Hello, I blog!

So, I was patronizing a particular store on level 3 at Bugis Street this evening when I chanced upon a series of button-on collars. I knew that I was definitely getting one, though was still quite undecided on the colour. So I told the salesgirl that I’d think about it first and return later.

Her response left me dumbstruck.

“If you walk out of the store and come back later, the price will not be $10 any more, it’ll be $15,” the salesgirl informed me in a snooty tone.

“Wow, really?! Then I’m NOT coming back,” said I, and strode out immediately.

(She spoke in Mandarin, and what I’ve just quoted was a rough translation to English. Apparently – according to her – $15 was the original price of the collar, while she decided to quote me $10 out of niceness … which everyone could see by now, had a huge caveat attached to it.)

I was experiencing a lot of indignation after that. Though I really wanted the collar, I hated her attitude so badly that I simply refused to give her any form of business (or commission, for that matter). She sure as heck didn’t deserve it.

Luck was on my side, though.

I chanced upon another store selling the same collars at $15. After a bit of haggling, I managed to bargain the price down to $10, while the salesgirl even offered 20% on all her apparel if I bought the collar (the last bit was on her own accord).

I ended up buying two collars. (But no apparel.)

Button-on collars in yellow and green.

I #win.

The salesgirl was also full of #win. She remained friendly throughout the entire transaction, even when I was showing signs of indecisiveness. No trace of snootiness anywhere. I like.

Salespeople out there, your attitude and sincerity matters. If you don’t have it, I’m going to your competitors.

My new favourite song. I first heard it when I was in New Zealand and subsequently, the song just stuck. Beautiful tune at the chorus and lyrics that make loads of sense. It’s now spinning on repeat in my iPod and I doubt I’d ever get sick of it.

I hope you guys like it too.

Music video for Tinie Tempah’s “Written in the Stars”, uploaded by parlophone on Youtube.

Written in the Stars – Tinie Tempah (feat. Eric Turner)
Oh, written in the stars, a million miles away
A message to the main, oh
Seasons come and go, but I will never change
And I’m on my way

Lets go, yeah, you’re listening now
They say they ain’t heard nothing like this in a while
That’s why they play my song on so many different dials
Cause I got more hits than a disciplined child
When they see me everybody brrrrraps, brrrrrraps
Man I’m like a young gun fully black Barrack
I cried tear drops over the massive attack
I only make hits like I work with a racket and bat
Look at my jacket and hat
So damn berserk, so down to earth
I’m bringing gravity back
Adopted by the major, I want my family back
People work hard just to get all their salary taxed
Look I’m just a writer from the ghetto like Malory Blackman
(Where the hell’s all the sanity at? Damn.)
I used to be the kid that no one cared about
That’s why you have to keep screaming till they hear you out

Oh, written in the stars, a million miles away
A message to the main, oh
Seasons come and go, but I will never change
And I’m on my way

Yeah, I needed a change
When we ate we never took because we needed a change
I needed a break
For a sec’ I even gave up believing and praying
I even done the legal stuff and was leaded astray
They said that money is the root to the evilest ways
But have you ever been so hungry that it keeps you awake
Mate, now my hunger would leave them amazed
Great, it feels like a long time coming
Since the day I thought of that cunning plan
One day I had a dream I tried to chase it
But I wasn’t going nowhere, running round
I knew that maybe someday I would understand
Trying to turn a tenner to a hundred grand
Everyone’s a kid that no-one cares about
You just got to keep screaming until they hear you out

Another one of his songs that appealed to me is “Invincible”, recorded in partnership with Kelly Rowland – which initially led me to believe that Tinie Tempah may end up becoming one of the very few singers/rappers whose entire repertoire of songs will appeal to me. Turned out he didn’t. Other than “Invincible” and “Written in the Stars” (as of end-December 2010), nothing else appealed.

For now, I am utterly in love with “Written in the Stars”. Excuse me while I head back to listening to this song on repeat.