Getting old..

And so, Siaopo celebrated her birthday last week.

There really isn’t anything to say, though she wishes there were more she could say.She's getting OLD !

Lots of birthday messages (courtesy of Facebook)

Hubby threw a little party for Siaopo.

Guests: Just hubby and Siaopo over a fine dining dinner.

Siaopo didn’t think it wise to organize a do when Siaopo's need to work till 7 pm that day. ( Yes, her year 11 students were taking their GCSE exam that day)

The tired Siaopo @ birthday dinner

Half Term

Siaopo had a great half term last week.

Determined to release herself from the spurts of stress and routines which fuel a typical school day, she has taken efforts to change her one week half term to an exciting week!

Her week was spent literally catching up with friends over meals, visiting and playing with little kids and a weekend away to Manchester with hubby.

Siaopo also note that she's in a lucky position to be able to take a week break from work, which she has never actually done before in the past during her industrial attachment.

She's thankful. Teaching ROCKS!

Siaopo's behaviour/classroom management is absolutely rubbish....

She's bought these to help her...

Operation Christmas Child

Is the time of the year again - Christmas !

This is Siaopo's 4th year participating in this charity programme - Operation Christmas Child.

She hopes there'll be many many more years to come. So, let's ...Fill a child's life with joy this Christmas !

This year, Siaopo's preparing for a age 5-9 girl.

A special date

Fast food meals struck Siaopo's household once again !

Why ?

Because Siaopo's busy again !

Work craziness once again tips Siaopo's life over.

Siaopo has not smiled for almost a week. Is just one week, but almost seems too much to bear.



But, but good news !

Hubby's back for now, and will be on a date with Siaopo to watch ............a musical.

The sound of music, here we come...

The Posh Blue Tote Bag

A gift, the "posh tote bag" - a description given by Siaopo's tutees.

It was a gift from a good friend, JB last year as an encouragement to complete the teaching degree.

Having been through teaching degree 10 years back , JB knew well how tough the course was .

Thanks JB for the lovely posh bag.

Siaopo's playing "go to school with", for real.

The beauty of ipad2 ....

Siaopo returned to the world of single-hood, where she's entirely on her own with no assurance of hubby's next companionship.

She's neither divorced nor separated.

Hubby has been away quite often recently.

Poor hubby has to live on suitcases.



What Siaopo has learnt on hubby's away-trip.

* She can .......master tech : Apple software. Yes !

Well, not master but she's get up to speed.
(She can click on FaceTime button and conduct a video call !)

The beauty of ipad2....

Siaopo's definitely missing her fella to bits...

( Hubby on FaceTime with Siaopo @ hotel )

Catholic Ethos

Siaopo's proud to be part of the Catholic school community.

The spiritual life of Catholic school, based on gospel values and teachings of Christ, is at centre of everything and permeates throughout the curriculum.

Aim is to ensure that all pupils fulfil their potential academically, spiritually, morally and physically.

Siaopo's classroom.....

9/11 Attack

Today, Siaopo's thinking of all my American, especially those who lost friends or family 10 years ago.

Siaopo was in America back then, and was watching the second tower being hit on the news.

The entire communication network went down and she couldn't contact her families back in Malaysia to report her safety.....

9-11 was indeed a sad sad day !

Back to work !

Siaopo is back to work !

She'd quite happily has another 6 weeks off but suppose teachers can only laze about for so long.

Good Thing :- She's so excited with the new building, new furniture, new classrooms and etc. So cool....

Bad Thing : - She's completely shattered.

She was bombarded with information all day which she can only remember 2% of them.

Spent whole afternoon setting up the new classroom.

At least, the school is kid-less till Friday ! She has got another 4 days to set up.

She got home at 7.30 pm, literally !

There's a phone in each classroom. Siaopo's reachable every minute...

Social Gathering

Thank god for one great circle of Asian friends around us.

A great get-together before the summer ends, together with the Liaw's visit from the south.

So, when kids get together, the kids play !

The power of kids enjoying quality time with every single friend.

Without parents around, without benefit of a school environment, kids can just
make friends so easily.

Siaopo doesn't think she ever managed it until she was in her teens.

Hubby's always a part of the kid's team.

How he does it :
He stands around the kids, watching. The kids kick the balls, he joins in.
He laughs when they laugh and squeal when they squeal.


Siaopo and hubby had great time together with these good bunch of friends.

" When company is rare, we are each other's lifesaver."

Druridge Bay

Day-out at Druridge Bay with the kids last week.

Hubby missed out on the great day-out fun due to travel. The kids miss Uncle Pang..

Massage

Siaopo was attracted to a 10 x full body massage package and hubby said YES!

Yippee.....

A wonderful stress relief treatment for Siaopo's aching muscles.

Hubby's a STAR !

Loser

Hubby calls Siaopo a sore loser. Evil too.

Hubby beat Siaopo big time in tennis and Siaopo screamed and screamed !


Siaopo ponder : She knows she can never beat hubby in golf and now TENNIS too ! Grrr....

Not fair !

The winner enjoying his latte after the tennis game and swimming session.....

Tennis

After 8 long years, Siaopo's finally back to tennis.

The first time she's back to racquet's game in a long long time - she was deliriously happy.

To recover the long-abandoned tennis skill, she took up lessons at DL club.


Two lessons, she realised that she's lacking lots of tennis skills, so to speak.

An energy boost exercise.

First lesson, hubby insisted that he needs to be there. To inspire ( so Siaopo learns muchbetter) and to be inspired ( may Siaopo be Maria Sharapova soon ).

Picture taken by hubby from 200m away. Brilliant.


Siaopo told hubby that tennis is far healthier and cheaper sports than golf !

Hubby totally disagree.

Conclusion from the argument - Not much cheaper but healthier and more fun .

Never mind.

What Siaopo has learnt :-

• Tennis is all about looking good.
• Do not play badminton if you're into tennis. Badminton aka devil's game.

Results :-

• Never in million years Siaopo will be able to hit Maria's level of skills.
• Loads more energy. Siaopo needs that wakefulness, ready for her new school term next week.

Bon Voyage

Everyone had a great time in UK and Europe ! See you all in Malaysia soon....

Farewell dinner - yummy steamboat ( Malaysian style)

He's back....

Finally, hubby's back - safe and sound.

Siaopo told hubby how worried she was when she heard the earthquake news.

As usual, hubby with his dry sense of humour commented Siaopo was over worried about everything ! ( 大驚小怪)

Fair enough.

Siaopo was fuming hearing his remark but.......a smile came back when she saw this in hubby's suitcase.....


Thank you lou kong !

Extreme worry..

Tonight, at this moment in time, Siaopo's terrifically worried.

There's no news from hubby. Siaopo has no idea where he is or how's his current flight status.

Siaopo really don't know what to do.

Useless Dutch Airline has no status update on their website.

Hubby boarded a plane from San Francisco heading to the east of States just 30 minutes BEFORE the earthquake happened.

Siaopo's extremely worried now........Praying hard for hubby's safety.

Ipad2

Hubby's philosophy - Either if you have a big gift, or you don't.

Out came one gift-wrapped ( Siaopo can't believe it) box.

Tearing the paper, Siaopo discovered an ipad2 !

Siaopo 's profoundly touched.

Thank you very much hubby !!!

Ipad is for all ages - proven

Mummy enjoying her Theresa Teng music via YouTube

Hubby enjoying his games...

Rainy Scotland

It's summer now in this part of the world and yet is raining with temperature of 10 degree celcius.

Unbelievable.

Siaopo and family has no choice but to visit Scotland this week. Initial plan was to visit London and due to recent riot, trip has to be cancelled.

Edinburgh trip went ahead regardless the riot or weather .

It would all have been fine were it not for the pouring rain (what IS wrong with the weather these days?)

Anyway, mum, dad and sis were in their top form despite the weather.

We're back !

Siaopo and family spent 4 days in Barcelona, Spain.

An extremely great and fun trip !

A few photos taken at the airport.

More photos to come.

Papa with his backpack

Mummy with his backpack

Papa and Mummy visit

Wednesday night last week, Siaopo couldn't sleep.

Hubby and Siaopo were expecting visitor from home : Siaopo's parents.

It was all too exciting for words. Finally, after 1.5 years of solitude, a familiar face.

Papa and mummy were equally thrilled.

Hubby and Siaopo were glad to see papa and mummy, but even gladder to see the big luggage they carted along with them on their flight. Hahahaha...

Hubby enjoyed all these goodies from home.

Papa and mummy will be staying with us for 5 weeks. Yipee...

Good Things Come in Three's

Yes, good things come in three's.

This time round is good news from hubby.

Well done hubby ! Siaopo's extremely proud of you...

Big tick on your new golf trolley ! haha