Two.:.Four.:.Six

2013 was crazy, busy and awesome.   In January, we went to Yangon, Myanmar for our 3rd Marketing Retreat. I personally prefer Siem Reap but the Pagoda and big Buddha are amazing. Tour guide wasn't great and we didn't get to visit the local market. It was a public holiday the day we wanted to visit it and we weren't told beforehand. When asked to suggest alternatives, the tour guide told us there's nothing much to do and asked us in return what we wanted to do. WTF right?  I also find Siem Reap's people and lifestyle simpler and the tuk tuk rides really got me. Overall it was still quite an experience to visit a new place with some old and new work friends. Next one is in Hanoi... not really looking forward to it but it's work after all so we just gotta do what we have to do. February was celebrating Chinese New Year and I always love it. Except I only bought my clothes the very last week. With next CNY in Jan, I really don't want to go th...

I started this little space a few years ago and it has been more than 100 entries a year until last year. Strangely, a lot more things happened last and this year but I don't know if it's because I have lesser time now and hence the lack of updates or there are things I would like to say and I just don't. Mr Grumpy says sometimes I don't think before I speak. Although I tend to be defensive, I do agree with him. And then there are times I wonder why don't I just say it. So here goes... I hate copycats. I really do. If you like what I have, tell me. I don't need your assurance that I have ahem good taste but I appreciate your honesty. That you like what I have and want to own the same thing as me. I hate competition. Perhaps I appear arrogant to some people but I don't like to compete with others. I don't know what I have done but some people around me just like to find the opportunity to put me down, to remind me that they have beaten me....

Just when I thought I'll be having a 'holiday drought' till next year, we booked ourselves a trip to Aussie, an extension of Mr. Grumpy's work trip. He was to be in Sydney for 2 days and since he's never been there and he agreed I could tag along, I thought why not turning it into a mini holiday. I've been to Melbourne twice and Sydney once and have preferred the former so we agreed we should fly over to Melbourne. Chances of us doing a separate trip are low so might as well make the best out of it.  Anyway, we flew in separately and that was the longest flight I've been on my own. Other than having a rather rude or should I say ignorant lady beside me and a bumpy landing, the flight was fine. Spent day 1 on my own shopping. Couldn't resist a shot of the pretty flowers.   It was chilly that day and luckily I threw in two long sleeves top and a sweater before I left. The wind was so strong I thought I could be blown away! If I'm no...

So since I last came back from Australia, I've been busy - what's new right? Received bad news the night I landed - granny of my dear friend passed away a week after her dad passed on. I can't even imagine... The next day, we watched Thor which in my opinion, doesn't beat the first one, for free; went all the way to Jcube for dinner with the in-laws and I ended the night at the funeral wake. Staying till midnight resulted in a very tired Monday. But sometimes you just gotta do what you have to do. The week started with everything Lifetime as we prepared for the launch in Indonesia, our new baby. It's not exactly new but it's gonna join the other 3 markets to be on the important list, together with Thailand. If only I can take care of Thailand... I miss Bangkok! Helped out at the funeral on Wednesday, met up with the Poly friends on Friday and dinner with the girls on Saturday. A very fulfilling week for me as I usually spend my weekend in front of the TV...

Hello from down under! Excited to see how much it has changed. 

Can't believe half of October is gone, can you? I was ready to take on the new challenges as we enter a new month but I realise I'm not. Just two weeks into the new role, I find myself in meetings after meetings, clearing emails only at the end of the day, adding more things to the to-do list but almost clueless what I'm doing these for. In recent years, I've whined many times about how busy and tired I am but it has always been worth it. Now, it's no longer so. I guess change is now. And we shall see...

adjective 1 . tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something. I think I'm beginning to dread going to work. This is not good. On a happier note, we are off to Australia for a week in November.  One more month or so to m y first, solo and longest flight and his virgin visit.   It's been nine years since we met. I wonder how much you have changed.

maybe this is not for me. it's not about proving anything. it's probably not worth it.

Change is a constant. Yes I get that. But what do you do when it's not for the better? Do you leave or do you try? If you leave, are you a quitter? If you try, are you then a fighter? Lately, changes don't make me feel good. I don't like the possibilities. I don't like the new people and policies. I don't like the different attitude and actions. Perhaps, I should make the change and not go with the flow of the changes around me. Perhaps I should...

2 months of intensive hard work, late nights, 7 days work week, frustration and pain. 1 week of travelling from Manila to Singapore to KL and spending time with the Harrisons. While it seems all fun and even glamorous, how many really know what we have been through? Everyone sees the good things and expects nothing short of perfection. It's so easy to say a thank you, great job and congratulations but this time, it's not the same. I lost count of the number of times I woke up before the alarm went off because I thought I forgot something important. My heart beat particularly fast each time they are done with something, each time they are ready to make a grand entrance because I was afraid we didn't get the timing right. I fought with so many people and must have made lots of enemies by now. And I've been thinking is it worth it? No doubt it's a great experience, possibly the highlight of my career but who cares really? What do I want after this? The chan...

It's never easy. For the person coming out. For the people receiving the news. It's not even like the doctor telling you that you have cancer. It's not a disease. There isn't a need for 'cure'. Yet there's nothing you can do to make it go. You won't die. But the emotional struggles can kill a part of you. It's not something you can blame someone for. It's not even wrong to begin with. It's never wrong to love, no? But why does it seem wrong to love someone when after all, it's the society which doesn't approve. And what right does the society have to set these so called norms? It's something so ambiguous, so debatable and yet, there isn't a conclusion. Sure, Pink Dot does look encouraging but really, what purpose does it serve? For those who are there, how many of you have a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister who has came out and you are totally happy for them? Not many I would think. In recent years, I h...

同事是一同做事但却不一定有一同目标，态度和做法的人。 同事很重要。因为东西是死的但人却是复杂的。 人际关系，他们的举止言辞都会影响你在公司的心情。 在公司快五年了。说长不长，说短不短。 这五年学了好多，遇到的人也不少而一起做事的同事也换了几个。 要讲他们没有影响过我的心情是假的。最近被影响的程度也高了。 是我因为懂得比较多而变得傲慢了吗还是同事之间的默契需要时间培养但因为现在太忙，没耐性去谅解？ 还是自己是个敏感的人，别人说的话可能无意，听了却不是很痛快？ 我在同事的眼中又是个怎样的人呢？

June was an eventful month. The whole of May and first two weeks of June were dedicated to the launch of Lifetime. Having spent almost 5 years in the industry and the company, it was my first involvement in a new channel launch. I've left the Malaysia market for awhile and being back briefly was good although some things and people still prove to be challenging. I think the event was a success and the hard work was paid off :) Counting down to 6pm on 14 June was one of the coolest things in my career. That moment was truly money can't buy and celebrating your fruit of labour is indeed one of the best. A week later on the 18th morning, I received an sms notification that S$1,100 was withdrawn from my account at 12:21am. I thought I saw the wrong thing and called the bank to verify. Someone stole S$1,500 from my account without my atm card but with my pin number. Scary isn't it? This happened in Singapore and yes, till today. I have yet to ask the bank for more detail...

On the first day of June, I spent the day with two of my favourite boys. An intimate few hours with the first one later, it was to celebrate the second birthday of the other. Second day of June was a nasi lemak feast. The working week was crazy. 8pm was the earliest I left office. I can't wait for 11 June to come and go. Other than not being able to celebrate mummy's big day, I really just want the events to be a success. You have no idea the ridiculous people and things I have to deal with lately. I had no idea too. But all these would pass. After next week, no one really remembers or cares how much midnight oil you have burnt, how much effort you have put in. But that's alright. Someone would know. Someone would remember. And... I guess I'm really tired and should slow down a little to enjoy June as I approach my 30th :)

I know. It's scary. We are in the middle of 2013. It felt like whatever happened last June, happened just a few months ago. But no. I've said it many times that June is my favourite month. With the exception of the weather that is. And this June, I turn 30. Freaking another decade! Other than being childless, carless and not having visited the couple of places I've always wanted to, I'm at a pretty good place I must say. I always believe contentment is the way to go. And so even though this is one of the toughest period at work, I'm going to pull through. Bring it on!

To ah bu, thank YOU for doing such a wonderful job. All these years of nursing, caring, cleaning, cooking, working, providing and simply giving, you never quite ask for much. I applaud you for your selfless act. I know you were sad and lost when you got retrenched, it's after all what you have been doing for 30 over years and you wondered what else you can do. You considered collecting dishes at the hawker centre and luckily you listened to us and decided otherwise. You worked at the childcare centre for a month and that didn't work out. Finally, you found joy in the recent job and thankfully, the tasks are easy and the people are nice. Well, perhaps you didn't realise that you have undertaken the toughest job in the world all these years and no matter what, you are already the best, if not doing the best you can. Of course, there were times I wished you would do certain things differently and there were times I didn't agree with you (I still don't, ha) but wh...

My first Rome experience was a brief one. Arrived from Singapore later than expected and sick! One of the worst things to happen to a traveller at the beginning of the trip. And so we only had one day to visit Colosseum, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Since then, I've always wanted to return to visit the Vatican and explore more of Rome. Since Emirates doesn't fly out of Florence but via Rome instead, I thought why not stop over for a few days. We arrived on a Saturday at the unintended train station - yes I booked us 'wrong tickets' but was aware of this prior. It's slightly further than the Termini Station (Rome's main station) and costs us about 16 euro (I think) to the hotel, Inn Rome Room and Suites. The hotel is part of a building on the second floor and it took us awhile to find it. We were circling at the first floor, partly in denial we had to climb the flight of stairs with our bags to reach the hotel, until one of the hotel staff popped her...

I've heard so much about Florence's shopping and have regretted choosing Milan over it the last time so this trip's main objective is to cover Florence. Mr Grumpy is fully aware. Just that I used Liverpool as a bait :) Anyway, we took the Tuesday 6pm Ryan Air flight from Liverpool to Pisa and arrived at 9+ local time.  It's a budget airline and tickets are relatively cheap but do take note of the extra charges especially baggage. It's cheaper to pay for these prior and not upon check in. Even printing of e-tickets require a crazy fee if you do not do so prior! I didn't read that each passenger has to have his/her e-ticket separately and printed both on the same paper. Had to ask the hotel to make a copy for us in the end. Also, each passenger is allowed to check in one bag not more than 20kg and they do not allow you to share the weight limit. They are really strict with hand carries - each has to fit into the measuring casing and we saw a poor guy perspiring ...