Birthday at Pune

31st Aug 09 - My first birthday at overseas.

When I last know that I will be at Pune on my birthday, I have mixed feelings. Away from my family on this day was a bit upset. But on the other hand, got to celebrate with my supervisor whose birthday is the same as me.

Our initial plan was to travel to Agra and look at Taj Mahal the weekend before. But it was called off due to the long journey. So on last Sat, we went to one of the fort and roam the city. Our dinner was settled at one of the Japanese restaurant in O Hotel.

Monday morning, everything was per normal. Start off with a simple breakfast at the hotel we leave for work. The colleagues came around us and give us their wishes. During the day, there were a chain of sms from frens and relatives. Yuva called and send her vocal wishes too.

In the evening close to 6 pm, we were given a surprise. The Pune colleagues prepared 2 cakes for each of us. We cut the cake and share with the office staff.

Back to hotel, we sat for a normal dinner. About 9pm we retired to our own room which another surprise for us. There was a huge birthday card on the office desk with the hotel's staff signing their wishes. That was very sweet and touching.

A last surprise was a friend added me on facebook unexpectedly on this day.

This had been a memorable birthday.

Pune training trip - 4th day

We had been in Pune for 4 days. During these few days, we found that the hotel service is very good especially at Momo cafe where we settle our meals excluding lunch.

The staff are very friendly and helpful. We can request for special food from the kitchen if they are not on the buffet choice.

Almost one of the staff is attached to our table to provide service. Each of them put on a nice smile and greet us 'Good morning madam' - a whole hearted greeting.

They rendered very flexible services. Should you find the food not good or not to your satisfaction, they will void the item on your bill.

If Singapore can provide such good service, we will have a wonderful city.

Each morning, we will take the free taxi service to the work place - Vipro II. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to office.

Over there, we will spend our 9 hours working there including lunch. Lunch is served at the cataferia located within the compound.

The food is real cheap. On the first day at work, I bought a set meal - curry chicken with rice, some vegetables with chappti. Guess how much does that costs? Only Rs40 just barely a little after S$1.00.

Today is just the third day and I am getting a bit sick of the food. Oh... how to survive for another 23 days.

Pune training trip - day 1

Departing on an early flight on sunday morning, we reached Mumbai airport about 10 am India time which is 2.5 hours behind Spore.

Then we transfer to road transport from airport to Pune. Along the way we see mountains, waterfalls, nice landscape. The drive took 3 hours when we finally reached our hotel - Marriott Courtyard.

Upon completion of the check in, we took our first meal at the hotel. On Sundays they provide brunch at the cost of RS399 equivalent to S$13+.

We had a good meal and back to room to have a wash up. Around 4 we took the taxi from the hotel and went into city to take a look.

Our first stop is Central Mall where we spent about an hour plus but only completed 2 levels of the mall.

Then we went to MG Road but just a few shops as most of them are closed.

Our last spot was SGS Mall along the way. I got a vcd - Fast & Furious 4 for Ajit and a magazine named Yuva obviously for the girl.

Back to hotel almost 9 pm, we decide to order food from room service and have an early night.

That was how we spend our first day at Pune before starting work on the following day.

Volunteer work - 25 Jul 09

About a few weeks ago, I received an email requesting for volunteers to join an event to clean up shoes for the needy.

The job need us to sort, clean, pack and label for about 4,000 shoes collected during June 09.

I have not able to join in their voluntary jobs due to date crashes. Finally a chance to render my service. I ask the kids if they would like to go along. Both agreed.

So on sat morning, we left about 8.30 so to be on time t0 meet at 9.45 at expo mrt station. There will be shuttle to pick us up. After a wait until 10.15 we set off to the Crocs warehouse at Changi districtpark.

On arrival, we saw cartons of old shoes and crocs donated by the public. Then we started to sort, check if vivable for wearing, then pairing up.

Then an station starts the washing and scrubbing. Boxes of the good ones took the queue to be looked new again. 3 of us took the sorting. It was not a simple job. As all sizes, colours of them were all over. Not easy to pair them up.

After about 3 hours of work, we stop for lunch around 1.30pm. We each have a burger and get the drinks from the vendor machine.

Near to an hour of rest, we took over the scrubbing from other volunteers. We were worried if we can finish all the jobs ending 4 pm as mentioned. Many hands help the work and we managed to finish on time.

After a good clean up, task completed, we took a group photo before leaving. It had been tiring. So when the shuttle took us back to Expo mrt, we decide to take a ride to Changi Airport and treat ourselves to Popeyes' chicken.

Though no pay off for the job, but it always good to do something meaningful to help the society and needy.

Hope we can be more involved with such voluntarily jobs in the future.

Geraldine's new born twins

This afternoon received an email from our supervisor that Geraldine, our colleague, had gave birth to a pair of twin boys. The boys had excitedly see the world a day ahead.

Initially, she had arranged to undergo Caserian operation on Sat 11 Jul 09. But maybe the pair prefer 10 Jul and they came earlier.

Months back, when we heard she is carrying twins, we feel very happy for her. This is an addition to the elder handsome boy, Gabriel aged 5.

In her inital stage, her tummy was not obviously. But then her twins grew well in her belly and we can feel her discomfort when moving around.

Now the mummy will be at home with the babies till Nov. Hope she enjoyed her motherhood as it is no joke looking after 2 at one go.

Next on line is our supervisor who will be due on late Oct. This is her 4th one and form a perfect family with 2 girls and soon 2 boys.

Keep it up to the mummies!!!

Job deployment

About few months back, boss together with HR, told us that our job is going to deployed to India.

Well, this is n0t something new as other banks had already been doing so.
Why? Simple - cost savings.

When we heard the news, the 10-person team of us, started to worry.

I can't deny that I may be the one most worried as losing the job is a nightmare to me.

My financial status had not be steady. The fixed expenses are high and not able to bring down to lower level. Generally they are all daily basic expenses - from the kids pocket money, household expenses, market costs etc... as the list goes on.

As days goes by, our mood at work was demoralised. About a month back, boss told me that I need to be in India for 4 weeks to train the staff there as they are taking over our job.

OMG 4 weeks - what will be the kids' reaction when they hear this. Well, they still need to be informed but probably when the date gets nearer.

At the same time, there is an open and confirmed role when our job is migrated.

That is to be a SME (subject matter expert) attached to one of the department overseeing the job. Initially I rejected it but boss felt that I should take on the role.

Reason being I can be of help to the team due to my experience and exposure to the work that I had been doing for the last 5 years.

After giving a thought, I decided to give a try on a very simple basic ground - a permanent job which means my ricebowl is 'protected'.

Now the whole team is busy clearing our work as it will be migrated to India towards end of the year.

Currently, a team of 4 from India had been with us learning the job for the third week. After which in about 4 weeks later, our team from Singapore will be flying there to train more staff at Pune.

Last weekend, after the voluntarily work, we went to Changi airport for tea break cum dinner. Over the meal, I finally told them about my trip to India. Surprisingly, they told the news coolly though they did told me not to go. But there is not much choice left.

Last night I went on facebook. A colleague, currently over there, posted some pictures she took. Noticed that the place is quite underdeveloped including the Mumbai airport.

Well, let's see how things go by and hope I can perform in my future role.

Wish me good luck!

Seven pounds

Earlier almost midnight I watch an English movie "Seven Pounds" by Will Smith.

Basically the movie is about a guy who wants to atone for his mistakes in the past. He then set out to make amends by helping seven strangers.

The movie starts off showing he called for ambulance for his suicide from the motel he stayed.

This guy - Ben Thomas was an IRS agent who went around to collect tax. He will only help those who are truthful and sincere. There was this lady who has heart condition and having problems paying the tax. This guy falls in love with her and tries to help her.

The movie went on with him meeting up some old friends and how the lady also has this liking in him.

In between there were some patients that had he had helped.

Only after Ben committed suicide the whole picture surfaced. His brother got a kidney transplant from him and another lady from the Family service dept had his other kidney.

He also donated his bone marrow to a little boy, gave his beach house away to a lady who was ill-treat by her boyfriend.

Back at the motel he stayed, he kill himself by getting the poisonous jellyfish to bite him. After his death, he donated his heart to the woman that he loved deeply and his pair of eyes to a blind pianist.

This 2-hour movie is very touching. He almost give up his body to the needy.

Well in real life, how many people is able to do such a good deed. If the society is so wonderful there will great then.

One job done

Yesterday we went out for a swim at CCK swimming complex. Then we went to the Yew Tee point nearby for dinner.

Since it was still not too late, we took MRT from Yew Tee to Bt. Batok station. Then a quick run at the Popular bookshop we bought some stationery.

After which we proceed to Harvey Norman to get the fan for our hall and a router for our lap top.

Upon reaching home, we fixed the fan first as that was an easy task. Finally we need not suffer the heat when watching tv in the hall.

Next the tough job was to set up the router to connect the laptop and pc for internet surfing.

I am a pc nerd. Ajit was helping but we just cant get it done.

Today as we do not have plan to go out, I intend to tidy up the pc corner as it was very messy.

Discard the unnecessary stuff, I tried to get the connection.
Guess what, I managed to get both the laptop and desktop connected to internet.

Wow! That is a job complete. Now the corner looked neat and tidy.

Well, a satisfactory job done on a beautiful sunday!

Mother's day

Today is mother's day. A week ago, Yuva bought me a rose. They kids actually wanted to bring me out for a meal. I prefer to be at home.


Few days back, the kids + our niece Thulasi shared to buy us a cake. They even went to one of shopping mall to get the mothers a gift each.

Last night, just to add fun to it, I was asked to play a simple word game so to lead me where the present was kept. It was found in the kitchen.

The present was a flexi massager together with a hand-made card.
Though a simple gift, it was always the thought that counts.



Remember years back when Yuva was in lower primary, I remembered scolded her for borrowing money from her classmate.
After knowing the reason that she just wanted to get a flower, I was so touched.



Today we have a feast at home. We order KFC for lunch.


During the afternoon tea time, we have pizza plus some pastries and forgetting the cake the children buy for us.


My sister, Jane with her husband came over around 6 to fix our laptop.
Then after 8.30, we decide and go out for dinner.



Unable to decide where to go, we finally settle down at one of the steamboat restaurant along Novena road.



We sat and have a good time till after 11. Ajit, as usual, wanted to go West Coast Park. But got rejected again and feel frustrated. So we were home around midnight.



I have a good talk to Yuva and end up with an agrument over some matters.



Ghosh, that is how well it started and how bad it ended.



Time to go to bed. Shall stop here.

Ajit Kumar

About a month ago, the Tamil teacher at school called me and need to meet up with me.

The teacher had commented that Ajit was not able to perform well in Tamil.
So she intends to get him stay back everyday in school and coached him.

The boy's results were not good since Pri 5 onwards. And Tamil is the killing subject of all.
He does not take a interest in the subject. I have always get feedback that he does not do his homework or did not hand in his work.

About a month ago, we engaged a Tamil tutor for him as suggested by the teacher in school.
After 2 weeks of tuition, this boy managed to score not only passed but did well in his composition writing.

Last week, I meet up with tutor for the first time.
He promised that he is able to guide him to the level of passing but may not score high.
That is already a comfort to me.

Today, I got a call from the teacher again. She says the boy was not listening to her instructions and came home after school instead of staying back.
But Ajit has a different set of words when confronted.
He was even told by the teacher to give up his CCA without me knowing.

I feel very upset over the whole issue. I am not sure whether the teacher is twisting her words or the boy is lying.

As such, to solve the problem, I wrote to the teacher and get her to stop the extra lessons except for the compulsory day.

The email was written in quite a harsh manner but I felt that my kid need to be look after. He always feel that the teacher and me does not trust him. So I decided to take this step.
Also, he is comfortable with the tutor's coaching. I believe he probably can do better under his guidance.

Well, a lot of pressure and stress recently that I basically can't cope with it.

Writing the blog had been a release of this stress off my mind for a while.

Hope tomorrow is a better day.

Busy life

It had been one and a half months since I update my blog.
A lot of things had been happening lately.

I took the exam in Mar. Guess what I flunked again marginally.
Still thinking whether should I resit for the exam or give up totally.

Of course there is a cost involved.
If resit - pay $250+ for the paper ( I have to 2 papers to take)
If give up - pay $3K+
OMG it is hard to decide.

At work, it had been non stop.
Tonnes of paper piling up and does not seemed to go down.
I am almost buried among the sheets.

At home, we just bought a new laptop.
It is suppose for more Yuva's usage so that they can both a pc each to work on.
But the boy as usual happily use it for his games. Sigh.....

Each day after work, I will leave office around 2 am.
Back home, no time to rest cos' need to clear the recordings of the TV dramas being HongKong or local. So I will at least spend 2 hours watching them and only get into bed almost 4 or 5 am.
Thank God, after last week, I am left with 1 serial to follow only.

Not only that, I am almost crazy over the bejeweled game on facebook.
Hours were spent playing the game and trying to be the top each week.

Phwee... as you can see 24 hours each day do not seemed to be sufficient.
Guess need a proper timetable to schedule the tasks and jobs.

Yuva's first term results

Before 2009 comes by, Yuva had set her new year resolution in regards to her school work.

She wanted to get all As to the subjects. Very determined, she had been working very hard.

After the common test, papers were returned back to the class. Though she did not do quite well in a couple of subjects, but it had been very satisfactory.

Yesterday she got back her overall progress report. She scored A for 5 subjects and B for 4 others.
And her position in class had moved up tremendously good - from around 19 to number 6.
But the girl is not happy as she did not able to socre A for all.

Well Yuva, a piece of word for you - This is not the last term of the year. Instead just the beginning. So long you work hard, you will get to see good results.

Keep up with your good attitude and you will score well in the upcoming terms.

Jia you!

What is life??

About 2 weeks ago, I watch an hour programme hosted by ex dj Billy Wang who is a cancer patient titled "Live well, leave well".

In the show, he went around asking some questions which might be sensitive to others about death. Some like are u fearful of death, have u drawn up a will etc...

Quite a number of the interviewees seemed to be prepared but there are also some not ready.

Billy also visited some cancer patients. One lady passed away few days after she was visited.

This is life! This momeent she is happily on tv. Next moment she is gone.

During the show, a nurse was interviewed about her looking after cancer patients. One of her lines was meaningful:

If you cant add days to her life, then let's add life to her days.

No one will know when our day is due. So before it is done why not add colours to it.
It might not be luxurious nor expensive. But just a fulfill of our dream or simple wish.

To all my frens and beloved ones out there - let's enjoy life to our fullest.

New Year 2009

Wow it had so long that i did not update the blog.

The last was Nov before we went to Gold Coast. Now we are already back for more than a month and 2009 had arrived.

We always like to rewind the calender and see what are the happenings during the year. Today being the 1st day of a fresh new year, let's do likewise.

2008 had not been a good year especially from the 2nd half of the year. The world wide economy was badly hit by the crisis. The bankruptcy of banks, the depreciation of currencies, the drastic drop in share and stock prices.

Then the retrenchment exercises of all the few banks which strongly affecting those in the financial sector. Everyone is worrying if they will be the next one including me.

Close to end of the year there was the terrorists bomb in Mumbai causing a Singapore lady lawyer being sacrificed.

Some political news are the new Thailand new leader caused strikes, scandal news about Taiwan's ex-president and his family involved in money laundering.

Entertainment world had a mixture of good and bad. The sudden departure of MC King in early Jan 08, the happy apple Lydia Sum's death and a few others. The latest will be the Japanese AV star's suicide. Of course there are good news with a few celebrities being the proud parents of their children. Some babies are on the way.

After a rough overview of the big world. Now is my personal one.

Our family went to Bangkok in May and Gold Coast in Nov this year. Me additionally went to celebrate 972's birthday at Vietnam during Sep. They were enjoyable trips.

Financially, quite stable but still need time to recover. Hope can get over the crisis earlier.

Alright, that's all for 2008. There are a few goals need to complete for 2009. Most important to study and pass my SOTC exam. Do a better job at work and hope we able to hop onto a tour.

May everyone have a fruitful 2009. HAPPY NEW YEAR!