What did you learn

not hann but hann's mummy said...

Today after service when I picked Hann up from Sunday school, he asked me, "so what did you learn today?"

I was stumped.
cos I wasn't really paying attention to the sermon and was half distracted by people in the pews behind saying "so cuuuute!" at Jade and half dozing off.
=p

Terrible me.
but I'm not going to tell my son that I didn't pay attention to the sermon...
so I said, "What did YOU learn?"

and Hann started babbling about what he had learned while I secretly wish he will forget that that I have not answered his question.
then...
he stopped,
and asked again, "So, what did you learn today?"

dots...
oops!

Ok... to make up for it, I read the passage, Isaiah 6, again
and recalled pastor saying, "we often talk about God's blessings but seldom about God's judgment..."

Image by Tim Horton

So, what did I learn today?

Learnt that I must see with my eyes,
hear with my ears,
understand with my hearts,
and turn and be healed,

lest God harden my heart
and make my ears dull
and close my eyes.


while looking up for something on the net, found this

'Exhortation to Mothers' - By Ps Nina, FCBC
and reminded myself that

1. in God's perfect plan for evangelism, godly parents have the privilege to birth their children into God's eternal Kingdom; then disciple them accordingly.

2. Since you are responsible for your children's spiritual development, you should be reading and studying God's word, and praying so that they can receive the overflow of your time with God. Set aside time daily to fill yourself so that you can pour into your children and others.

update on Mummy's health: merry heart => continual feast

not hann but hann's Mummy said...

Word of the day on Hann's blog on 10/10/10:
He who is of a merry heart has continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15b)

Well... I wish the converse is true:
He who has continual feast is of a merry heart?

Why?
cos I'm always eating
or at least, feel like eating all the time.

It's the effect of my hyperthyroidism, I reckon.
hyperthyroidism => increased metabolic rate => hungry all the time

Yah, it's back
and I'm on PTU (Propylthiouracil) again.
PTU didn't work very well the last time, but it's the only thyroid medication that is safer for breastfeeding.
So this time, the plan is to breastfeed for 2 years bah.
Then change medication if I'm still not well...
(oh, me of little faith!)

anxiety is also a symptom of hyperthyriodism.
Hence, I'm unhappy most of, if not all, the time
though meimei and Hann makes me laugh a lot.

sometimes I wonder
Is it my hyperthyroidism that causes me to be melancholic
or I'm sad that's why I have hyperthyriodism.

now, if only the converse of Proverbs 15:15b is true.
Then I can eat and eat and have a merry heart.

hfmd

Not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

Dear God,

Am very upset with the situation - Hann's school is having another wave (5 kids so far) of HFMD (Hand Foot Mouth Disease) after the previous episode which was only less than 4 months ago.

Nope, am not angry with You nor the school. Just angry with the situation. or maybe, angry because I feel helpless.

Hann just kena viral fever last Sunday and now almost fully recovered but the school has an "outbreak" of HFMD. and it's his class AGAIN! well... yes... this time round, the next N2 class also kena but still... his class kena AGAIN. Why the class so "suay", God?

and I really pity the kid who kena both times (last Oct and now). God has mercy on him/her and heal the child quickly.

God, please protect Hann and the rest of his classmate and the school from hfmd.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

need your comments...

Monday, I took leave to stay at home with Hann as he was still having fever. At the end of the day, I receive news that the school has 1 case of HFMD in the next class and 1 suspect in Hann's class.
Wanteda send Hann back to school on Tue, but ended up had to send him to my mother's cos I can't take so many days of leave and there's HFMD going on in school. I can't send him back when he's just recovering.
End of Tuesday, no new reports of HFMD so decided to send him to school on Wed. plus my father's also down with flu, it's difficult for him to help look after Hann.
Wed, i.e. today, finally took the step of faith after much deliberation, and send Hann to school.

During silent reading in (my) school, I read something about releasing your child to God and I prayed that I'll now release Hann to God, that I'll trust that God'll take care of him and even if he kena HFMD again, it's really part of God's plan.

butbutbut in the afternoon when I receive news that there are new cases of HFMD (one in Hann's class + one in the other N2 class + one sibling), I can't help but regret the decision to send Hann to school. Does that mean I have not really release Hann into Your hands?

at the end of the day, I found out that one of Hann's classmates who caught HFMD in Oct last year caught HFMD again this time. I became worried cos that means it's a different strain of HFMD which Hann may not have the immunity against.

"HFMD actually has over 60 different strains" (source: http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Free/Story/STIStory_230770.html). so does that mean a child can kena hfmd for more than 60 times before he is "immuned" from hfmd??
it seems so hopeless, our fight against hfmd.

So the question came: to send Hann to school tomorrow or not?
both Jason and I can't take leave tomorrow. The only other place we can send Hann is my parents' but my mum is working in the afternoon and my father's having flu.
it seems unfair to make them babysit Hann for so many days. and when will the hfmd stop spreading in school? one week? two weeks?
how long do I have to keep sending Hann to his grandparents who are not exactly suitable caregivers?

so to school or to the grandparents?
finally i decided to send Hann to the grandparents' tomorrow cos I have no peace putting Hann in school given that the last time there were 7 - 9 cases of hfmd in his class, including Hann himself. Frankly, I lost faith in the school, or rather, their efforts to curb the spread of hfmd.

So does that mean I'm taking things into my own hands instead of trusting God?

Does that mean I'm not really releasing Hann to God?

brothers and sisters in Christ, tell me what do you think.
Tell me also, how I should pray instead.

This is not a movie in a cinema, Manners matter!

Not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

We were late for Narnia The Musical.
I told Hann that we have to wait to go in.

actually I was surprised to see so many people late!

even more shocked when a woman burst out shouting at the usher for not allowing her to go in and demanded to know when she can go in.
When the usher replied that we can only be allowed entry after the 1st act, she does not accept it and shouted that if the act is going to be so long, she should be allowed in, why is she not allowed to go in, blah blah...

At this point, people who were gathered near the door suddenly all backed off, leaving the lady woman, in the centre of a circle.

I said loudly, but not loud enough apparently, "it's because you are late."

Isn't this basic theatre etiquette?
If you are late, you jolly well wait til an appropriate time to go in.
If it's going to be long, that's too bad cos you are late!

In some performances, you will not be allowed entry until intermission time.
even in concerts, you're lucky if they allow you to go in in-between selections.

She thinks this is a cinema where u can walk in anytime.
even when it's the cinema, don't you find it disturbing when people come in late?
The lady woman was shouting so loudly I wonder if the audience inside can hear her.
Actually I don't under why she's kicking a fuss cos there's a monitor tv outside and you can see live, what's going on on stage.

Theatre is not just about watching a show.
It's arts appreciation and a cultural experience.
If you don't have basic manners then u're not very cultured loh.

Even if it's just a children's theatre or a school production, etiquette is part of it and should be taught to our children.
maybe we can't stop our children from talking (asking questions), but at least if we're late, have the courtesy and common sense to wait for an appropriate time before trying to squeeze past audience who were on time to get to your seat.

click to read THEATRE ETIQUETTE FOR AUDIENCE - GENERAL GUIDE.

btw, I apologize for being late or arriving on the dot for the past two performances.
This is something I have been working on - arriving early.

Next time I help you guyz buy tickets, try to get it from me before the performance day so you won't have a heart attack waiting for me outside the theatre/concert hall.

幸福 happiness

Not hann but hann's Mummy said...

早上起床，发现涵涵抱着我。

*幸福*


~~~

Dear readers,

when was the last time you hugged your parents and/or tell them that you love them?

Do it while they're still around.

Hann's Mummy

宝贝宝贝不要哭

Not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

for my other baby - Yanyin:

bao bei bu yao ku - ah niu

宝贝宝贝不要哭 眼泪是珍珠

哭多将来会命苦 赌博会赌输

宝贝宝贝不要哭 眼泪是珍珠

哭多将来会命苦 嫁给大老粗

宝贝宝贝不要哭 眼泪是珍珠

不哭的人最幸福 懂得上网络

宝贝宝贝不要哭 眼泪是珍珠

努力用功去读书 嫁一个好丈夫

宝贝宝贝是爱哭包 实在真糟糕

哭到眼肿脸也肿 像一颗叉烧包

宝贝宝贝是爱哭包 实在真糟糕

爸爸赶快来抱抱 抱我的叉烧包

爸爸赶快来抱抱 抱我的好宝宝

by: 阿牛 for his daugther

《如燕》

Hann's Mummy said...

I'm no fan of TCS dramas but recently, like most Chinese Singaporeans, I was hooked on 小娘惹 The Little Nyonya even though I didn't think it was fantastic. even Hann can say, "小娘惹" in a gang-dang slang when he sees it on tv.

Love the theme song though, cos it speaks to me, about broken promises, letting go of yesterday, etc.

ru yan - Olivia Ong

《如燕》
词曲：陈佳明
编曲：Terence Teo
制作人：陈佳明
演唱：Olivia Ong

愿意合上眼才能美梦无边
别让悔熏乌了从前

也许碎片才能让回忆展颜
何妨瓷花拼凑明天

谁带我寻获幸福的模
却自己谜中困锁

谁为我留下缱绻的天涯
信物是抹晚霞

Chorus:
思念如燕它飞舞舌尖
若是真爱配尝几分苦甜

意念婆娑时间里推磨
追随到何处才结果

燕如针线在青空缝编
几幅女红将以泪缀点

誓言斑驳情雾只是经过
风雨中且让我盈步婀娜


一首《如燕》唱红了Olivia Ong, 可是我最欣赏的是写歌的陈佳明, whom most (if not all) people overlooked.

when I 1st hear the song, I thought it was sung by Mavis Hee (许美静) .
It was no surprise when I realised that the song 《如燕》 is written by 陈佳明 cos I'd say he was the one who 带红 许美静 by writting many beautiful songs for her.
Everybody knows 李偲菘, 李偉菘, even 梁文福 as Singapore's top Chinese pop song writers, but think not as many knows 陈佳明. He is super 低调 (low profile). You can hardly find him on the net, even on Wiki, where you can find almost any artist, dead or alive.

well... one day I decided to look for the lyrics to the song 《如燕》 and to my "horror", it was super chim. 陈佳明, 你好有墨水！one guy even said it's more difficult to translate then Jay Chou's 菊花台 (written by Taiwanese 方文山). soooooooooo many words I don't know. I wonder if seemingly gang-dang Olivia knows what she's singing.

Chinese teachers, can consider using this song for ya lessons.

Found a few translations but found them unsatisfactory so decided to DIY.

《如燕》 ru yan
词曲：陈佳明 Chen Jia Ming
Translation：Ariel Leong


愿意合上眼才能美梦无边

only if you are willing to close your eyes, will you have boundless beautiful dreams
别让悔熏[xūn]乌了从前

don't let the smoke of regrets darken the past

也许碎片才能让回忆展颜

maybe it's the the broken pieces which give free rein to the colours of memories
何妨瓷[cí] 花拼凑明天

Why use fragments of porcelain to piece tomorrow

OR why not allow the fragments of porcelain to piece tomorrow

谁带我寻获幸福的模

Who lead me to search and have found the mold of happiness
却自己谜中困锁

but trapped and locked in the mystery

谁为我留下缱绻[qiǎnquǎn]的天涯

Who left me deeply attached til ends of the earth
信物是抹晚霞

The token of pledge is a passing cloud at sunset


Chorus:
思念如燕它飞舞舌尖

Longing, like a swallow, flutter at the tip of my tongue
若是真爱配尝几分苦甜

If it's true love, it's fit to taste a bit of bittersweet

OR if only true love is worthy to taste a bit of bittersweet

意念婆娑 [pósuō] 时间里推磨

My will whirling, grinding in time
追随到何处才结果

following me, where will it bear fruit

燕如针线在青空缝编

swallow, like needle and thread, sewing and weaving on the young (or green) sky
几幅女红将以泪缀[zhuì]点

how many works of embroidery are going to be decorated with tears

誓言斑驳[bānbó] 情雾只是经过

Promises mottling with age, fog of love is but bypassing
风雨中且让我盈步婀娜[ēnuó]

In the storm, for this moment, allow me to increase my pace gracefully

Was wondering why he used "青空" instead of "晴空". Perhaps it's the colour of embroidery he wanteda paint. Very 诗情画意, 有画面 indeed.

Click for AhDoe's music sheet for 《如燕》

Special thanks to

http://www.nciku.com,
http://cynthia-koh.webs.com/littlenyonya.htm

Mummy's day out

without me! Humph!

Hann's Mummy said...

Last Friday 24th Oct 2008

after sending Hann to school, I went to sentd my other "children" into the exam hall for their EMath Paper 1.

Despite my reminder the day before, people are still forgetting to bring their Math instruments like compasses, etc.

After the "children" settled down, I went for my thyroid review.

Thanx to a colleague who sent me to the MRT station.

Blood test results was ok though TSH's still low.
Me still not coping well with thyriod and got emotional at the clinic.
Somehow everytime I go to Dr Kevin's I'll feel like crying and this time, I just keep tearing.
Doc asked me why but I can't really put it into words.

Once done at Doc's, Decided to give myself a treat at
Royal Copenhagen Tea Lounge and Restaurant.

been wanting to visit this cafe for a looooong time but never did until now.

I was welcomed by the lovely cakes.
and surprise surprise, they ain't as expensive as I imagined.
If I didn't remember wrongly, it's $4.90++ per slice.

I sat in the corner by the windows right at the end.

Thank God I was in time for breakfast (I love angmo breakfast).

ordered salmon omelette.

Everytime when I'm out and having food suitable for Hann, I'll think of him and wish I'd bring him. but then again, I'm happy to have some quiet time.

thumbs-up for the omelette breakfast.

the ala carte menu's not so pricey too.
I'd say comparable to any other cafes.
See their website for the menu.


wanteda just have breakfast...
In the end, still couldn't resist and ordered a dessert: honey dates muffin.
nice but a bit dry.


They serve "strawberry water".
Not that I'm a fan of strawberries (those who know me longer may know why. ha)
but it's quite nice and different from the norm: lemon water.

~~~

Next destination for the day was SOTA.
and planned to walk around then take a cab down.

then I met a friend, two friends rather, and their lovely daughter.

This girl's grown to be more and more like her mother.
and she likes me. *smile*

Many thanx to them for sending me to SOTA.

~~~

t's a Cluster Learning Journey to School of the Arts (SOTA).

er.. nope, I'm not a Visual Arts Support Group Member.
Just there to kaypoh and check out the school.

While waiting for others to arrive, I walked around the campus.

They have this very small canteen and I wonder if it's big enough for the whole school.


SOTA is now occupying (until end of next year) the previous LaSalle at Goodman Road.
I walked around the school and reminisce about the last time a friend brought me there.
It's a lovely campus and I wonder what they're going to do to the place when SOTA moves out.

The session began.
After the introduction, a detailed one no less, we went on a school tour, starting with their visual arts exhibition.

What are these two looking at?
A heap of sanity pads?

oo.. they're reading on what are the students up to with this exhibit.

It's actually a student project on habitats.
This group stuck sanity napkins on a broken umbrella.
It sure was the attention of the room.

there're more interest stuff underneath!

This piece caught my attention in the next room.
and it did arrest the attention of a few others.
Cute or what?

What's in the room.

another fun work.


We then proceeded to the dance studio where the students were having classes.

photo taken from SOTA website, scribbles by me.

The students (not this group in the picture) did a dance for us.
I think they were marvelous, radiating confidence when they dance, though their teacher, Ms Cheah may not agree. She's wonderful too, full of passion for her job, dance and love the students.

there were only 2 boys in that class and one of them injured hence only one left dancing with the girls. He was naturally the focus for the visitors.
One of them asked him why he chose dance out of the 4 art forms in the school and he answered that he is passionate about dance.

Seeing Performing Arts, looking at Ms Cheah, talking about passion, reminds me of Philip.
It also makes me think about myself and my passion.
Do I have a passion? What's my passion? and where has it gone to..?

SOTA's really a great school.
One of the staff said, "If I were a teenager, I'd definitely choose this school."

I said, "If my son is a teenager, I'd definitely enroll him into the shcool."
ha. well... I suppose it depends on whether he's into the arts.
It's too early to tell now.

It's a school which belief and approach to education (synthesizing subjects together rather than presenting them as individual blocks) is the same as mine.
Yet I feel too old, too drained, too little energy to join them.

He said it!

not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

today we were playing and Hann suddenly said,

"Mummy, I love you."

(1st time!)

I love you too, honey.

sorry I didn't reply you just now. I still can't talk. =(

eyelashes

not Hann but Hann's Mummy again...

This morning, after our usual nai-nai time, Hann looked up at my face and studied it.

"Your Eyebrows," he said, "Just like Thomas (the Engine)" (in case you didn't notice, Thomas has eyebrows. ha)

Then he says, "Mummy, you have eyelashes."

I smiled and nodded.

After a pause, he added, "I like your eyelashes."

I wanteda tell him I love his (Hann has super long lashes. See video.) but I couldn't. cos I lost my voice. sian.

Please pray for me to get my voice back by Mon. Gotta go school.

Times like this, I feel sad and angry with my job and reminded of why I'm contemplating to leave. The occupational hazards which I'm so susceptible to. My health is utterly ruined (not that I had great health before).

Singapore's getting a medal in the Olympics!

not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...



was having breakfast with my colleagues one day and was telling them that I went to the NPD.

Then one of them commented, "You are so patriotic one ah?"



I was then taken aback at his comments and a bit embarrassed so did not answer him.
Later on, I thought, why should I be ashamed that I am indeed patriotic.

Happened to switch on the tv yesterday and saw that the Olympics table tennis semi-finals (Singapore vs Korea) broadcasting live! See video.

Singapore was doing great and really hopeful to win.
I actually messaged a few friends whom I thought will be interested to know like me.

I would have watched the entire match if not for the "date" I made with Mapleleaf.

Just before I go out, the match between Wang Yue Gu (Singapore) vs Dang (Korean) was on and Wang was struggling to catch up with Dang... I thought gone case liao. I went out of the house, half hopeful that Singapore will win and get to compete in the final for a Gold or Silver.

and win they did! Read Channel News Asia
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!




The deciding and winning match: Feng Tianwei (Singapore) vs Park Mi-Young (Korean)



Check out these
Hwa Chong students gathering to watch the match

I can't believe that students actually do that.
Now I know that are other patriotic Singaporeans like me.

Poll about your thoughts on the Singapore table tennis team winning a medal at REDpoll.


It just set me thinking about new immigrants.
Some may feel that Singapore didn't really win since the entire team (coach Liu Guodong included) that carried Singapore to victory were all imports from table tennis powerhouse China (qoute Reuters).
but I suppose I have to agree with my father that if they (the team) had not come to Singapore, they may achieve what they did today. Afterall, they get all the grooming and attention in Singapore (where there are only 4.6 millions of us) but they may not have the chance back in China, competing with 5 billions other people. Not to mention the prize $$ they're going to get and the President flying down to watch them in the final.

At moments like this, I reckon most of us gladly embrace them as Singaporeans and feel proud of them. but how about them? Even after so many years in Singapore, do they really think of themselves as Singaporeans? Do they feel proud as Singaporeans? Or will they think they did it because they were from China?

Well... we, so call locals, are also descendants of immigrants to Singapore. and for one I know, the 104 year old immigrant, after so many years in Singapore, did feel proud and a very part of Singapore.

btw, Hann's current favourite song is Majulah Singapura.

Final match at 7.30pm Sunday 17 August 2008
National day rally 7.30pm Sunday 17 August 2008

Go to Heaven means good; Good means Positve

Not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

was teaching my Sec 5s Transformation and I have to keep reminding them that "move up is positive and move down is negative".

Then one student, frustrated that his classmates are still not getting it right, shouted to the rest of the class:
"moves up means go to heaven; so it's good; good is positive;
moves down means go to hell; so it's bad; bad is negative."

Woh. how come I've never thought of that.

so how do you do parallel with "right is positive; left is negative?"

(think about it before scrolling down, then post ya ideas in the comments)

Faithful One by Vineyard

This I offer back to him... and the rest of the class.

Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20) so that's good, good is positive.

Ha. I never thought we can infuse the Gospel into Math lessons too.


Last time when I was teaching Physics, I had many chances to make referances / draw parallels to Jesus and I always thought I can't do the same in Math.

Once again, I marvel at how much we can learn from God, as well as from my students, everyday.

but then... this is the last year that Transformation is in the syllabus. sigh.

nonetheless, I felt really happy for the rest of the day.

My blog is worth $2k

My blog is worth $2,258.16.
How much is your blog worth?

wow! now I wish some1'd tell me how to cash that $2k. haha.

New Konnyaku Drink 蒟蒻 at MOS Burger

Not Hann but Hann's Mummy said...

Sounds like a great drink huh?

It's not a drink really, but jelly. you'll have to "drink" it though. using a straw to suck the jelly out of the bottle.

I finally gave in to the attractive packaging and novelty of the "drink" and ordered it.

Upon slipping it, I realised that it's jelly and...

recalled why I rejected my sister when she asked me if I wanted the drink the last time we went to MOS.

This Konnyaku Drink at MOS Burger is not made purely using Konnyaku or 蒟蒻.

There's Agar Agar added and Agar Agar is made from Seaweed!

I can't eat seaweed due to my thyriod condition.

Hann's papa doesn't like sweet stuff and I'm not about to let Hann try, so the bottle of Konnyaku drink went to waste.

sigh. $2.15.

side track...

I used to be very sure that M.O.S. stand for

Mountain

Ocean

Sea

cos I saw them printed on their tray mats and cups when they 1st started out in Singapore.

and I remembered cos Ocean and Sea meant the same thing, don't they?

I blamed it on the Japanese's lan English then.

It was a good friend brought me to one of the 1st MOS Burger in Singapore.

while searching for the picture of this 蒟蒻, I went to MOS's website.

Then, just to check, I went to see what the website said about M.O.S.

It said

Mountain

Ocean

Sun

Initially I thought I was wrong... I wasn't sure anymore.

Then I recalled telling people that it used to be

Sea but now they changed it to Sun

cos Sea and Ocean meant the same.

oh well...

Kiss it make it better

Hann's Mummy wrote:

15 MAY 2008

Went to my annual check up at WK Tan's Clinic. I almost freaked out when the nurse said I needed to do a blood test.

It was just a prick on the finger really, nothing like the needle and stringe, crunching of fist, drawing blood and all, but I hated it all the same. perhaps it was the bad experiences at the GP's, perhaps it was the frequency that blood had to be drawn from me... I didn't know when I started to fear blood tests.

Well... I kept the plaster on my finger on even after I got home.

Hann was sweet. very sweet. He saw the plaster, I said, "Mummy pain pain," and he took the finger and blew kisses it in. so very sweet. He did it a few times and subsequently later in the evening, he even planted real kisses on the plaster.

Thanx, Honey, you did make it better. I love you.

What kind of Math Teacher...

A page from Mummy's diary:

Sometime last week...

Was working out a sum on the board and made careless and silly mistake. When I pointed out the mistake to the class and corrected it, one student said (in a joking tone),"What kind of Maths Teacher are you?"

I answered, "I'm a tired Maths Teacher."

then the students said, " you're tired? rest lah, Teacher" "Go home and sleep," said another.

well... I am tired. I guess all teachers are tired. too many things, too little time. and I'm on 3/4 load. Can you imagine a full-load teacher?

I'm counting down on to the March Holis!