Birds of passage

Ruth starts her PMR examinations today. After about 2 months of intensive revision, she is standing at the threshold of another important public examination, the second one in her school life, thus far. No doubt, there will be many more along the way as she "studies" along.

But she had it alot easier than during my time. When I was sitting for my SJC (Sarawak Junior Certificate) examinations in 1975, I hardly had any assessment books to work on. I remembered that my subject teachers just handed the past year papers and some of the questions they spotted and we just had that to work on. My parents could not afford to pay for any tuition, so I studied on my own. This time round, I bought lots of assessment books and practice papers for Ruth. Plus, she goes for tuition for almost every subject. Times have really changed.

Examinations aside, I enjoyed my new found "freedom" as a housewife and Indon maid. A complete role reversal from the past 26 years, when I was working fulltime. But, there's plenty of backaches after all the sweeping. mopping, cleaning and cooking. Swinging my broomsticks and mops from kitchen, bedroom, living, toilet and bathroom with pots and pans permanently attached.