I like to start my week with a "Thought /Actionable Item for the week"

Gives me a chance to evoke a positive change in my life (and others around me) that week.

I'm currently reading "A purpose driven life" by Rick Warren.

Would like to share with you salient points of the chapter on restoring relationships.

 

1. Always take the initiative

It doesn't matter if you're the "kena hoot (whack)" or the "hoot-er", you should make the first move.  Schedule a face to face meeting as soon as possible (don't bring your parang, pls).  Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse.

 

2. Sympathise with their feelings

Listen before you speak.  As Dr Evil in Austin Powers would say: "Zip, zip…".

Begin with sympathy, not solutions.

3.  Confess your part of conflict

If you are serious about restoring the relationship, you should begin by HUMBLY admitting your mistake.  This defuses the other person's anger.  Don't make excuses or shift the blame (Singaporeans are damn good at doing that). Own up to any part you played in the conflict.

 

4.  Attack the problem, not the person.

Self explanatory.  But if you're an ah beng, attack the person and not the innocent bystander.  Just kidding.

 

5.  Cooperate as much as possible

Especially after you kena arrested by the police for gang fight …. I digress (as usual).

 

6. Emphasise reconciliation, not resolution

It is unrealistic to expect everyone to see eye to eye about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem.

 

If you believe in God, there is actually a step 0:  Talk to God first before talking to the person.  Ask God for wisdom in handling the matter and that the needs of both conflicting parties are met.

Action plan for the week 

Is there someone whom you'd like to reconcile with?

Pick up the phone and make that call.

Dudes and dudettes,

I've attached another letter to ST forum.
Sent it 2 days ago.
You'd have realised by now that I'm thick skinned enough to never give up.
Foolhardy ...... as my buddies will put it :-)

Was supposed to go on hols in Melbourne with my wifey from 29 April to 9th May.

Got a response from the Straits Times (see below)
My letter will not be published.
A simliar letter was published the day after I sent mine.
Boo hoo hoo !!!
Wonder if the gahmen will respond to that email.

Sob ! I'll be back ......

===============================================

Thank you for writing to us. We do appreciate your making the effort.
We receive 70 letters on average each day. Limited space means we can
publish only about a dozen every weekday.
This means having to make often difficult editorial judgments on which letters to publish.

We regret we are unable this time to publish your letter, and hope you will appreciate the constraints on space we face every day.
We hope you will continue taking an interest in the Forum Page.

Yours sincerely
Ms Noor Aiza
for Forum Editor
The Straits Times

Please see attached story
With a community and gian-png spirit like this, how can we possibly lose out to the best of global talents in Singapore or anywhere in the world ???  :-)
=====================================================

There once was a very good old barber in New York.

One day a florist goes to him for a haircut.
After the cut, he goes to pay the barber and the barber replies: "I am  sorry. I cannot accept money from you.  I am doing community service."

The Florist is happy and leaves the shop.
The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting at his door.

A policeman goes for a haircut and he also goes to pay the barber after the cut.
But the barber replies: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service."

The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning the barber goes to open his shop; there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting at his door.

A Singaporean software engineer goes for a haircut and he also goes to pay the barber after the cut.   But the barber replies: "I am sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service."

The Singaporean software engineer is happy and leaves.
The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds there...

A dozen Singaporeans are waiting for a free haircut!

"Hi, my name is Otard Tan, nice to meechew".

Wouldn't such an intro cause you to sit up and say, "Hah?". 

Otard, what kind of name is that? Isn't that the name of a brand of hard liquor?

Fancy meeting Hennesy Lim Chew Kwee in a bar.

Anything also can 

Parents have chosen to name their kids after hotels (Ritz, Regency), footballers (Owen, Beckham), musical instruments (piano, organ), chemical entities (proton, electron), food (noodle, mango, prata, soya), famous brands (Canon, Sony)and other outlandish names.

Crazy as it may seem, this whacko mentality is ACTUALLY catching on.

 

Million Watt Personality (not!) 

My A-level chief invigilator was called Atomic Leow. I thought it was a joke when my teacher mentioned his name.  There is absolutely nothing electric about his personality. He was one of the driest and most boring invigilators I've come across. I guess he was just doing his job.  Trust me, he's damn good at it.

Kannnot Spel 

Seemingly misspelt names are in vogue too. Janifer, Elison, Netashar, Ehdrian..... you name it, they've misspelt it. Their Engrand not too good leh.

Don't sabo your children 

Parents, please spare a thought for your children when you name them.  Check to make sure the name sounds right in English, Mandarin (and its dialects) Malay, etc.  Else your kids will be the butt of others' jokes. Some names that come to mind are Nina Boo, Nina Beh, Tay Su Su, Tay Peng, Loo Poo Kee.  I have a friend who has a meaningful Chinese name bai3 sheng4 (hundred victories).  His English name is Bai Seng.  The unfortunate thing: his surname is Chee.

Common sense must prevail 

When I have kids of my own, I'll stick to conventional biblical Christian names: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Dinah, Sarah.  (For gals, names like Delilah and Bathsheba are out).  Yes, these are boring but I can be sure my kids won't grow up hating me.

 

Will you name your child Dracula, Toyota or ipod?

Chio boh?

 

"Singapore Girl, you're a great way to fly"

Ah…. The SQ gal….

Epitome of sophistication, grace and good Engrish.

To tourists, they are more symbolic than our vomiting lion-fish.

(Now the sick lion-fish will face the Integrated resort ….. no wonder the gahmen last time say shifting it  to its present location will bring in good luck and wealth ….. prophetic statement huh?) …. I digress.

Despite the fact that SQ discriminates against Singaporeans and pander up to Ang Mohs, I fly SQ for its connectivity and its Kris World System.

In recent years, the standard of SQ gals has dropped drastically.

Most of them will barely beat the Duchess of Cornwall in a beauty contest.

To make matters worse, they are short … can't even reach the overhead cabin.

Want to help me with my luggage …. Please lah…..you're better off auditioning for Snow White and the 7 dwarves..... oh! by the way, Snow White's role is taken.

Yes, I'm Mee Pok "Ta Ta Young" …. Bitchy!!

 

 

Maybe, just maybe …..

Remember my friend CB (Chio Bu)?

Well, a shorty SQ gal insisted on helping CB load her luggage when CB is 1.70m tall.

There was a tussle, and CB accidentally elbowed SQ gal in her assets.

Not sure if CB is trying to lessen her guilt after injuring dwarfy, but CB said the SQ gal (although short) is pretty and has great assets upfront and back.

As an afterthought CB thinks it's only good back assets that remain after she elbowed dwarfy very hard in front :-)

Based on CB's comments, there may be hope for Singapore Airlines stockholders after all.

There are enough lecherous Ang Mohs who can't tell the diff between Asian beauty and the Asian beast to fill the SQ seats (there's hope for SPGs too).

 

 

When wings are clipped….

I've always wondered what happens to Singapore Airline stewardesses after they are past 35 or can't fit into the sarong kebaya, whichever happens earlier.

Some of them become insurance agents, PROs in hotels, receptionists in high end furniture and household appliances shops (there is one along Penang Road).

Where do the rest go? 

 

True files

Below is a true story, related by my colleague (let's call him Robbie):

Robbie was tasked to hire a secretary when he was in his previous company.

The HR manager, a man, asked him to interview an ex-SQ gal.

Robbie: "Do you know how to take short hand?"

SQ: "Donch know."

Robbie: "Do you know how to use word processor?"

SQ: "Donch know."

Robbie: "Do you know how to use computer?"

SQ: "Donch know."

Robbie: "You don't know shorthand, word processing and how to use a computer.  What are you here for?"

SQ: "Be a secretary lor."

 

 

Parting shot

Robbie thinks SQ is better off interviewing for the job of a laptop.

(sorry lah …. This is sexist but velly funny leh).