Lazy Sunday

Waking up at 9am ++ on a Sunday raining morning. It looks really gloomy and a comfy day just to sleep in and do nothing.

However, dragging ourselves up, we did some of our chores, laundry, housekeeping and making ourselves some tea. After our tea time in the morning, we then went to Zumba together in Novena Square which we have been pumping the number of sessions we go per week lately. I guess because the festive season is coming and probably we will be attending more social events.

The Zumba session is very popular and is always filled with people. It was rather intense and also enjoyable. Although sometimes I get splashed by sweat from the person next to me.  After our Zumba session, we then bought some 4 basket of dim sum from Kopitiam, my all time favourite are cheong fan and lo ma kai.  After that we went to shop around in NTUC to buy our weekly grocery as we are cooking quite often recently.

At home, we then prepared our lunch, heat up some of the dim sum again made some tea and had some tea. We also started to watch UK apprentice, this is to learn the culture in a business world. To learn some of the strategy and also knowledge to manage a whole team and how to excel in our career. At least to learn from others' mistakes.

After our lunch, I then proceed with my reading session while Miss J is working on her work for the rest of the afternoon.

At night, we prepared our own meal, watch another episode of apprentice, prepared our breakfast for Monday and retire to our bed around 11pm.

I can foresee that this will be our lifestyle for the coming future as my work week will be longer in the future soon and Sunday will be a day for me to rejuvenate from a week of fatigue.

Usual updates

As there is no fix structure on how to write my blog, I will do it chronologically to record events and things happened for the past two weeks.

10/11/2014- Had a job interview with a company at Marina,

12/11/2014- Bing is in Singapore, I met them in P&C for a round of drinks together with Shannon and also his GF Zoey. I had some fries and two rounds of Erdinger to celebrate our time together. Shannon footed the bill. I then also meet candy wong and also his larry look alike boyfriend called Jerry. Lisa also joined the meal together with Teo. As usual, we discussed about marriage and kids and things that we are working on it.
We had a meal at city hall Ramen. After our meal, we then went back to P&C for their cheap Erdinger. Time well spent.

14/11/2014- We went to meet Mr Simon, the General Manager of Raffles hotels to further discuss a few outstanding issues with them which I would not like to post it here. How they managed to negotiate with us is an eye opening event. How every single details Mr Simon had plan even before the discussion starts. He waited for us in the lobby at 7pm together with his assistant Mr Christian. He then greeted us with a firm handshake in his jacket and shinning shoes. It really shows how professional he is. After greeting us, he brought us to a lobby cafe. We sat next to a piano with serene settings and pianist playing some relaxing tunes. He also offered us a variety of international teas and coffee which comes with Mediterranean small bites. We were treated like a VIP guest. After our negotiation, he then told us that he will reply with his offer on 21/11/2014 as he will be going to a business trip. He left the table and insisted us to finish our complimentary meal. 

16/11/2014- Wake up early in the morning, had a light breakfast at home before our meal together at sheraton tower hotel dim sum with Kenny, Angela and her parents. Sheraton Tower Hotel is now my favourite restaurant for dim sum. It was a great gathering with all of them over good food and great service. Time flies, My Aunty Josephine from Sabah is here for a weekend. I went to meet her at Sentosa island together with my another Aunty whom is staying and working in Singapore. Together we had a meal in Vivo city. I brought Miss J to meet them also, I can see my aunty likes Miss J quite a lot. After our meal, we had a quick stroll from somerset to orchard road and we then retire to our own place around 10pm. 

17/11/2014- Went for a talk with Chai ann and also JY in City hall about Japanese Economy. As usual, the best thing about the free talk is to meet friends with similar interest and it somehow bond us together closer on the horizon. After our talk, we went for a quick catch up session at P&C nearby Raffles tower. 

18/11/2014- Had severe stomach ache due to some of the food I had at site. Rest at home for half a day, did my laundry and catch up with myself. Couldn't join the dinner session with Kevin Gu from Australia

19/11/201- Had home made dinner with Miss J at home

20/11/2014- Went for a KK gathering at EN Grill. The food was bad, location is nowhere, service was terrible. The best thing about the place is still the companionship. 

21/11/2014- Initially planned a zumba session at night with Miss J. However, due to my work on early Saturday, I need to reach home before 10pm. Therefore, after our meal at a Japanese restaurant we went back home. 

Mr Simon from Raffles replied with a reasonable offer. It seems that we will be accepting it. Thanks to Suzie for helping us this round. Without her effort, sending emails to the hotel manager after midnight. 

Looking forward for another week ahead. 

JY Birthday, Tea time with Kenny and Suzie's Advice

On Friday night, we went to Tony Roma's in Somerset 313 for dinner, we ordered a ribs and another plate of pasta probably to share, Couldn't remember the second dish. After our meal, we then went on for a walk from Somerset to Orchard. Along the orchard road, Christmas decoration has started blooming and lighten up the area. It seems Christmas started earlier this year, to attract more tourists to Singapore and also to boost sales for shop owners. Walking along the street somehow feels like Christmas already. 

On Saturday Morning, we had breakfast at home, after our light breakfast, I followed Jenny to another Dermatologist in Mount Elizabeth called Dr Oon. We waited for about an hour before until our turn. As Jenny is turning hungry, I went to buy some breads from Bread Talk opposite Mount Elizabeth while Jenny is waiting in the clinic. While Dr Oon, is diagnosing her skin conditions,he explained to Jenny about the cause of this skin irritations, history of bed bugs in Singapore and he also shared about other patients with bed bugs infections. 

He prescribed some medicines and wrote a memo for us. Surprisingly, the simple memo which took him about 2 minutes and a deep breath cost us $50 which I think is a complete rip off. However, feeling helpless, we have no choice but to pay him accordingly as he is well known in his field and had 39 years of experience with skin conditions. 

After our diagnosis, we then went for a light meal in Crystal Jade Gold in Paragon. Had 5 basket of dim sum and we then went to buy gifts for Jian Yang's birthday. We chose a French Press from Bodrum for him as he likes coffee. I am responsible to get a birthday cake for him too, I saw this long queue for a Japanese Bakery Chef in Isetan Shaw House, we joined the queue and bought a small cheese cake from them. The name of the bakery is called Chateraise. The price is reasonable and the cheese cake is rich and creamy. Worth all the wait.

After getting our cake, we got a text from JY saying that he will be going to Buono Vista slightly earlier than the time we set. Without any delay, we then left city centre and headed to Buono Vista to check the dinner place and also to meet up with JY. Upon reaching Buono Vista, we found that the restaurant is in NTU alumni club which is located on top of a small hill opposite the MRT station. Despite feeling strange, we continued our walk to the Alumni Club and eventually couldn't find the restaurant. We called the restaurant to confirm our search and also the location of the restaurant. Upon reaching the restaurant, on the 8th floor, the place is filled will families in T-shirts and Slippers and kids playing wii. Without a second thoughts, I called CCY and changed the venue of JY birthday celebration. 

We then walked back to Star vista and CA suggested morganfield's in star vista. I asked Jenny to bring the cake to the restaurant and secure a place while I will be greeting JY in ground floor to tour him around to buy time for the rest of us to reach. I guess for this part, I will need more practice. I somehow couldn't smoke JY smoothly. 

The meal went smoothly and it was a night filled with a lot of laughter. It was great to see that we all enjoyed our night together as a group.After the birthday celebration, we went back home and called it a night.

On Sunday morning, as usual we had breakfast at home, and went to Zumba in California Fitness. It has been a while since our last visit to California Fitness. After our Zumba, we went for grocery shopping, and bought some dimsum from Kopitiam. I called back home to mum to catch up with my mum and also with my Aunt as she will be stopping by Singapore this coming Sunday. I am planning for a dinner or a meal with her together and another of my Aunt here in Singapore. She will be staying in Sentosa Island and will be going to USS. So I will catch her around that time on Sunday.

After our Zumba session, went back home for a quick meal and prepare ourselves for tea time with Kenny. Kenny brought me to Hilton Singapore for their famous Cheese cake. He recommended me a cheaper agent and also told me about how to settle in Australia. We also discussed about our work life and he shared some of his life experience to me.

After my tea time with Kenny, I then meet Suzie, as she is helping out us on the case with Raffles Hotel. I am so grateful to have her going through with us throughout the entire chaos. She stands out and offered her help to us without any hesitate. Good thing about bad time is that we can see who are willing to stand out to offer us assistance. Without her help, we will simply been ignored by Raffles Hotel management.

She also told us that she and her husband are not PR as they don't want their child to go through army in Singapore. However, they cannot afford to have their children to an international school as the fees cost about 20k per year. So they will probably move back to UK before her eldest son turn 7.  She told me that, the moment she got children, all her savings and long term plans are gone. Everything are for her kids now.

In return for her help and also her kindness, Jenny and I offered to take care of their children once in a while as we are now working in West which is very near to her place in Clementi.

We ended our Sunday with some grocery shopping in Novena Square NTUC and also a simple meal by Jenny at home.

November Goals/To do list

Hello November

November is a month, where I will be socializing with my friends, family and stuff. I am posted in a project where is rather far away from town which is at the west part of Singapore. From now onward, travelling time from my home to workplace will take about 1.5 hours one way. So I will be spending about 3 hours a day travelling. Including Saturdays. Having said, I am lucky to say that this project will only last for 6 months only. 

Good thing about long travelling time to work is that, I get to wake up very earlier, and have ted talks on my podcast for the entire journey. Thank you technology. It is as good as reading a book as ideas are shared and could linked me up with people who watches tedtalk also. 

From my previous post, there are a few things had happened in October, it was a month where I had made a few major decisions in my life. I have clarified why I did things and now is back to the how to do it part. Basically, by setting goals and have vision are probably the most important part. However, having the discipline to execute it is another story. So for now I will slowly line up things that I need to follow up closely below: 

1. Health
1. Made healthy breakfast and lunch. Thanks to chai ann for introducing bircher muesli and getting all the ingredients for me from NTUC after our badminton last week. 
2. Stick to my swimming session at least twice a week

2. Myself
1. Apply driving license by end of October 2014. Convert my driving license. Postponed to End of 2014. We need to reconsider of moving to where in the near future. Should I still proceed with PR? 
2. Will work out with Miss J about our 5 year plan. Why we want to move to Australia, how to move and when we would have to move? We have to come out with a timeline. 
3. We also need to work on the timeline of getting married and also having kids
4. To read at least one book a month
1. Book of the month of October- Currency war by Jim Rickards
3. Finance/Investment
1. I have written off US property as it is too far for us to manage. 
2. From today onward, I will do more research into properties in Australia. How to make it to my advantages
3. To check on videos about investment banking, trader, proprietary trading and life as a trader.
4. Career
1. Write down to do list for everyday, and priorities them. 
2. Ask how can I help you.
5. Relationship
1. Wedding plan
1. Prepare a budget sheet for wedding by end of 2014
2. Work out the timing also. 
3. Planning for a ceremony in HK
4. Constantly discuss with Jenny about the wedding ceremony in Hong Kong.
6. Family
1. To discuss more about moving to somewhere else. So far we got Singapore and Australia on the list. I guess we have already make up our mind to go Australia already. :) 
2. We also discussed about property investment together and also how the business will be handed over soon. 
7. Business
1. To search for Dell laptop at around $249 by end of October. Postponed to end of 2014, as a Christmas Present
2. To check into digital nomad, watch videos about their lifestyle and prepare myself to work on the web or from home. 
8. Travel
1. Will have to plan for Jenny's birthday trip for 2015 by October 2014. Delayed

October 2014 review

As usual, time flies as fast as I blinked my eyes.Can't believe October 2014 has ended and now I have to move into November 2014. 

Key miles stone for October 2014:

1. Finally I have got my Singpass settled
2. We went to Bangkok friends and learned life lessons. This is my first proper bangkok trip, the last time was just a short transit to Chiangmai. Although I managed to enjoy myself during the trip, but it is definitely a transformation trip as I took up the duty as a finance controller during the entire trip. I guess I have got another blog post for this so i would not go into too details here. Overall, communication and thinking ahead is definitely key skills to managed a travel group. 
3. Attended Victor's meeting in Kota Kinabalu. That is where I managed to catch up with some my school mates. Meeting up with some old mates, catching up with some of the friends. We got about three tables during the wedding dinner and we were drinking wine like there is no tomorrow with Larry, Ah Seng, Jonathan and others. Generally I am so glad Victor got married. 
4. Went back home Kota Kinabalu and catch up with my family. Timing was a bit off as everyone are busy with their own thing, and they forgot the day I was flying back home. Felt a bit emotional in the first place, and saying my heard how can you guys forgot my arrival date. Sometimes, even the closest people around you would have overlooked the timing. However, I do enjoy my time back home.
5. I also managed to visit 4 properties in KK and found that they are way overpriced for short moment.  
6. I discussed with my parents about my life plan and also my marriage. They seems to have not much critical comments and are happy to go along with my decisions. I still remember vividly how my mum proposed to go for travel wedding. I got one modern mum. 
7. Started my personal training with Domz for about a month already.
8. Went to CCY and also Chai Ann's birthday party in Orchard Central. We had tapas and suckling pig. Thanks to serene for booking the place and the suckling pig. I also managed to met a few new friends in the birthday party. Glad to be able to meet all our friends in Singapore. 
9. I went to a Jewellery festival with Angela, she introduced me a guy called Matthew Leung from continental diamond. He can offer me a good price and would likely to deal with him. Thanks for Angela for helping this part out, with the wedding planning and things to consider and think about it before the execution. I definitely don't want to overspend for my wedding ceremony at the end of the day. 
10. Miss J and I went to a private launch of Australia 108, an iconic property in Melbourne. Price and payment schedules are both attractives
11. I went for a consultation with Madelyn, a migration agent from AIMS Singapore. The total cost for getting an Australia PR is about SGD 12k and one year. The critical path for me now are IELTS 7 and also 3 years experience. 
12. Read through thousands of articles about Melbourne
13. Started to listen to Ted podcast and also UK English. 

Glad to have drafted this blog post within 30 minutes with the help of my planner and also my calendar. 

Looking forward for my work intensive November and also December as my work project is going to peak.