Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year Eve....
Morning, went down to Ang Mo Kio, HOH Law Corporation to collect my daughter's name change certificate.. Then i was thinking of call my best friend for brunch since i start work at 12pm, but because today was my pay day so, i rather go down to office early to collect my pay cheque and bank-in before the bank closed at 11.30am.. On my way to work my best friend called me.. and saying he is coming to meet me for lunch.. Manage to reach office by 11am.. got my cheque and rush to the bank.. Long queue at the bank.. after that meet my friend for lunch before heading to work..
My boss suddenly declare to release us at 7pm for New Year Eve.. I tried to call my wife and could not find her.. well.. after work i went down to OG, brought some toy cars, shop of toiletries and head home...
Reach home, open myself a can of beer, drink a bit and start playing my piano (still sober).. while my wife was clearing the Christmas tree... and putting up the Chinese new year deco..
That was my New Year Eve....
Monday, December 29, 2008
Travel Agency Ads Confusing...
Next i came across another advertisement.. 3D2N Hong Kong fr $555 + Tax $98.. then i compare to the earlier ads (above)..
BUT don't get carried away, this advertisements are on 29 Dec08.. and if you are to travel from 1 Jan 09 onwards, there is an increase of $7 for Singapore airport tax.. from 30Dec08 till 1Jan09 air seats are fully book.. so definitely you have to travel in Jan09.. thus another $7 more.. which is not stated in the advertisements..
The advertising ruling for travel agency is creating more confusion to the public and the travel agent themselves. At the end of the day, some travel agency have to make a small print "Taxes & Fuel Surcharges correct at the time of print & subject to change due to currency fluctuations" to protect themselves.. thus more words = more advertising cost...
My best period of 2008...
Some of the great moments are the awesome opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic (everyone is talking about it), Singapore staging 1st Formula 1 Grand Prix night race, Singapore won the an Olympic after 40 over years, Obama won the presidential Election (first black US president), Camping with my family, Christmas Parties..
Not to forget the sad moment of 2008: Myanmar Cyclone, Sze Chuan Earth Quake, US Hurricane, Mumbai Terrorist attack, Political unrest in Tibet, Philippines Storm, Political Unrest in Bangkok, the collapse of Lehmans Brother Bank, raising Fuel prices, escape of Mas Salamat (retain terrorist)...
My most memorial moment of 2008 is the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix - Night Race.. it is the most unique race with a surprising race result.. Till now the roaring sound of the F1 engine still in my mind.. This event is a dream comes true for me.. It is always my dream to watch a Formula 1 race...
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Log Cake story.. which is real..?
So what is the really origin of the Christmas log cake and who's version was correct.. I did a check in the Internet.. and here is the results from the Wikipedia:
A Yule log is a large wooden log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in several European cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.
The expression "Yule log" has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as "chocolate logs" or "Bûche de Noël". The Yule log is related to other Christmas and Yuletide traditions such as the Ashen faggot.
The British Version: Herrick called the tradition a "Christmas log" and said that it was brought into the farmhouse by a group of males, who were then rewarded with free beer from the farmer's wife. Herrick claimed that the fire used to burn the log was always started with a remnant from the log that had been burned in the previous year's festivities. He also said that the log's role was primarily one of bringing prosperity and protection from evil - by keeping the remnant of the log all the year long the protection was said to remain across the year.
In traditional British rural culture, the Yule log was not only seen as a magical protective amulet, and there are many reports of rivalries occurring between members of a community as to who had the largest log.
The Europe version: The Yule log has frequently been associated with having its origins in the historical Germanic paganism which was practiced across northern Europe prior to Christianisation.
There are so many stories about Christmas log cake.. but my dad version is the closest to the British version... And for me i just loves to eat Log Cake...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Chrsitmas Eve Party.. It was FUN !!!
The party was so much fun.. with so many children... and on top of the gift exchange, every kids goes home lugging their many prizes from games organise by my wife.... Kids sing Christmas song accompanied by me at the piano...
Monday, December 22, 2008
Upgrade to SCV Digital Box.
The Kids group has the Cartoon Netwaork (My childs Favourite, featuring Naruto, tom & Jerry etc), Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Playhouse Disney...
The Education Channel has Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Discovery Travel & Living (My old time favourite), National Geographic Channel, The History Channel (i should be liking the channel soon)My wife is crazy about movies and drama, she got her own favourite channel.. like The Star Chinese Movie, Cinemax and VV Drama
On top of that we had add on the Star Movie Channel just for the festive period..
Saturday, December 20, 2008
My brother back for Christmas...
The 2nd reason to look forward to 24 Dec08, more guest will be coming to my place for the Christmas Eve Party.. My wife's both nephew are coming and maybe my in-laws will be coming too.. (Got to buy 2 more present for my wife's two nephews... And now my brother's family and my parents will be coming too..
This time my wife wants to include Spaghetti into the Menu.. And i will have a change to whip up a delicious Christmas feast.. I always love to cook for a big festive feast.. Tomorrow i will be going to shop for all the ingredients..
Friday, December 19, 2008
Hope to recover before Christmas Eve....
Last night i went to see doctor again... My doctor said "You usually recover after completing the antibiotic i usually gave u, how come this time it won't work?".. i gave him a ??? look.. Then he said "this time i give you something stronger." Well true enough he gave me a more stronger and more expensive antibiotic which will take 5 days course to complete. Then i ask for a cheaper option.. and he did.. Stronger antibiotic (Clarithromycin) but will take a 10 day course to complete..
Boss just brought for me a 8GB thumb driver.. Now i could back up everything.. 8 times more space then my current 1GB thumb driver... Yeah!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas Eve Dinner
They will be bringing pizza.. so i got to change my Menu... I might narrow down the Menu since there are only 5 adults, 4 children & 1 Infant..
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Still not feeling well... Still Sick...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
X'mas Party... not a good start..
During my wife's grandmother's birthday, one of the aunt announced that this year Christmas Eve party will be at her place.. thus everyone was looking forwards to it.. I manage to arrange a day off on that day and my wife begins shopping for X'mas present.. after a few weeks later, my wife cousin drop a bomb shell that the party was cancelled because most of the family members are going to China together with her auntie during Christmas period.. Well disappointed, my wife was.. Since all the presents are nice wrap and place under the Christmas tree..
To my wife so disappointed, I came up with an idea to invite all my camp mates for a X'mas eve party at my place.. I beginning calling my buddy, and we agreed to do a potluck party.. and we began to call our camp mates.. a few had confirmed and thus save the x'mas festive mood... I ordered a turkey from NTUC and planned some nice menu for the night.. My wife prepared some more present for games and exchange... My buddy says he will bring a log cake.. and the rest some other goodies.. eg ham, salad etc....
Then the next day, one said he will be in overseas and unable to make it... then yesterday another sms my wife to say he also unable to make it.. I quickly call my buddy to contact some more camp mates (re-enforcement).. He did but they are also not free to make it... Then this morning , another said he is not coming also... Now only me and my buddy (to battle it out side by side).. i text him and he called me this morning, i told him everything has been prepared for liao.. my family can't finish the whole turkey our self.. and guess we still have to carry on with just our both family.. Now we are having a 3.5Kg turkey for just 4 adults and 2 kids (who don't eat much).. definitely can't finish.. Luckily i stil got a buddy to count on (that is what buddy are for)... hope he also don't play me out...
Now i'm geting my wife to ask those of her cousin who are not going to China to come over.. That is our last try.. I still not giving up on this christmas party...
If not we will have a sit in dinner with my buddy's family..
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Wet and Sexy Farrari at Pit Building...
Ferrari 355
Ferrari 575 Maranello
Ferrari 348
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Supersize Me.. you will never eat junk food again..
Saturday, December 6, 2008
customers who appreciate.....
"It is unfortunate that such a situation has happened in Bangkok and caused disruptions to all travellers such as myself that I have to cancel my tour. The service I received from yourself and staff of XXXX travel is commendable and I would definitely consider this XXXX travel again for my future travel plans to other destinations"
With all these we feel a bit comfort... and it encourage us to work even harder to provide a better service to customers.. There are still some caring customers out there who deserve better service......
Friday, December 5, 2008
Honda pulls out of Formula 1...
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Some airline resume flight to Bangkok on 5 Dec08
i really hope customers would understand the situation and stop putting the blame on us.. We already had been fired by so many customers for one whole week...
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Consumer who don't appreciate......
Due to the Bangkok airport closure, customers who brought travel insurance was not covered because it is due to political unrest... after the next few days, the travel insurance sales inform me that they are making an exception for this case. They will just consider the matter as the airport closure.. And allow customer to claim if they are unable to depart due to Bangkok airport closure... I manage to highlight it to the travel insurance sales representative that many customer who wants to cancel are departing in mid Dec 08 and end Dec 08.. And the travel insurance sales allows passenger who departure till end of Dec08 to make their claim.
So i spread the news to my colleagues.. One of my colleagues call up this customers to tell her of the good news.. then gave her the Insurance claim dept no to call.. but this customer later call back and told my colleague that the insurance claim company direct her back to us... i was curious.. and i highlight this to the travel insurance sales.. and i make sure the insurance sales personnel call this customer personally.. Than that i realised from the travel insurance sales who told me that their claim dept did not refer this customer back to us.. they only told her to get a letter of prove from us.. So i start working on the letter for this customer.. then send an attached claim form and email them the required documents and steps on how to do the claim... then my colleague inform her to come down and collect...
In the evening, they came, 3 educated ladies (i was wondering why 3 educated ladies who speak good English don't understand what the insurance claim dept instruction?). i saw them giving my colleague a hard time.. and my colleague ask for my assist to talk to them... When i came over.. the first thing one of the lady told me right in my face "You don't even know your product well, how could you assist us?" i was stunned.. and i replay politely "Miss, this is the first time we met and i have not spoken anything to you yet, what make you so sure that i don't know the travel insurance product well?" and i gave them a smile... Then she said "you should not not 'non refundable' in the letter, like that how can we claim. You should put refundable.".. then i reply "Miss, i have been witting this letter for so many years and base on my experience, if i write refundable then the insurance will not allow you to claim, so i must state non refundable".. Then they still keep on arguing with me on that point.. i mean common sense will tell you that insurance only let you claim for irrecoverable cost that arise... Their tone was not pleasant.. But i try to keep my cool....
Then i also explain to them that i had also email the attached copy of the claim letter and the documents to submit for claim... They keep wanting me to assure that they can claim full amount.. and i told them, that is the insurance claim dept to decide, not me.. i cannot reply on behalf of the travel insurance claim dept... But i told them most of our customers manage to get their claim promptly without hassle... As they were leaving, one of the lady pass a comment that hurt me deep... She said sarcastically "Ok, we will use this letter to claim, if we were unable to get full amount claim, then we will go to CASE and file against you." My heart really sink when she said that... then i was feeling very upset... and don't have a chance to tell her off...
I'm here assist them to make a claim from the travel insurance and instead of saying thank you or appreciate... they in turn said such hurting words... As if i was suppose to help them without obligation... Actually they should talk to me nicely because i was trying to help them... I was upset the rest of the day... But i do encounter some understanding customers who said "Thanks for your help"....