A quarter down
Without knowing, I just got my third paycheck since I started work. Time seems to be passing pretty fast when there's a routine in place. Or is it the other way round? Since I haven't been updating for a long time, I guess I could make this one a longer one.
First up, a reflection. Dear does this all the time for her school work but when you know your essay is being graded. you tend not to pen down stuff truthfully. For my case, let's review my work so far shall we? To date, I feel that my job is great. I like the what I'm doing, the pay's OK, the people are nice and the environment is pretty neat. The only shortcoming I can think of is that this job is not a permanent one. But hey, life's gotta be fair somehow, right? Besides, I'm believe I'm the rare few who can proclaim loudly, "I love my job!". If you can do so too, then my heartiest congratulations to you too.
I've learnt a lot on job. After one re-org and countless meetings, I begin to understand things much better and able to relate them to what I've studied. What is espoused in those thick management books are actually being played out in real, not word for word though but close enough. During my academic projects, all I could do was to provide recommendations and possible solutions to the problem but never able to see them in action. So, it's pretty interesting to see people trying the theories and management styles out, even if I'm not the one implementing them.
This past week has been a tiring one. Not because of work but due to the daily meetings I have to attend. You see, I'm part of a crack team that is newly formed to tackle some of the perennial problems plaguing the department. The 7 of us - 4 from the local office, 1 each from India, Australia and China - has met everyday - for the whole day - for the past week. Sure, my work and contribution is low as compared to the rest but when they get tired, the fatigue is as infectious as the bubonic plague. I'm glad it's over, for I think it's an apt time for the team to take a break and get back to our normal work.
Oh, speaking of normal work, I heard they are going to hire another person to share my load. I do hope they get someone at least as competent as me, if not better. The last thing I want is to nanny some noob and coach him/her on VBA AND doing my work simultaneously. Which brings me to another point. My contract's down to three-quarters left and I think it's time I start thinking my next course of action soon.
Second, some general updates. Life for me is pretty routine these days. Work, work out, repeat. Oh, did I mention I just resumed working out? On odd days, I jog at the park and on even days, I do weights at home. Say, the 5kg weights are not really effective anymore. I think I really need to head down to a gym, work out my 1-repetition-max and begin training from there. So far, my real progress is getting back my six-pack (yeah!) and improving my stamina by little.
Oh yeah, dinner at the Straits Kitchen was pretty neat last night. I usually don't give much respect to restaurants selling local fare, as I regard those as lame attempts to emulate the true blue local food but Straits Kitchen changed my opinion. I didn't try everything, though I think it's very much possible to have a go at the entire offering. Here's what I have, in order of precedence:
1. Fried rice
2. Fried buns
3. Carrot cake
4. Mini Buddha-jump-over-the-wall
5. Roast duck
6. Chilli crab
7. Fried kway teow
8. Laksa
9. Apple juice
10. Assorted pastries
11. A single seed of some kind of fruit which I have never seen nor tasted in my entire life.
Of the above, I only liked items 1, 2, 3 and 4. Sure, I have eaten better local fare elsewhere and for a much cheaper price, the above-mentioned items lived up to my expectations. I have to say that the crab was not as fresh as I wanted it to be. The flesh was dry and brittle and I felt that the strong chilli sauce was merely a cover to disguise the lack of freshness. As for the laksa, the taste of coconut milk was overpowering and left me a funny aftertaste.
As the saying goes, looks are deceiving and this cannot be any more true for the fried kway teow. Despite its delicious looks, it was anything but tasty. An apparent lack of lavish dark sweet sauce was enough to condemn the dish. Coupled with the lack of pork lard, the dish has definitely earned itself a place in my "food not to eat ever again" list. To put it simply, fried kway teow without pork lard is to going to Rome without entering the Colosseum.
I didn't manage to try the salad and Indian food, so if I'm going there the next time, I'm definitely going give those 2 a shot. Apart from the food, I must also commend on the service. The staff greeted us as we walked to our table (probably because there were 9 of us) and they were very efficient in clearing the used crockery from the table.
Would I recommend this place? Sure, why not? There is a good mix of food and the ambience is nice. But if you are looking to maximize your dollar by going only for the high value items, don't bother. For goodness sake, the stuff that is being offered is all local fare! What high value items are there to speak of, when it comes to local food?
I guess that's quite enough for now. Till tomorrow then! Ermm.... Or rather, the next time I feel like writing again.
First up, a reflection. Dear does this all the time for her school work but when you know your essay is being graded. you tend not to pen down stuff truthfully. For my case, let's review my work so far shall we? To date, I feel that my job is great. I like the what I'm doing, the pay's OK, the people are nice and the environment is pretty neat. The only shortcoming I can think of is that this job is not a permanent one. But hey, life's gotta be fair somehow, right? Besides, I'm believe I'm the rare few who can proclaim loudly, "I love my job!". If you can do so too, then my heartiest congratulations to you too.
I've learnt a lot on job. After one re-org and countless meetings, I begin to understand things much better and able to relate them to what I've studied. What is espoused in those thick management books are actually being played out in real, not word for word though but close enough. During my academic projects, all I could do was to provide recommendations and possible solutions to the problem but never able to see them in action. So, it's pretty interesting to see people trying the theories and management styles out, even if I'm not the one implementing them.
This past week has been a tiring one. Not because of work but due to the daily meetings I have to attend. You see, I'm part of a crack team that is newly formed to tackle some of the perennial problems plaguing the department. The 7 of us - 4 from the local office, 1 each from India, Australia and China - has met everyday - for the whole day - for the past week. Sure, my work and contribution is low as compared to the rest but when they get tired, the fatigue is as infectious as the bubonic plague. I'm glad it's over, for I think it's an apt time for the team to take a break and get back to our normal work.
Oh, speaking of normal work, I heard they are going to hire another person to share my load. I do hope they get someone at least as competent as me, if not better. The last thing I want is to nanny some noob and coach him/her on VBA AND doing my work simultaneously. Which brings me to another point. My contract's down to three-quarters left and I think it's time I start thinking my next course of action soon.
Second, some general updates. Life for me is pretty routine these days. Work, work out, repeat. Oh, did I mention I just resumed working out? On odd days, I jog at the park and on even days, I do weights at home. Say, the 5kg weights are not really effective anymore. I think I really need to head down to a gym, work out my 1-repetition-max and begin training from there. So far, my real progress is getting back my six-pack (yeah!) and improving my stamina by little.
Oh yeah, dinner at the Straits Kitchen was pretty neat last night. I usually don't give much respect to restaurants selling local fare, as I regard those as lame attempts to emulate the true blue local food but Straits Kitchen changed my opinion. I didn't try everything, though I think it's very much possible to have a go at the entire offering. Here's what I have, in order of precedence:
1. Fried rice
2. Fried buns
3. Carrot cake
4. Mini Buddha-jump-over-the-wall
5. Roast duck
6. Chilli crab
7. Fried kway teow
8. Laksa
9. Apple juice
10. Assorted pastries
11. A single seed of some kind of fruit which I have never seen nor tasted in my entire life.
Of the above, I only liked items 1, 2, 3 and 4. Sure, I have eaten better local fare elsewhere and for a much cheaper price, the above-mentioned items lived up to my expectations. I have to say that the crab was not as fresh as I wanted it to be. The flesh was dry and brittle and I felt that the strong chilli sauce was merely a cover to disguise the lack of freshness. As for the laksa, the taste of coconut milk was overpowering and left me a funny aftertaste.
As the saying goes, looks are deceiving and this cannot be any more true for the fried kway teow. Despite its delicious looks, it was anything but tasty. An apparent lack of lavish dark sweet sauce was enough to condemn the dish. Coupled with the lack of pork lard, the dish has definitely earned itself a place in my "food not to eat ever again" list. To put it simply, fried kway teow without pork lard is to going to Rome without entering the Colosseum.
I didn't manage to try the salad and Indian food, so if I'm going there the next time, I'm definitely going give those 2 a shot. Apart from the food, I must also commend on the service. The staff greeted us as we walked to our table (probably because there were 9 of us) and they were very efficient in clearing the used crockery from the table.
Would I recommend this place? Sure, why not? There is a good mix of food and the ambience is nice. But if you are looking to maximize your dollar by going only for the high value items, don't bother. For goodness sake, the stuff that is being offered is all local fare! What high value items are there to speak of, when it comes to local food?
I guess that's quite enough for now. Till tomorrow then! Ermm.... Or rather, the next time I feel like writing again.
Labels: reflection
posted by hg @ 21:44
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