Wednesday, April 30, 2008
 I made bookmarks for everybody in my class this afternoon, adorned with my signature ladybird. Ive selected an inspirational or motivational phrase to suit their individual characteristics and their potential abilities to encourage them to work towards their goal in the mid year examinations.
Each students received a different phrase to suit their DISC personality.
For Pearlina I've chosen; 'Dont wish it easier, wish you were better.' For wenyang i wrote, 'One that would have the fruit must climb the tree.' For Adrian, 'Many received advice, only the wise profit from it.' For Adilah, ' Problems are not stop signs. They are guidelines. ' These are 4 out of the 40 phrase that i've selectively handpicked for my class..however I was 'accused' of 'suan-ning' them rather than motivating them. Well my conscience is clear, let them decide ...hehe
10:28 PM
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
No duster again!That was my first reaction when i entered the class.
Shortage of duster has been rampant with other CCs too. It became inconvenient when i need to beg for tissue papers from the students to erase the white board.
Anyway, this evening was no exemption, with the blistering heat and tissue papers as duster plus an added distraction, i wasnt conducting the class as well as i wanted.
The distraction was clad in a algae-green tube-top dress with fresh bikini tan lines. Half way through the lesson, i took those tissues paper & wiped the prespiration dripping down my forehead..& then i realized they were the same tissue papers i have wiped the board with...hehe..
Fortunately no one noticed my embarrasment, & class carried on without any mishap..
11:04 PM
Monday, April 28, 2008
Today was the first day of the Mid Year Examinations and before our markings start pouring in, a few of my colleagues and i headed to town for a little shopping & makan. We updated each other on each other latest development and although we were from the same office, trust me, there were plenty to talk about. PY was really endearing when she seemed oblivious to what were happening around her ..she seemed to be caught in her own time warped..hehe..
"You're not married rite...?" she suddenly directed that rhetorical question towards me after realizing she was really lost in most of our conversation.
I wish...haha...
2:06 PM
Sunday, April 27, 2008
It was a during the SPF ceremony presentation that i noticed Miss Kuek latest expensive toy as she fished it out her equally luxurious handbag. Strongly inspired by her and fervently encouraged by my HC photography enthusiast ex-neighbour, i decided to replace my old 5.3megapixels OLYMPUS camera.
 Accompanied by my HC ex neighbour, so that i can get the best deal, i bought myself a 12 megapixels Canon PowerShot A650. Well, it came with an offbeat looking case so i got myself a crumpler camera case & a crumpler landyard, a neccessity, to protect my new toy. Definitely, a need for future holidays & camping trips.
 Anyway, since we were on a shopping mood, i thought i got my HC ex neighbour's opinion on a belated gift for my sister. When we saw this top handle pouch, i immediately like it. My ex-neighbour said that although she is not a COACH person she definitely approved of this choice.
My sister of course loves it too..
10:56 PM
Saturday, April 26, 2008
I went shopping with V the other day, cannot remember wat was the ocassion but we were in town right after school. We were looking at really expensive bags that I cannot afford but so really like...
Anyway, bought a tub of Africa Spa Salt Scrub which supposedly exfoliates and enlivens your body. Also bought a wooden body scrub which i decided after contemplating for a good 20 minutes. The other choices were the glove scrub, the towel scrub and plastic scrub, & after assurance from the sales person that men have a higher treshold for pain, i was sold. Well, back home, i regretted it..should have stick to the towel scrub..aiyah!
7:50 PM
Friday, April 25, 2008
Returned from my Friday prayer just now and found that the staff room was quiet and three-quarter of its population gone. It was a rare sight to find the room void of action on a Friday afternoon. Fridays were reserved for UGs to carry out their activities but today's training has ceased due to the impending Mid Year Examinations.
At 4pm, the staff room became quieter, lonlier and when i switched off some of the lights it looked like any camping days i had in school..silently vacant.
I've just completed my art remedials with the sec 2s class who really want to do well for the mid year exams. I will help those who helped themselves. It really reminded me of the late nights i had with the sec 4s during their N levels last year.
The panic. The consternation and their anxiety.
Well that moment will repeat soon..im positive..as the deadline for the O level submission is approaching soon.
Alrighty..i balik first..have a beautiful weekend all of u...btw just received sms from my sec 4s, they wanted to come back to do art tmr..we shall see lah..
4:24 PM
 After many changes in dates, we finally managed to get together for a dinner, a belated birthday for my sister, 2 years my junior. Her daughters are very active in school with Indian Dance practice, Art Clubs and of course, never ending remedials and extra classes, therefore it was really difficult to find a suitable time to suit our very busy schedule. We wanted to go high tea instead @ this rather HC hotel but due to some lame celebration that was ongoing, the hotel was charging an additional $17++ per head yesterday.NO thanks!!
 So we decided to try this restaurant formerly known as Ghengis Khan ,in the city, after it received its Halal certification recently. The buffet spread wasnt that fantastique but i always believe food is secondary when u have good company. My nieces enjoyed the black pepper crab very much. My sister loved the durian puff, as for me, the spread easily satiated my not very big appetite...hehe
11:50 AM
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I received an unexpected call this evening from Dr Low. She is concurrently appointed as an Associate Professor at the English Language & Literature Academic Group & Sub-Dean of Degree Programmes at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. She was my lecturer in Phonetics when i was a trainee teacher many years ago in NIE. She got news of my BA application and advised me to work harder if i am successful in my application. She stressed that her call is of no indication that I have been accepted or not. She just wanted me to work hard if I am.
That call made me anxious. That advice made me fretful. The wait is making me neurotic...
10:16 PM
 The class photographs are ready. This was taken a month ago. There were 2 students missing in this photograph. Actually there was only one absentee on that day, the other student was in the rest room entertaining a tummy ache when this was taken..hehe..
12:19 AM
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
It was a delightful morning.
A packet of ribena greeted me as soon as i reached the office, courtesy of Ms T.GG..& then Miss TLL handed me by a bar of toblerone, for a favour i rendered recently...thank you all.
A few minutes later, my ex HC neighbour walked in & gave me a HC banana-flavoured Pocky exclusively available in HC supermarkets only. Thank you maam.
However after lunch, i was bamboozled when i saw a plaque dated year 2005 for a bowling competition on my table. HUH! Another gift BUT 3years late..hehe.
It was later explained by Miss K that she found it during her spree cleaning at her work space inconjuction with Earth Day yesterday. Well, I should really start cleaning up my area too...maybe i would reveal some treasures among the debris under my table..and the table behind...HAHA
11:34 PM
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A student of mine likes to update me on the latest happening in his class.. & then added its a little secret. Not that i like to upkeep myself on students' trivial but it comes naturally as i demonstrate on a certain technique, or as i were approving or disapproving students' research or developmental work. Sometimes the stories came with visual too..as evidence...hehe.
Sometimes the story bored me too...but its certainly better than hearing another student who just loves to screaming his lungs out singing, mostly out of tune to any song that came to mind..
Anyway, the stories keep coming, i do not mind as long as work are produced and my students are productive in their work towards their achieving good grades in their major examinations.
11:53 PM
Monday, April 21, 2008
My sec 1 cadets were ecstatic when their new uniforms arrived earlier than expected. They tried on their new beret which really made them looked like French artist more that a new cadet. A female cadet was rather perplexed when she received a pair of man's boots together with her skirt and her blouse. I was puzzled too...hehe
I guess, another session should be arranged for a lecture on Uniform Etiquette soon, post exam perhaps coz parade has stand down due to the Mid-Year- Examinations.
Good luck 2 all in the coming examinations..Labels: NPCC 08
11:14 PM
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Attended the SPF-NPCC Badge Presentation Ceremony on Friday nite @ HCI. I was overjoyed that 4 of our NCOs have achieved the highest accolade a cadet can achieve in NPCC.
Congratulations to SBS, Zoe, PXY and WH.
 Our principal ever so supportive was there to share the joy with the awardees. Unfortunately only Maam Kuek was the only TO, as other TOs were unable to attend due to various valid reasons.
 I also met up with some of the cadets who went with me to the HK-Macau Educational Trip in 2007.
Congratulations to all of u.
 There were also many exulted and ecstatic faces to capture this triumphant moment.
2:00 AM
Friday, April 18, 2008
Attended the promotion ceremony yesterday afternoon. Allahamdullilah. i've been promoted to the next scale, so were a few of my colleagues , my ex-neighbour & Ma'am Kuek included. It was one long arduous ceremony, music-less, mechanical and void of any personal touch.
 After the ceremony, i decided that i deserved to reward myself with something bravura yet practical. I really need a new haversack for my impending Bangkok trip and Perak expedition that i bought myself a limited edition haversack from my favourite store..
1:04 AM
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I just came back from the SL Room when i chanced upon him at the staircase. A Hi & Bye colleague who usually talks about banal everyday matters, stopped me at my steps and asked..
"Do you think they were engaged..?"
"Do you know that they were wearing a simliar looking rings..?"
"Do you know that it was on the same finger..?"
"Do you. ..? "
" ...?"
I was bombarded with questions which i dont have answers to..& no opportunity to respond to..
" Check it out yourself but dun say its from me..hehe..!" He ended the brief encounter before heading down..
Well i supposed if its true, they have their reason to keep it low..but im not gonna ask or speculate..im not very free lah..Labels: School
10:10 AM
It was chaotic during the uniform sizing exercise yesterday afternoon.It looked like a designer end-season sale at a 3-star hotel multi-function hall. Footwear were lined at a corner, belts arranged from XS to XXL and of course the pants and the tops.The beret was the trickiest item among the girls, to get one large enuf for the whole length of their plaits..or not.
 Looking at JC assisting the sec 1s with the footwear, anyone would agree that he make a really good BATA saleperson...hehe
 The sec 1 cadets were really excited that their much-awaited uniform will be available soon. The sec 3s NCOs , on the other hand were equally overjoyed that they could finally changed their ill-fitted uniforms into smarter ones soon.
Labels: NPCC 08
12:02 AM
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
 I was watching a TV program last nite. There was a scene where the 2 main characters were being abducted, spiked and left to die in their car which was buried in the soil. Knowing that they were going to die if they were not rescued soon..the man asked the lady if she wanted to write any farewell notes to her love ones..
It made me think..if i were in their shoes..
1)Do i have enough to write ?
2)Do i write to my families only?..or to include close friends too..?
3)Do i really Know what to write at that crucial moment?
4)Do i attempt to write at all?
Something to ponder on...
However before the show ended the 2 characters were being rescued of course , safe, unscathed and ready for the next episodes..hehe
Labels: TV
1:09 AM
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
My RI ex-neighbours invited us to check out a seafood bistro this evening, which is simply called FISH MARKET BISTRO. So after our investiture rehearsal, we beat the evening traffic & made our way to a rather quiet residential area.What surprised me was the rather eclectic mix of F&B joint there.
 Anyway, we ordered 2 dozen of fresh oyster which my ex neighbour was raving about. I am not an oyster person coz i dont really fancy raw seafood, but i was strongly encouraged to try them.
Strangely i think oyster is certainly an acquired taste. Love it or Loathe it.
The 2nd dozen was definitely bigger and more succulent but as i quote from LLS, " they are definitely more intimidating and more in your face..." .. whatever it really meant..hehe
 The seafood platter was definitely an appetizing and a mouth-watering piece of art. Visually it looked enticing already, and the taste simply delectable. We also ordered some cheem-sounding fish dish and a scrumptious pasta order. The ambience was definitely fitting for a low-key get together or even first dates..hehe.
Unfortuntely i need to rush for my nite class thereafter that i did not join the 4 of them for an after dinner ice cream treat..
It was unquestionably a good meal made better with an equally good company.
11:47 PM
Monday, April 14, 2008
 My niece loves to dance, but i was pleasantly surprised that she chose to join the indian classical dance group in her school. After rehearsing for many moons, it was finally THE day last week. It was the SYF Dance Competition, Primary School Category. She was extremely ecstatic when her group clinched the GOLD.
Well, she looked gorgeous in her Bollywood-inspired finery, complete with the exaggerated eye cosmetics and that infectious smile.
CONGRATULATIONS SYAHINDAH! Labels: Famili
12:07 AM
Sunday, April 13, 2008
I went window-shopping the other day.
No shopping list. Nothing particularly i wanted to buy.
Just browsing. Just admiring the window display.
Anyway, before i left ,i bought myself a set of bedsheet made of 100% cotton
t-shirt materials.
Its soft. Its comfortable.
Just like Oprah said, "Its like sleeping in your old tee shirt"
The one that your mom keeps trying to throw away.
Well i sleep better at night now..hehe
10:56 PM
Friday, April 11, 2008
The 9th Awards Day had just concluded...I ve nominated many of my 2007 NCOs for the Outstanding Service Award and Merit Award for their contribution to the unit..but i guessed most of them tot Stall no3 who did it.
Most of them attended the ceremony and left thereafter. .just like that .. No simple hellos from them...no updates ..no exchange of lame jokes ...
no sound! no picture!....
Well...many moons ago, a newly appointed cadet promised to come back for parade but alas..
no sound! no picture!
...tiill he came back all apologetic..so i tot..
 I counted 10 of them , maybe more, went up on stage, proudly receiving their plaque..i tot maybe we could take a group picture together,..but again .. no sound! no picture!..
Well..Benji & Yanji...appreciate the gesture..till we meet..again..
7:44 PM
Attended an O Level Art workshop yesterday @ TN which was very near town, so off to Orchard Road we went after that. I was with a colleague , window shopping and browsing at a luxury upmarket store when the salesperson approached us and asked;
" Good evening sirs, here on holiday?"
I smiled while my colleague answered,''..hmm, we wish!!"
It wasnt the first time that i was mistaken for a Thai national or even Philipino...especially with taxi drivers..
I look like Thai meh?Labels: Me
10:53 AM
Thursday, April 10, 2008
 A student came to see me after school yesterday, to discuss about a major national exam. He was so far behind in his studies, due to him having to support himself. He seemed troubled and confused, then he divulged that he wanted to quit school. Suddenly i felt burdened with knowing too much information.
Being ignored @ work b'coz..being disregarded in class b'coz..non-existing child-parent communication throughout his secondary life..the death of a sweetheart..i almost see tears...
I felt helpless, my incapability to offer more than mere advice, my almost cliche' words of comfort.
However i salute him for his sense of independance and beneath his vulnerability i see an emotionally stronger person...if only ...
I can really feel his forlornness..his desolateness..if only..
12:41 AM
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
1.Communication
2.Intricacy
3.Hurt
4.Journey
5.Remorse
6.Tension
These are some of the questions from the mid year examinations this year. The question papers have been given out 3weeks earlier prior to the actual exam date, a common practice for Art papers.
This morning while i was explaining the question paper, i was rudely interupted by this blue-room-regular girl. When i questioned her, why was it so important that she needed to walk across the classroom to whisper to her classmate 3 tables away, she retorted that it was none of my business!! Out to the blue room she was sent again.. There was definitely TENSION at that moment, but a DC colleague who handled her case before, told me that the INTRICACY in her family background made her such. The lack of COMMUNICATION at home and the prolonged HURT made her JOURNEY even more difficult and painful.But alas, when she returned to get her bag ,there was nary a tinge of REMORSE.....Aiyah...
11:09 PM
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
I was on my way to school this morning , in the cab as usual, when something caught my attention.
ONG BENG SENG.
That's the driver's name. It sounded very familiar but he didnt, especially when he spoke to me.
Well, the real Ong Beng Seng is the man behind the HPL Hotel Properties, which include some 20 hotels in nine countries, including Four Seasons hotels, Concorde Hotels, Le Meridien hotels and the Hard Rock hotel in Bali..among others.
He ranks 12 on Malaysian Wealthiest Man. He just closed the deal to bring Formula One racing to the island nation.Last year, he and his family members have bought an entire block of 180 apartments at Costa del Sol on Bayshore Road.That is how bl**** rich they are.
Ohhh..& ONG BENG SENG...was also once linked to the Queen of Caldecott Hill tho she vehemently denied..tho still married to Christina Ong, the founder & owner of luxury fashion retailer Club 21. A colleague SBK, would definitely able to feed u with some juicy background.
So i guess, it was just a similar name, he couldnt possibly be doing a part time job with that obscene amount in his bank account..hehe
8:58 AM
Monday, April 7, 2008
Money, money, money, money, money Some people got to have it Some people really need it....
Thats the jingle of my favourite reality show. It returned last nite for another season. Mr H & I always sms each other on whom gonna be fired before Mr Trump does it. We usually got it right. Last nite the pompous and self-aggrandizing professor was the first to go. Its gonna be an enlivening season.
For the love of money People will steal from their mother For the love of money People will rob their own brother For the love of money People will lie, Lord, they will cheat For the love of money People don't care who they hurt or beat For the love of money A woman will sell her precious body For a small piece of paper It carries a lot of weight Call it lean, mean, mean green...
SO ENJOY THE SHOW.. Labels: TV
12:40 AM
Sunday, April 6, 2008
 It was in the news recently for its unique shop name, with other creatively named pastries too. I took no notice tho' its really near my apartment. Well, it got its HALAL certificate a few days ago & so i decided to give it a try.
Its aroma attracted the passers by to visit its small little store, and many left with pie kias in their hand..hehe.
Btw dun be 'pie sei', one of the pies offered there too, to check out this store located at CCK MRT station.
Tar pao some for me if u do..keke
11:17 AM
Saturday, April 5, 2008
My Unit organised our sophomore Inter Unit Speed Climb Challenge this morning. The response was overwhelming tho' there were last minute withdrawal due to the Campcraft Competition Final. Anyway, lets the pictures do the talking..
 ...also thank you very much to Miss Kuek who brought the cadets for the NPCC Day Parade Preview & decided to stay throughout & told me to rest at home instead.
  I am thankful also that the competition went on smoothly.
See all of u again next year, hopefully. Labels: NPCC 08
7:20 PM
Friday, April 4, 2008
 It was a rare opportunity that everyone donned their full-U, including the TOs, so when such chance arised we wasted no time to capture those previous moments with all these silly poses.
 Miss Kuek also joined us in these glamorous shots while OPS was conducting an important proficiency test somewhere...
11:41 PM
Thursday, April 3, 2008
 Lost my mobile phone again...yet again.Its less than 3 weeks old. Its a Sony Erricson K850i I think i dropped it in the bus on the way back from RSP. I have been calling my number frenetically after realising its disappearance..still ringing..no one picking it up..still got hope.. Well, started to pick a new model already...tho still hopeful. Labels: Me
8:11 PM
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
My HC ex neighbour was raving about LV latest 'Big City After Dark' Collection, collaborating artist Richard Prince jokes on LV bags..of coz at the same time announcing her latest LV purchase..hehe
Richard Prince is an American artist and photographer who has continued to be one of contemporary art’s foremost innovators…he has merged an iconography of commercial images and pop cultural detritus with a serious sculptural and painterly tradition, elevating the banal to the sublime.
Below are examples of his work that did not make it to the exclusive collections of LV bags.
He excavates the ‘normal,’ borrowing content from advertising imagery, off-color jokes, retro car design and even art history, to expose the inner mechanics of desire — how it is framed, sold, and perpetuated in our mass-cultural consciousness.
 Richard Prince has painted a lot of jokes, hundreds and hundreds of jokes. The funniest thing about Prince’s jokes is that after looking at a number of stupid jokes, you simply laugh, it wasn’t knowing laughter. My HC ex neighbour's hubby was laughing in the LV store reading the bags, which she tot wasnt funny at all. That kind of second-order laughter happens but I think the sheer repetition of his joke paintings pushes past that. After a few of them, the jokes aren’t amusing in their irony anymore. They’re just what they are: bad jokes.
But sooner or later, one of them catches you as funny. That’s why Prince keeps coming with them. If you don’t like this one, how about this one, or this one? Indeed, a number of his paintings actually go from one joke to another, in one painting. Here’s the text of “The Black Joke”: “My wife’s not too smart. The second time she got pregnant she thought we had to get married again."
I don’t think Prince is interested in why any of the jokes in particular may or may not be funny. He's not interrogating the mechanisms of humor. He’s interested in the fact that sooner or later everybody is going to hit one that gets through.
So friends ..grab a Prince LV bag to elevate yourself from the banality of school or the mundanity of teaching...just be prepared to be $4k poorer..hehe Labels: HC
2:07 PM
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Could you stop complaining for 21 days? About anything.
No complaining about anything.
Even internally.
I was watching Oprah last nite, and she had a pastor as her guest. He has challenged his congregation to stop complaining for 21 days. He took on the challenge himself, and to help his congregation, he gave them all these purple rubber bracelets, all part his campaign to create A Complaint Free World.
Here’s how it works. You wear the bracelet, and any time you catch yourself complaining, about anything, you move the bracelet to the other wrist. The goal is to go 21 days with that bracelet on one wrist, which means you haven’t complained in 21 days.
He said:
1.Complaining is like bad breath. You notice it when it comes out of somebody else's mouth, but not when it comes out of your own.
2.The main reason people complain is to excuse themselves from taking action. People encounter things they don't like and they complain because it's easier than finding a solution. 3. They complain as a way of bragging or showing their sophistication.
Oprah immediately knew whom she wanted to give the barcelet after she interviewed the pastor & it was her personal makeup artist, who bitches, whines and complains all the time. I would really like my friends to take up this challenge and i have some names in mind already...yes the bird, the fish and you..hehe..Well, we could put on our most expensive watch in place of the purple bracelet, & move it to the other wrist everytime we complain or bitch.. READY?? This campaign reminded me of Maya Angelou, a great poet who is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature. She said, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."
8:52 AM
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