Displinary Warning Letter (2)

Thursday, 5 July 2018

Received a disciplinary warning letter for the second time, from the same employer, exactly 4 years apart! First time was on the 5 July 2014. And it was 5 July 2018 today. The difference is store and state.

On the 5 July 2014, it was a $60+ check, with the signature missing. I was the cashier so technically I was accountable for the mistake but I felt I was not to be blamed entirely. I wasn’t the one who received the check from the customer. Checks are electronically accepted by the computer, machine printed “void” and returned to customers. Because the checks were returned to them, we usually tell them that they need not sign them. In this incident, the customer’s check was not accepted so the signature is a must. With the signature, we can't deposit the check into the bank account.

I had called the Assistant Manager who also couldn’t get the check electronically read, so he called the Store Manager, who keyed in the check number manually into the machine. Store Manager put the customer’s check into my till, but forgot to ask the customer to sign. I was pleased to learn some days later that another Assistant Manager had contacted the customer and had the check signed. On the end of that incident's shift, we were not able to reach the customer.

Today, 5 July 2018, I confessed that it is my fault and carelessness as a cashier. I have mistaken a $20 for a $100 bill. I cannot excused myself that it was an old $20 version bill because I have rceived that version many times. I thought myself an efficient cashier but today I am not. I will be with the Company for almost 5 years. I don’t know what happened to my eyes and mind today. I have given free $80 cash back to a customer! I realized my mistake when I was organizing and stacking up the $20 bills. I remembered a “$100” bill but it was not among my bills in my till. 4 years ago, I said I will continue working hard for my employer, be the best cashier that my employer and customers will remember. I said that again today. I want to add that with God’s guidance and blessing.

I was so disappointed with myself. I was also upset of people’s dishonesty. I remembered it was a lady, probably in her 40’s. I strongly believe that ALL customers know what they pay their purchase with. They definitely would voice out if the change is under. There were and I believe honest customers who would voice out if the change is over. In everything there is an opposition. So with the honest, there is the dishonest. In my case today, I have encountered an dishonest person, who knew what she had paid me but chosen not to voice out the over change and chosen to walk out of the store with the extra $80 cash that I have wrongly given back. I prayed to God to instill a conscience in this lady, to return the extra $80. The amount would NOT make the Company poor, but it had shaken my self-confidence in my ability as a cashier.

Snow 2018

Thursday, 22 February 2018

Now I know why I cooked the 7 vegetables.  It is because I didn't go to work and I had more time at home.

I was scheduled to work from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm today.   Called the Assistant manager at 8:15 am.   Business was opened.  I was hopping it wasn't.  Bad icy road conditions.  TV announced to stay home otherwise drive slowly and cautiously.  On normal days, I would drive myself.  But this morning, Mike would take me.  We got out of the driveway, but got stuck on the neighborhood road.  It was like ice skating condition.

We could feel the tires swayed to the sides.  Scary.  Took us a while to slowly drive back to the house.  Lots of tire turning.  Smoke as well.  Smell of rubber.  Also because our area is elevated and there was not enough weight on the truck.  I suggested that we call AAA road assistance.  He didn't respond, guess he wanted to try the best he could.  I suggested asking Heavenly Father for help.  He said he was.  Mike is a learnt ice driver but he threw in the towel.  He told me to call the store to inform them that I can't get to work because of the road condition.  Even though I was just sitting in the truck, doing nothing else, I was exhausted by the time we got back into the house.   Anxiety exhaustion.

A blessing in disguise, not working today.  Got to hem 3 pairs of Mike's trousers and 3 pairs of my pyjamas pants, that we bought from Value Thrift Store last Thursday.

7th Day of the Chinese New Year

Thursday, 22 February 2018

I didn't learn from my mother about eating 7 kinds of vegetables on the 7th day of the Chinese New Year, which is believed to be the creation of human, therefore the human day.   My Hakka in-laws did the lei cha.   I like it but have no interest to do it.   Nowadays you can eat that any day at some shops.

I prefer the idea of 7 kinds of vegetables, cooked however you like it.  As a Christian, I learnt that God created man at the end of the 6th day (after he had created every other living things on the earth) and not on the 7th day.   But anyway. just for the fun of trying out how the taste of 7 kinds of vegetables together, I decided to stir-fry what I could gather from my fridge:  cabbage, radish, tomato, celery, bok choy, carrot, broccoli and sweet pepper.   I have 8 kinds of vegetables.

Stir-fried with oil, garlic and a few drops of oyster sauce. Tasted good!

The Lord Calls (3)

I am writing "The Lord Calls (3)" being the 3rd of the same subject, some of the many friends, that had gone over the veil.   I missed them.

Betty Leong Pick Yun (I am not sure I spelled "Pick" correctly.  We went to the same Shorthand-Typist class in 1972.   She was my best friend then.   After graduating, we went on our respective lives and lived in separate cities.  We met and visited each other, maybe a few times.   We both got married, have children.   She was my bridesmaid.     So busy that we lose touch with each other.    Sometime in 1988, I was contacted by a family of hers, relaying me the news that she had passed, leaving behind a husband and a daughter.   She had died of pneumonia.  I probably have other pictures taken with her, apart from our class picture, but they were not in digital form.

27 August 2020.  Found this piece of congratulations note from Betty.  Brings back memory of our close friendship.   I really miss her.

Congratulation note from Betty Leong

Known Dawn Frances William since 1999, through the church.   She has gone over the veil, on the 10 October 2013.  I got the sad news from her daughter, via the Facebook Messenger.

Visited Doris Barbara Greene for the very first time on 18 December 2013, at her  home.   Thanks to our church's Visiting Teacher program, we became friends.   She sewed the following pillow, and gave it to us on the 14 April 2014.

Interestingly, I met Doris's mother, Alicia Clayton-Clavie'  at my work place.   And then, interestingly, I was assigned as her Visiting Teacher.    My companion and I visited her at her home, for the very first time, on the 26 February 2015.   Sister Greene texted me, on the 18 April 2017, that her mother had passed away on the 26 March 2017.   Sister Clayton never get to see the Easter card that I snail mailed to her on the 24 March 2017.

In the period prior to our reallocation in August 2015, I have enjoyed the friendship that I had with this beautiful mother and daughter.   I only learnt, early this year, from my Visiting Teaching companion, after continual unanswered phone calls and messages to Sister Greene, that she had passed away on the 21 July 2017, 4 months after her mother, Sister Clayton, had passed.   Miss and love you all.

Chinese New Year's Dinner 2018

Monday, 19 February 2018

Chinese New Year 2018, the year of the Dog, began last Friday, 16 February 2018.    We had our "reunion" dinner today.   Traditionally it is held on the eve of the New Year, whereby family get together.   I cooked up 6 dishes with 3 bought dishes.

Stir-fried brocolli with carrot and mushroom

Stir-fried prawns and edamame

Braised ginger beef

Blanced brocolli with oyster sauce

Braised chicken feet

Curry chicken

Barbecue pork

Roasted pork

Roasted duck