Randomness

You know they changed the taxi stand at Seiyu Bugis? Goes to show how long since I have been there. Went to the National Library at Middle Road yesterday. My first time in years. I even borrowed books. How cool is that? Of course I had to pay $0.60 in fines that I owed since forever. Hah hah. Ok, got my daughter to the babysitter today so that I can work and perhaps scrap some.

Sigh...sometimes I think people don't understand that teachers don't exactly have holidays. I still work during the hols. I still have to start preparing for the new year's curriculum. The pending projects etc. And the worst thing is it is the lack of understanding from family. Of course, I have flexibility on where and when to do my work but they still need to get done right?

Sometimes, I think I am giving myself all this pressure on being a good mum. I feel guilty for working and not taking care of my daughter. I wish I am a SAHM but during the hols, I do sometimes wish for time for myself. I am so tired. When I am with my daughter, nothing gets done. No work, housework etc...just spending time with her. Then, I feel guilty cos I don't cook for my husband. Sigh....life is such a delicate balance. How do moms over the world do it? And how do moms over the world seem to make life perfect? I wonder....

It's been a loooong time

It's been a year and a half since my last post. Life has a way of taking over. Not that I have nothing to blog about - I have lots - but sometimes I do not wish to share it. Then, multiply took over my life and it was easier to post there and then I was FBing and meanwhile I forgot about this blog. Ok, I will try to post more here. With news about my family and hobbies. Mainly about my SB hobby. Will post soon. Enough posting for today. I want to watch some TV and catch some snooze after that. I do need the sleep. My lack of sleep is sapping all my energy and mojo out of me. Tmr I will have to start working....Sigh...no rest for the weary.

days of indulgence

School break is just about ending and I have only been able to enjoy it this week, despite the marking. First week of hols was spent in school. The weekend was spent in Phuket and I came home, fell ill and spent the rest of the 2nd week at home recuperating and marking. So my husband says I should go out, get some exercise, do my marking elsewhere and have some fun. I think he is tired of seeing me sleeping all the time or buying a lot of stuff online out of sheer boredom.

So, with the license to roam Singapore, I headed down to Vivocity on Monday cos I was meeting someone for Coach wristlets I bought online (yes, I am a Coach addict) and thought I would be spending the rest of the day marking at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I did mark - 1 class out of 3 - and then I went shopping.(by the way, don't try the chicken lasagna at CBTL. it is awful) I thought that I wouldn't be spending much since I won't be buying clothes for a while but I was wrong. I bought ....

1. An umbrella that costs $58 (I love Japanese umbrellas - shh, don't tell my husband. He has not seen the umbrella ...or the Coach wristlets)

2. A craft scissors that can cut in colonial pattern. $4.90. trying to start on scrap booking. So I thought I buy some cheap stuff now and then.

3. Stationery - self inking stamps ($4 x 4) red pens ($2.85) post it notes in apple and heart shape ($4), decorated wooden pegs ($3.90). I love stationery. My desk has lots of different shaped magnets, clips, post it notes, stamps, stickers. I would always get excited when I see a stationery shop. I would buy more of such stuff even though I have about 5 post it notes in various colours and shapes, a boxful of stickers and a drawerful of clips and a board full of magnets.

And all this I bought on the way to Mothercare to look for a belly band, which I did not get as they were out if stock. Oh Mothercare at Harbour Front is superbly huge! They sell all kinds of strollers, cots and other kinds of baby furniture. But also superbly expensive. I never knew a stroller/bassinet can cost up to $1800! The baby furniture is really beautiful. Made of solid cherry/oak wood, I very nearly drooled. Only the rich elites would get such stuff. Our babies can content with cheap cots or mattresses.

So that was my Day 1 outing. Tuesday I decided to stay home. I was actually tired from the Vivo outing. And today, I decided it has to be the day I brave Orchard Road during GSS. First I went to Paragon cos I wanted to get my URS inc. membership card. It was also a good excuse to shop at LA Senza and buy new pyjama pants. I ended up buying 5 pairs of pants at a discounted price of $112 cos I am a member.

Then, I went to Jason's cos I wanted Korean strawberries but it's not in season. Saw cherries but they are from USA, so decided against it. I like Korean or Japanese fruits, they taste nicer and of course more expensive.

Then went to Daiso, bought stickers. Spent $10.

Then went to Made With Love (scrap booking store) and after aimlessly looking at their beautiful stuff and not knowing what to buy, I decided I just have to sign up for a class. So $35 for a class on the 20th of June.

Thank goodness I was tired after that and decided to go home. Or else I would be spending so much more.

Hmm...tmr is another day...maybe I go down to Geylang. Another place to shop. Heh heh.

Propaganda

It's amazing how much propaganda there is out there. I showed my History students a video on Emergency from Youtube. Gosh! How very pro-British!

Well, I did not manage to watch the whole video before the class as there were many interruptions from colleagues and students. I watched the first half and found it alright and it showed how Communism was fought in Malaya. All good and dandy until.....

....class time. The 2nd half of the video talked about the Briggs Plan and the enforcement by Templer, especially about the separation of the villagers from Communists, winning the hearts and minds of the people. And guess who are these people ....Orang Asli. For 5 minutes they showed snippets of Orang Asli with bare breasts and children hanging from their hips and men smoking and doing nothing. Imagine, that is what the outside world think of Malaya. Filled with orang aslis and that the British helped to civilise them. How colonial!

True, the Orang Asli needed to be separated from the Communist as they could provide them with sustenance and information. But I am sure they could put other rural communities in the videos. Like the Indian planters who live in the jungles and farmers that live far away from towns.

Of course the video was made years ago and to glorify the British and their welfarism in Malaya but I still shudder....

Change

looked through my blogs to make sure that I have not written anything bad about teaching. Removed all blogs that may be deemed unsuitable. Must protect the profession. But who protects the teachers from students whp write bad things about us in their blogs?

I didn't realize I have been blogging since 2005. My blogspot told me so. And wow, I was so philosophical, reflective and even poetic then. Now, I am jaded. There's a lot of change. I used to be so full of wonder, very curious and observant. Now my life is pretty routine, I am actually apathetic. Very sad. My youth has gone I suppose. Or just bogged down with all the cares of the world that I forget to be young?

Anyway, hubby is deployed for the search of Mas Selamat. Means I won't see him till tmr night. Tonight, I am a single woman. Room and bed all to myself. Hmm....enjoying it. I can now surf the net and drool over coach bags on the website without hubby chastising me. Heh heh.

Hmm...actually supposed to do work but now I shall watch Manja Lara. Heh heh

A very big Thank You!

First time I am blogging as a married woman. Heh heh.

I would like to thank all of my peeps for making my wedding a success. Thanks to Nurul and Rufaihah for being my bridesmaids. Patiently waiting on me, ensuring I am comfortable. Thanks to Aai, who briefed my bridesmaids and sending the bunga pahar stand all the way from CCK and being so understanding. Thanks to Ain and Nadzifah who willingly became my drivers. You guys are my lifesavers, the wedding would not be as great without your valued help. Thanks to all my other peeps who listened to my ramblings and complaints and for gracing my event. It was great seeing you guys.

Thanks to my Sis and my bro-in-law, orang kuat of the wedding. They ensured everything went smoothly. A very big thanks to my aunties and cousins who made my hantaran gifts and helping me to do up my room, even though I did not want to do up my room. I am very grateful for that. My room was transformed in a blink! And all my other aunts who gave all manners of advice and food, There was food galore. Of course my mum and dad, I owe them big thanks for without them, the wedding would be a flop.

Next to all my business contacts, Krystal wedding who did this special theme wedding. I requested something so simple and yet they made it so amazing. The decoration was beyond my expectations. I loved the colours. Thanks for all teh freebies they gave me. I was very lucky to have such a kind and understanding wedding decorator. Thanks to DJ Ana, she acceeded to my every request. Photographer Razin, he was wonderful. Can't wait for the photos. heh heh. My Mak Andam, Maslinda from RH, who worked very hard to make me look flawless and I really did feel like a princess under her loving care. Also, Kak Fairani from Perfect Frosting who did my wedding cupcakes, they were beautiful. All my relatives ate them all up and left none for us. They said it was fantastic. Thanks to Faizah of Ladydeyria's Secret Oven who made my choc mousse and hantaran cupcake set. The choc mousse was simply divine and they looked simple yet elegant. People raved about it and wanted to order them. The cupcake set was really very sweet. My only wish is that I can get to eat them....my hubby's side have already finished the cupcakes. Heh heh. Oh, and Jewel Marina for the beautiful henna drawn on my hands and feet. They turned really dark and I got so many praises for them. And of course, the food people from Hussain Selamat catering. They did my sis's event years ago and I insisted on them for mine. They were really value for money because there was a good spread, the food was delicious and everything was in tip top condition. For all those who want to get married and looking for decorators and the such, I recommend all of these people above. I trusted them because they had good reviews and also because they were people I could communicate with and able to listen to my needs and wants. Very good service from them, I am very happy with my choices.

Have I missed out anybody? If I did, I thank you lots! It was great being a bride. It was tiring but I was very happy. Although I never liked being in the spotlight, I actually did enjoy being the queen for the day. Sitting on the dais and looking over the populace. Hah hah. It was fun. I am so glad I actually enjoyed my wedding. There were glitches and hiccups but they were rectified and everything ran smoothly. Thanks everybody who made my wedding a dream come true. I really did feel like a fairy tale pricess. Okie, I am logging off and in a few hours, I will be flying off to my honeymoon in Krabi. See you peeps when I get back.

Scrabulous

The only application I like in Facebook is Scrabulous. You can play with others or you can play with the computer in practice mode. It is so addictive. I have 4 games going and while waiting for my turn (which can take days) I play against the computer. The computer is a tough opponent. Seriously, who knew that APPUIED is a word. Seriously! and the computer received 76 points for this first move. Do you know what this word means? I, for one, was aghast that such a word exists. It is not fair, the computer has logic, mathematical formulaic strategy and an entire dictionary in its 'brain'.

Anyway, after much practice against the computer (which resulted in demoralizing defeats on my side) I, Zarinah Binte Ali, am very satisfied and happy to say, I WON! Yes, I won against the computer. 346 me, 322 computer. Hah! The computer lost! Wooo Hoooo! My faith in humanity and our ability to out-think a computer has been restored.

Hah hah, yeah, I am a Scrabble addict. I love Scrabble. And no, people, it is not an English teacher's thing. In fact Scrabble has nothing to do with the English Language. It is all about strategy, logic and Maths. Plus, one must have good vocabulary, preferably a sound knowledge of 2 and 3 letter words, like QI, LI, EF, ENE and so on. Ahh...Scrabulous, the one and only good thing in Facebook (so far).