The Face Shop

Three Face Shops in the span of 3 days later, I managed to complete what I needed to buy and found the satisfactory customer service in the third and last shop.

The first shop I went to was at Wisma Atria. The girl who served me was only interested in me buying lots and lots. When she realised that I was not going to do so, she became very lukewarm. I had already surfed their site and actually knew what I wanted: Eye pencils which were eyeshadows and this green eye shadow which the eye pencil range was not going to offer me.

Turned out that they were having a promotion: take one or two (I cannot remember) eyeshadows and a blusher in order to get a special discounted rate. But I didn't need a blusher! The sales person's head could not turn fast enough. It was like a straight road with no side turns and slip roads. She could have simply suggested that I get what I wanted and she would still have a made a better sale than my two pencils.

Next, there was the cashier. After asking me "Do you have membership?", she decided to converse with me totally in Mandarin, even though I actually spoke to her in ENGLISH! Rude and how can one not be able to speak English when she is working in the customer service industry. It IS our language of communication after all.

Second shop I went to was at the HDB Hub. I was looking for that green eyeshadow palette but could not find it. I was tempted to use Mandarin but decided to test the sales person. She was not very good with her English but at least she attempted to speak to me. That, I applaud her. Only thing was, she had no turns and slip roads either. The green palette was out of stock and she just gave me an apologetic look and smile. She could have suggested the triple baked eyeshadow instead.

The last shop was at Junction 8, Bishan. I could not remember whether I spoke English or Mandarin but what made me buy more than I intended was because the sales person knew when to retreat and when to come forward to assist me when help was needed. I finally got my green palette eyeshadow and this liquid foundation with BB cream. She was very patient and detailed with her explanation of the foundation and seeing that I was looking at the placard for the detailed explanation, she took it up for me to read. Nice!

If I were not put off by the mouldy looking powder puff in the tester, I might have already bought their loos powder from them. Lucky thing I did not though, for I found Kate (cosmetics brand by Kanebo in open shelf style) at Watson's and their loose powder was at almost half the price of that from The Face Shop. Phew! More savings!

Eavesdropping

Nothing much happened today, except that I walked to SingPost centre to have my lunch as the cook cooked something that I used to like but now, am quite frankly sick of: it's fried ee fu noodles.

It was hot like hell on my way there and back and I felt like a barbecued turkey after that. I ate yong tau fu (my choice of food nowadays, as it is not too oily). What was interesting were the two guys sitting one seat away from me on a long table. I think one of them is a doctor for he could not stop talking about cancer, good cells, bad cells and so on. Really. Quite tasteless to be talking about illnesses and diseases when one is eating. Didn't their mums and dads teach them?

Every sentence had the word "cancer" in it and this doctor guy (I presume that he is) seems to want the whole world to hear what he was saying. He told his friend (whom I think is doing his Masters of sorts, as he mentioned about "finishing the thesis") that he should try "virgin coconut oil" or was it "extra virgin coconut oil". It was as if doctor guy was trying to create the next new buzz word and/or buzz product by word of mouth.

Frankly, I found it very tasteless and an uncool thing to do. Besides, just because the virgin olive oil is getting so much limelight, now all sorts of oils must be virgins?? Oh well, according to him, this extra virgin coconut oil is supposed to be good for the health (Ha!) I just say, everything in moderation.

OK, OK, so I was eavesdropping but they were not exactly very discreet with their conversation either. In actual fact, their voice volumes were bordering on rudeness and inconsideration. Well, the only excuse for them I can think of is that the food court was full of people and was rather noisy. Either that or one of them could be hard of hearing.

After lunch, I trotted off to my favourite de-stressing place: Popular Bookshop and bought myself some stationery necessities. As I exited the entrance of the building, I remembered seeing some handphone cases that I needed so badly. Mine was the faux leather casing type with a magnetic clasp that will flip open. The stuff in the casing that was supposed to hold my handphone has come to bits and was barely clinging on to my phone. My phone had slipped out of it's own casing and the casing had defeated its purpose in protecting my phone. Get it?

Long and short of it is that I needed to change the handphone cover. I had searched my whole neighbourhood, which is one of the most famous heartland neighbourhood shopping area in Singapore and yet, I could not find a case and/or one that was nice enough for me to want.

Today, I tried my luck. Like I said, I was exiting the building and stopped by at the store. After some queries from store owner and some recommendations later, I took an orangey-red 'condom' cover for my handphone. No more flips and flaps and no more bulky cases. This one just slips on nicely over the the phone and hugs it snugly. Sure, it does not protect the screen of the phone but then, I already have a protective sheet over it.

I'm a happy girl now! It's not as orange as I want it to be but I am still a happy girl nevertheless! :)

Bad customer service

Yesterday, before we went to the Night Safari, we did some shopping at the AMK Hub. I was so cheesed off by the general customer service that I did not buy as many things as I wanted to. The only top I bought was from this shop called "The Box".

After that, we were walking along and saw Pepper Plus (my current favourite shop) and walked in there to see. I had seen and tried some clothes at Wisma that I was contemplating buying but could not make up my mind and wanted to ask my friend. I was at one end of the shop while my friend was at another. I was holding on to the dress and the salesgirl was in between us. Obviously I had to make sure the salesgirl was out of the way before I 'shouted' to my friend.

The salesgirl sussed me up and down before asking me, "Want to try?" and then looking at another rack of clothes, she asked me, "s, m or l?"

How RUDE!! First of all, she sussed me out from head to toe as if I was a secondary school child who did not have the ability to buy any thing. Next, I just felt that she was so rude in not making any eye contact when asking a question. I think a robot would have done a better job. Even if a robot DID NOT look at me, I would have felt better.

I was polite enough to reply that I was just looking and proceeded to tell my friend not too softly that the dress I was holding was the one I tried at Wisma's outlet the day before.

What followed after that was also plain rude as the salesgirl (probably in her 40's) proceeded to look from one of my friend to another (two friends were with me at that time). We left the shop shortly and my friend asked me, "Does that person has a problem somewhere?" Obviously, I wasn't the only one cheesed off.

The next shop that we stopped to ask questions was a mobile phone shop. The lady gave straightforward answers but did not seem warm or friendly.

The 'finale' came when we walked into the Little Match Girl boutique. I saw some pants that I liked and had wanted to try some. I took my size and was standing behind this lady who was standing right in front of the fitting rooms. I was not sure whether she was customer or part of the sales team.

Whatever it is, the two obvious sales persons were busy chit-chatting away and did not even bother asking what I wanted even though I was standing there for a good 3 minutes at least. The lady in front of me had left her position right in front of the queue.

It was only after I complained rather loudly to my friend about why it was taking whoever was inside so long to try clothes that the salesgirl casually pointed to a very black and inconspicuous signage that said that something like everything is on sale and there was no trying.

No trying????!!!! How ridiculous! If it was no trying of tops I would have been a little more confident but these were pants I'm talking about. There are different cuts and this being an local brand, the cutting is bound to be smaller than what I am used to (European cut). What would be worse if they put the clause that there would be no exchange for sale items. That would be a real disaster for me! It would be money wasted.

Oh yes, since I could not try, I hung one of the two pants on the rack to try to wrap the other around my neck to try for size. Almost before I can finish saying "Hey presto!", another salesgirl was going to remove the pants that I had hung from the rack.

I do not know why, but I glared at her and said, "I still want this". I would not have done so before as I would have been too polite. I even replaced all the apparel that I did not want and then whispered into my friend's ear," let's go. The service here is very lousy."

When I turned around to look at the salesperson, she was giving me her world's biggest smile but it was too late.

Part of me could not help but wonder whether it is because of the way we spoke that made them think that we were from that certain huge country (with the world's largest population) that they were treating us this way (especially the last shop). After all, I do speak with THAT type of accent when I speak with my friends from there. It just comes naturally.

Then again, if the sales persons think that the money of the people from this big country is not worth earning, then they are plain dumb and stupid. Four to five years ago, when I went to Hong Kong, the sales persons there have already recognised that their neighbouring fellow citizens DO have the spending power and went to all means to meet their every needs.

Well, I would rather think that it is not racism (for the lack of a better word at the moment) that is causing this type of attitude. I would rather think that it is the people who are in Ang Mo Kio that are generally like that: not so refined :P

Hmm...I think I would still stick to shopping at Toa Payoh in the near future. The sales persons there are generally nicer.

My view about posting other people's pics on the Internet

I am not sure whether it is the ex-Librarian in me or am I just so very anal, but I go law by law about things. Photos posted on the Internet is no exception.

Even as I post like crazy on Facebook and in my blog, I would ask for my friends' permission 99% of the time if I know that the picture with have them in it. I mean, doesn't the Facebook give a clause about whether we have used the pictures with permission or something?

It's the same when my Dad goes and buy cheap CD s/ VCD s from China. I thought it was pirated and frowned upon it. Only after I realised that it was produced locally in China (and therefore the cheap pricing) did I stop harrassing my Dad. Even so, I feel that the quality is not that good. Even his friends know that I am stickler for this intellectual property and piracy issue. He was once afraid to lend my Dad a pirated VCD knowing that I despised these products.

I also had to give my Dad a long lecture about the copyright laws (being then in the Library profession) when he attempted to photocopy a book wholesale.

Therefore, you can imagine how upset I was when I saw someone post pictures of many other people that I feel, she should ask permission first. Actually, I don't really blame her though coz my Chinese colleague had already put up my picture (taken with her) in her QQ space. I don't think many people realise that it is a violation of sorts but even if it is not, I just feel it is a form of courtesy.

That said, I am going to leave this topic to rest now. If not, people will think I am a naggy old hag. Or maybe they already do. Did I ever tell you that my Dad thinks that I am a police in my past life? Haha!

An almost artistic afternoon.

Went to watch the much talked about Taiwanese play, "The Village" yesterday at the Esplanade. Dad watched it the night before as he had another show to catch and so I went alone.

It was a very good performance with a stellar cast. It was these tv personalities walked out of the tv set and we were meeting them in real life. Yes, most of them are stars that we see in Taiwanese tv drama serials.

The story is about a Dependents' Village, a very real part of Taiwanese history. These people went over to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-Shek, thinking that it will be temporary and that they will be going back to China after a short stay. The short stay turned into years and from one generation, they have their second and even third generations in Taiwan.

It was a play that made me laugh and cry, cry and laugh some more. At the end of it all, we were treated to 'bao' (buns) as in the play, this old lady from Tianjin taught this Taiwanese girl how to make Tianjin 'baozi' (buns).

I had a leisurely stroll through the Esplanade and even caught some Visual Arts exhibition. I must applaud Esplanade though for they are able to make art accessible to the general public. Only thing is whether the general public are willing to go there to see it for themselves.

What I did not like was some of those obnoxious people who went for the show. There was this man dressed in nicely ironed shirt and pants. I was queueing up for drinks during the interval and he just walked right into me to walk to the other side while he was on his phone. No word of "excuse me".

Then, as I was going to order my drink, he cut the very long queue and got his drinks first!!!! The worst part was that the bartender did not even bother to ask him to follow the queue. Someone else in the queue had to point it out.

I was already giving him daggers and sword stares but really did not want to lower myself to his level to tell him off. He did not even apologise and just walked away. I really didn't know who to be madder with: the bartender or the obnoxious man.

All in all tbough, the experience was generally good. I went home feeling a little more....ahem...artistic.

Sunway, my way

It's been a week or more since my last post. I have been busy being sick, travelling, working and going to school. Not necessarily in that order of course.

Anyway, for the first time, I stepped onto Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur last Deepavali long weekend. I stayed at the four-star hotel called Pyramid Tower, which was directly linked to a shopping mall. Yippeeeee!!!! Very convenient and very smart of the developer. Even though I did not intend to buy anything at first, I still bought me-self some little, little things. More like, I bought stuff for my kids for Christmas already.

We took a 26-seater coach by Five Star Travel Agency. They are very un-systematic and the service is bad. On the out-going trip, we were wrongly assigned to an 18-seater and was hurled of the coach by a very rude staff who just asked,"Envelope?" and after looking at it, told us, "You are not on this bus. Follow me."

When were were returning, what was supposed to be a 3.00pm departure from the hotel became 3.45pm. The coach was super, super late. What was an estimated arrival in Singapore of 10.00pm (after jams and all that, even though it should be a 5-hr trip), became 11.00pm. There was massive jam.

The KL I saw was very different from what I have seen many years ago. Maybe it is the capital of Malaysia and maybe, there is been massive improvements but the buildings do not seem so old and the people, I must say, are more orderly than us Singaporeans. They really queue up in a neat row when waiting for the MRT and/or LRT.

Part of me also wonders if it is because there is a "Polis" (Malay word for police)that is on duty on the platform. If it is and if it works, then I don't see why we should not have one of them standing at our platforms at all times. The thing is, we do have our "Security Officers" during peak hours on the platforms of our MRT stations, but they do little but stand around looking busy. They seem almost too timid to maintain order or perhaps, they might be too 'by the book' and might say that "I am only in charge of security (ie bomb scares and would-be suicide persons). Maintaining order is not in my job scope". I would not be surprised.

Well, that's it for now. I will post some pictures soon since I now have installed new handphone software into my computer and can use bluetooth to send my pics more quickly. There are also quite a bit more that I would like to say about my trip, so stay tuned.

When personal grooming becomes public

This morning, when I boarded the bus, I chose to sit beside this lady. It was not because had much choice but because this new bus design is such that if I were to sit on seat after and be sitting next to the aisle, on foot would be dangling for about 40 minutes and I will be struggling to balance at every turn.

Like I said, I wish that I had a better choice, but there were no seats left. This woman, was applying some eucalyptus smelling lotion on her hands and arms. I thought that was it. No!!!! She started applying the lotion to her neck area and was lifting her blouse to reach those unreachable areas beyond the neck!!!!

I was very agitated by her actions and decided to whip out my L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Perfume Gel so that I do not have to smell her eucalyptus smell and show her that her actions are not very welcome. I could already hear some coughing from a passenger from behind.

Guess what? The lady beside me, took her lotion to rub lots of it on her nostrils. As if she was rubbing Vicks.

After she was done moisturising (which should have been done at home anyway). She kept fidgeting with her phone, her hair her everything else. I HATE THIS KIND OF PEOPLE. Fidget, fidget, fidget. Super irritating. I used to get really affected by people like that. This time though, I just prayed and not get (so) affected.

When she was nearing her destination, she whipped out her lipstick to apply. Of course, my mum does this as well. I still cannot really do it in public though. The most public I would go is the public toilet to apply my lipstick.

When she was about to alight, instead of excuse me, she asked me, "are you going down as well?"

DUH!!

I just believe that certain should be done at home before leaving home and not done in a very public area. It is just like how I feel about cutting fingernails on the bus and or MRT.

Well, all these are my personal opinions. I am sure, there are people, who would read my blog, and still do the same thing.

Have we become lazy people?

There are many car owners that forget to turn on their headlights at night and are travelling dangerously or 'dangerously' on the roads. Just the other day, I saw 2 cars without headlights turned on at night, again. Then I saw that it was a Lexus and I said to myself,"No wonder, it is a Lexus. They have auto sensors and the lights come on automatically when the car system detects that the surroundings are too dark."

Then I thought to myself again,"Is it really that bright on the roads, or have we become too reliant on technology?"

Why that question? Because, as I go into the Ladies (sorry gals), I see wades of paper stuck you know where. I know that there are also auto sensors that can detect when our bums leave the seats, but hasn't anyone heard of experienced first hand, faulty sensors?

For me, I always check before I leave the cubicle, just to make sure that whatever needs to disappear, disappear. I think it is a part of social etiquette. Even if a cleaner auntie is there to help us make the toilet cleaner, we should still be more socially responsible. I always give myself the supposition that who knows that one day, I might have to clean other people's toilets.

Well, I try. I am no angel and people cannot change overnight. We just have to tolerate one another and life goes on.

Irritating to the core

Let me rewind a bit further and attempt to make you understand why I was so muffed with my dinner. Before that, I was already quite cheesed off by a par-timer.

My habit is to go to the ladies before I go home. Nothing wrong with that. Everybody does that. The only problem is that this *&$%@#$ woman always, and I mean always irritates the hell out of me, by either attempting to open the toilet door without knocking and then exclaim, " Aiyo, somebody's in there, ah?"

Or in this particular instance, kept standing right outside the toilet door, saying, "Quick, quick, quick" in Mandarin. She even went to the extent of asking silly questions such as "It is not you ah, ABC? I thought you were inside."

DUH!!! You are talking to the person herself. How can she then be in the toilet. I find that downright rude. If she so urgently wanted to use the ladies, she should have queued up in the first place. NO! She went into the brochure store room to change and expect the toilet to be free for her usage when she comes out.

I have put up with it for far too long and this time, I told her off. I said, "Don't keep asking me to be quick outside the toilet door. I will be even slower. Whatever pee I have would have all gone because of what you said. I will take even longer."

I think I was already quite polite. For one, I just feel it is common sense not to stand right outside the toilet door (our door has got louvres) lest you want to smell the 'aroma'. For seconds, I just think it is plain RUDE to be pestering people like that. If she were a kid, I would have half a mind to slap her, but she is not and I have to respect that.

Well, that was my prelude to mee pok disaster.

Me catching up with technology

Is it me trying to be young or have I really succumbed to technology? I used to scorn and scoff at friends who message non-stop while we were having coffee or a meal. I have always felt that these were the bad habits of the young-er ones who are so 'well versed' with technology.

Last night, I was told off by Kelly for doing exactly that-messaging. Hahaha! Don't know whether to laugh or be angry but anyhow, will remind myself to watch my manners. Then again, Kelly does that to me sometimes too!

Whatever!

Eh! Apologise properly, Jerk!

Sometimes it's tough. If we are too fierce in telling patrons not to use the phone, we get complaint 'love' letters. When we tell them nicely, they give you half-f*@cked apologies and glare at you a little. The look that says "you are not worth my time and stop wasting my time by talking to me".

Might as well don't apologise. Such insincerity! If you do not know manners and behave as deemed proper in a certain environment, then perhaps, you might want to re-thinking about stepping in. You don't see anyone using the hand phone while watching a play or ballet performance nowadays. Or has Esplanade theatre been smart enough to block any form of signal? Felt like slapping him across the face, but of course we can't and so I did an Ally McBeal again: virtual slap.

Who are we representing?

I have been wondering for the longest time as to how 'burdened' can one person get. By 'burdened' I mean the responsibility that we carry for ourselves, our family, our school and our country.

You see, when we step out of the house and walk on the streets, we are probably not, and cannot be, ourselves.

We (at least I) must remind ourselves that we represent our family, our dialect, our race, our school and even our country. How this thought arose was when we were talking about how we judge which school certain people come from. I know this is very stereotypical and rather mean but I would say, there is 70% truth in this, but not always accurate.

I usually guess where a person went to school by the way s/he talks. If he has a very flat intonation or puts "s" where there is no "s" in the word, I would immediately say that they were from a neighbourhood school. Those who articulate well, I usually guess that they are from mission schools (schools run by Catholic nuns and brothers). They are the ones who have a more (what I call) British accent.

My friend's boyfriend goes one step further as to be able to tell from which mission school the kids are from (that is assuming when they are not in their uniforms). I must hand it to him for I have not reached that level yet.

This is not to say that students from neighbourhood schools do not speak well. Most of my friends/ colleagues from neighbourhood schools do speak very well and I feel that is partly due to their parents' influence.

When I chat with friends, we often talk about which dialect group talks the loudest, which has the prettiest ladies (Teochews) and which makes the best husbands (Hainanese). We also compare Shanghainese and Beijing-ers (that's what I like to call them) and there is always a consensus as to who we prefer to be our friends.

When I see people jaywalking, throwing rubbish on the ground or spitting, I start to wonder whether they are Singaporeans or not. For we were taught from a very young age not to do so. A large part of these not-so-good habits start from young and at home though, and sometimes even if you are a Singaporean, you may still do it because you have seen your parents and your parent's parents do it. You may feel that it is nothing wrong.

I have also heard many stories about travel and how the Americans and Europeans think that everyone who have slit eyes are all from China. There are also stories from our parents' generation where the 'ang mo' think that Singapore is somewhere in China.

My own little personal experience is the surprised look on this Taiwanese auntie's face when she realised that I am a Singaporean. She expressed that she did not know that Singaporeans could speak Mandarin so well.

Therefore, with this knowledge that we are representing something as large as our own country, the onus then falls upon ourselves to be good representatives and not let people think otherwise.

There is then, two sides to the story: either you feel 'burdened' or you take pride when you step out of your house. Choose one.

First world shopping centres with third world toilets

I must say that our shopping centres are of a suitable standard. Sometimes, the air-conditioning can even be compared to that of south pole. Not that I am really complaining though. As long as it keeps me out of the rain and heat and I get to buy some stuff and have some snacks, I am happy.

However, the one thing I cannot fathom is how our toilet can be so third world? I am so ashamed of it myself and would rather not step into it if I could help it. Either the people of Singapore do not know how to pee properly or we seriously need to send our hygiene officers overseas for some training and refresher courses.

I just think that that it is totally unacceptable to have perpetual wet floor and...and...that stench!! It is not a good enough excuse that a certain group of people who need to wash up after doing their 'business' have made the floor wet. Where is the cleaner? Really, we cannot just put the blame on one group of people too. What about those who cannot aim??

I sm simply ashamed at the state of our public toilets. Of course, not all the toilets are like that. This particular one that I have just used extensively for as my example, is situated in the heartlands (suburban area, so to speak). Still, I think it should not be in this sorry state.

Confession

The act of contrition has gone through my mind at least a thousand times. I was so afraid that I was going to forget some parts that I started memorising like two weeks before penitential service.

I also went through the whole process of making a confession and was really thankful that Catholic News had a step-by-step guide on how to make one. I used to chuck it aside as I was really petrified of going to one, having to sit in a room (I haven't actually tried that) or sit next to a priest and 'fess up all your siins.

I was really determined to go though, even though many have told me that it between me and God and a priest recently told me that I do not have to go through it if I did not want to, but I felt that I must face my fear.

For the whole week, I searched heart and soul (ok, not really but it was close) to see what I have done wrong and can 'fess up. It came to the point like I was going to write an essay: "keep it to three points", I told myself.

I almost did not make it for pennitential service again. Like chicken out, you know? That is what I am really good at sometimes. I wanted to give the excuse that it was raining and I had to send my Dad to the community club for his weekly lessons with his students that I had to miss it. Lame.

I pushed myself to go still. The starting out time from home was later than I planned and usually, if this happens, I would rather not go out in the end. I forced myself to though.

Surprise, surprise! I got there and was early! I was greeted by wardens and was given a pamphlet on how to make a good confession and I sat down. I was half expecting mass to start for this was what happened when I attended SFX and if I remember correctly, St Anne's too. Nothing.

Then I heard someone tell her friend that the area I was sitting at was for one to make confessions in Mandarin. Oops! So I moved to the only obvious choice, Father Loisseau (which, if I remember correctly, means bird in French and he is indeed French). Can't go wrong for I don't think he speaks Mandarin.

I realised that this was just going to be people making confessions and that's that. There was no mass to go with, just queueing up to go for confession. As usual, there is a group of people who could not stop talking or making noise. This time, it was father and daughter!!! They could not stop talking and the mother/wife was obviously embarrassed by their actions.

Many a time did I want to turn back and tell them, "Do you mind??? You are in the house of God. Respect it! And are you not suppose to be reflecting upon your sins and not be talking?"

I stopped myself from doing this for it would just go to show how intolerant I am. I was even more amused when daughter started talking about PSP with her Dad and how the Dad said something about not getting it for her anymore. IT IS after all the season of Lent. You are supposed to give up something that you like very much, for example, refrain from buying such material stuff as PSP. I am in great wonderment as to why the Dad was not a role model for his child and has joined in her senseless bantering and how he has not corrected her ideas of Lent. Worrying.

Well, the only consolation is that I do not need to say a word for God will be theirjudge and to each his own. They eventually quietened down to very hushed whispers (not that they were not speaking in hushed tones before).

As for my confession? The priest did not even ask me to recite the act of contrition. Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!! And Phew!!!! Aaaahhhhh because I memorised all this for nothing and phew because I did not have to say it and it was all over.

You know, even though I used to dislike confessions like these, I have a feeling that I may just get addicted to it. We'll see.

What goes around comes around

Remember how I was grumbling about bad service at Muji? I got a taste of my own medicine, and on my birthday as well. What luck! What a thing to get for a birthday 'present'.

I do not usually go on customer service counter that often. Most of the time, I am stationed at the advisory counter. For the last few days though, branch was short of staff and I was roped in to man the counter on my own.

I would say lots of interesting things happened and turns out, not so nice things happened too. There was this old man who, either genuinely or purposely, could not find the books that he wants and was insisting that I find it for him immediately. Then our online catalogue was down and I could not find the exact call number for him. I told him to be patient but he kind of expected me to give him a miracle.

There was a queue forming and so, I told him to please go browse at other books first and I would help him later. Next in line was this lady, who knew that she could scan her card at this machine to check the due dates of the books she borrowed but just decided that she wanted to check the books one by one.

I was getting a little agitated. For one, I did not like people who were not self-reliant (I know I should not be like that but at that point of time, I could not help it). Secondly, while I was serving her, someone cut in to tell me that there was no power supply in the powerpoint outlets and they could not charge their laptops.

According to this female patron, I started shaking my head and I slammed down her books which was bad customer service. She wrote in to complain against me. Said I was rude and that I should be trained to handle stress with a smile etc, etc. Oh, and she had to stress that she was a trainer in customer service.

SO WHAT???

If she was a trainer then she should be even more aware of how to be good customer. She jolly well knew that she could check the machine (for she apologised and mumbled that she knew she could check from the machine before requesting me to check).

She should even be more empathetic towards customer service officers who may be overworked (can't say if we are underpayed. Depends on company I guess).

I mean I give a piece of my mind and although I often 'threaten' (to my friends only. Not even to the service provider) to write in, I rarely do.

I think that Singaporeans (including myself...sometimes) are too obnoxious and not gracious enough as customers. From the point of view of the service provider and a customer myself, I think these things go both ways.

If you think "Customers are King", I think customers are king of giving you bullshit. Myself as a customer included.

P/S: I make no excuses for myself as I do admit that sometimes I can be a lousy customer too. Depending on sitaution though, it could be that the service provider 'provoked' me first.

Horrible Muji

Despite the fact that it is a Japanese company (who pride themselves with impeccable services and products), Muji has never had really good customer service.

This is not the first time that I am annoyed with their customer service, or lack thereof.

I was at the Paragon outlet and was happily picking up items to buy. The normal thing to do when you need to pay, is to queue up. I was in the queue but this stupid bitch who came after me, walked in front of me (there was a big gap between the queue poles and the cashier itself).

This bitch acted so bloody polite by asking this other couple whether they wanted to go first as they already had their stuff on the counter. That couple said it was ok and she went ahead!!!

Stupid staff at the cashier did not say anything and processed her payment. I was so angry I wanted to put down everything and go. There was however, a bag that I really liked and it was the last piece. I decided to queue up and give the cashier a piece of my mind.

I told the cashier that it was pointless to have a queueing system or any queue poles if the staff are not going to abide by the queueing rules. You treat the customer like stupid by making them stand there and not serve them; asking them to abide by the rules while you don't. I was so angry that I did not even reply or look at the cashier when he spewed out the whole strong of standard apologies that I really did not want to hear at that point of time.

I was angry at the staff. More so, I was angry at myself. My eyes were ready to flip and roll. I was about to spew gibberish from my mouth. I was still so angry that when I reached home, I wanted to puke. That was really bad, I know, but that was how mad I was. Why was I so bloody polite? Why was I so bloody timid and not shout at when the bitch was right in front of the cashier? Shout out that the queue is rightfully where I was standing? In this way, I could have felt better. In this way, I could have no need to scold an unnecessary person.

Actually, as a service person myself, I hold him half responsible for what had happened. He, as a staff could have been more attentive and regulated the queue. He should have been sharp enough to see who was in the queue and who was not. He should not have simply be intimidated by that bitch (according to my Spacecake, she overhead how the woman was very demanding and was being a bit difficult on staff).

I demand that level of service for I myself give that sort of service. I almost always go by queue order. There was this once, this colleague's wife wanted to cut queue (just because she could not control her son and he was running all over the library), I told her matter of factly that I was actually serving another customer and that she would have to join the queue. Only on second 'pleading' did I ask my customer for permission to serve her first.

Even then, I was really agitated. I felt there was a bit of an abuse of rights in a way. Plus the most ironical part is that her spouse was in charge of customer service in our organisation. SIGH!

I would like to think I treat all my customers equally, even the young ones. When I am at the Children's counter, an adult might come along while I am serving a young boy/girl. I will tell them nicely that I am helping them. I think it is my way of showing that they are as important as an adult and hopefully, just hopefully, in a small little, that this little gesture will stick in their minds that they should treat other people like that too. Equally.

Thinking back though, I there was really nothing to be so angry about and there are better things to be angry at. Customer service levels are just this bad that then few that are good are like treasures found. Many of my friends have resigned to fate but I just refused to take things lying down. Maybe it is time I should. Then I would be able to live longer. Hahaha!

p/s: I know some of you might have heard the story about the colleague's wife more than once but sorry, I have not blogged about it before and I wanted it to go down in Internet history (Hahaha!!). So here it is.

MRT sighting: 1

This is not a posting of the paranormal. It is just plain old ramblings about what I encounter everyday on the train, on my way to work.

I was appalled today coz I saw this old man board the train and nobody, and I mean NOBODY stood up!! The men were either sleeping or reading their newspapers. I could not stop staring at this young man who looked too fit to be sitting down.

The ladies, I would excuse a little. First of all, they are my kind and secondly, some of them are in heels. I know what i is like to be in heels and standing-painful.

I coud not take it anymore. I asked the old man if he needed to sit down and he said "never mind". Guess what??????? Nobody, absolutely NOBODY budged!!!!!!!!

I mentally slapped each and everyone of them on the head ala Ally McBeal. Even though my friends and I discuss about how Singaporeans are all like that and we are not supposed to be surprised by this type of attitude, I still AM...appalled.

Usually, someone would stand up, albeit reluctantly. This time, nobody did! They did not even try. It was only at the next stop that someone was getting off that the old man got a seat. To me, that is no longer respecting the old. It was more sort of a by-the-way sort of gesture, which I still find unacceptable.

I sms-ed my housemate and she could only go "Aiyo...tsk,tsk,tsk!"

I made a mental note to myself that what goes around comes around. If I did not want to be treated this way, I better lead by example.

A matter of courtesy

I have a friend. Let's call her Kelly.

Kelly is very sociable and she is very good at networking. I got to know her through my housemate. Through the years, I can say, we became pretty good friends.

There is one thing that I observed about Kelly that I found rather irritating though. My housemate and I were out with some new-found friends and Kelly met us a little later with another friend. After settling down and ordering food, Kelly proceeded to make small talk with new-found friend and I (we were actually already in the midst of having a conversation).

Kelly asks, we answer. It is supposed to be a two-way interaction. Halfway through answering her though, Kelly's eye contact drifted away towards her friend and we were just left hanging, halfway done with our conversation. She started to listen to her friend's woes.

I do understand that her friend is in a bit of a rut and needs to let it all out, but I think the onus was on Kelly to carry out one conversation at a time instead of leaving the conversation halfway. I don't think she realises it but what she did was rude.

I was stuck in mid-sentence, eyes trying to make contact with her while she started talking to her friend. New-found friend sess this and politely continues the conversation with me.

I don't think Kelly knows what is wrong. According to my housemate, she sees this as multi-tasking. I guess I am stickler for good manners and just don't think it is right to behave like that. I believe in looking into people's eyes when talking to them to show that you are listening and that you are sincere about making that connection.

Out of courtesy or chivalry?

I would like to gloat that I've done a good deed this morning, but no, I think I just did my part as a member of the public and a citizen of this country (what a load of crap. Hahahaha!).

I made this guy give up his seat on the MRT train for a pregnant lady. It was very obvious that she was quite heavily pregnant (and judging from the outbreak on her face and her nauseous actions that she was expecting a boy). The two priority (for the aged and pregnant ladies, generally) seats were taken up by an old man and an office-going male executive.

The choice was obvious. I purposely asked the lady whether she needed a seat and then I proceeded to ask the gentleman whether he would be so kind to give up his. Of course! If he didn't, I don't even think that he would be fit to be called an animal. Hahaha!

Well, that is a good start to the day for me. I gave myself the title of "unofficial policewoman on board MRT trains" a few days ago. I am sure you can see why.

Of twigs, twines and creepers

Last Friday, my housemate and I met up for dinner and shopping.

When we took the MRT home, there was quite a 'sight' to behold, a free-for-all show. We were seated in the 2-seater, near the divider between 2 cars of the train. Right across from us was a young Malay couple. The girl was very 'tired' and was trying to find a comfortable position to rest. All this while, her hand did not leave the 'sight' of her boyfriend's (I presume) thigh. In fact, it rode higher and higher up his groin.

They finally came to a comfortable 'position' whereby the guy put his bag pack on top of his lap to act as pillow for the girl. While my housemate did not really think much of it, I wandered out loud (to her of course. Not that loudly)as to whether he was covering up something else of his own!!

Just when we thought this was way too much PDA (public display of affection)my housemate informed me that from her POV (point of view) there was something more 'exciting' going on. This Chinese couple was standing at the divider, entwined together, engaged in very serious smooching, make out.

My housemate and I could not stop giggling like silly school girls. I wandered if these kids (which I have no doubt they are) were so desperate that they needed to have such PDA. Go find a room!!!

My housemate reasoned that it is because they have no money and they don't have their own pad that they therefore resort to this.

Because I could not see from my side , I kept asking my housemate for updates of the Chinese couple.

"So, what is going on now?", I ask.

"Hmmm...mmmm....it looks like the whole face kena* swallowed. Muarhahahahaha......!", chuckled my housemate.

We looked at each other for like, one second, and laughed some more. All the time, trying to stifle our laughter for fear that we may get beaten up (NOT!)

By now, I think the Malay couple caught our drift and they started behaving themselves a little more. Or was that the look of irritation on the girl's face? She shouldn't be.

Then my housemate updated me:"Woah! Now the girl touching the guy's butt already!"

I wondered,"How is he going to get off the train without showing his rock down there? Carry her like a mannequin to block it? Oh, his t-shirt quite long. I think can cover lah! Hahahahaha!"

My housemate then gave me the idea for the title of this posting. She said the Chinese couple looked like twines and twigs (because they were so skinny and entwined together). She did not know what to name the Malay couple and so I suggested "creepers". Creepers grow close to the ground and expand kind of sideways. Their actions look like just like that.

I hope that these couples realise that this sort of PDA is not cool at all. It is a very juvenile sort of action. If the public want to watch, they have every right to. The couple in question cannot blame them for staring as they were the ones who chose and decided to make out in public anyway.

I used to feel embarrassed for such couples and embarrassed to watch them as well. Now, I sort of stare shamelessly in the hope that they realise that it is not nice doing this in public and to stop. Teens being teens, they seldom do.