It has been already almost a week I guess since the issue with the guy who has defaulted his loan, and then almost ends up declaring bankruptcy. You basically get the idea and how it relates to me? Lets just say I am part of the player in this event. A quite prominent player I would say, though not the star player ;)
The story goes like such... This supplier / sub-contractor (I name T) has been a popular player in the industry the last phase. During the beginning of this phase, it seems quite a lot of the contractors seek for his service (as sub-contractor, of course). Because of this, he invested in 2 extra set of equipment (I think is 2 set) to keep up with the demand. Along the way I have no idea what happened, but this story starts somewhere in July. Well, for my contract, things just start to come into picture somewhere in October / November. The contractor's submission came in to me in (Method Statement, Product Specifications and supporting documents OK) November '09. This awaits for the test result which will happens I 5 days after their submission - which failed. Then what else? Chased them for a re-test ASAP so that we can get over with it. I took another month to have the test - which again failed -.-! And then another month to actually get the result submission. Wow, at times they do work very slow, don't they. I cannot imagine what is T doing behind all the delays this contractor is causing. Only after this that a meeting together with the client, contractor and T is held to assess this situation and decide what to do with the material that actually failed twice the test.
The client was very kind of course (government body that must support all local SMEs) and was given chance to show the performance of the product during site batching (haha, maybe you're getting an idea on what kind of material I talking about). And they were only able to start work in March '10.
With this in mind, T claimed that the client and us caused them 8 months without work which translate to 8 months without income - and this claim went to a minister which brings this matter to the ministry of my client which then the department head have to answer to this. Guess what, T claimed that they have no intention to accuse / put the blame on this department here, rather to explain the situation. Of course the client's department head who is holding the letter did mentioned that the letter was written in a way that would make anyone see the "explaining the situation" an accusation. Furthermore, there was no mention of the failed tests. This made the whole letter say "the whole world has wronged me when I did nothing wrong and I'm the only victim here".
Well, about the role I play? I was the one scrutinizing their submission and highlighting the fail tests. Not letting them proceed with work without presenting sufficient performance indicators. Also, I made this known to my colleagues handling other contracts. So, I think the news travels and only the contractor in my contract still gives T work. Does that make me an accomplice? You decide. ;p
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Laziness + Distraction: Just as I am now
I guess it has come to a time of ramblings and negativity ;) I will just start off with the past few weeks where I do not seem to have the slightest motivation to work - yes, you do not need to tell me that most of the people do not have the slightest motivation to work. But what I mean is the fact that I do not feel like lifting my finger to type the reports and stuff. And the longer this goes on, the more work I will have. A time bomb at hand or a dam that never let any water out.
Maybe it is because I have been spending too much time on Facebook. Hahaha. Yes I would agree so. Too much distraction that I could not concentrate on work. Lets see, til date I have maybe 4 letters to reply to the contractors, a report to go through to verify the rejected items, a recommendation letter to the client and all the items to be complied for the monthly report to the client. Basically all of these items are overdue. And I am happily playing and messing around on Facebook. I must be very courageous to hold a time bomb in my hands for so long and still not let go - waiting for the final moment to throw it away, I think.
So, I think i will try to do up the monthly report compilation (which will take another few days) and the verification of the contractor's report tomorrow and see how things go. Yeah, with much high hopes just like every night that I will do something tomorrow, tonight will be the same as the night before - high hopes that I will actually do something tomorrow. Wish me all the best ;)
Maybe it is because I have been spending too much time on Facebook. Hahaha. Yes I would agree so. Too much distraction that I could not concentrate on work. Lets see, til date I have maybe 4 letters to reply to the contractors, a report to go through to verify the rejected items, a recommendation letter to the client and all the items to be complied for the monthly report to the client. Basically all of these items are overdue. And I am happily playing and messing around on Facebook. I must be very courageous to hold a time bomb in my hands for so long and still not let go - waiting for the final moment to throw it away, I think.
So, I think i will try to do up the monthly report compilation (which will take another few days) and the verification of the contractor's report tomorrow and see how things go. Yeah, with much high hopes just like every night that I will do something tomorrow, tonight will be the same as the night before - high hopes that I will actually do something tomorrow. Wish me all the best ;)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Reflection
Today will be a reflection to what I have done for the past 4 months of this year. Well, I have basically spent more than 10 hours a day at work, sleep less than 8 hours on a weekday and then splurge on sleeping on Sundays. The balance are spent in the evening watching TV and Facebook-ing till I sleep. Very summarized, eh? A little more detail to the work part...
Well, its already the forth month I was with CPG in January 2010. My project has already very much stabilized in terms of operations and basically starting to venture into the private landed property parts of the contract area. For these 4 months, there were generally not any incident / event that could make me say "That's the peak!". I would like to justify this phrase with this; I was on Facebook and Onemanga for more than 75% of the time in office. I have completed quite a few manga series in this duration.
I guess it was also my lack of initiative that caused this to happen. Or just go ahead and put the blame on my laziness. Heck, who isn't lazy? A previous manager of mine told me that all our technological advancement originated from man's curiosity and laziness (you can name it convenience to make it sound better). Go ahead and think about it. So, back to MY laziness, yes I was always "trying" to pop the big question to my SVP - Can you give me some design works for practise? By now someone much be thinking that I must have lost my mind asking for extra work from my boss instead of a pay rise. Yeah, I am not the kind that thinks in a normal manner anyway. It was only until early April that I was able to ask my SVP this, during appraisal (and no, there wasn't a pay rise although getting one would be great). And now I'm basically waiting for next Thursday for some kind of a design team meeting. No idea what will happen from there though.
Looking at these 4 months, there were also quite a number of things gained. I've got to know the practice on LTA road openings. Yup there are standards on how to place those road cones and sign boards. This standard can be found free online from LTA - Code of Practice for Road Opening Work. Take a close look at works on the road or when there are vehicles parking on the road. Then there is this thing with the regulations on working in confined spaced. This basically touches on the hazards working in an enclosed place. The major thing about this are the dangerous gasses that might exist or exist because of the type of work done. There are various documents on this matter, but basically a good info can be found free from MOM - Technical Advisory on Working Safely in Confined Spaced. Well, I guess you can now say the the best things are free. Others are basically lots and lots and lots of report and letter writing practise. Tons of them...
Yeah, you can say I've done something, but the feeling is like I have done nothing. Quite sad isn't it? So, wish me luck in the next 8 months to come and hopefully I will gain something. I'm ready for the pain... as long as not having to deal with people!
Well, its already the forth month I was with CPG in January 2010. My project has already very much stabilized in terms of operations and basically starting to venture into the private landed property parts of the contract area. For these 4 months, there were generally not any incident / event that could make me say "That's the peak!". I would like to justify this phrase with this; I was on Facebook and Onemanga for more than 75% of the time in office. I have completed quite a few manga series in this duration.
I guess it was also my lack of initiative that caused this to happen. Or just go ahead and put the blame on my laziness. Heck, who isn't lazy? A previous manager of mine told me that all our technological advancement originated from man's curiosity and laziness (you can name it convenience to make it sound better). Go ahead and think about it. So, back to MY laziness, yes I was always "trying" to pop the big question to my SVP - Can you give me some design works for practise? By now someone much be thinking that I must have lost my mind asking for extra work from my boss instead of a pay rise. Yeah, I am not the kind that thinks in a normal manner anyway. It was only until early April that I was able to ask my SVP this, during appraisal (and no, there wasn't a pay rise although getting one would be great). And now I'm basically waiting for next Thursday for some kind of a design team meeting. No idea what will happen from there though.
Looking at these 4 months, there were also quite a number of things gained. I've got to know the practice on LTA road openings. Yup there are standards on how to place those road cones and sign boards. This standard can be found free online from LTA - Code of Practice for Road Opening Work. Take a close look at works on the road or when there are vehicles parking on the road. Then there is this thing with the regulations on working in confined spaced. This basically touches on the hazards working in an enclosed place. The major thing about this are the dangerous gasses that might exist or exist because of the type of work done. There are various documents on this matter, but basically a good info can be found free from MOM - Technical Advisory on Working Safely in Confined Spaced. Well, I guess you can now say the the best things are free. Others are basically lots and lots and lots of report and letter writing practise. Tons of them...
Yeah, you can say I've done something, but the feeling is like I have done nothing. Quite sad isn't it? So, wish me luck in the next 8 months to come and hopefully I will gain something. I'm ready for the pain... as long as not having to deal with people!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Is It Different Being "Rich" - A Mentality / Attitude Perspective
Its been quite a week dealing with some rich people ( I think they are rich because they can afford to buy a terrace / landed property in Singapore). Some are aged, almost retired while some are young, barely 40. I would give the ratio old to young a 60:40. At least at That area.
Well, you see I did found out from these people that no matter how much you are able to amass your wealth / money / property, they still make no difference from anyone of us. Sounds like a loser's talk? It does but that's the whole truth about it. They still bear the same attitude and mindset as most of us non-rich folks. How could I spout all these "nonsense" - if you think that they would have a rather different mindset and perspective on things? I mean if they managed to get so much more "wealth" than us (or me) then they must have done or thought of something different than us (or me). But why do I find them so similar? To put in comparison, I am having hell of a trouble trying to get the down payment for a HDB flat!
Now, to analyze... Firstly, mindset are similar in the case where they are still trying to look for fault at something that they feel is not right. OK, I'm working on rehabilitation / upgrading works at these areas. When we'd serve notices about our work, there are bound to be complaints about us. How about this, when there's smell, its us - because we're working there. When there are chokages - its us, because we are working there. When there's supply interruption - its us because we're working there. And the best part is because all these problems, they do not know who to feedback to. So, the easy way out, us and our client (our client is a government department) - because we have to provide our contact as well as our client's. Basically all of these cases so far... none have even anything to do with what we are doing. None!
Secondly, emotions and hatred (I think it is hatred or just trying to frame us for I-have-no-idea-what-reason). I cannot comprehend that when the wife of the house allowed us to use something from the house - to clean the area for them (the cleaning part is mandatory for us), then husband would come back and accuse us of using their property without permission. Worse, the maid who switch on something on her own free will and then the husband would accuse us of having the maid to switch it on for us. Oh, please! After having such a huge house, you're still counting all these small penny? And later we found out he was not happy with out client because there was another government agency imposed summon to them. Ha! Talk about revenge. OK, the finding out part, was after he promised to let us work in his house that day and later went missing for a whole day, with the maid. Of course the contractor was not happy with loosing some money on material cost. I'll let this as the let this pass as benefit of the doubt.
But, I have to give some appreciation to some of them owners who are very helpful and open to us. Some of them gave drinks to the workers, helped to arrange the equipments in a way that would cause the least obstruction to the public, allow us to work later into the evening, allow us to use their house as access point... A big thanks to these people.
Therefore, can I think making a conclusion saying that whether you are rich or not, the attitude and mindset remains distributed. Yup, I mean there will be a distribution of such attitude and mindset people in the "rich" class of people and the same distribution (most probably) can be seen in the "not-so rich" class of people. Of course, in the end I still can't figure out what did they do different to be able to own such huge houses...
Well, you see I did found out from these people that no matter how much you are able to amass your wealth / money / property, they still make no difference from anyone of us. Sounds like a loser's talk? It does but that's the whole truth about it. They still bear the same attitude and mindset as most of us non-rich folks. How could I spout all these "nonsense" - if you think that they would have a rather different mindset and perspective on things? I mean if they managed to get so much more "wealth" than us (or me) then they must have done or thought of something different than us (or me). But why do I find them so similar? To put in comparison, I am having hell of a trouble trying to get the down payment for a HDB flat!
Now, to analyze... Firstly, mindset are similar in the case where they are still trying to look for fault at something that they feel is not right. OK, I'm working on rehabilitation / upgrading works at these areas. When we'd serve notices about our work, there are bound to be complaints about us. How about this, when there's smell, its us - because we're working there. When there are chokages - its us, because we are working there. When there's supply interruption - its us because we're working there. And the best part is because all these problems, they do not know who to feedback to. So, the easy way out, us and our client (our client is a government department) - because we have to provide our contact as well as our client's. Basically all of these cases so far... none have even anything to do with what we are doing. None!
Secondly, emotions and hatred (I think it is hatred or just trying to frame us for I-have-no-idea-what-reason). I cannot comprehend that when the wife of the house allowed us to use something from the house - to clean the area for them (the cleaning part is mandatory for us), then husband would come back and accuse us of using their property without permission. Worse, the maid who switch on something on her own free will and then the husband would accuse us of having the maid to switch it on for us. Oh, please! After having such a huge house, you're still counting all these small penny? And later we found out he was not happy with out client because there was another government agency imposed summon to them. Ha! Talk about revenge. OK, the finding out part, was after he promised to let us work in his house that day and later went missing for a whole day, with the maid. Of course the contractor was not happy with loosing some money on material cost. I'll let this as the let this pass as benefit of the doubt.
But, I have to give some appreciation to some of them owners who are very helpful and open to us. Some of them gave drinks to the workers, helped to arrange the equipments in a way that would cause the least obstruction to the public, allow us to work later into the evening, allow us to use their house as access point... A big thanks to these people.
Therefore, can I think making a conclusion saying that whether you are rich or not, the attitude and mindset remains distributed. Yup, I mean there will be a distribution of such attitude and mindset people in the "rich" class of people and the same distribution (most probably) can be seen in the "not-so rich" class of people. Of course, in the end I still can't figure out what did they do different to be able to own such huge houses...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Holiday - something I've not kept in touch
I was just having a chat when something struck me... When was the last time I went on a holiday specifically for fun? Its kind of a weird question because most of us would just plan for a holiday trip somewhere over the weekends (especially when you are working). Thinking of which Amy, Tammy and Ayumi was really "on" thinking that they came over to Singapore for a slightly long weekend.
Anyway, looking back the days after I came to Singapore (hah! now you know I'm an immigrant) I think I have not really went on any holidays - don't consider those days where you go back for Chinese New Year and special family event (weddings and funerals). These days are just plain sitting around at home, watching TV and sleep. And I do always ask myself - are you tired from all these continuous working? You know, at times I do feel like life itself is a bore, not much going on. Then comes the next question (this will entirely contradict whatever said... or typed) - so what do you get after going on this so called "holiday"? //gasps of horror//
Looking from another point of view, maybe I'm a little workaholic? OK, I admit I am rather workaholic. But that's negative, so lets look at it in a positive manner - passionate about my work. How does that sound? There is always this feeling of unable to put down the work and, well do something else.
Or rather am I looking for something more adventurous? This does sound very much like an excuse but, yeah if the itinerary is too relaxing then it wouldn't be attractive enough. Don't you think so? Then the group of "adventurers" are also a question. How am I going to find such a bunch that would find tiring and sweating out themselves on a journey - fun? Ask, right? Easier said than done.
So I think I shall conclude that it is not a matter of not being able to go for a holiday but rather being "passionate about my work" and plain procrastinating on what kind of a holiday / vacation to go ends up like what it is now. Oh yeah... money is another matter to look into. I guess I really do have a very valid obstacle (this word is really too strong, but can't think of any at the moment) for not going on a holiday. And guess what I have 2.5 days of leave awaiting expiry in June and another 14 days leave expiring in December - non convertible and can't be carried forward.
I wrote crap.. did I?
Anyway, looking back the days after I came to Singapore (hah! now you know I'm an immigrant) I think I have not really went on any holidays - don't consider those days where you go back for Chinese New Year and special family event (weddings and funerals). These days are just plain sitting around at home, watching TV and sleep. And I do always ask myself - are you tired from all these continuous working? You know, at times I do feel like life itself is a bore, not much going on. Then comes the next question (this will entirely contradict whatever said... or typed) - so what do you get after going on this so called "holiday"? //gasps of horror//
Looking from another point of view, maybe I'm a little workaholic? OK, I admit I am rather workaholic. But that's negative, so lets look at it in a positive manner - passionate about my work. How does that sound? There is always this feeling of unable to put down the work and, well do something else.
Or rather am I looking for something more adventurous? This does sound very much like an excuse but, yeah if the itinerary is too relaxing then it wouldn't be attractive enough. Don't you think so? Then the group of "adventurers" are also a question. How am I going to find such a bunch that would find tiring and sweating out themselves on a journey - fun? Ask, right? Easier said than done.
So I think I shall conclude that it is not a matter of not being able to go for a holiday but rather being "passionate about my work" and plain procrastinating on what kind of a holiday / vacation to go ends up like what it is now. Oh yeah... money is another matter to look into. I guess I really do have a very valid obstacle (this word is really too strong, but can't think of any at the moment) for not going on a holiday. And guess what I have 2.5 days of leave awaiting expiry in June and another 14 days leave expiring in December - non convertible and can't be carried forward.
I wrote crap.. did I?
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Revival...?
Ah... a fresh new start to blogging. Been ages since last wrote anything, so I guess this is very much the revival. A note to myself that this page will not be read by many of those I know, since that I do not advertise nor do I link this page to my Facebook. Sounds weird and stupid? Definitely! Its meant to be this way, sort of like a hide and seek game. Lets just see how many would find me out here in the vast cyberspace (of course when anyone would Google my name I suppose they would find me - and I strongly emphasize SUPPOSE there would even be anyone who would Google my name in the first place).
This place here may not even be the happiest place on earth, as a matter of fact Disneyland may be (I have not been there so I will just keep it that way). For those who felt like this is a total waste of time because I am writing something but at the same time trying to hide it from everyone; well, its just a sanctuary for me and if you find it, its yours to read. If you're happy you may return.
OK. This is my revival post. Good luck to me.
This place here may not even be the happiest place on earth, as a matter of fact Disneyland may be (I have not been there so I will just keep it that way). For those who felt like this is a total waste of time because I am writing something but at the same time trying to hide it from everyone; well, its just a sanctuary for me and if you find it, its yours to read. If you're happy you may return.
OK. This is my revival post. Good luck to me.
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