Monday, July 04, 2005
It's Youth Day in Singapore today,
and students need not attend school. Hence, teachers also do not need to come down to school to teach. However, I'm one of the few teachers who are in the staff room now. One may ponder what's the point of coming down to school and waste our precious holiday. But for the few of us, we cherish these days in school where we can do our necessary marking and paperwork at our leisure. In other words, I don't have to rush for lessons, stealing whatever time in between to complete the admin matters that never seem to end! Phew... what a reliever today is..
I've just completed my weekly e-Record book. In the past, teachers used to lug around a large, thick, rectangular, brown hard-covered book for us to key in our weekly brief lesson plans, store the students' class and semestral test results, and whatever extra. Now, we do in in Microsoft Excel format, and submit via the online server in our school for our respective HODs to check. Hence, we save paper and money. I really like that. The only drawback is that I'd need to have a PC or laptop to do it. My given laptop is an old Dell model whose warranty is due to expire this year end. After about 3 years of service to me and the previous owners, the rechargable battery is somehow unrechargable, and can last a mere ten minutes without the external power supply. So working while on the move has to be ruled out. Still, Alhamdulillah I thank Allah for providing me with a laptop, from which I can work on at my workstation in the staff room.
My car is currently at the Honda workshop in Taman Jurong, my usual servicing centre. The mechanic supervisor, Wong, just called to say that my air-conditioner compressor has shorted out. He has ordered a replacement and it should be ready for collection between 4 to 5 later in the afternoon. No wonder I discovered some burning smell when I opened my bonnet cover to inspect the engine compartment yesterday afternoon while visiting my aunt in JB. Alhamdulillah, we didn't get stuck in a jam at 2nd Link on the way home, or it would have been quite a discomfort for my parents.
My advice for those who own cars that still need warranty services. That means we have no choice but to pay costly servicing at regular intervals. Please stick to the schedule and go to the authorised centres to get it serviced. Fret not because you will never know what will go wrong while it is still under warranty. If I had not done so, I may have to fork out between $800 or close to $1,000 for a compressor replacement minus the labour charges. Original ones don't come cheap, and getting a reconditioned (recon) set may not guarantee durability. As for me, I'll have another 4 rounds of warranty servicing before I've expired the 3 year or 100,000km warranty, whichever comes first. Come to think of it, my car is just 1 yr 5 mths old, and I've covered more than 60,ooo km already? :)
Packing up now. Heading to my neighbour's house for the second session of tuition. another 6 more to go before I get my first pay for the semester!
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