4PM Is Happy Hour

For the past 3 years (plus), 4pm is a happy hour to me.
That is because I used to work till 4.30pm, and 4pm means knocking off soon!

But no longer now. (Bah!)
I use to tell hubby how appreciative I am towards my previous job, cause I get transported to and fro home, and I get to go home really early. I get good remuneration, good benefits, food is cheap (and good!) I would reach home at 5.45pm and start playing with my dogs, bring them for walk and clean them up.. And spend really quality time with family. On top of that, I get to travel while I get paid.

Work was stressful but fulfilling. 

I get a lot of satisfaction from there and life remains fair. 

Not until the retrenchment came about.

It was a horrid. It blew my dreams away and created chaos in my life. I miss working there with these people. I miss so many things which I can never find them back anymore. That kind of effort I put into work, that seriousness and willingness to learn.. I can't find them back in me anymore.

I felt betrayed.
All the efforts I put into became a Thank you & byebye. 

Well, since I am in a new company now, I should have put in the same amount of effort. But I just can't bring myself into the system. I have a lot of resentment and rejection, and refuse to wake up from reality that I need to start moving again. 

Sigh... I hope time will tell.
Time will let me sink into this new workplace comfortably.

Work, Life, Balance

.... is one of the emphasis for this company.
So, we have flexible working hours such that staff can choose the most comfy period to work so that they can arrange family matters (ie: fetching their kids)

0800 - 1730 hrs

0830 - 1800 hrs

0900 - 1830 hrs

And if you need any special arrangement, discuss with your supervisor. And true enough, I have a colleague coming at 6.30am, knocking off at 4:00pm.

I decided to pick the same start work timing as my previous company, 8am. 

In the past I wake up at 6am, run out to catch the company bus at 7am.

Now I wake up at 5am, and catch the 6.30am bus at the interchange.

Knocking off at my previous company was at 4.30pm.

Here, at 5.30pm. 

I use to reach home at a comfortable 5.30pm, and now at 7pm.

 I use to get on bed at 10pm, now I started feeling tired at 8pm.

My life changed so much.
But I'm not complaining, just a comparison between two jobs.

I am stepping out of my comfort zone, so it's always tough at the beginning I know.

And now I have eye bags due to lacking of sleep.

Weekends became so precious.

But wait - I'm on Grooming course!

All my Saturdays are booked for grooming from 11am to 6pm. And Sundays, I alternate it. And to be frank, I am not feeling tired from the grooming. That's passion! It's the waking up at 5am part wearing me out. 

I'm really curious, how come there can be so much different in two jobs when one focuses on work life and balance but have equivalent or lesser benefits, than another company that just wanted to make more money?

But anyway, I'm still alive, don't worry. 

Hubby and I are working pretty hard to make sure we don't just make ends meet. 

Some happy stuff in my new job to look forward to, I've got a milk cup to become my pen holder.

Lastly something I always looked forward to; evenings !

Singapore can be a pretty place to live in, isn't it?

Advancing Education

Everyone knows that I'm only an O level person.
Nothing to hide about.
(Please don't look down on people that do not have a higher education. Some didn't choose for it to happen!)

Yes so I have a choice now.
Ever since starting my new job, today is one of the many days I felt hopeful.
Why? Because HR finally went through the staff-need-to-know stuff and they have further advancement courses both full time and part time, and this company highly focus on employee's well being. Both mentally and physically, and educationally.

So I'm lucky.
Please let me have a peaceful 3 months (probation) and I will work hard. :)

Last Company Trip; Shanghai

This will probably conclude my number of years in this company.

I have shared my knowledge as far as I can to the new team in Shanghai, and it marks the end of my career in Tetra Pak. 

But anyway, I had some fun there and went around alone. This time round, I went to more places which I've never been to before. :D

The Bund

There are so many people in the evening!
In the mornings, locals like to gather and practice Qi Gong and Tai Chi here. 

Those banks around The Bund just like Singapore River.

Here's another. 

I love their buildings, I love their Skyline. Can't wait to bring hubby around Shanghai. We can visit many places and also travel out of Shanghai - to Hangzhou and Suzhou. I see them online and they have really pretty lakes!

But not too sure if it's well kept tho. 

Here is one church I find.
All the buildings here seem to have a story behind them. 

And of course, they have modern places / buildings too!

One of the lovely places I went: Tian Zi Fang. 

Well, I've got more photos, but I haven't finish editing them yet so.... these are the limited ones till date. 

Jing An Temple: 

Like I said, I haven't finish editing most of the photos, so here you go to those ready ones... 

More to come, i'll update this space again!

Travelling to Shanghai

I'm going to Shanghai tonight.
My first mid-night flight ! (Am excited <3)

It's a little pityful that baby can't come with me this time.
But I'm sure we will find time to travel to Shanghai one day.

This should be my last trip in this company.
I still remembr my previous trip there was to stay there for 3 weeks! I miss home, but I enjoyed the place there. I was still a long hair girl that time. Now, married, short bob (not exactly), and with my Canon HERE I COME ~~~

I will be giving some training for 5 days.
Kindly stressful, but since I'm well prepared, I'm sure I can do it!

Philippines Trip 13-19Apr

13th April 2013.

Little Wimpy threw up early in the morning, so we jumped off the bed at 5.45am, and cleaned up the mess. Poor boy, he must be feeling unwell. :(

We got up and get prepared for all the stuff, and headed out. Right before I go, Wimpy stood with his hind legs and kissed me on my chin. I felt sad for a second and couldn’t bear to leave my two boys. But I know my family will take care of them well.

Now, little Nik was curling beside mum, seems to know that I will be away for awhile. He’s such a clever boy!

So we went off.

We reach the airport earlier than expected, and we went walking around before checking in our stuff. Weather was good, and we were so excited! Afterall, this is the first time we’re going off together and completing the travel together! :)

We had a quick bite at the airport before heading to the gates. Killiney.

~OFF WE GO~

3.5hrs of plane ride.

And we reach Philippines safely.

I was pretty impressed by the developments here. Initially when baby ask, "How is Philippines like?" I told him, maybe it's like Indonesia? They have forest everywhere, grass patches, poor traffic and bad air.

But the moment I step out of the Airport, I know i'm wrong.

Look at the tall buildings!! It's not losing to Raffles Place ok!!! It took us 30 mins to reach our hotel. And we both liked it at the first glance.

Seda Hotel. Open just 6 months ago.

Very kind people we met there, they really provide excellent service!

We went around town to get use to the surroundings, afterall we're gonna spend the next 6 days here. Everything look so Singapore actually.  

We came to a pet shop selling Moo's nose as doggie chews! OMG~ I was horrified. 

Our first meal in Philippines.

Some other things.. 

(The MC'D in Phili)

People here are generally smaller in build. They are shorter and small structured. I became so huge there. Vinc is a giant. 

We visited their local supermarket. 

They sell big carrots!!!

Our breakfast at the hotel, ......... for the next 6 days.

Yes we ate the same food everyday. 

<3

I am glad that baby came along with me this time round. It was a pleasant trip as we have never thought we would travel to Philippines together....... and now we did! :D

Manila Bay

We visited this place called the Manila Bay. It's like Singapore's East Coast Park. They have rolls of restaurants along the sea and people came all the way here to watch sunsets. So did we. :)

*Baby & I*

We were pretty amazed by the speed of sun setting in just within 10 mins. So bright and cheerful now, and skies turned dark and gloomy next.

We dislike the weather like Philippines.