Heart Space #27: Acquired.
This morning, saw an email in my mailbox from my VP of HCM (Human Capital Management) requesting an urgent address by the CEO at 10am.
We all know where this was leading to. There have been talks since our great grandparent signaled its intention to release (read 'sell') their rights. The news was indeed confirmed by our CEO, even though some had already heard it off the news. He mentioned that he wanted to communicate to his leaders before everyone else.
So, there you have it, we are sold off, just like that to the parent of our direct competitor. Things in the corporate world move so fast, that one is so caught unaware. But so what if we are informed months in advance? Are we in any power to change anything? Now only the hoping begins; hope that we still have our jobs, hope that our benefits stay, hope our D&D is still on and lastly hope that our bonus will still be good.
Who can be sure? One thing I am pretty sure from what I have seen today, there's seem to be a greater number of people of the upper management on their mobiles. Perhaps they are already making their plans.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Heart Space #26: Bug Bites? (17 August 2008)
Picked up Faith from the in law's place, and discovered Faith was severly bitten 2 nights ago.
I am not upset that she got bitten by something, but just really mad about not being told earlier. She has 2 bites on her face, and 6 concentrated on 1 feet!!!
As of writing, 21 August, the marks are all still there and yet to subside. :(
Picked up Faith from the in law's place, and discovered Faith was severly bitten 2 nights ago.
I am not upset that she got bitten by something, but just really mad about not being told earlier. She has 2 bites on her face, and 6 concentrated on 1 feet!!!
As of writing, 21 August, the marks are all still there and yet to subside. :(
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Heart Space #25: Life Stories I
Wonder if I should start a series detailing my life stories... or stories that are very close to my heart. Since this blog is about most of my thoughts and things that affected me, I guess Life Stories series must cover beyond these things, maybe extend to the stories of my friends.
I began this story, as a result of my wife stumbling across a blog of friend of our friend (TH). TH was our university mate, and in fact, she was a housemate of my wife. We were all very close, because we were international students, in a foreign country, and being Asians, bonded us even more. We celebrated countless birthdays, had pizza parties, potlucks and trips and these moments are etched deeply in our memories.
During the summer, TH's boyfriend came from Malaysia to visit her. He was really a simple and nice chap, and we had so much fun together and he had no problem integrating with us. Before this, we knew there was another guy (R) at the university who seems really interested in TH. He was so obviously in courtship (not love yet) with her and we were all so concerned about them. TH always brushed it off with "impossible", "nothing", "don't be silly" remarks. I guess on a hindsight, we had let our brotherly and sisterly love clouded our judgement and that TH was matured enough to make her own decision.
Fast forward to today. TH is happily married to R, and had a baby girl. They are really happy, and things are looking great. We will never know what happened to the boyfriend, after he had left Australia or any other events leading up to today. Was there someone in the wrong; nobody cares about it anymore.
What I wanted to say is that in life, not just during school days are ever changing. 1 short year in university, has spun out so many successful marriages (I last counted at least 4) and probably more unsuccessful ones. We make so many decisions daily, and these steer the direction of our lives and affect some others'. We do not know how far the ripples of our decisions will travel, but always bear in mind that ultimately, it's these decisions that make us who we are.
P.s you might forget through the hourglass of time, but photographs are forever.
Wonder if I should start a series detailing my life stories... or stories that are very close to my heart. Since this blog is about most of my thoughts and things that affected me, I guess Life Stories series must cover beyond these things, maybe extend to the stories of my friends.
I began this story, as a result of my wife stumbling across a blog of friend of our friend (TH). TH was our university mate, and in fact, she was a housemate of my wife. We were all very close, because we were international students, in a foreign country, and being Asians, bonded us even more. We celebrated countless birthdays, had pizza parties, potlucks and trips and these moments are etched deeply in our memories.
During the summer, TH's boyfriend came from Malaysia to visit her. He was really a simple and nice chap, and we had so much fun together and he had no problem integrating with us. Before this, we knew there was another guy (R) at the university who seems really interested in TH. He was so obviously in courtship (not love yet) with her and we were all so concerned about them. TH always brushed it off with "impossible", "nothing", "don't be silly" remarks. I guess on a hindsight, we had let our brotherly and sisterly love clouded our judgement and that TH was matured enough to make her own decision.
Fast forward to today. TH is happily married to R, and had a baby girl. They are really happy, and things are looking great. We will never know what happened to the boyfriend, after he had left Australia or any other events leading up to today. Was there someone in the wrong; nobody cares about it anymore.
What I wanted to say is that in life, not just during school days are ever changing. 1 short year in university, has spun out so many successful marriages (I last counted at least 4) and probably more unsuccessful ones. We make so many decisions daily, and these steer the direction of our lives and affect some others'. We do not know how far the ripples of our decisions will travel, but always bear in mind that ultimately, it's these decisions that make us who we are.
P.s you might forget through the hourglass of time, but photographs are forever.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Heart Space #24: Taiwan Trip 2008
I guess I better write this before I get swarmed by other things.
We've decided to take a trip now, despite bad season in Taiwan for numerous reasons; the most compelling is that there are no other times than now.
We chose the free & easy approach, because we just wanted a getaway, not some crazy schedule chasing trip. Thank God that we didn't get to follow tour, for they probably got stuck in some places in Taiwan.
This trip was really a mad rush up to the point we actually left. We were still trying to book hotels that morning, and we left with 阿里山not planned. It was really a dedicate job planning that route, for the timing and stuff has to be pinpoint accurate.
We decided Taipei as first stopover before heading to 高雄the next morning. It was a blessing because the last minute hostel we got, was really a nightmare. We saw roaches the moment we stepped into the room.
The next morning, we quickly had breakfast outside and took a train to 高雄. The hotel was not too bad but however we were caught in typhoon 凤凰, and were pretty much restricted in the places we could go. Luckily, we could still take cabs to the malls which were crowded by the like-minded. Since our hotel was not near to the centre of attractions, we took a good number of cab rides. On the second day, since 阿里山is definitely out, we figured the best way without disrupting the rest of our itinerary, is to skip 阿里山and stayed another day in 高雄.
When the typhoon and rain has subsided, we took the High Speed Rail (HSR) back to 台中,南投. This place has the connecting ride to the 日月谭. We paid a premium for the hotel's transport to come pick us up at the terminal for 1800NT$ 1 way. (approx $81). The hotel was indeed breathtaking, and we did enjoyed the spa too.. (which charges astronomical rates too)
Next stop, we went to 乌来 for yet another day; relaxing amid natural hot spring resort. We skipped the common baths, we figured there was no point, since we get the same "hot spring water" in our room. The hotel was pretty okay, except that I can hear my neighbour's snoring, plus some idiot who is using the hot spring in the middle of the night. (You can hear the pumps and water pipes...) :(
The last few days we finally manage to visit some attractions. This is something we have not got a chance to do in the earlier locations. Presents / tidbits are so hard to buy, because there are just not unique or worth buying, plus they are not really cheap too.
On the whole, I did enjoy this trip. Although I was sick for most of the time, it was a good break mentally; though my colleagues felt that I looked worse than before I left. Also, it left a big dent on my wallet considering we could go Japan for that money, and definitely way more than joining a tour.
I have compiled a list of the "best and worst" of my trip for summation.
Best Buy - Wii (10350NT$)
Best Hotel - The Lalu
Best Snack - Taipei MRT, 甜不辣
Best Night Market - ShihLin
Best Mall - Dream Mall
Best Attraction - Taipei 101
Best Train - HSR Business
Worst Attraction - MaoKong at night
Worst Night Market - 六合, but it has some nice food.
Worst food - 铁蛋
Oh, the video doesn't allow me for Chinese input, so the names are loosely translated.
I guess I better write this before I get swarmed by other things.
We've decided to take a trip now, despite bad season in Taiwan for numerous reasons; the most compelling is that there are no other times than now.
We chose the free & easy approach, because we just wanted a getaway, not some crazy schedule chasing trip. Thank God that we didn't get to follow tour, for they probably got stuck in some places in Taiwan.
This trip was really a mad rush up to the point we actually left. We were still trying to book hotels that morning, and we left with 阿里山not planned. It was really a dedicate job planning that route, for the timing and stuff has to be pinpoint accurate.
We decided Taipei as first stopover before heading to 高雄the next morning. It was a blessing because the last minute hostel we got, was really a nightmare. We saw roaches the moment we stepped into the room.
The next morning, we quickly had breakfast outside and took a train to 高雄. The hotel was not too bad but however we were caught in typhoon 凤凰, and were pretty much restricted in the places we could go. Luckily, we could still take cabs to the malls which were crowded by the like-minded. Since our hotel was not near to the centre of attractions, we took a good number of cab rides. On the second day, since 阿里山is definitely out, we figured the best way without disrupting the rest of our itinerary, is to skip 阿里山and stayed another day in 高雄.
When the typhoon and rain has subsided, we took the High Speed Rail (HSR) back to 台中,南投. This place has the connecting ride to the 日月谭. We paid a premium for the hotel's transport to come pick us up at the terminal for 1800NT$ 1 way. (approx $81). The hotel was indeed breathtaking, and we did enjoyed the spa too.. (which charges astronomical rates too)
Next stop, we went to 乌来 for yet another day; relaxing amid natural hot spring resort. We skipped the common baths, we figured there was no point, since we get the same "hot spring water" in our room. The hotel was pretty okay, except that I can hear my neighbour's snoring, plus some idiot who is using the hot spring in the middle of the night. (You can hear the pumps and water pipes...) :(
The last few days we finally manage to visit some attractions. This is something we have not got a chance to do in the earlier locations. Presents / tidbits are so hard to buy, because there are just not unique or worth buying, plus they are not really cheap too.
On the whole, I did enjoy this trip. Although I was sick for most of the time, it was a good break mentally; though my colleagues felt that I looked worse than before I left. Also, it left a big dent on my wallet considering we could go Japan for that money, and definitely way more than joining a tour.
I have compiled a list of the "best and worst" of my trip for summation.
Best Buy - Wii (10350NT$)
Best Hotel - The Lalu
Best Snack - Taipei MRT, 甜不辣
Best Night Market - ShihLin
Best Mall - Dream Mall
Best Attraction - Taipei 101
Best Train - HSR Business
Worst Attraction - MaoKong at night
Worst Night Market - 六合, but it has some nice food.
Worst food - 铁蛋
Oh, the video doesn't allow me for Chinese input, so the names are loosely translated.
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