Awesome August please 🧡♥️💚💙💛🤎💜💖

My always dreaded month came. And this year, it is also the month of actual psle oral and prelims listening and written papers.

Lil C had many practice papers to do from school especially Math every week. Some questions are tough and beyond me too. On 6th, Ms Joanna helped her with some questions but couldn't do the last question citing that the question is ambiguous. Thankfully I could help her in the end using simultaneous equations. Hope that she can grasp simultaneous equations as she only learnt it now. 

The long weekend came. She did her homework and we did some revision on oral. Also trying to squeeze in time for her to do as much prelims Science MCQs from other schools. I am also trying my best to let her do the psle alike papers from Kainetik and showed her videos on the solutions for those hard questions.

She was lamenting on watching the parade last year with friends and unable to do so this year. At first she didn't want to watch it with us this year but ended up watching and she was looking forward to the total defence segment. She liked it last year and kept saying this year was not as good. 

She had her first closed book test and the last one at Pique Lab. With the tricky mcq, is just too difficult to get at least 80. Fell short of 3 marks. I just feel that if she is getting 82 in P5, it is just so so hard to even maintain.

Oral went by in a flash. I was more edgy on day 1. Cooked stir fried noodles and mac for both days respectively for her since is a tradition since P3. Thankfully she was in session 2 and only needed to report to school at 10.15. To the end of the tradition for primary school oral... cheers! Realised it was my last time doing that. Just hope that she did well abeilt the runny nose during day 2 English Oral. It was the first day of that month... Perhaps the ash in the air causes the allergy. Haiz.. I just had to think of the brighter side that it was during English not Chinese. She said she was super apologetic while the teachers were very kind. And she felt she could nail the topic. As for Chinese, I regretted for not going through 保持环境清洁。There is just too much other topics. I even consolidated a cheatsheet with the vocab for her. She could think on her feet and carry on the conversation. Just hope that her reading could help her. 🙌

Prelims then whizzed by. Revised a lot more on compo good vocab, reading on model compo and LBM adaptation skills. Also created a cheatsheet for Chinese compo vocab. I was quite chilled, telling myself and her that is another practice before the real exam. I was surprised that I wasn't anxious even for Math. She kept asking before each paper if it is considered she had revised and I said yes. For Math, she was doing the school practice papers weekly and tuition work. I felt LBM lessons and materials were sufficient. I felt at ease. 

No stay back during last week since is prelims and marking week.. A breather for her. 

Finally results are out. Math improved to 84 again fall short of 1 mark to 1 AL higher. Her English compo got 35.5. Highest since P5. Listening full marks. Oral 28 over 30.Also highest since P5. These had led to her AL1 in English. She had laughed about how consistent her Science was. 82 marks always. I also hope she can get AL3 for Science eventually. Overall she did wonderful at total AL9. 🙏

Counting down 1 month to the D day.... 

JiaYou July

Not my favourite month this year... The fast and furious last lap has begun. I can feel the pressure building whilst I try to stay calm and enjoy the every moment I have with my pre-teen before she starts the next lap of her studies very soon. 

Taylor Swift craze suddenly started like a whirlwind and the house and car are surrounded by her songs. And I unbelievably managed to buy Category 2 tickets on 5th during UOB presale when my Q number was 62234! I felt like my heart is going to drop out while combing through the different coloured zones for available tickets. Mum helped me to fetch lil C home and it's nostalgic since mum used to fetch her home from Greentree 8 to 9 years ago. Then the hub also received a link and code to be able to buy tickets on 7th. He ended buying the 2nd most expensive ticket. What a whirlwind! And lil C will sell 2 of my cat 2 tickets to her bff and sis. Ended up we bought 8 tickets and lil C told her classmates. Gosh.. Even teachers know. 

Started Oral practice for the prelims and gosh is tiring since we just practised for the April Oral.. 

It is also agonising waiting for a favourable response from SCGS since they did not reply to my emails and responded that they could not reply when I called them. Till I decided not to wait anymore after 1 week of waiting. I need to react, believe in myself and not in the hub. Thus I sent a tok tok to Mrs Bok on 4th and lo and behold she replied and sought help from the English HOD. In the end, they agreed for lil C to be the first candidate so that she can end by 2.45pm. But I was worried if they will forget to assign her to be the first on the day. But I kept telling myself see fate... 

Chinese oral was difficult although I find that lil C answered well. But she ended up crying in the shower and after that. She was alright after my assurance..she was afraid that Mrs tan will scold her and she didn't work hard etc.. Faints.. 

I was edgy on 13th. Not because of her English Oral haha... After sending her lunch, hub and I had lunch at the kpt opposite her school. I didn't even have much appetite. Also because she told me that Mrs Bok thought that she was going to the interview after the Chinese oral which was the day before. Aiyo as expected of Mrs Bok... Then when she finally was out at 2.30, I heaved a sigh of relief... We even had time to go to mum's house to change. I regretted not bringing a comb and also Frank and cedarwood to calm her down and made her hair neat. Anyways.... We made it there finally after an ordeal for me. Hub even had to drive slowly as we were early. Lil C wouldn't stop lamenting on the English Oral as she was afraid that she didn't do well... 

The pick up drop off point was big and even had benches. As predicted by Angeline, competition is strong. I saw girls who are head prefects and exco member. I also noticed the girls all have super neat hair and many had two braids. Thankfully lil C was grouped with a prefect and level rep. However, lil C said they spoke so well. And in a group interview setting, she was the 3rd to be asksd hence the previous 2 had talked about what she wanted to say, like the Kim gek. Hopefully when she said about peranakan grandma can touch the interviews' hearts. And Angeline try to enhance her luck to 60% with the empty red packet and pi k inner wear works.. Only that she didn't manage to wear the pink sweater. Hopefully have a waitlist 🙌

15th: we woke up early, like a school day. This time I rem Frank and cedarwood. After her usual light breakfast, we embarked on our journey to mgs. She had requested for me to print out the notes I had prep for mgs and she read it in the car too. I was awed by the huge foyer. While we were queuing in the registration queue for English, I was hoping that she will be given either the red or green lanyard since these are her lucky colours of the day. My heart sank where I saw her name tag amongst the yellow... 

We bade goodbye and went for breakfast. Lil C wanted to call me after the interview. Big girl.. That's when hub gave her the old phone to be in her bag. But when I returned, I realised I can walk around. The school is huge and reminded me of poly compound. 🧡

Lil C wasn't as nervous and she seemed to do alright. It was tough but I feel is a good experience and exposure for her. I hope that with the help of the red packet with pomegranate leaves, pink  jacket and inner wear, she can at least earn a waitlist amongst the high number of applicants. I guess the hardest is the individual interview. And she did her best. 

Lets see what fate will bring her after her first steps to the doors of SCGS and MGS. 💗🙏

On the same morning, we received the unsuccessful email from St Nicks. Tbh this was my least expected since they are looking for leaders with heart and lil C's profile fulfills that. Contrary to what I thought that they probably want head and vice head prefects, I realise from KP forum that girls who are just normal prefect and not even CCA leaders are shortlisted. Only difference I can deduce is that they reject neighbourhood applicants due to the high application rate. They are so proud, even RGS and RI gave opportunities to neighbourhood schools. I should have trusted my instincts as I never like them. Academic based and SAP. I should not have listened to hub and 动摇. Lil C was ok and said she never want them. A part of me was relieved as she doesn't need to memorise the school info again. But I still feel a chance is wasted. I could have applied for probably plmgs, swiss cottage. Well guess is fate too.. Let us see SNGS true colours..

In the end, lil C did well for both Orals. Now off the written paper prelims next month... 🙏

Mrs Tan was surprised and told Clarisse that she has inner strength although she is quiet. This grit is very important as she faces difficult situations. I hope she can continue to make use of it to her advantage. 

It is also a month of horrendous hormones fluctuation during the menses. Bloating on and off and I realise it causes my sole pain. Geranium, clary sage, ppp to the rescue. I even suspected hypothyroidism. Hope that will be better next month. 😭

Simple celebration for lil C as she turned 12 on 19th. She was blessed with many presents from classmates and thankfully it was a Wednesday and no supplementary class. 

This is also the month that she asked us to only drive to the pick up points of pique lab and cognitus when she called us. I still felt unbelievable when I saw her name appeared on my phone when she called... 

This month we also discovered a great Korean restaurant, chibing at Star Vista. 

A month of hectic schedule. And more to come. Stay calm and fight on. 

Jubilant June

Yes is finally here... I am so looking for this month break from hectic school. More sleep for lil C and I. My beauty sleep as always during school hols🙆‍♀️

Never had I expected lil C can sleep till 11am when I did not wake her up. Started with 10 plus. But I am glad as I really want her to have more sleep before the hectic months ahead.

The month started with 4 day Math holiday program.that ends on 2nd June. I was hanging out at United Square for 2 hours each day. Finally on 2nd which is supposed to be Vesak Day, we joined YZ and folks for dinner at Putien Holland. Lil C had her yogurt as promised at Yole with Harper joining us. The dinner was awful though.

4th: Memorable Sunday afternoon I guess. Hub wanted to go out for lunch after Math class and we surprised lil C with the idea. It was pouring and steamboat at COCA was apt. We tried the tomato soup for the first time. Lil C then got her shoes, first pair from Melissa while I bought a new saucepan and hub bought nescafe capsules. This cheeky girl then laughed that we each got something. Then we of course need to buy our favourite taiyaki. Woohoo.. It is so yummy. Didn't eat much dinner that day.

This holiday is also the first time lil C stayed at home alone while I go to the market on Mondays 😉 Also she asked me to walk out to 675 to buy mee hoon kueh and cai fan on 4 occasions. While the weather is hot, I can't reject her as I know there will be a time that she will be out during the school holidays with friends. Just to do while she still a pre teen

This is also a month that I started the agony wait for DSA shortlist emails from SCGS, MGS and St Nicks. As much as I regretted so much for not letting her go to a better primary school with affiliation, I am just hoping she has affinity with them. Que Sera Sera ♥️

And woohoo.. Received email from SCGS on 28th and MGS on 30th!! However, the interview at SCGS clashes with her Prelims English Oral. I replied them requesting for alternative date and still waiting for their favourable reply🙏🙌

As usual, the bubbly lil C still watches YT and funny tik toks and played roblox for the first 2 weeks. She is even into Winx again. Haha. 

As for me, I started on cortistop, hopefully to help with my cortisol levels and also sulfurzyme powder. 

18th: father's day. We woke up late and needed to pray.. Had to ask hub to send lil C to cognitus while I head to wisma to collect the tarts after praying. The tarts were very good, especially the coffee hazelnut. I cooked curry vegetables and beehoon for dinner. Hub's fav. 🧡

19th: finally found the reason to our water having black specks and removed the eroded rubber trap ring in the water pipe outside the house. 🙏

School reopened earlier for

 her as she went back to school on 21st to 23rd.

All of a sudden, taylor swift madness is back. Lil C started listening to her in 2015 when I went to London to work. All thanks to the hub. Sigh.. Cannot believe that I actually had to register to buy tickets to a concert with lil C. Makes me wonder again... Where had the years gone. Sobssss.. 

This month is also a month that mum suddenly hates me, fought with me again. Little did I expect that. We went to temple on 22nd and had my favourite curry rice at Whampoa while lil C was in school. Then that night she called hub at 11.30pm which scare the wits out of me. It was RB who asked her to call as he wanted to pass steamed buns from his Msia Mil. I felt despite good intentions, he should think of going to people's house close to midnight. In the end I got the blame. We were having a good evening looking at how the moon, venus and mars are aligned in a triangle... Just spoilt my day.. 

I didn't attend the wedding buffet celebration of RB. Partly is cos is too pantang since the wife is preg and my cousin Christabel is also preg. Then also the crowd.. Lil C will have a science practice on 27th. 

Somehow I predicted it will be a psle 2019 practice paper when lil. C said Mrs Bok told them she will mark according to seab. I only can ran thru most of the questions with her but she still got 72. Haiz.. I really worry for her that her sci may just plunge although I know 2019 is difficult. 

29th PH. Lil C said she wanted to have dinner at OCC again as she wants to eat the crab beehoon soup. In the end we asked mum and Pei's family along. We then went to the reopened ntuc fairprice. 

30th..asked Pei if the boys can dance with Clarisse for her let's jes. Her PE teacher sent a tok tok to parents. This girl would rather do it with the boys than us. Haiz.. 

Well.. It was a well deserved June hols for the lil C. Goodbye and welcome back to reality. 

Awesome August.. please😁

My least favourite and the month with the tendency of anxiety came in a whiff😳.. 

1st week -  Lil C had to stay back everyday except for Thurs. After the NE show last month, its like their 2nd learning journey for this year to watch a cultural show at Hokkien Huay Kuan. Stayed back on a Wednesday till 5pm. I went to causeway point citrusox to get long ankle socks for her national day concert Chinese dance performance. Also went to Popular to get listening comprehension practice book since lil C told me they did one practice in school and is much difficult than P4. In the end, I also bought 2 Math assessment books and they are so well written. A great find! Had to buy another higher chinese book, mainly focusing on 语文应用 for more practice in prep for the WA. 🙏

The long national day weekend of 5 days went by quickly. And it's the first in 5 years she didn't play games. She had agreed that since the mid year WA, she will not play games 2 weeks before WA and exam. 🙏 We did a lot of revision and I am glad that she is still happy as long as she gets to watch her YouTube and Netflix. She still sings, dances and laughs.. She was even embarrassed to let me hear her sing. But she continues to find shows to watch. She laughed so much when she watched Thunderman last month. Then besides Riverdale, she watched Stranger Things. Different genres attracted her. As long as she still laughs and enjoys herself albeit the increased workload, I am thankful. 

The WA arrived on 22nd. I made dinner for 5 days consecutively like the mid year WA. 

Sun: the usual huai dhan soup, chicken stew, onion egg combi

Mon: Salmon rice for her and pumpkin beehoon for hub

Tues: Cabbage chicken  soup, steamed soon hock, braised chicken with carrots, canned mushrooms and egg

Wed: Steamed rice

Thurs: Teriyaki chicken, steamed red crimson, celery 

Thankfully lil C managed to finish the papers on time. It is a feat to complete a week of test. I could still vividly remember sitting for tests and exams as a student. Hence I understand its not easy. She was so chirpy on Friday. Its the last paper and she doesn't seem stressed out by the WA. She's so looking forward to be able to play games. Haha

Time just flew by.. WA over then results out. She did quite well except for Higher Chinese. She barely passed the 理解问答 and thankfully the 语文应用 sections help her overall, at least not to fail. Hence I am contemplating of dropping higher chinese for psle since she also not keen in writing 2 compositions in total for normal and higher chinese. It is also taxing since we also revised the 语文 section conscientiously. 😳

28th: We went for Pan Pac buffet with mum and RB as mil was still C19+. I couldn't eat much as I felt bodyache and unusually tired. Prob is my body adjusting to Ollie that I started on 26th.

29th: SG made mask wearing indoors in most places not compulsory. But we are still going to put on. I am surprised when lil C told me that some teachers took off. 

30th: felt like eating mooncakes. Tried the Mandarin oriental baked low sugar but not nice. 

For teachers' day, I decided to get customised pouches. Was happy to hear from lil C that her Art teacher kept the presents over the years since P3. 

Thankfully the month ended all good. 🙏♥️

Merry May

Started the month with the second long weekend. Happy lil C as there is no CCA again. Managed to do a lil revision after her arduous art homework. But with the short runway, fast pace, long hours in school and mountain of homework, revision for WA is really not easy and certainly not enough. 😪

With the bad experience with Math WA1, lil C is bit shaken. I am upset deeply that it had affected her confidence with Math so I really wish she can do better in the next paper to boost her confidence. I also keep encouraging her that she can do it. 

4th: took 2 hours to complete dsa application 🙏 Hoping for interview opportunities 

5th: Math and Chinese mock WA and Science practice. So much to do in a day.

8th to 12th: WA week. Science is tough with those questions on animal adaptions. While she did very well for the mock Chinese, she couldn't find the 2 chinese vocab words in the compre in the actual WA. English seems to be alright when she asked me about 2 difficult vocab questions and she got them right. She said she finished the Math paper, at least she tried although she didn't know how to do the prob sums. But her answers are different from her friends. Only 1 prob sum with same answer. But she thinks section a and b is ok as she checked her answers with her friends and she has checked them carefully to avoid carelessness. But over the weekend, she is worried about the paper, afraid Mrs Lim will scold or say mean things again. 😕 Even had a dream if being scolded by Mrs Lim and she cried. 

14th: Finally a mother's day when WA is over but haiz I ended up not a picture, no celebration and had to tabao lao huo tang. Fight with hub. 

15th: tough Monday. Results back, napfa 1. 6km, CCA. Made cordycep chicken soup to nourish. 

She said she was just happy that she got 30 over 40 for Math. One careless calculation for mcq costs 2 marks and 1 AL. 🥺

Lost her AL1 for Chinese as she could not find 2 vocab words in compre and had 1 mcq wrong. First time she had a mistake in 语文. 

But she scored full marks in her science mcq. First time. She was shocked. No careless this time. 8 marks off for OEQ. Mcq helped her to do well. 🙏

English was her best. Thankfully chose the correct vocab although she was not familiar with 2 of them. 

After WA are the practice papers for English, Chinese and Math. And Math paper 2 is hard.. 

Made changes to the DSA application, decided to apply for MGS using English instead of Plmgs. Mrs Bok told lil C why plmgs.. Dsa  should be for dream school.. Kinda sparked me thinking. Re-read the criteria for English domain and found it still acceptable although there is a personal response essay. Application closed on 31st 3pm.🙏

27th: A lil adventure. Hub had terrible stomachache. He drove us to mayflower mrt station and we took TEL line to Caldecott before boarded the Circle line to Botanic Gardens then walked to pique lab. Then I decided to go to the nearest junction 8 then head back. 

28th: Rem about the sin ming Thai food and found out from their FB that we could WhatsApp to order and go collect. Yummy dinner... 

29th: school hols started!!! Lil C slept till 10 plus. 💗

30th and 31st: Math Power up class. I spent time at united sq till 4pm. We even took train to Khatib and took 117 home on 30th.

June break.. Here we come. ♥️

Marching March

First time that we started off March with her weighted assessments. Thankfully without HC, she has a day more to revise for Math and English.

But it turned out unexpectedly tough for Math paper. She said the class was sad and many of them cried. Melody and her cried after the paper was collected. Mrs Bok asked them what had happened and she was afraid that she will go to Foundation Math like what Mrs Lim threatened. Haiz.. When she couldn't do the angles and percentage prob sums, she was panicking when she was doing the last question on Fractions. Ended up she couldn't do 3 of them although she didn't leave them blank like some of her classmates did. First time experience like that. 

She did well for the rest of the subjects 🙏

She said she understood how to do the sums now. Am glad that she raised her hand to ask teacher how to do the percentage prob sum. I also hope that she can do better in the second WA so that Mrs lim will not think that she is influenced by Melody again. Well... Results speaks for itself. 😑

8th: the relief teacher for art lesson told them to draw. Lil C drew a wedding dress. 💗

No supp classes for 3 weeks and the short one week break for March hols give both us a breather. She started to play games again on 10th after a break and I feel it gives her a respite from the all the work. 

I kinda tell myself I need to be kinder to myself and her by not scolding her. Seems that I can't even not scold or nag at her for a day. She even covered her ears as she thinks I am too loud and not good for her hearing. 😢 And so it seems to work when she comes near to me, hug me again.. 

More surprises keep springing up this month. Melodrama like Taiwanese kind with few hundreds episodes. 

All of a sudden the entire extended family reminded of master ah wee and hub drove RB to see him on 4th.

RB cfm getting married on 18th Apr and not even informing me and sis till I told him if he should reconsider since tua ya pek said will help him in his career. Then he said he already registered for the date and bought rings. Anyway I did my part to remind mum to buy si dian jin for her soon dil. I seriously do not see any good in their marriage though. 

12th: aunt Fen called and ask if hub can go to see master wee in the afternoon as Adrian was going. In the end he said master wants to see me instead. Hub had not much issues. Become like I have greater issue than him. 

Decided to sign lil C up once again for Math tuition and this time with cognitus. So happened they have available class on Sunday and hopefully can expose her to more psle style and higher order questions. After the trial class on 12th, she expressed that she wanted to continue. She is the only student and glad that Ms. Joanna is able to teach her on circles and change the lesson schedule although she already covered them during previous lessons before lil C joined. 

13th & 14th: Math online class with polymath 

16th & 17th: Science online class with polymath. 

Lil C was restless as Mr Chung will deviate and talk something else. The materials were good but the delivery not so. 

17th: After the Science class, we went to see master wee as he asked hub to bring me there. Lil c

The 1 hour oral online class went on well. Topics and notes were good. Hopefully can expose to lil C. 26th: Teacher wang commented that lil C's content is good, only needs more confidence. 

It's tiring to attend oral online after math and lil C can only shower after lesson ended at 3.45pm. However, glad that she pressed on and hopefully can learn some tips and good words. 

After 3 years, I went with mum to pray ah gong for qingming on 27th. But my nose started to run after my throat felt weird the night before. Prob caught some virus at Pei's house or I was so worried about going to see tua ya pek on 25th Sat night that I shared Korean food with hub when he was unwell.. gosh.. I haven't been unwell for so long and I am just hoping I don't pass it to lil C

I was honestly feeling down that I was being reprimanded by JG on 25th. But it was a good wakeup call for me that I am pressuring lil C when I teach her. 

So in many years, I had runny nose for sooo many days.. Hopefully it means body toxins out. When I went for massage on 24th, tried the massage using a wooden rod. Prob is due to that. 

29th: her first and the last English writing competition in school and is about mystery. I sneezed 10 times in a row. Gosh my first. The hot sun made my nose water. After put lil C to bed, I went to rest on bed. 

Awesome April??

April came and I am still managing the allergic rhinitis in the mornings. Blowing of nose every morning and slight blocked in the middle of nights 😑😪🥺

What's going on? I finally recovered on 3rd. Woke up with no more nose producing so much mucus. With this, I remind myself not to forget vit C. 

April starts with hub having serious gout on his leg and he had to wait in the car for 2 hours while I wait in the mall for lil C to end the Math class. It's my me time on a weekend which I actually like. 

3rd: on my way to dorra when Alice msg to ask if I am ok that she is still coughing. As I am still not completely well, I told her I will go over when she is better. Then I went to nex. Love the mall, is huge and have every shop that you can find elsewhere. I also had the tummy YTF but with my nose mucus dripping. 😪

Met up with serene after facial on 6th since she asked and I gave her a treat for her upcoming birthday. But I guess is a wrong move since she suddenly asked the waitress to take a picture of us. My bare face and white hair... I looked so ugly and fat while she is pretty. 

Finally decided on Sydney as our year end holiday destination. As much as I don't like, I had to propose to ask mil along. Prob will be the last trip with her. The only happy thing to look forward is to visit my uni after 20 years. Just hope all goes well before and during trip. 😎

So this month.. I was upset with RB and Serene. In the end, I left the FS group chat and Koch girls then blocked the both of them. I don't want to see her posts on social media and speak to RB. 

22nd: sudden dizzy spells and we have to cancel her pique lab lesson.. hormones or stress😪

26 and 27: Eng and Chinese oral. Brought lunch for lil C. She said chinese oral is much easier. So happened we revise on neighbours the day before. Eng oral is about food wastage and recycling 

Looking forward to June hols, at least she can sleep more. 

Found recycling blue bin near our blk basement. Started my recycling journey ♻️

25th: cleaned her ears then she suddenly said I pushed the cotton bud too deep and her right ear is blocked. She even cried. I decided to Google and found the fastest way to drop some saline water into the ear. It worked! 🙏

Advanced volume - struggled with the worksheet as teacher did not teach. Hub tried to help and I also ask Ms Joanna and teacher Janice while I manage to learn from the steward teng P6 Math book. 

29th: Cook nourishing chicken soup bought from hock hua. Not bad. 

Goodbye April