I went for a 3 week NCC Teacher Officer course and now I'm a 2LT (NCC). The military component was only 1.5 days, so I don't know how a lady teacher is going to know enough! We also had 3 days of drill preparation for the POC, which is an OCS-styled one. We even had dining in a week later. I've been through SAF No. 1 to No. 4 dress. I've only not tried No. 5 dress.

I also managed to go for a 2-day BCTC reservist. I've also gone swimming once, and watched Forces of Nature at the Omnimax Theatre. I managed to meet up with primary school mates too. Of course, I watched The Incredibles and Bridget Jones' Diary 2.

I need a good rest, but really, I don't know how to...

The VJC College Day book has got some more of my 00 students getting honours.

Oh, what a busy year... And it's still busy.

There's so much work... Sometimes, I think that most of the work we do does not accomplish anything. It's just paperwork to show off.

I have reservist today and tomorrow: Medical Refresher Training. I did live IV today -- quite surprised I succeeded at the first attempt, albeit with some topo-ing. I also renewed my CPR qualification.

I did V-Kool for my car on Monday. The handiwork was not very good -- some bubbles. But I guess it's expectable. It should reduce UV damage to the interior since my car is always parked in the open.

The holidays are almost over. It's time to work. But I've not done anything "holiday" yet. That's the problem. All my friends are either busy or not in Singapore. There's a limit to what you can do alone -- exercise, shop, eat, watch movie... what else?

I sent my car for Tuff Kote inspection today to touch up the Tuff Kote rust-proofing and Sound Clad sound-proofing. I also added System 6 polishing. In between, I looked around Taka, Kino and Borders. Not a very productive day, and I did not enjoy myself either.

One of the 3 thorny patches downstairs I had cut up last week managed to re-grow a bit. I shall cut it up tomorrow if I have the time. I don't think it can last long without any leaves!

I did a little shopping yesterday and today. I had lunch with my church friends at Swensens Thomson Plaza, and shopped a bit on my own in the afternoon. I met them again at dinner time at Junction 8's Sakae Sushi. A waitress there recognized me as she was ex-VJC. Later, we watched the new Jack Neo betting movie.

I must enjoy my holiday more... It doesn't seem like a holiday.

I was on course at NUS yesterday and today. It was an H3 Modern Physics bridging course for JC teachers, although there were a number of secondary school teachers too.

The content was really chim! More like university Year 1 to Year 3 work! And VJC did not send any teachers! That is really not a good idea...

It's the holidays finally!

I had invigilation on Monday and lessons on Tuesday. I still have lots of work to be done actually, but I try to leave school latest by 3 pm during the holidays. I have to rest and relax. I'm on whole day course at NUS tomorrow and Friday, and I have lessons and NCC on Saturday. Not much of a holiday this week except today... And I have 8 Computer Club sessions this hols, and a camp or two...

What I want to do this hols...

1. I want to exercise more this hols as I've been quite inactive this year. I want to slim down too.
   
2. I need to do lots of personal admin, tidying up my room, etc. I normally leave these to the long holidays.
   
3. I want to shop a bit.
   
4. I want to socialize a bit with my friends. I seldom have the time to do so during term time.
   
5. I need to send my car for the final free servicing, as well as Tuff Kote and SoundClad. I also feel like changing my plates to the message type.

I did a bit of tidying and exercising today. And I did something good today. I helped to remove some thorny mimosa weeds downstairs. I remember a long time ago when mimosa was the scourge of the estate, and they declared war on the weed. So when I saw 3 patches of thorns today when I sent my paper waste for recycling, I decided to do something about it. What if some children get hurt by the thorns? So I went to my car to get my shears. (I keep it accessible so that I can cut the seat belt in an accident.) I managed to cut up the 3 patches of thorns. I did not dig them up, but I guess they won't regrow, because I cut them up well and good! Let's see if they regrow next week...

I also met my church friends for dinner today after my afternoon nap. I will be able to go for BS next week as it is the hols. I know I should go for BS even during term time, but I am a teacher and I need my rest and sleep.

We recently had a teacher who actually did not mark his exam scripts and did not come to school for a day or two. He probably felt a bit stressed, I guess. Well, I think one has to be ready to take a lot of stress if one wants to be a teacher.

I've encountered one breakdown case in BNSS, one slightly psycho case in VJC, and one of my friends who broke down while at NIE and failed the practicum. There must be a lot of psycho teacher cases in Singapore. That's what they said last time: teachers constitute a sizeable proportion of patients at IMH and Adam Road.

I've been too busy in recent months. Recent developments in my life...

I watched Kill Bill Vol. 2. I've been looking forward to it, although I know the story already.

I changed my car wheels from the stock 14" steels to 15" lightweight alloy wheels. I am quite happy with my purchase. I got 5.2 kg Advanti rims with Falken 512 tyres at $832 only! (And my brother spent $1600 on 6 kg rims!) My Advanti rims look like one of the Rays Volks racing wheels. The ride comfort decreased a little as expected, but the increase in performance and safety is noticeable.

I'm on course these few days, so I'm feeling a lot happier. Then again, I know that when I go back, there will be a lot of work waiting for me!

I realise that many secondary school teachers aren't very good in their Physics content! But I did not see any teachers from good schools -- perhaps they are better. Luckily I was a JC teacher last year, so my content is still there. I wonder how they would guide the new teachers going to their schools if their content was poor... I sure hope I don't become like them!

You know, the government always says that the leadership of the country is important. That we should concentrate all resources on the leadership of the country for they are the ones responsible for the success of the nation in the future. But I guess they have simply forgotten about the rest -- the majority of the country who ARE the future of the nation. Can you imagine that these students who don't want to learn or develop their thinking are the ones who will be the main workforce of the country? These students who can't even do the simple O levels now. No wonder the country is going downhill. And the government's current solution is to depend on foreigners. I think that is not the solution. If the quality of our people are not good enough, we should do something about it!

The problem is also caused by poor parenting, I guess.

I have been very busy in school recently, as can be seen from the date of my post! I leave school before 7 pm everyday, which is actually earlier compared with my average day at VJC (10.00 pm). But back at VJC, we do read the papers everyday. We do have 25 minute lunches and 1.5 hour dinners. And we do take a nap to rest as and when required. And we do have 1.5 hour exercise sessions. And we work long hours at VJC, but at a moderate intensity.

But here at Damai, I work a solid day from 7.25 am to 6.30 pm. 10 minute lunches are the norm. I try not to do any work at home as usual -- but I usually do half an hour of low-key work just not to feel guilty. I have very little time -- I would like to do more for my students but I really don't have the time. In any case, they're not good students anyway -- little discipline to do their homework or to revise their work. English marking saps up whatever free time that I have... As a combat reservist, I am supposed to exercise 3 times a week, but I simply don't have the time!

No wonder teacher recruitment is so high -- the turnover is high too. It is a job that is simply not worth the pay -- you have got to have some passion to work 55 to 59 hours a week. The average grad civil servant works 40 hours a week. Why do you think we have longer holidays? Not that long actually. On paper, teachers have 12 weeks of holiday a year, but realistically, it is just 6 to 7 weeks, or 30 to 35 days.

I sure hope my passion lasts...

Quotes from LOTR...

"Arise! Arise! Riders of Theoden! Spear shall be shaken! Shield shall be splintered! A sword day! A red day! Ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride to ruin, and the world's ending! DEATH! DEATH! DEATH!"
-- Theoden King's battle cry during the battle of the Pelennor Fields

"Now is the hour. Riders of Rohan! Oaths you have taken, now fulfil them all! To lord and land!"
-- Eomer at the muster of the Rohhirim.

"Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of Fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day, WE FIGHT! By all that you hold dear, on this good earth, I bid you STAND! Men of the West!"
-- Aragorn, with the host at the slag hills near Cirith Gorgor before the charge on the defenders of the Black Gate

"Where is the horse and the rider?
Where is the horn that was blowing?
They have passed like rain on the mountains.
Like wind in the meadow.
The days have gone down in the west.
Behind the hills, into shadow.
How did it come to this?"
-- Theoden King, before the battle of Helm's Deep

"Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a red dawn!"
-- Theoden King at the battle of Helm's Deep

"A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them.
And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
-- Eowyn

I had my first reservist Open Mobilisation yesterday. So the afternoon was entirely wasted.

I went for watch night service yesterday night at BRMC. (No, I'm NOT from the AC family. My friend brought me there last time...) It's only my 3rd watch night service, I don't always go.

As I was leaving, I saw that the stars were visible in the night sky! It's so rare to be able to see stars in Singapore!

On New Year's Eve, the ships at the anchorages fire off their flares at the stroke of midnight of the new year. I see this every year if I'm at home.

School starts tomorrow...