Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Greenest Person On Earth - Matthias Gelber

Happy for you, friend! Bring more Green message to all the people on earth.


http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/9/30/lifeliving/2132305&sec=lifeliving

When I do this alone, people think this fellow crazy one and got nothing to do but to plant. Now, with you as our green messenger hopefully more Malaysian aware of the importance of preserve our environment.

Below is my green efforts that toppled the lists:
1) Use minimal water (Don't Waste)
2) Plant more trees
3) Reduce in using of plastic bag - for food especially, bad for health, bad for environment
4) Teach my kids to plant and love nature
5) Cook and eat at home

I do these daily, what about you?

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Women's Centre for Change (WCC)

Today I attended a workshop conducted by Penang English Language Learning-Teaching Association (PELLTA), invited speaker Dr. Prema President of WCC on Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention. Also the 1st time I get to know WCC is in Penang, shame of me.

As the nation getting more crowded, crime rate tend to increase as well. Everyday, we could read from the newspaper on all sorts of crimes, from snatch theft to sexual abuse to brutal men slaughter cases that trigger the safety of livelihood in our society and community. Thus, children tend to be the most vulnerable group towards their own safety from being violated.

Thus, parents like us are the best people to teach our children on how to protect themselves and be safe.

You can make a different.

New Curriculum in 2010

ahh..... at last our ministry of education announced the new curriculum will be introduced to primary education in year 2010 in order 'to make learning fun and rewarding'.
I love this!
I really hope they will walk their talk.
They are supposed to revamp it long time ago la...... it's better late than never in this case.

As I'm preparing for my eldest son whose official schooling will be in 2011, and I never emphasized on just academic. Because I was from that kind of curriculum and I take myself as a total schooling failure. So what I was from A class, so what I score 5A's in PMR in 1993 and so what I went through master programme... Life is totally different when you are out of school chair. Then only we need to acquire new skills in society. To me, it was too late. It was wasted all the 12 Years schooling. So, how relevant is this???

That's why I very much dislike those preschool that emphasized on formal schooling curriculum in preschool years in ages 3-6 and homework 2-3pages daily. Not age appropriate at all. Damn boring and a complete brain destruction to kids!!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Dad Teach

This is a long forgotten whiteboard that I used it 4 years ago in my tuition class. Now, I introduce it in my homeschooling lesson.
I noticed that my kids are keen to write on the board. They get the feeling of showing off their capability and get noticed of what they are scribbling on. Sometimes, I'm not able to interpret what they are writing... sigh! They are pretty good in reading I can say.

Look at how good their father can teach... I hope he will do this more often : P

Weekly Craft: Mini Kite

We do mini kite for this week's craft.

You need:
Old newspaper,
Lidi stick / josstick stick
Glue
Glittering wrapping paper
Holder stick with threat


I was thinking to make more of it to fly the kite together with neighbours children. My place here is always windy as we're nearby the sea, opposite our house around 600m away i guess....

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Sambal Petai Recipe

My good friend Grace loves sambal petai. It is our Malaysian's favourite dish. When we were pregnant, she even asked her Malay friend to cook for her then brought to my house. We enjoyed the dish together. Those were the days.

This is my version of Sambal Petai. With just a dish like this, I'm able to sweep clean a big plate of rice for lunch, dinner; next day's lunch, dinner...... it is delicious.

Coloured Pasta Kids Craft

This is my activity with kids for this week's craft session. Ryan wore his necklace to Tesco for our weekly marketing ^_^ He is proud of his own craft.



It was a challenge for me in every art & craft project, need to handle one 3yo and one 4yo with different pace of development in controlling the their hand movement. Sometimes, the paint not go to the pasta but their hair instead... grrhhh....

Here's the roller-coaster session....

Friday, September 19, 2008

Blackbeauty Sorbet

The weather was dry over the past few days in Penang here. I decided to make some sorbet to cool off the day with sorbet my way. Once it's done, Blackbeauty Sorbet will dissappear within days. It's my sons favourite. I gave a few to my father nearby and neighbours too. It can be kept up to 3 weeks in fridge in case you wish to make more to store.


This is the last one that I managed to capture before being snatched away.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

My CSR role - Matchmaking

Announcement to all friends out there who deemed as single & available :P

Here's 1 coming event 'Helping Singles To Find True Love' will be held in Penang. Organised by Junior Chamber International Bayan (JCI), M'sia. Below is the details:-

Date: Oct 11, 2008 (Saturday)
Time: Noon - 11pm
Venue: Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel, Penang, M'sia.
Objective: Promoting better understanding between the sexes.
Participants: Single persons aged from 21 to 45 are encouraged to participate.
Registration: RM150 per person

Call Edmund Tan 017-478 6365 or Adele Lim 012-491 3916 for more information.

article picked from The Star dated 13Sept 2008.

To Your Harmonious Marriage!

Monday, September 15, 2008

The Leaders how competent

When I posted the earlier post, something popping out in my mind that leads me to write this.

Well, all of us has the right to speak out. The thing is whether the idea spoken bring any positive effects or negative thinking to others; what is the ultimate goals of the idea is important! We can't simply listen or just follow what others say, even thought the words are from leaders. This is because there are competent and incompetent leaders.

With the advancement in information technology, we're bombarded with thoughts and information, good influence not so good influence, everybody's voices wants to be heard. This is the time where one's analytical mind is much needed. This also challenge us on our knowledge, wisdom and how mature in us. We must not only able to accept or reject the idea, but we also need to articulate on the issue or subject when needed.

We will progress if we're keen in improving our knowledge-based human capital.

Math & Science not in English again?

Recently there has been a lot of concerned parents writing their views on switching of language in teaching Maths and Science. Well, inclusive of myself too concern about it. Because I need to get them prepared to be comfortable with language that will be in used when they are in official schooling years.

As for me, I would say "Keep It In English".

There are a lot of ways that can be adopted to improve English language be it used in Mathematics, Science or non-science, whatever... If the policy maker wish do make the teaching of this International Language a success, improve on the quality of our teachers, produce more quality books, practice and use the language more often. These are some of the ways which could be easily work on instead switching from one language to another after failing one and another oppss..... Parents too go hair-wired, apa lagi budak sekolah kita, hmm.. lagi pening.

Me too are not from english medium school, yet I can say it is not bad with the current state of spoken and written English. I keep on improving myself by reading lots of books until now. I always remember - no pay no gain la...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Sticker Book


Sometimes out of the blue, I may go out by myself to get some fresh air. Normally, I'll hang around at places like bookstores or art and craft stores to get new materials and ideas to do with kids. I found a suitable sticker book from Borders which will keep Russell busy for a few days : P

By the way, it costs RM20.90 just for a sticker book!

Rubber Gun play

I found this handmade rubber gun from pasar malam. Bought 2 back - 1 long and 1 short gun. It provides lots of fun for Ryan and Russell to play with. They are playing policeman and thief in the house.

Lost of data card

As our home full of ICT 'experts' - the father and son team; they are so expert until they lost my digital camera's 2G memory card. So how? Lost all the pictures inside. That's why a bit reluctant to come back to blog. mourn over the lost of all my pictures which has been collected in recent half a year. Each time I need a photo to put in my blog, the sadness makes a come back again...

That's why sometimes it's good to be a little shelfish not to let others touch your gadgets rather than sorry. Managed to get a new card plugged in and it's working as per normal again. stay tuned.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Home Cook Meals

These are common sight on our dining table to be served as lunch or dinner. 1soup, 1fish (under meat category) and another dish maybe from meat or vegetables. I'll served it on the table see who want to eat first, can start dining. As for soup, it will be served last because we like to have it while still hot. The papa favour the soup mostly - a daily must have. Mine, I like sambal belacan...

One may not used to cook daily because it's a tedious job to cook all the fresh produce from market. As for me, it took me a while to get used to homecook daily. As a start, I used to cook 3 days a week. Then, after 2 or 3 months I cook with more consistent and frequent. Finally reached a stage like today, no problem to get the meals done spontaneously within 2hrs. Provided that there are sufficient ingredients around.