'A" not enough

I wish you all an "A" each for your Mother Tongue GCE "O" level Oral Exams tomorrow and on Wednesday! Let this be a good beginning for your "Os"! Huat ah!!

Post Musical

It's over and no regrets up till the last minute of the Gala Night performance! The whole HI Musical experience was one-of-a-kind. For me, the people-factor had been the highlight of it all. I had the privilege of seeing raw talents in action and prime-movers impressing with their leadership abilities. No classroom teaching could have afforded me this invaluable experience.

Thanks must go to the family for so patiently accomodating my absence when rehearsals became intensive. Well, Evil Mother is now back! Muahahaaa! As for you, Sec 4 Integrity, I'm also back. Coach here is going to shape you up for the "O" levels. So, hup 2,3,4! Are you ready?

A very long and early weekend

So, Ill be off school on Thursday AND Friday. Applause! Applause! Yes, I can hear you all clapping. No English lessons. Yeah! Well, take a break away from me, but do remember to do the HIHS 2007 Prelim Compre paper that the relief teacher will be giving you tomorrow. Do your best. Every bit of practice will prepare you for the big "Os"! And those of you who still "owe" me that One-word topic essay, get down to it over the weekend, and hand them over to me come Monday. Don't slack. The time is right to get your momentum going!

For me and many other teachers and students, we shall be hard at work at the Drama centre rehearsing for the Musical. Poor us. Won't be ending the days till 10 pm each night. I have been like an absent Mummy for over a month now. Today, one sick one who reported for school even had to be ferried home by the busy Significant Other. The rest had to rely on public transport for out-of-the-ordinary school and enrichment activities. Thank goodness, I have reliable help at home this year. Can't imagine cooking and freezing main meals for all, and washing, ironing and cleaning at wee hours of the night in order to accomodate my desire to be in the Musical!

Back to school

Moan! . . . it'll back to school tomorrow! Nice try, son no. 1. He swore that his teachers told him that the first day of Term 3 will only commence on Tuesday. As anticipated, tonight, the 6 went to bed past the target time. Some were searching for their missing school books; one was completing his book review and one trying to locate her school blouse buttons! I can imagine what tomorrow morning is going to be like: one big RUSH to get them out of bed, feed them breakfast, shoo some of them up the school bus and drive a couple to the MRT stations!

Sleep tight, everyone. See you in school tomorrow!

Hot!

Wah, the heat's really getting to me! Played some games under the late morning sun yesterday, and the resultant headache's still lingering. How to survive without the air-con? The air-con -- a wonderful invention -- never mind how "ungreen" the contraption!



You people might want to know that I actually commuted by our MRT yesterday; yes, to and fro my destinations. Nope, I wasn't embarassed by closing train doors whilst I face the wrong train-side. And nobody gave up their seats to me. So I guess I don't look too "senior-citizenly" yet. Haha!



Sob! One and a half more days to term 3 of school. The consolation is that I had relatively good fun and rest these past 4 weeks.

Mini Musicals

I went to watch Five Footway Broadway Mini Musicals produced by Musical Theatre Ltd at the Esplanade Theatre Studios last night. Brought one of the daughters along. The Significant Other was working late. Sigh! There went one potential date just with him!

We enjoyed the performance immensely. Six musicals in all were staged, resplendent with largely locally composed music and lyrics, and light-hearted storylines that the audience could identify with. The actors, actresses and musicians impressed me with their slick delivery. With a modest budget, I thought that the whole production set-up was marvellously conceived and staged.

As part of the Arts Fringe events, I thought that the length and variety of such a performance succeeded in reaching out to a wide audience. For the non-artsy ones amongst us, it was light enough to whet our appetite for musicals; for the seasoned culture-vultures, most might have been impressed by the commendable standards of our local talents in the musical scene.

As I commented to the organisers, how I wish many more could have viewed last night's performance. The daughter and I agreed that whilst our butts hurt like crazy from sitting on the cushioned benches at the Theatre Studios, it was all worth it.

We went home happy. The other five at home were still up waiting for us. So we watched a movie on DVD till around 2.30 am!! There's nothing like the hols! Hurray!

Friday the 13th

Nothing freaky happened today. The younger ones did spill water all over the computer table at home . . . then made a fervent wish that the water will somehow evaporate, create rain clouds, then a storm that will hold up traffic on the road and delay my journey home from school. That way, they can have more computer game time before Evil Mother returns!! What wishful thinking! And the lengths they went through to apply book knowledge . . .I was speechless!

Simpe Joy

Let me share with you how you can delight 3 boys on a lazy afternoon and feed them as well, on a low budget: just give them free rein to the kitchen and encourage them to whip up egg omelettes for tea. Do not scream when they crack eggs all over the place --- more onto the floor and kitchen top than into the bowl. Indulge them when they request that you demonstrate for the upteenth time how to beat the eggs into a nice fluff. Do not judge when they insist on dousing their egg mixtures with horrendous amounts of black pepper. Resist holding their hands when they attempt to pour oil and heat the frying pan. Subtly suggest that the heat may perhaps be a tad too high, and the kitchen in danger of being set ablaze. Hold your breath when the young ones flip the omelettes over. Give plenty of praises. Then watch them wolf down with pride their finished products. Tactfully decline their offer to do this EVERY afternoon for tea.

Birthday bash

Just celebrated the birthday of one in the family herd who turned sixteen. Also "hampelah" celebrated Father's Day earlier. It was fun. We made a nice book-card for the man of the house, and ate out with the birthday fella. The younger ones treated the special one with bubble tea, ice cream and what-have-you snacks. Friends sprang a surprise birthday visit to the home late in the night. I think she was touched . . . The younger ones cheekily asked if they could give the birthday one a birthday BASH ---- literally! Mentioned something about Happy Slapping too . . . I know that they were testing me . . . Sigh! . . . the things a mother need go through!

The man of the house was beaming from ear to ear. His precious sons played finger-guessing games with him after dinner. They were roaring with laughter as losers ate chilli, leftovers and whatever that were on the dinner table.

Yeap, another good day . . .

Sway With Me

Today, while watching the choir sing and sway to the music from the stage wing, I was reminded of something funny. Do you know that I suffer from motion sickness very easily? I have discovered that I can't fish from a boat bobbing out at sea, do exercises lying on a Swiss exercise ball nor swing on a hammock. I get all whoozy and may even throw up! Yucccks! Disgusting, huh?

Am now enjoying some very nice piano pieces played by the short-fingered-but-rather-musically inclined daughter. The Significant Other and I often wonder where our children got their music genes from. Haha . . . The smallest one has started to ask for saxaphone lessons. Sure, why not . . . creative pursuits are always fine with me . . . but whither the budget for them?

No more separation anxiety

Just sent another one off for an overseas camp this hols. This is the one who agonised for one whole year in Primary One over separation anxiety. Poor thing . . . I can still remember all the tears -- hers and mine --- as we stuggled over me not being there for her ( I was out of the country). The Significant Other tried his best, but I guess it just isn't the same. She was closer to me. Fast forward eight years down the road, and today, she confidently waved me good-bye as she strode past the school gates to join her waiting school-mates. Her spirit was high and I didn't detect the slightest tinge of apprehension as I ranted reminders of safety issues, survival tips and the importance of team work. She has come a long way. I am glad.