There is a secondary school fair held at Nina's school.

This sec school fair is good. We can see how good is the school by looking at how well they prepare, how their student present.

The most impressive is Commonwealth Sec. They even bring in their dancers to perform in between the presentation. They also let the student to do the presenation of slides. The next school is Jurong Sec, the student speak very well, and is very knowledgable on what the school is offering. May be she is the only few that can present so well. But at least, the school are willing the let the students take the lead. Some other school are good in art, and some are good in CCA.

One of the school, initially was on Nina's choice of school, but after the fair, I told her to take it out. The vice principals look like a office attendent, and the student are so sloppy. When the teacher is doing the presentation, two students are eating and the other pregnant teacher seating so cho lor at the side.

The sec schools suppose to impress the parents by presenting the best. Some school just didn't put in effort.

Some of the schools that on Nina's list are Commonwealth, Fu Hua, Hau Yi, Jurong. Two more to choose. Hope she can get in to her first choice school.

I am now reporting to new lady boss from our sister company. She is strong in HR, powerful english (i feel so la), can write long grandfather story. But she is old, 57.

So while she took over our HR function, she also looking for successor, as she plan to retire in 3-5 years time.

She has two successors in mind, one Asst Quality Mgr, and myself.

She encourage me to take up degree in HR, which I dun think i can manage. A lot of project to submit. She also nominate me to go for our company in house mgmt skills course conducted in Netherlands for next year. That in house course is a good course to train the newly mgr. Hear from colleague who went for the course, the course require a lot of presentation, and the trainer will video tape your presentation and point out your weaker area and how to improve it. I dun like this type of course.

Problem is, I am kind of person that 没志气。 I am not ambitious. Working as Manager (or maybe assistant mgr) mean I have to deal with the Mgmt team, which I dun like. I am not up to their political standard. If I work with them, think I will be arrowed down by them very soon. Furthermore, I can't write well, my english also half pail water. I also not a good leader, and leak of mgmt skills.

Working as Executive now, I can still use the mgr to block the arrows. Although sometime I do become a sandwish between my mgr and mgmt team. And now, i also have lesser responsibilities.

Of course, title come with $$$. And who will say NO to promotion? Just have to see how I develop along the way. I may or may not be the one. Just thinking of the mgt skill course next year already make me stress....

Samuel is going to Kagoshima-Japan from 26 Sep - 01 Oct. He went with his school choir team to perform at the Kagoshima Art Festival - Asian 2007. Nina was also the choir members, but the trip is too closed to her PSLE. What a waste that she can't make it.

Whole trip is $1550. After deduct from edusave of $400 and susidise by the school base on income, I only need to pay $230. What a relief. I also changed S$266 to JPY of 20,000 for him to spend.

He is departing from Singapore at 1am 27 Sep.

When he is back from school on 26 Sep, he just cant bare to part with us. He start to cry and refuse to go. He is worry that teacher will be very strict, worry that teacher will force him to eat vegetables, worry that he will hv no freedom, worry about loneliness, worry .....

He pray that Singapore got thunder storm where airport will be closed. He even plan to fall asleep just half an hour before reporting to school.

I keep telling him that he will enjoy there and will have different experience there where he can meet up with people from asian coutries shuch as China, Philippines, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, HongKong etc.

He just cry and pest me to listen to him this time round, just to keep him at home. As if like i going to give him away to other families like that. But I have to let him go, let him be independance, to experience something outside Singapore. It is a great opportunity.

Finally, he reach school with swollow eyes, with the friends around, he just control his tears. We didn't go airport to send him off, just in case he start to .....

During the trip, he sms back a few times, but dun allow me to call him or sms him. He afraid that he will cry when he hear my voice too much. I believe when he is there, with new environment and the tight schedule will occupied him.

Time fly, after 4/5 days he is back. He is great that he went for the trip. The vice principle even award him with Most Improve Traveller, because he from a crying boy who doestn't want to go, to a having fun and enjoy shopping traveller. The vice principle also praise him as a independence boy.

Of course la, jpy20,000 for him to spend without me around to say no to this, no to that. They went shopping at Daiso, Takashimaya. He bought himself soft toys, key chains, tip bits. And bring back exchange gifts from friends from other countries. He also won himself during Bingos games, is a Japan tradition drawing.

I glad that he enjoy his trip and hope that he will be more independance as he growth. Furthermore, he is a boy, one day, he will still have to go army and have to leave home. So got to train him.

One thing I cant stand it. Samuel is back, one of my SIL keep asking, never buy thing for Ah Ma huh?, never buy thing for 大姑huh? never buy thing for the cousins huh? Comeon la, he just a kid that when overseas without the parents around, what you expect from them? But for the oldest to the youngest, u know how many people or not. Feel like going Daiso and buy Japanese foods and thing for them to keep her mouth shut. Sickening!!