43 inspirational quotes - Mr Blue Sky. ELO.. loved everyone of it!

Company D & D

Always grabbed the opportunity to dress up for my company's D&D (as funky as possible will be good thank you :)) Always had my funky hair-do (wigs no less) but this year's different cos had to cover my head cos I was well "in the character" so to speak.....
did my scary make-up done really last minute but it really turned out well scary that the make-up artist was scared that i won't go along with it :)

Kudos to everyone who went along with being crazy for the night :)

Birthday Makan at Dempsey road

It is nice stepping into PS Cafe (Dempsey Road) for the 1st time & what better than to have my birthday dinner there....


For starters, had corn & chicken chowder soup - lovely cream soup with some nice toast. Had marvellicious soft tender Tenderloin with bacon (medium well done to perfection) for main meal. Just had to leave some space for a nice choc 3" cake nicely matched with vanillia ice cream (which actually tasted quite wonderful without the usual ice within that you find in other restaurants' made ice cream). Family was there tucking into fish & chips (signature dish) & fish steak...which were lovely as well....all in all, a good meal with good company. Matched with good service staff & ambience & you've got a winning place that I will go back again & again...:)

PS Picture from http://sparklette.net/archives/ps-cafe-dine-in-seclusion/

Heard that there's a nice Ben & Jerry's round the corner....hmmm kids will definately love such a place so will definately make my way there another day :)

Upcoming Birthday celebrations......

Oh! oh! just realised the Big Birthday's coming up.....am not usually fussed about it except that at least hubby must remember that day :)

Hubby's been nice - got me an iPhone for my birthday knowing the geek in me that will drool over the whole cool factor......

What's not to drool eh? Except that the unlocking bit takes some getting used to *Hahaha*

Had to redo the unlocking when did a software update.....after that read about some lawsuit (in US of course) re the iPhone becoming an iBrick after the update (http://www.computing.co.uk/vnunet/news/2200760/apple-faces-class-action-suit)

Now back to using the cool gadget......Tata! :)

Results of Personality Assessment via online test

Was bored from all the leadership talk.....I did a personality test online- here's the results:

Your personality can best be described as choleric.
You are the extrovert, the doer and the optimist. [can't really figure that extrovert/ optimist parts :p]

STRENGTH

Your personality strengths:

You are a born leader, dynamic and active and have a compulsive need for change.
You often feel that you must correct wrongs.

You are strong-willed and decisive, independent and self-sufficient. You are not easily discouraged and can be unemotional when necessary.

You are capable of running anything and exude confidence.

Your strengths at home

You are an expert in exerting sound leadership, establishing goals and able to motivate the family in to action.
You always know the right answer and organise the household.


Your strengths at work

You are very goal oriented, see the whole picture and organise well.
You seek practical solutions to problems and move quickly to action.

You delegate work but insist on productivity.

You make the goals, stimulate activity and thrive on opposition.

Your strengths in relationships

You have little need for friends and will work for group activity.
You often lead from the front, organise and are usually right.

You excel during emergencies.

WEAKNESS

Your personality weaknesses

You can be bossy and impatient. You are quick tempered, can't relax and can be too impetuous.
You enjoy controversy and arguments and won't give up when losing.

You can come on too strong, are inflexible and uncomplimentary.

You dislike tears and emotions and are generally unsympathetic. [this is really true BTW...i cringe if anyone cries in front of me esp. if he/she was wrong to start off...]


Your weaknesses at home
You tend to over dominate, are too busy for your family and will often give answers too quickly.
You are impatient with poor performance and won't let children relax if you have any. You are likely to send them in to depression. [this is really true BTW...i must remember NOT to do this man!]


Your weaknesses at work
You have little tolerance for mistakes, however, you don't analyse details yourself, are bored by trivia and can often make rash decisions.
You can be rude and tactless and often manipulate people.
You are demanding of others and believe that the end justifies the means.
Work may become the driving force in your life and you demand loyalty in the ranks.


Your weaknesses in relationships
You tend to use people and dominate others. You make decisions on other people's behalf and you know everything.
You can do everything better, are too independent and are overly possessive of friends and mate.
You can't say sorry and, although you may often be right, you can become unpopular.

Must take all the above advice & constantly remind myself if my weaknesses so that I can become a better person! :)

Leadership...

Attended a leadership course over the last 2 days at Sentosa....heartening to know that there's some help for me in my new expanded job scope that I will be taking on for the near future.....

The course was a brief intro to the organisation for the selected group of 21 guys and girls. We had a crash course on leadership skills for a day before having a sort of "amazing race" for the 2nd day. Each of the 7 team members had a chance to be a leader to help the team to find clues... when my turn came as the leader, my team was faced with many clues (in fact the most we found in an area for that day). Everyone had mixed ideas on what should be the right answer. When faced with the choices, I said "I am the leader, I decide." In many ways, that short statement explained my leadership style I guess :)

I realised that I need a LOT of help to manage a team of 30 pax in my new job scope...so far throughout my working life, I have only had to deal with max 5-6 pax in my team (departments have always been lean for the companies I have worked for some reason :P) have bought a few management/leadership books & crossing fingers that my brain will be working from all the "dry" management mumbo jumbo LOL

Change...

(image from www.medhunters.com)

Got some news just before the National holidays which caught me somewhat by surprise.....in effect my departure from my current position will be accelerated to something more akin to what I was doing...however the speed of things to come is unexpected as my boss was thinking of transferring me as early as this week!

Fortunately, I had some time to think it over by laying by the pool side of The Pulai Desaru. I think somehow my subconcsious knew my fears and I didn't even realise that I brought along my fav book for such uncertain times i.e. "Who moved my cheese?" by Spencer Johnson. The apprehension of moving at this pt in time is rather cos of recent I have become more involved in a recent project that will stretch what I know....so in a way enjoying myself too much I guess...

The other issue is of course I will need to travel to work to another part of the island (which is great only if I live in the east which I used to but I no longer!) Tried estimating the time taken for me to get down to the east which is around 1.5 hrs from my house!

Let change be something to look forward to!

Mother's Day.....

Mother's Day just came & past.....this year somewhat have stirred up some mixed feelings..... In a way it's bittersweet cos many things have happened between my late mum & me (mostly unfortunate misunderstandings which only really got somewhat resolved around the time she was dying from cancer).

I heard the song that she sang to me when I was only 3 or 4 at mass last week (she never sang to me after that age as far as I can remember)...."God is dwelling in my heart". Although she singlehandedly raised me up, ultimately, her role switched from that of being a nurturer/caregiver to that of just being a provider. In many ways, she took on a traditional role of a "dad" more than a "mom" to me.

As such, to me, mother's day has been for some time been more to thank my grandma more than my mum cos my grandmother became my nurturer & caregiver.....she held me when i fell down, she nursed me when i was sick, she was my mentor, my guide, the one I could always count on....she is also the one now lying in a hospital bed at SGH.

It pains me to see my grandmother this way. The rational me knows that at this grand old age of 95, she will leave me at any time. But this reality hits harder when I see her lying on that hospital bed instead of being at home with me. I am sure when the time comes, I will not be "ready" for it....

Olivia Newton John Concert 2007...Love Is Letting Go Of Fear

Been wanting to blog re the ONJ concert in Spore but only now have the chance cos my mac's been at the service centre...

Personally it was the BEST concert I have ever been. She was marvelous - still have that trademark raspy voice, the "i am so heartbroken" way of singing & someone who actually sang the songs that mattered. Not surprisingly, she touched many with her love songs & her inspirational songs (after surviving breast cancer). The Catholic news featured her recently at http://www.onlyolivia.com/memorabilia/mags/2007/070513_catholic-news_sm.html....sorry something wrong with my uploading from Firefox...

Besides her gd ol favs, she of course sang some songs from her latest album "Grace & Gratitude". I remembered her singing this one song called ""Love Is Letting Go Of Fear" & I have reproduced the wonderful lyrics below:

The pain is something that you can't ignore.
You're always wondering what the hurt is for.
Your heart feels something that you cant explain.
You yearn for love but you are afraid to change.

Remember your wounded bird still sings.
Remember that faith has tiny wings.

(chorus)
Love is letting go of fear.
Love is letting go of doubt.
Love is letting go of chains
That tie your spirit down and
Love is letting of of pain.
Love is learning how to dance
Inside the light again.

You're always haunted by the love you lost.
You're scared that you'll forever pay the cost.
You believe this is the bitter end.
Better lonely than be heard again.

Remember there is always one more chance.
Remember your love's the only dance."

Perfectionist....

I have heard myself being called a "Perfectionist" at several points in my life. I am also guilty of saying this to some friends. Found an online test - just had to take that test to see how true it is. This is what Discovery Heath has to say about a perfectionist ....happy testing!

About Perfectionism

Perfectionism can be a healthy quality that drives a person to try his/her best and to make the effort to excel. Some people, however, take the strive for perfection too far...and there is a price to pay. Extreme perfectionists are forever dissatisfied; they can never fulfill their own expectations so, in their own eyes, they are always failures. Chronic perfectionism is driven by deep-seated feelings of inferiority and self-hate, and by nature it reinforces a negative self-image. Performing tasks or fulfilling goals becomes intimidating and unpleasant, since the perfectionist knows deep down that the finished product will never meet his/her expectations. So the perfectionist might have problems with procrastination. Perfectionism, then, can become a double-edged sword - the perfectionist is driven by a desire to succeed, as well as a fear of failure which leaves him/her paralyzed.

In all realms, striving for excellence can be beneficial and lead to a fulfilling professional and personal life. Accepting nothing less than excellence, on the other hand, can be emotionally scarring.

For anyone interested to know the results of my test...here it is :) good to know that i m only borderline extreme yah? :)

Results of Your Perfectionism Test

	Perfectionism
Your score = 73

What does your score mean?

According to this test, you have some perfectionist tendencies that may be making you unnecessarily unhappy. You sometimes set high standards that are difficult to meet; either you impose those expectations on yourself, others, or a combination of the two. You may even think that others expect you to be perfect. While a desire to do your very best and strive to reach your full potential can bring you personal fulfillment, you have to learn when good is 'good enough'. It's important that you strengthen your ability to distinguish between reasonable aspirations and unrealistic demands. When you set unattainable objectives, you are being cruel to yourself and denying yourself the rewards and self-acceptance that you deserve.

Go on....take the test & post the results on your blog....;)

Closure....

Closure is a oft-used word to describe an end to a usually painful experience.

Recently my understanding of this word has been tested by a recent experience of my hub. After some 3 yrs of agonizing wait involving the all impt "not knowing what's going to happen to me", he (and me) finally got closure via a judgement made by 3 supposed wise men.

The decision was a harsh one given that it was noted that it was a one-off event BUT for what it's worth, it gave closure. Closure because it allowed my hub to put in place his work plans for the next 1+ yrs....plans which were in a way dependant on this outcome. Closure for me cos I now know how to plan for the family....

I must admit I was saddened that he can't continue with what he has been doing for the past 10+ years of his life but i try to help him by looking things on the bright side. It's frightening for both of us cos he basically knows how to do this 1 job only to be told he can't do it for the next 1+year.....the blessings i have so far counted for him are:

1. he is not too old to start looking for something else - at least not in heart and mind. he's not really learning new tricks but in a way adapting his work to new environment. He thinks his new environment is better as it's anything goes from now on without outside inhibitions or restrictions.
   
2. in the process of this journey, he found out who his friends are. I am glad....

• Friends who basically stood by him, to comfort him - including spending sleepless nights & many many hours preparing for the case & those who couldn't sleep just because they were worrying about the outcome.
  
• Unfortunately or fortunately, he also found out those who took flight at the sight of any "danger"...... although it was terribly hard for him to experience that type of betrayal of friendship but it's part of life's lessons & better now than later when you really need to count on that person.
  
• A friend who got him an air ticket just because & another who travelled from one end of the island to another to just have drinks with him & see how he was......

He sent me a message earlier to thank me for being there for him.....being strong for him. Essentially that's the only way I know how to cope....following life's disappointments and setbacks, comes the strength and the resilience - this is my grandma's life lesson "Only when I believe that I am down will everyone else see me as downtrodden."
& our vows are "to walk together thru good times & bad times....."

Finally I gave hub a challenge to show those who brought him down this time round that he's still standing & on top of that, make a success out of this period.

Wish us luck!

Great Books in my world....Conversations with God

I am a bit of a bookie...have had my nose buried in books for as long as I remember. Of recent, I have read & recently re-read some of my books. Generally mysteries don't really interest me, horror books scares me; romance books bores me to death & well, that leaves vy much with feel good/self-help books after taking out all of that isn't it? :)

I have recently got myself an ebook of my fav book "Conversations with God - an uncommon dialogue" Hearing the book is better than reading it as I cannot get over the fact that the content speaks to me a way i can't really explain why.

Raised as a Christian, the book goes against all that I have been taught all my life about the BIG questions concerning God, values, life yet somehow hearing the book still surprises me as much as the 1st time i read it. Here's what Amazon said about the book.....

Blasphemy! Heresy! Who does this man think he is, claiming to speak directly to God?! Jesus did it, Muhammad did it, the Jewish prophets did it, but none of their Gods had the sardonic wit or raw verve of Prophet Walsch's God. Neale Donald Walsch isn't claiming to be the Messiah of a new religion, just a frustrated man who sat down one day with pen in his hand and some tough questions in his heart. As he wrote his questions to God, he realized that God was answering them... directly... through Walsch's pen. The result, far from the apocalyptic predictions or cultic eccentricities you might expect, turns out to be matter-fact, in-your-face wisdom on how to get by in life while remaining true to yourself and your spirituality.

For the rest who have read the book but dismissed it as blasphemy or simply ridiculous, it's ok....... although I urge that you re-read the book, hopefully you will be able to read it at least 1 time with an open mind.

For me, deep down, I know I really want what the book says to be true i.e. that God is all loving, all powerful & not vengeful or at least one who will cast my soul to eternal hell once I step out of the boundaries.

Read with your heart and soul (not mind) & then decide - even f the book is all nonsense, wouldn't it be wonderful if God is just like how Neale Donald Walsh described him to be? to me, that thought is why i highly recommend the book to all, whatever is your religion. The best passage is the parable on the little soul and the sun.

Next posting will likely be on what is another great author to me i.e. Mitch Albom as I just read his recent book, "for one more day".....or maybe on something more light-hearted like "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" by John Gray.....until another posting......Adieu!

did my old body a favour....

Finally did a favour to my ol' body & signed up for yoga classes again. No 'ifs' no 'buts' no 'too far away' cos it's just next to my office literally. Body's been crying for help cos the slightest efforts requires HUGE huffing & puffing. So far, it's been 1 week & I have been faithfully going for at least 2 classes during my lunch breaks.

1st class was a breathing class "Pranayama"- Yes, you read it right "Breathing" as "air in-air out". But man! That class was a toughie!! I didn't know breathing or asking my lungs to work is actually WORK! but after that 1 class, I did feel better about myself. I know I know it's too early to tell with 1 class but hey! I can do self-motivation right? :)

2nd class was supposed to be yoga therapy for those bodies like mine that suffers from back ache, shoulder ache & neck aches. Didn't really enjoy that class cos it was too slow plus I was too used to my previous yoga instructor (loooooongg time ago) that went step by step by breathing into the yoga pose as opposed to the current instructor that went on the basis of "put this foot here & that foot there & turn!"

For those not too familiar with yoga, hop over to wikipedia for a snap shot. To the rest of us who are doing our bodies a disservice by not exercising (moi included) - do give yoga or any other exercises a try cos at most it's an hour a week.

NAMASTE

BabyGem's on retail... at Senteurs de Provence (Millenia Walk)

I have finally dived into retail...... My BabyGem watch items are now on sale at a nice quaint little shop called "Senteurs de Provence" at #01-57B Millenia Walk (Tel:63344163).



Elaine, the lady boss who happened to be an ol' college schoolmate was kind enuf to give me some space at her shop to display my pieces. Her opening hours are Mon - Sun: 10.30am - 9.30pm.

More details at my BG blog....do try to go down for a look-see cos Elaine's body cream & french perfumes are to die-for!