aN auditor's Monologue

Hope it last.....

1st: 

I got the transfer I badly wanted. Moving on to Strategy team come 1st July for a whole new career with the same firm.

Jealous of my friend's 9 months bonus though; but have to think rationally.

No pay cut, assume the same grade while doing brand new things - what's more to complain?

2nd:

Dear Sir/Mdm,


We are pleased to inform that you have been short listed as an
Official for the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. As an
Official, you will be required to assume roles as volunteers to help
out during the event.

Do REPLY this email with a confirmation that you accept the position
stated above.

Please look out on the website (www.singaporegp.sg) for the updated
training schedule and all other updates. Do note that you should keep
yourself free for the dates mentioned, as all trainings are compulsory
to attend.

All short listed Officials will be required to pass the e-module
before being confirmed. More information on the e-module will be sent
at a later date. Kindly look out for updates through email (and also
in your Junk mail).



Thank you and best regards.

Melissa Pei
On behalf of Race Committee
2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

Good right

Maybe I should buy toto tomorrow. Who noe I might finally get lucky?

Great show and performance by the actors!

Very entertaining, thought provoking and just shiok to hear the vurglarites, sexual connotations and taboo topics

by staying 30 hours straight in office to complete for my listed co client:
1. Clean up the audit files for the 5 entities
2. teleconference with my shanghai counterparts 
3. Complete review of client's consolidation, draft announcement and financial statements

All this while occasionally getting updates from my team on another job and making my way to visit them - boy, i am behaving more and more like a manager.

Anyway I done all that I can - time to sleep,eat and play for the next 4 days, uninterrupt I hope!

Started the new year on leave, then started work for three days before going off for 1.5 weeks of reservists; for that I was nearly squeezed to death by work on those three days.

Reservist was nice......a bit slack but I learnt a bit, catch up with a lot of people, rest and got my IPPT silver.

Just went to Tanya's showcase at Dragonfly - short but veryn good as she sang all my favourite from her latest album plus somemore.....

As usual, there are the wedding and pregnancy announcements, resignations and last days.

Happy new year, one and all.

Resolution for the year is simple......

1. Be happy in all matters

2. Get more life

3. Save money

4. Travel more

That's all, really.....simple isn't it?

Counting down to the remaining of 2007; I will be on leave till 2nd week of Jan proper.

A mixed year, of birth and death, happiness and sadness, accomplishment and failures, as well as work, play and holiday.

I am still at the same job and still clueless about what I want. While I became better at what I am doing, so does level of criticism.

I went holiday thrice this year, San Fran/Las Vegas/Tokyo, Taipei and Shanghai.

I attended more weddings than last year and the same amount of funerals too.

I continued volunteering for events in TAS, while ran my 3rd marathon  at the same time.

Paid my taxes, other dues and did my reservist proper first time.

Other than that, life remains the same.

So Merry christmas and happy new year one and all and in advance, as we bid the year goodbye and welcome a new beginning! 

Hope for the best and peace!

VANESSA HUDGENS - Say OK

You are fine
You are sweet
But I'm still a bit naive with my heart
When you're close I don't breathe
I can't find the words to speak
I feel sparks
But I don't wanna be into you
If you are not looking for true love, oh oh
No I don't wanna start seeing you
If I can't be your only one

[Chorus]
So tell me when it's not alright
When it's not ok
Will you try to make me feel better?
Will you say alright? (say alright)
Will you say ok? (Say ok)
Will you stick with me through whatever?
Or run away
(Say that it's gonna be alright. That it's gonna be ok)
Say Ok.

When you call I don't know if I should pick up the phone every time
I'm not like all my friends who keep calling up the boys, I'm so shy
But I don't wanna be into you
If you don't treat me the right way
See I can only start seeing you
If you can make my heart feel safe (feel safe)

[Chorus]
When it's not alright
When it's not ok
Will you try to make me feel better?
Will you say alright? (say alright)
Will you say ok? (Say ok)
Will you stick with me through whatever?
Or run away
(Say that it's gonna be alright. That it's gonna be ok
Don't run away, don't run away)

Let me know if it's gonna be you
Boy, you've got some things to prove
Let me know that you'll keep me safe
I don't want you to run away so
Let me know that you'll call on time
Let me know that you won't be shy
Will you wipe my tears away
Will you hold me closer

[Chorus]
When it's not alright
When it's not ok
Will you try to make me feel better
Will you say alright? (say alright)
Will you say ok? (Say ok)
Will you stick with me through whatever?
Or run away
(Say that it's gonna be alright. That it's gonna be ok)
Say OK
(Don't run away, don't run away)
(Say that it's gonna be alright. That it's gonna be ok, don't run away)
Will you say OK
(Say that it's gonna be alright. That it's gonna be ok)

From http://hungrykaihong.blogspot.com/


My name is Kai Hong, a close friend and dragon boat team-mate of the late Wei Cheng. I am sure by now, you have heard of the tragic accident in Cambodia 3 weeks ago.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/314549/1/.html

I am honored to have had the opportunity to row with Wei Cheng in both SAFSA as well as the National Team. He was a dedicated paddler who worked hard to reach his goals. This eventually earned him a place in the National squad, despite his lack of prior experience in the sport.

While participating actively in dragonboat, Wei Cheng dedicated much of his remaining time to giving tuition in order to contribute to the family's income. From a tender age, Wei Cheng and his brother, Wei You, have been raised single handedly by their mother, who is currently sourcing for a job with the help of relatives. Wei You recently re-took his 'O' Levels and is hoping to enter a local Polytechnic with his grades. He will be working part-time to bear some of the family's financial burden, which his brother had so painstakingly bourne these few years.

I understand that most of you have probably attended the recent wake and have already given "white money" to the family. However, with the "season of giving" just around the corner, I'm trying to arrange for a second round of donations for the family, hoping to offer what aid we can to help mother and son tide over this extremely difficult time. No obligations here. If you feel that you have given as much help as you could, it is ok.

After some discussions with Wei Cheng's cousin, we have jointly decided that cheques would be the most efficient method of facilitating these donations. Even if you are unable to write a cheque, I hope you can approach your parents and see if they would like to extend their help in this. My team-mates and I are organising this to provide an avenue for those who wish to extend their aid to the Chee family, but do not know where and how.

You will have my assurance that all donations will be documented, and that the FULL proceeds will be handed to Mdm Chee. We are doing this for we believe that Wei Cheng, being the filial son that he was, would not want his brother and mother to have to bear the weight of his departure.

For those who would want to donate a substantial amount to the family, please either reply to this message,contact me at kee_heng@hotmail.com or 96461072. Details on how to donate will be disclosed to you privately. I hope to be able to collect all donations during the 3rd week of this month, which is 17th to 22nd December 2007.

I'm not sure of the response to this, but I thank you for reading this, and hope we can all do our part to help the family.

Yours Sincerely,
Chian Kai Hong

To Eugene and the five dragonboaters:

Don't think its no longer a issue of whether I know you or we could have keep in contact more often.

You guys should be safe on the other side. You shall be missed fondly by all of us

I guess a lot of us will take some time before moving on. But we must, for their sake, to have the courage to carry on and to continue remember them for what they have been.

On a personal note, I dedicate portion of my current favourite song to the six of you -

当你离开的时候 by Tanya蔡健雅

As usual, have been busy with work.....that's what happen when your portfolio has only one year-end. Its all planning now and all interim work in a few weeks time and Peak starts from Jan all the way till Mid May before I go off for my usual 4 weeks break.

Anyway, besides work, its immersing ourselves with gossips and politics at work, bidding farewell to good colleagues and manager while asking why am I still here and training for the marathon.

------------------------------------------
In the midst of all this, I went for a short break to Taipei for 4 days three weeks back. It was right in the midst of mid-Autumn festival and everyone was barbecuing. Weather was warm but great for walk. 

The flight via SQ was great and service was impeccable. Thank goodness for the special fare offer. The Hotel I stayed in (http://www.tshotel.com.tw/) at Ximenting was also a good deal.

The food was great and I did get my shopping fixed via the bookshops (Eslite and Page One), Nike and Adidas. I even watched Lust, Caution on the night before I came back. Skipped much of the tourist attraction and instead, went to the temple to see the crowds, to the shopping district around Taipei 101, went for 2 nite markets and see the sunset at Danshui, after hot spring at Beitou. The MRT's real convenient to get around.

And guess what, I was on the same plane as Wong Lee Hom when he flew in to promote his album.

----------------------------------------------------

Really getting tired of work but at the end of the day, no job has come to date that matches what I am doing, or so when I found myself promoting the firm and job at the NTU networking night last friday. I did not lie but simply told what I think was true......that I have no regrets and the time hasn't not come yet, even though the market is good. I told them to look beyord money and think about it as investing on your future.

Even when I am not exactly feeling great and being overlooked.

Enough said; time to save up again. 

The actual start to my running calendar.....the Passion run earlier last month don;t really count lah.

The Good:

1. Despite not able to train properly due to work, still managed to complete the run in under 2.5 hours.
2. The route was better than last year where there was the attempt to bring us into the city area and not closing off the roads. The route this year is definitely simpler to grasp and the roads are closed to give us more space to run.
3. Location. Well its new and paved, not the usual grass patches which given weather these days, should be muddy.

The bad:
1. The location - the layout this year not very good. The booths are all over place and someone ought to be shot by placing the safra booth right in front of the baggage counters.
2. The baggage counters of course. Maybe as a result of the stupid decision to locate the safra booth in front of baggage the counters, there was only a single quene to get to the open area in front of the counters to get our bags. Imagine having to stand on quene after running 21KM, with no water and when reaching to the counters, have to wait like striking lottery before you can get your bags. It chaotic and disappointing. Knew they tried their best but this was too much. I took 2.5 hours to get my bags - the same time I took to run my 21 km.....add that and you get a full marathon.

Of course, sad to hear someone pass away after reaching the end point. Think all eyes should be on the Aviva Ironman next week. Its gonna be another tiring week for me since I will be volunteering as usual.

Fabulous concert!

Better than Christina - more energy, less polish, great audience and truly a concert where I stood nearly the whole time and dancing along.

Plus the fact that she went into the audience; I got a very upclose shot of her and she was within reach of me!

Plus the fact that pre-concert, you get to see her hubby Gavin Rosdale bring Kingston (her child) out for a walk around the stadium. He never refuses being photograph, of course.

All this for 200 bucks (not the front rows but stlll not too far and high up back).

Next up , Cheer Chen, Sammi or Amei???

Gravity
If gravity let us go
We would all go flying
And I'll meet you somewhere in the milky night
Away past the satellites

The breeze is dressed so lightly
And it breathes onto this fire escape
Where all our secrets melt like ice
Leaving only water

Night will close us down
And change the view
And I'll promise you what I can
I forget myself when I'm with you
Please remind me who I am

Dancing like a landslide
Swinging round the living room
We fall like sudden rain from sullen skies
Singing to the radio's tune

Say my name aloud
And make it new
And I'll promise you what I can
I forget myself when I'm with you
Please remind me who I am

Day so soon, hear all the traffic move
The sirens all fill this room till we both have to shout
From the road, watching the stars explode
You and I breathe so slow
How strange the sound  

----------------------------------------------------------

Beautiful Collision
What a beautiful collision
Things that go bump in the night
With such beautiful precision
Fate could create you and I

Do you know what it means
To abandon your dreams?
To leave with the storms rolling by
How the clouds on this day
Come to take you away
Til you're gone gone far away from me

Beautiful beautiful night
What a beautifully dangerous ride
What a beautiful day we could hardly complain about
What's going on in the sky

What a beautiful collision
Things that go bump in the night
With such beautiful precision
Fate could create you and I

Do you know what it means
To abandon your dreams?
To leave with the storms rolling by
How the clouds on this day
Come to take you away
Til you're gone gone far away from me

Beautiful beautiful night
What a beautifully dangerous ride
What a beautiful day we could hardly complain about
What's going on in the sky

Move with the strangers
That pass through your days
If someone by chance 
Should call out your name
When you're lost in the places you don't care to stay
A blinding romance to blow you away