Back from reservist & lancer photoshot

Phewz! finally back from the freaking Mother Nature's playground.

1 week of ICT certainly gives me some nostalgic feelings. Have not seen my men for the past year. They are doing quite well. We clicked off very well, I mean, there is no bad blood between us. We worked as well as we played hard.

There's a overnight exercise which happened on Wed till Thursday. Our platoon performed quite well, and we received a recon 2B (sort of a B- grade) for the entire exercise. Keep it up guys!

Recently, I noticed that my right hand, starting from the thumb, index finger and the middle finger is experiencing numbness. It felt like no blood is passing through my fingers as they should normally be. Like a clogged pipe. and it felt like little needles on the tip of my threee fingers. this symptons persisted for 2 weeks. I finally seek a chinese sinseh on this, and he says I am suffering from a wrist combination syndrome. (aka, the wrist is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, which affects the nerves on my fingers, like hogging on the mouse in that same position too long)

He rubbed on my wrist and gave me some physiotherapy. the pain was so excruciating, its indirectly affects my elbow, to my back, all the way to the back of my neck. Not an easy internal illness. He also does some accupunture on my back to relieve the pain. It was better. I used to feel coldness on the three fingers, recently the color came back. but the numbness remains. I was to report to him every week, and see how much I could recover before my new posting in G.

I am wearing a wrist guard till I get better. So if you see me wearing one at St james party, dun ask me why :P

Oh yeah, the party is coming this saturday. Just realized from the email that I written to St james powerhse last month contains Dennis Foo's son hp. Dennis who? Dennis Foo is the founder of Devil's bar and he is also one of the pionneer in creating the Singapore night scene. He's 54 now I heard. His son name's Gordon Foo. Imagine that, a mogul son! keke

I attended the Lancer photoshot (see inset) on Sunday at Paya Lebar. a total of 80+ vehicles turned up for the event. I had my sideskirts done on Saturday at Eunos, heard he's the best bodykit specialist in the market. and he pasted some awakward looking black scotchtape to secure my sideskirting. I drove it to the photoshot. (very malu lolx)

But its okay, my ride is black. So it doesnt matter. as long my side skirting holds, photo can take another day. :P

I have about 15 full working days with PSM. Each and every passing day, I cherished like it is my last day at work. the colleagues are getting on well w/o me. even CY whom relies on me heavily in the past, has begin to pick up the loose pcs by herself. I heard there's even some candidates available for interview. Maybe I will have chance to interview some of them. (Hopefully).

CY have booked an italian resturant on 1st Aug and arranged a nice farewell dinner for me. (just me and her) Before you BRATS start thinking if we have anything going on, NO. NOTHING. I personally hated office-colleague-romance. and we dont have any sparks going on. its just a normal superior-subordinate farewell dinner. a bit lavish I must admit. It cost more than The Line @ Shangri-la. for a meal of 2.

The major farewell dinner will be on my last day. Darren will host me for that one. kaka.

Sometimes, I duno if I made the right choice. But I knew for sure, if I made a decison, I must abide by it. Only guniangs regrets easily. Darren even asked me casually if I signed the apptment letter from G as yet. (I take it that this is just a casual remark)

But for now, I'll just look forward to the big event this coming Saturday on Aug 4th. Hope I get lucky with one of the ladies there! haha! slurpsss

Sealing the deal

Yup. I finally seal the deal.

Adwin called me up this week to inked the deal. I took a half a day off this Friday to run some personal errands and went to Benoi to sign the papers.

As every new bird in the coy, I was to be put on probation for 6 mths. Haiz.. 6 mths is a long time if you asked me. PSM was only 3 mths probation. Worst thing is, on the contract it stated, 'probation termination notice will be given one day. ' POwerful. Which means, for those whose english sounds like steven lim (lol), it means, they are happy to boot me, say, after 6pm on my first day at work. *risky*

But the perks are stated very clearly though. transportation allowances, hp allowances and the basic salary. enough to last me for quite a while. I mean, feeding N (my car) is not easy. and my social life is also at stake here.

But so it seems my new boss is on leave today, he told me to look for Jonanthan, (Finance mgr). and Jonanthan told me he is having a meeting, thus pls look for jessy. Jessy who? Jessy is the admin clerk or something. very friendly gal.

and did I tell you that the security guard in my new company premises, resembles a abit like a cross between a cowboy and traffic police? He's always in shades, and he wears that cowboy hat with that big moustache on his face, very comical. He seen me like 3 times already. we talked a little, he says he will reserve a parking lot for me when I report for work lolx.

I signed the paper at 3pm, went to Lot1 for a haircut. Reservist is coming next week. Now my long hair become short short. Can go to camp w/o fear of getting cut anymore.

Ahhh... got to prepare the uniforms and check my SBO, field pack. Never touched them for an entire year. even the helmet is musky and dusty. Heard there will be a route march on the first day, which means, draw arms immediately and head for a 3km walk. Sounds silly isnt it?

Company is buzzing about my resignation ever since Darren made an informal announcement. their export executive is leaving PSM. Jane (my motherly figure in the sales coordinating site) was quite reluctant to see me leave. Rizal, (ball bearing man) was telling me how much different it would be w/o me there. Though lee, adrian and the rest supported my departure.

There was an 'emergency' meeting straight after my resignation. Everyone was hauled to the office by their respective mgrs and talked about new job scopes. (apparently, I tot i was the culprit for this =x).

Juslina (my clerk) was given a cushy job of partnering daniel in the Malaysia sales, in supporting him in paperworks and stuffs. Great opportunity lies for her. Jane duties was subtracted to Juslina, (so gd for jane, can slack somemore). Suhaily and Jo (acct assts) was given addition and subtraction of duties. and it made Jo very pissed off. she banged the table and chair, and rudely told the finance mgr that she took a 4pm off. and nvr did came back for work the following day. She really needs to have some attitude taught.

I was to be given a farewell dinner afterall! I hope it will be a stock-take and farewell dinner though. CY on her personal basis, will host me a private dinner, in an italian restaurant this end of July. I feel so loved from the gestures haha.

This in-camp shld be a breeze. Good news I have Max as PC this year. Haben seen my men for an entire year, hope they are coping well. I still have about 6-7 yrs of reservist left. seems like a long journey to me. =/

I went for the Lancerian polo-tee shirts collection today. its at the stadium walk where Macdonalds is. The parking lot was hugeeeee! I was so paiseh, I saw a crowd of ppl residing at the carpark, thinking its the LMC folks, and to my surprise, its the Mazda forum guys. (they're having the gathering in the same area). I immediately drove off and relocate them. haha

The polo-tee looks nice. A nice red logo, with the website behind the shirt. its made of dry-fit material. and a yellow embossed name 'east' on the right sleeve. For $18, its definitely nicely made. Great job for the moderators in the forum.

Tomorrow I will be going to the zoo! seems like a long time since I visited the zoo. On a saturday, hope it doesnt rains. the weather is so unpredictable these days. I just want to enjoy myself. that's all.

Have a great weekend folks!

The departure

I officially tender my resignation on Monday.

I spend the weekend in Tuas on Sunday. Quiet place with no one around. I just sat there. Looking across Malaysia. and idled there for 2 hrs. just sitting there and thinking. weighing the pros and cons.

Boss was not surpised at my decison. though there were some counter-offers made up to me. (Like converting me to local sales, so i could enjoy the petrol and hp subsidies, road taxes and coupons as well)

But i guess they could never reach the kind of figure my new coy is offering me. but its not the money that matters I say. *maybe some of you will start screaming bullshit*

but I have to be honest with you. I cant see myself in this position for a long time. (in PSM)
3 yrs here and henta-kaki because of low headcount? Isnt a very valid reason not to promote anyone. I slogged 3 yrs for them here. and of coz, the monetary covers the wildest ambitions at times. but it cannot placate my ambitious leo character forever. Even L and D whom worked 8 yrs here, and still not going anywhere. But given a 'senior' position in their title.

But L is a married woman, she din have high hopes and dreams. D is usually marked by darren. so no chances for him. I think my departure will path great things for Adrian in the future. Darren seems to like him a lot.

I told CY about it. she never flinched. instead shook my hands and exclaimed, 'congrats!'

she will pass the letter to Darren on my behalf. Afterall, she is my immediate superior.

Things get slightly easier after my submission. but i did noticed a hint of 'hostility' coming from the finance mgr. I was looking at the annual leave balance, and decided to plan my leave (I had around 6 days) in advance prior to my departure.

then I was hauled to the office, and CY told me I had only 3 days left. (Pro-rated she says, for not leaving at the end of yr)

Anyway, I still have my ICT coming week, I guess its fair enough for me. (wont be seeing them much, its pretty much my transitional phase)

So I asked her, 'you know our post stock take have 3 days off-in-lieu awarded to us right? I only used up 2 days. May I know if the 1 day is inclusive of my reminder or what?"

She called up the Finance mgr and came back with a curt reply. 'yes it includes the 3 days u are having.'

which means, I dun have 4 days. Just 3. Why? issit fair?

But as colleagues for 3 yrs, I have nothing to say about this. I heard lots of stories about ppl whom is prepared to leave the company, and the colleagues or superior starts giving f**ked up attitude or f**k face to the departing colleagues.

Sighz.. if this is really the case, i guess it very raw and realistic to me. Aint we gd colleagues these 3 yrs? Am I not working these few weeks like it is my first day? I feel for my company, I feel for my colleagues, that is why when I took the plunge, I wanted to discuss it with Darren.

But my guess is, everyone dun feel the same about how I feel about them. In work, in life, in relationships.

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Some updates as well;
Drove bee and vic kor for a spin on Sunday, from Clementi to the eastern side of Changi. Had some work errands to do (see, i burn my weekend for PSM) in the local plating house. after sending the parts, we went to the famous nasi lemak stall in Changi village for lunch.
We walked around Changi beach as well. But we ended the day quite fast too. (East side is dengue zone, must siam faster lol)

My new boss have a wicked sense of humor. He called me up on Monday noon (after my resignation) and told me about my pay subsidies.

Adwin: "Hey east, thanks for ur sms (inform him i tendered) so we updated a bit. your salary is $xxx and the petrol subsidies will be $1k as we mentioned right? "

East: "yeah."

Adwin: "Your pay no change.. but your petrol allowance have some changes... *he sounds serious*

Me; 'huh'.. *frowning* whaddaya mean.. "

Adwin: "yeah, initially it was $1k, but after discussing with Jonathan (Finance mgr), we decide to upped to $1.2k. DO a GOOD JOB FOR ME OK! dun disappoint me!"

Me: *SURprised & speechless* OK boss. I will! (Can pump V POWER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE LOL)

I think i will have a good time working with Adwin, but too bad I only need to report to Eric. Hope Eric wont feed me to the sharks. and the lau-jiaos ah peks there, i think i need to administer some good diplomacy skills.

I guess I have my phone bills settled as well. (they will pay one of my phone bill, which logically I will submit the most exp singtel bill la lolx)

Must ask if they pay road tax or not too lolx.. and parking coupons.. (greedy)

then my car commitments will be lessen to a much comfortable level. heh

Watched DIE HARD 4 today. PSM movie night. probably the last movie nite I ever had with them. Kickass movie. I never watched Bruce Willis in the previous 3 sequels anyway. anyway part 4 have no relations to the previous sequels. Maggi Q was given very few lines. but it was enjoyable watching her nonetheless.

Didnt managed to get anyone free enough to join me. But what the hell, a gd movie will still be good, even if you are watching alone. right?

Planning the SJP (for noobs in my blog, its St james Powehouse for short) party. Have not consulted the other bdae boy for quite some time on the up-coming event. Have to call the mgr as well to confirm if 4th Aug have no events, thus entry timing will need to re-confirmed as well.

Sounds pretty interesting,lots of ideas in my head. Maybe will be doing a 'best dressed clubber award' for the best clubbing man and woman gracing my bdae. But the guest list is not even near completion. I already filled up almost 15 names in my list, (though i can only bring in 7, that will be a headache as well as a challenge)
Iori have no even submitted a single name yet to me! We're suppose to share 14 free entries guests together. I already have so many frds in my mind. :S

and of coz the famous question, who will east be inviting this yr? lets just say, I not sure. UNtil now. But I will try to send out sms-es by the end of this week. maybe that will be some work done. For a little while. heh.

Lancer Motoring Club major meetup will be coming end of month. I will be reciving my LMC polo tee as well. great design and kick-ass colors. Heard news that there will be a record 50 vehicles camping at SCDF carpark in paya lebar (and still counting).

I will definitely be there! Wohooohoho! For a long while since many yrs back, I actually felt happier. Like now.

May Fate deal me a good hand. Amen.

Leaving PSM...

After the acquisition of my car... I finally made my move..

There's this job opening in a reputable marine offshore company in Benoi road. its a major player in the marine sector. I saw the ads in the newspaper 2 weeks ago. I send in my resume, and they responded back.

I used my stock-take leave (3 days for the stock taking job) to go for the initial interview. The manager in charge and me, briefly spoke for around 10 mins. His name is Adwin. and there is another superior there, thin lean man, bespectacled. Name's eric.

We talked about the job over there at G. and my current job. why i wanna leave. etc. it was a casual non-intimate chat, then I was ushered to the door. I pondered if I would get a 2nd interview, (coz they say if i am selected, they will call me again)

A week later, the receptionist called me up. Asked for a 2nd interview (sounds firm that I would get the job). At this moment of time, Darren and I are planning for a trip to Thailand. and my ICT is the coming last week of July. a terribly bad timing to be having any thoughts of resigning.

I have this feeling that I am selected despite not having been to the interview as yet. I took a half day leave this week. Drove all the way to Tuas. Adwin and Eric appear again. Eric showed me a catalogue, about the products they are selling. they were very frank with me. "its definitely not an easy job. and its a s*it job and you have to be prepared for a culture shock from your present job". Will you take it?

The terms are there. Allowances for petrol and car is 1,000. (600 petrol + 400 car maintenance. ) and that's exclusive of what I am drawing currently. its definitely a good offer.

But the difficult part is meted out. I had to learn the internship program. 6 mths probation. Learn from the 'lau jiaos'. 6 mths later, another raise from my current salary upped 200. and eventually lead a bunch of 'lau jiao' uncles to form a team. that would be the post of a sales & marketing asst mgr.

"Gaining the respect of the seniors is the most impt aspect of the job. they are so seasoned that they would probbaly not listen to your instructions".

-its really a tall ordeal-

and I would be supervised by Eric. I told them I needed time to talk to Darren about it. Afterall, they wanted me to start work on Aug 20th. Hardly anytime to tender. which means I would need to tender before 20th July.

I told them maybe could I start work in Sept? But Adwin was quick to interject. "if you really wanna come to G, you would have agreed immediately" . I was in dilemma. I told them I will talk to Darren today.

Adwin added. " I will wait for your call. deadline is Sat morning. If you nvr call by then, we would seek replacement."

-I nodded-

I was in a daze the whole of today.. I waited the whole day for everyone to leave the office. I had a long talk with Darren about it. Darren listened. and didnt put me off straight. He thinks its a great opportunity. and that PSM could never counter-offer me in that sense. He asked me to think over the weekend, and will talk to me again on Monday.

I guess I had already made up my mind. I sms-ed Adwin and told him I had it covered. and will report to work on Aug 20th. Somewat rushy, but for a commitment guy like me , I guess I need to keep the dough coming.

He called back immediately. He sounds pleased. I duno why. I was.. so confused.

I miss the folks back at PSM. but somehow.. people like me, will not let emotions rule over bread-and-butter issues. people like me, cannot let this emotions backlash affects the future. I must keep moving forward. Only by moving forward will success comes. I do not want to be a guy in my 30's and still staying in an office that gives me a certain amount of comfort level, that I forgot my goals.

I was very silent today when I reached home. Mum was equally astounished at my silent self. I got my car keys and took a long drive up Mandai road. Alone.

I stopped my car along the zoo road. tears welled up in my eyes. I really miss the times I am in PSM. the colleagues.. the things they had given me. taught me the ropes of sales. I owe everything that I am today, to PSM.

I can only show my emotions in private. and that is the only time I will be showing it. In public, I am cold-hearted and logical. But.. times have asked me to leave. I will leave PSM afterall.

Come monday, I will tell Darren. and the rest.. is up to fate's hand.

Short notes over the weekend

Things are getting slightly better over the weekend.

Just a few days ago, I was lamenting about my bad luck since I acquired my car.

On friday night, Ravi (The car washer) came knocking on my door, (I peeped thr the eyehole) and saw him getting a '555' litte book in his hands.

'must be asking for monthly car maintenance' I thought.

I opened the door, and he was very polite.

Ravi: " Good evening Sir. "
Me: *Feeling very frustrated* "yes!??"
Ravi: " Yesterday night you lost something?"
Me: " ahhh! yeah I lost my phone!"
Ravi: " I found it on top of the car bonnet. But because yesterday you come back late (around 1am) so I do not want to call you."
*then he proceed to produce a silver K800i from his pocket*

My heart melted just seeing my missing phone. ~_~

Me: " thank you Ravi! you wait ah! *shut the door*
then I came back with a $10 bill, and passed it to him.
"Here! Go kopi! Thanks for your help!"

I took over the phone. The only thing missing is the white strap which I hung on the phone. which puzzles me. How come he remove the white strap? *hmmx*

but as long as the phone is back, I really dun care much abt the strap. I even went to vivocity in the noon on friday to get a replacement SIM. now I have to re-load all the phone entries inside my new SIM again. oh well..

The 5 million Toto I didnt win. :(
I heard over 40 ppl is sharing the 5million. Still, a lot of money for 40+ ppl.

I guess God din want me to win, so he sends Ravi over to return me my stuff hehe. (I was thinking of buying a LG shine that Friday, lucky no impulsive)

I even had a 100 starhub voucher which I could purchase at retail price. Now I think useless (or useful? :P) dunno what to do with it. it had an expiry date I think.
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I just done my 1K servicing at Upper thomson road C&C service ctr. WTF, the svc ctr is so small, placed in a remote part of Upper thomson behind a remote Shell station. I woke up late, it was raining at 730am. Hardly the time for anyone to be awake working on a 5 day week :P !

So i woke up, plod all the way to BKE, slipped inside SLE. reached Upper thomson in half an hr. (thanks to the light traffic, but med rain) AND I MISSED THE SVC STATION. I din see it. (so tiny)

I missed upper thomson road, I duno why i ended up on the PIE. I landed on stevens road. I did a U-turn. I missed a junction for duno wat reason. ended up on the road to Farrer road. I saw queensway.

*Siao liao* I think. where the fuck I been. I must have been travelling all across Singapore. I made 2 calls to C&C and they fucking told me 'we are behind Shell'.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY FUCKING SHELL STATIONS IN UPPER THOMSON OR NOT! *my mind was screaming*

I counted 3~

I did a U-turn, finally made my way back to Upper thomson again. this time found my tiny svc ctr. and guess wat? I was 1.5hrs late. I was late for 30mins initially and spend the next hr on the road! *I fucking need a GPS*

I was so apologetic. I crashed inside the office, apologising for coming in 1.5hr late and taking up other ppl svc-ing slot. He din flinched and says almost mechanically ' it'll take 2.5hrs at most, we'll call you."

I was stumped. at 930am in the morning (my time slot was *ahem* 730am), with a slight drizzle. In the remote part beside Pierce reservoir. Where was I suppose to go?!! go see monkeys!? He proposed I hanged ard the hawker ctr opp the road, up the road a few mins walk. I went. had breakfast.

Luckily he called up half an hr later, I could come collect. the bill for 1K svc-ing came up pretty hefty. For $60 bucks just to top up mineral oil and fiddly with the car parts. and a half-hr job.

(No wonder the lancer guys prefer to go out and void their warranty, nvm, I am next in line anyway, boo!)
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Since its still early, I thought I go down to the town council with the parking offense slip and check my status. I written to them on Monday and now its like Sat and no response from them.

I went to CCK town council, I told the reception casually i wish to appeal for the offence slip given to me. the staff were chatting with another gal, and she told me,
"sorry Sir, here no do appeal. U have to go up to HDB dept, 7th floor"

Ok great.

The lift in CCK town council building is anything but friendly. its crowded and the lift take ages to reach. I went up to HDB dept on the 7th floor finally. Went to the reception and ask to appeal. Guess what?

Like "Just follow Law" .
She told me , "Sorry sir, but you have to write in. " (So fucking Jack-neo in the middle of the morning)

Me: " but i wrote in! On monday! You guys never replied me wat!?"
Almost mechanically, she spoke, "ok Sir, please wait I check the system."
(why is all civil servant so robotic?)

-After a while-
Recept: "Sir, your application is still under processing. It'll take (Classic line) at least 2-3 weeks for processing."

ME: (Wide-eyed) 2-3 weeks!?? Wouldnt my summon be expired by then!?? and wat if the HDB send me some 'extra reminder offence' like late payment or something!

Recept: "Sir, if like that, you dont pay first. "

Me: -_-" *I almost broke out in vulgarities, veins popping* OK.

I left the building.

I cant believe I take her words. I shld have taken down her name. Miss XXX told me on so-and-so date that I wouldnt have to pay till my appeal is processed. and guess wat. I saw outside the entrance, a 'friendly reminder' to us, citizens.

"WE VALUED OUR STAFF AS WELL AS YOU. MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING IS APPRECIATED. WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE ON OUR STAFFS"

I hate to say this. Maybe they had been cursed and bang tables on for so many times, they just had to make a 'disclaimer'. USE LAW LOR.
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After driving for so many days in a week. I get used to being a driver on the road. though the attention given to the roads and pedestrians is damn tiring. sometimes i get sports car drivers and taxis uncles who see my spoiler so damn high, think I wana race them.

*si beh sian* Cant help it for being a Evo-wannababe.

I hate to say this, but... I really appreciate sitting in car instead of driving them. like the many weeks i sat in matt's car. I could fall asleep listening to Class 95FM playing in his stereo.

I went to the bird park today. Must have been quite a while since I went. Feel like a school kid once again. hehe

But I was there like 4pm. and the park is closing at 6? I really have to walked very fast around the park. and its 16 bucks for a single adult. Not cheap nowadays. I managed to catch the last bird show at 4pm and enjoyed it immensely.

Saw the owls, the eagles, the flamingos, pelican, waterfall. and the favorite Iory loft. for 2 bucks you get birds on your shoulders, hands, everywhere trying to peck on the sweetened liquid holding in your hands.

I drove up the bird park hill, where I could get a magnificent view of Tuas, Jurong Island. I was lucky to catch the helicopters practising the NDP flag bearing. and the fighter jets doing their rounding. In the distance. its really different being a driver. the freedom of exploring becoming so easily reached.

Tomorrow going to get another car modification again. lED iginition keyhole light. sounds like a kuku idea to some of you folks. but then again, N is not finished. Until N is finished, I let you guys know. *winkz*

Not a smooth sailing ride...

No, its not my car I am talking about...

Its my life I am talking about after receiving my car.

I really feel so lousy... too upset to talk also... so I blogged.

I used to park the car below my void deck during the weekends, for a wash or unload the groceries, during the first week of receiving my car.

But I never expected to receive a parking offence after parking it on Sunday below the void deck. Illegal parking it says.

For parking below my void deck, after unloading my groceries for abt 10mins? and you call it illegal parking?

For a hundred bucks to teach me never to buy groceries alone. Nvr to park below my void deck. I have written to the HDB abt it. will get an answer soon I hope. (been waiting for 3 days, watever happen to efficient civil service response??)

this is the first unfortunate incident.

The 2nd one just happpened tonight...

I was playing basketball with the lancer forum members, first time seeing around 5 members since I joined the club. Its in bishan. then at around 10pm I went home. I took my hp and homekeys, and I have 2 bags with me. One smelly sports bag with my smelly clothes, and 1 sling bag with my portable laptop.

I am pretty tied up with my hands.

So i shut the door and realized I left my carkeys inside my laptop bag. So I casually placed my starhub line phone (the limited edition sony ericsson K800i silver) on the top of my car while I retrieve my car keys from my laptop bag. after the double beep sounds, I drop the keys inside the laptop bag and went home.

Without taking the starhub phone with me.

It was only after my shower and dinner that I realized I need to set my alarm. I told my sis to get it from me in the laptop box. (I tot its there)

then I have a gut feel that something is wrong. I never remmebered putting it inside my bag. I immediately called up my starhub line and I was too late.

The phone line was cut off.

Although the phone was bought at a discount, less than 2 hundreds. I still felt pain. Pain for the numerous contacts in my SIM. Pain for the numerous msgs inside my phone which I never deleted.

There is this india car washer whom I employed to clean my car for 35 bucks a month in my MSCP. he is washing other cars when I greeted him. I guess I should asked him. Even though I do have a hint of suspect for him.

Haiz... ever since I received my ride. I been feeling so down on my luck.

They always say 破财挡灾 ... I wonder if this is true.. I had asked starhub to suspend my line, and luckily for 1st time replacement of SIM is free. But the tedious job is adding the new entries of friends which I never updated lor.. haiz

Time to source for a new phone. Although the motorola V8 will come in handy at the time being.. I still yearns for my cool silver K800i.

Just dun let me see the India car washer with a silver K800i. I'll definitely haul him over to the police station!

@^@(^@(&(@&)@)@*@_*_@*@_6*%*^*&^9

But on a side note, the only good thing I had this week was having a dinner with a chiobu friend on Tuesday. Haben seen her for like months. She's doing investments and stuffs so we talked a bit. But i hope that's not the only reason she's asking me for the dinner. but i did enjoyed myself that night.

The time have come?

I caught <> the movie yesterday. The robots which I idolised during my pri school days, manifested into CGI graphics. totally nice movie!

But I do find that Megatron (the nemesis of Optimus Prime) is a tad too strong in this movie. which is really giving the good guys (autobots) a hard time. Funny how come all the enemies decepticons are all offensive vehicles, fighter jets, tanks, helicopter, while all our good guys are just vehicles? The leader is a trailer!

But nevertheless, despite some amendments to the original plot, I still enjoyed the show.

Mind you, for the past week, from Wed-Sat, I was putting in like 11hrs of work in the stock-taking. with Sat being the last day which ends at 5pm, stretched every single cells in my brains to a stand-still. I still managed to stay awake for the entire movie at 830pm.

Never a movie been that good since... Lord of the rings? of course, I do looked forward to Harry potter in Order of the Phoenix. Coming this month end.

I recently was flipping through the classified. (Dun ask me why, but I just did). and spotted a vacancy for an asst sales & marketing mgr post in the marine industry. it is a big company with a strong presence in the middle east. Located all the way inside Benoi road, where the ships are (Tuas).

I casually applied for it. For 2 reasons, strictly in that order;
1) to gauge my market worth having served in this line for 3 yrs.
2) Am I really in demand or just lucky?

I remember buying a 50 cents stamp for my resume, for that company didnt allow email resumes, (they didnt provide an email addy) and slotted it into the mailbox on thurday night.

And (surprise) on Sat morning while I was doing my stock-take, the HR of that company called me and asked to arrange for an interview next Friday! (amazing at their efficiency, or they could be 'desperate' as one friend defined it)

I did a little detective work in this company, and was taken aback by their hieracry in the organization. they have every sales mgr in every imaginable department. and its defintely not a small company in that part of tuas.

One part of me is equally excited to meet this certain Mr Low who is supposed to interview me. the other part of me, still thinking of the gd things that this coy had given me. I'm like trapped-in-btw-and-nowhere-to-go dilemma.

But when I looked at N, I guess, I have to make that step. Into the unknown. if fates allows, and the time is matured. the boy who quitted watsons that fateful year, and joins a certain fastening company on a rainy day in May 2004, might just be ready to embrace a bigger environment.

but of course, its still too early to say! Wait till Friday at least! Aha!

Yup its here

There had always been a buzz on my new purchase recently.

I think I wasnt born with a silver spoon, my education wasnt tt great, pay wasnt that fantastic, family isnt very much well-off. thus getting my own ride, I think I came a few yrs too late. (compared to my peers)

I can see lawyers, doctors, engineers at 29. But me at 29, I'm still in sales. In limbo. Not sure when can I reach the shore, continuing floating in the prospect of 'performance' and ' results'. Such is the nature of sales line.

frankly when my older colleagues was asking me casually if i felt excited about receiving my new ride, I shrugged my shoulder and said, " so-so lor ". which indeed does reflect my concerns in this black Lancer mistress, which I lovingly named N.

N represent a part of me which came too late. She drinks quite a lot of fuel, but beyond her black exterior, I saw, individuality in her. the shaping of a normal looking ride into something.. call 'east-ride' .

and of coz, I have to worry about N various others things. Like N monthly instalments. N weekly guzzling of petrol. N parking. N parking offences if I aint careful.

recently I paid an Indian man whom cleans the cars in my MSCP for a month of cleaning the car ($35 is a gd deal for an entire month, and he cleans them everyday). N daily cleaning maintenance. N up-coming servicing is coming soon. N make-up kits. I want her to be perfect. the perfect mistress for a man like me.

But of course if you asked me, 'are you sure you're really not that excited about owning a car?" I could be joking. I was in C&C on that monday straight after my bintan tour.

Once Terrence gave me the key, I inserted it into her keyhole, the first time i heard her purring engine. it got me excited. I stepped on her accelerator, more purring. it was orgasmic.

I wasted no time that day, went to the town council, got her first season ticket. top up her first tank. heard the first sound of the alarm system. the locking beep and the unlocking double-beep. N behaves like the woman whom I had so much interest in. mysterious. waiting to be explored.

I took N to the car workshop and fitted her with a spoiler, vortex generator. (sharksfin) slowly, she took shape. it wasnt drastic. but gradually, she took shape. to the owner's whims and fantasies.

I took pains to dress up N. I went to the car forum, read thr every single thread, make excel sheets on costing and parts. Just for N.

I made friends in the car forum as well. which was all thanks to N too.

I fetch my mum off from work that fateful monday. she wasted no time in calling everyone she knows in her phonebook that her son had come to fetch her in a car. headlines in her handphone conversation, constantly ringing the same sentences, 'I waited 30 yr for this'

(sorry mum , I wish I were a bit smarter, I wished I were more diligent in my schooling days, maybe you could see this faster) but that's the best I could do right now.

This 4-wheeler changed my life directions, and inversely affects a little in my family. Esp the women in the house, rattling non-stop about it. I wonder if this is going well, or should I be worried?

I experienced my first traffic jam bringing N baby out to work. Having cursed the SBS driver whom makes me late for work on many occasions, I finally understand the meaning of circumstances. Whether you're a Lexus, a lancer or an SBS, when the jams comes, you're still an immobilished car.

There's still a lot of things I am learning. Like unethical behaviours of other road users. the road hogging, tailgating, ERP gantries, car parking, coupons, ticket ladies, parallel parking ( i hated this), speeding. I'm still a student in those things.

but gradually I am sure, N will be my perfect companion and helper, in the next 10 yrs.