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Relocation.
2008-04-15 02:00:00
Hi, I'm moving.http://frenchcuffs.blogspot.com.
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Phew.
2008-04-13 04:39:00
You can tell I'm really up to my ears in things when there's a lack of updates. It's been crazy the past 2 weeks, and I've barely had time to even sit and have a good lunch with colleagues, peers and clients (no kidding-- been packing sandwiches and such from Subway to work).Anyhow, here's some quick updates:Work: Work's been great, albeit on the fast track with calls ringing all over me, and me wishing I had 2 heads and 4 sets of hands to multitask better. I've score another 2 more less-than-24-hour placements, so much so the boss jokingly asked if I was doing permanent executive placements or recruiting contract and temp staff. Guess it's just luck that the people I sent were immediately available, and the client liked their personalities and qualifications...plus of course they really were in urgent need of people, so it's better to get someone who may not be entirely great for the job but is willing to take it up anyway. At least, that's what I thought.Work II: As usua...

When things go wrong.
2008-04-08 02:08:00
Someone I know tried killing himself yesterday by consuming bleach.It?s not a joke, and the fella had been down on his luck since getting laid off at work 6 months ago?he?s been unable to get a job since, and things have not been going his way, it seems.I?m just wondering if it?s worth killing yourself just because you feel for a moment nothing goes right your way. Surely there are better things to look out for in life?your health for one?instead of choosing to end it all without a fight?And in the bigger scheme of things in life, what?s one or two setbacks? So you get knocked down, but try to stay on your feet and punch your way back into the fight. Life?s one long journey, and there?re people as it is who fight every inch of their way just to live one more day, and here you are, waking up each morning and thinking of ways to kill yourself. Such is the irony of things.I?m sorry, but even though I feel sorry things aren?t going right in his life, I despise weakness. Killing yourself...
More About: Things , Wrong

Gosh.
2008-04-04 15:48:00
I'm now starting to think to myself: how the heck did an ex-colleague's farewell drinks party end up with the two of us locked in a toilet cubicle, and us doing the do, and then seemingly acting like nothing happened when we went back to the rest of the gang? And when someone asked, we just said we went for a smoke, but clearly it was a weak lie, no?Let's put it all down to too much to drink, and then her itching and mine needed some scratching.Oh well.*****

School blues.
2008-04-01 02:10:00
I keep running into people I used to know in school these days. In a sense, it does help that it turns out I'm better off than many of my peers from school. It's not a brag, but it does seem that for some of them, things in life or in their careers are not really at a high. There are a few who have gone on to do very well in their professional careers, and these guys I meet up and have coffee with to catch up on things, keep them in the loop of the market, and they're likely to be my candidates at one point or another. But there are some who I run into on the streets and, maybe it's my imagination at work, but I get the sense they look somewhat embarassed after the casual "how do you do"s and the "so what are you up to these days" type of questions. Like this girl whom I used to have a crush on back in my secondary school days. By my admission, she was the first of the opposite gender who turned me down-- but fortunately since then, I've had only one or two rejections-- and wh...
More About: Blues , School

New high.
2008-03-28 08:16:00
I've reached a new high in my career and business: $14,000 deal closed in 48 hours for a project engineer's position. Candidate went for one interview, got the job thereafter.Anyhow, to reward myself, I went out and bought me a Sony PSP Slim. The XBox 360 was unfortunately out of action, and La Femme's complaining about the bangs and war cries disturbing her beauty sleep, so it's just as well I got the PSP.But back the career high-- definitely one of the prouder moments that establish me as a headhunter through and through...so, anyone wants a job? :P*****
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*Bark*Woof*
2008-03-25 12:57:00
Premise one: Humans and dogs are two totally different species-- I, for one, do not go on all fours, bury my face in food, and gobble up whatever gunk is fed to me, and neither do I go round sniffing backsides.Premise two: Dog fur can be potentially fatal, especially to people who have allergies and to young infants.Both premises defined, I have set the stage for my argument: you DO NOT bring your dog to a public place where people eat. If you can't stand some folks smoking in the same confined space as you are at an eatery, in the same light, there are people who think it extremely unhygienic at the thought of dog fur floating around the place where they dine, and also, in a public place like a hawker centre, there will be people who would mind the fact that your furry friend had its paws on the seat, or drooled on the table as you feed your mutt-- Muslims, for instance, will take offence at the sight of your dog at a public eating place.I don't care if you were one of those dog ...

Splash.
2008-03-25 01:11:00
Little known fact about me: I like to paint. There's something very therapeutic about being able to start splashing colours on a blank canvas and seeing your ideas materialise as you start adding layers, create texture, add dashes of bold reds, orange, gold etc, and whatever stuff you could do with acrylic paint on canvas. It's how I destress sometimes, and even more when I feel like I didn't accomplish much during a particular day and wanted to have something that makes it more meaningful. And it's my thing to do when I don't fancy getting myself knocked around and getting bruises in martial arts and rugby, which are my choice past times, really. I'm a hard one to fathom, am I not? :D*****
More About: Splash

The Truth Can Be Adjusted.
2008-03-24 13:36:00
Three days after we'd bought the DVD, and I still think Michael Clayton is a damn good movie.Of course, it helps that George Clooney is one of the few men I truly admire (him, Ken Watanabe, John Travolta and Will Smith, if you're talking about Hollywood men).I'm not going to write a full review here, but click here if you wanna know more about the movie. Now, I don't care what the official reviews say, but I'll give it five stars out of five, meaning "go catch the damned movie for yourself!"Geez, now you know why I'm no longer writing and editing magazines.******
More About: Truth , The Truth

Platonic relationships.
2008-03-24 01:33:00
Macy was the kind of woman with whom you were either a friend, or you were someone who she'd have a one-nighter with and then you'd never see her again.Of course, the fact that she's the elder sister of a mate of mine raises her sex appeal a couple of notches up, but given she's great company and a very smart woman, I'd opt for the former. That doesn't mean of course that when we do meet, I don't get ideas. I get the feeling if we ever had sex, it would be one of those great sessions you'd never forget about, and I get the feeling too, that she does have a little interest in me, just that for some reason, we never get beyond the casual flirting, from talking naughty to subtle touches that leave you that tingling sensation of anticipated sex.It wouldn't be lovemaking in that romantic sort of way-- if she gave any hints of it, it would be closer to pure raw fucking, and then we'd move on.But like I said, Macy's a great girl to be with as a friend, and really, I don't think...
More About: Relationships

Darn.
2008-03-23 08:09:00
I lost my Mont Blanc pen, and I can't recall when was the last time I last used it or saw it.It shouldn't be a big deal, really, given that it's just a matter of money to get another similar pen. What's irreplaceable, however, is the fact that the pen was a gift from the parents of a kid I used to tutor while I was in uni as a token of their appreciation for my help during his GCE "O" level exams.When I went into real estate during the final uni years, it was the Mont Blanc that was used to sign the deals that I clinched successfully, and the pen became a tool that was used to sign documents and contracts, and was thus subsequently associated with career and business successes in my life.Not that I am superstitious-- I don't think losing the pen would mean that henceforth, I will stop closing important and profitable deals, no-- but I would say that, in a way, the Mont Blanc helps to serve as a useful reminder of what I am capable of, and it certainly helps psychologically to h...

Perfect imperfections.
2008-03-22 12:20:00
So you meet someone you'd love to spend the rest of your life with, or would like to explore the relationship further to find out if you have something worth holding on to, and the next question will be how long will it take before you decide, say, her snoring that's been disturbing your sleep is beginning to become extremely annoying? Or him farting in public? Or her always rearranging the stuff in your apartment such that it no longer reads "bachelor pad" any more, or his banterings about that dream apartment and romantic getaways being just plain talk is starting to make you wonder if he really is any good?Life, as we know it of course, is filled with imperfections. Then again, someone famous once said that the reason why the world may seem perfect is because of the imperfections contained therein.The thing is, you know your partner isn't going to be the perfect babe or dude, what do you do?So her excitable moods may make her look like a bimbo at times, or his need to have thi...
More About: Perfect

Of Corona beers and other things.
2008-03-21 11:12:00
Drinks are definitely better in the right company. Take out a whiny lovesick pal who's constantly mourning a betrayed love story, throw in some colleagues and an interesting character, and you get an evening of drinks that, although took place in a pub that was surprisingly not crowded on the eve of a public holiday, was nevertheless a good way to pass the night.Of course, it did affect me somewhat initially that we were caught in a jam while driving to meet the dude and another colleague at the pub. I think my usual cool demeanour was somewhat tarnished by the curses and swearing as we inched slowly through the highway en route to the watering hole. Bloody hell, where do all those cars come from anyway?? I don't fancy being stuck in traffic for twenty minutes without progressing beyond two hundred metres from where I was a while ago, and all this while I was fighting for space at the highway exit, which must have scared a very young female colleague seated at the back of the car,...
More About: Things , Beers , Corona

Shades of truth.
2008-03-19 15:29:00
"How could she?"Those were the only words he could mutter as we met up for some drinks after work. Like, his entire vocabulary now consisted of only those three words, repeated again and yet again as he downed one pint after another.He is none other than the dude who had this habit of calling me at odd hours asking for help as he tries to pursue this chick he got himself so head-over-heels gaga over. And the problem now is that he's so into her after 3 dates (they started holding hands and trading some spit...er, kisses) he's started seeing her as an "exclusive deal" even though she hasn't said anything official about it yet, and just last night, he thought he'd drop by her place because she's just flown back from Hong Kong and he wanted to surprise her, and the last thing he thought he'd see is some other dude leaving her doorstep and them frenching at the door.Dude then confronts the girl and she admits she's been seeing the other guy as well, but it's an "on and off thing...
More About: Truth

Random rants.
2008-03-18 15:17:00
"Flirt" seems to be my middle name, and it's something I shouldn't be proud of, really.I get myself into all sorts of trouble, whether intentionally or not, simply because I have the wandering eye syndrome (which afflicts like 99.9% of men around you)-- but if it's just a roving eye, it's not all that bad. It's bad when you move on to the drinks and the small talk, the phone numbers, the flirty teasing looks, the small touches... need I go on?And sometimes, I do cross the line-- for instance, if I flirted with my financial advisor and she in return, that does mess up the professional part of the relationship doesn't it?FYI, I never said I was the gorgeous hunky sort; if women find me attractive, it's more because of my confidence (a little on the arrogance side, rather), and my ability to make a woman laugh. Ok, also throw in the fact that, when I am engaged in conversation with an attractive woman, I do compliments on the way she smells, the way she does up her hair, her clo...
More About: Rants , Random

Unbelievable
2008-03-16 16:35:00
Morning trip to Cold Storage, and I learnt a lesson: some people still act and behave as if we're still under Colonial rule in Singapore.I won't go into details in case I upset anyone, and neither do I wish to start an inter-racial debate here, but I would like to think that in this day and age, such a mentality would cease to exist here especially given that we have already been an independent and sovereign state for more than forty years now, but evidently, based on comments I heard this morning and the scene I witnessed, there are certain people who still behave in the old days of the big White Man in town.It's definitely something I don't stand for (and I didn't), and I absolutely have no respect for people who don't respect the cultures of others, especially when they are of different racial and religious backgrounds.*****
More About: Unbelievable

Roses are red...
2008-03-14 16:23:00
"I love you from the bottom Of my pencil case..."The office romance. Good idea/bad idea? There's nothing wrong with finding love from the safety of your cubicles, but try tone down the lovey-dovey bits while we're at work and in the office, okay?Well, technically speaking, the lovey-dovey lovebirds at the office didn't get on with their hanky-panky while the division meeting was on, and neither were they touchy-feely when the rest of the 3 teams were in the office having our official opening and little office warming party, but as the night drew on, perhaps spurred by the champagne and red wine that were generously served at the table, things started to get a little too close for comfort for romancing at the office.So much so I had to bump into the lovers making out at the balcony while I stepped out for a smoke...and "accidentally" caught them in the act. And was it my imagination, or did the girlfriend give me glances that made me feel a little uneasy all through the evening u...
More About: Roses

Shitheads.
2008-03-14 05:34:00
There are somethings I don't quite understand. Why is it that there are people out there who actually bother to comment on other people's lives and lifestyles even though I don't even know them personally?It's weird isn't it? You go to someone's blog, you read about what he or she writes, and just because there are certain things that you don't approve of or share the same opinions, beliefs etc, you still go ahead and make your judgments-- as if they matter, really. I mean, if you were Donald Freaking Trump making similar comments, I would probably take heed and listen. But the fact is you're obviously not someone important, and worse, you hide behind a veneer of anonymity and expect me to take your comments seriously. And you probably used a fake email address to that effect.I'm of the opinion that if you have something to say, positive or negative, at least have the balls to leave your real identity behind. Else, you're no better than online slimes who try to push Viagra...

Day after.
2008-03-13 13:44:00
Thanks for all the well-wishers, be it in the form of comments, emails or online greeting cards. Big thanks too, to the fellas at work who so kindly got a little birthday do on my return to the office (was on leave yesterday), complete with a very creamy cake.What would make it really great is if I had a client who called to say I closed yet another deal, but unfortunately, it hasn't happened. YET. Believing in the Law of Attraction, I shall use the word "yet"-- it's gonna happen, and I feel it in my bones, I just have to be patient and wait for it.***** Being underdressed is the worst thing that could ever happen when you run into an attractive dame dressed in the pretty kebaya uniform of Singapore Airlines on your way toward the elevator at your condo (and she's making her way out of the lift and onto the walkway). She was all dressed up and looking pretty, complete with a tinge of Dior perfume (I think), and there I was, wearing a drawstring karate pants, a singlet and trainer...

Of candles and cakes.
2008-03-12 03:58:00
I turn 32 today.If I were to compare where I am today and where I was a year ago, then I'd certainly lived up to my birthday wish last year: get some headway careerwise, because for the past 4 years prior, I didn't seem to be getting anywhere after my first business venture crashed.But before I let loose the streamers and pop the champagne, I certainly still have a lot to work on, especially given one day before my birthday I lost a pricey deal, and I now know that "exclusive deals" aren't really exclusive at all, and that my competitors (bloody bunch of vultures and hyenas) are already trying to make an impression with some of my key accounts.I will allow myself one day of rest since La Femme planned out the program for today. But come tomorrow, it's back to business and I plan to hit out harder than the vultures and hyenas. You wanna pick at the scraps? I'll make sure there are no scraps for you to even sniff at.Anyway, I'm theoretically at the start of my prime years. It's...
More About: Cakes , Candles

Costly lesson.
2008-03-11 15:06:00
It is my own complacency that led to a costly lesson today: I lost a $45,000 deal simply because I had let my guard down and let my competitor gain the upper hand. Pricey yes, painful yes, but after the initial kicking myself in the butt, it's time to move to the next project and work things from there. You win some, you lose some, I guess, but I'll win more the next time around.*****At least someone made things a lot better this evening with her sultry surprises. *grins*
More About: Lesson

On the hunt.
2008-03-11 07:32:00
I am on the hunt for:1. Senior Finance and Accounts Manager to be based in Batam for an electronics manufacturer. Incumbent needs to know Indonesian tax regulations and accounting compliance practices, and experience with large headcounts (300+ and up) 2. Plant Operations Manager (Batam), with potential for development to GM of the plant. Preferences for candidates who are currently production or manufacturing managers in a large manufacturing (electronics, semiconductor) setting. Would appreciate leads and welcome write-ins, and for more details, drop me an email.*****The things I do for my Aston Martin...
More About: Hunt

Phone call in the AM.
2008-03-11 01:45:00
Friend calls me up first thing this morning at 7am, just when I fresh out of the shower and getting ready for work."Dude, you've gotta help. Things with Lady M isn't looking too good."Right. Fuck you expect me to do, especially since I was still in my birthday suit."Mate, you've got to loosen up...and at least let me put on some clothes", I replied, and admiring La Femme's slender frame lying cosily in bed. The girl's having a good time taking a week's break from work, and man, it would have been a good idea to crawl back into bed with her, perhaps even rousing her for a quickie...that's another story altogether.So anyway, the crux of the story is that the dude screwed up the first date real bad: she told him at the end of the day that he wasn't exactly her idea of boyfriend material, but they could still remain friends (ouch). Thing is, dude seems to have decided she's the one for him and asked how he could convince her otherwise.But really, when a woman tells you things l...
More About: Phone , Call , Phone call

What, all over?
2008-03-10 16:11:00
Not quite. I just thought it would be a great idea to delete all 120 posts over 6 months and start over. Crazy as it sounds, I just felt it's a real good idea to hit the "restart" button, and this time, we'll see how things shape up. Life gets a lot more interesting and fun when you do things differently, and less predictably, no?*****On a separate note, can someone tell me who are the wise asses who decide where to place traffic lights? I mean, I understand if you need to plaster a couple of stops at intersections and cross-junctions, but who's the smart ass who came up with a formula of "one traffic stop 100m before and after any bus stop/public building/MRT station/whatever that's piled and stands on pillars"??Additionally, who's the dumb ass too, who decided goods vehicles, lorries and trucks laden with goods/people are allowed into the middle and right lanes instead of the extreme left lane where they rightfully belong?But as always, there's nothing the blaring of horns a...

Zoom zooms
2008-03-10 01:04:00
Clearly there is a difference between the cars men choose, and the cars women fancy. Which is why I decided I shall not let a woman decide on my ride come August when it's time to trade the Megane to another. My choices (in no particular order of preferences):(1) Mazda RX-8(2) BMW 335i /BMW 128i (when it comes later in the year)(3) Subaru Impreza SG-T (4) Mitsubishi Evo X(5) 2008 Honda Accord Euro R(6) Mercedes Benz CLK/SLK And if you noticed, there's one underlying common node connecting all the choices: speed and torque, but with style. Her choices:(1) Mini Cooper Type S (hmmm)(2) Volkswagen Beetle convertible (sheesh)(3) Volkswagen Bora (and what, look like a taxicab in Shanghai??)(4) Audi A4(5) Volvo S40(6) Renault Megane II (meaning NO CHANGE) Well, I have a couple of months to convince her my choices are a lot better. :P *****
More About: Zoom

Sex appeal.
2008-03-09 02:24:00
A story in the Straits Times' Sunday Lifestyle reportedly wrote that, to woo his third (and very much younger wife), Rupert Murdoch organised cruise trips, sent flowers and even worked out to impress her.The things men do to make themselves more "marketable" and noticed. Then again, it's true for the rest of the animal kingdom isn't it-- it's always the biggest (go figure), brightest, and smartest dude with the most brilliant plumage and drive that lands the prized females. It's the law of natural selection, baby, and if you're not up to the task, forget about homeruns.I suppose, too, there will be moments in his life when a dude begins to wonder about his sex appeal. I did, a couple of weeks ago, when the boys decided to hit the town and have some drinks, and then I realised I wasn't seemingly attracting as much attention from the female species as I used to. Not that it matters a lot, especially since, as one of my pals put it, I already landed myself a really dishy babe th...
More About: Sex Appeal , Appeal

Temptation.
2008-03-07 05:05:00
I've been scouting around for a new ride, given it's been 5 years since I last switched cars, and though the current one still offers a good drive, it's somewhat lacking in performance. And seeing I haven't made enough (sadly) for my dream car (Aston Martin DB9 or DBS, if it ever comes here), I thought of an alternative: Yup. The RX-8. Financially, it's not too much of a drain given my other commitments, and I have been looking, really. Ask some of my friends, and they will be telling you what a chore I must have been asking them to go on test drives and discussing about what car I should be getting etc.So, if all goes well, I'd probably be zipping around in a 1.3(A) 6 speed RX8 by July or August. ...and yes, I will stop for leggy babes. :P*****"I'd like to see you naked, baby, tonightIf that's all right... "
More About: Temptation

There goes another...
2008-03-07 04:10:00
Honestly, I don't really feel a thing when a colleague expresses an intention to leave, or already is in the process of leaving the company.I mean, really, at the end of the day, we're all really concerned about our own stomachs to really go consider the impact of someone leaving, however close you may have grown to that person. If that move was a career progression, or even if it was to exorcise frustrations with the company, it's all a cause for well-wishes and such, but the bottomline is: really, it's none of my business.Perhaps you'd be right to say I'm unfeeling, perhaps too, you could accuse me of being self-centred and even nonchalant about the people around me. Unfortunately, there are some of us who are more concerned about our own career goals and achievements to bother with the "oh-you-are-leaving-and-I-feel-so-sad" bullshit. It's all transient and transactional, even: people come and go, and life goes on.In fact, when I make decisions about joining a company, ofte...

Crap.
2008-03-05 12:34:00
Oh fuck.I did something I really shouldn't have, and things are gonna get awkward. Now why do I have a tendency to get myself into situations like this? Is this normal-- part of being "male"-- or is it just me? *****...and in this instance, chai latte moments are definitely not helping much. I should just migrate to Tibet or something.
More About: Crap

Yes! Yes!
2008-03-05 01:03:00
Things in life where, if you should ever find yourself thinking or asking thus, would inevitably be "yes":He/she isn't interested in you (enough said)Her father doesn't like you much (yup, but he's a clown as well)It's really your fault, even though she said "it's not you, it's me" (uh-huh. we've heard that one before right?)She just doesn't want to have sex with you. (get a makeover or something. or hire some hot models to act as your stand-in girlfriends)He's having an affair (my condolences)She's faking her orgasm (double condolences)Your boss thinks you're an idiot (unfortunately...)Your fellow workers don't like you a lot (and yes, they're laughing about you)They must think you're a social idiot (what did you do, turn up underdressed and overturned plates at the event or got drunk on punch?)Your boss has access to all your emails and knows what you do online at work (red alert)Someone saw you doing something, and he/she sure as hell is telling (you're front page ...