Columns of the "Daily N" & "Rotating Wok Meat"

Ｎ紙のコラムを読んでいるが、ここ数カ月はパッとしない。話題が問題というのではないが、何か観光客的視点での話が多いように思う。想像だが、転勤が増えて、記者の赴任歴が短いことが原因ではないか。

*

昨日近くの「東北菜館」で買った残りで、冷めた「回鍋肉」が今日の夕食。冷めてても辛～～い。日本で食べてたのと全然違う。

*

未だにいくらか床に置いてある古雑誌があるものの、契約譲渡の問題を残してではあるがネット接続が解決してこともあって、やっとこの場所に慣れてきた。「Broadband on Mobile」は、午前０時前になると急に速度が落ち、それが１時間以上続く。接続が増える時間帯だろうから当然ではあるけど、あまりに昼間との差が激しい。

(Almost) End of Online Ordeal

Back at B. J. yesterday. This time things went smoothly and I brought the stick modem home. The “Quick Start” booklet is totally unhelpful. It explains almost nothing. The icon that is supposed to appear automatically on the desktop never appeared. The device itself was recognized by the PC. I didn’t know what the problem was. This afternoon, when I clicked “Computer” to get a work file, I found a red icon that looked unfamiliar. That was the icon that should have appeared on the desktop, according to the booklet. The connection speed is as fast as or faster than MaxOnline Premium. Back at VC today. I suspended my contract with StarHub. Now, I need someone to transfer the contract to.

*

土曜日の夜だったか、CPの地下で髪を七三に分けながらポニーテールにしている人がいた。かなりの異様さだった。

TIME WASTED AGAIN

At the SingTel shop at B. J.: “ID?” I produced my EP card. “Passport?” “Ha?” I was asked to show my passport as my current EP expires in less than half a year. Three weeks short of six months. Fuck!

Trying to Create Empty Space

Bed bugs seem to have been exterminated successfully.

*

Another journey to IKEA today to order another bookcase, two extra shelves and a desk lamp. All passed to home delivery. I positively hate shopping trips. About the tiny parts I thought were missing were not missing after all. It was just I wrongly placed them… Now corrected. With another bookcase et al., I hope this place will become more comfortable.

*

I decided to sign up to a mobile broadband plan. It cannot go on like this. At the VivoCity SingTel shop, I was told to go to Bugis Junction. If I feel like going out tomorrow, I go there for the plan and drop by Plaza S. to terminate my StarHub contract. I need to explain why I terminate it as they surely will ask me to pay a termination penalty fee.

More to Store

I sent out two invoices and delivered the remaining work this afternoon. After a nap, I started to assemble the bookcase. When I thought I finished the assembling and turned it upright, I found I had put the top panel backward. Did it again… Some improvement in the room with books on the shelves, but still many books, all CDs and DVDs are on the floor. It may not be possible to store them all as I believe the room lacks sufficient space.

*

No bug attack last night.

Feeling Down Here; Last Season of "Abu"

A fumigation work was arranged yesterday, very much likely to be the result of my complaint. Unable to enter the house until 5 pm. Still itchy, why?

Meanwhile, I went to IKEA, where things are much more affordable. Ordered a bookcase, a bed side table and a rocking chair. Some spending, but no choice.

The furniture arrived at about noon today. Assembling the table, I noticed two tiny parts were missing though they didn’t affect the assembly. Why am I so unlucky since I started moving into here? Nothing goes right, at least in the first try. There was neither energy nor time to put together the bookcase. The room is even messier with the chair and the table occupying space.

*

「あぶさん」（62）が引退表明。やっとか。格好悪い飲んだくれが主人公（「あぶぅ、この飲んべが！」）の野球マンガから、家族マンガ「サザエさん」に、そして現実離れした「スーパーマン」へと変身したこの作品。ノムラさんが南海に残ったままで引退したなら、同時に引退してマンガも終わっていたのに。もっと早く、野球マンガのうちに終わってほしかった。

*

Reply from StarHub: “We regret to inform you that we are unable to transfer your Services from your old address to your new address.”

*

One meal a day for the past few days. I don’t feel at home here.

Bed Bugs Attack

I checked the B.B. website and found an outlet at “The Central,” only two stations away from here. I browsed around the store a few times and gave up. The few items interesting are all beyond my budget. And I know I’m not feeling comfortable staying here.

I woke up at 7:30 this morning. I’ve been wondering why I get itchy bites everyday. I thought it was bites by mosquitoes. No! It’s bed bugs!

Conspiracy?

Yesterday, I ended a two-week interpretation work with some emotions.

I found a cabling work at the house and asked the guy laying the cables what it was for. “Internet.” Hmmm… I have no idea what’s going on. I will ask him, if I see him again, if it’s for StarHub or SingTel, or some company else.

Today, I took a bus from T.Bahru to GWC, where I believed B.B. was. No more. There seems some conspiracy to prevent me from visiting any B.B. outlet.

Ridiculous Day

The “man” of the management company called me this afternoon to explain what is happening with the online issue. I only understand that the previous owner did something unreasonable and /or illegal to the connection though the man never says anything illegal has ever taken place here. After all, however, it seems that I have to give up my contract with StarHub and change to SingTel. He told me that it would not necessary to pay any early-termination penalty fee. I’m not so sure. I would demand his company to bear the cost for the termination should StarHub ask me to pay up. I will visit the CS Center again over the weekend and find what StarHub has to say to me.

*

This morning, when I was moving myself into a taxi, I found out that I forgot to bring my wallet with my security card inside. Said sorry to the driver. But, there was no way to come back into the house. Decided to take a second taxi anyway and go to the working place. Borrowed $20 to pay for the ride and lunch. Luckily had some coins in my pocket, enough to come back by MRT. Waited for half an hour until one of the other tenants came back and let me in. I showed him the key of the unit. He asked me which unit (there are four) on the third floor I am staying in. His looks were very suspicious and telling me, “You are STUPID.”

*

昨日、報じられた金賢姫元工作員と彼女の日本語教育係だった女性の息子との対面は心に響いた。特に、「私が韓国のお母さんになります」の一言は。

Angry Man

Will the letter move things forward finally? I’m very pessimistic. I AM ANGRY.

Trying to Solve Issues

I posted a complaint letter to the management company. Last night, e-mail was dispatched to the accountant. I’m not sure if anybody is cheating me. I have no idea if the management company will reply. In the case of this company, the prospect is not favorable with its history with me so far. It’s been so frustrating! In the meantime, I need to proceed with my work with these inconveniences. After visiting the CS center, I attempted to log in to “wireless@sg” and the wireless service by StarHub with my “Hub ID.” Both were unsuccessful.

I noticed a few days ago that the family next door had moved out.

My Own Investigation

Given what happened last night, I went to the CS center again, hoping connection could be established after all. I brought my camera to show the photo of the lit-up modem. The address was checked again at the counter, and the answer this time was “invalid address,” which means that the cable point was installed by an “outsider, not StarHub technicians” even though it is marked “SCV.” Whether or not it is legal “depends on who installed it.” I really don’t know what’s going on here.

This afternoon, the same network could not be accessed, but now it seems just fine.

Mr. Bean Now Online

I got another problem last night. I found out that the predecessor company never used the service for the tax filing purpose. My understanding was that it is an annual event for the company I inherited. I wonder why there was no explanation that this would be the first time such a service would be provided to the company. I was told, “You have got deceived by the accountant.” Is that really so?

Even worse, I was sharing the same space with the “vaka shacho.” He found me and seemed to start talking to me. I ignored him.

This afternoon, I went to Tanglin Mall wanting to see some furniture at B.B. B.B. was not there any longer. Then, I moved on to S.Bucks to connect to the internet using “wireless@sg.” My login attempts, with the password this computer remembers, were all refused. I don’t know why… Given up, I decided to come back to this area and to try it again at SGH only to find the same result. If the password is wrong and it has to be changed, I need to see the e-mail to activate the change. To see it, I need “wireless@sg.”

All these trouble make me feel like a Mr. Bean.

*

I’ve just found something strange and probably nice. Because I saw on the screen that an unsecured network was available, I connected the modem to the StarHub adapter on the wall. Voila! The connection got established and this is quite fast. I took precautionary measures while I don’t know how secure it is now. And whose network am I connected to?

Connection Issue Causing Great Inconvenience

2009年3月2日（月）23:17

A two-week interpretation work started today. So far, it’s about a system I’ve seen before. Seems like a review for me.

I slept at this new place for the first time last night. It doesn’t feel like home at all yet. Half dreaming, I was wondering whether this was Monday, therefore I’d have to start the interpretation, or still Sunday. No one from the management company called me though the man said to me, “I call you on Monday.” This is entering a super-irate field of mind. Why promise when you can’t deliver. I’m not really blaming the man himself. It’s rather his company that sucks.

Came back straight from work by taxi, driven by an unhappy old driver. With my PC I went (back?) to Kim Tian, where not many things remain. But things still do remain there, mainly old magazines from 1985. I’ll give up my old CD player and may have to do so with the heavy wooden CD rack too. I bought both when I moved into Kum Hing Court. Here almost everything is placed only temporarily.

Oh, while working, I received a surprise call from mother. No time to talk. I should finally do something to keep connected with home at least by sending a post card at least to notify her of my address change, though part of me is resisting this place at Neil Road if no online connection really can be established.
A two-week interpretation work started today. So far, it’s about a system I’ve seen before. Seems like a review for me.

I slept at this new place for the first time last night. It doesn’t feel like home at all yet. Half dreaming, I was wondering whether this was Monday, therefore I’d have to start the interpretation, or still Sunday. No one from the management company called me though the man said to me, “I call you on Monday.” This is entering a super-irate field of mind. Why promise when you can’t deliver. I’m not really blaming the man himself. It’s rather his company that sucks.

Came back straight from work by taxi, driven by an unhappy old driver. With my PC I went (back?) to Kim Tian, where not many things remain. But things still do remain there, mainly old magazines from 1985. I’ll give up my old CD player and may have to do so with the heavy wooden CD rack too. I bought both when I moved into Kum Hing Court. Here almost everything is placed only temporarily.

Oh, while working, I received a surprise call from mother. No time to talk. I should finally do something to keep connected with home at least by sending a post card at least to notify her of my address change, though part of me is resisting this place at Neil Road if no online connection really can be established.

(Uploaded from Kim Tian Place)