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?
Sunday, January 28, 2007
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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