Gracy Bee

Another farewell

Posted on July 27th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

I hate farewells. I hate it to see my friends leaving my side for any reason. Alas, I don’t know why this month has full of bad news, and those news means someone leaving for some reasons.

1st I have heard news that 2 of some staffs have been terminated. Well, of course I was surprised to hear it. OK…I don’t know them well personally, but we have done flights together a few times. The thought of them being terminated make me sad cos I believe that that can be avoided.

2nd, today 2 of my colleagues, Jocelyn and Matthew messaged me while I was on course that they are resigning. The 2 of them are some of my closer friends, and they said they found a better job. I can’t stop them and respected their decision. I as a friend would wish them well. However, I felt sad to know that they are leaving. Arrgh…I hate farewells! make me feel sad and lost.

^^^^^^

I have faced a lot of farewells in my lifetime. It was always during the time we are moving forward in life, that is transition from primary to sec to JC and to University. Each parting had their own farewell stories.

I remembered the time when I finished JC and have to move back to Malaysia for a while before starting University. Gosh, that was heart breaking, not only I’m leaving behind my dear friends I have known so long in here, I’m also leaving my darling then 2 year old niece and a home I have lived in for nearly 13 years.

The next big farewell was last year when I decided to come back for good. Though I have decided to come back, I hate the feeling to leave something familiar behind: my friends and colleagues there, my life and a country I have lived for 7 years.

I always dubbed June/ July to be the season of farewells as it was summer holiday and everybody is leaving during this period. Is it an conincidence that now in Singapore July is also the season of farewell?

There are friends whom I still keep in contact with, but unfortunately there are some whom I have lost contact already. Nonetheless, I still felt blessed to have crossed each other’s path some time, and get on the journey together. One day when there is fate, we would meet each other again, I believe.

I would have thought I would be immune with such farewells but today proved me wrong. I’m a human after all.

I wish you well, my dear friends! I’m glad to have known all of you.

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Egyptian Queen: Hapsetshut

Posted on July 22nd, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

Following my previous post on the 14th July, I managed to record the repeated documentary on Discovery Channel yesterday. All thanks to TY, I can now see and enjoy it!

I felt so fascinated about archeology and history. I like to imagine how people used to live in the past and how it is different or similar to our modern life. A history record without any proof of remains is nothing to me. However with ancient monuments and legacies left behind by them, it was hard to believe that someone in the past has built it and at such great scales! Hence, the archeological sites around the world, fascinated me and can’t wait to explore and think about their past lives, and learn from their great achievements. (May read more about my Egyptian trip in places category)

Needless to say, every new find in Egypt fascinated me. It is even so when it involved something or someone that is lost and found. Before I visited Egypt, the only personalities I know was Tutankhamum, Cleopatra, Nerfertiti, Ramses and Akentanen. I only found out about Hapsetshut when I visited there and gosh…..she was even more powerful as a pharoah than Nerfertiti and Cleopatra! I only know her though these photos I have taken last year:

Her damaged statue

Her Temple

What is so unique about this documentary is that…they have identified her out of so many unidentified mummies and using evidence from different sources that related to her.

It took my breath away to see her original state of her original tomb KV 20 at nearly 3500 years. When I first visited the other tombs while I was there, there are already platforms for us to walk with ease. But her tomb don’t have any. At the depth of 35ft, the workers in the docu used back the same technology and method to clear the tunnel. I really saluted them. I can’t imagine in those days how they can clear and smooth the tunnels, how they do the colourings and with that depth, how they push the giant granite sarcophagus down and to carry the mummy up and down.

^^^^^^

Anyway, the programme has used CAT scan to identify the different mummies. The DNA test was a failure due to time lag of 3500 years. However it was amazing to know that they found a tooth belonging to her, and that is the key to her identification.

While the sciencific area is going out, another journey was also done to track back her life and till to her last moment of death. I really saluted her of her great achievements to run a country as king as it must have not being easy for her as a female at that era. Against all odds, she led a successful reign, only at her death her records was vanished.

The findings still leave me breathless. My god, it all means that she was there all along while I was visiting the museum and the Valley of the Kings! I’m glad to know that she is now back with us. She is indeed my role model to strive to achieve to great heights.

Hapsetshut

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Emergence of a Butterfly

Posted on July 22nd, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

My elder nephew found some caterpillars in his school and decided to keep them as pets.

Well the guys at home was ok with it…but the ladies in the house were not so ok!! We squirmed at the look of the crawling caterpillars. As they get bigger and bigger everyday, we just stare and ‘yark’s in our minds.

There were 3 cocoons formed eventually. Despite my dislike of caterpillars (and most of the crawling ones) I was excited to see as I have never seen butterflies emerging from their cocoons.

^^^^^^

About 2 days ago, my youngest nephew came to tell me when I came back from work that two butterflies have emerged. Aiseh…..I missed that already.

Surprisingly today, we actually saw one emerging from its cocoon!! The children and I were so excited at the sight of it that we all crowd round the container. It was amazing to see the changed form from a ugly caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly.

The new arrival

It was a beautiful butterfly that are getting used to its new life. We managed to get some pictures before we opened the cover.

Moments before it is free on its own

Goodbye~

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Another mummy found!!

Posted on July 14th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

OMG!!! Another Egyptian mummy has been found, and that mummy is no less Hapshepsut’s mummy!!

I visited her temple last year and got to know her story. She being the 1st female pharaoh and somehow or rather, her mummy was missing and her name was vanished from the records.

And what a pleasant surprise for me miracles are still being found. Last year, they found a new tomb. Now that she is still being found! Oh great! I’m looking forward to see it on Discovery Channel and one day, back to Egypt again to see!

Following up with her finds in Discovery Channel.

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Parenting and children

Posted on July 13th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

Finally my dear friend A is free to meet up. Well, I can’t really blame her due to her hectic schedule and now that she is pregnant again, she is even more tired and stressed. Despite that, we had nice time together and get to see my god daughter. Gosh how much she has grown, and her vocabulary grew leaps and bounds that she even know what we are gossiping!! hahaha…what a kay poh!

Though I’m not married and have children yet, she related to me about her experiences dealing with children. I guess it is not easy after all to deal with children, esp your own. She told me that working parents can’t spend time with children, and most of the time would give in to their whims & whimpers and give them more materialistic happines. Well, I can’t blame them as they have their own constraints.

It seem to be the same situation at home. Even with my own niece and nephews, age b/w 8 - 12, It can be quite difficult to deal with them. Yes, they have a mind on their own, though not matured at times; quarrelling, their ideal of reasoning, the way of getting things etc. Sometimes I forget that they are not yet adults but I treated them like one and expect them to behave like one. I noticed that their parents tried to spend time with them during weekends, however the children behave quite differently when with and without parents. Not quite a good sign I have to say, as the parents eventually don’t know what they are up to actually.

But that is impossible, and where should I cross the line and stop treating like they are full time adult? I often relate back to when I was like their age, how I used to be and how I actually wanted the adults to treat me. Well, it is impossible sometimes to give them leeway too much.

After seeing such real life example, I have my own ideal of parenting. I wish to be a Stay at home mum to look after my children after they are born (after I get married of coz). I want to take care of my own kids as much as possible, and to teach them good values while they are young. I wish to give them plenty of love and hugs and yet discipline when needed. I want them to enjoy their childhood as much as possible.

Seem very perfect but I hope to achieve that, taking into consideration about what the situation may be esp in finance. Hey….it is not as if I’m married or getting married hehehe……It would be sometime later since I have yet to find the 2nd half!!

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Back to Class

Posted on July 11th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

After spending 2 mth plus on ground, I’m now back to training for my 3rd module. This module, check in, supposed the hardest and intensive of all….and I already felt the ‘pressure’, not yet from the content, but rather the daily lectures and the seat & computer… I really miss rushing and walking around on ground.

Before I went back for training, I was chosen to be a mentor to one from the newest batches, Y. She was to be with me for 5 days, and I would have to teach her as much as possible during this short 5 days. However, I do pity her as her lessons were rather rushed and so it would take a longer time for her to grasp what is going on on ground.

Thus, I was a bit worried for the day she 1st went solo. True enough, the 1st day was shaky and faced certain problems. However, yesterday and today, she told me it went ok and most importantly, she learnt to solve problems and do most of the things. She even went to teach a newer batch on things!!

There, I know, she is getting ok for solo now, and I’m pleased with that. Keep up the good work, Y!

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Work language

Posted on July 9th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Laughs.

I did not realise how much we has adopted our working style and language till N told me this. After a day work, N has arranged to meet with her friends in Orchard. It was a Saturday night and there are loads of people waiting for taxi. So she decided to try her luck instead at the departure hall.

The next day, she told me what has happened.

Me: So, did you enjoy yourself yesterday?
N: Oh yah! Lucky I went up to departure hall and got a taxi almost immediately. Then the taxi landed in Orchard Road and I was offloaded.

hahahah……OK~~ I can’t imagine taxi landing like a plane in Orchard!!

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My swimming lesson

Posted on July 7th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

I have decided to take up swimming lessons, after a long phobia of water and to get out of the shadow of my fellow schoolmate’s death.

It is also due to 2 reasons why the change. 1st is during the hot summer in the UK. Then pple are enjoying the cool blue sea water while I stay up at the beach. WHAT A SHAME! 2nd, my niece & nephews are my inspiration to learn swimming again. Hunting time!

Due to my differing off days, I need to find one instructor who is flexible in his/her time. So I turn to the internet, and I found one. Great, all meet my requirement: flexible time, one to one coaching. I send in my application, and ta ta!! I started my swimming lesson today.

I was still a bit scared of the water. However, my coach is very patient and taught me to stay underwater and blow bubbles, practising my kicks etc. So much and better learnt than my short stint during the sec sch’s swimming class.

Glad to find one coach like that….Hopefully I can pick up the skills faster…but somehow I don’t like the feeling of the quietness of the underwater…..

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Debit Card Part II

Posted on July 3rd, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

Now after a night zzzz, I have the time to re think about what happened yesterday about my debit card.

Ok, it seem unfair to say my SC debit card sucks. Now that I think about it, and have read the FAQ in SC’s website, perhaps it is not so bad after all.

Misunderstanding from previous posts

- Can it be used overseas: YES

- Cashback idea differ from the UK. There it means cash back like withdrawing ££ from cashier. Here, it means money back from your purchases. BUT it come with a limit: You must have $6000 and above to enjoy. (GEEZ :()

So what I like about my card:

- I can choose to withdraw from either of my accounts

- Free 2 years of subscription

- It is after all convenient to a certain extent

What I like to see it improved on:

- Have a certain limit of overdrawn facilities: $200 - $300 overdraft is fine. This is to facilitate any emergency use. (what happen if there is no internet access? what happen if i’m overseas and no number to call to transfer my funds? What happen if there is no ATM machine overseas?)

-When it is said ‘you can use it like a credit card and make mastercards payment’ meaning I can draw on credit to a CERTAIN extent. (See above, if my UK debit card is like that, I don’t see why you can’t)

-Why subscriptions needed leh? I never pay for my one in UK. It is because I applied it under ‘education’??

This is what I can think for now. Alas, what a love-hate affair! Well, I apologise here and I hope to see improvements soon~

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I HATE my DEBIT CARD!!!

Posted on July 2nd, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

Yarks! Yarks! I HATE my SC Debit card!!!!!

I have a certain amount in my acount and today I tried to buy some stuffs in John Little and the total amount is $4 more than the amount in my bank.

It was DECLINED. I was surprised with that. Hm? And I called the customer service. And they told me: No, you can’t use if there is not enough money.

AH?!!??!!

So what it is MASTERCARD on the front? SO WHAT it is platinum??? It don’t even worked like one proper debit card! It is just a NETS card in disguise!! YES…you may guessed it, as long as there is no money in the account, I can’t used it.

What the FUCK!!

Then why the name debit card?? It is supposed to be more superior than NETS, and I am not so much concerned with the promotions that come with it. I AM MORE BLOODY CONCERNED WHAT IT HELP ME WITH!! AND IT CAN’T EVEN PERFORM THE MOST BASIC THING!

^^^^^^

I first used Barclays debit card when I was in the UK, and for the last 7 years there, I have been using it. Oh god! It was so convenient and great! It was tied with my current account, and of course, it worked like a cash card, there has to be money in the bank. BUT one thing. It come with a bank overdraft and that mean I can withdrawal or spent with credit and within the bank overdraft amount. And the best thing, it is a VISA debit card, and I can just used it like a VISA credit card.

BUT in Singapore? NOT AT ALL. There is no bank overdraft (THEN my acount don’t fit to be call current account) and can’t used to spend with credit. THEN WHY THE MASTERCARD? Stupid right??? Then this card is darn useless in this sense. I can’t use it in emergency, I have to constantly look at the level of money and would be worried if I had too much cash in the account. AAAAAAAAAAH

The customer service told me that their debit card is more superior than NETS. WELL, I wanna the comparison between debit cards and NOT with NETS.

Comparison with Barclays Debit card and SC debit card.

Barclays

- it come with a £200 bank overdraft

- I can get cashback in most major supermarkets

- I can use it for credit checks

- I can use it overseas

- It is a cheque guarantee card

- It is my ATM card

-I am able to withdraw at ALL ATMs with no ADDITIONAL COST

-I can use to spend on credit, beyond the amount I had in the account at a certain limit

-I can use it as a credit card at a certain level that I forgot it is a debit card sometimes

SC

- it don’t come with a bank overdraft despite it as a current account

-it is my ATM card

- I can only withdraw at 5 different overseas banks’ ATM

- I can only use for cash back in Cold Storage, provided I don’t use petrol (my god, even have T&C)

- I can’t spend with credit and is useless once the money is not enough

- I am not even sure if I can use it overseas.

DARN IT! Look like I have to stick with it until I find a better one. Hope SC would improve on it. IF NOT, the promotions wouldn’t appeal to me since the card can’t perform the most basic thing.

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