Hustle & bustle

Finally back in the thick of things. Decided to upgrade my home PC to a 'snazzier' system, so went to get it done with my younger brother two Sundays ago. Happily got it set up, then was 'horrified' to learn that the dial-up modem I had been using previously was incompatible with the new system, so had no access to the Internet at all, until today that is.

Ok, so over the course of the 2 weeks, CNY (Chinese New Year) came and went.

One of my good friends, B, went back to Malaysia to celebrate it with his family. I daresay he enjoyed it a lot, and that is something I 'envy' him for. It may all have to do with physical proximity and distance. My entire extended family is in Singapore, and when you see them more than once a year, the novelty is lost. In retrospect, I didn't really miss my extended family all that much when I was studying in Melbourne. I did miss my immediate family members a bit once in a while, but that's as far as it goes.

Ok, I digressed. One of the reasons I decided to go back to volunteer to cover for my colleague had to do with the fact that I was keen to avoid the barrage of interrogative questions from 'well-meaning' relatives about my singlehood. If anything, I think it is downright irritating. And they will also ask about your work, and the sheer superficiality of it all just gets to me.

The past week or so was really fire-fighting, as volumes had gone up across my entire department, and we had to help another team, while struggling to cope with our own workload. Many a times, I felt as though we were being overloaded and snowed under.

One piece of good news I had this week was that my application for the transfer to another division was approved and cleared. I'll be moving to the new division on 1 April 2005.

Hmmm, 1 April holds a lot of significance to me. How so? 1 April 2004 was the day I started work in the investment bank I am in now, and this year's 1 April will see me moving on to another department, so that makes it extra significant.

Really thank God for that, and awed by His grace and blessings in my life.

So I daresay I am looking forward to the changes in my career.....till the next time....

Caught in a whirl

Hmmm, in retrospect, this week has been a plethora of events happening one after another, somewhat akin to being caught in a whirlpool. What with the Lunar New Year festivities fast approaching, it's been a mad rush. Yet there are moments when I try to detach myself from the whirl of activities and question the sanity of it all. If anything, I find myself becoming less attached to the concept of Lunar New Year, as compared to the past, and if I had my way, I would have taken a vacation somewhere. Cannot quite explain it, but I do not really look forward to it, cos it's the same routine year in, year out. This radical change of mindset has actually led me to 'volunteer' to cover for my colleague who is on vacation, so yes I'll be working on the 2 days of the Lunar New Year. Why? It'll relieve some of the boredom I get with the Lunar New Year brouhaha - cannot quite relate to it these days.

Work-wise, I've applied for an internal transfer to another division within the investment bank I am currently working in, and I've gone through the necessary channels and interviews, so it's now a season of waiting for the outcome of the internal interview process, which I strongly believe will only be made know after the Lunar New Year holidays. So all I can do now is to hunker down in prayers, and hope that everything turns out fine, although I dare say I must, at the same time, manage my expectations and not get my hopes up too high, lest they be dashed. I am really thankful that my senior colleagues, team leader and manager are supportive of my decision to apply for the internal transfer, cos they know full well that's where I am planning to head, as far as career goals and directions are concerned.

In addition, there's this bit of 'cross-training' going on, which is adding on to my current workload. Frankly, it does not help that the monthly peak period is approaching, and when that happens, the hours I work are sheer madness. Add to that the work I have to do as part of the 'cross-training' process, I can only hope that I won't get overloaded. Initially, I was cool and totally ok with the idea of helping out during my monthly 'lull' periods, but when I realised it has been added on to the daily workload, I cannot but feel a tad agitated about it. Now, I am just shrugging it off and resigned to it.

That's why this week has been a week of moulding for me - one to mould my patience and faith. Patience in a lot of areas, and that faith that whatever I am put through, He will make a way. Many a times, I have to remind myself and keep myself in check not to try to be an 'upstart' before God, and simply let go and let Him. A simple phrase 'let go and let God', but in reality, it's something really difficult to practise and embody. But hey, I am learning and I take heart in that. Likewise, where the issue concerning A, I've let go as well. Let's see where God leads.

This week's sermon was part one of the series titled 'Lord of the Rings' - Fixing the Foundation of Marriage. With Valentine's Day looming, think it's rather apt. I invited a colleague to the sermon, and I am really glad she came. Glad also that she found the sermon enjoyable, and I believe the message did sink in. On a more whimsical note, yes, this Valentine's Day I will be spending it alone again (for the umpteenth time) and this can be a bit depressing. Somehow, the commercialism of Valentine's Day has managed to ensnare me insiduously in its stifling vines, and for the singles out there, I guess there're many collective sighs........Coupled with the fact that the sisters in my cell group are getting attached one after another (or in my terms, dropping off like flies), the single brothers have to band around. I am glad I have a bunch of close single brothers around still.

Ok, pardon my musings.....getting a wee too self-indulgent. Now I am just waiting for my younger brother to get home from his driving, so we can head down to Sim Lim to source for a new home PC. Yes, I have not used my Apple iPOD Shuffle yet (still in mint condition) as my current home PC is screwed and any possible malfunctions it can have, it has.....=P