Broadcasting 'live'

Sports Carny, and I'm stuck in the announcers' tent 'cos J2 NYeDC volunteered to be the announcers for the day. The job may sound like a cushy assignment compared to all the sweating, huffing and puffing of physical competition going on all around us, but in reality it's a frenzy of activity inside the tent too.

Apart from the many, varied and random announcements requested through the crackly walkie-talkie set; the odd staff in-charge or any other staff with some instruction or other; the students who have either found some item or lost one; and the 100 Plus vendor with the occasional reminder to keep hydrated and drink his *FREE* isotonic beverage; there had to be entertaining banter and interviews with random participants who happened to be passing within microphone range; and the lucky draw to run. Sometimes all at the same time. :p

Thankfully, the J2s this year are a strong bunch, ever hyper and willing to give their all. They took every demand in their stride, stayed cool and soldiered on through the day with unflagging spirits. Great job!

Results driven

What exactly constitutes a good result?  At today's release of 2010 'A' results, I had students bawling their eyes out. Gracie had achieved grades many others would have killed for, yet she felt she hadn't done well enough. Chiam exploded in tears 'cos (I found out later from an objective source) she did better than she'd expected.

What's 'good', I suppose, boils down to our results meeting and exceeding our own expectations in relation to what society sets up as standards of achievement. The latter being constant, the higher our expectations of ourselves the harder it becomes to be satisfied with our performance.

Was I happy, then, with my results? Because I felt my methods seriously needed vindication after last year's debacle, my expectations may have been higher than realistic... Ok, it is anomalous that I can be so concerned about results. After all, I keep espousing that the process is more important than the product, don't I? But this time I strongly believe in the process I'm developing, and so I expect to see the results.

Impartially speaking, what I got was a clear improvement from last year. But I don't exactly feel wildly ecstatic about that. I'd rate 2010 as a meh.

Teacher's remarks: Can still do better.

No happy ending

These days, I can be so tired that when I take a supine position on the floor for a shut-eye, I may not even stir for a couple of hours. Not even if Maui's taken it upon himself to give me a massage with the additional claw-extension-and-grip technique. That's a feline specialty. I know what he's been doing 'cos when I wake up, there are tiny, little holes on the skin of my stomach. Fortunately, I heal quickly.

Nepalese dining

And just like that, Jen K is flying off again in the morning. Bade her farewell with a Nepalese dinner at Shish Mahal (Albert Court). It was quite an economical meal comprising naan, tandoori chix, mutton kurma, vegetable pakoras and a spinach dish. Conclusion: Nepalese food isn't much different from regular Indian fare.

Must commend the with-a-smile service. Very warm and obliging, prompt too.

Long-overdue reunion

These past few weekends, we've been taking Q-tip to the Botanic Gardens for fresh air and exercise. Good that every time we go, she's able to walk a little further without getting tired.

Today, this water monitor decided to go for a little stroll too.

The reunion at this table was literally between old friends who haven't seen each other in years! With Jen K flying in for a rare visit, it was the one opportunity for us all to drop everything and catch up.

Quite possibly the last lo hei of the year for us. It's no longer CNY, after all.

Signage at the kopitiam: No Food, No Drinks, No Cross-Species Hanky-Panky. Wait, what...?