The sun has set...

Yup, today is my last day. It ended with many poignant moments. Filled with friends, now ex-collegues, biddding farewell and wishing me the best. Some of them even pooled money to get me a gift. Very touching. Some of my pupils said goodbyes and I got teary eyed. So the sun has set on this chapter of my life.
A new chapter has started though. I solat with my son. It has been such a long time since I solat. Now I can. And I wish to have no more excuse to be solating with my son anymore.
I ended my official working day watching the flag lowering ceremony by the sideline. I guess that is where I will be now, by the sideline.
Come to think about it, its not the profession that I missed, its the though of not meeting my friends again that is causing me anguish. I have has this feelings before. I remember the first time was when it was the last day of my 1st year in Pre-U. I still remember them. Sukaimi, Aswadi, Yudi. I wonder if they are on facebook.
Yup, the sun has set. But it'll rise again, and what a coincidence, it'll rise on a Friday, the mightiest of all days.
Insyaalah.

Adam's birthday.

It is now 7 minutes into Adam's birthday. Su just called and they have yet to reach their destination, Boston. They have just reached JFK and will have to board another flight to Boston (an hour's flight). They would only be boarding in two hours time. Sure stress...

Anyway, I created an album for Adam's toys. It'll be filled up real soon I bet.

Macaroni and Cheese

The plan was to have lunch and my mum's place. But she sms me at 7 in the morning that she is going JB. There goes Mee Soto. So I went to Tampines Market for some marketing (duh?) Bought some $45 worth of fish and prawns.
Lunch, we had fried maggi, which my maid finds it delicious; she is the maggi expert in the family.
Then I decided to try making macaroni and cheese.
I heated up about 5 tspoon of olive oil.
Put in a 1 cm slab of butter.
Add in a dash of pepper.
Stir in the cooked macaroni.
Add in shredded parmesan, edam and cheddar.
Placed it in the oven for about 20 minutes.
Result is a white, sticky substance which produces a strong cheesy smell.
When I first took a bite out of it, it sort of turn me off. But now, after it has cooled and I'm eating it while on the computer, I finished the whole plate in less than 5 minutes.

Oh, I bought the cheeses at Cold Storage.
What is the plan for the rest of the day?
For my maid, its cleaning up the kitchen after the mess.
For me, go to metro, buy a present for Adam's cousin, and maybe buy him a surprise for his birthday, for it is tomorrow. He has been eyeing that Ben 10 watch for so long.
Then it's to the cousin's birthday party by four. Then i think we'll hit woodlands for dinner.

Its a Sturday

Its a Sturday. Not very Sturdy for me I'm afraid. Have not set put to get work but did managed to clear my cupboard. Now its just the table. God help me. Wife is on the way to the states now. Actually her fliight is at 11.50pm, So I guess she is still at the airport. Adam is asleep in his room and I'm thinking of which market to go to tomorrow. Maybe Geylang. Will post pic soon.

I can't sleep.

I was awaken at half past midnight. I watched tv until 2 and it is now 2.34am. It's already Friday and I'm only a few days away from my R-Day. The day I will resign from the service. As I lay on my bed, I can't help but to see my friends' faces floating in front of me. The thought of not seeing them again, made me cry. I believe I made the right decision. I know I'm resigning for the best. I wish I could make it less painful. It has been an amazing journey. But what an ending! My wife is going to the states and that will leave me facing the R-Day alone. My son will register for P1 and I will be doing the registering alone. My son's sports day is next Sunday and I guess I will be there supporting him, alone. Too many alones in a month is not good. I know, god willing, my wife will be back. I know I'm healthy enough to keep myself busy. I know my objectives of resigning from the service is sound, but it is still not less painful.
I've organised a makan session this Saturday after Pre-Lim oral. I wonder if after that day, I'll be even more alone. Too many alones.
I've took out the money we save for our son's education from the trust account. I've bought unit trust using 1k and another 1.2k as a rsp plan, monthly. I hope to out in the rest in a POSB protect as you save plan. That should give me a 2.25% interest. Of course, this does not mean that I will not set aside the $100 monthly for him. I know I'm making the right decisions.
See, I've done something. Tomorrow, I'm going to start looking for work.

It was raining.

It rained today, so I took a few photos. Oh by the way, I suck at exams.

adobe

you guys should try www.adobe.com and join the adobe photo express. Awesome. Check out my pics in my facebook page...
Er I think it is www.facebook.com/qathirah.
For some reason or another, it can't sync with multiply.
I'm going to start posting photos at http://mrnor.photoshop.com.I'll mirror them in multiply as a matter of course. I'm so excited.
Check it out often.

I'm happy.

Its 3.49 am and I've just finished watching House season 1 disc 2 side A. Not going to do a review of the show but to note down as to what I've noticed. So you know, I watched the DVD in my room, on my bed with my wife sleeping next to me and Adam next to her. Only when I look at Adam, I've realised time has passed, so quickly. He is now coming to six and on the 29th July this year, I''' be registering him for P1. So many gaps in my memories. Although I can still remember when I first held him in my arms, I could not remember the first day he went to Nursery. So many memories, are not missing. Nowadays, when I send him to school, I will let him alight from the parking lot and he'll make his own way to the school. He is such a big boy now. I remembered when I had to handhold him to climb up the steps to the entrance to the school.
And my wife, she has remained just the same after all this 8 years. I love her so much.

Sick... again

My colleague, Poon, just gave me a call. He asked, ever so politely, whether I will be joining the science comm. meeting. I told him I was on medical leave.
I really need to get this phlegm thing out of my system. Its bothering me like crazy. Having problem sleeping at night. Had so much problem sleeping yesterday, I drove into JB at 1 in the morning. The usual jam was there but since this time I was not in a rush, I did manage to observe some very habits of those filling up their petrol tanks. One guy was shaking his Matrix so violently, that I could swear the car moved a few cm sideways. And he was taking such a loooong time. The funny thing was, there were 4 cars behind him. That would not be strange if the pump next to him was not empty of cars. Sure, it'll be troublesome to fill up if the you car petrol hole is on the other side, but its manageable. I should know, I went for it. Seems strange but nobody was behind me. So I really could take my time. Filled up 48 litres. At 2.70 rm per liter, that works out to be RM$129.60. That equaled to SG$55.14. If I'd pumped that same volume of petrol in SG, it'll cost me around SG$105.60 The tolls cost me around $3.00 so I could assume that I'd save around $50? Wow! Multiply that with the number of time I could possible go in, 8, and that'll save me $400! Wow!

20 minutes

This is a stressful time for me. In only 20 more minutes, it'll be the start of a new term. Oh gosh! I've not done the Rams for the sea shore life program. I'm so going to get it. I guess I have to be in school tomorrow, very very early.
Sigh. Made me wish I'd quit long long ago. There should be a law against these kind of stress. Sigh.
Too much sighing won't help. And my mac book pro is not helping either. Things are getting slow. I mean, while I was doing things, things hang. Damn it.
Anyway, I've been reading. Specifically, I've completed reading of the last chapter of the Harry Potter books and I'm also done with Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Got that for $15.50 at Punggol Plaza. So while I wait for the time to past and my table is in a mess, I might as well write what I thought about it.
It's simply fabulous! Seriously, for light reading and entertainment, its fabulous. Its supposedly a thriller and going by the other book, the DaVinci code, it has a religous angle to it. How fabulous? Hmm, the only movie I can think of that runs parallel to it would be Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Those of you who had seen it, would remember that actions starts from the word go. The whole books spans 24 hours of a character life. I had finished reading the bok in two days, practically ignoring some of my bodily needs, much to the chagrin of my wife. But I'm much cleaner now.
But this is not the book that should be taken to a book club, literature sects or anything of that sorts. This is a book, you read, because you can. Not the type of books you read because you have too, not the kind of books you read to impress anybody, it is a book to read when you have the time to read but if you do not have the time to read, jolly well find time to read this book.

To provide an inkling of what the book's plot is, try searching for catholic church, vatican, illuminati, and CERN.

O.k it's almost time. See you soon.

Sick

Sick today. Been sick the past few weeks. Thick green phlegm running out from my nose. Body aches all over. Feeling very tired. Sigh. Went to the doctor today. Got a whole cocktail of drugs. Suppose to be in school today. I think I'm feeling better as I've started sweating. I hope THAT is a good sign.

Pahang

Just realise, got not much picture for our trip to Pahang. Mostly pictures of people, friends and very few places pictures. Not sure if the people like their faces shown. So I'll just post two.

Port Dickson

Just posted some pic of Port Dickson. If you ever go there, please stop over at Teluk Kemang for you meals. Delicious and verrrrry affordable.

Top up cards

For those of you who use top up cards for your mobile instead of post paid, there is this shop in compasspoint which seems to sell the cards at a discount. If you come in from the interchange, you should be able to see the shop. It has the words, top up cards specialist or something like that. I got a $28 starhub top up card for $26. Go figure.

Malacca

Came back from Malacca yesterday. Will post some pics soon and more updates. Too tired.

My nephew.

I took some pics of my nephew practising the piano. Very impress I am. Too bad there were no accompaniment scores for my son to accompany him. Anyway, my nephew and my sis in law is staying over. I was told they would be staying over until Tuesday.
Anyway, my mom is admitted to NUH today. She has to have her right arm operated again as the mechanism to enlarge her vein has stopped working. She told me that its LA and she would have her eyes covered. She told me, that even though she does not feel alot of pain, she can still what is happening. I wished I could take a picture of the whole thing.
School holidays has started. But I'm going to be having remedial tomorrow - Wednesday. After which I would be following the P4 pupils for the Malacca trip.I'd be bringing my camera nevertheless, its just choosing which lens to bring. I think I'll go with a wide angle. Shoot in RAW and perhaps get one or two good shots.

MR

Hooray, this is my first blog post using the mac pro. Love the feel of the keyboard although I do find the silver abit garish.
Anyway, today is MR day. Today is the day I received my reservist letter saying that I've done my duty and I can look forward to an ICTless life ahead. Hooray. I guess I could say that I've wore the No 4 for the last time today.
It has been hot the past few days and nights. It's almost midnight and the water running out from kitchen sink is very warm. I don't know about you, but this is very worrying. The funny thing is members of my household does not seem to care. I'm sure they do, somewhere, sometimes, but hey, switching off the lights when you leave the room is NOT that difficult isn't it?

My mac

It's almost 12 midnight and I've yet to complete transferring my pictures to my new mac pro. It is very tiring. I mean, it takea approximately half an hour to burn one dvd disc full of pics and another half an hour to import those pictures. Sheesh. If I'd have known, I would not bother importing them.
My dad have not paid his road tax and now he is afraid of driving his car. So I've to send him to LTA in Sin Ming and then send him back. That would take approximately 45 minutes to an hour. My wife, Su is having a camp tomorrow and thus I've to send her to school and that will be like at 6.00 AM! So basically, its Punggol-Goodman Rd-Sengkang-Tampines-Sin Ming-Tampines-Sengkang-Punggol-Woodlands-Punggol. Why to Woodlands, because my darling son, Adam, wants to sleep over at his grandmother's place. He is so happy that his school has closed down due to the many HFMD cases. I'm just glad that he is o.k

Annaniq's comments

Responding to Annaniq comments...

Yeah. The only thing stopping me is typing the letter. I'm not fooling anybody or myself but it is going to be an adjustment. I just hope that it won't be that bad of an adjustment. The way I see it, it's what I've always wanted, being my own boss, being in the financial industry and having a very supportive wife, inlaws and my mom, dad and sisters. I know I can do it, its just a matter of mind over matter, or in my case, physical hard work and the bed.
Things been sucky in school lately. I've been to three other schools and I know that this school is not to my liking, and I could ask for transfer, again, but I won't. I think I have to stop this viscous cycle. I'm 36, and if everything goes well, I'll be 41 when I graduate. That's like 9 more years before I hit 50. I think life is more than just marking and listening to your ROs and doing things which just does not make sense.
That's why I'll try insurance and properties, I hope to help people too.
Not encouraging anybody to quit teaching, but I just think that one really needs to take a look at oneself, and try to meet the needs, and if you ask any psycho..., there are many needs. I just say, meet those immediate needs first, It does not take a million dollars or a million more minutes to make one's wealthy, just a dollar more than your cost and a minute more of the actual time needed.

I mean, if your livelihood cost, $100, and you earn $101, then you ARE wealthy, no debts, nor worries. and in 100 more days, you can take a day off. Of course, we must be realistic that our livelihood does not ONLY cost $100 but more than that, but then what if it does? WIll you die?

MacBook Pro

Got myself a macbook pro 2.2 withe 120gb and 4meg ram. Cost me some 2.4k. I'm still trying it out and have yet to configure the comp to my preferences. Actually this is my first brand new mac. Have been using a preowned g4 dual chip desktop and I love it. I hope the mac book pro can do things better. Now I've to look for a firewire - firewire cable so that I could migrate the data to my laptop. Wish me luck.