四川大地震

刚刚看完电视的筹款节目。虽然没有像凤凰台的那么震撼，但是还是蛮令人感动的。

一场突如其来的地震，摧毁了许多建筑物，夺走了许多生命。留下的，只有一大堆的废墟，和说不出的悲伤。我想，灾民的痛苦，不是我们能理解的，但是，我们深深地替他们感到难过。

有太多太多的故事，听了只能让我更难过。我能做的，除了捐款，还可以教育我的学生，生命的可贵和意义。同时，我更珍惜与家人相处的时光。生命如此脆弱和难以预料，我们应该把人生的每一分，每一秒，都过得精彩。这也是我的人生理念。

当一切都被摧毁的时候，原来，最重要的还是留着一口气，保住性命。能和家人在一起，是幸福的。

At the Playground

Hug!!

Make-Up Time!

My Adorable Babies

Will update with pictures of my new home soon. Let me take photos first!


For the time being, just look at my adorable babies.


Xin Xin (Estelle) is turning 2 yrs and 4 mths in a couple of days and Teng Teng (Eston) has just turned 1 last Sunday.

Xin Xin is into "wearing Mummy's clothes" now. Everything has to be the same as Mummy's!

Have you seen a baby who climbs windows? This is my son!

Xin Xin at the salon yesterday. She sat there cooperatively throughout the session, without complaining or misbehaving. I'm so proud of her!

Xin Xin enjoying her milo at the Zoo.

Xin and Teng on the mini Xplorer that we rented at the Zoo. It was such a relief for us!

Teng Teng having a fabulous time on the swing at the Children's World in the Zoo.

Teng Teng at the playground in our new place. He looks so handsome in this shot that I printed this picture on his birthday T-shirt for the whole family for his birthday party last week!

I just love my kids. I'm the happiest mum (and er, wife) in the whole world!

My New Address

For all my friends and students:

511 Yio Chu Kang Road
#01-19 The Calrose
Singapore 787066

Please update your records.

My New Home

If you are one of the faithful followers of this blog, or if you're one of my friends, you will know that moving to a new residence was the next biggest event in my life.

It is now in present tense.

I've moved in today (2 May 2008; although already passed midnight I will still refer it as today) officially, with my bed in and everybody sleeping under the new roof.

When we first got married, it was already in our 5-year plan that we will move into a condominium with full facilities after the compulsory occupation period of 5 years in a HDB flat. We were previously living in a 4-room HDB flat which was our first marital home. This is our second. We bought this place in 2006. Today, 2 May 2008, is the day when our dream has come true. I am so exhilarated that I cannot sleep! My family is sleeping soundly inside while I'm blogging this entry. I just want to express my joy and count my blessings.

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

What is love?

Love is ... ...

... ... when 2 people look into each other's eyes, and know that they have found a home for their hearts for the rest of their lives

... ... going through thick and thin, ups and downs, sickness and health, together

... ... building a home from scratch, and filling it with love

... ... doing their best for the children

... ... providing the best environment they can for the children

... ... looking at the children growing up happily day by day

... ... never forsaking

... ... the feeling of having one another in a family

... ... building a life and future together

... ... wonderful

Pictorial Updates about Korea

Thanks Chris and Dency for dropping me a line. Feels nice to know that we are connected in cyberspace through my blog.

Just going to post some more pictures about what I saw at Korea.

A korean classroom. Floor is "timber-decked", there are wooden tables and chairs, curtains, blackboard and the TV at the side is for projection from the computer.

A lesson going on. Notice that the children don't wear uniform?

A poster to welcome us! How nice.

A typical building along the street.

All of us at Incheon International Airport. The first one we took after touching down.

Mrs Soo (ahem!) at Daegil Elementary School.

On the street (the first day we touched down) called Dongdaemun. (Shopping!)

The trees at Nami Island. Aww.

More trees at Nami Island. Double Awwww...

That's me at the snowy Mt Sorak. It was so AWWWWWW....

Shopping

I was one of the shopping queens in the group (Disclaimer: Notice I said "one of the". There were some other shopping queens and I was only one of them. :-p )

I bought tons of earrings and accessories because they were so cheap!! And these are not those MIC (made in China) but MIK (figure that out yourself) I knw the market price. Earrings that are imported from Korea are costly in Singapore, so when I saw the earrings going at 1000 won (roughly S$1.50), I grabbed!

So my shopping achievement looks something like this:

1. A pair of black shoes that looks like boots

2. Tons of earrings and accessories

3. A few watches

4. A beautiful arty farty looking ring

5. A few tops

6. Ginseng powder (for my children)

7. A pair of grade B amethyst rings - 1 for hubby 1 for myself (my most expensive buy)

8. A packet of 1kg Kimchi for mum

9. Lots of Korean tidbits

10. A bottle of peeling gel for my face - I am also very happy with this buy. Makes my skin very soft and smooth!

The total damage: S$800

Retail Therapy!!

Korea 9-15 Mar 2008

As part of my MLS course, I went on a regional trip to Korea, fully sponsored by MOE, to visit the schools there. It was a very enjoyable trip -- good exposure to the educational and social culture, great scenery, fantastic weather (we even experienced snow at Mt Sorak) fabulous shopping (oops!) and above all, the great friendship that we have built. I did miss my family, but it wasn't as bad as I had thought, coz I was enjoying myself so much.

The above picture shows me at Nami Island -- the place made famous by the popular Korean drama "Winter Sonata". The place was so beautiful, with all the tall trees and long branches. I was so mesmerised that I have rented the entire drama home!

Cannot blog for too long as my tutor is getting suspicious -- will continue next time. See ya later.

Quick Update

The quickest way to update is to post photos!

Have to post photos of my children - they are growing more and more adorable by the day! I am one proud mummy!

Teng Teng and Xin Xin relaxing on bed watching what-else-but-Barney....


Teng Teng simply looks handsome from any angle.


Look Ma! I've got teeth!


The great architect at work.


这把泥土，这把泥土


B L U R


一家人，整整齐齐。

我开始上课了！

很久没有用华文。今天心血来潮，想动动华文笔，看看是否生锈。

最近，我又重返校园，到学府上课。我修读的课程是Management and Leadership Studies。基本上是一个主任的课程，主要内容是教导我们如何在教育界当领袖，引导教员，朝学校的使命与远景前进，带动整体上的进步。我的资历并不深，因此，在这方面，我的确有很多要进修，要学习。

虽然每天到南大（国立教育学院就在南大的范围内）的路途遥远，但是我还是非常享受上课的感觉。做学生太享受了。你的责任只是用心听课。当老师就不同了。这么简单的道理，我怎么到现在才领会到？

我会好好利用这四个月的时间，认真地学习，思考，反省，看书，聊天，交谈，研究，观察。我更会珍惜这么难得的机会，好好地充实自己，顺便休息，让自己在回到岗位上的时候，更有信心，更有魄力。

谢谢你花时间“听“我把我的感受写出来。

好了。不写了。好困！

晚安。再见！

Xin Xin Turns 2!

Xin Xin turns 2 years old today!

I cannot believe that my baby girl has grown into a beautiful young lady.

She is 2!

We went to the Zoo in the late afternoon, just in time to catch the Sea Lion Show at the Splash Amphitheatre.

Here are a few snapshots.


She was so afraid of being kissed by the sea lion that I had to "sacrifice"!

EEE PC

I think it is absolutely necessary to do a formal introduction of my new toy.

Please meet my friend, the EEE PC, also known as ASUS.

EASY to learn, work and play
EXCELLENT mobile computing experience
EXCELLENT internet experience

Let me give you a glimpse of its size.




I had some difficulty getting it configured for the wireless network on NIE campus, as the encryption code was not compatible. So, my hubby got me the mobile modem from Starhub. Now, we can hook onto the net anywhere, anytime!

From Monday onwards, I can go to school using my normal handbag. No need big haversack anymore!

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL STUFF!

I am doing pedicure...NOW AS I BLOG

My hubby had just bought me an eeepc. You know, the super small and light weight one.

And because it is so small and portable, I am able to type this blog while doing my pedicure, right at basement 1 of AMK Hub, Nail Palace.

Thanks to wireless@sg. Technology is such cool stuff.

Life is great.

I am a student again

I am currently on a full-time 4-month course at NTU/NIE. The name of the course is "Management and Leadership Studies" (formerly known as the DDM - Diploma in Departmental Management) This is my first week and so far, it has been good.

Basically, my timetable runs in 2 blocks; 9am-12pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm. On some days, I only have lecture or tutorial in the morning block. On some days, I am "free" the whole day. Most of these free days are meant for school visits and discussion.

For today(Friday), we are supposed to log into the discussion forum to discuss topics or do our online journal - blogging (an official one--not this one :p )

My daughter is pleasantly surprised that mummy is at home with her. I cannot forget the surprised look on her face when I assured her that "Mummy does not have to go to work today"

There are quite a number of deliverables from this course, some of which are pretty exciting. In a nutshell:

1. Personal journal
2. Designing a 10-week curriculum for a particular school (in my case, Unity Primary School)
3. Regional Visit - I am going to KOREA
4. Report on regional visit
5. Any other assignment from our electives

Quite a lot of work to do huh?

But, who is complaining? Not me!

My New Home

These are 2 pictures of my soon-to-be home - The Calrose.
I only have these 2 pictures showing the poolside.
News is that the project has attained TOP (temporary occupation permit).
The keys are being despatched in phases. Seems like it's by block.
We might be one of the last to get our keys as our block is at the "outskirt".
We'll just have to wait. So exciting!

Some updates on my kids

My new cheongsam!


I'm papa's girl.... (It was Mummy's birthday on 30 Dec!)


Don't I look like a cool dude?


POM POM time!

I've Finally Got A Helper

After struggling with taking care of my boy and the other etc etc for 7 and a half months, I have surrendered.

I've got a domestic helper wef 30 Dec 07. Which happens to be my birthday!

With her around, the housework has been entirely taken off my shoulders. Which is really good. Besides the housework, I'm also slowly training her to wash the car. The biggest relief is the night feeding. I finally get to sleep properly!

Got to rush off now for a meeting!

A Christmas Note for Hubby

Dear Hubby,

I've not written a card for you in a long time, perhaps for as long as we have been married. Got you a Christmas-Wedding Anniversary gift to start off the new year with -- nothing spectacular, just something smart to wear for the new year.

Christmas is a time when people count their blessings. For me, my greatest blessing is to have married you, and now we have 2 more little blessings in our lives -- Xin Xin and Teng Teng. Having the 3 of you makes my life complete. I don't ask for anything else.

Merry Christmas, and a merry lifetime ahead.

Love,
Mummy

Having an Extra Pair of Hands

Recently, I have got a helper a home.

This helper is commonly known as a "maid" locally, but I personally find this name a little degrading and less respectful, so I prefer to call her a helper.

Anyway, she is housed at my place for a period of 10 days 9 nights because my friends, who are her employers, have gone overseas for a holiday and hence needed to "tompang" her somewhere.

Her name is Eh Ka Paw Mu from Myanmmar, 24 years old. A young and sweet lady. Quite pretty in fact. She cooks well and is quite efficient in doing the housework. Since I have help, I have asked her to do all the things that I have been wanting to do but did not have time or energy to do. I made her clean the windows (gosh, those dreaded windows which are so dirty and difficult to clean and I had long given up cleaning them since god-knows-when), take down all the curtains and wash them and hang them back (I have a washing machine and dryer ok, so please don't think that I torture her), wash the toys (I used to wash them BEFORE Eston was born) and pack and clean the storeroom. I did this with her, coz I needed to decide which things to throw and keep. Eventually I threw half the stuff in the storeroom, afterwhich I was very, very pleased.

She did all these on top of the daily mopping, cooking, washing of dishes, and occasional laundry and toilet washing. She also re-packed my kitchen (the cupboards and drawers were in a mess eversince my mum came - she's good at stuffing things everywhere but not in a systematic way) and cleaned up whatever she could clean.

I realised that I feel happier during this period, because my house is CLEAN.

This is my NORMAL standard. In the PAST.

And I have just realised how much I have lowered my cleanliness standard eversince I have had kids.

Snapshots of myself on all fours scrubbing the toilet floor with a 8-month pregnated belly at 11pm suddenly whizz through my mind. That was before Estelle was born.

After she was born, I still try my best to upkeep the cleanliness (I wash her toys periodically, okay!) but have let go of some things like windows.

After Eston was born, I struggled very badly. It came to a point when I was going mad. I couldn't cope.

We got a part-timer who comes on Saturdays for 4 hours to do big items like washing the 2 toilets, vacuuming, mopping and ironing. We pay her $10 per hour. She is not very thorough but I just keep her because she desperately needs the money. I just close one eye and live with it.

I like the idea that all the housework can be taken off my shoulders, but will not contemplate getting a full-time helper at the moment. Prefer to have our own privacy and save on this cost. I will make do with a part-timer, but I do hope that the part-timer can be as good as Mu. Perhaps I might ask my friends if we could arrange for Mu to be our part-timer. Let her earn the extra cash. Why not, right?

Tomorrow I will be sending her back to my friends. It had been a good arrangement.

:-)