Quite a while since I last blogged. Can't blame me though since there isn't much going on in my life here. U'll know it if u're studying here. It's no wonder why ppl get depressed in this place.

Several updates anyway.

1. ALS Course

Had a weekend burnt from it, and that course was freaking tiring. We started at 8.15-8.30, and it didn't end till about 6-6.30pm. It was hardcore, and because there was so much to cover over 2 days, timing was kept very strict, to the extent whereby u can even find urself having a 15 min lunch. I couldn't even finish my cup of hot tea before the next teaching session. But it was all worth while after I got my certificate, which will allow me to manage cardiac arrests in future. I'm also trained to use the defibrillator and CPR, which is all so exciting (yet scary!). The drugs was a pain to master though, and under the intense pressure the examiners put u under for the exam the 2nd day, u can get into a fluster and go blank.

Took a few pics and a video of cows on my way back using my pretty pink Sony Ericsson z610i which I got for free a few mths back. It's kinda funny having cows crossing the road as they were on their way back to the farm after an entire day of eating grass. Wanted to upload it here, but kinda lazy to do so at the moment. The video's kinda noisy too since my coursemates were teasing the cows a lot in the car while I was videoing.

2. Injured knee and thigh

I will not let that person off for causing this injury to me. It's not something major, but it was definitely something which can be avoided if he hadn't been an arse. I had only 3 minutes before my train departs, and with about 5 people queueing up at the fast track ticket machine (fast track it is indeed..but still..it takes time what!), there's a huge chance that I'll miss my train when I still have to make time to walk down the passageway and run up the stairs to the platform. I kindly went to ask the gate keeper if he can let me through since I'm gonna run late and I can buy the ticket on board the train. "No, I'm not letting you through unless u buy a ticket" was the answer I got. Couldn't be bothered to argue with him, because getting the train was my priority, so I went to queue up, and had to run down the passageway cos of that. Fell and injured my knee and thigh as a result since I was literally flat on the ground. It was really painful, but I just tolerated with it and limped into the train.

It did made me fume for quite some time on the train because I saw no reason to why that gate keeper had to make my life difficult, when I had a valid reason. Besides, there is always a conductor on board who will check if everyone's got a train ticket, and if u don't, u can buy one from him. Yet he refused, and I had to run and fall as a result. Plus it was quite a nasty fall I tell ya, cos my thigh and knee swelled, and till now, it's still bruising very badly. Took photos of it too since I'm planning to lodge a complaint about this matter. Call me a bitch, since some might think it's a minor issue, but to me, it isn't because I shall not tolerate anyone trying to bully me thinking that I will not dare to resist.

I guess my years here have just made me more outspoken in terms of arguing for my right when I need to. I don't do it all the time, and I must say that my mood that particular day has a great influence on the actions I take against someone.

I remember being in a Jap restaurant once in Singapore with a grumpy teen waiter/waitress. I was in a pretty good mood that evening, but because of his/her grumpiness, it ruined my mood and this was what came out of my mouth when he was serving us in a unwilling manner...

Me: If working is that miserable, then I think it's better to resign and go home. Makes life better and happier for the employee and for the employer..

Mum: Don't say that lah..maybe people having a bad day (sometimes my mum is just so understanding)

Me: Fair enuff. But that's not my problem isn't it? We are here forking out the money for a happy and good dinner, not here to see someone's face.

Then there's another incident in UK, which kinda shocked CG as well as the other diners in the steamboat restaurant (count that manager suay that day cos I'm usually nice when i'm there, but i was in a foul mood that evening after a bad day in the hospital, and any slightest thing would have irritated me loads...and of all days...it had to be a problem that particular day). Because I was in a bad mood, I needed to indulge in lots of food to cool myself down, and the only thing I looked forward to was to devour as much fishballs and wanton as I can during my evening steamboat dinner, but there was none available that evening AND what pissed me was...I wasn't even informed abt it by the staff. This was how the conversation went roughly...

Me (halfway through dinner): Can I request for fishballs and wanton please? I marked on the sheet that I wanted it, but it was left out from the basket.

Waiter: Sorry. No fishballs and wanton today.

Me: Why?

Waiter: No supply.

Me: That's not right. I'm not going to pay full price for tonight's dinner then if that's the case.

Waiter: Errrr....I can't handle this for you. Would you like to speak to the Manager instead?

Me: Yes. I'll speak to him..

Manager: I heard that there's a problem here..

Me: Yes. I was telling your waiter that I will not pay full price for tonight's dinner.

Manager: Is there a reason?

Me: I requested for fishballs and wanton, and I was told by your waiter that they're not available.

Manager: Apparently, it's a Bank holiday weekend, and there was a match during then too. Hence, there was a lot of people who had dinner here, and we didn't expect to run out of supply.

Me: But then again, if the staff knew that there were certain items not being available today, they could have informed me before I started my dinner, because if I knew those items were unavailable, I would have gone somewhere else for dinner. And knowing that it's the Bank holiday weekend plus a match, it is expected that there will be a crowd, and the restaurant should have forseen that and increase the supply to cope with it.

Manager: It's just 2 items being unavailable..you can still have the unlimited meat slices and vegetables..

Me: Yes, but I'm not going to pay the same price for unlimited supply of mostly vegetables and noodles. Items being unavailable due to the bank holiday and match is a problem of your restaurant, not mine. I am here paying a price for my buffet dinner, and therefore, it is only right that your restaurant supplies me with the items I have requested for, and if your restaurant is unable to do that, I should have been informed even before I start my dinner. I see no reason to why I should pay full price when it's a fault of your restaurant, and no way am I paying for tonight's service charge as well.

I did get quite a few shocked looks from diners around us, but I couldn't care less. Got a discount plus having the service charge waived too. And guess what? The restaurant had to give the other diners a discount for that night too after the complaint I made.

3. My brother

A big congrats to him for his excellent grades in Poly. It's a pity I can't attend his graduation, but I still share his joy despite being miles away. He's got his Diploma with Merit for Product and Industrial Design, as well as the Gold Medal for being top in his course. 3 years in there hasn't been easy for him, and I'm glad that his years of hardwork has finally paid off. Being a long time problematic student, my parents' visit to the school this time is indeed the extreme end of the usual coffee session with his teacher/principal.

His profile:
http://www-des.tp.edu.sg/des_home/des_alumni/des_grad07_portfolio/des_grad07_pid/des_grad07_phua_wei_qiang_frederick_profile.htm

Have got lots of pics of his projects (yup, he actually drew those posters up himself and made those items into life size models), but shall not be posting them up here.

Am also proud of my bro for being asked to go for the RSAF selection test. Results won't be out till about 4 weeks later, but hopefully, he'll make it in. Dearie's cheering him on too.

Oh..and of course, not forgetting to congratulate his gf as well for graduating together with him :)


Shucks, I've spent too much time blogging today...