Here's to true friendship that has weathered many storms, yet emerged stronger than before.
GH and I have been school mates for nearly nine years now... sec school, jc, then university. But I guess we never got to know each other well enough until recently. Even though we were close since jc, doing many stupid things together, taking turns to practice on the grand piano... we never actually understood each other on a deeper level. In university, we were twins in the department, always seen together (especially since we had most of our modules at the same time). We turned to each other for company, supporting each other through long nights churning out essays to be handed in the next day, having dinner together (taking 4 hrs!), going on day trips...
This year we drifted apart. I moved out with some others, she continued staying in student accommodation. She got close to HS, believed HS's tales about others, including me... I got close to II, complaining to each other about HS's self-centered behaviour. There was some tension in the beginning, since GH believed me to be what HS said of me. We remained cordial at the very least, and gradually broke the ice while having to play in the same rehearsals.
Only a few months ago did GH see HS for what she really was. Somehow she had matured a lot and was so different from when I last saw her before the holidays. When HS saw GH fraternising with the enemy, GH was of course written off as 'one of them' as well. It's heartwarming now that things have been cleared up and we can be there to support each other again, with increasing understanding of each other. I guess discussing our stupidity and mistakes opens the door to other topics we've always kept to ourselves.
I'm glad I have a friend like GH. It's significant that such a topic has made me break the silence that has settled over this blog; what better to write about to revive a dead blog?
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Easter break
It's the holidays again, this time with three essays and two pieces (one not more than 6 mins and one 8-12 mins long). And this time I'll be good. No more one-day-late essay that got demoted two grades down just because they took away 5 marks for the lateness! No way.
On top of the essays and assignments, I'll also be preparing for a written paper and two recitals. And an extra recital that's not graded for me, but I'm just playing as part of somebody's ensemble. Of course I'll have to make sure I play properly and not be the cause of her getting a grade lower than she deserves. I might accompany her for her recital too, if she remembers to leave me the scores before she goes home for the holidays.
Guess I don't have it as bad as people who have to spend their holiday preparing for about 3-5 papers. But it also depends on how you see the situation, I think? Anyway, I'm quite pleased that at least not all the deadlines are on the first day of term.
Had a good break yesterday, though. OM came down to visit us and he gave very constructive comments when I played some of my recital stuff for him. He's a great help. Then we (OM, II, GH and I) went yum cha-ing for lunch. It wasn't too expensive in the end since we could split the bill between the four of us. A pleasant change from normal chinese meals that would end up costing about the same.
I had a day-off as well. I just love not having a nagging feeling at the back of my head that's making sure I remember I have to get to work by 5.30. Went for a movie with HN at night and we had a great time laughing at the silliness of mr bean. Just felt he was so stupid to be running away from authorities when he could have asked them for help. But he was real hilarious and sort of cute in a way while he was in the car with the French actress. I guess that's what bean is, his silliness is what makes everyone laugh. However I kept feeling he is evil, because of some of the things he did. Of course, at the end of the day he's the mr-good-guy who managed to return the stranded boy to his father (which is in no small part due to luck).
Well, going to start mugging and working hard from today! Although at the back of my head I think I will watch 300, with HN again. Of course I won't say no when he's such a fantastic person to catch movies with.
On top of the essays and assignments, I'll also be preparing for a written paper and two recitals. And an extra recital that's not graded for me, but I'm just playing as part of somebody's ensemble. Of course I'll have to make sure I play properly and not be the cause of her getting a grade lower than she deserves. I might accompany her for her recital too, if she remembers to leave me the scores before she goes home for the holidays.
Guess I don't have it as bad as people who have to spend their holiday preparing for about 3-5 papers. But it also depends on how you see the situation, I think? Anyway, I'm quite pleased that at least not all the deadlines are on the first day of term.
Had a good break yesterday, though. OM came down to visit us and he gave very constructive comments when I played some of my recital stuff for him. He's a great help. Then we (OM, II, GH and I) went yum cha-ing for lunch. It wasn't too expensive in the end since we could split the bill between the four of us. A pleasant change from normal chinese meals that would end up costing about the same.
I had a day-off as well. I just love not having a nagging feeling at the back of my head that's making sure I remember I have to get to work by 5.30. Went for a movie with HN at night and we had a great time laughing at the silliness of mr bean. Just felt he was so stupid to be running away from authorities when he could have asked them for help. But he was real hilarious and sort of cute in a way while he was in the car with the French actress. I guess that's what bean is, his silliness is what makes everyone laugh. However I kept feeling he is evil, because of some of the things he did. Of course, at the end of the day he's the mr-good-guy who managed to return the stranded boy to his father (which is in no small part due to luck).
Well, going to start mugging and working hard from today! Although at the back of my head I think I will watch 300, with HN again. Of course I won't say no when he's such a fantastic person to catch movies with.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
To Kill a Mockingchicken
Yesterday was my first time butchering a whole chicken. At first I was wondering what to do first and where to start, then it was a little odd feeling the bones cracking under the knife, but the mission was finally completed after forty minutes. Basically only cut off the thighs, wings and breast meat. Decided not to waste my time figuring out what to do with the rib cage since I was going to use it to make chicken soup anyway, so I just chopped it into half for easier storage in the freezer. Wish I had a chopper though; I imagine the job would have been easier if I was using that rather than a normal knife.
Definitely going to do more of this. At £2.99 a chicken, it's so much cheaper than buying like chicken breast/thigh/wings from the supermarkets at I-dunno-how-much-because-I-never-buy-them prices. And I can do so many things with the chicken! Just made my chicken soup just now after coming home from work... and three hours later, woohoo done! I love getting the meat off because it's already falling off the bones, and I'm keeping the meat for making sandwiches during the week (so healthy right... lol). I always like using home-cooked chicken soup for stuff that needs taste instead of those chicken stock cubes (which off course are more handy).
I love this! I can imagine enjoying a hot bowl of soup just before rushing off to work on one of those days when I just barely have enough time to change and put the make-up on after reaching home before I have to leave again. Will have some of the rest of the chicken for dinner on Monday and Tuesday, when I don't have to go to work. Haven't had a proper home-cooked meal for so long now, very satisfied and contented :)
On the work front, since yesterday I've been half a chef and half a waitress. I'm really interested and one of the new girls doesn't mind doing either cooking or waitressing, so I've been trying out the cooking. So far it's good, pretty much common sense and also cos I've seen them doing stuff for so long already. If I really want to make the full switch to a chef though, I guess I'll have to master the tossing thing they do when stir-frying the noodles. Seems like it's very essential to getting the ingredients evenly-mixed! Trying to do so with chopsticks, no matter how conscientiously, still doesn't seem to work well enough.
Now that I've been up way past my bedtime, I don't feel sleepy anymore (or maybe it's the coffee NH made just now?)... think I will start doing the work for Tuesdays' tutorial. That would be a nice change from my usual Monday night frenzied-churning sessions.
Definitely going to do more of this. At £2.99 a chicken, it's so much cheaper than buying like chicken breast/thigh/wings from the supermarkets at I-dunno-how-much-because-I-never-buy-them prices. And I can do so many things with the chicken! Just made my chicken soup just now after coming home from work... and three hours later, woohoo done! I love getting the meat off because it's already falling off the bones, and I'm keeping the meat for making sandwiches during the week (so healthy right... lol). I always like using home-cooked chicken soup for stuff that needs taste instead of those chicken stock cubes (which off course are more handy).
I love this! I can imagine enjoying a hot bowl of soup just before rushing off to work on one of those days when I just barely have enough time to change and put the make-up on after reaching home before I have to leave again. Will have some of the rest of the chicken for dinner on Monday and Tuesday, when I don't have to go to work. Haven't had a proper home-cooked meal for so long now, very satisfied and contented :)
On the work front, since yesterday I've been half a chef and half a waitress. I'm really interested and one of the new girls doesn't mind doing either cooking or waitressing, so I've been trying out the cooking. So far it's good, pretty much common sense and also cos I've seen them doing stuff for so long already. If I really want to make the full switch to a chef though, I guess I'll have to master the tossing thing they do when stir-frying the noodles. Seems like it's very essential to getting the ingredients evenly-mixed! Trying to do so with chopsticks, no matter how conscientiously, still doesn't seem to work well enough.
Now that I've been up way past my bedtime, I don't feel sleepy anymore (or maybe it's the coffee NH made just now?)... think I will start doing the work for Tuesdays' tutorial. That would be a nice change from my usual Monday night frenzied-churning sessions.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
All in a day's work
So much for feeling sufficiently recharged after taking a break on Wednesday.
On Thursday, all hell let loose in the restaurant. A chef had her day off and the two other chefs couldn't cook fast enough, the new chef/waitress (she hasn't decided) couldn't do much to help, and we were 80% full on a normally more relaxed week night. I was alternately waiting on tables, trying to placate complaining (read: fussy, non-regular) customers who didn't know our good food is always worth waiting for (seriously! the regulars never complain about waiting), and running upstairs to get more of anything that the chefs ran out of because they were too busy to do so.
At least the new chef/waitress could help me write the bills and do some washing up, otherwise I think I might have had a very strong impulse to slap anyone who called me over to their table just to tell me they've been waiting very long for their food. Duh, I know! But what can I do?! Not like I can speed up the cooking process! I was helping with things like getting the rice ready for the donburi dishes or kare rice or set or whatever, or beating the eggs, but that was about all.
After such a busy night at the restaurant and not enough sleep last night (helping a friend with some school stuff), I had an absolutely rubbish morning. GH and I had to accompany some singers for a masterclass, and because I've been too busy to practise this piece, I was sight-reading it. So was GH, but her sight-reading skills are considerably better than mine. The professional giving the class didn't give me time to react when he told me where he was singing from; he referred to them by the text instead of the bar numbers, and by the time I've found the place he'd already started singing. I'd be trying to catch where else he'd got to by then and trying to sight-read at the same time. At one point I was really lost and didn't know where he was singing at all, the second time he started, I finally found it. And the third time, I was ready to play, but for some reason he thought I wasn't. So he came over to the piano and told me off for wasting everyone's time.
I didn't respond in any way at all (read: stone face), but GH was definitely pissed off and I could feel the vibe from the singers being more tense. After the thing ended, GH furiously bitched to me in Mandarin (so that nobody would know what we're saying hehe the benefits of Mandarin!). Yep, it is my fault that I didn't practise this piece. But even if I really did, chances are I would still screw up the first or second times because you're singing a recitative and I don't know what @%&%# speed you're singing it, and where you're going from, damn it! ARGH.
Like GH said, it's not as if we were obliged to play for them; we could have said we weren't free when asked to help play for it. It was terrible to be put down in front of all the singers attending the masterclass like that, as if my poor sight-reading wasn't enough to show them that I'm such a LOSER. It's times like this I'm glad to have been with my piano teacher in Singapore, for her harsh criticisms (some friends have actually cried because of what she said), and maybe for whatever-it-is that makes me so able to remain stone-y in times of crisis. Blessing in disguise, maybe? My piano teacher used to say I play like a block of wood (read: emotionless), but the woody-ness of me also helps me not to react to harsh remarks. I'm glad to report that I still smiled at some of the singers who made eye contact with me at the end of the masterclass (no doubt checking I was all right, no?)
GH was also saying, if the pianist had been some local brit, (and had been in my situation), it would have been likely that he/she would have ended up crying. Because the piano teachers here are so PC! Everything you play is 'good!'. That applies to my first-year teacher. At least the teacher I have this year has more constructive criticisms on top of the 'good' that he says after every piece I play. Lol. Sigh... now I am totally relieved of all my negative feelings from this morning and it doesn't keep replaying in my head. Well, at least people who've heard me play for concerts know I can do it if I practise. I am not CMI lor! *grim and determined mood*
Now it's an early (ya, 2am in the morning is REAL early man) bed time for me, and an early rise tomorrow for a fresh start to a hopefully-sunny day full of practising!
On Thursday, all hell let loose in the restaurant. A chef had her day off and the two other chefs couldn't cook fast enough, the new chef/waitress (she hasn't decided) couldn't do much to help, and we were 80% full on a normally more relaxed week night. I was alternately waiting on tables, trying to placate complaining (read: fussy, non-regular) customers who didn't know our good food is always worth waiting for (seriously! the regulars never complain about waiting), and running upstairs to get more of anything that the chefs ran out of because they were too busy to do so.
At least the new chef/waitress could help me write the bills and do some washing up, otherwise I think I might have had a very strong impulse to slap anyone who called me over to their table just to tell me they've been waiting very long for their food. Duh, I know! But what can I do?! Not like I can speed up the cooking process! I was helping with things like getting the rice ready for the donburi dishes or kare rice or set or whatever, or beating the eggs, but that was about all.
After such a busy night at the restaurant and not enough sleep last night (helping a friend with some school stuff), I had an absolutely rubbish morning. GH and I had to accompany some singers for a masterclass, and because I've been too busy to practise this piece, I was sight-reading it. So was GH, but her sight-reading skills are considerably better than mine. The professional giving the class didn't give me time to react when he told me where he was singing from; he referred to them by the text instead of the bar numbers, and by the time I've found the place he'd already started singing. I'd be trying to catch where else he'd got to by then and trying to sight-read at the same time. At one point I was really lost and didn't know where he was singing at all, the second time he started, I finally found it. And the third time, I was ready to play, but for some reason he thought I wasn't. So he came over to the piano and told me off for wasting everyone's time.
I didn't respond in any way at all (read: stone face), but GH was definitely pissed off and I could feel the vibe from the singers being more tense. After the thing ended, GH furiously bitched to me in Mandarin (so that nobody would know what we're saying hehe the benefits of Mandarin!). Yep, it is my fault that I didn't practise this piece. But even if I really did, chances are I would still screw up the first or second times because you're singing a recitative and I don't know what @%&%# speed you're singing it, and where you're going from, damn it! ARGH.
Like GH said, it's not as if we were obliged to play for them; we could have said we weren't free when asked to help play for it. It was terrible to be put down in front of all the singers attending the masterclass like that, as if my poor sight-reading wasn't enough to show them that I'm such a LOSER. It's times like this I'm glad to have been with my piano teacher in Singapore, for her harsh criticisms (some friends have actually cried because of what she said), and maybe for whatever-it-is that makes me so able to remain stone-y in times of crisis. Blessing in disguise, maybe? My piano teacher used to say I play like a block of wood (read: emotionless), but the woody-ness of me also helps me not to react to harsh remarks. I'm glad to report that I still smiled at some of the singers who made eye contact with me at the end of the masterclass (no doubt checking I was all right, no?)
GH was also saying, if the pianist had been some local brit, (and had been in my situation), it would have been likely that he/she would have ended up crying. Because the piano teachers here are so PC! Everything you play is 'good!'. That applies to my first-year teacher. At least the teacher I have this year has more constructive criticisms on top of the 'good' that he says after every piece I play. Lol. Sigh... now I am totally relieved of all my negative feelings from this morning and it doesn't keep replaying in my head. Well, at least people who've heard me play for concerts know I can do it if I practise. I am not CMI lor! *grim and determined mood*
Now it's an early (ya, 2am in the morning is REAL early man) bed time for me, and an early rise tomorrow for a fresh start to a hopefully-sunny day full of practising!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Half-relaxing Valentine's day
Gave myself an impromptu day off school today. Impromptu, because I had intended to go and practise in the morning but only woke up at 9am. So I had a good lie in before slowly crawling out of bed after 10am.Finally got to the library in the city to return some books and II's cds (she's away in London). And the shopping spree started, though not before I went to the music shop to get some scores (hey, shopping for scores is still shopping!)
Actually, I wouldn't really call it a shopping spree because I only bought a top and a jacket, and both are from the same shop! Shopaholics will all go 'chey!' when they find out how my 'shopping spree' went. Anyway, I managed to find a top that I liked and didn't cost too much. BUT it was size 12... asked for a size 8 or 10 to try, but the sales assistant said everything in the shop was all they had left. What to do, go for affordable is like that one lor. I still decided to buy it, because I can just wear a tube inside the top, plus the sleeves weren't too loose so it should be ok. Managed to find the jacket in size 10, and it looks ok, just that the shoulder part of it does look a little loose on closer scrutiny. Tried both together, and it looked quite ok to me, but I really dunno if that was just my 'whatever la, just buy them and I can go home now!' side talking. Well, shall try them on for the housemates' approval/disapproval some day.
I treated myself to 8 Millie's cookies, 3 of which I've already gobbled down. Going to go easy on the rest of them because I'm watching my weight till this Sunday is over! Haha as if it's going to make a big difference though... well it's just the temporary way to loose a little weight I guess. Will put in some effort to permanently do that when I'm not too busy (which will be never hehe).
Relaxed a bit when I got home, but I still managed to get some work done in the form of listening to the big work we've been rehearsing every Tuesday evening. Tiring stuff that I never got down to doing and now that I have, it's really fulfilling and I hope will be helpful towards my sight-reading it at rehearsals in future. Because we keyboardists don't practise stuff that are not solos, don't you know? Actually, that's not true... I've been diligently practising the pieces I play with singers and the ensemble, but I've just had too much going on to have time to practise for this piece as well.
Work at the restaurant was really busy tonight. All couples, and on top of the reservations we'd already got, many others kept coming. What really threw me into a big mess was that some customers claimed they had a reservation when they didn't. And I offered them the reserved tables only to find out later when the real customers who reserved the table came. ARGH. Fortunately it didn't turn out toooo badly... I hope. I think one customer was rather pissed to be turned away :(
The boss got roses to be given to every female customer, and there were extras in the end so we all got to take one each! And the housemates surprised me with a bunch of roses at 12 midnight (lol too late!), when they just came home from somewhere. All in all, not really a fully exhausting day and I had some time off everything to just recharge. Ready to dive into the busy swirl of activities again tomorrow!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Muscle ache
Phew, really exhausted.
Apart from the seminar presentation this afternoon, I spent the whole day practising. Having my lesson tomorrow... and no, this is not last minute practising! I practise almost every day, but I would say some days are not productive and generally it gets really productive nearer the lessons. My arms are aching quite a bit because after the seminar, I spent about three hours practising on the piano with really heavy keys. It's good to do it since it'll prepare me for playing loud enough for the assessed recital, but I don't get to do this that often because the room is always occupied.
I never get tired of practising. Mentally, I mean. I really am physically tired today, but it only happens once in a while. Love to have long practice sessons that give me enough time to go into the details. And all the effort will eventually result in a good performance, I hope. I was really happy to hear from fellow ensemble players today that they enjoyed the concert last Friday. Especially the piece with the singer. Whee... I enjoyed playing it as much as they enjoyed listening to it! :D
The presentation for the seminar went well too. Between the two of us, we sometimes had different analyses from each other, but that was good because in the end one of them would be correct. And we don't have to do a presentation for next week. The catch is that he set us four half-an-hour-on-average works to listen to before the next lesson. (Active listening, i.e. finding out its history, sourcing for other information on it, look for the score, listen to the work with the score.) Bleargh. We're still not going to get a weekend in the end huh.
Will try to do everything during the week and maybe at most finish them on Saturday. Cos Sunday's the cny dinner! Haven't bought anything to wear yet, but am planning to go shopping on Wednesday. Just hope nothing crops up between now and then :/
Apart from the seminar presentation this afternoon, I spent the whole day practising. Having my lesson tomorrow... and no, this is not last minute practising! I practise almost every day, but I would say some days are not productive and generally it gets really productive nearer the lessons. My arms are aching quite a bit because after the seminar, I spent about three hours practising on the piano with really heavy keys. It's good to do it since it'll prepare me for playing loud enough for the assessed recital, but I don't get to do this that often because the room is always occupied.
I never get tired of practising. Mentally, I mean. I really am physically tired today, but it only happens once in a while. Love to have long practice sessons that give me enough time to go into the details. And all the effort will eventually result in a good performance, I hope. I was really happy to hear from fellow ensemble players today that they enjoyed the concert last Friday. Especially the piece with the singer. Whee... I enjoyed playing it as much as they enjoyed listening to it! :D
The presentation for the seminar went well too. Between the two of us, we sometimes had different analyses from each other, but that was good because in the end one of them would be correct. And we don't have to do a presentation for next week. The catch is that he set us four half-an-hour-on-average works to listen to before the next lesson. (Active listening, i.e. finding out its history, sourcing for other information on it, look for the score, listen to the work with the score.) Bleargh. We're still not going to get a weekend in the end huh.
Will try to do everything during the week and maybe at most finish them on Saturday. Cos Sunday's the cny dinner! Haven't bought anything to wear yet, but am planning to go shopping on Wednesday. Just hope nothing crops up between now and then :/
Friday, February 09, 2007
White Chinese New Year
It's been snowing since yesterday! And it's real snow this time, as opposed to the 'fake' snow last year, which just falls for a short while and then turns into slush quickly. This snow is still here and everything is buried under a blanket of white. It's really beautiful.
This was taken yesterday morning from one of the practice rooms.
This afternoon. Everywhere looked so magically transformed. I love how the clock tower was veiled in white.
Pretty. Looks like a scene from the countryside/forest eh? (Ignore the fence haha) It's actually just the road along which I walk to and from uni. I love to see snow on branches. And also bare branches against the sky. It's a little morbid and sad, but they are also amazingly beautiful in a way I can't describe.
By the time I reached home at about 6pm today, the snow on the ground was so thick that I couldn't see the footpath any more. It's so magical! Everything's white!
Had a good day today, basically. Apart from getting quite soaked and cold from walking in the snow, and being quite tired at the end of the week, everything else was good. The concert was good, I didn't screw up my piece except for a tiny detail at the beginning (so tiny that I think possibly only those who've heard me during the run-through will notice). I also didn't screw up while playing for a singer, other than a slight stumble somewhere when I wasn't concentrating enough. Fortunately I managed not to let it sound too obvious and regained my momentum quite quickly. Possibly good luck on a day when I've only had five hours' sleep and have had hour after hour of lessons/discussions just before the concert.
And while rushing home after a lesson ended at 5pm, I just knew I was going to be late for work at 6pm. But the snow turned into a blessing when the boss' wife sms-ed to say they've decided to close the restaurant tonight. Sweet :) I actually had time to cook myself a proper meal, finally, five weeks since the start of term! It really has been so horrible that I've resorted to eating quick-cook stuff like pasta, instant noodles, frozen pizzas, cookies and mostly sandwiches or breakfast cereals, no matter how unhealthy I think they are. I couldn't be bothered.
Ok, going to sleep early tonight. I'm letting myself off because no longer can my brain take any more analysis of the piece a classmate and I have to do for Monday's seminar. We both agree that we've got the hardest movement of the whole piece he set for the class. Sigh, got to get up early tomorrow when I really want to sleep in, especially in such cold weather. But I've got loads to do!
Oh yea, and I'm going for the Chinese New Year dinner next Sunday, but have nothing to wear. Gotta find time to go shopping, but when? This is such a hassle. But I don't want to be MIA again like last year, and anyway where's the fun in staying home by myself on Chinese New Year?
This was taken yesterday morning from one of the practice rooms.
This afternoon. Everywhere looked so magically transformed. I love how the clock tower was veiled in white.
Pretty. Looks like a scene from the countryside/forest eh? (Ignore the fence haha) It's actually just the road along which I walk to and from uni. I love to see snow on branches. And also bare branches against the sky. It's a little morbid and sad, but they are also amazingly beautiful in a way I can't describe.
By the time I reached home at about 6pm today, the snow on the ground was so thick that I couldn't see the footpath any more. It's so magical! Everything's white!
Had a good day today, basically. Apart from getting quite soaked and cold from walking in the snow, and being quite tired at the end of the week, everything else was good. The concert was good, I didn't screw up my piece except for a tiny detail at the beginning (so tiny that I think possibly only those who've heard me during the run-through will notice). I also didn't screw up while playing for a singer, other than a slight stumble somewhere when I wasn't concentrating enough. Fortunately I managed not to let it sound too obvious and regained my momentum quite quickly. Possibly good luck on a day when I've only had five hours' sleep and have had hour after hour of lessons/discussions just before the concert.
And while rushing home after a lesson ended at 5pm, I just knew I was going to be late for work at 6pm. But the snow turned into a blessing when the boss' wife sms-ed to say they've decided to close the restaurant tonight. Sweet :) I actually had time to cook myself a proper meal, finally, five weeks since the start of term! It really has been so horrible that I've resorted to eating quick-cook stuff like pasta, instant noodles, frozen pizzas, cookies and mostly sandwiches or breakfast cereals, no matter how unhealthy I think they are. I couldn't be bothered.
Ok, going to sleep early tonight. I'm letting myself off because no longer can my brain take any more analysis of the piece a classmate and I have to do for Monday's seminar. We both agree that we've got the hardest movement of the whole piece he set for the class. Sigh, got to get up early tomorrow when I really want to sleep in, especially in such cold weather. But I've got loads to do!
Oh yea, and I'm going for the Chinese New Year dinner next Sunday, but have nothing to wear. Gotta find time to go shopping, but when? This is such a hassle. But I don't want to be MIA again like last year, and anyway where's the fun in staying home by myself on Chinese New Year?
Monday, February 05, 2007
Two-hour haircut
Had my haircut today. Finally, after telling NH I wanted to cut my hair since before the Christmas holidays... but since his friend went back home during the hols, I didn't get to cut.
Before I could get my haircut, I had to sit through XG's; I had to follow him to the place because I didn't know where it was. Average cutting time for each person (most of his customers are guys) is an hour, but for me it took two. He said he hadn't cut for a girl for some time already, but his cutting seemed alright to me.
Other than taking so long (which I had also experienced from a salon owner when I went back to Singapore during the summer holidays!), we managed to understand each other quite well when discussing what I want my hair to be like. We spoke in a mixture of Chinese, Cantonese and English... lol this is so weird. When at first we conversed in Chinese, I kept lapsing into English for some unknown reason, and out of the blue he spoke Cantonese to me (because that's what he was speaking to the person before XG). After apologising though, I said I could speak Cantonese as well, so we started to communicate in that, although sometimes it was better to describe some things in more than one language :P
The hair turned out to be acceptable, except that maybe because he's not so experienced, some places are too straight for my liking. But they'll grow soon, I suppose. When I got home I had a big shock looking in the mirror because it looked much shorter than in his mirror! I dunno why... but anyway, I think it's ok. I just hope it's not going to be too messy when I wake up tomorrow morning... the day after haircuts is always panic day.
That's how the hair looked after I took a shower. Not as messy as when I first came home, because he blew dry the hair, and I mean really so dry that there were lots of frizziness. Bleargh, I'm totally against hair dryers. I think they only spoil your hair.
First time is FREE! :D
Before I could get my haircut, I had to sit through XG's; I had to follow him to the place because I didn't know where it was. Average cutting time for each person (most of his customers are guys) is an hour, but for me it took two. He said he hadn't cut for a girl for some time already, but his cutting seemed alright to me.
Other than taking so long (which I had also experienced from a salon owner when I went back to Singapore during the summer holidays!), we managed to understand each other quite well when discussing what I want my hair to be like. We spoke in a mixture of Chinese, Cantonese and English... lol this is so weird. When at first we conversed in Chinese, I kept lapsing into English for some unknown reason, and out of the blue he spoke Cantonese to me (because that's what he was speaking to the person before XG). After apologising though, I said I could speak Cantonese as well, so we started to communicate in that, although sometimes it was better to describe some things in more than one language :P
The hair turned out to be acceptable, except that maybe because he's not so experienced, some places are too straight for my liking. But they'll grow soon, I suppose. When I got home I had a big shock looking in the mirror because it looked much shorter than in his mirror! I dunno why... but anyway, I think it's ok. I just hope it's not going to be too messy when I wake up tomorrow morning... the day after haircuts is always panic day.
That's how the hair looked after I took a shower. Not as messy as when I first came home, because he blew dry the hair, and I mean really so dry that there were lots of frizziness. Bleargh, I'm totally against hair dryers. I think they only spoil your hair.
First time is FREE! :D
Friday, February 02, 2007
More updates
Still busy with work and uni, although it was slightly better this week in that once the presentation on Monday was over, I felt more relaxed. And fortunately he didn't set us another presentation for next Monday! That would be killer... presentations on both the second and third lessons for a module, I'll just die.
Still haven't started on my final piece for one of the modules. It doesn't help that instead of the usual weekly lectures we had last term, we'll have fortnightly individual tutorials this term; the less frequent lessons are for a module, the less motivated I am to start doing work. Guess I'll have to do the usual and rush through this weekend to produce something decent for next week's tutorial. A leopard never changes its spots. Sigh.
On Wednesday evening I told the boss that by mid-March I'll stop working on Wednesdays. Beforehand I really wanted to say mid-February, but I guess that's a bit of a short notice. I do love the extra amount I earn for working Wednesdays, but I think working four evenings per week is beginning to take a toll on me. Need time, big time! I've also calculated that at present two weeks' wages covers the rent, the next two weeks' goes into bills and other expenses, the remaining money is saved up for next year's tuition fees. Without working Wednesdays, I'll probably use about two and a half weeks' wages for rent, then stretch the expenses a little in order to manage paying the bills without having to deduct from the savings. Think it'll still work. I've already stopped being lazy by packing my own sandwiches for lunch everyday, instead of buying really expensive sandwiches at an average of £2! Yes, I know, I shouldn't be converting currencies and all that, but I can't help it! If it helps, I do convert my wages from time to time too... hehe.
Today, a loud and persistant doorbell-ring at 9am got me jumping out of bed and running down the stairs. Because I knew my precious baby was going to be delivered today. Woohoo, I have my own euphonium at last! Over the last few weeks I had been viewing lots of second-hand euphoniums online, deliberating whether to bid for them (most are on e-bay), then deciding not to. Also calculated and re-calculated how my spending on an euphonium would affect my finances. Finally, last week I saw a Buy-it-now! euphonium on e-bay for £700 and after staring at the page for over an hour, decided to buy it. That's just about how much I earned for working in the cafe during the Christmas holidays. Right now I'm still unsure if this wasn't a good decision; what if this £700 could be like a miracle if I ran out of money later? But there's no way to tell, I'll just have to hope that's never going to happen.
Anyway, more about my baby. It isn't my Besson Sovereign model dream baby, but a second-hand Boosey & Hawkes Imperial model for this price is good enough for me. It was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday, but because stupid me forgot that I had only changed my address in paypal and not in e-bay. So the instrument got sent to my university accommodation last year. By some stroke of luck, either nobody was in or they kindly directed the parcel deliverer to the main reception, where someone rejected the parcel because they couldn't find my name in their records. And by the time I realised about my address in e-bay, this was all already in progress. By the time I called the local depot the next morning, the parcel was already back in the seller's local depot. Fortunately she managed to get them to hold it and then send it back to me, this time to the right address. Very contented now :)
Still haven't started on my final piece for one of the modules. It doesn't help that instead of the usual weekly lectures we had last term, we'll have fortnightly individual tutorials this term; the less frequent lessons are for a module, the less motivated I am to start doing work. Guess I'll have to do the usual and rush through this weekend to produce something decent for next week's tutorial. A leopard never changes its spots. Sigh.
On Wednesday evening I told the boss that by mid-March I'll stop working on Wednesdays. Beforehand I really wanted to say mid-February, but I guess that's a bit of a short notice. I do love the extra amount I earn for working Wednesdays, but I think working four evenings per week is beginning to take a toll on me. Need time, big time! I've also calculated that at present two weeks' wages covers the rent, the next two weeks' goes into bills and other expenses, the remaining money is saved up for next year's tuition fees. Without working Wednesdays, I'll probably use about two and a half weeks' wages for rent, then stretch the expenses a little in order to manage paying the bills without having to deduct from the savings. Think it'll still work. I've already stopped being lazy by packing my own sandwiches for lunch everyday, instead of buying really expensive sandwiches at an average of £2! Yes, I know, I shouldn't be converting currencies and all that, but I can't help it! If it helps, I do convert my wages from time to time too... hehe.
Today, a loud and persistant doorbell-ring at 9am got me jumping out of bed and running down the stairs. Because I knew my precious baby was going to be delivered today. Woohoo, I have my own euphonium at last! Over the last few weeks I had been viewing lots of second-hand euphoniums online, deliberating whether to bid for them (most are on e-bay), then deciding not to. Also calculated and re-calculated how my spending on an euphonium would affect my finances. Finally, last week I saw a Buy-it-now! euphonium on e-bay for £700 and after staring at the page for over an hour, decided to buy it. That's just about how much I earned for working in the cafe during the Christmas holidays. Right now I'm still unsure if this wasn't a good decision; what if this £700 could be like a miracle if I ran out of money later? But there's no way to tell, I'll just have to hope that's never going to happen.
Anyway, more about my baby. It isn't my Besson Sovereign model dream baby, but a second-hand Boosey & Hawkes Imperial model for this price is good enough for me. It was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday, but because stupid me forgot that I had only changed my address in paypal and not in e-bay. So the instrument got sent to my university accommodation last year. By some stroke of luck, either nobody was in or they kindly directed the parcel deliverer to the main reception, where someone rejected the parcel because they couldn't find my name in their records. And by the time I realised about my address in e-bay, this was all already in progress. By the time I called the local depot the next morning, the parcel was already back in the seller's local depot. Fortunately she managed to get them to hold it and then send it back to me, this time to the right address. Very contented now :)
Sunday, January 28, 2007
I wish there were more than 24 hours a day...
Arghhhh. Wanted to wake up really early yesterday and today, about around 6am so that I can get to uni by 7-7.30 to practise. But was dead tired after a very busy night in the restaurant on Friday, so I only woke up at 10am yesterday. Didn't even hear my alarm clock. Hate the feeling of frustration when I realise how late it is and how many hours I've wasted. So I rushed to school and managed to squeeze in about 4.5 hours of practising before having to come home and go to work.
Also asked the boss if I could just set up the restaurant and then leave at opening time, since the other waitress would be working. Was really evil to do this, but at that point I couldn't really be bothered anymore because I've now ended up working every Wednesday for her although when we first agreed on that it was meant to be temporary. I needed the time too; hadn't had time to move my stuff into my room over the week (the whole table was cluttered with stuff that belong to various housemates... they seemed to have likened the empty table to a store room).
So last night I finally piled all the things somewhere on the floor and set up my laptop, hard disk, speakers etc. Finally! A table to do my work on! Later today I'll try to bring the books up from the kitchen too.
Right now I've just finished webcam-ing with the parents and I've got to take a quick shower before I rush to uni to practise. NH's friend is going to cut my hair for me in the afternoon. They say he cuts alright, just that he can sometimes take up to two hours per person, so my whole afternoon is likely to be burnt. Sigh. Things I do to save a bit of money... haha maybe I should reconsider going for a haircut in one of the many salons for £14.99?
Also asked the boss if I could just set up the restaurant and then leave at opening time, since the other waitress would be working. Was really evil to do this, but at that point I couldn't really be bothered anymore because I've now ended up working every Wednesday for her although when we first agreed on that it was meant to be temporary. I needed the time too; hadn't had time to move my stuff into my room over the week (the whole table was cluttered with stuff that belong to various housemates... they seemed to have likened the empty table to a store room).
So last night I finally piled all the things somewhere on the floor and set up my laptop, hard disk, speakers etc. Finally! A table to do my work on! Later today I'll try to bring the books up from the kitchen too.
Right now I've just finished webcam-ing with the parents and I've got to take a quick shower before I rush to uni to practise. NH's friend is going to cut my hair for me in the afternoon. They say he cuts alright, just that he can sometimes take up to two hours per person, so my whole afternoon is likely to be burnt. Sigh. Things I do to save a bit of money... haha maybe I should reconsider going for a haircut in one of the many salons for £14.99?
Monday, January 22, 2007
Back from the dead
Wow... been really busy for the past two weeks. It was really bad, particularly because AL couldn't work in the cafe so I had to do that, take a 3-hour break while HN sets up the restaurant for me, and then work in the restaurant. It really took away whatever time I figured I would have to complete my essays.
At the same time, people came to tear down the plaster in my room and re-plaster and paint, so I had to move my stuff to the kitchen and NH's room. And sleep in a sleeping bag in his room as well, but I didn't get to sleep for 4 days because I was basically going to work, coming home after 11pm and then camping in the kitchen with my laptop until it was time to go to work again the next morning. That, and yet I still couldn't finish one of the three essays by the deadline. I had to give that up and hand it in a day late... was really disappointed in myself. Not so much for not being able to finish, but for procrastinating and leaving the work till so late.
Now my room is finally done, and I can move back, but the wardrobe is still mouldy, so I still can't put clothes in it. Going to just move my laptop and stuff back later, and put the bedsheets on so I can finally sleep in my own room tonight! But I'm going to miss sleeping in the very warm and comfy sleeping bag, although I won't miss the backache from sleeping on the floor.
I could have moved back sooner, but I was busy with the first week of school and for the last three days or so NH took over my room to finish his assignment (his room's in a complete mess now with my stuff cluttering it). But he's finally handed it in today, and I will gradually move out of his room (except my luggage with all the clothes piled on it).
The recital at which I accompanied two singers went really well. There was a last-minute change of piece at the end of last term by one of the singers, which I didn't have the time to practise during the holidays... and when school started, I had a day to practise it before rehearsing it with her the day before the recital. It was really nerve-racking, but I'm glad I managed it. And didn't break down, just had some minor mistakes... which the professional accompanist also had when he played for the singer who abandoned me. So, just goes to show... I'm not that bad afterall! (Saving my own face here la.) Both singers were really sweet and they bought me chocolates; the nicer one of the two bought a really box of chocolate and a really pretty card.
I can finally breathe again this week (or at least for now, I just hope the rest of the week will be ok). Tonight all of the housemates got together and we made assam fish head curry, roti john and roti prata for dinner. It was fantastic, except that the curry wasn't spicy at all (the Germans can't take spicy stuff). Tomorrow after I finish at 7pm I'm going to watch a movie with HN (whee!... but, a week after he asked me, he also asked a fellow colleague and her husband along...). Should be fun. I realised he's a really great friend to hang out with and we never run out of things to chat about, so that's good. Think status quo is great too, things can turn sour sometimes once you cross the line.
Anyway, yep, going to relax a bit before all the studying and working takes it out of me again once term gets into full swing.
At the same time, people came to tear down the plaster in my room and re-plaster and paint, so I had to move my stuff to the kitchen and NH's room. And sleep in a sleeping bag in his room as well, but I didn't get to sleep for 4 days because I was basically going to work, coming home after 11pm and then camping in the kitchen with my laptop until it was time to go to work again the next morning. That, and yet I still couldn't finish one of the three essays by the deadline. I had to give that up and hand it in a day late... was really disappointed in myself. Not so much for not being able to finish, but for procrastinating and leaving the work till so late.
Now my room is finally done, and I can move back, but the wardrobe is still mouldy, so I still can't put clothes in it. Going to just move my laptop and stuff back later, and put the bedsheets on so I can finally sleep in my own room tonight! But I'm going to miss sleeping in the very warm and comfy sleeping bag, although I won't miss the backache from sleeping on the floor.
I could have moved back sooner, but I was busy with the first week of school and for the last three days or so NH took over my room to finish his assignment (his room's in a complete mess now with my stuff cluttering it). But he's finally handed it in today, and I will gradually move out of his room (except my luggage with all the clothes piled on it).
The recital at which I accompanied two singers went really well. There was a last-minute change of piece at the end of last term by one of the singers, which I didn't have the time to practise during the holidays... and when school started, I had a day to practise it before rehearsing it with her the day before the recital. It was really nerve-racking, but I'm glad I managed it. And didn't break down, just had some minor mistakes... which the professional accompanist also had when he played for the singer who abandoned me. So, just goes to show... I'm not that bad afterall! (Saving my own face here la.) Both singers were really sweet and they bought me chocolates; the nicer one of the two bought a really box of chocolate and a really pretty card.
I can finally breathe again this week (or at least for now, I just hope the rest of the week will be ok). Tonight all of the housemates got together and we made assam fish head curry, roti john and roti prata for dinner. It was fantastic, except that the curry wasn't spicy at all (the Germans can't take spicy stuff). Tomorrow after I finish at 7pm I'm going to watch a movie with HN (whee!... but, a week after he asked me, he also asked a fellow colleague and her husband along...). Should be fun. I realised he's a really great friend to hang out with and we never run out of things to chat about, so that's good. Think status quo is great too, things can turn sour sometimes once you cross the line.
Anyway, yep, going to relax a bit before all the studying and working takes it out of me again once term gets into full swing.
Monday, January 08, 2007
One down
Finished the assignment tonight, finally... after about 2 hours spent creating only 1 minute of music. Pathetic. At least that's done, I guess. Just left with the write-up, which I'll do after I've finished the essays.
Went to the uni's other campus today after work, because I needed another edition of the score of what I've chosen to write about. And I also found a useful book for another essay. Good... now I just gotta bury my nose in the books.
I'm just starting to get stressed about practising because I've been occupied by the work-dinner-assignment-sleep cycle for the past week, and haven't once been to uni to practise. And this will be the last week before term starts... how!!!! (Reminds me of that phrase we used to say in secondary school... 'how now brown cow?')
Am really sleepy today... after having very little sleep on Saturday and Sunday nights, I couldn't wake up this morning. As usual, I hit the snooze button and hovered between sleep and half-wakefulness, occasionally looking at the clock to see if I'm late. What I didn't realise was that my clock had stopped for some minutes while I was asleep, so it was about 15 minutes behind. Fortunately, NH came to knock on my door because he didn't hear me moving about the house like I usually do at that time in the morning. Good thing my rushing-to-school/work skills are good enough to include on a CV, and I managed to reach the cafe at 9am on the dot even though I left the house 10 minutes later than I usually do. But actually usually I'll be a bit early la...
The thing I'm now wishing not to happen is that AL can't work in the cafe on Wednesday, or any day after that. Previously, before the boss went for holidays, she said she would work in the cafe from Wednesday to Saturday, so that I won't have to work full days in both the cafe and restaurant. (And also because she would be having something else in her college during the four evenings so she can't work in the restaurant.) But so far, she hasn't gotten back to miss-experienced although she said she would call this morning.
Oh, and after working a week with miss-experienced, I realised the know-it-all impression I got of her at the beginning is only because she's already so used to everything, that when newbies like me get simple things wrong or ask 'stupid' questions, she gets exasperated. Nothing to do with whether she thinks she's very great. And actually, she's an ok person. Not exceptionally friendly, but not frostily hostile either.
Went to the uni's other campus today after work, because I needed another edition of the score of what I've chosen to write about. And I also found a useful book for another essay. Good... now I just gotta bury my nose in the books.
I'm just starting to get stressed about practising because I've been occupied by the work-dinner-assignment-sleep cycle for the past week, and haven't once been to uni to practise. And this will be the last week before term starts... how!!!! (Reminds me of that phrase we used to say in secondary school... 'how now brown cow?')
Am really sleepy today... after having very little sleep on Saturday and Sunday nights, I couldn't wake up this morning. As usual, I hit the snooze button and hovered between sleep and half-wakefulness, occasionally looking at the clock to see if I'm late. What I didn't realise was that my clock had stopped for some minutes while I was asleep, so it was about 15 minutes behind. Fortunately, NH came to knock on my door because he didn't hear me moving about the house like I usually do at that time in the morning. Good thing my rushing-to-school/work skills are good enough to include on a CV, and I managed to reach the cafe at 9am on the dot even though I left the house 10 minutes later than I usually do. But actually usually I'll be a bit early la...
The thing I'm now wishing not to happen is that AL can't work in the cafe on Wednesday, or any day after that. Previously, before the boss went for holidays, she said she would work in the cafe from Wednesday to Saturday, so that I won't have to work full days in both the cafe and restaurant. (And also because she would be having something else in her college during the four evenings so she can't work in the restaurant.) But so far, she hasn't gotten back to miss-experienced although she said she would call this morning.
Oh, and after working a week with miss-experienced, I realised the know-it-all impression I got of her at the beginning is only because she's already so used to everything, that when newbies like me get simple things wrong or ask 'stupid' questions, she gets exasperated. Nothing to do with whether she thinks she's very great. And actually, she's an ok person. Not exceptionally friendly, but not frostily hostile either.
Winning one war and losing the other
Glad to say I've survived the past six days of working at the cafe. I've now become used to waking up real early in the morning already, and I hope it's something I'll never change. Even when I'm done standing in at the cafe I'll want to wake up early and go to school to practise.
I've also gotten used to the quicker pace of the cafe, and sort of gotten used to the pricing system (except odd things that some customers order). I've become more experienced at making tea and coffee (ok, just tea, since coffee is easy) of the right strength, although some customers are beginning to ask for more milk (oops, my teas are getting stronger) while yesterday someone wanted his even stronger. Really diverse tastes, humans...
I'm getting used to putting my hand in scalding hot water to do the dishes (soapy hot water). We do this so that the dishes are dumped into the water and when there are no customers to serve, they (the dishes, not customers) are just scrubbed clean with a sponge, dipped a few times to 'rinse', and then left on a rack where the hot water will evaporate off them very quickly. It saves me from having to dry the dishes, but it also makes my hands feel very cooked each time I wash something.
One thing I'm proud of is that so far I've managed to understand all the customers, even though when I was asked to stand in they warned me that cafe customers sometimes have really strong (and sometimes weird) accents. But it was ok, I could understand them and they can usually understand my fake-o trying-to-be-British-but-dunno-what-it-sounds-like accent. I was really a bit surprised when HN came in one day to help and he couldn't understand a very simple order, seeing that his English is as good as mine... it's a very weird thing, accents.
On the school work front I'm not doing so good, though. As of now I still have 1 minute and 12 seconds to write in order to complete my assignment (oh and plus a write up too). And I'm afraid to say, I'm quite gone case for the three essays... started the first paragraph of one but realised I might need to get another edition of the score cos this one isn't of much help. I think I'll go right after work tomorrow (er, ok, today I mean). I know I say 'gone case', but still, I'm going to try my best. Gambatte ne...
I've also gotten used to the quicker pace of the cafe, and sort of gotten used to the pricing system (except odd things that some customers order). I've become more experienced at making tea and coffee (ok, just tea, since coffee is easy) of the right strength, although some customers are beginning to ask for more milk (oops, my teas are getting stronger) while yesterday someone wanted his even stronger. Really diverse tastes, humans...
I'm getting used to putting my hand in scalding hot water to do the dishes (soapy hot water). We do this so that the dishes are dumped into the water and when there are no customers to serve, they (the dishes, not customers) are just scrubbed clean with a sponge, dipped a few times to 'rinse', and then left on a rack where the hot water will evaporate off them very quickly. It saves me from having to dry the dishes, but it also makes my hands feel very cooked each time I wash something.
One thing I'm proud of is that so far I've managed to understand all the customers, even though when I was asked to stand in they warned me that cafe customers sometimes have really strong (and sometimes weird) accents. But it was ok, I could understand them and they can usually understand my fake-o trying-to-be-British-but-dunno-what-it-sounds-like accent. I was really a bit surprised when HN came in one day to help and he couldn't understand a very simple order, seeing that his English is as good as mine... it's a very weird thing, accents.
On the school work front I'm not doing so good, though. As of now I still have 1 minute and 12 seconds to write in order to complete my assignment (oh and plus a write up too). And I'm afraid to say, I'm quite gone case for the three essays... started the first paragraph of one but realised I might need to get another edition of the score cos this one isn't of much help. I think I'll go right after work tomorrow (er, ok, today I mean). I know I say 'gone case', but still, I'm going to try my best. Gambatte ne...
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Survivor XXII Ep.3
Third day of our no-heater existence in this house. The boiler is still not fixed (landlord called at 4pm to say he's coming with someone tomorrow), and day by day it's getting colder.
The first day was not that bad, since the house still had what little of the remaining heat left. The second day was ok, I survived sleeping wearing a jumper over what I usually wear, although I kept waking up during the night feeling cold. Which can't be a good thing...
Because tonight, I think maybe I will just be kept awake forever from the cold. The house now feels as cold as it is outside (as in, wearing a t-shirt + jumper + trackpants around the house feels the same as wearing a t-shirt + winter jacket + jeans outside). And 'smoke' comes out of our house sometimes when we talk. Especially when we yawn. This is really bad. I guess, in order to not feel so miserable, I could count my blessings and thank my lucky stars that we can still take a warm shower.
XG, NH and I were absolutely frozen after being drenched from a sudden heavy downpour right as we were walking out of our landlord's shop (very much like Singapore's mama shops) after paying our rent. We took shelter under the building next to it for a while, but when it just went on and on we began our freezing walk home in the rain. NH and I were lucky to have been wearing jackets with hoods, but even so our faces got drenched due to the strong wind.
Once we reached home we couldn't stand the cold anymore and turned the oven to the highest temperature and left its door open in order to heat up the kitchen. And we ordered curry for dinner. In order to warm up, NH suggested we 'make it hot'... as in, order the curries that are as spicy as possible. So XG ordered a Prawn Balti, a Chicken Madras and a Mutton Vindaloo. Balti has become a very popular thing in UK, and it's something (a way of cooking) that was started in Birmingham. Of the three curries we ate, Balti was the mildest and Vindaloo was the spiciest. I think Vindaloo would be something like a devil's curry, or maybe a bit spicier (?? not sure...). Madras would be like a normal curry, but with a stronger tumeric taste (maybe something like the strongly-smells-of-tumeric kind of Indian curries, but milder??). Balti was not really spicy... maybe like not-spicy-enough curry lor.
The Vindaloo rocked. We warmed up real fast. And also started shivering real fast, once we finished dinner. XG went to spend the night at his girlfriend's house, leaving NH and I to suffer here... sigh... gonna be a long night...
The first day was not that bad, since the house still had what little of the remaining heat left. The second day was ok, I survived sleeping wearing a jumper over what I usually wear, although I kept waking up during the night feeling cold. Which can't be a good thing...
Because tonight, I think maybe I will just be kept awake forever from the cold. The house now feels as cold as it is outside (as in, wearing a t-shirt + jumper + trackpants around the house feels the same as wearing a t-shirt + winter jacket + jeans outside). And 'smoke' comes out of our house sometimes when we talk. Especially when we yawn. This is really bad. I guess, in order to not feel so miserable, I could count my blessings and thank my lucky stars that we can still take a warm shower.
XG, NH and I were absolutely frozen after being drenched from a sudden heavy downpour right as we were walking out of our landlord's shop (very much like Singapore's mama shops) after paying our rent. We took shelter under the building next to it for a while, but when it just went on and on we began our freezing walk home in the rain. NH and I were lucky to have been wearing jackets with hoods, but even so our faces got drenched due to the strong wind.
Once we reached home we couldn't stand the cold anymore and turned the oven to the highest temperature and left its door open in order to heat up the kitchen. And we ordered curry for dinner. In order to warm up, NH suggested we 'make it hot'... as in, order the curries that are as spicy as possible. So XG ordered a Prawn Balti, a Chicken Madras and a Mutton Vindaloo. Balti has become a very popular thing in UK, and it's something (a way of cooking) that was started in Birmingham. Of the three curries we ate, Balti was the mildest and Vindaloo was the spiciest. I think Vindaloo would be something like a devil's curry, or maybe a bit spicier (?? not sure...). Madras would be like a normal curry, but with a stronger tumeric taste (maybe something like the strongly-smells-of-tumeric kind of Indian curries, but milder??). Balti was not really spicy... maybe like not-spicy-enough curry lor.
The Vindaloo rocked. We warmed up real fast. And also started shivering real fast, once we finished dinner. XG went to spend the night at his girlfriend's house, leaving NH and I to suffer here... sigh... gonna be a long night...
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Looking back and looking forward
'Seasons of Love' from the movie Rent, (and also) from the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundrend twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year
In daylight, sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee,
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strive,
In Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life
(chorus)
How about love
How about love
How about love
Measure in love
Seasons of love
Seasons of love
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundrend twenty five thousand journeys to plan
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
In truth that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In the bridges she curned
Or the way that he died
Its time now to sing out
Though the story never ends
Lets celebrate, remember a year
In the life of friends
Hmm... what did I do in 2006?
I wrote lots of essays, did lots of assignments, studied hard for my exams, I guess.
I did ok for my exams and could go into second year.
I went to London and did quite a lot of sight-seeing, all by myself, before meeting up with two friends for dinner.
Subsequently I also went to London with GH.
I went to Bath with GH and CE, and we all got ridiculously sunburnt before it was even summer! I still have a tan line on my upper arm to show for it (yes it has lasted for around eight months now).
I got a summer job in Singapore. Boring clerical job, but nice people (and some inspirational ones) there.
I met up with friends, but didn't manage to meet all of the section mates from secondary school band (who are also some of my closest friends even now) because some of us are scattered across the globe and we are in Singapore at different times. But in 2000, on a band trip to [undisclosed location], we made a pact to go there ten years later 'when we have enough money'. 2010... I wonder if we will make it? Three years from now, not too short, not too long... (ok, I shall try not to go into nostalgic mood)
I won the *Ahem* Price (name undisclosed to protect me heh), which is awarded to the top student or the top students in first and second years. £100... little, but not too bad la, still encouraging. To be honest, when I read the letter I was estatic!
I took my first solo flight back to UK. It was such a liberating feeling to be travelling somewhere, albeit somewhere I've already been before, alone (I love my freedom).
The happiness of freedom lasted until I reached my house and found out it was under major renovation so I couldn't stay there. I had to call II, a Hong Kong friend (who is also my closest friend here, more about her next maybe), and put up in her student accommodation. No man is an island. Sometimes we still need to depend on our friends, and in turn our friends need to depend on us.
I tried very hard to find a job but was unsuccessful. I kept losing hope and giving up. Only to decide to try again a week later.
My second year started. I was busy again with assignments, essays and activities.
I was still desperately looking for a job, anything, even just a temporary position for Christmas. I was lucky and was hired by my current employer(s) (husband heads the kitchen and wife helps manage the restaurant/cafe e.g. bills, lease, wages, hiring etc. on top of her day job and two kids).
I made lots of good friends at work... HD, AN, HN, AL.
I spent Christmas eve and part of Christmas being sick.
I went to the Boxing Day sales and had a good time.
That's about it, I think... the more major things I can remember.
And now, for the dreaded (only because I always don't seem to fulfill them) Resolutions for 2007:
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundrend twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year
In daylight, sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee,
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strive,
In Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life
(chorus)
How about love
How about love
How about love
Measure in love
Seasons of love
Seasons of love
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundrend twenty five thousand journeys to plan
Five hundrend twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
In truth that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In the bridges she curned
Or the way that he died
Its time now to sing out
Though the story never ends
Lets celebrate, remember a year
In the life of friends
Hmm... what did I do in 2006?
I wrote lots of essays, did lots of assignments, studied hard for my exams, I guess.
I did ok for my exams and could go into second year.
I went to London and did quite a lot of sight-seeing, all by myself, before meeting up with two friends for dinner.
Subsequently I also went to London with GH.
I went to Bath with GH and CE, and we all got ridiculously sunburnt before it was even summer! I still have a tan line on my upper arm to show for it (yes it has lasted for around eight months now).
I got a summer job in Singapore. Boring clerical job, but nice people (and some inspirational ones) there.
I met up with friends, but didn't manage to meet all of the section mates from secondary school band (who are also some of my closest friends even now) because some of us are scattered across the globe and we are in Singapore at different times. But in 2000, on a band trip to [undisclosed location], we made a pact to go there ten years later 'when we have enough money'. 2010... I wonder if we will make it? Three years from now, not too short, not too long... (ok, I shall try not to go into nostalgic mood)
I won the *Ahem* Price (name undisclosed to protect me heh), which is awarded to the top student or the top students in first and second years. £100... little, but not too bad la, still encouraging. To be honest, when I read the letter I was estatic!
I took my first solo flight back to UK. It was such a liberating feeling to be travelling somewhere, albeit somewhere I've already been before, alone (I love my freedom).
The happiness of freedom lasted until I reached my house and found out it was under major renovation so I couldn't stay there. I had to call II, a Hong Kong friend (who is also my closest friend here, more about her next maybe), and put up in her student accommodation. No man is an island. Sometimes we still need to depend on our friends, and in turn our friends need to depend on us.
I tried very hard to find a job but was unsuccessful. I kept losing hope and giving up. Only to decide to try again a week later.
My second year started. I was busy again with assignments, essays and activities.
I was still desperately looking for a job, anything, even just a temporary position for Christmas. I was lucky and was hired by my current employer(s) (husband heads the kitchen and wife helps manage the restaurant/cafe e.g. bills, lease, wages, hiring etc. on top of her day job and two kids).
I made lots of good friends at work... HD, AN, HN, AL.
I spent Christmas eve and part of Christmas being sick.
I went to the Boxing Day sales and had a good time.
That's about it, I think... the more major things I can remember.
And now, for the dreaded (only because I always don't seem to fulfill them) Resolutions for 2007:
- Prioritise. Organise my time well. Because I'm so much busier now with work commitments. (Also, stop procrastinating!)
- Eat better. I'm such a junkie and quickie (sounds so wrong), and I usually eat whatever's fast to cook e.g. pasta, freezer-to-oven stuff, microwave stuff, instant noodles (Koka at £0.17 per packet!), sandwiches (lots of it). But I think I should eat more healthy (mainly because I do want to lose weight), and that includes trying not to snack so much!
- Put in 150% effort in all my essays and assignments (because the mark will only be equivalent to 80% of what you put in). I'm not competitive in grades and stuff, and heck care about the *Ahem* Price (although some money does help a long way), but still, I want to do reasonably well. And if I don't, I won't want to be blaming myself for not putting in enough effort.
- Have fun! Let my hair down, chill, relax, once in a while. I believe in taking time to sharpen the saw (yes I read Sean Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which was given to me by a very inspirational person when I was 14 and very lost).
- Try to work out some sort of direction by summer. Should I join MOE as a teacher? Teach piano privately? Work in any job I can get, saving up, at the same time volunteering in organisations for people with disabilities, and then taking a Masters course in Music Therapy? I dunno... I really want to be a music therapist but I think it'll be hard financially and probably I'm not sure if I will be any good.
- Exercise (???). Just a bonus. Provisional. I haven't exercised since I got to UK. Usually jog in Singapore (occasionally only lar), but it's a bit too cold for me here. Thinking of going to the uni's sports centre to use the indoor swimming pool. But getting a pool membership is a huge commitment and I wouldn't want to waste the money if I find out later that I don't have time. Yet paying each time I go in would be so expensive.
Freezing
The boiler that's akin to the heart of the heating system of my house broke down yesterday. For the last couple of days it's been producing lots of noise (lots more than usual) when turned on, but nobody suspected anything to be wrong with it.
Last evening NH and I were having fried rice for dinner (irrelevant I know), and then he suddenly noticed that the boiler was leaking. So we put one of my big mixing bowls under it (I think I will wash it ten times before using again, the water stinks) to catch the water and turned off heating. So that began our pathetic no-heating lives, smack in the middle of winter. With double-glazed windows that don't seem to work (with double-glazed windows you wouldn't have condensation droplets on either side of the window, but ours have condensation on both sides, hence the mould in my room; we suspect the landlord cut corners).
And then YR dropped by for a short visit (he was just kaypoh to know about how NH's romantic holiday went), and when he saw how pathetic the mixing bowl was (it was filling up fast) he came up with a great idea. We constructed a 'water slide' out of aluminium foil, raised it at one end with the mixing bowl and in the middle with a baking tray (mine again...) so that the water would flow into the kitchen sink.
When we called the landlord, he was in London celebrating the New Year and said he would send someone here to fix it today. And when I came home after work today, it still wasn't fixed. The guy tried but failed, so he said he would ask the agent (of the boiler's brand) to come tomorrow. Argh. British efficiency is rubbish. Why isn't there any 24-hour emergency thingy, especially in winter!!! Furthermore, the landlord's brother said he'd send someone here to loan us some portable electrical heaters but hasn't come round by now.
The whole boiler is also switched off now so that no more water will flow into it, which also means we don't even have domestic hot water. Was complaining that I would definitely not survive without bathing, and even contemplated taking a cold shower. But taking a cold shower in mid-winter is different from taking one during the good ol' days at band camps. I don't think I could survive being drenched in cold water in an already cold room.
Then, thinking back on one day last year... I recalled my 'babies' (I babysitted someone's kids). Their heating system had broken down and the only way the kids could take a bath was for the parents to boil huge pots of hot water in the kitchen, then carry them upstairs to the bathroom. Hot water was then mixed with cold so that the kids could have warm water. So I decided to do the same.
Using NH's kettle, boiled about half a pail of water and after mixing it with water from the shower... I was left wondering why the water was still so hot. And then, it hit me. I realised that the shower in the bathroom I always use, unlike the one the other housemates always use, was an electrical one. Which means I could still have warm water for showering. Dang. Even NH didn't realise it when I told him I was going to boil water. Because he and the other housemates all find 'my' bathroom too small (oh come on, it's just narrow but the shower area is about the same, why are guys more fussy than a girl??), they never use it. Or only when the other bathroom is occupied. Muahaha all the better, my own private bathroom! And I don't have to share with them! (Would rather not go into detail how disgusting their bathroom sometimes looks...)
When I told NH that my shower works he took a bath immediately hehe. And because neither of us fancied washing our hands blue from doing the dishes with no domestic hot water, we ordered pizza delivery for dinner. A little spendthrift, but whatever, take it as celebrating new year lor.
Last evening NH and I were having fried rice for dinner (irrelevant I know), and then he suddenly noticed that the boiler was leaking. So we put one of my big mixing bowls under it (I think I will wash it ten times before using again, the water stinks) to catch the water and turned off heating. So that began our pathetic no-heating lives, smack in the middle of winter. With double-glazed windows that don't seem to work (with double-glazed windows you wouldn't have condensation droplets on either side of the window, but ours have condensation on both sides, hence the mould in my room; we suspect the landlord cut corners).
And then YR dropped by for a short visit (he was just kaypoh to know about how NH's romantic holiday went), and when he saw how pathetic the mixing bowl was (it was filling up fast) he came up with a great idea. We constructed a 'water slide' out of aluminium foil, raised it at one end with the mixing bowl and in the middle with a baking tray (mine again...) so that the water would flow into the kitchen sink.
When we called the landlord, he was in London celebrating the New Year and said he would send someone here to fix it today. And when I came home after work today, it still wasn't fixed. The guy tried but failed, so he said he would ask the agent (of the boiler's brand) to come tomorrow. Argh. British efficiency is rubbish. Why isn't there any 24-hour emergency thingy, especially in winter!!! Furthermore, the landlord's brother said he'd send someone here to loan us some portable electrical heaters but hasn't come round by now.
The whole boiler is also switched off now so that no more water will flow into it, which also means we don't even have domestic hot water. Was complaining that I would definitely not survive without bathing, and even contemplated taking a cold shower. But taking a cold shower in mid-winter is different from taking one during the good ol' days at band camps. I don't think I could survive being drenched in cold water in an already cold room.
Then, thinking back on one day last year... I recalled my 'babies' (I babysitted someone's kids). Their heating system had broken down and the only way the kids could take a bath was for the parents to boil huge pots of hot water in the kitchen, then carry them upstairs to the bathroom. Hot water was then mixed with cold so that the kids could have warm water. So I decided to do the same.
Using NH's kettle, boiled about half a pail of water and after mixing it with water from the shower... I was left wondering why the water was still so hot. And then, it hit me. I realised that the shower in the bathroom I always use, unlike the one the other housemates always use, was an electrical one. Which means I could still have warm water for showering. Dang. Even NH didn't realise it when I told him I was going to boil water. Because he and the other housemates all find 'my' bathroom too small (oh come on, it's just narrow but the shower area is about the same, why are guys more fussy than a girl??), they never use it. Or only when the other bathroom is occupied. Muahaha all the better, my own private bathroom! And I don't have to share with them! (Would rather not go into detail how disgusting their bathroom sometimes looks...)
When I told NH that my shower works he took a bath immediately hehe. And because neither of us fancied washing our hands blue from doing the dishes with no domestic hot water, we ordered pizza delivery for dinner. A little spendthrift, but whatever, take it as celebrating new year lor.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Bam!
I've just been hard hit with a bad bout of nostalgia.
When I couldn't think of anything else to contribute to my assignment (which now stands at 3 minutes 10 seconds), I started browsing blogs and dug up some band pieces from the dusty folders of my laptop. Listening to band pieces just brings back all the memories of secondary school and junior college days, which actually revolved around band activities more than anything else to me.
Sadly, I only have a few band pieces left. I hope there might be some in the computer back in Singapore, but somehow I think they might have been in the very old (and now replaced) computer's hard disk. Then I remembered I used to download band pieces from mIRC, so I downloaded mIRC and tried to find the correct channel. Pretty sure it's #bandmusic, but it was a ghost town in there. Not sure whether it's because everyone stopped using mIRC already (I sure did), or whether it's only because of the Taiwan earthquake so nobody is there. Will try again when people announce that the connection is good again.
Missing my band friends!!!! Very badly. And the music making.
I miss playing in a band. Don't own a euphonium so I can't play in the band here, and although I have a trombone in Singapore (long story) I suck at playing the trombone much more than playing the euphonium. So, no go. Although I did consider bringing it back with me this year so that I could audition to join the orchestras or band, but I didn't have the time to practise over summer. So better not. Plus, I don't think I have enough courage when I play so badly.
However, I just spent the last one and a half hours browsing through web sites looking for second hand euphoniums. The plan is to sell my trombone when I go back to Singapore in summer. And buy a second hand euphonium (either in Singapore or here in UK). But my dream model (at least a Besson, Prestige model would be a plus) is usually quite expensive. Found two BE-[some numbers] models, one for £400+ and another at £500. Might consider, but the £500 one (which is a preferred silver coloured one) doesn't come with a mouthpiece and the fit is larger so I'm not sure if I might run into trouble trying to buy a mouthpiece.
Or this just might be a daydream... not sure if I can tighten my purse strings to squeeze out 500 pounds to spare on a euphonium. But one day, I'm sure, I will buy one. And play in some CC band in Singapore. Just hoping that maybe, just maybe, I might be able to play in the wind band here next year... last year before I leave and probably not get to come back again. If I manage to own a euphonium I will really work hard and make sure I make it past the auditions!
Better go sleep, gotta wake up real early tomorrow. Start of the sure-to-be-hectic work week in the cafe!
When I couldn't think of anything else to contribute to my assignment (which now stands at 3 minutes 10 seconds), I started browsing blogs and dug up some band pieces from the dusty folders of my laptop. Listening to band pieces just brings back all the memories of secondary school and junior college days, which actually revolved around band activities more than anything else to me.
Sadly, I only have a few band pieces left. I hope there might be some in the computer back in Singapore, but somehow I think they might have been in the very old (and now replaced) computer's hard disk. Then I remembered I used to download band pieces from mIRC, so I downloaded mIRC and tried to find the correct channel. Pretty sure it's #bandmusic, but it was a ghost town in there. Not sure whether it's because everyone stopped using mIRC already (I sure did), or whether it's only because of the Taiwan earthquake so nobody is there. Will try again when people announce that the connection is good again.
Missing my band friends!!!! Very badly. And the music making.
I miss playing in a band. Don't own a euphonium so I can't play in the band here, and although I have a trombone in Singapore (long story) I suck at playing the trombone much more than playing the euphonium. So, no go. Although I did consider bringing it back with me this year so that I could audition to join the orchestras or band, but I didn't have the time to practise over summer. So better not. Plus, I don't think I have enough courage when I play so badly.
However, I just spent the last one and a half hours browsing through web sites looking for second hand euphoniums. The plan is to sell my trombone when I go back to Singapore in summer. And buy a second hand euphonium (either in Singapore or here in UK). But my dream model (at least a Besson, Prestige model would be a plus) is usually quite expensive. Found two BE-[some numbers] models, one for £400+ and another at £500. Might consider, but the £500 one (which is a preferred silver coloured one) doesn't come with a mouthpiece and the fit is larger so I'm not sure if I might run into trouble trying to buy a mouthpiece.
Or this just might be a daydream... not sure if I can tighten my purse strings to squeeze out 500 pounds to spare on a euphonium. But one day, I'm sure, I will buy one. And play in some CC band in Singapore. Just hoping that maybe, just maybe, I might be able to play in the wind band here next year... last year before I leave and probably not get to come back again. If I manage to own a euphonium I will really work hard and make sure I make it past the auditions!
Better go sleep, gotta wake up real early tomorrow. Start of the sure-to-be-hectic work week in the cafe!
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