2012 Meimei's Birthday Gift

Ok first, I admit, I'm cheap. Well to a certain extent, and in my defense I'm still a whole lot better than other guys. I bought a garnet pendant for Meimei as a Christmas cum Bday gift. It never is good to combine gifts together but well at least I got her something.

Now garnet isn't a bright rock, it's the dullest of stones I've seen. Even coupled with other metals like silver or gold, it is still lackluster. I couldn't find many jewelry with garnets. Some shops don't even carry them. I managed to find one which looked reasonably good.

Meimei was happy she got a gift this year haha she's always one for gifts and surprises, and rightly so *kiss. But even the element of thoughtfulness on my part couldn't drain away the muted attraction of a garnet. So we went to exchange it for something else. That's perfectly ok, anything for Meimei. She found this nice band with 3 little diamonds. This is better for everyday wear compared to Blinky. I'm very glad she is willing to sound it out rather than keep quiet and stash the pendant away, never to see the light of day again. I can see my 'gift' on her fingers and feel good that I 'bought' it for her ... hehehheeh I'm still gonna claim credit!

Christmas 2011

Nua group is here at our place for Christmas celebration! We like entertaining at home. It's so much more comfortable and enjoyable to have parties at home. As usual we are doing our steamboat. I never used to have steamboat just cause Dad and Mum were not steamboat people. So it was only after I have my own place with Meimei that we started to have frequent steamboats at home.

I like how we can indulge on ingredients which were a little more expensive but a whole lot tastier than the things they serve out in the restaurants or steamboat-ish outlets. Our favourites have to the pork belly slices and japanese crabstick from Cold Storage. Those with Meimei's 'secret' sauce and wala! the perfect meal. Oh don't forget the fragrant rice from our Zojirushi rice cooker. The highlight of the meal was the Dark Chocolate Macaroon Christmas Tree from Bakerzin. It looks so good we didn't bear to tear the pieces off!


All in all nothing beats having friends over for a good meal, chatting, games, fun and laughter. That's what the festive season is about. 

*Hic, Drunk at Work

I've been only at this place for about close to 3 months. They are a marketing unit for a 'multinational' liquor company. The word multinational has been overused as usual ... just because you have a corporate office in US doesn't make you a MNC. This place is simply a SME local singapore company. The way it does things, the culture, the people, the processes, all of it points to a small local outfit. 

It doesn't work for me. Alarm bells should have sounded when my Director is also in the role for 2 months before I joined. It wouldn't have been bad if he wasn't so impatient and had been accommodating with the information he wanted. He expects that I would have every info at the tip of my fingers. Hey ... you know fully what the problem is with this place. There is high attrition, record keeping is wanting, the business is highly leveraged on external bank loans, going-concern is questionable, etc. A whole suite of issues and you expect me to have empirical data references for your forecasting and reporting needs immediately the day I join. He is the first male boss I've worked with and I suppose it is a simple case of a clash of egos.

The first task when I joined what to deal with a FCPA audit from Corporate. The marketing and sales folks have been spending indiscriminately, bringing dealers and clients to KTV lounges. And every entertainment session runs into the tens of thousands. Why? Because they bring hostess out for supper and extra activities as well. And these lounges know to build the prices into the official receipts so their customers can claim for these. Seriously ... can't you tell why you are not making a profit? Hello? Are you blind? No amount of cost savings, identification of sales drivers, etc is going to save the company if you do not control your spending. But who is going to tell the Managing Director that he can no longer spend extravagantly? Time for you to face the music from Corporate.

Many of the staff have been here for ages and they don't seem to be the least bit concerned with the profitability of the company. They seem to be more concerned with lining their pockets. That's what you get when half your staff are the Ah Beng Ah Lian sorts and the other half are the 打死不走 type who have been in the company for 20-30 years.

The only interesting part of the job was the induction course where you are required to drink. Yes, you have to drink on the job ... It's a compulsory session. They try to introduce all staff to the products they sell. I must say it's a good way for the non-sales staff to get a feel of the products they see as numbers and codes. Imagine downing several pints of whisky, vodka, tequilas ... everyone was tipsy after it. :-) license to drink at work ... This is a first for me.

A Student Again

The last time I studied was back in early 2000. I told myself then to quickly finish and be done with studying, I never want to hit the books again. So it came as a contradiction that I've signed up for a MBA course. This is going to take at least 3 years to complete. Was it ambition or career progression that I'm putting myself through it again? I guess to a certain extent I hope this would open up greater opportunities for me. And this may be an avenue to move away from technical accounting. You see, accounting can be boring. It is repetitive, post-action, operational, mundane work. You can argue that finance portion of the roles are interesting, they are business partnering and contribute to the growth of business. But still, you are not really into the action, just providing empirical evidence of happenings and trends from the numbers you analyse.

So I'm taking a MBA to explore the opportunities. It may or may not allow me to branch out to my interest like project management. But I guess it is a good way to keep up with my peers who are also constantly upgrading themselves. It's part of the government's drive to improve the skill sets of Singaporeans. The only drawback is the cost, thankfully my last job paid well. I saved most of the bonuses for this. Hopefully I can earn enough eventually to let Meimei be a Tai-tai.

Sadly this means less holidays with Meimei since I don't have spare cash to spend. *kiss thank you for being so patient and understanding. We'll go for our honeymoon some day, I promise!

2011 Anniversary - Stay-In At Mandarin Oriental

Well I had a 'brilliant' idea to relive our wedding day by booking a night's stay at the Mandarin Oriental. So I contacted Eve, our co-ordinator for our wedding, and managed to get a sweet deal on a room.

But I seem to forget the silliest of things ... I left my bedtime clothes at home and didn't have anything to wear. So I had to go with the bathrobe the whole night. And somehow I managed to fall sick and run a fever ... Haiz ... what was meant to be an exciting night-out with Meimei as we tour the Marina Bay area turned into a quiet room service dinner and TV.

Sorry Meimei, I wished it was a romantic day to mark our 2nd Anniversary. I should pump up early on vitamins the next we get to a stay-cation holiday. *kiss.

Crabs Galore at Mellben Seafood

We are at Mellben Seafood today with Nua group. I used to be allergic to seafood, especially crabs. So I'm making up for it now by eating more!

The crab bee hoon is fabulous and many think the same, judging by the long queues. We had to be there before six to guarantee a seat. Any later and the crowds pile up and the wait stretches between one to two hours.

We ordered several crabs and other dishes like the Kang Kong and meats. I'll let the pictures do the talking hehe

Bali Trip 2011 - 19th to 22nd May

Meimei suggested we go Bali for a holiday this year. She was here previously for a cousin's wedding but didn't really get to tour the place. I'm in job transition again and so could fully enjoy the holiday.

Meimei's Aunt had some vouchers of sorts and so we had a room at a luxurious hotel. But before that we stayed a night at the popular Kuta area. It is just by the beach so you'll find a lot of 3 star hotels, eateries and pubs catering to the mostly Oceanic tourist here for the sun and surfing. We went around the area, mostly walking from shop to shop to check out the goods. It's basically pretty much a tourist trap. Dinner was good though, authentic Indonesia fare plus Pork. Interestingly although Bali is part of Indonesia, one of the world most populous Muslim country, the majority of folks here in Bali are not Muslims. Pork is freely sold and consumed in the restaurants.

As we moved north towards the Ubud area, we spotted many padi fields. These are always a comfortable sight. It exudes simplicity and calmness. A marked difference from the hurried city life of Singapore.

I caught my first real sunset at Tanah Lot Temple. It was a real beauty. As the sun sets, the ray hit the horizon and blasts the entire area in bright glowing orange. I know now what a real sunset is like.

A special mention goes to this restaurant which serves a mean barbecued ribs. We went there several times to savour the juicy ribs. It's a very popular eatery in Ubud and you have to be there early to get a table. Customers typically stay the whole night, drinking and dining the night away. So if you don't get a seat you are out of luck.

Overall it was simply wonderful to spend time alone with Meimei. Meimei calls this trip our Honey(Days), as a punt to a Honeymoon. We have yet to go on a real Honeymoon. Hopefully we'll find time to go on more holidays together.

Haa~To! Now Say It With Me, Haa~To!

To-date, our favourite Gelato ice-cream. Not too sweet, not too creamy, just the right combination of cream to ice. It gears more towards a sorbet but still retaining the creamy essence of an ice-cream. We were first introduced to it by LaoDa. It's main outlet is surprisingly nested in a retail outlet within a condominium compound along Ulu Pandan road. It's not easy to get to and is on the other side of the island from home. But we try to stop by every time we are back at Dad & Mum's place.

I really wonder why there aren't more outlets serving Haato. Then again it won't be a good find if it's in every shopping mall now would it. I guess it's that one 'special' ice cream that both Meimei and I both covet and enjoy. So step aside Ben & Jerrys, Haagen Dazs, Swensen etc, this baby outshines you by ten to one!

The Stinky Lion Experience

The award winning theatrical show 'The Lion King' is in Singapore! Meimei and I went with a group of her JC friends. And boy was it good. All the costume and props really made it exciting and captivating. The music and singing just draws you in. I can now see what the hype is all about.


The only thing that soured the experience was the walk to the theater ... I wanted to drive initially but lo and behold, J suggested that we car pool to save on parking. I was totally rejecting the idea the moment I heard it but oh well I don't see anyone else voicing any concerns so I kept quiet. They are after all Meimei's friends and I wouldn't want to be the inflexible husband.


As it turns out, J decided to cheap it out further by parking at Marina Square and so we had to walk the bridge to Marina Bay. Come'on! It was meant to be a classy night out, in nice long dresses and heels, getting there comfortably with time to spare to check out the merchandise and chitchat. But, nooooo, we had to take a 15 minute walk to get there. And when we did get there we were all perspiring and thirsty without time to grab a drink before the show starts.


So when it came to go home, I insisted to take the cab. I can sense Meimei was hurting at the ankles and nothing J said was gonna sway me. I gave him a dirty look when I told him I'm definitely not walking back. Phhhhfffff. I was bitching about it the entire trip home.  


If you can afford a car, what's a few extra bucks for parking ... Yes parking at Marina Bay is horrid - $25?, but I'm willing to pay that for the convenience and comfort. Never again.

A Walk In The Park

On a leisurely walk through HortPark this morning. The government is trying to create a round-the-island greenery walkway. A worthy endeavor to pocket our cramp tiny island with more nature. I especially like the design plots where various 'artist' build their own version of the perfect garden.

You can find out more about the parks at

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php

What Should I Do Next?

It's been a long time since I had a break. I have to thank yesterday's amazing coup for this.

I won't deny I have mixed feelings on this. Interesting enough the biggest is relief though, not that I think anything I did was wrong. On the contrary I believe I've upheld my principles and everything I did was with good intentions. But good intentions don't always turn out the way you want them to be.

As for the people involved, I would be lying if I say I am not angered by them. But really, I can't tell who is the 小人 or 小鬼 in it all. I supposed I would hold a grudge, most probably for awhile. But as the saying goes, time heals all wounds.

So well here I am, free as a bird. Carefree, for a moment at least, before I start the grind of looking for the next challenge heheh. Here's to the last three and half years, Cheers! I enjoyed every minute of it, the good, the bad and the ugly, all the same ... I can honestly say I've become a better man for it.

Turning To The Dark Side Of iApple

I've finally succumbed. For the longest time I was happy with a 'stupid' nokia phone. It worked well for what I need it for, which is to sms, make phone calls and an alarm for the mornings. Recently Meimei bought me an iPhone. And the world of instant connectivity exploded!

Now I check the phone during potty runs, on walks to the car, while smoking, etc. I can't seem to keep my hands off using the phone. There is always this nagging feeling that I need to keep my hands busy with something. I can't just seem to stare into blank spaces and just stone and relax. Oh well, I'm slowly getting wired into the mainstream tech. Imagine ... I don't use MSN till like 2 years back. Never used ICQ or any of those social messaging stuff.

Funny that I fancy myself as a techie when I can't keep up with new technology. 

Jakarta 2011 - First Trip to Jakarta!

My first trip to Jakarta and so happens to be Chinese New Year! Just a short 2 days trip over the weekend. We stayed at a apartment unit across Dad and Mum's. 

We ran around all of Jakarta and visited lots of relatives. Mostly I just stoned either in the car or the homes as I didn't understand Indonesian nor Cantonese. And I must say, I now know what a traffic jam is. Seriously, only here can you squeeze five cars in a three lane motorway. Thankfully, Dad has a driver so we could relax in the car and snooze from place to place.

The highlights of the two day are the authentic Indonesian food meals. I especially like this place which served giant butter prawns. It did give Meimei a scare when slight 'bubbles' appear all over my back and neck at night. I guess I'm still not totally over my allergy to seafood.

It feels good to be accepted into the family and going to around to say hi to everyone.

If You Wish to Drink and Drive, Please Go Kill Yourself First

I'm writing this a few years later. The memory of this was something which haunted Meimei for the longest time. She still has the blue-blacks from this incident three years later. So I decided against writing this for fear she would have nightmares again. It is until she seemed ok with it that I am writing now. But if I gather a hint of discomfort, I'm removing this again. So here goes ...

Seriously don't drink and drive. Do not SABO! If you have a death wish, go jump off a bridge or something. Don't trouble others, don't put others in danger.

We were on our way back from lunch with Aunty Mary and just pass Yishun central. It was drizzling lightly so I was traveling slower on the right most lane. As we come to a junction, a van suddenly turned right on the opposite direction. I couldn't brake in time and went head on with the van. The impact threw everything from the back of the car to the front. Thankfully Meimei and Mama had their seatbelt on ... I can't imagine what would have happened if she didn't.

Meimei and Mama took the brunt of the impact. Mama was screaming right after the crash. I rushed to the back to check on her. Meimei was trapped in her seat and her door wouldn't open ... We later discover that both had big stripes of blue black along the seatbelt areas.

After the crash, the driver of the van, a young punk of only twenty two years of age kept in the van with his friend. At first I didn't know why ... It was only later that I discovered that he was chain smoking to cover the smell of his breath.

Because it was a rainy day that day and there were many traffic accidents on the road, a traffic police couldn't come to the scene and a normal police car came instead. They were not equip with breathalyzers so the ass got away. The dick-head put others at risk with his ignorant and willful ways. He was eventually only given demerit points and a $300 fine. I'm sure he is still on the roads today.

Words cannot describe the hatred and contempt I have for him. Meimei had nightmares for many months and she would freeze every time we come to a traffic junction. I can never compensate for the psychological scars from that day. And you know what? It's a few days before Chinese New Year!

I'm sure Meimei will tell me not to curse him, but I cannot bring myself to forgive him. Never. He will get his just retribution someday. His actions do not justify any sympathy nor pity.

Wild Honey, Breakfast! Wait Lunch, No It's Dinner?

If you are a breakfast person, this is it. Mandarin Gallery renovated and has a new eatery that serves a mean all day breakfast menu. This is not your run of the mill cafe. A meal here will set you back 25-30 bucks a pax. Extras like muffins and latte will bring you to 70-80 a couple.

It's all worth it though. We especially like the Tunisian hotplate and the Eggs Benedict. Other favourites include the English and Belgian Waffles. The bread are oh so fluffy!