It’s a known fact that I play only four games on my iPad: Candy Crush, Farm Heroes, Candy Crush Soda and Zookeeper Battle. Now remember these levels for all mentioned except Zookeeper, they are just so darn hard to pass – Level 751, Level 597 and Level 90 respectively.
Many times I wonder why I subject myself to such unnecessary stress and emotional turmoil especially when the games become so intense and always at that so near yet so far moments. Sigh…
I must confess I actually brought the MacBook Air along to Bangkok. Not so much for work but to play my games, played in Facebook and requires the Flash Player and the iPad does not have this capability.
So every night, back in our Junior suite after our outing, I would log on, first to collect the beans in Farm Heroes then to spin the Jackpot in Facebook. After this, I would attempt the other two, Candy Crush and Candy Crush Soda, to try my luck to move on. It was a good thing because these games on the laptop are easier and in Candy Crush, I managed to move on to the next chapter, Marmalade Meadow. I am now at level 750.
Joy was shortlived after going pass Level 735 of Candy Crush. I am now stuck at Level 737. Between this and Level 584 of Farm Heroes, I cannot decide which one is causing me more grief. I cannot pass the two challenges. Boo hoo…
But the weekend proved to be a good one as far as activities are concerned. The dreadful Level 584 was finally overcomed, thanks to all the farm equipments in hand to assist. I even progressed well for Candy Crush Soda.
Like I said, joy always is shortlived. Between Level 737 of Candy Crush and now, Level 586 of Farm Heroes, I cannot decide which one, again, is causing me grief.
Maybe it’s time to go back to reading or even go away for a holiday! Hmm…
So I kept to my word and handed over to M2 the iPhone4, which amazingly has been still surviving well without battery issues after I upgraded to the iPhone5S. Hubby even upgraded the SIM card and had the old mobile number reactivated for use. Like a giddy child on Christmas morning, M2 began customizing my old iPhone4 to her liking.
The ‘Angie’s iPhone’ ID has been renamed to reflect her ownership. The layout of the pages have been moved around with most of my stuff either filed away or deleted. Slowly, my presence on the phone was reduced and her preference put in.
I guess this is really goodbye forever to my old iPhone4. No more relying on it for my Farm Heroes! Oh no. But thank goodness for the latest update of it on the iPad, the game is now more stable.
Old as it may be to me, the iPhone4 is a new phone for M2, a new beginning. Goodbye iPhone4, be good to M2 and serve your new owner well.
M2 called me the minute she got home yesterday. I could hear the frustration and agony in her voice when she told me the remaining results and the final average mark, 73. No further improvements from the last count and one short from achieving the 74 mark set.
Ouch. The almost there is not quite there. So near yet so far.
In my mind, I recalled the hubby reminding me to be objective and to look at the bigger picture of things. It shouldn’t be that small failure that determines the situation.
I talked to her while in my mind, I was analyzing the bigger picture and realized that M2 did study hard. Only one subject came in with a horrifying result, a plunge from a ‘B’ to a disastrous ‘D’! The other subjects saw an overall improvement and an increase in total marks. For this improvement, how can I fault her and say she did not study and try her best? A bit unfair, no?
So rather than focusing on the near miss of the 74 average for all, I relooked at the qualifying factor and adjusted it so that M2 can have a sense of achievement. After all, our intention is purely to motivate with reward and not punish with frustration.
I decided then to give a probational reward (the right to use the iPhone4) because the fact is evident that there was an improvement and we should not ignore this effort. Come next year, if she improves further on what she has achieved this time, the phone remains in her possession. But if there is a decline in the results, the phone comes back to me, hence the probational clause.
This is the best solution for now. I don’t feel mean, she feels relieved and happy and today, being the last day of school, it should end on a happy note.
Ever since I went past Level 525 in Farm Heroes on the iPad, the app quits every time it’s launched. Hrmph! So annoying. I have to resort to playing on my old iPhone 4, yes, the old faithful, on top of my iPhone5S. I am now at Level 566.
To be frank, I noticed this (the quitting) has become more frequent after several update releases and the introduction of iOS8. I am still holding out on the update of the OS for my iPad.
How do I deal with the situation? I’d do a complete shut down of the iPad, count to ten or more and turn it on again, then the app is fine. I just have to remember to do this more often whenever I hit this snag. So silly of me… otherwise I have to carry two phones again and bring the laptop (especially for Candy Crush) to the office to carry on with my games.
I made short work of Choco Rio Grande once the tickets came. This was because Level 515 of Farm Heroes was tough to pass and I had all this energy, so crushing candies was the best activity especially in the cold rainy weather.
Eventually, I did pass Level 515 and am now at Level 517 while for Candy Crush, another set of tickets came for me to go on to Toffee Tower; I am now at Level 699. I have been alternating between devices, using both the iPad and the laptop.
And when on the laptop, as if candies and farm animals are not enough, the curious in me tried King.com’s new game: Candy Crush Soda. Similar to the candy version, this game requires one to pop soda bottles and rescue gummy bears. Quite interesting… Oh dear, will this be another new addiction?
I find it incredulous that four friends have managed to overcome Level 677 of Candy Crush and I am still stuck. I noticed since its latest update, the level feels slightly easier; maybe that’s why they have moved on. I should go back to trying because of late, Level 515 of Farm Heroes is so hard!
The recent October update for Farm Heroes is a little bit unstable. I would be in the midst of harvesting the fruits when the app would just quit unexpectedly. This has happened several times already, wasting a life and a bumper harvest.
I am just wondering if it is due to the fact that I have yet to update my iPad to OS8. I am still holding out on the OS update as I feel the new features does not quite benefit me. Furthermore, I have heard that it can slow down the device especially if the unit is an old one. Now my iPad Mini is the first generation and so far, it’s been fast and I am happy with it. So I don’t want to spoil things. If this is the case, maybe I have to accept the fact that my farm will crash every now and then.
I used to shake my head and laugh at those Candy Crush addicts who would resort to texting or calling their friends or family for lives/tickets when they run out/need it. Well you know what? I have become one of them now. Not for Candy Crush but for Farm Heroes.
I am resigned to the fact that I am never going to cross Level 677 of Candy Crush so I stay focused on my farm. Two nights ago, I finally passed Level 505 (of Farm Heroes) and had to ask for tickets. My studious M1 has deactivated her Facebook account to focus on her studies, so I cannot be asking her for ticket. With only hubby and Rooney (official pet number one who has an FB account too) to rely on, I am still one ticket short.
In the middle of the night, in desperation, I sent ticket requests to those I know who plays the game and when there was no immediate response, I didn’t know what to do and went to bed feeling incomplete.
The next morning, when there were still no tickets that came my way, I WhatsApp-ed my gym trainer for help. Yes, unbelievable but I did this.
Angieneering 
Remarks