One of my past-time
TGIF!!! But tomorrow morning still got to work. Hmmm, heard that after 3 months of probation I should be having alternate saturday off. Come tomorrow, it's my 4th month as sales executive. Not sure will I get off for next saturday. Anyway today I went down to ST Marine at Tuas by myself to meet an engineer there. Real cool when it's just me alone meeting, felt the sense of independence and some form of responsibility. Hee.
Anyway, had a section outing today. Had a good time chatting and catching up. Realised a few had just started blogging too and I've added them to my list of blog reads (You know who you are). Hee. I was sharing with them that one of the overseas transformers forum which i participate in recently held an online competition. It is on kitbash of transformers. As one of my favourite past time is to repaint my transformers, I submitted few of my "can make it" finished pieces as entries. Click on the link to view the forum.
http://www.tfmaster.com/forum/ 2 of my works were shortlisted for "best overall" entries. Though I feel that I wouldn't win any prize coz it would be absurb for them to ship the item to Singapore (who's going to bare the cost) and also my works are way below the rest of the entries in that section. However, I'm already very happy that out of 6 works which I sent, 2 of them managed to be "shortlisted". July 1st they would announce which of the works in the respective section (best repaint/best kitbash/best scratchbuilt) gets "shortlisted". Till then, the shortlisted entries can post more pictures to justify and showcase their works. Shall see how tomorrow. Most probably I'll borrow my sis's Nikon SLR to take pictures of the pieces that are "shortlisted".
Oh yar, besides repainting transformers, I also just started repainting gundams. Though I only bought 3 kits. 1 of them is complete (with decals!!!). Can view the gallery in this link.
http://nderwaterorld.fotopic.net/ I'm working on another one currently. Yup, enough sharing of this time-consuming but great satisfaction past time of mine. Going to sleep liao. Nitez
Learn the most through situations
Today, one of my friends was complaining today that it's monday blues through MSN. To me, it's not because I feel it's a day where I can learn new stuff in my workplace. For that comment, I was called a workhaholic?! But anyway, I've been a sales executive for 3months and I can say that the whole working experience is an enriching and fruitful one. Though there were times when I met customers who are demanding, customers who pick on your loopholes, those were the times where I learnt the most out of it.
Today I met another situation which left a deep impression in my mind. To summarize it, a customer came and showed me a sample. Not knowing what it was, I copied the details (eg, part number) down and went to ask my supplier. I got a quote from my supplier but I did not know that the part number that I gave was not complete. I only gave half the description correct. A 3 position selector switch with 2 normally open and 2 normally close contacts. I only said it's 1 normally open and 1 normally close. The customer also didn't look at the catalogue I faxed over and he felt that what I quoted was exactly the same as the sample he brought. In the end, I supplied 10 sets of half complete switches. When the customer realised that it was different from the sample he had, he called me up and asked for what action I was going to take.
I made the decision to go down personally and explain the situation. When I reached there, I was expecting a scolding from him but I was amazed by his attitude. He brought me to his room and asked for the explaination. I told him that he need to purchase another contact block to complete the set. Knowing that his set is correct (just that half complete), he dispatched his colleague to deliver the items to the shipyard first. He said that he can just explain to his customer that if really need to, can just unscrew 5 contact blocks and put it to other 5 to have 5 complete sets first. The balance will come in a day's time. After settling that, he then said that I screwed up this order. However, he knew that I just joined the company not long thus he talked to me in a nice manner. In fact, he was impressed at my attitude of coming down personally to find out what's wrong. He even said he was taking note of how long I took to go over to his office coz he called me 15min after the phone call and I said that I was just a road bend away. Through the whole conversation he even taught me on little personal skills that would differentiate a normal sales executive to one whom people will be impressed with. After I went to my supplier to take the balance 10 contact blocks and brought it to him, he didn't try to "eat" me up. He asked for the cost of the contact blocks (S$30bucks each) which I said truthfully. I said bo pian then I have to "tahan" it myself. Surprisingly, he said no. Even though I made the mistake, he don't want me to suffer deficit out of this transaction. In the end, we settled at cost. I was so happy deep inside coz I learnt a good lesson today which will definitely make me pay more cautious to details in the future.
I just want to thank God that my workplace is not a battleground, and He puts people to help me put out fire when I created innocently. However, He also knows when to throw in situations when I have to tackle it on my own and He makes sure that I can definitely handle it. I am made stronger in character and wisdom and I know that through it all, God is there looking after me. God is good all the time! =)
Workaholic?
How does one define a workaholic?
I'm one who gives my best from 830am to 530pm but I do not do overtime. Though I may delay my lunch time from 12noon to 1230pm, I still have my 45min to 1hour lunchbreak. Though I have to admit that I may forget to have my medicine at the proper time due to attending to customer calls, I will not skip it.
So am I a workaholic?
Down with Viral Cough.....
Last year around this time I had cough which lasted for almost a month. It was a horrible period as I was coughing every few minutes. 4-5 days ago I started such cough again. I seldom visit the doctor unless it's something very serious and yesterday I went to the same doctor I visited a year ago.
Told him that I had dry cough and he looked at my previous visit record and it had the same symptoms. Haha. He asked me whether the previous prescription work out well but I said it didn't work abit. He thought for a moment and said that last time besides the cough mixture, he prescribed antibiotics which were meant to suppress bacteria infection. This time he felt that it is viral infection and prescribed an antibiotic which contains Steriods!!! He said Steriods, in right amount, help to suppress viral inflammation. New revelation on Steriods. haha.
Another ironic thing is that cough mixture will cause drowsiness but steriods will cause one to be more alert. So if I eat both together, how can I be both drowsy and alert? After 3 consumptions, I feel i'm more awake than drowsy. As I'm blogging this, I'm in a blur mode. Think I shall go and rest now. Still feel very "xin ku" when I try to talk as it'll make me want to cough more. sigh....
Oh yar, tomorrow is 2nd visit to SGH with my sister. Got to buy ice cream (which I cannot eat) and ba chor mee (don't want tur kua).
26 one liners of God
I received this email from a friend which I find very interesting.
Wanna share it with everyone.
1. Give God what's right -- not what's left. 2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end -- God's way leads to an endless hope. 3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. 4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone. 5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma--but never let him be the period. 6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period. 7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift. 8. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty. 9. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.10. We don't change God's message -- His message changes us. 11. The church is prayer-conditioned.12. When God ordains, He sustains. 13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning. 14. Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. 15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position. 16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible. 17. Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord. 18. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive. 19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it. 20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back. 21. He who angers you controls you. 22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop. 23. Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler. 24. Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them & He'll clean them.. 25. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 26. Read the Bible -- It will scare the hell out of you.
A parent's wish
One of my friend shared this clip with me found on the website.
Hope it not just touches your heart but to appreciate your parents even more.
http://parentswish.com/
1st visit for me and my sis
Yesterday early in the morning, both me and my sis went to SGH (not Singapore General Hospital). Before one want to get from one place to another, there is a security door to ensure that one gets the permission or authority to do so before going in or coming out. Alot of CCTV at the counter too. When the time started, we were told to go to a room that is filled with many benches (those that you find in foodcourt style), about 20. Each sessions, ten families gets to visit their daughter or sister.
While talking to my lil sis, she's not as hot tempered as before probably due to the abundant amount of sleep she gets. However she complains the food there taste like S%#@. Say nasi lemak got small shells and sand. Complains this girl look weird that girl behaves awkwardly. Complains that why we have to pay a thousand while many others pay like S$200 and some don't need to pay a single cent. Well, don't want to bring that issue up again. Oh yar, due to good performance, she gets a band improvement (a sort of grading in the home) and one of the incentives is she gets another parent visit this Sunday. This time she wants ba chor mee (don't want te kua) and gelato ice cream. Yes, machiam treated like a princess but that's what my parents told us when they go for their tour. Get anything that she wants to eat. We have to show our love and support for our little sis.
Today there was a tragic thing that happened in our office. Our fish tank which had 13 blood parrot fish for more than 2 months all died. Because one of our colleagues blur blur switch off all the buttons (he only wanted to switch off the light of the fish tank and the radio), thus the air pump and filtered was off throughout sat night and whole of sunday. By the time monday morning, only the sucker fish managed to survive this apocalypse. Time to get new fishes liao. Have to move on. Now thinking should get back the same parrot fish or change to some exotic ones like Stingray, shark, blue lobster or piranha. haha.... ;p
Mistakes, Stress and I'm sorry dear....
This morning I woke up with a different feeling. Going to work alone without my dad. A sense of responsibility seems to rest on my shoulders. Eg, water the plants, feed the fishes, buying dinner for Doby (our Siberian Husky), and cleaning his poo.
When I reached office I tried to quote the enquiries asap. Before 930am I'm already done. I was asking God, give me things to do. Think God did hear my request and at 10am 2 purchase orders came and that came the first lesson of the day.
1) Always add a statement if price is valid for the total amount purchased only even if it's a regular customer. You never know when his mood swing comes and decides to purchase partially. When I called to clarify he said that I didn't state in my quotation and if I cannot honour then cancel the whole PO (which cost a few thousands).
More lessons came rolling the whole day which meant I made quite a number of mistakes. This was the time I feel so lost at work. Think I rely on my dad to solve the problems too much. Think God is throwing me situations so that I start learning and let these sink into my head. The other mistakes made were
2) I didn't follow up on items that were TBA because I thought that the boss will take care of it since it was he who asked me to quote with the prices stated liao. But it has to come at the time when the boss is overseas where I'm the next on line responsible.
3) Situations will arise due to unforeseen circumstances and must be fast to react to it. As we are a small company, we are given a lot of freeplay and once a new company's enquiry is quoted by one of the sales executive, the future enquiries will be taken care of by him and he will bear the responsibilities.
4) One thing I don't like about a common email is that the whole world (in the office) will know what you wrote to the other party when they reply you because they will go read the contents (don't know is it out of concern or otherwise. Feel quite .... coz I like to write alot to my customers explaining this and that. A particular case was today when I replied to the person that I will honour the purchase order with the price stated because knowing my dad's character he will do the same. While talking to an older female colleague telling her my mistakes made for the day, she told me that she read about honouring purchase order la and knowing your dad's character la...... hmmmm......).
5) Always ask your colleagues whether he has quoted some particular stuff (that amounts to a big order) to anyone recently to prevent killing each other.
The whole day I felt stressed, lousy and was busy with many stuff to quote after 10am. However, after reflecting, I realised that God will not throw me things that I cannot handle and thus I'm looking forward to tomorrow and also the next week for more lessons to learn from.
Because I drove to work, I can find my dear after work. We went to buy our dinner and also Doby's dinner. Everything was going great until I left my girlfriend downstairs with the door open and went up to take my bible and also visit the toilet. During that short 5min, Doby came into the house and made my dear very scared. I thought that my dear had made a comfortable bond with my dog that I thought it was ok to finish my business at the toilet then go down. When I heard her call my name, I realised something is not right liao. The door was closed. Doby not in sight. My dear was very angry and sad. She felt that when she needed me the most I wasn't around. Dear dear, I'm really really sorry. I promise I will not allow Doby in the house if I were to leave your sight the next time.
World Cup
World cup brings back memories (not in a good way though).
4 years ago, I entered University for 1 year and it was World Cup 2002 where Japan and Korea were Co-host nations. It was then Singapore pools had just started legal soccer betting.
From initally thinking of wanting to bet to win some easy money to watch a musical (It was Fame, a musical which I never got to watch), it became an addiction.
My hall kakis like Vic and small Ed would know these things. Watching soccer became more exciting then I had thought because I placed my money in them. I would get into bad temper whenever I lose money and drowsy because lack of sleep. When WC2002 ended, I betted in EPL and Italian League. Whichever game that I can bet on, I would put my bets on it. Though I know how to control (as in I wouldn't make myself in debt that I cannot pay), it was a lose lose situation. In the long run, I lost money (enough to watch more than 30 times of muscial of top category seats) and lost sleep and precious time. This type of lifestyle carried on for almost 1 and half years. Even when I accepted Christ, I still carried on betting for a good 6months before I came before Him and asked Him to kick this addictive habit of mine. It wasn't easy but it was definitely a triumphant feeling when I managed to get out of this situation.
World Cup 2006 is starting tomorrow midnight. I wonder how many people will be walking my footsteps in 2002. This time round, I would be watching World Cup but with an easy mind and not rooting for any team (though I prefer England coz I always use that team to play winning 11 with my friends. haha). May the best team wins. =)
A little note from my lil sis
Last Sunday my parents went to visit my lil sis. My dad said that there were a few girls in the waiting room during the visit. Those were the ones whose parents were late or didn't come to visit them. I guess the girls in the room must be feeling very very sad because this is the only half an hour for a week or two that one gets to see her family member. I reflected upon this and ask myself this question, "Have I been taking my love ones for granted? Not spending enough time talking to them or accompanying them?". It's always the case when these things are taken away from you that you start to learn how to cherish them.
My dad told me that the following 2 consecutive sundays, we are able to visit her. I guess my parents would love to go but they will be going Norway for their 2nd "honeymoon" this coming thursday. It's me and my other sis's turn to go and visit her, showing support. My dad gave me a note she made for me after the visit. I guess this is the very first note my lil sis had written to me in my life. In the note, she told me not to worry about her and she'll take care of herself. Hmmm...... looking at the note, another point came into my mind. Every item in Girls' home is precious to them. Even paper, pencils are luxury items (I mean how many of us these things like dirt?). Even toiletries like bar soap, each person is entitled to 1 bar per month. If you use up before the month ends, don't think the people in charge will give you an extra one (Imagine the rest of the month, either you borrow from other people's bar soap or you bathe without soaping yourself).
This coming weekend will be a very different one. Firstly, it is home alone (not really la, still got my other sis LR) without my parents. Have to feed the fishes, dog and water the plants. Clean the house. Visit my lil sis with LR. Going to work alone. I think this is also a time where we will physically feel the importance of our parents and how much we will miss them while they're enjoying themselves overseas.
Gift of Family/G rated living in an X-rated world
Whether you're single or married, your family is God's gift to you. How do you enjoy and relish this gift?Learn how to enhance relationships, resolve conflicts and strengthen family bonds. Celebrate the family God has given to you!
It's an irreverant and sensual world out there. There is a constant temptation to do what feels good without caring what people think.How do you guard your heart, resist its seduction and honour those whom you love?Brace yourself for life in the real world.These two great messages are all happening in the 2nd and 3rd weekends of June (Yup, it's this coming 2 weekends) at Trinity Christian Centre. Come and Xperience it.
workload, mistakes, reservist...
My uncle who was in charge of Sembawang shipyard business negotiations left for holiday to Korea yesterday night. I was to "look after" the requisitions and quote them appropriately. One has to log into an online portal to submit the quotations. From the very start of work till 545pm, I was busy calling up principals for stock availabiliy, submitting quotations, making purchase orders and writing invoices. Double in workload. Have to juggle between my customers and my uncle's. Though it's stressful, I like my work! Get to talk to customers and react differently according to their style. It's a good ground for working under pressure and multi-tasking.
To make things worse, several mistakes which I made previously surfaced (eg, forgetting to indent an item which was supposed to be done 2 months ago! and quoting the wrong amount for an item innocently) and I thank my colleague as he helped me to "put out the fire". However, due to the mistakes made, I learnt something out of it and I believe it is something which I would not be aware if the problem didn't surface.
Mindef is really getting very high tech. I got a phone call 2 days ago from Hendon camp asking me for my status (whether I'm still schooling). Upon knowing that I'm free, he said that i'll be on call up for reservist early next year. This morning, I receive a SMS from Mindef that I have a call up. In the evening, there's an automated call to my phone. When I receive it, it was computer operated (eg, booking cinema ticket like that) and it informed me that I have a mindef call up. After I keyed in my particulars and acknowledged the msg, a SMS came to inform me my acknowledgement of my ICT and include the beginning date (29th Jan 0730hrs) and the end date (9th Feb 2359hrs). I'm amazed.....
IKOI japanese restaurant
Me and my girlfriend loves jap food. Initially we started off with Sakae Sushi. We thought that it was not bad until we tried Genki Sushi. However, after visiting a jap resturant in Mirawar Hotel, nothing beats it. Buffet at 30+++, one gets unlimited fresh salmon, pregnant fish, tempuras and many others. They also serve complementary fish head, mini steamboat, miso soup and an appetizer salmon.
A very great place for mini gatherings (up to 8 pax if want to sit together in a row). However, you have to book 2-3weeks in advance or else definitely fully booked. Really a great japanese makan experience today. Satisfied to the max. =)
