Happenings

Blogging is now much of a weekly event.

Some major happenings in my life (or at least i though.. but this one is really one of those =) ) for the past week.

Didn't know how come, but most of the niam-ing ceased.. though i still complain now and then.. but i really prefer to have more work than nua-ing around. Of coz, someday i might think otherwise.. but for now, it is as it is.

Assumed a lot more responsibility coz i'm no longer a child.

Meanwhile, the kopi session was a success, from the organiser point of view. Basically i just nod and nod my head.. hahaa.. and there it was, a resolution, and another turning point.

Just that the goose that laid the golden egg was almost killed. Some people are just so anxious to get things done. Of coz, in the end, the outcome is only do or don't. There is no why yes, but rather, why not.

In any case, the countdown timer started.. and in another 28 days' time, it will be. That is the current schedule.. hopefully all goes well.

@ Work, i dug out quite a few stacks of catalogs... those of the chocolates, and even the machines that the chocs are supposed to serve. No wonder the senior mech knew so much. I really need to work extra hard to catch up.. after all, it is just 6 years of difference. Which is just 2000 odd days. Sigh.

Getting tired nowadays.. and will be even more so in time to come.

Better than Nothing

Blogging has taken a back seat for the moment since it was more on microblogging on twitter nowadays.

The audit cleared, but i had made myself the scapegoat. I forgot who did the count so i admit that it was me. Later on, i went to find the evidence.. and it wasn't me. Wanted to 'clear' my name.. but then again, it would smear someone else, and really, since i got the butter already, whats the point?

It was tough.. but i'm glad it wasn't me who made the sort of silly mistakes. Too bad the vader thought i very sotong.

Then, the delivery order went missing.. and it had my signatures on it.. sigh.. all the butter all come together. This time round, i couldn't find it.. and so it remained missing.. Wanted to photocopy, but was almost 'caught'. LOL.. to think that i had to do this sort of 'steal chicken' thing.

Then everything seems to settle down.. i've got renewed passion for this luan qi ba zhao job, and got a bit more confidence to learn more skills. Meanwhile, it was sour grapes elsewhere. Felt bad somehow.. coz i was merely just another piece on the chessboard. Wanted much for things to change, so there wouldn't be so much conflict in the CF.. yet as things are, we are mostly concerned with what is in front of us. Afterall, the most important thing is for the sampan to stay afloat, and to move.

Rekinded slightly, yet i lost passion for music. I find it really a bit of a burden already.. people change, and there are things that once lost, would be lost.. perhaps forever. Found some engineering magazines online, specific to those at the CF, and was in the US. The subscription will cost around $700+! LOL.. where to get this kind of money to fund such 'hobby'? But really.. i have to improve my knowledge if i want to stay on. Well.. perhaps no need 700+.. coz i found a sg edition online for free.. just that it was really nothing much.. Better than nothing.

Work is getting interesting nowadays. I claimed my own workspace, somewhat a temporary office that is non-aircon-ed. The CM installed a very light duty fan on top of the shelves, and there i had it.. a rather 'decent' workspace, just nice for me to access to the workbench and the counter.. and also to the office too. It is really the center of the whole CF. Yet the very next day, a new batch of stock obliterated the 'office'.. lol.

My "first" office.. i'll make sure i work towards getting a real office for myself.

Anyway, i won't be needing a workspace after the audit.. coz i got nothing to type anymore.. It was really just a bookshelf and a plastic stool.. and nothing else. But that is really enough le. Luckily my netbook is small.. haha.. so still got space to put calculator, loads of paperwork, and a few caffeine booster. Compared admin work to whatever sales or mechanical work, i still feel that i can perform better doing former.. though i seriously need to shut down my msn.

Work aside.. i think i won't be getting the iphone 3gs afterall. Still have contract with the orange colour co. and breaching the contract would cost me $200. Then signing up for the new plan, will cost quite a bit too.. plus the cost for new sim card and registration.. the whole thing would cost almost the same as buying one without contract. Might as well forget about it.. lol.. i am a mechanic.. mechanic don't need such good phones.

Pakki was back home for a week le, and is getting on well. The food poisoning incident was quite costly.. in all, it was around $300. Luckliy he got medical attention in time.. if not i think even $500 couldn't change anything.

Sis is coming back tomorrow.. and the kuti chia will be back to her care.. Washed it before the handing over, and it wasn't as bad as i had really thought. Suddenly i wanted to own one car myself.. lol.. i think i'm so used to driving around. Perhaps in time to come, i'll drive to work, and i'll work to drive. Just today, drove to amk hub to get a mini cpu desk and a few more things. With a car, nothing is too heavy or bulky to buy. And the kuti r1 is such a fuel saver.. but of coz, 600cc only.. what to expect?

Finally after 3 weeks, my weekend came. Time to take a breather, and to re-zero my goals. Every choice inccur opportunity cost, so there is really no right or wrong. So be it.

BHWDIHTWOS?

Maybe i'm made of metal.



Work resumes on sunday, and i was to physically count the stock. Then i had to tally up the total from all sides. Then i had to key into the excel. It seems, i get to do everything. Come monday, i still need to fulfill my usual tasks. AND BLOODY HELL.. what did i just signed myself up?



Had dinner at 9pm, barely finishing work @ the CF.. with quite a few sheets to add. Reached home 10 plus, and there was on my desk, the task i had to complete asap. I think i can see my whole sunday burn until chao ta, burn until nothing left.



I lament not becoz i detest having such a wide jobscope (though this might just be a bit too wide), nor having to work on sundays. I just don't understand, why there are some people not needing to do much, worse still, still need people to cover for their task. Of coz, i don't mean the boss.. coz the boss really no need to do all these minor task.


Just too bad.. just too bad..

Poor Pakki

Poor pakki was hospitalised today.. so ke lian. And he was given 2 jabs, and got a thermometer jammed to his butt hole, and blood samples were taken from him.. poor thing.

It was due to food poisoning.. and quite jia lat. His stool got blood.. and we all thought he ate something that damaged his intestine or what.

So morning, i was giving 'off' to drive pakki to sbw to see the vet. Though sick, he was excited to be on a trip, and also to see so many other dogs there.

The vet gave him 2 jabs, and he didn't even resist. I guess he was really weak le. It hurts to see him going through all these.

In the end he had to be on the drip, and need to stay there. Wondered will he miss us or not.

So in the late evening, the vet called.. pakki is getting better le. Phew. Hope he got plenty of rest tonight and recover soon.

I know he'll be happy to be home.

Slacking

Been slacking around the CF for the past 2 days.

Stock check is coming, so most are busy with the counting of chocs.. where 'most' referred to the Chief Mechanic, Senior Mechanic and of coz me, the Assistant Mechanic. Even Darth Vader came out of the air-con office to support us. Yet.. yet.. i don't know.. perhaps the elected manager thinks he did his share in the past, so now it is up to the 'younger generation' to learn.. or he is just wanting to past time in the CF.. i don't know and i don't understand, and i don't like it any bit.

So i just find a corner and conveniently connect my netbook to the power point, and there i had it.. hanging on the net just as i did before i started work. So i msn-ed, tweeted and listen to 933 all day long while counting stock. Not surprisingly, efficiency isn't my forte given the distraction, but at least a decent 'workstation' IMO. I don't wield the spanner as effectively as i did with a pen (though not splendidly).. and i still don't really know what's my job scope. It was everything and anything i supposed. My 'promotion' didn't come as promised.. from 3 months to 6 months.. i guess after 1 year also like that. Keep hope, and you'll keep them.

So today, my morning was occupied with some admin stuffs.. that is to register the newly acquired CPU.. Strange.. admin staff don't do admin stuffs.. But of coz, it was with 'ease' relatively.

Was banned from the workstation for 2 consecutive days coz of some internal strife. Perhaps was also triggered by the crowding of the mechanics at the station, and also the refusal of certain individual to delegate jobs. In the end, i had to stay away to let them sort it out on their own.. less me being accused of being bias.

It was rather frustrating to see those who know not willing to show. What happened was all the cannon after the calvary. Sigh.. then still want to act li hai like that. Maybe like this then i can remember better.

Sian 3/4 to fumble in front of customer.. and being incompetent means more opportunity for customers to find fault. Already so that melon kept on doing returns and exchanges (and i don't even know whether it was my fault or his).. and try to find bones inside the egg. In any case, i've got much to learn.

Already the euphoria days ago expired, and things are slowly getting back to what was before.

Meanwhile, pakki puked again, and he was feeling rather ill-ish. So come tomorrow, i was given the task to drive pakki to the vet, coz i'm not that indispensable at the CF. So i had to take over the vader in the mundane task. This is kind of worrying.. coz i might really lose my job anytime.

I just wished i had that kind of motivation again soon.

Mini Kuti Chia

Went test driving the kuti chia R1 today.

It was.. really Small. Mini. Tiny.

I think i almost hit the rooftop.. hahaha.. and then all the things seems very mini like that.. mini handbrake, mini mirror and all.. makes driving a whole lot more stressful.

Of all, i still liked 1707 best.. lol.. though is the ah pek sunny.. but very zai, and a bit old school. Vios was a bit light, and the steering tends to drift from side to side (perhaps it was my lousy driving). Spaceship 5? What can i say.. it was so smooth that i didn't realise i was speeding.. hahaha.. no wonder i only get to drive it 3 times. The kuti R1 wasn't to my expectation too.. coz the 1st 2 gears are too rough le.. a bit noisy, and slow in picking up. 600cc nia.. nothing much to expect. The whole ride was quite rough, coz the pickup is slow, but the brake is very zai.. in the end got to step harder when accelerating, and softer when braking. Quite confusing lor.. and the best part is, i get motion sickness while being a driver.. ahahahaha..

Drove to JTC to have botak, on the way passing TPY.. it really was very near.. and still remembered the times when i had to take a cab home from tpy.. $5 nia.. and i buay tahan le. Now dong bu dong za cab.. haiz.. and most are above $10.. Now $30 fuel already 3/4 tank full le.. somemore like take cab there and back again. Of coz, forget about the installments ba.. at least for now.

So today at the CF, my customer came back again.. and then they all pushed it to me again. I act pek chek and smack the choc on the table..coz was trying to get the debris out, but i overdid it.. and i think i scare quite a few of them. Well... after that, people start being automated.. lol. It did work.

For the later part of the day, i was rather motivated.. coz i had a dream.. and to realise it, i had to be diligent. Nothing is impossible.. though perhaps i was mistaken. But at least for now.. i have a dream to keep me going.. and work is part of the key. I can't possibly dio diao at the current situation.. i need time to get my own life going. I'm not going to sell all my time to the CF, at least not until i settle down.

I guess i wasn't tempted by the usual Cs.. so i didn't care initially. But now i needed time to make way for opportunity. My opportunity cost is too high at the CF.. and i couldn't really accomplish anything at all. Everyday just make chocs and niam.. make chocs and tio niam. Already on the way to 26 le.. and i don't want the rest of my life to be like that.

Of coz, i needed a lot more time savers.. kuti chia or not, it still is one of them.

GDI

Didn't have much time to log in, much lesser for blogging. Anyway, blogging is kind of outdated.. lol.. so here it is..

Sunday - 280609
Band pract as usual. but reached later than usual. Did some essential foundation on the horn, and the rest of the time some nonsense on the trumpet. Lost quite a bit of passion i discovered. Maybe a bit, but i don't know what is it.

Was off to sim lim to get another CPU for the CF.. coz the atom 230 processor wasn't enough for FB. GDI.. and so i discovered that the atom 230 was selling at $100 above the price at com fair. So i actually got a rather good deal then.. just becoz of that FB, it was discredited. Since when is FB essential for work?

Got a usb hp charger.. which i think is quite cool. Sooner or later, i'll run out of USB ports. Also, i've found the recorder i was looking for.. and for quite an acceptable price too.. so on the whole, still not quite a wasted trip.

Completed my task and again, sent the CPU to the CF.. this time with help from the CF mobile. Just the CPU alone cost $700.. if not fast, i don't know what to say le. Fixed and got it running, and still had to transfer the data and set up the email and other admin stuffs. GDI.. since when i was employed as a multi-functional employee?

All was done, and continued with the stock taking till 8pm. On a Sunday. GDI.

Tuesday - 300609
It was decided, to start work an hour early for the day. Woke up before 6am to prepare, but reached just half an hour early. The morning peak is really time wasting de lor..

Nothing much achieved. Really nothing much. Unless is way before the morning peak.. maybe 6am or something like tt. Just maybe one day.

Wednesday - 010709
My only customer came last minute, and started to be rather demanding. The other time he requested us to OT till 8 plus, and this time he wanted us to rush. Just too bad we ran out of stock.. coz things are rare, so it happened. I can't do anything also.

CM went woodlands to get the stock, while some were making snide remarks. It is really for the 'what if'. It is ASAP, not OTOT. If everything is foreseeable, try foreseeing the stock.

Thursday - 020709
1st of July, and i OTed at home till 3am. GDI.

Friday - 030709
Received something, and also a bit of pressure on top of that.

Went boiler at st james again, and drank the same old martell again. And quite a bit, i know what it is. Intended to leave early, but was held on by some 'incident'.. that being, someone was drunk, and couldn't make it through the ride home without puking. So waited i did. And some more waiting. From 4am - 5am, and 5am - 6am. A bit more, and i can straight away go work from harbour front le.

In the end, i did whatever i could to send the drunkard home, and then back home to get ready for work. Was almost 7am, and no point sleeping. GDI.. Not drunk also like that.

Saturday - 040709
Was really a torture. It was worse than WUI. I kept wanting to fall asleep, no matter what i was doing. The caffaine effect only lasted for 30 minutes before i start fighting the Z monster again. Was falling asleep even while writting the cashsales.. lol.. i wondered if i gave away any freebies or not.

And then.. work was extended till 6.30pm. On a saturday. GDI.

Went home, forgone my dinner and went sleep right after bathing.

Sunday - 050709
Woke up not quite early, coz needed to replenish 2 nights of sleep. Chose not to drive the kuti chia coz can sleep on the way. In the end, i took a cab to boonlay. $14.80.

Again, worked on the foundations. Combine pract was over at 11am, and so i chose to leave early.. for work.. on Sunday. Thought there was going to be a com meeting.. so i had to apply for 'leave' till 4 plus.. but since it was cancelled due to many reasons, i had to be back at the CF to fulfill my duty. It won't be fair if the others are working while i just do my own things. Not as if they don't have their own things to do too. Of coz, the ones who worked OT are all from the same village.. how can i not go?

Did stock taking till 8pm.. really huat liao lo.. on a sunday.

Again, KIVed all the things i wanted to do.. till the next weekend.. perhaps the week after that.. perhaps to the week next after the next. Who knows? I don't know.

Bailed

Took a few weeks of anticipation, and in the end, i bailed. Sometimes it was contrary to what i intended.

Maybe the market is as 'confused', or maybe it really knows what it is doing. But i don't know. IMO, it is just self-fulfilling. I'm being cynical, especially when it concerns "that" sector. That said, i also don't know why i study finance.. coz even so, i still don't know where my money went to.

Not the Storeman

I guess it must be the lack of sleep.

I've been feeling rather pek chek lately, and easily irritated by minor issues. So that day, an outsite colleague was making quite a fuss coz certain things were out of stock. I don't know what gave him the idea that i am the "storeman" there.. and then he questioned how i did my job. So i asked him, "what did you just called me?".. and he repeated.. and i just gave him a 2 words sentence ending with "you". Bloody hell.. i am not the storeman, especially not your house de storeman. Don't freaking hell call me a storeman when i'm not one. Knew i over-reacted, and knew he didn't mean it, but i just feel bu shuang. It was a trigger point, coz all along, i felt that there was some basic manners lacking, till the point of being disrespectful. I had enough. I'll bite when i have to.

The issue isn't with the vocation.. i was an ammo storeman during NS (known as Supply Assistant), and recently was the storeman for the band. I have nothing against the nature of the job.. and i admit i was taking it personally.

Today, one of the botak customer want to join in too. Just as each of them had a few customers that purposely pick on them, i realised that i had one of my own too. He was around the other time when i tio bua by another customer.. so i guess it gave him the idea that he could fa xie on me too. The vader told me to bear with it for the sake of money.. ya.. for $5.50 at times. My breaking point was lowered substantially for the week since sunday.. and it was quite risky for me to be dealing with customers.

In the end i retreat to the stores to count chocolates. LOL.. and i still deny that i'm the storeman. Haha.. i really am not.. but just so that the CF is running under the village's name, i had to do everything and anything. The store, really, wasn't under my care. I am still too inexperienced to be maintaining the store. The annual stock check is coming.. and this year will be so different. In the past i just handle the documents.. now i'll be doing the physical count. Still, i am not the storeman.

Overwhelmed

Once again, things are shifted. I guess it is difficult to find a set of parallel lines.

K-ed till late, and had a late supper of instant noodles. It's been quite some time since i last went, and already it felt different. Perhaps really L liao. Wasn't really singing anyway.. coz i can't sing well.. lol.. and it was so the L-er i get. Reached home and it was already almost 4am in the morning. Pakki was kind enough to give me a morning call at 6am.. lol.. and he can be a really annoying and accurate alarm clock. Can't really set the time, but it should be around 5.30am - 7.30am.

Was so tired till i wanted to take a break.. but somehow, i went for pract. Hence, it was 24/7 of waking up before 7. Not that i don't want to sleep early.. but having to work for an average of 10-11 hours per day is leaving me with not much time. Sleep somemore, and i'll totally have 'no life'. Though so, i'm not earning much to be spending on some of the finer things in life.. but i guess i'd rather trade back some time with cash.

So for the night (morning), i only slept for 2 hours.

The 2 hours of brain battery was supposed to last me through the day, but i used it all up after the warm-ups. And to top it off, there is supposed to be some sort of musical 'challenge' going on. Already i don't have space to remember the types, size and price of the chocolates at the CF liao, and now still got to memorize the major and minor scales. It can be rather overwhelming at times.

Sometimes, i really need some reason to keep me going.

Was off to the IT fair to get a new desktop for the CF (by orders of the darth vader). As usual, the fair was very crowded. Knew i would be getting quite a number of things, so i made all the purchases starting with the smallest item. In all, i've spent around 1K on the IT products.. half of it which is claimable (which is only the desktop that i'm supposed to buy). The 360 degree IP camera alone cost $349 lor.. and it was bought using my own money - for use in the CF. And i am not the only user there. Found a phone logger there.. wahahah.. and it is quite retro lor. Still use cassette de.. lol.. technology from the dino era. Again, that piece of plastic is for use in the CF.. and it cost me $50. The only thing that i got for myself is the 1 TB (!) ext HDD. 1 TB leh.. lol.. and to think that my 1st PC had an internal HDD of 4GB only.

It was quite chaotic there. Wonder why they made those boxes so big. It was only 2 small items, but already my hand were full. Plus the lack of sleep, all i wanted was to get over and done with. And the desktop was really cash and carry. Carry.. with those kind of reusable gigantic shopping bags. Then the cardboard handle of the box gave way.. so i had to hug the monitor all the way to the taxi stand. That is, together with the hand carry cpu, ip cam, phone logger, ext hdd, and my already very heavy crumpler bag. I was so 'glad' that the CF trained me for the past 6 months. And really, "spaceship 5" wasn't being offered.

Reached home tired and pek chek, and the vader was sleeping. Found out what that desktop or rather 'whom' that desktop was for.. and really, i couldn't be more p*****. Sometimes, it felt as if i work 24/7.. I really really really really need a break of some sort. If not i might break.

With my weekend burned yet again, i've failed to accomplish tasks that i've set to do for myself. I might have to just wait for another week. Things just keep coming, and my weekends keep burning.. And it seems to be never ending...

"L"

I get tired easily nowadays.. maybe really "L" le.

Finally got through of the 2 weeks of my 1st CA at the CF.. and it really is draining all my energy away. I've lost weight yet again.. and even the driver said so.

It is really not easy to start a biz.. and as the saying goes.. it is even more difficult to sustain it. Things are being so, and people are being so. Even the whole economic environment is being so. Not something that even if you can, you will. I usually don't like to clear mess.. especially when it is not mine.

But what to do.. there is the Darth Vader.. and i have no wish to see the otherwise.

Was back to boiler at st james on sat again.. and really can feel "L" le.. Another martell was opened, and was roughly the 5th this year. 4 of us finished the whole bottle, as if we were very young like that.. all tah tah tah... "bo tah and you know what"..

Made it a point not to be there on my bday.. lol. Assumed the name of "Mark".. and i don't know how many names i had before. It was solely for use as a means for others to remember my name.. especially when biz is concerned. My CL name is really too difficult to remember le, and the initials, is something else. It is only good for schooling.. coz the lecturer will call those easy easy ones.. hahaha.. but not now. I really need customers to remember my name. In the CF line, most names are either ah simi.. but i doubt they use it in the finance sector.

Slept for less than 3 hours before going for band pract. Audition was on, and so the rest had to self pract. Almost fainted.. lol.. tuning was out, scales were wrong, tempo was off, and rhythm was wrong. I wonder where was the 'inspiring' factor they were talking about. Nevertheless, it was still some work done, and even though however basic. Played "a walk on a scary day", and it was scary indeed. At least, the rhythmic part was on par (less the pitch and tone).. and really can quite see the importance of foundation.

Well, i have no rights anyway.. i am the amateur of the amateur. If it was my section, i would have known what i want. Not when there are more cooks than pots. Still liked the sound of the horn more than the trumpet, but the horn sounds quite horrible when the sense of pitch is missing. That being i don't know what note i'm playing, yet i still want to match that note. I need to polish up my horn playing le.. it is really not an easy instrument at all. With 6 work days, i think i should be too "full of life" to get somemore "life" into my life.

Was so glad to be offered a ride back home by one of the pending new members.. and it was all the way near my place.. wahahahah... and hopefully she get the approval from our band director to join us..

Rested well enough since i reached home early, and had to do my best for work for the coming week. There might be some changes in the coming year at the CF, and i need to learn fast. Might need to get back to the CF on sundays if things go as planned.. that is, loan the kuti R1 and also learn to tend the CF alone. I've already done so during the past 2 weeks.. the whole CF left me alone.. they all went to have lunch/ buy lunch.. and then 3 customers appeared all at the same time.. what to do.. "L" skywalker ma..

Overloaded

Overloaded.

If things are not that 'flexible', it won't be so challenging. Difficult not to make conflicting offers.. but with different staffs following different cases, it is difficult to adhere to a standard offer. The CF is not a supermarket, where there are price tags for everything. It depends on the total quantity purchased.. And in the competitive market, there will be some who will always try to sound out the market. How to be vague and at the same time make a convincing offer?

So after 5 months of being in the production line, i was 'given' the opportunity to attempt some sales of the CF. Not so much of a product information but a suitable quote for the items. And suitable means retaining customers and profitability. I don't have a quota yet.. it is more of a personal responsibility i've placed. If everything sell dirt cheap, of coz can hit quota.. but the whole picture won't look that good.

The inventory was in my care too for the past week.. maintaining sufficient stock and at the same time source for cheaper (but same quality) alternatives. Also, to maintain just the right amount of stock to lower storage cost and also to avoid storing things that have low turnover rate. If the inventory can be forecasted like the weather, there won't be any butter in the CF.

Not to mention, i still have to fulfill my mechanic work, and at times to answer phone calls, and also tend the counter as the cashier. That is on top of fabricating connection methods and finding the correct adapters from a quite a number of them. Plus the inventory and sales i had to followup, i think i alone is definitely not enough.

Just too bad when some chose to stay indifferent.. i don't know why.. never did the CF ill-treat them.. i guess, people lose their motivation when they are at a post for too long. And i can understand .. for it is their only post for the past decade. And if i want to make a fuss, they are on a higher payroll - for one job. I know they can choose to be so for they fulfill the minimum requirement to stay employed.

I guess it was the overloading of work that i fell asleep before 8pm yesterday.. and i knew it.. i was ill this morning. Missed the A&C meeting and also quite a few other appointments just to rest at home. I still have a week more to go before the senior mechanic is back to relief some of my workload.

Fries

Just had a very full dinner.. yet it wasn't the ba zhang that did the job. In fact, i haven't eaten one.. though there is a bunch of them in my fridge.

Was at botak jones (near the SPH one), and had to queue for an hour just to place order. I thought i was very hungry, so i topped up the fries after doubling it.. hahaha.. wrong move. The plate also got no place to put the fries lor..



And i thought i was in some sort of eating competition or what.. (the other plate of fries was mine too..zzz)

Saw someone that looked like someone there.. but that someone isn't that someone.. Suddenly i kept thinking, and wondered what had happened. I think i got scared the other time.. lol.. blame it on my impulse.. maybe i scare more than i got scared.. and i don't know what is what liao lo.. but i won't dare again. Not that i don't want.. is i don't dare.. lol.

Anyway, dinner wasn't as nice as i was full.. and with a full stomach, i can't sleep.. so here is all the nonsense, less that all i know is complaining about the CF.. lol.

That Path

Was off to scc at boonlay on sunday, but was feeling very tired.

The instruments were all shifted to the store below and the dressing room converted to the library. At least the store looks like the store, and the library looks like the library. But still, instruments are missing, and many lacking maintenance.

At least, there were many there to help too, and mainly are those few that will stay. And already, some of the in-comings won't be coming. The new arrangement will somehow create quite a bit of challenge since time is no longer on my side. Free days are always a plus.. but with the sole off day from work gone, i can forget about doing a lot of things. As i've promised, it'll be a promise.. it isn't no choice.. it is my choice.

After all the packing and checking of the instruments (which was already done the previous week), it was already noon.. Took a ride on my friend's car after lunch, but i missed the opportunity to alight.. it was so near yet so far.. lol.. blame it on the new viaduct. Alighted at somewhere familiar.. somewhere near an expressway and a park connector. Then there was a kind of nostalgia. Haiz...

It wasn't very far from a busstop where i could have a direct ride home, but i choose to take the path. By then, it was already 3pm. I thought that it would be the last time walking through this path, and maybe, a closure to some thoughts. This time round, i walked alone.. and really, it seems kind of dull. It wasn't the path really.. coz it didn't change. What changed was something else.


The "path".. no prize for guessing the correct location though..

So halfway, i bailed. The weather was very hot.. and i only had 5 hours sleep for the past 2 days. lol.. i guess i must have been quite naive to hope to achieve anything just like that. Found another path that lead to the mainroad that i was very familiar with. And within 30 mins, i was home. Things didn't change any bit.. as expected.

Maybe next time, i just cycle through.. lol..

A Pinch of Butter

Was at butter fac last night for the first time.

Somehow, it seems like the then MOS, just much smaller. Was crowded inside, and nowhere to move. Then some losers try to stun our martell.. economic downturn until so jia lat meh?

The 1st sip, and already i felt like puking. Didn't like the taste anymore. It was long island, and now martell. Tried to limit the intake due to work the following day, so the last bottle wasn't cleared.

Was home at 5am, and was asleep at 6am. Woke up at 7am for work, and my head was aching. I'm old le.. just one night only, and the whole body like going to fall apart. The one hour of sleep lasted me till 5pm.. but i'll need a lot more to cover. Not this week perhaps.. coz i'll need to be at boonlay on sunday morning.

Since the senior mech was in-camp, workload increased substantially. Exposure and experience increased too. Made a successful quote and also fabrication of power pack and the supporting adapters. Multiple ways, similar outcome, yet different price perhaps. So the mission is to find the most direct and cheapest method. My STM was cleared slightly coz had to remember the location, type and size of the adapters.. well.. though i could have use the computer to fabricate such a programme. Yet there are times where the cpu is not accessible.. so i had to train my brain 1st.

A lot more yet to come.. and i got a few addition into my CRM list. The discount given, items taken, and contacts.. so far, only 2.. lol.. i hoped that i can accumulate a larger customer base, and then, to work towards my goal.

Opportunities are plenty, just that i chose not to. Not that i can't (maybe sometimes i over-estimate myself.. lol..), but coz i don't want (actually i really don't want a lot, even when it is so obvious that it is something i should have). Since so, i stand by the choices i've made, though on the surface i still niam a lot.. yet...

A few depressing things start making me quite sian recently. Some are even not worth the attention. Yet the cumulative effect is there. I start to doubt a lot of things, and even the choices i've made thus far. Some are already proven, yet others, i might never know otherwise. I don't have many pinches of salt really..

Everything Wrong

The Grand Mechanic was on medical leave for the past 3 1/2 days. The Elected Manager was on leave too. Suddenly, opportunities were plenty. Plenty of them for me to get it wrong.

Again, i gave out 'freebies' through carelessness, though the amount is just that of a upsized char kway tiao.. but the feeling is quite sian. Pricing dropped again due to competition. I happened to chance upon one of the competitor's website.. and was told that the company had just been taken over by a mnc. Quite a bad situation. And yet still, there seems to be no improvement at the CF. It was as if that this line is woon woon jiat bee hoon.

A week on, and the Senior Mechanic will be going for re-service.. and there'll be one less in the production line.

Friday was a busy day, and it was a record for me at least in the amount of cables being produced. In total, 790 metres being done..Glad that it was the smallest diameter requested. Yet come monday, there'll be over a tonne (and i really mean 1000kg) of hose to drag, measure, cut and crimp. And just that 790 mtr is enough to make the callus 'protected' palm to be filled with blisters, and the blisters to burst before they swell. Till monday.. lol.. i can just see the mood of those in the production line.

Was wrong in the diagnosis of one of the hose.. in the end, the customer had to travel to and fro twice from PSA. It was 1.30pm, and i was just getting ready to have my lunch.. and the customer shouted to me, "吃什么饭!?!" And then the rest were an awful lot of comments that i have no wish to replicate. It was my fault really.. so i just kept quiet while remarks went non-stop. Yet it was so damn depressing to be scolded until like i'm totally worthless. And i don't even have the right to eat.


From left: Actual sample, correct insert, wrong insert. And i picked the wrong one.. At least it will be memorable.

I have no rights anyway in such a predicament. I am a worker, and it was worse than some of the other employees. And not only that, i still need to cover for those few that already had so little to do. With that, i am convinced that cost savings can easily be achieved. It is only a matter of want or don't want. No contributions, no cut.

The board appointed insurance co. didn't want to process my coverage coz the questionnaire wasn't enough.. but my medical report with TTSH was 10 years thick.. and i don't even know what they want. They didn't know either... lol.. how great.. No wonder life is great, at least for them ba.

Sunday, and i went scc to check some of the instruments with the current QM, and at the same time to clean up the stores a bit. It was super dusty lor..

Was already 7pm when i reached home.. boonlay still is very far.. circle line or no.

Something Wrong

Ate something wrong this morning that caused me the runs.

And another dish end up in my "blocked" list. I should have known better.. early in the morning, and my whole work routine was disrupted.

Once is more than enough. It was quite an awful experience, even surpass that of the lei tea rice.

Maybe next time i buy from the stall with the longest queue..

Quite Some Time

It's been quite some time since i last updated.

Somehow, there isn't much to blog about.. or rather, isn't much that i'm willing to blog about.

Band pract was cancelled.. probably coz of the swine flu.. and suddenly i had so much time on hand. Did a bit of housekeeping, and also some of the follow-up for the CF.

Perhaps

Was getting lazy this morning.. and so found it difficult to wake up early. 24/7 as such, and my late nights are gone.

Was an hour late for band pract, and as always, the turnout isn't really that good. Yet again, the usual few who came as always, that's why the band is still there.

Very like the configuration of the band today.. it sounded quite nice (i mean better than usual).. wondered why.. perhaps the tuning, perhaps the tone, perhaps the instrumentation, perhaps the room. Too bad the 179 failed again.. perhaps coz my embouchure was altered while playing the trumpet.

Till the band get a horn player ba.. coz i also don't know how long i'll be able to stay with the band. It is always good to have a few 'spares' around.

SN'OC' Recruitment Drive

Was off to tampines early in the morning on sunday for the recruitment dry run. It looked really grand with the other cultural groups wearing their costumes and uniforms. As usual, we don't have any.. lol.. it was only during WMC that i've got that sense of identity and belonging, and really that it was during then that the band was at its peak.

Somehow, i feel that a leader should be able to lead whether through actions or words. To lead by example and empathy, and to strike a balance between discipline and tolerance. It is not just thanking and showing appreciation and nagging.. if i want to, i don't need any nagging.. and if i don't want to, thank me however much also no use. Fight for me, and i'll fight for you.

It really isn't about getting 'new' members.. it is about why 'old' members don't come back anymore.

Went home after the one piece performance.. traveled 50 mins to play for 5 mins, and then 50 mins back on the return trip. I've said it.. if i'm willing to, ask me travel for 2 hours just for that 5 mins i also don't mind. It was afterall for a cause. Didn't stay for the actual recruitment coz there isn't much to recruit anyway. Persuade how much also no use.. coz we don't open the doors for noobs. Most likely, they came just to know the practice time and schedule and perhaps direction of the band (if there is any).

Heard that 11 new members are joining.. that is if they pass the audition. I think i sure buang the audition de.. hahaa.. nowadays i really lack the practice. There was once i really thought we are going all the way to be an orchestra.. but it seems not so. At least during then, my tone really improved a lot. Nowadays it just sounds so muffled.

It was a sleepless night for me.. perhaps the weather was too warm.. perhaps it was things that are bothering me. Whatever it is, i've wasted a good 10 hours of bedtime. and i thought that i could have rested better with more time.