Exams and results

It really is different to be on the other side. Yesterday was the first time I had to invigilate an exam. I must admit, it seemed very surreal to watch all the students filing into the exam hall, nervous and anxious as I once was. 

I looked through the questions. They were eerily similar to my end of block exams when I was their age. Though a few things are different (like the wire baskets hanging at the side of each desk and under it), everything was pretty much as I remembered it. 

Snacks for the invigilators (note the kiddy drinks!)

I also got to see some students scrambling to write the answers even after "Stop writing", something I have also done a few times hehe.

Speaking of exams, today I went to Irsyad for their Report Card Day. Alhamdulillah for his first semester exams, Yousof finished 4th out of 32 pupils and obtained 11As and 3Bs (A > 85%). I am very proud of him and very relieved. Although I had viewed his results online, I wasn't sure how he ranked compared to his classmates (especially now when everybody's kid seems so smart). 

I think, I am not as stressed about him doing well as some other parents might be, but I do want him to do his best and achieve his full potential. I'm not quite sure how my parents made me enjoy school work but it truly is a challenge to keep a 6 year old focused on anything for more than four minutes, especially when his younger siblings are running around the house.  So I just do the best I can to make sure that I am there to supervise his homework, keep his lessons interesting and reward him for his efforts. Hopefully, he will continue to do well and succeed. Ameen.

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

Basic plot

Amy Redwing rescues dogs and she is never conventional in her methods. In her passion to help 'man's best friend' she often finds herself in precarious situations. Along for the ride is her boyfriend, more for moral support than a sidekick. While rescuing these dogs they realize that both of them are also running from a dark past, from which they can only rescue each other.

What I liked about this book

The storyline was quite fast-paced and interesting to read. The author cleverly made sure that the lives of the main characters intertwined. He balanced the fine line between surprising the reader but at the same time, allowing them to appreciate the way the story unfolds by scattering subtle clues for them to notice.

What I disliked about this book

Some of the chapters were a bit too focused on a certain event or scene, though he probably intended it as such to convey the obsession involved. For some reason, the author's excursions into the supernatural in this book did not seem to fit as well as it has in previous books.

A quote I liked in this book

"How much nicer the world would be," she says, "if everyone in it were dead."

Rating: 3.5/5

Oh no! We're too short

Last weekend we headed off to KL since my brother and his family was coming all the way from Sarawak for the school holidays. Since they were scheduled to arrive on Sunday, we had to decide what we were going to do with ourselves on Saturday. 

After a nice breakfast at my favourite roti canai place, Abah decided to take us to Genting. So off we went, through those winding roads. Climbing higher and higher, the kids were so excited to find themselves up in the clouds.

When we arrived, it was quite an ordeal to find parking space, so we settled on a pseudo-parking space instead. Finding the Outdoor Theme Park was no picnic either, I think we probably went the longest and roundabout way possible. But we finally arrived!

We did not have a plan of any kind but basically ran from one ride to another. Of course, with the kids measuring 92cm-118cm, we could not go on ANY of the thrill rides. Thankfully, there were plenty of Kid and Family rides to keep us occupied. It was a fun day for the kids, and the feeling was infectious. Of course, I would have loved to ride the thrill rides too but hopefully when they're tall enough I will not be an ancient old woman yet. The only downside was the waiting time for some of the Family rides but I guess that is normal for any theme park.

The kids had a great time, and I was happy.