Xuan's PSLE Results Release : Nov-13

22 November -- the day Xuan's PSLE results would be known.  Victor took leave on that day and around noon time, the whole family accompanied Xuan to school to receive her results.

Juz like three years ago, their principal spoke at great length, sharing statistics on how well the school had performed relative to the national standards.

Everyone was very happy that no one in the school failed in this year's PSLE!!

The principal then went on to announce and personally congratulate every student who scored 250 and above.  By alphabetical order.  Clearly, Xuan was nervous.  Frankly, so was I.  Victor too.

Soon, it was evident that Xuan did not have the opportunity to shake the principal's hand. 

Immediately after the principal dismissed the assembly for the class teachers to distribute the result slips, Xuan's buddies came over to comfort her.

Many hugs and encouragement words were exchanged.  Obviously there were many who were pretty pleased with the results, and also many who were rather devastated..

It did not take long for most of them to come to terms with their results and cherish the one last time they would gather altogether in the school in this school uniform...

 Notes and handmade momentos were exchanged..

Pictures with friends and classmates were taken one last time in this school uniform in this school hall..  Afterwhich most of them would be posted to different schools to continue their pursuit of education.

Studio photography fun : Nov-13

Having bought the studio screen cloth along with the strobe studio light set from China website, this fun was an real extension to a personal hobby of photography.  Like what Qi said, this was like a dream coming true, having a photo studio right at our own house.  However, setting up this system was not as easy as I thought, fortunately I finally got a bit of luck after several hours and still not spoiling anything in the process.  Everyone in the family were invited to the first shooting session in our home built studio, excitement heightened as everyone put up their best attire and makeup.  The outcome of the studio strobe lights were impressive on the photos, more importantly it also created great fun and bonding within the family.  One thing I definitely realized, anyone would enjoy having a nice shot of themselves or with their love ones, especially if it is cheap and affordable.

Qi Birthday : Nov-13

After almost 15 years, I was surprised that Ling did not realize Qi’s birthday is exactly 2 weeks from her birthday.   A couple of days prior to the quad’1’ day, she broke her ‘discovery’ excitedly to me but only to receive an anti-climax.  Qi birthday is celebrated quite similarly to Ling’s, except Ally is more cooperative this time… We cut cakes at 2 places and I took a day leave and we spent the day together.

 

At home...

En's Last Day @SK : Nov-13

The last couple of days were filled with Qi and I beading and putting together a personalized souvenir for each of En's SK classmates. Finally those were done. All in preparation for En's last day at SK. En's last day at SK was a princes-and-princesses themed party whereby all the graduands become princes and princesses, juz like how founder Ikeda Sensei would refer to them..

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Unconsciously, En's 3-year SK journey also marks the end of my daily travel to, chanting in and hanging around at our Tampines kaikans. This also marks the end of my Tampines mummy life--no more shopping at the round market, at street 81 supermarkets and shops, and popping to tampines mall or tampines one at will. This also marks the end of my daily gongyo and daimoku with ex-kotekitai comrade.. Also the end of those SK mummies bonding session when our children are in school.. The end of my morning home visits to my WDs..

I still vividly recall of my decision to enroll En into SK. It was a decision not so popular within the family due to the distance of the school from our home. Nevertheless, at my insistence, Victor had no objection, as long as I take up the responsibility of ferrying En to and from school.. which I did.

When I enrolled En into SK after their open house after my P5 camp in the year of 2010, I text mummy to inform her, and received one of mummy's last text messages to me, "Good lah!"