this entry goes out to my Sec 4 classes who just ended their Prelims exams...

Prelims is like a computer simulation of the real battle (O Levels)...

It helps you to gauge how prepared you are for the real thing...

You may be wounded by it and sustain a few injuries from the friendly fire...

But it aims to expose the subjects you have not prepared yourself for, the topics you are not familiar with, the blind spots and careless mistakes that you overlooked, the lack of stamina in fighting a battle (paper) and finishing the war (exams)... what does not kill you will make you stronger...

It was never meant to discourage you... just to engage you to work harder if you have not...

never dwell in self-pity for too long after the results are out... you have to move on quickly to prepare for the real battle!

If you did well, don't be complacent about it... there are cases of people who burn out at the last minute... now is the time to keep it steady and not over-exert yourself too much...

go back to the basics... practice your TYS/FYS will do... make sure you are able to solve simple questions after exposing yourself to so many difficult questions...

make sure your concepts are clear and right... clarify with your teachers... it's your last chance to do so... they will be off for invigilation in other schools...

get your biological cycle right... sleep early, wake up early... do your work during the same time as the actual exams... get used to working at the hour at which you are supposed to perform.... do time practices... during morning and afternoon....

no more late nights... it's bad for your health... according to CTM, your liver recuperates itself from 11pm to 1am... if you are not resting then, your liver will suffer and you will feel lethargic during the day...

health is crucial... if you fall sick during exams, that's it! no second chance! an "Ab" will appear on your certificate... you have to retake again next year... exercise regularly (keeps you alert)... drink lots of water (it replenishes your brain)...

stock up your ammunition... make sure your stationery are complete... have spare pens and pencils... have a spare calculator if you can... borrowing is strictly not allowed for O levels...

keep your student pass and entry proof in your wallet... bring it everywhere you go... you need to prove your identity to sit for the exams...

that's about all!

meanwhile, you can take a well desired break this weekend so that you can go on a longer journey! :)

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last sat, my whole family was down at the east coast beach to volunteer in the International Coastal Cleanup Day 2007, where we combed the beach and picked up non-eco friendly stuff that we, humans, tossed into the sea because of convenience and inconsideration towards to the marine creatures.

Based on last year's statistics, about 7 millions items were collected, among which were plastic bags/bottles/pieces, straws, wrappers, styrofoam pieces, glass, syringes, candles, diapers and even used condoms and sanitary pads! But the one item that topped the list, with a disturbing figure of 1.9 million, were cigarette butts, thrown into the sea by smokers!!

If I ever become a government official, I wish I can pass a law to ban smoking! :P

forget about the money that cigarettes can bring in!

look at the amount of damage that smokers do
when children, pregnant ladies or anyone at all who, sometimes or many a times, had no choice but to inhale second hand smoke from a cigar,
the amount of smoke and CO2 that they release into the atmoshphere and contribute to global warming when they lit a cigar,
the paper and plastic that they utilise in making the packages, cigars and lighters,
the damage that they do to themselves by increasing the chances of cancer,
the large amount of money that are spent on campiagns to discourage people from smoking...

if they truly love the ones around them, they would give it up for them...

take my dad for example.

during my teenage days, I would purposely hide all the cigars that he bought.
he would shout at me intially and demand angrily for them.
when i did not give in and persistently ask him to give it up for the family and for himself, he eventually kicked the habit when he saw that i was seriously concerned for him as he was for me! :)

if a heavy penalty is meted out for being a drug addict because of its adverse effects, why not do the same for a nicotine addict and wake him up from the deadly illusion that is burning his lungs away? you second to this!? ;)

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things to complete:

42 testimonials to write, each unique (as far as possible) and spanning about 400 words. the hardest to write are for those who did not bother to do much academically or non-academically. i have to squeeze all the creative juice i've got to write a decent testimonial for them without lying!

1 end of year sec 2 physix exams to set with ans key: 20 mcqs and 3 long questions

3 classes x 42 students = 126 scripts of 80 marks prelims papers to mark ( i have not touch it yet so don't ask me for your grades for now :P)

deadline: over this weekend!! but i have lots of family activities awaiting for me to do this weekend... hmmm... i guess it's "panda bear" for me on mon morning!

to my beloved sec 4s: we are in the same boat, yea!? :)

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My wife and I went to watch Hair Spray recently...
We both loved musicals and so we thought we should give it a try...
If I were to summarise the whole show in 2 sentences, it would be:
Basically, You don't have to SAD no matter whether you are FAT, BLACK or MAD!
Just be GLAD that you're like THAT!
Rythmn, doesn't it!? :)
One thing though: we prefered John Travolta when he is a man, not when he is Tracy's mother!
We enjoyed the songs very much and here's one of our favourites: WITHOUT LOVE

How would you view life without love?

here's some excerpts from the song:

Without love
Life is like the seasons with No summer
Life is rock 'n' roll without A drummer
Life is like a beat that you can't follow
Life is Doris Day at the Apollo
Life is like a prom that won't invite us
Life's getting my big break and laryngitis
Life's a '45' when you can't buy it
Life is like my mother on a diet
Like a week that's only Mondays
Only ice cream, never sundaes
Like a circle with no center
Like a door marked "do not enter!"

If I were to put it,
Without love
Life is like a fairy tale without ever after
Life is like a comedy without the laughter
Life is like a magazine without the cover
Life is like a diamond without the sparkle
Life is like a child without a mother
Life is like a song without a singer
Life is like a life that doesn't matter...

Add a comment and share with me your version of "what life is without love?" :)

Here's a video clip of the song:

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Christian on the skyride @sentosa


Ekklesia pops out from nowhere ;)


Taking picture with my favourite breed of dog!


Meet lucy, a 17.5 kg burmese python! She is as heavy as Ekklesia!


Here's a breakthrough for my wife! According to statistics, women are 3 times more fearful of snakes than men!


Now this is something new, at least to me! peacock attack!


Beautiful sunset along the beach...lovely!


Last glimpse of the sun before darkness falls


Meet Queen Ariel! :)


Christian in a military tank during the army open house!


Can you see the rainbow? :)

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my last time celebrating teacher's day in school... it was a fun filled day! i enjoyed myself thoroughly although i was covered with cream and coke! thank you everyone for leaving such sweet memories for me!


the $64 cake from 401 which was used for splashing at people! but i ate quite a fair bit!




front cover of the photo album from 401! special thanks to ces, liwen and josie!


snippets of the inside...








signage from 401!


Thank you for the photo you took for 401, kaiwen!


my last walk with my class, 401!


Thank you for the piggy back weijie!



Thank you aaron, aswin, keng yang for the poster and card!



Thank you lei hoi for the note, photo and bronze painting that your dad drew!


Thank you liwen for the dark choc, photo and card!



Thank you jasmine and adelaine for the stickers, giant lollipop and card!


Thank you ting min, serene, bo rui, nathania and huiyu for the notes and choc!


Thank you shihui for the handmade card!


thank you annabel and bright for the face towel and long letter!


thank you ziqin for the wicked cup! i know, you find it cute, just like me! LOL!


my first and only class photo with 402!


the teacher's day present from 402!


my dear physix rep from 402!


Thank you weiru and sohmin for the handmade card and red gerbera!



Thank you rebecca and cheryl for the card and balloon!


Thank you xinjie and lynn for the orange gerbera!


Thank you lixuan for the encouraging postcard, the poster and the cube full of choc and sweets!



Thank you christina for the lollipop and the laterally inverted card!


Thank you Gina for the encouraging note!


Thank you ivy tan for the note and giant paperclip!


Thank you shana for the head spinning photo frame!


Thank you li jie for the handwritten note of encouragement!


Thank you priscilla for the choc! Life is worthwhile, treasure it!


Thank you emily for the pens!


Thank you tracy for the encouraging note!


Thank you tick meng for the "pokemon" card!


charmain, cristabelle, pearlynn and rachel from 110! thanks for the ice cream!



leon from 110! thanks for the polo shirt! heard your mom is a wholesaler for billabong?


Thank you daphne, peiqi and jieyi for the wind chime!


Thank you min jie for the lightbulb with meaningful words!


Thank you shan le for the star and tortoise!


Thank you shinyi for the eye massager and the encouraging words!


Thank you ding ding for the letter and bear!



Thank you leonora for the card!


Thank you benedict for the card!


Thank you amanda for the homemade card!


Thank you Joscelin for the lovely card!


Thank you waifoon for the nice letter!


Thank you madeline and gang for the homemade muffins!


Thank you Michelle for the cookies!


Thank you min jie for the tupperware!


Thank you lilian and gang for the Hippo!


Thank you Tess for the bookmark!


Thank you for the pen, whoever you may be! (now i know! Xin Hua!)


Thank you annette for the card!



my ex-students, boon goon, nicholas and top girl from nh, charmaine! Thank you boon goon for the letter and Happy Hippo!


ex-students from 405, nicholas and bingrong!


ex-students from 408, junwei and ade!


my teachers' day gift from my wife and kids!



my present to my wife for teacher's day!


Christian painted my face like a clown on teacher's day!

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