Water cooler at certain work places are the gossip point of the offices. Not so at my work place, even though when it's placed along a busy common corridor.
However, today as I was getting off work, I passed by the water cooler and saw it had became a gathering point, of sorts.
The water cooler is faulty and the Engineering Department had send some people to fix it. Guess how many there were?
Six.
One electrical engineer, one electrical senior technician, one senior Ops technician, one senior kitchen equipment technician and two junior service technicians.
Mind you, they're not gathering there to chit chat while one of their colleagues worked. All of them are actually working on fixing the water cooler.
I would suppose the work was allocated like this:
Electrical Engineer: Oversee the entire repair operation to ensure he doesn't miss out on any gossip
Senior Electrical Technician: To switch off and unplug the water cooler. To plug in and switch on the water cooler. Afterall, who else except the Electrical Engineer (can't possibly ask him to do the dirty work) has the expertise to deal with electrical stuff.
Senior Ops Technician: Somebody from Ops has to be there to show face, so that the other sections don't bask in all the glory of repairing the all important water cooler. Help dismantle the cover as well.
Senior Kitchen Equipment Technician: To repair the leak.
Junior Service Technicians 1: To pass the screwdrivers, hold the screws and nuts.
Junior Service Technicians 2: To test the water after fixing to ensure the seniors don't connect the sewage tube instead of the portable water tube to the machine.
Now, I'll be very worried if something else bigger happened. Like if a pipe in the pump room burst. The whole Engineering department will probably be down there from the director to the engineers, technicians to the carpeters. Heck, the telephone coordinator probably be there as well just so she'll have something to yak about over lunch.
Maybe I'll even be needed. Well, I can do something useful, like sticking my butt onto the hole to stem the flow first while the Engineering department holds their symposium.
posted by Cylee at
6:32 pm I
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Bodyache
I went to take my annual fitness test earlier this evening and it was well worth the time and effort made to travel to Khatib Camp for it.
Although Maju Camp is so much nearer to home, I had forgo it this year due to the lousy running route (unless they'd changed it). At Maju Camp, I had to run 3 rounds on the road and have to make 6 right angle turns each round, which I feel will have a major impact on my overall speed, given that I'm not a fast runner to start with.
So Khatib Camp became my choice, given the knowledge that I'll be running on a track. The only thing about running on a track is I've to run 6 rounds. That itself is mentally breaking for me as I'll be seeing the same view over and over again for 6 times. I need variety.
In anycase, Khatib Camp employs the Electronic IPPT Scoring System (ELISS2). This is the first time I've taken my fitness test under this system and I must say, it looks sibeh technologically advance.
A information board claims that with this 2nd generation ELISS, test time will be cut from 2.5hrs to just 70 minutes. When I read this, I was so happy I don't have to waste time waiting around.
How wrong was I. Test was supposed to start at 5pm, the briefing only started at 5.40pm. When the test start, while the first batch was doing the test, the Fitness Specialists informed that there was a 'minor techincal glitch that needs to be remedied'. Another round of waiting.
I must agree though, the time taken to go through all the static stations seems to be faster than under the manual system once everything goes smoothly.
My only concern for the static stations was the chin-up. I'm heavy, but my arms only have the strength of beansprouts. I awaited for my turn in trepidation. As I watch the one in front of me doing it, I thought to myself it will be much easier than previously. At least the Fitness Specialist was standing behind, so he can't deduct points just because the chin doesn't go above the bar. If the sensor sense it, be chin above or below the bar, it's counted. No issue of parallax error here.
Imagine my delight when the one before me, even before his nose is past the bar, the sensor sense it and counted as one. Ahh...a technological glitch to be exploited to my advantage. And yes, I managed to bottom scraped through and got the minimum required points.
All that was left was the run, which I was only worried about not having enough mental discipline to run under the time rather than not being able to make the time itself. I was also worried about losing count of the number of laps as the display board is not functioning (another technological glitch) and I did lose count.
At the track, there was another two rounds of waiting. One, for the rest to complete the static stations so that we can start together. The second, was to wait for the medic to arrive.
This made me wonder, it is a regulation for a medic to be present throughout the entire test, not just the run. However, there wasn't one at the static stations. Why? It is because there had been cases of people collapsing from runs but none where people get injured doing sit-ups or standing board jumps?
By the time I completed my run and collected my scores, it was already 5 minutes after 7pm. Hmm, yes, ELISS2 is faster than manual recording, but definitely not much faster given that the 2hrs it took was closer the the previous 2.5hr than the 70 minutes claimed. This test had put too much a strain on my body and I was already feeling it after the run. Without a doubt, I'll definitely be waking up with a wrecked body tomorrow.
posted by Cylee at
9:45 pm I
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
My fault
If there's one major fault of mine to be said, I would say I've a very poor sense of timing relative to my friends.
For example, when they say meet at 3pm, I'll turn up at 2.55pm and I'll only see them half an hour later. Over time, I learned to be smarter. When they say a certain timing, I'll leave wherever I may be 15 minutes later than I need to. However, smarts doesn't seems to be a factor when it comes to timing. Somehow, I'll still reach the destination much earlier than I'd planned to be late. Time seems to be having fun working against me.
A recent case would be earlier this week, I was suppose to meet my colleagues at 6.30pm. I knew they'll be late and usually it takes me 45 minutes to get to where I'm meeting them. I purposely left home 15 minutes later than necessary, at least if I'm late, I'm not that late. But if I'm early, I won't have to wait so long.
Somehow or rather, I reached there at 6.35pm. Just a pathetic 5 minutes late, even though I left home 15 minutes late. I didn't walk particularly fast (in fact at a much slower pace) and the MRT wasn't that quick as well. Did my watch slowed by 10 minutes during that 45 minutes journey, or did I just walked through a time warp?
No points for guessing, I was the first to arrive and had to wait 30 minutes for them to come.
Today was even more fantastic. I was supposed to meet Ms LY at 11.40am. Again, I had purposely placed the time a little earlier than required AND I had left home later. You'll think with a 2 tier insurance I'll be safe. Well, I still walked through another time warp and reached there on the dot! Best thing was, I got a call from her at that time informing me she just woke up!
Sighs. I think I'll need a degree course in lateness. I'm just helpless and useless at this. I wonder how much of my life have been wasted away by these waitings.
Youth don't last guys (and gals). Don't waste it away, especially when it belongs to me.
By the way, had shifted my new alternate blog to Wordpress and renamed 'Roaming Around' .
posted by Cylee at
6:02 pm I
1 comments
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Beijing - in pictures
Sharing some of the photos I took on this short work trip...
Bar at Raffles Beijing Hotel, where I met up with ex-colleagues Mic and Renu.
After arriving in T3 of Beijing airport, I had to walk quite a distance to the immigration counter. Following, there's a 4 minutes monorail ride that connects the international hall to the main T3 terminal. Getting out of the gate, another long walk awaits to get to the next building (shown above) which house the carpark and city train station. I nickname this building, The Greenhouse, basically because there's no aircon and the heat gets trap inside.
At the subway stations, everyone needs to run their bags (big and small) through the x-ray machines, even if one is passing through from one exit to another. I suppose this creates extra jobs and long queues to show how busy the stations are.
There're coin operated toilets cubicles (no photos) in the stations I've been to. According to one of my colleagues, one coin (I don't know the value) gets you precious 10 minutes in the loo. The door automatically opens thereafter. So if it's going to be a long business deal, better place in more coins.
Bar at Raffles Beijing Hotel, where I met up with ex-colleagues Mic and Renu.
Delicacies at Wang Fu Jing food street. Introducing (from right to left) Mr and Mrs Starfish, some long worms, the Seahorse family, the Lizards family, some round insects, some bugs and finally, the mini Scorpion clan. FYI, the mini Scorpion clan is still alive.
Introducing Fu Niu, Le Le, the little known cousin of Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan Huan, Ying Ying and Ni Ni. Le Le is the mascot of Paralympic 2008.
At the airport toilets, you need not be afraid about forgetting to lock the door. They're kind enough to remind you, so long you see it.
Your attention please. There are bombings in progress behind closed doors. For your own safety, please stand behind the yellow line.
Brother of Kentucky, Dong Fang Ji Bai. I wonder how the Hokkiens take to that name.
posted by Cylee at
12:04 pm I
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Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Mr Courier
I went to Beijing for work last Thursday, but somehow I felt that I was working for UPS than for my company, at least initially.
For starters, my company requested me to bring over some mooncakes and brochures for our counterpart in Beijing. That's fine.
The worst mistake was informing my ex-colleague, Mic, I was going over. She immediately pounced on the opportunity to have me bring some things over. Ok, that's fine with me. She misses home, I can help bring one or two packets of local stuff over.
Only thing was, the one or two packets turned out to be one luggage bag full when her mother brought it over. It's only 8kg, her mother told me. Can't really refused when I'm already deep in the mud right? The 8kg turned out to be 9.2kg when I weighed in at the airport.
My own luggage? 7kg.
It's probably the only time in my life of travelling that I'm bringing to my destination more than double of what I'm bringing back on a travel.
Hazy first morning. Next few days were crystal clear skies.
I was there to assist with their recruitment efforts. First day was pretty relaxed, getting to know the environment. When the mass recruitment during the weekend came, I wished there were 2 of me to hasten things up.
The recruitment was supposed to start at 10am. However, at 8.30am, there were already a handful of people on site filling up the application forms. Talk about being kiasu.
The hotel where I stayed had quite a nice environment, if I had gotten one of those low rised rooms. Instead, I was put into a 8 floor room with no balcony.
Location of my hotel is near to Silk Street shopping area. Being in such close proximity is really a test of my discipline and depth of my wallet. This time, I won. Not so much because I had an unwavering discipline, but more of my wallet wasn't really deep this time because I didn't bring much cash (since it's a work trip).
I fear for my next trip which probably going to last a month. That place has great potential to make a convert out of this non-shopaholic.
posted by Cylee at
12:28 pm I
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