I can

So today we had our first writers group meeting! And I read something and they liked it! Shaun even sketched a picture based on what I read! They said suspense macabre horror keen to know who the boy is... Asked me to develop that powerful line - past present and future - and to resolve the issue of the boy a bit

What do I want for my children?

I want them to grow up confident polite and thinking students and adults - able to contribute meaningfully to make this world better in some small way or the other- to have the right values: Respect for all people - including elders and cleaners - honesty Love for animals - with a range of skills - able to apply lateral thinking , with the courage to pursue their passions. Be it literature art music sports photography anything else.

How to write?

I am writing the lit guide for longest time - I enjoy writing but I hate standardizing- I drag my feet I'm inconsistent- will I ever complete a decent phd thesis? I'll need a year to edit!

Sauce less enchilada

Sigh tried experimenting making vege enchilada but... Need to wait and see how it turns out- no sauce no proper cheese sigh. Will let you know !

A morning of contradictions

Drill at Home to reinforce math and language
Creative writing next year in paragraphs and full sentences
No show and tell in order to complete workbooks
Run for five min then back to math at 4pm
this from the Montessori school!
Aargh!

what is it to write?

What is it to write?
it is to transform, to have the power to transform
to let people escape, to raise goosebumps on their hands
it is to make people laugh and cry, to make them get angry and to believe in the characters
it is a miracle, well done
It is magic

such a book is Mister Pip
What can a book not achieve, an author not achieve?
What can a teacher not achieve?
This story has war, a student, a teacher and a book
And it needs nothing more

Next task - Great Expectations
I too want to meet Pip, Joe Gragery, Miss Havisham, Estella and others
I want to meet this pip who changed the life of a young girl
On re-reading, I do not storm as much at the mother for her decisions
I realize now she's being true to herself has been and will be, even if she makes wrong decisions in the process

what can a book do?
all and everything

Writing is cathartic

Once you start writing and you get a t
Receptive audience you find you can't really stop! Thats fluency

Back and moving on

Yes I'm back from India- a month ago actually! In that time I've moved cubicles- sounds small but was a pretty massive move! And list my phone and all recent photographs .

Am now at crossroads again. Want to make two major decisions - one to take some time off work to spend more time with the kids- also more time for me to do my things I guess - research for my studies etc. and... Planning seriously now about my studies.
Praying to god for guidance!

Gods sweet blessings

my two children of course! god has given us these two lovely, independent, darlings for us to care for and cherish, to bring up for them to find their own path and for them to do good in this world of His.

Not so Merry Month of May

What is this huh?
A close family friend died in an accident. Can you believe that? Coz she wasn't wearing her seat belt.
A close friend and colleague of mine finds out her daughter has had a tumor growing in her since she was an embryo and now has to support her daughter through chemotherapy What?How?
Saro's colleague's child passed away recently due to Leukemia!

Isn't this a sad sad month?
Then, a friend gives birth and learns that amniotic fluid might have gone into baby's ear OR that the baby might be hard of hearing in 1 ear. Same friend finds out that baby has a low testes and needs to wait for 8 months or so to find out if it's going to be serious
My cousin, aged 12, needs an operation to cut out one of his testes because of an infection in it.
Saro's colleague has undergone 6 rounds of IUI and 1 round of stalled IVF and still no baby.


What is going on? This is really hard to take, hard to understand. feels like people I know are suddenly under some kind of siege. It is frightening.These things really remind us to be thankful and grateful for all that we have, to not take anything for granted, to be kind to everyone and to give back to society (I hope it doesn't sound cliched, I don't intend it to)

all in all, a very sobering month has gone by. time to pause, reflect, pray and give thanks.

Overseas training

Will I go? I hope so:) lots of processes. Must do lots of things to get things moving

Life is Fragile, Life is precious

Our family friend just passed away. In a car accident. Possibly because she wasn't wearing a seat belt. It's very hard to come to terms with.
Our prayers, thoughts and well wishes are with the family.
We owe it all whom we love to wear our seat belt and drive carefully.

What to write?

I must write. Singapore now needs welcomes and even cherishes good writing. Our best writers can be counted on the fingers of one hand! Wena poon alfian saat especially for novels which is my area of interest. Rajaratnam was very good g
Too.

Confused

Am feeling very confused. I've wanted to go for an overseas conference since 2006. Liz arranged for Janet and Kalthom to go. Then from pat- nothing. Then asked Cedric last year but intel took priority. Now finally I can go for lit.thats an achievement. in the meantime I watched others go - j and k Lynette faith Lydia Tracy Jeff Jo Aruna. Austin's

Now that I can go I'm excited. Also nervous about leaving my kids behind! But I figure I'll be ok:)

Addiction

Getting addicted to the I phone and apps and all! How? Must exercise control:(

Facebook

So after so long... I come to appreciate the power of this tool- of communication of keeping in touch in a world where face to face contact is plain hard. I revel in it I relish it. I stalk old contacts! Well not really stalk just check out:)

Testing blogging on the go

So I can post and comment and upload my views on things random videos photos at etc- I have enough friends who would actually bother to see what I've put up- so I am Ina position of power! Scary!