So 2010 is ending. It's been a busy year. It started in snow, and within a week I'd moved to Singapore, and 3 days later started a new job. Within 2 months I had a new flat. That's probably enough for most years, but this year I also decided I would sit for chartered engineer status - weeks of preparation, and a weekend of exams. And 2 weeks after that I got married, then held a second reception 2 months after that. Not bad work.
So my aim for 2011 is not to undo all my good work of 2010.
Having been in Singapore for almost a year I have to admit that I rarely miss the UK. The big exception is friends. One of the very strange things is that on a typical day, the only person who I see who has known me for more than a year is my wife; this can be a strange feeling. Still, having no history can be an advantage. (And this is just a little harsh - there are quite a few Singaporeans whom I made friends with when they were in the UK).
In many ways engineering life out here is pretty similar to the UK - we use the same codes, we worry about the same sort of things. I stay far more in the same place - in fact, there hasn't been a work day when I haven't been in the office at some point. This has meant a lot less time in cars which has got to be a good thing.
I think that Singapore is gnenerally happier than the UK that I left. This is not quite a sad a reflection on the UK as it may seem - Singapore is a very nice place to live. Part of this is that Singapore hasn't slowed down economically - people are mostly in work. There is not news each week of another corporate disaster, and people are looking forwards hopefully rather than with dread. Then there is the weather - being cold is far worse than being hot. It only takes me a few minutes to cool down after over heating. Warming up takes far longer, and can be very hard to achieve if you don't want to spend a fortune on gas.
The Dodgess and I really loved both the Singaporean and UK weddings - we had a great time at each. The other day I'd had a bad day at work... by the time that I left I was fuming. I had a couple of hours to let this brew, and then I had decided that I would lease off all my frustration at the Dodgess. As soon as I saw her, all my problems were gone... and work was not a problem... that's why I married her.
Professionally, I passed my chartership exams. I thought doing them in Hong Kong, would be great. It wasn't. The only time the weather was nice was when I was in the exams. Which led to hours spent in an unmemorable hotel room. Possibly not a bad thing. I hear from a most reliable source (the Dodgess) that Hong Kong can be great, and I think that I will probably go there again next year to find out. Still, I'd far rather have had a poor weekend and passed, than have to sit the thing again!
So looking back - I did alot in 2010. As I said above, I really hope that I don't undo all that good in 2011. Looking forwards, in 2011 I hope to have some new and exciting projects at work and I hope we can do a little more exploring of Asia. And, within 12 days, there will be more than just my wife who I will have known for more than 1 year over here :)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Time
A year ago I had a white Christmas. I think it was even by the Met Office's description a white Christmas - which is to say snow actually fell on me. The day started in Birmingham, and the Dodgess and I drove to Cambridge, and we had a traditional family Christmas meal, inasmuch as anything that we do is particularly traditional. Still, it contained roast meat, roast potatoes, wine, crackers, and a traditional English pudding with brandy set into blue flames.
This year, all a little different. For a start, lets look at the temp - last year about 32F, this year still 32, but C. So I've spent pretty much the entire day in shorts and a t-shirt. It was white at times, but only because the rain was so heavy. As for the food, well, not quite the same. Our Christmas dinner was sausages, with cabbage, and potato gratin. A strangely Germanic lunch given those present: from Singapore, France, Singapore and me, from either side of the Atlantic depending on whether England or USA is doing better at sport. Perhaps the Germanic influence is a nod to my maternal ancestry?
Having opened some presents, we then went for a walk along the beach. We had a couple of cameras to play with - the Dodgess had our latest. I had my first camera, circa 1990, which doesn't even require a battery to operate. In fact, all it does it take photos with a 35mm lens. But, it does seem still to be working.
Dinner was effectively from a hawker centre, albeit a rather posher one. A seafood platter consisting of sea bass, chilli crab (the first time I've had the Singaporean speciality here) and clams. Served with the smell of sea water nearby too!
So it's been a good Christmas nice and relaxed. Nice and happy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas dinner was the second time that the Dodgess and I had eaten fish this week. The first was a complete disaster. Wanting a late dinner, but something more than a gobble down takeaway or hawker food, we opted for Fish and Co. Why? Well, we had eaten a couple of really nice meals with them previously this year, so why not?
Well, they had changed the menu this time. Taking off some of the more varied dishes, and offering instead 6 choices of fish and chips from 'around the world'. Seeminly, all they do is add a different cheese to the fish. Err... Sorry? Cheese? with Fish and Chips.
Now, I'm British (at least today I am, maybe after the ashes re-start I'll reconsider and become American). Being British, I have been exposed to a vast array of fish and chip shops. Not one has ever offered me cheese with fish. It had to be tried, if only for the same reason people stare at crashed cars. The Dodgess didn't fancy the cheese, so opted for the Pollock version. This was off, so back to the cod then.
My 'Japanese' version, served with some pathetic watery soy sauce (why??? it's vile with the batter - use vinegar!) also had that most Japanese cheese of mozarella stuffed inside. So, a British dish, served with Italian cheese, and called Japanese due to the presence of soy sauce and some seaweed?
On tasting, I discovered why I've never been offered cheese within battered fish. It's dreadful. The cheese only detracted from the flavour of the fish. It sort of leached it away without adding any flavour itself -- just the texture of slightly spongy rubber. FAIL
Still, at least my fish was cooked. The Dodgess's (and lets not forget that her first choice had run out) was not even that. Raw, progressing to frozen in the middle. As time was late we suggested they just abandon serving the Dodgess, and we'd get something on the way back for her. They insisted that a new portion would be ready within 3 minutes. It came 8 minutes later as I finished. So we packed it - then they gave us the bill, which included not only the Pollock (more expensive than the cod), but a service charge too - what for, pray tell???
Eventually, we took the cod home for free, but if they had really wanted to fix things, it wouldn't have been on the bill in the first place. Never again methinks, it was a truly hateful meal (company excepted, which was, as always, fabulous, even if a little hungry!)
This year, all a little different. For a start, lets look at the temp - last year about 32F, this year still 32, but C. So I've spent pretty much the entire day in shorts and a t-shirt. It was white at times, but only because the rain was so heavy. As for the food, well, not quite the same. Our Christmas dinner was sausages, with cabbage, and potato gratin. A strangely Germanic lunch given those present: from Singapore, France, Singapore and me, from either side of the Atlantic depending on whether England or USA is doing better at sport. Perhaps the Germanic influence is a nod to my maternal ancestry?
Having opened some presents, we then went for a walk along the beach. We had a couple of cameras to play with - the Dodgess had our latest. I had my first camera, circa 1990, which doesn't even require a battery to operate. In fact, all it does it take photos with a 35mm lens. But, it does seem still to be working.
Dinner was effectively from a hawker centre, albeit a rather posher one. A seafood platter consisting of sea bass, chilli crab (the first time I've had the Singaporean speciality here) and clams. Served with the smell of sea water nearby too!
So it's been a good Christmas nice and relaxed. Nice and happy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas dinner was the second time that the Dodgess and I had eaten fish this week. The first was a complete disaster. Wanting a late dinner, but something more than a gobble down takeaway or hawker food, we opted for Fish and Co. Why? Well, we had eaten a couple of really nice meals with them previously this year, so why not?
Well, they had changed the menu this time. Taking off some of the more varied dishes, and offering instead 6 choices of fish and chips from 'around the world'. Seeminly, all they do is add a different cheese to the fish. Err... Sorry? Cheese? with Fish and Chips.
Now, I'm British (at least today I am, maybe after the ashes re-start I'll reconsider and become American). Being British, I have been exposed to a vast array of fish and chip shops. Not one has ever offered me cheese with fish. It had to be tried, if only for the same reason people stare at crashed cars. The Dodgess didn't fancy the cheese, so opted for the Pollock version. This was off, so back to the cod then.
My 'Japanese' version, served with some pathetic watery soy sauce (why??? it's vile with the batter - use vinegar!) also had that most Japanese cheese of mozarella stuffed inside. So, a British dish, served with Italian cheese, and called Japanese due to the presence of soy sauce and some seaweed?
On tasting, I discovered why I've never been offered cheese within battered fish. It's dreadful. The cheese only detracted from the flavour of the fish. It sort of leached it away without adding any flavour itself -- just the texture of slightly spongy rubber. FAIL
Still, at least my fish was cooked. The Dodgess's (and lets not forget that her first choice had run out) was not even that. Raw, progressing to frozen in the middle. As time was late we suggested they just abandon serving the Dodgess, and we'd get something on the way back for her. They insisted that a new portion would be ready within 3 minutes. It came 8 minutes later as I finished. So we packed it - then they gave us the bill, which included not only the Pollock (more expensive than the cod), but a service charge too - what for, pray tell???
Eventually, we took the cod home for free, but if they had really wanted to fix things, it wouldn't have been on the bill in the first place. Never again methinks, it was a truly hateful meal (company excepted, which was, as always, fabulous, even if a little hungry!)
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Becoming Chartered
If you are to believe it, then I have been an amateur engineer until now. See, whilst everyone knows that it takes 7 years to become a doctor, and 7 years to become an architect, they don't realise the same is true of engineers. We, having spent 4 years racking up debts at university, then have to work for another 3, 4, or more years to prove our competence.
It is possible that you remember reading a post about a trip to Hong Kong - it really wasn't an enjoyable trip overall, however the main aim was achieved. I passed my Chartership exams.
That doesn't really do justice to the achievement. I PASSED MY CHARTERSHIP EXAMS.
That doesn't either, if I'm honest: I PASSED MY CHARTERSHIP EXAMS.
Now that... is better.
It's very hard to know how you have done in the chartership exams. They are rather like a driving test. They test what you can do, and judge it against a set of criteria, as opposed to a uni exam where they test you to, frankly, break.
So, having submitted two reports about my work, I turned up on the only nice day of my 3 in HK, and had a 15 minute presentation and 1 hour interview about my work. It was knackering. Then, on the Monday, I wrote about health and safety for 2 hours. 6 hours after I finished I was on my plane home.
And then I waited. Forgot about the whole thing whilst I got married. Waited a bit more, forgot about the whole thing whilst I got married again (well, held a second wedding reception), then figured I'd just been forgot. See, it never takes 3 months for exam results to come out.
The Institution of Civil Engineers, of which I am now officially a member, does not make a large song and dance of this. A letter attached to an email just lets me know I have to pay a bit more in fees. But still - it's nice. It's very good to have passed, and it should help me go forwards.
Of course, what Chartership really is, is a mark of ability. A symbol that you are trusted by the Engineering Community. A mark of respect. Something which employers value highly. That employers reward.
At least that is what it is in the UK. Or, rather more correctly, was, in the UK. Not so much any more I would suggest. Over here it means little more than diddly squat. They have their own exams, their own system - which takes a few years, and a few exams...
It is possible that you remember reading a post about a trip to Hong Kong - it really wasn't an enjoyable trip overall, however the main aim was achieved. I passed my Chartership exams.
That doesn't really do justice to the achievement. I PASSED MY CHARTERSHIP EXAMS.
That doesn't either, if I'm honest: I PASSED MY CHARTERSHIP EXAMS.
Now that... is better.
It's very hard to know how you have done in the chartership exams. They are rather like a driving test. They test what you can do, and judge it against a set of criteria, as opposed to a uni exam where they test you to, frankly, break.
So, having submitted two reports about my work, I turned up on the only nice day of my 3 in HK, and had a 15 minute presentation and 1 hour interview about my work. It was knackering. Then, on the Monday, I wrote about health and safety for 2 hours. 6 hours after I finished I was on my plane home.
And then I waited. Forgot about the whole thing whilst I got married. Waited a bit more, forgot about the whole thing whilst I got married again (well, held a second wedding reception), then figured I'd just been forgot. See, it never takes 3 months for exam results to come out.
The Institution of Civil Engineers, of which I am now officially a member, does not make a large song and dance of this. A letter attached to an email just lets me know I have to pay a bit more in fees. But still - it's nice. It's very good to have passed, and it should help me go forwards.
Of course, what Chartership really is, is a mark of ability. A symbol that you are trusted by the Engineering Community. A mark of respect. Something which employers value highly. That employers reward.
At least that is what it is in the UK. Or, rather more correctly, was, in the UK. Not so much any more I would suggest. Over here it means little more than diddly squat. They have their own exams, their own system - which takes a few years, and a few exams...
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
In Need of a Break
It's probably true that the week before someone goes on holiday, it can be defined that they need a break. But for me and the Dodgess, I think this is certainly true this time.
I have worked since January, in which time I've taken all of 5 days paid leave, and whilst two of those were related to going on a trip to Indonesia, it still marks a long long time without an extended break.
What's more, this has not exactly been a quiet year, when you combine the efforts required to plan a wedding, sit chartership exams, then plan another wedding reception, all within 10 months of moving half way around the world.
So the Dodgess and I are really looking forwards to 4 days in the UK, then 4 in the USA, then 8 in the UK, completed by a week of indulgence in Vienna. We can't wait :)
I have worked since January, in which time I've taken all of 5 days paid leave, and whilst two of those were related to going on a trip to Indonesia, it still marks a long long time without an extended break.
What's more, this has not exactly been a quiet year, when you combine the efforts required to plan a wedding, sit chartership exams, then plan another wedding reception, all within 10 months of moving half way around the world.
So the Dodgess and I are really looking forwards to 4 days in the UK, then 4 in the USA, then 8 in the UK, completed by a week of indulgence in Vienna. We can't wait :)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Getting Married
It was almost 20 months from when I said 'will you' to when we said 'I do' but on 25th Sept I married the Dodgess.
The preparations always seemed somewhat last minute, but probably weren't compared to some couples. We weren't folding orders of service the night before. In fact in the end I had a relatively quiet evening the night before.
I set quite a few alarms in the morning. Understandable I think - brooms aren't meant to be late. About an hour before I left for the church in the oldest, crummiest taxi in Singapore - hardly a hired Bentley.
Anyway, I reached the church with plenty of time, and whilst there were a few things to do, my main memory of is, frankly, of waiting. Dad says I was pacing, which is true - truth was I was bored into pacing. I did catch up with a few guests from the UK, who all arrived well in advance of the locals.
Then the doors closed - so presumably the Dodgess was outside. As she walked in, the thing that I remember the most is her smile! The church service seemed to go well. Actually, it's hard to tell - you can't see what is happening behind you.
At the end we had a line-up and then some photos. And then we went upstairs for an informal lunch - we actually did quite a lot of talking, and not all that much eating. Fortunately, the hotel where we had our Banquet provided us with a small plate of delivious macaroons. Which was lovely. It would have been far better had we been given the right room from the start, but the error was eventually sorted.
We had a bit of rest in the afternoon. There was a little preparation for the evening. A quick meeting before hand - but the hotel was good at juist doing things. A quiet little drinks reception, which was fun - lots of catching up.
After the first course (an Asian version of a cold cut platter) we zoomed upstairs to change - me from white to black, the Dodgess from white to blue. We got back in time for the 3rd course, preceeded by pouring a champagne fountain. That was fun - if a little nervewracking. We had about 20 glasses of champagne, and a bottle of Bollinger. Anyway, it all worked well, and we didn't spill any of the champagne either!
By the end of the evening I think almost all of those there were very stuffed - 8 courses is a lot to get through.
Overall - both of us had a really fabulous day. Hopefully the one in the UK will be equally fun!
A few photos:
The preparations always seemed somewhat last minute, but probably weren't compared to some couples. We weren't folding orders of service the night before. In fact in the end I had a relatively quiet evening the night before.
I set quite a few alarms in the morning. Understandable I think - brooms aren't meant to be late. About an hour before I left for the church in the oldest, crummiest taxi in Singapore - hardly a hired Bentley.
Anyway, I reached the church with plenty of time, and whilst there were a few things to do, my main memory of is, frankly, of waiting. Dad says I was pacing, which is true - truth was I was bored into pacing. I did catch up with a few guests from the UK, who all arrived well in advance of the locals.
Then the doors closed - so presumably the Dodgess was outside. As she walked in, the thing that I remember the most is her smile! The church service seemed to go well. Actually, it's hard to tell - you can't see what is happening behind you.
At the end we had a line-up and then some photos. And then we went upstairs for an informal lunch - we actually did quite a lot of talking, and not all that much eating. Fortunately, the hotel where we had our Banquet provided us with a small plate of delivious macaroons. Which was lovely. It would have been far better had we been given the right room from the start, but the error was eventually sorted.
We had a bit of rest in the afternoon. There was a little preparation for the evening. A quick meeting before hand - but the hotel was good at juist doing things. A quiet little drinks reception, which was fun - lots of catching up.
After the first course (an Asian version of a cold cut platter) we zoomed upstairs to change - me from white to black, the Dodgess from white to blue. We got back in time for the 3rd course, preceeded by pouring a champagne fountain. That was fun - if a little nervewracking. We had about 20 glasses of champagne, and a bottle of Bollinger. Anyway, it all worked well, and we didn't spill any of the champagne either!
By the end of the evening I think almost all of those there were very stuffed - 8 courses is a lot to get through.
Overall - both of us had a really fabulous day. Hopefully the one in the UK will be equally fun!
A few photos:
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Hong Kong
For some reason, Hong Kong has never been a city that I've been desperate to visit. No real idea why - it doeson paper seem my type of place - big city, tall buildings, very very pretty bridges...
And if visiting HK had come up, I really don't think I would have chosen the to do the trip the way that I did. For my first HK experience was a solo trip, integrated with my chartership exams, which I may or may not tell you about further.
So very early on a Friday morning I set off for Changi airport. By far my favourite airport in the world. Except this time I was flying from the Budget terminal - effectively a shed in the middle of nowhere. This, though, is still more pleasant than the worst of the UKs airports, and on a par with the better ones.
In between revising for exams in what is, quite simply, the most unremarkable hotel room I've ever stayed in, I dodged rain showers. And didn't dodge them all that well. I had a free Sunday - so tried to go and have a look around Kowloon. But got soaked. Then I thought of going up the Peak. But couldn't see it even from Hong Kong Island - so decided to compromise and stay at sea level, and get some shots across the harbour - but I couldn't see the other side..
In fact - it was so wet, that I needed a shower to dry off - which really just meant stoning in the hotel room doing revision. Of course - this is not a bad thing necessarily. After all, the trip was to take exams - and if I've passed these then it was successful. If I failed them, then it's one of the worst blow outs of my life!!
Eventually the place did clear enough for me to take and stitch this skyline of HK Island:
And if visiting HK had come up, I really don't think I would have chosen the to do the trip the way that I did. For my first HK experience was a solo trip, integrated with my chartership exams, which I may or may not tell you about further.
So very early on a Friday morning I set off for Changi airport. By far my favourite airport in the world. Except this time I was flying from the Budget terminal - effectively a shed in the middle of nowhere. This, though, is still more pleasant than the worst of the UKs airports, and on a par with the better ones.
In between revising for exams in what is, quite simply, the most unremarkable hotel room I've ever stayed in, I dodged rain showers. And didn't dodge them all that well. I had a free Sunday - so tried to go and have a look around Kowloon. But got soaked. Then I thought of going up the Peak. But couldn't see it even from Hong Kong Island - so decided to compromise and stay at sea level, and get some shots across the harbour - but I couldn't see the other side..
In fact - it was so wet, that I needed a shower to dry off - which really just meant stoning in the hotel room doing revision. Of course - this is not a bad thing necessarily. After all, the trip was to take exams - and if I've passed these then it was successful. If I failed them, then it's one of the worst blow outs of my life!!
Eventually the place did clear enough for me to take and stitch this skyline of HK Island:
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What September Holds
In many ways 2010 has so far been a relatively quiet year. I mean, once you take out the whole moving 7500 miles thing, then I've really not done much other than work.
I've not been on any giant adventure - I went on a rather sanitised tour of Indonesia for a few days - I even got a chest infection from there. Otherwise I've not been out of Singapore. I've managed to work for almost all of the year. And so far, I've not yet spent a single night away from Singapore on work. A remarkable achievement for someone who racked up some 150 nights on business in 2008 and 2009. But the truth is Jan to August this year has been remarkably unremarkable.
Somehow I think September may be rather more memorable. I mean, I'm leaving Singapore, to go to Hong Kong, for 3 days. Sounds fun doesn't it. What a pity it will be ruined primarily by the absence of the Dodgess, and secondarily by two exams that I have to sit (and pass come to that) in order to become a professional engineer. In many ways I hate the concepts of these exams - I mean, in what way have I been unprofessional as an engineer for the past 4 years? Have I been keeping my amateur status in order to design at the engineering olympics? Or perhaps if I pass I'll suddenly find I don't get distracted by interesting websites that have nothing to do with work!
I'm also going to see the Singapore Grand Prix. That should be fun I think. Better buy some ear plugs though - guess it will not be quiet.
Oh and I'm getting married. That will be memorable. Over the past few months we've put in quite of lot of effort, and even now we are working hard to get the details sorted. We are getting there - The Dodgess has her dress. We have a menu, we've sent out invitations, we think we know who may turn up... still a few more to go too. But we'll get there :)
Anyway, September got off to a good start last night, after our last meeting with the hotel, we were invited to eat their buffet. It was very very good... the range was perhaps not as much as for my birthday, but the quality was. It also had the most magical desert I've had - a harmless looking chocolate mouse that then burst into life inside my mouth like a million little fireworks (very little, nicely chilled fireworks). Hopefully all of September will be equally fabulous!
I've not been on any giant adventure - I went on a rather sanitised tour of Indonesia for a few days - I even got a chest infection from there. Otherwise I've not been out of Singapore. I've managed to work for almost all of the year. And so far, I've not yet spent a single night away from Singapore on work. A remarkable achievement for someone who racked up some 150 nights on business in 2008 and 2009. But the truth is Jan to August this year has been remarkably unremarkable.
Somehow I think September may be rather more memorable. I mean, I'm leaving Singapore, to go to Hong Kong, for 3 days. Sounds fun doesn't it. What a pity it will be ruined primarily by the absence of the Dodgess, and secondarily by two exams that I have to sit (and pass come to that) in order to become a professional engineer. In many ways I hate the concepts of these exams - I mean, in what way have I been unprofessional as an engineer for the past 4 years? Have I been keeping my amateur status in order to design at the engineering olympics? Or perhaps if I pass I'll suddenly find I don't get distracted by interesting websites that have nothing to do with work!
I'm also going to see the Singapore Grand Prix. That should be fun I think. Better buy some ear plugs though - guess it will not be quiet.
Oh and I'm getting married. That will be memorable. Over the past few months we've put in quite of lot of effort, and even now we are working hard to get the details sorted. We are getting there - The Dodgess has her dress. We have a menu, we've sent out invitations, we think we know who may turn up... still a few more to go too. But we'll get there :)
Anyway, September got off to a good start last night, after our last meeting with the hotel, we were invited to eat their buffet. It was very very good... the range was perhaps not as much as for my birthday, but the quality was. It also had the most magical desert I've had - a harmless looking chocolate mouse that then burst into life inside my mouth like a million little fireworks (very little, nicely chilled fireworks). Hopefully all of September will be equally fabulous!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)