Dec 26, 2007

Make each day a new horizon

Back in Singapore for X'mas!

Feels so good to be back with friends, family & old colleagues. I have learnt to appreciate familiarity. I do not have a permanent place in the Spore office, so I have been drifting around like a hermit crab, taking the seat of those who are out of the office (not too difficult at this time of the year).

Today I am in another colleague's cubicle & saw this pasted on her computer monitor:

“…So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.

The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life … you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty…”


I have lost much of my adventurous spirit over the years. Looking back, the best thing I did for myself was to backpack in Russia. That trip helped me regain my sense of adventure. I re-discovered a part of me that was long buried.

I may at times lament that I relocated to Taiwan too hastily. But deep down inside I know I have never regretted my decision. Just like the continuation of the article:
"...don't settle down and sit in one place. Move around, be nomadic, make each day a new horizon...it will be a shame if you did not take the opportunity to revolutionize your life and move into an entirely new realm of experience..."

Lift encounter

My (damn funny & SAD!) msn conversation with nono:

Ah Fat says:
Once i got into the lift of my apartment in UCL inside got this ah beng looking Taiwanese look & me


NONO FAT ASS says:
he pick u up in the lift ah

Ah Fat says:
…& said "WAH MISS U VERY TALL HOR??

Ah Fat says:
I SMILE


NONO FAT ASS says:
HAHAHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

NONO FAT ASS says:
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA

Ah Fat says:
then he continued: YOUR HEELS VERY HIGH??


NONO FAT ASS says:
he v cock leh hahahaha

Ah Fat says:
then he checked out my heels & said: NO WAT NOT VERY HIGH.... WAH U VERY TALL

NONO FAT ASS says:
HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Ah Fat says:
I THINK U MORE BIG SIZE THEN ME


Ah Fat says:
NBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

Ah Fat says:
& he is quite tua jiat loh


NONO FAT ASS says:
HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA

Ah Fat says:
& fat loh


NONO FAT ASS says:
Tell him KNNCCB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah Fat says:
NBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNBNB


NONO FAT ASS says:
HAHAHAHAAHA this is so funnieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Ah Fat says:
knnbccb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


NONO FAT ASS says:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ah Fat says:
hmm then i should blog this


Ah Fat says:
hahahah

NONO FAT ASS says:
YEAH!

Ah Fat says:
NBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB


NONO FAT ASS says:
i thought he giong to pick up up

NONO FAT ASS says:
ta ma de

Dec 13, 2007

I SUCK at my job

Yes i know it's because I'm still new blah blah blah.
But it's still a damn shitty feeling.

Dec 12, 2007

I miss my friends

Nono, bobo & myself made an msn appointment at 10pm.
The POW joined us a hour later.
It was the usual cock conversation completed with loads of laughter, bitching & vulgarities.
We used to do this "live" like 3 times a week... I really really missed it.
I was actually laughing out loud in my apartment.
Then for a while, in the midst of my laughter, I started to cry.
The best thing??? Bobo did the same haha.
I really missed my friends. I miss them so much.
PLEASE let me get a seat back to Spore for XMAS!!!!

Dec 7, 2007

Winter Coat Forecast

I bought ANOTHER winter coat - A very Brit looking "liver" red colour.
The sales girl said it made my hips look small.
HIPS...SMALL
these are the magic words to make me buy anything. ANYTHING

This latest conquest will make it the 2nd winter coat I bought in 1 mth.
And it got me thinking...

Fatcat's Winter Coat Forecast
Chilly period in Taiwan - Nov to Feb = 4 mths
Rate of Winter Coat purchases: 2 per mth
Total Winter Coat purchases per year (forecasted): 2x4 = 8
No of Winter Coats Fatcat already own: 6

So assuming I stay in Taiwan for 2 years.
Total No of Winter Coats Fatcat will own after 2 year: 22

Ok, I think I better stay in Taiwan for the next 10 years to justify my winter coats.

This is an utterly nonsensical post.

Dec 5, 2007

Macau Macau

Went to Macau aka Aomen for our Asia "Training" event.
Ok posted this photo again to showcase my ACT CUTE outfit.
Gave the Spore colleagues quite a shock when they saw me.
We stayed in the Venetian - supposedly the newest & poshest hotel/casino in Macau.

Verdict: NOT impressed.

Rooms - fantastic
The whole Venetian theme thingy - at most, interesting
Service - 3rd world standard

It's saving grace: The S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G.
Too bad (luckily?) I was feeling stingy so didn't spend much. "Only" around SGD400 bucks. The place has a pretty impressive selection of shops to suit all budgets - From Gucci to Giordano (not ladies/ concept - just plain old Giordano)

The Singapore IR shopping better bet this.

My conquests:
I love MY new mango outfit (Top SGD50 Skirt SGD90) I will never have the chance to wear this in a tropical country!!
This is the best full length shot I have ... think the solo shot I took is in someone else's cam.
Not sure if the colleague wants to appear in the world-wide-web so better keep his identity a secret haha scared he kenna from his wife.

Some colleagues from Spore all went like" Ehhh why we never see u dressed like that in Spore huh?" Hello? I will look WEIRD dressed like that in Spore can???
Overnight bag - SGD85 Some HK brand
Silver belt - SGD48 Hello Kitty Brand but WITHOUT any Kitty print

Dress: SGD120 from Promod (french brand - hope it comes to Singapore!!!)

Will post hotel photos next time yawn...
Oh yah & I won SGD150 at the casino :)

Nov 27, 2007

Localizing

Actually figured out how to activate my hp's pinyin function! I have started to sms my Taiwanese colleagues in CHINESE!! I am indeed localizing. Don't worry, I have not mastered the art of being "teh". The day I master that skill - please punch me.

Nov 26, 2007

Casual Monday

I wore black jeans to work today. No one batted an eyelid (unless they did so behind my back...), not even the "fashion police". Think will try the mini skirt with stockings combo next.

Nov 25, 2007

Weekend in Taipei

Day 1 - Part i

Kelly, my colleague from SH needs a dress for our Aomen event. So with this mission on hand, we met Diana, Rosa & Lunchia for an afternoon of shopping in Taipei.

After hunting the entire afternoon, Kelly got her dress. She tried it on in the 1st shop we looked, but being women, we decided to KIV & looked in 10 more shops in the same area before concluding that the 1st dress was the best.

We made a brief stop at the 忠孝东路 (hope I got the Chinese characters correct) Starbucks & met up with my fellow SST-er, David. He was with a customer who is also happen to be his personal friend. The 2 of them kept us well entertained - listening to the 2 of them was like watching a Taiwanese variety show. Hilarious.

That afternoon, I bought NOTHING! None of the clothes I saw were really my style. The only shop that suited my taste was Mng & it's cheaper in Spore. Good!!!


We then met with some other colleagues (all guys - whom couldn't bear the thought of spending an afternoon shopping with 5 gals) for dinner at Shaoba, a jap bbq place. It's buffet style (with 6 flavours of Haagen Dazs!) & is apparently very popular. So popular that there are only 2 seatings for dinner: 6 or 8pm. The food is pretty good but you will have to love meat.. & be willing to smell of oil & smoke after dinner.

We took the 6pm sitting - check out the crowd waiting to go in for the 8pm slot.


From left: Lunchia (my team mate) & Rosa


Me, Diana & Kelly


The guys that refused to go shopping with us
.

Got one more guy actually, but can only see part of his arm here...


To end the night, some of us decided to check out EZ5, a bar that is well know for it's live music


Here I must say: All the bands at Luna - go take a hike, fly kite or sign up for of 10 year of unpaid internship with any of the singers at EZ5.


"EZ5" is not exactly the hippest of names. It's an obscure looking bar tucked in the corner of... (I can't remember where. Will find out). It's cramp, smoky (no smoking in nightspots rule does not apply in Taiwan) & has a not so fantastic toliet (swatting ONLY. very unglam).

The bar's main attraction is the live band performance and I MUST rave about the QUALITY of the singers!!! This should how cheena bands should be!!! The 2 bands I saw both can sang AND have they have fantastic showmenship. They really really know how to rouse a crowd. It was like watching another Taiwanese variety show - this time with great singing thrown in.

Great way to end the night.


Day 2 - Healthy Living
I spend the night at my aunt's place as we intended to go hiking on Sun morning.

We ended setting off at 3pm (after a BUFFET lunch... I am surrounded by food-lovers... very bad...). It was a steep climb at the beginning & I think during this part, my aunt & uncle were totally regreting their decision to go hiking.


But we were rewarded by THIS at the top!!!

1st time seeing such a complete rainbow in my life - a little excited here




My 小阿姨 & uncle


Taipei city in the background




On my way back to UCL, i shopped a bit at the shops around Taipei Train station . And I finally fulfilled my stockings fetish.

I have always had a thing for "textured" stockings - now I finally have the excuse to buy!


These are more like SOCK-kings - great for short skirts




No need to shave legs for the next few months liao :)

Nov 20, 2007

My farewell gift from Very-Itchy

A long overdue post. Last month, in the midst of our usual crazy end-year activities, I got huge surprise & one of the best gifts I have ever received in my life - from my colleagues in Very-Itchy Singapore.

To summarize:
31 oct 9am - Audit Lead told me my order kena PWC audit & to meet at 2pm to discuss the order before she can submit the findings.

9am-930am: Fatcat panicked & checked her order. Approvals in & scanned. Should pass lah.

1145am: Happily went for farewell lunch with Avago/ Agilent ex-colleagues.

2pm: Strolled in from long lunch (oops)

205pm: Pooi Lin & gang hurried me to the boardroom. Apparently their order kenna audit too. Clueless fatcat even asked them which of their orders kenna the audit

215pm: Clueless fatcat went into boardroom & finally realized it was a "giving away ceremony" for me!!

215pm onwards: Great speech from bossie. Lousy speech from fatcat. Many many tears from fatcat.


My present!!!

Naughty & Nice - I love it!

We gave a similar bracelet as a farewell/ wedding gift to a colleague whom got married to a Taiwanese & left us to join her hubby in Taiwan. I had jokingly demanded a similar gift should I ever get married & move to Taiwan.

Well I did not get married per say, but I did relocate to Taiwan...
BUT as much I love the bracelet, it wasn't the best part. This was:
An original creation by very own talented Qi'En Mama esp for me

Look how much we have changed over the years...


Details details, it's all about details










Well wishes from colleagues: priceless


My favourite


YES! This masterpiece is almost worth leaving the company(or relocating to another entity) for!

I have brought it over to Taiwan & placed in the most PROMINENT position in my apartment!


THANK YOU!

Nov 18, 2007

Back in Taiwan

Sun evening. Was in Singapore for a week. Now back in Taiwan. It was exactly a week ago that I wrote about my lousy week in Taiwan. Now I am back & ready to conquer.

Thank you everyone for your encouraging words. They really really helped. You guys are great.


After writing about all the bad things I encountered in Taiwan, I think I need to show the upside:

SOGO ANNIVERSARY SALE!!!!!!!
It was the ultimate skincare shopping experience, I swear never to buy skincare/ makeup in Singapore ever again:

Take this for instance: Shu Uemura Green Tea Cleansing Oil 450ml (helped Bobo buy)

Spore Price: SGD148
Taiwan Price before Sale: NTD2500 = SGD118
Taiwan Price DURING Sale: NTD2000 = SGD95 + Free Gift!!!!
Bobo do you love me or what??!!!


For Mahjong Mummy:
Phylo-blank anti-wrinke range - love the packaging.


Everything is 33% cheaper then Singapore plus they gave away really solid free gifts!
So I ended up buying 2 sets & got 2 sets of free gift. Look, I am NOT a sucker, just a wise spender that grabs a good deal when I see it ok?



Whitening range for my aunt:
I just paid for the whitening essence (the 2nd bottle from the left) & got everything else free, including a FULL SIZE whitening lotion.



And for myself:
To cover my flaws (and replace my smashed Chanel Compact):



The secret to beautiful skin - Mask, mask & more mask. The beauty advisor asked me to use everyday. And at these prices, I just might!

BUY 6 GET 6 FREE!!!!!!!
Damage: SGD76 for 12
hmmmmm they don't seem so cheap now.... maybe i'll stick to using them weekly... but it's still a 50% discount...

Words of wisdom from Nono: "WAH no wonder Taiwanese gals are all so pretty & have such nice skin. Their skincare so CHEAP!!"

It was not just the bargain that made the shopping so enjoyable. It was also the SERVICE. The cosmetics counter was flooded with people & yet the beauty advisor gave me top notch consultation. This I can never find in Singapore. Ok ok, maybe I should say, this is HARD to find in Singapore. I was afterall a beauty advisor once & I do think I gave pretty good service (when I'm in a good mood hahaha).

To end, I also need to say:
Fatcat is NOT miserable in Taiwan. I just had a really
really lousy week. So lookout for many many happy posts to
come!

Nov 11, 2007

One week in Taiwan

Sun evening. Just finished laundry. So much for my glamourous swinging single lifestyle. Not much swinging one can do in Ulu Chungli. From now on, I shall refer to Ulu Chungli as UCL. Little Uncle dropped gave me a lift back from Taipei earlier. Was at their place for the weekend. My visit gave them the motivation to go for a morning workout. We checked out the hot springs of Beitou (walking distance from where they stay). If you ask me Lonely Planet made it sound better then it really is. Then again, it could be just that I am not a hot spring person.

Arrived in Taiwan a week ago. Will be going back to Spore tomorrow for a week. No special feeling about going back actually. A week is too short to really miss home.

I had fucking lousy start to my new life in Taiwan:

02 nov 10pm-03 nov 3am:
Farewell party with my dearest friends - More about that later.

03 nov 8am: Opened my eyes. Something didn't feel right. I see the morning sun. FUCK. My flight is at 830AM.

03 nov: 10PM. Changed flight. Arrived in UCL. In my new apartment. Cannot find my internet connection point. To me another 3 days to finally locate it. And another 2 days to set the IP address so that I can connect.

04 nov: clean, unpack, household goods shopping.

05 nov: Officially my 1st day of work Verigy Taiwan. Did my 1st presentation. Didn't go well at all. Luckily it wasn't with a live audience. It also finally dawned on me how unprepared I am to take up this new role.

06 nov: Notebook crashed. All data wiped out. Colleagues started engaging me. Again I realized how unprepared I am to take up this new role.

07 nov 9am: Went to open my NTD bank account using my work permit. I have 3 mths worth of salary not paid out to me because I dont have a NTD bank account. Was told that I need a Resident Permit to be ready before I can open a bank account in TWD. Hello its a bank account for me to put $$$$$ IN. Work permit cannot meh??!! What the hell?! I am CONTRIBUTING to the economy of Taiwan & I cannot open a BLEEDING bank account without a Resident Permit???!!! This plus the trauma of my crashed notebook was the final straw. I actually teared in front of the bank officer. She was really really sweet & was trying her best to help me out. But the stupid banking regulation in Taiwan didn't allow her to do that.

07 nov 10am: Got a call from HR. Photograph I submitted for Resident Visa cannot be used. The Taiwanese officials have like 888 criteria for passport, IC, Visa photographs. I had to go retake immediately or risk DELAYING the Resident Visa. Once again tears of frustration flowed out as I took the call.

08 nov 8am: Dropped my Chanel Compact. All the powder fell out. The mirror cracked. 7 more years of bad luck. Great.

08 nov 11am: Msn therapy session with bobo. Felt much better. I love my friends.

09 nov: Performance evaluation with new Boss. Conclusion: I got to work REALLY hard.

My lousy week ended on that note. Fantastic.

Oct 23, 2007

Bobo's BurfDay!!! Episode One

Technically Ah Bo's bday has nothing to do with Fatcat going to Taiwan.

BUT... she celebrated her bday on 20TH OCT - one whole month before the actual day! And it all FOR ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!! I love you {()}!!

Needless to say we had a blast. A night out with the gals is never tame...
And Macallan IS my drink of the moment.

Attendees of the night:
Princess Bobo
Twink
Fatcat
CSB
Nono
PART I: Dinner at PS Cafe
one of our fav hangout for dessert & drinks.
1st time having main courses


A nice tame act-demure group shot to start



Then our true colours start to show....

You think you are the most BEAUTIFUL is it??? You wait....

NEVER!! As long as Nono is around!!! NEVER!!!


Does this make my cheekbones look sharper??

OK Crazy timeout! Food's here.


Beef is GOOD!

Shepard's pie good too!!!

Pork Belly for Fatcat. This dish will help prevent pot bellies haha


PART II - Lunar at CQ!!!
Part II was joined by Miss VIP of MOS/Clinic/Fashion Bar & now Lunar!!
I love the wallpaper - communist chic!

To start: BIRTHDAY DRINK for the burfday girl!!!!

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!Go! Go! Go!






Bobo feel happieeeeeee.....


The night was still young.... but Fatcat is old & need zzzzzz so will update later. Stay tune for Episode II!!!!