What happened for 1 week Sept Holidays till Wednesday

From the start of the holidays, I actually went back to school with Gavin to prepare lessons for the upcoming term. Did a lot of things actually. By being at school, I found myself more disciplined in doing my work when I went back to school. However, I only went back for 3 days.


During this week I actually went to have an X-ray on my spine because I had to determine whether I need Chiropractic treatment, a process whereby they literally make use of a special machine to 'crack' and adjust your bones back into a proper place. So far it has been determined that my spine IS crooked and needs treatment. Heehee I hope after the treatment my spine will be in a better position and my tummy will be smaller.

Did a lot of counselling this week to a number of people about relationships and dealing with loss. I decide that since I've gained a very sorrowful experience I should teach others how to live with it and get over it, not mourn and sink deeper into it.

Other things I did during the holidays was to eat food cooked by Guohong - who was a relief teacher and therefore my colleague for a short period of time. All of us who went had a great feast at his house.. even though I had a stomach upset later on. But I attribute it to my gluttony. How can I blame it on his food?







The next guy who cooked for me was Charn Koon, ex colleague from JWSS. Almost all of us have left JWSS by now except for Mr Pang, Roy and Alice. The two kids of Charn Koon was so cute! I had to say I really favour the younger son course he is really more obedient and lovely. The sweetest parting gift was his hug and kisses he gave most of us before we went off.







Went to town twice this holiday week and went out.... to a lot of places lah. Dwell into my hobby and made a full Russian Tank squad to be mounted on the Russian Tank T-34. I also made the prize for top history student for end of year. Feel a great sense of achievement both in work and play man! Really happy to enjoy myself this holiday. But I must keep preparing stuff for my students... Cannot stop or else there'll never be enough! Mock Exam, revision, quiz..... Ok GTG and do work now to torture my students! HAHAHAHAHAHA....

Oh before I go - must post the pictures of David Liew and Sherine's production - their daughter! So cute. The visit on Wednesday - only a few of us went but it was jovial enough, for a while we were distracted by the news on tremors but then the focus still went onto the baby. :o)

Visiting Faris

Went out with buddy Alice today and got my X-Ray done, my things bought not exactly from Concourse but somewhere near there. Got a lot of interesting stuff --- authentic and interesting haha. Then our last stop was to visit Faris and find out how he's doing at Lau Pa Sat. Quite sad to see his fingers had become coarse and swollen from all the work of washing and helping to run the place. He seemed tired but was treated well - afterall its a family business. His uncle and grandfather was there to help him out too. But think he really misses Alice a lot more, afterall she taught him longer and scolded him more... haha. She almost let it all out at the sight of his swollen fingers but I guess Faris believes it has to be part of his growing up.

Dun worry Alice, Faris will be treated well in life. I believe so.

Suddenly have the urge to include this video I took at Heeren when I went out with my army buddy Cheong Pinpin. It was a wonderful sight within a shopping centre. Guess it must've been a great tourist attraction too.

Teacher's Day

Teacher's Day celebration actually lasted for 2 days for me. On Thursday some of the ACS boys had already given me Teachers' Day gift. So sweet of them, imagine these rowdy or very fit guys actually doing something for you. Some of them actually made cookies! Have yet to taste them yet cuz Gavin took them home by mistake so will do so tomorrow.

On Friday we had a grand celebration. Frankly being the first time celebrating Teachers' Day in ACS (I) felt so glamourous. There's really a red carpet in front after all teachers walked in, lead by the senior admin. It was spontaneous and really felt like a school with a climate of enthusiasm.

However, I still missed my ex students and they actually organised a steamboat outing on Friday itself! Alice and Zuomin were there too! It was really fun and jovial moment for me. They're all so grown up now... Sigh and I am no longer young anymore.

On Saturday, I went out with my parents and their friends who came down from Malaysia. One of whom knew me since I was a child. I ferried them around CCK area and we went to Farmart and visit many different farms and saw things none of the kids of the urban areas thought Singapore would have if they hadn't visit these places at all. After that, in the eventing I went to play pool with Jo, Rudi and Huiyin from BPGHS. Called Katherine and Guohong down too. After that I sent them home and we had supper. What a whole 2 days. Sunday I just let myself rest. But its such fun to be totally engaged and busy.

Well, that was the 30th-2nd of September! Haha.

Today? Nothing much - just that I went back to work with Gavin and managed to do quite a fair bit of work. Didn't even do video editing at all! Then we had great food at Tiong Bahru later on, where Gav took us both to where his childhood eating places were. Great food siah! Shiok man.
Ok GTG sleep already. Maybe more blogging next time.

Dinner at Marina with JWSS ex-students (10th Aug)

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Damn, brought my camera there and then it says low batt. Anyway it was sheer sin to indulge in so much food and I felt that all my efforts to cut down on my intake was wasted. But oh well it was fun to join them and heartwarming to see them all grown up. Do hope that Zuomin can join next time so I won't be the only teacher around. Oh but coincidentally we ran into a bunch of JWSS seniors, think they were the very first batch (Tan Chuan's batch) eating at the very same place. After that was arcade and LAN gaming and I went straight home, forgoing a date cuz it was really late. Guess probably will go on a date the next day (which I did). Well the long weekend is coming to an end!!!! ARGH!!!

Late posting for 28th July

This day I went back to visit my former students and the few friends I made at Bukit Panjang Government High. I must admit I miss the students whom I built a rapport with within 6 months and they really brigthened up to me when I went to watch their drama at UCC (University Culural Centre).

I took as many pictures as I could with 2 of my former class/schoomates of JJC and my students. And also watched the performance they put up for their Chinese drama called 'A Huangmei-style Opera: Romance of the Cyprinus Carpio', where many of the students I taught formerly took part.

The only thing I guessed I was peeved about was when some students and I went to the former 'Fong Seng' to eat our orders came half an hour late! By then which the students actually have to rush back to UCC and I had to drive 2 trips to send them there otherwise they will be late - they're student helpers. Sigh... (will be uploading photos at another time)

Israel - Birth of a Nation thru Photos

Went with sis on a Saturday on the 21st of July to see an exhibition by a famous photographer - a war photographer who took pictures during the time of conflict Israel had with her neighbouring Arab countries. What suprised me was the photographer himself was there. The most interesting aspect of the whole thing was to watch him (back in 1998) search for the very people he took pictures of years ago. It was both a touching and sad story he told us. And like him, I hope for peace in Israel and was really sad with Rabin's death. Can't say I might emphatise with the Jews of Israel but the Chinese did not fair well in the early decades of the 20th century too. The only difference is we had a country while the Israelis had to (re)carve it out themselves.

1st: An Israel mother and her 2 children's house was destroyed in an attack, if I remember correctly it was the Lebanons. 2nd: An Israeli female fighter chooses to take on the job of caring for the wounded. 3rd: A paper with a song of peace that Rabin sang and put in his pocket and was smeared with his blood when he got assassinated by the radical young Jew.

4th: 3 paratroophers watched in awe when they took over the last standing wall in Jerusalem (yes somehow I can't remember its name) 5th: The people of Israel celebrates on an armoured vehicle as it parades through the streets 6th: A poor girl looks forlorn after Israel troops destroy her home for housing arms fo the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation).

Events for the Past Week 25-29th

This past few days have been a week of reminscine and memories. Now I am moving on to another new place and new environment. It was kind of hard to leave of cuz, but I think I have to move on for my own life. I'll miss the students whom I've created a bond for the past few months.


27th: The very first English class I taught at JWSS - 1T1 - all of them have grown up. It was so much fun meeting them after all these years. Kinda feel bad I threw tables and chairs and scolded them when I was younger. I must've been so hot headed then. We still laughed and had fun, of cuz lah, only teachers they like get called down. Stacey and Roland also came with Jadeyn and Anastasia. Its both weird and heartwarming to talk to these big kids now. Rox, thanks for inviting me down, but dint get to see Firdaus and Xiang En.








For the BPGHians I'm leaving, I have to admit I do miss them and feel bad about it at the same time. Even though the time with them was shorter than that at JWSS, the bond wasn't any weaker with some of them. 3B was one of the more friendly and high EQ class I've taught. Some other kids from 3P3 and 3P2, 3L1 and 3M1 I've also made friends with somehow. Yeah I know, I'm supposed to be their teacher. But that's my character, I'm a teacher but I am a friendly person. What to do? To the BPGHians I've known and taught for a short time, you rock! Stay great and enjoy your school life ok?