人逢喜事，精神爽

I heard from a friend, "Wa. You are the first graduate I know who fail Advanced Theory!"

My ego was bruised and I told myself I MUST PASS!!!

Desmond, I did it!!! So, am I a worthy graduate now??? (^_^)

It was a fruitful Saturday today. My morning started with the Advanced Theory Test and frankly, that irritating test is harder this time. Nevertheless, I PASSED! The sun was shining really high and hot but the perspiration smelt sweet.. :D

I hurried myself for the next appointment - my driving lesson at Eunos MRT carpark. I saw my instructor in a little blue car with a lady inside and instantly I wondered if that was his gf or wife. Haha, but who cares, it is none of my business.

I am not sure if it was the boost of confidence from the Theory Test, Mr Txx told me to drive out of the carpark today!!! Yeah.

"Let's go to Changi and back." he said.

In my heart, I was wondering if I could really make it to Changi and back because the last time he told me that, I ended up in Kebangan with the terrible experience of being stuck between two cars in a single lane...

BUT this time, I really drove to Changi.. not the remote end of Singapore, nor is it Changi @ Changi Airport. I drove to somewhere near Temasek JC and it was cool! Shiok. What kind words can I use? Funny, because I felt no adrenaline after the drive. Perhaps, I do not have the energy to feel the excitement and perhaps I was really concentrating to make sure that the 1.5h today was going to be efficiently spent every single minute.

It was a rewarding experience. For 27 years, I had been driven around, by my father, my bf and my male friends. Never had I ever dreamt that I could drive a Toyota that far in my life. Of course, Mr Txx's hand would sometimes guide me on the steering wheel especially when I made a turn. It felt good that I am learning something, studying for a test, sitting for a test and passing the test. It wasn't easy to study and concentrate and I could empathise with those who are studying for the examinations now. I studied till I really dozed off, my head like the fishing line with the fish at the other end, bobbing up and down.

So, not only did I drive from Eunos MRT station (past that damn busy road) to Temasek JC and back, I did a little of reverse parking and U-turning.

I don't understand why controlling the car seems so simple to all my driver-friends but when it comes to myself doing it, it becomes such a complicated process, involving the hands, the legs and eyes and the brain, all to think and process and make judgement within the split second to move the man-made machine - CAR.

What else am I doing so far?

Junxiong was impressed that I have so much more time to do other things beside my work. I am giving tuition, learning driving and relaxing. I plan to take up an insurance course too. Haha, so that I can sell insurance next time and earn some extra cash.

Mmm... I should start to do my handicrafts too. Wan Lee's birthday is coming soon which also means my birthday is coming too. Should I apply for leave on my birthday? Mmmm..... Pak Kay's birthday is coming end of the year too, about 2 months. I have two DIY projects on hand now.

Looking back, I really had gone and achieved a number of things which I had no time to do in my previous job. Not bad. I even started jogging before I go for tuition during weekday evenings. It was only two runs around the field and my breath was almost taken away from me. The determination to motivate myself to move on struggled sometimes and I always tell myself that I have to finish this exercise without stopping and without walking. The perspiration at the end of the exercise smelt great, I want to leave behind the lazy PL.

Life looks a little more beautiful and eventful now. I see Pak Kay more often, I get to sleep more, and I get to do the things I want to do.. :D

Now, I must sit down and think of how I can earn more cash and save enough to go Europe/USA.. to buy another Gucci or Coach.. Haha... :D

Driving again...

I had my 5th driving lesson last Saturday... After a break of one month, I was back at Eunos MRT and back into that car. Frankly, I was so nervous AGAIN. Sigh...

Seriously, I don't understand why I am learning how to drive a manual car when the technology has evolved and all new cars are automatic cars now. That stupid clutch, is really driving me crazy!!! Simi half clutch, simi biting point!!! What the hell are those things?? Release too fast, the engine will auto reached off and the car will die in the middle of the road... Release too slow, the car doesn't move and the damn car vibrates violently. I really want to pull my hair.

In the end, my teacher said I have to go around in circles at the carpark of Eunos MRT.

He also told me to switch to learn automatic car if I show no improvement by the 10th lesson. Does that mean that I am really that stupid and clumsy that I couldn't control those irritating three pedals!!! I don't want to admit defeat so easily BUT the fact remains that it is really difficult to coordinate them.. To show my never say die spirit, I have decided to go learn driving every Saturday instead of alternate Saturday. Let's hope the money will be well spent...

I want to drive a car!!! Mmmm.. what should my first car be?? *dream...ing...*

Anyway, let's talk about something more interesting and that shall be my driving teacher! Hahahaha, gossip time...

OK, he is Mr T**, a 50+ man. The most attractive thing about him is his eyes... they aren't those big sparkling, long eye-lashes eyes but don't know why, I find his eyes attractive. Haha. Don't worry, I won't fall for old man because he is like my father, young-looking. He is a married man too.

Besides the fact that I was really nervous and clumsy on Saturday, I think he was very distracted too. Seriously, I feel that my 1.5h with him isn't fully utilised at all. Maybe it is because I had not passed my Advanced Theory Test, he is taking his time to teach me really slowly. Of course I need that because I can't handle if he speeds up.

The reason why he was distracted? His gf was quarrelling with him over sms!!!!

Now, how do I know about this??? Mmmm...

Because he lets me read his sms! Hahahaha... Poor teacher, he is Chinese educated I think, and his English is limited, probably limited to the car parts and whatever it is related to the car. So, whenever his sms comes in, he will ask me to translate for him. Of course he knows what the sms meant, but he just want to be sure. Since his English is PTE LTD, I will help him reply his sms to his gf too...

I felt so guilty in the car. Here is a unloyal married man, and I am actually helping him to reply sms to his gf, does that make me a sinful person too? But, it is his affairs and I can't simply change him for another instructor when I am comfortable with his teaching style just because he is two-timing two women.

There is one thing I learnt from him that Saturday. In an affair, the 3rd party woman has everything to lose; to the man, he has the best of both worlds.

That woman was jealous and angry because he broke his promise to accompany her that day. The smses were whiny (2nd lesson: woman, of all age, likes to whine) and he told me to tell her that he is not free on Saturdays and Sundays because he needs to teach and has to drive cab. I was so scared that his replies, typed using my thumbs, will cause a breakup!! He uttered with a full lung of confidence, WON'T BREAK UP. If there was to be a break up, it would have taken place many years ago. What arrogance! I pity his wife and I feel sorry for his gf...

I asked him if he could charge me FOC for my driving lesson and in return, I teach him English! Hahaha.. Of course he said no...

This Saturday is Advanced Theory Test combined with driving lesson in a span of almost 3h. Not sure if I can make it through.. Clutch, brake, accelerator, hand-brake, gear handle, signal, blind spots etc...

Why am I putting myself through this!!!??!

Ans: I want my mother and my bf's mother to stop nagging me to go learn driving.... =.="

Happy Teacher's Day

To all my teacher-friends

I salute you for you are one who continue the fight to bring light to the children's heart

Teaching is a wonderful profession with a huge meaning

I realised it when I left

Happy Teacher's Day

THE CREATION OF THE TEACHER

Author Unknown

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children.

An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out."

"Yes," said the Lord, " but have you read the specs on this order?"

TEACHER:

…must stand above all students, yet be on their level

... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught

... must run on coffee and leftovers,

... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time

... must have more time for others than for herself/himself

... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children, and worried parents

... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not supportive

... must have 6 pair of hands.

"Six pair of hands, " said the angel, "that's impossible"

"Well, " said the Lord, " it is not the hands that are the problem. It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, " Three pairs of eyes...on a standard model?"

The Lord nodded His head, " One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, " I understand and I still believe in you", without so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord, " said the angel, " this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do not want to learn....has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own.....understands the struggles of those who have difficulty....never takes the students for granted..."

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating."It is too soft-hearted, " said the angel.

"Yes," said the Lord, " but also tough, You can not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel."Not only think," said the Lord,. "but reason and compromise."

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek.

"Well, Lord, " said the angel, your job looks fine but there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model. You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek. It shone and glistened in the light.

"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."

"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, " It is for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My, " said the angel, " The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"

The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

Psalms 56:8 (NASB)

My man and we

He is a small build guy, who is tanned and skinny. His initial is TPK, which explains why my email address is tpktpl (please say you know what tpl is...) He is of average height, under 1.7 m (I think) and to some people, you may think that he is short.. I once asked him this question but he replied to say, "When you lean over, the height is just nice, it is more comfortable for you." And we were strolling along the East Coast beach at night :)

Correction - TPK says he is 1.72m.. he is angry when I say he is 1.70m.. for the man's ego, please 'delete' the previous information...

We did not started the usual way that many people do... in fact, before we got together as an item, we had exchanged less than ten sentences face-to-face, never gone out together except for a lunch which a mutual friend arranged. We dated online, via icq and then moved on to msn. He was in UK doing his student exchange programme while I was in Singapore studying for my last exam in NUS.. We were separated by almost 12 h and I would always informed him of how lovely the moon looked like and he would go and see the same moon 12 h later at his side. Because it is expensive to talk via IDD call, I had to scout around for the most worth it IDD calling card, $20 for 300min and this card couldn't be found at most money-changer.. I first found it at Clementi Town Centre and I had to take almost 1.5h to go and buy the card. Luckily, I managed to find another money-changer in Chinatown which sold the same card and the journey took 40min.

We would talk on the phone when the situation permits, ie when I have the card because it is free incoming calls for him at his UK hostel. He could call over but it will be very expensive because one pound is about S$3.00. But when we talked, it will be really late in sg time and it will be really early at his side, just before he go for his morning lectures.

I remembered there was one night when I had a really bad nightmare and I smsed him in the middle of the night. He called and asked me if I was ok and I was so touched... I could feel his concern even through the phone.. that was the first few sweetest things he did...

Then he would sms me every night before he go to sleep so that when I opened my eyes, the first thing I see would be his sms greeting me. They lit up the morning in a bright sunshine way and taking the 50min bus ride to NUS on bus 10 seemed such an enjoyable experience everyday.

When he went around touring in UK, looking for all the Hard Rock Cafes, I would stay by my Nokia 8210 and jumped whenever the sms came in. Because, I told him, your sms is the only way I can be sure you are still safe at the other side of the world. He was travelling isn't it so he had no access to Internet and so no communications at all. I had heard of so many stories of road accidents and I was worried that something will happen to him.

So throughout our 3 months (I think so) of sms dating, when he came back to Singapore, his phone bill was a whopping S$800-900. Haha. But not bad la, he won over a sweet and caring gf, who is yours sincerely... :D

So for the past 4 years, we communicated via sms and msn more than over phone. We don't call each other unless it is really urgent. But, we will always sms each other.

He is a down-to-earth man, very disciplined and very hardworking. In front of me and his sister, he is like a small boy who will 'teh' to us. In front of his mother, he is fierce. In front of his friends, he is a joyful and spontaneous person. Because he belongs to the 'permanent head damage' club (PhD), sometimes he talked to his friends about politics and other highly intellectual topics. But he will still be sweet and make sure that I don't feel bored occasionally by turning and looking at me ;)

He may seemed dull but I know I am really fortunate that he is mine. Of course there are times when I really hate him to the core but most of the time, I still love him.. Haha..

He had a female friend who was bullied by her bf's friends and she called and cried to him. He was so angry with that bf. I asked him what if his friends bullied me too. He said he will protect me and scold them for me... ;)

He brought light sticks once when we went for a holiday. When I came out of shower, I saw the words 'I love U' on the floor, formed by the light sticks...

We even sat in the car, eating Mac nuggets and fries while we watched the rain poured outside at the West Coast MacDonald car park...

There was once when he had to brake his car because of the red light at the traffic camera junction. Due to inertia, I jerked forward and he used his hand to break my jerk. He turned and said sorry... Such a simple gesture, but I was so moved, because I knew he will protect me.

Whenever he drives me home, I will turn and look at him occasionally. Funny, even if it is just a small tilt of my head, he will be able to detect and he will make a funny face at me. He will change to another funny face when I turned over a second time, a third or even a forth... If I sat the the back of the car when his mother is in the front passenger seat, we will steal occasional glances at each other too. Haha.

Last year's Christmas Eve, we were in Orchard with my family. There were many people and with a twist of time and place, we ended up in bus 36. There was the unmistaken jam in Orchard but the bus was empty, only with the few of us plus less than three other people. When the clock struck 12midnight, we saw the cheering from the party crowds outside and inside the bus, it was a peaceful Christmas. We kissed and said Merry Christmas and really, there aren't any better Christmas than last year's. Peaceful and heart-warming, with your loved ones just beside you...

Of course, not to mention, we are the happy parents to many animals. From Phant Phant, Nessie, Hardy, Giraffe, Ah-Bian, Baby, Mao Mao, Xiao Pang, Xiao Fei, Eeyore, Monkey to Xiao Ding Dang, Ding Ding, Dang Dang, Xiao Fei Fei, Da Tou, another Giraffe, Washy, Monty, Smiley, Ohoh, Xiao Mao, Xiao Fen, Nemo. They are taking up so much space on our beds that we are really fighting for space! He even said he wants to build a house for all animals to stay in next time we have a house =.=! speechless!! Our smses are also in animal language... normal people won't understand our lingo ;)

Sometimes, even though we had spent the weekend together, I will still not bear to see him go home. Somehow, time is never enough being with him. Why?

Maybe then that is what people call love.......

To those who are in love, we are the fortunate ones. Cherish our partner and create fond and heart warming memories together. Small gestures and words may look and sound silly at that split second, but when looked from a different perspective, it is another way of him/her telling you he/she loves you and cares about you.

To those who are still looking for love, love comes knocking on your door at weird timing and way. God never leaves out anyone.