The past few months have been fun i must say... having joined the company for a grand total of 7 mths ... I've been to a total of 5 different countries for work and coy organised activities. I mean how shiok is that!

Where i've been to date:

Europe

1. Greece (Piraues & Athens) (3 times)
2. Spain - Barcelona (1 time)
3. Germany - Munich (Stopover)

Asia

1. Korea (Seoul and Pusan) (1 time)
2. Indonesia

I mean its ridiculous ... my virtually non-existent krisflyer points just went through the roof!!!! .... During the weeks where i went to Barcelona - Munich - Greece - Korea ... I went from normal krisflyer to Silver kris in 3 weeks!!!!!!

This is what its all about ... this was everything I wanted and hope for in terms of leaving my previous company ...

And with a supportive wife willing me on ... it doesn't get much better

Here are highlights of my trips (in no particular order)

• Food!!! Inspired by Anthony Bourdain, I set about exploring all the treats that these countries had to offer... And of course the local piss as well... nothing beats ..home brew...(yes even tiger beer when i'm in Singapore)
• Seafood and grilled lamb chops in Greece... Nothing beats a crisp greek white wine to go along with grilled octopus and calamari. And the greek salads! Amazing ...The CHEESE AND OLIVES..how can I forget..although i must say that the local piss Ouzo was damme disappointing ... liquid licourice EWWWWW...
• Tapas in Spain ... fried cod fritters, escargot and the clams and wild crustaceans!!!!!!!
• BBQ in Seoul and Seoju ....wah power!
• SHOPPING! Yes ...
• Cheap as chups stuff in Korea, nice bags and shoes .. and funky t-shirts (although i must say some were candidates for www.engrish.com)
• Barcelona factory outlet... as the wife devoured the Loewe bags cos they were less than half price in Singapore ...I took it upon myself to stock up on my diminshed camper collection ... bought 2 pairs of shoes at 90 - 120 Sgd each! amazing savings of up to 200 sgd per shoe! The best thing about the factory outlet was the free taxi ride for spending more than 300 euros (which between the wife and i was easily accomplished)
• Sights
• The acropolis in athens was magnificent ... a very Zues like moment being up there on the mountains looking at the ruins
• Gaudi architecture in Barcelona ... need i say more ...
• Accomodation
• Nothing memorable in Europe but the 2 hotels i stayed in when i was in Korea was fantastic ... ass warming toilet bowls.... long baths ... endless supply of toiletries from Molton Brown ...heavenly ...

I also have confirmed trips to the following places next year 2009

Europe

1. Greece (Piraues & Athens)
2. Norway (Oslo)
3. Croatia (Dubrovnik)

Asia

1. Hong Kong
2. Taiwan

I've been so Lucky and blessed ...its been a brilliant year for me ...

Bring on 2009!May the recession end soon!

I guess I have always been a true believer when i was a young buck and still fresh from the excesses that adult life does throw in that worn face of yours ..*yes you too ... *

A day before i was scheduled to get my super red Mazda 3 which no. plate btw reads ...488.. yes... i didn't bid for it ...yes fucking lucky bastard... yeah ..Sigh ...I digress..

Anyway, as i said the day before i was scheduled to get the car, i got into an accident while driving the Mazda 6 that i share with my brother ...it all started by me being a nice person ...seriously ..!

Biker stuck at ERP ...I offer to help despite the fact that there was another BMW in front of me before i arrived who obviously doesn't want to bother ... get scoffed in the process.. so i fuck back into my car... security guard comes to take over and motions me to get off the queue and pay at another gantry.... I look back and check my blindspots as any conscientious driver would ... turned on the indicator to signal intent as i reversed .. and the next thing i know ..BANG! ... To my horror, there was a reason why the car behind me was so faraway... it was because.. he was leaving a gap for this other car to get up from the slope beside me ... And all through the time i reversed i did not hear a single honk from the fucker behind me ...or the girl coming up from the slope ..Whatever it is ..its my knock so its my fault...

Moral of the story: It doesn't pay to be nice

Promotional Prospects and the notion that your company appraisal does work ...

That is complete bollocks.... the coy i previously was with, just had their round of appraisals and promotions in an attempt to reward to good ones and try to tell the bad ones through a series of actions such as no promotion or less bonus that they are just not good enough and maybe they should buck up or fuck off...

That's what every appraisal is about right?

Nope... in a sense of good will as well as a show off contemporary management style, ratings discussed privately at management assessment meetings are discussed with each individual by an independent manager (someone who has not worked with u on a project) This is meant to give the minnows a view of what their performance has been the past year

However, when the letters are handed out ... a few of them with mediocre ratings get a promotion and the good ones lose out ..(and this is despite being told their actual grades.) although no substantial correlation can be drawn between the pple who got promoted and who their parents are (yes even in my ex-workplace there are white horses...NOT FAVOURITES .. its WHITE HORSES !!) ... a few of my ex colleagues can't help but speculate.

Moral of the story: what you know doesn't count, its who your mom has a facial with that does... :)

I can take the bumps of life as part of it .. but to hope for justice is like buying the lottery ... ie. u never really win..but if u do the windfall is great.

Cheers!