Random

Hi there :)

It is Thu night now. Mid week has gone by liao! Ahh... and that's a reminder that I am starting work in a few days' time... exactly in 3 days' time! Mon 4 Feb 08. Hmm....

I have so far completed 4 practical driving lessons! 1 last week and 3 dis week. Ok, frens who are already qualified drivers, pls bear w me okie! Anyway, I am glad to have gotten training slots as ppl do 'sell' theirs at the last minute =P Haha... I didn't expect that learning driving could be rather tiring afterall. BBDC is quite a distance from my house. I take more than an hour to get there via a feeder bus to Harbour Front and then hop on 188 direct. Hmm... It has been quite an experience being on the 'wheels'. Haha, I wonder if I have irritated 1 of the instructors with my unstable left turning! Wahahah! I can't turn pro-driver overnight mah. I was not consistent in estimating the appropriate amount and timing to turn my steering for sharp bends. My bro has warned me about right turns which would be taught later on. Btw, my bro has gotten his licence last year in Feb. He is a zai chap! Btw, I have been training around Bukit Batok/Gombak area. I guess that's the standard training route as you probably wld see at least 1 L-plate car every 5-10 secs. Kept driving past my church at BB West Ave 4. Yah, maybe I shd tell the instructor abt my church since it is jus walking distance fm BBDC =P I have also cleared all the Basic and Advance Theory lessons! Sat thru 400 minutes of theory classes! Haha I was rather entertained by those traffic videos shown in class. Kinda sadistic and morbid as some of e videos were real life accidents tat took place in S'pore. Have also cleared all the Advance theory trial test! Tricky man! Am waiting to take my Advance Theory test in Apr. Hmm... after spending 6 hours of driving on wed, I rewarded myself with RETAIL THERAPY! Woohoo! It was nice window shopping along the uncrowded and spacious walkways of Vivocity on a weekday on my own! Errmm... but the aircon was kinda too cold though!

Today's Thu. No more driving liao!!! Is that a sign of relief :P Spent time w Vic during the afternoon. We had a great time of chatting and sharing :) Good thing she took 1/2 day off fm work and we could take a slow and relaxing lunch, and go window shopping after tat. Met up with superbestfriend Nat for dinner! Haha, I am glad she was able hangout w me, as she has been reeeaaaallly bz too. We had a great time out as usual. This year marks our 15th year of f'ship! Wow! Time flies! Unbelievable! Have met up w Joy last week for high-tea. Haha... got a taste of tai-tai life to park at a coffeehouse. We were chit-chating while watching the neighbouring sea waves come and go! Have also met up w JC galfrens weeks back for our X'mas and New Year's gathering! Hahaha! We had a yummy time at RiceTable which served Indonesian cruisine! Thankfully, we are all spicy food takers =) Am glad to have spent time w my close gal frens lately.

Bleah... I haven't been going out w max recently :( Hmm, we both have been bz w different stuffs. Our schedules haven't been that in-sync. Yah, we need to spend time together soon. I see Valentine's Day adverts up in the stores, mags, newspapers, and hear abt them on e radio too! Besides feeling that it is a commercialised ocassion for stores to make that extra seasonal buck, am I also to feel excited about it? How abt anticipative? or laidback? =P

Alritey, that's all for now. Have urself a pleasant Friday! TGIF!! =)

And... what pic should I put up today? :P



Yummy buffet time at RiceTable!
We should return for makan again!

Nat and me at year 2006's CNY
Having a swing at home is a nice idea.
But too bad I am rather prone to motion sickness!

This is part of the card Max wrote for me during
last year's anniversary.
Haha, I recall tearing non-stop as I read the card.
It hasn't been an easy ride always.
But thank God for seeing us thru the seasons.



Do we look younger ah???
This was taken in Aug 2006!



Haha, if this kills any curiousity?
A shot of my previous workstation.
This one is natural ok, unlike the one in the previous entry :P

He loves me; He loves me not

Hi there! It is Saturday liao! I have 1 week left of block leave =P

Perhaps I may not talk abt sth often, but that doesn't mean I don't think about it. Yup, as much as couplehood can be fulfiling and satisfying for a couple, it does require a sheer hard work of both parties, and importantly - collective hard work. I am convinced that there is no r/s or marriage in this world that is free from struggles or challenges. However, these issues do differ in forms and intensities. The r/s of Max and I is not an exception. Haha...

We have been together 2++ years for now. And I wld say as the r/s continues to evolve and develop, it may also call upon us to handle it with different approaches and perspectives. There are times I find myself feeling frustrated over differences in views and unfulfilled expectations :( And the scary thing is that I am losing patience to keep my frustrations under ctr. I am losing patience to DEAL with my struggles, and I simply want to sweep them under the carpet and ignore them. But yet I know in life, we need to be fighters. We shd never gif up from achieving the many aspirations tat we hold dear in our heart.

Max and I have been trying out best to be open with each other, and tat includes being open abt the r/s struggles we face. Seriously, it is never pleasing to the ears at the 1st instance when either party speaks his/her views. Bang table.. bang chair.. bang cup.. bang whatever available? Black face, cold shoulder... heated silences... etc. But surfacing the problem means we can EXERCISE the OPTION to work things out. Indeed, some issues can't be resolved overnight. A plant doesn't bear fruits overnight. It needs lotsa watching over and care taking, overtime, before it can bloom from a small seeding to a plant that BEARS FRUITS. In the many endeavours in our lives, we need to be PATIENT during the pruning stages before we can see the fruits of our efforts enfolding in our lives. Well, parents don't expect children to read ABC and 123 at the 1st instance, and get their multiple and division tables correct at the 1st instance :) We all need an appropraite timeframe to get to our goals!!

A r/s is not like checklist where u count the number of ticks and crosses he/she has for the various pre-requisites. Who can be sure tat a tick today won't become a cross tmr. If so, does it mean you love him/her any less? There must be unconditional love between 2 lovers. Well, it was the both of them who vowed "I will" to a heavy weight ending "... till death do us part". How significant is that?!!

I need to learn how to love those who are dear to me. It is an on-going lesson each day. As much as I have always pray that God reign in our lives, and guard our hearts and minds, I should also trust that God has His hands in our endeavours and through ALL seasons! Sometimes, short term goals may seem thwarted. But that does not mean we should stop looking long term and work towards the goal that has been laid firmly in our hearts :)


Have urself an enjoyable weekend :)
*jac

Next

Hello :)

My block leave has already started since last Thu 17 Jan 08 :) Yipee! I have figured that the best time to enjoy block leave is during the transition between jobs. Yes! Haha, too bad, I won't be travelling during this 2-week break.

Colleagues from my dept and neighbouring depts gave me a very warm and memorable farewell before I left :) As much as I thot I would not shed a single tear, it happened in the end. Sighs... I still feel rather paiseh whenever I think back. Perhaps my saving grace is that girls may tend to be more emotional ah? Anyway, colleagues organised a high-tea makan spread, and everybody had a merry time of chit chat and food. On behalf of the orgn, my Director handed me a farewell card and gift, followed by his best wishes. I also had the chance to give my thank-you and good-bye speech. Haha, yeah and that was the tearful moment :P .... Anyway, reading the farewell care penned by 20+ colleagues was the most touching moment. Hmm... well, at the end of the day, I am not asking that they miss me. All I desire is that I have impacted their lives during my service, which is something that I could thank God for. Haha... my journey has ended. But staying in contact would mean colleagues would now be friends :) My colleagues invited me to join them for a dinner hangout on 1 Feb for a pre-planned Dept gathering and to celebrate my boss's bday :) Haha...

Hmm... so what's next? I told myself I really need to spend my block leave fruitfully la! Today is day 6! So far so good I would say. Have already gone for another medical check-up, registered and begun driving lessons, started housekeeping of my room, PC and laptop, review my insurance and financial plans. I need to be disciplined to firm up all my insurance and financial plans during the break. Quite a HEADACHE! hai... hmm... I think it should be possible to be done lar. Have been working on the plans every now and then, but seriously lack the discipline to consolidate them. Haiz... sometimes I dun wish to grow up, so I dun have to think of all these =P Have also thought of visiting my grandma and spending some time w her, catching up with some of books (bookmarks haven't been shifted for a long time), and pick up more skills on playing the bass guitar! Yes! I have been toying w the idea of picking up the bass abt 3 years back. But it was only last year that I started to self-learn. Hmm... I am not too sure if my technique is correct, haha... I only do very simple grooves and beats! Rather fun lar =P

Hmm... would I be able to complete all of the above huh? One thing I need to avoid is SHOPPING! I need to return to my prudent and conservative ways again! Have choked up quite an amt of bills in the recent Nov and Dec mths! It is so hard to be a window-shopper again... I feel so tempted to buy a new top or skirt or even a new pair of heels whenever I am out!

Alritey, shall pen off here :) Till then ... haf a pleasant week ahead!

*jac

Here are some pics taken at the farewell gathering!



My Academic Planning Dept Colleagues and Me
(They are bunch of colleagues which demostrated
very positve teamwork and work culture)



Customer Service Dept Colleagues and Me
(A pity that some other colleagues couldn't join us in the pic
as they had to serve the customers)



Me at my workstation
(My desk is usually not this neat. This was shot on the last evening at work.
I deliberately positioned the stationary and folder to pose for the pic, haha)

Finally

Hi there :)

Some of you probably know by now that I would be SWITCHING JOB! :)

Yes! I tendered my resignation with ITE on 2 Jan 08. Hmm... what a new year's resolution ah? Yeah, after sorting out the work and leave issues w my bosses, we finally agreed yesterday that my last day in office will be next wed on 16 Jan 08. My block leave will then kick in! =P In view that I have to serve my 1 mth resignation notice, my official last day of service is 1 Feb 08. I will be joining International Enterprise Singapore (IE S'pore) in Feb 08!

Here's the webby for a quick intro: www.iesingapore.gov.sg
I am very thankful for this open door to return to the business and commerce related work once again. Dealing with Education work for past 1.5 years had been interesting and fulfilling too. Having made many discoveries abt our country's Education system has made me more appreciative of the privileges of a Singapore Citizen. Through my work in ITE, I have learnt about how the many carefully-thought education policies and initiatives by MOE, and how broad directions cascade down the higher learning institutions such as JC, Poly, ITE and Universities. Yah, and I shall be honest too. There are always the push and pull factors that have evolved strong enuff to make a person switch jobs =P

I have prayed for more than a year abt returning to the commerce-related work. I sense my heart is there, and I wonder if God will allow me to serve Him through such an avenue. After many closed-door attempts, I found another open door ard the end of last year. I committed the entire process to the Lord, from the prep of the interview and case study, to the timing to tender my resignation. The Lord confirmed my move through my means - through His word, church pastors, my quiet time, and also business mags that landed in my hand in very timely manners. I am very blessed to have sufficient leave to go for a holiday w my family, as well as receive the reward of the year-end bonus for those working in public sector. Well, I am rather anticipative of my new job, and also feel the jitters too. IE Singapore is a govt statutory board under the Ministry of Trade & Industry. It helps Singapore-based companies gain the relevant resources to venture globally through different forms of investments. I am concern that I am kinda 'rusty' and would need to keep abreast of international business news and the impact they could result. Though no job is a breeze, I hope to tackle challenges with a positive mindset :) Would like to take this chance to thank my family, max, close buddies as well as my close gal frens, who have been loving and understanding to pace me through patience-wrenching crossroads. Thanks!

Just like a coin has 2 sides, there are another host of push factors that brought abt the job switch. I am not sure if the blog is an appropriate place to share in detail. Broadly, as much as Education could be interesting and meaningful work, my current job scope could have been more satisfying with more exposure and challenges. And also perhaps, more synergy could be achieved in the work styles with my bosses. Haha... I guess every job has its fair share of blues. And I need to learn how to accept such a reality.

Alritey, jus realised that I have written a lot. Yup, shall pen off here. Have been rather bz at work lately. Didn't expect to have that much work to clear before I take my exit. Have got a Division Function to conduct tmr, which will include Teambuilding games. I hope staff will have a good and pleasant time :) Shall do my best with the Committee tmr, that all the preps tat we have put in will come to a goooooood final ending.

Happy weekends in advance :)
*jac

No worries
I didn't use these as templates

Nostalgic

Hi there :)

I was at vivo city after work today for dinner. As Max and I were heading to Toast Box to grab our milk tea, we heard loud cheers. And then we saw a bunch of students forming a beeline walking down the out-of-order escalator! I was wondering what those kids were doing. Then I thought it could be JC orientation week. I was right! Haha... by the time we reached Food Republic, we saw several groups of students sitting at the spacious area outside the foodcourt!! From the how their school uniforms differed, I presume they are JC1 students enjoying their 'honeymoon' period! Haha, they were sitting in circles and putting their heads together to play some sort of game, I think. There were also other groups at the open air gallery outside! Haha...

Oh well, I almost instantly felt a big sense of nostalgia! Guess what, "If we hold on together" by Diana Ross is currently being played on Class 95 NOW! (Yes, I have moved on from Perfect 10 to Class 95!). Anyway, it has been 8 years ever since I tasted the life of a JC-lad. How can I forget those 2 years that created many 'inaugurations' in my life - whenboymeetsgirl, child-parent conflict, Internet Relay Chat aka IRC, heavy movie go-er, hardmugAlevels, HappyCup Milk tea addict, caffeine... etc. There was an out-burst of self-discovery which led to brand new needs and wants markedly different from life as Secondary school kiddo :p Haha, 'boys' were re-termed as 'guys'. And this topic on 'guys' became such a RED HOT topic! The word 'crush' kinduff developed to an exploration of 'love'. I still rem those 'complicated stages' where explicit expressions were not demostrated, and cross-speculations brought upon a lot of heartaches!! And not forgetting the hardcore A levels mugging! Oh.. and wad a STRESSFUL and DREADFUL period that took place in JC2! Yikes!! I hate PHYSICS soooo much! It made me SICK :P Couldn't help wondering why I opted back for Science stream. I shd have stayed in Arts stream!! And would have done Geog instead of physicks!

I guess I can go on and on abt JC life... I found a handful of pics in my laptop! Back in those days, who knew about the boom of Digital Cams? These pics were scanned from the pics shot using the conventional cam! :) Here are 2 of them! :) Spot me!!



Class 2001
2S13
Graduation Day
(The 2 desks diagonally from the cake belonged to Celine and Me)



Our 'fave' toilet
It was mega, spacious, clean... err.. BLUE!
Shall leave you to imagine what we girls were capable of doing there :P


Does anybody want to share about school memories back in those days? :)

*jac

Anew

Welcome Year 2008 !!!