House-warming at La Cite Clubhouse (My "HoMe")

It was an eventful 23th Feb 2008. Finally had my house-warming party organised after talking all about it for 2 weeks.

Morning
Woke up at 10am and went to BaseII (as highly recommended by the locals). Booked an appointment with "Ah-Sam", who has quite a 'high' reputation (supposingly). However, to my disappointment, sigh, it was literally quite a painful experience. In any case, it was only SGD20. (relative cheap for an 'experience')

Afternoon
Meet up with my colleagues and went for lunch at San Ma Lo. Lunch was great and cheap. Afterwhich, we proceed to purchase the mahjong table and tiles. Spent MOP678!! expensive purchase. However, managed to 'claim' back MOP50... keke, if you know what I meant.

Evening
Almost everyone had a 'preview' to my house and clubhouse. Everyone was saying it was great!! Well, of course. To come here and 'suffer' for 2 years, I've to at least stay at somewhere decent to enjoy my stay here lo.

Midnite
I really never thought that they will continue through to 3am in the morning lo. Cos, I have my Newcastle VS Man U match (live) at 110am. Luckily, Man U 'bashed' Newcastle 5-1. If not, they will really see my 'BLACK FACE'. Well, you can see me so engrossed in the match in the pic that i don't really care about them enjoying themselves with the 5-10 finger game they are playing. hehehe

Genting Trip

Day 1 of Genting trip: Left office only at 9pm. Grabbed dinner at Suntec before heading to Golden mile for the 10pm bus ride. As usual, it is chaotic at the bus station with tons of foreign workers and people rushing to find their bus. We were really pathatic, gathering at one corner, eating our cold dinner. Felt almost like a refugee. The bus is much better than the one i previously sit. At least the seats are working and no more noisy aunties gossiping. We were all struggling to sleep so that the long and uncomfortable trip will be over soon. But once the bus stop for the first toilet break, we were all wide awake and the usual gossip and complaining session starts again. Lucky for the rest of the people, we were located right at the front so they are a distance away from our noise. Not much different though, Claire and Janet are like loudspeakers.

Day 2 of Genting trip: Finally reached Genting. We deposited our bags and went to have Dim Sum Breakfast. The food was ok for the price we paid but one of the waitress spolit the breakfast. We requested for a non-smoking area but we got a table just at the border of the non-smoking area so the table beside us is a smoking table. Even after we pointed out to her and request to change seats, she was very rude. Well, there are just some dense people out there that is less fortunate so we must just be more patient. Finally a kind waiter change the table for us but think he got scolding from that rude waitress (poor lad).

Then it is off to the Theme Park!!! We have 3 continuous rides on the Corkscrew. The third ride was becos the train overshot the station so we had another round. But it was soo terrifying, cos halfway through, the train stop and made a very weird sound, sounded like the catch of the train was off course. The person-in-charge have to climb up and check before we continue. We didn't scream as much compared to the first 2 rounds, guess everyone was too frighten and hoping nothing happen. Bumper car was also a highlight but the car is really slow. We had soo much fun we went for 3 rounds, each time targetting different people to bump. Then it is buffet dinner, shopping and movies.

We watched kungfu dunk. It was soo funny. I still prefer watching movies in Malaysia. The last time we came to Genting, we also watched a movie and the crowd like this time round is more open. There were more laughter and the mood much merrier. In Singapore, the crowd is soo restrictive. During funny moments only a few and quiet laughter can be heard. In Malaysiam everyone is laughing so you can just enjoy and have a hearty laugh. Then it is gambling time at the casino. Didn't place any bets cos spend most of my money on stone engraving Steve and my photo. Again, i bring too little money and spend too much. As usual, Jacq - my banker, is there to lend me money (just like the Taiwan trip). Anyway, that gambling queen win some money. She always win money and it is on jackpot. I just don't get it, she used 50 ringgit and she can play for almost 3 hours and still win some money. With just 50 ringgit at most i just hit the button 10 times and it is all gone. That's like within 5 mins.

Day 3 of Genting Trip: We went for the Van Helsing show. I really don't know what is more terrifying, the show all the gals. We were all bruised everywhere after the show. Janet and Jacq fell down, jacq knocked her head and she was stepped on her feet a lot of time cos she is not wearing covered shoes, Claire had scratches on her shoulders, my hair was pulled by YY and i knocked my hand against the wall. I must say it is a bit scary if there were only two people walking the trail. But there were 7 of us!! Most of the time, i didn't see much, i heard tons of screaming from the gals, and YY keep pulling my hair and jacket and i had to pull my jacket and make her walk faster to catch up. I was just being push back and forh the whole time. Claire suddenly retreated cos she saw something and we all just step on each other while retreating and then the gals at the back just push their way through cos something wearing white is chasing them at the back. Thank god for me, i was not the first to go and not the last, in the middle protected by everyone. But the experience is soo funny.

Then it is last minute shopping and stuffing my lunch into my mouth within 30 mins and bye bye Genting.

Had great time but we must find other places to go besides Genting cos the rides are too kiddy and the shopping is not great.

Thai Accent @ Vivo City

Went to Vivo to get some new clothes. It's been sometime since we went shopping together on a Saturday and actually did some real shopping together. Usually we will meet on Friday to do shopping but of course it is a futile attempt cos we are gossip queens so we will end up eating and finding some cosy place (those that closes only after 12pm) to drink and talk for hours.

Met on Saturday to do some serious shopping. But, we bought nothing. Soo sad. After being tortured for the whole week, i desperately need some shopping therapy. Well, at least i didn't succumb to temptation by buying something i don't like.


Went to Thai Accent for Dinner. It is Raye's birthday so we treated her to dinner. We ordered the mango salad and fried squid for starters, Chicken wrap in pandang, prawn with glass noodles, kangkong with chilli, pineapple rice and Tom Yam soup for mains. The dishes are alright. Loved the Kangkong cos it is different from those in "Zhi Cha" store. The kangkong has lots of sauce and the chilli is mild compared to those in "Zhi Cha" stores which usually cooked it very dry with tons of chilli paste. Didn't like the Mango salad, it is tooo sour for me and the fried squid is not crispy enough.

Happy Birthday Raye.....moving towards your goal very soon. Then you can sponsor me and Jacq on our tours. hahahahahaha Europe, Japan, US??????

Dining @ Menotti (Raffles City)

Friday, dreadful day. Went to work even though i had flu since Thursday. Thought i was able to pull through the day but was feeling very nausea after lunch and keep getting a sudden wave of cold. Went to see the doc after lunch but was not able to leave early due to one hysterical client, hitting me with a barrage of paltry question. Ok, i'm being a meany but i was sick. Apathy, please!! And i was made to run from the 13 floor to 14 floor to find the person in-charge and she is no where to be found. By the time i found her she told me she had no time cos she is doing something for the BIG BIG boss. Ok, i get it that means something very very important.

Raye was also on MC. Still announced that she came to work because she love her job. Unaware of hysterical client episode, Raye was in false hope we can meet her at 6pm. She left office early and when she reached the restaurant, we are still in the office. Even after Jacq packed up, i was still typing my last email to tell the teams on how super urgent the case was. Half the time cursing while i'm at it.

Well, finally we reached the restaurant 1.5 hours late. The place was modern, very dimly light and comfy. The noise level is acceptable (at least no shouting is required for me to be audible). The menu is soo long, it looks like a small cockbook but consist mostly of wines, which we are not interested as 2 of us are sick. After being approached by the waiter twice, we made up our minds what to order.

First up is the salad, the restaurant does not lack any oil. The oil in the salad bowl is enough to drown the less than 10 pathetic leaves served. Next is the mushroom quiche, which is not worth mentioning. Loved the corn chowder, but i love any soup. Then, the mains. The crabmeant linguini with creamy tomato sauce is just right. The sauce is not too creamy and the light tint of wine is salvory to the taste bud. For pizza, we had carnivorous. Not too bad as the pizza crust is not tooo thick. Didn't really like the dessert as well.

But will definitely go back to try more pasta and maybe the ice-creams (which we didn't manage to order).

Manchester United Football Club Fan!!

Well, well, well. Guess what, Manchester United Football Club was opened in Venetian Macau Retail Stores on 14 Feb 2008. And now, guess what, for a crazy fan like myself, who would not want to patronise the shop (or should i say 'raid' the shop?! muahahaha).

Dim Sum at The Paramount (Paramount Hotel)

Went to had Dim Sum with Stevie's bros last Saturday. Rare occassion as it seems difficult to meet up with one of them in US and Stevie in Macua. Well, that also mean we have free accomodations when we go abroad. Yeah!!

Stevie was asking me to find a place to eat dim sum. But i really don't have the time to source so we end up going to Paramount which my family used to go to. As it was during the CNY period there is no dim sum buffet. Anyway, we don't really need the buffet as there is sooo many of us. Getting buffet will not be very worthy.

The dim sum is a disappointment. I don't know whether i have a higher expectation now or did the standard dropped. Cos i don't remember it was that bad the last time. In fact, we use to go there quite often. Even after eating East Ocean the last time my bro, a devoted fan, declared that Paramount is still his favourite. Maybe it is CNY period, the food was not it's usual standard, but still....

Anyway, the dim sum selection is quite forgettable. Unsatisfied, we tried the Peking duck and the Yi Fu noodles instead. It definitely saved the lunch. The first part of the Peking duck dish, the skin was crispy but the sauce was too much. (Side-track: I used to have Peking duck in Perth and it was devine. We had to wrap the Peking duck skin, the veg and the sauce into the egg skin. I loved it. I can control the amount of sauce i want and it wouldn't be too sweet and the skin will still be crispy as it is not soak in the sauce for too long. ) The second part of the Peking duck dish, most of the time i wouldn't even bother. Most restaurant, the duck meat is very dry so when the waiter asked how we want to have the meat cooked, i just said anything. Too my surpirse, the meat is very tender and the sauce complement the meat well. As it was the last dish, i was soo full but i can't help but stuff myself with as many of the meat that was served up. Oops, well i'm not the only one guilty of having such a sluggish diet on CNY. I'm sure there is tons of alike out there.

Chinese New Year 2008

Create Your Own

This year Chinese New Year is like any other year except i will have to go to Stevie's house on the first day. Think he is glad. Finally, after several years, i go to his house on the very first day of Chinese New Year without any arguement. My brother is the one that is not very happy about the whole arrangement as it means that he have to go do visiting by himself with my parents. However, we came up with a compromise arrangement. My parents will do most of the visiting on the 2nd day and i will go along with them to keep my brother accompany.

On the first day of the Chinese New year, as usual my brother is the last person ready. Being the most vain, he is still fixing his hair while i'm ready with my camera. Then Steve got up late and couldn't join in the family photo so we have 2 rounds of family photo to take. By noon time, we are still hanging around in the house. Every year we leave the house later and later. I still remember, when we were younger, we have to leave the house latest by 9am so that we can complete all the visits.

Spring Cleaning for CNY

CNY is round the corner and that means spring cleaning, lots of food and many many Ang Bows!!

Music box my parents gave when i'm in my teens

In prep for CNY, i cleaned the toilet and have finally thrown out all the expired products and empty bottles. Also, I have cleared out my wardrobe. Did not throw out any clothes this time round cos i just did a clearance last quarter. Though still have many clothes i do not like but i still need some spare ones in case i'm lazy and didn't manage to do my laundry.

This time spring cleaning, i was quite thorough. Maybe cos there is no Stevie to disturb me. Went through all the cupboards and while cleaning my music box, which my parents gave me when i was in my secondary school, I opened to listen to the melody. It's been a long time since i open the music box. There was no music. Guess the battery went flat. It is suppose to play "You are my sunshine." When i was younger, afraid that the music will be gone, i used to open the box only when necessary, each time only for just 1 melody (at most 2 melody when i'm very upset). Well, at least i still have it around. Though it could have been better maintained.

Finally, my bed is tidy!!

Well, last but not least my bed. I have changed the bedsheet with my newly purchased bedsheet from Aussino. Picked the purple one to match my purple room. No more hidden clothes beneath all my blankets. I had 3 blankets on my bed cos stevie came over to stay previously and i didn't get a chance to wash them. Dump all the blankets into the washer and now my bed is a lot bigger without all the junk. Found Piggy's cap in one of the lost an found beneath all the blankets and now piggy can wear his cap to cover all the messy hair. Stevie, can you see smelly smelly? It is the only thing i didn't wash.

Finish all my cleaning. I just need to do 1 more laudry and mop my room on CNY eve and it is time for all the food.

Stevie, quick quick come back.

Bonus

This week is bonus announcement week. Bonus is scheduled to be announced on Thursday. Though it is not the first time i get bonus, but i consider this year bonus as the first time i get my first full-year bonus cos for the past years there is always some mishap (be it my emotion or work-related issues), preventing me to work to my fullest. Time seems to crawl while waiting for the revelation of this inaugural bonus to unfurl.

The bonus is definitely not a disappointment, it is what i expect and actually a bit more but my emotion during the meeting is not what i expected. I was not overwhelmed (not even after the figures sink in). I have grappled over what is important to me after my project ended last year. Maybe because i have more time to sit back and think. While my boss is still explaining to me about the bonus and increment, my mind just went blank. My indifference to the figures made me realised money at this point is not a significant factor to me. Though i have discussed with my managers over several occasion about plans for me this year, it has not placated my concerns. Embolden by my frastrations over the past weeks, i felt i need to reiterate my concerns with my boss.

Should i not be so adamant about my career? Should i not be so cynical? It is not as if there is no plans for me this year, it is just not what i wanted (for now). Should i just accept what is as planned? I wish i could but i'm very affected by my emotions. For the past years, i realised i cannot perform if i do not feel motivated. If i just keep mums and just take my pay, i know my performance will definitely be affected and i will feel stagnant and depress. Hopefully, this is just a phase and my frastration will just subside and come to a conciliation.

Well, i should just stop thinking and let nature take it course. "Whatever will be will be" one of my childhood songs.

This post is too serious. Well, at least everyone is happy about their bonus. Had a night out with the gals on friday. Janet abandon us to shop at carefour (soooo aunty!!). So instead of going to KTV as planned, we went for chit-chat session. It is great we reveled about how we are going to spend our bonus, to bras, to our very peculiar habits. At least there are great colleagues to keep me company.

A Bunch of FUN COLLEAGUES :)

Well, this is my first time going to a KTV in Macau. My surprise?! ~ They actually ordered CHIVAS for drinks...hmm... it seems that all auditors drinks muahahaha. I was thinking, maybe, it's our first outing, so beer or 'kiddy' drinks sounds more reasonable lo. Guess I was totally wrong. And to top it off, these guys are good drinkers too, even the girls. However, we have 2 merlions in the end, and both are Singaporeans *sad* muahahaha. Well, in case there's any misunderstanding, it's definitely not ME!!

Enjoyz the pics of my colleagues!! AND ALSO, AFTER WORKING FOR 3 YEARS I FINALLY HAVE MY OWN WORKSTATION!!!! ;)

Work

Well, there's nothing much exciting things to talk about work. For the month of January, you can say that all I've doing is 'self-study'. However, for next month, there will be 2 projects for me. Nothing much exciting for AML, cos I've been doing this back in Singapore. Another is a process review to be done in Hong Kong, most probably will need to stay in Hong Kong for about 1 month. Exciting?! not so sure, cos I can't really see my wife, if there's no internet. :(

Well, work life here is very different from the times in KPMG. In KPMG, I'm used to talking, holding meeting, conference etc with the top management. However, here, there's kinda a hierachy. For meetings with the Directors, VP etc, you need the similiar 'rank' in your own department to arrange. Kinda not used to it, as you can't do as much as you want here. That is to say, things don't usually 'move' as fast if i need to go though such 'process'. However, having say that, I am still wondering if this is a good thing, cos it's kinda you are also not expected to do much. Kinda feel a lost of 'power'......... well, what the heck?! so long they pay me well and on time....... muahahahaha........