The One about All about Vernice

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The One about Happy Mothers' Day!

To two of the three most important women in my life

Happy Mothers' day!

The One about Random Thoughts and Comments

Thought #1
The school turned "grave-yardish" even before 5.00 pm these couple of days. For the discerning, this is the period of the mid year exams. As a KAH who hadjust joined the school a couple of months ago, the school was buzzing with activities and the staff room would usually be bustling after 6.00pm. Maybe it is due to the mid year exams - the kids are mugging, parent-teachers or teacher-parents are rushing home to supervise their kids.

Enjoy the bliss of peace, said one colleague. For when the marking come, the tight schedule will suffocate you. For me, it is not too much of a difference. I will be marking throughout the long weekend.

Comment #2
A student asked during my revision with them for the History Sec 2 Mid year.
"cher, during the second world war, India under where?"
I have to stop and control from bursting out in laughter. The class was not so tolerant; they burst out laughing non stop and it took me a whole 5 minutes to settle them down again.

Comment #3
A colleague proffered his nugget of wisdom on dealing with wayward kids. You either give them T-L-C (Tender Loving Care) or R-L-C ( Right Left and Centre)

Comment #4
"class, do you know what is a metro-sexual?"
"Cher, i know i know, it is ah-kwa!"

Thought #5
A colleague never failed to giggle when she see me. Out of curiosity I ask her why. The answer was not really flattering. "Oh because you very funny, like the 周星驰! (Stephen Chow)" I guess I am in the wrong profession, should have join the loser show on Channel 8 "永不言败 "

Thought #6
A student raised his hand to get my attention. As I was standing by his side, he asked "cher, must I use what I have learnt to answer the question?" I replied "if not, what are you planning to use?"

After apparently an hour, the one student raised his hand, frantically to get my attention. he pointed to one of the question and asked, "cher i don't agree to this question, can I answer my own question?"

Pretty amazing the type of questions they ask...

The kids, the teachers here sometimes do bring smiles to me and my stressful life :P

The One with the Screaming and Shouting

Throughout my 6 years plus teaching experience, I have never experience a class so disunited and so disinterested in studies. Engaging them seem to be my biggest challenge, you know as teachers, you walked out of a hour lessons, drenched in sweat, feeling a bit of soreness in your throat, and you know that you have tried so much your best in giving your very best in a class. This class never failed to have this "miraculous effect" on me.

I do agree that I am not a very interesting teacher but it is a challenge to engage them when half of the time there will be disruptive behaviour - whether it is a curt remark, a snide comment, flying pencil cases/ pen caps, or even non-sensical laughter. I have to admit I do dislike the class especially a couple of them who are recalcitrant cases never failing to get onto your nerves.

An incident happened today in class, Boy A was in class putting his head on the table when I was busy trying to highlight the key ideas for the students for the midyear exams. After warning him not to do that in class for upteenth times ( from putting his head on the table to sitting with 2 legs of the chair with head supported by the classroom wall) I lost my temper and asked him to get out of the class and stand outside. In an act of defiance, he kicked his chair and banged his hand on the table. This incensed me and I told him louder to get out of the class, not before warning him to take the notes out with him and followed the lesson from outside of the class. Upon reaching the corridor, he put his head again on the locker top which of course was corrected angrily by me.

It was only after ALL these, that one boy told me, "cher, A not feeling well, he a bit feverish..."

Sigh....

Anyway to keep the long story short, I reprimanded the class for not telling me when I warned A not to sleep in class the very first time. And of course I got the student back in class and in front of the whole class, apologise to him...

Could I have handle this better? Did I let my "flawed" perception got the better of me?

What will you have done?

The One with the change in me

Sometimes people realise they change when they have other priorities in their lives. All the while, my career was always the utmost one. However when Vernice came into our life in the form of a little thing in my wife's tummy, I still did not have the full impact. Work, Friends, family still took priority in the following order. Then when I witnessed her, I realised what I want more than anything else - to be able to see her grow up to be a fine lady. I realised I have changed, my focus have changed, my priorities have changed, my perspective have changed.

I know I have been blogging alot on my little bundle of joy. She can be a bit of a handful especially with her irregular sleeping hours and her unforseen and highly unpredictable "big and small business". It has been tiring, however it is going to be as happy a journey we can experience, amidst the black panda eyebags and incessant yawnings throughout the day.

But then again, what's that compared to the happiness i got. :)

The One with the Candle Light dinner @ the hospital

I never realised that hospitals provide this service. but it was a pleasant surprise. I guess it is a ceebration of many: 1) Our ROM anniversary, 2) the birth of Vernice as a new addition to the family, and 3) sadly the end of couplehood. But I am quite sure it would be a most wonderful experience.

Last night, the two of us enjoyed a belated celebration. It was a nice leisurely dinner with talks on our aspirations, our dreams and of course our hope for our little baby. The two of us were equally excited about embarking on our new phase of life.
















Our candle light dinner















Check out the spread. It was not hotel standard but it was a great experience.

Anyway i have put pictures on Vernice's blog. U know the link?

The Ego One

The One with Vernice

Too tired to blog. Was awake the whole night waiting for my little princess to come and she finally did, with much hesitation at 6.22 am this morning. Would blog about it when I get my well deserved sleep.

Looking at her again, all this is just worth it.

Hi everyone, this is vernice

Vernice is coming out today!!
(Latest news!!!!!)


(sing to the tune of "Raindrops keep falling on my head")

Vernice is coming out today
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
She is not going to fit
Vernice is coming out today, she is coming
So I just say

Did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the date she come
Too early too fast

Vernice is coming out today, she is coming
So I just say

But there's one thing I know
She is going to bring so much joy to my home
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Vernice is coming out today, she is coming
So I just say, So I just say

Sorry people, got to rush to the hospital now.... would keep u people informed.... :)

The One with the letter to Vernice

Dear daughter Vernice,

It seems like yesterday that we met each other through the sonogram of the gynae’s office. And there you were barely centimeters long. At that time I marvel at the miracle of life, of something so beautiful. As I see you growing, the pride and anticipation grows. In another few day, my months of anticipation will finally come to a close. I will be able to touch your little fingers and toes and cuddle you in my arms.

As you learn to talk, and walk; and as you starts to show your happiness and frustrations through your emotions and actions, I will be there to witness those magical moments. Sometimes I may not be there to witness that, but rest assured that I will always be a part of your growing process.

Before you come to our family, I just want to tell you how thankful I am to have you in my family. I am sure that you will bring countless joys and happiness to the family.

I must say that I ,like all kia su parents, have so much hope and aspirations. The world you are coming to is one that is full of excitement and expectations. As a daddy I have so much big plans for you. And I know that you would feel that you have this heavy weight of our expectations on you. I want you to share my values, and to do things that I have never been able to do.

But thinking back, I was wondering whether I have been trying to fulfil some childhood dreams in you. I see a part of me in you and I wonder if it would be fair to you. You are going to be different and unique, but most importantly you are going to be you. I realized that I want you to grow up to be happy, to be confident and to be the person you are always meant to be.

Sometimes, amidst all my expectations of you, I asked myself whether I would be a good father to you. I asked myself whether I would be able to live up to your expectations. Will I be too busy to watch your first step, to hear you mouth your first words, to go to your school and watch your first school performance; will I be too stressed out to forget about your birthday, to attend your graduation, to go for the parent teachers dialogue; will I be too tired out to help you with your school projects and assignments, to help you in your revisions, to hear you out on your tiffs with your classmates and to answer your neverending inquisitive queries; will I be too tied up with work to bring you to the zoo or parks or to build sandcastles on the beaches?

Somewhere down the road, I may do things that you will feel that I don’t love you anymore. Sometime you may do things that will make me upset with you. But do remember that just like you who is first time growing up and me first time daddy, we both have some learning and adjusting to do. It would be a wonderful journey for you and me that I can’t wait to embark.

You are my precious and I will always love you.

Yours Lovingly,
Daddy

The One about the three comments

Comment #1
A colleague came back to the staffroom, plonked the laptop and teaching materials on the table and remarked: "I am half dead". What struck me about this comment was that how can a person be half dead when one can only be either dead or alive. So if one is half dead, then is one dead?

Food for thought...


Comment #2
Talking about promotions, a colleague lamented that getting GEO1A2 is about the highest most sec teachers can get. The SEO rank will have to wait for a long time after one get the GEO grade. This colleague commented that since that is the way, then we should just work the minimum and ensure that we get just a "C". Another colleague added that if one just get a "C", the salry will just progress slowly and soon hit the "C"eiling.

Poignant...


Comment #3
A friendly conversation at the canteen brought about an interesting discussion on different viewpoints. In our usual-coffee-break-breakfast banter, Colleague A remarked that the students were sitting in the area designated for teachers. Just FYI, this area consists of circular metal cafe like coffee table and matching metal beach patio chairs, unlike the boring tuckshop long benches and chairs. Actually i was ok about this since there were no teachers using the tables and chairs until colleague A mentioned that this should not be allowed and that if this is not communicated to the students and teachers the students will abuse the system. Personally I adopte the Singapore's "NO-U turn" mentality. Let's be alittle flexible about it and give the students a break (literally and figuratively).

The One about Alert Amber

This have been a helluva week for me, I am so busy that I have neglecting my blog and of course my family. I was on MSN and was chatting with a former student when i use the term "busy like hell" which of course in my philosophical reflection, got me thinking... IS hell busy? if it is so what are they busy with? Setting papers like me, doing all the work in the various committees or just going the extra mile helping the students?

On a different note, a handphone ring and/or vibration will startle me. Not that I am over stressed, but just that my precious baby daughter will be coming to this world within these few days. Her due date is actually on 4 May but the gynae mentioned that she might decided to pop by any time now. Actually my wife and me wanted her to try to "pop" by during these day for there are many significances

22 April 2006 - the date my grandmom passed away. it willreally be a tribute to her (Alas too late)
29 April 2006 - the date of our ROM ( possible)
1 May 2006 - What a way to celebrate labour day with labour itself ( possible)
4 May 2006 - the actual day, inference - daughter is very punctual ( possible)
6 May 2006 - Polling day - to celebrate the continual dominance of PAP or to highlight a possble opposition upset? ( possible)

Actually amidst all the stress and running around, i am actually very excited about my new addition to the family. That's why now I am effectively on code Amber, anytime when my wife activate me, SOS and you will see me running into a telephone booth and change into my blue tights and red underwear outside, for i will have to rush to pick my wife.

If you see a metalic light blue lancer with car plate SFMXXXX, these few days and it seems to be defying the speed of sound, it is probably me rushing to send my wife to hospital to welcome the new addition. Do give way K?

The Ego One

The One about my work desk

In my own deprecating nature, I present to you the pristine state of a "genius" at work ( well they always associated genius with untidiness)

And this is only my fourth month there. Sigh!

At least I can see my tabletop.

The One about Cynicism

I got my first dose of cynicism from a colleague which I had never spoken to prior to today. Anyway it was about a programme that I introduced in the school. Sometimes stuck in the middle is like the chicken platter in a Mcdonald McChicken.




Brought the earth tumbling down and the stars falling from the sky.

Welcome to the real world. :)

Don't worry I will be fine...

I will survive. As a KAH, I am as enthusiastic as an energiser bunny and this will carry me through the troubles and the caustic waves of sarcasm. My bruised ego will go on.

The Ego One

The One about Power Possible Corrupts

It is weird how power can actually change a person's perspective about things. For in reflecting at some of the things that was happenign, I am struck with this revelation. If this post don’t make sense to you, you are not alone. I am also not sure what I was trying to convey from this.

Before I make the decision to move away from my comfort zone to take on a new challenge, an ex-colleague gave me words of advice. She told me to always remember that “power changes people”. (Actually She mentioned that power corrupts people. But I decide to be politically correct about this) She lamented that people tends to see things in the Big picture when one is vested with power and will choose to neglect those who made up the little pieces in the jigsaw. She hope that I will remember what she said and I have to say that I had dutifully put this as my work mantra.

The role as you climb up the corporate ladder is a delicate, ball-juggling responsibility that requires altruism, sanity and most importantly responsibility. It is not easy to manage peoples’ expectations and yet at the same time trying to negotiate and find peace in the decision that one had to make, regardless of how unpopular it may be. But then again as a middle manager, that is our role, stuck in the middle, macro-managing and yet micro-organising at the same time.

At times I am worried about losing sight of what I want, with the avalanche of work and responsibility. However I relished the challenges of looking at things in a different perspective, and to use the power to realize what I can do. Ultimately we are here as teachers, for students, not just administrator for customers.

I just have to remember to constantly look for my blind spots when I turn. I just hope people will remind me when I if one day engulfed by the lust for power. :)

Your thoughts?

The One with a bad news to share

I am writing this hurried post as I have approximately 3 minutes to spare. I received a piece of bad news from a friend that a friend of mine had lost her baby. It shocked me for Her little precious was supposed to come to this world approximately the same time as my baby Vernice. My heart went out to her as I know how it feel to lose a loved one. The dead baby was induced from her on Saturday and she is now recuperating at home. I know deep down inside she must have felt horrible.... I know no amount of words can make her feel better. I hope that all who read this post will pray for her, for her baby, for her family and hope that she will have the strength to cope.

The Ego One

The One with the No Uniform Day

Actually this is a misnomer as it only applies to the students. Teachers in general found themselves in shocking similarities as we donned the school uniforms for the day. As part of the fundraising efforts, the teachers put on the attire of the kids and experience the pride/uncomfortable material/sweat associated with the uniforms.

In fact the teachers found themselves difficult to lift themselves beyond the mentality of the students ( sigh we are wearing uniform anyway) and it was quite difficult to get the students to start lessons, especially when quite a large number were also involved in our school celebrations.
This is indeed quite an eyeopener to me as we dont really have it in IJ. But a rare glimpse for those who want to know how I look like in a similrarly-TJ uniform. :P

I know this picture dont do justice for I have infact slim down alot. It must have been the sushi buffet I had yesterday night with my colleagues. Haha.

Teachers do sometimes entitled to a bit of fun in school, even as "students"...

The One with a god daughter

Guess what? (rhetorical question) I got a god daughter.

And I am really happy about it. I was about to decorate the blog with pretty flowers and sparkling stars but I was too lazy/technophoic to do that.

And Guess what again? I shudders when I think what I have to go through when my baby Vernice is out.

And Guess what again(x2)? It feel nice to love and be loved...

The One about going home late

It's 6.15pm
It's late
And I am still in a deserted corner (ie cubicle) conscientiously doing my work.
And I decided to blog...

Sometimes I wondered whether the school has changed the way I work, or maybe it is the added responsibilities. The school is going to be having some major events for the next 3 days and *shudder* as a KAH, I am actually not involved (read: no planning, little duties etc) in all these whatsoever. Maybe it was because I am new to the school and that's why they had decided to "give me time to adjust" by keeping me out from the hectic work. But I am really feeling guilty as a member of the school for not helping out in this. The whole school and most of the staff are still busy planning/rehearsing/running from place to place/tired. I feel this guilt pangs of being there in school even though I am not really able to do/contribute much at this moment of time.

An irrational thought, I guess.

Your thoughts?

The One about teachers blogging

It is always puzzling that teachers by nature of their profession are always under constant scrutiny. The latest in this whole non-ending issue is about teachers who blog. Being a passionate blogger who happens to be a teacher, I should proffer my 2 cents worth.

Unlike many professions, teachers are not expected to have dual personality. (Not to be mistaken with the psychiatric phenomenon known as schizophrenia.) As teachers, and imparters of values and beliefs, we are supposed to be the one who stand in front of the classroom 24/7. Unlike other professions like an engineer, accountant or even an actor, we are supposed to be smart in decorum, proper in manners and of course lead by example. Let me now spell out the 10 commandments of Teachers.

We are expected NOT to:

1) mouth vulgarities, four-letter words for fear that students will pick up the bad habits from us.

2) skive as students are learning the importance of hard work and striving for excellence from our every day actions.

3) have undesirable hobbies, like playing mahjong, excessive playing of computer games, excess surfing of the internet and buying 4D as students may learn the wrong things for leisure.

4) show any para-political view, or deviant political views, for it may create wrong impressions to students

5) be too apolitical as we want the students to know the good work of our government and how Singapore had developed over the years.

6) buy pirated stuff, ie VCDs, music CDs, DVDs or even do illegal download as we should teach students the right values of being HIP, being Original and saying no to piracy.

7) be under-dressed even when out on the street or even to buy a packet of mee pok from the nearby coffeeshop. Showing anything above the calves are a definite NO. It would be good if your appearance could be distinctively that of a teacher ( for male, long/short sleeve shirt, long pants, leather shoes ( track shoes optional)). This will tell students the importance of attire and respect. Anything remotely look like something that should be worn inside should be *ahem worn inside, away from sight.

8) Hate/dislike the students who constantly give you problems in class. Or for that matter the parents of the students who constantly gave you problems. Students will learn from the teachers the importance of good service and the importance of care and concern. Even though the teacher is literally pulling his/her hair off trying to get this student to hand in work or even to the matter paying attention in class.

9) Speak in Singlish. We are expected to speak ploperly (sic) as students learn undesirable accents or even incorrect pronunciation from teachers which may affect their development in their future endeavours.

10) Say anything bad about your own profession. (opps!) Then we will be able to get more and more aspiring people to join the profession, and suck away their enthusiasm in life and *gasp inject them with cynicism. Then the 10 commandments will apply again. The vicious cycle continues :P


Of course all this are said tongue in cheek. It is however a reality check that sometimes people including ourselves, teachers forgot that we are merely human beings who is just entrusted in a sacred role as perceived by others. In this present society, everybody, with educational qualification has their take on the role of education and the way educator should do. AS such, the expectations on teachers become so immense.

But then again what do I know, sometimes I am constantly reminded that I am providing a service to others. Maybe someone do have to give us a GEMS sometime, for we don’t just go the extra mile, we sometimes go the whole way, back and fro.

And that's my 2 cents worth

The One about the average day in school

when i finally plonked at my little prison ie work cubicle :p, it was almost 2pm in the afternoon. a couple of fast emails and a hurried lunch i was in the company of my colleagues for a meeting which finally ends at 5pm. Before i can catch my breath and start doing the pile of things on my table, i am rushing the deadline of trying to leave the school before the school lock up. Yes this is the average day in school.

Sometimes in the midst of getting busy, I started to appreciate the Hooke' law of human stress and endurance. As the law state, everyone has a breaking point which will lead to the so-called elastic limit. Anything beyond that is the plastic limit and thing can never be the same again. Not to stress all of you up with all these laws, but what is interesting is that I dont know whether I have reach mine already. Sometimes when I start to sprout nonsense, this might be a thing about people becoming xiao..

being in a new environment is an interesting experience as it gave me the opportunity to put on a different persona. In IJ I was this "ki xiao" (crazy) teacher who never failed to give a lame sarcastic remark at any girl who cross my path. It is also this that make it so easy for the girls to treat me sometimes with little respect, or not that respectful as a teacher and more like a friend. It is also difficult to establish that authority figure stuff especially when I am so pally with the students.

However things are different in this new school, as a relative new comer, a relative unknown, I can choose to be a bit different... u know like those brooding characters in those movies, where the smoke machine seems to work overtime and the whole world seems to move slow-mo around you. I remember 2 weeks ago I was giving a briefing for a trail to the whole entire sec 2 cohort and 1 peiercing look was all it need sto have the hall in perfect pitch silence. Yah 360 students in the hall and all i could hear was the sound of the overworked fans in the hall. In IJ i am sure there will be roaring laughter, as I could never pull it off. Anyway a colleague was so impressed with that, he came over and say, "woah, you sound like an OC giving a mission briefing"

How long I can keep up with this....

Before I degenerate into this:

Only time will tell.....

The one about random thoughts

Recently I’ve not been blogging, I had not disappeared from the blogsphere or into the atmosphere or into the hemisphere but well.... a teacher got to do what a teacher got to do.

1. Work work work.
Talk about long working hours at work, the excitment related to the new entry into my family life. Not to worry, I’m not facing any problems, well i would say those are all happy problems (sans the long working hours). Just that with new responsibilities come longer working hours (as I shamelessly quoted from "spiderman"), that’s all!

For those who remember me blogging about my in camp reservist training, I also had to burn two weeks just trying and because of that, I had to rush out teaching materials for the relief teacher who covered me when I was not in school. And of course as a KAH ( I am not trying to be vulgar here, but KAH means Key appointment Holder, see how MOE personnel love to use all those acronyms, eg TRAISI and TLLM)

2. Mental Block
Words keep coming out of my head in no coherent manner and sometimes I was too tired to think of what to blog about. I was (and probably still am) at a loss for words. Little knew that I stayed in school till around 7 at times in school. And when there are school activities I was also in school till 9 to 10. And yes this is really a 24-7 job. At times I feel like just plonking on my sofa and watch paint dry, yes this is now more interesting that some of the things and deadlines that I have to do.

I know that much is expected of me and I need to adapt fast. However at times I do feel that I can really adapt if I have a little bit more time. There is even a saying, that if you can survive in this school, you can probably excel in other neighbourhood schools. I am not quite sure of the authencity of this statement, since the previous i taught in is a mission school but I am quite sure peoples' expectation of me is not just merely surviving but also to excel.

3. ...
Well in a different note, I do love the things I do as it made me feel useful. Things are definitely more fast paced here and I have learnt tremendously from the process. However in the midst of all, I do ponder that I have sometimes lost sight of the people I care most, my family, my friends and of course my students. Seems pretty paradoxical at times, contradicting, some will say, I guess this is what happen when you move up.

I know that there are some of you who wanted to keep contact with me, please do, I do want to continue to maintain the link. Don't feel bad about trying to get me, I will try if I can afford the time, and please don't feel offfended if I am too busy, because I am really busy. Drop me a line, a sms and even a call. would really appreciate that.

As for 4/4 I am happy that all of you have embarked on the next phase of your lives. Please do keep in contact with each other even if I am not involved :P. Maybe we can have a gathering in June. Then you all can see my baby Vernice.... :)

The One about a Poem

I made the decision
Took the path less travelled
To see the world
To meet new people
To open my eyes

I walked away
Familarity diminished
Sights and Sounds so far behind

Away I am and did
My mind still lingers
Of things so much I held so dear

As I look back
Alas it's not the sights
Things I see beyond
The facades of the pretentious

I walked back
I can't, I don't want
For I see nothing behind...



I am sure this poem made no sense to all of you but it is just a juxaposition of my thoughts. If you can make sense of it, congrats, you are a contemporary poet :)

The One about a bone to pick

As I had always said, IJ always has a very special position in my heart. And of course the very fact that it is so near to where I stayed always give me the additional incentive to just drive past the spankiing new building, catching sometimes glimpses of the ever familiar blue pinafores and of course going into the times when I first came in as a trainee teacher. It seems so long ago and sometimes so surreal.

Perhaps at times I have still not made my peace with the fact that I am already in a new school, teaching other students and on top of that, working for a new principal, in a new management. However it always brighten up my day when I come back for a visit and felt so welcomed. Well almost at times.

I had been really busy with my new school and I believe that some of you who still keep in contact with me can testify for that. I worked extremely long hours , even longer than the usual times I spend in IJ. Thus any free time that I could spare would be for my wife, for my family, for my friends, and to me, sometimes just popping by IJ would be a time for myself. It is gratifying to know that some of you (staff and students) still welcome me back with open arms, and the affections you showed when I sometimes popped by for a social visit was really much appreciated. The attention from the Track and Field team when I returned yesterday was really great. However there are also some who actually felt that I was just- quoted and unquoted "too free, must be pretty idle". I resented this remark for it questions the very professionalism I had in my new school. I resented this remark for it also showed that I am not welcomed.

I know there are some who feel that I should have just moved on, and forget about it, but to me IJ is just like an alma mater like all of you, and sometimes, things that I have so passionately believed in had changed so drastically that I felt morally obliged to just try to get the record straight. I know that in so doing, I may be perceived as a busybody, but I am willing to do so, because I so passionately believed in the things in the school and of course the welfare of the IJ girls which some, I have seen them growing up in their teenage years.

Sad to say whether it is appreciated or not, I will come back as long as I am welcomed, even if it is only some staff and some students.

P.S: Just realised that i sound bitter. I'm actually quite ok, tired though. I think I just got carried away, I think. :D

P.S: Thanks for all of you who had added me in your MSN, my MSN will usually be operational during office hour( school hours from 7 to 7) and maybe some time in the weekend. Send me a msg, let me know how's thing are gettting on.

P.S: I heard that RMUN 2006 had gone up one level, there are interviews, and if Val, Alessa, Germaine and of course Tricia and Sarah you people need help, can drop me a line, or email me.
K?

The One with the no weekend

I carried an entire pile of marking which fit nicely into my car boot. Term tests, assignments, workbooks.

I am wondering how am i going to finish marking them..

Shall take 1 step ( pile) at the time.

Hm in the first place why am I blogging..

The One with My MSN Messenger

Many ex students wanted to know how to get in touch with me. One way would be through MSN messenger ( yes I am not so ancient). my email for msn is alec_ng@hotmail.com.

Some basic groundrules...

1) Please let me know who u are, when adding me in your contact list or risk getting blocked
2) If I don't reply you, you could mean I am too busy, or ignoring you or better still, busy ignoring you...

See you on MSN..

Mr Ng

The One about going back to school Again

Going back to school has been a footdragging, or car-braking experience. Today is dreadful monday. And I have just had 10 days worth of R-&-R at Hotel SAF, where brawn rather than brains was the flavour of the month. I was trying my best to deactivate the grey matter and I must say that I am pretty successful in doing that, so successful that I am having a hard time trying to crank it up and hype myself for today, coupled with the perennial monday blues

The lazy morning was greeted with compliments of concerns ( wah you look tanned, must have been pretty "siong") and of course the unceremonious poke, tainted with sacarsm ( you look really fresh!). Taking it in my stride like a true blue SAF serviceman, I commenced on my recee duty of trying to find a vantage point to start the already piling homework, tests and of course the administrative work which I have to clear.

Students alike greeted me with renewed zest, paying full due to the belief that "absence made the hearts go fonder". One Sec 4N girl even gave me a small snicker bar to welcome me back. The sec 3s upon seeing me greeted me a la Singapore Idol. Much as I hate to admit it... it is nice to feel welcome.

Welcome back!

The Ego One

The One with the O levels Results (part 2)

To the IJ girls I had taught, scolded, punished, ignored, teased, made fun of and "inspired"

Congrats for all the good results you have gotten. The results is a passageway to the next phase of your journey. 2 or 3 years down the road, you will not remember what you had gotten but will be eagerly anticipating embarking on a new phase of your life. For those who did exceptionally well, savour the moment for you deserved every second of it. For those who did not do as well, well life still goes on :p and most importantly every setback is just a step closer to success. It is not whether you fall or not, it is how fast you get up.

Even though I am not in IJ, i had heard so many of you calling me, sending me emails, sms-es as I busied myself in my green fatigues, handling a weapon (the SAF M 16) which I had not touched for almost 10 over years. Much as I like to witness the euphoric looks on your faces, I was kinda tied down by my national obligations. However it was nice to hear from all of you for it showed that IJ girls are appreciative and that I have in some way, good or bad, left a mark in your lives.

I had heard that Thanksgiving Mass will be 22 feb wednesday. Many students asked whether if I will be back in IJ. Much as I love to do so, I had my other obligations in another school. I apologise for not being there but I am sure all of you will savour the moment and of course embark on your new journey with zest and anticipation.

I had heard that there are some girls who wants to get in touch with me. You can try to email me. For those who want to talk to me.... can get the numbers from my 4/4 2005 girls. I am most willing to get in touch with IJ girls, and of course if your name happens to be Clarabelle..

GODSPEED!

Mr Ng

The One with the O level Results

Unlike the last time 2 years ago, when I came running back from my national duty to serve the country, this year will not be the case; I am again doing my obligatory duty and this time I would not be able to be there in IJ or YTSS. Sigh..

Anyway this is just a note to all my girls 2005 - what's done is done, don't worry about the results for you have done your best..

Let me know by email or sms how you people do ok??

Mr Ng

The one when my students came a-visiting...

It has become a yearly routine for my form classes to come over to my house to "bainian" and of course "rip" the poor teacher of his month worth of salary :P
Anyway this year, I decided to do some "strategic" planning and allocated them in batches so that my small house will not feel like a furnace and I will also have time to interact with them..

Anyway will update more when I can find the time... yah time is fast becoming a luxury.....

Just some pictures for 4/4 and yes this bring back a lot of memories.

The One about CNY eve

It is the time of the month again. Chineses New Year. The fate of time has been good to us, we get 4 days of holidays instead of the obligatory two and a half.

This year we ushered ( Yeah!) in the year of the dog and say bye bye to the year of the chicken. And every year it is the same old stuff, CNY reunion dinner at my parents' place, the last minute cleaning and scrubing of the house which often leave me totally flushed! (well what do you expect if you try to leave a whole year of cleaning for this special day...? Ha just kidding) Nonetheless, my wife and I did spend some quiet moments "fingering", "licking" (talk about hygenie), putting things where it supposes to be. Even though it is a painful process, we still have to do it. And yes incase you people are getting the wrong ideas, we were busy putting money into the ang pows. There were the A category - meaning immediate family members, the B category - close relatives, C category - other relatives, friends, and students and D category - others that do not fall into the first few categories. We debated over the amount to put for each category as we put the crisp new notes into the the empty ang pows. Yes it is another year again...

Yes CNY is here.

The One with the CNY

CNY in a new school





so different






a weird feeling






I missed the mass....

The One with the Fighting and Caning

Reality strike early, week 4 of the school. I got a rude shock when I found myself caught in the middle of a fist fight between a couple of my upper sec students. Shocking? well... maybe, all this while, I have been teaching girls and the most extreme I had seen is catfights... actually bitching was the most I have seen and heard. Thus it came to me as a shock that they were actually doing the “Rocky” tango right before my very eyes.

Surprisingly, I have to be really macho about it and literally stand in the line of the fistfight. Like a traffic policeman stopping the whole proceedings, I risked getting my face smashed up in the middle. It was to my relief that the boys stopped or I will literally be manhandled....

I have to say, being totally "virginal" about this, that I was a bit unsettled by the incident and it was difficult to continue with the lesson with the rest fo the class. I guess there will be more of this little experiences now and then.

On a side note, as I was walking back to the staffroom, I witnessed the caning of the student in front of the class by the Principal. It is unsettling, it is sad. I have this awkward feeling and something stuck in my throat. I am glad that the long hols are coming....

The One about kena-ing tomorrowed again!

Thanks again for those who read the entry on the prenatal class. Seems like it strikes a chord with the parents to be. Thanks again. And now I can say.... I kena tommorrowed!! :P

The One about the Internet

I remember during RMUN 2005 IJ was performing something controversial during the fashion parade. Got this. Quite funny but a little controversial. Enjoy....

Have a good week ahead...

The One about going to Prenatal Class

My saturdays are now spent more constructively

Other than spending time on the net surfing porno educational websites ( for teaching and learning), I have embarked on a new profession - the one of being a father. My little Vernice is coming soon in May and Mummy is worried that Daddy woould not have the necessary experience and knowledge to look after Mummy during her pregnancy and Vernice when she is born. As Kiasu parent ourselves, Mummy enroled us for this 150++ ( GST included) course which hopefully would make us better parents and for me a better supporter during my wife pregnancy

I have to admit that I am a pretty aloof daddy, other than serenading my baby girl with my incessant snoring at night and helping a little wee bit more in the housework. My guilty conscience forced me to drag my ass to accompany my wife for this workshop.

Scehduled at an un"appealing" time of 3 -5pm, it was no wonder the Zzzz monsters were tempting me. As we were ushered into a comfortable air conditional room where the environment more than induced me into my deprivated mode, all I see are different types of couples. There was one whose husband was apparently trying to clinch a multi million dollars deal and was too busy to attend the session.( I actually pity the wife) There were also a couple of lovey dovey couples who were more busy "touching" each other ( No wonder the baby). But most of the husbands seen are a disinterested lot who seems to be more willing to catch up with their afternoon naps than to be in the realm where time stands still .

The psychotherapist conducting the session is a nice, friendly lady ( I am obliged to say nice things as she is my wife's colleague :P) who addressed the needs of the 9 couples in the room. From swollen ankles, to bad joints, to backaches and tired muscles, she handled the situation well. There was also a massage session where the husband ( ie the non-baby carrier) got to help the soothe the aching muscles of the mummy.

The lesson instructor showing Mummy how to lie properly to keep baby comfortable

Stand up Straight... Sedia-a!!

I succumb to the temptation of the Zzzzz monsters as it approached the 4.30 mark. I must say that is is really difficult for me ( ie keep awake since I have only slept on an average 6 hours per day the whole week) and even more difficult for my wifey who is carrying a "football" around. I can't say I would be looking forward for the next session. But will definitely try to keep awake then, which means I got to sleep early on friday.

Updated:

This post has kena tomorrowed. Yeah!!

The thing about what happen in class today...

A causal comment when I was teaching the chapter on Russia brought me to this man "Rasputin". For the histo-phobe, Rasputin is a colourful character in History, a known womaniser and drinker. Anyway the discussion inadvertently veered to the concept that girls usually like "bad boys" 男人不坏，女人不爱. The example inadvertently veered towards the fact that female girls always have a crush on guys who are a bit on the "naughty" side... a bit of the leather jacket, a tattoo here and there, some bulging muscles, a harley davidson and of course with a "could care less" attitude to match. I brought out the example that this account for the reason why school girls have crushes on PE teachers, partly for the bulging muscles and the athletic body. No students would have a crush on a History teacher who come to school all covered up ( long sleeves, long pants and stuff).

But I reassured them maybe behind this cover, I could be hidding a 6 pack abs. And I received hysterical laughter.

Guess Yishun Town kids and IJ girls do have something in common..... :(

The one with the little time to spare

The thing about being a teacher in this school now is that i am hidden at the very corner in the staffroom.

My life had been generally undisturbed, which I tried to occupy myself with things to do, from marking to preparing lessons to basically daydreaming.

I find myself more and more an office rat, not helped by the fact that the cubicle looks like a small enclosure for the "visit-the-zoo-animal" But then again, it do have some benefits as I like to just do things at times alone.

Lunch so far had been a small key if not no affair. Gone were the day when I can saunter to the canteen or even go out of school to "ta pau" stuff back. It just feel too tedious to even make the trip out. In fact time really flies and before you knew it, it is around 5 plus in the evening when we pack and wait for the next schooling day in great anticipation.

My first pile of marking has come in and the signs are not good. I guess this is what they mean by a "C"ulture shock. But again I have no complaint. My challenge now is how to help and motivate these kids.

Ominous dark rings are all over my eyes.... I need to start sleeping well and early, and that means at humane hours like 11pm or 12am

Just want to end today post with something that I remembered about IJ :)

Thank you, Lord,

for the trials that come my way.

In that way I can grow each day

as I let you lead,

And thank you, Lord,

for the patience those trials bring.

In that process of growing,

I can learn to care.

But it goes against the way I am

to put my human nature down

and let the Spirit take control of all I do.

'Cause when those trials come,

my human nature shouts the thing to do;

and God's soft prompting can be easily ignored.

I thank you, Lord,

with each trial I feel inside,

that you're there to help,

lead and guide me away from wrong.

'Cause you promised, Lord,

that with every testing,

that your way of escaping is easier to bear.

But it goes against the way

I am to put my human nature down

and let the Spirit take control of all I do.

'Cause when those trials come,

my human nature shouts the thing to do;

and God's soft prompting can be easily ignored.

I thank you, Lord,for the victory that growing brings.

In surrender of everything

life is so worth while.

And I thank you, Lord,

that when everything's put in place,

out in front I can see your face,

and it's there you belong.

The One with the first week in school

I survived the first week of school...

TGIF!

I am sorry that I an not able to blog as often as I like but I am really tied down with work. The first few days were a total blur - an avalanche of paperwork and the unsettling change of a new environment.

Morning assembly was entirely different from that in IJ, but i would say more organised and regimented. However I missed the hymms that I had gotten so familiar and the daily reflections. Suffice to say, the temasek greens was a big change from the navy blues which I have been seeing for the past 5 years.

All of the sudden I feel like one of the blur 12 year olds who step into the school for the first time, badly needing an orientation, getting to know the teachers(colleagues) and yes orientating myself to find my way to class. It was difficult especially when I tried consciously to remind myself not to greet "Good Morning/afternoon girls" but I still ended up doing it, thus getting sniggers and giggles from some of the students. It was also a new experience in the ears when you hear the oh so familiar "cher" which I thought I would never hear on me.

So far i had met all my classes including my form class (yes, I had a sec 2 form class) So far my impression of the students had been good. As for my form class, they can be quite a cute bunch but then sometimes they can be mischevious. But then again this is after all the first week. Horns may grow...

Changes had indeed been unsettling, but getting into the groove of things, I am glad that I had taken that dreaded step out of my comfort zone. I know there are also people out there who faced the same type of problems as I do and let me assure you, I am literally in a similar boat. I do understand how you people feel and sometimes it is comfortable to even hid in your little corner and moan. However in life there will always be change. In fact the only thing that will remain constant is ironically change itself.

I look forward to all these new challenges with relish and I hope I can do what I had done in IJ - continue to nurture and impact the lives of students. If I don't blog often, maybe you could send me a friendly sms or email - I could have been buried in the piles of work that I am supposed to do :P

The One with the Singapore Idol taunt

I received a tag on my board from a competitor for Singapore Idol 2006. Dear Dear I was thinking about entering the superband organised by Channel U. Anyway we can call ourselves...
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Your Band Name is:

The Fishy Officers

BandName Generator

Cool huh?? Evn though I don't know how the "fish" came about?? (Pun unintended) As a teacher-student duo, we have a better chance of winning or worst a better chance of humiliating ourselves. Haha!!

Update:
Stupid SI 2006, it is for people below age 30 which I am just like a couple of months way off the mark. Maybe there will be a SI for veterans (30 and above)

The One with the all the unpacking

I have to admit that I had not unpacked in my new school. 5 boxes of stuff still at my little cubicle collecting dust since my trip to Gentings.

The trip to Sembawang seems like a long one albeit a 20 minute drive, but the thought of sitting there, doing my lonesome unpacking without my familiar colleagues is kinda of unsettling

A student whom I still maintain sms contact remarked "it is always like this, I put in so much in a friendship and it always happen like this ( separation)" While I tried my best to console this student, deep inside I am have the same amount of trepidation and uneasiness (seems like a wierd combination though) It will be in just a week time where I will be seeing students other than the familiar blue pinafores which had greeted me for the past 5 years. I will also not be seeing the all familiar faces in the staffroom with their "how was your holidays?" as such small talk with candour, I will also not be patronising the all so familiar toa payoh food stalls or even the famous char kway teow just outside school during weekday lunch which had so become part of my routine for the past 3 years. No more morning hymms, daily praise to the Lord and of course the awkward silence when the national anthem is being played.

Next week would be a busy one, from 27 -30 Dec, it is jam packed ith school activities, with a good fren's wedding smack inbetween. And I will finally find the time to finally unpack and to settle down in the school. It will be a different experience, something which I am trying my best to cope. Drop me a line ok? Or a friendly sms. For it is now, especially so near end of the holiday season when I sometime feel lonely.

Your 2005 Song Is

Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson "But since you've been gone I can breathe for the first time I'm so moving on" In 2005, you moved on.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Poignant?

The One when I stayed up late

It is 2.25 am, Christmas morning, as I typed my thoughts on my laptop on the comfort of my bed.

Just came back from watching the movie with a couple of friends, those who I had been talking about, friends since my secondary school days. In another 2 years, we will be, well, celebrating our 20 years of friendship. Seems like a long long time. and as I always says, friends made in secondary school are usually there for keeps. I am one good example.

As the years goes by, I find myself lacking more and more in the Christmassy spirit and of course the fun-lovingsy mood. There were no wild parties or night out. Dinner was a quite affair with a couple of my friends and family. There was the turkey bought from carrefour, the homemade pasta, the mash potatoes and the salad. For dessert we had the x mas log cake from swensens- which by the way was way too much rum. After movie, we popped by Maxwell market for drinks ( and i mean non alcoholic) and started planning for another friend's wedding coming on the 28th december.

My girl girl needs her sleep and we were back by 2am. I feel that I am really getting old and, more and more family oriented.

Anyway just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the girls, Germaine, Jaclyn, Zoe for their greeting cards, and Huajia, felicia for their x mas smses. Sorry if I miss your, it is unintentional...

My pet dog trafford also want to say hi and merry x mas to all.

Merry Christmas everyone! Anyway got this shamelessly from another website Very farny, the Hokkien version for X mas

Trafford posing beside the X mas tree my wife decorated

The one with the NKF XXX organisation saga

I know that by writing this, I am opening up myself to be potentially slammed by people. But just want to give my two cents worth.

Disclaimer: I should not be using any form of name calling and harsh remarks but I will be just using a great book as I realise that the episode seem to have SOME parallels. I made some changes to the original text. Maybe it do not make sense to some, so perhaps you should start reading the original. Please bear with me..

Some issues involved:

1) Money saved was never shared and given to the beneficiaries

The farm was more prosperous now, and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. Pilkington. The windmill had been successfully completed at last, and the farm possessed a threshing machine and a hay elevator of its own, and various new buildings had been added to it. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart. The windmill, however, had not after all been used for generating electrical power. It was used for milling corn, and brought in a handsome money profit. The animals were hard at work building yet another windmill; when that one was finished, so it was said, the dynamos would be installed. But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream, the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water, and the three-day week, were no longer talked about. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. The truest happiness, he said, lay in working hard and living frugally.

2) paperwork was never transparent, people complain also no use, terms used were semantic

Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer-except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. It was not that these creatures did not work, after their fashion. There was, as Squealer was never tired of explaining, endless work in the supervision and organisation of the farm. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. For example, Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files," "reports," "minutes," and "memoranda." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing, and as soon as they were so covered, they were burnt in the furnace. This was of the highest importance for the welfare of the farm, Squealer said. But still, neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them, and their appetites were always good.

3) people in support who did not get the same treatment as some.

But just at that moment, as though at a signal, all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of- "Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better!"

It went on for five minutes without stopping. And by the time the sheep had quieted down, the chance to utter any protest had passed, for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse.

Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. He looked round. It was Clover. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. Without saying anything, she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering.

"My sight is failing," she said finally. "Even when I was young I could not have read what was written there. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be, Benjamin?"

For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran:

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

4) the higher management was ripping off the people

After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters. It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set, were arranging to install a telephone, and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull, TitBits, and the Daily Mirror. It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth-no, not even when the pigs took Mr. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on, Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat, ratcatcher breeches, and leather leggings, while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. Jones had been used to wear on Sundays.

The web of lies and deceit, the whole truth is finally out, I am glad that being a critical armchair critic(?) of the organisation had finally paid off. Don't get me wrong, I am not at all proud or happy with this, I am just glad that those who supported the organisation ever so religiously now know that all their hard earned money do not really go the people they cared about. And of course the people who spend more time doing fundraising than helping. This saga had devastated singaporean faith on the fund raising vehicle and of course the whole idea of helping the underpriveleged. Singaporeans are generally kind at heart, and I wondered how long this sour aftertaste will linger in the minds of the people.

Singapore Idol 2

31 dec 2005, Feb 2006.

Maybe I should take part...

What should I sing?

"Hey Baby" and of course my infamous dance routine. (whom another colleague said it looks suspiciously like the Axe gang dance in Kungfu Hustle)

And I know there is an exIJ girl who should also take part (*wink wink)

Maybe we can take part together, you know like those talented boybands or girly groups.

Sorry got to take my Valium.....

The one where trafford is found

After writing the previous entry, i received a phonecall and it was a man who said he found trafford.
Thank God We are reunited!
Trafford look tired and wary. He has been wandering for 1 week
Let's hope he is ok tomorrow...

The one where I lost Trafford

It has been a week since I lost the dog. Actually by no fault of my own. (OK kinda of a little) when we left the door open with the inviting lure of the outside world last tuesday. My missus was actually planning a short outing to East Coast Park with my nephew and we were all at Jurong West when this unfortunate accident happen. I was not there to witness this for I was busy doing my research at NTU/NIE library for my long overdue assignment. But anyway, I received a phonecall telling me that Trafford was missing and I rushed down to Jurong West to search.

After a frantic 2 hour plus search, with relevant calls to the relevant authorities to report the loss of our dog, we decided to call it quits. We were again there on Wednesday, and Thursday and were intending to just rest for Friday when we again received a tip-off from some residents who spotted Trafford roaming on the streets of Jurong West again. But again it was in vain as by the time I rushed down from my home ( which is like from another part of Singapore) the dog was already nowhere to be found.

It had been a gloomy week for me and my family, for Trafford has always been regarded as family. My mom can't sleep as trafford would always snuggle behind her at night (for it seems that he is afraid of the dark). My dad missed his display of affection (ie tail wagging, and of course the obligatory "carrying") as he come home from work. My sister cried when she heard the bad news and was busy trying to get her friends from online dog lovers forums to help out. My wife was perhaps the most upset for she felt she was the guilty one who was neglient and did not look after Trafford and thus allowed him to run off.

I am actually pretty upset and unhappy about certian things that are happening but I am just going to reserve my comments about what I saw when I am in a better mood and less antagonistic to write it down on my blog. :)

Please keep Trafford in your prayers and hope that we will find him real soon. It is X mas and it will be the most wondrous X mas present if he can be back...

The One about the poem about the boy who lived

I got this at the Track and Field Farewell, I know it happens like eons ago, but I promise to write about it.
Thanks Wei Xin and Natalie for writing this beautiful poem. Made me feel like a superstar :P

The Boy who lived

Listen for a minute

It won't take a lot of time

I won't talk much about it

I'm just trying to rhyme

Tonight's subject

is one of curiosity

He's not an American reject

Nor does he commit atrocities

He likes to speak spaghetti

He's pal with Mussolini

He likes to dance and sing

Together with Sun Yat Sen

Old friends, he is, with Lenin

Chairman Mao and Stalin

They all died infamously

But it was not a tragedy

For among them all

He was the boy who lived

Now he stands quite tall

Respect what he has achieved

Look amongst you

For the one I speak about

If your guess is through

Give a try and shout it out!

Thanks so much again!

The one about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (REVISED)

Just came back from the 9 plus show at Bishan and I just have to blog about the movie. I know it is stale news for some people. I really can;t find the time to really blog about about stuff. Coupled with the fact that my desktop is down and I am writing this on my extremely slow laptop which is dying on me, I got to get this really fast.

Interesting and entertaining movie if you are not a Potter fan, The book itself already provide a wonderful script for the movie, but my personal take is that it totally massacre the book. I know that some of the stuff in the book cannot be reproduced on the big screen on a shoe string budget, but isn't this the purpose of adaptations? I was hoping that the movie could reproduce the magic and followed the books faithfully like in movie 1 and 2 and all i got was a jigsaw of scenes which would make little sense for those who are watching the movie without any prior knowledge of the book itself. The emphasis was also on the Ball which was actually a useful distraction in the actual book. In the movie it was like one of the big scenes. It is really too much when they had the rock concerty thing going on. Muggle music? There was also the first 60 plus pages of the book which was abbreviated to like 2 minutes of the movie. In the end it didn't make much sense to all.

(Edited) Not to spoil the fun of those who have watched it and yet able to show my unhappiness of how the book failed to capture the essence of the story, I will try to give as much as I can the discrepancies between book and movie


1) Harry Potter got to know about the Gillyweed for his 2nd task for the Tri Wizard Tournament not from Neville Longbotttom as mentioned in the movie but from Dobby the house elf

2) When the death mark was apparently shot in the sky, the confrontation occur when Winky, a house elf was holding Harry Potter's wand, this was not shown in the movie

3) The whole scene about Harry learning the Summons spell before the first test of the Tri wizard tournanment was not shown.

4) Malfoy was changed into a ferret much earlier in the encounter with Mad Eye Moody

5) The whole Quidditch world cup was vividly illustrated in the novel but was over in like 2 sec in the movie.

6) The opening scene of the first encounter with Voldermort , when Harry woke up, he should have been at his muggle home with his Uncle's family in Privet Drive.

There is just so much to say. I am just disgruntled after my attempt to read the book the second time ( tll about 100 plus odd pages) that it didnt have any impact to the viewing. I am glad I went into the movie hall expecting to be entertained for I certainly did. But I was horribly sad for Rowlings, as I don;t know what will happen to the next big screen adaptation, granting that the Order of the Phoenix isn't really a good script to start with.

I will be getting my comp fixed hopefully by the weekend and till then I will try to blog a little before I leave for Genting Highlands.

Anyway if you have anything about the movie, HP and the GOF that is different from what you read, please feel free to use the tagboard or even the comments page.

The One about the new school and new work space

It has been a busy week for me and I have surprisingly find little time to blog. Was in my new school, presently at the skirt of some industrial areas unpacking my stuff. My new table awaits.





It is definitely much bigger that what I had so far in IJ and of course it has a nice window view which you would not be able to see it from this angle which i am taking the shot. But so far I am still having a hard time making the trip to school and bring my stuff over. It is a lot of junk that I have accumulated over the years.

Will try to blog more but I am getting lethargic by the day.. Must be the old age :P

The one about the prom night pictures

I have just woken up in the middle of the afternoon. The late nights talks and the emotions of the Grad night somehow got the better of me. I am having this sense of emptiness. Anyway will blog about all this when I am finally "awake"

For my sec 4 and sec 5 students, please spread the message to send me the photos ( in .jpeg or .gif format) to my email mrng@teacher.com. Will be extremely grateful.

Got a wedding dinner to attend. See ya soon.

The Ego One

The one about the time to leave

Potential long post, on my random thoughts.

Finally I can put behind the turmoils that has been going through my mind for the past few months. Now I can finally let loose my feeling and announced to the IJ community.

Yes the rumours are true, I am leaving IJ. I have infact on various occasions hinted my imminent departure. But perhaps my usually tongue in cheek manner and delivery always made things obscure. And yes finally after 5 years of services to IJ, I finally pick up the courage to move on to something new, to climb my own Everest. It is one of the most painful and most difficult decision thatI have to make throughout my whole adult life till now.

They said familiarity breed contempt, I say familiarity creates bonds, it builds emotions, it creates emotional ties that is hard to break. I never thought that I will be making the move, as I was so emotionally attached to the school, "simple in virtue, steadfast in duty" and to think that I actually resented the fact that I was posted to IJ when I first joined to school in 2000. But the school, the people, the colleagues, the culture, and You every unique IJ girl won me over, bit by bit.

My decision to leave was made in June 2005 and everything is finally confirmed in september 2005. That was when I decided to try to stay distant, it is not that I don't care but I was hoping that it will be easier then for me to finally really pack up and go. I am actually glad that the one month plus of O levels will be a good cooling off period for me. And the cooling off period have allowed me to decide when I should finally say goodbye to all. Maybe I should just recollect the things that were happening to me. It has been a difficult few months for me. It was difficult for me to make the decision to keep everything a secret and pretend that everything is ok.

Forgive me for not telling you all especially the sec 4 and my form class and for spoiling such a wonderful thing during the PAE briefing, for I didn't know what type of impact it will have on all of you. For the rest of the other class and my CCA girls and those who have worked with me, sorry for choosing to "fade away" like this... Sorry that I am so egoistic and think that the departure of the form teacher will affect the performance of my sec 4s. forgive me for my delusion if that was so untrue.

Please do not say I am heartless, please do not say I don't care, for I have devoted 5 years of undivided attention and service to IJ. And I think, in this, I have shown myself to be a loyal servant to the school. I have no regrets, well actually just one, is that I won't be there to give the piece of the O level results slip to my sec 4/4 girls. That in my opinion would have been a perfect closure to an amazing 2 years as their form teacher.

I hope that I can keep my emotions during the Grad night. After all it is also my graduation night - an end to all my bonds with IJ. If I got uncontrollable, please don;t blame me, I am not going to be all macho, I am an IJ boy by the way. :P Maybe the whole class can do something crazy and dance to the beat of "Hey Baby". That will be cool... :P

On 2 Jan 2006, I will devote my attention to a new group of students, to build bonds with a new group of colleagues, to serve a new school. And once again, I would like to thank IJ for the wonderful memories. The chapter is now closed, for the sec 4s, go on and find your own sky and rest assured that even though I am no longer an IJ teacher, I will always be part of IJ from the bottom of my heart.

The one about the end of the O level exams

As i am writing this very moment, there will be students counting down the hours to the end of the O Levels. By 3 pm tomorrow, all of the IJ sec 4 will be free!

in fact it seems like yesterday when we started 2005, when the teachers like myself were worried that whether the students will be up to the task. There is always the comparision with the "last year batch" , and how this present lot will better them. Remedials, tons of worksheets, lectures, tests, retests, re-re-tests, scoldings, desperation, despair, frustration... all this were part and parcel of a sec 4 teacher, synonymous to the sec 4 cohort. I think they will be glad to put all these behind them now...

However, this also mean the end of a chapter in IJ for them. The empty classrooms, the corridors devoid of the usual bustle and hustle. And realising that there is only the sec 4s to share that feeling of leaving behind the 4 or 10 years of convent school life to chart new directions ahead.

I am ambivalent about this last few hours of the end of the O levels. My responsibilities officially ended on 24 November 2005, after the grad night. This is when I am no longer 4/4 2005 form teacher, and a sec 4 additional maths teacher or even a sec 4 social studies / history teacher. It is when I await a new chapter to begin. The future is uncertain...

The one about kena-ing tomorrowed

Some people ( blogders I hope) apparently find my post on my car amusing and they send it to the editors of tomorrow, and now it is recommended! Anyway a little about tomorrow, it is actually a bulletin for singapore bloggers and it showcases interesting, up-to-date happening about things in Singapore.

Thanks to the "Anonymous Coward" who submitted my blog entry.

And now I can proudly say.................................

*sob* will continue to write more interesting articles...

Cheers

The Ego One

Work

Work can be impersonal
Well it is never personal in any way but sometimes it can be a bit pain in the a** when it come to bureacratic BS.
Imagine you are like less than 5 freaking meters from someone (Let's call her X for this scenario) and she called you over and said "hey I need something from you and I left you an email" Take about top-secret stuff and when you look for an available computer, login, open the internet explorer, type in the url and then your password, and when you open the mail (finally after like 12min), you received a less than 20word message for a couple of documents and paper.

Talk about these stupid ways of bureacratic communication.

Next time they will thank you via email instead of face to face.

Anything to say?

The one when my car was decorated

I know this is really long overdue. But I only managed to get the pictures like just now. Wanted to share with all.

On the last day of school which was like 2 weeks ago, I was given a rude/pleasant surprise from my girls in the RMUNC 2005. In case you are wondering what RMUN is, it is an annual competition known as the Raffles Model United Nations Conference organised by RJC. This competition is more of an adhoc thing in IJ as there is never a formal team; ie we only formed a team or two about a couple months before the competition. Anyway the girls are going to take part in the conference in New York next March. It would be a wonderful exposure for them.

Anyway talking about the surprise, the girls spend so much time and effort that I feel the need to "immortalise" it in my blog...


Look what my girls did to my bao-bei car... :S


Look what they place on my car - a big red card, a small wood block which had the words "IJ 05 RMUN" and two giant bouquet of flowers.


A close up of the "IJ 05 RMUN"


A close up of the bouquets


Rear view

Anyway we drove the car out for a spin with all the "accessories" and there was like a 5 m radius around my car.

To my RMUN girls, thanks for the wonderful gesture. All the best for your New York trip!

To the sec 4s

All the best for the O Levels!

Don't worry too much about the SS paper tomorrow. Just remember what you have been told so far.

Don't panic.
Manage your time properly
Write your essays well K?

I will be there to give you guys moral support.

Mr Ng

I watched Zorro last night at Bishan Junction 8. The palce is so crowded that it seems like the whole Singapore population from the Northern part of Singapore had all gathered there. In fact the quiet and cozy place was the cinemas. It seems like it is not a popular show. Or it has been on the screens too long. The cinema theatre was only half full.

It was a great show if it was not interrupted by incessant sms-es from desperate who would like yo know how to answer a "reliability" question or why I had awarded her with the marks but wrote down "weak weighing of factors". As i mentioned in my previous entry I have no problems helping, but.... I need to celebrate Deepavali.. Sigh :p

Updated
I shall not entertain any more essays from today. 20 emails per day asking for help is too much to bear.

The thing about Packing and Unpacking

Recently, with the results out and the students, san the sec 4 leaving to enjoy their ill deserved holidays, the teachers in the various staffrooms are busy packing for the new school. In fact this is a painful process as after going through that two and a half years ago, we are going through the same process of doing that again. Of course it felt better as now we are in anticipation of a newer, more modern staffroom ( yes and that means a staffroom with a proper kitchenette attached and not the long kampung bench that the teachers are so used to for the past few years.)

Surprising, most of us are reacting to the return ambivalently; While some look forward to the modern facilities as compared to the run down state of the holding school, many especially in my staffroom will really miss the wonderful times that we had together. A lot of teachers love the morning air and the vast greenery in the Thomson campus. The long leisure walks which could kill in the scorching heat of the afternoon sun and of course the thought of sharing the habitats of birds, squirrels, mosquitoes and of course (gasp) snakes! In fact there are some who are apprehensive about coming back to one big staffroom after some many years working independently of each other in three different staffrooms, where 3 starkly different working cultures had emerged. There will bound to be conflicts and of course, there will be the occasional bickerings. It won't be easy but we will try, and we can make it work.

However I must conclude, the past few years had been memorable, especially in a staffroom where it was really like a big family. It was during this few years that I got to know a couple of my colleagues better, and of course made real good friends. It is in this small but yet cozy environment that I got to know a fellow colleague so much better. I will definitely miss the monday morning jibes on the latest progess of our favourite EPL teams, the late afternoon sharings sessions with my colleagues and the saturday stressfree mornings where you just "indulge" your time in the staffroom marking books/assignments, writing and preparing lessons, with the stereos blasting.

It is also through this painful process that we discovered something - teachers are sentimental beings. A couple of colleagues, myself inclusive still have our Practicum files ( when we first started teaching) with us hidden in some dusty corners which we will not have realised if we didn't start packing. Although the syllabus had changed, content had changed, we still hold on to that file, for it reminds us of the hard work we had gone through then. Of course there were also boxes which remained unopen since we first moved in and that it will returned to Toa Payoh Campus in their pristine form. Going trough the massive stuff of mess also uncovered things like - my sec 2 maths notebook when I started teaching maths 4 years ago, a stack of sec 3/4 adventure camp consent form, an envelope containing tens of dollars in coins!, sec 4/3 2003 prelim results etc.. "Archaeological searches" had also uncovered cards, thanks you notes, little souvenirs and of course years of photographs and magazine clippings of past events and people. They only served to remind us how things have changed, how we had aged and of course how we had mellowed down over the years...

As I bring back the bits and pieces of stuff- books, files and souvenirs, that is when i realised that all this is all that I am left with...in 3 years of life in the Thomson Campus.