Happy 74th Birthday, Father/ Gradfather

Happy 74th Birthday, Father/ Grandfather. 
May you enjoy good health and good food for many more years to come. :)

Green Lines

I have a new monitor at work and it has been used just under a month. However for the third time within a month, green lines have appeared on the screen when I switched it on. 

I don't think that is normal. I think I will need to inform the IT department... :(

Boom Boom CRACK!

Today I witnessed the longest streak of lightning as it cut across the sky followed by the loudest clap of thunder. It was a frightening sight and sound. :S What followed was the many more streaks of lightning and claps of thunder, all too near for comfort, and the heaviest storm to date.

"Teacher, teacher"

I was in school to meet with the key personnel to brief about our research project. While waiting (I was early) at the General Office, I was approached no less than three times by the students calling me "Teacher, teacher" and asking me for help. I had to redirect them to the GO staff. 
Guess I still look very much like a teacher to students lol.

Batman Evolution by ThePianoGuys

This is amazingly cool! Watch the outtakes at the end of the video, funny! For all the Batman fans out there, Batman Evolution by ThePianoGuys. 
Batman Evolution by ThePianoGuys (uploaded by Da lani)

The Letter Test

Accurate results! :)

You Are a Good Friend

You are reliable and dependable. You can be counted on, through thick and thin. You are full of common sense and every day wisdom. You are street smart. You are conscientious and organized. No detail slips past you. People often say you would make a great therapist. You are an excellent listener, and you never judge.

The Letter Test

Best Speaker

Juliane took part in a Debating Skills Programme organised by her school. I have seen her researching, preparing and writing out her speech for the debate topic. Previously her team had a debate in class and she did well in her team debate even though her team didn't win. Today was the final debate. She won Best Speaker! She was so excited that she called me to tell me the good news after school when I was at work.
Well done, Juliane! Proud of you. 

Just hope she doesn't use her new found debating skills on me.  :P

Sent!

The revision to my in principle approved research proposal has been completed. Attended to all the 4 reviewers' comments as well as the research committee's comments. Attended to minor budget revision. 
It has just been submitted a few minutes ago, a few hours ahead of the 11am, 24 April deadline. :) 

Disrupted!

I discovered today after lunch that my mobile phone's 4G wasn't working at all. At that point, I was going to a school. It was my first visit to the school and the taxi driver wasn't sure where the school is and his GPS wasn't working. I also couldn't check my Internet. :( We did finally find the school.
Not sure what happened with Singtel but the 4G mobile service only resumed in the late afternoon. :(

Good News IV

My colleague alerted me to this special online issue by Taylor & Francis that collated a collection of articles around School and Teacher Assessment because my research article has been included in this special issue. What a wonderful surprise! :) Feeling proud that Singapore is represented by my article - "I can assess myself: Singaporean students' and teachers' perceptions of students' self-assessment ability". :)
For those of you who are interested in assessment, click here for a whole collection of interesting articles. Enjoy reading. :)

Style by Taylor Swift

Another winner from Taylor Swift. :) 

Style (uploaded by TaylorSwiftVEVO)

50 Shades of

Boredom until the last one-fifth of the third book. :(
I finally read "50 Shades of Grey". I couldn't understand all the hype around it. It was actually boring for me until I got to the last one-fifth of the third book where finally there was some action - kidnap, blackmail, threat of death, ... I doubt I will ever read this trilogy again.

Love Me like You Do by Ellie Goulding

It has been a while since I listened to nice songs. 

Love Me like You Do by Ellie Goulding (uploaded by VIck Land)

Good News III

A colleague from an Academic Group sent me a request from a secondary school to conduct a workshop on self-assessment for their teachers. Knowing that self-assessment is my research interest, she thought I might be interested in conducting the workshop. I am really glad for such supportive colleagues.
Yes, I decided to conduct the self-assessment workshop for the school, pro bono too. :) Well, it is my way of giving back to the teaching community.

My Shopping Style

This Blogthings quiz is pretty accurate lol.
I do buy what I like and I seldom go with the crowd or what's trendy at the moment. I am proud of what I own because it is bought only after much thought haha. I would rather not buy anything if nothing catches my eye.

Your Shopping Stereotype is Unique

It's hard to stereotype you, because you simply buy what you like. You are a true individual. Sometimes you go high end. Sometimes you go low end. But you almost never go with the crowd. You don't settle until you find the perfect item. Shopping is one of the ways that you express yourself. You're proud of what you own, and if you change your mind about something, you immediately get rid of it.

What's Your Shopping Stereotype?

Good News II

I received news about my journal manuscript. The journal wants me to make further revision before resubmitting. This is considered good news because it is not a rejection! :)

Good News I

I received news that my first research proposal (based on my PhD) has received in-principle approval! :) Now I just need to make some revisions and the study should be good to go in the second half of the year. :)

Mom's Away

My mother has gone back home to Taipei for a visit. She will be away for a month. At the moment, my father is at home holding the fort, including cooking the meals for the granddaughters lol.

New Neigbour

We have a new neighbour. He has been announcing his arrival with his cries. He is our Floor 8 neighbour's new grandchild. His cries are sometimes quite heart-wrenching. :(

Meow 2015 III

Saw this little beauty and it gave me a slow blink. :) 

Work Appraisal 2015

We were given only 3 days to fill in and submit the work appraisal forms by 10 April. I am struggling to fill in my forms. It is no easy feat because I am involved in no less than four research projects, and no less than five service work - lots of details to fill in and I can't remember everything! :O 
Note to self: Must keep a running record of milestones and achievements for each project and each service work! 

I am "Outrageous"?!

Hmm, this is one Blogthings quiz result which I am not exactly in agreement with. Ok, it is not me but it might fit the other 3 of my family members who are born in October - my mother and my two nephews lol.

You Are Outrageous

You've had a big personality for as long as you can remember, and you don't tone it down for anyone. You are smart, charming, and influential. People often look to you to see how to act. You have leader or star potential... or both! You light up a room, and you have the personality to back up your first impression. You can be a bit of a perfectionist, and you are very blunt. When you praise or criticize something, you mean every word.

What Does Your Birth Month Say About You?

The first part is totally not me but the last part of the second paragraph is definitely me. I can be a bit of a perfectionist and I am very blunt.

Breakfast with Daughters

A Breakfast with Daughters was organised at my counselling school. It is a really good idea for parents to have breakfast together with their daughters in school. Parents can learn more about how their daughters behave in school, who their friends are as well as mingle with the other parents and school staff in a relaxing atmosphere. :)

Appraisal Time

Appraisal time at work. 
Appraisal forms have just been sent out today to research staff to fill in and submit by Friday 10 April. 
What have I done in the past year?! Gosh, I can't remember. :(

Monday

Monday is full of meetings.

Happy Easter 2015

Happy Easter 2015!

Good Friday 2015

I didn't realise it is Good Friday today until my girls told me on Wednesday. Should have known that they are keeping track of every single holiday they have! :P 
Guess I wasn't the only one who didn't realise it's Good Friday as a colleague of mine exclaimed in surprise yesterday that her Friday, for some miracle, was totally free of meetings! Hahaha! 

Meow 2015 II

Came across these siblings by accident. :) One is really friendly and the other one is quite shy.

April Fools' Day 2015

This year's April Fools' Day happened to be on Wednesday which is my counselling day. I am lucky that the counsellees are goody-two-shoes lol. None tried to "april fool" me. Phew. :P