the 11th Month

Well... while the title might sound as if it came from some horror story, it's more of a romantic comedy... heeee... Of course, like all good stories, there is the fair share of complications, troubles and growlings lol. Glad. Blessed. Merry. Excited. Very much in love. That's what I feel. Can't wait to see you! You oh you, looking so lovely, as always. =) Drats... no place in this ulu land to get you flowers.... dratty dratty...... Hmmm then again... maybe there is.... hmmm....

Since you have no internet access where you are, I shall blatantly boldly write down here what and where we are going. Hohohoh, by the time you read this, the beautiful romantic evening would become memories, sweet ones too I hope. Drats and double drats!!! Forgot the camera.. sigh... If I did seem a bit lost and extra bumbling today, do forgive me. Sorta fell asleep last night while plotching and writing your letter, and nearly overslept this morning heee.. so sorry...

Went to Orchard Road in the morning but even Borders did not have anything exciting to offer.. sigh.... so, present? What present?? Oh hoh ohohohoho... yeah well.... no present I guess....

Flowers? What flowers? Oh hohohoho... sigh... yes that probably too....

Thinking about the place tonight, I hope it will be good. Hope there aren't terror bugs around. It's al-fresco and it's location is supposedly its biggest attraction so... do hope you like it. Getting there might be tricky... hope the GPS dun fail tonight hohoho.... Shall pray about it later.

TOP SECRET: FOR YOUR FLIPPY EYES ONLY

CON..CON...CONFI.. CONFEEDENSHAL

Enclosed are the findings of Agent Pooh overseeing operation codenamed OO (Operation Olive)

Figure A: satelite pictures of location of OO. Hidden in greenery of Labrador Park. Sources reveal minimal security and a carpark nearby. Uphill drive.





Figure B: Spy pictures of base of operations. The only best photo we had from the best agent who had since been captured and dumped in olive pits.


Figure C: Pictures of hardworking Agent Pooh for your intimate reference

Black-out!

The night the lights went out. Well, technically, its last night... the toilet light was spoilt and the bears were snoring away, so I had to do something. Bathing in the dark, well... quite scary... Lighting tealights was one option, and actually the only option until.... brilliance struck me... the leftover lightsticks should be put to good use... Broke two and lit the toilet. Not fantastically bright though I must say... Here are the murky blurred photos to show...

Work

This business called work... It is not easy to juggle.

Some people really sell their life, soul and health to it. Some don't seem to even do any work for their pay (which technically shouldn't be called pay and if you work in a government organization may otherwise be known as welfare handouts). Some try to balance work and life.

It would be nice if we could all work in a friendlier environment, and doing work that relates to us. Heck, I can't understand why some people can be an accountant. Job satisfaction yes I understand but where in the Scottish Highlands do you relate to and like your work? Then again, maybe I just don't see it their way. Heck, some people don't even understand why I became a teacher. Their eyes open wide and they laugh and joke that I simply couldn't get a better job. Truth be told, I concur. There had been a long period of time in my life after uni I simply didn't know what roads were open to me. It can be frustrating being in limbo. I suppose it didn't help I didn't talk to anybody about it. Family and friends couldn't understand the affinity with literature and were pragmatic enough to persuade me from the cooking profession, or a hawker, or for that matter a 7-11 guy working graveyard shift. One day, I just thought I should apply to MOE again, who snubbed me twice in my Uni years. suddenly, it all makes sense that I should teach, to enjoy literature, to help kids and their families, to contribute and change that much detested education system in my teens.

I can't remember the exact class or lesson but I remember the first time I had to step into class. How I felt. Nothing. Stumped. Thoughts and sight in a blur. Oh well, I survived. Somehow. Thank you to Flips and a certain cool Harold Matthieu who prepared me for school. So yes, work is a mysterious thing. We feel we have to do it, we hope we like it, we charge in and do it. We try to survive and make it stay intact. We wait for our pay. We learn to like what we do, or go for what we want to do.

I think Yeo Huan and another friend of mine I met on the streets were right. Salary would probably never seem sufficient. That can't be a perpetual source of motivation in 5, 10, 20 years down the road. Motivation should probably be job satisfaction and responsibility. Thank God for whoever had taught me really early on that finding a job you like is more important than any other factors. Some more geeky and less sensitive people might say you could learn to like your job. Borrowing my idol's word: "balls". I do concur it grows on you, yup... like bringing it home and marrying your work. "Mum, Dad, look who I brought home! My work!" Yup grows on you alright... into a mutant. The naggy social worker in me has dozens of alarms buzzing and words to say on that topic but over the years,I've learnt to shut up when I should. I'm not Jesus, I can't make changes to masses. I can only, as according to MOE propaganda and wise words indeed, remember I'm human and I could perhaps save a starfish as and when I see one. One seen and thrown back into the sea, is one saved. That's it. No glam stuff like parting seas or feeding thousands. But that's alright, God's Work is done in many ways and by many. I'm damn proud to say I'm probably one of them. I remembered going into school thinking that quite a few times- the MOE propaganda. It helps. While in the toilet today, I consolidated some thoughts about the education and governmental systems in general. Things might look very dead and unrelenting. Things might not look optimal and dozens of changes could be made. Things might also look so stuck and many people unready to change. Things might look as if you would not make a difference and one of you would not make a change. But no. Things can change for the better. And if you want changes, you must stick on, press on. If one switches camp, gives up and think no difference can be made, then one loses the fire and the chance to contribute in your own small ways. If there had not been believing predecessors, education would never have changed for the better. It did. So I sincerely urge all people who like their work, hold their own opinions about how things can be made better, with vision, to stay and soldier on! Goose-bumpy yes but... you're not alone.

Though I cannot know your work, but the nature of your work impresses me and makes me proud, very proud of you. For the good of the country, doing something worthwhile, glorifies God in your own way. I hope you find increasing job satisfaction in what you have to do, and someday feel more comfortable at work.

The Philosophy of Spilling Coffee & Gym

Yes, it can only happen to the SBS pooh....

In the morning... all happy and ready, walked cautiously into the gym, realised it was quite empty save for two other normal-looking guys. Went to toilet to change, realised to disappointment and more horror that having brought all the bathing stuff, attire and even a small towel... I had typically forgot about the shoes... Curses... Though I did entertain a brief 3 second non-possiblity of working out in the leather shoes. Yes, I was that dismayed... that led me to the happy conclusion that God had triedto say it just wasn't a gym day. Ah well, struggling is of no use. There must a greater purpose in denying me the gym for today, so off I went to urmm NTU all the way far across NIE to urmm... borror cleaner larger toilets. After that, I happily went to acquire a snazzy cup of iced Cappucino. On the way back to NIe, luckily very near a toilet, I stupidly thought about checking if I had my cashcard with me to do some printing. Being typically bearish, I gripped the cup with my teeth and proceeded to swing the bag to get to my wallet. Drink spilled. All over me and the bag and the wallet. Whew! thank God it wasn't hot coffee. then again... I begin to wonder, was I part of some morning entertainment act? I struggled into the toilet to clean up and yes once again, thank God, I had the gym top to change into which was a red army t-shirt sigh... If I had gone to the gym then... hohoho... wow.

A series of simple events, yet it sparks the pooh philosophy brain. What led to what? Was it meant to be? Was it human folly or divine entertainment? Perhaps it is indeed time to raise those yellow poohy paws into the skies, palms out and declare "let Your Will be done!" And then go for lunch.... A day, a day, a day like another typical day of my weird happening life.

A Little Grammar Lesson

This is a little lesson we did today in class, thought it was rather cute and funni, so would like to share it with you. Hope it makes you laugh a little.

- Hail Great Leader -


What to do: In groups of 3 or 4, turn by turn add to the following words below and make a sentence. Do not end it until the teacher says so. Each person may not write more than 5 words per turn. You must include at least 3 of the words below. The group is not to talk.

gloomily until dawn came violently plenty who


The words in red were my addition when it was my turn. All of them kept trying to write prim and proper phrases it got irritating and boring, so I decided to make things difficult for them lol...

The sentence: Last Saturday, .............. I went to the movies until dawn came with Paul, who was a part-time dodgy nightclub dancer, around three in the hot afternoon and we decided to gloomily share popcorn as we proceeded into the dirty old cinema which was located in Ang Mo Kio where there were plenty of birds and bees violently flying in the blue skies with plenty of clouds.

WELCOME HOME SHEEPIE!!!

-- From: All the gang --

Surely a Rage Blackout

Found a little piece of paper in my drawer from many many years ago. When the parents and I couldn't get along at all, values clashed, ideas lagged, money cut. Though I can't remember why I wrote it, I guess I must have had one of those rage blackout moments lol. Has since thrown away the scrappy piece of paper, but thought should blog it. I guess I would rather you see it, that your boyfriend isn't always placid and nice as you make it out to be, but I'm not exactly serial killer in the making either... ahem... Angst la angst.... I have since urmm... mellowed down to a pot of simmering bubor hitam...


There is no home
I never fit anyway
So farewell you all
Before I kill you.


When I look on
Bleak bleak bleak
Does it matter, I think not
I might want you
Come closer; go away.
Better so, before you can’t.


That day I shall
When it comes
Kill all of you
And I will leave you
To my little adventure
Out into the merry marshes l may cry
By myself alone here


There is no home
I never fit anyway
So farewell you all
Before I kill you.

A Cow and A Panther

To you two, I hope good things and kind people come your way. I don't want to think of the worst, for I know you have good genes, and that you will both grow up to be strong, and resourceful like your parents. We love you very very much, especially you, bumbling clueless cow. We will miss you. I was there where you were, where you ate, and surely played. The old man was doing fine, though he seemed lonely. Flips and I miss you terribly. I sure like to believe dogs go to heaven. And if one day we meet up again, I'll take good care of you, all 7 of you. Come back to me. There we shall run around and play catching for all time. I'm sorry I couldn't hold on to you all, I had tried to do the best I can, and I did give whatever I could have to you all. In my heart, I do somehow feel you all are fine, and I like to let myself think that you all are all grown up, fine and strong and happy. I have to trust and let you go your ways, on your own paths, destiny and the next adventure where your four cute paws may take you.

When girlfriends go mad...

Yes, indeed... when girlfriends go mad, they get rather out of control. They use the least likely moments to capture you, and do as they will. Hee hee... Well, I'm talking about the business of conical bearding. Well, for the benefit of all those who has not caught on yet, conical beard is a funky new way of playing and greeting your love ones. It is endearing, cute and playful. Perfect for couples, pets and even parents for the bold. Here's how a conical beard is done:

1. Close one of your hands into a fist, with the thumb rested on the other fingers such that it looks like you are holding a stalk of flower.

2. Attach the chin of the potential victim onto the round space near your thumb where the said stalk of flower is supposed to be.

3. There! Once done, gleefully shout "Conical beardie!" then run off and giggle madly.

It is clean, fun and injects zest into your relationships. The idea is not to get bearded by them and get the first beard on them at the earliest part of the day possible, as some believe that is the ultimate win. So, go try it today! Conical beard those close to you! Catch them unaware and unprepared! Watch their expressions! For aesthetic reasons, may I suggest when you conial beard someone, tilt the clench fist such that the end slightly points away from the victim, this would give your victim a "pharoah" look.

A word of caution: Accidents such as knocking into people or knocking off glasses etc with swinging heads trying to dodge being conical bearded is at your own risk. I, founder of the game and all my affliated organizations are not legally and/or morally liable for anything. Thank you.