That's us waiting for queue number '69' to appear at Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao's queue box .
We almost threw a fit there waiting to be served at a table for a good excruciating 45 minutes! Grumbled. Tumbled. Rumbled.

My New Year's resolution is to not get bullied anymore. Be it in my career, among peers, situations and relationships. No more I declare!
No more sugar coating for me. I guess diplomacy and tactfulness shall be my guiding principle.
***
Letter of complaint finally sent! And let the saga begin...*cross fingers*

I just want to say a big sincere thanks to all those who have helped me out in one way or another with regards to the recent injustice I had encountered.
Whether it was to correcting my language, my tone, style , content of my letter of complaint; or to provide some advice (both legal and management perspective) be it to tackle the impending showdown or for safeguard measures in future as employees; or even providing that listening ear as a friend. I just want to say that I'm really grateful for all your kind gestures. It gives me great comfort to know that I'm safe in this shrewed world.

Grab a copy of ....

magazine for the month of Feb! It's the once in a lifetime chance of seeing Jeremy, Mag and myself making a monkey of ourselves in the speed dating cover. Meanwhile, please do admire the celebrity couple page. It's the one that I spent the most efforts on. I hope all of you readers will appreciate the style and selection of apparels and stuff that I have chosen. Oh yes, and the horoscope page too. The chocolates were not at all easy to coordinate.

As you read, please know that every single page was created with alot of sweat and effort. So please, admire before flipping flippantly.

Seeing the pathetic number of photographs of myself in my picture folder, good o' bro decided to lend a helping hand by taking more photos of me in future.

Kai ming wasted no further time by snapping an impromptu portait of me yesterday at pan's place---btw, my hair was dishevelled after playing a few rounds of DDR!! hahahaha! Anw, this is the first time I was being styled in an impromptu manner by a professional photographer. Thanks to his Digital imaging skills, he has turned me from quite chio to super model chio. Happinessssss......!!! This is going to be my new msn pic from now on.

Anyway here are more professional pictures of our time at pan's place yesterday. It was a dinner organised for Yan bin who is leaving for her exchange to France tomorrow evening.

Check it out here

'Names have been edited and made fictitious. The term 'Magazine' shall refer to the company in which I did my recent internship stint at. The 'parent company' shall be refered to the parent company of 'Magazine'. Any similar scenario, name, event or whatsoever is purely coincidental'

I feel cheated. Even if I was the smallest in the food chain as an intern at the Magazine, I'm going to make an official complaint against the parent company.

Reasons are as follow--
1) I only received my employment letter weeks after the duration of my internship.
2) My salary was not clearly articulated to me and this have led to discrepencies between a fellow intern and my rate of pay.
3) No one told me the proper procedures when it came to taxi claims. Now, the finance lady is haggling over with me a couple of cents over administrative and GST charges because I used my Credit Card to pay. How do you expect me to have constant supply of cash considering how many times I have to take a cab for assignments in a day? I'm not allowed to claim for booking of taxi expenses too. No one told me. And it's too unfair especially how tight the deadlines were for the photoshoots.

Also, it is unfair for interns to be held responsible for the loss of borrowed items. In my point of view, if the permanent staff in charge really want their intern to pay for any damages or loss , items, there should be a contract properly written for it. It is not enough to just 'tell' the intern that she must be responsible for the items. Moreover, the company does not even have contingent plans as to what happen if an item is lost. Who is suppose to be responsible for it? Does a letter of authorisation to borrow things represent that the intern is to be held responsible? But at the end, whose assignment is it? Who is the intern under? There're so many legal implications but yet ignorance and shrieking of responsibilities just goes to show why nothing is progressing. Why employees are not even feeling a sense welfare or loyalty in this company!

A recent event of lost item was really the straw that broke the camel's back. On my last day of work, I was told to help my colleague borrow 2 items at a shop. I was hesitant in giving my letter of authorisation as not only it was my last day of work, but also, I did not want to be held responsible because the subsequent assignments were no longer under my charge or involvement. I clearly got a receipt from the salesgirl, placed the items into a bag and passed everything back to my colleague. After 2-3 weeks later, I was told that the items were already missing long time ago. Now I have to be held responsible. Now I have to pay 90 bucks for something I did it out of favour. I mean if i really brought the stuff back to the office, and was involved in the assignment, then ok, I shall be most willing to pay for whatever. But the fact was, all i did was to do a favour. Done with the favour. And what do I know, I've got to fork out money for it. Out of verbal instructions that i'm suppose to be responsible. Is that enough? I think it's very unfair. Out of our friendship, we finally settled the lost 50-50. Hence, reducing the so called liability I was suppose to handle.

Really, this job has the worst welfare on earth. the environment is bitchy and unpleasant to work in. I'm going to send my official complaint very very soon!

Was just rummaging through some old photos in days of yore. Look what I've found? My innocence. And a few fabulous girls who are still going to be in my life for a very very long time.

A rainy night at Brewerkz brought about the resurrection of some lost souls from the class of 2002, 2AD1 of ACJC. Though we don't meet up often, but somehow or rather, it's easy to pick up where we've left off.

Zhen, Mil and Ser know a thing about sign language.


Met up with Tarn and Shuyi at Clarke Quay.

Jovian, Samantha, Mil, Kenneth, Zhen, Me and Jen pigging out at Brewerkz.

Ken doing a Jovian.

Who does it better? hee.

***

Just finished the book 'Kafka on the Shore'. I swear it left me as mystified as Murakami had intended for his readers . Despite being a literature student back in college, I doubt I could have appreciated the metaphorical meanings etched in the story. I felt as if it was pushing it a tad bit too dramatic for any real connections to be made.

***

Anyway, I'm going to see the doctor this monday. Alot of scary thoughts just keep filling up my mind. I pray that I'm really really safe and sound. Time to take care of myself and no more messing up. (Have to keep reminding myself that i'm no longer on exchange...)

***

One of the best shows of 2007: Pan's labryinth. I liked the way they juxtoposed reality and fantasy. In a way, ironically, the virtual fantasy world brings comfort and shelter from harsh realities, especially during war. A wonderfully poignant end. Grim but optimistic at the same time. Great acting as well!! 5 stars for it!

Still thinking about my new year's resolution. Well, after all I have all the time to think about it right? Slacking has never been this difficult. I suspect I have the workaholic syndrome. Just work work work, busy busy busy, and funny, I kinda like that. Each day is passing by pretty slowly , but I know I should be treasuring the liberty of time in my hands. Because, soon enough, pft.ttt. it's working life and it's seriously no joke. I miss my life on exchange because of the immense amount of fun, invaluable knowledge I have gained from it, something that I can never achieve just being in this island. I realise that it's really just this jaded because this place has nothing much to offer. The world is indeed my oyster. Just a few days ago I received a couple of cards from Aline and Ayako. Both whom i've made friends on exchange. It was indeeed a heart warming experience getting these simple cards in my mail box. It's the bond and experience you're going to have for a lifetime despite just a short lived period of 6 months. This exchange expereince was indeed the icing on my cake, that made the wholesome me.
Mag, Have a good flight tomorrow. Joyce, I'm so happy that you're back and I had the chance to play with your chinchilas!! I need to start sorting out soon. If only the lethargy and inertia would go away tho. Ha.

Tian Tian just came back from Vietnam looking recharged with her new bangs. She looks so cute! Kelvin, Bimbs, Carol and I met up at TCC Bugis. The night went on with Kelvin telling a story for more than an hour, along side with Carol's peripheral side stories to spice up the plot. (she used my giant teddy bear given by the Samuel the shopping concierge boy as props!) Bin and I were thoroughly amused. I'm so going to miss Kelv bro and Tian jie since they have already graduated. Bah!

***
It's the festive gluttony season at this time of the year. Christmas and New Year whizzed past me in a typically unreal fashion. Christmas was celebrated with the family and the Special Him.
Although I was rudely rejected by the warden at the church! hmph.

'How's the going?!'--Bro at Takashimaya

Parents have been feeding me with loads of yummies!!Had the best egg tarts at the newly renovated crystal jade at the upstairs of Takashimaya.


Fuck. Getting rotund.

Before that I bought a pair of mary jane wedges from pedder red. Splurged a total of 170 dollars!! (initial price 190. discount only for media employees. )Gasp. This is the 2nd most expensive item i've ever bought for myself. Never mind, a good christmas present to reward myself after working pretty hard. Finally, i'm done with seventeen magazine!!

New Year's eve lunch was spent at Aunt's place. What a spread I tell you. It was only the continuance of my sinful indulgence since christmas.

Humongous alaskan crabs.

This was followed by a scrumptious meal at Turf City's ah Yat restaurant. My dad and bro chose a couple of frogs, eels, crabs and scallops from the tanks at the stairway for the chef to prepare. Was kinda gross especially the way they scooped those buggers out of the tank and dumped it into thick plastic bags while the creatures were just prancing around for their dear lives. But anyway, they looked way delicious served on the table.

Super big Scallops.

After the meal with my family, I adjourned to Debbie's place to meet up with the SN gang. It was so nice to see Joyce back again!! It's been almost a year since I met her. I miss her so much!! And the rest of the girls, like sherry, mel, huihan, fiona, hui hui, xw and debbie, I had so much fun playing Taboo with them! Yea...that's our way of celebrating nye.

hui hui making sure debbie isn't cheating!

The final countdown was held at my condo's swimming pool area where Mag, Ph ,Pat and I tossed our champagne glasses in the air as we ushered the new year at the stroke of 12. Welcome 2007. We also managed to write down a couple of 'Dont wants for 2007' onto a paper and burned it at the bbq pit. Hahahaha. The rest of the night was spent just chilling and nibbling on cheese and snacks. Not forgetting, Rajat who came over to drop by. Ha. my ex. I believe we can work it out this year as friends. Hopefully. Anyway, it was splendidly eventful. I actually hate celebrating nye or any other big events at public areas. I hate crowds. I'm happy that I ended 2006 with a blast.

**

Reflections? Resolutions? I'm still pondering. A big transition in my life as I'm going to embark on my career as a fresh grad. Hmmmmm. Big fun. Good job. Hopefully. My friends are starting work/school in 2 days while I have 2 more months to kill. What shall I do ?