Ups and downs of life

After the Martin road saga, the day progressed lethargically. Finally when action came, it wasn't exactly what i've envisioned. XX's mother told me that she felt that XX and YY's results are stagnant/ dropping. Naturally since they are swamped with so much hw and half the time they duno what they are doing. Half the time after explaining, I also duno if they got 100% of it. It's no fault of theirs. Takes two hands to clap n we seriously lack time to go thru old stuff. You know kids, it's always important to have the responsibility to go thru stuff which your teachers teach u. Unfortunately, XX's mother told me that the daddy was pissed as the children's results aren't improving. I had been teaching them for 3 yrs now and initially it was still fine. I guess now they are getting a little lazier and not doing hw thus not keeping their momentum. Furthermore, they r sent to famous tuition centres which swamp them with worksheets beyond their level. I was directed by the parent to go thru wherever possible with them. so that I'm doing. unfortunately, time doesn't permit me to help them with all the questions. After they try (they take an awfully long time), I would not have enough time to think of the answer. And now, XX is "accused" of being too reliant on me for answers. BUT HEY, am i suppose to leave him at lurch with his hw? i thought the instruction to me was to help him with his other tuition hw. which i'm doing n in the process, i do try to get him to try b4 helping. but perhpas it's true, children do get reliant. As such, the dad proposed to stop tuition. the mom told me n i was dumbfounded. however she said that the kid requested for tuition thus she didn't call me re the matter.

Firstly, it makes mi feel incompetent. Is it coz of me that they aren't improving. U see, it's easy to see significant improvement if the kid isn't doing well to begin with. N with good attitude n motivation, i can guarantee u will see results. however, if u are already in the top of the class, how to improve? get 100/100 for all subjects? human nature -- we are never satisfied. but seriously this really made me feel like a deflated balloon. when kids get gd results, no praises come. But when they drop a few positions down, all fingers will be pointing at u. is that fair? n the thing that pisses me off is that i seem to be losing out to some big shot branded tuition centre again! Perhaps it's coz students are swamped with too much work. and the stuff given by these centres perhaps are not within the standard. they may b good, but they are not customised. So why not quit from such centres? why put me at back seat?

This made me all moody when i came home. Din even feel like talking to my baby (who was busy gaming) Coz not only i began to have doubts with my capability, i worry about the $$. I have to reanalyze the situation. R these people are worth my effort. Seriously, if the parents dont communicate and help out, at the end of the day, the students suffer.

Sue them!! Complain queen strikes!

I swear I'm gonna kick up a big fuss re the accident yesterday. No apologies nevermind, rude hand gestures also nevermind, threat and harrassment also nevermind. BUT the trouble i had to go through to report the matter really got me fuming! I had to go to 22 Martin road b4 4pm today to report the matter coz according to the new law passed by the government, any accident, big or small, has to be reported. Thus, fearing the worst, i became the law-abiding citizen which i had been trained since young. upon reaching and waiting for like 10mins, the lady said i was at the wrong place! DAMN IT. was directed to Toyota Lengkee road instead. It's apparently the reporting centre. saw Toyota and went in. Saw insurance department and went in, only to be directed to yet another vicinity --24 Leng Kee Road! Kaoz. amidst the heat, Baby and I braved the sweltering weather and walked from 33 to 24 lengkee. Finally, i could make my report. next time people, please remember to take down all details from the other driver. name, ic num, contact number etc. I only had his car plate number which i secretly took down for fear he might hit me. Now i have to go through the ordeal of searching which company is he under. not gonna be a tough case to crack since there's just a few companies with merc cabs. =)

Realli appreciate the fact that baby accompanied me to go through all these trouble. Really dont know how i survive without him! THANK U DEAR!

Ugly Singapore Cab Drivers!

It's a F**king pissing day today! We have heard lots of stories re taxi drivers and their "excellent" driving skills together with their mannerisms. Well it started great, after a good sleep till 12noon and a great meal at Soup Restaurant @ Centrepoint, I went to teach as usual. On my way towards ubi, along eunos road, i was minding my own business and travelling in the middle lane, keeping my eyes peeled and not moving my steering a single bit coz i have no intentions of turning right or left. SUDDENLY, a white mercedes cab was next to me! it was so near me, it was only about an inch away from my side mirror. I got a shock n slowed down almost to a stop. but instead of moving away from me, the merc cab came closer and went in front of me. In the process, he bumped into my side mirror and scratched it! Still in shock, I did not give him the big HORN, but instead pulled to a stop as the traffic light turned red. The cab also stopped and the driver immediately came down. Prior to that, he was using his fingers and pointing at his rearview mirror at me! he alighted and walked towards me. I wound down my window only to hear his accusations of me trying to filter into his lane. Firstly, my signal was not on. secondly if i realli realli wanted to filter into the stupid lane, would I still be in my original lane after the little bang? Would the cab be in front of me IF he intended to keep to his own freaking lane?? Come on man, anyone with sense would be able to tell right from wrong. The idiotic driver still had the audacity to say he had a witness aka his passenger. I retorted that I did not even signal n had no intention of going into his lane. In any case he should have better manners and slow down instead of coming forward and bang me! N the fact that he shouted at me and accused me, prior to that, showing some finger gestures, was good enough for me to sue his arse out! Where is all the courtesy in Singapore? Has the courtesy campaign gone to drain? n I've always deemed those cab drivers who drive mercedes are of a higher calibre. n the fellow was speaking in english, displaying his certain amount of "education". has education turned them into road bullies? Is this the way to a gracious society? These people are often only nice and polite (acting like dogs) to tourist particularly caucasians. Why the discrimination? Why can't he just said a simple sorry. I was tremendously taken aback not to mentioned traumatized by his verbal abuses! It's no way to treat a lady. Seeing that no damage was made, he hopped onto his vehicle, still continuing his grumbles and rantings in the cab. Being a service oriented company, should the cab companies in Singapore warn their drivers? I know in China, the drivers are super nice to passengers because they are afraid of complaints. coz any complaints would render them out of job or a fine. Perhaps SIngapore should learn from our Chinese counterparts. now because of this ordeal, I have to make my way to AIG @ Martin road to make a statement. Just in case the other party claims anything agst me, though there was no damage watsoever. But u never know, there are many bastards out there who may mask things up and paint a different story. N in anycase, it's a new law by the Singapore government that we have to report ALL accidents, big or small to the insurance company otherwise we'd be breaching the law! I wont want to do that. So tmw b4 4pm i have to lodge the complaint, afterwhich, i shall write a powerful letter to the cab company expressing my unhappiness!!!

Back to school :-(

It's time to face reality again. Time for students and i to hit the books. Been lazing around for the past mth and found it a little hard to come to terms. Well actually, I did teach almost everyday during the hols, just that I kept normal corporate hours and could see sunset when I went home. most importantly, i was truely happy to rush home and be with my dearest and have dinner with him or pak tor with him. :-) It's really blissful.

Now it's back to the old timetable. Workin till 10pm almost daily. coming home to a sweet home but a sleepy husband. After watching a show (together if lucky), he often gets hungry by this time, have his supper and off to bed. Whilst my night just started. Imagine reaching home at 1030. Having dinner at 11pm. Bathe by midnight, after watching my favourite drama serials, it's already 1am! Can't spend any quality time. In the day, it's the same. he's either chatting with friends online, replyin his emails or installin some softwares. Worse still, sometimes he's not even there for me to "Beo" his back. He'd be off on some 2 day golf trip, or off to some business trip. Once again, we can't spend any quality time. :-( Feel so lonely at times. No one to talk to, no one to understand how I feel. Mayb I'm just too chatty, but what to do? I'm woman afterall.

However, no work = no money. N this got me thinking. Should I aim to be a super tutor like what Sunday times featured? Come to think of it, perhaps I'm not earning 5 digits per month that's why I'm not on the Super Tutor's list. But that doesn't make me any less super! Everyday I slog for my students. Running up and down like a taxi driver. Stomaching all anger fm all avenues. N not forgetting, going hungry at times. I think I would really have to start thinking about "settling down". That's it. gonna work harder for a "brighter future" what do I mean? hmm...watch this space for more updates.

I outdid myself again!! Fantastic seafood feast!

Baked Soya Sauce Chicken mid-joints (a little too salty..but what do u expect? it's SOYA SAUCE!)
Drunken prawns. dont be deceived by the colour. My camera sux. it's clear soup with dang gui and gouji (wolfberries) in it. it's fabulous!
Garlic Mayo Cod Fish

Lotus Soup (added extra ingredients today for extra taste!)
Pepper sotong (I had to ground the pepper myself ok!)

As promised, I was going to whip up a feast tonight. This should be a weekly affair. When my hubby goes for his wkly game of soccer, my, the lovely wife, shall stay home and do what a wife should do -- COOK! Tonite's meal was great! Took me a while as there were so many dishes but it was worth it. Except for the soya sauce baked chix wings which was a little on the salty side, the rest were really palatable! Hmm....now i must think of new menu to constantly improve!

Bacon Chix, Chawamushi & Dou Miao

Roasted Bacon Wrapped Chicken Drumstick. Roasted to perfection! the Garlic and lemon smell is totally infused into the chix!
SEE!! Perfect! No wrinkles or pockmarks! absolutely Smooth Chawamushi! Tastes great too!
The perfect meal for two..Awwwww
Ooo What big eyes you have!
Check out this Giant Sotong! it's as long as my forearm!

Today started off a little gloomy. Having woken up at 730am on a Saturday, it's a wonder why i'm still so alert at this hour of the night. After work at noon, sweetie and I went Parkway to do our grocery shopping. I was determined to whip up a simple meal this evening. N Boy did I outdo myself! I was amazed! Tmw's menu is gonna be a seafood feast:

* Baked Cod with Garlic Mayo

* Baked Soya Sauce Chix Wings

* French Beans with bacon bits

* Drunken Prawns

* Pepper Sotong

Wish me luck! Thanks wokkingmum!

Bling Bling

Inspired by the show Legally Blond and Xiaxue's blog, I decided to engage in some blingbling!

Here's my masterpiece -- My Sony T9! NICE?

Blue Lobster @ Frankel Avenue Rockz!

Check out the ambience! Cozy rite? There's alfresco dining too if u want. It can get pretty crowded on wkends!

My babies two little oysters *Wink*

Miso Cod (Mash sweet potato is to die for)
Pan-fried Salmon (Medium well)
Little neck clams in wine & garlic Sauce (I could simply slurp the whole gravy up!)
King Crab Bisque

This evening, I thought we should break tradition and not go mother-in-law's place to eat. I mean we have a car, and Singapore's a food paradise, so shouldn't we be exploring a little bit more? Perhaps I've been reading too many blogs these days. Inspired by blogs like http://wokkingmum.blogspot.com/ and http://ieatishootipost.sg/. Food is Soooo motivating and inspiring!

Anyway, here's what we had at Blue Lobster (which seriously serves fresh seafood):
1) King Crab Bisque (Absolutely heavenly except it doesn't have much "meat"...n ohh the bread that came with it...heavenly! warm n crispy on the outside, soft on the inside)

2) Oyster for my baby (it's only $1 per pc on Thursdays!)

3) Little neck clams in Wine and garlic sauce (Delicious i tell u! The gravy especially is so tasty. Perhaps a little salty though. The clams are absolutely fresh!)

4) Main dish: I had the miso cod fish and he had the Pan-fried salmon (medium done)
The interesting bit is the side dish -- mashed sweet potatoes instead of the usual boring sweet potato! It's very nice n not too jer-lat. In fact the portion's just nice.

If we knew that it's a BYO place, we would have bought out red wine along! It's a nice place to check out. Pricing wise, well, i'd say it's not a place u'd be going Everyday, but worth eating once in a while. Total bill after 15% discount (AMEX cardmembers/ DBS cardmembers) came up to $79. =) THUMBS UP!