For those who don’t know Mandarin (probably none reading my blog), the title means “asking for directions”. I don’t know about others, but I keep getting 问路ed by people.

I just got asked again by a lady before I reached home just now. Few days back I got asked by an (educated) Indian man trying to travel from Clarke Quay to Farrer Park. And to think I didn’t really want to go to Clarke Quay that day — I was going to Orchard via Dhoby Ghaut when I overshot the NEL by a stop. Ended up “helping” him while waiting for the train back.

I still recall there were many times both tourists and locals ask for directions when I worked in town, especially before I cross the junction between Merchant Road and Eu Tong Sen Street. Once my colleague and I pointed in exact opposite directions when asked for the nearest MRT station, because Clarke Quay and Chinatown was just as far in both directions. Most memorable was a falungong member who had a big wooden signboard hanging on his neck asking where the Supreme Court is, near Furama Hotel. We were wondering if he’s going there to support a case hearing, and only realized later that we accidentally pointed him to the Subordinate Courts direction instead of the Supreme Court…

Maybe the reason is one of the following…

1. Everyone gets asked the same number of times, I’m just oversensitive.
2. I look like a map.
3. I always stand beside the map.
4. I look like I 混 everywhere.
5. I look friendly, helpful and approachable.

Maybe I’m just oversensitive.

I called up CPF to enquire the process for applying WIS for my mum. Actual conversation have been condensed for easy-reading.

Me: The application steps involve doing some registration followed by contribution of a sum of money to Medisave, how I can verify that she will receive the WIS payout, before the deadline of 31 March?

Helpdesk: She’ll know when she receives a letter in late April, followed by the payment in about May.

Methinks: (Maybe you didn’t hear my date…)
Me: She wants to check that she will receive the payout for doing all these troublesome things, and so that she can react to confirm it before the deadline is up.

Helpdesk: Don’t worry, you’ll will know once we receive the letter. The letter will specify when she will receive the payout and how much she will receive.

Methinks: (You’re not address my concern…)
Me: Is there some sort of confirmation to assure her she will receive the WIS after these procedures, before the deadline is up, so that she can find out what she missed and do it before the deadline of 31 March?

* more minutes of ding dong *

Helpdesk: OK, ok. I’ll check for you. Please hold on for a moment…

*music*

Helpdesk: Sorry to keep you waiting, but there’s no sort of confirmation that you can get. You can trust what I tell you and you will get your WIS.

Me: OK I guess I have no choice. Maybe this can be a feedback that some service should be available to assure WIS applicants that all the stuff they did will be translated to a payout.

Helpdesk: Actually you can appeal after that if you do not receive it, but it’ll be a case-by-case basis.

Methinks: (you’re not getting the point of “troublesome procedures”…)
Me: Yeah, but I’m not the one applying and she already feels doing all these is troublesome enough. An appeal would throw her off totally. So can you feedback my point to the WIS committee?

Helpdesk: OK, for your feedback you can email it to wis@alreadyturnedoffatthispoint.gov.sg … … …

Me: *interrupts* OK since I’m telling this now why not you just send up the feedback for me.

Helpdesk: Oh because you have to do it through the Internet then MOM will also get the notification and … … …

Me: OK OK never mind, I’ll drop the feedback then. May I suggest then you improve your feedback channels then…

Helpdesk: Er…

Me: Thanks for your help. Bye.

Some of you might find this post title familiar…

Its the first time i saw a 真字. It happened few months back: I was on my way home, sitting at the window seat of the bus. I was trying to glance out, and this advertisement stuck on the bus was blocking my view. Then… I saw it…

I was so amused I was giggling to myself on the bus. Amused that I saw numbers instead of recognizing it as what is was supposed to be from the other side. I snapped the pic, and the filename turned out to be DSC00223.JPG. I bought the number for the 2 draws over the weekend. But it didn’t come out.

So much for a 真字. Since it didn’t open, its not really a 真字 right?

For those who still can’t figure out what it actually was, try this full sized photo.

I wore one of the polo-Ts given by my company today — one that bore the logo of the People Developer, to celebrate us obtaining the certification (and for promotion purposes). Our new IA student saw it, and asked me what people developer was. After an explanation of some of the criteria for it, he told me the reason for his question:

“I only knew software developer, didn’t know there’s people developer.”

He was thinking software developers make software, so people developers…

What shall I do this year? Let’s see…

• Get fitter. Failed IPPT, so this seems more like a requirement…
• Get heavier. Eat more. Shall set a 2kg increment this year. Hopefully getting fitter helps with the weight.
• Get tanner. By natural means. More swims.
• Get deaf. Re-pickup signing. There’re so many things I learnt and forgot in my life. This is just another one of it.
• Get geared up. Go for the manual car. I’d prefer a smaller/hatchback manual, but I guess there’s not much choice.

Some other miscellaneous non-resolution things I hope to do:

• Clean up my room mess before CNY.
• Upgrade to a new Ubuntu and then to the April LTS. aMSN needs a lift too.
• Change my blog picture.

I’ve actually been asked to review my resolutions a few days back, but I pushed it till today, cos I did my last resolution on 2nd Jan last year, so I’d thought I’ll give myself the full 365 days to fulfil it. Not that I did anything in the meantime to achieve my goals, but just for the heck of it.

So! Here is the list from last year!

Brush up (as in relearn) my parking skills

I actually had to relearn my driving skills, having driven much less before 07. I didn’t really do much to parking as much as I’d like to (damn oil surcharges), but I do purposely repark a few times when I’m returning the rented car and have extra time left. What’s made me feel good was I finally joined the car-sharing scheme. Although some might feel its expensive, its features are more appropriate for my needs, especially the ease of booking and collection.

Verdict: FAIL

Get a facelift = seek treatment probably

Started going to aesthetician (that’s what she claims to be: a level-up-ed beautician) recommended by angdao’s friend. It’s probably much better than previous attempts at fixing my face, due to the fact that it required less commitment on my part. Previously either I had too many products to apply so regularly, or had pills to take. This time I just lie there during appointments, and I was given only 1 cleanser to use (so far). I’ll let those around me see if there’re any positive results. Since I did not qualify this resolution with a result, but only the action of treatment, this is a pass.

Verdict: PASS

Play a guitar! — if I do get my hands on one within this year…

I didn’t get my hands on one last year. I didn’t want to buy one, cos I’m unsure of my committment to use it. and it’s a rather big instrument that takes up space. For the same reasons I’ll also not prefer it as a gift. So I planned to borrow one from someone who bought one but is not playing it anymore, which I felt would be plenty. I did not execute the plan.

Verdict: FAIL

Transfer my savings to somewhere else where I get more than S$6 interest in a year :’(

This turned out pretty well. I sorted out most of my finances and got my monthly savings (since I started work) into StandChart eSaver. Subsequently I religiously did monthly transfers to the account. Considering I started with a balance of zero it actually accumulated rather quickly. I also managed to log all my expenditures the same way I did in Bris. With eSaver rates sliding like nobody’s business every few months it is time to explore more advanced options.

Verdict: PASS

And, make my dear angry less times than last year!

I THINK I’ll pass on this, given that we met much less this year due to work. With less time to meet, there’s less time for squibbles and such. I probably won’t be able to make an objective decision on this. Maybe angdao can give me this score.

Verdict: ???

Well, that’s it for the review. I haven’t really decided on the new resolutions, so stay tuned for Resolutions `08!