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Saturday, October 25, 2008
Oh well, I know I shouldn't have been so difficult... but sometimes, to put my point across, i have to do it...
Today, i scolded someone on the phone, yes it aint her fault or wad, but as a customer, i had been terribly disappointed with the due service...
I will not name the company for the sake of giving them a LAST chance, but it went like that...
Back in May I placed orders for an office chair and 4 plastic chairs, and there was a verbal promise that the office chair would arrive in end June, while the plastic chairs could only arrive at end September
The office chair took up to early September to reach me, due to delays or wad not... For this matter, I had called them numerous times to chase for it, but it kept having delayed... of course, i was already deeply disappointed and i made sure they send my plastic chairs in time, and notify me of any possible delays...
Now, its approaching end October, and the chairs are not here... I had enuff of this nonsense and called up... I was pretty fierce over the fone, which my mum commented, but at such times, they need to wake up their idea!
The ultimatum is this, they promise to deliver the chairs by this Wednesday 12 noon - 2pm, so if i dun see the chairs:
Today, i scolded someone on the phone, yes it aint her fault or wad, but as a customer, i had been terribly disappointed with the due service...
I will not name the company for the sake of giving them a LAST chance, but it went like that...
Back in May I placed orders for an office chair and 4 plastic chairs, and there was a verbal promise that the office chair would arrive in end June, while the plastic chairs could only arrive at end September
The office chair took up to early September to reach me, due to delays or wad not... For this matter, I had called them numerous times to chase for it, but it kept having delayed... of course, i was already deeply disappointed and i made sure they send my plastic chairs in time, and notify me of any possible delays...
Now, its approaching end October, and the chairs are not here... I had enuff of this nonsense and called up... I was pretty fierce over the fone, which my mum commented, but at such times, they need to wake up their idea!
The ultimatum is this, they promise to deliver the chairs by this Wednesday 12 noon - 2pm, so if i dun see the chairs:
- I will send a formal Letter of Complaint to their main office, attn to their GM
- I will cancel order of the chairs
- I will not patronise them ever again
- And of cos, u guys will get to see which company it is
Dennis ~ 2:22 pm
Sunday, October 19, 2008
I've come to realise, that I'm a dedicated trumpeter... and not just ANY trumpeter, but one that plays in a wind band
Come to think of it, all my other stints playing a trumpet had just gone up in smoke right after their respective performances... some duet with a piano accompaniment back in sec sch which id rather forget, or in jazz which i HAVE to admit... is not my type of music...
but YES, its band... JUST band...
i remember, back in JC, after SYF and all the hype... i decided... ENUFF IS ENUFF!!! i had it working so damn hard everyday playing till my lips CHUI, just for 1 piece... a supposedly beautiful piece of Spartacus which nearly killed all my love for it just playing it repeatedly to perform at some stupid competition to get some stupid Gold Award... as IF i can sell that award for cash...
from then, i stopped... n I shut the door on what I loved before, swearing NEVER to do this ever anymore...
5 years later... i thot I had lost it all, but i gave myself a chance again, to watch a band concert... and I chose the nearest... NUSWS...
the concert was great! Poema Alpestre was something I never heard a local band play (if i could still remember what local bands played)... and somehow, by some really really big fluke... i got to know someone in NUSWS who told me they are flying to Italy for a festival and needed a trumpeter...
i stepped into the auditorium for the first day, knowing ONLY 1 person amongst that sea of faces, not knowing wad to do... I got 'thrown' to the then-trumpet-SL who did a pretty good job in making me feel at home, and ben who was a pretty friendly guy but seemed egoistic typical of a trumpeter... but of cos, the unfamiliar feeling still lingered... and coupled with that stiff sound coming out of my trumpet as a result of 5 yrs not playing... it wasnt that nice... except for the fact that the conductor managed to grab a bit of my attention... yah...
break time, OH NO! now how the hell should i mingle with this whole BIG grp of ppl i dunno myself? so i thot i just stand up and walk around and hope to just get in conversation with someone... come on, JUST ANYONE!!!
then, he approached me, probably sensing that i was lost... a hand stuck out... "Hi! I'm Leonard. Pleased to meet you!" I looked up to see that very same figure who was right in front of everyone just before. We made small talk, and it quickly occured to me that there is just something about him I couldnt describe at that time... but quite unsurprising when he was supposed to be able to lead a full-sized band, at this kind of young age... "Hope you'll enjoy yourself in here!"
from then on, i dont know for what reason, it seemed that what i left behind 5 years ago, came back to me in bits and pieces... i cant say i was entirely convinced at that time, but one thing for sure, my journey in NUSWS began then...
fast forward to Italy, which i loved... but talked... so no point harping again... one thing i really remembered in all the performances: Leonard didn seem to conduct, HE WAS DANCING!!! it struck a chord in me... i was actually enjoying it!
back in singapore, i faced yet another dilemma... should I continue? oh well, HJ said they needed me, cos they are playing Star Wars... I reluctantly agreed...
Star Wars was ok... just... ok... I preferred No Shadow of Turning so much more, cos there, I saw a different side of Leonard... so emotional, its breathtaking!
nearer Da Capo 2007, Leonard said we are 40 years old for Intempo, and its time to celebrate, with something we have NEVER done before, and will prove a milestone not for us only, but for the local band scene as a whole! wad de hell could that thing be?
he said, its a BIG piece, and new! we hope to do that, but if we cant... maybe Barnes 2nd Symphony... by then the biggest I have come across was Johan de Meij's Casanova, which I thoroughly enjoyed... I thought of suggesting, but I'm sure Leonard already has something in mind, and also, where to find the cellist???
3 rehearsals to Da Capo, Leonard finally unveiled the piece. it's de Meij also, but another piece... initially i was a bit disappointed, but wad he said next got me interested "... recently composed his 3rd Symphony... for a full-sized wind symphony, with a cello section, and a 6-part female choir... 50 minutes!" is there SUCH a piece for band???
next rehearsal, the CD was played... "BANG!!!!........" omigod... I AM SO GONNA PLAY FOR INTEMPO 2008!!!
till today, Symphony No. 3 Planet Earth remains the ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BAND NUMBER in my mental repertoire... it earmarked the journey we all went through, physically in an auditorium, but spiritually in some other place, having beautiful scenes painted in our impression as we rehearsed...
Intempo 2008, the CD played again... "BANG!!!........" ok, here we go!!!
it was... too... beautiful... III. Mother Earth, measure 191, Meno Mosso... we were in a state of spiritual high!!! tears began to well up in my eyes... the Hymn to Gaia was next... i sang, with all my heart, and suddenly, the tears could not stop!!! I broke down... subsequently I had to sit out of a few measures cos I could not control my tears, and was nearly reduced into a sobbing wreck! I composed myself, and finished the piece with all I could... NEVER HAVE I REACHED SUCH A STATE IN PLAYING MY TRUMPET!!!
after Intempo, I was thinking... what's next?
yesterday was DaCapo 2008... Leonard's last one with us... come to think of it, I had known Leonard for just over a year, but it seemed like eternity! he's leaving, but its for his own good... it's for him to be able to offer even more to music when he gets his doctorate years down
DaCapo was yet another one! this time, yet again by de Meij, it was an Extreme Makeover!!! Impressive is an understatement... and like I had expected, Leonard meant to give his all, and give his all he did!!! Last note of Extreme Makeover, the finest moment! We all stood up and blared our resonant bells right into the audience, showing them what our brasses can do! complete showoff, but THAT'S JUST ME!!! I LOVED THAT FEELING!!!
now, I cant describe my feeling... i wrots such a long piece, but i in fact is just a summary... there are so many more things I had left out, as it might have become a bible itself...
this all, since March 2007... only one-and-a-half years ago... it was such an experience!!!
to all who have been with me in NUSWS, those initially unfamiliar faces to some of my closest friends today, thank you so much... thank you NUSWS, yet another home for me...
to the man himself, thank you so so much! i wouldnt have learnt so much and enjoyed so much of music making if not for you... thank you Leonard, conductor, mentor, and friend... bon voyage, and i hope i can still address you with your first name when you return as a Doctor
Come to think of it, all my other stints playing a trumpet had just gone up in smoke right after their respective performances... some duet with a piano accompaniment back in sec sch which id rather forget, or in jazz which i HAVE to admit... is not my type of music...
but YES, its band... JUST band...
i remember, back in JC, after SYF and all the hype... i decided... ENUFF IS ENUFF!!! i had it working so damn hard everyday playing till my lips CHUI, just for 1 piece... a supposedly beautiful piece of Spartacus which nearly killed all my love for it just playing it repeatedly to perform at some stupid competition to get some stupid Gold Award... as IF i can sell that award for cash...
from then, i stopped... n I shut the door on what I loved before, swearing NEVER to do this ever anymore...
5 years later... i thot I had lost it all, but i gave myself a chance again, to watch a band concert... and I chose the nearest... NUSWS...
the concert was great! Poema Alpestre was something I never heard a local band play (if i could still remember what local bands played)... and somehow, by some really really big fluke... i got to know someone in NUSWS who told me they are flying to Italy for a festival and needed a trumpeter...
i stepped into the auditorium for the first day, knowing ONLY 1 person amongst that sea of faces, not knowing wad to do... I got 'thrown' to the then-trumpet-SL who did a pretty good job in making me feel at home, and ben who was a pretty friendly guy but seemed egoistic typical of a trumpeter... but of cos, the unfamiliar feeling still lingered... and coupled with that stiff sound coming out of my trumpet as a result of 5 yrs not playing... it wasnt that nice... except for the fact that the conductor managed to grab a bit of my attention... yah...
break time, OH NO! now how the hell should i mingle with this whole BIG grp of ppl i dunno myself? so i thot i just stand up and walk around and hope to just get in conversation with someone... come on, JUST ANYONE!!!
then, he approached me, probably sensing that i was lost... a hand stuck out... "Hi! I'm Leonard. Pleased to meet you!" I looked up to see that very same figure who was right in front of everyone just before. We made small talk, and it quickly occured to me that there is just something about him I couldnt describe at that time... but quite unsurprising when he was supposed to be able to lead a full-sized band, at this kind of young age... "Hope you'll enjoy yourself in here!"
from then on, i dont know for what reason, it seemed that what i left behind 5 years ago, came back to me in bits and pieces... i cant say i was entirely convinced at that time, but one thing for sure, my journey in NUSWS began then...
fast forward to Italy, which i loved... but talked... so no point harping again... one thing i really remembered in all the performances: Leonard didn seem to conduct, HE WAS DANCING!!! it struck a chord in me... i was actually enjoying it!
back in singapore, i faced yet another dilemma... should I continue? oh well, HJ said they needed me, cos they are playing Star Wars... I reluctantly agreed...
Star Wars was ok... just... ok... I preferred No Shadow of Turning so much more, cos there, I saw a different side of Leonard... so emotional, its breathtaking!
nearer Da Capo 2007, Leonard said we are 40 years old for Intempo, and its time to celebrate, with something we have NEVER done before, and will prove a milestone not for us only, but for the local band scene as a whole! wad de hell could that thing be?
he said, its a BIG piece, and new! we hope to do that, but if we cant... maybe Barnes 2nd Symphony... by then the biggest I have come across was Johan de Meij's Casanova, which I thoroughly enjoyed... I thought of suggesting, but I'm sure Leonard already has something in mind, and also, where to find the cellist???
3 rehearsals to Da Capo, Leonard finally unveiled the piece. it's de Meij also, but another piece... initially i was a bit disappointed, but wad he said next got me interested "... recently composed his 3rd Symphony... for a full-sized wind symphony, with a cello section, and a 6-part female choir... 50 minutes!" is there SUCH a piece for band???
next rehearsal, the CD was played... "BANG!!!!........" omigod... I AM SO GONNA PLAY FOR INTEMPO 2008!!!
till today, Symphony No. 3 Planet Earth remains the ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BAND NUMBER in my mental repertoire... it earmarked the journey we all went through, physically in an auditorium, but spiritually in some other place, having beautiful scenes painted in our impression as we rehearsed...
Intempo 2008, the CD played again... "BANG!!!........" ok, here we go!!!
it was... too... beautiful... III. Mother Earth, measure 191, Meno Mosso... we were in a state of spiritual high!!! tears began to well up in my eyes... the Hymn to Gaia was next... i sang, with all my heart, and suddenly, the tears could not stop!!! I broke down... subsequently I had to sit out of a few measures cos I could not control my tears, and was nearly reduced into a sobbing wreck! I composed myself, and finished the piece with all I could... NEVER HAVE I REACHED SUCH A STATE IN PLAYING MY TRUMPET!!!
after Intempo, I was thinking... what's next?
yesterday was DaCapo 2008... Leonard's last one with us... come to think of it, I had known Leonard for just over a year, but it seemed like eternity! he's leaving, but its for his own good... it's for him to be able to offer even more to music when he gets his doctorate years down
DaCapo was yet another one! this time, yet again by de Meij, it was an Extreme Makeover!!! Impressive is an understatement... and like I had expected, Leonard meant to give his all, and give his all he did!!! Last note of Extreme Makeover, the finest moment! We all stood up and blared our resonant bells right into the audience, showing them what our brasses can do! complete showoff, but THAT'S JUST ME!!! I LOVED THAT FEELING!!!
now, I cant describe my feeling... i wrots such a long piece, but i in fact is just a summary... there are so many more things I had left out, as it might have become a bible itself...
this all, since March 2007... only one-and-a-half years ago... it was such an experience!!!
to all who have been with me in NUSWS, those initially unfamiliar faces to some of my closest friends today, thank you so much... thank you NUSWS, yet another home for me...
to the man himself, thank you so so much! i wouldnt have learnt so much and enjoyed so much of music making if not for you... thank you Leonard, conductor, mentor, and friend... bon voyage, and i hope i can still address you with your first name when you return as a Doctor
Dennis ~ 1:52 am
Saturday, October 18, 2008
My previous post was on September 9, 2007... I think... I nearly forgot about this blog, or even, how to write a blog...
Now why am I here again, my blog asks me, with a hint of that resentful feeling of hurt for being left aside for over a year...
My blog... I'm so, so, sorry to have left u alone, while i went on about my more important stuff... or was I just looking for an escape?
I read my previous post, and somehow, a feeling of satisfaction engulfed me... Indeed, i have moved on =)
Of the things I set for myself to do previously:
1. Those concerts at that time, DaCapo 2007 and Jazz Christmas at Esplanade, were gems of their own! DaCapo gave me the chance to play with 4 other extremely strong musicians in a brass quintet, a truly great experience for me which i yearn to do again... Ben, MW, RC and Daniel, if u read this, u noe wad to do =)... As for Jazz, I still cannot forget that free-ad-lib solo I strewn for In The Mood, something that I can still listen and feel proud of it... oh yah, for that solo, THERE WERE NO NOTES WRITTEN ON THE SCORE!!! ... well... mebe the alcohol helped a bit =P Anyway, more concerts came, some of which r so great that I will be bringing those memories all the rest of my life (one of it just happened yesterday)
2. My work and my assignments... yup, yr4 was the toughest year in my whole NUS life! it was like a journey thru hell and back, but to my surprise, i survived and made the most out of it! I was project leader of the BIGGEST project I have ever done (engineer a H2-syngas plant) and while it provided me with the BIGGEST headache at times, it gave me the most value-add... In particular i still remember that night i was activated back to the com lab to settle a design flaw, 1 day before the deadline, the ultimate stress was that when everything was hinged on your decision which has to be made fast, with ur teammates looking at you expectantly for a solution... Nevertheless, the team was great, and very helpful (thou can still improve a bit on efficiency =P)... Havent officially thanked them for the work, so here goes... Dexter, Xinyi, Eeling, Michelle, KayYang, Juncong... Thank you so, so much, for without your help and work, this wouldnt have been possible =)
3. Yes I made it! Now, everytime I look at the plaque I made with the words SECOND CLASS HONOURS (UPPER) staring back at me, I have that undescribable feeling of satisfaction
4. As of now, I'm working in SembCorp Industries as a Commercial/Business Development Engineer, a job I had set out for in the beginning... It is stressful as I have REAL issues to deal with, but very satisfying as I have learnt a lot on the past 2 months of my job
5. oh well... i have moved on =)
Looking back, I didn expect to have that so many things happening in that one year of my life... all the ups-and-downs, all the new friends I have made and stuff... I'm glad to say i have changed a lot, for the better mostly...
Really, to all my friends, thank you all for the memories you gave me, be it in the past 1 year, in my 4 years of NUS life, or just all the 25 years of life I have experienced!
I will try my utmost to keep this space alive and provide updates of what I have gone through... probably starting with REALLY SIGNIFICANT events in the past year
Till we meet again =)
Now why am I here again, my blog asks me, with a hint of that resentful feeling of hurt for being left aside for over a year...
My blog... I'm so, so, sorry to have left u alone, while i went on about my more important stuff... or was I just looking for an escape?
I read my previous post, and somehow, a feeling of satisfaction engulfed me... Indeed, i have moved on =)
Of the things I set for myself to do previously:
1. Those concerts at that time, DaCapo 2007 and Jazz Christmas at Esplanade, were gems of their own! DaCapo gave me the chance to play with 4 other extremely strong musicians in a brass quintet, a truly great experience for me which i yearn to do again... Ben, MW, RC and Daniel, if u read this, u noe wad to do =)... As for Jazz, I still cannot forget that free-ad-lib solo I strewn for In The Mood, something that I can still listen and feel proud of it... oh yah, for that solo, THERE WERE NO NOTES WRITTEN ON THE SCORE!!! ... well... mebe the alcohol helped a bit =P Anyway, more concerts came, some of which r so great that I will be bringing those memories all the rest of my life (one of it just happened yesterday)
2. My work and my assignments... yup, yr4 was the toughest year in my whole NUS life! it was like a journey thru hell and back, but to my surprise, i survived and made the most out of it! I was project leader of the BIGGEST project I have ever done (engineer a H2-syngas plant) and while it provided me with the BIGGEST headache at times, it gave me the most value-add... In particular i still remember that night i was activated back to the com lab to settle a design flaw, 1 day before the deadline, the ultimate stress was that when everything was hinged on your decision which has to be made fast, with ur teammates looking at you expectantly for a solution... Nevertheless, the team was great, and very helpful (thou can still improve a bit on efficiency =P)... Havent officially thanked them for the work, so here goes... Dexter, Xinyi, Eeling, Michelle, KayYang, Juncong... Thank you so, so much, for without your help and work, this wouldnt have been possible =)
3. Yes I made it! Now, everytime I look at the plaque I made with the words SECOND CLASS HONOURS (UPPER) staring back at me, I have that undescribable feeling of satisfaction
4. As of now, I'm working in SembCorp Industries as a Commercial/Business Development Engineer, a job I had set out for in the beginning... It is stressful as I have REAL issues to deal with, but very satisfying as I have learnt a lot on the past 2 months of my job
5. oh well... i have moved on =)
Looking back, I didn expect to have that so many things happening in that one year of my life... all the ups-and-downs, all the new friends I have made and stuff... I'm glad to say i have changed a lot, for the better mostly...
Really, to all my friends, thank you all for the memories you gave me, be it in the past 1 year, in my 4 years of NUS life, or just all the 25 years of life I have experienced!
I will try my utmost to keep this space alive and provide updates of what I have gone through... probably starting with REALLY SIGNIFICANT events in the past year
Till we meet again =)
Dennis ~ 12:32 pm