Welcome back ... to hell

Maybe it's Tuesday and most people would have return to SG on Sunday/Monday, the train today reached Tg Pagar quite early, about 7:50am (normally about 8:20am) which is good because it's a good and slow start of the day for me. Also I felt a bit hungry and decided to buy economy meehoon with fish cake and sunny side as breakfast, which cost me S$2.50 (not cheap).

Once I back to office, I received 130+ emails and it seems the work is gradually coming back and my honeymoon period is finally over.  Welcome back to hell ... that's what I told myself. Also it has few main tasks assigned to me, which is to create about 880 users and assign them with multiple roles which can hit about 5000 roles in total. Of course I can't do this manually within a day but to use script - automated macro to repeat the recorded steps. It may sound easy, automated but things never be so perfect. This process need full observation because it might stop in between due to some errors such as user not exist, role can't be found, wrong user name/typo and etc. Imagine when the script is running and you almost can't do anything with your laptop and all other work is pending.

But no matter how, I will still reserve sometime for lunch as I don't skip the main meals. So just went to new area led by Carlo and the chicken rice portion is quite big and very cheap, just S$3.50!

I do know the work is coming back but I never expect that I would have such heavy day for the first day I return to SG! I suppose to leave about 6:30pm but due to unforeseen issues, I can only leave around 7:45pm. Because I need to attend TC at 8:30pm so I can just tah pau mixed rice back home, shower then attend the TC. By the time the TC is over, it's already 9pm and that's when I can only eat my dinner while watching some movies. What a busy, moody and tiring first working day for 2011. Hope this will not be on going or too often in my future life as I really want to have work life balance, not work like a dog.

Surprisingly, I'm tired and sleepy now when it's just 11:10pm. It's been ages that I never sleep at this hour. Anyhow, it's good to rest a bit early because I still need to prepare myself for the next days of ITRD4 preparation.

School re-open for Violet and beginning of the new journey for Kai Meng

Surprisingly today both of the kids were able to wake up without any obstacles even though they slept around 12am last night. Speaking of that, I can still see some moody and weary look from Kai Meng but I've to be firm and let him know that this will be his new journey for years to come, depending how far he can go ... Secondary? Tertiary? Graduate? Master?

Farewell to his new toy

Look tired ... or no mood to school ;)

Get ready to school ...

Anyhow, I don't expect too much but just average would be fine for me. As for Violet, this will be another challenge year because she suppose to join J3G but due to recent structure change, all her classmate have been cascaded to few class so her regular gang will be history. It's not that bad at all, take it as a challenge and new change. Maybe she might improve and more behave with the new friends but it could be totally opposite so I still need to put her under observation.

Seems can't wait to school ... which is good :)

Today seems refreshing my memory because it's been months I never wake up early and fetch the kids to school then send Shireen to office. It's a bit tired but fun to experience this a bit. Drop Violet at school around 7am and reach Kai Meng's school around 7:15am.

Ok, no turning back, let's go to school!

Since we still have 15 mins before his school start, took him for some tour around the school so that he won't be panic and know where like toilet when he needed it. While waiting at canteen, took a pix for remembrance and hope he will have a good laugh or memory when he read/see this one fine day ;)

Mood seems better now ...

The finally bell rang, I've to send him to his class and find him a seat which is first come first serve basis and I'm sure the teacher will re-shuffle it later. One thing good about this school is it's not very popular and a bit old so they only have 1 or 2 class for each standard and about 20+ students within a class. With this, I'm sure the teacher will be able to focus and pay more attention to each of the students.

His first come first serve seating

Not really grumpy but teasing me

After settle down, both Shireen and myself went to Pusat Sumber for orientation session with the headmaster and asst headmasters where they explain their roles respectively and things we should know (and pay too) ;)

I think this is new to me because not only my time doesn't have this but none for Violet's time too. Seems the local school standard has gone to another milestone. The orientation and registration finished right about 9:50am and it's about the time for Kai Meng's recess. So I took the opportunity to queue with him at the canteen and guide him how to buy food with money. I know it's not easy and too early for him but I just want him to familiarise.

One sad scene is there was a malay girl in front of us and turn out to be Kai Meng's kindergarden classmate, queuing to buy food but she doesn't know what is money and need to pay for that. The best thing was her parent isn't with her so I've paid for her meal as I do really know how it feel. Not long after her father finally arrive to pay me back but I told him it's fine not because I want to show off but purely sincere.

I can still remember very clearly when I was at primary school day 1, I was left alone after my grandparent drop me and they never brief or guide me anything. During lunch time, I some how realise that I need money to buy food but I've nothing. Not sure if they forgot or think I shouldn't need to eat during recess. So I ended up wandering around the canteen to kill sometime. Luckily I met one of my classmate and he shared his 'kuih lapis' with me and it was such a special and unforgettable moment :'( So this is the reason why I can truly understand the girl's situation.

After we purchased the food, I show Kai Meng how to find a table and throw the rubbish after the meal. It was a nice session because he actually lean against me while eating his food ;) About 20 mins later, I've to send him back to his class and his seat was change to the seat on his right from his initial seat. Then I've to rush to his doctor at OUG to obtain his injection report for his health profile in his new school then head for brunch.

Little monkey in his 'cage'

After 12:50pm, I'm already at his school canteen, waiting for him to finish his day 1 at school. Too bad it was heavy rain but it's fun to walk with him with umbrella ;) Bought him Aunty Anne for lunch and his favourite too then went home to have some games and movies with him. I really wish that I can do this everyday or maybe more often. This feeling is so special and warm that you will earn it when you're not doing for the sake of doing it or to show off like other kiasu fellas.

After school effect, refreshed and ready to play!

About 3:30pm, again I've to drive down to fetch Violet because her class finish at 4:10pm. Honestly I'm not bias with my kids and I treat both of them fair and square. It's just that Violet has grown up and not as close with me as before to which I can understand. It was super pack at her school and it's not only double but triple parking and even to park at further roadside will need to walk about 5 mins, darn ... :(

Anyhow I still manage to fetch her at about 4:20pm then went home and make her soup for some snack because she will normally hungry after school. Since my in law is cooking today, so just make her some simple food because no point to go for mail meal when you will need to have dinner in 2 hours time.

First day to school seems no tiring and exhausted for them :p

It's evening now and the sad and missing feelings grew stronger and I've to hold it as firm as I could because I don't want to affect Kai Meng too. While I was busy packing up my stuff, he came to me and asked me when I will finish my work in SG and return to KL? I was so stunned and my emotion weight thousand tonnes. I hold my feelings and answered him that I will need to work there a bit longer because I need to save money and buy him toys (I purposely use toy to counter his feelings because kid will normally accept/do for toys) but he told me that he already have so much toys and doesn't need anymore. OMG, I really feel to cry but I just keep smiling and told him something to distract him :'(

What am I doing now? And what should I do next? Come back to KL? Ignore him and continue to save money in SG? Bring them over to SG? Or what? Without much words, I've called them to leave for Pudu for dinner. After the meal, I'm going to use FB to distract Kai Meng when I'm leaving for home to prepare myself to KL Sentral. Luckily it worked and at least I feel a bit better.

It's 10:30pm now and the thought the crowd would be less because it's Monday and school re-open as well but I was wrong and there are 2 groups of student seems having some rombongan. Hope they don't make much noise so I can grab some sleep because I woke up at 5:30am this morning and no chance to take nap. Good night and I will be back in 4 more days ;)

Budget Sunday and Babysit day too

Today we suppose to go Putrajaya for some biking session but everyone seems very tired and overslept, as expected before I went to bed last night. Already told the kids to sleep early otherwise they will not be able to make it but stubborn. If that's what they want, then they deserve it ;)

When everyone's awake, they were so lazy to eat out so I've cook them yee mee soup as breakfast. Luckily I still have some food left from last week steamboat. Not to self praise but I find it very nice, plain and comfy breakfast because I like soupy stuff and yee mee is one of my favourites. This is consider fast and budget breakfast, at least not maggi mee ;)

After the breakfast, the kids have to get ready because their mom will need to do haircut and perm at Sri Hartamas, as usual. Around 12:30pm, we left the house and I propose to drive thru McD for brunch because the haircut will take a while and we were about to hungry too (also McD value lunch still valid). It seems Violet also wanted to try out that salon so both the mother and daughter went into the salon while Kai Meng and myself went to hang out at nearby KFC. Not so boring while waiting for them.

About 1.5 hours later, Violet have done her haircut but the mother still need few hours. Since her friend will be joining her soon so she decided to take lift from her friend to Pudu while myself and kids went home first. Which I would prefer too because I can spend time with kids and stay at home. Once home, I thought I can rest a while and do things that I wanted to do when I was as  SG but I need to babysit them by playing games and watch movies with them ... sigh, thought I can get some rest but ... never mind, quality time mah.

About 7:30pm, Shireen finally called me and said she's on her way to Pudu. So I also asked the kids to stop with the things they were doing and dress up because we need to have a quick dinner then fetch Violet to Sg Wang to do a quick shopping for her pencil case. So what I did was to drop them at the front entrance near Nandos and Violet with her mom went into the mall and get it. They took quite a while and as usual reasons, pack and long Q :(

After that, we will have to rush home for singing competition programme held in HK where all Chinese contestant will meet up and compete against each other there. I took the path cutting thru Jln Bkt Bintang on purpose because it's been a while I never pass by there and to update myself of the recent changes. The whole street become very pack and messy. It's filled with foreigners and massage parlour. To me it seems like a red district but using massage as bait. Unlike last time with a lot of hotels and shops selling souvenirs, electronics and restaurants too. That's life and how the world evolve to survive.

When home, the kids were busy packing up and preparing for tomorrow school re-open. Violet will promote to Form 3 this year while Kai Meng will start his primary education, Standard 1. To Violet, she is very independent and will not allow myself or Shireen to accompany her unless she really can't handle it but Kai Meng as usual will be homey and paranoid person. That's why I will send him to school tomorrow and company him for his first day. Hope he will get used to it ASAP and doesn't encounter any culture shock. Not sure if it's true because the mother told me that he complaint to her a moment ago that he isn't feeling well, here pain and there unwell but he dare not to tell me all these.

I will ignore and pretend knowing nothing about all these and ensure he will be in school as expected. Gotta sleep soon as tomorrow will have to wake up before 6am. I miss this feeling because I used to do it when I was working in KL. Didn't realise that I will have this chance again ... better appreciate and memorised it well. Good night my children and wish you guys all the best for the new semester ... love you :*

So long 2010, Hello 2011 !

Clock just strike 12am and I've just reach Woodlands. My train was stopped near Bukit Timah for some traffic diversion. So instead of celebrating it in the train now I have to do it in the checkpoint. New and special experience eh? I can hear some firecracker sound but no visibility because there isn't any window there. Not too bad because at least there are were hundred of people celebrating with me and accompany by some firecracker sound ;)

After got back into the train, continue with my movie via laptop then sleep. This round, my deck seems like old folk home because there were so many senior people and they were so talkative and noisy. Luckily they slept before I finish my movie otherwise I might condemn the whole night again.

About 7:30am, the train reached KL Sentral and not too late indeed. Went to get my train ticket then home for some rest first because the kids were still sleeping and Shireen need to help my in law to make some biscuit. About 11am, I went down to Pudu and company the kids while awaiting Shireen to get ready to move. We will have brunch with dad (last minute invitation again) at Brem Park. This is a new location and thanks to my dad's poor interpretation and direction so I have to search for few rounds then found the restaurant. The food just so so but not cheap too, from RM4.80 onwards. I still prefer Min Max still ;)

After the brunch, went to change my SGD to RM and bank into M2U for my monthly expenses then back to Pudu to pack up and go home. While we were at Pudu, decided to do some survey at DigitalsMania in Pudu Plaza for the lens and battery grip. It seems they didn't stock up and I've to get them to order. the lens cost is much cheaper than SG and almost different by RM100. Luckily I didn't buy it in SG yesterday.

To my surprise, they don't need any downpayment/booking fee for the lens. According to the boss, Tony, this isn't first time and lesson learnt from their past experience. They have encounter a case whereby his very regular customer booked the lens and still wanna pay full selling price as deposit but because of his supplier having some stock issue, he can only deliver the lens to the customer after 2 weeks. Of course that customer wasn't happy and went to online/facebook to defame the shop.

So now, they rather not to accept anything but still to order the lens. They prefer customers didn't turn up to collect it rather than disappoint them. As this isn't my first deal with them, I've decided to pay in full and collect on following weekend ... since I'm not that hurry too.

Once I got back home, decided to install the battery grip for my camera and it look much professional now ;)
Too bad because Nikon doesn't produce a original one for D5000 therefore I have to get it from third party brand. If I can get my lens today, I'm sure it will be totally new look and more professional outfit for my medium range camera :p

The standard camera unit

Battery grip with 2 batteries compartment and 2nd shutter button (useful for potrait shooting)

Where the 'juice' is ... like M16's magazine eh?

Battery grip installed, front view

Battery grip installed, rear view

It's ok ... I'm not that professional either but at least I don't have to be shy when I go to take some performance/fashion event in the future ;)

The 100th post !!!!

Wow, I can't believe this is the 100th edition of my blog ;) Not only that but today will be New Year eve where everyone would go for count down or have dinner with friends/family but I'll be rather special, to celebrate it in the train ;) I wonder how long should I keep blogging but you'll never know ... it could be 200th, 500th or even 1000th! Let's get back to business ...

Today is another half day for work, YES! but no Aeroline this round and have to hang around town until 10:30pm. Wanted to leave office on the dot at 12:30pm but work seems bugging me as next week will be testing preparation week and everyone will be running here and there and chase each other. If I don't finish it by today, I will have to rush like mad dog next week. Finally, about 1+pm, I manage to leave the office and decided to hang around Funan for a while.

Went to do some window shopping and survey some camera lens. Opted either 50mm-300mm or 70mm-300mm lens but after some stress tests with Tamron and Nikon, it seems Nikon still the best but more pricey of course. It was about SGD800 but I did some homework before and KL seems cheaper. I feel sorry but thankful to the sales person because he gave me some demo but too bad as he can't explain in more technical and purely table talk (a bit or cow and bull) and a bit arrogant.

After that, decided to went to get some toiletries at Chinatown though it was a bit rainy. Once I was there, the shampoo that I wanted was sold out and so have to try my luck at Fair Price near my home. So no choice but to go home first and pack up my stuff and take some shower. The first thing is to ensure I bring Kai Meng's toy otherwise he will be very disappointed.

About 7pm, I left my home with 2 bags where one is my normal bag pack and another is my camera because Violet need me to take some photo of her lego (and maybe to test out the new lens if I really buy it :p). Bit tough and clumsy :(

After reach Vivo, I went for another round of window shopping to kill some time and will go to sky garden to see if there's any event going on. When I was up there, some of the regular path were closed because there will be a count down event. Also some people gather and sit around the park which facing Sentosa and I believe they might want to get a better view during the firecracker ceremony once the clock strike 12:00am. A lot of kiasu people where they were here to 'reserve' their spot since 5pm and some of them were with kids. Just because of their 'kiasu'ness and have to make the kids suffer with them. I saw some poor kids where they were just too tired and sleep/sit on the floor ... Sigh

Since the clock is near 9pm, decided to went for simple and quick dinner, Toast box! I miss their half boil egg and curry chicken. This round I manage to get the egg but curry chicken because they have changed some of their menu. So I took laksa instead. After the meal, I went straight to Tg Pagar and reach there around 9:45pm. Since it's still early and the gate still close, went to take some photo of the train station before it's final day on next 1st July 2011. In fact, this is the first time I took a proper photo with my camera at this place. Will post it up in FB to share with other as remembrance.

When I walk into the immigration section, OMG, it was damn pack and slow. Thanks to some foreigners who didn't fill their form or with mistakes. And also, there were just 2 counters open and make the queue become longer and longer.

About 20 mins later, I manage to get into my train and again upper deck. Nvm la since I'm already immune to ride the train. This time, I try out my TV USB stick again and manage to find few channels and some of them are quite good. Now I can watch TV everywhere as long as their signal is good ;)

New initiative at Hougang MRT

While I was walking toward MRT station to prepare myself for another working day, I stopped for few seconds and notice something very different today. It seems there are some construction in progress at the field route to the MRT and I guess they might be upgrading the the route because it used to be soiled based and now should be making it a pavement based with shelter. It make me like this neighbourhood more!

It was a quiet morning in the office but there are some urgent work that I really need to work on because next week will be the testing preparation week. Since today would be the last day to have lunch with colleague (because tomorrow company is on half day), so went for a full package lunch with them ... which is the normal main course plus dessert ;)

Since today is so special so I've decided not to take mixed rice but something soup. So got myself this QQ pot set at S$3.50 and dessert with mango pudding at S$2.80. It's a nice and enjoyable lunch though.

Just like previous days, I left office around 6:30pm as I manage to settle some high urgencies and the rest can wait till tomorrow ;) Also I don't feel to home so early so drop by NEX again for some window shopping and dinner. It seems today crowd is so much and food court is so pack, I've no choice but to visit the Ajisan Ramen next to it which is less crowd and able to get some seat.

Spicy Miso Ramen

Green tea ice cream with red bean plus almond flake

Before I leave the mall, I've decided to walk to another area of the mall which I think should be just some small extension area but to my surprised, it's another part of the world and it has to many restaurants and boutique there! Wow, I think this mall really can on par with VivoCity by now. Also I spotted a nice Christmas deco at another exit. Seems I'm getting to like this mall very much :)

Speak too soon :(

Next time, better keep my mouth shut tight and never complaint so free and boring at office. Just when I arrive office this morning, numerous emails and tickets finally route back to me and kept me busy until lunch hour. After lunch, I've to spend sometime to study few complicated tickets to ensure I'm fully understand the requirement and not mess things up. I thought I can still enjoy my honeymoon by this week but it seems some US colleagues started work today ... or gradually.

No matter how, I will still try not to stay too late and enjoy my TC-less nights because everything will be back to normal next week. Somehow, today seems nothing much to do after work and decided to visit AMK Hub and have dinner nearby. Wanted to watch movie but 7pm show seems fully booked so just hang around the mall for a while. Surprisingly, I have found a games shop where they sell a very wide range of console games like PSP, PS/3, Wii, xBox and even compatible ones. You name what you want and they can provide it to you. Just PSP games alone already filled with 2 racks ;)

Don't intend to buy any for now as I still have GT for PSP to play and try not to spend so much. After that, went next to the mall for dinner then home. This hawker seems quite good as they have a lot of 'Tai Chao' and seafood too. I've ordered Beef Fried Rice with Sambal, Deep fried Chicken Wings and Ice Lemon Tea :-

The beef is quite tender and taste like deer meat too

Taste about the same those I bought from Old Chang Kee

This Ice Lemon Tea is good, seems better than restaurants