6754 miles away from you...

life and death

2008-01-12T09:27:00.000Z

it's really hard to understand the fragility of life until you've come into contact with death...

i've not come close to it, thank god. But hearing stories about people around me who suddenly pass away without any reason or rhyme jolts me into thinking about how i can live my life better. recently a friend of a friend passed away. I've never met him but I'm sure he's a great guy. He was just having dinner with his mom when he suddenly collapsed and by the time the paramedics came, he was already brain dead. I just learnt that the parents had agreed to take him off the machines and now he's gone forever. it was just a short span of a week. i felt rather disturbed...

it's too easy to die.
not too easy to live but let's make living a good one!

21

2008-01-11T13:07:00.000Z

21st came and the celebrations went quickly... it's now back to life..

somehow, like a soothing balm, the strike of midnight took away all the weariness, the bitterness...
i think i've renewed myself... slowly but surely... i'm anew..
he belongs to the space called memories in my mind, occasionally surfacing as i sleep but disappearing as soon as dawn breaks...
i live through each day now, appreciating the people around me more, and making sure i celebrate each little achievement of the day...

2 more days...

2008-01-07T13:25:00.000Z

well, it's been ages since i last updated. clearly age has caught up on me and blogging seems like a thing of yester-year... it literally is considering i only started blogging last year when i first came to london. in two more days, i'll be a year older and less inclined to blog.

the year's passed really quickly and the start of school didn't bring much other than the fact that i've been quite busy. the wierd thing is i can't remember why i was so busy.

there are things that remain embedded in my mind, etched painfully here and there, un-erasable and i just keep adding on to that emotional baggage with all the impulsive things i do. I find that i'm always doing things on the spur and i don't think too much of the consequences. and then i'll vehemently defend myself as if i had the right to do the things i do. but as usual, i don't think too much and this is something i'll probably bring well into when i'm 21.

i have the right to make myself feel better, regardless of what i do. and i have no regrets. even if it hurts at the end. because it doesn't matter when it seems like i am just an unreal, false, numbed existence.

to the best bud...

2007-11-04T00:28:00.001Z

babe, if you're ever gonna read this, i know i should put this on your blog but just testing to see if you actually come to my almost de-func blog... haha!!!

i'm really happy for you!!! now the tables have turned though, you're attached, and i'm single, so as your best bud, and the babe who's always gonna be there for you, all i want to say to you is, 'enjoy yourself and most importantly, don't make yourself unhappy, ever!' In any case, i'm an email away and put away your lovey-doveyness when talking to me, i'm still in recovery mode man... haha!

i'm going to make a sweeping statement here, but boy do i agree with it - guys are really heartless when they want to be, no matter what shit load of lame excuses or explanations they try to give. So babes, at the end of they day, prioritise your own welfare over guys! give them no chance at all to hurt you cos girls usually get the brunt of it all...

incoherence! and angsty! and grammatically confunded... but ya... whatever...

HEY HONGYE!!!

2007-10-25T00:27:00.000+01:00

OHMYGOSH!!! HONGYE!!!

yes, sorry for my over-enthusiastic exclaimation! i believe that yes, we were once theory mates with teacher james... if i'm not wrong! can't believe you found me!!! haha! dunno if you'd come to this blog again but yes, if you ever do, thanks for leaving a msg! would wanna find out how you're doing! so yup, if you have facebook, you can add me! it's shimmie sim! though the teachers called me by my chinese name xinyu...

ah, my blog's falling to disrepair and i'm now abusing it by treating it like facebook!

anyway, i'm back in good old london, cant believe it, but i actually quite like being in london!!! i like my room!!! if i get the chance i'll post a picture of my room! and my house with the housemates! i love being in london actually!!! haha! but i suck at time management and i'm falling all over the place doing everything all at once! argh! i have to stop being disorganised and actually get down to doing sth constructive!!! :) but yes, dear friends, if you still chance upon my blog, msg me!!! until i've found a way to put up a darn tagboard, keep msging me!!! :)

2007-08-06T14:34:00.001+01:00

'Cause there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again

got this from Andre's blog...

back home!

2007-07-01T15:01:00.000+01:00

yes! i'm home! and loads happened when i came back... saw the new car! pretty! haha! dad picked me up at the airport in the new car... stupid me started crying once i touched down in singapore, god, to be home... the feeling is overwhelming! mom, dad and aunt were at the airport waving in a frenzy when they saw me! haha! and dear meishi and huijie came too! those stupid dears! and i kept telling them not to come! haha! then i went straight to the hairdresser's and cut my hair! i tell you! it's amazing the amount of hair i got rid of! it was enough to make the stuffing of a pillow! haha! all those hair i've been living with all these months in london! after dinner, we went to orchard cos mom picked up some items for me and wanted me to try on before she bought it, just before the gst hike! haha!
this morning, dad gave me a warm up course on the car and i drove! for the first time after 9 months! and it was a thrill! haha! auto cars are rather manageable! and then we went to malaysia for a durians at my aunt's! glad to see everyone again though somehow i feel like nothing much has changed during the time i was away... everyone seemed the same, everyone still worried about the same stuff, laughed at the same jokes... it's comforting to know not much has changed but i was just expecting more of a difference...
the weather's to be expected, humid and warm, but i was mentally prepared for it so it didn't create too much of a problem...
in any case, my line's supposed to be reactivated but there's something wrong with my SIM card and i'll have to get it fixed tomorrow... if you want to get me, it's 97875420, but it will only be functioning after tomorrow, i hope.

home sweet home.

1 more day!

2007-06-28T12:03:00.000+01:00

things to do:
pack my duvet, pillow, pillowcase, softtoys, bedsheets
go gym
go to brunswick to buy stuff home
meet yangwen for tea
have dinner with phyllis and winston
bring the stuff above to joanne's place for storage
pack everything and tie up loose ends
try to sleep

growls

trails in Epping Forest!

2007-06-26T21:23:00.000+01:00

i went to Epping Forest in zone 6 today! ooh! zone 6 is really nice! haha! the food's cheap too! had a full English breakfast and toffee apple crumble with hot custard on top of it for like about 5 pounds! then went on to walk the trails in Epping Forest! it's exactly what i think an English forest would look like! like the way the trees stand around in a ring around a clearing of copper brown leaves, the rabbits with the whites in their tails bobbing up and down as they scramble into hiding at any approaching sound, the squirrels bounding around the forest, stopping here and there with their ears perked up for any passerby.. there were houses lining the fringe of the forest and i must say these are exactly the houses i expected English houses to be like before I came to london, but was disappointed time and time again to see the drab and dreary buildings in central london. these houses in zone 6 had the cute little porches with the cute little porch lights, beautiful windows with glazed windows, slated roofs and everything you'd look for in an English house! and just a few steps away, you can take in the entire breathtaking view of Epping Forest where flowers dot the lush green landscape! i should work towards owning a house like that! and get mom and dad over for their retirement! i'm sure they'll love the place! zone 6 sounds scary and completely out of the way once you're so used to walking from point A to point B in Central London and can't think of living anywhere except in central london, but once you actually try travelling from zone 6 to central london, it feels just like travelling from Sembawang to City Hall! that's how close it is! 25 mins tube ride away! for a better quality of life! at least i know it will be for me! :) ahh...

freak! 4 more days!

2007-06-25T18:59:00.000+01:00

yes, 4 more days and i'll be on the plane back home!!!
i've been packing up and buying loads of junk food back home.. haha! mom's gonna kill me... but you can't mom, cos most of the stuff i bought are chocolates and i know you have a soft spot for chocolates, and on top of that, most of them are for the kids back at home.. so mom, don't complain.. think about it this way, this is probably my last time coming home, so take it that i'm buying for the last time, and it'll be fine! so long as everyone's happy!!! haha!

so, peeps, 4 more days... till then!

2007-06-23T11:03:00.000+01:00

what do you do with a batch of over-achieving school-leavers who get 1st class with honours, are title-holders of several clubs and societies, are able in sports or whatnot and are unbelievably popular when all they do, is to be obsessed with being over-achieving, wrapped up in their own over-achieving realm, where the subtleties of life means nothing, when being self-centred is the way of life? how much can you give despite the volumes you get, when you become over-achieving, when you put all your heart and soul in being over-achieving and forget the world around.
i probably sound anal digging at over-achievers, probably sound bitter even, cos i'm not really an over-achiever but maybe i don't really want to be an over-achiever, not because it's unattainable (i still believe that if there's something i really want, i can get it), but because i really wonder, what can we do with a batch of over-achieving school leavers when they are only concerned with themselves and their standing in society. there is nothing wrong with being slightly self-centred, who isn't, but being self-centred to the extent that you neglect promoting the growth of others and society as a whole creates a regressing effect. you can expect the society to peak with the activities of these over-achievers, but i believe it will reach a plateau because there is no longer anymore synergy when everyone has expanded their own efforts for themselves, which incidentally achieves progress for the society as a whole, but when this individualistic effort is exhausted, there is nothing left for regeneration and creation.
but as usual, this is being too idealistic on my part.

on london weather

2007-06-23T10:36:00.000+01:00

i dont get it!! why is it still cold and dreary, grey and rainy at this time of the year?? is it going to be like a perpetual reflection of doom and gloom here all year round? and it's what, nearing jul!? and it's not even summery at all? growls.. the weather here really has a dampening effect!!! i need the sun in singapore!! i mean, of course i would complain a little when i get back cos of the heat and humidity but i am sure the sunny days and blue skies back at home would beat the crap out of the weather here! i remember looking out of my living room window back at home (i don't have a living room here!) marvelling at the beautiful sky and enjoying the warmth the sun brings. so, i would definitely embrace the weather back home, regardless of how sweaty, sticky and stinky i get! :)

it's ooh!, 6 more days to going home... i can live with it... persevere babe!

mash up music @ dana centre

2007-06-22T10:36:00.000+01:00

it's funny how time trickles when you look forward to something, like in my case, going home a week later. it's irritating. i mean i do have things to do here but i just want to get home. growls...
oh, yesterday was cool. after mucking around in the gym for a while, i went to dana centre @ south kensington for a talk on mash up music. i can so tell you that i suck at navigation cos i had such a terrible time searching for the place when it was just right next to the freaking natural history museum!!! i dropped off at gloucester road and then consulted the map at the bus station like twice but still ended up taking the wrong end of the street, which resulted in me walking all the way to earl's court, only to turn back after i asked a lady out of desperation, and i ran all the way back to square one and walked up the other end of the street, not without getting confused by the order the buildings along the street was numbered. so, an originally supposed 5 minute walk turned into a half hour nightmarish marathon. but yes, i finally got there, with much panting and sweating.
so, back to the talk, i decided to be arty and attend a talk on the genre of music that is completely foreign to me - mash up music, which is basically mashing up old/new tracks of music, videos, media and matching their beats such that it became a new funky form of music! wow! we had 3 speakers who talked about their jobs as mash up artists and the coolest part was when they split us up into three groups and we had to discuss in our groups about money making methods from this new 'industry'. I was on the verge of bailing out when we had to separate into groups to discuss but thought since i was here, i might as well go through the entire event and it was a good experience seeing people present and speak. obviously i couldn't contribute much cos i knew little of the subject. they don't judge you if you don't speak, they don't make you feel small if you just sat there and listened; it was all very spontaneous and comfortable. it was the first time in a group i didn't feel like i had to make a noise to be heard. at the end of the event, the 3 speakers did a short gig and that, was my virginal experience of listening to mash up.

things on my list

2007-06-19T01:01:00.000+01:00

settle accomodations for next academic year: check
read: ... still trying to get it started
stop having mean thoughts about people: ... it's hard especially when they just keep getting on your nerves.
pack my clutter for storage: about 50% done and will be moving next week
have tea with tutor: check, did that today and i enjoyed it
buy stuff for people back home: maybe next week once i've decided what to get
go to a gay bar: man, i only just found out that Paul went back already so there's no guide! growls...
laundry: still a bit more dirty laundry to be accumulated before i dump them into the machine
visit free museums: somehow i've yet to get over the inertia

i'm proud of myself though cos i've been keeping to a promise i made to myself but i can't say it aloud here cos i dont want to jinx myself! haha! i will persist! :)

i can't believe it! 1 week and 3 more days to home!

Avenue Q - London

2007-06-16T22:37:00.001+01:00

Avenue Q - Lucy The Slut- Special

2007-06-16T22:21:00.001+01:00

Avenue Q London - Day Out

2007-06-16T22:16:00.001+01:00

Avenue Q - It Sucks To Be Me

2007-06-16T10:03:00.001+01:00

Last night, i caught Avenue O at the neil coward theatre with winston! it completely blew me away! the jokes, the satire on taboo issues like homosexuality, unemployment, sex and internet porn sent everyone in the audience laughing through the show! it was amazing the way the puppeteers brought the muppets to life! the muppets were so much a part of them i almost felt like the puppeteers didn't exist and the muppets were the ones doing the singing and acting! found some clips on youtube!

moving on...

2007-06-13T22:56:00.000+01:00

I haven't gotten used to the time that i have now on my hands! haha! well, actually i haven't been that free.. i've been searching and viewing houses in a frenzy for next year! but i've been rewarded, together with the help of phyllis and huijie, i finally found a house where we'd all like! tomorrow we'll be signing the agreement and putting down the deposit! shall try to polish my cantonese and to ask for more perks! haha! i tried talking to the landlady in cantonese yesterday and i must say, i'm slightly surprised that i managed it pretty well for an amateur like myself! must be the hk drama i've been watching recently! been trying to read as well but i feel so tired everytime i try... hmm.. that's a lousy excuse! i'll have to force myself! been trying to get into an exercise regime but it's always 'oh i'll do it tomorrow' and that tomorrow just leads on to the next and the next and never materialises! haha! lazy me! at least i played squash with xiufang yesterday! and guess what, we didn't even run that much and our muscles were already complaining. yes, that's how unfit we are! haha! i packed some of my stuff today and i was quite happy to see almost all my clothes fitting into my humongous luggage! haha! makes packing a lot easier! so i'm not left with much to pack! the only thing is transferring my stuff to my storage place.. will enlist the help of winston or something! excited to move!!! excited to get home!!! and i'm so near to going home!!! finally!! haha!

I'm Done!!! Hello Home!!!

2007-06-08T10:10:00.000+01:00

weehee!!! the wild taste of freedom! seriously for the last 2 months, i must say, i have been languishing in pain, studying everyday and feeling like it will never end. there were times where i just wanted a break and do stuff without exams nagging at the back of my mind and finally, yesterday, at 1730, i was free.
this feeling of being liberated to do anything i want is mind blowing, though i haven't had the chance to fully have a taste of it. mind blowing because you've been trapped in this cycle for so long, caught up in a system of studying, forcing yourself to study because you didn't want to do too badly, telling yourself it's good to study, giving yourself momentary breaks which were mostly a way to distract yourself for a while so that you can come back and study even more, and finally, on the last day, at the last second, you are free, free to do anything you want, free to have fun with no commitments and obligations. wow. but i did enjoy the process of lamenting the fact that everyone else was done and i still had 2 freaking papers and then studying... it was a feat!!! i think the entire process was a feat! that i hung in there till this point and did what i could to not let myself down! and to have such self control over myself despite the many distractions i faced! and i can boast that i did two 3-hr essay papers on my last day. Let me tell you how bad it was, by the end of the papers, i had two blisters on my fingers and my hand felt sore, almost as if it was about to fall off. but. but. but! i'm done! the final point of this year.
i'll have to do some reflecting on this year since yesterday marked the end of the academic year for me. i must say i really did do some work here! it was not all rosy here all the time, but i survived and really learnt a lot! and now it's time to look forward to going home! on the 29th! 21 more days and hEllo HOME!!! all this time... and now i'm finally able to count down the days to home with all my heart!
and now, the greater realities of life - laundry, yes, i have a mountain of laundry to settle cos i haven't been maintaining the upkeep of my personal hygiene since the start of exams, or was it the start of easter hols? haha!

Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005

2007-06-06T19:13:00.001+01:00

puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

oggling at scrumptious guys..

2007-06-04T23:51:00.000+01:00

takeshi kaneshiro

daniel wu yan zu

he jun xiang

wu zun

it keeps me happy! looking at scrumpilicious guys!! and there are so many of them now!!
i'm just not happy that now i'm one of 'those' girls who go all girly and bimbotic over them...
but... yes, cute guys make my day..
oh, note the lips... sexy... i know which male physical attribute i'm attracted to the most! sexy scrumpilicious lips!!! mmm...

counting down..

2007-06-04T15:47:00.000+01:00

3 more days to the final 2 papers..
25 more days to going home!

if you think about it, i've been here for ages! what's 25 days compared to how long i've been here! i'm a survivor!
pats myself on the back!

and i shall bury myself into all the texts i have to read today!!! 25 days 25 days 25 days!!! woohoo!!
home, wait for me!!! :)

2007-06-03T01:34:00.000+01:00

I'm looking at my metal table lamp which has been lit the entire day...
been reading evolutionary psychology, which would have promised more fun if not for the fact that i have to study if for exams..
counting the number of bugs that fly into the lamp that's too hot for me to touch and singe themselves to death..
i wonder if you can stop them from flying into the lamp...
why do they, when the eventual outcome is death? and a horrible one at that..
the green bugs that colonise the ceiling above my bed are back, they seem to only appear when it's going to rain the next day..
and the roomie's still laughing hysterically over some japanese drama.. i don't understand how one can laugh so hard over shows.. but now i've met one.. sometimes it gets on my nerves but it all comes with sharing rooms.. and it's almost the end of it anyway.. i'm just thankful cos it could have been much worse..

still not ending...

2007-06-01T11:41:00.000+01:00

exams are still dragging their feet towards the end.. so here i am at the study table while my roommate wraps herself up cosily in bed watching japanese serials on crunchyroll.. what would i do to be in her place at this moment now... this momentary freedom which is marked by 2 (no less) exams at the end of it all.

i can't study any longer. i need to go out and take a breather. to know that i'm free to do anything, anything at all, at no cost!
looking forward to the new year with new resolutions, new plans, new performances for SPL, new things to be done for fun and for passion.

of course before that comes along, i want to go home, meet up with friends, work, read, play, and maybe dance. no rhythm, no restrictions, no system, no boundaries... being able to take something on and letting it go. life's a full circle. you gain and you lose, as much as you wish to be on the winning end, there's always as much a possiblity of losing.

i want a dinner on the cable car too. but not expecting it anytime soon. haha! emancipation? i don't know.. i don't forsee myself getting involved anytime soon... it's jolly being single... and you get the perks of being in the search as you learn how to flirt again... no entanglements...

*meow*

2007-05-30T10:20:00.000+01:00

i've been thinking...
i need to search for something that belongs to me... something that's original and belongs to me...

a niche that belongs to me...

it's not just about studying social policy, studying economics, studying stats and maths...

there's so much in this world that is left untouched and i want to find something that belongs to me...

a design, a template, a model, a creation

.me.

focusing..

2007-05-25T09:30:00.000+01:00

i like the way i can focus really hard and get things done recently! i like the silence and calmness in my mind. it makes me feel powerful, like i can achieve anything i want.

and thanks to my roomie Phyllis who is always creating such a din while watching shows on her laptop, i've mastered the art of shutting distractions out when i want to and focus on whatever i am doing. haha! no, i'm not bitching about phyllis, this is all part of hall life with a roomie! and i'm thankful that it's phyllis and not some crazy club trotting angmoh.. and phyllis is great as a roomie!

ooh.. work on girl! it just goes to prove that i'm as good as any one else can be, but i have not fully harnessed my potential! but i'm working on it and i think i can see the light!

frustration

2007-05-24T14:41:00.000+01:00

everyone's done with exams.
except me.

everyone's going home.
except me.

s.u.n.d.a.y.s

2007-05-20T11:48:00.000+01:00

Sunday is an important day of the week.

Sunday back at home meant tv with dad in the morning, big often greasy hearty brunches with mom and dad, dating in the afternoon, going back home late and getting reprimanded for almost missing dinner in the evening.

Sunday in London means reading texts, watching the bright blue sky with blindingly white clouds outside my window, wondering if i should have Sunday roast, fussing about groceries for the coming week, listening to Five for Fighting with a contented smile on my face, wondering what the coming week will bring me, contemplating life, attempting to swim in my bed, biting imaginary marshmallows in the air, yakking away with Phyllis, missing the tv mornings with dad, missing the joy that the big often greasy hearty brunches with mom and dad brings, missing the feeling of giving my heart to my date in the afternoon, missing the amusement and slight irritation i get from seeing my mom's angry face when i get home late.

I like Sundays back home and Sundays in London.
but for now, i can't wait for tv with dad in the morning and the big often greasy hearty brunches with mom and dad!!!!

I'll be home soon! Sundays back at home! here i come! :)

one year ago...

2007-05-20T10:47:00.000+01:00

ONE year ago, i was going through the process of admitting myself into NTU business, making resolutions to mug till my ass falls off.

ONE year on, i'm in london mugging for the once-a-year exams. and I'm studying in LSE, which apparently is a tough uni to get in. hmm.. i should really count my blessings. I'm not saying that it was easy for me to get into LSE, having faced many rejections for the more supposedly 'functional' courses, it's just that it seemed like i got into LSE by a stroke of luck or maybe because no other Singaporeans were competing with me for a place in Social Policy! Haha! but hello! i kinda like social policy! it's special, even if it may be irrelevant to Singapore but heck! i revel in the process of learning about the 3 worlds of welfare capitalism, about NHS, about education blar blar blar! and now, even if you were to give me a chance to switch to BSc Economics, i think i might just forgo it! :)

Shimmie thinks shimmie might get a 2:1 this year but Shimmie still has a shot at first... cos i still have 2 essay papers and half a unit to go! so work on shimmie! at least towards a 2:1! no, i'm not a grade obsessed freak, just that i do want to have a good end to a good year! maybe i still dont want it that badly (Shimmie always loses steam after a while, which is a weakness that she succumbs to all the time), but yes, i do want it. so steady girl! all the way!

Shimmie fears that shimmie might be the only Singaporean among all the Singaporean high-fliers, the scholarship holders, the muggers in LSE, to get a second. ok, my realistic aim is a 2:1 ok? my optimistic goal is a 1:1. hee!

rosie-posie!

2007-04-24T23:41:00.000+01:00

Mom, don't squeal! i know you love flowers! haha! these are from hyde park! yup, really nice and brilliant! this is what spring is about! beautiful flowers all around, in full bloom! really lovely!

Life ain't a bed of roses.

the way down...

2007-04-22T23:50:00.000+01:00

Shimmie misses the familiarity of things.
There's this sudden feel of loss and emptiness.
I need a lift.

and there are loads of bugs in my room!!!! spring woke them all up and they are flocking in droves to my room!! Ugh! i hate the job of collecting their lifeless bodies in the morning! and phyllis keeps telling me the story of how the queen of the bugs would come and seek revenge on people who mistreat the bodies of the bugs by laying and hatching eggs in the person's body, resulting in me having to gingerly pick the green mass of legs, wings and bodies with tissue, gently wrapping them up while saying a prayer to let their poor souls rest in peace.

there are just so many of them on the ceiling above my bed. and directly above where i place my head when i sleep!!! i'm going to have to switch positions tonight so that the bugs won't drop into my mouth when i sleep! UGH! one bad thing about spring. and apparently it just gets worst!

the bug count just rose to 20. damn.

pookies!

2007-04-21T15:19:00.000+01:00

i feel like a pookie! with all the spikes and everything! i'm in a foul mood! stay away! growls!

but who wouldn't melt at the sight of such cutie-pie chocolate porcupines (pookies!) sitting in the basket waiting for someone to pick them up. i saw them at the market in Barcelona and they were simply irresistable! somehow i dont know what came over me but i DIDN'T buy any of them!!! Retard! kicks myself! bah! they're now sitting on my desktop, cheering me on!

thanks pookies! :)

the people of the trip!

2007-04-21T10:07:00.000+01:00

Here are my travelmates, xiufang, jasmine and serene!
and yes, i'm staggering the upload of all the pictures. i'm only doing it when i feel like it so patience, guys... at least i'm uploading them now! :)

Gaudi in Barcelona

2007-04-19T21:35:00.000+01:00

Gaudi, the great master of design and architecture. we visited his work of arts and they were really impressive. i felt like i was on another planet!
the last photo was taken on the roof of la pedrera and through the arch, you can see another of Gaudi's famous works, the Sagrada Familia.

buildings in Barcelona

2007-04-19T21:31:00.000+01:00

Yes, nice little verandas...

Barcelona!

2007-04-19T21:22:00.000+01:00

let me see, we've got here pictures of the...
nice beach at my seafront hostel in barcelona
along the shopping district las ramblas
musicians playing jazz outside Topshop at las ramblas
port vell, which was near my hostel too
black and white photo of las ramblas

an occasion for celebration?

2007-04-17T23:40:00.000+01:00

i am never one for celebrations or festivals. i always prefer to keep them a quiet family affair or if it appeals to me, occassionally, with a group of close friends. celebrations and festivals are more or less a circumstance for me, if i do go through the motion of celebrating them. christmases, new years, birthdays, valentines' day... they all come and go, in a matter of seconds, and life still goes on the way it should, at least that is the way it has been for a typical student like me. but ever since i came to london, certain days of the calendar just stand out in my face, beckoning for some form of celebration, or in the very least, some form of recognition. they become more important and they have a greater role to play, symbolising a lot more than just simple plain dates in a month, as they would be if i were back at home.

they became a vital indication of care and love from my loved ones back at home, almost as if i am afraid of being forgotten.
they were also timely parcels of warmth and strength to keep me going in a foreign land.
i can't over emphasize how much these dates mean to me now that i'm still far away from home.

so when xmas 2006 came and went, new year 2007 came and went, birthday came and went... and the well wishes that never came... the first 3 big occasions spent away from home only serve as big ugly reminders of how stupid and naive i can be in a relationship. and i just cannot forget how they were so conveniently forgotten. it only showed that i didn't matter too much, did i? it was a gaping wound that was left to fester on its own until school and other commitments temporarily drew my attention away. but the hurt and pain never left. not for one single moment. 'betrayed' is the word to use.
valentines' day could probably have been an attempt to set things on the path again, but by then, i was just too cynical and jaded by everything that has happened. all the lame excuses and feeble attempts.

maybe it's best to forget the past and let time heal all wounds. ha. ha. pardon the cliche. even i find it hard to stomach.

on a lighter note, i'm still mugging! to all who still care, yes, i'm mugging and getting ready for the exams! :)

mug the shit out.

2007-04-15T12:23:00.000+01:00

I chanced upon several acquaintances' blogs on one of my usual random blog surfs and it's a wonder how much motivation these people have to study hard. I find it hard to stay focused and mug my shit out. i guess it's because i've more or less had things easy and i've not want anything that badly before, always expecting that things will work out on their own. well, i don't really have things easy. i have to work hard but i just don't, at least not enough to get where i think i really want to. eventually i just compromise on my standards and make up excuses like i'm good where i am too. it's bad... and i know it is. i want to do well but not badly enough cos i always end up cutting myself too much slack. and it's about a week to the end of hols and four freaking weeks to exams. well, technically speaking, i still have time if i mug my shit out.

please shimmie, for once, don't compromise on your standards.

i shall post my study progress on my blog everyday from now on. seriously, i don't have a life. but it's only for this month at least. once the freaking exams end, i can get my life back. and i can feel freaking good about it. afterall, i've enjoyed myself so much for the past few months in london so it's seriously time to just pull my socks up and mug my shit out.

get over the inertia shimmie!

Spring's here to chase away me fat blues!

2007-04-06T21:38:00.000+01:00

You know you're fat when you're sitting at your table studying, feeling like there's this huge weight pressed against your heart and when your upper body is supported by washboard like layers of fat on your tummy...

wierd, and i've been running at the gym... now i can't eat without ever feeling like exploding... crosses fingers and pray i'll slim down by the time i get back home! don't want mom to keep saying i'm fat and i should eat less... eating less has never been an option for me! i just try to work out more but it takes long to work off everything i've accumulated this far...

i miss home!

i miss being skinny! for once i can say i'm erm, fat! haha! nah, it's not become a blinding obsession for me to lose weight yet, or ever, cos 1. i'm too busy mugging for exams 2. food therapy works best for me when i'm stressed from mugging so it's a vicious cycle if you see what i mean. you have to lose weight, but all your effort is devoted to mugging, and on top of that you're inclined to eating more than normal cos you're stressed from mugging, so you eat, you put on those fats, and you feel you have to lose weight, but all your effort is devoted to mugging, and on top of that... haha! i sure know how to make myself feel better!

St Jame's park is coming to life! it's finally spring, i can say! the sun was glorious though it was coupled with blasts of chilly wind but that didn't stop scores of people from sprawling across the lawns of mother nature and soaking in the sun! The squirrels are out to play again! they look really thin though and now they're out and about scrounging for food to store up for the next winter! i love squirrels!!! there were many birds at st jame's and they sure were envious of the furry squirrels cos the frisky creatures took all the limelight, bushy tail, doe eyes and all! you can't help falling in love with them sqwarrels! :)

pot of gold

2007-04-05T22:00:00.000+01:00

Haha! i cooked my first perfect pot of rice today! ever since the Demise of The Rice Cooker, i had to use my trusty old pot to cook rice for quite a while and i've finally mastered the technique so today i had nice well-cooked brown rice with slightly charred bits at the base! i'm getting good man! and dinner was heavenly by my culinary standards! omelette with shallots and button mushrooms, prawns with diced peppers in tomato and basil sauce decked on butter lettuce! smacks lips and pats myself in contentment! once again, i've surpassed myself! haha!
and yes, the pictures! well... i haven't even loaded them onto my laptop! it's been a mad frenzy to finish that dratted microeconomics textbook but i'm about to be done with it! :) finally!
talk about personal achievement man! haha!

back from spain!

2007-04-03T08:36:00.000+01:00

Alright alright... i'll post the pictures on real soon! but just to say i'm still very much alive and kicking! though it was a whole lot of crazy walking in spain! to my dear travelmates serene xiufang and jasmine, you guys are great! find myself often amused by the eccentricities and the dynamics of the group! would definitely have been different without you guys! so now, let's trudge through the remainder of the holidays with a heavy heart and study study study!

thanks mom and dad for letting me go on this trip! don't worry i didn't bust a hole in my pocket from shopping, i didn't really do much shopping, seriously! you guys know me, i hate shopping! haha! love you! you rock! and yes, the pictures will come on erm, in a few days' time? hopefully! haha!

resolved, resolution, resolute

2007-03-21T20:03:00.000Z

haven't blogged in ages! haha! i even forgot my username so i randomly tried some which i thought could possibly be my username and in the end had to send a form to request for it... what a loser am i! haha!

well... lent term ended a few days ago and it's the easter break now! i'm dying! there are loads of work and revision to be accomplished! and i have to force myself to sit at the table and work hard! ah!!! but this time, of all the times i've sat at the table to study for all the exams before, i was more or less constantly motivated to work hard even though my mind wanders into the world of pink bubbles and blue cotton candy at times! i guess i'm enlightened! haha! and i'm resolved to make good my time and work hard!

i think at the moment i'm not working as hard as i would like to but i can forsee i will be able to! and this time it won't be too late for the exams! i really want to do decently well!!!! so i'll study really hard!!!

GO SHIMMIE!!!!! reach for the freaking stars!!!

alright! off to work i go!

a quote, ' since you have a lot to study, just study la!!!!'
haha! nicely put... it's like a no-brainer... but it makes absolute sense...

my walls are humming in a low murmur, 'study study study study study....'
ah... what a joyous atmosphere!
i'm turning schizo! haha! and happy being one! geez... must be the london air!
the need to mug just permeates in the air! wowee!

hcnite 2007

2007-02-14T01:21:00.000Z

Go on, go to the link...
well... it's me singing on hcnite... someone posted on youtube.. damn.. i know it's not like i sang really well.. in fact i thought i could do better... but it is afterall my first time singing alone... with my nerves getting to me and all...
so, enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HrAr84GMeQ

on hindsight, it was not too bad i guess... ahwell...

whatever...

Anthropology 2007: TWO

2007-02-11T11:39:00.000Z

This is the second installment to the 4 performances SPL is doing this year and this is my last performance of the year i think.
Wow.
I'm drained, suffering from this syndrome called performer's fatigue, if there's such a phrase.
Ever since Excess Baggage (which was 4 solid months of hard work), I have not stopped memorising lines, memorising blockings, pushing my emotions to extreme spectrums from being a deranged maid to a high-pitched airhead.
Man, can i just say i've done it all and i'll be contentedly happy with what i have done and i will start some serious mugging. Really, with all these performances and emceeing stints, i'm feeling quite drained.
Last night was HwaChong Nite 2007. Sorry folks, no photos (they're all on my friends' cameras cos i forgot to bring mine), though i thought my attire was pretty cool but i dont think i did a great job at being an emcee. could have done better. not my best. guess it's the last minute thing. my nerves were pretty frazzled by the end of the event. and i had to sing the opening number and it was kind of awkward - the emcee singing the opening song... not really glam... and i didn't memorise the song lyrics cos my brain refuses to cooperate with me so i sang with a cue card which was really quite unprofessional... i dont think i sang very well... but it was a good first attempt... probably there'll be more opportunities to come. haha!
I keep saying i'm tired but i don't know if i can get used to life once everything ends...
and Lehman Brothers didn't reply me about Easter. i'm wondering if there's anything wrong with my CV cos i've applied for several stuff but nobody replies to my applications.. it's irritating.. i mean, i don't think i'm that bad and if nobody gives me a start, i'll never get the experience... this is demoralising... i'm hoping there'll be some form of divine intervention, either make me smarter, or let me get through even the first round of applications!!!

ANTHROPOLOGY 2007

2007-02-01T01:02:00.000Z

ANTHROPOLOGY 2007 is proudly brought to you by Singapore Playhouse London SPL.
and i'm performing in it!!! haha! my project immediately after excess baggage to stave off missing all the hectic rehearsal schedule for the musical and to feed my addiction to performing on stage!
and my family from EBTM's coming down to support me! haha! i'll be sure to put up a good show!
ALL THE BEST to the peeps performing tomorrow!!! and myself!!! :)

2007-01-21T17:02:00.000Z

yunyun and me!!! :)

2007-01-21T16:42:00.000Z

2007-01-21T16:35:00.000Z

2007-01-21T16:21:00.000Z

2007-01-21T16:14:00.000Z

more baggage!

2007-01-21T16:01:00.000Z

Excess Baggage No More

2007-01-21T15:52:00.000Z

Yup, haven't posted in ages... been so freaking busy with the musical... and in a blinking of an eye, it all came to an end... all the rehearsals, all the joking, all the laughing, all the crazy antics like doing the prawn dances, being a bimbo have all come to an end... but the friendships forged are just beginning to grow, burgeon and flourish... looking forward to the day when all in our 50s and we can look back and say, ' that was a whale of a show!' Yes, we funky people will still be doing our prawn dances to that day!

Yes, Excess Baggage rocks!
Dreams do come true! :)

The Bath Abbey!

2006-12-24T13:29:00.000Z

The Bath Abbey

lazy me shall just put down the history of Christainity in Bath from the pamphlet i got at the abbey ad verbatim.

Bath was a sacred place long before history started to be written down. Celtic people worshipped the goddess Sulis at the hot springs before the Romans came to Britain in 43 AD. They quickly took control of the southern part of the country including Bath, which they called Aquae Sulis, or the place of goddess Sulis' springs. Building work on the baths complex probablyy started between 60-70AD.

The movement of people and goods within the Roman Empire eventually brought Christainity to Britain and by around 350AD there were Christains in Bath. Around 400 AD, the romans began to leave Britain as the Empire started to crumble.

Between 500 and 600 AD Saxons arrived in Britain, at first as raiders but they became settlers. There is no written evidence but it is most likely that Christainity continued to be practised in and around Bath during these years.

Still at the Roman Baths...

2006-12-24T13:25:00.000Z

more pictures from the Roman Baths!

2006-12-24T13:21:00.000Z

The Roman Baths and the Pump Room!

2006-12-24T12:55:00.000Z

Bath. Aquae Sulis. The ancient town that is left with the legacies of the Roman Empire when it invaded Britain in 43AD. This part of the quaint old town sits quietly on top of geothermal activity, which were thought to be the work of gods and goddesses by the Romans and Aquae Sulis slowly became a renowned temple of worship, where people from everywhere made pilgrimage to, to seek the healing powers of this sacred place.
Minerva Sulis. Minerva - the godess of wisdom. Sulis - the godess of water. Minerva Sulis - the pagan god worshipped at the Roman Baths. This was a place that was once a great structure, revered by all, during its heyday, but when the Roman Empire crumbled with the shifting sands of time, this place which once marked the power of the Romans fell to derelict and disrepair.
During the excavation of the Roman Baths, which was several feet below the current street level, 13,000 coins were dug up and more were left in the Baths. This showed the extent of worship in the Roman Baths and dating of the coins showed the political changes in Bath, UK and Rome at that time. This was all very interesting! History about the lives of people in the past always never fail to intrigue me...

An Adventure in Bath!

2006-12-24T12:21:00.000Z

Winston and I waiting for Huijie at the blardy cold train station.

Bath Backpackers! this is the place we stayed for the night to rest our tired feet!

the gaily painted Hostel from the entrance!

HuiJie and I waiting for Winston to get us checked in!

Can you believe it?! Our room's called RIP! we were making so many macabre jokes about it... haha!

22nd December
Winston and I took a 3hr coach ride to Bath. We reached Bath at 11.30am and waited for Huijie who was due from Wolverhampton at 12.20pm. So it was there in the cold of Bath that we waited for the princess Huijie to arrive in full backpacking gear. Her bag's almost as huge and tall as she was! Ha!

When she got to the train station finally, we went to our hostel - Bath Backpackers, and checked in. it's a pleasant place, except for the fact, which we only got to find out later, that there weren't any showers. But we didn't complain cos it was simply too cold to be showering. and it was only for a night that we were staying in bath so stinky pigs we'll stay as! :)

The itinerary for the day (planned by yours sincerely, me) was The Roman Baths and the Pump Room, the Bath Abbey and the Bath Abbey Heritage Vaults and in the evening, the (Brrrr!) Ghost Walks of Bath.

last stop of the day - les miserables!

2006-12-21T21:19:00.000Z

tanen and i were crazy. after we hopped off the train at waterloo station, we said our goodbyes to zhongjie and richard and hurried to queen's theatre in chinatown to catch les miserables at 7.30pm. we bought the stall seats, 5 rows from the stage, at 20 pounds. we weren't really mentally ready for such an intense musical after such a long day but we braced ourselves for the 3 hour musical about france in the early 19th century where poverty and disease was strife and revolution was to begin.
i was so moved by the passion of the men at the barricade, the patriotism, the strength of 'little people' (children), the love of marius and cosette, the unrequited love of eponine for marius till her death, the love of jon von john for cosette, his guilt, his pain, his compassion, his sense of chivalry, his civic mindedness... the fast moving pace of the emotion packed musical and the left me on the edge of the seat for the whole show.
Les Miserables - a classic that could never be replaced.

the town of windsor!

2006-12-21T21:09:00.000Z

on the streets of windsor!

the christmas tree in the town of windsor!

we saw the 1kg block of cadbury chocolate at woolworths...

the crooked house of windsor. it's really crooked. at least i don't think it's a delusion.

we bought fudge from the fudge kitchen! really nice! mmmm....

more pictures from windsor castle!

2006-12-21T21:00:00.000Z

st george's chapel!

the entrance of queen mary's dolls house!

the queen's residence when she comes to the castle!

English cherry blossoms? the only flowers in full bloom in the wintry landscape!

me the princess of the cherry blossoms! :)

Treated like Royalty!

2006-12-21T11:19:00.000Z

Queen Mary's Dolls' House
The Queen Mary's Dolls' House was built in 1920s at the suggestion of Queen Mary, consort of George V, created to be use for fundraising purposes. Queen Mary herself had a certain fondness for miniature objects, which also explains for why the Dolls' House was constructed. The items in the doll house are exact replicas of the ones in Windsor Castle and they are created to the scale of 1:12. The house was made and put together by renowned craftsmen, artists and modelmakers. There are working light fittings, lift systems, and even the toilet flush works!!! There were books in the shelves that were written and bound in scale size! Amazing!

The Drawings Gallery
This was the place where i came face to face with the royal family! There were also drawings by the great master of art - leonardo da vinci. The precision of his drawings really makes you marvel in wonder!
Then there were portraits of the Queen and her family, the Queen when she was a little girl, in her youth, and as she is now! She is really charming.
There was this other picture that came to my notice. It was the picture where the leaders of the commonwealth leaders stood together with Queen Elizabeth seated in the middle and guess who i saw!!! Our Mentor Minister Lee Kwan Yew! another piece of home in the most unlikely place!

The State Apartments
This is where the King and Queen hosts important figures from the world. There were many rooms and by the time we finished walking through them, we were exhausted. each room was magnificently furnished and each had its own unique function. There were paintings by well known artists, silverware, clocks which chimed over 10 Handel pieces, countless items worth seeing and mentioning! For a moment, you get a glimpse of how life as a royalty is! The state apartments were refurbished and restored again in 1992 because of a great fire which started from the lantern room. I was highly interested in the room where the coated of arms of all the knights decorated the ceiling of the room. Some of the coat of arms were blanked out because the knight in question did something to disgrace himself and the white out plate served as a reminder to all the other knights. there were also busts of musicians like Handel who received royal patronage from the King during his time. It was a precarious job where you could lose everything - the sponsership by the royal family and his clients who flock to him knowing that he composes for the royal family, if the King who favours your music passes away. There is so much to be seen and said about the State Apartments! I really had a good time immersing in a small portion of the history of England.

Conclusion:
35 pounds in Windsor well spent!

more pictures at the castle

2006-12-21T02:49:00.000Z

I'll be your guide for the day!

This is the round tower which is elevated on a hill and it is situated right in the middle of the castle grounds. It used to be the final stronghold of the castle where the royal family would retreat to in times of imminent danger. There is a moat around the round tower and it creates a greater obstacle for the invaders. However, now the moat is no longer in use and what is left is a huge lush garden encircling the round tower.

The round tower in black and white!

On our way to St George's Chapel!

Outside St George's Chapel!

Pictures of Windsor Castle

2006-12-21T02:39:00.000Z

queuing up to get into the castle grounds, but not before a security check of my belongings!

the castle in colour and grandeur!

there were so many glistening complete spiderwebs on the bushes on the castle grounds and they looked so perfect we thought they were artificial until i tugged at it. the morning dew actually froze on the spiderweb, creating this magnificent jewel of nature!

the monochrome effect suits the ancient medieval castle!

the castle shrouded in the fog...

windsor Castle 2!

2006-12-21T00:51:00.000Z

The tiny not so impressive train station at Windsor and Eton River! Cold!!!

The first building i saw once i stepped out of the train station. it looks victorian!

Up up up we go to the castle to catch the dragon!

The street up to windsor castle!

The exit of Windsor Castle! Nope, we haven't gone in yet!

by 11am we got off the train to a really foggy and freezing windsor! Windsor was really scenic being enveloped in green everywhere even though for our entire stay, it was shrouded in this heavy fog which brought along with it this chilling cold. we made a beeline to the castle which was just a 5 min walk from the train station. the walk there was really enjoyable and we quickly noticed that windsor is a quiet little town with few cars. the perfect getaway from the city if not for the cold!
once at the castle, we paid 12 pounds for our entrance fee (ouch!). at least this 12 pounds came with the audio tour!
off the pamphlet:
'Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen.'
And 'large' it is indeed. we took a whopping 4 hours to walk through the grounds that were opened to the public! There is this mysterious feel to the castle, as i feel all castles should have since they date back to a really long time ago, and the fog really helped to enhance this atmosphere! the blurried outlines of the tops of the castle made it into many of the photographs i took!
Our first stop was the St George's Chapel. This was built in the 14th century by Edward III and the architecture was influenced by gothic designs. The pillars rose up to the high ceiling of the church and it was made to look as if the pillars sprouted from the ground all the way to the top. There were many chantries in the chapel. As taken from the st george's website, 'In the late middle ages, it became common practice for those who could afford it to create religious foundations called chantries. These foundations could take a wide variety of institutional forms, from altars or small chapels served by individual priests to great colleges such as St George's itself with a huge community.' Essentially, a chantry was a 'small church within a church'. There was this particular one that was highlighted on the audio tour. It was one that showcased a massive marble structure of the wife of one of the kings in the long history of monarchy in England. She passed away after giving birth to a stillborn child and her lifeless form was draped under a piece of cloth with only a bit of her hand showing and there were two mourners next to her bedside. Then above her body is a sculpture of her rising to the heavens, with two angels flanking her on both sides and one of them carried her stillborn infant. This sculpture was to provide relief to her bereaved family by showing that there is life after death. The amazing thing was that even though the entire structure was carved out of cold marble stone, the tapestry in the backdrop and the parts that were supposed to be cloth looked so realistic it is impossible for them to be made out of something as solid as stone! the sculptors were really skilful to have attained that effect!
The chapel housed the tombs of many of the kings and queens in the history of monarchy in England, including Henry VIII and the Queen Mother Elizabeth and her husband! i felt quite disrespectful walking on top of their tombs as some of the tombs were embedded in the ground where we walked on, with only a dark coloured slab of marble with golden writing of 'who-lies-beneath' which was integrated into the floor marking the area where they lie.
We then walked in the Choir (an area where the knights of the highest order of chivalry - the order of the garter, would take their specific places, during church service, together with the Sovereign and the Prince of Wales. Knighthood is really quite interesting and we met a castle warden, Morgan Campbell, who told us quite a bit about the history of knights. There are many different orders of knighthood, each on a different status level. For example, there can be the order of the British Empire, order of St Michael's, order of St George's. Individuals are knighted on the account that they have served the country in times of danger or have in any way served the country. Their achievements will be recognised by the Sovereign and they will personally be knighted by none other than the Queen herself. In the order of the garter, which is the highest order, there is the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II) and the Prince of Wales and 24 English Knights and Ladies. These knights have sworn in during their investiture to defend the sovereignty and the Sovereign will swear to defend the faith. Above every seat where the knight sits, there will be a flag bearing his coat of arms and there will be a crown with his own individual symbol and a half drawn sword. The half drawn sword symbolises the readiness of the knight to defend the sovereignty in times of need. there is an area just above the chair where a brass plague with the coat of arms belonging to the knight who sits there and the oldest brass plague dates back to the 14th century as these brass plates are never removed and they keep accumulating when a different knight sits on that chair. If there is no flag above the seat, it means the knight has passed away and has yet to be succeeded. Foreign diplomats, politicians or figures of high importance may also be knighted. They are known as 'stranger knights'. The emperor Hito of Japan was knighted and during the WWII, his flag bearing his coat of arms was removed for obvious reasons and slightly after the war, the Queen decided to restore the flag, much to the loud protests of Prince Phillip who was still in the Far East.
The frail old kindly warden Mr Campbell asked us where we were from and upon hearing my response, he exclaimed in mild surprise, 'ah... singa..ha..' it seemed to have stirred some old dusty memory in him.
'i've been to singapore. but at that time, the tallest building there was the parliarment house.'
'wow... that must have been a long time ago then!' we were unable to hide our shock.
'yes, that was back in 1945.'
you can't imagine how our jaws dropped. 'wait a minute, wasn't 1945 just slightly after WWII?!'
'i was serving in the airforce at that time as an engineer,' the shrunken 82 year old man smiled in amusement.
he is a piece of home. a piece of home found in a most unusual place. and a piece of home at a time when i wasn't even born. he is an alcove of history about this country i was born in. but i didn't dare to ask him any more questions in case i stirred up some sad memories. i mean a war is never a happy occasion. it's a pity he never went back to singapore. we didn't ask why. i guess a 13 hr flight is really too much for someone that old. or it may be some other reason. but it was truly an honour for me to meet a veteran. even though eventually britain didn't defend singapore from the invasion of japan, it was a dream come true for me to meet a war veteran even though i didn't have the guts to ask him more about the war. i have always wanted to meet a war veteran. There must be plenty in Britain. The next time i meet one, i'll be sure to ask him more about the war.

Windsor Castle 1!

2006-12-21T00:17:00.000Z

my walk across the golden jubilee bridge... the beautiful westminster enshrouded in the morning mist... it was a romantic walk with me myself and i!

i got to the waterloo train station on my own!!! yay!

platform 16 (not nine and three quarters!) with the train to windsor and eton river!

the train i'm taking!!! bounces up and down in excitement! oh, we had to press an 'open' button on the entrance to the train and the doors would slide open for the passengers! this just gets more and more interesting!

my first time on a train!!!! weeeheee!!!

Today's my craziest day as of yet ever since i came to London! My gosh...
Today made me realise really how lucky i really am to be able to come to UK...
Today made me feel like saying an extra big THANK YOU to mom and dad...
but up to today, i still can't believe i'm going to be here for 3 years...
but today really made me feel i have to work really hard to earn my keep...
but today made me feel reinvigorated and renewed my motivation even though there were many such occasions ever since i came here...

i woke up at 7am in the morning so that i could have a huge breakfast and prepare lunch for the long day ahead. then i crossed the Thames to get to Waterloo train station to meet richard, tanen and zhongjie to take the 9.58am southwest train to Windsor and Eton River where Windsor Castle is situated. the train ticket was really quite expensive but it's expected as we were travelling an hour out of london. it costed me 13pounds.. gee..

photos after camden!

2006-12-17T23:58:00.000Z

phyllis and tanen!

phyllis gave me a kiss on the train! she's sooooo high!!! :)

trafalgar square! and the nice big christmas tree!

phyllis in the nice top she bought from camden! it really really suits her very well don't you think!!! :)

camden!!!

2006-12-17T23:52:00.000Z

chocolate fondue!!! 2 of them!!!

the streetstalls snaking around in camden!

me and phyllis!

more of camden!

2006-12-17T23:48:00.000Z

Footprints around london 4

2006-12-17T23:30:00.000Z

Camden Market!
If you're looking for gothic fashion, camden's the place to be! the spiky bracelets, high ankle black canvas shoes, dresses with lacy trimmings at the ends! it's a really funky place with so much stuff to see! i don't even know where to begin! well, the only striking parallel to camden market in asia would be chatuchak in bangkok, thailand! there are shops everywhere, in every single nook and cranny you could find! shops selling everything you can think of like clothes, shoes, food, home decor... it's heaven for shopaholics! and they come at quite a good bargain too! well, i didn't really buy anything except for food because i have a feeling i could get those stuff at a cheaper price back at home but i must say it's really quite cheap for london! and some of the clothes are really quite a steal! there's this shop which i'd like to go back again because it sells clothes made in italy and uk and they're really quite stylish in the topshop kind of way and they're not too expensive. Phyllis went absolutely crazy there and bought like 3 really nice tops and spent about 40 quid... that girl! she was squealing the place down but retail therapy sure works for her! it lasted her for the rest of the evening and she's still going crazy over the stuff she bought! but i must say, they look really flattering on her... ahwell, when i'm feeling a bit richer, i might buy some stuff, but not at the moment. i'd still pretty much spend money on food, which i did, of course! haha! ate tako yaki, this really delicious strawberry cheesecake, some japanese noodles, donut... heaven!!!

Royal Albert Hall

2006-12-16T11:45:00.000Z

more pictures from the natural history museum

2006-12-16T11:41:00.000Z

Footprints around london 3

2006-12-16T11:11:00.000Z

The Natural History Museum!
yup, went the the natural history museum with my senior richard and spent the entire day there. yes, the entire day meaning from 11.40am to about 4.30pm... it is that huge, the natural history museum. it was endless! but with perseverance, we saw the task through and finished every single exhibit there was in the natural history museum. boy it was tiring.
we forged through one exhibit after another, only stopping for a short break at the cafe. i must say, the museum is a grand place. It has such a magnificent interior, like those of a church, with the high vaulted ceilings and intricate designs on them. we went to all the different exhibits which featured fishes, amphibians, marine animals, birds, insects, ecology, geography... it feels quite like science center, except it's completely free. after a while, i got a bit bored from looking at all the static displays. i must clarify, the natural history museum is a really fabulous place, just that the way the exhibits present themselves gets repetitive after a while. it was all 'pull the knob, press the button, lift the flap' kind of exhibit. but i can imagine the excitement for children if they to come to such a massive vault of knowledge about earth and its inhabitants! i would really have enjoyed it if i came here if i was a sec school student. the presentation of tectonic plates and how the earth changes, how rocks changes could have rivalled learning from Marriane Chong. haha! I quite enjoyed the exhibits on dinosaurs though there were so many school children running all over the place, almost tripping themselves up everywhere, creating such a ruckus. dinosaurs always have that effect. well, for a moment, it did kind of transport me to the visitors' center in the movie Jurrasic Park. the exhibit was quite impressive!
after a elaborate tour around the natural history museum, we went to take a look at the royal albert hall which was just opposite Imperial College. yup, will definitely catch an opera there! it's planned! will be watching madame butterfly next februrary. picked up this nice brochure on it!

WICKED!

2006-12-13T11:48:00.000Z

The Highlight of the Day was WICKED the MUSICAL!!!!
yes! i finally get to watch WICKED at pretty good seats too! paid 25 pounds and had the front rows in the circle seats! haha!
what can i say, there's only one word for WICKED - wicked! it's really wonderful!!! shall put the introduction from the pamphlet here:
Wicked, London's spellbinding and spectacular smash hit musical, tells the incredible untold story of the legendary witches from L. Frank Baum's class the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and explains why one came to be called 'good' and the other 'wicked'.
Based on Gregory Maguire's 'outstanding novel' (The Independent), this 'eye-poppingly lavish show' (Sunday Express) transports audiences to a fantasy world of wizardry, socery and spells, with Grammy Award-winning music, Tony Award-winning sets and costumes and stunning special effects.
Experience this unforgettable musical and discover that you've not been told the whole story about the land of Oz...
The cast includes: Idina Menzel (until 30 Dec 06') as Elphaba, Helen Dallimore as Glinda...

AHHHHH!!!! i am so in love with the songs!!! especially Defying Gravity which brings the audience to the climax of the show! Wicked is mind-blowingly WICKED!!!!

Footprints around london 2

2006-12-13T11:21:00.000Z

British Museum!!!!
This famous colossal museum which looks like a structure out of the Roman Empire in its heyday is fitting for all the magnificent exhibits it holds. It is so huge it's impossible to finish going through the exhibits in one day! which is why i'll have to go back again! i only managed to see the egyptian mummies and some of the display in 'The Enlightment' exhibit. It was so interesting! i finally get to see the things i have studied before! like the relics from the indus civilisation, the guptas, the mesopotamians and many more! reminds me of history classes in RGS where we learnt about all these ancient lost civilisations! i enjoyed those classes a lot! like Shieh Yuan once said, i have an 'ancient spirit'. though i don't quite remember what that means but i do have a strong sense of attraction to things from a long time ago. it was so intriguing to learn how people in the past lived, to walk back on the timeline and see what made everything click in the past. the grounds we are walking on have once been where others have walked one thousand years or more ago! it just makes me want to find out more about history! not the battles, not the politics of history, but simply the plain old everyday life of people of the past!
Oh, and i have a suspicion that JK Rowling probably took the inspiration of the ceiling in the great hall that reflects the weather outside from the British Museum! It has a huge ceiling made up of many triangles that shows the sky outside so it has a ever-changing hue! it looks artificial but i think it's a really good idea for a ceiling! and i saw this intricate netted golden egg-shaped container used by Indian Royalty to store their precious bezoar stones, which were actually gallstones from goats, but were known to have astonishing healing powers. Rowling probably walked past this exhibit too! i remember bezoar stones in Harry Potter had unrivalled healing powers too! haha! this is interesting!
i think the most jaw dropping part of the British Museum would be its reading room! it's a pity photography's not allowed in the reading room. i guess it's a measure to protect all the old books! gosh! you have to see the reading room! it's not a regular reading room! yes, it has books lined from floor to ceiling. but the thing is it had 4 levels with books lined from floor to ceiling on every level! and the whole reading room is circular so when you first step into the room, it's this 360 deg view of all the books! and the knowledge it encapsulates! wow! i couldn't stop inhaling sharply when i saw this! it is so amazing! and famous writers, thinkers, academicians like Sun Yat Sen, Charles Dickens etc. have used this reading room before! the history behind this reading room!

me.

2006-12-13T11:12:00.000Z

this was taken after my run... haha! well they like to use the word 'photowhoring' but i shan't use the word on myself for obvious reasons. i always thought the word 'whore' is quite an insult... but people nowadays take it as a compliment, like if you have the face and the looks, you should, could, must, have to 'photowhore'. i don't think i have that but once in a while, it's nice to take pictures of myself :)

i went running!

2006-12-12T11:57:00.000Z

i did the unthinkable! yes! i went running! after a light breakfast... this is bad.. i know i shouldn't in case i get appendicitis or whatnot. but i just felt like running to st jame's park. but it wasn't much of a run cos i stopped every few minutes to take photographs of my feathered and furry friends. haha! st jame's park hasn't fully moulted as it's just the beginning of winter. it's still carpeted in green but the trees have lost their fiery luscious foliage. anyway, i really should start running lest i continue expanding sideways. i ran past 10 downing street where a crowd was gathered with their cameras whipped out. when i stopped, all i saw was the back of a man in suit who looked suspiciously like tony blair. but i don't think it's him. i mean a figure like tony blair wouldn't take a stroll into downing street in full public view! that would definitely make him an easy target. he'd probably drive in with a full bullet proof car! that person i saw was probably one of the ministers. yup, but that was quite a sight!

phew! i actually broke out into a sweat from running that little bit. it was probably a 20 min run! but a short run is better than none! it was cold but bearable. i was just wearing track pants and my windbreaker with just my sports bra inside. but it was pretty enjoyable!

my favourite breakfast!

2006-12-12T10:53:00.000Z

nothing can beat crunchy nut with cold milk in the morning!!! :)

footprints around london 1

2006-12-12T10:13:00.000Z

yesterday marked the start of my exploration around london. as a warm up i decided to go to somewhere that didn't require too much navigation so i went to the national portrait gallery flanking the trafalgar square which ended in the national gallery. there, i rubbed shoulders with great masters of art, went to the 'manet to picasso' exhibition and saw famous works like 'the water-lily bridge' by monet and 'the sunflowers' by picasso and various others! i find that i enjoy looking at canvasses which allude to myths and the ones that tells us the life of Christ. it's really quite interesting! but the gallery is so huge i couldn't finish walking through all the exhibits! shall go there again! :)

Westminster Cathedral

2006-12-11T11:24:00.000Z

I attended mass at the Westminster Cathedral one Sunday. the entire interior was made of marble (which probably explains for why it's so cold inside). i was expecting complicated intricate designs on the vaulted ceiling of the cathedral but there was none. it was just a huge mass of blackness. but nevertheless, it's a really magnificent church i must say.

St Jame's Park

2006-12-11T11:17:00.000Z

The beautiful scenic St James' Park that's just a stone's throw away from where i stay! I haven't been there in a while but i have a feeling that with the onslaught of winter, it's not as magnificent as it was in autumn, which is quite a pity... good things don't last. but it's a cycle so i'll just sit and wait for the next autumn!

Raspberries!

2006-12-11T11:07:00.000Z

i've never had a bowl of raspberries to myself in my entire 19 years of life!!! i had to buy a box when i saw it at the holborn fruit street stall. the pretty pretty raspberries! but they didn't taste as nice as they looked. i thought they'd be sweet and flavourful but to my slight disappointment, they were rather sour. so this is what they mean by 'looks can be deceiving'.

Sprained ankle!

2006-12-11T10:59:00.000Z

My old chronic weakened ankle struck again when i was playing squash! my first sprain in london! haha! what an occasion to be marked on my calendar! but surprisingly, it healed quite well though now it's still rather stiff! but i must assure mom and dad that i'm absolutely fine. it's been about a month since i sprained my ankle and they're still fretting over it! haha! poor mom and dad! don't worry! i'm taking really good care of myself! :)

Nottingham Again!

2006-11-12T15:33:00.000Z

More of Nottingham!

2006-11-12T15:27:00.000Z

Nottingham Games!

2006-11-12T14:57:00.000Z

11 Nov 06
Morning hasn't even dawned and we trudged through the blazing cold to school. It was a 3 hr journey to Nottingham University, including the time we got lost around the quiet streets of Nottingham on the coach. By the time we got to Nottingham University, the games had already started in full force. Had a really good day other than for the fact that there was a slight screwup in my registration for the games.. in the end, even though i registered for netball, i kind of played a bit of squash and then played netball for University of Bristol (yes, against LSE too). I saw Shihan! she's from Bristol, together with Grace from taiwan immersion and Yange! It was really a get together for all my friends from school back home and it was so nice seeing them again! For a moment, the netball games even felt like the annual netball carnival we had in RGS! ahwell.. i think the highlight of the day was meeting my old friends from rgs! MANU!! and XIUFANG! had a really good talk with Manu and i'm really glad that she's really enjoying cambridge.

Nottingham's really pretty quiet. Maybe people were kept in cos of the cold. it was really really cold in Nottingham, which was made worse by the lack of tall buildings to obscure the icy cold blasts. if you think london's cold, london's nothing compared to nottingham in terms of the cold. Imagine standing in the netball court with the freezing wind billowing around you.. not something you'd look forward to. Manu, Xiufang and I visited the city centre of Nottingham and the Nottingham Castle which was unfortunately closed for the day but the kind gatekeeper allowed us to take photos of the magnificent castle from the gate. Nottingham is home to the rebellious hero Robin Hood who robbed the rich to feed the poor. it was really a pity that we didn't get to go on the Robin Hood trail cos it was too late after the games ended. but i'd definitely go to Nottingham again for the trail!

the day i went clubbing.

2006-11-11T01:27:00.000Z

My virgin trip to a club... which wasnt too good an experience... cos of all the smoke and i didn't quite like the drinks and the music was too loud for me! haha! well, baby.. the brit culture hasnt gotten too much to me yet! in any case i thought since i didnt bring my camera along to take pictures when i was in the club i should at least have some photos of me in my more glamourous state.. haha.. which happens to be quite limited still..

Shimmie the cook!

2006-11-11T01:22:00.000Z

Hee! yup, i'm shimmie the chef! i cooked all of that! the pepper chicken and the dwarf beans with garlic! you wanna try my culinary skills? i bet you'd be asking for a second helping! and that's my new sheets.. well i used that at home but i changed my sheets recently so i hAVE to take a photo of my nice comfortable warm bed!!! my nice bed that i dream and drool in every night!

Demonstration at Trafalgar!

2006-11-11T00:44:00.000Z

I joined in the students' demonstration on 5 Nov! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! technically, i didn't really participate in it actively like all the screaming and yelling and everything but i was in the middle of it! haha! students from universites and unions all around congregated at trafalgar square after a march from UCL and it lasted all morning and afternoon. So when they came down to trafalgar square which was the final destination, i raced down to see it! haha! for a poor singaporean who has never seen a demonstration, much less participate in it, this was really a cool first! the students were protesting against blair for lifting the cap on the 3000 pounds tuition fees cos too many students were falling into debt from paying their fees. hmm.. what about us overseas students.. we pay almost 4 times of what the local government subsidised students pay!!! and i met huijie who was dressed in a full purple outfit. she looked really nice and dolled up! as compared to me.. i love trampy clothes!

More of Brighton!

2006-11-11T00:36:00.000Z

Yup, you see the fish and chips! haha! then we went to this palace like place called the Pavillion.. it was like a museum. the architecture has quite a bit of asian influence- chinese and indian.. then i met this old man in the magnificent garden and he offered to draw me a picture with my name on. the thing is he didn't charge me for it.. he was just doing it for his interest. such incidents are almost unheard of in singapore.. he was a nice old man who wished he could have a daughter.. i was quite thoughtful after that cos such a simple gesture on a stranger's part touched me so much and made me feel like this world can be such a beautiful place..

Brighton!!

2006-11-11T00:06:00.000Z

just uploaded some of my photos.. hee! i take ages to do this! but i'm finally done! haha! this was brighton! which i went to on the 7 Oct. hee! Brighton's pretty quiet and slow and enjoyable for a weekend getaway but not very happening.. but i like it.. and the fish and chips! fudge from the market! mmm... fudge! yum! it's like the nicest thing on earth!