"Mini" Joys in Life!

Dear Diary,

Sometimes in the midst of all the work and the resulting fatigue, there are always pleasant surprises and moments that tell me that God does not forget me! Hee… A twist of events and suddenly I have an extra pharmacist at hand for this coming Sunday. So I am removing my duty on that day and will get my first rest-day in 2 weeks! It is something to cheer about especially when I have already resigned to working 3 weeks in a row without a rest day! Haha… The locum pharmacist who just came back from Hong Kong, bought some baked pastries for me! There were 3 different kinds including the “Lao Po Bing” (Wife’s biscuits), which is my favourite! Yeah! Greatly appreciate those gifts. =) Haven’t got a wife but like eating “Wife’s biscuits”, which are actually baked pastries with flaky skin and a sweet soft interior! Haha… A fellow colleague was telling me that day, “Ok Andrew, I am fine with all the over-time you have planned for me. No wonder I am still single, haha…”

“I am sorry about that but you are really not alone… I am also single and I am working over-time so often that I can’t find to go out and know more girls!” I told her and we burst into laughter. As if I would find any girl, should I have time to roam the city in the evenings…. Haha. Currently, I don’t see any prospect of finding my life partner for the time being. My sister who visited me at my pharmacy recently, said that I look like the “aunties’ favourite”… Errr… anyway…

Yup, anyway… I went for a talk that was held in the Straits Café of Hotel Rendezvous yesterday morning. The Western buffet breakfast served was splendid! It was such a long time since I ate a Western buffet breakfast in a hotel. Those corned beef reminded me of my childhood all-time favourite dish! Did not manage to get the chef to fry a order-to-make personal omelette though… I saw a former TTSH pharmacist who is now working as regulatory officer in that company. She was really friendly! Can’t remember she was that friendly when I was a pre-registration pharmacist then, keke… maybe it is all about the working environment. I sure hope all of my former fellow pre-registration pharmacists now working in TTSH are still patient and nice, haha… or have they become fierce and scaring the current batch of pre-registration pharmacists? Hee…

After that great breakfast and that talk by a British medical doctor, I took a walk towards Orchard Road Presbyterian Church (ORPC). I did not go to church on that Sunday that passed, so I thought… since it was still quite early to go to work, I could just pop into the church and pray a little. However to my dismay, the church was closed. Oh well… if that was an Anglican church or a Catholic church, it would have been opened. These churches should learn to leave their doors open to public! ;-)

Recently, a former pre-registration colleague dropped me an email asking me what I am aiming to do in the near future. I was particularly cheeky that day and so I typed as below. Just an extract of the entire email….

Extract from email

I could be doing one of these:

1. Studying theological college and becoming a priest
/ pastor? After all, counselling an errant person is
easier because they are less likely to shout at you
unlike the customers and patients a pharmacist face.

2. Studying MBA early. I don't have the job experience
to enter a good business school. So what? I will just
get into any school that will give me that title.
After all, what greater achievement is there than to
be leading a business team at a young age of 28?

3. Study medicine. What better way to enjoy life and
continue to receive pocket money from parents. Maybe I
can even get my life partner in the university this
time. I can't be such a loser, can I? Haha...

4. Study PhD in pharmacy. Although I always complain
about pharmacy work, I suddenly get inspired by all
the long working hours of my job. I decide I
want to specialise in pharmacy. Maybe I can set up the
first lab in a retail pharmacy and they may let me
work 24 hours per day. Cool!

5. I am not studying anymore. I must be nuts if I do.
I will just take an exam and then pretend to go abroad
to attend some Taiwanese forest school. I will then
just be a celibate hermit and just breathe fresh air
and drink stream waters.

When I read it later, I thought it was quite funny that I could be that creative, haha… so I will just post this up here. The early registration for the Standard Chartered marathon is ending in 2 days’ time. As I browsed through my diary, I realise that if I can complete a 15-km run a week just before that half-marathon which I am interested in running, I am quite sure I could complete it (don’t know about how bad the timing are though). How do I know? Precedence. Should I give myself one more chance? I will see how… may go for a run in the morning tomorrow!

God Bless,

Andrew