St Patrick's day @Clark Quay

6 o clock evening Friday, changed my shorts and shoes
as such to leave my work area for a long anticipated tempura dinner in Ten restaurant at Clark Quay with Serene, Chai Ann, Chong Yang and Serene's ex hostel mate in Australia, Andrew.

Just before I turned off my laptop, I saw a notification on the taskbar from my immediate boss David Tay.
The email was sent with a high priority ( from the first day onward, all emails from my boss were all high priorities, maybe that is the nature of it.)
Come back to it, The email was about an incident happened on the other site....... bla bla bla

I wanted to ignore the email and pretended that I was already off work until I saw a strings of words highlighted in red which is as well capital letter. saying that: "All REs are not Allowed to leave site until all concreting works end. period."

Looking out the window from my site office, I can clearly see one of the draw pit has not been cast.

Confused and agitated. When I was still wondering what should i do, I instinctively grab my phone out and whatsapp the tempura dinner group that I will be an hour late. period. :(

I decided not to take the risk as I am still under probation, I had been neglecting my friends in a selfish attempt to pursue a career and my last hour in the office on Friday had cost my dear friends waiting over a dining table in Clark quay for an hour. More worryingly, I found this phenomenon is getting common. I am always the last one to arrive.

Having said that,  we had a peals of laughter, I enjoyed the sober companion immensely.

We basically talked about lifestyle, friends, past, future and some cold jokes.

Serene was blushed all over her face after she drank a few cups of hot green tea. She also complained about   being hot and took off her jacket. Andrew did crack a lame joke on serene about how girls are meant to be hot. It was pretty lame at the time, but as a matter of fact, girls are pretty hot sometimes. xD

Moving on, after we finished our tempura dinner, we walked around Clark Quay. Hotspot for Singapore Party Girls (SPG) on a typical Friday night....................

Overbooked my social session

Saturday's evening, looking at my polo watch, it shows 8:15pm.  after the last pile has been casted on my site. I walk switftly heading towards the nearest MRT station, Marcpherson, which is about 10 minutes away. My trousers are tainted with dried mud and silt. I was imagining the picture of myself in Orchard Road or Somerset later in a  luxurious korean restaurant gathering with Foh and Choimei.At that particular moment I feel so out of the picture. Worse, I am way behind the schedule., the dinner suppose to be at 0830 which had been delayed from 6pm due to my sudden overtime instructed by my employer, and I am still 10 minutes away from the nearest MRT station.

Upon reaching Somerset MRT station, I just realised that Nolboo Korean restaurant is located on the 8th floor of Orchard Central. -.-!

Although I took the escalator, I still sweat! It isn't a pleasant experience at all. 8 floors of escalator in one go is quite tiring. :)

When I walked in Nolboo restaurant, I heard my name being called almost instantaneously. "Jason!!" Looked around most of the empty tables, I found Choi Mei and Foh sitting on one of the 5 person compartment. I walked swiftly towards the table and greeted them while I was still panting heavily after floors of escalator.

They took the menu out, and started order at about 0910, I decided to let them have a go with the ordering as I am still recovering from my breathlessness.

Catching up with Foh and Choi Mei would be my first encounter to have us sitting on one table catching up together. However, the topics in all our conversation are so tightly connected, maybe because the social circle that we have got are pretty much overlapped. It was not too long when ChingHui and his GF, Eugene appeared. We continued our dinner until the restaurant was about to close. I think I was slightly tipsy by then, not because of the drink, (as far as I remember, I didn't drink on that occasion) but because of the excitement of what we had discussed over the Korean cuisine at the dining table.

After our meal at orchard central, chinghui suggested to drink at KPO, a bar about 5 minutes walk away
from Nolboo restaurant. KPO is two storey, modern, dimly lighted barp. We were seated in the ope in area on the landscape deck of the building. Drinking our night away in the heart of the lion city. Catching up with Foh, Choi Mei, Ching Hui, Eugene and LALA.

I will not put our conversation into details for now. Maybe in the future, when I am a better writer and also a listener.

Catch up with mates

1'Hello, Jason! I am in Ang Mo Kio.'said Fatty

'Okok, give me 20 minutes, i will be in AMK hub'

I tried to clear my vision after my blurred vision from a short nap. I checked my time on my Iphone, 1823. I changed my cloth and I am on my way from my place to AMK hub with my head still sleeping, Texted with Eeffie while I was walking from my place to AMK Hub. We had a brief conversation regarding our schedule for the weekend.

At first I thought 20 minutes to would be an overestimation for the time required from my bed to AMK hub, I  found myself reaching AMK hub about roughly about 23 minutes later. 

While waiting for Tsen to finish his laundry and then to pick us up in AMK MRT station, fatty and I had a drink in Coffee Bean. 

We talked about urban farming, economy, career development, what he had been working on. It was a rare conversation between us, but I did enjoy the short coffee talk with fatty in AMK hub. 

Tsen picked us up from MRT station about 1923, three of us on board travelling into the heart of Lion City like how we used to ventured into Prontera. A town we used to hang out together in RO. 

Fatty suggested to hang out at timbre a fusion restaurant located in Sophia Mountain @Dhoby Ghaut. 

As I walked into the restaurant, they have got dimmed lights, dressed-up ladies, jazz music, empty bottles on tables and a faint smell of pizzas, rather romantic yet relaxing set up.Immediately  I found myself coming with the wrong gender group a whole bunch of males.-.-! 

Maybe this place is to ignite our bromance, 

However, upon being seated on our table, I spotted an Ipad with a security chain cable locked onto the table which would probably be how we are going to order our food from. The best thing about ordering from an Ipad is that we have minimal communication with the waiters and we could take our time to place our order accordingly. A rather new and comfortable experience 

After our meal, the background music becomes overwhelming that we could not further communicate apart from shouting on top of our lungs. We decided to move on, to somewhere quieter and most probably cheaper after footing the bills at timbre. 

Tsen drove us off Sophia mountain and headed Geylang, Singapore's red light district. A district full of budget hotels, ladies on the road doing some weird dance, 24-hour shops and restaurants. 

We stop at a place where they serve frog porridge. Although I have had some difficulty persuading myself to consume exotic delicacy. 

After the our porridge session, we went to our last destination for the night, a dessert restaurant in Geylang as well.
I suppose filling my stomach with a week's worth of food would be a good idea for us to call it a day. 

Chinese New Year 2012

Food, Shop, Casino

Food, Shop, Casino

Food, Shop, Casino 

That is probably how I can sum up my 2012 Chinese New Year with my family in Singapore. 

My family left for Kota Kinabalu today. I am going to miss them a lot. 

Chinese New Year Eve

I am in Singapore, Woodland to be exact which is my cousin's house, I am writing this post in my bed at the living room while my family are all well asleep. They are rather exhausted as their journey to Singapore had been extended for a few hours due to a diversion to Kuala Lumpur.

They arrived Johor Bahru about 10:40 and reached Singapore around 1300, which they should be arriving Singapore a few hours earlier. 

I went to Lawrence's place in woodland to meet them up. When I first saw them waiting in the garden in Wood Grove, they looked rather knackered.. After settling down, they had a short nap in Lawrence's place, showered and then head straight to Orchard Road. 

When we arrived at Orchard, we found most of the Chinese Stalls are closed already. Even the most important one in ION Orchard (Food Hall) was closed. :(

 ION Food hall was closed, that will give us a clear sign that most of the chinese food related food stall along the street are most probably closed. 

Without hesitating, we head straight to the nearest Macdonald's located in a pinoy populated area. That is probably the only place alive at that moment. The entire restaurant was packed with pinoys. 

For the sake of prosperity,  I ordered a few prosperity meal and we all shared among ourselves. Surprisingly, the burgers were not too bad. Especially the twister fries.

It is quite a memorable Chinese New Year's Eve for me.

Good night

one week stay in KK

After securing a job in Singapore, I am now back in KK for a short holiday prior the start of my permanent work in Singapore on the 16 January 2012, which means the start of my slavery life in Singapore.

So for now, Time to chill & relax at home.

Learn to write

According to Jay Chou latest song Mine Mine
" A man will be a writer when his companion is not around"

I am into writing at this particular moment, however what I would like to say is that apart from growing older and more mature (hopefully) there is literally nothing happening around me.

When I say nothing, I really mean nothing.

So when I was contemplating what to write down on my Blog, I am very close to Mr Einstein thinking about the universe. Apart from the fact that he manages to equate energy, mass and speed while I am still sitting in front of the computer trying to write something.

Most of the time nowadays, I spent a tiny amount of time on Facebook and tweeter, as I would regards both the social media to be an extravagant for an individual like me. Part of it is that my low self esteem has prevented myself to share what sort of life that I am living. I am not abnormal, just that I have been socially excluded for awhile. that's all. I am sure everything will be fine again in the near future. Hopefully.

Learning to write. :)

Letter that cheered me up

I received an email that cheer me up the entire day! I can only read the snippets of the email....

The email is from Scott Wilson and it says "we would like to interview you at 10/01/2012 at our KL office......."

The next second I know is that I am punching the air already. 

Cheering quietly inside my heart as I tried not to express myself excessively even I am alone in the loft. 

Although KL seems not the ideal place to settle down, but so far SW is probably the best choice for my career in civil engineering. Finger Crossed. I have to tell myself it's just an interview!

This interview will make my rather overpriced Christmas air ticket back home worthwhile.

Looking forward to the trip back home. 

One afternoon in Brighton

When I open my eyes, I see a familiar ceiling, a ceiling that I used to wake up to. For one second, I thought I was at home, but I am not. I am about 100 miles away from London. I am in Folkestone, to work.

I can still feel the hangover from yesterday after a few pints of becks with some of my co-worker in the bar. 

I enjoy working in the bar, the feel good vibes, music, friendly blondes and blokes, cool DJ, a lovely bar tender whom is a mother of five with breast enhancement for free from the NHS.

Just ignored the last bit, I am still tipsy now. 

I am going Brighton today, just to get out of London for a few hours, away from work, away from my working place.

I followed John's car to Brighton, we took the small trunk roads along the beach instead of the Highway. 

Although the duration of the journey is about double, but the sightseeing is breath-taking. Typical country road. Perhaps, the sunny weather added some value to the scenery. 

Worth the while! 

Arrived Brighton about 1530, which is about one hour from sunset. Perfect! Just enough time to explore the city before it's too dark. 

John parked the car in regency car park and I went on a short walking tour in Brighton.
Just about 5 minutes strolling the city without googlemap, I found myself in a familiar hotel which I was upgraded complementary to a sea view suite last year. Ahh, thinking of the good times, the upgrade made my holiday last year. Truly enjoy it. 

Went on walking around Brighton City, I did 'HEAR' couples snogging on the street, although I tried very hard avoiding walking near them when they were snogging. 

That is the thing about Brighton where everyone is walking with someone. Love seems so natural here. 

When the skies getting dark, I decided to end my direction-less walking tour in Brighton and check Google to find the nearest shopping mall. 

Bought a single shot espresso from Nero and a brown newspaper with DSK-scandal featured on it. I spent the rest of my time in the coffee shop myself indulging this scandal. 

My conclusion is

"French politic is over-rated, especially the prime."

Transition Period

I am currently on my notification period of my current job. In one month's time, I will be back to my comfort zone, where I call it home. :)

I will have to end this unsustainable lifestyle of mine in UK. As I am heavily depending on my Uncle in London. Although for a short period, I tried to live outside on my own, but the cost of the lifestyle is simply unattainable for a part-time accounts assistant like me. Having said that, I would like to make it clear that this year is not a family-funded gap year, although they did leave a sum of hard-earned-ringgit-converted GBP for me to spend which I am grateful of. 

But leaving this place is inevitable, considering all the factors(low growth, euro-zone crisis, highest unemployment rate from 1997). It's very obvious that its time to pack my luggage, and check in Heathrow.It's time for me to explore somewhere else. 

Looking at all opportunities that I had given, I have got fair number of chance to secure jobs that would let me obtain a visa of employment and eventually let me extend my stay here in UK. It's probably one of the main reason deterring myself from trying to stay here for one another year(as my visa ends Jan 2012). 

I am looking forward to what is coming on later in life.

Embarking a life changing journey. 

listening to Capital FM while applying for jobs early in the morning on a beautiful Sunday morning.  just found that my 'shift button' on my keyboard needs to apply extra force to enable it. therefore I have difficulties with my capital in this entire post.

I am currently staying in a compact three bedroom terrace house around Carshalton which happens to be a council house area (cheap rent). Having said that, the house is newly refurbished with good looking fixtures, fittings and equipments from B&Q. 

Although some of them are quite loosely fitted, however at least they are new. as a short term tenant, i couldn't care more.  

at least the people(+ a cat) that i am living with are comfortable. 

Ok, i will have to stop writing for now, will be going to leicester square to hang out with daniel oh. 

How the spending cuts affect the international graduates in construction industry

Employers with Visa Sponsorship worked closely with the public sector, working directly for the government's projects, particularly the big infrastructure project like road building, schools and hospitals. Due to the government’s spending cut, the public sector in the UK has been heavily affected. The spending cuts have caused a very small growth or even a contraction in the construction industry.

The spending cuts mean that international graduates with visa complications will face difficulties in obtaining employment or graduate training scheme from the contracting employers in the public sector for the next 3 years. Although growth in private sector offsets the shrinking public sector in the construction industry, however the private sector has less relationship with the home office and therefore unable to extend the visa of the international graduates to further work in the UK after the training agreement or post study visa

an autumnal weekend

While i am 'scrobbling' Jay Chou's music peacefully with an oversized headset. The weather changes dramatically outside like a Korean drama being broadcasted through my window. As weather is pretty unpredictable in autumn, I will have plan ahead to suit the weather and to fully utilise my 'Ourtime' in Chichester.

The day is getting shorter while the night is creeping in slowly as every weekend seems to be shorter than the previous ones. As I am writing this post weather outside changes from dark, shower and gloomy to windy. Street lights are still on despite my wide screen bottom right shows 0820.

I am enjoying my personal time with Blogspot putting down the feelings down into words and concurrently plan the details of our trip to Portsmouth later to create a bit of contrast with the moody weather.

In a blink of an eye, I finished my dissertation, :)

Thanks to my parents, I am able to complete my studies in Nottingham. It was the best time of my life really. To be able to widen my knowledge, and to know people around the world. beautiful time. :)

I am working with my uncle in Sutton(Surrey) at the moment, hoping to learn some additional skills in this terrible economy climate. I also am absorbing the lifestyle of Londoners in this short period of time, which is pretty much can be simplified to one single word.

-Fast-

:)

Football week

Last week, it's a football week. I would say all in a sudden, everyone including me has such a big passion towards football. Although I only know a few players on the field, but watching football with friends is quite entertaining; placing bet adds the entertaining value of the process.
Just before the match, we would get some cooking ingredients from the store and started to cook at home. Because I always placed my bets against England, I prefer to watch at home; avoid any unnecessary complexity.
I really enjoy the entire process apart from the heat wave; the soaring heat in Nottingham is far worse than the outdoor in Malaysia. Watching football together, cheering for the team, getting tipsy with a few bottles of cider and also breathing in 2nd hand marijuana smoke from a teacher who lives beside Tristan’s place is rather enticing.

Of course, we had wonderful meals between matches. One of the dish that I've cooked is pan-fried chicken with salty egg yolk; a recipe that i have learned from Alan Chang, in which i find it easy.

Passport renewal in London

I reached London central about 1030 in the morning, took a tube to Hyde Park Corner station, which is the nearest station to Malaysian Embassy London.

While I was approaching Malaysian embassy's building, I could literally feel like walking on a street in Malaysia; the sun is soaring high above the blue sky and I started to sweat. Double think for an instant, to make sure that I am still in England. As a hint of Ikan Billis from the canteen inside the building would again assure that I am in the right place.

Without wasting any time, I rushed into the reception to get my queue number, I was 1st greeted by a Malaysian Chinese lady behind a classy oak high table in a very fluent Manglish; the entire situation is like a déjà vu, very very familiar to me.

Scanning all the people around the waiting hall really brought me all the way back to any waiting halls in Malaysia. I felt happy for a second (to see so many Malaysian in one sight), but realised that there were all in front of me, waiting. -.-!!

People were smiling at each other much more often than usual, probably because it’s a rare occasions where we could see so many Malaysian in a foreign country or maybe the Nasi Lemak outside the waiting hall is triggering our sense of humour.

Not very long after I found myself a comfortable seat in the waiting hall; Aunty next to me started to chat with me, and also introduce her son to me as well. We started to chat all our way through, for about 2 hours, until Portugal vs North Korea started to appear in a very small screen in front of the waiting hall, I was called in. It’s my turn to submit my passport.

Surprisingly, I could get my new passport in 2 hours time after I’ve submitted my application. This quick application saved me a lot of time, and effort. Thumbs up for Malaysian Embassy London.

Hair Salon Experience

Its 23:25 now; I am listening to Eeffie's song list; she fell asleep half an hour ago;I drank half a bottle of white;I think the mood is just right for me to drop some words in my blog.

I need a hair cut today, as I am going for my passport application this coming Monday in London, I would like to look neat in my passport picture.

I was roaming around Chichester Street today, trying to find an average hair salon.

Chichester is a posh town; to be honest I can't find any barbers around, only hair salon.

Walked into a random salon, asked for the price, it's a price that I could never imagine, but I decided to give it a try. After checking their availability, they decided to slip me in.

I was ushered into a studio, and there is a lady took my jacket away from me. From this moment, I felt pampered and also nervous, as I don’t know what to expect next.

Then, a young blonde hair dresser came in, her name is called Kelly, she shook my hand, introduces herself to me, and chatted with me for awhile. She is very good at what she was doing, confident and professional. I was then offered a hair wash, and also a short head massage by another girl; that is when I started to feel comfortable with this kind of services. I closed my eyes, and almost slept through the entire process.

I went back to my seat after my hair wash, I was offered food and drink before Kelly starts cutting my hair. (I didn't eat whatever they offered, as I am still a bit nervous. -.-!!)

Kelly started flying her scissors around my head and I am trying hard to read the magazine in front of me to pretend I am cool. The whole experience is bit awkward to me, probably I am just not used to it, she tried very hard to chat with me to make me feel more comfortable as I am sure that she would have notice I am a first timer.

But she is pleasant and chatty, which I think it's quite a comfortable experience to be able to sit down and wait until my hair cut is done.

Walking out from the hair salon, I felt much more confident and comfortable.

This is my first hair salon experience in England.

Satisfied.

Here you go, xD.

End of my exam period 2010

Today is the last day of my spring semester; there are mix feelings inside me. There are ups & downs, I would say up is because I don't need to remember any past paper anymore; down is because I am approaching the end of my student life. This would be a pleasurable moment to me, spending time on my own, doing stuff I really enjoy myself guilt free (travelling, badminton & dim sum).

I am also writing my dissertation at the moment, which will have to submit by the end of August 2010, so during this period, I will spend quite a number of time reading articles and to be as 'literate' as possible. Besides writing my dissertation, this period will be a transition period for me, from eighteen years of experience in student's life to a newbie worker's life. Like a cocoon period of a caterpillar to a Moth.

Compare to people at my age, I had a very late start, I am 25 years now, and I am just about to be an MSc fresh graduate. Perhaps, people around me, they would have earned a fortune or maybe a PHD title by now.

Without thinking too much, I will firstly concentrate on my dissertation in this coming two months and start job hunting as soon as possible.

Paper 1

:(

Facebook Life

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in Facebooking. This post will focus on how Facebook enhanced my real life. As a Facebook user for more than 2 years, perhaps this tool has become one of the necessities of my life. I would say, most of the internet users' life.

The features in Facebook that will be addressed in this post are:

• Photo album
  
• Status
  
• Walls

1. Photo Album
   In real life, there is quite a lot of moment that we wish to treasure for the rest of our life; All these images are now stored in Facebook photo album and could be shared among our friends. Looking back all my photo albums, I found happy moments, sad and beautiful moment which are all chronologically arranged. Facebook has become a diary of me. The best part in this photo album is that we are connected with the people inside the picture within a few mouse clicks away. Although some of them are strangers especially those people we met in one-off occasions, and after that occasion we might not be able to meet again for the rest of our life. But hey, isn't this amazing? Sometimes it's the stranger that will cheer us up at that particular instant of time. Agree?
   
   
2. Status
   This is where I stay connected with people I know, close to every millisecond. I would sometimes keep on pressing the refresh buttons in my browser to force people's status into my news feed. By reading the status of one person, I could probably guess how he/she is doing at the moment. What is inside their mind, and how is their life at the current state. Sometimes, I think writing our own status could help me to be more relieved with what's inside my mind; people will do silly stuff once in a while and may want to shout to be heard, but wait! Who doesn't??
   
   
3. Walls
   I love walls; it's one of the best features that I utterly enjoyed in FB. There is this open & direct relationship with the people whom I write on. The best thing about walls is that they are readable by all my friends, unless I am being cursed. When I write something on people's wall, it's like how I say something to them in real life; how I occupied a small space of a big wall of him/her to write on. This is how I make my own impressions on people's perspective. By reading people's wall, I could generally get a feeling of this person in real life. Overall, these walls will eventually make me to approach more people and over time, I will understand how people stay connected with others and to maintain their relationship.

As a conclusion, Facebook has not only become the diary of my life, but also as an easy way to keep in touch with friends and probably family (Evil Smile*). Love it or hate it. Facebook will probably be this one book that I will have to carry for the rest of my life.