Friends from Afar

Tonight, we had the honour of having Robyn and David Peat over for dinner at my place! It has been 11 years since we last met! Robyn and David were then returning to Canada. My parents were delighted to see them again after so many years. We all had a wonderful evening! 

Robyn and David, we always welcome you back to Singapore!!
We hope to see you soon again!

Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome

My mother's friend, Aunty Pang arrived from Taiwan this afternoon and she will be staying with us until Tuesday. It is her first visit to Singapore. My mother and I took her to visit Gardens by the Bay. It is also our first visit! :)

We decided to visit the Flower Dome where Tulipmania is on display now. I am surprised to learn that tulips originated in the ancient Ottoman Empire (which is present-day Turkey). Always wonderful to learn something new. :)

We are really lucky to catch the last of the cherry blossoms from the last display. This is the first time I see cherry blossoms. They are so pretty. 

We had dinner before walking along the bay towards Marina Bay Sands. It was a nice walk after dinner. We managed to show Aunty Pang Marina Bay Sands, Art Science Museum, the Fullerton Hotel and the Financial Centre on the opposite bank.

Singapore does have some beautiful night scenes. 

Visitor Coming

My mother's friend from Taiwan is coming for a short visit over the weekend. She will arrive tomorrow Friday 15 April and returns to Taiwan on Tuesday 19 April. For convenience, my mother has invited her to stay with us and she will be staying in my bedroom. 

Life's Simple Pleasures - Wall of Cheers

Simple pleasures of life - this Wall of Cheers never fail to cheer me up when I read the notes of encouragement written by students to other students who are participating in competition, PSLE, or some major event. The students can post notes for anyone, need not just be for friends and classmates that they know! I love my counselling school for encouraging her students to care for each other. A simple note can mean a lot! 
This is one school that has its values and character building on the right track. :)

My Mother is on Facebook II

It feels really strange to have my mother on Facebook. I am someone who prefer to have my own space when needed and I treat Facebook as such a space that I can retreat to at times. As such, even though my daughters are also on Facebook, I have never requested for them to add me as their friends. I want to respect their space. However, when they requested to be my friend, I did not add them either haha. I needed my space from them! :P 

My Mother is on Facebook!

My mother is finally on Facebook! All thanks to my younger daughter who helped my mother to set up a Facebook account on her new handphone. 
I have no choice but to accept my mother's request to be Friends on Facebook. I feel as if my mother is monitoring me. Lol. 

Registered

I finally went ahead and register for the overseas conference. I will find a way to sort out the matters in May/June.

"Under One Roof" SCGS Family Carnival

It's a family outing for my girls and I, attending the SCGS Family Carnival. However, upon reaching SCGS at 9:45am, my girls abandoned me as they went off with their friends. 

Marieann as she went off with her friend

With Juliane before she ran off with her friends too

It's ok, I met several of my former SCGS colleagues. ALWAYS a blast catching up with them! They never fail to make me miss my teaching days. :)

Juliane is horrified that I took a photo with Mrs Lim, her form teacher haha

Marieann, her friend, Mun Ling with Ms Koh, their P6 form teacher

I also met some of my classmates and my former students, Yvette and Michelle who are both teaching in SCGS!

My 1998 4P student, Yvette

I taught Michell when I was doing long term relief teaching in SCGS

What's carnival without buying home goodies! Hahaha

We really enjoyed ourselves, catching with friends. 
Once an SC girl, always an SC girl! :)

Instrument Revision

I have been working hard with my colleague and friend on the revision of the instruments to be used for my self-assessment research. When it is your own research, there is an even greater sense of achievement. :)

What's after Nokia?

I love my Nokia windows phone. But it has been giving me some problems lately, e.g. hanging, and over-heating. Not sure if I should change my mobile phone and to what brand?!  

Study Trip(s)

I have been tasked to collate information for possible study trips to different parts of the world. 

Mobile Phone Etiquette

I always turn my mobile phone to silent/ vibrate mode when I am in meetings. I always refrain from checking my mobile phone during meetings. It is my way of being professional. 
In social situations when I am with my friends, I do not check my messages immediately and if I have to answer phone calls, I will make it short or tell the person I will call back later. It is my way of telling my friends that they are important and they have my full attention. 

Your Cell Phone Etiquette is 19% Bad, 81% Good

You are practically a cell phone saint. You never annoy the people around you. Everyone should have phone manners as good as yours. And you sure wish they did!

How's Your Cell Phone Etiquette?

Registered?

I have been accepted to present at an overseas conference in June 2016. I have been sent a reminder to register for the conference in order to take advantage of the Early Bird registration rate which ends on 14 April 2016. 
I have quite a number of tasks during May/ June period. Wondering if I should go for the conference...

K-drama

My younger daughter, Juliane is really crazy about "Descendants of the Sun". She has been trying to get me to watch it but I have been RESISTING! Haha. 

Sweets

Finally tried this Gula Melaka Sundae from Wishbone Restaurant - gula melaka ice cream with sago. Sweet!

Honours Day 2016

My counselling school invites me to their Honours Day every year and I always find it a joy to attend it. Other than showing support to my colleagues (yes, I see the teachers as my colleagues as we are all working for the students' welfare :) ), it is also a great opportunity to see the students' various talents through their performances and their handicrafts. :) Honours Day always ends with a buffet dinner which is a wonderful time to relax and chill with the teachers.  

The students' handicrafts which I bought on Honours Day :)