To the alumni. This is one of the latest, a pond. A pond for reflection, literally.

A good morning, though it rained very heavily. It was like a curtain over your vision.

Son did well today at the music chinese class. He was more at ease and participate more. I must say that the main teacher a lady is pretty impatient and the assistant, a man, is more patient and fun-loving. He seems to understand kids and boys better.

Went to shop to buy something for my 4th aunt, her husband and her son. They are back from UK. She is living there, since she was 18? My granddad sponsored her to study nursing there. When she completed, she stayed on to work, married and well, anyway, she is there. My son entertained them.. haha. Hugged them, talk to them etc. For her, it is her first time to meet my dotta. It was fun and nice-going day.

Thank God. :-)

Those who been to my house know I like antique and old stuff. Esp. clock. This sunburst clock should be from the 70s. The earlist is late 60s. I carried it back from Melbourne. Its diameter is around 3 feets. Was pretty tough esp if you image I carried it, with my children, bags and stroller. We took tram from Chapel St to Flinder Train Station to transfer to train. When we reach Werribee, we had to walk another 15 minutes. The reward is - finally, I got my sunburst clock and it wasn't damage. :-)
Oh, that's my hall stand. See the 3 tiles? I actually travelled to Serangoon Road to hunt for them. At least 50 years old or more.

Well... girl being girl, Karis enjoys doing housework... even when on holiday. Haha. When she wants the bloom, she will say 'floor floor'

Another shot, with mother.

WE were thrilled by having a fireplace. Well, I set the fire. Succesful! Karis is doing her xi xi facial expression.

This is old news, but RHD was pretty fun. It was almost 'duty free'. The person whom I am suppose to guide is very responsible. So I self-appointed myself to be photographer. So I did what i enjoyed. :-) Experimented soem angle but.. sigh.. forgot to deactivate my clock on the camera. I hate to see the printed date on photo.

Compared to the first 2 years when I was in-charge, it has become bigger and complex. Combined with 2 other schools, inviting VIP, 24 drums, lion dance, kompang, traditional wedding etc. Back then, it was inter-class traditional costume competition and just 1 level and then 2 levels. It was small but cosy. WE knew each other. The fashion parade was the finale! I miss the old gang...

It was good to see some old faces.. i meant not old but old.. haha.. the ex-students.

The TA, Koh, is marking his last day with us too. I thot I saw a bit of red eyes... was that tear? anyway.. nice chap.. gonna miss him too.

This is a milestone! karis could tell us that she needs to use the potty and she could control herself. Three cheers for her!

My wife taught in jolly creek today. I must say that she is gifted in teaching young children (2 to 3 years old). I can't do what she did. The children really quiet down and listen.

The Pastor preached on giving. What was interesting was he asked if we give by planning (mean we calculate our income and expenditure and decide what I can 'spare' for God) or give by revelation (God reveal what I need to give and I pledge it by faith). Afterall, relationship withGod is based on faith.

I finally went to the dentist to check and get cleaned up. I never like dental treatment. Was reminded by them about removing my wisdom tooth.I doubt I will go for it. Hate the swelling and the troublesomeness after the surgery.

karis is very cute. I wanted to bath and she wanted me to carry her. So I asked her to check if I smell. She actually came near to smell, making the sound of sniffing and straining her nose. Then she said, nice, good (with index finger pointing up). Ha ha.

On our way to Melbourne. The journey took 1 hour but was a pleasant one. Coming back, we encounter a 'beggar' asking for money to buy pizza.

OUr host family. They got 2 dogs, 1 puppy and 3 cats. A dried swimming pool and a frond an d back garden. Practice recycling.. which mean throw left over food in your garden for birds, amongst many other things.

Took on Big Rock at You Yang nature Park. The rock is suppose to be a sacred site for the abriginols. karis is not in the pic cos she was not up there. Someone kindly carried her so that we could climb up. It was quite slippery.

My dotta not paying attention. Prefer to take pic than to look for animals. Haha

I think the NKF thing is really the most talkabout thing right now.
I suppose people are concern is if their money are really passed down to the people they actually wanted to help.
I have never really donated to NKF cos I was always not very sure how much percent I gave goes to patient. I think we ought to be good steward of our mney and that means giving to the right place. I am not excusing myself from giving to charity. What I give in a year could have easily privide my family for a decent holiday in Australia.
So, the question is how come there are so many Singaporean who have given to NKF without asking questions?
I shall not say anything lest I get sued.
Is it the lucky draw? Support for their performance artist? Sympathy for the patient? Good publicity stunt? Sympathy for the performance artist's stunt? We don't know. But thanks to the question asked, we now can hope for more accountability from charitable organisation. At least I know how many percent of my donation really bring blessing to the people I aim to help.

Just one point, will u give to a beggar or the organisation that reaches out to them and help them to learn a skill so that they can be self-sufficient? I will give to the latter cos the latter will help them gain back their self-worth too.

What's the toughest part being a leader? I think it is dealing with human.
Had to counsel and encourage new staff. And to handle MC of staff and other problems.
Got to be mindful of their needs, abilities, weaknesses and then deploy them to their classes and then they have their own needs and requests.. etc.

THe good things is I get to epxress God's love to them.

He was looking for animals, in the small park within Melbourne Museum.

Took this in Australia, trying to play with B&W film. Under-exposed so that it became darker than it was. One was without lamp post, but i decided to use this one.

Why? It protrayed a tinge of assurance. While the sky can be overcast, there is the lamp post to light, not much but still light.

It also protrayed a constrast. Lamp post is useless when the sun is there.

Suddenly, I feel so overwhelmed by work. Not just the load but the stress or difficulty I face as HOD.

I have to manage a few project/programmes. IES - which deal with GCE exams, Family Education - which I have a 'redundant assistant and kancheong external party', Results - with staff going on MC, how can result be good?, suddenly I have to made presentation to Cluster Principals on Exchange Programme this Thursday, staffing problem with their health problem, oral exams - generate swapping letters, meetings, meetings, meetings... where got time to mark!

Was complaining to another HOD, being a HOD, I have to made decision not just for my class, but others. This is tough!

But I am thankful for the good time in class. 5 A and B are improving, slow but at least better. 4A is more serious. With revision time now, I feel slightly less stressed.

Well, at the end of the day, my heavenly Father is my strength!! Amen.

Today, hanern went for his first dental appointment.
Thank God the dentist was extremely patient and nice. She showed him all the gadgets she was using and assured him all is fine.
He was given a mirror to see what was going on and at the end, he was smiling widely and whitely. We cheated. We brought a pack of sticker and asked the dentist to reward him with the sticker. He told the dentist to give him more next time round. Karis was very curious too.

We got him more sticker to reward him. I am glad it went well.

Today while at Orchard, which I usually avoid on weekend, I was helped by a man. Nothing big deal. I was struggling to move my dotta on her stroller and bags hanging on it up the stair at John Little. One man stopped to ask if I need help and without hesitation, he helped me.

I was touched by his kind gesture. It warmed my heart.

While returning home, in the taxi, I saw a visually handicapped man with bags trying to walk along the road. 2 men tried to help him. I took the opportunity to explain to hanern about what it means to be visually hanicapped and how he could stopped to offer help when he sees someone who carries a white cane.

While telling him all these, a thought crossed my mind. It is so easy to tell him to be helpful and it is also easy to find excuses not to be helpful. As I am blessed by someone helpfulness, I too need to be bless other.

"There is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding."

Deep in the spirit of each person, there is the thought of a creator god. This is placed by the Creator God, so that people can response to His Prevenient Grace.

Prevenient Grace is the preceeding grace that reaches out to all so that all can know Him. God loves all people and wants all to be in His fold. His Prevenient Grace reaches to all. How? One evidence is that He places in us understanding that there are things and thoughts that are beyond human understanding and explanation. That is God's grace to us.

Dear Lord, may all who have yet know You search their deepest being and hear the breath of Yours. Amen

Visited my grandparents with my parents and brother and his family after a belated Brithday lunch for my dad on Sunday right after Sunday Service. It is heart-breaking to see my grandpa having tube at his nose attached to machine to help him breath well. He could not talk much as that will tax his lungs. My grandma has aged much too. She panted just walking around in their flat. I suppose this has added worries to her.
My son actually climbed to the bed and prayed for his great grandpa. Laying hands on his led to pray he could walk, his chest and stomach for strength. My grandma was quite amazed and very happy about it. I am happy that my son is learning to pray for people and enjoying it. Afterall, the Lord demanded child-like faith from us. It was wonderful as my grandparents are not Christian. I pray that through the incident, they may be more open.
Pic was taken on 1st May 2005.
Lord, heal them and that they may know you personally. Amen

It was raining in the morning and I had to move the 2 huge luggages to the school to be stored there till 4 pm. So I pushed the big one first. The good thing it was drizzle but very cold. But the exertion produced heat that is needed badly.
Met the principal there. Asked him to help me to transport the rest by his car. He advised to let my family stay back as it would be raining at You Yang park too.
Thank God we decided to go. By the time we reached there, it was shining brightly! Thank God for the weather.
We had a tour cum talk by an Abriginol elder and then BBQ lunch. It was interesting and the view at the Big Rock, a sacred site, was beautiful. I am glad we went ahead. Then it ws BBQ and he demo the digerindo. My son wanted to try and he could blow! He was of course delighted to have the crowded clapping for him.
We then went to the sanctuary for animal and my son saw kangeroo and emu, in open. He was real real excited. So was Karis.
Departing the school was emotional for most people. Crying and hugging were everywhere. Some were nice to enough to hug me too. haha.
Flight was smooth sailing. Thank God!
By the time we reached our carpark, Hanern was crying. He din want to be home. He like Australia. :P We din tell him we were going home. He only realised that when we reach BP.
Well, I thank God for the trip. We are blessed to have Him guiding and protecting us. We had good family time!

Finally, a free day and everyone is well and kicking. We worked fast and hard to get everyone out of the house, braved the cold wind and to the train station. Silly me, bought the wrong ticket but nevertheless, we reached Melbourne Flinder Street Station after 1 hour. Hanern we smiling with excitement when the train moved. He always wanted to ride on a train. So when he heard the chomp chomp and bell (when crossing over road), he was smiling from side to side. :-) These smiles are priceless. It somehow rewards all the hard work and 'shits' you get from work.
I wonder if it is like that for God, to see us loving Him and changing for better?

A bit blur when I was at Melbourned but armed with Lonely Planet Melbourned City Guide, we reacherd Yarra River. Wanted to take the river cruise but too expensive. Anyway, we played a while along the bank. That's where Hanern pciked up a strong red Maple leaf. Actually, it was I who pass to him. Saw the photo? Karis had fun chasing pigeon and seagull. In Finding Nemo, seagull says "mine mine". So I thot the kids to say mine mine... we had great fun!

Made our way to their Fereration Sq and Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Something interesting. A group of people were knitting there, including some guys who were teaching. :o
Well designed place. Took one photo but didn't achieve the effect I wanted. Shall post it next time.

We walked to Chinatown for lunch, a tight corner in a resturant. Lots of NaCl! Walked and bought some stuff. The we took a tram to Chapel Street. I think our abiliy to travel around is still there. With the lonely planet, we actually reached and alight at the right spot. The tram driver, a fellow Chinese, was unfortunately aggressive and unhelpful. Hanern was pressing a 'handicap bell' which we din know. So the driver came down to scold him. I of course apologise profusedly. Poor boy, he was silent throughout the trip after that.

We went to Chapel Bazaar. It a dream land for someone who loved old stuff. Lots of retro stuff!!!! I after walking a few round, got a Sunburst Clock and wife a radio with flip ckock. All from the 60-70s. Cool man. Then when to eat yummy meat pie, and then karis did her buisness. Walked far to find no place to change her. So did that outside a shop, on the stroller and it was cold. :P Kudos to my wife. Settled in a Chinese Resturant. Actually more to rest. Soup was good! Hanern drank 2 bowls. We missed good soup and it was on the house. Wah!

Then the waitress told her she worked in Singapore for a few year. :-) Showed us how to take tram back. So back to Flinder station and then to Werribee. On the way, this guy on drug came to ask for spare change to buy pizza. Gave, can't afford to have any other trouble. Relief when he got down after 40 mins. Hanern was sleeping so soundly. Good thing he woke up to walk. If not we can't reach home.

Loved the day. Starting to like Melbourne. But it was the last second day. Sigh.

Thank God still, we got to see and had a free and easy day! Tired but refreshed!

Finally we are setting off to Melbourne, the Museum and Imax and then Victoria Market.

Son loves the museum as they have a part on natrual history with all the animal models (or preserved). It is very interesting. Actually, more than science center in Singapore. Hewas so delighted by it. It was a relexing time with family. Esp we decide to miss the Imax, it gave us another 45 mins to be together.

Finaly, good meal and also good appetide. We had North Indian food at the food court in Victoria market. My son likes curry, if it is not too spicy. It us quite a while to settle down and eat. So by the time we were about to shop, we had only 20 mins. :-(

Oh yes.. met Lau Chye Soon and wife there! It was their honeymoon... small world. Haha

By the time we were bacl at Werribee, it was 4.00 pm. We decided to go the center and then dinner. Also to check on the train schedule at the train station. Had a hard time understanding the schedule but thank God, He sent one of the staff of the school, a chinese lady, there to help me. She was going home and so she explained to me how the chart works.

Had turkish dinner. So so only. Back at B&B and it fire place again. :-)

Thank God for such an enjoyable day.