Tired ... again...

I've outdone myself today. I worked 13 hours! haha...
Once again, I went down to the National Stadium with the school band. Today is the full dress rehearsal for the SYF this coming Saturday. The PM will be coming and security will be very tight. That's why today is very important for me to take photos. I may not have the chance to get onto the field and take photos. The seats in the grand stand may be good but it's still a distance away.
Whatever it is, I totally enjoyed myself today even though I'm very tired.
Oh I'll be going down for CBSS band of course! I will!
Right, now back to work.

A small world

Haha... it's such a coincidence.
As I was leading 309 out to the hall for assembly today, one student came up to me and asked if i knew Xinyi. I was taken aback. Suddenly, I recognise this resemblance between Xinyi and the girl. They are sisters! haha... I taught Xinyi at CBSS and now I'm teaching her elder sis at DSS. What a concidence. I'm amused.

First Day

Tired is the word of the day.
My day started out from the unearthly hour in the morning. Classes were alright. Some "characters" have definitely left me with strong impressions and I'll need to think of how to deal with them. Haha... TLC method!
And then, it carried on all the way till 7+ pm. Gosh... I worked 12 hours on my first day!!! Can you believe it??!!! Why?
Reason being I'm the photographer and I need to accompany the school band down to the National Stadium for the SYF rehearsal. I was actually feeling a bit drowsy after lunch, but upon hearing the music from the band, I was jerked back to life.
Wow... impressive yo... It's so majestic... inspiring... splendid... and to a certain extent, intimidating.
It is easy to sense the pride and glory within the students. They are competing with TKSS and BSS for the Band of the Year award as well as the Drum Major of the Year award!
As the photographer, I had this rare opportunity to station myself at the best position in the entire stadium. Even higher than the grand stand. Right beneath the central control station and right in the centre of the stadium. haha.... I'm so lucky!!! Especially when this is the LAST year events are held in this stadium.
Watching the SYF ceremony is like watching a mini showcase of the national day parade, with the choir, march past, firing, guard of honour, mass display etc. It reminded me of Gary and KJ's NCC cadets... If only they can do better...
Unfortunately, today's not the full dress rehearsal. That means I have to go down again on Wednesday. This time I must bring with me a few students to help me carry equipment and take photos.

A new beginning

Sigh... the holiday is almost over.
School is starting real soon. Happy? Mixed feelings actually.
During the holidays, I was "a little" bored and sometimes I wished I had more things to do. haha...My colleagues think I'm crazy.
Well, now I really think I was crazy.
I just spent the entire friday attending an SEL course and meetings. Gosh... it lasted from 8.30am till almost 7pm. dead.
Although I'm not exactly new in the job, the long holiday has somehow reduced me back to being a newbie and caused me a little anxiety. Hmm..even though I'm a little anxious, I'm not exactly doing anything about it too. I know that when the time comes, I'll be able to handle and all the past experiences and familiarity will come back. Haha... I'm that confident. ha...

My new padawans are going to be a whole gang of sec 3s. No longer kiddos but neither are they rational adults. The unknown self. The exploratory stage. Interesting bunch of people, I hope. Oh, and I'm concentrating on Geog and SS only. Phew. Yippee!
As I've hoped for, I'm taking charge of the photography club. Woohooo!! So eager to meet the younglings now. haha.. We've got a lot of activities coming up, which means the photography club is going to be really busy just in July alone. Tomorrow afternoon, I'm be following the band to the National Stadium for the SYF rehearsal. Busy busy busy.

I hope my ex-padawans have finished their holiday homework. If not, I hope they are at least struggling to finish them today. I have seen the results of the whole of level 2 and 3. Some surprises, some disappointments. I really hope to hear good news from my beloved class the next time I see them. Not just in English alone but in all subjects.

Faces of Chong Boon 2006

Hey everyone! My photographic project is finally ready for all to see. Yippee! Can you find your face in there? Well, if you didn't, don't be sad ok? Just that the camera didn't appear in front of you. I've been getting more and more confused seeing the many faces. Honestly, I can't guarantee if there are repeated people or not. heh...*paiseh* Erm, not many I hope. To see the entire work in its full glory, please click on the photo and it will enlarge. Then you may save it for keepsake. Hope you like it.
PS. The file is VERY big.

Help! Someone please tell me what's the name of my cute apprentice here!! Urgent! 

Refreshed and treasures found

My brother finally helped me with the comp. Reformatted and reinstalled windows and all. Now, my comp is kinda empty. It's leading a new life! ha...
Currently in the process of reinstalling softwares.

Coincidentally, I found this "The Singapore Story" CD-Rom as well. Looking at it, I recalled the days when I was still wearing school uniforms and going to the National Museum to see the exhibits. That was the time when National Education was first launched, I believed. 1998?
I suddenly remembered that I had ridiculously bought an NE package from the Museum shop as well. Quickly, I went to the uppermost shelf of my cupboard and woohooo... I managed to dug out a piece of treasure!

OMG OMG.... There are altogether 14 items in the package, of which contains a genuine Japanese Occupation "banana" note!! On top of that, there are also reproductions of the provision ration card, Lim Bo Seng's letter to his wife, Colony of Singapore identity card (mum said my grandma had it!!), Certificate of Registration for Singapore Citizenship etc.

Now, I feel guilty. Why didn't I dig them up earlier while I was teaching Merger and Separation??? Augh... I had to frantically searched for information and pictures on the net when I had a collection of nearly "authentic" artifacts in my cupboard!! Augh...
That 10th August 1965 Straits Times newspaper would have been very useful. That Merger and our Rights booklet would have let the sec 3s seen a better picture of the situation. And that Proclamation of Independence and all ...
Sigh... I should have brought it to my social studies class.

Beverly playing with sand 

running on the beach 

beautiful legs 

ZZZ...

Life recently can somehow be described using one word: boring.
There are no students to irritate me, only ridiculous and pointless 'monologue' in a pleasant air-conditioned environment that puts me to sleep even when I'm supposedly to be awake. Sigh...
Other than that, I busied myeslf with my photographic project. I still need 30 over photos to complete my work. It's definitely straining for my eyes...gosh, can't reveal much until I complete my work. I only realised that I did not take enough photos of CBSS students.
I've not touched my new zoom lens. It's been seating for a week or so. I need to get my spirits up again and go out for a photo shoot.

The one thing I've yet to come to terms with, after so many months of being a "cher", is that I see students everywhere. Oh gosh...They scare me and I always naively believe that they don't recognise me. Haha! Because of my home's "strategic location", I simply meet them the minute I stepped out. Time to take care of my image even when I'm going to the market. Ha!

Question of the day: Why do I always see band members around?? Even at 8pm??!!
faints...

The good and bad

My photographic project is taking very long to complete. It's going to be a big surprise and I'm really looking forward to the day when I publish it here. Right now, I'm not even halfway done. Heh..
The bad thing is that my comp is getting cranky again and behaving like a woman! haha... period.
I think it requires a big maintenance. Sigh...
I'm also quite sick these days... gosh..sore throat, flu, ulcer...killing me.
The only piece of good news to me is that I'm getting a bonus!!! hahaha...
waiting in anticipation

Hmm... this is which class? 

Angela with the students and their mocktail. Great smiles ya? 

Kelly's class, taken at the canteen on International Friendship Day 2006 

Took this on my last day in school