Chek Jawa The Temptress

Check out the email below.

Oh God! I am soooo very tempted!!! But I'm on MEDICAL LEAVE. I shall behave myself and stay in bed. No matter how boring it can be, I must. I must. I must.

_____________________________________________________________________

Dear All,
sorry that some of you will get multiple emails. I and a friend managed to book 20 places to Chek Jawa for tomorrow for my ecotourism students, but there has been a lot of fall-out from this outing due to pressure on students of other work and classes, etc. so I have more than 10 places available. You must be able to turn up at Changi Jetty by 2.00 pm to meet me, in order for us all to be over at Ubin by 3.00 pm latest to register and take the taxi vans to Chek Jawa.

Reply by email if you want a place, to margie@singnet.com.sg and give me your handphone or other number, and I will reply to you by phone to confirm your place.

If I don't fill all the places by late morning, I will phone NParks to return the remaining places, so that they can be used by people who enquire for places on the spot.

For those who have not been before - it will cost you $2 each way on the bumboats to Ubin, and $2 each way in the taxivans. You must wear closed shoes for wading in the shallow water on the beach - no sandals allowed. Old canvas shoes will do, or diving boots if you have them. Wear shorts. Bring dry shoes for later.

Cheers,
Margie Hall.

Nothing To Sing About

Today, I got myself a bed. A bed at Gleneagles for the 23rd of February, that is.


TONSILLECTOMY! Big word? Pain also big, I heard. I actually burst out laughing when I first heard it because I was so tickled by how it sounded like "vasectomy". Humour me, please. ;)


Talking of humour, here's a conversation I had with the girl (though by age, she's already turning 31) at the Admissions Counter.
Girl-Lady: (while looking through my referral forms, she spoke in her most posh accent) Madam, in order to give you the best treatment, may I ask what is this ton-tonsil-sil-le...

Me: Tonsillectomy. The surgery is to get my tonsils removed.

Girl-Lady: Tonsils? In your stomach?

Me: Huh? No no. Tonsils are here... (I pointed to my mouth)

Girl-Lady: Oh... Your nose...


My nose??? My nose??? My nose??? Oh my goodness. Despite the pain, I could not help but let out a chuckle. Thank goodness my life will not be in her hands. I would say having my nose in place is still important even after my tonsils are gone.


Then, after getting a rude shock looking at the estimated bill size, I decided that I shall save some money and take the train home. What a pleasant surprise to be entertained by this group of boys.



The boys actually sang the most jiwang songs possible in the history of the Malay music industry. I was truly entertained, as their spontaneity really made me smile all the way from Orchard to Woodlands. I mentioned to Nizar that they are probably reminiscing their past Valentines and Nizar replied, "Well, at least they have something to sing about."


Yeah. How I envy them. I too wished I had something to sing about. And with the impending lost of my tonsils, I cannot help but wonder if I can actually sing after that. Yes, doctor friends, I do know that it would not affect my voice, but as Elder Sis jests, perhaps I would be a better singer without my tonsils! They are probably hindering my talent from shining through at the moment! Ha! Ya right...

Rotten To The Core

Although thoughts of leaving have been swirling (rather violently, I must add) in my head these past weeks, it was only yesterday when I decided that I have had enough.

Last Monday, the ENT specialist revealed that surgery is inevitable. The tonsils have to be removed before they get toxic. As he explained the entire procedure to me, I just could not stop the tears from rolling. I confess. I really am a BABY whenever I am ill. Just a fever will land me under the covers of my bed, with my hand intermittently reaching out to the unfortunate caretaker for medicine, a glass of water or some cut fruits. SURGERY, then, to me, is a big word.

The first that came to mind were my pupils. How can I leave them for a good month? Then, came my committee. What would happen to the IT Department in my absence? And so I asked for the surgery to be done around the March holidays. I thought that this arrangement would lighten the situation just a wee bit. Till then, I could bear with the pain in the name of responsibility.

But really, is this responsibility worth shouldering? As a colleague rightly pointed out, “We work so hard for hours that see no end, but if we were to leave this world tomorrow, all that they will give is just a $50 flower wreath which we will no longer have any use for.” Laughed, I might have. But the essence of what she said makes too much sense to be ignored.

I spend 12 hours in school every weekday and continue working at home till 12 or 1 a.m. Even weekends are burnt working at my desk at home, leaving it only from time to time to be with my family and friends who scream (literally for my nephews and niece) for attention. Then, there is this frustration because as much as I would like to be with my loved ones, I just have to get work done before Monday. And so, I spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights working till 2 a.m. just so that I can spend some hours of my weekend with people to whom I matter and not the P.C. or some papers.

Yet, it is not the hours of work that bothers me. If it is the passion for teaching that I thrive on, the hours do not matter. What bothers me, is what I receive in return for the number of hours that I put in. It seems that the more I do, the more I am opening myself up to further criticisms. A classic example of feedback, “Sure, good that you have finished writing the resource book (of 89 pages) but why did you send it through the portal without my permission?” Why did I??? Because the size of the bloody file is some 18.9MB! If I were to email you, you would say that I am brainless because it will jam up the mailbox. If I were to print it out, you would also say that I am brainless because it is 89 pieces of paper that the printer toner has to work hard on. Forget the hundreds of hours I put in writing this bloody book despite my bursting tonsils! I am brainless. I should seek divine opinions with every step I take, though I would still be brainless (if not more so, for not having initiative) when I do seek such opinions. No matter what I do, I cannot help but be brainless.

I am just so tired of this fault-finding cycle. It no longer matters what I do or who I speak to about my situation. I am convinced that I am trapped in a conspiracy of some sort – a conspiracy that is built upon others’ egocentric obsession and self-interest. What has happened to the dreams I chased, to the difference I hoped to make in the little lives I have in my hands? What has happened to the core of the very profession I chose with so much zeal and passion? I feel as if I have just gotten back from Aomori, where I travelled so far to buy the finest apple, only to realise that despite its glistening exterior, its core is rotten. Rotten.

My Brother's Eligible!

http://www.starhub.com/hubvillage/hubbinghighlights/cleo/index.html#dare

Oh Brother! Please have mercy on me for this post. I cannot help it. Just too exciting not to share. ;)

And on record, Happy Birthday once again. Glad to have celebrated so many birthdays with you. I do not care how many of the same watch you received. Wear the one I got for you! hahahahahahaha :P

Butt Of Humour

Sometimes I wished I were a little bit more concerned about my weight than I am. Then perhaps I would work my butt to do something about it. Or perhaps, at least kick the butts of friends who joke about it (i.e. blunt buddies like Ammiel and Fadzli). Unfortunately, I have long passed that stage of insecurity, perhaps an emergence from the constant initial self-assurance of ‘so-what-if-I-am-chubby-because-I-am-intelligent-and-nice-and-there-are-people-who-love-me’. Yet, despite the number of happy human bonds I have forged or how intelligent or nice I can be, my weight has now surfaced as a concern.

My sisters were the first to note that I really should start doing something about it in these last months I have. In an attempt of escape, I rebutted, “I shall not give in to such societal stereotypical definitions of beauty. I shall, with my existence, offer an alternative definition of ‘beauty’”. With these words, they burst out laughing, “Sis, the fact remains that… there are no fat brides.” And with that, they left me, speechless.

Now, even my dear friends Jac and Ivy have jumped onto the bandwagon of “Project Beautiful Bride” by taking away the simple pleasures I derive from food. To them, I emphasised that I do not eat any more than an average lady. So, if I stop eating, I will die and if I die, there will not even be a bride to be beautiful! Ha! Issue settled. ;)

But who am I kidding? Overweight means overweight. I blame this tag on that smart aleck who reduced the acceptable Body Mass Index (BMI) of Asians to 23. A quick calculation reveals that I am 1.17 shy of that ideal 22.9. This would mean having to lose some 4kg (though sisters begged for 5) and 4kg in some 11 months is not that harsh, really. I am actually more concerned about feeling so nua and lethargic more often than ever.

Sigh. Age is indeed catching up but instead of embracing “Project Beautiful Bride”, I have decided to start moving my butt in some exercise routine so that I can kick some butts without falling flat in my face. Hopefully, the brighter days will greet me once again.

SOME Answers To Mend This Fragile Heart

Elder sis shared this link with the rest of us. Out of sheer curiosity and in an attempt to look for some answers to mend this fragile heart, I gave it a shot.

http://www.crushcalculator.com/content/love/837417379

Oh what fun! And boy did I get some answers! Thanks, Sis! I know I can always count on you. :)

Tong Hua

A couple of months back, Jac made me watch Guang Liang's music video in the staffroom. It is only now, however, that I begin to better appreciate the tale behind this song. I'm such a sucker for such love stories and songs. *hee*

Here is my (poor) attempt to translate the lyrics of Tong Hua for you but as of many translations where the mood and tone are often inferior to its original version, this one's no exception ;). Please do correct me if I'm wrong.


Tong Hua (Fairytales)
By Guang Liang

wang le you duo jiu (Forgotten how long it has been)
zai mei ting dao ni (since I heard you)
dui wo shuo ni zui ai de gu shi (tell me your favourite story.)
wo xiang le hen jiu (I have been thinking for a long time)
wo kai shi huang le (and am beginning to be paranoid)
shi bu shi wo you zuo cuo le she me (if it was me who had done something wrong.)

#
ni ku zhe dui wo shuo (You said to me in tears)
tong hua li dou shi pian ren de (that fairy tales are all lies)
wo bu ke neng shi ni de wang zi (and that I cannot possibly be your Prince.)
ye xu ni bu hui dong (Perhaps you will not understand)
cong ni shuo ai wo yi hou (that from the moment you told me you loved me,)
wo de tian kong xing xing dou liang le (the stars in my sky have sparkled brightly.)

*wo yuan bian cheng tong hua li (I am willing to be in the fairytale,)
ni ai de na ge tian shi (to be that angel you love,)
zhang kai shuang shou (to open my arms wide)
bian cheng chi bang shou hu ni (to become wings that protect you.)
ni yao xiang xin (You have to believe,)
xiang xin wo men hui xiang tong hua gu shi li (believe that we will be like in the fairytale,)
xin fu he kuai le shi jie ju (with happiness and joy as the ending.)

Repeat # and *

wo yao bian cheng tong hua li (I want to be in the fairytale,)
ni ai de na ge tian shi (to be that angel you love,)
zhang kai shuang shou (to open my arms wide)
bian cheng chi bang shou hu ni (to become wings that protect you.)
ni yao xiang xin (You have to believe,)
xiang xin wo men hui xiang tong hua gu shi li (believe that we will be like in the fairytale,)
xin fu he kuai le shi jie ju (with happiness and joy as the ending.)

wo hui bian cheng tong hua li (I will be in the fairytale,)
ni ai de na ge tian shi (to be that angel you love,)
zhang kai shuang shou (to open my arms wide)
bian cheng chi bang shou hu ni (to become wings that protect you.)
ni yao xiang xin (You have to believe,)
xiang xin wo men hui xiang tong hua gu shi li (believe that we will be like in the fairytale,)
xin fu he kuai le shi jie ju (with happiness and joy as the ending.)

yi qi xie wo men de jie ju (Let us write our ending together.)

Bosom Friends

Spent time tonight with bosom friends Marilyn, Meijun, Judy and Huimei for a sofa-cosy time at Judy's new pad. We did not do much, but laze around in front of the tv and chat. I have not met some of them for quite a while and so it warmed my heart to be with good, old friends who have been with me through all these years.

Really hope to spend more time with such friends, but with work and growing family commitments for all, one can only be hopeful. Hmmm...

... with marilyn, meijun, judy & huimei ...

Lessons In Bed

K and I went over to J.B. to help Along's (eldest sis) family move to their new home. It was also an opportunity for family-time again, having not spent time together since we went to Malacca weeks ago.

The intermittent "Malay Lessons" the kids conducted for K between the moving and cleaning were truly hilarious. Here's one.
Arsyad: Uncle Keita, when you want to tell a woman that she is pretty, you can say, "Awak cantik." Or, you can just say, "Cantik seh!"

That really got the few of us who overheard rolling in laughter and wondering what Arsyad has been saying to all the girls in his school.

K drove the kids to Giant in the evening for some DVD shopping and pizza, before returning home for more "lessons" in bed. Literally.

... precious-es in pyjamas ...
(1st pic, from left: luqman, arsyad, k, asyraf, nadhrah & akmal)