Gave Laogong a lift to Lentor where he jogged to the centre and back home. 12km he said. Headed to Taby and Jairus' place. Wanted to buy laksa for papa but he wanted to cook chicken rice. After class, headed back to Bedok for lunch before the next class! Lessons all the way till 1930. Waited for candy man to lock up our candy machine. Left about 2030.
Laogong asked where should we celebrate, and I actually forgot and asked, "For what?". I forgot about our 4th month!
Last night at midnight also, he was like, "Quick! Kiss me!" Haha. So sweet and so cute right. Please don't be sour grapes and start telling me, "Hiya, beginning only that's why so sweet."
If that is your faith, then it shall be. Hee. I believe Laogong will always be so sweet :)
Today, Laogong also gave me a bad news :( He has a 3 weeks reservist stint in October :'( Sigh ... why so long?!
Enjoyed 15 minutes of newspaper/tv time with Laogong before he headed to class at 0840. I slacked a bit more. Watches a bit of tv and prepared to go out. I'm going to see Caydence! Prepared something small for her. Hee. A simple card.
Enjoying what a baby does best - sleep. Then again, they are also good at making adults happy. Their smiles and antics :)
Met Chris for lunch. Grabbed some of our favorite tops :p Enjoyed lunch at Sushi Tei. We tabao-ed silly tea (Gong Cha) for our Laogongs and I got chicken rice for Laogong.
I just realized Laogong has a new layer of color!!!!! Aiyo! Going for lessons soon. Life. Smile. It's a beautiful life :)
The contents has 101 items ...
I shall share every single one along the way I read ...
1. Discover your calling
Mahatma Gandhi noted: "Be the change that you wish to see most in your world."
My special talent? Maximising the children's potential. I need to and must always bring more of myself into work and focus on things I do best. I must stop waiting for people to change.
2. Every day, be kind to a stranger
I buy tissue paper from that uncle or auntie sometime. I always say thank you or sorry to people. I do admit some times, I say it in a very sarcastic way - especially to people who don't say "thank you" when someone is holding the lift door, just one of the many examples. I shall attempt to simply say thank you because I want to and not be sarcastic even to what I feel is the worst person.
3. Maintain your perspective
No trouble should be too big to manage. I must have the wisdom to enjoy the journey and savour the process.
4. Practice tough love
Self-discipline = Tough love. Effective, fulfilled people do not spend their time doing what is convenient and confortable. They have the courage to listen to their hearts and to do the wise thing. By doing self-controlled acts, we come to be self-controlled.
5. Keep a journal
If my life is worth thinking about, it is worth writing (blogging?) about.
6. Develop an honesty philosophy
Be a person of my word and not simply all talk and no action. I shall go on a truth fast! Be completely honest!
More to share!
Regards,
Summer Toh Xiaoxin
Chief Education Officer
The Water Family Enrichment Centre
Web: www.twfec.org Mobile: 9796 4130
TWFEC ... Where Every Child Is A Bundle of Promises and Potential
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld from M1.
I might end up buying everything myself. Haha. Regards, Summer Toh Xiaoxin Chief Education Officer The Water Family Enrichment Centre Web: www.twfec.org Mobile: 9796 4130
TWFEC ... Where Every Child Is A Bundle of Promises and Potential
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld from M1.
We, or rather I chose the non-3d version. Don't really like 3d movies. Headache. Laogong said not much storyline but the effects are good! I quite like the movie. Good ending as usual. Half time at Share Tea. Had my yam milk tea. Some how I feel that the standard is not as good as before. Or is the Wisma one different?
Next up was Mirror Mirror. Totally my choice. So nice of Laogong to watch it with me :p Snow White is so pretty! Saw some other movie posters. There's another movie about Snow White. A lot of fairy tales movies. One on Jack (and the beanstalk) kinda movie. Think it's Jack the Giant Killer.
Went grocery shopping and reached home slightly before 7. Saw Ginger Snaps and Scaredy Cat. Didn't have their food with me. Went up and then down again to feed them.
Scaredy Cat is really timid. I cannot have too much movement around it.
Ginger Snaps is very comfortable around me. Stroll around me all the time after dinner.
When I was listening to this song, I was thinking of my kids. They try (their best I hope) to solve the daunting Math questions. They asked me why must the questions be so difficult. Yes, sometimes so difficult that I must pre-solve them before I can teach them the questions. They forgot about the numerous tenses and words and meanings that I have taught and reminded them. Sometimes, I get more upset than them. Especially when they cannot solve the easy questions or get their answers wrong. What is it that I am doing wrong and they cannot understand the simplest concept ever? I have to constantly remind myself to be patient, to try different approaches and to make it easier for them in their language. And yes, when they are finally able to solve the sums and answer the questions, the light in their eyes is priceless. A very meaningful song ...
my daughter tries to draw a butterfly
with her crayons and crooked lines and she’s crying ‘cause she just can’t get it right
so i wrap her tiny hand in mine
to guide her with her heart’s design
and she smiles as her dreams take flight
perhaps it’s how it is on this labyrinth road
i just need to let Him guide my soul
God writes straight with crooked lines He takes the mess we make in life turns our groaning into perfect rhyme hidden by the veil of time the wisdom of His love’s design God writes straight with crooked lines
i’ve had days as dark as smoke
when it hurt too much too hope
and it felt like the pain would never end
searching for answers but finding jokes
limping along the winding road
certain He left me all alone…
when it’s hard to trust that there is a greater plan,
like a child i’ve gotta just hold His hand
‘cause God writes straight with crooked lines
He takes the mess we make in life
turns our groaning into perfect rhyme
hidden by the veil of time
the wisdom of His love’s design
God writes straight with crooked lines
it’s hard to see the picture when you’ve got your head to the ground but the vision is perfect from heaven looking down
there’s a reason for every detour and every scar
His mercy has always been written in the stars
God writes straight with crooked lines
He takes the mess we make in life
He turns our groaning into perfect rhyme
hidden by the veil of time
the wisdom of His love’s design
God writes straight with crooked lines
Another song I like from this album. Corrinne May's album is always good. Always inspiring. Thankful for the good and beautiful life I am leading.
I was so blur in the morning! Thinking about something and I missed Bt Merah exit to go to Telok Blangah. The next exit at Portsdown was soooo far! Gosh! If only I exited there to go for Italian food. Haha.
After lesson, met Marjie and Chris for lunch at Imperial. Good date with dear friends. Thanks Marjie for Bunny!
It now has a friend. Rather, Shitsies has a friend!
Saw the Beauty Language sale and spent a bomb! $150 to get shampoo, conditioner, treatment and serum. Always buy the large size because FIL also uses the same as mine.
Lessons as usual but with a new kid. Hope he enjoyed the lessons today.
学校，差一点就毁了我对教书和孩子们的热爱与疼爱. Schools, almost destroyed my passion and love for teaching and children.
Save your comments on how I lack determination and perseverance :)
I've to admit. I may not be the best teacher but teaching is all I ever I want to do. Kids made me stayed on in school for the past 4 years maybe. Initial years were so much easier and of course the people in school were not trying so hard to kill and backstab one another. That - can be reserved to another entry.
When I read the blog post above, the random though just came back to me again. I left the school, but never once have I leave my passion and my kids.
Well, everyday is a happy day :) Just extremely happy :) Started the day fine with my homeschoolers. Laogong surprised me by waiting at the void deck after class. We had lunch at Ikea. Bliss :) Though the lunch was kind of rush because Laogong had a class at 1300. Still, :)
Headed to stock up on Nespresso at Ion.
Haha. Always happy to see my pantry well packed :p Headed down to Bishan Stadium to cheer my kids on. Always happy to see them :) You see, so much happiness. Due to some delays at the races, and honestly also, I really wanted to watch my kids run, I texted my tuition kid's parent to inform her that I'll be late. She was so nice and understanding. Happiness :)
Lessons as usual with the kids. I wonder if it is the weather (poor weather, always blamed for everything !), so many kids and even Laogong are unwell. Get well soon all of you!
Happiness again to have dinner with Laogong. Decided not to watch movie and have pizza at home.
Now ... THE ULTIMATE HAPPINESS ...
Is when you see your kids grow.
When a parent tell you that since I was her child's form teacher, she became a changed person and is doing her best all the time. Sobs. Touched.
When a kid and I was whatsapping and I told her that her team mate didn't do as well in the race, she said, "Nevermind, she did her best."
That wasn't what she might have say the last time. Seeing her grow from Primary 4 to Primary 5 and now. I'm happy to see how she grew from a team member to a leader and now a mentor. I almost tear recalling her growing journey.
Happiness. When you see kids you've taught grow and mature well :)
A full day bursting with lots and lots of love and happiness. How good can life get? This good and better, I'm sure :)
I've always been a Thai Disco fan and so of course I like Thai songs!
Remember our good ol' times at Icon.
Baby One More Time!
This song is called "dai-yin mai" from the album Sound About... by Da Endorphine.
Thanks to Mike for doing the first draft of the translation of this Thai song. The Thai lyrics have been translated in order to help people who are learning the Thai language. Listening to Thai music is an excellent way to learn Thai.
ฉันรู้เธอรอฉัน รอฟังคำนั้นซักวัน chan roo ter ror chan ror fang kam nan sak wanI know you've been waiting for me, waiting to hear those words one day.
ฉันรู้ฉันมันรั้ง ดึงดันไม่ยอมพูดมา chan roo chan man rang deung dan mai yom poot maaI know I've been holding back, not willing to say them out loud.
ฉันแค่คิด ยังไม่ถึงเวลา chan kae kit yang mai teung way-laaI just thought it wasn't yet the right time.
ฉันรู้ว่าวันนี้ มันก็อาจจะสายเกินไป chan kae kit yang mai teung way-laaI know that today it's nearly too late.
แม้พูดดังแค่ไหน กลายเป็นไม่มีผู้ฟัง mae poot dang kae nai glaai bpen mai mee poo fangAnd that however loud I say them, maybe there's no one to listen to them.
ฉันไม่รู้ เธออยู่ในที่แสนไกล chan mai roo ter yoo nai tee saen glaiI don't know which faraway place you're in now.
ได้ยินไหม ได้ยินไหม โปรดฟังว่าฉันรักเธอ dai-yin mai dai-yin mai bproht fang waa chan rak ter
Can you hear, can you hear, please hear me saying that I love you.
เธอจะอยู่ไหน อยู่สุดฟ้าไกล เพียงให้เธอรับรู้ ter ja yoo nai yoo soot faa glai piang hai ter rap roo
Wherever you are, beyond the horizon, I just want you to know.
ได้ยินฉัน บอกเธอไหม ว่าคนคนนี้รักเธอ dai-yin chan bok ter mai waa kon kon nee rak ter
Can you hear me telling you that I love you.
นี่ไงคำว่ารัก ที่เธอรอฟัง ได้ยินไหม nee ngai kam waa rak tee ter ror fang dai-yin mai
This is it, the words you've been waiting to hear, can you hear them?
เพิ่งรู้ในตอนนี้ เวลาทุกวินาที perng roo nai dton nee way-laa took wi-naa-teeI've just realised now, and know every minute.
รู้ซึ้งในตอนนี้ บางคำที่แสนสำคัญ roo seung nai dton nee baang kam tee saen sam-kanI realise now how important these words are.
พูดวันนี้ เหมือนเธอนั้น อยู่แสนไกล poot wan nee meuan ter nan yoo saen glai
Saying it today, when you're so far away.
ได้ยินไหม ได้ยินไหม โปรดฟังว่าฉันรักเธอ dai-yin mai dai-yin mai bproht fang waa chan rak ter
Can you hear, can you hear, please hear me saying that I love you.
เธอจะอยู่ไหน อยู่สุดฟ้าไกล เพียงให้เธอรับรู้ ter ja yoo nai yoo soot faa glai piang hai ter rap roo
Wherever you are, beyond the horizon, I just want you to know.
ได้ยินฉัน บอกเธอไหม ว่าคนคนนี้รักเธอ dai-yin chan bok ter mai waa kon kon nee rak ter
Can you hear me telling you that I love you.
นี่ไงคำว่ารัก ที่เธอรอฟัง ได้ยินไหม nee ngai kam waa rak tee ter ror fang dai-yin mai
This is it, the words you've been waiting to hear, can you hear them?
พูดวันนี้ เหมือนเธอนั้น อยู่แสนไกล poot wan nee meuan ter nan yoo saen glai
Saying it today, when you're so far away.
ได้ยินไหม ได้ยินไหม โปรดฟังว่าฉันรักเธอ dai-yin mai dai-yin mai bproht fang waa chan rak terCan you hear, can you hear, please hear me saying that I love you.
เธอจะอยู่ไหน อยู่สุดฟ้าไกล เพียงให้เธอรับรู้ ter ja yoo nai yoo soot faa glai piang hai ter rap rooWherever you are, beyond the horizon, I just want you to know.
ได้ยินฉัน บอกเธอไหม ว่าคนคนนี้รักเธอ dai-yin chan bok ter mai waa kon kon nee rak terCan you hear me telling you that I love you.
นี่ไงคำว่ารัก ที่เธอรอฟัง nee ngai kam waa rak tee ter ror fangThis is it, the words you've been waiting to hear.
ได้ยินไหม ได้ยินไหม โปรดฟังคนนี้รักเธอ dai-yin mai dai-yin mai bproht fang kon nee rak terCan you hear, can you hear, please hear me saying that I love you.
นี่ไงคำว่ารัก ที่เธอรอฟัง ได้ยินไหม nee ngai kam waa rak tee ter ror fang dai-yin maiThis is it, the words you've been waiting to hear.
I love them. No one has the right to label me materialistic :) I work hard for them and I pay for them. I collect what I like. I'm superstitious to the max and will never allow Laogong to pay for footwear. Yes, other labels you can use include Wasteful. Waste money. Stupid. Extravagant. Hao Lian. Whatever :) Whatever you like to label me or say people from where are suffering and blah blah blah :) Let your creativity flows!
My first pair of expensive slippers :) Got them at a 50% markdown. Was $700plus I think. I don't remember paying more than $400 for them. JY got them too! After that, started on truckloads of Burberry wedges and jellies (all sold!). JY didn't join me for these. Blackie did :p I got her onto the wagon with me! When I started on Gucci Jellies and Prada flip flops (all these sold too, to make way for Chanels), she joined me too :p JY still love pumps then. Hee. Kept this pair of Dior for memory sake. Don't wear it anymore.
Kept this pair because it's the only pair of shoes I love and the only pair of dress shoes I used to wear to school. Bought a pair of white ones from HK's Space but gave them to mom already. The jellies from Gucci and Fendi are terrible. Terrible to the max. Hope the new owners are loving them. Haha.
Fast forward and skip all the others. My very first pair of Chanels. JY bought them too! Blackie didn't like these camellia designs. Hee. They are my expensive slippers friends :p
I bought these two pairs together. Couldn't decide and bought both. Forgot what did JY buy that trip. I do know we regretted not getting the next pair and I had to get them in HK for both of us!
I was hesitating between Traveller or Hongkie Babe. Decided on Traveller. She has gone to Bali, Bangkok, China,Hong Kong and Malaysia with me!
Bought Sunkist despite it being size 41! Knowing how limited the slippers' stocks are, I didn't care! Just buy! Sunkist been with me to Bali thrice! Easiest to match all my Billabong and Roxy dresses :) Pinklicious is also 41. Haha. Heck it! Just take it!
Bought this pair of kitten heels for school too. To wear with pants. Casual and comfy. I'm not a formal person. Haha.
These two pairs are also for school. Rules about my previous school. Heels. Strappy sandals. Shoes. Used to be worse. Cannot even be heels. Must be heels with straps. Love this both. Especially Bling Bling. However, transparency means easily dirty too!
Bought these two pairs with JY last year. Think she bought Quilty White too. I bought both. Quilty Blue because of the pink base. We hunted high and low for Quilty Pink but it was not available in Sg and HK and Thai. Finally got both pairs for JY and I from States. Euphoria. What luck!
小红 was another purchase with JY. Think she has the silver one. Wore that during the wedding with the traditional wedding. Love it :) Now, it's the best pair of sandals to match the rejected (by my mummy) red woc. Lucky me :p
Bridey was what I wore with my wedding gown :) It's velvety / suedey. Now, do you believe how lazy and don't-care-about-what-the-world -says I am :) Yes. I wore slippers for my wedding. Expensive slippers you may say :)
I mean it. Sucky is terrible. 7 days in Bangkok with Sucky and I used about 14 plasters. Terrible. I cannot imagine why the SA told JY it's super comfy. JY finds it painful too.
Lobo and JCBling are my other non-Chanels that I kept. Logo was again bought for school. Trying to act sweet then :p and JCBling was a I HAD TO BUY. The only ever Jimmy Choo that caught my eyes. Hee.
I didn't regret buying those others which I didn't fancy or sold away. They were lessons. Haha. Some brands were so painful. Some, got over the brand. Anyway, I still have some shoes to e cleared at cheap price :p to make way for more slippers :p Check out my FB.
I hereby dedicate this post to:
-Laogong, I know you don't fancy the amount of money I spend on slippers but still, you let me buy what I like :p Love you!
-JY and Blackie for always being too supportive (like how I am to you two too :p)
