Atonement

Just caught Atonement today with Sinyuan. It's supposed to be an epic movie of love, war and family betrayal based on a novel by Ian McEwan.

In the beginning, it was kinda difficult to understand the movie with its non-linear timeline (the movie jumps back and forth in time). Furthermore, the movie would give different perspectives of events from various characters! However, it is exactly these points which also makes this movie special and unique.

As usual, I think I am driven to read the book, for I believe (and I hope) there is much character depth that a book can write about which a film can simply not explain. For example, I am enjoying His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) so much more than the movie.

Atonement was pretty slow and draggy at times. The characters (other than Robbie) were not really developed and did not engage me as much as I was hoping to. I would love to see more about Briony who was trying to make amends for giving wrongful evidence causing Robbie to be imprisoned. Keira Knightley was passable as the beautiful rich gal who gave up her family for love, but the sense of family betrayal was just not there.

For all that, I did enjoy the ending. I had expected the male lead to die, but there was a nice twist to the story, which (finally) justifies the movie's title.

At other times, the movie also got me thinking about how small assumptions on our parts and the things we say and do can have great repercussions on self and others. Who do we betray in our actions and words? Who have been able to stand by their love and trust them steadfastly? And of course, in the war, every emotion is amplified and sensitized. The soldiers trusting in being able to retreat back to safety and home and family, helping each other and looking out for each other. The nurses taking care of the wounded, dealing with death and staying impersonal - last names only.

Update to Birthday Wishlist

Hihi!

Just downloaded Skype after fren strongly recommend it. Especially after finding out that brother will be going to Australia and Sweden for training later in the year.

Think my family will want a cheap (better if free) way to keep in touch with both of us. A little scary that both my brother and myself will be away... But can't be helped. I've already started on my plans to study overseas and dun wanna shelf it away any longer. Brother's training also cannot be postponed. He's so LUCKY!!!

So, here's an updated birthday wishlist if any of my friends wanna get me a present but haven't yet...

Phones to make Skype calls


1. Philips 841 Cordless Phone (Able to make and receive both Skype and landline calls, without needing a PC)
   
2. Philips 321 (Cordless handset combining Skype calls and landline calls in a single handset, but need to connect to PC for Skype calls)
   
3. Philips 080 USB Phone (Portable USB phone for Skype calls)
   
4. Aztech V500DS PC-Free Skype phone (Able to make and receive both Skype and landline calls, without needing a PC)
   
   Accessories for laptop/computer to make Skype calls
   
   
5. Any webcam (with or without headset)
   
6. Any Stereo PC headset
   

If only he had made his plans known earlier, I could have asked my friends to get me the Skype-enabled equipment earlier. Now, I dunno if my friends are getting me the less useful stuff.

Day 1 of the Year of the Rat

It has been a good day. As I mentioned, cleaned up the living room of my rubbish. Have to get started on my room in a while...

Stayed at home coz mum was working. So, it was mainly waiting at home for the relatives to come over. Good thing I decided not to have my friends over to celebrate after all. My place can seriously hold no more than 6 visitors at any one time.

Some relatives came over today. First, it was a family of 7. Ok... Took out all the chairs we had, place was packed. Then, another family came by. 5 more people. Darn. Had to utilise our computer work chairs, some foot stools, etc... Don't kids nowadays realise that the floor is meant to be sat on?

Almost went into teacher mode and wanted to scold some kids who came in, plonked themselves down on the couch and proceeded to play games on their handphones... Hello? It's the CNY! You're supposed to be visiting, pretending to pay attention to your elders, smile, make small talk and then get your dues - the all-important ang bao. Unless you're really into all the visiting stuff. Like me...

A little sad no more visiting for me... Not very close to the distant relatives. Staying with my grand-dad, so relatives are supposed to come over. And the CNY mood just doesn't seem the same. And not sure if I'm supposed to still be collecting ang baos... I guess as long as I'm a "youth". Which means I still have 6 more years of ang baos to collect.

It was a good feeling, though, to be able to give my parents and grand-dad ang baos. Pretty substantial ones too. I do miss my grand-ma. She passed away some 2 years back...

Anyway, had a good day today. Accomplished several things.

• Clean up living room
  
• Decorate living room
  
• Facial
  
• Knit several inches more of my scarf
  
• Sleep, rest
  
• Watch TV
  
• Entertain relatives
  
• Read more of 'The Subtle Knife'
  
• Check email
  
• Update blog
  
• Bluetooth photos from handphone into laptop
  

Time to get back to work later...

Birthday Presents

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Many thanks to my friends for their presents...


Robin gave this to me couple of days ago. I don't usually put anything to my handphone, worried that any accessories might fall off or scratch my phone.

But I quite like this one. It's now hanging at the end of my red phone - matches the red phone at the end of the accessory! Cute cute! Thank you thank you!



Another peculiar gift. This one's from Joshua. Was pleasantly surprised when he gave this to me yesterday, coz he had already given me a treat last Sunday.

Anyway, it's peculiar for another reason. See, I don't usually put on make-up. I hate putting on powder - the only powder I put on is talcum powder and the blusher. I can never get powder evenly on both sides of my face. Always wondering if one side is darker than the other, too much compared to the other, etc...

But well, it's always good to have something new to try, I guess. So, thank you thank you again.



Last gift in the Year of the Pig, something from my own wishlist. A new watch! Yippee!

But can't wear it yet. It's got 4 metal clasps too many. I have small hands, attached to skinny wrists.

Not sure who's sharing in the gift as yet. Hope to get a full account of the names from @ngel so I can thank them. But Noel came over to my place to pass it to me yesterday afternoon. So, whoever's got a share in the gift, thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!

Happy happy happy lunar new year and happier still birthday to me!

Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!

Hihihihihihihi!

Happy (power of n) Lunar New Year to everyone!

I had a very good start to the Year of the Rat! I slept it asleep. *grin*

For as long as I can remember, I always stay up till the wee hours of the New Year for the tradition of giving my elders blessings and good wishes. However, I was really tired last night. I went to sleep very early, around 10 pm, I think. Woke up real early though, around 3 am. And within 3 hours, I cleared up all my rubbish in the living room! It's very presentable now!

Helped my mum a bit with her preparations for the new year - cooking our Day 1 vegetarian meals, cleaning up the kitchenware, putting up the CNY decorations around the house, chatting with her, being a good daughter... *smile*

Year of the Rat

Ok. Need to hurry up and finish my applications over the CNY weekend.

Right after the weekend, i have common tests coming in for marking and of course, preparation for my cny-bday party! *grin*

And, i really need to tell myself to give up finding a boyfriend. Ok. There. I've gotten it out in the open. No more hiding and telling myself that the guy is somewhere out there. I'm very independent and self-sufficient. Always have been. And always will be. In fact, i've been told several times - that's wat scares the guys off. So, fine for me, too bad for the guys. They are the ones losing out. *smile*

The Sunday Times CNY Special today mentioned that of all the animal zodiacs, those born in the year of the goat - ok, go on and calculate my possible age - will potentially face the greatest failure in romance in 2008. We're to be careful of bad relationships and think thrice before getting involved at all. So, all the more incentive for me to focus and concentrate on getting my Master's!

Birthday Wishlist

Actually, I dun need any birthday presents. Just wanna meet up with my friends and have a good time together. The memories would be the best present...

But since my friends are asking... Here's my wishlist...

1. A watch (which I think Noel is getting)
   
2. A pair of sun-glasses (the ones I have always get spoiled quickly, perhaps because they usually cost $10)
   
3. A well-tailored jacket (preferably one which makes me look slimmer)
   
4. A well-tailored pair of pants (the ones I made in Bangkok really sucked)
   
5. A digital sound recorder (for recording my possible post-grad lessons)
   
6. Kinokuniya vouchers so I can buy my magazines and design-related books
   
7. Facial wash for oily/combination skin (preferably L'Occitane or Biotherm or Fancl, NO Clinique)
   
8. A big but fashionable bag in which to fit my laptop and organizer and pda phone and etc etc...
   
9. Last but not least, swimming lessons? So that I can finally enjoy my water sports without the constant fear that I may drown...
   

Guess that's it for now. Like another friend said, nothing else that I would like and is AFFORDABLE enough as presents. *grin*

No MC

Didn't take MC today...

Have to review test with one class, and give test to another class.

My students are new to journalling for Maths and Science, so need to be around to give them more guidance.

Oh dear!

I'm now down with fever too. In spite of me drowning myself with water for the past 48 hours... Darn! Hope this doesn't mean that my weekend will be gone just like dat! I still have an awful lot of spring-cleaning to do... Mom was just nagging me this morning about the awful mess in my room and the living room.

It's not as if I love to live among the mess in my room. I also wish that I was less of a pack-rat and just get rid of EVERYTHING!

When it rains, it pours. It just isn't my day today.

First, was sick yesterday. So, I went to bed early without preparing for my lessons. Without finishing my marking which was to be given back to my students this morning.

Woke up at 5 am on autopilot. Decided I better finish my marking or dunno what to do during 2 periods. Yeh! I finished in time to change for school. Was going to take cab to school when 106 came by. Ok. Save money. Take bus. Thought I was so lucky to get bus just when I reach the bus-stop.

However, decided to continue doing up the weekend assignment for my students and took out my laptop. Finished the assignment just when the bus reached my stop and I MISSED the stop after taking a moment to keep the laptop in my bag. Argh! Next stop turned out to be all the way to the interchange.

"Thankfully", 173 was just leaving the interchange and I decided it'd be faster to take bus than to walk to school with my heavy bags. And what else is new? Just when you are rushing, the bus driver decides to stop at every stop even though no passenger rang the bell to get off and nobody at the bus-stop flag down the bus! And every traffic light would turn red just as the bus arrives at the traffic light!

Reached school just as the bell rang for assembly and sigh... P and VP were there... The one day I was late for school, the one day P and VP decide to lie in wait for the latecomers. I was wearing my slippers, so couldn't go over to the hall directly. My class is generally alright in the hall so I decided I could take the risk and go to the staff room to change into shoes.

Next, 2.5 hours of teaching later, got news that my class got reprimanded coz some boys were loitering outside the class. Argh! Every 2 weeks, my class would get in some trouble. First, it was classroom cleanliness. Ok. That got cleared up. In fact, I'm quite proud of my class. Although I know they still eat and drink in class, they are throwing the rubbish away into the green public dustbin some distance away from the class. However, I wonder if I should be more strict and tell them off for eating and drinking in class?

Ok. Got to go for meeting.

CNY-and-Bday celebrations

Argh!

Was at an all-time high last Sat when I went to recce the venue for my annual CNY-and-Bday celebrations.

Have been asking out all my friends for dinner and some form of celebration since my 21st birthday. I love to entertain and any excuse is a good one to get together people that you love and enjoy being with.

However, I realise that my friends are too diverse and varied, and the celebrations have always been very tiring. I have to juggle the different groups of people and entertain them. They dun seem to mix very well and stick to their own cliques.

Having gotten tired of burning myself out on my birthday, I stopped last year. And it was so dreary... Just another typical day. Remembered it was Contact Time some more... Had to stay late late in school and dun talk about having any Happy Birthday that day. Only a pitiful handful of my friends remembered it was my birthday...

So, I've decided to do something for my own birthday yet again this year. Anyway, as I was saying... Was very happy after recce-ing the venue I had in mind. Got place to nuah in the day, have decent dinner (with entertainment and possible fireworks) in the evening, and chill out at night. It's close to the sea, and access to the hotel room will not be screened by the hotel reception (so can sneak in as many friends as possible).

Then, sent out messages telling my friends to confirm the gathering and... So many people all busy with this and that...

Feeling slightly disappointed, I made arrangements to postpone the gathering by 2 weeks to the weekend after the CNY. Was feeling better since hopefully more people can attend, and it'd be on my lunar birthday...

THEN... Today got the letter that my Sec 3 Parents' Day is on the same day!!! Argh!!!

Sigh... Will have to start events in the afternoon instead of in the morning. Hope I can leave early enough on the day and not be all tired out by the end of the dialogue sesson.

Argh!!!

Photos of ITE Visit

Some photos from the ITE visit with my class on 24th and 25th Jan 2008.


Wenfa enjoying all the attention lavished upon him being the first volunteer to try the clean suit.


The boys in my group trying on the clean suit.


Wenfa and Kenny hamming it for the camera


Not sure who this is after everyone is wearing the clean room getup - anybody knows?


And this is me! Enjoying these fans which are supposed to blow away all dirt and foreign particles.

Week 5

Let's see...

Had a "Workshop on Blogging" yesterday. Thought it'd be about teaching us how to use blogs to engage our students... In the end, it was actually a lecture on the do's and don'ts when we teachers (as well as all other civil servants) blog.

This is the one that started it all, so for archival purposes:

~~~~~

Prime News

We are public servants - and we blog too
Lynn Lee
568 words
23 August 2006
Straits Times
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

EVEN as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on the Government to use new media to spread its message, a clutch of agencies and public servants are already busy blogging.

The public servants blog as private individuals. But they came together last October as an informal gathering of bloggers and net-savvy individuals interested in blogging, who work for the Government.

They call themselves the 'Gahmen Bloggers'.

What they have in common: A desire to explore whether their organisations could harness the popularity of blogs as an additional and 'friendlier' way of dealing with the public, said Health Promotion Board senior executive Vanessa Tan, 28.

In his National Day rally speech on Sunday, PM Lee said the Government would adapt to new media to get its message across, including using podcasts or videocasts and even humour.

Said Ms Tan: 'Previously, news would come through more formal channels, like press releases. For young people, a blog might be a better way to get their attention.'

She and fellow blogger Ivan Chew, 34, a National Library Board (NLB) manager, came up with the idea for the group and spread the word through their websites, and on Tomorrow.sg.

About 10 people turned up for the first 'Gahmen Bloggers Meetup' late last year at Toa Payoh Community library. The group's mailing list has now swelled to 21 people, including people who work in government-related organisations.

Members meet in small groups for coffee, but discussions usually take place in cyberspace.

These personal exchanges have helped some 'gahmen' agencies improve on its own ideas to reach out to the public.

Mr Walter Lim, 36, director of corporate communications and industry promotion at the National Heritage Board (NHB), said ideas he gained on sustaining a blog gave the NHB 'a leg up' when it launched in March its museum and heritage blog www.yesterday.sg .

'We realised we would need to ensure a pool of regular contributors to the blog, otherwise posts and discussions will just die down. Also, their comments should sound natural, not like they are part of a heritage campaign.'

Other agencies with official blogs include the NLB, which has four blogs with posts on book reviews and its programmes and the Community Development Youth and Sports Ministry, which runs www.youth.sg , a portal for youngsters.

These blogs are meant to boost the agencies' online presence, but what about their employees with personal blogs?

The 'Gahmen Bloggers Meetup' members steer clear from talking about what goes on in the office.

The reason: Civil servants are bound by the Official Secrets Act. There are no specific rules on blogging but the Public Service Division says that the code of conduct 'requires an officer to conduct himself in a manner which upholds the integrity of the public service and which instils public confidence in it.'

Ms Tan, for example, talks about gizmos, current affairs, restaurants and interesting websites on www.vantan.org , but makes no mention of where she works.

Similarly, other 'Gahmen bloggers' say they are civil servants but omit references to their agencies.

Mr Chew focuses on library matters at www.ramblinglibrarian.blogspot.com .

But he has this disclaimer: 'Views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent the official stand of my employer. But you know that already.'

~~~~~

Satisfied weekend

Good weekend. Not much work done, but there was a well balance of work time, me time, tuition time, leisure time, rest time.

Very important also, didn't spend much money. $12 yesterday for lunch, dinner and four hours of electricity, wireless and air-con.

Today, $15 for lunch, dinner, dessert and 2 hours of people time with Beng.

Only problem, decided to splurge on my birthday... It'd be my last 20-something birthday. And last year was such a pitiful affair when i decided to take a break and not organise anything. Right now, it's between 2 hours of dinner and ice-skating at Fuji Ice Palace. I'd prefer this but the place is booked for competitions the whole day. There's supposed to be a 2-hour gap in the evening. Hope the management will let me have the place and allow me to bring in food from outside for dinner.

Wanna look for me, I'd be here

Yup!

I just found a great place which serves food, has power supply at most of its tables and FREE wireless!

It is also fairly deserted of people so I won't feel bad about hogging its table and spending only a minimal amount on food and drinks. They have this $9.90 meal deals which come to about $12 with tax and service charge. But if I were to stay here for 3-4 hours having my meal and doing my work, I think that's more than a fair charge for food, endless water supply, electricity, wireless, comfortable working environment...

As it is, I came in here after my facial around 4 pm, had my lunch-cum-dinner, and am still here at 7 pm. What a great way to save money and be productive. However, I realise I am only productive for the first hour. After that, I start to surf, go online, blog, you get the idea...

Still, Yippee!

Where is this place you ask?

*grin* Come ask me lah!

oh, p.s., it's not Mac's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Judgement

Judgement signifies the start of a new journey, guided by lessons learned in the past. It represents the culmination of your life's experiences and is about rebirth and resurrection. It is time to face demons from the past and make a fresh start using a clean slate. Make that final decision that will finally plunge you into a new situation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope I guess it bodes well for my application for my Masters...

*fingers crossed*

My fave song from Beauty World

If there was another way,
I would not be here today.
I'd be back somewhere I belong,
somewhere in my past.
I should be the first to know
Where the road i'm taking goes.
If I fail then i suppose,
every road must be wrong.

Now i'm here,
Now that i've made it this far.
I must try to find out
what I'm all about
cos I lost all the answers long ago.
Felt I didn't need to know,
I didn't care.
Now I do.

Beauty World

Got 2 tix from Aida to watch Beauty World. She kept asking whether anybody wanted till i decided to help her out and take the tix off her hands. Fortunately, i had frens who were willing to accompany me for the show despite the last-minute notice.

There were also quite a large number who had no idea wat Beauty World was. *grin*

Anyway, the day started well enough. I had a great time with Robin the previous evening, although i did spend a little over budget on pizza at modesto's but the company was worth every cent.

Back to the day, I woke up earlier than i had to for tuition, made it just in time for the shuttle bus into the apartment estate, and had time to go to Sim Lim for my new HDD-cum-DIVX player. But too bad the stall where i buy my dvds from was closed - will have to go down again another time. Saved some money by only eating the fries of the mac's meal i bought. Kept the burger for another meal.

Then got home and took an hour's nap.

Mood took a nosedive just before i met Jonathon for the musical - explain another time...

Now, gotta go finish up preparing for my physics lessons tomorrow. Tata!

Hopes for 2008

It's been a good 12 days so far.

Number 1 - got the better 3n class for form class. Thought at first that i'd have problems with them but i think i prefer normal stream than express stream classes for form class. Yes, they're a headache when it comes to chasing paperwork and discipline cases, but they are so much more interesting characters.

My teaching classes have all been pretty enjoyable. I love my sec 1 class - they are so enthusiastic and CUTE! The sec 4 class seems to be coming to their senses and are doing their work. The sec 3 classes all also pretty on task and writing their notes and completing their worksheets. And, FINALLY, i only got 3 preparations for lesson planning. 2 for mathematics, but it's ok coz resources are easily available, and 1 for physics. Only problem i foresee is getting confused where i left off for each of my 4 sec 3 physics classes. It has only been 3 or 4 lessons and I'm starting to get them mixed up already...

Number 3 - not a sec 1 form teacher, so was not involved in the sec 1 camp. Otherwise, i would have had a problem being caroline's sister for her wedding. Other details in a later blog entry about her wedding?

Number 4 - trying very hard and being very successful to save money. If any of my close colleagues see this, i apologise that i haven't been joining them for lunches and dinners. Trying to save money by going home for my meals. Therefore, also means no more weekend shopping trips, going out for dinners, drinks, general socialising which require the spending of money on food, drinks and taxi fare.

Okies. Reach my train stop home liao. Will try to remember to continue to blog later when i get home.

Tata for now!

Release of N-level results

Yippee! My 4 NT class did pretty well for their N-level Science paper. Got a 82% pass rate against the national pass rate of 71%.

There were some pleasant surprises. I admit i have pretty high expectations of all my students which is why my pass rates for tests and exams are usually quite lousy. But in the end, if my high expectations help them to do well, yippee!

Of course, not many of my students, or myself sometimes, can agree with this mentality. Many a time, i would ask myself: "is it worth all the aggravation? Work myself so hard and give my students so much pressure. Will they really strive to do well, or just give up, as it is so difficult to do well in my class?"

More to come... Must get back now to my OSL presentation. Tata!

My last indulgence

Yup. I can't put it off anymore. If i really wanna go overseas for my Masters, it's now or never. I can't imagine having the energy or motivation to study when I'm over 30...

Met up with Xinyan and Wensi last night. Xinyan's in her final year at UK and Wensi is changing job to work at AStar.

As mentioned in my previous blog, met up with Singyuan last week to watch movie. She's also applying to study for her Masters. And Robin was, last that i know, studying for his GMat to apply for MBA.

Anyway, the only thing stopping me is money. But after saving for the last couple years, i think it's now or never. But, will really need to tighten my purse strings to fulfill the financial needs. It's easier to get into UK uni and our education syllabus is still based on the UK system. But, the pound is so expensive...

Fun-filled day

What a day!

Got up early this morning to go out with my mum. Went shopping at Wheelock Place and Isetan Scotts. Had vegetarian food at LingZhi with my parents. Bought the Tong Luk First card for my mum so that she can go makan with my aunts and uncles next time.

Then, more shopping at Tangs, Paragon... Meanwhile, trying to coordinate meeting Singyuan to watch Golden Compass in the afternoon. And guess what, Jonathan messaged me to watch Lust Caustion in the evening. Perfect timing, coz my mum wanna go home by 4 pm, and Golden Compass was at 4+ show. And Singyuan wanna go home for dinner after movie, giving me just ample time to make my way down to meet Jonathan for dinner before Lust Caution at 8+ show. Happy!

Did a lot of window shopping today. Had a few things in mind to buy but didn't. Maybe I'd go town again tmr. What things?

(1) Thomas Sabo bracelet + charms. How? Should I buy?



It's expensive, more than 10 times the price of the cheapo chrome ones I bought from Bugis, etc... But the quality is also more than 10 times better. It's sterling silver, and probably comes with cleaning service. The packaging also definitely much better...








(2) Muji inserts for my organizer.

Got a free organizer from buying my Kerastase shampoo and hair care products. Yup. I have an organizer in my PDA phone. But somehow, I think something physical is still better. Just hope I will keep updating it as required... Therefore, gonna change the weekly inserts which are given in the organizer to the daily ones I saw in the Muji store.

Anyway, before you know it, it was time to make my way down to Cathay Orchard to grab the tickets for the 4+ movie. Along the way, passed by a Citibank branch and decided to get the Tangs card and Clear card. Luckily for me, there were still pretty good seats available when I reach the cinema at 3+.

Then, it was off to Plaza Singapura. Unfortunately, or maybe it was ok, the GV shows at both Plaza Singapura and Marina were SOLD OUT! Quickly called Jonathan to see if he could grab tickets from the only other cinema showing Lust Caution in the evening - Balestier.

Met Singyuan and went off to watch movie. Very interesting movie. Loads of questions in my mind. Gonna grab the book and read on.

Sorry. Gotta take a break for now. Sleepy liao. Nite nite.

Long time no see

Hihi, it's been a long time since my last blog entry.

Lots of things happened. Most significant being my leading a 36-strong team to Cambodia for our school's yearly Overseas Service-Learning Project.

Very sad i had to miss one of my junior's wedding coz of the trip. Went for my school's prom for the graduating students. Coincidentally, it was at the same hotel as my own Sec 4 prom. Needless to say, it brought back many memories of my own prom. It wasn't THAT long ago... *grin*

Been back a week. The weather is utterly depressing. Rain, rain, rain. Please go away...

I had made up my mind and all prepared to go running like every other day. But the rain makes it so easy to postpone everytime... The 4 kg i lost during my OSL trip isn't gonna stay away for long...

Just had fake eyelashes put in this morning. Trying them out to decide if i wanna get lash extensions done. Then met a friend for lunch before meeting the gals for Caroline's bridemaids' dress-fitting. Mine's a halter. Cleavage shrunk coz lost weight, but nothing else seem to have shrunk... Sigh...

Sure putting the weight back very quickly coz of all the snacking i've been doing while I'm home. So, very sad... Will someone please go to the gym with me?

Facebook Picture Personality Results

Temperament - Cosmopolitan

When you wake up in the morning, you set out to impress and to make a lasting impression on those who you encounter. You surround yourself with all the right people and right things - making you a real trendsetter. Others admire and want to be just like you. Second best will not do - it's the best (and only the best) for you. You are attentive to detail in yourself, your surroundings and your social circle.

Interests - Thrill Seeker

You are interested in anything that is exciting and pleasurable. You're not afraid to indulge yourself - you live by your own set of rules and don't allow yourself to get hung on what others think. For the most part, you are independent and do whatever you please to do. Trying to stop you from doing something only makes you want it even more. At the end of the day - you live for life's most thrilling moments.

Amusement - Adventurous

It's a good thing that you are filled with energy and ambitions (that others sometimes find exhausting) because you're continually looking for a new adventure and exciting experience. You struggle with a continual feeling of restlessness which constantly pushes you to the next level of excitement. Once you have accomplished one thing, you are eager to accomplish something more exciting, riskier and distinguishable.

Passion - Physical

You are a cuddle bug - from a warm hug shared with your best friend to steamy sex with your partner, you enjoy every bit of human contact that you can get. You demonstrate your love for others most fluidly through physical one-on-one contact and you feel the most loved when you are being touched. You feel disconnected when you are physically isolated from others. You're a people person and a lover of all things human.

Addicted to Facebook

Haven't been able to sit down and blog properly for a long time. Why?

(1) Addiction to Facebook, which is so much more brainless and effortless...
(2) Catching up with correspondence for OSL - ARGH! Only 5 more days!
(3) Catching up with OSL logistics, lesson, ... needs - finally not micro-managing as much, but feel bad that so many things are done by other people
(4) Catching up with friends - now, this one I like - it's been great to have dinner, chit-chat... with Jiasong, May, Marilyn, Caroline, Singyuan, Jonathan, Beng Chuan, Noel, Angela, Grace, Wensi, Varian, Alphonsus

Extra notes on the above:

(1) Facebook is so frivolous and seems almost meaningless at times, but guess it's addictive because of the above reasons. It's also nice, because it kinda help people get in touch with long-lost friends. I wonder though, how many of the people whom I added actually remember me and what they remember about me. There must be a number of reasons, if not just one, why these friends were 'lost'...

I am thankful that I got back in touch with people like Dawn, Xinyi, Shulan, Jason, Xinyan... It's just funny, how superficial our touching base on the virtual world seems and how difficult it is to actually see each other in person.

(2) I really abhor checking my emails several times a day to catch up with the multitude of emails about the project. I know it's part and parcel of the work but sigh... Thank god I dun have the Blackberry.

(3) Yup. Finally getting the hang of NOT micro-managing. But like I mentioned, I'm not sure if I'm delegating too much work or too little work. And not sure how much supervision I should be giving to the people I assign work to...

More and more, I feel that I'm not leader material and more of a good worker and follower. However, pride and personal expectations just refuse to let me accept it and I'm trying to learn on the job and be the best that I can be.

I really believe in being a "Daughter of A Better Age", you know... To aspire, strive and dare to be active creators of a better age for all.

(4) It's been great fun helping out with Jiasong's wedding. Third time being a sister. Upcoming fourth time with Caroline's wedding next Jan. And hopefully a fifth time with May's next August. Kenah forced to accept Jiasong's wedding bouquet at her wedding reception. All her single friends - bar Marilyn - had left, and May refused to catch it on account that she had ROM-ed. I didn't want her bouquet to end up on the ground like I have seen so many bouquets did, so the bouquet's still hanging upside down at my kitchen window.

Lost all my dignity helping Jiasong to video her wedding as I climbed up and down to get good vantage points the whole day. As usual, there'd be no shots of me as I was behind the camera lens the whole day. *sulk* But also happy.

Very sorry, though. Been kinda too busy to put together the wedding video. I promise to finish it by the time I come back from Cambodia, ok? Will try to finish it this week so that Linda can watch it but no promises...

Got lots more to say, actually, but getting sleepy. And I expect a TOUGH week ahead - final dash (5 days left!!!) for the preparation for the OSL trip. And mentally preparation for myself to be a good leader, listener, watchdog, ... Basically SUPERWOMAN for the next 3 weeks...

Well, then I'm gonna set myself some white space. Maybe set up a tent at Sentosa and chill out for a while. Give myself some time to think about what I want to do with my life and myself...

What Do My Stars Say About Me?

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How Addicted am I to Blogging?

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Jiasong is getting married

Doesn't she look lovely?

Went to sleep this morning at 1+ am. Set 5 alarms on my phone from 2 am to 3 am. Woke up as the 3 am alarm went off. Phew!

Went to change, put on make-up. Left for Jiasong's place as soon as i could but was already 4.15 am liao.

Spa Party!

What a great way to spend a holiday...

Great company, fantastic surroundings, luxurious mud spa and massage...

Please have a care for my eyes

No prizes for guessing correctly why I'm starting to get headaches...

So, to all the students reading this... Please TRY to write neatly and clearly and legibly. Otherwise, don't expect me to search and look for marks to give you. It's NOT a treasure hunt, even if you think so.

Photos of Shape Run from my handphone

Yup. I brought my handphone along on my run.

One, it'd be easier to contact Aida, who also brought her phone along, after the run. Goodness knows how many ladies took part in the run. It'd be crazy to look for each other with a communication device.

Two, yup, you guessed it. I can take photos of the run, while i run. Gimme an excuse when i wanna grab a quick breath. *grin*

Right before we start on our 5 km route

Along the run

Reaching the 2 km marker

Only 750 m left!

Participant number 5705

With Aida, my neighbour at work, aka participant number 6274

Shirley's wedding dinner

Over at Cafe Iguana now.

Just attended Shirley's wedding dinner over at Merchant Court Hotel. Quiet dinner, even the yum seng was quiet. Alex was shouting a wee bit and everyone turned around and stared at us...

Our table was the last for photo taking so we called for 2 glasses of wine to ham up the atmosphere. Shirley was quite fun - she drank up the wine without any help from her hubby - and we had another yum seng for our table photo. I sure look very ugly in the photo.

Okay, cannot be so anti-social. Gotta join in the chit-chat around me.

If it was a movie, my life would be a ...

What Type of Movie Would Your Life Be?
	Your life would be a Drama. You're rich in feeling and emotion. You constantly play life out in your mind, imagining the "ifs, ands, or buts." You constantly feel like the world is your audience, which might inevitably affect your sanity! While your passion is endearing, the over-dramatics may grow a bit too intense after a while.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Shape Run Results

Okies! Official results of my 5 km Shape Run is 39 minutes and 9 seconds!

And what a laugh! On the website, there's a photo of Aida and myself when we were taking photos with my handphone. Hm... I'm not cut out to be a celebrity. Notice how Aida instinctively turned to the Shape Run Official Photographer while I was concentrating on my handphone camera? *grin*

Cheers on a day well spent that day! Wake up early, run 5 km, bonded with Aida, then met up with Singyuan and Huixin for lunch. Saw the launch of the last Ducks Race (must remember to put up the photos of that soon).

I'm on Facebook

I do now. Wensi sent me some Facebook thingy and I signed up to see what it was about.

Now, I'm addicted to the thing. So many interesting applications but very self-indulgent and very, very, very addictive.

I'm like logging on whenever I have any free time. Not a good thing to do with the exams coming up and lotsa revision things to prepare for my students.

Must wean myself off!!! in another minute, perhaps? *grin*

I will fall for...

What Kind of Guy Will You Fall For?
	You would fall part for the bad boy. Get a good lawyer, because you will fall for someone from the wrong side of the tracks with charm, looks, and all the moves down pat. Look for your future guy in bars, clubs, and on the dancefloor--he's the shirtless one with the tattoos.
	You would fall part for the geek. If you're looking for love, consider spending a little more time studying up in the library. To you, there's nothing more attractive than intelligence, shyness, and kindness; your future love may have four eyes and zero social skills, but he'll make up for it in brains and heart.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

I should live in...

What City Should You Live In?
	You should live in New York City. America's largest city will ensure that you will blend into the crowd. You are the brooding type - introspective, creative, and eccentric - and NYC's cutting-edge, individualistic culture and ambience will appeal to you.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

I'm Harry Potter!!!

Which Harry Potter Character Are You?
	You are Harry. You're a loyal and courageous friend. You'd do anything to protect the people you love, especially if it'll get you a break from class for a little while.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

KTV @ Johore

Time to update some of my recent activities...

First one: KTV @ Johore on the Post-National Day school holiday (10 August 2007).

Thanks for the concern

Hihi, everyone!

Haven't blogged for a while (more than a week)...

Thanks for all your concern for my bruised knee. And my elbow.

Knee is looking much better now. But still very painful. Scared to see doctor in case it's worse than I think it is. But not likely. Elbow is probably hurting coz of my heavy bags and heavy-duty marking. Argh! More marking coming up ahead with the End-of-Year examinations.

Will need to do a lot of other things in addition to finishing my marking for the 4Es. But that's priority. Coz probably have to go through on Monday liao.

Next on the list are all my OSL tasks... So many... I'm still micro-managing a lot of things. But trying to delegate as much as possible liao. I'm trying... Just not my style. Maybe I'm not cut out to take on the lead role. Just a very good supporter and assistant. No! I can be the head huncho - I just need more experience! Must be positive! *grin*

Okies. Time for bed. Later still got the Section B questions to finish marking. Not bad already - managed to finish Section A today. Then, have to finish the letters to be sent out to garner the physical supplies we need for Cambodia, do up the video so I have something to present for my VE on Monday, and maybe add more flash and dash to the OSL website.

Nitey nite!

My busted knee

My mum just helped me rub more medicated oil on my knee. Argh! PAIN!

Doesn't my knee look more colourful than last night? The previous photo was taken after my granddad helped me rub medicated oil. Got a real scare earlier this evening. Mum called me from home asking me to rush home cause my granddad wasn't feeling well. Got the fright of my life. It was only 2 years back, around the same time, also just after the sept holidays, that i got a call from my mum telling me to rush to the hospital when my grandma passed away...

I'm rather close to my grandparents, having lived with them all my life. From as long as i can remember, i grew up travelling with my grandparents all over malaysia as they performed wayang. Hence, i've always had no problem backpacking and travelling on a budget.

Anyway, thank god my granddad is feeling better now. Just have to watch him closely and make sure he doesn't have any difficulties breathing like he was earlier. :(

My bruised knee

Not sure if i should go see the doctor... Maybe tomorrow, if i finish setting my maths papers?

All ok after run on Sunday. Who would have thought i would instead fall on my knees walking to class on Monday morning? Knee is swollen, but still can bend without much pain, so i think there isn't any damage to the knee cap...

Dun really wan to make it a big issue, but also afraid not getting it seen to may hinder the healing process.

I'd die if i can't exercise... Knees are already weak after all the basketball i used to play without proper shoes. They really can't afford any more bashing...

How? Friday still need to go cambodia... Where got time to go see doctor? Think there's nothing wrong... Just getting old... Will take long time to heal. Like my foot the last time. Also took 2 whole months for the bruise to go away.

Yeah, aren't i just a complete klutz? *grin*

Yeh! 3 cheers!

Yoo hoo! Finished my 5 km Shape Run in 38 minutes! Way better than my target of 50 minutes!

Most importantly, i didn't stop! Still not straining myself because i can still sms and take photos along the way. *grin*

Shall not be too ambitious. Main aim today was to complete the run without stopping and i did it!

Shape Run

I will finish the run!

2nd run with new shoes

Just finished a 3.2 km run at a very dark NUS track. This is a photo of the University Hall. Wow! Someone just started on her run.

I should really put aside some time to run every week. Right now, I can literally feel my muscles waking up and having a party. I'm also burping out lotsa 'old' gases stored in the depths of my lungs.

All in all, i must schedule exercise into my weeks ahead!