A Story of An Elm Tree

That is my GOAL in China: To keep my Life & Mind Simple

What do i meant by keeping my life simple:

• That will include , taking bus to work & less of CAB….
• This is quite daunting: To eat home cook food occassionally (that means i must COOK?…for health purpose..I realised i have been having quite a bit of microwave lately..even for lunch in office…
• To “chiong” less & do more drawing and painting on weekends
• To visit and explore art gallery in “private & seluded places”
• This one ..expensive..Find nice Chinese Jazz clubs…
• This one i find it the hardest to achieve: exercise or do yoga 3 times a week..humn.

Wah..quite a list i realised…I have covered…Food…Exercise..Soul…Yah..less WORK on weekend…..Next To keep a simple MIND….

I realised i am someone who is prone to the “Success In one -Minute syndrome”..I keep feeling i am not doing good enough or performing well enough for my work…thus i am telling my self..To keep a simple mind about Success…Instead,i should

• Have a goal what i hope to achieve out of my work in China
• Have a plan how to achieve this goal
• Then ,have an ACtion plan
• Stay committed to this action plan
• But, be flexible to accept changes and keep an open MIND to learning..i get personal sometimes with comments made by people about my work..Stay Professional!
• Have a mind of my own…(this i seriously feel i lack)
• Learn to conclude or make a decision after analysing the pros & cons of the available options
• Never Give up even when i fail….
• Have fun in my WORK…(very important)

 

•  Lastly……Celebrate my success…Pop pop champagne…

 

 

It was meant to be at Minds Cafe, BUT since everyone was late (by at least an hour and only Shuhui was on time) we never got a seat.

Last minute pilots – KC and Huijing. =(
Refuse to land – Uncle Phang =(
Goodness go where – CK =(
Sick at home – Tong Tong =(
Ended up at Coffee Bean and lazed and chat.

Our “decent” chat revolved around Shallene’s work – about how she handled aunties and uncles and banglares to go cleaning for clean rooms, Gabriel’s work – about how he is busy entertaining all the big shots all over Shanghai, Elaine’s work – about how she is starting work at IRAS next Tuesday to be a valuer, Shuhui’s work – about how she is just still bumming around.

Also talked about going back to China, Shanghai, to work and how need to pull strings, etc … to make it happen faster and better.

And … bad service with NTUC … how the staff was more willing to help customer terminate their accounts than facilitate the waiver of a credit card charge. We have “wonderful” service in Singapore!

I’m back in Singapore (again!). I wish I was some place else, but with 1/2 a year of studies left, there remains much for me to complete.

This time Shanghai felt so much different. Ploughing through the streets, once again, feels so familiar and comfortable. There is something about Shanghai that mesmerizes me. Perhaps it’s the vibrancy of the city, perhaps it’s the bright neon lights. Whatever it is, I like Shanghai. Yet, I didn’t think I would have been back this soon. I guess that if you hadn’t returned to work in Shanghai, I might not have come back too. (Of course, I have my dad for the air ticket.)

I really enjoyed my trip to Shanghai this time. Not because of Yiwu (which was HUGE), not because of cheap shopping, not because of massages … I enjoyed this 1 week so very much because I had the wonderful opportunity of spending time with you. Doing simple things – eating Shui Zhu Yu, chilling out at pubs and bars, eating xiao long xia, strolling around xiang yang area – which are so enjoyable and memorable.

So happy that you enjoyed the birthday surprise. Took me some time to strategize the whole thing. What time I needed to leave from what place, who I needed to liase to get into the house, etc … phew! made it! =) (BTW, no one in X-men freezes time. Only the gal in Charmed does.)

I realized on this trip that I don’t always talk that much whenever we are together. Somehow, I just like to feel your presence, hear your voice as you talk. (Easily contented!) Sounds like your uncle and his wife ah. On skype 24/7. Just hear voice and feel precense can liao. heh heh!

To end, thanks again for your time and precense throughout the week. I wish you all the best in your work, best of health and stay happy.

I do hope that the next time I come to Shanghai, hopefully at the end of the year, I would have a different status – working or to be working in Shanghai.

Here’s some pictures to end off:

p.s. Secret Society CD is still with you. I used the copy stored on my laptop to watch that night. Enjoy the show.

Too bad my birthday was on a Friday…so i happily left my laptop in office…no way to write out the wonderful things you did for me on the exact day…21 July 2006..I am in shanghai this year for wat i consider the most important time of my life..in the middle of 20 and 30…i was too tired even to stay a little longer…CJW was great..just the way i like it ..not too loud..on top of 50th storey (skyscaper)..watching the traffic jam on the bustling Shanghai city..while my soul is being taken away by the smooth jazz of this wonderful lady from New York and the wonderful company of you and your brother..who kindly gave me a treat …and of course the surprise call from your dad…the first man to greet me happy birthday…i am happy…with you here to celebrate wat i consider the moment of my life…it was great to have you here with me…on my first week of work…work was def made more exciting..and especially the anticipation of where to chill out and dine after work…it happened all because you made it happen…

Wooden bible: You will def come out with something for me…yes..i love it..very nice..esp the cross…wooden cross..i wanted my cross to be different..and to be something very personal..wood…and the smooth edges of the cross..and the fresh smell of wood..nice, so delicate and filled with so much last minute effort…thanks…it will be something with me on Sunday church service…your blue bible..will be in safe hands..i pray it is ..haha

Minutes ticked as we bade goodbye in the cab…i was tired…minutes to my birthday..but i needed a good rest…back to my uncle’s apartment…showered and dressed in my “branded ” sleepwear from Harrods…it was a gift from London biz trip…then came the call…Edwyn…i hesitated to answer it…but pressed the “green ” logo…and you were on the line…i was expecting the “happy birthday call”..like wat all my frds will do..but i was surprised when u told me you were outside my door…u managed to convince the security man…he must be “touched” by your efforts…hehe..we had our Venue Cliequot Ponsardin..champagne..and my favourite Ichido cake..chocolate fudge..suddenly there was a playback…of my birthday in Shanghai last year..but i brushed it aside..PResent embracethe present…everything seems so beautiful..that seems like my X-man character, can’t rmb..is it Storm?.. had came into power to “freeze” the moment..thanks again..

We did not finish the champagne…nor the cake…it will be for breakfast tml…i duuno what to say for all the things you have done..i see all the effort and appreciate your assistance during your holidays to help me with my new place…i dunno what will happen next..nor is there a need for me to think about what will happen becoz as i always say what will be will be…embrace the present..right…

By the time i finish writing this blog, your SQ flight should have landed safely in Singapore.welcome home…and sob..sob…my secret society CD is in your laptop leh…

 

I believe you msut have touched down..welcome back…for this 1 week holiday..feels different when you are back here the 2nd time..could describe the feeling whne the aircraft landed..well first day of work was ok..reading stuff on my training program and also on some chemicals…teflon…rmb their non-stick pans…

Discussed with Alice on the possiblity of working with them on the training..pray it will turn out well..ok guess u will call me later…back to work…