PS3 - Playing Seriously 3 - Wanna be a rockstar?

The latest craze in the gaming section seems to be the Rockband or Guitar Hero games. Almost every other computer shop have stocked up these mock band sets in their stores like it's the hottest items for Xmas. It's popularity is further spured by it's compatibility with PS3, Wii and Xbox 360. I suppose a lot of people buy them in conjunction with long Chinese New Year holidays. Good idea too as it's something you can show off to your guests when they come visiting besides being good entertainment value.

I now understand why cousin bought it just a few weeks before the New Year. Just ample time for them to practise. And their practise paid off as they can play expert level for drums and guitar now. No wonder he kept asking me to practise my vocal chords before coming to his house for an "audition". He seriously warned me against making a fool of myself with the vocals should I play expert level.

I still remember the eager beaver look on my cousin's face when he first got the PS3 set. He came to my house with the new toy and insisted we go for yumcha. It was pretty weird for him to insist that I go for yumcha even though there was a special guest that he wanted me to meet. True enough, Miss Cake was back from UK but I guess the real reason was to practise the Guitar Hero as it needs 4 people to make up the complete band of drums, guitar, bass and vocals.

Practising with the Guitar Hero for the first time was pretty frustrating (although fun) since everyone was new with the game. (We were so amused by the new game that we stayed till 4am - but I think the neighbours weren't too amuse with our bad music and laughters...). We couldn't even go pass the first bar without mistakes or totally striking out. Cousin Mun said he wanted to sell the set at ebay the next day. Guess he wouldn't part with it for a 1000 bucks now that he's mastered some of the songs like Hotel California, Beat It, Eye of a Tiger, Living on a Prayer and About A Girl. (To further illustrate and emphasize how frustrating it is to play "expert" level without practising: even Little b was frustrated, and shouted, "What is wrong with you guys?" when he was playing the "easy" drums while we keep striking out with our "expert" instruments. "C'mon Miao, let's get out of here", cried a bored Little b and ran off to play in the garden with his cousin Miao after we struck out a few rounds).

With this game, we now appreciate how difficult it is to play music, let alone be a rockstar (especially when you try and play No Doubt's Spiderwebs) and thus, perhaps think twice before we give in to piracy. (I know I know, the heart is willing but the flesh is weak).

Here's a few rockstars wanna be...

This one looks like a serious Yee Woo player rather than a rocker.
Aren't we a little too ambitious to play and sing at the same time?
This one takes the cake.... King of all ROCKERS!!! Yeah Man...!



The "band" singing (or killing) Nirvana's About A Girl

Living on a Prayer? How apt to be playing a rock song in front of the altar! Omitofu... Yau Kwai Muk Kwai.... (translated to something equivalent to "Father please forgive me for I have sin...")

Miss Clumsy

Cant believe that the CNY predictions are so accurate... This Miss Clumsy slipped and fell flat on her bum yesterday. And now I can't sit for long. I can't enjoy my favourite passtime of web-surfing without risk feeling that sharp, piercing painful pull on the tip of my backbone after sittng for 10 minutes. This is torture. Going up the stairs makes me feel like an old lady. When I got in and out of the car, my slow-motion back breaking expression makes little b exclaim, "You're getting old, mom..."

Ohhh... this is frustrating. I hate the feeling of being helpless. It's so depressing. It makes me vulnerable. It makes me crave for attention.... makes me yearn for loads of pampering and TLC... makes me wanna cry for help....

But I can't or I won't because I was brought up with the notion "to help ourselves first before seeking help". Seeking help should be the last resort....

And these 2 conflicting internal emotions are taking a toil on me. The normally patient and composed me has turned into a short-fused unreasonable monster, short of being foul-mouth.

However, I still don't feel sorry for the nurse who made me wait 20 minutes for my painkillers which I probably wouldn't consume. And she has the cheek to tell me that she was on the phone. There were 3 staff and all 3 were chatting away and I patiently waited at the empty clinic (I was the last of a series of patients and the wait for the consultation itself took me around 30 minutes). I was kept busy with Bryan's funny school stories for the first 20 minutes until I realised 2 other walk-in customers taking their medication before me and I went into RAGING MAD MODE. I stood up and ask the other 2 nurses, who wasn't on the phone, to pass me my medication as I have been waiting for almost an hour. They just stared blankly at me. The woman finally put down the phone and started to look irritated by saying, "Mana ada 1 hour. Just now I couldn't serve you because on the line..."

I told her to shut up, stop wasting time and to prepare the medication and swipe my card. I also started scolding them about their incompetence. And they didn't have the courtesy of saying sorry. Really stupid. I was sooo freaking angry, that when I left, I criticised the stupid fat woman (don't even think she's a qualified nurse), "Don't even know how to say sorry! No manners!"

And then I left the clinic in a huff, only to realised I had forgotten my receipt. I went back, still in raging mad mode, demanding for the receipt. Initially, they said they couldn't print it again since I didnt request for one earlier. Then they tried to press one of the buttons on the credit card swipe machine, and the receipt was printed out. I was still so boiling furious that I scolded her, "Bodoh!" as I took the receipt and left again ... for good.

I know, I know, I have been unreasonable for scolding them, but given my situation, I bet you all would have reacted the same way (if not worse!)... And to top off all of those internal topsy turvy mixed up feelings, I have to suffer from PMS too. Arghhhh...

Maybe I went to the doctor for wrong ailment, thus getting the wrong presciptions. Maybe I should've just gone to a spa and have a good looking masseur pamper me instead of getting all tensed up with those incompetent nurses!

Any prescriptions for internal emotional turmoil, anyone?

Pictures source: www.123rf.com

First day of school again

Just finished wrapping son's text books - 2 nights in a row, because I ran out of wrapping plastic covers earlier. Yeah, kids nowadays are spoiled brats, the parents do everything for them...but what to do, most family units are small and usually the only son or daughter, thus the extra pampering...

Hard to believe that time flies so fast. It's like only yesterday that I blogged about his first day in Kindergarten! It's really frightening sometimes to think that all these while I have been so protective. He has never crossed the road by himself before and today I had to let him cross all by himself while watching behind the bus stop with a weary heart. He thought it was fun to have a Pedestrian Crossing Policemen to guide them across (little b calls him the "School Crossing Guard" which I later found out to be the more correct term. Hmm... he learns quite a lot from the Higglytown Heroes from Disney Channel!).

Anyway, when he finally saw me following from behind, his dependence began to seep in and he started to ask me where he should like up for the assembly. I told him that I wont be here tomorrow and he would have to ask the teacher. He was quite shy and was still tugging at my hands to bring him to the correct line among the throngs of other children in the assembly. I stayed put and just then, the bell rang, signalling the start of school. My son was like suddenly hypnotised (struck by fear perhaps?) and quickly ran to the teacher to ask her where his class is. The teacher-in-charge pointed out his class to him and he hastily walked towards the back to join the line of his cute tiny comrades.

The kids nowadays are much braver than how we used to be last time, which is good. And they are more verbal. I followed the class as their teacher bring them around to tour the school and I noticed the Year 1 children dare to ask questions, like, "What's an auditorium?"

I also find that the teacher has a hard time answering the questions belted out by these tiny tots. There's one particular stair case which leads to the staff room and the children are not suppose to use that stair case. During the tour, the teacher was warning the children not to use that stair case and one of the children shouted, "Why cannot use that staircase?"

The teacher was at her wits end and said, "I say cannot means cannot. You cannot ask me why cannot."

And then towards the end of the tour, one of the children shouted out to the teacher, "When can we go back to the class?" (in a very bored tone). Their short little legs must be tired after walking around the big school. Little b was a little frightened by the sheer size of the school and told me, "This school is dangerous, Mom. It's too big. I can get lost in it!"

I sometimes wonder how the teachers can withstand not laughing at the children, or pulling a straight face when the 30+ children starts behaving naughty. During the lesson, the teacher was explaining the discipline record book and how she would jot down their naughty deeds to show to the parents. One of the kids pointed to his neighbour and shouted at him, "She's talking about you ah!" I muffled my uncontrolled laughter at the back of the class.

And then when it was time to go home, some of the children just pack their bags and run out of the class because they were too eager to reunite with their parents. The teacher had to shout, "OOIII OOOOIIII OOIIII.... jangan balik dulu. Beratur dulu." (Don't go home yet. Have to line up). All the parents waiting outside couldn't help but let off a chuckle seeing that scene.

As I see willing parents lining up in long queues (which takes up to an hour) for school books, I can see that children nowadays are having it easy. Having said that, the standards set for them is also much higher now. I am sure these very parents, who are willing to queue up with Crocs slippers and six-inch heeled glass slippers (I am serious!), expect their children to perform much better than anyone else. As I leave him to take care of himself, I now understand that this first step in school does not only mean his first step to independence, but his journey to the survive and strive in this complex and perplexing society.

Good luck my son. May your journey be sweet and smooth....

A collection of tea sessions

As the year comes to an end, it's always a good time to reminisce the good times...(just to hold on to the good times, or whatever that's left of good times since 2009 is speculated to be a recession period, thus difficult times ahead.)

It's been quite a year for the HP club. Our main target for the HP club is to conduct fun "yumcha" sessions (tea drinking sessions) to help reduce our stress, revigorate our youth and basically to bond.

Never thought that our club could achieve so much this year. Not only did we manage to have our happy hours almost on a daily basis, but we also manage to bring our tea sessions to various locations (even outstation!). And we've brought our sessions to a new height with our "high-tea" sessions.

So I will dedicate this blog to thank the various hosts who have been so generous and kind to introduce and bring out the best in their areas to help make HP club such a fun and exclusive club.

Let's start with the Chinese New Year excursion to Ipoh/Lumut. Never really thought it would happen because our members are quite lethargic and indecisive but hey we went all the way to Ipoh and Lumut just to meet up with our oustation friends to reduce their boredom and bring the hustle bustle of the city (and our silliness) to their quiet hometown. We have Keyman and LP to thank for their warm hospitality and sumptious lunch and dinner when they treated us to sample the warmth and the beauty of the 2 suburbs. Read more about the trip by clicking here.

And then who can forget the recent 2 Seremban trips - so full of events, laughter and joy! All the things that happened could be used as tea session gossips for a whole month! We have MC to thank for bringing us around the place he spent most of his growing up years.

Oh, and the special yumcha trips to Puchong and Sg Long to visit the members staying in these faraway areas. We have Keyman to thank for his Puchong hospitality. The Puchong tea session was a memorable one with a good cause. Read more here.

And the Sg Long trip was a funny one albeit stressful. It was a New Year's eve yc session. We wanted to escape the city jam, thus we decided not to drink in KL but in the suburbs.

MC was suppose to lead the way but he ditched us for his other plans in Sunway. And then Keyman, with his limited memories of his trips to Cheras and Sg. Long decided to lead us to meet up with Mr. MyHump's "hometown". All was well until we reached the highway in Taman Connaught where the right lane is for U-turn to the infamous Taman Connaught pasar malam while the left lane goes through the underpass to lead to Alam Damai/Taman Len Sing. However, the road sign on top of the U-turn shows Kajang/Cheras. So, as we approached the U-turn, Rachel called from the office to report some problems, causing a confused and unfamiliar Keyman to take the U-turn. Once we hit the U-turn, our stress level increased because the traffic was building up in Cheras and we don't know how to get back on track. Just then B called and question if his plans for New Year's eve dinner was still on. With that traffic, stress level peaks, and I told him he has to go without me...

After about 15-20 minutes of bumper to bumper traffic, we finally managed to get back on track and found that Sg. Long was indeed the suburbs. The passing of 2 tolls makes it feel like we're going outstation to Mr. MyHump's hometown! As we follow the road sign to Sg. Long, Mr. MyHump called and told us that he's not really living in Sg. Long! OMG.... are we lost again!?? Stressed up again! Finally, after getting directions via phone, Keyman finally got us there and the italian food at Susan's Bistro was worth the trip albeit all the stress. The spaghetti was superb and the tiramisu was rich with enough rum to tease the tastebuds. (Can't compare to Alexis's because that is not the conventional tiramisu). And the price was reasonable too. Thank you Mr. MyHump for the Sg. Long hospitality.

Happy New Year to all from the HP club.. :) May we have many many more yumcha sessions to come.

We like to duet duet (sung to the Madagascar tune "We like to move it")

Finally, Will.I.Am has met up with Fergie.

Mr. MyHump has finally met up with cousin and they finally manage to practise the whole song, My Hump, without the usual jeering from the K-gang about 'The Market song". (The K-gang always laugh at the song being a "See Hump" or "Lala" (cockles and muscles in Cantonese) song.

And MC was all smiles when cousin says he's a real "singer" and continued to sing his chinese songs without having to fight with CK and D.

This isn't a very funny blog, because the 2 male "singers" were really serious about this practise session and cousin was totally lost because she has never heard of those old school songs belted out by the 2 "male singers".

So, she and I just continue to find new K songs (boy, I just realised she's good at bringing forth those powerful R&B songs).

It was a duet day, where we all practised mostly duet songs..Most fruitful for Mr.MyHump where he duet with cousin (My Hump), with myself (Come what may) and with MC (Dao Lang's chinese songs)... even Cousin and I having a duet song for ourselves... the old school "Top of the world" hahaha...

MC and I, however, didn't have enough time to practise our duet... as the karaoke kicked us out before our song came on...

Well, it's alright, don't think it'll be long before we have another duet session.... :) And I am sure we all had fun during the "high-tea* cum gossip" session with the "Lobster" and the "what happened to your face!"stories. hahaha

*Note: our high-tea doesn't refer to the afternoon hi-tea buffet at hotels. It refers to our high class tea sessions, a phrase coined by our teaman, err... Keyman. hahaha.

Tiramisu o tiramisu.

A special note on the recent Puchong yumcha trip which was somewhat funny but meaningful.

You see, it was Keyman's wive's birthday but he was bored with his "forced" long leave and decided to invite us to a tea session just before he goes to a nearby spaghetti deli to have a simple celebration with his dear wife. As they were a pair of "seasoned couple", Kee mentioned that he has stopped buying flowers or cakes for birthdays. MC and I felt sorry for the wife, and brought Kee to CakeSense to buy her a cake. As we entered the cakehouse, there were already 2 aunties (one standing, one squating) busy selecting cakes. So Kee said to me, "Aiyah, chin chai lar (anything would do). Just buy small one." I spotted a small tiramisu at the bottom corner of the fridge and I told Kee, "Buy Tiramisu la. Tiramisu is nice."

Hearing us, the 2 aunties IMMEDIATELY shouted for the shop attendant, "HALLO, HALLO... I WANT TIRAMISU".

Since there were 2 Tiramisus in the fridge and to avoid the shop attendant walking twice to the fridge to get the cake, Kee also requested for the Tiramisu. Then the shop attendant ask if we wanted to write anything on the cake. Initially, Kee thinks it's not necessary (since it's such a small cake). So the 2 aunties also shake their head and say "no need". I thought it'll be a romantic gesture to have a personalised message and told the shop assistant otherwise. In a flash, the 2 aunties also changed their minds and wanted to personalised their cake too. Keyman's message was simple, "Happy Birthday, to my dear wife".(ok ok, you'd know I added the latter part if you know Keyman's manly man character.)

As the 2 aunties hurried to write their uncreative message (maybe trying to beat Keyman to see who can write faster) , I noticed that there were lots of scratches and corrections on their piece of paper. They finally gave up writing and told the shop attendant, "Put la, 'Happy Birthday From Goh Family.'"

Now the 2 aunties, at the height of their 'kiasuism'*, thinking that we're figthing with them for service or the cake, began to scold the store assistant for "unfocused" service. Aw c'mon, there are 2 cakes... and besides, to fight for service when you're paying RM20 for the cake? How much tips do you think those aunties would pay even if the shop attendant rendered perfect service?

(*hokkien word for behaviour where one is afraid of losing out to others)

Anyway, we finally paid for the cake and got into the car, and started to rejoice that we had a great, eventful yc session and wondered how Mrs. Keyman would react to the surprise cake and the lovely message. Suddenly Keyman panicked and exclaimed, "Oh no, I didn't check the cake. What if she opens the cake and it says, 'From Goh Family'! How am I to explain?"

Well, I am sure creative Keyman can think of something.. :)

First time on stage

All the practice sessions in the karaoke did not prepare me for the embarassment which I brought upon myself last Saturday. I was literally forced to duet with a fellow colleague on stage to help foster better relationships within the team. Team building it seems. Somehow, I just get a feeling I was being conned - you know, like the famous cantonese saying, "being put on a table" (Umm, this has slightly different meaning from the English Idiom, "putting someone on a pedestal" (which has a good meaning). The Cantonese version refers to putting someone in a spot and subsequently forcing him to do something unwillingly where the task is totally non-beneficial to him whether or not it is performed). While it was a good experience, I cant forget how my hands shivered as I held the microphone on my right hand. I had to grasp it with both hands to stop it from being obvious. Now I know why people use both hands when they sing in a competition... ahahaha..

And it all started so badly that I fumbled on the first 2 lines. I was too playful and concentrated in trying to make my duet partner mess up his lines that I messed up my own lines. I was teasing him asking him to put in more feelings... and laughing to distract him but he was good... he didnt get distracted nor panicked. Yours truly, however, was so panicked that I forgot the whole tune ahahah.... The song was "When I fall in love", by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. ("Dont even think about trying Celine Dion's version", I warn myself!) Not a difficult song at all but if you do not know how to bring out the best of the song, it'll sound as boring as watching grass grow...

And to think that my cousin's band wanted to use me as their back up lead singer last time (I can't be the lead singer because I can't be commited to the band :P - well, you know, with big B and little b, I can't go for practises and gigs as often as I wanted....). I think they must have thanked their lucky stars for not being serious about their band... hahahah...

Oh well, it was a boring first time... A line that Macau Tycoon Stanley Ho's daugther Josie Ho said during the Forbes interview repeats in my head. Btw, Josie is 8th in Forbes Billionaire heiress list and is the only Chinese on the list. She said, "I stopped my singing career after singing very badly off key on stage..... but my friends encouraged me not to give up...."

So.... if you think you have rid of me and no longer have to fight me for the mic in Karaokes, you are dead wrong.... ahahahaha Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go practise my vocal chords..:) La la la la la la la....

Shy guy

I am slightly worried about little b's shyness. I mean, he's a boy, he has to grow up to be a manly man, but he's pretty shy sometimes. For example, during the first day of school, during assembly, where all the kids were pretty at home after a while, little b just sat by himself at the corner. One boy came over to play with him but little b avoided his advances. Others would say that it's arrogance but I still think it's shyness and his reluctance to open up to others bothers me. The other little boy was so brave and he made friends in no time. And the funny thing was, he was quite adamant to make friends with little b. That brave boy tried and tried to play with little b, by playfully patting him here and there, and luring him to play tag fights, disturbing him, but nothing works. After a while, he was a bit frustrated at little b's arrogance, and he turned to me and say,

"Auntie, why your son don't talk one?"


Hahaha.. I just shy away and pretended I didn't hear and continued to snap photos..

Then again, there's really nothing I can do about his shyness but hope that he'll grow out of it. Perhaps, as he thread along life's long and winding road, he'll find the courage and also discover all the good things that life has in stored for him... Meanwhile, I think I better start to enjoy my life too and stop being a worry wart.

Sinfully Penang

Just came back from food paradise and feels a bit remorse after all the sins that I have committed during the weekend.

I have to repeatedly remind myself that I am only human, and to err is human.... I mean, who could resist all those temptations? Cheap and delicious seafood; prawns (mantis and normal), crabs, fish, cockles, muscles, snails, escargots, oysters, all fresh from the sea into the wok, cook to perfection...



And even the hawker food is super tantilising:- asam laksa, curry laksa, prawn noodles, fried koay teow, koay teow th'ng, wantan noodles (It's spelled as 'Wan Than Mee' there), popiah, lobak, Batu Maung satay (with the sauce burnt in), o'chien (fried oysters on eggs),....

Also the deserts are mouth watering.... ais kacang, cendol, rojak, fried ice-cream (@batu kawan), apam, apam balik, tody (coconut wine@Ong Cheng Huat), etc

*Note: For hawker's treats, I find that Gurney and Air Itam laksa are too commercialised. Instead, go for Lorong Selamat, Swatow Lane, Pulau Tikus, Jalan Datuk Keramat to experience the hidden treasures.

The food list goes on and on.. and even though I have an indefinite appetite for good food (and highly unrestrained but acute tastebuds to match), I was short of time and had limited stomach capacity, and thus, much to my dismay, I couldn't fit everything in one trip. However, I am quite pleased that we managed to pack in as much as we can and besides, it's the quality, not quantity, that counts.

As we've been to Penang many many times, we strived to go to places less travelled and take the roads least taken. We literally drove around the island in search for food. We went from "Beginning of the World" to the "End of the World" to sample the best and cheapest seafood around. Did you know that the mantis prawns can cost RM3 per mantis prawn in one restaurant and RM100 per 1 kg in another and these 2 restaurant are in the same area (Tambun) and only a few doors away from each other? Ok, I know the price commensurate with the size but I find it exhorbitant to price it at RM100 per 1 Kg! I might as well eat imported Alaskan Snow Crabs with this price! We also go to great lengths to taste the Batu Maung Satay. You see, the Tasty Seafood restaurant which used to be located on stilts at sea, has been replaced by a a quay. If we weren't adamant enough to ask around, we wouldn't have found out that it has moved to a shop lot nearby.

Enough said about food, let's talk about places of interest. With time constraint, we visited only selected places, mainly to introduce the kids to the uniqueness of Penang. We visited the Snake Temple (to show the kids real snakes in close proximity), and Kek Lok Si (to view the old and new statue of Kwan Yin and it's one of the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia). And since the kids have never been to the beach, we took them to Gurney Drive, Pulau Jerejak Jetty and Batu Ferringhi to show them the different types of seaside (man made, rocky and sandy). Also introduce them to some natural water resources by showing them 2 of the 3 dams in Penang, i.e. Air Itam dam, and Teluk Bahang dam and then later on the way home, took them to Sg Klah hot springs in Sungkai (teach them how to boil an egg or half boil if you please)



And a trip to Penang is not complete without buying the authentic "Tau Sar Pneah" (aka green bean/dragonball/Tambun biscuit) and Sesame Oil from Ghee Hiang. Incidentally, we also bought Heong Pneah from a peddlar after tasting the sample at Tambun seafood area.

Anyway, nothing beats the real thing, so dont let my words and photos influence you. Go taste and experience Penang for yourself.

Monkey see monkey do...

The title sounds like monkey business, eh? Actually, I am talking about a more serious issue here. It's about exposing children to the violence and profanities that a lot of movies or games which are often simply rated U here to allow more audience and to boost up ticket sales. Yeah, many would say that I am just over-protective ... but something that little b said today reinforced my need to filter all the things that gets to his eyes and ears...

He was playing with his Ninja Turtles figurines... and was talking to himself...

"Hey, I am a lady, which one of you are attracted to me?"

Actually, this was a line said by King Julien in the Madagascar 2 trailer.... There's nothing vulgar or inappropriate about this line. It's just the fact he's repeating the words without knowing the meanings of it that bothers me.

*note: I have parents telling me that they hear their sons repeating profanities such as the following after playing some games.

"Die you a**h*le!"

"F*ck!"

"Sh*t! Not again!"

You see, I am very careful about what movies that little b gets to watch or what kind of games he can play... online or otherwise. I have trained him from young to avoid TV shows or movies which are too violent, too much blood, or has too many swear words or shouting going around. I told him that these are "adult movies" and he would often tell me that he prefers to watch cartoons or disney channel whenever there were killings or fist/sword/gun fighting movies are around. Also he would tell me about violent games he comes across online and I would tell him to avoid playing them and play with educational games such as Fisher Price, Barney, Disney Channels etc instead.

Lately, he has taken up the fancy of watching movie trailers on the Apple website. I allow that because I trust that US have strict movie ratings systems and even the trailers have ratings. And so I gave him full access to watch anything he likes and since he's been trained to avoid those horror/thriller movies, he'd go for cartoons, and comedies. Then again, cartoons are being catered for adult viewing nowadays and so the dialogues in it may not be too appropriate for younger viewers.

Maybe I am a little paranoid, maybe I am over-protective, maybe I have to accept the fact that little b is growing at his own pace... no matter how fast it may be. Yeah, he's growing up real fast. With the internet, his access to knowledge is way faster and is way beyond the frontier of what it used to be during our "ancient" (before internet) times.

Oh, side track a bit, yesterday I brought him to his new school to register for Year 1 and as I watch him mingle with the other 6-year-olds, I wonder where and how all these 6 years flew pass. I really can't remember it all. When I see other flustered parents; bumbling around looking for their classes, their books, the teachers, fussing over their kids with cameras and video cams, I know I am not alone in bringing up my bundle of joy.

And none of the kids cried or cling to their parents. I can hear parents telling the children, "Quick sit in front" or "Just tell the teacher what you want" or "Say your name loudly" ... to which the children reacted positively... i.e. they sat in front, and told the teacher that they wanted to sit next to a girl all by themselves, and wasn't afraid of public speaking. And then I realised that this is the new generation. A generation who are not afraid to speak their minds, very independent and is highly capable of taking care of themselves and their own needs.

So, back to our topic of filtering the best for our children, seeing how assertive this new generation can be, I still think it's best to filter out the good things to "feed" to our children to build their foundations. I know that I can't protect him forever, and he's expose to 1001 bad things out there but I can rest in peace knowing I have done my best for him. The rest is up to God and himself... :)

PDA (no, it's not your handphone)

I wanted to blog a little about PDA - Public Display of Affection (No, even though I am an IT geek, I am not referring to the Personal Digital Assistant)... but I guess I just let the pictures do the talking... :)