Habitual routine
After I remove my watch, I'll naturally reach to remove my ring.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Home away from Home
Since it's raining heavily, i have nowhere to go for dinner except the mini resto at my hotel. Those who've been with me before will know my hotel. ;)
Again, they do not have the usual fare on the menu. This time tho, they offered me what the family is eating too. Duck Noodle Soup.
It tastes like home.
Since it's raining heavily, i have nowhere to go for dinner except the mini resto at my hotel. Those who've been with me before will know my hotel. ;)
Again, they do not have the usual fare on the menu. This time tho, they offered me what the family is eating too. Duck Noodle Soup.
It tastes like home.
Bobby Chinn Hanoi
It's raining cats n dogs here in Hanoi and I just returned from my first ever TV Talkshow recording. Could have really been more organised but it's over.
The taxi went the usual route around Hoan Kiem lake. It's the first time i see no crowd at its peripheral on a Sat night. The lights at the central pavilion shone so brightly against the rain. I see the little shadows and ripples made by the rain falling on the waters of the lake.
It really looked like the romantic Hanoi that Bobby Chinn described in that Sony Camcorder advert.
It's raining cats n dogs here in Hanoi and I just returned from my first ever TV Talkshow recording. Could have really been more organised but it's over.
The taxi went the usual route around Hoan Kiem lake. It's the first time i see no crowd at its peripheral on a Sat night. The lights at the central pavilion shone so brightly against the rain. I see the little shadows and ripples made by the rain falling on the waters of the lake.
It really looked like the romantic Hanoi that Bobby Chinn described in that Sony Camcorder advert.
Plastic Bag Philosophy
I have a plastic bag for my toiletries.
This morning, after breakfast and when housekeeping was done, I went into the bathroom and noticed my plastic bag had gone missing. The extra facial wash within was emptied onto the sink area. Damn the auntie to throw away my only plastic bag. Where on earth can I keep my toiletries in my luggage now!
Just as suddenly as I started to fume, I directed my thoughts in another direction.
Auntie must have thought I've been lazy to empty the contents. She must have noticed the dilapidated state my plastic bag, and the smaller plastic bags within have become and hence helped me to throw them away. That must be it.
The image of an uncouth and crude cleaning auntie was replaced by a kind wrinkled face woman, washing hard at the toilet.
I turned to leave the bathroom. And there it was. My plastic bag hanging on the door knob. Auntie had really meant to tidy up my bathroom.
Happiness beget happiness. Positivity attracts positivity.
To a wonderful day ahead. =)
I have a plastic bag for my toiletries.
This morning, after breakfast and when housekeeping was done, I went into the bathroom and noticed my plastic bag had gone missing. The extra facial wash within was emptied onto the sink area. Damn the auntie to throw away my only plastic bag. Where on earth can I keep my toiletries in my luggage now!
Just as suddenly as I started to fume, I directed my thoughts in another direction.
Auntie must have thought I've been lazy to empty the contents. She must have noticed the dilapidated state my plastic bag, and the smaller plastic bags within have become and hence helped me to throw them away. That must be it.
The image of an uncouth and crude cleaning auntie was replaced by a kind wrinkled face woman, washing hard at the toilet.
I turned to leave the bathroom. And there it was. My plastic bag hanging on the door knob. Auntie had really meant to tidy up my bathroom.
Happiness beget happiness. Positivity attracts positivity.
To a wonderful day ahead. =)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I recall the CRM class where we were asked to do a Checklist on relations in the company.
There was an item which asked for "I have colleagues who are friends".
Instructor said if we dont check this, it spells trouble.
I don't agree.
I may have mentioned not less than umpteenth times to friends to you to everyone to my blog that Friends and Colleagues constitute different definitions. Both enjoy different priviledges.
It's hard for me to mix. I keep a distance with Colleagues. purposely.
I am patient with colleagues but stern when a job's not done.
I am impatient with friends, but accepting when conflicts arise.
The above is of course non-exhaustive.
There was an item which asked for "I have colleagues who are friends".
Instructor said if we dont check this, it spells trouble.
I don't agree.
I may have mentioned not less than umpteenth times to friends to you to everyone to my blog that Friends and Colleagues constitute different definitions. Both enjoy different priviledges.
It's hard for me to mix. I keep a distance with Colleagues. purposely.
I am patient with colleagues but stern when a job's not done.
I am impatient with friends, but accepting when conflicts arise.
The above is of course non-exhaustive.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Darker with Lines
At dinner on Friday with the gang, Shyan says my face is not as smooth and fair as before already.
Indeed i admit.
Then again, while I strive to work against the elements of aging to the best of my abilities, I have to constantly remind myself not to become obsessed with it.
From the looks of things though, it's hard for me to get engrossed when it takes such effort just to rem to use the toner before my moisturiser every day.
I rem my goal to age gracefully. ;)
At dinner on Friday with the gang, Shyan says my face is not as smooth and fair as before already.
Indeed i admit.
Then again, while I strive to work against the elements of aging to the best of my abilities, I have to constantly remind myself not to become obsessed with it.
From the looks of things though, it's hard for me to get engrossed when it takes such effort just to rem to use the toner before my moisturiser every day.
I rem my goal to age gracefully. ;)
Talking to people
Went on a course on Communication and Relationaship Management for the past 2 days.
The class of 20 consists mostly of senior executives in their business for 10,20 and even 30 years. It was terribly interesting to observe their behaviour and response throughout the 2 days.Most were the Baby Boomers and X-Gen. It's really intriguing to note, decipher and interpret their actions.
The instructor was a very humble guy. In his early 50s but addressed me sometimes as Mdm. I know he was leading by example and also being polite, but I cldnt get used to it throughout.
There are things I do not agree with though for the course, especially when an absolute statement seems to be meted.
Communication is dynamic, relationship management diverse.
I recalled 1 thing vividly from my first Econs lecturer back in JC - humans are irrational.
To me, communication is a reaction. Yes there are patterns to generalise, to observe, to prepare for but not an absolution. By saying an absolute 'not' here, I am perhaps also stepping on irony.
To give an example: there was an exercise which was supposedly an indicative test on the phase of life we are at for the moment. Being the only Y-gen in the class, i was typed to be ambitious, seeking recognition, looking for self-esteem and job challenges.
The result was an astounding 40% leaning towards 'Time with Family' versus 20% equal weightage for Higher Pay, More Challenges and Job Recognition. My neighbour - an X-Gen older than me by more than 2 decades was surprised.
It seems baffling on the surface but was a simple explanation to me: my job requires such frequent travelling, i'm lucky to get a full month in Singapore. I was forced to view time with family and loved ones as very treasured. Therefore anything compared to that pales.
My character also traits me as emotional. I feel strong passion for people I love. And i expect it in return. I havent gotten to the "Love is kind...Love is Noble' stage yet. But this leaves another discussion for future.
Coupled with my upbringing on family-oriented values, the results are hardly unexpected.
For the record, Getting a Promotion scored 0%. You'll know why.
Went on a course on Communication and Relationaship Management for the past 2 days.
The class of 20 consists mostly of senior executives in their business for 10,20 and even 30 years. It was terribly interesting to observe their behaviour and response throughout the 2 days.Most were the Baby Boomers and X-Gen. It's really intriguing to note, decipher and interpret their actions.
The instructor was a very humble guy. In his early 50s but addressed me sometimes as Mdm. I know he was leading by example and also being polite, but I cldnt get used to it throughout.
There are things I do not agree with though for the course, especially when an absolute statement seems to be meted.
Communication is dynamic, relationship management diverse.
I recalled 1 thing vividly from my first Econs lecturer back in JC - humans are irrational.
To me, communication is a reaction. Yes there are patterns to generalise, to observe, to prepare for but not an absolution. By saying an absolute 'not' here, I am perhaps also stepping on irony.
To give an example: there was an exercise which was supposedly an indicative test on the phase of life we are at for the moment. Being the only Y-gen in the class, i was typed to be ambitious, seeking recognition, looking for self-esteem and job challenges.
The result was an astounding 40% leaning towards 'Time with Family' versus 20% equal weightage for Higher Pay, More Challenges and Job Recognition. My neighbour - an X-Gen older than me by more than 2 decades was surprised.
It seems baffling on the surface but was a simple explanation to me: my job requires such frequent travelling, i'm lucky to get a full month in Singapore. I was forced to view time with family and loved ones as very treasured. Therefore anything compared to that pales.
My character also traits me as emotional. I feel strong passion for people I love. And i expect it in return. I havent gotten to the "Love is kind...Love is Noble' stage yet. But this leaves another discussion for future.
Coupled with my upbringing on family-oriented values, the results are hardly unexpected.
For the record, Getting a Promotion scored 0%. You'll know why.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Cherelle n Her Animal Sounds
This cutest kid of all time learn things at an amazing speed.
At barely a year plus old, she's now able to recite the National Pledge, tell stories from "One Day" until "The End", sing the chorus of the hokkien opening song of the weekend "Love" drama on channel 8 and, make animal sounds.
"Cherelle, tell yiyi what sounds does a dog make."
Woh Woh.
"How about a cat?"
Miao Miao.
"So clever, a duck?"
Quack Quack.
"A hen?"
Cokcokgei!
"Wah.. and a horse?"
CHIKOBEIBEI!
This cutest kid of all time learn things at an amazing speed.
At barely a year plus old, she's now able to recite the National Pledge, tell stories from "One Day" until "The End", sing the chorus of the hokkien opening song of the weekend "Love" drama on channel 8 and, make animal sounds.
"Cherelle, tell yiyi what sounds does a dog make."
Woh Woh.
"How about a cat?"
Miao Miao.
"So clever, a duck?"
Quack Quack.
"A hen?"
Cokcokgei!
"Wah.. and a horse?"
CHIKOBEIBEI!
To laugh or to cry?
At AhMa's house 1 day in my usual visits to play with dearie Cherelle.
It was her feeding time and she's throwing tantrums about drinking the milk. I tried to coax her by pouring the milk into a cup and asking her to drink from it. It worked. All kids like to act grown up. Drinking from the cup gave her a sense of achievement, albeit the fact that her hands were still very unsteady.
When my concentration flicked for a sec, the cup pingpianged to the floor with a wondrous splash of the while coloured drink onto the floor, the sides of the sofa, my wallet sticking out of my bag and the outsides of my bag.
AhMa: ORH see la see la! ah ni pai si!
Cherelle looked at me with her innocent big eyes, glinting with a mixture of gulit, horror and amazement of a baby kid.
As I raced through my mind in those milliseconds thinking of ways to pacify her, this little tot cooed: IT OK, NEBER MINE NEBER MINE. IT OK", all the while waving her tiny hands at me.
She.Was.Pacifying.Me.
I laughed til I cried.
At AhMa's house 1 day in my usual visits to play with dearie Cherelle.
It was her feeding time and she's throwing tantrums about drinking the milk. I tried to coax her by pouring the milk into a cup and asking her to drink from it. It worked. All kids like to act grown up. Drinking from the cup gave her a sense of achievement, albeit the fact that her hands were still very unsteady.
When my concentration flicked for a sec, the cup pingpianged to the floor with a wondrous splash of the while coloured drink onto the floor, the sides of the sofa, my wallet sticking out of my bag and the outsides of my bag.
AhMa: ORH see la see la! ah ni pai si!
Cherelle looked at me with her innocent big eyes, glinting with a mixture of gulit, horror and amazement of a baby kid.
As I raced through my mind in those milliseconds thinking of ways to pacify her, this little tot cooed: IT OK, NEBER MINE NEBER MINE. IT OK", all the while waving her tiny hands at me.
She.Was.Pacifying.Me.
I laughed til I cried.
On MSN last week w Pumpkin
PK: Hey when are you coming back?
Me: 1 July lor.
PK: See, I told Mama. She say u coming back 29 June.
Me: no la, 1 July afternoon flight reach.
PK: Actually where are u now?
Me: Vietnam.
PK: See i told Dajie u in Vietnam, she insists u are in Indonesia.
the conversations at home must have been very interesting..ke. credits to Pumpkin for her good memory. maybe teachers need this prowess to rem all the names of their students..ha.
PK: Hey when are you coming back?
Me: 1 July lor.
PK: See, I told Mama. She say u coming back 29 June.
Me: no la, 1 July afternoon flight reach.
PK: Actually where are u now?
Me: Vietnam.
PK: See i told Dajie u in Vietnam, she insists u are in Indonesia.
the conversations at home must have been very interesting..ke. credits to Pumpkin for her good memory. maybe teachers need this prowess to rem all the names of their students..ha.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
How Old Are You?
While watching TV this evening, Pa sauntered over to dajie's side.
Ma took the lead: "Your papa asking how old you all are already. He cant wait for you all to get married already."
Pa to Dajie: "How old are you ah?"
Silence.
Pa again: "29 ah"
It worked. Dajie: "28 hor!"
Ma:" I told papa to ask you all himself. He say why so old still not getting married. He see other people's daughters getting married he cant wait already."
It was a precarious situation.
When my mind was mapping the escapte route - go drink water? go throw rubbish? go pee? - "How old are you ah?" Too late. Pa's attention was on me.
Silent. I pretended to be very tired and didnt bother to reply. It worked. Since I am indeed officially on MC at home.
Crisis solved.
While watching TV this evening, Pa sauntered over to dajie's side.
Ma took the lead: "Your papa asking how old you all are already. He cant wait for you all to get married already."
Pa to Dajie: "How old are you ah?"
Silence.
Pa again: "29 ah"
It worked. Dajie: "28 hor!"
Ma:" I told papa to ask you all himself. He say why so old still not getting married. He see other people's daughters getting married he cant wait already."
It was a precarious situation.
When my mind was mapping the escapte route - go drink water? go throw rubbish? go pee? - "How old are you ah?" Too late. Pa's attention was on me.
Silent. I pretended to be very tired and didnt bother to reply. It worked. Since I am indeed officially on MC at home.
Crisis solved.
Mum was dozing off watching TV. I see her striving hard to lift her head and open her eyes, like waiting for a particular show that she cant miss.
When she nodded her head for the umpteenth time, she finally gave up.
"I am too sleepy. Help me record the 10.30pm show" she said, as usual referring to our competent recording feature the the Hubstation.
As I was still figuring out what show it is, she said:" The one on Michael Jackson."
We are all indeed from the MJ Era.
Wow.
When she nodded her head for the umpteenth time, she finally gave up.
"I am too sleepy. Help me record the 10.30pm show" she said, as usual referring to our competent recording feature the the Hubstation.
As I was still figuring out what show it is, she said:" The one on Michael Jackson."
We are all indeed from the MJ Era.
Wow.
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