Farewell to the crazy Scotsman (and Scotswoman)

So this is goodbye ...

Yesterday, my ex-boss has left Singapore to take up his promotion in Florida. I felt like a part of me, and what was dear to me in Singapore is gone forever.

I'm not usually the soppy emotional type but i couldn't help but feel this incredible sadness when i heard the news, and a tear or two yesterday, which was his last day. Of course, it was great news that he got promoted but that meant he was going to leave.

I guess its hard to describe the strong emotional attachment. OK, so i left the company (and that was a hard decision too) and the country first but i've always imagined him as a permanent fixture in Singapore (figuratively speaking) and its different knowing he's not going to be there anymore when i'm back.

I didn't actually think i'd made it when he interviewed me 5 years back (Maybe it was my answer to his last question (Did you enjoy studying overseas?) that clinched it - my response to his question was "Extremely".

So i shall dedicate this post as a glowing tribute:

Gordon is more like a mentor/friend than a boss, and he always knew when to let us get on with our work, and when to step in to help us out or stick up for us. Most importantly, he taught me how to teach and how to learn. He's one of the rare leaders who truly posess leadership skills and a sense of humour. After working for him for almost 5 years, he'd watched me morph from fresh-young-enthusiastic graduate to bitter-jaded-cynic. Ah, you couldn't ask for more, really.

Whats more, he's fun to hang out with after-work for a few beers, some good chat and giving helpful pointers on diverse questions such as directions to the nearest bar with happy hours and "What should i do with my life?!"

Joyce is funner than Gordon during their house parties because she does dancing, whale-jumping and makes wicked drinks. Gordon just flashes his silent-toothy grins, even when he thinks something is really funny. I won't forget the time where we all did some crazy wrestling at the Padang way after the JP run had ended. That were plenty of "drunk but still silent and toothy" grins flashed that night!

So i thank him for so many things, many good memories, and some wonderful lessons learnt at work, and in life. I will miss all the laughter, fun times, that ridiculous reindeer do, and those feigned "what now?" roll in the eyes whenever i demanded an answer to my endless questions.

He thinks we'll never meet again but i really hope he's wrong about that one.