Payslip. Muahaha! ~Happy as a bird~ Damn shiok I tell you. I went down to the ATM on the day the money is supposed to come in. Then I checked my balance and couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Only thing is they bloody taxed me a damn lot extra. I'm gonna get my money back, I will...
Beer session with collegues. You know, I've always heard accounts from so many people that the culture in London is that people always go for drinks after work. Or during lunch. Or at any time. And I believed them, because everywhere I look, I see pubs, and a lot of people in ties and suits holding a pint of beer. But curiously, NOBODY in my team ever went for a beer. NOBODY ever asked, "Wanna grab a pint?".
So one fine day, at 7pm, after the Manager, M, has left, British Boy (BB) came over and started making some small talk. He was all ready to go, with his jacket on, and his bag slung over his shoulder. Then after 30 seconds, he asked, "Wanna grab a pint?"
*STRUCK LOTTERY* Finally! Someone has asked me out for a beer!
It was quite fun actually. We talked about all sorts of things, work-related and personal-life-related. And I found out that two of my collegues (out of 3) smokes. hmm..
Yup, thats it. My weekly update. =)
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Quick Entry
This has gotta be quick because I only have left 15 mins on the clock.
I can't believe it, time passed so fast. I was just reading thru the few blogs I regularly visit, and then suddenly its been 45 mins.
Its so nice to read blogs of people you know, find out how they're doing and so on. I know, a call is probably better to keep in touch. its more personal and all that yeah. but i'm not the calls kinda guy. i dunno, somehow i don't pick up the phone and call a friend and start chatting. i know some guys do, but not me. so i'm thankful for blogs.
so any of you have started a blog let me know kay?
AKK got featured in Straits Times. I learnt about that from L. Wow.
Was expecting her to write about it excitedly in her blog, but nope, no mention. hmm..
Anyway, congrats!
***
Life for me has been pretty normal so far. (meaning: boring)
Weekdays pass in a flurry. Really fast. It feels like just yesterday, I was sitting her typing furiously at blogger.
I've really got to count my time. 12 hrs of work, 1 hr of travelling. 1 hr dinner, 30mins talk with gf. i need about 7 and a half hours of sleep, so that leaves me 1hr 30mins of spare time. NICE.
its no wonder time passes so fast.
so, chatting with my gf on a weekday, invariably I learn more about what happens to her than I tell her what happens to me. but what can happen to me? i go to work, greet whoever's there (usually only the manager and another no lifer-the one that's doing his masters), take off my jacket and drape it over the chair. log on to my computer, sit down, take out all the previous days files/paper (not a lot) onto the table and start looking for things to do.
in between, go toilet break, water break, coffee/tea/chocolate break. maybe about 2 times before lunch. lunch is simple... go out and buy a sandwich, a pastry or something. or there's a deli inside the building, in the same floor as I, just 2mins away. lunch usually costs 3 quid now...
bring lunch back to desk. sit down and repeat cycle of work-toiletbreak-waterbreak.
7.30 soon arrives. look up and see about half of the people gone. so I too get up, tell my manager that I'm going off and off I go.
There, 12 hrs of a day gone.
ah.. 1 min left to blog..
Love you guys!!
I can't believe it, time passed so fast. I was just reading thru the few blogs I regularly visit, and then suddenly its been 45 mins.
Its so nice to read blogs of people you know, find out how they're doing and so on. I know, a call is probably better to keep in touch. its more personal and all that yeah. but i'm not the calls kinda guy. i dunno, somehow i don't pick up the phone and call a friend and start chatting. i know some guys do, but not me. so i'm thankful for blogs.
so any of you have started a blog let me know kay?
AKK got featured in Straits Times. I learnt about that from L. Wow.
Was expecting her to write about it excitedly in her blog, but nope, no mention. hmm..
Anyway, congrats!
***
Life for me has been pretty normal so far. (meaning: boring)
Weekdays pass in a flurry. Really fast. It feels like just yesterday, I was sitting her typing furiously at blogger.
I've really got to count my time. 12 hrs of work, 1 hr of travelling. 1 hr dinner, 30mins talk with gf. i need about 7 and a half hours of sleep, so that leaves me 1hr 30mins of spare time. NICE.
its no wonder time passes so fast.
so, chatting with my gf on a weekday, invariably I learn more about what happens to her than I tell her what happens to me. but what can happen to me? i go to work, greet whoever's there (usually only the manager and another no lifer-the one that's doing his masters), take off my jacket and drape it over the chair. log on to my computer, sit down, take out all the previous days files/paper (not a lot) onto the table and start looking for things to do.
in between, go toilet break, water break, coffee/tea/chocolate break. maybe about 2 times before lunch. lunch is simple... go out and buy a sandwich, a pastry or something. or there's a deli inside the building, in the same floor as I, just 2mins away. lunch usually costs 3 quid now...
bring lunch back to desk. sit down and repeat cycle of work-toiletbreak-waterbreak.
7.30 soon arrives. look up and see about half of the people gone. so I too get up, tell my manager that I'm going off and off I go.
There, 12 hrs of a day gone.
ah.. 1 min left to blog..
Love you guys!!
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Finally...
Finally its a weekend. Finally I get a chance to use the internet. Finally, I'm updating my blog.
Its not that there isn't internet in the office. But its so open, I am even cautious to check my gmail, let alone type a blog entry. yes, there's supposed to be a one hour lunch break. but everybody buys lunch back to their desk to eat and continue doing their work.
and in case you didn't know, i start work before most establishments are open, and get off work after most establishments are closed (except restaurants, pubs and discos.. usually they open till quite late). so in that case, internet cafes are out.
and, i still don't have a computer, NOR internet, at my flat.
Finally, though, its a weekend, and I have some spare time to catch up on my blog. haha..
Work has been pretty ok for me I suppose. I am enjoying what I am doing right now - working with Excel and VBA. haha, its great that I like programming.
But just yesterday, I was suddenly, with 1 minute notice, asked to attend a presentation. Ok, I grabbed my jacket and went up with the rest of my team. I thought it was like a monthly update on the progress of the department. It started off like so, until 3 minutes into the presentation, the global head announced that my manager will take on the role of Head of something something, and will be reporting to him directly. I was like "huh?"
He's so young lor. I think he's only like 37 at MOST. he looks more like 33. and now he's one of the management team. wah damn power.
I knew there were implications, but i didn't really understood them yet.
After the presentation, the team went back to our desks. M had to settle some other tasks, so he wasn't around. Then the most senior guy on the team (who i think joined for 6 months), O, told us what might happen.
1. Since M is taking on a new role, he'll be moving out.
2. Somebody else will take his place
3. He will be new.
4. Therefore, nobody will be taking care of us.
WTF? I just joined lor. Worse still, he said something like we may not be doing what we originally signed up for.
Well, I guess its cool that I just joined anyway. Cus then I'm fresh and new and untainted, and can adapt easily to any new situations. hahaahaha. I'm just trying to be optimistic.
Anyway, M finally had a chance to talk to us and assured us that hey, nothing has changed. don't worry, i'll still be here. Now, go back and do your stuff.
OK BOSS.. *
* Just joing, I don't actually say that. Everybody calls everybody else by their first name. So you don't really know who's senior who's junior. hahaha.. I love that.
In singapore, I know a particular government agency (or is it a stat board) where everybody calls the chairman, "Chairman".
Eg. "Chairman says this", or "Yeah, Chairman is a..." or "Hi Chairman!". Wow, sounds to me exactly like Mao Zedong was running the agency.
-----------
And I recall a certain conversation I had with a group of Malaysians. I knew them thru XP.
A malaysian girl was saying that she had to force her sis to study, and would beat her if she doesn't follow her instructions.
I said that beating wouldn't help right? It'll just cause more conflict and hatred and weaken the relationship between the two.
Then she said, "We're from a Chinese family. Its OK".
hurh? then XP said, "Yeah, If I have children, I'll beat them to relieve stress. I'll store up the stress until they do something wrong, and then I'll beat the hell out of them!"
.......
parents, or would-be-parents, please do not do this at home.
Children, please call a helpline if you're abused in this manner.
I just went to argos and bought a shoe rack. you know what happens when you have 2 girls -> there will be at least 20 pairs of shoes.
ok, i need to get back home and do some big business. otherwise the entire internet cafe would be cleared out by my poison gas. =)
Its not that there isn't internet in the office. But its so open, I am even cautious to check my gmail, let alone type a blog entry. yes, there's supposed to be a one hour lunch break. but everybody buys lunch back to their desk to eat and continue doing their work.
and in case you didn't know, i start work before most establishments are open, and get off work after most establishments are closed (except restaurants, pubs and discos.. usually they open till quite late). so in that case, internet cafes are out.
and, i still don't have a computer, NOR internet, at my flat.
Finally, though, its a weekend, and I have some spare time to catch up on my blog. haha..
Work has been pretty ok for me I suppose. I am enjoying what I am doing right now - working with Excel and VBA. haha, its great that I like programming.
But just yesterday, I was suddenly, with 1 minute notice, asked to attend a presentation. Ok, I grabbed my jacket and went up with the rest of my team. I thought it was like a monthly update on the progress of the department. It started off like so, until 3 minutes into the presentation, the global head announced that my manager will take on the role of Head of something something, and will be reporting to him directly. I was like "huh?"
He's so young lor. I think he's only like 37 at MOST. he looks more like 33. and now he's one of the management team. wah damn power.
I knew there were implications, but i didn't really understood them yet.
After the presentation, the team went back to our desks. M had to settle some other tasks, so he wasn't around. Then the most senior guy on the team (who i think joined for 6 months), O, told us what might happen.
1. Since M is taking on a new role, he'll be moving out.
2. Somebody else will take his place
3. He will be new.
4. Therefore, nobody will be taking care of us.
WTF? I just joined lor. Worse still, he said something like we may not be doing what we originally signed up for.
Well, I guess its cool that I just joined anyway. Cus then I'm fresh and new and untainted, and can adapt easily to any new situations. hahaahaha. I'm just trying to be optimistic.
Anyway, M finally had a chance to talk to us and assured us that hey, nothing has changed. don't worry, i'll still be here. Now, go back and do your stuff.
OK BOSS.. *
* Just joing, I don't actually say that. Everybody calls everybody else by their first name. So you don't really know who's senior who's junior. hahaha.. I love that.
In singapore, I know a particular government agency (or is it a stat board) where everybody calls the chairman, "Chairman".
Eg. "Chairman says this", or "Yeah, Chairman is a..." or "Hi Chairman!". Wow, sounds to me exactly like Mao Zedong was running the agency.
-----------
And I recall a certain conversation I had with a group of Malaysians. I knew them thru XP.
A malaysian girl was saying that she had to force her sis to study, and would beat her if she doesn't follow her instructions.
I said that beating wouldn't help right? It'll just cause more conflict and hatred and weaken the relationship between the two.
Then she said, "We're from a Chinese family. Its OK".
hurh? then XP said, "Yeah, If I have children, I'll beat them to relieve stress. I'll store up the stress until they do something wrong, and then I'll beat the hell out of them!"
.......
parents, or would-be-parents, please do not do this at home.
Children, please call a helpline if you're abused in this manner.
I just went to argos and bought a shoe rack. you know what happens when you have 2 girls -> there will be at least 20 pairs of shoes.
ok, i need to get back home and do some big business. otherwise the entire internet cafe would be cleared out by my poison gas. =)
Friday, September 02, 2005
My First Days of Work
I don't know where to start. I think I'll continue from the previous post.
After that internet cafe session, I started seriously missing my darling. But then I didn't have a calling card, and calling her using my Pay-as-you-talk mobile phone is prohibitively expensive. Think in pounds a minute.
So I decided to SMS, which costs 24p, btw. That is about 75 Singapore cents. I sent about 4/5 SMS that day. Anyway, soon after, L called. =)
There isn't internet at my place. Probably take another month to set up. That's ok, because I still don't have a computer. And according to Human Resource, I can only buy the computer using my benefits package on 1st January. WTF.
On Wednesday, I still hadn't started work. So I walked around and bought more stuff. A laundry basket, a tumbler to place in the washroom, a towel, and other misc stuff. Still need to get lots of other stuff, like a wastepaper basket, and a nice firm bed. Yeah, the bed they provided is damn light and soft. Unbelievable I tell you... you'll never suspect a spring mattress could be so light, and so soft.
And xp, my housemate, told me of a nice deal. 99p to wash and iron a shirt. COOL!! Now I don't even need to iron my own shirts. Assuming i wear a shirt for 2 days, 5 pounds can last me 2 weeks! WAHAHAHA. I just dumped 6 shirts to that launderette.
I had to sleep early that day, because I had to report to work by 7.30 the following morning, and therefore had to wake at 5.45.
WOW.
I had never woken up so early in my life.
I'm exaggerating of course. Back in JC i used to wake up at that time. but thats out of point.
Anyway I reported to work, asked for my manager, M. He showed me to my desk, introduced me to a few people (most weren't there yet), and left me to my own devices. Well, basically he pointed to an empty desk and told me that the guy that sits there, B, is also pretty new, so he can show me around. Gee, thanks!
The rest of the day I spent familiarising myself with Lotus Notes, which is very similar to Outlook. But I hate it. I prefer my Thunderbird. Gimme my Thunderbird anytime!
Oh, and they use IE. WHY? Firefox is like a hundred times better.
Then after that I spent hours reading up on the various products they have developed. WOW. I have just an inkling as to how those products work.
Finally, as the hours passed, people started leaving. By 7.40pm, there were just 3 other people left in the team of 8. So I thought, since M and another person is apparently a "no-lifer" - according to a source, I might as well go too! So I went up to M and asked if I could go.
He said, "What? So early?"
.... Awkward Silence ...
Was he joking?
Finally, he said, "Ok, since you're new, I shall let you off."
*phew*
BTW, I should probably tell you, the offices are "super-open" concept. you know its like a school canteen with benches laid out? Yeah, each person is assigned a desk, arranged in rows. M sits right in the middle of the row - I guess so that he can manage/supervise better. haha.
I was initially told to take a seat at the desk at the corner. Which suited me just fine. But I was actually assigned a seat diagonally behind M. I didn't feel like moving, so I sat there for the whole of thursday. I moved eventually, for reasons that I shall say later... in the next paragraph... Because its so important.
At the previous desk I was using 2x17inch LCD screens. yeah baby!
But I moved because the new desk had 2x19 inch LCD screens! YEAAAAAH BABY!
On Friday, my second day of work, I was assigned a task. A "project" they said. Which I didn't really think was that challenging. But it was satisfying. Its basically creating an Excel spreadsheet and working MAGIC with it. hahaha.. I'm joking of course. It isn't magic. Its my superior programming. Yah right.
it was pretty fun. And I spent the whole day with it. I know, I'm probably wasting my time - but hey, there isn't anything else to do!
its a friday, so M left at 7-ish. The other no-lifer - because he was doing his Masters thesis in addition to his full-time work was of course still there. So eventually I left at 730. Yayy..
Except that I didn't finish the spreadsheet, so maybe.. maybe.. maybe I might get a slight chiding on Monday.
My housemates are all out, partying or something. Cause I came home late, I missed them. And I'm too lazy to call them, besides, its quite expensive.
do you know how expensive it is? my god, i forgot! i bought lunch on thursday. it was a jerk chicken pie, with mash potatoes and peas, and it costs SIX freekin pounds! and i bought it at a "market" somemore. Today I bought Kebab for Three freekin pounds. And I just had roast duck rice for FOUR freekin pounds.
Back to the story. My housemates weren't in, so I came out and had dinner, and walked a bit further down to an internet cafe so that I could update u with my life. See, so thoughtful? Even though I am so tired?
But then again, there isn't anything to do at home. the TV shows sucks. big time. Maybe we should get cable. Maybe I should get a computer.
Sigh. I miss my darling...
*Point to note: This entry was written in half an hour with minimal editing/ thought processing. I'm tired, my eyes ache, and I think I'm going home to rest. So don't complain about it being incoherent or has numerous spelling errors.
After that internet cafe session, I started seriously missing my darling. But then I didn't have a calling card, and calling her using my Pay-as-you-talk mobile phone is prohibitively expensive. Think in pounds a minute.
So I decided to SMS, which costs 24p, btw. That is about 75 Singapore cents. I sent about 4/5 SMS that day. Anyway, soon after, L called. =)
There isn't internet at my place. Probably take another month to set up. That's ok, because I still don't have a computer. And according to Human Resource, I can only buy the computer using my benefits package on 1st January. WTF.
On Wednesday, I still hadn't started work. So I walked around and bought more stuff. A laundry basket, a tumbler to place in the washroom, a towel, and other misc stuff. Still need to get lots of other stuff, like a wastepaper basket, and a nice firm bed. Yeah, the bed they provided is damn light and soft. Unbelievable I tell you... you'll never suspect a spring mattress could be so light, and so soft.
And xp, my housemate, told me of a nice deal. 99p to wash and iron a shirt. COOL!! Now I don't even need to iron my own shirts. Assuming i wear a shirt for 2 days, 5 pounds can last me 2 weeks! WAHAHAHA. I just dumped 6 shirts to that launderette.
I had to sleep early that day, because I had to report to work by 7.30 the following morning, and therefore had to wake at 5.45.
WOW.
I had never woken up so early in my life.
I'm exaggerating of course. Back in JC i used to wake up at that time. but thats out of point.
Anyway I reported to work, asked for my manager, M. He showed me to my desk, introduced me to a few people (most weren't there yet), and left me to my own devices. Well, basically he pointed to an empty desk and told me that the guy that sits there, B, is also pretty new, so he can show me around. Gee, thanks!
The rest of the day I spent familiarising myself with Lotus Notes, which is very similar to Outlook. But I hate it. I prefer my Thunderbird. Gimme my Thunderbird anytime!
Oh, and they use IE. WHY? Firefox is like a hundred times better.
Then after that I spent hours reading up on the various products they have developed. WOW. I have just an inkling as to how those products work.
Finally, as the hours passed, people started leaving. By 7.40pm, there were just 3 other people left in the team of 8. So I thought, since M and another person is apparently a "no-lifer" - according to a source, I might as well go too! So I went up to M and asked if I could go.
He said, "What? So early?"
.... Awkward Silence ...
Was he joking?
Finally, he said, "Ok, since you're new, I shall let you off."
*phew*
BTW, I should probably tell you, the offices are "super-open" concept. you know its like a school canteen with benches laid out? Yeah, each person is assigned a desk, arranged in rows. M sits right in the middle of the row - I guess so that he can manage/supervise better. haha.
I was initially told to take a seat at the desk at the corner. Which suited me just fine. But I was actually assigned a seat diagonally behind M. I didn't feel like moving, so I sat there for the whole of thursday. I moved eventually, for reasons that I shall say later... in the next paragraph... Because its so important.
At the previous desk I was using 2x17inch LCD screens. yeah baby!
But I moved because the new desk had 2x19 inch LCD screens! YEAAAAAH BABY!
On Friday, my second day of work, I was assigned a task. A "project" they said. Which I didn't really think was that challenging. But it was satisfying. Its basically creating an Excel spreadsheet and working MAGIC with it. hahaha.. I'm joking of course. It isn't magic. Its my superior programming. Yah right.
it was pretty fun. And I spent the whole day with it. I know, I'm probably wasting my time - but hey, there isn't anything else to do!
its a friday, so M left at 7-ish. The other no-lifer - because he was doing his Masters thesis in addition to his full-time work was of course still there. So eventually I left at 730. Yayy..
Except that I didn't finish the spreadsheet, so maybe.. maybe.. maybe I might get a slight chiding on Monday.
My housemates are all out, partying or something. Cause I came home late, I missed them. And I'm too lazy to call them, besides, its quite expensive.
do you know how expensive it is? my god, i forgot! i bought lunch on thursday. it was a jerk chicken pie, with mash potatoes and peas, and it costs SIX freekin pounds! and i bought it at a "market" somemore. Today I bought Kebab for Three freekin pounds. And I just had roast duck rice for FOUR freekin pounds.
Back to the story. My housemates weren't in, so I came out and had dinner, and walked a bit further down to an internet cafe so that I could update u with my life. See, so thoughtful? Even though I am so tired?
But then again, there isn't anything to do at home. the TV shows sucks. big time. Maybe we should get cable. Maybe I should get a computer.
Sigh. I miss my darling...
*Point to note: This entry was written in half an hour with minimal editing/ thought processing. I'm tired, my eyes ache, and I think I'm going home to rest. So don't complain about it being incoherent or has numerous spelling errors.
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