Perth Day 3

Why I chose Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay, although is 30 min drive from xiaoyu's wedding venue, is because it has a animal feeding experience, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, at 830 am. 

And the nice thing is, on the first morning, they provide us a simple breakfast of fresh milk, orange juice, bread, eggs, jam and butter. But if we stay from the second morning onwards, we are on our own. 

We fed alpacas, emus, cows, sheep, ducks and chickens. Yuanze even got a free egg from one of the chickens. 

After the animal feeding, we went to Margaret River Farmers' Market, that happen only on saturday mornings. The farmers' market are for farmers who sell their own local produce. There are food trucks as well, selling hot dog buns, gelato, pancakes and fruit juice. We tried almost everything from the food trucks, and the only local produce we bought is apples. 

Next, we went to Chow's Table for xiaoyu's wedding rehearsal, and after the rehearsal we went to huanyang's airbnb for a short rest. Her airbnb is 15 min drive from Chow's Table. 

And then, is the main reason why we travel to Perth, Xiaoyu and Yvan's wedding!

Honest feedback for Chow's Table: 

- I think is their first time doing a wedding banquet? I think they cannot cope. 

- The rice was a bit too much. 

- My favourite dish was the satay. 

- The way they serve the dessert (hazelnut cake) was pathetic. Only one server holding a large plate of sliced cakes and going from table to table. It was already 930 pm at that time. I got so fed up that I stood up, left my seat, and go straight to the server and take many pieces of cake for my family, and then off we go. 

- By the time we reach the farmstay, yuanze and yuanyi already fell asleep, we just changed their clothes and let them continue to sleep until the next morning.

But anyway, have a blissful marriage both of you~ 白头到老，早生贵子。

Perth Day 2

Checked out of the mandurah airbnb, and off we go to Busselton Jetty, to link up with the rest of my family.

We had lunch at The Goose, food is good!

Yuanze and Yuanyi tried kite flying for the very first time in their lives, and they totally love it. After the kite flying we took the Busselton Train. 

The next destination is Rock Canals Bridge. Thank you to my colleague who recommended this place. Yuanze had a fun time climbing all the rocks. 

Checked in our 3 room cottage at Margaret River Hideaway and Farmstay. And then we drove up to Pepper Cottage, where xiaoyu and yvan are staying at, to have dinner with them, and also to meet yvan's parents. 

The drive from pepper cottage to margaret river hideaway and farmstay was scary, with no street lamps. I am thankful to singapore's well lit roads in the night. 

 

Perth Day 1

Going to Perth to attend xiaoyu's wedding, from 16 Nov to 19 Nov. Xiaoyu's wedding is on 18 Nov. It is a short trip because darling cannot take more than 3 days in a row, excluding weekend. 

So we decided, it will be:

16 Nov (Thur), 17 Nov (Fri), 18 Nov (Sat), 19 Nov (Sun)

We touch down late on 19 Nov, at 1030 pm. So 20 Nov (Mon) will be for darling to recharge, and she can go to work on 21 Nov (Tuesday) feeling fresh. 

Our flight on 16 Nov is at 930 am, so we have to reach the airport at 730 am. I booked the taxi at 645 am. 

Touched down Perth International Airport at 230 pm. Cleared customs, collected our luggages, and walked to the car rental office to collect our rental car. Is a 7 seater Kia Carnival, that is very nice to drive. At first I was apprehensive because it is my first time driving such a big car, but it turned out ok. 

Day 1 nothing much. We drove for 1 hour and 20 minutes to Mandurah, where our airbnb is at. The airbnb that I found is super cool, has is own private jetty. 

The house itself is also very nice, and the two kids like it alot, like it so much that they rather play in the house instead of go to the swimming pool. 

But at night they got bored and want to go out and walk walk, and we found a playground nearby, and they played there very happily. 

That's it for Day 1. 

Presidential Elections 2023

For the memories. 

$280.00 for the duty, $20.00 for meals, and one Off In-Lieu, for the following:

- Many hours of online training

- 2 hours of f2f training with the polling team

- 1 hour of online meeting on 28 August

- 2 hours of preparing the Polling Station on 31 August

- 14 hours of duty from 6 am to 8 pm 

And the funniest thing is... the counting centre is just a minute walk away from our polling station, and yet a bus is catered for us. 

So we walk one minute to the bus stop to board the bus. The bus travelled for 5 minutes, to the bus stop at my house downstairs, that is opposite the school. And from the bus stop we walk to the school. 

#whatajoke

Staff Appreciation High Tea

This year, the high tea is held at window on the park restaurant, holiday inn orchard city centre. 

food is not bad, much better compared to last year. i am glad that my colleagues enjoyed the food. 

and today's photobooth was very well received too! always long queue, so difficult to take a picture. 

Wishing all my colleagues a Happy Staff Appreciation Day~

4D3N Sec 1 Outdoor Adventure Learning (OAL) Camp

This year I am a sec one form teacher, so need to accompany my form class for the 4D3N sec 1 OAL, at changi coast outdoor adventure learning centre. 

When I reached the camp site, I realised I had been there before, about 15 years ago, when I was a contract teacher at TPSS, where Mr Fathul asked me to be a teacher chaperon for a combined schools camp. 

Anyway, I very long never go for camp already, the last time I went for a camp was in 2015, back at TPSS, as the camp commandant of the sec 2 level camp. 

Previously, I love camps. I do not mind staying overnight. But that was when I was still single. 

But now, I am married and with 2 kids, is different. My colleague asked me, if I am ready for the camp. I told her I am always ready. Then she asked me, if I am looking forward. So I told her, as a husband and as a father, I am definitely not looking forward. 

As for the camp, I feel that the morale boosters bought by the school leaders and the colleagues made the whole camp much better. And the talk cock sessions at the pantry while eating meals and supper, are awesome memories that I will hold dear to my heart. 

Day 1, our P bought satay, sugar cane and coconut juice. 

Day 2, our VP bought donuts, muffins and coconut shake, and our SSD brought mcnuggets and fries. 

Day 3, two of our colleagues visited us with coffee and tea. The other VP, who is very health conscious and always advocate healthy eating to all of us, went against his principles and bought old chang kee curry puffs for us. Our camp commandant, ordered in ice cream and bbq chicken wings for us. Omg. I am so so so touched by all the love from all the colleagues and school leaders. 

I think I put on more weight after this 4D3N camp. Hahahahahahaha. 

Sharing more pics from the camp: 

Taken by my intern. 

 

Photo with my form class. 

Bougainvillea park at ECP. 

Weather was hot and sunny during our 12 km expedition at ECP. 

This is quite cool. They use containers to simulate caves, that Singapore obviously do not have. 

This is the control room for the Caving. We can see what the kids are doing inside, and can also communicate with them. 

Bumped into my Lyra 1 form class student, Jun Kai, who was cycling at ECP. Small Singapore. 

Group photo of all the sec 1s and outoor educators and teachers on the last day of camp.

Hope all the students become more resilient after this camp!