"生蛋节” : Dec-13

This X'mas was a special one for everyone in the family as there was a pleasant surprise.  Our budgies, after a couple of years, finally dropped her first egg in the cage.  Xuan was excited to see this for her first time too.  As the bird started her first egg and subsequently laid a few more (heard can be up to 6), we did not managed to keep the eggs intact nor the budgie demonstrated any maternity instinct.  Well, I did not expect any hatching eventually but it was a nice experience.

Papa Birthday Dinner : Dec-13

On the last day of 2013, we threw a birthday celebration dinner for Papa for his 71st birthday, really enjoyable way to end the year together with close relatives.

2013 : Qiqi training in front of camera : May-2020

Qi speaks quite well in front of the camera now, but not without any training.  This is the proof.

District Pot-luck and early X'mas dinner : Dec-13

3 days after coming back from Taiwan and just into the middle of December, we begun our series of X’mas, New Year and Birthdays parties!

To start off, was our district year end Potluck at Mona’s place, which Mona kindly booked the function hall for us a month ago.  Despite the holiday season, we had quite a decent attendance, with families attending along with their spouse and kids.  

Right after this potluck, was Dor’s annual X’mas dinner at Papa’s place, this time with Ally! Dor prepared such sumptuous dinner and we helped ourselves to a second round.

For me, the food was probably secondary, I cherished the human interaction that was priceless.  Having said, there were still moments we would need to ‘drag’ ourselves to such gatherings especially around this period. However most of the gatherings would turn out much pleasant and beyond our expectation, it was usually our minds that limit our expectation, isn’t it?

 

 

Our Taiwan holidays - After thots : Dec-13

Since Shin Yang and myself got married,  we had never traveled anywhere with both side of our family together before.  To me, it seemed like a pretty difficult task to achieve especially if it was going to be a self-planned holiday.  Even when we traveled to Hong Kong with Shin Yang’s parents and Jiun back in 2006, we had just booked a tour package with SA tours and only enjoyed a good 5 days holidays.

Primary Division Graduation 2013 : Dec-13

Although it is now way past 2013 having entered February 2014, last year's PD Anniversary and Graduation was a very special one for me, hence despite being late for two months, this had to be recorded!

Yes, it was very special because my very own Xuan graduated from PD in 2013!!

Right at the start of 2013, Victor and I set a target -- to bring the family to Taiwan for a family vacation, not only the kids but also Victor's parents as well as my side of the family.  Jiun and I ever talked of travelling somewhere together with Pa while he is still strong and healthy.  Jiun had randomly mentioned about travelling that same year, which was the year before, but for my family of five to fly somewhere for a holiday could not be an impromptu decision; it had to be planned in advance and money saved up.  Therefore a SMART target Victor and I had set for last year was to bring the family to Taiwan.  As usual, Victor began to work on it swiftly, and by March, he had our air tickets booked and confirmed for December travel.  After considering the important dates pertaining to PSLE, he had decided that we would travel in the first two weeks of December, ie over the first December weekend.  But alas!! That was also the typical weekend whereby PD would hold its PD Anniversary (PDA)!!  And this wasn't juz any PDA, but Xuan's PDA.. how could we miss it??!  It would be my regret for life, Xuan's too, i thought.

Hence after our vacation dates were confirmed, with fingers crossed, I asked buddy Huili the 2013 PDA dates...... Surprisingly she told me then, that the PDA dates were not confirmed. and that I could still chant for it to fall on the second weekend of December!!  Boy, I was exhilarated!!  At least there was chance that Xuan would not miss HER PDA..  That was my fervent prayer for at least two weeks.  Indeed, the PDA was confirmed to be held on the second weekend of December, two days after our return from Taiwan.

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

I had no major role as SA for PDA 2013, I was attached to Aunty Alice's fan dance and helped to train the cubs in their dance steps.  Besides that, my biggest role was to encourage and bring Xuan and Adeline to PDA training every Saturday.

Preparation for PDA 2013 had the additional challenge of getting everybody together..  Many SAs and cubs were at the same time juggling with the preparations and holding of their respective zone GMs, which were held in November..

Xuan's first choice was to be an emcee in the PDA.  Otherwise she would also be considered for a narrator role.  Her next choice was to join the fan dance, which was my item.  As usual, many cubs turned up for the audition for emcees.  Therefore I was rather surprised that out of the six selected emcees, three of them were from Hougang class 6, Xuan included; the other two were Adeline and Sophia.

I could still recall vividly how Aunty Diana came up to me after one Saturday PDA training and told me how she was so surprised and touched that even my no. 2 was now in P6 and graduating soon.. Guess that really showed how time flies!

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

For PDA 2013, Xuan was the emcee for the Sunday session together with Adeline, whereas Sophia was the emcee for the Saturday graduation show for the parents.  It was very heartening to see how Xuan and her peers became closer to one another as a result of two PD events--the P5 camp during which they practised hard and presented an Indian dance, and the PDA.  Hence, despite Xuan's reluctance of the years to attend PD meetings, she graduated from PD with a bunch of friends whom she could still look forward to see during some FD meetings.

Despite having a major role of emcees for Sunday's PDA, Aunty Diana encouraged Xuan and Adeline to present a talent item for Saturday's P6 Graduation so as to increase their level of participation.  After much prodding and encouragement, Adeline and Xuan finally agreed to sing a song together which Xuan would also play on the ukulele.


I was almost moved to tears as I watch Adeline and Xuan's performance!!  It was quite incredible that my baby Xuan has grown so big now....  I sincerely hope that she continues to grow and bloom in this incredible and warm Soka family.

Xuan's P6 Prize Presentation Ceremony : Nov-13

The Event ..

Xuan's name on the Prize Presentation Ceremony booklet..

It has been a few good years since I last attended HIPS' prize presentation ceremony.. bcoz my girls were not receiving any prize! (^^)  Therefore I was pleasantly surprised when Xuan showed me the form inviting me to attend this year's prize giving. (^^)  What was even more pleasant was that Xuan will be receiving two awards -- the ICAS high distinction for English and continuous Gold for physical fitness tests (2011-2013)!! (^_^)

Since the prize giving was on a weekday and was not planned for, Victor could not join us.  Hence with En in tow, Qi and I brought along our camera and camcorder.  Besides the prize presentation ceremony, we would also like to watch the class performance that Xuan's class would be putting up!

Xuan, with her good friends Tricia and Qimin, were the main scriptwriters for their play, and Xuan had been updating us on the various challenges in getting the class to practice and rehearse for the performance.  In the end, Xuan was not only the scriptwriter, she also became the director and one of the narrators of the play!!

Can you spot Xuan's name?

Picture given by HIPS

Besides the students with the best results for each subject at the primary six level, they had a good progress award for each class too.  Following those were a huge chunk of time devoted to students who attained distinction and high distinction in the ICAS (International Competitions & Assessments for Schools) in each of the assessed subject or skill.

This was rather strange, I thought, because the ICAS is a voluntary and paid assessment conducted by an external party.  I recalled amongst the numerous letters from the school every year, there would be a few asking if we would like our child to take part in some assessments conducted by some overseas university or other institute, and payment would be according to the number of assessments we would want our child to take.  I usually would opt out or simply ignore after asking Xuan if she would like to take part.  Little did I expect the school to place such great emphasis on these achievements and even allot considerable time for it during the school prize presentation ceremony!?

Giving her bow at the centre of the stage ..

Xuan only took part in the English ICAS this year as she would like to know where she stood in her best subject.  Little did we expect her to emerge as one of the only two students in her school who received Higher Distinction for it!!  Versus eleven students who received Distinction..

Interestingly, Mrs Wang chatting with En ..

The prize presentation ceremony together with every P6 class' performance made the entire duration very long and boring.  En got very fidgety and restless before long and was running around the hall.  Qi and I had tried to go after her but that only made her ran faster and further from us!  Not soon after we gave up, knowing she was running on safe grounds, we found Mrs Wang, Qi's P1 form teacher and school counselor, chatting up En! 

Xuan receiving her 3-year continuous NAFA Gold award ..

Actually En had juz attended her P1 orientation a couple of days ago at HIPS.  According to the staff, the P1 form teachers have not been assigned yet.  If only En gets a pretty and patient teacher like Mrs Wang for her form and subjects teacher.......  I must continue to pray hard for En!

Miss Yeo.. Inspiring Educator Award for Science ..

After awarding the students, teachers were awarded too.  Xuan's favourite teacher, Miss Yeo, was one of the teachers given the Inspiring Educator Awards for Science.  Obviously, Xuan and many of her classmates had voted and garnered votes for her!!  According to Xuan, Miss Yeo is well into her sixties, and had even taught Dor when she was in HIPS!!  Subsequently, I also learnt from Sunshine Aunty Jasmine, who was from the first batch of HIPS after the boys and girls schools merged, that she had also been taught by Miss Yeo during her time!!!!!

The 3 narrators cum scriptwriters ..

The actresses in their self-made submarine!!

The tree--one of the most consistently good actor in the play!!

Xuan's First Convention : Nov-13

AFA13 was my first ever convention. It was quite a fun but tiring experience. I met many friendly people and took pictures with them. These are some of the pictures.

I look kind of weird (the green one) and my wig was slipping of my head half the time :P

There were many beautiful fan merchandises on sale and also the voice actor of an anime had been invited to the event.

 

I was really surprised to find out that electricity and running water had been shut after 5PM and that the toilets were no longer functionable after 5.

To sum it up, I had a really great experience at AFA13 and hope to be able to go to AFA14 next year and many more anime conventions. ((I'll also improve on my cosplay...hopefully.))