Children.... love them for who they are.

I've got two teenage daughters. Needless to say I doted over them. Both in the Express stream and one sitting for her 'O's this year. A prefect. A team-leader. Someone her peers look up to.

Last Fri we collected her mid-year results. She flunked all except one subject! Although she tries hard to keep up, we know she has not been doing well since last year & this was partly due the her CCAs (schools' trying to score 'Gold' award in SYF, last years YOG, Prefect duties, Camp etc etc. ). We tried to take her out of all this but school says CCA is IMPORTANT for character development. Seems to me that school CCA ranking is taking a precedant over our childrens academic resuls.

We also knew that exam standards set in schools are purposely set way higher than the 'O's themselves so we're not overly worried. Well, thats a lie. And its not because of her results that we're worried.

The mean results for the cohort hovers around 48%. This means that half of the cohort actually FAILED for subj like English, Maths, Science etc. In effect, half FAILED prelim 'O' levels.

I was ready to read her the riot act but looking at the stats, shouldnt the school & teachers be worried about their jobs?! This was ammo! Anyway, while with my daughter, I gave the teachers (& school) a good once over. Speechless they were!

Later on in the evening, we privately counselled her for her poor results. Wished her and hope that she does well & provide emotional support.

BTW, we heard yesterday that one of her cohort took his own life. Jumped out from way above. 2nd one this year. :(

We dont know why. Could it have been something to do with the poor showing at school? Parents scolding due to the prelim results? Mondays 1st 'O' level paper? We can only wonder. It is sad.

She doesnt know that we knew. Man, was I worried.

So parents, dont be overly too hard on your children eh. Love them for who they are.

'Dance On' cover tune

Hi all!!
Long time no post ...

Showcasing the b/day gift gtr and Line 6 Spider II that the wife bought for me in Dec.

This... a cover tune from the Shadows.

SoundClick artist: Gooose's OMO - page with MP3 music downloads

Nice short easy tune that anyone can play.
The challenge was to keep it clean and 'on the beat'.

First take btw. A bit sloppy at the end tho...

Hope yawl like it!

Our 11 year old daughter as Little 'Pink' Riding Hood!

This public performance was for Danceworks 2009 Category 1 Anti-Drug competition held recently at Toa Payoh Hub

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewXjFNJ8SHA&feature=related

Both our daughters have always been the main performers since their kindergarten days. Taking part in national level competitions with moderate sucess.

But now that the elder is in secondary school, her interest has moved to music, She plays the clarinet in her school symphonic band.

Needless to say, we are very proud of them.

More babies? I don't think so :(

So whats my view on this govt initiative for us citzens to 'produce' more?

Hmmm... thats not a hard one. No, for me.

This'll be a sore subject matter for some. But we're all adults right?

RIGHT? ;-)

We're minorities a.k.a. "this countrys' unwanted sons/daughters"

Now, even if 'they' try to hide it, after 43-years of independence, we're still being marginalised. It exists here and now but what can they do about it. Like it or not, racism (sorry... cant find a more subtle word) is sticking around for the long run.

Should we have more children, would you want them to go through the difficulties that you're going through right now?

What is the point of 'higher-learning' when opportunities are scarce for the 'unwanted' ones? If you 'quit' to another country, the chances would be better. Most will rebuke and say that the 'grass is always greener on the other side'. But look down between your feet. Do you see any grass where you're standing? Let alone weeds? I don't.

If you do, well good for you.

How will they survive? Like us? Right now?
I'd rise up from the dead to defend my children if it were ever possible. Thats how much I love them.

The govt 'rewards' its citizens for having more children and this is only for the short-term. Thereafter, you're on your own. Can you afford it? Working 24/7 to provide for all. Your children will not see you around much, your life will.... sheesh! Go do your own thinking!!

However 'just' the meritrocratic systems is, it CANNOT guarantee EQUAL opportunity in everything (jobs/military/govt posts etc) unless legislated.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting such a thing!! God forbid!! If there is one, the repercussions are unimaginable. As best as they can, our govt is doing a good job. But like everything else in the world today, things could be better.

I wish i could have more kids. Really. But the future for them (on ALL fronts) is BLEAK and I don't see things getting better in time to come.

...and I am sad. :(


.............................

Glassdoor

Hey guys,

First off, i'm not in any way connected to this ppl or am earning any dough from them!

But thought I'd give you a heads-up on this site where you can review/appraise your current or ex-employers. All this, anonymously.

I think it was mentioned in the local papers too.

http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm

I dont see many SG companies in there but I'm sure it'll be helpful for our jobseekers to dig-in and find out a companys' work culture, renumeration policies, expectations, etc. (the stuff you tend to find out too late) before considering an application.

And of course, for the employers to improve themselves.Its about time too employees are given an opportunity to give feedback without fear of being reprimanded by their bosses or have their suggestions thrown out with the garbage.

Many positive & equally scathing reviews to be read.

So... go take a look!

Knowing when to walk away

“A person may have sufficient intelligence to secure himself a high office but needs virtue to keep that position.

A person may have sufficient intelligence and virtue to secure and keep his office but he will not have respect of the people if he does not treat them with dignity.

A person may be intelligent and virtuous and respected, but he is still imperfect unless he conducts himself with propriety.”

– Confucius (551-479 B.C.)

How true.

One year. That was the time-frame I gave myself on how much crap I was going to put up with. And “Three-strikes; I’m outta here!” rule.

Heh…come to think of it, it was more than three strikes and it was less than a year since the 'development'.

Others have left ‘cos I suppose they can’t take the slurs much longer. In spite of this, being the steadfast individual that I am, bitterly hung on while wishing for the best. But that didn’t happen.

The day came about. Knowing full well that the next one could just invite criminally unrestrained retaliation, it was time to walk away. As they say in Singapore “Cannot tahan already!”

Regrets? I have many. But not this time round. I’d rather suffer adversity than have my self-esteem and dignity mortified by an individual lacking in respect for others; and sadly for itself too.

So, what about you? How far will you go? When do you think you should walk away?
You don’t have to answer of course ‘cos there isn’t a need for me to know.
Just something for you to think about.


* The 3-Strikes, if I recall correctly…
Strike #1 – an accident
Strike #2 – a coincidence
Strike #3 – a conspiracy


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Father Gooses' Kitchen Adventures

Today, I was preparing lunch and was tearfully peeling onions (okay... only one but it was a BIG one). I came to remember what Mrs Goose said the other day. She said I turned her on with my cooking and that I looked sexy (really Mrs Goose?) when I'm in the kitchen. Hmm... must be the smell of the oyster sauce that got to my face that got her to go nuts. Needless to say, I scored some points that night.

Now, I'm not going to boast and say that I'm a culinary expert or anything like that. But the family loves it when Dad cooks. P-e-r-i-o-d.
(oh yeah... and when dad picks-up, cleans-up, washes-up, irons... etc after them)

Some people say that cooking skills comes naturally to a person. And even if you send someone to a cooking class they still can't cook decent enough for themselves! Heh... I don't know how true that is but I'm sure you've heard the stories. BTW, I'd like to thank guys like Jamie Oliver, The Chef in Black the "two-dudes-on-a-bike" and many others for sharing the 'macho' art of express cooking.

Going back to the first paragraph, I'm still trying to figure out what she meant by that. What's so sexy about a man in the kitchen cooking up some chow for the family? Was it the apron? The cleaver* I held? The toxic fumes?

Hmmm... maybe I'll ask her when she gets back tonight.
And until I get an answer, daddy's NOT cooking when mum is around.

Just kidding kids!


*I just hate small knives. They are so 'un-macho'. LOLz