THE DAY...

Well, it's that time of the year again (quote unquote the teachers in my school). For me, it's the first time for me, being officially a teacher of a form class, with my own kids to celebrate with, and also the first time I truly feel that I deserve the day to rest...

On Tuesday, the whole school went for a Staff Dinner, and I really feel fortunate to have such a good School Advisory COmmittee. They really pumped in the money for the staff dinner. Previously, one of the SAC members was the boss of the Zhen Fa live seafood restaurant, but if you all read the news, he actually passed away last year, and hence this year the venue was changed to Boon Lay Raja Restaurant, at Jurong East Interchange. I don't know by what standards such dinners should be set, but then this dinner was good by my standards. There was shark's fins (by the slices), one suckling pig, one roast peking duck...and other stuff. I thought that it was really good.

The three beauties: (from left, yours truly, Yen Ru and Evelyn...)Ning, Myself, Nazli and Cynthia (my mentor)
This was the first dish - the cold plate. I think it was quite unique, and it tasted good. There was lobster salad, scallop, some bacon roll and another don't know what it was...

As for the other dishes, I was too engrossed talking, laughing, gossipping and eating at the same time to pay attention to taking the photos.. (And by the way, the other men sitting at the table were too fast, and we had to fight to ensure that we had enough to eat.. haha)

This is a picture of all the SAC members, who have generously provided the funding for our dinner. In the middle, the only female in the picture, is out very nice principal, Mrs. Sng. She is indeed a very nice person; warm and fuzzy. I have really never seen a P like her...

Today was THE Day. The ACES Day that I had trained so hard for, and rehearsed so many times for, was postponed because of the stupid rain. The initial backup plan was for the pupils to do the exercise in the hall, level by level. However, it was "decided" that we postponed it to the TUesday after the start of school. Sheesh. Another one more week to stress over it, and another week of memorizing the stupid routines which I have choreographed with another two teachers.
At the start of the day, when I went to the hall to take attendance, these kids ran up to me one by one, shoving things into my hands, saying "Miss Lee, Na". I had to reject all of them, saying that I will only take it in class later on. They were a bit taken aback that I was rejecting them. What I was really thinking about was the real meaning behind giving the teachers presents on Teachers' Day.

And so, when I got back to class with them, I had a long talk with them. Ha (Talk about "sheesh...just want to give her a present ma..."). I asked them how many of them didn't buy any presents. Some of them raised their hands. The other kids were mocking them, saying "ooorrr, you never buy anything for Miss Lee". Then I thought I could talk to them. I wrote the idiom "it's the thought that counts" on the board, and asked them if they remembered what it meant. They did, and some kids were screaming the explanation to me, that if you mean to give someone something, it doesn't matter how big or small the gift was. I told them that they were right, and therefore there was no real need to get the present for me if they don't mean it. Then I told them that it was ok even if they just gave me a hug; that could mean even more than a very expensive present. And so, I asked if any of them would like to give me a hug. A few of the girls came up, started shy, and then after seeing one or two of them warm up to me, the others were more forthcoming.

YOu know how they say hugs are really therapeutic? Yes, they are. Just hugging them made me feel much better. I made them promise to be good kids today, as a good present for me. They were quite good, comparatively to the other days... hahah.

Here's my class. This photo is a bit blur.. taken by their art and craft teacher.

The girls. They are really quite sweet (most of them, anyway), but some of them can really drive you up the wall, especially the malay girl. SHe is always not bringing her stuff, and it always makes me mad... Like I always tell them, it's ok if they are slow; I can help them. But if they do not want to help themselves, there is nothing that I can do to help them.

The boys in my class. Generally the smarter gender in my class. They are also more creative and very academically inclined. See the handsome boy on the left of the picture? (The one behind the buy in P.E. T-shirt) He is my top student. So far, he had already gotten two storybooks from me for scoring full marks in the test. He's really good. AND WELL BEHAVED. RARE! The one beside him is the infamous Keefe Tok. He is really smart, and witty, but very very naughty. I have to thumb him down everyday. EVery other teachers are complaining about him. As for me, I am trying everyday...(really trying very hard), to see the beauty in him. He is really quite cute lah, but really too mischievious.

The gifts that they got for me. The cards were really quite sweet, but the one that touched me the most is the card on the left, made by Hafiz (one of the lower ability pupils in my class). it said "You are the most lovely teacher! Thanks!". Sigh. really melted my heart. Keefe's card also warmed me up. It was really quite sweet. One of the girls baked me two muffins. Sweet. All the gifts felt really sweet this year, because I really deserve it.

To all the teachers in the whole wide world, Happy Teachers' Day. It's been a hard year, and we all deserve it. =)

19-8-06 A day of relaxation...

Despite reaching home only early this morning, I still managed to wake up on time for the math course at NUS this morning. SOmetimes our human adaptability and flexibility never ceases to amaze me.

ANyway, attended the course with Joanne, another teacher from my school. I thought it would be interesting. It was entitled "How to stretch your child's potential". Well, I thought it was some creative thinking thingee, but I was greatly disappointed when I attended it. It was just like Year 1 mathematics module that I had in NIE. It was like the basic concepts that children need to have in school before they would be able to solve the problems. And the speaker kept bragging about his 3 children taking part in the Math Olympiad, and making it into the Gifted Education programme. Sigh. Some people just have it good.

Anyway, after the course, I met da at City Hall. We had originally wanted to attend a musical at the SIngapore Repertory Theatre, but then the tickets were sold out already, and therefore we didn't manage to buy it. I was famished, so we went for lunch. While waiting for da to arrive, I walked around the basement, and was wowed. The new basement that has been renovated looks very very good. There were many new shops there, and it was really very pretty. Here's where we had lunch in the end. There were a lot of eateries at where the supermarket used to be. We had lunch at this place called "MIX", where they served the apparently healthy food. Hee. They had many types of wraps, all with different skins. Here's what I tried.

The red skin is made with jalepeno. A bit spicy...quite nice. It looked kind of eekie at first, but then when you sink your teeth into it, WOW! The taste is just amazing! I got the Texan flavour, which has chcken, mozarella cheese, bacon, avocado. IT's really very tasty; but it's not cheap. It costs $7 plus for this. =)

See? Even da thought it was good... hee hee=)

Last night, da got me a new hangie for my phone. I call it "toto". Ain't it cute??? =)

After that, we went to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream. Hee hee. Very cute background, and we sat there and enjoyed the ice-cream while talking and relaxing.

Da with the "Zoolander" look. For those of you who caught the silly movie, you will recognize the sily look. Haha. .

After City Hall, we walked around to Bras Basah and Bugis to looks for gifts that I can get for my class for Childrens' Day. (Started looking early, just in case I can't get anything nice at the last minute. I never like rushing to buy stuff...)

AT night, we went to Penny Black's, one of the LIverpool FC club in SIngapore (I think..) to watch the opening match between Liverpool and Sheffield..The atmosphere there is really amazing. It's like, everyone is so enthusiastic. It sure beats watching the Cable TV at home. Haha. CLick on the video below to watch the people sing the anthem for a feel of the atmosphere.

The Rich Get Richer. Sigh.

Last night, my family and I went to Marina Square K-Box for a night of singing and partying. One of mummy's friend just struck lottery.. A whole Freaking $40,000! What the...Ok. That was not the problem. The problem was that she was already so freaking rich. No wonder they say that "the rich get richer". Somehow, much as I hate to believe it, it is indeed true.

She booked the room with the pool table (it's the VIP room), and it cost $1500! sheesh. There were a lot of people who were aunty Jo's friends, and most of them were also rich people. There was also a lot of booze around, and by the end of the night, most of them were already either drunk, or very drunk. The only sober ones were myself, da, Kelvin and his new ger. (Oh, by the way, the food at the buffet sucks, big time).


There was also a lot of fun, and when they were half drunk, they all started dancing to everything. Happened to take a video of them dancing; most of them will be startled to see their behaviourI guess....hmm...

The prettiest girl of all....*wink*

These were some of the aunties and uncles that were there. Most of them have their businesses...

Kelvin and his new gf, Shuxian

me and da.

daddy and aunty Jo's husband, Uncle David. See their faces, you can tell that they were already not very sober. =(

Mummy and Aunty Jo.

The 4 of them singing. Uncle David and AUnty Jo are really nice people; rich as they are, there are no airs about them, and they treat people sincerely, resulting in them having many true friends. I guess it's way better than those people who are only halfway there, and like to behave like as though they are the bloodiest snobs in the world. irritating. I despise those sort of people. (And I DO See a lot of such parents in school.. sheesh)

Shuxian and I. She looks quite cute yah? =) *So do I... bleah=P

National Day Eve...

Started the day bright and early in school for the LOwer Primary Sports Day (Cum National Day Celebrations). I was made the announcer for the day. (You know, those who go "...and in first position, we have.....", "come on, people, let me hear you scccrrrreeeeaaaammmmm.!!!"")

yup. I think I was ok. For a first timer, I did alright.. Hee.. =)

Here's my co-announcer, my mentor, Cynthia.
My dear niece Vanessa and I. The whole school was in red and white. A pity I didn'tmanage to take photos with my class. Anyway, they didn't win anything. Sigh. What a failure I am...

We went out shopping after that, with Jo's mummy and grandmother. Haha. That's me with the two of them, Jo and Vanessa.

Me in my Dior and my Nike Pegasus.

An update of vivy darling...

It's been a while since we all saw vivy darling. This video was taken at her home, when I went over for dinner on National Day.

She was in such a good mood that day, and was having so much fun with the Lego blocks. Haha. Watch the video, and have a good smile!

FOr those of you in a bad mood, it is imperative that you watch this, because it will definitely bring a smile to your face. Take a break, and enjoy!! =)

A new item to my collection...

Yeah. One more new item. I think it has become a habit for me. Every month, on the 12th when I get my pay, somehow it is a ritual for me to get something for myself, to make me feel good. This month, it's the new watch which is ohhhh....soo.....pretty... =)

From Guess?, my favourite bling watches. This is black. The previous one that I had was white. This one cost me a bomb (and apparently in high demand, and quite limited in supply, because just after I paid for it, someone dashed into the shop and asked for one, but then it was already out... muhahaha. I like my stuff limited. The more limited, the better...), but I think it's worth it... da scolded me for being such a spendthrift, but hell, What's the use of money if I have timme to earn it, but no time to spend it?? sheesh. Anyway, no one will stop me... muhahahahah!!!

I think these pictures do not really give credit to the watch. IT's really bling and shiny, the way patsie likes her stuff! Ha!! =)

Krabby Patty is happy... *whistles*...

Ha ha... Today, Pat is happy. Why?? Because she got a new toy...Here.

The New, Sony Ericsson K800i...Wow. A few days ago, I saw it in the newspapers. 3.2Megapixel camera, with Cybershot. Nothing attracts me to a phone more than a good camera... I love to take pictures (as you all might have realised by now...) and I don't like the hassle of bringing a digicam wherever I go. So, this phone is very very attractive to me... Immediately went to get it. Ha . Apparently it's very high in demand, because when I first went to SIngtel to get it, it was out of stock.. It was only when I went to some Starhub roadshow that they had stock.. Haha.. Patsie is happy. It also means that all you ppl will get higher quality images to see on the blog soon... =P
See the quality of the photo? cool yesh??


And, we also went to Cineleisure, and I saw this amazing thingee there, just outside Famous Amos. It really is quite fun. It will sense your movement, and the picture will move according to your movement. Take a look at it! Da and I were soooooo...fascinated by it. I stood there and played for like 5 minutes. Haha. ok. Granted I was more fascinated by it than da was. I was the one who made him walk to and fro so as to let me video it... =)

See, the flower petals actually fall away as da moves around it.. .