Finally, I can say TGIF

The day re-started for me after another night of working on my report.
This time is was almost 5 am before I finally finished it.
Let's hope my boss actually looked at the time-stamp registered.
I had to work on other things too, but these were "small-cases" compared to the reports I have to churn out.
I gave myself a time to stop working for the day.
And I actually managed to keep to the time - and on the dot too!

I am glad that I have learnt to manage my time sufficiently and well.
At least I am realistic to know what I can or cannot do.
It had been a hectic work-week, but considering the numerous things I had to juggle with, I am pretty satisfied of what I have achieved.

In the last hour or so, I got back in touch with a friend of mine.
This friend told me she has resigned from her teaching job.
She will be heading to Europe backpacking her way around.
Then she's heading to Thailand to teach for a few months from September.
Wow.
What a brave move, considering that she has had 10 years of teaching experience.
And was commanding a good pay.
But I know from the very occasional times we got to meet previously, she did say that the remuneration does not make up for the hours and responsibilities that she had been subjected to.

I was surprised to hear that from her at this later stage, as I was feeling that way already long before she did.
Perhaps she was the more patient one, hoping that things will improve over time.
Obviously, nothing of that sort.
And this is from someone who was briefly appointed the Head of a department, before she decided to step down from that position in the end, and reverted to being a normal teacher again.
Do not get me wrong - she was perfectly capable at taking up that position.
It was just that she had no quality-time to herself after she took up the post.
And at our age, that is not healthy at all.

Even this current job of mine is not paying me what I should be getting.
If my Organisation were to be following the "market rate", I would be getting another 50% more than what I am currently being paid now.
I like my job scope in R&D.
But at the same time, the administrative aspect has also gained me the opportunity to learn how to set up a new business, not to mention gaining true friendships along the way.
The extent of how much your friends want to help you is at its most apparent when their help is sought.
Even if there is some level of monetary gain, it is not substantial enough to lure just any normal friend to want to do it.
Only a genuine friend will sacrifice time and effort, as well as go the extra mile.

What lessons to be learnt!

I am looking forward to tomorrow night. The partying begins...at long last! :o)

T.W.T.

That stands for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
I have been busy.
I have been spending the last couple of days working on my final report till 3 or 4 am.
I have also been taking and making many calls that concerns the renting of a serviced office for my Organisation - for my use.
That resulted in many undesirable interruptions, as I was slaving away on my report.
But, it is a wonderful personal friend who is trying his best to secure me a good serviced office - with perks and all.
So it is definitely unfair if I were to get annoyed.

This friend has been so efficient that earlier today, he even got appointments for me to view 2 potential offices.
One was outside of the Central Business District (CBD), with the other within the CBD.

The one within the CBD impressed me more, as it has triple security - keycard to get access to the offices, security camera at strategic points, and a security guard making his rounds.
As soon as I entered the office, I felt good.
This place has altogether 51 units of serviced offices in all sizes.
Mine is the second smallest (smallest all gone), but is still larger than the other one that I will be talking about in awhile.
For this one in particular, the extra perks come in the form of a swimming pool, sauna and gym for its tenants!
Not to mention that it is in a prime location.
A rather posh place, I may add.
And coincidentally, two of my friends also have offices there, and the office I viewed happens to be diagonally across theirs!
The units are mainly rented out to lawyers and accountants, according to the agent.
And the rental rate is on-par with the other one.

The other cheaper serviced office only needs a key-card to get in, and not only that, it looked clinical - white-washed, bare walls, extremely cold air-conditioning.
That's not all - you need to have your own fan as the air-conditioning gets switched off at 6 pm! (The other one has 24 hours access with your own controlling panel.)
I really need flexible access as I foresee myself working till late every day.

I've seen both offices, and now it is up to my dear friend to negotiate the best pricing for me to get the posher office.
And then have my bosses 'okay' it.

AND I did another interesting thing earlier tonight.
Remember those 2 friends I mentioned briefly, saying they have their offices at the posh address (scroll up please)?
Well, I attended one of their workshops they conducted tonight, and it was at the premise!
I invited yet another good friend to attend the workshop as well, but the kind soul felt bad for turning up late (after an afternoon meeting dragged overtime) that he ended up waiting for me to finish my workshop before we met up!
Not only that, he had offered to give me a ride home in his swanky car.
It was one way of catching up with our respective news in the end, since it has been ages since we last met up.
I am really blessed to be surrounded my sincere friends - what more can I ask in life???

On that contented note, it is time to get back to my work...

Quality of life

Yesterday (Sunday) was spent trying to complete at least one of the two remaining reports that I have outstanding.
I managed to get one out in the end, and when I finally stopped work, the clock read 1:38 am.
It was past my bedtime, so I had trouble getting to sleep.
I only drifted off at 3 am in the end.

Woke up a little red-eyed this morning.
But I still managed to start on my final report.
I am hoping that it will be done and dusted by the end of tomorrow.
Which means I will have more time to rest my hands and eyes.
My eyes became a little blurry with all 200-odd pages of documents I had to read and subsequently analyse for my reports in the previous week.
As a result, my eyes suffered.
So that meant more rest for the eyes over the weekend, i.e. less work.
Fortunately, they are slightly better today.

Went for my third Salsa class earlier this evening.
It was the best one yet, with us students being taught to combine all the dance steps we have learnt (over the past and current lessons) into a routine.
We had more kind souls tonight - advanced learners who came to our class to be our male dance partners.
I could finally see how good we can look when we boogie!
And that was through observing other ladies dancing when I was waiting for my turn.
These classes are really addictive.
When you realise you can do something that seemed difficult before but is now easier, you want to learn more.
I am thinking: what is going to happen if I carry on up to the level when there are no more lessons to take?
What then?
But that is a long way off.
It was only a casual thought that crossed my mind...

Oh my...

The last entry I've made was last Sunday.
My, time has flown by very quickly for me this past week.
Monday was work then Salsa in the evening, followed by catching up with a friend thereafter.
We were eagerly bouncing ideas off each other with regards to our future business plans.
Just the process of talking and thinking about the ideas actually drained me.
Perhaps it was also because it had been a long day.

So, my early morning aerobics class on Tuesday was shelved.
I spent the entire day working.
So that was boring.

Wednesday was crazy.
I got carried away with work that I almost forgot I had Yoga class to go to.
I ended up changing for the class at home, instead of bringing my gear to change into at the fitness centre.
Overall, the class was very good.
I had to coax my body into weird positions that I had never ever thought possible.
I also found that since I started back on attending the class, my RSI attack is getting less frequent.

Thursday was spent frantically trying to tie up loose ends for 2 of the 4 reports I had to produce for my boss.
I did manage those in the end, but not the other 2 by the end of Friday.

All that reading from the computer screen in the past week has somehow made my eyes blurry.
Hence that slowed me down work-wise.
Yes, I could have printed the documents out.
But considering many of these documents were more like 200-odd pages each did make me think twice about whether I should print them out or not.
Waste of paper and ink, for a start.
Which is enough to persuade me not to print in the end.

Socially, I was supposed to have headed out on Thursday and yesterday with 2 different friends.
One ended up ill from overworking (bless her), and the other wanted to start working on a business proposal for potential earnings.
That leaves my weekend to sort out.

Yet another friend is awaiting my response - to have social drinks.
I will have to see if I can finish my darn reports first.
Deadline is tomorrow.
Yes, on a Sunday...

Ah...almost Heaven

I went for my very first local spa massage earlier today.
It was of the Swedish kind, much like the Javanese version too.
The pummelling was painful at places, but it is because I have not been having such massages since late last year.

This reminded me of the regular massages that I used to have with my therapist, Sharon.
She is such a caring and sweet lady, always looking out for me.
Without her regular visits, I would not have survived my RSI attacks in the time I was in the UK.
Thanks, Sharon!

I am expecting myself to feel washed out tomorrow.
But I cannot wait for my Salsa class tomorrow evening - washed out or not!
If I remember rightly, I will be learning the 360-degree left turn.
Having learnt the basic one-step, the 360-degree right turn, and how to dance with a partner, the new stuff will make things more challenging.
It will probably make me laugh more at myself!
Which suits me just fine.
Ha.

Interesting program

I stayed at home again today.
Partly because of work, and partly because there was a thunderstorm and I did not fancy heading out and getting wet.
So in mutual agreement with a friend of mine (amongst many that I have), our dinner/movie/drinks plan was shelved.

I paced myself at typing, with the outstanding work that I have to do.
I also ended up getting distracted by a very interesting television programme.
It was a Taiwanese variety show, trying to pair up couples for dating.
I was not interested in that program per se, but more in the guests they invited on the show.
The guests included a fortune-teller, a marriage counsellor, and an astrologer.
They were there to offer guidance and advice to these single men and women.

There was this particular discussion about how reading one's face says it all.
The marriage counsellor and the fortune-teller both agreed that a person's face is very telling.
The marraige counsellor even said that through her years of counselling experience, she is now able to tell who is a 'stayer' and who is not in a marriage - just by looking at a person's face during a session!

When questioned further by the program hosts, she explained that in her opinion, everyone was born good-looking.
It is through the years of self-conditioning that one looks the way one does.
If you are an unhappy person generally, your mouth droops, your eyes are not 'alive', and the whole face looks 'droopy' and miserable.
That is how one becomes ugly-looking.

On the other hand, if one is a happy person, the person's mouth will have slightly upturned sides, the eyes will look bright and 'sparkling', etc.
And according to her, that is how one's looks evolve - and is still changing all the time!

I was surprised that the fortune-teller agreed.
He added that only when a person starts understanding himself or herself, accepts his or her own flaws and improves on them can such a person find happiness through that self-realisation.
From there, this person can then begin to accept another person's flaws, and make a relationship work properly.

Partially, I would put it down as being contented with oneself.

All that I have heard made sense.
Especially when I have discovered for myself that a happy person tends to draw people to him or her.
The reason behind the draw is simple.
It is H.A.P.P.I.N.E.S.S.

Dinner treat I missed

I have decided to cancel a dinner treat that a friend of mine offered for earlier this evening.
It would have been a five-course meal at a nice, posh clubhouse with lots of wine - the lot.
This was a promise my friend wanted to keep, as a celebratory thing for my recent achievement.
But I have so much work to do that I could not foresee myself as good company to my friend.
So to be fair, I apologised.
The same dinner will not come round at this clubhouse till a month later.
My friend kindly said the treat will be offered to me again then...

72nd floor

I just got back from a quiet drink with a friend at a swanky, well-known bar.
Altough it is pretty packed despite on a weekday!
This place is situated on the 72nd floor of what used to be the tallest building in Asia.
It was mainly to allow my RSI attack to calm down (so no temptation of work).
As well as to provide a listening ear for my friend who was involved in a car accident only a few days ago.
Being the first-ever accident encountered, my friend first appeared to be taking it well.
But, in actual fact, I sensed there was this slightly aloof state of mind coming from my friend as the evening went on.
I gently questioned it, and it was confirmed.
The aftermath of the accident was still lingering at the back of the mind.

I did not have the heart to wear my friend out, so I said it would be better if we called it a night earlier than usual.
It was appreciated.
There was also my friend's promise to meet up again next week to go Salsa dancing at a hip and happening Salsa dancing place ...
... or should I say, we will be Salsa watching (watching other dancers dance!).
My instructor will be there, along with the other instructors.
That should be fun!
But I still suggested we left it open to change.
Just in case my friend is not feeling up to all this yet.

Yoga

At long last, I finally returned to my yoga class today.
This was my first class since I stopped attending it in mid-January this year.
That was because I injured my tailbone, having slipped and fallen on my bum in the bathroom.
Yes, it was painful, and I thought I was never going to recover.
It hurt BIG TIME.

For the last twelve weeks , I couldn't sit or walk for long before feeling the pain!
In short, I had never appreciated a perfectly pain-free tailbone in my life up till when I fell.
So it took careful deliberation on my part before I dared venture back into the yoga class again.
It was from the Salsa class on Monday that helped me decide that I am already recovered.
All that sitting and manoeuvering of the body - in strangely awkward positions on the mat - during the class, did not cause me to panic.
Instead, I was happily trying to copy the Master's movements.
I realised I felt some stiffness in some parts of my limbs from not having exercised for so many weeks.
So I have booked myself a session of Swedish massage this coming weekend - can't wait!

BTW, I am finally getting my first month's pay.
Just got told earlier today.
Hooray!
Or rather, I should say "phew".
Ha.

A ghost

I am in a reflective mood today.
I have been recalling some things in-between resting throughout today while I have been working.
I recalled the times when I was happily in trusting relationships, and never had to fear or worry about the other partner 'straying'.
Those break-ups were more about gradual incompatibility in the end.
Nowadays, the sad stories I hear about, for instance, girlfriends splitting with boyfriends (and vice versa) because of the intrusion of a third party, makes me more fearful about actually getting involved in one!

I am a person with simple needs.
I do not need much to be happily contented.
I may be naive to a certain extent, and still too trusting in people.
And time and again, through that simplistic trust, I get 'burnt'.

I did have an experience and got close to a guy once sometime back.
He said so many things but did nothing.
He even made contact with me again after disappearing for a long while, declaring that he had changed his life perspective at the time, and was ready to embrace commitment in a relationship.
He hinted at wanting me to give him a/another chance.
I was momentarily stunned.
I subsequently thought about it, but declined.
Why, you may wonder.

Well, he did the NATO (No-Action-Talk-Only) again.
In the few days after he reappeared, he said we would do this and that, and then when the time came, he disappeared without a trace.
Not even a phone call or a text message to tell me that he was not able to make the date!
Worse still, he had not remembered some things which I took great trouble to inform him accordingly - i.e. via email and sms-text messages!
Alas, after the disappearance, he actually reappeared, giving the excuses that I have heard one too many times before.

I do not want to date a ghost.
Only ghosts appear and disapper, appear and disappear, appear and disappear ...
Oh, and the fact that they keep on haunting you too.

Salsa

I have finally gone and dunnit.
I have signed up for and attended my very first Salsa dance class this evening.
Although there were at least 3 times more ladies than men there, we gals managed to take turns dancing with the 5 men who were there (including our male instructor, and an advanced learner lending a hand - yah right!).
He was probably checking out the ladies there. ;o)
We (the ladies) were promised that we will be getting more men from the more advanced classes to join us for our next lesson.
That will be interesting.

I had wanted to learn Salsa ever since I had a taste of it when I was in the UK.
But somehow, I never got round to doing it.
So this was another thing that I can now safely tick off on my 'to-do' list.
I am glad that over the years, I have made it a point to make up a realistic 'to-do' list.
And that this list has since seen many items being ticked off gradually.
Of course, along the way, more items have been added.
But I have made sure to remind myself to be realistic in my goals.

Attending this first class has made me happy.
Perhaps it is due to the exercise, and the fact that I have made a new friend.
There is a salsa fiesta of sorts coming up this Saturday.
This was announced at the end of our lesson.
And there is a competition for the best dresser in either black and/or red.
If I am going, I do not think I will be there to compete.
Rather, I will be there to see the performances and perhaps to join in a bit of the dancing, and to imagine how I can improve myself to get to that kinda level in due course...

Chef

I have some plans cooking.
But before I share my ideas on here, I still need time to brew them.
I want to ensure that by the time I am ready to share the news, I have already come up with a tasty "meal".
So much for being a chef!

Of late, I have surprised myself for becoming a more reserved person.
I used to enjoy sharing my news with anyone whom I was close to.
Nowadays, even the closest people (like my dad and my brother) do not know half of my things.
Perhaps I have learnt that some things are better left unsaid.
That is, until I am ready to share.

Is this good or bad?

YOU decide.

Sales assistant job

No, am not advertising for that position to be filled.
I merely want to share my brief experience of becoming one earlier today.

I finally got time off work during this weekend.
This was because I told my boss my RSI has hit me big time yesterday.
My inflamed tendons got so bad that I HAD to stop working after I finished my first full interview transcription.

Having not spent any personal time with my family members, I took it upon myself not to touch my notebook-computer all day today (till now that is), in order to head out with them.
My mother and my sister-in-law decided to visit my Godmother and check out her month-old fashion house.

That was when I got a first taste of trying to help my Godma out with the neverending flow of customers that she appeared to have, in the time we were there!
It was fun but at the same time daunting too.
As a sales assistant, one HAS to make the first move to approach the customer.
By nature, I am unused to doing that.
So it had been quite a learning curve for me.
I had to TRY to drop all inhibitions and serve the customers.
I must say though I had failed quite miserably.
I noticed that I had tried to retreat back to the cashier's counter at every opportunity I could.
Or was happier trying to spruce up the clothing display at the store.
Really learnt yet another thing about myself again today!

I also came away with a number of items of clothing that I tried and liked.
I call them my 'investment' - for my job, of course!
Well, whatever excuse I could come up with JUST to buy myself nice things.
Ha...

I was right

I was right about the number of pages my transcription work would take.
It was exactly 41 pages.
As you can see, I did slog yet again today.

At least I got it done.
And emailed it to my mentor.
I even had a PC-to-PC chat with him.
And told him about RSI problem.

You see, I have yet another set of interview data - 2+ hours long - to transcribe.
And I got him to agree to let me off the hook and submit that one next week.
Instead, he suggested that I should lay off typing for next week, and do some intensive research-based reading instead.
Thank goodness.

I still managed to type out and submit my weekly report to him.
It is just so that he is aware that I have not been lazying around doing nothing.
I think he is starting to realise that I AM a reliable employee.

A friend who has been reading my blogs complained that I talk too much about work.

He said I should say more about my own personal things.

I wish I could, but that could be too much of a giveaway ... in case any of the undesirable 'characters' chanced upon my blogs and put two and two together ...

A late late blog

I have just decided to stop my transcription work.
I started this work since 9 am the day before (i.e. Thursday).
My RSI problem seems to be getting worse.
And yet this darn piece of work has to be done.

Transcribing a 3-hour interview with my RSI condition could take up to a week.
Based on my previous research experience, this would take up 40-odd pages at least.
I have done 23 pages.
And it's already nearly 5 am.
The mind is willing, but the body is weak.
I shall succumb to the temptation of sleep...

More skiving 2

Where was I?
Oh, about my skiving.

I was talking about liking old buildings.

But I think I shall talk more about a couple of things that I have been enlightened with - during post-dinner drinks - by my dear friend, who is at this point boarding his plane back to France.
We exchanged news about how we were getting on.
And our conversation got us talking about relationship issues.
Although he had known for a long time about my past relationship experiences, I shared a little more about those this time around.

I subsequently made this comment about believing "what is yours will be yours, and what is not, there would not be much point trying to grab on to it".
His response to this statement caught me by surprise.
He asked me whether that was uttered for the sake of uttering it, or do I really meant what I said.
I questioned that response, and he blew me away with his comment next.
He said that if we were to go through life thinking that way, then there would be a high chance that each new relationship that came by would stop short of progressing any further.
It is because either party would not have realised that perhaps this IS a first, true(!) test of the strength of the relationship.
And it is precisely because of that statement I made earlier.
That means that we would not be able to hold on to any relationship.
Or even fight for it if it means something to us big time.

I reflected on it since, and I think what my friend said has some element of truth in it!

My friend also said the same goes for the statement, "let Nature takes its course".
He said if we were to say that and actually practice that, we will never get anywhere in life.
Simply because we are not going to be proative to do things.

Wise words indeed!

Thought I'll share on here ...

Thanks VC! :o)

More skiving 1

I did it again today.
Well, I was getting a little fed-up that I had so much interview data to transcribe, and all that typing was making my RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury - similar to 'Tennis elbow') no better.
In fact, I should not even be typing out this blog!

Anyway, I started on my work earlier.
So I took the liberty to finish my work for the day earlier too.
I am a conscientious person by nature, and I also tend not to shortchange anyone work-wise.

I had made plans to meet a friend for dinner.
It was his second-last day in Singapore, as he is flying back to France the next day.
I promised to treat him to dinner ages ago, after I started on a new job.
So this was my treat.
We went to a Thai restaurant.
This was because my friend said since he had been back for a month-long holiday, he had eaten his way through just about everything, except Thai cuisine.
My friend was rather considerate.
He did not try to burn a big hole in my pocket (ok, maybe just a tiny one - just kidding! - in case YOU are reading this!)
The food was nice.
I shall have to bring my parents there soon.

My friend brought me to a nice pub-restaurant which was tucked away in the heart of Orchard Road.
This famous stretch of road is actually the shopping haven for tourists and the locals.
I have lived in Singapore practically all my life, and yet, I had not been to this nice place before.
And according to my friend, this place has been around since the early 90s.
Wow.
The deco is really lovely.
It was basically a restored old shophouse, typical of the olden days of Singapore.
I liked it very much.

I have always appreciated old buildings.
Perhaps it is because there are not many of such buildings around for anyone to appreciate now.
Or it is just me?

Will write more.
But not now.
Am off to bed.

Skiver

Today has been SUCH an thrill for me.
Never in my life have I ever done something like this.
I skived off work!
Well, not totally, as I had been instructed to meet up with an insurance agent to get my travel and medical insurance plans sorted out.
You see, my Organisation is paying to cover me.
Hence my venturing of outdoors after only having been out to head to the airport and back in the last 3 weeks.
Other than that, I had been sitting in front of the computer working.
How sad is that, eh?!

I arranged to have my haircut at my usual hair salon in the afternoon.
This was in town, so I arranged for my insurance agent to meet me after I was done.
I had informed my mentor about the meeting with the insurance agent, and at the same time, said that I will be running official errands whilst I was out.

Well, I was.
I had to get some files for my work papers which are starting to pile up on my parents' living room floor.
And I also had to get a headset/mic to speak with my mentor (PC-to-PC calls) for free.

I guess all this running around caused me to suffer a horrible headache.
And it did not help that it had started to rain while I was out.

After a break when everything was done, I suddenly thought of my Godma.
She is someone whom I had not seen in ages.
So I took a cab and headed to her newly opened fashion store.
And I am glad I did.
Not only did I come away with some nice things, but also helped her to do some tiny adjustments to her display of scarves she had in her shop.
This little distraction from work actually made me happy.
I am so easy to please!

What a Monday!

What can I say?!

Today was a real eye-opener for me.
I got told slightly over a day beforehand that I will not be going to Jakarta after all.
To be really honest, I am delighted with the news!
This is because all the travelling in the past 2 weeks has taken its toll.
My sleeping pattern was disrupted BIG time, and I started having dark circles especially underneath my eyes.
Being one who values her sleep a lot, I was unused to seeing a ghostly image of myself in the mirror.
That is along with feeling really sore around the eyes that resulted from insufficient sleep.

Back to my cancelled trip to Jakarta.
This is for a project launch that will involve important organisations.
And my role is to be the advisor for the organisers at/during the launch.
You see, my Organisation is hired to provide consultant-based services for this particular project by THAT woman's company.
She decided on Sunday that I was not to go - you and I know why.
First, it is because of her discomfort with the thought that I will be in Jakarta with her (she's going, you see), especially with how she has treated me previously.
Next, her 'control freaky' nature disallows another (any!) person who is going to appear to be more in control (i.e. me), because I will be there just doing my job (SHE has to be in control and seen to be doing something!)
Lastly, she is fearful that she will not be in the 'limelight'.
This last point was what my ex-colleague friend suggested (whatever is he talking about, it is anybody's guess).
What 'limelight'?!

Anyway, the official reason was based on the fact that SHE is satisfied with the necessary delivery of my pre-launch duties, and that I have prepared the organisers well, pre-launch.
But a "little bird" told me that the ACTUAL reason she gave was that I was too new in my Organisation to represent it.
Ah well.
Whatever.

At least my boss defended our position well.
He shot an email to HER, expressing his unhappiness that we were told so late that our services are not needed.

Anyway, having built an excellent rapport with the organisers for the launch, I KNOW they will be disappointed that I will not be going.
I fact, I just received an email from one of the two organisers - he was disappointed indeed!
Let THAT woman go and advice the organisers herself.
Let's hope things go well at the project-launch.
Otherwise, if things go wrong, SHE will be shifting the blame onto anyone she can get hold of, as usual.
That will be me and my Organisation.
I mean, how unprofessional can one be???

Weekend clump

I'm getting short of hours to keep up with my blogging.
So am cheating a little by doing both Saturday and Sunday's together. :o)
Saturday's painful Chinese massage for my RSI problem was rescheduled to next Saturday.
It was simply because I was so tired that I decided to sleep-in some more.
All this travelling has taken its toll.
Not to mention the crazy amount of work I have to do!

Don't get me wrong - I am enjoying using the skills that I have been trained for, for the last 4 years.
It is just that it is vastly different to be working on so many things and not knowing where to begin.
Currently, I am driving two projects overseas.
Hence all the travelling, as I get to be introduced to the local people in those countries who are working with/for me, etc.

Two interesting observations my mentor has made on our business trips is that I eat frequently (to him, it is 'a lot'), and visit the restroom often.
This is true for a couple of reasons:
1. I eat more meals per day, but in small quantities at a time (so I get hungry quickly).
2. I have developed the habit of drinking lots of water and juices, along with the occasional cup of coffee or tea (which goes right through my system pretty quickly).

You see, on my recent business trips with my mentor, I had asked if we had time to grab a bite rather often.
I guess needing to think on my feet and all that travelling could have used up all my energy.
Fortunately, I seem to have a high metabolic rate.
I haven't gained much (or any) weight since I moved back to Singapore permanently last December.

Sunday today has started so far with more trancription of interview data.
I am determined to get this particular one out of the way by today.
Then I can start summarising the information based on what I have transcribed.
And then another separate interview is awaiting to be done too.
All these to be done before my next business trip to Jakarta on Tuesday...

I am looking forward to the week after next.
So far, there's no work-related travelling that I know of that I have to plan for, after this trip to Jakarta.
Maybe that is when I can start meeting up with my friends again.
And exchange our news with one another.
I am hopeful.

I do miss my friends and surrogate families (there are 2!) in the UK.
They are the nicest people I have ever known.
At least all are down-to-earth and sincere people.
Unlike some of the people I have met since I started working back here in Singapore.
I also miss the independence that I enjoyed in the time I was there.
At least I wouldn't have been asked why I was spending 3 hours on the phone the other day, during my work-hours.
The person who asked was none other than my mother.
I guess she cannot figure out why I need to talk business with someone for that long.
There will be more to come, when I get conference calls!

Right now, I am working from home until a temporary, serviced office is found for me.
Or rather, when I finally get to view an office that is suitable for me.
The Organisation that I am working for is that new.
To the extent that I have to make enquiries for my own work place.
A more permanent location can only be decided on when the Organisation knows how many additional staff we are hiring to work for us.
I can't wait for that to happen - I really need a personal assistant soon!
For now, I am exploring the possibility of investing in a phone-cum-PDA.
When I get my first pay-check.

My (lunch) break is over.

This means only one thing - work.

Ciao. ]:@

It's not TGIF for me

Well, what can I say?

Today is Friday, and yet I'm taking a short break from work typing out this blog.
I have 2 more reports to write, but I know I can finish them off after this.
It's just that it has been at least 2 weeks since I've had time off to do my social thing.
Sigh...

Like yesterday, I had to wake up at 4 am in the morning to catch a shuttle flight to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia.
It was a day-trip for business, but fortunately, I met some nice business associates who had a great sense of humour.
It was as if I was meeting new friends, although I did carry out my duties and responsibilities appropriately.
The joking bit only started after my associates were invited to lunch with my colleague and me, and all four of us headed to the airport to catch our respective flights home (they were from Indonesia, in Malaysia for an exhibition).
Except that my colleague and I had no flight to catch, until we bought our tickets over the counter when we arrived at KL airport!
In fact, we did the same in the morning, when we caught the 6:30 am flight.

You see, my Organisation which I am working for was hired to provide our services for my working colleague's company.
That meant that my air travel was paid for by my colleague's company, rather than my Organisation.
His boss said it's cheaper over the counter.
All I can say is - SHEESH!

What if we were unable to secure any flights home???

I told my colleague to tell his boss we ain't gonna do that again.
She is NOT my boss, so I do not have to watch my words.
Besides, she is THAT "sweet" (yuck) person who conned me of my pay previously...

Anyway, today has been another manic work day for me.
I crashed into bed at 9+pm last night and slept like a baby.
I did not wake up till 8+ am this morning!

Now feeling a little sleepy, but have 2 more reports to write.
Speaking of which, am gonna end my blog here.

Bye for now.

Oh, btw, am off to Jakarta on Tuesday - for business - again...