ouch!

Seems like the foot i injured a few weeks back has not healed...yet. It still hurts, especially today. I am not sure about the extent of the injury, but I would have thought that the pain would be gone by now, but still it hurts. If this goes on I may have to go see the doctor to get it checked out.

Whilst we are on the topic of feet, let me discuss footwear...
My favourite pair of Reebok's are getting really worn out. The soles especially have been falling out. Think it is time I got myself a new pair of running shoes. I have never owned a pair of Nike shoes believe it or not. Maybe that is what I should get. I do have a couple of pairs of Army issue shoes but those are not REAL shoes.

I got an email from Velder Lee regarding our experience at the Jewel Box on Valentine's Day. Velder is the guest relations officer there. At first I was going to make a complaint because of our bad experience there that day, but thought better of it since what is done is done. and no amount of complaining or whining is gonna change what had happened. Doubt I would ever go there again anyway so what was the point. Anyway, since I got her email, I decided to reply her and tell her my experience.

First her email:

Greetings! Wishing you a blessed & victorious Year 2007 ahead!

With regards to your last visit here with us.

I am assisting to collate the feedbacks on your behalf to the managment and make rooms for improvement, in order serve you better in future.

Kindly feel free to revert with anything that you were impressed and we also seek your kind understanding should there be ways we could have be better.

Once again, thank you for your presence with us and support for us.

Should I be of any further assistance, do not hesitate to call me at 94244813.

I will do my best for you.

Warmest Regards,

Velder Lee
Guest Relations
Mount Faber Leisure Group Pte. Ltd. (ACRA -197000546C)
The Jewel Box
109 Mount Faber Road
Singapore 099203

DID: 6 377 9688, 94244813
Fax: 6 273 4639
Website: www.mountfaber.com.sg

ACcenTuaTe tHe PosiTivE, iT's thE maTteR oF cHoicE...
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This communication contains confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us IMMEDIATELY that you have received it and destroy it. We are not liable for any unauthorised sending of or interference with this communication.
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then this was what I replied (in rather diplomatic fashion I might add):

thanks for the wonderful greetings.
Actually I was thinking about writing in myself to give some feedback regarding my experience at The Jewel Box, but thought better of it and had forgotten all about it. after such a nice intro makes it hard to give negative feedback... but I shall...

1) we had reached there around 7+. so we were early. but by then crowd had already started to come. we were give a table far from the throughfare, which is ok. But i was rather unhappy that after we were seated no one came to attend to us 'automatically'. despite waving and calling out to the various staff who happened to pass by the other tables away from us, no one attended to us. We were being ignored. It was not until 25 minutes had passed that someone actually came to our table. We had to inform him that we were ready to be served our drinks and appetisers!
2) it was 10 minutes until the above drinks and appetisers were actually served. By then the restaurant was starting to get more crowded. So it became increasingly hard to get the attention of staff due to the bad location of our table and the crowd.
3) then came time for the soup. it was the same ordeal. we had to wave and shout to the staff to clear our appetisers and serve the soup.
4) this sort of sequence went on throughout the entire meal, with us having to get the attention of the staff to clear our plates and serve the next course. at times we even had to make the same request to several different staff in order to be served our meal.
5) I personally felt that the amount of food (especially the main course) was too little. After dinner at your good establishment, we had to go grab a bite afterwards so as not to go hungry.
6) Then there is the issue of the quality. I was expecting a delicious meal, but i was disappointed that the food overall was rather tasteless and bland.

After hearing so many good things about The Jewel Box in the press I was expecting a good meal and a memorable Valentine's day dinner. But after my experience, I do not think I would recommend The Jewel Box to anyone. It was a costly meal ($168), to me at least. I expected good service and a good meal for what I had paid. I understand it was Valentine's Day and all, which may have something to do with all that happened, being that it was a hectic day for everyone concerned.

regards

Hope they act on my complaints. A bit of compensation for my 'hardship' would not be amiss.

Dad is in the hospital to have some tests done. Apparently he had a mild stroke of sorts and his extremities,specifically his arms, went numb. So mum rushed him to Raffles Hospital for a check. He had to be warded so test could be performed. Hope he gets well soon. I miss him already.

Went to Daiso this afternoon. We had been looking for a suitable playpen for Muffy and Scruffy (notice the change in order of names). Most on the market costs upwards of $50. You could also buy the individual pieces for upwards of $8 to build your own playpen. At Daiso I bought 12 (yes 12!) 40.5cm by 40.5cm black 'steel wire net' and a packet of connection joints at $2 a piece. So it came up to $26 for the whole thing.Not bad actually,if a tad bit on the heavy side. The packet of connection joints contained 12 connectors. should have bought another pack so each piece was fastened by 2 connectors rather than one. What I did was connect the pieces with 2 joints and then used a packet of cable tie to connect the rest. In the end it looks like it will not fall apart, so far so good. Tomorrow we bring the Lago's out to play, then we can put my creation to the test.

The weekend is finally here! This week has been a rather fast one because of the Chinese New Year holidays on Monday and Tuesday. So in effect this week had only 3 full days of work. Being also that I am not working this saturday either. Yippie!!

Watched Ghost Rider (starring Nicholas Cage) on Wednesday. It was ok. The effects and style was good. But it was one of those films that somehow left me going "Huh?". I guess after all the rave reviews I was expecting something of the calibre of Superman Returns, Batman Begins or Spiderman. But what I got was more in the league of Catwoman, Daredevil or The Hulk. In short it was a movie that could have been so much more, but ended up being merely entertained bt it. The bar for comic book adaptations has been raised so high by the former that it takes a fanboy to make a film based on comic book characters. These are one of the hardest films to make as you gotta exceed the aspirations and expectations of the built in fan base of comic book fans, as well as capture the imagination of the casual movie goer, and yet at the same time make both groups of viewers come back for more in the inevitable sequel(s).
rating : 3 and a half burning skulls out of 5

Went to the library and got 4 books on rabbits. Hopefully the expert advice dispensed therein will prove invaluable in my care of the 2 long eared creatures under my supervision. Rabbits make good pets, as good as dogs in some cases. Without all the noise and mess. But rabbits are a bit more expensive to maintain than hamsters that is for sure. And they live longer!

Did a through cleanout of the hamster cages and tanks. Re-distributed some of the toys and furniture. Re-shuffled the tanks and cages so that Rusty and Willow are on the rack behind me as I type. Mimi is in her spot as usual. The big 2 ft tank is now moved to the stand. I tink this setup works better. Makes it easier to feed and observe them. The big tank used to be on the top level of the rack as it was too big to fit into any of the lower levels. So it was high above me. To feed the occupant I had to either climb on my bed to throw food in or change the water. Either that or having to bring the entire tank down. Rusty's connected cages on the other hand somehow did not fit snugly on the stand. As such both cages we slanted rather awkwardly in order to make the tubing system connect properly. It also presented the situation where the lower cage was partially hidden by the bed from across the room and below the field of sight, it being barely a few inches off the ground to start with. I think the current setup is better as I can see the animals better and the space is used more economically. No awkward tilts or climbing needed.

Oh...and my music videos of my Israel Trip have been specially chosen by a travel agency, Omega Travel, to be featured on their website. It seems the eight videos have garnered much acclaim since I featured them. It is such an honour actually that people appreciate my work and that it has touched people I have never seen or met.

here they are again:

day 1= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_G3YSY22hM
day 2= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZCc22aAvks
day 3= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB2HWaiekO0
day 4= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTm3RvMj-T0
day 5= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6rPXQl-Pkc
day 6= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKwOlfa_y88
day 7= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B9kDL_wcEE
day 8= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAkNHBSyoWQ
renewal of vows= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXa6AHZoPU
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