Singapore Adventure: Christmas Social Event

Our unit in the office is preparing for a Christmas Social Event which we will hold on Friday next week. I've put together a digital Christmas Party Invitation to send out to the people in our unit. Tell me what you think? ^_^

It has been a while since I did a layout. Feeling a bit rusty already. Appreciate any inputs. ^_^

Layout Design Notes

Used paper and felt element from the Shabby Princess SeasonalSampler - Winter. Alpha for Unit 4 text from Alpha Snow by Digiscrap.ch. Fonts used include DellaRobbia BT and dearJoe four. Gift box clipart from Microsoft Clipart Gallery, recolored the graphic to match the "Winter" theme. Used Corel Paintshop Pro X for putting all the things together.

Singapore Adventure: Hostaged

My Cookie has my laptop hostaged, and so I am broadcasting from his laptop. Hehehe....

It's been a long three days. I have been working for more than 8 hours for the past three days. It's toxic at work and nobody is allowed to drop dead. Hehehe...

It's only two days to go until the weekend and I just couldn't wait. I really need some time for unwinding, because I am not totally twisted. >:)

Singapore Adventure: Paper Hats

Now that my holiday days are over, it's crunch time again back at work. And as part of the company's initiative to make the technology staff understand the industry they are supporting, the company is sponsoring a "game".

(Un)Fortunately, yours truly has bee assigned as a team captain for a group of 3 person. Part of the team captain's responsibility is to come up with hats that will identify our team during the game process. I have attempted to make paper hats out of instructions over the net - http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/origami/Samuraihat/, and I was successful.

One down, two more to go! ^_^

Singapore Adventure: My Team

Yesterday at work, our office building held its first Fire Drill for the year. According to our PM, it is a must for all office buildings in Singapore to run a Fire Drill once every quarter.

It took only one hour to evacuate the building and have everybody return to their desks to resume work. Hehehe...

At the assembly area, I took a snap of my team. ^_^

Singapore Adventure: One Big Sigh

My team at work's Project Manager resigned today. And it came as a big surprise.

His leaving has taken a toll on our team's morale as there are a lot of things going on in our team recently. Aside from this, it will again take some time to build rapport with whoever comes in to take over the team. It has been quite a while that we have all worked together and so closely in the team, and when a new PM comes a long, we may need to adjust to his managemet style.

We are still at a lost on what made him decide to leave. Hopefully our team can set a meetup so we can formally say "'til we meet again."

He will surely be missed. Sigh.

Singapore Adventure: Red Packets

In the Philippines, every Chinese New Year, my Pinoy friends often comeup to me and ask for tikoy and ang pao. It seems like it's the samething anywhere else in Asia, well, at least in Singapore. :P

But this time, since I am in (almost) Chinese territory, it is my turn to ask for ang paos (红包). Fortunately, this wish has been granted. My boss gave out red packets this afternoon. And the bosses from other teams as well. Nice. ^_^

Fred says it's enough for lunch money. My Cookie says it's enough forone top-up card. I am still thinking how I want to spend it. In themeantime, it will be sitting at home on my dresser. ^_^

Suggestions are welcome.

Singapore Adventure: The Vendo

The vending machine at our office pantry now sells Oishi's Pillows. Itsells at 70 cents a piece. Quiet pricey, as it is sold only at lessthan 10 bucks in the Philippines. I guess the people here at work tooka liking for it as it has been a few times that the stock for Pillows inthe vendo was replenished.

A couple of weeks back, I was told that the vendo also had a slot forOishi's Bread Pan. And I think last week, I saw Jack n Jill Roller Coaster.

Hmm.. I wonder when they will start selling Nagaraya, Boy Bawang, andChicharon. Wishful thinking. ^_^

Singapore Adventure: There and Back Again

My happy days on holiday are over. And now, time for a reality check. It's back to work, and back to household chores. But there's an upside to it, too. I am also back in my Cookie's arms. Yihee... ^_^

Yesterday, my plane from Manila touched down at the Changi Airport at 12:05 am. My Cookie fetched me at the airport and we were home past 1:00 am. And at 9:30 am, I checked back in the office. Whew! Are there a lot of new changes at work.

Our team went out to lunch to welcome people back from vacation (ehem!), to welcome a new joiner into the team, and to send off a teammate who is moving out of the team to transfer to a different group. It was our PM's treat - a buffet lunch of Indian cuisine at Masala Art in City Hall district.

This photo is of a Khoya Apple. An Indian dessert with an interesting flavour and texture. It was too sweet for me so I can only down half of it. That's sago pudding in the bowl. And a variety of fruit slices.

It was a fun Day One back at work. But this morning, I woke up feeling sick and just couldn't pull myself out of bed. I just need to take the day off to re-energize. Hopefully, when I come back to work on Monday, I am back to tiptop shape.

Singapore Adventure: Handover

This is my last working day for this year 2007. ^_^

At 00:40 am, 18 December, I will be boarding the flight to Manila to spend the holidays. Yey!

I am so excited to have TJs for breakfast tomorrow which I have specifically requested from my Mama. And the diningding and itlog na maalat lunch several hours later. Hehehe..

Just some more handover documents to write, and I am all set to go. ;)

Singapore Adventures: Team Night Out

Friday night, the TTS Development and Business Facing teams with some new friends went on a night out hitting shuttles at the School of Physical Education badminton courts.

I finally got to use my new Carlton racket which just lied around in my room since August. It was a fun night. Though we had some little misadventures, too.

Misadventure # 1

It took us almost an hour to get a ride from the office building to the SPE. We waited at the taxi queue but gave up. And so we called up to book a cab. But after we have booked for cabs, the taxis started to come to the queue. Arrggghh!!! And the cab we booked took longer than the promised 5 to 7 minutes.

Misadventure # 2

After we have successfully boarded the cab, it took us forever to find the place along Evans Road. And so, we were driving clueless what we were looking for. Good thing, the guys who got there first gave us directions and we finally found the place.

Let the games begin!!! :)

Misadventure # 3

2 hours later, at 10 pm, our session ends. And all of a sudden, the lights at the place shut off. It was pitch black. The only sources of light were the lights from outside coming in through the open doors and the backlights from our handphones. Sheesh. They just turned the lights off without notice.

Oh well. Inspite of these, it was still a fun evening. And we all needed the workout... >:)

Photos here care of Adam. :)

Singapore Adventures: Steaming Bowl of Chicken Sopas

I can't think of any other way to end the (borderline disaster) Monday I just had.

I woke up this morning wishing that it is still the weekend. And to my dismay, I'd wait another week for it. And as if Monday is not bad enough, it is a rainy Monday morning at that. Cold bath water. Sheesh... What a way to begin the day, right?

And as if the opening scenes of my Monday morning could get worse, it actually did.

The minute I closed the door of my room, I remembered that I needed the umbrella. So, I opened the door again, went in to get it. Then locked my room's door behind me.

As I was already on my way out the door, I suddenly needed to go to the bathroom. When I pulled my zipper up, it bailed on me. Oh shoot! So, I had to go back into the room and change.

Finally, out the door. Good thing, I did not forget to take out my trash. Saved me some minutes there.

The train ride to work wasn't bad. Could have cheered me up a little had I found a seat. But I can't complain. I found a good spot.

At getting to the office, there were tons of work to do. And it further sucked when what should have been completed and done already had to be revisited and reworked. Arrgh! And so, I worked all full 10 hours. Had my lunch at almost 1:30pm and left the office past 8 pm already. So not me!!!

Good thing, Capt. Jet waited up on me. Or I would have not contained my tears. I am just so tired.

The steaming bowl of my chicken sopas did the trick of brushing my Monday blues away. But I am bracing myself for tomorrow. Just the thought of the work that will welcome me when I get to the office makes me wince.

And did I mention that the thought of Cookie Time being only 6 days away keeps me going ... and going... and going...? Sounds like the Energizer rabbit. Hahaha....

I'm just trying to cheer myself up. Please bear with me.

Singapore Adventure: Serving Tea

The pantry at our office serves free-flowing drinks at no charge through vending machines.

There is a coffee brew machine where the code 711 vends out my favorite Cadbury Choco Creame Hot Chocolate drink. And also different coffee concoctions. Another drink vending machine gives out cold and hot drinks. My favorite on this machine is the Hot/Cold Milo. And every now and then Hot/Cold Nescafe Coffee when I feel for it.

But just this week, the pantry has been upgraded! There is also now a section on the pantry countertop for tea. There is commercial Lipton tea, and traditional Green and Jasmine teabags. Plus individual packed sugar and creamer.

I helped myself to a cup of Jasmine Tea and it was glorious! Just like the tea they serve in Chinese restos. Hehe...

So, every once in a while, I can grab some Jasmine or Green hot tea when the other drinks start to taste too familiar. And I've read that drinking Jasmine and Green tea has a lot of health benefits to boast of, too. ;)

Singapore Adventure: Name Plate

June 6, 2007
The Atrium @ Orchard

I got my name plate today. Yey! Now, I belong. Hehehe...

This is a photo of my workstation at the office. It is on the 8th floor of the Atrium.