Spring Cleaning

Going house crazy staying in my room the whole day, for days on end, to sort through all the rubbish that I have hoarded over the past years of my life. Below is a photo of some things I would love to keep but alas... have to throw away.

Examples include: my dorm door plate with me & my room-mate's (May) name on it; my RJ Grad Nite ticket (oops... strangers can calculate my age liao); a 20c bus ticket from goodness knows when; various birthday gifts; and the last 2 photos - stacks of papers, magazines, paper stuff - waiting for my uncle to bring to recycling company (aka garang guni).

Dinner @ Grace's

Finally!

After goodness knows how long it has been, the four of us - Grace, Wensi, Xin'ai and myself - have managed to get together.

It's amazing how long the four of us goes way back... I must thank Xin'ai for much of who I am, actually. It was her who inspired me to dabble in sports, and as many activities as I can try. Wensi keeps me grounded and makes me wish I was more informed of the many things happening in Singapore and around the world. Grace keeps my mind sharp with her razor tongue and quick retorts. And her daughter is just as amazing a girl as her mother.

May's Wedding Meeting Pics

Reminiscences

Came back from May's place around 5 pm and have been clearing my room since then... Amazingly, I've been at it for the past 9 hours!

Took some photos of some blasts from the past, e.g. NTU Hall Room label from 1998, and a 20-cent bus ticket from goodness knows when.

Now, got a great urge to blog after reading my Sec & JC autograph book. Seems like I have not really changed much.

Accordingly to some of my frens, I was a crazy gal who would laugh hysterically & loudly for any reason and no reason, someone whose many personalities would appear to others that I am stand-offish and makes them wonder which is the 'real me'. I am also too nice and helpful, and suffer from a lack of self-confidence.

It's sad too, how many people I have lost touch with, and a lot of people whose names do not even trigger any tug of recognition, and some of which whom I wished I had kept in touch with. Maybe, I'm really that difficult a person to make friends with and I can't seem to make myself open up to them.

Anyway, I think I'm almost halfway through the clearing of my room. Target is to finish by Wednesday night so that I can go KTV on Thursday night - Ladies night = no cover charge! So, to stay on target, I better get back to my clearing! *cheers*

P.S. My grandad is doing better now. Just been transferred to the general ward. Will update more about his recovery in a later entry.

生不带来, 死不带去

I know it's kinda morbid to be thinking about one's death. But like JK was saying, I think I am just as blased about death as he is, if not more.

Anyway, with my grandad's close brush with death, I have also just experienced one of the lowest point in my life. I have also come to the realisation, yes, I have way too many things beyond the necessities. My life has become very messy and complicated, of which my hoarding is an outward expression.

Having just visited a number of friends and their new flats, it further reinforces my present thinking that it's actually ok to throw away everything and just keep the memories in my brain. It's time to simplify my life!

Yes, I know. My brain is not the best storage place but hey, if it's not important enough to be remembered, any physical reminders are also just a waste of space. If the memory is not important enough to stay in my head, why should I keep the physical reminders? Especially if I dun even come into contact with these "physical reminders" 5, 10, 15 years down the road when I'm doing MAJOR SPRING CLEANING?

Right. So, here's a final thank you, sorry and good-bye to all the birthday cards, CNY cards, Christmas cards, etc, that my friends have sent & given to me over the past ** years of my life. I am going to throw all of them away.

The things that I will keep in my life are really my most important books (the hobby which keeps my brain and soul alive), my handicrafts (the hobby which helps keep my hands and eyes sharp) and the travel "rubbish" which I have collected so far (the hobby which helps keep my banks and other shops happy).

No more travel brochures or souvenirs from now on. Take only memories (photos), leave only footprints.

After sorting through my stuff, not only do I have enough stationery to last me a lifetime, I am very sure I also have enough toiletries and hair & facial care poducts to last me for my year in London.

With this in mind, I should not only be able to simplify my life but also save a lot of money. *grin*

I am scared...

Had one of the most traumatic experience of my life yesterday.

Grandad just admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.

Wish there was someone I can call who will be there for me. To hold me when I'm tired. To support me when I need someone to lean on.

Dinner @ Caroline's

Steamboat @ Caroline's again!

But this time, I no need to prepare anything. The lady hostess has learnt enough to get ready everything on her own. It was nice to just turn up and enjoy a dinner with good frens at someone's place. You can dress casual, laugh as loudly as you want, be 'completely' at ease (to some extent)...

And I think the photos show the simple enjoyment of my evening.

In addition, I learnt how to de-shine my photos! Yeah! It's quite an effort to make it look natural, but well worth the extra time and care. And I must admit, I think the weekly facials I have been going to are actually yielding results - my face has actually been matt throughout the last few photo sessions I have had! *grin*

P.S. Click on the cross at the top right-hand corner to get rid of their "Track Me" thingy.

Dinner with the gals

Had a very enjoyable dinner with the gals this evening.

I really think too much and unnecessary some more. For example, I wanted very much to change the venue after I made the reservation and informed all the gals becoz I kept reading bad reviews of this place. However, since I couldn't find another venue within the same budget, the same location with ease of parking, away from NDP crowd, etc, etc... I told myself it's ok. The company more important. Maybe the food won't be SO BAD after all...

Well, yeah. The food wasn't that bad. Some were pretty good, like the chicken wings and tempura, and the sashimi was decent. Yes, there were some lousy stuff, but hey, seriously, will I remember more the company or the lousy food? Of course the former!

Then, wanted very much to have the dinner earlier coz I really wanted to see the NDP fireworks before I leave. There's nothing like Singapore NDP fireworks, except for Hong Kong's CNY fireworks.

But told myself... the fireworks so short-lived, and can see at other times. The dinner more important! Well, I can always catch the TV version of the NDP another time. And will have better view of the fireworks without the crowds, smoke and noise. Self-comfort... *grin*

P.S. Click on the cross at the top right-hand corner to get rid of their "Track Me" thingy.

Brother is off...

Yup. He's off for 3 WHOLE YEARS in Sweden. Lucky b*******!

Nvm... He better let me stay at his place if I get the chance to go over. Wanna so much to see the Northern Lights now that I know they are visible from the north part of Sweden. But very expensive!

Brunch @ Toast

Finally got a chance to enjoy the sandwiches at Toast. It's a small cafe at the back of Taka. Its sandwiches are supposed to be very good - and they ARE!

Woke up early and had to starve all the way coz I had a medical appointment at the Raffles Medical @ Taka for health screening. By the time I finished the check-up, I was all ready for a good breakfast. Luckily, no shops were open, except for the sandwich shop Toast. So, I sat down to a lovely thick sandwich of roast turkey ham with cranberry sauce and dunno wat stuffing... I also managed to finish putting together my personalised London guide book... Hm... must take photo of it some time.

Then, decided to try calling XY out for lunch and she was free! Met her at Tanjong Pagar for lunch, then made our way to Chinatown for shopping. She wanted to continue shopping at Great World but I had to go home for dinner. Brother leaving for Sweden the next day and Mother say all to go home for sumptuous dinner.

Many thanks...

Thank you very much to everybody's well-wishes and, of course, presents! *grin*

Tai-Tai Day 1

Yes... I woke up early again today...

Sigh... I am waking up earlier than I usually do when I have work. Anyway, Tai-Tai day 1 started very well with a 3-km jog/run/walk along the Clementi canal with JH. Then we had a 'fattening' brunch of prata and 100-Plus after the run.

Then, I had to rush down to town for my facial. Immediately after that, I had to rush again for my hair treatment at another venue in town.

Forcing myself not to walk around, exposing myself to many temptations to spend money, I settled on some tea and dessert at TCC. After 5 hours of primping, I didn't want to head home straight after the treatments to look good.

Tomorrow, have to start on Room Packing Day 1... Incidentally, tomorrow will be here in another 30 minutes. So, I better decide if I wanna start my packing in 30 minutes or after a good night's sleep in about 7 hours? It'd prob be the latter. I'm pretty tired, having woken up early 3 mornings in a roll. Hopefully, I won't get woken up tomorrow morning by someone from school...

That'd really take the cake!

Back to School again...

I'm supposed to try updating my blog every day...

Hopefully, it won't become an account of my daily activities and bore everyone...

Let's see. I woke up real early again today. Wanted to give Joshua some company and support to welcome the Chinmaya teachers and students at the airport but their flight was delayed. Supposed to meet my students from 8 to 10 am so had to forgo the trip to the airport.

In the end, my students didn't come at 8 am but at the usual timing of 10 am. But I had a free breakfast from Irni and spent some time chatting with her about her NA students taking Exp Maths. I also had to relay the message to Joshua's students that he'd be late for his POA consultation session.

When my students came today for their consultation, we ended up chatting more than doing work... And before they left, they presented me with a box - of handmade styrofoam roses, a soft toy bear and a mug. I was rather touched, still am, by their efforts... Although I must admit, the first thing that came to my mind was... "You spent 2 days making these flowers, pls make sure you can spend the same amount of focus and energy on your revision!" But of course, I did not say that.

After my students left, I dropped by the D & T office to see Siraj and got a free lunch of pizza. *grin*

I think I really should add an exercise book to the alreay big bag of things I lug around with to take note of all my reflections during the day. I remember I have deeper and more important thoughts which passed through my mind today but I can't remember much right now...

Hm...

Last day in school - photos with students

Forgot to ask my students to stay back in school to take photos with yesterday. But then again, I purposely did not make it known that I was leaving... So it was more a result of my own doing.

I would have hoped to take photos with my 4Ts, they were my babies when I first started teaching. Didn't take any photos with my 3N2s other than the few boys who came by the staff room at the end of the day. Some of the 3E3s came by to collect their test papers, so managed to take photos with them.

Somehow, I took a lot of photos with my 1E2. I love teaching their class. They are so enthusiatic about learning Maths and so cute when they start 'shss...' when I look frustrated at them talking away. But I really love their attitude in my Maths class and in the other school activities. They won the Class Cheering Competition earlier this year and is bent on winning the Cheering Competition again for the Sports Day/National Day celebration.

Not surprisingly, I am already missing my students... After all, I do spend at least an hour every day with some of them. I do hope that I have helped them in their studies, as well as outside of their studies...

So, here are the photos. Maybe I'd go for the Sports Day/National Day and/or Teachers' Day celebration to take more photos...

Last day in school - photos with colleagues

Managed to take photos with some of my colleagues during the last few hours in school. It's a busy time for most of us - invigilation duties, deputy sup coming to visit the next day, etc...

There were many colleagues with whom I wished I had taken photos with, but yeah, we really do look haggard after a day's work and the week's still not over yet.

Debating if I should go for the Teachers' Day lunch. Then can take photos with more people... See first...

Clearing out my little oasis

My table space is always messy. I'm famous for it. Back in the old staff room, my table even had photos taken to prove how much more space teachers need.

I wonder if my table will re-appear when I go over to London. I remember my hostel room in NTU was very clean. But then again, I didn't do a lot of 'real work' when I was in NTU. *grin*

I am rather impressed at how quickly I cleared out my little ordered chaos. I only took 3.5 hours on Thursday to clear out, another hour yesterday? and 2.5 hours toay for the final clearance. Here are the photos of my clearing out process... Be inspired if you're as messy as I am.

Racial Harmony Day Photos

I really love these photos. Bought the set from India on my OSL trip to Kochi back in 06 but waited until now to wear it. Remember that I regretted buying it back then, but hey, I think I really like it!

Enjoy the photos!

Being Unemployed

It sure feels strange. Woke up earlier than usual today at 5 am. Partly probably because I fell asleep early last night at 10 pm.

Such mixed feelings this morning. A lil sad to lose the regularity of waking up, rushing to work, singing the national anthem and taking the pledge, taking morning attendance, and going about my lessons... Wasn't sure quite what to do after waking up... Prepared some lessons for my Sec 1 Maths class and sent them to AM for printing. Doubt they will be used but it's a kind of closure for myself as well, I guess.

Was supposed to go down to school in the late morning but caught 'Protege' on cable. Got caught up in the movie and ended up staying at home till 1 pm. Then went to get lunch before I made my way to school. Pretty good timing though. All the students were either having their CCAs or started on their weekend already when I reached the school around 2.30 pm.

Got down to my final clearance of my table, feeling sadder as I threw away and sorted the last of my papers... Done with everything by 5 pm and was suppose to go down to town for my massage. But really not in the mood. Got back home, bought myself some fast food and viola, here I am, blogging away.

Told myself to take a couple of minutes every day to reflect, gather my thoughts and blog. So, August 1st. My first day of unemployment after 4.5 years of teaching.

Boy, time sure passed quickly. It wasn't so long ago that I still remember making my way around NTU, going for lectures, napping in tutorials, having fun in my design modules. And of course, all my activities in the Uni - Freshmen Orientation Camp, Red Cross, Contract Bridge, Faculty P & P, and the list goes on.

Life is just a series of strange twists and turns. My life is, anyway. And I guess I do enjoy all the twists and turns...

My earliest recollections were of my travels with my wayang grandparents. Trains rides to Malaysis, stays on wayang stages, baths in temples... Then it was time to stop travelling and start schooling at the neighbourhood PAP kindergarten. 2 years on, I started Primary School a couple of blocks away and an aunt ignited my interest in reading. 3 years later, I was somehow selected into the GEP and off I went. Totally new environment. Very different. Highly challenging. Another 3 years and time for PSLE. Family insisted that I go to a neighbourhood school and would have gotten their way if MOE did not intervene and pulled me back into the system.

But barely a year went past and my parents got their way. I was back in the mainstream Express class. I am thankful for the change. Got to know more friends and gave me the time to pick up my IT skills - we were the pioneers of the Internet and multimedia presentations! I was even on the evening news! I also got the chance to work at Mac's. *grin*

Then O-Levels came along and I remember how tired I was working as a salesgirl at Wisma. Standing up for 8 hours on end and smiling at customers the whole time, trying to be helpful, was a truly learning experience. After the results, I was in 2 minds whether to go JC with my friends or follow my family's advice to go to the Poly. With high hopes for myself, I managed to convince my family to let me go the JC route.

Sadly, I was too playful in JC and did not get good enough grades to qualify for overseas scholarship. In fact, my application to NUS engineering was rejected. In NTU, I evidently did not learn my lesson and played even more! For obvious reasons, I did not do well and had to repeat quite a number of modules. Thankfully, I manage to graduate but again, my lousy results doesn't give me a choice of good job prospects. The recession when I graduated did not help matters. With the threat of retrenchment hanging over my dad, the bread-winner of the family, I applied to MOE to teach.

In another month, I'd be embarking on another journey, another branch of my life. I'd be, yet again, jumping right into unknown waters, charting my path as I drift along, trying to stay afloat, looking at the scenery around me, trying to to appreciate my surroundings... And of course, wondering if there's another way out.

I'm scared...