Anyway, another main reason for being unhappy on this day was because I was still trying to adapt to my new work environment. Being just my second week back to teaching, after a break about 3 years, I find myself feeling so tired after work everyday that I really do not have much energy left to coach or to play with the girls. Of all days, I was being questioned by a HOD and the Principal early in the morning as one of the pupils from my class cried uncontrollably in the General Office while telling her mum over the phone to help her bring her homework file, which she has left at home, to school by 7.30am. Seriously, I have not even started really punishing the students and she's already so "scared" of me, her new teacher! What a "great" start to the day.
After school, I also had to conduct remedial lessons from 3 - 4.30pm. By the time I reached home, I was drained out. Today is also the last day of the Shichida class for Clairene so I still had to bring her to Toa Payoh by 6.45pm. Well, I told Bryan to accompany her for lessons while I used the one hour to do some shopping. I ended up spending most of the time at Popular bookstore, purchasing gifts for my friends' children whose birthdays are approaching. Not even a cake, present or card received for my birthday but I had to crack my head to think of presents to buy for others.... :(
We met up again after Clairene's class and went for dinner at Crystal Jade, eating dishes which Bryan orders and likes. I could not be bothered anyway as I was already so famished by then that anything I gobbled down would taste good.
Then cheapo us went to Swenson's and claimed a free Firehouse sundae. We just need to show our NRIC to prove that today was my actual birthday and no purchase is required at all. Clairene was the happiest person as she got to sing a birthday song (to Papa!!!), blow out a small candle and to eat the cold, cold ice-cream. At the end of the day, we still had to coax the princess to go to bed as she started throwing some tantrums and refused to sleep. Sigh!!!
To be frank, I really felt quite down the entire day but thank God for FB (& of course, its all-important birthday alert/reminder feature), Whatsapp & SMS. At least I get to read some simple birthday greetings from friends and relatives. So, after some self-reflection, this was what I posted on my wall in response to my "wonderful" birthday:
