3008

"Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeee......!"

The big 4-0 is looming on the horizon. When you look at it mathematically, it's unbelievable but on the inside, I really don't feel very much different 10-15 years ago. If you like drama, try watching Elegy. In one scene where Sir Ben Kingsley's character was struggling with age, he said something along the lines and I realised it really couldn't be further from the truth.

I was yelling at Travis for irritating his sister and he grabbed my sleeve, looking at me intently saying, "Mummy, today is your birthday. You are not supposed to get angry!" The sentence was said slowly with deliberation. And it struck me how fast he is growing (naturally - everyday is a reminder!) and glibness could be part of him. Probably as most ageing mothers go, I'll say my troops are an indication to my biggest achievement.

Great Food + Great Friends = Spontaneous Combustion

Lunch: Christina at Sakae, Dinner: Toon Lee at Wild Rocket.
Great foodie gathering with great ole friends in a day.

1st Experience

Travis, being 5 has not experienced goose bumps before-I just realised.
The other day when the air conditioner was turned on, he suddenly took my hand to run over his arm, saying "Mom, it's rough and scaly. I have scales." (Incidently we just borrowed a book about Reptiles)

So like any other circumstance when I try to be his English teacher, I corrected him saying ,"They are called goose bumps. The correct phrase is 'goose bumps are rising on my arm'."

:P

The Return of ...

Tronky!

I was elated when I saw the too-familiar packaging on the shelves one day.
They were removed years ago (probably lack of demand) and now, for some reason, they are back...and a lot more expensive.

No matter... I can't wait to sink my teeth in one. And guess what. It's got a blogsite and is on Facebook now. Well I'll be damned.

Dyslexia - Don't Misunderstand the Child

It feels good to help.

My colleague has been sharing with me about her son's learning difficulties and his mischiefs. Since the start of the year when he entered Primary One, Mondays to Wednesdays are spent struggling together to learn 10 words of spelling, things are misplaced, lost, forgotten, etc. So up to yesterday, I checked out the signs and symptoms of dyslexia and forwarded all the information to her. She saw the parallel signs and took action immediately by approaching the form teacher, requesting for forms to be filled for submission to DAS.

So until the first appointment and eventual diagnosis, I'm glad that my colleague is at least made aware and taking the right course of action.

I myself don't know much about this condition. I wonder if our Singapore teachers are trained to watch out for signs to feedback to the parents, rather than point out the obvious like "oh, your child is naughty, doesn't pay attention in class, is restless, runs around everywhere, etc. He failed his spelling test again, please get him to buck up in the next quiz, dictation, etc.". It is sad that not every child is promptly given the right 'strategy' to be guided (before self-confidence & motivation spirals downwards to the point of no return).

Oh, and let me tell you the first consultation and subsequent courses aren't cheap.

Emcee

I have been appointed emcee for Angie's wedding! I am lost, shocked, thrilled, etc. Above all else, glad to be able to be physically involved in a good friend's wedding so directly.

Somebody, pass me a script!

Pre-PC Days

How did one manage to look busy in the office without computers, laptops, etc. in the past?
With much effort and creativity I suppose.

A new guy joined my department last Monday; he's a trainee from HQ being selected under the Global Training Program. After all that have been introduced and done in 3 days, there isn't much I imagine to be done except sit and wait...for the next big thing (whatever).

3-10 Aug: Home Quarantine

Need I say more? Everything is fine now; life resumes normality.