Customer service
Bought a pair of comfy walking shoes recently and of all days, the elastic band came off just before the Chinese New Year holidays.
It was my first pair of shoes from this brand. They have been advertising on their comfort level and “airy-ness” of the shoe to avoid foul smells. None of the designs (nor prices) attracted me enough, but that day, with the mood to buy, I saw one pair that was going at a price with discounts that I was happy to pay and the comfort was there.
Therefore, my disappointment when the elastic band came off when I was doing shopping. Next day, I brought the pair of shoes to the retail shop, and decided to ask for it to be repaired.
The sales people aren’t used to such requests, I felt. First question I was asked: Did the band fell off by itself? (Obviously, would I be so silly to pull it out myself?!)
I didn’t have my receipt anymore since it was already 2-3 weeks from the purchase date. They took my name and contact number, gave me a note to say that they have collected XX model, size Y on X date and put a company stamp on it.
I haven’t heard from the store yet, yesterday I spoke to the salesperson and was told that due to the CNY holidays, the HQ has not seen my shoes yet (???@!!!). I gave them the benefit of doubt, and requested that someone contact me early next week to let me know if they can repair it or whether there would be a replacement.
Out of curiousity, I went online to search for their company website, there wasn’t a country site for us, and I saw this note when I clicked on the “Customer Service” section.
“Coming soon”.
Enough said 
Update:
A sales person called today to inform that they will replace the shoes with a new pair, or I could choose another design. I’m choosing to get the same design, but perhaps a smaller size. Also requested to have the half insoles and the leather heel liners back from the faulty pair of shoes 
The salesperson said he would call me again once my original pair of shoes are sent back to the retail shop. Another few more days of waiting!
Listening to and believing in your innerself
Being alone, in a foreign land and living alone in the city, I have plenty of solo time. Most of the time stopping the inner chatters is a challenge, because all I have to talk to is myself.
Having been here for 2 years and looking back, I realised that I have followed my intuition/inner voices many times and that proved to be a pretty effective way of living our lives.
Self discovery is one of the main motivations for me to move away and live by myself, for the past 2 years, I have been trying on and off to have very clear communications with my guides and higher self, but I tend to think that they do not communicate with me in the way I wanted them to, maybe I have not grasped the right way of communicating with them. But looking back, I’m sure they have their ways of making sure the messages come through.
When I first arrived in this city, I was a little shocked by the rental rates, it’s not expensive per se, judging by international standard. But coming from a place where public housings are aplenty (and I was in a position to enjoy them), it’s still a substantially higher amount to pay. Friends around me have been suggesting me to get my own place, but the voices inside told me to not move into that, my circumstances then also did not permit me to jump into the property market. Looking back now, I must say, I was lucky, the property prices have dropped by a fairly big percentage since the 2008 economic crisis, which is more than the total rentals I have paid in the pass 2 years or so. Coupled with the drop in interest rates (I would have been locked into a higher interest rate for years), my on paper savings could well be 2 to 3 times the amount I have paid in rentals.
The above is just one of the many examples of how listening to your inner voice and believing in yourself help. “Take that job, even if it’s just a contractual assignment”, “They are noises, just keep on following your own beliefs”, etc.
Just 2 nights ago, I was feeling a little frustrated with certain things, before I went to bed drained and tired that night, I kind of shouted internally “Will you guys talk to me?!”. I drifted into a deep sleep, woke up earlier than usual feeling energised, and while going through the usual internet surfing routine, I found an entry about communicating with your guides, specifically mentioning the method used by me is not the right way of communication, rather it’s the way that will quiet everything down, including the voices from the guides and angels. In that entry, a better way of communication was suggested, and that’s just the way I’m gonna use from now on.
Yes, my guides and angels, I know you guys are communicating with me, albeit subtly, but I can always feel your presence, and I know I’m receiving the messages, just not as loud and clear as I wanted them to be. I’ll continue to listen carefully to the messages, until a time when we can all sit down and chit chat at my will. Let’s work towards achieving that in the near future, before 2009 comes to an end.
