My life experiences... a few that I feel worth sharing.

On Course

2010-07-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

I was on course yesterday at Pasir Ris Pr with other heads. Was so surprised to see some familiar faces. I met Rita. We were once teaching together at Jin Shan Pr as BT. That was really way way.... way back. Donkey years ago before I actually moved to the east. I met Rita again I remembered when we were doing our SIM course. But the surprise was meeting Sharifah Thalha from EVSS. We hv both moved on to other school. But she has definitely changed physically, since being a mother of 2. She looked so different that I couldn't recognised her. But so glad that she recognised me and called me. I also met Faridah from EVSS and surprisingly she acknowlwedge me and even remember my name. But I must say she looked good.

On the professional side, the people I met made more impact on me that the topic of the course. I just couldn't focus on the presentation. Maybe the venue, as we were placed at the end of the hall. They grouped us according to alphabet.. Zhenghua .. naturally last just like Zarina.

At the end of the course we planned to go to Opera Estate Pr to visit a favourite VP but too bad he was out of school. Another time then.

I want a new life.

2010-07-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

Things have been tough.. real tough.

But no matter how tough things have been, the physical aspect I can endure. I am used to slogging my time , my energy for work or anything.
But I am a loser. I succumb to things that affects my emotions.

Here I am in my own space and time, I reflect on things that had been happening, I can feel the emptiness and the hollowness of my heart. This is when I get teary eyed.

I pray that I do not become like u..

I pray that I do better in my role as compared to u.

I pray that those dear to me do not have to go through what I am going thro now...

Dear God,

help me go through this and play my role with sincerity so that i will not feel shortchanged for all the things that I have done.

show me that there is a silver lining in every cloud that hovers around my shoulder.

let me be strong emotionally so as I do not drown myself in my tears.

End of semester

2010-05-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

Briefly:

It's coming to the end of semester.. so fast yet so much still to do especially with my sec 4. I feel so disappointed with myself that I have to blast at them like that. i like some of them. In fact I love them except for the few who have no place for FN.. everyday they make me pissed when they choose to be defiant. Everytime I see them at the library, they are scanning thro a story book or the National Geographic. So much free time right yet no priorities for other subjects that are not done.

Kalau anak aku....,

Give work choose not to do and then want me to stay overnite with them.. which I doubt they wil do my work.

I sometimes wonder why I even bother .. but yet every year like that .. say only but still will bother about them. I care too much for them as I feel like I owe it to them to make sure that they do well and I have tried as best as I could.

Other aspects of work still a lot to do with big events coming in Sem 3... wth.. it is so necessary...

Somehow I'm just glad that I have very few working with me to perk my day..

Home:

I had my kenduri at Tiara Pelangi and it was good to see people making effort to make their presence at my hse. Really appreciate them. Simply session. Hubby booked a bus to ferry the ple across the causeway which I felt was so costly. But after listening to his reasonings, it was reasonable. So much preparations done. I bought for the women a brooch as a token and the men got a sarong. We oorder food from the nearby stall called Sedap Selalu meaning always nice.. and the food live up to expectation.

After that my sis brought my mum back to kL .. thankful that I got some relief for my deafening ears of nagging.

Last week I fetch my mum from KL after 3 weeks without her at home. Somehow going back to the original 5 of us at home is just ... nice. Tho I have to rush back to prepare a decent dinner at home it is still nice. It was ashort trip to KL and the objective was mainly to collect the good and go.. so bad right. But we also managed to enjoy a Subway sandwich at Pavilon. Subway is not halal here. Wanted to grab a Carls Jr but didnt managed to. I so want to go back to KL just to eat , eat and eat... even a weekend drive will do.I thought that I wont have my passport with me this week so I had to fetch her last week. But alas, I cld have gone this week and enjoy another nice 7 days. But I also appreciate that I had a busy week and that I dont have to rush home to cook.

The week after the kenduri weekend, we had a Malaca trip weekend with in-laws which ened up a failure. It was a weekend holiday and apparently for Malaysians it a first weekend of the month and it a national holiday. So we ended up in a jammed which only take us to outskirts of M'ca. Didn't get to the town as we were de-toured. What a disappointment. Never expect a sort trip to M'ca wld take so long. All we wanted to do was to go the the main shopping center and maybe enjoy some food like Subway.. A&W.. Everybody so tired and disappointed..

But it was my first long drive on my Cerato.. wah best. The funny thing is when I overtake my husband's Cruze, he mentioned it to the girls." oh forgot to tell your mother not to drive like hell driver' And when I overtake the Cruze my son who was with me said" surely baba will say, why she driving like hell driver." See how they think alike abt my driving skills.. So hilariously funny.

Holidays.. I'll be away for remedial...

2010/3

2010-04-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

This year I broke my own record of 0 days of medical certificate (MC). For the past 3 years I have been blessed with good health or can I put it in such a way that tho I have been sick these past few years, I am still motivated to come back to school. To clear as much work as possible.

2010 is the first of many years that I decide it is time to really take care of myself. My health comes first or it just that there are people who just drives me to take MC.

Finally I see the doctor and was advise to take 2 days of MC.

I think my teachers are also shocked. Those who know me well enough, knows that I am a no MC teacher. Students who were taught by me know that I am a 0 MC teacher. There were many instances over the years that students do ask me : Cher, you dont take MC is it?

Well this is the first. Even one teacher sms-ed me and was shocked to find out that I was on MC. The reply I got was; wow.. the iron lady.. on MC.

Yes the time has come. Somehow my gut feeling is that more will be coming.

When you are sick you are sick. When you have to take MC you just have to take MC. Dont die young. Take care of yourself. This was what someone said to me and I finally decide to listen to good advise.

Yay.. to good rest.

2010/2

2010-01-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

I decided to post in this blog this year cos I think it would help me release a little bit of tension. I needed to write jus to let off steam. And I naturally thought that the present batch of students would not be aware of the existence of this blog. After all, this blog was created by students who have left the school many years already.

But today I find out the contrary. My blog have been invaded by my 4E5s. Its been such a long time since students actually read my blog. Today they actually found my blog and it was made public during lesson at IT rm 1.

I think I hv to be careful of what I write now.

To all my 4E5 FN students, do keep what you read to yourself.

But let me introduce my 4E5 :

There is Zhuanghao.. has a lot of energy but most of it dedicated to tae-kwan-do

There is Zhengyan... very active but only verbally

I have 2 darrens.. Darren Lee and Darren Koh both absent yesterday and today they seemed like best buddies

Wei Juan... lots of carbon-containing parts of the excess amino acids ...lots of them

There is Tze Rong.. he thinks that I am deaf thats why he is always talking so loudly

Then there is Elson.. who always have problem logging in to the com. but he always don't know how come.

Then there is Wei Hao.. who made public this blog.

Today Syakeer is absent and the class will give crappy reasons when u ask them

I have FFF.. Fatin Farhana but i cannot remember the last ..

Then there is Farah and Syafiqah.. all these are my HMT pupils who always have to leave earlier

cos they have to go to BPGH for classes. Apparently since last year the HMT class always

during FN days or remedials.

Then there is Xenia and Dina who are netballers and are busy with tournaments.

Then there is Mian ru and Zanna who are guides and cannot come for remedials on fri.. yes wei juan also say he is in guides...

Then there is Huili i remember that she is from band.

There is also Xiuming who is away from school due to back surgery.

I hope I got everybody.

These are my graduating students who will give me A1 for FN

yes yes yes yeah yeah yeah...

Are u all reading this?

yes yes yes...

2010/1

2010-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

This would be my first posting for 2010.

4 weeks of school and what can I say... it has been tough.

What do you expect. I have been away sinc eJuly for MLS. I came back for 2 weeks then I was away for Hajj for 4 weeks.

I had problems getting back to work momentum.

And what made it worst was the posting of new people to the school who decide to create an impact on the school, who wants to make their presence felt.

So ...

for the past 3 weeks I have been sitting in meetings that last for 2 hours minimum....

I have been attending SMC meetings that last till 645pm

I have been made to do presentations not because I want to but because they want to...

This is the 4th week of school..

I have 1 hour of meeting with a particular subject teachers, then 2 hours of meeting wrt department continue with 1 hour today.

Another 1 hour meeting with another subject and school training that will last till 6pm.

I have lost my sense of purpose in coming to school...

But what made my day today was an email to say that this week SMC meeting has been cancelled....

YES YES YES YES YES YIPEE YIPEE YIPEE YEA YEA YEA YEA

I am so relieved.

If you are in my shoes, how would you feel?

I met up with my Hajj frens last Saturday.

I miss my hajj days... really. No worries abt anything.

Its just business between you and the Almighty.

Now i am in a MAD MAD world.

2010

2010-01-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year....Happy a little bit late New Year..... Not so Happy very late New Year...... Very Not Happy very very late not so New Year................

Yeah

Yeah

Little things

2009-11-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

Its been such a long time that I last updated. I think it was when I started my MLS. Now I've come to the end of the journey. Its really coming to an end in 3 days time. I'm filled with a tsunami of emotions as the curtain is drawing close. There is so much that I learn in this short journey.

Where do I start ?

Let me start with today.. we had our CP presentations.. I cannot describe what I felt after the whole event ended. Disappointed? maybe. Relieved? yes. Upset? Not really.

All I wanted to say is that all the hype that was created by the tutor that caused uproar in the other group members has come to this..

What you think is not what you get.. at the end of the day you see for yourself what was teh outcome.

But whatever lah... I just dont want to think about it anymore.

But I love my Team 4; they gave me the strength, the conviction that I am more capable that what I think of myself. I was greatly motivated by our CP project. I still feel that what we had come up with has so much ground and scope. It really shows the potential in our project.

After today, I guess each of us had to spent time on our own to absorb what had just happened. Wherever we are be it at Toastbox or Coffeebean, we needed time to just realise that in one way or another, this has been a great learning journey for us, to each his own.

For me, I just had to look for frens who I'm comfortable with and spent time with them. Just need to be with people whom I can reallay pour out my soul to. Not so much on what had happened earlier, but more on what had been happening in my life.

I just turned 45. But of course at this age, you begin to realise the little things in life that mean so much to you. After going through so much in the past year, I dont ask for much. Life experience has definitely made me a wiser person. But maybe not wise enough. If I had been wiser, then I'd probably be in a better situation.

As I remember in my reflection:

I wil not wish for the grass that is on the other side of the fence which seem greener but seldom is.

Importantly; God is in everything that is good particularly to me in the small things in life.

The small things like the frens I have who were willing to hear my sad story. My family members who feels what I go thro and went thro it with me.

What more can I ask for.

No: 29

2009-07-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

My MLS has started and I'm pretty excited abt it. But before leaving for MLS I had to make sure that some tho' not all work are at least covered. Its just so impossible to complete everything... and when just before you leave you are given another task. Simply impossible and lost for word. Cant you just get another person to do it? Whatever lah ..

But of course before I left had to make sure that Monday's TTT was arranged and then after that had to make phone call to find out how it went..

Then I have to make sure that I come back to vet exam papers.. but I clearly remember reading the handbook that during MLS our time is only for NIE .. not any other things. Just so NOT possible.

First day of MLS was really good. Meet new people.. get into my grouping.. I like my group. Just the four of us. Quite comfortable. But I find it rather strange that I was place in the ICT group but can oso lah.

But not surprise that there are a few things still not in order..

But it worked well for all of us cos we get to leave earlier than scheduled.

Then there is e-learning and reading sessions...

Great..

But I do miss some parts of school ..only some.

No:28

2009-07-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

I hate it when people use this expression on me..or my children..

"Eh anak cikgu mesti pandai "

Or

" Anak cikgu mesti bagus "

Literally translated..

Parent teacher surely clever or parent teacher surely good.

So what if I am a teacher..

I am human too..

So what if my children have parent who is a teacher..

They also have friends whose parents are NOT teachers..

We all go through the same shit in life... breathe the same air.. so what makes them or me any different from others..

We are all humans..

and nobody's perfect..

No:28

2009-07-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

First week of school gone. Been doing relief for the whole of last week and re-looking at the timetable again and again esp for the NIE trainees reporting in the school. Poor them. There is just no space in the staff room that we had to housed them in the Meeting Room. Being the first week of school and with the present health situation meeting are non-stop in the afternoon. So these poor trainees had to immediately vacate the room to make way for these meetings. If only I had my way..if only I was still doing the SCM.. but alas had to just close an eye or two to these things which I would not want to put my fingers in.
With timetabling and relief and meetings I could not fulfill my 5 hrs a day schedule that was tasked on me. How to? Im still doing the work that I was tasked with and trying hard to get it done.
With the days counting to my MLS I have really mixed feeling abt going. I can forsee that I would still be on standby for any emergency calls..with many matters pertaining to dept, committee and many others.
Even with the Youth Day holiday, I was still on call.
Today I was tasked to collect exam papers from exam branch again..
and for the first time I collect papers that has nothing to do with my dept or committee or yg sewaktu dgn nye.
There was somewhat a long story to why I was asked to collect the papers today..
This year after March I seem to be visiting exam branch quite often..
I wonder why...
is it bcos someone left and is not there to do the collection anymore..hhmm
Today I did Part B..somehow it feels good. It keeps me in touch with the coursework. When I told Catherine this she really laugh at me. I must really be a coursework fanatic.
So sad rt my life looking at the things the give me cheap thrill.

Many things happened over the weekend which makes me wonder..

I wonder how much we remember the things we say to others...

I wonder how much we remember the things we do to others...

Will all things done and said be erased with a handshake?

How much we would do things for people we love..

Like machine that run on a remote, somebody click the talk button and we ...talk

somebody click the wave button and up goes the hands..fingers move..wave

So dumb.

No:27

2009-07-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

I will forgive BUT do not think that I will forget.

And because I am who I am, it is hard for me to go back to how things were before.

I can forgive all the things that u do to me! But dont ask me things like ;

why am I not like what I used to be 2 years ago. Even when things have been thrashed out, all matters cleared why am I still so distance?

Let me tell u that you are the last person that I expect to treat me the way you did.

But I forgive you cos you become super sensitive when you grow older.

But I cannot forget how I was treated like dirt in your own home.

You tell me abt how you feel when you were at my house.

Did you even hear the words that you are saying.

Thats what you did to me. yet when it happen to you you do not even realise.

However I do beg to differ cos I am not like you. I am NOTHING like you.

I do not treat you like the way you treat me. I know my role as a host.

I will never do the things that you accuse me of.

But what is the point of arguing with old sensitive people.

So what do you want with me now?

You want me to show kemesraan again to you.

You want me to be the old Zarina.

And you think it just simply by telling me that you want things to be what they were it can happen.

I am just so disgusted at things....

I gave up on this relationship many years ago...

Its been too long...

I cant just simply act out just for YOU..

Or will be a situation where i have to fake it..

Do you realise how much I had to take week after week ...

Like I say I gave up..

I dont want to care..

If only I am allowed to ;

NOT care

My Life is so sad...

No:26

2009-06-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday :

Passing Out Parade 32nd ERSC

No:25

2009-06-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

School will start in a few days but Ive been back practically everyday this last week and almost everyday the last 2 weeks.

I only make sure that my weekend are spent with family across the causeway.

Because there would definitely be at least 1 silly person in the family, gathering of this kind is so sooo funny. Just makes your day. In this family siliness come in a pack.

Socializing simple means makan. Most time spent at the oudoor area. And its a durian weekend. Too bad to those who cant take the smell.

Just relaxing together till late nite at the outdoor area.

Or simply lepak-ing at the staircase as other do mass car wash.

To Sham and other frens : so looking forward to bring you all and can lepak-lepak there.

I also managed to squeeze some time to meet up with frens who have good news to share.

Congrats May Tan..

Also visit my sis and spent time with my her grand daughter.

All this done in the midst of planning for school to reopen and to prepare for H1N1 and staff planning.

No: 24

2009-06-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

Im in school right now and feeling breathless. I cant breathe. Really. Trying hard to absorb what had just been relayed to me.

It was supposed to be a discussion but yet why did it end up like NOT.

I thought we were supposed to go through the whole thing and see what needs to be done.

But yet why did it end up with ..

OK... you do this... you do this... you make sure you have all this... you prepare the documents....

Ok you have 2 weeks left.. give yourself 5 hours a day to do this..... and

FINALLY you give it to me by .....

Uuuuuuuuurrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

And in which part of this did I say....

I HAVE NO LIFE....

I CAN GIVE 5 HOURS AND MORE TO DO THIS......

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS.............

WHERE DID MY LIFE JUST GO............

No: 23

2009-06-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

Officially I now have 2 houses which are in living condition.

My JB hse is ready and we have shifted a lot of things from my present hse over.

Things like : dining table, TV, refrigerators, washing machine, sofa set and lots of unused plates which had been kept stored in some remote places in the house.

Im loooving both my houses cos :

1. my Jurong hse is now more spacious and certain facillities can now be used again. Used to keep the unsed washing machine in the toilet at level 1 now the toilet is serviceable again. Like finally. Used to house the old sofa at the balcony now the balcony is free again.

Why do I seem to hv 2 sets of everything? Cos I seem to be the heir of old 'household things' left by old people. After so long, finally I managed to find somewhere to house them.

Basically, there's more room for everything.

2. my JB hse cos its just a getaway for all other things that I just dont need. Give me space to do things I like.

At the moment it will only be a weekend thingy. Hopefully when situation permits it will drag beyond the weekend.

Been there past few days/ weeks to do cleaning up. Really mopping the whole hse is really a killer.

But Im happy that its finally complete. Though not fully furnish, Im just contented with it.

But I made it to Mazri and Nafisah's wedding direct flight from JB via Air Grandis.. whoo I like.

Pictures taken by Sham...will try to get it from him.

Wedding mcm like gathering of ZSS students..

No: 22

2009-05-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that when we made the decision yesterday, this would be the news today. This is really a good decision made at the right time.

Singapore's first H1N1 patient is an SMU student

Posted: 27 May 2009 1434 hrs

Singapore confirms first case of H1N1

Flu Outbreak

SINGAPORE: Singapore's first H1N1 case is a 22-year-old student from the Singapore Management University (SMU). She is a third-year Business Management student at SMU. She was on its New York Business Study Mission with 19 other students and a faculty member from 15-24 May.

SMU said she returned to Singapore on 26 May early morning with the faculty member and another student. She went to see a doctor as she felt unwell during the flight. She informed the university on 27 May when she found out she was tested positive. The patient is now recovering in hospital and has not been back on campus since returning from New York.

SMU is in close touch with her. The faculty member and the student who returned with the patient are both fine and they are currently on home quarantine for the next six days. They will continue to monitor their health and take temperature checks twice daily.

SMU has contacted the remaining 18 students who are still in New York. The students have extended their stay in North America and they have been alerted to go for tests and remain vigilant.

- CNA

No: 21

2009-05-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

Today the final decision was made on the inter-discipinary trip to aust. There was so much ding-donging on the trip just within a week. Finally it has come to this. It will definitely NOT happen. Parents were called and after abt half an hour speech by P all was convinced that the most responsible thing to do would be to NOT go for the trip. I'm very sure that the parents were convinved but how much the students were convinced that remained a question mark.

There could a blessing in everything that happen. I also wouldnt want to go on a trip but yet go through so much high risk itinerary.

But whatever the decision my only wish is that:

DO NOT try to compensate the 7 days trip with a 1 day outing.

Where?

In Spore lah.. so safe.

Please I do to want to spend a day out with the students to

a. ZOO
b. SPORE FLYER or
c. PULAU UBIN

I dont want to spend a day BBQing in school and spent part of the time watching other people spent 7 days in Aust in their self made you tube videos.

NO NO NO!!!!

Understand please that watching your video does not make the students feel any better.

BUT I still look forward to the end of May... yay

No: 20

2009-05-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

And so we are about to come to the end of the exams. Exams may be a slower paced time for some teachers but personally I dont feel the slow pace. In fact it was more of a 'running' time for me. But with the help of kind collegues, managed to ensure that all are in order.

Early morning rush to ensure that room is opened for distribution of papers. Then ensuring that all papers are collected by invigilators on time. Then there are a few special students who needs more attention and they are located at the exam center. Thus having to ensure that their exam materials are reserved. Then with the temperature taking procedures going on, have to ensure that it is all done in order and that students deemed as 'not well' and sent home are tracked. Re-exam materials are in order. Definitely not a slow paced.

Then there is of course the constant calls from invigilators either;

1. looking for setters as they are queries or

2 asking for escorts for students to go to the toilet.

What is really annoying is when it is just 5 minutes into the exam. we are already receiving calls to go to the toilet. Really got bladder problem seh.
Then there are just those calls from the same class repeatedly as they take turns to want to go toilet. What is with these students man. Its exam time for goodness sake.

But when I was away on course for 2 days it was a little less hectic but of course mental stress. Though i sent out an email to inform all not to call me as I wld be away, there are still those few calls that I got while I was at Bukit Merah ( course venue) to ask me get toilet escort in Bukit Panjang. Can sure. I may at same Bukits though one is 'merah' and one is 'panjang' but of course I can get toilet escort for you. But maybe need to wait a little longer.

My paper is always last paper. Every year without fail. But its ok. Always will give in to others who seems to have problem marking. So while waiting for the exam paper, I mark the coursework.

What can I say.. the students are giving me BIG headache with the coursework.

And I am happy to see familiar good faces back in Zhenghua. Catherine is back. And to hear the things she have to say abt her NIE days, the people there and the subject that she is doing there, abt her practicum and the school is really an eye opener.

When I hear what she has to say, it makes me realise that only some people can passed off saying such things. Though some things may be true, if it were to come out form my mouth. of course there will be a lot of implications. Big ones.

But Im glad she see things as I see it.

So she will be here to take over ME. Yes.

Thus why I say in my facebook ;

I so look forward to the end of May.

No:19

2009-05-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

Us three girls went to the hair salon recommended by Feeza who got her hair treatment done. Nadia got heavier bangs and I totally lose abt 3/4 of the total amount of hair that I got. Immediately after that the girls said that I look like:

DORA the explora.

But definitely feels so much lighter.

I went to JB to take a look at my house. Its really coming up. Soon real soon I think I can have my weekend house oredi.

Loads of emails, sms and phone calls wrt the swine flu and wt school has to do.

And with exams coming it is such a busy period.

And I dont like last minute things... like checking papers at the last minute. Having to re-print at the last minute and left alone to get things done at the last minute..

No:18

2009-04-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday was hubby's birthday.

Cake from Swensens.

(Don't u think they all look alike?)

It was just a simple celebration at home. And this is what Hafiza gave him.

A small package but filled with crushed pieces of paper which he has to go through every single one of them.

Each piece has its own meaning.

Doa dari anak. Amin.

And the gift was..somewhat very practical and so affordable.

And this note was bcos..

I GOT MY BLACKBERRY..from hubby.

Best !!

No:17

2009-04-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon was dialogue session with PSG.

It is instances like this that I wish I had a another child so that I could use excuses like ...

child care leave... child not well...bring child to doctor.

Really..

But of course the child must be below 7 yrs old..

which means that I must have given birth 7 years ago..

when Hafiza was 9 and Nadia was 10 and Khairi was 13.

Which also means that I would have to be pregnant before that.

But then all my pregnancies comes with very bad morning sickness,

afternoon sickness and nite sickness.

Then it also come with very heavy weight gain.. which last very long.. until now.

Which could also mean that at this moment I would hv a 7 year old running around the house?

Oh ..forget it..

I might as well just look forward to the food..and bear with them.

PS: This is so lame... But I was just so tired.

No:16

2009-04-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today was another long day after so many long days.

We will be having lessons as usual till 1230 this being a Friday. Then at 230 pm we will be hosting visitors from SP. After that we will having the Sec 2 streaming talk forNA at 530pm and Express at 7pm. All this will end at abt 9pm. Im already so tired.

This week the Art Club put up some interesting display around school. I find it creative , however not evrybody share this sentiment. Some find it really challenging.

One of the office support staff was telling me that as she was on morning shift, she had to open up the classrooms early in the morning. Early in the morning can be quite dark you know. As she was walking past the corridor, she thought that she saw students sitting on the bench. She began to wonder why students are in school that early. As she took a closer look, she realised that those are NOT actually students. heheehe.

Interesting right? I like. So can you imagine when we finish school late at nite after a school event, then we had to walk down the stairs to go home and we will bump into these...

Theres another one hanging on the wall.

Actually I was telling my Art teacher to put a pair at the "Leap of Faith".

That would be best. Ultimate.

No: 15

2009-04-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

Virus attack:

This week had been a challenging week in school. I agreed to help a colleague to do relief duty on Monday morning. Relief duty simply means that we have to slot teachers into classes where teachers are not avaliable; either on mc, on child care leave or away on courses. As I stepped into the general office at 0655 hrs the office support staff informed that that there were14 teachers on MC. I was like OMG !! This is definitely a new record. We never had this big no before. Ang this numbers is not inclusive of those staff away on courses. So if 14 teachers are away and if each of them have at least 6 periods a day. That would simply means having to fill in 84 slots of half hour each. This is sheer madness.
So the next immediate response was to call for external reliefs. Our pool of relief teachers are mainly poly students who are having their holidays. But what luck Monday was the first day of school for these bunch of students. This limits the number of external reliefs avaliable.
Monday morning was such a stressful morning. And its not even my duty day. So everybody was telling me that I can claim CIP hours. Really really unexpected.
The flu epidemic was really bad cos staff are down with flu and they are away for at least 2 days MC. Which means that the next day was the same number of teachers down and out. Oh correction! Not the same number but more as the virus being circulated more are caught with it.But those down are more from the 3rd floor rather than the second floor.
My duty was on Wednesday. The number of teachers away was not as bad as Monday. However, in the middle of the morning a colleague ran to my table and asked that I arranged for relief for a staff who had apparently fainted outside the staff room. He had been down with the flu for 2 days. Having not fully recovered he came back to school. Immediatley after class while walking back to the staff room he just collapse.
It had really been a very stressful week.

Exam is also just round the corner. Thus its that time of the year again when I am busy with ensuring that the exam papers are printed. And what with my partner for exam duty being away on course I am stranded with the running of the job alone.

Also this week we had the school visit. All of us had to go to Maris Stella on Thursday. Somehow I ended up with just Mdm Lee in my car. She was the one who was familiar around Bartley / Braddel area. Somewhat we ended lost cos she gave me the wrong directions. So I had to make a big turn all the way from Macritchie back to Bartley. Ended with us being the last to arrive. What do u=you expect. Balik sampai Macritchie. It was such a long day for me.

That same evening I made my way to Masjid Ba'Alwie cos they are having Maulid. Reach home nearly 11 pm. Can faint siah. Tired n shacked.

No: 14

2009-04-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

I need a new hp. My present one has been hanging up on me more often than usual. So Ive been contemplating between these choices. But I dont think that I want to spend so much.

No:13

2009-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

I went to JB over the long weekend. Got all the kids along together with nephew. As normal, had to see the contractor wrt our Anggun adode. After that we finally managed to catch a movie as it had already been screened across the causeway.

It was a really good scary movie. Within the first 5 minutes we were already screaming like shit. Hafiza had popcorn all over her cos in a moment of shocked she just fling the whole cup of popcorn. Throughout the whloe show you are always on the edge of the seat.

Basically its about a ghost seeking revenge and she seek the help of Natasha who had an accident near the place where she was killed. The actor who is Natasha's husband is Pierre Andre, the guy from Gol dan Gincu who speaks with a slurred 's'.

So throughout the whole show he is calling the wife as ..' pleashhhe shhayang'.., ' ok shhayang' and many more 'shhayang ... shhayang...shhayang...'

But it was a good show that is worth watching if you are looking for a good scream.

My husband actually warned me before the show..'you jgn asyik jump aje eh.. control can?'

But me being the scary type..wt to do. 5 minutes into the show I was like too scared sampai mcm nak gi toilet je.

No:12

2009-04-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

My daughter is sitting for her O levels this year. Yes another one. Yes another stressful year. So she had to attend a workshop for her MT. She mentioned that she was advised by her teachers to NOT...yes NOT watch SURIA channel.

WHY?

According to her Malay teacher, the programmes on Suria is downright ridiculous and nonsensical. Just to name a few.. Nenek ku superspy..Akhaks..or wtever you called it. There is no content in this series that is deemed suitable for students to use them as guide in their essay writing.

Im so NOT surprise. The array of nonsensical dramas on Suria has definitely gone up. Thus many of us has to depend on other cable channels to watch more substantial movies and serials instead of getting repeat telecast of dramas from a decade ago.

Thus I have to rely on Cable TV for better quality Malay programmes. While my mum is glued to her SENSASI or her TV 1, I have the privileged to get TV3 and MIO's ASTRO RIA (thanks to my hubby)

To my surprise the Malay cikgu are advising their students to watch Chinese drama as the standard is much higher in terms of content and jalan cerita.

Suria ... tak bersinar langsung..

No:11

2009-04-02T00:07:00.000-07:00

The same family gathering over the weekend but just a change in venue. Hubby took a chalet to allow us to relax in each other's company.

Five of us..

Adorable Wafa who suddenly would want to salam me and allow me to kiss her repeatedly.

Husband, brother-in-law and son.

Sis-in-law and me. This one is famously known for her non-stop chattering.. abt almost everything. Always sharing with us abt stories that she would hear over the radio at midnite.. scary stories.

Her usual line would be" berdiri bulu roma aku"...hehehe.

Guardian of the pool..

Nephew.. always taking abt losing weight. But .. wait long long lah. NS maybe. (Sorry)

It was a good day in all.

No:10

2009-03-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

Our rendevous; just the two of us.

3days 2nites away from home.

The only familiar figure we see.. helping to guide us along the right track

Short trip but meaningful.

No:9

2009-03-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Friday the 13th; last day of term 1 and as usual practice was the annual sports day. Sports Day is really getting so ... monotonous.

But the highlight of this year's sports day was the economic downturn.

Where the usual practice, there will be a MILO van to provide complimentary drinks for all, this time there was no van to be seen. It does make a difference when a cool MILO can really help to quench your thirst on a hot day. And surprisingly also there was no complimentary RIBENA drink from the school canteen vendor. So what can the syudents rely on?

The vending machine and the z shoppe. Poor students.

So what do you do when you see students keep going up and down the stairs to buy drinks?

When students keep moving away from their seats, who's watching the race?

If nobody is watching then do runners need to run?

But its such a hot day.

Hot and frustrating!

So the most cooling event of the day was the swimming session with cool babes..

Hilang tension and stress.

No: 8

2009-03-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

We had an ex-student who had completed his course at SHATEC to come down and do a hands on session with our present student. He was also doing FN for his final year.

Not Bad yah

This was him I think in 2003 /2004. Also a volleyball boy.

This is how he looked like now. A qualified chef.

Really appreciate his contributions to the department. Altho he is supposed to go for his NS enlistment in 2 days time, he still make effort for us as promised.

Thank you James whom we used to know as Chong Huan.

NO: 7

2009-03-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Its that time of the year again when we are required to do a declaration of :

1) assets??

2) investments???

and any others.

For the first time we had to do it online for which I dont understand why its only limited to 7am to 7pm. Its online yet its only within office hours. Wierd rt? Immediately at 7pm you get locked out. Why? Cos its beyond the office hours and the computers need to go home. Its family time.. and so the desk top will meet the lap top. Lame..

For the first time I had to declare this:

Doing it for the first time online so problematic. Must make sure that you have all the necessary info b4 logging in. If not you get locked out again and can only logged in 20 minutes later.

But of course make sure that the 20 minutes later is not after 7pm cos the computers need to go home!!

Sooooooo Lameeeeeeeeee.

NO:6

2009-03-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

A fren sent me this very sad story...

Subject: True story........

A TRUE STORY - VERY SHOCKINGVery Shocking......

This is a real story of a young college girl who passed away last month in Pasir Ris.
Her name was Priya. She was hit by a truck.
She was working in a call center. She had a boy friend named Shankar.
Both of them were true lovers. They always talked on the phone. You would never find her without handphone.

In fact she also changed her cell connection from M-One to Starhub, so that both of them can be on the same network, and save on the cost. She used to spend half of the day talking with shankar. Priya's family knew about their relationship. . Shankar was very close to Priya's family as well. (Just imagine their love) .

Before she passed away she always told her friends 'If I pass away please burn me with my handphone' she also said the same thing to her parents. After her death, people cld'nt carry her body, A lot of them tried to doso,but still can't. Everybody had tried to carry the body, the results were the same.

Eventually, they called a person known to one of their neighbours, who can speak with the soul of dead person and who was a friend of her father. He took a stick and started speaking to himself slowly..After a few minutes, he said 'this girl misses something here.'

Then her friends told that person about her intentions to burn her with her phone.He then opened the grave box and place her phone and sim card inside the casket. After that they tried to carry the body. It was then moved easily and they then carried her into the van.

All of us were shocked. Priya's parents did not inform Shankar that Priya had passed away. After 2 weeks Shankar called Priya's mom.....Shankar :.....'Aunty, I'm coming home today. Cook something nice for me. Don't tell Priya that I'm coming home today, I wanna surprise her.'Her mother replied..... 'You come home first, I wanna tell you something very important.'

After he came, they told him the truth about Priya. Shankar thinks that they were playing a fool. He was laughing and said 'don't try to fool me - tell Priya to come out, i have a gift for her.

Please stop this nonsense'.Then they show him the original death certificate to him. They gave him proof to make him believe. (Shankar started to sweat) He said... 'Its not true.
We spoke yesterday.. She still calls me.Shankar was shaking.
Suddenly, Shankar's phone rang.. 'see this is from Priya, see this....' he showed the phone to priya's family. all of them told him to answer. he talked using the loudspeaker mode.

All of them heard his conversation. Loud and clear, no cross lines, no humming. It is the actual voice of Priya & there is no way others could use her sim card since it is nailed inside the grave boxThey were so shocked and asked for the same person's (who can speak with the soul of deal persons) help again. He brought his master to solve this matter.He & his master worked for 5 hours. Then they discovered one thing which really shocked them....

Starhub has the best coverage 'Where ever you go, our network follows!!!'

I'm not a Starhub subscriber. I'm not rooting for them.

But this is so funny.

No:5

2009-02-24T18:16:00.001-08:00

Weekend is always family time. Went out for makan with the whole family last weekend.

Since its bn legalized, we naturally must try.

PASTAMANIA

Went to Demsey Hill too. Love the ambience .

Its been 8 weeks of school already. I so am feeling the strain. But especially so this week when you open up your calendar and you see workshop planned for the weekend. 2 long days. How my weekend?
Aduh.. belum pergi the workshop I can feel the tiredness oredi. Is it just me?

I so need to find an escape. Help.

No:4

2009-02-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

School is ..well just school.

On Saturday, numbers were required to show participation for major event. FUN FUN event. So I'm just a number. So were some of my colleaques. Since we make up quite a number who were just filling in numbers, we decide to do lame things to occupy time.

Such a hot dayyy... But we won a Wii for the school. But of course No pain No Gain. One injured case. But for a worthy cause.

PS I saw the little message on my chatboard from someone identified as 4E 2008.
I'm touched. Even a little thank you from students means a lot to me.
To all my 4E 2008: I do what I can, the rest are from all of you. I must Thank You for all your efforts.

No 3

2009-02-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

Last Friday was a farewell day to one of the teachers in the department. As I write in, she would probably be flying off to Melbourne to complete her studies. Peifen was actually a pioneer batch of student in Zhenghua who came back to do relief as a Home Econs teacher. The longest relief that we ever had for the department. Watching her grow and be part of us and finally saying goodbye was so sad. Its just unavoidable that tears had to roll. For me, being a pioneer teacher, it was more like watching a young girl turn to adult and letting her go was quite emotional.

So for Peifen:

Thank you for all that you have done for the department and also allowing us to be part of you and opening yourself to us. Its been great knowing you for all these time (since 2007). We wish you all the best for your future and we are very sure that you will do great in Melbourne. Do come and visit us anytime.

No: 2 in 2009

2009-02-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

Today the same student from 3n3 again tell me that I reminded her of her primary school teacher. Mdm Fuziah is her name and apparently she was from Greenridge Primary . She had to tell me for the second time again because she insisted that I look like her, I talk like her and we have the same mannerism. Well this is not new to me. I remember very clearly some time ago, another student telling me of the same thing. And it started by asking me if I have a sister who is also teaching.

However, today when the girl compared me to her "Mdm Fuziah" she has to add this :

"But she a bit whiter"

And I so I become a bit ...

blacker? browner?

She promised to bring the photo of Mdm Fuziah.

So we shall compare and agree as to whether I am really...

blacker or browner...

My life is so exciting. Now I have something to look forward to.

On another note:

Ive already got all the Ben & Jerry's to give away. To those deserving ones, you know who u are, please come and get them from me.Quick before I finish them and have to get new batches.

I would like to share this with all.

No 1 for 2009

2009-02-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

This is my first update for this year. Yes I've finally decided that I want to talk abt wts been happening.

School for 2009 has somewhat been different from 02012009. My 2 closest companion on the second floor have moved on to HQ. So Im left with no neighbour. You know how different your morning is going to be when the face you see every moorning is not there any more. The table is clean and empty, so is the cubicle. When you are so used to seeing a familiar face, someone who would always be in school earlier than you and we welcome the morning by greeting each other. Its all gone. Then you try to come to school evry morning to try an greet other people, but there is just no one to answer your greeting. Its just so different. After so long being together in the same room, being neighbours and taking across the cubicle with each other all this is no more. There is no one to share this work regime with me.

Thus for some time the mornings of 2009 is really missing of that cheer and all the kecohness of 2008. But still I have moved on. Though I have new neighbours who have occupied these vacant places, they have not occupied the spaces vacated by these people.

I will find new faces to greet if there is one who comes to school earlier than me. Tough I appreciate all the kind gestures of others who might have sensed that I am somewhat LOST.

But I have inherited a few things from my frens who have left. My favourite is the curtain. It has bn moved to my cubicle. I used it when I need to like an appointment with my GOD or just to be away.

O level results were out abt 3 weeks ago. A lot of surprises for me. And for the first time I welcome the results with mixed feelings. Just cant write it down. It was really so hard for me. But every cloud has a silver lining. Just have to pick up the pieces and moved on. Remember ... life doesn't stop for anybody.

CNY was just 1 week away. For the first time since October I managed to travel further than JB with all members of the family. Really. I was practically home bound through out November and December. Finally comes January, all are able to cross the border together. It may be just a short trip to KL but I felt that it was really much needed. Spent time with the family. But I felt refeshed after that. It was good and we started browsing the calendar for the next scheduled public holiday which will only be in April. School holidays in March but then there are workshops and trainings scheduled. So I dont think can make it anywhere.

But 6 weeks into school, I think I need another holiday oredi. Tired. Just tired. Too much paper work.

My Tiara Pelangi.
Well renovations have started. But what we did was only simple basic renovations as compared to my close neighbours. They are spending a bomb on doing up the hse. I was in awe of the amount of money that they have. OMG. Really. What some of them did is as good as tearing down the whole hse and rebuilding it again. But its so great to see the whole row of houses all done up. Each unique on its own and crries the personality of the owner. So looking forward to its completion. Thus I need to save all the money that I have just to have a nice renovation. So no splurging and whats with the economic down turn must be careful with my spending.

So thats it. Will try to update regularly.

At the barrage

2008-11-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

The Place

The Girls

Us..together without Khairi who is in camp.

Results and Open House

2008-11-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

PSLE results will be released on Thursday and we will have our Open House cum CARNIVAL on Friday and Saturday.

So looking forward to it.

So if you are all free do come and take a look at what we have in store.

Bonding

2008-11-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

Last day of school was bonding day.

As usual for lack of better ideas or for the lack of funds or simply for convenience, we have another year of bowling session just like last year. Only different venue. Last year was CSC, this year is Chevrons. Same concept: 4 in a team, then got best female and male bowler and best team. All the same expected thing with the expected winner.

But what was unexpected was that while some were busy bowling just trying hard to finish off the game and some others were keen into tense competition there was a major blackout. Can you believe it? It lasted for as long as 30 to 40 minutes. So eventful. So unforgetable. Sitting in a dark hot alley. So most of us end up doing wt we do best. Talking or catching up on work.

Chevrons, so disappointing!!

New

2008-11-17T19:18:00.000-08:00

I asked Nadia to help me with the skin. But done with errors and she is too busy doing everything about her PROM to make changes for me. So I finally managed this on MY OWN.

So what do you think?

I think for a change this is nice.

Ring

2008-11-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, my husband and I finally firmed up on plans to go for our pilgrimage. Yes we wanted to go for our haj. So we applied and we got a positive reply form MUIS to say that our application were received and that we are successful in our application. So we made necesary arrangements to prepare oyrselves for this trip. However some 2 months back there were news that the quota for haj this year was trimmed down and some 800++ people will be rejected. A the relevant authorities laid out the various criteria that they would use to select the various successful applicants. One would be those who are first timers for haj. While we wait patiently for our reply there were a lot of hearsays as to whether successful or not. Finally we received our letter. I still remember that day when a fren called me asking me to check my letter box. Apparently her parents already got their reply. I remember clearly how I dared not even open the letter. You know it like receiving your results in the post. And you really want it so much and you hope that when you see is what you want.

But alas when I opened the letter as I read the content to my husband it was a " we regret to inform you" letter. So we were unsuccessful together with some others thatw e know. Yet the relevant authorities say that they will appeal.

We accept the fact that whether we managed to go or not is not dependent on the appeal but on really HIM who wants us to go or not.

A few of my frens however got a call from the relevant authorities to inform them that they have been selected to go due to some reasons or other. We are left with the uncertainty. We have yet to receive any calls.

So its like a very uncertain time. We cant plan for anything as for now. Actually we can but then if we get to go then all plans just stop. But we can also not plan and just wait. Which is just so so frustrating. Receiving more sms abt the matter is also not helping us. Really so helpless.

So it like just waiting for a phonecall.

Yet my frens keep saying "insyaallah.. " and like "lagi ada masa".

So I'm like still waiting and waiting. I would probably stop waiting only when I say goodbye to those who are really leaving at the airport.

2008-11-04T17:59:00.001-08:00

FN O level

From what I see the paper, pupils should be able to do.
Question in Section A:
Proteins ...really go through it alot alot with students so if they dont know, I am lost for words
Calcium ...also gothrough it too.
Question in Section B:
Cooking food reasons and methods... I clearly remember doing it with students.
Changes in starch..shd be no problem.
Short crust pastry; meaning fat and carbo.. should be able to see the link.
Convenience food/food label.. spot on.
Section C: Meat came out in prelims, food preservation...mock paper...raising agent... mock paper.. fruits and vegetable.. manageable.

What should be may not be actually what would be.

I'm worried. But then its all over. Now just the waiting game.

Though I may not be there to wait for them to finish, I was there to sent them in with all my prayers despite what ever is assumed,

Dying

2008-11-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

At a wedding

2008-11-04T08:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday afternoon and Sunday, I was at a close fren's daughter wedding. Apa yang terjadi di hadapan mata ku menbuat ku sebak dan sesungguhnya semua yang berada di perkarangan pernikahan itu menahan air mata dari mengalir ke pipi.

Events that happen for the occassion was really so emotional that I was left pondering on my life.

Pengantin perempuan di walikan oleh adik lelakinya yang hanya berusia 14 tahun as the late father telah meninggalkan keluarga setelah kalah kepada penyakit cancer somewhat 2 years ago.

Melihat pengantin perempuan duduk di kerusi mehanan air mata nya sungguh pilu.
Melihat mak pengantin duduk though circled with frens and relative, still lost in her own thoughts, really so heart wrenching.

Teringat ku kepada kata2 kawan ku setelah pemergian suaminya.

When you have live with a person for more than 20years, then suddenly he is gone, you feel like one of your limbs have been cut off.

Seberat mana mata memendang berat lagi bahu yang memikul. Never did I guess that she was having a hard time coping. Pada zahir nya dia kelihatan oOK saja as though she is coping well. How wrong I was until I saw her broke down on that day. Hingga tak boleh menahan lagi I just let my tears roll down.

Semana yang I dapat bantu and meraihkan majlis itu, I hope that I dapat meringankan sedikit sahaja apa yang di lalui oleh my fren.

This makes me sad.

Kalau lah kita dapat mengambil iktibar dari ini, dan lebih menyayangi orang2 di sekeliling kita. Lebih prihatin kpd org tua kita, lebih mengembirakan mereka di hari2 tua mereka.

Alhamdullillah.

Tapi sayang nya kita selalu tenggelam dlm isu2 dunia harian kita. Isu2 material.

Cuma dengan melihat perkara begini lah membuat kita insaf.

Insyaallah.

Os finishing soon.

2008-11-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

So I celebrated my b'dae very simply in school with a small circle of second floor people. Very quick and very small cake. Just enough to get it over and done with. I hate cake cutting. I've always told Linda No to all this huss and fuss of a b'dae. After all its just another day. But would she listen? Of course not. Its meant to be a bonding session. I still hate cake cutting no matter what. Even at home too. No cakes for me I told hubby. In fact what I was supposed to do fot the day was just meant to be another day out with frens. Not meant to be a celebration. But it just happen to coincide with Halloween.
But I enjoyed myself with my frens. Really feel thankful to have such company to spent your time with. Somehow they managed to make me take them to my new place. I really feel happy that they are people who wants to share my happiness in my new place. Really feel so humbled that they even ask if they could come more often. No need to wait for 7 years before I make another invitation.
Then its just time spent eating and shopping at Jusco. The company of these people makes you feel that it was a day well spent. Thank u all.

No matter how tired I was on Friday, Saturday morning was spent with some of my students to prepare them for the upcoming paper. No matter how I always ask myself, why do I even bother when I know not all will turn up but I still bother. I will still do what I can. Im sure all of us int the service will ahve this same mentality: we help those that we can.

My Halloween

2008-10-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

This week is Halloween week. Halloween has always been special to me tho we don't celebrate but I will always remember that special day.

This time it falls on a Friday.

Made plans for the day so looking forward to a meaning relationship time.

Everyday the four of us would get ready to be glued to Suria at 730pm for Sephia. Yesterday was the last episode.

It s all about family relationship, the greed for money and how love conquers all.

So sad that people would throw away family relationship for the greed of money.

So sad that you would forget the sacrifices of your parents ( though adopted parents but still they see you through from infant) just to chase material wealth.

Sometimes it may be just a show on screen but on screen show will portray true life situation.

DON"T I KNOW THAT!

But like in the show there is always karma. What goes around comes around.

Thus when things happen to me, I don't react. I rather stay compose.

w

O levels

2008-10-19T09:57:00.001-07:00

So it starts on Monday 20th October. The first week looks hectic with papers back to back all the way to 6.40pm for EL paper.

To all students taking the Os work hard and all the best.

To Nadia, our prayers are with you all the way.

Work hard and persevere.

Insya'allah.

Newborn

2008-10-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

I went to visit a colleague who gave birth somewhat two months ago. The baby had chosen to wait to be delivered only at 42 weeks of gestation and thus the mother benefitted from the new incentives given out by the government.

Lucky her. Which made me wonder should I want to also gain from this new incentives, means I have to go through maybe 38 weeks of carrying a baby, then maybe if I am lucky 12 hours of labour then 44 days of confinement and many more months of nite feeds, diaper change and years of headache.

On the other hand, maybe not. I dont think I need these extra benefits. I am thankful with the 3 that I already have. Cukup lah.

Thats us with Joel Chua.. son of Clara Chua. Born at 4.6kg with which I was like 'OMG'.

How's your day?

2008-10-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

SOME DAYS ARE GOOD DAYS

SOME DAYS ARE BAD DAYS

SOME DAYS ARE HAPPY DAYS

SOME DAYS ARE SAD DAYS.

My days of late have been a sad day.

Feeling emotionally chocked by event that had happened.

Feeling lost over severed ties.

Feeling betrayed over false accusations.

Feelings that would not go away and feelings that would be constantly relived.

As long as ... I dont know when.

This I heard over the radio.

Before sending out an angry email and regretting it later, send it to yourself first. Listen to yourself and see how you sounded when you read it.

But what about words that had been said in anger.

What happens when there are regrets?

How do you take back your words?

A New Man

2008-10-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

5 days after Raya.. from this

To this.

Dah sunyi nenek nye kat rumah.

Happy 19th Birthday Khairi.

Firsts

2008-10-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

This year Raya was somewhat different. There were many first in my life.

First Raya with mother at my place.

So we would expect that there will be many many visit from siblings and relatives to my place on the first day. We had to make adjustments to normal Raya routine. Thus we made a quick visit to in-laws hse at Tampines and had to detour back to Jurong. Later that evening we proceeded back to the east for visits to in-law and ustad's hse.

First Raya that we all ZSS Muslim staff decide to wear baju kurong together.

First Raya that I decide to entertain friends from ZSS at my place.

Finally I made Sham's dream come true. Its a 7 year old dream sampai org tu bersujud syukur di rumah ku as soon as he arrive.

And my first jalan raya to ZSS frens hse. Really. After 7 years. From Jurong to 4 houses in Bukit Panjang area then 3 houses in CCK area with Woodlands area for KIV.

So much for all my firsts.

Oh and another first..

Syukur. Sweet kan.

Nice ..simply

2008-09-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

So everybody is busy abt the F1 Nite Race.

I only managed to catch it on TV.

Today was a long day... long meeting... trying very hard to keep my eyes open while so much talking was going on.

Missed out on some funny quips made ( as per normal).

I came back to my table and was pleasantly surprised..

Not many Hari Raya cards are in circulation thus to fnd one on your table I was pleasantly touched.

Thank You Mr Sham.

For all the years that I've known you as a friend, a colleague and for being yourself.

In his usual self, always asking for his dreams to come true..

Insya allah...

This is BONUS RAYA.

Sesungguhnye ...malu saya.

Many many cooks

2008-09-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

Its 5 days before Raya. How fast this Ramadan move along. Most of us are so bogged down with work that we hardly had time to even feel the vibes of Raya. I've definitely not prepare anything at home. Just complete my coursework marks submission.

Thanks to this bunch of people in school, really appreciate the gesture from all to join in

the cooking session. So much fun and updates.

Its NOT what we cook that matters.

Its NOT how the product turns out that matters.

The time spent to be together... just to be part of the team..

Wonderful

Special Iftar

2008-09-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

We had our iftar on our own. Everybody gets to go out with their own choice of company. Nadia Feeza n Khairi are all out with frens. Mum also out and so r we. Had iftar at Seoul Garden. Only wish that others could make it too. Too bad. The company was wonderful.

Next will be the jalan raya....

jadi ke tak jadi?

Atau akan tinggal sekadar mimpi?

Which apparently I am known for..leaving people with DREAMS

Special Assembly

2008-09-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Every year, I prepare for the O levels. Every year I feel like I'm sitting for the O levels. Every year I feel stressed abt the O levels. And I'm feeling it NOW. The best part is I dont think those who are actually sitting for it feel more stressed than I do.

So we had graduation assembly yesterday... so sad... after 5 or 4 years in school, it comes down to this.

Graduation Assembly:

You are cordially invited to the graduation assembly for the graduating classes.

Venue: School Hall

Time: 2 pm

Theme: We believe YOU can make it !!!

Motivational Speakers:

Mdm Julie Ang
Miss Sally Neo
Miss Rafiyah
Mr Teh BC
Miss May Tan
Mdm Lee WQ
Mr Kareem
Mrs Yeo
Miss Leow PY
Miss J Ang

Special Video Appearance:

Mrs Sharon Tan & Mdm Serene Howe

Special Appearance:

The Principal

* Due to fasting month, there will be no reception provided.*

No RSVP required.

Thank You

Creativity

2008-09-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

or Bodoh nye....

AND THE WINNER IS

By request

2008-09-04T22:18:00.001-07:00

As he took photos of us, we want him to be part of the photo so we took photo of him.

Kesyukuran di Ramadan

2008-09-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah, we finally got a step closer to our Anggun abode.

We got state approval.. which simply means all legality complete.

It will be soon that we can get the keys..

Insyaallah.. Doa kan ya!

On a sad note;

S; " I love you Auntie Jatt.."

J; " I miss you Sara.."

And with controlled tears..

I am not a superwoman after all..

Selamat Semua

2008-09-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

Dear All Muslimin & Muslimah,

Allaah Says, “…All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him: the good deeds will be multiplied ten times to seven hundred times, except fasting, which is for Me and I will reward for it accordingly. He abandons his desire, food and drink for Me…” [Narrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].

Insyaallah

Amin

Selamat berpuasa.

Teachers' Day

2008-09-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Nothing much this year. Not like last, I felt that I just want to be free to go where I want, to watch what I want and to hide when I want.

Initially was even too lazy too bring along my Canon. Then eventually got a few shots of friends, colleagues and students.

Neighbours

2008-08-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Neighbours..they may be living next to you or sitting next to you. They play a big part of your daily routine. They are part of who you interact with everyday. Neighbours can not just be the one immediately next to you, they can be just people 3 or 4 doors or seats away.

Some neighbours are such a pleasant sight and sound. Very fun to be with, good to work with and really try to understand you in every way.

However there are just some who always wld feel that they are a class higher and a notch bettter.

No matter what you do they always do better.

No matter how hard you work they always work harder.

No matter what, where, how they are always always better lah.

Really sometimes very frustrating to try to make them understand.

Complaint..complaint...complaint...

I dont understand how I actually tahan such neighbours...lasted so long..

Really prove my level of patience.

Then there are also those who are in a world of their own. Lost in translation. Never knew whats going on.

Then there are also those who always want to be in the know. Popping in the head ... at the wrong places and at the wrong time.

Neighbours who make up our daily routine.

Yakult Factory

2008-08-21T23:17:00.000-07:00

So after cooking, we drink Yakult. (Lame)

Accompanied the lower sec students to Yakult factory. But it had been such a tiring day that both Diana and I slept on the journey. The Yakult uncle got loong loong story to tell. I also buy lots of Yakult..

SunRice

2008-08-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Been very busy with school activities. Last Saturday had another session at Sunrice Academy. This would make it my second for the year and third at Sunrice so far. Even the chef could now identify with Pang Soon and I.

This is Chef MacDonald. Seriously.

Here 's us. We were supposed to be cooking too but there was just not enough tables for the teachers. So we only assist. No, only Diana assist.

Students looked happy cooking. Well they should be. Its not often you get to cook at Sunrice.

Lastly enjoying the food at the patio.

Great Saturday. Thank you Mr Ong for organizing.

Like a bad dream..

2008-08-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Yes so much had happened. So much time spent on just wondering, pondering why. But it had happened. Words being thrown without much thoughts given.

Too painful for me to even describe what happened.

Too hurtful to remember what I've been accused of.

Too shameful to describe who.

Sungguh pedih untuk memikirkan.

Dear mum, like I've said before, I will be there for you.

So strange life is.

When I posted the entries ' Dear Mum', I never thought that it would happened but it did.

To you,

Even an outsider can say.. 'tega yah kamu'

How could you have the heart to putuskan hubungan.

No matter how long it takes for me to analyze matters, I still cannot understand why.

Creating Great Places to Work In

2008-07-23T22:31:00.000-07:00

What makes you different from us?

What gives you the right to call me and just demand that I come over to you when you are the one who wants to talk to me?

Who gives you the power to talk over me?

Who you think you are to question me on how long you have to wait to talk to me?

Just because you are angry does that give you the right to vent your anger on ME?

What did I do? Do I deserve this? Am I your punching bag?

I am THANKFUL for ... its people like u who always makes me realise my level of ENDURANCE...TOLERANCE...PATIENCE

and I am thankful.

Dear mum

2008-07-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

I know that eventually I have to face the truth. The sad truth. I have been in denial all along thinking that things will not come to this. I have faith that things will all eventually work out especially for you but alas I cant change what is deem as fate.

Hubby says that there must surely be a silver lining to why thing happen the way it happen. Ada hikmah nya. There must be acceptance and I will redha. I hope you will too.

But I cant deny that I feel so lost and so helpless that I cant be the one to bring you good news. In fact I feel so utterly sad that I have to be the one to lay the cards to you.

But we shall both be brave abt this.

Rest assured that I will always be there for you.

I will always be there to take care of you till your old age. Just like you had been there for me in my time of need.

I will ... even when no one else will... I surely will.

Coursework is my life

2008-07-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Just when I finish chasing part A submission, I have to go through another round of coursework again. Spent whole of Saturday trying to finish up on Part B, Finish late in the afternoon. If not weekdays no time. Next week busy week for the students also what with MT LC. But is tough when u dont hv full attendance, U hv leftovers to follow through.

Too tired to sigh. Somebody please sigh for me...

But after finally completing the practical session, I have to give my thumbs up to some student who may have been soft spoken, slow to respond and needs to be guided a lot but yet was able to conduct himself well during the practical and showed much confidence. I really thought that I was looking at another student.

Just so annngggrryyy

2008-07-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

I was really really bursting with anger with my sec 4 students. Really really angry.

1. At this time of the year when you should be busy preparing for Prelims, O levels you get yourself involved in other activities. Then you get yourself tired out, whacked out. You choose to miss school the next day.

Angry right! You give me lame excuses like tired. You tell me you sick. If you are so sick then you shouldn't be out doing unneccessary activities.

They dont know their priorities.

2. Ask to come back after school to complete their work immediately, they take their own sweet time. 90 minutes later then you come. When I ask their whereabouts, they say IN CLASS. Do what? Nothing just sit down.

Give answer really like DUMB BLOND.

And many many more things which make me so so so so so.....URG!

Long weekend update

2008-07-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

Little Grown up Atiqa

Little Danish..(no relations)

So long weekend was spent at sister's place in KL. Without fail, being away for a short weekend trip with family always lift my spirit. Good break from the pressure of the coundown. Another important reason for being there was also due to sister and bro-in-law 's journey for Mekah.

Had my first trip to KLIA. Journey from KL abt 1 hour cos no jam. KLIA ..quoted by people there as Dr.M 's pride. But as I do my scan thro the airport, well I'm much much prouder of my Changi Airport.

Food Galore

Managed to do little bit of shopping. Contribute to the Msian economy. Be part of the crowd at the Mega Sale.Good bargain. Basically good retail therapy.

Stopover at Melaka

100 days to O Levels

2008-07-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

We become teachers for reasons of the heart, animated by a passion for some subject and for helping people to learn. But many of us lose heart as the years of teaching go by. How can we take heart in teaching once more, so that we can do what good teachers always do-give heart to our students?

Every year, the pressure of the O levels are on us teachers. Its like we are the one sitting for the paper as we prepare our students. Its that time of the year again as I go on and on reminding ..to the extent of nagging to my graduating classes. The meeting that we had on targets couldnt have put any more pressure on me to meet up. How do make sure that my students can make it? Theres only so much time that I see them in school even less during lesson. Theres only so much that we can do to help them. What are they doing to help hemselves.

I keep reminding them ..DO NOT COUNT THE DAYS.. COUNT THE HOURS THAT YOU HAVE.

Which is so true. You dont give 24 hours to studying. So do you really have 100 days??

Deprivation... Discipline... Pain.

Deprive yourself of time to do other non-essential stuff like blog hopping,hopping, etc

Discipline yourself to follow your study schedule.

Feel the pain of these as they say no pain no gain.

Then again, there are those ho is still missing from my classes..for whatever reasons

Mass updates

2008-07-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

What have I been up to:

We had the NE visit to National Museum. We as in the whole school. I thought only ZSS teachers had to do this but apparently not. Meet another teacher there.

I managed to also get some time out to visit frens who had been away on maternity leave.

Then also lots of family commitments... at times a bit too much as it takes a lot of my energy.

This is the latest picture of Wafa.

And don't ask me why but I end up at the SYF Opening Ceremony.

Then its like endless work work and more work. And also not forgetting chasing COURSEWORK. I hate this police and thief game.

So feeling really tired. But I was happy to be able to squeeze some time to just relax at the pool with the regular pool buddies.

A wee bit to early to..

2008-06-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Things that pissed me off so early in the morning:

Supposed to be having meeting this morning. Email was already sent out to begin at 8.Rush from home. Took public transport just to make it on time. But strangely on the dot ,not all were there. Then received a call to say that it will start later. Lame. I could have waited then hubby could sent me to school.

Supposed to be having some makan thingy today for very lame reasons. So I specifically inquire to make sure that I make prior arrangement for family issues. Then the makan thingy was postponed due to again very lame reasons. But I thought the date was already agreed n all involved had bn informed. So why confirmed everything when Not everything had been confirmed.

Lame ...LAME....LAME

Supposed to be having Hi-tea but end up with lunch with just frens. Apparently. Bukit Panjang is a wee bit too small for Zhenghua staff. They are just everywhere. So what if we end up at the same place? Dont give us that 'Oh no, YOU again' look. Please lah. Like we want to be under the same roof as you?. And like suddenly I felt that I've lost all my appetite. Not just lunch but also Hi-tea or low-dinner or whatever ..for who? For someone who'd give me that LOOK!

You are not worth the dust that the wind blows...

Thus you see.. I need to be at the place below..with just ME.

Last week of holiday

2008-06-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

This would be where I want to be. Just to be with ME... only ME.

Annual Disappointment

2008-06-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

Every year while we need to call back students during the holidays we will have to face the same situation again and again. Absenteeism. Missing In Action. Disappearance.

Mission unaccomplished. Was supposed to tie up all loose ends on the coursework. Was supposed to finish up evrything abt coursework.

Students not around. Very handful.

SSSHHHH......

The last I met them was during study camp. We agreed on the date to meet again.

(Tertipu...lagi)

Favourite Scenes

2008-06-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

The end of my entries on Vietnam.

Interesting places

2008-06-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

These are some of the places that we visited.

Notredame Cathedral (Vietnam as compared to Paris)

Chuchi tunnel

MyDuc Ceramic Factory

Vietnamese Traffic

2008-06-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

As I sat on the bus, I was amazed, appalled at the condition of the traffic in Vietnam. The number of motor-cyclist was really amazing. So much so that they even conquer the pedestrian pavement. Trully. The pedestrian had to weave in and out of them instead. The way they wear their helmet was really colourful. According to the guide, the Vietnamese were angry when the government introduced law that makes wearing helmet compulsory. They were more concerned on how they wld look rather than safety. They were upset as they felt that it wld damaged their hairdo and putting on the helmet to them is like putting on the rice pot. It really sound so funny.

The way they drive, they just honked at you if you are in their way. They live up to this motto; IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING. Even making a U-turn in a two lane street was possible for any vehicle while others just wait.

Vietnamese Food

2008-06-10T20:03:00.001-07:00

Basically there are 14 Muslims to cater for for food. So being the only Muslim teacher I had to ensure that the students are taken care of in this halal aspect. So when its makan time its always me n 13 Muslim pupils together.

Only when we were on the boat to Ha Long Bay that we enjoy the seafood together.

Its easier to get an outside eatery to cater to our needs than to rely on the hotel. Its a bit 'mind-boggling' when you say that you will cater to the 14 of us. You segregate us from the rest of the group, kept us waiting for our food, lead us to think that our food wld be differently catered to, then when asked, you told us that the buffet spread is for everybody. The same for ALL. So if you eat Muslim food, just dont eat the pork. I told my husband that anyone who were to set up a Malay restaurant in Vietnam, definitely wld do well.

So its 2 day of Indian food for dinner. It got a bit too much for me as Indian meal is not really my cup-of-tea.

But when you compare to these meals and you got this kind of packing, well if it has to be Indian food then so be it.

They even forgot that we need to drink. They gave us the packing then left us to choke on our food. So like 'anak tiri'.

So in Hanoi, we got to eat at this restaurant that served Malaysian/Indonesian food. It was owned by a Malaysian man. Not too bad.

The best food in Ho Chi Min was after the tunnel visit. Good food and good ambience.

*Forgive me when I got high on Indian food.

Vietnam Update: Sin-HCM

2008-06-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

Flight from Singapore to HCM city, some of the students that were on the trip. I hardly teach any of them though some faces looked familiar through CCAs and events that I've had minor interactions with them. So Day 1, first hour was still a day to familiarise myself with some names and some faces.

I'm bck.

2008-06-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

I was away in Vietnam the past 5 days. School trip with 26 students and 3 other teachers. Arrived home on Saturday n right now feeling tired. Really tired and my body is aching. I sure feel glad to be home. Will update soon on the trip.

Late..later..latest.

2008-05-29T04:56:00.000-07:00

Immediately after the MT paper on Monday I had my practicals the next day n the study camp begins. All notification were given to pupils involved muuch earlier. Scheduled were up with all timings clearly stated. But yet still we dont have very encouraging attendance. Of course there were those who were never punctual. There were those who were late.. then there were those who were later and yet again there were those that came the latest.

Nevertheless, grateful I must be for that they actually made an effort to come when you think about those who were TOTALLY MIA.

Cluster Games Fiesta

2008-05-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

Everybody even our new teachers who join us who were there were involved in one way or another. Captains ball, floorball, basketball, soccer, badminton, telematch and cheering. Tired. I just want to go home and take a cold shower and sleep. Which I did.

I am COOL abt things.

2008-05-22T23:57:00.000-07:00

Came back to school after 2 days away. Nevertheless was never out of touch.

What with students smsing asking:

Cher, can i change to shift 1?
Cher, can use kitchen tomorrow?
Cher, do i need to bring butter?
Cher, you open the kitchen door tomorrow morning for me hor..

And colleagues smsing:
Can I confirm that...
Can I swap for...
Can you please update...

And concern parties gently asking:
Are you alright?
Is everything OK?

And a few other missed calls.

I was scheduled to be away on official duty for 2 days but with the turn of events only managed 1.
My hubby's grandmother passed on last Tuesday. She was 96. Good health had not been with her of late. The first generation to my hubby side is now no more.

Dengan pemergian seseorang itu tinggal lah harta dunia nye.

Kebelakangan ini, perkataan 'farait' had been repeatedly used and debated amongst my close circle. And again, I hear the word being used.

Farait: the division of property left by the deceased as according to Muslim law.

After hearing so much issues on this, I accept that this is the way to do things. I terima all that had happened and I bersyukur that it had happened. It opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on character when it comes to property.

I terima seadanya.

I reda dengan apa yang terjadi.

IT HURTS SO MUCH

2008-05-16T02:38:00.000-07:00

I FEEL THAT I'VE BEEN STABBED IN THE BACK...

ESPECIALLY BY SOMEONE THAT YOU LEAST EXPECT...

AND IT HURTS...

WHY? WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO ME?

BUT

ITS OK...

'COS WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND...

WHAT YOU DO TO ME WILL DEFINITELY COMES BACK TO YOU...

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED KARMA...

Lets Continue

2008-05-15T02:24:00.000-07:00

Update 4: Celebrate frens

Simple celebration for a fren's bdae. Did it in the exam room. Then on another occasion went to visit her and share her joy in her new place and to enjoy each other's company as we mark the exam scripts.

What amazes me is her hubby's collection.

Update 5:

We have new members in the family. My wish has been fulfilled. So is Khairi's. (Si sibuk tu)A few of the fishes died when we first put them in the tank. Now more or less they have all settled in nicely.

Catching up

2008-05-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

It seems like my blogging life just stopped in April. So here's a brief recap.

Update 1: have been really tied up with my graduating classes practicals. I was trying hard to get it done before they become really tied up with the MT intensive. But with 3 graduating classes in my hand it is actually quite a task to complete all. So I had to come back for the past 2 Saturdays. I have been working on the food order together with Mani my kitchen aide. I really appreciate her help. The students have also become very familiar with her. Some students can really turn to her for help in identifying food. Cos as per normal, students take unfamiliar recipes from the world wide web as their source based. Then they choose recipes based on the photos. Photos that attract them are those that look attractive, appetising and as some wld casually put it' cute..cute' But the most important aspects like methods and ingredients are not considered. So they start looking for ingredients that they have no idea on how they look like. Then they start calling for Auntie Mani.... This year's students have amazingly raised your level of patience and tolerance to an even higher level. A level which you never realised that you are capable of. For example how much of your patience can be tested when they placed the serving dish in the oven to heat up the food, they reduced the recipes to sucha small qty that makes it totally impossible to cook up anything. But with a tinge of miraculous super power, it all turns out wonderfully superb. Now that the intensive programme had begun, I am finding it hard to find a suitable slot for my students. Still hoping for possibilities to get them to complete everything.

I just want to finish my practicals that Im even willing to come back on Vesak day. But then how? Pupils say they want to go temple...haiz haiz haiz.

Update 2: MYE exams way over. Now busy trying to complete marking and marks submission. I meet the deadline for submission and keying in of marks. Just hope that everythings OK. I remembered one year where we finish everything and then the data was not uploaded due to some corrupt thing. Had to redo everything.

Update 3: The HE dept is scheduled down again for another round of making cookies. I looked at the cornflakes cookies. The cookies looked at me. Mcm pernah jumpa gitu eh.. tapi di mana eh? (Lame) But what to do. CIP contribution.

Update 4: Next time..

Great Weekend

2008-04-28T01:15:00.000-07:00

We made cupcakes for my hubby, Nadia and I. Quite fun. Cos it was his birthday. A very simple celebration since it was a school day. So we wanted to celebrate over the weekend.

So the weekend was spent across the causeway with the Indonesian group Peter Pan. Wonderful 90 mins. Superb concert. The group was fantastic. The event organizer sucks BIG time. So it was an experience to go for a concert organized by a foreign body. They should come over and do a learning journey so that they can learn on how to manage their customers better.

For me, I only want to remember how the group was able to carry their songs live through-out the 90 mins and make the audience forget the pre-concert mess-up.

Vandalism

2008-04-24T22:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of what is going on with students here. They seem to have no qualms abt damaging school property. The computer lab seem to be such an easy target. I personally saw how they vent out on the computers in the lab. With the chairs mind you. I was so disgusted by their lack of ownership or sense of responsibility. So you complain abt school property lagging. Then this is what you do when we leave you in the lab? Later part of the day when I wanted to use the lab for coursework remedial, found the handle to the door of lab 2 damaged also. I guess students must have tried to force the door open even when they know that it has a finger detection system.

So what is missing in the education system? What have we not done to instill the correct values in our charges?

My thoughts on ..

2008-04-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

My students NOT all though..

Jaded

2008-04-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

In his essay, The Heart of a Teacher, Parker Palmer writes:

“We become teachers for reasons of the heart, animated by a passion for some subject and for helping people to learn. But many of us lose heart as the years of teaching go by. How can we take heart in teaching once more, so that we can do what good teachers always do-give heart to our students?”

To help people to learn..

We can bring water to the horse, but we cannot force the horse to drink.

I feel so tired just having to chase students to complete their work.

To make things worst, things have NOT been good for me wrt other non-academic matters too.

So ... what do you do when you dont feel motivated to go to school?

So ... what do you do when you don't feel like..yet you have to put up a front?

New address

2008-04-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday was such an official day. We had to meet the bank officials from the various banks to see which plan best suit us wrt the hse. Mentally draining as we really need to do our calculations to get the best deal. A lot of new experience for me as I learn that the higher the value of the hse, the more they charge you in terms of interest rates and also legal charges. In all the value of the hse is not as what you see on the brouchers as displayed by developer.

After that we went to look at the hse again and again.... finally our hse have been officially given a hse number:

No 65, Jalan Anggun 5,

Tiara Pelangi,

Taman Pelangi Indah.

Sounds wonderful.. lots of 'anggun' and full of 'indahs'..

beautiful and lovely.

Nurturing Passion

2008-04-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

Friday I was away for a full-day course at Furama Hotel. Best.. Lunch provided at Kintamani Indo. Restaurant. Lagi Best.. No wonder these courses cost a bomb.

While at this course, I met an old fren cum an old neighbour who was living a floor below my mum's old place. I remember clearly that I ask this particular girl to help me do relief when I was on maternity leave for my first born. Immediately after that, she was inspired to be a teacher. Even after I came back from maternity, she continued to render her services as a relief in the school. She applied to join the teaching service and now she's the HOD MT of a primary school in the east.

Mr Lim once mentioned that in our lives, our path will cross and re-cross. Thus last Friday, our path does re-cross again.

It was just great meeting an old familiar face in the room where everyone seems alien. It was just basically bonding time again.

Final Works

2008-04-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

I was scheduled down for a course on Friday which means that I wont be around for Awards Day. I guess this must be the first time that I was not around for the occasion. But I managed to catch a glimpse of the work done by my artists already put up at the hall. Thank you my Art teachers. What would I have done without u guys.

The school was visited by the SPS (ministry official) on Thursday. The FN department was scheduled to prepare a small reception. Thanks to all the students and teachers who had contributed, we came up with the array of mini buffet of light refreshment.

But the funny part to this event was during the groceries shopping. I had to do the shopping for groceries. As usual I would park my car at the lot in front of the library. And the cars that are parked there would include another black MPV. After the shopping, I had to park my car at another lot nearer to the kitchen so that it is easier to transport the shopping items. When I wanted to go home, automatically my feet brought me to the same lot that I had parked in the morning and when I chanced on a black MPV I immediately went to the car with the remote in my hands and trying to click it to unlock the car. Several times mind you. Until I was right in front of the car, satnding near the driver's door did I realise that I got the wrong MPV. Malu nye. Pai seh.

You see. This is the exact example of Pavlov theory.

Stand By

2008-04-08T17:40:00.001-07:00

Every morning as I enter the GO, I will somehow take a look at the relief IC. I cannot help but just to ask 'Is everything OK?' Before long, I find myself sitting down at the computer and helping out to do the relief deployment. I think I've been doing this for last few weeks and last few days and ...last few months..not sure how long.

So I've been labelled...

STAND BY

Its a small world after all..

2008-04-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

So I was in school on Saturday for various reasons. The NP Speed Climb which was organized by some of my teachers and also the workshop for the D&T students. However while I was at the Speed Climb competition, another student from another school acknowledge me and introduced herself as a fren of my daughter. I was definitely caught by surprised.

Majlis Cukur Rambut

2008-04-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

Venue: Pasir Ris

Date: 06042008

Time: 1100 hrs

GOH: Wafa Insyirah Binte Mohamed Hanif

2 Choices... What would you do?

2008-04-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

....you make the choice.

This was sent to me thro e-mail. A very touching story.

My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman . Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY: So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

Catching up

2008-04-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Got a message from an unknown number.. don't look familiar. But the message was abt something which I had just updated here. So I had to make a call to find out who it was. I was welcomed by a very familiar voice. It was a fren whom I had known since ZSS 2000. Such a pleasant surprise. We were the pioneers and we were neighbours in form class. Both of us FTs of the NT classes.

This photo was taken way back in 2004. Really miss her and suddenly memories of the times we spent together flashed through my mind. Not just the two of us but with others too.

She had left the service so that she could dedicate herself to bringing up her 2 boys on her own. Well done for her.

And this is Jake, boy no.2.