feel so familiar with the place now. In addition, it's a long long stretch of road. Doing that 3 to 4 times a week is definitely tiring for me.

Wouldn't want to arrange home visits separately, as it would be not so efficient. If I can do all at one shot, that will be great... and I won't have to walk the same stretch of road so many times.

Felt pretty guilty of having the thought of taking a cab. But urgh, who cares when poor worker is late and tired? I almost fell asleep at the bus stop while waiting for the stupid bus to arrive.

Talking about falling asleep reminds me of how I was falling asleep (at a void deck!) while waiting for a parent to come back home. She didn't inform me that she will be late, so I had to wait for her at the void deck, because it will be pretty silly to head back to office and then come out again or to cancel the home visit as my schedule is tight.

Other than that, I have to search the online street directory to make sure that I know my way to the various residences. I walked the wrong direction yesterday and couldn't find the place that I wanted to go. And in the end, I gave up and took a cab because I was already late. It was already 7 plus and the sky was turning dark... I couldn't really make out where that whatever street is. Cabbies save my home visit days! =)

To make things worse, in a desperate attempt to go home fast, I took the wrong bus which led me to the wrong direction last night.

Blues aside, there are the reds as well. (Chose red as it is sort of the opposite of blue?) I managed to see my students in different light... different setting. I managed to meet their parents, which will definitely help in our intervention. Together, we can help monitor their groupwork attendance, and motivation in studies. On my part, I can better understand their needs and suggest programmes that I think will benefit them. Have already made a list of follow-ups to be done. Many many things.

Previously, I did not have the opportunity to meet the parents at all and I do not know the students well enough, so I find it pretty odd to just call up the parents and talk with them. I guess I won't want to talk a lot with someone whom I've never met.

I sincerely hope that from next year onwards, I'll be able to make up for whatever that I've neglected as a new worker, and be more able to work closer with the families and the schools, to do whatever we can do for the students. -prays-

Japanese Feast.

Had a feast with mum and her friends at my favourite Japanese restaurant. The salmon sashimi was great greAT GREAT! ...but the bill was...... my goodness...

Bread and butter #47 (Deepavali at Istana!)

Today's Deepavali, and we decided long time ago that we want to come to Istana to have a picnic. It was a pretty warm day, but we had loads of fun with each other.

Peiyi and me fooling around.

Naughty Theresa and Peiyi, animated Benjamin and great food prepared by him! Benjamin looking at his sandwich, as if it were his child.
Thank you Benjamin for the preparation (washing of veggies) and the assortment of ham and bread, Peiyi for the egg and red bean soup, and Theresa for the drinks and snacks. I was so not prepared.
Benjamin was so looking forward to seeing the President, that he kept mentioning his name.

While Theresa was away, we fooled around again. Peiyi looked like a super happy child! =)I kind of like the greenery there... made me feel like rolling on the grass... A pity our dear Meng can't join us.
After spending two hours there, we proceeded to somewhere to do something and buy something.

P/S: Badminton session last night with BT and SM was great but tough. I can feel the stark difference between my smack and their smacks. SM's really good at badminton woh! Haa.

Last but not least,

The SCS gang wishes you all a Happy Deepavali! =D

Wo ist Fred?

Had a great time laughing throughout ,,Wo ist Fred". Der Film war SUPER! =D

Fred Crippleman... hmm... Til Schweiger has been my favourite German actor since I watched ,,Barfuss". Barfuss is another great great film I watched when I first went Germany. =)Jürgen Vogel, Fred's best buddy, was the head nurse cum toilet cleaner in ,,Barfuss"! No wonder I find him so familiar.
And lastly, this lady Alexandra Maria Lara acted as Hitler's secretary in ,,Der Untergang". I was wondering where I've seen her before.

Here's the trailer found on youtube. A pity that there's no English subtitles.

And here's three other clips I found online. Super hilarious, I tell you.

Not really good at describing films or dramas, but I will still recommend my friends to go watch some German films if you've never done so! Hurray to German Film Festival 2007!

What kind of a person can you least stand?

This is not the first time I'm feeling this way.

I super super super cannot tahan people (be it friends or people I can't stand) who keep repeating the same thing over and over again, be it nice things or bad things, said in a positive way or a negative way. I'm fine with once or twice... but there's a stage when I get so sick of what I hear... that I feel so irritated with that person and I feel like strangling that person.

It's not only one person who's repeating himself. I've met a few already. Please. Once is enough. I don't need people to remind me of things I already know. And being unable to help me doesn't help in making me feel any better. So pretty please shut your gap up, and recall the number of times you've repeated the same thing to me... before I stuff something down your throat.

P/S: Thank you SM and BT for your concern... really appreciate you two. =)

Bread and butter #46 (TW's BRA -Birthday Remarkable Activity- Celebration!)

Due to the sensitivity of the content, the safety of the organiser (treat me better ahhh), and the confidentiality of the birthday girl, I shall just post the pictures and let my readers imagine what we did to TW today.Not much difference between the virtual bra and the real bra, right? =)

I drew it specially for TW. Notice the black lace and the bling bling all around... just the way TW wants it to be!

Well done, organiser, for planning a very entertaining celebration. Your identity will be kept confidential. Confidentiality level will correspond with my mood though. (Will remember the way you said, "bra only mah!")

My dear fellow gorgeous girl (gg, hehe!), happy birthday!

Random #17

"Nicht zweifeln, nicht nachdenken, einfach weitergehen" is one of my many life mottos. Don't question, don't think too much, just go ahead with what I need to do. I think this applies to any moments of my life. Be it studies, family, work, friends, or even super mah-lu times. Sometimes, thinking too much about a certain issue doesn't help. At all.

Been blogging more on positive stuffs recently, because I see no point in talking about lousy experiences when nothing can be done. And, it just makes everyone feel negative about it. Also, I realise over time that many people perceive things differently from me, thus may not understand what I'm going through. Now that explains why I talk less about personal issues and thoughts.

A quote which I find really cute:

I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each other's dreams, we can play together all night. -Calvin from "Calvin and Hobbes"

Bread and butter #45 (Freak.)

My work has been very pleasant so far. There were challenges that I face from time to time, but they didn't make me as irritated as the challenge that I faced today.

A few days back, I had some problems coordinating a programme because of some misunderstandings and silly assumptions. Received some suan-ings as well, but I could push it aside as I thought the person was just trying to be funny, and the important thing is, I didn't feel threatened.

Today, Freak whom I had dealings with (due to another programme) actually blamed me for poor coordination. Let me explain. I need to cancel that particular session today, as another person (A) told me to cancel it because of a certain reason. How I wish I can decide whether to go on with the programme or not. I tried to persuade A to go on with the programme but failed. In any case, A only told me about the cancellation two days before the programme date.

So I've to do the sai gang- call up Freak and tell Freak that the school wants to cancel the session. I couldn't reach Freak on Freak's handphone, for two to three times, mind you. And as I was caught up in my work (I don't shake legs in office okay), I thought I'll just sms Freak, since Freak sms-ed me previously about an earlier freaking session. The message was two-messages long, as I thought Freak might not understand our shorthand. And I hate to type long smses, mind you. So as I said, I was busy and tired and I didn't bother to check if Freak received my sms.

So after a rough morning today, I recalled that Freak did not reply my sms, so I smsed Freak. Freak called almost immediately after I sent my sms. With a booming voice, Freak demanded that I explain to her why I did not tell her about the cancellation earlier. I stayed very calm and explained that I did try to call her, but couldn't get her, thus resorting to sms. With that, she retorted with an irritating accent saying,

"I did not receive your sms. You could have left me a voice mail. You are an adult, and I believe..." and she went on and on and on. She dismissed everything that I said. I hate her accent and tone of voice- sounds like she's the goddess of the world. Freak.

Firstly, it's not as if I did not try getting her. In fact, I tried calling her. And she blamed it totally on me when she in the first place did not pick up my call? She claimed that she was teaching her students. So what? Does it justify that you don't have to check your phone after your lesson?

And so (when I was not so pissed off) I apologised and said it's perhaps due to miscommunication. She pushed the blame totally to me by saying, "even if it's miscommunication, it's miscommunication on YOUR side, not my side!" She stressed the word "your" with her irritating accent.

So you didn't receive my sms. Is your handphone older than mine? If my 3 years old handphone can still function relatively well, I don't see why your handphone can't receive my sms.

"Or you could have emailed me!"

She came up with all sorts of reasons to blame me totally. And she was rude. Really rude. I do agree that I was in the wrong- but definitely I am not the only one at fault. It's actually an event between Freak and A's workplace, so why am I doing the coordination sai gang for them? Why don't they just inform each other and leave me out of this shit?

Anyway, Freak ended her blaming conversation by saying a totally kiam pa statement. "I'm sorry that I'm very rude. Yeah, but I AM rude." Like huh? You've already been rude to me, and you're trying to be defensive now... so what are you trying to do? What's your objective of saying that?

In any case, why would a sane human being take the risk to spoil a proper working relationship by being so rude and angry over a small matter? Everything's done already, so why cry over spilled milk?

I shouldn't have attended to her. It was a waste of my time to talk with such a person.

Bread and butter #44 (Little things that make working days fun.)

This afternoon, there was a big hoo-ha out of facebook. Almost everyone was adding everyone. Some people engaged in fights, while some others kept poking each other... Hahahahaha... we became so violent on facebook.

Tomorrow's GP Retreat! Somehow, I thought of wearing a green skirt and Theresa made a random comment that she has a green wrap skirt, and taa-dah, gorgeous girls will wear green skirts tomorrow!

(The next day) And being the 默契 team, we MUST strive to wear same colour clothings without prior discussion! Haha...

I must jiayou in order to see results. Although I am not that skilful yet... must persevere!!! -roars-

My Undergraduate Days #64 (NUS visit in October 2007.)

Went to NUS to eat lunch with Jane and to pass her her birthday gift. It's only when I graduated that I stroll in NUS- really take time to walk from Kent Ridge Terminal to Central Library, which is like from one end of Faculty of Arts right to the other end. It felt good to stroll and feel the atmosphere of NUS, and recall what happened during my undergraduate days.

I wasn't sad or disappointed to be a graduate. In fact, I was happy to recall the memorable moments, say the mugging sessions in Central Library with Ming En. And the macaroni I ate from the Western food stall reminds me of SW3202 lectures, when we usually buy macaroni to eat during the lecture...

Bread and butter #43 (Children Holiday Programme!)

My Children Holiday Programme for December is done! There is a total of 4 programmes which require volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering? Please contact me as soon as possible! Vielen Dank! =)

Bread and butter #42 (Internal Staff Seminar.)

It's pretty tiring to have a seminar for the whole day. Luckily there were some parts which were interesting. When asked to choose a toy which attracts us, I couldn't find any, thus I ended up choosing a toy which I thought best represents me. This little fish-looking creature is the one I chose. It looks a little gullible and blur, but independent and brave at the same time. As you can see from his head gear, he seems to be all-ready to ride through any kind of storm. He must protect himself and be independent.
In response, Yi Juan drew me a nice picture (look above) which represents my thoughts and her hopes for me. I felt reassured and understood. =)This is a random photo of Theresa's hard work- distribution of manpower. I thought the M&Ms-lookalike thing looks cute, hehe...