It's time to plan ahead for my next holiday soon, cos after 2 colleagues go on maternity leave in Oct my only chance of taking a long holiday would prob only come next year... Plus I have my JLPT test in Dec... It's sad that I'm not allowed to travel alone.... Anyone wants to go to Japan in Fall ....... ? ;)

Went on site yesterday, and I still find it rather grueling to go on-site so once-in-a-blue-moon, cos would usually have forgotten all the special policy cases/ experiences accrued from the last site by then. It's such a cheem science to have to browse ppl's info/resale history and such; then have to advise them on their replacement flat/other queries on the spot. We seriously need a SERS Policy 101 to initiate all new officers... even after a year on the job I still feel inadequate. Today's also one of those down days at work. Our relationship with our working partners in other units seems to be going downstream... and I this tiny fry appear to somehow kenah the misfortune of writing things that make these bigger shots mad. aargh. what to do. Small fry is at best messenger only... On such days I get so frustrated and wonder what's the point of doing all I do. Consolation though is that I at least have one or two colleagues to complain to... Actually after my two recent trips to Vietnam and Krabi, I can't help but wonder... why is is that people in slightly poorer places with simpler lifestyles appear to be way happier than ppl in richer places?? Sometimes, we Singaporeans slog all our lives, but at the end of the day, how many ppl can claim to be truly happy and satisfied with their lives? It's so scary to even think about this, but perhaps even scarier to NOT think about this and just blindly work... work... and work...

Princess at home

Cos btwn 9.30 am to 12 pm or so every Sun I'm usually cramming in Japanese grammar/ doing hw last min, I'll just have a quick lunch b4 rushing off to class. This afternoon mum cooked me fried yi fu noodles after I remarked earlier in the morning that I wanted to eat that (I usually request for instant noodles :P). My plate of noodles also came with a cup of orange juice. This orange juice tasted really fresh and sweet, with pulp and all. Only upon bringing my plates to the sink after my meal, did I realise the juicer beside the sink... and I suddenly realised that my mum had made me fresh orange juice. Upon guiltily thanking my mum and confessing that I intended to get her to buy this brand of orange juice again (cos during my meal I had assumed that it was from NTUC or something) she playfully replied, "you dare to ask me what brand ah... Mummy brand orange juice!"

Then while on the MRT today I realised that I forgot to bring my staff pass though I was going back to office. Frantically tried to recall if any of my colleagues would be in office today/ stayed in the vicinity, but figured it would be inconvenient to borrow their staff passes too... so sheepishly called home to report my forgetfulness. (I ought to be slaughtered and have probably been permanently black-listed by my parents as the most forgetful person ever) Mum said she'll think of something... So after my Jap lesson, Dad drove down to give me my staff pass, without any reproachful words on my absent-mindedness (I'll usually get a earful or two). Instead, I was told to be careful, since I might be the only one in office... and throughout my 2.5 hrs stay I got like 3 calls from a paranoid Dad who was worried that it might be dangerous alone... that with no air-con the ventilation might be very poor...

I occasionally do get annoyed from too much 'attention' from my parents. Yet how can you possibly, truly blame people who whole-heartedly wish for your well-being? I frequently wonder what the past year in sg (settling down and adapting to worklife) would have been, without their lil daily acts of love?