Gaudi in Barcelona

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

Yes, nice little verandas...

Barcelona!

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?

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!!! :)

yunyun and me!!! :)

more baggage!

Excess Baggage No More

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! :)