First Week At Work

1. Smile and Smile and ..... you guessed it ...... SMILE

2. Everyone looked serious. Because they are seriously concentrating on the job. Because every project is very important to the company. No, not because they are unfriendly to you on purpose. The world doesn't revolve around you, you know.

3.  Whoa.... lunch is PRICEY in town.

4. Ooops.... made a wrong turn.... AGAIN....... where is my office??????

5. No, you don't need your access card to get out of the office, small-town girl. Because you used it to get in in the first place.

6. Whoa ..... formal office wear is PRICEY.

7. Wow. The bosses here actually know how to operate Microsoft programs. They are REAL.

8. Don't be too eager to show your efficiency, you'll end up tripping over yourself. If you've got it, you can't hide it.

9. There is a reason why the windows can't be opened. They don't encourage suicides during work.

10. Start asking questions if you are not sure. It's ok to be humbled by serious organisations, these people walk the talk.

11. Be positive.

12. Show interest in the issues and read up on the internet if you don't have the basics.

13. Be nice to everyone, don't be over-sensitive or over defensive.

14. Just relax and try have a good time.

Hear Hear ......

My First Resolution of the year - Done!

Now that I do not need to work Saturdays any more, I have carried out what I have always longed to do with the kids, and had always been very sad when I could not even have this simple luxury - swimming lessons for the kids.

Yes, you might think that it's nothing but a simple and common chore, in fact some of you might even dread it, but never take anything you are able to do for granted, some other people simply do not have the chance to do it!

So anyway, I had them signed up for Uncle Darryl's class. Uncle Darryl is one of the kindest swimming coach I've ever seen, that is, not to mention my own swimming coach when I was young. Uncle Darryl tells the corniest jokes to the kids during lessons and doesn't yell at the kids to keep on swimming.

The kids and I left home early as we got really excited and ended up an hour earlier at the pool, but Selina was really nervous about learning swimming and thinks that she will end up drowning in the baby pool.

There she is, looking unsure about the baby pool.......

 Then she's ok with the pool, after spotting the toddler on her right

And there's no holding her back.....

I managed to get 45 mins of swimming and now will be planning to check out some water aerobics to try out next week. We ended with lunch at Subway. 

I'm so grateful to have this precious time to spend with my kids, laughing and joking, which is much more worthwhile then spending my Saturday mornings in the office.

Did you count your blessings today?

I took an hour and a half train journey, walked 20 mins in my high heels, got lost in the dark and nearly keeled over in hunger to meet my brother and my sister in law.

Blessing #1 

- Had time for meditation during our queue for the appointment.

Blessing #2 

- Funny jokes and warm laughter shared over supper.   

Blessing #3 

- Realised that being the youngest of the family, still yearn to stick to my brothers and sister in laws like when I was a kid.

Blessing #4

- learnt from my sister in law that my aloof brother got crossed with her when she didn't realise he had sent her a message that he wants to send me home. We stay at totally opposite sides of the island. Not much of a blessing that he was cross with her, but just that my aloof brother cared for his little sister, the same sister which he always dread to pick up from school many donkey years ago.

Blessing #5

- pleased to see that my sister in law is still flustered and very much bothered about missing my brother's message

So much  blessings in one night.... well, what's there to complain but a peeling blister at the bottom of my foot?

A Working Mum's Schedule - OBSOLETE

PLEASE NOTE THIS SCHEDULE IS OBSOLETE NOW THAT HELPER HAS LEFT. PLEASE SEE UPDATED SCHEDULE.


Monday to Friday
5am
- alarm clock morning call, rubs eye, contemplates lying down for another 15 mins

5.15am
- switches on water heater on the way to the refrigerator, takes out vegetables, chop, cut, wash, boil, fry, cook food for dinner

5.30am
- tsks to herself if helper shows no signs of waking up. wakes up helper

5.45am
- prepare Selina's milk

6.00am
- prick ears, listen intently for Ryan's alarm clock going off. Pry Selina away from her bed

6.05am
- finish preparing dinner, sends smurfs to harvest crops and follow Papa Smurf's instructions. Scream for Selina to bathe.

6.20am
- scream for Selina to come out of the shower

6.30am to 7.15am
- kiss the kids goodbye, bathe, breakfast, wash laundry, makeup ..... yes, all at the same time

7.15am
- sit at jewelry workspace, thinking of design to try out later in the night

7.30am to 8.30am
- grab a pack of milk, leave for work via public transport. meditation during 10mins shuttle bus ride to train station. short nap from train station to office.

8.45am to 5.30pm
- work hours at office

7.00pm
- dinner with kids

7.30pm
- TV time/ homework with kids

9.30pm
- jewelry or craft time

10.30pm
- prepare marinade, cold cut etc for next day dinner

11.00pm
- update blog

12.30pm
- visit to Land of Zzzzzz.....

Saturday
7.00am
- alarm clock morning call, rubs eye, contemplates lying down for another 15 mins

7.30am
- wake Selina

8.00am
- leave for swimming class

11.30am
- back to home

Free and Easy

Sunday
7.00am
- alarm clock morning call, rubs eye, contemplates lying down for another 15 mins

9.00am
- leave for Selina's Dhamma Class

11.00am to 12.30pm
- end of Dhamma Class

1.00pm to 2.00pm
- lunch and leave for supermarket

3.00pm
- tea break session with kid or kids plus supermarket for coming week's dinner

4.30pm
- cook dinner plus 10 mins nap during DIY facial

8.00pm
- dinner time

8.30pm
- TV time with kids

9.30pm
- jewelry or craft time

10.30pm
- prepare marinade, cold cut etc for next day dinner

11.00pm
- update blog

12.30pm
- visit to Land of Zzzzzz.....

Hear, hear ....

Wise Happiness versus Ignorant Happiness

Aesop's Fable in the Office

Everyone grew up listening to Aesop's Fables. Aesop is the name of a slave in ancient Greece. He was very good in telling humorous stories using animal characters and incorporating morales. He was given his freedom by his second master as a reward for his learning and wit. The animals in his stories usually symbolises some character.


Well, Viv and I have also come up with our version of the animals in Aesop's Fable, after analysing ourselves and our colleagues.


cow
= a hard working do-it-all dude

sheep
= the clueless who doesn't initiate and always needs to be told what to do

blind sheep
= the clueless who has no idea where things are in the office, even after a year.

cow in fox's clothing
= a hardworking do-it-all dude trying to push the job away, but takes it back again once conscience hits him

cow in swan's clothing
= a hardworking do-it-all dude all dressed up for work but made to handle lavatory maintenance

fox in owl's clothing
= a cunning dude, usually holding a higher post, who thinks he is smart, but always get the facts wrong and still not aware of it

mother hen
= the motherly one who takes care of the pantry, the copier... yes, even your welfare

eagle
= the sharp eyed one who keeps picking on your mistakes



Recognise anyone, or even yourself, in the office?

A Tribute to the Girlfriends in my life

There will be a week every year that I will focus on meeting my girlfriends. There is no specific month or week, and not that I only meet my friends once a year, but it's just that everything falls in place at that week, everyone wants to just meet up that week. So it's that week every year, that the kids have to take second place, and my crafts third.

Then during this time, I will start reminiscing about my friends, especially those that I have lost contact with.

Let's start with.... Shelly. I forgot her real name as I must be around 8 then. Her family opened a small scale soy milk factory below my place and I had warm soy milk for breakfast everyday. We played everyday after school and when my family had to move away, we sadly parted and as a token of memory, she gave me a snail shell whose owner had vacated and which my mum had thrown away in disgust.

Then there is Jenny, my very first best friend when I was about 12. We played together during breaks, crazily chasing each other sometimes, or sang sad love songs loudly, or played house. We do have our quiet moments sitting on a grassy patch together, chatting. I don't remember what we talked about anymore, but I do remember the sun's warmth on my skin and the gentle breeze as we sat together, smiling as we talked. And I remember sitting there, thinking to myself... how nice it was to have my very own best friend. Then my family had to move away AGAIN, and more tears were wept this time. We promised to always write each other letters and stay in touch, which we did for about a year. I remember my eyes tearing whenever I receive her letters. Then we started to lose contact when boys started to get my attention... You know how things were at puberty...

Ok, then during my teenage years I have 2 best friends, Janet and Joanne. We hung out together in school EVERYDAY, we even sat near each other in class, and we even called each other from our homes after school. These 2 are one of those few which I'm meeting this busy week. Our friendship has blossomed to a stage now that we seldom get to meet, only on our birthdays, and I get jealous and petty when I see either one of them posting pictures of them hanging out with other friends in FB. But whenever we meet up, we're like back to our school times again! I always imagine us being in a movie scene, where we are sitting in a cafe physically, dressed in office wear and makeup. Janet's on my left holding her cuppacino, Joanne's on my right stirring her iced tea, listening to me just talking, but we actually get transported back to our old hangout spot. We are back to our specky look, in school uniforms and geeky hairstyles. Janet would be laughing her head off at my corny jokes and Joanne, being the usual one with common sense, simply shakes her head and wondering about her choice of friends. Sadly with families of our own, we have lesser time with one another and I always miss the times when we hang out at the same mall every weekend, catching all the latest movies, crying over stupid boyfriends and strict parents, and who can forget potluck lunch in my room?

Now we come to Dawn, Olivia and Mabel, which I have known since I was 17. We have very different characters, very different images and behaviour, but funnily enough, it's all these differences that pull us together in school and until now, learn from and teach one another. Instead of complaining about lecturers and selfish classmates, we talk about our ideals, our jobs and still complaining about our bosses.... well, at least I still do....

Then there is a bunch of ex colleagues - Florence, Vivien, Tricia, YT, Liz. We've been through the tough times at work, preparing reports, reviews, and also the good times bowling, dinners, and also exchanging gossip, lame jokes and complaints. We would like to meet more often, I guess, but with family commitments, flight schedules etc, we only get to meet once or twice a year.

Reminiscing all the good times, allow me to quote Muhammad Ali - "Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."

Hear Hear ..................

Nobody is in judgement of us. We create our own world, we create our own heaven and hell.

Old Times Sake

That's my mum and me. The photo was taken outside our old house. I kissed her during the photo-taking and when it ended, I gave her a bite as if she was an apple. Then she whacked me on my head.

What's your Awakening today?