When nothing goes right you….

If I had to give a report on my week so far it would definitely be a D-!! So many little things have been going wrong, that I just almost want to scream!!

When Monday comes around I always start sigh. Because I realize my weekend is now officially over. On Monday the traffic was light and I was on time for work. Little did I know that this week was going to entail some hiccups!!

I arrived at work and as soon as I got out of the car my watch broke. I have no idea how it managed to fall into pieces. But it certainly amazed me with much disappointment. Later on I had to go to the bank to deposit some money. It was 9am and I did not realize the bank does not open till 9.30am!! Luckily Gloria Jeans was near by to help me use up my half an hour. I was hoping to have a quiet half an hour, but to my surprise, there was a mother’s meeting with their children running and screaming. It was absolute mayhem in Gloria Jeans. But I was glad that my half an hour passed really quickly. I did what I needed to do at the bank. As I left I realized I forgot to withdraw money. I went to the ATM outside, unfortunately the screen was displaying – “Sorry the ATM is temporarily unavailable”. By now I was thinking, this is definitely a bad start to the morning!! I had to go back into the bank and line up again. Afterwards I headed back to the office feeling quite satisfied I had completed my chores for Monday. As I was heading back I realized the brooch on my jacket had fallen off. I was looking for it everywhere. Wondering if I need to walk back to the bank to find it, or even wonder if I will ever find it. During my frantic state my brooch some how fell out of my jacket and onto my hand. I call that pot luck. I should have gone for the lotto that day!!

For most of Tuesday I sat there at my desk in pain. I was so sore from playing soccer the night before. Who would have thought 40 minutes of running around, would lead to pain in my legs, bum, and ribs. Every movement and emotion that involved moving a muscle felt a bit too painful to bear.

Mayday Wednesday!! The M5 was closed both ways!!!! What should only take 45 minutes took well over 2 hours getting to work! This was just a disaster!! What can I say, all you hope for in that situation is you better have a good radio station to stop you from going insane! I survived my 2 hour journey!! The day went smoothly, and work was the same old. Just only tiny glitch! The boom gate at decided to not work. So again this became yet another distressing moment for me!

I ask myself, why all these dilemmas are happening this week. Maybe it is punishment for something unknown reason!!

Pay day Thursday!! Wahooo I say! But of course what else could go wrong after my week of mishaps. A stiff neck! Yes, I some how twisted a muscle in my neck and now I cannot turn my head to the left with out making some sounds which show the amount of pain I am in. Bargh!!

I realize now, when nothing goes right, you just have to sit back and sigh for a moment. Then you just keep thinking the next day will be better.

SCAM!

I once watched a documentary I forgot what it was about. But I remember this little part of it, which is a valuable lesson to learn. Our personal details, emails etc are often exploited or forwarded to companies and I am sure are even given people who pay good money for it too. It makes me think the next time I fill out a form, where do my details go.

Lately I have received emails from the bank of African Development Bank, which I am sure really does exist and the stories related to the deceased.

But honestly, who would believe that some person I have never heard or met would give me 40% of $10.5 Million to me!! I am sure if I google this letter it will have heaps of results about this scam. But the sad part is people believe such cons and scams. And makes me ask why would you believe it? Is it because we see $10.4 Million and we receive 40% sounds enticing??

I think I would prefer just to enter the lotto rather than accept this scam. At least I know if I ever and that is ever win the lotto, at least I know it’s legit and not a scam!!

I have two below that I have received and they sound almost exactly the same!

FROM THE DESK OF MR.MUHAMMED HASSIAN.
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK [ADB] OUAGADOUGOU,
BURKINA FASO.

DEAR FRIEND,
COMPLIMENTS, I AM THE MANAGER OF BILL AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB). I AM WRITING TO SEEK YOUR COOPERATION OVER THIS BUSINESS DEAL. IN MY DEPARTMENT, I DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $10.5MILLION USD (TEN MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) ONLY, IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A PLANE CRASH MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER, WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON 31 JULY 2000 IN A PLANE CRASH, LIVING NOBODY BEHIND
TO CLAIM HIS LEFT OVER FUND WITH MY BANK. SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE RELEASED UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES BUT

UNFORTUNATELY, ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIM AT THE PLANE CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM. IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I NOW DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU VIA YOUR FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION/BUSINESS PARTNER TO THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND THIS MONEY COULD GO INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL. THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINE HERE STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED UNCLAM AFTER NINE YEARS, THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUNDS.THE REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND MAXIMUM CO-OPERATION AS A FOREIGN CITIZEN TO STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE DECEASED CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BURKINABE CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.

IN THIS REGARDS 40% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS MY FOREIGN PARTNER, IN RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF A FOREIGN ACCOUNT.10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE BUSINESS AND 50 % WOULD BE FOR ME.THERE AFTER I WILL COME OVER TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGES INDICATED. THEREFORE TO ENABLE THE IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF THIS FUND TO YOU AS ARRANGED, YOU MUST APPLY FIRST TO THE BANK AS THE RELATION OR NEXT OF KIN/BUSINESS PARTNER TO THE DECEASED, INDICATING YOURE CLAIMS AND WHEREIN THE MONEY WILL BE REMITTED. UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY, I WILL SEND TO YOU BY FAX OR EMAIL THE TEXT OF APPLICATION WHICH YOU WILL FILL AND SUBMIT TO THE OFFICE OF THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO. I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND I WILL USE MY POSITION IN THIS BANK TO EFFECT A HITCH FREE TRANSFER OF THE FUND.

YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER. TRUSTING TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.

PLEASE, VISIT THE WEBSITE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLANE CRASH AND THE TRAGIC DEATH OF THE DECEASED AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, LATE MR.ANDREAS SCHRANNER. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR.MUHAMMED HASSIAN.
BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK [ADB] OUAGADOUGOU,
BURKINA FASO.

FROM THE DESK OF DR TRAORE MUSA.AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING MANEGER,
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO.

DEAR FRIEND,
I KNEW THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE. I AM THE BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER IN BANK OF AFRICA (BOA), OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO. I HOPED THAT YOU WILL NOT EXPOSE OR BETRAY THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENT THAT I AM ABOUT TO IMPOSE ON YOU FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF OUR FAMILIES.I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN TRANSFERRING THE SUM OF (USD$7.4) MILLION TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 10 TO 17 BANKING DAYS. THIS MONEY HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR YEARS IN OUR BANK WITHOUT ANY BODY CLAIMING THE FUND.I WANT THE BANK TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEAREST PERSON TO OUR DECEASED CUSTOMER (THE OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT) BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER (MR. RICHARD BURSON FROM FLORIDA, U.S.A) WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 1999 IN A PLANE CRASH.FOR MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THE CRASH YOU CAN VISIT THIS SITE:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/502503.stmI DON'T WANT THE MONEY TO GO INTO OUR BANK TREASURER ACCOUNT AS AN ABANDONED FUND. SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY I CONTACTED YOU SO THAT THE BANK CAN RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED CUSTOMER. PLEASE I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KEEP THIS PROPOSAL AS A TOP SECRET AND DELETE IT IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED.UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY, I WILL GIVE YOU FULL DETAILS ON HOW THE BUSINESS WILL BE EXECUTED AND ALSO NOTE THAT YOU WILL HAVE 40% OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED SUM IF YOU AGREE TO HANDLE THIS BUSINESS WITH ME.
AND 10% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT ARISES ON THE PROCESS BEFORE THE FUND GET INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT SUCH AS TELEPHONE CALLS BILLS (ETC). AM LOOKING FORWARD RECEIVING YOUR REPLY THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS
1. NAME IN FULL:................................
2. ADDRESS:.......................................
3. NATIONALITY:...................................
4. AGE:.............................................
5. Sex..............................................
6. OCCUPATION:......................................
7. MARITAL STATUS:..................................
8. PHONE............................................
9. FAX:.............................................

BEST REGAD
DR TRAORE MUSA.


Notice that they can't spell either. "BEST REGAD".

The Terminal

I realize after starting my blog I am not as committed as I thought I would be. I seemed to have forgotten to be a regular poster as I promised. I have realized when you have worked such long hours and have been staring at the screen for more than 8 hours. You really don’t feel like looking at the computer. But then I ask myself, when I was at uni, I couldn’t get enough of the computer, but now that I am working, I can’t wait to get off the computer.

A while back I went down to Melbourne for a business trip. I was glad that my morning flight was at around 11am, which meant I did not have to be at the airport so early. I took the train to the airport, and went to the check in. I had to use the computer to check in. Which was no problem that the time, since I had no baggage to drop off. I must of felt a little bit tired, because as I was clicking through and I accidentally made a mistake on my boarding pass. I pressed YES to carrying dangerous goods. After that I was like Oh no! Because I was not carrying any dangerous goods in the first place. I approached one of the Virgin Blue staff and was told to wait in the baggage drop off. My goodness, that took forever. I waited there for almost an hour waiting. When I was being served by the check-in lady she couldn’t find my name on the passenger list and I started to freak out even more. Finally we realized I was on stand by so that’s why she couldn’t find my name.



I checked in and waited for my flight and was off to Melbourne. The flight was nice, seeing the clouds and being up higher in the sky. So I took some photos because the clouds looked so fluffy.


I arrived in Melbourne Airport and went straight to Rex Terminal. I was approaching the exit when I thought I was heading in the wrong direction. I turned around and went back to ask someone where I could find the Rex Terminal. Some how I set off the alarm and a man grabbed me and started to tell me off saying I wasn’t allowed back in. I was so shocked because all I wanted to do was ask where the Rex Terminal was and this made me feel quite embarrassed at the time. The rest of the day I was like photographing almost every second and I am sure being under surveillance I looked really suspicious. A couple of times I was approached by security asking if I have permission and also constantly telling me that they have been seeing me all day.

Melbourne airport, I think is really hard to get around compared to Sydney Airport. No matter which Terminal you want to go to. You have to go through the security check in. Every time I wanted to go to eat something and then head back to the Terminal I had to go through security. By the end of the day I couldn’t wait to get out of the airport. I didn’t even get to see the Melbourne city, other than what I could see from the plane. I was in the terminal for 5 hours!! I almost felt like I was in that movie called “The Terminal”.

On my way home, I felt quite relaxed knowing I was heading back to Sydney. During my flight another incident happened. We were approaching Sydney and had maybe about ½ hr to go. Then an announcement came on, saying we have to stay in the air for another 40 minutes because something was wrong with Sydney Airport’s runway. By then I was so eager to get off the plane. As soon as it landed. I felt such relief to be back on the ground.

What's Important to You... And What Isn't:

For you, primal needs like eating and sleeping are your top priorities. You don't mind having things to get done... as long as they don't pile up on you. You attend to almost every priority in your life. You don't neglect much. You want money to be a high priority, but you don't often get around to it.

The Priority Test

I think the first part sums it up for me!

Hello Blogging!!

It has been a while since my last post.The last time I posted was when I was at uni. I have not been much of a blogger since completing my degree. I have noticed in my current job, that blogging is another way to keep in touch with friends, other than facebook and myspace and it also good for relieving stress.

I wonder what can I share with the rest of the world? Is there anything interesting, which people will want to read? Then I think, what does it matter, I will just type it anyway.

My weekend is almost at an end. It hasn’t been much of an action packed weekend since the uni days. In fact these days are much quieter. I realize once you start working, you try to manage your weekend to make the most out of it, but also to recover from a week of work. Either way you either lose sleep on the weekend or you end up doing nothing.

I really do miss the uni days. The days of bludging till no end. Where you could just sleep in, go out, have drinks and skipping classes wasn’t an issue too. Then here’s the other side of the working life. Work, eat and sleep times by five days of the week. Sounds a bit all too repetitive doesn’t it.

My goal is to try to walk my overweight dog everyday, to help him lose weight. Unfortunately, my attempts seem to fail each time. I blame day-light saving. Too cold and too dark!! But today, I decided to take a different approach, by asking my friend to walk his dog with me.

Normally we would go to our local park, but today it was full of people because of a footy game. Instead we took a detour to another park along side the river. From previous experiences with my dog, it is normally afraid of water. It has never been to the river before. It was going to be an excursion for him to see the river for the first time. For fun, I tried to persuade my dog to go near the water, just to see his reaction. Even I was a bit curious to see his reaction as he got close to the water. For a while he didn’t seem interested, but he did get pretty close. Then I decided to I guess persuade him by telling him to look out into the water and the next minute SPLASH. He dived into the water and started to paddle. Who would of thought my dog who is normally scared of water would just jump into the water!! Crazy! For the first few seconds I let him paddled around, but I thought to myself, I he may not be able to make it back, since he is a bit fat! I called him back in and got his attention to paddle back. The whole experience was pretty funny and it cut short our walk. Both me and my friend were just laughing the whole way home!