In the current downturn, it’s easy to be depressed. Yesterday I was reading a blog entry, that we aren’t really as poor as we think, and that we should be happy for the things we already have.
Today, the DJ on Class 95 morning show was sharing tips on staying happy in bad times, and he said that he has started keeping a list of things that make him happy since Monday, and is amazed at how the list keeps growing (it’s now Thursday).
Inspired, here’s my list of things that make me happy, appearing in random order:
- A simple home-cooked meal prepared with love
- A good workout, the type that you sweat profusely, and feel like swearing at the sadistic instructor for putting you through all that misery
- Lovely view of the sunrise from my bedroom window as I’m getting ready for work
- A good and stimulating lunch discussion with my colleagues (topics ranging from hybrid animals, ladder theories, Chinese names of countries, reproduction)\
- Spending time with family just catching up and talking about everything or nothing at all
- Having fun with my friends
- My FAGs: sports sessions, food, gatherings at Shuyun’s house, birthday surprises, Chek Jawa + Zoo + many others
- Travelling: carrying tons of stuff, getting lost and going round in circles, walking and walking and walking, seeing and experiencing new things and learning new stuff about our traveling partner(s), all that food, oh the scenery!
- A good song to make me smile, feel hyped up or anything
- Receiving my items from sprees, especially if that cheap dress turns out to be really fabulous
- Relaxing and reading a good book
- Rushing through the weekends doing tons of stuff
- A clean house after doing all that mopping, scrubbing and ironing
- The smell of freshly laundered clothes
- Our nightly hugs and cuddles
- Singing songs off key while driving in the car
- Anything sweet (but not overtly sweet): chocolates, fresh fruits, cakes, ice cream
- Stroking and playing with pets, especially my little rascals kink and wink
- The bus driving past the beach on my way home from work on a lovely evening
The list doesn’t end here and will be updated periodically.
What makes you happy?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Happiness
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Random
The quantum for our annual increment is out. We should be very glad that in these times of wage cuts and pay freezes, we are still getting an increment, however slight the amount. But most of us are pissed off ‘cos our peers in our subsidiaries are getting a 20% higher increment than us at the parent company…
Hmm… I know we should count our blessings in these tough times… but can’t help feeling a bit indignant about the whole thing…
So excuse me while I rant a bit…
Hmm… I know we should count our blessings in these tough times… but can’t help feeling a bit indignant about the whole thing…
So excuse me while I rant a bit…
Monday, January 19, 2009
10 yrs on
Went back to my secondary school for a reunion last Saturday evening. While the turnout wasn’t very good, and we had it in the new school campus and not the one that we spent 4 years of our lives in, it was a good reunion catching up with old friends, a lot that I haven’t seen in the last 10 years.
The best parts of the reunion was when we simultaneously broke out into the school cheer and when we stood up to sing the school song (I can still remember MOST of the song, no mean feat considering it’s in super high pitch and have two repeating stanzas with very similar but different lyrics). Think I teared during the school song…
Now looking forward to the JC one, should be fun!
The best parts of the reunion was when we simultaneously broke out into the school cheer and when we stood up to sing the school song (I can still remember MOST of the song, no mean feat considering it’s in super high pitch and have two repeating stanzas with very similar but different lyrics). Think I teared during the school song…
Now looking forward to the JC one, should be fun!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Health Scares
Haven’t updated in a while, went on my Vietnam trip and back, celebrated New Years at my new house, started living there on a pretty regular basis. I totally heart my new place, though it still needs some touching ups and more furniture… I just love being able to go home, cook a simple dinner and not needing to fight with everyone on what channel I wanna watch on tv. Plus the best part: I don’t need to rush so much every morning.
So anyway, within one week we’ve experienced two health scares. My dad tripped and fell on the staircase last week, and according to my dad’s colleague, he hurt his head and was bleeding profusely from the wound. That totally freaked my mum and all of us out… cos we weren’t there to see what’s going on, and my mum has a tendency to over-exaggerate. Thankfully it wasn’t serious, the profuse bleeding was due to a nose injury, and while my dad did have a hairline fracture on his nose, there was no concussion etc. Thank goodness for that. And best of all, my very hilarious tj had to remark: “wah uncle u look so cool, like boxer liddat” (cos the bandage/plasters were on his forehead and nose)
During a routine eye exam, tj’s mum suddenly found out that she totally couldn’t see from her left eye, and after much examination, it was found that her retina was detached and needed to be operated upon ASAP to prevent further retina tearing and complications. During the pre-op examination, they found that her blood sugar level was very high which may indicate that she had diabetes, which may result in her being unable to undergo the eye op…
The op sounds simple enough, but part of the healing process involves her lying face down for more than 90% of the time for 2 weeks to encourage the healing process. That sounds quite torturous to me… =(
I guess the moral is to eat healthy, exercise more, get more rest, take things easier, and spend more time with your family. And go for regular medical checkups.
For the coming CNY, I wish for my family to be healthy…
So anyway, within one week we’ve experienced two health scares. My dad tripped and fell on the staircase last week, and according to my dad’s colleague, he hurt his head and was bleeding profusely from the wound. That totally freaked my mum and all of us out… cos we weren’t there to see what’s going on, and my mum has a tendency to over-exaggerate. Thankfully it wasn’t serious, the profuse bleeding was due to a nose injury, and while my dad did have a hairline fracture on his nose, there was no concussion etc. Thank goodness for that. And best of all, my very hilarious tj had to remark: “wah uncle u look so cool, like boxer liddat” (cos the bandage/plasters were on his forehead and nose)
During a routine eye exam, tj’s mum suddenly found out that she totally couldn’t see from her left eye, and after much examination, it was found that her retina was detached and needed to be operated upon ASAP to prevent further retina tearing and complications. During the pre-op examination, they found that her blood sugar level was very high which may indicate that she had diabetes, which may result in her being unable to undergo the eye op…
The op sounds simple enough, but part of the healing process involves her lying face down for more than 90% of the time for 2 weeks to encourage the healing process. That sounds quite torturous to me… =(
I guess the moral is to eat healthy, exercise more, get more rest, take things easier, and spend more time with your family. And go for regular medical checkups.
For the coming CNY, I wish for my family to be healthy…
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Run
We were running a bit late after lunch ‘cos we were busy chit-chatting, and were making our way back up to the office from the canteen, when DD suddenly whispered “老板在后面”. Simultaneously, the four of us quickened our footsteps (we were literally running) until we made it into the lift, pressed our floor and jabbed the door close button until the door closed. When it finally did, we looked at each other, and just burst out laughing…
What a way to keep the adrenaline pumping…
What a way to keep the adrenaline pumping…
Friday, December 19, 2008
The case of the “automatic” bifold door
Tonight marks my first night sleeping alone in my new house, and in my master bedroom too. (Previous two nights we slept on the balcony ‘cos I was complaining of the solvent/paint smell in the master bedroom).
It was midnight and I was getting ready to turn in for the night. I shut the bifold door that leads to the toilet, shut the room door, and turned off the lights. Less than 5 min after my head hit the pillow, my bifold door which was already shut, opened, then shut again…
For those who are not familiar with bifold doors, they are doors that open and close from the middle, kind of like an accordion. Naturally when it open and shut “automatically” I was freaked out… doors aren’t supposed to open and shut by themselves! Are there ghosts in my brand new house? Or worse, an unknown intruder?
Faced with all those nagging thoughts and pointless worrying, I had trouble falling asleep, and even when I finally did, I didn’t sleep well, and woke up feeling very lethargic this morning.
Sigh… I just hope this is a one-off thing, and not signify anything ominous…
It was midnight and I was getting ready to turn in for the night. I shut the bifold door that leads to the toilet, shut the room door, and turned off the lights. Less than 5 min after my head hit the pillow, my bifold door which was already shut, opened, then shut again…
For those who are not familiar with bifold doors, they are doors that open and close from the middle, kind of like an accordion. Naturally when it open and shut “automatically” I was freaked out… doors aren’t supposed to open and shut by themselves! Are there ghosts in my brand new house? Or worse, an unknown intruder?
Faced with all those nagging thoughts and pointless worrying, I had trouble falling asleep, and even when I finally did, I didn’t sleep well, and woke up feeling very lethargic this morning.
Sigh… I just hope this is a one-off thing, and not signify anything ominous…
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The first night
So the house’s pretty much done, just needs a lot of cleaning (the floor still feels dusty somehow, even though TJ and I have mopped it like twice, and we took like 3 hrs cleaning the grills and windows…)
But it’s all good, so in order to force ourselves to take further action, both TJ and I “moved in” to our new house, which currently is still not equipped with a study table (to put the PC on), no bed, no dining table, no sofa, no coffee table (we have a temporary one though)
So TJ and I will be sleeping on Seahorse mattress and sofa bed (respectively). And these are as hard as wood (quote the Seahorse tagline). It is a lot more convenient for me to get to work, but somehow last night I didn’t sleep well, probably due to the hard bed and unfamiliar environment… but it’s all good… We just need to clean the place a few more times, bring more stuff over to make it more liveable, slowly purchase more items of furniture (sorry we still can’t entertain requests for housewarming parties) ‘cos of the lack of stuff and the persistent smell of paint/solvents that somehow only I can detect.
Yippee I love my new house!
But it’s all good, so in order to force ourselves to take further action, both TJ and I “moved in” to our new house, which currently is still not equipped with a study table (to put the PC on), no bed, no dining table, no sofa, no coffee table (we have a temporary one though)
So TJ and I will be sleeping on Seahorse mattress and sofa bed (respectively). And these are as hard as wood (quote the Seahorse tagline). It is a lot more convenient for me to get to work, but somehow last night I didn’t sleep well, probably due to the hard bed and unfamiliar environment… but it’s all good… We just need to clean the place a few more times, bring more stuff over to make it more liveable, slowly purchase more items of furniture (sorry we still can’t entertain requests for housewarming parties) ‘cos of the lack of stuff and the persistent smell of paint/solvents that somehow only I can detect.
Yippee I love my new house!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sense of Accomplishment
This year TJ and I made a pact to live healthier, and we signed up for gym, and I'm proud to say we've been pretty disciplined with regards to exercise.
So when yun asked if we wanted to join in the Standard Chartered Marathon (10km lah) of couse we gave it a shot.
I have bad knees which are aggravated by running, and TJ claims that he "runs very slow one", but we went ahead.
It was interesting and exciting at the same time, to be on the MRT at 6am and seeing a whole train full of people dressed in the same blue running tee all psyched up to run later. And it was more madness at the start point! Note to self: to stand out from the crowd, do not wear blue next year.
Before this, the longest I ran was about 1hr in East Coast Park (I didn't really know how far I ran) and it made my knees pretty painful, so I was worried. To avoid killing my knees, I set myself a target: to run as far as my knees will take me, then walk the rest of the way...
It was a good run, pretty good weather, and my knee didn't start to hurt until maybe 1km from the finish line. And I came in at a pretty respectable time of 1hr 19min. For the first time in a long while, I set myself a target, and managed to achieve it... And I totally enjoyed the process, and the sense of accomplishment I felt after the whole race...
It was such fun that I jokingly told TJ that I want to complete a marathon in my lifetime, hopefully before I turn 30! So we'll see how it goes, maybe next year I'll sign up for the half marathon...
So when yun asked if we wanted to join in the Standard Chartered Marathon (10km lah) of couse we gave it a shot.
I have bad knees which are aggravated by running, and TJ claims that he "runs very slow one", but we went ahead.
It was interesting and exciting at the same time, to be on the MRT at 6am and seeing a whole train full of people dressed in the same blue running tee all psyched up to run later. And it was more madness at the start point! Note to self: to stand out from the crowd, do not wear blue next year.
Before this, the longest I ran was about 1hr in East Coast Park (I didn't really know how far I ran) and it made my knees pretty painful, so I was worried. To avoid killing my knees, I set myself a target: to run as far as my knees will take me, then walk the rest of the way...
It was a good run, pretty good weather, and my knee didn't start to hurt until maybe 1km from the finish line. And I came in at a pretty respectable time of 1hr 19min. For the first time in a long while, I set myself a target, and managed to achieve it... And I totally enjoyed the process, and the sense of accomplishment I felt after the whole race...
It was such fun that I jokingly told TJ that I want to complete a marathon in my lifetime, hopefully before I turn 30! So we'll see how it goes, maybe next year I'll sign up for the half marathon...
Friday, December 05, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Moved
Early morning read
As much as she suffered during the last few hours of her life, her ordeal is now over and I know she’s moved on to a much better place…
But for the living, life goes on, and his love for her moves me… I hope that all those who love her will be strong, remember for her kindness and sweet smile, and be proud of her bravery…
As much as she suffered during the last few hours of her life, her ordeal is now over and I know she’s moved on to a much better place…
But for the living, life goes on, and his love for her moves me… I hope that all those who love her will be strong, remember for her kindness and sweet smile, and be proud of her bravery…
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Object of Contention
Recently TJ and I have been having many discussions about of all things, soap. This is the subject of our many discussions.
He loves it, but I think it smells very auntie, even his father refuses to use the same soap because of its auntie smell…
The compromise? He can continue using the remaining 5 bars but once they are used up, he can no longer buy them.
Yet another day in the chronicles of the Lim household.
He loves it, but I think it smells very auntie, even his father refuses to use the same soap because of its auntie smell…
The compromise? He can continue using the remaining 5 bars but once they are used up, he can no longer buy them.
Yet another day in the chronicles of the Lim household.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Resolutions
Ok it’s a tad bit early to come up with New Year Resolutions (only 37 days to 2009 *gasp*) but I’m going to start with my list of resolutions anyway… here goes…
1) Track my expenses more carefully
Yes, I’ve been working for a couple of years now, but yet I’ve never really gotten down to tracking my expenses carefully. It’s not like I’m a spendthrift, I do save every month, and have enough to spare for holidays to pay up my debts etc. and have a decent amount stashed up, but that is dwindling rapidly into the vast debt hole known as the “New Home” and I’m already looking at absorbing losses from the wedding dinner to be held next year, no thanks to the recession.
With the recession and all, I’m thankful that I still have my job even though it still sucks, but at least every month I have a fixed income to rely on and the job stability isn’t all that bad…
To achieve my expense tracking, I’ll have to end up spending more money (to get a nice 2009 organizer to track daily expenses) but it’ll be worth it. No more impulse buys and I (will try) to online shop less (I hope)
2) To improve my standards of English and Mandarin
While packing my stuff to move house early this year, I was flipping through my old assignments in JC/Uni days, and was amazed by how “smart” I was. Seriously, I look back and have no idea how I managed to do all those integration/differentiation, write decent essays for economics, memorize and replicate the complicated organic chem. mechanisms, teach a class of year 1 students how to do lab experiments, conduct research and write a paper that really makes sense for my FYP…
I was relating this to a colleague during our long bus ride home the other day, and he was lamenting about the same thing, about how he feels he has to dumb-down his standard of English to fit his colleagues (I was kind of ticked off at this conversation but shall not go into it).
Feel like all that I’ve learnt in school has gone to waste because I’m not applying any part of it in my job, and I’ve also lost the urge to want to improve myself by studying further, which is kind of a waste… So I’m going to take the small step of improving my language standards by speaking and writing proper English and Mandarin, simply because this is the easiest to start off with, and borrowing more intellectual reading material from the library to read on my long bus rides so my time is better utilized.
And I resolve to keep my resolutions too… Wish me luck!
1) Track my expenses more carefully
Yes, I’ve been working for a couple of years now, but yet I’ve never really gotten down to tracking my expenses carefully. It’s not like I’m a spendthrift, I do save every month, and have enough to spare for holidays to pay up my debts etc. and have a decent amount stashed up, but that is dwindling rapidly into the vast debt hole known as the “New Home” and I’m already looking at absorbing losses from the wedding dinner to be held next year, no thanks to the recession.
With the recession and all, I’m thankful that I still have my job even though it still sucks, but at least every month I have a fixed income to rely on and the job stability isn’t all that bad…
To achieve my expense tracking, I’ll have to end up spending more money (to get a nice 2009 organizer to track daily expenses) but it’ll be worth it. No more impulse buys and I (will try) to online shop less (I hope)
2) To improve my standards of English and Mandarin
While packing my stuff to move house early this year, I was flipping through my old assignments in JC/Uni days, and was amazed by how “smart” I was. Seriously, I look back and have no idea how I managed to do all those integration/differentiation, write decent essays for economics, memorize and replicate the complicated organic chem. mechanisms, teach a class of year 1 students how to do lab experiments, conduct research and write a paper that really makes sense for my FYP…
I was relating this to a colleague during our long bus ride home the other day, and he was lamenting about the same thing, about how he feels he has to dumb-down his standard of English to fit his colleagues (I was kind of ticked off at this conversation but shall not go into it).
Feel like all that I’ve learnt in school has gone to waste because I’m not applying any part of it in my job, and I’ve also lost the urge to want to improve myself by studying further, which is kind of a waste… So I’m going to take the small step of improving my language standards by speaking and writing proper English and Mandarin, simply because this is the easiest to start off with, and borrowing more intellectual reading material from the library to read on my long bus rides so my time is better utilized.
And I resolve to keep my resolutions too… Wish me luck!
Monday, November 17, 2008
I Wonder…
Over the weekend, my colleagues and I had a blast of a time at a BBQ. A few of us helped to prepare the food (thankfully TJ’s mum lent us the use of her kitchen). From this experience, I realized that not all my female counterparts know their way around the kitchen. I mean I don’t expect everyone to know how to cook 10 course meals (which I don’t know how to btw) but not even knowing how to cut an apple?
I brought this up during lunch today, and realized it’s fairly common among girls our age… Hmm…
Which leads me thinking: In this time and age, is it still important for a woman to know how to cook?
For me, I like to pore over recipes, to go supermarket and wet market shopping, to chop up a feast, and the best part of it all, preparing a good meal w TJ… and sitting down with family and friends to enjoy the meal.
Maybe it doesn’t matter if a woman knows how to cook, but I’m glad that I do, even if occasionally my veggies end up uncooked or my potato salad ends up looking mushy.
I brought this up during lunch today, and realized it’s fairly common among girls our age… Hmm…
Which leads me thinking: In this time and age, is it still important for a woman to know how to cook?
For me, I like to pore over recipes, to go supermarket and wet market shopping, to chop up a feast, and the best part of it all, preparing a good meal w TJ… and sitting down with family and friends to enjoy the meal.
Maybe it doesn’t matter if a woman knows how to cook, but I’m glad that I do, even if occasionally my veggies end up uncooked or my potato salad ends up looking mushy.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Gone Shopping
This weekend was spent shopping mostly. And yes we did get a couple of stuff at pretty good deals.
40% discount at Giordano. TJ bought a pair of jeans (his existing ones are way too loose) and I bought a spag top, pretty good quality.
42” LCD TV!
Was initially looking for a 37” but there aren’t really that many in the market, and this deal at Harvey Norman was really enticing plus it’s full HD! Really happy with the HUGE tv! Can’t wait for end of the month when it’ll be delivered!
Fridge:
At Harvey Norman the sales auntie was trying to convince us to buy a Hitachi fridge, which even though was more ex than the Samsung one that we’ve been eyeing for a long time, was better cos (1) japanese brand, and (2) more energy efficient when you compare consumption vs capacity (3) design looks nicer.
At Harvey Norman the price was $699 (U.P $749) and doesn’t include delivery of $30. TJ went to our neighbourhood store to enquire the price of the same fridge, and she still quoted $720 incl. delivery. Since I was in Hougang area, decided to just pop into this neighbourhood electrical appliance shop to check out the price, and was quoted $650 and I only need to call them to order the fridge and they’ll deliver it, and I only need to pay cash on delivery. Coolness! Went back and checked renotalk, and found that the random shop that I went to was well known for cheap appliances. So qiao!
Wihardjia
If I had tons of money I’ll get my furniture from scanteak, but since I don’t, and I still love wood furniture (resort look), we have to find cheaper alternatives. Wihardjia came highly recommended by my classmate Laura (who has a lovely home btw) so Tj and I popped by to have a look. Turns out they were having a sale! We haven’t bought much though, planning to go the larger branch to check it out soon.
Vhive has decent furniture too that doesn’t break the bank. Now if someone can tell me where to find light/pine/birch colored coffee table and tv console I’d be very grateful!
40% discount at Giordano. TJ bought a pair of jeans (his existing ones are way too loose) and I bought a spag top, pretty good quality.
42” LCD TV!
Was initially looking for a 37” but there aren’t really that many in the market, and this deal at Harvey Norman was really enticing plus it’s full HD! Really happy with the HUGE tv! Can’t wait for end of the month when it’ll be delivered!
Fridge:
At Harvey Norman the sales auntie was trying to convince us to buy a Hitachi fridge, which even though was more ex than the Samsung one that we’ve been eyeing for a long time, was better cos (1) japanese brand, and (2) more energy efficient when you compare consumption vs capacity (3) design looks nicer.
At Harvey Norman the price was $699 (U.P $749) and doesn’t include delivery of $30. TJ went to our neighbourhood store to enquire the price of the same fridge, and she still quoted $720 incl. delivery. Since I was in Hougang area, decided to just pop into this neighbourhood electrical appliance shop to check out the price, and was quoted $650 and I only need to call them to order the fridge and they’ll deliver it, and I only need to pay cash on delivery. Coolness! Went back and checked renotalk, and found that the random shop that I went to was well known for cheap appliances. So qiao!
Wihardjia
If I had tons of money I’ll get my furniture from scanteak, but since I don’t, and I still love wood furniture (resort look), we have to find cheaper alternatives. Wihardjia came highly recommended by my classmate Laura (who has a lovely home btw) so Tj and I popped by to have a look. Turns out they were having a sale! We haven’t bought much though, planning to go the larger branch to check it out soon.
Vhive has decent furniture too that doesn’t break the bank. Now if someone can tell me where to find light/pine/birch colored coffee table and tv console I’d be very grateful!
Friday, November 07, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
26
So I’m now officially in my late 20s, or as yun says, round-up to 30. One step closer to auntie-dom. But instead of feeling upset or whining about growing old, I’m actually looking forward to growing older somehow… weird but true.
Thank you all my family and friends, for making a difference in my life, for making me laugh, for the times we spent having fun, slogging, killing time, shopping (online or not), doing housework, for listening to me when I need a listening ear, for helping out, for taking charge, and for making the promise to take care of me for life...
Thank you...
Thank you all my family and friends, for making a difference in my life, for making me laugh, for the times we spent having fun, slogging, killing time, shopping (online or not), doing housework, for listening to me when I need a listening ear, for helping out, for taking charge, and for making the promise to take care of me for life...
Thank you...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
More than half way through…
Renovation has been going on for a month and we’re more than half way through. The tiling has been done long ago, first coat of the paint is up, and all the lights have been installed… we’re just awaiting the kitchen cabinets so all the kitchen accessories can be installed. =)
Oh and of course the new laminate floors too!
No pictures yet ‘cos I’ve been super lazy to take pictures and load them online… Think I’ll just post pictures when everything is done.
Next up, furniture shopping. Came up with a list of items we needed to get, and the list is 26 items long! Fun, but pretty tiring. I miss my lazy weekends.
Oh and of course the new laminate floors too!
No pictures yet ‘cos I’ve been super lazy to take pictures and load them online… Think I’ll just post pictures when everything is done.
Next up, furniture shopping. Came up with a list of items we needed to get, and the list is 26 items long! Fun, but pretty tiring. I miss my lazy weekends.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
English Lesson
So apparently it makes a BIG difference whether I ask a Committee to endorse or approve something…
Sorry, stupid me thought that both words are interchangeable… And yes, by using the words erroneously I'm not thinking in the right context...
Oooo but previously in another paper to the SAME Committee you wrote this, and it was acceptable...
"ENDORSEMENT SOUGHT
The Committee’s approval is sought to include ... ... ."
Definition from Dictionary.com
en·dorse·ment
–noun
1. approval or sanction: The program for supporting the arts won the government's endorsement.
2. the placing of one's signature, instructions, etc., on a document.
3. assigning the interest therein to another.
4. a clause under which the stated coverage of an insurance policy may be altered.
ap·prov·al
–noun
1. the act of approving; approbation.
2. formal permission or sanction.
3. Philately. one of a group of selected stamps sent by a dealer to a prospective customer for examination and either purchase or return.
Sorry, stupid me thought that both words are interchangeable… And yes, by using the words erroneously I'm not thinking in the right context...
Oooo but previously in another paper to the SAME Committee you wrote this, and it was acceptable...
"ENDORSEMENT SOUGHT
The Committee’s approval is sought to include ... ... ."
Definition from Dictionary.com
en·dorse·ment
–noun
1. approval or sanction: The program for supporting the arts won the government's endorsement.
2. the placing of one's signature, instructions, etc., on a document.
3. assigning the interest therein to another.
4. a clause under which the stated coverage of an insurance policy may be altered.
ap·prov·al
–noun
1. the act of approving; approbation.
2. formal permission or sanction.
3. Philately. one of a group of selected stamps sent by a dealer to a prospective customer for examination and either purchase or return.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Much ado about rubbish…
Reno has started… so in the midst of hacking there were some concerns… and collateral damage…
Case in point:
The stainless steel rubbish chute that you open to throw your rubbish out of. While removing it to treat the walls and re-tile the wall, the workers found that the previous installation was too tight i.e. too much silicone (or whatever it was) was used to seal the thing, so when they were removing the chute and it ended up spoilt.
Previously, this was not highlighted to us as one of the areas that we may have to be wary about, so when the contractor informed us of this, and told us that we have to bear the cost of the chute, of course we were pissed off… He already “waived” the installation and transportation charge of $80 and just going to charge us raw material cost of $140, but still… if they didn’t spoil the damn thing, we won’t even have to fork out a single cent for this!
Granted, $140 is not a big part of the entire reno budget in the bigger scheme of things… but to me it was a matter of principle, if you spoil my things you should pay for it. Cos you’re already charging me quite a lot for every other thing… but I’m also worried that if we piss the workers and contractors off so early in the job, they’ll haphazardly do everything else, and that will be very bad for us.
Sigh… then it got me thinking. Over the weekend, we purchased a mattress + bed frame for 3.6K, which is significantly more expensive than a generic/lower-end brand. But we really felt very good sleeping on it… And our washing machine was about 800 bucks, at least 200 bucks more than usual, but it is proven that it is very water and electricity efficient…
Then why can’t I get over this $140? Is this a case of being penny-wise but pound-foolish?
Case in point:
The stainless steel rubbish chute that you open to throw your rubbish out of. While removing it to treat the walls and re-tile the wall, the workers found that the previous installation was too tight i.e. too much silicone (or whatever it was) was used to seal the thing, so when they were removing the chute and it ended up spoilt.
Previously, this was not highlighted to us as one of the areas that we may have to be wary about, so when the contractor informed us of this, and told us that we have to bear the cost of the chute, of course we were pissed off… He already “waived” the installation and transportation charge of $80 and just going to charge us raw material cost of $140, but still… if they didn’t spoil the damn thing, we won’t even have to fork out a single cent for this!
Granted, $140 is not a big part of the entire reno budget in the bigger scheme of things… but to me it was a matter of principle, if you spoil my things you should pay for it. Cos you’re already charging me quite a lot for every other thing… but I’m also worried that if we piss the workers and contractors off so early in the job, they’ll haphazardly do everything else, and that will be very bad for us.
Sigh… then it got me thinking. Over the weekend, we purchased a mattress + bed frame for 3.6K, which is significantly more expensive than a generic/lower-end brand. But we really felt very good sleeping on it… And our washing machine was about 800 bucks, at least 200 bucks more than usual, but it is proven that it is very water and electricity efficient…
Then why can’t I get over this $140? Is this a case of being penny-wise but pound-foolish?
Friday, September 26, 2008
it's been more than a month
yup... realise that i've been neglecting this little blog of mine... not tt there's nothing to blog about, more like i've been wanting to add pics to the blog but haven't gotten around to transferring photos... so oh wellz...
summary of the past mth:
trip to Bohol, Phillippines with TJ! our pre-honeymoon or something... it was a very good and relaxing trip, the beaches were to die for, and we saw dolphins! awesome! so as usual, it's more convenient to load photos on facebook, so if you really want to, please go see!
arrival of the cute little rascal winky
winky's a kitten tt cheryl (my sister's) fren found and winky needed a home... when cheryl first saw winky, she immediately thought "mini me!" winky REALLY looks like kinky (my older fat cat) down to the kinked tail... winky's a brat though, too curious for his own good, but now, kinky the older one has overcome his jealousy, and is performing the role of surrogate mother, grooming the little one and chiding him if winky did something wrong (which is very often)... awwww...
commencement of the renovations!
we finally selected our ID, decided what on earth we wanted to do, and chose all the tiles and flooring! yippee! super excited! but now we're like uncle and aunties... gg to see furniture, see toilet bowl, taps, fridge, washing machine... and ms aw is gg to be sewing lady... (i hope) curtains are WAAAAY too expensive...
lunchmates
somehow our lunch group has gotten alot closer with the arrival of the two newbies... we go out more, we talk ALOT more crap, and our typical lunch hour is filled with guffaws and hysterics... a typical IM chat (we were irritating colleague YY by all talking like yoda)
CW... beat them not, join them shall u...
DD... looking and reading these exchanges, gaffaws and bellows I espouse
DD... seeing YY's exasperation, shuangness I experience
Me... DD, good u are
DD.. welcome, u are
Me... meaning of espouse i know not
CW... YY, the glory of yoda awaits
DD... actually words like that, cheemness they are all.
DD... actual appropriateness and meaning, i do not know
DD... to speaketh like yoda, pretending to be cheem, we have to
DD... irritating YY, our eventual goal shall be
DD... WAHHH...i'm damn proud la...i just wrote a sweet poem....4 lines somemore.
it amazes me how i can look like i'm very busy at work when we're all talking this kinda crap
summary of the past mth:
trip to Bohol, Phillippines with TJ! our pre-honeymoon or something... it was a very good and relaxing trip, the beaches were to die for, and we saw dolphins! awesome! so as usual, it's more convenient to load photos on facebook, so if you really want to, please go see!
arrival of the cute little rascal winky
winky's a kitten tt cheryl (my sister's) fren found and winky needed a home... when cheryl first saw winky, she immediately thought "mini me!" winky REALLY looks like kinky (my older fat cat) down to the kinked tail... winky's a brat though, too curious for his own good, but now, kinky the older one has overcome his jealousy, and is performing the role of surrogate mother, grooming the little one and chiding him if winky did something wrong (which is very often)... awwww...
commencement of the renovations!
we finally selected our ID, decided what on earth we wanted to do, and chose all the tiles and flooring! yippee! super excited! but now we're like uncle and aunties... gg to see furniture, see toilet bowl, taps, fridge, washing machine... and ms aw is gg to be sewing lady... (i hope) curtains are WAAAAY too expensive...
lunchmates
somehow our lunch group has gotten alot closer with the arrival of the two newbies... we go out more, we talk ALOT more crap, and our typical lunch hour is filled with guffaws and hysterics... a typical IM chat (we were irritating colleague YY by all talking like yoda)
CW... beat them not, join them shall u...
DD... looking and reading these exchanges, gaffaws and bellows I espouse
DD... seeing YY's exasperation, shuangness I experience
Me... DD, good u are
DD.. welcome, u are
Me... meaning of espouse i know not
CW... YY, the glory of yoda awaits
DD... actually words like that, cheemness they are all.
DD... actual appropriateness and meaning, i do not know
DD... to speaketh like yoda, pretending to be cheem, we have to
DD... irritating YY, our eventual goal shall be
DD... WAHHH...i'm damn proud la...i just wrote a sweet poem....4 lines somemore.
it amazes me how i can look like i'm very busy at work when we're all talking this kinda crap
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