Musing for the Past Week

Dear Diary,

It is all too easy to just not keep up with the job or the routine… even as I type this entry, it is more “duty” than “spontaneity”. Sometimes, when the timetable is packed… it is hard to just pause and listen. Yup, listen to your heart…. Listen to God… listen to the stillness of the moment. Last week was a really packed week. Got some dinner treats from friends on Monday (16/4) and Tuesday (17/4). I can’t help noticing that I am receiving more treats now than before. I was giving more treats to people when I was a university student.

Monday’s (16-4-2007) treat at the Nihon Mura restaurant in Revenue House Building was awesome. Initially, I was a little uncertain if I had much to talk to this little friend whom I had not really spoken for years… Anyway, she was great company and she just never let a single moment die into silence, haha… a very chirpy girl! The Japanese food was served like the “Movenpick Marche” style (if you get what I meant) in a surprisingly cosy Japanese-like setting. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. You gotta go there to try Japanese food if you like eating Japanese food on a budget, haha…

Tuesday (17-4-2007) was even more incredible. Had dinner with someone whom I spoke to face-to-face only once in recallable history (and that was over my pharmacy counter). However, it was a good chat for more than 2 hours over a dinner at the “Indulge” restaurant in “The Cathay” building. Admire how she is all ready for a long holiday trip alone. Frankly, I don’t think I will ever go for a tour alone. I have a couple of friends who go for tours alone… yeah, to Europe… to Vietnam… to Japan…. to Australia. I don’t know how they survived. Obviously, they are in a different class from me. =) Nonetheless, I am game for a back-pack trip to a rural country! I used to aim to visit Europe for my honeymoon if I ever got married, haha… Then again, backpacking in the third world countries seem to be increasingly captivating. Maybe all the working life have made me appreciate the scenic nature of the countryside.

Wednesday (18-4-2007), I was discussing with a sales rep how to get her product into a particular hospital formulary. I just love a little strategising. She looks very much like a former classmate of mine. Frankly, I seem to get along better with sales reps who seek opinions and get me a little involved in their plans. Usually, don’t really build very close relationships with those who just want to bribe me with some samples every time they see me. How superficial this kind of communication can be. Anyway, as if the day wasn’t busy enough…. Still had to rush down to attend the P-Medicine talk. To put it bluntly, the pharmacists obviously aren’t very proud of their peers or as a matter of fact, their profession. You should see the number of pharmacists who took their leave from the seminar the moment the medical consultant left the stage, and the pharmacist scheduled to speak mounted the stage. Even a “disloyal” pharmacist like me, could be appalled by such a snub to the poor pharmacist speaker. There is really something inherently wrong with this profession.

Thursday (19-4-2007), a day to remember. A day of freedom literally, haha… I went to the Singapore Management University (SMU) to give a one-day lecture on health topics to a bunch of managers. Was kinda encouraged by their response towards the topics discussed. Apparently, they were interested in what I was sharing with them. Gave them a good 1.5-hour lunch break which I took a walk all the way to Funan Centre to visit a new colleague at her pharmacy. Back at SMU, I administered the exam and then it was home sweet home. Felt good to be reaching home early for dinner, haha…

Friday (20-4-2007), was manning my pharmacy and then…. From a distance… hey, isn’t that girl from my church? I never really spoke to her in church but somehow… I just ghosted over to say “Hi” and spoke to her for a while. Gotta ask for her mobile phone number the next time I see her around, haha… =P

Saturday (21-4-2007), had a long messaging session with a locum pharmacist. I thought she read me like a book. She told me that I did not lack confidence. I just am afraid of my own confidence and afraid of failure, she told me. Okay, I think she is so right. Very often, I am not daring enough because I have been brought up like an elitist in all the elite schools… Maybe I have to work on that. It is strange that I never really spoken to this locum pharmacist face-to-face but I do cherish my friendship with her, haha… =)

Sunday (22-4-2007), a normal Sunday… except that I had to rush back to work after church because I was the on-call pharmacist and got activated. How demoralising!

Monday (23-4-2007), the pharmacist who helps me with the roster has gone for her holidays. Many pharmacists called in sick and urgent leaves and what have you… oh well, visited a fellow colleague and had a long chat with him. We even had lunch together. We were university classmates but it seemed so long ago that we really had a good heart-to-heart chat. Basically, it was about work and our spiritual lives. It is beginning to be hard to keep a good balance of both. However, we are convinced that we can be good retail pharmacists and good Christians at the same time! =) Went to the National library in the late afternoon and spent hours reading there. I love reading and miss those days that I could just sit in the library and read and read and read…. I was brought up a bookworm. =P Met up with an old friend and it was always nice to talk to him. Guess he always bring a perspective different from those of my pharmacist peers. Had dinner at Thai Express Bistro in Raffles City before we took a long walk to Clarke Quay and Fullerton. We could see that the night life is very much alive and it is not about work, haha…

Tuesday (24-4-2007) evening…. Or rather Wednesday early morning… sad that Manchester United came out victors over AC Milan at Old Trafford (Semi Finals first leg). Getting frustrated that we Singaporeans don’t even get to watch Champions League football on television. I had always watched the Champions League semi-finals for the last few years. This year, not a single match on television!!!! What sort of programs are our television corporation giving to us? Reruns and reruns…. Sigh.

Today!!!! A friend came to visit me at my pharmacy and gave me ride to somewhere else for lunch. It was nice to be eating at a different place. I am kinda sick of the food sold around my pharmacy area. He looked stressed. Is this an expected phase in life? Will we outgrow the uncertainties and stress in our lives? I sure hope so. Can’t imagine being preoccupied about career advancement in my 30s. Hopefully, I would have gone on to family life and growing good obedient children who go to Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls’ school, hahaha…. joking….

Alright. That’s all. Maybe I should print this entry out and just stick into my written diary. Just as detailed as I wanted. More contemplative entries the next time round.

God Bless,

Andrew