what a piggish world it is//*

Sunday, May 29, 2005 * (36) grrrrrrrrrrrr...

Yesterday was the last day of Term 2 and it had to be the most hectic morning of the entire Term 2... and it all started with Jon!

Before we go off every morning, I would ask my kids if they had packed the stuff required for that day. As I knew Jon has PE and NCC Air training on Fridays, I asked if he had packed both his PE attire and NCC PT kit. He told me 'yes' but the minute I got home after dropping him off, my hp rang. It was Jon asking me to go back to SJI with his PE attire! Hello, it was 7.10am and I was supposed to leave the house at 7.15am to drop Ben at school, then Emily at XX Church for the IJTP Founder's Day mass. Ok... so this mother sent his stuff to him so as to 'save his face'! You see, Jon's a prefect...

Then I went home to pick up Ben and Emily and we did leave home as scheduled. I dropped Ben off and then set off to the Risen Christ Church in Toa Payoh! But just as we were nearing that church, Emily's fellow prefect called to say that it should be the Holy Spirit Church. That friend had got her churches mixed up! Ok... so this mother battled the heavy traffic near Toa Payoh bus interchange and Thomson Road so that Emily could report for duty by 7.30am. Though I sped to the correct church which was near Thomson Plaza, Emily was 10 min late. But never mind, some prefects also arrived at the same time as her! They must have gone to the wrong church too...

So it was back home for breakfast before going to market at 9am. But the minute I stepped into my house, my hp rang again. This time, it was No 1 fan! She did not have to go for the Founder's Day mass as she had to help out with robotics stuff in some primary school in Jurong. No 1 fan and her mum were lost somewhere in Jurong and her mum, my sis-in-law, could not get home on time to send No 1 fan's sister to Holy Spirit Church. Ok... so this aunty went to No 1 fan's house to pick her sister to send her to the church where she had dropped Emily just a few minutes ago! Of course I nagged all the way to the church...

When I got home from the church, I took my breakfast, checked my mail and went off to market. After the market, I took a shower (markets are very smelly you know) and went off for my monthly fix... not drugs but cut and colour at the hairdresser! The appointment was for 11am and I only finished at 1pm. Yah, it was always that long as I had to colour my entire head of white hair from the roots to the tips...

When I got home, it was to check/clear my mail again. Then I went to Bugis Village to buy some souvenirs for Emily's school trip as the IJTP girls had some exchange programme at a Yunnan school. By then it was 5pm, time to pick Jon from school before going off to pick Emily from the Yio Chu Kang MRT station. She had gone to Nanyang Poly for some robotics stuff and had to rush home cos she was having tuition last night.

But my 'work' didn't end after I picked Emily up at 6.15pm. After her tuition, I had to nag her into packing her luggage as I would be away before her departure date. Yah... IJTP Chinese Department changed their departure date so I end up flying off first. Why should Emily pack her bag now when her flight is at 2am of Tuesday morning? Well... Emily's a procrastinator and do you remember the shit-hole??

the pig oinked at 7:55 AM

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Saturday, May 28, 2005 * (35) limits of parenthood...

Last night, laogong and I went to Jon's school for the Sec 2 Streaming Talk. I had gone through so many streaming talks since 1996... Pr 4, Pr 6 & Sec 2 X 4 KIDS! That's right... being the kiasu Singaporean mother, I had faithfully attended all! Thank goodness last night's was the last of the streaming talks but there are still the many PTMs aka collection of report books to attend! Hmmm... I had forgotten to include the Sec 4 talks on choice of JC/Poly!

Anyway, besides last night's streaming talk, the school counsellor gave a parenting talk. Handouts were given, among them which is... LIMITS OF PARENTHOOD

We gave you life, but we can't live it for you.
We can teach you things, but we can't make you learn.
We can allow you freedom, but we can't account for you.
We can take you to church, but we can't make you believe.
We can teach you right & wrong, but we can't decide your actions.
We can buy you beautiful clothes, but we can't make you beautiful inside.
We can offer you advice, but we can't accept it for you.
We can teach you to share, but we can't force you to give.
We can teach you respect, but we can't force you to show honour.
We can advise you about sexuality, but we can't keep you pure.
We can tell you the facts of life, but we can't build your reputation.
We can tell you about alcohol & drugs, but we can't stop you from using them.
We can tell you about goals in life, but we can't achieve them for you.
We can teach you to be kind, but we can't force you to be gracious.
We can warn you about sins, but we can't make you moral.
We can teach & pray about God, but we can't make you believe in God.
We can share WHO WE ARE and LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE,
the rest is up to YOU!

the pig oinked at 11:45 AM

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Friday, May 27, 2005 * (34) do you really know...

who you are chatting with? tongue

the pig oinked at 7:02 AM

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Saturday, May 21, 2005 * (33) DESIDERATA...

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble,
it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy

'DESIDERATA' is a famous poem written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann. In fact, the word 'desiderata' is Latin for 'those things most needed or to be desired'. This poem is a declaration of what is essential to one's life and how to live peacefully. It is also a message of hope and inspiration. Les Crane saw the poem on a street poster and decided to record it. The song became one of the Top Ten hits of the early 1970s and also won a Grammy in 1971.

Hey, though this is one of my favourite poems/songs, I am not that old! I was still in primary school in 1971 wink

the pig oinked at 3:26 PM

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Sunday, May 15, 2005 * (32) the golden rule of life...

What an eventful end to the week for my kids and me!

Judith quarrelled with her good friend, who is also her housemate! Well, that's life for you! Even husbands and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, siblings and best friends 'fight' at times. Then there'll be the 'cold war' - the silent treatment! Life's journey is never easy but it is less daunting if everyone swears by The Golden Rule of Life:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Don't worry Ju, this is part of your learning curve. Things will work out fine. smile

Ben was stung by some unknown insect yesterday after school! He's prone to allergy problems, so he was very lucky he did not suffer any severe allergic reactions though his left ear hurt, was red and slightly swollen. furious

Emily was super-hyper after her last paper on Thursday! She has since contributed quite a fair bit to the 'teens are our best customers' shops at Orchard! Bad news for her finance minister sad

Jon and his friends was so preoccupied with the computers and playstation that they were almost late for their x-country run at MacRitchie. If I were home yesterday, I would have nagged them off the machines but I had accompanied my mum to her medical check-up. When laogong came home to pick them, they were still gaming and had not even changed into their PE attire. In his hurry, Jon wore his school shoes instead of his track shoes! He forgot his number tag and his safety pins! Jon came in 59th for his level. I think he would have gotten 1ST if he had been well-equipped and well-prepared for his run! tongue

Laogong and I went on a steak date yesterday. We almost didn't make it because I had to pick Jon after his x-country run. Then Ben phoned to be picked up as he felt lousy after he got stung. By then, we were wondering if we would be having instant noodles at home instead since the maid had been pretold not to prepare our dinner. But after I applied the antiseptic cream on Ben's ear, the kids hurried us out of the house. It was a good dinner... meaning the two pigs over-ate! BURP!!!!!!!

the pig oinked at 7:40 AM

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Sunday, May 08, 2005 * (31) tis a pig's world...

YAY! YAY! YAY! I'm so happy! Just look at my new skin! Isn't it PERFECT?

I had been searching for a new skin for some time. Call me a fussy mummy if you want but I wanted my new skin to be really special. It must be a skin that can truly reflect ME! Then a few days ago I saw one that I liked very much ~ papa pig, mama pig but oh no, there were only 3 little piggies! To those who are not in the know, both lao-gong and I were born in the year of the PIG and we have four piglets! Oops... four children!

Meanwhile, Judith had been looking out for pigskins too and she saw that same one I liked. I don't know how she did it but she added the 4th little piggy, sent me the html and bugged me to change the skin immediately! Hey... I deserve some credit too because I did spent loads of time figuring out the html and editing it to get exactly what I wanted. Thanks also to Petrina for the html websites you gave and I do agree that my new skin needs a little bit more tweaking. I'm not completely satisfied but I (and Judith!) wanted so much to put it up asap... so here you are! TA-DA!!

THANK YOU JUDITH... I LOVE THIS SKIN VERY MUCH!

the pig oinked at 2:20 PM

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Tuesday, May 03, 2005 * (30) the shit-hole...

Long long ago, toilet bowls and night-soil buckets were unheard of. So when people living in the countryside needed to 'go', they would simply do it into a hole dug in the ground. This shit-hole would be located in a secluded spot, away from the living quarters. When the shit-hole was almost filled to the brim, it would be covered up with soil and a new hole would be dug.

Ah Gu was a real bummer! Though his mother nagged at him, he did not see the need to 'prepare' a new hole. One fine day, Ah Gu just had to 'go'. He rushed off to the 'toilet' but of course, there was none! Beads of perspiration trickled down his face! His hands were cold and clammy as he clawed desperately at the hard soil. He started digging furiously. Naturally, Ah Gu didn't make it.........

Yes, I know this is a rather foul topic, unmentionable actually. But this story had been told and retold umpteen times by my mum. My siblings and I were so constantly piled with this shit that when I saw my own kids procrastinating, especially during this long weekend, I decided that they too needed some from me!

And according to MY MUM, this is the moral of the story:
"bu yao deng dao yao da bian, cai wa dong"

For those who equate hanyu pinyin with Greek, it simply means:
"Do not wait till you have to shit, then you go dig the hole"

Well, I don't think I need to elaborate... you are all smart enough to guess the moral of this story!

the pig oinked at 11:10 AM

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Monday, May 02, 2005 * (29) happy labour day...

So get your faces off the computers and go labour over your textbooks and notes. Yep... the mid-years are just round the corner!

Heh heh... blame Emily for this 'naggy' post cos she told me to update and since I had nothing to blog about............

the pig oinked at 5:45 AM

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