December Update

A friend has been asking me how come I've not updated my blog for so long. It was because of all the events which took place these 2 months. Moving house, packing, unpacking, my back getting hurt twice (which resulted in staying in bed and on painkillers for almost the whole month), going away for staff retreat...

It's up till now that I'm feeling better and the itch to take pictures that I finally decide to update again.

Posting below is a view from my new place. Taken today (it has been raining the entire day). The weather has been cool and nice. Don't even want to get out of the house...



I know I have not taken anything the whole of this holiday. Will try to do so soon.

Blog update October

Quick update... some news and some info.

1) Super busy with invigilation for 'O's.

2) Happy that my class improved in their subjects. (Well...at least for some of them) And that they will be given their choice of stream.

3) Pray hard that my students in Sec 4 DT class can suddenly 'see the light' in whatever they read and do well in all their subject.

4) Sleepy... going to bed...

Ciao!

September Holidays are here!!!

September holidays finally started. Finally get to have some rest and time to prepare for the new term. I'm pretty pleased that most of my kids did well for most of their subjects this term. Just hope that they will work hard for the EOY exams and able to choose the stream they wished for and promote as the whole class. (So kids if you are reading this...study hard!)

Had some time yesterday afternoon after the teachers' day lunch (we had ours at Raffles Marina). Since I have the DSLR camera, decided to take some pictures in the afternoon. The sun was pretty strong (and hot) at about 4-5pm. These were taken at Labrador Park. I did slight tweaking to increase the intensity of the colors. Otherwise, everything was left untouched.

Another local talent

Kumar, our other local talent's stand-up comedy at Dick Lee's Concert... Wah!!! Keep laughing man!!! (Bro, this is for you since you are in SL...)

Found on Youtube

Found our local talent, Mr Dick Lee on Youtube... You'll appreciate his songwriting skills if you are a local Singaporean...

Parents Do, Child Do Video

Happened to 'discover' this video on Youtube. I think it's very meaningful and relevant to what we adults are doing and demonstrating everyday. It takes just a little effort to get things right the first time.

Crab Feast at Ang Mo Kio

My friends and I went for a crab feast the other night. They came from the US but have been to Singapore many times. The restaurant was super packed when we got there at 6.30pm. Had to wait in a queue and order the food about an hour in advance while we wait for our table. The wait was long but it was all worth it at the end. The crab bee hoon was fantastic, the butter and peppered crabs were also very good... Here are some pictures taken:

July update...

It's July now. The last posting was in May... Wow! Almost 2 months not posted anything here...

It's been a hellish 2 months for me...

June Holidays: NPCC seminar, NPCC school camp, Camp Victory (Sec 4 intensive study), Additional DT workshops for sec 4, Special needs prep work and course, Special needs talk to parents in school.

July: School reopens, meetings, lessons, prep for lesson plans, marking, prep for 'O' level prelims, planning for Staff Activity Day (SAD), planning for teachers' day lunch...

Where got time to post??? Sorry for venting frustration here...

Update in a while...

Pictures from the FujiCam...

Still amazed by the camera. The macro shots are fantastic. I would use the camera for most of my pictures and update them...

First shot was taken in the morning when I was just about to leave home for work.


The second picture was taken when I was waiting for the traffic light to turn to GREEN.


The last picture was taken at the school camp when we were waiting for the programme to start.

Hidden Talents in my class!!!

School holiday starts tomorrow!!! Good for the kids but bad for us. We have to prepare lessons and whatever for the new term...Sigh...

Anyway, my class just finish a school camp. They performed for parents, teachers and the principal along with the other classes. So proud of them!

Kids, here are the videoes I promised. I am very proud of you showing your 'hidden talents'. Some of you can be great actors, musicians and MCs!
Will show the full version when we are back in school!!!



Another one...



And the last one...

Exam's Over

Finally! Mid-year exam is over. Good for the kids, bad for us. Lots of marking and updating to do before term ends next Friday. And I'm sick... :-(

Kids did rather badly for their exams. A friend who happened to see a student's script almost fell off the chair laughing when he saw the answer to a picture of the folding bar that boy gave... HAIR PIN CLIP!!! (A folding bar is used to hold and bend sheet metal)

Anyway, back to marking!!!

Blogging again...

Have not updated this blog for a long long time. Paiseh...

Just bought a new camera. Was looking for it (Fujifilm f31fd) for a while. Finally decided to buy it before the offer ends. I think I got a good deal for it.

Here are some macro pictures I took this afternoon.

Will try out the night shots next time. I heard that the camera is good at that!

On another note, there are so many events and issues happening in school that I don't even have time to sit down and think! Not convenient to share it here though...

Well, another time!

Ciao!!!

More pictures from CNY 2007

Today is the last day of this year's Chinese New Year. To sum it up... this year is a pretty boring year. Busy during the weekdays with common tests and school activities, busy with marking the papers to prepare keying in the marks after comon tests. Blah blah blah blah...

Here are some pictures from this year's thoughts...

CNY Gathering (Cont')

This is what happens when you passed a camera phone to some enthusiastic kids!

CNY Gathering

My secondary school friends and I had a CNY barbecue gathering last night. We've known each other for like 20 years! The group had shrunk and grown over the years with the addition of spouse and their kids!
This year we had our gathering at Joan's place. We had barbecue and Joan also made lots of other fantastic food. (Joan, offer still stands if you decided to open a catering business ;-) ) Here's some pictures of them taken using the phone camera (sorry! Too busy eating)

More song lyrics

This song always make me feel sad...

Jesse - Joshua Kadison

From a phone booth in Vegas, Jessie calls at 5 A.M.

to tell me how she's tired of all of them.

She says, "Baby, I been thinking 'bout a trailer by the sea.

We could go to Mexico... you, the cat and me.

We'll drink tequila and look for sea shells.

Now, doesn't that sound sweet?"Oh, Jessie, you always do this every time I get back on my feet.

Jessie paint your pictures 'bout how it's gonna be.

By now I should know better, your dreams are never free.

But tell me all about our little trailer by the sea;

Jessie you can always sell any dream to me.

Oh, Jessie, you can always sell any dream to me.

She asks me how the cat's been. I say, "Moses he's just fine

but he used to think about you all the time.

We finally took your pictures down off the wall.

Oh, Jessie, how do you always seem to know just when to call?"

She says, "Get your stuff together. Bring Moses and drive real fast."

And I listen to her promise, "I swear to God this time it's gonna last."

Jessie paint your pictures 'bout how it's gonna be.

By now I should know better, your dreams are never free.

But tell me all about our little trailer by the sea;

Jessie you can always sell any dream to me.

Oh, Jessie, you can always sell any dream to me.

I'll love you in the sunshine, lay you down in the warm white sand.

And who knows, maybe this time things'll turn out just the way you planned.

Jessie paint your pictures 'bout how it's gonna be.

By now I should know better, your dreams are never free.

But tell me all about our little trailer by the sea;

Jessie you can always sell any dream to me.

Oh, Jessie, you can always sell any dream to me.

Country Songs

Friend and I were talking about country songs. They make such good ballads and touching stories. Here are some songs we talked about... If you know anything else that's good let me know too. Thanks in advance.

1) Jesus, take the wheel - Carrie Underwood
2) In my daughter's eyes - Martina McBride
3) Bless the broken road - Rascal Flatts
4) Love, me - Collin Raye (All time favourite!)

The lyrics:

Jesus, take the wheel - Carrie Underwood

She was drivin' last friday on her way to cincinnati

On a snow white Christmas Eve

Goin' home to see her Momma and her Daddy

With her baby in a back seat

Fifty miles to go and she was runnin' low

On faith and gasoline

It'd been a long hard year

She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention

She was goin' way too fast

Before she knew it she was spinnin on thin black sheet of glass

She saw both their lives flash before her eyes

She didn't even have time to cry

She was so scared, she threw her hands up in the air

(Chorus)

Jesus take the wheel

Take it from my hands'

Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go

Give me one more chance

Save me from this road I'm on

Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder and that car came to a stop

She cried when she saw that baby in the back seat sleepin' like a rock

For the first time in a long time she bowed her head to pray

She said I'm sorry for the way

I've been livin' my life

I know I've got to change

So from now on tonight

(Repeat chorus)

In my daughter's eyes - Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero.

I am strong an' wise,And I know no fear.

But the truth is plain to see: She was sent to rescue me,

I see who I wanna be, in my daughter's eyes.

In my daughter's eyes, everyone is equal,

Darkness turns to light,And the world is at peace.

This miracle God gave to me,

Gives me strength when I am weak.

I find reason to believe, in my daughter's eyes.

An' when she wraps her hand around my finger,Oh, it puts a smile in my heart.

Everything becomes a little clearer.I realise what life is all about.

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough;

It's givin' more when you feel like givin' up.

I've seen the light: it's in my daughter's eyes.

In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future.

A reflection of who I am,An' what will be.

An' though she'll grow an', some day, leave:Maybe raise a family,

When I'm gone, I hope you'll see,

How happy she made me,

For I'll be there, in my daughter's eyes.

Bless the broken road - Rascal Flatts

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

Now I'm just rolling home

Into my lover's arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you.

Love, Me - Collin Raye

I read a note my grandma wrote back in nineteen twenty-three.

Grandpa kept it in his coat, and he showed it once to me.

He said,"Boy, you might not understand, but a long, long time ago,

Grandma's daddy didn't like me none, but I loved your Grandma so.

"We had this crazy plan to meet and run away together.

Get married in the first town we came to, and live forever.

But nailed to the tree where we were supposed to meet, instead

Of her, I found this letter, and this is what it said:

If you get there before I do, don't give up on me.

I'll meet you when my chores are through;

I don't know how long I'll be.

But I'm not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.

And between now and then, till I see you again,

I'll be loving you. Love, me.

I read those words just hours before my Grandma passed away,

In the doorway of a church where me and Grandpa stopped to pray.

I know I'd never seen him cry in all my fifteen years;

But as he said these words to her, his eyes filled up with tears.

If you get there before I do, don't give up on me.

I'll meet you when my chores are through;

I don't know how long I'll be.

But I'm not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.

And between now and then, till I see you again,

I'll be loving you. Love, me.

Between now and then, till I see you again,

I'll be loving you. Love, me.

Are Singaporeans so rich nowadays?

I was walking past a void deck with a friend when my friend noticed a box of stuff that was thrown away. We approached the box and discovered packets of mushrooms, cans of food, medicine and also other food stuff 'left' by their previous owner.

We were surprized that they actually threw away food like that. Are Singaporeans so rich nowadays that with the yearly Chinese New Year spring cleaning exercise we can just throw away stuff that are still ok for use?

A friend from Sri Lanka came back to visit also commented when he saw a writing table and sofa set thrown away at a void deck that furniture in that condition would still be repaired and reused if they are in Sri Lanka. Singaporeans just end up buying a new one! It does makes perfect sense by donating them to the needies.

I have seen kids under financial assistance in school fall under 2 categories - one where they are so poor that they have no money for food during recess and the other where they are still able to affort some luxuries like an MP3 player or a handphone. The 2 extremes in our society seems to be widening - the rich getting richer while the poor are struggling and getting poorer.

A week ago, I picked up a Yamaha piano/organ bench that was thrown away. It was in perfect condition - no tear, no scratches. Probably the owner simply has no space for a chair that size... It's now placed beside the main door for me to sit when I put on my shoes. I've been wanting to buy a nice looking bench to put there. Thanks whoever he/she is!!!

Organic Vegetable Farm

A friend introduce to us during a gathering about this organic vegetable farm. Some friends went on a shopping spree on vegetables and showed us what they've bought. $1.50 - $2 per pack. The vegetables come with the roots intact. Will try to visit here in the future.

I also know of a goats farm where you can buy goats milk. Anyone who knows anything also natural and interesting, let me know.

Update...

It's been a couple of weeks since I updated the blog. Very busy with work. Here's a list of stuff I've been doing:
1) Tons of drawings to mark from the classes I teach! Would be nice if everyone submits his/her work on time.
2) There are also some problems with the upper secondary kids. Some of them don't even want to come to school regularly. Just don't know what they want to do next time!
3) In the SWC this year, preparing for upcoming CNY celebrations.
4) Preparing lessons... trying to make it interesting so that kids will turn up for lessons.

Pretty boring stuff hor!
Update with pictures next time!
Ciao!!!

Dinner at Brios

Went Brios Cafe(Grand Copthorne) for dinner with a friend. They had a 2 for 1 promotion with UOB credit card. The total bill came to about $46 dollars. That's only $23 per person!!! The food was good. There were sushi, sashimi, chilled seafood, escargot (snails), Peranakan food (the lamb rendang was fantastic!), western cuisines and pastries. There's even a chocolate fondue where you can have strawberries, marshmallows, cakes drenched in chocolate! Managed to take some pictures during the meal. Pardon the bad composition!

It's praying time again!

It's time again for praying to ancestors. This is normally done before the Chinese New Year. Clothes and spending money made of paper are 'sent' to them. It's like sending them a 'bonus' for them to prepare for the new year.

Butter cake from a breadmaker

What you are looking at is a butter and sultana cake that was made using a breadmaker. It actually measured about 10cmx10cmx5cm. It has the smell of a cake, the taste of a cake but the looks of a badly made bread. It's soft on the inside. But no way will it looked like a cake! (more like a hardened loaf of bread that failed to rise)

The cake was pretty good if you can bypass it's looks.

More pictures from the phone

Was having breakfast on Saturday and took the first picture at the shop beside the coffeeshop at JooChiat. It's a tailor shop. I think they do the laundry too. I have not seen such a shop in Singapore for so long already. I remembered when I was younger (about 5-8 years old) my grandfather had this ironing shop in Chinatown which he opened with a couple of my granduncles. I remembered seeing that they are always ironing the laundry and folding them nicely or hanging them up. Sad to say, with all these re-development happening around Chinatown, the shop is long gone and I can't remember where it used to be.

Found these cans of soup at Cold Storage supermarket. Checked out the ingredients. It's actually the Scottish slang for chicken and leek soup. And no, I did not buy a can of soup that day...