Cat took a tumble

High heels shoes are definitely not good for walking balancing. Especially not when it's a 3 inches high platform court shoe.

This morning, I wore the IMF shoes and stepped on something that protrudes out from the concrete pavement. (looks like a survey peg) Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to do any Jackie Chan's stunt and I lose my balance. I FELL........ Knee first then followed by my arms onto the rough concrete pavement. Immediately my palms felt as if it was stung by a thousand needles and my left knee was too painful to feel anything since I was still reeling from thousand needles sting.

Well, the physical pain is nothing compared to the embarrasment that follow.

As expected of the typical, selfish Singaporean, no one lend a helping hand to the bruise Cat. (Thankfully no one crowd around, which is damn fortunate)I quickly helped myself up and looked around, mentally checking who else have witnessed my fall from grace. Luckily only 2. A male and female.

Still the female sex is the kinder one, for she asked "Are you ok?" when she walked pass me.

Sigh.. It must be the shoes. My poor bruised knee!

It's finally over

My duties at the IMF ends tonight as I send the Latvia VIPs out to F59 Gate at 940pm. I was supposed to be on shift till 1am but managed to escape early after ranting to my O I/C.

No more waking up at 5am for 6am shift. No more knocking off work at 1am. Everything will be back to normal from next week.

Perhaps I am really getting old (Turning to 31 today), all the shift work is wrecking havoc to my internal biological clock. No matter how much sleep, I still feel tired.

Better sleep early. I am determine to spend a wonderful day tomorrow later today because it's my Birthday!!!!

When VIPs think the plane will wait

I am not sure why VIPs have this notion that they can check in late (say 35 mins) before plane departure, and the plane will wait for you.

I'am sorry BUT, no plane will wait for you unless you are a King, Sultan, owner of airlines. (When you have your own plane) Not even if you are a Finance Minister from donno what name country or, Bank Governor of donno what name country.

Standard procedure - normal gate close 30 mins before departure. That means no more checking in. The plane is getting ready to take off and those passengers waiting in the gatehold room will start to board the plane.

Today, I met with 2 VIPs from never heard of countries who wanted to try this stunt. I have earlier phoned the DLOs 3 hours before the departure explaining that they need to be in the airport 1 hour before departure.

DLO 1 - Malaysia airlines said i can checkin 35 mins before departure.

Me - Yes. But then the gate close at 30 mins before departure. You won't have enough time. Suggest you come earlier.

DLO 1 - But during the training, we are told VIPs are allowed to checkin 45 mins earlier.

Me - That's training, if you come late and miss the flight, you have to explain to VIP.

That last sentence always work very well for me. It my killer, you must do it kind of statement. More or less telling DLO,

" You come late, flight fly away. Sorry hor, you answer to the VIP. I already told you to come early."

Anyway, someone who was with an asian delegate came very late yesterday and had to resort doing a 100m dash to the gate in order not to miss the flight.

I can assure you, it was not a pretty sight.

Bye Arrival, Hello Departure

The duties for the arrival VIPs ended this afternoon at 3pm. We are not expecting anymore delegates as the IMF meetings are towards it end. Many of our mindef counterparts are leaving today for their duties in various hotels. An end to the partnership over the past 1 week. A tinge of sadness because it was fun working with the army boys. For the past week, I felt i am 23 all over again!!

Today, I have the good sense to bring my FX9 to work. Thus i managed to capture some shots of the boys who have worked with me. I have arranged them in a slide show, as memories.

I am in charge

Many of our ALOS (Airport Liaison Officers) involved in the Airport IMF duties have to co-ordinate with other Liaison Officers from other ministries. My Finance colleague find the ones from MAS particularly annoying. Especially when you meet those "gan cheong" DLO (Delegate Liaison Officers - attach to VIPs) who seems to have no idea what is going on, yet want to be in-charge.

We were told, that for Airport operations. WE - the ALO will be leading. Hello DLOs, please stand aside and listen to our instructions. So far, those DLOs who worked with me are very friendly and obedient. Though I may look soft, I am an no-nonsense person. The instructions were given clearly and if any chance i find that the DLOs are the "smart alec type" I will add my killer statement to "scare" the DLOs

"If you give the wrong information to the VIPs (without clearing me), You have to explain and do the damage control yourself, I can't help you." ( deliver it with a bit of drama and shaking of head)

This, I realised practically scare all the smart alec DLOs who want to act smart and call the shots. After that, they will look up to me with admiration and wait patiently for my instructions. So far it works, I have many DLOs who message me back to thanks me for my help.

Of course lah. To make their job simple, I just told them. "Talk to the delegate. The rest I will handle."

So simple right? No wonder they all love me! :p

ALOs getting ready for a long haul flight from Europe. (thats the ugly uniform)

ALOs posing for a shot before the VIPs arrival.

Cat posing with DLO (from MTI) for a Slovenia VIP

That's the VIP lounge on a less busy day.

Ambassadors are hard to handle

After so many hours of trainings and simulation by the organiser, there are still cock-ups.

Everyday when I report for IMF duties, we are given new sets of procedures to follow. And each sets differ from different wings we are assigned to. During the training, we were told to do a "seamless" exit for the VIPS, and today, the procedures are to bring all the VIPs in to the VIP lounges and then the ALOS will clear the custom and pick up their luggages after which the VIPs can leave. (Previously, VIPs to just walk out and their luggage will be send to their hotel).

This afternoon and evening. Business was brisk in airports. So many flights to handle I was deployed to another wing to assist. I was then tasked to welcome an south-east asia minister. The ambassador was there too, to welcome the minister but in order for him to score point, make our life so much difficult. Other ALOS shared the same experience too!

My legs aching now. Haven't been doing all these running and walking since i was 17. 8 more days to go!!! Argh....

I can help

Over the past 2 weeks, Changi Airport was bustling with preparation for the IMF/World bank meeting. After all, we are the best in the world and this is a good opportunity to show why we are the best.

Since Tuesday, Cat has been involved in the IMF Airport Liaison duties. Very very tiring as my shift starts at a (god forbid) 5.45am and ends at 3pm. Nevertheless, I am required to response to office emails at home and sneak to office to clear my in-tray and answer to numerous question from doubtful engineers.

Each of the Airport Liaison Officers is given 2 grey suits for the event. We are also suppose to pin the "I can help" badge near our right chest. Due to the slow arrivals, my wing did not receive as much delegates and VIPs as expected.

Even than, the early hours are wrecking havoc to my biological clock. I am used to sleeping at 12am and waking up at 7pm. An estimated of 7 hours. Now, this event I only manage say 4-5 hours each day. Mainly because I wake up at 430pm and sleep around the same time.

Very tired now. Burnt about 12 hours today at work which i only receive 2 delegates. Business not brisk today.

Clean bill of health

It has been a year since I had the surgery to have my dermoid cyst removed from my right ovary. This morning, I was due for the one year, post-op checkup. You see, I am scared of seeing doctor. Same as daddy. Because seems like everything i go to one, I will be diagnose of something bad. So thus, I rather adopt the donno, oblivious attitude.

However, recently I have been feeling some pulling ache where I had my surgery last year. No choice, better go see doctor before it turns to something nasty. I have had enough bad news and cancer news to last me for the next few years.

As unexpected, Doc said everything is fine. Yahooo.... no need to worry!! MSpanda and T were chiding me for thinking too much. Now can rest my mind, till next year.

Meanwhile, I have found another way to watch my tv. Youtube. I accidentally stumbled onto this show by Cyndi Wong and Nicholas Teo (Malaysian)and has been chasing the series since. It's quite nice.




I thought the OST in the show are very nice. Especially 北极星的眼泪 sung by Nicholas Teo. I haven't NT prior to this show but I will definitely look out for him in future. I like his vocals which are the light, feathery and gentlemanly sort. Very refreshing to my ear! I am hooked!!

When it can be more wrong

I haven't been blogging for a long while. Just that work and family business have kept me busy and the last thing i wanted to do, is to blog. Bitching over the msn is way faster to release any pent up frustration.

Last week, I was officially without wheels. I handed over the car keys to the agent and managed to take back say $600 on top of the paper value for the car body. Thereafter, I realised it is very inconvenient not to have a car because suddenly I have alot of errands to run over !!

Dad is humpty dumpty

Dad had a fall. My dearest, chirpy dad who on the day of his discharge went and forgot that he was a patient and ran after a bus. Unfortunately, he fell and broke 2 of this front tooth, cut his lips and luckily break no bones. When I saw him on Friday, he was trying to show me his missing tooth which I thought was very funny because he looked like a comedian.

Due to the infection, Dad has to return to the PD centre at SGH for his daily dose of anti-biotics. After his fall, we can't trust him to take any bus because he is physically weak. No choice, must give him money to take cab (from chai chee to SGH !!! FAR.....rr...) so that he won't feel the pinch of the $$. I also volunteered to bring him on my off day so that I could check out whether he can eat bananas or not.

See. when you don't have wheel. Suddenly alot of this kind of things to do.

And i am feeling the pinch of taking alot of taxi recently. ARghhhh.... my car and petrol is fully paid for leh.

Oh. I think Banana is my new enemy. Dad had a fall because he went to buy bananas!!!

Kidney patients can eat bananas meh??Apparently, nurse said can. (because dad potassium level is low)

What the fish...????

Murphy's Law

What will go wrong, will go wrong. This sentence best sum up my dad's situation right now.

Last night, I received a call from Bro saying he suspects Dad having an infection. And the irony of all is, he was likely to be contaminated by the nurses doing his whatever test yesterday morning. The new nurses were being orientated and dad was the so lucky chosen guinea pig.

This early morning, (fortunately still having wheels) i zoomed dad to the A&E dept. Dad was recounting the tale that he suspected the nurses not washing their hand before handing him. Plus after drawing some liquid from him, the liquid was injected back into his body. What the fish?? Anyway, the nurse in the PD dept said the procedures were correct.

So Dad was admitted because he has an infection. Need anti-biotic drip to kill all the bad bacteria. Despite all the safety precautions he made us go through while doing the dialysis, like wash hands (soap), wash hands (alcohol), no talking so that the germs from our mouth won't jump into his wound seems laughable to me now. Even the professionals like the nurse could get it wrong too.

I am wondering whether I could write a appeal letter to SGH getting some waiver of bill. Since the prima facie evidence shows that it might be due to the nurses. Especially since he was alright during the checkup and then immediately after the nurses tests, he has the infection.

Anyone who has experience of their hospital bill waiver due to similar situation, please teach me. Must claim for some compensation.

Sigh.. another week of shuffling to SGH. More tedious now since I will be wheeless on monday. Sob Sob...

I am a idiot

Few days ago, i have accidentally dumped a plastic bag of stuff which i thought was empty wine bottles.

So on tuesday, i was shocked to see the same DFS plastic bag with the wine bottles still lying on my living room.

What the hell have i thrown away?

First, i thought it would be my pilot jacket, my scarf etc from the car since i just cleared all the rubbish on monday.

Suddenly, this evening i realised it could be my bunch of keys to my old house which also has the very expensive computer lock key to my safe box. (damage $100 over dollars)

And just a few moments ago, when i am trying to re-arrange my shoes I realised where the hell is my new NEW BALANCE sports shoe?

*realisation hits*

Darn.... This tuesday for the very first time I worn my free pair of New Balance shoes to gym and then pack my black 3 inch stiletto shoes together the addidas after shower. Duh....


Shit Shit Shit.....

The new shoe is worth $159 i think and the stiletto don't come cheap either.

Fu**

This idiot cat now has no lesser shoes.

(And i just gave mum a pair of New Balance shoes just now) :(

Heart pain. Very heart pain!