__ Monday, August 02, 2004 ;

I had thought i can forget abt the past.. apparently, its not easy.. But, i've learnt from mistakes and i will not repeat or be foolish again..

This morning, i went to work.. All-In printing Pte Ltd.. via my uncle's car.. He's working there too.. as a sales and hey, he's very good wor~~ I hope to learn more from him and also my auntie.. Both very good sales person..
We had breakfast at the canteen and started talking.. He was mentioning abt my past partnership with my friends.. Ok.. here goes...

In 2002, May and June, i was posted to esprit at great world city to do my attachment. There, i met my friend, Ting Ting. We started to hit off quite well, with the common interest, singing.. She's a full timer at esprit that time.. Soon after, we went out together, clubbing, singing, shopping, eating etc.. In a short while's time, we were good friends.. talking abt everything and anything under the sun. After my attachment ended, we still contacted and it was the maddest period of my life.. I was in my third year in SP.. well, studying life was boring and i had lots of time to enjoy.. We went out, abt 3 or 4 times a week? Be it clubbing or just slaking out.. Eventually, she went to Cha Ren Zhi Jia to work as an admin, a Family style KTV which i used to frequent. I went there to look for her whenever i'm free.. I started to get to know alot of people there.. Life continued and when i graduated, i went to my auntie's office to work.. for only 1 month.. Then ting told me that her office is recruiting people to do admin work.. Without thinking of what the career prospects are and stuffs like that, i agreed to go work there with another friend of mine, Janice (SP's classmate + good friend)..

After working there for abt 1 month, i realised that its really not a place for me. The people there, be it manager or admin staffs, their thinking are too complicated and well, i just dont click.. Soon, due to some problems, ting ting had to quit her job and i had no choice but to take over her work scope. I began to think of ways out..
Suddenly, the idea of forking out money to start a small business sounds attractive. Ting, Janice and I decided to start a small business, selling japanese food. We wanted to start small, earn experiences before venturing.. Well, at that moment of time, everything really sound very promising.. The 3 good friends can get out of that place and work together.. (really naive)
We started to source for the location, product and methods of cooking.. Each of us forked out abt $2000+..
Chinatown, pearl centre is the place where we started out business. Firstly, the rental there is cheap, and also we believe that there are lots of KTVs and Pubs there where we can target to do our delivery via bicycle, even if there is not alot of walk-ins.. Major Major mistake.. Delivery is super tough.. we have to cycle on the road where there is alot on oncoming vehicles and we have to be fast.. Everyday, we worked from 8am till 11.30pm.. We only endured for 1month plus..

Very soon.. We started to have conflicts... The walk-ins at pearl centre is really bad.. all uncles and aunties.. who will want to eat japanese stuffs? We can only mainly base our business on deliveries.. Still, we are girls.. can we really keep up to the cycling everyday...?? We started to have 2nd thoughts.. Both ting and jance is very interested in setting up a stall in the coffee shop at pearl centre.. They wanted to change everything and sell pig organ's soup. I agreed with them its the best solution out.. becoz, that's the kind of product for aunties and uncles and futhermore, ting's mum was selling pig organ's soup in the past and have that kind of experience..
BUT BUT BUT.. i dont want to sell that!!!! I dont even eat that and how can u expect me to like selling that? Also, i dont want to be a hawker!! Isnt it = being hawker? Our capital is also not enough if we were to move into the coffeeshop.. Each of us have to fork out more money.. And at that time, they wanted to borrow money from friends.. which i dont want..
I was also having problems with my dad and auntie.. they are really against the idea of me doing business and cycling along the roadside and let alone being a hawker.. I was nagged by my aunt constantly and she keep telling me to quit, even calling me as and when to see if i've told them i wanted to quit... i was really stucked between my family and them..
Misunderstandings occur.. Both of them were thinking i very bo chap abt the business.. Tiredness and stress made us all very bad tempered.. I was beginning to cant stand ting's nonsense and her big boss attitude.. She suanned me whenever she has a chance and eventually... everything turned out to be so bad.. we cant even be friends..
Anyway, they still managed to find money and move in to the coffee shop.. Me being soft hearted.. helped them for one month till they are more familiar with the things before quitting.. I got a pay of $400+ for 2 months.. Pathetic rite.. Low pay+ black face for a month + attitude= hell month..

My last day is on the 31st Dec. I was really very sad.. what has happened to our friendship...? Everything turns out to be so bad.. I couldnt even get back a single cent of wat i've invested.. and i've gotten broken friendships.. 2 years of friendship with ting ting, 3 years of friendship with janice.. all gone.. to me, up till that period of time, i really considered them as my close friends.. everywhere i go, u'll be able to see them with me.. now its like... But eventually, i realised that i really cant consider them as friends.. I've gained by not being friends with them.. I've learn and i've grow.. They are only friends i can enjoy with but not friends who will stick with me no matter wat happens..

I grow to realise that friends who are not always with me but will be there for me whenever i need them are really people whom i should treasure and cherish.. Selena, Stephanie, Hsiao Hui and Huiying.. made me realise that.. They are there when i needed them most even though we dont go out very often.. Thanks alot.. *Huggies*

** Back to my uncle.. He wanted to help me get back some money.. He says since already not friends, then wat for let them have the benefit.. He called ting ting up and they talked quite heatedly.. She agreed to pay back deposit of $400+.. Really.. Its not really the money we're concerned at.. But, why should we let them benefit and since they dont have the mind to pay, my uncle wants to make sure and force them to pay.. haha.. fierce hor..

Although 8 months has passed and i've not met them for so long.. i still remember clearly the 2 months plus i was working there with them clearly.. some of the hurt is still there.. I hope as time goes by, this serve as a lesson learnt and an experience for me.. Anyway, thankie Uncle BS and my boss, alex for wanting to let me get back wat i deserve.. Haha..

Snow *
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