Everything Has a Price

That's what I used to believe. That everyone has a price, and everything could be bought for the right amount - however big a sum that might amount to. 

But I was wrong. And I'm glad I was wrong. 

Today someone offered me a full-time job. He hadn't said how much he'd be willing to pay me to give up my piano teaching and part-time writing, it was just a simple question. "Would you be willing to take on a full-time position?"

For half a second my mind hollered "YES if you pay me triple my current salary!"

This was immediately followed (pity it wasn't in slow motion!) by a montage of the past week's activities including taking mum to visit her old friends from Cold Storage days, accompanying her to Ikea to buy candles where we ended up sitting for more than an hour just chatting away over tea and siew mai, and telling dad about the stories I was reading on FB while we sat for over an hour in the waiting room of Clinic Q at CGH. 

Just one week. And the week isn't even over. That's all the stuff I've done with them this week. Stuff that I do because I CAN. 

And NO amount of money can convince me to give that up. 

So I said no to the guy offering me the job. There was nothing more to ask. I would never give up what I'm doing now for anything in the world, because the time I spend with them is way too precious to put a price tag on. 

X-men, X-code, X-terminate

I haven't written in years. Ok so I'm prone to x-aggeration.

Here's the update. 

HAWT right?

I watched x-men last night. It was fun, only because it's a Wolverine-is-the-star movie. And I love me my wolverine. But I thought it could have been more fighting and less talking. Altho to be fair I suppose the talking was necessary to the plot. They should just have given us (fine, ME) more crash-boom-bang for my buck. 

Speaking of, did you know if you buy tix online with DBS / POSB cards you get a dollar off per ticket? In this day and age, one's gotta take whatever discounts one can get. After all, we need to start saving to fight against the minimum sum policy no?

Ouch. Yes. That was my tiny reference to the political situation in SG that one reads about on FB everyday. And it HAS to be true, I mean, it's on FB innit? 

On to other things. I've been helping my BFF with her game development business... writing and editing and just all round checking for grammar mistakes and stray apostrophes.  I won't say I'm awesome at it. But I do what I can to help. Recently we were collateral damage (I'm being kind and gentle and mellow) in a report that someone (who claims to be a game industry professional) wrote attacking Asiasoft. It sounds like she has a personal agenda, considering she's admitted to being in a long-term relationship with someone who is part of another indie outfit in SG. And I'm just annoyed. No facts, no numbers. Just this is bad, that is bad, this sucks, that's ugly, and that she was simultaneously horrified and terrified (verbatim). Tsk. You don't like it, that's your problem right?

So I'm thinking of starting up another blog - one that will be affiliated with the company - where I can say all the NICE stuff I want to, and all the BAD stuff I want to (in my super duper snarky not-sure-if-I'm-sliming-them way). All I gotta think of is a really cute and/or catchy name. Always the hardest part eh? 

And then I'll write and I'll write and I'll be satisfied that I got to say my piece. And then I'll be able to sleep easy.

I'm Screaming about Ice Cream

OK so I apologise that it took more than half a year for me to write anything. 

I'm not sure I wanna blog much anymore, but then I wanted to leave this spot for things that I felt I wanted to document but didn't quite belong on FB. (Cos that's where my entire life story is right?)

And yes, I can put stuff in a regular diary / journal, the way most people do, but then where would I put the DEEGEETAL fotos?

Now on to the post! 

Today I tried my hand at making ice cream

It's one of those things that I always thought was REALLY difficult to do. Until a darling friend from school  taught me how to do it. Well, she made some for a party we had recently, it turned out awesome - I couldn't tell it was home made - cos it was THAT professionally done, and then I found out how easy it was to do!

1) Beat 2 x 300ml of Bulla Thickened Cream in a mixer

2) Dissolve 4 tablespoons cocoa powder in a tin of condensed milk

3) When the cream is stiff (and starts to look like little clots - this happens rather suddenly, mind you - add the "chocolate milk" and mix well

 

4) Pour into an old ice cream tub for that authentic feeling of eating some store-bought ice cream

5) Freeze overnight for best results.



I'll let you know how it turned out after I try some tomorrow :)

It's Official

I am 40. 

I feel older. Not in that Oh My CNY is Coming and I'm Gonna Have to Field "Those" Questions Again way.

I feel older in the way that I'm happy with what I have, where I've been, who I've become. 

The 姐姐said it perfectly in the waiting room of CGH's A&E when she said "Maybe you're meant to touch the lives of all the children that you teach... something you probably might not do if your life had turned out differently."

I agree. A student of mine wrote on my FB wall today wishing me Happy Birthday and said some awesome mushy things about how I've taught him more than playing the piano. That's what makes my job worthwhile. Sure, you have ambitious parents who get a reality check from teacher dearest when their kid doesn't put in the time and effort... you get the kids come to class kicking and screaming, making up excuses, telling you stories... you roll your eyeballs and groan inwardly (or outwardly sometimes) when you're just NOT getting thru to them. 

But the occasional word of gratitude or the unexpected high mark could make it all better. For me anyway. 

People have often asked me how I define myself. I think I'm ready to take a stand and say - I'm a Teacher. It's what I do. It's who I am. 

Feeling my Age

Ok, so perhaps it's time to start popping the Glucosamine, order the Stemtech, and have a supply of Artrex on hand.

Ever since the gahmen decided that I should be the recipient of a highly subsidised upgrading project, I've been having knee pains. In no small part due to the climbing and squatting and kneeling associated with cleaning a house.

This seems to have gotten slightly better in that some days I wake up with almost no pain at all. Careful balancing of weight and keeping a good posture in mind seems to help.

But because my body INSISTS on letting me know that I'm not a spring chicken anymore, it has decided that since I've sussed out the knee problem, I should have a new one.

As I straightened up after leaning forward to type something on the laptop last night, my back began to protest. Uh-oh! I suspect it's a herniated disc. So it looks like I'ma gonna have to go see my doctor soon. In the meantime, I'm going to be lying down as much as I can to give it a chance to heal.

The family has been discussing the possibility of getting some live-in help to see to mum and dad and assist them in getting around etc. and right now this option is looking better and better.

*Ouch*