THE MOST UNDER UTILISE CORNER

Yep - that's our balcony.  It's not very big but I wont say it's cramp either.

I used to dry laundry out here in the morning since the we have a unblock view from our right.  But it's the forever ongoing constructions that keep us from our own balcony.  Depending on the load of my laundry, I try not to put anything out here due to the amount of dust that sits there every passing minute.

Two years on, with the surrounding BTOs completing at snail speed ... and with more people coming in - hopefully by end of 2014 I can fully utilise this tiny space of mine.

For the time being, it's home to our very colorful guppies.

A few months back, he gotten the wooden deck a fresh coat of lacquer.  Slowly, we added a fish tank and last weekend, he spent the whole afternoon DIY-ing the cabinet. and beautifying the aquarium.

Slowly, but surely, we maybe adding 2 chairs and a table so we could really sit out and enjoy our afternoon tea.

SAMSUNG KITCHEN

OK, after years of hesitation, the Pay Master finally decided to go ahead and gotten new fridge and washing machine for our (not so new) pigeon hole.

We made use of the Samsung CNY Promotion

My new MADE IN KOREA, 551ltr Side-by-Side fridge,  RSH5SUSL.
My previous fridge was about 380-400ltr?  Not quite remember.

My fridge.

My freezer.

My new Made in Thailand, 8kg washing machine, WA80F5S7.
My previous washer was only 5.5kg.

We were quite worried that the measurements provided, the machine seems quite big for our washer base.  This base was made based on the size of the previous washer.  Luckily it fits nicely.

With this 2 purchases,  we were entitled to grocery vouchers, a microwave and a vacuum cleaner.

This has been with us for years, I bought this brand/model because my mum owns one too.

But the glass plate no longer rotates and Pay Master wanted to give it up.
Luckily, I was able to bless it to someone who doesnt mind the defect.

The new, Made in Malaysia, very futuristic looking microwave,  GE83M.

So futuristic that I cant even see where to press!
Tried it a few times, I'm still trying to develop my feelings to it.

There's also a vacuum cleaner SC5250, yet to be collected from the redemption centre.  Since our vacuum cleaner is working fine, we decided to sell off this new item.

Pic taken from Samsung Website.

From Smartphone, to notebook and tablet, and now a kitchen full of Samsung appliances, Samsung really ought to give me the Royal Fan Trophy.

In case you are wondering what happened to my old fridge and washer... I bless it to the uncle of the electrical shop that sold me the items more than a decade ago.  He ensure that he will not dismantle the items, instead they will be given a proper clean up and to be sold off/donate to foreign workers' dormitory or homes.

MADE IN KOREA

Two years ago, when we were excited about the BIG SHIFT to the new place, we bought 2 new beds each for kids' room and replaced the old glass dinning table.  As for electrical appliances, they were all existing ones, including these 2 very loyal kitchen mates, my LG fridge (approx 420ltr nett) and washing machine (5.5kg).

Both appliances - made in Korea, it was partially paid for by my parents as a gift to us newly-wedded more than a decade ago.  From a couple, to having new additions along they way and till date, they continue to provide their services to us.

In preparation for the shift, I thought it's time to get a new and bigger piece of equipment.  I thought of getting a larger (581ltr nett) side-by-side fridge and a 8kg or 9kg washing machine.

But every time, after browsing thru the stores and painstakingly measuring the area.... the idea of making a new purchase just get thrown out of the window... WHY???

Because the current appliances are still in good working condition!!!  Dirty, messy or whatsoever, I see no reason to discard them!!

Which 2nd hand dealer is willing to pay $100 for a 10 year old fridge??  I cant bear to see good things going to waste, neither I want them to be dismantled and have their parts shipped to various corners of the world.

I dont mind donating them to needy homes but who would want a 10 year old fridge?? 

It's not my nature to waste.  The new washing machines we saw come with a 11 year warranty on their parts!!!  It just shows that these Korean stuff are really durable!  It would be sinful to purchase a new equipment just because the current one is an out-dated model or simply old looking??

Well, I guess... no harm having a see - look..., no point telling myself to wait another 5 years. Five years later, if they are still in good condition... then... what? When the time comes for replacement, it's the time when the appliances they broke down by themselves.

My good old made in KOREA - LG fridge.

One of the many magnet stains.

My made in KOREA - LG washing machine.

In matching color to my fridge

No more plastic drum for new washing machines.  

But at least I dont get cuts on those stainless steel drums.

Really 3 steps - ON main electrical switch, press the the purple power button then the pink start button.

50 mins later - load done!!

It's been more than 2 years since the shift... let's continue to wait...

OPENET. PAIN IN THE @SS!

Time to carry out our plan!!  Plug one end of the fibre cable to the Openet Point and pull it across to the tv console.

The inside of the electrical riser.

After pulling for some time, we realised that the very delicate fibre cable given to us was only 3 meters.  We need more than this to pull it to the tv console because  the existing wiring was not run parallel with the electrical riser.  Instead, the electrician has it run UP to the false ceiling then down again - in a inverted "U" shape.

These pictures were from my Day 14 of Reno.

The bunch of wires coming our from the partition.

Red square = Openet Point.  Left point arrow = pull cable into electrical riser.

Remaining 3 arrows shows the running of the wires INSIDE the partition.

Mad rush to the nearest IT store to get an extra long fibre cable!

 Ten meters!!  More than enough!!

Not sure of market price nor the cheapest find at Sim Lim...but let's cut the chase since we only applied a day's leave and travelling, parking is too much of a hassle!

. . . continue tag of war . . .

... and out came our pulley!!! OMG!!  The fibre cable is still somewhere inside the partition!!

The installation got off a bad start, now this type of crap!!  

Stop joking me!! I havnt got whole day!!

We have no choice but to call our ID, Rick for help.  Do you know Rick left A&D??

(Will blog it in another post).

Called him at 1335hrs and he arrived at our door steps 20 minutes later!!  He's as efficient as ever!

He came, we chat, he had a look-see, we calmed down, he made a call to his carpenter ...case closed.

At exactly 1500hrs, 30 minutes after Rick left, Mr Mok is here to our rescue!!

Chubby hands aside, we have difficultly setting up wiring thru that pathetic 3" hole.

So Pay Master requested Mr Mok to do another opening - but in actual fact... he still believe that there's a chance of finding the fibre cable there - parallel to the electrical riser.

Who says blogging is a waste of time!  It's about documenting the happenings!!  Thanks to my blog, I pointed out how the wiring was run by the previous electrician and therefore on a very lucky 2nd attempt, we located the loose end of the fibre cable!!

Finally - no more funny business!

All plaster up smoothly - now let's till weekend for us to get a can of paint to paint over it.

Now the cable / wiring are all tucked nicely away!!

Again - let's sit on it till weekend to plaster that ugly "drill-scar".

All 4 devices sitting within the console.

Hang back the tv - it's all nice again.

NOW - do not ask me about heating issues inside that very limited space!  I've already voiced out my concern but if the Pay Master wants it this way - then that be it.

OPENET. NOT VERY OPEN (3)

The technician came with 2 new toys today to activate our optic fibre subscription.

To my dismay, neither these 2 toys support digital home voice!!  Meaning, I've to keep my existing modem "ON" (extra cost for electricity bill).

The telco who provide the service does not have a 3-in-1 device - that simply house the router, modem and digital home voice in 1 device!!!  Talk about hi-tech??  Talk about energy saving??

Now, I have to "ON" my new router, "ON" my new modem as well as "ON" existing modem!!

FINE!  Accept the fact, move on.

Plug & Play.  Connection up and ready to surf.

BUT... what a sight we have here! 

So, after the technician left, we unplug and start our plans to beautify the corner.

Our plan is that the yellow wire (fibre cable) will be going thru the wire casing, into the electrical riser and to be pull towards our tv console.  The modem and router will be place inside the tv console where all wiring will be hidden.

. . .    t o   b e   c o n t i n u e d   . . . 

OPENET. NOT VERY OPEN (2)

Not long after I posted my previous entry, we were informed by our telco provider that we are eligible for upgrading for our broadband and cable tv services.  So on this day, we went to Compass Point to renew our contract for another 2 years.

The only thing I'm rejoicing is the change of channels on my cable tv and I'm going home today with my new set-top box.

So, dates have been fixed on 5 Oct for Openet to come and install the point and 11 Oct for telco provider to come to activate the service.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So fast forward to 5 October.  Contractors came, after some discussion, they set down to do their work.

First, we emptied our cabinet and locate the electrical riser.  The Openet point will be placed next to this.  But the nearest, mean to drill holes (luckily thru the wall not the cabinet) so that cable could pass thru.

I was not present during the installation, but when I got home,  this is what I saw.

Not the terminal but a very odd wire casing sticking our of no where with a sloppy job of plastering.

Anyway, cable are linked, Openet Point installed. You think the job is done?  (Told you it's going to be troublesome)!

We left the place for our weekend grocery and when we got home, we noticed that we cant get a wifi connection on our laptops / smartphones.  

1.  We thought we off the modem by accident... nope, it's ON but the lights are blinking erratically.

2.  We thought the installation of optic fibre has disrupt the existing broadband signal.

So we call telco... and our digital home voice is down too!! WTH??

For the whole weekend, we have no wifi, no home line!!  The reason being....

The contractor who drilled thru the wall damaged the splitter (which was hiding in a corner of the electric riser).

The hole is big enough for me to poke in my pinky finger!!

Thanks to the prompt response from our telco's technician team!!

He came, he first look at the modem (which was working), he look at the Openet Point, trace it back to the electrical riser and WAHH LAAH!  He changed a new splitter and job done!! Came, diagnose and left all within 15mins!!

Of course, we "greased" the contractor left, right, centre, up and down for the damage!!  We were practically barking at them for lost of connection over the weekend and on Monday morning when they came (empty handed) and expect magic to fix the problem....  he got another yelling from the Pay Master.

Now that we got our internet connection and digital home voice back,  our next appointment for activation is on 11 Oct.

. . .   t o   b e   c o n t i n u e . . .

OPENET. NOT VERY OPEN (1)

Having stayed in our 'new' flat for more than 18 months,  we were being informed that our block is FINALLY ready for optical fibre installation.

1.  Happy? Not really especially all the wirings are being 'entombed' or being enclosed in false wall/ceiling.  If we were to go ahead,  we risk damaging our fixtures and changing/spoiling the looks of current look

2.  Looking forward?  Not really keen.  Why cant those people involved plan this way before occupants starts to shift in?

3. Unlike in the past, probably 5-10yrs ago, occupants simply engaged OPENET to install the cables in their premises (many people like my parents, after installation, never use it, instead stick with broadband), we now have to go thru the 3 colors Green, Orange or Red telco companies to subscribe to the fibre service.

From what I foresee,  troublesome clearing and cleaning up, troublesome having to go thru long queue to get at telco just to get an appointment for Openet installation then another date for telco technicians to activate the service on another date.

Anyway, we are still sometime away from renewing our contract with our telco provider, so let's just sit on it for the time being.