Guess who's YX's current favourite person?

Last week spontaneously, Yx wanted to write a card to her papa. She sat down, grabbed a pen and paper and wrote these as she asked her mama how to spell each word along the way, letter by letter:

It says: "I love Papa because Papa make me funny and jokes and I want grow up like Papa".

You can also spot her hand-drawn pics of her family, all 4 of us, "PAPA MAMA AND YINGXI AND MEIMEI", and a "YAY".

An unsolicited gift done up all free-hand and without guidance, absolutely sincere and without any inhibition. Sweet TTM. Love you my darling.

In fact, Yx has also been asking for my company more - be it going to the playground, accompany her play toys or bedtime routine. She also says she wants to pick up the exact CCAs that her papa did i.e. swimming (she hates swimming btw), chinese orchestra and ukulele the last. Don't know how this phase will last, imma treasure the bond we share. :)

Sold off my zhongruan

Thanks to second-hand online marketplace, I found a good buyer for my ancient zhongruan.

Bought it in Sec 2 (1998) for $200, so it's like 21 years now!? Truth is, I didn't like it very much and I don't think I used it for more than even 2 hours in total. Lol. It has been lying in my storage bed since, and I finally decided to rid of it one fateful evening. As it isn't a mainstream instrument I didn't think it'd be popular, in addition to 1 faulty fret and 1 broken string, I listed it for $15. Surprised it attracted a handful of interested buyers.

Coincidentally the buyer was someone related to my sec sch CO! Mingwei was a flutist from many years my junior. He's more famous as the bassist in the local acapella group, Micapella. So his wife said its for her FIL i.e. Mingwei's dad la.

So long, ZR. Hope your new owner can make merry music with you!

Yx loves pizza

Yx absolutely loves pizza! If we walk past Pizza Hut or Saizeriya during meal time, she would be pestering for pizza and/or gratin. Cheese lover.

I asked her which was her fav pizza. She replied, "The one which has sticker sticker." HAHA. Can u guess which she was referring to?

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The rare occasion when I surprised her by picking her up from after school :)

Current situation: low in Maslow's

Organising and completing my Co's annual Charity Event for the industry had been an extremely fruitful and fulfilling experience. It was so successful our efforts were commended by our Digi and many guests.

2 days later - post-event blues kicked in. Felt an in-explainable emptiness and reduced self-esteem at work. It was most weird to be feeling this way coming from someone in my situation - basking in the enjoyment of a beautiful family, weekly soccer, no current financial and health worries and last but not least, a stable job that pays reasonable.



If there was a checklist to grade my situation according to Maslow's HON, I would score full marks for: Physiological needs, Safety needs, Love and belonging; and I would fail terribly at Esteem.

Felt the lowest when at last week's Townhall, elaborate videos and speeches were made about how collective Teamwork, Innovation and Commitment shown by staff helped the Co achieve significant accomplishments and milestones. I was immensely proud of the Co and our achievements. I was happy there are high calibre and responsible staff who strive and who really care. However, at the same time, I felt dejected and gloomy... and didn't feel like I was a valuable member of the organisation. For the longest time, I've always thought that my primary job at my current Division was unimportant and valued lowly. The impact of my projects is minimal and uncommendable. Even during lunch time conversations, the colleagues in my Division speak about high value meetings and projects I don't comprehend, which make me feel that my projects are a drop in the ocean. Honestly, I am all but a ikan bilis in the big blue ocean. Doesn't help that my direct supervisor is not an engaging boss and gives shit about 'team-building' and cultivating a 'sense of belonging'.

So, I actually do enjoy the CCAs that come my way - e.g. charity event that just passed; secretary duties; PD champion; and even AIG performances which despite their non-work nature allowed/allows me to interact and gain mileage with the senior management, more than what my primary job would. I am also involved in the organising of the upcoming AirShow which needless to say I'm excited about.

As for my primary job - decided it's time to move on after somewhat confirming that I won't be the next in line to take over my retiring boss. Requested for a transfer that will officially materialize on 1 Jan 2020. Looking forward to the new challenge! In the meantime, will just casually spend the year-end festive season in the comfort and security of my tall-partition cubicle, far from the madding crowd...

Barista coffee pop up for my office!

So I took part in a Fb contest that Deliveroo was running for Musketeers Coffee, in conjunction with International Coffee Day (thanks Nikki for the huge shout-out, and having faith in me, lol)...

I did what I am best at - writing rhymes and poems.

Here's my submission:




Surprisingly, the contest only gathered 6 entries??? They contacted me the next day to inform of my win, hooray!

I arranged the logistics for them to come bright and early on 1 Oct at 9.15am. Blasted out an email to my Div colleagues about the pop up and encouraged them to BYOM, which many of them did! :)

Queueing for their freshly brewed cuppas

My colleagues raved about their chocolate.

 

Wanted initially to lay low about how the office got this deal, but gradually they got to hear about it through word of mouth. Some joked that I was the sponsor, haha. So I continued the joke and suggested for the baton to be passed from colleague to colleague periodically, so all of us can enjoy something cool every month! :)

Shut up and Dance with me (Ukulele cover)

I HATE HIM HE'S FREAKIN AWESOME

And to play with such ease!!!???!

Dates with my elder daughter

The month that wifey was doing confinement and staying home, I had my elder daughter all to myself.

I truly enjoyed those outings and I treasured the bonding moments very much. It was just me and her, the two of us - strolling and exploring places, sharing an ice cream, racing each other, sharing jokes and laughter.