Just a note

Although I'm using Blogger to publish my bloggie, non-Blogspot people can comment too. Using "Other" as your "Identity", you will then be given options to type your nick =)

Happiness and Success

It's been a few months since I last posted anything. Nope, I haven't been extremely busy all the time... it's just that there's nothing blog-worthy... or there are things that cannot be blogged about.

It's the December holidays now, with about another week of break for me. Not the most fulfilling of breaks because all that I've been doing is sleeping at weird hours and playing life-wasting games on Facebook. It's still a break from work I guess, not doing or thinking about work at all. Well, except for random online Mathematics sessions with one student which started this week.

I was browsing through some blogs and one sentence from an entry I read triggered me to blog about what it means to be successful. Is being successful simply just earning more than your friends? Even if it means working late nights and not having time to meet up with friends and more importantly, family? I don't think so. Well, if a person is happy working late nights in exchange for loads of money then I guess it's fine. Ha.

For me, being successful means you like what you are doing in life. Money is secondary... being happy with what I'm doing at work is more important. Having my own personal time is important... but then again, it might not be as important as helping students who are willing to put in extra time and effort in their studies. Being happy with what one is doing is akin to play anyway.

A simple life with needs fulfilled and few wants is a successful life to me =]

Happy National Day Singapore!

It has been a good many months since I last posted anything or visited my own blog. So I guess I should just do a quick update of my life.

I'm currently doing my reservist... from 4 August 2009 to 25 August 2009. Am back for the weekend but will be going back to camp on Monday evening.

School work is super hectic... and I'm always occupied with things to do and lots more that are undone. I'll probably only be able to take a breather when the December holidays arrive.

That's about it I guess. Still trying to lead a simple life, have simple wants and trying to be happy =]

Happy Lunar New Year 2009

First post for 2009 =]

Happy Lunar New Year to all~

It's been a hectic three weeks at school, but I guess I'll cope...

I've modified the bloggie layout a little and added a song, to welcome the new year.

Merry Christmas!

Firstly, a very merry Christmas to all and a wonderful 2009 ahead.

I've been taking a break for the past week... and I finally managed to catch up with Naruto's anime and manga. It's been two months since I started watching the anime... starting from the first episode all the way till Shippuden 89. A total of 309 20-minute episodes. I've also managed to continue reading the story from the manga... till the current chapter 429. Quite an experience in itself, made possible by random late nights. So all I can do now is to wait for the next episode of the anime or next chapter in the manga.

I went back to school last Friday though... for the Sec 1 registration. Managed to get a new work laptop as well =] An Acer Travelmate 6293 with the following specifications...

Intel Core 2 Duo processor P8400
(2.26 Ghz, 1066 Mhz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache)
12.1" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite LED LCD
3GB DDR3
320GB HDD
DVD-Super Multi DL
WLAN and Bluetooth enabled

Managed to take some photos of my workspace and transfer them to the laptop via bluetooth. Quite a cool laptop I guess. My only complaint is that the screen is reflective...

Went for a class BBQ last Thursday as well... organised by my form class in 2007. It was a nice gathering for them I guess, since they were in different classes for this year and will still be for the coming year.

Well, some pictures of the BBQ and my workspace...

Genting Trip

Yep, I'm back safely from Genting all thanks to the superb driving skills of a friend.

Didn't really do much in Genting. Watched two movies though... Disney's "Bolt" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still". "Bolt" is quite entertaining because of that fat hamster. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was nice too, with the message that we should protect the environment. It was a good trip except for the fact that I was suffering from the effects of my flu.

Am now stuck in my room with a friend's dog. I'm taking care of him for a few days. He refuses to listen to me... so I'm keeping him with me to prevent him from running around the house. Will probably bring him down for a walk in the evening.

The flu bug got me...

What a time to be down with flu... one day before my short trip to Genting Highlands.

Just reached home not too long ago from sending two colleagues off at the airport. Will need to pack my stuff before I attend a wedding dinner this evening.

Will be away from 12th - 14th December... then it'll almost be the end of my break liao. Back to school soon~

My 2008... as seen by others

Decided to do a thumbnail collage of photographs, uploaded and tagged in Facebook by my friends.



A collection of photographs of some events I was involved in, in almost reverse chronological order...
Teachers' day dinner (Shanghai night theme), In staff room while spring-cleaning, Frog porridge at Chinatown, Hightea at Orchard, Friend's ROM, Gathering at friends' place, Singapore Flyer learning journey, Friend's birthday, Chill-out session with colleagues, JustBlog outing.

Reservist: 24 Nov - 6 Dec

Ho ho, it's been more than a month since I last updated...

Nothing much happening so far except for the fact that I've been going back to school until the week before my reservist and that I've just finished my 14-day "vacation" at Sungei Gedong Camp. I've always enjoyed my reservist mainly because of the fact that I get to meet up with my army friends of about eight years. My only lament is that reservist normally falls during my year-end break from school. However, reservist next year will be in August... which means that I will probably miss three weeks teaching in school, which means that I will probably be super busy prior to my reservist next year, rushing as much of my work as possible.

This year's reservist marked the 6th reservist training for my unit. The highlight of this reservist was ATEC Stage I, the first part of the exam for all active and reservist NS units. There were a total of about 28 skills/drills to be tested and I was required to be trained in four or five of them, but was tested in only one station finally, the AI section crew drill. Next year's reservist will be a shiong one... 21 days... with many many outfield activities.

IPPT (physical fitness test) was the next "big" activity that takes place every year. Having not exercised for a year, it was of no surprise that I didn't manage to clear my running. Will probably start running regularly so that I can pass my IPPT (and be SGD100 richer) by my next birthday. The results of this year's IPPT: Shuttle run - 10 sec, Standing broad jump - 225 cm, Chin up - 5, Sit up - 39 and running - 13 min 17 sec. A total of 16 points but an overall fail because of my running. Not bad for not having exercised for a year, but I'll definitely do better for my next test. Heh.

Another week or so before returning to school to start preparing for the coming year. Will be going to Genting from 12 - 14 December... hopefully it'll be a good trip =]

Old Already...

Last week was quite a hectic week, with three programmes which I'm involved with running at the same time as well as a few parent-teacher meetings. That aside, I think I'm really growing old le. Why did I have such a revelation? Well, I have two pieces of evidence to support my claim...

Firstly, I was involved with the Peer Support Leader (PSL) Camp last week at Labrador Adventure Centre and I went over after school to join three of my colleagues who were running the camp. There were a few pesky small flies (not rubbish bin flies... not fruit flies either... just tiny flies which like to hover over heads) which hovered over my head. One of my colleague noticed that and told me about it... but not only did my colleague notice the flies, she noticed that I had white hair. Not just one, but at least three strands. 晴天霹雳... I never had white hair... well, at least not until I started teaching >.<" And so... I was standing in the open with two female colleagues scrutinising my hair like they were catching head lice.

Secondly, we were turning in for the night on the second day of the camp and I went to turn off the lights. Guess what, I couldn't see a thing after that and it took quite some time before my eyes became accustomed to the darkness. My night-blindness was not this bad the last time I noticed.

Haiz, 真的老了...