Cigarettes For Breakfast?

Star Q

i.  Pineapple Fried Rice

ii.  STPM 2013

iii.  Speaking Activities

It was 8.00 a.m. and I was at the shop buying some things to cook for lunch this morning when I heard the shopkeeper speaking loudly to two boys.  She was actually speaking louder than she usually does because this time she was scolding two boys who wanted to purchase a packet of cigarettes.

Upon requesting to purchase the cigarettes, the shopkeeper, being a civic-conscious person (and I suspect she was fully aware of the boys' actual age; just as I was!) she asked the boys how old they were.  The two boys started to raise their voices and said they were twenty-one!  The shopkeeper said that the boys were lying to her.

The two boys got even angrier and insisted that they were in fact twenty-one.  The shopkeeper decided it was too early in the morning to quarrel to with two boys who couldn't care much about their health to purchase cigarettes (even though they are under eighteen) and worse, to be smoking at that age!  She decided that she had better attend to her other customers (including me!) who were waiting in line (and staring disapprovingly at the two boys!) to be served rather than the two boys who couldn't care less about themselves.

The shopkeeper sold the boys the cigarettes they.  They immediately scuttled away, happy with the transaction and began to light a cigarette each.  Nice breakfast, I thought!  The shopkeeper admitted to us that she felt guilty doing so but the boys were on the verge of hurtling nasty words at her and she did so only to stop any further commotion.  I don't blame the shopkeeper for being forced into selling the cigarette.  I don't even blame the two boys for buying the cigarettes and smoking them.  I blame the people who taught them the habit; whoever they are.  

Smoking is not only a bad habit but is has also made these two boys behave badly because of their disrespect to the shopkeeper, who incidentally is much older.  Another negative effect of smoking.

  

BR1M-ming With Pride

Star Q

i.  Jamuan Akhir Tahun

ii.  Speaking Activities

iii.  Pineapple Fried Rice

Image sourced from Google

I suppose many will not agree with me about what I have written regarding the giving of BR1M, especially those who are eligible for it and those who feel that the RM500 one-off hand-out is supposed to sustain their expenses for the whole year, if not more; which in actual fact is only to help them get started financially at the beginning of the year.

If they disagree, it's just too bad.  Sometimes I think the government has made a wrong decision in trying to win the citizens heart by giving them money, because money as we all know, is never enough; no matter how much you give.  The thing is people always want more of it.

Gone are the days when citizens did not look to the government for any kind of aid, especially financially.  People just seemed to work harder to put food on the table just because it is their responsibility to do so for their own families.  People seemed to do more to make ends meet and to minimise their monthly expenditure.

I remember my mom doing her best to make ends meet and to help my dad  put food on the table to make up for what little salary my father brought home every month.  Being a house wife to a corporal at that time (around 1967) and a mother of four children, I remember my mother doing everything she could to help with the family expenditure.  I remember her planting rows and rows of vegetables; I remember her rearing chickens and ducks; I remember her waking up early every morning to prepare our lunch boxes to take to school so that we wouldn't have to spend out twenty-cents pocket money; I also remember her creating recipes that were able to sustain her family and keeping her children happy.  She did all this, so that she did not need to ask for help from others and justly so, because it is her responsibility.

People reading about what my late mother did then to help ease her family's expenses may scowl disapprovingly saying that that was then and this is now.  They would argue that nowadays, most BR1M receivers do not have even the smallest plot of land to plant vegetables or to rear chickens and ducks.  They would argue that the comparison is nonsensical!  

I agree that time has changed.  However, don't just read the lines about planting vegetables and rearing chickens and ducks; don't compare the situation of today with what my mother and I went through almost fifty years ago.  Instead, learn from her persistence to help her family and how she carried her responsibilities on her shoulders without asking for anyone's help; learn from her resourcefulness to make up for what she did not have and to utilise fully what she did. 

I  am not shy in saying that I am proud of my mother and all the mothers of her era who did all that they could for their families without asking others for help.  And to be fair, I also applaud the mothers of today who work and strive just as hard for their families, whether they are entitled for the BR1M or not because quite frankly, with or without it, they have their own responsibilities to fulfil and that life still needs to go on.

To BR1M or not to BR1M

Star Q

i.  Pineapple Fried Rice

ii.  Speaking Activities

iii.  Jamuan Akhir Tahun Pra-U

Everybody knows about this BR1M  that eligible citizens have been getting (I forget for how many years now)  I have never made any attempt to write about this one-off handout per year that the government is giving mainly because I am not eligible for it.  I don't feel sore that I am not getting it; in fact I am thankful because many other Malaysians deserve it more than I do.

However, I have noticed for quite some time now, people (whether they are the ones who are getting the BR1M or not, I am not sure) have been making comments that the RM500 one-off-per-year BR1M is not enough to sustain their expenses throughout the year; what with the increase in sugar, cooking oil; well almost anything and everything really!

I seem to recall when BR1M was first given out, it was supposed to be a generous (?) gesture by the government to eligible citizens of Malaysia as a form of financial aid for them to start the year; you know, to buy school uniforms, school shoes, bags, exercise books, fees; things that are related to their children starting the school year.  It was never meant to be a monthly hand-out where people can use the money for their monthly expenditure on food or bills or what-have-you!  It was never meant to be an alternative for people to stop working hard and forget about their own financial responsibilities to support their own families.  Never!

But, sad to say, it has always been the norm for people (per say and not only those eligible for BR1M) once you get something given to you without working for it, you feel that you are forever entitled for it;  you feel as if it is your birth right that should never be denied.

It is time to wake up and accept the fact that BR1M is merely the government's way of helping out the people at the beginning of the year when there is a sudden need for extra cash.  It is merely a way to extend some kind of aid to ensure that our children are ready to go back to school.  It is merely a way to ensure that our children go to school on the first day of school with everything new (uniforms, bags, shoes etc) and with high spirit and motivation.

Time to Stop

Star Q

i.  Pineapple Fried Rice

ii.  Speaking Activities

iii.  STPM 2013

The misuse of technology has reached a new high recently which leaves a lot to be desired.  Photos are maliciously edited, still pictures are inserted with speech bubbles giving an impression that the person in the picture is saying something (which he probably hadn't!) and photos that are extreme opposites being put side by side to encourage hurtful (to the people in the picture) response; most of the time, judgemental.

P.A.T.I. Part I

Star Q

i.  Tartlet Keju / Cheese Tartlets

ii.  Majlis Graduasi 2013

iii.  Reading Activities

No, the acronym above does not stand for 'Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin' or illegal immigrants.  I thought, since the original coinage for PATI has something to do with 'illegal', what better way to share this idea with what I am about to write about.  My version of P.A.T.I. simply means 'Parking According To Idiots!'

It's Their Mangoes To Begin With

Star Q

i.  STPM 2013

ii.  Speaking Activities

iii.  Lemon Grass Chicken

Beginning January next year, a whole bunch of people's representatives will be getting tens of thousands in pay hike.  Mind you, the pay hike is not the ordinary pay hike of 5 percent or 10 percent that  civil servants or other 'servants' of this country get on a timely basis.  This pay hike comes more than double for each of these representatives and this comes only after their second term in office.  I realise, you need money in order to give something back, but a pay hike of more than double your current salary, is certainly taking advantage of your positions and the trust that the people have for you.

Candidates Already Penalised

Star Q

i.  STPM 2013

ii.  Speaking Activities

iii.  Kek Mangga / Mango Cake

There was indeed some truth in what was mentioned in a letter to the Star newspaper written by Sophyta of Baling Kedah.  She pointed out that the SPM 2013 candidates who sat for the Moral paper should not be penalised for the blunder made by the exam syndicate.  For these candidates however, this is the least of their problems.

Friday and Saturday for Johor!

Star Q

i.  Speaking Activities - Form 1 Chapter 1

ii.  Kek Mangga / Mango Cake

iii.  STPM 2013

First of all let me congratulate His Highness the Sultan of Johor for making a bold move in changing the weekend for Johor back to Friday and Saturday.  I say 'back' because Johor's weekend before the early 90's was in fact Friday and Saturday before it was changed to Saturday and Sunday because someone thought it was easier to accommodate the similar working days with Singapore, making it easier for business transactions.

Hanging Our Dirty Linen In Public

Star Q

i.  Reading Activities

ii.  Lemon Grass Chicken

iii.  Majlis Titisan Restu

The letter written by En Hassan Talib of Gombak to The Star newspaper which was published on 14th November 2013, which gave glowing remarks about the English proficiency of the youths of a neighbouring country was not the only thing that got my attention.  The statement that really grabbed me was the statement made by our Second Minister of Education who admitted that 75% of our English teachers are not fit to teach English.

Still Alive and Kicking

Star Q

i.  Guacamole Parmesan

ii.  Majlis Graduasi

iii.  Reading Activities

As the duration of your services as an employee draws to an end, you tend to notice a few peculiar things that you previously ignored or thought would never happen to you.  As for me,  even though I still have a few more years to go, I too am getting these feelings and it is not because I am inferior or paranoid.  My colleagues and my families will say that I am paranoid (even though they will not say it straight to my face!) and that no such thing is happening.   

However, I really have noticed these changes, especially in the delegation  of tasks by the administrators at my work place as early as one year ago.  The first of these changes was my task as the delegated master of ceremony every time we organised functions, be they at district or state level.  It was by pure luck that my late principal in 1996 plucked me amongst the teachers to stand in for a colleague who was supposed to be the MC but had been taken ill.  From that moment on, I was never left out as the master of ceremony for every event or function, big or small.  But recently I seem to have fallen out of favour with the administrator since he had gone out of his way to recruit a new MC.

Another disturbing turn of event is my exclusion from teaching certain classes.  Not that I haven't been performing or that the classes I taught, hadn't been doing well; in fact 100% passes for the classes that I taught, two years in a row, should be some kind of indication that I can still teach these classes.  Sadly, my services with these classes is no more needed and is delegated to 'shepherd' the submariners; the ones that most teachers wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole!  And all the brilliant students in the brilliant classes are taken by the brilliantly young educators.  True, wisdom comes with age; but definitely not opportunity.

One more thing that I have noticed is that I have also been excluded from the list of teachers to attend courses.  I have noticed that the administrators have been leaving on the side-line when there are courses that need to be attended.  In fact, they have even ignored me when I personally requested to attend some courses.  So, it is the young ones who get to go for courses and at the end of the year are able to write glowing reports for their achievements for the year.

I read somewhere that you should not give 100% to your employer because at the end of the day, he will give you nothing.  Instead, give your family 100% because your family will give you back all that you have given them, and more.  I suppose, it's time I learn my lesson.

It's A Free Country : The Firecrackers!

Star Q

i.  Croissant Bread Pudding

ii.  Majlis Titisan Restu

iii.  Reading Activities

Yes, Malaysia is a free country but some of her citizens are taking the phrase very literally; which means they think they can do whatever they like and whenever they feel like doing them.  It also means that they can throw caution to the wind and forget about the needs and sensitivities of others as long as their desires are fulfilled.

Fairness for All

Star Q

i.  Sambutan Qurban Perdana

ii.  Reading Activities

iii.  Egg Tarts

A school is a place where young people are taught about many different subjects including Moral Values.  It is always difficult for teachers to inculcate moral values in students especially when they are not taught to be morally apt at home.  Or at least that is how we always look at things.

Don't Be The Cause of Another Loss

Star Q

i.  Sambutan Qurban Perdana

ii.  Profiteroles

iii.  Reading Activities

Yesterday was a sad day for two of my friends who lost their husbands, both almost at the same time.  Puan Hamidah whom I have known for almost sixteen years, lost her husband to problems related to his heart.  Another friend whom I call Kak Ani, lost her husband, Abang Maarof to stroke.  My condolences to both ladies and their families for their loss.

An Inconsiderate Driver

Star Q

i.  Reading Activities

ii.  Sambutan Qurban Perdana

iii.  Profiteroles

There will always be people like this whose sole purpose in life is probably to make other people's lives miserable.  I don' t come across these people often (thank goodness) but when I do, it makes me think that there is some truth about how foreigners describe Malaysian drivers.

Exams : Make Sure Your Kids Are Ready

Star Q

i.  Pumpkin Cheese Muffins

ii.  Seminar Pembelajaran

iii.  Reading Activities : Form 1 - Chapter 3

It the time for exams again even though the students in Forms 1 and 2 don't really have a specific kind of formative exam since their are using the PBS system.  Whatever the case, schools still need to conduct some kind of formative exam so that streamings of classes for the new year can be done.

Call for more Purposeful Use of English in School

Star Q

i.  Past Imperfect - Plural Nouns

ii.  Honey Roasted Chicken

iii.  Meraikan Peserta Karnival Sukan

The example cited by the former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir, about 333 graduates who were called for a job interview but only seven were recruited due to their lack of proficiency in English Language, may not be a big deal to people who have their own ideals and their own agenda to fulfil.  Sadly though, the voice of the majority in this case, even though heard loud and clear, is not really paid any attention to.

PMR : Please Maintain Responsibility

Star Q

i.  Meraikan Peserta Karnival Sukan

ii.  Visible Essay : Writing

iii.  Tofu Stuffed Portobello

This year sees the last of the PMR (Penilaian Menengah Rendah) which will then be replaced by some other assessment for the Form Three students next year.  This writer has noticed the ending of this examination ever since he was in school when this exam was initially known (during my days) as Lower Certificate of Education (LCE) then to Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP); mainly due to the lack of emphasis on the examination (more on this later, if time permits)

Old Glory, New Worries

Star Q

i.  Meraikan Peserta Karnival Sukan

ii.  Past Imperfect - Plural Nouns

iii.  Spiced Prawns

The Education section of the Star newspaper instantly caught my attention with the blaring headline that went like this; "Bring English to its Old Glory in schools" written by KW Moon, Penang.  It was indeed something that I wanted to read, but as I got to the second paragraph, my interest began to wane. 

The Library : Then And Now

Star Q

i.  B4DL2E1

ii.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan 2013

iii.  Honey Roasted Chicken

The library in SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, Petaling Jaya was one of my favourite haunts there (other than the canteen which served delicious and cheap food)  I remember purposely going home late almost every day (except Fridays when I needed to go for Friday prayers) so that I could sit in the library enjoying its tranquility and conducive learning environment even though it was thronged by eagers studying boys!  Yes, mine was a boys school, but we were so well-behaved that we kept quiet and read books or did our homework when in the school library; nothing else!

Bahasa Malaysia If You Are Malaysian

Star Q

i.  Pelancaran Bulan kemerdekaan 2013

ii.  B4DL2E1

iii.  Tart Buah Lagi

The papers yesterday carried news about a company director and his wife who were charged over a diesel spill in a river in Selangor.  These things happen almost every day in our beloved country (or at least to some who pretend it is their beloved country!) and eventually some unfortunate bad hats get caught by the authorities.

Stop Blaming Others!

Star Q

i.  B4DL2E1

ii.  Potato Salad and Crispy Squid Wrap

iii.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan 2013

The recent cases regarding the police going all out to eradicate illegal groups and their members have got some parents green with anger; not at the police for rounding up their children, charging them and putting them behind bars (if they were lucky enough not to have been shot at by the police first!) but, instead they channel their angers at teachers.

Courses After Office Hours? Seriously?

Star Q

i.  Potato Salad and Crispy Squid Wrap

ii.  Past Imperfect - Prepositions of Time

iii.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan 2013

The statement made by Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh saying that only one third out of the 61,000 teachers teaching English is qualified to teach the subject, did not really come as a great shock to me.  If anything, it came a little bit too late considering the fact that the number of teachers teaching English has reached 61,000.

Twenty Sen is a Big Deal

Star Q

i.  More Fruit Tarts

ii.  Past Imperfect - Prepositions of Time

iii.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan

I hear people making cynical remarks to those saying that they feel the pinch when the price of petrol was increased by twenty sen recently.  I say that as much as those people have the right to make their cynical remarks, the complaining consumers also have the right to voice our their heartfelt opinions.

Parents Should Shoulder the Responsibility

Star Q

i.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan 2013

ii.  Lat for Language Learning

iii.  Honey Roasted Chicken

Recently there has been a lot being said about the crack downs on gangsterism carried out by our police force throughout the country which in a sense is enabling the public to feel a little sense of security.  However, when it comes to finding the reasons behind why youngsters are so prone to joining gangster groups, the public is not slow in pointing their fingers towards the education system.

The Right to be Sick

Star Q

i.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan 2013

ii.  LAT for Language Learning

iii.  Nutella Brownies

Nobody in his right mind would want to fall sick for any reason, but when one does eventually fall ill, I think that person has the right to become sick and ultimately the right to go on medical leave.  After all it is not like you actually ask to become sick in order to get that medical leave and the doctor would not give you the medical leave if he feels that you are able to carry out your duties as an employee..  

Royalty-Ruined Registration

Star Q

i.  Pelancaran Bulan Kemerdekaan 2013

ii.  Lat for Language Learning

iii.  Kuey Teow Goreng Vegetarian

It had been a long and tiring drive all the way from the border of Johor and Negeri Sembilan right up to Padang Besar; all eleven hours of it.  It had been a sleepless night at the inn, trying to organise last minute documents and other things for the registration and the idea of parting with my daughter.  I underwent all these things just so that the registration for the next day would go smoothly without a hitch and that everything would end before noon (just like my son's registration into a more prominent university!)

Repercussions for the Irresponsible

Star Q

i.  Penutup Karnival Sukan Pra-U 2013

ii.  Merdeka Day Reading Activities

iii.  Fish with Fermented Beans

The news about the parent who was arrested by the police for threatening a certain headmaster (Star 26th August 2013) was something that finally allowed me to exhale.  It had been many weeks since this headmaster was made a scapegoat by many people who think that they are well and above other people in the education arena in terms of knowing what is best for the students.

An Incident with a Moronic Motorcyclist

Star Q

i.  Selar Masak Taucu

ii.  Merdeka - Reading Activities

iii.  Penutup Karnival Sukan Pra-U 2013

Image sourced from Google

Sunday is a day to relax and to forget the week of work I have done and the work waiting for me in the week ahead.  Sunday for me is also a day to take things really slow and easy.  Unfortunately for some people, the word slow is taken so literally that they apply this adjective when driving on the main road where the speed limit is supposed to be 70 km/h!

Sense and Sensitivity

Star Q

i.  Penutup Karnival Sukan Pra-U 2013

ii.  Nutella Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

iii.  Flipping Fantastic

Image sourced from Google

Having a sense of forgiveness towards others who have somehow caused someone some kind of pain, be it physically or emotionally, can be a huge thing to ask from that particular person.  Indeed, it is always easy for others to make that suggestion but it is always painful to be hurt and even more painful to forgive.

Silence Over Domestic Violence

Star Q

i.  Pindang Serani

ii.  Pre-Reading

iii.  Majlis Agihan Duit Raya

Image sourced from Google 

None of us in our right mind would want the world to know about the quarrels and squabbles that go on in our household, be they with our spouses or with our offspring.  More often than not, we choose to keep things hidden within the fences of our homes (even if there were no fences!) and would try to solve things by ourselves, in our own time.

Detour Out of A Jam

Star Q 

i.  Pindang Serani Ikan Senangin

ii.  Pre-Reading

iii.  Majlis Iftaar dan Terawih

Image sourced from Google

I remember not too many years ago, whenever I went back to my home town to celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, my journeys on the road from where I am teaching homewards were always pleasant and more often than not, very smooth.

A Sheep Painted Black

Star Q

i.  Majlis Iftaar dan Tarawih

ii.  Past Imperfect

iii.  Pumpkin Cheese Muffins

A person is called a black sheep when he or she does not conform to the norms that others dictate.  A person unlike a real sheep, is not black, but in fact is often painted black by the people around him. And whether the individual likes it or not, the black sheep label will more often than not warrant the individual to be seen as an outcast.

KFC : Kentucky Family Centre

Star Q

i.  Vegetable Dhal Curry

ii.  Past Imperfect

iii.  Majlis Iftaar dan Tarawih

I must admit that I haven't been going to this particular fast food outlet for quite sometime now; mostly because I have grown out of favour for this crispy crunchy chooks.  The other reason is because, I know by making them myself, I can adjust it to my own taste with my choice of herbs and spices, albeit not as crunchy and crispy as the aforementioned product!

Callous Canine Caper

Star Q

i.  Ayam Panggang Madu

ii.  Past Imperfect

iii.  Majlis Iftaar

Human beings are an expressive lot so much so that they would go to any length and take any means to achieve what they have to say.  Some choose to express themselves through ways that are more subtle and acceptable by other human beings, while others just couldn't care less about the feelings and sensitivities of others as long as their opinions are heard.

Not Because of One Rotten Apple

Star Q

i.  Pengisian SMM

ii.  Glidogram Plus Extra

iii.  Marshmallow Cupcakes

We are nearing the last third of the month of Ramadan and preparations for Eid is in full swing.  In fact, for most people, it started even earlier in the fasting month, which is a good thing if you want to avoid the mad rush for clothes, house decorations and what-nots!

Signs of Pressure #2 - Meddlesome Others

Star Q

i.  Marshmallow Cupcakes

ii.  Ihya Ramadhan

iii.  Set Induction

Some parents have been quick to respond that when their children do well at school, it is always because their children are clever, hardworking and that they owe it to their tuition after school.  But, when their children do not do well or fail miserably in exams, they are even quicker to put the blame on teachers as being incompetent and lackadaisical.  It is not enough for parents to dump the blame on teachers, but they also point their fingers where they shouldn't!

Signs of Pressure #1 - Meetings!

Star Q

i.  Set Induction & Reading Activity

ii.  Koey Teow Ladna ... Again

iii.  Ihya Ramadhan

People will never believe when teachers grumble about the work load that is dumped onto their backs as if their backs were huge cranes that carry tonnes of load.  For one thing, cranes don't have feelings and you can load anything and everything onto them.  However, in reality, even the crane will buckle and break when  loaded with too much weight.