seriously i didn't know my room in hall contained so many things... and it's really so much so much, so much that it took me 9 of those A4 boxes, and more than 10 huge plastic bags, not to mention there's still the fridge... my poor dear had to move everything down for me... dad helped to shift too... my hall have so much things that after we tried to squeeze everything in my dad's cab, the back passenger seats are filled (except for the one dearie was sitting on) and the boot was so filled it can't be closed properly. we had to use the bicycle hook to hook it down. roar...

now my house seem like it's too small to contain everything from hall... major major packing to be done... which i think it probably will be done only in weeks or months' time... sian...

but still, it's time to get used to home again! cos no more hall already.. hahaha... home will be better than hall, if i keep it need n tidy...

room revamp! hahaha...




sleepy for the night... it's time to sleep after a whole day's workout (from shifting out of hall)
nites

I may say that results is not important, and that we should not always look at results when we are judging a person. but i must say that i still find the job of a teacher is very fulfilling, even though at the end of the day, what we look at is results.

after hearing/reading from elsa and meihui about their stories about them and their tuition kid, i must say that it is very heartwarming to know that there still good teachers and good students out there. as rebellious as students might get, i believe they know that our intentions for them are for their own good.

and as much as i hate to use results as a gauge of performance, i know that results is still a basic criteria for them to further their studies or work anywhere else.

teaching tuition for the past 1 yr had never been so fulfilling.

i initially started out tuition this sec 3 boy in his a.maths, and was very very taken aback at how weak a student's math basics can get. things that are unsure include addition of fractions, expansion, and even cross multiplication... ... he told me he lost interest in a.maths, cos it's very difficult, and he can't do it at all. he don't want to learn, not motivated, and forget things that i have taught him after every lesson. he scored an F9, and is one of the lowest ones in the calss. but he told me it's ok, because not many people in class passed anyway.

at first i blame myself for not being a good tuition teacher when he didnt improve much in his end of year results. i thought i could have done so much more. people around me told me to be patient, as improvment is not an overnight thing. indeed, in his recent mid-yr exams, he scored a B4, and the highest in his class. maybe to some of us, B4 may have been a disappointment, but to him, i believe it is a grade good enough for himself. he worked hard for it, and he deserve this good grade, i'm proud of him! i believe with further practice, he can aim higher and make another improvment. =) this time round, he really improved a lot, not only in terms of grades, but in terms of presentation work in math, and in attitude. he told me he no longer dislike a.maths. in fact, he felt a sense of achivement when he could solve long problems which he couldn't in the past. being interested in a subject always helps in learning. i'm glad that things changed for the better.

just like teaching in a school, results may be important, but if i were to be able to interest my students in the subject i'm teaching, i believe that sense of satisfaction will be even higher.

in a class of 40 in school, i know that i eventually may not be able to help all 40 of them. but i believe in the chinese saying that 帮一个是一个， 好过一个都帮不到。

love being a teacher. =)

生离死别本来是一件很平常的事，但我却那么看不开。。。

one of my dad's best buddy past away on saturday morning... sound familiar? sound like one of my previous post? yes... it seems to me as though so many ppl are leaving the world. though none of them are directly related to me, i have to say that it did affect me quite a bit.

i was talking to my dad on the phone just now, asking if he's ok and if he needs more company. he told me he's strong and is doing good. he have 6 very good buddies in malaysia (including him it'll be 7), and they have recently celebrated their 40th anniversary being buddies. they spent so much happy times together..... but things are not gonna be the same again. cos 1 one them will nv be able to turn up for their usual meet-ups again.

All 7 of them are of the same age. buddies since they were schooling. the eldest of them all had kidney failure, hence the departure. but life's like this... there's this one day where u'r brought to the world... and it'll eventually lead to this one day where u'll have to leave the world...

frankly i don't know why i'm so affected by this whole matter... cos the person who should really feel sad is my dad, not me. but oh well... guess i can be quite emotional sometimes... shedding too much unnecessary tears sometimes... only to make myself tired from the tears...

like what dear said.. perhaps my dad and his buddies have no regrets, cos they know they spent really good times together, and that is some good memories to be remembered.

i know my daddy has always been a happy person, and he's still a happy person. so the more i should be like him and live everyday happily, and bring joy to everyone around me.

and to geri (if u'r reading my blog)... i know it still hurts whenever the word 'daddy' is mentioned. u make me cry each time i read your blog, cos i know how much it still hurts... it hruts real bad, and ur wound nv really healed... hugs girl... u must be strong k? u always have ur daddy with u... in your heart... close to u...








last sat i went for the SYF central judging for display band competition. deyi won both the best drum major and best display band title. i have to say that deyi certainly performed up to standard this yr, and deserve both titles. at least tk got a gold with honours, which is better than nothing at all i guess.

over the yrs, i felt that the emphasis in marching precision and drills have dropped, and the use of visuals and props and i-don't-know-whats have increased greatly.. perhaps going back to basics might help.

tk have won best display band since 1998. we were crowned with best display band in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 & 2006. 10 yrs is not easy feat. and i believe that deyi have worked really really hard to win the best display band from us.

afterall, quite a number of formations and songs are repeated from the past years (if i didn't remember wrongly). firstly, the opening song is definitely repeated, maybe from outdoor 1998. dominos also repeated quite a few time already, same style. the very fresh formation will be the plane (the first formation) with yellow & black stripped umbrellas spinning, it's really quite a sight! it's awesome! i couldn't really make out what the 2nd formation is, issit an aladdin lamp? hahahaha!! but it's awesome too! next up is this flower formation. it's super cool the way they opened up from 3 lines into 3 petals! although i seems a little similar to outdoor 1998's sydney opera house's opening stytle, it's still a great formation! the red n yellow cloth fan is seriously super pretty! the song is repeated from outdoor 1998 though. next up looked like a smaller version of last yr's final formation - taj mahal the mosque or smt like that. haha... and then the london bridge is formed. exactly like outdoor 1998 again. same music too, and same gimmick using the same music. kaleidescope is nice as always. =) gimmick there is nice too. music after kaleidescope sounds repeated from outdoor 2006. and then they form the temple/pagoda formation, same as outdoor 2000, just that we used lattern, and they used fan. drums same as outdoor 2006. final song and gimmick as grand as ever. with dragons and drums, flags and more... overall, i would still think tkband did awesome!

here're 2 links to the youtube videos of the competition.

tkband: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U936tz0iCvo

deyi band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsw3rbPEC0

yes, it may be sad for all the tk band members ... me too, is an ex-tk band member.. of cos i'll feel sad... afterall, i was in the 2000 and 2002 competition.. i also had my fair share of standing in the sun from morning till night literally, and getting sunburn after sunburn, muscles from instrument twirling, knees bruised from kneeling, and feet tired from marching. i always make it a point to watch the competition every 2 yrs, cos watching the juniors on the field relives my tkband days. the proud tkband days.

but in a competition, there can only be 1 winner. let us not be too complacent the next time round and win the best display band title back in 2 yrs time. afterall, improving is always easier than maintaining the good standard. after maintaining it for 10 yrs, this dip in standard is certainly a big blow, esp to those on the field who practised so hard for it. in 2 yrs time, may tkband pick up the standard and may the best display band title be with us. again. :)

and for now, tkband will forever be the best display band in our hearts.






too much thoughts for the night... i should really be sleeping. exam is coming... and tmr shall be my official combi day. :)

nites

dear dear got me 2 red roses over the weekend! i'm a happy girl!!




stand up
stand up
like the red rose do

you can do it too!




red roses are pretty!
i love u dear!

when is the last time you told your dad/mum/close ones that you love them?



life is so fragile. in less than half a yr's time, i've received this same news thrice from three different friends -- "hey serena.. my dad passed away."

i can't help feeling so helpless sometimes. accidents happen everyday, whether it is to us or to people around us. we are never gonna know when will our love ones leave us just like that. life is really very fragile. it's so painful to the heart and mind, but yet we all have to put through heartaches like this. it's gonna take some time to heal.

and to these three friends, i sincerely feel for you... let the beautiful memories forever stay in your heart. your dad will know you love him so. wipe your tears and let your heartache heals. i'm sure your dad will want the best for you. stay happy for your dad, and for yourself. hugs.



and to my mum, dad and dear, i love you.

still can't get to sleep... but i guess i'll just go lie down till i fall asleep...

just went to look in the mirror again... haha... vain me loves to look in the mirror for a wek-wek-less day. =)

my hair is free from wekwek-ness already. happy me. and now, each time i check out the state of my face and hair in the mirror, i'll always be reminded of what you said to me in one of the little cards in the little deck.

each little card in the deck comes with a message/poem/verse from somewhere/sweet note. but i'm more attracted to what you wrote behind every one of them. silly me read them all over again. simply love it. =)



think staring at the comp for long hours can really make my eyes tired.
and i finally yawned! ok. i'm going to bed now. gdnite!

can't get to sleep despite a long day out
so decided to on the comp and do a little updating on the blog



it's been a long time since i blogged, cos the time i get to go online is pretty limited due to my almost dying lappy. school is getting busy with all the tests and assignments and tutorials coming in. but this week's recess week is a blessing. promised i'll work hard, and i will.

v-day was well spent because sweet dear had it all planned out. =) mos-burger, sunflower bouquet, sentosa were all my fav! dinner was at asian kitchen, followed by a super romantic all time fav movie, ps, i love you. the night was further lit up by more surprises prepared by dear. truely touched by your effort. you know i'll still love you as much even if you didn't plan all these. it's a very special day (and night) indeed. but with you around, everyday is valentines day. hugs...

the rest of the days were spent cherishing time with you while you're still in hall. now that you're officially starting practicum in a few hours time, i know i'll really really miss you the times you're not by my side.

i'm very happie to receive the gift you specially made for me on fri. you touched me to tears. every word you wrote on every card (all 47 of them) touched me to tears. i told you on friday that i'll read them one everyday on weekdays when i don't get to see you. but greedy me read every single card just now, and my tears just couldn't stop flowing. i can't find another man who care for me and love me as much as you do. i'm so thankful i have you.

and even after typing so much, i still can't get to sleep. still missing you. maybe cos i'm too used to having you by my side.

hope that you'll take care and stay good. and may your days at practicum be good for you.




life has never been better than this.
cos true love brings nothing but happiness to me.



ps, i love you

just let me stay by u...
always...



and also..
wish that the new yr will be a better one for all.




esp for u,
for us.