Graduation Trip 2

Been quite a while since my last graduation trip.

Went to batam for a RR trip the last saturday, but it turned out to be some sort of a convention. In anycase, it was quite a pleasant trip.

Been to batam at a very young age with my family, and the only thing i could remember was that i waited very long for the ferry to start moving. The rest, i totally couldn't recall. Maybe the place changed a lot, maybe it didn't.. but i liked the way it is now.. and i wished i had bought and brought a netbook.

Their currency had quite a bit of zeros, and sometimes can count wrong.. imagine in zimbabwe - with 231 million % annual inflation last year in 08 (!).. we only 7% nia we niam until dunno what..

'Earth hour' didn't make much difference.. from where we are, we could see sg just across the sea.. and it is still as bright as ever. Didn't get to 'vote' for earth anyway.. and really, i rather vote by switching off the air-con.

The weather was fine.. and it painted quite a nice pic with the sun, sea and sky.







Too bad there isn't really much to do except spa.. and i don't spa de. The fare for a round trip to town cost SG$24.. even more ex than our own cab.

Back to Sg the next day, and the return trip was much better.

IP Cam

Shortly after i shorted my ad-hoc comp, i went sim lim for some 'inspiration'. Quite a lot of netbook to choose from.. and apart from the $400 eeeeeeeee pc that couldn't support XP, the next cheaper and better book is the Aspire one le. Very tempted to buy, but it still cost $600 for the 'last season's' model.

Met someone from BB, and was really 'enlightened' as to which netbook i should consider. Then i saw something... a budget pc, with LCD included. It cost $470 wor.. and with an 1.8 processor. wow... i mean, the specs isn't really that spectacular.. but within $500 for a full pc, even those DIY can be quite difficult to stay within budget.

Saw a lot more chassis and all sorts of weird things people put in their pc.. lol.. wonder if those things really work.

Finally, i bought the IP camera.. but within the complex itself, the pricing is also different. And still dare to put "best price" for IP camera. But still, it was $20 than what was supposed to be at the IT fair. Sigh.. i should have went and get it.. now bdbj waste another $20.

Sunday was too tired to really try out the cam.. and monday i couldn't make it go "wireless".. All the IP and whatever p.. from DHCP to Static IP.. i knew nothing. LOL.. i study banking one lor.. not IT, and certainty not mechanical engineering. so only just, i managed to get it working. Not only that, it can be shared by all in the network. Wow.. only 1 cam, and everybody can see wor. Maybe after i assemble a comp, the CF will have a valid surveillance system le. And if i start saving, maybe i can get another better IP cam with 2 way audio function the next next next IT fair.

Shorted

I shorted the motherboard while trying to assemble a comp for the CF using some leftover parts. Pressed the power switch and there was a spark and a loud "pop" sound.. then came the chao da smell. Sigh.. and i thought i was going to at least save some money.

I guess the mobo already fried itself the other time.. and the power supply also like cmi. Things are left idle for too long, and even those working parts are now turning goyak. At least i now had the reason to put this cpu up for disposal.

Saturday was a disaster. Don't come don't come, one come three four come.. and we only had 2 staff. Damn pek chek.. coz i can't find the goods, and i can't find the price. And then i really quote wrong.. the item was marked up by 50% more than what was supposed to be. Small item still nevermind.. imagine an item costing $100.. then it will be $50 more. Felt so sian coz i don't know whether the customer will come back again or not. It was really a bit too much le. And then there was omission of description on the cash sales receipt.. i guess i really need to ignore the groundwork for a moment and practice more at the front. But i can't.. coz we have no extra staff to spare. I really don't know how.. maybe through all these silly mistakes and a lot more sighing and pek chek-ing that i'll be able to learn.

And.. really, it is all about willingness. Willingness to accept things the way they are, when they are. If not, saying however much also won't help. It just seems like firing blanks.

The Best Yet

Worked till 9 plus the day before, and it was to install pvc into 6 x 60 meters hose. It was all done, 2 days ahead of deadline. We do have deadlines too.. not only accountants hor.. and yes, we have OT too.. and that OT is so unforeseeable.

As always, the moment i had any appointment after work, work will extend till 9 plus. It was like that during xmas eve, and it was yet again so. Supposed to meet up at 8pm, but had to postponed it another 2 hours late. Quite a pek chek-ing feeling, but had to keep morale high.. if not, do until the next day also cannot finish. Everyone is tired (i mean only the 3 of us that is doing.. the rest went home at 5pm daily), and wanted to finish the task asap.

Reached home almost 9.30, bathed and then took cab to the venue. So i get it.. the OT pay is just so that i can pass it to the taxi uncle. But sadly, i do not have OT pay. My "package" is already 'inclusive' of OT.

So i had my dinner at 10 plus, but really, didn't quite have the appetite. I guess it was way too past dinner.

Then i realised why this whole thing seems so messy. It is supposed to be so, coz it isn't otherwise. For just so it meant so much, and hence there is so much to be done. And not only being able is enough, there must be a willingness to.

Finally someone who understands.. what really this is all about.

Woke up this morning and the whole body ache like don't know what. Though so, weather was really nice after a mid-night rain. Saw an sms early in the morning and was really glad.

Noon and i got a call from the studio renting the academic regalia to me. They are really so polite.. and the time for collection was made so that i can get there in time after work. Save me a day of leave lor. So it was on 17th april.. i'm so looking forward.

Work resumes at home, coz was doing data base.. and really, those part-timers deserve that $8 per hour doing this.

Theme

Seems like everyday got a theme like that.

Was doing chiseling and sawing for 5 hours the day before, and was worth it. Leveled up, and things are now moving at a slightly faster pace. My eyesight is getting bad.. coz i mis-cued quite a few times.. and the hammer end up hitting my knuckles. LOL.. it hurts super bad when it was the "Finishing Move".

Almost was going to KO-ed after exerting my energy for the day.. still met up with a friend for dinner. Found a way to make use of excel for pricing. Slowly but surely, i'm moving towards my goals.

Found the "elusive" IP camera. It was there all along.. and the product was what i really wanted. It was selling at 100+ - 300+ for a camera.. and the software is even better. 32 simultaneous video surveillance all in one screen. A bit like casino like that lor. The CF isn't that big.. so i supposed 1 or 2 is more than enough le.
It was more for pre-emp.. so i guess it can be done with a lot of mirrors.. but then again, no more dinosaurs please.

Perhaps i am too happy le.. so happy that i can't get to sleep. I slept at 3am, only to wake up before 7am for work. But i don't feel that elated really. It must have been the 4 x packets of coffee that is causing insomnia.

Maybe i should really cut down my caffine intake le.

Milestone

Saturday was another milestone.

It was just 5 hours of being at the post, yet it seems much longer. As said, the elected manager need only to work half day for saturdays, as with the driver and other support staff. The other next best candidate to fill the post is on leave, so i was left to do it. In total, only the 2 of us in the whole CF.

Even with the help of excel and my 2.something kg heavy laptop, i was still slow in calculating the price. For all i know, the price list is 'heavily coded' and doesn't show the selling price. Different components have different factors, and just by memorizing the factors for each is already enough to cause phd. Plus.. the different size, type and such.. it was no wonder that it took 6 thick files to fill all in.

Then there is a need to recognize faces.. as to who are those that are on credit purchase and those who pay cash. And still need to remember the exact co. names too.. i think next time must ask them for their facebook account le.. hahaha..

And strange things are, customers tend to come at the same time. It is something like those in the F&B.. lunch time especially busy. There are some cases that will need 1 to 1 attention. And with 2 staffs remaining, it can be quite a pileup at the back.

Last saturday wasn't too bad.. just that i was running to and fro from the workbench and the post. At some point, i was all alone in the CF.. and really nobody can help me except myself. I guess this was the 1st CA1 i had after 3 months of OJT. I'm glad of the outcome for now.. The next is this coming sat's CA2. The same setup yet again.

My Back

Whoa.. today the shipment arrives.. and it was all 12 pallets of them. In total, it weighs more than 2 tonnes. We don't have a pallet stacker, and so everything had to be carried in. At this rate, the backs will break rather soon.

I lost weight again.. and it was the 3rd kg in 3 months. The CF is so good.. can slim down and still get paid. LOL.. just that will end up niam a lot also lor.. haha.

It was a busy week, all the way from monday.. it was all till around 7pm when work is almost done for the day.. and the consecutive 4 days of such is about to break the crew le.. lol.. but this is good.. at least still got things to do during such times.

Now the canteen above doh le.. coz i heard the towkay never pay for the rent and bills.. in the end the electricity also cut.. wah... very jia lat lor.. and jia lat for me also.. nothing to eat. No wonder lose weight la..

And lunch time for us, is not stipulate.. at least not for the ground crew. So that day i had my lunch at 5pm, and dinner at 9pm. Sometimes really don't have the time to eat peacefully lor.. coz we lack people who do what we do. Lunch was on a rotational basis too.. and it is during lunchtime that customers usually come. Sometimes i see those eng eng cheng cheng from other offices walk in groups of 5-6 go for lunch together.. eat finish liao still nua until 1 hour is up.. the canteen doh liao still can take bus or drive car go elsewhere eat. And still 1 hour is not really enough like that.. wow.

Plus Plus

A bit more, and i become plus plus le.

Sigh however loud also not much use.. coz everywhere and everyone also plus plus. As if my own is not enough to read.. and still got a lot more to read.

It was said that blood is thicker than water.. i always have this belief. But it seems that it isn't always the case. Perhaps, i'm really very fortunate. I do value kinship very much, and i'll be at a lost when certain things go against my belief.

Is it another case of whether the chicken first or the egg first? Cause and Effect, but what causes the Cause? I'm not them, so i don't understand. However much i can mediate, it only make things worse. Perception at things are different, values are different, the experience is different and so on.. so how can i truely understand them? Not even the villagers. But i know i'll be there always. Just hope that i can be of help.

I do hope that things will clear soon, and all be happy and healthy.

Outer space

And i thought i was in outer space or what. Are they all aliens of some sort? They have no honor, and they showed no respect.

Today was a bad day, just as yesterday. Was OTC coz the "elected manager" was on leave for 2 consecutive days. It was like another new job scope without the orientation. Had to adjust again to the new job scope, and as usual, tio bua-ed. Of coz, i don't know much.. especially the specs and the way they do things. The end users describe things in a funny way.. coz they don't know the correct term for it. I don't blame them.. but their description are way off. As to why am i there i also don't know. Coz it was for the CF, and i am supposed to learn through experience, in every place, in every department.

The fact is, i've made quite a mess, and there isn't anybody to help clean it up. Not that nobody is willing, it's just that we are really short of people.

Think i need a phone recorder le.. either my hearing is super bad or that they are speaking some alien language. Coupled that with some sort of don't know what accent and dialect, i think i need a translator as well. I wondered seriously, what are smses for. Either that, or they don't know how to use. Then email lei? Maybe their planet also don't have. The IT revolution already over liao, and still i'm like living in the dino era.

It wasn't a new thought as i doubt my presence at the CF.

Sometimes i wondered, if there is a job elsewhere with a higher pay (actually lower pay i also don't mind), air-conditioning, personal computer and desk, shorter working hours (that is a five-day work week), and the only injury is paper cut, will i not be tempted? Of coz, the pay isn't everything.. but if not for the pay, why work? Coz too bored? Coz it is morally wrong to be physically unemployed? Or does work have to be such that there is a paycheck? And the higher the paycheck, the implication that more is done?

But it was for a clause.. it was for the CF afterall, and for that, i have to be resilient or perhaps even oblivious to all things.

People keep saying that the product is lousy in your face, and still want discount when the price is already 1/3 of what is in the market. And they don't stop there.. they niam and niam and niam.. even more lengthy than my blog entry. A lot of JW.. and if they so unhappy about it, why not find a better place to satisfy whatever want they have.. perhaps in outer space? No need to be like that.. sometimes, "士可殺，不可辱".. leave some leeway for people, 日后好相见. Or maybe go back to outerspace and they can do whatever they want.

Then finally, someone from my planet came. I don't care whether it was some insurance company or banks coming to fill their database.. at least i understand them and vice-versa. So we had a small chat (while i'm filling up the so-called survey form) and it was more of me asking than answering. And the best part is, they speak the same language as me.. the same broken singlish.. lol. Well.. it beats having to understand from pure ang mor accent to super broken english ba. Separately maybe.. but one after another, it is difficult for me to "switch mode".

So after that, it was back to outer space.. but at least i'm happy.. happy by the fact that there is at least some kind of worth. I know where it is, and it's all that counts. Following that, i met a first-time customer that really showed how cultivated one could be. At least he knows how to receive one's name card with both hands.. and he wasn't any different (at least from the attire and appearance) from those in the same industries. It is a respectable industry even though people dress until lok lok.. just a simple gesture, and you'll feel the difference. Everywhere is the same, regardless the colour of the collar. Doesn't mean that wage-earners are there to be abused.. not bus-captains, not nurses, not waiters, and certainly not me.

彩虹 彩虹

哪里有彩虹告诉我..





Like everyday got rainbow like that.

Beyond Me

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It was said then, and it still is.

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Wondered what i did last saturday at the CF that gave me the ache. Kind of bugging my sole weekend away. Perhaps was too much into groundwork for most of the time that my industry knowledge is kind of goyak. 3 months on, and it wasn't even 10% of what was to be. Sometimes, it is quite depressing to not know what to do. They all told me to take my time... i know they used to learn it the same way too, but now is already 2009 le. Why can't i learn it like there is a proper course for it? There is non to be offered.. and my lessons are from their mistakes. So that day, a dump truck came and wanted us to service the hydraulic hose under the dump box. The dump box had to be lifted before the hose can be taken out.. but it was not as if so. Once the pressure in the hose drops, the box will fall.. and there is no time to even try to run. Luckily i wasn't left alone in this case.. i don't think common sense is so common to me at that point in time.

I guess i can only try to be careful at all times, those unforeseeable, i hoped i have the opportunity to learn. The rest is really beyond me.