Well, that was a short lived career, don't think I'll that one to my CV. I guess the main question would be why it was so short lived? well they weren't willing to pay me any more then they offered. I expected they would be willing to add in a little bit more after working there for a week. but alas i was wrong.
Lets start from the beginning, first impression on day one. The journey was hellish and I'm using a very old machine with CS2. basically I'm using what I used when I first started at my last company 5 years ago. it wasn't that bad, but it did make me think if that is how tight they view their budget, what's the chance of us getting pay-rise to my already very low salary?
The people
The people their were surprisingly nice, we all got on very well, chatted among our little island between 4 of us. Everyone was very friendly and helped me with any question I had. I will miss them!
What I've learnt
I'm a complete beginner when it comes to inDesign - I've not been paying enough attention to what I see in terms of print. I don't necessary know the boundaries what I can or can't do. That does mean I can think more 'out side of the box' but I kinda believe you have to learn the rules first before you break it.
eDMs are a pain in the arse! - Designing using HTML tables and no CSS is a prehistoric art and i'm glad I never had to face this beast before, at least now I know what is needed.
Corporate Guidelines kills the fun - you end up just recreating the EXACT same margin and boxes as they had done once! so it is a case of make once and repeat until they decide to change it again.
Working 10 hour days are the norm! - The hours were long but very surprisingly it didn't feel too bad, at least while I'm at the office it was OK (if a bit cool) it's when I leave the office and start to go home that I feel extremely drained. I would get home and it's nearly time for bed! It's hard to wake up in the morning. What's worrying is that I hear this company already has very sociable hours. Some of them had worked til the early hours in the morning!
Idea generation wasn't as exciting as I thought - Looks like thinker box isn't as popular as I thought. Must read it more. Some of the ideas were rather dull. I hope it's because the clients is part of the finance sector and we had to be more reserved.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Monday, 23 August 2010
Looking after my Granddad
A slightly different entry. don't really want to write about the work situation anymore. So I wanna write a little about the past 10 days where I've been looking after my granddad.
We've had a carer looking after my granddad for the past 4 years, but recently she had decided to move back home to start a family, we really didn't want her to go, because she is simply wonderful. So friendly and good at looking after my granddad. There's been times I had to tell her to stop working because it's obvious she was not feeling well, but with a very strong sense of duty, she will never rest until the job is done. A really good cook too, never really made anything we didn't like. She even got my granddad eating healthier!
As for my Granddad, although we lived together in the same house as a kid, I don't really have that many special memories of him, I can only remember 2 occasions, I remember he once bought my brother and I a plastic toy sword once, that was something my grandma would never allow us to have, for the fear that we would fight and poke each others eye out. as you might be able to imagine she was not pleased when she found out. The other memory I have is he was too busy gambling and forgot to pick me up from the school bus drop off point when I was 4 years old. I remember I was both really scared and really excited.
I don't want to go into too many details, but it's sufficient to say my granddad and grandma did NOT get on at all, and I don't mean the odd argument here and there, I mean they don't like each other. If you think that's only a front and they must really love each other deep down, I'm afraid you are wrong. They were put together via an arranged marriage, so they had no connection to begin with and it might be safe to say they never really developed a relationship.
My grandma is one the people I love the most in this world. What she thinks/feel matter to me more then anything else. Its a case of; if you upset her, I will hurt you. I don't care what you did or if you are even in the right.
Don't worry I didn't hurt my granddad, even though the 2 of them have been at war with one and another as far back as I can remember and knowing how badly my grandma was treated by him, i tried my best to not hold a grudge against him, even when many members of my family have been.
My Grandma left us quite a few years ago now. Back then I still lived in UK, we came back to visit her once every few years and she flew to UK a few times too. but I never really had a chance to live with her since I was 8 years old. In a way I feel really guilty I never had the chance to look after her, to treat her better or called her more often. Which made it difficult for me to look after my granddad.
I used to feel like, if my Grandma is looking down at us, she would be mad at me, but seeing how helpless my Granddad could be I really couldn't do it and I feel like I'm betraying my Grandma, i felt terrible but I really didn't want to treat my Granddad like other members of my family does. Even if he is not my granddad I'm not sure I can be cold as they are, that's right my very own family! Perhaps they know more about the damage my Granddad had done, but its that a suitable reason for us to ignore him? to only provide him with the barest of essential? I can't do it? I can't let him struggle on his own, to be as confused as he is is sad enough. It's hard to admit it, but I do love him very much, perhaps it will never compare to how I feel about my Grandma. but promise myself I will treat him with love and respect, to do all i can to make his life as comfortable as I physically can. To help him in any way possible.
I think despite what evidence I've seen over the years regarding their relationship, deep down in my heart, I know my grandma would still be proud of me.
We've had a carer looking after my granddad for the past 4 years, but recently she had decided to move back home to start a family, we really didn't want her to go, because she is simply wonderful. So friendly and good at looking after my granddad. There's been times I had to tell her to stop working because it's obvious she was not feeling well, but with a very strong sense of duty, she will never rest until the job is done. A really good cook too, never really made anything we didn't like. She even got my granddad eating healthier!
As for my Granddad, although we lived together in the same house as a kid, I don't really have that many special memories of him, I can only remember 2 occasions, I remember he once bought my brother and I a plastic toy sword once, that was something my grandma would never allow us to have, for the fear that we would fight and poke each others eye out. as you might be able to imagine she was not pleased when she found out. The other memory I have is he was too busy gambling and forgot to pick me up from the school bus drop off point when I was 4 years old. I remember I was both really scared and really excited.
I don't want to go into too many details, but it's sufficient to say my granddad and grandma did NOT get on at all, and I don't mean the odd argument here and there, I mean they don't like each other. If you think that's only a front and they must really love each other deep down, I'm afraid you are wrong. They were put together via an arranged marriage, so they had no connection to begin with and it might be safe to say they never really developed a relationship.
My grandma is one the people I love the most in this world. What she thinks/feel matter to me more then anything else. Its a case of; if you upset her, I will hurt you. I don't care what you did or if you are even in the right.
Don't worry I didn't hurt my granddad, even though the 2 of them have been at war with one and another as far back as I can remember and knowing how badly my grandma was treated by him, i tried my best to not hold a grudge against him, even when many members of my family have been.
My Grandma left us quite a few years ago now. Back then I still lived in UK, we came back to visit her once every few years and she flew to UK a few times too. but I never really had a chance to live with her since I was 8 years old. In a way I feel really guilty I never had the chance to look after her, to treat her better or called her more often. Which made it difficult for me to look after my granddad.
I used to feel like, if my Grandma is looking down at us, she would be mad at me, but seeing how helpless my Granddad could be I really couldn't do it and I feel like I'm betraying my Grandma, i felt terrible but I really didn't want to treat my Granddad like other members of my family does. Even if he is not my granddad I'm not sure I can be cold as they are, that's right my very own family! Perhaps they know more about the damage my Granddad had done, but its that a suitable reason for us to ignore him? to only provide him with the barest of essential? I can't do it? I can't let him struggle on his own, to be as confused as he is is sad enough. It's hard to admit it, but I do love him very much, perhaps it will never compare to how I feel about my Grandma. but promise myself I will treat him with love and respect, to do all i can to make his life as comfortable as I physically can. To help him in any way possible.
I think despite what evidence I've seen over the years regarding their relationship, deep down in my heart, I know my grandma would still be proud of me.
Friday, 20 August 2010
Fate is a mean mofo
If fate was a person he/she would be the meanest mofo on the planet. so many games, so many layers and so many disappointments. He/she would also speak a forgotten language, which is why none of us really know what the heck is going on. whether a good news really is a good news, perhaps a good news looks good until it drops you on your ass taking all your plans and strength down the deepest shit hole.
I'm trying oh so hard to make sense of what my steps are and what I need to do, still after each decision I make, the answer would laugh in my face while stomping at my balls, to choose freedom also mean to choose poverty. Is that what live is suppose to be? work to chase hopeless dreams for what that little bit of cash the rich folks drops from their bulging wallet. It seems you only get respect when you have money and the only way to have money is to have money in the first place. If you are poor, there's little you can do but to whore out your youth, hoping desperately for the crumbs to finally fall to the floor.
I accept I currently know very little, and I would have to scarfice to gain the knowledge I need to make it on my own. What I will never accept is that, my life is to leave my soul at my own front door every monday morning and to never touch it until friday evening. Only allowing it out during the tired weekends.
I will not allow my work to change who I am, I will find myself again, I will rise above each challenge and learn from each lesson. Fate may play his/her games but I will not be the loser
I'm trying oh so hard to make sense of what my steps are and what I need to do, still after each decision I make, the answer would laugh in my face while stomping at my balls, to choose freedom also mean to choose poverty. Is that what live is suppose to be? work to chase hopeless dreams for what that little bit of cash the rich folks drops from their bulging wallet. It seems you only get respect when you have money and the only way to have money is to have money in the first place. If you are poor, there's little you can do but to whore out your youth, hoping desperately for the crumbs to finally fall to the floor.
I accept I currently know very little, and I would have to scarfice to gain the knowledge I need to make it on my own. What I will never accept is that, my life is to leave my soul at my own front door every monday morning and to never touch it until friday evening. Only allowing it out during the tired weekends.
I will not allow my work to change who I am, I will find myself again, I will rise above each challenge and learn from each lesson. Fate may play his/her games but I will not be the loser
Friday, 13 August 2010
The best and worst
The places we go,
the friends we make,
the moments we share,
the happiness there were,
the goodbyes we say.
I hate saying Good Bye, but alas that's life.
If I haven't spoken to you for a while, I am sorry. Lets hope we will get to catch up soon :)
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Don't you love it
when other people spend your money for you?
The idea of work is that they pay you for it, and the idea of borrowing something is they will return it... one day.
The idea of work is that they pay you for it, and the idea of borrowing something is they will return it... one day.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Random Thoughts
It's been a while since I've written anything, Not that's a big problem or anything I'm very sure none of the people I originally wrote this blog for are actually still reading this, so I'm just gonna use this as a place for my random thoughts.
As it often is with this blog, there's always something about my work going on. My CV is now ready thanks to my good friend who checked and corrected it for me. So apart from a few small projects that can't take me more then 10 days, yet I'm very hesitant in actually start looking, guess once again I had settled too comfortably into this freelancing role and enjoy the time I have under my control. I know I don't enjoy working from home all day every day, yet it's what I know... the unknown is always the most frightening thing. But I promise myself on 1st August at the latest I will be sending my CVs out and hopefully will get some interviews soon.
Now that's the work situation out of the way, the topic of friends / comrades has been on my mind on a regular basis, It scares my how fake some people can be. Life without friends would certainly be much easier, unfortunately, No man can be an island, I need my friends, i need them because that's who I am, I need them because they help me define who I am, I need to to share the good times and certainly the difficult times with. since being in HK, i've only built superfical friendships, i don't really feel like there's anyone I really know that well to spill my deepest fear to, yet there's more and more distance between the old friends.... it is sad but I did expect this when I moved back here.
Why do I do Parkour? why do I do martial arts and gymnastics? I think i just want to be cooler.... I also want to know I can rely on my body to support what I want to archive in life and to protect those I love... I know long long time ago I will never be anywhere near the top guys, regardless of what I've been told I know I won't be good enough to be on TV or perform live to make any sort of living from it, so why am I training so hard? Could the answer be that, it's easy to improve? with all my sports it s a fairly easy route, i spend time doing it and I will get better, it might be very very slow progress but I'm sure to get better with time... that would explain why I actually like conditioning over big techniques. At least the chance of injury is much lower then. I don't mind pain as much, but i hate the idea of an injury... unfortunately I don't always think of being a designer is as easy... progress seem to be much harder. How proud am i of my work? it's ok... i don't rate my own work that high, certainly not as high as I hope.... Maybe that's why i've fallen out of love with books lately, I'm too busy trying to educate myself and fill my head with 'useful' knowledge I no longer read for pleasure... to watch myself feel so differently hurts me
As it often is with this blog, there's always something about my work going on. My CV is now ready thanks to my good friend who checked and corrected it for me. So apart from a few small projects that can't take me more then 10 days, yet I'm very hesitant in actually start looking, guess once again I had settled too comfortably into this freelancing role and enjoy the time I have under my control. I know I don't enjoy working from home all day every day, yet it's what I know... the unknown is always the most frightening thing. But I promise myself on 1st August at the latest I will be sending my CVs out and hopefully will get some interviews soon.
Now that's the work situation out of the way, the topic of friends / comrades has been on my mind on a regular basis, It scares my how fake some people can be. Life without friends would certainly be much easier, unfortunately, No man can be an island, I need my friends, i need them because that's who I am, I need them because they help me define who I am, I need to to share the good times and certainly the difficult times with. since being in HK, i've only built superfical friendships, i don't really feel like there's anyone I really know that well to spill my deepest fear to, yet there's more and more distance between the old friends.... it is sad but I did expect this when I moved back here.
Why do I do Parkour? why do I do martial arts and gymnastics? I think i just want to be cooler.... I also want to know I can rely on my body to support what I want to archive in life and to protect those I love... I know long long time ago I will never be anywhere near the top guys, regardless of what I've been told I know I won't be good enough to be on TV or perform live to make any sort of living from it, so why am I training so hard? Could the answer be that, it's easy to improve? with all my sports it s a fairly easy route, i spend time doing it and I will get better, it might be very very slow progress but I'm sure to get better with time... that would explain why I actually like conditioning over big techniques. At least the chance of injury is much lower then. I don't mind pain as much, but i hate the idea of an injury... unfortunately I don't always think of being a designer is as easy... progress seem to be much harder. How proud am i of my work? it's ok... i don't rate my own work that high, certainly not as high as I hope.... Maybe that's why i've fallen out of love with books lately, I'm too busy trying to educate myself and fill my head with 'useful' knowledge I no longer read for pleasure... to watch myself feel so differently hurts me
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Relax
I seem to have a slice of the old me recently. To think I used to be so relaxed, so chilled and so happy. What changed me? what is it that had caused me to become such a short fused, rushed stress head?
Maybe its the fact that business has been so poor lately even though I'm working flat out. maybe it's the family drama I'm going through. I used to take pleasure in being a stroller... my friends said I didn't walk, I stroll like an old man. I was just enjoying my own pace of life, stopping every now and then and take my camera out of my pocket to take random photos. All I seem to do lately is rush... I often think "isn't hong kong suppose to be such a fast paced city? why the hell is everyone getting in my way? Get the f**k outta my way before I shove you down those stairs" Aggressive I know... i shock my self most of the time.
I know I've planned this all along, but i think i really do have to get my butt in gear and find a proper job soon. Not just because of the bad money although that is a big factor. It seems me being a freelancer mean i have no proof of income to have my very own place. I've lived in 8 addresses in the past 9 years. I really want to have a place to call home.
I'm hoping having a regular job would finally let me to relax once again. being a nervous designer I'm constantly thinking about work. Thinking about what i need to do. the clients i should follow up on. Comparing that to my old job in London, where I made sure I left by 6.30 at the very latest to go on and do all the things I love, seeing all my good friends. the life now kinda sucks. The heat doesn't help my temper either. Oh well, let see how it goes. I really would like to be that laid back, happy me again.
Maybe its the fact that business has been so poor lately even though I'm working flat out. maybe it's the family drama I'm going through. I used to take pleasure in being a stroller... my friends said I didn't walk, I stroll like an old man. I was just enjoying my own pace of life, stopping every now and then and take my camera out of my pocket to take random photos. All I seem to do lately is rush... I often think "isn't hong kong suppose to be such a fast paced city? why the hell is everyone getting in my way? Get the f**k outta my way before I shove you down those stairs" Aggressive I know... i shock my self most of the time.
I know I've planned this all along, but i think i really do have to get my butt in gear and find a proper job soon. Not just because of the bad money although that is a big factor. It seems me being a freelancer mean i have no proof of income to have my very own place. I've lived in 8 addresses in the past 9 years. I really want to have a place to call home.
I'm hoping having a regular job would finally let me to relax once again. being a nervous designer I'm constantly thinking about work. Thinking about what i need to do. the clients i should follow up on. Comparing that to my old job in London, where I made sure I left by 6.30 at the very latest to go on and do all the things I love, seeing all my good friends. the life now kinda sucks. The heat doesn't help my temper either. Oh well, let see how it goes. I really would like to be that laid back, happy me again.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
LOST ended
Lost had finally ended, or I have finally got around to watching the last episode of Lost and what a great time it had been.
Like most of you out there, I too am left a bit frustrated with way too many things left unanswered. Did the writers screw themselves over with an impossible to conclude plot from making it so complicated earlier on? Only they would know. I'm not going to go into the theories of what the Island is, why the flash-sideway, for that I would recommend http://hubpages.com/hub/Lost-Ending-Explained
All i can say is I enjoyed the process. The story was engaging and clever, the cast was brilliant, acting was excellent! and now I feel empty without it.
I started watching lost way back when it was first aired in HK while i was here on holiday. for some strange reason I thought it was a 2 parts mini-movie and I was disappointed I was only able to catch the first part (which I was mesmerised by). A few weeks later I found not only it was coming to UK, it was gonna be a fair bit longer then being 2 parts. It was an actual series with proper budget and a whole lot of media exposure. Naturally I kept up with it and made sure I was in front of the TV when it was about to come on.
Ironically, a bit like like the series' habit of referring to cycles. I watched the first and last episode in the very same house (with 6 addresses in between)
This is the first ever series I had followed from start to end and although the ending is not exactly ideal I still love it and have ever intention of getting the boxset! (slightly hoping there will be more answered there)
Like finally finishing a good book. I feel rather empty. What would I do? what can I unwind to now? what can I look forward on a week to week basis? hang on, there's still Heroes! not the same but still good stuff.
Thank you Lost!
Like most of you out there, I too am left a bit frustrated with way too many things left unanswered. Did the writers screw themselves over with an impossible to conclude plot from making it so complicated earlier on? Only they would know. I'm not going to go into the theories of what the Island is, why the flash-sideway, for that I would recommend http://hubpages.com/hub/Lost-Ending-Explained
All i can say is I enjoyed the process. The story was engaging and clever, the cast was brilliant, acting was excellent! and now I feel empty without it.
I started watching lost way back when it was first aired in HK while i was here on holiday. for some strange reason I thought it was a 2 parts mini-movie and I was disappointed I was only able to catch the first part (which I was mesmerised by). A few weeks later I found not only it was coming to UK, it was gonna be a fair bit longer then being 2 parts. It was an actual series with proper budget and a whole lot of media exposure. Naturally I kept up with it and made sure I was in front of the TV when it was about to come on.
Ironically, a bit like like the series' habit of referring to cycles. I watched the first and last episode in the very same house (with 6 addresses in between)
This is the first ever series I had followed from start to end and although the ending is not exactly ideal I still love it and have ever intention of getting the boxset! (slightly hoping there will be more answered there)
Like finally finishing a good book. I feel rather empty. What would I do? what can I unwind to now? what can I look forward on a week to week basis? hang on, there's still Heroes! not the same but still good stuff.
Thank you Lost!
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
holiday
Everyone needs a break every now and then, I feel so bad for my parents who works bloody hard for so many decades, with only 1 day off per week or even no day off in some weeks. When I was very young my Dad used to work 2 full time jobs to make sure there's food or the table for me and the rest of the family, he would sleep as little as 2 hours a night. Me being a grumpy morning person who needs at least 8 hours to be not a completely asshole and biting people's head off. I really don't know how he did it.While my mum has the extremely difficult job of full time work and being responsible for the entire house, that's 3 elders and 5 kids!!!! Between them they did an absolute fabulous job. I love and admire them even more for being so great.
As for holidays - in recent years they come to HK every 2/3 years for a 'holiday' but with such a big family and always coming to HK for chinese new year, they never really had time off. I feel very bad about that. Now that I'm much more able I really can't wait to treat them to a proper holiday. where they can actually relax and do what they want.
As for my own holidays. i'm a strange one. What kinda holidays do I like? well i never really had an urge to go on holidays. I would love days off work, but to go on holiday and see a bunch of buildings were never my thing. I think the best holiday I had were seeing friends and doing some sort of sport. I miss snowboarding so much, I can't wait to do it again!!!!
As for holidays - in recent years they come to HK every 2/3 years for a 'holiday' but with such a big family and always coming to HK for chinese new year, they never really had time off. I feel very bad about that. Now that I'm much more able I really can't wait to treat them to a proper holiday. where they can actually relax and do what they want.
As for my own holidays. i'm a strange one. What kinda holidays do I like? well i never really had an urge to go on holidays. I would love days off work, but to go on holiday and see a bunch of buildings were never my thing. I think the best holiday I had were seeing friends and doing some sort of sport. I miss snowboarding so much, I can't wait to do it again!!!!
Monday, 3 May 2010
If you can't respect me...
fear me!
26 and hating being controlled, maybe I should be a personal trainer, that way I can get paid to tell others what to do. Woohoo
Thursday, 29 April 2010
It's not about work, it's about life
There's something about HK, ever since I've been back my career had been a much bigger subject in my life. Maybe it's what the most exciting city of the east does to you, or maybe it how being freelance changes you.
A week ago, i was asked if I would like to do a course to be PT instructor and that got me thinking about ditching design again. I won't go into the details again, the short story is. I ended up asking myself and my friends on facebook should I:
A very surprising number of people suggested B) and after much thought I too had decided to give this Personal Trainer business a go. My arguement for doing so was much like the reason why I first thought about coming back to HK - I'm young and i don't want to have regrets, if worst comes to worst, i would have wasted the course fee for something I enjoy. To be honest, i never really thought of myself as normal, i know to some degree no one think they are normal and we certainly unique in our own ways, but I rather like the fact that I'm not sticking to the rules society is setting me AND not to mention the fact I've always been an awkward child and a bit of a freak (which I'm actually kinda proud of)
So why all the fuss about what to do? well, I knew very early on I wanted to be sucessful, now that could be the chinese family in a foreign country thing. I've always knew I need to do something with mylife, so in a way work is not purely about what to get food on the table. it's also about what i'll make out of myself. A side from being an awkward weirdo who likes a bit of pain (too much information?) I also have very little patientces and I hate the fact that i could be wasting time developing myself in one way or another by doing something that might be mean anything. Sound kinda silly knowing how much time and money i've spent on Martial Arts, Gymnastics and Parkour right? Maybe it's because keeping active is something I simply cannot live without. The days after training from the night before had always been the most productive days, my body would ache but not itching for me to move away from the computer and my mind would feel much sharper and fresh. I guess what i'm trying to say is, this is something I know I love and I'm willing to waste my much valued time and money for it. It might be a mistake but i'm still gonna walk this way without regreds.
Another thing that's been saddens me is how there's so many people i know with a lot of heart and soul yet they don't seem to get the opportunity they deserve. Life it's not really fair is it? There's so many people out there who work so damn hard to provide so little for their family yet. Society is so fucked up. there's people out there who can earn 10 times more then someone who work twice the hours. It's so sad work seem to rule our lives. Anyway I'm getting tired and I think i'm rambling...
A week ago, i was asked if I would like to do a course to be PT instructor and that got me thinking about ditching design again. I won't go into the details again, the short story is. I ended up asking myself and my friends on facebook should I:
A) Get real and live a proper life, ditch this unstable, long hours freelance design and get a proper 9 to 5
B) Stick to freelance, be my own boss and try my hands in the world of sports and fitness by being a fitness instructor
A very surprising number of people suggested B) and after much thought I too had decided to give this Personal Trainer business a go. My arguement for doing so was much like the reason why I first thought about coming back to HK - I'm young and i don't want to have regrets, if worst comes to worst, i would have wasted the course fee for something I enjoy. To be honest, i never really thought of myself as normal, i know to some degree no one think they are normal and we certainly unique in our own ways, but I rather like the fact that I'm not sticking to the rules society is setting me AND not to mention the fact I've always been an awkward child and a bit of a freak (which I'm actually kinda proud of)
So why all the fuss about what to do? well, I knew very early on I wanted to be sucessful, now that could be the chinese family in a foreign country thing. I've always knew I need to do something with mylife, so in a way work is not purely about what to get food on the table. it's also about what i'll make out of myself. A side from being an awkward weirdo who likes a bit of pain (too much information?) I also have very little patientces and I hate the fact that i could be wasting time developing myself in one way or another by doing something that might be mean anything. Sound kinda silly knowing how much time and money i've spent on Martial Arts, Gymnastics and Parkour right? Maybe it's because keeping active is something I simply cannot live without. The days after training from the night before had always been the most productive days, my body would ache but not itching for me to move away from the computer and my mind would feel much sharper and fresh. I guess what i'm trying to say is, this is something I know I love and I'm willing to waste my much valued time and money for it. It might be a mistake but i'm still gonna walk this way without regreds.
Another thing that's been saddens me is how there's so many people i know with a lot of heart and soul yet they don't seem to get the opportunity they deserve. Life it's not really fair is it? There's so many people out there who work so damn hard to provide so little for their family yet. Society is so fucked up. there's people out there who can earn 10 times more then someone who work twice the hours. It's so sad work seem to rule our lives. Anyway I'm getting tired and I think i'm rambling...
Friday, 16 April 2010
Work work work
Following my last post about work going well, my girlfriend today asked me "Aren't you going a bit over the top with this work thing"? It turns out I work around 60 - 70 hours a week, there's at least 2 days a week where I work from when I wake up to when i go to sleep... is that a bit too much?
I'm working this hard because I really want to be able to buy an apartment by end of this year. I've wanted to have my own proper place for a few years now, I've moved 9 times in the last 8 years and I hope the next place I live in would be nice place. I'm working so many hours must mean I'm saving up pretty nicely right? wrong!!! I don't know how the fuck I do it, but through out March, I earned less then if I work at McDonald? Since I left UK, I'm now working 60% more hours yet earning 25% what i used to!
Pretty clever I managed to get into this mess right? That's the thing about freelancing, right now I have several projects on the go and until they are finished I won't get paid, most of the time the money ain't too bad but I seem to be hitting a new low at the moment. Hence working harder to finish them off. I admit I can be a bit of a workaholic? that's why whenever I'm home i can't seem to switch off and I just work and work but recently it's getting a bit too much for me. I need to get out of the house a bit more. it's getting pretty depressing when I look forward to going to th doctors just so i can leave the house. I am so bored right now, someone get me a drink!
I was looking for some old photos to use for a project and as i went through my computer I came across so many fond memories of how life used to be like when I had spare time, Life in London seem such a long time ago. I wonder if I would get that lifestyle back again in HK.
I'm working this hard because I really want to be able to buy an apartment by end of this year. I've wanted to have my own proper place for a few years now, I've moved 9 times in the last 8 years and I hope the next place I live in would be nice place. I'm working so many hours must mean I'm saving up pretty nicely right? wrong!!! I don't know how the fuck I do it, but through out March, I earned less then if I work at McDonald? Since I left UK, I'm now working 60% more hours yet earning 25% what i used to!
Pretty clever I managed to get into this mess right? That's the thing about freelancing, right now I have several projects on the go and until they are finished I won't get paid, most of the time the money ain't too bad but I seem to be hitting a new low at the moment. Hence working harder to finish them off. I admit I can be a bit of a workaholic? that's why whenever I'm home i can't seem to switch off and I just work and work but recently it's getting a bit too much for me. I need to get out of the house a bit more. it's getting pretty depressing when I look forward to going to th doctors just so i can leave the house. I am so bored right now, someone get me a drink!
I was looking for some old photos to use for a project and as i went through my computer I came across so many fond memories of how life used to be like when I had spare time, Life in London seem such a long time ago. I wonder if I would get that lifestyle back again in HK.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Work going well... too well?
I didn't know if this could be possible, but work seem to be going to well lately, there's more jobs to take on then I have time. Already pushing something like 64 hours work week (it's not as bad as it sounds, I got used to it, never been one for TV or computer games anyway)
The problem is, i never intended to do freelance for this long, I always thought I'd do this for a few months then get me self a proper job, so I could learn more, have some colleagues and generally live life in HK. it's starting to look as if there's no need to get a proper job, I've fairly sure I can support myself with my current workload, most likely better pay then a full time job. I also enjoy the flexible work hours, sleeping til 10 everyday can't be a bad thing. The arguement is that I don't necessarily feel I know enough about the field yet. My ultimate goal is to have my own creative agency and with so much work it's looking as if I'm going toward the right direction, but never really worked inside a creative agency there's only so much i know about the working of one... seems like to dive into it head first is a bit risky, but some of these projects are just too good to pass on. can't say no to the guys I train Parkour with, nor can I say no to a DJ friend/mentor to design a site for a good cause and the latest one is to design for a tattoo artist I admire for a long time. You see my predicament? there's also 3 other website I had already said Yes to taking on too.....
What should I do? keep on freelancing til I run out of work? or learn to say NO to clients no matter how interesting the project could be?????
The problem is, i never intended to do freelance for this long, I always thought I'd do this for a few months then get me self a proper job, so I could learn more, have some colleagues and generally live life in HK. it's starting to look as if there's no need to get a proper job, I've fairly sure I can support myself with my current workload, most likely better pay then a full time job. I also enjoy the flexible work hours, sleeping til 10 everyday can't be a bad thing. The arguement is that I don't necessarily feel I know enough about the field yet. My ultimate goal is to have my own creative agency and with so much work it's looking as if I'm going toward the right direction, but never really worked inside a creative agency there's only so much i know about the working of one... seems like to dive into it head first is a bit risky, but some of these projects are just too good to pass on. can't say no to the guys I train Parkour with, nor can I say no to a DJ friend/mentor to design a site for a good cause and the latest one is to design for a tattoo artist I admire for a long time. You see my predicament? there's also 3 other website I had already said Yes to taking on too.....
What should I do? keep on freelancing til I run out of work? or learn to say NO to clients no matter how interesting the project could be?????
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
I can see what you're doing!
For the first time since I was 9 years old, I could actually see what the hair dresser was doing when I'm getting a haircut - and I still didn't like it...haha
Yes I could have worn contact lens before, but I always had fear of hair going into my eye while getting the haircut and I just didn't fancy that idea. so I would just tell the hair dresser roughly what I'm after and trust his/her skills
Ever since I've been back in HK I might have had around half a dozen hair cuts and each time by a different hair dresser. Now I'm a creature of habit, i like my routines to a certain level and with chores like getting a hair cut I like to stick to the one I get on remotely with that doesn't turn my hair out to be a complete disaster, unfortunately I'm still struggling to find one I like. Not a big deal I'll just keep on looking, but it's also about settling into HK
I can't say I actually enjoy the experience of going to the hair dresser, you sit there like a lemon for 30mins plus waiting for someone to go around your head trying to make me look like everyone else on the street. First of all, sitting there for 30mins is a challenge enough, I had actually fallen asleep while getting a haircut before and the hair dresser didn't like my head nodding away... then there's the whole 'Am I suppose to be chatting to you' I can never work out what the right thing to do is, should i strike up a conversion with them or should i just leave them alone in peace to do their thing? I also stuggle with washing the hair out of my head for days. Even after they rinse your hair out and I go back to shower again, i just can't seem to get rid off all those little pieces of hair and too often wake up the next day with tons of hair on my pillow.
By the way, bored of having hair that pokes into my eye and looking like everyone else, i had taken a step back in time and gone back to the spiky hair thing, i know it's old school and far from trendy but at least I can manage the heat better this way, so what i look stupid, i do that myself anyway
Yes I could have worn contact lens before, but I always had fear of hair going into my eye while getting the haircut and I just didn't fancy that idea. so I would just tell the hair dresser roughly what I'm after and trust his/her skills
Ever since I've been back in HK I might have had around half a dozen hair cuts and each time by a different hair dresser. Now I'm a creature of habit, i like my routines to a certain level and with chores like getting a hair cut I like to stick to the one I get on remotely with that doesn't turn my hair out to be a complete disaster, unfortunately I'm still struggling to find one I like. Not a big deal I'll just keep on looking, but it's also about settling into HK
I can't say I actually enjoy the experience of going to the hair dresser, you sit there like a lemon for 30mins plus waiting for someone to go around your head trying to make me look like everyone else on the street. First of all, sitting there for 30mins is a challenge enough, I had actually fallen asleep while getting a haircut before and the hair dresser didn't like my head nodding away... then there's the whole 'Am I suppose to be chatting to you' I can never work out what the right thing to do is, should i strike up a conversion with them or should i just leave them alone in peace to do their thing? I also stuggle with washing the hair out of my head for days. Even after they rinse your hair out and I go back to shower again, i just can't seem to get rid off all those little pieces of hair and too often wake up the next day with tons of hair on my pillow.
By the way, bored of having hair that pokes into my eye and looking like everyone else, i had taken a step back in time and gone back to the spiky hair thing, i know it's old school and far from trendy but at least I can manage the heat better this way, so what i look stupid, i do that myself anyway
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Zapping my eyes with laser
I finally did it, I finally had my eyes lasered which hopefully mean no more glasses! It was one of the scariest thing i had done in my life but now that its over it really was nothing.
I've been wearing glasses since I was 11 yrs old and had dislike them since I was 12. I tried to wearing contact lens but my eyes get dry too easily so I can only wear them for couple of hours at a time.
A week a go accompanied by Pauline and my Aunt to the hospital for a very efficient check in and check up the pain began - THE WAITING. It took a good hour before the doctor even arrived! Being extremely nervous and bored didn't work too well for me. Along with everyone else in the room I was really agitated wanting to get it over and done with ASAP
Eventually the first out of two stages of the operation began, which is the cutting off of the flap to the cornea. I didn't actually know what he was doing at the time, so I just listened to his instructions and tried to keep my eyes looking at the red light, as he went on with aligning some sort of equipment to my eye I was told my vision would go very blurry and misty but that's completely normal. The challenge then became trying to keep looking forward toward the red light without being to see! It was like being told to sticking your arm infront of you completely straight in pitch black! That perhaps was the hardest part of the operation.
With extremely blurred vision I was sat back down in a little room to wait a while before the actual laser zapping. Again WAITING! it was then that i realised he had actually cut my cornea flaps off and there it was are just sitting infront of my eye ball with nothing keeping them there. Panicking slightly I tried very hard not to move my eyes too much.
About 20 minutes later I went back to the same room now with a different machine set up. I lie back down, some instructments were fixed around my eye . The next stage was rather bizarre as I watched him peel off the cornea flap he removed earlier but I couldn't actually feel anything. The actual laser part was very quick - maybe 30secs. and only half way throught did the doctor decide to tell me not to worry too much about moving my eyes because there's another blue laser tracking my eye so the actual laser can adjust accordingly (Not that I can move very much, but it did feel like my eyes were moving ever so slightly). I would have been so much happier if he told me that before the operation. Like i was warned I could smell something burning but again I couldn't feel a thing. From start to stop this took less then 5 mins for each eye.
After that I was ready to go back to the little room to rest so they can make sure I'm good to go home. So there I was with uber unfashionable eye guards we made our way home.
For anyone thinking of getting lasered - I would strongely advice make sure you have someone who can drive with you. The journey on public transport was a bit stressful for me. I was told I can use my eyes but they will be very blurred and i should rest them as much as possible, there was also the fact that my eyes were extremely sensitive bright lights at this point so I kept them shut as much as I could. Turning the normal 10mins walk back to the train station turned into a 30min stubble with Pauline and my aunt guiding me very slowly across a number of traffic lights, road works and lamp posts, after another 40min train journey we were finally home. I was much happier being back where I did a relatively good job at navigating around apart from smacking my shin into a coffee table once. It was rather strange when you can't rely on your eyes. It made it rather difficult to concentrate, I never realised how much noise they were or how bumpy roads can be.
I really could not thank Pauline and my aunt enough for getting me home in one piece and making sure I was fed
The next several hours I would say were the hardest part of the whole ordeal - the staying still, trying to relax and trying not to move my eyes around too much. The problem was this operation was so fast (maybe less then an hour ignoring all the waiting around) and I was not tried in the slightest! I didn't feel like sleeping at all. I was more bored then anything else. My eyes were water very badly and it did hurt slightly but it wasn't exactly painful - just a bit uncomfortable like wearing a pair of thick, uncomfortable and dry contact lens. I wanted to be working or watching TV.... the night was difficult since I was so conscience I have to sleep on my back and not touch my eyes. but now less then 24 hours later my eyes are feeling much much better. It was only the intial several hours not knowing how fragile my eyes were (apparently not very) and trying to keep still and staying relaxed that was hard.
A week later I'm fairly happy with my new vision although my hand still reach for my glasses in the morning.
A week later the doctor told me, my right eye was the worst he had seen in terms of bloodiness, but it's no big deal and should all be gone in a week or 2. So please don't let that put you off.
I hope that had been useful to you
I've been wearing glasses since I was 11 yrs old and had dislike them since I was 12. I tried to wearing contact lens but my eyes get dry too easily so I can only wear them for couple of hours at a time.
A week a go accompanied by Pauline and my Aunt to the hospital for a very efficient check in and check up the pain began - THE WAITING. It took a good hour before the doctor even arrived! Being extremely nervous and bored didn't work too well for me. Along with everyone else in the room I was really agitated wanting to get it over and done with ASAP
Eventually the first out of two stages of the operation began, which is the cutting off of the flap to the cornea. I didn't actually know what he was doing at the time, so I just listened to his instructions and tried to keep my eyes looking at the red light, as he went on with aligning some sort of equipment to my eye I was told my vision would go very blurry and misty but that's completely normal. The challenge then became trying to keep looking forward toward the red light without being to see! It was like being told to sticking your arm infront of you completely straight in pitch black! That perhaps was the hardest part of the operation.
With extremely blurred vision I was sat back down in a little room to wait a while before the actual laser zapping. Again WAITING! it was then that i realised he had actually cut my cornea flaps off and there it was are just sitting infront of my eye ball with nothing keeping them there. Panicking slightly I tried very hard not to move my eyes too much.
About 20 minutes later I went back to the same room now with a different machine set up. I lie back down, some instructments were fixed around my eye . The next stage was rather bizarre as I watched him peel off the cornea flap he removed earlier but I couldn't actually feel anything. The actual laser part was very quick - maybe 30secs. and only half way throught did the doctor decide to tell me not to worry too much about moving my eyes because there's another blue laser tracking my eye so the actual laser can adjust accordingly (Not that I can move very much, but it did feel like my eyes were moving ever so slightly). I would have been so much happier if he told me that before the operation. Like i was warned I could smell something burning but again I couldn't feel a thing. From start to stop this took less then 5 mins for each eye.
After that I was ready to go back to the little room to rest so they can make sure I'm good to go home. So there I was with uber unfashionable eye guards we made our way home.
For anyone thinking of getting lasered - I would strongely advice make sure you have someone who can drive with you. The journey on public transport was a bit stressful for me. I was told I can use my eyes but they will be very blurred and i should rest them as much as possible, there was also the fact that my eyes were extremely sensitive bright lights at this point so I kept them shut as much as I could. Turning the normal 10mins walk back to the train station turned into a 30min stubble with Pauline and my aunt guiding me very slowly across a number of traffic lights, road works and lamp posts, after another 40min train journey we were finally home. I was much happier being back where I did a relatively good job at navigating around apart from smacking my shin into a coffee table once. It was rather strange when you can't rely on your eyes. It made it rather difficult to concentrate, I never realised how much noise they were or how bumpy roads can be.
I really could not thank Pauline and my aunt enough for getting me home in one piece and making sure I was fed
The next several hours I would say were the hardest part of the whole ordeal - the staying still, trying to relax and trying not to move my eyes around too much. The problem was this operation was so fast (maybe less then an hour ignoring all the waiting around) and I was not tried in the slightest! I didn't feel like sleeping at all. I was more bored then anything else. My eyes were water very badly and it did hurt slightly but it wasn't exactly painful - just a bit uncomfortable like wearing a pair of thick, uncomfortable and dry contact lens. I wanted to be working or watching TV.... the night was difficult since I was so conscience I have to sleep on my back and not touch my eyes. but now less then 24 hours later my eyes are feeling much much better. It was only the intial several hours not knowing how fragile my eyes were (apparently not very) and trying to keep still and staying relaxed that was hard.
A week later I'm fairly happy with my new vision although my hand still reach for my glasses in the morning.
I hope that had been useful to you
Monday, 4 January 2010
New Year Resolution
I'm not the type that normally make new year resolutions, the only one i ever tried to do was two years ago trying to not swear so much, but i kept on forgetting about it and soon forgot all together in matter of weeks.
But I'm really hoping I can stick to it this year, one of the reason behind this is I ate far too much during my UK trip and my skin reacting badly. I'm gonna try remove the following from my diet. Most of these are food that's considered "poisoning" in Chinese medicine.
But I'm really hoping I can stick to it this year, one of the reason behind this is I ate far too much during my UK trip and my skin reacting badly. I'm gonna try remove the following from my diet. Most of these are food that's considered "poisoning" in Chinese medicine.
- No Coffee / milk tea
- No Chocolates
- No Processed Meat
- No Alcohol
- No Shell Fish
- No Fizzy Drinks
- No Beef / Duck
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