For so many reasons.

The local hospital called this morning requesting me to come in for another urine test. When asked when how urgent it is, her answer, 'awal kita datang, awal siap'. THE NERVE!!!!!!!

Over 2 months ago, I has an extensive medical check-up, which includes a urine test. At the clinic, the doctor said all was well. She then, apparently, proceeded to send my urine sample to the local hospital. A month and a half later, I received a call requesting me to go to the local hospital's x-ray department. Upon arriving there and requesting to see the lady, they didn't have anyone by that name. I explained why I was there, they merely shrugged and said, 'entah dayang ah. inda kami tahu.' Me? Pissed?

And then today- PSFT. It could only mean 2 things.

1. They received my urine sample 2 months ago and only tested it last Saturday.

2. They received and tested my urine sample 2 months ago and only decided to call me today.

Unless, the clinic played a role and only sent my urine sample last week. Either way, its a 2 mths urine sample!!!! As my friend would say, 'jadi tuak kali sudah tu!'

I need some clarification and they better give me bloody good answers.

On a brighter note, I only have 1 day left of work before I'm going on a short leave. Hey, that would mean I would not mind spending half a day giving looks at these irresponsible people and the other half enjoying them trying to explain why it took them 2 months before contacting me about my urine sample.

URGH. I hate bad service.

I left my Sudoku book in the car and now am deprived of it. I spent half, okay, the whole night looking at bags online. Many thanks to our visit to Empire this afternoon, I now feel that I need a new bag.

I am now too tired to write. I think I might just go to sleep first.

I was reading BruneiResources on whether one is prepared for the costs of a funeral. He also included the spreadsheet as well as a spreadsheet for wedding cost.

So, how well prepared are you? Of course, one has to be prepared for death in the religious sense. My grandparents and parents would always remind us to never forget to pray, read the Qur'an and what not as we do not know when we are going to die. I still remember the last fasting month, one of my uncles was going to Miri and asked my grandma if she wanted to come along. She declined the invitation saying that she wanted to read the Qur'an as she doesn't know if she wouldl still be alive the next Ramadhan to Khatam (complete reading) the Qur'an.

Besides preparing for death that way, how many of you are prepared for your death financially? No, I do not mean how much money you need to bring in grave.

Recently, I signed up for insurance with the sole purpose of 'forced savings' for my retirement. You can't be serious if you were thinking TAP alone would suffice. I also went for a proper financial planning (FP) with a certified financial planner, who also happens to be a friend. From the FP session, I realised that insurance is actually for the peace of mind more than for savings.

One takes up insurance for many reasons:

1. To cover their debts when they die, so as not to leave the burden of paying off their debts to their family members, who are already grieving.

2. To cover the funeral costs, so as not to burden the family members with the expenses. If you don't believe how expensive it can be, download this spreadsheet- courtesy of BruneiResources

3. To leave some funds for those you leave behind, particularly if you have family- wives & kids.

If 'dipanjangkan umur' and your insurance matures first, you will not lose out as you will receive the amount you have paid + bonuses/ dividends. So its a win-win situation. Insurances are actually more complex than this, to write in details will take me whole night & tomorrow. I, myself, went to a one-day insurance workshop last week to understand more to what i have got myself into. Enough to say that I felt I did not regret signing up for it in the first place.

I, now, am waiting for my leave (Procrastinating!) to go window shopping for the best insurance policy- this time covering female illnesses including breast & ovary cancer, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, etc. plus bonuses for maternity. One can never be too cautious. After all, if everything goes well with my health, insya Allah, I can get the money back. Although, if I knew, I would purchase it earlier.

So, how prepared are you?

It has already been over a year since I started working and had the talk with my boss last week. We talked about where I want to go next, where do I see myself in the next few years, what do I need to do to get there, etc.

I told her I wanted my own branch in 5 years time and she said that's too long. I should aim for it in 2 – 3 years. Then she went on to say I should also consider an alternative to that but at a similar level. Fair enough, I felt more pressured as soon as I stepped out of her room.

She also mentioned that few months ago I was almost offered a different job position with a potential progression but she told them to pass for now as I have said something that might not have suited it earlier this year. I know I should not dwell on it as my boss knows me better.

Today I saw some job ads which I was particularly interested but looking at the reporting lines, I don't think there will be much progression. Unless stability is what I'm looking for, I'll probably go for it.

Besides that, the husband & I have also been talking about our career progression. In the next few years, he has to go for a postgraduate course and vaguely mentioned that he would like it if I joined him there. As we can't take unpaid leave, if I decide to do so, I would have to quit and re-join the company when I come back. I thought of taking another postgrad course but then I would also have a home to take care of.

I suppose it is a bit too early to think about it but when the time comes, a decision has to be made.

Today's event was a success. Period. Doesn't matter what everyone thinks but I really think it was a success. So babe, don't listen to 'her' slamming your event. I still think it was a success.

My favourite was the Dunking Machine or actually, the Hit the Water Bucket. At the first hour alone, I think we made $300-$400! Thanks to the generous SMs, who volunteered! The Bric-a-Brac Stall also managed to sell a lot of their 'junks'- One person's trash is another person's treasure! Winning Eleven Mini Tourney was great too- Saifuddin was once again the Champion and everyone's favourite too, especially since he's only.. what.. 10?

Sudoku Competition was funny- the last time I checked only 1 person managed to win. There was a lady, who was a complete beginner, decided to play. She started at 10 and when I checked their booth at 2, she was still playing- the same round but was finally, at diffucult level. I doubt she insisted on completing it because of the prize- Sudoku is addictive, I tell you! I left about 3 after postponing much.

I had and still do have a splitting headache. Must be the heat and also, I went over budget! Haha. I said that I would only spend $70 for the day but I went way over it. It is for the charity, though. And also- I got Anna (my old boss!) and Shamai wet. $10 well spent!

It's Monday again tomorrow, I don't know how many people will actually turn up for work. Plus many of us will be on training as well and we have another 1.5 days event this weekend too.

On the bright side, my leave start after that weekend!

Countdown to Leave- 6 Days!

I'm getting a little Me Time for a week, starting from next weekend- I am finally taking my leave! I might have to work on the public holiday though but nevertheless I am still going to make plans.

1. Make use of my Zen Spa voucher- expiring soon!

2. Have a hair cut.

3. An extended time at the salon to do some maintenance work (lol!)

4. Do my nails

5. Sort out my insurance

6. Catch up on Desperate Housewives, One Tree Hill, The OC, Alias, Las Vegas, Gilmore Girls, Prison Break, etc.

7. Try watch Full House- highly recommended by my boss (I want a promotion if actually finish watching this!)

8. Re-arrange the living room

9. Catch up on readings

10. Decide whether to take on the recently offered postgrad program

11. Checkup

…Saying all that, shall we see what will actually get done?

I haven't been feeling very well lately, so, i might just end up using my leave to catch up on my sleep and rest.

Last February, I decided to get a new laptop- smaller and lighter than by huge and heavy Acer. After much surveying in the local computer shops and visiting the never-ending computer exhibitions at the Mall, I decided to get my laptop online. My brother-in-law recommended me Dell on their Singapore website as he ordered a laptop for my sister-in-law from them last year. Not only it was significantly cheaper than here, there are no delivery charges and it arrived within 2 weeks. Of course, she has not encountered any problems with it as well.

With a 1GB ram, 80GB hard disk space, cd & dvd writer plus only a 12 inch screen- all for less than $2k, I was a happy girl!! Until sometime last week, when a thin horizontal line appeared across the lcd screen! Knowing me, all I could do was sulk, especially when I couldn't find my warranty card! At my husband's insistence, I checked out Dell's website, where I then had to key in the service tag, which gave me details about my warranty. I let them know of my laptop's problem and the very next day, they gave me ways to diagnose the problem! Cutting it short, they emailed me to let me know that their Brunei engineer will contact me, which they did within 24 hours. Not only they offered to collect the laptop from home, they also delivered it back to my place!

After few days of receiving bad services from 2 different eateries, I was pretty much happy with the service I received from Dell! Of course, everytime I tell this story to my family or friends, my husband would say, 'kalau inda dipajal, mana ia buat tu…' Hehe.

I am now off to training- will have to remember to bring by Sudoku book!

In my last post, I was talking about Shitedoku. On Thursday, I was sent to this place, very, very from home with 2 colleagues. Okay, drama queen. If it wasn't far, it sure felt it though! We were asked to stay there for approxmately 3 hours. I brought by Shitedoku book and my colleague brought her Sudoku book. Enough to say, we were very occupied! At one point, we exchanged book because it wasn't challenging anymore. Later in the afternoon, braving the very heavy rain, we made our way to the book shop and I bought….TWO Sudoku books! One for home and one for the handbag.

I am now, officially anti-social. I only speak to my husband when I really have something to say. Let alone to anyone else. I was also doing it whilst waiting at the Airport this morning and at the restaurant, whilst waiting for our food to arrive. I am sick and I refuse to seek for help… for now. The downside, I keep seeing numbers and i'm always figuring out strategies to complete the puzzles even when the book is not in front of me, i.e. when I'm in the showers.

I have just peeked over my husband's shoulder to see what he's doing as he was talking to himself. He was playing chess on his laptop! You must be thinking what are geeky couple we are! LOL. We're not really THAT geeky. We just love mind simulating games

I am now, only taking a break from Sudoku because I have been neglecting the blog. My initial plan was to try and blog everyday- whatever nonsense but one day, one post. However, Sudoku and work have been keeping me occupied. I am also sleeping most of time. I tend to fall asleep in front of the tv especially. I even fell asleep during Rossa's concert last weekend and worst, I almost fell asleep whilst driving a couple of times.

I can't wait for my leave, so I can get enough sleep.

Btw, if you haven't seen the leaflets- Sunday, 21st May, there's a Carnival Magic! between 9am – 3pm at the parking lot next to HSBC, Serusop Branch. There will be TON of activities, including Coconut Bowling and a Bric-a-Brac Stall. If you don't have anything planned on that day, do drop by and bring a lot of not-so-small change! All proceeds from that day will go to the training and sending off Brunei Special Athletes to Shanghai, next year, for the Special Olympics!

What a better way to spend the day than being a socially responsible citizen!

I stopped by Supasave on my way home from work today and thought I'd ask the bookshop if they have Sudoku. They did and it was priced at $20!! Mahal nyerrrr.

Instead, I opted for Shitedoku and its just as bloody addictive! Heh. I don't know how I even found time to blog, when I could hardly keep the book down earlier.

What brings me to go back to wasting my life scribbling pointless numbers, now letters in little squares, you ask? I'm part of the committee for Carnival Magic!, which the company I'm working for is organising on 21st May. One of the games I'm supervising is the Sudoku Tournament. Our Winning Eleven tournament is still under negotiation but we will also have other games, such as coconut bowling and dunking machine! I think everyone is pretty much excited about the dunking machine, in hoping that they can dunk their bosses! If you want to know more about the event, leave me a comment. Proceeds from the event will do to in training and sending Brunei Special Athletes to China for the Special Olympics. All for good cause, love!

Liz, to answer you question, I'm with Biotouch in Kiulap for my facials. They give the best massages with the facials and their extractions are not so bad. It is on the first floor, on the same block as Chong Hock. Just look out for their signage.

I am going to go now and immerse myself in 'The Shitest Sudoku Book Ever'.

Many years ago, i was told that one should not have facials as once you start, you would need to go every month.

I was also once told, that one should not shave their legs, armpits, let alone facial hair (okay, for the record i do not wax any facial hairs- i opt for waxing or threading) and wherever you have hair.

When you ask why? Their reasons for both were the same- you will only have more pimples or you will only grow more hair.

I, somehow, regret following the former. If only I had started going for facials earlier, my pores wouldn't be as bad. I used to dread having facials as my old beautician was sadistic and I would be in tears everytime after she did the extractions. I would even skip my facials and waited till I get back to Australia. Now, I have found a good place to have my facials. I had to as I don't think I can afford to go to Australia everytime I needed a facial! I enjoy going there as I tend to sleep through out the whole session- even through the extraction! If only I had time to do it every 4 weeks instead of every 6-8 weeks.

The latter, on the other hand, is inevitable. At the risk of looking like my brother or having undefined eyebrows, I try to go for waxing once a month. Back in Australia, I would go to the same salon as where I had facials and with the same lady too, if I might add! She's just the best! She even gave me tips on preparations for brazilian wax. If only, I've gathered the courage to do so, I could actually put it into good use! However, unlike facials, I dread every waxing trip but as I've mentioned, its inevitable. You have got to do it! I have only found one good place for it and despite it exorbitant charges, I still find myself making appointments with them.

Women should not scrimp when it comes to facial-related matters, especially when it is difficult to get good help. However, women CAN scrimp when it comes everything else, except when it comes to buying bags & shoes

My facial appointment is this Friday- I can't wait for the 3 uninterrupted hours nap!

<editted> i apologise for the demented layout earlier.