Chapter 1: "Career"
This has gotta be the most interesting and vexing. Over the past couple of weeks, I've got offers which range from exciting and challenging to the more mundane, from possibly well paid to the most ridiculously below the minimum wage offer.
I'll just mention the two which I deemed really impt, and which i seriously considered. The first is a keyboardist with a band who plays almost every night at a popular entertainment place near the bay which offers various genres of music, and the band plays for a room named after an insect. I met up with the band members (they are not locals) and we got along quite well. (In fact, later i met up with one of them a couple of days later before she went back to her country for a holiday and she termed me as her good friend!) I was excited about how this could really challenge me to work on my music, but the hours were not favorable for my social life. Even so, after much thought and praying about it, i was willing to take it up if some conditions were met. God closed the door however, when the band told me that their agent said they might not be able to get the work permit if they did not register as a full band due to stringent regulations, plus they need to rehearse back in their home country which i couldn't participated in. I wasn't disappointed as I knew I've given it to God and He's in charge. I also wasn't disappointed because I know I did not cringe and hide and choose not to take up the challenge which knowing me, ha ha, its highly possible.
Anywayz, the second opening is completely different from the first I"ve mentioned. Ha ha. Its part time teaching at a local tertiary institution. I went for the interview last tuesday. And I got the job! for a term, continuation will be subjected to performance and student reviews and all. I was informed on Fri morn that I got the job. Though I'll need to get a laptop for that... sigh....
The week leading to making the decisions on the various different openings was not easy as the timing was sort of together but yet not quite making decision making vexing. Thankfully, I know that as long as I submit them unto the Lord He will show me. Even tho I still not noe wat's next, I'm thankful for the journey so far. :) Am I still gonna pursue my dream as a pianist? I'm trying to. I think FM's getting a little worried for me as i seem to be losing steam. Perhaps i am. Perhaps i am just getting more stable. So... we'll see....
Chapter 2: Flu Bugs
It started with the stomach flu bug which hit FM last week. I tried to take care of him. Then, come Saturday the cold flu bug hit me. Actually I wasn't feeling good by Wed. Now i'm still fighting the bug. Not like I'm really fighting. There just aint much i can do. Am just really lethargic. Last night I was kept awake under my covers, perspiring away, but feeling cold at the same time. I was so confused man. To take away the covers (but I'll feel cold! cos i oredi feel cold under the covers) or to remain in it (but I'm perspiring from head to..wherever). Why are the bugs so persistent?!?!
Chapter 3: Past-times
I'm very ill-disciplined. Instead of working HARD at my repertoire, these are the activities that had been keeping me occupied instead:
- tuition
- piano lessons
- F.R.I.E.N.D.S
- chic lit 'Under the duvet'
- FB
- s**ing
- msning
- time with FM
Here, however are the list of activities that I shld be working more on:
- reading the book "The Art of Teaching Piano"
- working out my repertoire
- getting syllabus for the piano diploma
- working on the jazz instructional book and cd
- homework from the voice technique class i've been attending for two weeks (i neva practise wat i learnt... which equates what i learnt to just head knowledge)
- of course, still time with FM.
So, here are the adventures(-mis) i've been getting into... CNY round the corner.... hmm... this time round i'll appreciate the ang baos more than i did the previous years. Healthy accounts balance. HA HA.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Divinely planned
today i had a great time watching Beauty World, a local production with Agnes. Why do I say this is divinely planned? Because as Agnes reminded me, today's tickets was the evidence of God's provision and love.
I've always known in my 'head' that God will provide. He will provide our daily needs. But since the quitting of my job, when I'm more 'vulnerable' to phases of "i hv no stable job... i hv no money... my life is messed up... i cant do nice stuff cos i nid to not spend too much... life must be constrained..." i aslo become more aware (when He reminds me through people) of His providence and His love.
I realize that indeed God provides for my needs.
E.g. When Leez was in town two mths back, she was looking for someone to aid her in the transfer of funds. She called her bro, but it wasn't convenient. She was wondering who to call next, and she called me. In the process of getting the funds transferred, she felt led to transfer more for my mission trip to philippines, and that covered beautifully for the outstanding of the trip. other than that , my cambodia and thailand mission trips were also sponsored. over my years of mission trips, only were these trips sponsored (the first time i'm going on a trip without an income since i started work.)
I also realize that God not only provides for my needs, He also provides for my 'wants'. Things that make me 'happy'. Like i mentioned, i thot hving no income means.. cut down in 'pleasure' stuff. but.. He PROVIDED!! showing He cares for my little desires!
E.g. 1 Today's free tickets to Beauty World. Yest Agnes dated me for dinner today. Tis morn, she told me she's got tickets for the musical from a fren. Somehow because we've oredi made an appt for tonight, viola, I got to watch a musical (I LIKE!) that I dun even hv to pay!! Imagine someone with no income watching a musical!! with good seats!!
E.g. 2 In Manila last year, i really really liked an eye glitter i saw @ Bench. It was only 5 SGD. BUT it was OUT OF STOCK. I REALLY REALLY liked it. We went to another "supermall' only to find there's no stock too. I was really bumped. But when Fel, FM and i splitted ways for a while, Fel felt God telling her to go upstairs, where she found another Bench branch WITH THE EYE GLITTER and bought for me. Even tho its 'only SGD5' wow... i was like.. u mean God not only cared for my 'practical' needs.. He cares for the little silly things too!! :P
ALl these divine appts / divinely planned stuff.. just made my day today esp when of late i do get bumped cos of my 'career status'.
Its also nice to be at the other end of these divine appts, being able to bless as well. At Tangs today, FM and I bumped into my sis. We were going to pay for a Daniel Yam gown (On sale!! And i got it just at the last min of the sale.. talk abt divine timing...), she just finished paying for her dress. She was highly stressed abt getting CNY clothes after shopping thro Centrepoint to Tangs and rushing home to take care of my nephews when she bumped into me. She asked me to check out her new dress and i gave her some pointers how she cld make it look better. but basically i just said its good... i din noe how much it meant to her until i got an sms from her later to say... tt she was really glad to meet me to get an assurance abt her dress!! WOW..... divine appt for 'unimportant' stuff.... Does God love us or love us?
ok.. its getting long... but i must blog this.. because ... i'm human.. i may forget.. but His love must neva be forgotten.... thank You Abba.
I've always known in my 'head' that God will provide. He will provide our daily needs. But since the quitting of my job, when I'm more 'vulnerable' to phases of "i hv no stable job... i hv no money... my life is messed up... i cant do nice stuff cos i nid to not spend too much... life must be constrained..." i aslo become more aware (when He reminds me through people) of His providence and His love.
I realize that indeed God provides for my needs.
E.g. When Leez was in town two mths back, she was looking for someone to aid her in the transfer of funds. She called her bro, but it wasn't convenient. She was wondering who to call next, and she called me. In the process of getting the funds transferred, she felt led to transfer more for my mission trip to philippines, and that covered beautifully for the outstanding of the trip. other than that , my cambodia and thailand mission trips were also sponsored. over my years of mission trips, only were these trips sponsored (the first time i'm going on a trip without an income since i started work.)
I also realize that God not only provides for my needs, He also provides for my 'wants'. Things that make me 'happy'. Like i mentioned, i thot hving no income means.. cut down in 'pleasure' stuff. but.. He PROVIDED!! showing He cares for my little desires!
E.g. 1 Today's free tickets to Beauty World. Yest Agnes dated me for dinner today. Tis morn, she told me she's got tickets for the musical from a fren. Somehow because we've oredi made an appt for tonight, viola, I got to watch a musical (I LIKE!) that I dun even hv to pay!! Imagine someone with no income watching a musical!! with good seats!!
E.g. 2 In Manila last year, i really really liked an eye glitter i saw @ Bench. It was only 5 SGD. BUT it was OUT OF STOCK. I REALLY REALLY liked it. We went to another "supermall' only to find there's no stock too. I was really bumped. But when Fel, FM and i splitted ways for a while, Fel felt God telling her to go upstairs, where she found another Bench branch WITH THE EYE GLITTER and bought for me. Even tho its 'only SGD5' wow... i was like.. u mean God not only cared for my 'practical' needs.. He cares for the little silly things too!! :P
ALl these divine appts / divinely planned stuff.. just made my day today esp when of late i do get bumped cos of my 'career status'.
Its also nice to be at the other end of these divine appts, being able to bless as well. At Tangs today, FM and I bumped into my sis. We were going to pay for a Daniel Yam gown (On sale!! And i got it just at the last min of the sale.. talk abt divine timing...), she just finished paying for her dress. She was highly stressed abt getting CNY clothes after shopping thro Centrepoint to Tangs and rushing home to take care of my nephews when she bumped into me. She asked me to check out her new dress and i gave her some pointers how she cld make it look better. but basically i just said its good... i din noe how much it meant to her until i got an sms from her later to say... tt she was really glad to meet me to get an assurance abt her dress!! WOW..... divine appt for 'unimportant' stuff.... Does God love us or love us?
ok.. its getting long... but i must blog this.. because ... i'm human.. i may forget.. but His love must neva be forgotten.... thank You Abba.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
touched.....
today is the post-XT's bday day.... altho in FM's calendar, it is a week-long festival of celebration of the princess' bday. ha ha.
anywayz, this festival came abt bcos i was a little down yest, even tho it was my bday. it was nice. mom cooked mee sua for me. so i had a simple lunch w mom, dad and FM. FM cooked me dun tang! ha ha. it was nice.
but cos both of us kena cold, so we din go out for dinner. plus worship prac was rough and ended REALLY late, and pple in prac din even wish me bday (its no big deal, but i cant help feeling disappointed.) all added up.. made me feel really really blue.... so FM came up with the week long festival thing... ha ha...
anywayz, i was really really touched by FM's sweetness today... i was practising piano and abt to go wash up and go for tuition. halfway thro a piece my mobile rang. i ignored it. after the piece, i saw the missed call from FM. called him back.. and he told me... look out .. and i saw the silhueote of a long limb waving upwards with a bouqeut. i was like HUH?!?!
thanks baby... i'm really really touched by this really really sweet gesture.... anywayz, here's the pic of the frowers that made my day... more like... the sweet act that made my day (even tho i hv to carry that.. uh-hmm for a couple of years.. haiz... ha ha)
oh... den today i had dinner with haz... after a long long time... so... its really nice.. the post-xt's bday-day...
anywayz, this festival came abt bcos i was a little down yest, even tho it was my bday. it was nice. mom cooked mee sua for me. so i had a simple lunch w mom, dad and FM. FM cooked me dun tang! ha ha. it was nice.
but cos both of us kena cold, so we din go out for dinner. plus worship prac was rough and ended REALLY late, and pple in prac din even wish me bday (its no big deal, but i cant help feeling disappointed.) all added up.. made me feel really really blue.... so FM came up with the week long festival thing... ha ha...
anywayz, i was really really touched by FM's sweetness today... i was practising piano and abt to go wash up and go for tuition. halfway thro a piece my mobile rang. i ignored it. after the piece, i saw the missed call from FM. called him back.. and he told me... look out .. and i saw the silhueote of a long limb waving upwards with a bouqeut. i was like HUH?!?!
thanks baby... i'm really really touched by this really really sweet gesture.... anywayz, here's the pic of the frowers that made my day... more like... the sweet act that made my day (even tho i hv to carry that.. uh-hmm for a couple of years.. haiz... ha ha)
oh... den today i had dinner with haz... after a long long time... so... its really nice.. the post-xt's bday-day...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
mussels with cream sauce....
hmm.... i love seafood...
yest FM n i attempted cooking some new dishes we've neva tried before. here's a pic of wat we cooked up over a couple of hours. (i'm learning from esther, posting up pics, ha ha).
we hv
1. mussels in cream sauce (i anyhow name it. saw this on naked chef or something like that. so anyhow hantum.)
abt 1.5 kg of mussels, washed (they are really cheap at sheng shiong)
.5 cup of white wine
100ml cream
a few stalks of leeks
chopped garlic
3 ounces of butter (tts wat he says, but do i noe ounces? i noe agar agar)
fry chopped garlic in butter. stir in leeks and stir fry for a couple of mins. pour in wine and cook til the alcohol content is gone (use scent technique). pour in cream. simmer for a while. throw in mussels. simmer and stir as and when for 5 mins (he claims, but we stir for longer than that). den VIOLA.... yummy.
2. pasta soup (i coined the name again. our philippines frens gave us some after the worship prac. i asked how its cooked, she just say evaporated milk. so here's a anyhow try shot... which came out to be too milky in FM's opinion)
agar agar amt of black pepper
agar agar amt of chicken meat
1 small carrot, some garlic (i added that in myself. dun rem seeing it in philippines)
1/2 pc of sweet onion (tt's agar agar too)
1 can of evaporated milk (tt's agar agar too)
agar agar amt of butter
salt to taste
agar agar amt of pasta
water
cook pasta separately and drain.
sautee carrot, sweet onion, garlic, meat in butter. pour in milk. den water. i dunno how much. just whack. den salt. den pepper. den pour in cooked pasta. and viola... strange tasting dish.. ha ha
3. fried egg with onion
we ate til we could collapse... i really really like the mussels... :)
yest FM n i attempted cooking some new dishes we've neva tried before. here's a pic of wat we cooked up over a couple of hours. (i'm learning from esther, posting up pics, ha ha).
we hv
1. mussels in cream sauce (i anyhow name it. saw this on naked chef or something like that. so anyhow hantum.)
abt 1.5 kg of mussels, washed (they are really cheap at sheng shiong)
.5 cup of white wine
100ml cream
a few stalks of leeks
chopped garlic
3 ounces of butter (tts wat he says, but do i noe ounces? i noe agar agar)
fry chopped garlic in butter. stir in leeks and stir fry for a couple of mins. pour in wine and cook til the alcohol content is gone (use scent technique). pour in cream. simmer for a while. throw in mussels. simmer and stir as and when for 5 mins (he claims, but we stir for longer than that). den VIOLA.... yummy.
2. pasta soup (i coined the name again. our philippines frens gave us some after the worship prac. i asked how its cooked, she just say evaporated milk. so here's a anyhow try shot... which came out to be too milky in FM's opinion)
agar agar amt of black pepper
agar agar amt of chicken meat
1 small carrot, some garlic (i added that in myself. dun rem seeing it in philippines)
1/2 pc of sweet onion (tt's agar agar too)
1 can of evaporated milk (tt's agar agar too)
agar agar amt of butter
salt to taste
agar agar amt of pasta
water
cook pasta separately and drain.
sautee carrot, sweet onion, garlic, meat in butter. pour in milk. den water. i dunno how much. just whack. den salt. den pepper. den pour in cooked pasta. and viola... strange tasting dish.. ha ha
3. fried egg with onion
we ate til we could collapse... i really really like the mussels... :)
Monday, November 26, 2007
goodbye andies mint choc.... sobs...
they are taking andies choc off the shelves!! or so FM and i hv observed over the past few mths... first they disappeared off ntuc's shelves, den tops / cold storage and other supermarts, den now even the old provision shop near FM's place!! the only place we chanced upon them last was at sheng shiong @ paya lebar.... so we wiped out the entire shelf of the mint and choc flavor, a total of 7 boxes in all... now we are rationing the consumption ... :(
goodbye andies.... *sobs*
meanwhile, i'm nursing a purple toe from a freak accident. not really a freak accident. i was executing the 'haaiyaaaa' karate kick at FM in his kitchen. missed him and hit the metal handle of a cabinet instead.... so now.. its purple and fat... *sobs again*
hai..... ya......
goodbye andies.... *sobs*
meanwhile, i'm nursing a purple toe from a freak accident. not really a freak accident. i was executing the 'haaiyaaaa' karate kick at FM in his kitchen. missed him and hit the metal handle of a cabinet instead.... so now.. its purple and fat... *sobs again*
hai..... ya......
Thursday, November 15, 2007
tis the season to be 'marry'
i just realize tt i've been invited to six weddings over consecutive weeks year end into new year.... is it a coincidence or yr-end season is great for weddings?
24 Nov - Ly-ann
1 & 5 Dec - Mabel
9 Dec - Athena
15 Dec - Alicia
22 Dec - cousin's
1 Jan - Shawn
Must teach more to earn cash for the angbaos... either tt or cut down on christmas prezzies purchases ha ha
24 Nov - Ly-ann
1 & 5 Dec - Mabel
9 Dec - Athena
15 Dec - Alicia
22 Dec - cousin's
1 Jan - Shawn
Must teach more to earn cash for the angbaos... either tt or cut down on christmas prezzies purchases ha ha
Saturday, November 10, 2007
tark tark tark....
i finally owned my very own metronome.
i've learnt piano for over a decade, in fact, coming to two decades. its oredi a miracle i got to learn piano. so since young, we only have an old second hand piano, xerox piano pieces and books for practice. hving a metronome is.... not practical. i've been gauging tempos by 'feel'. finally i bought a metronome of my own. costs me over 50 bucks, the taktell QM2, by Wittner. i figure, since i'm getting serious into music, its time i own this 'basic' piece of equipment...
so.. tark tark tark... here we go....
on a sidenote: its been great to be out of the country for half a month in cambodia and thailand... :) i miss being with pple of other cultures...
i've learnt piano for over a decade, in fact, coming to two decades. its oredi a miracle i got to learn piano. so since young, we only have an old second hand piano, xerox piano pieces and books for practice. hving a metronome is.... not practical. i've been gauging tempos by 'feel'. finally i bought a metronome of my own. costs me over 50 bucks, the taktell QM2, by Wittner. i figure, since i'm getting serious into music, its time i own this 'basic' piece of equipment...
so.. tark tark tark... here we go....
on a sidenote: its been great to be out of the country for half a month in cambodia and thailand... :) i miss being with pple of other cultures...
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
die... bug... DIE......
was down with stomach flu on monday morn. got up and threw up three times between 0330 - 0700 and had major diahearo (i STILL cant spell it). so for the rest of mon, i was lying in bed all day from the backache and walking ard (whenever i absolutely HAD to) like an old woman - slow and hunched over. now tt i'm no longer attached to THE system, where i hv to produce evidence of being sick, i chose not to see the doc (the distance to my GP wld hv killed me first) and survived on panadol. thank God for panadol. calorie intake for the day was 100 cal maximum, with a couple of grains of porridge. ha ha. (i can laff NOW because i'm much better now.)
started to recover yest. taken off panadol, and went for my piano lesson which was postponed. did the sorting out and packing of the clothes for the cambodia trip. it wasn't easy. i was so easily tired. thankfully FM was there to help me out.
today did part of the packing of my own stuff for the trip. it was tougher than usual, cos like yest, i just tired out after a while, even tho it was such a light and simple task. still hv the feeling of throwing up after my breakfast of bread with sugar. die... stomach flu bug... DIE.... i'm going to cambodia....
oh, and can i add that its such a torture to smell NICE FOOD (reads: oily).... when i cant eat them .... i smell them EVERYwhere....
started to recover yest. taken off panadol, and went for my piano lesson which was postponed. did the sorting out and packing of the clothes for the cambodia trip. it wasn't easy. i was so easily tired. thankfully FM was there to help me out.
today did part of the packing of my own stuff for the trip. it was tougher than usual, cos like yest, i just tired out after a while, even tho it was such a light and simple task. still hv the feeling of throwing up after my breakfast of bread with sugar. die... stomach flu bug... DIE.... i'm going to cambodia....
oh, and can i add that its such a torture to smell NICE FOOD (reads: oily).... when i cant eat them .... i smell them EVERYwhere....
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
staying focused....
someone from church called me up to inform me abt an opening in his education institution. he's been asking me over the past 3 years with related positions. i've always been keen. cos it involves spending time with kids (but no marking, etc.). involves bringing them overseas, a couple of OCIP trips... which are my passion....
still my passion, but alas, i hv yet to go full steam yet... hence for me to drop wat i've been preparing so far.... was too difficult.... i've been telling pple one has to count the cost when dropping wat they hv to move to something new. i realize, one still has to count the cost, to press onto wat may seemingly be foolish or impractical at this moment....
well, even tho the opening was wat i've always been interested in, reasons for not going for it:
- i just got out of the system, not to get myself into another system so soon.
- i just got out of a job which took up so much of my time and life to get into perspective, not to get myself into another one like that.
- i got out to venture something new which i hvn't really tried properly yet to conclude how it will end up. i've given up enuff to get into it, not to give up halfway.
- i cant bring myself to give up wat i've put in so far into this new venture. too much put into it. too much given up for it.
- God has been stirring my passion for music, so i will follow that...
so this entry is a reminder for myself in case one day i question myself.. which i pray will neva be... for one thing i believe in: neva regret. learn.
still my passion, but alas, i hv yet to go full steam yet... hence for me to drop wat i've been preparing so far.... was too difficult.... i've been telling pple one has to count the cost when dropping wat they hv to move to something new. i realize, one still has to count the cost, to press onto wat may seemingly be foolish or impractical at this moment....
well, even tho the opening was wat i've always been interested in, reasons for not going for it:
- i just got out of the system, not to get myself into another system so soon.
- i just got out of a job which took up so much of my time and life to get into perspective, not to get myself into another one like that.
- i got out to venture something new which i hvn't really tried properly yet to conclude how it will end up. i've given up enuff to get into it, not to give up halfway.
- i cant bring myself to give up wat i've put in so far into this new venture. too much put into it. too much given up for it.
- God has been stirring my passion for music, so i will follow that...
so this entry is a reminder for myself in case one day i question myself.. which i pray will neva be... for one thing i believe in: neva regret. learn.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
still packing....
finally packed away the teaching materials i've packed back from school two months ago.... i packed my christian lit into a box and even spent two hrs or so typing out the titles of each bk. At least i hv an idea of wat literature i own, and now i hv a record i can refer to when i need stuff... if not, wats the point owning the books?
spent two afternoons 'packing' my inbox.... i easily have over 600 mails in my inbox 'collected' since i registered with each server. FM is appalled to see so many items in inbox, while i'm puzzled as to how anyone can only hv 15 items max in his inbox!! anywayz, i've just figured out 'archiving' my emails in my gmail account and am proud to announce that i hv reduced my items in the inbox from over 600 to over 100!! HA HA.
din get to prac piano these couple of days cos just busy going out... with frens.. for the silly funfair (where i managed to successfully dunk a person for the first time, and the farnie thing is, the first person i successfully dunked in my entire life is FM. HA HA).. going for the jam last night..
meanwhile.. my sis has given birth to my FIFTH nephew!! i wanna niece... *sulks* am gonna visit her later...
and here's my travel schedule arranged by Abba coming up:
18th Oct - 23rd Oct -- COSI orphanage, Ang Snoul Province, Cambodia
24th Oct - 1st Nov -- Nong Kai, Northern Thailand
7th Nov - 14th Nov -- Vietnam (Tentative)
5th Dec - 12th Dec -- Baguio, off Manila City, Philippines
WIll need to work on stuff on the trip, my website, my repertiore, reading up on western music, and very imptly waiting upon Him, which i hvn't spent enuff time in... hmm...
spent two afternoons 'packing' my inbox.... i easily have over 600 mails in my inbox 'collected' since i registered with each server. FM is appalled to see so many items in inbox, while i'm puzzled as to how anyone can only hv 15 items max in his inbox!! anywayz, i've just figured out 'archiving' my emails in my gmail account and am proud to announce that i hv reduced my items in the inbox from over 600 to over 100!! HA HA.
din get to prac piano these couple of days cos just busy going out... with frens.. for the silly funfair (where i managed to successfully dunk a person for the first time, and the farnie thing is, the first person i successfully dunked in my entire life is FM. HA HA).. going for the jam last night..
meanwhile.. my sis has given birth to my FIFTH nephew!! i wanna niece... *sulks* am gonna visit her later...
and here's my travel schedule arranged by Abba coming up:
18th Oct - 23rd Oct -- COSI orphanage, Ang Snoul Province, Cambodia
24th Oct - 1st Nov -- Nong Kai, Northern Thailand
7th Nov - 14th Nov -- Vietnam (Tentative)
5th Dec - 12th Dec -- Baguio, off Manila City, Philippines
WIll need to work on stuff on the trip, my website, my repertiore, reading up on western music, and very imptly waiting upon Him, which i hvn't spent enuff time in... hmm...
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
baroque - irregular pearl
that's wat baroque means...
tt's wat i've been occupying myself with other than meeting up with frens etc. hv been reading up on baroque music period on wikipedia. Whilst its 'only one webpage', i've taken 3 days and still only halfway thro it. that's cos i'm also going thro the relevant bits (e.g. counterpoints, fugue, oratorio, etc.) on other wikipedia pages. its kindof strange that i'm actually returning to the study of CLASSICAL music. but who noes, i might just end up teaching piano next year onwards, together with my pursuit of music in performance. cant say i totally understood wat was online.. but at least am trying.. its been interesting despite the 'dry' topic. like PJ told me, i'm a driven person when i find the purpose to do something. i've found purpose in learning these theoretical bits, which is wat drives me to spend time on.
meanwhile, hv been working on my fingering techniques practicisng cramer. also working on jazz pieces and classical pieces (sonata no. 13, the bell)...
today also jammed with the team going to thailand for the worship camp. last week's jam left me overwhelmed, feeling inadequate. but i noe i had to press on and trust God. and today things are working out better. its a new and refreshing experience jamming with 'rock' musicians. ha ha... out of my comfort zone.. but being out of comfort zone always means taht God is gonna teach and show me new things... :)
tt's wat i've been occupying myself with other than meeting up with frens etc. hv been reading up on baroque music period on wikipedia. Whilst its 'only one webpage', i've taken 3 days and still only halfway thro it. that's cos i'm also going thro the relevant bits (e.g. counterpoints, fugue, oratorio, etc.) on other wikipedia pages. its kindof strange that i'm actually returning to the study of CLASSICAL music. but who noes, i might just end up teaching piano next year onwards, together with my pursuit of music in performance. cant say i totally understood wat was online.. but at least am trying.. its been interesting despite the 'dry' topic. like PJ told me, i'm a driven person when i find the purpose to do something. i've found purpose in learning these theoretical bits, which is wat drives me to spend time on.
meanwhile, hv been working on my fingering techniques practicisng cramer. also working on jazz pieces and classical pieces (sonata no. 13, the bell)...
today also jammed with the team going to thailand for the worship camp. last week's jam left me overwhelmed, feeling inadequate. but i noe i had to press on and trust God. and today things are working out better. its a new and refreshing experience jamming with 'rock' musicians. ha ha... out of my comfort zone.. but being out of comfort zone always means taht God is gonna teach and show me new things... :)
Saturday, September 22, 2007
a comment from an *outsider
*from outside the M** system i just got out of
my piano teacher thinks that i
- 'm much much happier now.
- 'm much more patient now than i used to be.
- dun get agitated as easily than previously.
- look better now
- 'm much more energetic
- 've changed.
he's really happy for me i left service under M**
to tink that years ago, ana used to say that i dun hv a temper. the yrs in the system has changed me... to a more confident person, to a more capable person, but also one with shorter fuse (to handle the kids, u start by acting angry, overtime, it just happens as a part of my life even out of sch.)
i'm glad i've left too....
my piano teacher thinks that i
- 'm much much happier now.
- 'm much more patient now than i used to be.
- dun get agitated as easily than previously.
- look better now
- 'm much more energetic
- 've changed.
he's really happy for me i left service under M**
to tink that years ago, ana used to say that i dun hv a temper. the yrs in the system has changed me... to a more confident person, to a more capable person, but also one with shorter fuse (to handle the kids, u start by acting angry, overtime, it just happens as a part of my life even out of sch.)
i'm glad i've left too....
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
five dollars...
is wat my JC assignments, prelim papers, notes, Uni notes (over four years) and thesis materials are worth....
it wasn't easy for me to trash some of these materials. the uni notes, i even had them nicely classified before storing them years back. and my prelim papers for JC, still had the 'very good' getting 50+/75 for my physical geog paper... i tink i scored a 74.5/100 for Maths C PI and 60+/100 for Maths C PII.
with the help of a 'voice' that says 'throw', i packed them into the pile for garang guni. today the garang guni man came... and all that stuff.. worth 5 bucks.. i've sold my past for 5 bucks... but i guess i wldn't need them anywayz... part and parcel of unclutteriong and moving on in life.
five bucks is a lot from garang guni
five bucks is very little for memories....
move on gal....
it wasn't easy for me to trash some of these materials. the uni notes, i even had them nicely classified before storing them years back. and my prelim papers for JC, still had the 'very good' getting 50+/75 for my physical geog paper... i tink i scored a 74.5/100 for Maths C PI and 60+/100 for Maths C PII.
with the help of a 'voice' that says 'throw', i packed them into the pile for garang guni. today the garang guni man came... and all that stuff.. worth 5 bucks.. i've sold my past for 5 bucks... but i guess i wldn't need them anywayz... part and parcel of unclutteriong and moving on in life.
five bucks is a lot from garang guni
five bucks is very little for memories....
move on gal....
Thursday, August 30, 2007
uncovering....
La Campanella (Franz Liszt)
the mad song i heard in either The Pianist or Shine many many years ago... only attempted pg 1 of the score. its an impossible piece for me...
In a Persian Market - Intermezzo-Scene (Albert W. Ketelbey)
A song i really liked playing when i was learning classical piano.but over the years, my scores got all over the place. only after a 3 hr plus session of organizing the heaps of mismatched scores did i piece this score tog again. Synopsis of the piece:
The camel-drivers gradually approach the market; the cries of beggars for "Back-sheesh" are heard amid the bustle. The beautiful princess enters carried by her servants, (she is represented by a languorous theme, given at first to clarinet and cello, then repeated by full orchestra) - she stays to watch the jugglers and snake-charmer. The Caliph now passes through the market and interrupts the entertainment, the beggars are heard again, the princess prepares to depart and the caravan resumes its journey; the themes of the princess and the camel-drivers are heard faintly in the distance and the market-place becomes deserted.
meanwhile, i'm pulling out classical pieces to play as well... i actually miss playing these stuff... i might be crazy enough and end up teachign classical piano as well!! but a lot of brushing up needed la.
the mad song i heard in either The Pianist or Shine many many years ago... only attempted pg 1 of the score. its an impossible piece for me...
In a Persian Market - Intermezzo-Scene (Albert W. Ketelbey)
A song i really liked playing when i was learning classical piano.but over the years, my scores got all over the place. only after a 3 hr plus session of organizing the heaps of mismatched scores did i piece this score tog again. Synopsis of the piece:
The camel-drivers gradually approach the market; the cries of beggars for "Back-sheesh" are heard amid the bustle. The beautiful princess enters carried by her servants, (she is represented by a languorous theme, given at first to clarinet and cello, then repeated by full orchestra) - she stays to watch the jugglers and snake-charmer. The Caliph now passes through the market and interrupts the entertainment, the beggars are heard again, the princess prepares to depart and the caravan resumes its journey; the themes of the princess and the camel-drivers are heard faintly in the distance and the market-place becomes deserted.
meanwhile, i'm pulling out classical pieces to play as well... i actually miss playing these stuff... i might be crazy enough and end up teachign classical piano as well!! but a lot of brushing up needed la.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
uncluttering is good for the soul...
some of the finds from the uncluttering:
- i used to be so active in the youth, viewed as a 'potential leader' by the then-leaders, den moving on into leadership position?!?
- found loads of nice cards (i threw quite a lot away, kept half of them), including letters from youths, prison!, TPJC and TJC classmates and letters from penpals!!
- had three singaporean penpals (david, elgin, geraldine), one malaysian penpal (marilyn), one korean penpal and one french penpal (whose names are too difficult for me to rem) and a brazilian penpal (gabriel)
- some travel finds - in dalat, ko samui, nepal, cambodia...
- currencies! i neva finish spneding them and usually just dump them into my 'travel drawer' it came up to:
indian currency - 200 rupees
cambodian currency - 3000 riels (equivalent to less than 1USD)
malaysian currency - 107 ringgits
thai currency - 1940baht
indonesian currency - 151100 rupiah (took quite a bit of calculation)
china currency - 300RMB
australian currency - 10AD
US currency - 35USD
what i relearnt abt myself from uncluttering:
- i was actually a 'nice and caring' person in my uni days, spending time nurturing the youths den (now adults). i do question wat happened when i got busy with life, career... not making excuses for myself, i do think tt i've been making differences in lives ard me, students and frens... but qns is ... was it with as much zeal as in the past? was it evidently Jesus showing from my actions? age shldn't be an excuse.
now u hv an idea y i take SO LONG to clear my stuff.. urm.. the above are just exerpts..
meanwhile hv been doing stuff i like .... waking up late, going for runs... and going for a dive trip to perhentian and mission trip to cambodia... will write more abt those stuff in next entry. now learning to rest, and wait upon the Lord. Last night, i learnt 'if u r not resting in the Lord, u are not trusting Him..."
- i used to be so active in the youth, viewed as a 'potential leader' by the then-leaders, den moving on into leadership position?!?
- found loads of nice cards (i threw quite a lot away, kept half of them), including letters from youths, prison!, TPJC and TJC classmates and letters from penpals!!
- had three singaporean penpals (david, elgin, geraldine), one malaysian penpal (marilyn), one korean penpal and one french penpal (whose names are too difficult for me to rem) and a brazilian penpal (gabriel)
- some travel finds - in dalat, ko samui, nepal, cambodia...
- currencies! i neva finish spneding them and usually just dump them into my 'travel drawer' it came up to:
indian currency - 200 rupees
cambodian currency - 3000 riels (equivalent to less than 1USD)
malaysian currency - 107 ringgits
thai currency - 1940baht
indonesian currency - 151100 rupiah (took quite a bit of calculation)
china currency - 300RMB
australian currency - 10AD
US currency - 35USD
what i relearnt abt myself from uncluttering:
- i was actually a 'nice and caring' person in my uni days, spending time nurturing the youths den (now adults). i do question wat happened when i got busy with life, career... not making excuses for myself, i do think tt i've been making differences in lives ard me, students and frens... but qns is ... was it with as much zeal as in the past? was it evidently Jesus showing from my actions? age shldn't be an excuse.
now u hv an idea y i take SO LONG to clear my stuff.. urm.. the above are just exerpts..
meanwhile hv been doing stuff i like .... waking up late, going for runs... and going for a dive trip to perhentian and mission trip to cambodia... will write more abt those stuff in next entry. now learning to rest, and wait upon the Lord. Last night, i learnt 'if u r not resting in the Lord, u are not trusting Him..."
Monday, August 27, 2007
getting the clutter out of my life...
hv been trying to pack (without much success)....
one of the thing i feel convicted to do whilst i'm on this break is to remove the clutter in my life, the physical stuff as well... i've dumped quite some stuff... my training deed (which has now expired).. some of my 1st yr uni work, interviews for social work, bills, my practicum stuff (LPs etc).... somehow i feel tt i cant really move on and start afresh with these... the beginning is easy... its getting more and more tough... the discipline and the smaller nitty gritties.. to hold (hoard) or to dump... i'm a hoarder by nature.. so it aint gonna be easy...
may God grant me the wisdom and discipline to 'work out' the clutter....
one of the thing i feel convicted to do whilst i'm on this break is to remove the clutter in my life, the physical stuff as well... i've dumped quite some stuff... my training deed (which has now expired).. some of my 1st yr uni work, interviews for social work, bills, my practicum stuff (LPs etc).... somehow i feel tt i cant really move on and start afresh with these... the beginning is easy... its getting more and more tough... the discipline and the smaller nitty gritties.. to hold (hoard) or to dump... i'm a hoarder by nature.. so it aint gonna be easy...
may God grant me the wisdom and discipline to 'work out' the clutter....
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
dormant blog
well.. i hv pple complaining abt my blog being dormant... so here's a quick entry abt my trip to China 11 - 18 Aug...
Well, pple kept asking me "how was the trip?" I'm glad I had clear objective before the trip (yeah, teaching does help in making you write SIOs): To spend time with my parents. If not for a clearly stated objective, i'll have died of boredom and the lack of freedom.
My answer typically includes the following points:
1. boring
2. i hv a strange grp
3. packaged tours really aint my cup of tea
4. its not easy being with my parents 24-7 (the only break i got was the 3 hrs when they joined the grp for massage which i opted out of)
5. tho it hadn't been easy, tho not 'enjoyable' i neva regretted the trip because the objective was fulfilled (oh... still stuck in the system): i spent time with my parents. :)
Ok... why do i not like packaged tours?
1. you spend more time travelling to a place than getting to noe the place.
Here's a quick run of the itinerary i've recorded for the first few days (i gave up after the first couple of days) *hardly names given cos i cant rem, we move too quickly. i dun even noe the names of the hotels i stay in or how the exteriors look like.D1
- 5 hrs flight to Shanghai. 1 hr ride to the hotel. SLEEP
D2
- 1 hr ride to some pasar malam. (see, i cant even rem the name of the place. Spent only 45 mins there. Nothing to buy. Ended up with a mint freeze.
- 2 hrs ride to Wu Zhen. Followed by 1.5hrs tour along the river settlement.
- 3.5 hrs ride to Heng dian.
D3
- 1.5 hrs ride to a mockup version of the Qing Dynasty's palace, and spent 1 hr there.
- 1.5 hr ride to YiWu. 1 hr walk in the China's largest international export center. (which i read abt in national geographic, so its kewl, tho cant buy anything cos 1. not suitable, 2. urm... who's gonna buy wholesale millions of the same item?)
- 2 hrs ride to the lei dian ta (the one that trapped mdm white snake apparently) and spent 1.5 hrs at the tower.
- 25 mins walking ard the lake
- dinner followed by a very decent acrobat show.
D4
- 1 hr ride for a boat ride in Xi Hu, boat ride tt lasts 30mins
- walk ard the garden followed by 20 mins in a museum. (TWENYY mins in museum? i spent 5 hrs in the one in india!! no wonder i hardly learn anything abt this place)
- 30 mins ride to some chinese medicine talk and hard sell place. We spent more than an hour there. finally right? why? because they are trying to sell stuff to us, in which the tour company will get a cut of the commission.
- 3.5 hrs ride to Wuxi and 1 hr to shop along a street.
D5
- 30mins ride to the mock up of the palace of the Han dynasty they used to film 'three kingdoms' and 1 hr there.
- walk ard the tai lake. Btw, because the tai lake is one that cultivates loads of sea food and pearl, the water u drink from wuxi ACTUALLY HAS A FISHY TASTE! I'm not kidding!eeks... bottled water... oh.. and eutrophication is quite evident there.
- visit to the pearl center. more talks/demonstrations and hard sell.
- visit to the tea pot center. more talks and hard sell.
- 3 hrs ride to Nanjing, 1 hr spent at pasar malam ( i can't even rem how its like except for the pasar malam being recorded in my pda)
D6
- Visited teh song qing ling mansion
- visit to jade shop. more talks and hard sell.
- visit to a China's impt bridge. den an art shop. more talk and hard sell.
- 3.5 hrs ride to suzhou. followed by a 10 mins boat ride.
No more records.. get the picture right?
2. its rush rush rush. Did i mention that we wake up at 6am EVERY morn? including sat? (worse than sch days) and retire at 11pm on the average.
3. in packaged tours in China (cant speak for other destinations as this is my first packaged tour ever), they put you thro talks of products and HARD SELL (ref above) u stuff (at exorbidant prices)... and its PART of the PLANNED ITINERARY!! we spent more time for the hard sell for pearl, jade, art pieces, some chinese dragon fengshui thing, silk, chinese medicine than 'free and easy', tea (refer #4)
4. the definition of "free and easy" is 1.5 hrs of 'shopping' in a shopping centre / street they drop you on. Doesn't matter if you are interested in the stuff in the centre / street. Just come back in 1.5 hrs.
5. Weird characters in the group.
we have an old couple who claims to be bro and sis (dun lie lah...) who are smoking like ALL the time, attention seeking, think very 'havoc and kewl'.. but i see as 'lao wan tong'. came back late for one 'free and easy'. y? not because they got lost.. but cos they were DRINKING. they look really red when they came back. and it wasn't apologies when they were back but 'bu yao jing'. sigh.
another very very lao shi and blur old lady who keeps asking pple to take pics for her using OUR cameras and later SEND (SNAIL MAIL) of the processed pics to her?!?! my mom says she's happy go lucky. i say.. yeah she blur blur happy, but the poor travel companion will be totally stressed. my mom din get the meaning of my statment until on the last day, she got really lost one day for 30 mins in a super crowded tourist attraction place... and my tour guide's heart nearly popped out.
Did i regret going therefore? I neva believe in regretting. I believe in learning from watever experiences. I got to spend time with my parents.. and i have a taste of packaged tours and can say confidently that its not my cup of tea (unless i change 40 yrs later, who can tell...) meanwhile, no more 'follow the flag'.... nuts...
Well, pple kept asking me "how was the trip?" I'm glad I had clear objective before the trip (yeah, teaching does help in making you write SIOs): To spend time with my parents. If not for a clearly stated objective, i'll have died of boredom and the lack of freedom.
My answer typically includes the following points:
1. boring
2. i hv a strange grp
3. packaged tours really aint my cup of tea
4. its not easy being with my parents 24-7 (the only break i got was the 3 hrs when they joined the grp for massage which i opted out of)
5. tho it hadn't been easy, tho not 'enjoyable' i neva regretted the trip because the objective was fulfilled (oh... still stuck in the system): i spent time with my parents. :)
Ok... why do i not like packaged tours?
1. you spend more time travelling to a place than getting to noe the place.
Here's a quick run of the itinerary i've recorded for the first few days (i gave up after the first couple of days) *hardly names given cos i cant rem, we move too quickly. i dun even noe the names of the hotels i stay in or how the exteriors look like.D1
- 5 hrs flight to Shanghai. 1 hr ride to the hotel. SLEEP
D2
- 1 hr ride to some pasar malam. (see, i cant even rem the name of the place. Spent only 45 mins there. Nothing to buy. Ended up with a mint freeze.
- 2 hrs ride to Wu Zhen. Followed by 1.5hrs tour along the river settlement.
- 3.5 hrs ride to Heng dian.
D3
- 1.5 hrs ride to a mockup version of the Qing Dynasty's palace, and spent 1 hr there.
- 1.5 hr ride to YiWu. 1 hr walk in the China's largest international export center. (which i read abt in national geographic, so its kewl, tho cant buy anything cos 1. not suitable, 2. urm... who's gonna buy wholesale millions of the same item?)
- 2 hrs ride to the lei dian ta (the one that trapped mdm white snake apparently) and spent 1.5 hrs at the tower.
- 25 mins walking ard the lake
- dinner followed by a very decent acrobat show.
D4
- 1 hr ride for a boat ride in Xi Hu, boat ride tt lasts 30mins
- walk ard the garden followed by 20 mins in a museum. (TWENYY mins in museum? i spent 5 hrs in the one in india!! no wonder i hardly learn anything abt this place)
- 30 mins ride to some chinese medicine talk and hard sell place. We spent more than an hour there. finally right? why? because they are trying to sell stuff to us, in which the tour company will get a cut of the commission.
- 3.5 hrs ride to Wuxi and 1 hr to shop along a street.
D5
- 30mins ride to the mock up of the palace of the Han dynasty they used to film 'three kingdoms' and 1 hr there.
- walk ard the tai lake. Btw, because the tai lake is one that cultivates loads of sea food and pearl, the water u drink from wuxi ACTUALLY HAS A FISHY TASTE! I'm not kidding!eeks... bottled water... oh.. and eutrophication is quite evident there.
- visit to the pearl center. more talks/demonstrations and hard sell.
- visit to the tea pot center. more talks and hard sell.
- 3 hrs ride to Nanjing, 1 hr spent at pasar malam ( i can't even rem how its like except for the pasar malam being recorded in my pda)
D6
- Visited teh song qing ling mansion
- visit to jade shop. more talks and hard sell.
- visit to a China's impt bridge. den an art shop. more talk and hard sell.
- 3.5 hrs ride to suzhou. followed by a 10 mins boat ride.
No more records.. get the picture right?
2. its rush rush rush. Did i mention that we wake up at 6am EVERY morn? including sat? (worse than sch days) and retire at 11pm on the average.
3. in packaged tours in China (cant speak for other destinations as this is my first packaged tour ever), they put you thro talks of products and HARD SELL (ref above) u stuff (at exorbidant prices)... and its PART of the PLANNED ITINERARY!! we spent more time for the hard sell for pearl, jade, art pieces, some chinese dragon fengshui thing, silk, chinese medicine than 'free and easy', tea (refer #4)
4. the definition of "free and easy" is 1.5 hrs of 'shopping' in a shopping centre / street they drop you on. Doesn't matter if you are interested in the stuff in the centre / street. Just come back in 1.5 hrs.
5. Weird characters in the group.
we have an old couple who claims to be bro and sis (dun lie lah...) who are smoking like ALL the time, attention seeking, think very 'havoc and kewl'.. but i see as 'lao wan tong'. came back late for one 'free and easy'. y? not because they got lost.. but cos they were DRINKING. they look really red when they came back. and it wasn't apologies when they were back but 'bu yao jing'. sigh.
another very very lao shi and blur old lady who keeps asking pple to take pics for her using OUR cameras and later SEND (SNAIL MAIL) of the processed pics to her?!?! my mom says she's happy go lucky. i say.. yeah she blur blur happy, but the poor travel companion will be totally stressed. my mom din get the meaning of my statment until on the last day, she got really lost one day for 30 mins in a super crowded tourist attraction place... and my tour guide's heart nearly popped out.
Did i regret going therefore? I neva believe in regretting. I believe in learning from watever experiences. I got to spend time with my parents.. and i have a taste of packaged tours and can say confidently that its not my cup of tea (unless i change 40 yrs later, who can tell...) meanwhile, no more 'follow the flag'.... nuts...
Saturday, August 11, 2007
i'm leaving on a jet plane....
Well, not exactly, either a boeing or airbus. *chuckles* .... soon....
i had two great days before... spent time w FM trying to research for trip in sept.. 'trying' because we ended touring sg all day to look for places w internet connection and dinner.... and met up w leez n gals for a short while during her stopover in sg.
yest, had a great time w gals i taught... it was nice to be able to talk as friends rather than as a tr per se. we were bitching a little abt trs... :P and apparently whenever i wore my long skirts, to some gals, its a 'she's wearing curtains' again... :) but it was really nice.. i really enjoyed the moment spent w them. :) makes me feel tt the three years in PL is worth it. i tink i'm gonna see some of them at the airport.. cute...
den had dinner w FM and drove a black box a couple of rounds....
today morn met up w HM to work on the website we're gonna come up w for my new career. its gonna cost a bomb too... :(
meanwhile, i'm hoping it doesn't rain too much in china. its raining all over asia and flooding all over... sigh....
i had two great days before... spent time w FM trying to research for trip in sept.. 'trying' because we ended touring sg all day to look for places w internet connection and dinner.... and met up w leez n gals for a short while during her stopover in sg.
yest, had a great time w gals i taught... it was nice to be able to talk as friends rather than as a tr per se. we were bitching a little abt trs... :P and apparently whenever i wore my long skirts, to some gals, its a 'she's wearing curtains' again... :) but it was really nice.. i really enjoyed the moment spent w them. :) makes me feel tt the three years in PL is worth it. i tink i'm gonna see some of them at the airport.. cute...
den had dinner w FM and drove a black box a couple of rounds....
today morn met up w HM to work on the website we're gonna come up w for my new career. its gonna cost a bomb too... :(
meanwhile, i'm hoping it doesn't rain too much in china. its raining all over asia and flooding all over... sigh....
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Major changes in life...
Its been a long time since I've blogged. Whilst work was winding down for the past month, I was somewhat kept occupied spending time with people who are dear to me. If I don't blog soon enough, AG is gonna blame certain special dude in my life now for taking my time away from updating my blog. :)
Will be pretty busy for these 3 days, but I HAVE TO sit down and blog. Simply because I've just embarked into new chapters of my life. Just stepped out of one yesterday, and what better time than to recount these things in words...
Yesterday was my last day in school. Had to do community singing for the parade. It was.... alright... But when I saw the gals march in the parade, they were so SMART! I had the 'privilege' of being the 'GOH' during the rehearsal on Tuesday. And I saw gals from my form class marching, leading the band etc, the sense of 'wow'....
It was strange to see my table empty. To walk out of the staffroom for the last time as a proper staff. To walk to HZ's table to talk a little (and while laffing over the minutest silly stuff, we teared...). To realize that friends I've seen daily for three over years... will now be friends I only get to see once in a while. (sure we say we'll catch up, but in reality, everyone's busy. and no longer can i just row my chair over to MR's wkstation for eg.). It hasn't struck me fully yet, as I was still busy packing out of sch yest, and hving to pack for my trip this sat. But eventually it will sink in. I'm grateful for the 5 years of service in education (including JJC, MPSS, NIE, PYSS, PLMGSS). I've learnt much. Moving on to something unknown, something better, something that will grow me more in Him... but God knows.
Meanwhile, since I came home yesterday, I've trashed quite a bunch of stuff I've accumulated at home for YEARS: bills (since 2004), the notes and worksheets for JJC and MPSS, some NIE stuff... I'm looking fwd to clearing up more after my china trip. Its as if my new chapter in life is to be signified by the trashing of the old literally. I really feel like it... clearing up on the past.. and moving on....:)
Anywayz, other than trashing stuff, I've finally added my gals into my frenster account. Promised that I'll add them either 1. they graduate; 2. i leave school. Some have been on the waiting list for a while. *chuckles*
Today, will be packing a little for the china trip on saturday. I'm not looking fwd to the 'packaged' tour, which in JW's words are: high-class refugees. But I'm looking fwd to spending time with my parents. I mean, how often does one get a chance to do that? Will be doing research about a trip in Sept with FM. Then bunk over with Leez cos she's having a 24hr stayover before flying back.
Tomorrow, will still be packing and spending some time with my students... I used to teach in 2005 and 2006. They call themselves the 2b2-ians. It was really one of the classes I looked fwd to teaching. My 3B1 this year as well. Of course there are others... and for those which 'drains' energy teaching, its still all worth it as well... oh, I love teaching lah, I love the gals, my friends (ex-colleagues - urm, most, not all), just not the system... :P
Saturday will be off for a week.... Watever comes next....I dunno. I just noe God noes. It had been a little 'disappointing' for the past weeks when doors that were opened closed. But I trust that the reason is cos those are not my doors. God will open the right door at the right time. Meanwhile, I tink that's a sign to me that I shld just quit thinking abt my future and go on holiday and take my break and enjoy the time with my Abba. :)
Will be pretty busy for these 3 days, but I HAVE TO sit down and blog. Simply because I've just embarked into new chapters of my life. Just stepped out of one yesterday, and what better time than to recount these things in words...
Yesterday was my last day in school. Had to do community singing for the parade. It was.... alright... But when I saw the gals march in the parade, they were so SMART! I had the 'privilege' of being the 'GOH' during the rehearsal on Tuesday. And I saw gals from my form class marching, leading the band etc, the sense of 'wow'....
It was strange to see my table empty. To walk out of the staffroom for the last time as a proper staff. To walk to HZ's table to talk a little (and while laffing over the minutest silly stuff, we teared...). To realize that friends I've seen daily for three over years... will now be friends I only get to see once in a while. (sure we say we'll catch up, but in reality, everyone's busy. and no longer can i just row my chair over to MR's wkstation for eg.). It hasn't struck me fully yet, as I was still busy packing out of sch yest, and hving to pack for my trip this sat. But eventually it will sink in. I'm grateful for the 5 years of service in education (including JJC, MPSS, NIE, PYSS, PLMGSS). I've learnt much. Moving on to something unknown, something better, something that will grow me more in Him... but God knows.
Meanwhile, since I came home yesterday, I've trashed quite a bunch of stuff I've accumulated at home for YEARS: bills (since 2004), the notes and worksheets for JJC and MPSS, some NIE stuff... I'm looking fwd to clearing up more after my china trip. Its as if my new chapter in life is to be signified by the trashing of the old literally. I really feel like it... clearing up on the past.. and moving on....:)
Anywayz, other than trashing stuff, I've finally added my gals into my frenster account. Promised that I'll add them either 1. they graduate; 2. i leave school. Some have been on the waiting list for a while. *chuckles*
Today, will be packing a little for the china trip on saturday. I'm not looking fwd to the 'packaged' tour, which in JW's words are: high-class refugees. But I'm looking fwd to spending time with my parents. I mean, how often does one get a chance to do that? Will be doing research about a trip in Sept with FM. Then bunk over with Leez cos she's having a 24hr stayover before flying back.
Tomorrow, will still be packing and spending some time with my students... I used to teach in 2005 and 2006. They call themselves the 2b2-ians. It was really one of the classes I looked fwd to teaching. My 3B1 this year as well. Of course there are others... and for those which 'drains' energy teaching, its still all worth it as well... oh, I love teaching lah, I love the gals, my friends (ex-colleagues - urm, most, not all), just not the system... :P
Saturday will be off for a week.... Watever comes next....I dunno. I just noe God noes. It had been a little 'disappointing' for the past weeks when doors that were opened closed. But I trust that the reason is cos those are not my doors. God will open the right door at the right time. Meanwhile, I tink that's a sign to me that I shld just quit thinking abt my future and go on holiday and take my break and enjoy the time with my Abba. :)
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Transform-ing....
I bought my first long black dress (a daniel yen!!)... i really like it a lot... the moment when i decided to buy it, it was.... kindof weird... i mean, yeah, all the talk of moving on to becoming a so-called professional pianist... its talk. i've been working on my repertoire... but here's something CONCRETE that is another step towards what i've aimed to become.... its really weird... i might be getting cold feet.... but i must go on....
anywayz, the dress wasn't an easy find. EL n i had to go from Marina Square to Suntec to Orchard to find it. as usual, when u need something, it doest come by easy (since its nowhere near christmas). when you dun need one, you always find nice ones on sale. ha ha. i paid almost 150 for this one... so.. yeah, it had better be nice. ha ha.
transforming for a new future.... eeks!!
anywayz, caught transformers. hmm... the lack of plot really makes it lack lustre. still, the image of optimus prime (i can actually rem the name!!) does linger in my mind... somehow reminds me of the forgiving and loving and sacrificial Jesus who leads by serving... anywayz, that aside, that show is only worth watching for... old-time's sake...
anywayz, the dress wasn't an easy find. EL n i had to go from Marina Square to Suntec to Orchard to find it. as usual, when u need something, it doest come by easy (since its nowhere near christmas). when you dun need one, you always find nice ones on sale. ha ha. i paid almost 150 for this one... so.. yeah, it had better be nice. ha ha.
transforming for a new future.... eeks!!
anywayz, caught transformers. hmm... the lack of plot really makes it lack lustre. still, the image of optimus prime (i can actually rem the name!!) does linger in my mind... somehow reminds me of the forgiving and loving and sacrificial Jesus who leads by serving... anywayz, that aside, that show is only worth watching for... old-time's sake...
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