After giving the letter of resignation at the end of Feb, my lunch appointments were quickly filled up. For those who were late, I made 'coffee break' appointments with them.
But in the office, my mind was constantly distracted with the preparation to migrate. We managed to find a tenant to rent our place, did a 'power of attorney' to appoint our uncle to be in charge of the property while we are away.
The week before Good Friday and Easter was filled with extra choir practices until the actual day. It would be my last choir practise and I'd miss it. I don't think I would quickly join another choir in Sydney so it would be a long break until then.
My husband just threw a farewell party at home, inviting 40-odd friends and colleagues to see our place (he said his friends wanted to see his house before he leaves). I was too lazy to do the same and I don't like to have different groups of friends gather at one event. So, I met each group separately but would be happy if there is no farewell gathering. Farewell meetings sound quite sad....
My husband managed to sell his some of this marine fish stuff today. So our aquarium looks very bare now. The fish has no rocks to hide or sleep in. Oh well, I hope they found a better 'home' with the new owners. We don't plan to start a new aquarium in Sydney too as we would probably be too busy exploring the country for the next 1-2 years.
I am going to buy some boxes from SingPost to pack all my books and other stuff. I got a quote from SingPost that it cost about $90 per 20kg package, but I will try to get the details tomorrow.
I'd need to sell my Bank's shares by Thursday! The stock price has plummeted since last June when I bought it using the Bank's staff purchase. I don't think I'd make money at all! Oh well, who can predict the market, right?
Oh, I'd need to pay income tax too! Hope i could remember that, but even if i forget, it could still be done once in Sydney.
Something that is more urgent is trying to get a dress for my BIL's wedding on Friday. I don't think I have anything that could fit me anymore and I don't want to wear a dress that I have worn for 2 weddings this year! I am going back Jakarta for my friend's wedding (oh, so i could wear the same dress for this wedding too) and I have a few list of things that my friends asked me to buy.
I hate shopping actually. I won't go window-shopping and I only shop if I need to buy something. So I don't mind shopping if I have a list of things to buy. The only problem is, because I seldom shop, I don't know where to get them.
Today, I went to Takashimaya to look for this 'fridgeplay' stationary for my friend, and couldn't find it. Instead, I bought my husband a new wallet to replace his old one (I promised him I'd get him one since last year). But I just realised that it would look awkward to buy him a gift when tonight we're celebrating my MIL's birthday with a dinner hehehee... So I was hoping I could find a gift for her. It was hard to find a wonderful present for my wonderful MIL. I was late for dinner so I just got a bag (I wanted to buy a wallet initially) instead. I knew she'd appreciate the bag, but I felt a bit guilty about not giving myself an ample time to look for the gift.
Both my MIL and FIL told me that I'm such a good DIL and told that to everybody! It made me a bit 'paiseh' as I know I'm not. I often told my friends, my own parents and my choir members of how I let my MIL clean my room & toilet and didn't insist in helping MIL with washing the dishes. Even my own parents were shocked when I told them about it and told me to behave like a proper DIL or they'd lose face (hehe...)
So I have a little vested interest in making sure my PIL come with us to Sydney but it's a win-win situation as my PIL want to stay with us too :) I guess I'm blessed to be given 2 wonderful persons as my PIL. I love my parents but my PIL are closer to what I want to be when I become a parent myself. Modern, open, selfless (at least towards own family), have a good sense of humour, romantic (even at their age) and young at heart (they jog daily).
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Bank West
There are a few products that I'm thinking of getting once I am there.
1) Hero A/c
This transaction a/c has no maintenance fees, higher interest rates (5%) and unlimited free electronic transactions.
The not-so-good part is that the interest is only up to balance of $5K, so I should not put too much money there. Also, there has to be a $2K deposit every month, which should not be a problem.
2) Regular Saver a/c
High interest (9%) but only limited to $500/mth regular savings with no withdrawals.
3) Telenet Saver
Savings accounts at high interest rate at 7.25% (promotional rate at 7.75%), with no minimum deposits and no fees :) Yippeeee... It's much better than ING a/c I'm having right now
4) tddirect
Fixed deposit a/c. I think it's a bit higher than ING too.
5) Zero Master card
I'm so used to not paying annual fees for credit cards so I may just get this one.
1) Hero A/c
This transaction a/c has no maintenance fees, higher interest rates (5%) and unlimited free electronic transactions.
The not-so-good part is that the interest is only up to balance of $5K, so I should not put too much money there. Also, there has to be a $2K deposit every month, which should not be a problem.
2) Regular Saver a/c
High interest (9%) but only limited to $500/mth regular savings with no withdrawals.
3) Telenet Saver
Savings accounts at high interest rate at 7.25% (promotional rate at 7.75%), with no minimum deposits and no fees :) Yippeeee... It's much better than ING a/c I'm having right now
4) tddirect
Fixed deposit a/c. I think it's a bit higher than ING too.
5) Zero Master card
I'm so used to not paying annual fees for credit cards so I may just get this one.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Final leg of migration
The day I had been waiting for finally came. On 29th Feb morning, I checked my bonus using internet banking from home and decided to move the money to my husband's account. I know it sounds silly as the bank couldn't un-credit the amount credited into my account, but I decided to be 'kiasi' about it :)
After finishing with the bank transfer, I got my hubby to check if he received it and ask him for his resignation letter. I changed it slightly and printed it out. Then, I i-chat my team leader to inform him of my intention and for us to discuss about it privately. After which, I informed my close colleagues about the resignation personally as I think it's only fair they know about it earlier than the rest.
I think they are sad. It's always sad to know another of your colleagues is leaving, I understand. On the other hand, I think I would be sad to leave Singapore, my comfort zone. But at the moment, I am caught up with the preparation to migrate.
So far, we managed to get tenants to rent our flat, pending approval from HDB. I contacted a recruitment agent to help me look out for contract roles. I would need to change address for all my correspondence, cancel most of my credit cards, start sorting things out to pack and ship over to Sydney. We would throw a farewell party for our close friends at the end of March (my husband's idea). Pretty exciting :)
We have not decided which day we are going to fly but it would be either 2nd or 3rd week of April.
Australia here we come, we are going to contribute to your 40% tax :)
After finishing with the bank transfer, I got my hubby to check if he received it and ask him for his resignation letter. I changed it slightly and printed it out. Then, I i-chat my team leader to inform him of my intention and for us to discuss about it privately. After which, I informed my close colleagues about the resignation personally as I think it's only fair they know about it earlier than the rest.
I think they are sad. It's always sad to know another of your colleagues is leaving, I understand. On the other hand, I think I would be sad to leave Singapore, my comfort zone. But at the moment, I am caught up with the preparation to migrate.
So far, we managed to get tenants to rent our flat, pending approval from HDB. I contacted a recruitment agent to help me look out for contract roles. I would need to change address for all my correspondence, cancel most of my credit cards, start sorting things out to pack and ship over to Sydney. We would throw a farewell party for our close friends at the end of March (my husband's idea). Pretty exciting :)
We have not decided which day we are going to fly but it would be either 2nd or 3rd week of April.
Australia here we come, we are going to contribute to your 40% tax :)
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