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!

The Cat who cannot fly

On Monday, I got the shock of my life when my weighing scale suddenly shoot up by another 2-3kg, just over the weekend!!!

NO WAY!!

The last time i was THIS fat was when I had a big bad cyst in my stomach, ten over years ago. Darn! Not only i gained happiness over the weekend in Phuket. I have gained weight as well.

Looking back, my diet over the past week when T was back was hardly the healthy sort. This is what i ate.

Sunday - Chicken Rice for breakfast
Monday - Japanese Buffet for dinner
Tuesday - Indonesian feast for dinner
Wednesday - Home cook feast for T
Thursday - 8 course dinner in teochew restaurant complete with suckling pig and my fav yam paste (ohh.. nee)
Friday - Holiday in Phuket - Feast Feast Feast
Saturday - Buffet Breakfast, Seafood Feast, More Seafood Feast
Sunday - Buffet Breakfast, More Seafood, Burger King
Monday - Rest. Normal food.

And thanks to all the delicious food i have partook, the IMF uniform / skirt nearly burst the seam when i tried it on this evening.

*Alarm*

This call for emergency recovery plan. As for this week, I have hitted the gym twice. Eaten nothing but yong tau hoo and soupy food.

I am feeling so damn hungry now...

Opps.... My cheese sausages ready.

Every cats need a break !

Cat goes to the beach

I am back! Many must be wondering about my disappearance over the last week. Afraid not. This Cat was away for a short getaway at the beautiful and very "ulu" Bangtao Beach of Phuket.

The temperature was wonderful. Not too hot nor cold at about 26 to 27 degrees. The sun however wasn't co-operating!! It rained throughout the time I was there! Have to run and hide to avoid the occasionally heavy / light drizzle.

The sea was very choppy. No one dared to venture any further than the sandy beach. Not once did I get the chance to swim on the beach. (Swimming Pool yes!!)

The red flag says it all. Argh...

We stayed at a Junior Suite in Allamanda Laguna Resort. The stretch of beach/ laguna is fronted by many stars hotels, including Banyan Tree, Sheraton, Dusit Laguna etc. Allamanda Laguna is partially owned by Banyan Tree and the famous Singaporean Mr Ho and Mdm Claire Chang. In the resort, we are cut off from civilisation. No shopping centres, no night markets, no restaurants. (no shopping???? arrrr......)

*********** The Resort***********

The junior suite we had was roomy and overlooked the fairway green. The room was very artfully decorated with a very resort type of look, balinese style. The sight of the bed itself send me straight to heaven. Soooooo bl***dy huge. I haven't seen such a big bed before !!

Big Big Bed

View of the Allamanda Villas along the Laguna

More villas

Nightscene of Sheraton Hotel

When my boss is in trouble

My very capable senior M, mother of four who manages a very small unit supporting the entire division in tenders and contract administration.

When I joined the unit last year, M was definitely the blue eye girl whom everyone told me is very influential in my division. However one year later, my senior seemed to has lost her midas touch.

What a shift in fortune. Currently, my unit is in the hot spot for not performing and making mistakes. In my directors eye, the blunders M made is seen as our unit not performing. Very unfair.

Just when i thought there is future in my current position, my senior fate is going to adversely impact my career.

Much to do about Promotion

These few days, office is abuzz with speculations on our pay increment and THE promotion list.

Last friday, those who are not to be promoted received their consolation prize of the annual increment. Not alot, a single digit percent of our meagre salary but nevertheless additional money. This Cat of course is excited to receive more money. Because Cat can spend more now!!

However one particular colleague was maddened by the increment because she expects more! Thus, there was banging of cabinet, and then face blacker than charcoal. All sensible ones (like yours truly) had to avoid her because we can't stand the blacker than black face and the anger radiaton.

Today, the promotion results are out. Those who we thought will be promoted, promoted. Those whom we didn't expect to be promoted, are also promoted. Mr T whom i earlier blogged about, hope and hope but was unfortunately not promoted. Hence fulfilling the prophecy made by several staff who i surveyed earlier. (maybe i should survey about myself !)

Of course, Mr T is devastated. Because this is the year, where staff fulfilling 2 years of service regardless of any meritocracy are being promoted. If he miss this round, chances are they will not be another one.

Sigh... when will my turn comes ? ? ? (for promotion of course)

Concert Again

This afternoon, my new piano teacher asked me to perform in the year end concert.

I got to say this Cat is no good, but then he thinks that I am better than his other students. Haha. So, this thick skin Cat of course seize the opportunity to perform. Take it as a good chance to build up my guts and hone my performing skill.

The song i decided (or my teacher Dragon decided) is "Fly me to the moon." The style i got to play is ballad, then to Latin. Very difficult to get the rhythm correct. Teacher today had to whip out his teaching stick to scare me because this Cat couldn't get the chords and notes right!
But hey!! This Cat not young any more, where got scared? ahaha

The new style of playing is difficult because I couldn't stretch one octave with my palm. And because of this, i have difficulty playing full chords and block chords. Now i am starting to regret that i say yes. The next few months will probably playing one song only. So waste my money.

Maybe should tell Dragon that I am going for holiday..Then no need to practise hard !!!

I am pissed

So very bad mood. Especially since i have been having alot of self doubts recently. Also i realised that I am having problems pronouncing words which are easy. And to add that I am not speaking coherently thinkly clearly. Everything seems to be a mess in my life right now.

And i am feeling a pulling sensation on my right pelvic area. The place where I had my surgery last year. Shit! Could it be a re-occurence. I need to see my gynae soon! Argh..

At home, no one to talk to because T is sick and is throwing tantrum. I really dislike his grumpy self. Irritate the hell out of me and I wondered why in the world i married such a grumpy, and miserable sod. It's not my fault that medical sucks in China and he is taking forever to recover from his tonsil infection.

Serve him right to stay in China and leaving me here. Maybe its time for me to start going out and have fun again.

No more stay at home.. auntie doom.

Can i say i am single? (since i am living a singleton life. Not entirely wrong yah?)

Post Lasik Checkup

Time flies. Today I was scheduled to return to Optimax clinic for my annual checkup. This is the 3rd checkup since i did the lasik 3 years ago. So far, my vision is still good. I can still see 6/6 with both eyes.

Before the lasik operation, Cat was a blind bat because my myopia was over 700 degrees on both eyes. 3 years later, my left eye is perfect vision, and right eye a residue of 50 degrees myopia and 75 degree of astig.

The only side effect from the lasik is my dry eyes. Optometrist advise me not to stare at the computer screen for long hours. How not to? Plus i luvvvv watching TV and recently back to watching marathon serial.

Oh my god. My eyes.. sure die.

So many sick

Darling T is sick. Down with fever and infection on his tonsil. As i have written in my earlier blog, medical care in China is to go to the hospital for drip. No small clinics like Singapore.

Today is the fourth day, and T is not getting better. I wonder how to survive in China like this? Medical care is so convenient in Singapore.

On the other hand, dad is getting better. He went to work yesterday and as expected, ate whatever he like. As of yesterday evening, he ate half a bag of strawberries and 2 pears. How to control? I wonder what he ate for lunch?

Life too unpredictable. I just attended the wake of my ex-student's father. He was 53 and died 3 months after diagnosis of end stage lung cancer.

So many sick and bad news make me very depressed.

I can be a night shift security guard

After seeing Spookiemouse personal note on her msn, I think I could also be a night shift security guard too!

This cat has officially upgraded to another Cat- Panda. Even the 2 days of MC last thursday and friday didn't help. Tired.. Tired.. Tired...

Eyes so tired, but the body just wouldn't sleep. Feel damn "pek chek".