Finding Jobs Through Employment Agents

With many employment agents around, you don't really know which ones are actually good and which one will really provide results to you when you are in need of searching a new job prospect. Then, there is the clause you have bind with when comes to using the employment service. You have to be really careful with what you agreed with when you sign the terms with them.

Below are the few employment agents I would really like to share my opinions.

Recruit Express - known to be fast in finding jobs for you as they have many lobangs. However,
they aren't really that good enough to convince their potential client that they
have good candidates on hand. So the chance of getting a job through them is
not very promising. I have personally used their service several times but
ended up finding the job myself.

Their clause is that you will have to pay them S$50.00 for recommendation
fees once you signed the appointment letter with their client. In
addition, correct me if I am wrong, you will have to stick to the job for 90 days
or else you will have to pay them 1 month of your salary.

BGC Group - This one I would recommend. They are fast in service and willing to convince
their client that you are a good candidate for them and they try to get you a
salary that beyond your expectation. They don't make you go down to their office
for interview unless they have a client that wants to meet up with you. You
have better luck in landing a job with this employment agent. Not sure
about their clause.

ST Recruitment Centre - Been there only once and wouldn't want to go there again. Not very
good in matching you up with their clients. Can't recall what their
clause is. However, I do remember that their service ain't all that
great.

Personal Link JobHub - This I must say strongly recommend. For one thing, they are the ones
that sucessfully match me with their client. And I do say that their stuff
take very good messages to ensure that follow up being done after an
interview.

Ok.. their clause is you have to stay with their client for 2 months.
Otherwise, you have to pay them 1 month salary.

JAC - This employment agent I must say that I am speechless after looking and signing their
clause. 30% of the salary offered + GST will be paid to employment agent if you do not
turn up for work. 50% of the salary offered + GST if you have not fufill the 3 months
contract with them and this also applies if you are unable to perform.

So becareful when you use the employment agent service and ask them again what is the clause before you sign the appointment letter. If you are not able to accept the terms, DON'T SIGN! By not signing it, you will not have to pay anything but just raise your chance to be blacklisted by this employment agent only.

PEEVED!

I recently applied for the 2 miserable days of child care leave in the company in which I have resigned. I wanted to clear this since there isn't any claim back.

Waiting .. and waiting for approval.. 3 days later.. he came to me and say 'Do you really need to take that child care leave?' So I say yeah... , coz I need to send my child for injection. Then came the second question ' Do you have to take the whole day?' What the HELL... one day also cannot har! Why this child care leave is taking from your pay to give me har? If yes, then I can understand that I shouldn't take lah!

Besides, I deserve this! Guess this is their way of saying NO THANKS for all I have done for this company! Not forgetting, this is also a way of saying THIS IS YOUR J O B anyway! So much for dedication! So much for helping a JERK like him! GOD where is JUSTICE? I want to see this JERK punished!

2nd Treatment - CITISPA

Just went for the second treatment today. Next time never to make appointment on Sundays. They seem to be short handed and no one was outside to entertain me. Wow.. so much for a service. Our records are lying on the frontdesk and no one is around? Har? Can anyone even pick this up?

This time round, I have an option to either to take the steam bath or the sauna. This time I tried the steam bath. Good Choice! As I didn't suffer from a giddy sickness after the steam. The last time I took the Sauna, almost fainted before the time was up.

After the steam bath, I thought I'd be given a towel to change as the current one was soaking wet. Then someone moved me into a room with air-condition blowing directly at me with a soaking wet towel on me. I like har! You want me to catch a demonia?

Then they told me to use the BIG towel which was really really BIG to wrap myself up. So I did! Feel like I am in a wedding gown made of towel.

After the massage, they again move me into another room to do the postnatal massage. They start gossiping in Cantonese.. I understand what they were talking about.

After complete with another steam bath, they never weigh me :-\.. and then I never gave me drink either. WOW..totally poor service leh! Then again that manager ask me to take the full body package again :( I say NO again.. then the black face came!.. Can't they just put a NO with a period and stop asking? This is a bit annoying!

Final results of 2nd trimming

lost 2kg which is 62kg now

lost 1 inch from waist

New Job Place

Next year I will be working at The Linear. Not sure what they have in store for me and I am looking forward for a good year in the Year 2008. I am also praying very hard that things will run smoothly for me and I'd work well with colleagues there too.

LORD I pray that you continue to watch over me like you have when I was here at Chartered. Thank you for blessing me with good friends and making me stay here for the longest time. I am sad to say I have to go but I have completed the assignment you have assigned to me here. Sorry that I am not able to work with the girl next door who is small minded and self centered.

Check this out! It is a cool place! HERE

Exit Interview

Went to chase HR this morning for my clearance form and she arranged an exit interview for me later afternoon.

Ok.. the usual question "Why you want to leave this company?"

Again I have to have my list read out (prepared that in advance). I don't really care if they look into my listed problems or not but at least I make an effort to bring it out in the open in a professional way and not bottle inside and bug me for the remainder of my life as to 'what if'.

Once I am done with that, somehow I feel a sense of relief.

So time to tell those people who are not in my department. I am OUT OF HERE! Get the girl next door to help you!

So much for Confidentiality

Being a Secretary is no JOKE. For one thing, you need to keep confidential items C O N F I D E N T I A L! Guess the person sitting next door kind of missing this part! & totally GROSS .. she makes coffee for her BOSS in her own cup. PUKE ... lucky I not her BOSS coz double PUKE if I do drink it. Come on lah ... have some hygiene.. Oooppss sorry I forgot .. she don't have any knowledge of hygiene .. if she does... she won't be what she is today... haahhhahha to that.


Ok.. coming to that part where she has already announced that she will be Senior Secretary in April Yr 2008! 2 promotions in one year? What kind of management decisions is this place running? Slacker like her can promote! SO GO SLACK EVERYONE and you will get your promotion faster then ever! So much of CONFIDENTIALITY! Har :-\... then good lor.. she can take my job too... now the IT Budget can save even more! Sorry this is jealousy speaking - God forgive me for this sin coz I am unable to take it :((! For all the hardwork and dedication to the department, this is the return I have THANK U SO MUCH! ... Since they treasure her so much... let her do lor.. Even if they can meet up with my pay I won't want to continue working with people like her who play P O L I T I C S!

First Tummy Treatment - CITISPA

Have signed up the tummy treatment with CITISPA as they happen to have an offer of per treatment for tummy is @ $38.00. I took the 20 treatments as usual coz they recommend so.

Went there today for my first treatment. As usual, they will always try to convince you to take other treatments coz it is cheap - so be careful and persistent in saying 'NO'. Guess as much the manager use this strategy, but didn't work on me.

Before they start the treatment, they weigh me and measure my tummy size. Give me a break I gave to recently ok? Of course my tummy looks fat if not I wouldn't be seeking CITISPA for help.

Weigh : 64.08kg

Tummy: 89cm ~ 35 inches

Ok.. you'd think after this the treatment starts. Again, manager try another tactic on me - Postnatal massage. She recommend me to do it coz this will avoid the ovarian cancer and having any future problems. I can say no but thinking after having two children and never did this, may be I may be prone to this coz I do feel some pain sometimes... ok so I took the package. Besides, outside price is also about the same. Since no diff just that I don't have a stranger in my house doing for me so might as well do it here now and get over with it.

They start with the Postnatal massage on me. Painful and I do mean painful but it not that kind of scream for pain. Afterwhich is the massage the tummy using some form of equipment. That is pain and almost want to puke. Lucky never ate anything before I head there if not, really will puke.

Next, put me in the SUANA.. BOY... was it really hot. I told her to turn on the air-con high so that I will offset the hotness through my face. Lucky I told them to do that. Many times I have to release myself from that SUANA box... HOT HOT HOT... almost 4 mins left... and almost passed out! I am dehydrating... lucky a cup of hot ginger tea came after that... Phew.. sweat like a PIG! Again .. fainting spell come on.. drink another cup of ginger tea... sit down and rest.. ok.. feel much better... after that change and left... went to buy some green apples and yogurt for dinner.

Phew ... what a treatment and I have 19 more to go... next time I would bring some sweets and plenty of water.

Million Dollar Question from my Boss

Ok.. submitted my resignation letter on Wednesday and here comes the question "Why you want to resign?"

Here is what I have said. INJUSTICE! The woman who came in later, got the perm headcount and then follow by a promotion. So what am I to the department?

Promised converting me in progress... when? Can't even see it coming through. If it were to come in early, I may consider not leaving. Psyche! No way! I am still leaving! I am getting much more besides budget constrain here would not be able to increase my pay by 20% more.

I also mentioned about the title here which was indicated in the ePBA for last year too. Not forgetting the backup tapes which I have to handle, why I am still handling it when AS can have it pass to Helpdesk?

In addition, I also took the opportunity to tell him. Don't let all these people step all over you. Also that part about telling me that I don't have bonus, don't have to go there! What's more, please do stand by the person who reports to you. Nobody likes working for someone who always have to fight their own battles!

I guess that is as much coolness I can give him without loosing my professional part. All and all.. this feels DAMN GOOD coz I have waited so long to tell him that!

My Final Resolution for Yr 2007

The Year 2007 is coming to an end soon!

And for a moment I thought that I would not be able to meet my last list of resolution for Year 2007 which is to get out of here in the current company. With after several interviews and many rejected offers, I have turn very low morale. Suddenly, my prayers have been answered.

Where am I going you may ask? Its a secret and only those who know me will know where I am heading.. Sorry ;) ... For one thing I most happy is now that I have a permanent job and most of all [YELLING] I am a S E C R E T A R Y! No thanks to my current job in an CSM.. who is unfair and unjustice... No thanks to my superior for helping me ... No thanks for promising me the PERM HEADCOUNT in which I never see.. & HERE is my last LAUGH to you! HEARTY HA!

And there goes the million dollar question coming from the Human Resource when I gave a copy of my Resignation Letter to her. "So why you want to resign?" So I went on to say... here I am IT SUPPORT EXECUTIVE... now I have a proper title SECRETARY...anyway she is not done yet with the many questions and we got interupted... but I am sure this will come back gain.. hahhahha to that!

What I am going to miss here?

My colleagues - this does not include all the Management Level & not all.

- Lee
- Don
- Hor Pek
- Wu Guang
- Kok Keong
- Vincent Teh
- Oi Cin
- Yet Ping
- Paul Wee (ok ok lah ... although he annoying .. but he also has a forgiving heart .. and still nice back to you. For that, I take my hat off him)

Hey I suddenly notice that there isn't much colleagues left ... coz most of them also left...hahhaa..Sorry X-colleagues don't count coz this topic is talking about my current job..but yeah lah I still miss you all

Ok.. let me see.. on Management Level who am I really going to miss? Hmmmm... thinking.. thinking.. don't seem to can find one I really miss... hahhhhhaa.. ok here goes

Teo is a good person to learn things from especially on management things. He really knows his work well. For that I do respect him. He also shows his ropes to people who reports to him directly. He also treats me well... yeah well as in he goes out eat expensive food.. he will packet leftovers for me... hahhahhha.... Somehow his decisions sometimes I don't really agree with him. Still, he is not careful with what he says - coz I am there to hear it.

AS - I would miss him for the helpfulness he is. Although I must say that he sometimes may be overboard until he didn't notice it. Childish & also annoying at times. No matter at least he understands the word "merciful". He does really help me a lot and I always can depend on him. If you need someone to spread news, go tell him... needless to tell you why... guess it yourself. What I like most he has done for me is that he helps me to punish the evil one. THANKS AS!

AH- not much to say about him but at least for one thing. He is not as annoying like others.

and that is all on my list.

I don't know what is ahead of me but at least I make the first move and pray that God will guide me through as he always have.

Busy Saturday

It was a fruitful yet busy Saturday. No time to slow down even on weekends :(

First in the list is as usual cook and feed my two kids breakfast of the day - more important to start the day.

Next, have to head to my child's Primary School to pick up some more exercise books coz it is not listed in the School Book List. Thanks for making me walk so many times down to school X(

Followed by hit the food centre for lunch.

After lunch done, head to buy school shoes for my child.

Finished off with the list is to send my child for tuition. And I am all shack out after that !

On the Roads

I have a driving license but do not drive on the roads of the country I reside. Why you may ask? Well, it is too stressful to be on the roads. And the story begins with aggressive drivers and numbers of bicycle on the roads, also not forgetting dangerous jaywalkers.

Many times I have traveled in cars to see things I do wish the other party do put into consideration for those who drive and also for themselves. Below are some scenario I came across in which I find very dangerous especially on the roads.

1. The Red Man is showing on the traffic lights and the bicyclist instead of stopping, try to beat the traffic by crossing the road. Poor drivers who are trying to make that turn sometimes don't see them coming. Whose fault? bicyclist or the Driver in the car?
2. Again bicycles on the roads (have nothing against bicycles), you wish they would be more considerate towards drivers on the road and also to think of the danger they are putting themselves in. Please don't ride your bicycle side by side with your friends.
3. I am not a professional driver myself but I do know that when you drive slow on the road, don't keep to the outer lanes. This will not only endanger your life but also the driver that over take you.
4. Be a considerate driver ... please do signal in advance and I do mean in advance and not switch on the signal to switch lane and then start switch lane. The other driver might be speeding up and didn't see you coming and bump you out the road.
5. Motorcyclist, please be careful on the road as to not to travel too slow especially on the expressway as you will get bump out of the road by big vehicles coming your way.
6. Mothers out there, please do be careful with your child on the stroller and not put them in danger by placing them too near to the road especially it is a corner turn for drivers on the road when you are crossing the road at a traffic light. The driver may have pass his driving license and may not accurate make a turn and your kid in the stroller end up paying for it.
7. While crossing the road, may your child be big enough or young, hold their hands while crossing the road and don't let go until you are safe on the other side. You never know some crazy drivers out there who may be drunk driving.

All these can help to avoid accidents and be sorry later. It can also help avoiding the 'what if I have done it differently' question. Please do ponder when you are in any one of the above mentioned situation. What you could have done differently to avoid accidents.

3GP videos

I had a gathering that day and took some videos using my phone to capture the happy moments of x-colleagues coming together to have dinner together and have fun, also to update each other about working lives.


Now I would like to have that moment save onto my computer hard disk but I need to convert it into other friendlier formats as not many software are able to play the 3GP video formats on your computer unless you use the QuickTime Player. This will require you to download it from QuickTime. The downside is, if you are not willing to pay for software like I do, you won't be able to do any edits to your video eg. rotate it.


After some searching of available software that are free, I have arrived with only one that which is acceptable but not perfect. This is the Prism Video Converter. This will allow you to convert the current 3GP format to other formats like avi, mpeg, wmv etc. Ok .. like any other free software, there is one slight problem, which is after convert it, it doesn't seem to have the voice part - meaning no sound :(.. I can settle with no sound like the olden days of black and white flim but this is with color.

Then there is also another problem. Ooopppsss... upside down as I have taken the video by flipping my phone to a landscape mode. So how do I rotate it? Again.. have to find another free software available to do that trick. Finally found something that works for me. This software rotates the converted format of the file. Its called the Free Video Flip and Rotate by DVDVideoSoft.com. With a click of the buttons available, walah ... I manage to flip it.. bu argh ... noticed something wrong. I click the flip vertical button instead of the 90 degree flip. Looks funny ... everybody become sitting at the wrong side ... hahhhahh... anyway I adjusted that.

Gathering with X-Colleagues

Yesterday evening was a great one!

I have a gathering with some x-colleagues and current colleagues too. We actually planned to have it at Seoul Garden at Causeway Point but ended up at Jack's place.

Look what we all order.

I have Seafood in the Basket. As it was worth eating as I was hungry :). Besides it has three tasty clamps ... hahhhaaaa.. And all were jealous that I have big portion.... See lah .. I told you all it is worth ordering but no one listen X(

For those who ordered the set meal, we had the below for desert. Exactly what I like, chocoloate mouse... yum...yum..

It was full of laughter and having fun updating one another our current lives. We end our gathering at about 10, I think as all the stores were closed - depart with one taking the MRT alone ... hahhahha.... and then we went down to the bus inter-change where my bus was waiting for me to board... and there I rush off with a bye-bye (sob sob sniff sniff).. Sorry guys.. gotta rush back home to see my children are well taken care of by my husband.

Last words to all my friends, WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN! But can we pick some other place besides having to eat fried food? I am having sore throat again :( from all the fried food.

Bata Shoes

No one really knows about the real history behind the Bata shoes.

Bata was first brought in the year 1894 by someone named Thomas Bata in a country called CZECHOSLOVAKIA. I am no geography expert and I do not know where that is exactly but according to Trivia-Library.com, it is " Landlocked in eastern Europe, south of Poland, southeast of Germany, and north of Austria and Hungary". Wow, that is definitely far. And it has come a long way. Until now it has many branches around the country and especially in Singapore. That is why they have been making good shoes.

I, for one is a fan of Bata shoes. Why you may ask? There may be many fancy shoes out there in which Bata doesn't really have. However, for one thing I believe Bata have, it is the quality of their shoes and that is their plus point, Bata shoes doesn't really cost all that much compared to the branded and fancy shoes you get out from malls.

In any case you can't really find any good shoes to your taste, and the quality you want, perhaps you might want to Bata :)

If you haven't visit Bata website online, below is the link.

http://www.bata.com.sg/page.php?kon=4_4

Job Advertisements - What I hate and laugh at most

Jobs that are published online have very peculiar way of putting job requirements. For one thing they like to add things that are very hard to define as a job requirement. Below are some examples in which I have encountered rather odd and funny at times to.


- take pride in personal appearance (wow interesting factor, a Secretary role but do wonder are people that sloppy if they are required to attend important meetings? or do you want someone to be fashionable? Isn't someone who can perform more important then appearance? You need to go buy a vase is more like it)


- General Admin Duties & General Secretarial Duties (that is vague... you need to define clearly what is required. This doesn't cover the what I can do and what I can't do)

- be able to translate Chinese to English (as my Chinese totally not good, I don't think this is for me either. But it sounds like the person need more of a 'Translator' then a 'Secretary'. They need a person who is very good in Chinese but I doubt they can find out good in English then. Definitely wouldn't be able to find a suitable candidate - so I was also right that the advertisement was placed over and over again)

- to able to dictate. ( How many people still doing that? That is tough. Definitely wouldn't be able to find a suitable candidate - so I was also right that the advertisement was placed over and over again)

These are only a few that I come accross.

Target Board

Sorry I am not a TARGET BOARD !

Yesterday was a real bad day for me at the place I work. Monday morning meeting and I get shoot with additional workload. No Thanks to my boss I report to who try to fight ... if you call blah blah his way .. as fighting for me...

In end, like always, loose again! He may like being the target board who always let all these people push him around, that is pretty fine with me but I am not one who like to be one like him. Hey... keep me out of it!

I wasn't really up to fighting for myself this time. A person can only take so much of your CRAB before they start to BLOW! And then someone approach me and ask me how he can solve the issue of the Invoice.. I almost wanted to say... 'THROW IT AWAY!' I don't CARE! NOT MY PROBLEM ... Go blow yourself away from me [YELLING]! No more HELPFULNESS from me as of TODAY and any and every other DAYS to come

Silver Cab

Sick again and went for some event. After which I catch a cab back home. Hailing for a cab .. and a cab did stop.. guess what.. 'Silver Cab'. Wanted to say NO WAY! But hop on instead as the clock shows it is 5:00pm and I gotta get back home to do some stuff before my two monster come back home.

For one, to update this blog with "WHY I DO NOT TAKE SLIVER CAB". Hhhmmmm.. customer service, they aren't the exceptionally good type. Needless to say they are any of the chatty type at all. Greet Customers when they enter the cab, NOT EVEN CLOSE! What's more they hardly got initiative nor do they know their way around Singapore. The worst part is not all this. It is that they drive dangerously, that is the WORST! I am not exagerrating! You can see them speed up just to catch me first to hop onto their cab, that would mean dangerously. So, if you are alone, taking a Silver Cab, try to seat on the driver side coz it is going to be a B U M P Y ride!

There goes another shoe

And I wear this shoe out today to go for some event... Sssshhh can't tell you .. afraid someone would look at my Blog. Haven't been wearing this for a year because I was pregnant. So I thought I wear it today as I am running out of shoes to wear for events.

Look quite alright, right? Wrong! There is something wrong with this shoe. You can't really see it coz its black... hahhhhahha





YIKES! Notice that white spot? Well, that is a crack and the skin of the shoe has peel off! Ai yo.. I checked it before I leave the house and now I have to get stuck with it looking like that. Hope no one notice my shoe has cracked. Second time in life I have not notice the condition of my shoe before leaving the house.

Next time, don't just look under a light. Go to the broad day 'light' to look clearly first. So embarassing.

Call my name Correctly!

My mother gave me this name. Although it ain't some fancy name but it is a name I have learn to accept it. However, someone think that he is funny by calling me another similar name. The difference is one ends with an 'a' and the other ends with an 'e'. Despite I corrected him, he still try it again. It is so NOT FUNNY! Three times he pull this. If he tries again tomorrow, no more professionalism since he doesn't have any to begin with anyway. I will SCREW him up! How would you feel if I call you PIG or even JERK! Still, what annoy me again is that he was late. Why auditors have no watch to keep time meh? I have a life! Mind you! If you haven't got any, go get one. I am in a rush to get home, YOU JERK! Anyway, to add this, he calls himself an AUDITOR.

Still, another auditor, tell me she page this guy and couldn't get him. Then I look at her, what you want me to do? I can't really help you if he doesn't return your call. She keeps bugging me with who sits where. Where the HELL is the SOX Manager? He not doing is work? Hmmm... He has been taking a lot of leave these days... wondering is he also hunting for a job? Hhhhahahhha..

Talking about auditors, I really wonder how some people represents their company. They mess up with people's documents and place. Besides that, you think auditors from reputable company would know how to clean up after themselves but NO! They leave some stuff for you to clean up. That is rather sad at how they portrait their company image in another's company while doing audit.

Argh ... I need to get out of here soon! I am becoming to be a R U D E person!

P1 Oritentation

Waited for this day to come and finally it did. There was a lot of people this very day. Went there just in time - not a good idea, as there was many people to sign up too last minute too

Ok... went for the Oritentation Speech by the Principal followed by some other teachers. Then it was time to go down to que for books before the que gets longer after the speech. Hey .. this is Singapore... you think I KIA SOO ... wait you see .. I NOT ALONE!

Well, the book shop was slow as usual in getting the selling to textbooks. When it finally start selling, I was so happy in getting all the textbooks and whenever got time start wrapping them to up to keep them new. However, to my

the woman who gave me the books didn't even tell me what don't have but charge me the money for it. What the HELL! The worst part is I didn't even checked till I come home (when I free and was about to take a look at it) until it was too late - Bookshop close. So I called the bookshop, they say is ok ask me Monday to go back and 'get from them' - that is hopefully I do get it from them! Was so ANGRY and spoil my day! Another thing that will worry me for next 1 day until Monday arrives! Argh ... white hair poping out again!

STUPID of me not to check ! DAMN! NOW I BLAME MYSELF !

Online Feedback Forms

As a company, it is always good to have a website that introduces your company on what kind of business you are doing and the kind of service and products your provide. From there you can actually invite customers to come and enquire more.

Still, including a feedback/enquiry form to your website will help to increase your business revenue. This will be good to those who do not like using the phone to make that call and have themselves stuck with the sales person. However, when comes to the feedback/enquiry form on website, it is only good if the feedback form works and you reply to your customers promptly. Many times I have encountered dead feedback forms to quite a few websites and I do mean these websites are business that are from big corporation. Few weeks ago I send an enquiry through the feedback form to a Chinese Association asking about certain Chinese Course and until now, I am still waiting for a reply. Then again, I send another enquiry to a slimming centre, 2 times leaving first an e-mail address and second my contact number. Still, no one call or return an e-mail to my enquiry.

So ... I do wonder .. is the feedback form not working or there isn't anyone getting to those incoming feedbacks? With these I leave you with, what kind of Service Level does Singapore have these days? You think would the customer be interested returning to your website again if it doesn't work?

Baby Shoe

Finally manage the finish this! With all the busy schedule doing other things, hardly got the time to get this.

This pattern was provided by Heather Bailey. Pretty cute shoe for a New Born Baby from 0-3 months.

Need some embalishment though but haven't thought out any yet.

Notice the picture is much clearer? Heee.. I took this with my new Mobile phone.

New Mobile Phone

I am so happy that I finally got a new mobile phone. Sony Ericsson K530i. It has quite a few feature I have been looking for. For one thing, the incoming SMS tone, now I can change the tone to something that is out of the common ones given from the phone. At least I would be able to tell if it was SMS coming from my phone. Always have that problem with the SMS tone when I hear someone's incoming SMS with the same selection as mine, I will pick to check is it my phone beeping for incoming SMS.

What's more about this SE K530i is the expansion slot. Although it doesn't really come with the M2 memory card but it is good to have the expansion slot. This would mean that I can have quite a few MP3s songs carried on my mobile phone so when I am on a MRT trip to somewhere, I can pick up my earphone to listen to music and enjoy the ride to wherever I am heading. How cool is that!

Not forgeting the 2 Megapixel Camera. Something way much better then the current mobile phone I am having. Now I can grab good shots!

A fruitful Leave Day

Yeah another day of taking Leave away from work. Have been very low morale working in this current environment. Why you may ask! Well, bosses are getting on my nerves and rather rude to me lately - in fact all the time in which I am sick off now. Anyway, Leave also to do some errands I have not get to yet.

For one thing, I promised my girl to bring her on a Double Decker Bus ride. So I took this time to bring her for the bus ride. Look she is enjoying her ride up the front seat of the Double Decker Bus and enjoying the high view outside.

Hey look, the traffic outside at Seletar Expressway looks so clear. That is one reason why I like going out on leave day coz it is P E A C E F U L and no agitation followed by frastration.

Hey this Double Decker Bus pass by the Giant at Tampines. Drop by to do some shopping with my girl. Grab some small stuff and head back home.

Then drop by the Post Office to send out the package to a friend from Malaysia under registered mail as she recently just gave birth. The service level here was great as I mentioned to the counter lady who serve me that I want to purchase everything like the stamp and box and have it send out later. She then ask me why not send out now. When I told her that I do not have a marker and maskin tape to pack the package properly, she immediately say, I can lend you. Don't bring home to do. This is what I call good service level. Offer suggestions and provide with a smile.

Afterwhich I also get to go to my library to return the books I borrowed but some how ending up frastrated as the Woodland Branch Library is always messy with arranging the books. Can't find the book on the shelve and again end up with some other book which didn't quite give me what I need. Sigh .. still talk about service level, P O O R! I approach the customer service but she just shoo me away with 'go check out the aile that says []' . Wow .. what kind of service is THAT!

All in all, I manage to satisfy my young girl and run what I need to do so that the leave taken is a fruitful one and not a waste of time.

Stuffed Dog

I took the picture on the left with my mobile phone camera.

As you can see, I desparately need to change that phone camera. Not a very clear picture taken but was too lazy to get the digital camera and have it transferred to my computer. A phone would be faster thanks to BLUETOOTH ;)!

Thanks to the Blog ALLSORTS for sharing this pattern. I took this pattern from there and made one myself. Haven't got the time to get a nice button to sew the to this dog. But it looks pretty cute.

Challenge

According to the Merriam- Webster Online Dictionary, the word "Challenge" means

1: to demand as due or deserved : require
2: to order to halt and prove identity
3: to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid, or outmoded : impugn
4: to question formally the legality or legal qualifications of
5 a: to confront or defy boldly : dare
b: to call out to duel or combat
c: to invite into competition
6: to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties
7: to administer a physiological and especially an immunologic challenge to (an organism or cell)

My interpretation of challenge is pretty simple. A challenge to me is something you have never done before in life, it may be some form of work or studies or may be something else. This may include some examples like if you conquer the Everest Mountain in a worst condition weather within 2 days (which is almost impossible) , that would be a real challenge.

There are challenges like what I managed to achieve in my life, is to pass with a merit for my degree, that is what I define as a great challenge. What's more, in terms of work is that you have to pick up something new, say a new knowledge, that is a challenge to me when I conquer it.

In general, my point would be, doing last minute things because your boss wants it NOW, this is so not define as a CHALLENGE!

The Golden Compass Movie

Received an e-mail this morning from a friend with regards to The Golden Compass movie that will be showed in December 2007. It gives out a warning about bringing your kids to watch that is if you are a Christian or a Catholic.

If you haven't quite seen the trailer, below is the offical website. It is something like a fantasy movie that is if you like movies like this. What's more, Nicole Kidman is starring in this movie. I, personally is a fan of Nicole Kidman but somehow, I only selective about the movies to watch in which Nicole Kidman stars in. I must say that not every show with her is nice to catch.

Anyhow, this is only personal views by others. The way I see it, it may be true and may not be true but it is a matter of taking the movie in an artistic form of way and enjoy the movie that your favorite star is cast in. I, for once can't wait to catch this movie.

Golden Compass Movie

Here is the part of the message ...
=================

A anti-Christian movie called the "Golden Compass" will be coming out in early December, aimed at children and labeled as a family movie. This movie is based on a series of books by an atheist British author (Phillip Pullman) whose goal in writing the books is to be the "Anti-Narnia" series and to lead children into atheism. The main villains in the series of books are the Magisterium, Cardinals, and the Pope, and includes a heroine that is a young girl who sets out to kill God.
=================
To read more about it in detail, vist the link below.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Getting to Work with your Pattern

Ok.. here goes this blog I promised to add.


As I have mentioned in my previous blog (check the Archives on the right) each pattern comes with specific instructions. From the layout to piecing up together. Below is how an example of a pattern instructions look like.




The brand new patterns comes in one big print out - like a tissue paper type. You have to cut to size to easily trace onto the cloth, something like below. This current pattern I have comes with many different designs so I just pick the required pattern piece. What I have done is I took the pieces I need and have it place properly onto the laid cloth by using pins to pin them down.



Next, I would use a tracing paper (not the type of tracing paper that is meant for paper. This tracing paper is made of wax and meant only for cloth - for those who are new to this).



Once it is traced, I will use a good scissors to cut the pattern out. That is cut on the dot you traced.

NOTE: Some patterns does not come with Seam Allowance (to allow access to sew the pattern up). So in which case you have to read the pattern instructions first before you start working on it. I am a PRO already ;)!

Once you have cut the pieces out, you are all set to piece them up together. You need to know the different kinds of finishes to prevent your seams from fraying after a wash. If you are unsure and want a quick solution, I recommend you can also get a pinking shears ( a special scissors with triangles) to cut the cloth so you can skip this step and just sew.

Job Interview Tricks

I have been quite a few Interviews in my time of life in trying to get a job. Many times, potential employers like to ask many questions. No, I am not talking about those questions that ask about your job scope as this is pretty common. It is those questions that really makes you stumble on what is the right answer to it. At times like these, you wonder all these potential employers could they have copied the question somewhere because everybody is using it or do they really know the logic behind using these type of questions. Some of the questions and I beleive that most of you have encountered once or rather more in you life going through interviews, which includes the below: -

1. What is your strength and weakness [I always fumble on this question]
2. What do you see yourself in 5 years time [and I was stupid enough to even answer to question now thinking back]

I recently found this forum to be very interesting. It actually shares other people views about the above questions. Perhaps it is good to look through and used this as a module answer when you go for your next interview.

http://www.sgclub.com/singapore/share_interview_experiences_30953.html

Things I HATE about my BOSSes

Here is a list to share with the WORLD about the things I HATE most about my Bosses.

1. Last minute want a room for meeting. As if this company got many rooms available. GIVE ME A BREAK!
2. Ask me do work during my lunch time while he enjoy his lunch outside. WHAT A JOKE!
3. Call me on my mobile when I am on leave to tell me some stupid things like you got no quarterly bonus this month or some donkey needs the meeting room. Why can't you just say 'NO WAY!'
4. When going home, purposely make you stay to do some thing so you would miss the company transport.
5. Make you do some adjustments when he can do it himself
6. Always the goodie two shoe type. Never side your staff or fight for you. You have fight the battles YOURSELF!
7. When I was 7 months pregnant, make me walk to his cubicle to tell me things several times.
8. Like to share his viruses with all the staff by coughing all over you.
9. Can't make up his DAMN mind how he want a thing to be done and after asking you do one particular way then want to change
10. Like to ask people questions he got no answer but he already have the answer. I call this GREAT PRETENDER

And there may be more to come in which I have not list down!

So how about your excuse for a the worst boss ever had?

Hari Raya Puasa in Lieu

Holiday in Lieu.. sound so good. However, like any other on leave days, I don't really get to rest and relax time. During times like this, I always get only very little out of it from enjoying what I like doing.


Wake up early again to catch my Cantonese favorite drama. After settling my kids at Babysitter's house, I have a full day ahead doing things.

To begin this very day with is the tracing the pattern for my girl's pants onto the cloth I seem to have bought ages ago (while I was still pregnant) . Now after delivery, have been so busy with baby that I hardly got time to even get to it. There was one time last month I planned to get to it but end up resting as I was very ill. Finally, got this traced and cut. Next is to find time to piece up together.

Next in line of the day, finally I got to get to the massage I have long been waiting for - almost a year and more. My back hurting like HELL... and I mean really like HELL... the feeling like there are so many knives stuck at my back... as if I have been stabbed too many times and unable to get those knives out no matter how I try. Even my little massager (my girl) also do not do the trick. Feel so much better now.. Sigh of relief! Next time must go try the burning stone coz my body got chills in the bones. Hope this will do the trick and when the next time I fall sick I will quiver.

More to come on the list to do TODAY! Went down to my favorite shop to buy some craft stuff. Bought some wool and also some felt. Next hit Carefour to get the fan for my close friend who is about to deliver next month.

A bit shack already up to here and I have yet to get to the list where it says 'CUT HAIR'. Ai yo... outside raining and I haven't quite reach my list yet and I am hungry too. Thought of hop onto the MRT train and drop at Novena for a quick cut at the EC House. When the MRT train reach Orchard and noticed that the crowd disappears, I sat down and decided not to drop at Novena coz I too lazy ... Hhahahhah...

The train went all the way to Woodlands Station. Ok.. walk quickly towards Civic Centre to cut my hair. Wow.. got people ... sigh wait again. My cut was real quick but not sure the comb is clean... now my hair seem to be itching... better to wash it later.

Still not over yet. Have a few more things to get at Causeway Point before I finally hit homr with a complete list. My friend's son birthday coming up and I have to get him a present. Ok ... no one's going to the birthday party so I also think I not going lah. Then picking some other stuffs too like the pajamas for my girl - Cheap so I bought two sets with each cost 10 bucks. Last in the list is to get the glue I need to paste things.

Hooray ... finally my list of things are over. Head back home to REST with 1 hour left before I pick my two monsters up. Do have a few didn't quite get to it. MY SAMBAL BLACHAN! Sigh .. but it was a good try that I manage most important ones...

All in all .... it was a FRUITFUL Day!

A Mother's Job never Done!

I have failed to recall what it was like having a baby around since my girl has grown so big. Now, having a second child reminds me of the nightmare I onced use to have. When I had my girl, I was jobless and was a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). You think that life was good. However, my girl drive me crazy and I was always busy doing housework and looking after her daily meals. Picking after her and making sure that she is safe. In the end I gave up being a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM) and went out to look for a job for extra income so that I can use my money to pamper myself and kids.

After heading back to work, life was still pretty normal. Found a good babysitter I could rely on. Then we plan to have a second child. Now that the second child is here, I have to cope with being the three roles - as a wife, a mother to two children and a career (if you called being paid to do what I am required to do to be a career).

Trying to balance my life have never been easier. Now a days, from Monday to Friday, I wake up early in the morning say 6:30am. Wake my boy to feed him. After when he is done, I wake my older girl up to brush her teeth and have her breakfast before she goes to school. I have also to make the breakfast for her and boil the water so that it could cool down by end of the day to make milk for both kids.

At 7:20am we move to babysitter house. Before we head to babysitter house, have to give her Then babysitter will bring my girl to school after she is done with her morning milk. At the end of the day, I bring them home. Thinking I could rest after a hard day at work but... you are wrong. I have to take care of my boy until 10:00pm then he will go to sleep and I will put my head down to rest for the day.

When weekends arrive, you think I would be able to rest finally! Wrong again! Wake up early around 6:30am again to feed my son (if I could wake up at that time even). Then put the rice into slow cooker to cook his meals for the day. Make sure the warm water enough for everbody in the house to drink. Give breakfast to my older girl and my son. Afternoon meal arrives with porridge, and then bathing time for him. Afterwhich he goes to take a nap and here I will take the time to coach my girl in her studies.

Then if I want to find some relax time to myself, this is the time to sacrifice my sleep and do things I have hold up some time and have not really got to it. At times want to watch a movie from head to tail also difficult as I need to attend to baby in between so don't really know what the movie is going on. Afternoon, if we don't go out, I will take a nap in the afternoon to catch up with lost sleep.

End of the day, eat dinner and the cycle starts all over again!

My Little Artist

When she was young, I was so worried that she does not have any creativity. So what I did I send her to an art class to trigger her creativity and now she is my little artist in the family. Will all her creation all over my wall. Below are some of her creations and some in which I help her out. I am P R O U D of her !

Story about Lifts

Lifts have been around our lives seem ages. Sorry my history isn't all that good as to when it all started. Anyway, nowadays lift have changed so much for HDB Flats that it stops every floor. This is to provide the convienence of old people who may have problem walking up the number of steps. However, this has made many young people and middle age people to take advantage of this.

If you haven't notice it, even people who are staying on 2nd floor are also taking the lift just to get to their floor. What's up with that? It is 2nd floor only! Why some people even young people can't walk up the steps as a form of exercise and have to take the lift. I stay on the 5th floor and sometimes when I am not too tired, I will take the steps. For this reason, no wonder people are getting fatter and fatter because the lift reach every floor so why bother to take steps!

Still, complaining about lifts, here is the bicycle thing. Nothing against bicycle but I do wish some people would take into consideration during the morning peak hours that there are other people who would wish to get into the lift and rush for time too. If only some people with bicycle would know how to park their bicycle into the lift so that other people may enter, mornings would not really be a drag when you meet up with people with a bicycle!

Other times there are people who smoke in lifts. Are they so stress in the morning that they can't wait to get to 1st level to have their puff and must have it in the lift? Wonder why these people don't understand that some things other people might not want you to share with them. SMOKE is one of them! The worst part is having to breathe that second hand smoke. They might not die from the amount of cigarettes they take but others might die faster from breathing it!

So when you get into a lift, please please to take into consideration of other people. Not forgetting those who stay in 2nd floor, don't rely too much on lifts. For those who smoke in lifts, put out the cigarettes before you enter!

What's in a Ladies Handbag

My dream bag is something rectangle. One of which can stand on its own. I am not speaking of the kind like a huge travel bag but of something more to the lady like type. However, I haven't have much luck finding it as the one I want always burn into my budget.

For me, ever since I have children, my handbag has upgraded to a bag with all the stuff. Sometimes my husband buy things, goes into my handbag. My girl buys things, goes into my handbag and finally I buy thing, goes into my handbag. So my bag has become like limpy bag - more like a Sata Clause Bag.

To get to the point, so... what's in a Ladies Handbag? I don't usually put make-ups on, so you can't really find any proper lipstick in my bag. However, I do have some necessity inside it. This will include below

1. Vitamin C pills (this to keep my health up because the office I am in is covered with SICK people)
2. a quick refresh Aqua White Spray (as got children no time to really get to my face)
3. a cheap bottle of perfume spray (in case the lift smell like a chimney)
4. a portable bag (this is for wearing skirt.. Argh ... no pocket with it)
5. another portable small bag (this is to put my wallet, my coin pouch so easy to take and go for lunch)
6. an unbrella in case it rains
7. a lip gloss
8. Many packets of tissue paper (in case need to go PUBLIC toilets no tissue especially for family to go poo poo)

That's all in my bag. So care to comment what's in your bag?

Sewing Patterns

Ok. If you are like me who don't really know how to take measurements to draw your own pattern but would like sew and have your so called "Own Style" of clothes, here is a good idea - Get your pre-drawn sewing patterns of your style. You can easily get any designs you like from Spotlight. This will cost about S$10.00 or more depending on the design you pick. I strongly recommend those sewing patterns that comes with nine different styles so that you can make the different kind of clothes.

So how does a pre-drawn sewing pattern look like? It comes in an envelope form just like the picture below. There are many brands and different styles to choose from. This is one of them I have which is from Butterick.

In the envelope, it comes with tissue paper like pattern with instructions from how to place your pattern onto the cloth to piecing up together to become the final product on the envelope.

Visit the below site to see the various styles of patterns.

http://www.sewingpatterns.com/

Alternatively, you can view some of my USED patterns that I am selling off at an affordable price to learn to sew.

Handmade Your Own Sweet Girl Dress

This sweet colorful dress is handmade. Bought the cloth and pattern from Spotlight. The cloth was quite expensive. If I recall it correctly, it is about S$7.00 per meter. However, it was worth it as it turn out to be very sweet as you can see in this picture.

My girl didn't quite have the chance to wear it as I made it a bit too short ;).

Want to try to do it yourself too? Check out my Blog for new updates on how to sew like a pro!