YOU ARE WELCOME to SUGGEST a blog topic

Let me try this. I am not sure if it will work as I have quiet readers (few comments).

To start off a new year (2011) on 1st Jan 2011, I shall write a blog entry, title of which is YOUR SUGGESTED blog topic.

You are welcome to give suggestions by putting in comments on this blog entry you are now reading. I will pick 1 out of the suggestions and blog on it on 1st Jan 2011.

Well, if all else fails, it's up to my creativity again.

The Cost of Beauty

How many of you go for facials and massage?

Many of you do go. No need for a poll.

On Sunday, I went for a facial at my beauty salon at Vivocity (oh yes, I still have a few sessions with them). It included a shoulder and neck massage. That very day, I got a neck sprain. Actually, it's an old injury from 2009. However, once injured, thus fragile. It only took some kneading to cause my neck muscles to hurt again.

With the bankruptcy of several beauty salons during the year, the lack of laws surrounding this industry is brought to light.


What are the factors to consider when signing a beauty package? Different people have difference consideration factors. Here are some of mine:

1. Number of outlets of beauty salon
The more outlets there are, the more resources the headquarters have. This will result in reduced chance of bankruptcy.

On the flip side of the coin, beauty salons on the large scale does not view me as a valued customer. What is a $3k package to those who sign on the dotted line for a $10k package?

If I consider the 2 that I have packages with:

- Beyond Beauty: They are always running behind time. I have no idea if it's just me or it's them. I am pretty fed up with waiting. My first trial facial with them was in a storeroom because "it was a busy day". By the way, I made an appointment and was not a walk in customer.

- Poly Beauty (Vivocity): The facials always start on time. The downside is that it only has 2 outlets. The main worry is that I would have no recourse if they were to close down.

2. Cost of the package and the package
Being the typical Singaporean I am, I would like to sign for value for money facial packages.

BUT sometimes there are misrepresentations which makes it impossible for you to make correct decisions. Even up to today, I have not found a beauty salon and package that I am satisfied with.

- Beyond Beauty: Initially, I mentioned to their employee my budget is $100 per session. With each session I attended, they asked me to upgrade my package to something better. Apparently, the previous package I signed was the most basic of the basic treatments. I felt so cheated.

Yes, I did upgrade my course. Obviously, per session costs more than my budget now.

To EMPHASIZE, they asked me to upgrade EVERYTIME I went for facials. One day, I got really pissed off and scolded the person.

"You think I print money? EVERYTIME ask me upgrade?"

I got out of there after that.

- Poly Beauty (Vivocity): I don't need to elaborate how they misrepresented the services of my current package and went back on their words. You may read it at link.

3. Effectiveness of treatment
There are 2 types of treatments- manual extraction and machine treatments.

I have done both - manual extraction at Poly Beauty and machine treatments at Beyond Beauty.

There are both good and bad. For manual extraction, ladies are at the mercy of the skills of the beauticians. As for machine treatments, I seriously think the blackheads are still clogging up the pores. Are they effective at all?

***

Missing from my list is a factor which I never considered. However, it has become a concern for me.

Are the beauticians qualified? Do they have to pass a qualifying test before they can perform facial / massage services?

Ouch, it's time to rest my neck early.

10 things in 2010

If you were to ask me what are the 10 most significant things that happened/changed in 2010, here's the list:

1. I am attached.
2. I switched jobs.
3. I signed a new facial package with Beyond Beauty.
4. I am now using an iPhone.
5. I am applying for a flat.
6. I bought a new printer (the previous one worked well for almost 5 years!).
7. I changed my wardrobe of clothes.
8. I go home before 10pm every weekend.
9. I haven't gone on an overseas trip to relax. Main reason is due to switch of jobs.
10. I have gained weight! *groans*

Taiwan snacks in Singapore

Have you visited Taiwan? If you have, does the picture below look familiar to you?


Actually, when I tasted Ah Zhong Mian Xian (mee sua) in Taiwan, I thought it was nothing fantastic. The only thing that struck me as unique was the way that we had to stand and hold onto this very hot paper bowl to eat. It was a test of my tolerance of heat!

*

There are 2 brands that sell Taiwan snacks in Singapore. I've tried both and ...

I highly recommend Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks (http://www.shihlinsnacks.com.tw/sg/locations-sg.htm)


The chicken cutlet with chilli is really good!


It's hot and crispy... and simply yummy!

Another thing that I enjoy eating is their oyster mee sua. What I really like is their serving- just enough soup and each time you scoop, you get one spoonful of mee sua.


The next brand is Xiao Ba Wang. The chain of outlets (at Ion and Tampines 1) are opened by a local artiste Jeff Wang (Taiwanese born).

The food at Xiao Ba Wang is disappointing!


Their mee sua (see below picture) is a huge bowl. Don't be deceived by its size! It's mostly soup. Half the time, I was fishing for mee sua. The soup was not gluey enough and the pork inside the soup was too clumpy/hard.


Not worthy of mentioning is their fried chicken. It's cold, breast meat and tough meat. Not spicy enough. Not appealing even by appearance.


Conclusion?
Shihlin Taiwan snacks is the one recommended. Don't miss it!

Unhappy matters

Episode 1
One day during closing, I thought the accountants are already in the last phase of the close. I had already completed my journal entries. With plans to meet up with my lao gong, I went off at 7pm.

Miss B said: Please do not leave early (?!) during the first 3 days of the close.

Just last month, in November, 1 senior financial analyst and 1 accountant within the same department left on time (6pm).

How fair is this?

Episode 2
I wanted to take leave one Thursday but Miss B rejected my leave.

Miss B said: Next time, please do not take leave when the system is still open. What if there are still numbers to be put in?

On that Thursday itself, I was still putting in some numbers.

Miss B then said: You should have put in the numbers on Wednesday, not today.

I wanted to ask the purpose of me being there on a Thursday (since all numbers had to be put in on Wednesday).

How reasonable is this?

Episode 3
I am planning for a Hong Kong trip and asked for leave in March 2011. As my lao gong is only available in that particular week, I thought an understanding boss would be able to sympathise and approve. In addition, during closing, the most important days are the last 2 days of the month and the first 2 days of the next month. I would be missing just 1 day of the close.

Miss B said: I cannot cover for you because I have my own things to do.

I wanted to ask if she thought I was shaking my leg in office that week I covered her duties during her leave.

Her response to my request was: Lets talk about the work to be done during quarter-end this January 2011.

How relevant is this?

While my leave at quarter-end is disapproved, I gather that another financial analyst is taking leave from this week right up to 4 Jan 2011. Please note that by the time she comes back, year-end is over!!!

Can someone please tell me, how fair is this?

***

My holidays would have been better without such unhappy matters!!!

A time lapse video: From birth to 10 years old

I just saw the most amazing video posted on Yahoo and thought I would share with my readers. A father took a picture of his daughter nearly everyday and made it into a time lapse video. Inside the video, it showcases the many pictures that he took day by day as well as his deep love for his daughter.

Natalie time-lapse video: From birth to 10 years old @ Yahoo! Video

Enjoy the video!

Rule Number 2: I only have 24 hours a day.

Time is precious, no matter if you are a billionaire or an employee. You never know when you will dropping dead. If there is no tomorrow, would you be wasting your time sitting around? Of course not. That brings us back to my point- Time is precious.

I came across this blog entry which I wrote more than a year ago: http://anewdrizzz.blogspot.com/2009/09/rule-number-1-pls-do-not-stick-to-me.html. At that time, I was dissatisfied with someone who nearly drove me crazy.

Today, I am dissatisfied too.

This time, it is an IT. Let's just put as XYZ.

1. It doesn't matter what time I get the default template, 9a.m., 12p.m., 2p.m., or even 5p.m. The e-mail always writes, due by the end of today.

2. After completing a piece of work, I have to top up for things that are forgotten to be said before I started on it.

3. Ideas change, as fast as the stock exchange changes. That involves changes in dozens of spreadsheets.

4. Questions come in piecemeal. But answers are expected immediately. Isn't a list better?

5. I have 13 passwords at the minimum. I just went to reset 3 of them.

6. It doesn't matter if you have 10 tasks. You just have to deliver them, due by the end of today.

7. If you go home early, people think you are very free.

8. They form clicks and tell the rest they have appointments. Before you know it, they are gone. They are also the ones who can go home on time and take one week leave. The rest, either work overtime or is unable to get their leave approved.

9. The solution to an IT problem-reformat.

10. It doesn't matter if you have 10 tasks. I have to update certain spreadsheets on a continuous basis. Such that, after your peak, it is ready.

I am a magician. Anyone ready to hire my services? Service tips only!