Jo should see this.

Passed by the wet market on my way out to lunch and saw Australian lemons selling for S$0.40 each. I wonder why did we have to pay A$0.90 for a lemon in Perth then?

I will love him for as long as I live because I know he loves me.

No more nonsense from Ivy. Well, at least I don't see any nonsense on facebook anymore and I assume that she has given up all hopes to take my Kenneth away from me. I know that she can continue to harass him via PM, call or SMS but I trust him to ignore her if she does. He knows I will spot check on him every now and then so I doubt he dares to keep in contact with her in private anyway. =P

I have yet to hear from HR regarding my transfer. Will follow up with Wendy tomorrow if I still don't hear from them by then. Anyway, I will tender my resignation next month if my application is unsuccessful. Dear has promised to 养我 if I cannot find a job after I leave my current one. He said he just want me to be happy. Awwwww... ...sooooo sweeeeet~! I was so touched that I almost dropped a tear when he said that. I love my dear!!! =D

Dear's friend from NJC, Shun Liang gave us (Dear and I, JingDe and Edna, Kaddy and Kris, Benjamin and Swee San) a treat at MOF @My Izakaya on Sunday.

Dear ordered a unagi hot stone rice and I had a salmon bibimbap hot stone rice. It was delicious! You gotta keep stirring the rice as you eat because it will be burnt if you leave it at the bottom for too long. I like to leave the rice to burn though because it is so tasty and crunchy! =P Sushi was not as good as the main course. The sushi rice tasted like it was mixed with DIY sushi rice mix. =X Dessert was my favourite macha ice-cream! I just can't get enough of macha ice-cream. It is so yummy! =P

Sat around to chit chat with the ladies after dinner. I will soon be the only Miss in the tai-tai club because Swee San and Benjamin will be tying the knot next January! I wonder when I can upgrade my membership too. =/

I always enjoy chatting with the tai-tais because we share the same sentiments most of the time. While the guys were planning a guys only trip to Bangkok, we ladies had agreed that none of us will give our consent for them to go. If they want to go, they will have to bring us along. =P The guys abandoned their plan in the end. =)

It is a short week this week because it is Hari Raya Haji on Friday. A pity I gotta work on Saturday morning. Well, better than nothing. I really hate working.

My tai-tai day.

The interview went well. The interviewers were easy-going and very humourous. No sweat. =) Just needa wait for a call from HR to brief me on the contract and remuneration packagae now.

Had lunch with Chin Heng at Vivo City after the interview. It was a short meeting because the good boy had not finished his tutorial. =/

Wanted to wait for dear to knock off and send me to the driving range for my golf lessons but I forgot to bring my shoes. Went home to change instead. When I was done and about to leave home, Jason called to postpone the lesson because the rain was too heavy. =(

Since I was free, I gave myself a facial. Didn't have the time and energy to do so after I joined the bank. Felt so relaxed when I finally did. Mmmmm... ...

Dear was telling me about his fish on facebook so I swung by to take a look. The first thing I saw on his profile when the page loaded was a video of Andy Lau in a Sovil Titus commercial uploaded by an Ivy with the caption, "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX OUR WATCH?" This is not the first time I saw her post on dear's profile. She had been very rude all the while and she kept bringing up "past memories". All her posts suggest some "things" going on between her and dear. The video was the last I could tolerate. I asked dear if she is his ex-girlfriend. He said she is but the relationship ended long time ago and there is nothing between them now. I told him I don't like what she posted and he removed all her posts. I know dear loves me and still does but I am still upset. It is obvious that this Ivy is vying with me for his love and attention. I don't know what to do now. ='(

I will SHINE. =)

Wendy Lim from Call Centre has invited me to her office in Alexandra for a second round of interview tomorrow. The position I have applied for is that of a Customer Service Officer.

Doesn't seem like an upgrade to you, does it? You are right on that. I wanna do something "lighter" but still pay at least my current basic. This was the best I could find and is still the best I can find.

Hwee referred me for the position after he found out that I was desperately looking for a non-sales job. Have to thank the man for the helping hand.

If all goes well, I will work in the Alexandra office, where Kim is based. Dear works in Telok Blangah, which is nearby. Excellent arrangement.

Please pray for me.

Lost my direction.

I broke down yesterday. Started dropping tears while I was on my way home, on the train. I tried suppressing my tears but it was a futile attempt. And thus, I sobbed all the way from Marina Bay to Admiralty. :'( Continued to cry my eyes out when I was home, in the privacy of my own room.

What happened?

Being a banker was my dream. It was the ONLY thing I wanted to do after graduation. I was happy with my chosen career path until the most unfortunate event happened. We were hit by the worst financial crisis ever. The whole banking landscape was set for a major makeover after that. Everything changed. All the privileges of being a banker were being taken away from us overnight and only the stress and sh*tty work remain. I HATE my job now.

So, what can I do if I hate my job? Quit and find another one? Easier said than done. I just lost my ambition. I don't know what I really wanna do now. I have always said I wanna be a tai-tai but I have tried and know that I will be sick of staying at home once I have rested enough. I felt weak and worthless. I am lost.

When having an A is no good.

He offered to give me the spare key to his Integra BUT what is the use of giving me the key to a manual sports car when I hold a class 3A driving license?! @#$%^&*

The Mistress

Dear collected his Integra on Tuesday! He came to pick me up for dinner after he settled the car stuff. I am quite satisfied with the new mistress. (Most guys refer to their cars as their wives. He refers to his as his mistress because it is secondary to me. =P) It is very spacious. Lotsa leg room for me and lotsa space in the back seat for my shopping bags! Muahahaha~! It also has a sun roof. I love sun roof! Can enjoy the sunshine while I sit comfortably in the air-conditioned car. Hee~ We will be going to town to get his car key holder from Braun Buffel this weekend. =D

The new mistress

Saw his ex-mistress in an advertisement on sgcarmart.com with a nice "new" mileage. He had completed ~123,000 KM before selling the car. The "new" mileage featured in the advertisement is 59,800 KM. Dishonest dealer. Fortunately dear didn't buy his car from him.

Hello Kitty's little book of big ideas

Bought the Hello Kitty's little book of big ideas while I was shopping with dear at Harbourfront last Sunday.

It is really a little book of big ideas where Hello Kitty teaches you how to be a girl everybody loves. It is full of girly suggestions like how to organise a slumber party and how to be a great friend in school. There are even simple kitty meal recipes in the book! Love its cute and vibrant illustrations. =P

Though the book is written for children, I strongly recommend adults who love Hello Kitty to get this book.

It is not easy to find the book. Tried Popular, Kinokuniya and MPH but didn't find it. For those who are interested, I got my copy at the Big Bookshop in Harbourfront Centre for S$10.90.

Have fun!

Mystery Google. Trick or treat? =P

Read an article about Mystery Google this morning and decided to try it out. The verdict? It is damn cool and fun! LoL!

Those seeking adventure and surprises should try it. It is not the typical search engine you expect it to be. =P

As the name suggests, the site is a mystery. I shall not spoil the fun for you.

For those who insists on knowing more about the site before you visit it, you can read more about Mystery Google on http://digital.asiaone.com/Digital/News/Story/A1Story20091015-173718.html.

Have fun! =)

Disappointment.

Kenneth just called me to tell me that he is going to buy the Honda Integra he went to see last night. He has asked the dealer for a quote for the current car he is driving and if the deal goes through, he will have no car to drive this weekend.

From the way things are, I think our Melaka trip is "postponed". =(

Wedding bells are ringing.

Daphne told me that Rena registered her marriage with her fiance last September and she is holding her customary wedding next month.

I saw photographs from Yiying's wedding on facebook last night.

Before them were Hui Shan and Kai Lin.

Hui Shan got married two years ago on 070707.

Kai Lin got married early last year and her son is already a year old!

No, I am not upset that I was not invited to their wedding. We are not really close friends so I am fine without the invitation.

In fact, I am happy for them. They all seem to emit an indescribable glow from within them.

I am perhaps a little envious of their marital bliss. Makes me wanna get married immediately! Geez, I wonder when will he finally give up and propose properly. =/

So many of my ex-classmates are either married or getting married soon. Thank goodness we don't have alumni dinners and get-together parties anymore, else I will be so OUT when everybody starts talking about their husband and children and maybe even in-laws! I am glad I don't hang out much with many of my ex-classmates anymore.

A simple business e-mail I sent at work.

The bank recently launched a new AMEX card. In an effort to improve the take up rate of the new addition, all of us at the branches are "encouraged" to promote the new card to our customers.

Alan, the other personal banker at my branch was very helpful to come up with a brilliant idea to help all of us to meet our targets. He proposed that all of us send an e-mail to our colleagues in other departments and ask them to sign up for the new card. As all staff enjoy perpetual card fee waivers, it is not difficult to ask for their support. Out of those I asked, Kim Liong and Hwee were very kind to extend their support by offerring to help me to ask their personal friends and business associates.

In one of his replies to me, Kim Liong who is also my cousin-in-law wrote this at the end of the e-mail:

p/s: read about your branch changing episode on a contact website. Is JWC your new base?

I was a little blur when I read this. I thought he was asking me about changes to branches so I told him I am not aware of the changes and I will find out about it before I get back to him. However, after I stupidly went to find out if there are any changes to branches, it suddenly struck me that he might have seen my facebook status updates on Plaxo and was asking me about my transfer to a new branch. I didn't expect him to be concerned about such small matters as he is a busy man. Awww... I didn't know I have such a sweet brother-in-law. Shall give him a treat to coffee when I do drop by our head office. =)

Kim Liong is the same age as my dad but he is a really cool brother-in-law to me. On the first day I join our bank, he called and gave me a business lead. He is always asking me to call on him for coffee/lunch when I am in town. Such is the care and concern he has for his wife's cousin and I really appreciate it. =)

Other than Kim Liong, I also sent an e-mail to another cousin of mine who works at the same bank, Eileen. Eileen on the other hand did not even reply to my e-mail. =(

I am surprised how a simple business e-mail can tell me so much about a person. =/

From Jurong Point to Admiralty.

I have taken back my resignation letter from my GSM on the condition that he transfers me to a branch of my choice. He agreed to my request and transferred me to Admiralty branch.

Many were suprised by my decision to transfer to a small branch like Admiralty. I have my reasons for doing so:

It is only a stone throw away from my home. Takes me only 5 minutes to walk here. =)

Admiralty branch opens 930AM to 5PM on weekdays and 9AM to 1230PM on Saturdays. Normal working hours means that I have enough time to rest, more time to myself and more time to spend with my loved ones. =)

A smaller branch has less headcount compared to bigger ones like Jurong Point branch. Less people means less conflict. =)

My new direct supervisor does not practise micro management. He lets me do what I deem fit as long as I give him what he wants at the end of the month.

AND...

The best thing is, I closed more deals than I did when I was at Jurong Point! Isn't that great?! =P

So far, I am loving it here. Not much complaints for now. =)

"It is for your own good." Sounds familiar?

An Australian woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for starving her 7 year old autistic daughter to death. (see Aussie mom gets life in jail for starving daughter)

Parents always say whatever they do is for their children's own good but is what they do 'for their children's own good' always right?

Take my mom as an example. She is a secretary by training and had been an accounts assistant for a short period of time before she married my dad. Never in her life has she worked in a bank before yet she is always "teaching" me how to be a banker and she thinks she is doing me a favour by doing so. I think it will be better if she just mind home affairs and leave me alone.

Stop testing my patience.

I can never have a peaceful conversation with my mother. I cannot believe that she is so self-centered that she can sacrifice everything, including my happiness for her own interest.

We just quarreled again for the n-th time this month. She was telling me what she expects for my wedding. She did not even ask for my opinion. It was as if it is her own wedding she is planning. I was irritated and flared up at her, told her it is my wedding and I want it to be done my way, not hers.

I am sobbing alone in my room now. There is nothing else I can do since I can never change the fact that she is my mother. I feel so pathetic and helpless. ='(

Resigned, again.

I tendered my resignation yesterday. Got a call from my group sales manager shortly after I sent out the e-mail. He called me to arrange a meeting on Thursday morning so that he can try to convince me to stay. He will try to offer me something again tomorrow. I promised to hear him out first before making my final decision. We will see how it goes.

Went for the Cohen-Brown Proactive Relationship Banking training session at LOD Tampines today. It was deadly boring. The only thing I enjoyed was the company of my colleagues who joined the bank same time I did. They were all very encouraging when I broke the news to them. Spencer was especially kind to offer to refer me to his ex-supervisor at a foreign bank if I can't find a suitable job after I leave the bank. I really appreciate that. =)

Finally got to chat with Joanne again on MSN last night after so long. Miss her so much. Can't wait for Chinese New Year to come soon so that I can see her again because she won't be coming back home till then and I doubt I will be traveling to Perth anytime soon. =/

Winnie came to meet me at the branch yesterday. We went to have lunch together and had a good chat. It has been some time since we did and I definitely enjoyed my lunch break yesterday. Met up with Robin for a while before we left Jurong Point. He is so much fatter than he was when we last saw him a month ago! HaHa~

Accompanied Winnie to town after we met Robin. I went to Takashimaya after she left for lesson. While I was shopping, dear called to say that he was going to play golf at Bishan after dis-arming an alarm at Ang Mo Kio so I met him for dinner after he was done with his 50 golf balls. While I was leaving Orchard, I bumped into Gary and his new girlfriend. It was the second time I bumped into him there. I figured I should avoid going to town alone next time so that even if I bump into Gary there again, I will look better off without him. =/ Felt damn guilty when I met dear after that. We bumped into dear's colleagues too while we were having our dinner at Long House in Thomson.

Suddenly miss my dear now. Another two days to our long weekend. Wish time passes faster.

another sleepless night

I am suffering from insomnia again. =/ To top it off, I have branch duty later at 1030AM. Yes, I have to work on a SUNDAY morning.

As you can tell by now, bankers have no life. Our lives revolves around our work all the time, which explains why I am awake at this hour. The amount of stress I am under is so great that it has taken a toll on my health. I have a serious case of migraine which gives me a swollen eye each time it strikes. SoBz~

In view of my ailing health, I have decided to resign. There are, of course, other reasons for my resignation but due to the sensitivity of the issue, these shall not be discussed in my blog.

Due to my recent bad experience in my current employment, I have decided to seek career opportunities in industries other than banking and finance. So far, I have received a few calls but nothing has been set in cast yet. I shall keep my fingers crossed. Silkair is recruiting flight stewardess on 25 and 26 September. I may just give it try. Let's hope I find a job soon. Don't wanna live on instant noodles for too long. =P

Kenneth has been very supportive during this difficult period. Though he will nag a little some times, I know he will support my decision no matter what it is. Take for an instance, when I moved on to my current job, he bought me a new blazer for work though he always complains that I buy too many clothes when I already have two wardrobes of them. HeE~ He will be bringing me to Melaka again at the end of the month to unwind. We will also go to Bangkok during my birthday in October if I am still available by then. My dear is so sweet! I love my dear. =D

Talking to Joey Ong on MSN now. I can always count on him to entertain me whenever I can't sleep because he is always online during the wee hours! HaHa~ He is a pilot with SIA and he was kind enough to share some tips with me for the flight stewardess interview. =P

It is 5AM. Craving for char kway. Shall try to get some sleep then go grab a good breakfast before going to the branch.

Back from my Perth-fect holiday

Just came back from Perth two days ago. It was the most relaxing vacation I ever had. Jo and Wilson had been wonderful hosts. I experienced the life of locals thanks to them. Thank you my friends. =)

I am too lazy to update about my trip in words. Shall let the photographs do the story telling. Enjoy the slide show!

Dear just left for Bali this morning. He will be there for seven days. Already miss him. I don't know how I am going to survive the next six days without him and my best friend. Suffering from serious partner withdrawal symptoms now.

Missing you...

Kenneth has been very busy with work recently and is unable to spend much time with me. I totally understand that work is more important than going to the movies or a stroll at the beach but I will still feel uneasy if we remain apart for too long. I need to be constantly reminded that he loves me to make myself feel better. I will start blogging about the sweet little things he has done for me thus far so that I can read them whenever I start to feel neglected, to remind myself how much he loves and wants me.

***
To my dearest,

We had our very first date because I was craving for the coconut ice-cream dessert from Tung Lok Signatures. You offered to come and pick me up from my place though you have absolutely no idea where it is. Nevertheless, you made it here, all the way from Hougang, and we set out to Vivo City together. You knew that it is much cheaper to park at Harbourfront Centre which is connected to Vivo City but you chose to park at Vivo City's carpark instead because you did not want to have me walk too far. When we got there, the restaurant has closed for lunch but you insisted that we wait for it to re-open for dinner to satisfy my craving. It was supposed to be a short dessert date but we ended up spending the whole day together at the mall. It was freezing cold in the shopping area and I can see you shivering but you stayed with me anyway.

What you have done to please me that day had allowed me to gain a better understanding of you. Thank you for making the first move. Had you not, I would still be a lonely soul now. I wish you are here with me now so that you can give me a goodnight kiss before I go to bed. You are probably at the site now though. Goodnight, sweetheart. I love you.

***

Back by popular demand.

Many of my dear friends have been asking me why I stopped blogging. The truth is, I am always too tired to blog after a day at work. Though I do not work long hours like many other professionals do, nor do I need to perform manual labour, I am usually mentally, psychologically and emotionally tortured while I am at work. After work, I just wanna chill and do nothing. =(

Some of you may have noticed in Facebook that I am currently in a relationship and are curious who the lucky/unlucky guy is. Thank you for your concern and well wishes. The man is Kenneth, a 31 year old (yes, he is 8 years my senior) executive electrical engineer (and yes, another engineer). I love him and I know he loves me too. He always have my interests in mind and tries to please me whenever possible. I always feel safe in his arms. =) Though we have not officially met each other's family, my dad likes him a lot. It is the first time my dad is so full of praises for my boyfriend. I have a good feeling that this relationship will work out well and we will live happily ever after. =)

Will be meeting the ex-UOBankers on Wednesday to celebrate Wei Lin's 22nd and Kenny's 26th birthday. It has been a year since we last gathered. I am sure this will be fun. =) A note to Kenny and Hwee: We MAY become colleagues again. Won't be the same department though. Keep your fingers crossed. ;)

In an attempt to clear my annual leave, I have applied for block leave from 22 -30 June. I will be visiting Joanne in Perth during this period of time. I miss my BFF. We haven't talked much recently due to career commitments. There are so many things I wanna tell her and so many things I wanna do with her!! Can't wait for 20 June to come. I am so excited! =D