Turbulent Times

I have been back from my break for a week now. The past one week was rather...'messy' for me. From shifting out of the stinky old Jurong office to the now, all new, good and well office at OUB Center...and from looking for my diver's watch, up and down for months to no avail and having it found just opposite my new office during my lunch break...AND from a lazy evening stroll down Orchard...to have commited myself to a 15years contract which involves a huge amount of money. My past one week, could have been the best week of my year.

The new office is like seventh-heaven. The cubicles are really spacious, the furnitures are brand new...heck, the whole office was newly renovated...and to the back of me...the view of Singapore river, which overlooks the back of the Merlion. The days in hellish Jurong-the constant drilling, the poo at the stairs, the smell of urine...all that is now gone...for good.

The diver's watch I've been wanting to get; I have been to at least 5 big retails here...even the authorized dealer said they dont have such a model in the market here. I tried to order that off the net, but was rejected by the dealer. The reason being, they dont ship to Singapore! But the dealer is singapore-based! Strange. I had to give it up or have it shipped elsewhere but before I could do that; ironically, I found it just right opposite my new office...in a small watch shop's display window during my lunch break. Just where and when I least expect it to be. And...the price-compared to the one i found on the internet, its cheaper by 20dollars. Life...can be so interesting sometimes.

A fine Saturday evening, I was just walking along Orchard...hunting for a good phone contract when I got approached by a girl in her early 20s. She wanted me to help her do a survey. I took a glimpse at the paper- it was just a small list of questions...probably about 5 or so. Since I've got nothing better to do, I thought its fine to just waste a couple of minutes. I answered all the questions and I get a chance to draw for a scratch card. The card said I won a 30dollars shopping voucher and she was jumping with joy...she showed me a card saying she could get 10dollars as commission since i won that prize. Next question-if i own a credit card. I answered - Yes. So I can have another card. Cool! The next card - Wow! I won a 7nites accomodation to one of the countries listed in a leaflet. FIJI being one of them. I dont remember the rest. She was already jumping with joy. Kept shaking me hand saying thanks and all. She showed me her commission card again, I won the 1st PRIZE - and she can get 150dollars commission for that! Cool! I just made her day a great one...and my own too. A manager nearby came over to congratulate me. In order for me to CLAIM my prize, I gotta head to their office (which is nearby) to sit for a 1.5 hours presentation. No obligation, i was assured. Nice...since i've got the rest of the evening, I decided to PLAY along. Get my prize and walk out.

And...thats what I thought!

I was taken to their office, sat down and asked to show my credit card (there is another chance to WIN something at the counter), if the last 4 digits of my credit card matches the numbers listed on their counter. I won something again! But too bad...i dont think i'm that lucky either. My card doesnt match those numbers. But its fine...I have got a 30dollars voucher and a 7Nites Paid accommodation to any resort in the destination list. I'm still feeling VERY lucky. There is another indian couple with a kid, apparently they have won something too. But i was thinking..."well, they probably just won a microwave or something." B-)

I got a seat, the girl was still jumping with joy...shook my hand again for the 5th or 6th times...and i told her, that she was over reacting. She said Sorry, its 150dollars...its alot to a part-timer like her. She's only 21. So i suppose, it is a big amount. The 'consultant' finally appeared, a 26 years old lady. The small girl excuses herself...and the lady now asked me to switch off my handphone before entering the 'room'. No SILENT, please off it out of respect to the others inside - she insisted. I smelt fish. But fine - its off. I reminded myself that I was just there for the vouchers and the free nites. I can endure 1.5 hours and leave without buying anything.

That 1.5 hours turned out to be 3...or almost 4 hours. Somehow, somewhere in between the conversation...I got interested by what they were offering me. A lifetime (or at least 15 years - as per contract) of vacation to limitless 4-5stars resorts/hotels around the world. The final deal they made me were too good to be true. I paid an amount with my credit card, and the remaining...i will have to pay for the next 4 years by installment every month. And i left with just the 30dollars voucher and NO 7 nites accommodation which i was there for in the first place. Why? Because they used that to minus off 500 from the contract price i signup. Reason: It wasnt a great resort - so we write that off for you, in return u get 500 off your contract. NICE! And I wasnt thinking much at that time...so i did not argue, my mind was full with the nice pictures they have shown me during presentation.

I walked out of that building, still feeling high...the pictures still fresh in my mind. But as I walked further, the pics began to fade...and $$$ sign began to appear...replacing the pics. The amount is not a small time fee. Thats when I started calling some of my friends up. Telling them what I have done *again* on a boring day. The rest of Saturday, Sunday and Monday - I have talked to at least a dozen friends, all giving me very encouraging and constructive feedbacks.

And this evening, I went up to their office to cancel my contract. Excercising my right for the Fair Trading Act set up by the good singaporean government. Any contract that has been signed must have a 3 WORKING DAYS of cooling period before it can take effect. Of course, the cancellation wasnt a breeze...I had to endure some sarcasm from the manager. But at least, the cancellation form was signed...and I was promised to have my credit card transaction reversed in 2-4weeks time. All I can do now, is to just sit back and monitor my statement. Oh...and the 30dollars voucher-I didnt give them back (like they said, i can get that AND the 7nites accommodation wihout any purchase...but i figured the 7nites - thats probably not easy to redeem, Im sure there are * everywhere, so I did not and wouldnt wanna ask). I spent it on something more worthy. I topped about 50dollars for this.

Well, at least...i gained something in the end...and hopefully...the reversal would be as it was promised.

I spinned off a whole mess all by myself, got my emotions stirring like a whirlwind and now I am so glad that everything is calm and cool. I cant help but to ask myself...Now, why the heck did I do all that for?! x(

The BREAK

Its been a while since I get any break...any break from work and here, to be precise. After this Friday, I'm off. Like the past few times, I would always wish that this is gonna be a start that never has an end. This break would have gotten here sooner but due to some clashes and stuff...i had to push everything back till now.

Wish i'll have a good one...and an uneventful Friday.

Patterns

The street lights always changes or would start blinking when I get close.

The tinted glass window which I would pass by every morning, most people would turn their heads to look at themselves in the reflection, trying to adjust their shirt or tidy up their hair. Sometimes...i cant help to look as well.

Chunky peanut butter and bread. Bread with Peanut butter Jelly. White Bread. Wheatgerm. Bran. It's the same every morning. Still enjoying every bit of it though.

Support. Work. The UAT has ended last week. This week there's this new PAT. Another cycle. Another round of testing. Like a snake biting its own tail.

WoW. Getting bored again. Expansion out next Jan. Hopefully there would be something new to do. I've been getting on and off this thing. Alot.

woot!

After almost 6 long months of grinding, my druid reaches the ultimate level of 60 last Saturday. It is now the end of my 'training' and the beginning of my raid and high level instance adventure. Sighs, I just wish I have more time on hand. With the expansion coming out end of November, my druid is now ready for the next level of new high, or should I say...it is me, who would be looking forward to this =)

It's finally over me

Though the haze has come and set itself in, my mood that has been shifting like the desert sands is finally over. As of today, or perhaps some days now...i finally realize that i'm no longer feeling as edgy, frustrated, confused as the days/weeks before. It's something which I'm feeling good about. My flu seems to be clearing as well. And its about time!

Perhaps its this song that I heard over the internet radio today. It's sorta like...what Daniel Powter's Bad Day did to me last year. This song... Five For Fighting - The Riddle (You & I). Been playing on my winamp the whole of today and on my ipod on my short walk back to my apartment. And now too, again on my winamp as i type these words before bed.



Was browsing thru my image archive earlier...and found this colorful pic which I've took sometime ago by the Accademia Bridge.

A day just like any other...

Today, like any other days...I was up late. The alarm went off at 6:57am. I got up at 7:40. My housemate is already up...taking his morning shower, goin thru his usual morning routines. I waited till 7:50 before I get my chance to use the toilet. Then I was rushing to get changed, packed my laptop from last nite's WoW session, rushing out the door together with my new friend. On the way to the MRT station, we did some small talk. I still have not get used to him just yet. I have only shifted into the apartment 3 weeks ago and just like my past experience...I hardly see my housemates though we are staying under the same roof. I'm gonna need more time. I told him some stuff about what I do and we were asking each other about the weekends we just had. It is good for now.

When we walked up to the MRT, the station was already quite packed with people. The usual morning crowd. Working class - everyone a 'slave' in our very own way. The train arrived in less than a minute...and we too squeezed ourselves in like the others. I trailed my housemate to the midsection of the train, though I'm getting off at the next stop...it would somehow seem rude, or unfriendly if i stood by the door and leave him to himself. I don't remember what we were talking about at that time...i'd be getting off in 2-3mins...i just needed something short, something insignificant but yet would seem as if I'm still eager to press on with our little chat. Anyway, I think I did quite well. Or perhaps he's just being polite. Just right before I was about to get down at the station, a girl in her mid/late twenties...sitting in front of where I stood...took out a piece of paper, scribbled something on it...blushing...and passed it to me. "Hey, you forgot to zip ;-)". I glimpsed thru the note, replied her with just a cold, "Oh ok, thanks"...said a quick goodbye to my housemate...and walked off the train as if nothing happen. My housemate was still wondering why this girl would passed a note to me and what was written on the note. But it's too late...i'm already on the way out of the car. On the way down the escalator, I managed to quicky zipped my pants. Smiling to myself. It is just a day...like any other day.

Life can be THAT simple...if only...

Today, there was a company dinner after work. We can all leave early due to that. It's the first time after so long that we finally get to leave the work place before the sky turns grey. On the way down the staircase, I saw that the moon is already up high in the sky...though the clouds are still hanging loosely up above...and a small breeze has risen when i got to the ground floor...I suppose its a good evening, as compared to the many horrible ones that I've faced since the past two weeks.

My mood has been shifting very drastically lately. And what annoys me most is...I dont even know what's the thing(s) that's been causing such a stir in me. This thing...has planted its roots deep inside me. Maybe it's work, maybe it's the new place, or perhaps...it's just everything else. Though I'm still struggling to gain control...I guess I've been making some good progress starting this week. I've always thought that I've been doin a pretty good job controlling my emotions and all. This time, I guess I've finally lost it. And for a duration of more than a week...it's the worst ever. Perhaps age is catching up on me...

This evening...after a fanciful dinner at some brazillian restaurant by the beach...I took the cab home, alone. On the way, while my cab was stalling at a traffic light...I saw a cat climbing on top of the dashboard of its owner's van, which was just few metres away from my cab. They too were waiting for the lights. It was toying with the handphone's headset...while the owner watches and brushes its back...smiling and talking. It was then that my imagination has drifted away from the scene...The van has some trade names on it...like a business van, small time one too. I suppose the driver, a male in his mid 30s...is just a small business owner...having a cat as a company, driving home probably from after his long business hours. Stealing some time off, playing with his cat at the traffic lights. At that very moment, I just thought to myself...that Life can be just so simple and without worries.

And as my cab glides forward after the lights turned. I saw that he has someone right beside him, on the passenger seat...sharing his laughter...cuddling the cat while he drives on. Life can't get much simpler than that scene...and my very thoughts at that moment. I guess I'm feeling much better already...maybe by the end of this week, I'd be fully recovered.