This year we decided to make it simple. Just something simple, not much fuss. We chanced upon these masquerade masks spectacles. Its a pair of spects but shaped like masquerade masks, for $9.80 in Far East. Bought and decided to wear matching clothes to that, minimal others.
I thought about it over Friday evening. Looking through my wardrobe, I could think of 3 possibles but when I tried them out. Liked only one. The others seem too normal and kinda dated (think its this age thing. Certain things I liked before now seems dated to me) Decided not to wear that cosplay jacket. Wore black pants, Desigual top, with the small vest plus boots. Kinda normal and down to earth except I was freaking hot just wearing the long sleeve top alone by the time I left home. I did spray alot of hairspray on my hair but by the time I reached Raffles City, it settled down and looked very normal. Met up with Tab in her dress with skirt and Zhuan with her more S&M look.
We had a delicious dinner at Skinny Pizza - breakfast pizza and bolognise pizza with double truffle fries and mash potatoes. Talked and after dinner we headed to the toilet for Zhuan to put on her make-up and her hats. On the way walking over to the ACM, we put on our spectacles. Looking rather normal. We joined groups of other halloween-goers walking in the same direction. At the ACM, more of family-friendly activities. We stopped at the stairway and this room that had lights that changed colours. More to take shots of Zhuan who had to do a feature about the 2 headpieces she had. Tab and I didnt really take much pics. Our I-phones cameras cant capture well in the funky-lit room. Took a couple with her more powerful camera.
We walked over to Clark Quay and suddenly the standard of costumes shot up. More people are in costume. But after a while, we wanted to head to Haagen Dazs cos it was really very hot. Anything cold, be it sweet or alcoholic are welcome. We headed to the ladies but came out to a HUGE human jam, having to squeeze through the whole stretch of restaurants jam-packed with humans. To make it worse, one of the restaurants had belly-dancers performing and it slowed the already damn-slow moving human jam cos guys stop and stare and took videos and pics. Took us 10minutes of squeezing to get through and reach Haagen Dazs safely. I was sweating profusely. The human jam is a super warm ball of heat and it didnt help I was in long sleeves plus a short vest. I happily took off the mask, took off the vest and rolled up my sleeves while inside the air-con.
We settled down and Zhuan went to order first. She came back with a Jewel basket - 5 mini scoops with fruits topping in a waffle basket. The mini-scoops are not small but generous scoops. Its a good deal for just $12.90. Tab and I drank the plain water and waited until the ordering crowds are gone then went and get a Jewel basket each. Where else can I pay that price and get 5 flavors. Tab ordered the milky ones, I got all the sorbets including the green tea hibiscus. Love the featured seasonal; raspberry with summerberries, not too sweet, yet feels like eating with delicious jam. The mango with apricot is delicious too. The pure mango is fragrant and the pure raspberry is sourish. First time I had such good sorbets. Even today, I find myself thinking of having another jewel basket. Yum yum. The milky flavours like creme brulee, tiramisu, rum raisin were good too but I havent been eating much sorbets at all. So its really a damn nice treat after all the heat and sweat. We chatted until about 11.30pm, when we were ready to go home.
We headed to the cab stand and saw even more costumes. A gingerbread man, a mad-hatter. Tab and Zhuan shared a cab home. I walked over past Liang court, towards UE square to take bus 143, and along the way saw many more elaborate costumes. Saw two well-built guys wearing underwear with see-through wraparound plus a pack of tissue at the vital part, maybe is either baby or cupid. Quite many costumed people milling around, near former Ministry of Sound entrance and infront of Liang Court. So that's where all of them are. We saw some but not so many elaborate costumes while walking through the Clark Quay area. I walked quickly and saw the bus at a junction and managed to dash to the bus stop before the bus arrived. An aunty at the bus stop asked me out of the blue why there were so many people dressing up weirdly at Liang Court, I answered her it's Halloween. She didnt know what it was, so I said is a festival celebrated by the ang mohs. I must have look really normal in my clothes. Yay I am not out catch attention. Reached home slightly after midnight. Glad to have a bath and wash all the hairspray out of my hair.
This Halloween can be remembered for the funky lights, the human jam and the Jewel basket with 5 mini-scoops of heavenly sorbets. Dinner was good too. Really unless one is a party animal and wants to hop around the various pubs and discos, this is good enough for me. The heat reminds me why I refused to wear the jacket, and that any costumes should consider the Singapore weather and temperature.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Updated "100 things to do before I die" List
1. Japan (ohanami)
2. Australia (for a few days of farm stay)
3. Negri Sembilan
4. Penang
5. Kedah
6. Pahang
7. Kelantan
8. Perak
9. Perlis
10. Selangor
11. Sabah
12. Sarawak
13. Beach resort like Langkawi, Bali
14.
15. Cameron Highland
16. Stay in the ice hotel and drink from an ice glass (cant remember which country)
Things To Learn
1. Acoustic guitar (stopped and converted to electric guitar, will try to continue)
2. Japanese language (stopped temporarily due to overdose at the workplace)
3. Electric guitar (stopped)
4. Drums
5. Learn one martial art form
6. Malay language (bahasa melayu)
7. Technical analysis applications (not just theory)
8. Drive a car (doing)
9. Swim well in the 4 types of strokes
11. Make 20-30 types of desserts
12. Make most basic types of alcoholic cocktails by memory (doing)
13. Music theory and foundation
14. Compose short musical pieces
15. Draw the ideas in my brain down on paper
16. a couple of Magic card tricks
17. Chinese calligraphy
18. Learn how to brew beer
19. Learn how to make wine
20. Animation
21. Character creation
22. Storyboarding
23. Website design using computer language instead of just copy-pasting codes
24. Sculpting (be it ice or stone or wood)
25. Oil-based painting of scenary
26. Design and make clothing
27. Learn Hair styling
28. Learn to cook more authentic Chinese dishes 20 dishes
29. Learn candy-making (french style dessert)
30. Learn proper chocolate-making (gourmet chocolate)
31. Learn a Chinese instrument - Flute
32. Learn a jap instrument - shaminsen
33. Metallurgy to make trinklets
34. Jewellery design and making
35. Make a few types of sushi
Things To Try At Least Once
1. Wave-boarding
2. Cosplay an actual character from anime/j-rock
3. Bungee jump
4. Fly a glider
5. Fly in a helicopter
6.
7. Go for a sauna
8.
9. Jet ski-ing
10.
11.
12. Snow ski
13. Snow board
14. Fishing in the open waters
15. Ride that banana boat pulled by a speedboat
16. Ride or drive a speedboat around
17. Go for a cruise trip
18. Ride a bike (not on road, on dirt track type)
19. Sit in the side-car while a bike ferry me around
20. Go for a fine-wine appreciation course
21. Pottery
Things To Eat At Least Once In A Lifetime (Resembles fear factor)
1.
2.
3.
4. 海盗饭团 (taiwan)
5. Frog legs porridge
6. Fried worms (thailand)
7. 盆菜
8.
9. Braised Pork Trotters/Knuckles (stewed until it melts in the mouth)
10. Ma Han Quan Xi (Emperor's full 100 course dinner)
11. Cheese with maggots
12. eat a dish with Truffle flakes or slices
13. fried scorpions
Things To Achieve In This Lifetime
1. Be my own boss (a firm dunno what biz, most likely my own portfolio)
2. Finally achieve my ideal weight (now set at just 62-63kg)
3. Get $250-$300k in cash by the time I am 35, $500k cash by time I am 40, $800k-$1mil cash by the time I retire.
4. Own my own place (not sure if possible in Sg with the crazy property prices)
Total: 89
All these for now. Lots of things still in progress. Did finished a couple. I am still working on lots of them especially the money and weight goals but not easy.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A whole bunch of stuff
It's been a whole string of events at the workplace.
Arranging for refreshments, meant I went down to a bakery near my home twice this week to enquire then again with a Jap colleague to confirm the order... Two days of gym gone cos after that felt tired. There was a school visit by Thais, our hosting school for the level trip next Feb, so I was to help in filming video. Freaking tired after that. And there's Sketching Day, which was at Fort Canning, and I had to walk around to take photos. OMFG!!! So mentally and on some days, too physically tired to go gym. This week still nil. I am being included more into these events where previously I didn't have to go for some and given stuff to do. While I can understand how short-handed the Jap staff can be, sometimes I wished I was excluded cos some of these are very much more tiring than actual heavy lessons day.
Next week got a level party at Little India which I couldn't refuse, cos suddenly out of
the blue, suddenly ambushed. Then after Deepavali hol, got to go to students' work attachment place to check on them and take pic. Then I still have to go back to workplace... Consolation is can eat lunch outside. Sigh... The 3rd exam is coming in mid-Nov. Feeling the strain now, it's another 9 more full weeks to go until the term ends. That's like another local school term. Another possible push is the extremely long terms I & II.
Oh well no use dwelling too hard cos work will still be there when I wake up on Mon. Weekends are precious for R&R. Though since last week, I've started looking thru recruits to keep an eye out for opportunities. No harm doing that since I have nothing much in mind.
Last Fri, met up with Quetzal n I bought 3 sport tops and 2 long track pants for $185 (using $150 Taka voucher. We had dinner at this small shop in the basement, ordering fried baby squid, cheese sausage, garlic bread and fried breaded oysters. Good and not expensive. We walked around and later landed at Balacava in Ion. It has a nice atmosphere and very good service. We ordered the promotional beer. Ordered chicken wings, very good. My appetite whetted and we ordered fried pork pieces, delicious. Comfortably relaxed.
That Sat went to JB Jusco Tebrau. It's been such a long while since I've had a massage. Gladly paid RM$91 for an hour of half body massage, focusing on my neck. Felt good after though a few spots hurt cos I think it's been too long since the last massage. My neck didn't crackle for 2 days after. We bought bread, sorbet, and ate Portuguese chicken. A nice trip, without too much misadventures.
I've realized for 3 consecutive Fridays, I've been drinking beer. The first was Brewersk (shared 2 jugs), then Balacava 3x500ml bottles in a bucket offer and last night just a mug of Asanshi.
Arranging for refreshments, meant I went down to a bakery near my home twice this week to enquire then again with a Jap colleague to confirm the order... Two days of gym gone cos after that felt tired. There was a school visit by Thais, our hosting school for the level trip next Feb, so I was to help in filming video. Freaking tired after that. And there's Sketching Day, which was at Fort Canning, and I had to walk around to take photos. OMFG!!! So mentally and on some days, too physically tired to go gym. This week still nil. I am being included more into these events where previously I didn't have to go for some and given stuff to do. While I can understand how short-handed the Jap staff can be, sometimes I wished I was excluded cos some of these are very much more tiring than actual heavy lessons day.
Next week got a level party at Little India which I couldn't refuse, cos suddenly out of
the blue, suddenly ambushed. Then after Deepavali hol, got to go to students' work attachment place to check on them and take pic. Then I still have to go back to workplace... Consolation is can eat lunch outside. Sigh... The 3rd exam is coming in mid-Nov. Feeling the strain now, it's another 9 more full weeks to go until the term ends. That's like another local school term. Another possible push is the extremely long terms I & II.
Oh well no use dwelling too hard cos work will still be there when I wake up on Mon. Weekends are precious for R&R. Though since last week, I've started looking thru recruits to keep an eye out for opportunities. No harm doing that since I have nothing much in mind.
Last Fri, met up with Quetzal n I bought 3 sport tops and 2 long track pants for $185 (using $150 Taka voucher. We had dinner at this small shop in the basement, ordering fried baby squid, cheese sausage, garlic bread and fried breaded oysters. Good and not expensive. We walked around and later landed at Balacava in Ion. It has a nice atmosphere and very good service. We ordered the promotional beer. Ordered chicken wings, very good. My appetite whetted and we ordered fried pork pieces, delicious. Comfortably relaxed.
That Sat went to JB Jusco Tebrau. It's been such a long while since I've had a massage. Gladly paid RM$91 for an hour of half body massage, focusing on my neck. Felt good after though a few spots hurt cos I think it's been too long since the last massage. My neck didn't crackle for 2 days after. We bought bread, sorbet, and ate Portuguese chicken. A nice trip, without too much misadventures.
I've realized for 3 consecutive Fridays, I've been drinking beer. The first was Brewersk (shared 2 jugs), then Balacava 3x500ml bottles in a bucket offer and last night just a mug of Asanshi.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Feeling tired
The weather's been getting colder and more rainy these past few days. My cough is acting up and a lot of phlegm. Also haven't drank coffee for 1.5 mths, only 1-2 Coke Zero after lunch. Doubly tired, can work, but not smiley nor chatty.
So far, 7 weeks plus that feels like it's a lifetime due to the recent Sports Day n even more recent exams. I stayed extra 3hrs last thur and 1hr last Fri. Used all my free time to check the books n mark those scripts. Cos I was marking scripts on thur n tallying marks on fri, on top of usual lessons, I didnt have time to check the whole 4 boxes of files and books. Given I don't come in on weekends, they just had to wait until monday. But when I came in, the Jap-eng colleagues told me they be returning all the books and files in one go. I looked at him and said I had not finished, cos I was marking the papers n tallying marks. He knows and was nice enough to let me skip the 1st after exam lesson where the classes are combined n he goes through answers. So using those 3 periods = 3hrs, I pia n finished checking all those boxes. Really see stars after that. Just in time so after lunch all returned, grades recorded in my own record. I went out to dabao lunch. After lunch due to timetable shuffle got a class, they just put the wS on my table, no instructions in eng. Got a hand-out in jap... I think it's poor planning to just expect me to be able to carry out this lesson which I didn't plan, don't know about at all by just expecting me to give the hand-out to mu students and just tell them to do? Wtf? So it's like WTFH???
Even the short list of adjectives provided as helping words are not adequate to describe character or personality. How does the adjective 'healthy' describe ur personality. I came up with a list of adjectives and wrote them on the board, with short eng explanation. So they can use. At least I provided a better list but it's tougher on me. I have to write on the chalkboard quickly. Am still not skillful in chalk. Right arm really tired after.
Then I thought it was a switch of timetable, thot the last period I was free finally. But nope, I was in the staffroom then an Aussie colleague came and told me lesson for this class is still on. Eh? So I was disorientated after the three hrs of book checkin and that extra class that I didnt realize the normal class still holds.
K so I rushed up to the class, just a few minutes after the bell to repeat that lesson which I just did for the other class. By the end of the day, I was ultra zombified. But I still made it to gym straight. After gym, went home, thought I would sleep easily but mind active.
Tue is another long lesson day. Still 4, of which I repeat the limerick-writing lesson for my own eng class and the other adjectives list for character used to write a letter. So stoned after. Bleat, after this, going to shelve the idea of writing a limerick each. Got cca, after which went home straight to rest. Tired and dozed off. Woke up to midnight and dad watching his stupid Chinese oldies loudly on tv. Fu king can hear even when door closed. I switched on anime with low volume to counter and neutralize the oldies songs. But that didn't help with my irritation with my dad. Even if u didn't have to work but to listen to these loud cheena songs in the middle of the night. WTF!!! Already tell him many times before we need to work n hence sleep so tv dont on so loud in the middle of the night. I felt myself coming down with something, wore extra clothes, turned off the fan and slept under the blankets.
Woke up not that well-rested, grumpy bu not sick. But he weather is really straining my energy and cough is pretty bad and I drank cough syrups several times to surpress it. Am not talking with the new colleague. I am not up for small talk, I have no mood to make small talk, not interested plus age-gap difference. Just do the usual good morning. I just keep to myself. Too tired to care. Decided that after work, I need to head out to chill cos I felt really work too hard, too cooped up. Headed straight off at 5pm, first time this week and went to town. Reached really fast on bus 7. Bought 4 pieces of sushi to munch first. Then walked n stoned a bit before I just sat at the benches in basement of Ion. Later near 6.30pm, went to soupspoon to chop seats. Just wanted a warm meal in my stomach to keep me warm. Even added a pot of hot tea. Felt good and warm after that. If now I don't munch anything else, according to my food record, I just about reached my daily calorie limit. Slightly under by a few calories. That's good, cos just the weekends were purely over the calories limit... Need more of such OK days and more exercise to burn off the accumulated calories and fats.
Feeling better now too. More relaxed, warm after a hot bath. Dad fell asleep so no loud tv. Hope to sleep in 10 more minutes time.
So far, 7 weeks plus that feels like it's a lifetime due to the recent Sports Day n even more recent exams. I stayed extra 3hrs last thur and 1hr last Fri. Used all my free time to check the books n mark those scripts. Cos I was marking scripts on thur n tallying marks on fri, on top of usual lessons, I didnt have time to check the whole 4 boxes of files and books. Given I don't come in on weekends, they just had to wait until monday. But when I came in, the Jap-eng colleagues told me they be returning all the books and files in one go. I looked at him and said I had not finished, cos I was marking the papers n tallying marks. He knows and was nice enough to let me skip the 1st after exam lesson where the classes are combined n he goes through answers. So using those 3 periods = 3hrs, I pia n finished checking all those boxes. Really see stars after that. Just in time so after lunch all returned, grades recorded in my own record. I went out to dabao lunch. After lunch due to timetable shuffle got a class, they just put the wS on my table, no instructions in eng. Got a hand-out in jap... I think it's poor planning to just expect me to be able to carry out this lesson which I didn't plan, don't know about at all by just expecting me to give the hand-out to mu students and just tell them to do? Wtf? So it's like WTFH???
Even the short list of adjectives provided as helping words are not adequate to describe character or personality. How does the adjective 'healthy' describe ur personality. I came up with a list of adjectives and wrote them on the board, with short eng explanation. So they can use. At least I provided a better list but it's tougher on me. I have to write on the chalkboard quickly. Am still not skillful in chalk. Right arm really tired after.
Then I thought it was a switch of timetable, thot the last period I was free finally. But nope, I was in the staffroom then an Aussie colleague came and told me lesson for this class is still on. Eh? So I was disorientated after the three hrs of book checkin and that extra class that I didnt realize the normal class still holds.
K so I rushed up to the class, just a few minutes after the bell to repeat that lesson which I just did for the other class. By the end of the day, I was ultra zombified. But I still made it to gym straight. After gym, went home, thought I would sleep easily but mind active.
Tue is another long lesson day. Still 4, of which I repeat the limerick-writing lesson for my own eng class and the other adjectives list for character used to write a letter. So stoned after. Bleat, after this, going to shelve the idea of writing a limerick each. Got cca, after which went home straight to rest. Tired and dozed off. Woke up to midnight and dad watching his stupid Chinese oldies loudly on tv. Fu king can hear even when door closed. I switched on anime with low volume to counter and neutralize the oldies songs. But that didn't help with my irritation with my dad. Even if u didn't have to work but to listen to these loud cheena songs in the middle of the night. WTF!!! Already tell him many times before we need to work n hence sleep so tv dont on so loud in the middle of the night. I felt myself coming down with something, wore extra clothes, turned off the fan and slept under the blankets.
Woke up not that well-rested, grumpy bu not sick. But he weather is really straining my energy and cough is pretty bad and I drank cough syrups several times to surpress it. Am not talking with the new colleague. I am not up for small talk, I have no mood to make small talk, not interested plus age-gap difference. Just do the usual good morning. I just keep to myself. Too tired to care. Decided that after work, I need to head out to chill cos I felt really work too hard, too cooped up. Headed straight off at 5pm, first time this week and went to town. Reached really fast on bus 7. Bought 4 pieces of sushi to munch first. Then walked n stoned a bit before I just sat at the benches in basement of Ion. Later near 6.30pm, went to soupspoon to chop seats. Just wanted a warm meal in my stomach to keep me warm. Even added a pot of hot tea. Felt good and warm after that. If now I don't munch anything else, according to my food record, I just about reached my daily calorie limit. Slightly under by a few calories. That's good, cos just the weekends were purely over the calories limit... Need more of such OK days and more exercise to burn off the accumulated calories and fats.
Feeling better now too. More relaxed, warm after a hot bath. Dad fell asleep so no loud tv. Hope to sleep in 10 more minutes time.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
A gluttony weekend
Fri had curry fish head and Thai style chicken cutlet. Later I decided to have beer with food at Brewerkz. Cos this has really been a hectic week. Drank more than a jug of beer, we ordered 2 jugs. Well deserved, felt more relaxed.
Sat, my stomach rumbling cos of the curry fish head earlier. My poweress for eating spicy dropped alot. Always the following day, stomach rumbles and grumbles. Met FH and Tab for wanton noodles at Po Mo, later tau hua, you tiao. Dinner I ate breakfast - sunny side up and poached, baked beans, veg, bacon and toasted bread. Banana milkshake. Tried a bit of the cheeky chocolate crepe and choc cake.
Tomorrow gym and eat home food. 2 days of overshooting calories. Need to make back the deficit through exercise and eating more balanced.
Sat, my stomach rumbling cos of the curry fish head earlier. My poweress for eating spicy dropped alot. Always the following day, stomach rumbles and grumbles. Met FH and Tab for wanton noodles at Po Mo, later tau hua, you tiao. Dinner I ate breakfast - sunny side up and poached, baked beans, veg, bacon and toasted bread. Banana milkshake. Tried a bit of the cheeky chocolate crepe and choc cake.
Tomorrow gym and eat home food. 2 days of overshooting calories. Need to make back the deficit through exercise and eating more balanced.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
A slow week... irritating chatter
This week is extremely slow. It's just Thursday, not even Friday. I anticipate that I will OT tonight to finish piahing the exam paper marking. The sort of agreement is I help to mark more cos I didnt help to set. Which is true. Just that from the 1st exam experience, to mark in 2 different colours, slows me down a lot. So I cleared my work quickly and expected I could start straight after the paper was over but not yet. So I have to wait, most probably after lunch and all the home room. I will piah very hard to finish it asap. It would take me hours. Hope I wont have to stay until 9-10pm. That was an experience in itself.
The remaining local colleague is leaving. The new colleague comes in and she's too chatty. Talk and talk and talk. She will latch on to a person convenient and talk and talk and talk. Unfortunately since Monday, she sat at the empty, resource table right beside me. She asks the darnest questions, that I am tempted to roll my eye-whites. Its bad enough that I have to entertain some of these questions from my jap colleagues but to have to entertain non-stop is another matter. She is non-cheena and not local. She doesnt have much to do for now so she just chats and chats. When she sits at the local colleague's table, she latches on to Headless and talks and talks. Once Headless goes away, within 10s, she would make a comment or ask me a question. I was clearing my work and just answered her a few sentences. Then Headless comes back and she talks to her endlessly. Then repeat again when Headless had to leave her seat. Within 10s, she tries to talk to me again. I answered her one sentence then told her I cant really talk cos I am doing my work. I've realized she's been repeating the same questions and information about herself in these conversations she try to hold but its not really a conversation. Its always her, talking. Its a one-sided conversation. Hope she can get the hint and not latch onto me.
I am not that sociable a person at work. Am not a chatty person at work. I am focused on doing my work, clearing the outstanding work and even planning for the next lesson. I am not a just-in-time person. I prefer to do things especially when I am at the 'effective and productive' frame. I do give myself more breaks now but I still try to make sure things are cleared up. Nothing much pending on my end. Entirely because I dont want to stay back more than I have to nor bring work home at all. So I use the free periods to clear work especially near exams, where there is alot of checking of books, giving grades for their work. Plus unless I know you well or more personally, I am NOT interested in your personal life at all. Especially if you talk about your family and kids. Count me out.
Personally for now, I am reserving judgement until she starts her work proper and see how she is really like when she works and teaches. Now is like a lot of talking about her past long experience, writing out some lesson outlines. Now as an educator, we all know about 'paper talk'. The best planned lessons unless well executed, may not be a successful lessons. I am not saying I am zai or that good. But sometimes I think a big educator occupational problem with regards to planning is that its all 'on-paper'.
For now, I just want to clear my stuff, my level stuff and then go home. Have a more interesting life outside of work, do more stuff that will enrich my vision, personality, expand my horizon, experience and skills.
The remaining local colleague is leaving. The new colleague comes in and she's too chatty. Talk and talk and talk. She will latch on to a person convenient and talk and talk and talk. Unfortunately since Monday, she sat at the empty, resource table right beside me. She asks the darnest questions, that I am tempted to roll my eye-whites. Its bad enough that I have to entertain some of these questions from my jap colleagues but to have to entertain non-stop is another matter. She is non-cheena and not local. She doesnt have much to do for now so she just chats and chats. When she sits at the local colleague's table, she latches on to Headless and talks and talks. Once Headless goes away, within 10s, she would make a comment or ask me a question. I was clearing my work and just answered her a few sentences. Then Headless comes back and she talks to her endlessly. Then repeat again when Headless had to leave her seat. Within 10s, she tries to talk to me again. I answered her one sentence then told her I cant really talk cos I am doing my work. I've realized she's been repeating the same questions and information about herself in these conversations she try to hold but its not really a conversation. Its always her, talking. Its a one-sided conversation. Hope she can get the hint and not latch onto me.
I am not that sociable a person at work. Am not a chatty person at work. I am focused on doing my work, clearing the outstanding work and even planning for the next lesson. I am not a just-in-time person. I prefer to do things especially when I am at the 'effective and productive' frame. I do give myself more breaks now but I still try to make sure things are cleared up. Nothing much pending on my end. Entirely because I dont want to stay back more than I have to nor bring work home at all. So I use the free periods to clear work especially near exams, where there is alot of checking of books, giving grades for their work. Plus unless I know you well or more personally, I am NOT interested in your personal life at all. Especially if you talk about your family and kids. Count me out.
Personally for now, I am reserving judgement until she starts her work proper and see how she is really like when she works and teaches. Now is like a lot of talking about her past long experience, writing out some lesson outlines. Now as an educator, we all know about 'paper talk'. The best planned lessons unless well executed, may not be a successful lessons. I am not saying I am zai or that good. But sometimes I think a big educator occupational problem with regards to planning is that its all 'on-paper'.
For now, I just want to clear my stuff, my level stuff and then go home. Have a more interesting life outside of work, do more stuff that will enrich my vision, personality, expand my horizon, experience and skills.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Surf's Up @ Wavehouse
On Wednesday, it was a shorter day at workplace. Students left at 3.15pm. But we always have to stay until 5pm. The different levels had to go out to 3 different locations to do a recee of the respective location for the last major event called Sketching Day. I headed to Fort Canning Park, my designated level location. They call it a preview but that sounds so wrong. It's a recee to us locals. I know I won't have much duties but despite that still have to go.
At 4pm, I got a ride from my colleague and didnt have to pay for cab. We ended up on that part of Fort Canning near the museum, right up from the back of Funan. Walked around with them to see where exactly are the limits where students cn wander about to draw. Glad for the old treescos very well-shielded from the sunlight. Just that its all green. Imagine 3hrs doing nothing, I better bring books to read, charge I-phone.
After we are done at the recee, it was about 5pm. I was invited to my local colleague's farewell level party at Wavehouse @ Sentosa. They were recee-ing there. I decided to take a cab and cab into Sentosa too. After 5pm, the cab surchage into the island is $2. But I also tio the peak hour surcharge. Cost me $17 to reach. I got off and was just enquiring about where is Wavehouse when I saw the whole bunch of colleagues waving to me. I joined up with them. They are waiting for two more people. I was on the phone with my local colleague who was on her way but would be late. She's alright with making her own way there. But we still waited about 10minutes before heading to the place, leaving the other 2 to find their way.
It has been several years since I've last went to Silso beach. The beach now is a whole bunch of places to spend money, with pubs, food joints, the I-fly and Wavehouse and many more. We registered, showed ID and got a wrist identification band. Theb we went to change. I wore my suit under my gym wear. Cos though we are colleagues, I dont feel comfortable showing u my tummy or butt in the suit. I came out and all the ladies wore their stuff under t-shirt and hot shorts. We headed out to the wavepool.
There are two, one is the barrel which is twirling surf wave for experts, the other is an inclined angle, with fast flowing water, mimicking a surf. U hold onto a rope held by an instructor, then stand on a board and slowly launch into water then try to balance and surf. Initially we all wipe-out. Me especially. But after 2-3 tries each, all of my Jap colleagues got it. They are able to balance and surf. I was still wiped out. The water is really strong, really washed away to the end where u pick up the board and walk down a gentle incline slope to the starting point. But it was really cold waiting for my turn. I was squeezing out the water from my t-shirt cos too wet and cold. Lots of laughing at each other especially different styles of surfing (I was still wipe-outing then) but overall a good experience.
At the end of 1 hr, definitely worked up an appetite. While we waited for seats, all of them bought 1-1 alcohol. I didn't want to cos my stomach was empty. I wanted food first. We finally got to sit down but service was slow. All food and drinks are 1-1 so u get two of the same item. We ordered 2 pizza, carimari rings, foot long garlic bread, foei gra with dark breast, nachos and doubled the amount came, enough for 10 to share. Ordered two buckets of Heniken and two jugs of lime margaritas. The margarita is strong, initially it came first and I took a sip. I could taste the alcohol and told my local colleague not to drink fast. Cos we were both thirsty without an initial drink. The food just arrived and we tucked in. Later I got a bottle of Heiniken when I've finished two margarita. The food is surprising good. The pizza and calarari rings, the garlic bread. The foie gra with the bit of toast, caramalized apple or pear plus the duck meat with a veg. It's really small tapas style but the taste is reach. That dish is enough to share out but the Jap colleagues didn't eat much so I ended up eating most of the foie gra dish. The garlic bread loaf that came is delicious when piping hot. It's really nice. The nachos is like a mountain though the cheese not melted through. But really filling.
We made our way to the sky train and at Vivo I decided to cab with 2 colleagues back cos didn't want to squeeze bus but took more than 20mins plus have to call for cab before one arrived. Took a quick shower before falling asleep. I put on muscle cream cos I heard muscles will ache after. The only peeve was having to work the next day. True enough the next day, my shoulder was aching a bit. I asked the Aussie colleague why. He said that cos when we fell off the board n wipe out, we land on our shoulder as we impact the water. So u don't feel it on the day itself but it manifests the next two days. It's gets worse on the second day. Wow I didn't know that. I did ask him how he manages to work like this... The Jap colleagues got it worse cos they balanced on the board so their whole body ache. Cos I reckon u use those less used muscles to maintain balance.
I thought I would be spared more cos I only wiped out. Yes cos only my neck and shoulders ached slightly but by the thur, it got really really sore. That I pasted two patch of plaster and laid in bed early cos I felt I couldn't lift my neck. Just aching alot and I didn't felt like moving at all on thur evening. By fri, my neck was fine, shoulders still aching a bit but manageable. By late fri evening, it's mostly gone. I had intended to go gym straight after work at 5pm. I ended up clearing work until 6.30pm.
By then feeling tired. Headed home but I changed straight into gym gear and forced myself out. Dad gave me a ride to the gym. It was almost 7.30pm then. Did my usual and ended about an hour plus. Reached home past 9pm, ate dinner and bathed. Feels very relaxed and slept really well.
At 4pm, I got a ride from my colleague and didnt have to pay for cab. We ended up on that part of Fort Canning near the museum, right up from the back of Funan. Walked around with them to see where exactly are the limits where students cn wander about to draw. Glad for the old treescos very well-shielded from the sunlight. Just that its all green. Imagine 3hrs doing nothing, I better bring books to read, charge I-phone.
After we are done at the recee, it was about 5pm. I was invited to my local colleague's farewell level party at Wavehouse @ Sentosa. They were recee-ing there. I decided to take a cab and cab into Sentosa too. After 5pm, the cab surchage into the island is $2. But I also tio the peak hour surcharge. Cost me $17 to reach. I got off and was just enquiring about where is Wavehouse when I saw the whole bunch of colleagues waving to me. I joined up with them. They are waiting for two more people. I was on the phone with my local colleague who was on her way but would be late. She's alright with making her own way there. But we still waited about 10minutes before heading to the place, leaving the other 2 to find their way.
It has been several years since I've last went to Silso beach. The beach now is a whole bunch of places to spend money, with pubs, food joints, the I-fly and Wavehouse and many more. We registered, showed ID and got a wrist identification band. Theb we went to change. I wore my suit under my gym wear. Cos though we are colleagues, I dont feel comfortable showing u my tummy or butt in the suit. I came out and all the ladies wore their stuff under t-shirt and hot shorts. We headed out to the wavepool.
There are two, one is the barrel which is twirling surf wave for experts, the other is an inclined angle, with fast flowing water, mimicking a surf. U hold onto a rope held by an instructor, then stand on a board and slowly launch into water then try to balance and surf. Initially we all wipe-out. Me especially. But after 2-3 tries each, all of my Jap colleagues got it. They are able to balance and surf. I was still wiped out. The water is really strong, really washed away to the end where u pick up the board and walk down a gentle incline slope to the starting point. But it was really cold waiting for my turn. I was squeezing out the water from my t-shirt cos too wet and cold. Lots of laughing at each other especially different styles of surfing (I was still wipe-outing then) but overall a good experience.
At the end of 1 hr, definitely worked up an appetite. While we waited for seats, all of them bought 1-1 alcohol. I didn't want to cos my stomach was empty. I wanted food first. We finally got to sit down but service was slow. All food and drinks are 1-1 so u get two of the same item. We ordered 2 pizza, carimari rings, foot long garlic bread, foei gra with dark breast, nachos and doubled the amount came, enough for 10 to share. Ordered two buckets of Heniken and two jugs of lime margaritas. The margarita is strong, initially it came first and I took a sip. I could taste the alcohol and told my local colleague not to drink fast. Cos we were both thirsty without an initial drink. The food just arrived and we tucked in. Later I got a bottle of Heiniken when I've finished two margarita. The food is surprising good. The pizza and calarari rings, the garlic bread. The foie gra with the bit of toast, caramalized apple or pear plus the duck meat with a veg. It's really small tapas style but the taste is reach. That dish is enough to share out but the Jap colleagues didn't eat much so I ended up eating most of the foie gra dish. The garlic bread loaf that came is delicious when piping hot. It's really nice. The nachos is like a mountain though the cheese not melted through. But really filling.
We made our way to the sky train and at Vivo I decided to cab with 2 colleagues back cos didn't want to squeeze bus but took more than 20mins plus have to call for cab before one arrived. Took a quick shower before falling asleep. I put on muscle cream cos I heard muscles will ache after. The only peeve was having to work the next day. True enough the next day, my shoulder was aching a bit. I asked the Aussie colleague why. He said that cos when we fell off the board n wipe out, we land on our shoulder as we impact the water. So u don't feel it on the day itself but it manifests the next two days. It's gets worse on the second day. Wow I didn't know that. I did ask him how he manages to work like this... The Jap colleagues got it worse cos they balanced on the board so their whole body ache. Cos I reckon u use those less used muscles to maintain balance.
I thought I would be spared more cos I only wiped out. Yes cos only my neck and shoulders ached slightly but by the thur, it got really really sore. That I pasted two patch of plaster and laid in bed early cos I felt I couldn't lift my neck. Just aching alot and I didn't felt like moving at all on thur evening. By fri, my neck was fine, shoulders still aching a bit but manageable. By late fri evening, it's mostly gone. I had intended to go gym straight after work at 5pm. I ended up clearing work until 6.30pm.
By then feeling tired. Headed home but I changed straight into gym gear and forced myself out. Dad gave me a ride to the gym. It was almost 7.30pm then. Did my usual and ended about an hour plus. Reached home past 9pm, ate dinner and bathed. Feels very relaxed and slept really well.
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