Helping people

Two days back, got a SMS from a friend I met in Internet, asking me to help her cousin with her PC problem. Apparently, there were two PCs' problems; first one, its Google's Chrome browser was displaying funny characters (not English, not Chinese); second one, Windows Vista can't boot up.

It took me till this afternoon to resolve the first PC's problem, somehow the language setting for the browsers were set to something else, and the 'East Asian Languages' check box was not checked in the 'Regional Settings and Languages'; do both, restart, it works! Actually, there was another issue, the sound from the PC sounded 'quacky', pretty funny when Taylor Swift's song, Tear drops on my guitar was played. What I did? Re-install the RealTek HD audio driver.

As for the second PC's problem, tried every ways, still can't solve, I advised them to get the OS installation CD that should have came with the PC and re-install the OS.

Today, my other friend's company was having a family day at USS, I didn't go. I didn't get paid for the helping to fix the PC problem, so this is what I did today...

It's Friday!

Just almost finished up with the data restoration test, been working since this morning. Encountered a couple of issues, e.g. servers' network configure problem like not able to setup the right speed and duplex mode...

It's kind of funny, really, seems like every time I did this, there's bound to have problems, even though I tried to follow through the steps in the procedures. This time round, there's a new system admin who is supposed to take over the role from the previous guy, and he's still new, trying to figure out how things works here.

And also, I think I'm getting addicted to Subway's sandwiches, been having them for lunch lately. There are more of their stores than McDonalds in the world, this means now you can find a Subway store just about anywhere...

There you go...

There you go ---> http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110314-268069.html

When something happens, the first to leave would be the foreigners, yes, not taking any chances. The Japanese are known for their loyalty and patriotism to the Country and the Emperor, they would not leave when the worst disaster struck the land where they are born.

Foreigners are just, afterall, guests to the land, they don't have that kind of affinity with the land. What makes you think they will sacrific their life for others? They are not even born there!

During a time when the people of Japan needs help, why aren't these foreigners lending a hand? My heart is with you all, the people of Japan, please endure and pull together, united as one nation.

To travel, I like

I like to travel, especially now, with flights tickets and accomodations being able to be booked online, they make it easier for people like me to make travelling arrangements. And, don't forget, prior to travelling, read up on the place, get to know its history too!

You know, the challenges of doing F&E travels are about reading and getting information about the places before the trips, and make sure that all arrangements, e.g. flights, accomodations, are done and actually worked out during the trips.

Booking the right flights can be problem. Sometimes, there are only one flight a day, worst, in the evening, and landing late at night, so what are you going to do when you arrive? You can check in to a place to stay, but, hey, you will only use it a couple of hours for sleep...hmm, not worth it? Blame the airlines.

Connecting flights, especially, can cause a problem, remember the last time where many in Europe had their travel plans disrupted when the weather there turned bad? Many flights were cancelled, and you can't travel from point A to point B, not even back home!

Very tired

I'm tired, very tired, my eyes are dry, and it pains. I feel cold sometimes, sitting in the air-con room or data centre, thinking, thinking, thinking...what am I doing here?

It has been quite a hectic and stressful weeks of work, everyone is rushing, rushing, rushing me. There seems to be many, many, many things to do, and it doesn't seems to end anywhere. Some are routine stuffs, some needs a bit more thinking to do.

What have I done to deserved it? Looking forward to the weekends...

Why so slow?

Still waiting for the Oracle people to come back to us on the discount for the servers purchases. It has been very long wait, and everyone is getting frustrated.

My boss actually sent an email to the product director to get him to escalate the order, but doesn't seems to have any effects. I called up the Oracle's sales, and was told that due the the Oracle-Sun merger, there has been some changes to the way they work, systems have been changed, so vendors and their staff got to learn them.

It has been more than two weeks, how long we have to wait huh??? Why so slow???

See to believe!

Sometimes you got to trust your instinct. Last Friday, I was intending to watch a free (tickets) movie with my friend, and I had this feeling that I will see someone familiar there.

Usually, I wouldn't buy food before going to a show, but that night, I decided to grab a Subway sandwich. I was queuing when I heard someone calling me, turned around and I saw you! I just couldn't believe it, I was actually thinking about meeting you there.

You told me that you are going to watch a free movie too, so I reckoned that we will be watching the same show. Then, when your friend came, I know, I was right, because you friend works in the same company as mine, and their company was treating its staff free movie show.

You really look different now, in dress and wear. If only I was younger and better looking, I wish you could watch a movie with me, I wish, perhaps in my dreams...

Hopeless...

Here I am, taking leave and staying home, but working from remote access.

I'm trying to get this product guy to send me an official price quotation so that I can put up the purchase for the new servers. Called him this morning, he said will look at it, but till now, still didn't get any reply from him yet. Called him again, but he didn't pick up phone, really hopeless now...

A proposal

I would like to share with you a phrase that I pick up while watching a show last night:

"I promise you that when you wake up every morning, you will always find me next to you. So, will you marry me?"

Nice phrase isn't it? Can use to propose to someone you like?

CNY coming

Yes, happy CNY or Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, they all mean the same thing.

For the past week, it had been raining, for the record, 3 consecutive days of rain from last Saturday to Monday. At this time of my writing, I think it's still drizzling out there. I like this weather, with the sun hidden behind the clouds, it's cooler to stay outdoors, but not good if it rains heavily.

From past history, it had been said that if it rains before CNY, it will not rain on the actual day, which is come tomorrow. We shall see whether it's true...ho...ho...ho...huat ar!!!

How to get rich (for a woman)

Saw this article today -> http://www.divaasia.com/article/12223

Well, the rule of the game is marry a rich man, stay with him for awhile, and then divorce him, get him to pay you maintenace $$$!

So, a man will always be on the losing end in a divorce, even if his ex-wife is involved in extramarital affairs, aka. she cheats on you!

Not so lucky for the men. So the moral of this? Stays single, eat healthy...Lol...

Happy New Year!

Happy new year to ya'll!

Hope that all mankinds would be a little bit more friendly to each other, so that the world will be in peace and all conflicts will be resolved.

As we step into the new year 2011, everyone will have new dreams and wishes, may all happen and come true!

Everyone, please take care, have a fruitful and enjoyable new year!

Back home and clearing my leaves

Came back from Siem Reap last Wednesday. You know what? I finally fulfilled my long time dream of traveling to the Ang Kor Wat/Thom, visiting the ancient city and temples. The weather there was dry, humid and hot, but it was all worth it. Be it climbing up the temples on hands and feets, or walking tired, really, I like it, and I may plan to go there again in the future!

Yes, now back to home, but hey, I still have leaves to clear till end of the year! I reckon I can take a break again, and perhaps leave for another short trip this weekend or next. Hehehe...

Run...run...run...

I completed my 3rd marathon run last Sunday. It was one of the toughest of the 3 I ran for the last 3 years. Some of the running routes were new and long, but certain places that were so scenic that fellow runners stopped to take pictures.

The day was abit dry, the sun beaming down on us, hot in the late morning! Run, walk, stop, that was the strategy we were told to adopt in order to complete the run. Drinks and banana were given out at some points of the run, as usual. I had a banana given to me at the 14KM mark, I held on to it till the 30KM mark, and eat it! Ha...Ha...

The last 10KM was the toughest, my knees and leg were crying pain, but like the others, had to carry on. Finally, I made it! It was a fantastic feeling, but too bad no one was at the finishing point to receive me. I wished you were there...

What's for me in future?

I have been thinking about my future, my career.

Recently, I attending a seminar on cloud computing and virtualisation kind of stuffs, met this guy who was promoting his company's IT training. I thought about the Data Centre certification course, which in fact, is quite interesting. The course requires a person to have some experience working in DCs, which I think I fitted well, so I talked to my boss, and she supported it.

I don't think I can still stay in the sys admin field for long, too tiring, having to be on 24-hour stand-by, and woken up in the middle of the night to fix problems. I guess it's time for me to move on, just like her, ya...

This is not Good Bye...

Today is your last day with our project team. I hope that you have made the right choice to move on to do something else more suited for you.

The road ahead is tough, I know, I have spoken to your "future" colleagues, but I believe they will help you. You just have to ask if you do not know, and read more to gain knowledge. After all, it's pre-sales, you are expected to know more than an ordinary engineer.

Take care, you will have my support.

Ps. Just got news that the replacement for you has not be found, and may not be found in the near future...life goes on...

Transfer...ole...ole...ole...

It's confirmed, she is transferring to Pre-sales team starting 1-Nov, or rather she's joining the team after comes back on from her holiday (from 4 to 19-Nov).

I spoke to an old friend of mine where she will be joining his group, but not the same team. He said that it will be tough for her, because the pre-sales role requires one to be technical inclined, so the learning curve for her will be "very steep". She don't even like to do hands-on work when she was with our team!

Today, she emailed me to thank me for guiding her for the last 2++yrs, and asked me to give her my msn acct. Actually, I had given her my msn acct 2 years back, and she had added me, I guess either she had changed another ID, blocked me or had removed me from her msn list. Nope, not going to give it to her again!

I didn't even talk to her today, she was like enjoying herself, went lunch at 11:40am and came back only after 2:30pm, hey, our official lunch time is from 1 to 2pm, ok?!?!

Anyway, all the best to her, ole...ole...ole...

Doing Pre-sales?

She told me that most likely, she will move to pre-sales, and I have to start looking for a replacement for her soon. She will talk to the pre-sales boss, and likely if ok, will take up the post after she came back from holiday next month (wonders where is she going this time?).

Just recently, the PM decided to "out-source" the Peoplesoft server admin to another team, a group of middleware people, that triggers the rumours that She is to be replaced.

Just few days back, She had a email squabble with the DBA again, in the end, the PM intervented. Sometimes, I couldn't understand, why is it so difficult for people to work well with each other?

Well, if She takes up the post, then no more late coming to work (nowadays, She comes in after 10am), cannot take MC as she likes...haha. I hope She regrets her decision later on.

Sigh...I feel like leaving too...

Rumours worst rumours

Monday...I'm really not happy today. Why? I heard this morning that it seems the whole team knew about her intention to transfer to another department, which has not been confirmed yet, most probably she does not want to.

I have told the Project Manager about her intention to transfer. Damned it...I shouldn't have said it! Now, even other team's people knows about it. What should I do for damage control? What a bad move!

There are just people whom you can't trust, next time, NO, there's no NEXT TIME, I'm going to keep my mouth shut!

Grand-pa Passing...

My maternal grand-dad passed away yesterday's morning. He lived to an old age of 80+. Days before his passing, the doctor had already told us to be prepared. The last few days we were there beside his hospital bed, he was having difficulty breathing, but he could still hear us talk to him and able to nod his head to response.

My grand-dad passing is almost 10 years after my grand-ma left us. He had been on a bad health for the pass few years, we felt sad to see him suffer, now that he has left in peace, with my grand-ma, we are glad for him.

Bye bye, grand-pa...