Calling a Close

My new nails.

It is that time of year again where people make lame jokes like "See you next year!" -_-

I get it. But we don't actually have to say it right? I have gotten this joke told to me for the past three days. Personally I feel sad when I hear it. I am no sentimental person, but I feel pensive when time passes by so swiftly. Before you know it, you will be sitting in an old rattan rocking chair facing the fading sunset, wondering how life passed you by, and wishing that you did more to make a bigger impact on the world. Be it to disrupt the lives of the nurses in the old folks home or redesigning the health care system to make podiatry services available worldwide. Okay, maybe inventing teleporting would be fun too.

The girls were wondering what to do for New Year's Eve, and both managed to get someone to take them in and feed them. I am not so lucky. Hong Kong people are not so friendly. So I am left to feed myself and have no friends to have supper with. I still have yet to get my phone. Maybe I should go find one soon. I like to think that people are frantically trying to reach me but cannot do so as I don't have a phone to be reached. Don't spoil my fantasy. My mum was not a bit worried when I could not be contacted and was nonchalant when I called her in case she was worried why I cannot be reached. But I did get a going for not zipping up my handbag. Mothers and bankers are alike *wrinkles nose in disgust*.

I shall have to make up a list of resolutions. This year has given rise to massive change. This time last year I only had to worry about my dissertation. My family was around me, I was warm and well fed. I never dreamed I would be in Hong Kong by year end. We moved back to Malaysia, with Osbert still left in Newcastle. Oswald is in boarding school, Olivia rules the roost and my dad wants to be a loanshark. The family is scattered all over the place. I am not the only one feeling the loss of not having my mum's cooking in the freezer. Yet, given the choice, I would still make the same decisions and take the same path. I can't begin to imagine where the end of 2008 will land me.

My resolutions for 2007 were simple. I figured I managed most of them.
1. Eat 3 times a day - check (at least 60% of the time)
2. Watch tv - check
3. Eat 5 portions of fruit and vege a day - not checked
4. Fit into a prom dress - check (I fitted into a size 8, go me!)
5. Do 3 minutes of exercise a day - check (if walking the stairs counts)
6. Eat cake - double check

I can't remember what else was on the list I put up the wall. I should make another list and pin this up the wall to remind me of my priorities.

Cold Front Ahead

I went phone shopping today. Trust me, if you are one of those gadget-phobic people like me, there is nothing worse than having to by a new phone. I went along to look for something that:

a) allowed me to make/receive phone calls.
b) allowed me to send messages.
c) could take decent photos for when the camera is not around.
d) I can play Solitare/Jawbreaker on.

After wandering about the shops for 45 minutes, I managed to get a horrible headache. So I went to get some junk from McDonalds and went into the nearest salon. I wanted to get a haircut, but there wasn't much to take off. I wish I was a boy and needed a haircut every 4 weeks. Anyways, the hairstylist sold me a perm and I bought it. I will stop spending money from 2008 onwards, but today is still 2007.

The banker has this excuse that he needs a haircut every four weeks as his hair will get long. I didn't understand why he had to go to same the salon besides to see the cute stylist, but now I do. The salon I went to was run by men. Hey, I didn't purposely chose one like that! :) I noticed that it just so happened to be all men after I settled down to get my hair washed by a nice boy. It is very therapeutic.

I now look older and more mature. I am no longer the cute intern! Ha! So I can now boss my 50-year-old assistant around. He is old enough to be my dad and pretty hard to get to do something. Let's see how long he will last. I don't think very long. People may have a misconception that there is age discrimination here, but the thing is, some older people assume that they know more than you do, use age as an excuse to not do certain tasks/forget to listen to you and think their job is just to chat to the patient. Oh, they can work slowly as they are old eventhough we have 5 patients waiting outside. I rest my case.

There is going to be a cold front this week. It is around 8 degrees celcius now. As I live in the middle of nowhere, it is colder here than say Hong Kong Central. So it is time to take out the coats *grumble* and wear a cardigan on top of the tshirt. It is New Year's eve tomorrow. I better make my resolutions for 2008. I should stop spending money, but then that is one I would break. Maybe to stop eating vegetables is a good one. Any ideas?

Antisocial Behaviour

Cute Hello Kitty Gummies! *yum*

If there is no other time to lose your phone, it would be today. Why? Because it was a wonderful do-nothing-but-lie-in-bed day. But yours truly was pestered enough to go out for dinner. I only have myself to blame.

Hello! I really am not up to no good... *clenched teeth*

I went out last night with the Glaswegian Hong Kee and his parents and his parents' friends *eye roll*. I know... It is self-inflicted. But he claimed it was his birthday, so I have to show face right? Besides, I am a nice person who entertains the attentions of friends and I can't be rude to old people who invite me for food. I like food. So I got another round of the parents' friends asking me what I do etc, but the guy's parents were full of cantonese praises for me and my abilities. I can't help being perfect eh? Hahaha... His parents were nudging him to bring me out for a walk along the promenade in Victoria Park citing that it's really beautiful at night. So we went to Lan Kwai Fong for some cocktails instead. It's not everyday I get a drinking buddy! :) I tell you, the guys here are desperate or what? Even with a guy standing next to me, other guys were coming up to chat me up. I have never seen such absurd behaviour. But then this is Hong Kong. The last guy the girls' tried to chat up was probably gay.
.

I woke up in the afternoon and was happily curled up in my fleece throw on my sofa with a good book as such days go when the banker decided to bug me for dinner. To cut a long story short, I went out and either :

a) dropped my phone in the bus after I called him to say I was stuck in a traffic jam
b) dropped my phone on my way to the MTR
c) someone slipped into my unzipped bag and took my phone in the MTR.

It is most likely to be C as I checked my seat as I left the bus and didn't fiddle with my stuff on my way to the MTR. But my bag is hard to get into as the top is very tight. Oh well, I am just annoyed I lost the charm Nithia sent me for my birthday. I also lost some phone numbers but since I am anti-social anyway the only number I probably need is the number of my masseuse and Krispy Kreme on speeddail. I also lost Ra's London address, Osbert's Newcastle address, Crispin's New York address and my home address.

Anyways, I managed to find the banker as I knew which restaurant we were going to, and I managed to get a new SIM card. He tried calling the phone but it was already switched off which confirmed Option C. The phone was stolen. It's not an expensive phone but it means I have the hassle of buying a new one. We went to look at some and I will check some more out tomorrow. Oh well, I guess meeting friends for a tea party is out of the question tomorrow afternoon. I have to find a phone AND a freaking 50 dollar Christian-y present. How? I only know how to buy chocolates, perfume and diamonds.

Christmas Dinner

My hoard of presents.

I am shaken that this would happen in Hong Kong. In most big cities we don't blink an eye to it, but I have probably been too comfortable with the knowledge that security is good here I don't take enough care. It is a reminder that we should always watch our backs. On a lighter note, my ex-flatmate told me that people are honest here, and would hand stuff in. So I am going to try my luck.

To give my mother hope, I dress nicely at Christmas and Chinese New Year.

Podiatrists at Christmas

Turkey Trimmings

Laughing all the way to the bank.

Merry Christmas everyone! :)
I wish everybody a peaceful and happy existance.
May harm evade you; sorrow not touch you;
May happiness fill you days and love fill your heart;
May joy and blessings seek you out while pain and sadness forget your address.

This is my first Christmas celebrated alone. My brother is in a similar position, maybe he has it better off because he doesn't need to cook. I went to church for midnight mass and since I had nothing to do today, I went again for Christmas Day mass. I am glad I did, the guy 3 seats down was absolutely cute! He looked like Daniel Henly cute. All the more reason for you to visit, eh Ra? :)

I finished off the last of the Christmas shopping (finally!) and am now suffering from shopping fatigue. I can't believe this is happening. My credit card is still 90% untouched. The room got a thorough spring clean and the laundry was all sent off. Some people tell me that all I ever do is cleaning and laundry. I have no life.

I was supposed to go out for Christmas dinner with some friends, but the restaurants were all fully booked which was a bummer. So I had my own dinner of roast duck, vegetables and crayfish in wine sauce with rice. The banker chose his bed over my company for dinner. This doesn't do my self-esteem any good to be ranked lower than an inanimate object. I didn't miss the company as my cute USB Christmas tree was a much more entertaining dinner partner.

Anyways, I am off to the boss' place for Christmas lunch tomorrow. It will probably end up with everyone wasted but happy. I was planning to go to this vocation and life choices talk by the nuns, but I guess I won't be able to make it. Then it's back to work on Thursday. Time flies when you have things to do like sleep and eat cake.

Anger is good for circulation

The last boy I kissed.

I have a theory: When you get angry your face goes red. (It also goes red when you blush/do something wrong and get found out/your tshirt is worn inside out and you are the last to find out) So the blood that circulates in that area would be considerably more than say, you were dead and cold, giving it the cute pinkish colour. The colour gets deeper when you have drunk a bit and the haemoglobins are just raving to go.

Anyways, I believe we all need to get angry once in a while so that we can move the stagnant blood in the face away and bring in oxygenated blood which will be better for the tissues thereby giving a more youthful look. Blushing is so annoying to look at especially if you have eyes the size of saucers. And I don't like getting caught out so being angry is the only option. I am not telling you who I am targeting my anger at either. Then you will have the wonderful opportunity to face my wrath! :)

I went to get my credit card yesterday and was determined to exercise it. You know, give it a good run so that it slides smoothly. However, I didn't see anything interesting and Harvey Nichols had this wire that was running on the floor and almost tripped me up. So I went to the airport to check out the shops there. Okay, I'm not that sad. I sent my friend to the airport as she was flying off to New York for Christmas. I wish I was small enough to fit in her bag, but her bag was already very heavy and probably had another stowaway inside. So I went to the outlet stores next to the airport. The route there was along Scenic Road, and I had a great view of cargo containers on the left of the road, and the airport carpark on the right. Very scenic. I didn't get very much. Just a few bits and bobs. The collegues had showered me with presents for a few days. Traditionally, we give presents on Boxing Day. I guess Hong Kong is just a little anxious. So I will have to hunt for nice presents to return the favour. I have taken Monday off but I guess I am going back to the clinic to do some paperwork and see my new assistant.

I am off for my massage and facial. Oh the joys of being pampered! :)

Note: I had dinner with the Hong Kong Glaswegian's parents on Friday night. I didn't imagine they were so straight talking here, asking about your family, working,educational history etc. Talk about interviews! I told my mum and she was shocked at the extent people pry into your life, digging out every-last-intimate-detail-right-to-the-last-boy-you-kissed.

Learn With Every Goodbye

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child,
And learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight
And after a while, you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn...
With every goodbye, you learn.

Unknown

Taken from a comment from NicoleKiss.

I am too fat

I met the Cluster Chief Executive today in his bid to get to know the front line staff. In my department it is either of us, but since I am the non-head I had to go. So I did. And I was supposed to go voice my concerns as a allied health professional who is right in the thick of things. One thing to start, the guy was late by 15 minutes. That's like... one patient treatment time!

Anyways, the meeting was for all Allied Health Professions except Physio and Occupational Therapy. There are too many of them and we didn't need them around because they are annoying and would be a fire hazard in a small room. So the meeting somehow revolved around how everyone was asking for more space in the new hospital they are building. I somehow managed to toughen my guts and asked for it too. I mean, I know we are getting bigger rooms when the hospital is being rebuilt, but the thing is, I can't get around to the other side of my room once the inpatient bed is pushed into my clinic. I am not joking. I need to breathe in and suck in my stomach to be able to squeaze past the bed to reach my phone/computer/equipment/dressings. So I asked (very nicely of course) for some space so that I can walk around the patient bed and get to my dressings cabinet. All very well for me to say, but the Physio head was not too pleased as he knew he had a spare room four times the size of my department just next to us, and he was not about to give it up. Everyone looked sorry for me and gave me sympathetic looks as I said I will have to go on a diet to be able to work here.

Let's hope the Chief has a daughter my age so he will fall feel sorry for the 'dieting-for-the-job' story. The HR chief thinks I need the room, so does the chaplaincy and the cute dietician who sat next to me and translated the meeting from cantonese to English for me. Men are nice aren't they? I wonder if the Physio Chief is actually a woman in a man's body? Why doesn't he have pity for me?

I am having dinner with a friend's parents. My social life is so sad. I went to dinner with the boss and played with her kids, ate advent calendar chocolates and made paper snowflakes. Why do I seem to appeal to people old enough to be my parents? Ra tells me to take my dinner apppointments as practice sessions. Then potential mother-in-laws can call up all these aunties and I can get a good reference. I shall practice my interview skills well so I am prepared to face all manner of mother-in-laws and charm their socks off.

PS: Hong Kong girls must have miniscule boobs. I can hardly find bra sized to fit. They shun boob-exposing tops but bare all downstairs. I hate their short but skinny matchstick legs. Gah! Even grannies walk around with barely anything on the bottom, leaving nothing to the imagination! *shudder*

Confessions of a Shoppoholic

I went to ShenZhen yesterday. I was bored and I didn't feel like waiting till Sunday for my friend to come along. So I did the thing my dad/the banker/the vet/the engineer/the boss didn't want me to do. I went alone. Heck, if I am healthy enough to walk I should be able to run right? Hm.. okay, maybe running is out of the question, I am not that healthy. Besides, looking too healthy may make me a target for involuntary organ donation.

ShenZhen Trip Agenda:-

I got my nails done. The guy who did them was pretty nosy and wanted to know who I went with. I pretended that I had a crappy boyfriend who didn't want to wait 2 hours in a nail bar for me unlike some of the other guys there. He was not too impressed with my 'boyfriend'. Maybe he wanted more business for the place offered massages, lunch on the go and all kinds of things. The nails were not as nice as the last time and were more expensive. I shall be going back to the first nail bar in the future.

I was hunting for a cover for my sofabed. They do overcharge to make those things! I give up. I rather spend on a good massage than a sofa cover for a sofa that is not even mine. On the other hand, I got a fur stole and a matching bag made. The animal activists will hate me. Please don't hate me. I will let you borrow my stole and bag! I was looking for a sofa cover anyway, and I couldn't afford a whole sofa cover, so all I could afford was a stole and sheepskin looked too fluffy and my sister will fly out here immediately, name the sofa LambySofa and never leave.

Anyways, I took the engineer's recomendation and went to explore ShenZhen a bit more. Okay, he told me where the shops were good but told me not to go alone. Ie: He will bring me. I am a nice person and don't like troubling people unless I really want to trouble them for fun. =) So I took the metro to Hua Qiang Road where the shops are supposedly good. It's pretty weird looking at the pinyin of the chinese words instead of cantonese interpretations of words. I have to say, the metro has left a good impression. It is clean, fast and efficient. The only downside is the fact that seven people squeze themselves into seats meant for five and men stare at you openly. So yes, I can take chinese metro if its empty.

The shops in ShenZhen are way bigger, better and brighter than Hong Kong. All the biggest brands are here. Why do they still need to shop in Hong Kong? ShenZhen is all you need, albeit a bit more expensive. They have the originals and the "Designed in Europe, Made in China" stuff as well all out in the open. The clothes are pretty good too. They like to go over the top and dress in flouncy dresses made in brocade curtain material and paint glitter hearts on their cheeks. I was just wandering around aimlessly when I was invited into a spa/beauty centre. They were doing some three year anniversary thing and were offering massages for 12 dollars. The alarm bells started going off. Who does this kind of rubbish right? But since I figured I had time and money, I could afford any trick they sell to me. So I got a three hour massage, facial and some treatment thing for free as a taster package. They persuaded me to buy a spa package. So for RMB 6800 I got 45 facials, 45 full body massages, 20 beauty treatments, 300 cash voucher and RMB1400 worth of beauty products. The whole thing was going for RMB 20000 if I bought it seperately. Considering that it was a pretty big franchise and I was going to pay at least RMB240 for a massage and facial plus tip normally at a small massage palour with dodgy women anyway, I figured it would be fine. And I can use this priviledge in any of the 2500 branches they have throughout China. It's a women-only spa so I can't bring any male friends. Which leads me to the thought: I have no female friends my age. I would like to use this opportunity to invite my female friends to come and visit me. You heard me. Bring your passport.

Random thought for the day: 49% of Japanese men sit on the toilet instead of standing up. The reasons given included the fact that they didn't want to annoy the female conterpart, didn't want the hassle of cleaning up and that they were simply too tired at the end of the day, and sitting down is less tiring than standing up.

Snapshots

I was looking through my photographs and I think I have grown older and more fuzzy brained since I arrived in Hong Kong. This picture was taken on my first day of work, when I have yet to enter the clinic for the very first time. I had smooth skin, great hair and no work experience. A bit of make-up helped too.

Then they took my mugshot. The guy who took my photo for my ID badge told me I looked cute. -_- How cute is this compared to the previous photo??!! He still remembers my name when I go around to HR. The barista is also nice too! Ah.. for a pretty boy... The guy I offered the job too turned me down. i don't know what to think. Am I that incompetent-looking as a boss? Or so I seem like the intern so much so the kid doesn't think he can take instructions from me? I am interviewing another guy on Monday. He is big and burly and looks about 40 years old. The truth is, I am pretty scared of him.

Bimbo Alert

*Alert* This is going to be a totally bimbotic post. *Alert*

The boss and I make a good team if I say so myself. We run our clinics so quickly that we can get everything sorted and running as we move along. Normally the patients are in and out in 15 minutes and we get left with a foot of notes to write up at the end of the day.Now, we get them in and out in 15 minutes and all the prescriptions, notes and referal letters written up in 15 minutes. Are we good or are we good? :)

Anyways, we had a very important thing to do this afternoon. We were inundated with a huge caseload. However, we had a common understanding that there was something more urgent that required our attention. So we ordered two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. There are three of us working in out department and twenty-four donuts to split. :) We wanted them today but they couldn't deliver before 6pm. So we are getting them next Friday. Why wait a week? Well, we figured we could pretend to forget about them. Then when we open the door next Friday we will get the pleasant aroma of 24 amazing donuts. But then, I have written the Krispy Kreme hotline number permanently on our notice board, next to the Emergency Hotline number. It's an emergency number too okay! What if one of our diabetic patients gets a hypoglycaemic attack?

The banker has gone to Malaysia. I asked him nicely to carry my Christmas presents back for my family. I sure hope he remembers to bring them. He has threatened to forget them/leave them/DHL them/give them to customs. If my sister doesn't get her dangly golden pig earrings she is going to be so disappointed and the world will have one less trader. Don't worry, there are enough open seas to dump bodies. And I know from experience that I should not bleed them in corners, as corners are very hard to clean out and will continue to seap liquid for days.

The glaswegian hongkee is going to be back in Hong Kong this Christmas. This has opened up my Christmas options. I can now rough it under the stars with the cyclist, tuck in to Christmas grub with the engineer, slave over the microwave or eat out with the banker, be scrutinised by the parents of the glaswegian hongkee or get drunk with the boss and her family on Boxing day. Or I can be truly anti-social and sleep for five days to wake up fresh as a daisy for work on the 27th. Oh the choices! I really want to be with my family and friends. I just want to chill out with some cocktails, a duvet, pillows and some warm bodies to snuggle with and share girly moments and bimbotic thoughts. A hot spring and massage would be nice too.

Anyways, I am so bored this weekend. I should dig out the vet for dinner. I owe him a dinner since October. =P Or I should go say hi to some friends I have not seen since early November. Maybe I could just go get my nails done. I think I shall get my nails done.

A patient asked me how old I am. I asked him to guess. He said I look 20, but am probably 28. I don't know to feel flattered or insulted.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

I spent the weekend doing my Christmas shopping. Believe me when I say that Christmas shopping has never been more difficult. I woke up bright and early on a Saturday morning to clean my room and get ready to go out early. Why? Because they were going to have a water cut to do some maintainance on the pipes from 9am till 6pm. So that's why I woke up early. The annoying thing was, there was still water running from the taps at 1pm! This was after I did another round of cleaning the room and laundry and repeated going to the bathroom to check the taps. What a waste of my morning! :( I thought I could beat the water cut and laugh at all the losers who didn't wake up early. Gah! I went to the shops at 10am to buy some wrapping paper to find that they don't open till 10.30am or even 11am. So I waited outside and admired all the Hello Kitty rubbish that was on display. There was this cool Hello Kitty water slide toy thing which you could pour water down the chute to allow Hello Kitty and friends to slide down happily.

Anyways, I went to Hong Kong Central to do some stuff at the bank. Hopefully I get my Platinum credit card! *fingers crossed* Then I can shop till I my arms drop off! :) They give all kinds of discounts with credit cards and you can save up to 50% off retail prices and restaurant bills just by paying with your credit card. I was all prepared for the bank to be closed as my local branch doesn't open on weekends. So I had a back-up plan to eat egg tarts and Krispy Kreme New York Cheesecake donuts in case the bank was closed and I felt I wasted my trip to the Island. However, the bank was open (what a bummer) and I got my credit card sorted. The other bank I wanted to go was shut so I carried on with Plan Eat Egg Tart and Donuts.

So having gotten a wonderful high from egg tarts, I went on my tourist trail of Hong Kong. I had dressed nicely for the trip to the bank(in case they believed I was some unemployed person in my scruffy jeans), so I looked the part of stupid-rich-tourist-with-camera-and-loads-of-dosh-and-no-ability-to-speak-cantonese. I went to visit some temple with was the main temple of Hong Kong Island where everyone came to pray for good business. I came out with my eyes watery from all the incense and my cashmere shawl dirtied with some incense debri as well as my hair smelling smoky. I mean, smoky eyes are one thing, but smoky hair?

I walked along Hollywood Road, so named because it was the first road in Hong Kong (so the tourist information panels says) and brimming with antique stores. I love antiques, but I had a hard time discerning the real and the fake. They all looked fake to me. I also wandered about the galleries and fell in love. if I had HK$78,000 to spare I would be a happy woman with an amazing painting. I tried to make do with the postcard. I am determined to visit the artist in China to see if I can get another piece at a cheaper price.

After all the arty stuff, my brain needed a donut. And I couldn't help it if Krispy Kreme just happened to be at the corner. Okay okay, I knew where Krispy Kreme was and planned my trip around the egg tart shop and the Krispy Kreme store. I succumbed to the power of sugar. The Angelic Star was so sweet I almost got a hyper! I can't believe they sell those things without warning labels. There should be some regulation on the sugar content of food in Asia.

Anyways, after completing plan B, I went to find the library for some peace ad quiet. It helped that the Library was facing Victoria Park and had a great view across the harbour. The guy next to me was conviniently cute too. Hehe! :)

.

Summary: I got all my Christmas shopping done. And I am so broke. When I was in uni, my mum told me that the first present she wanted from me (besides cold hard cash) was diamonds. So I am officially broke. And I have officially purchased my first diamond. The banker stubbornly refused to bring the diamonds back for me to Malaysia. And I rather not post it via the ever so reliable Post Malaysia thank you very much. So my mum has to wait till Chinese New Year when I go back to get her hands on this. Hm.. I should have waited for January sales. Oh well, whatever makes her happy.

.

PS: My blog is turning into a random review of what goes on in my mind and what I have eaten this week. I should think intelligient thoughts. Oh, random cool piece of information: A patient came in with his foot soaked in vinegar to get rid of his corn. I asked if he was pickling his feet for Chinese New Year. I've put you off your dinner haven't I?

Restlessness

I am feeling absolutely restless today. I had a heavy day at the clinic due to some individuals who seem to have no concept that I am the professional and they are the patients and I will teach them what to do, not vice versa. The number of people who wish to teach the podiatrist what to do is astonishing. I never knew the granny who sits at home all day, the daugther who is a housewife, the man who sits playing mah-jong and chain smoking at the elderly home and the son who doesn't have a clue what they are here for all have ideas of their own on podiatric care.

Anyways, we were scheduling our appointments and I was suddenly asked to explain why I am planning to go back for CNY for a week. I was surprised as I had asked for leave many times and have been given the go ahead a few times. So I had booked my tickets to go back for the week. But now, I am apparently not allowed to go back for so long. -_-

This well and truly screws up my plans as I have paid for my tickets already and can't afford to rebook any more tickets. I thought I was being considerate by only taking Christmas eve off this year. I am not scheduling any leave for January, March, April, May or even June as I know she is going off for one week at Christmas, 2 days for January and a month at Easter.

I have ranted three times and I am still feeling pissed off. Why should I feel guiltly for wanting to go home for one measy week to see my family? They are going back at Christmas for a week to see my grandparents and I am not able to travel so much for the trip, which means I can't go back for Christmas.

Being considerate means you get trampled over sometimes. I am sure some people have this thing where they justify that their families are more important than the single individual and should be given priority when booking leave. I would like to state that single people have families too and we need to see our families as well. I told her I will look into rebooking flights, but now I don't think I will bother. So what if she rants? I can always quit and know that someone else would be more than willing to employ me. So what if it is my first job. Just because I gave her two months notice before I booked my tickets and told her many times as well as had her pencil in my leave doesn't mean I should change it. Now she makes it seem that I have not thought about others.

Honestly, I don't give a damn. But, saying that, I am now looking to goback next weekend. I can't stand being here another weekend. So what if the flights will cost me a month's salary. The stupid thing is, I have 63 hours between friday evening and monday morning and I can't find flights that will allow me to be in KL for more than 24 hours without compromising my clinical schedule. Why do I do this to myself? *sigh*

PS: If I really can't find flights I am determined to get myself in trouble just for the sake of doing something. I am THAT restless.

Dragons Den

I sat on the interview panel today. It sure was different to sit on the other side of the table. I got to ask questions and give people the evil eye and make them all tremble in fear. Ha! :)

Actually, the Allied Health Professionals conducted our interviews for assistants in various hospitals on various terms and contracts today. We were all looking for the best and we knew we may have to fight it out to grab the ones we wanted. I was the youngest member on the panel and sure was not looking to get pushed around.

So we ran through the candidates. It was pretty amazing to see the backgrounds and the experience they all brought to the table. I didn't imagine something like this could generate interest in so many different people. Nevertheless, most of the interview was conducted in cantonese, with a quick three line reading test in the begining which had a grammatical error in it anyway. We got tired listening to people reading it wrong, and corrected it after a few candidates.

Obviously there were people everyone wanted. So we had to bargain and trade off, a bit like Dragons Den really, you strike a deal, hedge your bets... I am hoping my first choice likes me enough to agree to work with me. My second choice is also pretty ok, but his trousers are worn a bit too high for my liking. My final choice is the one I am probably going to get. The person is young, inexperienced and probably still drifting through early adulthood looking for something interesting to do. If there is nothing to come out of this, at least he will be a sight for sore eyes *sly grin*.

I haven't told the boss about how cute he looks yet, but I am sure all the grannies would like him. And finally, I will no longer look like the intern!

Unveiled

The Paintings That Cost 22 Pieces of Semi Compressed Felt

Yeay!!! *pops Hello Kitty streamers*

Tea for Two

Behold... My room!!! Please queue up nicely and take a number.

Coming in the door, you will see this on your left.

The 3.5m wide window no one believed I had, leading to the balcony.

My Sitting Room. Imagine a bit la!

Use your brain juices and try to make yourself comfy.

Rotating towards the huge ass closet I can keep skeletons in. =D

All my worldly possessions.

My treasure chest. =)

What wakes me up at 8am Mon-Sat. -_-

View from the balcony. To the left, the main building.

I sat there till nightfall to take the same shots.

Housekeeping

I am so bored. I was so bored that I woke up on Saturday morning and cleaned my room, did my laundry, changed the sheets, wiped out all the cupboards, hung my paintings and dusted all surfaces. Okay, I was woken up on Saturday morning and since I had time between 9am and 12 noon I figured I should do some cleaning.

I dropped by Accident and Emergency in the process. My friend was feeling unwell and knocked on my door bright and early when I was still lounging about in my PJs with my hair sticking up. So I attempted to make myself presentable in case there are any hot doctors on show (there were), and went off to A&E with her. The waiting times were 0 minutes for the critically ill ie: will-die-any-second, to 15 minutes for the seriously ill ie: will-die-in-15-minutes, to 6 hours for the ones who can walk in the door. Now, A&E in Hong Kong is used for a myriad of things from proper emergencies to people just requiring a flu jab. So we registered and were triaged into non-emergency ie: will-complain-if-not-seen-in-four-hours ill. The fact that we lived near enough to crawl here was a comfort compared to the countless others who would have to wait their turn watching cantonese soaps. So we went back to our quarters. My friend said she would go back to see the doctor when the time comes and she was feeling better already.

Anyways, after all the drama of the morning I set off for a relaxing day at the shops. The banker was bored and tired of walking about so we settled to vege out at a cafe in the mall. If I had known he was going to read an investment book as leisurely entertainment I would have brought my podiatry books as not to be outdone. But I didn't, so I had to eat snacks to keep myself occupied. I couldn't tempt him to go for the most amazing chocolate pudding in the world which was the size of a plate, with hot chocolate sauce oozing out and four scoops of ice-cream on top surrounded by fruits. I had that on Friday night while playing gooseberry with my boss and her husband. Men are such spoilsports who don't eat chocolate pudding for fear of losing their masculinity. Shessh. We went to look for dinner afterwards but couldn't decide what to eat so settled for this tiny Malaysian cafe in Jordan. The place was more-or-less empty but the curry laksa and the curry fish sauce was really good. The fish didn't taste like fish so I wouldn't call it curry fish but it tasted good otherwise and was brilliant comfort food when you don't cook.

I carried on shopping at Ladies' Street Market just to absorb the hustle and bustle of the people. My place is pretty quiet and relatively clean compared to the rest of Hong Kong so I needed my dose of pullution and noise to make me feel sane. Just in case I start thinking Hong Kong is the best place on Earth and I never ever want to leave it. I got two more DVD box sets to entertain me. My place is now full of chicklit and DVDs for a rainy day. Ra, SATC 7 series boxset is less than 700 HK$.

Sunday was also spent doing housekeeping and shopping for groceries. If this goes on any longer I am going to turn into a housewife! I went to early Mass and then did my groceries then I came back and tidied up a bit more. I went for Dim Sum with the boss and her family. Her kids are so cute. I am sure I am the four year old girl's best friend now. Chinese looking babies are claimed to be the cutest babies in the world. I have to admit they do look kinda cute, if you have the right genes. I spent more money on shiny stuff and am now the proud owner of a crystal encrusted belt, seashell earings, another throw and a cute little machine that whirls around, traps dust and makes my room smell nice. Oh, I got some tops on Thursday to will away the horrible headache.

Too much money and nothing to buy. It is kind of weird to not have to live hand to mouth. But then, that's being single and liberated. I probably won't be able to survive if I have a family to feed, children to educate, a mortage to pay, a car to run, parents to keep and a younger sister to educate. Now is it starting to feel depressing.