Sunday, January 28, 2007
Blog entries relating to my best friend, Ainn
1. Dear Blogger
2. Best friends
3. June 19 2006
4. Happy Birthday Ainn
5. Ainn
6. December 2, 2004
7. Email from Ainn
8. June 8 2004
9. June 5 2004
I have changed my mind. I decided to post our photos today instead of 26 Jan (da day she fly off to Australia) and / or Feb 24 (on her 25th birthday)
Ainn has left SG for Sydney at approximately 0915hours SG time. Before she took off, I received this sms, "Thank you for what you'd done. I will never forget you. Yes, I will study hard. I will. I'll come back to pay you a visit k. Gonna miss you."
I held my tears when reading that. At around 5.41pm SG time, I tried calling her as I wasnt sure myself if my handphone can call a SG number when that particular SG number is in overseas. I tried and it went through.. Ainn had just arrived Sydney.. Cant talk much. She was tired, I guess. Hmm, da flight may be around 7 to 8 hours, perhaps? So we hung up.
I informed Seri, (coz when I informed her in da morning of 26 Jan that Ainn would be taking off in a few minutes time - Seri revert to me, "I pray for her safety." ) that I managed to call Ainn in Sydney.
Seri: "Thank God. How I wish I could visit her."
Me: ."Not only u. How I wish I could visit her too."
It's true. I really mean it.. I dun know abt Seri's family, but
my family is very conservative type. I cant travel overseas for holiday, work or studies. Everything has to be here in SG... Sigh..
Yestday, upon my arrival in office, I received a phone call from an unknown number. When I answered it, a familiar voice, AINN!! She called me using a public phone in Sydney. We had a long chat.
See, I was right. Da flight was aournd 7 to 8 hours.. I asked what was da time in Sydney. When she called me, it was 8.35am SG time. In Sydney is close to 11.00am. So, time difference is about 2 hours plus.
I told her what Seri told me. Ainn went, "Why not? I will be overjoyed to see my friends visiting me." *sad face* I know. But u should understand that my family is very conservative.
Time is killing us. We couldnt talk any longer. I had to start work as it was already 9 am although it was on Saturday. Besides, I am afraid, my handphone does not have free incoming call service from overseas. Before we end our conversation, I asked for a number where I can reach her.
Well, since I sumtimes "check" her email. (I was authorised to do so - she gave me da authority) She told me to check my email and there was this document attaching to her email, I have to open it and there were details like da telephone number of da place she is residing.
Sure thing. I had read da document. From SG to call Sydney, I have to press 013 (International Code) 61(country code) 2 (area code) and da number.. Example: 013612xxxxxxx. *winkz*. But I have to think twice before calling her. Well, I dun think she resides there alone. There may be a group of others too and I have no idea which country they were from so if I wanna call her, I have to prepare my speech - speak in my best english ever.. LoL.. wahahahaha.. Who knows, it could be sumone else picking up da phone?
K, gtg now. Enjoy da pics ok? Da pics were taken on 16 January 2oo7 and 24 January 2007. Ainn loves to be on da right side when taking photos. So do I but being younger than her, I give in.. *sulk face*
Photos taken on 16 January 2007. *smilez*
Photos taken on 24 January 2007.
Ainn dear, take care of urself there k..
[OFF TOPIC] : HAPPY BIRTHDAY HADY MIRZA!!!!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
On my way to work this morning, I chance upon Margaret, an ex-colleague from KCAP. She has left KCAP and now working in a Japanese research firm in Republic Plaza 1, 4 to 5 mins walk from Clifford Centre. A shocking news informed by her. Most of da people in KCAP have left. Even da lady who took over me also left.
I have no idea why that happen. I wasnt too interested to know so I didnt probe further question. Remember I blog abt me resigning from KCAP with reason stating that I wish to concentrate on my studies on a full time basis. Da secret's out. Margaret saw me before at China Square last year during lunch time. I didnt notice her she did but she didnt approach me as I was with other colleagues enjoying my lunch. I bet, she knows da actual reason >> to look for a permanent job.
Lunch time, I have an appointment with Ainn. We had lunch at TCC (The Coffee Coinseur - how do u spell that?!) Since she had treated me last week at New York, New York, 2day's my turn. Our final meeting before she bid her goodbye to Singapore to stay in a foreign land for 3 to 4 years. We took photos. 2 were taken from her handphone (she cant MMS me coz she didnt sign up for GPRS - so she cant send to me via MMS to my handphone hence, I cant upload them). 2 of da pics were taken from my handphone and Yes, I can upload them.
However, I will upload da pics here only on da day of her flight (If I am not busy) or on her birthday - in exactly a month's time (If I am busy and cant upload da pics on da 26, den, I'll do so on da Feb 24th).
4 days to Hady Mirza's 27th birthday, 5 days to a new sch term in Aspect College, Sydney for Ainn, my dearest friend, 2 days to my pay day and to her flight - scheduled not confirmed. Well, gal.. I cant promise but I'll try my best to send u off at da airport if ur flight is around 8pm or 9pm, okie? *smilez* Hope u like da IPOD I gave u as an advanced birthday gift (since u wont be here in SG on ur birthday *sad face*)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
NUR ASHA SUKRINA!!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
This picture is taken last year on 20 October. 
Pre-requisite to this entry: http://puteri-maria.blogspot.com/2005/02/happy-birthday-ainn.html
Today after work, I should be playing pool with B, J and Ainn but J was not free today so we postponed it to Thursday. However, Ainn & I still meet sumhow just to chat and chill out.
She will be starting her degree in January. 29 January to be exact (Hey, a day after Hady's birthday!!) She will be going to Melbourne, Australia studying in RMIT for her Business Management degree. Cool..
Gal, if u have graduate and planning to start a business, count me in yeah.. I am in Business Marketing..I'll do da marketing job and u do da managing.. LoL.. *dream on, amyria*
Ainn gave me a treat at this All American restaurant at City Link Mall, just beside HMV. Its call New York something. First time I ever been there. All da food there are fcuking expensive. Was too ashamed of myself coz Ainn's treating me to a s0-called posh restaurant. She didnt mind but I do mind. I was reluctant at first but she said, it didnt matter.
I ate Freedom Fries - well, looks like a normal fries to me - no idea why they named it Freedom Fries. I drank this too: 
Nice.. Yummy.. But I couldnt finish it...!! Haha.. Guess how much is da price? For Freedom Fries, it taste like $4.90? and this drink is at $5.90? DAMN EXPENSIVE, isn't? I mean we could get a normal fried at any fast food restaurant for (large size) $2.50 and that kind of drink for $2.50 too.. That's what I meant.
We chat and chat. We discuss about her studies in Aussie. She will be flying there on 26 January 2007. :( I will be losing a friend who is leaving SG for three years. Gonna be very sad.
Ainn cheered me up. Sacrifice. Thats da word. If you want to succeed for a better future, you have to do it no matter what it takes. Her dad will be staying over in Australia for three years too. Da thought of loneliness now plays in my head. But I cant be selfish and stop her from going. She has supportive parents who can afford to pay for her studies abroad unlike me who have conservative family - everything, this cannot, that cannot. (Besides, my parents cant afford to pay for my degree studies - I have to pay on my own)
As her best friend, I am proud of her. Both of us are pursuing our childhood dreams of getting a degree. We have to show support to each other.
Ainn is no longer working so she has FREEDOM to chill out. Maybe meeting her again on Thurs for pool... By 26 Jan.. I wont be seeing her here in SG.. I know, we can still be contactable thru emails.
I have photos (only 2 - haha) but I will upload them on this perfect day: 26th January 2007, da day Ainn left SG for Melbourne Australia.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I was on leave on 8th January and 9th January BECAUSE of EXAMINATIONS.. And yet, when I return on 11 Jan, its OK for da piles of work on my desk, already used to it.. but I was asked if I took leave to go for an interview? (I am referring to pple in my dept, not on 15th floor but on 16th floor)
I was huh? When I said no, this is what I get for a reply, "U diploma wat.. U want to work here as a clerk? Outside ah Diploma grads earning $$1500 and above and their position not clerk.. U took leave and u didnt go looking for other jobs but stay at home? Wasted rite, ur annual leave?" (So? IT'S MY LEAVE? My leave was approved and 2 superiors has approved and didnt ask me anything, y they so bloody busybody?!!)
FYI, I didnt tell anyone in my work plc that I am pursuing a part time distant learning degree except for BB (my colleague from TM dept whom I am a little closer to), PW, B and J (from accounts dept). (So da four of them know y I was on leave). If I were to tell da rest of them, I will get 'headache'. They are bunch of busybodies who wants to now all ur achievements and failures.. and compare u with others (maybe to sumone they know). Worse still, they will give very sarcastic remark like, "If u know u r going to study for a degree, y work as a clerk, work as sumthing else la.. got standard." Or maybe, "U work here pay not that high, can pay ur sch fees or not." Or who knows, they will say, "If u can afford to study degree, y still work?" So I am happy to keep low profile.. Dun show off too much.
P/S: If lets say da rest got to know abt me studying degree (I dun know how they know), so what? They should know this Respect my privacy. Studying degree is considered as my private life. If they make such a fuss, it means that they dun know what is privacy to them.
Anyway, IS CLERK CONSIDERED A DEGRADING JOB? HELLO!! OTHER PLACES, THEY OFFER $1200 TO CLERK POSITIONS.. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO this law firm I am currently working in for giving me $1600 FOR a CLERK POST. REASON? (maybe) I HAVE DIPLOMA..
please refer to my post (http://puteri-maria.blogspot.com/2006/12/should-i-or-should-i-not.html)
P/S: Eventhough, I am close with PW, B and J, I still didnt tell them abt my pay. Since da letter of confirmation says private and confidential, I shall not tell anyone in da company abt my pay to avoid any discrepancy.
Most hurting remark is this, "U study diploma but work here? If ur position secretary neva mind but clerk only.. pay also n0t much. Waste ur diploma only."
I know they must be thinking THAT I AM SUCH A STUPID DUMB ASS GAL WHO HAS A DIPLOMA BUT DUN MIND A CLERK POSITION. Because they are earning $1200 or $1300 (I think) and they are not Diploma holders. They thought that I got da same pay as them (they didnt know actual pay - confidential - so they thought I am stupid for accepting such a low pay for a high qualification. )
They think TBH / ELK (da boss / da boss in charge of TM) are stupid for giving a diploma holder an O level pay? Of coz they should see market price (how much diploma holders earn at least! - starting pay) They are da stupid ones!
P/S: Once again, I wish to point out that salary issues are confidential information. This is my blog, I will blog whatever I deem its OK to blog. Please read my disclaimer.
Refering back to my entry of (http://puteri-maria.blogspot.com/2006/12/should-i-or-should-i-not.html)
Now I know what is meant by office politics.
Part of my job scope is to report advertisement and once it is advertised, da Certificate of Registration will be issued. So, when that Registration Certificates comes, da respective clerk who has to do da reporting has to check whether advertisement is already advertised before reporting da registration certificate.
I know there are some back logs. I have to concentrate on da CD 29, CD 64 and CD 17 coz da datelines are set by da Registry of Trade Marks and if I exceed da due date, trade mark will be abandon by da Registrar. So I concentrate on that first.
So, when I return from my leave, that respective clerk (I wrote abt her b4 - remember an entry whereby she isnt too happy that Hady wins (coz she was rooting for Jonathan to win - she supports race and not talent) and she suspect I may have voted many, many times till Hady emerged as da winner securing 70% of da votes?) came over to me and gave a pile of TM Files for me to report on advertisement to da clients and bill them (if neccessary) She was being sarcastic by saying, "2 days u neva come, c ur work like 2 weeks.." And I take it lightly so I said, "I'll be like a robot and try to expedite as much as I can."
WANNA KNOW WHAT SHE REPLIED? I WAS FLABBERGASTED WHEN SHE EXPRESS THIS (with a smirk smile on her face), "Ur assistant?" I was bewildered by da word, "assistant". So, I gave her a confused look and answered, "Assistant?" Again with that stupid smirk smile on da same face, "U got assistant rite?" I told her straight to her face with an unhappy look on my face, "NO!" She was very dissastified with my reply and insisted on knowing if I really have an assistant or about to have, "I thought u ask him (ELK) for assistant?"
THATS IT!!! I HAVE HAD IT!! THIS IS TOO RECREMENTITOUS!! WHERE DID SHE GET THIS RIDICULOUS INFORMATION FROM?!!!
I said straight at her face, "He (ELK) is da one who ask if I wan someone to assist me. I said, its OK I can manage, I can cope." (I lied. He didnt ask that. I was just making it up to make her shut up. If I didnt exaggerate, she will not stop and she will have an untrue perception that I will have an assistant soon. So, to make her shut her bloody mouth shut, I have to lie. I know I shldnt but my mum and friends did give me a piece of advice that when u're in da working world, u must know how to "cheat" and "lie" in a smart way.)
I won!! She finally said, "Oh.. u can cope...."
I CANT ENDURE IT ANYMORE! I CANT WAIT TILL 2008 (after I completed my degree). I JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF THERE ASAP. DA OFFICE POLITICS IN THIS LAW FIRM I AM EMPLOYED TO IS TOO EXTREME FOR ME TO BEAR.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Today is SMM - P & C (Strategic Marketing Management - Planning & Control). I can say I have more confident answering da questions asked in this paper however, like I'd mentioned yestday, memory failure.. sigh.. I forgot many important relevant points.. I hope I can pass.. I hope I can get 45 marks and above.. Coz 45 is da passing mark..
Sometimes, I wonder.. if I am going in da rite path.. U know working and studying at da same time.. Da advantage of doing what I am doing now is, once u have graduated and u wish to change job in prior to ur qualification - an added advantage coz u alrdy have working experience and u have da qualifications.. Da disadvantage is, u do not have time to prepare to complete ur coursework or for exam.. Hence, without understanding of da subject u will get low grades just based on answering da question by memory work. U need time to understand a certain topic and certain subject, then u will be able to answer.
I have difficulty doing that coz I have little understanding. That's becoz I didnt prepare myself well for da paper due to my work commitments.. If only I didnt resign my previous job at KCAP (so what if it is part time contract - i have more time to study!), I would have more time to prepare.. I can wait till 2008 working in KCAP on a contract/part time basis earning hourly pay but my family will make lots of hussle and tussle abt me not getting a permanent job and if cant get permanent job, how to pay for my sch fees etcetra..
Da advantage of only concentrating on studies as a full time student is, u get to do da opposite of me.. U have more time to prepare for ur revision, research for ur coursework. Da only disadvantage is, after u've graduated and exploring da working world, u wont get a job related to da field u're studying coz u need to have working experience.. To secure a job for urself, u have to start working in a junior position coz u do not have experience in that field. Get it?
Next term, I will be doing three modules - one is a reunit module (failed twice - Year 1 bridging subject = Marketing), and two fresh units (Marketing Communications Strategy and Strategic Marketing Management [Analysis and Decision] - these two are da "KILLER SUBJECTS" coz past students failed these paper and only managed to pass da papers after twice and/or thrice of resitting!! Oh gosh!!
I was struggling for both my SM - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT and SMM (P & C), how am I able to manage my time well for SMM (A & D)? Although A & D is an open book exam, it is still very tough and that's why some students failed. But hey, it depends on da individual.. I heard before that Principles of Business Law and Business Finance are killer subjects. (I have yet to take Business Finance - I am afraid of taking it) I took Principles of Business Law and guess what? I pass! With a 63! Among all da subjects, da highest grade I got is in Principles of Business Law subject.. Is it becoz I worked in a law firm when I took da subject in that term? LoL!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Think... I will fail da above module. If my sentiment is correct, total 3 modules I failed so far.. Dratz!!! I really studied hard for it but brain block!! Well, as they say.. da older u get, da more forgetful u will be..
It is true!! Why? Well, for today's exam..one of da question which carries 15 marks was, "Why managers are so concerned with social responsible behaviour of their firms?" I know da answer. 1 min before stepping into da exam room, I was reading da answer. I wasnt reading it, I was memorizing it to be exact.
Guess what? That question was da very first question and can I answer it happily and confidently? NO!! Reason: I FORGOT!!! The answer should be, 'the firm has its own right to exist depends on its responsiveness to external environment, local government threatens to increase regulation if business does not evolve to meet changing social standards, and responsive corporate social policy may enhance a firm's long term viability.'
So what was my answer? I have no idea what I wrote down as my answers!! I simply write whatever that comes to my mind. There isnt any external environment, local government, corporate social policy, changing social standard as my answers.. These important key words are not in my answers!! So what was my answer?
See, like I told u.. I am suffering from lapse of memory nowadays. Da older u get, da more u forget. I did not remember what I wrote for my answers to da question but I am pretty sure that I didnt write da key words as part of my answers..
Sigh.. Definitely will fail this paper coz I got quite a disheartening low marks for my coursework for da same module. I thought by doing well for da exam can pull up my marks.. but oh well..
Tmr, I have another paper - SMM (P & C) [STRATEGIC MARKETING MANAGEMENT (PLANNING & CONTROL)] so have to burn midnite oil and study for that..
P/S: Passing mark for each module is 45. I hope I can pass SM with above 45 marks.. If not, sigh.. has to retake.. Next term, (starting Jan/Feb), I'll be retaking Year 1: Marketing.. Not sure when will I be taking my Marketing Research (mark is 39!!!)
Saturday, January 06, 2007
A new year,
A new start,
A new chapter,
A new beginning.
What else?
I've decided to change da layout of my blog.
How was it? Better than previous or da previous one was better? This new layout was done by both sisters - myself and my 'irritating' younger sis.. Lol..
That's all for now. Will blog again in time to come.