Time's up, game over.

I believe that everyone will meet with changes in life. Somehow I just have to face it more often. I don't like changes as often as this, but I will take it with stride. I mean there's nothing I can do to stop it now anyway right?

That day I was still talking with Via and saying like it's almost a year I'm here. And indeed, the 1year is ending and never continuing anymore. A bit disappointed, but it serves as a good decision making point. I wouldn't say that I'm prepared to stay in this job for long, but I didn't expect that it would be this fast. And the reason why I didn't want to leave as yet was because I wanted the whole experience of the work from the starting of the year till the end. Involved in a whole year's work. And I can tell people, 'yah, I've been through all of it'. But it's not going to come true then. It's fine, it's just life and people telling me, 'yes, you need to change'. Actually I have friends telling me that all along.

After this I actually hope I can jump out of the box. I hope I will still be able to remain in the arts. But hopefully not in a different field of arts. Erm, yup I hope. And then I'm thinking of the other thing that I have been wanting to do. Maybe I can start doing it already! Since I will no longer be associated like now. Hope so! :)

Okay, I'll start looking. And thanks to friends whom shown your concerns (you know who you are), I appreciate it. But I must say I'm the kind of person who is not good at both the giving and receiving end of consolation. And the more consolation I get, the easier I breakdown. So it's okay, just pray for me k. Thank you very much.

Plans to Fly

To prevent myself from forgetting to blog about my trip this june, I've decided to bring my lappy there. And hopefully we'll have places that have wifi for me to use. HAHA or well, at least I can save all those stuff in my com first. :)

I'm super looking forward to the trip and it still seem so far from now. And I'm going to meet my cousin there too! I haven't seen him for the longest time! Excited to see everything there!

Plus that day I was chatting with my colleague, asking if she's going anywhere after this very busy period for them. She spoke about where she's going and we talked about some of the places we've been to and about my coming trip also. Actually I'm really happy that I'm going on a trip like that, with just a few close friends. (Finally got rid of my sister? lol I'm evil but well there are already 4 or us the optimal number of travelers so we are fine) And we did all the planning on our own! (Although I kind of phased out last week towards the end of the day with the 2 girls haha paiseh) But I'm sure all of us are looking forward.

And it's the 2nd time I'm traveling with exactly the same people! The last time was 2002! WOW! And that was only a 3D2N (I think) at Malacca. Still during our schooling years. With Via to HK a few years back, Genting with Ling and Horng last year. All the short trips. So this time it's the furthest and longest we are going so far. All hail to our friendship all these years. Actually too bad the others can't go with us. Well, can only say it's really difficult for a big group like ours to be moving around together.

Anyhows, there's still some finalising and planning needed. Time to sleep first! Nights.

Exuberance of Youth - Amazing

Today's concert is really like an eye-opener to the kind of talents we have. Esp. the conductors, amazing to conduct SCO yah?

What does Expensive Hobby brings

Aiyo.. This is so irritating. Why is my hobby so expensive?

And worse, I know I will feel damn bad if I miss any of them. Like just how I had regrets for some of the shows I didn't have chance to attend or don't have money to attend. Now that I'm financially independent, I can, just that is that all I want to spend on. The fact is that I've spent a lot of money lately and I haven't even paid for my air ticket yet! I'm screwed. :(

First there are pop concerts. Then there's musicals and there are concert! like OMG. I want to watch Lion King for sure. But the most affordable + still can see price is like $125?! What kind of affordable is that? :( But I'm sure I want to watch. It's like my favourite cartoon! And I remembered how I was introduced to the show plus my favourite Simba soft toy (which was lost already) :(

Yup then after listening to 933 today, talking about 881, it seems interesting too! They say it's the musical which runs the longest up-to-date. And one of the important actor is actually... My favourite again! hahahaha. So how to resist you tell me?

Then after that another friend asked if I want to go watch The China Madman - Dick Lee recital. RAH! Hello, stop giving more things to watch. How to miss Dick Lee's performance when I already missed once the last time. But then again, it's the first one I would consider to miss. Afterall, it's because I love musical that's why I never like to miss the previous 2. Difficult decision(s).

The saddest thing: I have very little resistance against things like that. Well, I can only say, sometimes when a Gemini have doubts in things like that, actually he/she already made a decision. Hard to understand? I keep saying I don't know if I should go, don't know if I want to go. In fact, I already had a decision right from the start. Just that I feel helpless having that kind of decision?

It's just like I was deciding whether to buy a MacBook Pro or a normal PC, I actually already had my decision. But I wouldn't admit until the very last minute? I guess that's how we work.

Right. I'm really like tired now. Let's make the decision another day! (Remember: the decision has already been made. HAHA)

The I AM night WE ARE waiting for!

The 3rd time he's staging a full length concert in Sg, and the 3rd time I'm watching a full length concert of his. :) I'm happy and excited ttm prior to the concert. I don't need to have any expectations of him because I know it will be good. :) And just hoped that he will sing all the songs that I would like to hear although i know not all of them will be sung. But no matter what, I AM there. :D

It was truly a high high high night! :D Enjoyed myself so much, it didn't feel like the night has passed. I'm sure no one there would want the night to end. HAHA!

I know that it's a non-photography event but usually they allow digital camera, so i had some photos in low quality. But most of the time I'm using all my energy to look at him and listen to him.

Apple!!! I Love! :D

Actually I've never imagined that I will really buy a MacBook. But I did! And to my surprise, I actually have quite a few Apple products. HAHA. And the addiction for Apple products came from the first one I ever got - iPod Nano 1st gen. I would have never gotten it on my own. It was a free gift from signing up for the internet connection. Never regretted doing that. And it lasted me for about 3years? Good enough i guess, because my friend who had the same one already changed to a new generation for quite some time by then.

And then I gotten a iPod Shuffle free (again), from doing a survey in Lasalle. And it was kind of a lucky draw. So I guess I was lucky for that once. HAHA. Now it still can be used. But not so much in usage, because of the next in line.

Finally I bought my first iPod (Touch). :) It's a total love really. Although can only use wifi but I thought of all these when I bought it. Got it about 2 months plus into my job. The first expensive thing I bought for myself as a reward, (just an excuse actually. Heh.) But it was really the best buy I had then. :))) But now it's a different story already! Haha! Oh, still loving it anyway. Just that shortly after I bought it, they launched the 4th generation. TSK.

And then now, I have a MacBook Pro! :DDD I really took a long time to decide on which one i should get. And sua ku me didn't know that there's no normal black MacBook anymore. -.- And seriously I loved that MacBook ever since I used it during internship at Lasalle. But that was so long ago. Yup. So things do change. HAHA. And then i was contemplating to get the normal white MacBook since it's so much cheaper. But in the end. 反正都要花那个钱了，就一次过吧。Yup, which is really so much of a one time spending. Later will explain.

Last one is iPhone 4! And actually the phone is supposed to be earlier than the lappy, but I did something a bit stupid, so yup, the phone will only come on Monday! and I can only use on Tues then. :( And even sadder because my phone is really dying. And I very scared it cannot 撑过这个周末. :( Ok, I'm waiting for Monday to come! And welcome new Apple product to the family. HAHA! When it's here I will post up photo of them together, but need to go and find my old one first. Heh.

Ok, that's all because my lappy is going to be empty batt in like 8min. Nights folks.

难以抉择 1 - 不开心的事

Today is the day i really felt like strangling my student. I really felt like asking him to get out of my class. I would have done that if he's my private student. Seriously. If the student don't see the need to listen and learn, then what for I waste all my energy after the already long day at work?

I take teaching as a passion and something I like to do. I'm happy when I see the kids learn and are able to play a song properly. However, I don't know if I'm just really that unlucky to get students of such. The 2 that were gone are also like that! I seriously don't know if it's just the kids nowadays or is it me.

So to speak the truth, I was really very disheartened when the kid treated the lesson like that. Although I'm sure he's rather scared after I flare up and didn't want to talk to him. He quieten down and immediately played better though not fantastic. I had no choice but to tell his mother about that. And I really felt better, it's like at least a 交待 to the parents about what is going on in the class. I would very much like his parents to sit in the class. But it wouldn't be a long term solution. And kids tend to hate this kind of things to happen?

Nowadays kids are just getting smarter and smarter, which leads to cheekier and naughtier too. Or is it just my students? 4 out of 5 are like that! So kudos to primary school teachers. Luckily I didn't go for the NIE primary school teacher interview (I may not get it as well). I remembered when I go and learn violin last time, I didn't even dare to talk back or defy my teacher. I don't even dared to talk to my teacher unless he asked. And strict training means strict training. I didn't like it 100% but i learned well! Like what are the kids doing today?

Even the quiet student doesn't register whatever I say. Many times, I told him that if he reaches earlier than me, take out his violin to practise! And I only think it's logical because to speak the truth, I don't think any of the students are able to fork out the time to practise at home everyday. So I'm already giving some chance to self-practise and get a little more recollection before the lesson starts. And I told them straight, they don't practise enough at home, so might as well use the time to quickly take out violin and start practising! I remember that's what I always do for my lessons whenever I didn't practise well enough. I would pray that my teacher doesn't come into the room so soon so that i have more time to warm up and look at the notes again. Then my student, every week I go into the room, he will just be sitting there doing nothing. Why ah?

Then 15min into the lesson or less, you can see signs of student showing tiredness, keep hinting through the painful sound, and can't wait to keep. Naughty one will just start talking, start playing a fool, and start pressing the piano. (I never ever touched my teacher's piano when he's around unless to tune). And keep wanting to sit down! Why do I meet such monsters?

I nearly cried in front of my student. Too stress I think, and I was thinking of something else also. But perhaps he'd be scared at the sight and start to listen to me? I don't know. But I don't want to take the risk.

And these students are the very reason why I'd rather give up the income from teaching and the joy to teach, compared to SYCO. If only they knew how to appreciate the effort. Plus, I don't stay in Yishun, rather, not even anywhere near, and I've been going there faithfully to teach all those demons. But every time I felt so drained from the lessons I think they are not worth it. But i know that SY is the place that eventually I will have to let go, so it's just a dilemma altogether. But the thing is if I continue to stay like that, I will never be able to progress well enough for both the CO and my own lessons. I feel guilty for not playing every time I go to lesson. Why don't my students feel that? :(

OMG HOW?

No post, no recollection.

Just realised i didn't have a post for the last JJ concert. WHY??? I'm sad max. and i couldn't understand how come i didn't do it.

This is weird. HAIS.

Nvm.. will be updating abt this one very soon! Still feeling very happy. And i can still relive it anytime i like! Except for the first part. HAHA. Those 3 hours are the best i've had for the past few months i swear. :)

Gmarket craze

All the items I've gotten.. *Ahem.

 As you can see, I've been crazy on gmarket.

Change of blog add!

A sudden decision to change my blog add.. It's been with me for the past 6 years! Not exactly, but it was also in the month of March! Such coincidence.

And this happens to be the 701th post? So, time to do a little change. 

Reason to change the add: (1) To move on for what i've experienced in life for these years (2) A little change to how i want to present myself in the blog

Yup, so if you have come to this page, thank you for still following me. :)

A little fan moment

A funny encounter i would say. Cos I totally didn't know it will happen. I didn't expect him to reply to the comments. But anyhows, since it happened, i might as well make use of the chance. HAHA! =x

The Rest of Dec. (Finally)

December was really so eventful i think my mum can't really be bothered if i go home for dinner anymore. hahaha!

Let's continue from where i left off, starting off with new numbers. haha.

灵异事件?

I can't believe it myself either. But it's damn freaky i swear.

Was walking to the usual bus stop after erhu lesson. i thought i saw someone sitting at the bus stop. Back-facing me/facing the road. On 1 of the 3 slanted benches - the one nearest to the oncoming traffic. But then when i walked nearer to the bus stop, there wasn't anyone there! And i swear the same thing happened last week, after lesson too!

I was rather freaked out cos it's the 2nd time. Last week i thought i was just too tired. Then this week leh? But i dunno is it really just me being tired and eyes playing tricks or there's really something. Anyhows, at least 'the person' didn't turn ard, nothing happened and I will just treat it as a eyes-tired event.

Somehow, my mum's friend was quite concerned and asked my mum to go pray for me for 犯太岁 this year. I hope i feel more secure and that i'm really fine from any misfortune or unluckiness from now. Hais. Been suay for the longest time you can think of. How long? I don't even rmb.

Ok. Good luck to myself for the coming year and hope i dun see that again next week!

Great Albums, Great Musicians, Great Music

Bought and listened to quite a few new albums lately. And all of them are local productions? haha.

Yup. I'm in favor of purchasing and supporting local singers, local productions. :) From 雨季, Fried Rice Paradise, Cinderel-Lah!, 请你告诉他 (Instrumental renditions of 梁文福's works) to JJ's 她说 and Kit Chan's 重译. They are all great works. Great great works.

I can't say which one I loved more. HAHA. Probably the last 2 are top of the list. Kit Chan's album is the latest I've got and it's on repeat in itunes at my work desk since (as long as i'm not listening to the radio). And I got to say, I love the cantonese numbers! And they can't be played on the radio. Aww... All of them nice leh! Somehow i think that the english numbers are nicer too. Oops. It goes to show that she's good for everything. Haha! :) Btw, 重译 means a 重新演绎.. re-interpretation. Thus, all the songs are ready. And she does the re-interpretation. The songs are all classics man. And the way she sang the songs, omg, so nice! I'm totally immersed in her voice. :)))

JJ's 她說.. is unfortunately, also a new renditions of songs. Just that they are all his past works. Songs that he wrote for other female singers. So ya, get the idea of the topic of 她說 yea? But I love the only new song in the album, i.e. the title of the album, music and lyrics by him and Stefanie Sun respectively. Nice song! :) The rest of the songs... Some i'm more in favor. Some less. Anyhows, some of the songs really sound so different from the original. And i didn't really know that those songs are written by him. HAHA. Oops. (Just as i'm typing this and watching 星光, 魏如昀 is singing that song. HAHA. I nv liked her, but i LOVE the song! :D) Few songs that i liked in the album: 她说, 心墙, 我不住的他, 一生的爱, 记得. Yup! :D

The rest are more of Musical OST. I LOVE THEM OF COS. Each has its own shine. Super like. And i'm still listening to them on and off now. Fav: Any song that is sang by Sebastian Tan. Not just that his voice is nice, the song is nice too. Esp. the ones in Fried Rice Paradise. Taufik was good in the CD too.. Most of them are really nice!! I still enjoy listening to it now. Fried... frieeed... frieeeddd rice. HAHA! :D And 請你告訴她 is like a long time fav. Love the whole scenic story that is portrayed in the song. The 3 part singing is so perfect. Others songs in December Rain is like LOVE! <3. Cinderle-Lah! is slightly less outstanding than the other 2. It's more family and cheerful, which has its good points too. I keep laughing at the ugly sisters' part. HAHA! And the sri-lankan crab part.

YAY. I'm super looking forward to the Concert!!!!!!!! JJ's Concert.. And hopefully Kit is going to have another concert, full length concert! :D

Black Swan

Indeed breathtaking for me. Sometimes I have to really hold my breathe. It could a little confusing and takes quite a bit to get what is going on. But have to say that both the dance and acting is really good. The psychotic mind of Nina is the main thing that is giving all the stories in the movie, it's all in her mind. After the show, it makes me ponder if some parts really did happen or not.

Quite exquisite for a dance show too. Love the dance steps and all. Maybe cos I've always liked Swan Lake. But suddenly it seems to how more of the dark side of the dance and the dance scene.

Hmm... The rating has its reasons I guess. Haha. I kinda feel like watching the uncut version. It is already quite bad and into detail for the M18. How is it like for the uncut?! Lol.

Ok. U can watch the show if u haven't. Every part of it has a story.

蔡康永的说话之道

A great book i must say.

内容很容易懂。 他用词真的很好， 同时表达他要读者知道的信息，又不失幽默感。小故事有人物，有情节；不枯燥乏味。

每个故事(短文)都有个主题, 很明确, 不拐弯抹角, 让读者读得轻松. 都好像轻松小品一样, 但内容很有深度.

很喜欢每篇短文以前都有插图, 画得很可爱, 也很符合内容. 先让读者有个大概念接下来会读到什么东西, 还不错.

推荐给身边的朋友和家人, 现在姐姐正开始读. 日前由朋友到了台湾, 想起我的推荐, 自己也买了一本, 说真得很好. 很高兴可以跟别人分享好书. :)

我不能说自己很会说话, 我只是会很小心地想自己应该说什么, 而且到最后通常都没说出口.但这也好过说错话吧.从书里学到很多在不同时候应该用的言语, 太有用了吧. 有时会觉得身边的人说话技巧很烂, 而且往往说话没想后果, 美估计别人的感受. 还是快快读一读这本书吧. 虽然不是每方面都可以照顾到, 但一定有可用之处! :)

CNY 2011 - Rabbit comes back again

It's been really an awesome cny. I haven't had such a good one for a long time. I had always thought that cny is just a reason for relatives to ask a lot of qns. well, probably still is, haha. But i dun feel it so much now. :)

And the best thing of all is, it's the first time i really felt damn happy with all my cousins and that i want to appear at every place we are going to. (i used to dread it so much) Usually i'm more close to the maternal side cousins, i think cos age gap closer (actually both side abt there). And i used to think i can't click with my paternal side cousins at all. But i was so surprised i managed to survive even without er-jie. Well, i used to be more comfortable with my sis ard cos she's the talkative one who will be talking with the cousins while i stay at the side. So when she's not ard, i usually just have to stay away. So i dunno what have gone into my social skills this year. I managed! hahaha. :D

And we had so much fun taking photos lah. Thanks to er-jie's new cam and my polaroid. hahaha. And surprised that 2 of the cousins working overseas came back for cny. That leaves only 1 cousin not ard this year. And that cousin is pregnant! Heard the baby girl is due in may. Our first next generation in the whole Lim family. And she's going to be a rabbit girl :))) Nice max.

In the midst of celebration was a farewell for zixin. She left so fast! But i'm seriously happy for what she's going to be! Wish her all well in adapting over there and get good results! And i wanna see her soon. :)

Am so glad that i've met most of the ppl i wished to meet during cny. having 4 days does make a difference. but it's really tiring for sure. Family most of the time, sy, mco and most impt, my beloved cogang. We were each other's for the whole day and practically went to all homes of those who went. that's 8 houses! Tired ttm but I love each and every one of them ttm too. I hope the coming weekend is good too! :D

I want to meet my fav ppl again. I want to see JJ this week! :D

A very long update for things happening from Oct to mid-Dec

It's been long since i talked abt the movies, concerts, plays, musicals, whatever events i attended. (been long since i last blogged anyway) =x And the albums i bought.. too many to update. I have at least 10 things on my list not updated. haha! But the thing is i've been to quite a few and also bought quite a no. of albums. ah... money sucking businesses.. but i dun care!

1. Charlie St. Cloud
Watched the movie with my da-jie @Iluma. Zac Efron is so good looking pls. HAHA! Anyway it's really a heartwarming piece of work. And I really do like Efron even more after the show. He has really beautiful eyes. I think i already said that when i saw him in Hairspray. hahaha! Yup, definitely the type of movie i like. Heh.

2. Sun Huang's Recital
Went to watch the recital with a few others @ Esplanade Recital Studio. She's really good with her techniques. Played with a lot of emotions and expressed to the fullest. However, we all agreed that that are some songs which are so not for her style. And, encore piece was Flight of the Bumble Bee, done in less than a minute! Like crazy omg.

3. Buffet @ Melt the World Cafe (Mandarin Oriental)
Went to their buffet dinner with my royals. Many exciting stuff! But overall was all right, catch up a lot with them. Plus, it's the first time i saw von chia ever since she came back from sydney! haha! It's been a really long time. I really miss the times we used to study (play most of the time) tgt. Anyhows, had a good time gossiping abt everything (outside and within us). Nv a grp of friends of mine have this kind of talking power. seriously, sometimes it's just embarrassing with them. But well, we are in our own world. LOL. Joke: We will eat at all the places until all of them ban us from going cos we are too noisy. =x

4. Nike Human Race
The race came right on the next day after the buffet. HAHA! Thing is i didn't really train much. and so stamina was like. hais. And it was sunny that day. And what was disappointing was the finisher gift. damn sian.

In the end we went for Mac breaky after the run and some of us 'dispose' the useless nike figurine there.

Then the rest of the afternoon was spent in bed and the toilet. Something went wrong somehow, i just kept on going to the toilet. sian ttm.

Kids kids! (Not all are now)

It's how interesting things has become.

Now, the little girl has left for another teacher, and here comes 3 adults for erhu lesson. And more surprisingly, i have a japanese, an angmoh, and a chinese! haha! But oh.. the angmoh and jap are husband and wife. Quite interesting to teach them.

At first i was thinking of teaching them well, as in to get everything right and have good basics. But after a little break from teaching them, i dropped and idea and decided that if i want to do it that way, they will lose interest very soon. So have to shorten the process and at least let them play something to make them feel better in learning the instrument.

Then now the violin kid has got some problem... not the first time his tears welled in his eyes when i ask him to play something new. I think he really didn't want to learn violin anymore... and he is a person with his own mind, cos he already told his parents but still they continue to sign him up for the class. I kept trying to put some sense and some interest into him... but then, he 无动于衷. Esp. when it comes to learning new songs. He is very resistant. And it's very hard to teach him like that. And very hard to control. I have to call his name at least 10 times, and say 'take out your book' 10 times, and 'take out your violin', and 'that's enough ok, williem' before he listens. Or he might not even listen. And that's seriously tiring. Hais... i hope he doesn't give up that soon. But i guess i have to talk to his parents. 

For the rest of the students.. more or less the same.. and i'm quite happy abt my yishun students. All making good progress.. except for the P4 boy... hais.. too lazy, too quiet too. While all my other students are very noisy and very talkative (including the previous girl), this particular one is way too too too quiet. Plus he nv practise!!! I have to repeat the same thing to him every week. and now is their school holidays. Hais. I think his parents didn't have enough attention on him. I've nv seen them before anyway, it's always the maid who is bringing him. He ah... i also dunno how...

After the mad rush

All the frantic moments are gone and we are back to normal. However, somehow i prefer all the hard work to go through. rather than to stay on the desk and had not much goals to follow. So should i say i prefer a more eventful work life? hahaha.

Anyways, it was really an eventful Nov. And it's going to be an eventful Dec too! (as it always is) I'm quite happy that some things are going to happen and some things that have happened.

Suddenly i'm lost for words for how i feel the whole time. I'm actually grateful that we had a bunch of very helpful student helpers for this period. While I was sometimes lost in what i'm supposed to do, they have nv doubted me, or so i think at least. (HAHA!) And glad that they are quite enthu towards doing everything. :) Oh and seriously i think i owe julian sng one. He seriously agreed to help me at the very last min. Plus it was us who didn't have the great idea whether we need another or not. But luckily we did, and luckily he did! I'm super thankful to have a friend like that. :) And through the whole event, we realised how long and how well we knew each other, although these few years we interact lesser. hahaha! Not bad ah... Heh.

Another reason to be happy... there were some compliments here and there. (though there were reprimands too). But i was quite surprise to have those comments. lol. And it gives me the motivation to do even better the next time round. Oh.. that is if i'm still here next year. HAHA. But actually i hope i still am. And in fact i'm quite comfortable with the environment as of now? haha.. we'll see lah. :)