IPPT test 3

up means improve, down means drop in performance

Shuttle run : down by .1 sec
Sit up : up by 1 count
Stand broad jump: down by 19 cm...
Pull-ups: no variance
2.4 km run : up by 40 sec

-7 days

Time extension

[background]
Last wed: My immediate supervisor(aka team lead) called me up for a performance review; I went for an interview
Last thu: His boss grabbed me to talk about pay, asked when I can give an answer, I said next wed.

Today I sent this out to my small boss(aka team lead)
"Dear boss, fyi only. I will continue to sell my soul for the next few months to 2 years"

Btw, it appears that our OA dept grants access to the first level of login into the intranet. To access the applications(like Leave status), HR controls the access. So my OA access is valid but HR has removed my access...

-1 session, 8 days

A day after restoring my account

While checking my leave balance, I got this.
"user ID does not exist"

Huh?

-1 session, 9 days

No longer an illegal

5 months ago, my email account and my OA ID were deleted from my company's network as they supposedly thought that my contract only lasts 6 months. I didn't discover this until the Novation project but when I did, I didn't really care.

Why?

My email account was constantly flooded with emails that does not concern me. Some demanded action from me that I have no part in. Some lost their stuffs and broadcasted to the whole company. Then there were many sales and activities and the main office. Firstly, it made me feel that, as a on-site support employee, I'm a second citizen. Secondly, it's SPAM! As a colleague once watched in horror, I periodically log in and delete everything...

I sort of enjoyed this status as an "illegal". I couldn't update anything by myself and Desiree had to help me. I guess she was a bit annoyed but she's a very nice lady =)

This status ended today. I got 20 warnings to update my time sheet (I don't work at the HQ, so I don't have to); 10 warnings to update my passwords; 20 notices of seminars at the HQ; Queries why I missed them; Some file attachments for me to follow up; I probably have a car that has its alarm triggered off; I might be the owner of some lost keys...

O Joy.

-2 sessions, 12 days

A little lazy update

It was a busy week and it will continue to be busy.
I've 2 more RT sessions and just 2 weeks away from my end of contract =)
This Saturday, we will be returning to Sentosa.

For my friends involved, the date is noted in my Yahoo Calender, accessible from my blog.

-2 sessions, 13 days

Apprasial follow up

[happened one day after appraisal by immediate supervisor. Got hauled up by his boss for money matters]

"..I heard that you were helpful in guiding our new staff and you got an interesting method in teaching them"
Hmmm?
"You would teach them halfway and then don't tell them the answer. This is a good way of teaching them"
??!!
"So it's like JW got a different but interesting way of teaching people. I think that's a good thing."
That's so not me but better keep my mouth shut...

-

The downs in this job

I'm currently considering a renewal of my contract. This is amusing as I've complained long about the job. Here are the highlights.

http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2005/12/your-fault-his-fault.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/01/dreams-and-work.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/03/law-of-nature.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/05/thanks.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/05/sigh.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/06/fizzled-out_06.html deleted
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/06/gathering-heat-and-decision.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/07/irritation-and-satisfaction.html
http://jwqh.blogspot.com/2006/09/another-career-flip-flop.html

-3 sessions, 13 days

RT performance

Ok.. I got 4 crappy pull-ups now. Just need another non standard one and I'll pass my static stations.

Today we had interval training. It's basically running for a good timing, then rest 3 min between each run.
Lap 1, 1:40 min
Lap 2, 1:20 min
Lap 3, 1:50 min (note the tire punctured after lap 2...)
Lap 4, 2:00 min
Lap 5, 1:40 min

The aftermath of this plus the kind action of lactic acid means I'll feel some pains in the knee and calf muscles tomorrow. Bzzt.

-3 sessions, 13 days

Crossing paths

[backdated]

The first surprise was recognising the security guard. He was at my old company and now he was stationed here. He can't seem to place me and his eyes went to my bag.

After the interview, I sat down to wait for TimidGal to meet me for a chat. Martin walked by and caught sight of me. "What you doing here?", he asked. Ah, what a coincidence. I want to ask him that question too. Has my old department finally been outsourced? "We're here for a course. Lie noi they all also here". Naturally, I was excited to meet up with them. They were seated at the cateria, chatting over their drinks. I simply sat down beside them and managed to surprise them. When I told them I was there for an interview, ex small boss shook her head and said, "This place not so good". Haha... Is she going to object to every place I go to? "Look at our XXX and YYY, they worked a while and they left", she continued. "But compare this company and my current one. Which is better?, I posed.

TimidGal soon called me and I joined her. We chatted for quite a while and when I left, the security guard finally seemed to recall me and smiled. What a small world!

-4 sessions, 14 days

A performance appraisal

"..come to work wise, I think you are a very good worker. We would like to keep you. In fact, I believe you should be going to an interview this afternoon right?"
"Er.. ya"
"No need to hide la. Take afternoon off, no reason, very obvious"
"Got people ask I go loh"
"It's ok. I've nothing against people going for interviews. In fact I think it's a good..."

-4 sessions, 14 days

Dinner and Dance

[backdated]
It was pretty enjoyable. The door gift was a small bottle of red wine and a wine glass. The dinner was better than the last company dinner I had. The DJ was funny without being lame.
The girls in our outfit went out to dress themselves and I think they had fun. Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable night

Counting down the days

Time passed quickly recently due to too much work and too little time. Coupled with my GuiXT training and my RT sessions, I don't have the energy, time or inclination to do overtime. It's weird cause I'm sort of stressed but I'm not putting in too much time to resolve it.
Never mind that, two dates are coming close and I'm very much looking forward to it.

At the office, another of my lunch kaki is leaving us. Good luck :_|
And to my two colleagues who will be on long absence, have fun!

-5H2U

IPPT test 2

up means improve, down means drop in performance

Shuttle run : down by .1 sec
Sit up : down by 2 counts
Stand broad jump: no variance
Pull-ups : up by 2 counts
2.4 km run : up by 12 sec

-3H3U

A little update

Lazy to blog and don't want to make it another complaint.

[work] stressed!
[rt: pull ups] improving
[rt: standing broad jump] grrr...
[dota] playing, haha
[talk to cousin] er....
[ankle] after RT ba.
[money] when's payday?
[books] Chronicles of Narnia next?

-1H2U

DotA noob

Purple, deny the creeps!
What's deny?
Oh, what a noob! Don't you know what deny is?
Nope.

From then on, they kept picking on my play and calling me a noob, even when I played pretty fine!

Here it is, the mysterious deny - for my DotA playing friends.

-2H3U

Forums: Pregnant worker gets sacked for no reason

article here

Disgusting! She was 6 months pregnant. Just one month shy of 7 months and she would have been protected by the employment act!

-1H2U

Guidance?

"JW (not my real name), Junhan listens to you. You must tell him to concentrate on his studies and not play so many games"
I started laughing.
"Remember ah! Must tell him!", my aunt charged me.

The scions of my father's father are not a studious lot. The male grandchildren share a passion for games. Me, ranking 3rd in the line of succession, loves it. At least I have my craving for reading material to split my time. My little cousins literally wallow in computer games.

I was discussing DotA with them when my aunt came over. "Remember ah! Must talk to him!". I started laughing again. Yes it's rude in a way but not if you know what I know. It was I who passed them their first Gameboy emulator. Irked them by beating them at Little Fighter 2. Passed them GunBound while getting their modem up. If Aunt knows, I would have an earful...

When I got home, my mother asked me, "Did wu(3) sheng(3) ask you to talk to Junhan? Must tell him to study hard". Ok, ok... It's a multi-pronged attack. I'll pick a time of my choosing. But how could I? Grandparents and elder cousins are meant to spoil the young ones...

wu(3) sheng(3) - [Chinese form of addressing]
1. wu(3) - five or fifth.
2. sheng(3) - Wife of father's brother - who is relatively younger than your father.
combined: Wife of my father's brother - who ranks fifth in seniority.

-2H2U

Kan Cheong Spider

Translation: A Spider that is in a panic or a hurry

Anyone ever wondered how such a phrase came about? I uttered the popular local phrase when I saw a scene in the carpark. A driver, apparently excited that another car is going to exit its slot, reversed and passed that parked car a second time, cutting off its exit once again. The driver of the parked car got annoyed and blew the horn and the driver seeking the slot suddenly realised that he needs to move to let the car out first...

Now why can't this apply to train commuters?...

-3H2U

The modem goes off...

and so does my DotA game =(

-4H4U

The Yishun Wall

3 rows thick, this wall is formidable. It's one of the reasons I want to get off one stop early and take the shortcut.
No, I didn't knock into anyone today. An old couple was shoving their grandson into the best position to block the train doors, not prime material for crash dummies. Behind them were another 2 rows of targets shielded from my petty revenge. What is it about people boarding the train at this stop? There are no free seats, what are they rushing for? Let us out first!

-2H3U

Overload

It's my turn now. Tasks came tumbling out of the mailbox. Did I say I could divorce dissatisfaction with my work? Doesn't work so well on stress...

I'm doing weights again. My preferred method for training my pull-ups. It's improving in stamina but not in strength. Standing broad jump is 230cm, a far cry from my old score. I tried to better it but got a sore belly for my efforts. Ow.

-2H2U

Cat and mouse

Last week, I was taking a shortcut to attend my IPPT (Individual Physical Proficiency Test). This is a service road so I was not trespassing any private properties. With my nose in a book, I started on the path.
Out came a bitch (she-dog) who ran out from the overgrown grasses and stood herself in front of me, barking and snarling. That didn't sound good so I tried to hush her while retreating. I unslung my bag to ready it as a weapon. An answering bark from my 4 o'clock position got me worried. To my 2 o'clock, 2 dogs appeared. I positioned myself such that I faced the two dogs closest to me. The newly arrived male dog took over the task of threatening me. I continued my retreat and when I judged myself out of their territory, I turned and walked. They barked at my back but did not pursue.
That got me late for my test! The shortcut is an all or nothing. If I don't take it, retracing my route and taking the long way would cost 4x as much time. Kind of irritated. I had to take a cab.

For the next RT session, I tempted my fate. I would check the adjoining grass fields before I step onto the road. My book would be kept away to prepare for fight or flight. I was relieved when an Indian worker walked past. I encountered a dog but I was halfway along the road so I was in Man's territory. The dog didn't challenge me.

Today, I did so again. I was apprehensive as I suspected they claim the surrounding lands at night. The grass field was clear, I stepped onto the road. With my eyes on the overgrown grasses to my left, I passed the first farm. A lorry passed me and went into it. A dog started barking, which sort of sounded familiar. Knowing that she's domesticated would help my next attempt...

-3H1U

Release

My fellow mates during my army stint had a lousy vocation. We could be rotated continuously through day and night for a period of 3 weeks. We got so tired that we would fall asleep once we touched a chair, even as we eat.
Yet as we raked up an amazing sleep debt, we found the reserves to horse around. VCD, PlayStation, Nintendo. Sleep got worse but morale went up.
Moral of the story: Play hard =p

To draw a parallel, we are numbed by things we had to endure. Our voices are tiny, willing ears wanting. Jealous mouths would report that we talk during office hours. They made their disapprovals known to our bosses when we left on time. Our friends were few and our enemies unknown.
Talking? Perhaps we were grumbling about the latest reduction in access rights?
We breeched security? Hey, what's that? An unmarked thumb drive hanging by your neck? Nice PDA too.
I'm irresponsible? For helping you out of goodwill?

This post got out of hand; I wanted to say that our rowdiness is a reflection of our stress level.

-3H3U

Talking Cock in Parliament - Hossan Leong

I was a bit late to discover this.
Enjoy!

Can anyone tell me the background story?
Is the location real?
Did they invite mrbrown?

Medical info

Thank you Anastasia for your info on ligament injuries.

Here's something for a colleague of mine.

[http://www.stressdoc.com/four_stages_burnbout.htm]
"Burnout is the gradual process by which a person, in response to prolonged stress and physical, mental and emotional strain, detaches from work and other meaningful relationships. The result is lowered productivity, cynicism, confusion...a feeling of being drained, having nothing more to give."

[http://www.helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htm]
What is the difference between stress and burnout?

Burnout is not simply excessive stress. Rather, it is a complex human reaction to ongoing stress, and it relates to feeling that your inner resources are inadequate for managing the tasks and situations presented to you. The signs and symptoms of burnout are similar to those of stress, but burnout includes an emotional exhaustion and an increasingly negative attitude toward your work and, perhaps, your life. For a clear definition of stress, see Helpguide's Signs and Symptoms of Stress.

-3H2U