I've been re-sharpening my skills in integrated marketing, over the past 2 weeks i've consumed more information than your average university geek. i now have THE plan to launch a full scale awarness campaign for the brand i'm managing all over Europa. I'd love to divulge some of this, but hey, some of my secrets will remain my secrets...
One thing though, it is a sorrowful thing that almost every part of our lives are capitalised through and through. Everything has been done, every path has been tread. Every thought and idea that you conceive, you can be sure that somewhere, some marketeer has done some planning to make sure that he makes money out of what you want to do.
Love to travel? You've got STA, thousands of airlines, youth hostels and adventure tour agencies hot on your heels. Love to party? You've got pubs, beers, wines and clubs devising some "fun" thing to part you with your money. Love extreme sports? You've got snowboard distributors, clothing and equipment manufacturers trying to convince you that their product offers the best in quality and protection. Wanna be an anti-capitalist? You've got white label brands that are merely a branch of a mainstream brand that is marketing to you without you even knowing it.
Privacy is a thing of the past. You mentality is being deconstructed by someone, somewhere all the time.
Honesty is a relic of a time long past. Presentation and packaging is the now. Don't believe me? Look at your girl/boyfriend, see how well he/she has sold him/herself to you...
The person that i'm not, is the person that I am.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Wheee!!!
Snowing heaps again! I've been skiing my way to the office! heheheh...snow and ice everywhere and everything's white!! damn, where's the camera when you need one?
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
There's no such band as The Monkees!! They don't exist!!
Heavy snow showers are reported all over England, especially Essex where I live! We've got about 8cm of snowfall last night! Which is all well and good, except for the fact that it's an arse to try to walk to work in the slushy snow/ice mix. The squirrels don't seem to mind it though... heheheheh....
There's a snow boarding event in Austria in March that some of you guys would be so jealous if i told you i was going. It's a music gig cum snowboarding freestyle competition/display for a week! I may want to visit it for the week end, it's only about $200 from where I am...now if i could just get my hands on a snowboard set... check it out, it's at: www.snowbomb.com or www.snowbombing.com
And then there's the U2 Europe tour! I'm thinking of either Manchester or Brussels, although Brussels would be a better idea cause i can stay with my cousin for a bit.
Other than all that, the week has been pretty good. Getting settled down at work, learning as much as I can about the products and trying to pull together an aggressive marketing plan that's poised to take Europe by storm. If i can pull that off...heh,heh... my name WILL go down in history!
But for now, I gotta deal with this hunger developing in the darkest recesses of my stomach.
Cheers.
There's a snow boarding event in Austria in March that some of you guys would be so jealous if i told you i was going. It's a music gig cum snowboarding freestyle competition/display for a week! I may want to visit it for the week end, it's only about $200 from where I am...now if i could just get my hands on a snowboard set... check it out, it's at: www.snowbomb.com or www.snowbombing.com
And then there's the U2 Europe tour! I'm thinking of either Manchester or Brussels, although Brussels would be a better idea cause i can stay with my cousin for a bit.
Other than all that, the week has been pretty good. Getting settled down at work, learning as much as I can about the products and trying to pull together an aggressive marketing plan that's poised to take Europe by storm. If i can pull that off...heh,heh... my name WILL go down in history!
But for now, I gotta deal with this hunger developing in the darkest recesses of my stomach.
Cheers.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Sneaking a note from work.
I get my own laptop! No more dodgy computers at the library with dubious people, i get internet services at the comfort of my desk!
I got sick last night, a mild fever, and i've got myself to blame. I haven't been wearing proper clothes since i've started work, and i haven't come to acknowledge the fact that you cannot wear just a shirt and tie and a jacket, i got frozen to death while waiting over 20 mins at the station for the trains. It's not just a little cold... it's bloody painful! I feel a lot better today after a good sleep and Panadols.
Alright, really shouldn't be here any longer, gotta get back to work!
I got sick last night, a mild fever, and i've got myself to blame. I haven't been wearing proper clothes since i've started work, and i haven't come to acknowledge the fact that you cannot wear just a shirt and tie and a jacket, i got frozen to death while waiting over 20 mins at the station for the trains. It's not just a little cold... it's bloody painful! I feel a lot better today after a good sleep and Panadols.
Alright, really shouldn't be here any longer, gotta get back to work!
Friday, February 11, 2005
YESS!!!! I GOT THE JOB!!!!
I've finally got myself into that MarComm role in the ink product company!! Why am i so excited? Well, let's see :
1.) I get to build a relationship with all (well, most of) the media houses in England, thus creating oppertunities for myself in future media positions.
2.) I get to write/publish articles and press releases on a regular basis, thus building a portfolio for my future career in professional journalism.
3.) If i can get good promotional publicity for this company here and in the Far East, I will have got a powerful model to show in my C.V.
4.) I could get a work permit for another 2 years, thus leading to a Resident visa!
yes! yes! yes! yes! yes!
So the journey to work may be a little far (Woodford > Stratford > Barking > National Rail, Westham > National Rail, Rainham = 1 1/2 hrs), but it'll be well worth it, furthermore, if (i dare) drive my car, it's only a half hour away.
So far everything has been falling into place, as according to my game-plan. And.... je suis apprendre parlez le Francais !!! Yes! I'm also taking a course in French! Comment cava? ...tres bien!
Until then....au revoir messiures-dames!!
1.) I get to build a relationship with all (well, most of) the media houses in England, thus creating oppertunities for myself in future media positions.
2.) I get to write/publish articles and press releases on a regular basis, thus building a portfolio for my future career in professional journalism.
3.) If i can get good promotional publicity for this company here and in the Far East, I will have got a powerful model to show in my C.V.
4.) I could get a work permit for another 2 years, thus leading to a Resident visa!
yes! yes! yes! yes! yes!
So the journey to work may be a little far (Woodford > Stratford > Barking > National Rail, Westham > National Rail, Rainham = 1 1/2 hrs), but it'll be well worth it, furthermore, if (i dare) drive my car, it's only a half hour away.
So far everything has been falling into place, as according to my game-plan. And.... je suis apprendre parlez le Francais !!! Yes! I'm also taking a course in French! Comment cava? ...tres bien!
Until then....au revoir messiures-dames!!
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Chinese New Year : 0900hrs, Leytonstone Library
So this is the Lunar New Year eh? It sure don't feel like it, i've only seen one advertisment in the tube stations announcing that there's gonna be an event at Leicester Square, but apart from that, nothing! At least i got a phone call from Dad at 3am this morning telling me that everyone has come over to visit. Yeah, that's right. Have fun when i'm not around. Bleah. Looks like no red packets for me! You guys back home may feel free to transact the money directly into my account! I can do a virtual "pai nian" via the internet! heheheheheh....
We had a barbeque a couple of nights ago. Guess we must be the only freaks having a barbeque right in the middle of winter! It was so cold we needed two fires going, one for the food, and the other for the heat! We had to raid the whole neighbourhood for discarded pieces of furniture to burn... and i made a pretty mean steak! Not me really, it was my housemate, Mr. Pieter Vieres who did most of the cooking...
I've applied for a role in Public Relations for an ink-refill company, i hope it'll pull through, for now, i've managed to impress them with my portfolio and communications plan for what i can do for them. I gotta keep my fingers crossed, with any luck, I should be hearing from them again at the end of the week.
Ah well, as the Cockneys would say : See ya later, alligator!
We had a barbeque a couple of nights ago. Guess we must be the only freaks having a barbeque right in the middle of winter! It was so cold we needed two fires going, one for the food, and the other for the heat! We had to raid the whole neighbourhood for discarded pieces of furniture to burn... and i made a pretty mean steak! Not me really, it was my housemate, Mr. Pieter Vieres who did most of the cooking...
I've applied for a role in Public Relations for an ink-refill company, i hope it'll pull through, for now, i've managed to impress them with my portfolio and communications plan for what i can do for them. I gotta keep my fingers crossed, with any luck, I should be hearing from them again at the end of the week.
Ah well, as the Cockneys would say : See ya later, alligator!
Monday, February 07, 2005
Winters. Cold. Brrr.
3 more days to the Lunar New Year!! Bah! Humbug! heh, heh.... guess i'll have to miss out on those little red packets of joy this year...sigh, no windfall for me i guess... and i'll miss out on that fab delicous reunion dinner too. I remembered that I was over at Hui's place last year for r. dinner round 2, i guess this year i'll just buy a packet of cheap mackerel and a cabbage and make myself a sad story of a Yu Sheng. I may pop by Leicester Square to check out the Chinese New Year celebrations here, but i'm sure that it'll be nothing like the ones back home.
Anyway, i've been thinking hard... i now have several options available to me after my visa for the U.K expires.
1.) Get a work permit to extend my stay (and thereafter becoming resident)
2.) Migrate to Belgium and becoming a member of the E.E.C (and live on in Britain)
3.) Move on to Canada
4.) Move on to the U.S of A
5.) Go back to Singapore and raise a family (jEaH....RIGHT!!)
Decisions, decisions....and i'm now on the hunt for the job that puts me in the line that i really desire to be in *whoops, better not let my boss hear bout this...heheheh....*
Edmund (Sim) just bought himself a car, i'm glad that my friends are doing well back home, it's like one of those things... you're here cold and wondering what the hell you're doing freezing your ass off in the Far West, while your friends are crafting careers and making big bucks. Ah well, to each his own. I'm not any worse off and i am having the time of my life... now the only thing that's missing is that elusive girlfriend that we all seek for...where could she be hiding? In the towering cities of England? Or in the green country side of Ireland....perhaps i'll find her fishing around the Lochs of Scotland... Or maybe, just maybe... she may be there in the Lion City after all...
*ahem* excuse me, Feb 14th is coming up, all that marketing happening out there is just driving me nuts....
anyway...till again...
Anyway, i've been thinking hard... i now have several options available to me after my visa for the U.K expires.
1.) Get a work permit to extend my stay (and thereafter becoming resident)
2.) Migrate to Belgium and becoming a member of the E.E.C (and live on in Britain)
3.) Move on to Canada
4.) Move on to the U.S of A
5.) Go back to Singapore and raise a family (jEaH....RIGHT!!)
Decisions, decisions....and i'm now on the hunt for the job that puts me in the line that i really desire to be in *whoops, better not let my boss hear bout this...heheheh....*
Edmund (Sim) just bought himself a car, i'm glad that my friends are doing well back home, it's like one of those things... you're here cold and wondering what the hell you're doing freezing your ass off in the Far West, while your friends are crafting careers and making big bucks. Ah well, to each his own. I'm not any worse off and i am having the time of my life... now the only thing that's missing is that elusive girlfriend that we all seek for...where could she be hiding? In the towering cities of England? Or in the green country side of Ireland....perhaps i'll find her fishing around the Lochs of Scotland... Or maybe, just maybe... she may be there in the Lion City after all...
*ahem* excuse me, Feb 14th is coming up, all that marketing happening out there is just driving me nuts....
anyway...till again...
Friday, January 28, 2005
Moind the gap between the train and the platform.
*Blows the dust off the blog*
It's been so long since the updates, and you know why? I've been working 14hour days everyday....with only a couple of hours sleep in between. It's scary walking home at night after I knock off, so i went to get a car...yes...that's right, i'm now the unhappy owner of a Ford Fiesta 1992 model. It's a wreck, it's fit for the junk yard and i'm afraid of taking it on public roads. The fuel injector's jammed, the water pipe's burst and it won't move from halt without heavy accelerating. It has side mirrors missing and it's blue. But nevertheless, it's my car!! haha, not to worry, i've got my eyes set on a Mazda MX5 now!! It's only about a thousand quid....but ah well...
I was doing stock checks at an American military base last week, and boy, these guys are paranoid, about everything. Raise your handphone as if you were about to take a picture and get ready to be arrested for spying. Park your car outside the camp, and you might as well dress up as bin laden.
I'm learning how to cook too! At least now i know how to properly handle my ingredients and how to use strange spices like...like...well...strange spices...heheheh...
Okiedo, times up, gotta run, update later y'all!!
It's been so long since the updates, and you know why? I've been working 14hour days everyday....with only a couple of hours sleep in between. It's scary walking home at night after I knock off, so i went to get a car...yes...that's right, i'm now the unhappy owner of a Ford Fiesta 1992 model. It's a wreck, it's fit for the junk yard and i'm afraid of taking it on public roads. The fuel injector's jammed, the water pipe's burst and it won't move from halt without heavy accelerating. It has side mirrors missing and it's blue. But nevertheless, it's my car!! haha, not to worry, i've got my eyes set on a Mazda MX5 now!! It's only about a thousand quid....but ah well...
I was doing stock checks at an American military base last week, and boy, these guys are paranoid, about everything. Raise your handphone as if you were about to take a picture and get ready to be arrested for spying. Park your car outside the camp, and you might as well dress up as bin laden.
I'm learning how to cook too! At least now i know how to properly handle my ingredients and how to use strange spices like...like...well...strange spices...heheheh...
Okiedo, times up, gotta run, update later y'all!!
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
New year. New everything. Bah humbug.
News about the tsunami everywhere... sometimes, when there is too much media coverage on any topic, it has this numbing effect on a person. 10 people die, it's tragic, 10 000 people die, it's a disaster...but now, it's 150000 swept off into the deep blue, it seems like no more than a statistic to me. I'm not cold or evil or anything, but apart from giving money (and you can't help but wonder if these people on the streets collecting money are genuine or not), what more can you do? I just thank God that I do not know anyone personally from these places. And I still find it amazing that Singapore didn't even feel the ground shake even though we're right smack in the middle of this chaos! Ah well, exciting things like this never happen in the city of cleen and green....
...and I started the New Year!! A good chance to start everything on a clean slate. Everyone's doing New Year's resoloutions, i'll join the crowd and start one too! Here goes:
- Take up an advanced course in communications
- Learn French
- Learn to bloody cook...decently.
- Cancel all subscriptions to UK FHM. I'm kidding. Or am I?
That's on top of advancing my job and finally move into a studio apartment by the end of the year.
See, that's another exciting thing. If i manage to get myself a work permit, and live here for 4 years, I can apply for an "Indefinate leave to stay" visa. That's legalese for Permanent Resident!! Now isn't that just dandy! This ice box could just become home for me! Ah well...
How did I spend New Year's eve? Like 8 million other people, I marched myself right into the middle of Trafalgar Square. Bloody nightmare, must make mental note never to go there ever again. Not on New Year's eve at least. Every street out there is crammed packed shoulder-to-shoulder, wall-to-wall with people!! And the public roads are all closed for people to squeeze themselves in!! Man, should taken some pictures to post up here!!
And I finally got a place to stay as well, I'm living on Woodford Green now (Zone 4 on the Central Line), nice little room, pathetic shower, shared kitchen... it's a nice place, but not somewhere that i'd stay for too long... ah...money, money, money... it'd be nice to have more of those £££ so that i can move to somewhere a little nicer...
Cold, dark and lonely....urgh...I long for some of Palawan Beach!! ...or Majorca!! ...beach...any beach....must have beach now...must...
...and I started the New Year!! A good chance to start everything on a clean slate. Everyone's doing New Year's resoloutions, i'll join the crowd and start one too! Here goes:
- Take up an advanced course in communications
- Learn French
- Learn to bloody cook...decently.
- Cancel all subscriptions to UK FHM. I'm kidding. Or am I?
That's on top of advancing my job and finally move into a studio apartment by the end of the year.
See, that's another exciting thing. If i manage to get myself a work permit, and live here for 4 years, I can apply for an "Indefinate leave to stay" visa. That's legalese for Permanent Resident!! Now isn't that just dandy! This ice box could just become home for me! Ah well...
How did I spend New Year's eve? Like 8 million other people, I marched myself right into the middle of Trafalgar Square. Bloody nightmare, must make mental note never to go there ever again. Not on New Year's eve at least. Every street out there is crammed packed shoulder-to-shoulder, wall-to-wall with people!! And the public roads are all closed for people to squeeze themselves in!! Man, should taken some pictures to post up here!!
And I finally got a place to stay as well, I'm living on Woodford Green now (Zone 4 on the Central Line), nice little room, pathetic shower, shared kitchen... it's a nice place, but not somewhere that i'd stay for too long... ah...money, money, money... it'd be nice to have more of those £££ so that i can move to somewhere a little nicer...
Cold, dark and lonely....urgh...I long for some of Palawan Beach!! ...or Majorca!! ...beach...any beach....must have beach now...must...
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
What's this white stuff from the sky?
It's snowing!! yeah...how cool is that? ah well, it's time to make breakfast... gonna go romp around town later!
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Reflections : what was, what could have been, what is yet to come...
It's one of those surreal days. The moment when you reflect on what has happened in the course of the year...what was, what could have been....what will happen in future. I started 2004 with the intention to FINALLY get FINISHED on my studies (which i managed to do! Praise the Lord!!), to start on a few more projects - namely the anti multilevel marketing one, the sports car feature and various printing/design projects... i've completed the anti MLM book, albeit not printed yet, never made it to the car mod book and did a couple of projects with Edmund (Sim)... but NEVER, EVER had i have had the slightest inkling of an idea that I would be bloody living in England!!
Let's see what happened in the year so far :
January : Sports Extreme Singapore was released, spent most of my time distributing to customers, associates and benefactors....
February : Started working on the other project for Harry, got jobs for other design and marketing projects.
March : School starts, intensive studying for Advertising Management.
April : Had a go at Walton International selling land space in Canada. Hooked up with Edmund to do more marketing/advertising projects, got some deals with sports companies.
May : Spent a lot of time visiting the LTA, URA, HDB to try and clear some traffic summons... started term 2 of school; Social Psychology, Linguistics, Human Mass Comm and Dynamics of Mass Comm.
June : Met Angela on 3rd of June over a meeting with Ski Ventures, met her again soon after for drinks at Mitre Hotel (yeah, the old scruffy thing). Celebrated my birthday at Palawan beach, had a barbeque with Edmund...and a whole bunch of other people.
July : Spent a lot of time in the Courts trying to settle my car parking fines. Exams are due this month.
August : Arranged for a snowboard trip to Melbourne, changed my plans from Falls Creek to Mt. Hotham instead. Started Term 3, with subjects like : Television/Radio production, Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising.
September : Been going to do reservist a lot, Remedial Training, Recalls...blah, blah. Preparing for my London trip... wanted to go to Australia initially, but they don't give out working holiday visas to Singaporeans. The Australian economy is doing real well i suppose, so they've got to control entry of foreigners.
October : Nothing much, clearing exams, projects and preps for my trip.
November : Farewell to South East Asia! Hello Northern Hemisphere!
December : Mad rush with the Syon stint, getting acquinted with London...and here I am in this room in Kroonlan writing a summary of the year!
Merry Christmas to one and all! The year has been kind to me, generally. Late nights of coffee with Eugene, Alvin, Edmund, Yi Qian at random places like Bedok Nrth Coffeeshop, Marine Parade coffeeshop, Toa Payoh coffeeshop...Ah..i miss all these places...Simpang...hougang...Upper Serangoon nasi lemak....mnmmmmm.... prata at jalan kayu!! arrrrgh!!!! it's no point if i get to make them here, it's just not the same atmosphere!! the heat...the noise... the smell of car emissions mixed with the fragrance of your food...mmmmm....
Let's see what happened in the year so far :
January : Sports Extreme Singapore was released, spent most of my time distributing to customers, associates and benefactors....
February : Started working on the other project for Harry, got jobs for other design and marketing projects.
March : School starts, intensive studying for Advertising Management.
April : Had a go at Walton International selling land space in Canada. Hooked up with Edmund to do more marketing/advertising projects, got some deals with sports companies.
May : Spent a lot of time visiting the LTA, URA, HDB to try and clear some traffic summons... started term 2 of school; Social Psychology, Linguistics, Human Mass Comm and Dynamics of Mass Comm.
June : Met Angela on 3rd of June over a meeting with Ski Ventures, met her again soon after for drinks at Mitre Hotel (yeah, the old scruffy thing). Celebrated my birthday at Palawan beach, had a barbeque with Edmund...and a whole bunch of other people.
July : Spent a lot of time in the Courts trying to settle my car parking fines. Exams are due this month.
August : Arranged for a snowboard trip to Melbourne, changed my plans from Falls Creek to Mt. Hotham instead. Started Term 3, with subjects like : Television/Radio production, Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising.
September : Been going to do reservist a lot, Remedial Training, Recalls...blah, blah. Preparing for my London trip... wanted to go to Australia initially, but they don't give out working holiday visas to Singaporeans. The Australian economy is doing real well i suppose, so they've got to control entry of foreigners.
October : Nothing much, clearing exams, projects and preps for my trip.
November : Farewell to South East Asia! Hello Northern Hemisphere!
December : Mad rush with the Syon stint, getting acquinted with London...and here I am in this room in Kroonlan writing a summary of the year!
Merry Christmas to one and all! The year has been kind to me, generally. Late nights of coffee with Eugene, Alvin, Edmund, Yi Qian at random places like Bedok Nrth Coffeeshop, Marine Parade coffeeshop, Toa Payoh coffeeshop...Ah..i miss all these places...Simpang...hougang...Upper Serangoon nasi lemak....mnmmmmm.... prata at jalan kayu!! arrrrgh!!!! it's no point if i get to make them here, it's just not the same atmosphere!! the heat...the noise... the smell of car emissions mixed with the fragrance of your food...mmmmm....
Friday, December 24, 2004
Location check : Belgium, Brussels
Madam, monsiuer...bonjour... met vriendelijke groeten...
It's so weird to be in Eurpe, everything is topsy turvy!! To start with, they drive on the left hand of the vehicle, then there's this strange keyboard that i have to deal with... you know how the traditional keyboard starts on the left with QWERTY ? this stupid keyboard starts with AZERTY... and all the other keys are misplaced...can't find all the bloody punctuations!! Had to change the configuration to US 101 to suit my fingers...
Oh, by the way, some of the people mentioned here will sound strange to my Singaporean pals, but you know who you are you ....you SYON PIKES!!!! I CONT HEEAR YU!!! KEEP MAKING PARTY!! MAKE LONG DISTANT PARTY!!
Anyhow, I'm now in Brussels! After collecting my kash from the waitering job, I moved into a hostel with Martins, then shopped for presents for my cousin and uncle.
then the next morning we were supposed to head to 1st Contact to get our bank accounts set up...but we were late!!! Damn...but just as well, cause we all don't have the relevant documents... so we spent the next 3 hour hanging around Victoria station checking out mobile phones and stuff.
Then i got on the EuroStar, the long and massive trans European train service. Got a little of England on the way...then i remembered what Jo said about England... "there is England...and then there is London..." yeah, i think so too.... If England is the beautiful country farm...then London is the blood soaked abotoire. You don't see many English people in London, just a messy array of people from so many different countries and cultures. I used to think that Singapore was multi-racial, I don't think so any more after being here. I guess this is it, places like London, New York and Tokyo are gigantamungus cities that people arrive in droves to eake out a living. Which is perhaps what i'm trying to do as well....
So when the train arrived at the Bruxxels Midi station, i caught a cab to head down to Kroonlan, Hoeilart, my cousin's place...
Today is Christmas eve, i finally geet to spend Christmas in a cold European country!! I'll just wait for my Christmas dinner tonight, see what i'll get...ha...
I've got access to a computer for this week, will update soon then! Yagalotni...(that's Russian for "i'm hungry")...gotta go find food...
It's so weird to be in Eurpe, everything is topsy turvy!! To start with, they drive on the left hand of the vehicle, then there's this strange keyboard that i have to deal with... you know how the traditional keyboard starts on the left with QWERTY ? this stupid keyboard starts with AZERTY... and all the other keys are misplaced...can't find all the bloody punctuations!! Had to change the configuration to US 101 to suit my fingers...
Oh, by the way, some of the people mentioned here will sound strange to my Singaporean pals, but you know who you are you ....you SYON PIKES!!!! I CONT HEEAR YU!!! KEEP MAKING PARTY!! MAKE LONG DISTANT PARTY!!
Anyhow, I'm now in Brussels! After collecting my kash from the waitering job, I moved into a hostel with Martins, then shopped for presents for my cousin and uncle.
then the next morning we were supposed to head to 1st Contact to get our bank accounts set up...but we were late!!! Damn...but just as well, cause we all don't have the relevant documents... so we spent the next 3 hour hanging around Victoria station checking out mobile phones and stuff.
Then i got on the EuroStar, the long and massive trans European train service. Got a little of England on the way...then i remembered what Jo said about England... "there is England...and then there is London..." yeah, i think so too.... If England is the beautiful country farm...then London is the blood soaked abotoire. You don't see many English people in London, just a messy array of people from so many different countries and cultures. I used to think that Singapore was multi-racial, I don't think so any more after being here. I guess this is it, places like London, New York and Tokyo are gigantamungus cities that people arrive in droves to eake out a living. Which is perhaps what i'm trying to do as well....
So when the train arrived at the Bruxxels Midi station, i caught a cab to head down to Kroonlan, Hoeilart, my cousin's place...
Today is Christmas eve, i finally geet to spend Christmas in a cold European country!! I'll just wait for my Christmas dinner tonight, see what i'll get...ha...
I've got access to a computer for this week, will update soon then! Yagalotni...(that's Russian for "i'm hungry")...gotta go find food...
Sunday, December 19, 2004
We make party!
Oh no, oh no!! My stint at Syon Park is drawing to an end!! Although i'll be glad to be rid of enduring kegs of beer, chairs and glasses on my back, i think it'll be kinda sad to split from this happy bunch of people i worked with, especially when you know that you'll probably never run into these friends ever again in your life... ah well, only fate can tell!!
Anything eventful last night? Let's see.... a guy fainted and smashed into the bar and blacked out a bit, there was a fight, a woman got so drunk she scant made it out of the door... same old, same old...
Sometimes i think i'm a little hard of hearing, this bloke came up to me and asked me to "pour some Coke in it"...and i heard it as "pour some coconut"....blah...and when I served someone a glass of vodka, he asked me for "the same again"....and i heard "a San Miguel", and bloody served him a bottle...ah well, at least big laughs = tips...haha...
I'll be going to Belgium next week! I had the EuroStar (international train from U.K to Europe) tickets booked this morning. Can't wait to see my european cousin and uncle!!
Oh, and here's a bad joke to end it all off :
What milk do invisible cats drink?
....evaporated milk...
Cheers!
Anything eventful last night? Let's see.... a guy fainted and smashed into the bar and blacked out a bit, there was a fight, a woman got so drunk she scant made it out of the door... same old, same old...
Sometimes i think i'm a little hard of hearing, this bloke came up to me and asked me to "pour some Coke in it"...and i heard it as "pour some coconut"....blah...and when I served someone a glass of vodka, he asked me for "the same again"....and i heard "a San Miguel", and bloody served him a bottle...ah well, at least big laughs = tips...haha...
I'll be going to Belgium next week! I had the EuroStar (international train from U.K to Europe) tickets booked this morning. Can't wait to see my european cousin and uncle!!
Oh, and here's a bad joke to end it all off :
What milk do invisible cats drink?
....evaporated milk...
Cheers!
Monday, December 13, 2004
Cheers!
...and then I got a job! The Tube ticket to the Debden Station really cost me (11 quid, day travel) but at least i landed meself a job! I'll be starting on the 5th of January, and I'll be posted to Germany (or some other European Union nation) by February for a couple of weeks. I can't believe it! Now i'm an auditor! Geez, talk about a completely irrelevant line of work -and not to mention my very professional handling of numbers-, but if things are fine, i'll be promoted to area manager by summer!
What's more, this leaves me time to go visit my cousin in Belgium this coming Christmas! Yay!!
So after the interview, I took a walk down Oxford Circus, whilst waiting for a friend. A very unsuccessful walk indeed, cause i ended up buying a scarf, 3 pairs of socks (to replace my MISSING SOCKS - who the fuck would want to steal socks man?), a couple of christmas cards and a 2005 planner. But not before I had a pathetic dinner of a...how should we say, lame attempt of curry chicken rice, and it bloody cost me 4 quid for it! Geez, i'm never gonna trust chinese takeaways anymore ever again!
Back to my slave camp tomorrow! Update you folks again! Hope I manage to brave the cold and turn up alive come Monday!
What's more, this leaves me time to go visit my cousin in Belgium this coming Christmas! Yay!!
So after the interview, I took a walk down Oxford Circus, whilst waiting for a friend. A very unsuccessful walk indeed, cause i ended up buying a scarf, 3 pairs of socks (to replace my MISSING SOCKS - who the fuck would want to steal socks man?), a couple of christmas cards and a 2005 planner. But not before I had a pathetic dinner of a...how should we say, lame attempt of curry chicken rice, and it bloody cost me 4 quid for it! Geez, i'm never gonna trust chinese takeaways anymore ever again!
Back to my slave camp tomorrow! Update you folks again! Hope I manage to brave the cold and turn up alive come Monday!
Sunday, December 12, 2004
On a cold and frosty morning...
Another fantastically muscle tearing week. Moving chairs in and out of the marquee, rolling 4ft, 5ft and 6ft tables all over the floor and serving pissed drunk party people. How exciting. Last night however was absolutly charming, drinking games all the way till 9am in the morning! ...and I learnt one thing, red wine, white wine, barcadi breezers, black current, Strong Bow and beer do not taste proper at all, not in one cup at least. The Aussies have a funny song they sing when they make you down a pint, I can't really remember how it starts but it goes something like: "Here's to (name) he's true blue, he's a piss pot through and through, he's a bastard so they say... tried to go to heaven but he went the other way... he's going (ben: and here's when you start downing the drink) DOWN! DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!" Heh, heh....
Christmas is coming as well! Now for the big decisions: to spend time with friends here in England, or join my cousin in Belgium? Ah well, whatever, it all depends on the interview that i'm going for tomorrow, travelling all the way to Zone 6... this is going to cost me.
Christmas is coming as well! Now for the big decisions: to spend time with friends here in England, or join my cousin in Belgium? Ah well, whatever, it all depends on the interview that i'm going for tomorrow, travelling all the way to Zone 6... this is going to cost me.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Back to work
Looking at this skycam image of the ECP, i suddenly realize how far I am from home. *sigh*... suddenly all that heat and humidity is not such a bad thing after all!
Monday, December 06, 2004
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Oh my aching.....
...and then I got a job! Now i'm performing event work for a month, for marquee dinner and dance parties. Really good pay, free accomodation, free food, you're so busy everyday you won't get a chance to spend the money. Heaps of Australians and Kiwis, there's a Latvian guy, a Russian guy (karkanistan?), two Polish girls, a South African girl and there's me! The anomalic Singaporean!
It's all good really, I'm living in Eastern London now, at this place known as Syon Park (British Rail, Zone 4, Victoria line > Vauxhall), with beautiful sceanry. My surroundings are decorated with landscapes I have only encountered in travel magazines. A clear, glassy lake for trout fishing, a large open green field with geese and peacocks, a small castle. Even the blue sky glows with a different tinge of blue! It's all so post-cardish!!
The people here are incredibly friendly, a walk through the cold paths could bring you a couple of "hellos"and "good mornings" from the ever so approchable residents! I'd like to see some of these happening in Singapore! Ha. My very own neighbour has scant more than 2 words to say to me when I see him in the lift!
Until then...I'd like to go back to go back to my routine day dreaming again....
It's all good really, I'm living in Eastern London now, at this place known as Syon Park (British Rail, Zone 4, Victoria line > Vauxhall), with beautiful sceanry. My surroundings are decorated with landscapes I have only encountered in travel magazines. A clear, glassy lake for trout fishing, a large open green field with geese and peacocks, a small castle. Even the blue sky glows with a different tinge of blue! It's all so post-cardish!!
The people here are incredibly friendly, a walk through the cold paths could bring you a couple of "hellos"and "good mornings" from the ever so approchable residents! I'd like to see some of these happening in Singapore! Ha. My very own neighbour has scant more than 2 words to say to me when I see him in the lift!
Until then...I'd like to go back to go back to my routine day dreaming again....
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Ozzy Osbourne's House gets robbed - BBC
The last 2 days was an eye opener. And my eyes were not the only things that were opened... you see, i got to see a professional pickpocket in action! How exciting! The bastard ran down the stairs of the tube and intentionly bumped into my friend. Next thing we know, his bag was opened... at least the chap didn't keep his wallet there!
Then there was a security threat on the underground. Rather exciting too. Only bummer was trains had to be delayed - again - .
Then I was in this place called Camden Town. And this dude was like.... "...pssst, mate...want some cannabis mate?"Ain't that so cool? And drugs are retailed like bloody kachang putih at the mamak stall!! Not that i'd want to buy any though....
Yeah, you think City Hall MRT is crowded? Then you ought to see Victoria Street Station at peak hours. It can be SOOO overrun by people, the train controls have to close up the gates to prevent anymore from going into the station!! And you see hordes of people at the gate entrances waiting to get in!!
I'd be travelling again soon, my work is bringing me slightly to the edge of London, so stay tuned for another exciting episode of....er...of....bah, nevermind.
Then there was a security threat on the underground. Rather exciting too. Only bummer was trains had to be delayed - again - .
Then I was in this place called Camden Town. And this dude was like.... "...pssst, mate...want some cannabis mate?"Ain't that so cool? And drugs are retailed like bloody kachang putih at the mamak stall!! Not that i'd want to buy any though....
Yeah, you think City Hall MRT is crowded? Then you ought to see Victoria Street Station at peak hours. It can be SOOO overrun by people, the train controls have to close up the gates to prevent anymore from going into the station!! And you see hordes of people at the gate entrances waiting to get in!!
I'd be travelling again soon, my work is bringing me slightly to the edge of London, so stay tuned for another exciting episode of....er...of....bah, nevermind.
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