China relatives visiting

Just came back from Changi Airport after fetching my uncle and aunt who just came over from Hainan Island in Singapore.

Late, very late, at this time.

I guess I got to double up as a tour guide for the next few days...


More on this next time.

Name my van!!!

Ok, I remember when I was young...I used to name my father's van, "Nana Cher."

It meant nothing. I, myself, didn't even understand what it meant in my tiny little baby mind, but as a 3-year old back then, I think that was probably the fourth word I uttered in my life, after learning how to call my father, mother and my dearest aunt!

Now 24 years later, I find myself somehow, indirectly becoming the owner of another van. Perhaps this is due to the long and slow process of human learning and growth.

Now just a week before I am due to receive this van, I am wondering if I should name this new Renault van that I am getting.

Since it is a French brand, should I think of a French name for it?

Or should I choose a teeny-weeny babyish name for it...oh my goodness...

Tell me, people, help me think of a name for this van.

Thank you very nice!!!

Wah Lau Eh - part 2

shit, I just feel like shit today...almost couldn't wake up for work....shit....shit....

Teacher's Day

1 September, Teacher's Day.

Happy Teacher's Day to all the great ones who have taught me many things in the course of my life.

These include teachers and instructors from all aspects of my life. Thank you, you all have contributed much and taught me something at some stage of my life. From Astrology, Geography, Literature, Mathematics, shooting(ok this is from my army days), common-sense survival (basically knocking some sense into my head), how to survive being back-stabbed in office politics (this is a painful lesson) to tips on living a more fulfilling and meaningful life (going philosophical here). The seven habits of effective people, the wonders of role-playing games, tactical and strategic thinking processes of the higher kind, some self-defence techniques from Tae Kwon Do and Jukundo (nay...i can never lay claim to being a martial pugilist, I am too lazy for that)...driving...(oh yes...fastest driver in a van...)...swimming...(or is that lazing around in a swimming pool counted?)...web-publishing...(I admit I am pathetic at this)

There are many lessons which I took and have never been able to complete. I may not have been able to absorb everything that you all taught me and put it to good use, but these lessons have been a part of my life till now and will always be.

Happy Teachers' Day!

Wah Lau Eh!!!

The two days of 30 and 31 Aug 2005, is not going to be a good period in the life of Markus.

I don't know why. I have been feeling so mentally, emotionally and psychologically drained recently. I guessed this is due to the many issues that came upon me during the previous months. There have been several disturbing developments at work, not to mention the actual mental effort that I put into work trying to solve problems for customers and my colleagues, crafting out detailed and proper solutions for them (yes...I can be a perfectionist when the occasion calls for it.) And the thing is a perfectionist, while asking for the best, can be very demanding on himself, and often castigates himself for a job which to him is poor, but to others, is very good. High standards, huh?

Then there were the long drawn-out discussions and arguments with my parents over the buying of a new vehicle. (read post below) These have not been entirely friendly discussions, bordering on the verge of anger at times. Ever seen a mad bull? Hmm, my zodiac sign is that of an ox, so does that link up anywhere?

There have been also the jittery thoughts that I had at the impending release of my exam results and how it will affect my next career moves and study plans. Many of you would have read about me pointing out the "bad points" of the UOL programme along with its "good points" a while back. Someone please stop me before I turn "Marxist" and start ranting against the "evils" of capitalist society, with its bourgeoise and proletarian classes...Power to the people! Yeah, right...power? *chuckles*

There have also been the making of new friends, and of my (useless?) efforts to counsel and console a few of my friends who were going through bad and depressing times, in particular a certain girl. (Come on, are my jokes that bad...that I make all of you so unhappy?)

Add to that, a certain lethargy and exhaustion that comes from working 11-day and 12-day stretches in this month. So this month I had already worked...25 days out of 31 days in August...Yes...working for long stretches without breaks can make one go "verut" (German for insane)...Report me to the SPCA!!!

Yes, you can argue that there are 7 days in a week, as every person with common sense will tell you. But it seems to me that a week now consists of 14 days with a weekend on the 13th and 14th day. I want to re-invent the calendar, can I? Do what Julius Caesar and Pope Gregory XIII did?

I am looking a bit like a panda these two days, with dark eye rings and a few reddish pimple scars...gosh...I think I look as if I have been through the War of the Worlds! I think all those things have been constantly sapping my energy and attention to such an extent when I am finding myself with a very short memory span, finding it increasingly harder to think (yes my brains hurt when I think), more easily irritated and so ever more mentally tired.

Wah lau eh...(for foreign friends...this is a Hokkien term of exclamation...it was my favourite phrase when playing games and on the losing end...)

Till the next blog...zzz

Work Stress

Another post before August ends.

Recently I have been feeling stressed by developments at work.There has been an ever-increasing amount of emails coming in.

I knew this. I had explained to my manager, months back, on the need to add on additional resources to aid my scope of work. Because I know, with the influx of new customers, there is bound to be an proportionate increase in the emails and phone calls that we get per day.

There was no concrete action on this suggestion.

On another point, with more of the more senior and experienced colleagues leaving, we have a number of newcomers to the work. They are all fresh and willing to learn, which is a good thing. However, with a greater ratio of newcomers to the experienced CSOs (Customer Service Officers), there has been a certain incontinuity and loss of balance in the teams.

It will take some time before all this is stablised.

But I know this is not a healthy sign as it meant more responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the existing CSOs, some of whom are already feeling the fatigue of the extra work.

I still smile and crack my bad jokes at work, but how long can I maintain it? How long can we maintain it?

Goodness help me!

Buying car

Today i just put pen to paper on a loan agreement to purchase a Renault Kangoo Express 1.5 litre diesel van. It is not my van, let me maintain this.

This van belongs to my business (which is also not mine, although it is registered under my name) but rather my father's.

This car buying process had taken me the majority of 2 months. While my parents (after they will be the main users of the van) were dithering about the choice of the vehicle, I was doing the research on the prices, models and various type of cars and hatchbacks available.

Okay, my search is limited to cheaper models of vehicles, since we do not have the budget for expensive cars.

Even then I had my doubts. Buying a car is not a wise choice for a family that barely has a monthly income of 3.5 thousand.

It has to be a van then. So i searched for the small versions of vans carried by Japanese brands Suzuki and Daihatsu, only to find out that they are not retailing the small vans anymore, at least in the South East Asian markets.

Then that was when my search turned to Renault. It is a French brand, but has a strong presence in Singapore, due to its setting up of a Commercial Vehicle Centre (planned to support the growing numbers of Renault van owners in Singapore). The price wasn't too steep, and I knew my mother's need for a vehicle for transportation purposes (her workplace was very far and the hours were long).

Oh well...so we got the salesperson to come down tonight, and within an hour's time, the agreement was signed and sealed.

So let's see in three weeks' time, more information to come from me regarding this Renault van. I might have to think up of a name for it...:-)