2010 Achievement

I have called this year the "Year of Independence".   Read on and find out why.


Matt started high school this year.  Went to a camp where he learned ew skills - surfing and snorkelling.  He just loves it.  He is settling in high school life very happily - a bit like Independence Year.  Don't expect Matt to arrive home from school on time everyday.  Unlike his older brother, he will be having his very own 'after school social life' - it seems to take him forever to get home, a stop at the cafe to buy drink, maybe the shop to buy chip, or sit down somewhere with his friends and just talk.

He received an award for end of year Presentation Night.  He is proud of this because his brother Jono never won one at Year 7. (However he did win at least one every year since.)  Here is Matt receiving his "Excellence in Music" award.

On the music side, he started learning Tenor Saxaphone and played at the novice band at school.  Next year he has been promoted to training band.  He is also into playing piano pieces by the famous South Korean composer Yiruma.  I now listen to Matt playing "Wedding Dress" (by another Korean musician) every day.  He is even thinking about learning to speak Korean.  When he first played the piece, I told him the composer is Asian.  He asked how I know.  I told him I can tell by the music (Ha ha, now I know where he gets his musical talent.)

Early in the year, Matt went to see movies with some friends (boy and girls).  One of the girl asked if we could give her a lift home.  The girl was feeling a bit 'nervous'.  Here is what my little man said to her, "Don't worry, I will take you home first."  What a gentleman!  When did he grow up to be one?

I kept telling Matt how lucky we are in Australia, don't think they get the same opportunity in Asia.  At school, he gets to play different sports.  As he already played tennis, he decided to try out hockey.  He also played soccer in winter.

Fay started Grade 3 in high note.  Now that her big brother is no longer in the same school, this is Independence Year for the little girl as well.  She now feels free to make friends with older kids - I think big brother who was in grade 6 didn't like the idea of 'sharing' friends with her.  Her very first award came in the first month of school (February) - "Excellence in Art" (no surprise here)

I have never seen the little girl so stress before.  She kept telling me she was going to fail her music theory exam.  For weeks before the exam, she would remind me that she is going to fail and ask that I won't get upset with her.  So I told her to just do her best and not getting so stress about it.  It was scary watching her walked into the exam hall with all the other kids (most are bigger than her!).  I promised to walk her to her desk and found out parents can't go past the main door!  She was very courageous and told me she would be ok to go in by herself.  After her exam, she told me it was alright, she could answer most of the questions.  The exam turned out to be easier than she expected.  She told me she was bored at the end, so she did what she does best - daydreaming.  She even gave me instruction on how to daydream.

Then you think of things you really like, now it doesn't have to be things you actually have.  I got really intrigued by this and asked what did she daydream about. She told me dog, then corrected herself and said 'actually puppies, two, not just one!'  She lives in a beautiful world - full of music, songs and beautiful pictures!

Fay has Music School for 2 days 29th-30th May as part of the Australian Girls Choir program.  She was really excited because she will be having play time and lunch just like school.  So 7 days school week could be a possibility for her?

To apply what you learn is a very important lesson I teach my childen.  Here is an example of Fay learning the lesson.  She asked me what the word 'hypocrite' mean, so I explained it to her.   One day she said in her usual loud and clear voice, "Mum, you are a hypocrite!"  So I asked her how so.  Her response was I told her to do this, yet I did the opposite of what I preached.  There is no grey area, just black and white with her.  How do you like to have a conscience that speaks to you in loud and clear voice even when you are in public places?  How lucky of me to have a life-size conscience that walk around with me?

New instrument she started learning at school in Term 3 - clarinet.  She can't wait to join the school social band next year.

I took Fay home to visit family in Malaysia.  She has a wonderful time there 'working' in the shop.  She just loves cutting photos, helping to put picture in the frame.  The only bad thing is she missed out on school camp.  We must not missed the camp again next year, or I would never hear the end of it.

In term 4, she started lessons on Aikido and also started playing in Junior tennis development competition.  There goes my free Sundays.

Another moment to be treasured - Fay wearing the dress and sing at the annual Australian Girls Choir Concert.

The Big Screen at the concert.

Here she is in her Aikido uniform.

Jono turned 19 this year.  He seems to be smiling a lot more than last year, the impact VCE has on students cannot be underestimated.  University life must be like on a permanent vacation - he seems to be home most of the time.  His university results - HD (high distinction) for every subject.  I only to managed to get one HD for my entire 3 years of undergraduate.  He has got his name into Balwyn High School 'Hall of Honours' for his excellent VCE results.  Matt is so proud of him, he could tell his friends at school assembly that his brother is in the 'Hall of Honours'.

We are heading off to the Snowy Mountain for Christmas this year.  Fay keeps thinking we will be seeing the real snow - name can be so deceiving.

I like to play 'guess who said this' game with Matt.  After a while, he will just guess 'Einstein' or 'Gandhi' as they are the most frequently quoted.  Well after another 12 months of up and down, I will leave you with this quote from Albert Einstein. 

"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle."


The choice is yours, that's the beauty of freewill!


Till next year, may your life be filled with miracles this Christmas day and on each and every day of 2011.