I SAY THEE NAY

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

2011-12-20T00:02:00.003+08:00

adapted from http://www.marcandangel.com

When you stop chasing the wrong things
you give the right things a chance to catch you.

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.

Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.

Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.

Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.

Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.

Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.

Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.

Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.

Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.

Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.

Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.

Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.

Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”

Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.

Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.

Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.

Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.

Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.

Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.

Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.

Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.

Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.

Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.

Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.

Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

The top regrets by those about to die

2011-12-04T16:52:00.003+08:00

adapted from Addicted 2 Success.com

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way.

From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard - This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship.

Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings - Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends - Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down.

Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in
the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.
They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed
to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

A father's message from beyond the grave

2011-08-05T13:06:00.003+08:00

A father's message from beyond the grave: My darling children, here's how to live your lives when Daddy's gone

by Rachel Porter

Last updated at 1:04 AM on 23rd July 2011

Memories of Mandy Flanagan’s late husband Paul fill the house they used to share.

Pictures of him as a floppy-haired schoolboy, a handsome teenage rugby star, a newlywed, and a devoted dad, adorn the walls and window ledges of their country cottage.

But Paul, a teacher, who died of cancer at the age of 45 in November 2009, passionately believed his children, Thomas and Lucy — just five and one-and-half years old at the time — should have more than fading photographs to remember him by.

‘There was nothing more important to Paul than being the best father he could be,’ says Mandy, 44.

‘When he knew he was dying, there was no time for self-pity. He became absolutely focused on doing whatever he could to continue being a good dad to them throughout the years, even though he wouldn’t be here in person.’

He wrote them letters, filmed DVD messages, bought future birthday presents, and even filled a large chest with his favourite books.

‘Each book is accompanied by a note to Thomas and Lucy explaining why Paul loved it, and how much he hopes they will too when they’re old enough to read it,’ explains Mandy.

But perhaps Paul’s greatest gift to his wife and children was a document titled ‘On finding fulfilment’, which Mandy discovered on his laptop, by chance last month.

‘I opened it and, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I discovered his bullet-pointed code to living a good and happy life,’ saysMandy.

‘The list of 28 instructions for living a good life contained no empty platitudes; each one completely reflects the way that Paul lived his own life.

‘He was wise and brave and decent to the core, but I could never have found the words to sum him up so perfectly as he has himself.

'I can’t tell you what a comfort it is to know that our children will grow up with a real understanding of what made Paul, Paul.’

She adds: ‘It would have been our tenth wedding anniversary this year, and while we didn’t have a perfect marriage — lots of love and laughs, but lots of arguments too — I realised when I read his words that, when it came to the stuff that really matters in life, we were absolutely united.’

Addressing his children, who were too young to comprehend the tragedy that was unfolding, Paul writes: ‘In these last few weeks, following my terminal diagnosis, I have searched my soul and heart to find ways in which I can reach out to you as you grow up.

‘I’ve been thinking about the matters in life that are important, and the values and aspirations that make people happy and successful. In my view, and you may well have your own ideas by now, the formula is pretty simple.

‘The three most important virtues are: Loyalty, integrity and moral courage. If you aspire, friends will respect you, employers will retain you, and your father will be immensely proud of you.

‘I am therefore giving you several pieces of advice. These are the principles on which I have tried to build my life and they are exactly those that I would have encouraged you to embrace, had I been able to.

‘I love you very much. Never forget that.’

What follows is an extraordinary list of rules, which could enable us all to live better lives. It encompasses everything from the importance of table manners to the perils of gossiping and everything in between.

‘And it’s just so Paul!’ laughs Mandy today.

‘It makes me cry but it really makes me smile too.

‘He was an old-fashioned school-master and utterly meticulous when it came to manners. I’m obsessive over the kids’ “pleases and thank yous” because I know that Paul never let them get away with it.’

Mandy reads aloud from the list: ‘Be punctual … Show moral courage … Never, ever let a friend down … Well, that was Paul. He was maddeningly early for everything. He spoke up for what he felt was right, no matter how unpopular it might have made him. And I have never met anyone so loyal to their friends.

‘He also wrote that they should never give up, and he certainly never did. He fought so bravely, so courageously, right to the end.’

Paul was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2004. A birthmark on his chest had become malignant, and was swiftly removed in November that year, when their son Thomas was just a few months old.

In January 2008, after years of regular check-ups, he was given the all-clear, when Mandy was expecting Lucy.

‘He was such a positive person, but he never allowed himself to believe that the cancer had been dealt with,’ says Mandy.

That May, a swelling appeared under Paul’s arm and specialists quickly confirmed his worst fears. The cancer had spread to the lymph glands in his arms, and was detected in his neck soon after. Surgery and radiotherapy did little to halt its progress. And, in March 2009, scans showed that the cancer had spread to his brain and his condition was terminal.

‘He never pitied himself,’ says Mandy. ‘The diagnosis, and perhaps the drugs he was on, triggered a sort of mania. He suddenly had so much energy. While I lay awake upstairs worrying, Paul would work through the nights, determined to get his affairs in order.’

He meticulously organised the family finances, arranged his own funeral, and even bought his own memorial bench for the grounds of Reigate Grammar School, where he had taught economics since 2003. He also set up a cricket team for all of his friends, who now play annual memorial matches to raise money for the Melanoma Foundation.

Over the weeks, piles of shoeboxes full of paperwork, hand-written letters and DVD messages for his family and friends took over the dining room.

And as his health deteriorated, Paul insisted that he and Mandy went shopping for Thomas and Lucy’s 18th and 21st birthday presents.

‘I wonder how we got through those days, but there’s a strange kind of adrenaline that just keeps you going,’ says Mandy.

‘You just want to do whatever feels right. We went to a jewellers in Spitalfields market in London to buy Lucy an eternity ring for her 21st.

‘When the woman at the counter asked: “Is it the right size?”, Paul and I just looked blankly at each other. “We don’t know,” I said.

‘She looked at Paul and saw how desperately ill he was. Then all three of us looked at Lucy sitting in her pushchair, completely oblivious to it all.’

Lucy was christened last summer. As a result, she has one godmother and nine godfathers — each a close friend of her father’s.

‘He wanted his friends to have a permanent tie to his family, I think,’ says Mandy. ‘And if Lucy couldn’t have her father, a fantastic team of godfathers was the very least she deserved.’

By the time Paul died — at home, eight months after his terminal diagnosis — Mandy felt certain that he would rest peacefully in the knowledge that he had left the best legacy that any father could.

‘When some people are told they have just a few months to live, they decide their life won’t be complete until they’ve bungee-jumped off Sydney Harbour Bridge or seen the Grand Canyon. But that wasn’t Paul. All that was important to him was right here.

‘He lived and died by his own rules, and I know he had found his own fulfilment.’

A FATHER'S RULES FOR FINDING FULFILLMENT

Be courteous, be punctual, always say please and thank you, and be sure to hold your knife and fork properly. Others take their cue on how to treat you from your manners.

Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if you have problems of your own. Others will admire your selflessness and will help you in due course.

Show moral courage. Do what is right, even if that makes you unpopular. I always thought it important to be able to look at myself in the shaving mirror every morning and not feel guilt or remorse. I depart this world with a pretty clear conscience.

Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.

Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

Have fun. If this involves taking risks, so be it. If you get caught, hold your hands up.

Give to charity and help those who are less fortunate than yourselves: it’s easy and so rewarding.

Always look on the upside! The glass is half full, never half empty. Every adversity has a silver lining if you seek it out.

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Be canny: you will get more of what you want if you can give someone more of what they desire. Compromise can be king.

Always accept a party invitation. You may not want to go, but they want you there. Show them courtesy and respect.

Never ever let a friend down. I would bury bodies for my friends, if they asked me to . . . which is why I have chosen them carefully.

Always tip for good service. It shows respect. But never reward poor service. Poor service is insulting.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Be prepared to put the interests of your sibling first.

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches.

Be ambitious, but not nakedly so. Be prepared to back your assertions with craftsmanship and hard work.

Live every day to its full: do something that makes you smile or laugh, and avoid procrastination.

Give of your best at school. Some teachers forget that pupils need incentives. So if your teacher doesn’t give you one, devise your own.

Always pay the most you can afford. Never skimp on hotels, clothing, shoes, make-up or jewellery. But always look for a deal. You get what you pay for.

Never give up! My two little soldiers have no dad, but you are brave, big-hearted, fit and strong. You are also loved by an immensely kind and supportive team of family and friends. You make your own good fortune, my children, so battle on.

Never feel sorry for yourself, or at least don’t do it for long. Crying doesn’t make things better.

Look after your body and it will look after you.

Learn a language, or at least try. Never engage a person abroad in conversation without first greeting them in their own language; by all means ask if they speak English!

And finally, cherish your mother, and take very good care of her.

I love you both with all my heart.
Daddy x

25 Manners Every Kid Should Know By Age 9

2011-05-11T19:41:00.002+08:00

Helping your child master these simple rules of etiquette will get him noticed -- for all the right reasons.
By David Lowry, Ph.D.

Your child's rude 'tude isn't always intentional. Sometimes kids just don't realize it's impolite to interrupt, pick their nose, or loudly observe that the lady walking in front of them has a large behind. And in the hustle and bustle of daily life, busy moms and dads don't always have the time to focus on etiquette. But if you reinforce these 25 must-do manners, you'll raise a polite, kind, well-liked child.

Manner #1

When asking for something, say "Please."

Manner #2

When receiving something, say "Thank you."

Manner #3

Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4

If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.

Manner #5

When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6

The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.

Manner #7

Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8

When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9

When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10

Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.

Manner #11

When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12

Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13

Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14

Don't call people mean names.

Manner #15

Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.

Manner #16

Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

Manner #17

If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."

Manner #18

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.

Manner #19

As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20

If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.

Manner #21

When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22

When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23

Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24

Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25

Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of Parents magazine.

And I'm living the charmed life...

2011-04-17T00:46:00.001+08:00

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." James Keller

A really good man

2010-12-27T16:59:00.003+08:00

This is a letter written by a Union soldier, Major Sullivan Ballou, to his wife, Sarah, a week before his death at the Battle of Bull Run:

"July 14th, 1861

My very dear Sarah,

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilisation now leans on the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt...

Sarah, my love for you is deathless... and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistably on to the battle field.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long... I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me - perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name."

The longest run

2010-12-07T10:42:00.002+08:00

After the Sundown debacle in May 2009, demons appeared, casting doubts to fall before my feet.

Running is intertwined with my sense of well-being. Since that black day, I have been building up my bruised confidence. I whispered a goal to myself - to complete one more marathon and make a total comeback.

A series of 10k runs through the year was achieved. Crossing the finishing line in those races added a measure of confidence within me - that my back could withstand the pounding.

The final month leading to the SCMS was derailed by a succession of bacterial infections. The antibiotics were strong and I was forced to rest. My running programme became impossible to follow, and worse still - physically I did not feel robust.

Though this marathon isn't my first, yet on the eve of the marathon, my nerves were fraying. Setting a target time was impossible, because I did not know for sure if I could even last the distance.

So I prayed. I prayed for health, and the wisdom to know - during the race - if I could press on to finish the race, or to be courageous enough to bow out if my body cannot handle the rigour.

I turned up at the start line, under the glittering Xmas lights on Orchard Road. In the midst of the countless runners, I kept my thoughts above the incessant chatter.

Thoughts ran clearly through my head - take it easy, enjoy the marathon, this is your chance for redemption.

Filled with optimism - having self-talked my way into a confident position - I took on the race.

By the 7km mark, my running came to a shuddering halt. This is the price for falling sick in November. Regardless, I kept moving.

The hours were long. As dawn broke, and the sun became scorching, I refused to wither. In fact, the more I became laid back - the better I felt.

This marathon is not one for me to set PBs or outdo my previous performance. The only success indicator for me is this - to complete the 42km without feeling any damage from my back.

A sense of euphoria overwhelmed me when I crossed the finish line. My body, though racked with creaking muscles and pulsating blisters - felt fine. There was a backache - but nothing more. In this I rejoiced. The medal & the t-shirt were just a bonus.

Most importantly - now I know I can do it. Hopefully, this will spur me on to continue running in the coming years.

For now, it is time for a well-deserved rest. In my current school, I have nothing but gratitude and thanks for all the goodness I have experienced. Next year will come with it new challenges, but I am certain that they can be overcome.

For my ex-students in Fajar, you are very much in my thoughts. I hope you are all doing fine.

To the Peer Leaders & Basketball players - continue to be a blessing and inspiration to the people around you. The School has taught you well - whether it is through leadership camps, basketball training sessions or day-to-day lessons - so you must be like living waters, and impart those positive values to your juniors and peers.

Finally, a quote that never fails to stir me up:

"Our greatest glory is not succeeding, but rising every time we fall."

What I Do & What I Believe

2010-11-09T11:11:00.002+08:00

The Star Polisher by Leah Becks

"I have a great job in the universe of occupations. What do I do? I'm a 'star polisher'.

It's a very important job. If you want to know how important my job is, just go out at night and look at the stars twinkling and sparkling.

You see, I'm a teacher. The stars are the children in my class. My job is to take them in - in whatever shape they come - and shine and buff them and then send them out to take their places as bright little twinkling beacons in the sky.

They come into my room in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly and broken. Some stars are cuddly, soft and sweet.

Some stars are prickly and thorny.

As I buff, polish, train and teach my little stars, I tell them that the world cannot do without them. I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to do. I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better place because of them.

Each night as I look at the sky, I'm reminded of my very important job and awesome responsibility. I go and get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow and for my class of little stars."

Unsung heroes in our midst

2010-10-24T14:26:00.003+08:00

"In any organisation, there will be those who stand out, the leaders, and those who are followers. An important but small group in-between consists of our unsung heroes - not among the foremost leaders of their times, but without whom the leaders could not have accomplished anything.

I believe it is important to remember and honour such men & women - not because they want recognition, but to encourage more people to emulate them in doing what is good & right, regardless of whether the deed brings personal glory."

Dr Lee Wei Ling, The Sunday Times, 24 Oct 2010

Sobering words that actually make sense

2010-08-29T15:08:00.003+08:00

"Entrepreneurship is about excellence - not excellence measured in awards, or other people's approval, but the sort one achieves for oneself, by exploring what the world has to offer. It is important to look for one's strengths - to try to excel at what you are good at.

What you're bad at doesn't actually interest people, and it certainly shouldn't interest you. However accomplished you become in life, the things you are bad at will always outnumber the things you are good at. So don't let your limits knock your self-confidence. Put them to one side and push yourself towards your strengths.

Successful people aren't in possession of secrets known only to themselves. Don't obsess over people who appear to you to be 'winners', but listen instead to the wisdom of people who've led enriching lives - people, for instance, who've found time for friends and family. Be generous in your interpretation of what success looks like.

In life, all that matters is that you do something positive. Enjoy your life - you only get one."

Richard Branson

The power I wield

2010-08-06T19:33:00.000+08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

What he said

2010-07-24T13:30:00.003+08:00

"In an ideal business environment, everybody should have a rough idea of what everyone else is going through. People should be free to talk. Banter is essential. Anonymous, over-formal, regimented surroundings produce mediocre results. Niggling problems either fester, or they end up on your desk. No one runs that extra mile for you.

If your people aren't talking to one another, how are they ever going to get ideas?"

Richard Branson

England - the butt of World Cup jokes

2010-07-01T16:35:00.003+08:00

Qn: What is the difference between England and a team bag?

Ans: The tea bag stays in the cup longer.

I can't believe we only managed a draw against a rubbish team we should easily have beaten. . . . I'm ashamed to call myself Algerian.

Apparently that fan had no trouble slipping into the England dressing room – Robert Green was guarding the door.

I’ve just won two tickets to see the England team. Do you want to come with me? We’ll catch the bus to Gatwick Airport on Thursday and watch them come home.

David Blaine is reportedly furious after England crashed out of the World Cup – his record of doing absolutely nothing in a box for 42 days was broken by Wayne Rooney.

England vs USA: Sympathy for Rob Green's blunder

2010-07-01T16:14:00.003+08:00

At least that's one British spillage the Americans won't be moaning about...

Steven Gerrard said: "The whole team is behind Rob Green." With hindsight, that's a good place to stand.

The England lads had a get-together after the game and bought Robert Green a drink to commiserate. He spilled it.

Robert Green's bringing out his own South African trumpet. It's known as a boo-boozela.

My computer's got the Robert Green virus. It can't save anything.

All these Rob Green jokes are getting out of hand. In fact they're crossing the line...

Great businesses start from the home

2010-07-01T10:56:00.003+08:00

"It's a little strange, I suppose, that I, of all people, should end these notes by saying how good it will be for us not to spend too much time at work. But as I say in chapter one: for me, my work begins at home, it is my home, and my partners in business are my friends in life. Time at home isn't idle: it's a time for re-affirming those very values - creativity & care, trust & teamwork - that keep great businesses alive.

If we are looking for business inspiration, and all the old certainties have fallen away, then let's start today, at the kitchen table, surrounded by the people who made us and love us; here, among the children we have made, and in whom we take such pride. Now that's a model for a business."

Richard Branson

And she turns 2...

2010-06-01T16:52:00.005+08:00

"We know what we are,
But we know not what we may be." William Shakespeare

Sweet like chocolate!

2010-02-20T14:42:00.001+08:00

One year

2009-12-09T12:20:00.003+08:00

One of the best things in life is being able to meet old friends again.

Especially those with whom I had the pleasure and privilege to have worked closely with.

Seeing them again did serve to also bring home the stark contrast in the previous and current working environments for me.

It is always important for me to acknowledge that spending my beginning years as a teacher in my previous school had been a transformational experience. I am amazed at how much I have learnt from the 6 years I spent there. While I had prospered and flourished, I was humbled by the favour and respect I received, and I did my best to give back what I could.

I did not presume to think I was ever going to leave for 'greener pastures'. My old school was an Eden to me. I never considered the travelling distance a hinderance. The joy and the fulfilment that I received in great abundance on a daily basis kept me going, soaring, giving.

Having been in my new school for a year, I am candid enough to know that I am still adjusting. Obviously the people are fantastic. The pupils shine in many different ways and are certainly not the terrors they once were. They came into the school with fearsome reputations, but they are irresistably metamophorsised. The teachers work very hard because these kids are hard work.

It is hard to pin down. Dynamics are different. I am starting from the bottom, much like when I first started out. It is refreshing to see things from a different height, different angle, with a different mission now. It is equally, if not more fulfilling, satisfying.

I am not sure if I am a better, more capable teacher. But I understand better the complexities of life, the challenges that we face in society, the power of teachers to shape the lives of the downtrodden. I see all these through the lens of the youths under my charge.

Undoubtedly it is a journey, fraught with uncertainties in the beginning. Now I am cruising, more aware, more in tune.

One more year. After that? I am not so sure where my path will lead me to.

I know one thing, that I am in the good hands of the Lord and He will see me through.

End in sight

2009-12-06T14:57:00.003+08:00

A proud tradition (rightly deserved, if I might add) was broken. A run of 6 Stan-Chart marathons in a row ended this year.

I did run in the modest 10km. Common sense dictated that it would be foolhardy to attempt a 42km run. I have not yet regained the confidence, especially after the very unpleasant experience at the Sundown, where I had to quit the race because of injury. Thinking about that still stings like a sore wound, simply because I hated quitting.

On a positive note, after that awful Sundown experience, I have managed to complete a few more races, the longest being the AHM, which I emerged unscathed.

Come next year, my Sabbathical will end. My back injury will be a distant memory by then. I'm committed to running (and completing) the Sundown 42km 2010, to celebrate the overcoming of my injury and Mikayla's 2nd birthday.

Irresistably beautiful

2009-10-27T12:33:00.001+08:00

Intelligent, fast, and very cheeky... that's my girl!

Bad news, good news

2009-10-08T15:23:00.003+08:00

What a rollercoaster. My emotions, once at a nadir, were elevated briefly to the heavens. And the source of these were reports from the hospital.

While I have been able to remain injury-free for the most part of the last 5 years, enabling me to complete in numerous sports and running events, there were episodes where I was laid low with pains or aches associated with my back.

A fortnight ago, a visit with an orthopaedic specialist revealed a slipped disc, which hit me hard, even though deep inside I was almost expecting it. Memories of seeing a few of my friends bending over with pain from this ailment struck me.

Nobody wants a slipped disc in the back. It would mean a huge re-adjustment to the way I live my life, so as to preserve my back for the years ahead, and to avoid hastening a deterioration of the condition.

I cannot contemplate a future of crippling pains shooting down my legs, chained to the bed, resting for days, not because I want to, but because I have to.

I cannot imagine a future where I can no longer run freely.

It was scant consolation when the doctor told me that my symptoms were very mild. Though the MRI suggested strongly that I have a prolapsed disc, I do not experience any of the horrific pains that come with it. The doctor urged me to rest, take up pilates, and see him in 3 months' time.

He also arranged for me to see a physiotherapist, which I did, just yesterday afternoon.

Seeing the physio for the first time in my life, I did not know what to really expect. She was very professional though, patiently asking me questions to get a clear understanding of my history. Once the questions were concluded, she put down her file and looked at me and said, ''Y' know, I don't think you have a slipped disc.''

My spirit jumped.

Next, I stood up, and followed her directions and performed some lunges, stretches, and movements. All the while, she kept asking, ''Any pain?" My answers were always negative, except for the usual muscle tightness when I stretched too far.

She sat me down and her assessment was that I do not have a slipped disc. If I had, I would not have been able to do those exercises without experiencing pain and bad discomfort. Rather, she deduced that the core muscles supporting my spine are weak, causing instability, putting pressure on the nerves, resulting in spasms and occasional pains.

She taught me to do a simple exercise every day, which would strengthen core muscles, and she believes that this would ease the constant aches and muscle spasms that have been afflicting me.

With her uplifting words resonating in my head, I walked out of the physio room like a brand new man.

It is not a joke. The knowledge that my back can be treated has given me an impetus, a renewed resolved to work on those core muscles.

Now I have hope, that I can live the way I love - playing soccer, running, and picking up my baby Mikayla.

One reason why I write this post is this: if I ever get lazy, and stop doing those core exercises, let this post be a sober reminder to myself, that it is my responsibility to care for my back, and I should never slacken in my efforts to strengthen it.

About Winning & Excellence

2009-10-06T07:25:00.001+08:00

There is nothing briefer than the winner's laurel. Victory is of the moment.

It must be followed by another victory and then another.

Excellence is not something attained and put in a trophy case. It is not sought after, achieved, and, thereafter, a steady state.

It is a momentary phenomenon, a rare conjunction of body, mind, and spirit at one's peak.

Should I come to that peak, I cannot stay there. Like Sisyphus, I must start each day at the bottom and work back up to the top.

And then beyond that peak is another and yet another.

- George Sheehan

Have a nice day!

2009-09-25T14:45:00.003+08:00

A Presidential rebuke

2009-09-18T10:44:00.002+08:00

Kanye West stealing the mike from Taylor Swift during her awards speech? Showing his support for Beyonce in this manner at the expense of someone's big moment?

Definitely absolutely wrong.

Kudos to Mr Obama, who chided West under his breath (though it was caught on the microphone and twittered later).

A candid President. How refreshing!

Teamwork

2009-09-01T11:12:00.001+08:00

If we have a dream and there is:

- no team, the dream is impossible;

- a wrong team, the dream becomes a nightmare;

- the right team, the dream becomes a reality.

The wonderous place that is NorthLight School

2009-08-31T09:44:00.002+08:00

Many people wonder: what kind of school is NorthLight School?

Well, Daniel, a scholar who was attached to NLS for a short while, wrote a very good piece of reflection on his experience in NLS.

You can read it here.

An inspiration, even till today

2009-08-29T11:15:00.003+08:00

Taken from Soccernet.com's article, written by Tom Adams

Greatness in football can be identified and categorised in any number of ways. Medals, statistics and individual awards all shed light on a player's standing in the game while some achieve recognition via a less tangible appreciation of the magical qualities that made them so memorable. Sometimes, though, a simple quote will suffice.

And when a man of the stature of Sir Alex Ferguson says, of Peter Schmeichel, "I don't believe a better goalkeeper played the game. He is a giant figure in the history of Manchester United", you know that the player in question is a very special one indeed.

As well as being a giant in the literal sense - with his bulky 6' 4'' frame, shock of white hair and glowing red nose a formidable facade to wreck the confidence of any opposition forward - Schmeichel was also a metaphorical colossus, his achievements dwarfing those of any other goalkeeper in the Premier League era.

With five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and, of course, one European Cup to his name at United, Schmeichel boasts the kind of silverware that puts the likes of David Seaman, Petr Cech and Shay Given to shame. But it was also his technical expertise, authoritative aura and bellowing voice, cajoling his hen-pecked defence on to greater feats, that left an indelible mark on English football during his eight years at United.

Indeed, after Schmeichel joined United from Brondby for a fee of £550,000 in August 1991, Ferguson described his arrival as the "bargain of the century".

Boasting an impressive reputation in Denmark having won four league titles with Brondby following a move from Hvidovre in 1987, the keeper soon displayed his aptitude for the big occasion when helping his country become the surprise winners of Euro 92, saving a penalty from none other than Marco van Basten in the semi-final shoot-out victory over Holland.

Denmark and Schmeichel's unexpected triumph in Sweden was the precursor to a tremendous second season at United in which he cemented his growing reputation as one of the finest keepers in world football when helping the club secure their first league title for 26 years.

Alongside luminaries such as Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson, Schmeichel was a key driving force for Ferguson's side as he honed an abrasive style of interaction with his own team-mates that would serve the club so well.

Many a game would see Schmeichel give his backline a tongue-lashing for a mistake, critical or otherwise. As Gary Pallister once revealed, no-one was immune from a verbal blast or two: "He can talk a bit, can Peter," the former United defender said. "It doesn't matter who's skipper or how old you are, he'll scream at you."

Along with Roy Keane, who moved to Old Trafford following the club's inaugural Premier League triumph, Schmeichel helped foster a culture of excellence in the United dressing room, constantly demanding high standards from the defence in front of him and frequently, and vocally, making that evidently clear, both on the pitch and off.

Fully immersed in the pursuit of perfection, Schmeichel did not take kindly to being criticised by Ferguson following a 3-3 draw at Anfield in January 1994 as United surrendered a three-goal lead to arch rivals Liverpool. A blazing row ensued and Schmeichel admitted some seven years later that he was told he would be sacked for his disciplinary lapse, before a heartfelt apology to his team-mates earned him a stay of execution.

It was a confrontation that demonstrated Schmeichel's headstrong nature but also proved to be a defining moment in his Old Trafford career as he avoided a premature departure from United and instead built on his early success to become one of the greatest players in the club's history.

The domestic Double was duly delivered in 1994 and although Blackburn claimed the Premier League title in dramatic fashion in 1995, United were back the following year as they memorably reined in Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United and won the double once more.

Ferguson's side trailed Newcastle by ten points at Christmas and visited St James' Park on March 4 with the Magpies four points ahead having played a game less. Defeat could have spelt the end of United's challenge with nine games remaining but Keegan's side were undone by a goalkeeping masterclass from Schmeichel.

Displaying the world-class reactions, one-on-one excellence and sheer shot-stopping brilliance that had served him so well down the years, Schmeichel repelled numerous Newcastle attacks in the first half, with Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardlsey and Faustino Asprilla all failing to break the Dane's resistance. An Eric Cantona strike gave the men from Manchester a 1-0 victory and the momentum to reclaim the title.

That dramatic night on Tyneside encapsulated just why Schmeichel was considered the globe's best keeper during his peak at United. He consistently produced all manner of world-class saves, spreading his frame to block out the goal with his trademark 'star jumps' and denying scores of strikers from close range with his unrivalled reactions - most notably with a Gordon Banks-esque effort when diving low to his right and scooping a header from Rapid Vienna's Rene Wagner over the bar in December 1996.

But Schmeichel was not merely one of the finest shot-stoppers of his generation, he was also a keeper in a very modern mould and his excellent distribution from the back, particularly when utilising his mammoth throws, helped provoke many a United counter-attack.

On occasion, Schmeichel even found himself at the sharp end of those attacks. He netted in a European tie against Rotor Volgograd in 1995 and, in a later incarnation at Aston Villa, scored a sumptuous volley against Everton when making a familiar run forward for a late corner.

The sight of Schmeichel steaming down the pitch in desperation also occurred on his finest night in football. At Camp Nou, with United losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final, Schmeichel was still in the opposition penalty area when, from a late David Beckham corner, Teddy Sheringham turned the ball home to equalise.

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer then famously scored an injury-time winner to ensure one of the most dramatic conclusions to any European tie, cameras captured Schmeichel performing an ecstatic cartwheel. As captain for the night in the absence of the suspended Roy Keane, it meant everything to the boy from Gladsaxe.

The 1999 Treble proved to be Schmeichel's last contribution for United as he joined Sporting Lisbon for two seasons but Aston Villa tempted him back to English football and he made 29 league starts in one year for the Midlanders before a surprise move to Manchester City.

Even in the twilight of his career, he maintained his proud record of having never lost a Manchester derby when contributing to a 3-1 victory for City over United in November 2002.

But Schmeichel could be forgiven that, and much more. In his eight years at Old Trafford, during which he was twice named the world's best goalkeeper by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, he carved out an unrivalled reputation thanks to his numerous feats between the sticks and crucial contributions to one of the most successful periods of the club's history.

Indeed, it could be argued that it took Ferguson almost six years to find anything approaching a reliable successor in Edwin van der Sar, with players like Massimo Taibi and Mark Bosnich victims of the Scot's failed search to fill the void that Schmeichel left in his team.

But how could could The Great Dane, the 'giant figure' of Old Trafford, ever be properly replaced?

Dizzy shopping

2009-08-23T13:01:00.000+08:00

On Saturday my missus & I went for a hot date in town. We had always talked about checking out Ion Orchard, but we never really had the chance till Saturday.

However, the experience I had reminded me starkly why I had sworn never to shop anywhere in the town area on weekends.

The crowd was maddening. I could see no end of people in the cavernous Orchard MRT subways that led to the Ion and Wisma Atria.

The din was so loud, I felt my ear drums bursting any moment.

I could not hear my own thoughts. Such noise.

We got what we wanted - an LV gift, a top for my wife and some drinks to quench the thirst, when we were desperately seeking a refuge in a cafe from the deluge of shoppers outside.

Our last stop was at Far East Plaza toy shop, always one of my favourite stops. Everytime I go there, I always see something I want to buy so much. That Hulk figure, that Iron Man, that fabulous Firestorm figure.

But I held back my wallet. I walked out instead. Those toys don't come cheap, and besides, I am not sure where would I be able to store them. I'm running out of storage space in my home!

I heaved a sigh of relief as we reach our car in the car-park. Finally I could get away from the stifling Orchard crowd.

We were both really tired after an afternoon there. Actually, even though we wanted to check out the Ion, I realised we did not really see much of the place, except only the LV shop and the food basement.

We will definitely be back there, but only on a weekday!

As a last note, I saw 2 of my ex-Fajar students - Joel & Billy in the Orchard subway. They were promoting a Filipino phone card.

Seeing them brought back a flood of memories in my old school. Needless to say I was very pleased to see them. I hope you are both doing ok!

Oh look at her!

2009-08-14T10:17:00.003+08:00

Unscathed

2009-08-03T14:08:00.003+08:00

It was horrible to read the headlines today, about a CEO who struggled during the swimming leg of the triathlon yesterday and passed away after that. My condolences to his family.

On a personal note, I took part in the Osim International Triathlon for the 3rd year running, but this time I signed up for the Mini category, instead of the Sprint. I figured that I needed to be more careful with my injuries, so the Mini was a very attractive option for me, otherwise it would have meant skipping the entire Osim Triathlon altogether.

I am thankful that I came through the 200m swim, 10km cycle and 2km run without any reactions to my body, and in fact, I enjoyed the event thoroughly. I remember smiling just before the air horn sounded. The scrambling into the waters, the waves hitting us over and over, underwater legs kicking out - oh they are so familiar.

I completed the event in under 45 mins, very leisurely and comfortable for me. I was able to go home for a good rest, before I got ready again for another run - the CSC Inter-Constituency Run at Bedok Reservoir.

I set no target timing for myself. Admittedly I was a little tired but felt good to do another run. Though the distance was about 4km, I knew I was able to complete it.

The run itself was better than expected, though it was scorchingly hot and there were no water points along the route, which was quite a disappointment.

But I was glad to complete the run. My back felt all right, and I was able to go home feeling very fulfilled and proud of myself.

But the best thing was, I met an ex-student of mine from Fajar. I think his name is Fadli, from 4T1. I remember seeing him in the same event last year, and it was definitely nice to meet him during the run this time.

I do miss teaching him and his class. I just hope they are all fine, enjoying school and paying good attention in class!

Passing of a great man

2009-08-02T15:01:00.004+08:00

While I was surfing a news website on my iPhone, I saw the news of Sir Bobby Robson's passing. I was stunned. Within the next 15 minutes I was reading through soccer websites and international news portals, and all carried the news.

I was saddened.

My admiration for him had its beginnings way back in Italia 90, when he managed England to the semi-finals - their best performance since their 1966 World Cup victory. No other manager after him has ever managed to come close to his success, and this speaks volumes of his quality as a manager.

But it was during my time in the UK that my respect for him was cemented. He was a genuine gentleman. Everytime he spoke on TV, I would listen to his words, his tone, and he was top class as a manager and as a person. He was sincere, lavish in praise for his players, gracious when his team lost, and withering to players who did not work hard.

I will always remember how, against all odds, he managed to bring back Newcastle United from seeming elimination from the Champions League (after losing their first 3 matches) to qualify for the 2nd round after winning the next 3 group games. No team has ever lost 3 group games and yet go on to qualify for the 2nd round.

Sir Bobby Robson was afflicted with cancer 5 times in his life. This cursed disease would have finished off a lesser man. But for Sir Robson to overcome cancer and endure the traumatic treatment 4 times magnified the fighting spirit and toughness within him.

Soccer legends and greats poured forth tributes to this giant with elevated praise and respect:

"In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above Bobby Robson. His character was hewn out of the coal face, developed by the Durham mining background that he came from. His parents instilled in him the discipline and standards which forged the character of a genuinely colossal human being." - Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United

"Bobby Robson is one of those people who never die, not so much for what he did in his career, for one victory more or less, but for what he knew to give to those who had, like me, the good fortune to know him and walk by his side." - Jose Mourinho, manager of Inter Milan.

"First of all he was beyond football a great man, one of the kindest people I ever met. He helped me a great deal when I was a young coach and I visited him in Ipswich. He took me, an unknown coach from Sweden, down into the dug-out and explained the tactics. The year after Ipswich won the Uefa Cup, my team Gothenburg won it and he came and presented the trophy to me. When I became coach of England I called him many times and he was always generous with his advice and helpful. It seems he was as friendly to everybody as he was to me. In fact for me, he was the special one." - Sven-Goran Eriksson, former England manager.

"I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of Sir Bobby Robson. I had the privilege of meeting Bobby on many occasions. He epitomised everything that is great about football in this country. His passion, patriotism, dedication and professionalism knew no equal during his time both as a player and a manager. His remarkable achievements as manager of Ipswich Town and then of England are among the most distinguished in English football history, and he was able to replicate that extraordinary success during his time at PSV Eindhoven, Porto and Barcelona. Over the past few years, he fought cancer with his characteristic tenacity and good humour. He will be sorely missed - not only in Newcastle and Ipswich, both of whom he served with such devotion, but by all sports fans in our country. My sincere condolences go to his wife Elsie and his family." - Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister.

Like what Mr Mourinho said, Sir Robson will live forever, not just in the hearts of those with whom he had worked with or who knew him. Every football fan on the globe will greatly miss his presence in the game.

What a match!

2009-07-07T14:41:00.003+08:00

What a match!

Federer vs Roddick turned out to be a complete surprise. I was expecting Federer to roll over Roddick and win in straight sets.

But I had not counted on Roddick's vastly-improved game.

I used to think that Andy Roddick was just a one-dimensional player, armed with a big serve and nothing else.

But in the final, Roddick was very unrecognisable from the player I knew. His rocket serves threatened to blow potholes into the court. His groundstrokes were accurate and he was more than capable in slugging out with Federer in many rallies, even winning some.

The last set took an hour and a half - the longest final set in Wimbledon history - and even I was not sure if Federer could triumph.

When the game ended, the spotlight fell on Federer - winning his 15th Major (more than any other player in history), reclaiming the World No 1 ranking, and becoming, perhaps, the best player ever in the game.

But I sympathised with Andy Roddick. At the end of the match, he sat slumped on the chair, obviously shattered and disconsolate. He gave his all, but it was still not enough to defeat the maestro.

I hope Roddick will bounce back from this defeat and move on. Though Federer remains my favourite player, Roddick has won my heartfelt admiration. Throughout the great final, he held his own against Federer and was clearly the better player. However, Federer (as a true champion) did not give any hint of frustration. Within his graceful and elegant movement, it turns out that Federer wields an unbreakable resolve. When Roddick appeared unbeatable, he did not give up.

At the prize-giving ceremony, Roddick applauded Federer and gave a short speech that overflowed with graciousness.

Roddick has shown, that even under bitter defeat and sheer exhaustion, that he can still be a gracious loser, generous in compliments and praise.

That, indeed, would have earned respect from people all over the world.

Congratulations, Roger Federer. There will be no other player like you. You have set the benchmark for success and excellence and I know that there will be no other player in the future who can achieve the same level of excellent consistency like you.

I admire your courage and spirit, Andy Roddick. You surely deserve to win another Grand Slam tournament and I hope you do, in the near future.

Amelia Earhart and the spirit of adventure

2009-06-13T22:49:00.004+08:00

Not so long ago, I caught the movie Night At The Museum and I remembered being intrigued by the character Sacajewa. What little I could find out from the movie was how she singled-handedly led 2 pioneer American colonists to discover new lands, when much of America was still shrouded with vast forests, endless plains and a multitude of fauna and flora. Surfing the Internet had shed much more light about this indigeneous Indian lady who played such a pivotal role in the earliest days of American history.

This time, the sequel to the same movie Night At The Museum 2 had the same effect in arousing my curiosity again. The energetic Amelia Earhart lit up the movie and I really liked how her character was portrayed - courageous, adventurous, passionate, and candid. To me, she really encapsulated what an American was all about. My wife and I agreed that early generations of Americans must have possessed that same 'can-do' spirit which made that country such a great and prosperous nation today.

And again, I troughed the Internet for more information on Amelia Earhart, and what an inspiration she is. Amongst her long list of achievements, she is most renowned for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. Not content with that, she decided that she would attempt to be the first woman to fly around the world. In 1937, with the world behind her, she took off, in her bid to realise her dream. Sadly, while flying over the Pacific Ocean, she disappeared, while on her final leg of completing her historic journey. Numerous searches were conducted but no traces of her or her plane could be found.

Sometimes we just don't know how uninspiring we sound. In this crazy world we live in, we lose sight of who and what we are in our endless pursuit of success.

It is ironic that it takes a wax figure of Amelia Earhart (which comes to life in the movie) to teach me something which struck me so profoundly that I really could not stop thinking about it. Maybe it was her piercing blue eyes. Perhaps it was her irrepressible sense of adventure and fun. Undoubtedly though, that character left an indelible mark in my memory, and it sobers me to think how I can live life in a different and more meaningful way.

And yes, I did enjoy that movie very much!

Happy Mikayla's 1st birthday at the Zoo

2009-06-07T17:00:00.005+08:00

Not the easiest choice to make

2009-06-04T16:52:00.002+08:00

The Sundown Marathon was something I had been looking forward to all year.

Last year's inaugural night marathon was memorable in many ways - I bravely but foolishly turned up at the start line despite a severe lack of sleep (due to my newborn baby's hunger cries in the nights), and falling asleep twice while hobbling along the route in Tampines and Bedok. It was easily the hardest and my slowest marathon. So, to be able to cross the finish line meant a lot to me, having overcome severe temptations to give up.

This year, I felt better, more confident. At least I had proper rest. My only worry was whether my back injury would hamper me. I told myself that should my injury flare up, I would just walk to the finish line. Otherwise, I would keep on running as long and as far as I could.

During the race, the non-stop pounding provoked niggling aches and stiffness. I was simply not able to do a decent run. Walking became labourious. I fell further and further behind the endless stream of runners overtaking me.

At the 14km mark, a sea of thoughts ran in my head - do I walk, and risk making the injury worse? Or do I fall out, take a cab home, and rest?

I am glad I'm no stubborn fool. Had I continued, I would have worsened my injury and risked more complications.

So I made the most prudent decision. I walked away from the marathon route, headed for the East Coast Service Road, and hailed the cab home. Immediately, once I sat in the cab, the throbbing aches dissipated.

I am indeed disappointed that I could not finish my 8th marathon. How I wish I could run the midnight race and finish it by the dawn.

Though this injury might have cut short my race, I pray that by the next race (the OSIM Singapore Triathlon), I would be completely recovered and ready to run again.

Behold the Princess!

2009-04-05T17:49:00.001+08:00

Reds machine

2009-03-15T16:11:00.002+08:00

There is still a tinge of disbelief, whenever I think of Liverpool Football Club's past 2 match results over the past week.

The midweek match against Real Madrid, the most successful team in Europe, turned out to be such a one-sided affair. Liverpool was utterly dominant and irrepressible.

Yesterday night, I witnessed the same Liverpool team dismantle the great Manchester United, in their own backyard, triumphing 4-1. I would never have dared to dream of such a margin of victory.

And so, Liverpool has been the team I've supported since my childhood days. But what I really like about the players is how they get on with the game, hardly arguing with the referee, playing honest, good football. I'd like my soccer boys to emulate Steven Gerrard. He's a model professional, leading by example, and at his best, he surpasses all other soccer players I know.

Manchester United could still win the League title (and they have been very consistent so far) but I am hopeful that Liverpool will pip them to the top spot, on the last day of the season!

Sweet, sour and gloomy

2009-02-02T07:37:00.005+08:00

My spotless driving record came to a shuddering halt on Saturday. Distracted by a long column of Harley Davidson motorbikes, thundering down the expressway, traffic slowed as drivers marvelled at the spectacle. Next thing I knew, the BMW in front of me braked and stopped. I stepped on my brakes, but my car still edged forward. The sickening sound of metal on metal jolted our senses for a second, as my car crunched against the BMW.

Both me and the other driver were very civil. I apologised, of course. We exchanged our contact details, snapped some photos of my broken bumper and his car's crushed rear bumper. Considering the fact that BMWs are robustly built, the damage caused by my SUV was rather severe.

Filled with self-recrimination of carelessness, I dread at the thought of receiving the bill for the car repairs.

It could have been worse. I was driving at a low speed. My wife and baby are fine. I could still drive back home.

Nonetheless, this accident soured my mood for the entire weekend.

A ray of joy did break through yesterday afternoon. Familiar faces, in the form of my Peer Leaders, helped to dispel the gloom somewhat. They made the long journey to my place, and I was glad to see them all. It was interesting to hear their stories, their lives, their grumbles about school, gossips about students and teachers. Really enjoyed the time with them. I would love to meet you all again.

Finally, the weekend was also a massive one, as far as sport was concerned, with the Australian Open men's final being competed yesterday evening. My wife and I were eagerly anticipating a Federer win over his nemesis Nadal.

The match took over 4 hours. But it was well worth watching, for both men (the top 2 players in the world) produced such sublime tennis that at times took our breath away.

Sadly, Nadal triumphed, again. Federer, the maestro and my favourite, will have to find another opportunity to defeat Nadal in the future.

I will have to lift up my spirits. Today, my wife will have the unenviable task of driving my broken Rav4 to the service centre. I hope all goes fine.

Next time, I will be even more careful when I drive.

Smiles all round

2009-01-03T16:02:00.004+08:00

A chance meeting

2008-12-22T22:34:00.005+08:00

While waiting for my wife in the cauldron of City Hall station, 2 petite ladies came up to me with a grin amid the incessant human traffic. It took me a split second to recognise them as Yuting and Diana (as they were prettily made-up in their shopping attire!) and I was very happy to talk to them for a while.

This chance meeting then evoked thoughts about my dear students from 4A1, 4A2 and 4A3 who have received their N Level results. I wonder how did you do? I hope to hear from you, so do update me about your results and plans for the future.

This long holiday break has been brilliant - tonnes of family time, personal rejuvenation, catching up on movies (Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Yes Man), getting my Playstation 3 console (finally, after resisting the urge for almost a year), swimming with baby Mikayla (she can kick like mad!), and of course, meeting up with my new colleagues in the new school. Yes... I am definitely enjoying this break!

A short conversation with three pupils

2008-11-12T16:08:00.002+08:00

It's been another great day.

Just after dismissing my basketball boys, I came across a few students whom I had taught this year.

One of them knew about it and asked me if it was true.

So because of that, I decided to call them to me, and spoke with them for a little while.

Sometimes at moments like this, I feel that there is never a 'good' moment to go.

Because standing before me were three pupils whom I think can do so much more. I think they are capable. Don't tell me about how one of them hangs out with questionable characters. Don't tell me this or that about that person, because when I talk to you, I discern a certain promise, a latent potential.

Then I think about how I can create opportunities for you to shine.

Alas, it is no longer my place to do so for them. I pray that some other teacher will share the same thoughts as me and look at pupils with the same periscope, and deem them worthy of further development.

And this is the bottom line, isn't it. All pupils have the capacity. The Teacher needs to acknowledge it and create opportunities to develop these youths into confident and stronger persons.

At the end of the brief conversation, I told them that I was very proud to have been their Teacher. Leaving them with some words of advice, I hope that, when they return back to School in 2009, they will make that step upwards, and excel in all that they do.

To Xavier, Ming Fen and Sheng Thong, believe in yourself, and always do your best. I wish you all the best.

Twin beauties

2008-11-11T17:14:00.004+08:00

It's been a while since we dined at the reclusive One Degree 15 Marina, located at the serene Sentosa Cove.

This time, we made good on our promise to each other, and went there for a great lunch. The meal was good but the fresh air and peaceful surroundings certainly elevated the dining experience. And of course, it is wonderful to dine with my dear missus and baby girl.

After another day spent in the school, it is actually very therapeutic to head out to somewhere, away from people and noise, and sit down. It really drives away the numberless thoughts that can ricochet around in one's head.

Baby Mikayla was once again kicking happily, clearly delighted to be in the outdoors once again.

Never easy to say

2008-11-07T11:39:00.001+08:00

It was a lot harder than I thought.

I wanted to break the news to my beloved pupils in the Concourse yesterday afternoon, after the camp. I wanted to stay poised and calm.

But once I started, I struggled to keep my train of thoughts and found it hard to speak coherently.

Suddenly I realised that I was going to miss them.

I did not know what else to say.

Mikayla Mikayla!

2008-11-03T11:16:00.003+08:00

Sweet little cupcake

2008-09-30T20:22:00.005+08:00

Adorable!

2008-09-01T12:15:00.003+08:00

Aspire

2008-08-16T17:59:00.001+08:00

If the body tires,
the brain pushes.
If the impossible is to be achieved,
the mind must be convinced.
If you start believing,
you are a step closer to success.

Lil Miss Sunshine

2008-07-06T10:19:00.009+08:00

Readjustment

2008-06-13T14:24:00.003+08:00

Congratulations have been the order of the day, ever since our baby is born. We are very thankful that she is not just beautiful, but that she is healthy, alive and kicking well!

Some say that handling teenagers is the hardest thing in the world. Actually babies can be the hardest thing to handle in the universe. Especially when Mikayla starts crying. Man, her appetite is more voracious than mine. If she doesn't get her milk, she is going to bawl, period. And, she doesn't cry softly, no matter what I say to her!

The transition to fatherhood isn't always easy. New responsibilities need to be handled face on. Time I used to spend freely in cafes, running, gaming, movies etc, all now pale into the background. Whatever I do must now be weighed in relation to my dear wife and baby's timetable and location.

Nonetheless, having our own child is an awesome responsibility, far bigger than many things in my life. So I must make sure that, above all things, I must work together with my dear wife to raise and nurture our daughter to be a fine young lady.

The star of the show

2008-06-07T10:33:00.005+08:00

About the dawn of a new age

2008-05-28T19:46:00.005+08:00

This is the beautiful baby I have ever seen, and ever will see:

Mikayla's been a real bundle of joy. In fact, the entire pregnancy, and the child-birth process was just supernatural and we are thankful that God has given us His grace and favour onto us in this walk of life.

I am also thankful to our parents. My mom has been splendid. She is so good with Mikayla, and has gone the extra mile to help us, so that we can have precious time to rest and recover from those late-night feedings. My mother-in-law has been cooking nutritious meals to boost my wife's strength. Being there throughout the entire childbirth process in the delivery ward, I saw how much strength my dear wife expended through the process.

Finally, I am so thankful to my wife. I am very glad that she is fine and recovering well. I am also immensely proud of her and how she maintained such a calm and determined attitude in the delivery ward.

About a chance encounter

2008-05-19T10:21:00.002+08:00

Yesterday evening, my dear wife and I had a craving for bak chor mee, so we headed to Katong for one of our favourite joints. Located alongide a road, parking is always a headache, with limited lots that always seem to be full. As usual, I waited by the side, and this time, I didn't have to wait too long, as a car drove out within 10 minutes of waiting. So we gleefully parked the car and headed to the joint.

At one of the tables, two familiar persons caught my eye and I instantly recognised both of them as fellow officers in my army unit.

Out of the two, I do meet up one of them, called Xiao Wei, regularly during our in-camp trainings. But for the other one, Chris, I have not seen him since I departed for overseas studies almost 10 years ago.

So it was really a great joy to meet them both again and catch up for old times' sake.

Chris was my buddy and roommate when we were both posted to the unit, after we graduated from OCS. Yea, we took care of one another, and did lots of crazy things - getting drunk, clubbing, playing games on his Sega console and screaming our heads off.

Those days were wild, crazy and we didn't seem to have a care in the world then.

But now, we're both still basically the same. We still recognise each other's laugh, and we still sound and look the same. He's still as fit, and goodness how we both have so many similarities - like we own the same brand and model of car, our wives both are/ were SIA stewardesses, and to top it all off, we both happen to have the same jobs. This is unbelievable. We even live in the same area, just a few minutes' drive or a short jog away.

So we bade farewell after the dinner was done, but we'll definitely be meeting up again for sure.

About working together and a good end to a good day

2008-04-11T16:03:00.004+08:00

Yesterday was 'D-Day', as Team Alpha and I would know.

The biggest day in our school calendar was graced by the presence of a very important guest of honour - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of MCYS. He exudes confidence and polite mannerism, as befitting of a person of his status. Yet, he radiates a charm that puts us all at ease.

His speech was simple, straightforward, and heartfelt. He was clearly reminiscing from his school-going days, and openly shared about his best moments in school. Of course, he exhorted his audience, which consisted of academic prize-winners, uniformed group cadets, student leaders and a host of parents and teachers, to work hard and realise their dreams.

I hope that his speech, though seemingly brief, would have left an indelible mark in the minds of my students. Appreciate school, and cherish your teachers and friends. You will never find their like again, once you head off into the outside world.

Team Alpha did a very efficient job on our Speech Day. They were dressed to impress, and certainly looked very smart in their formal attire. They looked sophisticated yet made the guests and VIPs feel very welcome. Thank you for your hard work. It must have been very tiring during your service, from Plans A to E!

As for me, I was very glad when it was all over. It marked an end to a major school event. The school has been very caught up with all the rehearsals and unseen preparations. I can imagine students and staff would be nigh exhausted.

I didn't know how tired I was, until my colleague played a trick on me, taking away my water bottle right before my eyes while I was seated on my chair, and I completely missed that, as I was zoned out, my mind completely out of commission.

When I finally got to leave school, I was quite recovered by then, and my wife and I zoomed off to an ice-cream plus waffle date at Gelare's in Suntec City. What a delight, to be able to sink our teeth into the delicious waffle, topped with awesome scoops of vanilla bean, chocolate chip cookie dough, and cookies and cream. Ice-cream certainly does wonders to your mood!

To Team Alpha, I think we met our objectives in our mission and kudos to all of you for stepping forward to make a positive difference to our guests and VIPs. Good job!

About a question that I cannot seem to run away from

2008-03-30T17:57:00.003+08:00

When I sat down in front of my boss late last week, I could almost predict what she was going to say, or rather, ask.

This topic had been broached before (about 2 years back), and that time, my answer was non-committal. It was more of a 'not yet'. It was not a direct 'No', but it was definitely not a 'Yes'.

Though it has been some time now, yet deep inside, I am still counting the ramifications of my answer. Sometimes, I wonder where would I be today, had my answer been an unequivocal 'Yes'.

But it has always been like this, isn't it?

Each time you say a 'Yes' or a 'No'; each time you make a decision; each time you make a choice, you close some doors, and open others. Some closed doors may never be opened again.

This is the tantalising speculation that sometimes, though rarely, haunts me.

This time, opportunity presents itself to me again. I am blessed with a choice. But the question that has been posed to me bears a heavy burden.

The burden is heavy, because even right now, my thoughts are in a flux. I do not yet know how to present an answer.

Yet, there are many things I know I can do. My time is long overdue. I need not hesitate no longer.

I should banish all those uncertainties. I know what my bent is. I know what works for me. It's time I laid them all on the table. If the doors will not open for me here, I will move elsewhere.

It's easy to stay in one's comfort zone, twiddling the thumbs, raking in the money, and think that there is nothing more to one's career.

But if you do that, you get stale. You lose your creativity. You do the same things, over and over again.

So, it's time for me to face up to this question once and for all. It's time to ask of myself, "What else can I do besides the so many thousand things I have been doing all this while?"

It's time for a reckoning.

About something that matters most

2008-02-24T18:22:00.002+08:00

It is always good to meet my parents, especially for weekend brunch and weeknight dinners.

Today, after sending my wife to work, I met up with my dad and mom for breakfast. We had vegetarian, and I had my usual cabbage, broccoli and fried egg to go along with the rice.

My mom knew I was heading to China this weekend. So, she passed me some renminbi from her home, and put them into a auspicious red packet, and thrust it to me.

Despite my repeated refusals, I succumbed to her generosity and kindness.

Always the helpful and caring ones, my parents.

And I am very thankful for them.

And, to mom and dad - keep up the exercise regime!

About what it should have been

2008-01-26T19:34:00.000+08:00

The past few days haven't been very illuminating for me.

I cannot deny that the release of the O Level results kept my mind preoccupied for a great part of the week. My confidence rose and ebbed like the waves. It was always going to be tough to reject many colleagues and students who made morale-sapping comments like, "We're not gonna do well this year."

Anyway, I was glad to have Miss Kum by my side to give out the results slips to 4e5. We were very happy to see you in the hall. I wonder how have you been? I could not speak to all of you, as the Hall proceedings was really highly strung and emotional. It was hard to remain stoic under such circumstances.

To 4e5, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Your future remains bright, as long as you believe in yourself and think clearly about what you want to do. Some decisions are going to be difficult to make, but you must never be indecisive.

To those who are pleased with your results, well done. I believe that consistent hard work pays off, and in this case, I affirm this to be true, when I saw some of your results. The journey ahead will prove to be even more challenging and tricky, but just as you have succeeded before, you will also succeed in the future, so long you stay true to the values of diligence and hold fast to positive work ethic.

Some of you may be upset or bitter with your results. Some others might feel nothing in the immediate moments upon receiving your result slip. But the hammer falls hard, sometimes hours later, sometimes the very next morning, and the realisation dawns that you could have done better.

Regrets need not haunt you forever. Consider your options, and submit to the wrath of yourself and your parents.

But you need to move on. You need to make decisions - fast.

Stop playing the blame game.

Bounce back. This is the best way. Be resilient.

You can still get back onto the successful path. Do a reflection, find out how you can manage your time better next time.

Your self-confidence must never be diminished.

I will miss 4e5. We will all meet each other again. I know this for sure!

Another matter also hit me, like a sledgehammer, when I was still caught up in the tense moments of releasing the O Level results to my students.

My coach texted me to give an update on my boys' match against Nan Hua High School.

We lost by 3 points.

That was a blow that really hurt.

From then onwards, it became so much harder to retain that positive smile, when this result weighed like an anvil on my heart.

How I wished that the match could have been held on another day, so that I would fulfil both desires - to issue out the O Level results personally to my form class, and to be present (as I always want to) at this crucual match.

And as if the day couldn't seem to get any worse, it did.

In the evening, I went for the 1.5km swim trial at Yishun SAFRA, where I had to complete 30 laps under 40 minutes, in order to participate in the Biathlon that I have signed up for.

While I am very comfortable with running and sports games, I have never been an able swimmer.

My inexperience counts heavily against me. I rarely swim, and the last 2 swims happened in 2007, and that was during the Triathlons. Even then, it was only 750m in the choppy waters. I foolishly thought that the 1.5km swim in the calm waters of the swimming pool would be a piece of cake.

At my 26th lap, the instructor told me to hurry up. I sped up my breaststrokes, and kicked harder. I was not spent, but stamina cannot increase one's speed.

When I touched home, the instructor showed me the timing on his clipboard - 41 minutes.

Normally, I would be undeterred. I would tell myself, "Ken, it's not a problem. Just try it again."

But the day has been hard on me, emotionally, mentally and physically. I am emotionally spent, after Results day and the match result.

I just picked up the towel and walked off to the changing room.

The mood has hardly improved, though days have passed. Sometimes, I think to myself, "Could I have done more to push 4e5?"

This question, perhaps, will never be answered.

About the gift of weekends

2008-01-12T16:19:00.000+08:00

Here I am inside the sanctuary of Miss Clarity Cafe at Upper Thomson, and I'm sitting next to the cake counter. The cheesecakes looks irresistable and it takes some willpower not to fall for my craving and order one of those delicious-looking Oreo cheesecakes.

Nothing could ever beat the alcohol-laced cheesecake in Big O Cafe, or the unforgettable tiramisu cake in a shady joint in New York City's Italian quarter. Now that was one hell of a cake, completely overwhelming your senses.

The best bit of this busy week was having a lovely dinner with my beloved wife in a quiet corner of Seletar Camp. This bar and grill is renowned for its buffalo wings, where they are differentiated into various levels, according to the intensity of its pepper and chilli seasoning.

At first I was not so sure about how to find this restaurant. This place is highly secluded, located in a dark corner of this sprawling camp that dates back to the British era. There were no signposts. The roads were uneven, street lamps were in disrepair, and there were rows of abandoned white houses as I drove into the deepest recesses of the campsite. It's just perfect for my Toyota RAV4 4x4. Anyone with lesser courage would not want to spend any moment in those houses. They look hauntingly eerie. There's not a soul in sight.

Having been there only once before, I could only rely on my memory and directional instincts, so it was with great relief and pride when I saw the pretty lights that lit up the restaurant. We found it!

Needless to say, dinner was fantastic. If only we could have a heineken's to go along with it. Dinner with my wife is always a celebration of life and love. But of course, alcohol is a no-no, especially since I was the driver. So a glass of warm water each was just as good.

Another feel-good moment (many of them, in fact) happened, just yesterday, during the CCA parents' night. In the frenzied interior of the Hall, where a cacophony of cheers, screams, trumpets and chatter filled the air, I was glad to be able to meet familiar faces. I could not remember some names but it's was nice when they came up to me and said hello. Congrats Farhan, for getting a place in the polytechnic after your ITE studies.

I had a lovely chat with Syahirah. Goodness, she is very articulate and I was just drawn into her sharing about her customers at the make-up counter, where she works.

It's great to meet Farhan, Suhaimi, Jasman and Howe Zhong after such a long time. I'm glad that they came to support their CCAs (or his girlfriend, for one of them!). Nice chatting with you, Suhaimi.

The 4T1 folks - Kailing, Joey, Qiu Yue, Bao Hui, Thurga, Azzurah, Munir and Fauzee - brought a wide wide smile to my face. I sure missed their voices. You guys were fantastic and really funny. Munir - you can't run away from Kailing forever!

To Irah and Shahrin, chatting with you both in the canteen was a great experience. It was a very wholesome and engaging chat, wasn't it? And Shahrin, no, I don't think it's a good idea to get a motorbike! You guys make a beautiful couple.

To 4E3 and 4E4, I'm looking forward to next week's lessons in the AVA Room. Remember what you need to bring for the double-period lesson.

Thank Jesus for weekends. It really allows me to take a break from the massive work that lies in store for me.

And I'm excited because next month, there's the Vertical Marathon organised by NTU. It's time to start all those physical training again!

Lastly, as I was driving past Singapore Chinese Girls' School (a premier girls' school in Bukit Timah), I saw this banner that caught our eyes:

"From a face in the crowd, to one the crowd faces."

To my students - your individual value drops when you associate with people of questionable character and values. By persistently sticking with bad company, you will lose your individual sense of identity.

Conversely, choose your friends carefully and stay with the right company. At the same time, be independent. Achieve your goals. Have a dream, live your dream, work on it, and be anchored on the right values. Assuredly, you will shine.

About what makes a good day

2008-01-05T22:02:00.000+08:00

It's only 3 days of school but I hardly got a moment to even take a seat on my chair in the staff room, so busy was my schedule and tasks.

But what was definitely good was that I was able to see students again.

Yesterday was particularly memorable, as the day was set aside for the Secondary One Sports Experience.

The Peer Leaders played a key role in ensuring that the programme went according to plan, so that all of the Sec One classes managed to try out the different sports on offer.

The senior and junior PLs were deliberately mixed and allocated to certain classes. I must say that the PLs, decked in the navy blue and orange t-shirts, certainly looked really cool and outstanding.

I am pleased that the PLs, on the whole, were able to keep the Sec Ones in check. It was good to see how well they managed the new students.

I am also very thankful for my basketball players - Zhi Cheng, Colvin, Andy and Haoming, for doing a good job in conducting the selection tests. It was very important because if they do a good job, then Fajar's basketball future is more or less secure.

I am proud of the way they handled the Sec One boys. They certainly captured their attention and managed to get them all to participate. Great job!

Finally, to top it all off, I got to meet some beloved students - Hazimah, Jasman, Lynn, Azzurah, Sin Han, Han Qiang, DJ, Swee Hong, Hamid, Haris and Zhining.

It was lovely to be able to talk to Hazimah, Lynn and Azzurah. And Jasman, it's great to see you. We all had a great game of volleyball, didn't we.

All in all, it's been a fantastic week!

About a fantastic 2007 and an even better 2008

2007-12-31T16:14:00.000+08:00

Surely, there is much to be grateful and thankful about, as 2007 draws to a close.

As always, I am thankful to God. He has poured His grace onto me, and has been a most present help when I needed Him.

I will always remember my students. To those whom I have taught, I think you have been splendid.

To 4E5 2007, I wish you the best even as you enjoy your extended break. I hope you are meaningfully occupied and maybe now you realise that school is always better than have a holiday that's too long, correct?

I will see you all there, when you come back to collect your O Level results in early 2008. It will be good to have a 4E5 reunion again.

To 4T1 2007, I want to say to you that each and every one of you is brimming with potential. It is my fervent hope that you will excel in your ITE course and pick up useful skills that will help you in your career. I also hope that you will continue to lend a helping hand to others and continue to be a good influence to others around you.

For all of us, 2008 is coming faster than we think. I am very optimistic, because it means we all get to start anew. The past is to be forgotten, and let new aspirations be re-born and dreams re-ignited.

Finally, to my beloved wife, she's been incredible and I am thankful for her. I will continue to do my utmost to be a good husband and best friend to her. 2008 will be a massive year for us both and thinking about it sets my adrenaline on fire.

2007 has been a good year. Yea, of course there have been tough moments, but I am aware that for every challenging situation that had come my way, there are 5, 10, maybe 20 blessings and good moments too, and for that, I can't help but acknowledge that 2007 is indeed good.

So, let the new year come. With purpose (once you know your purpose, you will have power in your life) and self-confidence, there is nothing we cannot do.

About a genuine scare

2007-12-10T20:17:00.000+08:00

The power wall socket in my living room didn't seem to be working very well. Apparently, a piece of the plastic 2-pin adapter broke off and lodged itself within one of the holes.

So, I decided to pry open the wall socket, and, as expected, saw a tangle of red, green and black wires.

There were 4 screws I could see and I had to release them in order to gain access to the broken chip.

However, after doing that, the broken chip wasn't dislodged.

I saw a few more screws, and figured that maybe undoing those screws might do the trick.

The red wires came loose even as I loosened a screw.

Next thing, an invisible wave jolted through the sinews of my left arm and I was forced backwards.

I staggered to my feet.

The mad thing was, I knew exactly what had happened, but I told myself that for a big man like me, that jolt should be peanuts.

But when the tingling sensation never ceased, I gave up working on the power socket, which laid dismantled in the living room.

I warned my wife to stay away from the area.

I felt as if my arm lost half its strength. The tingling was incessant.

But worse was to come.

My breathing became laboured, and my heartbeat felt as if it was pumping harder than usual. I could literally feel my heart beat and forcing my lifeforce with every beat.

I put my finger to my neck, where I could feel my pulse. What I felt sent a chill down my spine.

My heartbeats were irregular.

Somehow the electroculation messed up my heart rhythm. It could have burned my nerves in my arm.

I went to the doctor's. I really needed to make sure I'm all right.

The doctor said, "Oh dear," when she took my pulse. She felt the erratic heartbeat too.

An ECG was promptly administered. The readings revealed some irregularities.

But she assured me that my condition was not serious. More importantly, she told me what I really needed to hear.

She told me that I will heal. My heart will sort itself out.

Thank God.

Some medication was prescribed to me, and I am making sure that I take them regularly. Even in my weakened condition, I continued to work as usual. I was still limping around when I went back to school the next day after the marathon, but it's not so bad. Staying at home would have been worse. I'd rather have my students come for training.

Anyway, I called in the electrician to help me to repair the power points. I observed the way he repaired the power socket, so that next time, I will do it on my own again. Though I was severely bitten this time by my inexperience and carelessness, I think I will still do it if my power point ever get damaged in the future.

But if I ever have to do this again, I better shut off the electric supply first. It's a painful lesson I will never forget.

About being reborn

2007-12-03T17:20:00.000+08:00

The Marathon has always allowed me to gaze a little bit deeper of my inner self. It takes courage to sign up for this massive run in the first place. But to complete it demands the highest levels of personal character and conviction.

After the race, it became a little clearer about how I see myself now.

My preparations for this race was nothing short of poor. I've certainly learnt a few lessons from my past marathon experiences and one of those was that there was an absolute need to set aside more time in the 3-4 months leading up to the event for runs, up to 4 - 5 times weekly.

But the demands of work and family left me with little appetite and time to run. During good weeks I could afford to run twice a week. In October, I managed a 2-hour run which I felt really comfortable about, and I was very pleased with my progress then.

Unfortunately, the month of November was cluttered with work committments, camps, and other matters which took up plenty of my time.

In the blink of an eye, the marathon weekend hit me, and I berated myself for being unable to fulfil my training requirements.

I tried to compensate by carbo-loading 5-6 days in advance, consuming extra portions of rice and noodles. I even managed to get 7 hours of sleep prior to race day.

When I got up at 3.30am wash up and have breakfast, I told God that I will need His grace and strength to see me through.

After breakfast, my friends and I shared a taxi and headed to the Esplanade Bridge. There was a mass of people, mostly decked in the ubiquitous Adidas race singlets that was given away in the race pack.

The first 12 kilometres brought me through the silent streets of Shenton Way, left into ECP, into the monotonous roads of Marina South, back into the CBD, and past Esplanade Bridge. I felt fantastic and I was enjoying every step I took.

The next 12 kilometres took me past the Esplanade, past Marina Square, past the Singapore Flyer, into Nicoll Highway, Mountbatten Road, and into my favourite jogging ground - East Coast Park.

At the 21km mark, I glanced at my watch: 2hr 22 mins. I was well pleased with that timing (it was faster than my AHM timing!) so I kept going. Physically, though I was feeling slightly worn-out, I still felt good.

At the 24km mark, near the old chalet area, my right calf began to tighten. In my mind, I commanded my calf to be strong. I still wanted to go strong at Bedok Jetty, the U-turn point.

And so I did, though my calf tightened in protest twice more. I pulled over by the side to do a calf stretch. It did wonders, for I was able to resume continuous running.

At the 30km mark (long after the U-turn, then back past the Mac's), my legs grinded to a stop. Stretching no longer became effective. Any attempts to run was met with cramps that caused me to be painfully immobile.

But I could walk. On my clock, I had just hit over 3 hours. I had another 12 kilometres to go. I told myself I was going to finish what I had started.

Kilometre after kilometre went past. I mumbled, scolded, reprimanded, cajoled, crooned and ordered my body not to yield, not to slow down. At the 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39km marks, I was swinging my arms madly, forcing my legs to follow in tandem, as I tried to do the quickest walk I could manage at that time.

The last 3 km was the most arduous. Honestly the strength to walk ebbed away. The last part of this race was my slowest. My target timing of 5hrs 30 mins became out of reach. But I still persevered. I could see the Esplanade and I knew that the end was near.

Once I caught sight of the greens of the Padang, I knew I only had a few hundred metres to the Finish Line. I tried to run!

But there was no grandstand finish for me. Haha. Down the final stretch, under the wretchedly hot sun, I hobbled the best I could and crossed the line at 5:39 on my stop watch. I clenched my fist in victory.

It was my personal best timing.

During the race, I saw a message on a blank tag that a runner had pinned on her back. It read, "Winners don't quit and quitters don't win."

I said to myself, "Aye, that's talking to me," when I was battling against my muscles that were paralysed with cramps.

This race is no piece of cake, and I ain't gonna say that it is. During the run, you will need to resist the temptation to walk; you will need to stick closely to your set goals; you'll need to cope with the weather; and you'll need to battle against your body.

But the most important thing that you need to overcome is yourself, really.

During those insurmountable moments, when I stared into the depths of the abyss of self-doubt and failure, I did not yield. Rather than achieve the same performance as previous years, I made the choice to push hard and surpass any of my previous timings.

Once I reached home, I took a shower and quickly hit the bed, for I was completely drained. Thank God for my lovely wife, who got me dinner. I was so famished but I was in no condition to prepare dinner for myself.

Yea well, the aches and soreness will be gone in a matter of days. I would think that I do not wish to put myself through such torture ever again, but there's something about the marathon that has got an allure to it, that will entice me to sign up for it again, next year.

Maybe it's the allure of that sense of accomplishment.

Maybe next time, I want to better my personal best.

With more training, I know I can do it.

About the big race

2007-11-28T18:42:00.000+08:00

It's rare, but I do feel somewhat regretful now.

I should not have accepted this advanced diploma course in information & communication technology that is currently ongoing right now in school.

This intensive course has taken away precious training and resting time from me. I need to do all those because this Sunday's the big race - the Standard Chartered Marathon.

In fact, just thinking about it sets my pulse racing.

I think it's because it'll be the hardest thing I'll be doing this year. I think my body isn't going to forgive me so easily for putting it under such punishment.

And so, while I am seated in front of the desktop, while the instructor rants on and on about the power of Excel and Word, sometimes my thoughts drift away. Suddenly I get transported to the remote Marina area, or the empty streets of Shenton Way, running, running and running in the Marathon. I'm already mentally preparing myself.

To the basketball boys, just to share with you that training is now in full flow. The coach and I have big plans for you all. We are committed towards training you all in improving your skills and team play. We need absolute commitment from each and every one of you. I'm talking about attendance and giving your 110% during each training. That's how you improve. That's how Fajar will improve.

We need to make the school proud of the Basketball CCA.

A special word of thanks to the players who have been very helpful to me - Haoming, Zhi Cheng, Vincent and others who have been so willing to help. That's the spirit guys. Keep up the good work. We still have so much more to do to strengthen the team spirit within us!

This computer course that I'm going through has prevented me from being with my basketball boys. I thank God then, that I have reliable players and a good coach who can help me to keep the CCA running while I am busy. Let me be very clear - I always want to be with my boys whenever they train. The reason is very simple. I am responsible for these boys and they are important to me.

Another reason why I am stuck to the computer lab is because there is an exam on Friday morning, which we all have to pass. I certainly do not want to fail. I am targetting a pass and I want to lay my hands on that certificate. So I have been paying attention to the instructor. Though he can be somewhat queer, I have to say that he has taught all of us plenty of tricks with Excel and Word and I am very grateful for that. I am very glad to be able to learn something new.

Once the exam is over, I have the Peer Leaders' Meeting to look forward to. That's going to be on Saturday morning. Sunday's the big 42km race and I know I'm going to be hitting the bed all day long after that, once I drag my body back from the Padang.

And the best thing is - I get to return back to school on the very next day for Basketball and other work. How exciting!

About doing things - my way

2007-11-27T17:32:00.000+08:00

A conversation with a colleague left me contemplating a little bit more than usual about how I have been making conscious decisions about my career.

After spending 5 years in this job, my heartfelt opinion is that I have got one of the best jobs in the world. Nothing is surely more exciting than being able to interact with youths and mentoring them into leaders of tomorrow, through education, sports and outdoor adventure.

I could never imagine myself in a desk-bound job, or a job that required me to meet sales quotas. I don't think God made me that way.

So I am always thankful that I have found my purpose. Doing what I do has been satisfying. The students who have come into my life (from my very first class in Fajar - 3T1 2002) till the ones today - they have been very good and I have been blessed by them.

But the dilemma is: is job satisfaction more important than career advancement?

I think I have been very choosy in accepting offers or job titles that take me away from students. Sometimes, friends have told me that I'm a fool for doing so.

I disagree.

I know what I want in my life.

I'm very particular about what I want to achieve. Even if it means stepping on somebody's toes or crossing my superiors, I will still decline and say 'No' to that task or that job if I feel that it doesn't suit me or if it is something that I know I cannot cope with.

I will not always say 'yes'.

Maybe it's the way I've been brought up. Maybe it's how God has been gently guiding me through my career. But I get very sensitive when my personal time is affected. I get very sensitive when my family time is affected.

My family, my time, my community projects, my students, my church activities - all these I hold high in my list of priorities. Notice that my work is not in the 'list'.

How can it be? Does it mean that I do not give my all in my work?

Nay.

I very strongly believe that if I have a blessed private life, with a close relationship with my wife and our parents, then I will wield even greater power to do well in my career.

And I can testify solidly that in the past 5 years, praise God, I have succeeded in achieving both. I do not wish to be a public success, yet fail in my private life.

So, even though there have been some murmurs of me being choosy and what not, I do not care about what others think.

I am answerable only to my God and my family. They are important to me, and I make sure I save my energies for them. I will not fall into that trap of depleting my youth into the bottomless pit called work.

About graduation

2007-11-15T22:35:00.000+08:00

Thanks for the memories, 4e5 and the graduating students of 4E4NA4NT5N.

It was great to see so many of you come for Graduation Day, in spite of the wet weather. I think it's a good idea to come for a graduation event (even if it's not a prom night) because it is a rite of passage, a necessary piece of a teenager's adolescence years. It marks the start of young adulthood - of greater responsibilities, and more opportunities to make bigger decisions independently.

It was fantastic when some of you came up to speak to me. Thank you for your kind words.

I want to thank you too, for being having a heart to serve and to lead, to have a heart to learn and to be taught. You have all grown up right before my eyes!

So Graduation Day, for me, is a bittersweet affair. Sweet, because naturally I am proud of you all, that you've come so far, and will be embarking on the next stage of your lives; bitter, because I know I am going to miss those times we've talked and chatted with each other. I will miss teaching you all PE and English. I will miss seeing you all eating and chatting happily, when I make my rounds around the canteen next year.

To 4e5, I hope to receive 40 wedding invites from you all, a few years from now! When your baby is one month old, throw a party and get all of us together!

To my beloved 4e5 and to the graduated students, take good care. Remember to have a vision of your future. Think big. Get onto the shoulders of giants (successful people). Stay away from lazy and corrupt people. Be persistent. Be anchored on the right values (sincere, kind, generous, hardworking, honest, faithful etc).

You will then go far in life.

Of course, even though you've graduated, we still can keep in touch, isn't it!

"To laugh often and much,
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children,
to earn the appreciation of honest critics and
endure the betrayal of false friends,
to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better,
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded!" - Emerson

About knowing what you really want

2007-11-02T20:53:00.000+08:00

Many thanks to my colleagues who teamed up with me to conduct the Peer Leader Selection Interviews.

We are aware that many students who sat through such Interviews would have been almost paralysed with fear and anxiety. I think that this anxiety is excerbated by the massive Conference Room table and the freezing air-conditioning in the Conference Room.

However, the Interviews fulfil a crucial task, and that is to sieve out those students of genuine quality and those with the potential to go far. Obviously your academic performances and daily conduct in school are essential factors in determining whether you get a shot at the Interview or not.

And so, it was extremely perplexing to us when a few students seemed to be overtaken by a spirit of muteness. They seemed incapable of answering simple questions.

No. Do not say that it is just a matter of that student being too nervous.

You must understand that in any Interview, it is your one chance to leave a positive impression on the board of interviewers and make an impact on them. Answering our questions capably and elaborating on them would go a long way in helping you progress beyond Round 1.

For those who had froze, you most likely lost your chance. You have to show us that you really want the job.

To the Peer Leader trainees, just remember, you are one step closer towards a life-changing milestone in your life. I am not exaggerating.

Becoming a Peer Leader opens up a multitude of doors in your life. These doors lead to greater opportunities for personal development and community service. Your life won't be the same, if the School deems you as worthy to be a Peer Leader.

Looking at the big picture, whether or not the photo of the PLs appears in the school magazine is an issue that pales in comparison to their deeds and acts of services. The School knows about the hard work that you have done all these years and deeply appreciates the difference that you have made in our school.

There will be tonnes to do next year, PLs. Just make sure that when school resumes in 2008, you are all set to serve.

At the moment though, I will soon be organising a meeting with all you Sec 3 PLs to discuss about your duties and responsibilities for this year's edition of the Peer Leaders' Training Camp in mid-December. We will be meeting once you are all back from OBS.

It's time for us to raise up a new generation of Peer Leaders. Are the Sec 2 trainees ready to rise up and step into bigger shoes?

About a mournful reunion

2007-11-01T08:04:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I had a brief reunion with several of my JC friends.

It's been years since I've last met some of them.

We got together at a quiet corner of Bukit Timah, and we weren't celebrating.

One of our JC mates have passed away, and we were there to take a last look at her.

She was a classmate of mine. One vivid memory I had of her was at the tennis courts of the old NJC. Together with a few others, we had a merry game of tennis during PE. She was quite a mean player. She was certainly a cheerful and confident lady.

After years of suffering from an illness, we know that she rests in peace now, free from all her struggles and sufferings.

We will always remember you, Jacqueline.

About mistakes that should never be repeated twice

2007-10-26T20:16:00.000+08:00

When I flipped through the school annual, I was eagerly looking for the photo of the Peer Leaders.

To my dismay, there was no such photo. Neither was there any section devoted to the Peer Leaders.

I utterly exploded within me. Miss Shawna, standing beside me, took the year book from me and tried looking for it too, while I muttered unspeakeable words in the air.

I had already told them last year. Yet this mistake has been allowed to happen again.

I'm boiling because I know my Peer Leaders will also be asking questions about the obvious omission. They want their photo to be up there. For goodness sake they've done a lot for the school. It is also bloody obvious that the PLs mean a lot to me, simply because I have unshakeable belief in their capacity to serve the school day in, day out.

Needless to say, I am not one to hide my feelings. My colleague in the editorial committee bore the brunt of my agitated questioning. I asked her, 'Where's the PL photo in the yearbook?'

I was raging deep inside. Those students who collected the IHG Captain's Ball medals from me had no idea. Those students who sat through the English Paper 2 papers with me in the Concourse had no idea.

Nobody has any idea how mad I was.

What am I supposed to say? It is obviously a mistake, but I know not who is responsible for this glaring error.

But I will find out.

When something's not right, I do not intend to let the matter rest. I will rectify it.

About my thoughts recently

2007-10-18T20:30:00.000+08:00

The amount of work coming to me has been simply relentless.

Tomorrow's big event is just one of many projects that have come my way.

Over the next two months I can hardly see a window of time when I can truly sit back and relax. Sometimes I cannot bear to think anymore, when I've been thinking and planning so much. My mind's just so drained.

And then there's the line-up of races I've signed up for myself. Some are plain crazy, like the seventy-something storey Vertical Marathon up the Swissotel next month. There's the Osim Coporate Triathlon to train for. There's the 15 km REAL Run coming up in 2 weekends. And there's the small matter of the Stan-Chart 42km marathon in December. Just 3 days ago I completed a 2-hour run non-stop and man, it felt great, just to know that my body is getting stronger with every step. Every training run is going to help. These runs along the beach are like a dyke that protects my sanity from the eroding waves of work that keeps coming and coming and coming.

Sometimes, I sit back and think about my job, my family, my life, my faith, and then I realise that no matter how exhausted or how overwhelmed life can make me, I must then think this way: for every tough day life may deal me, I must remember the ten, twenty blessings that God has blessed me with. And then, once it becomes apparent that I am blessed, I need not be bothered anymore with unfavourable or tough circumstances, because I know I will come through them victoriously.

My thoughts are also with my dear students who are due to sit for the O Level examinations in a matter of days. It is good to see so many students who are disciplined enough to study everyday. It is brilliant when students come for the lessons during the special timetable and use the time wisely to get useful practice for those subjects. For my own class 4E5, it is very obvious - Ms Kum and I want each and every one of you to do well in the coming exams.

In particular, I am very inspired to see Peixuan and Yisan faithfully sitting in the Concourse, pursuing teachers to clarify their doubts and review their practice papers. The teachers are simply delighted to be able to help you, because you have an appetite to learn. Ask and it shall be given.

I am sure many others are studying hard too. Don't stop! If you're feeling tired and want to give up, tell yourself to snap out of it.

Remember, it's not over until the time is up for the very last O Level paper. Till then, make sure you are 110% prepared for every subject you sit for.

Finally, the one thing on TV that I look forward to with a keen sense of anticipation is the ongoing Rugby Union World Cup. I'm not ashamed to declare that the team I'm supporting is England. It has to be, having lived there for 4 years.

Having seen them hit rock bottom by their hapless hammering by South Africa in the group stage, England have risen from the ashes to knock out Australia in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals. The funny thing was, nobody gave England a chance. I think the Englishmen's victory over the mighty Wallabies showed the world what resilience and tenacity is all about. It would be good for my basketball boys to watch their matches.

The final is coming up, and they will meet South Africa in the final. It's a re-match. I am not sure who will win, since South Africa is one of the best rugby nations in the world, in the same league as Australia and New Zealand.

But if the English play with the same passion and heart, then I am sure South Africa will find it very tough.

My prediction? England to win, with the handsome Jonny Wilkinson scoring the winning points.

Go catch the match!

About the ticking clock

2007-10-13T12:06:00.000+08:00

Have you been studying, 4E5?

About a chance meeting on a bus today

2007-10-02T15:49:00.000+08:00

It was great to walk out of school in the bright sunshine. Rarely do I get the chance to be able to head for home at 2.15pm sharp. But this week being the examination week, with no CCA or meetings, I thought I might as well just leave, and forget about the pile of work on my table for today.

But being a little bit of a workaholic, I did lug along my laptop. Who knows, I might end up in a cafe, on the way home, and get some work done, with a good ol cup of hot chocolate to keep me warm.

But the best thing that happened was actually when I was seated on a bus. A lady plonked herself next to me. I looked up and saw a very pleasant and familiar face.

You know, it's always fantastic to meet ex-students, and it's even better if we get to have a chat. And I did enjoy catching up with her. Hey XY, life in the polytechnic is never easy but keep working at it, and keep up with the new topics and notes regularly, and I'm sure you'll do fine. And holla, it's nice to know you're into triathlons too!

The bus eventually ended up at Suntec City. My ex-student had already gotten off the bus earlier. I was supposed to head for the nearby bus-stop for a bus transfer but I made a short detour to the Starbuck's and I really got myself a cup of hot chocolate and started to blog this entry.

Well, back to work!

About appreciation

2007-09-21T14:23:00.000+08:00

Hats off to those who ran the 2.4km during this week's round of NAPFA re-tests.

You gave your best and it was such a bonus when you posted good timings, even though it must have been incredibly difficult. Well done. I'm immensely proud of you all.

To the rest of you in my PE classes, I have to say that nothing brings me as much pleasure and satisfaction than to be able to teach you in this subject.

To those who are fasting - happy fasting and look forward to Hari Raya. Take care.

About an incident that disturbed me profoundly

2007-09-14T19:14:00.000+08:00

After a week of crafting testimonials for my class, I was nigh fatigued. Over the past few days, I used my leisure time in the evenings and the early mornings, poised at the laptop, to painstakingly type out testimonial after testimonial.

These testimonials are going to be very important to my 4e5 boys and girls, so I better make sure I do a good job!

Yesterday, after a productive morning (where I completed my 39th testimonial), I decided to get out of the Staff Room for a breather. One more second of staring at the computer screen, and I would have lost my marbles.

So I walked to the parade square, and observed some classes having their NAPFA re-tests.

Then, right in front of me was a girl getting ready to do the shuttle run.

And off she went. She ran at a very good speed.

Unfortunately, at the last stretch, she lost her balance just after she picked up the second bean bag and turned.

She stumbled. One, two steps to the side - she was out of control.

She crashed to the ground in a heap, unable to even break the fall.

Then in the next few moments, I saw the worst and best of people immediately after this incident.

Behind me were 3 students from the same class who did not participate in the PE lesson, as they were not in PE attire.

When the girl fell, their shrieking laughter filled the air.

It was obvious that they were laughing at the girl who fell.

My eyes burned with anger. But I did not turn back to reprimand them.

Though their actions were utterly detestable, they were of absolutely no import at that moment.

That injured girl was my priority.

Many pupils who were waiting for their turn to take the shuttle run sat by the side, when the girl stumbled and crashed.

When it happened, they did nothing.

They did not lift a finger to help, nor ask her, "Hey are you all right?"

All they did was to look and pass comments, as the PE teacher of that class tended to the injured girl.

Redemption came in the form of a few pupils from the class who rushed to the aid of the girl. They helped her up, cleaned her nasty wounds, and got her treated at the general office.

Alas.

Too few.

Today, during my English lesson with 4T1, I made it very clear to them:

Help those who need help. Do something. Check with them.

Do not think that 'somebody else will take care of that problem or that person.' Do not think that 'it's not my business.'

If we want the world around us to become a kinder place, we have to realise that it starts with us.

Every day, there are moments that reveal to us someone who will need help - such as help with a broken heart, sadness, homework, relationships. Sometimes all they need is a listening ear. Sometimes all they need to someone to offer them an encouraging word.

Let's keep our eyes open and be sensitive to the feelings of others. And when it is time, let us make a difference in other people's lives, by speaking kindly, and giving support and encouragement, whenever we can.

If we don't do this, then who will?

It's got to start with me, myself and I, isn't it?

Let us own our world. Let us take charge. Let us make the first move and make our world a better place.

4t1 - don't forget what I've taught you!

As for 4e5, the end of the Preliminary Exams is at hand.

I hope you appreciate the value of these exams. It will be the last full dress rehearsal for your O Levels.

Whether you do well or stumble badly, I hope you will reap some learning points from your strengths and weaknesses in your performances.

At this point in time, it is already meaningless to cajole and persuade you to study, study and study.

This is simply because you must already be doing it, at full steam, even right now.

I have to give you this sobering but stark warning: at this critical period of time, there is no such thing as taking a break.

The grim reality is, you are competing with thousands of O Level students across the island to clinch a spot in those ultra-limited courses you fancy in the polytechnic/ junior college.

Just don't get left out. Compete!

About an aural assault

2007-09-06T11:59:00.000+08:00

The moment I stepped into the mall, I really wanted to make an exit.

Yesterday, waiting for my wife in Millenia Walk became a nauseating affair.

Of course, it has completely nothing to do with her.

It's noise, that assails you from every angle.

Some are thinly disguised as music, blared out loudly from the ubiqitous boutiques and electronic stores. The lunchtime crowd's incessant chatter raised the decibels up several notches.

It's hard to think and it's hard to talk.

No wonder we can get edgy at the slightest thing - our souls can never be at rest if we are constantly provocated by noise. Even our buses now no longer provide a haven of peace and serenity. The tv shows on the dull screens are irksome, to be honest.

Maybe it's the crowds. Maybe it was something that someone said earlier that disturbed me.

But I know clearly that when my mood's not right, I ain't going anywhere near somebody or some place that stays noisy. It won't help.

About being thankful and satisfied

2007-09-02T12:18:00.000+08:00

3 days of rest have done a world of good to my body.

I could feel the healing. I could slowly go further in my range of movement. Pain subsided slowly and surely.

I did not touch the painkillers at all. I felt that I didn't even have to take them. Yes, there was pain, but it was bearable. By the second day, the pains were reduced to nagging aches, dull and throbbing.

In the hours spent at home, I continued to work, refining the plans for the massive Teachers' Day Games, reading up on my book and comics, and getting plenty of rest in-between.

I've been obedient, doctor.

Just so you know, I'm gonna make sure I recover from this. I still want to complete that marathon in December.

I thank God for my parents who have travelled the inhibitive distances between our homes to bring me dinner. I cannot express enough how thankful I am of them and their kindess and generosity.

I must thank my wife, who also laboured to ensure I was well-rested and met my needs, while I was confined at home. She has been absolutely great.

So complete was my recuperation that, 3 days after the injury happened, I was back to school on Friday, to oversee the Teachers' Day Games. It is no exaggeration to say that this was one of the biggest projects the school has embarked.

Planning for the orderly and coordinated movement of 37 classes in one morning is no mean feat.

It could have been a potential nightmare, had planning been any less meticulous.

Countless meetings with the planning committee, numerous revisions to the movement plan, plan B (for wet weather), deployment of teachers, deployment of student leaders, safety considerations, venues, logistics, a workable scoring system etc - there were so many variable factors we had to consider.

Funnily enough, I relished taking on this massive task.

I think we did well. There was favourable feedback from various quarters.

The best feedback that gave me the deepest satisfaction came from teachers who came up to me and said that they had fun.

This is bacause, at the end of the day, what we've worked so hard for, is not so much for the students.

It's Teachers' Day, after all.

Instead of staging a concert, we broke out of our comfort zone and decided to have a day where teachers could play with the kids.

Teachers are a cool lot of people, don cha think.

With all due respect, lawyers, doctors, engineers, CEOs - these kind of jobs pay well and are well-respected.

But I think no other job commands more respect than that of a teacher.

Think about it. My life has been changed because I have been blessed by the words of inspiring teachers in my schooling life. No doctor or lawyer could have ever done that.

By being a teacher today, I am stepping into gigantic shoes. Teaching and imparting knowledge are crucial, but I see imparting values and a love for learning as even more essential aspects of my job. It's my responsibility to groom the youths under me to be imbued with the right character traits and values.

The teachers in my life had shown me the way. Now it is my turn to do the same in Fajar.

About an unexpected injury

2007-08-29T12:12:00.000+08:00

The moment it gave way, I knew that's the end of the game for me.

Reaching for a ball, done thousands of times previously, led to the injury that left me struggling to walk.

I berated myself. I slowly realised that this pain wasn't going to leave so easily.

I berated myself for being so foolish. To play a game, so enthusiastically, just after a half-marathon. Should have rested more.

I don't know.

Don't have the bloody answers.

It's a miracle (or beyond reason, whichever way one looks at it) that I continued to stay in school till the late afternoon, for God knows what reasons. Isn't it supposed to be like that - work pales in importance to health?

And when I finally extricated myself from school, I finally did the thing that made all the sense in the world - and checked myself into the A & E ward.

I only got to see the doctor 2 and a half hours later. I was mumbling to my wife that next time, I'll fork out a little more, do myself a favour and go to a private hospital next time - and save myself from wasting all those frustrating hours of waiting.

Thanks for the painkillers, doctor. Taking it on the first night helped numb the pain in my back. Thank God I could still sleep in peace.

I realised that every single move I made caused the pain to shoot from my back. Is my back that important? Unfortunately it is.

I wonder what this injury means for the future?

About the longest Sunday in a long long while

2007-08-26T21:44:00.000+08:00

Feeling quite worn out now, even as I type, but otherwise, I'm doing quite well.

Not bad, for someone who has just completed the 21km Army Half-Marathon this morning. And man, I feel great!

I have to say that running and playing sports makes me feel really good. The other leisure activity that would come close is reading a really good book.

It's quite a miracle really (and for this I have to thank God), that I completed the race without a single tinge of cramp in my leg muscles. This is amazing, as my training for this endurance event has been patchy, at best. The longest run I'd done, prior to this morning, was only an 8 km run - hardly sufficient at all!

Undoubtedly, for December's full marathon, I am determined to set aside time each week to clock in the mileage. I may have breezed through this race today, but the 42km run in December is on another level (physically and mentally) altogether.

My wife ran in this event too and I must say she did a brilliant job today. Her hard training in London and New York has no doubt helped her. To the friends who ran today - congratulations on a job well done!

Finally, as usual, for such marathons, inspirational quotes are ubiquitously placed along the running route. One quote which particularly caught my attention was, "You will never know the impossible until you push beyond the limits of the possible."

Quite right there, I must say.

About self-fulfilling prophecies and the power of your word

2007-08-14T20:53:00.000+08:00

Today, I had an invigorating English lesson with 4e5.

The English Oral examinations, for them, is merely days away. Needless to say, I was more than ready to make sure that every single one of them is properly trained and given sufficient practice in class.

It is particularly heartwarming to have students coming up (in spite of their hesitancy, fear of making mistakes in front of others, watching and waiting for others to go first) to have authentic practice in front of me and my lovely fellow 'examiner', Janelle (yesterday it was elegant Izzianie who was my partner).

During moments when everyone seemed hesitant to sit in front of Janelle and I for the exam practice, I remember bellowing my voice at them saying, "For Heaven's sake, if I were you, I'd be thinking to myself that I should get myself seated on that chair, in front of Mr Ng, and get myself some useful practice!"

The class concurred that the picture discussion section of the oral examination was the most difficult for them.

Swiftly, I told them this, "Drop this attitude. Stop thinking that the picture is difficult. If you go into the exam room with the thinking that you won't do well, you most probably won't. If you think that you will be defeated even before the battle starts, you'll most probably lose."

My point to them is, positive thinking - even under impossible or challenging situations - can actually give you victory from the jaws of defeat.

What you say is what you get.

Confession IS possession.

Proclaim good things over situations in your life (even in the most dire of circumstances) and you will find that life will be easier on you.

I have given you a secret in living a victorious life, 4e5.

Applying this big idea to the picture discussion component, you will need to go into this exam with self-confidence.

I have given you tips. You have gone through the practice. You even know what the examiners are looking out for.

You are fully equipped to take on this exam.

I say to you: go into this exam, expecting to do well, with ALL your effort.

You can do well!

As a final word, your MT results, on the whole, hasn't been very flattering.

For those who have had that smug air about them, thinking that you would bag that A1 or A2, I hope reality has bitten you real hard.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. If you put in minimal results and put in sub-standard effort in your daily work, then do not say to yourself that you will score distinctions. It won't happen.

For those who are disappointed in your results, I say to you: move on, and get used to the fact that you need to study for your MT again.

It's important to reflect on your attitude in your studies. Sometimes, if you think real hard about it, there are changes that need to be made in the way you think towards studies, revision and exams.

Don't expect to get different results with the same old methods of revision. Improvise. Make sure the time spent on revision is effective and productive.

Switch off that mobile phone. Shut down the computer. Be alone if you need to. Just study!

You have less than 20 days before you start the Fajar exams. This will be the last school exams you will take.

You don't have much time.

Use the remaining days wisely, 4e5.

And you have my assurance that the 4e5 teachers will be here to help you in your quest for success, as you draw near to the big O.

About our nation

2007-08-10T21:30:00.000+08:00

Mr Yong's and Mr Ong's outstanding sharing about their NS experiences stood out from a packed programme for our school's National Day celebration.

Their sentiments resonated with me.

We serve NS, not because we have to. It's because this island nation has given me opportunities that no other country can. This country is a safe and secure haven for my family and I.

I have travelled widely and I can say this with absolute certainty that there is no other place I'd rather be, than to be in Singapore.

And I will sing that Anthem and recite the Pledge. Patriotic? I'm proud of it.

Singapore is worth defending and it is this generation of students (who are tomorrow's leaders) who will have to strive to bring Singapore to greater heights of success, prosperity and ensure her continued security, even in this volatile world that we live in.

And underpinning our continued prosperity is the fact that we have a very capable armed forces that is technologically one of the most advanced in Asia. Operated by a well-trained and well-educated citizen army, it is no wonder that the SAF is highly regarded by nations all around the world.

Of course, state-of-the-art technology can be rendered completely useless, if the youths of today lack a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility to our nation.

All it takes is to have one generation of young people to feel nothing (or even a little) and it can undo all the hard work that the pioneers of our nation have sacrificed so much to build up.

National Service is a key pillar in our continued security. No one will defend this island for us. We will need to do this on our own. The boys who will be serving NS in the near future - look forward to it. With a positive attitude, NS can be one of the best times of your lives .

About the denouement of a great adventure

2007-08-04T13:19:00.000+08:00

It is only appropriate that I end off my series of posts with one final flurry of pictures of my last full day in Copenhagen.

It had been a tremendous experience so far. Bergen exceeded all expectations. Oslo proved to be a slight disppointment, but I still admire its First World standards in civility and transport system. Copenhagen is much more cosmopolitan.

We realised that we had only one full day in Copenhagen left, as we were due to catch the late morning flight back to Singapore on the next day.

So once we reached dry land again, after the overnight ferry ride from Oslo, we immediately went to the central train station in Copenhagen and left our backpacks in the luggage lockers.

The central train station is a massive building, and acts like a nerve centre, where one can be connected to local cities and other destinations in Europe from this station.

While roaming along the streets of central Copenhagen, we decided to take the path less trodden and head away from the main shopping street, into the minor sidewalks. We were richly rewarded, when we stumbled upon, by accident, this shop called Friis and Company. My missus loves the bags, shoes, belts and accessories from this boutique. Its hallmark is that of a crown found on all its items. I have to say that their products are really quite pretty. It's a pity then, that Friis and Company has not yet found its way into our shores yet.

We spent a lot of time in there, as my wife nearly wanted to get everything she saw. I didn't help - I actually stirred her up even more, by encouraging her!

She was trying to decide which bag to buy, as it came in two colours - pink and grey.

In the end, I recommended the pink one, and she got it! Here's her making her payment at the counter. She was certainly one very happy customer.

And here she stands, right outside the shop, with her glorious buys.

Along the way, we saw some interesting sights:

All that walking made us very hungry, so we chanced upon this Chinese joint, and decided to have our lunch there.

The food was quite palatable, sometimes awful, but it did its job in filling our stomachs.

In the late afternoon, we stopped by this cafe for a drink, so we ordered 2 hot chocolates and watched the world go by.

We agreed that the waitress was quite pretty so we asked her if she could have a picture with my wife. Here you go - a blonde Norwegian beauty and a gorgeous Singaporean babe - a lethal combination.

After a satisfying dinner at our favourite Thai joint, we made our way back to the central train station to collect our backpacks, and took a bus back to our hostel after that. We lost no time in heading back to the comfort of the hostel room to rest our overworked legs.

The next day, the bus ride to the Kastrup Airport went without any hitches. It was good to be on that plane, back to Singapore.

In the airport, however, I came across this large advertisement:

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, I remember how one of the soldiers, after an encounter with the ghost of Hamlet's murdered father, chillingly remarked to his spooked colleague that, "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark." This advertisement resonated with me, having studied Hamlet in my A Levels some years back. It is a terrific book, I must say.

It's now early August, and sometimes my mind starts flirting with thoughts of my next holiday destination. It might be Shanghai, Moscow, Barcelona, Tokyo, Christchurch... who knows? But wherever we may go, we will surely have a great and memorable time. Being away, in a strange and foreign land, is one of the best things you can do.

Finally, a big part of why this trip was magnificent is because I have the perfect travelling partner - my beautiful wife.

About that good ol' familiar rush of adrenaline

2007-07-29T10:56:00.000+08:00

All morning, I was throbbing with anticipation.

I got up at 6, and went about preparing my personal equipment. Bicycle - checked. Number tags - checked. Goggles - checked. Running shoes & socks - checked. Oakley shades - checked. Bicycle helmet - checked.

Bearing a backpack, I walked with my trusty bicycle to the food centre just next to my block, to have a breakfast with some mates and their wives.

Altogether, there were three of us who were going to cycle down to East Coast Park's start point for the Osim Singapore Triathlon's Sprint Event - 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.

While eating, we took the permanent markers that were provided in the race pack, to write our 4-digit race tag numbers on our arms and legs. Some of the elderly folk saw us writing our 4-digit numbers, and gleefully told us that they would be buying our numbers for the weekend's 4-D draw. Hilarious.

I realised that it took me a while to figure out how to write '2' and '5' on my legs, while standing - I got it wrong the first time round and had to seek help from my mates!

Once we reached the start point, near the famous food centre, there was already a frenzy - the morning races (for the kids' triathlon and the mini triathlon) had already started and there were so many participants scampering from the sea (after completing the swim leg) to collect their bicycles at the transition area. Some were completing their cycling leg and were rushing to park their bicycles before heading out to the running route.

It was all very new, very exciting, and very fun - after all, it's my first triathlon!

Anyway, we proceeded to the transition area - this huge grass patch that was guarded by security. Bicycle racks lined up within this transition area, and we were only permitted to enter when we showed our wrist bands (bearing our names and number tags) so that we could park our bicycles and personal belongings.

I learnt from my mate (who took part in the 2006 edition) that it's important to lay out your running shoes, shirt, shades, and helmet conveniently, so that minimal time is wasted once you enter the transition area after emerging from the sea. Once you get to your bike, you'd have to get into the cycling gear quickly before moving out of the transition area onto the cycling route.

After some high-fives of good luck, we stepped into the start point area on the beach, right before the sea. The starter, obviously an Aussie, was cracking all sorts of jokes, and he sure made all of us feel less nervous. Right before us, we could clearly see the swimming route - a triangular route that was patrolled by safety kayaks. I could not recall the last time I swam in the pool, and here I was, embarking on a competitive swim in the sea. Well done, I thought.

When the air-horn went off, all of us crashed into the sea, and some started pounding freestyle while some kicked the breaststroke.

It was pandemonium. It was difficult to find any space at all to do a proper stroke. Breaststroke is my best stroke but there were times I thought I kicked somebody behind me, and there were also times when my arms were kicked by swimmers in front. And then there were some clowns who simple barged into us and steamrolled on.

Even with goggles, it was impossible to see anything underneath. To be sure I was not swept away by the sea current, I had to keep my head up regularly, so that I could see the ropes that demarcated the route.

It was mayhem at the turning point. Everybody wanted to stick as close as possible to the buoy (for obvious reasons) and that was where I thought the most kicks took place underwater. It took me a while to get away from the turning point, and once I got some distance away, it became easier as the swimmers spread out again.

It took me just over 25 minutes to reach the beach again. I still had plenty of energy even though I felt the slight pangs of cramp in my calves. I was just thankful I cleared the most difficult leg. The cycling leg would be much easier.

Jogging into the transition area, I took record time to put on my shirt, my running shoes, helmet, and even managed a big gulp of water, before running out with my bike to the bicycle route. Once there, I mounted the bicycle, and off I went!

It's the same good old single-speed bike so it couldn't go very fast. But it's fine with me. The 20km cycling took us past the PA Sea Sports Centre, OBS, National Sailing Centre, to the very end near Changi Coast, before there was a U-turn back to the start point. We had to do 2 laps, and that took me about an hour of non-stop cycling.

Once I reached the transition area again, I dismounted and ran with my bike to the bicycle rack, parked the bike, drank water, and went off to the 5km running route.

I was telling myself, 'Keep going baby, it's only 5km, thank God,' and I was still in high spirits. Yea, by then, I was quite tired, of course, but running's never been a problem for me and I knew finishing this triathlon would never be in doubt.

The running route took us in the other direction, past the lake, the seafood restaurants, the chalets, fitness corner, before making the U-turn at the old tennis courts.

Halfway through, the skies poured and I've never felt so free, so liberated, so refreshed, as I revelled in the heavy rain. It made the run easier even though all of us who were running were soaking wet.

I've never felt so good, after crossing the finishing line after 2 hours of non-stop action. I remember clenching my fist in victory. I made sure I looked good for the photographers at the end line!

After collecting the finisher's medal, I met up with my friends at the end line. They were waiting for me already (they had much faster bikes than mine!) and to my shock, 2 of them said that they were forced to stop their run midway, due to lightning! So they did not actually complete the full triathlon. I felt sorry for them but they were still in high spirits even though they must have felt disappointed deep inside.

From there, it was quite an arduous trip back home, cycling with aching quadricep muscles back to my home.

It has been a fantastic experience for me. It was challenging (especially swimming in the sea) but wow, finishing the race was absolutely satisfying. Oh, that triumphant feeling! Feels exactly the same when I finished my first marathon. Yummy!

My shoulder's still aching from all that swimming, but the bigger headache for me now is that I have to set aside some time to scrub my bicycle - all the mud and dirt. I'm just so tempted to take the shower head and wash the whole bike! Yes, it is that dirty!

About the sporty side of Fajar

2007-07-20T20:48:00.000+08:00

These past couple of days have been quite fantastic.

On Thursday, the Peer Leaders did quite an effective job in running the Sec 2 Captain's Ball Inter-House Games.

This event was clearly quite a stressful event for them, but I recognised that it was a perfect opportunity for my Peer Leaders to get some valuable experience in planning and executing it.

On the whole, the event went smoothly. There was superb effort from the competitors, in spite of the hot weather.

A key moment, for me, was when there was a case of a team who had fielded 2 players who weren't registered in that team!

So I sent 2 of my Peer Leaders to launch an enquiry. It was clear to me that the captain of that team had a lot to answer for.

I already knew what I had to do, but it was more important to see what was the response of the captain.

Would she defend her actions, even though it was wrong?

Or would she submit to the rules and accept the penalty for breaking the rules of sportsmanship, by fielding 2 ineligible players?

As it turned out, the captain ran to me and the first words from her mouth were, 'sorry, Mr Ng.'

She said that she would gladly accept any disciplinary action but pleaded with me not to disqualify her team from the whole competition.

It became very straightforward for her team and me, once she apologised. She was clearly remorseful and I made it very clear to her that since she was the captain, then she would have to bear the full responsibility for her negligence.

The final decision I took was that her team forfeited the match 0-3 to the other team.

It is ok to make mistakes, but what is quite unforgivable is that when you make a mistake, you refuse to acknowledge it.

On the other hand, if you hold up your hands and say, 'yep, I messed up and I take responsibility for it,' then I will do my best to help you and find a solution together.

I thought that the captain of that team had the correct attitude and I respect her for that.

Congratulations to all the House teams who participated in the IHG. Remember, winning and losing is part and parcel of competition. What matters most is that you have taken part and have given your all during the time you compete. It is crucial that you complete your game with NO regrets, knowing that, deep in your heart, you've given your best efforts and fully played your part as a member of a sports team.

And of course, it is only proper to congratulate the other team for a good game, whether you have won or lost.

Today, on the other hand, was a mixed day. It started well, then dipped for a while, before it got better and better.

All week, I have looked forward to having my form class, 4E5, for PE. I enjoy teaching them English, of course, and I still have so much to do with them, now that the O Levels are so so near.

But my favourite subject has always been PE!

Teaching sports and getting youths to be engaged in games is quite simply a joy in itself for me.

And my class was really hilarious and it was very uplifting to see that the vast majority of them enjoy soccer - their sport for this term.

It was hilarious when the two teams were called 'Lego' and 'Barbie' (thanks to Janelle)! The boys seemed to enjoy being in 'Barbie' team!

As usual we ended the game with the adrenaline-rushing penalty shootout and there were some great saves and some stupendous shots. You should see the girls in my class, so garang! They can sure play a mean game of soccer!

But all that satisfaction evaporated in a second, when a colleague of mine came straight to me and made a formal complaint about the behaviour of the boys in my class in the computer lab. She was so exasperated (normally she's very cheerful) that it dawned on me that the actions of those culprits must have gone too far.

This incident blackened my mood for the whole afternoon. I cannot condone irresponsibility and disrespect from boys under my charge.

As far as I am concerned, I work on the principle of mutual respect. It's really very simple: whether I fancy you or not, it doesn't matter. I will speak to you with courtesy and in the correct tone.

I will also not withhold my anger if I find you guilty of being rude and disobedient to any of my teachers. You will learn, soon enough, that it takes 2 to clap, and if you want to be highly respected by teachers and fellow students, then you have got to show it first.

In the late afternoon, I accompanied my fellow PE teacher, Mr Ong, to ITE Dover for a sports competition. We sent our soccer girls and basketball boys to participate and I was very pleased with their behaviour.

In particular I was quite impressed with the calmness and composure of my basketball boys, when they had to go through the nerve-wrecking free-throw shootout against 6 other schools, where the outcome would determine the trophy winners.

To their credit, they did well enough to reach the gold medal round. Though in the end, their opponents did brilliantly to cope with the crushing pressure to score more baskets than us. Nonetheless, I was still very satisfied because throughout the nervous tension, they were remarkably cool and applauded all their opponents whenever they scored or missed. So well done boys!

Finally the weekend's here, and I am in dire need for some rest. It's been a long long week and I really could enjoy a longer sleep-in tomorrow. Thank God for weekends!

About the Sognefjord - the grandeur of God's work

2007-07-15T13:12:00.000+08:00

God is good. Our short stays in Copenhagen and Oslo have been smooth-sailing so far. In Bergen, it was no different. We were blessed with wonderfully sunny weather when we headed for the ferry terminal, to board the speedboat that would bring us right into the heart of the Sognefjord, Norway's longest and most famous fjord.

The speedboat was so fast that we soon lost sight of Bergen. We struck up a conversation with 2 Norwegian students who were having a girlish chat. Turned out that they were both sixteen years old and were on a backpacking trip with their classmates. How cool is that.

The scenery gradually became more dramatic, as the speedboat drew nearer and nearer to the Sognefjord.

As the speedboat cruised into the heart of the Sognefjord, we transferred to a larger but slower ferry, where we had ample opportunities to marvel at the sights that unfolded before our eyes. Behold the pinnacle of God's creations.

If you look carefully at the bottom of these amazing rock faces (that were chiselled by massive glaciers during the last Ice Age), you might be able to see some houses, which look absolutely miniscule, and this gives you an idea how how big, and I mean really big, these mountains are. I wondered, as I craned my neck to look at the very top of these mountains, what the feeling would be like if I stood, right up there?

After a mind-blowing 7-hour journey through towering mountains and clear blue skies, our unforgettable journey finally ended at a small water-side town, where we could take a short break before we transferred to a coach, that would bring us back to Bergen. Even then, the scenery was still stupendous and we took many photos.

Upon reaching Bergen, we had one last thing to do, and that was to have a really good dinner. So we headed back to the Chinese joint, and we were hoping to meet the same Norwegian lady again. Alas, it was not to be, as she was not working that day. Nonetheless, we bid farewell to the cook, who told us in halting Chinese that he was from Guangdong, China.

And with that, we headed back to the hostel, grateful that it was not far at all. Even as we were packing up our backpacks (as we were taking the first train back to Oslo at about 8am), we were very very glad to have made it this far and seen one of the world's heritage sites - Norway's fjords.

Next time, if I ever feel the stirrings in my heart to return to Norway, I shall endeavour to kayak through the Sognefjord. No more ferries for me!

About going for hours without the ability to speak

2007-07-14T23:19:00.000+08:00

For once, I think I came close towards greater understanding with mute people.

Actually, being able to speak and express our thoughts is something that I have been taking for granted.

But that ability left me, since yesterday.

It's all due to a 'cold', according to what a doctor told me.

From body & headaches, the symptoms have now moved on to my throat.

Yesterday, my voice was still fine, during the PE lesson with 4e5.

We were having soccer, and the lesson was going well. It's great to see the boys having a game of their own.

But it's absolutely brilliant to see the girls in my class playing soccer.

Really excellent.

As usual, my soccer lessons always end off with a bout of penalty kicks.

Penalty kicks are a good way to test a person's ability to handle massive stress levels, and I want to expose my students to such situations in school. And you know what? Sports provide excellent situations that can teach vital lessons to individuals, that may very well prove useful in adult life.

Hence the penalty kicks.

The best moment for me, was when Ezuin literally dived to save a penalty kick that was going in. Amazing save. Well done!

After that, it's all downhill from there. My voice progressively lost its strength.

In the afternoon's basketball match between my team and Unity, I really needed my voice, but to no avail. I had lost it!

Today was no better.

I had a game of indoor soccer at The Cage, and as usual I played as a goalkeeper. But, for today, I was a very silent goalkeeper! Mr Kelvin Ong was trying to have a conversation with me but it looked more like a monologue to others, because only one person was doing all the talking!

Finally, during lunchtime, I wanted to order a plate of fried rice at my favourite stall in the hawker centre near where I live.

The friendly auntie at the stall realised that I was mouthing words, and told me not to eat fried rice, and suggested hor fun instead. Sounds good to me so I mouthed 'ok' to her.

Best part was, just as I was about to pay up for the food, she thrust a packet of home-made barley into my hand. She said, 'For you, teacher. You need it! Too heaty!'

I must say, it's truly a blessing to be blessed and I am glad for people like auntie.

She was really generous. The packet of barley was enough to fill two big glasses.

So what I learned from her gesture was that I should be more kind and generous. I need to be able to lend a helping hand, without any hesitation at all.

Enjoy the weekend!

About yesterday's dialogue session with the MOE scholars and a teacher's deep disappointment

2007-07-12T12:32:00.000+08:00

Well done, 4E5.

I hope you have reaped a great harvest of ideas and wisdom from Mr Kelvin Goh, Ms Lu and Mr Jared Tan, our esteemed guests for the day.

Assuredly, the three scholars gave you their best. They withheld nothing but poured forth their personal thoughts and opinions how what it takes to succeed.

It worked for them. That is why they are awarded prestigious scholarships. Their future is well taken care of.

The committee of six students - Hamid, Janelle, Rachel, Swee Hong, Yongwei and Han Qiang - have done quite a splendid job in planning and running this event.

I felt so comfortable that I did not have to do a thing. This bears testament to the fact that I was certain that you have covered all possible angles and catered for the nitty-gritty details that are so essential for any event to work out successfully.

One regret (if I may be honest enough) was, in my haste to hurry to the classroom from my canteen walkabouts, I somehow failed to notice the class motto!

I simply could not recall seeing it. But I think it is there. I will endeavour to behold it when I step into that hallowed classroom of mine - 4e5.

Thank you to the Art students who worked hard to put together the motto. Though I haven't really seen it, I am sure that it looks marvellous and is worthy of our pride.

On a more disappointing note, 4e5 was on the receiving end of a blast from one of my colleagues - your Maths teacher.

Let me tell you - in no uncertain terms - you are very blessed to have Mrs Li as your Maths teacher.

Yet you take her for granted and disappoint her heart.

She has impressed me tremendously. She has spoken to me about how much she is willing to sacrifice her spare time, just to coach you and teach you, like those ex-POA students who now benefit from her extra coaching in the library.

And yet you skip her lessons without even a word, without any hesitation?

I have not spoken a word about this to you yet but even as your class counsellors, Ms Kum and I are sorely displeased and very angry.

We all know how much work you need to put into your Maths (and indeed all your subjects) and at the every brink of the most important exams in your life, you decide to commit the sin of skipping afternoon lessons just for one afternoon of freedom?

Utter senselessness and complete short-sightedness.

You have no idea how risky and perilous your future lies (just look at your own result slips).

You need to work very hard, every day. Period.

Don't talk to me about needing a break.

You don't take breaks by skipping lessons.

In this blog I speak my mind and 4e5, you have led dedicated teachers into a roller-coaster of premature heights of rapture (when we thought you were beginning to awaken and study hard) and utter depths of despair (when you continuously refuse to learn and ask the teacher, despite our evocations).

Do not ever let the teachers down like this, ever again.

About staying confident, even against impossible odds

2007-07-09T21:06:00.001+08:00

While our first-round draw of the West Zone Basketball tournament has been very kind to us, the same cannot be said of the second round draw.

That we are meeting some big boys at this stage of the competition is not a complete surprise to me.

Earlier in the aftenoon, I rushed down from school to Clementi Sports Hall, only to find that the draw for the second round had already started.

I was momentarily stunned when Fajar was drawn into a group that ostentatiously look very very competitive.

The next moment, I walked off and focussed my mind on preparing my players for the expected onslaught of matches coming up.

Over the next 9 days, they will face a punishing schedule of playing 5 demanding matches.

To be real honest, I really do not give a damn who we play against.

We've trained so hard. The coach has been deeply committed to the team. I've sacrificed my precious holidays. We didn't spend all our time and money to prepare our boys to play kids' basketball.

With all our investment in the talent that Fajar is endowed with, we expect our players to remain supremely confident in their team's ability and strengths.

I need to see my players remained unfazed, even when they know that they are playing against the strongest teams in the region.

It's all very simple: the pressure is on the other team's teacher, coach and players. They are expected to beat us.

In such situations, it can be a slippery slope for even the strongest teams, for then the moment becomes ripe for us - lesser known teams - to cause a major upset.

I want my players to capitalise on this, and snatch a victory or two against the big guns!

For this to happen, every single player of my school team must retain an unshakeable self-belief in themselves and in the team.

They must speak confidently. They must quash all talk of negativity and shut the mouths of people who preach hopelessness.

We do not need negative people!

What we need to do is to stay utterly positive. We must play to our strengths. It is all down to the 12 players and the other CCA members, including the seniors.

What can you do or say to raise up their confidence level?

I know what I think and what I believe.

I believe in every single one of my players.

They can do it. The strength and confidence is found within each individual player.

The Second Round is here, folks. We're in the Top 12 of the Zone.

Face every match confidently. Relish the prospect of playing against the very best.

We will only get better, each time we play against a champion team, like how iron sharpens iron.

Go for it and play the matches with no regrets!

About grit and overcoming the odds

2007-07-06T19:29:00.000+08:00

It's a perennial problem: Fajar basketball players usually lack height.

Against a very charged-up Fuhua, the difference in height between our players stood out again. We cannot hope to dominate rebounds and high balls if we think we can outjump them.

We can't.

Today's game was very simple: Fajar had to win, in order to secure the second-place in our group and qualify for the top-12 round.

Fuhua had a slim chance too. If they defeated us by a large margin, the goal difference would allow them to leapfrog over us in the table and get that coveted spot in the next round.

In a fascinating contest, where there was end-to-end action, pulsating moves and frustrating misses, our boys came out tops and achieved a well-deserved victory against a resilient Fuhua who dominated us in height and rebounds but not in team tactics.

I have every reason to be proud of my C division players. They have trained very hard during May and June. They have improved much and have done very well to put themselves into the Second Round of the West Zone competition.

In the Second Round, powerful schools lay waiting. Every match will be like a cup final. Our team will need their self-belief and team spirit to overcome our group opponents.

Though we do not know who our group opponents are, one thing is for sure: we will be ready for them. We will do our school proud!

About the captivating charm of a old fishing town

2007-07-03T20:55:00.000+08:00

Bergen may seem to be disappointingly quaint yet austere, compared to the modern metropolis of Copenhagen and Oslo. It is not surprising, since Bergen, for the past hundreds of years, is chiefly known as a fishing port.

After a train ride that quite simply overwhelmed us, we were really glad to set foot on firm ground again.

Our youth hostel, thank God, was just a 5-minute walk away from the train station. A hill, dotted with houses, cast its imposing presence next to the youth hostel.

By the time we checked in at the youth hostel and put our bags down, we were famished and couldn't wait to eat! So what we did was to get hold of a map of Bergen, and approached the friendly lady at the check-in counter for some recommendations. We specifically wanted Chinese or Thai, since we were raring to satisfy our lust for spice, chilli and some good ol' Asian food. Thank goodness, she pointed out a Thai and a Chinese eatery that was just 10 minutes away.

Finding those eateries became an urgent objective that over-rode all other needs, so we marched off in search of them.

We located those restaurants without any problem, and it didn't take long for us to step into the Chinese eatery and we sat down. To my surprise, a Norwegian lady came to take our orders. Obviously the cook is a Chinese, but it was indeed a rare sight to have a Western lady working quite happily there.

We had a really pleasant chat with her. Turns out that she's a university student, currently pursuing her Masters. She speaks very good English (again, we must remember that English is Norway's second language) and it is such a joy to know that English transcends races, nationalities and borders.

After what was simply an outstanding dinner experience, we took a leisure stroll around the harbour area, where in the Middle Ages, ships laden with fishes would unload their catch here, in the thriving fish market.

The view from our youth hostel was simply stunning.

After a night's rest, we were all set to head for the climax of our trip - a visit to the immortal and grand fjords. With all due respect, that alone deserves a post of its own!

About the splendour of the Norwegian mountains

2007-06-30T15:30:00.001+08:00

What the guide books say are all true.

The Oslo-Bergen train ride is truly an ultimate experience. It cuts across Norway from right to left, into impassable mountains, skirting right beside lakes, ghosting past desolate towns, and at altitudes of over 1000m, the train glided past sweeping icy landscapes. It was completely incongruous, that even in the summer heat, the ice in the mountains seemed to remain untouched.

These two young men were quite remarkable for the fact that they were very tall and secondly, they slept throughout the 6hr 30min train ride.

This train ride has been absolutely spellbinding.

And the best part was, I was able to revel in this with the company of my wife. That's the icing on the cake.

About hot buffalo wings

2007-06-28T21:02:00.000+08:00

It's been a sensational couple of weeks so far.

Each day, I look forward to putting on my army No. 4, meeting my fellow officers, meeting and planning, setting directions for the battalion.

It helps that we have a group of officers who gel together. There is a good mix of youth and experience. We are led by some veteran NSmen. They have served many in-camp trainings and have a wealth of experience. Just being with them gives me a great opportunity to learn from them in the ways of management, leading, and blazing the trail forward.

There's also a good number of young officers, many who are still pursuing their studies in the various universities. They are enthusiastic, bright and keen.

Where do I stand? I think I'm in the middle! I've done more in-camp trainings than the young officers but far less than the veterans. For example, my direct superior, who is in charge of recruitment in an international insurance company, has done about close to 8 in-camp trainings.

Today, we were able to finish our training early, so a few of us decided to head to a secluded area of Seletar Camp to have our dinner. We had heard of this restaurant located in the Youth Flying Club that serves really good buffalo wings. So we herded ourselves into our cars and drove to that eatery.

And so, we glanced through the menu and were perplexed by the different 'levels' of buffalo wings that were available. So we clarified with the waitress what those 'levels' meant.

She laughed and said, 'The levels represent the different intensities of the chillies in the wings.'

Ah.

There was Level 1 up to Level 20. And then there was the 'Chef's Challenge'.

We discussed amongst ourselves and the bravado in us almost went to our heads. Our boss said he wanted to go for the 'Chef's Challenge'. I concurred with him, confident in my ability to tolerate even the most spicy chilli.

I can finish numerous chilli padis in a single dish without blinking.

Anyway, we decided to take it slow and start safe by ordering Level 2.

The wings came and we ate them without any major problems. The wings tasted a little salty, but otherwise we were good to go to the next stage.

The waiter then delivered Level 4 buffalo wings.

This time, one of the officers started downing cup after cup of ice water. We were all laughing at him.

But he, being brave and all, said he would go up to the next level.

While waiting for the Level 6 chicken wings to arrive, all of us were breaking out in perspiration already.

Even at Level 4 the burning sensation was radiating through our skin.

It was mad. My superior starting imploring the waitress to turn up the power of the air-conditioning.

The waitress chided him gleefully, saying that the air-condition was working perfectly well, and that it's him who can't take chilli! But she was kind enough to bring a fan and turn it on.

I was still doing very well. Our boss kept muttering, 'Let's go for the Chef's Challenge, everyone!'

Nobody took any heed of his words. They were all too busy wiping their foreheads and fanning themselves.

Level 6 buffalo wings finally arrived.

This time, I took the wings apart and ate it, thinking that it'll be a piece of cake.

It's strange how some food can have a delayed effect on your tastebuds.

After finishing that wing, my tongue started to burn.

I've never ever ever had that sensation before. Not for as long as I can remember!

I looked desperately for the iced water. I think I downed 3 full glasses of it, just to quench the invisible fire that was melting my tongue.

The officers around me were like trying to put out the fire in their mouths after they finished their wings. Apparently we almost had an emergency at our table.

It was extremely hilarious and completely unbecoming of a SAF officer. C'mon, we're supposed to be cool and in control.

The only person who still remained cool was our boss. He HARDLY took a sip of water, even though he had also finished his wings. Amazing.

He offered to order Level 8 but we waved our hands at him frantically.

Needless to say, they were all drenched in perspiration now.

Even for me, I think I had reached the threshold of my chilli tolerance. It was utterly hot. Even though I didn't perspire that much, my stomach felt as if it was being baked in an oven. An unending heat was engulfing my tummy from within!

Our boss had a good laugh at all of us.

He challenged us to try Level 8 when we come next time.

That's a horrifying thought. But I think I'll be game to try!

About the land of the Midnight Sun

2007-06-24T14:30:00.000+08:00

I knew where we wanted to go, once we had disembarked from the cruise ship Crown of Scandinavia.

We needed to get to the train station so that we can book our seats on that train to Bergen.

So we spoke to the train staff and realised that we had to make changes to our plan. Our original intention was to stay two nights in Oslo and then make a day's journey by train to Bergen. We reach there in the late evening, spend one night there, and then catch the first train back to Oslo.

This itinerary, I realised, could very well have made our whole journey irrelevant. A few hours in Bergen would have deprived us of the time and space needed to view the spectacular sights that Norway is renowned for - its majestic fjords.

So I had a word with my wife, made a few calls to the youth hostels in Oslo and Bergen, paid for the train tickets, and voila! Our plan is now perfect.

After making the changes, I would spend just one night in Oslo, and have much more time in Bergen. And we're glad we made those necessary changes.

Anyway, we were still very early, so we decided to roam around the city centre before checking into our youth hostel. We found a luggage storage facility in the train station and chucked our bulky bags in there. We were glad to be rid of those weights.

After that, we proceeded to the tourist information centre to get more essential information, such as public transport information and a good map of central Oslo. This is the tourist information centre:

From there, we walked down the bustling main spine of Oslo city. It was already swarming with hordes of people. This street, Karl Johan's Gate, is the equivalent of Singapore's Orchard Road:

Along the way we took some pictures of the menu placed outside a chinese restaurant. Maybe you can take a look at the prices and gape at the high costs.

It could be due to the hot weather that might have driven these young men to strip and ride a horse. Queer but hilarious!

Further down the street there was a day market, and the bread on display looked really irresistable. It is as if these golden bread loaves were fit for gods.

Along the way, we took a breather at Hard Rock Cafe, and enjoyed a ice-cool vanilla milk shake:

Here's the City Hall:

Here's the tram that works very efficiently in the city centre. We took one of these trams to a famous park that is the home to countless sculptures of human beings, the work of one man whose ashes are kept near his masterpieces.

Anyway, while waiting for the tram, my wife took this picture of this giant and me, being very lanky myself, find myself looking very ordinary beside this man.

Here are some of the sculptures. It's in the emotions etched on the faces of these humans. They seem to convey a whole gamut of emotions - happiness, struggle, sadness and joy.

Along the way, plenty of youths were laid out on the lush green grass in the wide open parks, some content to relax, while some were playing a sport.

We were quite exhausted by then, and we decided to head back to the train station to retrieve our backpacks, then walk to the bus terminal to catch the bus to our youth hostel. Our youth hostel is located 8km outside the city centre. This wasn't ideal, but I was left with no choice as all the hostels with the best locations were already fully booked. Nevertheless, we were still happy, as the hostel was located in a very peaceful part of Oslo and it was a pleasant environment to get much rest!

It may come as a surprise to many, but even late at night, the sky is still bright. In fact, it never gets dark, and that's because in summer, the comforting light of the sun never recedes. By the early hours of the morning, the sun rises again. Norway is located far north in the globe and in the upper reaches of the country, the sun literally never sets during the summer.

Breakfast was a very simple affair, with bread, butter, cereals and hot drinks:

After a hearty breakfast, we checked out of the hostel, took the bus back to the city centre, to take the train to Bergen.

Finally, we were about to embark on a 7-hour train journey, from Oslo to Bergen. Never did we expect that this train journey, claimed by travel guides as one of the most scenic in Europe, would be so breathtaking, as the train brought us along lakes, ice-swept landscapes and white mountains.

It is fitting, then, to end off with this thoughtful and positive quote that was written on this fence in the Oslo youth hostel.

About the sea journey to the lands of the Norse gods

2007-06-23T13:07:00.000+08:00

Before I can even start on an entry on Oslo, I think the Copenhagen - Oslo journey itself deserves an entry of its own.

While planning for this whole trip (with the laptop in front of me), I was mulling on what would be a great way to travel to Oslo from Copenhagen with my dearest one.

Of course, we could take the plane, where it'd be cheaper and faster. We could also take the train, but it would take too long, since Norway and Denmark are separated by the sea and there is no land bridge connecting these two countries.

Finally, I settled on the ferry service that plies between these two cities. I thought that a ferry ride would make the whole experience richer (though it was very expensive - over a thousand dollars just for the two of us!). Budget is important, but experience is priceless. And so, without any further delay, I promptly booked a pair of return ferry tickets.

And so, after spending a night in Copenhagen, we were due to depart for Oslo. At 4pm (Denmark time), the giant cruise ship Crown of Scandinavia set sail for the overnight sea journey to Oslo, the capital city of Norway.

We captured some photos as the ship departed from the terminal:

Dinner was not too bad. Our initial fears that we would be eating bread again proved unfounded, as we were offered some offerings of warm food - pasta and meatballs were my favourite. Nothing that is close to Asian food, of course, but we were still able to enjoy dinner tremendously. Everyone around us seemed to be sipping copious amounts of wines and beer, and when the waiter came to our table to recommend his choicest wines, we politely declined. We would love to drink of course, but the wines were priced out of our wallets! We had skyjuice and we were more than pleased with that, of course.

Sitting next to the window made the experience much more memorable.

My dearest needed a hairdryer, so she asked the Info Desk for help in this area, and they had one hairdryer to loan us!

Our accomodation on the ship is nothing to shout about. While booking the return tickets for this trip on the internet, I had simply booked the most economical tickets, not realising that the cheapest tickets meant rooms with NO windows! We had a good laugh about it!

The next day, we got up and really looked forward to a hearty breakfast!

The coffee and tea were great and having eggs, sausages and hash browns on my plate was worth rejoicing! And nope, I didn't touch any bread at all.

The ship was very large, with ten levels. Many of the levels are set aside for bunks, while there was one level set aside for cars and tour buses, but there was a duty-free shop, numerous bars and cafes, a LAN gaming shop, a cinema and a deck that commanded a view of the sea. It's a pity that the ship did not have a gym.

We were due to arrive at Oslo at half past 9 in the morning. As we moved into the vicinity of the city, we could see countless sailboats on the gentle sea. It was clear that the Norwegians were really enjoying the summer weather.

It was with great anticipation when we breathed in the fresh air of Oslo. Nope it wasn't cold at all. It was truly pleasant weather - right in the peak of summer in northern Europe. We were all set to continue our journey. Next post!

About picking out my thoughts swirling in my head

2007-06-18T22:26:00.000+08:00

It's been a long day at the army camp.

Trudging back home from a late dinner, I was ready to hit the bed, but I had to tear myself away, as a full laundry of clothes beckoned at me. So, I had to start the washing machine and get the laundry done!

It's the first day of in-camp training for me. Though there are many meetings and trainings to plan and conduct, I am really looking forward to it, because it allows me to take a break from my normal routine of life and dip my hands into new skills and management issues that my appointment allows me.

I do so dearly want to pen down my thoughts on Norway and I have tonnes of photos, but I will have to do this time-consuming task on another day, perhaps the weekend.

But I certainly do have time to reflect on how the holidays have been like for me.

I have to admit, even though I was away on a holiday in northern Europe, my thoughts would still be with my basketball boys. I must say that I could have worried endlessly, but thank God I have the wonderful Ms Ivy who is ever so helpful to cover my duties when I was away. Oh if only the world's people are of such generosity and helpfulness!

Another event of note was the Sharing Session on the Young Leaders' Day that was planned entirely by the Sec 3 Peer Leaders. In case you were wondering where that booming sound came from on 15th Jun Friday afternoon, it's my Peer Leaders thundering the skies with their cheers.

I am not sure what's the magic with captain's ball, but it's fast becoming Fajar's all-time favourite sport and I think the PLs are quite a force to be reckoned with, judging from the way they play. Go Team Peer Leaders!

Special credit must go to the organisers and presenters - Hudz, Andreyana, Didie, and Shasha. We learnt many things, including how to order pizza! (don't ask me, go ask Andreyana!)

It was good to have the Sec 4 PLs too. As a word of advice, do remember, at this critical juncture of your life, your O Level preparations is undoubtedly the most important thing. So whatever you do, make sure you set aside time to revise and perfect your Sec 3 and 4 subject knowledge. Do not settle with being average. Be extraordinary and do well for your Prelims and O Levels, ok?

And oh, I would like to see the photos that Afiqah has taken during the Sharing Session, so if anyone has the photos, get in touch with me and let me have a look at the pictures!

A final reminder to the Peer Leaders:
1. You have to get in touch with Mr Elamaran and Mr Kelvin Ong, on the first day of school, and find out the details of the Citi-MILK Run. You are not just running in this charity event; you are assisting the teachers too so please check with the Teachers about how you can help!

2. As stated in the meeting, the Peer Leaders need to meet and plan for the Inter-House Sec 2 Captain's Ball championships. I'm not sure if the Sec 2s are very keen on this event, but I think I want to organise this event and I am confident that the PLs will not let their standard down and they will do their best to plan properly so that this will be an outstanding success.

PLs, I am not in the business of being average, so whatever you do must make the School blush with pride.

Therefore I expect you to hold meetings. Remember the deadline for the proposals is on Youth Week Saturday - 29th June 1800hrs.

That's it. The laundry is waiting for me now.

About a trip to the far side of the world

2007-06-16T09:34:00.000+08:00

It didn't take us long to decide where we wanted to travel, when we were planning on where to head to for the June holidays.

Of course, exotic places like Barcelona and Moscow came to mind, but when we checked the availability of the flights, they were already fully booked, and that gave us no chance.

Looking at the world map, we figured that travelling half a world away, to Scandinavia, should be just as good. After all, Singapore Airlines flies to Denmark's capital city, Copenhagen, thrice weekly. And thank God, we managed to secure 2 seats for ourselves on the plane.

But the real reason was that Copenhagen is but a launching pad for our foray into the majestic fjords of neighbouring Norway. We'd read about it and seen pictures in books, but nothing beats seeing them with your own eyes.

The plane trip took a tiring 11.5 hours. We were glad to set our feet on firm ground, here at Copenhagen's Kastrup International Airport.

Here's a main town square, right in the city centre.

We stayed at a youth hostel, called Danhostel Copenhagen Amager. It's very simple to book your accomodation abroad. Any good travel guides will recommend a few decent hostels, so just pick one, and make the booking on its website with a credit card.

Breakfast cost us 45 Danish kroner, which is equivalent to about 15 dollars. And what do you get for that amount of money?

Very exciting, isn't it. I think we've never eaten so much bread in our lives, just to fill our gnawing hunger.

We knew how expensive Denmark and Norway would be, and spending a week there has reminded me soberly that prices in Singapore for almost all products and services are definitely much more affordable than Europe.

At the same time, there was a group of students who stayed at the hostel as well, and here's some of them having breakfast with us.

Anyway, the summer weather was blisteringly hot. This is the picture of the Copenhagen sky - complete sunshine, without any clouds at all.

Here's a picture of our room in the youth hostel. It's a double room, meant for 2 persons. Of course, they have 4-bed rooms, 6-bed rooms and even 8-bed ones, which are of course much cheaper. This room is very comfortable and is good enough for us. All we needed was a roof over our head with a decent shower!

As we roamed along the streets of Copenhagen, we managed to speak to a few people and we were delighted to know that the Danish people speak very clear English.

This is Monica and her son, Elmo. She had just returned from the market and was busy arranging some of her newly bought plants to decorate her new home that you see in the picture.

We stopped for lunch at a Danish eatery. A trip to another country would be incomplete without tasting some local delicacy, correct. We looked at the menu and all we saw were sandwiches and more bread!

By then we were pining for some proper Singapore food, and we missed chilli! We ordered a sandwich and a fish, and that cost us 180 DKK (Danish kroner), which is about 50 Singapore dollars. Uh huh. That's why we didn't bother to order any drinks!

Before we left we took a picture with the waitresses.

The next day, we were due to leave for Oslo, the capital city of Norway. Instead of taking the plane, I actually booked an overnight cruise ship.

Before we checked in at the cruise centre, we had to pay a visit to the beautiful mermaid. Some say that this is the symbol of Copenhagen.

Hundreds of years ago, sailors passing by would confess their sins to this mermaid and it would make them feel better.

You might have read a really good book called the Mermaid. I've read it before, and it's quite tragic.

Here's a picture of a boy we met at the youth hostel. He's absolutely adorable.

After spending a day in Copenhagen, we moved on to Oslo. That's where the journey really began. But I'll save that for the next post.

About wanting to say something, then something happened...

2007-05-29T09:14:00.000+08:00

"Dear, look to your right. There's someone sitting there that you'd recognise. Don't make it obvious!" I whispered to my wife, looking nonchalantly at another direction.

She's very good, my missus. She took a casual glance and then looked back at me, her eyes signalling that she knew who I was talking about.

Ronald Susilo was sitting at the next table, to our right.

Halfway through our breakfast at the coffeeshop, we agreed that we'd go up to him and tell him that we're proud of him playing for our country.

But then, before we could think of what exactly to say, he got up and left. From the corner of our eyes, we visually stalked him till he reached for his car that was parked just outside the coffeeshop.

Oh well.

Ronald has been working his socks off and has done well in international competitions. He has certainly helped to put Singapore on the global badminton scene. Another good news is that we have others too, such as Kendrick Lee, who is a very promising player himself.

Singapore has got world champions in bowling, silat and sailing in recent years. We are the regional champions in soccer. Our swimming team boasts an Asian Games gold medallist. We have a fantastic shooting team.

The problem is that some people still think sport has got no future. It can't earn them a decent livelihood.

Nonsense.

Think again. Singapore has a blossoming sports industry. We've got Republic Polytechnic offering sports diplomas. We've got a very proactive Singapore Sports Council. We've got a new Sports Hub ready by the next decade. We've got the very exciting Formula 1 night street race next year. There's even talk of a hotel that might be built with a sports theme.

Opportunities abound.

Things are looking up for sports in Singapore.

If you've always been critical of our local sports athletes and programmes, then I ask you: what have you done to contribute?

Schools are asked to play a part and the sports community acknowledges that students play a huge role in making Singapore a sports-loving nation.

I see fanatical supporters lining along the streets of Monaco during the F1 race. I see packed stadiums during the Wimbledon championships in London. I see vociferous crowds thronging the roads at the New York Marathon.

The people there obviously have got something right. The sense of national spirit, fun and sport is very strong.

I think we can do that - our way, our style - here in Singapore.

About a long long bicycle ride

2007-05-28T11:31:00.001+08:00

I barely made it home yesterday evening.

All I really wanted was to wash off all the grime and get some good rest!

When I signed up for 128km Bike Rally organised by the NTU Sports Club in March, I thought nothing of the distance involved.

On hindsight, it turned out to be somewhat tougher that what I expected.

The Bike Rally is not a competitive event. It is 'only' a 128km bicycle long-distance event that took us round Singapore, touching the 4 ends of the island.

I registered for this event without realising that the last time I cycled properly was well over 5 years ago, back in my university days in England.

The Rally kicked off at 0700 at East Coast Beach Food Centre. From there, the 400-strong cycling contingent moved en masse for the first leg of the journey - along East Coast beach, towards the city, past Mountbatten Road, Nicoll Highway, past the monumental Singapore Flyer, past the Esplanade, down Shenton Highway, past Vivocity, and reached the first checkpoint - Labrador Park.

The break last merely 10 minutes even though the first leg took about an hour. The lead cyclist took off again for the second leg of the Rally. I quickly put on my helmet and scampered off, determined not to be left at the back of the pack.

I still felt good, but because my bicyle was a single-speed bicycle, cycling on straight, flat roads become very tedious. Many other cyclists, with their more advanced multi-speed bicycles, easily overtook me. It's not that big a problem, anyway. But the difference is very telling: The leading pack of cyclists were soon out of my sight - so superior were their bicycles.

From Labrador, we cycled down West Coast Road, into Jurong Port Road, Pioneer Road, past the ghostly silent industrial parks of Jurong, past the fringes of Jurong West, and stopped at NTU's Sports and Recreation Centre for the next rest point.

By then the sun's withering heat was visibly taking its toll on some of the cyclists. I replenished my fluids and gratefully munched on some sandwiches. I was feeling really hungry and very parched.

The second leg (from Labrador Park to NTU) took well over an hour-fifteen minutes of non-stop road cycling - no easy task!

After a half-an-hour rest at NTU, we took off again, from NTU to the expansive roads of Lim Chu Kang (where massive trucks sped past us, rattling our bicycles), past the cemetries, into Neo Tiew Road, past the farms, and to my great relief, we stopped at Kranji Dam for the next break. This third leg was much easier than the second leg. It was certainly much shorter (about 45 minutes), and much more enjoyable, as this route took us past the peaceful and tranquil greenery of this isolated part of Singapore.

At Kranji Dam, Johor Bahru was hazily visible on our left side as we took a breather. Then we proceeded on the fourth leg of the Rally. We went into the Sungei Kadut industrial region, the dusty Woodlands Road, and the nightmare part of the race: Mandai Road.

Mandai Road is an endless and unforgiving road - unimaginably long, fringed by endless rows of trees on either side.

But what took the stuffing out of me were 2 slopes - the gradients were not very steep but the slopes were as far as my eye could see. That meant relentless pedalling just to keep my bicycle moving. Along the way I laboured past exhausted cyclists who had already given up cycling and were pushing their bikes up the slope.

With every push of the pedal, I remembered telling my PE classes about getting to the top of the slope as quick as possible during the 2.4km race. With this piece of advice echoing in my head, I grinded my way up, pushing out all thoughts of slowing down.

Reaching the top of these slopes took the wind out of me. Even as I tried to regain my breath, it was hard to control my panting, after all that effort to clear those slopes.

We cycled past the Mandai SAF military camp and the Zoo.

From the crippling Mandai Road stretch, we headed into Yishun Avenue 1, went past Orchid Country Club, and finally turned into Yishun Stadium carpark, for the next rest point. The time taken for the fourth leg? One hour and a half.

By then my joints were creaking. Even my arms were locking up, stiff from gripping the handle bars. My quads were beginning to get very tight - not a good sign at all.

I consumed vast amounts of water - knowing that hydration is critical for muscles to go on working longer.

From Yishun, we wearily climbed onto our bikes and moved off again, for the fifth leg of the arduous journey. This time, we continued all the way to the end of Yishun Avenue 1, into Seletar Camp, down Jalan Kayu, into Sengkang, past the new flats, into Upper Serangoon Road, and stopped at Serangoon Secondary School. This journey again exceeded the one-hour mark.

It's the same scene over and over again - bikes left by the wayside as exhausted cyclists massaged their tired muscles, munching on bananas and sandwiches, drinking Gatorade and water feverishly. Some were staring into blank space, while others were lying down. Quite a few were talking about the long distances, their tired limbs, the hot weather. I steered clear of such unmotivating and useless chatter that served no purpose.

I refused to sit. I remained standing, moving around here and there to soothe the arms and legs. I did not want to do anything that would jeopardise the momentum. If I sat down, my muscles would certainly 'shut down' and lock up into cramps.

I looked at those whose eyes remained alert. There were a few. I marvelled at their strength, which must reach great depths from their inner beings.

A large bus soon halted outside the school. Quite a great number, perhaps 20 - 30, alighted and I soon recognised some of them as they had been next to me when we started the Rally in the morning. I realised that they had dropped out of the Rally, perhaps due to fatigue or heat exhaustion. They certainly looked glum. It must feel terrible to drop out.

I told myself that I must finish this thing. I steeled myself for the next leg of the Rally.

Once I saw the lead cyclists moving into position, I clipped on my helmet, wore my Oakleys, tightened my gloves and moved into position. Of course I was tired, but I would rather stay with them and finish this one helluva race than to linger behind with the stragglers and fall far behind.

From Serangoon, at about 2pm, we cycled into Hougang Avenue 7, and turned into Tampines Road, past Giant, Ikea, into Pasir Ris, into Loyang Avenue, past Changi Village, and finally stopped at Changi Beach Car Park for our final rest-point.

By then, I was numb. My muscles were literally burning up. My head was spinning and throbbing against the helmet, even though I drank so much. My shoulders and neck were darkened red and I was too tired to splash sunblock. Utterly foolish.

From there, we would be cycling back to East Coast Beach - the finish line. But there was another massive hurdle - the endless stretch of Changi Coast Road. This road is immeasurably long. It took me a good 15 minutes just to cycle from the start to the end of this road. From there we hit the very start of East Coast Beach cycling track, going past National Sailing Centre, OBS, PA Sports Club, Bedok Jetty and finally crossed the finish line at just over 5.00pm.

I was bloody glad to cross that line.

We took off at 7am and returned back at 5pm. In that span of time we hit the 4 corners of Singapore.

Excluding the rest time, I was on the bicycle today cycling for a grand total of 7 hours 30 minutes.

I don't know if I'll do this again next year. Give me cycling anytime, but today's Rally really takes the cake. I'll probably stick to running next time!

But I'm very proud. Listen, I finished this 128 km Rally with a single-speed bike.

This single-speed bicycle is a gift from my dad so I really have no qualms about using it again. Of course, I could have rented a multi-speed bike, knowing that it's far easier.

But then again, the glory and pride is greater now, isn't it, now that I've conquered this race with a 'primitive' machine.

Anyway, some of the cyclists remarked to me, 'you solid ah, cycle with single-speed bike!' 'Wow, I noticed you're on a single-speed bike.' 'Wahhh, you god ah, so steady!' 'My bike cost me $4K you know. How much your bike?' Hilarious.

Mine is free of charge, thank you.

This is probably the toughest physical test I've undertaken so far.

And I'm glad I passed it. It's been a tremendous experience. Nah. I've no regrets at all about joining this bike Rally. Yea it's tough, it's damn tiring, but it's also fun.

What a good way to end the term, eh?

About IHG photos and your blog links

2007-05-26T06:52:00.000+08:00

Even though the IHG Captain's Ball championship was a great success, there was a slight regret.

I had neglected to appoint an official photographer for the event!

So if you have any photos of the event - whether they are photos of the players, officials, teachers, supporters etc - as long as the photos are related to the event, I would appreciate it if you could share them with me.

Do email me your photos at hoyuken17@hotmail.com. I hope to compile an album!

Do help spread the word around too. Thank you!

Also, I've noticed some of the blog links are no longer valid. If you've changed your blog address and you would like me to link you, I will be glad to, so drop me a message under the 'comments' section with your new blog address. Cheers.

About the Fajarian spirit - unleashed

2007-05-23T20:46:00.001+08:00

I've never witnessed such scenes before.

Hordes of students were cheering their teams ceaselessly. On the court, running battles were played out, chasing down every ball.

Every goal scored was met with a crescendo of cheers.

Organising this Inter-House Captain's Ball Championship worked. The players were raring to go. So many people wanted to be a part of it.

I was nailed to every game. Many players played beyond their limits, fighting exhaustion under the withering heat of the afternoon sun.

The match schedule was very punishing, and understandably so, since there were so many matches to complete in one afternoon.

I must thank my Peer Leaders. Their hard work allowed the event to run smoothly, and Mr Maran, Mr Ong and I fully trusted in them.

I have to thank my esteemed colleagues, Mr Maran and Mr Ong. Did you see those brilliant goals scored by Mr Maran in the Goodwill match? Awesome!

I have to thank the players. This championship brought out the best in many of them.

Some faced defeat with tremendous courage and positivity. Truly that is the mark of resilience.

Congratulations to the teams that did well. You played really well today!

To all the teams, in my mind, I consider you equally successful. In victory or defeat, you kept your heads up and never gave up. With such an attitude, victory will come sooner than later.

Have a good rest, you all.

Thank you for making this championship a resounding success.

About the IHG Captain's Ball Championships

2007-05-21T20:34:00.000+08:00

FAJAR INTER-HOUSE SECONDARY 3
Captain’s Ball Championships
23rd May 2007

information for student officials

OFFICIALS:

Timekeeper: Eun Jin
Crowd Control: Hanisah, Oo Thu, Shahiddin
Scorers: Finah, Nazurah
Umpires: Huda, Veron, Sufian, Zulklifi
Safety: Finah, Nazurah, Shahiddin
Overall I/C: Mr Maran, Mr Kelvin Ong, Mr Ken Ng

LOGISTICS:

Masking tape x 01 roll
Cones
Chairs x 04
Whistles for all officials
Clipboards for all officials
Yellow and Red cards for all officials
Water-bottle for all officials
Netballs x 03
Coloured bands
Writing materials
A-Frame to put up score charts (check with Ms Cheryl)
Loudhailer x 01

CAPTAIN’S BALL: RULES OF THE GAME

Duration: 10 mins per match

Start
1. The ball starts from the centre of the court with a jump ball.
2. All players are to remain in their own half of the court before the first pass is taken.

Infringement
1. A player is only allowed to take 1 step with the ball. After which, she can only move with one feet planted on the same spot.
2. Players are not allowed to dribble the ball.
3. Opponent must be at least 1 metre from the player with the ball. (distance is measured from feet to feet)
4. Opponents are not allowed to contact the player with the ball in any way.
5. Violation of the above rules will result in a free pass or shot to the opposing team.

Substitution
1. There is no limit to the number of times a player may come on to the court to substitute another player.

Scoring
1. To score, the Captain must hold the ball firmly and remain on the bench for 3 seconds.

Umpire
1. The umpire’s decision is final.
2. The umpire may impose rules not covered above at his or her discretion to ensure the safety and fairness of the game. In such a situation, the other teams will be informed of this decision and the rules will remain in force until the end of the carnival.
3. The umpire may, at his or her discretion, send off a player who behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner.

About pushing on, till the end

2007-05-16T20:04:00.000+08:00

Keep holding on to those revision plans, 4E5.

You've promised to the Teachers, to your parents, maybe even to your friends, and most importantly, to yourself. You have made that sacred promise to study, to revise, to understand, to perfect.

If you've strove and stumbled badly at this Mid Year Examinations, then choose to be a winner. Pick yourself up, brush off the dust, and keep moving forward.

NEVER ever lose sight of the ultimate goal you dream of.

The road ahead will be tough. You will face obstacles again and again, from within and from without, that will threaten to impede your progress.

You must keep your eye on the end-goal - and that is success at the O Levels.

This is the grandest prize of all, lofty yet attainable.

Work with the Teachers. Change the ways you study.

Just keep doing it. Don't stop!

Success may just be a fingertip away. Just reach out, lean forward, stretch your dreams.

There may yet be a happy ending for you all.

About irresistable yet expensive toys

2007-05-16T07:00:00.000+08:00

Last week I went on a mad splurge.

For the longest time my hands have been itching to spend on gadgets. So many times I have been tempted to get that red ipod Nano. That Tivoli DAB radio at Tangs looks irresistable. The soon-to-be launched Bluetooth Sony DVD Micro Hifi looks tailor-made for my apartment.

It's taken all my willpower to restrain myself. Sometimes when I am seemingly overpowered by the spending urges, my wife would bring me back to earth by asking, "Do we really need it?"

The answer would be a no and that would be the end of the struggle.

It's not that I need anyone's permission to buy things, but you know, it's actually very wise to have someone who can be very rational in the money matters in life.

Just as my missus curbs my lust for electronic gadgets, I also do my part and return the favour too.

Like, whenever she comes home with a new pair of shoes or new clothes, sometimes I'd ask in jest, "Do we still have space?"

At times she would answer with a glare.

Anyway I am proud to announce to myself that my wife and I are the proud owners of a powerful digital camera - the Canon Ixus 850IS. That cost quite a bit! It has a host of advanced features such as a beautiful large LCD screen and a superb 7.1MP worth of power. I have to say a huge thanks to my beloved Uncle Vincent who works at Cathay Photo Pte Ltd. He gave me an unbelievable discount that was absolutely unbeatable.

Then a couple of days later, a Sony catalogue found its way into my postbox. Gleefully I browsed through this book and literally salivated at all those Sony products - the VAIO notebooks, the gorgeous LCD TVs, the earphones. Everything looks so good. Darn!

But what arrested my attention was this new Sony MP3 walkman. It comes in 5 ravishing colours, in the right size, at the right price, with the right features.

On the very same day, I headed straight to Harvey Norman West Mall, and went for the Black 4GB Sony MP3 player. It is the size of a USB thumb-drive but it will be a perfect companion when I resume my regular runs.

All in all, I am mightily pleased with my conquests but I am not satiated yet. That usually spells trouble. That means, if I ever land myself in those electronic stores again, and happen to lay my eyes on that Sony DVD Micro hifi (when it arrives into our shores in a fortnight's time), I might be overwhelmed with lust again and find myself lugging home a new set.

I wonder what my missus would say to me if that happens?