Birthday Thank You

A very warm thanks to everyone who remembered my birthday and called or sms-ed to express their warm wishes for me. Thank you.

Like S and A's calls just past the stroke of midnight (sorry I can't pick it up, out jogging), my sisters and brother-in-law's well wishes, K's midnight sms, a long distance call from the US of A from SY, C's 'just can't wait' sms an hour before midnight, A, J, and SM's bday treat, YZ's and LY's well wishes, the list just goes on and on.

Thank you all.

I didn't expect the calls and stuff. I know I have been a somewhat lousy pal at times. Abit too busy to give you a call, abit too busy to meet up for tea... Maybe abit to busy to keep you in mind. Thats why I was so grateful and thankful that the reverse is not true.

You hunks and babes are the reason why life is so enriching and worthwhile. The simple thoughts and well-wishes is like sunshine, heart-lifting and warm. You guys make life great! (I think this is getting kinda mushy and puke-inducing by now, hee)

Anyway.. Thanks once again for all the well-wishes!!

Thank you!!! ")

Meeting the Hump

Well...

Close friends would know that I am exercising more intensively these days. In fact, I am keeping an exercise log so that I can keep track of my progress. Not turnng into a health freak yet. Just wanna keep fit and feel better about myself.

However, I did feel a reluctance to go exercise sometimes. Its like a devil over my shoulders, whispering sweet nothings into my ears, seducing me with promises of pleasure from sleep, chips, and procrastination.

I am very lucky that I have the support of my sister, my brother-in-law, and a close friend in this. Each week, they would take turn to accompany me to go jogging in the park. Although the timing is quite bad, 11pm-12am most nights, I am not complaining. These are the people and support you need whenever you start something new. They are seeing me through my hump. Hopefully, I would not need their constant presence once I'm over my hump. Hopefully, hopefully, I will also lose perhaps 10kg at the end of the 12 weeks, just in time for start of school, haha!

Anyway, I will be doing 3 series of cardio and strength exercises each week for perhaps the 1st month, and then increase from there. And I gotta follow some sound advice... Sigh... Gotta say goodbye to good, rich, sinful food for a while... sob sob!! :'(

Suicide

Hahaha!

No worries... I'm not having any suicidal thoughts yet. Hold your horses and don't celebrate too early, kiddos!!!

Did something quite stupid today. Forgot to pace myself. I went for a jog at 11pm, immediately after my strength-training at 10.30pm. Almost expired during the 2.4km run. In fact, I did only 1.8km cos I was gasping so badly for air. Was fighting chest pains and dizziness as well.

Moral of the story: Know your limits.

So stupid of me... Hahaha! "p

Bored

Had a very bored day in the office today. Did some admin work. Had brunch. Lazed around. Sigh...

Did this Blogthing survey... The result is definitely something my friends would agree with (fingers crossed), while my students would vomit over, hahaha!!

You Make a Great First Impression

You can handle almost any social situation with grace, even the tricky ones. Strangers often find you charming and interesting. You are often remembered fondly. Even if you're not naturally outgoing, you can make conversation with anyone if you need to. Whether you were born this way or had to work to get here, you are definitely charismatic. You're popular and well liked. People definitely look forward to being around you. Your social connections bring you a full and rich life. You understand how important it is to make a lasting impression.

What Kind of First Impression Do You Make?

My Poor Shoes

Sigh... My shoes made the strongest possible statement for my weight-losing campaign.

They tore.

So sad right?

Sigh...

Well... One more run tomorrow morning before I rest my poor feet and knees, and back, and... (You get the idea) for the weekend... Ganbatte!!! ")

Its like a visit to the Dentist...

I made a big discovery last night.

Jogging and exercising to keep fit and lose weight is like a visit to the dentist. Before the big event, your mind will play tricks on you. You will dread the coming moment, you will try to come up with excuses to avoid the inevitable, you will ask yourself, "Why am I so stupid to put myself through this."

But... But... But...

When the big moment comes, you will realise that all is not as bad as you think.

In fact, I am looking forward to my next 2 jogging sessions... Tonight, and tomorrow morning... ;)

A Letter to my 4A

To 4A,


Aren't you glad the N Level exams are over?
I had wanted to write this letter to each of you individually, but, haha, I am too lazy. Anyway, the letter would largely be the same anyway, so I might as well write it down on an electronic medium rather than kill more trees. After all, I think I have killed enough trees printing all those exam papers for your lessons and practices.



Here goes.



Dear 4A,


The two years spent with you is nearing an end. The 4 years you have spent here at NCHS is coming to an end too. Let me first congratulate you on having made it so far.



I know the time spent in NCHS has not been easy. In fact, it must have been hell at times, especially with me. I have deliberately made it so. I believe you must have wished that this old bastard, a.k.a Mr Goh would drop dead and die at times. I think I owe you an explanation for this, so here goes.



Life for you, all of you, would be very difficult. You may be looked down on, trodden, despised, used, and maybe even discarded. Even though you have made it thus far, the road ahead would only get tougher, twistier, rougher. So why work hard at all?



I see in each of you potential for greatness. But diamonds will only be stones if they are left uncut. Gold will be rocks unless smelted. And iron unburnt and unbeaten will never become steel. Consider my treatment as the beating, hammering, smelting, and cutting process. I do not know how many of you appreciated the process. I made it deliberately difficult and harsh for you. Some dropped out along the way. Others rebelled and chose to unchanged. More still already shine in their own way, these few, I tortured to make them more polished, to shine even brighter.



Society would not be as kind. A mistake in the workplace would mean the loss of a job. A mistake in public may ruin your future. Things that you are allowed to get away with now will never be tolerated when you are elsewhere. Thus, it is better that you feel the lash and suffer now, rather than commit a mistake that will condemn you for the rest of your life.


I do not expect any of you to come back and visit me or Mr Ting. But it is my hope that all of you would make something good of your life.


I do not expect everyone of you to start studying and go to university and get a degree, but merely work hard, and use your brain efficiently. Think, before you do. Just remember, whenever you encounter an unreasonable customer, or perhaps boss, or lecturer, even a stranger, just remember, Mr Goh from Nan Chiau was worse than this.


Hahaha!
A few last words I hope you would bear in mind:
1) You don't have to like it, you just have to do it.
2) That which does not kill you, will make you stronger.


I hope that over the years, your 4 years in Nan Chiau may become memries filled with fondness and warmth.



Good Luck and Best Wishes in Whatever You Do!!! (Crimes and Illegal Activities excepted of course! "p)

Stupidity

From wikipedia:

"Stupidity is the quality or condition of lacking intelligence, as opposed to being merely ignorant or uneducated. This quality can be attributed to both an individual or a person's actions, words or beliefs. The term can thus also refer to poor use of judgement or insensitivity to nuances in a person who is otherwise intelligent."

Individual and Collective Stupidity

In psychology, this is known as deindividuation in crowds, and can lead to behaviours usually not displayed outside the specific social situation. The behaviours occur because individuals will conform to perceived social norms in order to 'fit in' or project an impression of self as "normal".


I think this was firmly displayed by a healthy part of my kids today.

I do not think being called stupid is a bad thing. It implies that they still possess intelligence, which may be shown to be throughly lacking AT THAT MOMENT. This is very different from being called an imbecile or an idiot for example, which implies that the lack of intelligence is genetic and permanent.

And just what is the point I am trying to make here?

The point is this. It is extremely stupid to jeopardise your own future simply because you cannot control your mouth. It is not an unreasonable request to remain silent for 5 mins or even 10 mins after a major exam so that the examiners can evaluate and count your scripts. After all, you have remained silent for an hour or two beforehand. Besides, anything you say after the scripts are in would not affect your grades. However, the things you do after the paper has ended can affect your grades. Let me explain:

The examiners are under a very tight deadline. The papers are supposed to be delivered to the exam centre within one hour after the end of paper. Late delivery may be rejected or declared void due to security, breach of technicality, and et al reasons.

Given the above reaons, does it make sense to talk so loudly so as to disrupt the examiner from their counting, delaying their departure time, thus jeopardising your grades?

I do believe the above points were highlighted and brought to the kids' attention, but did they bother to listen?

I do not know why I allowed this to bother me so much today. Perhaps it was due to the various discussions I had with the people around me over the past few weeks. Over the past years, discipline has became a four-lettered word among various members of the academia, the masses, parents, educationists, and even our children. Freedom of choice, individuality, and rights are the battlecry of our modern society now. But the costs? I think none of us may be able to afford the costs. Especially not our children.

My journey here is almost at an end. However, their journey is just beginning. I really do hope they would grow up to be contributors, and not parasites.