Shanna’s Gregarious Life

164 Hits!

Posted by Shanna on 26 September 2007

My! 164 hits in 1 week to my new site at http://dreamproperties.wordpress.com.  Not bad for a starter!

I started out wanting to just key in my properties for sale and rental, and it escalated to include property news and project information!  The property news is a killer!  Day after day, I have to input news from the numerous newspapers here in Singapore.  And I have to choose what to add in.  So mainly, its property news, and nothing else.  Didn’t want to add in US stock markets or the UK Bank loan news, or even overseas property news.  Singapore property news is good enough!  Or else, I’ll never be able to sleep!

Well, now with the 164 hits I have, I do hope that the hits would turn into sales!

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When I blog, I blog…

Posted by Shanna on 19 September 2007

I notice something…. When I blog, I blog, when I don’t, I go silent for weeks or months before I blog again.  Here I am blogging for the second time since June 2007!

I have been busy.  Busy blogging.  Busy blogging on a new site which I have just created.  So busy blogging on my new site which I have created that I have now 10 over posts in the 24 hours which I created that blog.  And now, it is time to reveal the new blog: http://dreamproperties.wordpress.com

Yes yes, as the name suggests, it is a property site.  I had wanted a property site for SO LONG but I have been too broke to be able to afford those fanciful ones which some agents have.  So in the end, I had to make do with using wordpress to create this site.

Don’t expect anything fanciful here in this site.  It’s just clean lines, simple and hopefully, straightforward enough to use.

Do hope that people can chance upon it and comment on it so that I can maybe improve on the site a little bit.

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It’s been a long time…..

Posted by Shanna on 17 September 2007

It’s been 3 months or so since I last wrote in my blog! Can’t believe it! But then, I have a good excuse!

  1. I was busy at work and when I got home, I was always too tired to blog.
  2. I changed my job AGAIN! So it’s starting all over, the foundation, getting started, straight from ground zero up.
  3. I bought a red poodle puppy, so she is taking up alot of my time.  If I am not playing with her, I am reading up about her.  Books on puppies (it’s like being a new mummy again!), books on training, books on grooming!
  4. Facebook.  Can’t stand it! can’t get enough of it!

Now, the explaination of the past 3 months in 1 blog!

I was working so hard at my company but it seems it was not good enough!  I felt that whatever I did, it was not up to their expectations.  I was proud to be part of this company and I thought I was doing well.  But like what people say, sometimes your best isn’t good enough.  I started having doubts.  I started thinking of leaving.  1 of the reasons was that if I were to be confirmed at the end of my 3 months probation, I’d be required to give 2 months notice period if I do want to resign.  Another reason was that I felt I could not adapt to the culture of the company.  I used to joke that it is like a communist company! :p  They were always trying to change your midset to suit theirs.  Of course, I am not saying that it is bad, it’s just that I am unable to adapt.  I did learn some things from the company though.  I’ve learnt time management skills which is essential to me in my new line of work.  I’ve learnt how to dress up better! Cos I used to be very much a jeans person, being in an office environment, I have to be in office clothes.  Since I was proud to be in this company, I wanted to look good too, so shopping I went, to buy a few more presentable tops.  There was a downside though.  We were to be at work earlier then usual, and we should not leave on the dot too.  In fact, a handful of the staff are so busy that they end up staying back as late as 7 to 8pm at night when they should finish at 6pm.  Well, that is a part of my life I will want to remember still.  It was memorable, though short.  I did not have a good chance to even thank my boss for what he has taught me. :(

After leaving that company, I decided that property is still for me.  It gives me the flexibility that a normal job can’t.  I do not need to report to anyone and I am my own boss.  Income is up to me to decide.  If I am lazy, no money honey!  It is also great that I have joined a better company and have a great suppportive manager.  So as mentioned, I had to start from the bottom up again.  I had to get my bearings right. Learn to focus on the property market again.  Prepare my move to CONQUER the market!  And that takes time!  Til now, everyday is still a learning stage for me.  Wish me all the best!

Next, yes, I bought a new puppy!  Benji passed away on 14th June 2007.  He shall be remembered and missed dearly.  ShandyShandy came into our lives by accident.  I bought her at Pasir Ris Pet Farm because I had too!  She was just too cute to walk away from.  She has been a bundle of joy in our home since 13th August 2007.  She has recently turned 3 months old and she really is such a joy to have around, though I doubt Jesper, my other dog, would feel the same.  Shandy is always chasing and biting Jesper.  And he HATES it!  Though recently, I feel he is beginning to enjoy the chase.  :p  Shandy sleeps in my room, while Jesper sleeps in my mum’s room.  We do need some peaceful, quiet times too, with no barking and yelping!  Shandy is my alarm clock every morning.  She wakes up about 7.15 am EVERY morning, if I am lucky, it would be about 8am.  She would start whinning and yelping to wake me up.  I would then reach over and pick her up onto my bed to play with her awhile before giving her breakfast.

Lastly, who the hell introduced me to Facebook?  I can get quite hooked on its applications!  Daily, I will be giving drinks and pastries to friends, or asking them to support causes, or using my ‘pet’ to fight with other pets, and many many more!  I am so addicted that I am switching in between Facebook and my blog now!  Erh…. I think this is a long blog for today… Facebook is calling me now…..

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Iggy’s! What a Starter!

Posted by Shanna on 13 June 2007

I had my first try of proper fine dining few weeks ago….  I was invited for dinner and I chose Iggy’s to be my experience to enjoy exquisite cuisine.  Boy! I was in for a treat!

I wished I had taken the menu with me to describe each dish!  Abit of info on Iggy’s.  I heard its rated No. 60 in the World’s Top Restaurants.  And it’s a big accomplishment for a Singaporean run restaurant.  Chef Dorin is the MAN in the kitchen working his wonders!

There were 2 menus to choose from, a Tasting Menu and another one for vegetarians.  I, of cause, went for the Tasting Menu.  The meal was 8-course, burning my date’s pocket at $175+++ per person!  And we also had a half bottle of wine at $108+++!

I must get hold of the menu!  I know they gave us a green pea soup served in a shooter glass!  We were suppose to down the soup in 1 go!  I was thinking, what’s so fantastic about a green pea soup?  I was really in for a surprise!  The soup was so smooth, gliding down my throat!  The soup was served in 3 temperatures!  The first portion was cold!, the middle level was warm, and the top part was abit hotter and frothy!

All I can remember for now was the wonderful Wagyu beef, Aasparagus, Abalone, Foie Gras and the ‘free-flow’ of truffle oil on the dishes!  Oh Yes!  I have had my first try of shavings of truffle!  Honestly speaking, I didn’t find anything fantastic about this expensive item.  I don’t understand how people can spend thousands to buy truffles.

There was also fresh servings of bread, I did enjoy the olive bread.  I heard that they do not make their own bread, but well, it tastes great!  Who cares?

Anyway, I had  introduced myself to the head waiter and when he knew who I was, I was pleasantly surprised that Chef Dorin came out to speak with me when I was about to leave!

No, I am not anyone famous!  More like my boss is!

Well, it definately was a wonderful experience for me!  I can’t wait to go back there again!

Now where shall I go next?  I think my next target would be St. Julien or St. Pierre!  Would anyone like to take me there? :)

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Its My Birthday!

Posted by Shanna on 13 June 2007

What a day it has been!  Going to work with a hangover today!  I’ll never forgive my gal friends for that stupid drink they gave me last night!  Its not the whiskeys and beers which I had.  I didn’t mind those!  But its that shooter concoction I can’t stand!  It was so YUCKY!  Just thinking of it now makes me wanna through up! 

 I was at the verge of taking MC today so that I can sleep off the yucky taste!  But am I glad I didn’t do that!

Work was busy then usual and I think its one of those few times that I work on my birthday.  Birthday wishes and birthday songs flowed my way the minutes I stepped into the office.  I have been waiting for the birthday card which everyone usually signs for a staff birthday, and also the $50 Takashimaya Voucher, but none came… :(   I was even wishing for a birthday cake…. Sigh…

I waited and waited, and lunch time came.  I was getting grumpy!  What a day! My birthday, and I don’t have a card?  Is it because I am not a confirmed staff yet that I don’t get anything?  I was already complaing during lunch on how hot the weather was, and was gobbling down my lunch so that I can rush back into the cold office!  What’s worse was, when I was about to leave the table, my colleague had to stop me to discuss WORK!  I was thinking, isn’t there a better place to discuss work?  The office is nice and cool, we could easily discuss work then!!!  Then she rushed off for a minuteMy Birthday CakeMy Birthday Cake to talk to another colleague and rushed back to me to discuss more!  Getting hot and bothered, I was rattling off what I have done in this project I was working with her on.  And before I knew it, surprise surprise, my HR Manager walked My Birthday Caketowards me with another colleague, carrying…. A BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!  By now, I was cursing under my breathe!  My colleague had tricked me!  From being irritated, I was close to blushing!  Now the whole school knows its my birthday!  Students and colleagues were singing the birthday song!

Well well well, it has not been a bad day afterall!  The cake was a chocolate mousse cake made of 4 small hearts!  Made from pure Valrhona Chocolate!  1 heart was in gold, 2 were in dark chocolate and another in milk chocolate, made by our pastry chef and the chef from Valrhona.  What an honour!  This will definately be a birthday I will always remember! My Birthday CakeMy Birthday Cake

The cake was melt-in-your-mouth smooth!  1 of them was a mix of mousse and sponge cake, another 2 were of dark chocolate mousse, and 1 in milk chocolate mousse.  So sinful!  So yummy! So utterly cool!

Happy Birthday to ME!

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Busy Busy Work!

Posted by Shanna on 27 May 2007

Did anyone noticed that I have not blogged since I got my job?  I’ve started work on 21st March 2007 and no updating my blog til now!  Just imagine how busy I’ve been!

 I have worked in a handful of companies either part time or full time and I have to say that this is the first time I am so stressed out and busy at work!

Not only do I have to do my work, I have to memorise the company’s vision and mission statement, not forgetting the foundation of the company, knowing our values, and vital objectives.  Oh yes, we also have to know the 10 basics of the day, such as positive attitude, our motto, etc… We are also learning the 7 Habits of Effective Leadership, thus we have touched base on being 1.) Proactive, 2.) Begin with the End in Mind, 3.) Put First Things First, 4.) Win-Win and soon another 3 more habits to learn!

It is great to know a company which has strong foundations and believe in their own Vision and Mission Statement.  How many companies have I worked for whose owners do not even remember their own mission statement?  At my company, we energise it every morning!  And it is drilled in my head now and I can tell people that ‘ We want to lead the way in maintaining the intergrity of food & cuisines by delivery the best professional culinary arts education.  We want to deliver formal education in East & West, Herbs & Spices, Old & New World Cuisines and provide Work & study rotations at top hotels, resturants and luxury homes’.  THERE!  Not bad huh?

Besides TRYING to remember all these stuff, I have to learn my job!  I realise that it is not easy being a Personal Assistant!  Especially if you are reporting to my CEO!  He is demanding and he knows what he wants.  You can never lie through your teeth and you can’t be too long winded with him.  I tried numerous times to answer him when he ask me, ‘Shanna, did you do this?’, starting off with ‘Chef, so and so said that he …’, and he cuts me off saying, ‘Shanna, listen to my question, did you do ____?’.  ‘No Chef’.  Sigh…

I have to also arrange and confirm his appointments, do some follow ups for him, prepare correspondences for him, in fact, arranging his life at work.  It has been a trying 2 months for me but I am still enjoying work.  My main aim is to really understand him as much as I can.  I realise that both our thinking is totally different.  I am still having a hard time understanding him and of cause with his French accent, it sometimes gets even harder to understand him! :)

It is amazing that first time in my whole life that I am so early at work!  I start work at 9am, but I am usually there by about 8.20am or so.  In my other jobs, I am usually at work on time or slightly late!  So imagine, how motivated I am to work for this company!

Another plus point for me is the free food!  Each day, we have different cuisines, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Malay, Singaporean/Malaysian, sometimes Western.  And when we have a new batch of students coming in, they have to go through restaurant training, and we get served food, restaurant style!    What more can I ask for?  If not, lunch is served at the patio, there is where I can pig out!  Free flow, buffet style.  Our Pastry & Baking students bake for us muffins and cakes and delicious yummy desserts!  Applie pies, quiche, and the other day, PIZZA!  but amazingly, I still managed to lose weight!  Lost about 4kg already!  Must be the stress at work!

Well, I think I should blog more to de-stress myself!  More stories coming up!

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I Got The Job!

Posted by Shanna on 13 March 2007

After 3 days of interviews with 4 different people, and an email to say why I wanted the job, I had better get the job!

They called me yesterday at about 3.40pm, just as I was about to step out of the house to pick my little rascal for her swimming classes.  They had wanted me to rush down to sign the Letter of Appointment immediately!  I think they were afraid that I would change my mind or either not able to make it on other days as I am still working!  Rush I did! I reached the office in less than an hour! :P

Well, I’m pleased to say that I have been offered a great job with fantastic benefits!  I have never seen such a long Letter of Appointment.  Those I have seen were just a page long, cos the companies I worked for were smaller and lesser established compared to his company.  The letter was about 4 to 5 pages long with an attachment of the benefits!

They have offered me what I never recieved in my other companies!  I had the 13th Month bonus, performance bonuses (every 6 months), $500 medical, which if I do not use all of it, can be used for dental, buying new spectacles, having meals at hotels with my colleagues…. Of course also including the basic annual leave, compassionate leave, maternity leave, childcare leave, etc… the list goes on…

Now the only problem is, HOW AM I GOING TO WAKE UP SO EARLY IN THE MORNING TO START WORK AT 9AM???  I think I need few alarm clocks!  I’ve already got 2 alarms from my 2 mobile phones!  I think I need more!  Would anyone like to wake me up every day at about 7am?

I’ll be starting my first day of work on Tuesday, 20th March 2007.  So my alarm clocks can start ringing from then!

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What an Interview!

Posted by Shanna on 11 March 2007

I didn’t know going for an interview would be so strenuous!  I had already gone for 2 interviews with 3 different people, and now I have to email them, telling them why I want to work for them?  And then still go for another interivew with the founder?  Well, here’s what I emailed them! =>

I have always believed that one should either work for a company where one knows she will love and enjoy working for or if one has a hobby, find a job which has similar interests.  I have found both of that in At Sunrice, as being in the kitchen is my hobby, and yet, I have always enjoyed the educational line of work.  Many could say that this would be a dream job for me!  Just by stepping into At Sunrice, I felt very warm and welcome with the environment, the atmosphere, the company and its people.  Knowing that it is a proper organisation with an excellent system in place makes me feel at ease. I feel confident that I will be well taken care of, as a guest or staff member. 

I may just be a home baker but I’ve always been enchanted with the culinary world.  It never ceases to amaze me however on how chefs are able to transform a simple dish into something so exquisite and wonderful! 

I have met with Sandra, PA to Chef Megel, and she has explained the requirements of the job.  It may be slightly overwhelming for now as I have yet to understand the ‘running’ of the company.  However, I found it very challenging, knowing that I will always have to work under pressure.  Sandra has showed me that I had to arrange appointments for Chef Megel, and had encouraged me to have a written schedule, one on the computer and also manually key into Chef’s computer as it is a Macintosh interface, which is different from the normal PC interface.  She has also informed me that the PA-to-be will be in charge of stationary inventory, the phone system, inventory and purchasing of books for sale, scheduling of staff, managing projects, arranging and organising the SCA (Singapore Chef’s Association) outings and much, much more. 

Being able to work with Chef Megel would be a great privilege to me, as he is a World Renowned Chef, with a book under his belt, or in his case, apron.  After meeting up with Chef, I found him to be a straight-forward person with a great deal of integrity.  He wants to be able to trust his PA, and I would want to be able to trust my boss, and I do think that is a pre-requisite to build a solid working relationship.

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Earth Quake Tremors

Posted by Shanna on 6 March 2007

What a day it has been for me!  First was the dreadful meeting with the boss, then as meeting ended, I wondered why I was feeling giddy!  At first, I thought that I had heard too much from this boss of mine that I was fuming with anger and that caused my giddiness.  Then, it struck me that it could be an earth quake!  Then, just as I thought about it, my boss’s maid rushed into the room saying, ‘Earth Quake!’.  I walked out the room unsteadily, left my stuff on my desk, and walked outside the office.  I saw few people from the next office walking out too, to see the commotion!

 When all realise that it must be an earth quake, we all rushed back into the office to grab out stuff to leave!  I even told boss to leave, just in case!  In fact, I was considering, should I grab my stuff, or just leave it there?  Well, I said, must take my handphone, very impt, and ended up grabbing my bag and diary as well! :p

 It was a hard walk down for me as there were people in front of me and I was still feeling giddy, walking not so steadily down the stairs.  Thank goodness everyone was calm and collected, there was no rushing, shoving or pushing.  The tremor lasted more than 5 minutes, maybe even close to 10 minutes.

I stood far away from the building, looking at the people just in front of the building… thinking to myself, IF the building collapse, would these people have time to run away from the building?  I spoke to mum and she immediately switched on the TV to find out more!  That was about 12.20pm.  Since hubby happened to arrive, I decided to have lunch and went back to office after lunch.

Not long later, while talking to boss, I SAW and felt another tremor!  This time,  I was sitting next to my belongings, so I grabbed everything and rushed out of the office, hardly thinking about boss!  It was about 2pm!

 I ended up seeing the same people on the way down the stairs, and quickly called up mum to tell her, once again, that there was another round of the earth quake.  She was telling me that the quake measured 6.6 on the Ritcher Scale!  I was joking with mum that its about time I did some exercise, and I overheard a girl in front of me saying, but this is too much exercise for a day! Haha…  Well, she had a choice, to walk down or to walk up the stairs! I think walking down would be an easier exercise!

Boss ended up closing the office for the day!  She was not going back up and thank goodness she said that I need not go up too!  Just had to collect the letters for posting and do the banking!  Totally fine with me!  I guess it has been quite a shocking experience for me.  I felt giddy for the next hour or so… Damn! Its 11.30pm and I thought I felt my head getting giddy again!  Am I feeling paranoid or is there another quake?  Better check news now!

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A Job Disappointment

Posted by Shanna on 6 March 2007

I guess I have tried to be as understanding as I can towards my boss.  She’s 79 yrs of age, and still going quite strong.  However, it is unfair to say that I should consider that since she is much elderly that I have to close an eye to her misgivings.  She has been blaming me for things which I have not done or things which I have told her.  At first, I put the blame on myself for not doing it, or forgetting to tell her things, then I realise that it is not that I haven’t done or reminded her of certain issues, SHE FORGOT about them!  And all those times, I felt so bad about certain issues.  It affected me so badly that I couldn’t sleep at night at times, or I may call up friends to find out if I did any wrong!

Just today, we had a meeting.  She brought out an A4 piece of paper and said that there are some ‘issues’ that she would like to bring up.  Covering the paper, she read out one after another a list of things which I did not do, should not do, have not done,  etc… and what surprised me was, she was saying things out of context!

My working hours are usually 10.30 am to 6.30pm on most days except for Tuesday and Saturday, where I start at 9am.  Yes, she did mention that I have improved on my punctuality.  I was usually late for my 9am working days!  But then, she had to add in by asking what time have I been coming in on my other days as she doesn’t come in til earliest noon time on the other days!  Then she went on saying that she called a few times around 11 am and my colleague picks up the calls, saying that I have just stepped out to buy breakfast or have not stepped into the office!  I said, I don’t think so, get your information right! I have been at work latest by 10.30am.  In fact, usually in slightly earlier then that!  I later found out from my colleague that he only received those calls no more than twice!  And I really did just stepped out for awhile!

Next, she asked why was it that I went to work late on 21 Feb 07, a Wednesday.  And when she called, I said I was cleaning my place!  In fact, she was so sarcastic to say, I thought most people cleaned their house on the first day of Chinese New Year, why do you clean your house on the fourth day instead?  I was totally shocked cos I told her that I would be having a party on Tuesday night and I may be late as I would have to clean the flat, and she was ok with it!  She even said to take my time as there were no classes in the morning, just be in time for my colleague’s class at 3.30pm!  And now, here she is saying that I didn’t tell her!!  So I was so pissed off and told her that I did inform her, and she kept saying that I didn’t.  In the end,  I waved my hand away and said, then forget it, if you say I didn’t tell you, then fine, I didn’t!

I even was close to being speechless!  And I gave a last try by saying, ‘Es, this is not the first time this is happening!  You keep saying that I didn’t tell you when I said I did!  And it is really slowly getting out of hand! Cos I know I did tell you!’  But she is as stubborn as a mule, refusing to apologise for her mistakes and forgetfulness, instead, she said, ‘if I did forget, I would apologise but I know you didn’t tell me’!!  DUH!  What do you want me to say?

 Even the simple Saturday task of picking up my daughter when my mum drops her off at the building, she had to make a fuss of it!  She knew that I pick my daughter up every Saturday for her English class at the school and yet, she told me today, ‘You went down and left the reception area unattended for about 15 minutes’.  The last time, she said it was ok, as it was not a busy time, it was during class time, so no one hangs around, and now? she changes her mind!

So I told her, ‘dun worry, I know what to do, from this Saturday onwards, I shall stop bringing Nicole for classes.’  Then she looked in disbelief and tried to be ‘nice’ by saying, ‘can’t your mum bring her up, cos other parents can’ and I said, ’she can’t as she is not so good in driving and parking in the public car park and going up the slops is something she is not good at’.  Then she said, how about the hubby? I said, not possible as he works and even if he can, he drives a van, means, he can’t go into the car park building too!  So I said, sarcastically, ‘Don’t worry Es, as I said, I understand, I’ll just stop bringing Nicole down for classes’.  She was speechless!  In fact, I think I shall return most of the materials to her too!  I don’t think that I am THAT hard up for a free lesson!

It’s no wonder my colleague flared up few weeks back, throwing his office key on her table, telling her that he is not coming back!  And I had to pacify him and advised him to stay!  From the way things are going, I may be the next one to flare and walk out the door!  It’s also no wonder that last year alone, there were about 4 ot 5 administrators in 6 months!  All must have been unhappy with her!

How can one tolerate bahavior like that?

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