Today, for the very first time in my life, I told a salesperson off. You know? The type of salesperson who comes and tells you that you have too many blackheads or that you are too fat? Those that are in pharmacies and such?
This happened at Watson's Takashimaya. My colleague had wanted to buy some colour dye to dye her hair at home (cheaper this way).
The moment we were standing at that particular section, this middle-aged woman comes forward to ask us, "Looking for some shampoo for your hair?"
Let me tell you, her body language was already not quite right, but what followed was even worse. She saw us walking towards the hair dye section and moved up closer to us and asked, "Looking for hair dyes is it?"
She then stood even closer till I had to edge back a little and worse still she was standing like a gangster, weight on one leg and one shoulder tilted at an angle towards us, as if asking us, "What's up? Want to fight is it?"
I was boiling and I think I had enough of all these types of lousy sales tactics that should have been gotten rid of ten, twenty years ago. I do not know where I got my guts from but I proceeded to tell her off, "Please do not stand so close. Back off. We will see for ourselves. If you continue to stand here, I might just move away and not buy anything!"
I think she was so shocked at me barking at her like that, that she really backed off for quite a while.
Even though I feel quite back for telling her off like that, but I feel that I have suppressed my unhappiness for such situations that I was going to burst if I held my opinion to myself any longer.
Anyhow, I felt much better after that.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Another cheap thrill moment
It's strange how we see certain things in this world. It's like how I know, if I were given a $10 voucher to be spent on my next purchase, it is not really a saving on my present (or even next) purchase. For, if I did not go back to the shop and buy again, I would not be spending any money at all!
Nevertheless, I was chided by my Dad the other day (Saturday)for falling into a sort of marketing trap by the petrol company. You see, Shell was having this promotion for V Power: From 7pm t 11pm, Friday to Sunday, the price of V Power is the same as 98.
He felt that I was unwise to fall into the trap of paying more. We (or rather, I, for my Dad goes for Caltex)usually pump 95 and this is still cheaper than 98, with or without offer.
Truth be told, is that I am a little 'vain' in this area too. V Power does give more power to the car (just as I feel that Shell petrol generally gives one's car more power. You can call it a psychological thing but I don't really care. Of course I knew that even with special offer, it was going to be more expensive than my usual. To me though, pumping V Power was like eating at Les Amies (not that I have) or buying that Gucci bag. It is a once-in-a-while pleasure that I reward myself with. Not something that I would do everyday.
By the way, it was quite a cheap thrill sort of moment when I went to pump my petrol. My petrol meter was close to touching the "E" line, yet it was only 6.50pm. Having worked in the customer service line before, I knew better than to pester staff to let me have the discount before the stipulated time.
I was a little panicky (since I was running on empty) when I remembered that there was a small lane just before the petrol station. By the time I reached the lane, it was 6.56pm. Strange how time seems to come to a standstill just when you want it to pass quickly.
6.58pm. I realised I was blocking another car and had to shift my car. As I moved it, I made the decision to head off to my destination: the petrol station. After all, it was peak period and there were many vehicles about. By the time I am able to filter out, it should be 7pm already.
True to my 'calculation', the news was being reported on Class 95FM and there was a little car queue at the station too. By the time I got a place a the pump, it was already passed 7pm.
Nevertheless, I was chided by my Dad the other day (Saturday)for falling into a sort of marketing trap by the petrol company. You see, Shell was having this promotion for V Power: From 7pm t 11pm, Friday to Sunday, the price of V Power is the same as 98.
He felt that I was unwise to fall into the trap of paying more. We (or rather, I, for my Dad goes for Caltex)usually pump 95 and this is still cheaper than 98, with or without offer.
Truth be told, is that I am a little 'vain' in this area too. V Power does give more power to the car (just as I feel that Shell petrol generally gives one's car more power. You can call it a psychological thing but I don't really care. Of course I knew that even with special offer, it was going to be more expensive than my usual. To me though, pumping V Power was like eating at Les Amies (not that I have) or buying that Gucci bag. It is a once-in-a-while pleasure that I reward myself with. Not something that I would do everyday.
By the way, it was quite a cheap thrill sort of moment when I went to pump my petrol. My petrol meter was close to touching the "E" line, yet it was only 6.50pm. Having worked in the customer service line before, I knew better than to pester staff to let me have the discount before the stipulated time.
I was a little panicky (since I was running on empty) when I remembered that there was a small lane just before the petrol station. By the time I reached the lane, it was 6.56pm. Strange how time seems to come to a standstill just when you want it to pass quickly.
6.58pm. I realised I was blocking another car and had to shift my car. As I moved it, I made the decision to head off to my destination: the petrol station. After all, it was peak period and there were many vehicles about. By the time I am able to filter out, it should be 7pm already.
True to my 'calculation', the news was being reported on Class 95FM and there was a little car queue at the station too. By the time I got a place a the pump, it was already passed 7pm.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
My colleagues were crazier
My two closest colleagues are skeptical people. They approach things with caution, skepticism and pepper it with criticism, sometimes aplenty.
It was the same with Uniqlo. Since they are not from Beijing,Shanghai (or other big cities that have such shops) and since they have been here for quite some years, they have not heard of this totally happening brand.
I was already ranting and raving about it the day before and the day of opening. I did not ask them to go with me as I felt it would be such an upscale task to convince them to go somewhere as far as Tampines.
One of them called me anyway, after she left the workplace and expressed that they wanted to go with me too. I picked them up halfway (somewhere in town) and we headed for Uniqlo! The older of the two kept asking me what sort of brand is this and whether it was really that worth it, etc, etc. I was getting a little impatient (as usual).
When inside, while I bought 7 items, they bought none. Guess what though? They went back the next day and the next, each time getting more and more items. Each time they went back, they had to queue for at least half an hour to 45 minutes!
I am just wondering whether all of us humans are like that: treating things with suspicion and caution all the time.
It was the same with Uniqlo. Since they are not from Beijing,Shanghai (or other big cities that have such shops) and since they have been here for quite some years, they have not heard of this totally happening brand.
I was already ranting and raving about it the day before and the day of opening. I did not ask them to go with me as I felt it would be such an upscale task to convince them to go somewhere as far as Tampines.
One of them called me anyway, after she left the workplace and expressed that they wanted to go with me too. I picked them up halfway (somewhere in town) and we headed for Uniqlo! The older of the two kept asking me what sort of brand is this and whether it was really that worth it, etc, etc. I was getting a little impatient (as usual).
When inside, while I bought 7 items, they bought none. Guess what though? They went back the next day and the next, each time getting more and more items. Each time they went back, they had to queue for at least half an hour to 45 minutes!
I am just wondering whether all of us humans are like that: treating things with suspicion and caution all the time.
Friday, April 10, 2009
On why I am so crazy
For those of you who are wondering why I am so crazy about Uniqlo, can read part of the reason through here.
Yes, the love affair started in Hong Kong some years back (maybe 2 or 3) when I chanced upon this shop inside the Miramar Shopping Mall. Every year after that (or whenever I do pass by Hong Kong) I will definitely drop by to stock up.
The other thing that caught my eye was this Gatchaman character that I had seen as a child. I went crazy when I first saw the image on its pamphlets. I used to watch the Taiwanese-dubbed Mandarin version. It brings back lots of memories.
Anyway, I am really, really, really happy that Uniqlo has finally landed on our shores and will be here to stay! Yippeee!
Yes, the love affair started in Hong Kong some years back (maybe 2 or 3) when I chanced upon this shop inside the Miramar Shopping Mall. Every year after that (or whenever I do pass by Hong Kong) I will definitely drop by to stock up.
The other thing that caught my eye was this Gatchaman character that I had seen as a child. I went crazy when I first saw the image on its pamphlets. I used to watch the Taiwanese-dubbed Mandarin version. It brings back lots of memories.
Anyway, I am really, really, really happy that Uniqlo has finally landed on our shores and will be here to stay! Yippeee!
Now I understand
Just hours before, I was queueing up at Uniqlo that has just opened its doors to the public at Tampines 1 today. From the night before its opening, I had already planned what I should wear and what I had wanted to buy (from the Internet catalogue).
I was in full Uniqlo gear: Boyfriend jeans and UT t-shirt. I even 'stole' the Today paper for the day as it had all the details of the store, opening hours etc. As I ate breakfast, I sms-ed one of my former colleagues and asked if she would be going. She said she was on night shift but was going to work early so that she could hop into the shop to look-see.
At 10 plus in the morning, sms comes in telling me that the place is super crowded and the queue was very long. I thought to myself, "Only cashier queue long, so why give up the chance?"
Sms comes in at about 4 plus that the place was still super crowded. Then, at about 5 plus, another sms comes in from yet another former colleague cum regular travel 'kaki' (loosely translated as friend in Malay). She told me that the queue was so super long that she had but given up. She was going to Dorothy Perkins instead.
Woah! This made me want to fly down there even more (instead of deterring me from going)!! At about 6.40pm, I sped away from my work place and went to pick up two of my other colleagues who decided last minute that they too wanted to come along.
By the time we reached the "Welcome to Tampines" part of the journey, it was almost 8. I was hungry but nevertheless, determined to get to my destination. The traffic jam started from Safra Tampines and I had to make a detour as I could not cut into the turning lane.
As I turned into Tampines Mall car park, yet another jam!!! I could kill the cars. Wished I was driving a monster truck then, so that I can roll over all the other cars. When we finally emerged at Basement 1 of Tampines Mall, we decided we had to eat something: Bread. We scooted in to Bread Talk: One chose the bread while the other two lined up at the counter. What time work!
By the time we reached Level 2 of Tampines 1, it was already quite late. I made a mad dash for Uniqlo only to be greeted by yet another queue!!! This queue went all the way back past the toilets, diaper change areas and into the staircase leading to the car park!!!
Yet, I felt really excited. There was a strange buzz and everyone else was talking at the same time. I wanted to just get in there and start shopping. I could just feel my hand itching to go through the different t-shirts.
Thank goodness we were a little earlier for shortly after us, they stopped the queue giving the reason that they would close at 10pm. Phew! Once inside, there was no stopping me of course. Seven pieces of clothing in all!
I kind of felt dizzy from all this fan-fare like actions. Now also understand why groupies can spend hours waiting for their favourite singers to appear for just that one or two seconds :)
I was in full Uniqlo gear: Boyfriend jeans and UT t-shirt. I even 'stole' the Today paper for the day as it had all the details of the store, opening hours etc. As I ate breakfast, I sms-ed one of my former colleagues and asked if she would be going. She said she was on night shift but was going to work early so that she could hop into the shop to look-see.
At 10 plus in the morning, sms comes in telling me that the place is super crowded and the queue was very long. I thought to myself, "Only cashier queue long, so why give up the chance?"
Sms comes in at about 4 plus that the place was still super crowded. Then, at about 5 plus, another sms comes in from yet another former colleague cum regular travel 'kaki' (loosely translated as friend in Malay). She told me that the queue was so super long that she had but given up. She was going to Dorothy Perkins instead.
Woah! This made me want to fly down there even more (instead of deterring me from going)!! At about 6.40pm, I sped away from my work place and went to pick up two of my other colleagues who decided last minute that they too wanted to come along.
By the time we reached the "Welcome to Tampines" part of the journey, it was almost 8. I was hungry but nevertheless, determined to get to my destination. The traffic jam started from Safra Tampines and I had to make a detour as I could not cut into the turning lane.
As I turned into Tampines Mall car park, yet another jam!!! I could kill the cars. Wished I was driving a monster truck then, so that I can roll over all the other cars. When we finally emerged at Basement 1 of Tampines Mall, we decided we had to eat something: Bread. We scooted in to Bread Talk: One chose the bread while the other two lined up at the counter. What time work!
By the time we reached Level 2 of Tampines 1, it was already quite late. I made a mad dash for Uniqlo only to be greeted by yet another queue!!! This queue went all the way back past the toilets, diaper change areas and into the staircase leading to the car park!!!
Yet, I felt really excited. There was a strange buzz and everyone else was talking at the same time. I wanted to just get in there and start shopping. I could just feel my hand itching to go through the different t-shirts.
Thank goodness we were a little earlier for shortly after us, they stopped the queue giving the reason that they would close at 10pm. Phew! Once inside, there was no stopping me of course. Seven pieces of clothing in all!
I kind of felt dizzy from all this fan-fare like actions. Now also understand why groupies can spend hours waiting for their favourite singers to appear for just that one or two seconds :)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Rojak feelings
My court date has been fixed (I will not tell you when now as I am a little 'pantang' i.e. superstitious. You will know when I blog about it).
I am having all these mixed feelings about it and it did not help that one of my colleagues told me that given time, sometimes, someone can change for the better. I can see where she is coming from as she is also Christian and would rather a couple stayed together. She was trying to help me think whether there was a possibility of me and him getting back together.
It feels really strange to me. As in, why all these 'interventions' and 'signs' when I have already made up my mind and he has already made up his? Is this God's way of telling me to stay? I certainly hope not.
Then of course, I had to be such a nosey-parker as to go check up his friends on facebook. There, I see this mutual friend of ours that I had liked and things did not work out. It brought back funny feelings. Feelings that I have not felt for the longest time, for there in his profile photo, was him and a girl. These were feelings that I thought would have been long thrown down the drain but it was all threatening to well up again.
I took a walk around my estate. I had to. I had to get some fresh air and breathe. All the time, I was praying that I would get out of all this (divorce) 'alive' and that somebody would be waiting at the other end with open arms, ready to catch me and hold me. Fat hope, of course. But sometimes, it is good to dream and hope a little. Or maybe, I dream too much.
I am having all these mixed feelings about it and it did not help that one of my colleagues told me that given time, sometimes, someone can change for the better. I can see where she is coming from as she is also Christian and would rather a couple stayed together. She was trying to help me think whether there was a possibility of me and him getting back together.
It feels really strange to me. As in, why all these 'interventions' and 'signs' when I have already made up my mind and he has already made up his? Is this God's way of telling me to stay? I certainly hope not.
Then of course, I had to be such a nosey-parker as to go check up his friends on facebook. There, I see this mutual friend of ours that I had liked and things did not work out. It brought back funny feelings. Feelings that I have not felt for the longest time, for there in his profile photo, was him and a girl. These were feelings that I thought would have been long thrown down the drain but it was all threatening to well up again.
I took a walk around my estate. I had to. I had to get some fresh air and breathe. All the time, I was praying that I would get out of all this (divorce) 'alive' and that somebody would be waiting at the other end with open arms, ready to catch me and hold me. Fat hope, of course. But sometimes, it is good to dream and hope a little. Or maybe, I dream too much.
The wonders of the Zebra Name Pen
You know, when I first came across this pen at my present work place, I was thinking they must have been crazy to name the pen such. I mean, it is a funny name for a pen. I found out why this pen had been named so yesterday.
After Sentosa, we still had time to look at jewellery from Lee Hwa (she needed to buy some for her wedding). I was going to use my Aspial card to get her extra discount except that I found out that the card was under my soon-to-be ex-husband's name. I had to apply for a new one.
Signed my name using the Zebra Name Pen and it was really magic. No smudge whatsoever. Or maybe I have not experimented with enough pens to realise that such a pen existed.
Today too, I was using it to write on the Cd's that I have saved my photos into and again, it did not fail!
Now I will never use any other types of pen to sign on my credit and/or membership cards!
After Sentosa, we still had time to look at jewellery from Lee Hwa (she needed to buy some for her wedding). I was going to use my Aspial card to get her extra discount except that I found out that the card was under my soon-to-be ex-husband's name. I had to apply for a new one.
Signed my name using the Zebra Name Pen and it was really magic. No smudge whatsoever. Or maybe I have not experimented with enough pens to realise that such a pen existed.
Today too, I was using it to write on the Cd's that I have saved my photos into and again, it did not fail!
Now I will never use any other types of pen to sign on my credit and/or membership cards!
Rediscovery
I went to Sentosa today(or rather, yesterday, since the date on this blog entry shows 5th April). One of my colleagues is going back to her hometown and would like to see the place again before she left, so we just went.
This time around, I did not do any 'homework'; no internet research whatsoever. I just went there with an open mind and my oh my! What a surprise I had! There were so many attractions and new stuff. One of them being the GoGreen Segway ride. I first saw the late Pope John Paul II riding it. Now I have ridden on it too!
At first, I was afraid of losing balance but I soon took to it like fish to water. Speaking about fish, I also enjoyed the very spectacular, multi-sensory, multimedia show, "Songs of the Sea". It's main character was this cute tiger fish and I couldn't resist but buy a plush toy straight after the show.I got a discount too! It was actually going for $9.90 but with my show ticket, I got the toy for $5!
The very first attraction we went into though, was the Butterfly Park. There I fed some feathered friends honey. I was really excited about it as I had always wanted to come close to birds but could never really do it. This time around, they were on my hands, on my head (no poo-poo, don't worry) and on my shoulder! Almost made me wish I had a bird as a pet.
The finale was the cable car ride back to the main island. I think either it's been too long since my last ride or I am really getting old. I was getting all freaky whilst being suspended in mid-air! Well, at least not as bad as one of my colleagues. Her palms and feet were all sweaty after we alighted. It did not help that the youngest amongst us was purposely shaking the car, making both of us all jittery and worked up.
All in all though, I had a wonderful time!
This time around, I did not do any 'homework'; no internet research whatsoever. I just went there with an open mind and my oh my! What a surprise I had! There were so many attractions and new stuff. One of them being the GoGreen Segway ride. I first saw the late Pope John Paul II riding it. Now I have ridden on it too!
At first, I was afraid of losing balance but I soon took to it like fish to water. Speaking about fish, I also enjoyed the very spectacular, multi-sensory, multimedia show, "Songs of the Sea". It's main character was this cute tiger fish and I couldn't resist but buy a plush toy straight after the show.I got a discount too! It was actually going for $9.90 but with my show ticket, I got the toy for $5!
The very first attraction we went into though, was the Butterfly Park. There I fed some feathered friends honey. I was really excited about it as I had always wanted to come close to birds but could never really do it. This time around, they were on my hands, on my head (no poo-poo, don't worry) and on my shoulder! Almost made me wish I had a bird as a pet.
The finale was the cable car ride back to the main island. I think either it's been too long since my last ride or I am really getting old. I was getting all freaky whilst being suspended in mid-air! Well, at least not as bad as one of my colleagues. Her palms and feet were all sweaty after we alighted. It did not help that the youngest amongst us was purposely shaking the car, making both of us all jittery and worked up.
All in all though, I had a wonderful time!
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