A Syioking Weekend

Oh how I hate thee...

As much as I LOVE having fun, I also hate it when the fun stops and I have to force myself to get back to reality. There's nothing worse than having to endure heart-breaking withdrawal syndrome!

I left for Birmingham on Friday after a head-spinning week (imagine having lectures, labs, workshops, and a coursework plus a test due on the same day). It was a relief to be past that now but the test was shite. Can't remember the last time I felt so hopeless about my performance (hmm, actually I think I do - it was the PH2106 exam last autumn which until today I don't know how I managed to pass). The PK test on Friday was so depressing that I thanked God there was something to take my mind off it soon after I finished.

And that was what brought me to Birmingham.

The sports enthusiasts among you might have guessed that it was for the All England Badminton Championships but not to worry if you didn't. Just as long as you remember 11th March as the day we made history by winning the MEN'S DOUBLES event in 25 years!

This whole talk about going to All England started way back last year, when I thought my Brummie friend (correction, my Malaysian friend studying in Brum) was going to graduate this summer. Decided to ambil kesempatan and made him buy me the tickets the moment it was out for sale (yes yes, Adeline the Kanjiong Queen :D). And thanks to Anson's efforts, I was there to witness a weekend full of world-class badminton!

I was quite lucky - in that the matches that were played after I reached NIA on Friday evening - were those which featured the Malaysian team in action (matches started at 5 but I only got there at about 7.30). Tan Fook and Wan Wah were leading in the second set against the Danes but they lost at the end, going down in 3 sets. After that, it was Kien Keat and Boon Heong who took on the never-say-die Koreans which saw them win in straight sets to book a place in the semis. To add icing to the cake, our women's doubles team did us proud by beating the 4th seeds to reach the semis, which I believe is a first for the women shuttlers in the entire history of Malaysian badminton. Too bad Mew Choo couldn't join her compatriots as she lost to the aging Zhang Ning who - despite her age - is still winning matches (way to go girl).

The semis ensued without any hiccups on Saturday, and I guess it was time the spectators sat up and took notice of this small but proud nation. The Malaysian fans literally took NIA by storm with our ever feverish Malaysia Boleh chant throughout the match in which KK and BH demolished the Danes (who beat WW and TF the day before). Many Jalur Gemilangs were hung or draped with so much pride that no one could deny our presence even if they felt compelled to.
Badminton wise, KK and BH played exceptionally well (imho). They were so calm that the Danes were making a hill of unforced errors which gave the game away! Anyway, who cares lah, their loss is our gain!

Unfortunately, Pei Tty and Ee Hui couldn't repeat the feat of their male counterparts and went down tamely to a Chinese pair. It would be nice to have a non-China representation in the women's event for a change, as it is becoming more and more of a stalemate if you don't mind me saying!

Think about this. If a badminton fan like me woke up on Sunday morning with butterflies in my stomach, you can imagine the gamut of emotions that the players actually go through on the day of the finals.

Men's singles was played first, and Lin Dan won against his team-mate whose name I forgot (sorry mate, it was an all-China final). I was praying and hoping that the Men's Doubles event would be the last to be played so that I wouldn't walk out of the stadium an hour after reaching, but no, they were up next. The lunch that I had bought earlier had to be put aside because I was too nervous to eat. Honest. Adrenaline was pumping in every single blood vessel of mine and it was no wonder my heart was beating at 200 bpm. Ying Yie, Anson's friend who I met at Brum that weekend, had to calm me down as I grew quite tensed. And if you had seen me on Sunday, you wouldn't have thought that the idiot who was shouting and screaming at every opportunity was actually your friend Mun aka Adeline. Positive, without a doubt.

But in my defense, every self-respecting Malaysian was cheering on KK and BH with Malaysia Boleh and you'd be losing out if you didn't follow suit!

Haha, I think it was more of the nerves talking than anything else to be honest!!!

Our opponents in the finals were top seeds and World Number One Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng. Our players started the set superbly with well thought out shuttle placement and lightning reflexes, which drove the Chinese pair in circles, forcing many shots into the net. We won the first set quite comfortably but had to stifle a minor comeback from the opponents in the second before sealing off the championship point in style. No prizes for guessing who went wild on the last point :)

I think part of the reason why Ying Yie and I went ballistic (ooh, a pun unintentionally intended) was because we both fancied KK. Aiyar, don't roll your eyes lah, we all know cute guys are a sight to behold :P, no? I was lucky enough to congratulate KK and BH when they did their lap of honour after receiving the prizes, but I must say, I was a bit put off by my man's expressionless reaction when I went over to shake his hand and said congratulations. He looked at me rather dazedly and managed to only nod slightly as I gave him an arm-breaking "well done mate" hand-shake. I mean, what the hell?! You just won the All England championship for goodness sake...you're supposed to be feeling on top of the world!

Or maybe he was just shell-shocked. Either by the win or my beauty, oops my enthusiasm, only he knows...

Funnily enough, I actually stayed on to watch the rest of the matches before heading to New Street station to catch my train back in the evening. I guess I needed time to finish my unfinished lunch which I had abandoned some 40mins ago :) The all-China women's doubles was surprisingly an interesting match because both pairs wanted to win badly. It certainly wasn't like the men's singles final, which was more of an exhibition match than real competition.

Then came the highlight of the day, or what Ying Yie accurately described as 'war'. England had a finalist in the mixed doubles event and the spectators were naturally thrilled to have a representation in a competition blatantly dominated by Asians (and Scandinavians to a little extent). Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark did the St George proud by reaching their first All England final, and they gave the locals something to cheer for, which they did with utmost pride and passion. China's Gao Ling and Zheng Bo were obviously the favourites to win, but they were sadly a shadow of their true selfs in the first set. They just couldn't find their rhythm and nothing was going for them. Nonetheless, they came back strongly in the second set to force the match into a rubber. Eventually, they got their groove back and proved too strong for the English who were, if I may add, a little unlucky to have been the runners-up.

So that was it. My exhilirating, lung-stretching, adrenaline-rushing weekend. I guess the phrase "time flies when you're having fun" couldn't have been more apt even if a little cliched.

A note to 2007: promise me there's more of this to come!

International Women's Day

I call myself a feminist at heart but when asked about what it truly means to be a woman, I never quite know what to say. It begs the question of what is it about women (beyond obvious anatomical differences) that is different from men?

Someday I shall give it more thought and hopefully it'll do my sex justice.

While we're at this topic, this Madonna track came to mind...

Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
Cause it's OK to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like
Wouldn't you? What it feels like for a girl.

Silky smooth
Lips as sweet as candy,
Tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches
Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak?

Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world, for a girl?

Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently
Hands that rest on jutting hips repenting
Hurt that's not supposed to show
And tears that fall when no one knows
When you're trying hard to be your best
Could you be a little less?

On a separate note, pls tell me I'm not the only heterosexual female who thinks Madge looks v hot on the latest Elle Mag's cover??!!

PK

All non-pharms should be glad they're not doing a ridiculously abstract subject called PK (short for Pharmacokinetics).

I don't mean to swear but it really is PK!

%&*^!!!

Lazy Sunday...not

This is THE day I'd want to be snuggling under my comfy duvet and sleep the day away. Let the wind and rain fight all they want out there, for I have my radiator emanating warmth from within...

Sigh, what a pity that wasn't to be had.

Woke up at 8ish this morning and took a 2hr train to Birmingham for McNeil's Responding to Symptoms competition semi-finals at Aston University. The school round was held sometime in December and I emerged as the first prize winner (hence being given the chance to represent Cardiff to compete with other pharm students through out the country for a place in the finals). Essentially, we were tested on our ability to source out information from the patient (role played, obviously) who was presenting a symptom at the pharmacy counter, and were subsequently judged on how well we counselled them on the treatment recommended (if any). It's organised by BPSA (Pharm Assoc of GB) and sponsored by McNeil Ltd. There were 16 semi-finalists in total, and only 4 will be chosen to enter the finals in Manchester next month.

Although I didn't think I did badly, I don't fancy my chances that much. Why? Well...I don't know...just gut feeling. Plus, just as I left the room I remembered that I forgot to give the patient lifestyle advice, so there we go, a few marks down the drain for not thinking on my feet.

In summary, it's been a good run. Hopefully the streak will extend to Manchester, but if not, I'd be proud to hang my head up high knowing that I've done my best and lessons learned will be remembered for the future.

What to eat?

Pics sourced from fotosearch.com

This week, like the past 20 weeks since the start of 3rd year, has been suffocating. Been busy with uni work, uni work, AND uni work. Oh, have I mentioned UNI WORK?

So much so I've been skipping meals of late...

Well, okay, maybe not entirely. I should probably rephrase "skipping meals" with snacking, before everyone else starts lecturing me on the importance of healthy eating, especially mama dearest!

I have been eating, rest assured, just that it's not such wholesome food. I usually have rice for dinner, complete with meat and veg but lately it's been conveniently substituted with crisps, biscuits, cereal bar, Kit Kat (er gotta finish them soon coz they're all expiring in March) and yes, chocolate cake last night, which in my defense couldn't be helped due to circumstances. It was a floormate's birthday and we celebrated her big day with a self-baked choc chip cake. Imagine the guilt after the 2 slices that I greedily helped myself with!

Frankly speaking, I don't think it's hecticness that has driven me to such measures, it's also the very baffling "what should I eat?" decision that I find troublesome to make. God forgive me for being such a brat, I mean there are millions of people out there dying of starvation and here I am, complaining about WHAT to eat, honestly Adeline, get a grip.

But it is a tough call don't you think, especially for someone who's not a good cook in the first place...

Wuu-huu, sick of eating bread dee lah...day in day out sarnie... *shudder*...such is the ang moh lunch culture for ya...*sob sob* give me wan tan mee, hokkien mee, chee cheong fun, rojak, nasi lemak, chap fan, and my mom's cooking, which is what I missed the most, above everything else!

p/s: Any simple and healthy lunch/dinner ideas I can try out?

A Prayer Answered...

...and I survived PH3108.

Got my results today and it was a relief.

Ordinarily, I don't think I would have been satisfied if I got a mark that's short of a first class, but considering I didn't do as well as I should have in the theory paper, I really couldn't ask for more.

Oh well, never mind, I still have the other 5 modules in May to bring it to par, which I will!

BEAUTIFUL Game turned UGLY

Was very excited about the match today. Me and Rehma have been talking about this day for a while now!

The Carling Cup final was held at the Millennium stadium and it was a London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Ironic as it is, I am in Cardiff and yet I couldn't make my way into the stadium and watch the match live all because tickets were sold via clubs and not through the stadium box office, and so lay people like me who live on a tight budget and isn't a loyalty member of any clubs had to resort to watching it at the taff. But it wasn't bad at all (except for the bunch of chain-smoking uncles) because it was like a mini-Arsenal ground, with not a Chelsea fan in sight!

Arsenal started off the game very well, much to Chelsea's surprise and the former deserved to take the lead 20 mins into the match when Theo Walcott drove home a fantastic Michael Owen-resembling goal. The entire bar erupted into a roar with grown men hugging one another and I just sat there, trying to take in both the elation and the comic at the same time. I say comic because these were the same people who were cheering on Arsenal's young team with things like "'go on kids", and "show them how football should be played" etc. That really had me in stitches.

But the joy was short-lived, as Drogba pulled one back for Chelsea with a goal scored from a debatable offside position. While I understood the offside rule at the most basic level imaginable, I'd much rather abstain from commenting on this one. *aiyar, that means I don't know lah*

It was as if the young ones had ran out of steam, for Chelsea got the better of them with Drogba scoring another goal (in the 2nd half) to seal off victory for the Blues. Poor John Terry (who's been struggling with mobility and pace all throughout the match) had been knocked unconscious during one of the corner-defending moments by Diaby, who, in a flurry of lightning reflexes, gave Terry a blow to the head with his studded boots and er, yes, you get the picture. Rehma, Darsh and I jokingly said (while the paramedics were busy attending to Terry) that they should just send him to the Heath hospital and if they needed directions, we could help. Yeah, just a bunch of sour grapes talking.

Truth be told, I didn't feel bad (at all) that Arsenal lost, because the team had a lot to be proud of. But the match ended on such a bad note that at one point I felt so ashamed to be a supporter of the Gunners. Toure, captain of today's team, had a go at one of the Chelsea lads for pulling his shirt and holding him back while dribbling. Before we knew it, a brawl ensued. Fabregas (who I've been telling anyone who would listen as "my man") actually went in to calm players down but ended up having a heated argument with Frank Lampard who had to be led away by others. We didn't even know what was going on and the next thing we saw was that both the managers were already on the pitch trying to control their players and calm things down. Basically, it just went downhill from there and the ref eventually red-carded 3 players and gave Cesc and Frank a yellow each for not keeping their temper in check.

And these are senior players who should be showing a good example? How shameful!

Feb15 - Feb 24

It's a good thing Blogger doesn't strike off any of its members who hadn't published a post in more than a week, or else http://szemun-adeline-tan.blogspot.com would just have been another "Page Not Found" in the cyberworld!

Before you start to think I did an Amelia Earheart, this is a chronicle of what I've been up to in the past 10 days...

...I have been to Southampton and celebrated CNY away from Cardiff. Went there on Friday evening and spent the weekend with my ex-classmate Jennifer who I hadn't seen in 5 years!

Southampton is a thriving and energetic city by the port. One of Soton's many historical claims to fame is that it was where Titanic made its maiden voyage. They even had a museum showcasing everything Titanic-related, which geek centrals and trivial people like me found quite interesting ;P. We went to the harbour on Saturday morning, followed by a visit to the shops in town and West Quay shopping mall (as well as Asda on many occasions, during which Jen introduced me to peanut butter Kit Kat!) before heading back home to Swaythling, where Jen resides. Later in the day, I was also given a very comprehensive tour of the Soton Uni campus and found the entire complex rather modern and somewhat futuristic. The "fish tank" at Jubilee Sports Complex is the perfect place to leng-chai spot! From there, we went further to a Roath Park lookalike near Jen's house and had a relaxing afternoon stroll along the river. One of the most bizzare incidents that happened during our walk in the park was this dog who came from behind and gave the bend of my knee a bite. Thank God I was wearing thick jeans and went away unscathed!

Stupid dog, why did you do that for? Was that your way of lamenting Feb 17 as the last day of your year? Hokay, so what was I supposed to do about that?! It was funny how I didn't scream for England considering I'm never comfortable near dogs. Jen blamed it on my slow reflex which I whole-heartedly agree.

All of us were looking forward to the Reunion Dinner. One of Jen's housemate (Xiao Xiao) had her mom over for New Year so we were fortunate to have tasted Xiao Ma Ma's renowned dumpling dish (jiao zhi). Everyone had fun making dumplings and that added to the new year spirit. Geraldine, another of Jen's friend even had CNY songs playing in the background so that felt very much like home, even though we're 6600 miles away! I lost count of the number of people who congregated at Jen's house for dinner that night but it was very atmospheric. It was a pleasant change of environment for me because majority of them were mainland Chinese people, which meant I had to put on my best Mandarin, which isn't very good to be honest. I got tongue-tied pretty much in every sentence, but aiyar, they understand me means can lah...you should see the puzzled looks on their faces when the 4 Malaysians speak to one another - a mish-mash of English, cha-pa-lang Mandarin, Canto, Malay, Hokkien all rolled into one!

As usual, Sunday came without prompting (much to my annoyance because I had a great time at Soton). And yes, I hear you, time flies when you're having fun. Anyway, many many thanks to Jen for her thoroughly wonderful hospitality! Couldn't ask for a better host!

In the last 10 days, I've also celebrated Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras although I was mainly there for the food :). Apparently, Shrove Day is 40 days and 40 nights before Easter minus the Saturdays leading to the big day, and since it's more commonly known as Pancake Day, that's what I'll remember it as. In fact, Nicola - my floormate who loves baking - actually took the effort of making pancakes for everyone on the floor so we had a great time drowning ourselves in pancakes. So much so this greedy girl suffered from indigestion after that. Argh :(

The rest of the time was spent preparing for a hospital interview that I've been asked by Worthing Hospital to attend on Thursday, all the way in Brighton. Aiyar, don't shake your head and tsk lah, I didn't go there for fun, I went there on business!

When I was first told of the venue, I almost wanted to say no because it's an f-ing 4 and 1/2 hours from Cardiff, and if you multiply it by 2 for the to and fro journey, that's 9 hours of butt being stationary on the bus/coach. So, you think it's fun? Think twice before you chide me about going to Brighton, again!

As much as I hated the long journey, I couldn't say no. It was (one of my) only chances of getting a hospital placement this summer and I wasn't gonna let the long ride get in my way. But it was a high price to pay for a hospital offer though. Poor Adeline had to skip all lectures on Thursday to leave Cardiff at 9am so to reach Brighton in time for a 2.20pm interview, after which she had to endure another 4 and 1/2 bus+train ride to reach Cardiff at 10.30pm to get enough rest so that she could attend lectures the next morning. And if that wasn't bad enough, she had been set back 40 quid for all the train and coach tickets! Wuu-huu, literally blood, sweat and tears...

The interview was alright I guess. I think I did ok (considering the vast amount of effort I put in prior to it) and fingers crossed they'd be impressed to give me a place.

I left the hospital at 3pm, and I wasn't due to take the train back until 6pm, so what's a girl to do? Weather was horribly wet that entire day (across the UK I'd say), so that put me off going to the seafront or even the shops. Decided to call up my friend Nickson and he dragged Andrew along (his fellow coursemate cum flatmate) to go for a cuppa at Costa coffee at the Laines. I was surprised to find that they didn't have any classes, but upon further probing, they said they did have a lecture at 5-6, but they weren't planning on going because the lecturer sucked and I was a good reason for them to skive. Pah, what a bunch of t**ts, using me as an excuse! Nonetheless, I had a lovely time yakking, yakking and yakking. I wish we could just sit there and talk for England but we all know that's a lot to ask!

Reached Cardiff safe and sound on Thursday night and Friday just came and go *snap*, like that.

I thought I'd give myself a break after such a hectic week, so I went and book a ticket for a comedy show at St David's Hall on Friday evening at 7.30pm (yes Sola, that's where I was heading to when I bumped into you at the staircase, not some hot date you think it was!).

You see, what happened was I received a newsletter from New Theatre about this comedy show called Defending the Caveman on Friday itself, and since they offer ReAct members (which I am one) discounted tickets at 5GBP, I thought why not just go for it. Actually went alone coz it was a last-minute thing, and no one was particularly interested in a comedy, so yeah, these are times a singleton sometimes think "hmm, I could probably do with a man?" :P

Anyway, the show is a smash hit comedy about men and women, and it lived true to its billing of being a hysterical take on lives, loves and relationships. Basically, a manifestation of "men are from mars, women are from venus" in a comedy show. I'm really glad I went for it and had my funny bone tickled consistently for almost 2 and 1/2 hours with wise-cracking, "how come I never thought of it that way" jokes and funny anecdotes. It gave me a whole new perspective of men to say the very least!

So yup, that was a whirlwind 10 days for me. And oh, it doesn't stop there, I have a whole load of practical write-ups, time-tests and presentations to be working (and worrying) on so wish me luck!

Any supply of energy is much appreciated!

February 14

So, today is Valentine's Day huh...big deal?

To some people it's a yes, but for me, it's definitely a NO. IMHO, February 14 is just another day on the calendar!

Ok maybe I'm being too cynical. Too un-commercialised. :)

Logged onto MSN to ask for help from a friend and lo and behold, I received a few "Happy Valentine's Day" messages (much to my annoyance). I guess it's because a) I don't believe in it, and b) it doesn't mean a thing to me, so when these people greeted me with that, I reacted rather violently!

To quote dear Brandon, who kena the most (out of the lot) for wishing me Happy V Day...

"oh come on couzie, could you just, for the spirit of the occasion, accept my valentine's greeting? You're getting on my nerves!"

Ok, the last bit he didn't say but kinda implied it, no?

Another friend then said, "so, anything planned for tonight?"

I said yes.

He excitedly replied, "ooh, let's hear it (then inserted a very cunning-looking emoticon)"

"I'm going to watch the next DVD LoveFilm is sending me."

To which he said, "well, at least you're not as pathetic as I am, online-ing on Valentine's night."

Before I could say "I too am online on Valentine's Day so what is your point?", he intercepted with "but actually, it's not that bad, at least I get to celebrate V day with many more people."

Well said Cody, well said.

Later in the evening, I went and checked for my Lovefilm parcel. Was kinda hoping it won't be any romantic comedies but as luck would have it, they sent me Romeo and Juliet.

Cupid, is that your doing? What, sending me a teaser before the real thing?

Well, you better act fast because I'm soon going to be suing you for negligence. I have a few friends nearing the end of their law degrees so you watch out!

Rub of the green?

sourced from fotosearch.com

For some inexplicable reason, I seem to gravitate towards green of late. Like I never have before!

Hmm, just a thought...

If green is the colour of the pharmacy cross , so could my new-found liking for it be a result of my being very into the course and profession?

Haha, a plausible cause and effect!

Yes yes, I think the green wire in me must have fused to give this short circuit. Yikes...

Fairy tale? Fabricated tale more like...

My MSN Horoscope for the week...

Monday you may waver between two different lifestyle choices, jobs, or love interests. Sleep on it, as Tuesday should bring some clarity to your heart and mind. If you are single, you might even meet someone new. Mercury goes retrograde, however, so confirm all your appointments and dates, especially your big Valentine's Day reservations. Friday is a good day to put your thoughts on paper or in a computer journal. Just don't share them with anyone yet. Saturday you may reach a new level of understanding with a sibling or close relative. Sunday you might get a new roommate.

Mon: "Waver between jobs or love interests?"
- I have neither!

Tues: "Clarity to the heart and mind?"
- Hokay, we'll see...

Wed: "Confirm all my appointments and dates, especially my BIG Valentine's Day reservations?"
- Oh yeah, HAR HAR. Is that hunky guy supposed to come out from the magician's hat? Coz I've been looking around the entire universe and solar system and still don't see him (incidentally, which is bigger, universe or solar system?)

Fri: Right, so you want me to put my thoughts on paper or in a computer journal huh...I'm away on Friday, so I'm afraid it's a no go mate...

Sat: "Reach a new level of understanding with a sibling or close relative"...yeah but I already understand my sister very well thank you...and my other relatives have their lives to get on with so leave them (and me) alone!

Sun: Ooh, so I might have a NEW roommate on Sunday. Ah yes, I can see that happening. In Aberdare Hall. 120 rooms of SINGLE occupancy. Or did they mean the squeaking rat that's been hovering around the hidden corners of my room? Come on out Mr Mouse, you deserve a proper introduction!

*sharp inhalation*

Why am I so acidic today?

Snow White...

...minus the seven dwarves.

To borrow the words from the headlines today, many parts of Britain have been "crippled" by snow, and Cardiff was not spared.

Apparently it started snowing at 1ish last night which I only got to know this morning (hey Alex, thanks for the text). Heard my floormates banging on each other's doors to go out and 'play', but sleepy ahead Adeline was too knackered to be excited about snow. It's funny how I was so subdued considering this is a natural phenomenon uncommon to my part of the world, and I should be the one screaming up and down the hallway and not my Russian floormate who is used to snow like a Malaysian is used to rain!

Seriously Natalia...

Anyway, it's nice to see snow again. Makes me feel upbeat about winter finally coming to an end, and spring is just round the corner!

View of Queen Anne Square from my room

View of Aberdare Hall garden carpeted in snow...hehe, looks like I'm not the only one taking picture s...

Can you spot the 2 snowmen?

The cyclepath at King Edward VII Avenue looking so picturesque for once...

Chapter B Revisited

Don't panic don't panic, it's not Brighton... :)

Haha, so wish it was. Good thing the place is actually 5 1/2 hours from Cardiff by train , if not I would have gone back like a 100 times!

Anyway, this B is for Bristol.

Yup, I was there once upon a time. To do my first Boots placement to be exact. At a store in Shirehampton, a residential village-y town 35 mins from Bristol.

Went there with Sola today for an open day at the Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital. Some hospital pharmacies actually hold afternoons like these to give potential pre-reg students a tour of the department as well as using the chance to promote their pre-reg program, and clarify any questions we might have for them.

Modest is how I would describe the BRI, and the pharmacy department. Not particularly impressive, but can't say anything bad about it either. Just average I suppose. Met a couple of Bath Uni students there too, and I won't be surprised if these are the people I would be pitted against for a pre-reg place not very far from now.

*shudder*

3rd year is a bit of a limbo year if you ask me. One on hand, I can't wait to finish, but at the same time, I wish I could stay in this buffered environment for longer, when all I need to think about is "when is the deadline for this coursework?" or "how should I attempt this question in PHxxxx module". None of those confusing application submissions or serious decision-makings of "where am I going to go in the future". Yes, that doesn't sound very adult of me but hey, if I can't rant on my blog, where else can I do that?

Ok ok, don't stress.

Let's look at some old-pics of yours truly when she was here 2 years ago...

Adam - my [very fit] pharmacy tutor and me

Me at some waterfall steps in town, near the waterfront...argh, my big hair!

If only I had the time to go round these places again, I would have been able to take some pictures and make a "then and now" feature. Oh well, the timing didn't permit, and with the artic weather that we have been blessed with this week, I just couldn't wait to get back to Aberdare Hall where I can restore my normal body temperature. So right after we finished (which was about 4.30pm), we went straight to Temple Meads to catch the train back. Was also a shame I didn't get to meet my A-level mate despite sounding so excited on the text last night...apologies Thibs, I'm sure there'll be another time. Remember, Cardiff awaits you!

Fly our Jalur Gemilang up high!

Malaysians seem to be making headwaves lately, what with our former PM being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and Siti Nurhaliza being invited to walk down the Red Carpet at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Okay fine, it's not like she's nominated for a Grammy but still, how close can a Malaysian get to the Grammy's? Closer than she?

Mmm, can't wait to see the black and white kebaya designed by Bernard Chandran!

On a completely separate note, this article caught my attention today during my daily inspection of The Star Online...

Hug your wives for prosperity
PENANG: Married men, take note. Your wife is your “Prosperity God” and the more you hug her, the more prosperous you will get.

Taiwanese feng shui master Yu Yang has this tip for those who wish to usher in good fortune during the Year of the Pig. But for it to work, wives have to cooperate.

“Men, hug your wives more; and women, do not turn down the loving hugs,” Yu advised during her feng shui talk show at Queensbay Mall here.

Brought in by Astro AEC, Yu also gave some simple advice to improve the feng shui of a house.

She advised against carrying out renovations, even minor ones like nailing the wall, at three areas – the northwest, southeast and centre of the house.

“The centre of the house is where the chi is and the place should not be cluttered with things, for they will block one’s fortune and cause disharmony,” she explained.

She suggested some warm lighting – not too bright or too dim – for this area to create a cosy and comfortable ambience.

“Also be nice to everyone and always say good things as these will help improve luck,” she advised.

For those born under the different Chinese zodiac signs, Yu suggested the following tips to enhance feng shui at home:

Tiger/Rabbit: Place anything that has to do with wood (including greens) at the eastern side of the house and increase wealth by adding some crystal pebbles.

Snake/Horse: Red coloured decorative items to be put at the south of the house.

Monkey/Rooster: Golden or yellow colour items to be placed in the west direction.

Rat/Pig: Place water decorative items such as an aquarium/fish bowl, spinning water decorations, glass/crystal vases with plants in the north.

Dog/Goat/Ox/Dragon: The so-called four heavenly kings for this year can expect a smooth and prosperous year ahead. To enhance luck and fortune, the southwest of the house can be decorated with items made from soil such as vases, ceramic pots and china decorations.

4 heavenly kings for the year? Am I really that favoured in 2007? How come there are no signs that my good fortunes have manifested yet?

*hand hitting forehead*

Oh yeah, it's still dog year...yar yar...patience Adeline, patience!

Spiceworld

The good thing about this free LoveFilm DVD trial is that I get to watch films which I've missed over the years, as well as movies whose DVDs I refuse to buy because I know I won't watch again.

Spiceworld was the most recent one they dispatched to me.

While it fitted the first description, I'm not sure if it does the second. Yeah alright, everyone said it was a 'worse than tacky' movie, which I have to agree to a certain extent because there is no storyline to it whatsoever (or maybe it was just too weak to be known as one). But I enjoyed it. Thoroughly. I can't remember the last time a movie has made me laugh so hysterically, and at the same time, reminded me so much of yesteryears, which doesn't seem that far away but is some time ago. Say what you want but I grew up with the Spice Girls. I can't turn back time!

The film was loosely based upon the Famous 5, and how it was like being famous and the fickleness that came with it. Paparazzo hounding their every move, insinuating journalists deliberately twisting their words, and the ever influential media sensationalising their actions. As much as they hated it, I hope they won't forget that it was after all, merchandising and publicity that had contributed much to the Spice phenomenon.

Nevertheless, what made watching the movie enjoyable for me was the fact that I get to see footages of the Spice Girls in action that was for once, longer than a 5-minute music video or a 15-minute interview with MTV. Also, it wasn't like Crossroads where everything Britney did, touched and said was gold (to quote a film critic "Well, what do you expect? It's a Britney Spears movie!"). Spiceworld was done with a lot of self-deprecating humour (typical of the Brits) and in-your-face parody. There was a scene where the girls were tired of being stereotyped by the media as Ginger, Sporty, Posh, Baby and Scary, so they decided to have some fun ditching what they think were ill-defined personalities, and imitated as one another...Ginger did a Sporty, who did a Posh, who did a Baby, who did a Scary. That was a good one.

And then there was this 'fast-forward to the future' scene where all of them had become mothers. Baby was pregnant but still sucking a lollipop, Geri was puffing a ciggie as she complained to Scary who was in very "mom" clothes mixing a bowl of dough; Posh was all calm, sitting on her exquisite furniture sipping tea and thanking God for boarding schools such that she only sees her kids "once a month", and Sporty, dressing and behaving very much chav-like on the bicycle, trying to lose the hundreds of pounds that were piled on her (thanks to a fat suit), lamenting about her son wanting to become a singer and her telling him off. What capped this convincing performance was the distinctive Northern accent of hers!

If there's one thing from this movie I won't forget, it's probably this (which was part of the Spice regimental mantra they chanted in a dance camp).

We're the Spice Girls yes indeed,

just Girl Power is all we need;

We know how we got this far,

Strength and courage in a Wonderbra.

Haha, the 3 things I badly need! :)

What's bad?

Went for a 20min break (in between lectures) this morning and bumped into Val, my American coursemate.

"Hey, how you doin'?"

I'm not the type of person who says "fine, thank you" without actually meaning it. So I said what I really felt.

"Haha Val, not good. Not very good."

He twitched his eyebrows, slowed his steps down the stairs, and gave me a quizzical look and said, "Why, what's bad?"

I reacted the same way he reacted - eyebrow twitching, pace-slowing, puzzled-looking.

What's bad?

I don't know!

So stunned and caught off guard was I that I only managed to shrug my shoulders and said something lame like, "Erm, nah, see you later" without actually answering his question.

For the first time it has dawned on me that although life sucks at the mo, there's nothing bad about it. Absolutely nothing. I could be in a state worse than the one I'm in right now, so really, what's bad, Miss Tan?

Just count your blessings and be grateful that you're still alive and kicking to enjoy so many good and simple things in life.

Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)

Everyone falls in love sometimes
Sometimes it's wrong
Sometimes it's right
For every win, someone must fail
But there comes a point when...
When we exhale (yeah, yeah)

Sometimes you'll laugh
Sometimes you'll cry
Life never tells us
The when's or why's
When you've got friends
To wish you well
You'll find your point when
You will exhale (yeah, yeah)

Hearts are often broken
When there are words unspoken
In your soul there's answers to your prayers
If you're searching for a place you know
A familiar face, somewhere to go
You should look inside yourself...
You're halfway there!

What a soothing song, Whitney. My frazzled nerves need a lot of calming down indeed!

So Long, Farewell, Au Revoir Bid Adieu

I've quit my job at SR Bailey Pharmacy. Today was my last day at work.

The upcoming workload of uni this semester is mad beyond imagination, and judging by my snail slow speed and sloppy time management skills last term, I figured I better pack my bags and leave now before it's too late. I can't trust myself to handle the stress of not having enough time for revision (and preparations) for exam, so I've made the decision to quit and focus on my studies.

Let's hope I won't squander the new-found time with my sucky old habit of procrastination...

If I do, I give you the permission to slap me wake up!

Every Cloud Has A Platinum Lining...

sourced from fotosearch.com

...because silver isn't good enough for me.

Yesterday was the first day back at Uni. Rejuvenated from a 6-week lay off? Hmm, a little bit, but like everyone else, I'd love to have a longer break...not so much to curi tulang, but to catch up on revision carried over from last year...oh well, I guess I'd just have to work doubly hard this term :(

Came back from lectures around noon time to find 2 email replies from hospitals I've applied to for summer placements.

I hurriedly checked them with moutain-high expectations.

But the anticipation of good news fizzled out like a can of soft drink when opened.

One regretted to inform me that I wasn't chosen to go for the interview, and the other said they've brought forward the application deadline to 15th of Dec last year (ie they won't be considering any more).

To say I was in low spirits was a total understatement. And knowing me, I don't take rejections gracefully (as I should have).

Had a chat with fellow coursemate later on and it was a good thing she had a strong character, or else she would have came out of my room having as bleak an outlook as the negativity and dismay I've tainted her with.

Rejections from 2 (out of at least 40 hospitals) I've applied to is a bit pre-mature to be pessimistic about isn't it? Ordinarily I would have thought so, but since early Jan when I started my hospital placement application frenzy, I've gotten replies from only a handful of hospitals, and not one of them is conclusive. All they are saying is they have received my applications and they shall contact me in the future should I be successful. So naturally, I would view any email that had come from a nhs.uk address to be (as what they've led me to believe) a sign of good tidings, no?

Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

I don't know if the person who coined this Chinese saying of "the higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment" is pessimistic or simply wise, but you can't blame me for aiming high!

Oh well, this placement allocation thingy is still in its early days. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Down and in a pout I was, but down and out I won't be.

That's not in my genetic make-up.

F for Federer. F for Finesse.

I agree with the critics. Someone needs to give us new words to describe this tennis maestro.

I watched the Australian Open Men's Single finals at 9 o'clock this morning. Funny how I always struggle to get up for morning lectures and yet when it comes to sports events, I am there right on the dot.

It's been almost half a year since I've watched any tennis games (the last few being Wimbledon 2006 in the summer). I've never ever held a tennis racquet in my life before (let alone play the game) but like football, I find it bewitching, magnetic even. Definitely one of the best sports of which to be an arm-chair spectator.

Fernando Gonzalez was the other finalist today. Speedy Gonzales many nicknamed him. But Master Federer was simply too good to be denied of the championship win.

A friend (who is also a close follower of the tennis game) once asked me why I like watching Federer play. Typical me, I retorted defensively and answered him back with this instead, "why DON'T you like watching Federer play?"

"Cause he does my head in. It's like you can never win against him. So what's the point of watching when you already know the winner before the game has even started?"

You get the impression that people find him boring don't you, that because he's always winning, there's no joy in watching his games anymore.

But I'd like to differ. Ask any of the tennis commentators and I'm very sure they too would beg to differ.

The magnificent shots that he come up with, the beautiful strokes that he execute, the wonderful placements of the ball in which he put, his game plan, his single-handed backhand, his footwork, his languid way around the court, his easy demeanour, his friendly nature - everything spells class.

Roger Federer is an epitome of perfection. He defies imagination.

That's why I like to watch him play.

Arnie says "I'll be back", I say I AM back.

Anymore procrastination means I might as well shut down this blog huh...Well, I guess we can all see why I always seem to be breaking my 'diary efforts' new year resolution, year after year!

Oh no baby, oh NO. *index finger wagging*

Not this year. It's for keeps. You be my witness!

Anyway, moi has been away to Port Talbot for a short 2 and a 1/2 day hospital placement. Came back on Wednesday and have been busy with stuff (which I have trouble naming). Honestly, where has all the time gone?!

This placement thingy was organised by the school for all 3rd year Pharmacy students just so we can get a taster of what it's like working in a secondary care institution before commiting ourselves to it for a 52-week make or break pre-registration year. We were all sent to hospitals around Wales and some even go as far as England.

Considering we've just finished our PH3108 exam on the Friday before this, I know many of my mates were treating it like a mini-holiday. As for me, haha, I'd like to berlagak a bit and treat it like I was attending a conference, complete with top notch accommodation and excellent room service plus exquisite buffet meals...

*snap*

Ah right, apologies for skidding off track there. But the part about top-notch accommodation and excellent room service is true. No joke. You see, I had arranged to put up at their hospital accommodation to save me the trouble of commuting from Cardiff everyday. Initially, the thought of paying 8.73 GBP per night was a big lump to swallow, but upon seeing the lovely room I was allocated, I felt 8.73 was worth every penny!


This is the hospital staff quarters all right, but it's a million times nicer than Aberdare Hall, which don't even have en-suite facilities! How I wish I could be staying here AND attending Uni at the same time...

Ya ya, dream on... :)

Woke up the next morning and found that I was teenie bit late for work, but pharmacists were all having a meeting so technically I wasn't late because they hadn't started work yet :P (I personally blamed the comfy bed). Met Mr John Harris who was our supervisor (I said our coz there were 2 of us doing the placement together, me and Rehma). He gave us a brief tour of the hospital and we settled back at the dispensary not 10 mins after.

Why Port Talbot hospital? Well, because my first choice viz Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend had been taken up, and considering this hospital was under the same trust as the former (and it is brand spanking new), I took it up. Basically, we were allocated numbers 1-100, so person number1 gets to pick his hospital (from a list) first and then followed by person number 2 and the cycle continues...so obviously the earlier your number is, the better are the chances of you getting a hospital of your choice. That said, mine was 36, which wasn't that far behind, but by then Bridgend Hospital had already been snapped up, so I had to settle for my second choice.

Port Talbot is a small industrial town 35 mins west of Cardiff, with a population of about 50,000. And almost everyone speaks with a thick Welsh accent over here - not surprising since many of them are Welsh-speakers (there was one time I overheard a pre-reg conversing with her tutor and I thought oh God, my clinical knowledge must be very shabby not to understand all the jargons they used, only to realise they were speaking in an entirely different language altogether!).

I was told the hospital doesn't belong to the NHS, but some local businessmen who sold the land and "loaned" it to the Health Service (or something like that). And one more trivia if you may - it's actually built on a huge piece of marsh land! That's why they get ventilators like this (pic on the right) to suck up all the methane trapped underneath this piece of concrete building or else...ka-boom!

Spent the afternoon observing a pharmacist run warfarin clinic, and I must say, he blew me away! Yes yes, I came here to learn, not to go all giddy but seriously, this guy has so much charm and wit it's impossible not to like him! And the patients all warmed up to him because of his animated and friendly nature. They told him things they wouldn't tell the doctors and asked him questions about things that were troubling their minds. You should see the way Mr Williams explained it to them - it was so full of easily understood concepts with no " I'm trying to sound smart" jargons, which the patients all appreciated. That was no mean feat I tell ya!

And he made me feel so important each time he introduced me to his patients by saying "oh this is Tan, my colleague who's here to pick up some pearls of wisdom on INR, which I hope I wouldn't put her off by the end of the day (and then turned to me to give me a wink)".

Sigh...why is this guy twice my age and happily married with kids?

You know what, DON'T answer. Don't EVEN bother.

The next day was spent going up to medical wards and checking the patients' drug regimen. It's nothing new given I've done a hospital placement before this but it was nice to see how each hospital differ from one another in terms of how things were done.

We were also given a chance to take drug history from a real patient (as opposed to nasty lecturers who always make it hard for us back in pharm school) and it was cool! I was a little nervous needless to say, but because the 2 of us doing it together, it didn't feel so nerve wrecking...plus we basically had the sheets in front of us so it was just a matter of asking the right questions! Anyway, I came away feeling quite dignified and to think I'd be doing more of this in the future is exciting as it is challenging!

2 days went by in a whiff and the last half day of our placement was imminent. We didn't do much since we had almost completed all those checklists on our agenda, so we were let off an hour early. I didn't want to come all the way to Port Talbot just to do a placement and then go home, so Rehma and I went to beach, which I was told was the only thing to see in Port Talbot.

Na-uh, don't start picturing Brighton because this was NOTHING like it although any sea-side place is a sight to behold. Swansea was within our optical range as it was just miles away from Port Talbot. I actually had plans to go to Swansea in the afternoon but because time was pressing, I decided to give it a pass and go another day (which is when, Adeline?)

One thing about a small town like Port Talbot, is that the people are unbelievably friendly. So much so that you'd think, "what's wrong with these people?", which is the kind of sentiment felt by Rehma, who's originally from London, where people mind their own business.

Lunch at Rhemo's cafe and a short walk along the promenade concluded my trip to Port Talbot.

Ok, here's some pictorial proof...

Hospital parking lot at dusk

Yup yup, there's a mountain nearby...imagine how scenic it is walking to work from the hospital flats everyday...

Port Talbot is to my left...

...and Swansea is to my right

And I didn't know Rehma is that tall! Okay okay, I'm short...

All in all, I found it a pleasant and purposeful placement. Confirmed my inclination for hospital pharmacy and I'm quite certain that's where I'd be heading in the future.

Wish me luck.

Amazing Race

Was filling out an online survey form for some Career Service organisation today when this caught my attention...

Ethnicity (please tick one):

British
Irish
Indian
Bangladeshi
Pakistani
Chinese
African
Caribbean
Malaysian
Other ethnic group (please specify)

Malaysian?

I bet our former PM must be very proud that his Bangsa Malaysia concept did not fall on deaf ears...at least it's VERY VERY WELCOMED by moi who ticked the tiny little box next to Malaysian with so much pride bursting out of her heart!

Exam? Checked. Next!

Right!

So PH3108 Quality Assurance module is now done and dusted.

Looking back, the paper was fine, with no shocking surprises in store for us although I wish I had answered some of them better. Oh well, guess I need to do some more thorough preparation the next time!

Watched Prime with Sola in the evening as a reward for thyself after labouring for so many days over good laboratory practice, SOP, audit, ICH GCP yada yada yada...*yawn*

Oh dear God. That movie was a drone!

Originally thought the cast was a good reflection of the quality of the movie/script but no! Not even a solid Meryl Streep or fascinating Uma Thurman could save it (the latter was the reason why I borrowed it in the first place).

It tells a tale of a 37 yr old divorcee (Thurman) who dated a 23 yr old hunk (er, brain ran out of synonyms for handsome man I'm afraid) who turned out to be her therapist's (Streep) son. Streep played a neurotic, I-sometimes-don't-know-what-I'm-talking-about psychotherapist who encouraged Thurman to go for it when she first told her of this young guy she's seeing.

"So what if he's younger than you, you're both clearly at your sexual prime!"

Haha, good one, except of course she didn't know it was David her son that Rafi was dating. "Stop them? Let them be? But he's my son, and she's my client!" She eventually let the relationship take its course and just when you start to think ah, end of story, fairy tale ending, the couple fell out because of inevitable differences that stemmed from their wanting different things in life.

Er, at least that's what I thought happened...well, you can't exactly blame me for not following an aimless movie!

Can someone please remind me not to heed the critics the next time...

A View-tiful Day

The view of Queen Anne's Square from my window

At last...a bit of sunshine for the pasty face (that I've become)!

The sun decided to grace us with her presence today (and stayed for quite a bit actually). Those of you back home might not treasure it so much, but seeing the sun really does lift one's spirits leaps and bounds in this gloomy country I tell ya! It's like seeing, I don't know, David Beckham on the streets, and him giving you a smile when you catch his eye!

Ok ok, just coz the sun is out doesn't mean I have go all dreamy :P

Fair enough.

Anyway, this winter has been a bit wet. We never usually expect so much downpour this time of the year but hey, I'm not complaining (except when I have to leave the room that is :P). Well, rain is definitely more welcomed than gusty wind and freezing air!

Hmm, my life these few days have been so very mundane. Wake up, wash up, breakfast, revision, lunch, revision, dinner, shower time, revision, hit the sack, wake up, wash up, breakfast, revision, lunch, revision, dinner, shower time, revision, hit the sack...oh God I think I'll run nuts very soon!

So, dear Friday, I need you to come fast fast. Really want to get over PH3108 and then get on with life!

Me, tissue box and air freshener reaching out for a bit of sun...oh, and Kay's plant too with which I've been entrusted for 3 weeks!

Let's get dirty?

Sigh, my floormates...*head shaking, in need of paracetamol*...

Not sure if they got the wrong message from Christina Aguilera's Dirrty or what, but the state of our bathrooms over the weekend was atrociously appalling!

Tissue rolls all over the toilet, paper napkins cobbling the terrazo floors and even along the common corridor, how shameful!

And these are adults who you would think understand the words hygiene, cleanliness, consideration, moderation and common sense!

I was washing up this morning and I heard the shuffling of plastic bags. I knew what that gal was doing and I would have lashed out and chased after her if I weren't in the middle of brushing my teeth and had the bathroom door locked behind me (tsk). You wouldn't have guessed what she did...stuffing her own rubbish into the toilet rubbish bin. How absurd!

Urgh, filthy filthy brat...Don't let me catch you red-handed the next time!

What Dignity? No Such Thing Here...

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/13/nation/16559011&sec=nation

Malaysia(n) Boleh

"What you will do matters. All you need is to do it. "

Yes I WILL.

Had enough of feeling crappy and useless about not being as productive as I should have, but really, why waste the time moaning when all the energy heaped on it could be channelled into something more fruitful.

And doing what needs to be done is a reward by itself!

So, in the words of Elle Woods, " from now on, I'm gonna be a serious student."

Positive. Affirmative. Definitive.

Can't be bothered with the title

The last 3 days went by in a blur.

Such is the degree to which I have procrastinated, to an extent where I couldn't even point my finger at something useful I've done in the past 72 hours!

While my mates were busy revising for PH3108 exam (which is a week from now), ha, guess what incorrigible Miss Tan did?

She slept till past noon, pottered about, surfed the net for useless information (which, she erm, *laughing nervously* won't disclose...confidentiality is the number one thing they preach to us at Uni you see :P), cleared her room (even though there was no urgent need for it), read her story book (which she regretted starting it in the frst place coz now she now can't put it down), watched some DVDs (1 would have been forgivable, but 2?), went to town to buy groceries but ended up clothes shopping and then came back all guilty.

Quite an achievement eh?

Oh God, please say no, because only a fool would think that!

'Four Weddings and A Funeral' makes one so not 'In The Mood for Love':

Thanks to my recent subscription to LoveFILM's free trial, I've been receiving 2 DVDs through the post almost everyweek (well, the quicker you watch, the more you'll get). Wrong time to be trying out the free-trial I know, but the voucher runs out in Jan you see, so cheapskate folks like me signed up for it immediately for fear of losing out!

I know it's un-believable that I've not watched the former, since it's a movie considered by many as the most successful British film of all time.

Really?

I find the film merely so-so, with a sense of humour only a Brit would call dry. Nonetheless, Hugh Grant was quite charming in the movie. Its theme centred around this 6/7 singletons who were, in the passing of time, not getting anywhere close to meeting the love of their life, or thunderbolt as Tom would have it. The scene opened with Charles (Grant) being late for a wedding for which he was best man. There he met a striking American (moi begs to differ) Carrie (Andie McDowell) and fell head over heels at first sight. With his stiff upper lip genes to blame, he found it hard to express his feelings for her until she had to make a first move (see, it's always girls to the rescue, time and time again *eyes rolling*). After a night of passion, Carrie went back to the States and Charles never saw her until the next wedding, where he again, failed to keep her. When it came to the 3rd wedding, it was already too late, for Carrie was marrying Sir Hamish, some rich Scot. Charles knew he'd blown his chance. But the wedding wasn't completely an auspicious occasion, as Gareth, one of the 7 singletons died of a heart attack on the scene and was gone, just like that (hence funeral). A year later, there was another wedding to be held and this time around, it's Charles' and Henrietta's, one of his ex-gfs (God only knows why he did that...out of desperation maybe?). But seeing Carrie (again) at the wedding threw him off, for he knew that she was the one he really loved, not Henrietta. The scene where he called out the wedding was somewhat hilarious, a full grown man freaking out literally seconds before the wedding commenced, which wasn't altogether that welcomed by his deaf brother, who had to interrupt the priest so that Charles didn't have to say "I do". Well, as one would have guessed, Charles got together with Carrie in the end, and his friends found their spouses eventually and hey ho happy ending.

Absolutely a romantic comedy to the core yet it didn't rank high on my charts. *Shrugs*

I had such hopes for In The Mood for Love to make up for the disappointment of Four Weddings but it turned out that the former too was a drag. Chow (Tony Leung) moved into a house where Chan (Maggie Cheung) was renting the other room. Both were married and in a spiritless marriage, where each suspected their spouses of cheating on them. Chow and Chan got close as loneliness bit on, but they (contrary to popular belief) restrained themselves from committing adultery because they didn't want to be like their morally unscrupulous partners. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, the pace of the movie was as slow as life was simple and mundane. If it weren't for Maggie Cheung's classy outfits each time a new scene come on, I would have snored very nyenyak-ly!

Going through the motions:

Went to work on Wednesday and pretty much did nothing in the evening. Oh wait, no, now I remembered. Had been busying myself with editing my CV for hospital placement applications...that was what took up so much time!

"When the going gets tough, the tough goes shopping." - Sophie Kinsella

Seriously, it wasn't planned.

It's just that when I see the words 70% off, I get itchy. My legs start to propel in directions that I try very hard to stay away from!

Sigh, blew another 30 quid by customing Oasis, MK-One and H&M, where the latter is having a buy 1 get 1 free promotion on sale stuff! How to resist you tell me? HOW???

Bought a nice top for sister (konon-nya), a formal shirt, another black top (kinda goth but I like it), a stretchable cheong-sam dress and some undies.

When I was in Capitol shopping centre, I also popped into Coast, Phase Eight, Kookai and Karen Millen. OMG, those dresses were just so pretty! Couldn't resist running my hands through the fabric and wishing they'd be on me...someday...

But I do thank God profusely for not being rich (or that rich) to be able to afford 'a-few hundred-quid-a-dress' prices, because if I had, I would have bought every single thing in those shops!

Get a Grip

Sourced from Fotosearch

I couldn't believe my 'luck' yesterday.

Was 3/4 through with Monday's blog entry when one silly click on 'back' from Preview erased every single alphabet I've typed for the past 30 mins!

^&*%.

Okay, chill, it's just a one-off thing. Fine, let's try again.

Oh yeah right, I repeated the damn mistake, again!

That's when I've had enough, and went to my book for solace. Currently reading Not That Kind of Girl by Catherine Alliot. Unbelievably gripping, even if it didn't have a thriller theme (it's actually a grown-up, domesticated, womanly chick lit without the hedonistic you usually get from books of this genre). Nah, I don't read thrillers, I find them too heavy for my worrysome mind. Also used to be a fan of tear-jerkers too, but when I am in a stressed-out state like now, the last thing I want is to be crying everytime I turn a page! So Jodi Picoult, you'd have to wait!

Stressed-out? Why lah, kan dah handed in coursework?

Yeah, but that's just the tip of an iceberg. I still have a million and one things to do, and it's not so much of whether I can do them or not (sure I can...if there's one thing I can do, it's to give myself a much needed affirmation!), but it's more of do I have the time?

Since the beginning of last term, I've noticed that my time-management skills seemed to have taken a down turn. In hindsight, 2nd year was way more hectic (in the sense that I had more on my plate than I do this year), but yet I was on top of mostly everything. If only that could be said of 2006/2007!

Oh well, I guess I still have another 5 months to remedy it before labelling 06/07 not as productive as 05/06. I know I have to cut down on the equivalent of junk-food in time management terms, like less MSN time (which I have quite successfully managed), less dreaming-of-pretty-boy time (er, this one I still have to work on :P), less rolling-in-bed time (Miss Tan, stop snoozing your alarm clock!).

Just like dieting (which I'm quite lucky not to have to worry about), I need a massive boost of discipline. Now, pardon me for being Joey-like, but where do you suppose I get that from?

Recollection Part 3

01.01.2007 - Chapter B Revisited

It was probably due to an overflow of high spirits from the night before, that the weather was ethereally sublime in the morning. Cloudless blue skies without a touch of frost. Nobody would have thought it was a winter's day without looking at the calendar and working it out that way!

Left Jacey and co to meet up with CHS classmate Sze Chuen at his place in Angel. Went for lunch at Miso and did some catching up. As usual, was philosophising about uni, work, life, etc. All the grown-up stuff :(. It was only just 12 hours into 2007 when we met up, but it already got me into thinking about the future. Yikes!

Btw, the first lesson of the year for Miss Tan: Someone who graduates with an Actuarial Science degree (and passes all the subsequent papers) is called an actuary, not an actuarial scientist!

Later that afternoon, I left for Brighton, my fav city in the UK!

The clouds weren't that accommodating though, it was pouring when I got there. And pity my friend Nickson who had to brave the rain to come pick me up!

For those not in the know, I spent 2 summer months working in Brighton last year. Was on a placement with Boots the Chemist, during which I stayed at Nickson's flat above a DIY shop on Lewes Road.

It sure felt weird, yet at home when I stepped into 149B that evening. Weird because I don't live there anymore and a lot of memories came rushing in the moment Nickson opened the door, but at the same time, I felt very much at home and cozy because that is how the flat is. An odd combination I know.

There are 4 of them living there, Nickson, Andrew, Adrianna and Charlotte. Andrew and Adrianna were around during the summer, so I knew them fairly well. Unfortunately, Adri and Charlotte (who I've not met) went home for hols, so it was just Nickson and Andrew that I met up with.

We had Chinese buffet for dinner and spent most of the night yakking. I'd say it was an interesting cultural dialogue between the Western world and Asia...haha. Andrew knew how sensitive I was when it came to issues of the East vs the West (a sentiment stemmed from my personal experiences of how Caucasians/Europeans sometimes take the mickey out of Asians just coz we don't live like them, talk like them, behave like them, drink like them etc), so he deliberately stepped on my tail just to wind me up, knowing I would put him in his place by blasting his political incorrectness and condescending attitude.

:)

All these were, of course, done with a lot of humour (just thought I'd make it clear before you start to think we initiated WW3!), and it felt just like old times where we'd be sitting around, doing nothing but having thought-provoking conversations that can really go on for hours. Haha, call me funny if you may, but I find it a bliss!

Sigh, time never stops when you're having fun, so naturally I didn't want to leave Brighton the next morning, although I knew I had to (or I won't be able to catch the bus back to Cardiff. Haha, so you think it's like the movies where some handsome man would come and halt the bus and profess his undying love for me and then ask me to stay yada yada yada...*yawn*).

Anyway, before I boarded the bus, I went down to St James' Street and popped into the store where I used to work. Some of my older ex-colleagues were still there, but the younger ones had left. One went back to Uni and the other had moved to the bigger store up in North Street. Even Yannski the security guy doesn't work there anymore. At times like this, I couldn't help but think...ahh, life is so short, one minute you meet someone, share some good happy times with them, and the next thing you know, they're no longer there (or have moved on)... oh well, cest' la vie!

Right, one last look at Brighton before I bade it farwell, for I don't know when I'll be back again (yes yes, Leaving On a Jet Plane. That song was playing repeatedly in my head at that time...don't ask me why).

So, now that Chapter B has been revisited, it shall be closed...for good!

The End.

P/s: MANY MANY THANKS TO JACEY and NICKSON for your kindness. I know I had robbed you guys off your comfy beds over the weekend, but if you wanna "get back" at me, you're most welcome to at Cardiff...anytime!

Recollection Part 2

31.12.2006 - Life is Beautiful

Friends went for church service at Tottenham Court Road and I tagged along.

Hillsong, as I was told, is a Pentecostal Church, who uses the Dominion Theatre at Tottenham Court Road as the venue for its Sunday service. It's the first time I've attended such a lively and merry service, and it's really cool seeing how worshippers express their devotion to God through music. Amazing!

Funnily enough, towards the end of the service, there was this mysterious sweet, onion-y smell that wafted into the hall, as if to announce the advent of lunch time! The 4 of us - me, Sly, Edna and Irene all admitted to feeling hungry, in unison!

Seeing we were already at Tottenham Court Road, we walked down to China Town for lunch. Sly had this insatiable craving for duck rice and so we settled for a restaurant he swears by for duck. Food was alright (I had Char Siew and Siew Yuk Fan...salivalicious!), but the same couldn't be said of the service. Barely 5 minutes into finishng our meals, they brought the bill without us prompting, how unruly was that? Yeah ok, I know they depend heavily on fast turnovers, but if only they do it with a bit more tact, I wouldn't have minded so much!

No wonder they say Chinese make the best businessman...we are shrewed to the max!

Anyway, the fatty meal left us all needing a walk to aid digestion. Blustery wind blew on but that didn't stop us from walking to Trafalgar Square, leisure-walking through St James's Park, admiring Buckhingham Palace from afar, acknowledging Big Ben for telling the time, contemplating calling on Tony Blair at Whitehall and arriving back at Lord Nelson's column almost an hour later. It was thoroughly pleasant despite the wintery gust!

p/s: While we were walking pass Downing Street, Sly said, "Good afternoon, Mr Blair, can I see you for a moment? I'm Sly, the Prince of Borneo." Haha, I was the slowest of the lot to get that. Either the wind had frozen off my cognitive ability, or that I was thinking of some un-nameable pretty boy, I don't know!!!

Pictures courtesy of Edna's camera, and Sly's angle-perfect snapshot.

Time check - ooh, it was only 4-ish. Plenty of time to kill before going for dinner at 9.30 in the evening. So we adjourned to Cafe Nerro to try to bring some colour back to our noses, cheeks and fingers. There, we met up with Alan, a friend of Sly's back in Coventry (or was it Brum). We yakked for about an hour, during which I found out that Alan's youngest daughter is older than me, the English don't quite like the Welsh (woops) and that Hogmanay and New Year's celebration in Scotland were cancelled coz of the inclement weather.

Oohh please please please. May that not be the case with London!

Thankfully not. We left for dinner at around 9ish in full force. The chosen venue was Des Amiz at Covent Garden. Des Amiz means "friends" in French or so I was told. There were 8 of us for dinner - Fitri and husband, Irene, Sly, Alan, Edna, Jacey and I. These people with whom I was honoured to dine are high-flying individuals. All of them bar Alan (who has a lecturing stint with the Uni) are here doing their PhDs. I know they're sick me of saying this but really, I take my hats off these brilliant people who have such determination to go that far up the ranks of academia (Edna is aka Dr Gias)! I on the other hand can't wait to finish MPharm and then PERIOD!

Couldn't see Fitri in this pic :(

Couldn't see Sly in this pic :(

Anyway, we had a fine dine. I had chicken liver for starters (wrong choice considering I never liked liver of any sort but I thought I'd stretch my comfort zone. Honestly, stick to what you normally eat is best), and haddock for main course, and creme brulee to top it off. It's like what they say...save the best for the last!

The original plan was to catch the fireworks along the Thames Embankment, but infortunately we left the restaurant too late to be able to get there in time, so we had to console ourselves with just catching glimpses of rays of light radiating from the London Eye, and the explosive POP sounds that came with every floral blooming up in the sky....

Was reading a friend's blog the other day and the phrase "look how far we've come" caught my attention. Haha Eunice, need to borrow the line sekejap :)

Whether it was kismet or not, I don't know, but I re-read the 01/01/2006 entry in my diary while clearing my room today (fyi, reading old diary pages can be very therapeutic!)

"...At about 5 mins to midnight, I went over to Min Yee's place (coz her room has a better view) to see the fireworks , conspicuously signalling the start of a new year. At that time, her TV was on, so at the stroke of midnight, we saw footages of New Year celebrations all around the world. Without a doubt, the one that caught my attention the most was London. The fireworks display was magnificent, made even more magical by the river Thames, thanks to the reflection of the water. The few of us in the room were in awe, and couldn't help but shamelessly shriek 'wah' each time we see it bloom. Such a far cry from the modest one we have in Cardiff. Secretly I said to myself, 'you know what, I'll be there next year. Next New Year's Eve. Come what may.' Only time time will tell if I made it in 364 day's time."

Dear diary, I can safely say I made it. To London. 364 days after jotting that down.

Although it was a huge shame I didn't get to see what many of us had hoped to see, but look how far I've come...and what a way to cap a wonderful year. Not sure if I'd have the chance of repeating this same feat in years to come (I say feat because surviving the stampede out on the streets of Central London with 250,000 people was a miracle), but at least I know I've tried, and satisfied myself that I succeeded in making a dream come true...partially!

One came from the North East of the country, the other came from the South West of the country, and they congregated at the capital. Although hugely disappointed about missing out on the fireworks display, they still have lots to smile fort!

Recollection Part 1

Hello hello hello!!!

Am back from my honeymoon!!!

Er, husband 0 but good times aplenty :P

Right, let's rewind 5 days to...

30.12.2006 - Thank You For The Music

Left for London for what was hoped to be the best New Year celebration I've ever had.

Remember I said I was quite apprehensive about the weather? Well, it looked like heavens heard my plea the night before. The weather couldn't have been better when I left Cardiff and it fared the same in London too!

Anyway, got to my destination on time (this time around), and Jacey, my host for the weekend, came to meet me at Victoria, together with Sly and Edna, who I haven't seen in months. Yes yes, I won't philosophise about how time flies. I know you got the picture.

We went for lunch and later adjourned to Piccadilly Court where Jacey is. Sly and Edna went to pick Irene (Sly's cousin) up from Heathrow and so it was just Jacey and me at home. We had the idiot box to entertain us but somehow, we didn't quite like what we saw, and after some rounds of channel flicking, this animated Jap cartoon (which many fondly call anime) caught our attention. Engrossed was an understatement! It was simply hilarious how 2 adults find themselves so into anime all of a sudden, to the extent that they both went online to scout for the DVD straight after the show ended! **eyes rolling, head shaking, tongue tsk-ing**

And really, prying my eyes from the TV set and lifting my butt from the sofa was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do...I was going for a concert at 7pm and at 6.30, I was still saying, "ok, I'll watch for another 5 minutes, and I'll go get ready." Seriously, what am I like???!!!



Yup, the All-Star Soul Spectacular concert was the prime reason I came down to London. It was a concert organised by Smooth FM, with David Gest as the host (no idea who he is but apparently the winner of "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" show. Er, whatever :P).

Me being the avid online listener of Smooth FM, I heard about the concert 2 months back. The thought of going for a concert of this kind (honestly, how often do you get a chance to go to a soul concert) and spending New Year's at London was too much to pass, so the decision was made almost instantenously. Was hoping you wouldn't ask how much I paid for it (hint: it's printed on the ticket), but it was worth every penny!

Cadogan Hall was where the concert was hosted. Candi Staton opened the show with Young Hearts (Run Free), followed by the following (in an order I might have messed up) - Russell Tomkins Jr (from the Stylistics), Dorothy Moore, Freda Payne, Carl Carlton, William Bell (the guy who gave us Private Number), Billy Paul (the guy who crooned Me and Mrs Jones), Martha Reeves and The Vandellas (who belted Dancing in the Streets so groovily that the whole crowd bogeyed like no other!), Bonnie Tyler (she's the only one who I wasn;t that excited to see...I'm sorry but I just don't like Total Eclipse of the Heart) Deniece Williams (who dedicated Let's Hear it for the Boys to all the good men out there, which, I'm afraid aren't that many :P) and last but not least, the guy who - out of all that I mentioned - I most wanted to see, and hear from...

Mr Peabo Bryson!

Man, it was just so overwhelming seeing him perform on stage. I've lost count of the number of times I shook my head in disbelief that I was seeing him in the flesh! It was just magical, and he is a great entertainer, with fantastic showmanship and charisma. He performed 4 songs in total - Beauty and the Beast, A Whole New World, If Ever You're In My Arms Again (where I had to wipe away a few tears that welled up, and sniffed a thousand times wishing that he could just serenade me alone, as opposed to the entire audience) and Ain't Nobody as the encore.

Just a little interesting by note: Ms Petula Clark (the legend who sang Downtown) was among the crowd!

How not to be star-struck I ask you?!

...to be continued