Photo of my November2013 #22

Towards end of year, work is getting crazy as well as... Social gathering to mark the end of the year.

So my busy week ends with unfinished task and the annual dinner of Geological Society London. 

A nice dinner with sharing of the disastrous mud volcano Lusi in Indonesia (quite heart breaking seeing the destruction), as well as meeting lots of ppl.

And it reminds me it's another year - time to review and think about what to achieve next year...

Photo of my November2013 #21

Every Thursday evening has become my most enjoyable night, running, de-stressing, laughing, getting crazy, photographing and last but not least eating to reload after a run.

Sad to say, I got trapped for consecutive two Thursday nights after return, and I even missed the farewell dinner at 光華in Tai Hang last week :(

Anyways, here I am tonight to catch the late dinner even I can't make for the run. I miss you...

Let's run next week!!!

Photo of my November2013 #20

This is my 3rd consecutive years to be a speaker in the career talk for earth sciences graduates.

I always wonder, if I'm really bringing a taste of what an engineering geologist is like to them... Will they find the job interesting? Will they still want to make big money instead??

With all this in mind, my only sharing is always, how my job has broaden my horizon to this world and how the geological knowledge be applied to better lives of people. Hope they can feel my passion.

I may need a break after this, before I can think of something new to share...

Photo of my November2013 #19

My work routine has reached a threshold that I'm more like a consultation personnel or a training mentor to others than I'm working for my own task.

So, here's my new favourite place in the office. The Quiet Room... Which I can focus like half an hour and finish sth that kept opened on my desktop for ages...

Please do not disturb.

Photo of my November2013 #15

A bad start of the day: the bus I took to site doesn't operate on weekday morning, and I left my closed border permit in the office.

Anyways, I still managed to site for field mapping works (thanks my colleagues).

It's been some time since my last fieldwork, and I just like doing simple geology task... The weather is just great for fieldwork. Observe some nice folding, too :)

My most enjoyable moment after field work is, a simple bite at local shops. This iced red bean drink is just sooo nice.

Contented. I should stay thinking simple, maybe.

Photo of my November2013 #12

I dunno when I started to have endless meetings during working hours. Many of which are not constructive at all.

Why should we spend time on talking how things are done, rather than doing the actual product?

But seemed meeting is inevitable. Learning to do it effectively is my next learning point.

I wonder if I have spent more time on meeting than sleeping...

Photo of my November2013 #02

Tribute to Andy Warhol - love it.
i love this city. nostalgic with wonderful state-of-art urban planning, creating a city FOR the people.

This is Portland.

 

一週年

一年又過去.
今天是我們core team set off 一週年.

一年後回想起一年前的種種.
到底我們怎麼可以把所有東西都打點齊全然後跑到雲南山區用兩個多星期去起橋呢?

實在想不起.

只是覺得, 每個人都有個小宇宙, 把所有小宇宙加起來便什麼也做得到.

感恩能遇到我親愛的core team buddies.

懷念這個改變一生的經歷.

十年

還有兩天, 就踏進工作的第十個年頭.

十年, 過得比我想像的快.

我是幸運的.

在工作上, 除了從好多好厲害的人身上學會專業技術與知識以外, 更遇到兩位伯樂.
我在他們身上, 學會好多好多, 做人、處事、對工作的喜愛及隨之以來的熱情.

2000年. 當大伙兒都在去完Cyprus揹著背囊歐遊的時候, 我選了回港做暑期工.
在金門那個暑假,  我參與了人生的第一個基建(東鐵線)工程.
除了曬得像個賓賓, 我開始了解這個行業的一點點, 明白在地盤那種好天曬落雨淋的工作環境. 我為對那些鑽探出來的石芯與泥土作出描述而決定打樁的深度而高興.
還有, 我遇到了第一個伯樂.
在他身上, 我學會如何敬業樂業, 及對待自己工作應有的態度.

2005年, 放棄了政府較穩定的工作跑到A公司, 工作當然辛苦好多, 但所學到的是我意料不到的.
很多辛酸的工作之中, 也給了我不少挑戰, 更令我又不少擴闊眼界的機會.
讓我在A裡面學到更多的, 就是我的第二位伯樂.
在她身上, 我看到了什麼是profession. 她就是一部人肉字典, 我們有什麼technical問題去找她, 總有一個完滿的答案(同時付上更多的問題)與清晰的解決方向.
不論多麼麻煩的project與client, 多麼teadious的工序, 她總會擁有超乎常人的+ve正能量去安撫各人, 然後有條不紊地安排工作, 最後準時完成. 她在團隊裡面, 總有讓人安定的感覺.
她也不只是我的上司...好多生活工作上的交叉點, 她會給我不少提示, 讓我看清楚一點.
記得數年前那段只會哭的日子, 也是她不時的開解, 還有工作上的寬容, 才讓我慢慢拾回自己, 繼續前進.

這位伯樂, 為了她更重要的, 要離開了.
其實, 我真得十分不捨, 但不知為何, 在她面前我總會把這個不捨得收起來...
這陣子我一直有種不捨與少了她的不安感, 但我知道很快就過去的.
我們也會再碰面的 :)
All the Best to YOU!


在他們兩位身上, 我明白... 做一份自己喜愛的工作, 你便能做得很好.
他們的態度感染著我, 也讓我知道我要去感染下一代.


遇到你們兩位伯樂, 是我的福氣.

Build a Bridge, in 14 days

This is another amazing journey in my life.
2011.Dec.20 to 2012.Jan.05 is another remarkable period I would always share with everyone I encountered from now on....

.....To plan, organise, and construct a bridge in the remote village called Mixia in Yunnan, China.

And with 14 days of effort, the bridge is finally there.

The past 4 months' time was a complete nightmare - to plan the logistics, liaise with various internal and external parties, attend long and short meetings, select & assign role/responsibility to each team members, organise necessary courses to equip everyone, go to pre-trips, draft documentations and necessary promotional & PR stuff... and that's all I had to worry about with my core team buddies...

(surprisingly not the hard core design!! sorry i'm JUST a geologist not an engineer...)

i just cannot recalled how i could deal with all these alongside with my real jobsss on hand...

but it's a great satisfaction to dirty our hands, to start everything from scratch, and finally the real bridge is just in front of you...

2011.Dec.6

2012.Jan.4

The greatest thing is... to have a great, awesome team - my core team buddies, esp fc and kc, who worked night and day just for the trip (they both were much too tired than myself); the main team which we didn't really 'select' but turn out to be a mighty one as each of them have their strengths and contributed to the smooth construction; the funny but serious students from KMUST whom are so helpful throughout the period; the 3 students from CUHK/HKUST which gives a great helping hand (esp Vincent!!)... most importantly, the locals, without them we didn't have great food, shelter and manpower to complete the bridge in two weeks' time.

and for my personal gain...?
first of all, is the technical bits of putting the anchor to the right rockmass with the right orientation, and checking of workmanship as well... a mistakes that i've made but good lesson learnt (luckily it didn't become a great disaster...);
another i should say is the experience living in a remote village with very primitive living essentials, in which I found that we can be so adaptive in every environment we live in;
and what i treasure most - the relationship with the villagers (esp 'ah pi' [=grandmum in Hani dialect] and the young chefs cooking for us). I just started to cry on the 2nd last day in the village... I miss them so much.

The journey comes to an end and it's for me to move on - as this will gradually become a quick snapshot in my life, but a highlight that have a great impact on my way forward.

i'm so blessed to have such a wonderful journey
:)

another good year, ahead

this is written in my pocket diary at the start of 2010.
and find out i'll continue to do the same in 2011....

and more challenges are coming

which is good.
:)


another busy year is over and it was a good and thoughtful one and probably...

it had strengthened my belief... i really think something must be done, no matter how busy such as... helping those in need, with my professional knowledge

that's why i'll continue to do this... and hope more colleagues will join us...

and i enjoyed meeting new ppl, those from different walks of life and from anywhere

it's lots of sweat, lots of anger but... lots of fun.

i'm looking forward to a good and exciting year ahead...
challenges are coming :)

Something about China (1)

如果無必要,不要在國內公眾假期日子返大陸.
上個星期雖然五一, 但仍要出job去廣州及上海
其實我都幾習慣往返國內, 但未試過向大城市, 仲要加埋世博開幕...

不過, 呢個星期既經歷,只可用'忟'來形容...
- 上地鐵永遠唔按指示排隊, d人未出就已經衝入車箱 (其實宜家香港都有d咁既現象);
- 其實佢地對排隊係無concept既, 基本上無指示要排隊既地方買野/食野, 你太有禮貌既話你呢一世都唔駛指意買到/食到;
- 無論地鐵車箱人多定少, 總會有個乘客攬住/挨住支扶手, 你點懾隻手埋去都無反應;
- 如果繁忙時間, 你基本上唔'批掙'係無可能入到地鐵;
- 的士拒載 (後來我醒目左, 上左車先講去邊加埋死都唔落車);
- 如果你要問野(無論係機場/商場/街), 你總係會被refer去某個地方然後不斷重複, 直到你火起去返你第一次問野既地方狂躁症咁樣係咁鬧, 佢先至開始認真思考並發現佢係可以回答你既問題既...

其實, 中國大城市自居可與歐美看齊, 但人民d質素真係令我覺得好厭惡. 最令我唔開心既係, 向呢d城市你要生活, 你必須要某情度常被同化(如'批掙'才入到地鐵), 我真的不想自己變成一個無禮貌既人.

不想被同化, 卻又希望感受一下中國大城市的生活, 同埋有'上大陸賺呢d暴發户既錢'既心態... 我個人真係好矛盾...

下回講下上海d樓... 都係呢個trip幾有感受既一個話題.

Build Green

when you just care about how crazy the flats cost in Hong Kong
when sustainable building is still new to Hong Kong folks
perhaps... maybe we have to know how to build green.

Embodied energy is not a new, but it is not in any Hong Kong building and infrastructure projects. I know very little on this as well.

If you have 6 minutes, I encourge you to watch this.
It's worth more than watching the crazy stock markets or celebrity gossips.

寫呀寫...

點解一定要寫professional report先可以考牌?
點解寫左3年training report又要再寫?
咁寫完份professional report代唔代表你好competent?
咁如果考牌個陣遇到d killer/死對頭公司d大佬係咪點competent都會肥?
咁如果我好彩係咪求其寫都pass?

點解我d英文越來越差?
點解寫吓寫吓好似都寫緊三幅被?! CDGCDTMDGMDT...........
呢個係open hillside failure定係channelised debris flow?
呢d乜野泥? 'gran-泥'定'rhyo-泥'?
......

其實
....
我唔想寫啦!!!!!!!!!!!

唉
發完嚕囌
咪又係要繼續寫~~
@.@

Fellow Engineers, do you get what you've put in?

這陣子我對工作的信念, 有點動搖

源於...上兩週跟中學好姊妹的
"薪酬小調查"

姊妹們學生年代都是成績優良的一群
因此, 她們不少都是專業人士
有accountant, solicitor, architect, doctor, marketing/banking executive

一直知道我以後的收入比她們低
(雖然剛畢業時, 我可是收入最高的一個)
但沒想到的...是差距可以這麼大
雖然, 她們已不大像以前般喜歡工作
只視為搵食

而她們視之為'professional grade既entry point'
已經是我們engineering professional grade既average!

而且
她們已慢慢爬升至middle class
已經不用再經常OT
有多些時間享受生活

反觀我們的行業
只是能者多勞, 越做越忙
有名 卻沒利
......

再看看我的同事們...
如果沒有那份job satisfaction
早已quit了
而留在公司的, 年紀已不小轉不了行的
只好繼續死做難做
又或者, technical比較在行的
早已找到政府的金飯碗
又又或者, 家裡都有點錢
不愁吃不愁穿
工作, '是興趣'
...

有點恍然大悟
我對工作的熱誠熱愛
還能撐多久?

尤其是...
做project時要有好多妥協的時候
當technical consideration給budget, programme比下去的時候
當要完成每件task既時間越來越少的時候...


我並不是家裡有點錢
可以賺錢買花戴的人

我是否要向現實妥協
找份能賺大錢悶得要命的工?


前路
要怎樣走下去才是...?

終生學習

快踏入工作第七個年頭


時光飛逝


這段不長不短的日子
不知道自己學到些什麼
卻發現自己所知的越來越少
......


可能這就是繼續下去的原因
還有好多好多要學習
而要學的越來越難掌握


記得在這禮拜初朋友說:
咁辛苦, 不如轉行去沖咖啡啦
賺少d但可以享受一下
我答:但我真係好鍾意, 好享受我既工作喎~


在這裡
仍感受到完成工作的成就感
還有好多有趣的事物等待著

最了解的
原來還是
剛出來做事
識於微時的朋友

j, 我想我們對工作的想法一致
希望我倆都能在這
幹出一些成績
我肯定你可以
(我則差一點點了 :P)

請繼續努力. 共勉.

P.S. 打這篇blog的時候
想找我們4個training時的照片, 去紐西蘭的照片
卻不知丟到哪裡去
原來, 都已經是好久以前的事了...

這兩個月, 跟環保安全談戀愛

我那組的ARE每兩個月都會跟不同的RE
既可以好好分享人力資源
也讓我們可以學點不同範疇的東西

這兩個月
被安排做點環保安全的東西

也好, 從來也未試過落手落腳做這方面的...

做了兩個星期...
才知道, 環保安全不只是吹吹水便可以!
這兩方面的legislation/code of practice/specification竟然有那麼多
還以為可以輕輕鬆鬆的過這兩個月... @.@

係時候, 好好學習一下

Thrilled

Just couldn't imagine I can (finally) get into a tunnel under construction!
And had a chance to take a look at the installation of TBM inside the tunnel

Lucky us...
(If works was in progress then we couldn't get a chance visiting inside!)

...I was just thrilled!!! :)


And thanks to my nice colleagues for explaining the works detail of tunneling using TBM~


Cuting Head of the TBM

Tunneling is a very special stream in the field of geotechnical engineering and geology plays a major role in order to understand the effect of ground (soil & rock) due to tunneling works.

Hope I can have an opportunity working in tunneling projects later on, even it will only be the design aspect of the project...

BLASTING in the RAIN

這是我在site的第二個雨季...

今年比上年少的, 應該是降雨量
(去年可是二十年一遇的雨量!!)

今年有上年沒有的, 應該是因為打雷而不能爆石
(法例規定也是安全問題, 雷暴警告是不能進行爆破的)


今天就是這site第一次, 在這麼大雨下進行爆破
由於我們要站崗(以檢查爆破前後有否影響附近的建築物/斜坡的穩定性)
於是我們都變了'膠衫戰隊'


然後
好壯觀的晾雨衣在U15出現...


哈哈, 我想U15整個雨季都會這樣吧

DAR AREzzz團年Lunch

寫吓揮春
先有新年氣氛 :)

工程系大學生...
都係唔識寫毛筆字既
或者
'我地中文唔好'... @.@