This is about, part 2...

It’s the year of Tiger, my neighbour bought me a small soft toy represented their feeling of Chinese New Year. I was delighted, not because the soft toy but was for their thoughtful idea, which has blown me away. I used not to celebrate in the New Year; just like Christmas and Santa Claus to others, some people rather have a quiet one than a busy party. I questioned myself, was it because the older I became, the less interest to be? I appreciated the efforts from them; it made me felt very cosy and warm-hearted.

My neighbour are pensioners and is a retired couple, living with few cats in the house and have a fish pound in the back garden. I sometimes go to their garden watching fishes, playing with cats and chatting with them.

Life couldn’t be better than after you retired… no rush hour traffics, no meetings, no deadlines, no annoying colleagues, no business hours and is completely free. Have a cuppa in somewhere, enjoy the atmosphere and stay as long as you like as there isn’t a break-time limited to be concerned.

Are you assertive!?

People can have either good or bad days, depending on what they see and how they feel. A typical day at work is putting your head down: then work is not special; seeing other people annoyed in front of your face that is extraordinary.

Most of the day I do routine tasks, but occasionally there’s a crisis or I have to meet a deadline. At certain times of the year I have a very heavy workload but at other times it can be quiet light. I am an easy going person but can’t stand people with bad manners as I think everyone should have basic interpersonal skills. For example: laughing out load in the office, a rude attitude and ignorance at work are most annoying. I don’t know what the worst thing would be from my colleagues; unfortunately I am able to choose the job I like but not the people I work with.

My workplace is not a call centre; however the majority of them work via the phones and get in contact with customers, providing advice and help as well as giving guidance. For me, it is a good thing to help others, but another thing to make others to do what you tell them to do. Such attitude does go around in the office, if you lack awareness and self-esteem then you will be working like a hard labourer; you are supposed to work hard of course, but not work to compensate for others’ laziness. Be assertive is recommended and will not end up doing something that you shouldn’t do.

This is about...

Many people understand friendship but when it comes to distance, it is far more difficult. It’s been several years since I moved aboard and I have met nice friends from work and locals with different personal histories. It is rare to meet people with the same background or culture near-by, whereas if I lived in the capital city of the country, it would be easy to spot a few. I am not living in the capital city or in the countryside but a suburban area. Everything to me is distance, from and to work, to shop or even just to go to cinema: driving is always necessary.

Nowadays, the best way to make friends seems to be to go online (no, not compare.com). I know some people who have the same cultural background from a forum which comments on a wide range of daily matters about living abroad. Somehow they are spread up and down the country, very distant from each other, but it has made me interested to visit the forum often. I like the idea of sharing the experiences with other members within the forum, also understanding how other people cope with life in a foreign country. I am also aware that there are gathering events happening, however the majority of them would take place in the city rather than in the suburban area; perhaps I miss out all the gossip but I definitely enjoy my peace and quiet.

Once upon a time, I thought I was independent enough to live aboard; eventually I found ways to balance myself between working and studying. Filling up my free time to socialise with others by doing volunteer work and helping out with the local community activities are ways to make my life more involved with others no matter where I am. Friends are important, and are even better when family are not around.

So what does "friend" mean to you? For me, a few life long friends would be far better than tons of friends, who are only suitable for having fun with (gossip, drinking or shopping etc). I look out for life long friends, it is already hard enough to find even in your country of birth; never mind now, in a foreign country. The interesting thing is: I have found it easier to be friends with locals than people from home. For instance:

• People are more independent here than from home
• People make efforts and feel more appreciation
• There are no "Should" or "Should Not", only do it when you think it is right and necessary.
• People make decisions based on personal need rather than for others happiness.
• Speak up and stand out.
• People let things go more easily and happy to accept other opinions.
• There is less worry: when something crops up then it is fixed.
  

These are personal experiences, it doesn’t mean everyone has the same thought; you may come across with different idea. Nevertheless, living abroad truly makes your mind open and that is all the matter.

What is your rating score??

Have you heard credit report, when I first heard I thought it is only for people who have bad records and reputation with bank or are in debt wish to find out the alternative ways to save their credit ability.

I think this is a very comment thought ‘as long as you own nothing, you should have a good credit rate’, but in reality it is not true. One of my friends applied for a credit card, he was just like one of us and thought he owned nothing was declined. He was advice to apply for his credit report with other party, after then he might be able to do something about and improving his credit rating.

I was surprised by the outcome as it is not just about owning money, it is also about for example: how many store cards do you apply and have, plus other general payments in relation to banks business, such as mobile phone bill, credit card bill (obviously) and all sorts of payment with money involved, you can see almost everything on the report, my friend told me.

I think I’ve learned the lesson from him to watch out HOW I spend/pay and by what methods in relation to the banks.

Singing in Live

Last month I went to see PiNK singing in live.

I have to say I was impressed by her voice and I also admired her determination of doing all the shows in no imperfections and I truly like her singing.

It was a weekend in October in Manchester Arena; during that night I followed the flow and queued next to the entrance and waited to be checked with ticket. About 15,000 to 20,000 of people came for the event and it was absolutely packed. I stayed in Park Inn Hotel just outside the venue about 5 minutes walk and was lucky as I booked far in advance which was allowed me to grab a room to stay over a night.

My feeling of going to Manchester is like when I look for a pair of shoes which bargain is necessary, it has to be reasonable price, comfort and is in a good condition. It does work when it comes to choose a hotel, as too much choice that normally I would like to stick with the previous one where I stayed before however, it is always overprice when it is on the peak time (although between the hotel and I, we never agree to have the peak time as we thought).

19:50 it started with the support act.

A band from NZ Evermore had warm up the audience which performed and song for almost an hour long, drumming, keyboarding and guitar performing. I thought they were very good performers particularly the drummer, I have to give him the credits of the amazing skills he has, he has no rest and drumming throughout the period of time. I enjoyed it every minute when they song.

New Start....... in November

It is another day and is another month.

The temperature is getting low, the sky is turning dark earlier comparing to couple of months ago.

What that tells me…........................., the winter is on its way.

I am thinking, this winter is going to be ‘cold’, and could be an icy cold due to the very bad economic. As a result, there are no other conditions or ways to make it better (ok, there is but takes long time to recover). However, for the people who are already employed, they may want to change their career; for the jobless of course they are keeping up and are looking all the time, somehow it is a very slow process (I think so).

For instance, internal jobs provide to employed staff and after they have applied but nothing have heard from the other end; external vacancies to jobless or employed staff, after they showed their interests, they still have not received any thing from other side too, so what is this going on……??

I don’t know how many people in England are trying to change / look for a job, because under the recession whatever job you have is ‘better than nothing’, I was told by many friends and colleagues.

For the employed staff, would you follow the desire you want to achieve which is looking for a new job or just do whatever is available for an income to keep you going; for jobless people, I would like to fingers crossed for you all and wish you all the best.

I am still thinking………

Casual Friday/Dress Down Day

For some, office is a place people wish to be; it is also a place people hate too. I work in the office environment for a number of years, and I am one of these people.

Received an email was circulated by Marketing Department with regard to Dress Down Day at workplace, we were requested to donate £1 on the day and I was asked to collect the donations for them. The activity takes place once a month and is a pain; members of staff are aware of to donate the money if they take part but, they temp to get away from the fact ‘no donation’ and are still dress down.

I wrote an email to the HQ, I clearly explained my position and the situation, in fact I told them off and asked them do NOT request me to do it ever again, if they want to be a begger themselves - be my guest.

Donation is a gift or contribution especially a sum of money given to a charity, it is NOT or should NOT be forced to do so; I just can’t figure out the reason when people abuse the system and still enjoy the dress down day benefit.

(boo)

Fish