Sheens's Progress in JC

As most of you know, sheens has settle down to JC (junior college) life pretty well. She still learning to manage her time and rushing to finish her assignments and projects but she's enjoying it.

Had my first parent-teacher meet last saturday. Her result is suppose to be good - she failed 2 subjects (english and economics) - and yes her results is good. The teachers words are :
* its her 1st exam and this is very different from secondary school, so she needs time to understand and adjust to jc lifestyle and do well in exams
* she needs to read magazine and newspapers to substantiate her facts, she's all over the place when she is writing essays - needs to be focused
* her major problem is - she can't spell. She needs spelling lessons. Its amazing considering she speaks very very well AND she can't spell simple words
* she needs to go one-on-one with her econs teacher in order to understand her questions
* I have no complains from her other teachers (this considering she was the naughtiest child in primary school!) Thank god for small mercies.

Being a kiasu mom - my questions was how did the other student fare? Not too good. A few students have been asked to leave. Some of them are having meeting with the principal and vice principal. So if you are meeting a teacher, then your child did well.

You know something - I am still confused. Did my child do well? She failed 2 subjects and her teacher keeps saying she did well. sigh!

BUT but but she bringing glory to the school's name. She's in debate and the school came in 3rd in the inter JC debate championship. 1st time in history! The underdogs had their name up there! And sheena's name is up there..

All of that is ok i guess - so i am suppose to be happy with the fact that she is bringing glory to her school?? Logic please. Did she do well in her exams? Should I start hiring tutors, restricting her movements so that she studies day and nite, sit with her while she burns midnite oil - more sighs - is it normal to get such result in jc 1st exam - did my daughter do well in her exams!!!!!!!!! arghhhhh

shalini

Lame-st excuses

Here are some excuses I received for forgetting my birthday:

Happy Birthday. I did wish you. Its just that i did not sms you or call you or email you. I thought it will be too impersonal. Love you
Vibs, London

The competition to be the first one to wish was huge and unfair. So i decided to settle for the last one to wish you. So from the "last one" SELAMAT HARI JADI!!
Ravin, Kuala Lumpur

I never forget a very good friend's birthday but I was in jb. Came back at 1am. Will c you for lunch today if you are ok. i want to c you. Sori dear
Shaan, Singapore

So so sorry dear. Was so so busy n had many things in mind. Sometimes its so cruel of me that i forgets my own birthday. Just imagine! Ever heard of it? Anyways happy belated birthday. Sorry again
Chaya, Singapore

Belated wishes! See i dont miss much
Pramod, Singapore

Wishing you a belated happy birthday. I was on medical leave yesterday
Teghjeet, Singapore

My dearest shalini wish you a very belated but very very happy birthday. Sorry for that. We are moving places and so totally tied up in it all
Pavan, Singapore

Ok I am an old man - Happy belated birthday
Deven, Singapore

Your bday is on the 9th na? Neha and I were talking about you over weekend.
Rajesh, London

See in our diaries, your bday is on 9th so we will wish you on the 9th. Happy birthday..
Neha, London

Hey srrryy.. u know us! happy bday. hope you had fun!!
Neha & Ravi, Hong Kong

See shalini its 11pm on 8th July in Delhi rite now. As far as we are concerned, we made it in time to wish you happy birthday
Jeeya & Tanya, Delhi

The sincerest:
My darling I am truly very sorry. No excuses I agree, but am so stuck at work I dont have a moment to breathe these days. Will make it up to you I promise - Divya, Bombay

The best:
Victor did not sms us to remind us - hence its his fault

shalini

I'm Blessed

I am BLESSED. I have angels looking after me day in day out. I realised this at the end of my birthday dinner last nite.

I'm 41 - yippee. Old? Is it just a number? Is in the heart? Is it in the mind? God knows.. all I know is I am truly happy.

The first bday wish came on fri - with rajiv calling me up saying
R: "Jaan i just want to wish you happy birthday. I cant make it tonite to cut cake"
Me: "Idiot - its not my bday yet. My bday is on Tuesday"
R: But Parul sent me an sms saying its today

Aiyo... Rajiv Stephen Banerjee - I just give up on you!

On Monday celebrations started. Went lunch with family (kids and parul), went Number 5 in the evening with Parul, Mani, Kat, Kim & Victoria and cut my 1st bday cake.

Came rushing home by 10pm and started cleaning the house. First thing I did was - take out all the eggs from the fridge and hid it under the bed. As most of you remember, last year hospitalisation started with Montu Bhaiya breaking an egg on my head!

So now safe - no egg breaking this year on my head. No hospital. Red wine, white wine, beer and cider in the fridge. And waited and waited. Sharp 12 - in walks Gana, Parul, Sunil and Victor with the cake. Cut my 2nd bday cake.

Surprise was that this time there was no cake smearing on the face also. Every year, every bday I get smash with cream and cake all over my face and hair. I guess last year must have been really scared or freaked them out. But then, who wants to go thru last year's agony again... Phew

Took the day off from work, so stayed home and chilled. Talked to everyone on phone and sms. Everyone remembered. Wow.

SMS started with Girish, Mandy, Ashish, Zainab, Swetha, Chisty, Devendra, Jasbir, Kathryne, Wai Kit, Montu Bhaiya, Gana, Poonam, Urmi, Jackie, ED, Shradha, Yanti, Jacqueline, Aru, Praveen, Ajay, Meetu, Lala, Mohit, Minky

Calls from Sheens, Dad & Mom (early morning), Nisha, Chunnu Bhaiya, Anjali & Praveen, Jay Jay, Shana, Gayathri, Meenu, Nidhi, Praveen, Priya, Bhavna, Bhabhi, Ravi Topo, Hani Bhaiya, Jeeya and Tanya

Emails from Anil, Diana, Shakun, Tony, Amrita, Joyee, Lesly, Saerrah

Then the highlight of the day - the DINNER. I never knew so many people - so many of my friends could keep a secret. Parul refuse to tell me the venue. Dinner was at 7.30pm. Till that time, I had no clue where dinner was. Noone - not even my own kids - ALL - refused to tell me where it is. Let it be a surprised was all they could say.

Well it was. It was touching, very meaningful to me and very humbling. The gang was there. My immediate extended family was there. Every single one of them. Aayush, Anjali, Gana, Montu Bhaiya, Nidhi, Parul, Rakhee, Rajiv, Rohini, Sid, Sunil, Victor, and Kids. Cut my 3rd bday cake!

It was fun - awesome - amazing - humbling day : All the sms-es, calls, lunches, dinners : To know that I am surrounded and blessed by so many loving people in my life. So here's to you my friends - You make a difference in people lives especially mine. All I can say is May god bless everyone with close friends like mine.

So what do I have at the end of 41 years:
- marvelous kids
- authentic friends
- tons of jewellery
- beautiful home
- good health (after last year's fiasco!)
- peace
- some wisdom!

Firstly - Thank you god for I am really blessed! Secondly - Thank you Parul, you made it a very very special day for me.

And the party goes on this week with lunches, dinners and a fervent prayer that this freebies last for at least the next 2-3 weeks.

The belated bday calls and sms continues as we speak with Neha Bakshi, Rajesh, Deven, Loga, Teghjeet, M K, Girish Kamat, Pavan, Pramod, Chaya, Abhishek, AJ, James, Shaan, Sheela, Shivangi, Shashank, Pankaj, Ravin, Neha S, Zeenat, Shabab, Deven (with beautiful flowers),....

PS - dinner was at Cafe Iguana, Riverside. Apparently i forgot to mention tat. Sorry Jacqueline... aiyo - m really getting old

shalini

Happy Birthday to ME

Time flies - it really does whether you having fun or not. Its already July and my big day - my birthday tomorrow. With all the activities going on, I've just been too busy to reflect where my life is heading. And i started doing just that this morning in the bus on my way to work but all i could say was - "Thank you god for this life. Its perfect in every way with the ups and downs!"

Festivities starts today:

* Lunch at our fav turkish restaurant - iskander kebab and kunefe. Yum Yum.

* Daru party at number 5 with my fav chicken wings and all my girlfriends only.

* Tomorrow - Parul has taken the day off to spend it with me - yippee.. so will start with a good lunch (brake - lunch is after 3pm since there is delivery to be received at her home) - she's really going to starve me on my bday.

* Then the usual dinner with family and extended family and friends. Though half of them are vegetarian. Arghhhh

Will pen down my thoughts only after the dinner and how i feel on getting old but in the meantime here is something that Ajay sent to me that I am sure you will all agree on:

Kagaz Ki Kashti Thi, Paani Ka Kinara Tha
Khelne Ki Masti Thi, Dil Ye Aawara Tha
Kahan Aa Gaye Is Jawaani Ke Daaldal Mein,
Woh Bachpan Kitna Pyara Tha

shalini