A load of crap from an idle brain

A bit late into the year, but its always better late than never. Its been a practise i have followed for the past 3 years, so here it goes.

• Moved to another department in the company. Got a salary hike, a higher position and not to mention work related stress.
• Attended a weeklong ISMS course and got certified as a ISO 27001 lead auditor at the end of it.
• Read 33 books at an average of more than 2 books a month. The increase mostly due to listening to audio books.
• Watched more than 85 movies.
• Went for a relaxing holiday to Kuala Lumpur towards the end of the year.
• Celebrated Christmas at Hyderabad for the first time post getting married.
• Met some net friends personally after having chatted with them online for a few years.
• Investments in stocks and mutual funds went on as usual.  Towards the end of the year, the whole equity portfolio was in red barring a few stocks. Though the mutual funds portfolio is quite profitable.
• Completed 11 years in Singapore.
• Blogging took a backseat.  I have no plans of abandoning this medium though i have been more active on Facebook.
• Took the longest vacation (of a month) ever since i started working. It started off as a normal vacation but circumstances forced the vacation to be extended.

Previous years recap: 2008, 2009, 2010

More excited about 2012 as i have some big plans lined up and if they all work well, it should be yet another defining year in my life.

Update: And ya, this is my 700th post. Cant believe i have managed to spew out so much in 4 years.

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Its that time of the year to clear leaves and also to stretch your legs and relax.  What better time to spend Christmas back home with family and friends.  Going back home to Hyderabad tonight.  Will be back in Singapore only in the new year.

Lots of cakes, cookies, appam, stew, hyderabadi biryani and the festivities await.  This will be our first Christmas back home since I got married.  Really looking forward to it.  Looking to go around the city and take the sights and sounds of the city i lived in.

Its really been a wonderful year. Tough no doubt but, professionally satisfactory.  At the beginning of the year moved to a new department, attended a course and got certified.  Worked in a more structured way.  Learnt the importance of documentation and keeping my foot down to say NO.

Raring to go into the new year.  Lots of things planned for the new year.  Gotta make some really radical decisions.  Cant wait.  Not to mention, completed 11 years in Singapore on the 4th of December 2011.  Time has just sped by.  Have spent a third of my life here in one of the most progressive and dynamic cities in the world.  Have made some great friends for life.

Let me take this opportunity to wish the best of the season to all of you and your loved ones.  Have fun and enjoy the holidays.

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With leaves to clear and my birthday on 19th November, i thought it was a good time to get away from the maddening stress of work and related stuff.  Took off for a 4 day trip with biwiji to Kuala Lumpur & Genting in Malaysia.

Petronas Towers at dusk

Christmas @ a mall

A fish sculpture

Fountain

Liberty on wheels @ Genting

Chilly, misty afternoon @ Genting

Looooooong cable car

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Orchard Road light up for Christmas more than a month in advance.  Am so used to seeing the light up for the past 11 years. Just felt ho-hum this time.  Nothing so exciting.  Maybe a classic case of familiarity breeding contempt.  Nevertheless, hats off for taking pains decking up the whole few kilometers of road in lights, glitter, trees and other paraphernalia.

Tree inside Takashimaya

Ion Orchard

Orchard Central

Orchard Central

Orchard Central Orchard Road

Paragon

Tangs

Takashimaya

Plaza Singapura

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Friggin busy.  Looks like work never ends.  When will i find time to study, upgrade myself and get some change in my life?  Am i supposed to forever do firefighting and waste my life?  Where is the quality of life that i so expected when i moved?  Life looks like a hamster running on a wheel, the faster i run, the faster the problems keep cropping up.

Time to say NO.  My weekends are mine and don’t expect any great favors in case of any problems during weekends.  I have a right to life beyond work and I intend on living it.

Now if only i could hold on and use my anger constructively.  Time to keep my cool, study and strike when the iron is hot.

Above picture courtesy: Cartoonstock

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