Lying in a big open field
Bright blue skies above me
Big white fluffy clouds adorn the sky
Sunrays caress my face
A light breeze blows
The air is crisp and clean
Peace abounds
With an undercurrent energy
Of growth and renewal
Dandelions dancing with the breeze
Marigolds and daisies
Tilt their faces to the sun
I hope I can be in such a place right now.
Unfortunately I am not. Sigh.
Major project not looking good at all. Friggin thing got thrown onto my lap.
Many many many obstacles. And this is even before we start any actual work for the project. The more I look at it, the more I feel I have been thrown into a losing battle. Like a sacrificial lamb. Tmd. Really frustrating.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Mind Over Body?
Bad throat.
Feeling so cold in office. But my colleagues are not.
Nose starting to feel a little weird.
Eyes tired and dry.
Hang in there Michelle!
You cannot fall sick! CNY is coming!
*sniff*
Feeling so cold in office. But my colleagues are not.
Nose starting to feel a little weird.
Eyes tired and dry.
Hang in there Michelle!
You cannot fall sick! CNY is coming!
*sniff*
no, you are wrong.
There are just so many “I-know-it-all” people around.
It makes even a simple thing of having lunch together difficult. If there's a particular topic being brought up, people want to butt in to give their expert opinion and if there are differing views then voices get louder and louder and more agitated. Nobody wants to back down from their own views.
Hello, it’s just a lunch conversation. Can we just eat in peace and have casual chats. Can we not get into heated discussions over trivial things like “the official age of retirement in Singapore now” or “whether the CPF special account can be used for investments”? Leave the agressive discussions to work-related issues.
I prefer my lunches to be simple, chill-out sessions with simple normal conversations...
It makes even a simple thing of having lunch together difficult. If there's a particular topic being brought up, people want to butt in to give their expert opinion and if there are differing views then voices get louder and louder and more agitated. Nobody wants to back down from their own views.
Hello, it’s just a lunch conversation. Can we just eat in peace and have casual chats. Can we not get into heated discussions over trivial things like “the official age of retirement in Singapore now” or “whether the CPF special account can be used for investments”? Leave the agressive discussions to work-related issues.
I prefer my lunches to be simple, chill-out sessions with simple normal conversations...
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Mr Az!!
I had the luxury of listening to Jason Mraz the entire day. Mr Az is one of his monikers in his early days by the way.
A youtube playlist was playing all the way and I am mesmerized. Most of the songs were sung live in front of a fantastic crowd and his voice was absolutely wonderful.
To have that much soul and sincerity in his voice. To be so charismatic and charming. To be able to improvise and conjure up a melody and a whole song on the spot just like that. To sound better in person than on any commercially produced album. To sound even better in person with just a mike and an acoustic guitar rather than having digital nuances added to his voice. To have this wonderful sense of humour that endears him to everyone. To have this down to earth quality and humility even though he is a big star.
Pure pure talent.
I really hope he comes to Singapore again. I missed his concert the last time round in March 2009 because I had to go to Mexico. Please please come back again!
A youtube playlist was playing all the way and I am mesmerized. Most of the songs were sung live in front of a fantastic crowd and his voice was absolutely wonderful.
To have that much soul and sincerity in his voice. To be so charismatic and charming. To be able to improvise and conjure up a melody and a whole song on the spot just like that. To sound better in person than on any commercially produced album. To sound even better in person with just a mike and an acoustic guitar rather than having digital nuances added to his voice. To have this wonderful sense of humour that endears him to everyone. To have this down to earth quality and humility even though he is a big star.
Pure pure talent.
I really hope he comes to Singapore again. I missed his concert the last time round in March 2009 because I had to go to Mexico. Please please come back again!
Journals
I have a penchant for notebooks and journals. I can’t describe their allure in words.
Maybe it’s the blank pages and the potential each page has to tell its own story that gets to me. Or maybe it’s the capacity of the book to hold my thoughts and give it some tangibility. Or maybe it’s just me with my obsessiveness of making lists and trying to organize things.
I’ve had acid-free books which acted as my diaries. I’ve kept one of them, a lime-green book, for 13 years and the pages have not yellowed one bit. Wonderful quality. Made in Japan.
I’ve also had cloth bound books, a variety of colourful Azone books, some from IKEA, and others. Big ones, small ones. Thing is, I buy some of them and end up not using them because….because I want to find the right purpose for using them and sometimes…I can’t find that right reason ahha.
I’d gotten Ally & PQ notebooks for their birthdays from the Kimmi doll collection (www.kimmidoll.com). I hope they find a right purpose for their books :)
Maybe it’s the blank pages and the potential each page has to tell its own story that gets to me. Or maybe it’s the capacity of the book to hold my thoughts and give it some tangibility. Or maybe it’s just me with my obsessiveness of making lists and trying to organize things.
I’ve had acid-free books which acted as my diaries. I’ve kept one of them, a lime-green book, for 13 years and the pages have not yellowed one bit. Wonderful quality. Made in Japan.
I’ve also had cloth bound books, a variety of colourful Azone books, some from IKEA, and others. Big ones, small ones. Thing is, I buy some of them and end up not using them because….because I want to find the right purpose for using them and sometimes…I can’t find that right reason ahha.
I’d gotten Ally & PQ notebooks for their birthdays from the Kimmi doll collection (www.kimmidoll.com). I hope they find a right purpose for their books :)
360
Some companies call it the “360 Appraisal” and others refer to it as the “All Round Appraisal”. My organization calls it the “Multi-Source Feedback” where you are rated on a certain set of competencies and hard/soft skills by your supervisor, your subordinates, your team-mates and others within the organization whom you work with (but not from your team).
The report used to be tied to your performance appraisal but these days they’ve removed that link already.
The FY11/12 report just came out and I checked mine out yesterday.
Glad that this is the best MSF rating I’ve ever gotten in my 4 years. 4.9 out of 6.
Received both candid, amusing, good and not so good feedback in the free-range comments section including the following -->
- Must learn to share more knowledge with others
- Be more confident
- Develop more soft skills like people management
- Responds promptly to emails. good.
- Able to deliver and perform above expectation
Monday, January 09, 2012
Project Moss
Project Moss is underway. I was given two patches of moss by K’s Dad who was so generous about it. He scrapped some off from the big pot of cactus in their driveway.
I’ve since patted them down in a bed of soil, given them a generous amount of water and placed them in partial shade. I hope they start multiplying soon!
I’ve since patted them down in a bed of soil, given them a generous amount of water and placed them in partial shade. I hope they start multiplying soon!
Bonsai
There’s a new honorary member to the family of plants in my balcony. A small pot of bonsai though I’m not sure which species it is.
Courtesy of K’s Dad who insisted I take it home with me and take care of it for awhile. It won’t be a permanent fixture in my balcony though. I’ll bring it back when I move into K’s place in a few months’ time. Either that or I’ll bring it back sooner if I think it isn’t doing very well at my place under my amateur care.
I gave it a misting yesterday night and also watered the moss and soil at the same time. It doesn't look as healthy as it should be though. The leaves are a little on the pale side and have slightly yellow undertones.
Stress. I hope I can take care of it well enough.
I was told that the plant’s 20 years old. O_o
Courtesy of K’s Dad who insisted I take it home with me and take care of it for awhile. It won’t be a permanent fixture in my balcony though. I’ll bring it back when I move into K’s place in a few months’ time. Either that or I’ll bring it back sooner if I think it isn’t doing very well at my place under my amateur care.
I gave it a misting yesterday night and also watered the moss and soil at the same time. It doesn't look as healthy as it should be though. The leaves are a little on the pale side and have slightly yellow undertones.
Stress. I hope I can take care of it well enough.
I was told that the plant’s 20 years old. O_o
Sunday, January 08, 2012
AmeiZing!
Went for the Zhang Hui Mei "AmeiZing" concert last night with the sec sch folks.
Compared to her 2007 concert, I thought she was much more subdued this time round. More emo and less stamina as well. 2007 had been a concert full of adrenalin pumping dance songs and quick beats. 2009 however had lesser such songs being performed. Instead, she had a whole section of 45minutes dedicated to all her famous emo songs from her past albums. (Think I teared for some of the songs).
Not complaining though. Her voice is still as powerful as ever. Big lungs in a small body.
I also love the fact that a very big majority of her supporting stage performers are from Singapore. From the two female keyboardists and the two bassists to the back-up singers and even the drummer and the music producer.
Kudos Amei!!
May your music continue to touch us for many more years.
I think, I want to watch the following artistes. Hope they come to SG again:
Compared to her 2007 concert, I thought she was much more subdued this time round. More emo and less stamina as well. 2007 had been a concert full of adrenalin pumping dance songs and quick beats. 2009 however had lesser such songs being performed. Instead, she had a whole section of 45minutes dedicated to all her famous emo songs from her past albums. (Think I teared for some of the songs).
Not complaining though. Her voice is still as powerful as ever. Big lungs in a small body.
I also love the fact that a very big majority of her supporting stage performers are from Singapore. From the two female keyboardists and the two bassists to the back-up singers and even the drummer and the music producer.
Kudos Amei!!
May your music continue to touch us for many more years.
I think, I want to watch the following artistes. Hope they come to SG again:
- MayDay (aka Wu Yue Tian) - their coming in a few weeks but I did not manage to get tickets.
- Jacky Cheung - I was supposed to go to his concert this year but due to exigencies of work, I had to travel and had to miss the concert. Mega sad.
- David Tao - I loved many of his songs during the peak of his career a few years back.
- Jason Mraz - he touched my heart the first time I saw him sing live in a Youtube video. Sincere, unassuming guy with a great talent.
me time
It is late and I am supposed to sleep.
Instead, I am awake, on the Net, warbled thoughts in mind, pillow behind me, laptop on err..my lap. I have things to do and can't sleep as yet. It just started raining outside. Pitter patter. The sky is a muddled colour of purple and pink. A slight breeze is drafting through the windows. The room is dark. I have switched off all lights.
I relish this time at the end of the day before I go to sleep. I feel like I am in my sanctuary, safe and undisturbed. Just me, myself and my mind. No one else. Sometimes I manage to calm myself down, sometimes I still feel tensed up and end up going to bed tired. (Hmm, come to think of it, beause of the latter situation, maybe that's why I have perpetual dark eye circles. Hmm.)
Instead, I am awake, on the Net, warbled thoughts in mind, pillow behind me, laptop on err..my lap. I have things to do and can't sleep as yet. It just started raining outside. Pitter patter. The sky is a muddled colour of purple and pink. A slight breeze is drafting through the windows. The room is dark. I have switched off all lights.
I relish this time at the end of the day before I go to sleep. I feel like I am in my sanctuary, safe and undisturbed. Just me, myself and my mind. No one else. Sometimes I manage to calm myself down, sometimes I still feel tensed up and end up going to bed tired. (Hmm, come to think of it, beause of the latter situation, maybe that's why I have perpetual dark eye circles. Hmm.)
of ups and downs
I don't enjoy the see-sawing of emotions.
When there is a high, it isn't the highest it can go. I always feel like I have something holding me back somehow, something at the back of my mind. But when there is a low, I sink deep. And sometimes it becomes a struggle trying to claw my way out.
Does this make any sense?
When there is a high, it isn't the highest it can go. I always feel like I have something holding me back somehow, something at the back of my mind. But when there is a low, I sink deep. And sometimes it becomes a struggle trying to claw my way out.
Does this make any sense?
Friday, January 06, 2012
The Funnies
A member of the public just brought me peals of laughter. Hahaha....he said this in an email sent to me about one of our policy documents...
"I have read through the document. Very long and my brain come out with nothing. Hope you can help me."
Hahahahhaha....hilarious!
"I have read through the document. Very long and my brain come out with nothing. Hope you can help me."
Hahahahhaha....hilarious!
Thursday, January 05, 2012
breathe in, breathe out
I feel like I am being pulled in a dozen different directions at the same time.
My mind feels the same way. There're tons of thoughts going in and out of my mind at the same time that I can't really focus properly. My mind feels like a broken TV with that grey static running across the screen and that hideous "pshaw pshaw pshaw" sound violating your ears.
There's a million different things to do at work and a million different things to do in my personal life. I am zipping from task to task, a little here, a little there, back to here from there, anywhere, wait...where am I again??
Falling behind on some deadlines, chased by external people.
Lots to buy, lots to plan, lots to prepare, lots to think through, lots to search for info on...
ACK~! ARGH~! AHHHHH~!!!
*meditation pose*
breathe in, breathe out....
*ohm*
My mind feels the same way. There're tons of thoughts going in and out of my mind at the same time that I can't really focus properly. My mind feels like a broken TV with that grey static running across the screen and that hideous "pshaw pshaw pshaw" sound violating your ears.
There's a million different things to do at work and a million different things to do in my personal life. I am zipping from task to task, a little here, a little there, back to here from there, anywhere, wait...where am I again??
Falling behind on some deadlines, chased by external people.
Lots to buy, lots to plan, lots to prepare, lots to think through, lots to search for info on...
ACK~! ARGH~! AHHHHH~!!!
*meditation pose*
breathe in, breathe out....
*ohm*
*breathe*
I feel inundated by my contract staff’s papers sometimes.
She submits them to me for clearance and vetting before it goes up to my boss. Her mistakes in formatting, policy approach, grammar, typos, language and other things get to me and I find it time-consuming and somewhat tiring to have to guide her. It is especially trying when sometimes she doesn’t heed what I suggest. (I don’t blame her, she’s 12 years my senior.)
But yeah, it gets a trifle tiring looking through her work and not being able to start on your own work!
I wonder how my boss does it. He oversees 4 of us managers who flood him with policy papers for vetting and approval from time to time. It gets worse when there are Board meetings and each of us coughs up about 2-3 papers or so each. Maybe that’s why he has a perpetual frown on his face, like a grumpy old man.
Oh dear, I cannot be a grumpy old woman!!
She submits them to me for clearance and vetting before it goes up to my boss. Her mistakes in formatting, policy approach, grammar, typos, language and other things get to me and I find it time-consuming and somewhat tiring to have to guide her. It is especially trying when sometimes she doesn’t heed what I suggest. (I don’t blame her, she’s 12 years my senior.)
But yeah, it gets a trifle tiring looking through her work and not being able to start on your own work!
I wonder how my boss does it. He oversees 4 of us managers who flood him with policy papers for vetting and approval from time to time. It gets worse when there are Board meetings and each of us coughs up about 2-3 papers or so each. Maybe that’s why he has a perpetual frown on his face, like a grumpy old man.
Oh dear, I cannot be a grumpy old woman!!
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Project Spring
You know the science experiment we did when we were little children in primary school? Sticking an onion in water and watching it sprout shootsafter a few days?
I think I'm going to do it haha. After more than 2 decades, I'm gonna try it again! Once they grow sufficient roots, I'm gonna transplant it into a pot of soil and then see what exactly happens hehe.
I think I'm going to do it haha. After more than 2 decades, I'm gonna try it again! Once they grow sufficient roots, I'm gonna transplant it into a pot of soil and then see what exactly happens hehe.
Project Mossy
I am embarking on a new plant project. I want to grow moss! :)
I have a pot of ficus ginseng bonsai and I've also bought a nice ceramic pot for it. Before I do any major transplanting into the new pot, I want to grow some moss so I can do landscaping with it.
Am currently doing some research on growing it. I hope I manage to grow them successfully hehe. It'll be fun trying it out....
Wish me luck!
I have a pot of ficus ginseng bonsai and I've also bought a nice ceramic pot for it. Before I do any major transplanting into the new pot, I want to grow some moss so I can do landscaping with it.
Am currently doing some research on growing it. I hope I manage to grow them successfully hehe. It'll be fun trying it out....
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
hmmm...
Some pointers for a civil/public servant when taking questions from the public or media:
Evade
Avoid
Dance around
Tiptoe
Be indirect
Reply but don't reply
Be politically correct
Be diplomatic
Evade
Avoid
Dance around
Tiptoe
Be indirect
Reply but don't reply
Be politically correct
Be diplomatic
$#^%$&#&^@%&U#@%#$
I IS ANGWEEEEEE!!!!!
stupid boss!!!!!! argh!!!!
how can he send out my entire draft email out to other divisions????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wah lau eh!!!!
@$#&$^%I&^*^$%%^#$^&$*E$^^$@#
stupid boss!!!!!! argh!!!!
how can he send out my entire draft email out to other divisions????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wah lau eh!!!!
@$#&$^%I&^*^$%%^#$^&$*E$^^$@#
Encounters of the Squirmy Kind
TAMPINES - An epic battle of sorts was fought in a quiet corridor of a residential block in the eastern town of Tampines yesterday afternoon. After an intense one hour 20 minutes, it appeared that a female resident in her 30s emerged victorious.
Denizens residing within the soil of a particular pot of bamboo were thought to be eradicated. According to witnesses, inhabitants included silverfish, a small striped young lizard, dozens of ants and other unidentified wriggling creatures.
Witnesses at the scene of the carnage said they saw plastic bags, newspapers, rotten bamboo stems, bits of earth, scissors, gloves, a water spray, a small spade and other paraphernalia lying around the pot. There was another pot containing palm-like plants close by but it seemed unscathed.
When interviewed, the female resident, who declined to be named, explained, “This is what happens when you leave your outdoor plants unattended for too long. I had initially left them to my mother’s care but a year of no attention paid to the bamboo was far too long. I found rotten stems, rotten leaves, dead insects, ants, cobwebs and a whole host of other strange creatures. I had no choice but to kill as many of those creatures as I could. If not, the bamboo would perish!”
Indeed, in the aftermath, a lingering smell of insecticide was still in the air.
At last count, the pot of bamboo was seen sitting in a bed of fresh soil and peat moss and had been freshly watered. A thin layer of mist covered its leaves, its stems and new shoots were reaching out to the sun and its future seemed infinitely brighter.
For her parting shot, the female resident advised, “Your plants are just like your pets. They need care and attention. Give them some love and patience as well and I’m sure you will find lovely surprises along the way!”
-Agence de presse-
Denizens residing within the soil of a particular pot of bamboo were thought to be eradicated. According to witnesses, inhabitants included silverfish, a small striped young lizard, dozens of ants and other unidentified wriggling creatures.
Witnesses at the scene of the carnage said they saw plastic bags, newspapers, rotten bamboo stems, bits of earth, scissors, gloves, a water spray, a small spade and other paraphernalia lying around the pot. There was another pot containing palm-like plants close by but it seemed unscathed.
When interviewed, the female resident, who declined to be named, explained, “This is what happens when you leave your outdoor plants unattended for too long. I had initially left them to my mother’s care but a year of no attention paid to the bamboo was far too long. I found rotten stems, rotten leaves, dead insects, ants, cobwebs and a whole host of other strange creatures. I had no choice but to kill as many of those creatures as I could. If not, the bamboo would perish!”
Indeed, in the aftermath, a lingering smell of insecticide was still in the air.
At last count, the pot of bamboo was seen sitting in a bed of fresh soil and peat moss and had been freshly watered. A thin layer of mist covered its leaves, its stems and new shoots were reaching out to the sun and its future seemed infinitely brighter.
For her parting shot, the female resident advised, “Your plants are just like your pets. They need care and attention. Give them some love and patience as well and I’m sure you will find lovely surprises along the way!”
-Agence de presse-
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