Friday, 31 August 2007

Studied at where I worked - Good or Bad?

School just started on 6 August. Studied at where I used to work for 4+ years (4 years and 2 months to be exact).

Is it a good or bad thing to be studying at where I worked? Some practical I know especially those I prepared. But I only know how to do. I do not know the theory behind. But it's still silly to go for the practical class. Like the first two practical classes, my partner and I kind of finished the class in slightly more than an hour. Well, that's because I read the protocol beforehand, we took the materials and equipment required before the practical started to avoid the crowds and lastly, I used those equipment (pH meters and hotplate stirrer) before. Thus, I guess for this, it's an advantage for me.

But having worked there for so long, people who knows me might expect me to know 'everything'. Well, at first I thought I think too much. But this was kind of proven right yesterday during tutorial. The graduate student (undergraduate who had graduated from the school) who was teaching the class suddenly turned to me when nobody know how to do the question (including myself) and some haven't done that question as they didn't expect that he would go through 2 tutorials. He not just turned to look at me. He asked out loud, 'Jessie, do you know how to do?' (-.-)''' He even said my name out loud. I guess that's the disadvantage when they know me and not the rest of the people in the class.

Hope this won't happen in other tutorial, practical or even lecture as I am still struggling to understand and cope. It's really not easy as I had forgotten everything. Like what they said in the orientation or something like that. The style of teaching is very different from that from the JC and Polytechnic. I never expect it to be so different. It's like we were expected to know everything and everything in the lecture was basically just from the textbook (more or less). So stuffs like calculation, etc weren't covered in depth. And I had no time to revise all these currently. Not a good sign... Hope this will get better after the Ulu Pandan Project on 2 September and after the Recruitment Project on 16 September.

Now, I am struggling to do the calculations for the Practical 'report'. I am not the sort that will go around and asked for help but yesterday, heard from JY that some students went to ask the graduate students for help on the calculations. Thus, I decided to seek help. I didn't asked to get the answers or how to get the answers with the question given. I just merely asked how I can go about to derive the answers. Like which method (is it the same as the tutorial)?

Got home and attempt the questions. Still got stuck somehow. But I had a rough idea on the concept in my mind. Just that I do not know how to go about getting the answer out. And I did till 1.30am last night. As usual, when I do work, I always forget the time. I shall go and try again in a while. Wish me luck!

Hope to finish this report today (must hand in on 3 September) and attempt the Economic tutorial by noon so that I can have the afternoon to practice the piano. Tomorrow won't have time as I had Sunflower training for the Ulu Pandan Project in the morning.

Time is really not enough for me. How I wish Human need not sleep to re-charge. If so, then I can have the whole 24 hours. I shan't waste more time and shall go and attempt to complete what I intend to do.

Tuesday, 28 August 2007

New TV Cabinet

I had forgotten to blog about this actually. My mum sort of reminded me about the TV cabinet this morning.

What happened was actually because of her younger sister. She told me that my aunt was asking if we could go over to stay on Friday night or could she bring her dogs over as she will be going Malaysia with her friend or friends and her hubby will only be back on Saturday.
Then my mum was grumbling saying that her sister is very troublesome, etc. The problem is she should have realized that this day would come since she allowed the dogs over to my house. So I told my mum off that she should have to expect this day to come. My mum then said that the TV cabinet was just fixed. And the dogs would bite. And she can't possibly stayed with the dogs 24 hours a day. I just kept quiet. There is no point in continuing the conversation. Now then she 'xin tong' the furnitures and headache over this issue also no use. She allowed this to happen.
Anyway, my mum get someone to fix the TV cabinet as the previous one had spoilt. And the new current TV was placed on a few cabinets which some are not in good condition. So you might have guessed that they spent quite a lot for the TV and this cabinet. As the previous were faulty. I can't say anything but my mum assured me that she know that she should not spend unnecessary. Hopefully.

Monday, 27 August 2007

4th Training at the Clinic

Today was my 4th training at the clinic. I have no idea how many training I am expected to go through.

Anyway, yesterday, the doctor asked the clinic assistant, Angie, there to pass me a notebook to record when I went there. I do not know when I should start to record. Angie told me to record everything and note under remarks that those are training. I forgot to note today as today was really busy. Just an evening and there were 77 patients. The average waiting queue was at least 13 patients. It was busy but it's quite fun. Fun not in the sense of playing but learning is fun.

My dad went to drive me home. He waited for me as there were still about 10+ patients when it was already 10pm. Only cleared around 11pm. I supposed my dad was hoping that I lost interest as he asked me if I would still continue (after the busy evening). Well, sorry to disappoint him. I haven't lost interest and I would continue. Somemore, I need the money.

Well, just this week, I think on Friday or yesterday, kanna a young Indian patient with chicken pox. Today, a patient with dengue and a young patient with hands, foot and mouth disease. Pretty scary right? Guess there will be pros and cons wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Have to give and take. That is the 'trade-off' (term learnt from economics and I suppose might be the only thing that I understand from economics).

Anyway, yesterday the doctor got tell me that he won't be paying me for this month or so as the amount is very little so he would combine and pay me the next month. So does that meant that he would pay me for these few trainings? How many training does he expect me to do? How to ask? Anyway, don't care lah. Since he said he would pay, I would just continue to go whenever I am free. I am a 'da man ren'.

Tomorrow (or I should say later) still got 8.30am lecture. Better stop now and go to bed.

Forgot to bring house keys

Not a very good day for me.

Had lessons. Lecture in the morning. Followed by 2 hours break before the practical.

Rush home. Wanted to shower and prepare my dinner before going to the clinic. Reached home to realize that I had no keys with me. My mum's at my aunt's place. So I rushed over to get the key and take a cab home.

Now going to go out soon.

Thursday, 23 August 2007

Dad injured himself at work

Today, the tutorials were cancelled due to Union Day. Something which I do not know what it was about. Anyway, it's good that there weren't any tutorials. I went to BB -Skytech Building to bring the new DVD player to service. Yes! It's new but as we never really test it. So we did not realize that it was faulty initially. The playing of any disc will lag. The video and sound would pause at every 1 to 2 seconds for 1 second or so. It was too fast to count.

As my mum do not wanted me to go alone, she followed me. After which, she decided to go to my aunt's place to help clean the house while I decide to go school. But I also wanted to go and get a bottle of conditioner. Mine is running very low so I decided to go and get from Westmall. My mum followed me. There, my mum said she want to grab some bite. In the end she decided to get from Burger King. The breakfast set. It was also something which I also never ate for quite some time. Thus I bought another set despite the fact that I just took breakfast at most 2 hours before.

Over at Westmall, my mum received a call from my dad. Overhearing the conversation I know something had happened to my dad so I questioned my mum after her tele-conversation. My dad had injured himself. Injured his leg. Don't know where but it seemed quite deep and my dad wanted to go to the clinic to wash up the wound and he was coming over to Westmall to pick us up.

When we saw him, he showed us the wound. Quite a big patch of blood clot was over the wound so I did not quite managed to see the actual wound. It was on his right leg. I asked if he was alright and if he can continue driving. I was prepared to drive if necessary but he assure us that he felt ok. He told me that he hurt himself at 8+am but was very busy then to be really bother about the wound. He just attempt to stop bleeding and make sure he can still move as per normal to make sure he did not injured the bone.

While going to the clinic, he dropped my mum over at my aunt's place. Then he called the clinic to see if there were too long queue. It was alright and thus, he went over immediately. I did not managed to go in with him. The lorry (Nissan Cabstar) that he drove to PSA in the morning does not have any carpark coupon. Thus, he asked me to look after the lorry while he went to see doctor.

When he finally came out, he told me that he had stitches. 3 stitches and he never asked if he need to go back to remove the stitches. He said as the doctor cleaned the wound, he said that he could see the bone. OMG! That is bad. But anyway that position does not have much flesh to protect the bone. My dad said the doctor said it's just superficial wound so it's not serious. I am relieved to hear that.

My dad drove me to school after that and I was still early for lecture so I went level 4 to look for my friends cum ex-colleagues.

Kind of Talk to the Asst Chief from Sunflower

Today, I was kind of lucky. The Economics Lecture ended earlier. And there were 2 buses at the bus-stop when I was approaching it. It was a distance away but in the end, I decided to run for it. Something which I should not have done so as my right hip kind of just recovered and yet it not in the perfect condition. My friend, JY, even actually asked me not to run for the bus as she heard about my condition but in the end I still ran for the bus. If I missed I would be extremely late especially when I am unsure if the following bus will be packed. I almost sprain my left ankle while running for the bus.

Since I managed to board the bus and was early. I decided to take MRT to JE then walked over to the library there to take bus 176 to SYC. I could save some money that way instead of taking cab over. I can't possibly take cab every week because of training but I know I would have to when necessary.

After the training, while waiting for my dad, J, our Asst Chief came down. So she asked about me. How I was coping and adapting. I told her the truth but never said that I want to leave. It's really hard to say so.

I told her that I had alot of catch up in terms of studies. Somemore we had to take electives that are not closely related to my field of studies. I told her that the second week can already feel the stress building up. I told her that after the tutorial I realized that I lagged alot. I told her that I might not be able to commit to weekdays training especially when there might be days where lessons might end late. I told her that today I was lucky that lecture ended earlier and I managed to catch the bus. I told her about last week when I was unable to catch the bus and waited for extremely long. I told her that I had kind of found a part time job over the weekend's evening and would not be able to commit if there are trainings or event on those timing. I told her that I was pretty stressed over the fact that I could not remember that dance steps and do not have the time to even think through and because of that I could not get to sleep on Saturday night. I admitted that I felt myself lagging alot when it comes to the dance (something that never happened so bad before). I was usually 1 of those who could remember my dance steps even if it's not very precise. Etc Etc...

My dad arrived soon after so we stopped our conversation. She said she would maybe talk to me again on Sunday training. I guess I would have to see what the outcome will be. If I can stay, If I should stay, or If I should just leave. Of course if I can stay on and deal with projects that occur during the semester holidays, that would be the best but I must still think of my ligament problem. *sighed*

Tertiary Concession EZ-Linked Card

Today, I just asked my friend if she had collected her Tertiary Concession Card. I only applied on 7 August and heard that once it is ready, I would receive an email to go and collect. Then it just happened that she had not collected and I received the email just today. Therefore, we went to collect together before going for our Economics Lecture.

Stickgal's Blog

My new friend told me about a blog where a girl drew stick figure that could express the feeling. She told me last Thursday. Today, she showed me the blog. It was very amazing. If you are free, you can check it out. I had looked at all the pictures. It's cool!

http://stickgal.blogspot.com

Tuesday, 21 August 2007

Too Much Activities?

This is just the starting of my journey of studying. Yet last week, I felt the strained, the stress. Well, it did seemed to get slightly better but how long can it last?

There are quite a number of activities going on. I need to do some priority check. Even had to give some up maybe soon even if I may not wish that to happen.

Studies should be my priority now. I do not want to waste my past years of effort to apply for this place. It would be long. 4 years long and this is just the 3rd week. Last week, after the 1st Organic Chemistry Tutorial, I started to feel the stress. I do not know alot. Previously I thought the most worrying module will be Principle of Economics which is something I had not done before. But after attending the Organic Chemistry Tutorial. I realized that I was too far behind that too and there will be bound to have more modules that I haven't realized that I am lagging very far behind now and I realized I need a lot of time. Time to recap, Time to study, Time to do assignments, etc.

Work might be the next to follow. I do not have enough savings to last me for 4 years and I do not wish to use up all in case of rainy days. My friend had recommended me for a job as a clinic assistant. Yet I do not have so much time & energy now to go for more trainings so that I would start work soon. So this is not a good sign.

Piano is something that I enjoyed and had to commit to as my parents bought the piano 2 years ago (I did pay for part of it though as I do not want them to pay for it). But I had decided to quit after I took the exam maybe next year July. There is no point to continue as I do not have the time to practice. It would be a waste of money and time to continue as the techniques will be stagnant and even be worst.

Music theory is the complementary course for the Piano. Since I had decided to temporary quit after the piano exam next year, there is no point in continuing also. Thus, I would quit too after the exam this November. Even though I would be quiting Piano and Music theory, it would not immediate. So during these period, I would have to hang in there.

Sunflower Dance Group is also something which I enjoyed. It had been an activity that had helped me boost my confidence level also. Yet, it required commitment. Thus, it had all along been a cultural group for working adults which I once was.

I was hoping that I could stay on even though I am now a full time student. Yet, I realized this is impossible. Not that I am not allowed to stay on. But I realized I can't commit as what I had before. Timetable for every semester will be different. And I'll never know when I might have lesson till late. Late meaning after 7.30pm. How am I going to go for the weekdays trainings when there are projects? This is what happened currently.

Current project is for 2 September. There are only at most 3 to 4 weekend trainings and 3 weekdays trainings. And the 1st weekday training fall on a Tuesday when I had Music Theory lesson. 2 of the weekdays trainings fall on Wednesday when I had lesson till 7.30pm. Just last week, I only managed to board the bus at around 8.10pm and very seldom there will be cab around campus at that time.

For all these trainings, I missed the 1st. Went for the 2nd and was bombarded with so many counts of dance steps which till now I can't remember. Missed the 3rd training due to Music Theory lesson. So Saturday before the 4th training on Sunday, I was so stressed that I can't get to sleep. And on Sunday itself, I really can't catch up. Tomorrow which is Wednesday will be the 5th training. Yet, I'll reach extremely late maybe they will be ending soon. Yet, I can't afford to miss the training. If not I'll lag further. So I do not see how I can continue on.

Somemore, my leg, my right hip, my ligament does not seemed too good. It was because of it that I missed that 1st training for the 2 September project. It had been re-occuring pretty frequently since I started joining Sunflower. Think it had already pained 3 or 4 times. 2 of which were very serious. So I supposed it is not advicable for me to continue to strain it further.

With these 2 reasons, I do not see how I should continue on in Sunflower. Yet, it's a very tough to come out with a final decision to quit and even now it is even tougher to put it into action. But I must. I know I must! I had told myself to tell my chief on the coming Sunday training about this decision. But even so, it would also not be with immediate effect. I would have to continue on to finish up the 2 September Project and our Recruitment Project on 16 September. I must still hang on at least till the Recruitment ended as the rest of the girls are involved in the Chinatown Project on 15 September. And so the recruitment project might most likely be my last and it's happening on my birthday.

Other than these activities, my leaders had been asking me to take up role of leadership. I had told them to let this be on hold but apparently I could not push further. There will be training course in October. I guess I will have to continue to judge after I leave Sunflower. If I really can't, then I'll confirm voice out to let them know. Anyway, these few leaders had been very understanding. So I am sure they will understand.

Well, all these activities are draining me now. I just hope it would get better after I made all these tough decision to give up certain of them (slowly). I do not want to have sleepless night like on Sunday night that I was so worried I could not catch up.

Saturday, 18 August 2007

Maid

Maid. What is that? What is the true meaning of hiring a maid? A helper or a trouble-maker?

Not that I hired any maid but it was my aunt who had hired 5 maids so far. Only the 1st and the 3rd maids were good and responsible with good time management.

Other than these 2 maids, I would almost daily hear complaints from my mum and she'll go nag & nag non-stop about what they did...

Well, previously, I was working, so at most I only see the maid for a short while on Saturday except that I had to endure what my mum wanted to complain. So it wasn't that bad.

This time, I had become a full-time student. And unless I had lesson early in the morning till late, if not, I might have to face this 5th maid, Nora. She is from Philippines and she is around 39 to 40 years old. She had got her own kids and even a granddaughter recently before she came here to work. She had worked at Taiwan before and another household before coming to my aunt's place.

She is very busy-body. She would want to see what you do. For examples, if you are looking at photos, she would want to take a look also. If you are playing the piano, she would run in and listen and worst still. She would humm outloud some melody of her own which is very distracting.

Her time management is super bad. And not sure if she did on purpose of what. She would only go to the washroom and take her own sweet time when we need to go out already. Just that day, she only wanted to take her breakfast after she saw my cousins had already woken up. Can't she just ate earlier?

She is also very dumb. She can vacuum the floor and mop the floor and when my cousins had done their homeworks or had taken their meals, she would just sweep the table with the cloths. Yes! I did not write wrongly. It's sweep and not wipe away all the dirt, etc. So all the dirt will fall onto the supposely cleaned floor. Super no brain.

Even my cousin, Michelle scolded her stupid as she took Michelle's Barbie doll sport shoes instead of her brother, Nelson's school shoes to bring over to my house when Michelle don't have any school and not even going out. That happened on Thursday. My mum made her go back to take Nelson's school shoes as it was impossible for him, a boy, to wear a Barbie doll sport shoes to school. Guess what, instead of removing that Barbie doll sport shoes and just taking Nelson's school shoes, she added Nelson's school shoes to that plastic bag that contained the Barbie doll sport shoes and brought both shoes over to my house. OMG!!! She is very stupid leh. Why must she bring excess things.

Not that I wanted to suspect her. She had stolen the instant coffee before even though she admitted few days later, my mum told me that whenever she washed the eggs before placing them in the fridge, they will be bound to be 1 missing. My mum didn't notice on purpose but had heard that from my aunt. That day, my mum happened to help her put the eggs into the fridge as she need the basket that the clean eggs were temporary placed after washing. And my mum realised that there is an egg missing. My mum questioned her many times but she just simply kept quiet till finally when my mum raised her voice, Nora then said she accidently broke the egg. Yet there is no 'corpse'. No egg shell in the waste bag. I told my mum to take more notice of her. I also do not want to accuse her for nothing but there will be some suspicions especially after that instant coffee incident.

And guess what... Today, my mum called me at 10.40am asking me to bring umbrella to her as the maid was supposed to be meeting her as 10.30am but was still no where to be seen. Thus, I had to quickly changed and grabbed the umbrellas and rush down to find my mum and mind you. It was raining very heavily. And I planned to practice my piano at that time as I did not have any time to practice for the past few days. My mum was so mad at her and refused to let her help hold my cousins' hands, take any of the things, etc. I was also mad so I kind of just simply ignore her. What do you expect me to do? She is not my maid. I do not like to command people to help me do things. And I am not paying her salary. Yet she is here giving me more trouble. I do not expect her to do this or that? I just want her to do what she needs to do, what she is hired her for by my aunt.

If not because my mum can't walk so much as her feet will swell and pain and my aunt got 3 kids to take care, I might have asked my aunt not to hire any more maid. This maid don't even help much as my mum still had to bring my cousins to school, etc. So what is the purpose of hiring her?

Thursday, 16 August 2007

Found a new friend or Should I say that friend found me

Yesterday had the 1st Principle of Economic Tutorial.

A group of people sat beside me. The girl who sat beside me seemed quite nice. She asked me which course I am from, she asked my name, asked if can sit beside me, etc. After a while she asked if I had done my tutorial questions which I had no idea I must do. Guess what she said next? 'Oh, you haven't do? Then, Good Luck!' I was like confused there like did I missed any informations and etc and there she was saying 'good luck' to me when I did not do my tutorial questions. So I was pretty sianz... In the end, the lecturer just went through the questions with us and never even asked us to hand up. (-.-)'''

After the tutorial, had 3 hours break so I went to level 3s to find my friends. And at around 4pm, went to collect the welcome gift for freshies, went to eight flags with HS and went to take a look at the so called IT fair in th auditorium.

At 5.15pm, walked to the lecture threatre for the Principle of Economic Lecture at 5.30pm. And was hoping very much not to see that girl in that Tutorial. Well, apparently, another girl in the tutorial thought that I might be in the same course as me so when she came into the LT, she asked if I am from BS and whether she could sit beside me. So I got a new friend and she found me. She is also from BS and also from my tutorial group. Yeah!!! She also did not go for the FOC and so like em, she doesn't know any of the people around. She was also older than the most of the students who just graduated from JC but still 2 years younger than me. She was also a graduate from Polytechnic (TP). And as the lecture was at a odd time plus the drowsy cough syrup, it was quite hard to concentrate with people talking in front and behind me.

When she knew that I am having cough and even went on Monday to see the doctor and missed my BS101 Lecture due to the update in the timetable, she told me that she could lend me her notes. I was so glad!

Well, she could not attend the BS104 Lecture later this afternoon, so I will do like wise for her. ;p After the lecture, we exchanged numbers.

Talking about lecture ending, this time, I wasn't as lucky as last week. Last week, I was able to board the 1st bus that come along and managed to get home at around 8.30pm. Yesterday, I missed like 6 buses. 1st bus too many people got up,and subsequent buses was already packed and refused to let more people up. The worst thing was I was meeting my leader at my house at 9pm. And I was still waiting for the bus at 8.05pm. I also missed 2 cabs as there were people in front of me. Well, I sms her and she changed the time to 9.30pm.

By the time I reach Boon Lay Bus interchange, it was already 8.35pm. So since I saw a cab, I just board it and get home asap to have my dinner and shower. I was still slower than her as I was packing some of my stuffs. So we start late again.

In the end, after the discussion about being emcee for this Sunday Family Day Zandankai and her help for the dance steps for the 2 September Project, it was already 12am and she had to hail a cab home. I wanted to drive her home but I do not know how to park a car. So sad and so paiseh.

Anyway, it all went well yesterday. Hope today will be too!

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Missed BS101 Lecture 2 Yesterday

I'd checked with Irene on 1 August and had printed out all the weekly Time-table from the School Website that day.

And I happily followed the time-table and marked down in my schedule and happily see that there was no lecture yesterday. Thus, I never go.

Just now, when I was checking the website for Lecture notes, Tutorials Qs and Practical Manuals, I saw that BS101 Lecture 2 was already posted. Something which the Prof said he would only do so after the lecture had ended. At first I thought he posted by accident like previously he posted the tutorial answers by accident (didn't managed to save them that time). Thus, I quickly save that copy thinking that I would have the lecture notes for the coming lecture. Yet, when I opened the notes, the first slide was dated 13 August which was yesterday.

I was puzzled and re-check on the Time-table that I had printed out and saw that there wasn't any lecture yesterday but this time I wasn't sure. I went to check the Time-table on the School website to find that they had updated again (don't know since when). This is sickening loh... It's just 2nd week and they had changed the Time-table for week 2. Does this means I had to check weekly (at the end of the week to confirm the schedule or do I have to check every night to make sure that they don't change the Time-table for the following day? And not all the time I would be so free to come online daily wor.

I had been constantly coming online hoping that the lecturers post the notes, tutorials and lab manuals so that I can print (even asked Cecilia to help me print. Thanks gal!). Other than that, I still have to check the timetable all the time? This is crazy!!!

What if I had no time as I had long day (eg. have music theory lessons on Tuesday night, have extra weekdays trainings for Sunflower due to project, worked on weekends evening, had leaders' or SD meetings). *sigh*

Monday, 13 August 2007

Bedroom at 39 deg C

Can't remember which day. Think it's Saturday.

The weather was so hot that even though I know I got nose block and running nose, and I know it will worsen in air-con room. But it was too hot to bother about that.

My mum had on the air-con in her room and she was cooling there while my cousin, Wilson, slept. I went in there too and read my book.

When I went back to my room to grab something, something caught my eyes. My Alarm Clock. Hmm... If you are thinking what so special about that, well, it got a temperature sensor built in it. So I went to look. It was at 39 deg C. Can you imagine that? The temperature now is around 33-34 deg C. That day was 39 deg C.

I remember once, many many years ago, the candle even 'melt' & bend down when my parents got home in the late evening. Can't believed the temperature was high enough to melt candle right? But it's true. I still got that candle. (I am known to keep things.) Just dug it out and took a picture of it. LOL!!!

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Call from the Clinic

Just now, I received a call from the clinic. Susan called me. I kind of just woke up and had just finished reading a chapter from the new Harry Potter book.

She asked when I could go for another training. Especially on weekday morning. My impression was that I had lesson daily maybe not start first thing in the morning but the timing is not right as the morning shift end at 1pm.

I told her that I would check and realized that I do not have lesson on coming Monday and Friday. So I called back immediately and told her that I could make it on Friday as I was hoping not to start on that Saturday and Sunday that follows as I heard from my mum that my uncle said that there will be firework display that weekend. In case my dad wanted to go and watch (I also wished to), if I started work, then, in future, I might not get the chance.

Anyway, I told my mum about me going to work. She was worried that I could not cope with studies and my leg injury. I told her that I'll try if I can't cope I'll quit and won't force myself. She then laugh at me thinking that I wanted to work for fun and I very hardworking. I didn't tell her the actual reason of course. It is always a sensitive issue when it comes to money. It will cause them to think that they could not provide for me, etc etc. And they would get stress up also (something which I would not want that to happen again).

My mum told my dad the following day. I was very worried that he would not allow me but he seemed to accept it well.

So since today, I got that call, I would see how when I go for the training on the coming Friday. ;p So happy!

Accident around my neighbourhood

That day, I said that I saw a guy lying on the road with blood flowing from his head. According to the news report on Sin Ming and Wan Bao on National Day, the guy passed away.

I said I think I saw the driver as that is the only vehicle that stopped at the side and that the driver looked very young. Younger than me. And that my dad saw that vehicle kind of speed past. Well, I guess that the driver after reading both reports. The report stated that the driver was around 20 years old.

The guy who was sent to the hospital was in critical condition. He was bleeding profusely from the head, nose, etc. And he was pronounce brain dead soon after. They wanted to keep him 'alive' so that they can donate his organ but in the end failed to do so.

It sadden me to see this kind of things happening. All these could be avoided if everyone plays a part. It's not about deducting points, imposing fine, confiscating license, etc. When such thing happened, it would be the guilt that the driver would be carring to their grave. Why can't these people looked far and think of these before acting recklessly and speed for whatevery reasons (fun, rushing, etc).

Drove my 1st Automated Car on National Day

Almost forgot to blog about this.

The last time I really drove was almost a year ago. Drove the Toyota Hiace on September last year. Not quite say drove. Just a bit and try to do parking before selling the van away.

Well, then my dad went back to his boss and work there. Was given the Nissan Cabstar to drive. I didn't managed to try on it. Just did a bit of shifting while staying in the lorry when my parents went down to get some stuffs.

Recently, my dad was given Nissan Latio to drive. It was an automated car unlike all the attempt I did was on manual vehicles (Toyota Corolla, Nissan Pickup, Toyota Hiace, Nissan Cabstar).

On National Day, my dad asked if I wanted to try to drive. He stopped by at Bt Timah and from there, I drove to Bt Panjang before doing a swap again.

It was pretty cool. Need not change gear, etc but I know I did not do a good attempt. At a round-about, my speed was too fast (haven't got used to controlling the speed as previously there is a need to change gear so that I can roughly guage the speed with the gear I used). I was too far out when I wanted to turn right.

As I seldom drive, I still dare not drive into the multi-storey carpark anywhere. It's pretty scary. So cramp. Somemore, these aren't my vehicles. Not even my dad though except the Toyota Hiace.

Well, I hope I can get another attempt ba. I believed I will be better the next time. ;p

Friday, 10 August 2007

Fallen Tree

I wanted to blog this yesterday but I didn't managed to do so. Anyway, here goes.

Early yesterday morning, around 5+am, it started to rain. There was thunder and lightnings too. And I woke up to see this (a fallen tree) out of my window. See picture.

Wednesday, 8 August 2007

Accident

Yesterday, after my Music Theory lesson, as usual, my dad drove me home.

He went to the Singapore Post as usual to help the boss open the letter box. After which, we wanted to drove home.

Not long after we leave the Singapore Post, we saw an accident. A guy was lying on the middle of the carpark entrance. The road was slighted slanted and his head was lying on the lower side while his leg was on the higher side. I think someone had shifted his position as he looked like he was in the recovery position. I can also see blood flowing on the floor starting from his head. Well, as we past by, we saw the ambulance. Hope he's alright.

Oh ya. We saw a car stopped and a guy came out. Think he knocked the person down ba. There are P plates on the windscreen. And the guy looked very young. My dad said that car past by very quickly when I went into the Singapore Post to help my dad get the letters. It was a Hyundai Matric.

Monday, 6 August 2007

Santa Claus

Today was my last day as a staff. On Saturday, I bought some chocolates and sweets for my colleagues. And as I had said last week that I did some drawings. Not what I expected but I supposed it'll do and I didn't say what I drew or did as it was a secret. It's no longer a secret so here goes.

I drew and made 12 bookmarks. All are different. But there are 6 main characters which are Hello Kitty (Shannie likes), Winnie the Pooh (Nana likes), Precious Moments (Cecilia likes), Chip and Dale (think Cyn likes), Doraemon (think Gerry likes) and Hamtaro. Sorry WY, HS and MH, didn't know what you like).

Anyway, after I reach office and place my stuffs, I went to 3s to become Santa Claus and give the bookmarks and tibits to them. Then I come back to office to give them the gifts too.

Just now, I went to the GO (somewhere where I have restricted access now). Went to pass some tibits for them but no bookmarks. Only make the bookmarks for those in my office and those in 3s office.

When I want to pass the sweets to May, Irene called me back and say I should not go in. I told her today is my last day and I know I got restricted access. I just want to pass something to May. Then I walk the long way to find Kim, Sufen, etc to give them the tibits. I forgot to pass the tibits to Irene as she was busy so I walked back (the long way). She was still busy so I just placed the chocolate and sweets on her desk and leave.

Well, I know my limit. I won't venture deeper into the GO just like this even though I am still a staff. ;p

1st Lecture

Had the 1st lecture of the semester 1st thing this morning.

Bus got in a bit of jam and reach Canteen A at around 8.20 to 8.25am. So I decided to walk from Canteen A instead of going to office 1st.

At least I thought I would go back office to put some stuffs. Stuffs like the hand-made bookmarks and tibits for my colleagues. But there isn't time.

Reached the LT with ease as I had been around for quite some time. Ok OK.. Very long time... 4 years to be exact. There were student waiting outside but far too few to be around at that time so I opened the door to take a peek and saw that the LT was pretty much filled and I went in.

Didn't know where to sit as I do not have any friend around. So I decided to sit beside a girl who is sitting alone at the corner and decide to chat with her. I suppose this is the 1st time I start of a conversation ba.

She was from another course though but she was alone too. (Another course but have some similar modules). She also did not went for the FOC like me and her name is Melinda.

The 1st lecture was pretty sian... It was a Introductory to Biology module and the Prof talked about astronomy, chemical covalent bond, carbon, etc. And at certain part, he told us that we need not remember the figures, we need not memorized this and that and those are for our reference, etc. Some of the part had become recap session for me but certain part are like lullaby to me. It had been so long that I had my last lecture so I suppose it take some time to re-adjust myself ba.

The lecture end early. So I asked Melinda if she wanted to collect the matric card. And so off we went. I brought her through the short cut way to the building and we were the 1st to reach to collect the matric card. Cool. By the time we collect, the queue was already to the open lobby.

We had to try our cards so I brought her along to the 2 resource centres and the computer lab before we parted. She went back to her hall while I went back to office.

Student now a Staff & me a Staff now a Student

This morning, after I board the bus, suddenly someone stood up & walked towards me. I looked up and saw that it was the student whom I said before. She had became a PO in a Prof's lab so she is a staff now when I am in between today.

She stayed around my neighbourhood also which explain why she took the same staff bus as me and it was me who give her the contact for the staff bus.

We chat a bit and she said that I had long hair (which I always had) and will tie up during practical at d temporary labs. Wow... didn't realized & had forgotten. That was ages ago...

Well, after today, our position will be swap. She will be a staff when I am a student.

Sunday, 5 August 2007

Since I matriculated, I had been trying to look for stuffs like lecture notes, etc especially for the Monday 1st lecture. Yet, my courses were not reflected in the system. After trying for almost 2 days, I email the help desk and now finally, my courses were shown.

Yet, there is an announcement which after reading, I am going to faint.

Sun, Aug 05, 2007 -- BS101-C-LEC-07S1: BS101 and BS101A
Textbook: Biology 8th edition, Raven, Johnson, Losos, Mason and Singer, McGraw Hill International Edition
Reading for first lecture: Chapter 2 and Chapter 26 on The Origin of Life.

This first lecture is going to be 1st thing tomorrow morning at 8.30am and now is late Sunday afternoon. Where am I supposed to get the book to read? And to make things worst, it seemed that there aren't any lecture note that is being posted for the lecture. So am I going to go there unprepared without any book or notes? This is a crazy way to start of my 1st lesson.

So many devilish attacks just right before the term start. Hip pain, Still coughing quite badly, and now no textbook, no notes, totally unprepared for 1st lecture. *faint*

Saturday, 4 August 2007

So much for saying I should be going to bed

Well, after looking at my Gerry's blog, I suddenly had the feel to blog this. Gerry, if you are reading this, Thanks!

The balloon had already started to shrink but I capture quite a number of picture of that cute smiley flower.

So even though the balloon may soon be gone, but the memories will be capture in pictures. And there is the earrings that will be left for me to keep. ;p

With the doll which was wear clothes that I knitted (Didn't have time to figure out how to knit a matching hat and shoes.)








Got the 'ling gan' from Cecilia's Wedding photos. LOL!!!

Didn't managed to see the Doctor

When I reached the clinic (was early), saw the name on the door. It wasn't my family doctor. So I decided not to see the doctor.

Went to my grandma's house after that and told my mum that I wanted to go and see the chinese physician tomorrow morning. She managed to get my grandma to go over and look out for my 3 cousins as she was staying a block away from them.

So, my mum would be going with me tomorrow. My dad would be driving us there. But we'll be leaving house at 6am. Thus, I better go to bed now. (-.-)zzzzZZZZZ

Friday, 3 August 2007

Wore 2 Different Gowns in 2 Weeks

Within 2 weeks, I wore 2 different gowns.

1st was last week. Marshal gown which was purplish red with silver at the edge. It seemed to be a size too big for me but there wasn't any 'S' size left so I just make do with what was there.

Today, wore a totally blue gown. The gown was placed on each chair with the goodie bag in the auditorium. This time, I got a 'S' size. They randomly placed the gown and even the jacket in the goodie bag is also random size and I got a 'M' size for my jacket.

The gown this time seemed like the right size for me. Didn't managed to get a photo of me in that gown though as I do not have any friend there to take for me. It would also be weird if I took photo of myself. (like 'zi lian kuang')

Well, as for my jacket, it was slightly too big but should be alright. ;p

Pre - Freshman Welcome Ceremony

Just now didn't have enough time and I forgot about this. When I was leaving my office then I realised I missed this interesting stories...

In the Auditorium, I managed to find myself a pretty back seat and it's at the side. If I want, I can sneak off ma. (Naughty me right?)

Like I said, when I matriculated, I don't know why I go and click that I would attend this ceremony. So I attended. But since there is no attendance taken, well, I could just sneak off. But I didn't.

If I leave, I will be very obvious as I do not have my bag to hide the goodie bag with a jacket and torch. So I stayed on eventually.

While there waiting for the ceremony to start (got delayed as usual but I didn't went that early too), I guess the camera crews were 'bored' and they started filming us, the students. The first screen showed a guy dozing with his head dropping. All who saw the screen laughed, including myself. The sleepy guy still doesn't know till someone told him and he looked so 'blurred'. So we laughed again.

There is another time when the screen was on the stairway where there was a guy talking to the friend. When he realised that the screen was on him, he tried to run up but the camera followed him so he tried to quickly get a seat. Again, we laughed due to his reactions.

Becaused of the cameras, some people had their program sheet or file out readily to cover their face when the screen was on them. Yet there were some who never realized that.

There is once that the camera follow a lady when she moved down the stairs as if she is some 'VIP'. Maybe the camera crew is using her as a 'rehearsal'. LOL.

Back to funny stories. There is a guy who apparently wanted to change his seat to a row down. He was in the middle of the seats at that row and due to plain laziness, he just climbed over and this was also captured by the camera so all of us saw what he did. LOL.

And I think this is the last funny one. The screen happened to be on a girl and a guy and yet the guy never realized as it was so sudden so it happened to capture that he kind of pinch the girl face and the girl was so 'paiseh' that everybody saw what happened. The guy initially was also 'paiseh' and don't know how to react but in the end he smiled and even wave to the camera. Wow!!!

Well, that's all for what happened in the auditorium before the ceremony started. ;p

Freshman Welcome Day

Today, there is a Freshman Welcome Day. A ceremony to welcome freshies.

Well, it's kind of optional to go but I don't know why I go and click on 'Yes, I will attend'. (-.-)'''

Anyway, it was just nearby. It was just less than 5 minutes walk to go there from my office. So it was suppose to be not that bad. But the bad point is that I kanna my right hip ligament problem again today. It was as bad as the previous 2 time I got. At least not to that extend that I would be limping with my body tilt toward the pain side and I could not walk straight (hope it won't get worst and get better instead). Going there was still alright.

In the ceremony, on each seat there were a paper bag containing a jacket with the uni logo, a piece of 'coupon' and a torch. As we have a light up ceremony where the whole auditorium will dim and row by row we will have to light up our touch 3 seconds after the row in front lights up. Apparently, no one followed instruction so I could not tell if they just on their lights to get prepare to bring up to wave or it was their turn to lights up.

There were 3 speakers before the lights up session followed by an address speech by the Provost. And before the lights up session, we were told to put on a blue gown to recite the Honour Pledge (like what Ling told me just now).

After the final speech, there were performance. 1st was a a dance performances. A dance performance by a girls group with 10+ to 20+ people followed by a guys group. I remembered seeing the guy in a competition on TV before. I remembered them clearly due to the fact that that used the song with the recital of the chanting of 'Nam myoho renge kyo'. Something that it's were and not right to do so. Well, what to do?

After the 2 dances, it was followed by cheerleading. They were very well trained and daring. All the flipping, tossing and turning in the air. Wow!!!

The last performances was songs. Pretty international songs. Malay song sang by Malaysian and Indonesian, Chinese song by China students, Indian song by the Indians, Thai song by the Thai and Vietnam song by the Vietnamese.

After the Academic Procession & guests took their leave, we were told that there were Tea receptions but I did not stay. I just walk straight back to office with some 'difficulties' as I would suddenly pause on the spot biting my lips, clenching my fist if I could not grab hold of anything around me to support due to the sharp piercing pain. But out in the open, with so many people around, I would try not to pause on the spot for too long and attempt to walk some more but soon had to pause again. This cycle repeat itself at least 10 odd times before I reach the lift. After exiting the lift, this time with no one around, I was paused a little longer for me to grab hold of myself and continue walking to my desk.

I suddenly thought I might go and see my family doctor again later for my cough and this ligament problem too (he doesn't know yet). I had never been to him to see this problem before. The last time, I went to a chinese physician at Geylang who diagnose that I injured my ligament and he could demo how I would walk when I felt the pain but it was pretty far away and my mum won't be free to accompany me there. The doctor on-duty at West Point Family Hospital diagnose my problem as Hernia. This was the clinic whom I went to before the Chinese Physician. But I doubt about that diagnose as I could not feel any lump. I do not know what to say about it. That is why I am thinking of going to my family doctor but he might not be the one on duty. How???
In the middle of the night, near morning, when I shifted my position & stretched a little on my bed, my right calf muscle cramped. OMG!!! So I became wide awake. This time not by cough but by the pain from the muscle cramped... Can't I have a night with real good rest and sleep?

When I woke up, I felt my right leg weird. Like not very right. After walking a few steps, my right hip joint give a sharp pain that I had to grab whatever is beside me. Think it's my ligament problem again. As I continued walking to the bathroom to wash up, after a few steps, the sharp pain came again. NOOOO!!!!!

I don't want it to pain again. I would have trouble walking. I have enough trouble with my cough already and now is not the time to have this pain. Not when term is starting on Monday. Shit...

I do not want to leave SF. There is a reason for them to give me early graduation already especially if I could not commit to weekdays training due to lessons, etc. I do not want to add on another reason because of my ligament problem. Yet I know that if this is the problem, then I would have to accept the facts as I also do not want to injure myself further or to cause irreversible injury to myself. But I had so much fun in SF with my friends and from there I build my confidence too.

That is why I do not want my ligament problem to re-occur. Never again. Yet, today, it's not right. For the past few days, I can feel my right leg was weaker than my left leg. I can't twist and bend my right leg like my left leg. I can't sit cross-legged on the soft mattress as I would feel numbness on my right leg. Numbness, uncomfortableness and slight and minor yet not quite call it pain. And I had been hoping that it would go away which apparently it did not. How? Shit lah.... Why??? How can this happen again. Why do I have to go through this pain again. It's very terrible.

Because of this pain, I quitted 武术 the other time. The first time I had this pain was in September 1999 during the term break. And I think I got it again once or twice a few months later. So I quitted also because I could not catch up with what 师傅 was teaching. He only focus on sparing (which I don't like) and focus to teach those seniors who could catch up with him. So it's a waste of money to continue.

Since I quitted in Dec 2K, I no longer had the pain. Even if there is, it's only very minor which would recovered the following day or so.

Now that I am in SF for almost 2 years, I already had serious pain twice before which lasted quite long (weeks or months) and now will be the third time? No please!!! If really, then I would have to accept the fate of leaving SF as I might not be able to perform when I had the pain and it might happen at the last minute.

Thursday, 2 August 2007

Farewell Lunch and Gifts

Today, I was treated with sushi by my colleagues. 5 of them. Cecilia, Shan, Yan, Shannie and Gerry. Thanks gals!!! ;p

It was a 'farewell' lunch for me. I am leaving them in term of in the past receiving pay for work and now forking money to study but I will still be seeing them around. Maybe even go and 'ka jiao' them and 'gossip' a little. LOL. Well, I could still have lunch with them at our common spot.

Well, before our lunch, we took photos. Photos of the big 'plate' of sushi and a group photo. I brought a mini tripod along and it came in used. Hee...

I was also given a present that were made by Gerry. Thanks for the earrings. It's very pretty. And having taken her wedding photos recently, Cecilia made me do the following with the flower that Gerry gave me.

During lunch, we chatted. After lunch, we continued to chat plus taking candid photos of each other. Well, taking candid photos only involved Cecilia and I. I was sitting to close to Yan so I could not take her candid shot. Cecilia who was sitting at the corner managed to snap everyone of us though. Anyway, I shan't post their photos here.

Back in my office, I snap somemore shots of my present on my table in front of the partition.


Thanks gals! Thanks for the lunch and present.

I need sleep...

Once again, due to my cough, I did not sleep well. It seemed to have worsen over the past few days since Sunday. And yesterday was pretty bad. I just simply could not stop my itchy throat from coughing out.

Called MH due to a delivery and she could not even recognize my voice as I had to struggle very hard to finish a sentence without coughing. That is how bad it is.

At night, I went to bed at around 12+ am. As I was drifting into dreamland, I was woken by unstoppable cough. Drank water (had it beside my bed) but it doesn't help. I coughed till my mum came over to my room then she went to get warm water for me. Seemed like it help and I stopped coughing after that.

But after drinking so much water, I kept wanting to go to the washroom. And so after all the coughing and high tide, I was kind of wide awake for quite. Received a sms from MH at round 1+ am so I replied her since I was wide awake. Only felt sleepy at around 2+ am.

During the time when I was wide awake, once in a while, I would sneeze. I think it's my nose that is giving way again. The first few days with bad cough, I got block nose and I can feel especially in the morning that the mucus back flow and accumulated at the back of my throat that cause my throat to be itchy. And yesterday night, I can feel my nose not quite in shape so I search for medication to take. I do not want to fall ill...

And this morning when I woke up, I felt as though I did not sleep at all or didn't sleep enough. When I board the bus, my eyelids were so heavy that they keep closing on me. I had to struggle to keep them open especially when I was 1 or 2 stops to my destination.

When I reach my desk, I just dropped dead on the table till Cecilia nudged me twice and showed me her outdoor photo shots. But still, I am still not in the state of being alert.

And today, I do not feel my cough is any better or worst yet. Maybe it's the same as yesterday. Anyway, I had been making chrysanthemum drink for myself for the past few days. Hope it will help soothe my throat.

Wednesday, 1 August 2007

Speakers went MIA

After a week plus of leaves, I came back to work today to find something missing on my desk.

Actually, I did not realized till when I wanted to take my ear pieces as I opened a video file to look at. I looked around my desk but could not find the speakers. So I asked my colleague, YL.

He told me that MH had taken it as she bring hers to the prep room. Hmm... well, I don't mind but all these speakers and CPU are accounted for and are under me and soon, very soon, they will come and check and take back.

Anyway, YL said he'll inform the IT guy about my speakers when any of them come to check and take back. If not, then it would seemed that I stole the speakers. No! No! No! I don't want that!!!