Sayonara my workplace

Life at this workplace commenced and ended like a whirlwind.  The start was unexpected and and end was abrupt. Throughout this 20 month period the stand out sentiment was busy; too many deadlines, too much work, too little care for work life balance, total disregard for the human necessity of sleep, and ultimately too little too late.

There were some good takeaways nevertheless

1) Business travels
As the technical expert overseeing various regional offices, I had ample opportunities to travel for work abroad.  I went on 7 business trips altogether to 4 different countries - India (first ever visit!), Vietnam (first ever visit!), HK, UK.  Work was hard but time off abroad (especially for those trips with weekends attached) was pleasurable.  I experienced exotic culture, food and interaction with the locals, all very memorable and most pleasant.  I sure brought back many good memories and interesting stories to tell at parties.

2) Business class travels
I only experienced flying business class at a very ripe old age.  I am grateful I had that opportunity with this company.  Sure, you get the unlimited booze and food and also the warm smiles and pleasantries from the air stewardesses, at the end of the day you are still pretty much cooped up in confined spaces.  I'd say it is pleasant enough experience but overrated and definitely overpriced.

3) iPhone
I had always subscribed to the Android spirit of freedom, open source, full control of own device.  The company iPhone initially came as a curiosity but eventually I was sold. While it does not have the flexibility of the other camp but user interface and quality of software (especially the built-in ones) are absolutely fantastic, talk about first class user experience.  I am now a convert and there is no going back.

4) Annual leave
This is not about getting a lot of annual leave days, but rather the inability to take any! This line of work, coupled with unreasonable expectations from superior meant there was never ever a good or rather permissible time to take any time off. I used to feel bitter about this but it the end I managed to cash out (mostly) my un-utilised annual leave days which came really handy (in fact life-saving) to help settle my exorbitant income tax payment.

5) Salary
Truth be told, this company did it's part to make me a good offer.  My base salary was given a good bump up (I did raise half an eyebrow); from here I will endeavour to build on it further.

6) Garden leave
Ah.. the break that everyone yearns for but can't necessarily demand, where you take your deserved time off with full pay; you maintain an employee of the company yet there is no need to go into the office or engage in any further work.  This is the ultimate break before the start of the new chapter of work life.  I had always envied those who took garden leave and silently felt bitter. Why doesn't this happen to me.  I have now experienced it first hand and the experience is amazing.!  I lose the sense of time and eventually stopped caring which day of the week it is; feels like every day is a Saturday.  The therapeutic effect is so strong that I feel my confidence and urge building up (slowly) for my next career challenge.

7) Epiphany
It may not appear so but I do care (to a certain extent) about my career and it's apt progression. In fact the biggest reason of moving here was because career progression stagnated at the previous workplace.  While my base salary did increase but it was still pretty much the situation of 'from the devil to the deep blue sea' - this place is just as, if not more shitty.  I still could not muscle my way up the corporate ladder.  Having experienced some truly troubling moments I suddenly struck upon an interesting idea on moving upwards.  Won't divulge too much here but hopefully when it is baked it will get me to where I want to be.

8) I'm going home!
Perhaps this place and the ghastly work culture gave me the last push (or rather placed the last draw) on me to finally take the plunge and leave behind this beloved city I have called home for the past 8 years.  There is but a tinge of sadness but I have come to terms that as I lose something close to my heart, something else just as endearing may take it's place.  Such is life and I look forward to future uncertainties and can only hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Marquee @ MBS

Epic farewell night out

SMBB

Bffs, now and forever!

First Toto experience

Eventful day!

Korean lunch - Korean army stew + seafood pancake

Night out at exchange - merged Japanese friends with Ceroc folks.  I think I enjoy cracking lame jokes and making people laugh (with me or at me), yes I seem to like that much !

5 min abs workout

Hairy crab

At work

Pulp amateur video

21 km

Completed my first 21km run in 10 years.

The last time that was done was in 2009 during the Windsor half marathon 

Hawker Chan

Bloomberg square mile

Zouk

Swisshotel

Birthday

HK trip

Flixonase

Blast of the past 2000

Blast from the past

2015

Indian food

I’m no pushover

I let my torso do the talking

Indian food

Authentic Indian food is fantastic.  Apart from the fact they are generally Low in fibre (very shy on vegetables and greens) I love them all

One fine day

It’s been a really Long time sinced I have had a good day, and today has been a really good day.

I do not know why happiness doesn’t come easily these days.  I have significant better income compared to my younger days.  I do not have pressure of fast approaching exam dates. As Long as I have a job to allow me to feed myself and have a roof over my head, I can recuperate and go to work. The cycle repeats itself in a really simplistic manner.  I should be happy. I should be content.   The only thing I can think of holding me back is the punishingly Long working hours which sap a lot of energy of out me.  But I should still feel happy more often.

It’s probably a combination of reasons for my jovial mood today.  It’s probably a series of fortuitous events.

Lunch time - Caught up with Adriana and Veron after such a Long time.  I had almost forgotten how much fun it was bantering and teasing each other at work.  They laughed hard at my jokes, I laughed hard at my jokes. Just pure plain undiluted doses of joy to help us get through hectic days.

Later on - I took the initiative to collect my Indian visa at the agency.  I cut it really thin this time with just one workin day to spare before my flight to India.  It’s a great relief this is sorted and I can leave for the mysterious continent of India.  I enjoyed my break at work collecting my visa btw

Throughout the day we traded gossips on the Andy Hui escapade like good shallow gossip mongers.  When something juicy like this hits, it provides the perfect opportunity to get silly and say absolutely ridiculous things; I genuinely laughed out loud.  Some people bullshit for profit, some for ego, I do an abnormal amount of it (it’s acknowledged) for no obvious motivation rather than my own massive amusement.

Abs meetup - again I think I am addicted to listening to myself regaling a crowd with absolutely real life stories which are ridiculous.  Couldn’t really do much Japanese but the catch up and laughters were much welcomed mini distractions from the madness which is the Asian way of working

I had the Michelin affiliates song fa Bak Kut teh.  I’d had it before but didn’t realise it had Michelin connections.  It tasted as good as it had done.  (Shame it’s the only photo I have to show for the day)

Last but not least, before today I put myself under undue pressure for the fear of upsetting others.  Today I realise that I can get upset too as I am after all only human; hence others should also be wary of upsetting me.  I feel liberated thinking this way.