escapades of the elusive kat

Whoops! Life has been so busy, but nothing particularly exciting has really happened.

I did make that trip to Shanghai. No I didn't need to find my Boss. The concert was small but interesting. I also went to the Shanghai Team Lab, which was amazing and way better than the one in Macau, because while there were people, it wasn't PACKED, so I was able to find a lot of angles to take photos.

But, the bad luck just didn't stop. Before coming back, my left eye (again) got hit with a case of blepharitis. Itched like hell. I've since been to the doctor and got the medication so it's now under control. And then today, my left wrist grew a something the size of a small quail egg! I had the fright of my life and immediately went to the doctor, because at first I thought the bones in my wrist got dislocated (though it didn't hurt at all).

Apparently, it's something called carpal tunnel cyst. Sounds ominous but essentially it's harmless and a simple case of... maybe or maybe not inflamed joint, and so there's an accumulation of the joint water/jelly thing, and so it's protruded. After reading up about it I'm wondering if I should continue with the treatment by the Chinese doctor because it's something that doesn't hurt and won't affect me, but the treatment the doctor is giving me sucks, it hurts like hell, ugh. I don't know. I give him one more consultation then I'll decide.

Still many busy days ahead. Tomorrow my friend R wanted to "go for karaoke before the year ends" (Chinese/Lunar New Year coming on 10-February) so she's taking J and me to some place in Gongbei China. They say the song selection in these China karaoke parlors are far superior than those in Macau. I'll just treat it like a trip :-)

Work wise I had been crazy busy but I like it that way. Makes me feel useful and less guilty when I step out for a walk or adjust my work hours. Oh, and we got a surprise discretionary bonus payment, and also a surprise pay rise. I'll continue with my motto of "expect nothing, so when you get something, be grateful". It sounds great because 2023 inflation was at around 1.5% and this pay rise is for 2.5% but if you think about it, inflation is constant, but we just get pay rises once in a blue moon.

It's possible I might be going on a work-related business trip but by the looks of it it's gonna be a party (by "party" I mean a lot of people are going) so probably in order to cut costs I'll be out of it. I'm not sure if I want to go on this trip or not though. Granted, it is going to be interesting (the thing that we are going to do) but then again, I'm not a project manager so I don't know why I'm even involved in that. Does the Boss have a plan to transition me to another position? Who knows.

When 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!

Although I'm not quite 40 yet, but seeing how my Boss is having to go for all these doctor appointments, I decided I should start sorting myself out as well. I used to ignore any injuries and pain I have and never seek medical advise, because, there was one time, when I went to a bones specialist or something to fix my constantly snapping joints, he said "if you want to play truant, you can simply fake a cold. No need to go to such extremes as joint pain". Well, F you, specialist visiting doctor from Hong Kong. My friends were right, if you were any good, you wouldn't have the time to do this "visiting consultation" in Macau. You would have been swamped with work in Hong Kong. That was some 20 years ago. I have since lost all my confidence in doctors.

I wanted to start doing some burpees and push up the other day and noticed I couldn't put weight on my left wrist. As I was rather free today, and my Boss never did show up in the office, I decided to step out and go check that out with the chiropractor.

He said it's obviously inflammed and swollen, and did some electro-something and heat or laser treatment. Then, he took out a machine with a nozzle that looked like those ultrasound thing when you look at babies in pregnant ladies, complete with the clear jelly and stuff. I was imagining that maybe he wanted to show me some images of inside (I don't know, muscle or nerve or joint or  something LOL) but then it just flared up in pain from inside my wrist. He explained it's some kind of laser or electro magnetic or whatever more b*llsh*t treatment.

Then he started to pull my hand from my pinky, then from my ring finger, and then middle finger. When he pulled at my middle finger, I felt something in my wrist snap, and he said it's done. And he said my wrist was slightly dislocated and he's put it back in place. Revisit tomorrow.

So I'm going again tomorrow, and tell him about my left foot, and see what he does with that. I don't know why but Facebook has been showing me videos of people going to chiropractors and doing those full-body snapping and realigning joints and whatnot. It looks scary, but I bet it must feel good afterwards.

I've also booked myself for a full body and gynacology check up on 18-September, we'll see how it goes. Will the doctor there f*ck it up as well? The last time I did a check up (some 4 or 5 years ago) the doctor said "you are so healthy with your good habits, you don't need an annual check up". I took her words to heart. And then when I had that.... one issue that one year and I went to see the gynecologist as well, that one was so condescending saying things like "I don't know what's going on with you so you should take more notice of yourself". Damn you, it's because I noticed something was wrong, that's why I'm here to see you! In the end the issue I had resolved itself and I've never been to another gynecologist.

And soon, when my Boss goes back to Hong Kong, I will also schedule a dental visit just to make sure everything is good. I probably should go to an eye doctor as well to see if I need to update my prescription, though I doubt that.