Blessed rain

To rejoice in another's prosperity, is to give content to your own lot: to mitigate another's grief, is to alleviate or dispel your own. Thomas Edwards
We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.Denis Diderot
Arguing with a fool proves there are two. Doris M. Smith

Yay~
Wednesday, Teachers’ Day is coming soon!
And today is my day ‘off’!
Hehe… but if you think that I am going to lace around and do nothing, you are flat wrong!
-evil laughter-

I love rain.
Think I was born on a rainy day.
Evan Almighty… more water for the rain.
Think I’ll catch that movie some day.

Praise God for the rain!
^-^

Danny Boy @ The Proms

Happiness resides not in posessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.Democritus
Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.Aldous Huxley
Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I am happy to announce that Yang Mui will be receiving an ice cream treat from me the next time we meet up.
She got quote origin correct.
Yang Mui – nothing specific related to the line lah… I was listening to it on the radio and that line jumped up at me… haha

The other quote has not been solved yet.
Hakim tried to get the answer.
Not even close dude.
Here’s a clue:
It’s from a drama on television. (Which one? - *zips lips*)
“She said she loved me”
Still anyone’s game!

Update of my days of past:
Waterfest safety boat duties
Pesta Sukan Seniors’ Finals with Shoon
Classes
TKM out of hospital
TKM emergency A&E
WWS School program
Headaches
Bishan Library visit
Visiting my Ian
Running all over the island – as usual
Plannings here and there
Dinner with Yingz
Kayaking *hoot!!!!*
Bought sun block – it’s a big deal ok! I donch use sun block one~
Trying to catch up with rest/sleep
Bought a new blouse

Some of my students gave me teachers’ day presents!
Heehee… so sweet :)

Ah... August is coming to an end soon... smell that paycheck!
-does the dance of joy-
It has been an eventful month no?

I was watching “The Last Night of the Proms” on Arts Central last Monday night.
One of the songs performed was Danny Boy.

Danny Boy - celtic folk song

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountainside
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valleys hushed and white with snow
For I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow.
Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so.
And when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
Ye'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And o'er my grave shall warmer, sweeter be.
And if you bend and tell me that you love me.
Then I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.
Other authors have added an additional verse:
But should I live, and should you die for Ireland,
Let not your dying thoughts be all of me;
But say a prayer to God for our dear Sireland
That He may hear and help to set her free.
And I shall take your pike and sword, my dearest
And strike a blow, though weak that blow may be,
To help the Cause to which your heart was nearest
And you will sleep in peace until I come to thee."
or
But should it be in battle strife that I am slain
Don't let your dying prayer be all for me
But say a prayer to God for our dear country
That He may hear and surely set her free
And I shall hear and pray with you my dearie
And I'll strike a blow, yet weak that blow may be
To help our cause, our hearts' desire, my dearie,
And we shall rest in peace when Ireland is free

Ah… the beauty of voices~
Daddy said that they sing this song in church as well… hehe...
I’ve been surfing through Youtube for all the ‘Proms’ performances.
Jerusalem, Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory, etc…
Shiok xia… such grandeur~
-swoon-

Hey Adelyn~
With regards to your entry about the wrong number calls:
My gwad… can whack that girl xia… how can call the wrong number everyday?!
I admit I was laughing quite a bit about the empting of your brain… but it was super funny xia~
Hope your interview went well :)

Yingz,
Update your blog ah~

Aight, I love the rain… on with my day and week!
Praise ye the Lord~
^-^

Who wants to have an ice cream treat?

Men spend their lives in anticipations,--in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other--it is our own. Past opportunities are gone, future have not come. We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer the tasting of them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age.Charles Caleb Colton

“She said she loved me”
- Let me know where I’ve quoted that from and I will treat you to ice cream!

Here’s the rundown for the week of just-past:
TKM went to hospital
TKM had to undergo surgery
Visitations to CGH
Work
Up and about
WWS sessions
Half the family down with cough or flu or something along those lines
Supper with Shoon
Attempting to train
Not getting enough sleep – nothing new there
Down and out
Bought two new pairs of shoes
Met up with Yueling – for all of half an hour!
Ran into my primary school classmate – Juliana
Projects

What a week!
Emotional ups and downs.
Felt like swearing on more than one occasion.
Gave into the temptation on a few occasions. Haa~
I am human!

“I think I dreamed you into life”
- Let me know where this line came from and get an ice cream treat from me!

There are so many things going on that I can’t seem to get one thing to stay put in one spot for me to analyze it.
Been wanting to write about so many things, but I guess some things are better left unwritten. Then again, the bad memory releases me from certain burdens at the same – can’t fret over something if you forget it right?
Heh~
Then again, one might start worrying about forgetting what one is supposed to be worried about.
Alamak! *bleah*

There are the good days, and then there are a few bad ones.
It really is a matter of perception and how you choose to label or respond to the situation(s) at hand. You could choose to be bothered by the issue and get all ‘thinky-winky’ about it, or you could use the situation to your benefit and turn it around to make you stronger.
Bottom line is that: You have a choice.
One of the most meaningful things I learnt about having a relationship with God is that He gives me a choice of what I want to do with my life. Yes, He guides and sends people to direct me in the correct paths but at the end of the day, I choose whether I want to heed the callings/directions given.
Yeap, I learn everyday.
Oh joy of having Jesus as my Savior! :D
-does a jig-

Yang Mui~
Hope your back feels better real soon!
Den we can go and have a chill session~
*hoot!*

Marilyn~
Take pictures of your new neighborhood and show show leh~

Yingz,
Are we going cycling on Wednesday?
Dinner anytime soon?

Anyone keen on going back to SRJC to surprise the teachers?

Anyone wanna go to the Comex on Teachers’ Day?
Alternatively, anyone wanna interested in having mahjong session on that day?
It’s my only day off! *BIG HINT*

Saturday draws to a close and Sunday is starting to creep up on me… hohoho.. it doesn’t know what it’s in for!~
-psychotic laughter-
Anyone wanna sing doxology with me?
-more laughter-

^-^

42nd National Day

You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.Mark Twain
When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.Helen Keller
Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities. Aristotle

HAPPY 42nd BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!!!
I’m a day late but who cares?!
Everyday of August is meant for celebrating our nation’s 42nd birthday!
-throws confetti all over the place-

Tuesday was spent at home till work started in the evening.
Uneventful and filled with family.
That’s bliss~

Wednesday morning went cycling with Yingying and her cell leader Wilson.
Poor Yingz fell off her bike and tio scratches and scrapped off meat.
Since I am the one she crashed into I kinda feel responsible for her injuries… have to go flog myself over my actions or rather my inability to work fast…
-hits head against wall after flogging self-
Ying, I will be more careful next time ok?
Sorry ah…

Went home after the cycling and slept… till evening then went for training.
Rootbeer floats at White Tangerine after class. Nice and cold. Just the way we all like it. :)

Thursday – NATIONAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Went to the market with TKM in the morning.
Carried all the groceries home first before they all started melting while she went to buy lunch from the very crowded hawker centre.

Took a nap before heading out to meet XJ, Edwin, Caroline, Tze Liang, Derek, Annie, Noh, Doreen and Eugene for the national day duty patrol.
We cruised up and down the Singapore River while the parade was on. Carry banners to remind the public not to litter.
We ate our dinner on the boat along with some tidbits… cuisine/fine dining on a boat anyone?
XJ brought her new camera along and took plenty of pictures – more than 400 if I am not wrong.
I used my trusty phone to capture the fireworks and other scenes, which are seriously one in a million.
How often do you get to see fireworks from the water?
Not everyone gets to see the National flag flown right above their heads while they are right in front of boat quay on the water?
Can you boast of having been able to see the Marina platform from the water in the night during the post parade party?
-hysterical laughter-

The fireworks were truly AWESOME.
They get better every year.
I’m always speechless when the double exploding ones are shot off.
*swoon*
And because the skyline of the banks was incorporated into the parade, there were fireworks being set off from the tops of those buildings as well. Such beauty. Yes, such beauty. *swoons again*

Thank you to Derek for giving Annie and me a lift home after we got the boats back to HQ.

Spent some time online last night uploading my firework pictures… now just waiting for XJ to send me her side of pictures… heehee… can’t wait…

Got to drink more water/liang cha… I’m starting to feel sick again… blasted flu!
Gotta pray real hard that I don’t get worse…
Can not afford to fall sick for the next 3 months xia…
-faints-

Marilyn~~~
Hope you had a good flight and get settled into your new job real soon :)
Faster take pictures of Vietnam and post ok?
Hehe… must remember to email us as well ah~
See you online soon!

Cheers everyone!
^-^

Send In The Clowns

Where beams of imagination play,The memory's soft figures melt away.Alexander Pope
Believe that you have it, and you have it.Latin Proverb
Imagine every day to be the last of a life surrounded with hopes, cares, anger, and fear. The hours that come unexpectedly will be so much more the grateful.Horace

Walk to PLMC with YKM and Daddy for service.
Headed over to work early.
Rushed off to training right after the preparation for this week was done.
It’s a real headache to have two combined into one.
Thank God for preparation time.
-psychotic laughter-
Brought the scripts home to mark. Gotta keep myself on the ball no?
-more psychotic laughter-
Training was straining due to the lack of energy.
Teaching is indeed rewarding when the pupil gets the point and remembers it.
Did my marking till early morning.
Accounts for why I am so tired I guess… HA!

Today’s class was small.
I like :)
Went home for lunch at Daddy’s request.
Then hurried down to WWS for the school program. I kinda fell asleep in the bus… oppz…
Session was good. The students were well behaved, but sadly I could not go wadding in the water due to my newly opened blisters.
*bleah*
It was a good day, save for TKM not feeling well… aiyo~
Thank You God all the same. :)

I was listening to one of my Dad’s CDs and came across of the song ‘Send In The Clowns’. Keep wondering where I’ve heard the song previously, along with who was the one who did the singing, but one thing is certain – I’ve never heard such a sad song.
I was wondering why the words are like that, so I went surfing for the reason behind that play’s song. Then I found myself bawling my eyes out.
-laughs out loud-
Can feel my eyes turning red every time I hear the words being sung, or whenever I think about the explanation of the lyrics.
Do take note; I have no affection for clowns whatsoever. I really do not like them, for many reasons…that aside, the usage of the clown in this song makes it all the more moving when the words are understood.
Then again, the singer plays a very important role in how the song is felt. Depending on the emotions of the song, it can be given either a sensation of regret or bitterness at the turn of events in the person’s life.
Like any other song, there are a few explanations behind the lyrics but one thing remains the same, it’s a sad song.
It has been rerecorded quite a few times since it was first released (before I was born *hyakhyak*) but every rendition has somehow managed to achieve the same effect.
So without further ado, here are the lyrics.
Don’t cry ok?

SEND IN THE CLOWNS
Isn't it rich, are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air.
Send in the clowns.
Isn't it bliss, don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around
One who can't move
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.
Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours.
Making my entrance again with my usual flair,
Sure of my lines;
No one is there.
Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear,
I thought that you'd want what I want,
Sorry my dear
But where are the clowns
Quick, send in the clowns
Don't bother, they're here.
Isn't it rich, isn't it queer
Losing my timing this late in my career
And where are the clowns
there ought to be clowns
Well, maybe next year.


Anyone need a tissue?
I’ve still got some.

^-^

Highest, highest-est

He who has imagination without learning, has wings and no feet.Joseph Joubert
Hope is the dream of a man awake.French Proverb
A strong imagination begetteth opportunity.Michel de Montaigne

Arh Ha!
An entry hath arrived!

Went for class from 4 till 9.30pm at Punggol.
Great God in heaven, I though that buses would travel faster during off peak hours, but noooo, they still crawl along, albeit at a slightly quicker pace.
I think I had better give myself a buffer time of at least half an hour from now on.
What a headache being late! *PUI!*
My students weren’t too bad. Some of them listened; others made a lot of noise.
I am not supposed to have favorites, but sadly…I think I will be having some. :p
Had to do some pretty nifty footwork and smoking to get through two of the sessions. Before you pass judgment on me and say that I am a lousy teacher, I must say (in my defense) that it is only my first week at work!
Ok, you may begin throwing paper airplanes at me.
I m looking forward to the class next week, I have already prepared all the materials for the classes and am thinking of extra things for them to do… hehe… Serial list maker strikes again!!!
-psychotic laughter fills the air-

Now today was/is the definition of a run-around-like-headless-chicken day!

Went to H.S.A. to meet Swee Shoon and his Dad to donate blood.
Mobile vs H.S.A.
Free food
Air-con vs (potentially) Non air-con
Freebies vs (less) Freebies
Outram vs (potentially) near home
Open during office hours vs Open for (around) 5 hours
Debatable?

Here’s an irony: I received the blood donor mobile blood-bank letter today. O.o
Haha~

After the ‘blood-letting’, we grabbed a cab and headed down to WWS for the Weather station training. Though we were late, I don’t think we missed out much, then again, how much we retained from the ‘class’ is another topic all together.
The weather station is going to be integrated into the school programs that WWS has. Especially since the Marina reservoir is coming up real soon, and there won’t be any low tide to give the students a proper hands-on experience. New avenues will be looked into and we’ll have to see if they are feasible for the sessions.
Have to re-read the manual to remind myself what I learnt for today. Haha!

I haven seen XJ San for so long lor~
Now a bonified Auditor!
Don pray pray ah~~
She later use the numbers to haunt you...
heehee... kiddings~
Miss ya XJ San!
We go out eat eat drink drink soon ok?
Must have that WWS youth outing before we are no longer youths!
Haha!

Jimmy was running late for his appointment, but he managed to gave us a lift to our respective areas before rushing off.
Thank you Jimmy!

Sadly, due to unfortunate timing, I was not able to have my lunch at all.
Drowsy and growling tummy… great combination aye?
Thank God I made it through the class and managed to prepare my lessons for next week as best I could. However, I made a mistake of not passing the letter to the parents… *bleah*
-hits head against wall-
Have to wait till next week and do damage control at the same time…
-continues hitting head against the wall-

Brought some work home with me to mark.
Heh… teachers are at work 24/7 right?

Answer to yesterday’s question:
I finally go my black belt certificate and black belt card!!!!
-does the dance of crazy joy-
Finally after more than 6 months worth of waiting!!!!!
-continues doing the crazy dance of joy-
-feels dizzy-
Oppz… better tone down on the dancing. @.@lll
Heehee~

Aight, that’s my update for yester-today :)

Hugz all round!
^-^

High, higher

Solitude is as needful to the imagination as society is wholesome for the character.James Russel Lowell
Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.Louisa May Alcott
Imagination is more important than knowledge.Albert Einstein

Happy New Month!
It’s Singapore’s Birthday Month!
-throws confetti all over the place-
All the activities that take place this month are in conjunction with National Day.
Cool aye?
(not my activities ah… the ones that are on a large scale :p )

Since I am in the mood for national day, here is my favorite national day song:

Home
(Sung by Kit Chan)
Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore
Chorus:
This is home truly
Where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me
Where that river always flows
This is home surely
As my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone
For this is where I know it's home
When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start a new
There's a comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore
(chorus)

I think the only one that comes close to this one is last year’s:
My Island Home.
Then again, maybe I am biased coz I went for that National Day Parade. :D
-throws more confetti all over the place-

Wednesday night went for training.
Yeap, get on the dobok and get kicking, or rather, teaching.
I’m kinda resigned to the fact that I will have very little opportunity to train myself; but teaching has its plus points.
Jared came down. Been ages since I last saw him.
Sean got his toenail ripped off during the warm-up run. It bled, and bled and yes – bled.
Poor thing lor, and he was so excited about kicking targets. He had to sit down for most of the session to make sure the bleeding had stopped. I do hope he can turn up on Sunday so as to make up for lost time in the poomsae department…
Small kid, I like his enthusiasm :)

Oh, and I received something which I have been waiting for more than 6 months to get.
Wanna know what it is?
Answer will be in my next post. (provided I remember to writer about it, someone remind me?)

Thursday – the start of my part time gig.
The class was not bad. A smart girl and bright kids in the class.
Today will be another ball game.

Went straight to Lavender MRT station to meet Jimmy and PS.
Eugene gave us a lift to Oasis to chow down on some yummy seafood for lunch.
Marilyn – the guest of honor – was late… but not too late to put in her choice of food.
Heeho~
No need to say how nice the food was, No Signboard leh!
Don needs to play play~
Question: are prawn heads toxic? If so, how toxic?

WWS school program.
Wanted to throw two of the students into the river.
Why?
The two idiots threw plastic bottles into the river because they wanted to have some ‘fun’.
Blardy hell!
That’s the very thing we’re trying to get them NOT to do lor.
-hits head against the wall-
I think I would rather hit their heads against the wall.

Did some admin and then headed off to Plaza Singapura’s Café Cartel for dinner with Marilyn.
Hoho… Marilyn has been eating out a lot~
Woman! Better go and exercise xia…
-laughter-
We went for shopping at Carrefore and Daiso before having to head home due to the fact that all the shops were closing. -.-lll

From the careful analysis of Yang Mui and Marilyn:
I do not need alcohol to get high. I am already high without it.
When I am high, I am HIGH.
No alcohol – high with much talking.
With alcohol – not as energetic but talk more.
o.O
Ooooooo…

Well, that was my Thursday, but it felt like two days rolled into one… I wonder why.

A few more hours and I will be out of the house again.
Hohoho~
-cleans up the confetti-
Nuff’ for now, laterz!

^-^

(Un)Employment

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.Ralph Waldo Emerson
For hope is but the dreamof those that wake.Matthew Prior
Constant dripping hollows out a stone.Lucretius


‘Final Weekend’ over, and now it’s the day before the start of ‘employment’.
Gwad~
Where did all that time go?
-ponders-

Saturday evening was spent at Adelyn’s swanky-spanking new house.
I applaud her interior decorator. The place is tastefully done with a very Zen like quality. For the sake of protecting her family from theft, I shall not name all the high Tec equipment or fancy gadgets, which she has in her place. You would have to see them for yourself to understand the ‘hwah-ness’.
The view from her room and the balcony is very nice.
Very high up, mind you, I don’t have good sensations when it comes to high places, but staying indoors is a lot better. Then again, it would take some getting used to before I can really look down on the swimming pool without feeling oozy.
*dizzy*
Good choice of food Adelyn!
*yum-yum*
Next time we have sleep over and cater food…
-hysterical laughter-
kidding~

The evening was filled with highs and one or two lows…
Lows:
Not enough éclairs
Not enough éclairs

Highs:
Hanging out with childhood friends
Watching Esther dance (erm… actually debatable… shall get to that later…)
Good food… éclairs ~
Good food… curry ~
Views from the top (yes, I like the view… held onto the railings for dear life though)
Laughing

Glad you are settling into your new place Adelyn~
You are very blessed :)

As for Esther.
Don’t let you mind play tricks on you as you read this… I mean it in the most innocent way possible.
I will not say what kind of dancing she did; neither will I comment on how she dances, though I think she does do it rather well… I will say that it was weird seeing my friend doing that kind of dance. Considering that I’ve known her for 18 years, I think I am allowed to have that kind of sensation…it was just plain WEIRD.
But, all’s said and done; Esther can be a dance teacher if she wants to.
She’s got a good memory for footwork and good rhythm (I think)
Jia you Esther!
-waves pompoms-

Half my Sunday was spent in church.
On duty and not on duty.
Had to get certain things done and had to see to a few others.
Sabbeth?
-ponders-
It was also the day of the Whampoa Pattern Tournament, and I couldn’t make it down to take part or help out, coz by the time I was done with church, they were finished with the event.
-sighs-
Congrats to all who took part!
Especially my Kovan kiddos and SIM peeps!
Well done~!

Monday morning, had a meeting at Seng Kang for my new gig.
Did an impromptu visit to my brother’s place to visit my darling nephew.
Rushed home for a total of ten minutes before heading out to WWS for the school program.
The kids were earlier than usual this time round – it’s ok!
We all professional liao lo~
-psychotic laughter-
Rushed home, then went out for dinner with Yingying.
Belated birthday celebration for my girlfriend~
Food was good, conversation was the highlight.
Sit and talk and talk… and talk
Bounce off one another.
The arrow and the towel. ‘nuff said.
That particular topic shows how much people can change, aye?
*pose*

Tuesday, WWS school program in the afternoon.
Secondary school students.
I went wadding in the water to get the trash out.
Did some filing and admin stuff before heading home and out again for cell group.
It will be 3 months pass before I can attend cell group again.
HAIX.
Some how everything will work out fine.
Trust the Lord to make sure of that. :)

Which leads us to now…Wednesday.
My final day of ‘unemployment’.
Got things to tick off on my lists.
Serial list maker strikes again~
Preparations are in order.
Let August begin!

^-^