i passed my driving!

After having 30 over lessons, with around 10 different instructors, over 6mths, spending close to 2.7k, taking1 (and no more than tt) test, I FINALLY PASSED!

16 points!
omgosh.

i must really thank my instructors man. (as i walked out of BBDC, i was thinking of how sad it would be not to be able to come for lessons - even though each lesson costs a bloody 68bucks! and some instructors were as good as not being ard)

last night was my last revision lesson with this particular instructor. Mr.P (haha, NO, P is his initial, not that MR.P from many yrs back and they definitely dun share anything similar at all) i rmb the first time i got him 2 mths back, i thought it was strange tt he wasn't my usual grp of instructors.. and he was like kinda quiet, gives comments but always appear very bo chap and SIAN during my driving. after that one time, i seldom got him for my lessons.. then come recently, i got him for 2-3 lessons. the recent ones being last wed, where he convinced me to book ANOTHER lesson, and last night, which was my last revision lesson. the way he calls my name is kinda weird. haha. think he trying to emphasize smthg to me... last wed, he alr observed that my vertical parking was very inconsistent. and i was very inflexible when it comes to making adjustments... he like damn pek chek with me lah... but at the end of the lesson, he wld tell me in a nice tone to go and reflect... LAST night, the same thing happen again. i was super stunned when i cldn't reverse into my vertical slot. and everytime tt happens, he will be EXTREMELY QUIET. and i will be EXTREMELY LOST. cos i honestly dunno how to make adjustments. i will ask 'HOW?' and he will be angry that i'm not trying on my own to attempt and go in. yar. that happened several times.... when the session ended, we were the last car that weren't back at the lot.. he drove me back, told me not to be pressurized...shoke me hand good luck, again, asked me to go and imagine the different senarios...

i was like .. oh shit.. i just pray i can go in, in one attempt

i cldn't sleep well from last night til this morning... only wanted to fall asleep when i was on my way to bbdc. waited at the warm-up area... praying for a good warm-up instructor (aside from good car, good weather, clear road, good tester), then 1220, i heard 'JOYCE'. it was Mr. P. he brought me to the car, tell me that he's gonna give me some extra time to practice..supposed to start at 1230. [SO NICE OF HIM RIGHT? i thought tt was a very nice gesture] anyway, i didn't ask how come he's the warm-up instructor... i thought it'll be some random instructors... So, he brought me ard the circuit.. of which i made stupid mistakes right from the start like not being able to lane change, mounting kerb on directional change! haiyo... on the roads, he said i was good, juz keep up with the momentum... again, shoke my hand good luck b4 we left the car. he gave me his HP number and told me to call him after the test.. then dunno what he mumbling lah.. say all rely on me alr(in chinese).i was thinking - "does he need me to pass so that his group's passing rate will go up?" haha then he walked me to the waiting room.. and then at a very soft volume, he apologised to me for being very hush to me last night. LOL! hahahahaha... pls lah. dun mention it. was he very hush? i didn't think so.. though i thought it wld be better to tell me than make me think lah. haha.. very nice of him lah. he seemed truly paiseh abt what happen last night though i wasn't even at all bothered by it... i mean it's true lah, TP alr, must know how to make adjustments when parking mah..

ok... tt was that.. i waited in the waiting room.. abt 18 of us in total... then slowly one by one the testers came and called the names... (so now i realise that testers are different from instructors! i always thought instructors are testers too.. haha) i was the 2nd last to be called.. by this tester who looked like he acts as the big but short gangster in hongkong drama. haha. he led me down.. and i asked a damn stupid qn juz before we entered the car.. i pointed at the driver's seat and asked 'so i sit here?' he replied' then u want to sit here (tester's seat)?' HAHA. oops. how dumb rite!

wah i didn't know test car is like president's car in circuit one leh! everyone will stop and siam for you. unfortunately, I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT! so everytime i wana turn or go straight, i'll wait for the other cars.. the tester kept urging me to go, but i thought i shld juz ignore since i was told they wld always wana hurry testee to do things.. but then i realised they know that test cars DO HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.. so i was scolded for not going when i shld/could. i'm soo happy i aced my parallel parking. though i got scolded cos i thought i shld wait til the car adjacent to me goes in first.. WHY MUST WAIT?!!! he scolded. (but everytime during lesson, the instructor always say only one car can go in at any one time mah -.- ) kena another scolding for jam brake during upslope. say i brake too hard. [and i honestly cannot rmb if we did E-BRAKE] went out to the roads, again, OH MY GOD. its like my car has a singapore flag in front and back. haha. during the lane change at the ITE, i was SO GRATEFUL for that bike which saw my car and didn't go any faster so that i cld do the lane change! THANK YOU SO MUCH BIKER! sorry i cldn't take down ur plate no.! i wld have sent u a thank u card!!! and for that 2 bus/trucks.. i dunno if they were really slow, and juz nice enuf to let me lane change back to left.. and finally that car that had hazards lights on. shucks i thought i was going to die there cos i cldn't overtake him. but luckily he moved off soon enuf... i realised i made a terrible mistake of making a improper turn cos speed too fast plus forgot to change blindspot ( YOU KNOW WHY? cos everytime i go that route, i will go right and do U-TURN! so i really stun tio when he ask me to turn left at traffic light! at that point, i was secretly counting. 8 points?! yikes!)

anyways, i have no idea.. drove back to sch... once we stopped, i thought i heard him said - book for review test. then i HUH?! then he mumbled smthg else and it sounded like go back to room to do debrief. i was like OH SHIT.... then as i waited in the room.. i really had no idea. he came.. wah lao. SPEAK SO LOUD! scared i deaf eh. so fierce i didn't even look him in the eye at all! then i juz wanted to see the points, but i cldn't. then he somemore draw diagram and show me how wrong i was. initially i thought perhaps he juz scaring me only.. then as he went on.. i got more demoralised. then he keep saying i can't be too slow, must have more confidence. and then he passed the paper to me. hehe. PHEW. mass msg the close pals and folks. wanted to call Mr. P but cldn't get through, sent a sms to him instead. later on, while waiting to get license, he came by (perhaps spotted me from the back) JOYCE! i look at him ' i passed! ' like duh rite? if i didn't pass, i wld be there sitting and waiting liao. sure go home and cry alr. haha. he looked at the paper. didn't really say much to me though.. i said thanks again and shook his hands. told me to take care. anyways, i realised he was the team leader for the group that i'm under. haha. so slow. only realised on the last revision lesson. i think he became nicer towards the end.. dunno issit becos he feel for me.. haha. maybe instructors are like this one lah.. fierce during lessons, but nice when it comes to test day.. i'm really appreciative for his presence... can't believe he can be so different... which is good.. haha.. definitely will miss some of these instructors...

so yea. can't believe i passed man! i mean. i can, actually. i was feeling pretty confident for most aspects except the vertical parking... and really.. its a combination of all luck factors - super nice drivers who gave way to me... good weather.. good warm up instructor.. yea.. mm.. tester wise.. well, actually i did more work than i wld give credit to him in any way passing me. HAHA.

LOSER MOMENT NO. 456 : Being quiet at a table full of conversations

guess it's gonna take a gazilion years before i build any sort of bond with the rest who are alr so wel acquinted with one another.
haiyo. sian

i can't wait to go australia.......

looking at the photos of my frens in scotland.. its so great that they have each other's company. as for me, i dun really know how i will interact with my prospective flatmates. hmm. i'm really quite independent in a way that i'm lazy and so i probably won't be bothered to really COOK. haha.

driving is really cutting an extremely huge hole in my pocket! I MUST PASS ON MY FIRST ATTEMPT! I WILL!

OK. SO I'M NOT THE MOST AWESOME DRIVER AFTERALL. 58 points for my stage 2 review? haha. oh wells. it is only stage 2. (which excluded circuit and parking)hmm...

i got the curtin offer. sickening. oh wells, at least i dun have to rush and take some lifesaving course. adelaide is better than curtin. my dearest cheryl will be there to help me out. i'm not losing out by not accepting curtin.

haven't done the 'test' yet.
looking back... there were just SO MANY tests tt we had to go through.. everything was so ever important.. and results weren't the greatest.. this is perhaps to some ppl - just another test to get through with. hai.

jia you joyce

Driving makes me happy
it takes away all non-driving related troubles from me
I wish I could drive more.

And I think I'm a pretty gd driver. So far. Haha

Started in new ward(s) this past wk. so far so good :)

Been spending(and STILL spending) a lot since getting my pay. sux tt 1/4 goes to driving, another 1/4 goes to my mum, and i'm barely saving any $$ for scotland.

ANYWAYS. it's the long weekends:) gg out with all my friends from jc,sec,and poly!!
why is it when ppls gather, it's for FOOD only?!

DRIVING in a few hrs time! :D

NEURO NEURO OMG.
JIAYOU! the more i get exposed to, the more i learn, the more experience i gain.


ANYWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSS
ITS SATURDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY..
HHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

HAHAHAHA
kk. i work last 2 sats PLUS wakeboarded last 2 sun = have been waking up b4 7am for the past 2+wks!!! which is very early okay!!!!!
so i'm gonna chill out tonight and nua tmr morning. PLS LET THERE BE A THUNDERHEAVYSTORM!
haha. so evil. i juz wana lie in my comfy bed with my comfy bolster and comfy blanket!


woooosh.
got a new I NEED/WANT $$$ FOR THIS list
1) Scotland.
2) Spectacles (kinda alr planned to get this 3mths ago, but not sure if the money can be put to BETTER use)
3) Crocs pumps! (for work plus play?! idk)
4) COACH large wristlet.. hehehe
5) CRUMPLER 2million dollar baby. tt cost abt 78$. also not really sure if it's extremely necessary for the time being.

Yup, my no. 1 is still scotland. and i better start planning otherwise how to take leave later on?!?!!?!?!?

Issue no.1
why involve me??? i didn't want to be involved! certainly in no way i am good with such things! HAI... alrite, i'll give it my best. Might as well take this chance to speak out and make an impression. a good one i hope.

Issue no.2
how on earth can i forget to document?
HAI. well, on the bright side, it's not the worse thing to do. (RECALL SPINAL NURSING)

Issue no.3
Can i please stop avoiding people and not be depressed anymore? Sometimes what i do can't be that wrong. if i look back, perhaps i did it right after all.

Issue no.4
I will start reviewing all my patients in half an hr time and see one by one. don't care whateva crap. okay maybe not, whenever they feel fine to be seen, i'll see them. as long as it's reasonable.

AND I WILL DOCUMENT.

WORK ISSUES ASIDE
i am occassionally depressed with regards to back pain. both the patients' and mine. ok, tt's still counted as work.

ANYWAY
Driving has been pretty interesting. i'm taking manual under school. NOT CHEAP DEFINITELY. and i sure hope it'll be like one of my prac tests in nyp where i can usually pass! haha. my L knee aches as i press the clutch, my ankle hurts from pressing accelerator/brake, and i still stall as it's only my 2nd lesson. on another note, i really dun think i can absorb whateva my instructor is saying because everything tt comes within 6inches of my ears automatically gets blocked off! or rather there's a NO ENTRY sign on my L ear, (worse on the R of course). Despite all, i still really enjoy and look forward to my driving lessons becos it's a form of distraction from work and it makes me finish up my work asap. so good stuff after all.

time for a breather!!!!
officially >6mths since i last ate mac/kfc in SINGAPORE!!!! (those in nz not counted! :P)
so gonna have some ole meal tmr haha!! and yes i know, i've grown fat, the weighing scale in my bro's machine is well utilised by everyone except me even though i spend the longest time being the nearest to it! RAHH!! my tummy is bigger definitely. confirm plus chop! and yes, i'm still gonna eat that zinger burger/drumstick tmr cos it has been TOO LONG!

this wk has its high and low. both in pt load, nothing emotionally/mentally related, which is good of course. still being careless occassionally, but thank goodness for all the kind nurses/frens in my ward. seriously, they're sucha bunch of great ppls- so helpful and funny too, i hope every ward i go next time will have nurses like them!! (haha. probably not lah)

SERIOUSLY AGING :((((((((
any facial places that can recommend me to go?
facial products??? :((


ANYWAYS. this wk wasn't half as bad, as i thought it possibly might be.. oh wells
still learning as much as i can..

I WANA GO AUSTRALIA LIKE REAL SOON!!!!
gotta go buy some adelaide australia book/map man! :))))

i have to make sure that all my patients are safe BEFORE, DURING, AFTER the treatment
i have to make sure that all my treatments are effective
I have to make sure i walk fast, even if i have very few/'manageable' patients.

OK. don't worry, if physio's jobs were so dangerous, we wldn't have such low pay.

PRAY.
and have NO REGRETS.

happy one month to me and.... my ortho ward!!!!!! haha
hai. hope i can catch on fast enough and may i meet stats everyday next wk onwards!!! nothing less than a double digit!!

wakeboarded for the 3rd time after a long break. wasn't as tiring, wasn't as difficult, water wasn't as salty, abs no longer felt like it have to work v hard. but still got more to learn. hopefully next time round will be much better :))

scotland is sucha a far away dream.. with driving & macbook pro in mind... scotland is... SUCH A FAR AWAY DREAM. on the other hand, august long break is coming up, gotta start planning if i shld go anyway or not. hmm...

scotland aside.. i haven't really been able to do much research on UniSA/adelaide yet.

i still have SO MUCH TO LEARN!!!
making stupid mistakes still!!! ARGH! SO ANNOYING!!!
omgosh. one day someone will realise how terrible i am. oh man.....
i gotta learn fast, learn quick! make the correct judgement! prevent anyone from knowing how terrible i am!!! i need to save my reputation! FAST!

i'm sucha terrible person.
hai.
i wonder how many more mistakes i can make before committing the worst one ever.

please let me learn from all these mistakes and to never repeat them ever.

omgosh omgosh omgosh!!!!! i'm so friggin excited that i made it to UNISA!!!
AUSTRALIA HERE I COME... AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now i feel more motivation to work harder at work!!!
[[[ side thought. my teamleader juz trf, so now i got a new teamleader whom i hasn't spoken to before. and i stil feel clueless and helpless at times, and well, not answering questions, nor discussing them properly as a PHYSIO... i hope i learn from these past mistakes and make better contributions in the very very near future, aka saturday onwards!]]]

ANYWAYS, back to my lovely australia!!!!!!!!!!! this is all abt australia post man!
so YES, i did get in with my somewhat pretty ridiculous gpa. and i found out 2 of my seniors will be gg(they seem nice) and another of my notsoclose classmate...
but the thing is, I'M GG TO AUSTRALIA!!! the land where cheryl and jie are! the land where i spent my 21st birthday at!!!

oh gosh, i can't wait to plan all those trips AROUND australia!!!
omgosh, if i wana go so many places in aussie, how to go scotland!?!!?!?!?!!?!?

OMGOD like 1 mth ago, i was soooo decided on gg there, (and getting a westie, but well that was really more fat chance). but yes! i wanted to, and i dunno now.. the thing is with some of my pals there, it wld make gg to this cool awesome (and rather random) nation much more 'safe' and ya. at least i know i have friends there who can bring me out and it won't be entired a solo backpacking trip(kinda like my 21st bday in sydney)

but with the calculation tt i'm doing now, i dunno if i have enuf money! the KEY KEY things that i need a lot of money for are MACBOOK PRO and SCOTLAND! see! even my branded bags are pushed out of way becos of this! with my meagre pay, and many future thoughts on the trips tt i'll be gg IN Australia (dreamworld movieworld seaworld in GOLD COAST), i dunno how i can save up enough to fulfil all these travelling needs(wants) of mine!!!!!!!
and who knows, maybe a short NZ trip somewhere in between? on MAGIC? haha

talking abt australia is like so never ending!
first of all, it's UNISA i'm gg. so it'll be in south australia. issit the same as adelaide? that i'm not entirely sure..
there's accommodation.. well, tt shld be for the later part. i'm thinking of an apartment shared with the others tt i'm gg with.. but preferably a room on MY OWN!! i need my space!
then there's food. start learning!!! i need to learn chinese food for god's sake!
and travelling! please let me pass my driving b4 i go off! maybe we cld do a road trip somewhere?!?!?!?!
can i have a dog there? then bring it back when i come back?! omgosh.................
ooh shopping! hahaha hmm... adelaide ah. dunno can shop what leh
then the beaches!!!

thenthen! during the holidays, can go gold coast!!!!!!!!!
this post is so filled with random stuff!! hope they all come true!! one way or another!

i'm secretly still very scared.
but i shall be brave. or at least pretend to be. for now.
things will get better.

wakeboardin was interesting. if only the water wasn't so salty and my abs didn't feel so tired so easily.

i miss NZ. i really do.

yes at times i didn't enjoy certain parts during the trip becos it's not easy travelling with so many people and so such tight schedule.

but i still miss nz.

i miss the long white clouds tt covers the entire sky, and that is so endless it seems to be touching the ground.
i miss the fun adventures that we participated - white water rafting at kaituna river, horse-riding, cycling on the road THAT HAS A CYCLING lane, gg to the beach, swoop, bungy at taupo...
i miss the delicious food we have esp when the company is so good
i miss the weather (very odd. but yea. i guess towards the end of the trip, the weather seems alittle more bearable)
i miss the funny moments we share, the laughter and jokes...
i miss cookie time. and afghans. subway's cookie tasted funny juz now.

i can't wait for my next trip. hopefully i can go to scotland.
and in a few years time. to travel around the States.

A trying phase

Wk 1 has passed. But technically, i've only been up the wards since thursday
As a working adult, i do not wish to post all my nonsensical rantings here, for.. i'm afraid it may reflect badly on me.

It is a very trying phase to start working. I'm not sure if it's just me, or that it's only been 2nd day. Here i was, having spent the last 3hrs since i reached home from working, researching continuously.

I do not want to disappoint the people around me, especially the patients. They deserve nothing but the best. And because they do, i have to do my part to make sure i don't screw up.

Today was a teeny weeny bit better than yesterday. Hopefully Monday will be even better..
Being at the bottom isn't necessary a bad thing. It means things can only get better :)

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

so i've got my hands on the iphone!!! (but tt's AFTER a friend told me tt a NEWER iphone is cmg out in stores a few mths later -.-) oh wells.
it's gonna be MAY soon. and i was reviewing my new yr resolutions which i set in jan - seems like things are gg pretty right on track.
1) graduated. though extremely dissatisfied with gpa
2) went to nz. what an amazing country it was. read blog!
3) got a job. not locum. but gd to know i'm clearing my 3yrs as of 3may. haha.
4) has signed up for driving. FINALLY.
5) this is a bad one - I HAVE NOT LOST THE INTENDED WEIGHT I WANTED TO LOSE! ARGH! all that jogging is totally not effective lor!! i wish i had my own personal trainer!
6) gg to states in dec? NO. I kinda postpone it. Probably i will spend SEVERAL MONTHS there at the end of my next 3yrs. this way, there's something i can look forward to at the end of my employment.. haha. haven't even start work alr looking forward to end of employment.. what on earth rite?! oh wells *rolling my eyes*

Speaking of which. I AM GONNA START WORK SOON. and in my contract, i muz not TALK *RUBBISH* How do i feel? NERVOUS. SCARED. and maybe a little bit of EXCITEMENT! yea! esp after knowing tt i POSSIBLY don't have to start in OPD.. yet. so cool! gonna have to do some serious revision man!

Hey guys! I'm back from NZ! so sorry i had NO FRIGGIN UPDATES cos we had to pay 6NZD for one hr of internet use in our hostels. so... anyways, i'll be posting up my travel journal of that 17 days plus pre and post stuff in this other blog specially dedicated to the NZ trip! Enjoy! Photos will might be up abit later on!

http://iwenttonewzealandinapril2010.blogspot.com/