Why?....why?...tell me why?

I thought I could just pause and stop blogging for a while but it seems that is not possible, coz today 29 Feb, only comes once in 4 years, so better blog but actually…I just cannot stop blogging…Well here it goes…At work, I just found out that I was again assign to be in the SPICE committee as a member…(it stands for Student Professional Image Continuous Enhancement) …wah so professional sounding but actually it is equivalent to the disciplinary committee in the schools….WHAT? Did I make a mistake in getting the info? No..no…I think I was right…I have been on this committee for the longest time that I can remember…since 2001 I think?....Loud Sigh…why can’t they just give me to be in charge of NAPFA instead…why do I say that? Here is the good reason:

After obtaining Bronze award + $10 NTUC cash voucher for my 2.4 km staff run, having completed 1 half marathon (21km) and three 10 km runs and able to do a total of 6 chin-ups at the grand ripe old age of 44 years old and what’s more?....…… able to 45 sit ups per minute….still not good enough yet to be a staff to be in-charge of NAPFA…then what else do they want from me?????? Silver Award? Gold Award...OK…OK…I make sure I get the silver award this year + $20 NTUC cash voucher, OK?
And couple with the fact….that my looks….yeah my looks, just take a look at my “Tumbak” face….with this kind of looks, do I look so fierce as to I have to be in the “Disciplinary Comm” for so many years and still have to in this comm.....for another term?

OK…OK…now to some things else more joke, joke…. I just attended the Graduation DnD. This year I chose to go coz’ it was my class that I was put in-charge as their Personal Mentor is graduating……ahhhhhhhh…..finally!
It was nice that the students gave each lecturer who thought them in the final year and presented each a token….So I was one them…as in the past few sems I was assigned to teach final year students. So there were awards give out during the DnD….Here are the list of awards by the students:….There are the most big and beautiful award / mother of mother liquor award / Ali Baba award / HaLo3 award / Napfa Nag and Nag award / Close to being a millionaire award/ U cheat N I cheat award……And guess which award did I get? It is the Ali Baba award….see:
OK…OK….I am not Ali Baba, all right....yeah..yeah…but I am Peranakan Baba, well close enough sounding to get the award..…on the whole it was fun and have picture taken. Here is me receiving the prestigious award:

Good nite! N God Bless!

Albert Y

.....PAUSE.....

Dear all,

My blog entries is now been put on PAUSE so that you can have some time to read the rest......PAUSE...will be back with more exciting entries......SOON!

Albert Y

I am back to blogging......

A bit busy these days...so no time to blog....anyway today boss ask me to submit ERP (Emergency Response Plan) to SCDF at Ubi..small arrow....so came back home early..open letter box, received a letter from HDB...wah so happy, you know what...my parking fine of $50 (for parking in season parking lot on a Sunday) which I told you about earlier... got waived...there you see, here:

Slept for 1 hour and then speed off to my favourite haunt...BRP..lah where else? The weather is so good and the air is so fresh I cannot forgive myself if I miss this...

and this.....
Just look at this...and I am sure you must agree with me what a lovely day...today

So run my usual 4.3 km and I try to break previous record, and today...you know what...it is the best ever timing...24 mins 11 secs..

After run, do 50 sit ups..and then cool down and then reward myself with this:

and then while resting at usual spot, I saw this in the distance.... it is a "sand dune"...you know Singapore also got sand dune ( I thought only Saudi Arabia got sand dune), and here it is:

Then I saw this man fishing alone on a hot sunny evening...

then I told myself no wonder the word "fisherwoman" does not exist in the english vocabulary...and some of the 12 apostles are also fisherman themselves, and of all the professions in the world, God chose the fisherman to spread His word...so it must a very Divine profession...whom God favours...and then there this group of 3 fishermen staring into the waters of the reservoir

....maybe trying to look hard where the fishes are...but then it makes me curious and so I too stare into the water lah.... like them and look... this is what I saw (Can you find any fishes?)

Actually, there are no fishes at all in the water...what a lovely evening! After dinner continue my marking of exam scripts and then after that I stumble upon this book which bought some time ago but never really started reading it but will start soon: She is also my favourite saint. St Bernedette Soubirous from France (southern part of France) whose body is completely intact and prevented from decay until today by God. She reminds of Snow White (minus the 7 dwarfs of course!) sleeping in a glass coffin. That is why France is also my favourite country...talk about France...straight away my 2 spiritual friends comes to my mind..St Therese (from the northern part of France) and St Bernedette.

Thank God for the lovely day today, thank God for France, if not, I will not have my 2 spiritual friends .......tomorrow I am on leave to spend time with my sweetie...Thursday will be in Jurong Island.

Wah....1.40 am in the morning already ah!...Good morning folks.....!

I am going to bed now, OK?..yawn!yawn!

God Bless!

Albert Y

Reflections - Today's reading Mt 18:21-35

Dear All

Today's reading is about the merciless officer who was cleared off his debt by his master, but was relentless to a fellow officer was in debt to him. Jesus reminds us to be forgiving not 7x but 70x7 times. If we do not forgive others, we should not expect the Lord to forgive us.

Yesterday, when I took out the clothes to hang after machine-washing them, I found in particular, a white long sleeve blouse of Tiffany's stained with black. I then realised Bert must have put in his black jeans in the wash and I didn't know about it. I was fuming mad and grumbled to the girls. Then Felicia told me "Don't be angry with dady, mumy. It's not dady's fault". I then grumbled, "If not his fault, it's the machine's fault!!"

Then the little angel, Felicia, said to me "Don't worry mumy. If che che don' want to wear it, I will wear it and che che can take my red one instead."

I asked her if she dares to wear the white spoilt blouse out, knowing that she's such a vain little girl, I was surprised when she said she would. So strong was her desire for me not to be angry nor blame Bert that she was willing to sacrifice her own vanity!

As I reflect on my behaviour, I realise that when things go wrong, we so easily look for others or things to blame. (If I am not allowed to blame Albert, I blamed the washing machine. I never blamed myself!). Later, I felt that I should have dug out the clothes and checked them. I told Bert that next time he should either leave the black jeans aside (not in the machine) or tell me if he had placed it in the machine.

Felicia's reactions also taught me about forgiveness. She's such a little peace-maker.The things our children teach us. We do learn something new everyday.

Love Theresa

Sad Sharings from Tiffany today (25 Feb 08)

Dear All

After a rare birthday party of a classmate of Tiffany's yesterday, Tiffany shared with us some sad news about her classmate and a school mate today. On the way back home after supplementary class on the public bus, her classmate told her that she was very sad. This was because her parents are divorcing the second time. She has to shift house again, and would be renting a 2 room flat. I didn't ask her whether she's with her mum or dad. Bert and I later looked up last year's St Anthony Canossian's Primary School (SACPS) yearbook to see how her classmate looked like...she's such a sweet little girl with a cheerful smile. We felt so sad for her.

Another shocking news was she heard from many school friends and the birthday girl (from yesterday's party) that another girl from a different P6 class had written a note to her teacher saying she wants to commit suicide. That girl did not attend school today. I was very shocked to hear that, especially when Felicia was hearing everything and saying it could be just a rumour. My reaction was to remind them that it is a grave sin to kill oneself. Having children saying things like that and being exposed to the realities of broken marriages must be quickly tempered with our Church's values. That's why, I tell them, it is important to let mummy and daddy have time to talk with each other and some time alone without them demanding mummy's attention all the time. We also looked up the yearbook to see the schoolmate's face. We don't know what's the reason, but that class is of slower learners. Perhaps our society's and education system's branding of children at such a young age puts children down as being lousy or stupid. Such branding is very hurting and very damaging to the children's self-esteem. That's why we parents worry so much about our children's education and exam marks.

Sometimes, when I think just how short life is, and how death puts everyone on a level playing field where everything we possess ends and we can't take it along with us, it makes me feel that all these activities of politics, pettiness, dog-eat-dog world, paper-chase etc, are quite meaningless in itself.

Coz' when the day comes when the one and only one hole that is being punched through your Singapore Identity Card......right on the Lion Head by the ICA officer....
...yes, we won't be there to see it...and probably at that time the only thing that we can bring with us to the next better world...is only our soul ...nothing else matters anymore... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE MATTERS ANYMORE...FOREVER...

As Father Timothy of Holy Trinity says, our activities like playing computer games, playing mahjong, etc are just to fill-in time just to keep ourselves busy, to pass the time.

I'm not saying that working and studying are useless. They are important as they can be made into means of glorifying the Lord. An example was when I was working with the printer on a newsletter and he was late in all the deadlines, I had to be tough on him. After the telephone conversation, my colleague remarked that she was surprised that I could be quite hard on the guy as she thought I was such a pious catholic. I told her that though I am a catholic, it doesn't mean I should let the printer be late in his delivery. Anyway, after that remark, I was taken aback as to why she said that. Was it because I had a holy picture of the sacred heart of Jesus in my office, or that she had seem me reading my bible in the morning before my work day started? Whatever the reason, I was then more cautious of my actions so that I do not blemish His name by any "unholy" actions of mine. Also, there is a saying "an idle mind is a devil's workshop" so it is important that man work or do some meaningful activity (like going to school), but in the process, do not get involved in politics or back-stabbing.

Once, Tiffany had such "politics" in P4. Tiffany has the habit of forgetting to write her name on her papers. At a science spelling test, 2 papers did not have names on them. One had 29/30 marks, the other was a fail (can't remember the marks). Only Tiffany and the other girl did not get back their papers, and the other girl claimed the 29/30 marks was hers. Tiffany's classmates knew that this was not possible as Tiffany usually scores quite high in Science. Tiffany showed me the paper, and it was written in super neat handwriting. As she normally writes very untidily, I was doubtful. Tiffany was of course hurt. She showed me proof of her work where her handwriting was very neat. I must say, I was astounded she can write very neatly when she wants to! Anyway, the teacher decided to give them a re-test. The next day, Tiffany came back very happy. She remembered to write her name this time and got full marks. I asked her what did the other girl get, and she say, she didn't bother about it, she was just glad that she now had full marks and that's what counts. Lesson learned from her - never compare yourself to others, just measure your progress with yourself. Second lesson was - she didn't wish bad intentions on the other girl and just let her be. (Quite contrary to most people where we seek revenge). I told her then that knowledge and talent is yours and although others may try to take credit for your work, it doesn't matter, for they can't take away knowledge or talent that you already possess.

In my journeying with my girls, studing woes is just one part of their childhood problems. A great part is also the interactions with their classmates or schoolmates and how they cope and deal with them. I really thank the Lord and my dear Albert that I am allowed this privilege to grow with my girls everyday, and giving them life-skills and lessons on a real-time basis when they arrive "fresh" from school with their latest news. I never had that opportunity when I was working and came home late and the rush of sharing of the moment is long gone and forgotten. In the process, I too am learning and growing with them as they teach me values of forgiveness and tolerance.

Love Theresa n Albert

Readings for 25 Feb - 1 Mar 08

Mon, 25 Feb
2 Kgs 5:1-15b Ps 42 Lk 4:24-30

Tue 26 Feb
Dn 3:25, 34-43 Ps 25 Mt 18:21-35

Wed 27 Feb
Dt 4:1, 5-9 Ps 147 Mt 5:17-19

Thur 28 Feb
Jer 7:23-28 Ps 95 Lk 11:14-23

Fri 29 Feb
Hos 14:2-10 Ps 81 Mk 12:28-34

Sat 1 Mar
Hos 6:1-6 Ps 51 Lk 18:9-14

Love Theresa

Living 500 years apart but circumstances still the same...

It is now close to 3 am in the morning and I am sort just happen to be awake at this time of the day and so decided to blog...I slept earlier at about 9.30 pm and now I am awake..so I chose to blog on something that we all face in our daily lives especially at our work place. It is politics...you can chose to stay clear of it (like myself) or be part of it. But if you chose to stay clear of it like myself, you may have to pay a high price for it...like I did! Just take a look at myself, I joined NY in June 2001 and now is close to 7 years since I join....now comes the next part which may sound a bit astonishing...my salary is exactly the same since the day I join ( not a single dollar or cents increase!) and I am still doing the same thing as I did the day I join my current workplace. Many have joined later and have already been promoted and some have left (resigned). With this little sharing, I hope that if you are victim of this circumstance, I hope you can take comfort in my situation. Don't give in for your reward shall be great in heaven. Christ was tempted in this aspect during His fasting of 40 days. For me, I stick to my faith ever resisting the temptation of jostling for status, power and politics at my work place, so I end up watching from the sidelines - just like watching a footbal match.

I seek comfort and draw strength from St John of the Cross...though we lived in a complete different era about 500 years apart but circumstances are the same - time is immaterial whether you lived in the year 1550 or in the year 2008, human nature is indeed all the same...

Here is an insight of what St John of the Cross went through who is a victim of the infighting among the priests in his order then....in Spain

....and during his term of imprisonment he wrote the most beautiful book ever.....

So in the light of the Lenten Season, I prayed to the Almighty God and to St John of Cross to give me the strength to continue to resist the temptation of power struggle at work, circumstance of which is similar to that of St John of the Cross....Living 500 years apart but circumstances are still very much the same..

Good nite or (izit good morning?)...I going back to bed now..yawn...yawn..zzzzz

God Bless!

Albert Y