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I had a good time hanging out with the kakis in the evening... would have been great if Gpp could make it but I think he's rather tied down with work.

It was a good break... it's been some time since I last had such good laughs... haha.

Ray and Jacq came by my apartment while we waited for Char to head down to Matty's place together to bai nian. Then we moved on to Novena area wanting to eat at the Hong Kong Cafe which we didn't get to two years ago I think... well, I think we really don't have affinity with the shop - it was closed. So we ended up eating chicken rice instead with some other dishes (the food, not the plates)... and before that, a lou hei.

Then we moved on to East Coast's "Playground" and parked at Old Town White Coffee... where we continued to chill and chat till it was time to call it a day.

Thanks Ray for ferrying us around all the while! (:

Gonna visit my secondary school chinese teacher (coincidentally Char's lecturer in NIE) with my secondary four classmates later on to bai nian! Haha... life then... it really did seem much simpler than what my charges are going through right now.

I wish I can provide some structures, some bonding, some good identity for the collective whole.. but well.

That's the way it is I guess...

I remember the story of the old man picking up starfishes stuck in the sand one by one, throwing them into the sea, giving them the new lease of life... and I'm reminded of the fact that it's impossible for the old man to pick up all the starfishes en mass and throw them all into the sea at once.

Whatever that's been given me... God I pray that You would empower me to do so for Your glory. Whomever that I've been given the privilege to mentor officially this year... God I pray that You would give me the strength, knowledge, wisdom, patience, tenderness, willingness and courage to challenge and the motivation to see them flourish in their individual and collective journeys this year.

Good night. (:

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It's been some time since I've been moved by any song... was moved a little when I heard it in the midst of the movie... my heart was clogged really bad then. I guess it's cleared up a bit... haha yeah.

As I listened to it just now, it really felt like Pa's singing it to me... to us. And I will sing it to you... my one and only. :) No matter how hard it has been and can be, let's continue to lift up our eyes to the hills... because we both know where our help comes from. :)

Take my hand, take a breath
Pull me close and take one step
Keep your eyes locked on mine,
And let the music be your guide.

Won't you promise me
(now won't you promise me, that you'll never forget)
We'll keep dancing (to keep dancing)
wherever we go next

It's like catching lightning
the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Take my hand, I'll take the lead
And every turn will be safe with me
Don't be afraid, afraid to fall
You know I'll catch you threw it all

And you can't keep us apart
(even a thousand miles, can't keep us apart)
'Cause my heart is (cause my heart is)
wherever you are

It's like catching lightning
the chances of finding someone like you
It's one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Oh no mountains too high enough, oceans too wide
'Cause together or not, our dance won't stop
Let it rain, let it pour
What we have is worth fighting for
You know I believe, that we were meant to be

It's like catching lightning
the chances of finding someone like you (like you)
It's one in a million,
the chances of feeling the way we do (way we do)
And with every step together, we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance (can I have this dance)
Can I have this dance

Can I have this dance
Can I have this dance

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I forwarded the previous post as a mail message to some of my colleagues at work to keep them informed... and I ended off with an afterthought... that I'm thankful to have people (colleagues) to update in school.

Haha yeah... it's not easy for an introvert to make acquaintances and friends for one. But I'm not using it as an excuse. I'm just thankful. Just listing some things that reflect the title of this post:

1. my boss and the concern he's always been giving be it in my work or in my personal life
   
2. colleagues who 'click' and who share the same passion.. call it like-mindedness bah. :)
   
3. students whom I've grown familiar with and who've grown familiar to me... like in more recent times:
   
   
   • one who tapped you to say goodbye when you're in the midst of a conversation with another person
     
   • one who scoured many Starbuck chains and finally got those chocolate scones... haha
     
   • one who gave a hidden wave in the midst of his duty as a regimental leader in front of his 'men' as you walked past
     
   • one who'll hang around and say goodbye (haha...)
     
   • one who'd come by more than once and said he noticed me so engrossed in my work I didn't even notice him around the area
     
   • one who came by my apartment and wanted to say his goodbye before he leaves for the holidays
     
   • yeah... just some recent memorable ones :)
   
   
4. Char my dear dear and fiancee... who shares the same passion for one, who encourages and help me put things in perspectives, especially when it comes to work related stuff.
   

Just came home from the hospital.. thanks Gpp for fetching us home! :)

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Yep... I know. It's been some time since I've left an entry... or written a song... or recorded a song for that matter. Well... here's an entry! :)

I've been busy with quite a number of things after I came back from the trip to San Fran... preparing for a year-end closure for the centre that I'm coordinating in my workplace, preparing for the new competition for ThinkQuest... speaking of which, here's the website that I've done up that houses more information on ThinkQuest in the school's context - do hop by and take a look if you're free!

I've also been pretty caught up preparing a year-end video for the boys... took quite some time to make, especially when it's been some time since I've touched video creation software's... and yeah. It's finally out, and it should be screened to them some time now (at this point of writing... I'm out on course!)

The course that I'm attending is on coping with grief and loss... it's a topic that is pretty much close to my heart. It's ironic that as I'm listening to the tutor... that I can even relate this topic to my work.

There were certain incidents that happened along the course of the year that caused grief to my heart... some with colleagues, some with my boys. Along the way I realized it's due to the expectations that I hold of them, for my colleagues, it would be the way they communicated, the genuineness, the cordiality... and for my boys, it would be the grief that comes from misplaced trust... and also certain values that they carry that they really could consider doing without.

I guess the misconception that I have personally is that I could afford to place the whole lot of them in my inner circle when most of them would probably end up as within the masses in the end, not connecting, not getting really acquainted. Haha yeah... it's unhealthy to take everything upon self I realized!

I thank God for Char... who has been a great support, for being ever so patient with me and ever so loving. She's the tangible representation of love that God has blessed me with... and everytime I think about it I just find myself so undeserving... she helps me in normalizing my emotions... something that I'm not even sure she realizes. Haha... Passing my thoughts through her, I was able to get a better reflection of the big picture... and then hey, from the half-cup empty, I begin to see the half-cup full.

I'm thankful that there are colleagues who inspire me, whose way of teaching and leading the boys and caring for them nudges me on to do likewise. Also very thankful that through time there are individual students whom I've come to know much better, whom I share special bonds with. Like this boy who comes by and sits around.. then tell you I'm going already bye bye... Hahahahaha.

Two of my boarding boys were talking about leadership with me as they helped me unpack my newly purchased vacuum machine for the apartment the night before... haha oh we were all amazed at how powerful it is - now my white rug's WHITE again! Haha... yeah. One of them was saying that servant leadership's taking too long to take effect. It's interesting that this conversation came about as I personally have been thinking about it the past weeks... and how hard it really can be.

(anyways I'm now stuck at the Teachers' Network waiting for the rain to stop... sitting by one of the stairs to type this. PRETTY COOL. Literally too.)

I guess without much refute most would agree that Jesus Christ would be the epitome of servant leadership. It's something that I've been trying to grapple with all the time, how Jesus, Son of God, the Authority of all authorities, King of all kings, Lord of all lords, would be able to walk the earth and call His creations His friends. It has been said so many times that if you're gonna be a leader, you can't be a friend to the person you're leading. I don't know... as I look upon the last year, I guess some of them would recognize me as a friend, as someone whom they can open themselves to. But I'm not sure if anyone of them would perceive me as their leader. I'm not sure if I would be given the respect enough for them to follow.. and for one, I don't dare to ask.

As I read through the Scriptures, Jesus pretty much knew the way to go; he exudes love and yet was stern and resolute when the circumstance called for it.

I confess that I often internalize my sadness and anger and avoided scolding or outrightly confronting issues with people - then I realized that this doesn't really help the other party most of the time. I told one of my boarding boys when we met for one to one... that I don't wish to be a nice teacher and end up being an ineffective one. Some of the ways I do things have to go... and it will be an ongoing process of growth I guess. So yeah... perhaps my approaches may evolve with time... but it'll always be backed by the same foundation.

Lest I forget that we're called to become more like Christ each day, to give as He's given, love as He's loved, bless as He's blessed. :)

There are lots of people I have to apologize to I realized; family members whom I've been perceived as neglected, colleagues whose feet I'd unintentionally stepped upon due to miscommunication... sometimes I really hope things aren't as complex as they are... well. Haha yeah. It's cathartic to write... I ought to resume writing more... yeah, I guess I will. :)

A whole batch of my boys will be leaving for Beijing next week... time really flies. Soon they will be donning the beige uniform and long pants... and as a couple of them texted me to thank me for the video, I thanked them back... for the privilege to be able to journey along this portion of their lives with them. For without every single one of them, the video wouldn't be what it is... yup. Am just hoping that when they do return to school in their long pants, they would also appear more grown up in their actions and attitudes... it's amusing to think that our human brain will only be fully formed at the age of 25 or so - some adults may brush this off as bull, but I guess I can afford to give the benefit of doubt, to know that some of their actions (sometimes can be quite foolish) are a result of an incomplete brain. Wahahah yay I'm 26 this year!!! Hahahahha...

Okay just nice. Rain has stopped. Time to go!

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... should be renamed September Busy. lol.

I finally brought my guitar to my boarding school apartment... there are times when I really feel like reverting back to those good ol' times (not that it's that very long ago la) when all there was was coming back home to play the guitar and write new songs... and in a way, that was when I was spiritually very much filled too. But I know I should not rely on that to get my walk with Jesus goin... it should be in all circumstances... YEP. Still, I am glad that the guitar's here!!! (:

Went to catch ACJC Drama Elective Programme Year 1's exam pieces, "Inventio 2008", where 5's in one of the plays. The five bucks for the four plays... it's pretty worth the price - standard's there... don't play play. Haha... seriously. The play 5's in depicts the life of a family of which the daughter's stricken with cerebral palsy. Some of the feelings and frustration shown in the play were heartfelt... my mom and I were really close in the past. I being the quiet one (still very am), there would be times when I'm just sitting or lying by her bed in her room listening to her yak yak non stop... I would be the one following her around as she worked, from the music centres to all the kindergarten centres. There were many great moments we shared, even those times of just being in her centre, just the two of us...

Things just weren't the same anymore ever since mom had the brain hemorrhage and lays bedridden with a tracheotomy tube. There were many moments I had to guess if she actually understood whatever I was saying - every little nod or mouthing of word became so precious. Due to the nature of the brain bleeding, there is no way to assess what she knows or not know, what she remembers for has forgotten... there was a period of time I kept asking her to identify me by mouthing my name.. just to have a reassurance that she knows who I am.

Just a week ago, I decided to take a step forward and asked her if she knows where I am currently staying now as I told her about my school's boarding programme. All along the kind of responses I've been soliciting from her are those generic "yes", "ok" answers... and so I asked. She didn't respond first... so I went ahead and said "Bukit..."

Then she mouthed the word "Timah".

Haha... the part of the play whereby the daughter with cerebral palsy stood up and explained to the audience came to mind. In my mind I was imagining what my mom would be thinking then... like, crazy son... asking me such childish questions over and over again. Haha... I don't know if I share all my thoughts with her she would understand everything? I don't know... but I think I'll try that from now on everytime Aunty Witwit goes for her day off and I take over.

I hold on to the hope that she'll be well again and that I'll hear her voice once again... mm. :)

It's great to see the rest at the play too... I miss them. Yeah... I really do. The times... the fun... mm. I guess I can't help it that we've seemingly drifted - it's something that I'm still trying to comprehend, how some relationships are kept in tact in spite of the lack of regular meetups and some just aren't. Well... well well.

One of my students got involved in a road traffic accident and was warded in NUH. Thank God it wasn't a serious case... he was still bubbly and very much himself (haha... yeah this boy has quite a unique personality) as he recounted to me the story when a couple of us visited him (and his forth time recounting that day). He was crossing the road when he was hit by a front view mirror of a lorry. According to him, his view was blocked by a bus... his recounting really reminded me of a piece of news I read as a young child that kind of stuck with me all the while, whereby a school student was hit and sent flying twenty metres or so as he was dashing across the street in front of a stationary bus.

I don't suppose that my student was jaywalking at the traffic lights - if not the bus nearest to him would have been moving and not stationary. And so... thank God that he wasn't running across... if not his whole body would have met the lorry head on. Mm. Really relieved to see him at his usual self... haha.

I wouldn't know how I'll react or respond if anything serious happens to my family, friends or my students. I wouldn't know how I'll perform as a counsellor in such times... and I can only hope I won't be found in such situations. So... yeah. Hope you'll get well soon. ;)

Char had her gown selection!! My dear dear's gonna look mature as she walks down the aisle... and princessy at the dinner! Hur hur... Her gowns selection took a couple of hours while mine took 15 minutes. Hahaha... we decided upon a chinese collared coat since I already have a normal collared one... so that gives us more selection for photoshoot and for the day itself. Time flies... 8 more months. It's quite scary to think of it, with so much of the preparations undone... but yeah, really thankful thus far for all the stuff that's covered, and really thankful that we've got a planner who's really responsible and "on the ball". More updates soon in time to come. :)

Ok. Dinner time.

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I'm currently at Singapore General Hospital's Polar cafe... Dori and I were supposed to meet at 10am (and so I rushed and I huffed and I puffed from Bukit Timah all the way down... okok I didn't run but I did rushed) then dad decided to come along last minute.. and they only got onto a bus from home at 10am. So here I am waiting... being thankful that I have my laptop with me.

I have been clearing spam off my site's comments... it has since become a daily routine. Spam bots would flood my comments with loads of junk posts and thankfully, this version of Movable Type has the capability to screen off most of them before they could be published. Still, I'll have to log into the system and remove them.

Then I realised... that there's a lot of spam in life too, things that are thrown into our lives which we do not necessarily need. All the messages and what nots... the only thing is that sometimes we get spam that's alluring and enticing and instead of trashing them we find ourselves keeping them and letting them clutter up our lives.

Hmm. It's a good time to do a self check. I'll need to rid myself off unwanted spam.

Hahaha I hope this makes sense.

The topic of love languages was briefly touched upon again yesterday at the marriage preparation course session. It's a good refresher and a reminder of how faithful God is for me personally. For those who may not be in the know, Gary Chapman has coined the term and lists five forms of love languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Quality Time, Gifts and Physical Touch. We all give and receive love in these five forms, some responding more to particular forms, some less.

The interesting thing about Char and myself is that we have rather differing forms of love languages... so there were many moments in the past where we couldn't sense our love for one another when we were actually giving it in forms that the other party couldn't quite appreciate at that time. It was weird to talk in through initially for me... but now with the understanding, we are able to see and identify when we're expressing love in our language and we are able to reciprocate and respond in a way the other party will understand.

I respond to acts of service most somehow... and naturally I find myself expressing love and reciprocating concern with acts of service as well. Words of affirmation comes next, followed by gifts, quality time and physical touch.

There was this time when Char was asleep while I began to do up the laundry at her place... I know it sounds weird but I actually had a good time doing so. Haha...

Which is why I guess I enjoy my work in school... seeing the things I do as a form of service to the boys. And when they reciprocate in kind, I found myself especially touched. Like some of the boys who volunteered to help out at the parent teacher gathering last minute... when they didn't have to. Haha.. I bet they didn't even think it meant so much.

I went down to the CSE Hub (it's an old staff lounge now converted into a resting place and office space) to take a look before coming to the hospital - the furniture's in and the sockets and network points are in place. The next thing is to shift my stuff down from my library office... perhaps it'll spell a new season with a change in office space and environment... I don't know. But we'll see. :)

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I told Char I hope I could fly to the moon alone and stay there for a week.

I've been trying really hard to keep abreast.

I've never been in a season where I have a million and one things clamoring for my attention.

I bumped into a colleague just now and he asked me why I looked so grumpy.

I could only tell him that I've got lots to do.

But it really isn't about the doing.

I've tried to work round my schedules to craft time for and with Char. But I'm failing.. utter failure. It saddens me whenever I see her so affected. It saddens me when she has to inconvenience her just to be where I am. It saddens me that she's getting sick so often because of doing that.

I teared when my sister messaged me last night to ask if I'm going for 5's drama exams alone and when she informed me that tuesday's her hospital appointment. It has been ages that I've last accompanied her... and I know she needed me too.

Yesterday night the boarding masters had a meeting. My colleagues are concerned about my day offs, not knowing if it was right for them to cover my duties, concerned too that my boys would take it in the wrong light, concerned that some of my actions may jeopardize myself in the programme.

Then I have boys who seemingly are going against whatever that's set, not that they mean it. And I know for one, that there may be word going around that I've been too lenient, too soft. I really don't know how this has jeopardized possible good working relationships with certain colleagues.

Today, I received a mail with the subtle tint of blasting me off from a colleague due to a feedback I feedbacked.

It's funny that in this world, as much as you'll want to be out of politics, you are inevitably in it, not that you want to.

All the things I'm experiencing and causing me great discomfort, for the very reason that everything's contrary to the personality that I've grown up with.

I think I've mentioned enough times how I wished I never needed to grow into an adult... but I can see the areas of growth that God wants me to grow in this season of time.

He wants me to take responsibility. But far more to that, He wants me to trust in Him and cling entirely unto Him, not upon my own resources.

I'm learning.

But am I given the time and space?

Psalms 121 comes to mind - I lift up my eyes to the hills... where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He does not let my foot slip... He neither sleeps nor slumbers... the Lord watches over you.. keeps you.

And I can only trust.

My thanksgiving comes in that Char decides to love me in spite of all the inconveniences that's caused to her.

That my sister's grown in her understanding of how her brother really wishes to spend time with her and yet is in a season of immense i-have-no-word-to-describe.

That God's blessed me with a boss who cares and listens and most importantly, believes in me.

That he's gotten an administrator to relieve me of my loads.

That I have my kakis who really care - Gpp who constantly keeps me in prayer, Raymond who just called to ask if I needed help to move stuff into the apartment, and Matty who drops msn messages here and there.

That most of my boys are understanding... and appreciative.

And ultimately... that I have a God who walks by me, lives in me... and works through me.

Will appreciate your prayers.

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The past couple of hours were spent trying to get a few pieces of clothing ironed in between futile attempts at getting msn to work and work itself. Prior to that, I was doing a little bit of unwinding with Char at Vivocity, catching a breather over dinner and a movie... we caught "Meet Dave".

It's a joy to hear her laughter... the lightness of it. I must continue to work to make my deardear laugh amidst all the stress and work that's piling up for the both of us. Haha yeah. Her students are giving her a run of her energies.. when she's already been drained and sick these days. And my current schedules aren't helping much - we're practically stretched in terms of schedules... and sometimes when I'm done with what I have to do, it would have been her bed time already. The nature of my current job as a boarding master is as such - sometimes my work extends into rather late nights.

Which is why I'm thankful for the weekly "no compromise" day when we'll both spend the evening together.. something that we started quite a long time back, when we both still had quite a bit of time together each week. Have been missing a week or two of it over the past weeks due to prior arranged appointments... This was probably the first proper evening when we could spend some time together... still it seemed short.

I'm not sure how we can successfully maneuvre through this season of time... but I do know that Pa's in charge.

Thank you dear for being so patient with me.. for the sacrifices you made... simply because you chose to love me. I will continue to jiayou so that I won't forever remain as your lau pok wllg. Remember to drink more water at work k... and just do as Pa would ba. Praying for you... wdwllp...WAN! HAHAN! :D

It's been sometimes since I blogged an entry... lots happened over the past two weeks or so... guess the best is to let the pictures do the talking with me interspersing a couple of words here and there:

Finally took some pictures of Covenant Evangelical Free Church's Woodlands premises.. where Char and I would be holding our solemnisation and reception next May. Yet to confirm cause I've yet to do up the documentations... which reminds me, I should be doing it real soon! Haha... it's amazing to think of it still - the first time I stepped into compounds on 3rd August, my jaw dropped when I saw that the chairs at the fellowship area are in orange and green... exactly the colours we chose as our wedding theme! Haha... yeah. It'll take some time to get used to the place first though - have grown to have the familiarity with the Bukit Panjang compounds which exude a more homely feeling... but yeah, this new one looks really cool I must admit! (: Haha... ultimately, it's really not about the buildings or how well they look... nothing beats God's presence. Where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is. :)

Keepying and Kaijie are two pals I made through ECCube, my high school's computer club. Some pretty fond memories we shared together... like how we visited the zoo and night safari for our project.. which eventually won us the accolade of being the first local secondary school to win a particular international competition. One went on to a poly and another to another jc... we kept in touch here and there - met with them individually in the past. Ten years passed... and we finally met together once more as a group. Had dinner at poolside, a place where we never went to while we were here as students. Brought them on a little night tour of the school... and as we reached Kah Kee Hall, Kaijie paused and had the expression of being overwhelmed that he's back in school once again.

Haha... I wonder if the current batches would have such feelings of nostalgia, of good memories ten, twenty years down the road. The Chinese High has been a special place... not the academic competitiveness, not the teachers' lectures... more so the people, the friends, the day to day experiences. I guess that did play a part in me choosing to be back bah. :)

Hahah oh oh... the graduate diploma phase of my professional counselling course has officially ended. (: In all, one high distinction and four distinctions for all assignments and final exam... with a commendation for practicum. Wouldn't have been possible if not for Pa's sustenance and grace... and Char's constant encouragement... and Gpp's prayers. :P This course really helped in allowing me to be equipped with practical skills to help the boys... but with all the mad schedules, I have to defer the masters phase for probably two semesters. Of course, I really won't know how Pa will lead in the months to come... there's a time to plan... and also a time to trust. We'll see how. :)

My dear sister has graduated from her Diploma in Multimedia course at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts!! She looks good in her grad gown man!! :D Haha... It's been a journey for her.. and I'm just glad that she pulled through - talk about strength and resilience. :) And yeah, glad to bump into Ah Hao, my first mentee of sorts whom I have not met for a VERY LONG TIME. Haha... fond memories, that man shall not live on bread alone but by the Word of God... Haha.

If you're reading this bro... I do hope that I'll get to see you more often in the future. ;)

Attended the school's chinese drama production last Saturday after dinner with Dori and dad... Kudos for a job well done! Enjoyed all the six mini-plays. Great to see so many familiar faces in the plays! :)

It's been three weeks since the boarding programme started... I've grown to see my cluster as 'family' though I would think not all of them would think that way. At the back of my mind I know that some of them would most probably leave after the 'try out' period, probably not because the programme's not good, but just because they would find the full length of stay too long. Well... in any case, I'll just have to make use of whatever time there is to get to know them better. This bunch of boys have been amazing and the most disciplined - something that I really didn't expect. Toilets are always kept clean, rooms are all generally well kept.. have yet to do a spot check this week though... shall do it soon. Heh heh heh....

And yeah, some of them have begun their tennis lessons which they'd opted for as part of the boarding programme. I'm supervising one group... they were having so much fun they got carried away with time on the first day. Haha... in any case, there were conflicting feelings then - was really glad to see them having fun and gelling together in that sense... yet on the other hand it wasn't right to drag beyond the lesson time as the coach and the lifeguard who manages the lightings of the court have to call it a day. It was a good opportunity to observe the level of discipline in each of the participants though! Haha...

Alright... guess I'll take a little rest for now. There're quite a number of pressing matters to settle at work later on - preparing for the parent-teacher gathering on Friday, settling next term's timetables and venues, fixing and sprucing a portal that I'd set up...

Till then. :)

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Alright. Finally... an opportunity for a little written update. There're just so many things that's required to be done that writing an entry here makes it feels like I'm wasting time... but yeah, I know the truth is far from this. Writing and reflecting is after all a form of catharsis, allowing oneself to move on after the purging of thoughts. So I suppose I'll be more productive after this. Hahaha...

Let's start from last Friday. It was a mad rush trying to finish marking my last sets of scripts for the secondary one classes before the parent teacher gathering in the evening... in the end, I decided to shelve the marking and instead rename the individual photos I took of the boys with their names and co-curricular activities, which in turn helped a lot during the gathering itself. I really didn't expect to have any "business" at all, thinking I could use the rest of the time sitting in the hall and marking the scripts... and then going back home early to mug for my final written exam for my graduate diploma course. Then the unexpected happened; the row of double chairs in front of me kept filling up with parents wanting to talk to me.

It turned out to be a rather good experience though... I was quite surprised that I actually enjoyed the time talking to the parents. :) There're some who lamented that their sons are too quiet and reserved for their own good and asked if there's anything that can be done. Took the opportunity to share a little about my introversion and also about my work as a teacher counsellor in the school. Not quite sure if I'll ever have the time to approach these boys for a chat sometime... I guess it's a matter of management bah.

That also marked the last day of my teaching of the classes... yeah, I must admit that I'm relieved in a sense that I do not have to prepare lessons anymore.. and yet there is this sense of loss somewhat. Ironic right.

Gotten home late and tired... and in the end I decided to forgo any form of last minute studying and just hope that things would go well for the exam.

And yeah... IT IS FINISHED!!!! :D It was a gruelling three and a half hours of non-stop writing - two cases, two different approaches... I wrote till my wrist almost came off. -.- Hahaha... yeah. Had lunch with Char before doing some grocery shopping in town... then we returned to my new home for a little rest. Shall not put the word within inverted commas anymore since it's really my new home... Haha.

Attended Greenridge Secondary's english drama production at the Republic Polytechnic concert hall in the evening... gonna have more of such privileges since Char became one of the teachers in charge of the english drama club in her school... haha yeah, I'm a fan of dramas and musicals! :P The storyline isn't exactly strong... but I'm amazed at the standard of acting, props and music - it was all in all a good production.

Then Sunday, the third of August came. There were two major events happening that day for me - the opening of Covenant Evangelical Free Church's second worship centre at Woodlands and the commencement of the Boarding Programme, of which I am a part of. Char had to be at the centre earlier for some ushering briefing and so we set off pretty early... and whooaaaaaa... Blown away at how wonderful the new centre looks like laaaaah. Haha... that'll be the place where we would be saying our vows. :P The most amazing sight was when we were walking in and on the way up to the second floor to the sanctuary... saw that the reception area was filled with tables and chairs... ORANGE and GREEN chairs. The exact two colours for our proposed wedding theme! Hahaha... Pa sure paves the way! :P

Didn't bring my camera along that week.. so I shall bring it along later to capture some shots. :)

Okay... time's running short a lil... here's a good logical break for my writing as well. Shall proceed with writing about the Boarding Programme in another entry in time to come... till then!

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Laptop battery indicates that there's about 40 minutes or more to go before it dies out... so I reckoned that I can make use of whatever time that's left to write an entry. Haha I know it doesn't make sense... but yeah. :P

I'm currently in this particular place in school where it's absolutely quiet... and where no other person can have access to for now. It's an old lounge that's waiting to be converted into a place for rest and recreation (place to do homework peacefully for some) for the boys who have no more fixed classrooms of which they could call home to. The air conditioning got fixed along the way... now the tables have arrived. Took a little long, but yeah, it's getting done. Wireless access and network points to come in next... but the place can be opened effectively for productive rest. As much as it's away from the bustle... it's really a conducive place. I myself am thinking of taking a power nap later when the battery goes flat... before meeting Charmaine for dinner.

This week has been unusually packed as well, though the stress was much less. It'll escalate again very soon - my final exams is on next Saturday... and the boarding programme starts next Sunday. Yes, I'm shifting into boarding school very soon - supposedly sooner but the staff there needed the time to clean up the apartment and do some fixing... so it'll officially be ready this coming Wednesday.

I could never have imagined that I would undergo so many transitions within the course of a year plus. These few years put together - from my mom's condition onwards - it's really been one heck of a journey. Of which I can really only thank God for, for I know that many things wouldn't have been possible by my own measly strength.

There're many things that brought a smile to my heart this week. Had a really good outing to Central with Char for a start... it's been a long time since we had such an outing, eating and spending time with each other. (: And I've interacted quite a bit with different students - got to know some of them a little bit better. And just today, the library was supposed to close in the afternoon due to the half-day declared by my principal for the stellar performance of the school... I'd just finished a counselling session and was heading back to my room to pack up when I noticed that my room lights were still on. Turned out to be a bunch of guys from 2E using the room... and Justin. Haha... That class... they'll always remain a special bunch I guess, even though many of them still think that I don't know their names. Don't know why. Haha...

(ok the battery officially died at this point)

And so I'm typing from the comfort of my room now with the power adapter plugged into the laptop... hahah. Decided I should sleep early for once (again) - and start on a new jogging chapter (this sounds darn familiar... :( ) in the morning. Yes.

So sleep I shall. And probably start studying for the exam happening next Saturday.

Till a later post!

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And so I've reached the point, 4:15pm in the late afternoon, the point of wanting to sleep and not wanting to do anything else... even though there's still much to be done. There's exams prep session later on at Joo Chiat - I suppose I can sleep on my way home bah... haha.

I attended the NIE (National Institute of Education) Convocation Ceremony (Teachers' Investiture) this morning... I think Charmaine did mention it to me before... but somehow neither she nor I took much notice of the significance, cause for one, we thought that there would be many of the graduating teachers who would be getting the grade... but whoa, we only realised today that of the entire cohort of 400 plus, only 16 scored the distinction grade.

Wooo!! Hahaha... SO PROUD OF MY DEAR DEAR!! xD

All glory to God! :) Whenever I look at her life, I would catch a glimpse God's grace working so surely, bringing her through all the seasons... (:

As to why I slept only one hour the night before... till next time! Hahaha...

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Ever thankful for how things have been picking up in my life. No, the demands and stresses are still there, but He's been renewing the spirit in me slowly but surely. And now I just want to spend some time in His presence through a time of guitar playing and worship before I hit the sacks. Yar. 1am plus I know... just a little while ba. :P

Had a nice time out with dear dear the evening before going for a swim and after which a nice lil dinner before we return to our lesson prepping and what nots. The past two classes went pretty well; had a menthos moment today - my powerpoint slides were corrupted and refused to load. Would have freaked out... but didn't. Used the slides I created for last year's batch and did some quick changes... thankful. :) Came back home and updated the newer version for the next few classes. Looking forward to them. It's amazing that the past two classes were attentive and most of them tried to work on their assignments and projects.

More challenges ahead this day - got an overdue favor to complete, get mom's medication towards the evening... then doing some catching up with one of my dear brothers over dinner. Those are the major stuff... with many minor ones scattered in between. I'm learning still. :)