A bachelorette pad to call my own!!

Yes, I finally have a bachelorette pad to call my own!!! It may be small but its mine!!

I balloted for a 2 Room flat in Marsiling. People have been telling me not to put my hope on the application as majority people who applied will not get it on their 1st try. I was dismayed. Well, BTO = Build To Order = needs time for application, processing of application and building of the estate = unit only ready in 3-5 yrs time. As my estate is as high as 32 level, thus it takes a longer time to be ready. And I am in my mid thirties. By the time the flat is ready for collection, I will be in my late thirties or early forties.

Anyway, to cut short the story, i balloted, was told that chances are not high, finally got a Q but out of the number of offered unit (355/289), prayed hard that I can select a unit and finally on my appointment date, I managed to select a unit. Although small (38 sqm vs the bigger 2 Room-47 sqm) but I am satisfied. I finally have a bachelorette pad to call my own!!! And best of all, it is on the highest level of my block (level 29) and overlook the Straits of Johor  (sea view!!).

I am so excited. I just cant wait for the flat to by ready in 4-5 years time. My only concern now is dough for renovation. I guess i just have to discipline myself and be frugal. :) which i am absolutely willing to do so. Imagine, another 4-5 yrs time, I will have my own bachelorette pad and pets (1 cat & 1 dog or 2 cats) to keep.

On the side note, my dad is not so enthu for me. He thinks it too small to stay in. Well, I am staying alone. I can make do with the small size plus the view compensate for the size! :)

When time permits, I will be posting lots of updates for my bachelorette pad! *Excited!!!!*

XOXO

Love Cafe 2

Edited: I realised i did blog about my application for a 2 room unit in my earlier blog. :)

My new toy - MacBook Pro!!

My new matchbook pro arrived today!! Actually its yesterday since its officially +1 day. So.. I know i am very suaku. A lot of people would have a macbook some point of time in their life. So do i. But my macbook is one of the pioneer generation! Which means to say that I had a macbook even before i really understand what is Apple! hm..

Anyway, long story short. Pioneer macbook bought from Courts, I was not very sure how to use Apple OS so my sis who just enrolled into Uni at that time decided to take my macbook for her programming and I never get to see my macbook after that until it was of no use to her which was about 3-4 yrs later. And when i got my macbook back, i still did not know how to use it so it was left aside to rot and never be seen again.

Have been using PC for many years. Finally switch to Apple OS. Still a bit skeptical but decided to give it a try. Hopefully it is not a waste of money to me. :) Mammy and Mel said the macbook pro looks pretty.. maybe because of the silver outer casing instead of the usual black laptop we always have.

Going to spend a lot of money on getting the apps and software but i think the major s/w i am going to get is adobe photoshop and microsoft office for mac. Sigh, to think i spend on the office for PC thinking i can use the same s/w to be used on mac.. Boy.. how wrong am i.. now i have to spend another sum of money to get the office for mac and also adobe photoshop s/w......

I am so going to enjoy using my macbook pro and the photo editing s/w.. woohoo... :)


XOXO

Love Cafe 2

My crib!!

After the last post, HDB finally released the BTO application date for my area. Initially i wasn't so keen on the area because i was hoping to get a flat much nearer to my parents' house (although this is also within walking distance - 30 mins +/- walk to their house). But after I submitted my application and while waiting anxiously for the balloting results, I am very much convinced this is consider one of the best area that I can apply (of course, there are other BTO in Woodlands but somehow this seems to be the most ideal location).

The results were finally out yesterday. My Q number is 355 for 289 units. :( The email from HDB reads like this:

Dear Sir/Madam

SALE OF FLATS IN MAY 2014 BUILD-TO-ORDER (BTO) EXERCISE

Thank you for your application to buy a 2-room flat at Marsiling Greenview.

2      Your application has been balloted with a queue position of 355. Although your queue position is beyond the 289 units of flats on offer, you may still have a chance to book a flat on your selection appointment. This is because some of the applicants queued ahead of you may not book a flat.

3      The selection exercise is expected to start from Mid July 2014. You will receive the invitation package by post nearer to your appointment date. The package will contain the flat list, the sales brochure (if you have opted for a softcopy brochure, you may login to My HDBPage to view the brochure online), the appointment date to book your new home and the list of documents which you will need to bring along. You can also check for any updates via My HDBPage at www.hdb.gov.sg using your SingPass.

4      We would also like to draw your attention to some important information enclosed below. Do take time to read it.

5      We wish you all the best in your journey in buying a home.

Sigh... and the important notes below reads:

Important Notes

You may view the Frequently Asked Questions on Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise on the webpage FAQ for more information.

You may choose not to book a flat in this exercise. However, if you do not book a flat on two occasions when invited to do so, you will not be allowed to participate in any of our sales exercises under the Singles Scheme (i.e. Singles Singapore Citizen Scheme, Joint Singles Scheme and Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme) for one year.

The above measure is to ensure that applicants are serious when they apply to buy a flat, and the non-genuine applicants do not deprive other applicants of a chance to buy a flat.

Okie, I was in the forum and some of the applicants actually says that because everywhere 2 room BTO applicants are overwhelming (inclusive of nucleus family 1st timers and 2nd timers) and the percentage of the 2 room BTO flats set aside for singles is only 30%, so regardless where the area is they will apply (for most of them).

Sigh... I only wish to have a type 2 2-room flats at a high floor. And I am telling myself that type 1 is also acceptable as long as it is high floor. :( Floor plan of the 2 types:

Type 1 - Approx. Floor Area 38 sqm

(Inclusive of Internal Floor Area of 36 sqm and Air-Con Ledge)

Type 2 - Apprpox. Floor Area 47 sqm

(Inclusive of Internal Floor Area of 45 sqm and Air-Con Ledge)

Type 1 comes with a sliding door to the entrance to bedroom. So practically there is no wall and door to separate the living room and bedroom. It can be consider as 1 bedroom style. Of course to justify that it is a 2 room flat, the govt have to put a sliding door. hahah...(Good move garment). The govt claimed that as the flat is smaller, with the sliding door, occupant can open the door to make the room looks bigger. Hmm... Good idea ....

Type 2 comes with a wall and normal door to separate the bedroom and living room. And yet i heard some of the applicants actually wanted to tear the wall away to make a sliding door. (!!!) I truly want to strangle that applicant. If he actually gotten a Q and selected a type 2, it is really unfair. Please get a type 1 if you have the intention to make type 2 into type 1!!!

Site Plan of the place I applied for

A few mins walk away is the gym and swimming pools. As you can see, the place itself comes with a Eatery House. And there are 2 other eatery house in the blocks in front of the area. Marsiling MRT is also only few mins walk away. There is a direct bus to Woodlands Immigration Check points and direct bus ( in the opposite direction) to my parents' house. Like I say, this is the most ideal location for me!

I can only pray hard that my Q number allows me to select a high floor type 2 or type 1. My preference still type 2 high floors. It would be best if I can choose 23rd floor and above (total is 28 and 32 floors) and if i really get the unit that i want with the high floors selected, i am likely to see my parents' place from my flat. :)

Now I have to pray hard that the unit I want is still available for selection when my turn comes and that I will receive an invitation package to go down to select my flat. Of course that my HDB loan will be approved.

Pray hard for me!

XOXO

Love Cafe

Cross Road once again

My first blog in year 2014!!!

I managed to "bucked up" and improve myself. At least I thought so. In my previous blog, I mentioned that I will likely be graded "S" or "G" for my appraisal. My boss is kind enough to look at the big picture and graded me "VG". She explained her decision and I am grateful to her! (THANK YOU BOSS!!!) At least my PB will not be that bad. Yes, the amount concerns me alot. Who does not work for money? At least I do.

After my trip back from Korea in January, I was going through a rough patch and I have spread words (among my friends outside of work) that I am looking for job. Recently, 1 of them came back to me and mentioned that her company is recruiting and asked me to try it out. I checked out their website and it looks more like a Business Partner job. The benefit sounds quite attractive esp the part where staff can work from home sometimes. But I am not so sure if I can handle the job (sounded as though I have been offered.. :P) .. My confidence level is still low...

I talked to my neighbor and she suggested that I send in my CV. If i am lucky to be shortlisted, I might as well  make use of the chance to go for the interview. Who knows what will happen and it may turns out well. The friend who informed me about the vacancy says the same thing. Just send in my CV does not cost me anything or hurts me which is quite true. So i decided to tidy up my CV and send in to try. Although I have not done so but will do so ASAP.

I have been helping my Manager on 2 projects - Promotion and Tenure Exercise and Appraisal. Realized I am a one tracked worker. Because of the PT Exercise, I slack on my recruitment. (Oppss) And parties involved have been "chasing" me. I have been giving them holding replies (of cos) but it will not work any more. I really need to sit down and do my operation works.The reason I am still here at my work desk is because I was trying to finish the long overdue work but I sidetrack again by blogging. #-.-#

Anyway, tomorrow I have to sit down and concentrate on the overdue work. Must get back to the parties involved at least by next week. Cannot drag on anymore.

P/S : My Manager has resigned and her last day will be this coming Thursday (22 May 2014). Sad and relief at the same time. Bad of me, isn't it so? Sad - She is the only manager who holds nothing back and really guided me along in work. Relief - Her KCS (kan chong spider) style really stress me out. Its a wonder that i can stay for more than 3 years and everyone say so. I wonder myself too!! @.@
 P/S 2: I am looking at schemes to rake in extra income (again). I am looking at tutor coordinating this time round. Hopefully it will be a right choice.
P/S 3: I have reached the age where i can purchase a HDB flat on my own. Only problem is that i do not have the dough to purchase it. That's the reason for PS 2.
P/S 4: I have brought in several items from a supplier but I have not started on selling the items. Sigh. No money to bring in the 2nd round so maybe that's why i am hesitating to action on it. (Excuse)

XOXO

Lova Cafe