Prelims 2014 Day 4

Today is the last Prelims paper for Marieann. It is on Science, her stronger subject. I hope she can do well. 
After her Science paper, she went to see a doctor as she has been having a stuffy blocked nose for the past three days. Hopefully with medication, she will get well soon. She has to make some changes to her life style!

Prelims 2014 Day 3

Chinese is on Day 3 of Prelims 2014. Marieann couldn't find her electronic dictionary and took the Chinese dictionary instead to her Chinese prelims. I am worried as she is much more proficient in using the electronic dictionary than the dictionary itself. I guess it is a lesson for her to make sure she has all the things she needs but it may be a costly lesson. :( When I checked in with her after my counselling, she told me that she didn't need to use the dictionary because she knew the characters. I am hoping for the BEST! 
PS. It is confirmed that Marieann has a cold. Her nose is all stuffed up and she sounds real nasal. :( 

Prelims 2014 Day 2

Maths is on the second day of Prelims. I am worried as Marieann tends to freeze up in Maths under stressful situations. :( Stay calm, Marieann.
PS. Marieann is starting to have a stuffy nose. Think she is coming down with a cold. :( Why now?!?! Argh.

Prelims 2014 Day 1

Today is the first day of Prelims for Marieann and it is on English. According to her, the paper was okay. As long as she tried her best, I will accept it, I guess.

Good Luck, Marieann!

Marieann starts her Prelims next week. I am really anxious for her as she was sick last week and didn't put in much revision. Sigh. 
I chanced upon Ang Ku Kueh Girl when I went to BBC to get past year Math and English papers for Marieann. She was quick to agree when I asked if she wanted me to get them for her to practise on! Knowing that Marieann found Ang Ku Kueh Girl really adorable, I bought a journal book and a card for her. Unfortunately, the Ang Ku Kueh Girl tote bag is out of stock and so is the Png Kueh girl tote bag which Juliane likes. :(
Ang ku kueh symbolises blessings for good fortune and longevity so it is pretty apt for me to use Ang Ku Kueh Girl to wish Marieann good fortune and good luck for her coming Prelims and PSLE.

Writing a note of encouragement to Marieann at my former student's cafe, Curbside

Good Luck, Marieann for your coming Prelims. I believe in you!

Catch-Up

During the two days of PSLE Oral, Juliane had no school but e-learning at home instead. She managed to do some e-homework but not everything. Some documents/ programmes, which are required in order for her to complete her homework, strangely could not be opened/ viewed on the desktop but only on my work notebook. No choice, Juliane will have to catch up with outstanding e-homework over this weekend.

PSLE Oral Day 2

Again, Marieann was in the first shift for the second day of PSLE oral. She was tested on Chinese today. Her Chinese tutor revised with her yesterday on several pictures and a similar picture/ scenario appeared for today's picture conversation component. Lucky? I just hope she remembered what to say as Chinese is not her strong suit. Praying hard for her!

PSLE Oral Day 1

Today is the first day of PSLE oral. Marieann was in the first shift which meant she needed to report to school by 7:15am. She had English oral today. According to her, it was easy. I hope the best for her. :)

My Nightmare III

Things are not going my way.
First, Marieann fell ill just two days before her high stakes national exam - PSLE. It caused plenty of anxiety for me. Thank goodness she is recovered now.
Second, thinking that I can help her revise for her PSLE oral, I am struck down with food poisoning after my counselling today!
I feel so weak and apologetic towards my daughter. I helped the P6 counsellees today (prior to the food poisoning) but I cannot help my own girl. :(

My Nightmare II

Marieann has been given two days of medical leave so that she will have sufficient rest and recover in time for the PSLE orals this Thursday and Friday. My family doctor is pulling out all the stops and has given her antibotics (which he usually doesn't) plus the flu medications. He really wants her to be well by Thursday! :)
I have been keeping in touch with her form teacher too (who is my former colleague) on the things that Marieann needs to know/ do for her PSLE Orals. 
I am very grateful for the support given by her form teacher, my friends and colleagues as well as my former students who have been sending us well wishes and encouraging words. Thank you!! It is greatly appreciated!

My Nightmare

The worst possible thing to happen now. :( 
Marieann, my older daughter is down with fever! She is having her PSLE this Thursday and Friday! Going to bring her to see a doctor tomorrow. Hopefully with medication and rest, she will be recover in time for her PSLE. Sincerely need all your well wishes and positive energies for her.

Sunset

National Day Parade 2014

Happy National Day 2014! :)
This is my second NDP and the first I have attended at The Float@Marina Bay. :) My friend, Vanessa and I met up at 3pm at Raffles City, had tea before we slowly made our way over to The Float@Marina Bay. Along the way, we saw many people wearing red and white, presumably they must be attending the NDP too. :) I was in red and black lol. Didn't know the significance until my friend told me. :P Nothing was intended by my choice of colour except for practicality reason. :)  We picked up our funpack and proceeded to our Orange sector (mainly for ministry people) for seating by 4:15pm. We were early lol.

Wanted my green funpack :(

From my seat - 270 view (part i)

From my seat - 270 view (part ii)

From my seat - 270 view (part iii)

From my seat - 270 view (part iv)

From my seat - 270 view (part v)

Me being early at NDP 2014 :)

For a while, I was worried because dark clouds were forming. But thank goodness the weather held except for a drop or two. :) 

Dark clouds looming overhead

As the sun set, it became cooler with the sea breeze.The pre-parade activities started around 5:30pm with the hosts singing and leading us in old Singapore favourites such as Singapura, Chan Mali Chan, etc. This is nostalgic for me as these were the songs that I used to sing when I was in school! :)
Soon, a loud booming noise was heard overhead. Looking up into the sky, the Singapore Armed Forces Parachute Team - the Red Lions - parachuted from their helicopter to loud cheers from the crowd. With precision and skill, the 9 Red Lions, including the first female Red Lion 3WO Shirley Ng executed a free-fall jump and landed in front of the audience on the floating platform and the junior Red Lions joined them to salute the audience.

The Red Lions

Next came the Parade and Ceremony with a Military Tattoo which comprised of the band and SAF precision drill squad which exhilarated the audience. The singing of the national anthem started after the arrival of the president, followed by the president's inspection and the presidential gun salute. 

Singing of the national anthem

A total of 35 marching contingencies (including 14 non-uniformed contingencies and 15 social and economic organisations) participated in this year's parade. After that was the Dynamic Defence Display in which the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force wowed the audience. I was busy snapping pictures of our military might lol. :P

The Unmanned Fire Fighting Machine (UFM) from SCDF

Caught this photo just before we got showered by the UFM :)

The show started close to 7:30pm with four different acts - Act 1: Celebrate it!, Act 2: Love it!, Act 3: Live it! and Act 4: Be it!. Love the fireworks at the end of each act and at the end of NDP 2014.

The end of a successful NDP 2014

The crowd streaming out

A selfie with my new Lumia 930 lol :P

Me and the iconic city backdrop :)

A little after 8pm, the NDP 2014 came to a close. As my friend and I waited for the crowd to thin before setting off on our way home, we were treated to an extra display of fireworks by the organisers who wanted to thank all the performers, volunteers, multimedia team, and everyone who has contributed in one way or another to make NDP 2014 a success. Bonus! :)  

Leaving The Float@Marina Bay

I finally reached home around 10pm after stopping at Raffles City for a dessert lol. :P

Everything I have in the funpack!

The beautiful city backdrop and skyline: Victoria Concert Hall, CBD, Fullerton Hotel

The CBD

Marina Bay Sands, the Helix Bridge (in red and white)

The Singapore Flyer, the Helix Bridge and the moon

I really enjoyed attending the NDP 2014 at The Float@Marina Bay. :) 
I am proud to be a Singaporean. Singapore has indeed come a long way but it still has a long way to go. We all need to play our part for we are Singapore. :)