Training is going to be over soon

My training will be over after this week. I have been enjoying myself for the past few days as I have managed to pass all exams :) Our class starts to plan on going to our 'grad' trip. Haha. The destination will be KL.

I was chatting with Pong recently and she said I sound pessimistic nowadays. I think I need to recharge sooner or later. She finally found a goal and I must find mine too :)

Mid October 2010

After so many tests, I am left with two big tests for the next two weeks. Going to start on my work after two months of training. As some of my friends have no finance background, they struggle alot during this period of training. They have to take retake the tests multiple times and study late at night. Training is more comfortable to me now but I wonder whether my friends can tide it through.

These two weeks will be resting period for me and I hope I have the discipline to sleep before 11pm.

1 out of 2 months of training is gone

In a flash, one month of training is gone. Everyone is rushing to clear their exams and the so called 'meet up after training' seems so impossible. My friend said training is the best part of career and I am wondering why I don't really enjoy this training.

Though I don't really feel sad even though I am going to study during the weekends but it is definitely not enjoyable. Anyway I have cleared four tests already. Its a good start. Hope everything will be smooth sailing :)

New Life / Lasik

There are like 12 tests coming out for my new job. I feel like fainting but I managed to pass one today. I realised everybody has their own study method. Some people will do notes, while for me, I will keep doing past year papers. I can still remember I fail CFA level 1. Its really a blow in my confidence as I did a lot like 500 MCQs but it turns out the papers I did are too easy compared to the real one -_-

I hope I can pass most tests at one go if not I have to restudy again.

My lasik is getting better. Getting very near to the perfect vision. Its really amazing and the 3.3k is well spent. Imagine being able to see at night in my room with my new eyes (I always take off specs when I lie on my bed).

I still miss my KPMG friends. I hope they are doing okay and peak will be nice to them. They are really a bunch of great frens. I think they still don't have my blog yet so I am not trying to get into their good books. Haha.

Don’t settle

Don’t settle. Don’t settle for less. Don’t settle for someone you don’t like as your partner. Don’t settle for a job you don’t like . Don’t settle for friends who make you feel like a lesser person. Don’t settle for a weight you are unhappy with. Go for what you really want.

Extracted from http://celestinechua.com/blog/101-ways-to-live-your-life-to-the-fullest/

A controversial story

I was reading Black Swan and there was a story about the drowned worshippers.

One Diagoras, a nonbeliever in the gods, was shown painted tablets bearing worshippers who prayed, then survived a subsequent shipwreck. The implication was that praying protects u from drowning. Diagoras then asked,'' Where were the pictures of those who prayed, then drowned?''

Happen to meet a 'friend'

So I saw this friend a month back when I was eating lunch with Ms Chua. This 'friend' came to me and asked me where I am working now. I say I am auditing GIC now. She misheard what I say and thought I was saying GIC. She said where is you name card. I took out of my name card and say its just a big 4 company. And when she saw my name card, she said chey... auditing firm..

I wasn't offended but I am disgusted by her actions. Haha. She only asked my name card because she thought I was working in a prestigious firm. Damn realistic! Thats life. How come not many people ask me whether I am happy to work instead of asking me where I work? I have another friend who is an accountancy grad, decided to chose outward bound as a career. I think its important to find a job you like and right now I am not sure whether I will like my future job but I have a feeling it will be better than audit :)

31st July NDP Preview

I manage to get the tickets as my brother-in-law couldn't make it for the NDP Preview. Even though it is a preview, a lot of people turn up. Some are interested in the goodie bags, while others are interested in the performance and atmosphere.

Lots of effort has been spent to create this annual event and the national day songs made me shivered, feeling very nostalgic and rekindle my love for Singapore. Its like finally you sing Majulah Singapura again. I think the last one is my NTU convocation. Memories flashed back and I remember I went to National Stadium to support Singapore, the Singapore Vs Malaysia Tiger Cup semi finals match. I think what Singapore provides us are Peace and Security. I feel I always take peace for granted.

Here are the pictures:

Going to a whole new direction

I had been to three personal banking interviews and have lots of friends in personal banking. So I roughly know how they treat their employees. Its great to get into I presumed the best personal banking in Singapore. Interestingly, I had great disdain to personal banking long time ago. I was asked to join because of my friend, Chye. I wouldn't say personal banking is top of my choice but it will be something I wanna try after a year in audit.

Its funny when I tell people I am going personal banking. One side of friends will say,'' Woah, so exciting and fun. You can meet a lot of people''. I don't know what they say are honest but some are really interested in sales though. The other side of friends will say,'' I hate sales and its hard''. Some even go on further saying,'' don't come to me, I wont buy from you.'' .

Anyway, I have already make this choice and this could be a do or die decision. I really hope I can succeed and my sisters are very supportive as they can see in my eyes that I don't really like audit even though I am very pro accounting and a very number person. My mum is skeptical but she still supports my choice. This is a drastic career change and I have recently become closer to my audit friends. Leaving them is not easy.

There is no place for medicore performance in sales. Its either you can or you cannot. Lets see how I progress then :)

23rd July 2010

It is my birthday and I went to Jay Chou concert on my birthday. I think Jay Chou is one of the first blog entry in my blog. He 'makes' me listen to Chinese songs when my life only evolves in English songs last time. As what my friend said," Jay has changed the entire Chinese music scene :o ''
I was separated from my friend, Chong Tang, so technically I was alone in the concert. I bought the 101 tickets out of desperation and seriously don't ever get these seats. I cant even see the face of Jay Chou. Out of frustration, halfway I went to the back of $168 seats and had a better view of Jay. When the concert was ending in one hour, I hacked and edged closer to the back of $198. Super high and I think I will be even more high if my friend were with me :) It was a wonderful day and Jay Chou sang many classic songs to celebrate his 10 years in music industry. Looking forward to his Green Hornet movie. He is speaking English. Oh my God. Hahaha. A decade of Jay Chou era.

There are so many people who went to the concert. I saw Daphne and Shuxian. I heard Cora, Wein, Siwei and Jinhe went there too. So happy to see so many friends went to the Friday concert. There will be more to come on Saturday and Sunday!!

The photos are taken by Jinhe. He sat on the 228 dollars seat with powerful camera and skills. Thanks Jinhe

Soccer Bets

I bet two bets against the favourites which were Brazil and Argentina. Beside Spanish players, the two best players on the pitch left in this World Cup before the kickoffs were Kaka and Messi. They look energtic but they were subdued for most of the time. They are now out of the competition and I won my bets :) Haha.

Its Monday again, I feel so tired.

Jala Neti

I was quite frustrated about the fact that how come people can sleep 6 hours and they look fresh everyday. I have been sleeping 7.5 hours and I look very tired.

So I traced the root source and found that I always have nasal block during my sleep.

After intensive online research, I found Jala Neti. It involves pouring water (with salt dissolved in it) over your one nostril and water will thereafter come out from the other. Like a party trick right? Haha. Anyway, I tried it just now and initially its abit painful but mucus starting to come out.. I am so happy!! At least I can throw away my clinically not proven nasal sprays!

World Cup Fever and Fable

I didnt watch much of the World Cup's matches as I didnt subscribe to the World Cup channel. I had stopped playing football manager long ago and I started to sleep earlier. But tomorrow, I am going to play soccer with my secondary school friends. My red adidas street soccer boots can be used finally! Hope can score more goals as red brings good luck. However, my soccer skills are really mediocre. I think I played too much basketball instead but my heart is always with soccer and liverpool.

Some fable photos which were taken by my uni friend !!

My uni friend went to Korea by the way :)

My thoughts

As much as I want to feel optimistic, I am dragging my feet to work everyday.... I should change my mindset quickly

Magical 65kg

I have finally hit 65kg after three years. I duno whether I should feel happy or not. Took me 3 years to gain 5kg. My goal was 67kg but from my current body frame, I think I need to hit 70kg. Another 3 years ?

Furthermore, I am trying to keep myself healthy as whenever I fall sick, I will lose 1 kg.

Its great to feel heavy :)

Laska steamboat and basketball

After a laska steamboat with my friends at harbourfront, we were facebooking the handsome guys and pretty girls.. Haha. One of my friend was complaining that there are not many handsome guys in Singapore. I prove her wrong by showing off my handsome friends. HAHA. But I have to admit scrolling for pretty girls is easier than guys.

So after the meal, I went to play basketball after seeing my primary school friend playing at my house's basketball court . The match was intense but not as fast as the matches I experienced years ago. Opponents were more tired I think as they had been playing for quite long before I came. I feel so dead now. I haven't been exercising my legs for one year. But the good thing is I am now abit heavier than last time, so I dun literally fly when hit by players who weighs 80kg. My upper body can withstand more shocks but it was really super tiring. As I am the tallest there, snatching multiple rebounds was super tiring. Feel like sleeping now.

Watching Tv

"The media can wreak great harm on the family when it offers an inadequate or even distorted vision of life, of the family itself and of religion and morality."-- Pope John Paul II, May 2004

I have recently fallen into the trap of watching lots of tvs. I have decided to remove my tv from my room after reading a blog entry to kill your television. Everyday after work, I will reach home and play with my nephew for 15 mins. After which I will on my tv from 9pm to 11pm. Then I will realise how come my weekends night are so short. Furthermore, I am addicted to Football Manager and even bought a new computer to play this game. I will on my game and watch tv at the SAME time. Super multi-tasking right? Haha.

I decide to remove my tv from my room as I have the tendency to switch it on when I have nothing to do. I will still watch the programme even though the content is empty. I am quite addcited to the 10pm channel U show, Bai Quan Nu Wang. Over this weekend, I have finally finished watch Bai Quan Nu Wang. This show is super nice and I almost cry! So touching..

This post is not asking my friends to stop watching tv but to do selectively watching. Watch Dvds or online. It is important to skip the commericals. Choose shows that is meaningful and something you like. Don't do channel surfing :)

I can only say I still can't remove my game addiction as of now. Anyway, this game is very mathematical, its about controlling a club's finance, buying and selling players and deciding the tactics to face your competitiors. I think I have repeated alot of times that anything with simple numbers, I will spend hours trying to earn profits or make it better. So for now, I am still living in a virtual world. Hope I can get out of it sooner or later.

New CPU

I just bought a new CPU. Quad Core Processor. Everything is running smoothly and my game runs smoothly. The price is 700 dollars. I cant stand any lagging in my computer so I think investing in a new computer is worthwhile. When Diablo 3 comes out, I will upgrade my graphics card.

I have decided to 'give' my laptop to my sister. My sister wanted to buy a new laptop and I have a laptop lying in my cupboard so it makes sense to give her my laptop. Anyway, IBM rocks. It still runs very fast due to my 2GB RAM and it works perfectly fine even after 3 years plus.

The Greece saga has come back to haunt us for a while again. Time to rethink my investment strategy. But as an auditor, there are lots of restrictions to invest.

Batam Trip

This was supposed to be an old post.....

I came back from my Batam trip and it was very fun. I went with my ex audit colleagues and I am sad that they all left/leaving audit line. Seem like everyone is going for interviews. Nobody wants to suffer in silence. Maybe the no toil effect is a contribution factor.

Anyway, I feel the most fun part of Batam trip is the go karting. I have the fastest car and I can almost feel that I am drifting at tight corners. It is super fun and with the fastest car, I overtake everyone easily. Haha. Its quite unfair for the others as they are struggling to overtake me. The road is bumpy and we are discussing how the F1 cars travel on our bumpy roads. The price is quite steep at 18 dollars per 10 mins but its cheaper than Singapore which charges 28 per 10mins. However, I went to check Singapore go karting, their cars are faster and more professional assembled.

My car number is 88 ! haha

Jay chou tickets

My friend camped for hours to help me book online but still cant succeed. So we decided to make our way to Victoria Concert Hall and get a Jay Chou ticket. I managed to get a $101 dollars seat but some of my friends dismissed that the seat is too far. I will be going alone as the concert is left with single seats in each different blocks. Jay Chou's concert is so hot that it hanged the whole Sistic. Roarr.

I will be going on my birthday! Yeah

Bought a new pillow

I am so determined to sleep on my back that I went to buy a 60 dollars ultra firm pillow. My mum's pillow is too hollow for my comfort and I have been changing my mum pillow for my old pillow. Hope this works!

Overall well-being

I always strive to improve my overall well-being and I will spend time in reading articles or books to improve my life.

One of the problems in my life is sleep. Having a nose block most of the time is a nuisance in my sleep and I have been using nasal spray and breathe light products. I was reading a blog on how to achieve better sleep. I think one of the other main problem is that I love to sleep on my stomach. This leads to even less air to my lungs due to this sleeping posture. Now, I have decided to throw away my 4 yr old pillow which I had grown to love it as it helps to maintain my sleeping on stomach posture. I reluctantly embrace the new pillows my mum bought back a few years back. Hope it works!

Another problem is my sleeping timing. I used to sleep after12am and nowadays I only sleep after 12am when I am sure I have more than 7 hours of sleep. It doesn't help when your friend, Simon, does not sleep more than 3 hours. You will feel that you can do it or you actually need less than 7 hours and creates a thinking that you don't really need to sleep more than 7 hours. From now, I will try to sleep before 12 am and wake up early for work. The blog also mentioned that we should put my favorite song music as my alarm. To prevent severe 'emoness', I will try the 'Super Trouper' from Mama Mia instead of Jay Chou.

Next will be my sitting posture. I like to curl my back while sitting and from the blog I have decided to sit straight. Firstly, I remove my printer at the bottom of my table so that I can put legs under my table rather than putting my legs on the chair or the table.

I had invested on a huge chair and a queen sized bed very long time ago. Its time to make full use of them :)

Treat from senior

My senior treated us a buffett. Haha I am only there for 4 days and today is my last day in this engagement. I think she is too nice :)

I was quite happy at first but I ate a rotten stingray. I almost wanna puke at the smell. I can only say the smell was so overwhelming that before I wanna bite it fully, I had to throw it out. I still feel that I have that horrid smell in my mouth. Arggghh.. I went to talk to the manager but the manager insisted that their stingray has no problems. At first, I thought there could be free meals from them but as I dun feel like quarreling today so I say,'' Since you insist, I have nothing to say but the stingray is really rotten.''

So, after lunch we went back to office to work. Last day in auditing this engagement, going to be seconded to other unit. So sian

Mistakes

I was watching Channel U Illusionist.

A quote from the show: "Dun ever make your mistake as your ending point. You must change it to your favour and you will end it well."

Channel U Magic Show

Happiness is bringing happiness to people...

Thomas Ong is so cool. 40 years old looks like a 30 year old guy.

Its just weird

Even though last week I often left Jurong office at 7pm and reached home at 830pm, I still feel super tired. Weekends always pass very fast and I dun feel I am well-rested, maybe its because I go to exercise every Sunday. Need to find a way to rest/relax well. Going to exercise with guobin later :)

People I met recently

So be it clients or colleagues, I still find NTU people that I contact with are nicer. I think I am bias but the experience that I get from army and my current job is quite horrendous and they are mostly NON-NTU ex students.

Some of my SMU colleagues are nice too so dun say I am bias ok! Maybe I haven really met an evil ex NTU student. I think Catherine will vehemently argue my theory and say not all NTU people are nice! Hahaha

Job and Sis' party

This week is great as I get to go home at 6pm but I am abit worried to go home at 6pm. I am now under a G1 and she always wanna go off early. There are tonnes of vouching and I am not very sure can finish everything by next week. And the manager keeps pulling out people out of my team -_-

Maybe I should just enjoy these days rather than worry about work. Anyway, I did ask her whether we can finish in time, she said we are on the right track. So lets hope everything is ok :)

My 2nd sister treated us dinner yesterday. There were grilled chicken wings, hotdogs, pizza and sushi. Woah. And we played texas poker. Won around 10 dollars. I must proclaim that I have a gambler gene.

Time to repay NTU student loan

Its time to pay the 15k of student loan as the banks will charge 4+% interest in March.

Small chat with gb

Cavan says (12:55 PM):
how come u like audit so much
can u motivate me a bit
gb says (12:56 PM):
cos is applying wat u learn in sch ma
gb says (12:57 PM):
can be challenging at times

I need to find my passion!

Happy New Year

Happy Chinese New Year.

GONG XI GONG XI :)

Work work

I keep harbouring the thoughts that I can endure this difficult period.. Nowadays, work always end at 11.30pm and I will reach home at 12am. How to update at all? It will always be the same for everyday!!! Everybody asked me why I retracted, my answer is that I just want to get through this peak and get a better idea what I really want for my career.

I just worked on Saturday and fortunately my senior asked us not to come on Sunday. I feel so sad for her as she is coming on Sunday. OMG. Compared to some friends, I am considered lucky. There are people who are working everyday.

My mum just received a call through our house phone and she lied saying that I am sleeping. She was worried that my boss called to ask me to go back to work on Sunday. Hahahaha. Anyway, that was Jinhe. My sister also smsed me to take care of my health as she couldn't see me for the past one month already.

I just wanna say I am handling it quite ok now and lets see how it goes.

Updates

Today, I went to work and I was released at 830pm.. Happiness :)

Wedding Crasher Movie

We have no way of knowing what lays ahead for us in the future. All we can do is use the information at hand to make the best decision possible.

Work Work

Phew.. ended 1130pm today.. Going to sleep soon..

Clean face

One of my friends asked me today how come my face dun look tired and not much pimples even though I worked till 12 nowadays

I think I am super tired, just that my face dun show it for now only.. But one of the things my army friend taught me is never use your hand to touch your face, as your hands are super dirty. I was quite stunned by him as I thought that is so niang(sissy) and its so hard to endure the itchiness. Anyway my army friend's face is super smooth and some gals will pale in comparison. Another army friend also went to facial which I think is so sissy too at that point of time. Come to think of it now, I have been following their advices -_-

Then I have another JC friend who suddenly had lots of pimples during his JC days. I realised he kept washing his hands then used his clean hands to clean his face with fresh water. It worked and after a few months, his pimples were less serious. Sometimes, I also do that.

These three methods work for me right now but I am not sure it will work in the long term. Drink more water and have ample of sleep :)

Finding the purpose in LIFE

Just when I finished plucking figures for my trial balance on this day (SUNDAY) at home, I happen to read from a blog, http://celestinechua.com/blog.

I think a year ago, my friend, Sydney, was asking me about what is the purpose in life? I told him I am not sure because it is hard to explain. He kept insisting that what is the purpose of life when we are going to die anyway. Don't get me wrong. He is smart, getting As for his examinations in NUS, and is not the pessimistic sort. Now then I realise that he was thinking something so far away and he is different from the rest. I haven't asked him whether he found the answers yet though, maybe I will ask him next time.

From the blog:

If you were to have to do something for the rest of your life, without getting paid a single dime, what would you want that thing to be? This is something true to yourself – it is your purpose, not other peoples’ purpose.

I can only say I wanna be Vivi of Cesim but I don't know how to be a Vivi. Hahaa..

If you have the time.. read that blog :) Hope you can find a purpose in life.

MSN

It seems like after work, I am very addicted to MSN. I should try to refrain going to msn from now so that I have more time to sleep

Romanian Prosecutor’s Office to investigate hit—and—run case

Both Romania and Singapore are parties of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The Convention states that "a diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state... the immunity of a diplomatic agent from the jurisdiction of the receiving state does not exempt him from the jurisdiction of the sending state".

This means the penal investigation of a case in which a diplomat is involved in the receiving state, takes place in the state where he holds citizenship.

On December 15, a car belonging to the Romanian embassy in Singapore — a black Audi A6 — hit three pedestrians at about 3.10am.

One victim, 30—year—old Tong Kok Wai, suffered brain damage and died on Christmas Day. The other two suffered injuries.

Dr Ionescu, who is currently in Romania, had reported to the police that his vehicle was stolen.

Personal view: A lot of question marks about Dr Ionescu. If my car were stolen, I would have reported earlier to police or even my car knocked some people, I wouldnt have know it so fast that I can so fast fly back to Romania before the police came looking for me. I find it hard to believe his words. Unless, the news about his car was so fast on the net and he wanted to go to Romania to prevent false accusation. Lets give him a benefit of doubt.

Faith

I made a HUge decision today. I need alot of faith to endure and succeed. Wish me luck. Though I think some people will scorn at my decision or doubt my abilities, I WILL DO IT.

Hwee Min said, ‘ Cavannn, 你要拼啊!’

HAppy New year

Happy new year to all :) 2009 was a memorable year.

Jan 2009 to May 2009 is my last semester in school with only three subjects and I was doing what I like during that point of time :) My passion for simulation game will forever stays.

May 2009 is my Thailand trip

June 2009 to July 2009 is my graduation ceremony and Taiwan trip

July 2009 to October 2009 is about trying new stuff like cable ski and flying kite, played lots of computer games and CFA revision

October 2009 to December 2009 is my new venture in Audit line

Cheers to a great new year!!