one memorable Friday, 8.30am-4.00pm

Just got back from a tiring but fun and informative river boat cruise along Perth's Swan River. Never did a Swan River Tour yet - buti na lang! Sa office pala namin ay LIBRE! That's how our office conduct its induction for new staff.

The weather was perfect. It's been raining almost everyday here but two days ago ang ganda ng sikat ng araw. Parang summer in winter. So blessed!

BTW, we saw 3 dolphins!

Millionaire's row. At the front is Perth's most expensive house, $75M. Behind are also houses worth millions of dollars.

Millionaire's toys - boats and yachts

Perth Brewery Restaurant

Barrack Street jetty and Perth's buildings

What we left behind

my last lunch with the A-team

It's slowly sinking in now....

Tuesday is my last day here. Two more working days and that's it. Next time I go to work it's going to be with a new team, new culture and new working environment.

Life with its never ending changes....

I'm going to miss the A-team!

headache

How long does it take for someone to learn a new process?

For those who are familiar with accounting, I know that you would agree with me that the collection cycle is a no-brainer. Most especially if you are using a computerised system and all you have to do is click some buttons, print-out and sign some reports, sort-out the collection and have the bank collect it.

I transferred the collection process to X on 1 November. I gave her the step by step manual and advised her to attend training. I even personally guided her through the complete cycle.

That was six months ago. Guess what, she’s still running to me for help! She still can’t get her head around it?!?! It seems like every month I would receive a call or an email from her asking for help to either sort out the mess or guide her again through the process! Even head office is pestering me because she’s not submitting any reports!

I trained someone else a few years back and that person has no background in accounting whatsoever and yet he never gave me problems. X is claiming she’s got solid finance, audit, and accounting background but look at what she's delivering - headaches!

What will happen to her when the more complex accounting/finance stuff are transferred to her? I don't want to know!

It's annoying when someone claims something that s/he's not.

Hayyyyyy…..

I ditched my home internet provider!

Two reasons.

First, the service sucks! I would have ditched it a long time ago but I was bound by a two-year contract. Ngayong natapos na yung contract ko, bye-bye internet na.

Second, I’m looking for ways to save! Nadadalas kasi ang dalaw ko sa aking hair dresser kaya kailangan humanap ng area na pwedeng i-sacrifice so I can afford my regular hair cut. Nagpaikli na naman kasi ako ng buhok eh. Many would agree that I look better with short hair and besides it’s easier to manage. Hindi na ako araw-araw gumagamit ng hair dryer.

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Riccardo, my Italian officemate, gave me a copy of Adele’s songs. She’s good! I like her style and her voice. I can hardly believe it when he told me that Adelle is only 23. Whew! What a talented young woman. Paulit-ulit kong pinapatugtog yung album nya.

Adele Addict! Adele Addict!

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I received an email from someone yesterday. Well, it’s been a long while since I last heard from him. Hindi ko na nga inaasahan na magpaparamdam sya eh. Not after the not-so-nice discussion we had weeks ago.

Anyway, he just wanted to say hello. Maybe he just wanted to know if I’m still alive.

Fair enough.

Christmas lunch 2010

My cubicle-mate, Riccardo. He replaced Bill when the latter transferred to another jurisdiction.

Peter, one of the most beautiful people at work. He's a good friend of Bill.

Who's arm is that????? hehe.

Notice my and Bill's eyeglasses. :0) Irene, our librarian.

(L-R) Karen, my former manager who transferred to another agency two weeks ago. Mathab and another Karen.

(L-R) David, trying to scare the photographer! Mathab, who owns the camera and she served as the unofficial photographer. Mark, our executive officer.

evaluation

I just had a meaningful performance evaluation with my executive manager (let’s call him Mr. M) and you know what? In my 12 years experience working for different managers sa kanya lang ako nakaranas na magkaroon ng productive performance evaluation. Actually he is not my line manager but the manager of the managers. He’s not supposed to be conducting my performance evaluation but since my section doesn’t have a manager at the moment, I report directly to him. We’ve only been working together for two weeks but I can already say that he is a good man, a godly man even.

Yesterday, when we had our section’s Christmas lunch, magkatabi sa upuan si Mr. M at si Bill. Yes, my section still invited Bill kahit matagal na syang wala dito. Kanun ka-“loved” ang mokong! And since Bill is the proverbial chatty person, kung anu-ano tuloy ang nadiskubre nya tungkol kay Mr. M. Chatty Bill relayed to me (yes, we still talk) that Mr. M went on a mission trip to Africa and that he’s active in church. No wonder he behaves the way he does.

I'm priveledge to have a Christian boss.

and then they're gone...

Bill left first week of November.

Darren left last week of November.

Karen left second week of December.

My neighbors left middle of last week.

Sas will leave sometime in January.

I wonder who's going to be next....

Photo ops

These pictures were taken by Bill with his new toy – a Nikon D5000.

I’ll get my own DLSR tonight. Wooohoo!

2009 Christmas Lunch

11 December 2009, Brisbane Hotel

(L-R) Myself, Sally, Bill, and Lisa

(L-R) Grace, Janice, Adriana, Mathab, Karen, and Irene

(L-R) Graeme, Mathab, Alistair, and Grace

(L-R) Graeme, Bill, Irene, and Alistair

going CLASSICAL

Manonood kami ni Bill mamaya ng classical concert. Nung nasa Pinas pa ako, madalas yung radyo ko ay nasa isang istasyon lang na ang mga tinutugtog ay classical. Pangarap ko din noon na makapanood ng live classical concert. Ayan, matutupad na mamayang gabi!

Buti na lang at game din si Bill na manood kahit na ang type nyang music ay ROCK! Malakas ang kutob na makakaiglip yun habang nakikinig sa tugtugin. Bahala sya! Basta ako, i-enjoy ko yung pagkakataon na makapakinig ng live classical concert.

bad trip

Nung una ko pa lang syang makita, mainit na dugo ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung dahil busangot ang mukha nya o dahil sa pakiwari ko ay may negative vibes na nagmumula sa kanya.

Kung maari lang ay ayaw ko syang makausap o makita sa hallway. Nawawala kasi ang mga ngiti sa labi ko pag nakikita ko sya. Ang nakakatawa (nakakatawa nga kaya???) ay limang beses ko na syang tinawagan ngayong araw na ito. May mali syang nagawa kahapon at ako ang kailangang umayos ng pagkakamali nya. GRRRRHHHH! Sa dinami-dami naman ng pwedeng magkamali dito sa opisina, bakit sya pa?

Ilang beses ko ng sinubukan na ngitian sya, baka kasi mali lang ang impression ko, pero walang epekto. Para kang ngumiti sa hangin.

Anyway.....

Alam ko, bad ako ngayon.

night out

Went with my officemates yesterday to the Moon & Sixpence pub. Had two glasses of juice called lemon, lime and bitter. The first glass was a treat by Bill. The second one was included with the hamburger meal I ordered. I don’t know what got into Bill that he paid for our drinks.

Moon & Sixpence’s interior is charming and the ambiance is cosy but the food? Whoa! It’s so expensive! The burger I ordered, which is one of the cheapest on the menu, costs more than what I’d pay for an authentic Italian pizza good for two. Anyway, it was a good night. It’s nice to hang out with people at work outside the office environment.

(note: pictures were downloaded from a website)