making it easier to keep in touch with family and friends

Thursday 30 September 2010

Got Featured! II

JAVOedge wrote back to inform me that they have my fan photo post up on their store blog and gave me the link http://www.javoedgeblog.com/2010/09/29/fan-photos-a-kindle-ipad-lover-shares-their-javoedge-case-collection/

I clicked on the link and I was pretty tickled to see a snapshot of my JAVOedge Cases blog post and my photos up on another blog haha. :P They wrote nice things too that I am their first international JAVOedge fan that they have shared on Fan Photos! That's really nice of them. :) A good friend thought it was really cool that JAVOedge has featured my photos and my blog post on their store blog, their Facebook and Kindleboards. LOL. :) I am famous hahaha :P

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Love the Work

The trainee sat in in one of my sessions today. After the session, we had a chat which lasted almost an hour. I don't think I am an expert in counselling but I was glad to share tips on how to handle certain cases as well as to share my counselling experience with her. Hopefully the trainee found our chat useful and she can take something away from it.

Upon reflection, I realised I have been counselling for 7 years. It is neither a short time nor a long time. But I am heartened to know that I am still happy working as a counsellor and in the process of counselling, trying my best to help my counsellees. :)

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Got Featured!

During the wee hours of this morning, JAVOedge found my blog post and wrote me a comment asking for permission to put my pics about their cases up on their store blog. I was pretty surprised and tickled and I gave permission.

Late in the afternoon, I realised that the traffic on my blog was much heavier than usual. I checked and discovered that my pics are up on their JAVOedge store blog, JAVOedge facebook as well as on Kindleboards! JAVOedge really moves fast lol. Here is the link for my pics on Kindleboards. :) http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=gboqnbjelnoaf5u23tp0cgu537&topic=12765.msg674279#msg674279

It is really nice to have my stuff featured, not just in 1 place but in 3 places! Haha. :P

Monday 27 September 2010

Notes & To Do

I was fiddling around and trying out the different (free) Notes/ To Do apps on App Store. I downloaded a few to try out: Sundry Notes, MobileNoter, Infinote and To Do's. I don't want to pay for something and then realised I don't like it. (Actually I bought Notepad Pro but I prefer something more colourful after I started using it haha :P) So it is quite good some of the apps have the free version for you to try out before you pay and upgrade to the Pro version.

So far, I like Sundry Notes. Quite colourful and useful as digital sticky note pad. :) But I think I need a To Do kind of app. To Do's is not too bad but it is boring lol. :P Maybe I should pay and get To Do for iPad. It is like a real planner. So fun hahaha. :)

Saturday 25 September 2010

Lunch and Delightful Dessert

Waited for Marieann to finish up her homework before going to Mohd Sultan Road area for lunch. Yes again, because nobody wanted to go to Great World City and we needed Cold Storage.
Settled for Bakerzin, UE square. The girls ordered kiddy meal: Ham creme pasta and Mushroom creme pasta ($8.90 each). Really creamy and delicious. I decided to go for something meaty: Pork chop with potatoes ($19.80). Meaty alright but a tad dry. Not sure if I would order it again. Marieann ordered a Warm chocolate cake ($9.80) while Juliane and I shared an Ice cream coupe ($8.80): caramel, cream cheese and vanilla ice cream on a tart. Sweet heaven lol. :)




Testing

I am testing out something. A friend has mentioned that there may be a problem with using iPad to blog, especially uploading of photos.

Hmm, looks like my friend is right. I couldn't upload photos. But the text... Does it look ok? Because it is sent from my iPad. Haha :)

Friday 24 September 2010

JAVOedge Cases

For protection and style (haha), I am using JAVOedge Cherry Blossom Book Style case (twilight purple) for my Kindle 2. No, I haven't forgotten my Kindle. I am still using it to read my fiction books lol. :)

Since I am very happy with my JAVOedge Kindle case, I decided to get a JAVOedge case for my iPad too. I bought the JAVOedge Poppy Axis case (red tangerine) for my iPad. The Poppy Axis case allows me to rotate my iPad so that I can view it either horizontally or vertically hands-free using the stand which comes with 3 height-settings. Of course, I could also lie it flat and treat my iPad like a book.

My Kindle 2 and iPad side by side :) Don't they look lovely in their JAVOedge cases?

My Kindle 2 case with its pockets

My iPad propped up in a horizontal position for a hands-free viewing

Thursday 23 September 2010

iPad Apps

I finally understood the appeal of iPhones and iPads. Because of the apps! Haha.
My iPad is fast filling up with apps. :) It is most fun searching for apps to install on my iPad. Hmm, I wonder how many apps I can install? Lol :)

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Cases

When I was explaining, to the trainee counsellor, the approaches to my various cases, I realised that I have been taking care of certain kind of cases. I think the school believes that I could provide and be a consistent source of support for those students.

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Welcome to the Wong Family

Today, I am a paternal aunt for the 3rd time. :)

My sister-in-law gave birth to the newest Wong family member in the early hours of this morning, at 6.45am. My 3rd nephew! My brother put up Tiger Boy's photo on his Facebook lol. He looks really adorable! :)



My girls oo-ed and ah-ed when they saw their newest cousin. Maybe in a year or two, the girls would visit their cousins in UK. :)

Monday 20 September 2010

Gearing Up

We are in the midst of gearing up, in preparation for going out to schools soon for our pilot study.

Sunday 19 September 2010

Putting and Putien

Juliane was invited to her K1 friend, Aary's birthday party held at Lilliputt, Big Splash, 10.30am-12.30pm. It was Juliane's first putting experience and she really enjoyed herself.




We went to Parkway Parade, the nearest shopping mall for a late lunch at 1.30pm. We decided to try Putien Restaurant 莆田菜馆 featuring Heng Hwa cuisine. We ordered the various dishes: Braised pork intestine ($12), Shredded meat with bun ($2.80 each), Deep fried china oyster ($18), Putien sweet and sour pork with lychee ($10), Seafood fried rice ($5) and Putien lor mee ($6). The deep fried china oyster is similar to my dialect group, Foo Chow's oyster cake which is delicious of course lol. The sweet and sour pork wasn't too bad with lychee. The lor mee (which was noodles with seafood and vegetables in a tasty soup) was the biggest surprise. It was really delicious.


Saturday 18 September 2010

Hari Raya Gathering

Every year, without fail, I would be invited to a Hari Raya gathering at my former MOE HQ colleague, Rahidah's home. I love going to her place for Hari Raya (and so do my girls) for several reasons.
1) I could catch up with her and other former colleagues.
2) My girls and I love eating the Hari Raya goodies. Somehow they are much tastier than the Chinese New Year goodies!
3) For one day of the year, I could eat Malay food without worry!! :) "Why?", you ask. You see, my dear friend, Rahidah, like me, can't take spicy food too haha. Rahidah would have food such as Curry Chicken, Lotong, etc., prepared but they aren't spicy. As such, I could eat with gusto. Yes, she is 100% Malay. :)

Thank you, Rahidah for inviting us to your place again. :) We loved the company and we loved the food. :) Catch up again soon. :)


Friday 17 September 2010

PSLE Listening Comprehension

Today is PSLE Listening Comprehension. Good Luck to all P6 students, especially my P6 counsellees.

Marieann was happy because she didn't have to go to school due to the PSLE Listening Comprehension. However, she could not laze around because she had to complete her online homework.

Thursday 16 September 2010

Energy Type: Midnight Oil

You Burn the Midnight Oil



No matter how hard you try, you just don't make a good morning person.
You probably don't feel like your brain turns on until at least noon.
Thank goodness, my boss calls for meetings usually in the late morning or at noon! :P

You tend to get energized and inspired late into the evening - no matter how early you had to get up.
Try to schedule your time so that you can be productive after dark. There's no use fighting who you are.
Only fellow midnight oil burners would know what I go through. :)

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Shadow

I will have a shadow for counselling next week. There is a trainee counsellor who wants to shadow me. :) It has been a while since anyone shadowed me. I remember the last time was when I was an EP (educational psychologist) lol. I hope she will be able to pick up useful pointers for her own counselling.

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Shoot in the foot

I saw someone shot himself in the foot today. No, not literally but it might as well have been. It is all going to come back to bite him in the a**.

Monday 13 September 2010

Term 4

School is back in session. All students are back in school for the final term of the year. Being Term 4, it also means the end-of-year examinations are coming soon. :(

Sunday 12 September 2010

Parents Gone

My parents are flying to England today. They are going there to help out with my sister-in-law's confinement after she delivers my 3rd nephew in late September/ early October. My parents will be staying with my brother and his family for the next 3 months.

I thought I could catch them before they leave for the airport at 4.30am (their flight is at 7am) with an old family friend who offered to drive them to the airport. By the time I came out of my room, they had already left. :(

I hope they have a safe flight to England and I hope they get through custom without having to pay overweight charges! They have quite A FEW bags, and all overstuffed lol. :P

Saturday 11 September 2010

iPad III

I never thought I would say this but iPad is certainly one of the best inventions around! Lol. :P iPad has certainly changed my life in a whole new way. Checking emails and replying them have never been faster and easier. Yup, even better than using my htc mobile! And of course, surfing the net has been an absolute breeze! :)

Friday 10 September 2010

Happy Hari Raya

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

It is public holiday today because of Hari Raya. Marieann had tuition in the morning and we decided to have lunch outside after picking her up from tuition. Initially we wanted to try Wild Honey at Mandarin Gallery but there was a long queue at 11.30am. Instead we headed for Lawry's which is upstairs. We were the first patrons lol.

It was a good thing we ate at Lawry's as we could enjoy the ambiance as well as the peace and quiet. The service is excellent and really attentive. The food was delicious too.
The girls both ordered the Kids Set meal - Kiddy Pasta ($23.90): Pasta with Chicken (one had cream sauce and the other in tomato sauce) including a drink, Soup of the day (mushroom) and Haagen Dazs ice cream. I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu set meal ($32.90 + $12.90) which included the Lawry's Spinning salad, Apple filo pastry dessert and tea. The chicken was tender and tasty. The apple filo was not too sweet which was nice for me. The girls' father had the Kurobuta Baby Back Ribs ($46.90) which was tender and delicious.






The girls were most happy when they left the restaurant, each clutching a Lawry's soft toy cow.

Thursday 9 September 2010

Doing and Being

I heard these expressions yesterday: human "doing" and human "being". Simple terms but thought-provoking. At the current stage of life, I am not a human "being" yet but a human "doing". I am doing a lot of stuff because I have to do, because of duty, because of obligation, because it is my job, ... Being human is a state of mind, a state of consciousness, a state of self-awareness, ... a state I hope to be someday.

So what are you now - human "doing" or human "being"?

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Rules and Regulations

Rules and regulations are important. They serve as guidelines for what can or cannot be done. However, I learnt first-hand that some people, for their self-interest, can disregard such rules and regulations. Sigh.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Walkabout

I have been doing some walkabout. It has been tiring but at the same time, satisfying - being in touch with people and knowing how they feel. I know now how the grassroot leaders feel lol.

Monday 6 September 2010

School Holiday

It is the start of the one week school holiday. It is a week of rest for the students but it is also a week of preparation for the coming SA2.

Sunday 5 September 2010

Camp Rock 2

Camp Rock 2 premiered tonight on Disney Channel, Singapore. I watched it together with my girls. :P The following songs are their favourite. :)

Can't Back Down


It's On


This is Our Song + bloopers

Saturday 4 September 2010

Baking and Bowling

Marieann attended 2 birthday parties, 1-3pm at Bakerzin Kids, UE Square and 6-8.30pm at Raffles Town Club. As I have to attend a meeting from 2 to 6pm, the girls' father had to accompany Marieann to the parties as well as bring Juliane along to look after her.

At the first birthday party, the girls totally loved the baking and had lots of fun. They brought home the Vanilla Square cake which they baked together. They also love the chef outfit which were theirs to keep. Their cake was actually tasty. :)
At the second birthday party, Juliane loved bowling although it was her first experience. She couldn't stop talking about bowling.

I wished I was there to see them enjoy themselves.

Friday 3 September 2010

My iPad II

I love my iPad! Haha. I am really impressed with how fast the start up is. With a press of a button, with a slide to unlock, I can immediately start checking my emails. I also like the ease of taking notes with the iPad. As for the Apps, I am not installing an awful lot lol.

Thursday 2 September 2010

My iPad :)

My iPad has arrived! :) Together with the camera kit and wireless keyboard which I ordered. :) Going to set up the various stuff on my iPad now. :)

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Happy Teacher's Day

Happy Teacher's Day.

A big THANK YOU to all my teachers: former, present and future.

May all of you have a relaxing day.