Innumerabilis

I’m feeling like shit with headache, flu and sore throat. Thanks Ismail.

I went to Freddie’s house in the morning to fix his internet connection. I was able to help his dad connect to the wireless, and figure out the access page of the modem and router, but beyond that I couldn’t do very much because it is most likely that the dropped connections result from the old and very much frayed phone wirings. Freddie’s father was very nice to give me a red packet, but I threw it into the drawer with all the other red packets without opening it. Somehow CNY stuff just doesn’t interest me. Perhaps I’ll open them next year.

Next I went to Alliance Francaise in Newton to register for French lessons. The receptionist wasn’t very helpful, and was a little chilly. She just gave me a pamphlet and a registration form. When I asked about the courses, she just said, “Refer to the pamphlet.” I had already recced the courses online, but I’m sure someone who had not done so would be completely muddled. Anyway, completed the booking and bought the textbooks, which came up to S$300+ in total. Ouch.

Next destination was TempServ at International Plaza. They weren’t open, but had a notice asking people to slip their timesheets under the door. Lol. I had wanted to explain about the overtime, but oh well. Hopefully they noticed the mark I put there.

Finally, after much procrastination (and not just procrastination for today), I went to register for driving lessons at Kovan’s CDC before I thought too much about it. The receptionist there was very helpful and friendly, in great contrast to the one at AF. Anyway, the cost for driving (the initial one, at least), costs half as much as my French course. Hmm…

Anyway, got a headache from the very hot weather, and a day of travelling around. If I migrate, the vexatious weather would be a very great push factor.

Rohaizad smsed me today to say that the card arrived. The postmark was 13 Feb 2007, but MF’s stamp was 21 Feb 2007. I think it is quite ridiculous that a local card takes 10 days to deliver. Maybe the entire bag of mail got lost or something, I don’t know, but 10 days?! The notice on the mailbox where I posted the cards declared proudly that letters posted before 5pm would be delivered on the next working day; this is patently not the case. Furthermore, this is not the first time that such a problem has occurred. Still, I’m glad to know that the card has at least arrived, though much tardier than expected.

When I reached home, I received a message from Shawn saying that he received my card as well, with the postmark at 13 Feb 2007 and receive date 20 Feb 2007 USA time, which means 21 Feb 2007 Singapore time.

Now compare and contrast. Does it make sense that a card travelling less than 100km, and within the same country without the necessity of clearing customs, should arrive on the same day as a card destined for USA? And not any of the major transit hubs in USA, but Kansas.

Geez. The government wants to privatise the postal service. I can only hope that competition would make the incumbent wake up.