Climbing up..

I had a conversation with my hairstylist-cum-friend, Gill last Friday.. I was there to cut away my waist-long and heavy tresses. And he was telling me how he gave up the chance of going London for his mother who just had a bypass surgery.

Me: "Don't you feel sad or upset about not going? I mean its a good opportunity and who knows you might make it big there. And by the time you return, you will be a MASTER.."

Gill: "Sad? Upset? I am.. But i have to take care of my mom..."

Me: "True.. Mom's health is more important.. I'm sure there will be another opportunity along the way."

Gill: "I don't think so.. I'm 30 this year and to go London to work, i have to meet their criteria.."

What can i say..? A man giving up his dreams for the well-being of his mom.. His filial peity touched me.. How can this happen to him? He might seems bad (because of his 'visible' tatoos and you know the usual 'bad boy' attitude..) but in fact he's a nice guy.. He always gave his most honest opinion about how/what will look good on you, and he never overcharge me even though he's one of the top stylist in this particular salon in Orchard. God bless him and his mom abdundantly!

Half way through, he started talking to me about climbing up the corporate ladder..

Gill: "I've got a friend who's a personal banker now and he doesn't hold any degree.. Just an O'level kid who make it big at the Banking sector."

Me: "Gill, i know.. but nowadays if you don't have a degree it will be difficult to get a job.. That's why i was planning to work and study the Banking degree at the same time.. And honestly speaking, most of the big companies prefer degree holders..!!!"

Gill: "Jaime, why don't you start selling credit card? Sell and build rapport with your superior and ask for a transfer after a year and slowly climb the corporate ladder.. By the time you climbed up, degree is no longer important.."

Me: "Hmmm... I will give it a thought about what you say but it will not be easy.. Thanks."

(Our actual conversation is much longer.. Didn't want to be so long winded..)

What should i do? All i need is this chance to go back to Banking again.. I can start from bottom and learnt from the most experience staff the Bank has to offer. If i can make it in Citibank as the Rookie of the Month, topping the sales charts, i believe i can also make it elsewhere working towards my goals!

I need guidance like how Jennat has her guidance from.. Her elder sister, a VP in OCBC certain department who has 2 MBA, 1 PHD on the way!! She's earning 'peanuts' like the NKF ex-CEO Durai.. :p

Being a mother, a daughter, a wife, a career woman and a sister.. How the hell did she do it? It's amazing how this mother of 2 can handle her life so well.. With the advice and knowldege from the wise one, no wonder Jennat is climbing the corporate ladder slow and steady! I also want....!!!

Trying to survive in this fast pace city is no easy task. The moment you're back dated, you will be out of the game. There will also be those 'evil' colleagues of yours trying their means to put your down so you won't hinder their speedy climb up..

It's an evil back stabbing world out here..

My Head Porter

Received my Head Porter Cigarette Case today..! It's damn nice!! And it's cheaper than Far East's Surrender! :p

Ordered from a friend who frequent Japan.. He's bringing in Head Porter to sell on freelance basis, something like Far East's Surrender shop.

I haven't decide whether will it be a cigarette case or card case.. Will use it as a cigarette case 1st!

Anyway, i will be updating the stuffs he bought under "Items for sale". Please look out for updates!

So many July babies! (Part 3)

Once again...

Happy Birthday to:

Jiron Chew aka Boy-with-very-broad-and-big-shoulders.

Many happy returns to you!

Went to Newton Circus for dinner.. Meeting time? 8pm. Jane, Jiron, Serene Lim, Victor and Mumba were there when me and Joel reached. Then came (in running order):
Mavis, Danny, Serene Foo and husband ChongLip, Guoliang, Lim Lee and GF, Yanie and last.. Gavin, the SBC working in America.

Jiron and Joel.

Jiron, Lim Lee & his GF and Mumba.

After dinner at Newton, we went Mt Faber's Altivo. Nice place.. Been there when it first opened few years back, there was a rave party organised by Kinemat. Anyway, its a good place for the romantic-crazy couples. Beautiful view of the City and Sentosa..

Jane, Jiron, Yanie, Gavin (He drives a Mustang in the US) and Joel at Altivo..

Mavis, Serene Foo & husband ChongLip and Guoliang.

Jane is always looking away.. Don't know why...? Jane!! Look here!

Yes.. That's my girl.. Jane and Jiron looking at the right place for a nice picture.. Lovely!

11.30pm. Everyone' getting tired and poor Jane is damn sick.. She needs plenty of rest.. It will be a busy 2 weeks ahead for her.. Jane, Jiron, Guoliang and Mavis leaving for Genting tonight. Then next weekend, Jane and Jiron will be going to Hongkong with Jane's parents.. Rich hor!!

Jiron and his cake.

Jiron, Jane and his cake. Opss... 24 already!

A fighter?! A ninja?! Ready to show off his cutting skills!

And he cut the cake half way...

Beliefs: If you want your birthday wish to come true, cut your birthday cake half way and not all the way to the bottom.. Quite a handful believe that your wish won't come true if you cut the cake all the way to the bottom..! (".)?

I've got a reply..

Just received a reply regarding the complaint i've made for this particular 'gahmen' body..

Called my mom immediately.

Me: "Ma, they replied me.. They mentioned alot of nonsense. They say sorry and will refund you the $25 fine you paid.."

Me and my mom: "Hahahaha.."

Me: "So.. You happy with their apology and refund?"

Of course, my mom happy la!

They're refunding her the fine they imposed on her years ago. What else can she ask for..? Besides, it's not easy asking refund for fines from 'gahmen' also.. And we weren't in the wrong. Well, at least they're show us their sincerity in resolving this mistake.

But i must say, their reply is darn professional!! I want to be like them so next time i can 'shoot' a better and more profound complaint letter!

This is what they replied... Refer to post -"5 long years.. WTF?!!" for the complaint letter content.
Dear Mdm ANH

We refer to your email of 18 July 2005 on the above subject.

We would like to thank you for your feedback and have taken note of your concerns.

We would like to confirm that this refund was initiated due to an enhancement in our procedure where we perform checks on our licensing database to identify any excess payments made by licensees for their licence. If there are any excess found, we will refund the excess payment to the licensee. Such exercise is in support of the 'gahmen' policy for the refund of unclaimed monies by the public. In your case, our checks have revealed that there is an excess payment of $110.00 under your licence number. Hence, a cheque has been issued to refund you the excess payment.
(So many excuses given.. I guess, its part of human nature for the Company to write a long explanation for the mistake they overlooked.)

We have only recently enhanced our processes in initiating such refunds and we need to perform many checks and validations against our database before the refund is issued in order to ensure that they are made to the rightful licensee. Going forward, the procedure will be carried out more regularly to ensure that refunds are made more timely.

For your information any request for refund made by our licensees would be processed within two weeks.

We are sorry for the undue anxiety and inconvenience caused to you and your family on this matter. In addition we are refunding the $25.00 being payment of the late payment fee for licence period 01/01/2000 to 31/12/2000. Once again, we thank you for your understanding.
(*thng*thng*thng* We hit JACKPOT!!)

Yours sincerely..

Well, my mom's happy and all ends well.. Much better than i expected. >.<

5 long years... WTF?!!!

Today, something very ridiculous happened..

I was home today after spending 2 nights at Joel's place. As usual, i went to check on my letterbox. Most of the letters were for my mom.

Suddenly..

Nick: "Must complain.. Cannot bo chap."

Me: (Starting to be a kay-po) "Complain what?"

Mom: "Received a letter and a $110 cheque refund for year 2000..."

Me: "WTF?!!!! Must complain.. Cannot let them go..!"

And here i am.. Writing the complaint and to blog about their incompetence!

The complaint i've composed is for a particular 'gahmen' body.. No apology, no call, no prior notice.. Nothing at all. I don't know whether am i over reacting but i just can't believe that they took 5 years to refund..

(Don't want to give them a chance to sue me, therefore it shall be known as M)

Refund of licence (dated 08July05)
CC: DIRECTOR, LICENSING SERVICES DIVISION.
Hi Sir/Ma'am,
My mom received a letter from M about her refund of licence .
This letter caught me by surprise.. Why? Because the letter stated,"Please find enclosed a cheque for the amount $110.00, being refund due to an excess of licence fee payment for the year 2000."

In the year 2005, my mom recived a letter with a check being refund for year 2000 licence fee excess.. 5 years is what M took to refund us. My mom and I are utterly disappointed.. With no prior notice or letter, we were not informed about what the whole situation was. And to receive the refund 5 years later is shocking! If we did not receive this letter, we would most probably not be bothered by it. But the fact now is we did receive the letter and the check for year 2000 licence excess!

Being a consumer, whether is the payment for government sector or private sector, we will always make sure our payment is prompt. There was this once, my mom was busy with work and hence she forgot to make a payment for the licence. Next thing we're aware of, we were being fine $25 for late payment.. That happened not long ago. Therefore, we do not see any reason why M will take 5 years to process us a refund. Out of curiosity, how much time do M need to process a refund?

Enough about the letter, that's not the worst.. The most upsetting thing is no one bother to call or send us a letter/notice about this matter. No apologies offered as well..

We demand for an apology and an explanation from M for the long 5 years refund wait.

Looking forward to your prompt reply.
Please feel free to contact me.
Thank you.
Jaime Wong for ANH.

Anyway, i just submit the letter, so i gotta wait and see what their explanation will be.. If they do reply me, i will try to post it online.

Morale of the story?

Don't let them get away with their incompetence! If you do, they will take you for granted.. (",)

Pictures i took with my handphone..

Joel with Nikkie, Snowie and Furbie. Don't Furbie look fat here?!
Furbie likes to hang around with Joel.

Snowie... Can you see Nikkie's tail on the right bottom corner?

Nikkie looking for an escape route..

So many July babies! (Part 2)

Happy Birthday to:

1) Ben Wan aka Blur-King-who-can-dive-very-well.
2) Brena's Ben aka Brena-who-finds-him-'rounded'!

Many happy returns to you all!

So many July babies!

Happy Birthday to:
1) Espen aka WilliamScorpioMaiLiuLianAhMaGoLeTanSteven!
2) Suzanah Mohd, promoted to Documentation Manager!
3) Marcus aka 'Ang Kong (Tattoo) Siao'!

Many happy returns to you all!

It's a crazy month in deed.. Birthdays, Birthdays, and more Birthdays!

It's Espen's birthday on Sunday, 10 July 2005. Met up with the Birthday Boy and his GF Sharlene for a small celebration.. There was a small debate between Team A, Jiron and Jane, and Team B, Me and Joel.. You see, Team A wants to buy Epsen a Headline t-shirt and forgo the cake. Team B feels that cutting the cake is a 'must have' during birthdays. So in the end?

Me and Joel bought him a small slice of cake.

















And on Monday, 11 July 2005? We were at Marina South for dinner with Marcus, Serene Lim, Roche, Shadow, Mavis, Serene Foo, Jane, Jiron, Danny and Sam & friends. We were arranged to meet up at 7+ at Superbowl BBQ. Danny was the 1st to arrive, then Serene Lim, then me and Joel, then Marcus, Sam & friends with Roche and Shadow. Last to arrive? Serene Foo, Mavis, Jane and Jiron with a cake!

New 'Love'... And that will make a 4some!

Joel's sister have a new pet.. It's a stray kitten she rescued..

After much consideration, she decided to keep the kitten and named it 'LOVE'....

Love's first day.. She was rescued by Elisa and she climbed in between her legs to sleep...!

Allan: "You (the kitten)! Took away all my attention and love from Elisa... Grrrowwll..."
Elisa: "This is the kitten i rescued, named Love. From today onwards, she will be loved, cared for and well-fed.. She's adorable right?"

Love playing with her new toy..

Love

With 3 dogs and 1 kitten living under the same roof soon, i wonder how will the doggies react to their new 'sister'?!

It took away Joel's breathe!

The many shots Joel took of this car... He's obsessed!