Happy Birthday, Ah Ma (Grandmother)/ Ma (Mother)

Happy Birthday & Halloween, Ah Ma/ Ma. 

May all your wishes and dreams come true! 

(Source: http://www.happybossday-2015.com/halloween-birthday.html)

Lots of love

Your children &

Your grandchildren

Wen Chian, Yeun Yi, Wen Jiah, Yeun Song, Yeun Zhen

Trick or Treat

Not long after dinner at 7+pm, we heard loud banging on our front door with loud cries of "Trick or Treat". It seemed our Caucasian and Eurasian neighbours in our block decided to start a new tradition this year - celebrate Halloween lol. Unfortunately for the children, we don't celebrate Halloween and we don't have candies at home. 
I answered the door and broke the news to the children who were all looking so expectantly at me for some Treats. 
Sorry, Kids! We don't celebrate Halloween. Don't forget to brush your teeth after eating all the Treats! :P
Thank goodness for the parents who were accompanying the young children and helped to disperse the disappointment. Phew.

Ideas for a Year-End Break?

I need a break. Need to recharge. Wondering where to go. Ideas? 

Happy Birthday, Yeun-Yi!

Happy Birthday, Yeun-Yi. 

Hope you have had a day full of fun, love and donuts! :) :) 

(Source: http://www.happybirthdaycake2015.com/beautiful-birthday-cake-with-candles-pictures-and-images.html)

Lots of love,
Ah Ma and Ah Gong
Gu Ma and Gu Zhang
Cousins Marieann and Juliane

My (Surprised!) Birthday Celebration 2015

Today is my birthday. It is the first time in 14 years that I didn't take leave on my birthday because I was giving a guest lecture on Student Self-Assessment from 1:30pm - 4:30pm. It was work but very enjoyable because I was talking about my research interest. :) 
As I am usually not in office on my birthday, I was really surprised when my colleagues and friends gave me a birthday surprise, complete with cake and pressies!! :) :) Thank you!! I am really touched.

My lovely colleagues and friends who gave me a birthday surprise! :)

Since the guest lecture ended well, I decided to have dinner at a Korean restaurant as a treat and also because I was craving for Korean food haha. :P

Love Korean Banchan (side dishes)

End off with ice cream! :)

Celebrating with my family 

Birthday cake

Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes that were sent to me by my students, my friends and my family!! Thank you to all of you for making my (working) birthday special!!

My Birthday Celebration 2015

I decided to celebrate my birthday today even though it is one day earlier because on my birthday tomorrow, I will be giving a guest lecture and I think I would be too stressed to enjoy my day properly. :P

The best Passionfruit Tea I have had with real passionfruit! 

Duck Confit - crispy skin and juicy meat

Public Garden Consumer Trade Show

This is the first time that I attended a Public Garden event. I heard about it from my friend, Mari-san whom I met at STGCC 2012 and have since become friends. Apparently Public Garden is held a couple of times a year and features hundreds of labels of designs, art, fashion, vintage beauty products and food. It is like the flea markets or the craft markets that I always visit when in Australia and UK. :)

I met my friend, Mari-san. It is nice to see her again so soon after STGCC 2015 in September! :) I spent about an hour and a half, just browsing through the stalls. There were plenty of handicrafts that caught my eye but I had to control myself as I am planing to go away at the end of the year for a break lol. 

My friend, Mari-san :)

The only things I bought at Public Garden :)

My girls and I showing off our Mari Brand key chains :)

I will definitely attend future Public Garden events. :) 

What Shall I Do?

That's what my daughter, Marieann said. Apparently, it was her last day of school yesterday. Her school holiday has already started whereas her sister, Juliane is still having school and examinations! Just hope that Marieann doesn't irk Juliane as she now has too much spare time. 

ERAS Seminar 2015

By chance, I managed to replace a colleague who couldn't make for an ERAS seminar that he signed up for. I am really glad that I attended the seminar, The Politics of Distraction vs The Politics of Collaborative Action given by Prof John Hattie. It was an eye opener and Prof Hattie was an engaging speaker/ presenter.:)

A Wreck

I am a total wreck today. Never felt more upset and disappointed. 

Break in Routine

I usually have counselling on Wednesdays. However, due to PSLE marking, there is a break in my routine and I don't have to go for counselling. It is supposed to be a break for me but somehow I ended up at NIE working. :(

PSLE Marking

This week is PSLE Marking, 19 - 22 October 2015. Plenty of children out with their parents, some look very young, not Primary 6 students definitely. Hmm, shouldn't they be at home revising for their examinations? 

Hazardous Haze PSI > 450

This has got to be the worse ever haze situation in Singapore with the one-hour PM2.5 levels reading spiking at 471! It is reported that the Indonesian forest fires are also spreading to new areas and unlikely to be put out until next year in 2016. :O :O :O  

Weekend "Breather"

Currently I am living one week at a time. The weekend is for me to start preparing for next week's work. :( I need to be more organised and start to plan ahead. 

A Family Feast Once More

Now that my parents are back from England, we are having our family feast again!! :) My parents invited my cousins over for dinner. Finally, some GOOD FOOD after three months! :P 

Chawanmushi and Chicken Rice with mango

Home-made Roasted pork belly and Char Siew

Cuttlefish and Kang Kong Rojak and Fresh Pepper and Pear Salad

Pinic

I totally agrees that a picnic is more about a state of mind. When I was young, my mother used to prepare my brother and I food so that we could have a picnic in our garden. It was really fun. 

You Are a City Picnic

You are a person with an adventurous spirit, even if you don't have much time for adventure in your life. You try to make every day just a little extra special. And you're totally the type to have an impromptu picnic for lunch. You like to have a fast paced life, and you enjoy novelty. A picnic appeals to you because you can try out many locations. You also like the idea of creating fun and interesting picnic lunches. You definitely will think outside the basket. Of all the types, you're the most likely to enjoy a picnic by yourself. You're happy to just people watch. You don't need much for a picnic - just some good food and an interesting spot. A picnic is more about a state of mind.

What Type of Picnic Are You?

My Student's Wedding at The Sanctuary Barker Road Methodist Church

I am invited to my 1998 Primary 4 Prudence, Amanda Poo's wedding on this 15th day of October 2015. 
It is a really different experience at Amanda's wedding to Tan Guo Rong. I have never laughed so hard at a church wedding to the point that I thought I was really rude. :P But the great humour from the wedding couple just cracked me up. Amanda, you still the same as you were when I taught you in Primary 4!

The bridesmaid, Orphelia is my 1997 3P student :)

The beautiful bride, Amanda Poo

Funniest thank you speeches I have ever heard from a wedding couple! :D

My students, Amanda and Orphelia :)

A cupcake as a thank you gift to all guests. I missed out on the bubble tea gift :P

Amanda, thank you so much for inviting me to witness this important milestone in your life. I think I must have done something right when I taught you way back in 1998! :P I am very happy for you. Wishing you and Guo Rong great Happiness and Love together! :)

Souvenirs from England

Lovely surprises from England. Thank you! 

Non-Voters

My parents missed voting at the General Election 2015 on 11 September because they were in England then. I have to help them to reinstate their voting rights by sending in the Form A and the supporting documents to the Elections Department. 

Home!

My parents are back home after a 3 months' visit to England to see my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephews. Welcome home, Ma and Pa. 

PS. Yes, we are going to have delicious food again! :P

Streets of Fire - A Rock & Roll Fable

I was really surprised to see Streets of Fire showing on cable tv. It was a movie I watched when I was 13 years old lol. It brought a huge smile to my face as I recalled thinking that Michael Pare was pretty handsome haha. The movie wasn't that great but the songs are catchy though. 

Streets of Fire - Nowhere Fast (uploaded by Miguelito Acosta)

Streets of Fire - Tonight is what it means to be young (uploaded by Andy Cruise)

Streets of Fire - Sorcerer (uploaded by Exploitation Nation)

Happy 11th Birthday, Yeun Song!

Happy 11th Birthday, Yeun Song!

Hope you have a Funtastic day. 

Lots of love from your family in Singapore! 

Happy Children's Day 2015

(Source: www.blogwatch.com.ng)

It is Children's Day today. (It used to be 1 October but has been changed to accommodate the PSLE dates). I took Juliane out for lunch to celebrate Children's Day.

After lunch, we walked around the Botanic Gardens. We eventually ended up at The Library of Botany and Horticulture. We looked at the plant cuttings and Juliane ended reading a book. :)

The Library of Botany and Horticulture

Juliane's Children's Day gift