March « 2010 « JEWELLE TAN

Offshore

When my husband had to go for two outstation trips back to back recently, I got little sympathy from friends in the oil district – whose husbands work offshore.

One told me matter-of-factly that her husband had to go for an indefinite offshore trip just days after he came home from an outstation training that lasted several weeks.

Surely it takes a strong-willed person to stay on this kind of job.

Out at seas for days sometimes weeks, most times their return trip unpredictable and their wives dreading the sorry-dear-weather/equipment-issues-have-to-extend phone calls. Or those on weird hour shifts, since this is a 24 hours industry, disrupting everyone’s routine; husband-came-home-at-3am-and-wife-needs-to-quickly-soak/wash-his-overall kind of scenario.

At least they can compensate this little discomfort with their higher-than-most pay. The flashy will spend on expensive stuffs while the discreet or wiser will invest in funds or take on more life insurance for the future security of their family.

But while it takes strong willed husbands to stay in this kind of job, it takes even stronger wives to handle life with these oil & gas offshore and site workers. Mind you, not all wives can handle this kind of life, especially in this age of short-term-gratification with the you-are-NOT-around-and-HE-is kind of temptations.

It is those wives who can endure being a relatively single parent most of the time, who have my respect.

Park Ride

We brought the kids to Jerudong Park recently for an evening of rides.

Actually we had plan to go for at least 2 rides as there were a few which we know the kids will enjoy. But the moment they spotted the Merry-Go-Round, it was this ride and nothing else.

In fact, another mother and I indulged our kids in this ride two times – and more, had we let them have their ways. Besides, it was also dinner time and I would not actually minded going for a few more rounds (instead of chasing them around the park not being able to sit on any of the outdoor furniture as these kids do not stay in one spot long enough).

It was fun to see their happy faces and we are planning another visit soon.

Online Study

When it comes to universities that offer online programs, there are a few names which we regularly come across and most of them are based in the USA.

Now here is another establishment – Western Governors University – which anyone interested in doing online degree in the fields of education, business, information technology and health should check out.

Established 11 years ago, it was even featured in the TIME magazine in 2008, tantalisingly described as “The best relatively cheap university you’ve never heard of”. It is perhaps one of the few purely online university to ever receive such public accolade.

And rightly so, as their approach is different from most online programs. Instead of the typical subject based and credit-hour based as with most universities, WGU requires their students to demonstrate their competency via online exams – perfect for working adults wanting to keep their jobs and pursue some masters degree online.

However, although WGU is an accredited online program school, I wonder if they are recognized in our part of the world.

Car Buddies

One Jeremy Clarkson article in my husband’s magazine, caught my interest recently.

On making friends the easy way, he has this funny tip :

“Simply look at what they drive. If you like their wheels, there’s a good chance you’ll like the driver too. If you don’t, you almost certainly won’t” (Top Gear, March 2010)

But perhaps this only works for men?

Because my oldest friends either don’t drive or used to drive cars that I would not touch (because I have been spoilt with automatic cars and would not go manual even if I can or know of any joint pain relief to soothe aching feet from the constant pressing of clutch-brake-accelerate).

And, many whom I chose to be friends with now also do not drive the kind of cars I like…

Perhaps his tip works only for men (and maybe some women) who see cars as an extension of their personality – or style.

So if that is you, you’re welcome to this tip.

Fitness

There is nothing more annoying than to hear someone mention about my weight. Especially when the comment comes along with the insinuation that intentional dieting is involved.

Maybe that’s the easiest excuse for folks who find it hard to shed their own weight whenever they see someone who is “blessed” (or cursed, depending on if you’re fat/skinny not by choice) in this area.

Actually, to put it simply, genetic and lifestyle play huge factors. Raising a family of young kids without help until the husband is home, is no joke. Anyone who says that doing housework and childcaring won’t make you burn as much calories as exercising on some fitness equipment meant only one thing – they did not do much housework to speak of.

But if you’re a working professional who has good reasons not to do much housework, then make use of the staircase in your building – and you will definitely see positive results even if you only go up and down 2 storeys every day.

TV reality-show is at a new low. We are now glorifying gangsters. #Brunei & #Malaysia, do we really need to know about American gangs?