Touching show

Was surprisingly touched by the last episode of this Channel 8 drama just now. Hardly watched the local channels after I got cable, let alone local dramas. However, was suddenly very engaged by this rather cliched storyline while I was surfing (laptop and computer are in the living room)...

Thomas Ong, Cavin Soh, Aileen Tan and Michelle Chong star in this short drama on two brothers managing their specialty restaurant Our Rice House and the customers they meet. The whole show comprises of 8 episodes based on different stories in each episode.

Da Fan (Thomas Ong) owns a restaurant called Our Rice Shop, a special restaurant that serves dishes made with rice and up to 500 plates of rice dishes can be served every day. Da Fan's specialty is Egg Fried Rice, a dish that has won many awards at the World Food Award since early 90s. However, he has stopped cooking for years and no one knows the reason behind it.





Tonight's the last episode and reveals the reason behind Da Fan's change. Apparently, his girlfriend - Shiyun - disappeared 7 years ago. 7 years later today, he comes across a lady who looks exactly like his girlfriend. However, she is married with a daughter and is called Emily, not Shiyun. In addition, she is an American-Chinese. So, can there be 2 people on earth who looks so alike? Well, I did mention that the storyline is cliched, didn't I?

Yup. Emily (Shiyun) got into an accident 7 years ago and lost all her memory. Her doctor fell in love with her and told her that he was her boyfriend. Not long after her recovery, they got married.

What was very touching was how the husband asked Da Fan to let Emily (Shiyun) live her new life happily without knowing her past and the latter agreed. Then, the husband made some excuse to allow Da Fan have dinner alone with Emily and her daughter. During the last 5 minutes of the show, Da Fan realised that the young girl is actually his daughter, coz she's 7 years old!

Finally knowing the truth, he was able to get out of his depression and prepare for a change in his life. Hence, the show comes to an end. Probably to await the 2nd season...

Anyway, it was quite a touching show. How many of us have found love, loved, lost love, found love again? As we get older, do we let slip too many opportunities (love or otherwise) because we truly think everybody else will be better off or are we really too scared to try? Would we hold on to this opportunity and try everything to keep it? Would we be able to let go of the past and jump into an unknown? Or are we afraid to take the leap?

Term 2 Week 1 Day 2

All's well that ends well.

Had a good day yesterday. Tiring. But it ended well with me falling asleep on the floor after watching House...

Oh yes, killed a cockroach (3rd one this month) while I was having my dinner and it completely spoilt my appetite. Think the rainy weather is just flushing out all the creepy-crawlies. Killed the last 2 while I was in the TOILET! Thankfully, I kept my calm both times and trapped the cockroaches into the toilet bowl and flushed them away! *evil laugh*

2nd day in school today. I hate the first few days of the school week - they are very packed days.

Guardian angel

Term 2 starting in less than an hour. Guardian angel, please look after me and my classes...

May we be wise and think before we speak. May we be kind and be more considerate of others. May we grow both mentally and spiritually to be better persons.

Thank you guardian angel, i know it's a lot to ask, but at least give us the strength to do the above... Do, not try.

See my eyebags

Not bad for such an old bird with only 2 hours' sleep.

Went out with my colleagues last night to celebrate Reena's birthday - she's so young!

Sigh... Time sure passes real quick. Early yesterday morning, bumped into Yap on our way to work. We live 2 blocks apart but has only seen each other around our area twice. His daughter is already 15 months old!

Anyway, back to Reena's birthday celebration, i had a really great time! Will talk more later.

Now, have to get back to the iScience workshop that i've brought my InfoComm kids to.

Thanks for dinner, Sinyuan

Going to sleep liao. Still have a full day ahead tmr. Prob still have to wake up early despite it being the holidays. Was looking forward to recharging myself this week but guess not. Lots to do.

But before i go to sleep, let me thank Sinyuan for the wonderful company and dinner. Think i talked too much again. Do remind me not to talk on Wednesday. If that is even possible. *grin*

Anyway, despite my complaints that the week ahead will still be very busy, I'm very glad i've got at least two dinners with friends planned, an afternoon out with my mum, and a health screening for my mum (finally!). I've been worried about my mum's health ever since her mum passed away from breast cancer and one of her sisters got nose cancer. Now, another of her sisters found something wrong with her blood. So, I'm just glad i finally got her to agree to go for a health screening session with me.

Hairdresser me!

*grin* Yup! I just cut my own hair.

Ok, so it was only my fringe. But it was all of 2 inches long cut off, all by myself, staring hard into the mirror.

I think i've never looked at my face as intently as the last 15 minutes. Well, not sure how long i took. But i dun think it was too long...

So, there, the next time you see me, do tell me if it's passable or i should let a proper hairdresser do some damage control?

It's the March holidays!

Yippee!

It's finally the March holidays!

A few things I'm quite happy about.

Would like to thank a few students for being very helpful.

(1) Ranjit for clearing the mess at the newspapers and stacking all the newspapers up very neatly. Thank you. The area is now very much cleaner and neater.

(2) Amy for putting all the files into the boxes and taping and labelling all the boxes. However, I'm not sure if you were using your Chinese remedial time to do all these work. It's not appropriate to find excuses to skip your academic work which is way far more important than these tasks, which should be done outside of curriculum time. You are only putting yourself at a disadvantage when you do not allow yourself to do your academic work properly.

(3) The boys in my class who helped to take down all the papers and posters extremely quickly. I just made a short trip 2 doors away to the staff room and viola! All the paper decorations were taken down!

(4) Chellam for being a very responsible and dutiful Mathematics rep for her class. Papers are always collected and kept in her own plastic file before handing up to me, she's always so apologetic when a few of her classmates failed to submit their work on time. And I give so much work to this class I'm quite sorry for her at times to have to collect everything. But it does make my work so much easier and I have such a great time teaching this class.

(5) Leonard Dunn and his 2 classmates for helping me carry all the laptops up to the Art Room yesterday evening. I had to carry 3 laptops, several hard-disks, a bulky tripod stand and other pheripherals up to the Art Room yesterday evening and I was just wondering how I can carry everything up in a single trip when the boys turned up to see Ms Tan. Unluckily for them, I roped them in to help me carry the stuff up. Luckily for me, they helped me willingly.

(6) My faithful 4N1 students - Jialing and Judith - who come every Sat for their Mathematics remedial lessons. Despite the rain and cold last week, they still turned up. No worries, you should get your distinctions in Mathematics in the coming 'N'-levels. Now, I'm more worried about your other subjects. No use scoring well in Mathematics when you're not going to do well in other subjects, say English.

(7) The few students who would smile when they see me and give me a cheerful greeting "Hi, Ms Low!". It's really nice to be fondly thought of instead of being sneered at and given disdainful looks, which is what we teachers get on a regular basis. It's nice to be appreciated for our work in making sure your work gets done, you learn what's required to pass, if not to do well, in your national exams, to care that you pass, if not to do well, in your national exams, to know that you are learning to be a better person, to care that you grow to be a better person... When our efforts are rebuffed or even disregarded as rubbish, I hope you realise that we are only humans too and we also get hurt by your words and actions.

Back to a more cheerful note, I am looking forward to the March holidays! Even though I still have to go back to school on Monday (Number Properties Workshop and work review), Wednesday (Mathematics remedial) and Thursday (CCA excursion). Trying very hard not to go back to school on Tuesday and Friday but I may go back after all. Need to transfer all my stuff from the temporary staff room into the newly done-up one. Looks like it's got plenty of space for me to put all my books and papers. Just need to throw all the other rubbish stuff away... And I've still got LOTS of rubbish stuff at my table, below my table, on my table...

Oh yes, I do hope for more helpful students who will willingly help us transfer our stuff to the new staff room next week. So if you turn out to be one of those students, thank you in advance! *grin*

Cold, tired and sleepy

When is the bus coming? Still have a lot of work to do...

Have to collate the term 1 marks for the various classes, prepare follow-up worksheets for the LMS session, reply slips for my Sec 1 remedial session during the hols, new seating arrangement for the class, holiday assignment, ...

Hm... Can only recall these for the moment.

Yeh, my bus is here!

Term 1 Week 10

"determination to succeed has taken over fear of failure"

This shall be my motto for the next 2 weeks. Shall hang in there and resist sending in the King's application in the hope that I get a favourable reply from IC.

I'm sooooooooooooooo TIRED!!!

Already very tired after the Sec 3 Adventure Camp. Hadn't had time to recuperate.

Then Friday night went out. Slept late and then had to wake up early to go for remedial with my 4N students. It was raining so heavily - perfect weather for sleeping in... But sigh... For my students!!!

Then, it was time to give tuition to my neighbour coz I missed a session due to the Adventure Camp.

After that, was supposed to rush down to Jiasong's place for gathering but thankfully, she asked me not to go down so early - they were still cleaning up their place and getting the food ready.

Wanted to take a short nap but ended up having a quick chat with my mum about my overseas studies options. From the way our conversation was going, my mum was trying to tell me "You have made your decision already but you are just trying to get other people to tell you what you want to do..."

Love talking to my mum. Hm... Love talking. Period.

Think I was like talking too much after I got to Jiasong's place. Back in the habit of talking about myself for too long. Too much. Too often. Must remind myself to refrain. I keep talking about my Master's until I think I also sian already. I've told enough people already. I've made my application. Should stop talking about it until I get my positive reply! So, this will be the final mention of my Master's application! Ok? OK!

P.S. The photo at the top of this entry nice? Didn't know my camera has a panaromic function. Took this from Jiasong's balcony at the gathering. Beautiful right? Would have been even prettier if the sky wasn't as overcast.

Giving thanks for having great colleagues

I'm feeling much better today. Thank you.

Many thanks to @ngel & BL for coming by and giving me your words of encouragement. They (both the 2 gals & their big hearts) are much appreciated and I hope they know that I'm always nearby if they need any help.

Had a wonderful evening out with my colleagues to celebrate @ngel's coming birthday. Some of them insisted on paying me back for their dinner when I invited them out to celebrate my birthday so I actually didn't have to pay for dinner and drinks. I would have insisted on not having them pay but I realised that it makes everyone much happier to let them get their way. Coming from a poor background, I sometimes insist on my own financial independence too much. I remember how Z used to scold me for paying for our meals out, movies, etc until he felt very put off. I guess I'm finally starting to feel confident enough to let people pay for me when they want to. After all, like we all say, we wouldn't suggest/insist on it if we didn't want to. *smile*

On the other hand, sorry, guys, I'm also learning very well to let you pay whenever we go out. However, I hope you don't just take note of the times you had to pay. I also pay for enough dinners and movies. Besides, I think I make for pretty good company, good enough to let you pay for my share. *grin*

Right now, feeling pretty good because of the happy gathering last night. Plus, my 4N1 gals turned up for their Maths remedial yet again despite the heavy rain. Cleared up the paperwork that's been lying around on my table. Got a stack of marking in my bag but decided I can leave that for later. Gonna take a spot of leisure to update my blog after being disconnected from the Internet those 3 days I was with my class during their Sec 3 Adventure Camp. It was surprisingly quite a painful experience to let go of the laptop and its connectivity with the rest of the world. It also brought to mind a very interesting thought - the world really does go round despite what I did or did not do. I am that insignificant in the whole scheme of work so why should I be bothered about small and insignificant things that are beyond my control? Life has a way of turning out the way it wants to.

The screw up with missing a kid during the camp, I guess it'd be a mark-down on my part. But hey, a lesson learnt is a lesson gained. I just have to make sure I don't repeat the same mistake again. Just when I thought my paperwork and admin was ok, it really wasn't that ok. Realised that I should never get complacent and satisfied with things as they are. There are always areas of improvement and things to look out for.

Encountered a number of hiccups in my application to IC but the professors there are so NICE! Submitted my application on the due date, but realised I forgot to attach my aptitude assignment. Emailed the head of the course and was so afraid that the 3 day camp will make me miss their reply. Then my hard work for the application would have been in vain. But I was in time! Because they gave me a 1-week extension for my submission! Wow! Then, oops, another hiccup. You see, the assignment had part (1) and part (2) and I thought it was a 2-choose-1 type of assignment. The email from the head of the course was quite cute - he informed me that I only submitted half the assignment, and apparently it was a very common mistake. However, I had only a day to make the deadline. And thankfully, despite my tiredness from the camp and catching up with my work, I managed to make it in time again!

So, all's left now is to wait 2 weeks. 2 more weeks before I embark on my 2nd application to King's. Have to clear out from the staff room soon. Will write more in my next blog on my conflicting thoughts on the 2 courses at IC and King's.

Meanwhile, cheers! Have a great weekend ahead!

Screw Up

Darn! I was feeling all happy about the Sec 3 Adventure Camp. Nothing major happened. Enough small incidents. Minor ones which turned out alright in the end.

But darn it! Just realised that I missed out 1 kid during the mess of transferring the kids from the school to the campsite. Got over-reliant on the integrity of my students and got screwed by that trust. 1 kid went off by himself, I assumed he was exempted from the camp and was too engrossed in other admin matters like calling up the absentees, checking the students' bags, passing the confiscated items to the HOD...

Fine. I SCREWED UP. Trusted the students too much. Why do some thing always happen like that just when I give them some leeway? Why do they always have to make me force them to take 2 steps back after I let them go ahead by 1 step?

And it's always only 1 student who makes the whole thing so depressing. 1 student has to the one holding up the edusave fund forms collection, 1 student has to be the one who consistently refuses to bring the money for the special events, 1 student has to be the one who always loses the form for signing... And when they lose the forms, they don't tell me. Wait until I scold them for losing the form, then scold me back because it's not their fault they cannot submit the form when they have lost the form! For goodness sake, you are all of 15 years old! I am not your mother! Definitely not to 40 15-years-old! And if you can't even remember to do small things which is your basic responsibility, don't scold me for nagging you!

Why do I have to the one to be scolded by both you and the teachers overseeing me? Who do I scold? My parents? For bringing me up well enough to be a teacher. Myself? For being trusting, for giving people their 2nd chance, 3rd chance, n-th chance. All for what? A miserable paycheck, 12 hours of constant exercise, no work-life balance and a tight work schedule that allows me to be scolded by so many people on a daily basis?!?!

So yeah, perhaps, I did not screw up. I'm the screw up. For choosing this job.

For obvious reasons, this is not a good day today. So, don't get in my path today. Better not tomorrow either. Cause tomorrow's the day when the finger-pointing and fault-finding starts. Maybe it'd even provide me with a good reason for me to quit. Let me throw in the towel and not feel guilty about it.

Happy happy happy

Very happy to have had lunch with an old friend i haven't seen in a number of years.

She's one of the most capable persons that i know. And definitely very hard to catch up with. She hardly replies to my sms, and emails are usually one-liners. Over the last few years, i thought we had lost touch for good.

So, it was very nice to know that i can talk to her like old times. True, i think i talked a bit too much. But i think she's ok with it. *smile*

I'd love to see her again soon, and let her have her turn to talk about herself. Her service-learning work (didn't know you were doing this too!), her playing golf, what she's gonna do at insead (did i mention how capable she is), ...

So, if you see this, Xin'ai, know that I'm thankful for u taking the time to come out to meet me for lunch, thanks a lot for lunch, and thanks a lot for not changing, for still being very much yourself.

Doodle 4 Google Contest

These drawings on Google's home page are so clever! Apparently, Google's home page will display a different drawing whenever a significant holiday or event is commemorated. Must visit the website more...

Too bad only kids in the U.S have the opportunity to try their hand at incorporating a clever design into the Google logo. The resulting winning doodle will be displayed on Google's home page in May and there are also some exciting prizes. Regardless, you can find out more about the artist behind the famed doodles using the above link.

Cool website

Found this cool website - Comiqs - to create your own comic strip using your own photos and pics.

It is both a web-based comic creator tool and an online publishing platform. It's free and really easy to use too.

So, go on and try it out - with a little creativity and more than a little wit, you can transform your most cherished and most memorable photographs into something fun.

Here's my first try...

Don't think about it. Just do it.

Famous words from Adrian, one of the Adrian and Collin duo from the Amazing Race Asia 2.

Yeah! We won! Singapore won! The various groups from TARA have more or less become representatives of the different countries they come from. Both times, the Singapore teams have been pretty dull - no swearing, no drama, no heated argument and in-bickering. Hence, the amount of air time the Singapore teams have gotten on TARA both times is kinda little.

And wow! Each time, the Adrian and Collin just manages to sneak in and not fall behind. Sometimes, because of the little air time they get, I always thought they have an easy time of it. Which is, of course, not the case.

Anyway, to get to the point, since i'm very tired and it's WAY past my bed-time. I'm very glad I stayed up to watch the finale of TARA 2. Like Marc said, the name of the show is really apt. Nobody knows what will happen. Watching the marathon during the CNY break, I always felt that the Marc and Rovilson duo have been very lucky. They hardly had to waste much time on several trial-and-error road-blocks and challenges and just zoomed past everyone to lead the pack. However, when it came down to it in the end, it was the last time to arrive who took away the US$100 000 prize. All because of Adrian's general knowledge of flags. Of course, he had to remember all the different countries they had visited during TARA and that was no small feat. I would have failed the challenge abysmally.

So, nobody would really know who's the ultimate winner. In life, in work, in any area at all? As long as you're leading the life you want, the life that makes you happy, that allows you to eat well in the day, sleep well at night, who's to say you're not the ultimate winner?

And to be able to have the chance to do whatever i want, whenever i want. With the freedom that i have. Really, I have to count my blessings and be happy with me. And I needed this reminder. I have been in a slump since the CNY break.

Before the CNY break, I was on a high after seeing the place i booked for my bday celebrations. Was disappointed when most of my friends couldn't make it and I had to change the date of the gathering. Got more disappointed when I spent a very "lonely" birthday at home, surfing, isolated... Yeah, I had a good rest but I'm someone who needed to be surrounded by people... Then, was feeling pretty good because i churned out a LOT of worksheets and handouts for my teaching these couple weeks. But in all, a cloud is still hanging over my head over the poor response of my bday celebrations. Yeah, it can't be helped... Feburary is a busy month for all Chinese. And it's not as if you're some big shot. Hey, who on earth organizes his/her own bday bash anyway... *grin*

But seeing Adrian and Collin win the race in their own quiet, unassuming and patient strength, my heart has been strengthened for another leg of my race.

So, thank you, Adrian and Collin. And I'm sure i'm not the only one inspired by your graceful win. I hope there'd be more teams like you in the upcoming TARA 3! Cheers!

Angry at students

Am i too lenient? I'm so angry at 2 of my students.

One of them were supposed to see me at the staff room to cut her nails. She still owe me several hours of dc for long nails. I told her to get her nails cut and i'd call off the last few hours. Great! Give her chance but she still no show...

Another one. I was already angry with him for blatantly lying to me that he has to serve school dc instead of reporting to me for my dc - also for long nails. Similarly, i was going to let him off after another session but what a disappointment when i went to the dc room and he wasn't there. Ok. Gave him another chance today. Asked him to help me carry my stuff to staff room and reminded him not to run off. He did. Another time.

I really dun wan to scream at my students. It's such a shrewish thing to do. And i hate being so disappointed. My mood gets affected and i get angry at everyone else around me. Do they really wan me to not care?

Philips Internet/DECT phone VOIP3211S/90

Not sure if the Skype-enabled phones I mentioned earlier are available in the Singapore market, but know for sure this one is - the Philips Internet/DECT phone VOIP3211S/90.

So, in case any of my frens are still looking for a present for me, here's a prime choice. *grin*

P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You!

Must-watch movie!

Will elaborate in another entry.

For now, back to work!

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.