I love the blue sky

Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Second Rehearsal

The second NDP combined rehearsal ended a little earlier than the first. We were all glad. Haha. I was talking quite a bit with the choir teachers-in-charge from Woodgrove and Montfort this time. Very chatty and funny people!

Our local celebrity comperes arrived the floating platform in style and rehearsed for the pre-parade segment. Even though they were rattling off from their scripts, they were hilarious. It was albeit a little strange to see them 'trying' (they weren't trying of course - it was just a rehearsal) to hype up the audience who were mainly uniform personnels, student participants (who were the motivators), and more civil servants (example, teachers). Haha.

I tried taking pictures with my camera at the start of the rehearsal, but it died on me. ;( Clearly, I'd forgotten to recharge the batteries over the week. I had to resort to using my PDA-phone, which had a very low battery level. Still, it survived the entire evening and I thought I had managed to capture some fantastic moments. The colours are amazing. Unfortunately, the clarity is disappointing. Oh well, better than nothing!

The Red Lions in action - awesome stuff! Apparently, the last parachuteer has done about a million jumps! It was really amazing to see them sky-diving at such a high altitude. The first jumper to touch ground had to drop for the furthest distance before he could open his parachute. I think I was gaping when I saw how fast the drop was. HAHA.

The military band doing their stuff, which was really nice. I enjoyed the music. Half the time I was wondering if they were playing 'live', although the answer was pretty clear. ;p

The very smart-looking marching contingents. Our CCA uniform groups in schools should aspire to march like that and look this good! (;

The combined schools' choir looked really beautiful performing with the fuchsia fans. I can't wait to see them in their full costume!

This is my best shot of one of the major highlights of the parade. Not too bad for a low-batt PDA-phone, eh? The planes were really FAST, mind you. ;O

Singapore's skyline in the early evening. You can see the beautifully-lit Fullerton on the right of the picture. The merlion is hardly visible though. But it's there, in front of Fullerton.

Love the lights and colours. More to come!

Unidentified Flying Object visiting Singapore? ;O

Nope! Obviously not! It's the fireworks!

This is only 5% of the climactic display we'll get to see on the actual day!!!

Even though the choir teachers-in-charge on duty on the big day won't be at the floating platform, we should be near enough to get to watch the fireworks lighting up the sky. It's been quite a while since I saw live fireworks. Great anticipation!

jOyZ blogged at 7:29 PM

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Thursday, June 26, 2008
At Long Last...

... I can blog! It's been an extremely busy two weeks - especially now that Term 3 has begun. I forced myself to drop all my work so that I could leave school by 2.15pm latest for a visit at the doctor, do some grocery-shopping and go for an early session at the gym. I told myself, "No more work for today. You didn't even have a proper break during the June holidays. And you'll be down for NDP rehearsals practically every Saturday until the big day, which means half your weekends are good as gone. SO FORGET ABOUT WORK FOR TODAY AND REST!"

And I did just that.

Sorry to the 5A pupils whom I was supposed to meet for EPC, but I think my health is more important than anything. Nothing can compensate once our health breaks down.

休息，是为了走更长远的路。

The June holiday saw me having my only 2 days of rest on Monday and Tuesday at home in the final week. Even then, I was completing three reports on Monday. In truth, I only had one miserable day of rest for the entire June break. Most tragic, wouldn't you say?

Then, there was department meeting on Wednesday morning and discipline workshop on Thursday morning. I spent my afternoons thereafter clearing my table. Finally, we had a staff meeting and retreat for the entire Friday. Admittedly, the retreat was pretty fun. We sat on the Singapore Flyer and many of us were trigger-happy, clicking our cameras away at the fantastic scenery. Anyone would have thought that we were foreigners, eager to capture the helicopter view of Singapore's skyline.

Here are a few shots that I especially like - minus the unsightly reflections.

On Saturday, Choir had to go for the first NDP combined rehearsal. The pupils reported at about noon in school and we didn't return until past 10 pm! It was really tiring, but I enjoyed watching the rehearsal even though it wasn't the real show and it took everyone forever to move in place for the finale.

Here are some pictures to whet your appetite for the actual NDP. Heh.

I hope it's another beautiful weather for the second rehearsal this Saturday. (=

jOyZ blogged at 8:40 PM

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Monday, June 16, 2008
The Delicious iPhone

Here's another gadget I hanker after.

The iPhone 3G.

I know. I just bought my Nokia E61i. It works fine at the moment. Hopefully, it'll last me for at least the next year and a half. I'm looking at the iPhone as my next handphone. Who knows how it'll evolve in the next year and a half, but no harm keeping my eye on it now, right? (x

jOyZ blogged at 4:17 PM

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Saturday, June 14, 2008
Anyone's Dream Laptop

Like many people, I am salivating over this:

Look at how slim it is.

And here are its technical specifications.
Height: 0.4-1.94 cm (0.16-0.76 inch)
Width: 32.4 cm (12.74 inches)
Depth: 22.7 cm (8.9 inches)
Weight: 1.36 kg (3.0 pounds)

I will buy it one day.

Yes.

One day.

Meanwhile, I await the demise of my present laptop. It's serving me way too well for me to end its life span prematurely. ;p

jOyZ blogged at 9:56 PM

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A Trip To Remember

I just got back yesterday evening from a field trip in Malaysia with some pupils. It was certainly a trip to remember for a few reasons - some good and some not so pleasant. Overall though, it was a good trip and I was glad to see the kids having fun for most parts.

I thought the second day of the trip was the most unforgettable. The pupils behaved beautifully. They were co-operative, eager to learn (asking lots of questions and jotting down notes) and, most of all, they enjoyed all the activities - visits to a groundnut factory, a tofu factory, a limestone cave and a thrilling - really heart-stopping - ride up to a waterfall on roaring jeeps. At night, we were fed with delicious barbecued food - the bee hoon fried with fragrant lemongrass and chicken wings grilled to perfection among other dishes. =)~ For an adventure resort, I thought the kitchen staff of Countryview Recreation Park served really good food. How I wish I'd snapped some pictures of our meals there. I guess I was too famished to remember. HAHA.

Oh, one of our ex-pupils, Yiwen from 4C 2005 (I think), was there on a trip with her polytechnic too. According to Mr Lee, the boss, his resort is very popular with many schools and institutions in Singapore. He said it was always packed with Singaporean students every school holidays so much so that he received complaints for not being able to cater to any schools from Malaysia at all. ;O

We spent our final night at the Grand Blue Wave Hotel in Shah Alam. There was some unpleasant drama that night and my colleagues and I didn't sleep until 5 am. Although the pupils initially felt that the teachers were making a mountain out of a molehill regarding the whole matter, they did realise their mistakes were grave enough to cause the teachers much hurt and disappointment.

Even though we were deeply disappointed, we didn't want the pupils to stop learning and having fun. I thought things got a little better towards the end after they were being reminded of their primary objectives of the trip.

I did not manage to capture all moments (candid and otherwise) with my camera, but here are some for your viewing pleasure.

jOyZ blogged at 2:18 PM

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Saturday, June 07, 2008
Excuse Me, Are You A Freemale?

The world has yet another label for a fast-growing breed of urban species on planet Earth - the Freemale, a by-product of a modern society.

You know you're a freemale when...

1) the idea of getting married brings you out in a cold sweat.
2) you go to bed in a facemask and socks.
3) your impressive collection of newly bought shoes is not hidden away at the back of the wardrobe.
4) the lid of your lavatory is always down.
5) you have a female friend listed as next-of-kin.
6) all of your best male friends are gay.
7) the only man who tells you what to do in your bathroom is your plumber.
8) the only thing that needs looking after in your life is your cat - and yourself.
9) the only time you read the lonely hearts column is for a laugh.
10) you pity smug mums in TV ads sniffing laundry and gushing about freshness.
11) you've never been speed dating - but you're an ace at the karaoke machine.
12) before going on a (rare) date, you book an appointment not with your hairdresser but a counsellor.
13) you buy your own jewellery.
14) your holiday first aid kit is full of hangover cures, rather than Calpol.
15) you haven't lost touch with all your friends.
16) you're not waiting for Mr Right - or even Mr Right Now.

Here is an article I found on the Internet on the Freemale.

Why boy-meets-girl doesn't always mean happily ever after
Published Date: 04 June 2008
By Maggie Stratton

Jane Austen had it right when she said that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. And woe betide any woman of the Austen era who didn't have the good fortune to become a wife.

But should there be any appetite left for an updating of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion or the like, any 21st century interpretation would have some very different social realities to address. The 2008 Mr Bingleys in want of a wife would, according to the latest statistics, have to contend with growing numbers of single women in possession of their own good fortune, career and comfortable lifestyle, who have no desire to give up their independence.

This new breed of woman has been labelled the Freemale – a woman who is happily asserting that life can be good without a man.

While Austen heroines like Anne Elliot may have found themselves faded and thin and feeling that life had passed them by if they got to 27 and were still unwed, increasing numbers of female singletons of today are confident and happy in their social status. A new report shows that the number of single women aged 25 to 44 has more than doubled in the past 20 years from 18 to 38 per cent.

Figures released by the Office For National Statistics also show we are seeing the lowest marriage rates on record (since 1895) with only 275,140 weddings last year, four per cent lower than the previous 12 months and hugely down on the 1972 peak of 480,285. One in three divorced men may be cohabiting, but only a quarter of women are doing so, and there is a much lower rate of remarriage among the female population.

Until recently such statistics would prompt visions of Bridget Jones drowning her sorrows in a three-unit glass of Chardonnay.

Hollywood may still cling to the age-old ideals and clichés of romantic comedies, but increasing numbers of stars are publicly rejecting the idea that happily-ever-after only ever follows girl-meets-boy.

But social commentators are noting the demise of the stigma of spinsterdom. They say the concept of being single simply by virtue of being left on the shelf is, apparently, becoming a thing of the past. A-list stars like Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston are among the freemale icons.

Fans of The Apprentice will also recall that Sir Alan Sugar's protégés' suggestion of a National Singles' Day to create a new greeting card market prompted orders of 22,500 cards from major retailers.

Paula Hall, a psychotherapist and counsellor for Relate, says some women are weighing the disadvantages of being single against those of being in a couple.

"It is certainly my experience that, while there are still downsides to being single, they are preferable to the pressures that come with couple relationships and the stresses of having to deal with another person and with their differences," she said.

Hall says the increased independence of women has helped to improve their social status and decrease the stigma of being single.

She sees growing numbers of women who, she says, have established successful single lives.

But because there are increasing numbers of women juggling successful careers, financial independence and great social lives, surely it's difficult to know whether their single status is something they choose, rather than simply a by-product of not having found the right partner? Are they really making a positive decision against long-term relationships? Would finding Mr Right spoil it all?

"I think the freemale does exist, and I think it is something that is getting bigger and will continue to do so," says Hall.

"But I think most of the women I see would want to be in a long-term relationship and for the vast majority that is plan A. But for most it (being single) is a not a bad plan B," Hall adds.

Paula Hall's opinion is reflected in that of Dr Jan Macvarish, a sociologist from the University of Kent, who has spent a number of years researching the lives of single women aged 35 to 50.

She agrees that it has become more socially acceptable for women to stay single for longer, but she believes the so-called freemale life is a consumer lifestyle and one enjoyed and desired predominantly by younger generations, particularly among educated women in managerial and professional jobs.

By the time they reach mid-30s, she believes women are focused more on their lives rather than just "lifestyles", and from then onwards being single is not necessarily the preferred option.

"Today there is less pressure to be married or to be a mother by a certain age," says Macvarish.

"Women in their twenties and early thirties are delaying marriage and having children, but I think most women at some point step back onto the relationship conveyor belt and want to find a partner."

But her research into singleness shows that in reality and for various reasons, women's experience shows that it's much more difficult to find a serious romantic partner by the time they reached mid to late thirties. Maybe as we get older as independent females who are answerable only to ourselves, we also become more fussy.

"I think people have very high expectations of relationships," says Dr Macvarish. But when women do change their tune and decide to buy back into relationships, there is comfort in the fact that there are still more single men than women.

The bad news is that single men are more likely to be poorer and less well educated than single women.

Here's my take: If this is the kind of lifestyle a woman chooses to lead for now or the rest of her life, she has to be prepared to face some possible regrets later as she grows older. There is no turning back. Some will feel sorry eventually, others will not. For most people, it's all about the pursuit of happiness.

Let's just do away with the labels, shall we?

jOyZ blogged at 6:30 PM

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Thursday, June 05, 2008
A Week Of Gluttony

I've been eating like a glutton this week.

On Monday, I met up with B, J and S for lunch at Shokudo, located at the basement of Raffles City. It's the Japanese version of Marche. They even have rosti. Just that it's flatter and in a smaller serving. I ordered that, along with a bowl of creamy mushroom soup and a plate of gyoza.

I had a great time reminiscing and catching up with the three of them. After lunch, we shifted from Shokudo to Cafe Cartel, where we ordered cakes and drinks, eating and talking till almost dinner time.

Oh, before I met them, I ran into some giraffes within the building. Haha. They were slowly tottering about in the name of Arts; I saw someone holding a huge card-banner that read "Arts on the Move". It was really interesting. I was also amused by the number of shoppers (myself included) trying to capture an image of the fake giraffes in their handphones. Here's a picture of one of the fake giraffes I caught with my PDA phone. ;D

Tuesday was extremely hectic for me. I was zipping around - from school, to Thomson, back to school and then to town. By the time I was done with my errands, I felt like I hadn't eaten for a week. I promptly settled myself at the Hans at Far East Plaza and ordered a complete set meal. The food was as salty as seawater, but I was too hungry to complain and wolfed down everything in sight. I even bought one sausage roll in case I needed supper. Back at home that evening, I ate again for dinner. -_- I even finished a packet of cheddar-flavoured Ruffles while watching a Korean drama.

Then yesterday, after watching Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I had dinner with C and P at Dempsey's PS Cafe. They both ordered the fish and chips while I decided to try something different - Chicken Rossa Penne (or something like that).

I regretted my decision because the pasta had quite a bit of mushrooms in it. It wasn't that the dish tasted bad, but because we had shared a huge serving of mushroom salad, I thought I had too much mushroom for dinner. After a few mouthfuls of the fantastic pasta, I felt a bit sick of the aftertaste. Still, I continued stuffing my face because I didn't want the food to go to waste. Finally, I gave up and left the penne untouched but ate up every piece of mushroom and meat. I had to rest a while before I could eat any desserts. We ordered some chocolate cake which was very rich and so chocolaty that the chocolate was stuck onto the spoon. Even though the three of us shared one piece of the cake, we couldn't finish it!

I thought I would never eat again after the meal last night. However, I had a hearty appetite for lunch today - ate a Polar chicken pie and bowl noodles. Terribly unhealthy, I know. But there wasn't enough time for me to lunch outside and be back in time for a meeting.

I'm so glad my dad is cooking porridge for dinner. Well, I'm off! It's time to eat again. ;p

jOyZ blogged at 7:09 PM

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