Life's Simple Pleasures II

There is a sunbird's nest at my counselling school. Today, I was surprised to discover there's a sunbird in it. I spent several moments watching it in its nest and enjoying this simple pleasure of life. 

I also pointed this simple pleasure out to each of my counsellees and it is also a delight to see each of their faces lighting up upon seeing the little sunbird in its nest. :)

Meeting@AST

I had my first meeting at Academy of Singapore Teachers (AST) yesterday. It is a cosy place. :)  

From a poster at AST

At the meeting, I also met my former student from SCGS. Actually she recognised me. :P

Life's Simple Pleasures

Simple pleasures of life - listening to Bananarama on the radio in the taxi while going to school for data collection. :) Yes, my age is showing lol. :P

What Are Words ft Peter & Evynne Hollens by ThePianoGuys

Beautiful song and scenery.

What are Words ft Peter & Evynne Hollens by ThePianoGuys

Afternoon Tea cum Cat Therapy

Always happy to be invited by my neighbour, Vanessa for afternoon tea. Not just because her afternoon tea is delicious, it is also cat therapy time for me. :) We had Queen's cake, cheese scones and almond biscuits and of course, tea. :) 
Part of the afternoon tea ritual for me is spending some time with the cats and taking photos of them. :) 

Sweet Donut

I seldom eat donuts as I find them way too sweet for my liking. But I decided to try this Blogthings quiz on my donut personality. Sweet is what I got lol.

Your Donut Personality is Sweet

You are a very kind and caring person. You're not one to deprive anyone of a treat, especially yourself. You try to live a guilt free life with plenty of room for fun. You refuse to punish yourself for having a good time. You are optimistic about others, and you are easy on people you know. You are big on fresh starts. You love to share, and you make sure that no one is left out. You tend to notice the people that others forget about.

What's Your Donut Personality?

Belated Mother's Day Celebration

My mother came back from Taiwan during the early hours of this morning. 
I bought a cake for her and the two mothers in my family had a belated Mother's Day celebration. :) 

Lucky to find a cake with Carnation decoration lol

Examinations!

Juliane has completed her examinations last week. Marieann is having hers this week. I used to make them sit down and do their revision in my presence. This year I decided to see if they can do it on their own without so much monitoring on my part. However, it is also the transition year for both the girls - from P4 to P5 and from P6 to Sec 1 which usually sees a dip in the results because of the increase in content and in subjects. We shall see...  

Best "Work In Progress" Signs by Ikea

Ikea has always been my favourite furniture shop. I just found another reason to love Ikea even more! Ikea has the best "Work In Progress" signs ever! See for yourself. :) 
(I didn't manage to get everyone as my phone battery was running low). 

This one got me running to look inside haha. 

Looked into this one too :)

Looked in and scared the workers working in there but they were not muscular :(

Hoping to see Thor, Captain America, Wolverine, ... :) :)

Guys are not left out too lol

Always wanted to see mermaids! 

I grew up listening to ABBA! :P

A Message to Coke

I just couldn't resist when I saw the opportunity that I have been presented with. I just had to get my message across!

To Coke:

Hahaha :D

Happy Mother's Day 2015

Here's wishing everyone who is a mother, in all ways and manners, 

A Happy Mother's Day 2015!

(Source: http://revitfactory.com/happy-mothers-day-religious-greetings/)

To my mother who is now in Taiwan visiting her family:

I am thankful for your unconditional love. 

Without you, there would be no me!

Though I may not say it aloud or often enough, 

I truly appreciate and value all that you have done for me while I was growing up

and continues to do so while I am growing older now, including looking after my daughters.

Thank you very much. I love you. 

Hope you have a wonderful day full of smiles, happiness and love. 

To my sister-in-law in UK:

Happy Mother's Day. 

Hope the boys give you the best surprise ever today!

Here are my girls and I on Mother's Day 2015. 

Thank you, Marieann and Juliane for your Mother's Day wishes. I love you both very much.

The girls monkeying around with my phone

Card and Carnation from my girls

Cups N Canvas Cafe

This is the second time I am at Cups N Canvas and coincidentally the first time I was there was on 10 May 2013. Almost 2 years ago to the date! :) The decor remains the same, as well as its artistic ambience. :)

 

Iced Cucumber Mint Tea - refreshingly cool

The chicken cutlet is crispy but juicy and tender.

After a delicious lunch, I did some work - looking at teachers' interviews and trying to surface the themes. Who could resist a little incentive while doing mental work? Lol.

French Apple Cake with Iced Peach Lychee Tea

The apple cake is a delightful surprise - not too sweet, soft but with apple slices in it. Different from the usual apple pie. It is the perfect pre Mother's Day treat for myself. :)

Practical Daughters

Last night, Marieann asked if I wanted carnation for Mother's Day. I refused to answer her and asked her what she thinks. While at work today, I received an sms from Marieann that she has bought me carnation. I thanked her for the flowers and she smsed back that she only bought one flower and followed by "haha". Gosh, I do have very practical daughters - one sent Mother's Day message way in advance to avoid forgetting and the other actually asked if I wanted carnation for Mother's Day first before buying. 
I guess I can't blame them as I am a very practical person too. :) Like mother, like daughter. :) 

An Early Mother's Day Message

I received this message from Juliane on Monday via sms. With it was a little note: "I have no idea when is mother's day so ya here you go".I couldn't help but laughed.

It was really early but better than late or nothing at all lol.

Call from Hong Kong

A mysterious lady from Hong Kong has been calling me at work. She called twice but refused to leave any contact details and said that she would call back again. Her timing has been unfortunate as she would call just as I stepped away from my work station. I wonder who she is and what she wants as she insisted upon speaking to me only. Strange...

Nature 2015

I saw this beautiful moth with turquoise wings. I wonder what is its name. 

Ice Cream

My favourtie kind of ice cream - green and mint! :)

You Are a Green Ice Cream Cone

You have a fresh approach to the world around you, and you like to think creatively. You're open to new opportunities. You are willing to walk on the wild or weird side in life. You're not going to knock something until you've tried it. You are a bit zany and out there, and people love that about you. You're having too much fun to be normal. Some good ice cream flavors for you include: lime, pistachio, green apple, and mint.

What Color Ice Cream Cone Are You?

Relaxing Piano: Studio Ghibli Complete Collection

Music from Studio Ghibli complete collection never fails to invoke smiles, serenity, fantasy and fond memories for me. :)  

Relaxing Piano: Studio Ghibli Complete Collection [uploaded by Cat Trumpet (Mediation Music/ Binaural Beats)]
  

Relaxing Piano - Hayao Miyazaki Collection:
0:00 Spirited Away - Itsumo Nando Demo
4:52 Kiki's Delivery Service - Umi no Mieru Machi
9:34 Princess Mononoke - Mononoke Hime
11:15 My Neighbor Totoro - Kaze no Toori Michi
16:42 Porco Rosso - Toki ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi wo
22:27 Kiki's Delivery Service - Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta nara
27:49 My Neighbor Totoro - Tonari no Totoro
32:10 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Kaze no Tani no Naushika
37:00 Laputa: Castle in the Sky - Kimi wo Nosete
42:28 Spirited Away - Inochi no Namae

Relaxing Piano - Ghibli Collection:
48:18 From Up on Poppy Hill - Sayonara no Natsu - Kokuriko-zaka kara
53:38 Whisper of the Heart - Take Me Home Country Road
59:20 Kiki's Delivery Service - Message By Rouge
1:04:08 My Neighbor Totoro - Stroll
1:08:51 Tales from Earthsea - Teru's Song
1:14:12 The Secret World of Arrietty - Arrietty's Song
1:19:03 Ponyo - Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
1:22:50 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Nausicaa Requiem
1:27:05 Howl's Moving Castle - The Promise of the World
1:32:34 Spirited Away - Reprise

Pianist: Makiko Hirohashi

Belated Birthday Celebration

As I got home late last night, we celebrated my father's birthday this morning with the cake I bought. But I gave him his birthday present, a red packet before the day ended on 30 April.

Happy Birthday again, Father/ Grandfather.

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