This made me happy today.



Yes, this is a photo of a mat. It is one of two mats that I was pleasantly surprised to see in my bathroom when I got home today. Cheerful mats that matched the colour scheme of my bathrooms. Purchased by my part-time cleaner, all of her own initiative.

I had forgotten that she had asked this morning if she could buy mats, among other cleaning stuff, because the mats were dirty. And in my usual morning haste (yes, running late every morning), I vaguely registered what she said and told her to just get what is required and pass me the bill later.

And so, it really brought a smile to my face at the end of the long tiring work day to see this. Yet another pleasant surprise from this sweet and considerate girl who puts a fresh bottle of water on my bedside table, tucks my little bear, and now gets back-up mats for use while she took the dirty ones to the laundry. Not just any mats but colour coordinated ones -- different colour, different theme for the different bathrooms.

I am happy.

Labels: macau

Just when I have finally decided that the cold was too much to bear and that I really really need a heater, I cannot find a heater in Macau. It's sold out at New Yaohan, Fortress and Park N Shop. Serves me right for being so wishy washy and lazy.

So how now? I can only hope that the weather turns warm ASAP or that the stores replenish their heater supply ASAP while piling on jackets, socks, shawls in a desperate attempt to not freeze.

Labels: macau

Walking to Centrepoint yesterday, I saw OrchardCentral for the first time. Since my world revolves work and industry related news, I didn't know that there was a new vertical mall being constructed along Orchard Road till then. What appalled me was not the never ending construction that seems to have overtaken Singapore in the past year or so, it was the name. Another Central.

It seems that the No. 1 Street Name/District Name or One Street Name/District Name craze has finally died down, only to be replaced by Central. As it is, cabbies and I are already very confused by the old Central Mall and that new other @Central which are separated by just one Merchant Court Hotel.

So, I rolled my eyes and tsked tsked at the lack of imagination in the decision to name the new mall OrchardCentral; it is so easy to go with the flow, whatever's popular, to portray that sense of "in, hip" in the eyes of management.

But really, it doesn't matter what the mall is called. A name is just words, or a word. It is the brand management (read: marketing) that determines its image, the associated sentiments and values, and ultimately its success or failure.

So, why would any management want to name their product based on a fad? How does it help?

I don't understand.

Labels: hmmm