So the ministry finally responded to my email of 6 March. Actually wasn't expecting them to but they did & the reply was...umm can't find a word for it. My lingerie is more interesting lol. Opened a pandora's box in my opinion.

I have no idea why they replied that my appeal has been rejected. In my last email I didn't ask for re-consideration or re-appeal. I stated quite clearly that son will take his CL exams. We had already accepted the earlier rejection. Maybe should have done in caps, bold & 30 pts font.

They brought up the point that the officer met with Ryan & the teachers & what happened etc. Errr hello...anyone home ? I was there at the meeting. I know what happened. I said so in the same email.

Then they mentioned the "criteria" for exemption again. That would be the 4th or 5th time. Seems like a pathological fixation with the "criteria".

There seems to be a problem comprehending/processing (or lack of ?) the contents of my mail. Had the response been different, I would not have been agitated.

If I were in their position, I would have replied :

Thank you for your email of 6 March to ---. We are so sorry that we have been unable to assist with the exemption as Ryan, unfortunately, does not qualify. We do thank you for your understanding and kind acceptance of our decision.

We also thank you for your comments and will convey them to the management for their review and consideration.

We are sure that with the support & encouragement of yourselves & the school, Ryan will make progress. And we wish him all the best with his PSLE exams and future endeavours.

Very PR-ish but so swee swee maah ! But I didn't say so in my reply...later they use as template lol.

In my reply, I stated for the record that we did not re-appeal, we accepted the decision of no exemption, that we were there at the meeting & there is no necessity to bring up the (drumroll) "criteria".

And I went on to state the crux of the matter which they did not get. It is not the rejection for exemption. My grumble is how it was handled from the start. Don't send a rejection letter & then send an officer to meet with the child & the teachers. For what ?

Do it the other way round. Send the officer to do an assessment of the child & talk to the teachers. Then send a letter a week later to say sorry, can't exempt. Even if internally the decision was already made earlier, it doesn't matter. Reject after assessment. Get the processes right. The parents will be satisfied.

Anyway, I said no need to reply. Just wanted to air my views. Quite fatigued.

Had a nice lunch with my two colleagues who are leaving. Glad one of them has a job to move on to & the other has interviews lined up.

They told me that in the movie Just Follow Law which I have not watched, a middle aged lady took up some courses to improve herself. So she learnt how to use the computer & started her own blog. Blog site is called laucharbor.com hahahah. I should have thought of that for my blog space. But I not quite lau so maybe I should have used chiobu.com.blogspot lolol.

Arggghhh...son got hold of ciggies & wanted to secretly experiment. His plan got foiled. Which is a good thing. Long lecture went on about the hazards & our own experiences with smoking. We know kids are curious & will attempt such (mis)adventures at one time or another. We've let our kids try beer & wine. So that they know what it tastes like & won't be curious to try it on the quiet. So we offered him a ciggie to try, infront of us. He refused & was remorseful. We also impressed on him that the hard core stuff would be destructive. Also told him that he should not let peer pressure influence him & how to handle it. Say no even if the peers say he is stupid. Better to be stupid than dead.

Errr I hope that Hwa Chong wins the debate finals. But I think they won't. Missed the results.

Waaaaah ! Ribena has no vitamin C ?? I grew up with that. Maybe that's why I didn't grow upwards very much lolol.

Lament for the Day : Am I so magniloquent that I can't be understood or just incomprehensible ?

Goats...I must now talk about the goats that Sarah is referring to in the tagboards.

Many many many years ago, long before Sarah was born, hubby & I were on the bus somewhere along Sembawang. I say excitedly to him, look at the bunch of dogs, so cuuuute.

He says, that Goats lah !

How I know Singapore still got herds of goats running beside a main road.

So its Monday...what can I say....

But I got my tag board. Thanks Sarah baaaabyyyyy !

Finished two parts of presentation project today. And learnt something new. Well a whole bunch actually.

Have 3 colleagues leaving at the end of the month. Attrition expected after bonus period. Having lunch with 2 of them tomorrow as I can't make it to the group dinner on Friday. Phantom on Friday....in dreams he sang to me, in dreams he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name. And do I dream again. For now I find, the phantom of the opera is there, inside my heeeeeeeaaad.

Then on Wednesday with the other colleague. Funny how we have never had lunch together in all the time she has been here. Takes her leaving for us to really find time to do a meal together. We've done the official company makan sessions together but those don't count.

Like in all companies, there will be different groups of kaki who lunch together. Seems like the norm. I have my own lunch kakis too. There are always people you get along better with. Anyway, I go through these phases; eating lunch out everyday & then for a period, I will stay in during lunch.

Dun care for Myrna & Charla on Amazing Race after they cheated. And they arrived first in Zanzibar. Oh bleah ! Lololol they don't know what a catamaran is.

Sarah blogs that she has bimbotic tendencies. Don't think that's from my genes lol. What's the definition of bimbo anyway ? Slutty, silly, dumb, blur & uses physical charms to attract the guys ? Don't think sarah is bimbotic leh. She can be goofy & blur but that's about it. Besides, she has brains. At least I think she does lol.

On the news, nuns having fun. In the Philippines a group of nuns accompanied their bishop to bless the opening of a casino. Then the nuns were seen trying the one-armed bandits & criticised. What's the harm in that ? Just curious nuns trying it for fun as they were probably given a tour after the opening formalities. Why even have nuns & bishop in a casino in the first place then ? I dun geddit. Pleeeeease lah, worse things happening in the world & they quibble over fun nuns.

Told my colleague I'd watched 300. She had already seen it before I did. We talked about the fab abs again.

Not gonna bother watching Mr Bean's Holiday. Lame I think. Newspaper review says watching it is like "enduring coporal punishment" lol. Love their pun "Oh Bean there, done that". Sarah don't waste my money on that movie pleeeeeeease. Shrek 3, Die Hard, Harry Potter & Pirates more my cuppa tea. Not really a Spiderman fan so can pass on that one. Hope Die Hard & Pirates won't be letdowns.

Interesting that Bangkok Don Muang Airport reopened. The new Suvarnabhumi airport which I have never been to has been plagued with problems. It was still Don Muang when we were there last June. Friends who have been there didn't have good things to say. Think I will pass on Bangkok till the taxi-way cracks are fixed up. Are there really cracks ??

Lament for the day : Nuns trying out slot machines is serious news ?

Watched 300 yesterday & it was good. I liked the sepia-like rendition. Gerard Butler is a pretty intense actor. And supporting cast were good too.

When Xerxes first made his appearance, hubby said look like Kumar lol. Which I thought so too. Then Xerxes spoke, quite funny that his voice was soooo deep lol. And of course, phwaaaah there were the 6-packs & 8-packs...not just one fella, but the whole army LOL. Verrrrrry nice indeed.

I not so shallow lah, I also think very stylish production, dramatization & special effects. Some bits may not be factually correct but this a based on the comic book version. Plus these events happened in the 480sBC so who is to know if historical records were accurately recorded & then subsequently translated. But that's what movies are all about; to entertain & to do that, certain liberties will certainly be taken. Anwyay, I'd like to watch the 1962 version of The 300 Spartans.

I read that Apocalypto is an inaccurate dramatization. According to Mayan experts. But like I say...how accurate are historical records as they could be manipulated & how accurate are translations. Just like Passion, the blood & gore gruesome, not exactly palatable but I thought good movies overall. And of course I cried at Passion.

May be planning a short trip to Phuket (again) with hubby, Kel & Jo whom we met up with last night. Fishing trip with Rickie who is based there. At least I will have Jo for company. Just maybe cos of the exams.

CSI Sundays ! Yaaaay !!

Lament for the day : so sad hubby only has a one-pack LOL.

Funny how people can change even over a short period of time. Hadn't seen this person in around 2 years & quite suprised at the changes. Got an air of arrogance, talks like know everything, use words I dun understand. Maybe just to confuse us further & pull wool over our eyes. All we wanted to know was why, how & when. In simple engrish lah. Hazy days are back in more ways than one lol.

Was waiting at taxi stand at Great World City. Second in line. After the front customer boarded teksi, was my turn. But before the 1st customer's cab could drive off, one ang moh in suit approached the second taxi (which was MINE!!). He was holding a piece of paper, obviously wanting to know if the driver knew where it was & to take him. Not ang moh's fault cos he is most likely a foreigner, didn't know there was a taxi stand. But taxi man took him ! I forgot to take taxi number down.

I know I am bladdy short lah but there was nothing blocking the taxi driver from seeing me waiting. I could have run there & banged on door but high heels leh. And besides got a whole long line of cabs & no other passengers. Honestly it was a completely unobstructed view. Maybe taxi man blind in which case he shouldn't be driving.
I grumbled to my cab driver & he said he saw me so cannot be that the taxi driver infront of him couldn't see me. Sigh.

Then as my cab was at Newton Circus, another cab (it has to be a cab!) from the right lane cuts into our lane (we going straight) to make a left. Lucky my cab was going slow otherwise sure to have accident. Blasted his horn & the other taxi driver just stopped & looked like not happy, that kind of "&^%*@! Kua si mi" look. But he was in the wrong.

I don't drive but I think Newton Circus is one helluva confusing circle to go around & to boot, plenty of traffic. Dunno who is coming from where & turning to where. Why not get rid of the circle & go simple with traffic lights.

I always wondered why its Newton Circus & not Newton Circle. But apparently circus doesn't just mean the circus with the clowns, elephants, trapeze artists. It is also, in British definition, "an open circle, square, or plaza where several streets converge". Like Piccadilly Circus.

Watching The American Haunting on DVD. Heh...dunno why I want to scare myself. Many many many years ago, I watched The Exorcist, as a very young teenager, on video. Alone at home. I still have visions of some parts of the movie. As an adult I have never watched it again. Hubby says now if we watch it will probably seem funny. But I don't think so. Some of the scenes are really quite disturbing to me till this day. Plus now old, dun want to scare myself into a heart attack. I do watch horror movies & don't usually get frightened. But why take the risk lol.

Interesting conversation over dinner. Ryan's birthday falls on Good Friday where we generally fast, no meat. Usually just sardines sandwiches. So I was telling Ryan no b'day cake & mum in law says cake can because no meat. Well yes. But I understand that it is fasting & abstinence. The latter would to me mean, abstaining from indulging in something which gives you pleasure. So that would mean no cake as that would be indulging in something enjoyable. Hubby says when he was young, he wasn't even allowed to watch TV on Good Friday. I guess it has become a little more relaxed over the years. So customs and beliefs are man-made & tailored or adjusted according to fashions of the time & perhaps even convenience.

Why is it "Good" Friday as that was the day of Christ's cruxifiction. So I checked it up. Apparently, 'Good' implies that Christ died "to free everyone from sin, & suffering & death are not pointless". That is according to the Church. I am not sure if I understand this concept. Are the guilty sinless as the world continues to be plagued with war, dissension, fear, suspicion, greed, hate, pain & suffering, most of which are caused by man ? Are the natural disasters now so prevalent, signs of something impending ? Very Nostradamus hor. Which I read many years ago as a teen. I can't say if I believe Nostradamus or not. Just like I can't say if I believe in the Da Vinci Code. Though I did enjoy the book. Much much more than the movie. The latter was a huge disappointment.

I'm not an Atheist. I came from a Catholic school & am married to a Catholic family. Religion is good as it builds a strong moral foundation. I am glad my kids are religious. But I believe religion should never be taken to the extreme as it can breed discord. No religion teaches you anything bad. It is man that makes it so by interpreting the teachings & beliefs the way they want them to be. Not misinterpretation or misconception. Rather a deliberatel mis-use.

Today I very cheem, dunno why. Just my thoughts lah.

Lament for the day : jialat...must figure out menu for the big family Easter Sunday do.

Back was bad today so went for massage during lunch. Told my masseuse to give me a more relaxing massage which he obliged. I usually have a massage where the pressure is pretty intense as I like my tight muscles worked on. But not today. A more relaxed massage yet working on my problem spots. Not the gentle swedish massage...that type no shiok. Anyway, feel better some. Must drink plenty of water to flush the toxins. When he hit the spots at the kidney...wah lau, can cry man. And also the nodes at the butt. I think they are called nodes unless butt cheeks got muscles ??

I can't believe Idol. What the fark ?? I was right. What Sanjaya did got him more votes...sigh. DUH ! Singing competition leh, what the hell happened ?? Every season also liddat yet I still watch lol. Sucker. But I know I am not the only one...got loads of frenz & colleagues who are suckers too lol. Makes it fun to rant & bitch together. And mostly we share the same opinion so we cannot be dumb & deaf.

Have been doing some research to work on a presentation. Very wide scope of research so was pretty brain dead by the end of the day trying to write & piece it together. But its interesting as you learn something new. Cannot say what project is as has not been announced to press. Heh !

The flesh eating parasite is pretty scary. My godparents told me about a friend who encountered this when in HK. Don't think this incident was ever publicised. Pays to be cautious with any bite & react immediately to the symptoms as you never know.

Was watching a docu on Phantom of the Opera a few days ago. People of certain vintage will remember the actor who was cast as the Phantom in the stage production in 1986, Michael Crawford. He was a skinny comic actor on a British sitcom, Some Mothers Do Have 'Em & played the role of Frank Spencer. Some years ago when I found out he was the original Phantom, I was amazed cos in the sitcom, he had a nasally voice, was blur, wimpy & nerdy lol.

Anyway, he had fantastic reviews when the show opened in London & subsequently also in Broadway. The docu interviewed some other stars & people in the industry & they were all there to "see Frank Spencer" & to see if he could sing lol. They were highly impressed. He won a number of awards for that role both in the UK & the States. He was 44 when he first played the role of Phantom & retired from that role when he was 47. That is pretty awesome.

Sarah Brightman didn't fare so well with the press. She was apparently to them, not pretty enough & did not have a fantastic voice. We all know how she got the role...she was married to Andrew Lloyd Webber at that time. And he wrote this for her. I am not too fond of her voice in the role as Christine. A bit too operatic. It should have a less shrill quality. But heck, what do I know. Apparently, there was one occasion that Brightman was not well & her understudy played the role. Understudy was good & then the very next night Brightman was back on stage. That's what the docu said lah.

The girl...forget her name, only remember Gerard Butler lol...who played the role of Christine in the 2004 film version wasn't fantastic either. I understand she was 17 or 18. Anyway, very pretty & nice voice but acting one dimensional. That's my take lah.

My first experience with opera was Aida. I must say I was quite taken in. But I had to swivel my head from stage to screen for the translation. Still a good show.

Les Miserable was very good too. Joseph & the Amazing Techicolour Dreamcoat was very entertaining. Most recently watched Notre Dame. It was okay. We picked up the CD of music. Sarah commented that the singers sound exactly the same as they did on stage. Surely the singing on stage is live ??? This was at the indoor stadium. There was no orchestra pit. At least I didn't see one ?? The attendance was not too fantastic also. We were invited to move nearer at there were a good number of seats unoccupied.

You know, the most expensive seats to a concert or show may be closer but doesn't look the most comfy. First got to tilt head up towards the stage & the seats are just normal plastic or banquet chairs. Dunno...I never paid for such expensive seats.

Our last concert was tooooo long ago. It was the Eagles...fantastic ! Of course saw some friends at the concert lah cos same age group lol. Same like at Bread concert lol.

Ryan still has fever coming & going but at least its not high. Still on his meds & tried to suan me about not going to school tomorrow. Not a heartless mum lah but he was eating very well today & didn't seem lethargic. In anycase, he will get good rest this weekend.

Lament for the day : will Jesus Christ Superstar ever play here ?

Not much today. Spent the morning in JB for work & was back by lunch.

Ryan went to the doc & is off sick from school tomorrow also. Messaged his form teacher to let him know & then had his Chinese teacher messaging me as well. Good people. Good teachers. And caring. Ryan is better today but will still need to rest to recover completely.

Didn't get an answer to my letter which I sent to the Ministry. May not get one. It doesn't matter, situation hasn't changed except Ryan is getting tuition from someone who isn't out to make a fast buck. Plus the CL teacher at school is working with him after school.

Watched Idol on Star World of course. Had a good laugh over Sanjaya. He was different, not so boring. A little bit more entertaining. But still, cannot make it. Methinks someone else may be booted instead of him. I'd like Lakisha & Melinda to make it to top 2. The latter just gets better & better.

Haven't heard from Matt in a bit. Think he is still out of town. He told me when he would be back but as usual, I forget. The age thing lah. The remember is not so good as one gets older.

Anth is fine. Messaged her yesterday to check if she was okay. Told me she made her decision. Glad for her. She needs a break. Go on a holiday & do nothing. I wouldn't mind going with her lol.

Heroes is a pretty good series. Dunno abour Fashion House. The trailers don't tickle my fancy. Heard good things about 300. Will watch with hubby. Actually I wanna watch it for Gerard Butler lol. I hear he is barebodied most of the movie :p

Also excited about next Harry Potter book. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. Kids not so excited but its okay cos I will get to read it first. Its amazing how JK Rowlings gets her ideas.

A bit tired. Brain dead. May be flu bug catching up to me. May be cos of the early morning I had. But most likely cos I am an old fart. So time out before I babble & blubber.

Lament for the day : Can't think of one.

ahhhhhh Ryan has caught the bug from Sarah. Now nursing a fever of some 38 deg C. I knew that was going to happen. Wonder if my aching muscles are a sign that I'm catching the bug too...sigh.

I kept mulling over what I posted yesterday. Why was there a need to impress. I still don't get it. I tried to delve a little deeper, thinking through all that had transpired & tales told. And I still haven't figured out the reason why. I offered an opportunity to clear the air but that didn't happen. Perhaps I am reading too much into it & becoming too suspicious. So no more pondering. Not worth getting a headache over.

Interesting debate going on TV. I tend to agree that the system breeds elitism. There must be a reason why everyone rushes to sign their kids into the "better" schools. If not alma mater then have to volunteer or pray that the school got no balloting.

As for the specialised schools like the arts school or sports school. You would have to be extremely talented in the field to be able to get in. There are pre-requisites I am sure. That is already the beginnings of breeding elitism. I'm not saying that its bad. Its all good because you have a specialised school to nurture the talents which cannot be done in mainstream schools.

But for some reason, its the tone & manner in which its expressed. Like "Oh my daughter is in the Sports School" or "Oh I am in the Arts School". Its the tone thing. Ohhhh I am guilty of that too cos I am proud that my kids are in the schools that they are in. Their schools not the "best" lah (if you can define best) but the more established ones. Plus my alma mater so definitely top of my list no matter what people may say. Bleah !

Tomorrow I'm off to JB for a morning event & back to the office after. Have to meet my colleagues in the office at 7.30am & then drive there...yawn ! So that means early to bed because old people need the beauty sleep & the bed rest lol.

Sarah didn't bowl today. As I posted before, she had an injury which prevented her from attending full training. So it was only fair that the reserve take her place. But she was there to support. She said her coach & a teacher-in-charge said sorry but she doesn't think any apology was necessary cos she wasn't in good form. She just wants the school to do well. Besides there are other tournaments & next year. Very excellent attitude if I may say so. Must be my genes LOL.

Sarah was doing research in euthanasia & popped in to tell me that there is a euthanasia church. I googled. Its commandment "Thou shall not procreate". And its 4 pillars : suicide, cannibalism, sodomy & abortion. I didn't go beyond that front page of the website as it disgusted me. WTF ????? Should never be allowed on the www. I seriously think that there must be some international laws on what goes on the www & an organisation to police it.

The dictionary defines euthanasia as Mercy Killing ; "the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition".

So go figure.

Lament for the day : There are some really weird things going on in the big wild world. And I don't mean a mass orgy.

Sarah stayed home from school as she was really ill. Her temp was almost 39 deg c. Mum in law was also under the weather & had not gone to church yesterday which is very unusual for her. I decided to take leave today just to ensure that Sarah's temp didn't skyrocket & also I needed to visit the dentist. She is on the mend, thankfully. No doctor visit this time. Just off the shelf flu panadol, lots of gargling with salt, warm honey lemon & the remnants of the antibiotics from the bee sting.

Dental visits used to scare me till I was in my 20s. Yes, that bladdy long ! I remember vividly till today...I was a child & there was this huge dentist, wearing glasses, dressed in white. He was holding this syringe with a needle as thick as friggin pencil lead !! And it hurt like hell when he used it on me.

I remember screaming in pain & fear. Dunno pain more or fear more. I think I might have been hysterical ?? I remember being held down by the dental assistant or my mum or someone, who knows. And I remember how the dentist was looming above me twisting & turning with something that looked like pliers from dad's toolbox. I sumpah, he had this crazed gleeful look on his face. Maaaaan !

For years I refused to step into a dental clinic. Who can blame me. I mean, I was a CHILD for pity's sake & kena such a monster. Imagine...I am still small (I like the word "petite") so can you imagine how much smaller I was at 6 or 7 ??? Sure terrorised what. Worst still, the dentist didn't try to be kind by talking to me softly & gently to alleviate my fears before he did his work. He just plunged right in. Jab, jab, twist, pull, twist, pull, twist, pull. Wah liau ! No foreplay lol. Like some horror movie -- The Demented Dentist. I think I am not alone in my tale of terror. If I am then I would be really depressed :<

I had no choice but to visit the dentist years later when I had a toothache. I was amaaaaaaaaazed at how thin the needle was. Could barely feel it. And everything was a breeze. Since then I faithfully go for my checks annually. Even bravely endured a few weeks of root canal. Damned good if I may say so myself. BUT, somewhere deep down still got some niggling fear lah. So I go to the same dentist. And he was very good with our kids when they were young. The first time Sarah went, he spent half an hour hahahaha or more coaxing her. It was only to pull out one milk tooth. His wife assists him & she too was very patient.

For someone who didn't have any epidural or painkillers through two births, quite funny to think that I was scared of dentists for so long & still harbour abit of that fear. heh.

Its quite a blow to find out that your friend isn't what it makes itself out to be. The untruths revealed. Not dogged sleuthing. Just accidental discovery, being at the right place at the wrong time. Or the wrong place at the right time. Whatever. Busted !

Makes you wonder what else has been intricately spun & woven to create a lavish fairytale. And worse, what exaggerations may have been regaled that have caused unhappiness & misunderstandings. And all the tales told, one upon another, pile up till it forgets what might have been said & done. And when that happens, doubts begin to simmer & boil. Till soon, erupts like Mt Vesuvius !

More disappointment & disapproval than anger at this point. No use for the latter cos not worth the effort.

If your friends need to be impressed by you just to be your friend, then they ain't no friend. With true friends, you can just BE.

Lament for the day : ice balls aren't what they used to be.

Interesting article today about the Lim inheritance & the search for the aunts. Did I read right that the inhertance was in excess of S$100 million ??? I can imagine the fraudsters that would come a knocking. So if no relatives are found & the money goes to the state, what does the state do with the money ? As its not rightfully theirs, maybe the money should be put aside and distributed annually amongst charities.

So my bro in law may be getting married. Good for him cos I think he is a very nice guy & I like his girlfriend. One relative said to me "Awwww you won't be the only daughter in law anymore". I honestly don't mind. Being the only daughter-in-law hasn't made me feel special nor have I been treated special. Neither have I been pressurized. Its been good & I get along well with my in-laws. My sisters-in-law are closer to each other which is expected as they are sisters. It just would be nice to have another sister-in-law who is a daughter-in-law like me.

Speaking of in-laws, I forgot to mention that mum-in-law is with us for these 2 months. Easter Sunday will entail a party at our place for the family as she is here. I better start thinking of the menu. Something different from the usual mee siam or laksa or curry chicken. Chialat !!

Sarah has been susceptible to the flu alot lately. She woke up this morning with a sore throat, cold & cough. Now she has a fever. First the injury to leg, the bee sting & now the flu. And tomorrow is back to school to boot. She's been downing warm honey lemon & gargling with salt water. The latter, I swear, really works well for sore throat. The antibiotics she is taking for the bee sting should help & we've given her some panadol flu tablets. And she ought to drink more water which she doesn't.

I realised I have not talked about my godson. I've been made grand-aunt 3 times over but never been a godma. So it was a big BIG thrill for me when hubby & I were made godparents to our good friends' son. He is such a cutie pie with a wonderful disposition. Smiley all the time except when hungry & wanting to be carried.

And Sarah -----> its not hornet's nest. Its a wasp nest & it wasn't huge lah. About 4 inches long lah. But there were pupae & a worm....very very icky.


Lament for the day : I wonder if I could be related to those millions...........