A Mind of My Own

Having problems with my endless encounters with True Spa for the umpteenth time, DD and I decided to book 2 more slots with the reception and thought that we would be able to use up the package faster. The end result? 2 weeks booking at the front desk meant they lost the damn paper with the slots.

I am letting loose the name of the account manager this time as it’s the 824357265438th time we have not managed to book the slots despite out best attempts. Caslyn Aw was there when we asked for the slots. After going to get some piece of paper, she told us to book with the front desk instead.

Thus, we wrote down what we wanted and they said they would call. They didn’t call. It meant that our slots were lost, again. Nothing new. So, I wanted to confirm it. I called. 1st time, it rang more than 18 times before I heard someone pick up and attempted to cut out the phone contact. WTF?!

I hung up and tried the 2nd time. Same thing happened again. Bloody Hell! 3rd time, same! Furious now, I slammed the phone receiver. On the 4th call, someone picked it up and put me on hold for 2 minutes. I got the call cut off which was what I expected.

Steam was coming out of my head by this time. I called more than 4 times and decided to give up. My sister called and after 3 times, she managed to get connected to someone and started scolding her. I don’t care if the lady was innocent or not. I want my slot confirmed that was all. Simple, right? For True Spa, it ain’t so simple. They use the bloody schedule books using pen and paper but cannot even get any of our slots right or confirmed.

I took over the call and started scolding her over the phone too. I gave her the necessary details and it was confirmed that they didn’t register our bookings. Bloody Hell again. 2 weeks before I handed the front desk that piece of paper and they can’t even make the booking? WTF is going on?

If you can’t even get a simple booking right there and then, please pack up and go learn some customer service from Thailand and Batam. They allow me to just go in about 4 hours later to enjoy 3 hours of good massage at cheaper rates. You don’t go crying around saying Singaporeans don’t like to have spa with you because you are expensive but provide lousy service.

I didn’t spend my money on things that don’t go my way as promised. A promise is a promise and I will find a way to contact your chairman or CEO for that matter. This is a promise.

I woke up at 8am this morning. Seems that I’m having a good life now that I’m lurking at home. Too good a life. And bored to tears at home too besides the laptop with net surfing for companionship. Troubleshoot the router drives me crazy with its punk tendencies too.

I wanted to visit the SIngapore Garden Festival before it ends its run on Aug 1. So, I lugged around my new love, Canon S5 IS along. Met DD for Red Cliff movie that started at 3.50pm since we were late for the 1pm movie slot. We had lunch at Hot Tomato in Plaza Singapura. I had a really flat sandwich and mushroom soup. DD had steak set. I tried the sauteed Shitake Mushroom.

We rushed to Cineleisure because we thought that the show started at 3pm and when we reached there, it was to start at 3.50pm instead. A whole lot of difference in 50 minutes. Everybody face palm now. We bought the tickets and went to Cuppage for DD to pay some fees. Then we walked back in the hot sun to Cineleisure again. Aye, some exercise we were getting alright.

Finally, it was time to enter the cinema to watch Red Cliff. The show was rather nice. The conversations were rather funny too for a historical movie. Even if the history wasn’t that correct in the movie itself. I’m not a fan of The Three Kingdoms but I’m sure someone will be able to point the errors out.

The problem with watching Tony Leong is that I think of him in Lust, Caution. Face palm again. After the movie ended, our next stop was to be at Suntec City for the Garden festival. My camera was used to take photos of the food and not the garden because my friends said they had something to discussed, so DD said we shelf the idea and push to another day before the show ends. I rushed home only to realised that they have retired for the night. Face palm.

Thus ends my day of lugging around a good camera that was used only to take photos of food instead of the beautiful gardens. Face palm.

This outing got huge. Usually, I would manage to get only at most 6 people confirming their availabilities. It was a huge surprise that I have 12 confirmations. I nearly fell off my chair when I read the email. Happy is WishBoNe.

Since HF and the rest have not been to The Cathay at Handy Road, we decided to go for Billy Bombers. At 2pm, NL sent me an SMS saying she was down with flu and cough. Naturally, MC wouldn’t be going either. Sad is WishBoNe. At around 4pm, RK SMS me that her SO was going since his work got canceled. Happy is WishBoNe. The total number came to 11. We were to start dinner at 6pm. Usually, the group arrived late but whenever we purposely put an earlier time, everyone arrives just within 15 of the said time.

CD was the last to arrive due to her cycling trip at East Coast Park. Her friend drove her from East Coast Park to Balestier, Bukit Timah, Lord knows where else, then to Newton and finally, Orchard Road. She wanted to tell him to go to a particular exit as it was faster but she wasn’t sure and kept quiet until she reached. Some people cannot accept road directions. Best to be quiet about it and learn the hard way.

Since all of us were done with dinner except her, we decided to go to another place and discussed for 5 minutes and came up with 2 options. TCC Orchard and KTV just near The Cathay. Another 5 minutes of choosing either venue and we finally decided on TCC. That’s when we found out that TCC is near PS, thus, saving us a trip to somewhere else along Orchard Road. That was 7.30pm.

CD had half her sandwich at TCC. We all got drinks after the waitresses at TCC helped to arrange the tables to accommodate all 11 people. A tight squeeze but we managed. With only 2 guys in the group, it wasn’t that difficult.

It was 8.30pm when we finished our drinks at TCC. Since the night was still young, we discussed if we should go to another place. Another 10 minutes of throwing up options and we decided on Marina at Keppel Bay. Only JC has a car, so the group had to be split into 2 cabs. I don’t know how the rest split up but since 3 of us knew the way, the ones who knew would take the cab with those who didn’t know the way. RK, RK’s SO and me took JC’s car. Happy is WishBoNe.

When we arrived at the place, the carpark was full and a valet helped JC but he didn’t know how to operate the doors for her 2-door Peugeot. I can’t remember which model but it’s one of the early adopters for auto-door in private cars. The rest had arrived earlier and the staff informed us that all the restaurants were fully booked due to weddings. We chose an auspicious date alright.

Since we had arrived and most of us had never been to the place, we took some time to walk around the place that we could access. I took a few photos and realised that I need more practice in night shots.

After walking around the place with TCC being the only available place to us, we decided to go have ice cream since ES was craving for it since dinner. Walking would be a breeze in the cool night but I wanted to take a ride instead of walking. So, we took the car with RK’s SO, the sweet man, gave the valet service amount to JC.

We arrived at Haagen Dazs at 10.30pm and asked for the seating arrangement for 11 people. After waiting for a few minutes, the rest had arrived and we got our seats. We ordered 7th Heave, waffle with ice cream and brownie. The flavours for 7th Heaven: Mango Sherbet, Cookies and Cream, Rum and Raisins, Belgian Chocolate, Strawberry Cheesecake, Green Tea and Berry something.

The white smoke is the dry ice in case you don’t know. We chatted until 11.30pm. From pool stories by RK with her job as a lifeguard to ghost stories and disturbing couples making out cars late at night when ES’ hubby and RK’s SO were young. Cheeky men.

ES’ hubby used to drive out late at night with his best mates with their cars mod with speakers that blasted out music at high volumes while parked in between the cars. They would even wave hi to the car owners left and right. Other antics included hide and seek in the 7th month at some haunted house. 1 seek, the rest paired up to hide.

Finally, we wrapped up the night and this time, JC sent HF, CD and me home. I saved a lot of transport money. Thanks JC! I have enjoyed my night. Been quite some time since we had such a huge gathering since our graduation. KY failed to turn up nor returned our calls. Wondering what she is up to.

Thus our night venues:

• Billy Bombers at The Cathay
• TCC just outside Dohy Ghaut MRT
• Marina at Keppel Bay
• Haagen Dazs at VivoCity

4 places in a night. Oh boy.

With the slowdown of the economy and everyone is tightening their belts, garang guni men are picky. The rag and bones business hasn’t gone out of the windows yet. It’s quite lucrative at times and does help to supplement the income.

My mother tried to get the attention of the collector only to have him say, “My boss will come later.” That was 10am. I went out at 11am for my hair appointment and returned home at 4.30pm. The stack of newspapers were still outside our door.

Apparently, this particular collector prefers handphones, old TV and other valuable stuff. I know where to trade in my handphones for cash. I know I can look around and trade in my old TV for cash. I know I can just go to the Cash Converter shop that is just near my place to sell for cash. Why the heck would I just pass to you, the garang guni man for an amount that isn’t worth it?

You think you are clever? Don’t try to be clever for this case. People have stolen our fire riser metal lock before. They are clever too but the authorities had to spend more money to replace with better locks. Do you know where our taxpayers’ money all go to?

The money have to go into building a better nation. That’s why our transport and everything is going up despite paying our taxes. That is also why being a rag and bones collector, you should stop being picky. Because I ain’t gonna let ye pocket that $100 for yourself when I can sell my handphone for a higher price.

It is a well known fact that I have a messy table at home despite the numerous nagging from my dear mother. Modobs decided to create a new meme about office or home desks. Ah, great, just when I am no longer in my very neat cubicle.

Before I start, the rules:

1. Describe your desk at the office or at home
2. Put a picture of it if you can
3. Explain why you sort it (or don’t)
4. Tag other people

What’s there to describe a messy table? I can start with receipts from various stores I have purchased from, bills, used envelopes, box containing a piece of half completed cross-stitch, mobile phones, chargers for my mobile phones and bluetooth ear piece, laptop, external hard disk, makeup set, makeup brushes, 3 water bottles and a table lamp.

I have never measure how large my desk is, right now, it’s a mountain that is on a balance scale. My work desk is always very neat. Feeling proud of myself now. I just feel overwhelm to clean up the table at home. (Defensive mode).

I don’t sort it as it’s organised mess. I do pay my bills on time. I know where my makeup set is. I can find my chargers and whatever it is. I’m so glad that I’m following these tips.

Finally, I’m curious about desks of Miss Loi, DK and The Young Businessman.

I have been freed from the routine job. Perhaps I have reached my ends of the what one might call the boredom of routine job. It hadn’t been that routine but I needed a change of scope that I craved for. I wanted to do something else but there just wasn’t any slot for me at the time.

I was in my first job for 4 years. Hanging on because I was still studying for a degree that isn’t recognised in the end. I had the chance to shift my scope there. I had a chance to expand my knowledge at my second job. There I was so focused in that I got so wounded up due to the demands there. There wasn’t any change of job scope that was possible as there were more talents in the HQ.

After all these years, I am realising that I am looking for an ideal job. My criteria is:

• Allowing me to work from any time as long as I can produce results.
• Allowing me to work from anywhere.
• Paying me enough for my bills and insurance and enough to save up for retirement.

Perhaps what I need isn’t a job. All I need is to have a few roles or skills to juggle with so that I won’t be looking around every 18 months.

Since my last day at work was on a Thursday, I had an event to attend on Friday, the bag competition. On Saturday, I stayed at home scheduling my posts for my blogs. Sunday, I went out. Monday, I stayed at home to source for more money making schemes and I went to watch Hellboy 2 with DD on Tuesday.

Today, I will pick up the cosmetics from Pure Luxe from HY. I have activities on Friday and Saturday although I’m wondering if I have any activities on Thursday.

I have been thinking about the bags I have just bought. I think I would like to sell the black bag. It looks so odd when I hold it. The photo was taken by me, the background has been photoshopped out.

After flooding Twitter and emails to request for voters, my bag design finally got into the top 20. Thank you my friends! The final round was to convince the judges that the design will get the money rolling in. Although it was my design, I assigned DD to present it to the audience as I have severe stage fright. He credited me on stage. Shucks!

I’m grateful that HF and NL were able to make it. Thank you. The place was held at Fort Canning Greens. Familiar, right? I finally saw the designer who did the Chinese Opera singer. Her design is way cool! It took her 4 to 5 days just to get this final look.

My final bag design is so different from hers. All made from Photoshop brushes.

The Opera singer design won her the MacBook Air. She deserved it! All other bag designs can be viewed in my album here. There was free food and drinks, including beer. Apparently, Agva and Ripplevox love beer. There was a magic show during one of the presentations where this guy attempted to impress the judges further by taking out a $10 note from his empty hands. Cool trick to impress the girls. Flowers would be better, boy.

Another guy had stage fright and he ended up talking louder, faster and incoherently. I only caught a few words that I understood but ultimately, he ended up making prejudiced sentences with his long speech prepared in his paper. I think he should have asked someone to help him present it instead of insulting everyone without meaning to.

I was really honoured that the designer for the opera singer loved my design. Thank you!

My question is: Will I get royalty fees if the bag designs are being mass produced? I do want to credit the Photoshop designers.

I have many affairs with agents for years. Not something to be proud of, but I have had good and bad ones. The good ones have been matching up pretty fine. The bad ones just couldn’t match no matter what. One even pushed me to attend an interview I already knew it wasn’t going to work out. I wonder how she did it.

Image via Wikipedia

The ones that I have had good matches are:

• Thomas J
• Robert Walters
• People Search
• The one in Maxwell Road (Can’t recall the name as it was more than 7 years ago)

The bad matches, I won’t want to write down the names as I could just be the unlucky one who has met the wrong agent. This time round, I hope I have a good match. Despite my attempts to avoid joining certain companies, I have now come a full circle if this interview works out well. I just hope the boss and peers are kind enough.

If it wasn’t that I needed the money, I would have said that I won’t be going for it. However, this is a critical period for me, thus my affair with agents have to continue.

There have been too many things going on. I’m quite confused as to where I should be starting. It’s hazy and yet I have so many things to do. Such as finding ways to earn money without resorting to working in an office. Unfortunately, Singapore isn’t really a good place to start. Or any other country for that matter.

Image via Wikipedia

I still need a day job. Unless I can work 4 hours a week. It will be a dream come true. I haven’t gotten over Latte’s demise yet. It is a traumatic experience if you witness your beloved pet grasping his last breath in front of you despite all the efforts to save him. It was really unfortunate that Latte died as a virgin.

I haven’t been sleeping well since. Some of you may scoff at the idea of losing sleep over some guinea pig. However, any pet owner will be upset at the lost of their pets because they have been spending time bonding together and gotten to love each other. Imagine living together with your Labrador for 15 years. It passed away due to sickness or old age. You have been walking around the neighbourhood every day and the loss has changed the routine. How does that feel?

I have been thinking about life. It’s so short that I just want to spend more time with my family rather than spending so much time at work earning more money but it’s useless when you can’t be there when your family needs you.

I have been thinking of starting my own business but it isn’t going to be easy since I have absolutely no idea where to begin. I do know there is someone who wishes to help. That’s so sweet. At this moment, I would like to think about the business type and strategies before jumping into the bandwagon.

I love this song by Myolie Wu and Bosco Wong. They are popularly known as Boscolie by their fans. This is used in War of The In Laws 2 (野蠻奶奶大戰戈師奶)

感激遇到你（歌词）
胡杏儿/黄宗泽

女: 这是爱承诺用心恋爱
注定要和你同步飞身爱海
男: 谁人是最爱
全程投入去爱 有你每日也精彩
合: 永远与你一起
日后都只爱你
永远的心动每日也令我回味
珍惜就像调味
能维系便铭记
爱你能教我幸福一世纪
Oh, baby, I love you, I love you everyday
永远的心动每日也令我回味
珍惜就像调味
能维系便铭记
爱你能教我幸福一世纪
感激遇到你

女: 这是爱承诺用心恋爱
注定要和你同步飞身爱海

男: 谁人是最爱
全程投入去爱 有你每日也精彩
合: 永远与你一起
日后都只爱你
永远的心动每日也令我回味
珍惜就像调味
能维系便铭记
爱你能教我幸福一世纪
Oh, baby, I love you, I love you everyday
永远的心动每日也令我回味
珍惜就像调味
能维系便铭记 爱你能教我幸福一世纪
感激遇到你

[Lyrics]