Sunday 27 April 2008
YEAK ! I was very very happy with my ideas sometimes, that this idea left quite a lasting impression in my memory banks... Yes folks. After barely 7 days of passing my driving test, I decided to rent a car on the guise of sending a friend off to the airport en route to Dubai... Well, thats barely 1/3 of it actually...
Grabbed the car from the rental place. Gave the guy a call before going there actually. Hah, Should look at his face. He face was abit skeptical, 50-50 towards wanting to let me rent the car. Hah, well, after looking at my "You can drive" slip, who wouldn't. Paid him the money. Checked out the car. Continental. Chevrolet Aveo. Auto transmission. Signal indicator at the left. Hah...
I had to make a u-turn to get out. So, here goes. Hah, just like I expected. Made the turn like Knight Rider. God, that was the best feeling ever. Driving without expert supervision. Hiding behind two triangular signs, I was driving like the stunt drivers in Knight Rider... Making wide turns at first. Decided to drive around Woodlands to get used to the car. Then picked my family up at home, took a few items, changed my already sweaty shirt and went to pick up my sister.
Remind me not to get directions from my dad. Confusing shit directions. Got lost along the way. Cruising around Jurong area for 15 minutes then finally made it to Bouna Vista. Waited for my sis there, weaving left and right through heavy traffic... Hah, I told myself if I drive like this I think 12 points is definitely not enough... Send the entire family home safe and soundly, albeit ears ringing from mum's yelling to slow down and take it easy haha... Well, what does she expect, I watch 4 seasons of Knight Rider...
Picked Ariff and Ben up. Yeak. Sending them home and picked up the intended people, minus Ben. Sis also joined us too. Weaving in left and right, speeding and zooming. Hah, the passengers liked it... Yeak, scene after scene of my favourite show kept playing back in my mind. I was living my dream. Driving. Hah, the best part, I still didn't have my photocard licence.
After seeing Yanie off, sent my sister back home. Its getting late for her. Ariff and me decided to zoom back to town. Hah, amazing to see the city still buzzing with cars. Well, good training for me too. Parked a while, then explored town more. Man, I was smiling like a mad man. Kind of sad when I went back to Woodlands. It was 4am. Boy, I love driving...
Next day, send my sister to work. Was babbling all the way, skeptical of me knowing the direction. 40 minutes later (thanks to a traffic congestion at CTE due to an accident), I was dropping her at her ward. Time check 12.25pm. Hah. That was good. Could've done better with Super Pursuit Mode. Haha...
Cruised along familiar roads now. Commonwealth Ave West. My work area. Went to the office to pick up some stuff, namely my football shoes, football and ball pump. Hah. Then went back to Clementi Ave 1 to surprise someone. Haha.. That was good. Was actually worried that I could get lost myself. But didn't. Then made my way back to Dairy Farm and head back home. Picked up Ariff again. Cruised along Marsiling and Sembawang. But not before a scare. Some jackass driver decided to cut straight to the u-turn junction. I was just picking up speed when it happened, braked a little and swiftly turned to the left, right after quickly glancing at my left mirror. The car is still far away. Sped pass the jackass... Shithead.. Returned the car safely. :-)
After this, I definitely want to buy a car...
Estimation of costs for a 24 hour "joy-ride" :-
Car rental : S$90 bucks
Fuel top up : S$ 50 bucks (98 Unleaded, lasts me the entire 24 hour outing)
Cashcard : S$25
Parking coupons : S$10
Expression on Ben's face after my Knight Rider-esque right turn : priceless
Experience : undeniable infinite value
Total expenses : S$175
Days after getting licence : 8 (barely)
Demerit points after this : 12 (miraculous)
Definitely worth the money...
Zaki van Persie
Saturday 19 April 2008
I have never been soo happy in my life. I almost cried at the driving centre. Smiling to myself. My two buddies who were there through my Qualified Driving Licence journey... I thank them... Yeak !
Friday began with a practice session on 10.30am. Took the cab there. Hah, was abit late. Well wished from folks at work. Would like to thank them too for that. For supporting me. For believing that I can do it. Anyways, reached at the driving centre, went to my car and stepped into the driver's seat. Greeted my instructor. Told him to screw me for any mistakes that I have done and take that practical as seriously as possible. That worked like bees buzzing over sunflowers.
Practical ended very well. Looked at the watch. 12.32pm. Time to ask for God's favour once again. Sigh... I know I have sinned a lot. I know I have been neglecting Him. Went to the mosque and did my prayers under the sun. Telling myself that its okay to be under the sun. I deserve it. Say a little prayer for my family, for Iyah, for my friends, colleagues. Lastly for myself... Dear God. Please give me this... CMON!
Tried to shake off the nervousness by crapping around with Ariff, Ben and their colleagues. Heh, that worked a while. Went back to SSDC. Reported to the Test Room. Took deep breaths. Got used to the test car. "This is it KITT... Its now or never" ... The scene whereby Michael Knight uses KITT to whack KARR with nothing but the Knight Industries 2000, after suffering a laser shot... Heh.. my role models are questionable at times...
Walked up the stairs, heart pounding like mad. Hands sweating. Damn.. its here again. "DAMMIT Zaki... I just need to drive !" Sat down at the test waiting area with 9 other testees. Tester came in and gave words of encouragement and briefing. Cool, calm and composed. Key words. He then walked over the table with a box filled with numbered ping pong balls. "Please take one from the box. The number will represent the tester taking you. Testers will be assigned to a route". Slipped my hand in and held it in my palms. Didn't look at it until my name was called. Stood up and handed him the ball. "Number 9. Tester Mr Chang. Route Number 4." Route 4... rings a bell... the easiest route ever... God is, as always, good to me. The only thing that can screw this up is me.
Went down to the car and went in. "Okay, you may go off now." Started the car and checked behind and ahead. "Okay... you can go now..." Shit... Went to the first checkpoint. Vertical parking. Went in. "Okay good. Now turn right and go." Waited in the lot for 4 other testee cars to finish. Hands on the hand brake, bringing it down, about to go off when.. "What are you waiting for ??? It was safe and clear to go earlier on... You are soo slow.." Relax... its not over yet... The rest of the courses were smooth sailing. Heh, took only less than 10 minutes to do the rest. Before going out, he tapped the dashboard. E-Brake. Wasn't caught napping there. Heading out... Its showtime.
First right turn, some stupid cab decided to stop right before the junction. Shimmied to the right a little, the cab very close to the left. Car still within the centre line. "You know how to drive or not ??? What are you trying to do ? Graze the taxi is it ???" ... My left leg was already trembling like mad... Made a wide right turn. Shit Shit Shit... Relax... Michael Knight has got into worse situations... Went through the test... Hiccups here and there... Finally drive through the stretch of road leading back to the school.. God.. With all his criticism and sarcasm throughout the test route. My mind was in doubt. There is a possibility of a third try. But the clipboard was still beneath the sun visor. Heh, he'll whack me later in the briefing room... Parked the car anyhow already... Shit... Dreaded walk upstairs.
Took a seat in front of my tester. He looked at me sternly, then smiled abit. The fuck... He's going to fail me with a smile ??? Damn. "Macam mane nie encik ?? Huh ? Drive like you just started. Speed so slow. Dunno whether can cross centre line or not ? Huh ?" I was nodding my head like a buddhist monk praying to his deities. He opened the test sheet and start ticking. God, that was alot of ticks in the first leaflet. Shit, say hello to the third test. He turned to the second page. He ticked once. Only once... Oh my... oohh man.. Could it be.. He flipped to the back page and even drew the cab incident at the back. Summed up the score and ticked the first box and strikethrough the second one. "Ok. Congratulations. Next time, don't drive like this aah." He smiled at me and stand up, chuckling. I thanked him like mad... OH MY GOD !!! OH MY GOD !!! THERE IS A NEW KNIGHT RIDER IN SINGAPORE !!!! YEAK !!!!!!!!!!!! Looked at the test sheet. 18 points. The box beside the word "Passed" was ticked. I could cry there and then. Nope... Must watch a video first haha...
Told my mum first. My sis, my friends, friends at work. Sigh... It is a good feeling... A milestone in my life has been reached.
Yes ! I can drive... I CAN DRIVE !!! I AM KNIGHT RIDER ... haha... Thank You God...
Zaki van Persie
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Hah.. stole some time in the night to update this.
First week of the month was just getting worse. Back logged issues from supposedly high accounts creep up in the second week. Damn.. Just hate that. Barely survived from that with legitimate system issues to investigate on. Bombshell thrown by the management team about certain changes. Heh, well, I've been taught well to look at things in two ways now. Yes, its sad and we probably need to thread through rough waters once again, but now, the sails are mended and the ship is no longer filled with holes. We have done something right, indeed.
I feel kinda sorry for my compatriot at work. Felt that I've left behind garbage for her to clean up. Well, I've tried my best. People just hate me. And they bring it to work. Heh... no comments on that one. Seldom talked to people on the other side now, except for the members. Well, they are doing fine. They are still welcome to come to me for any help or issues, if they do not mind.
People do notice that I could not let go of tasks and responsibilities easily. Hah, its not a matter of trust. Its just that I do not let go of things. Haha.. stupid nature of mine, wanting to really see things through. Made a boo-boo at work by blabbering about something that has been mentioned last month. Heh, had a headache when blabbering about that. Well, no excuses. I apologise if I agitated a lady or 2. I'm sorry. Training was, finally a breeze. Now, with a sprinkle of "hands-on" magic and some "trial-and-error" hocus pocus, the newbies will no longer be newbies :-)
Finally.. done something right at work. Oh yes, errors greatly reduced. Thanks folks. You really are the best. Keep up the great work :-) . Thanks Ruz. Thanks Irma.
(dua-dua kepunyaan orang. haizzz ~~~ their partners are very, very lucky...)Hah, here am I now, suddenly thinking that requesting management for "something" was actually a bad idea. Hopefully my bosses won't be irritated by it. Not hoping for much anyways, but anything from it now is a gift :-)
Can't believe that work is actually keeping me going. At times, work drives me up the wall, making me lose the fizz... Struggling to find the reason to keep on going... I have to admit, its much, much easier when she's around...
Zaki van Persie
Monday 7 April 2008
Well, what a week it has been.
Everything seemed fine towards the end of this week. Scraped through Monday and Tuesday with lotsa work. Wednesday, went to execute the "great" plan. Heh, not only did I stole Mickey's idea, I practically robbed the benefits as well. Heh, what can I say but thanks Mickey.. and God...
What they say is indeed true. People with "that" trait is indeed has the uncanny eye for intricate details and can see things in a unique and more wider perspective... heh.. I have one at work too..
Tuesday was crap by the way. It would've marked 5 years. Well, it never happened... I threw away the letter, crapped around with Ben and Ariff instead. Whined a little about what ifs and what nots and what coulds... Thanks folks. Wish me luck on the 18th...
Thursday was the day of reckoning for some things at work. Finally talked to someone at work about her work. Well, things are not so bad as it seems. In fact, it was more of a false alarm than it actually is. Heh, me and my wild imaginations.
Friday was the day. I still couldn't believe I did it. Thought I went to work earlier to execute the plan covertly... Almost gasped when I saw her there. Looked at the watch. 8.58 am ! God, someone's early... Signed in, took a deep breath and ACTION. Took only a few seconds and buzzed off from there... The rest of the day was good too... Got to know that there were no errors for the team this week. I have 2 wonderful ladies to thank for that. Remind me to take them for a ride in my Picanto and maybe treat them to a good dinner or sumthing. Finally, our hard work are beginning to pay dividends... :-)
Met with Ben Oh and Ariff. Went for dinner at Turkey place. Met a bitch who thinks she's fucking gorgeous... damn her... I felt almost stupid for gawking at her... Who wouldn't if you're wearing a black top that leaves nothing to imagination and shows off half of ur tits. Fucking arrogant bitch... Normally, ladies take it as a compliment if someone takes notice of their good looks. This bitch is probably lesbian or sumthing. Damn pissed. First and last gawk at the counter... Ben took up the Family Feast challenge. Sucessfully completed it at first but later met with drastic results. Took a few seconds later to cross a road. Walked to One Fullerton for coffee. Hehe... The best is yet to come folks. After our yapping and their "defilement" of someone's guestbook (haha), we went back to Raffles Place. Mr Ops Lead was already leading the pack. But "Squad Leader" was trying something out I guess. Took his sweet time to get in the train. Left me with half the normal size of the train door opened. Had to jump in with a "WHOOP" ! Barely made it... Thanks Ben... you really proved to me that I still had that tactical maneuverability and quick witted thinking.. haha...
Weekend was fun and full of rest... Cmon you Gunners ! We need to beat a new cheating team. Loserpool...
Zaki van Persie