New Class Commenced

After a break of 1 n 1/2 months, it is time to go back to Financial Training Center (FTC). This time round is quite special, as Paul is not attending the class with me. After the exams in mid June, I wanted to sign up the class for my next paper. Paul was having second thoughts about signing up, even though he convinced me to switch my option from Audit to Performance Management. I think having a fren to attend class together will be much better. He chose to wait for the results in mid Aug, before he decides his next move.

Reached the class just in time before the lecturer arrived. No time for my dinner, but was entertained by the lecturer's crap. From past trends, this paper has highest failure rates. But, I find this a challenge and more relevant to my future. If I don't succeed as a financial accountant, maybe I can excel as a management accountant. Hehe. My new job has been giving me many exposures in a range of areas like never before. I should be on track to realise my dream with both work and education development.

Class ended late as expected and I was surprised I didnt doze off in class. Usually, I would hold my pen, heads down and close my eyes. Haha. While on the bus back home, I sat at the last row and a young couple was doing hanky panky. Are they trying to impress that they can do it anywhere?

As lucky as Her?

Ashley Albright (LINDSAY LOHAN) is the luckiest woman in the world, a person to whom all the good things in life have come far too easily. She can pick a lottery ticket at random and hit the jackpot. In New York, the world's busiest city, Ashley never has to wait for a cab. And she has a terrific job as an account exec at a prestigious public relations firm. Everything goes Ashley's way. And now, she's been given a great opportunity to advance her career: she is to plan a masquerade ball in downtown Manhattan for record mogul Damon Phillips (Faizon Love) and his company.

Jake (CHRIS PINE), on the other hand, is a bad luck magnet. His skies are always raining; his pants are always on the verge of splitting at the seams. His job is cleaning toilets at a bowling alley. But even a steady bombardment of catastrophes doesn't dim Jake's dreams. He thinks he may have his chance at the brass ring with his discovery of a rock band McFly. If Jake can keep his bad luck at bay for just one night, he'll sneak into a masquerade ball and get McFly's CD into the hands of music titan Damon Phillips.

On this night when dreams can be made or broken, fate brings Ashley and Jake together on the dance floor. Instantly taken with one another, they share an electrifyingly kiss and with that one kiss, their luck switches places.

Suddenly, Ashley's dress rips. Her heel breaks. Her good luck seems to have finally run out. Jake, in his rush to catch Phillips before he leaves, ends up saving the record mogul's life and earning with that one simple twist of fate, the chance to make all his dreams come true.

As Ashley desperately races to regain the luck she blithely took for granted, she begins to see that it's not so much having good luck but what you do with it that counts, and that her greatest chance of redemption lies with the guy who holds the key to her sudden change of fate.

Review:
Having seen this movie with a fren, a word of advice is to watch it with ur lover. After all, its a romance movie about sacrifice. The couple had to undergo their fair share of bad luck, before they realised that nothing else really matters. They believed their counterpart needed the luck more than themselves, and the only best consolation to their bad luck was to meet their beloved. I think nowadays the real world is too far from this fairytale. Selfishness, back stabbing, betrayal, etc...... Nonetheless, I still adopt a positive perception of everyone until they really prove me wrong. After the movie, I did sent her home. Does 2 consecutive weeks of meeting do us any good or?? Sooner or later, the bond will strengthen before we even realise it.

Patience does it all

The Apache - Attack Helicopter
Honda Sportster Nissan Racing

Enrolled for Seminar

M sent me an email asking if I wanted to go for this seminar. I know the company provides a training budget for each individual every year. But, I will only be entitled to it after my job confirmation. Highlighted this issue with M. Somehow, she had her connections with the company. She managed to enrol me and my colleague for it on complimentary basis. That saved the company $600 fees payable. This seminar is the first on this job after the last one I had 2 years ago. It's a whole day event and lunch is provided. I hope it will be in the hotel buffet. Hehe. Upon confirmation, I will be sourcing out more seminars to utilise the budget for me.

A ray of hope

After a long day of hard work, I headed for Toa Payoh Entertainment Centre. Purpose? To meet a friend. This will be our first meet (my first time that a girl agreed to meet without hesitation), but only she knows how i look like. I got some hints from her from our previous conversations though. 35kg, 23 inch, 152cm. Sounds like the description of a wanted person. Hehe.

I bought 2 tickets with her consent to catch a movie. Was messaging someone and she tapped my shoulder. I was surprised that she was more friendly in person. We had a quick Mac dinner, as time was running short. So rush that we had to give up our french fries or we would miss the start of the show. While we chatted, I realised she is a university grad than a diploma grad. I got her information wrong from the start. She was wearing halter back specially for meeting me, since her occupation prohibits her from provocative dressing. I appreciate her effort in that, while I was in my usual working attire. Over the duration of the movie, we focused ourselves on the show.

Afterwhich, I offered to see her home in the late hours of the night. Took the bus with her and our conversation continued throughout the journey. The walking distance between her place and bus stop was pitch dark and she dares to walk it every night. A brave girl she is. She allowed me to see her up till her void deck. I guessed she must be feeling awkward towards me. Headed home via cab and she left me a note that I have presented myself well. Was I making a presentation? Haha..

Bugged by Emotions

Had an appointment to catch a movie with someone. Somehow, we went thru a few hiccups before setting the timing to watch it. I waited at the Woodlands MRT at 5.15pm. Time passed quickly, and shortly at 5.40pm, the show has commenced but no sight of her. Gave her numerous calls and still couldnt contact her. Worried for her? Probably. I still continued to wait up to 6.45pm. Called it a day and came back a fruitless day. Mum noticed that I came back so early and found something amiss. I headed straight into my room and closed the door. I didnt wan to speak to anyone. I needed some silence to sort my thoughts out. Was checking my mailbox and came across her email to me. Eventually, there was at least a response.....
Channel U was screening 天.....使我爱你 tonight. The drama was a catalyst to my emotions. The female leading actress has moved me with her devotion towards her missing partner. Waiting for her partner for 3 years, hoping for his return. He did returned to fulfil his wish for her happiness through match-making her with a guy.
Made me wonder what can I do for her? I had a wish to do a miniature model for her. Something meaningful and my patience would be put to good use. Will be working on the one shown. I may not present to her when its done. Asking her to accept it may lead to a misunderstanding.

Plagued with Sadness

I have befriended some new friends, ever since I got over my disheartening woes. Till today, most of them have encountered the same problem as I did. Made me wondered why the bfs were not faithful to their beloved gfs. I wished for a faithful gf, but with no luck. On the other hand, these guys who are blessed with nice gfs don't appreciate their girls. For my fellow friends who are attached, I hope all of you would be happily married in the years to come. An encouragement for the rest who are singles to not give up hope. Has singlehood bring new developments to my love aftermath? It certainly does provide me with some flexibility in my personal plans. Along my route to recovery, a few girls have surfaced and touched me in different ways. But, I held back my feelings for fear of any dreadful encounter. Hopefully, a lady can place her faith in me and I shall repay that faith wholeheartedly.

New Acquisitions

A free PDA phone from Starhub
A new model kit to work on
A new PC game to conquer

Week Happenings

Came back at 3 am this morning after a gathering with my 豬朋狗友. My eyes were tired and I fell asleep watching France vs Togo match. Felt rather guilty that my mum stayed up waiting for me, despite my sms to her to sleep early. Deep inside her heart, I am her precious son after the failure of my brothers not performing their roles properly. Mum had to worry for my eldest brother's financial woes after his marriage. On the other hand, my elder brother is not making any contribution to the household, using his car loan liability as an excuse. Dad told me to not let my mum worry too much, as she is already hearing impaired. I reassured her that I am sensible enough to manage my lifestyle.

On thursday, I applied for half day leave to collect some freebies for my Maxonline Upgrade. My colleague was affected as well. While accessing the leave application database, I discovered that 2 days of family care leave was taken out of my leave balance. My pay was also reduced by a medical claim reimbursed to me last month. Most probably, the HR has straightened out their policy to award that upon my job confirmation. One more month to go!!!

Missing Out

During the week, I received a letter from UOB about rejecting my corporate card application. They stated they had given due consideration, but I didn't meet the minimum salary requirement by MAS. Perhaps, it's time I give due consideration to withdraw all my savings with UOB. After all, their interest rates have not been competitive.

For 2 consecutive fridays, I planned to go Marina Square to pick a model kit to work on. Lady Luck has not been with me and I had to forgo hobby for overtime work. Sad thing to happen. A good thing that I wasn't alone with the company of my colleague. She had her own work problems to be troubled about. Its near 2 months since we both joined, but there are still many things to pick up.

Reached home last night to see my dad catching the World cup match (Argentina v Serbia & Montenegro). Sat down with him to see the second half. Based on Argentina's performance, I am certain they can progress quite far in this tournament. To play my part as a supporter, I have placed a small bet on them being the crowned champion.

It came to my mind that I didnt purchase pc games for quite a while. I have zoomed down to 2 choices, namely "Rush for Berlin" and "Heroes 5". My preference would be "Rush for Berlin", as I am fond of playing real time strategy games. "Heroes 5" has a high review rating to contest my decision. Quite a hefty price of 50 dollars to pay for an original game. I need to get my money worth on the right game to purchase.

SAd Thoughts Upset Relaxed DAY

Came home late after overtime with my colleague, as she was alone. Helped her to complete some of her tasks to meet the deadline on Monday. It's her peak period, after I had my share of it. We went for a satay feast, just below our office building. The meat was extremely juicy. Got myself a Pepper Drumlets Meal from Mac to enjoy it while watching the World Cup opening match. I felt like a glutton to be.

This morning had a emotional breakdown. Some friends have been nice towards me, but I am having a phobia to be a recipient to sweetness. Recalled all the sweetness in her had evolved into a different person. Should I enrol for SDU to know more people? Read from an article that it organises blind dates for singles. Maybe I will be fated to meet that someone. Rented 3 VCDs (Jarhead, Memoirs of Geisha, Everyone has secrets) to relax myself after the week's exam ordeal. Hope my friend is calming himself, while he is working hard on his books. There is still life after his books. So, dun be overstress about it. I am packing my notes up, wishing that I wont need it a second time.

Looking Forward

End of all my hard work for the past few days. Had bottles of bird nests, whilst enclosing myself within my room to have full focus on one goal of passing this attempt of Paper 3.2. Woke up early to refresh my memory of all the study materials. A lot of statues and tax terms flashed in my mind. Mum prepared a good lunch for me, but I was in a rush. The exam at Expo Centre will start at 3pm and I left home at Bukit Batok at 1.30pm. Should be enough time right? But, the train at Tanah Merah was delayed for 15 mins. Eventually, I walked into the exam hall at 2.45pm. The question paper was about to be distributed. This marked the starting point of my tough luck in the hall. Over the 3 hours duration, my mind remained unsettled. As I attempted one question after another, all the answers became more uncertain. Saw Paul after the exams were over. He had a tough time as well. I thought the examiner was extremely harsh on us. Keeping my fingers crossed till the results are out in late August. Looking forward to a reunion with my work desk.

Feelings of Tempt

As I was revising my studies today, I remembered J mentioned about a dinner gathering which they will be having in the evening. Sent him an sms to confirm where they will be having it. The temptation to divert from my books was great. But, I was hesitant about joining due to time constraint. In the end, I sticked to my priority to revise for this half-yearly exam. It was a tough decision to choose either having good food or better exam results. I hoped they had a good time, despite my absence. An application form for a UOB corporate card was given to me with my company's endorsement. Never expected this to be an entitlement to me, since I am holding a finance position. I was contemplating to sign up for the card, with due consideration of its annual fees waiver. Will credit cards help to improve my life or develop bad habits of spending? My bro has been carrying a huge debt owing to credit card companies, which I have learnt a lesson through his bad experiences. I shall send in the application and keep my spending under control. Probably, the various discounts that I can get thru its usage may save me more money than making purchases without it.

Heavy Workflow

Wondering how my fellow bloggers are?? Though I have not been updating my blog on weekdays, I am still reading your blog if anyone is not aware. This whole week being bothered by more overtime clocking. This was my 2nd attempt in doing forecasts for a few companies' accounts under my care. I have never enjoyed doing budgets nor forecasts in the past, as I felt its a waste of time. Basically, whatever that u can project, it cant be a true reflection of the future. While learning the ropes at work, I came to realise that the satisfaction of producing a best estimate budget could enable proper planning for a business. When the actual results were derived, the comparison against budgetary figures to explain variances require another level of skill. I suppose most people would not like to do analysis work, as it involves alot of brainpower.

On Wed, I met up with my fren to watch Xmen 3. Had dinner at Siam Kitchen restaurant. We picked a set meal for 3 pax, but was rejected for our order. The reason was the meal was meant for 2 pax. If I had suggested to pay for 3 pax, regardless of only the 2 of us, there would be no reason for him to reject. There was a buffet going on, but the 20 dishes provided were too much for us to handle. I shall try that buffet next time, when I am a great appetite. While I were in the theatre, I recalled that Lingsi will be flying off to HK tonight. She must be pretty sad that I never sms her before she got on the plane. Hope she had a nice business trip, though she was reluctant to go. Tomorrow will be the launch of a series of revision for 4 days.

Tough Luck for Kimi

Just finished watching the Monaco Grand Prix for Formula 1. I witnessed my favourite team in pursue of the Renault team. I dislike Fernando Alonso for being fortunate enough to be in a good team, despite his young age. Most drivers wont have the chance to win GP like him, when they just join F1. But, I heard that he would be joining Mercedes next season. Nonetheless, I still support Kimi Raikkonen all the way, ever since he succeeded Mika Hakkinen's absence. Today's race was more exciting to be taking place in the streets of Monaco. Becoz of the low possibility of over-taking, strategies of each team would be crucial in securing a win. Poor Kimi was such a perserved driver to be sticking on the tail of the leader, Fernando, from the start. But, his luck went out after an engine failure. Althought I wish to see him win races, his car brings him down whenever he is running a good race. I can sense his disappointment, as he got out of the car looking down. Best of luck to Kimi for the next race!!!!

Being a Soulmate

Started my revision on this morn till mid noon. Received SMSes from a fren regarding her bf being unreasonable. The funny thing was for him to request for a breakup, but ended up cancelling out his own request. That made my fren even more confused. She was becoming more exhausted by this relationship, but I could only lend her my ears to listen. Being a past victim, how could I advise her well? She requested for me to meet her later in the evening after her church service, as she needed someone's company. The initial plan was to see her next wednesday, but she brought forward it. Seeing that constant revision would not be advisable, I met up with her to take a few hours of my books. Offered to treat her to Swensen's ice cream, as she didn't had a good appetite. After the light meal, we took the train and I walked her home as well. Her moods have lightened a little after we parted. The unfortunate thing was to hear nasty things from her bf again before she turned in. She does have some health problems, and I hope she could be more decisive on the future of the relationship before her health deteriorates.

Tactical Planning

Had been knocking off work early to prepare for my exams due in 2 weeks time. No regular revision on weekly basis, but I shall maximise revision time from now on. I am pacing myself at work in anticipation of an extremely tight deadline next week. Wish to finish work properly before going on leave without worries, but life isnt always so smooth flowing. With a new assignment and a midyear review coming, I have my hands full. It's a new aspect that I am learning to cope with. Everytime I start flipping pages of my notes, I will be dozing off. Haha. Paul would know how I slept while listening to a lecture. Very tired coping with work and studies. It's not the feeling of giving up, but how long I would take to complete. One colleague also struggling with this course as well. I wonder why certificates are essential to prove ur worth, when having a brain is good enough to let us think. Why must we load our brain with so much info? Will my skull crack open if it undertake too much pressure? Maybe, I will see blood flowing down my forehead, rather than sweat.

Moments of Cold Sweat

Woke up this morning having cold sweat. Had a nightmare about my ex last night. I could only recall seeing her being kidnapped and was brutalised within my sight. It was beyond my imagination. I felt terrible being a witness to her suffering. Havent been thinking of her, but the concern for her still exists even as a friend. Smsed her to ask if she was ok. An open invitation to meet up to catch up on things, if she has any free time. Certainly, we would be having jap food if we do meet. Haha. Had another surprise while working. Was asking M about some questions. Suddenly, she mentioned about a recommendation for me to take on another set of accounts. Having some thoughts about it. Is it a challenge for me to take it on? I am just into my 1st month with the firm, but everything seems like a honeymoon. Time for reality check. Nevertheless, I accepted it to put my work efficiency to a test after having the long break.

Self Entertaining Saturday

Postponed my revision for my June exams, as my study mood has not surround my mind. I believe in effective study only when I am committed to my books. Rented 1 DVD to relax myself, since its a weekend. The title is "Fun with Dick & Jane". Highly entertained by Jim Carrey's silly moves. While commiting a robbery with his wife at a cafe, he asked for 2 ice mochas. His wife even flipped over the entire cashier counter in the process. Before leaving, they grabbed some nice cakes too. Also went to the gaming shop to grab a PS2 game "Ace Combat Zero". I think it will be the last in the "Ace Combat" series, before PS3 arrive in SG next year. I will start saving to lay my hands on a PS3, hopefully the launch price wont be over-priced. Got this game, becoz of its highly-rated reviews. I always research before I make a purchase, as there is no demo available for testing. Whole afternoon was a pilot sitting in the cockpit of a fighter plane. Totally glued to engaging enemy planes in dogfights. Came online, but not many people around in MSN. Where is everyone????

Inevitable Meeting - Part 3

Received an email from Lingsi that her annual audit has come to an end, which meant that we would be meeting after waiting for many years. Her promise fulfilment gave me a heartfelt consolation. After all, our friendship has been quite long lasting, which started 13 years ago. But, our number of meetings could be counted using our fingers. We agreed to bring forward the meeting after last night conversation to reduce her tight schedule next week. Headed for bugis junction after a long day of budgeting headache at work. The train was so packed, nearly caused me to be late. She had a liking for jap food and I compromised to her request. Finally saw her without contact lens, not withstanding that her same personality still exist. Went to a jap restaurant with a non-enticing menu, consisting of main courses mostly with few choices of small dishes. Settled for Sakae, which was more appealing. I used to avoid this place due to some bad memories, but not anymore. Shared a big feast, until I struggled to finish the last dish. To mention a few dishes we had: Ebi Tempura Ramen, 山菜, soft shell crabs, chicken katsu, fried maki, etc... Was the atmosphere as cold as she foreseen? Probably not, since we chatted about the past, present and future. Really hope to attend her wedding soon, since I didnt attend any wedding dinner since 2004. Got the hint? But, she has many obstacles to clear first. Her bf picked her up to see her home. Could he be thinking I am a dangerous person to be with? If he don't show care and concern for her, maybe I help him in the near future? Hehe. I took the train home with the company of my MP3 player. Was this meetup as sweet as honey?

Should a new journey commence?

It is approaching 6 months since my last relationship has ended. Within this period of time, I got to know many friends, whom I treasured their friendships. There were times when I felt helpless without being with my loved one. The first relationship has left a permanent scar within myself. Knew another girl during the recovery period, whose stead has forsake her for some reason. Through our communication, I could feel that she is the type of girl, which I have been looking for. I met her for the first time as I mentioned. Her appearance surprised me, as her shy behaviour did not complement her chubby character. After this meetup, I felt that I should ask her out on a frequent basis to build up a relationship. At the same time, my heart is feeling heavy. Before I approach further, I am afraid to face up to any possibility of rejection. If she feels awkward towards my approach, I may end up losing a good friend in the process. Maybe, that's the price to pay. If the outcome is good, I would be a happy man. Otherwise, I could be dealt with another heavy blow to my heart. Has the time come for another love to blossom? How would she feel if I reach out to hold her hands suddenly on a date?

Inevitable Meeting - Part 2

Another highly anticipated day to meet a nice online fren. Has been chatting with her for quite a while and her exams were finally over. She picked Jurong Point, as she would be going there to get something. Arranged to meet at 1 pm, but she was slightly delayed in the last min. I went for some window shopping, hoping to meet my ex if she was there. This was her home turf. I wanted to witness how she would react, if she sees me.

It was time and saw her walking towards me. I thought she would be putting on her glasses, but she didnt. Instead, her contact lens were on. Saw a different side of her, which she mentioned her eyes were bigger with contact lens on. Dunno about the difference. Brought her to dine at Billy Bombers, since she never tried that before. My initial booking of the movie time slot was on scheduled, as we finished the lunch on time to catch it. Poseidon, another blockbuster, which caught my attention through its advertisements. The huge tide which capsized Poseidon was the most captivating moment. We were both glued to the screen. After the show has ended, she accompanied me to purchase some food for my little Jacky. She was looking at the puppies, while I selected the things I needed. She got some straws for folding stars as well. I was in a rush to meet my family for a dinner outside and she handed me a box of her self-made cookies. Didnt expect that coming from her. Had the feeling of "幸福", which I seldom experienced. I am starting to like her even more. Hope our relationship will blossom in time to come.

Inevitable Meeting

Start of a long weekend, as today is Vesak Day. Made a trip to the temple with my parents to get blessings from Buddha, as we are buddhists. The queue for the vegetarian lunch was too long, and I couldn't wait. Went to have some noodles with them at a nearby coffeeshop instead. Had a meetup with Wendy and Paul in the afternoon for a movie date. After several unsuccessful attempts to ask her out, Wendy has agreed to meet up at last. 3 of us wanted to catch "Mission Impossible III" together, since it was a box office hit. Very thoughtful of Wendy to make advance booking for the tickets. I bought the popcorn and nachos combo for ourselves. It has been a week since the movie was screened, but it is still drawing many movie goers. Nowadays, the movie tickets' price is ever escalating. When will be the time where I cant stand any more price hike? Had a feast at Cafe Cartel, but their service was not up to our expectations. I helped myself to the ice water and chill sauce. However, the serving for our food was quite filling. Just some chatting and the time was 9 pm already. Had to say goodbye once again.

Pain in the Neck

As I wanted to get up to prepare myself to go work, I felt a sharp pain on my neck. Was bedridden. I slept a little longer, and went to visit the doctor. Not in a good condition to work. A female doc browsed my medical records and asked if the last time I went to visit them was in year 2000. I was surprised on hearing that. But, records dont lie. My condition was caused by long hours of computing work, which was part and puzzle of my work. I requested for a jab to relax my muscles for faster recovery. The MC she gave me covered 2 days, but I will only rest for today. Work resumes tomorrow, if my condition improves. Went to open a CPF investment account with DBS. I would be making my first investment move to buy a unit trust. Another fren would be joining me in this, which we hope to gain or lose on a 50-50 basis. Wish me luck.....

SE - W800i Way to Go

Time really flies. 3 months ago, I was annoyed by my Nokia 6260. After the lunar new year, I went to purchase a Motorola V3i, thinking that the phone may suit my needs better. A week ago, I was itching to change my V3i, due to its laggy response from its functions. Yesterday, I set my eyes on a Sony Ericsson model W800i. Today, I decided to make the swop. As expected, the queue at the M1 shop was extremely long. Took the queue no. 167. But, it was only at 75. Why the shop have so many counters serving, but their service was still so slow? Even those queuing at the express counter were not better off. Alternatively, I went to another shop that sold phones without contract at a lower price. Traded in my V3i and topped up some cash, after negotiations with the shop owner were finalised. Tested my new mobile on the spot and it hanged at the main screen. Ops. Was it a bad omen? I think probably it was one of the few fault ones among the shipment. Had another one to try to my satisfaction. Brought home my new toy, but it had to be charged for 12 hours or longer. The anxiety to test its functions is building up.

Oily Friday in Dome

After another week of overtime for helping my superior for her submission, I managed to call the day off on time today. All thanks to a dinner date at Suntec. I think I like friday more with this new job on hand, as I wont hav to work on any saturday. Met Paul and Jason at Suntec, but due to unforeseen full booking, we had to switch to dine at Olio Dome. Either way, I am a patron to good food. The prices on the menu were not so pleasant to my eyes. I didnt feel their serving would be big enough for me, as I have a big appetite. But, I still chose the Hawaii Pork Ribs for my main course with a mushroom soup of the day. Olio Smoothies as my drink to soothe my throat. Paul's brother was the entertainer of the night, as he was a never ending talker. He felt I looked different with my work outfit, which I thought was not special. The dessert to finish off my dinner was Fluffy Pancakes with durian paste. The durian paste had a weird taste, which Jason and I felt funny. Paul's bro had banana split, leading me to recall my bad experience in Redang. After we settled the bill, we went to several mobile shops to have a look at some new mobiles in the market. My hands were getting itchy to get rid of my V3I for a Sony Ericsson model. I know I wont be able to hold on for long, as I would be bothered by the issue if unsettled. Went for some drinks at TCC @ Citylink to kill some time by chatting before all of us took the last second train to head home. Thanks guys for a sweet friday evening.

Sushi cum KTV

Had a gruelling week of work, even though it's just my first week. The pressure to submit the report by yesterday has pushed me to do overtime for most of the week. Met Paul, Rebec, Krys and Jason for a gathering, which should give me a well-deserved break. Location was supposed to be Olio Dome at Wheel Lock Place. But, there was no more outlet anymore. We settled for Sakae Sushi, with everyone's consensus. Stella was late for some personal reasons. But, we tucked in the feast first. The rest were very good with Jap food, enjoying the ginger and wasabi. I would be better in western food. Haha. Krys had to depart early for another movie appointment, much to our disappointment.

Headed for KTV @ The One near Cineleisure. The charges were quite reasonable for a $120 package of 3 hours. The package could provide us with about 3 drinks per pax and some decent finger food while we sing to our heart's content. Just for the record book, I did sing to the audience's astonishment. Be it duet or single, I seemed like a possessed person. I didnt know why, but the feeling was to be more entertaining than usual. Many people don't know I have 2 personalities, one normal and the other hidden. We had some coffee at Kopi Tiam to keep ourselves awake, as it was getting late. Shared a cab back home with 2 ladies, who were going the same way.

Commencement Day

1st work day after the long break. Woke up later than my intended time. I will slowly get accustomed to the early hours of work. Expected to know many colleagues, who I shall be working with. Introduced to everyone in the office from the top management to the junior clerks. The lady who brought me around was Spring. Nice name. My work desk was nicely set up for my work convenience. Quite fortunate to be given a Pentium 4 PC with LCD monitor. I am certain that it would contribute to my work efficiency. Stationeries were properly laid out inside my pedestal. Email address has been created too. The HR and IT dept has been doing a great job for the company in my view. All female colleagues in finance dept, except for the CFO. But, mostof them are attached or married for everyone's info. Hehe.. The FM gave me some files to browse through for figuring out how to close the accounts before end of the week. Seems the wrong timing to join the company, but its a new learning process. The opportunity to try out consolidated accounts is a plus for me. My namecard has been requested for printing, which I didnt expect to be entitled to. For the rest of the week, I would be rushing to finish the accounts to make an immediate impact on my superiors on my job capabilities.

2nd Job Interview after 3 yrs

My interview with Sembcorp Parks Holdings has been arranged at 11 am. This was my first interview, since the last interview did secured my first job for me. I hoped to carry on the same luck, which I had 3 yrs ago. Obviously nervous, since I dun really quite understand the job requirements for this company. Arrived at the office much earlier to fill up the application form. After completing it, I was told that it was for the wrong company application. Had to fill up another form from scratch and it was 6 pages long. I don't understand why companies like to know so much written info before they even consider hiring u. Maybe its a procedure to assess. It didn't took long for the whole interview to end. I only inquired more about their expectations of the new staff. The finance manager and vice president were pleasant people, which I may described as friendly and approachable superiors. They would inform me before the end of this week, of their intent to hire me or not.

Bye Redang => Hello SG

We took a light breakfast and set off in the first ferry back to mainland Kuala Terengganu. The coach will be waiting to pick us up for our journey back to SG. Had a stop-over at a goodies stall and I bought some titbits for my family to try. If my luggage wasn't full, I would hav cleared the shelves. Just kidding. Having tummy upset during the long coach journey, but no toilet available for use. The whole trip seemed like a flash memory that lasted for a few minutes. Reached Golden Mile at about 9 pm. Sis wanted to share cab with some friends, so I went to take the train home alone. Had my MP3 songs to accompany me though. Mummy welcomed me home, as I stepped into the house. She told me many happenings that occurred for the past few days. I guessed my brother has started to realise his mistake for moving out to stay with his gf, as his gf is becoming more possessive of him. Turned in early to catch some sleep, after unpacking all my stuff. Felt so anxious for my interview on the upcoming Monday 17 Apr. My workaholic sickness is getting back into my head bit by bit.

Marine Conservancy Park

Snorkelling Trip once again. The last one before we return to SG tomoro. Final D was the Marine Conservancy Park, where it is an island with 100,000 different types of marine fishes. The name has indicated that killing Marine Life there will be slapped with RM20,000 fine. Well equipped before we headed out to the clear blue sea. I had a full breakfast to make sure the fishes are also well fed. Some of my friends got bitten, but no fish wants me for a meal. But, I like to eat fishes. Haha.... The diver was swimming around to take pictures of people underwater. Sis was the photographer of the day, since she liked marine life so much. I just swam around to see the corals and try to spot unusual fishes. In the noon, the sun was scorching again. I gave the whole group a treat to some cooling ice cream. My banana split became a mango split, as bananas are out of stock. The monkeys around the island must have stolen my banana and split for themselves. Nightfalls and we headed for a small restaurant for our sumptous dinner. Had a group photo and started drinking session. A disco party, which was held at the beach. Party-goers were crazy.... I have inserted a link to my album for anyone's viewing. Please click on the below picture. Enjoy...

Being Man-handled

There should be a snorkelling trip to the Marine Conservancy Park, which we forgo. Too many people to go with. We delayed it for tomorrow, when the big group will not be around anymore. There was a massage parlour on the island. Sis wanted to try it out. We went for the full body massage. Costs RM120 per pax. There were 1 masseur and 1 masseuse. I selected the masseur, , whose built was much higher than mine. More Powerful. Haha. As he was massaging, he asked if i have a gf. Did I look like I hav one??? He told me he had a boyfriend instead. Ahhhhh........ I guess everyone can tell what he is already. But, his hands were really good for a guy. Hehe... Rest of the afternoon went swimming at the sea and pool. I was tanned and looked like a lobster. Received a phone call from Singapore. Very unusual, but it was a notice for an interview. My first after several applications. The lady wanted me to enjoy my holiday and be ready for the interview when I am back. I thought they wont wait for my return, but they were kind souls. My parents would be happy if they hear this, as they were worrying about my employment. Told sis about this, and we went to celebrate a new start to my career. More Carlsberg please!!!!!

Arrival - Day 1

Finally, the coach has reached the Merang Jetty at Kuala Terengganu. If anyone has noticed, the driver was racing with a petroleum refiller during the journey at night. I guessed everyone was sleeping soundly. We did reached safe and sound. Being given boarding passes for the ferry and took a 45 mins ferry journey to the deserted island. The sun was scorching. A welcome drink was served to us, which tasted like sour plum drink. The logistics personnel mentioned it could cure sea sickness??? Did a fast check-in after lunch to get ready for our first snorkelling trip at Pulau Lima. Not used to the snorkelling mask and breathing thru ur mouth. Tasted lots of salty sea water as a trade off. Went back to our room and totally exhausted. After dinner, there was a karaoke competition. A lady sang "Beauty and the Beast" and it totally sucks... Wondered who signed her up... I wasn't listening much, except drinking to my sorrows. Drank about 3/5 of a jug of Carlsberg and some sips of a ladies drink offered by my god sis. Name was "baylis on the rock"??? Am I drunk already??

Anticipation

The much-waited holiday trip has arrived. Busy with last minute packing, I need to be fully geared for the long trip. Last night, sis called me asking about my preparations. She asked me to bring my digi camera to save her some space for her bag. So anxious till she cant sleep. Haha. She likes snorkelling very much, while it's my first experience. Nevertheless, I would enjoy the trip with her company. The check-in time at Golden Mile Complex was 9.30pm. Met her at 9.15 at Lavender and she bought 2 cans of beer. She wanted to get tipsy and sleep throughout the coach journey. She knew I didn't like to drink, but she purposely handed me the other can. Bottoms up. This is the start of a drinking spree to come. The coach arrived late. Most of the agencies were closed except ours. The journey started off at 10.30pm and expecting to arrive at Merang Jetty 9 hrs later. We had a stopover at Yong Peng 24hrs to ease ourselves before the start of the long travel to Kuala Terengganu. Sis was sleeping so soundly, while I listen to my techno music.

Long Wait

Decided to accompany mum for her appointment at the polyclinic, in place of my dad. He wont hav to waste his annual leave in this manner. Got to wake up at 7.30 am with my eyes still unwilling to open. Dragged myself out of bed to get ready. Missed out on MSN for the earlier half of the day. We reached the polyclinic and spent a total of 3 hours to finish the appointment.
- 30 mins for bloodtest
- 10 mins for ECG test
- 20 mins for the test results
- 1 hr 40 mins to see the doctor for evaluating the results (dozed off)
- 20 mins for pharmacy to disperse the medicine.
A final conclusion for the time spent was "all tests were negative, please consume your medicine regularly and we will see u in 3 mths time" plus $94 medical charges. Came back and ate noodles for lunch. Eye lips began to shut and I slept till 3 in the noon. MSN time.. Ling was there to chat with me, as she worked. Zhi came online to my surprise. She shared her unhappy experiences with me again. Seemed her ex was trying to spite her more. She commented I was a good listener wor. Haha. I just let her know that if there is a chance, I would like to appreciate what she can do for her bf. Wondering how she felt when she heard this? Kept her accompanied till she decided to turn in. Ling had an unpleasant evening as well, which she mentioned.

Movie Day

Had the usual MSN chat with ling today. Her ulcer remained uncured. Worried for her, as the HFMD has been widespreading. I seem to have a few friends with ling as part of their names. Does my fate lies in this word? Just a silly thought. The weather turned bad. with heavy downpour in the late afternoon. I wanted to catch ICE AGE 2, since last friday. Each time I planned, the rain would spoilt my day. Made up my mind to go for the 7.20pm slot. Had my dinner at home, before making my way to the theatre. Not many people watching, except for young girls. I guessed working people would be feeling the blues. I was seated beside two girls, who were laughing non-stop. The movie was rather exaggerating in the motion graphics aspect. The silly sabre-toothed squirrel, Scrat, was still searching for his nut, ever since ICE AGE 1. As the storyline progressed, I was drawn into the emotional part of a mammoth risking his life to save his female counterpart. Even though it was a cartoon, I couldnt stop shedding tears when there were touching scenes. End of movie, I was the first to exit the theatre and hoped no one saw my teary eyes.

Shot by Arrow

Dad asked me to help my aunt fix up her new maxonline connection at CCK. I was thinking of the reason for choosing me. There were many others, who could fix that. Since I was free for the day, I accepted the assignment willingly. 大哥 rejected it straight off before I was approached. Went to search for my tools before I went to her place. Received directions to take 2 buses to her place. I settled for only 1 bus, since the distance via the 2nd bus was walkable. The problem to tackle was minor. However, they wanted me to fix additional things as well. Am I trained in IT? Nope. I tried my best to solve whatever I can, and left the place once finished. They were grateful for my help and offered money. I rejected it to avoid any indebtedness to them for future maintenance.

Island Exploration

Waited 2 weeks for this meetup with my army friends. Most of them were uncontactable after we ORD. Managed to arrange with Thing and Yong though. Thing was my room mate and is famous for having different GF each time we meet up. Haha. On the other hand, Yong is working as a process auditor, after he came back from Aust. The itinerary was as followed:
- Makan lunch at Wakaru East Coast (Yong's a/c)
- Played billard and bowling, (Thing's a/c)
- Went Suntec for Yong to purchase something
- Went Fisherman's Village for sumptuous dinner (My a/c)
- Went Changi Village to sight transvestites. But, none showed up to our disappointment.
- Climbed up Mount Faber to see if there was any funny business happening.
It took us nearly a day, since none of us have any matters to cater to. Thing gave us a lift back at the end of it, and we promised to meet up more often with the others next time. Yong offered to cook spaghetti for our judgement. Hope you wont regret it.

Non-Youth Dining Corner

Had an appointment with Paul and Jason to have dinner. The first time I saw Jason again, since we went Genting together. Heard tat he had left his employment again. I hope he can find his dream job soon. I am struggling myself. Hehe. Dining @ NYDC according to P's decision. I am undecided anyway. Main course for me was Mushroom Cheese Baked Rice. We had a hawaiian pizza to be shared among ourselves. A nice name for my ice cream, which is named "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". P ordered "Heaven, Earth and Fire". But, I dun see any fire on it. No whip cream for Heaven, but only chocolate to represent earth. It is my guess for how the name came about. Rebec has missed this session, but we understand her schedule was tight. Got her sms that she was feeling unwell before she slept. Another time to ask her out perhaps. We continued our chat at Coffee Bean till it was closing time. Maybe, we got too carried away. Hardly stayed at Suntec till all the connecting walkways were all shut off. We took a longer route outside and were lucky to catch the last train.

Un-Pro Behaviour

I received a call from a job agency. Asking about some job details for my application. She mentioned that my last drawn pay seems rather high for a person with 3 yrs experience. I felt insulted. She could ask this from a few possibilities:
1 - She was questioning my ability to command that salary, or
2 - She felt I have manipulated the figure reflected, or
3 - She was not aware of the industry practice well enough.
The offer she gave was I should be expecting a salary lower than my last drawn to secure a job. Who in the world would do that? If I will get a lower pay, I might as well slog my life for my ex company. Haha. In my resume, I clearly stated that I was handling full sets accounts. But, she could not find it on the piece of paper. Very unprofessional in my view. How is she going to match a good job to me? She ended the call, leaving me with doubts of her abilities instead.

Square in the City

Even though I was tired with my lessons last night, I dragged myself out of bed at 8am. Mum asked me to join her for the JB trip. Big aunt and her daughter was coming as well. Reached Kranji MRT to meet them up before proceeding to JB. I exchanged SGD100 worth of ringgit to make some purchases over the causeway. We planned to head for City Square (CS) , which was within walking distance from the Malaysian Customs. While walking, there were many taxi drivers asking for business. Only smiled at them and carried on walking.

Arrived at CS at 11pm. Not much crowd, since it was a weekday. Started our shopping spree. I went to buy bermudas for my Redang Trip. Mum and Aunt bought goodies for bringing back. We had our lunch at Vois Restaurant. The whole meal costs RM60, which includes 4 soups, 4 drinks, 3 lasagnia and 1 chicken chop set. Satisfying for me, but not the rest. They were not used to consuming western food. I thought it's good for a change for them, but it proved otherwise. Carried on with my shopping after we were finished. Bought a few t-shirts before we decided to headed back home. There was an uncle who was shouting vulgarities in the bus. Felt disgusted...

Bruises & Bang with Guilt

It was a rainy Sunday morning. Had an basketball session with 大哥 and his friends. It was meant to be a friendly game. But, I was hit by the ball several times when I mishandled the ball from my team mates. Tough luck, but it don't occur often. One bad incident happened. This moment which I was in control of the ball, the opponent tried to steal in from my hands. I managed to avoid the steal. Instead, his entire face hit my elbow. His nose was bleeding and a deep cut on his lips. It was unintentional, but I was remorseful of it. Many friends told me it's common to get injured and he was over aggressive. I didn't continue the game and sat down in one corner. Jus watching. Came home before lunch. While bathing, I noticed that my elbow had a cut as well. It has been bleeding after we clashed. My wound was superficial compared to his. I had my injuries in the past with none of this severity. Spent the remaining part of the day feeling the guilt.

Red Paint All Over

Picked up the Vios early morning at 9 am and fetched my 大哥 and 大嫂 to bring them for the HDB WIS. They sat behind with my mum, while my dad was with me on the front. Seems I will be driver for the day. But, I like driving. Pardon me for being selfish, but 大哥 says that he will let me practise more parking at different places. Hehe.
First Stop - Bukit Gombak. 大哥 didnt like it, as there won't be sun heat to dry the clothes fast enough. A kind auntie did let us have a view of the interior of her flat. Teck Whye next. The flat was a repossessed unit and seems like someone has bought the flat. 3rd stop was Choa Chu Kang. The showflat for the 5 room had nice decor to come with, but the price tagged to it was pretty as well. $263,000 is not worth for the inconvenient location. The last stop was Bukit Panjang. The unit was on the 12th floor. Lift opened and we saw the words 欠钱还钱 $$$$. The unit no. 34. Seems familiar to us. Approaching the exact unit, I was shocked. There was red paint splashed all over the door and the walls for that unit. For any new buyer, it would not make any sense to take this unit. 大嫂 seems pretty disappointed about having no choices. I suggested to apply for the Build to Order units instead. But, the final decision is theirs. I will face their dilemma when my turn comes.
Second half of the day was spent at home, doing more job searching and listening to songs. Heaven is always not on my side, as the sky darkened when I planned to go swimming. Haha. I have to defer plan tomorrow. Managed to know a new friend though. Nice person to talk to and hope our friendship will flourish in future.

Wheels necessary??

I logged into the msn at late morning, just to discover my good friend wasn't there like usual. Was she occupied by work? I managed to contact her to know that she was on MC. Continued my job search online, but not much good openings. Am i setting my expectations too high? There is still time to wait for a better job. 果条汤 for lunch. Nasty elder brother was at home when I returned. How can he come back to sleep during day time? He is just not working hard enough, as he works in the sales line.
Late noon, eldest bro sent me an sms to ask if I can get hold of a vehicle for him on this Saturday. His chance to pick his ideal home has been awarded and he has several places to go to. I wish that he will choose a location that is nearer to my parents. His initial plan was to get a unit in Punggol, which is inconvenient for both himself and 大嫂. My parents want to accompany him for the search as well. I had to placed a booking for the car for their sake. Maybe, I could join them for the trip if I have no appointments.

Higher Stakes Expected

Woke up late this morning at 10 am to organise my study notes, which were given during last evening class. Looking at how thick the notes are compared to my last semester's exams, I had to draft a plan to revise as early as possible. My pal would be taking up another 2 papers, other than this one. I hope he would manage his time well enough, as he will be facing a much much tougher time to get through those.

Has been putting on weight for quite some time. I decided to make a switch to my usual meaty diet. Had porridge for lunch instead. I heard news that my ex company has not prepare my testimonial and last pay cheque. Happy waiting. A hearty chat with mum about family issues. My brother came back for a hour surprisingly. Never talked to him, as he still behaved as arrogant as before. I hope he is learning his lesson well from this experience of moving out. Went to the library to browse some books to clear some queries. Envying those students who wandered around at the mall. I never did that, while I was studying. My internet connection failed me, resulting on some troubleshooting work to be done. Received a surprise good night sms from my confidante.

Congrats to Team Singapore

Wow, a big congratulations to the Team Singapore Women's Team Table Tennis that clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. I hope other S'porean competitors will be inspired by their performance to obtain more medals for our country. Go Go Go!!!

7 Songs @ This MoMent

This music tag came from Elaine, while I was paying a visit to her blog. Thanks for getting me involved. Hehe. The 7 songs that I have been captivated by:

1) How do I live - Trisha Yearwood

2) When you say nothing at all - Ronan Keating

3) All by myself - Jamie O'Neal

4) If you're not the one - Daniel Bedingfield

5) 爱情轮廓 - 许慧欣

6) 谢谢你让我这么爱你 - 柯以敏

7) 一次幸福的机会 - 刘若英

What I have listed are not totally new songs. Whenever I do listen to the above, my mood will be deep immersed by the lyrics and some memories will be renewed.

Bloggers who I wished to tag on:
- Paula
- Aidah
- Rebec
- Darl
- Lingsi (if she does blog)

A Harbour to be Remembered

Over the weekend, the movie "Pearl Harbour" has been shown on television. Did anyone catch it? The show was split into 2 time slots (part 1 on saturday and part 2 on sunday). I love watching war movies. A few which I have watched were Hitler, Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, Black Hawk Down, etc... The interest arose when I had to study history during my schooling days. Don't be mistaken that I am supporting the call for war in real life. My strong belief is a confrontation should never be the first solution to a problem. Seeing all the sufferings on screen made my tears rolled.

Why was Pearl Harbour attacked and the significance?

Eighteen months prior to Dec 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had transferred the United States Fleet to Pearl Harbor as a presumed deterrent to Japanese agression. The Japanese military, deeply engaged in the seemingly endless war it had started against China in mid-1937, badly needed oil and other raw materials. Commercial access to these was gradually curtailed as the conquests continued. In July 1941 the Western powers effectively halted trade with Japan. From then on, as the desperate Japanese schemed to seize the oil and mineral-rich East Indies and Southeast Asia, a Pacific war was virtually inevitable.
By late November 1941, with peace negotiations clearly approaching an end, informed U.S. officials (and they were well-informed, they believed, through an ability to read Japan's diplomatic codes) fully expected a Japanese attack into the Indies, Malaya and probably the Philippines. Completely unanticipated was the prospect that Japan would attack east, as well.
The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant.

Sepang Malaysian GP

The annual Formula 1 GP at Sepang has ended and the results were not what I wished for. This circuit is one of the most challenging ones, due to the weather's humidity and different applicable pitstop strategies. My fav driver, Kimi from McLaren Mercedes, was forced to retired without even finishing the first lap. He has been a speedy driver, without luck for most of 2005 and now even in 2006. It was the fault of the Red Bull racing team Christian Klien, who drank too much Red Bull to brush poor Kimi's car off the track. Nonetheless, Renault has proven to be a strong team right from the start. What is their formula for stability in a car? I seldom witnessed their cars having mechanical failure. Michael Schumacher had his hands full trying to overtake his own team mate from Ferrari. But, I know from past yrs that the McLaren Mercedes team will be stronger after the first few races.

Results:
1st - Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)
2nd - Fernando Alonso (Renault)
3rd - Jenson Button (Honda)

Snorkeling Trip Booked

A 3pm appointment with my god sis to have a look at the travelling packages at Golden Mile. We planned to go on a Palau Redang Trip in mid April. It also meant I shall be starting work only after this trip, if there is any job being secured within this period. I met her at Lavender MRT at 3.30pm instead, as she was held up by her earlier appointment. Her ex wont be joining us and its up to us to decide if we wanted to carry on this adventure. My sis got no problem sharing the room with me. Thanks for the trust, which I also have in you. We went through the offers from some travel agencies, but couldn't get a good offer which distinguished from the rest. In the end, we headed back to Trans-Star Travel to make a booking. We chose the package for 4D3N at a cost of $350 per pax. A standard room was chosen, instead of the sea view room, to allow us to extend our stay for another day without additional overall cost. The lady, who processed our booking, asked me for my contact number for a total 4 times. My sis was laughing that she was trying to know me better and I thought so too. After the procedures were done, we went to Junction 8 for our dinner. Sis treated me to a KFC meal, which was sufficient to fill my small tummy. We bought new goggles to start training ourselves for the snorkeling trip. She warned me that it would be very straining physically. Looking forward to this first trip with this adventurous girl. Who knows if it could lead to future trips to elsewhere.

FBI as a Nanny?

In 2000’s “Big Momma’s House,” Martin Lawrence had his “largest” role ever, as an FBI agent who is a master of disguise. To trap a brutal bank robber, Lawrence went deep, deep undercover – impersonating a fun-loving granny known as Big Momma. Now, Lawrence is back as the boldest, biggest, and baddest Momma ever, in the mother of all comedies: BIG MOMMA’S HOUSE 2. This time, Lawrence transforms himself into Big Momma to avert a national security disaster. But saving the country is the least of Big Momma’s problems, as he takes on his ultimate challenge – being nanny/housekeeper to the suspect’s dysfunctional family.

This movie would be interesting to those who are seeking a good laugh. For the sake of his friend who died during the course of carrying out his duties, Lawrence had to forsake his family to carry out the unfinished work. Before he was given the job as a Nanny, he eliminated 3 other candidates for the job. How did he eliminate the others?
Nanny 1: Boobs too big and will prove to be a seduction to the kids' dad.
Nanny 2: Told a lie about being a child pyschologist previously.
Nanny 3: Carried a gun for protection.
Lawrence also managed to develop closer family ties within this family. There was a child in this family, who liked to jump off cupboards, beds, high areas to land face flat on the floor. I don't understand why the kid liked to do that. So painful even for adults to do suicide jumps. Overall, this movie is worth a go watching.

Home Sweet Home

Came online to check on my friends' blogs, which I have missed for 3 days. Very inconvenient to have no internet access in other places. I am used to staying in a high-tech country, such that adapting to days without internet was hard. Haha. Along the way back in Malaysia, I was sitting beside Paul in the coach. His face turned pale and he felt like vomitting. What should I do? Only passed him a bag for clearing the waste materials. It was a relief that he felt better thereafter. I had my MP3 player to accompany me throughout the journey. Reached the Singapore customs for clearance at 9 plus in the night. The coach driver gave us an option to alight at Tang Dynasty, but I couldn't catch any transport from there. The other stop was Golden Mile. Took train back with Jason, while Paul took a cab himself. HP battery was flat and needed charging. Saw her sms asking if I am back home, and gave her a call. We shared a nice conversation and her voice sounded sick. So poor thing to work so hard without drinking water and toilet visit for the whole day. I can't survive long in that manner. Her friend's call came and we had to end it. Its nearly a mth since we chatted.

Voyage to Highlands

It was 5.15am. The alarm went off and I dragged myself out of bed. Got to catch the coach at Golden Mile Complex, as boarding time was 6.30am. Didnt have time to have breakfast and bought takeaways instead. Got on the bus on time and we were on our way. It was luckily that the coach took the 2nd link route and customs clearing was a breeze. I brought out my takeaway, hoping to fill up my empty tummy. But, the driver gave a negative remark. I understand his reason for saying that and kept the food till our break at Johor. Slept and occasionally took a peep of the outside view. Upon reaching Genting at around 2 in the afternoon, we checked into Genting Hotel and did some wash ups. A sushi restaurant was our destination for lunch, and the bill seems reasonable. We took a short walk around and night falls shortly. Took an early rest to enjoy more tomorrow.

Prep for the Highlands

Awakening and feeling lost, as it is my first day without a job. Haha. My intention is to take about a month of rest, if I could. At the same time, I will search for jobs and attending interviews if there is. This period of rest should be adequate for my 1st half revision of my paper 3.2 ACCA. I guess paul is envious that I could spare time to revise my studies properly, but at the expense of no income. Haha. I did some calculations and my finances is still manageable during my quest for a better job. I had to pack up my things for my Genting trip tomorrow. The arrangement is to stay overnight at paul's house to faciliate early departure in the morning. Received a few calls from my understudy to clarify her doubts. I assured her that I shall not leave questions unanswered if she wishes to ask. Arriving at Paul's place at about nine at night. We talk and talk till everyone dozed off.

Bidding Farewell

I felt very emotional to see Komoco building for the last day, as I reached office early. No one has arrived and I closed my eyes to visualise the office scene which I am used to. My fren did told me that I would be missing alot of the good memories. Anyway, memories are meant to be kept. The first surprise of the day was the gift presented to me by my financial controller and regional finance manager. Both of them appreciated my services for the company, and wanted me to study well to get my ACCA soon. I offered to buy some old and new colleagues lunch at Mac Ridout Gardens. Everyone was teasing me about becoming a wealthy man in the years to come. I hope it will come true eventually. After we are back, I was still occupied with teaching and the ladies are panicking.

At about 4pm, I had to forgo all my tasks and went around the building to see other colleagues. First stop is the Chrysler Jeep showroom. All the sales personnel, including the sales manager, were waiting there. Some of the females sprayed their strongest perfume on purpose and hugged me tightly, as they knew I am sensitive to their scent. Naughty Carol planted a big kiss on my cheeks, and I was blushing totally. It has been frustrating to handle their cases, but I will miss their cheerfulness. They got me a big gift nicely wrapped up and I thanked them for their warmth farewell. My sales manager also gave me a BIG bear hug and I could hardly breathe for a moment. Haha. He can be a nuisance, but we managed to work well despite our differences. 2nd stop is the service centre. The mechanics and service manager took turns to wish me well before I headed back to my own department. It is knocking off time and my colleagues also wished me the best and not forget them. I assured them that I wont for sure. On behalf of the majority whom I know, the secretary presented me with another gift which all of them have contributed. Totally loss of words, as the previous colleagues who left didnt get all this treatment. I couldn't say farewell to everyone due to my time constraint. I had no choice but to pen an email to bid farewell before i depart. Nice to have all these happenings on my last day.

Operational Readiness

Heard bad news this morning about my colleague being admitted into SGH. It was expected to happen, but no one expected it to be so sudden. My manager came to my desk and told me this. I knew she was going to tell me to extend to help to cover the duties in his absence. I gave her a blank stare. She mentioned she has no choice but to approach my help, as I was the only one who have done his work before. With no new job offers, I am in a neutral position on whether I can extend further. Many of my colleagues would be happy if I stay on, as we will still be lunch partners. There is another group who feels i should go. Why is my first resignation so hard to implement? But, it is understandable, given the opportunities which I had in the company. The work is manageable and I shall be able to help them in some way. I need to discuss with the management on their backup plans tomorrow. Nevertheless, my Genting Trip will not be affected by this.

Recuperation

Woke up at 10.30am and my parents were not around already. After a whole week of training for the ladies, it was my turn to get some precious relaxation. I had come to realise why my other colleagues left the company earlier than me. I was like a trainer, having to hand over my work and train other freshies as well. After all, I was the only senior around which could impart my knowledge to them. Settled my lunch at KFC westmall and bought a Linksys Wireless Router for providing internet access for my laptop. Otherwise, I cant operate my notebook without internet anyway. A small cost for future convenience. I shelved my plan to catch a movie alone, considering March is a non-income generating month. With no disturbance around, I revised a bit of my studies. My brother left home for a few days already, but I dont miss him. Perhaps, he has done too many bad things than good ones in the past. He behaves like a macho man, but in fact he is plagued with debts. Haha. I do envy him though, as his gf stays with him during his tough times. For me, what do I have? I shall see how my future goes. Last heard from her yesterday that she was heading for Johor, and no news ever since.

A Moment of Folly???

The answer could be surfacing since the incident happened on 10 Jan. I made a declaration to a girl who I felt so comfortable with. I told myself to dare to dream. The scene was painted in such bright colours. I felt the hope for a better relationship. For the past 2 weeks, was there a missing game? Clueless. Sms started to go missing, and her presence in my life started to vanish. She could be occupied and I do missed her. I don't wish for all this longing. But, the sequence of events have made us more drifted apart. My feelings are mixed up. The below lyrics could describe what I am feeling for this moment.

想用一杯latte把你灌醉

好让你能多爱我一点

暗恋的滋味

你不懂这种感觉

早有人陪的你永远不会

看见你和他在我面前

证明我的爱只是愚昧

你不懂我的那些憔悴

是你永远不曾过的体会

为你付出那种伤心你永远不了解

我又何苦勉强自己爱上你的一切

你又狠狠逼退我的防备

静静关上门来默数我的泪

明知道让你离开他的世界不可能会

我还傻傻等到奇迹出现的那一天

直到那一天你会发现

真正爱你的人独自守着伤悲

曾经我以为我自己会后悔

不想爱的太多痴心绝对

为你落第一滴泪

为你做任何改变

也唤不回你对我的坚决

痴心绝对

Mysterious Appearance

I went to work as normal, although i should not be in office theoretically. Some colleagues saw me and thought I was not aware that my last day was yesterday. I replied that I had forgotten that today should not be a working day. Haha. I kept it unknown to most people on purpose, knowing that they would disturb me if they knew I was around. Too bad, my colleague went to tell some people upfront. She betrayed my trust. My 2 understudy are beginning to malfunction with each other. Only god knows how both of them can compromise each other's work. It wont be my problem to make them click. Who knows? Maybe, they crack under pressure and resign before my last day. Haha.

Another issue I have been thinking for the past 2 weeks. Is my friendship with her just a mere 2 months' affair? I feel that she is becoming like a stranger to me after v day. Even as I wish to try, I think I dont even hold a place in her heart. I don't want to dream of anything from now on. I guess I have to move on for a girl whom I can love wholeheartedly.

Last Date Extended

One month ago, it has been my plan to have an end to my current job. But, the circumstances have changed and I was given an option of extending. I gave it a serious thought over the weekend and decided to approach my managers about an extension. I was the first to reach the office as normal. Drafted an email to serve as a written request. I did receive an approval from the manager shortly after. My understudy was relieved about my decision. Some colleagues came to know about this and asked about my hesitation. It's just a small favour which I can do for my company. From now till 9 Mar, I would be just sitting around to see if the ladies encounter any problems. Another colleague, whose work has to be checked by me, did a silly thing. I was frustrated, but just kept it to myself. Why cant she exercise caution when doing her work? It was just a choice between a yes or no, and she could hit the wrong button. Whole day occupied with guiding people and clearing audit queries.

Crazy Mobile

Has anyone had problems with a Motorola phone before? I check that my settings are proper, but most people who called me do not get a response on my mobile. I have disappointed so many friends, who mentioned the problem started when I switched my mobile. However, I tested myself and it was ok. Perhaps, the service provider M1 has some problems recently?
Had a long day at work till 6 pm in the office. Went for a hair trimming. Reaching home, I sms her and saw her online. A no holds barr talk about how the past 2 weeks have been for both of us. She mentioned we are developing a distance between us. I was shocked. Knowing her schedule has been tight, I felt I should not bother her. I thought I had done the right thing to let her concentrate on her work. Instead, I changed her opinion about me. In the past, I bothered a girl during the course of her work and she was pissed off. So, I thought sometimes backing off is also good. Now, a different person and a different situation. Why are my actions bringing discomfort to others?

Twists of Fate

How many twists can I face this year? At the beginning of the year, I was sadden about knowing my results by end of Feb. Hence, I decided to forgo my work for my studies. I targetted my last working day as 28 Feb to catch up my studies after that day. Last week, the results were out. I did made through that paper. I felt lucky for the amount of effort, which I had put in. Yesterday, some colleagues were asking me to extend my last working day for another 2 weeks. Even the 2 new understudy were also asking me to do them a favour. 2 managers spoke to me this morning as well. Should I really helped them? I don't know. Should I turn my back on everyone, which I cant bring myself to do it? But if I really extend, there are some normal duties which I am unwilling to attend to. I am very confused. Like in the past, I always hear negative comments about others who left. By extending, will anyone appreciate it or I will still earn myself more negative comments? I spent the whole day pondering, even as I still need to coach the 2 ladies. I guessed everyone wanted me to help the ladies, but who has ever spare a thought for me????

2 New Understudy

This morning came another lady to join us to be my understudy. She would be entrusted with the sales admin work, which I had handled. Yesterday, one lady has joined and she will be handling my accounts work. It's tough for me to teach 2 people at one go. But, I am trying hard. Both ladies are sad, but I hope I can make them stable before I go. I have waited for a long time before they finally joined. So much time wasted due to some employment inefficiency. Ladies be assured that I will still help even after I leave the company. I was delayed for classes for some vehicle deliveries again. Joined the class at 7.30 pm, with an empty stomach. Anyway, this lesson was the last before a 2 weeks break. My buddy was there to lend me his notes for copying the earlier part of the lesson. Thanks. We were discussing about the Genting Trip, which we will be going. I hope I can refresh myself during this trip to take on new challenges for the rest of the year. He had paid upfront on my behalf, but I told him to claim using a petty cash voucher. You should know the rules, pal? Just a small joke, as I did the fund transfer to his bank account after I reached home. She started to sms me again, after a period of long lost communication. If there is just a good night message, it would be sufficient to warm each other's heart. I wish we will try to maintain contact, even when we are busy with our own work. You will be missed upon, not to worry.

JB Plan Abandoned

Today's plan should be in JB enjoying a movie and some good food. Starting to feel if it was all fated? Whatever we planned, there would be hiccups. I knew that it was hard for her to push away her friend's appointment, so I told her to meet her friends instead. I should be able to occupy myself with things to kill time. There was a meaningful sms from her "We should be enjoying the time together if not for my friend." It was a consolation to hear this from her. Enjoy your meeting and don't be upset about this. We can always plan again if there is another opportunity. Instead, the time was spent on marketing with my mum and revising my studies. Still have a long way to catch up to current chapter. It's better to start now than never. Took a few hours nap and woke up around 7 plus at night. Listened to songs, while reading some frens' blogs. It's late but never hear from her since the last sms at 2 pm. Should I be waiting for her reply to my sms or should I proceed to my bed? Let's see which occurs first.

Surprise Surprise

Called her early morning to see if she is alright. She has been occupied recently and no phone calls for the whole week. It will be good to hear her voice for a second. Finally, she picked up the call. Her voice sounded tired. I asked her to catch more sleep. I had to clear more work, in preparation of the new colleague who will be succeeding my work. I don't wish to pressure her, although I like to. Haha. With my current duties being segregated to 2 pax, she should be in a comfortable position. Sales has started to picked up, but how many more will I be processing? They can throw as many as they wish to. The LTA system is changing on 1 Mar, which is the first day that I am no longer in office. The sales personnel thought I may have insider news to plan my exit on the day the old LTA system cease working. Nice guess but there was more to it. End of the work day at 6pm, my phone ext rang. Must be one of the sickening sales disturbing me again. Nope, wrong guess. It was her. I was speechless, since she mentioned she would be busy from noon onwards. She asked if I wanted to have dinner and I agreed wholeheartedly. Nice nice. No work tomorrow and in no rush to go home. We took a short walk to the mall near her place. Had dinner at Grillers. We would always share a portion of our own food with each other. Spent 2 hours updating each other about the past few days happenings. I didn't know she would react so strongly to a fren's comment. But, its nice to listen to her heart-felt words. Saw her back home and waited outside for her to snap some pictures using my mobile. Once I got back home, I transferred the pictures to her for her safekeeping. I hope tonight will have a sweet sweet dream, unlike last few worrying nights.

Farewell Lunch

My bosses wanted to give everyone, who have tendered resignation, a farewell lunch. Overheard one of the bosses saying that the menu must suit their taste. I was thinking if the lunch was meant for them. Nevertheless, they were still disillusioned that rehiring will be a solution to their problems. They drove us to RELC's Tang restaurant. The other colleagues were happily discussing about their plans after their departure. I didn't want to say much, as I loved my work very much. But, I was forced to hate it. I detested it. They would never understand why I left. NEVER. The bosses even mentioned I looked fresher than before. But, deep inside my heart, I am troubled. Work, studies, money, relationship and family were all my concerns. Too many things that no one can understand. I will solve them eventually, one after another.

Va~Learn~Time

It's the annual lovers' day. It has been a few years, since I last spend this day without being loved. But, my lecturer has everything planned for everyone. She didn't change the schedule to allow people to enjoy this precious day. But, for rejects like me, I don't know if I should feel grateful. Anyway, my date did have something else to occupy her. It was still a nice thought of hers to accept my date initially, but I couldn't honour it. It just clashed with my lesson by coincidence, and I asked her without knowing it in the first place. I hoped she enjoyed her own date as well. Did she like the little surprise which I have planned ahead?. My apologies for keeping her in suspense, even when I told her to expect something. Haha. My class ended much later at 10 pm, with a "Happy Valentine's Day" from the lecturer. Sounds both funny and sarcastic. The journey back home took so long. Buses were mostly packed and I reached home around 11.30 pm. Received her sms to call her, but I rejected her to let her rest early. Wondered if she had enough rest???

Events to Ponder Over

Working for half day and a carefree afternoon to follow by. Don't know if I will be meeting her. Everything was in suspense, which left me hopeless. I could only wished for her reply soon. She did replied to indicate that she has to run some errands till about 1 pm. I waited in office for her to give me the timing to meet up. Luckily, I had the card and the small token with me. She was in a rush and I waited for her at Bugis. Went to buy some eye drops at Guardian for eye cleansing. My eyes needs frequent cleansing recently, as it becomes tired easily in office.

She arrived shortly and gave me the card with a small gift in a bag immediately. She handed over the things like she wanted to get rid of those for a long long time. Haha. I had to hand mine over as well, to make space in my backpack. Had lunch together at Swensen, but she seemed bothered by some things. I couldn't figure out the rationale, as I felt its unavoidable. We had a short walk to another area to get away from the place where she couldn't stay for another moment. Along the way, she was still rather disturbed. Her mood was totally dampened, and I had no choice but to see her home. She wanted to talk later in the night, but I told her to rest herself well first. I could wait for her to beep before i call anyway.

Reached home and opened the card which she had self made. The words written were beyond my expectations, which I could sense the emotions involved during her writing. How about her emotions when she reads about mine? I could guess, but only she can confirm my guess. The small gift was a heart shaped candle. Would it carry a meaning? I am still trying to figure out. It was around 11 pm, but she can't be contacted. Probably she went asleep without turning off her mobile. I had to catch some much needed sleep as well.

Dinner Date Cancelled

Left my house in the morning, I brought out my digital cam and the things I needed to pass to her. We had a date, planned a week ago. I had set a goal to finish my accounts before today to meet her up for a dinner. The location was Boat Quay. She wished to have the korean food there. To me, it was another new kind of food to try. The setting was nice to enjoy a dinner with someone I enjoyed her company. I hoped to let her read my card, while i should get to read hers. The feeling was worthwhile awaiting. At 10 plus in the morning, someone called my extension. It was her voice. A piece of sad news followed by good news to lessen the impact. She needed to attend her friend's birthday party, which she had missed out completely. I guessed I could make use of my time after work to rest at home, which my body badly needed. Being someone who often sacrificed myself for the benefit of others, I told her I could take care of my own time and she could just attend the party without worries. Anyway, her friend's annual birthday would certainly prioritised as compared to our meeting. She promised to arrange another time to make up for today's appointment. After work, I went back home and my parents were so surprised to see their precious son back early. Mum was pampering me with food, fruits and medicine. The medicine took its effect and caused me to sleep...

Hunt for a Card

Knocked off early today at 6.30pm to search for a valentine's day card. However, the recipient would be a different person. Went to several shops, but couldn't pick a card with the proper wordings. In the end, I picked one which had more hearts than words. Haha. I thought I should have a small token to go with the card as well. I hope she will appreciate the little thought from me. Came back and saw my brother occupying my room to play games again. Ignored his presence and sat down to write my thoughts in the card. Mum came in and took a peep. Ops Ops. She knows I am a sentimental guy all the while. I did something weird in the card, creating a heart with my name written behind it. I hope she will get the meaning, if she reads the card tomorrow. I guess she will, since she always blushes. A note to her:

Hope you will remain hopeful to be with your loved one. Let's forget our own unhappiness and have a place in our hearts for each other on this Valentine's Day.

A Long Wait plus Sorry......

I called her last night wanting to have a chat as always. Didn't know that she had just got home. She wanted to have a bath first and I agreed to wait for her. Timing was 10.15 pm. While waiting, the thought came to my mind. Earlier when she asked me if I could call, was she still outside and wished to speak to me on the way back? I thought I may have overlooked that point, and replied that I could only call later. I guessed she was alone without any company. Nice thought for her to want me to speak to her. My body has been failing me, since I fell sick last week. As I waited, I DOZED off.

What can I say? I am SORRY for causing you to wait 2 long hours for my return call. In the end, I got your good night sms immediately after I sent u an sms at 1.10am. You must be fuming with your indication of "2 long hours". I hope to call tomorrow night to hear about your matters, if you still wish to speak to me. Meanwhile, please don't lose faith in your friend for letting all these things happened. To prevent this from happening in future, please do ring my mobile if you do encounter a wait of > 10 mins without any reply from either sms or call. I am more than happy to pick up your call, even if I am sleeping. Sleep tight and hope I appear in your dreams.

Am I wrong??

The time was 8.15pm. R was finalising my final accounts before submission to management for review. The secretary, S, was busy drafting her letters. I had slight migraine, due to work stress and long hours of computing work. The conversation started...
R said, "Lets make a move at 8.45pm".
S said, "I still have some letters to finish, most probably 9pm".
R's reply is, "Ok, I shall wait for you till 9 pm and leave together".
Time passed swiftly.....
At 9 pm, R was packing up his stuff and ready to leave the office. R said, "It is 9 already. Time to go back". S still had unfinished work, but she started to pack her things in a rough manner. R thought why she had to react that way? Didn't R followed her timing to leave or it wasn't good enough for her? Either way, both left the office and silence followed them along the way home.

Will it become true??

Having cold sweat after I awaken. Both of us were walking, and my ex approached us. She mentioned that she would resort to any means to ensure that we won't be together. Why would she still want to hinder my life? I have highlighted before that if we broke up one day, I would never turn back to the relationship anymore. On the other hand, did it mean that I won't have a future with this girl? I sincerely hope the latter was not true. Had to return to sleep for my classes in the morning.

First House Visit

The main programme for today was to pay a visit to paul's house at 1.30pm. It was saddening to say that it was my first visit to his house for as long as we knew each other. In the early hours, I was expecting a guest coming to my place as well. Afraid that she could be lost along the way, I offered to pick her up at the nearest location she suggested. Since I am in possession of my bro's car for the whole day, I should put it to good use. She hit it off quite well with my parents, though it was the first visit. My parents' impression of her was rather ok, as my mum has made some food for her tasting. I guessed my mum was wanting to hear some good comments for her own skills again. While I was online, I read about Darl's injury from a hamster's bite. Felt so sad that even a hamster can do harm to her. Everything should like her instead. Please disinfect and heal the wound properly ok?

At 1pm, I saw my guest off and went to pick both Darl and Krys along the way to Paul's place. I tink Darl would make a good street directory guide. Haha. We didn't get lost on our 1st visit. We were the first to reach and everyone was hungry for lunch. Cant wait any longer and we helped ourselves to the food. Thank you to Paul and family for being very kind hosts. I couldn't resist the chicken from KFC and had some despite my sickness. Everyone was teasting me about how auntie was paying special attention to me the whole time. I guessed Paul must have mentioned many of my things to her, which explained why she cared for me. At 5.45pm, we had to make a move, as I offered to give Krys a ride to Westmall for her appointment. After which, I went to the hilltop at Jurong Bird Park to relax my mind while standing in the strong winds. Darl was busy snapping pictures with the nice scenery. Afterwhich, I had to drop her off at Clementi and went home directly. Came back and took the medicine prescribed to me, which made me drowsy. I mentioned about my ex being replaced in my heart by someone else. I just wanted to voice out things to someone close. While awaitng for the beep, the cough medicine has disabled my body and I dozed off for a while.

Down Finally

Today has its significance, of which I reported sick during work for the first time in 3 years. I had dragged myself to work for half a day, but I told myself that I should visit the doctor to seek treatment. Serious running nose, frequent sneezes as well. I could sense other colleagues avoiding me to escape infection. I walked in my M's room and highlighted of my intention to visit the doc at noontime. I can see in her eyes that she knew I had overworked and health was deteriorating. She had witnessed my work since I joined and always used me as an example to other colleagues. But, I did let her know that everyone's reality will not be like my situation. I was still worried about my fren being troubled last night. Gave her a call to find out if she was ok. A big relief that she had not intend to avoid me permanently. Got some pointers from her to take note if such a situation ever arise again. During lunchtime, I visited the clinic at Dawson Place. The doctor was using the stethoscope all over my upper body. I wondered if I am so serious ill. Haha. The results were lungs, heart and pulse were all ok. Then what I got was some medicine and half day to rest myself well. Headed home after purchasing 2 pieces of bread for lunch. I was joking about buying the other piece for her. Hehe. Had a good nap after consuming my medicine. However, sms still flying to and fro like never before. I got back my appetite for a proper dinner and went over to my grandma's place. Grandpa was asking if I wanted to know a girl living in their block. I just replied that fate will determined who I will end up with. Picked up my brother's car, after my uncle has finished using. Goodness gracious that he topped up full tank and stil got a summon for not placing a coupon. Came back searching for my digi cam and discovered someone took it without asking. Blood pressure started to rise, but I could manage it. Called her to have a routine chat, sharing some topics to liven things up. A little thought for Valentine's day has been arranged.

No more backups

I was relieved that my friend was back in the office. I have being backing up others' work since last thursday. Having throat inflammation and slight coughing, since I woke up. All the new year goodies were having its effect on me. I was surprised to find the letter which I submitted back on my desk, after I am back from my morning rounds. Why would it come back to me? Was it not good enough? I brought it back to my M and she clarified that she left it on my desk by mistake. It was quite embarrassing though. Back from lunch, I sms her to see if she was doing fine. My nose was starting to run as well. Metabolism was going low, and just carried on with work slowly. Hanged on till 7.30 pm to call it a day. She asked me to join her on the train, as she was going out. As it was along the way home, I met her in the first cabin. Saw her in another different outfit. Nice. She alighted at her destination, while I carried on the journey. The situation reminded me of how I used to meet ling to go back together. Time has passed rapidly without her. I grew stronger from the aftermath and hoped history will not repeat itself. I was reading about a love letter and had my own inner thoughts. I deleted all the previous emails which I wrote for my past relationship. After all, the wordings were too nice to believe and things never actually happened. I am just deceiving myself to retain them. Tears started to roll, as I listened to the song "All by Myself" by Jamie O'Neal.

28 days Countdown

After a long rest, this was the first day of work after the lunar new year. Early morning, the managers had come in to welcome the lion dance. It has been a tradition over the years to bring good blessings. I almost got a fright when the lion approached me to give me blessings. I was concentrating too hard on my work probably. Time passes swiftly and lunch was catered for by the company. Not a bad caterer being engaged, as many enjoyed their food. Around 2 pm, there was an urgent money draft to prepare for remittance to the US. The M asked me to tag along, so that I could provide the details if there was a need to. The processing time by DBS required 30 mins and we had coffee at Anchorpoint to kill off the waiting time. Had a heart to heart talk with M, stating some things which I tink she should be aware of the recent staff turnover. I hope the company can provide better working conditions for the new staff they hired. She also shared some insights on the political scene within the dept. She knew me well enough to know why I really wished to go and offered her best wishes. Back in the office after collecting the money draft, I brought the letter to submit in. My M was glad that I had opted not to offset my remaining leave against my 1 mth period. She compromised on paying me for the unused leave, which I felt comfortable with. The company server shutting down at 7.30 pm, which explained my early arrival at home.