2016 Week 33 Update

This week just flew past. Having a public holiday in the middle helped, I guess!

I’ve been feeling quite off this week, but I just can’t put my finger on why I feel like this. Headaches have also been plaguing me this week. I feel I was mildly depressed, and hopefully, I’ve managed to pull myself out of it. Job search is also at a standstill, and as the days pass, the less I feel confident of landing one soon.

Singapore celebrated its 51st National Day this week and I enjoyed watching the show on TV. I’ve always been drawn to national day celebrations, even as a child growing up in India and would pester my dad to let me watch the Republic Day parades, which no one else was interested in watching. The pomp and grandeur of the show always made me feel happy and when the national anthem was invariably played, I always get goosebumps!

Singapore also had another bit of fantastic news to round off the week. Singapore swimmer Joseph Schooling upset the ‘greatest Olympian of all time’ Michael Phelps to win the 100 meters butterfly finals at the Rio Olympics to win the Gold and at the same time, created a new Olympic Games record of 50.39 seconds. This was Singapore’s first ever gold medal in the history of the Olympic games and the first time the national anthem was played during the victory ceremony.I was at the doctor on Saturday morning for my monthly medication and blood test and wanted to get home to watch the final. I didn’t get out of there on time, but by the time I got my medication, it was time for the match, so I, along with all the others in the clinic, watched the match with bated breath. We were all rooting for Schooling

I was at the doctor on Saturday morning for my monthly medication and blood test and wanted to get home to watch the final. I didn’t get out of there on time, but by the time I got my medication, it was time for the match, so I, along with all the others in the clinic, watched the match with bated breath. We were all rooting for Schooling and when he was first at the end of the 50 meters, it seemed that Singapore was destined for a podium finish. But when he came in first, almost a second ahead of the three silver medalists (including Phelps), everyone in the clinic was shouting, so much that the doctors came out to celebrate with us! I rushed home to see the victory ceremony and when Majulah Singapura was played, I literally got goosebumps!

 

Today, my country of birth, India, celebrates her 69th Independence Day. Wishing all Indians, both in India and elsewhere a very Happy Independence Day. May the country grow from strength to strength.

 

Have a joyous and productive week folks!

2016 Week 32 Update

Another week has flown by and I am still unemployed. I think I will give it a month more and then probably then stop looking for the rest of this year. I plan to go to India in November/December for BB’s thread ceremony and I would feel very awkward taking leave from my new employer if I start work after September.

I have mentioned before my helper’s contract ends next month and we have decided to renew it in the hope that I will get a new job soon. She is a good helper and more importantly a very nice and decent person. If I am going back to work in a few months, I do not want to lose her, at least until GG & BB are competent enough to be alone at home after school.

 

My ex-boss who told me he will put me in touch with someone whom he thinks I will be able to work with also ghosted me! I emailed him last week after the dinner – after he said he will help me connect to someone who he thought would be great for me to work with and asked me to write to him – and he replied immediately asking for my resume. So I sent him my resume the same day last week and there was complete radio silence after that. No response to my email to even acknowledge the resume. I let it wait for a week and then at the end of last week, sent him another note asking if he could share that person’s email or telephone number so that I can contact them directly. No reply to that also! So I think I can legitimately say I have been ghosted!

 

 

Anyway! With the hope that this week is better than the last one, here’s wishing any Singaporean reading this blog, a very Happy National Day tomorrow and a great week ahead to all the others!

 

2016 Week 31 Update

 

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We’re on the first day of August and as of today, I’ve completed three months of unemployment and being a SAHM.Hopefully August is a better month for me than the last three. I’ve enjoyed this time, but now I am more than ready to go back to being a productive member of society!

Last week, I met some old colleagues for dinner. My old ex-boss was down in Singapore for some meetings and so we decided to meet him and some of the others who were still in touch for a catch-up. It was a fun evening, reminiscing and gossiping about old friends. I and another colleague who stays not too far from my place decided to leave around 10:30 pm, but the others were still at it till later than 11 pm.

My ex-boss also asked me to send him my CV and said he will put me in touch with some people he knows who may need someone with my skills. So hopefully something clicks soon.

The latest Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child released yesterday and all three of us, GG, BB and I were super excited about it. We had pre-ordered the book and so went down to collect it from the store. Both BB & GG were fighting about who gets to read it first and I had to give in! But, since they are in school now, it’s all mine today. I’m off to read the book now, so catch you later….

Have a fantastic week people!

 

2016 Week 30 Update

Another week is gone….

I am really feeling my age and more these days. On Saturday we went to see and support GG for her show choir performance and by the time we were back home it was past 11 pm. Even though I only went there and sat down to enjoy the show, I was so tired when we came home and needed a good part of Sunday to recover!

The latest update on our troublesome neighbours is that we have to change the ceiling fans on two of our bedrooms. This whole episode (and it’s not over yet) has left a real bad taste in my mouth and I have a sneaking suspicion that we have been victims of very subtle racial discrimination. When the estate manager came to check, his assistant initially told me that there was no noise, but the estate manager (EM) told me otherwise. Initially, I wanted to go upstairs and see for myself which the EM agreed. But later when he came down, he told me that since they were from the government agency and he had checked, there was no need for me to do the same. Why I really wonder? If there was the loud noise as they claim, then they should be eager to show it to me to prove me wrong, right? Something didn’t seem right to me. I let it go as I didn’t want to create a scene….

Anyway here’s hoping this week is much better than the last one and the week is awesome for you all  too….

 

2016 Week 29 Update

It’s a new week, so happy Monday folks! I hope this week is good for you.

My days are running into each other and each week seems to be pretty much like the previous week.

I’ve sent out something like around a hundred resumes till date, but there’s been no response at all from any employer. Day-by-day, I feel my confidence deteriorating and there are times when I seriously think about my employability status and wonder whether I should just chuck it and become a SAHM permanently. I also need to take a decision about my helper R. Her contract ends sometime in mid-September and I need to figure out whether to continue the contract or let her go. I am in two minds about this – if I let her go and I secure a new position, I would really feel her absence as she is a very good worker. But then the other question is can I afford her salary, especially when I am at home these days and there’s not much work for her to do. Hopefully, this week will be better for me than the previous week.

I’ve been creating a lot of content for both this blog and In My Hands Today, so this is what keeps me busy all day!

Have a great week guys!