At your service?

I had to attend a compulsory managerial workshop at the Singapore Retailers Association this morning. I was nominated for the STAR award in EXSA. Over the eleven years in the service line, I have received a number of similar recognitions. I thought to myself if the service standards in Singapore have dropped as that seems to reason why I am eligible for the Star award this time around. In fact, I am ashamed since my expectations of one who deserves such a recognition is higher. Although I try to be a pleasant front-liner, there were times I lost my patience with my customers and wasn't as helpful as I could have been. Disappointed having served years of demanding yet unappreciative public, I even reminded myself to get a job which does not involve customer service!?

I have the intentions to leave this job for the longest time already. I was getting paranoid if I would lose my sanity, you see. My stressful job-scope doesn't involve only customer service, it also involves financial services and sales. The targets alone can drive me crazy. I am always trying to cope but I really do not know for how much longer can I put up with my personal struggles. Recently, I didn't realize a man was watching me speak Indonesian Malay to a happy old Indonesian lady who thought she was lucky to be served by me. He was even more impressed as he observed me speak Mandarin to the next customer, a Chinese national. He came to my counter and told me I'd definitely get a better offer elsewhere. Other customers in the line were kind with praises too. Honestly, I know that I love meeting people. I enjoy challenges. I could adapt and welcome reasonable changes.

Whenever I attend a course, I often wish I'd be a facilitator someday. Mdm Susan is the facilitator for the half-day workshop. She shared she did quit her job as a manager for a back-end job. That switch lasted barely three months. Presently, she is also teaching English. "When we are a people-person, we would not be able to adapt to only paper work. Can die, you know?" I wondered that very moment if it would be the same for myself. After I heard her sharing about her work experiences, I began to have mixed feelings about doing a career switch. However, I am thankful that at the end of the session, I am more certain about my career goals. I hope that I could do something even more enjoyable and fulfilling in time to come. May God bless me with opportunities and guide me well to a better future.

Just a note to share: " If you want to compliment, write in. If there is a need to complain, do it verbally. "

My first drug allergy

Yesterday, I spent the National Day holiday at home practically only sleeping. I felt feverish when I woke up for sahur before dawn. When it was time to break fast, I was looking forward to down the pill for fever. I had my fill and about two hours later, I was beginning to feel that the fever has subsided. That probably shows how effective the medication was, I thought to myself. Looks like I can go back to work and fight 12-hour shift battle at work tomorrow. 

Shortly after, my eyes began to itch. I looked into the mirror and they weren't red. I refrained myself from rubbing the eyes since I learnt that my left eye has been a really sensitive case nowadays. I used the Optex eye wash. I noticed my left eye began to swell. After a while, even the right one swelled too! I was getting paranoid and anxious, so much so that I began to contemplate if I should visit the 24-hour clinic in the vicinity or perhaps the hospital! Somehow, I decided to sleep and pray that my eyes will be better the next morning.

Alas. I was wrong. The swelling persisted. I woke up with a bad throat from sudden coughing. Even my left ear hurt when I cough. I had flu too. I knew I had to see a doctor and give work a miss. I am already expecting a warning letter cos of being absent from work after a public holiday! Ridiculous or not, I am still a staff and there's consequences I have to bear despite feeling bad for not being at work for a valid reason. Wait till I get the letter, perhaps I'd just post it here.

I made my way to see Doc Cute, the company doctor. The clinic was crowded and seeing the long queue of patients, it got me a lil cranky. I entertained myself with posts on FB and Twitter about the wait. My coughing turned my stomach into a roller coaster ride causing me to feel giddy and nauseous at the same time. My name was called by Doc Cute himself. I showed him a picture of my initial swollen eyes I took. I explained I felt feverish so I took the pills he prescribed to me in my previous visit. He frowned and said I am suffering from a drug allergy cos of self-medicate! I thought that was strange cos nothing happened to me when I took them back then. "You were lucky."

He took my blood pressure. My swelling, flu and cough was due to the allergy. I had ear and throat infections too. He told me to give him some time to think thru the medicines to prescribe. He also gave me a injection on my arm to ease the allergies. I took a deep breath and watched the needle poked into my skin. It didn't hurt. I should take common paracetamol such as Panadol should I feel feverish in future. Lesson learnt! I will consult a doctor before talking any prescriptions even if I took them before. Clofenac Sr, my first drug allergy. I call the rest of the medicine I had to take, SLEEPY-FOOD. I could barely stay awake!

Left the clinic with an injection on my arm, a bag full of medicines and 2-days MC! 

Single; married to work.

My manager asked me earlier if I go out on dates after work or during the weekends. When I said I don't, she was really quick to add "but you are pretty, how can that be?!" After a while, she came back to me and commented that "relationships involve feelings. It's better off not getting hurt." This coming from a single woman in her mid 50s. She spends her weekends doing housework and going over to her siblings' place or watch movies with friends if boredom sets in. This lady does weekly yoga. That is why every Thursday, we'd get to leave the office earlier. Looking at her devoting her time in work definitely made me wonder if she has no life! To each, his own. No love life doesn't mean no life. She celebrates life as a happy woman and keeping fit.

She may have been misunderstood by many. She is a workaholic; yes but she always believe that we are paid to do our job. As a manager, she needs to manage not just daily work operations. She needs to motivate her staff. Work is always crazy. Even having served more than thirty years of loyalty to the company, she did look back sometimes and laugh at how she dealt with all the expectations. I am her assistant and it is good to truly know that I am working with someone who takes her work seriously and willing to guide. I left the office wondering if I'd end up like her. Single, married to work? I rather not.

Amazing Thailand

This entry is definitely long due! Let's see if my memory fails me. The trip to Thailand with Su and Naz was amazing. I shall share my travel journal with captured moments.


Day 1
We took Myanmar Airlines for the first time. I wouldn't complain much about the service but it was kind of like a budget airline with food and drinks. We arrived safely at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the late evening so a day from our trip was gone and that marked the start of our 4D3N getaway?! Being the land of all smiles, the immigration officers looked too serious to welcome tourists. I think they are slow and they return your smiles by giving you the no-nonsense stare! Thankfully, we were greeted by our smiley tour guide, Joy who got us to take a van to our stay in Bangkok, P2 Boutique Hotel. We headed out for an Iranian dinner nearby. Su and I got excited over Magnum ice-cream which cost us 40 baht only from 7-11! We did quick mental calculation and grabbed the dessert with many other kinds of snack. The cashier looked at our purchases and smiled. We walked back to our stay happily, enjoying the much cheaper Magnum ice-cream. 

In flight meal

Reception area

Cute deco by the entrance of P2

The Interior

Lighted P2

Iranian dinner

Day 2
The next morning, we were told to meet early for breakfast and city tour. We were introduced to the rest of the Joy family; the driver, Johnny and Joy,the bubbly tour guide, a pair of mother and child from China and a Singaporean family of four. Although I have been to the temple of Dawn before, I didn't bore me. I had fun with the girls cam-whoring. We wore Thai traditional clothes at a quick rental of 100 bath. We went back to our hotel to have our bath before lunch. We had to check out too. I was disappointed over the brief and shopping-less stay in Bangkok! I feel bad cos I promised the girls that Bangkok is where we will be shopping silly! Joy was telling us the itinerary for the night and the next day, it was only then did I realize we are really in a tour package. We visited the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, the leather and jewellery factories on the way to Pattaya. I got 3 rings at a bargain from the jewellery factory. We had an authentic Thai dinner before checking in Town in Town hotel. The place looked old and lonely. However it is possibly taller than other places in the vicinity. Joy helped us get the tickets to watch the Alcazar, a cabaret show by lady boys. Actually there were a few shows for us to choose from. I gave the Tiger Show and Spiderman a miss. The 'ladies' were beautiful and definitely look female!

Approaching the temple

Temple Of Dawn

Hawter than hot 

Sriracha Tiger Zoo

Our stay @ Town In Town Pattaya

The view from the balcony 

Cabaret show of lady boys

Alcazar

Day 3
We were up early again for a events-full day. We took the speed boat to where Su tried parasailing. It was cool but I didn't try it. It lasted a few minutes and Su definitely loved the bird's view experience. We headed back for shower and met up for a very good lunch at a seafood restaurant. I noticed fried omelette is a dish in every meal served and it was so yummy that it is the first to be wiped out! I managed to take a photo of the spread, we had such servings for lunch and dinner. I was happily well-fed. We visited the a few other places of interest. At the bee factory, a salesperson convinced me to get box of honey, bee pollen and royal jelly at a promotional price of almost SGD$230. We took many photos at Nongnooch Garden and Resort, Elephant and Crocodile Show and carried a tiger cub too. The cub was crying for milk and the staff treated it with attention like any crying baby'd get. It licked my hand a few times and I felt to tickled. I do not think it'd be any adorable when it grows up. We had buffet for dinner but I was somewhat stuffed to enjoy that many dishes. We had plans to go for a massage at night. As it was getting late, I asked Joy if it is possible to drop us by a shopping mall. We'd like to shop for Naraya bags. She was a sweetheart to offer me to use her money first. I used the credit card instead when we couldn't find a money changer. She got me a basket for my purchases." You will definitely need this!" hahaha the rest of the Joy family could see we loved shopping. We'd something from almost every stop. The reason being we'd an early flight to catch. I felt comforted the girls were enjoying their shopping too. Johnny dropped us off for the massage. Joy went to change currencies for me. She even taught us some simple Thai to communicate with the masseurs. I so love the hospitality! We were a little too loud at laughing over trying to put on the robe and heard someone went "Shhhh" I expected myself to giggle a whole lot. I tried to even sleep though but when I looked at Su and Naz by my side, I giggled. We were a noisy bunch to begin with. That night we slept so well after struggling to pack our bags.

Pattaya City

Checking out the shells and seafood

Su parasailing

Lunch

The playground for pictures

Viking made of pots

sitting pretty with elephants in the background

Learning to be buayas..

It was only 20 THB for  7-8 crispy Fried Banana

Thai Cultural Show House

Tiger cub loves to lick my hand

The crocodile show was quite a bore

Meeting Queen Bee

Day 4

Sun rise on my birthday 

I was awoken by Su's birthday wish cum wake up call. There were many FB posts on my wall. Those make me feel well-loved. Thankful I had good Wifi connection to know that!


My reflection from the trip is travel light.. come back filled with fond memories.

My best friend's wedding

It was my bestie, Hiddy's wedding dinner reception at Changi Village Hotel last night. It was a cosy affair, the way Hiddy wants it to be. Su was my partner for the joyous occasion. I decided against asking any random guy to be my date. Looking at the turn-out, people really need to understand the meaning of RSVP. We were seated at the only Muslim table as the beautiful pair and it felt really VIP! We were also introduced to the wonderful chef who specially prepared and came up with the menu. Took some snaps of my servings for the night. My Canon S90 has been throwing its tantrums but I insisted that I'd still capture yummy moments. I'm looking for a new eye-candy digicam for easy carry and good zoom functions with useful scenes options. I can't be carrying my DSLR to a wedding reception in my LV Monogram Rhapsodie PM?! Hmm..birthday presents, anyone?! ; )

They were playing pictures of the couple's wedding photo shoots and cute pictures of them when they were younger and single. I noticed Hiddy's mother tearing. Her sweetheart is all grown up and married to a man of her dreams. I supposed it is still an emotional affair for her. Hiddy had her traditional Malay wedding last Saturday which I didn't manage to attend. Saw some of the photos from the lunch reception being shown on the projector. Mr and Mrs Chong looked great in their tradition Malay outfits. May they be blessed with marital bliss! I guess inter-racial weddings are usually more interesting. The hassle of planning two receptions is no joke. I'd think if only I can afford the costs, then go ahead with both. If not, I'd skip the posh and have an intimate affair with close friends and immediate families who really have a part in our lives. I don't need a beautiful event which lasts barely a few hours of fame. I believe in love. I prefer a beautiful marriage. 

Stars for the night, Mr and Mrs Chong

For starters

Tasty soup

The spicy sambal is perfect for the crispy fish 

1/4 portion of Briyani was way too filling.

Completing the course

Wine and dine  

For you are my twin bestie.. hawt us!

The just too pretty bouquet of roses on loan

Our Birthday

As soon as I touched down, I got a missed call from birthday girl, Hiddy. My bestie was at the airport figuring where to meet me. I made my way out pushing the trolley filled with my purchases. I was surprised my aunties who joined my family who came to fetch me. Mama got flowers for us! Happy birthday ladies, we were!

I decided we'd all have an early dinner at Fish & Co. It was fun sharing the joy of celebrating my birthday with Hiddy. We were made to stand on the chairs while the staff from Fish & Co. sang us a birthday song. Hiddy must have felt so tall on her 28th! I felt truly blessed and trigger happy! I had a lovely holiday and I had such a memorable time on this special day.