Last 4 days - part 2

What a surprise!
My sweet someone rang me not once, but twice while I was out on Saturday - first for my pre-employment medical check-up and then to my regular spa visit.
Well, although he did say he promised to call the second time, I wasn't expecting him to do so.
I guess I went through so many disappointments in my past failed relationships that I daren't expect much from anyone nowadays.
So I view what I get unexpectedly as a bonus instead.
And bonus it was when he called! :o)

There was another surprise.
Do read on to find out what I mean!
I brought my mother to my usual hair salon to have her hair done yesterday.
For years she has been admiring the lovely highlights done on my hair by my hairstylist and colourist.
This time, she offered to try his skill out - on her own accord!
I left her at the salon, and had intended to go work-shoe hunting.
I ended up spending the whole time at a bra shop.
Since the shop wasn't busy at the time, the lady assistant personally saw to it that I knew what types of bra I was suited to and what didn't by letting me try out the sizes and a variety.
It was then that I realised my correct size is actually one size larger(!) than what I have been wearing all this time!
And I was so surprised - I didn't believe her until I tried out bras in that cup-size as she had suggested (and worn correctly, of course!).
For someone as petite as me, having such a cup is rare.
To the sales assistant, she said it was perfect!
And in all that excitement, I hadn't realised that I spent an hour at the shop.
So I had to make a dash to go collect my mother from the salon and then return to that stretch of shops to look at shoes.
I got my covered-toe shoes eventually...

Last 4 days - part 1

Since my last blog, the days have continued to be hectic.
And I am going to lump all events together on this blog instead of specifying what I did and when.

I did sign my work contract when this week came to a close! :o)
It was somewhat amusing, as I was asked when I would like to start work.
I offered to start work on Monday the 9th - with enthusiasm - and 2 HR personnel sounded quite surprised by my eagerness!
You see, the advantage of starting on Monday is the fact that Tuesday is going to be a public holiday.
Which means I work 1 day, I get to rest the next day (and get paid for it)!

I told my sweet someone about it when we got a chance to voice-chat online a couple of days ago.
He was utterly jealous, and jokingly said that I may as well not work!
Haha.

So far, I like what I have seen and learnt about my new work environment.
All staff are not encouraged to work overtime.
According to the BIG boss, if a person has to work overtime at this organisation, that means one isn't efficient.
My working hours are between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM, by the way.
Isn't that great that it's not 5:30 AM like I had to be forced to do on MANY days on my last job?!?!
Not only that, I only need to take a short public bus-ride to the nearest train station, before I get to be picked up by the organisation's free bus service that gets me all the way to my work place from there!
Not to mention that I get a free bus ride right outside my work building to the central part of Singapore too, at the end of the day.
Lovely, ain't it? :o)

I am looking forward to my first day at work.
It will probably be a whole day of running around and getting myself orientated, along with all other administrative stuff (security swipe-cards, etc.), meeting existing staff, and settling at my very own office (notice I'm not talking about settling into my work yet - haha).
AND, I need to find out what time is lunch time, and whether there are coffee breaks. :o)

I also managed to get a decent haircut/treatment at my usual hair salon, along with treating myself at the body spa with a good rub-down (not all on the same day - haha).
In other words, I am ready to take on the world in the new year!

Honestly, what more can I ask for, when things are going so great for me for a change - having a new job (with a certified clean bill of health by the doctor earlier today), a sweet someone, and a family that continues to be supportive and caring...and oh, a newly cleaned out room too to usher in the Chinese New Year come end of the month???
Come to think of it, there is something I haven't got - a pair of covered-toe work shoes...

==:: 2006 ::==

It's already the 3rd day of 2006.
I have been busy as usual.
Busy with spending whatever free time I have left to do whatever I have to do.
I am stretched so thin, time-wise, that I crave for a total chill-out time all to myself.
And that time can only be found when I am at the Spa.
The soothing music and the soft lighting, etc. all help to calm me a little bit.

But I really wish I could have a proper break away from everything.
Right now, it's to break away from my mother.
Not that I don't love her, but she's getting on my nerves lately.
She is increasingly insistent that whatever she says/thinks is right most of the time.
It also upsets me that while she doesn't know what the term "emotional blackmail" is, she is practising it on me knowing that I am a filial child and gives in to her demands.
And when she wants something done, she wants it done NOW.
Not to mention that she also has the habit of not telling you directly what she wants you to do.
She leaves the interpretation open to you.
She uses this "implied"/subliminal messages on most things.
Even when she voices an opinion!
I must have put up with this annoying habit of hers since young.
Perhaps I'm running out of patience in general.
Or perhaps she's practising this behaviour more often nowadays.
I really can't say.

For instance, this hospital visit that my uncle (her brother from a neighbouring country) is going for tomorrow.
I have accompanied him to the specialist's clinic on 2 previous occasions, when my mother used emotional blackmail on me.
On both occasions, the entire morning and afternoon were taken up just simply waiting around for my uncle's turn to be seen by the specialist consultant.
During his first visit, he had 3 useless male friends who were merely here to enjoy a good curry after the consultation.
Not even the loudest and seemingly "knowledgeable" friend out of the 3 wanted to accompany my uncle into the consultation room, and left me to do it instead.
On my uncle's second visit, he only had his company driver accompany him to the hospital, where my mother and I met up with them - much like the first time.

Now, I love my uncle to bits, but my mother was insensitive to the fact that I was still trying to recover from my nasty recurring flu on both occasions, and unfortunately on both times after the hospital trips, my flu got worse.
It was because the air-conditioning at the hospital was too cold, and I have low resistance to cold places in general.
Makes one wonder how I survived a total of 8.5 years in the UK before, eh?

Coming back to the hospital visit.
As usual, my mother was expecting me to accompany her and my uncle tomorrow.
Right now, she isn't that happy that I have chosen to stay home.
For the simple reason that I can't miss an important call from my new employer for tentatively tomorrow or possibly Thursday, asking me to sign the appointment letter before I start work next week.
It's not convenient to take any call while at the hospital.
I've tried that before - there isn't a place where you could communicate clearly due to weak reception, plus running the risk of having everyone else listening in to your conversation.
Not to mention the possibility of missing the call if the ringing sound/vibration from the mobilephone isn't detected.
My mother isn't deliberately inconsiderate, but sometimes, her priorities are all wrong.

She is also a worrier of the extreme kind.
She will stress herself out over minute things, and that stress tranfers to all those who come into contact with her.
And yet, I can't say all these that I've observed in her.
Not especially to her!
If I did, she would get all defensive and upset.
I know her too well!

All this is extremely distressing for me.
Especially so when I have to control my temper when such behaviour extends to outside the home!
Due to the nature of the family business that my parents are in, people around the neighbourhood knows (of) me.
And when I lose my patience with my mother while being out, others tend to view it as me being at fault or being rude to her.

I am determined to find my own place to live as soon as I am settled into my new job.
I shall give the excuse that it's too far for me to travel to work and back everyday...