Chinese New Year, one of my favourite festivals because of the great festive mood, the goodies, the family & relative gatherings & of course, the 'ban luck' get-togethers. It's a time for all of us, including my cousins, to play black jack, with coins we've saved for the year plus our display of 'lucky charms'.
We don't promote gambling even we grew up in the world of mahjongs. It's just our annual family tradition which includes the young & old. The youngest in the group was about K1 a couple of years back. Now, he's already in P6.
The stakes - 20 cents. The more daring or greedy ones would go for 50 cents or rarely, $1.
Our favourite star player - Ah Por. We enjoyed watching her taking peeks at her cards, her comments & expressions when she draws an 'ah pek' (King) or 'ah ma' (Queen) card. Cos she tends to overdraw & would usually exceed the '21 points'. She always says she could take the risks since our stakes are 'peanuts' to her ;p
For the past 2 nights, we've been playing till midnight & fortunately, the neighbours didn't complain about the din we've created. & it gets more thrilling when we end the game with "Tim" - a game with only one winner & it gets everyone excited when the pool of winning gets bigger if there's a tie.
I've won every year - the joy & happiness. That was all it matters.
This was an exceptionally busy year for me. For the first time, I did an almost thorough cleaning. Perhaps partly because I've bought some new cleaning products recently which are environmentally friendly & less harmful to our bodies as they contain natural products as opposed to the strong chemical products I had used in the past. Plus, it's quite effective and comes with an economical price too! I was so fascinated with one of the products that I went round spraying at any stains I could find in the house. Anyone keen can let me know as it's not sold off the shelves.
Being an auntie, of course I'd follow some of the customs & traditions like buying 发糕, 年糕 & leek. As this isn't a good year for the horsies, I've to go the extra mile to ensure that the year would be a smooth year with less misfortunes.
List of Auntie customs for your reference which I've gathered over the years:
1. No hanging of clothes, especially undies. I suppose God of Wealth, just like us, wouldn't like the sight of such personal items when we do visiting.
2. Deposit money on the first day of the solar year '立春' (which falls on 4 Feb this year) - it has to be money from someone else preferably. This symbolises that you'll have money coming your way.
3. Work on '立春' - this symbolises that you'll have work to do for the rest of the year or rather, you'll have a job. Well if you aspire to be a tai tai, you can then choose to take leave on that day :)
4. Having good food on CNY's eve - symbolises you'll have a bountiful year ahead.
5. Closing the door when you have your reunion dinner - well, my mum says this will keep the good fortune within the house.
6. Switching on all the lights in the house till dawn - supposed to bring good wealth & fortune. Think I'd just turn on the lights in the living room next year...since it was rather disruptive to my sleep as it's been quite some time since I've done that @-@
7. Giving ang pows '压岁钱' to your parents/ grandparents if you're a working adult & for parents to give to their kids when they are young - supposed to
8. Wearing new clothes & shoes on the 1st day of CNY & preferably, the colour that's suppose to bring to good luck and fortune.
9. Not sweeping on the 1st day of CNY - this would mean sweeping away the good luck in your house.
10. Not using knife or any sharp objects on the 1st day of CNY - can't remember exactly what this symbolises but I suppose this will prevent something bad from happening for the rest of the year. So if you need to cook, then prepare everything the night before.
I suppose there could be more but I think this should suffice & sometimes it's really better not to know too many of such practices. But I thought it's kinda fun to follow some of these traditions & customary practices & you'll appreciate them more when you understand the rationale, not to mention that it increases the festive mood too.
I used to dislike going visiting when I was in my teens. Perhaps that's part of growing up. I disliked the crowd, I felt it was meaningless having to see the same people, saying the same things, doing the same stuff year after year. I'd rather stay at home to watch TV. I even thought of choosing a job that requires me to work on these festive occasions. I'm glad I didn't & am grateful everyone in the family are able to celebrate together.
As I grow older, somehow, my perspective changes. Perhaps due to certain events that happened along the way. I began to see CNY as an opportunity to meet up with family members & relatives & bond with them. It was meaningless to me then because I didn't bother or treasure the relationships . I began to appreciate the extended family relationships. Seeing my cousins growing up & observing certain common 'teens syndromes' reminded me of how I was like them then. Seeing my uncles, aunts, elder relatives growing older each year when I see them reminds me to treasure the moments spent with them. I do hope that my next generation could still go for new year visitations & see the value & meaning of these celebrations.
Those nagging or awkward questions during such visits like when are you getting married? When are you having your first child? When are you having your next child? etc. My FAQ for this season is "When's your turn (to have the 1st child)?". Well, if anyone can help me to overcome my phobia of morning sickness, pls share with me. For a short & simple answer for some, well, I haven't had any motherly instincts yet ;p
If you regard those questions are asked out of concern, I suppose you might feel much better instead of taking them personally & regard them as sore questions. I'm sure in a year, you could think of creative ways to answer them.
Do remember to share your joy & happiness with the less forunate too.
Have a healthy, smooth-sailing & a blessed New Year!
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Sunday, 20 January 2008
'Fine-ally'
At last, NEA has gone into action to catch the litterbugs. The first to be caught was a teenager who 'accidentally' threw a cigarette butt & a tissue paper on the floor. He was fined $200. Another who was caught littering and spitting at Wheelock Place was fined $350. Also a 20 year old fella. It was a 'valuable' lesson for him as the fined amount is equivalent to half his salary.
As much as I'm happy that undercover agents are now more agressive at catching these bugs & people may think twice before allowing the litter to slip by their hands, I still believe that education is way to go. There has to be that sense of ownership.
We pride ourselves to be a clean & green country yet why are we taking such measures to nab those litterbugs? Why are we still seeing litters everywhere despite having so many dustbins around? & why are there always news report of the amount of rubbish that's left behind after each countdown celebrations? Where do these litters come from? Are they all being 'accidently slipped' from our hands?
If you notice, espcially at Orchard Road, every 10-15 steps you'll find a litter bin. Are we being too pampered so much so that if we can't find a bin nearby, we can simply litter as we wish? Since noone is watching.
If people in Japan can hold on to their litter until they find a bin or when they reach home, why can't Singaporeans do likewise?
I've tried to instil this habit to my cousins when they are young. I've also picked up litters & threw them into the bins. But now I'm doing it only when it posed as a potential danger to pedestrians cos there 'is' simply 'too much' litter around (to the extent that it has become uncountable). I've also shown my 'dispproval look' - ensuring that the litterbugs saw me shaking my head when I saw them spit or litter (& especially smoking in the lift) & had even told some of them off, which my husband always tells me not to overdo it else I might get punched someday. But what I hope is they'll feel embarrassed/ashamed & at least reconsider before they throw that piece of rubbish the next time.
So, are we empowered to report these litterbugs?
Read another article that talks about pets not being welcomed in most places here in Singapore & surprisingly, the zoo & most of the parks like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Labrador Park etc. Reasons: Prevent the spread of diseases for the zoo & fear of destroying the flora and fauna of the parks.
My husband was telling me perhaps should ban humans to these nature places too since we would pose a threat to the flora & fauna of the place cos we litter, stepped on the grass, picked the flowers, kill the ants if they went onto our picnic mats...& I won't be surprised to find some human poos or wee wee there.
My colleague was sharing with my how her niece was taught not to litter in school & was glad that this sense of social responsibility has been instilled in her. She was saying it could take a generation to see the change & I hope too, the younger generation, being now more in tuned to environment issues, would have more sense of ownership & will pass it down to the next generation.
As for those who will only litter when they make sure noone is looking or won't get caught, please continue to do so & contribute to the economy. The cleaning companies & foreign workers need you people to ensure they have a job. & if you do get caught one day, well, I might get to see you one day at East Coast Park wearing the bright green uniform, doing CWO.
As much as I'm happy that undercover agents are now more agressive at catching these bugs & people may think twice before allowing the litter to slip by their hands, I still believe that education is way to go. There has to be that sense of ownership.
We pride ourselves to be a clean & green country yet why are we taking such measures to nab those litterbugs? Why are we still seeing litters everywhere despite having so many dustbins around? & why are there always news report of the amount of rubbish that's left behind after each countdown celebrations? Where do these litters come from? Are they all being 'accidently slipped' from our hands?
If you notice, espcially at Orchard Road, every 10-15 steps you'll find a litter bin. Are we being too pampered so much so that if we can't find a bin nearby, we can simply litter as we wish? Since noone is watching.
If people in Japan can hold on to their litter until they find a bin or when they reach home, why can't Singaporeans do likewise?
I've tried to instil this habit to my cousins when they are young. I've also picked up litters & threw them into the bins. But now I'm doing it only when it posed as a potential danger to pedestrians cos there 'is' simply 'too much' litter around (to the extent that it has become uncountable). I've also shown my 'dispproval look' - ensuring that the litterbugs saw me shaking my head when I saw them spit or litter (& especially smoking in the lift) & had even told some of them off, which my husband always tells me not to overdo it else I might get punched someday. But what I hope is they'll feel embarrassed/ashamed & at least reconsider before they throw that piece of rubbish the next time.
So, are we empowered to report these litterbugs?
Read another article that talks about pets not being welcomed in most places here in Singapore & surprisingly, the zoo & most of the parks like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Labrador Park etc. Reasons: Prevent the spread of diseases for the zoo & fear of destroying the flora and fauna of the parks.
My husband was telling me perhaps should ban humans to these nature places too since we would pose a threat to the flora & fauna of the place cos we litter, stepped on the grass, picked the flowers, kill the ants if they went onto our picnic mats...& I won't be surprised to find some human poos or wee wee there.
My colleague was sharing with my how her niece was taught not to litter in school & was glad that this sense of social responsibility has been instilled in her. She was saying it could take a generation to see the change & I hope too, the younger generation, being now more in tuned to environment issues, would have more sense of ownership & will pass it down to the next generation.
As for those who will only litter when they make sure noone is looking or won't get caught, please continue to do so & contribute to the economy. The cleaning companies & foreign workers need you people to ensure they have a job. & if you do get caught one day, well, I might get to see you one day at East Coast Park wearing the bright green uniform, doing CWO.
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Wedding, Housewarming & Gathering
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!! Times flies and it's already 2008. 2007 is indeed a fruitful year for most people as I watched the news of the various celebrations in Singapore & all over the world. Fireworks, mass celebrations etc. At the back of my mind, there was also the nagging reminder how wasteful we are in using resources for these celebrations, not to mention the rubbish we've created.
Besides world peace, I wish that more people are more environmentally conscious & civics minded.
Had a busy yet fulfilling weekend last week where there was a wedding dinner of my JC classmate on Sat, a housewarming on Sun afternoon, followed by a Secondary school gathering.
The Wedding
It was a cosy wedding at Conrad. The food was good & so was the entertainment. I was touched seeing the photos of the couple's parents that was shown in the video presentation, done specially for their parents. This was the 2nd wedding that the married couples have done something to pay a tribute to their parents. I'm one of those who appreciate such gestures & it also seems to be a protocol to thank the parents during such dinner. Well, except for me as I had a panic attack which I thought was a pity as I had prepared an entertaining speech. By the time I muster enough courage, the dinner was almost coming to an end ;p
I enjoyed the bridegroom's song that was dedicated to his wife. Can't remember the title but it was a song from 'The Wedding Singer' which I find the words very meaningful. The groom sang along with the guitar played live by the emcee, who is also our JC classmate. So sweet!!! :)
At the wedding, I happen to meet one of his ex-colleagues who is now a recruitment consultant. He was sitting next to me & I've learnt more about a vegetarian's diet plus the news on future recuitment for the IR. Perhaps shall elaborate it on another entry. One of my pet topics.
Housewarming
Have posted some nice pics of the house for viewing pleasure. So nice yea, like a showroom. The lady of house, who is also my ex-colleague, did quite a few DIY stuff like the paintings on the wall & the curtains as well.
One of her collections.
Finally I've met Ms Christabel :)
And she loves the red polka-dot pillow.
Hmm...planning for a 2nd one? Hehe...
Mummy Ai Lin trying to introduce a girlfriend to Aden ;>
Ooh...they seem to have some chemistry......
Besides world peace, I wish that more people are more environmentally conscious & civics minded.
Had a busy yet fulfilling weekend last week where there was a wedding dinner of my JC classmate on Sat, a housewarming on Sun afternoon, followed by a Secondary school gathering.
The Wedding
It was a cosy wedding at Conrad. The food was good & so was the entertainment. I was touched seeing the photos of the couple's parents that was shown in the video presentation, done specially for their parents. This was the 2nd wedding that the married couples have done something to pay a tribute to their parents. I'm one of those who appreciate such gestures & it also seems to be a protocol to thank the parents during such dinner. Well, except for me as I had a panic attack which I thought was a pity as I had prepared an entertaining speech. By the time I muster enough courage, the dinner was almost coming to an end ;p
I enjoyed the bridegroom's song that was dedicated to his wife. Can't remember the title but it was a song from 'The Wedding Singer' which I find the words very meaningful. The groom sang along with the guitar played live by the emcee, who is also our JC classmate. So sweet!!! :)
At the wedding, I happen to meet one of his ex-colleagues who is now a recruitment consultant. He was sitting next to me & I've learnt more about a vegetarian's diet plus the news on future recuitment for the IR. Perhaps shall elaborate it on another entry. One of my pet topics.
Housewarming
Have posted some nice pics of the house for viewing pleasure. So nice yea, like a showroom. The lady of house, who is also my ex-colleague, did quite a few DIY stuff like the paintings on the wall & the curtains as well.
One of her collections.
Finally I've met Ms Christabel :)
And she loves the red polka-dot pillow.
Hmm...planning for a 2nd one? Hehe...
Mummy Ai Lin trying to introduce a girlfriend to Aden ;>
Ooh...they seem to have some chemistry......
Smile :) You're on camera!
Hmm....a penny for your tots?
Iconic post of Baby Aden & Christabel - thumb sucking & flying kisses
Doing her infamous 'Beauty Pageant' waves ;D
Her 'umm umm' look...
Thursday, 27 December 2007
Still counting...
Geeze...time flies & a few more days it's end of year 2007. And gosh, I'm turning 30 next year!!! I still remember hoping that I could reach 30 soon so that I could put on weight naturally without having to stuff myself with food. To think that I'm now gona hit my 'dreame age' in a few more months...Oh well, there's no way to stop time so just learn to enjoy & cherish whatever time I have as a thinking being.
Christmas has just passed & as usual, I've had a fun one with my family. As 2007 is coming to an end, I'll do some stock taking & start counting on my blessings.
1. I am blessed to have a family & a big extended one with plenty of jokes, teases & laughters. I'm blessed to have a family to celebrate x'mas with.
2. I'm blessed with loving & healthy grandparents who always think for us & worry about us. They never fail to call to find out how I am when they know I'm not feeling well (partly because I never fail to call them whenever I'm on mc). Gee...I could feel an aching lump in my throat as I'm typing this...They'll always hold a special place in my heart.
3. I am blessed to have good & kind uncles & aunts who have disciplined me hard when I was young. I owed my values to them. they have also shared the parenting burden my mum faced when I was young.
4. I am blessed to have sensible cousins. They may have different perceptions from me but they have positive values. There were frustrating moments when I looked after them when they were young, with one having left her teeth mark on me for quite some time, but they brought back fond memories and they make me feel that time flies as I watch them grow.
5. I am blessed to have a sensible brother who shares the same values & has also found his other half who is a down-to-earth person. When he was first attached, somehow that motherly instinct came over me where I hope he could find a suitable gf. I'm glad he has made a better choice.
6. I am blessed to have a strong mother. I could have been one of the strangled cases if she had been emotionally weak. Her perserverence had seen her through & i wouldn't be where I am today without her. It's quite often a love-hate relationship between mothers & daughters I suppose. Though we have our difference, I know I will be there for her in times of need.
7. I am blessed to have friends. Some are warm, some are kind, some unique, some are funny, some are nuturing, some are big hearted, some are motherly, some are my mentors, some are my motivators. They have in their little ways, make a difference in my life. They make me wonder, give me ideas, make me see things from different perceptives, gave me advices, lifted my spirits, make me laugh, shared my joy...
8. I am blessed to be relatively healthy wihout any chronic illnesses (other than my weight problem). Health is wealth, I have taken my body for granted in the past & I'm not going to repeat that mistake. This reminds me to start exercising again after all the X'mas food...
9. I am blessed to have a job I enjoy doing, with nice colleagues & good bosses.Not trying to saka as my colleagues can confirm that I'm much happier this time when I went back.
10. I am blessed to have a roof over my head, not a big luxury condo but a flat which is cozy enough. I still can afford to buy the things I like, indulge in my favourite food, pamper myself with a facial or haircut & not having to worry that I may not have enough money to buy the basic necessities. I do feel guilty at times buying the 'I want' things because the money could be used to pay for the meals of the low income people. To control one's desire indeed needs a lot of 'cultivation' or perhaps having kids might have the same effect :)
11. I am blessed to have understanding in-laws. Although sometimes I wish they have better health so that I could go out with them for meals or shopping. They are not demanding & they don't really interfere much. I knowthat sometimes my MIL need someone to talk to since my FIL is a man of few words given his parkinson ailment.
12. Of course, I am blessed with a soulmate. Oh he just made me a fried egg breakfast today cos I'm having a cough & so can't take any Nutella or peanut butter jam. Sometimes he does certain funny actions which I thought were weird, funny but sweet. For instance, he said he'll go toilet for his 'business' after I leave the house so that he can give me a goodbye kiss just like any other morning.
His sunny side up which I thought is a little overcooked & dry ;p
He'll kiss me goodnite no matter how late I sleep as he's also quite a light sleeper. He'll cover me up in the middle of the night if my blanket is off (I'm a light sleeper too) & he likes to put his hand near me when he sleeps just to make sure I'm there.
He keeps watch of me whenever he's walking in front to make sure I'm within his sight...well, partly because I've the habit of being 'distracted' by other interesting sights ;p He joins me at my friends' gathering & prefers doing things together with me.
I am blessed to have someone who watches over me, dotes on me, loves me & also shares similar dreams & likings despite my messiness, occasational insecurity & unreasonableness. He does most of the housework so that I could concentrate to clear my own mess which seems a neverending task.
There are also many other blessings such as being able to travel to Japan & go to step into Disney, which is my dream destination; that both of us still have a job during the economic slowdown days, being able to get a new flat in a central location near to our parents, not having to face the trauma of a tsunami when Indonesia had an earthquake on the very day we step into Krabi & staying near the beach and being alive to appreciate all these gifts.
I'm glad that I don't take all these for granted & I will always treasure them.
I believe if you start to count all your blessings, you'll realise you really have a lot to thank for :) And yes, I'm still counting.
Christmas has just passed & as usual, I've had a fun one with my family. As 2007 is coming to an end, I'll do some stock taking & start counting on my blessings.
1. I am blessed to have a family & a big extended one with plenty of jokes, teases & laughters. I'm blessed to have a family to celebrate x'mas with.
2. I'm blessed with loving & healthy grandparents who always think for us & worry about us. They never fail to call to find out how I am when they know I'm not feeling well (partly because I never fail to call them whenever I'm on mc). Gee...I could feel an aching lump in my throat as I'm typing this...They'll always hold a special place in my heart.
3. I am blessed to have good & kind uncles & aunts who have disciplined me hard when I was young. I owed my values to them. they have also shared the parenting burden my mum faced when I was young.
4. I am blessed to have sensible cousins. They may have different perceptions from me but they have positive values. There were frustrating moments when I looked after them when they were young, with one having left her teeth mark on me for quite some time, but they brought back fond memories and they make me feel that time flies as I watch them grow.
5. I am blessed to have a sensible brother who shares the same values & has also found his other half who is a down-to-earth person. When he was first attached, somehow that motherly instinct came over me where I hope he could find a suitable gf. I'm glad he has made a better choice.
6. I am blessed to have a strong mother. I could have been one of the strangled cases if she had been emotionally weak. Her perserverence had seen her through & i wouldn't be where I am today without her. It's quite often a love-hate relationship between mothers & daughters I suppose. Though we have our difference, I know I will be there for her in times of need.
7. I am blessed to have friends. Some are warm, some are kind, some unique, some are funny, some are nuturing, some are big hearted, some are motherly, some are my mentors, some are my motivators. They have in their little ways, make a difference in my life. They make me wonder, give me ideas, make me see things from different perceptives, gave me advices, lifted my spirits, make me laugh, shared my joy...
8. I am blessed to be relatively healthy wihout any chronic illnesses (other than my weight problem). Health is wealth, I have taken my body for granted in the past & I'm not going to repeat that mistake. This reminds me to start exercising again after all the X'mas food...
9. I am blessed to have a job I enjoy doing, with nice colleagues & good bosses.Not trying to saka as my colleagues can confirm that I'm much happier this time when I went back.
10. I am blessed to have a roof over my head, not a big luxury condo but a flat which is cozy enough. I still can afford to buy the things I like, indulge in my favourite food, pamper myself with a facial or haircut & not having to worry that I may not have enough money to buy the basic necessities. I do feel guilty at times buying the 'I want' things because the money could be used to pay for the meals of the low income people. To control one's desire indeed needs a lot of 'cultivation' or perhaps having kids might have the same effect :)
11. I am blessed to have understanding in-laws. Although sometimes I wish they have better health so that I could go out with them for meals or shopping. They are not demanding & they don't really interfere much. I knowthat sometimes my MIL need someone to talk to since my FIL is a man of few words given his parkinson ailment.
12. Of course, I am blessed with a soulmate. Oh he just made me a fried egg breakfast today cos I'm having a cough & so can't take any Nutella or peanut butter jam. Sometimes he does certain funny actions which I thought were weird, funny but sweet. For instance, he said he'll go toilet for his 'business' after I leave the house so that he can give me a goodbye kiss just like any other morning.
His sunny side up which I thought is a little overcooked & dry ;p
He'll kiss me goodnite no matter how late I sleep as he's also quite a light sleeper. He'll cover me up in the middle of the night if my blanket is off (I'm a light sleeper too) & he likes to put his hand near me when he sleeps just to make sure I'm there.
He keeps watch of me whenever he's walking in front to make sure I'm within his sight...well, partly because I've the habit of being 'distracted' by other interesting sights ;p He joins me at my friends' gathering & prefers doing things together with me.
I am blessed to have someone who watches over me, dotes on me, loves me & also shares similar dreams & likings despite my messiness, occasational insecurity & unreasonableness. He does most of the housework so that I could concentrate to clear my own mess which seems a neverending task.
There are also many other blessings such as being able to travel to Japan & go to step into Disney, which is my dream destination; that both of us still have a job during the economic slowdown days, being able to get a new flat in a central location near to our parents, not having to face the trauma of a tsunami when Indonesia had an earthquake on the very day we step into Krabi & staying near the beach and being alive to appreciate all these gifts.
I'm glad that I don't take all these for granted & I will always treasure them.
I believe if you start to count all your blessings, you'll realise you really have a lot to thank for :) And yes, I'm still counting.
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Cab Fare Fair?
Comfort taxi fares up from 17 Dec
COME next Monday, prepare to for out as much as 49% more in taxi fares, now that ComfortDelgro has unveiled its 'overhaul' of the current taxi fare structure.
This follows what it says was an 'in-depth review of the taxi industry to address commuters' concerns, simplify the fare structure and encourage call bookings 'to better match the demand and supply of taxis'.
Lesson learnt: Never complain too much.
City Area Surcharge
$1 to $3 from 5pm to midnight from Mon to Sat
To incentivize more cabbies to ply the Central business District during peak hours
The company noted the lack of taxis in the city at the end of office hours on weekday evenings is a frequent complaint from passengers.
Lesson learnt: Again, never complain too much.
For drivers who are afraid of paying ERP charges to enter the city and risk not getting a passenger, ComfortDelgro says it will even pay an ‘ERP rebate' to cabbies who cannot land a passenger within 15 mins of entering an ERP zone.
Now why wasn’t this introduced earlier?
Late Night Surcharge
The late night surcharge between 12am and 5:59am daily will be revised back to 50% of the metred fare - instead of the staggered 10% to 50% surcharges.
'Disappearing taxis' between 11pm to midnight? The company says no, 'given that the City Area Surcharge will be in force right till midnight, giving little reason for taxi drivers in the city to 'hide'.
Fortunately Cinderalla takes a pumpkin coach.
Well, this might also create a new scenic view for S’p – taxi queues seen at city outskirts from 11pm.
Peak Period Surcharge
Instead of the standard $2 peak period surcharge now in effect between 7am & 9.30am on weekdays & 5pm to 8pm from Mon to Sat, passengers will have to pay an added 35% of their metered fare during those hours.
Uncles & aunties, ah peks & ah ums, do schedule your medical appointment time during off peak times.
Refering to the current difficulty of getting cabs in the city during peak hours, ComfortDelgro's CEO (Taxi Business), Mr Yang Ban Seng, said: 'We think this fare revamp will better match supply and demand of taxis. Our aim is to try and ensure that more taxis will go to areas where they are needed most and at the times they are wanted most.'
'I think this fare revamp will better maintain the income & bonuses of taxi companies with the aim to ensure that this would continue until new chains of complaints begin before they do another price increase overhaul'.
Mr Nah Tua Bah, president of the Comfort Taxi Operators' Association, added:
"The higher city surcharge will act as an incentive for drivers to make that trip back into town."
Creative cabbies out there, kuedos to you who managed to earn extra income via your creative ways which has gotten quite a lot of PR coverage which eventually result in a fare revamp...or rather a fare increase. Hey, it'd be a good idea for taxi companies to engage these people instead. They might even have a greater business sense than the U grads or MBA holders in there.
And I also admired the taxi company for coming up with such a 'well-thought & in-depth' price structure which perhaps only a certain % would bother to remember the details. Thanks for setting the example for other competitors or rather, followers to follow.
Well, it's always better to have a friend than a foe or competitor right?
COME next Monday, prepare to for out as much as 49% more in taxi fares, now that ComfortDelgro has unveiled its 'overhaul' of the current taxi fare structure.
This follows what it says was an 'in-depth review of the taxi industry to address commuters' concerns, simplify the fare structure and encourage call bookings 'to better match the demand and supply of taxis'.
Lesson learnt: Never complain too much.
City Area Surcharge
$1 to $3 from 5pm to midnight from Mon to Sat
To incentivize more cabbies to ply the Central business District during peak hours
The company noted the lack of taxis in the city at the end of office hours on weekday evenings is a frequent complaint from passengers.
Lesson learnt: Again, never complain too much.
For drivers who are afraid of paying ERP charges to enter the city and risk not getting a passenger, ComfortDelgro says it will even pay an ‘ERP rebate' to cabbies who cannot land a passenger within 15 mins of entering an ERP zone.
Now why wasn’t this introduced earlier?
Late Night Surcharge
The late night surcharge between 12am and 5:59am daily will be revised back to 50% of the metred fare - instead of the staggered 10% to 50% surcharges.
'Disappearing taxis' between 11pm to midnight? The company says no, 'given that the City Area Surcharge will be in force right till midnight, giving little reason for taxi drivers in the city to 'hide'.
Fortunately Cinderalla takes a pumpkin coach.
Well, this might also create a new scenic view for S’p – taxi queues seen at city outskirts from 11pm.
Peak Period Surcharge
Instead of the standard $2 peak period surcharge now in effect between 7am & 9.30am on weekdays & 5pm to 8pm from Mon to Sat, passengers will have to pay an added 35% of their metered fare during those hours.
Uncles & aunties, ah peks & ah ums, do schedule your medical appointment time during off peak times.
Refering to the current difficulty of getting cabs in the city during peak hours, ComfortDelgro's CEO (Taxi Business), Mr Yang Ban Seng, said: 'We think this fare revamp will better match supply and demand of taxis. Our aim is to try and ensure that more taxis will go to areas where they are needed most and at the times they are wanted most.'
'I think this fare revamp will better maintain the income & bonuses of taxi companies with the aim to ensure that this would continue until new chains of complaints begin before they do another price increase overhaul'.
Mr Nah Tua Bah, president of the Comfort Taxi Operators' Association, added:
"The higher city surcharge will act as an incentive for drivers to make that trip back into town."
Creative cabbies out there, kuedos to you who managed to earn extra income via your creative ways which has gotten quite a lot of PR coverage which eventually result in a fare revamp...or rather a fare increase. Hey, it'd be a good idea for taxi companies to engage these people instead. They might even have a greater business sense than the U grads or MBA holders in there.
And I also admired the taxi company for coming up with such a 'well-thought & in-depth' price structure which perhaps only a certain % would bother to remember the details. Thanks for setting the example for other competitors or rather, followers to follow.
Well, it's always better to have a friend than a foe or competitor right?
Monday, 10 December 2007
Sh**
Office was really quiet last week when most of my colleagues weren't around. Don't worry, we weren't the victims who had taken The chocolate cake from Prima Deli, we only took its durian cake. Most of my colleagues were happily holidaying overseas & I was also busy with the upcoming event this Sat. And all thanks to my colleague who probably has the 6th sense not to order our usual favourite chocolate cake for the birthday celebration for this round.
Now most of them are back finally & I'm more alive again with lunch time talks although the topic is on...well, shit.
I wonder how Prima's gona regain consumers' confidence after this fiasco. It's been one of my favourite brand as its cakes are soft & moist with reasonable prices & is also the 'official cake' for our office's birthday celebrations. During my sec school days, I used to patronise the shop frequently with my friends where we'd munch their chicken pies or tuna puffs after school. A couple of months back, I was also addicted to the Belgium Choc Cake (with rum),but it went off the shelf when it was certified Halal. Fortunately.
My colleagues suggested having a 1-for-1 promotion to attract customers. One even suggested giving a $2 incentive for those who eat their cakes as a show of confidence. Whatever it is, it's gonna take quite a while for people to forget. Being awarded an "A" rating for a clean & hygenic food handling facility by NEA, I wonder the standards of this certification. If it can happen to Prima Deli, who is a big player, it can happen to anyone.
Don't we sometimes rely too heavily on these so-called accreditation, certification from the 'relevant authorities' that sometimes, we don't realise that they are afterall, just procedures & a lot depends on the co. in ensuring strict adherence or sometimes, just simple personal hygiene habits of the food handlers. Apparently one of the carriers came from the place where our ancestors came from.
I see or rather, hear them everywhere. In trains, at retail outlets, stalls of food courts or other food outlets, along the streets and even childcare centres. With the spate of food scares from that place, my hubby & I have since stopped buying products, particularly food products that's MIC if we can help it. We no longer store Maling cans or pork cubes or even toothpaste.
The price to pay for turning to cheap stuff.
I'm not saying that cheap is no good but there should always be a baseline & I do believe sometimes what you pay is what you get. But having heard the scupulous things they do to earn a living, that's not gonna earn my respect for them seriously.
They have a long way to go & I shudder at the thought of them becoming the next big brother.
Of course, there are also others who are just beyond our imagination the things they do. One was blowing her that part of her 'hair' after finishing her hot spring dip; another I heard was disinfecting the gym equipment before he uses & yet, not using the towel provided by the gym whilst he uses the machine; another was blowing his socks dry after his shower in the gym.
One tip I've learnt today is never sit in front of the hawker stall that you bought your food from. One of my colleague saw an hokkien mee stall holder spitting into the bin that was placed from his wok away. He must have been trained by some shifu to be able to master the skill of spitting over the wok of hokkien mee & right into the bin. Perhaps he can consider entering into the Guiness World of Record for the world's most accurate spit-shooter.
Come to think of it, we seem to live a life full of shit. We kena the shitty work, some unlucky ones kena shitty bosses (luckily not for my dept), if we make mistakes, we get into deep shit and now, we may have eaten someone else's shit without knowing...Life is like a box of chocolate, you'll never know which one will have the shit in it.
*Pardon my language here. Too much of it during our lunch talk today.
Now most of them are back finally & I'm more alive again with lunch time talks although the topic is on...well, shit.
I wonder how Prima's gona regain consumers' confidence after this fiasco. It's been one of my favourite brand as its cakes are soft & moist with reasonable prices & is also the 'official cake' for our office's birthday celebrations. During my sec school days, I used to patronise the shop frequently with my friends where we'd munch their chicken pies or tuna puffs after school. A couple of months back, I was also addicted to the Belgium Choc Cake (with rum),but it went off the shelf when it was certified Halal. Fortunately.
My colleagues suggested having a 1-for-1 promotion to attract customers. One even suggested giving a $2 incentive for those who eat their cakes as a show of confidence. Whatever it is, it's gonna take quite a while for people to forget. Being awarded an "A" rating for a clean & hygenic food handling facility by NEA, I wonder the standards of this certification. If it can happen to Prima Deli, who is a big player, it can happen to anyone.
Don't we sometimes rely too heavily on these so-called accreditation, certification from the 'relevant authorities' that sometimes, we don't realise that they are afterall, just procedures & a lot depends on the co. in ensuring strict adherence or sometimes, just simple personal hygiene habits of the food handlers. Apparently one of the carriers came from the place where our ancestors came from.
I see or rather, hear them everywhere. In trains, at retail outlets, stalls of food courts or other food outlets, along the streets and even childcare centres. With the spate of food scares from that place, my hubby & I have since stopped buying products, particularly food products that's MIC if we can help it. We no longer store Maling cans or pork cubes or even toothpaste.
The price to pay for turning to cheap stuff.
I'm not saying that cheap is no good but there should always be a baseline & I do believe sometimes what you pay is what you get. But having heard the scupulous things they do to earn a living, that's not gonna earn my respect for them seriously.
They have a long way to go & I shudder at the thought of them becoming the next big brother.
Of course, there are also others who are just beyond our imagination the things they do. One was blowing her that part of her 'hair' after finishing her hot spring dip; another I heard was disinfecting the gym equipment before he uses & yet, not using the towel provided by the gym whilst he uses the machine; another was blowing his socks dry after his shower in the gym.
One tip I've learnt today is never sit in front of the hawker stall that you bought your food from. One of my colleague saw an hokkien mee stall holder spitting into the bin that was placed from his wok away. He must have been trained by some shifu to be able to master the skill of spitting over the wok of hokkien mee & right into the bin. Perhaps he can consider entering into the Guiness World of Record for the world's most accurate spit-shooter.
Come to think of it, we seem to live a life full of shit. We kena the shitty work, some unlucky ones kena shitty bosses (luckily not for my dept), if we make mistakes, we get into deep shit and now, we may have eaten someone else's shit without knowing...Life is like a box of chocolate, you'll never know which one will have the shit in it.
*Pardon my language here. Too much of it during our lunch talk today.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Heroes
If you have a choice to decide one super power you can have, what would it be & why?
I'd love to be able to back to the past or to the future. To go back to the past to understand the series of events that had happened & how they caused the chain reaction of events to happen in the present time. Why? Perhaps just kaypohness & hoping to change some unfortunate events from happening or know the lottery number so I could win the lotteries, invest & make money, set up a company & hire those who really need a job and invest the money in an educational and healthcare fund. But having watched 'Back to the Future', my interferences could also mean changing the outcomes and maybe even cause more troubles as a result.
But if there's one thing I could change, I would go back to the past & make my mum meet another guy and my dad meet another woman.
Well, my hubby would like to be able to command fire or lightning. Guess too much of cartoons & comics for him...
One of my colleagues would like to have the power to fly - so that she could fly all over the world & save on air tix costs. Preferably all her family members would share the same power, otherwise she would have to make several trips just to bring them to wherever she goes.
Another would like to be invisible so that she could know what's happening. Somewhat a little like me with the element of kaypohness. Yet she's contented to know what's happening & not what the person is thinking, hence it's no to psychic powers for her.
Another one would like to be the invincible - able to self-heal & not suffer any external injuries. If I can still grow old and die eventually, I don't mind having this power since I won't be hurt myself easily judging from the occasional bruises that I have. Or better, to be able to heal others, so goodp people won't die because of illness...but that means I'll be super busy with people queing to be cured, doctors and nurses might be out of jobs, insurance agents have less commissions to earn since healthcare insurances won't be necessary. Perhaps, the world might even be over-populated which may result in famine if there's insufficient food or environmental pollution.
Perhaps the power to heal people emotionally may be a better power. People won't feel depress, angry, jeolous, agitated, hatred...and just feel happy. Perhaps without negative feelings, the world might be a more peaceful and beautiful place. No wars, no racism, no class distinction, no terrorism...
There are always 2 sides of the coin. When there's goodness, there's also evil. So while the powers are put to good use, there'll be repercussions. Too much of a good may not be good. To quote Spiderman's Uncle Ben 'with great power comes great responsibility.
So what power would you like to have?
I'd love to be able to back to the past or to the future. To go back to the past to understand the series of events that had happened & how they caused the chain reaction of events to happen in the present time. Why? Perhaps just kaypohness & hoping to change some unfortunate events from happening or know the lottery number so I could win the lotteries, invest & make money, set up a company & hire those who really need a job and invest the money in an educational and healthcare fund. But having watched 'Back to the Future', my interferences could also mean changing the outcomes and maybe even cause more troubles as a result.
But if there's one thing I could change, I would go back to the past & make my mum meet another guy and my dad meet another woman.
Well, my hubby would like to be able to command fire or lightning. Guess too much of cartoons & comics for him...
One of my colleagues would like to have the power to fly - so that she could fly all over the world & save on air tix costs. Preferably all her family members would share the same power, otherwise she would have to make several trips just to bring them to wherever she goes.
Another would like to be invisible so that she could know what's happening. Somewhat a little like me with the element of kaypohness. Yet she's contented to know what's happening & not what the person is thinking, hence it's no to psychic powers for her.
Another one would like to be the invincible - able to self-heal & not suffer any external injuries. If I can still grow old and die eventually, I don't mind having this power since I won't be hurt myself easily judging from the occasional bruises that I have. Or better, to be able to heal others, so goodp people won't die because of illness...but that means I'll be super busy with people queing to be cured, doctors and nurses might be out of jobs, insurance agents have less commissions to earn since healthcare insurances won't be necessary. Perhaps, the world might even be over-populated which may result in famine if there's insufficient food or environmental pollution.
Perhaps the power to heal people emotionally may be a better power. People won't feel depress, angry, jeolous, agitated, hatred...and just feel happy. Perhaps without negative feelings, the world might be a more peaceful and beautiful place. No wars, no racism, no class distinction, no terrorism...
There are always 2 sides of the coin. When there's goodness, there's also evil. So while the powers are put to good use, there'll be repercussions. Too much of a good may not be good. To quote Spiderman's Uncle Ben 'with great power comes great responsibility.
So what power would you like to have?
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Advertisements
As I was typing this email, my hubby came in happily, kissed & wished me a Happy Deepavali, & showed me excitedly an ad that shows a promotion by Zojirushi - $68 for a lunch warmer set. I asked him if he's gona pack home-cooked food for lunch in office, he thought for a while, & said we can use that as a storage. I'd rather buy a tupperware then since I don't need the warmer function & it'll cost cheaper, but ot wanting to disappoint him, I agreed we could check it out.
Such is the power of advertisements. They can make one think that one would need that product.
Of course I'm also one of those who sometimes fall prey to these ads & occasionally would yield to my implusiveness as well. I'm one of those who will end up buying more items from the supermarket when I'm supposed to get just one. Apparently, supermarkets have their own marketing strategies in the placement of their items. I read somewhere that products placed near the cahiers are usually small items that are likely to attract people to buy on impulse. Fortunately for me, my impulse buying only applies to supermarkets & not other retail outlets. & it's a good thing I didn't subscribe to many magazines.
Advertising is one of the powerful tools to get the cash registers ringing. Open today's papers, we see lots of it especially on festive occasions where people tend to have a 'buying mood'. So does that mean more holidays will give the economy a boost with increased spending time & mood? My colleagues were all commenting that JL & Robinsons keep having sales that they can virtually be 'forever on sales'. So it's time for them to change their tagline 'The Sale worth waiting for'.
We are bombarded with ads everyday & everywhere, from TVs to radios to newspapers to emails to flyers to buses, cabs, posters/banners on the streets etc. Most of them are enticing people to consume, while some are for brand building (which ultimately also leads to spending), and there are some which are there to educate, inform or change mindsets or even for recruitment purposes.
Recently we see a number of 'cosy feeling' ads by financial institutions which tugs at your heartstrings. & these types of ads are usually used by some of the government agencies to promote their messages. I'm wondering if such an approach is effective in reaching out to the target audience in terms of them getting the message or to be influenced.
I've attached some ads here by Pertonas (by Leo Burnette) which I was told that they are very touching & impactful. I've watched them & agree that they did create an impression & managed to strike a chord in me because I can relate to the ads. I hope you could watch it & perhaps do a short simple poll as I'm interested to find out if such ads are indeed effective in spreading messages & changing mindsets.
Such is the power of advertisements. They can make one think that one would need that product.
Of course I'm also one of those who sometimes fall prey to these ads & occasionally would yield to my implusiveness as well. I'm one of those who will end up buying more items from the supermarket when I'm supposed to get just one. Apparently, supermarkets have their own marketing strategies in the placement of their items. I read somewhere that products placed near the cahiers are usually small items that are likely to attract people to buy on impulse. Fortunately for me, my impulse buying only applies to supermarkets & not other retail outlets. & it's a good thing I didn't subscribe to many magazines.
Advertising is one of the powerful tools to get the cash registers ringing. Open today's papers, we see lots of it especially on festive occasions where people tend to have a 'buying mood'. So does that mean more holidays will give the economy a boost with increased spending time & mood? My colleagues were all commenting that JL & Robinsons keep having sales that they can virtually be 'forever on sales'. So it's time for them to change their tagline 'The Sale worth waiting for'.
We are bombarded with ads everyday & everywhere, from TVs to radios to newspapers to emails to flyers to buses, cabs, posters/banners on the streets etc. Most of them are enticing people to consume, while some are for brand building (which ultimately also leads to spending), and there are some which are there to educate, inform or change mindsets or even for recruitment purposes.
Recently we see a number of 'cosy feeling' ads by financial institutions which tugs at your heartstrings. & these types of ads are usually used by some of the government agencies to promote their messages. I'm wondering if such an approach is effective in reaching out to the target audience in terms of them getting the message or to be influenced.
I've attached some ads here by Pertonas (by Leo Burnette) which I was told that they are very touching & impactful. I've watched them & agree that they did create an impression & managed to strike a chord in me because I can relate to the ads. I hope you could watch it & perhaps do a short simple poll as I'm interested to find out if such ads are indeed effective in spreading messages & changing mindsets.
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