Thursday, March 28, 2024

At a Leadership Development Workshop

I prefer not to work with friends unless it's a charity project, or a one-off project, say a conference or panel discussion, or prep for an article or a feature, the sorts. Those are fun! I certainly do not do 'business' with friends to 'share' in a restaurant/cafe/pet business, et cetera. I do not do investments with friends who are bankers. I keep those strictly separate. Money and friends, often, don't go together this way. 

If I view someone as a friend, we do not talk about money. The moment we do, we're not friends anymore. This motto has served me well through the years, allowing me to sift out the gems who are still friends with me today. I can't be more glad that the BFF and the dear faeriefolk share my views on this matter. 

At S's invitation, I tagged along to a two-day leadership development workshop that she was facilitating. I was at this workshop to do administrative things. S needed to keep her mind on the reading mood of the participants, walking through the design of the program and guiding the direction she needed the conversations would go. In leadership programs like this, I like to assist the lead facilitator and keep program participants in line. My strength is not in talking to people. I don't like to lead a workshop. I prefer to facilitate small group conversations if required, since I've been extensively trained to do that. So I'm not entirely useless. Hahaha! 

I requested for payment in kind — coffee, lunch, AC, wifi, a comfy chair and table. After all, my work isn't a similar industry, I'm neither a competitor nor a freelance trainer. I don't even know how to quote a fee to S. I'm quite happy to just hang out for two days because the dates coincided with a break between my own (paying) projects. I took it as an opportunity to pad up corporate experiences in a different industry. Of course the bonus was to have lunch with her for the two days. Hahaha. Lunch was quick and utilitarian before we ran off for a 10-minute down time to reset before beginning the afternoon session.  

In an ancient analogy of a power structure, I wouldn't be a good Emperor or Prime Minister. I'd be an ideal war advisor hiding in the shadows and I'm happiest to remain as that. I'm not on LinkedIn and I don't need to 'network'; I'm really awkward at that. I'm just thankful that my new projects continue to roll in without my having to 'sell myself' very much. I do best at analysis, research, paperwork, reading the room and formulating a strategy. 

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Sunday Roast at Hubs

There're a few 'gastropubs' doing Sunday Roast. Muddy Murphy's is convenient, and it does it okay, but it isn't fantastic. Tilly's at Katong did a decent version till it suddenly shuttered. Ah well. Found another good spot for Sunday Roast last month! It's been around for years, but we've not stopped by because we don't live in the area. 

Hubs in Siglap is now our to-go for it — they do that from 1-3pm and 6-8pm, on Sundays lah. casual, like how it's supposed to be and simple. There's nothing to scream about but there's nothing to complain about either. It's so satisfying when food is decently done. Guinness of course is mad decent. We also don't a light Redbreast 12y.o super diluted with ice or soda; it's rather refreshing in this heat. We sit at an outdoor table, and ice cubes melt super fast.

The Sunday Roast platter offers a choice of beef or chicken, with the usual mash, vegetables, peas and a Yorkshire pudding. Both are equally okay. I love that Yorkshire pudding! So big! Heh. There's just too much gravy though. Do people drink it?! Gosh. I left the peas alone and gave them all to the man. I no like peas.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Gym Shopping Again

I had no time to attend the virtual First Creditors' Meeting for Ritual Gym's provision liquidation. I'll just read the minutes later. Unsecured creditors like me don't have much hopes of getting anything back. The husband's bank honored a full (credit card) chargeback on his new and completely untouched 50 classes. At least.

I'm totally going to buy those trial packs at the various gyms and try them out. Gotta have HIIT and weights in the weekly exercise regime. Program structure(s) and cleanliness at a gym are important of course. But my main considerations are the timings of these classes and the location of the gym, and no more lengthy contracts, dammit. 

Began with BFT's $50 unlimited 2-week trial. Surprise surprise, I actually made it to six 9.40am sessions. HA! Unbelievable. I'm still not a morning-gym person. The BFT programs are standard-okay, but you're truly on your own. The trainers are of not much help — I doubt they're paid to assist gym-goers. You're pretty much paying for the usage of the gym, the equipment and an app on the big screens to take you through 50 minutes. If you like humans, you can get to know everyone. If you don't, well, you shouldn't be here in the first place. Get a PT somewhere else to sort you out. 

I'm not going to continue with this particular BFT outlet. The outlet is located in a dump of a building. There's a nightclub or KTV bar upstairs. There must The moment I step into the minuscule lift lobby, I'm hit by the overpowering stale stench of cigarettes, last night's vomit and alcohol. It's ridiculous. The toilets are gross af. NOPE. NO. NO NO. If I do join a BFT outlet, I'll get another trial pass at another location that is not owned by this set of franchise owners.

I did 6 types of classes over the two weeks. To be very honest, I haven't done HIIT and weights at this sort of intensity over a loooong time. Even going to Ritual thrice a week then wouldn't have cut it. That's at a wayyy lower intensity; it's completely different. I haven't even been running much because it's so damn hot and I don't fully like running on the treadmill. Tbh, it has been so fun doing pull-ups again consistently. Obviously I also use the resistance band to assist me. I max-out at 10 pull-ups in the first set. How to do more reps for the next few sets? The resistance band also helps me to do easy kipping to muscle-ups! Fun! Fun! Fun! 

That day while fixing the aching muscles and tight ribs, the Gyrotonic instructor pointed out that my right traps are too active, and told me to push it down and watch it, otherwise I'd end up with muscle spasms. She's absolutely right. I'm already feeling a bit of strain there. Since I'm gym shopping and I can't eat shellfish for some time now, even with antihistamines, I'm going to take it as another phase to cut carbs, up a bit of cardio, eat cleaner, and lift heavier, and maintain that core of steel.