Bright & Bold

 Sara has decided to change her mode of baking; no more cheesy ones only.

Yes, colour is the word.

She is into bolder concoctions.

She gets into moods that cause her to create the most unimaginable at times.

There was this weekend when she just wanted to bake a rainbow cake.

A rainbow cake?

 Soon the baking tins were out and colours are splashed everywhere; the rainbow ones of course.

 Icing of rainbow hues were deftly pushed into plastic funnels for the best looks !

That I can assure you.

 Now, you do believe me?

But how does one consume it?

 Simple. Just cut it. What a shame to dissect it; too pretty for consumption.

 Her favourite indulgence is to bake macrons too. She told me a piece costs many dollars but I honestly do not know how to appreciate them. She would remind me they are not meant for old folks like me.

 Pink macrons are so pretty too. They look so palatable when decorated with strawberries.

 Would you also not purchase them? If Sara opens a cafe and bakes, I will help her.
That's my retirement plan.
 She will chide me and say "bake yourself".

Tonite is the epitome of her colour flings.

She says Happy Halloween and bakes a cauldron cake definitely suitable for the occasion.

But what is Halloween that the whole world is attracted to it?

Oh just an occasion to play and party I guess.

Sara and her colours .

I Wanna Go Home

"Thud"

"... Oh no. She dropped me and she did not realise it. The dark frightens me. Where am I ? This is not home. I am among sand and dirt. Who will pick me? Will she come back for me?
The sun is up. Will they come for me? Please.
Yes, I see them. Come pick me please. I see the master and the mistress but they can't spot me. I am here. I am here. They cannot hear me. Oh no, they are leaving again. I am not found.

I see the workers walking in and out for days. I see my master and mistress too. They are here almost everyday. I long that they see me, pick me and wash me. But they are not noticing me. Everyday, people walk past me; the dogs and cats too. Yes, the master's faithful workers come in every day but I am left outside the house on the pavers; unnoticed. Will I find a new owner? Will I find my way back to my mistress? What fate.

It's the fourteenth day. I am still here; unpicked. How is it so? Am I still preserved for my mistress? When will I be noticed? When will I be noticed? I wanna go home.

Bingo ! He found me ! My master has picked me from the sand ! I am found ! Hurray! Now I can go home. I am safe in my master's pocket. I know he is returning me to my mistress...

But. How is it I am thrown into a noisy machine? I am wet and soapy. Hey, I am being dried under the sun and I am still in the pocket. Someone collected me and now I feel the heat as I am being pressed on. I am then kept in a closet.

My master has taken the pair of shorts out and is wearing it again. I am still in the pocket. My master found me again and laughs to himself. Oh he has forgotten to return me to my mistress. I know he is very forgetful for he has thrown me into the machine for another wash again today. Oh no...one more time. I must get out this time. Hurray! I found my way out but this metal coin is fighting tooth and nail with me and it has caused much noise to the chagrin of Allie. She stops the machine and picks me up ! At last.

I have found my way to my mistress broken heart. I feel her joy. She is beaming from left to right. She must have been praying very earnestly. God has answered her cry. I am glad to be home. Please take care of me and do not let me go again... "

Thank you God for letting me find it again.

I found my missing necklace after dropping it outside a construction site 3 weeks ago.

Anyone could have just picked it from the ground and yet God chose to favour me.

God answers our prayers at the most unexpected moment.

So it is true that God sometimes wants us to wait, learn patience and faith.

The incident is a reminder that He hears.

Thank you God for the work of miracle.

Dogs

 They say all dogs go to heaven?

When they die, of course.

I am no lover of dogs for I have never been brought up with one and I do not particularly have any feelings towards them.

But it's not the same with daddy Lau.

He has always loved dogs and knew much about them from young. So when I married him, I was naturally introducing dogs into my life too. It has been a long while; 30 years. For most years we had at least a dog in the home and for me it was a love-hate relationship. I don't like looking after them and bathing them but most of all going to the supermarket to shop for their food. Allie would pester me left right and center till there is enough food in the pantry for them. Dogs are to look after their masters but sometimes it may be the other way round. Looking after dogs is sad especially when they become sick and die.

This is the species of dog that we first had. The Spitz was called Sunny. See, so white and beautiful. The pedigree was loving and had doe-shaped eyes. Sunny grew and stayed alive with us for 3 years before we had to release him to sickness.It developed sores all over the body and the hair kept dropping till I did not know what to do. When it was sick, daddy was attached to a job in Singapore and it was tough looking after it and our new born baby, Grace.There was no house help then and so the vet had to put him down. Those eyes haunted me for weeks when I left it at the vet. Heartbreaking.

We decided not to have a dog for a while until the need arose. You may not believe it but it was true that we had to have one when I had to ward off ill-disciplined students. So we went to a trained dog center and bought a German shepherd. So handsome and reliable.Yes she was named Loobie.The trained dog was a gem.She understood her master perfectly. She was not the type to run out of the gate without approval.She manned the security of the home well and understood our instruction. It was a pleasure to have her. Even I, who had no feelings could grow fond of her. But this species has hind leg problems.So after aging, she naturally limped and found extreme difficulty moving around and sores developed too. I think when sores start to develop it is a symptom of death.  She suffered. So again a decision to send him to the vet had to be made. Losing Loobie who was with us for about 10 years is one of the greatest loss we ever had in a guard. Till this day Allie would recall how sad the day was when she had to be put down.

 We also had a Dalmatian; Tabby. A pretty dog but alas it was deaf. We discovered it only after inheriting in from grandma Lau. This one was not so disciplined; the difference between a trained and untrained dog.She not only was a flighty one but did not seem to be able to follow instructions.So after a couple of years with us we sent her back to grandma Lau. We did not see it go but we heard that it died after a while. 

A  pretty dog but not good as a watch dog.

At home now, it is this species we have. There was a pair, Adam and Piper. Piper came when she was 4 months old; given by a good friend. Not very well trained yet but nevertheless her looks would scare potential danger away. We lost piper some months ago after being with us for about 10 years. She died without sores but was on a hunger strike for a week. The vet took him and cremated it.

Adam was sad; we were sad for him. He lost a companion.

But sadder still as we are now facing another challenge. Adam is sick too. His hind legs cannot carry him and he cannot move now. Worst still, big sores are developing all over. Esther is especially sad and chided us for not giving him enough affection. So we called in the vet to assess. Even the vet said a chance is to be given and so we hospitalized him for 2 weeks. 

All care and medication had been administered and his condition did not improve.

Dad visited him but he did not want to respond; the spirit is low.

So, the vet said to be brought home for a last chance for him to recover. Home environment may do him good .So, he was sent home and everyday it's intensive care. How does one handle this?

I must admit that I am not the one looking after his needs. 

It's Allie. 

We are afraid of making a cruel decision.

 We had to do what is right until it is time for him to go.

So you see, it's heart breaking to possess especially when feelings are involved.

Adam will leave but I do not know when.

The dog has taught us to be kind and compassionate.

Daddy says dogs do not have souls.

So how do they go to heaven? 

Sad is the word.

Pray we are able to handle another loss.

Not to have pain is not to have one.

Will we have another one?

Treats

Ask me if I regret being a teacher.

The answer is no.

Why?

Today was one different day from the norm; a public holiday. So I did not have to get up at the wee hours of the morning and I could sleep till 7.44am. Imagine I have been through the routine of getting up between 5 - 6 am each day for the last how many years? A good 45 years including school going time and of course working time. Many a time I had wished that I could laze on the bed and not get up early. So today was one such day.

But I know soon my wish will come true in due time when I call it a day as a teacher...

Today we had to decide where to go for breakfast. It was not bread and butter again. I have that everyday in school. My dear house help will make it point to pack them for me to bring to school. I may sound nerdy but it's the truth. I eat bread everyday for breakfast and lunch. So, today no bread.

We landed up at a small neighbour hood coffee shop called the "Sisters" where it served simple local cuisines like yong tau foo, fried kway teow,vegetarian noodles and nasi lemak. I took chee cheong fun with curry sauce while daddy took fried kway teow. But...but...but...I also took the liberty to order toasted bread and butter; oh no I am addicted. I cannot live a day without bread !

Besides the consumption part I had a surprise...met an ex-student , Tracy. She belonged to the 2001 SPM batch. It's a long time ago but she was my children's contemporary and we had much to talk about. She provides data for important people and shuttles between Singapore and KL and she still looked the same; skinny and alert. "Come visit me. Pn Chong..." Sure.

We left each other and I waited for the bill to be paid. I did not expect but it happened. She gave me a breakfast treat. Thank you girl.

That brought me to remember a couple of months ago when I was at the Saloon. Arsha, now a medical lady screamed when she saw me. "Pn Chong, how come you still look the same after all those years?"

That is because she did not look closely.

After sharing a little of the past and how I squeezed her during English lessons, she finally admitted that school was the platform for where she is now. She was grateful. She asked if she looked funny in her dyed yellow hair. I told her to go have fun and bring colors to her patients. We left at that and of course when it was footing bill time; I got it free again.

Then it was dinner at Jalan Petaling in town. The mother of a student saw me and called  out 

"Pn Chong!"

After some usual exchanges, we went back to our simple meals and ate.
 Jalan Petaling is famous for local cuisines too; ate tadpoles and frogs !
People long for such delicacies. It was a good meal. 

I suppose you already know what I have to share.

It was a fully paid meal again.

That's what you get when you have so many people along your life. What other greater profession than teaching ? We meet all sorts; the good, the bad and the ugly. But everyone has a story to their life. Some are really heart breaking ones; others may be fairy tale ones. But it's most rewarding when you see them make a way out of life but most of all when they are wholesome characters.

You may forget some of them; but they will most likely remember you just as I do to my teachers. You tend to recall that little connection. I dropped a card to my primary school teacher Pn Shamsiah when I went to varsity and she went to my mother's shop and told her that she was delighted to receive it. I remember Caroline Chua for her strictness but love her for that. Hyacinth Gaudart was remembered for her bubbly and loving nature. Many more.

So, more to tell as I recall; maybe to be told when I retire.

But today I remember the wonderful treats I received; because I was once their teacher.

Greetings

To all those celebrating this festive season both present and past, have a good day in family love and bonding.

Happy Day.

The Happy Faces

 11th October 2014

A maiden experience for the form five leavers of the school and a final occasion of celebration before they step out of the gates of their Alma Mater; the graduation day.

 

 Paper work and venue arrangement plans had been laid on the table since March and it was indeed serious coordination work from everyone concerned; especially the counselor of the school who was instrumental in the organization; all for a good cause.

The final day was received with applause and appreciation and many tasted the fruits of hard work gratefully; we hope.

 Excitement was in the air as the students and parents gathered on time.

Approximately 250 students and 150 parents attended the ceremony with happy expressions; all had robes except that mortar board.That mortar board is the incentive for many to strive for.

We were pleasantly surprised at the good  presence of the parents. It was important and an encouragement to the school. We love to see fathers and mothers come in droves to support their children and their participation in the event boosted us morally. Thank you dear parents.

  The happy faces made all hard work worth the while. The children knew when to be their best as they sang the national anthem with enthusiasm and good volume; so unlike when they are at the assembly grounds in school. So they made us proud of them too.

 

 

 The teachers and invited guests took their march and eagerly waited for their turns to speak and present.

 Dr. Lim from Taylor's Business Unit gave his encouraging speech and gave his blessings for the upcoming SPM exam. Paul, representing the Parent-teacher organization, also gave his speech wishing and hoping that the best be bestowed upon the batch.

 Not only were the students happy, the administrators and teachers too were especially honoured to grace the occasion as they watched their protege grow not only in size but in maturity and stature. Many have seen this batch grow from their younger days and were delighted that it was time for them to graduate from the school.They were memorable moments to be locked for a long time to come.

 Members of the Wind Orchestra and Chinese Classic group gave their best as they knew that these were some of the last performances before they leave after SPM.

 Form Five form teachers called out the names of  the protege in joy.

 Students received their certificates with bright faces and smiles.

 That's the valedictorian for the Arts Stream, Jessica Kuan.

The valedictorian for the Science Stream is none other than the counselor's daughter , Nishyantini as they grinned from left to right. Oh she has indeed made her parents proud.

When students do their bit and put in good effort in their studies, the parents are grateful to them.

They belong to the strawberry generation; a generation not used to hardship but a lot of comfort and provision. So parents must be careful and sensitive to their needs.

Not comparing but only responding accordingly.

  Teachers and protege in good relationships and feelings.

A good day for teachers, students and parents.

This is again my maiden and final get together with this cohort of students before we leave one another.

Congratulations to all of SMK Seksyen 4 Bandar Kinrara.