The long-awaited holiday

I have been looking forward to this holiday for months. Literally! I am not doing well, with all the work that I have in school, and duties as wife, mother and daughter. It never ends, this sense of responsibility. At least, with the holidays, I don't have to be in school. I can spend a bit more time with the family and also to catch up on the marking of exam papers. And to top that off, God willing, I will go on a holiday with some friends soon.
I think I have been waiting to go away for a holiday, minus the family, for almost 2 years. Last year, we were supposed to go to Cherating. But the plan was cancelled when my maid ran away. Hubby was not going to be able to manage. This year, we decided to plan early and commit to the trip. The last few weeks, especially, I have been thinking of nothing else that I truly looked forward to than this trip. Yes, I will blog about it when I have gone there and returned safely. I hope and pray that the trip will be relaxing and enjoyable.
In the meantime, I still have to go back to school. There is cheer practice. I have to mark my exam papers. This is really taking a long time. I am trying to be thorough but it is time-consuming. And having 5 classes' papers to mark is no joke.
Tomorrow, I am taking my boys for skating and a movie. I am looking forward to it, not as much as they are, but still ... it will be a good break for me. More reason to work hard and mark tonight.

Teacher's Day 2011

I am writing about this the day before SA actually has its celebration. Tomorrow, we will be having the usual : speeches, games, mini concert. Throw in a fair amount of eating and the usual gift-giving, and that is about what we will have. If I do not sound like I am eagerly waiting for it, well, I am not. This year's celebration just doesn't feel like something I am thrilled to have. I don't really know why. Maybe it's because I have so much to do, and my mind is just not focused on any celebration.
Too many things to do : marking exam papers, planning lessons, website for the English panel, cheer season stuff. On top of that, I have been unwell. Nothing big but I have been coughing badly for over a week. Joel, who started coughing first, recovered, but is now getting it back. The maid, too, has the same problem. Jon and Jeremy both are having exams. Well, Jeremy's have finished. Jon has one more subject to go.
So it is probably not surprising that I have not been in the mood to celebrate. I just want to finish marking my papers, and then enjoy my trip with the ladies in about 10 days.
I just hope that I do not get too moody tomorrow.

Weddings

While we are still recovering from the royal wedding, I would like to remember a few weddings. Firstly is the wedding I recently attended, Michael and Vivienne. Michael is my former student from the first school I taught in. Well, what I attended was their wedding dinner, thrown by Viv's family. Their actual wedding is this coming Sunday and I will not be attending as it will be in MN. Thankfully hubby went with me for their dinner 2 Sundays ago. I am reminded of the time when I was a young teacher and Michael and his friends were still teenagers. How time has flown by and he is now a married man.
Another quite recent wedding I attended was Winnie's wedding. She is hubby's cousin and her wedding was spectacular to say the least. The wedding ceremonies were semi-traditional. The customs were somewhat observed. The dinner reception was an event to remember, thanks to Winnie's brother, Kevin. It was a good time of meeting up with relatives. Even my in laws were back for the wedding.
Another wedding hubby and I attended was just 2 days ago in Melaka. His friend's wedding. The journey there took 2 hours. We stayed about 45 minutes for the lunch and short chat with the bride. And then we left. Another almost 2 hours travelling home.
Probably more weddings to attend some time this year. But I do enjoy attending weddings.