My reader's comment about me

GC,a reader of my blog has this to say and it makes me very happy to carry on blogging......thank you GC.

GC to Boh Tong...

i've just come across your blog and good work to you uncle BT, I must say! :)

it takes a lot of courage and passion to do something like airing your views to the world, knowing that there will be people out there who may disagree with you and react aggressively because of that.

it's easy to hate anonymously, but take it that these people may have been hurt before and as a result, have taken a personal agenda with what you have written.

nevertheless, all the best Uncle BT, and i will go on reading your blog for as long as it exists. :)

GC

How my colleagues tried curry favoring the bosses

Why do people curry favor their bosses? I think most do it because of job insecurity and others do it because they want to be promoted. There are also some who would do it because they loved to be around their bosses. So you see my colleagues were no different. Below were a few of the methods they used.

One suggested putting the crew in cheap hotels during their stay overseas so that SIA would saved millions. Idea was rudely rejected by the svp as he insisted that we spent all the money
that was allotted for the crew hotels . This svp later on was later on promoted to a very senior rank in the company. My colleague was medically boarded out due to sickness.

Another one salvaged empty wine bottles on the flight and suggested using colored water to fill them up for training purpose. Idea was rejected by that same svp and my colleague was branded as a cheapskate. The svp preferred using genuine wines for training. That colleague was subsequently sacked because of misdemeanor (not wine related though).

This one used his durian ploy to make the bosses like him. He had a durian shop and would invite the bosses to have the best durains for free. A few bosses did not wanna be rude and so obliged him. However, the durain colleague was never promoted nor got an extra sa lary increment. In the end my colleague discovered that the durian ploy did not work to his advantage and never again invite the bosses.

This one would bring cooked food from home and treated them to the bosses. This ploy did not work either and finally was terminated because of bullying the junior crew.

A fairly junior supervisor who joined our rank would invite the bosses to his home for Nasi Minyat ( popular Malay rice). He would used the excuse of Hari Raya or the birthdays of his family members to invite them (at least he was more discreet). He was quite successful because he was promoted swiftly.

On the slightest excuse or opportunity BC would send hampers or presents to the bosses home. He was so skillful in balls carrying that he had tremendous job security. Besides, all his bosses loved him. But once these bosses leave the company or had the misfortune of being demoted, BC would not be treating them with much respect nor lick their balls or pussies as he used to. He is considered the most insincere being that ever lived.

Believe you me there was another one who would wash the bosses cars and send/pick them from the airport whenever they travelled.

There are more stories of these ball carriers but I think the above should sufficed at least for now.

You may ask "what about you boh tong"? My answer is this: I would love to carry Harry's balls but was never presented the opportunity.

BTW Harry is MM Lee lah....hahaha

All about SIA cabin crew application for wannabe

Application Process
Entry Requirements
Employment Details
Compensation and Benefits
Career Development
Application Process
How can I apply for a position as a Cabin Crew?
To find out how you can apply, please visit www.singaporeair.com/cabincrewcareers for information on our latest recruitment exercises. If you are interested in other positions in SIA, please visit singaporeair.com/careers for details.
Is there a minimum age to be a cabin crew?
You must be at least 18 years old.
I am only graduating/ completing National Service in a few months’ time. How soon can I apply?
You may apply 2 to 3 months prior to your available date.
Entry Requirements
What is the height requirement?
The minimum height requirement is 1.58m for females and 1.65m for males.
I cannot speak a foreign language, can I still apply?
The ability to speak a foreign language is beneficial but not mandatory unless a certain language is specified in the requirements.
Apart from the above, are there other entry requirements?
You should also possess the following qualities:
Warm, hospitable with a winning approach to customer service
Good communication skills
Ability to work well independently and in a team
Be tactful and composed in difficult situations
Willing to work irregular hours and be away from home from extended period
Employment Details
How long is the period of employment?
Successful applicants will be employed on 5-year fixed term contracts. Contract renewal is based on merit and will be dependent on conduct and work performance.
I am a foreign applicant. Will I have to relocate to Singapore?
All SIA Cabin Crew are based in Singapore. A comprehensive guide will be provided to assist with your relocation.
Do I start flying immediately upon joining?
As a cabin crew trainee, you will undergo a comprehensive training program of about 3.5 months that will cover topics such as:
Product Knowledge including Food & Beverage
Service Procedures
Passenger Handling
Deportment & Grooming
Language & Communication Skills
Safety Equipment Procedures
First Aid
You will commence flying duties upon successful completion of your training.
What are the job duties of a cabin crew?
Cabin Crew are responsible for both the safety and the welfare of passengers on board.You will be expected to have comprehensive knowledge of safety procedures and be able to handle emergency situations such as aircraft evacuation. Before each flight, cabin crew prepare themselves by reading up on service procedures, customs & immigration information and attend a pre-flight briefing.Delivering excellent service to passengers is also an important aspect of being a cabin crew. Our Cabin Crew appreciate and are ever ready to address the special needs of each unique customer.
What are the working hours like? Will I have weekends and public holidays off?
Apart from working irregular hours, you may often be expected to work on weekends and public holidays. If you are operating long-haul flights, you will be away for extended periods.
How soon is the flying roster published?
Rosters are published a few weeks in advance and will be a mix of short and long haul flights.
Compensation and Benefits
What is the monthly salary for a new cabin crew?
Upon graduation from training, you can look forward to a basic salary and various allowances amounting to about SGD$3,500 a month.
What service benefits am I entitled to as a cabin crew?
As a cabin crew with SIA, you will be entitled to the following benefits:
Free travel to any SIA destination once a year and discounted travel at other times;
Company Bonus;
Medical and Dental
Career Development
What is the career path for cabin crew?
There are four levels of career progression you can look forward to as Cabin Crew. New recruits starting out as a Flight Steward / Stewardess can look forward to promotions to Leading to Chief Steward/ Stewardess and finally Inflight Supervisors. With each promotion, the crew will be trained to undertake new responsibilities and be role model to guide and mentor junior crew.A tailored training path is also in place for our crew at each stage of their career progression.
What are the career development opportunities available?
Singapore Airlines is committed to nurturing and creating a learning culture for our crew. A wide range of courses – from foreign languages, counseling skills and psychology, to creativity, information technology, leadership and management – are in place to continuously enhance our crew’s professionalism to provide for a distinct service quality. And if you wish to take control of your developmental needs and enhance the service you provide to passengers, training schemes allowing you to achieve certified professional competencies (e.g. SIA Air Sommelier Scheme) have been specially selected. We also have in place Continuing Education schemes, where crew who wish to pursue further studies can apply.

A true ghost story

At long last the 14 hours of flying non stop from S'pore to London was over. Max managed to get the key to his hotel room. The thought of having 2 days off in London overcame the trauma he endured during the 16 hours of duty time. The flight was packed with demanding passengers and it was hard coping with his senior crew.After having his shower Max took a Piccadilly train from Gloucester station and left for Piccadilly Station,the nearest tube station to London Chinatown. Max's favourite charsiew duck rice was in a restaurant in Chinatown. He would never failed to visit Chinatown for his favorite dish.

The restaurant was crowded with diners from all over the world. It was noisy too. There was only one small table available and the waiter urshered Max to that table.

Chinese tea was served and before Max could sip his tea,an old haggard looking lady of European descent sheepishly asked Max whether she could share the table. Max gestured her to the only seat left. She took a bow and thanked Max.

The old lady and Max had placed their dinner order and it took a long time before their dinner was served. While waiting for their meals, Max and the old lady did not speak to each other except for the occaional smile they exchanged with each other.

After dinner,the old lady was pleasantly surprised when Max paid for her meal. She insisted on paying Max but Max politely declined to accept.

During the time when they were waiting for their dinner to arrive,Max noticed that the old lady was dressed in old tattered clothings. The dress was old and patched up but it looked clean. She had an old worn out handbag. Max took pity on the old lady and decided to pay for her 5 pound dinner which was nothing more than a plate of fried rice. After all Max told himself that the allowances he earned on this London flight was more than a thousand dollars.

Max took a walk around Chinatown and left for his hotel after buying a few cans of Coke and some groceries which he might need in the middle of the night.

That night Max was woken up from his sleep by some noises which sounded like someone talking to him. He looked up and in the dim room light could see an old lady seated across from his bed in a chair smiling at him. Max noticed it was the same lady who had shared his table at Chinatown. At this point Max could feel the goose pimples all over his body. He was scared stiff but the old lady lifted up her hands,smiled and vanished into the thin air.
Max could not sleep and remained so until dawn.

Back at Singapore a week later, Max found that his wife was pregnant. They had always wanted a baby but Max's wife could not conceived.They had been married for a couple of years and the knowledge that his wife was pregnant was indeed good news.

Following the news his wife was pregnant, Max also won a big sum of money by betting on lottery.

Indeed,Max and his wife suspected the old lady whom Max met in London must
have had given them good luck.

Singapore Airlines wins airline of the year!!

Out-of-bounds office

The place where we used to work for donkey years are out-of -bounds to us,retirees. I am talking about the SIA Training Center at Changi,Singapore.

Even if we wanna deposit our identity cards (I/D)with the security guards we are still not allowed in. Why ah? If STC is a sensitive area like a nuclear plant or military base we could understand.

Jobs interviews are being held quite regularly there and strangers (job applicants) are allowed in.....puzzling isn't it?

Perhaps,we retirees are considered enemies of our airline (work place).

Many of our friends are allowed to visit their former work places after they have retired or resigned from their jobs. There isn't any big fuss amongst many companies/organisations about letting their ex-employees visiting them except SIA.

You may ask why I am making a fuss about the above right? The answer is very simple. Sometimes we may want to visit our colleagues and have kopi or a meal with them in the staff canteen. Nutting official though but after working for 30 to 40 years with our company we do at times love to bring back the memories of our work place and the people there.

Aiya SIA dun be like that lah,dun treat us like lepers after making use of us for a generation or so. Dun give the excuse of "due to security reasons" to keep us away lah.

Story from an ex-stewardess

On my 3rd month of flying, I was rostered for my first London flight. On the way to London we nightstopped in Dubai and on the way back we flew non-stop LON/SIN.
I was hoping that this flight would turned out to be a good and memorable one.
All the other flights since my first solo were uneventful.
By now, I had learnt to cope quite well even under difficult circumstances.I must say that I adjusted to flying life easily. My colleagues and I could get along well. I had no problem in handling passengers too.
On my first day in London, I followed my crew to Queensway to eat the famous Hong Kong char siew duck rice. It was very yummy and I ate so much that I almost had to pay double share.
Then we bought 'dry stores' items like fruits, chocolates,biscuits etc and stocked them up in our rooms.
For those of you who are not crew, these so called 'dry stores' are a great help in the middle of the night when you get hungry and the hotel room service would cost a bomb.
It is still a universal practice of the airline crew to buy 'dry stores' whenever they stopped over at a station for more than a night.
Some even 'tar pow' (pack) 'bak kuah' (bbq pork slices) and 'bak chunk' (dumpling made of glutinous rice and pork or other kinds of meat) for their nightstops.
London was an expensive place and we had to be careful with our spending.

On the first night, just as I was preparing for bed, Captain AK,who was also our commander on the way up from SIN,rang me up. He invited me over to his room for supper and drinks. He told me the first officer was also with him.
I politely refused the invitation but he was very persistent. The F/O also spoke to me on the phone and persuaded me to come over to capt AK's room.
Still, I refused and he hung up.
About 15 mins had passed since the phonecalls.Then there was a knock at my door. I peeped thru' the spy hole and saw that it was capt. AK. I asked him what he wanted and he asked me to open my door. I told him I needed to sleep but he kept knocking and it got louder each time.
In the end, I opened the door and he burst into my room.
He grabbed hold of me and kissed me on the mouth. I was shocked at such behavior especially coming from a commander.
Capt AK was in his 40's and he was short and ugly. He did not look like the refine type of commander, very 'ah peh' ( old man) I must say. I was not particulary fond of him but I gave him the respect as a capt.

The next thing I realised, he was taking off his pants and pinned me down on the bed. He was strong and it was difficult for me to push him away. He then grabbed hold of my blouse and pulled it apart,exposing my breast. He tried to put his mouth to my tits when I suddenly felt a surge of strength came over me.
I struggled to free myself from his hold and in a reflexed action, I kicked him in his balls.
Capt. AK let out a loud cry and he clutched his balls.
Within the next second, he fell to the floor and became unconscious.
I panicked. Did I kill or hurt Capt. AK? Surely I will be sacked for harming a Capt., I told myself.
I called the F/O and he came over and revived the Capt.
He told me not to worry and should keep the incident to the three of us. He told me even if the Capt. was hurt, we should not tell anyone what had happened in my room. It might led to my dismissal for " assaulting" a "high ranking" crew.
All this time, Capt AK was holding his balls and didn't say a word.
After about half an hour, they left my room.
I couldn't sleep the whole night because I was afraid the matter would be leaked out and I might get the sack.
How naive I was at that time to believe the F/O and I kept the whole matter a secret for almost six months.
Hmmm...well all these unfortunate things happened because they came with the job, I was made to believe.

Amazing Talent

Chinese Susan Boyle sings "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston @ Yahoo! Video

The above was taken from Yahoo News..click here

Stewardess so stressed till she.......

The mere mentioning of her name invokes great fear amongst the Japanese stewardesses. She would decide which types of accommodation the girls would lived in....no HDB flats off course because they were "unsafe" and "cheap". She preferred the girls to live in condos and must go through her housing agent friend. She had the authority to recommend whether the girls stay or go. The bosses would listen to her. She was the Japanese stewardesses supervisor Neko (cat).
There was a particular jfss (short for Japanese stewardess)named Sashimi. She was summoned to see Neko in SIN when she returned from her SQ 11 trip from LAX and TYO because of a passenger complaint.
Throughout the whole trip to TYO and LAX,Sashimi was very troubled. She knew what it was like to be in the presence of her supervisor,especially if she was not in a good mood. She swallowed tranquillisers to enable her to sleep each night. She would come on board the flight with swollen eyes due to much crying the night before.
On the day of check out from LAX,the crew were shocked to see Sashimi at the hotel reception area with only her kebaya top on. Below her waist she only had her panty and sandals.
A few stewards on seeing Sashimi quickly took out their jackets and wrapped her bottom. The other stewardesses brought her to the changing room and dressed her up.
Sashimi apparently lost her mind due to the stress she suffered.
Her dad who a management staff with an airline in Japan lodged a strong complaint.
After the incidence,Sashimi resigned and went back to Japan.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde bosses

In my donkey years working for SQ I had come across a number of bosses who were tyrannical in their treatment of subordinates but appeared subservient towards their superiors.
I've personally witnessed a manager whom I had problems with, kowtowing to the svp when we were both summoned to the office.Before that,the manager was shouting and threatening me with disciplinary action. The next moment when we were hauled up to the svp's office,that same manager suddenly became a soft spoken lamb. He agreed with everything svp said and kept nodding his head like a "seow err" (small 2 or a yes man). However,the svp was not easily fooled and believed in my innocence.
One day,when I had the chance to meet that same svp,he told me privately he had worked with that manager long before they were in cabin crew and knew him to be an ass who got his promotion by licking his former boss's balls.
After lots of complaints from his subordinates,that manager was subsequently moved out of our department,much to our jubilation.

Another manager would advice us not to argue or go against anything our svp would say at our meetings,even if he made an ass of himself.
The manager told us "if svp says black is white,you just agree with him and everything will be fine". A few years down the road that manager was given the early retirement.

An svp once advice me not to go against him whatever the circumstances might be. He told me in order to climb the corporate ladder one has to be a blue eyed boy of the big boss. He boasted he was his svp's runner/coffee boy when he was a struggling junior executive. He was promoted because he was likable.

One svp who was a tyrant in the office behaved like a dog with it's tail behind the legs when the then NTUC General Secretary Devan Nair came to chastise us for getting involved in union politics.

I didn't heed the advice of some of those wise men so much so I was offered the early retirement back in 2003. On hindsight it was my gain and SQ's loss to have retired me prematurely.