It's over* - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

For the first time in our Law School, we had more than 100 students in a class - 104, to be precise. It was my PIL class. On top of that, I had 74 students in my Criminal Law class. So I was certainly dreading the marking that I had to do - never before had any lecturer here had to do so much marking after an examination.

On top of that, there were so many challenges along the way - I was tasked to do 4 sessions of invigilation during the exam period (so frustrating to just stand in a room for 3 hours plus thinking about how many answer scripts I could have marked during that time).

Then my daughter fell sick - had to take her to the specialist so many times, had to clean up after her vomit (including once in my car). Then I fell sick. But thankfully, recovered quickly. My wife then fell sick so a lot of the household chores fell on me. An old friend got married during this period so i had to spend one whole night attending his wedding dinner. Then another old friend from overseas came visiting and i had to take more time away from marking to meet up with him. Stranger Things 3 was released - but i made sure i resisted the temptation (and avoided all the spoilers online). Mt friend who was running the Alpha course at church could not make it one Sunday and I had to take over the session (after planning to do marking at the time). Oh - and my tooth suddenly started to ache badly.

So many things can happen in just 2 weeks - the very 2 weeks that i thought i could just mark, eat, sleep, repeat - but things never work out the way we plan, does it? Murphy's Law is proven in my life again. When it rains, it pours, doesn't it?

Thankfully, i managed to finish everything on time (including the 8 Human Rights scripts which was nothing compared to the rest). It's over!!!!!

Thank you Lord for helping me through this. It could have been worse but it wasn't. God is good.

Now, I just want to sleep - and binge watch Stranger Things 3 and The Boys. But I probably won't have the time to do that as my girls will want all my attention since i've been neglecting them somewhat. I guess the good thing about this experience is that marking will never be as challenging as it was this time round - or will i be proven wrong?

*First track from her brilliant album, Tails. One of the few albums where i love every single songs in it.

I will follow you* - Ricky Nelson

It was reported today that a headmaster tried to justify one of the school exam questions by simply pointing out that the correct answer was taken from the textbook. So basically, the correct answer is correct because the textbook says so.

This shows the problem with our education system. Just because the textbook (allegedly) say so, that is the right answer. This coming from Headmaster (who however was clever enough to insist on his anonymity). Our children are not taught to think but to follow blindly.

I face the problem in the Uni - a lot of students initially want to know which textbook to get. The importance placed on textbooks is more important than the ability to figure out the answer themselves. During tutorials, some students are more interested to know what is the right answer - not why is that the right answer.

I guess it id down to the politicians again? They just want people to follow orders, to follow their instructions, to follow without question.

I teach in my human rights class the importance of the right to education. I see more and more the importance of this right - and why some states deny this rights to some of the people. It is through education that people will understand what is right and wrong, what is fair, what is the right thing to do. Today, a lot of people keep on harping on the fact that the law/constitution says so so we cannot question it. Does not matter if the law is right or not.

I am glad that a lot of those whom i have helped educate are seeing the light - and saddened to see some who behave like those uneducated one. Thankfully, they are the exception rather than the norm.

*His cover version of the popular song I Will Follow Him.

Who needs sleep?* - Barenaked Ladies

So after the previous post, my condition just went worse. The medication did not help at all.

By the time the weekend came, i was so unwell that i spent most of the time in bed, sleeping. It was really bad - so bad that i actually dragged meself out of bed and went to see a doctor on Sunday. Only that they were all closed - and it did not help that Monday was a public holiday for us too.

Spent so much time sleeping. I really couldn't do anything else - not even watch TV or look at my phone. The pain in my sinuses was so bad - that one day, i was lying in bed in tears, longing for relief from the pain.

I was finally diagnosed with sinus infection and put on a course of antibiotics. Thank God that my condition improved after that and by the end of last week, I was feeling good - it was a strange sensation not having my nose congested!!!

Looking bad, it was probably God's way of making me rest and sleep. The past half year has been really challenging. Last month was really tough, with the working trip to Singapore. The demands of work has been increasing and increasing, and i do not get any reprieve when i get home as then the demands from the girls come. Then when they go to sleep, it is back to work again.

I think my body was really suffering and in dire need of sleep. The sinus infection did not affect the other parts of my body - but it was enough to knock me off my feet and ensured that my body gets the rest and sleep it is craving for.

Bad time management, unrealistic expectations placed upon self - all these just made the body weaker and weaker. Who knows what would have happened to me if i did not have the sinus infection!

Some times, i don't know my limits but thankfully, i have a heavenly father who knows - and will make sure i don't push myself over it.

I was talking to some colleagues last week and they were saying that everyone had fallen ill badly this semester as it has indeed been a very trying one. I'm thankful that i have been generally well.

*Taken from their 4th full length album, their most successful which contains their popular One Week.

Hello, Goodbye* - The Beatles

By February next year, i would have been sitting at my cubicle for 8 years. The only one from the Law School who moved in there in 2010 and still be there on the 9th floor of Block E.

The same chair, the same table. Now they ask me to move. At such short notice.

 

Some of my colleagues are not too pleased with this. Some are getting emotional.

Me? Well, it's inconvenient - but i guess being older and experiencing so much changes in life, it does't really bother me that much.

I'll miss the old place. But i guess I miss the people more - so since most of my close friends have left already, the place is just that - a place.

Trying to look at the positives! I'm facing the window now so i also have more space to keep my things. And it's way brighter - with a built-in fluorescent lamp. The people at the new place have so far seem friendly - unlike my previous place where it was all 'business' like and no one bothered to even make eye contact! I'm with the hospitality school so i guess they should be pretty hospitable!

On top of everything, i have a view at my new place!!!!! =)

Hello new place and new people, goodbye old place.

At the end of the day, it'll still be business as usual. Work, work, work.

*Their single for Christmas 1967 - 50 years ago! And still so good.

For the first time* - Kenny Loggins

History was made today when the first ever batch of International Law & Human Rights I module sat for their exams!

I have had the privilege of teaching this group and it has been a pretty trying semester - not helped by the fact that they decided to put the 2 weekly lectures back to back! On a Friday evening!!!!

I have had sleepless nights literally preparing for this and I for one am glad that it has all come to end.

The funny thing is that this will be the first and the last batch - for the syllabus has been changed and come next year, International Law and International Human Rights Law will be taught in separate modules - as it should.

*I like this version which is found on the soundtrack of One Fine Day.

Zombie* - The Cranberries

Tuesdays are the worst day for me in the week - i have 3 lectures, starting from 10 am right up to 5 pm, with an hour break in between lectures.

It doesn't help that i usually get back on Monday nights - and then i'll stay up late to prepare for those lectures on Tuesday, sometimes up to 3 something in the morning.

So when you see me on Tuesday, i'll look like a zombie. I think. Well, maybe slightly better than the ones we see on The Walking Dead. But i certainly feel like one! i feel like i walk like a zombie and sometimes, i just don't have the energy to talk properly - so i probably just grunt and snarl!!!

Something magical happens when lectures start, tho. I suddenly transform back to a human!!! I feel alive again. I speak properly and am actually excited about life again!!! That's why i feel so blessed to do this job. I really love teaching and lecturing, especially about the law!

The moment it all ends, my energy just drains out immediately and i start searching for brains... i mean a bed to sleep on.

*One of their most popular songs, so simple but yet so good.

Your cheatin' heart* - Hank Williams

It was rather painful to discover some students who cheated in their coursework. It was pretty obvious as one of them tried to conceal it while the other blatantly lied about it to cover up her devious act.

I was chatting with my colleagues about this and for all of us, we cannot sympathise with these students. Sure, we tried our best to help them and will continue to do so - but we cannot understand why they had to resort to such methods. For us, cheating was never an option - it never crossed our mind, or if it did, it would have been fleeting and dismissed immediately. I for one would rather fail than to choose to cheat - but then again, i was never really at risk of failing...

So why did they do it? Different generation? Upbringing? Fear of failure? The attitude that they would do anything to achieve their objectives?

It is really sad that students like these 2 would have to resort to such methods - and with lasting repercussions. From now on, they will be remembered as cheaters, students guilty of academic misconduct. What is worse is that they are trying to be lawyers in the future. I worry for them when they work in the future. Will they also use illegal means to get what they want or to prevent failure?

I hope being caught will serve as a painful lesson for them.

And i guess i have to be thankful that these 2 are the small minority. They are many others who did not cheat. There are also those who had failed, showing that they would not resort to such methods no matter how painful the consequence is. At the end of the day, failure may be painful but it can also be a good thing. After all, as Churchill said, failure is not fatal but what matters is the courage to carry on.

The scary thing is that these 2 are the only ones we caught. Perhaps there could be others? I hope not...

*Ranked as one of the best country songs ever, this song has been remade countless of times by many great singers.

Everything changes* - Take That

Ladies and gentlemen, this is my 1000th post in this blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since 11112006. Almost 6 and a half years... 

Well, that's not a lot of posts. But this is a milestone of some sorts.

I know that if i just go and read the old posts, i will be transported back to those days. I will be brought back to Essex, to Barking, to London, to the life back then. I will feel the joy and taste the bitterness, i will ache again and cry once more.

I may not understand everything i have written. I will probably not feel the same way as i felt last time. I would laugh at myself for the kind of things that had happened and the the type of thoughts i was having.

Well, that *is* to be expected. Things change. People change. The only thing that is constant is the fact that everything changes.

In my post on my other blog, i talked about the changes in my life these past few months (see here). But do i regret anything? To be honest, there are some stupid things that i wished i did not do, some words which i should not have said, some people whom i should not have hurt...

But in spite of that, i am gald of the other things that have happened, the people whom i have met in these past few years, the places i have been. I am glad of the happiness i have experienced - and even the pain and the hurt i had to go thru. That's because i am who i am now because of all i have gone thru. I am who i am now because of the influence that the people around me have had on me. And i am in a place where i am thankful and i rejoice in everything the good Lord has blessed me with.

Yes, the song goes "everything changes but you...". And i can truly testify that in spite of the fact that status quo cannot be maintained forever, God will be the same - yesterday, today and forever. And that gives me hope to carry on.

Before i end my 1000th post, i just wanna say that things are going to change even more in these coming months! Yes, someone is coming into my life soon - and my life will never be the same anymore. And regarding this change - well, lemme quote Heidi Murkoff from her book, "What to expect - the first year":-

"It helps to keep in mind that change, while always challenging, can be exciting too. Though there's no doubt that it will be - in so many ways - richer and better than ever."

*The title track of their album which never fails to bring me back to London in 1994!

Thank you* - Dido

I was just thinking about the account where Jesus healed 10 lepers. He told them to go and get themselves checked by the priests - they were the people who can official declare that they are healed. As they wemt, they were healed - but only 1 came back to thank Jesus.

To a small extent, i felt that way recently. 9 students were pestering me to sign their Certificate of Good Behaviour. I had to arrange with another colleague to bring it over to them as they were overseas.

Only 3 bothered to write back to me to let me know she received it and to thank me for it. The others - some who were communicating with me so regularly on this - got  their cert and remained quiet.

Sigh... not the first time, tho. As a lecturer, when the students need you to do something, they will be yr best frens at times - but when they have no need of you, you'll become the invisible man.

I guess this is a good reminder to me to always be grateful to the Lord and to others around me - and not to take them for granted. Sometimes, it is so easy to say a simple "thank you". And that simple gesture can mean so much. But it's the simple things that we forget most of the time...

Still, before you think all my students are an ungrateful lot, i must say that many of them have expressed their gratitude to me. Here are just some of the thank you notes that i have received which is pinned-up on my cubicle wall now.

*Her first big hit - and this song was first featured in the movie, "Sliding Doors".

It's been awhile* - Staind

Last post - 30th July!!!!! Almost 2 and a half months!!!!

Since i started this blog in November 2006, i have at the very least blogged at least once a month! (the only exception was late in 2009 when my life was in a total mess due to the tumor in my head which was removed in January 2010). In fact, since i started blogging in October 2004, i have blogged at least once a month.

So this long break is really something not usual. Thankfully, it is not attributed to something bad like back in 2009. Altho in a way, it could look like that. I have been really busy at work!

But it's not just work - it is just a combination of many things together. Work is definitely one of the reasons. Been distracted by many things to. It's definitely not due to lack of things to blog about.

Another reason is because no one really blogs very much these days - with FB statuses and Twitter taking a more prominent seat. Are we getting too lazy - that instead of writing a post on a blog, we just put up a sentence in our FB status? Altho some "frens" status looks almost like blog posts (and are longer than some of my posts in this blog!!!!!

But i dowanna give up on this blog. After all, a big reason for this blog is not for my readers but for myself. To record what has been happening to me - and some MAJOR LIFE-CHANGING events have taken place which will lead to brand new experiences in the coming weeks/months. =)

More about these things in the upcoming posts... hopefully, it will not take another 2 months plus for that!

*I just found out today that the title of this song is this way and not "It's been a while"!!!

Insecure* - Nikki Flores

Saw this on one of my former students' status update:-

"The need to come across as superior serves only to highlight your insecurities and every single flaw. Maybe it is time to look into the mirror and for the first time in your entire life, see who you really are".

Well said! So true, dun you think?

*Taken from her debut album, This Girl.

I'd give my life for you* - Lea Salonga

Every time we have the tutorial for Defences, i raise the same issue with the students regarding the defence of duress.

You see, in English Criminal Law, one cannot use the defence of duress when it comes to murder ie if someone threatens to kill you unless you kill another person, you cannot say that you should be excused from the charge of murder simply because you had to save your own life.

The law seems to expect individuals to say that they rather die than to kill someone else.

The scenario i raise is what if one bad guy threatens to kill you unless you kill another bad guy? The person you are asked to kill is a terrible person - a serial murderer and rapist. Which person would say that he/she would rather die than to kill the other person? Basically, would you give your life to save another?

Well, if the person you are going to save is someone very important or good, you might just think about it, won't you? But if the person is the scum of the earth, surely no one would want to die for him/her!

Well, in the Bible, it says that Jesus did exactly that - gave him life not for good people but for his enemies.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:7-8

Yes, as we celebrate Christmas, let us remember that Jesus was born to demonstrate his great love for us - by dying on the cross. Such amazing love!!!

*Taken from the musical of Miss Saigon

Anything but ordinary* - Avril Lavigne

London, Reading, Avillion PD, Rajes, Ho Chi Minh City, Dining, field trips, Joseph, moot, judge, Sunitha, appearing on newspaper, LawAsia, Palace of Justice, Programme Director, Human Rights, Taj Mahal, Law Ball, KLIA, TV appearance, Lakeside Campus, Thaatch, Jessup, Champion, Runners-Up, Kajang Prison, Family Law, Markus, carpark problems, ducks, Moot Administrator, banner...

It has been a very happening and most unforgettable 4 years! Praise God for bringing me thru.

*Taken from her brilliant debut album, Let Go.

Story of my life* - Bon Jovi

A student wrote this on the fb wall of another:-

"planet of the apes" soon ok! or "horribble bosses"..i heard its also good...

For a moment, i thought she was referring to my life at work!!!!

*Taken from their Have a nice day album.

Look away* - Chicago

I'm just so mad!!!!

It may seem to be a small thing but perhaps this is the straw that breaks the camel back!

The staff room i'm in is not that big. We've all been here, some for almost 20 months! We all know each other here - even if you just joined recently.

The corridors are not that wide - there is hardly a gap of 6 inches when we walk pass each other.

What irks me is that these people (no, not the Law School lecturers, of course) can just walk pass me and look away!

Is it so hard to say "hi", or "good morning"? Fine, even if you dun want to say anything, will it cost you so much to just smile? Or even look at me and give a formal nod???

I feel like an idiot, looking at them with a wide smile and they just look away and pretend i'm not here.

Sure, i'm not a white guy - but that just shows how shallow certain lecturers can be - they'll be so frenly with my expat fren but totally ignore me cuz i am a Malaysian!

Is it any surprise that their students are some of the worst mannered ones on campus?

Pathetic!

But i'm not gonna let them win - i'm gonna be even more proactive, perhaps even standing in their just to stop them so that i can greet them. But is this gonna be worth the effort? Sigh...

ADDENDUM

I checked with my expat colleague and i stand corrected. He tells me he experiences the same too, people just looking away. Sad-eh?

*Quite different from their other hits - lead vovals was Champlin, not Cetera, and it did not feature much horns. Still, one of my fav Chicago songs as it was a hit during my form 6 days.

Let's have lunch* - Cast of Sunset Boulevard

Last week, i decided to have lunch with my colleague for a change. After all, term has ended, office hours were a little bit more relaxed.

We sat right at the end of the food court - it was wonderful!!! The breeze was blowing constantly, the weather was lovely, we chatted about our lives and made plans for a possible future visit to Paris while enjoying the view of the lake.

And we saw them - ducks!!! And geese! I dun know why i was so thrilled to see them! Maybe it brings back memories of the lakes in the UK when i was studying there - be it on campus or in the lovely parks there. There would always be ducks and geese swimming around.

The next day, we sat right next to the lake - this time it was a bit warmer but still nice. Like a summer day.

I think i'm beginning to enjoy having lunch on campus - not just eating my own packed lunch in my cubicle bout outside, enjoying the fresh air and seeing life pass by. So much so that altho i was the only one around late this morning, i decided to go out for a brunch on my own.

Sitting there by the lakeside, reading, listening to Michael Buble and just enjoying the scenery... Nice!

Little pleasures in life are not underrated! =)

*The first song of the musical where we were brought to the movie studio - i loved it as it captures very well the busy-ness of life there.

With a little help from my friends* - Joe Cocker

Supposed to be one of the most stressful time of the year...

But it wasn't so bad this time round. In fact, this was prolly the easiest i've had, ever! I'm thankful to God for my frens who helped made it that way! =)

*The theme song of "The Wonder Years" - used to be my fav TV show at that time.

Mad season* - Matchbox 20

With the exams here, i thought life would be much easier. I was wrong. Dead wrong!!!! Last week was prolly the craziest week of my life at Taylor's. There were some pretty difficult times but i've not remembered not being able to sleep for 2 nights in a row, just rushing to complete some work - which i still feel is not right to impose on us!!!!

Ah well...

Too lazy to blog about it - just reposted my fb statuses since last Monday:-

Pork noodles on Labour Day holiday! But after that, back to campus to labour on Labour Day. I'm a labour-holic...
02 May at 08:22

Drowning in work... but on the bright side, singlehood only has 4 more months before its expiry date! =)
03 May at 01:00

I got tricked!!!!! It's not as easy as it was made out to be!!!! =(
03 May at 10:47

Super stressed, so much work, crazy expectations... but in some weird sick way, i'm enjoying it.
03 May at 12:48

Paganini keeping me company as i try to keep meself from drowning in my work. The only way to stay afloat is to just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
Wednesday at 01:35

Classical music really goes well with law!!!! I've had Chopin, Paganini and now Mozart keeping me company! Reminds me of my law student days.
Wednesday at 13:33

Trying not to drown... just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
Wednesday at 16:56

Looks like there is no sleep at all tonight. I really did not sign up for this - and no one can expect me to be happy about this.
Wednesday at 23:40

Staying up all night long doing things which i feel by right shouldn't be imposed upon me. Ah well...
Thursday at 00:41

Not bad - i'm still plodding on despite not sleeping last nite - and sleeping very little the night before that. Well, i guess i can sleep when i'm dead...
Thursday at 15:17

Sleep is overrated!!!! It's gonna be another all nighter again - and i'm armed with lots of food and coffee!
Thursday at 23:38

Finally went to sleep on Friday around 10 am. It was scary as before that, i would be typing a sentence and midway thru, i would not know wat i was typing about!!!! The mind just switched off!!!!

This weekend, i was like suffering from jet-lag.

I hope the worst has passed...

The title song of their 2nd album.

I like Chopin* - Gazebo

When i woke up this morning, this tune was playing in my head:-

Strange to have a classical piece playing in your mind? Well, i must admit that it has been some time since i've had any classical pieces in mine.

I like Chopin. Used to be such a big fan - one of my fav composers. I used to love the sound of the piano so naturally i was drawn to a pianist. And this piece is one of his easiest to recognise. I remember first really listening to this piece in a Tom and Jerry cartoon!!!! Yes, they used it in a cartoon! Not a bad way to introduce kids like me back then to good music.

This piece is also known as "Minute Waltz" - and there are people who say that it was meant to be played in 1 minute!!! Well, that is not true - i used to believe in that, tho! It is just a 'nickname' for this waltz as it is a 'small' one - a minute one.

I've listened to some people playing this waltz like a runaway train - sure, it may look impressive but it just spoiled the piece. It has this rather playful light feel to it! Maybe tt's why i love it - it was such a contrast with what i was going thru lately.

These past few days have been pretty crazy for me at work. Actually went 2 days with sleep (but with some power naps here and there) - and classical music has been keeping me company!

It reminds me of my student days when i used to study listening to classical music - i just needed some music to be there - enough to keep me company but at the same time not distract me - and only classical music can be like that! =)

More about my crazy past few days later. Now i still need to pay off some debts. Sleep debts!

*One of the big hits in the early 80s - interestingly, it has been categorised under the genre "Italo Disco"! Loved this song back then.

Deep water* - Jewel

I'm so in above my head... just struggling to keep afloat.

I guess the best way not to drown is not dissimilar to how not to fall off a bike. In the latter, one must just keep pedalling and moving forward. For the former, one will have to just keep swimming, i guess.

But in some weird sick way, i'm actually enjoying it! I was feeling really tired when i went to bed in the wee hours of this morning - but i did not collapsed and fall asleep immediately. I felt mentally alert! Yes, i'm actually enjoying this... =(

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

* The first track from her album Spirit.