Thank You For Your Lovely Email

I need a piping hot cup of Milo for the early chilly mornings to perk me up. I need to check my emails right after I wake up because I'm simply hooked to the Internet. But what I did not need, early in the morning, is this. I woke up to an email looking something like this:

"So how's life? Very good in your current "job"? Being a wife, with housework and all."

Okay, what the serious f**k does that mean? As though I do not hear enough of that from my parents, I have to wake up to this?

I'm sure she meant well, but still, I did not need that. Well, let's see, I cook, I clean, I shop for groceries, I wait for the husband to come home, fetch his slippers, massage his shoulders, simply waiting and doting on him hand and foot. Oh, and I'm bloody good at that. So yeah, I'm doing damn fine in my "job".

I'm so sorry sarcasm is lost on you. I really am.

My Learner's Permit. Yay!

I've finally, finally gotten my learner's permit!

I've decided I didn't really like my picture after all :(

I had my learner's permit done at the Vicroads branch at Burwood. Tim had his license done there as well, so he thought he'd bring me there and give them a piece of his mind in case I get the same crap I had gotten at the Oakleigh branch.

Initially, I did face the same problem with my name as well, just like I did before. The problem with my last name smacked in the middle of my whole name in my passport.

"Sigh, Malaysian passports always confuse us."

That's it. All the person did was looked at the passport, and said that. So irritatingly nonchalant. She didn't mention any sort of solution, but neither did she give me more crap about my last name. It was simply because one of the managers on duty yesterday was a Chinese, who cleared everything up pronto. The application process went on quickly, and I finally got to take the test. Finally!

Oh, and I passed with *ahem* 100% *ahem* :p

Anyways, now that I've gotten my permit, I'm going to be lodging a formal complaint to Vicroads about this. There should be some sort of policy for Malaysian passports made known to the Vicroads people. My passport was not the first Malaysian one they encountered; they must have encountered thousands of Malaysian passports with last names not in the "right" position, which would also mean that they should know what to do. Instead of shaking their heads and giving us all that "Oh, Malaysian passports confuse us" rubbish and inconvenience us by asking us to get our passports changed, names changed, etc.

I have yet to take my Hazards Perception Test, but when I do, I'm going back to the Oakleigh branch, just to shove my permit at the faces. Hmph.

So yeah, I'm now officially an L driver in Victoria. Whee!

PS: Thanks very much for all your suggestions and advice on getting my learner's permit. It's so cool when you can get help on the blogosphere. I really appreciate it :)

Help Needed - I Don't Want To Change My Name!

I'm having a very big problem with identification in Australia.

I couldn't take my driver's learner's permit test today. Not that I was not allowed to, but after a long discussion with the Vicroads lady (nice girl, Jenna), I realised that it would be pointless to apply for something which I would be using as an identification other than my passport in Australia. For the very thing I did not expect to give me problems with is, well, giving me a lot of problems.

My name.

Now as a Chinese, I have a Chinese name (duh). I also have an official Christian name attached to my birth certificate, Malaysian identification card and passport. For explanation's sake, let's say my name is Amy Lim Yen Lee (it's not, by the way) - first name Amy, second/middle name Yen Lee, and surname Lim. That's how it's written in Malaysia, and that's how I'm known as. Now over here (basically almost everywhere else BUT Malaysia), my name would be Amy Yen Lee Lim. My surname would be last. You know what I mean?

When the Vicroads lady checked my passport, she was dismayed to learn that it was a Malaysian passport. Apparently this was not the first time they've encountered this. She explained to me that my surname is Lee, not Lim, regardless of what I wrote in the application form, nor any bank statements, etc. They insisted that unless my surname and first names are clearly specified on the passport, they have to read the name on the passport from left to right. In that case, my surname happened to be Lee. And that would be my name here.

This is a huge problem for me. If I were to apply for a driver's license here, my surname would be changed. Due to some new department policy, they have to read my name as it is on the passport, even though I told them specifically my surname was Lim, that it's written in my passport, birth certificate, etc. It would not make any difference to them; they just have to read it as it is, on the passport, from left to right. They suggested a way around this would be if I were to get the Malaysian consulate to change my passport, or to have some kind of note on the Observations page in the passport to indicate what my first and last names are. If not, then the name will have to be Amy Lee, not Amy Lim.

Now, all explanations aside ... this is RIDICULOUS!! I mean, come on! I am not the first Malaysian they encountered, and yet they just wouldn't bend to see reason. It's all just black and white. When I asked them what the rest of the Malaysian applicants did with that problem, and they told me that they just kept their "surname" that way. In other words, their names were changed. Oh they sympathised with me all that, but there was nothing else they could do. Unless I was all right with such an identification, there was nothing they could do.

I don't get it. So they're all right with us changing our names just to fit their policy?? This is going to cause a real havoc with my life here in Australia!

Are there any Malaysians in Australia facing this problem? How did you get around it? I don't want to have to go to the Malaysian embassy in Canberra just to get my name right. The Malaysian friends I know here did not even face such a problem. Is it because I have an extra Christian name attached, that's why my surname was squeezed in the middle? I had this problem when applying for Medicare too, but they closed an eye and let me through, with my actual surname intact.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Coffee or a meal on me. Seriously.

Thanks!

PS: I went to the Vicroads at Oakleigh South.

Learner's Permit. Again?

I finally got off my lazy bum and arranged for an appointment for my driving learner's permit test. It's next Tuesday (6 May).

We aren't allowed to transfer Malaysian drivers' licenses to the Australian one. I personally think this is a sucky rule, not to mention a very biased one, when Singaporean ones are allowed to be transferred over, hence exempting them from doing the whole learning test and probationary period thing. Oh, and the US drivers' licenses can be transferred over without any problems too. What gives? Those fellas drive on the other side of the road!

So right now, I'll have to study for the "undang" test before I do the actual driving test. In retrospect, it's been exactly 10 years since I did the whole driving test thing. It was in Malay, and I had to sit through six bloody hours of video and some fella droning on about traffic safety. Thank God I don't have to do that here. Phew.

Effective 1 July 2008, all probationary licenses are extended to an extra year, which means I'll be stuck with a P license (with the P sticker on the car) for THREE years! No use trying to book an appointment with VicRoads before then. Everything is fully booked; everyone wants to get theirs done before the changeover. Gah.

Well, back to my "undang" book.

Weirdest rule? Hook turns. I still don't get it :(

I Don't Understand WTF

Can someone please, PLEASE, enlighten me on what the hell a semi-completed sentence which ends with the words "wtf" mean?! I keep reading it in blogs, and I really don't get it. The sentences just do not make sense.

I'm so cold wtf.

That is so weird wtf.

Blah blah blah whatever you wanna type here wtf.

I could go on. I'd rather not.

Is this some sort of cool way to express yourself now? Am I too old to actually understand this? Bugger if I am.

*scratches head*

Whatever lah. Wtf.

Frustrations

I swear, if I hear one more "so how, found a job already ah?", I'll scream.

Seriously, that's all I hear about these days. And it's getting really frustrating. It's not like I'm not looking. I've had emails and calls of rejection, and believe you me, that did not make things all better. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.

I'm now thinking twice of uploading photos of the stuff I cooked or baked, simply because of the snarky comments I get (no, not from this blog. You guys have been lovely). Because I really do NOT need this.

"Wah ... the muffins look so nice. Aiya I think you better get a job soon, or else you'll turn into a housewife".

WHAT. THE. F**K.

Not that I'm contemplating the notion, but when has the word "housewife" become such a bad word? From Desperate Housewives, is it? I mean, even if I do go down that path, what business is it of anyone else's but my own?

So back off already. Please. I need support, not more added frustrations.

Pffft.

Malaysian Dreamgirl? Meh.

I just finished watching the first episode of Malaysian Dreamgirl. I couldn't bring myself to watch any more episodes because it just disgusted me at how shallow the people were.

Especially the judges. Ugh.

But then again, it IS a modeling competition, so whatever.

Okay. What's next?

It's A Wet Friday & I Ain't Happy

I just realised it's 27 more days before I leave my workplace, and go on a temporary break (I said temporary because contrary to what a lot of people think, I DO intend to continue working once I'm in Australia. But gimme a break, ya? I know I deserve it). Most of the time, I really do feel heavy-hearted to leave, but there are also times when I just can't wait to get the hell out.

What I'm Going To Miss

• My peeps. I've made some beautiful friendships with some of my colleagues (a few of whom are now some of my closest friends), and it's them whom I'm going to miss the most *sob*.
• The comfortable working environment. Working there for 4 years has earned me at least some sort of recognition amongst my peers and seniors, and even though I don't have me own cubicle, I do like my big workbench. And my PC (I'm so going to miss my 19" monitor. I know it may be small to some, but it's huge to me, and it was all mine). And my comfy chair.
• The rush in adrenaline when having hot debates with the managers during meetings, and the brainstorming sessions with my girls. It keeps my brains working and from going mush.

What I'm NOT Going To Miss

• The ridiculous policies that we had to adhere to, which proves no productivity nor any good, but we all have do it because it's the RULES. Sigh. So what else is new, eh?
• The idiot in my office, who is giving me more grief day after day. To say I detest him is an understatement. He's what I'd call an irritating fly, which I'd dearly love to swat. Sometimes I wish I had a wittier tongue when it comes to dealing with him. I just can't believe the number of times I actually let him get away with his words with me :(
• Dealing with incompetent people. Many a time, other than tearing my hair out, I just wanted to ask them if they were born stupid. Really.

Sigh ... it's just one of those days in which I wished I was out of here sooner.

Happy gloomy and wet Friday, folks.

To the idiot, thanks for ruining my Friday, jackass.

Sigh

Sometimes the most unexpected person to piss you off about your wedding can be the most hurtful.

:(

I Don't Want Your Friends

I don't get it.

What is your definition of a true friend?

Someone who indulges you in self-pity, even though it was you who was wrong in the first place? Or one who tells you to wake up, face the cold, hard facts but is there to help pull you out of the hole?

How can you tell me that the friends whom you deemed as people who will go all out for you to be the ones who lets you sink in your own depression? Indulge you in your own self-pity as if the whole world is against you? Have you not been telling them the truth about what truly happened? Do you think they'd still be on your side once they know the truth? Or are you afraid they'll leave you too if they knew?

I don't get it. I really don't.

Text Message/Email Reply Etiquette

How do you normally reply your text messages and emails? Do you keep 'em short and sweet, or do a 500-word essay?

I am notorious for writing long, essay-like emails (well, most of the time anyway). I like to write them as though I'm actually speaking to the person, and everyone knows what a talkative person I am. But there is one type of reply which I absolutely detest, and they are one-worded replies.

"Hey how about lunch today?"

"OK"

or

"Shall we go to that restaurant again next week? The food's quite nice"

"Ya"

Seriously, this irks the hell out of me. I mean, come on. Have the courtesy to write or text a little bit more. "Sure no problem" or "Okay, that'd be fine" or something like that would have been a lot better than a single OK.

The ex did this, and I remembered how absolutely pissed off I'd be when I get such replies. And whenever I talked to him about this, all I got was a shrug and four words - "My nature, cannot change". What a load of rubbish. It's rude, that's what it is.

I'm so glad Tim doesn't give me that nonsense. His replies are short, no doubt, but never curt, never rude. Even when we're bickering with each other. My friends have proper text message/email reply etiquette too. Thank God for that.

There's no need for double standards when replying your emails or text messages to your friends, compared to what you write to your bosses. If you can reply nicely to the big man, you can do so to your family and friends as well. One-worded replies are forgivable when you're busy or indisposed, and cannot manage to write more. Other than that, I feel that it's inexcusable.

What do you think?

Finally, An End To The Week

Thank God the weekend's almost here. I've been so busy and stressed out of my eyeballs lately.

I've got a week before Tim is back in Malaysia for a short 1-week break, and I have to get all my documents and forms sorted out before I lodge my Australian visa application at the Australian High Commission in KL the following Monday. There's just so much to do, so much evidence to give. Apparently a marriage certificate just isn't enough.

Well, to be fair, I figured as much as to prevent marriages of convenience in order to get an Australian visa. But still! Having to submit copies of very personal letters we exchanged during our period of separation, and to have an Tom, Dick or Sally read 'em, just gives me the heebie-jeebies. Thank goodness we didn't exchange anything naughty in our cards (we kept those for *ahem* other times. Tee hee!).

"Aiyoooo ... lu tengok dia ni orang tulis apa?? Lu tengok, lu tengok!" (look at what they're writing! Look! Look!)

"Gasp ... wahlau eh ... so 'mor kui chang!'" (goose-pimples-inducing)

I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that everything will go smoothly. After lodging the application, I can finally chuck that aside and concentrate on the wedding preparations.

Y'know, I really gotta stop stressing myself out like this, over all this. I was looking at myself intently in the mirror a couple of weeks ago, and realised that in the last few weeks, I frowned so much that my lines, especially the ones right between my eyebrows, are now much, much deeper than before!! And four months before the wedding too! How can?!

Sigh.

Anyways.

The weekend's finally here, folks. Have a good one.

Sickie Weekend

I am sick. Again :(

This isn't good. For the past two decades, I've never been sick more than twice a year, but this year, it's like my immune system's been shot to pieces.

Just got back from the doctor's. Check out my "loot".

The doc diagnosed me with acute tonsillitis. Just as well, I have high fever, and every time I swallow, it feels as though there's fire in my throat. Worst of all, my lymph nodes on my left side are now really swollen and painful.

I don't know whether to go to work tomorrow. I mean, I'm sicker than a cat, but I do have work to do, plus I don't want that idiot in the office to think I'm skivving off work again. Office politics. Don't you just hate 'em?

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a LOT of drugs to take. Whee.

I Heart MIX FM But ...

One of the perks (they are few, by the way) of my workplace is that as I work on my computer terminal, I get to listen to music while I work. Gotta have my earphones hooked on, of course, but yeah, I get to listen to music while I'm on the computer. So anyways, after listening to my iTunes for too long (that's *ahem* almost 16GB worth of songs in my PC *ahem*), I got tired of it, and started listening to the wee portable radio I have.

So anyways, these days I've been listening to a lot of MIX FM. I especially enjoy the breakfast show with Ika, Serena C and Pietro. Man, they're a crazy lot. It's really funny to hear the two girls ganging up on the poor fella, who, by the way, always get bullied into doing crazy stuff with the rest of the male DJs just because the *ahem* LADIES keep winning Who Wears The Pants :p If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then go listen to Mix FM! (I'm not paid to write this, by the way, which you'll know why soon).

Okay, MIX FM, guys, I love your station, especially the Mix Breakfast shows with the three hilarious jokers, but I'm afraid I have a bone to pick with you.

First of all, I don't understand the need to have Phua Chu Kang in your shows. He may be funny on the actual sitcom, but far from it on the air. He speaks too fast, and his jokes are lame. Somehow I think adding PCK kinda insults the intelligence of the listeners. The Manglish/Singlish thing? Really overrated, guys. I always switch to another station when he gets on air. I don't know about you, but it irritates me in the morning.

Oh, and MIX FM Make The First Move? I've been listening to the shows for a week now, and I don't know, it just somehow seems WRONG to be making the first move for someone who wants to date or make a date with someone else when the whole NATION's listening to y'all. Getting to know someone, dating someone is a personal thing. I've heard a couple of callers who requested Ika, Serena C and Pietro to help them get the girls, but when they answered the phone, and found out what was going on, they were pissed off. I remembered a couple of lines.

"This is a personal affair between X and I" (said very coldly)

(girl to the caller) "YOU ACTUALLY GAVE MY NUMBER TO THE STATION???"

Unless you know the girl's a good sport, really, I think MIX FM is mucking things up even more than actually helping.

Anyways, that's that. Just a little rant for the weekend. I'll still continue to listen to the Breakfast Show, that's for sure. I mean, the three fellas are pretty much the only DJs worth listening to anyway ;)

Bloody Broadband, Bloody Shifts, Bloody Insensitive Bastards

My Internet connection's been really bad all weekend.

I don't know if anyone else is experiencing problems with their Streamyx, but then again, when have you NEVER had problems with that stupid broadband provider, huh? Their customer service is severely lacking; in fact, all of their services are questionable. It's just sad that we have too little broadband providers fighting for the top spot. I mean, if our broadband providers are as competitive as our mobile telcos, why, we consumers would have a ball!

Sigh.

Anyways.

It's been a stay-at-home weekend for me, which is great, because I really needed the rest from all the early mornings I had during the week. Guess what, I'll be on afternoon shift next week; my working hours will be from 2.30pm to 10.30pm. Can you see me jumping for joy here? Woo. Bloody. Hoo.

Sorry folks. I'm currently just too bloody uptight to be nice.

PS: Oh, and to those who bitched about the Nurin case, blaming the parents for neglecting their child in the first place? If you don't have children, SHUT UP. Even if you do, imagine losing them. How's that for a laugh, huh? Leave the parents be. They've already lost their flesh and blood. Geez.

I Am Tired

I am tired.

I am tired of my work load right now, which seemed to triple ever since I came back from KL. Things aren't getting any easier with a new addition to the team whom I'm not at all keen on and do not like. What makes it worse is that I'm beginning to be sidelined as a group leader, just because word has leaked out that I shall be leaving soon. I do not mind surrendering the position to someone else, someone more capable, more assertive, more responsible, if the management has had the courtesy to let me know first. I do not enjoy being kept in the dark.

At the moment, no one's saying anything, and I don't think I'm being paranoid. I could jolly well throw in the towel and say "To hell with you guys, I don't care anymore. Why should I? I won't even be here for long". But I can't. I have a responsibility as a leader to see things through, and I will tie all loose ends before I leave. If only they let me. I'm operating on a very tight wire right now. It's only a matter of time before I snap.

Despite all this, I know that the worst is yet to come.

I am tired.

I am tired of putting up a front at the workplace, that everything's peaches and cream, that I'm happy at how things are going, when in fact, they're not. The working environment has changed so severely ever since I got back. I know what's going on, but I do not understand why they are. Who was it that said "why can't everyone just get along?" This goes to show that the workplace is just like one big kindergarten, where people are behaving like sulky children.

I am tired.

I am tired of pretending that I'm not married in the workplace. That nothing has changed. Due to certain reasons (which I will reveal when the time comes), I cannot disclose the fact that I'm married, except to a few close friends. Thus, I cannot openly plan my wedding with my girlfriends, without worrying who's looking over my shoulder. It really takes away the joy in the planning process.

I am tired.

I am tired of the fact that even though I AM married, it doesn't feel that I am, because Tim's so far away. I miss him terribly, and it really hurts that we're so far apart (bad enough that we only spent a day together as husband and wife, and even then, I was down with a flu), especially during this trying period. I'm so glad for the Internet, that I'm able to see him every night, but us not being physically together doesn't make it any better. I know, I know, we'll be together in no time. Well, they don't call it a rant for nothing, eh?

Still, I'm real grateful that both our parents understand the predicament that we're in, and are being as supportive as they can. It's not going to be easy for my parents when I do leave for Australia next year (Mum kept saying that she feels as though she's losing her daughter). It isn't going to be easy for me either.


Lord, I pray that You'll be with me throughout this trying period. I pray for strength to carry on. I ask for Your forgiveness that I only come to You in times of trouble, but I really need You now. I need to be in Your peace. Amen.

Stupid Pins And Needles

Can't imagine how I slept last night, but I woke up to tremendous pins and needles on both legs and feet, which lasted quite long. They hurt so bad, I had to wake up and massage the calves for a bit, before I can sleep again.

And now my calves are real sore. What gives?! :(

*grumble*

PS: Sorry guys, writer's block again. Grrr.

Work Woes

Okay guys, I get the hint. I've already posted the ROM photos at the wedding blog, which you can check out here. See, I'm so nice :)

Anyhoos.

I'm getting real swamped at work, personally and professionally. It's funny how things can go a 180 degrees turn in just the one week I was away. It's only been three days back, and I'm already ready to scream.

There is sudden tension everywhere, and the somewhat-comfortable environment of work that I was used to is now some kind of mental war zone. Suddenly, never-before politics have managed to seep into the group. Everyone's watching their backs so carefully in case they get stabbed. It's making me pretty nervous, and quite frankly, bloody annoyed.

Lord, give me strength to persevere during this "storm". Otherwise I'll go nuts.

Skype Was Down. So What?

Due to the recent Skype outage for over 24 hours, there were a few things which I've noticed:

1. There were actually businesses who relied so heavily on Skype as their business line, that there were no backup phone lines.
2. People in long-distanced relationships (friends, family, lovers, etc) were going beserk because of the outage.

Skype techies mentioned in the Skype blog that they were working hard in fixing the problem they were having (apparently there were some problems with Skype's network algorithm), and would be at it around the clock, and that the problem would be resolved in 12-24 hours. Apparently, that was simply unacceptable. Never mind the people at Skype were already working their asses off to fix the problem, they had to be on the receiving end of the countless insults hurled at them by Skype users. Don't believe me, check out Skype's blog.

Now I know, it's their job to get it working. And that a lot of people pay to use Skype's SkpeOut services. Hell, so do I (as in, I paid Euros for my SkypeOut too). But really, a day of not using Skype would not hurt. There are so many instant messenger clients out there who offer free voice and video conferencing services as well (MSN, Yahoo to name a few). Granted the quality's not as crisp and clear as Skype, but they do the job.

As for businesses who solely rely on Skype as their communication tool without a backup phone line, now that's just silly. It's such a high risk, and to rely solely on a VOIP client as a main communication tool with their customers is not a good move. You should always have a backup plan. Why do you think companies put at least two contact numbers on their business cards? Just in case one goes down, you have a backup. I know, you PAID for the service and as such, expect it to be 100% fool-proof. Regardless, there should always be a backup.

Email down? Pick up the phone. When technology fails you, find a solution. In fact, have the solution ready BEFORE the problems occur. Anticipate much?

For the rest who feel that their girlfriends and boyfriends are 12,000 miles away, and need to be in contact with them 24/7, well, I have news for you. If you can't survive a day without skyping each other, then something's not right. Never mind the fact that there are so many other IMs out there which you can use.

Tim and I chat with each other on Skype every night. At the time when he was at Shepparton, and did not have Internet access, I used VOIP Discount to call him. Yes, we didn't see each other on webcam for a few days in a week, but all it did was just to increase our anticipation to see each other when he's back in Melbourne. When VOIP Discount did not work (the service's a bit cacat at times; oh well, you get what you paid for), I had phonecards as a backup. When Skype was down, we used MSN to transmit video, and Google Talk to chat (audio quality is much better on Google Talk than MSN). If all fails, then we'll just call each other on our phones. No big deal.

Moral of the story?

1. Always have a backup plan.
2. Don't scream your head head off threatening to sue just because you're not satisfied to wait 24 hours for something to be fixed.
3. Always have a backup plan (yep, it's twice as important).

The phone does not seem like such an ancient tool now, does it?

Cold Turkey From The Internet

No thanks to my dear papa who didn't think it was necessary to pay our Streamyx bill ("aiya, two months didn't pay nia, like this also kena cut"), we now do not have Internet access at home. Not just that, even AFTER we paid our bill (really, I could have easily ran that errand for him, if he'd TOLD me), something was wrong, and we still could not connect to the Internet.

My brother encountered an error when he connected the RJ45 cable to his notebook and tried to dial in - "The remote computer is not responding, blah, blah, blah". So we thought the modem's knocked out again (we switched to a new modem at the beginning of the year, no thanks to a thunderstorm back then which fried the modem). Brother bought a new modem, hooked it in, and the same error occurred!!

So now, we have two working modems, and no idea on what the heck's wrong with our Internet access. The TMNET service hotline ain't much help either. For the past couple of days, I've been very Internet-free, unless I'm at the office (called in sick yesterday, no Internet for the whole day; thanks for the email, Jem).

Oh and believe me, the withdrawal symptoms are showing. For the first day, I was irritable, constantly checking the modem, switching it on and off to see if, by some miracle, it'll work again, etc. By the second day, things got a little better. I was finally catching up on my reading, and my eyes didn't feel so strained. Oh, and the mood's getting better too.

I may or may not have Internet access during the weekend, so yeah, I reckon it's a good break. The Internet's become such a drug for me, and I really need to go cold-turkey. *break out in cold sweat*

Wish me luck, folks. And y'all have a good weekend now.