With Christmas just around the corner here is what I have lined up so far:

14th or 15th Dec = Singapore Hamster Club 2007 Christmas gathering and gift exchange. venue, date and people hunting still ongoing. I did not go last couple of years, but made it a point to go this time.

24th dec= The boys at the office are planning to go to serangoon Road (specifically the Mustaffa Centre area) after work for a little R&R.
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Had a talk with Noel about what had transpired at the Keeper's Night yesterday. And he came back with all the bad sentiments from my former colleagues regarding Biswajit. Seems that hardly anyone gets along with him and that he has rubbed more than a few people the wrong way.
I have never quite articulated the what's and why's of the circumstances that lead to my resigning from the zoo to my friends and family. I literally grew up in the zoo and always aspired one day to actually gain employment at the place I loved so much. I was feeling rather aimless at my current job at Popular Bookshop. There were cliques and politics aplenty. Worst of all, I was bypassed for a much deserved promotion, in favour of one of my manager's lapdogs. So it was only a matter of time before I left Popular for more gainful employment. The zoo was always on my mind and when the time came to make that jump, I did so with no hesitation.

I was finally in the place that I always hoped I would be. The Zoo.
But as I began my first day of work I already felt kind of out of place. Things did not go as smoothly as I had envisioned. It was not only Fragile Forest required a different skill set from anything that I had expected but more that there was overwhelming expectations on my part and on the part of my superiors,namely Pauline and Bis. I wanted so badly to do well, rise up through the ranks and make a career out of taking care of animals. But alas the reality of my situation set in. There was little joy in the work I was doing.

Firstly there were already battle lines drawn in the sand even before I got there. Apparently Pauline and Bis had seemingly ostracised Rubiah, the other staff there. So whatever they did was to ensure Rubiah had a hard time as possible. As for myself, I had to choose between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Had to choose between making good with the bosses and further isolating Rubiah, or taking Rubiah's side and digging my own grave. As such it became a delicate task of trying to be neutral and taking the side of whomever I was with at that particular moment. Not very honest but it was what I had to do to maintain some semblance of sanity.

Then there was this silly rule they made up that I was 'strongly encouraged' to study during lunch rather than rest,as everyone else in the zoo was apt to do. So my lunch time was spent reading the books in our library. The job we did was both physically tiring and mentally taxing. So as you can imagine by the end of the day I was totally knocked out.

Of course the clincher in many respects was that throughout my 3 years stint in the zoo I consistently got some of the lowest grades in my annual assessments each year. If anyone has seen some of the other keepers in the zoo, it did not make any sense that I despite my education, enthusiasm,deep knowledge and hard work ethic was ranked lowest in the entire zoology section. They had set the bar so high for me that I had literally no hope for any long term career in the zoo. Many of the other keepers were appalled at that when obviously I was one of the better keepers around. I did have my supporters and sympathisers, but it was a rather moot point.

As such I became a drag to be around at work. I was depressed and demoralised. I hardly spoke to anyone as any of the keepers would attest to. I was like a zombie. Hardly spoke, always moody. Was obvious that things were not working out the way I had hoped. My dream job had become a living nightmare. I contemplated a transfer to another section, but in the end the choice I had to make was obvious. My position had become untenable. If I stayed I would have had little or no prospects. It broke my heart to have to leave but knew that if I stayed it would be more of the same.I loved the environment, the friends I made and most of all the animals. But I could always go back to the zoo anytime I wanted as a visitor anyway. I did not burn any bridges with all the people who mattered and I still think they would welcome me back if I ever decided to return some day.

After hearing what Noel and various people have said regarding the culture at the zoo now, I am glad I left. The zoo has become an office like any other. Many of the staff are miserable and just doing what they have to do to make sure their salaries are paid at the end of the month. But really the heart and soul of the place has been extinguished. The smiles and joy that once filled the place are gone.

And for all of this I have to thank Bis for being the boss from hell. Glad I made the choice I did to leave then. Look at me now. At what I have done since, how far I have come and who I found along the way.

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Been busy the last few weeks just being there for Agnes at school as she works against time to get her work done. As such, my schedule has been one of heading straight to NUS after work each day, even on weekends. Finding time for dinner and reaching home after 12 am. So the last couple of days I been able to come home from work and eat dinner at home. Feels as though something is missing. But that crazy schedule may start back up again in a couple of weeks, as Agnes is now concentrating on doing her thesis, but may continue her lab work if she has to. That means more late nights in NUS.

It is good to have company for church. Faith wants to come back to attending church again at NCC and she is very much welcome to join me anytime she wants. And having Vanessa for company the last 2 times was great. I can see that she is hungry for answers and she is slowly but surely finding her niche. I already booked her for the combined service at Singapore Indoor Stadium on the 23rd. Hope we both are able to wake up on time though. Since neither of us is particularly fond of waking up early on Sunday mornings.

Of course the ideal scenario is for Agnes to join me for church regularly, but alas that is not to be. But the worst part of it is when she goes to the extent of calling my church a 'cult church'. Maybe she really feels that way but still it hurts when the love of my life belittles something that is so central to my life. It is so uncalled for to resort to name calling and making hurtful comments just because something is not quite your cup of tea. Then there is the issue of Agnes wanting to bring in religious artifacts into our home! I am of the opinion that idols and graven images have no place in the christian home. It goes against the very heart of what I believe in and is detrimental to all that we call christianity. I cannot for the life of me understand what she has against NCC. I guess it just boils down to the old Law vs Grace issue. People would rather trust in their own deeds and actions rather than rest upon God's grace for their justification and sanctification. I guess this issue is one that is not easy for us to resolve without Agnes being being more open to my beliefs and a willingness to challenge her own.

Have renewed my vehicle insurance and am gonna renew my road tax over the next couple of days. Then there is the small issue of my new car. I am itching to get a new car but so far Agnes has been rather nonchalant. Maybe she does not see the need or the financial restraints I face every month. The choice now before me is to either retire Sunny at his next Big Breakdown and then get by on public transportation, or to get a new car. I have more or less decided my next car will be a Picanto. Will be going down soon to take a look and make a booking. The only thing that I am stuck upon is what colour to choose? The Picanto comes is so many fun colours that it makes it hard to choose just one.


Princess Pink: I like this colour although admittedly it is a rather girlish sort colour. I want something that stands out from the crowd of black and silver cars that clog our streets.


Galaxy Black- this is sexy black! It is black yet not quite. Worth considering, but probably not what I am going for (see previous entry).


Fresh Yellow- really like this. I could be driving around town in a lemon or a banana, man.


Cool Blue. It's blue but a different sort of blue to what you normally find plying our streets.


Scarlet Red- another stunner. But just like the princess pink, it may be deemed too feminine to some.


Titanium Silver- Looks rather futuristic eh? But like the Galaxy Black it does not stand out from the rest of the pack.


Royal Turquoise- another colour that bears consideration. But somehow it does not quite do it for me.

And the above does not include Clear White, Bright Silver and Blue Diamond. And there is also the optional body stickers styles:

amongst other designs.

Do hope Agnes finds some time to go down with me soon to take a look and do the needful...

Been working out more regularly as of late and I can see signs of definition and mass taking shape


Lollie and Lobang are growing so fast. They used to be able to fit quite snugly in the palm of my hand. Now I need 2 hands to carry them. Their poor mummy is starting to look small and smaller. And now that they have full use of their faculties, they are running and hopping about as only rabbits can do.

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climb into Pikachu through his..her...ummm...

Pikachu seems mighty happy with all the little kiddies climbing in and out
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