My farewell note

I am trying to craft a creative farewell note since tmr will be my last working day in the existing team. I hate to send the cliche "thank yous" so came up with the following draft. I hope it's "different" enough to put a smile on faces and quite honestly, i wrote this with a sincere heart, scanning the office on the things i'll miss.

Hi folks,

As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant” and how very true. After tipping the 2-year mark with Consumer Banking Singapore, it’s time to move on to new challenges. Nope, not saying “au revoir” just yet but moving on to new pastures within the Bank.

While many farewell emails include words of thanks to their colleagues and team members, I thought I should share what I’ll miss from the 5th floor. Here goes:

• I’ll miss the splendid camaraderie fostered while working on projects together
• I’ll miss the spills and thrills of last-minute jobs
• I’ll miss the pressure to deliver marketing materials on time, even when timelines are bleak
• I’ll miss the meeting rooms with gentle reminders to save energy
• I’ll miss the pantry where the speed of the cooler grants us time to chat with colleagues while filling upI’ll miss the late-night waits for FAs
• I’ll miss the high-tech copier-cum-scanner-cum-printer that allows us to scan all our comments to TBWA at a go
• I’ll miss the giggles & sneezes from somewhere out there
• I’ll miss the Hokkien// Cantonese and Singlish jokes
• I'll miss having a guest on the guest chair at Marketing Services

Above all, I’ll certainly miss working with all of u. While I am confident that i'll be a challenge to relinguish some of the above events, I'd like to thank you for creating so many events that i'll sorely miss. I am pretty sure we’ll cross paths at lift lobbies and carriages and that the greetings will keep coming.

Till then, i wish all of you the best in your roles and keep the good work going!

The "black" week in banking

After a very tai-tai afternoon in the Royal Copenhagen tea lounge yesterday, it was time to hit back to work & face the reality of the situation.

Malicious rumours have been buzzing around in the office last week about the axe falling. Bosses have been called for close-door meetings and some folks from the top have already been seen to the door. This is called the "black" week, where retrenchment exercises are expected to happen and since it coincides with month-end, all the more possible.

Everyday there are news reports of this bank cutting staff strength, the other freezing increments and which others see their share prices plummenting. It's indeed depressing & while i do note that recessions are cyclical and i should brace myself for more as i progress with age, this is the 1st time that i am worried abt being axed. Not for the fact that how much severance will one be entitled to, but for the fact that BOTH of us are stuck in the industry worst hit by the downturn. BOTH face the possibility of being "chopped". While i keep chanting to myself not to worry abt thgs that i can't control and continue to move forward, another part of me can't contain the fear & worry. I need to get thru this work week 1st. The depressing sentiments & low morale in the office is affecting my concentration at work.

The age of security

In earlier posts, i commented that my job might be secure (at least more secured than KL's). Seems that i might be wrong afterall.

Over the past week, i have been having senior managers coming to me asking me abt my risky move to the regional team upstairs. It seems that there have been displacements and sudden resignations of late in the teams upstairs. Well, while i forged my alliances well and am glad that i am also informed of such news, i can't help but feel that everything is abt timing. I have been advised to retract my new role & continue in my current since it's definately oozes more "job security" but well, having agreed to the offer before the banking chaos started, there's really no way i can retract it. Even at the local level, bosses have been requested to review headcount and malicious rumours have been going around that every Head has an "X" amt of headcount to chop. There's simply no way for me to stay put.

Well, heading up there will make me the youngest & the least experienced. Some colleagues said there are no cause for worry since they usually axe the expensive & more senior folks but another school of thought is that since i am the last to enter, i can be the 1st to go.

Well, see no evil, hear no evil. Just work and see what happens. Afterall, change is the only constant...

When avoidance hurts

The insurance brokers and repair workshop have been calling actively recently, due to the motor insurance claim i made becoz of the accident in April.

I had a witness to the accident, and from a brief understanding from the repair workshop, she gave her statement via a teleconversation and truly it was in my favour. However, i have no idea what transpired in between but seems that of late, the witness is hesitant in providing her statement and disclaims that she saw the accident. The legal firm requested that i call her personally to see if she'd speak and moments ago, the lady hung up the phone on me. I am inclined to call the witness once again but when i tried to speak to her, she again disclaimed & tried to avoid by getting me to call her another day. When i requested for a good time to speak, she simply blurted "sorry" and hung up.

While some part of me believed that the repair workshop didn't manage her emotions and the incident well, i can't help but feel injusticed & "sway". If the witness had indeed spoken previously and outta a sudden disclaim all relationship, it's probably that she freaked out. Well, i am not sure if i'd do the same if the tides were turned but for sure, i might not be able to overcome my conscience and probably would be damn guilty abt the matter. I am not sure if she's guilty abt hanging up the phone on me but well, it also shows one's character. I am not blaming her but well, this' just a minor accident but if she'd been a witness to a major accident, then truly, such behaviour is rather unacceptable and clearly shows the ugly side of human nature - as long as i am not affected, I don't care abt what happen to others.

The Korean soap drama addict

I have no idea since when KL got hooked onto the Korean soap drama "Cruel Love", screened every Sat night on Starhub cable channel 55. It started with me wanting to watch it, and he condemning the silly dialogues but after a while, i kinda got jaded by the slow-moving drama and there he's, watching it every Sat night. In fact, last weekend, he actually visited Tudou.com to catch more of the show's episodes! My mum and KL seemed to be exchanging info abt the soap dramas better than before, & while my 2 years of postgrad course cured me of any Korean drama addiction, i am amazed at how captivated KL is when he watches them. Check this out:

Singapore is in a technical recession

The yr end festive season is not gonna be merry making afterall. Singapore is in a technical recession and the real-thing is probably gonna arrive next yr, when job cuts are looming and wage cuts are possible. While the Bank seems to be in a healthy position and i believe my job should be secure, i';ll have to bid farewell to generous bonuses (not that mine was ever so generous) and a possible career stagnation in my new team. Even while planning for the yr end Xmas campaigns, we are already aware that consumer spending will tighten and Xmas & CNY will not be so rosy afterall. Even lately, i m beginning to be more cautious abt my shopping expenditure though sometimes, the shoes and clothes are still oh-so-tempting. Haiz, as the saying goes "When u wanna buy something, u can never find the right thing to buy but when u don't wanna buy anything, everything seems so right to buy."

The team received the news yesterday that i decided to move on. Some of my colleagues were curious how did i make this happen & of course, were keen to know if i had any adjustment to my package. Nope, nothing at all. Everythg remained status quo & while i count my lucky stars that the trsf got approved before the Lehman saga, i can't help but drag my feet at the possible stagnation of salary (since u join new team & haven't had sufficient time to prove yourself, bosses will not revise your staff grade and salary during the salary review cycle) and now, the lousy bonuses upcoming. Banking & Finance is probably gonna be 1 of the worst industries to work in rite now. In fact, my existing role might not even be replaced. Anyway, that's for my boss to worry abt. I have been warned that the life "up there" is gonna be bumpy and extremely political. Looks like i gotta start watching my back again...

It's my 28th

Yes, i have officially entered my late twenties, an age that i deemed far far away when i was in my teens. I still recall that when i was 19, i told myself to treasure the last time i can be called a "teenager" coz when u are in your 20s, life speeds up and indeed, in a blink, i am 2 yrs away from my thirties.

As i look back, i recalled that for the past 2 yrs, KL wasn't by my side on my birthday hence, i wasn't too keen to indulge in birthday tunes & feasts simply becoz he was overseas and can't be physically around to spend the day with me. Greeting messages were usually via Skype. Ironically, now that he's back to SG and we are hitched, he also isn't available to spend the day with me & instead of Skype, i receive a call at the stroke of midnight with a greeting message. Well, our friend is unfortunately at work and tormented by the killing hours of investment banking. Fortunately, he made up to me over the weekend so well, having him locally is better than well-wishes over Skype.

When i was younger, i always took bday celebrations for granted & always never wanted others to kick up a fuss. As i graduated in yrs, i begin to treasure birthdays and am very appreciative when people remember & bother to buy u a cake or ask u out for dinner. Family celebrations also become treasured and well, even though this 28th might seem a little lonely (i took the day off work & honestly have no date), i am still thankful that my team bought me my favourite carrot cake and i had the chance to blow the candles. Maybe in the past, i might be bothered by the fact that friends can't make it to celebrate my birthday with me but now, i am extremely thankful that there are some who SMS or call even when they are based overseas, just to scream a greeting message. Afterall, as one graduates in age, the circle of friends shrink. Mine already did in the past 2 yrs and believe the circle will shrink more in yrs to come.

I don't know what will happen in yrs to come but i do look forward to celebrate my 30th with a bang. I think i'll go about organizing my own birthday party! For now, i am spending the 1st moments of my 28th up waiting for KL to come home...

Happy 28th birthday Elena! Continue to wish for glowing skin, good health and a microdermabrasion at the plastic surgeon's!

I am gonna set up my own shoe archive!

Call it a act of boredem, or simply trying to be organized. I snapped pixs of the shoes i have in Parc Vista - all 16 of them and intend to create a shoe library to faciliate the morning rush hour shoe selection.

Here are the "work shoes". Didn't snapped the casual bunch since i store them in the shoe cupboard near the door. Those consist of mainly flats and ballet pumps. I intend to colour-print these work shoes into pocket size photos & stick them on the side of the shoe boxes. Maybe it'll also develop these pics and keep them in a photo album.

Keyaki @ Pan Pacific Singapore

My parents gave me a birthday treat today at Keyaki. I have heard so much abt the fab Jap food @ this fine dining outlet and was really excited to give it a try. Their ala-carte buffet, only available on weekends, for lunch, cost $58/pax. KL kept telling me how nice their teppanyaki dishes were especially their beef fillet!

Every guest is entitled to 1 serving of baby lobster & sashimi. Abit a stingy serving, the taste of the sashimi was really superb! There was this "melt-in-your-mouth" freshness & honestly, i have never quite tried anything like this before. Apart from that, the beef fillet teppanyaki didn't disappoint (though i wondered why it wasn't really hot when served) & their sushi!!!! The rice was at room temperature & the freshness of the fish was simply heavenly. Apart from these, the rest of the food were forgettable & the selection, now that i look back, wasn't really worth the $58/pax cost. Ironically, their ice cream dessert was fab! KL & dad had 3 scoops!!!!!

Well, we all agreed that we probably won't head back again. Apart from the lovely ambience & out-of-the-world sushi & sashimi, everything else was only so-so... 1 experience suffice and i am contented to have given it a try, after yearning for so long...

Furla + nearly Equinox

KL sprang me a surprise today. We agreed to head out at 5pm to a dinner venue that he apparently placed a reservation to celebrate the coming of my late twenties. While i haven't had any idea where he decided to bring me to, the last i expected was a 2-hour shopping spree at Raffles City, on a $500 budget, on the condition that it must be only spent on 1 item.

Our friend insisted that if i didn't get anything by the close of business of these shops, my gift will be reduced to $200 cash! Well, i actually set my eyes on a Bulgari earrings but 1) Raffles City area didn't have an outlet & 2) Bulgari will definately cost way more than $500! I hate shopping with pressure. Afterall, $5o0 is quite a tidy sum for a gift & one certainly has to buy something that she likes & definately not on impulse.

I browsed the shops, even went to Tiffany @ Raffles Hotel. Those that caught my eye were way over budget. Kate spade had nothing nice within that budget. Finally tried my luck @ Furla & yes!!! A soft leather shopper bag in Cream with gold mesh strap/ handles caught my eye! Looked perfect for a Friday, paired with jeans & a jacket! Negiotated furiously with KL to up the budget to $600 & i topped up a little more & bingo! 1 more bag to my collection! Here's how it looks like, somewhat:

Dinner was actually @ Equinox! While i was touched that he wanted to revive our 1st V-day celebration at the venue, the prices were way overboard. $140/pax for a set dinner! Hmm, a large plate flanked by tiny morsels of food wasn't exactly what we enjoyed so well, while i appreciate his gesture, I pulled him to Prego instead. $80 for a meal for 2, ain't that more cost efficient? Anyway, i am indeed touched that he bothered to make a reservation @ a venue of precious memories.

I am reaching my late twenties... An age that i thought was wayyyyyyyy far when i was in JC & now, in a blink of an eye... It's here...