london - here I come!

:) train in 45 mins. I am dead excited about seeing Bons and Janet. Hmmm not that excited about S also, something wrong. Hhahaha

But it'll be great. Provided if my right foot is still attached to leg after trip.

:) Photos to come. :) oooooo outta here!

benylin for chesty coughs

shit, shit, shit, shit...

Just the day before I am set off to London, a day which I have been thinking of for forever, I am down with a chesty cough, coughy and runny nose.

And it's not one of those colds that you can ignore, I actually feel light-headed if I stand still. I have a feeling if I had passed out at Sainsbury's earlier, last minute shoppers would have just rolled their trolleys over me.

Almost everyone has gone home, everyone staying at the hall has gone home. And it's weird. Althought I never quite see people in the hall, but their lack of presence can be felt. The entire Thornbank Gardens actually feels empty. And hearing people about how they are going to spend Christmas at home with family makes me a little homesick as well.

Well, at least S is coming over tonight to just keep me company before I go off for my road trip. Yup, it's one of those complicated relationships again. I'm not quite sure if I want to go back, or is it the lack of a familiar face that makes me go back to him? Or a genuine feeling that I do have for him? Don't know man...take it easy. Got iPod Shuffle, so I'm quite happy! muahahha.

I'm just so glad Bons and Janet are coming over. :)

freezer is warmer than outside...

Mr Winter has finally decided to bring his chill to the UK. It is f**king cold! I just checked, the freezer is at 4 deg C but the temperature outside is 0 deg. Win liao.

And of course, since a picture speaks a 1,000 words, here are like 3,000 words worth to say how cold it is.

website taken from www.bbc.co.uk

Doesn't this remind you of Act I sc I from Macbeth? I shall take more from Scotland to verify the gloominess of it all.

Me, as S said, looking like an eskimo. I was trying to puff out some mist. Not quite sure if it worked, but at least you get an idea of how cold it is.

There you go, 3,000 words. If only I can do that for my essay. hmmm I can't imagine how I will be driving through fog next week. I hope it's going to be fine weather, and that my kar will not be tia. Walking to the freaking city centre earlier already nearly killed me. Maybe I can go rent those shopmobility vehicles. Eh, no joke when foot hurts THAT much.

Everyone's gone home for the holidays, and it's starting to get cold. So it does seem like waaaahhhhhhh I'm all alone here!!!!! Till I remember I got that freaking marketing essay to cough out. Okay back to work.

world's most underrated ingredient

Ladies and gentlemen,

May I present to you the humble marzipan.

Perfect in stollens, gives that rich nutty taste. I've had stollens without marzipans - SACRILEGIOUS!!

Excellent in cakes.

Combined with the rich milk chocolate - is to die for.

Or just on its own. Ahhhh.

Perfekt!

PS. Just had 2 fantastic pieces of stollen from M&S. Food orgasm man.

reasons why i wouldn't buy a mac again

Just when I swore never to get a mac, and it's almost time to replace this iBook, my mind starts thinking - maybe a mac replacement ain't that bad. Or maybe it is!

So just please throw these reasons back at me again when I tell you that I want to get a mac.

• First mac bot was dead on arrival. Lousy customer service, and it took them 3 days to replace the first set which I bought and returned to the shop on the same day.
• Wireless card wasn't incorporated - okay this isn't exactly Apple's fault, but a month after I bought my iBook, all iBooks had wireless cards in it - DANG!
  
• Few months into using it, it started scratching my CDs, which meant that I had to go replace the CD-drive. Which also heightened my paranoia about extending warranty and so the short story of a long line of things - Apple earns more.
• Oh.. customer service... do I really have to call India during office hours from Monday-Friday for it? Not that I have anything against calling India, but most times I'll rather walk in a shop and cow peh, cow bu to the customer service in the shop about their lousy products.
  
• Three months back, my HDD crashed. And I had to replace it. Of course, due to first CD scratching incident, I extended my warranty, so it was free. But still, nothing was recoverable from it. They accidentally installed the new OS Tiger on it, which they told me,"oh, we can do it for you for $150." Please lor, no difference except for widgets plus they took the one good thing - iPhoto away!
  
• Applications are like YEARS slower on macs - MSN, Yahoo with Voice. You name it, mac versions come like ten generations later.
  
• Peripherals are more expensive and limited in variety.

On the plus side of Macs.

• No viruses (then again with like 1% of all computer users using mac, why bother?!)
• No need to install drivers for many peripherals.

That's about it really. Hmmmm

But I'm getting an iPod shuffle for Christmas! Muahahahah :)

it finally happened

After 3+ something months, the inevitable (to many) finally happened.

My craving for Singapore cuisine struck, at 3.01am on 17 December 2006. So here I am, asking my friend Sally to post Tiong Bahru Chwee Kueh.

And I am also craving Nasi Padang.

Maybe tomorrow shall go Java and treat myself to something...Just had a glass of milk, albeit COLD milk at 3 deg, but feeling a little more full.

Cravings are gone. Am sure they'll make another monster return soon.

Please remind me not to go to bed hungry.

ups and downs

It's been mostly down today.

1. It's end of semester 1. Which means, that 3 1/2 months have gone by. Very soon exams will be upon me, and lo and behold, I'll be back to Singapore - miserable and in some serious debt.
2. Right foot is hurting hell of a lot. I couldn't even walk far today. Going to school and coming home was like a huge event. Medication doesn't seem to be working - I need morphine!
   
3. Ryan has a cooking session at his flat, and invited everyone, I can't go cos of point 2.
   
4. Tried calling for a cab, obviously the cab system doesn't work the same way here as it does in Singapore.
   
5. Can't decide if I'm hungry or not SO Cooked a bowl of pasta, while stirring it, one piece of ravioli dropped on my white top.
   

Am going to take a hot bath, and then tidy up the room a bit. It takes me ages to clean it up and 2 secs to mess it. It's really annoying! K foot still hurts. grrr

kar tia

Hmmm just to show how excruciatingly painful my foot is, I have decided to name this post "Kar Tia".

Seriously man. I only danced for like 2 hours, and not like I was in my usual killer 3-inch heels. These were wedges and super comfortable! This morning I hobbled around and had to sit after 30 seconds going to the loo. Man...I can't even put my weight on that foot.

I am glad I made the appointment to go see the doc tomorrow. But must hobble up the hill to school. At least there'll be mulled wine and minced pies after the school session tomorrow.

Oh got ucler in mouth also. What's happening har?

it was really good fun

Sara & I


Mining Mike trying to lick Barrie's ears.

The class had our first outing as a group together. We went to the eastern eye, then went to cubes... I think.

Surprisingly most of the class went dancing! I guess that's what makes this place different from the others!

Tho I am now burping indian food - not good.

Of course I old liao. Dance 2 hours onie, then foot hurts like crazy!!! I think hor... seriously next time must dance in wheelchair liao.

But MAAAAnnnn it was good fun!

still hungry

I don't know but the hunger pangs started last nite, and hasn't ended. I just guzzed a bowl of Masala rice with Chicken Tikka (whatever that is) and fried an egg. Was super good, but not filling.

RICE! Not filling?!

And this morning, before school I had a slice of toast, milk. At 10 I had coffee with a cereal bar. At 12 my cornation chicken sandwich and chips. Dinner is now rice, chicken and egg. And I'm still hungry?! Yup, definitely still hungry.

And tired.

And frustrated...with what? I am not sure. It all started this morning, when after a week of glorious waking up at 10, and having time to do my assignment at my own time and some leisure time to be a tourist, now it's back to school. Grrrr.

I missed the 8.22 bus, waited in the rain, wind and cold for half an hour, only to have to stand for the whole journey in the bus, while another EMPTY 418 went pass me. The day kinda went downhill from there. By 2pm, I was feeling claustrophobic from the angora top I was wearing, cos it was too itchy in the stuffy lecture room.

Today's class was loads of fun - it was by Paul Goodwin, he is really funny. And why didn't NUS teach standard deviation the way he did?! I would have remembered what it was if they had! But despite Paul, I couldn't quite enjoy it!

K still feeling frustrated. Maybe should just shower and go zzz, not think about anything, cos tomorrow will be better - movement towards central tendencies.

More Sin City effect

hunger at 1

So super hungry now. I am now surfing the web for pizza express's pizza. They had a 3 for 2 promotion at Somerfeld last week.

OOooo I finally went down to the bath Christmas Market yesterday and tried mulled wine. It was really good! I liked it. And I actually bought some whisky cheese, not really my kind of thing, but it was really good. :)~

K I should get to bed, otherwise am not going to be able to get up tomorrow.

Foot hurts - seriously damn painful.

Suspect it's navicular fracture or stress. Been hobbling around the fast few days, doesn't help that I hiong and went to do 6 hour walk around Bath yesterday and another 3 hours in Clarks Village today. I think I need to go see the doc soon. Otherwise super pai ka. I WANT DR. TAN!!!!!!

k going to zz. over n out

taking a hike

After 6 hours of walking from Bath to Bathampton, then back to Bath and through the markets, my right foot hurts like hell... oooo and waking at 8am too to meet the boys at 9 for the walk

But I'm sure you'll agree that the pictures here are just plain evidence that it's all worth it.

It was shit cold today, despite reported temperature of 3 deg and sunshine. And for the first time I saw frost on grass. I've converted the picture into black and white and done the Sin City effect. Wooo hooo way cool. But I thought it's quite a cool effect, cos the black and white makes it look like its really cold, and the greens on the leaves draw out the contrast with the frost.


Will update more pictures on flickr. But I'm just excited by the pictures I took today.

Enjoy.

time to get crafty

Either out of sheer boredom or sudden burst of creative imagination, after lopping off the extra bits on my £7 GAP jeans, I had a bit of denim left over. So I made a pencil case, and a mobile phone holder.

Of course I wanted to contrast the ruggedness of denim against the sweet, classy and prim-and-proper ribbons. So went down to a haberdashery shop, bought 90p ribbon, in my most favourite deep royal purple, some fabric glue and sewed it all together. I wanted to make it look like it was a present!

So the wide ribbon strap goes around the wrist, customed measured to fit around my wrist.

Tomorrow, or rather today, I'll be off to walk along river Avon. :) It'll be beautiful and scenic!

More pictures to come. But in the meanwhile, another view of my mobile fone pouch. :)

t-minus 14 days

I can't believe it! In 2 weeks at about this time, I'll be packing me luggage on my way to LONDON!

*Just scuffed a big bowl of curry rice in like 2 minutes flat, I think it took me 3 mins to warm it up...hmmmm*

I do miss city life...So here's a checklist of what I need to do while I'm there:

• London Eye (Sore) - who cares? You can see miles and miles from up there!
  
• Madame Tussard's - give robbie a hug and kiss?
• Buckingham Palace - Not priority, but
  
• Zara!!!!!!! - Need I say more?
• Camden Market - if it's opened failing which - Portobello Market
  
• Re-visit Hyde Park
• West End!
• Comedy Club
• One of the museums - I don't care which one, as long as it's one! hmmm maybe the British Museum, it has the largest egyptian artefacts outside of EGYPT, notwithstanding the fact that the Brits actually STOLE the stuff from Egypt.
  
• Harrods! Actually it's more KRISPY KREME IN HARRODS!!!!!

And the general...shop, shop, shop! Well, not exactly cos it'll be too ex, but just window shopping is enough to make me super happy.

Ooooo I just found out that they've a Lakeland Limited in Bath! I nearly died on the street when I saw it - spent a good 1 hour there yesterday, but bot nothing. :) Although, the £8.99 hanging organiser is so super tempting.

This sense of jubilation (with triple !!! on this post) is coming from the fact that I just handed in my first assignment for the course - Managing Operational Processes, with my favourite lecturer Mike Lewis. He is HILARIOUS!

While telling us a story about his kid and some toothfairy in class he actually skipped around in front of the class. Then went,"Hmmmm, I'm not quite sure why I did that really." Had us in peals of laughter.

******It's been 2 hours since I last wrote in this post. Had to go do laundry, vacuum floor and washup from lunch******

I seriously think I am getting old. I don't know, previously my room, table (ex-colleagues can attest to this) and things in general are MESSY! Organised chaos I call it. But I noticed that in recent years, little things start bothering me. Like...

1. Smudges on mirrors - especially smudges on my rearview mirror of car
2. Edge between wall and floor and corners must always be vacuumed. Like use the hose and vacuum-kind, cannot use the usual fix on.
   
3. I like clean floors
4. The general state of my files seem pretty organised. I even do filing to get rid of unnecessary paper stashes.
5. I actually bother folding my clothes and putting it away.
6. I BOT stuff to organise my stuff in my bathroom. And it's stayed organised since.
   
7. Carrier bags from supermarket must be stashed away in one place.
   
8. No old boxes, unnecessary opened packaging which I think - can I keep this for the future?
   

In general, I like having things that organise things...See above of wishlist on Lakeland's hanging organiser.

I mean sometimes I see the way things are organised in some of my friends' rooms, I just so feel like cleaning up for them. Even feel like volunteering to vacuum for them.

WHAT AM I TURNING INTO!?!?

In any case, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. :)

mysteries

I think I've sat here so long, in front of my computer, that I am now officially part human, part couch - both of which are not doing any good for my back.

Anyway I just read the blog of this lady who was my counterpart at cch in Malaysia. For the life of me I cannot rememeber her name...

and after half an hour later...It's Morgan!

Yes, as I was saying, before I left the hellhole of a workplace in June, she had just broken up with her boyfriend. And now she is attached again. Cycle time = 5 months.

And my norwegian friend next door found a swedish boy. Like within weeks.

And this guy in my class actually broke up with his girlfriend, and is now with a french gal. Cycle time = probably in the negative zone.

How the hell do people hook up so quick? Some animal magnetism? Some scent that they dispense in the clubs that I don't see to get access to. (Like drugs, which my dad thinks at the ripe old age of 32, I'm on,... but that's another story altogether).

Then there is the question of what are clementines and satsumas? They look like oranges, smell like oranges, taste like oranges... BUT they are not oranges! Apparently they are different in that oranges are to mandarin (orange). At least the mandarin oranges have the "orange" word there not to confuse small brained people like me.

I've chomped down 7 packs of clementines and satsumas to date and still can't figure them out. Apparently satsumas can be gotten only during around Christmas. Very hard to grow meh? Look like orange still sua da pai.

One thing that is not mysterious is my dear government's announcement to raise GST to 7%.

When they announce anything that will fatten their own pockets...*coff*, I mean the national coffers, it's almost like a death sentence if you do drug traffiking in Singapore - confirm one.

Vote for them, that's what you get.

It's almost like if they say it, it'll be done. Tho they try to pacify you with it going thru parliament, but hey, there's only one party proposing the bill and the same party passes it. So I don't know...little old me... dunno any politics...the odds are kinda high that it won't go through? Hmmmm As a good taxpaying citizen I can only give my government my trust (and money).

So there you go. No mystery about the raise in GST! If only 4-D prediction was as accurate as the GST increases, I bet a lot of Singaporeans will be rich by now. Hmmm then again, Singapore pools is owned by who har?...

Ooooo got assignment to do, better not worry my little brain.

eine kleine Geschichte

Normaleweise schreibe ich auf englisch. Aber heute hab ich etwas, die ich moechte nicht alles lesen. Sehr paradox, dass ich auf den Blog schreibe. Ich hab mein JournalBuch nicht mit mir mitgebracht aber ich muss etwas schreiben.

Gestern als ich bin nach Hause gewesen, hab ich S gesehen. Er war mit eine Frau. Ich hab auserdem restaurant gestanden und ihm angerufen. Aber sein Handy wird abgedreht.

Und dann hat er mich gesehen. Zuerst hat er mich angelaechelt. Dann hab ich gedreht, und bin ich schon weg gegangen.

Er hat mir nicht telefoniert. Nur 3 txt message geschickt. Es gab keine Eklaerung, warum er mich nicht telefoniert hat, nachdem er mich gesehen hat. Ich hab ihm noch ein Text geschickt.

Sicher, dass er eine ganz schwerige Woche hat. Er war mit eine Frau bevor ich eben im Bath angekommen bin. Er had gesagt,"Sie ist nicht meine Freundin."

Er luegt.

Ich hab ihn gefragt, ob wir nochmal ein Paar machen sollten. Er hat gesagt,"Ja, okay."

Aber ich koennte nicht in seinem Haus bleiben, weil sie dort war.

Sie ist nicht meine Freundin.

Und nachdem ich meine Gefuehlen ihn in einem Text geschickt hab, hat er mich nicht beantwortet.

Wahrscheinlich ist das viel besser, das wir unsere Geschichte ein Ende machen. Ich weiss nicht warum kann ein Mann nicht ehrlich sein?

Ich moechte nur ein Mann, der mich liebt.
Der mit mir ist, wenn ich so einsame bin.
Der neben mir, wenn ich jede Nacht zum Schlafen gehe.
Der mich nicht weinen musst.

Den ich liebe.

Und das ist denn die Ende meine Geschichte. Das war etwas ein Traum, ich hab gehofft, dass er war der Perfekte Mann. Aber nicht.

Ouch. Es tut verdammt weh.

past life

Movies, coffee with friends, hanging out at home, driving out to a friend's house, gym, activities, friends, family, chilling, a job, spending money...

What do all these have in common? They are all activities of a past life.

Timetable these days look like reading, assignments, discussions, lectures, lunch (which sometimes involve discussions), running to Sainsbury's after school, shower, veg a bit, study, read, assignment and blog.

I know MBA isn't easy. No one told me it was going to be this difficult. I practically have no more social life. Other people I see out of my MBA class are, honestly, those at Sainsbury's. I even recognise a few of them.

I can't really complain. I mean this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Though, I don't really see much of an outside life. Perhaps why I am blogging almost daily, is cause that's my only outlet for me to vent some thoughts, and perhaps procrastinate a bit.

K, back to assignments... over and out.

loud speakers

Hmm for those who really know me, know that I may not be the world's most PC person around.

Just that staying in the UK has made me more exposed to other ethnic groups, and some of them speak really loudly; and the thing is, they don't realise that they are screaming into another person's ear.

Case in point: While waiting for 418 on my way home, had this gal behind me speaking in her native language, either very happy that she is with her bunch of friends or something, but her voice was sooooooo painfully shrill, plus at like 20000 decibels and the fact that my ear was in direct path from her mouth, so you can imagine... I actually cringed when she spoke, and turned around a couple of times with serious look of disgust, but the gal was too daft to notice.

Case in point 2: On the bus back home today, this other gal, picked up her fone and started speaking, real loud. hmmm It may be in a foreign language to most people on the bus, still, the volume of it was annoying.

Case in point 3: People here generally like to chat within confined spaces - like in buses - which if you slam 140 people on one bright orange bus, make them all speak at once, it can give you one hell of a headache.

Talking about loud, neighbours were having 1 hour of sex-a-thon yesterday. Of course moaner was doing his usual moaning. It had to be on the day that I decide to sleep early to make up for my sleep deficit for the whole week. NB.

Of course today I am armed. Dashed off to Sainsbury's after school today and bought a pack of camomille tea - 40 bags of it. That should put me into a comatose state...I hope. :)

And hopefully, no one gets ANY tonite. Grrrrr

social popcorn

"So, do you want to share some popcorn?" I asked one of the gals in the group who also happened to like sweet popcorn as well.

"Well actually I was going to go for the ice-cream, but I can share a popcorn with you if you want." she replied.

"No, it's fine really. I am still stuffed from my sandwich at 4pm. So it's really up to you. I just need a drink." I said, hoping that she'll agree to just getting her ice-cream and I could get out of a empty calorie munching session, especially when it's just popcorn.

"No, no, no, it's fine." the gal insisted. "Let's get a medium-sized one, cause it makes more sense."

So 5 minutes later and £5.99 poorer, I was skillfully balancing the mid-sized popcorn and diet pepsi, which I didn't want to begin with, going into the theatre.

It was one of those occasions - no one wanted the popcorn, and yet we ended up with a huge tub that neither one of us could finish. The gal must have felt compelled to have popcorn just because it was mentioned.

It's the same thing when you're out at a pub and don't really feel like a beer, but someone insists on getting you one. And you end up either paying for someone else's drink or gulping down a pint of beer which you didn't want in the first place anyway.

(I've found a solution tho - order shandy.)

Or when you're in a situation where you pick up a cigarette for a fag. It's not that you want a cigarette or a beer, or even plain ole popcorn - you take it so that you fit in. And that you don't seem impolite.

Good thing people haven't offered me drugs. At this rate I give in to fit in, I'll be high on drugs all the time.

On an aside note, I just stuffed 2 jelly doughnuts in my face, that's just for dinner and shall call it a nite. Been sleeping too late these days. Sleep deprivation does kill brain cells, I took 2 minutes trying all sorts of spelling combi for doughnuts and still can't spell "serccumb".

Oh and I spoke to my darling last night. It was 15 minutes worth of precious conversation - a typical B1 & Yee Yee conversation which I haven't had in a long while.

B1 (all teary eyed and can hear he is about to cry): "Hi Yee Yee, I was going to shower and you called."

K: "What's up sweetheart? You were going to shower?"

J:"Yah, and now I can't." (Still about to cry voice)

K:"Okay, go on then, go shower sweetheart, I'll call you later okay?"

J:"Yee Yee, you called, now B2's gone to shower first."

Hmmmm, then realised why he was all teary-eyed. Super buay tahan lor...I knew I had to distract him.

K:"Hey B1, Christmas is just around the corner. Who has a transformers toy?"

Jamesy's voice immediately perked up.

J:"Me! And Yee Yee, I want exo-force next time okay? But it's for big boys, cos on the box it says it's for 7 year olds."

K:"What if I get a small exo-force for you for your fifth birthday? Is that alright?"

J:"No, even the small exo-force is for 7 year olds."

K:"Okay, when you're turning 7, Yee Yee will bring you to Toys R Us to get your exo-force okay?"

J:"Yah!" And out of the blue B1 said,"Yee Yee, I love you very much."

That boy is going to get into sooooo much trouble with the gals one day. Ahhh this kind of inane conversation about exo-force, lego, gingerbread men...I so miss it! :)

When B2 came out of the shower, my mom insisted that she talked to me. (something about IDD calls that make them expensive, hence you're an important person whom everyone must drop all they are doing to talk to you) But the conversation went on for a good 3-seconds, and she was done talking to me. Still it was good to hear B2 speak.

to all my fans

I just realised that I have an ardent fan in Singapore who is actively promoting my blog - Ms. Serene HELLO! Yuen. *thank you, thank you, for supporting me* And I encourage my fan(s) to leave their comments on my blog, so at least I can be in touch with you as well.

hahahaha, so now that I have a fan base, I feel the pressure of having to upload more posts every other day. Wahahaha.

Day 3 of having new mobile fone (yah, just be patient, I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon) I took pictures of some bits of my hall. It's found under "More Moments" on the sidebar of this blog.

Of cos it's only 2 megapix, so it can't beat the quality and color of my Olympus C-4000z, but it's handy, and the pictures turn out somewhat decent, so no complaints.

Sigh, more reading to do. Better get that done, otherwise kena stressed out and wake in the middle of the nite for no good reason.

hello moto

I GOT A NEW FONE!!!

And it's free! :) And it's PINK! And it's clamshell!

:) ooooo I love my new phone. I've had handphones before but last 3 phones were more functional than objects of desire.

The other phone which was my object of desire and I was so pleased about was my first mobile - a nokia. I can't remember what model it was now, but it had an iridescent purple and I spent way too much money on it.

But anyway here you see me, very happy with my handphone. It's 2 megapix, has bluetooth, good video capture, super cool polyphonic ring tones, is super easy to text and oooooo it's metallic pink! My only complain is that it doesn't have my old Sony Ericsson K700i's (bless his soul) good alarm and voice recording functions.

So there you go... Hello Moto.

there are no thunderstorms

Before I left Singapore, I made a list of the things that I will miss when I am in the UK.

It's time to revisit that list.

B1 & B2
Gawd, I really miss the rascals. I miss sitting next to B1 when he watches TV then slowly sinking my body next to his, sniffing his smelly head. I miss him constantly asking me to bring him downstairs to buy stuff. (I MISS HAVING A DOWNSTAIRS TO BUY STUFF!) I miss giving him lots of big hugs and kisses. I miss talking to him, and being amused by the stuff a 4 year old would say.

I miss B2 for her cuteness. Her LOUD ways, her cute 2 year old size that's just nice to sit on your lap and hug. Nice to nibble arms and chubby cheeks. Her constant - NO!

I'll go," is it forrrrrr...Mommy? (NO!) Daddy? (NO!) Yee Yee? (NO!)Mama? (NO!)..." Of course I can go down a long list of relatives, and her answer will be - NO!

But her vocabulary and language skills must have improved by heaps since I left. Of course I wouldn't know, course the little girl, everytime I call home, my sis will go,"Wanna talk to Yee Yee?" "No!" would be her reply.


Logging on to MSN and seeing my friends
Surprisingly, I see them online almost as often as when I was back in Singapore, so this hasn't been a big deal. But I miss having close friends whom I can say,"Let's go coffee/movie/dinner/bake-session in 20 minutes!"


Family
Definitely family, re: B1 & B2 (again!). :) Also the generally yabbering about rascals to my sis, mom & dad. Miss my cousins hanging out at my place, even though we don't do ANYTHING, but just laze in one spot for hourrrrrrs.


Cosy feeling when it rains real heavy & I'm home or in my car
It doesn't storm here, thunderstorms are like a big deal in this country and even then they have poxy little light rain, pale in comparision to our serious downpour back home. The first night I arrived in Bath, there was a thunderstorm, and S asked me if I heard it. I thought to myself, "What's the big deal? Don't you have thunder when it storms?"

Well, apparently not. And I miss it.

I miss the really heavy peltering of rain on buildings, the loud roar of thunder - a combination of which is so loud that you can bearly hear yourself speak. The massive bolts of lightning that sometimes strike inches from you (that's what I think anyway). It makes you feel really cosy and snug when you're in a car, or at home tucked up in bed.

I do miss home. It's not the food. That's the least of it. Many people think that I will miss the food back home. Or maybe I speak too soon. But it's the having friends and family around you, someone to hang out with, rascals to hug and chauffeur around.

and 3 credit cards later...

Am now fuming mad. I'm on a Pay-as-you-go price plan for mobile phone, which is really a jib, cause it charges you more per call.

So I spent all of Saturday (and Sunday) trying to figure out which might be a better plan for me. Turned out, all I had to do was just logon, choose a price plan (that will contractually bind me for 12 months) and viola! I am on a lower price plan for 100 mins, with 525 free texts.

However, the website had some really complicated information - tho they were trying to be as user-friendly as possible, but it was a clear case of different divisions handling different parts of the website. In doing so, there were like disconnected bits for me as a Pay-as-you-go customer trying to switch, unclear information as to how about I should do it.

"Well," I thought to myself "It's okay, just email them!"

And email I did. It said it'll respond within 24hrs, but it took them like 30 hours later to respond - okok fine, I'll STILL forgive them.

They told me it was no issue upgrading, I could do that online. Which was fine, till I put in my details for an order for a fantastic Razar V3x Pink and two things happened:

1. First they just would NOT accept the address I typed in. Instead of "Apt Number, Block name, Thornbank Gardens" it was programmed rectify my address to "Block Name, Thornbank Gardens". Bear in mind I share this same address ask 50 other people. Intuitive? My ass.
2. They would not, just WOULD not, accept debit cards; nor would they accept credit cards issued out of the UK. So there I was trying to key in my Visa cards from Barclays, Citibank and OCBC...still nada nothing!
   

Freaking annoying.

PLUS, they've an annoying phone wait tune - try calling 0845 412 2409 it's guaranteed to make you put the phone down in like 2 secs. GOD! I think I've just mentally damaged my brain from holding onto the wait for an operator song for too long.

Just another favourite thing, just another tune, lalalala lala lalalala
Just another favourite thing, just another tune...

Sing and repeat for 5 minutes.

Which brings me back to another thing - they are in the mobile business right? So why do I get charged calling their number for customer service on my mobile phone?! DUH!

el molde

Yesterday, while feeling hungry, I went food shop at Sainsbury's. And you know how it is when you go food shop when you're hungry.

Mistake.

I ended up spending more money than I wanted or needed to and came home with a bag full of food. Anyway I thought it'll be a good idea doing chilli con carne with some leftover tortillas I bought the last time.

cool.

So there I was craving for chilli con carne, so hurriedly I went to buy a pack of 2 for £3.50 mince beef and a bottle of sauce. Cooked that for lunch/dinner today. But, while opening the pack of mince beef and the sight of raw bloody meat, I could feel my tummy churn a bit.

Took out my pack of tortillas, saw some unusal dull bluish green spots on it. I tot it was just "garlic" flavouring, warmed it up, and threw some cheese on it (which upon inspection after my first burrito, had suspicious blue spots on it as well).

Took me like 5 minutes to realise that I was eating mold.

hmmmmm, tummy still churning. Not good. Not good at all.

bionic woman

I just realised today that I am bionic woman.

Or rather genetics would have me as that. A couple of statistics to prove that:

1. Between baby boys and gals, the odds that a baby gal survives in a complication are higher than in a boy.
2. Women outlive men
3. XX chromosones imply that we're way less prone to genetic diseases
4. Dark hair, dark eyed people have dominant genes over blond hair, blue eyed people.

Which means a couple of things, really. Firstly, that my wish to konk off at age 65 might involve some painful way of killing myself. Secondly, I better start saving for a real long future. Thirdly, the likelihood of me being with a man, who has another woman is high. Fourthly, my kids will never have blue eyes or blond hair. (okok, last one will NEVER happen lor)

Geez, why can't I just have genetically smart, slim, tall, gorgeous genes? This kind of gene pool, win liao oso can say - forget it lor.

I oughta turn up in a supergal suit to class tomorrow. Getting tired. I am stuffing myself with carbs at 9pm, hoping that I knock off to bed early today. :)

penguins

Have you ever seen on natgeo or something, a picture of a group of penguins huddled in a blizzard? And they seem very calm, and they all seem to be asleep.

Well yesterday while queuing for 418, it was really windy. I had to sit in the covered shelter away from the wind. But feeling sheltered, sleepy - yup penguin.

I've been eating a lot more now as well. I get really hungry in the evenings. So I am kinda starting to waddle around. Day light gets real short now. By 4-ish, it starts to get really dark. By 6.36pm, like now, it is complete darkness and feels like 8-9pm. Makes me wanna go to sleep like right about now, but I can't! It's only 6.36 now!

Had marketing lecture today, was so utter crap. The lecturer started off yesterday - there are no products and services and there is no such thing as quality! Today was - There are no supply chains or distributions channels!

If a tree fell in the middle of the forest and no one saw it, did it fall?

You can't deny that these things are happening and DO exist! Fine and good if you have another term for supply chain management, you're an academic, I can understand the compelling need to show the world you're intelligent, but, in the words of Antony Brit my finance lecturer:

"While you're here [doing an MBA], there is a real world happening out there!"

Geez, he should tell this fella. And the marketing lecturer when asked, so how would he describe a linear relationship - he said he couldn't!

Asked how he would apply his theory to marketing - he couldn't.

I'm fucking paying £20,000 to be patronising told that all I have worked for is crap. Marketing is about looking for stupid people?!

Geez man, give me a break!

Ooooo getting chilly. Think I shall make a nice cuppa hot chocolate.

a new love

I didn't think it would happen, but it did.

And at Sainsbury's no less. We found each other in the chilled food aisle. And he is linked to royalty.

Hello coronation chicken, my new found love.

My word, it was one of the last few flavours of sandwich fillers on the shelf, having had been lead on by Cajun Chicken, I thought, no way that there's anything else that can be compared to Seafood filler. But it's true, I found true love and it is FANTASTIC!

It's bits of grilled chicken meat, with curried mayonnaise, plus salt, pepper, apricot, almonds and raisins. I just had a coronation chicken with cheddar cheese sandwich. ooooo now am absolutely full.

Of cos there is a reason why this blog is so boliao. Cos I got a paper to write, and I have no motivation to write it.

hmmmm whole room smells of clean laundry, temperature outside is cold. k.blankie looks nice and snug in bed under quilt. What the hell am I doing sitting here typing away on my supposed essay?

I'm even contemplating vacuuming the floor. This is bad.

inky fingers, inky shirt

You know one sure sign when I've been doing work - my hands and sometimes tees become a canvas for uncapped pens.

Doesn't help that I like the sort of Pilot V-5 sort of inky pens. OMG I just checked out the price of those in the UK - it's £5.49 for a pack of 3, which means it's like S$5 for one!

I could be a millionaire trading Pilot V5 pens!

Hmmm perhaps I so do the net present value (NPV) of the expected returns, based on cashflow streams in UK, deducting the cost of sales (airplane tix & buying the pens in Singapore), then adjusting for currencies and inflation. If NPV is greater than 0, it's worth it!

I betcha you're going HUH? or more vulgarly - WTF?

Yup, exact sentiments too. That has been my thought for the whole of this week - WTF IS GOING ON?!

Welcome to the world of accounting and corporate finance.

I mean no doubt, it is an interesting topic, but I have a feeling that after this course, I can easily find out what I want to do, by process of elimination.

1. Accountant x
2. Finance Manager x
3. Economist x
4. Strategist x
5. Marketer
6. Consultant

Doesn't seem like I have many more options to cross out. oooooo panick, panick, breathee. So far the course has:

1. Set my small little brain into a flurry of confusion by highlighting things that I do not know - conscious incompetence
2. Highlighted that my network of people I know sucks - conscious incompetence.
3. Mostly put me in a panick mode cos I am behind on readings
4. Obliterated whatever chance I had of a social life, except for the folks at Sainsbury's.

And they keep telling me that I'll earn big bucks post-MBA? I dont think so mister!

it's a glorious day

I take my word back.

Just when I complained about the weather, today is just fantastic. The sun is out, its nice and cool. Just like what I pictured fall would be.

And I just bought my first ever thermals. Why can't someone designer sexier looking thermals? I look like a big frump. What's with the little dotted floral print on them? Hello?! GRANDMA?!

I think the the people at the thermal making co., which I suspect holds a monopoly of the global thermal market, think that,"Geez man, there's no need to innovate for better design, they can jolly well wear hideous thermal or freeze."

Anyway, spent way too much money trying to keep warm today. So tomorrow is another trip to Ikea, and here's what I plan to buy

1. Baskets to organise my bathroom counter
2. Bed sheet & quilt cover
3. Bedside lamp
4. Storage for shooeeesss? (Optional)
5. Laudry basket
   

But I can bet you I'll come back with more than that! It's freaking Ikea!

0°C at 10am

I am beginning to wonder, if I got cheated of the whole fall season.

Just when British Summer Time came to a close on 29 October, the temperature decided to plummet to 1° C at 7am, and the latest is 0° C at 10am. And it is really cold. There is even frost on the window shields of the cars.

Which reminds me - gotta get thermal underwear, long-sleeved tees, more socks. It really does get freaking cold. I wouldn't mind most times, but I hate it when I get a wheezing cough, and feel like I'm about to break out into an asthma attack. I hate that feeling.

And of cos, if I were to die, it'll be 6 weeks before housekeeper comes in to clean room, see dead student beautifully preserved, cos of cold.

Ooooo craving for koka instant noodles now. It's sooooooo famous, it's even on wikipedia! Go check it out!

hey cupcake!

My obssession with cupcakes is far from over. Was at Sainsbury's today, and saw the most fantastic sight ever, one even better than a fairy cake. You guessed it - CUPCAKE!

Bought ONE even tho it was 4 for £2, which can be easily walloped. And it was heaven.

On another note, moaner has a name. Was introduced in kitchen about half an hour ago. hmmm Still had a very bad visual in head. Hahahah :P

Feel infinitely better today than yesterday. Was absolutely sick yesterday. I think I can even hit the gym tomorrrow. Hmmmm

definitions

hand job noun a task or job that requires assembly by hands : the production of a cassette cover is essentially a handjob.

Now, now, I know ye dirty minded folks, there is a new definition! Was hilarious when one of the gals in my class said that in a factory scenario, the assembly of a video cover was a handjob. I don't know how my lecturer kept a straight face. I know I didn't. Neither did the boys in my class.

On an aside note, am sick again. I think english weather doesn't agree with my system. Zits, yup, they are still there. And fallen sick 2x in the last 1.5 weeks. Grrrrrr. I hate being sick, especially when there is no one around to sayang me. Not to mention the craving for OJ, and you can't have it, cos it means you have to get dressed, go out and get it on your own!

Grrrrrrr.

Tomorrow looks to be cold. It's 2 deg or something in the day.

lull-a-bye

After the hectic-ness of last week. This week seems a bit of a let down.

Quick run through of this weekend's events.
Sat:
Went to Sainsbury's to stock an empty fridge. Called home. Met S in the afternoon for an hour. When for drinks in the evening.
Sun:
Woke to find that the clocks have gone back one hour (I thought that was happening tonite), so naturally, I went back to sleep for one more hour. Woke second time round to get ready for lunch to celebrate classmate's birthday. Met S for coffee, bought me coffee even tho he is out of cash (wallet was gone). Said he had a row with the chink, and yet borrowed £100 off her. I seriously think they didn't row.

Saw classmates along streets of Bath while I was out with S. Thank god wasn't holding his hand, or would have a lot of answering to do. Strolled shops for a bit, then came home. Been on computer since 4. now it's 5.50pm.

SHIT the sky is dark! How did that happen?! Oh, clocks went back one hour.

I don't feel like reading, don't want to eat anymore. Though of lugging 2 loads of laundry to laundrette is too much to bear. Just wished there was someone in my room to snuggle up to. Sigh. Is that even too much to ask? I'm like thinking men are so commitment phobic, the thought that I am asking for non-committal relationship, ie, I will not ask you to marry me or start a family with me. Is that too much to ask? All I want is just have an easy relationship. For you to spend some time with me. That's really all that I want.

Here's the conversation that went this afternoon.

"Tricia is looking for hunks," said S to his friend Nigel.

"Well, this is definitely not the place for it then." I replied, doing a quick scan of the crowd. "Oh, by the way, I'm going up to London next Friday."

"So you're going to look for hunks there?" S asked.

"Well sure." I replied.

"Are you really?" S looked at me with his piercing green-grey eyes.

"Of course!" I said. Then seeing that this tactic wasn't going to get me some free meals and coffee then said,"I am kidding! I am there for work."

Then S bambled something about he is going to get seriously hurt. wtf. So him staying with that brainless twit of a gal didn't hurt me? Asshole, asshole, asshole.

Seriously. They all are. Rich ones, poor ones, ugly ones, handsome ones.

I'm writing men off for a LONG TIME, at least emotionally. How much of crap does a gal have to go through to find a decent piece of non-crap. Maybe I shouldn't be searching the trash cans.

asshole, asshole, assholes.

to have and to hold

Well, I don't think I am suited for communal living.

The accommodations are like one-room cheap motel-style places. With 5 floors, one common kitchen, and walls made of paper.

This gal living next to me has pissed me off even tho we haven't exchanged more than 100 words since I came here.

1. She is inconsiderate in the kitchen. She cooks, eats and leaves the whole pile of plates, pans and cutlery in the sink.

We only have one sink, shared by 4 other people excluding her.

2. We've been living here for a month now and she's only bothered getting her own cutlery and plates this week. And her goddamn annoying boyfriend comes over, borrows my white milk mug (not to mention my one and ONLY mug) and then doesn't return it in the morning when I need it for milk. It happened twice. I mean get your own fucking mug. If you are going to borrow someone's mug, taken apparently from their cupboard, at least have the decency to return it immediately after you've used it. They once held my mug hostage for 2 days. 2 days I had no milk for breakfast, and I only about drink milk and eat yoghurt for breakfast.

Fucking twerp.

Till I stuck a notice on the fridge that said," Hi, whoever who has taken my white mug from the bottom left cupboard of the stove, please return it, I need it to drink my milk in the mornings."

Miraculously, it was returned that very evening.

3. Fine if you are getting some and the rest of the world isn't. But do you have to get your boyfriend to ring the doorbell along the common corridor that is so loud that it wakes the dead in the middle of the night? If you're arranging for a bootycall, why can't you fucking anticipate and be more discrete about it?!

4. While they are at it, can the man not moan that loud? Especially at 2am? And the sex can't be all that good, cos it ends in like 2 minutes of hardwork. And I've only heard the gal had one orgasm the whole time since they've been humpings since the start of the term.

5. They just completely ignore the existence of the other people in the kitchen group, a behaviour which I find just downright rude.

It's been a long week and I'm tired and grumpy. And I think it shows on today's post.

permanent resident

It's affirmative. The rude, loud and red family of zits has decided to squat on my forehead.

After 2+ something weeks, they are still there. Unlike my DHL box of goodies, which is NOT here, yet. I'm about to freeze to death, and the DHL box is taking a leisurely world cruise. Last sighted in Frankfurt after disembarking from its SQ flight. After Bonz tracked it down, found that it finally arrived in UK on Monday.

Today is Wednesday, and still no sight of it.

Sigh.

I'm dead tired. And the best part of things is, everyone thinks I'm having an easy time studying. I seem to be clocking in more hours at school than doing any form of socialising, at all!

DANG! February project might be a bit of a disaster, me thinks.

Like that how to find men?! *yup i mean plural* At least one that might possibly make me permanent resident in THIS country. Hmmm or I could take a leaf out of the zits, squat here.

the mall

I had a half day at school today. Which was good. So a bunch of us gals took Lina's car to Bristol.

We past by Aspects Leisure centre, which is 5 minutes away to S' house.

She asked if we wanted to go to the Mall or town. The gals said the Mall.

Till we were driving towards Cribbs Causeway. MAJOR flashback. I was there with S in April.

Then she drove us by the Downs (first date with S)

Went onto the Brunel Suspension bridge (with S)

So I'm feeling particularly miserable now. Wondering why I am at Bath. (I mean I know why I am at Bath, but just wallowing in self-pity) feeling miserable, upset, tired and really wanting to call S to scream at him.

Doesn't help that I am down with a cold and feel that the huge zit on my forehead has decided to make that its permanent residence.

So there. I'm sick, with a horrid haircut and all I want is mommy's cooking.

the smell of clean laundry

Where I live now, it's 4 blocks with one lift serving all for blocks. Each block has five levels. I'm on the highest floor in the block furthest away from the lift, and also furthest away from the launderette.

Since it costs £1.60 for one wash, and another £1 for tumble dryer, I try to consolidate my darks and whites within a week and a half so that I maxmise my £1 for dryer. It also means I've got two BIG LOADS of wash to do each time I struggle to go down to the laundry room.

I was up and down three times today, till the guy who maintains the accommodations could kinda recognise my face.

But the end result, carrying that load back to my room, is just great. The smell of clean laundry. Hmmmmm what can beat that? Nice, warm, CLEAN clothes.

Which brings me back to my point, I had this session on managing your managerial competencies this week, and also something on time management last week. It was kind of a rude awakening. I know my ultimate destination, it's a question of what route to take, and what mode of transport should I take?

During the time management course last week, Kathryn (the lecturer, whom I thought was more inspiration than a real time management lecturer), she was trying to teach confidence, and self-awareness for success. She talked to us about procrastination.

ohhh Hi lover! Procrastination and I go back a long way, but I think it's time for that dreaded breakup.

We talked about contracts. Doing on the MBA is a contract to myself. It's what you set yourself out to achieve. And if you don't do it, you breach the contract, you fail yourself, not to mention you'll never get anywhere.

We used a model to map out our self-awareness, our identity. Then mapped out our job competencies, and whom we know. All these three are to work in tandem to bring you to where you want to be in a year's, 2 years' or 5 years' time.

And you know what? There's a huge gap from where I am now, and where I want to be.

So yes, even if it's a tedious process to do laundry, I will do it cos I want the smell of clean in my life. I will have to part ways with procrastination and do what needs to be done to get there.

ENTJ

Can you do 2 posts a day? Hmmm why not.

Had my personality assessment done today. It's a series of pyschometric test by Myers-Briggs Model. Realised it's the same test my cousin Raena had done a couple of months back.

I turned out to be an ENTJ.

What struck me was, I thought I had a lot of "feeling" in the Myers-Briggs, in that I care for the value of harmony and people.

Turned out my "thinking" element was stronger. A lot stronger. It goes something like this.

Extraversion - 13
Intuition - 21
Thinking - 45
Judging - 23

Part of the personality type in an ENTJ are that:

• Logical, analytical and objectively critical (hmmmm maybe)
• Decisive, clear and assertive (hmmm, not too sure about the assertive part, but learning)
• Likely to conceptualise and theorise easily; adept at translating possibilities into plans (Is that why I like project work?)
• Good at correcting illogical or inefficient procedures (Well, I couldn't take it at bastard of a company)
• Likely to value intelligence (Operative word: intelligence) and competence, abhor inefficiency (Hence hated the cunts so much, cos they were brainless and incompetent)
• Action oriented and strategic (hahah until I get de-motivated by things)

Other excerpts were (or I was doing a mental checklist of what was clearly my personality from the list):

• ENTJs have very clear standards about what constitutes right and wrong, correct and incorrect behavior (Checked)
• They are natural skeptics and will spontaneously question anything that comes into their purview. (Checked)
• Intuition orients ENTJs to meanings, patterns and the big picture, and thus their thinking is both logical and abstract. (Sounds like a load of crap but I can kinda see it., ooo (Checked)
• ENTJ are intellectually curious and love exploring new ideas. They like to exercise their ingenuity in solving problems in addressing challenges(Checked)
• ENTJs deeply value competence and intelligence, both in themselves and in others. They set high goals, and continually hold themselves to an exceptionally high (possible too high at times) standard of accomplishment. (ooooo, triple checked, checked, checked)
• ENTJs can be bored with the literal working out of plans, developing of sensing will help them have a healthy respect for the details necessary to turn plans into realities...They want the world to run efficiently and planfully, but may themselves be intolerant of routine and may prefer to leave follow-through on plans and projects to others. (hmmm, doesn't that sound familiar?)

Was initially skeptical of the test (natural of an ENTJ), but hmmm there may be some truth there.

Guess I should stop bloggin, shower and get down to some £20,000 worth of reading that I paid for.

:)

far east

It's really funny. I am not sure how to say this, like have we(Asia) developed faster than the English blokes who sailed in their ships over and started colonizing us, or is it just a matter of perspective?

I was in a group discussion just the other day, and we were talking about our presentation points on a global obesity problem (You know, MBA students, gotta at least sound intelligent about some politically correct, worth lobbying in Brussels kinda topic). So my classmate went,"Ok, we'll cover UK, US and the Far East."

I turned around, looked at him and said,"Is that what you're calling us these days?" Giving him a look of amusement. "Cos, I always thought we were just Asia." Far East brings to mind a something that Raffles and British India Company in 1800 might have labelled South East Asia.

He found it funny that I called it Asia, cos it's always been "Far East" to him.

But he settled for the term and did our presentation, referring to that part of the world as "Asia".

So yup, chinese food is oriental food. All things oriental have some chinky ching dynasty design to it, not to mention three times the price of normal stuff.

Maybe it's a matter of perspective huh? :) Cos we, in the words of my neighbour,"(you guys) are a little far by plane."

at least it's not the 822

Had presentation skills, to which this guy called Steve Knight, said that I was good presenting. I mean I kinda know I am okay at presenting, but doesn't hurt to have your ego boosted.

Sat opposite cutie at dinner today. Tho, I was kinda aware that it was cutie, hence didn't come up with:
1. Anything intelligent
2. Anything interesting

So therefore I conclude: didn't make an impression.

Oh well. Too bad. I guess. Gotta start looking else where for attention now don't I?

love of my life

Just thinking about b1 today. Suddenly miss him lots. As kids, of course they go about their own daily tasks.

And, I miss my car a lot. It's almost like it is a representation of what I've given up to come here. There is a picture of both b1 and my car together. That always gets to me.

I know the year will go by real fast. And I will be saying,"Gosh, I miss UK." before you know it. Still. I miss the rascals.

fried rice paradise

For some strange reason today, I felt like cooking. Nevermind if I don't have my usual host of spices, sauces, pots and knives with me. I just felt like eating rice.

While cooking, I made a cuppa, which obviously I didn't finish. So I left it. So there I was, happily chopping, dicing, oil in pan, frying.

After some 20 minutes later, the fried rice was done. I sat down with one teaspoon (my own cutlery are still on their way to me), shoving fried rice into my mouth.

Then sipping coffee with fried rice.

I have turned into one of those old folks at kopitiams who have their lunches with a hot beverage.

Another mortifying moment was when I started clearing my drawer of plastic bags, and started folding them into triangles. Exactly how my mom would have done it.

You know how people always go -- You have your dad in you, your mom in you. I am turning into an old person. There, epiphany for the day.

action interaction

I just paid £189 to join a gym at school recently. (Oh, nevermind if I suspended my gym membership in Singapore) But my cousin was applauding me on my discipline to go gym after trudging through beautiful town of Bath. (Well, mostly to catch the bus at the bus stop or bus station, but the rest of the world needn't know that)

I told her, it's more an interaction thing, rather than gym per se. 24x7, 7 days a week cooped up in my room, or in 8 west lecture room 3.13 faced with 29 same faces, I will die, surely.

I mean in a country of eye candy (at least for me) I gotta go out and at least try to make some contact. :) I mean, you know how I absolutely hate new beginnings. That awkward moment of "hi, where are you from?" and having to make small talk. oooooo sometimes I can feel myself cringing at the thought that I have to be in conversation with this person for the next 5 minutes. Maybe I'm not a people person. At least not a new people person.

But strangely after being cooped up in the room and monotonous routine of school-home-school home for a good few days, I changed my mind.

I am determined to get out there and see if I can try to "establish contact"! If not get a date for a coffee next Saturday, at least find someone who'll accompany me to Bristol or London for shopping. I so miss coffee sessions with friends, just the general gossiping, bitching and griping over life, work, bastard boyfriends.

So yes, despite a small nagging voice at the back of my head telling me to skip the drinks session at 8 later, I am going. Get a drink, a little light headed, and have a smashing good time.

Tell you about it later!

the heat is on

Finally. After much trauma and pulling on extra covers, the heaters are on. I was starting to think the people who work at the heating co. (is there such a thing?) are actually polar bears in disguise.

K, I gotta stop munching on the nuts I bought. It's hurting my temples.

So, YIPPEEE the room won't be freezing cold at night. Hopefully.

Oh, talking about heat, or rather, on heat, the neighbours yesterday were having a huge mattress mambo session. Walls are really thin, so I could hear every single detail. I thought it was quite funny really. Seems like the MBA is the only course that really gives you a run for your money. Everyone else here doing a postgraduate course seems to be having it easy. Between classes, readings, picking up readings and more readings, where do you find time to go hunt a man down for sex? I don't even have time to squeeze a pint of beer in!

Oh and yes, the reading and classes are starting to heat up. Been getting splitting migraines since yesterday during class. I wonder if it's from stress in class, or just PMS.

Hmmm maybe a nice soak in that bath tub would do me some good.

continental drift theory

It is inevitable. Put in a room half cup of caucasians, a third of asians and a good dose of ethnic groups inbetween, throw in a good measure of education and shake well.

Somehow you'll end up with two layers. One of the West and the other of the East. It's natural to want to be on the same side as what is familiar.

While the class is bonding relatively well for a first week, it's hard not to see that divide. The angmohs are in their own world talking about football, news and sports etc. The Asians are gathered in chatty banter about being in a foreign land, or trying to identify who is who in class.

Then you get a few who cross the divide. I'm in awe, ye brave ones!

And you appreciate those who do.

And you tell yourself that you will do the same.

an account

About 168 hours upon touchdown onto UK soils, there are a few things that I can appreciate about Singapore, already!

1. It doesn't take 2 weeks for a cheque to clear in Singapore. (no wonder someone told me that when I go back to Singapore, I'll realise that everything works at breakneck speed.)
2. Things are (a LOT) cheaper in Singapore.
3. Things are cheaper in Singapore.
4. Things are cheaper in Singapore.

Maybe it's the way the mind deludes itself, you start thinking that a 13-week bus ticket is $77, not £77 (approximately $240). A £16.99 table lamp doesn't sound that unreasonable, a £2.60 sandwich is okay.

Then there is the upside of things.

The people here are a lot more tolerant than caucasians from you-know-where. They are always polite -- these people even thank the bus driver!! Imagine that!

There is a backgate to Thornbank Gardens, my school accommodation, and it closes at a time that wasn't posted anywhere. Today, while I lugged my 4L semi-skimmed milk, olive oil, 2 tubs of frozen lasagne, school file and bag, I hurriedly made my way to the backgate, only to hear some chains. Muttering "fuck" under my breath, I ran to the gate, to see an old man waiting for me.

"I've been waiting for you. I heard you", he said with a huge assuring smile.

Really makes your day.

Men of all ages always give way to you.

Everyone is just super patient, which sometimes makes me feel like I'm the devil, cussing under my breath that the person before me is taking ages.

So yes, it will take them 2 weeks to clear an "international" cheque (which made my 1 hour wait in Singapore for it seem like nothing) and I'm left without a bank account for 3 weeks, or an extra 1 minute to board the bus, but hey, with the cute men walking by, I think I'll just have to live these with sacrifices. :)

life's okay when you know sainsbury is 10 mins away

Second day in Bath. First day was kinda long. 12 hour flight from Singapore to Amsterdam, 4 hour wait in Schiphol, 1 hour travel to Bristol, 1 hour car travel to Bath. Then unpacking, moving furniture around the room.

I had a lovely time with S. He came to fetch me, which was very nice of him. Not that I want him back, but to have a man in your life, that'll be nice -- a pair of strong arms, nice smelling cologne, someone to chat with.

It's been quite a change, to say the least. I thought the journey on the plane would be as dreadful as the first. But, perhaps with age, or maybe just my personality, familiarity makes everything better. Everything felt okay.

I even found my way to the nearest Sainsbury. Woohoo. It's just 10 mins away from home. Think after school, library, that might be my next biggest hangout place.

Even the journey up to school. Taking a bus, which for some strange reason, was freaking me out seemed okay.

Hmmm maybe I am sweating over the small stuff. I haven't seen what school will be like!

You know...I think things will be fine.

flashes

Warm summer's day, walking down on a cobbled street

"Hi, I think you are very pretty, are you filipino or thai? "
"Do you think I can show you around?"


Cold, wet caves in Cheddar, it feels nice to warm arms around you, have someone to look out for you.

Nice windy cliff at the Clearing, near Clifton. Just looking

"I've got a cunning plan."

"I want to hug you at the airport."

Foggy roads, S and I alone in his car, travelling along A37.

"Is this the right way?"

Crossed the lifted bridge at Weymouth.

"Let's get an apartment there when we grow old."

"I knew you will be back here again, I just had to say it."

punctuality slob

I've always tried to be punctual with meetings, appointments and all. But it's dawned on me that these days, that we've turned into a generation of punctuality slobs.

When I meet my friends these days, it's almost an unspoken rule that if you say,"Meet at 6.00." that means meet 6.20, or sometimes I am left waiting and wandering around the shopping malls for a good 45 minutes, in which I've already seen everything in the shops. So what turns out to be a shopping trip is kinda redundant.

With a couple of girlfriends, I've actually factored in 20 minutes to actual meeting time and normally set off later, only to be on time.

I don't know, but I believe we were a lot more keeping to time before. Now with mobiles, it's a 2 second call,"I'll be late, you go ahead."

Or a text that says, "Running late, be there in 30 minutes."

And it annoys me. I mean, if we had agreed to meet at 6.00, why can't you start off earlier? Isn't my time as valuable as yours? I don't know, call me old school. It's not just a matter of informing or inconveniencing someone. It's showing respect to the other person.

And the slob has infected his malaise to the mob.

The classic example -- waiting for a doctor's appointment. On my appointment card it clearly states 11.50am. I expect to be in the doctor's office within a 10-15 minute plus/minus waiting period. But oh noooo. It's more like a 2-3 hour wait. And when it comes to you turn and you're not around, because you've been holding it in thinking the person before you will take 5, not 50minutes, they'll happily move on to the next patient. Which gives you another 30 minute waiting time, if you're lucky.

Or the perennial complaint that Chinese wedding dinners start late, just because everyone expects it to be so, and so everyone comes later. With people my generation, you'll think they've had enough of waiting at chinese wedding dinners since they were kids, and arrive early. Somehow, at age 30, they all morph to be what their parents used to be, arriving late at 8.30, when the invite card says, "Cocktails will be served at 7pm sharp, dinner will commence at 7.30pm".

Which brings me to my (hopeful) point, that when I get married, I'm not having a dinner.

As if life isn't already one long big wait. Waiting for that perfect opportunity to come, waiting for that perfect love, or waiting to go home to be with family. So if we've set a time to meet each other, I urge you, please make it on time.

packing, unpacking

I've never been much of a list person. Oh I try to be one. Trust me. Yellow post-its with header -- Things to do. Complete with square boxes next to the task to indicate that it's completed.

And then just about after doing up the list, I completely feel drained by the effort and stick it somewhere where it's all forgotten.

Just exactly what happened to my packing list for school.

I had 3 columns -- Carry on, Check in and DHL. After putting in like most of what needs to be put in, my mental note about luggage -- heavy.

Thank God I've Mr. S coming over to fetch me from airport. Or so I thought.

These days he has been going on and on about,"I miss you (but I'm not about to give up my carnal pleasures with a gal half my age)". Crap. And I told him so.

And Ohhhh, to depend on men. Are they so undependable? Plain stupid, selfish and moronic? Everyday you learn something new.

I was supposed to go in a day earlier than 23rd into Bristol(day where I can check in to school accommodation). So I asked Mr. S if I could just stay with him a day. Last week he said yes. This week, "Oh the girl who is so busy now (hence I can plague you with 'I miss you') but she is coming over to stay for a few days. I'll let you know okay? If she is staying, I'll drive you to Bath."

*Alert, alert -- no to sound like an ex- who is grouchy and angry about it, but I asked about accommodation first.*

I'm not for one who is going to turn up in a strange land without prior accommodation booking. And it's so typical of him to inconvenience others, so things are easier for him.

So I told him, it's fine, I'll find accommodation elsewhere. And of course I am sooooo tempted to get a cab from Bristol to Bath, which will cost me £35. $100, after conversion.

Wondering if for the sake of $100, I should save some pride. OR get him to fetch me and make him see what he is going to be missing. Though there might be a flaw -- not knowing if plans will change cos girl might want to shag him on his way out and he'll leave me stranded at the airport with NO prior booking of a cab.

So yes, my situation now is: I'm stuck without accommodation and a man to help me, and without transport from Bristol to Bath.

God help me!

something old, something new

I know, that's used for weddings. But I can't help think about all the changes that I am going through right now.

I am at the edge of a really big change in my life. Sure, I am plagued with doubts about the numerous possibilities that are before me. I was talking to my friend Bons, and somehow it was comforting listening to her. She went through hell-of-alot of change going to Hong Kong to turn her branch office there around. For a start, she, like me, speaks almost no cantonese. Now she rattles it off with precise tone and accent.

She is a Christian, and no doubt, if you ask her, she will go -- thank God! Believe in God that has brought her the blessings and made things smooth for her.

Me, being the most anti-christ, perhaps I can learn something from there -- to have a belief, not in god, but in myself. Finding strength, courage, faith to go forth and conquer. Having no doubts about what I can do and achieve.

I was dreading the change of going to the UK, facing everyone new there and everything new. You know how I absolutely hate fresh starts. The thought of meeting new people sometimes petrifies me. And yet, when I think of it, through meeting new people, I've made some of my best friends -- Serene, Bons, Ah Hoe, Kylie, Sally and so many others.

Perhaps, it's also knowing that I draw courage and constant re-assurance from my friends that keeps me strong and gets me going.

But I am learning to treat myself better. Believe in myself. Be fair to me.

Sure, the future is completely uncertain. An MBA is not going to assure a wonderful future for me. Only I can make that happen. Me, and damn a lot of luck. :) But it will be good. The future can only get better.

of snakes, crocodiles and all things venomous

This Aussie bloke, who is known to the world as "the crocodile hunter" died yesterday. A stingray's barb had pierced him through the chest, near his heart. Least to say, the bloke didn't make it.

Not to sound mean or some anti-pro-life-, bascially lack-of-any-basic-human-compassion bitch, but he should have seen it coming.

Sure he didn't deserve to die this way. But if you had seen just ten minutes of his program, you would agree with me. The bugger would prode, poke, man-handle some poor innocent creature that is happily resting. And for tv rating's sake, the poor creature would be some venomous/fierce/has jaws and teeth that will crush you to bits/could sit on you and kill you just in an instant.

I mean those are tools that nature has given these animals to protect themselves. If your backside is itchy, and decide to test the boundaries with Herr Grimm, then you sure got to be prepared that there is a high possibility that you may just die at the mercy of these animals.

Sure, some people say he is young, has a wife has a kid. Well then I sure hope he had insurance, course it is just plain stupidity to have done what he did.

and poof, just like that, it's gone

Men are from out of this galaxy and women are from earth.

They should seriously do a re-write of the title, that book "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus".

Texted S. to ask if he had a girlfriend now, cos I wanted to borrow accommodation from him a night before school dorm opens up. And his reply was, " I don't want to talk about it."

Which is in short -- yes I DO have a girlfriend.

So typical of men. Women brood and contemplate over relationships. But men -- I'm just catchin' the next train outta town!

We should ALL be like that, not just men. Why should they get the easy end of the deal?

I'll miss you

Going away and giving up all the comforts and familiarity of home, here's a list of what the things I'll be sacrificing and missing.

Sacrifices (in no particular order)

1. My first and comfy car
   
2. TV & Cable
   
3. Familiarity of friends and family around me
4. My shoes
5. Mobile phone
6. Spending money
   

What I'll be missing

1. The rascals (will miss them very much, as these are their formative years)
2. Logging on to see my friends on MSN
3. Family
4. Cosy feeling when it rains real heavy and I'm home, or in my car
5. Shopping in Singapore
6. Cheap travel

Let's see how many of these come true.

Fetishes

My name is kitty and I've a shoe fetish.

I don't know how some women can not like shoes! I can just go through pages and pages of bimbotic reading looking just at shoes. I may be jaded about life, men, entire dating scenario, empty bank account, future. But shoes, I sure got a passion for shoes.

What you can learn about life from shoes:

1. You can never have enough of them.
2. The will is mightier than the body. ie. If you love shoes that much, you learn to run in 3 inch heels for buses.

When I first started working, shoe budgets were like $70. Anything more would be considered frivalous.

Then it was $90.

Then $100.

Now my threshold is at $130. ONLY, and I swear on my latest BCBG 3 inch Pink Stilletos, only if it they are on sale.

Ah, those pink stilletos, they were my last buy before I was out of a job. Obviously I can't wear them to Bath. Can you imagine, I'll be painfully trying to trudge up the hills of Claverton Down in 3 inch, which will absolutely ruin my calves for those UGG boots that I want.

ooooo UGGs. I used to think they were hideous. Still think some of the more common designs are. But then I came across the Uptown II. It was love at first sight.

Obviously, sunny island doesn't carry UGG, why doesn't anyone carry UGG in always-sunny-hot-and-humid tropical paradise?

So yes, they cost USD190, excluding taxes and shipping. Wondering if I can get them any cheaper in the UK.

when it rains, it pours

It's been raining all of last night and whole of today.

I love days like that. And none of that proxy drizzle, drizzle light rain you get in UK. It just POURS! To the point where sometimes it is just useless carrying even a brolly. The sky gets gloomy the dark clouds so low. Temperature drops down a couple of degrees. And you are in bed, snuggled between sheets, just swishing your legs against the bedlinens that have been washed over a million times. Oooooo and kitty blankie in arms. *BIG SNIFF*

My friend who had to move over to Hong Kong to work for 2 years brought her stinky Por Por over.

"You mean you're not going not going to bring kitty blankie over to UK?" friend said in disbelief

"I don't know if she can survive the journey there!"I replied.

"When I came to HK, there was no doubt about it, Por Por was coming over."

I guess I will bring kitty blankie over. It is kinda like dog training (me being the dog, of course). You know what they say about acclimatising your puppy, when you first bring him home?*

I once had to to hide kitty blankie cause my then boyfriend came to my then rented apartment and he found it somewhat cute. But NEVER again. I'll never hide my kitty for some stupid man. For men may come and men may go, but kitty blankie (in my surreal world) lives forever.

*For those less in touch with pooches, what owners are supposed to do is to bring a blankie to the birth place, put it there a few days, so that the blankie absorbs the smell of the mommy dog. Then when you move the pup over home for the first time, leave him with the blankie so that he'll find something familiar.

minus one

I received a call from some PR company today, who told me that I was one of the 90 selected by "sponsors" to win $4,500 shopping vouchers.

So the conversation went something like this...

N: Congratulations, you have been selected by our sponsors to win cash, electronic ... droning droning... However Ms. L, if you are selected for this and you ultimately win the grand draw, you and your partner will need to be involved in the media and PR for this.
KBO: (Some what skeptical and suspicious about the whole call) Okay, tell me more about it.

(after 5 minutes, and after verifying my details, from goodness knows where they got my details, I had to confess as N was going on and on about me and my imaginary "partner".)

KBO: But I'm single.
N: Then just now I said you and your partner, you said yes, yes, yes.
(Yah, so I lied, sue me. Not like this scam is any real anyway)
N: Ok well this lucky draw is not applicable to you then. Bye.

Click.

Hey wait a second, I thought I was being discriminated against by my favourite people in white. Is this even ALLOWED? So even if my income, (combined or otherwise) exceeds $5,000, which was their criteria for participating, am I STILL disqualified?

Felt quite miffed by the twit. And to think the day started off great with a rainy morning and had the kids in fantastic mood.

super heart break

Got accepted by Bath Uni, and will be on my way there for one whole year!

It's (shamefully) true. That after 30 something years, this will be my second time out on my own. And the awful truth -- I'm scared as hell.

Everyone tells me that this is going to be the greatest experience of my life. And it should be. So why am I not looking forward to it?

top worries of KBO

1. That people will absolutely HATE me, and hence
   
2. Can't get along with anyone.
3. Be the dumbest person in the MBA class.
4. Life, after borrowing huge amounts of money and forever my ass will be bleeding from the debt, post-MBA will be the same arse crap.
   

Initially was filled with trepidation, that I would sooooooo miss my darlings. Well I still am. I can imagine, in my lonely nights on my single bed, shivering away in cold English winter sounds of Where are you yee yee? will be there to haunt me. But they will never be with me forever. I mean, firstly, they are not my kids. Secondly, fact is that my sister WILL move away.

It's hard not to be pessimistic about things. But from the way things have been going for me, it is hard to positive about things.

My nephew knows that I am going away to study for a year. And just yesterday, while I was preparing to go out for lunch, he came home, and saw me getting ready to go out.

J: Where are you going?
KBO: Out, having lunch with Auntie Yvonne.
J: Why are you having lunch with Auntie Yvonne?
KBO: Cos Yee Yee is going away to study in England for a long time. So she wants to meet me before I go.
J thought that I was leaving for England that very moment. Eyes were all teary
J: But I wouldn't like that. I wouldn't like that I come home and you won't be home. Will you come home, like mommy when she goes out, and I go to bed and wake up and you are home?
Me getting all teary as well.
KBO: No, this is not like that. One year is a long time. But we can talk on the computer.

Super heart melt. Super heart break.

Just a passing ship

In about 3 weeks, I'll be packed and on my way to UK. Not to see Mr S. Things are over between us, which is sudden, but not unexpected.

I think there has to be some element of truth to the fortune-teller's predications. That there are like a million lonely stars in my path and even then will kena tua by a million more morons before woohoo! true love PREVAILS.

I guess after Mr S, it does affect me a little. But for some reason, I'm not quite upset about things, just mentally accepting things that happen. I mean I've seen things with people who were married and broken up, and think, what I've gone through is just a fraction of the pain they've gone through.

Anyway heard this song from "Prime" and fell in love with it immediately. It's called I wish you love

English lyrics by Albert A. Beach
French lyrics and music by Charles L. Trenet

Goodbye, no use leading with our chins
This is where our story ends
Never lovers, ever friends
Goodbye, let our hearts call it a day
But before you walk away
I sincerely want to say
I wish you bluebirds in the spring
To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this
I wish you love

And in July a lemonade
To cool you in some leafy glade
I wish you health
But more than wealth
I wish you love
My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free

I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love
I wish you love
I wish you love, love, love, love, love
I wish you love

What I've realised is that, this is scary but true...if the "right" person comes along and asks me to marry him, have his kids, I'll probably say yes. It's probably all genetically programmed in us to want that. Particularly gals. I mean in my head I'm still quite sure I'll never want children. Since I can't even make enough to send myself to business school, what more a child? What if she wants to go to business school? I won't have the kind of money to send her there. It wouldn't be fair to her. Or worst I gotta tell my kids they can't have what they want cause mommy can't afford it?!

Afterall, like I once selfishly told my mom, children didn't ask to be born. If you want children, you have to make sure you give them all they want.

Digressing, digressing.

Back to my point. Yes, I'll probably want children, marriage (order doesn't matter), but with the right man. One who I know will love me for a long long time. We shouldn't sell ourselves short just because some other person:

1. Can't accept us for what we are
2. Can't control his sexual urges
3. Can't treat me right.
4. Can't compromise.

All I ask for is a man who will love me, care for me and be fair and honest to me. I wonder how many men can live up to that?

Just like what my friend Kylie told me, let it be. Let this whole incident be a passing ship and move on.