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Thursday, 1 September 2022
Life updates
Thursday, 1 September 2022 14:09When things don't go smoothly, they just don't.
On the British Pound notes issue, I asked around and found a bank that said they would accept the GBP but since that bank does not have GBP as foreign currency account (it's a China-based bank) so they can only convert it to the local currency or Hong Kong dollar and deposit to my account. I figured I might as well do that to save any future trouble. Dropped the cash off with the manager and then later in the day he says there are some notes are old. He's not disputing the authentic-ness of the notes, but some are too old too used that "the counting machine can't count them". Honestly, I've looked and touched at all the notes and none of them seemed soooooo worn out. But I didn't want to cause any further fuss, as I'm just using work-related contacts and shouldn't really abuse it, lest I hurt the reputation of my work place.
So, I'm back with 990 GBP on hand. They offered to still deposit the "passed" 420 GBP but I figured, if in the end I go the "postal" route, I'd rather send a larger chunk of money than smaller, but ultimately, I think I'm just going to hold onto that cash until the next time I'm visiting London. First visit in 2009, then a second visit in 2016, and with the pandemic and Macau's over-reactive response, I wonder if I'd ever be there again for the NEXT money notes change. Going to the UK is not the problem now, it's coming back. They still need a 7-day quarantine coming back here. It's... annoying.
The next not-smoothly thing that happened?
So my other bestie (not the "GBP incident one") informed me of a new ceramics course. It's more a pottery pinching rather than pottery throwing class and I figured I might as well try it out, so I know the difference. Classes are hosted by an association that you can be a member of. I figured, I get a $200 discount for the course if I apply as a member, but annual membership fees are at $600, so unless I'm sure I'll take at least 3 courses in a year, I don't think I should spend the $600 for membership fees. So I applied to the class, and I paid, which was a whole song an dance because:
(I don't want to say it, but... the lady I was dealing with is a Portuguese lady.... classic....)
me: Do you accept cash payments?
Lady: Yes
me: here's $2000 (for a $1800 payment)
Lady: oh, I don't have change for you.
me: okay.... credit card?
Lady: Yes
...
Lady: oh, sorry, the credit card terminal is out of battery and I have to put it on charge.
me: trying very hard not to roll my eyes
Lady: do you have MPAY? (A local electronic payment thing, like an e-wallet or something)
me: yeah sure
Lady: oh. My colleague with the card-key to switch on the MPAY terminal is on holiday.
me: okay....?
Lady: do you think you can do a bank transfer?
me: yes, sure, of course.
And that was done.
Then I saw on the "applicant list" I was the 6th name already (class size capped at 6 persons) and checking out the other names, none were my friend's name, so when I left I told her she may want to go apply asap as I see it's full already, pending a few payments.
My friend confirms that she's (and 2 other of her friends, so 3 people) on waiting list. So we decide that yeah, just see if "fate" will allow us to go to the course together (maybe someone doesn't pay in time then my friend and her friends can bump up).
At the end of the day, I receive a call from the association. Obviously a Macanese lady, because she spoke with mixed Portuguese and Cantonese words.
Said the instructor is being sent to be quarantined, so classes will not start, and that if I'm unhappy with the arrangement, they sure can refund me the amount I paid.
I was amused at first, okay.... going on quarantine is a 2-week matter, so it's just 4 missed classes, so I asked if it's just simply a postponed start of the course or what?
Lady: we don't know yet and if you are not happy we can refund you.
me: right? And when we know you will inform me with ample time before?
Lady: yes of course, but if you find it unacceptable, it's totally fine, we can refund you.
me: do you know if the schedule will remain the same Mondays and Wednesdays?
Lady: we don't know at this stage, but don't worry, if for anything, you are not happy with the arrangement, we can refund you.
I found it weird why she ended each line with "we can refund you"... so much so that the conspiracy theorist in me started theorizing as well.
I joined the course as a non-member. My friend and her friends on the waiting list are members. Maybe the association wants to kick me out and give priority to members. Which is stupid. Because on the course pamphlet it states that the sequence will be by completed applications with payment.
I jokingly sent a message to this friend, "hey, you say you know the instructor, better ask after him as apparently he's in quarantine so the course is for now cancelled until further notice." She was also confused, and after I expressed my conspiracy theory but in a very joking "can you believe it?" way, she got mad for a bit that "the association used such a stupid reason" and that she knows the instructor and he hasn't travelled out of Macau, so "why would he suddenly be in quarantine?"
But later in the night, I saw she deleted those messages and I haven't heard from her since. I know, I know, benefit of the doubt and all that, but it's all so suspicious. But no worries, I wouldn't be too hung up about this. I would still be upset about the treatment, but it's no real biggie for me as the course venue and timing actually doesn't really fit me, I simply applied because it was the plan that I made with my friend.
I need to go get new clothes. I took out three pairs of... is it pants or trousers? I forget where it's meant as undies. Anyway. I took out three pairs of pants and I can't button them ugh.... so I need to go shopping for more work pants. But it's also TODAY that i succumbed to temptation. I was really craving carbs. But was cutting down on carbs for a while. So... I decided to get a curry dish. I can't really eat hot and spicy stuff... so I thought the curry would make me eat less rice... but I guess my love for rice is too great. I braved the spiciness and finished the whole bowl of rice, despite it being a bit too spicy for me. I amuse myself sometimes... and because of all the rice and water I'm now full.
But I really don't get it. I've cut carbs for a while, I exercise every day, I don't ever drink any soda or any carbonated or sweetened drinks, I've cut out snacking, and definitely not starving myself by skipping meals, but I'm still gaining weight. My arms and legs look OK, but I just have a disproportionately large belly. I got a reminder from the hospital that it's time for my annuals but I don't want to go until I've lost a bit of weight, because for sure they're going to label me as overweight. However, I also know that I should go and do it, because the health check I did last year was more on women's health, and that didn't include a cholesterol reading. I'm sure my blood pressure is fine and I don't think I'm diabetic, but it's about time I know about my cholesterol levels.
Adulting is such a bore!
On the British Pound notes issue, I asked around and found a bank that said they would accept the GBP but since that bank does not have GBP as foreign currency account (it's a China-based bank) so they can only convert it to the local currency or Hong Kong dollar and deposit to my account. I figured I might as well do that to save any future trouble. Dropped the cash off with the manager and then later in the day he says there are some notes are old. He's not disputing the authentic-ness of the notes, but some are too old too used that "the counting machine can't count them". Honestly, I've looked and touched at all the notes and none of them seemed soooooo worn out. But I didn't want to cause any further fuss, as I'm just using work-related contacts and shouldn't really abuse it, lest I hurt the reputation of my work place.
So, I'm back with 990 GBP on hand. They offered to still deposit the "passed" 420 GBP but I figured, if in the end I go the "postal" route, I'd rather send a larger chunk of money than smaller, but ultimately, I think I'm just going to hold onto that cash until the next time I'm visiting London. First visit in 2009, then a second visit in 2016, and with the pandemic and Macau's over-reactive response, I wonder if I'd ever be there again for the NEXT money notes change. Going to the UK is not the problem now, it's coming back. They still need a 7-day quarantine coming back here. It's... annoying.
The next not-smoothly thing that happened?
So my other bestie (not the "GBP incident one") informed me of a new ceramics course. It's more a pottery pinching rather than pottery throwing class and I figured I might as well try it out, so I know the difference. Classes are hosted by an association that you can be a member of. I figured, I get a $200 discount for the course if I apply as a member, but annual membership fees are at $600, so unless I'm sure I'll take at least 3 courses in a year, I don't think I should spend the $600 for membership fees. So I applied to the class, and I paid, which was a whole song an dance because:
(I don't want to say it, but... the lady I was dealing with is a Portuguese lady.... classic....)
me: Do you accept cash payments?
Lady: Yes
me: here's $2000 (for a $1800 payment)
Lady: oh, I don't have change for you.
me: okay.... credit card?
Lady: Yes
...
Lady: oh, sorry, the credit card terminal is out of battery and I have to put it on charge.
me: trying very hard not to roll my eyes
Lady: do you have MPAY? (A local electronic payment thing, like an e-wallet or something)
me: yeah sure
Lady: oh. My colleague with the card-key to switch on the MPAY terminal is on holiday.
me: okay....?
Lady: do you think you can do a bank transfer?
me: yes, sure, of course.
And that was done.
Then I saw on the "applicant list" I was the 6th name already (class size capped at 6 persons) and checking out the other names, none were my friend's name, so when I left I told her she may want to go apply asap as I see it's full already, pending a few payments.
My friend confirms that she's (and 2 other of her friends, so 3 people) on waiting list. So we decide that yeah, just see if "fate" will allow us to go to the course together (maybe someone doesn't pay in time then my friend and her friends can bump up).
At the end of the day, I receive a call from the association. Obviously a Macanese lady, because she spoke with mixed Portuguese and Cantonese words.
Said the instructor is being sent to be quarantined, so classes will not start, and that if I'm unhappy with the arrangement, they sure can refund me the amount I paid.
I was amused at first, okay.... going on quarantine is a 2-week matter, so it's just 4 missed classes, so I asked if it's just simply a postponed start of the course or what?
Lady: we don't know yet and if you are not happy we can refund you.
me: right? And when we know you will inform me with ample time before?
Lady: yes of course, but if you find it unacceptable, it's totally fine, we can refund you.
me: do you know if the schedule will remain the same Mondays and Wednesdays?
Lady: we don't know at this stage, but don't worry, if for anything, you are not happy with the arrangement, we can refund you.
I found it weird why she ended each line with "we can refund you"... so much so that the conspiracy theorist in me started theorizing as well.
I joined the course as a non-member. My friend and her friends on the waiting list are members. Maybe the association wants to kick me out and give priority to members. Which is stupid. Because on the course pamphlet it states that the sequence will be by completed applications with payment.
I jokingly sent a message to this friend, "hey, you say you know the instructor, better ask after him as apparently he's in quarantine so the course is for now cancelled until further notice." She was also confused, and after I expressed my conspiracy theory but in a very joking "can you believe it?" way, she got mad for a bit that "the association used such a stupid reason" and that she knows the instructor and he hasn't travelled out of Macau, so "why would he suddenly be in quarantine?"
But later in the night, I saw she deleted those messages and I haven't heard from her since. I know, I know, benefit of the doubt and all that, but it's all so suspicious. But no worries, I wouldn't be too hung up about this. I would still be upset about the treatment, but it's no real biggie for me as the course venue and timing actually doesn't really fit me, I simply applied because it was the plan that I made with my friend.
I need to go get new clothes. I took out three pairs of... is it pants or trousers? I forget where it's meant as undies. Anyway. I took out three pairs of pants and I can't button them ugh.... so I need to go shopping for more work pants. But it's also TODAY that i succumbed to temptation. I was really craving carbs. But was cutting down on carbs for a while. So... I decided to get a curry dish. I can't really eat hot and spicy stuff... so I thought the curry would make me eat less rice... but I guess my love for rice is too great. I braved the spiciness and finished the whole bowl of rice, despite it being a bit too spicy for me. I amuse myself sometimes... and because of all the rice and water I'm now full.
But I really don't get it. I've cut carbs for a while, I exercise every day, I don't ever drink any soda or any carbonated or sweetened drinks, I've cut out snacking, and definitely not starving myself by skipping meals, but I'm still gaining weight. My arms and legs look OK, but I just have a disproportionately large belly. I got a reminder from the hospital that it's time for my annuals but I don't want to go until I've lost a bit of weight, because for sure they're going to label me as overweight. However, I also know that I should go and do it, because the health check I did last year was more on women's health, and that didn't include a cholesterol reading. I'm sure my blood pressure is fine and I don't think I'm diabetic, but it's about time I know about my cholesterol levels.
Adulting is such a bore!
