Chronicle 98 - Disengaged

I guess I am kind of understanding why people consider it a discipline to maintain a diary. This post kind of slipped my mind until D reminded me. I suppose maybe allowing her access to my blog wasn't the worst decision after all - thanks D.

So... Continuing from my last post, I've returned to Singapore from Finland and of course didn't really want to go to work. It seems that AS got an offer and she decided to take it. It isn't even funny anymore that the offer came when I was in Finland. Looks like everyone that I am close to in the office is leaving. That's not all... The boss made an official announcement that CF has tendered sometime back as well. He was one of the more popular Directors as he didn't make others do unnecessary work. Of the original gang, only LAB and me are left are the moment. Wonder how long that will last. I just can't seem to have the same connection with the new joiners.

Anyway, on work itself, I kinda struggled to keep up. There were so many client and new business developments that I were not aware of and I admittedly felt a bit lost. It didn't help that the company decided to do a review some weeks after I got back. My "disengagement" with the work was of course featured in the review.

The review threw up some interesting things as well. Generally my review was good and my boss said that she would like to give me a pay raise. It wasn't much, just a 12% increase but I suppose money is money! One item in particular in my review was that someone felt I was rather "cliquey" in my friendships. I have a good idea who said that but honestly, I'm not sure what I can do to improve. I am close to my other colleagues (mostly ex-colleagues now) simply because I spent more time with them and I worked alongside them before and even after I got promoted. It didn't happen over a few days. I believe I can work with anyone because of my adaptability in the workplace but friendships take time to form. This guy should get that. The new KPIs that are set for my review though are rather absurd. I am so not confident I can achieve those.

LAB recently applied to an MNC and they granted her an interview and had her take a writing test. I also helped her with some sections in the test. Felt rather weird that I was helping the last of the gang to leave.

LT has been at her new workplace for about a month and it seems she isn't coping well. I have never really liked to make my opinions known so I never did voice my opinion that the new workplace isn't for her. Granted she wasn't happy here at Tulchan but I thought it didn't make sense for her to jump to that place, which isn't any better. My analysis then was that she is one of (if not the most) competent one among the three girls, but would have some trouble blending in at a new workplace, especially in a bigger agency where the team culture is fundamentally different. Just like her, I do take some time to get used to new people and a new environment, but I believe that I can be pretentious (for lack of a better word) in the interim until I do so. I don't have that kind of concern with AS who is also leaving to join another agency because she is much better in that aspect.

The big boss from London flew over to Singapore to join us for our team off-site. My laptop was the designated one to flash certain presentations on the screen. All was well, until I had to pull up a website. I opened my browser and it showed the last website that I was browsing: sgpokemap.com! Almost died of awkwardness while everyone just laughed away.

I had gone for 3 cycling trips in the past month, 2 with colleagues, and one with C and F. It was quite enjoyable as we cycled and tried to hatch some Pokemon eggs in the process. I wasn't able to cycle very far with the girls but with C and F, we cycled to Changi and decided to celebrate F's belated birthday with a treat at the seafood restaurant at Changi Village.

I also asked "her" out for dinner. I had no idea what I was doing, and I had no idea that she would say yes. Needless to say, I had no idea what to do either. I totally don't understand why I did so, although it was nice chatting and catching up that evening. Don't ask, don't ask... The answer is that I have no idea.

So ERM got in touch recently to ask for a favour. I couldn't really help her out although I tried. She also offered to put me and LT in touch with some headhunters and an agency to help us better "explore" our options. It seems one of them has already contacted me. Looks like I'll be going shopping again soon.

And it seems that our C is in love! He would randomly ask for advice on random things and us blokes would also randomly dish out advice that normally wouldn't work. But for some reason, it seems to be working? He now has a date with her to Halloween Horror Night! This... I don't get it... I'm a pro at this?

I've signed up for yet another Grappling competition in November. At this point, I no longer have any medal hopes. I know that age and a period of inactivity has taken a toll on this body of mine. I just want to enter competitions now to feel young again, and hopefully not be in too much pain. Previously, my chest took 3.5 weeks to heal and my elbow still hasn't fully recovered even now.

And I am going Bintan yet again in November with C and F. Thanks MINDEF for sponsoring a trip every year.

[Quotes]

"Not all those who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien

"Irrationality loves company." - Jeff Zentner