CNY09 Deco in Chinatown..

Chinese New Year is round the corner.. I went to Chinatown for my lunch and on the way took some pics of the Chinese New Year Decorations in Chinatown.. This year decoration is a bit scale down because of the economy downturn... Bazaar stalls setting up along Sago Street, Temple Street, Pagoda Street and Smith Street.. There were many stalls selling Taiwan "Mua Chee" and "fruit Jelly".. and also stalls selling all kinds of Chinese New Year goodies, snacks, decos, clothing and many many stuffs....

At the junction of New Bridge Road and Cross Road...

People start queuing up to buy the famous Lim Chee Guan's Chinese BBQ Pork, also known as "Bak Gua".....

God of Fortune...

Mandarin Orange tree Deco.. It represent the Chinese auspicious word "Ji".....

Cute Ox Mascot - marking the year of the OX....

Where is my AWS, 13th month pay??

Till now i still have not scents the Annual Wages Supplement (AWS), the 13th month salary..Read from the Ministry of Manpower website it wrote:

Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) is commonly known as the 13th month payment. It is a single annual payment to employees that supplements the total amount of annual wage earned by them. Payment of AWS depends on the contractual agreement between the employer and the employee i.e. whether it is provided for in the employment contract or collective agreement. If it is not stipulated in the employment contract, AWS payment is subject to negotiation and mutual agreement between the employer and employee, or the trade union representing the employee.

An employer is not allowed to pay an AWS of more than three months' salary if:

He/she agreed (either by way of an employment contract or collective agreement) to pay an AWS of up to three months' wages before the commencement of the Employment (Amendment) Act 1988 on 16 August 1988. However, the employer can negotiate with the employee, or the trade union representing the employee, to vary the quantum.An employer is not allowed to pay an AWS of more than one month's wage if he/she:Has not paid any AWS prior to 16 August 1988.

If business results are exceptionally poor for any year, an employer may negotiate with the employees, or the trade union representing the employees, to adjust the AWS downwards.

The last part in Bold, got me to believe that my boss could give a downwards adjustment to our AWS.. But so far my boss did not negotiate anything with us yet.. Everyone is on a wait and see mood, thus delaying my Chinese New Year mood.. I have checked with my account department only to find out that my boss did not give her any instruction to process the AWS.. It should be fair to us, if my boss were to announce to us earlier on her decision.. Or maybe she is worried that it will damper the morale and might also causes some staffs to resign..

I still don't dare to shopping anything for Chinese New year yet.. because i worried that we might not get any AWS, maybe just a small appreciation 'Ang Pao' from our boss...

My "energy saving" mobile phone...

My current Mobile Phone, Sony Ericsson K610i, has been giving me problem for the last few months.. It has been doing a "energy saver", auto switching off by itself.. I think because the battery's life is dying off or maybe the connection from battery to the phone is loose.. This phone has been with me for 21 months.. Andi think it is time to change a new one..

My next target is this Sony Ericsson W959.. Mainly because of its Walkman function.. But because i still have not got my Annual Wages Supplement (AWS), commonly known as the 13th month pay.... so i got to put this phone on hold and live with the current "energy saving" K610i...

Students bad manners

Yesterday went to my child's school to pick her up, then send her for her piano lesson.. Then at the bus stop i saw a group of student crowding around the bus entrance trying to board the bus.. then to my surprise.. inside the bus many student just refuse to move to the back of the bus, they just stand around the bus exit door.. there are even seats at the back of the bus.. thus i jam up those who are trying to board the bus...

Then on my way home, i saw a middle age lady giving up her seat to an old lady, just before the old lady could take the seat, a teenage boy student took the seat.. the middle age lady was so angry and told the student off "Should the young give up the seat to the elderly?" And the teenage just ignore her..

What has the school taught them? Why these youngster are all so mindless?

Daughter first day in Pri 1....

2 Jan 09, was the first day of school reopen.. And for my little princess, is her first day of Primary 1.. She woke up early at 6am.. and my wife help to dress her up.. and she looks cute in her over size school uniform.. Hahaha.. The school bus came to pick her up at 6.45am.. whereas me and my wife will take a public bus to her school.. My daughter arrive much earlier then us.. All the Primary little cuties starts to assemble at the school foyer.. and the school assigned some Pri 5 girls to be their buddy for 2 weeks.. each cutie get a buddy..

During recess time the buddy will guide those Pri 1 students on how to buy queue up to buy food and where are the washroom.. Lucky for my daughter, we order the catering from the canteen for 1 month, so that her food are ready on the table once recess period..

The school also have a programme for all parents.. Me and my wife attended the parenting workshop.. And it was really fruitful.. We realise that we have not been a good parent, even thought we wanted to be.. From now on we will encourage and praise her more.. we need to credit more love into her "love Account" then debit.. and of course during the workshop we also realised that the "love Account" also need to have a balance sheet...

before the school dismiss for the day, my wife heads to the student care centre to make sure thing goes on smoothly.. while i wait at the school and watch my daughter board the school bus.. Things goes on smoothly for the first day of her primary 1.. And we realise that our daughter is much stronger then we thought.. She made a few new friends on her first day of school...

New Year Eve....

New year eve and i got to work as usual..

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....

Travel Agency Ads Confusing...

I was browsing the newspaper's travel classified ads.. and this is what i saw.. One of the agent advertise: 3D2N Hong Kong fr$599 + Tax $59.. I just can't believe the tax amount of $59.. I called up and check, then i realised that $59 is only for Singapore and Hong Kong airport tax.. Excluding fuel tax & war risk tax.. and then i do a further enquiry, then i understand that the fuel tax & war risk tax is included in the fare fr $599...


Next i came across another advertisement.. 3D2N Hong Kong fr $555 + Tax $98.. then i compare to the earlier ads (above)..

(the above ads) $599 + $59 = $658

(the below ads) $555 + $98 = $653

There is a difference of $5..

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...