The Party...

So it's the day after the big birthy bash and I'm tired. Understatement. I'm exhausted. Actually, I wouldn't be in this state if I had a goodnight's sleep last night...which of course, I didn't.

Anyway, my ancient camera decided it has had enough of me and took a day off...which means I have no photos...just the 3 random ones I took using my mobile. Anyway, my Sis is coming to the rescue. I'm gonna get the photos she snapped on her camera ad upload them here...so it's not all bad.

The party itself was okay. My colleagues said it was pretty fun, especially the piniata bit. There was a lot of good food and everyone was in high spirits (except for Fuddin...he didn't like the crowd). To the guests who brought wonderful gifts for Ayra, Thank You! Ayra loves all her presents and will be using/ enjoying them all soon.

Anyway, I hope you had fun Ayra. It was all for you...coz you're special and you're mine. Till the next big bash, let me recover from this one first...(wry laugh)...

Alright. got the photos. Thanks Sis.

Here's the cake from Coffee Bean. Looks great...doesn't taste too great. The Mango Prima Deli cake I bought was cheaper and tastier...what luck. Well, next time I know who not to order from.



Here are the guests. Although not everyone turned up, it was still a good number of people. Here they are enjoying the food and just hanging around.



Haha. Here's both my brother and brother in law being snapped at the food table. Hehe...



Here's the kids running around the balloons...well I'm glad they had fun. I don't seem to have pic of the kids playing the games Danyya was conducting. Oh by the way, a million thanks Danyya, for helping out. You're a lifesaver. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as the kids did.



And last but not least, Atok's by now famous SpongeBob Squarepants piniata. The piniata took a while to give way. Theijes, Ayra's classmate finally managed a little hole. Roshan then tried to pull the string but to no avail. Haha. Finally, the kids just came forward and tore poor Spongbob apart with their bare hands. Haha. It was a riot! Seriously fun.



So that's about it... nothing grand but as long as my girl had fun, it's good enough.

My Princess...

Last night at 9.29 pm, my baby girl turned 6. We blew a candle on a mini cake at home and then went to Delifrance for dinner.

How much she's grown. Soon she'll be in primary one. How I love her. She truly is the missing piece in my life. Sometimes I get impatient with her (especially when I'm tired after work) and I scold her but her love and devotion to me has been unwavering. I'm always her beautiful Queen although I might look like s**t, especially when I'm just hanging out at home in my crummy clothes.

I know her constant need to be near me, to kiss and hug me, to lie in bed next to me...all these ain't gonna last. Before long, she'll be a teenager and demanding her independence. So for now, I will enjoy being the centre of her life.

To my love, my beautiful princess...I love you Ayra. While I've made many mistakes in my life, you are not one of them. You are the best thing that ever happened to me and everyday, I thank God he blessed me with you.

While things may change between us in the future, I want to tell you that I am always on your side. Ibu loves you, Honey. Happy Birthday.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Haven't blogged lately. No pics either. I really should get a new digital camera so I'll be inspired to start clicking again. Ok, I will get one soon and I'll charge it to the $400 I'm entitled to every year. MOE gives like $400 to education officers to buy stuff or attend courses and such to upgrade themselves. In my opinion, a new digital camera will upgrade the quality of my blogging so there.

Been thinking of my career lately. Bullshit stuff like why I became a teacher in the first place. I mean, it's reallymuch too late to regret my choice. I'm really stuck. I have a family to support...which brings me to the next option, which is to move to a new school. I've been thinking about it for a while and lately, there are so many push factors. I'm not going into the details here but it'll suffice to say that I am leaning towards moving on. Whether that's possible right now, I have no idea and my mind isn't made up yet but I think my teaching career here at Dunearn has hit a hard, solid, brick wall. I am truly uninspired, jaded and just going through the motions each and every day. My positiveness has flown out the window. Yes, sad but true. I really don't know what's gonna happen but I hope everything turns out well in the end.

Family wise though, I'm pretty happy. Roshan has been so kind and supportive to me. He really is my best friend as well as my hubby. I'm glad we made the effort to improve our relationship because deep down I know, my life really wouldn't be complete without him. Come November, it'll be our 10th wedding anniversary and our 20th year together. So much we've gone through together and while I regret the bad times, I rejoice in the good times. While no relationship is perfect or man is perfect, the one that I have is the best one for me. Haha...so soppy. Blame the romantic in me.

Alright, work beckons. My diet is working...coz my tummy is growling! Haha... what some women do to stay slim. Will write soon.

The Dawn of a New Month = Renewed New Year Resolutions

Hehe. It's Friday. It's a long Friday (I only end work at 9pm) but hell, it's still a Friday.

Went to Pizza Hut on Wed. Nothing fancy but it was nice just to spend quiet time with one another.



Anyway, here's a pic of the completed collage we did for Ayra for her birthday. We thought of dressing it a bit more with pink boa feathers. I hope she likes it.



I have so much marking to do it's crazy.

I think I'll renew my new year resolutions today. Starting from this minute, I

i) will put in more effort in my work, especially marking.
ii) will spend more quality time with the family.
iii) will start losing weight again. I'm feeling FAT.

Yup. It's the end of Feb..It's still not too late. Positive thinking mates.

An Excellent Birthday Gift

Midweek. Wednesday. Why the mid week post? Coz I'm tired (of work) and I need a pick me up. My student Mirza says I'm always complaining about work. Well, I'm sorry...I'm just so tired all the time. Okay, I'll stop whining for now...

Yesterday, an idea just hit me. Ayra has been such an industrious little artist lately. She never fails to meet me at the door with a drawing or a card which is really sweet. I usually just put it in a file in my room. Last night, however, I decided that An and I will make a collage of her finest artwork and frame it up and present it to her as a birthday present! Cool huh? The trouble is we have to hide it from her and she's always poking her nose in our room so it's gonna be tough. It'll be worth it though.

I'm reaching home late everyday coz I have to conduct orals and on Friday, it's the Sec 3s parent-teacher's meeting so I'll only be home after 9. Bummer. I never used to cherish my weekends so much coz when an worked shifts, we can still go dating, run errands etc like during weekday afternoons. Now, all we're left with is a few hours with the kids in the evening and that's it. Sad. So we try and make up for our lack of presence during the weekends and we also try to fit in some couple time which leaves us, haha, pretty much exhausted. Tonight however, An is bringing us out for dinner. Nothing fancy (maybe just pizza) but it breaks the mundane weekdays routine.

Yeah, I've come to realize, it's the little things in life that matters.

Spongebob is in town!

It's 5 pm on a Friday. Still at work. Just finished my orals. Told my 4N Lit kids I probably won't be here to see them through their O Levels next year. I'm kinda sick of the school. Seriously. It's time to move on. I dunno. Maybe it will work out; maybe it won't. We'll see.

I had a pretty nice weekend. Went to Mustafa Centre with An after dropping Ayra off. It was good to spend some time together although the place was pretty packed. Went for dinner with Ayra and An at night coz we had a Swenson's voucher. Service was slow (Bt Panjang branch). Food finally came about 9pm but it was worth the wait. Nice. Had a mini earthquake after that which is oh-so-sinful but yummy.



Here's father and daughter waiting patiently for their food! Haha!

Sunday morning, we went to the libaray and ran some mundane errands but the highlight was swimming! Yes, again. Fuddin had his new sexy, purple swimming tights on. Sooo cute I tell you. We also missed out on the "wave" last time so we made sure we stayed for it this time round. The kids love it. Fuddin just lies down and let the waves push him everywhere; even into people's laps, backs, etc. So funny.



Okay, I need to go. Before I go, let me post a pic of Spongebob Squarepants. Hee...yah...it's the "monster" aka piniata we (well mainly Dad) created. Pretty good huh? You can't imagine the effort that went into making that thing...Ayra loves it though so it's worth it.



Anyway, I've created a Facebook account. Yes! Now I'm connected to the rest of the world. It's really cool to get in touch with mates you haven't heard from for years...like my secondary school friends. It's weird...in a good kind of way.

Alright, rushing off...

It's Friiiiiiiday!

In class with my 4 normal acad Lit class. They've really grown on me. I enjoy myself when I'm in class with them. Despite being weaker in their language, I think they try hard.

That's the thing with me. I don't particularly admire intelligent kids. I mean, it's great if they are but what's more important to me is that they try hard and make progress; in their lives and their studies. I like teaching the hardworking "Ah Beng", "AhLian", "Minah" and "Mat". Is it because I understand them because I was like them as a teenager? Haha!

I remembered the teachers I had when I was in secondary school. Straight-laced disciplinarian who didn't bother listening to my version of any story. The angrier they became, the more satisfied I was. Wicked but true. That's why today, I try to listen to these students. No, I don't let them step on my head. While they know they can joke around with me, they also know how far they can go. It's a win-win situation.

Gone are the days that I would lose my temper in class. No more shouting, screaming or tears (God forbid). Now I simply let them choose. I usually give them an option. Do my work (like everyone else) and I pretty much leave you alone or don't do it and I'm pretty much after you. It's common sense. Why get all hot and bothered and screaming like a banshee (that's just so un-glam).

Anyway. I'm going to this Learning Journey today to some Touch Centre. It's like a centre to treat gaming addicts la. Like for real. I don't really wanna go. I can think of 101 better things I can do instead but like many things in life, I don not have a choice.

Weekend coming up. An's pretty excited. Eversince he's been attending school, he cherishes his weekend with an urgent fervour. We try to cram in as many activities as we can in those two days and while it's fun, it's exhausting! I was just telling Roshan how I need a holiday. Urgh! Nope, no holiday anywhere in the near future. Sux.

Gonna send out the invitations to Ayra's party out soon. We're inviting people we've never invited before. Like Fiza says, Ayra should be grateful for all the effort me and the other family members are putting in. Everyone is chipping in. It's like we're preparing for a wedding! Haha! It's all in good fun though so it's good.

Fuddin has a toothache; which reminds me that I need to call the National Dental Centre to set an appointment for him. Okay chiao... write soon.

Oh wait. Here are some zoo pics which I "borrowed" from my sister's blog.