Wednesday 20 May 2009

away.on.break

I'm away on a much needed break.


And this is as neat as it can be.

At least for now.

Thursday 14 May 2009

mistake.&.fraud

The MPs expenses scandal continues...

Was in the kitchen earlier watching the news and can’t help wondering how in the world can MPs ‘accidentally’ claim or submitted expenses by ‘mistake’.

How?

HOW???!!!

Does one not review their expenses before submitting?

I mean how can it be a mistake if one has to (typically) fill in an expenses claim form, submits receipt and get it approved?

How?

And again, who approves or scrutinise before approval???

Goodness!

What has been happening in the past weeks of the expenses scandal revelation are MPs showing off on TV the cheques they have signed off to be submitted to Inland Revenue and an apology.

‘Oopps, you’ve caught me. Here’s the refund. I’m sorry.’ And then get back to their work.

Whether or not it is going to happen again, who knows?

Some of the mistakes seemed so deliberate that it can be classified as fraud!

And all it takes is here is the money, sorry, and back to work.

In a typical organisation, if you are caught for fraud, what happens to you?

You lose your job and might even be arrested!

Noo... MPs have special immunity.

So, why being a British MP is the best job in the world?

#1. High salary: £64,766

#2. Unlimited expenses claim. Even though there are rules to it.

#3. Immunity on ‘mistakes’

Once again, good life for some...

Anyways, well done to those who were sensible enough not to abuse their expenses claims rights.

Why is this topic the ‘highlight’ of my day?

Well, just because these MPs are using my tax money to fund for their ‘extravagant’ lifestyle!

I'm curious to what are the allowable expenses for Malaysian politicans? Hmmm...?

Wednesday 13 May 2009

swine

Too many swine flu jokes going around
and I can't help sharing a few...


***


***

It is with great sadness that we inform you that
Kermit the Frog has died at the age of 54.


1955-2009

Swine Flu has been determined to be the cause of death.

His last words were “That f***ing pig told me she was clean”

Monday 11 May 2009

behind.schedule

I haven’t been blogging much about my RICS APC experience. This is due to the fact that I haven’t been doing much about it either.

Work has been so hectic that I’ve neglected my diary updating and progress reviews. So bad, I know.

:: I need to get my month 15-18 diary up to date and then arrange for reviews.

:: I need to prepare a short write up for my competencies experience and get them sign off.

:: I need to complete my development records.

:: I need to prepare a project summary with brief details of the projects I worked on.

:: I need to prepare my critical analysis structure and then the first draft.

:: And I want to sit for my final assessment in November this year!

:: I don’t want to say I can't but I need to push myself harder.

On top of that, I'm supposed to do some studying on all the competencies, mainly for Level One.

Typically,
Level One - show knowledge and understanding.
Level Two - provide proof of application of knowledge and understanding.
Level Three - provide reasoned advice and depth of technical knowledge.

I'm running really behind of schedule and I don't want to leave it for next year.

Could it be a better choice?

Hmmm...

ever.considered.being.a.british.politician?

For weeks, all you hear everyday on the UK news is exposure of what UK Members of Parliament (MPs) has been claiming for expenses.

You see, in the UK, MPs receive allowances to cover the costs of running an office and employing staff, having somewhere to live in London and in their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.

Sounds fair enough, right?

But it has come to light that expenses claimed by the MPs covers from pay-per-view adult films, to magazine subscriptions. From dog food, to home repairs and luxury furnishings.

On top of all that, the annual salary for an MP is £64,766!!!

Was there no one who sets what can be claimed under expenses?

Someone who checked if all the expenses were valid?

Does the MPs not realise that they should have known better not to use tax-payers’ money as their bottomless purse to pay out their monthly expenditures?

Dog food? Come on!

It started initially with MPs employing their family members to be their staff, with good salary, mind you.

Nepotism? What Nepotism?! Doubt they even know what it really means.

So, each MP is allowed expenses for two homes - one in their constituency and the other in London.

Can the government 'impose' that the MPs constituency home to be the first home and provide accommodation in London?

Would it not be easier for the government to provide a purpose built accommodation, i.e. a one room / studio or two room apartment for each MP to live in when in London for work. The government pay for the accommodation and bills, and any additional expenses like a Wii console or fancy plasma screens, will be bore by the MPs. After all, the London 'home' should be somewhere to live in when working in London. Adequate and comfy, not the presidential suite of the Ritz-Carlton.

Do they not live in their constituency home and serve the community there? If not, then why run for election at your constituency?

Why bother?

During one of my visits to the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, there was an extract of an MP's diary. It said that she travels to Edinburgh from her (undisclosed) constituency and stay in the Edinburgh accommodation (could be home) for a few days and then travel back to the constituency home where her family lives.

Now, why can she do it but not the others down in London?

I think if I said to my boss that I want to keep my Aberdeen home and need expenses paid for my Glasgow accommodation, I’m sure he will tell me to sort it out myself from my own pay.

In the current economic climate, it doesn't make sense that the people's representatives are having a good time - good pay (£64k, I won’t complaint) and bottomless expenses, when employment is at a record high.

Forget Hamilton Island. It does seem that the best job in the world is being a British MP. On top of a rather comfortable pay, you can claim for bottomless expenses.

Good life for some...

And people wonder why I don't have faith in politicians.

Tuesday 5 May 2009

i.would.stay.here.if.i.could

...then I would have no life.

I should really not stay too late at work.

But in this economic climate, busy is good. And that is my current mantra. For busy means there is work for you. Which means that I will be kept employed. So goes the reason to it.

And the only way to get more work done in limited time, my contract is ending here end of June, is to stay back and get it done. Doesn’t help when you received ‘inheritance’ that you need to tidy up from scratch or it is in a mess.

Oh well... better busy than not.

But longer daylight and (slightly) warmer days are looming.


And this is what it is whenever I leave the office.

Oh well, it will all be worthwhile.

Monday 4 May 2009

day.out.to.yellowcraigs

Late evenings and late nights has prolly taken a toll on the body.

Down with cold last week. Luckily (almost) cured in time for our outing to Yellowcraigs on Saturday.


Glorious day for a picnic. My friend Chuah was generous in all ways and effort to prepare a wonderful spread for the picnic - nasi lemak, chicken rendang (so full of flavour and the burnt bits was the yummiest!), fried mee hoon, fried chicken, sausages, vegetable rolls, and the assortment of cakes. Too bad didn’t managed to take any pics of the food. Long story.

It was really windy. I don’t remember any time I had food with lots of sand. I’m sure some point in my life, sometime ago.

It was great walking about the beach, tossing the Frisbee and a torpedo thing with a whistle. My arms were aching the next day. Made TOH ran miles to pick up the Frisbee, interestingly it was mostly when I toss them. Ooopss...

The girls tried in vain to fly the kite. Somehow something wasn’t right.

How can a group of 14 not take any pics for the day? After numerous NG takes, this is the one that got loose.


We then head to Edinburgh for dinner - Chinese buffet steamboat. Not the best. I have my reasons.

Long day. We went home tanned and the few mat sallehs were burnt.

Ouch!