My childhood days…

As I was reading another fellow blogger’s entry about the stress that her son, a primary school student has to go through. I looked back at my primary school days and giggled silently to myself.

I was from a kampong school and nobody really took tests or exams seriously. From Primary 1 to 3, it was 80% play and 20% school work. In those days, there was even primary 7 and 8! But of course, most students did get down to serious business from P5 onwards due to the all-time-big-hurdle, the PSLE at P6.

Below is a list that I found on the net, and it brought back fond memories of my childhood. Maybe you’ll also find these items familiar if you were a primary school kid in the 1980s.

1. You grew up watching He-man, Transformers, Silverhawk, Ultraman, Super Friends, Woody WoodPecker, Tom & Jerry, Care Bears, My Little Pony, Smurfs and Mickey Mouse. Not to forget, maybe Ninja turtles too.

p/s: My fav cartoon was Smurfs. I think I once drove my mum crazy by singing “la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la” non-stop for 72 hours.

2. You grew up brushing your teeth with a mug in primary school during recess time. You would squat by a drain with all your classmates beside you, and brush your teeth with a colored mug. The teachers said you must brush each side ten times.

p/s: We would all gurgle and spit at the same time. There was even a competiion among ourselves that who could spit the furthest.

3. You know in school, you could subscribe to get the milk which would come before you go back home. Some days you would get chocolate milk, other days strawberry. The old Magnolia fresh milk came in a triangular packet.

p/s: I was a really skinny kid and I had free milk until primary 4! I hated the Banana and Corn flavour though.

4. Everyone in class would tremble in fear when someone with a gauze stuck in the mouth came to your class and called out a name to go visit the school dentist.

p/s: I was so scared of the nurse and her dentist chair. And yah, why the hell did the nurse send some kid with a bloody cotton guaze to call for the next “victim”??? *Tramatised*

5. You’ve probably read the Young Generation magazine. You know who’s Vinny the Little Vampire and Constable Acai. For some, cikgu will always ask to buy the “Dewan Bahasa” magazine.

p/s: I remebered the mag! And I really liked Vinny, the little vamp with his cute, little sharp teeth.

6. You longed to buy tidbits called Kaka (20 cents per pack), and Ding Dang (50 cents per box), that had a toy in it and it changes every week. Not forgetting the 15-cent animal crackers and the ringpop, where the lollipop is the diamond on the ring. There were such things like the 20-cent dinosaur eggs, the 10-cent satay, Choki Choki Chocolate Sticks and the all favorite 10-cent “Sng Pow” that broke into two parts to be shared amongst friends.

p/s: O yes, all these wonderful snacks that only cost 10c to 30c! And I remembered the bubble-gum that cost 10c per piece and had a stick-on tattoo. I was wearing those stick-on tattoos on my arms like some trophy badges until my mum would force me to wash those away. Then I would go and buy new gums with new tattoos!


7. You grew up reading ladybird books. Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, The Three Investigators, Famous Five and Secret Seven were probably the thickest story books you ever thought you had. Even Sweet Valley High and Malory Towers. You also love Enid Blyton’s Enchanted Wood, Magic Faraway tree, and the 5-dollar Bookworm book you bought when there was a book fair in school.

p/s: All time fav was Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree! I really enjoyed those books about farms, animals and elves, and I wondered why wasn’t there an elv in Singapore. I thought if I were to go England, then I’ll find an elv and we could be friends. Haha…

8. Waterbottles, with your favorite cartoon character on it, were slung around your neck and a must everywhere you go.

p/s: I think mine was blue with Doraemon AND smurfs stickers!

9. Hopscotch, five stones, chapteh and zero point were all the rage with the girls and boys too. Remember 5 times, highest, one-inch?

p/s: I was the zero-point queen. So much so that, the track-and-field teacher dragged me to train for High Jump. Didn’t quite work out though…

10. Science was fun with the balsam and the angsana being the most important plants of our lives. Remember the “Young Scientist” badge you got when you completed the set of tasks in written on the blue booklet for “Young Ecologist”, “Young Botanist”, etc? The first excursion to the Science Centre was the best day of your life.

p/s: I had so many of those badges! And oh, the 1st excursion to the Omni Theatre was the best day of my life, my primary school life lah.

11. You went to school in slippers and a raincoat when it rained, and you find a dry spot in the school to sit and wipe yourself dry. Then you wear your dry and warm socks and shoes.

p/s: That I didn’t do. My mum would just wrapped little red plastic bags over my shoes and that was it. I had to go to school all by myself (less than 5 mins walk) and when I was older, dragged my 2 little brothers along too.

12. After exams, you brought Game & Watch to school, and played card games like “Snap”, “Donkey” and “Old Maid”. You also played pick-up sticks and Snakes & Ladders and the aeroplane board game. Those erasers with the flags were also a popular game. Either that or you would play those cards comparing aeroplanes, warships, or tanks — who had more firepower or speed or weight, etc.

p/s: Those colorful pick-up sticks were so much fun! And the erasers with the flags, haha, we were supposed to flip them around, the eraser which landed on top of the other would win and the winner would confiscate the loser’s eraser. Oh, the boys were really good at that.

I wonder do kids these days still play such simple games anymore….

Rice, not as easy as it looks!

Somehow, I always mess up dishes that are related to rice. Especially FRIED RICE. My fried rice is always too wet, too sticky. As hard as I've tried, I simply cannot achieve the fragrant, fluffy fried rice like the zhi-czar stalls. Argh... *pull my hair out*

Fried rice = too wet and sticky

Porridge = too sticky and not fragrant

Baked rice = also too sticky! Wait.... baked rice is supposed to be sticky. Heh...

Rice is my nemesis, but I will never give up on rice. I'm a rice-loving Chinese!

Thankfully, the baked rice above turned out ok. And thanks D for the beautiful picture. (as always!)

Note to myself: I really should learn how to take pictures from D.

Cat Slaps Dog - Very Funny & Super Cute

This reminds me of the relationship between Hub and I. Of course, I'm the cat and he's that gong-gong dog.

Eat Pray Love… *roll my eyes*

Caught the movie with a girlfriend last Friday, and I walked out of the cinema feeling exasperated. Similar to the feeling of teaching my younger brother Maths when we were kids…

Since this book is based on a true story, then the author, Liz is one self-centered woman. She wanted the divorce and she claimed that “it was a bitter divorce”?! Hallo, you were the one who wanted to quit the marriage and immediately jumped into another fling with a young actor and claimed a "bitter divorce”??!! I really sympathize the husband whose mistakewas to love such a woman. What happened to “till death do us apart?”

And the fling with a young actor? Hallo, what do you expect? Ever-lasting love?

The so-called journey to discover oneself, is overrated. The author is healthy, no health-threatening diseases, no handicap, has a great job, a privileged lifestyle in New York, no major family issues. OMG… what the hell is she complaining about?

The wallowing in self-pity made me rolled my eyes constantly through out the movie, so much so that, if not for Julia Roberts, I would have walked out of the cinema midway.

I cannot relate to her. And if she was my friend, I would have told her to get a grip and count her blessings.

The only saving grace was that Liz eventually helped a single mother and daughter gained some form of financial independence.

As you can see, I am quite a harsh person, with no sympathy for people whining and wallowing in self-pity. Especially with people who are perfectly healthy, with functional limbs, a good head between their shoulders and without major family issues.

Being a volunteer has taught me that if I think my problems in life are major issues, wait till you need to deal with a disability or a major illness or has to care for a child/adult with special needs.

Pixie cut takes guts!!!

I’m at the stage of wondering what to do with my hair. For most part of my school days, I had short hair, usually a bob that I could tug my hair behind the ears. Twice I had really short hair, one was so short that I could even gel my hair like a boy. That was when I was 17 and I thought I looked really cool. Hmmm… funny that I did not have a boyfriend until I was 19 years old. Haha…

Since then, I’ve allowed my hair to grow a little longer, usually till my collar bones or the longest of the longest length ever, would be till my shoulders. My hair simply does not grow longer than that, because by that length, I will be really restless and want to cut them short.

And I am at that stage now.

I am envious of girls who have sharp features and can carry off a pixie cut. With hair that short, one will need a beautiful face or the very least, small and sharp features to look good. See Halle Berry and Sharon Stone.

With my hamburger cheeks and non-existence nose bridge…. I end up looking fat and ugly. I really need long hair to cover my hamburger face. And so far, most people do comment that I look better with longer hair. Especially Hub, he likes girls with longer hair.

But I am so, so, so tempted to cut a pixie cut!!! Hmmm…. Maybe I’ll cut my hair short next year. A new year, a new hair style?

p/s: I simply do not have the courage to cut my hair short. I’m useless.

Will you love me like how Mr. LKY loves his wife?

I am deeply saddened by the recent passing of our Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, aka Madam Kwa Geok Choo. And today’s papers showed a picture of MM Lee, kissing his fingers to bid his very last farewell to his beloved wife…

That picture immediately brought tears to my eyes.

A very rare glimpse of “public display of affection” between MM Lee and his wife and sadly, it would be the very last gesture ever. Many Singaporeans would have already known about the deep love and respect that MM Lee has for his wife, it was no secret that ever since Mrs Lee was bed-ridden, MM Lee would read and talk to her every night before bedtime.

While reading the papers last night, I asked Hub…

“Will you love me like how Mr. LKY loves his wife? Next time, if I were to be old and bed-ridden, will you read poems to me?”

“You read poems???”

“Tsk, that’s not the point. OK, will you read ANYTHING to me at all?”

“Hrmm…. Can I record all the poems or whatever and play it to you via a CD player and you can listen all day? Even better right?”

*rolled my eyes* He just doesn't get it huh???!!!

Another list...

I've recieved another list to fill! Well, office is rather quiet anyway...

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Eh… that will be Insurance. Thankfully *touch wood*, I’m just paying the bills and so far no need to make any claims and hopefully, not in a very, very, very long time.

2. Do you miss being a child?
Nope. My childhood was fun but tough. Due to my family circumstances, I had to grow up fast, and was a rather angsty kid. Luckily I had great cousins, friends, brothers (whom I used to detest to the max when I was a kid, haha) and a really remarkable, strong, loving mum.

3. Chore you hate the most?
IRONING. Hate ironing to the core. Especially when I have to iron Hub’s shirts. Luckily that is now outsource to a helper who helps out once a week.

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
The most romantic dinner ever was when Hub (then BF) cooked a 3-course, candle-light dinner in his apartment in London. There were rose petals and scented candles, and a really kick-ass RABBIT stew. Thankfully, I am not a mega huge-fan of rabbits. Hmmm, funny that Hub doesn’t cook anymore now that we are married eh?

5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
Studied harder during my University days and be on the Dean’s list.

6. Name of your first grade teacher?
I can’t remember my Primary 1 teacher, but I remembered Miss Lim from P2. She was fair, with long hair and quite pretty. Except for her…. Hrm, rather obvious “moustache”. But she was a great teacher with a lot of patience and heart!

7. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Be my own boss. Run my own company… still thinking about how to make that notion into a reality.

8. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A doctor.

9. How many colleges did you attend?
One.

10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
'Coz I have not worn this particular blouse for the last 4-6 weeks.

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Gas prices should be sky high so that people will make a point to either cycle or take public transport. REDUCE CARBON FOOT PRINT, PEOPLE!

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Where is Cookie, the cat? She usually sleeps in the bedroom, but sometimes, Hub lets her out in the middle of the night.

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Where is Cookie, the cat?

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
That will be Mrs Lee, late-wife of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Ask me this question 5 days ago and I would say “Mr. Lee” himself. But upon her recent passing, I just realized how little do we know about this great woman.

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
No. Not that I have one to start with.

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
Yes. Even now that I am working, I am a volunteer.

17. Get up early or sleep in?
I try to get up early whenever I can.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character?
Smurfs!!!

19. Favorite thing to do at night?
Both Hub and I start looking for Cookie when it’s bedtime.

20. When did you first start feeling old?
When I need 3 days to recover from a late night of fun/booze/chitchats.

21. Favorite lunch meat?
Fish. In.what.ever.ways.

22. What do you get every time you go into the local supermarket?
Yakult!

23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No. Marriage is a journey not just a ritual.

24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
Free Willy. *embarrassed*

25. What's your favorite drink?
Non-alcoholic: Yakult! Alcoholic: Wines from Burgundy

26. Who from high school would you like to run in to?
Nobody that I can think of.

27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
987. But I don’t have a car…

28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Neither. Glee?

29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Too blunt. I can be more tactful and I try to be more tactful nowadays… Direct but tactful. Possible?

30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?
She’s nice. I’m ok with her.

31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
No, but I should know how to use one. *keep in mind*

32. Last book you finished reading?
The Girl with the dragon tattoo. A dark, dark thriller…

33. Do you have a teddy bear?
No. No soft toys for me since young because I am highly allergic to dust and dust mites.

34. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
Along a drain during Primary school days. All of the kids would line up along a small drain and we would brush our teeth together, gurgled at the same time upon Teacher’s command. Ahh… those sweet, innocent days!

35. Do you go to church?
No, I do not since I am not a Christian.

36. How old are you?
30 going to 31.