CO Memories

HELLO folks!!! Very soon I am going to pop liao! I doubt you have even seen me in my pregnant state huh? :)

Have been going to Weixiang's blog and enjoyed reading his entries ( I didn't manage to read very often though).

Anyway just want to keep the blog a little more alive. Miss you all.

Yingyi

Posted by 颖 Ying at 8:54 PM | Permalink | Comments

I realised that not every post I sent by email get posted up on this blog!

This year's CNY hasn't been too happening for me. I dodged a few visits to some relatives whom I hardly know, all from Hongheng's side. I miss gatherings with friends actually.

Last year my JC classmates (Weisheng, Xinhao, Huiwen,Shanshan, Qiren, Libing etc) came over and I served them my favourite Jasmine tea cookies and many other goodies. Also, my church choir friends came over for a game of Taboo. We also had gatherings in their homes. Sigh...where is all the fun this year?!

Anyway looking forward to meeting up with you. Can't imagine meeting up afterthe delivery of my Gold Piglet in Aug.

This post is not sent by email. It didn't work this time. Yy

Posted by 颖 Ying at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

You have to watch this. A Flash movie on Deviantart about The Little Girl Who Was Forgotten By Absolutely Everyone (Even The Postman):

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21423447

ws.

Posted by Sean Tan at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

Argh. I accidentally converted our Blogger to the new version. And this new version requires my Google account email and password to log in to blogger... So dumb. If I'd known earlier I wouldn't allow the conversion.

But now you can simply use the new email method to post an entry. By posting an email with RICH TEXT, you can have all the coloured fonts, italics, bold, font sizes.... (The title of the email will become the title of the entry.) More convenient yeah? Shall not name the email address here in case of spammers. Have sent the email address to your sms.

The bad thing is, if you ever want to edit your post after you have sent the email, you'll need to log in to Blogger through your Google account. Right now, only my Google account is recognised. If you have a Google account, please tell me your Google account email so that I can add you to this blog (and you can freely edit your posts and this blog).

(This entry was posted by email.)
ws.

Posted by Sean Tan at 7:15 PM | Permalink | Comments

Yah why not? In March what. Unless WS minds, if he thinks that our turning up will make him more nervous. Tell us where and when ok?

Wah ABRSM theory grade 6....what an achievement! I admire your passion and courage to pursue music. And you are a teacher some more...I wonder how all this is possible! You are a Superman! Keep it up and don't let any of these go ok, or else you will find that it's hard to go back to the routine.

I am fine with Ridout (spelling) too :)

Posted by Sean Tan at 6:22 PM | Permalink | Comments

What's past is past, let's just move on... :)

I'm so looking forward to meeting up in March (as proposed earlier)! And yes, more photos! Before I grow senile and forget your faces (yep, I am ALREADY growing senile). March is going to be an exciting month for me - my ABRSM grade 6 music theory and Yamaha grade 6 guitar exams, plus a keyboard-cum-live-singing gig at a cafe... Meeting up is going to make March even more memorable. Especially when we'll be having a visibly pregnant lady among us! Are we going to the Little Bridge Flowing Waters? :p

ws.

Posted by Sean Tan at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mmm... you guys know when I'm cracking a joke right? Mm... Maybe I thought you guys knew me well enough, but... oh well... *sigh*

Sorry if I said things that made you guys annoyed... you know I never meant any harm, or harboured any mean thoughts towards you... by golly, don't know what sort of jokes i can crack around you guys anymore... >.<

Grats on Yy's pregnancy! If it's a boy you might wanna take a chance to name it after me? *excited* (erm... this is a joke! you know right? >.<)

Maybe I should just shut up... :(

This doesn't feel like the old CO book at all... :(

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 1:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Haha....don't think you will be too surprised. In fact I wrote more in my jewellery blog. Do check it out for pic of my bb!

So the next time we meet up, I will be double of my previous size :( No serious gym workouts and occasional diets anymore, that's why. In fact I am starting to wear maternity bottoms as my waistline is expanding tremendously.

I am at the end of my first Trimester. When you visit me in August do come with more goodies :p My child will call you uncle and aunty!

Oh yah I am turning 30 in another month or so....in fact I never felt like twenty something for a long time. I think I used up my quota for fun and excitement in my early and mid twenties. I am glad Weixiang is enjoying so much now. Well a woman ages faster.

Last time it was like work+gym+dinner/shopping at Orchard+beading on a typical weekday. Now it is like: work+dinner only.

With my kid, it's going to be: breastfeeding+washing diapers+breastfeeding!!!!

How I miss my youth!

Yy

Posted by Sean Tan at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

Happy new year to all!!! Had a relaxing long weekend, all I did was eat, sleep, watch TV, read magazines & a bit of housework... Waking up for work these few days was a drag after a good rest :)

I never bothered to make any new year resolutions as I feel events that occur along the way can often derail plans made at the beginning of the year, so why bother? Just take one step at a time & adjust long-time plans along the way...

A milestone for us this year is that me, weixiang & yingyi will be members of the big 3 clan!!! Well, I'm fine with that, cos it's just a number that keeps growing, what matters most is how you feel at heart... Anyway, I look younger that my age :)

Shuzhen

Posted by Sean Tan at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments

It's been a great 3 days of rest of me. :) However, it's nothing compared to ws and Yingyi's month long holidays... How I wish I could have two weeks of gardening leave! But being the only salesperson in the firm, I don't have that luxury... >.<

I agree that the month-plus holiday breaks your teaching momentum (ws and Yingyi). But given the long break, I guess you could psych yourself up during the final week of break to steel yourself for the next year of teaching... For me, my customers will probably be groggy from the holidays or busy with catching up work accumulated over the public holidays, so I'll have a few days more to psych myself up. How about Shuzhen? Did you get a long break this year?

Yingyi, hope your mum is fine. Watch her diet and make sure she eats only healthy stuff. Omg doing this is so difficult! I'm addicted to eating junk food now... >.< Also get her to drink lots and lots of water - good water preferably (can find me if you need good water purifiers - omg I'm advertising! Lolz...)

Shuzhen, my Christmas was like yours... I was spending the whole of Christmas reading and sleeping... The weather was sooooo fantastic with all the rain and cool air that I enjoyed it very much... Especially reading in this kind of weather - it's just so therapeutic...

ws asked if we have any new year resolutions. G also asked me this same question... Well, my reply to her was, "I don't follow my resolutions anyway, so no point in making any... Hee..." Anyway, in my daily routine, somtimes I do make certain goals and try to fulfill them. Resolutions shouldn't only be made in the beginning of the year only lah... It's more important to keep track of your goals daily, and update your goals often. :) But I'm not determined enough... Haiz... I admire some of my friends who are very strong and determined. /salute

Finally, I have a confession to make - I might be playing World of Warcraft again after the expansion comes out... Gah... So much for resolutions... _-_ But fortunately, I'll be sharing the account for Zhenxiang, which means that if he logs on, I can't. Yay... Hope that helps to keep me off. But one thing is for sure, I won't be spending as much time as I did before, playing the game. ;) [Seriously keeping fingers crossed]

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

Happy new year, everyone!

To answer Z's entry, I guess the blog is set up for both options A and B? Just write anything you feel like writing! :)

And about the drawer of cards... I also have this problem! In fact I have one drawer for "friends" and one for "students" - the first drawer is like yours, cramped beyond hope - I also threw away those without personalised messages. So glad that e-cards have replaced the paper ones, but a few of my friends still send those paper ones (only two for this year's X'mas actually) - which I think is rather sweet and I can't bear to tell them to stop sending...

Wonder whether any of you made some new year resolutions? Hmm... I haven't made mine. The thought of starting work tomorrow (and having to wake up at 5.30 am again) makes my brain numb. =D

ws.

Posted by Sean Tan at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments

On New Year's Eve, I suddenly dug out the Christmas cards, Chinese New Year cards, Birthday cards and had a good look at them.. Brought a flurry of warmth in my heart... I even saw some cards that was from my primary school days... Primary school days! Wow... To think I had lost contact with my primary school friends... I suddenly had the impulse to contact some of them, to ask them out. I have one's home telephone number, one's address and I couldn't find details of the last one who had moved... Might have to take some effort to find him...

Among the locked drawer of cards and letters, the bulk comes from a Hong Kong friend, who visited Singapore some 10 years back. We corresponded all these years, and I even attended her wedding in Hong Kong last february! Then there were some private cards and letters, some Christmas and Chinese New Year cards.

Anyway, every time I look at the cards, I'll have a funny thought in my head - What am I going to do with them when I get old? I'd want those surviving me to 'burn' them for me after i die... Or else what to do with them? Heh...

Anyway, the drawer is getting very full, and I need to make an effort to stuff the cards into the drawer! Like compressing a suitcase. >.< I even had to throw away some cards that were meaningless, that only had

"Dear Zewang,

[Cards' original message]

From XYZ"

I deem these cards as meaningless if they didn't write anything worth keeping for, but I also keep cards that are really cute. I used to not mind, and keep everything, but sigh... I'm running outta space...

It's not that I don't appreciate cards. I really, really appreciate the cards that are sent to me - it's just that with my drawers overflowing, I don't know what I am going to do with new ones! I don't wanna throw them away you see, being the sentimental fool I am. Anyway, i guess I already have a collection to last me a lifetime. :)

Thanks for all the thoughts and cards that everyone has ever given me. Thanks to everyone in my life, all those from my past and present.

As I grow older, I get to appreciate everyone more.

Sentimental fool indeed. :)

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments

I was wondering: What is the purpose of this blog? Is it:

a) To update each other of our happenings? (But some of you have your own private blogs already)

b) To emulate our old CO diary that's been lost (that book where we sometimes talked trash and little gossips... :P)

If it's option B, we could actually have a flow of conversation on certain topic instead of sticking through as a blog only. Just a suggestion. :)

Anyway, have a great 2007, dear friends, and may all the good stuff follow us the whole year through!

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

Hi Zewang, Shuzhen, Weixiang and all our other CO friends...hope that you have rested well yesterday. I slept a lot recently and find that it's so hard to get back on track again. But I am glad I have prepared a few chapters for my lessons in the holidays.

As what Shuzhen has said, we are moving on the next phase of our lives (a matter of time). For us, it's probably like marrying someone or having kids. But at the same time, our parents are also moving into a new phase - either getting retired, having grandchildren or getting ill (unfortunately).

Sigh....for instance, my mum has been suffering from back pain for the past few months. Just today, we learnt that the blood traces in her urine has gone beyond normal levels and she has been referred to a specialist on Thursday.

One more thing to worry about. But this is life.

Yingyi

Posted by Sean Tan at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments

Went to my uni friend's baby full-month party on 17Dec, was reminded that we have known each other for 10 years!!! Yup, it has been 10 years since we entered uni, and we are now leading our own lives, many of them married & with kids. How time really flies...

Had Christmas lunch with my colleagues last Friday in office, was a simple thing with plenty of food, gift exchanges and kids running about. The office looks like a childcare centre then.. :) But it was fun, a nice end to the year, since many of them will be on leave till next year!!!

It was a very peaceful Christmas for me this year. Was lazing at home on Christmas eve, watching the Korean drama "my royal princess", & on Christmas a short trip to raffles city, some shopping then back to my VCDs again... Got me thinking about how I used to celebrate Christmas with my uni hostel friends: we will usually gather at a friend's place (her parents will very kindly stay away for the night for us to create havoc), whip up a few dishes, exchange gifts and spent the night playing games like hide & seek, card games & "Truth or Dare".. Those were the days when we don't have to think much about commitments, money or anything of that nature... but now it is very difficult to even have a gathering since most of them have set up their own family and have a lot more commitments. How I miss those days...

Shuzhen

Posted by Sean Tan at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yesterday afternoon, I attended my 3rd wedding banquet in the whole of last week. One's my best pal Vincent, one's Zhizhong and another's my army pal Daniel. I was genuinely happy for each and every one of them, and really felt glad that I was there to share their joy. Prior to this, friends' wedding banquets were just 'fun'. Now, it's... well... meaningful.

I always look forward to watching the video montage and express highlights. These are beautiful moments that the couple will always remember for life. And the wedding photos are always something great to look at (I love looking at beautiful things - don't you see why I love perfect eyesight!?) And I for one would definitely love to have my photos taken while I'm still young. Don't wanna be old and then take those photos... Ah pek in 'gorgeous' wedding photos are not a good way to capture your youth... Or... alternatively, I could go pay and do a makeover shoot now [omg that's liek so loser!]. Something to remember my youth by... Or what's left of it... Heehee...

Even though I'm positively broke this month, I will proudly tell you: I'd definitely go for each of my friend's wedding [erm... if we're close enough - please, not the sudden 10-years-never-meet kind of friends...]. Yeah, I'd have to eat bread every meal for the next few months, but I guess it's definitely worth it to participate in their happiness. One of the most important moments of our lives... I guess seeing the look of happiness on their faces is more than enough for me.

Oh yeah, and by the way, if you're getting married, you might wanna avoid December (everyone gets married in December!!)... I don't get bonuses like you do, and I REALLY have to scrimp and save to share your joys.. so.... :P

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments

Hiyah! I just came back from Korea. Err.....I still like Taiwan more. You know, Korean looks very very much likem Taiwan, though Seoul has more trees along the streets. I didn't appreciate the food there, I got enough of Kimchi and steamboats liao. Really couldn't take it and started to want to come home on the third day of the trip.

Maybe it's the cold weather lah....as cold as -5 deg. My skin on my hands and face was so dry. The bed in the h0tels were too soft and anytime when one of us flipped, the other would be woken up.

I had nightmares about school work etc very often during the Korea stay. I guess I was very stressed still even on holiday. Last night I dreamed that I couldn't remember where my classrooms were and was walking up and down looking for them.

In Korea I dreamed of myself wanting to get a fruit juice from the nearby foodcourt before reporting to school, but by 7.45am when the national anthemn played, I was still struggling to get to school.

Another one I could still remember was that I was supposed to report to school in an afternoon to man my CCA. I took the train from Bukit Batok but after an hour, I still couldn't arrive at Yew Tee.

I really dread this job. I mean, I love teaching and I want to be a good teacher, but the price is really too high to pay. Sigh...my holidays are ending :(

Posted by Sean Tan at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

Weixiang! The second pic was so dark....got to guess who is who.

Zewang, thanks a lot for Wangwang rice crackers....haven't had it for a long time. Was munching away before night came and was grateful for it :) And for old friends :)

[Don't mention it! Just thought you'd love to have something to eat when it gets boring at night... I hope you had great fun at the camp! I missed the camps in school soooooo much... :'(]

And ya, I saw Chuan Feng a few times at Yew Tee foodcourt too, just that I wasn't sure it was him.

Recently I kept pondering whether I should continue to stay in this profession after my bond is up. I am very tired from playing the role of Mdm ** and I really need a good break. Sometimes the students don't understand my kind intentions behind what I do to/for them (extra lessons, punishments etc) and they don't show much appreciation and gratitude. But then there are so many people who thinks I should continue or else I will feel useless staying at home and not able to contribute. Someone even said that I might go senile! :(

Anyway I need to apologise that I can't host you on the 18th Dec as I have many many gatherings then and I am afraid I can;t cope with the house cleaning. But I really want you to come to my place and see the mess I am in, haha! :) So New Year?

But that does not mean that we can;t meet up for Christmas. Let's still stick to 18th Dec and maybe go town again, or else you can go JB karaoke without me :)

Posted by Sean Tan at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

Pictures taken after the feast at Vila'ge...



Weixiang

Posted by Sean Tan at 8:19 PM | Permalink | Comments

Went to Yingyi's school today to meet up with her OM. When I was there, i called her twice and even messaged her to ask whether she wanna have lunch together, but her phone was on silent and she didn't bring it along with her... zzz...

But then, I went to the canteen and tada! There she was having lunch! Small world huh.... And she's supposed to be having a camp with her choir in school too! [Yay! The poor mosquitoes get to have some food these two days! :D]

Coincidentally I was at another primary school earlier where my army mate was also teaching (my goodness... I have soooo many teacher friends) and it happened that he didn't answer his phone too cuz he was in a meeting. Also wanted to ask him for lunch but... sianz...

Anyway, it was very kind of Yingyi to introduce me to her OM, thanks a lot! So sweet of you! *hugz*

And oh yeah, it's quite annoying to be a female teacher and married at the same time... People call her Mdm **... Sounds so old ya... :P

[Zewang, I take away the surname cos I think it's common for teachers/students to search for gossips on the internet, especially sometimes I discuss about whether to stay in this profession or not. Don't want to be a victim yet! :)]

Oh, and I also saw Chuanfeng with his ang-moh supplier at the food court where Yingyi recommended me to go... Today so coincidental huh... Meet Friends All Over The Place Day...

Wow this post is so fragmented. I'm so amazed how I was able to pass my compo or GP... Or maybe late already.. I better go bathe and get some sleep...

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 12:54 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yingyi! You mentioned you like yogurt right? Sheng Siong is selling Meiji low fat yogurt (and it's yummy too!) at 3 for $1.60 (150g each). Unfortunately that was a few days ago. Now they're selling at $2.05 for 3. Still the cheapest yogurt I could find at Sheng Siong though....

Oh yeah, and I bought Daisy's Wholegrain Milk and Low Fat Milk for $4.65 for 2 (quite the standard price nowadays) and Marigold's yogurt drink (2 for $4.65 also).

I feel so domesticated... >.<

Z

Posted by Sean Tan at 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

It always feels good to meet up with old friends, that's why I always make an effort to attend all such gatherings :)

I don't know why, probably it's just me. Post schooling days, I haven't been making much friends, those that I can really "click" with. Well, at least until I joined my current company, where I managed to know a few colleagues whom I can really call friends. They did help me go throught a difficult patch in the first half of this year...

That's why friends I got to know during schooling days have held a special place in my heart. It warms my heart to hear news about them and that they are happy & doing well....

Shuzhen

Posted by Sean Tan at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Never had a chance to share this baby picture with you so since we have a blog now, here it is...Not the cutest I have but the only one I had scanned in for some reason :)

Posted by Sean Tan at 8:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

Ok, this is my very first blog entry, so if it doesn't turn out fine, 请多包含！
[great! glad you came on board!!]

I've never wanted to write on a blog because I don't really like to type things out very much (I don't exactly like to email either) but I guess this is something quite different, so... well....

It really feels good to be at the outing on Thursday. Haven't met up with Meiqi, Shuzhen, Yingyi in years (I do meet up with Weixiang now and then... we share more friends in common) and I wanted to speak out on how I feel.

Friends come into your life, and friends go out of your life. But these friends are very... special to me.

When you hang out with friends, you experience some sort of feeling around them. There are groups I go out with more often, that I've known for a very long time; yet I don't exactly feel comfortable with around, or even a part of them.

For this group of friends, even though we haven't met up in YEARS, there is this special feeling that warms my heart when I am around them. We had a great time in JC, even though I was only able to spend one short year together with them (I am one year younger than them). It was the period when we were all growing up – the period where friends tend to be the main focus of your life. I guess this wonderful feeling cannot be easily erased over time, and remains inside my heart; hopefully it can last forever.

Our goals were once the same: CO. We virtually breathed CO, and would be perpetually seen haunting the miserably tiny yet cosy little CO room when we had some spare time. However, with our different lives unfolding, our priorities in life have changed, and we all now pursue very different ideals in life. Yet, it is comforting to know that friendship does not wane even though our goals have diverged.

[At this point I am so touched. Same sentiments :D]

It really takes each and every individual’s effort to maintain friendship bonds. For that, I thank you all very much for making the effort to turn up for the gathering. You don’t know how much it means to me (though most of us might have lost the ‘wild adventurous spirit’ that we once had – hey, just walking round the fountain isn’t much of an wild task right?!? It is something silly that we soooooo would have done back then. :p )

Looking forward to regular meet-ups in future, my dear friends!

Zewang

Posted by Sean Tan at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

I am looking forward to our next gathering at 小桥流水 place! 16th Nov right? Or we can go watch a concert together.

It was a small group last night but it was very enjoyable.

When Zewang talked about his Lasik operation and of his previous relationship, I realised how much each of us has grown. Ever since we departed from HCJC, we had since then accumulated our own unique stories.

Weixiang made us felt like we were still back then, because he is still so funny, quiet, moody.....

Suzhen has grown prettier and we can always count on her to turn up in every gathering. THanks for being so faithful to our CO group!

Meiqi certainly looked very 幸福. Her glittering diamonds made very good subjects of conversation :)

Hey do come by this blog and catch up often! I will be looking forward to seeing something new here everyday, just like how we used to chase after our CO diary.

Posted by Sean Tan at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

Hi! This blog was inspired after a long-awaited HCCO gathering just now at Suntec. Hopefully we can revive our sweet memories in HCCO and share our present lives through this virtual portal... (Chose this blog server as it provides webspace for uploading photos - more convenient.) :)

Here's a recent picture of my students and me:

Weixiang

Posted by Sean Tan at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments