Sense and Sensibility
~ Jane Austen
What started as a blog about hand painted shoes has become an online journal for a simple working mother, in search of Food for the Heart, Body, Soul and Mind.
19 Feb 2010
12 Feb 2010
Boooooy! You CANNOT talk in class!
(Edited on 17th Feb, the sucky working day right after the Chinese New Year, tart chomping, melon seed biting LONG weekend! Son, who's one of my little bosses at home, thinks I'm nuts to be posting about HIS school antics when HIS teachers might be reading my posts. He thinks they will 'straight away know' who I am talking about. BAH! So unfortunately, it's either I hold on to what thread of 'integrity' I have left as a mother blogger or be fired as his mother. Yes, of course, I had to cling on to the latter. It's tough economic times, you know. Therefore, I do solemnly declare this day that the original post will be so heavily edited that it's no longer funny or making sense. It's a sad day for mother bloggers of secondary school children! Some lucky people did get to read the original post. Lucky you then, you've started the new Tiger Year on the right foot, I mean, paw!)
One morning, as soon as a boy had stepped into Mrs XYZ's class, he had to leave the class for some duties in another part of the school. He specifically told Mrs XYZ what his name was and to please note that he was NOT absent but that he would only be stepping out of the class to perform some other duties for a few minutes.
Boy came back and she looked at him blankly and asked, 'Boy! Who are you?'.
Exasperated, he said, 'I'M THE BOY WHO TOLD YOU I'D BE LEAVING THE CLASS FOR A WHILE AND TO NOT MARK ME ABSENT?'
Mrs XZY still stares at him blankly then says, 'Oh, oh oh yeah. But I've already marked you absent.'
Then he realised that Mrs XYZ had indeed marked him as absent in the class register.
Boy's classmate goes, 'But.......I'm trying to answer....'.
Mrs XYZ is adamant. 'You CANNOT talk in class!!!'.
Ha ha ha.....school! Such fun!
(So there you have it, the above is the version of the original story, edited so 'heavily' so you would not think it's a story of my son and his school. Muaahahahah....sorry, I can't help myself. I'm so going to get it from him!)
One morning, as soon as a boy had stepped into Mrs XYZ's class, he had to leave the class for some duties in another part of the school. He specifically told Mrs XYZ what his name was and to please note that he was NOT absent but that he would only be stepping out of the class to perform some other duties for a few minutes.
Boy came back and she looked at him blankly and asked, 'Boy! Who are you?'.
Exasperated, he said, 'I'M THE BOY WHO TOLD YOU I'D BE LEAVING THE CLASS FOR A WHILE AND TO NOT MARK ME ABSENT?'
Mrs XZY still stares at him blankly then says, 'Oh, oh oh yeah. But I've already marked you absent.'
Then he realised that Mrs XYZ had indeed marked him as absent in the class register.
On another day, Mrs XYZ was one of two teachers in class. The other teacher asked a question and the boy's classmate put up his hand and called out the answer.
Immediately, Mrs XYZ said to the boy's classmate, 'Booooy!!! You cannot talk in class!!!'. Boy's classmate goes, 'But.......I'm trying to answer....'.
Mrs XYZ is adamant. 'You CANNOT talk in class!!!'.
Boy's classmate rolls eyes at boy and mouths some unfathomable words (I can only guess what).
(So there you have it, the above is the version of the original story, edited so 'heavily' so you would not think it's a story of my son and his school. Muaahahahah....sorry, I can't help myself. I'm so going to get it from him!)
(Here's the boy when he was 3 at our home in 1, Duke Street, Seletar Airbase. Skate scooters were the rage back then and he just had to get one. He was scooting around like nobody's business. Shortly after this, he also learnt to ride a two-wheeler bike. I say this just to demonstrate how life at Seletar Airbase was a year round 'kampong' education for us)
11 Feb 2010
Perfect Love
It has been 19 years this week since Mike and I walked down the aisle. We've had many more years of friendship prior to that. It sure seems like we've been together forever. In recent years, I decided that should I have to live my life again, I'd still want it to be him, warts and all!
In a sea of divorces, how does our marriage stay alive? Sinking isn't an option if you love each other. There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. It's a matter of trying to stay afloat (gulp!). Mike and I have had our ups and downs and for a sucky period many, many years back (when the kids were tiny), I felt it was touch and go. He's in denial about us ever going through such a period and I think it is because splitting has never been an option for him. I confess I went through a period wondering if we'd spent our whole lives together yet remain alone.
During that period, I felt that communication (or the lack thereof) was the main issue. It wasn't a straight case of 'we want to get divorce'. There was no one big issue. There were no loud quarrels. No smashing pumpkins. It was more a case of 'can't talk without disagreeing', 'what in the world did I see in you?'. Small issues being blown up into big issues. Neglect. Anger. Irritation. Hurt. Frustration. Silent treatment (not necessarily in that order but you get the drift).
During THAT period, I tore up a whole bag containing our years of love letters and threw them away. As a person who treasures the written word a lot, it shows you the extent of my frustration. There were what I call, dark days, back then when I was sure I hated him and he me.
How did it work out then?
God, definitely God.
We share the same beliefs and that holds us together.
Love.
The love never died.
Forgiveness.
We are human and we all fall, some time or other.
Acceptance.
To love your spouse and work around the flaws.
(oh wait, did I forget to say that good sex definitely helps! sorry kids but Santa didn't bring you!)
As a couple progresses, love takes on new meaning. I never understood that until time stopped standing still for me. Being 18 seems like yesterday but shocking to me as it may be, I'm nearer to the big Five-O then I would to 18. I fell in love in my teens. I was wrinkle free, slim, carefree! Had my whole life ahead of me. All my goals, my plans (to set up home with Mike and have kids - how exciting!). How different is that to being in love today in my 40s?
Guess priorities shift. You wake up to the idea that you're no longer immortal. You realise, the spouse you feel like choking today, may be gone tomorrow. You look at his ageing face, telling white streaks of hair peeking through the fashionable hair dye and all you see is the man you love. You look at your kids and hold your spouse's hand tighter realising how precarious a situation we all live in. You realise your expensive bag, outfit or watch doesn't mean squat in this thing called 'Life'.
For those who are parents, I liken it to how we continue to do things for our kids just because we love them when sometimes all we want to do is give them a good thwack!
Will our marriage last? I hope so but only God knows what plans He has for us.
Even in a relationship with no quarrels, there are sentiments and resentments, albeit those who may never be heard. In simple English, that means, if you have never disagreed, it may not be that you are living out the perfect marriage, rather, it may mean a self-suffering quiet spouse. Mike and I are lucky to have gone through such a 'dark' episode. It has made us stronger as couple and the dynamics of our marriage have completely changed to being very good since then.
I believe there IS such a thing as a match made in Heaven but I don't believe in the Perfect Marriage. There is however, Perfect Love and that my friend, gives you hope.
Happy Valentine's Day!!! (and Gong Xi Fa Cai to our Chinese friends!)
In a sea of divorces, how does our marriage stay alive? Sinking isn't an option if you love each other. There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. It's a matter of trying to stay afloat (gulp!). Mike and I have had our ups and downs and for a sucky period many, many years back (when the kids were tiny), I felt it was touch and go. He's in denial about us ever going through such a period and I think it is because splitting has never been an option for him. I confess I went through a period wondering if we'd spent our whole lives together yet remain alone.
During that period, I felt that communication (or the lack thereof) was the main issue. It wasn't a straight case of 'we want to get divorce'. There was no one big issue. There were no loud quarrels. No smashing pumpkins. It was more a case of 'can't talk without disagreeing', 'what in the world did I see in you?'. Small issues being blown up into big issues. Neglect. Anger. Irritation. Hurt. Frustration. Silent treatment (not necessarily in that order but you get the drift).
During THAT period, I tore up a whole bag containing our years of love letters and threw them away. As a person who treasures the written word a lot, it shows you the extent of my frustration. There were what I call, dark days, back then when I was sure I hated him and he me.
How did it work out then?
God, definitely God.
We share the same beliefs and that holds us together.
Love.
The love never died.
Forgiveness.
We are human and we all fall, some time or other.
Acceptance.
To love your spouse and work around the flaws.
(oh wait, did I forget to say that good sex definitely helps! sorry kids but Santa didn't bring you!)
As a couple progresses, love takes on new meaning. I never understood that until time stopped standing still for me. Being 18 seems like yesterday but shocking to me as it may be, I'm nearer to the big Five-O then I would to 18. I fell in love in my teens. I was wrinkle free, slim, carefree! Had my whole life ahead of me. All my goals, my plans (to set up home with Mike and have kids - how exciting!). How different is that to being in love today in my 40s?
Guess priorities shift. You wake up to the idea that you're no longer immortal. You realise, the spouse you feel like choking today, may be gone tomorrow. You look at his ageing face, telling white streaks of hair peeking through the fashionable hair dye and all you see is the man you love. You look at your kids and hold your spouse's hand tighter realising how precarious a situation we all live in. You realise your expensive bag, outfit or watch doesn't mean squat in this thing called 'Life'.
For those who are parents, I liken it to how we continue to do things for our kids just because we love them when sometimes all we want to do is give them a good thwack!
Will our marriage last? I hope so but only God knows what plans He has for us.
Even in a relationship with no quarrels, there are sentiments and resentments, albeit those who may never be heard. In simple English, that means, if you have never disagreed, it may not be that you are living out the perfect marriage, rather, it may mean a self-suffering quiet spouse. Mike and I are lucky to have gone through such a 'dark' episode. It has made us stronger as couple and the dynamics of our marriage have completely changed to being very good since then.
I believe there IS such a thing as a match made in Heaven but I don't believe in the Perfect Marriage. There is however, Perfect Love and that my friend, gives you hope.
Happy Valentine's Day!!! (and Gong Xi Fa Cai to our Chinese friends!)
(Our kids - John and Tessa when they were young)
1 Feb 2010
Singapore Airshow 2010
Every 2 years, our tiny island hosts an airshow. For many years, it used to operate under the name of Asian Aerospace until the local big fish nudged it out and gave birth to their very own Singapore Airshow. Another name, another place but samo samo. For me (because of my day job), it's a time of 'headachey' meetings and tasks. Quite sceptical that there's real networking. I came across many 'foreigners' looking to be reps instead. Big contracts closed at the airshow? Anyone who's closed contracts knows what it entails and how long talks could drag. Any big contracts signed have been in the making a long time prior.
The airshow is not called a 'show' for no reason. Sheesh. I'm waiting for the news to present optimistic numbers and values. I think if you watch Mediacorp's The Noose (which my family loves by the way!!!), it's closer to the truth. Hey, hey, I'm no political critic. Just a fan of The Noose and just a human who enjoys laughing at herself! (BTW, you can google for excerpts of The Noose for a good laugh).
Anyhow, The Singapore Airshow is jolly good fun for the kids if their idea of fun is to queue for hours in the scorching heat, run around for the free plastic pens and plastic bags (???), gape at the aerial display then stand in the heat again to queue for the static display. For me, I told my now 13yr old son, 'No way am I bringing you this year'. It's always the same thing. I know the boy's a bit disappointed but hey, Mummy rules. It takes me 3 months to get over the tan I always get from attending the airshow. No thank you.
The Singapore Airshow runs from 2 to 7 Feb 2010. Couldn't have come at a worse time if you ask me. Chinese people need to clean house, buy pussy willow, bak kwa and get their bums squashed in Chinatown....in preparation for our upcoming Chinese New Year. What were the organisers thinking?
(edited 2/2/10: Was at the airshow today and saw a sign from the organisers who said the next airshow will be from 14 to 19 Feb 2012 - hmm....what a 'romantic' Valentine's Day to be talking shop)
The first few days of the show is opened to trade visitors only. That means, Mummy and Daddy who want to visit to grab freebies for their kids at home, can go if they have access to the trade visitor passes. In the past, many exhibitors I knew, closed their booths and ran off back home even before the last trade day. So the public is actually short changed in a way. But of course, there's still enough left to make the kids happy and the adults tired and grumpy.
Tip 1 : If you know any exhibitors, do go with them because it'll make for easier access in and out of the site.
Tip 2 : If you drive, I personally feel you should pay a bit for the car pass. There's some package being sold for 2 adults and 2 kids including a car pass. At the end of a tiring day, the last thing you wanna do is to queue again for public transport. Trust me. Been there, done that. And I speak of course, the noose. I mean, the truth. (I think you cannot buy tickets onsite so do check out details of ticket sales first)
Here are some old pics from my 'heyday'. Now older already lah. Not as excited and not much interest (never liked flying) and thank goodness probably not much running around the airshow anymore (budget cuts from foreign companies mean only a pathetic number of our ang-mohs coming down). But wait....I still dig free pens.
The airshow is not called a 'show' for no reason. Sheesh. I'm waiting for the news to present optimistic numbers and values. I think if you watch Mediacorp's The Noose (which my family loves by the way!!!), it's closer to the truth. Hey, hey, I'm no political critic. Just a fan of The Noose and just a human who enjoys laughing at herself! (BTW, you can google for excerpts of The Noose for a good laugh).
Anyhow, The Singapore Airshow is jolly good fun for the kids if their idea of fun is to queue for hours in the scorching heat, run around for the free plastic pens and plastic bags (???), gape at the aerial display then stand in the heat again to queue for the static display. For me, I told my now 13yr old son, 'No way am I bringing you this year'. It's always the same thing. I know the boy's a bit disappointed but hey, Mummy rules. It takes me 3 months to get over the tan I always get from attending the airshow. No thank you.
The Singapore Airshow runs from 2 to 7 Feb 2010. Couldn't have come at a worse time if you ask me. Chinese people need to clean house, buy pussy willow, bak kwa and get their bums squashed in Chinatown....in preparation for our upcoming Chinese New Year. What were the organisers thinking?
(edited 2/2/10: Was at the airshow today and saw a sign from the organisers who said the next airshow will be from 14 to 19 Feb 2012 - hmm....what a 'romantic' Valentine's Day to be talking shop)
The first few days of the show is opened to trade visitors only. That means, Mummy and Daddy who want to visit to grab freebies for their kids at home, can go if they have access to the trade visitor passes. In the past, many exhibitors I knew, closed their booths and ran off back home even before the last trade day. So the public is actually short changed in a way. But of course, there's still enough left to make the kids happy and the adults tired and grumpy.
Tip 1 : If you know any exhibitors, do go with them because it'll make for easier access in and out of the site.
Tip 2 : If you drive, I personally feel you should pay a bit for the car pass. There's some package being sold for 2 adults and 2 kids including a car pass. At the end of a tiring day, the last thing you wanna do is to queue again for public transport. Trust me. Been there, done that. And I speak of course, the noose. I mean, the truth. (I think you cannot buy tickets onsite so do check out details of ticket sales first)
Here are some old pics from my 'heyday'. Now older already lah. Not as excited and not much interest (never liked flying) and thank goodness probably not much running around the airshow anymore (budget cuts from foreign companies mean only a pathetic number of our ang-mohs coming down). But wait....I still dig free pens.
Showing off SIA's A380 during Asian Aerospace in Singapore in 2006.
That's me during Asian Aerospace 2006 in Singapore. Why am I wearing a jacket in the hot sun? Actually, the jacket's to shield me from the sun (just make sure it's not black). Honestly, you'll feel much cooler all covered up instead of going bare back.
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