Jung Typology Test

A pal introduced me to this test. Claiming it to be v accurate.

Jung Typology Test.

Try it!

After you have done the test, you would be assigned 4 alphabets. Type in that combination into Google and read the profile description.

Have fun!

Here's what I am...

INFJ

Portrait of an INFJ - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging (Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling)

The Confidant

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types (oooohhhh).

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential (OMG). INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them (OMG OMG!). They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals (of course!).

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.
The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Introverted Intuition
Auxilliary: Extraverted Feeling
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing

INFJ Relationships
INFJs are warm and affirming people who are usually also deep and complex. They're likely to seek out and promote relationships that are intense and meaningful. They tend to be perfectionists, and are always striving for the Ultimate Relationship. For the most part, this is a positive feature, but sometimes works against the INFJ if they fall into the habit of moving from relationship to relationship, always in search of a more perfect partner. In general, the INFJ is a deeply warm and caring person who is highly invested in the health of their close relationships, and puts forth a lot of effort to make them positive. They are valued by those close to them for these special qualities. They seek long-term, lifelong relationships, although they don't always find them.

INFJ Strengths
- Warm and affirming by nature
- Dedicated to achieving the ultimate relationship
- Sensitive and concerned for others' feelings
- Usually have good communication skills, especially written
- Take their commitments very seriously, and seek lifelong relationships
- Have very high expectations for themselves and others (both a strength and weakness)
- Good listeners
- Are able to move on after a relationship has ended (once they're sure it's over)

INFJ Weaknesses
- Tendency to hold back part of themselves
- Extreme dislike of conflict and criticism
- Have very high expectations for themselves and others
- Have difficulty leaving a bad relationship

INFJs as Lovers
INFJs are warm, considerate partners who feel great depth of love for their partners. They enjoy showing this love, and want to receive affirmation back from their mates.
They are perfectionists, constantly striving to achieve the Perfect Relationship. This can sometimes be frustrating to their mates, who may feel put upon by the INFJs demanding perfectionism. However, it may also be greatly appreciated, because it indicates a sincere commitment to the relationship, and a depth of caring which is not usually present in other types. Sexually, INFJs view intimacy as a nearly spiritual experience. They embrace the opportunity to bond heart and soul with their mates. As service-oriented individuals, it's very important to them that their mates are happy. Intimacy is an opportunity for the INFJ to selflessly give their love, and experience it in a tangible way. Although two well-developed individuals of any type can enjoy a healthy relationship, INFJ's natural partner is the Visionary, or the Inspirer.

The busybody in me erm, went and checked the 'Visionary', and this is what it said on the profile...

The visionaries are fluent conversationalists, mentally quick, and enjoy verbal sparring with others. They love to debate issues, and may even switch sides sometimes just for the love of the debate. The ENTP personality type is sometimes referred to the "Lawyer" type.

My instant reaction was..."Oh my dear God...."

It is exactly the kind that I like to engage with!!! Verbal sparring? Anytime mate!

As for Inspirer, they are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

Adeline is now very hopeful...haha!

INFJs as Parents
INFJs usually make warm and caring parents. Their goal is to help their children become adults who know the difference between right and wrong, and who are independent, growth-oriented individuals. Along the path to that goal they are generally very warm and caring, and are likely to treat their children as individuals who have a voice in family decisions. They want their children to be able to think for themselves, and make the right decisions. They also can be quite demanding on their children, and may have very high expectations for their behavior. Although they are generally soft-spoken and gentle, they may become stubborn and sharp-tongued at times when their expectations aren't met, or when under a lot of stress. INFJs take their parenting role with ultimate seriousness. They will make sacrifices for the sake of their children without a second thought, and without remorse. Passing on their values to their children is a serious priority in their lives. Children of INFJs remember their parents fondly as warm, patient, and inspirational.

INFJs as Friends
Although the INFJ is likely to put friends behind their God and their families in terms of importance, they do value their friendships. As idealists who have strong value systems, INFJs seek authenticity and depth in their close relationships, and especially value people who can see and appreciate the INFJ for who they are and what they stand for. The INFJ is likely to spend a lot of time socialing with family members. If they are religious, they probably are social with members of their religious community. After that, the INFJ may have friends represented from any of the personality types. They are usually extremely intuitive individuals, who will have no patience for anyone they feel is dishonest or corrupt. They'll have no interest in being around these kinds of people. All kinds of people are drawn towards the INFJ. They are usually quite popular, although they may be unaware of it themselves, because they don't place a lot of importance on it. The INFJ is valued by their close friends for their warmth and consideration, their new and interesting ways of looking at things, and for their ability to inspire and motivate others to be the best that they can be, genuine article that they are.

Possible Career Paths for the INFJ:
Clergy / Religious Work
Teachers
Medical Doctors / Dentists
Alternative Health Care Practitioners, i.e. Chiropractor, Reflexologist
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Counselors and Social Workers
Musicians and Artists
Photographers
Child Care / Early Childhood Development

So, what are you?

Awkward Moment

Our department organised a welcoming party for international students this evening at Aberdare Hall.

The turn out wasn't great, but better than what I had expected. Our head of school was there, as well as a few lecturers and academic staff.

As it was held around the same time as my part-time job in the kitchen, I couldn't stay long and only popped by to say hi and grabbed some finger food before starting work.

I saw Ven, one of my juniors and walked over to his table and joined him. He was engaged in a conversation with another person, and when it came to a standstill, I extended my hand and introduced myself.

"Hi I'm Adeline."

He looked at me.

Then at my hand.

And back at me.

"Hi. Er, I'm Rahim (name is changed to protect privacy of the person in question). Sorry I can't shake your hand."

Woops.

I never knew that. I have shaken hands with male Muslim friends before and they never told me off so I assumed it was alright.

I apologised and then we started talking.

"So, where are you from?"

"Malaysia."

Then he laughed.

"So shouldn't you know about that???"

Er...

***awkward moment***

***hands thrown up in air***

But I really didn't know!!!

Wheel of Fortune?

Listening to: To The Moon and Back (Savage Garden)

"reaching out for human faith is like a journey I just don't have a map for"

Picture courtesy of Reuters

I read on Yahoo! news today that China is planning on building it's on Eye.

I wonder why.

It seems like everyone is trying to copy the ferris wheel in London. First Singapore, then us, now China.

Why not have their own versions of Twin Towers or Eiffel Tower or Opera Houses and other architectural hallmarks?

Why the Eye?

I wonder why...

Runaway

Listening to: Escapade (Janet Jackson)

"I hope you can find the time this weekend to relax and unwind"

Whoa, if this is how withdrawn I am after a nice, relaxing, carefree weekend, then I can only imagine what drug users go through when they desperately crave the next fix.

Was away to Birmingham on Friday. Not a great time to be galivanting across the country when I have essays to write, presentations to give, meetings to attend, reports to hand in, papers to appraise, experiments to conduct...erm yeah, the list goes on.

Nonetheless, I always have time for friends and it was indeed a quality weekend break. Sincere gratitude to Siok Ping and Aun Yeung for their superb hospitality.

Siok Ping is a friend I met at Malaysia Hall in the summer. She is a radiologist at QE Hospital in Brum and has been here for almost 6 years now. She would soon be going over to Canada, with her husband, to do her fellowship there and I thought I should catch up with her once before she leaves for Ontario early next year.

It wasn't that long ago that I went to Birmingham for the All England Championships in March, so nothing much has changed. Well, Bullring is still bullish, and the town centre is as thriving and bustling as ever (which is, I must say, what I remembered most about Brum from my last trip, although to be perfectly honest, I didn't go anywhere but the NEC).

Siok Ping suggested taking me out for shopping and walking around in town, but sincerely, those of us coming from Asia will probably find shopping here less awe-inspiring than those multi-storey domes we have back home, so she thought of taking me to the countryside instead to have a taste of the Midlands.

Me and Siok Ping at Hidcote

We drove out 50 miles to Hidcote Manor Garden on Saturday morning. It's one of those National Trust sites that offers scenic, unpolluted natural landscape and as you've guessed it, 90% of the visitors were above 60 :)

Haha, not that I mind at all. It was nice to go out there and take in breaths of fresh air to keep my lungs healthy. We spent the entire morning at Hidcote, gazing at flowers, snapping our cameras away on sights which would make perfect desktop material, and plucking apples.

Yes you saw it right.

Erm actually, no. We didn't pluck them from the trees. We helped ourselves with windfalls =P

Hey look, if you paid 8 pounds for entrance free it's only fair you get something in return alright...

Later in the afternoon, we dropped by Stratford upon Avon and paid Sir Shakespeare a visit at the Holy Trinity Church. It was an interesting (albeit touristy) little town. A place which offered Shakespeare so much inspiration must be worth visiting.

Me in front of Shakespeare's statue

We walked along the river Avon and Hwee Cheng - Siok Ping's sister-in-law - couldn't help but lament that it was the perfect place for pak-toh (courtship), to which I silently nodded.

Haha, in spite of myself, and the cold, foggy weather!

Winter days are, as you know, short, so by the time we got back to Brum, it was pitch black (although it couldn't have been later than 5pm). There wasn't much point in doing more sightseeing, and since Siok Ping and her husband wanted to watch Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I tagged along.

IMHO, Cate Blanchett deserves an Oscar. Ooh Definitely. Even if she was only nominated and didn't win it at the end of the day, I just hope the person who beats her to it is worth more salt than Gwyneth Paltrow (remember the '98 Oscars?)

Sunday went by in a blur. I think we did grocery shopping in the morning, and then prepared lunch after we came back. Aun Yeung went to his room to fix his computer, while Siok Ping and I enjoyed a girly conversation or two downstairs in the kitchen.

Although there is quite an age gap between me and Siok Ping, I find I can talk to her very naturally, without any awkwardness on either side. We talked about work, life, relationships, family, you know, the usual sort of thing, but with a more matured outlook. Not that I'm slagging off my peers, but sometimes it is hard to talk about serious things with the latter without them thinking you're having a quarter-life crisis.

Yeah, I know people find me a tad serious sometimes. Ok fine, not a tad but very. Just the other day, we went for a mate's birthday party and I was engaged in an interesting conversation with a matured friend about life, present and future, when my coursemate came over to join us. She followed our conversation for 5 seconds and then she left. And when she left us to join another table, she chidingly said to me, "Honestly you guys, it's Friday night, can we talk about something else?"

I don't think the point is whether it's Friday or Sunday or Tuesday. I think it's a matter of interest. A matter of wanting to talk more than who's going out with who, or where are we going shopping tomorrow. I know not everyone is a fan of stimulating, thought-provoking conversations but I, fortunately or unfortunately, happen to be one.
I like talking and pondering about life. It makes me think less about myself and more about others. I become less caught up in my own world, and embrace a bigger one out there that I've only seen a fraction of, and wonder if I would ever see enough.

Backward In Coming Forward

Better Together (Jack Johnson)

"I'll tell you one thing - it's always better when we're together"

 This afternoon, I met up with my group mates to discuss our VPL project (the one where we had to come up with a new drug for a given disease), and in particular, talked about the questions we were going to ask the "investors" (simulated bosses of this project) when we meet them next Monday.

After a seemingly positive reply from the BOD on our ideas for hepatitis C last Friday, my groupmates seemed to have taken their feet off the pedal. One even came to the meeting and said she didn't know what we're meeting up for.

You don't???!! Well my dear, I suggest you read your own emails the next time before sending them out to others because it was YOU who said this...

"I think before tuesday we should research this idea further and look at the other aspects regarding this idea and then when we meet on tuesday we can discuss it."

That's why, Miss H. That's why we're meeting up today.

It was as if people were clueless about what's going on. Either that or they underestimated next Monday's session with EJK and co. Let me tell you something my lovelies, we only get one chance, and nothing more. Next Monday is the only opportunity for us to clarify our doubts and concerns with the investors with regards to proceeding with either idea 7 (or 8) for which they have previously given the go-ahead. It is our only chance to seek advice from the experts and use the new-found knowledge to solve problems that we - the amateurs - are currently facing (amateurs may be too generous a term, actually). It'd be a complete waste if we turn up for the session ill-prepared!!!

"Speak now or forever hold your peace".

How I regret not injecting my take on this subject at the meeting earlier. We spent 30 minutes (or maybe even more) beating around the bush, going back to square one when common sense dictates that the outcome of today's meeting should be a conclusion on which idea we wish to pursue. I didn't want to sound too school-marmy by telling others what to do, and therefore thought it was best for the other stronger characters to hint it out but in the end, they too weren't sure themselves.

So here's what I have to make peace with - the tedious task of doing something completely not worth our time, and most importantly, something we have already DONE for the submission last Friday. All because I was backward in coming forward.

Sigh Munny dear, just never learn.

One Sweet Day

Listening to: Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)

Me and the birthday girl

Went out with some pharm mates last evening to Chiquitto's for Darsh's 21st bday do. Good night out it was, made complete by a sweet revelation :)

Just want to say congratulations to the new love birds and hopefully someone will circulate the pictures around v soon...

It was a sweet surprise indeed. Lily said I reacted like an overjoyed mother (haha). Nah, I'm just very happy, both for the 2 of them, and the fact that I picked up the right vibe, some point in time!

My Dream Team

Say What You Want (Texas)

"You can say what you want but it wont change my mind"

Laminated list.

Have you one of your own?

This topic (made popular by Friends) cropped up several times during offhand conversations with my girly pals, and upon reflection, I realised I've always given different answers each time I've been asked. Tsk tsk, how typical :) The thought of making it official is hence the reason for this post. Except I wouldn't call it the laminated list, seeing how I don't quite agree with some technicalities of the definition...Anyway, I'll just name it the Dream Team. People who make me dream my life away (and hence should be prosecuted by the Time Management Inspectors for seriously damaging Miss Tan's productivity =P...)

Oh Adeline, just cut the crap.

In no particular order, they are:

Michael Vartan

I mean, seriously, what was Jennifer Garner thinking when she dumped him for Ben Affleck?

Ethan Hawke

He comes, he sees, he conquers...my knees!

Matthew Metzger It wasn't just his choice of song ("When I See You Smile") at the American Idol (season 3) audition that had me. It was his personal goal in life - "To someday be the best husband and father the world has ever seen" - that swept me off my feet.

Aww, isn't this is sooooo Adeline???

David Robert Joseph Beckham

He needs no introduction, nor pictorial justification.

But here's how sweet a couple we would make if I know how to super-impose my face onto Posh's one...

Jose Mourinho

Yes, okay, I know. I'm an Arsenal fan, I'm not supposed to be looking at Chelsea players. But that doesn't include the (ex-)manager, does it?

Dermot Mulroney

Like how wine tastes better with time, Dermot looks finer with time...

Alex Yoong I defy any hot-blooded female not to be moved by this heart-stopping picture...phoawar!

Shia LaBeouf

Please Shia, drive me home in Bumblebee, every night!

Sean Penn

You wouldn't have understood it even if you tried, so don't bother ;)

Fredrik Ljungberg

Erm, yeah. The man, is, erm ________

*pls insert the highest superlative you can think of for I have been rendered speechless*

Pierce Brosnan The dream team is NEVER complete without an Irish Charmer!

All pictures are sourced from www.google.com

Alright alright, I know some of you are gonna argue that it's double the number of what is "allowed" on the laminated list, but hey, that's the beauty of the Dream Team you see. No restrictions, no bumping off the list, no order or ranking... :)

OK FINE. I'm fickle. I'm indecisive. Happy?

Namesake

I supposed you can call it a strange habit. Or just plain weirdness. That I tend to look out for my name as the credits roll at the end of a movie...

So, someone shares my name. Big deal huh?

Oh yes, especially if you're not Jessica, or Emily, or Sarah.

I guess I just like the coincidental, light-headed thrill of chancing something uncanny :)

Time and time again, I've been on the lookout for another Adeline, but I haven't been close. The nearest hit was probably Adele, of which there were a few.

This evening I watched "And I Hate You So" on Veoh.com, a HK rom-com that has been around for ages (I'm sure). I don't get to watch as many Chinese movies as I do Hollywood ones, so naturally, I didn't pass up the opportunity of viewing one when it's totally on the house. =P

Cheesy, predictable, but entertaining is what I thought of the movie. Not your average "boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl have conflict, boy and girl end up happily ever after" romantic comedy. Something a little different.

And there. Just when I wasn't expecting any familiar names, I saw 诗敏.

Hmm, I should have bought lottery today...I reckon I'd strike big :)

7 Days

In the last 7 days...

I bade Theresa goodbye. She left for China to do a short course on Traditional Medicine and I wish her all the best.

In the last 7 days...

I experienced real muhibah-ness when I joined in Raya celebrations at a Malay friend's house. Was swept away by the kuih batik he made. Damn, I can't even bake anything and I'm a girl...pah!

In the last 7 days...

I attended a birthday do for 2 of my coursemates and had a marvellous time eating yummy Mexican food, acting silly and discussing about cute guys in MPharm IV (namely 'loceng', 'Kaya BaikMenang' and the new kid on the block...shoot(!), what's his name?)

In the last 7 days...

I experienced a choking feeling as deadlines got the better of me.

In the last 7 days...

I was drawn away from my comfort zone time and time again and I don't like that.

In the last 7 days...

I wished I could punch her bulldog face and tell her to take her rotten who-do-you-think-you-are attitude away with her but I'm glad I didn't. Haha, I could actually sabar...not bad not bad :)

In the last 7 days...

I slept for less than 6 hours on 3 occasions and I snoozed my alarm clock 3 times the following morning. How I still reached class on time is a wonder.

In the last 7 days...

I became someone I wasn't. Maybe in my dreams I was that, but in real life I know I am not.

I 'defended' a 'criminal' 'in court' and was later told I gave a moving closing speech. The truth is that I was only putting up an act. Literally.

In the last 7 days...

I kept thinking about this which have no answer.

You said it right Des'ree. Very right.

Listening to: Life (Des'ree)

Thankful thought of the day: That I'm Alive. And Kicking!

www.davidbeckham.com

I am serious. No joke. He really has an official website!

I googled Becks a while ago for an upcoming post (hehe) and found myself at his website, reading his blog!

Well, nothing fancy. Just short and sweet messages for kei po chis like me :)

Here's one of the latest posts...

Hello everyone,

Firstly, I’d like to apologise for not updating my blog over the past week or so, but as I’m sure you understand, with my dad being taken ill the only thing on my mind was to get to him as quickly as possible.

Thank you so much to all of you who sent messages of support, flowers and cards to the hospital. They were greatly appreciated. Along with my dad and my family, I would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and ambulance staff who were amazing in their care of him. I’m back in the States now and will be continuing my treatment on the injury.

That’s all for now - I’ll update you again soon.

Thanks

David


Oi Becks, what about pharmacists?

When I read that Beckham senior had been admitted to Whipps Cross Hospital following a heart attack, I wished I had applied there for a training place. Who knows maybe in the future I'd come into contact with Beckham senior himself, advising him on his medicines? And in return for my excellent patient care, he'd introduce me to his son and and and...

Okay, time's up. Enough day-dreaming for the day. o.O

Happy Raya

Was told by my classmates that the Muslim community here celebrate Raya today (whereas it's tomorrow for those back home), anyway, regardless of dates, here's me wishing all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, or Happy Eid-Ul-Fitr!

Looking forward to open houses and yummy food ;)

Stye

I have a stye in my eye
And all I can do is sigh...
I'd very much like to bid it goodbye
I hope the time is nigh!

Woke up this morning and my left eye felt gritty. There's this uncomfortable feeling everytime I blink. Went to the mirror to have a look and saw a tiny red bump on the eyelid.

Having learned about styes in my first year, I didn't feel so panicky at the sight of one. For those not in the know, it's essentially an infection at the base of the eyelids. Nothing damaging, as it's all external, but the accompanying tenderness and pain is definitely not welcomed either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Stye02.jpg

Styes are self-limiting, fortunately or unfortunately. It'll go away on its own without medication.

I sure hope it'll disappear entirely by tomorrow evening as I'm out for dinner with some friends, and am very likely to have my beautiful face captured on cameras...hmm, maybe I'll just stand rightttttttt at the back so that no one can see my "weird" eye... :(

Trial Run

I went to the courts today. Cardiff Crown Court. For a trial.

Ooohh...

Witnessing lah, not trying! Choi choi choi.

It's all for our Expert Witness assignment. My friends and I figured that since we are so pathetically clueless about the judiciary system here, it'd be good to go and sit in on some trials, since the Crown Court is a stone's throw away from Redwood. And it's free. :)

The first trial we witnessed was so anti-climax. The guy pleaded guilty barely 5 seconds into the whole hearing and the next thing we know, we were out of the courtroom. That quick.

But that wasn't what we're here for, I exclaimed! We wanted to see lawyers cross-examine witnesses and present their case so that we know what to replicate in 10 days time. In front of the whole class.

Completely unsatisfied, I told Jinal I was staying put. I'm not leaving until I saw another trial. 2 of other friends had commitments so they left. We went back to the drawing board and checked out the other trials that were in progress. The next available trial was in court 5, and so we went.

This time around, it was a series of preliminary hearings, which is a bit like appointment-booking if you ask me. Basically, the prosecutors gave a background to the case and asked the judge for x amount of time to service the paperwork before proceeding with the case. The judge then looked at the present schedule and fixed a later date to resume the trial.

Full stop. All rise.

What???

Nooooooooo, that again was not what I woke up early for! (We agreed to go at 10am).

This time, Jinal wasn't staying. She had a group meeting back at Redwood at 12pm and she left.

Still unsatisfied, I stayed back at Court 5 antiticipating more action.

I want to see fights! I want to see heated arguments! I want to be wow-ed!

True to form, the next hearing was indeed a trial. 3 guys were tried for assaulting someone... or er, something like that. The jury were called in and they each took their oaths.

I rubbed my hands with glee.

The prosecutor stood up.

"Your honour, I am Ms X, prosecutor for this case and may I introduce my learned friends, Mr Z, Mr Q and Mr R who are representing the defendants."

...
...
...

She said some technical stuff I couldn't remember, and then my worse fears were confirmed.

"The witnesses were originally told not to attend the trial until tommorow. I'm afraid there won't be any provision of statements from the them today and would therefore like to ask Your Honour for this case to be postponed till tomorrow."

*&%#!!!!!

But I have a class tomorrow at 10am! And I'm booked up for the whole week! I won't have time to poke my nose in the Crown Court till next week, which will be too late for my assignment!

Sigh, my whole morning was wasted. If I had seen some cute lawyers then I wouldn't feel so bad, but this? Totally unacceptable.

And later on when I recounted the incident to my friends, I said our 'outing' was a bit like trial and error. We just have to try enough times to get the right case!

Yes yes, I like puns ;)

Humpty Dumpty? There's one right here...

I last heard: Melodi (Sheila Majid & Lin Yu Zhong)

I am reading: The Expert Witness (R H Mildred), The Expert Witness In Court: A Practical Guide (C. Bond)

I am thankful for: the herbs mama dearest packed for me last month...so that I could reconstruct her "Luk Mei" soup 6600 miles away from home...although it's nothing like the real McCoy!

Whenever nosy people asked about my middle name, I'd almost always say gorgeous, or stunning or some other similar superlatives, but the truth is, it's klutz. That is my (unspoken) middle name.

I can't begin to describe how clumsy I am. I can walk with most confident stride you'd ever see and the next thing you know, I'd be bumping my feet against the edge of the rubbish bin as I take a swerve away from it. Ask my sister, she'll tell you.

Just this week, I've had 5 clumsy moments.

First, I jammed my index finger between the shower door and the hinge (if there's such a word). How the hell I managed that is beyond comprehension.

Then when I was working in Aberdare Hall's kitchen, I dropped the huge plastic dish-washer rack onto my feet. Imagine the ouch.

On the same day, I accidentally brushed my fingers against the metal food container before I put on my gloves to take it out from the dish-washer. OOoohhh.

I hadn't even recovered from all that and I injured myself again. This time, I bumped my head against the kitchen sink as I got up from picking some residue on the floor.

5 minutes ago when I was in the shower, I noticed a blue-black patch right below my knee.

You know what? Don't ask.

Just don't.

Don't You Read The Papers?!

I went to the library to do some research at 4ish this afternoon. On a Saturday. All for that expert witness thingy. Hmph!

As I walked down King Edward VI Avenue past Redwood to Bute, I saw rows and rows of buses parked on the streets. Ah, must be a match going on at the Millennium Stadium down town, I thought.

A few bus drivers were standing around, chatting among themselves to kill time as they waited for the passengers to come back up after the match. Which won't be till another 2 hours or so.

One of them saw me walking past, and out of boredom (I guess), he greeted me.

"You alright love?"

Ah, my favourite term of endearment.

"Yeah not too bad."

I decided to be friendlier.

"A match going on is it?"

He gave me a scary look. Like he was going to kill me. Oops, what did I say?

"Don't you read the papers love?" He bellowed, and the rest followed.

"Well, yeah but..." Actually, it's no.

He cut me short. "It's rugby my love. New Zealand vs France!!! Rugby World Cup!!!"

Oh...I see.


What? It's the world cup again? So soon?

Where has the last 4 years gone?

Searching My Soul, Tonight

So, I am now officially back in uni.

Completing my final year.

Ya-hoo!

Well, not exactly.

First day back and I'm petrified. The introductory lectures really did the trick the proprietors wanted them to. They've successfully reduced me to a bunch of fray nerves.

Presentations. Group work. Group project. Individual presentations. Class test. Exams.

Break?

None.

Our major major (have I said major?) assignment this term will be VPL. Actually, it's not called VPL, but we are essentially doing a project for VPL - Venture Pharmacy Limited - a venture capital company set up by lecturers to fund bright, feasible projects.

Hypothetical, obviously. There's no such company, but we have to pretend as if it's real.

Our task? Form a biotechnology company to research a drug for a given disease.

Each group consists of 8/9 students, 2 representatives from each of the research group ranging from chemistry, drug delivery, pharmacology and health and medicine. In lay men terms, there'll be 2 chemists, 2 drug formulation-ist, 2 pharmacologists and 2 clinical staff in the biotech company, and it's designed this way so that we each bring our respective expertise into the team to work this thing out.

My group? We're looking at developing new Hepatitis C treatment.

How?

NO CLUE.

Next up, it's this thing called Expert Witness. As pharmacists, there will be instances where we will be asked to go to court to provide, as the phrase suggests, expert opinion to help with criminal or civil cases involving the use and misuse of drugs. To prepare us for the REAL WORLD, they've designed an assignment in which we have 2 weeks to research and prepare for a 15 min presentation, which is supposed to mimic the adversarial situation, ie like how it is in court - complete with judges, jury, prosecutors, plaintiffs / defence.

How?

NO IDEA.

Just this evening, I bumped into a long-time-no-see friend at the hall. She came to visit a coursemate and knocked on my door on her way down. We got chatting for a bit and being a law graduate, I sought her opinion.

"You want to know about the judiciary system and law stuff ar?"

I nodded my head with so much vigour it almost broke my neck.

"Haha, er, I guess you can watch Ally McBeal?"

It doesn't take a genius to figure that she was actually kidding, but I took her words seriously anyway. Anything that would help me get a better idea of the LAW.

So I did. I watched Ally McBeal. Right from the start. The pilot of Season 1. Courtesy of a very generous veoh.com member. And I'm hooked.

It's all Lu Yee's fault!!! :)

But hey, don't roll your eyes at me...

As Ms McBeal herself said...

"I am admitting a difficulty. It will get easier in time."

How much time do you think?

My First Tag

Never really bothered with tags before but since Eunice tagged and called me Miss Cardiff University, Adeline is very flattered and honoured (cheh perasan-nya ku ni!!!). Sigh, why is it that Cardiff Uni doesn't have a beauty pagaent...

What were you doing 10 years ago?
- Moved from Kuching back to hometown of PJ. Sat for UPSR exams. Had a crush on a classmate. Wore the most studious specs you could ever imagine. Started learning about puberty. Sang along to Wannabe. Followed almost all Chicago Bulls games.

What was I doing 1 year ago?
- Pining for a very panjang and kacak Mat Salleh...


Five snacks you enjoy:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Crisps / Keropok
- Fake Oreo (my sis and I call it 'fake' coz mom buys cheaplak Oreo from wet market but hey, they taste as good if not better!)
- Lindt Dark Choc
- Waffles / pancakes


Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:
5 only ar, how can? That's literally undermining my ability!
- How Do I Live (LeAnn Rimes)
- Always Be My Baby (Mariah Carey)
- Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
- As Long As You Love Me (BSB)
- I'll Be (Edwin McCain)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
Well, it depends on how many millions I have...
If it's 1 million, see 1 and 2
If it's a few million, see 1, 2 and 3
If it's millions that one can easily lose count, see all


1. Dump money into the TAN family's bank account to buy whatever their hearts desire
2. Make sure I don't go back to being a non-millionaire
3. Bring Malaysian food closer to those abroad, at all cost!
4. Provide decent sanitation and healthcare to the poor around the globe
5. Build up Malaysia's infrastructure by contributing to national funds

Look at how much thought I've put into this...way before I'm even a thousand-aire!

Five bad habits:
- I moan (a lot)
- I sulk (a lot)
- I say lah (a lot)
- I worry (a lot)
- I perasan (a lot)

Five things you like doing:
- Dreaming about pretty boys
- Meeting new people, catching up with old pals
- Seeing the world, experiencing new cultures
- Stuffing myself with yummylicious food
- Playing with cute little children (and once they cry, I'll fly!)

Five things you would never wear again:
- Trousers that don't fit
- Red Lipstick
- School Shoes
- Blue Pinnafore!
- Super long earrings!

Five favourite toys:
Not really a toy person, so cannot think of 5...Johnny Boy and Mary-Anne are my 2 and only teddy bears

Alrightey...now my chance to tag people...hmmm...

Xin Yi, Felicia, Shin Kit, Sook Meng and Joyce...what say you?

Someday We'll Know

A wise person once said, "24 hours is insufficient not for the busy, but for those with ill-managed time..."

A-huh. Such as moi.

So much to do, so much to think about, so little time, so CLICHED!

How???

Yours truly have been back for almost 2 weeks now, but she's still in holiday mood, and mode. 4th year is hot on her heels and yet she's not in the right frame of mind for school.

How???

Since she's been back, she's attended 3 interviews for pre-registration positions (just know it as training jobs is good enough). One was good, one was bad, one was ok. People say it usually gets better but for her, it seemed to go downhill after round 1...

Why???

Her last round of interview (in Brighton) left her slightly scarred. It was for a hospital she's previously worked for and had gotten rather satisfactory feedback. Yet she was rejected a place.

Why???

Thankfully, she's been offered a position with Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital NHS Trust, but the twist is that she will be spending 50% of her time (equalling 25 weeks) at Harefield Hospital (all the way in rural Middlesex) while the other 25 weeks will be at Royal Brompton in Fulham. It takes almost 1.5 hours to travel to Harefield from South Kensington (where hospital accommodation is based). 3 precious hours everyday merely for getting to and off work.

How???

Should she take it or leave it???

She is mentally tired. Yet couldn't sleep.

How???

She thought of watching some movies from her DVD collection to chill for a bit, but found that her D: Drive has miraculously removed itself from the system and she's left with no D: Drive.

How???

She looked at the pile of things waiting for her to clear. Documents, receipts, letters, timetables, 4th year module handbook. The last thing caught her eye. Maybe reading this may make her want to go to bed, and actually put her to sleep. But the light suddenly went off...

She realised the fluorescent bulb has fused, but the hall maintenance guy will only be back on Monday, so she would have to live in the dark till then.

How???

This song came on her radio player...

So many questions...Need an answer...I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow...I watched the stars crash in the sea...If I could ask God just one question...Why aren't you here with me?...Tonight...

I guess Someday We'll Know, baby. Someday.

(Leaving) Home

Alas, my 45 day summer holidays at home has come to an end...

No emoticon or words could illustrate how sad I am at the prospects of leaving the comforts of family company, good food, nostalgic catching-ups, and human-friendly temperatures...

I'm going back to the UK rather early this year as I am anticipating a few interviews for hospital training jobs, but so far there's only one, and that's all the way in High Wycombe which is in Buckhinghamshire. Will update y'all on that when I have more good news.

I came across this question in a book some time ago - what is the meaning of life?

It's a good thing I've not been asked that in the face before, as I ain't got a clue. Or rather, I've never really sat down and think about something as blank-cheque as that (too busy enjoying myself haha?). Nonetheless, I've been prompted - and inspired - by certain things of late to be more reflective and inquisitive.

I'm not saying this is it, as it'll indefinitely be refined along the journey, but for now here's my take on that...

I think life is about having hope. It's about finding and seeking the good in trying times, and remembering that nothing is ever as bad as it seems.

Heartiest thanks to the TAN family for all the TLC they've showered me with! To all with whom I have met up in the course of the last 6 weeks, thank you for the good (and food) times. Do keep in touch and I look forward to the next time we see each other again!

With best wishes...XXX

p/s: Will update my blog once I've properly settled down in Cardiff...I know I owe you lot some pictures!

I fit the bill, Hans!

Over the last few days, I've been leafing through a pile of newspapers at home, which is sitting there by the staircase, waiting to be recycled.

What was I looking for? Nothing much lar, just interesting articles that I might have missed out on in the last few months.

And it was probably Cupid's doing that I stumbled upon this particular edition of Sunday Metro. Dated 29 July 2007.

It features Hans Isaac! Currently Malaysia's most eligible bachelor, I think. Me and a girl pal was just talking about him the other day when we met up for lunch and here he is, right in front of my eyes, smiling!

What a heart-melting picture...

I quickly flip to the 3rd page to read the article.

It reads...

"He is adventurous, romantic, successful and good with kids. And the best part - the handsome Hans Isaac is single, and looking for an ideal life partner."

...
...
...

Han's idea of an ideal woman is: someone who is truthful, genuine, and adventurous.

Wait a minute.

I FIT THE BILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Do, I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HANS ISAAC, LOOK NO MORE! HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!

Oops. The entire pile of newspapers have fallen onto my skinny shins and it's hurting the bones out of me. Hmm, maybe I'm to be blamed because the whole thing had been tilted off balance after I dug out this Hans Isaac pullout....

You know, it's hard not to daydream about a guy who's a "self-professed neat freak who ensures that everything is spick and span around the house". "I am the sort of guy who has no qualms doing the chores. I can't really cook but my house has to be sparkling clean."

BRING ME THE PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And YELLOW PAGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And while I look through 3 million phone numbers in Klang Valley for the man's line, here's something about Hans from the article...

Name: Gerald Hans Isaac
DOB: Aug 20, 1971
Hobbies: Football (me too!!), squash, diving (I don't mind!!)
Hometown: KL
Fav things:
Food - Mom's popiah (me too!! Anything by mummy dearest!!!)
Drink - Teh O Ais Limau (er, I think that's Iced Lemon Tea...yes yes, me too!!!)
Holiday destination - Kota Kinabalu (I spent a couple of years there, so can say me too!!!)Restaurant - Fatty Crab, PJ (haven't been there but I like crabs too, so me too!!)
Colour - Blue (me too!!)
Perfume - Bvlgari (no joke, me too!!)
Dislike: Dishonest and pretentious people (eh, me too lar!!)Ambition: To be the most successful film producer in Malaysia
Obsession: Cleanliness (OMG, me too!!!)

We share so much in common, we'd make a matching couple, no?!

First, I need his number...wuu-huu...

My School Make Headlines

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/articles/school-of-pharmacy-success.html

TLC

It's so typical.

So so SOOOO typical...

The weather always takes a U-turn whenever I leave a place. Like it wants to make a statement of some sort.

"So that I'll remember Oxford and think of it as a place with lots of sunshine..." I hear you say.

Oh yeah right.

Too late pal, too late.

I mean, 9 hours before I'm about to leave? What do you take me for, a person as fickle as the weather?

Give me a break.

The rain has wrecked so many of my plans I don't think I'll forgive it for some time. Not that it needs my forgiveness or approval that has to be said.

Right, ugly business aside, I'm all up for a bit of of Tender Love and Care (or is it Tender Loving Care? I can never tell...) of which I have been deprived, for too long...

Too long.

Scrubs

Let me take a 15 min break from my placement...and blog.

Went to the hospital theatres today to observe a lower gastro-intestinal surgery - laparoscopic anterior resection for those hung up on jargon. Being a non-medical student, that meant nothing to me and I had to pull one of the runner nurses to explain in English. PLAIN English.

"Oh, that's taking bits out of the gut, presumably coz it's cancerous and then rejoining the two sections at the end."

Ah, I see...

Yes I echo your thoughts, a pharmacy student has nothing to do with surgery, but my tutor - prior to my placement - asked if I was interested to have a theatre visit and I thought, a-ha, this would be something exciting! How often would you get a chance like this eh?

When I went in this morning, the receptionist asked me which type of surgery I wanted to see - paeds, trauma, upper GI or lower GI. To be honest, I have no preference. And being such a squirmy person, I thought I'd challenge myself and go for the most gross one :)

And what d'ya know...I didn't pass out, much to my surprise!

The operation was absorbing. After 4 hours and 45 mins, I was drained. If a by-stander like me (who did nothing but WATCH) felt drained, imagine how knackered the surgeons were at the end! I won't describe the operation because I don't know much (and don't want to sound smart and all :) but man, the human body is amazingly complicated. You'd imagine that a colonic resection is just cutting up the patient, chopping out the useless bits and then stitching him back up right? Well, that's the gist, but there was way more going on. Kudos to the nurses who were working alongside the surgeons. I suppose you could could say, behind every successful surgeon, there's a team of nurses!

I am naturally squirmy. Very. My eyes almost bawled out when they incised the patient and took the guts out. A nurse even dared me to have "a feel" of the colon and the cancerous tumour after they had been removed (with a pair gloves on obviously). I admit I wasn't comfortable at the thought of that, but at the same time, I didn't want to be chickenshit either, so I went ahead anyway (I wonder what gave me the Dutch courage...)

A shiver went down my spine when I first laid my fingers on the colon. It's geli if you know what what I mean. This piece of soft, slimy, bright red material that was 5 minutes ago suspended in the patient's peritoneal cavity, was now dumped in a plastic container ready to be sent to pathology.

"Go on, feel the tumour."

Erm. Ok.

I closed my eyes when I did that. Don't ask me why though. I suppose you could argue that I didn't see what I touched, but that's why we have 5 senses you see. Even if I didn't see it, I felt it. It was different. As you'd expect. Tumour. A mass of cells. Naturally more fibrous than a mucous membrane-y kinda tissue.

It was like a rollercoaster ride, you know. Once you've tried it, you want to do it again. And that was what happened with me. I kept touching the damn tumour until the nurse had to stop me.

Honestly, what am I like? Getting "addicted" to "feeling up" a removed tumour.... Gawd!

Anyway, that's about it. My eye-opening experience in the operating theatres. Makes me want to watch Scrubs now, actually. Haha.

Oooh, and buy the Snow Patrol album. They played the entire CD during the operation. Never knew they were this good!

Mun's Homecoming

I almost forgotten that I had a blog.

A friend recently asked why I hadn't been updating it, and it took me a while to answer.

"Blog?"

"Oh yes!"

Haha, that's old age for ya... :)

Nah, it's hard when you haven't got internet access. And when you're only given an hour a day to use the county library computer, you'd really want to maximise every minute of it for emails, travel-planning and weather-checking.

Don't get me started on that...bloody flood.

So yes, it's 3 days to the end of my second (and last) placement this year and I'm coming home on Friday. 27th July 2007. 2200.

12 hours and 25 minutes later I should be back on Malaysian soil.

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Goodbye"

I must have said that like a million times today.

And it tugs at my heartstrings each time I say them.

Truly, madly, sadly. Seriously.

A few friends left the hall today, and I myself would too, tomorrow morning at 10.

For those not in the know, I'm leaving for Worthing to do a 4-week placement beginning Wednesday, and after that, I'd be up at John Radcliffe Hospital for another placement. The latter is 3 weeks long and unpaid (cheh, so kiam siap).

This year, I'm coming home early. End of July if all goes well. I believe I have worked hard enough in the last two summers to warrant a longer break this time (only managed to have a max 4 weeks hols back in Kuala Lumpur the last 2 times, how sad).

Moreover, this will be my last summer hols before I join the working world next August (oh dear, is it really that soon?)

Time never makes its presence felt, does it?

Oh well, I'm too tired to be philosophical at this time. I got a feeling I kinda went overboard in the last few posts, so yeah, I better draw the line somewhere, because hey, I'm still only an undergrad, not a Doctor of Philosophy yet... :)

Time check. 11.12pm.

A shower and some last-minute packing later and I should be in bed.

Hopefully I'll be able to catch 40 winks because last night I only managed 20 :(

Not sure if I'm able to access the internet so frequently over at Worthing. If not, do take care dear friends and blog readers. To mates back home, I'll meet you guys up when I'm back. Make yourself free, please!

Pack'em

The internet has been pretty lousy yesterday. Wasn't able to surf the net to even do the simplest things like checking emails and reading the news, not to mention blogging too.

See, this is why I don't like blogging the next day. I have to scratch my head hard to recall all the 'fruitful' things I've done that dignified the day!

Alas, tis' was packing, packing and packing that yours truly devoted the last 18 hours of her Saturday to. I'm leaving for Worthing on Tuesday for my first hospital placement this summer hols, which was why I had to get all my stuff boxed up to be stored this weekend.

Packing is tear-inducing.

I regret telling my floormate that I love packing, because although I can wipe all things clean and ensure they are spotless (this is a worrying symptom of OCD I'm afraid), I hate deciding whether they should go or stay. I can't determine which boxes they should be dumped into, or if they would actually be better off in plastic bags.

But I'm glad to announce that I've sorted my belongings. Found a friend who I could accommodate my stuff with until the end of September, which is when the opposite of packing will take place. *shudder*

I think I've gained a stone or two of muscle from all those lifting I've done since Saturday morning. And it's very welcomed because of all these weight I've lost in the last few weeks. I could tell even without the help of a weighing machine because of the new-found space in my jeans when I wear'em.

Gee man. Moi is already a size 0 (which is bad enough to begin with), I really hope I won't turn into what my friend had been teasing me all this while - a size negative!

Assorted

Pardon the blog title. Ran out of ideas.

So.

I finished my last paper today. That officially signalled the end of MPharm III.

I heard a girl exclaimed "YES!" the minute the invigilator said we're free to go. But surprise surprise, I didn't feel anything.

Not even relief, which one would have expected.

I called home straight after. Not sure why I did that since my family knew I was finishing today anyway. But I guess I just wanted to hear them say "it's ok, it's over now, don't think about it anymore."

This is officially the worse exams I've sat for in my entire 16 years of schooling.

Yeah, I know some of you might defy my premature predictions considering the results aren't even out yet, but if I say gut feeling, would you still defy it?

I don't think it's pessimism. Maybe it is, but I don't think so.

You see, if the papers were tough, and I couldn't answer them, then fine, I'll just sit back and hope for the best. But the actual truth is that I didn't have the best of preparations.

Concentration went AWOL, self discipline deserted me and self belief dumped me.

I was still holding up alright after the Clinical paper, but right after Chem exam on Friday, I hit rock bottom. Honestly have never felt so battered before. My entire self was defeated, and even thinking about it now gives me chills.

I felt really hopeless about questions I couldn't answer. And I'm not talking about those haha-we're-trying-to-get-you questions. I am referring to straightforward, it's-there-in-my-notes-but-I-can't-remember-well-slash-at-all questions. The kinda stuff I wished I had read more closely but didn't.

It sucks to know I could have answered it and yet I couldn't. It sucks to know it was in my hands yet I let it slip through my fingers.

Pharmacology wasn't until a week after, so the few days in between gave me some time to pick myself up again. But I'm not sure I liked those breathers in between. I'd much rather get it over and done with asap. I knew I lost a great deal of momentum, that's for sure.

Anyway, fast forward a week later, here we are, MPharm III is officially done and dusted.

I was one of the first to leave the hall. I couldnt' stand hearing all those post-mortems that were flying about. I bet my coursemates were taken aback by my not stopping by to say goodbye, as I usually do whenever we break for hols.

Sorry pals, I just had to leave.

I walked to town to run some errands. Came back and started offloading my books back to the library. Did some packing and cleaning before hopping over to 60 Colum Road for dinner with some pharm mates and uni mates. Must say it was really sweet of them to have organised a get-together. I had a great time catching up with people I've not met in months, one whose name I forgot and the worse bit? He remembered mine! Argh, imagine the guilt and paisehness! I usually remember people's names you see, but lately, I've been having memory like a sieve. It's called neurodegeneration. Can't help it :)

Came back and helped a floormate with some packing and managed to watch the England-Brazil friendly later in the evening. It wasn't too exciting I have to admit, but that's how England games are anyway. And as usual, the England goal came from set-pieces. The ex-skipper provided the new England captain with an inch-perfect free-kick to head into the goal mouth half way through the second half. As an England supporter, I was naturally thrilled to see the Three Lions net one against the mighty Brazilians. But in true English fashion (football wise), they conceded in the last minute and the game ended 1-1.

It's now past 12 and my room is in a mess. My eyes are heavy but I don't feel like sleeping.

If only I had such determination and 'energy' to stay awake during my revision period, I would be properly celebrating the end of exams right now, as opposed to crying over spilt milk...

Wannabes

What do you tell people who likes to sing out loud in public?

Sing in your own room?

But they are!

This girl opposite me has just bought a karaoke set (what GOOD timing), and has been testing every aspect of it since its arrival this afternoon. From belting "I Will Survive" to "You're Still The One" to "Unchained Melody", she and her friends have demonstrated how comparable they are to Ms Carey. Or Dion. Or Houston.

Granted, they can sing. I know they can sing. Everyone KNOWS they can sing, but why make the announcement now?

The lodge guy came up and gave them a warning earlier. An "oh I'm so sorry" + 2 hours later, they're back. With more energy than before.

And this is just 11.10pm. God knows how long my ears will have to put up with their shrill voices...

Okay fine, I sing a lot too, and off-key is an understatement, but at least I'm sensible enough not to use a microphone to magnify my vocal imperfections...

It's been a while since...

...I've heard this.

Was discussing PH3104 questions with Sola this evening and I told her not to take my answers too literally because I too, like her, am clueless.

"Pal, honestly, don't bank on it because that's just what I think. For all we know, I might be leading you the wrong way."

"Well, at least you have a clue. And in the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king."

It's been a while since...

...I've laughed so much.

Upon hearing this phrase, I thought of my dad, and how he first introduced me to that phrase. When I was little. Must be around 6/7. It was one of those bombastic phrases I picked up from him while sitting in the car, listening to his conversations with my ma. I still remembered thinking, "wah, adults go so much to talk about one ar...cheh, me and my school friend only talk about Barbie dolls, the class captain and what time to meet in the canteen..."

Fast forward 15 years and I am now an adult. Can't talk about Barbie anymore, there's no class captain that I fancy, and meeting friends up in the canteen? Boy I sure miss that.

It's been a while since...

...it's this windy, and cold. The wind has been whipping the trees like crazy since last night.

It's been a while since...

...I've had such 'under the weather' nociception.

I miss home.

And you, dear shadower.

p/s: Haha, the last bit is meant to be cryptic so don't try to figure it out!

Bugged. Literally.

I have just found out - while doing my Sophos clean up scan recently - that a virus was under quarantine.

According to the report, it came from my USB drive, which I could do nothing about because there's no way I can locate that damn folder in which the stupid worm was happily infesting before it sighted my squeaky clean laptop.

And I can't delete it either, because only the administrators (ie Uni Comp Service) have such functions. We don't.

Was thinking of backing my files up before they get corrupted, but the CDs a friend got me aren't working. Nero is always telling me to change to a new disc half way through the burning process citing reasons suggesting incompatibility . So out of the 10 she got me, 7 have been rendered faulty in the span of say 2 hours last night?

It's really tearing me apart thinking how that damn worm is eating my hard disk space away by the second. Everytime I check My Computer, the memory declines. Even after clearing every junk I could possibly dispose of, it's still going down.

Another friend suggested reinstalling my OS, but I haven't got my CD with me, and please, in the middle of my exams? I haven't got time!

Bringing it to the Comp Service is going to be just as bad because they're gonna need my OS CD to reinstall everything. And worse still, I heard it's gonna set me back about 40 quid.

The worse bit?

It's not even my own doing that had landed my precious baby into this mess.

It's like contracting a nasty cold from your room mate when you are already pretty run down, and facing the worst exams ever. What is a girl to do?

Too Good To Be True

Am very buoyed by Milan's win last night. Went online to dig stories and found this. Perfect icing on the cake for my afternoon tea...hehe...

Everything perfect in the world of Milan's Maldini
by ALAN FRASER - Last updated at 08:52am on 21st May 2007

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=456485&in_page_id=1779

What modern professional and global footballing icon would take a 50 per cent cut in his annual salary?

What player would eschew lucrative transfer bonuses and stay with the same club — his only club — for 28 years?

Scroll down to read more:

Who could swim in the gossip-infested waters of Italian football for an entire career and generate scarcely a paragraph of scandal?

The answer to all of the above is Paolo Maldini, arguably the greatest ever defender and certainly one of the game’s finest role models.

About the most anyone could ever say against him is that he owns 100 pairs of jeans but in Milan a well-stocked wardrobe would be considered a virtue rather than an extravagance. ‘I don’t know if he’s a saint, but he just may be,’ a close friend told Sportsmail.

Maldini, injured knee permitting, will line up against Liverpool on Wednesday night in his eighth major European final for the club he joined while still at primary school. He made his senior debut at 16.

Earlier this month he played his 600th Serie A game, a landmark in Italian football celebrated by his two sons, Christian and Daniel, wearing T-shirts proclaiming ‘600 Dad’.

"I am proud of Maldini, VERY proud of this guy," declared Ruud Gullit with capital letters in his voice. The Dutch triumvirate of Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard joined Milan while Maldini was still a teenager, although already a player of considerable repute.

"For all that he has achieved, he’s a lovely guy," said Gullit. "He’s the spirit of Milan. You have to admire a footballer who stays with one club. I’ve spoken to him about this many times and he has told me that, in some ways, he regrets not having played for another club when he has had opportunities. But he loves Milan. He is proud to be at such a club."

Maldini shows little sign of leaving the field, never mind the club. Four years ago he volunteered to take a 30 per cent wage cut; last week it emerged he would carry on for his 23rd league campaign, with a cut in pay from 5million euros to 2.5m.

But first, he will go to Belgium for an operation on the troublesome knee that will receive painkilling injections before the European Champions Final. Paolo Maldini will be 39 next month.

When eventually he retires — and it should be noted that Alessandro ‘Billy’ Costacurta said farewell only on Saturday at the age of 41 — it will mark the end of an era.

The extraordinary Maldini dynasty, however, seems certain to carry on.

It began with his father, Cesare, Milan’s pivotal defender and captain in the Fifties and Sixties, and it is likely to continue with Paolo’s 10-year-old son Christian, already the pivotal defender in Milan’s Pulcini Regionali youth team. Milan had originally announced the No 3 shirt worn by Paolo Maldini would be retired with him, but the plan was amended so Maldini’s son will inherit the jersey if he progresses to the senior team.

"Retirement won’t depend on motivation, but on my body," said Maldini. "I like the atmosphere in the dressing room. It’s a place that becomes your home." Milan has been his home all right. The club are in his blood.

The Milan defence was built around Maldini’s father for much of his 13 playing years at San Siro. He was said to be so skilful he would make occasional hideous errors born of over-confidence. There was even a name for such a lapse — a Maldinate.

Milan won four Italian titles in that period, lifting the European Cup at Wembley in 1963; 40 years on, Paolo was to raise the European Champions League trophy at Old Trafford, his favourite footballing moment.

It was only during a two-year stint as Italy coach that ‘Big Cesare’ became a figure of fun with his farcically dyed and parted hair, negative tactics and siege mentality.

"I don’t remember him as a player," Paolo, the fifth of six sons, says of his father. "I played under his instruction in Milan youth teams but I learned more from him about being a man, about a correct attitude to the game than from a technical point of view."

Paolo made his Milan debut in January 1985 as a half-time substitute and still jokes about his first touch being a back-pass to the goalkeeper.

"Get yourself ready, boy," said manager Nils Liedholm to the youngster. "By the way, which side do you prefer to play on?"

"On the right, please, mister," replied Maldini. Like his father before him, Maldini was a right-footed right back. But few realised as much as he became the greatest left back of his generation, equally proficient with either foot, part of that legendary defence of Franco Baresi, Mauro Tassotti (later Marcel Desailly), Costacurta and Maldini which conceded just 15 goals in 34 Serie A matches in 1994.

Who can forget those galloping runs up the left touchline which ceased only later in his career when he moved into the centre of defence? As his father had done.

Mark Hateley was at Milan when Paolo emerged. "I remember when he came into the team as a 16-year-old, like Baresi before him," he said. "Both destined to become one-club men, captains and with long playing careers. It’s the Milan way. It’d be no surprise if his son does the same.

"Paolo is a really nice guy, a family man, not a Flash Harry. His private life has always been his private life. He plays and captains as he lives his life. He never charges about, never argues, always remains in control."

That is echoed by his current team-mate Gennaro Gattuso, who does enough arguing and charging about for an entire league.

"He’s still got the same passion after 20 years with Milan," said Gattuso. "He’s a true leader, he never raises his voice and he never shouts at anyone. Even away from the pitch, Paolo never loses his temper."

Off the pitch, Maldini — tall, athletic, elegant and impossibly handsome — has looked after his body and his reputation. He is co-owner of a Milan nightclub, Hollywood, but more likely to spin records than spin the bottle; he met his wife there, the Venezuelan model and beauty, Adriana Fossa. He also owns a clothing line, Sweet Years, with ex-Italy forward and great friend Christian Vieri. But Maldini is not ready to give up his day job.

"Liverpool know very well how it went last time," he said. "I bet that today they are thinking more or less: we won’t win a game like that again. "I have won four European Cup finals and lost three and I have no intention of levelling the score." Settling a score is different.

****

Ok, you know what. I have to put some pictures up. I can't help it!!!

Armani's man...

sourced from www.kingmagazine.se/upload/37558/maldini-stor.jpg

Like Father Like Son...

sourced from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=456485&in_page_id=1779

Okay, last one...

sourced from http://en.ce.cn/subject/06cup/groupphotoB/200606/14/t20060614_7336801.shtml

And with that, Adeline has officially fainted...

Federer to take on Sampras in Shah Alam...

...On Nov 22 2007.

And I won't be there...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sob sob....MUAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

This is such heartbreaking news I tell ya, given that

a) I'm a huge Federer fan and
b) I live only MINUTES away from the Melawati Stadium...

Sigh, dear God, I already know what "so near yet so far" means, do you really have to make it crystal clear? :-(

Nope, am blogging not because exams have finished, but I just needed to let this disappointment out of my oesophagus because it is very sayang...(sorry, no other English word has quite the same oomph). Haven't found anyone that I can shout this out to either without them going "Yeah, ah-huh, big deal?", so my faithful blog will have to do.

I hear you asking about my exams....hmmm....well, it hasn't kicked off in the style that I had hoped it to be, and I'm currently fighting a lot of demons, both external and internal, so pray that I get through this tough time with my sanity intact.

Later, folks.

p/s: Milan, I am in need of inspiration for my remaining 3 papers. Say you will do me a favour by winning tonight, yes?

Taking a Break

Ok folks.

As exams are impending, I foresee I will be burying my nose deep in my notes for the next few weeks, so before people think I vanished into thin air without a post in weeks, let me take my leave now.

Blogging for the past 6 months have been very therapeutic, and thank you all for your custom, and comments!

Before I get too emotional as if one is retiring from the cyberworld, let me quote Mr Terminator himself...

"I'll be BACK, and Hasta la Vista!"

Best wishes, Love, Warmest Regards, Hugs and Kisses
Sze Mun aka Adeline

You Must Be KIDDing Me

A pharm mate and I went to see Dr EK yesterday about 4th year project titles for next year.

Not that I really want to work with Dr EK coz as most pharmys know, she can be tetchy and sarcastic. This is THE lecturer who - prior to giving her one and only lecture to us back in Year 1 - laid down ground rules and said things like "you can go and ask your 3rd yr seniors, they'll tell you I'm mean, and I am".

Man, who would come into a class and say things like that? Dr EK, naturally.

But her titles are interesting. 2 on Alzheimers and 1 on bone cells. I don't know if I'll choose her as my supervisor at the end of the day, but I have to admit that  her projects "had me at hello".

We talked a bit about choosing our research area - there are 4 : Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Health and Medicine, and Drug Delivery - and how they will do the allocation and all the rest of it.

Speaking of allocation, she confirmed that it was going to be down to exam marks, which we both thought was only fair.

She then asked us how we did last year, and we told her we did ok. Borderline 1st class. But before we could reaffirm that we aim to repeat the feat this year - if not do better - she dropped the bombshell.

"Well, be prepared that your marks are gonna fall. You might get a first class last year but they are usually lower in the 3rd year."

Oh Dr E, tell me you're KIDDing?!

But I have to prove her wrong. There's no other way.

SHINE! International Student Awards 2007

A few months back, I took part in this competition organised by the British Council in which we had to "write a letter home, depicting our time here in the UK and how we made the most of it".

Just last month, I was informed that I've been named one of two runners-up for the Wales Region. There were, in total, 12 regions, and all the 12 winners competed against each other in the finals, for a grand prize of 2000GBP, as well as the "International Student of the Year" award they so deserved.

As a runner-up, I've been invited to attend this prestigious ceremony at Delfina Studios in London on Wednesday. Hosted by Moira Stewart, a renowned journalist, the ceremony was also graced by Lord Kinnock, the Chairperson of British Council and our very own Professor Dato Jimmy Choo, an international alumnus of the UK who needs no introduction.

My guest for the night was Jacey, a high-flying friend who's doing her PhD at Imperial College. We set out at, well, the plan was to set out at 6pm to be in time for drinks and mingling and the rest of it which began at 6.30pm, but just when we were about to shoot out of the hall, someone got trapped in the lift and Jacey being the dutiful sub-warden of Piccaddilly Court that she is, had to stay behind until the repair people came (yes, I know YOU know what I mean by the repair people ;P).

Not sure when they eventually arrived, but we got to Bermondsey Street just 5 minutes before dinner. Delfina Studios is a corner lot building minutes from London Bridge, not very high-end but big enough to accommodate everyone quite comfortably that night - VIPs, British Council delegates, winners, runners-up, past winners, guests etc.

The lights in the background sure gave it a romantic innuendo, no? Hmm, something's missing from this picture though...yes! A (handsome) man! Eh, I say handsome man lah, not cameraman!

We walked on the red carpet (it actually looked more fuchsia than red) and into the hall where they had a mini exhibition on all the worldly International Alumni that the UK are proud to have links with, eg: Bill Clinton, Mahatma Gandhi, Imran Khan etc. And while I was glancing at all the posters, this caught my attention...

Arnold? I'm sorry Tunku, but everytime I think of the name Arnold, I think of the Governator! Urgh!

As Jacey and I were making our way through the crowd, we spotted Dato Jimmy Choo, and we managed to exchange some brief words with him before he was pulled over by everyone who wanted a snapshot. Man, meeting him in person was an honour. His calmness, soft-spoken-ness and most of all, his humility amazed me. For someone of his stature to be sooooo humble is indeed a rarity, and I am, not to mention, very proud to call this respectable man my fellow countryman!

I was seated at Table 15, the furthest from the stage ;( together with a few other British Council people and some students. I got talking to Qing, fellow runner-up from Bath, and Christine, who was a guest of her friend, a winner from last year. We had a good time having cultural exchanges (Qing is from China, and Christine is a Kenyan). It was nice to have met some new friends.

Dinner ensued and erm, yar, don't ask how it was. Tahu-tahulah, typical western meals... but I was rather impressed with the main course though. "Roasted guinea fowl with lemon-scented mash, chargrilled artichokes, petit pois, broad beans and sage burnt butter". Haha, I have no idea what half of those were, I just stuffed them into my mouth and let my tummy interpret it however it likes. I mean it was oklah, at least Jacey and I didn't have to ta-pau any supper on our way back, guess that tells a lot...

Moira Stewart kicked started the award presentation after dinner with her very professional and posh style of EmCeeing. We were first entertained by a short video clip of all the finalists, who were later called up the stage one by one to receive their prizes. Initially, I thought the runners-up would get to go up the stage too but later realised we weren't gonna. Was quite disappointed but oh well, the winners take it all...

Haha nolah, I was happy enough to have been invited to attend and I am glad I did. After the winners received their prizes from Dato Choo, they were quizzed by Moira - who had an array of questions ready for them with the spotlight on, ranging from why they decided to do the course their doing to how they got to creating awarenes for bone-marrow transplantation at their univeristy and the difference between living in the UK and back home etc...and for those of you who are keen beauty pagaent followers, yes, it's a bit like the Q&A session...albeit slightly longer and not so much about world peace :P

As I've mentioned, all these 12 people were competing for the grand prize, and they were judged based on the impression they've left on the judges during the informal chats they had earlier in the morning. The stuff Moira picked their brains on, so to speak, were just a formality. I think they had already decided who the winner was long before then.

Speaking of the winner this year, he is Yu Huai Zhang, aka Neo, from China. An enthusiastic young man from Queen's Belfast University. I can't even begin to describe how impressive his list of achievements are (it'd take rolls and rolls of 'virtual' space), but do check him out at http://www.educationuk.org/shine/index.html. I think they should be putting up his profile very soon (if not already).

For now, it's Adeline signing off with a few pictures of some very inspiring people who have really lived up to the word SHINE...

...we're from Boleh-land!

...the Spice Girls, oops sorry, Qing, Moira and Christine

...all 12 finalists
Yalar Jacey, it was a shame we didn't have a group photo where we can see the (cute) Aussie guy's face in full :(

...with 2007's International Student of the Year Neo