Only A Mum

Option Course in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 06:42:00 +0000

Daniel Low and Manoj Kuman’s Option course.

I start to learn Options from online, there are many useful resources, such as “Option Alpha” and “Tasty trade”.

After a few months of self-learning. I started to look for Options course in Singapore. Early this year, I had privilege to attend both options course “Passive Income Mastery (PIM)” by Daniel Low and “Profit Path Intensive (PPI)” by Manoj Kuman.

Let me share with you my experience with both course and both teacher, hoping that will help other eager learner like myself.

Passive Income Mastery (PIM) focuses on basic concepts, using simple strategy (namely Bull Put Spread), to sell Future option at 95% PropOTM, and repair mechanism.

This is course very suitable to beginners who have totally no experience on option trading at all.

Daniel is very talented teacher who makes the abstract concept easy to understand. He also painstakingly shows students step by step from how to open account, how to set up platform; how to make trade and calculate risk and reward ratio etc. most important, how to repair.

PIM class has very large size, in my batch, there were probably over 200 students. As students are of different level, the Q&A session could be quite chaotic. But Daniel’s team and assistant trainers were very helpful to help out the crowds.

Profit Path Intensive (PPI) has slight different focus: Besides introducing all basic options concepts, Greek, Manoj goes deeper by teaching 6 options strategies and Winning trading strategy suitable for intra-day trade, weekly and monthly trading, He also touches on trader’s mind-set and trading psychology. PPI has smaller class size. Manoj is enthusiasm, but his path is very fast, the total beginner may find hard to follow. I was benefited by first attending Daniel’s class, then attending Manoj’s class. Without basic foundation laid down in Daniel’s class, I would have difficulty to follow Manoj’s strategies.

Both courses offer live trading sessions, which is helpful. Daniel’s team also give tutorial session once a month.

A few notes to total beginners:

Try the paper account for a few month before you start in really account
Some strategy in PPI class are actually for day trader, which is not suitable for beginner, with small account size, as day trade pattern requires minimum USA 25k funding and margin maintenance.
Both course is priced at SGD3K+++. PIM has very clear course and fee structure. Daniel does offer daily trade class which is additional charges;
Manoj seems creates impression to students that will be rewarded with “gifts” if they made good reviews for PPI.

I would like to remind all, while learning option from both had been really fun and great experience for me. But it is not get rich quick course. There is absolutely NO shortcut in any form of learning, we all need to put into effort and practise to internalise whatever we have learnt. I cannot tell you whether it is worthy for you or not, but for option learning, both are great starting points.

The One Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 06:42:00 +0000

Life is a beautiful journey......

When I was below 10, I lived my live mostly for my parents, I did whatever they asked me to do; I think I was good child then :)

When I was below 20, I lived my life for my teachers and my peers; my world was revolving by their influence;

When I was below 30, I was quite lost, it took me a while to find out who were I, what did I want.....I am glad that GOD found me and I found HIM. With HIS divine guidance, my husband and I found each other.

When I was below 40, I lived my life for my children, day in and day out, I was "Only a Mum" and "Full Time Mother" with some notions of being "Good Mother", holding unrealistic supermum kind of standard, I struggled, teared on, but no turning back.

My children meanwhile have grown up, bravely shouldered through some of worst moments of my temper; my harshness and my ridiculous standard I held towards them.....Thank God, they didn't cracked by me. Now looking back, I wish I could have done differently; less strict, more loving; less routine, more fun …… Children are most forgiving creatures, till today, they still say they love me.

Years in the 40th properly were the toughest time for majority of human kind. Up with elderly parents, now with school going kids.....

It was during that time, my mother was found to have late stage of lung cancer, after battling for three years, we buried her.
It was during that time, I was confronted by teenagers rebelliousness. At the wit' end, I surrounded all to GOD. One day, I came to realization that as parent, our children's future is also in God's hand, it is all by GOD's grace and mercy, should they be successful, godly and happy; what I can do is to be there for them, when time they need.

Now I am turning 50 years old this, the age, in Chinese idiom, when should know Heavenly calling, I am pondering……As for the first time, I have the real sense that Now I am living for myself.

Recently, I read this book by Gary Keller "The One thing", this book challenge me to find “The One Thing” to be my life purpose, to live a productive life. To put things in perspective, I will say bye to Only A Mum and going to looking for The One Thing

So, while I am still a mum, but not only, for now, I am looking for my own The One Thing.

Time is Magic....Next Stage, Next Twenty Years!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:42:00 +0000

I can't believe that I have found back my old blog...... It likes I am looking at an old photo album, so many beautiful memory like waves flashing back. As if, I have found an old friend who long lost contact...that feeling just so overwhelming. Time is Magic, and thanks to Google, Blogger or social media, so that we found trace of our self in the platform where it no belongs to oneself but part of net. The feeling of somewhat connected with self and others is so real yet so surreal. Nevertheless, now I am back, I will use it as platform to present next exciting adventure. New Stage of Life With open arm, I embrace you!

Treasure the life

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 05:42:00 +0000

Recently, my mother, 68 year old, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. We are all very shock, as she had shown little symptom except leg pain. We sent her to massage and physiotherapy. Sadly, lung cancer is such a silent killer. It has transmitted into other parts of body. While we are all devastated by this news, my mother takes great courage to face the sickness. She wasted no time to cooperate with her doctor and took up necessary treatment. We pray that God will work miracle in her life. That is also timely reminder for all of us. Life is precious. We don’t know how much time we still have. We should give our body the best care. Those are some research I found after discovery of my mother’s sickness: 1. Take less red meat, red fish; meat from four legged animal; eat more fresh fruits and vegetables 2. Take nuts which contains B17, such like apricot seed, peach seed etc 3. Take fresh juice 600 ml per day 4. Build up body immunity by taking Vitamins and antioxidants 5. Exercise and have body check up regularly Finally, seeking God early. It has been great comfort for my mother knows that God is with her through all sick and suffering and she has hope in Jesus. So do we.

The Purpose of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 03:31:00 +0000

I have been asking myself this question. To me, the purpose of life is to enjoy what God gives me each day and be grateful and give glory to God.

However, that is easy to say than to do.

When life is full of sweet smell of roses, it will be easier to enjoy; when life is full of dreadful foul of trash, it will be challenge to even endure. I am not saying I am ready. I do fear for what God may test for me. At this moment, i can honestly say, with God's help, I want to make each day worthy of living to HIS glory. This is also my prayer, May God help me.

GOD leads the way!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:48:00 +0000

I am truly thankful that in past three months God has been leading the way in my daughter's DSA journey. It was another wonderful testimony of God's goodness.

We applied three schools for DSA. My daughter is offered with CO by the school she dreams. Without single doubt, it was really of God's goodness and mercy to answer our pray.

Finally, DSA has come to the end. As we close this chapter of education journey, once more we are reminded to trust in GOD. May God keep us and watch over us.

To be happy to be average

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:40:00 +0000

This week, one by one, children have been bringing back their SA1 papers for signing. As usual, some are happy; some are sad. My daughter did very badly for her science paper, while my second son did not so well for his Chinese Paper. But I must say they are overall above average!

What we parents want our children to be, always, not average, but "EXCEL"!. 望子成龙 is every parent's wish. The reality of life however is that not ALL the children will be "Dragons", most of them will be just average. We should be happy if they are above average.

Life is full of twists and turns of dreams and realities. While we encourage our children to do their best in every thing they do, we have to be constantly mindful not let our "own" expectation becomes a stumbling block to our children. We have to recognize that each child has his/her own unique quality, some are given ten talents, some five and some only one. But to God, they can all become the "Good and Faithful" servants.

An easy task for Child A might be a great achievement for Child B. A late-bloomer may not seems to be as bright as the head-starters. But in the end of days, it is more about characters, personalities, habits, and conviction that make a whole human beings.

A brief break

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Now exams are over, both children and I can relax a bit. We went for a movie another day, and played table tennis till 10 pm. All though there is still school, children feel much relaxed now.

But there will be a very brief break. For my P6 DD, the battle has just began. She will have to work very hard during the June holiday; for my other kids, June holiday usually means to catch up holes in learning. With Nationals is right at corner, they have to train very hard during the holiday.

So indeed, from now to the end of May, that is real break for all of us!

SA1 exam panic

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:31:00 +0000

My daughter will be taking PSLE this year. Uniquely for Singapore parents, PSLE does spell a sound of tense for us. Thankfully, DD is more self-driven student than her brother was. Yet, I cannot help but feeling stressed.

Just another day, she had SA1 maths paper. When she came home, she was in tears. Usually, maths is her strong subject. She has been getting A* since P4 days. She told me the SA1 paper was hard, she had no time to finish all the questions, and worse still, she had no time to shade the OAC answer sheet for Paper 1. My initial reaction was heart sunk. I could literately felt that my heart went down, and my blood rushed to my head.....but I reminded myself to stay calm, she was already so devastating, certainly did not need me to add more "emotions". Later that day, I wrote to her Maths teacher to explain the whole situation. If it were another SA1 paper, I would not have written to her, but P6 SA1 results can affect DSA application. I therefore had to ask teacher's "overlook" this grievous mistake.

The maths teacher is a very kind, caring lady. She was also my son's maths teacher. She assured my daughter that she would help her in whatever way she could.. Exam panic can happen to anyone. I just hope that my daughter will learn from this experience. I am also thankful that this incident happened on SA1 not actual PSLE.

Well, the journey of PLSE has began!.

Mother and daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:18:00 +0000

I always envy those mothers and daughters who have a good relationship with each other. For me, it seems a generation debt passing down. I had a rocking relationship with my own mother, now I am having a difficult time with my daughter.

Yesterday, I just had a fight with my daughter. I noticed that she felt asleep after swimming training without even showing. I wanted to wake her up but decided to let her sleep. In the morning, I asked her why didn't she take a shower before sleep. She told me "I did", obviously lied. Then I asked her if she did shower, why she didn't changer her clothes, she replied, "I choose not to." That sent me in rage. I knew she lied and I hated her to be willfully stubborn and defying. In the end, I confronted her and gave her a good caning.

Ten Ways for the SWIM PARENT to Sabotage Their Child's Swimming Career

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:56:00 +0000

(written with tongue firmly in cheek)
From John Leonard, American Swimming Coaches Association

After thirty-three full years of observation, it has occurred to me that some parents must internally delight in the idea of sabotaging their child's swim career. They must for some perverse reason WANT to do this, since they work so incredibly hard at it and are so remarkably successful. Hereafter, my top ten list of means and methods. (And more seriously, some clear examples on positive alternatives.)

Start out making sure the child will get a material reward for good performance…. at age 8, a stop at McDonalds for a 100 IM done without disqualification. At age 10, a five-dollar bill for a new "A" time. At age 12, a trip to Disney World for a high point trophy in the JO's. At age 14, a party for child and friends at an amusement park, complete with LIMO ride, for qualifying for state high school champs as a freshman. And, if still around in the sport, a new Mercedes or Jaguar for a state high school championship as a senior.
• If you can't see what's wrong with this, you're the problem. The approach that works best? Let the rewards become internal. Let the sport "belong" to the child, not something that "Mommy wants me to do." Get them to understand the value of working hard to improve themselves EVERY DAY, and allow them opportunities to "prove themselves" through THEIR sport.
• Demand that the child keep up with Fred's kid, from work, who always wins at least one event in any meet they go to. Fred's kid is 8, stands 5 feet, 5 inches tall and had his first shave last Friday. Face shave, not swimming shave. Demand that your child stays close to, or "Right with" those early developers in your club
Reality? Children develop at different rates, in terms of size, strength, coordination, emotional and intellectual maturity and just about everything else. Allow your child to compete ONLY against itself, and measure them against only their own best efforts.
• Coach your child part time, "when you're available". If you're rarely available, show up after practice with a stopwatch and "help" Susie by timing her for 50 meters "to see if she's getting any better". Encourage her with "kick, Susie, Kick!" screams from the side of the pool. This will nicely balance out the fact that all your 10 and under age group coach does is ask them to swim correctly and SLOOOOWLY so they learn their strokes.
You're just encouraging them to swim Faster, right??? Right? Right? Huh? What should you do? Just about ANYTHING except coach. Parents are for unconditional love and support. Coaches are for critical analysis of performance and developing skills physical, emotional and tactical. STAY AWAY from any coaching. If you doubt your coaches' ability to coach, talk to them about it, at last resort, go somewhere you have enough faith in the coaching to stay out of it. No mistake is worse than trying to be both parent and coach to your child. It's guaranteed long-term relationship disaster.
• Insist that your child swim the race the way YOU want it swum…."like I saw them do in the Olympics" or "like I did, when I was in college in 1975" when you're at the meet on Saturday, after not having seen your child swim in practice for 6 months. After all, swimming's swimming right? It doesn't change. Does it? Does it? Huh?
Reality? Techniques and thinking on how to swim races change all the time. Swimming for a ten year old is not what it might be for a 20 year old, or an Olympic Swimmer. Allow your coach to select the race strategy that they deem age appropriate and developmentally proper for your child. If you doubt the coaches ability to do this, talk to them about it, until you are reassured.
• Go get 'em a nice candy bar, mom and dad, just before they swim, so they'll have some "quick energy" just before they dive in. Or, bring in some nice fresh Crispy Crème donuts just after the warm-up and before the big meet. That'll give them a lift and cheer them up. Psych them up. Yeah. Good. Ugh.
Well, for those who don't know, Sugar is the Great Satan of physical performance. It creates an immediate "sugar high" in the bloodstream and then immediately thereafter, a HUGE dip in the blood sugar, so just about the time your child gets up to swim, they'll feel like they are wilting and just want to go lie down and rest. Not exactly "race ready". And don't try to figure out how to "time it" for the sugar high, either … it won't work, its not that predictable in timing…. except exertion will immediately trigger the sugar low. What instead? If they must eat between races and meals, have a bagel or non-sugar carbohydrate snack.
• Tell your early developed 15 year old, "But you were SOOOOO good, when you were eight!"
Wow. Nothing heavier than a great potential, according to Charlie Brown. If you have an early developing child, stay away from past results comparisons. Just look at your own child's best times, and encourage improvement. And if the times aren't improving as they get older, and thankfully, they still enjoy swimming, just keep your mouth shut and be pleased that they enjoy the exercise and training. Great friends to be around, great role models. If you have trouble keeping your mouth shut, go look around at the mall to see whom your child COULD be hanging out with. It should inspire you to keep bringing them to the pool.
• Go to the side of the pool each time the child swims, to "support them", with wild cheering, screaming, trembling and generally demonstrating your emotional involvement in your child's swim. The child will swim REEEAALLLY fast the first time you do this, (which will encourage you to do it ALL the time…) since all they want to do is get out of the water so you'll stop embarrassing them. Then they'd prefer to NEVER race again rather than see you like that.
Reality? Sit down. Smile. Cheer internally. When your child comes back, ask the child what they thought of their swim. Listen. Be quiet. Learn. Then cheer wildly for your child's best friend. That'll make your child happy, not embarrassed (and hope your child's friend's parent is cheering for YOUR child!).
• Spend your time in the car pool dissecting the workout your child just did. You can dissect the work given (critiquing the coach), or the child's performance (critiquing the child) or best of all, OTHER people's children's performance. The more critical you can be, the more knowledgeable you will appear. The door you hear slamming is your child leaving swimming.
What to do after you watch practice? Go Home. Feed your child. DO NOT TALK ABOUT PRACTICE UNLESS YOUR CHILD WANTS TO DO SO. This is all about letting the sport belong to the child and not to you. Critical.
• When your child has an improved swim, faster than ever before, jump up and down, demonstrate your enthusiasm with words like WONDERFUL! FANTASTIC! INCREDIBLE! UNBELIEVEABLE! And generally behave as if you can't believe that a child with your pitiful athletic genes could actually do something worthwhile. This will ensure that your child will believe that they have accomplished something akin to finding the Holy Grail and will ensure that they cannot even REPEAT that performance, much less improve on it, for another two years when they finally forget your performance.

Reality? We all get excited when our child performs well in any way. Try your best to be restrained around your child. Making a big deal of a best time makes it seem like you are SURPRISED that they could do so. Like you lack confidence that they could actually do anything worthwhile. Instead, play it cool. Express your confidence that the wonderful thing you just saw is an everyday event for a child as dedicated, hardworking and talented as yours. In the words of the football coach trying to diminish the "celebration factor" - "ACT LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE END ZONE BEFORE." (And expect to be again.)
• Tell your child that they "HAVE TO/MUST" make this "time, time standard, place, final, or medal "Right Now". That should be crushing enough pressure to debilitate most anyone…except you of course, who can sit in the stands or at poolside, with a cup of coffee and a bun while you emote, rather than swim, the race.
What's the right language? Each swim is an opportunity to go fast. Just another opportunity. If you miss on this one, you'll get another chance shortly. The more important we make something, the more the pressure load to perform under. Everything is "just another swim meet". Everything. Even the Olympic Games. Our Olympic Coaches tell our Olympic Athletes regularly …"what do you do in a regular meet? You try to go a best time. This is the same. Go a best time here, and you'll be fine." No one swim meet is "make it or break it" for an athletes career. Don't artificially try to make it so.
And now, in the spirit of Equal Time, here's ten ways swimmers find to sabotage their support systems in Swimming.
• Want something for which you won't make any sacrifices. 'Those who want to go to heaven, have to be prepared to die."
Reality: pay the price for the privilege you want.
• Tell yourself "if I don't do IT by such and such a time, I'll give up". People who dream properly, don't set time limits, they set goals. Timeless goals.

Reality: Just say, "I will accomplish it" No time limits. Then set out to do it.
• Don't live like an athlete away from the pool. Let your lifestyle choices as a young adult ruin your in water hard work. Burn the candle at both ends…see how long it can last.

Reality: Proper rest and taking care of your body is almost as important as proper training in improving performance.
• Bribe your parents…or your coach…by negotiation…"I'll do that if I can just do THIS, for the next five repeats". Compromise yourself to mediocrity.

Reality: Achievement means doing something better today than you have ever done before. Something little or something big. But do Something Better.
• Stay up till all hours before a meet, for the social fun that can be had in that setting. "I DESERVE to have a good time, I work so hard at this". Yes, you work hard.

Reality: The reward is good performance, not outside entertainments.
• Don't listen and learn good technique from coaches trying to help you. It's a technique-limited sport.
Reality: Without great coaching, none of us go anywhere in any area of life. Learn to be "coachable."
• Don't be honest with yourself about when you are working and when you are cruising.
Reality: Swim Meets and the timing clock always expose our real work habits.
• Don't thank your teammates for all they bring to your enjoyment of the sport and your improvement. Think that you did it all by yourself.
Reality: We all get where you do because good people surrounded us and support us and lead us onward. Say thanks. Often.
• Don't thank your coach for their support in your sport.
Reality: The best reward a coach can get is when an athlete says thank you.
• Don't thank your parents for their support in your sport.
Reality: Be mature enough to recognize and say thanks to your biggest fans.
And finally, the Top Ten Things Coaches Do to Sabotage their athletes…(by accident, by accident!)
• Allow them to talk you into compromising the training.
Reality: You can't compromise your way to great.
• Allow them to overcome your willingness to coach with their unwillingness to learn. (Keep talking, keep teaching, and keep trying.)
Reality: It's the thousandth time you say something that it may penetrate. Don't quit on 999.
• Fall into the trap of trying to make them "feel better" after a swim in which they did not perform correctly.
Reality: Young people need "truth tellers" - not people who know how to blow smoke at them. Tell them where they are, and what they need to get better. They need coaching, not just kind words. Tell them how to get BETTER; don't just commiserate. Be direct and blunt in your assessments. The feather touch does not create change.
• Coach for the short-term reward rather than the long term good of the athlete. Allow parent pressure to influence you in this regard.
Reality: if we all 'coach as if the child will be with us forever", then all the children will be well cared for.
• Fail to get the athlete's parents educated on the sport. Nothing will fail faster than undereducated sport parents.
Reality: Take the time to educate parents. It will pay off!
• Worry about "getting speed" into the 10 and under athlete. (11 and 12 athlete, 13 and 14 athlete). Endurance based training has a 60 year history of success. But you want to be an experiment. Ho ho ho. You'll look like Santa Claus, of course "bringing more for less work", but then a day of reckoning will show up around age 13-15.
Reality: our goal should be speed at later mature ages. To do so requires endurance based training. Give it to them.
• Argue with the athletes parents about what diet the child should be on. Or whether they should go to church on Sunday or not. Or whether a family vacation is more important than the Fairport "A" meet.
Reality: How would you like every parent on your team to provide his/her input on your training plans? They have parental areas, and you have coaching areas. Allow them domain over their areas. Discuss the "gray areas" with the child's best interests at heart.
• Fail to "Listen" to…the athlete…the parent… other coaches…. just fail to listen, period.
Reality: You can only learn with your mouth shut. Seek to understand first, and then be understood. (Apologies to Steven Covey).
• Copy someone else's coaching.
Reality: You can try. Most fail. Develop your own style.
• Reinvent the wheel and fail to learn from anyone who coached in the 60 years of age group swimming before you started.
Reality: Honor all that has been learned about age group swimming before you came on the scene by learning about it. Learn from experience, your own and that of other coaches.

Big tragedy

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:05:00 +0000

With total shock and deepest saddness, I heard the news from BBC the Oslo's twin attacks resulting at least 91 people's death. No words can describe the horror and dismay of such an attack. The human society has not evloved to be a better but rather into a much worse state.

Comparing to such big tragedy, I feel ashamed to be sorry for my own little äccident". Though my duaghter broke her wrist, though she could not attend this year competition, at least she is still alive, she has a hope to attend next year.... but those young people, who equally have great hope for their future, just perished under a cold blood person's bullet. Why? why? how could this happen?

Force to quit

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:24:00 +0000

It was a sad day for my daughter and all of us. She and her younger brother have been training hard and look forward to 52 inter-school National Swimming Competition. Both of them have confident to enter the finals.

But, on Sunday, while she was playing at our home playground. She had a seemingly harmless fall, but resulting her right wrist fracture.... The consequence, of course, she has to quit compeition. That is probably more painful than her injured wrist.

I was also hard to swellow the tear to comfort her. "God must have a better plan for you." That was all I could say. Yet I am not even convinced myself. Only time will heal and time will tell.

Meanwhile, May God bid her speedy recovery!

Fooball Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:50:00 +0000

Great games and fun!

Youngest players- as tender as lambs

Persist Without Exception

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:59:00 +0000

Posted: 1/26/2008
By Jackson W. Leonard
A common essay prompt I have seen for many years is “Explain a single pivotal moment in your life and its impact”. After consideration, I have decided that prompt is a poor one. In my life, I have found that often a single moment does not alter one’s life but one’s actions and mental determination over an extended period of time are what really direct the course of one’s life. This can be seen in my pursuit of a state championship in the sport of swimming and the training I have endured throughout the 2008 summer.

I have spent four years swimming year-round for a club team and because of the demands of the sport, my life has begun to revolve around the pool. A swimmer’s life is demanding and difficult. While swimmers work together in the pool during workouts, it is in actuality a solitary sport which demands mental strength and extreme physical prowess. Swimmers are a different breed of human, as waking up at 4:45 AM four days a week to swim in an eighty degree pool for two hours is not normal behavior. Two practices a day become a routine physical demand as swimmers progress in their abilities, while forgoing social activities due to practices and swim meets become the price of achieving one’s goals. I have made it my mantra to work hard no matter the pain or the cost. Yet it is incorrect to say that I “sacrifice” my time as an athlete to swim and to practice daily because it is actually a privilege. The ability to train everyday and push my body to its limit in order to swim quickly is a privilege that few have and to call that activity a “sacrifice” is incorrect.

At the same time, there is a difference between those swimmers who try and those who try harder. It became my obsession to be known by all who watched me as a swimmer who tried harder than anyone else. After placing 13th in the 2007 State meet, I resolved to make sure absolutely nothing stood in my way of placing in the top three in my final high school swimming season in 2008. My mind was set and no force in heaven or on Earth was going to break my will to succeed. I spent countless hours in the weight room alone lifting and working out until exhaustion. Countless hours were spent with no one there to congratulate me on my efforts or look on in admiration, only my desire to succeed stood with me during those hours. Morning practices became necessary, while extra dry land physical exercises also became increasingly important. My resolve and determination was exceeded by none of my teammates, as was my exhaustion.

As the school year ended and summer began, I became aware it was going to take even more to achieve my goals. I have spent the summer living with my father in another city 80 miles from my mother and my friends. My father is a legendary swim coach and has trained countless age group swimmers and several nationally ranked athletes. His workouts are known to be extremely strenuous and painful, yet they are what create champions. My days with my dad consist of the same routine. A 4:45 AM wake up, a two hour workout, several hours spent teaching children how to swim, a nap, dry land exercises, and another two hour workout. I thought before the summer that I knew what exhaustion was; I was wrong. I have now spent nine and a half weeks training to the absolute limit of my physical ability. There have been nights I have not been able to get up from the dinner table to go to bed because my entire body was wrought with pain. Every morning begins with a groan of desperation and hatred for the cold pool I know I will have to get in within minutes. I fear the different types of workout sets I will have to perform in the pool everyday, as if they are torture instruments. And every night I fall asleep in complete fear and panic due to the possibility of failure. The possibility that I will not achieve my goal after the pain I have endured is the scariest concept I have ever known. It is only once every two weeks or so that I am reassured that I will achieve my goals no matter what stands in my way. It is after a great practice and after swimming with strength and confidence that I am bolstered by my father’s words of encouragement. Knowing he believes in my abilities and determination only fuels me for another week of horrible, yet strengthening training.

It has been through these tough weeks that I have been hardened to perform at the necessary level to achieve the title of state champion. I have also learned the lesson that anything worth having is worth working for. I have additionally learned that it is the accumulation of my actions this summer and the months spent working hard before the summer that I am now able to attempt to complete what I originally set out to achieve. It is through my hard work that I have grown to understand that we are not handed anything in this life without a price and there are no free lunches, breakfasts or dinners. The only way to accomplish any feat in life is to persist without exception.

(I found this article on John Leonard website. I re-post it for my daughter. What he said I feel was absolutatly true. It is not one single mement, but persist effort changes one's life.)

YOG, what an inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:33:00 +0000

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympiad certainly is a great success. At least for one thing , it has inspired many youths worldwide.

The influence can be clearly seen in our home.

Now, I have one child who is wishing to join YOG in four years time. The kids at their age can do such a great thing seems to be a biggest motivation to my kids, "Maybe, if I train hard, I can do the same when I am older."Prisca said confidently.

Why not, "Dream big, work hard,"that is exactly what YOG for!

We have been watching various events on Channel 5, especially football and swimming. Last night Singapore victory over Montenegro was such a joy to us. The cubs showed their total capability in controlling and winning the game. They are full of fighting spirit, totally different from Big Lions. Congratulations!

Swimming Rainer Ng, and Isabella Lee all did Singapore proud by winning silver medals. Truly that shows Singapore is capable to produce top talents in sports.

The way to success starts the dream, YOG certain brings many of these dreams.

YOG Singapore 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:03:00 +0000

"From YOG official website:-",

The future of women's swimming revealed itself at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games - and that future has a Chinese face.

China's women won a total of 11 medals, while individually, Tang Yi and Liu Lan won more gold medals than any other competing NOC.

Tang led everyone with her haul of six gold medals, and seems to have a limitless future. She dominated the youth women's freestyle, winning the 50m, 100m and 200m events as well as the youth women's 4x100 freestyle and the mixed 4x100 freestyle relay races.

"The ambience of the audience and the loudness (of the crowd) really motivates me to do my best," Tang said after winning the 200m freestyle.

"I'm actually quite happy, but I can always do better."

Liu was just behind Tang, winning five gold medals and six overall, including gold in the youth women's 50m and 100m butterfly. Backstroke specialist Bai Anqi also took home four gold medals, including the 200m backstroke.

While China's young women were impressive in the Singapore Sports School pool, they were far from the only story at the inaugural Youth Games. As good as the entire China team was - He Jianbin and Dai Jun also won gold in youth men's events - Australia surprised by winning the most total medals of any team with 16.

Accidents

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:42:00 +0000

One of family friends asked me "how many accidents had your children have?" "A LOT!

Wow, that brings back a lot of memories."

The first accident was our first baby rolled over the bed and fell down. He cried of course I cried too. Now I don't even think that can be called "accident".

When Paul was two years old. He was playing hide and seek with his father while I was feeding baby. They had great time, and Paul was so excited that he ran into the door frame. "Pong"the sound was shocking, so did I. I jumped up and ran to him", the sight of his forehead with a steam of blood flowing down from his eyebrow almost sent my husband into hysterical panic...we rushed him to A@E, he got six stitches...

The was the first A@E visit for our kids.

Then, more accidents follow, falling down from monkey bar, lost control in riding scooter in a sharp down slop; play sringe shooting soaping water into eye; acute stomach pain turned out to be a life threaten intussusception...

By God's grace and mercy, after each accident, we thanked with relief, "it could be worse."

Since my elder son started to play football, he had twice nasty accidents which both involved fractures of bones. Though over years I have learn to be more prepared for these types of accident, I still felt compelling to urge him not to play again. However, the suffer and pain did least to deter him from playing, so did mother's plea and nagging.

Last Saturday, my daughter just had a new accident:

She was just recovering from a week long flu and was anxious to get into pool. She plunged into the pool with a perfect plunging, just as the way she has been training, but in the wrong side of pool. When she appeared above water, she gave a faint smile and told me, "I knock my head at the bottom of pool."

I checked her head, there was a blood stain on her skull. I controlled my tears when we rushed to KK hostipial. She was given the first rate emergency treatment and testing, such as "can you move you head? do you have feeling on your fingers?..."

One doctor came to ask me to describe the whole incident, when I mentioned the blood, I broke down...

Thank God, she suffered no main injury except some nech strain and pain.

"ÿou are so stoopid.You call you self a swimmer?"the brothers restored to her. Later, as we related this incident, my daughter said to me,"Mum, i was so embrassed when you cried in hospital.

Well, there is really no accident in the eyes of God. We have gone through, and hope that we have learnt valuable lesson from each of it. Yet, the prayer of, "Dear Lord, ...Give us this day our daily bread, forgive our sins as we forgive those who trangress us, lead us not into temperation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kindgom, and the power, and the glory."

My prayer for my children is, "Dear Lord, please be their guardian in every moment and every day."

Have your twittered?

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:42:00 +0000

I met an old friend from university days a few day ago. We have not seen each other for almost ten years. Naturally, we were so eager to find out what happened to each other and other classmates of the same batch... "Do you keep in touch with so and so...?"

He asked me, "have you twittered?"

"No."

"Are you on Face book?"

"No."

"Then go there now, you will find a lot of them."

Well, although I am glad to find out whereandabout of my old friends, I am really hesitated to go to either of them, simply because.....

I prefer the real world.

some friends might be already forgotten, but some you always remember. If life brings us back, we rejoice; if not, we pray for them. Face Book or twitter still cannot compare with reality.

I read about a couple were so busy to make and nurture their online baby, even forgot their own three months baby, who starved to death. Such extreme was not unthinkable in these days.

Online society has taken away the time and effort one needs to develop his own reality world. It is another modern evil to be aware of.

Although I am consciously limited my time spending online, I do have a few revenues to record children's development and some precious moments if I can catch....Just have to remind us,

We don't have to twitter or on Face book, but we have to develop the sense of connection with our love ones around us, with people next to us, with GOD all mighty, with ourselves...That shalt be really fulfilling.

Marshmallow or peppercorn

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:51:00 +0000

In preparing 62 National School Chess Championship, our kids are having "Marshmallow Championship" at home.

The winner will get one marshmallow

and, the loser, one peppercorn.=(

Tell your truth, I had a lot of peppercorns. It tasted not bad at all!

Soccer

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:03:00 +0000

Soccer is FUN to watch!

Soccer is FUN when small kids are players!

Soccer is FUN when your small kids are players!

JUST LIKE THIS ONE!

SMS

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:42:00 +0000

Since my son Noah got his own handphone, I start to have a new mean of communication with him, even we are in the same roof of house. He sends me SMS whenever he feels like it.

"Hi, Mum, r u fine?"
"yes."
"what r u doing?"
"nothing."
********

"hi, mum, i luv u."
"me too."

"mum, i am ur friend." or sometimes,
"mum, i am angry with u but i will still do ur homework."
"mum, Paul is bothering me. I am not his friend any more."
......

Needless to say, SMS has become a new part of communication and the abridged form of language has become a part of life.

Ikea Meatball

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:27:00 +0000

Children love Ikea Meatball. I decided to make one by myself. But it turned out not so successful.

"It tastes like Chinese Dumpling." My daughter complained, though she is a lover of Chinese dumpling.

"It is kind of funny, not authentic." anyone commented.

I guess, everything, must has to be "uniquely right"

I searched IKEA meatball receipt, here we are:

Recipes

Meatballs with Cream Sauce

How to make your own meatballs:

Ingredients:
250gm minced beef
250gm minced pork
1 egg
200-300ml cream and water (or milk and water)
2.5 tbsp. finely-chopped onion
50ml unsweetened rusk flour
2 cold boiled potatoes
4-5 tbsps butter, margarine or oil
Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Heat the onion till golden in a couple of tablespoons of lightly browned butter.
Mash the potatoes and moisten the rusk flour in a little water.
Mix all the ingredients until there is consistency and flavour generously with salt, white pepper and (optional) a little finely crushed allspice.
Use a pair of spoons to shape the mixture into relatively large, round balls and transfer to a floured chopping board.
Fry them slowly in plenty of butter.

How to make the cream sauce:

Ingredients:
100ml cream
200ml beef stock
Chinese soya sauce
1 tbsp white flour
Salt, white pepper

Instructions:
Swirl the boiling water or beef stock in a pan.
Add cream and thicken with white flour if preferred.
Season well with salt and pepper.
Serve the meatballs with the sauce, freshly boiled potatoes, uncooked lingonberry jam and salad. There you have the perfect Swedish meal!

So you gotta to figure out "knowhow", plus practicing, then you will get perfect Meatballs.

Kaya Making

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:30:00 +0000

We are the family who loves Kaya, that makes us one mile closer to Singapore, doesn't it. My children love it, my husband loves it, even I love it.

So....after constantly consuming two 500ml kaya bottles per week, I am brooding to "home-make". It is surely healthier, more economic....and, if I am lucky, maybe taster!

I can almost imagine the praises from my children flooring to me, "Wow, mummy, you made it!"

First step, Google, "Kaya making", easy-busy-lemon squeeze.

this is one I decided to use http://www.makantime.com/kaya.htm

Second step, find a day when baby sleeps longer, get all ingredients, eggs, sugar and coconut milk.

Then, I followed the receipt, which I am good at.:)

After an hour of no-sweet labor, my two cans of "home made" Kaya was "proudly" produced...except... the color was bit funny, and jam was a bit cuddled... but it does taste like Kaya, I assure you.

The next day, I shyly offered my kaya to my children.

"What is this? Mum?" with the ascending tone, grammatically correct though.

"It is Kaya, I made it!" I spoke loudly

"It doesn't look like Kaya."

"But it tastes like one. Try it."

"Yiiiii, No thanks."

Moment later, my husband entered into kitchen. I kept quiet, but he discovered the kaya bottle.

"What is ?" He asked

"Kaya, I made it." I said quickly, much lower volume this time.

"Enmmm, interesting." He took the jam, spreading on his bread, with some difficulties, of course. Then he had a bite.

"Ennmmmmm, delicious." He exclaimed, I know it, as he always does.

Moment later, I returned kitchen, to my horror, my home made kaya was half gone.

"Oh, dear, you don't have to eat that much to show me that you love me." I was really moved.

"But, I really like it!" My dear husband.

The next project, how to make kaya, which is not only taste like one, but looks like one too.!

Noah Bakes Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:52:00 +0000

Noah came home one day with a homework sheet in hand, "Mum, I have to cook something nice and healthy. you must help me, and take picture of me doing the work."

"What can you do?" I asked him.

"No, not what I can do, what can you do? because you have to help me."

Ok, sounds like a homework for mummy!

So we did the following, and hopefully his teacher likes it....