That’s what I call service!

Posted on December 5, 2007 by The Giddy Tigress

Last Monday, we took the day off from work to take our car for her major service. Our appointment with the Toyota service center was at 8:30a.m. and since we knew that if we dropped Ethan off at the baby sitter’s before that, we would be late, we decided that Ethan got to come along too. So off we drove towards Farquhar Street, where the service center is located…or so we thought. Normally there would be hordes of Toyota cars lining up outside the center, but incredulously that day, the road was totally empty! The showroom was devoid of life, and all the cars in it were gone! Where once there was a center that bustled with activity, now there was only an empty building space. Can’t be that robbers stole the cars… :O We drove round the block and stopped in front of the entrance where there was a plain piece of paper informing us that the center had been relocated to Jalan Sungai Pinang about a week ago. A simple map showed us the location of the new service center but we were not familiar with the area at all! Nevertheless we had to go there anyway, so we decided to try looking for it.

When we arrived in the vicinity of Jalan Sungai Pinang, and found that there was no Toyota service center in sight, I gave the center a call. The receptionist tried her very best to direct us to the new center, and trust me, it was difficult, because all the landmarks she mentioned were not familiar to us at all! After some driving round and round, we finally saw that big Toyota signage. Hallelujah! The new showroom and service center was humongous! And there were plenty of car parking lots available too! We were rather upset that we were given the run around because we were not informed of the change in location prior to our service date though, but that was soon forgotten after we dropped our car off and took a look-see round the new premises.

In addition to a bigger space for servicing cars that would equal a faster service completion, this new center boasts an impressive showroom out front. The waiting area comprised many many tables and chairs and they also extended into a lounge with a water fountained wall and TV for entertainment. Of course, customers could also have a cuppa and read the papers while waiting. I also noticed three PCs which I think are internet-ready, but it wasn’t switched on when I tried. Nevertheless, I found out that the lounge area is free wi-fi activated, which means that the next time we service our car, we can bring our laptops and work there, without having to apply for leave!

We didn’t wait around for our car to complete its service though. We took a cab to Queensbay Mall instead. But all in all, the Toyota service experience is excellent. Certainly makes us think twice about getting a car OTHER than a Toyota the next time we do!

Posted in Thoughts & Scribblings | 15 Comments

Arabian nights and genies

Posted on December 4, 2007 by The Giddy Tigress


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The very mention of Dubai brings to mind the majestic towering Burj Al Arab, the luxurious hotel with creates a distinctive silhouette in the United Arab Emirate’s skyline. This “Tower of the Arabs” has attracted many a visitor from near and far, with its impressive architecture and immaculate design. However, I doubt I would be able to treat myself to a night’s stay at this hotel, should I ever have the chance to visit Dubai, unless of course someone *else* paid for it. I’ve read that prices start at USD1,000 per night going up to as high as USD15,000 per night. Of course, let’s not even begin to talk about the price of an overnight stay in the Royal Suite. I don’t think my entire life savings would even come close to paying for it! Hey, there’s a reason why this hotel is touted as one of the most expensive hotels in the world!

Obviously this sort of accommodation is way over my budget. If ever I had a chance to travel to Dubai, I would probably stay in one of the dubai hotel apartments instead. At http://www.dubaiapartments.biz/ a list of dubai furnished apartments is just the tip of the iceberg of what the site can offer. I know I can certainly find something to suit my budget and at the same time allow room for some shopping too! My cousin-in-law who resides in Dubai will be thrilled to have me as a shopping buddy, I’m sure. She recently found me on Facebook, so we have resumed our correspondence 🙂 Who knows, I might even have the opportunity to bunk in with her at her condo, and enjoy her home cooking there too! Or perhaps at the time I visit, she could already be staying in one of those gorgeous dubai villas! I just know we are gonna spend such a good time together!

Now…to start saving for that flight ticket…or to start hoping that a genie in a lamp would appear… 🙂

Posted in Rainmakers | 4 Comments

Choose now: ham or eggs??

Posted on November 30, 2007 by The Giddy Tigress


Photo credits

Last night’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy highlighted the story of ham and eggs. Do you consider yourself the ham or the eggs? Notice that with the ham and the eggs, the chicken is involved in the process…but the pig is committed. Similarly in blogging, think about it: ham or eggs – which would you rather be and which one are you?

Pablo came up with a writing project for the month of November which will help each individual blogger answer that question, and perhaps realize what really spurs them on. I’m writing this on the last date of the project period, hoping to complete it before midnight tonight.

1. Why do you blog?

I started blogging in mid-2006, because I wanted to journal the development of my son Ethan. It was a fantastic way of sharing my thoughts and ideas as a first-time mother and of course, Ethan’s *fans* would be able to see his pictures online even though they stayed far away. It was fun to capture funny and memorable moments of Ethan growing up and equally liberating to receive feedback from the people who read my blog. Many of my fellow breastfeeding mommy friends followed suit and soon blogging became second nature.

By and by, I decided to start my own personal blog where I was able to let myself go and express myself in thoughts, words and pictures. Blogging was an outlet for me to explore what my writing could do and I often found myself intrigued by things which were irrelevant to me before I started blogging. I blog because it is my way of reaching the world, to show people how I view the world through my eyes. I also blog because I find it is a very interesting way for me to be creative, and even though I do pepper my blog with some sponsored posts every now and then, I try my best to craft it in such a way as to entice visitors, adding that hint of personal flavor whenever possible.

2. What do you hope to achieve by blogging?

My blogs will serve as a legacy for my future generations. I have no idea if or when I will stop blogging, but until that happens, I hope that my blogs will chronicle my life and how I was touched by what happened around me at that point in time. I hope to write more meaningful posts that would make my readers go, “Hmmm…she’s so right. No why didn’t I think of that before?” And especially with Ethan’s blog, I hope that through it, he will be able to learn about himself and of course, about his Mommy.

3. How much time do you spend a day doing blogging related work?

I spend an average of 2 hours doing blogging related work. Most of the picture editing (if any) is done at home though, but that depends on whether I have time or energy to do so right before I hit the pillows.

I would like to equate myself as the *ham* when it comes to blogging. I want to be committed and to ensure that my blog means something. It’s a long road ahead, and I am learning so many new things every single day. But thanks Pablo, for making me reflect about blogging and about myself.

So what are you: ham or eggs?

Posted in Blogging, Thoughts & Scribblings | 14 Comments

Listen to the voice of reason

Posted on November 30, 2007 by The Giddy Tigress

Being a parent poses many challenges. But through these challenges, I have learnt countless things. Among others, parenthood has made me learn how to survive on only 2-3 hours of interrupted sleep at night, how to eat things really quickly, specifically to feed myself and my kid at the same time and how to maintain a balanced family life. Parenthood has also made me a more tolerant person. I have to keep my cool at all times… okay, at MOST times. But I have to admit that it is an ongoing learning process, and I hope to better myself day after day. Ethan is already a toddler now and judging by his personality and behaviour, I know for a fact that I will have to face the issue of disciplining him soon. Like *really* soon.

There are so many methods of disciplining a child nowadays, and I think some methods work better on certain kids, more so than others. My good girl friend told me that she eventually had to use the cane on her son although she thought she wouldn’t have to initially. I sure do not want a repeat of what she went through. So when Jacelyn asked what my plan for disciplining kids is, I can certainly say that I do not intend to use the cane, preferring instead to use reason. Well, I might be forced to change my mind in future, but at this moment, this is what I am feeling. I am hoping that by the time Ethan learns how to communicate effectively with my hubby and me, we would be able to instill some form of discipline through reasoning and understanding. Threatening to use the cane and not following through on that threat is meaningless, so that option is totally out for me. As far as I am concerned, my ultimate priority would be to be firm and make my child understand and realize what he did was wrong, and to ensure he knows I was not happy with what he did. I would probably utilize the Super Nanny approved toddler “time out” chair method to make my child reflect on what he did, to learn the meaning of “sorry” and to promise never to do it again.


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I’m wondering if Paik Ling shares my sentiments…

*********************************************************
Instructions :
**Start Copying Here**
Tag 5 bloggers
1st – You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.
2nd – Let the blogger know that they have been tagged by leaving comment in their blog.

1. Miche does not spare the rod.
2. Msaufong spare the rod but not the VOICE.
3. Lemonjude reasonably spare the rod.
4. Shoppingmum spares the rod.
5. MummyInVain does not think of sparing the rod.
6. Giddy Tiger believes in disciplining with reasoning.

Posted in Memes & Tags, Parenting & Motherhood | 8 Comments

Blink blink bikini & beaches

Posted on November 30, 2007 by The Giddy Tigress

My department has a team building event every now and then. It is a time for us to let our hair down and forget about work and also to cultivate team camaraderie. Things we have done include visits to museums and parks, lunch or dinner treats and even paintball, the latter being the most painful team building experience of all, although it was certainly an enjoyable one. For once, I wish we could do something different, something more in the lines of “getting away from it all”. Since my team has evolved into a global team now, it would be awesome if our next team building could be a vacation in Hawaii. Am I asking too much? Heh… time will only tell. The Hawaii Travel Blog is enticing and tempting me with glorious pictures of endless sand and clear blue waters. Certainly an ideal getaway for the weary overworked soul.

Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands, and its name means “The Gathering Place” – is that totally suitable for a team event or what? Gathering..team event…geddit, geddit?  I must inform the senior management team to strongly consider this venue by checking out the Oahu Vacation Information in its entirety. I can see it all now, one week in Oahu paradise, relaxing away in one of the Oahu vacation rentals with nary a worry in the world. Sure sounds like something I could use right now. Plus, I could certainly put my bikini to good use 🙂

Posted in Rainmakers | 1 Comment