Beaches

Had the chance to pass by Changi Beach yesterday afternoon. It was a cloudy day, a nice weather to be at the beach. (for a person like me who dislike the glaring sun)

Ever had a special affection to something, yet couldn't explain what was it? The first time I felt this way was at the then World Trade Center. I had nothing to do so I took 855 from one interchange (Yishun) to another interchange (World Trade) alone. Yeah. That was after my 'O' levels. I was walking around the shops when I looked out of the clear window. The blue sea water, the sun shinning brightly on it, making it glitter. I felt clam, relaxed. I was mesmerized. I stood there for a long long time.

Yesterday, I felt again, the clam blue sea. I had almost forgotten this feeling. Forgotten how much I love sea, even though I can't swim. The clear blue sky, the sound of the waves, the occasional wind, the plane landing every now and then. It's therapeutic. It's smoothing. It's relaxing. It's free. A simple pleasure, which we busy city men had almost forgot.

I should drive by in the afternoon and just sit around. Maybe. A break is coming soon. Will i be alone again?

Heartless Department

Remember the Every-Time-Also-Urgent-Bitch whom I mentioned in my earlier post? She submitted her resignation last week. Although I was frustrated with her over work, the news came as a surprise more than joy to me. Even her closest friend in the company didn't know about her resignation.

Her boss didn't even try to keep her back. As if that wasn't bad enough, they sent her off earlier than everyone's expectation, including her.

She was back in the office today, after 2 days of MC. Another boss, together with the HR personnel, brought her out to the guard house early in the morning and sent her off. They didn't let her serve the one month notice. They didn't let her bid us goodbyes. They didn't let her finish off whatever stuff she's holding on, or have a proper hand over. They were dying to get her out of here. Out of my company, out of my department.

Is this still consider as a resignation, or termination? Why are they so heartless?

She has been working here for years. What about the contribution all these years? Yes, she had not been performing up to standard, but there is no need for this. I heard rumours, gossips, lots of ugly stuffs. Perhaps that contributed to this decision from her boss.

No wonder her boss was on leave today. Afraid to face all of us.

This event sparkled off lots of rumours and gossips. We knew that the whole company would know about this eventually. Our company is big, but news travel real fast.

Some said the bosses might use this as an example to show their power. To pressure us more. To make us insane faster.

Our workload is increasing everyday. We are expected to do more in lesser time. They expect us to do it immediately. They do not care whether we can manage or not.

My 'neighbour' kept telling me to go. To find a better work place while I'm still young.

The more I stay in this department, the more I detest it. I'm dying to leave, yet not bold enough to take the move. I'm just a fucking coward stuck in a heartless department. I hate my boss.

Bless Me for Tomorrow

Gosh, my stress level has reach an all-time high. My Boss will be coming back to work tomorrow, after her long holidays. Holy shit! I have not finish whatever assignment she had for me, and what I had set for myself.

There's always lots of fucking shit happening when she goes on a holiday. Why am I always the unlucky one? I end up clearing the mess, rushing here and there, delaying my actual work, piling up my backlogs. She's gonna question me on all the issues, and I'm just going to "oh...", "huh?", "er..." & "okok". What else can I say???

Oh damn, guess I better stop blogging now and check up on my office email. Tata... Pray hard for me.

T_J_E_

Saw TJE at the train station today. I was still thinking if I should walk over to say hello, when he already walked towards me. Years ago, I will never imagine him doing that, being a shy guy that is.

It's been years since we last met. He was my junior in the school ECA. Upon seeing him, then did I realise that I do miss him somehow. Miss those days in school. Miss walking home together. Miss having lunch together. Miss the jokes. Miss the companion. Miss the fun.

He had always been my favourite junior. Maybe because I like shy guys. I like to tease shy guys. I like to bully shy guys. I want to bring their real character out. I want them to stop being shy with me.

There is something about him, that my bestfriend and I knew at that time we could depend on him. We felt good about him. We liked him. We had plans for him, to be in control, but things didn't turn out the way we wanted. We were sad, but we knew he would not disappoint us in whatever appointment given.

Remember once I brought him out to get some stuff one night during one of the camps. He was my assistant then. I was so glad I took him out, for when we got back to the camp, all the juniors were being punished. At least I saved someone from those senseless punishment.

Remember there was a period when I didn't want to turn up for my ECA. There were lots of conflicts around. He "surprised" me by bringing a group of juniors to my house, to encourage and cheer me up. Yeah, thanks for "sabo-ing" too.

Remember the rain after our ECA. We walked the same route home. He offered his umbrella to us, and he walked in the rain. The rain wasn't big, but the thought really touches me. It still do.

Remember the times I taught him in the ECA. He wrote in my autograph book "Thanks for teaching and helping me in doing better." I wasn't the best person to coach him then. I didn't even know if what I said make sense. But I'm really happy, that he appreciated it. And he didn't sound fake, like the others.

There are lots more memories, which I am slowly forgetting as year goes by. It's time we create new memories. It's time we create more memories.

But too bad, I didn't managed to get his contacts. We only managed to have a brief conversation that lasted less than a minute. His train pulled in at the station and he got to go.

Will I ever see you again? How long will that takes?

Simple People

Simple People = Happiness?

Just realised there are still simple people around us.

They don't fancy big house. They don't fancy big car. They are contended with what they have.

They decline when you offer to treat them at those fancy restaurant. Instead they suggest the chicken rice stall at the coffee shop around the corner. They are not fussy with what to eat.

They laugh at all the jokes you make. They smile for you happily. They are easily contented. They do not expect much from others.

They prefer to stay at home than to go around the island aimlessly. They prefer to DIY if they are able to do so. They are proud of their stuffs.

They led simple life. They feel good. They feel useful. They feel happy.

We should really learn from them.

I'm Hot

The heat is killing me!!! I need my mini fan with me all the time. Standing by the roadside, yet feeling as thought I was locked in a stuffy room. Where is the wind? Where is the fresh air? Will we have to carry our own tank of oxygen around with us in future? Or will there be someone to shoot down the Sun?

Damn! Some Blood-Sucking-Idiot has stung my upper eyelid. Now, my left eye looks so swollen. Oh, and I got a double eyelid on my left eye (thanks to the constant scratching), but a single eyelid on my right eye. Luckily it's bed time. Pray that I don't wake up with a swollen eye tomolo morning. But I don't mind if I can get MC from it. Yeah, not bad idea huh.

Institute of Mental Health

Went to the Institue of Mental Health third time to visit someone today. The place is also widely known as the 'Hougang chalet' or 'Woodbridge Hospital'. People make fun of that place. People shun away from that place. People thought there are only mad people inside. But how wrong they are.

The place is quiet. It makes one feel calm and peaceful. You can see people jogging along the road, but they are far from crazy. There are no commercial chain outlets here. There are no fanciful people here. Everything is plain and simple, yet comforting.

The patients stay at a common place the whole day, returning to their bed only when it's time to sleep. They can watch tv, chit-chat, walk around the area, or simply just stare into space.

There is a small corner in the common area for visitors. There is no time limit for visiting, as long as it is not pass the visiting hours. We can bring anything, as long it is not sharp object.

Some of the patient there look perfectly normal. Especially when you see them interacting with their family memebers, who are visiting. Some of them looked kind of scary, like they have some evil thoughts in their mind, but they are harmless. Some looked like they are in a daze all the time. Some are the real mentally unsound people, who can't stop making noise, disturbing others, creating a scene.

Looking at them, I wonder what causes them to be in there. Some of them look so young, just a few years older than me. It's good to see that their family did not abandon them or stay away from them. But how many people out there can really accept someone, who's been certified as mentally unsound at a time of their life? People still have this misconception about that place.

Sometimes we are the one, who directly or indirectly, causes them to end up there. The pressure, the hatred etc. If we did not agitate them, will they end up this way? If we show more concern to them, will they feel better?

Luckily there are some great people around, who really deserve our highest respect. The nurses. They are real amazing! Although they have to face some stubborn patient who doesn't listen to them, they always manage to keep a cheerful attitude. These are the real professionals. Salute them!

Remeber to show more love and care to the people around you. You never know what a simple "Hello" or "How's your day?" can change the mood of the people. Not forgeting the priceless gift, A Smile. It's a simple gesture, but it means a lot.

I'm So Happy~

The stuipd website is finally up and running after 2 days of downtime. 2 DAYS! The efficieny of the helpdesk is getting from bad to worst! And the fact that they are located in US does not help much, with the time difference and so. 2 days of downtime resulted in endless calls, sudden surge of emails, dying of my precious brain cell.

I hate it when any of our website is down. Endless calls from suppliers. Endless query from collegues. I hate to hear my phone ringing. I'm scare of hearing the phone ringing. My new emails hit a sudden high of 100+. How am I going to finish clearing all these stuff? Not forgetting the large backlogs which are long overdue.

After some deep and serious thinking, I suspect there might be some conspiracy going on. Hmm.. something fishy. Off all days, the website has to be down on the last few days of the month. Month end closing. Payments. Inventory. Hmm... With all the bad news on my company flying around in the US, plus the extra shut-downs, this make things look bad. Oh no!

Anyway, I'm still happy today. Yes, that bitch. That Every-Time-Also-Urgent-Bitch. No idea what's wrong with her, for she is forever calling urgent requirements from the suppliers. In fact, there is urgent shipment everyday!!! These urgent shipments will result in lots of manual work at the supplier side, as well as affecting ME and Ah-Beng-Uncle!!! Asshole. That Every-Time-Also-Urgent-Bitch knew problems are sure to arise from these urgent shipments, yet she is still doing it this way. Hello, what's wrong with the normal procedure? What happened to the normal procedure? Since you already know that you might need more parts, why can't you order in advance?

Well, That Every-Time-Also-Urgent-Bitch got called up by her boss for some talk lately. Ha. I heard it wasn't anything good. And some of the other colleague are bitching about her working style and so. Ha, 'orby'. The best thing? Today I saw an email from the supplier to That Every-Time-Also-Urgent-Bitch with the exact quote: "BTW, in future could you pls scan more qty to avoid such urgent shipments?Thanks for your kind co-operation."

Haha... Even the supplier can't stand it anymore and speaks up. Ah-Beng-Uncle saw the email and laughed. I'm going to show my 'neighbour' tomorrow. I want to let people know how bad her work management is, even supplier is complaining. I want to let people see the proof that she deserve to be scold. I want to let people know that I am not being mean, and I don't mean to be mean to her. But the amount of work resulted from her urgent cases is definitely making me very frustrated. It's always unsolved cases. I'm not the only one in the office who is angry with her. We just don't understand, why does she want to make life so difficult for herself and for others.