My 5 day weekend!

Sometimes I wonder if I'm 27 or 72. It's so easy for me to burn out nowadays that I need a proper break every 3 months. Whenever I read the blogs of friends with kids, I wonder if I'll find the energy to juggle my family life and career as well as them when the time comes.

Well, one of the best things about being a research student is the flexible work (/play) schedule. No one will raise an eyebrow even if you walk in at noon, go for a 3 hour lunch, or even 3 hour tea-break. There will be no questions asked if you decide to work from home on a certain day. But likewise, no one pities you if you have to work every weekend.

So, as a reward to myself for finally having worked through that 12.4GB worth of data, I've decided that my weekend starts on Thursday evening where I caught 2 movies in succesion, first, Prime then followed by X-men 3. Prime has a surprisingly realistic ending for a romantic comedy, hence not quite the cup of tea for those who are addicted to happily-ever-after endings. I wonder if the producers name it Prime cos 23 and 37 are prime numbers. I thought the mother/therapist handled the role quite well. :) Well, X-men 3 (contented sigh), I must say I really enjoyed it immensely. No idea why the reviews in Metro are so bad. Maybe the reviewer is suffering from movie fatigue having to watch a string of summer hit movies recently. Seeing SF and the Golden gate bridge brought back really happy memories... I remembered the very first time I drove on that bridge myself after a stop at Saulsalito, I was so torn between wanting to look up and admire the symmetry of the suspension cables and keeping an eye on the road!! Although the traffic can sometimes be quite bad on that bridge, I've never regretted taking that route into SF and back to Albany via Bay Bridge.

As I mentioned before, my weekend started on Thursday so naturally I didn't come to college on Friday. Spent the morning/early afternoon doing 2 rounds of stress-free laundry with no one else in queue, then headed to the cinema again to catch DaVinci Code. Still don't think Tom Hanks quite fit my image of Robert Langdon and I noticed that the start and end of the movie was different from the book but otherwise the directors pretty much captured the essence of Dan Brown's fiction. Was really looking forward to Sir Ian Mckellen acting as Teabing. His acting was fantastic. I was so mesmerised by his ability to create a range of unique expressions and movements for each of his characters that it is so difficult for me to convince myself that he was the very same person acting as Magneto in X-men 3 I've watched the day before. Oh by the way, if you are catching X-men 3, there is a carrot snipplet right after the credits which is worth waiting for so if you are not in a hurry to leave the theatre do try to catch it.

Ok, I realise I seem like an extremist when I comes to watching movies, but I guess I'm just as focused on play as I was on work and I've always enjoyed doing movie marathons. Anyway, that was the end my weekend movie marathon. Didn't catch one on Saturday. Instead, YS and I headed for the Royal Opera House to catch Placido Domingo in a French opera, Cyrano de Bergerac, and stood for 4 hours in the lower slips just to hear him sing. (cos all the seats were sold out) Haven't stood this long since the assemblies at SNGS, but hearing him live in his naturally projected voice was worth every cramp and ache. It was a pity that the director favoured the right side for most of the important scenes and our view was blocked for the entire ACT 4 where Cyrano sang the touching final love letter to Roxane. However, even with the blocked view and having to read the english translation as they sang in french, I still managed to shed a few tears hence you can just imagine how moving his voice was. One thing we observed about ROH performances is that their sets are usually very professionally done and breathtaking.

Today was the most 'normal' of all days I guess. Came to college today just for the sake of seeing MX online. I really missed seeing him in real time even though we talk almost daily. Wouldn't it be great if the people in photograghs can move like in Harry Potter world? :) Ok, I guess that still wouldn't be enough for me when having him by my side is what I really want. :) So yah, we video conferenced till his dinner time and thereafter I went to the gym, trying to lead a more healthy life but unfortunately, I developed toe cramp after running a few hundred meters. Yes, really wierd toe cramp in my big left toe which I've never experienced before. I'm familiar with cramps from my years of dance/martial arts and usually they can be traced to a source of strained muscles which I can massage away but never before have they been isolated in just the TOE. Might it be a sprain? But I didn't do anything out of the ordinary today so I'm totally baffled. Anyway, I figured a sprained or cramped toe wouldn't get in the way of cycling so I switched my workout to the exercise bike instead. It's my 1st time trying out the semi-reclined bikes in the gym and I must say having back supports are quite enjoyable.

Ok, I realised I've typed quite alot while waiting for YS to finish her lab work. CR is cooking today as Qi-jie is in town (she is the V.V.VIP mah...) and we'll be gathering at her place later. CR usually cooks fabulous dinners but she is so humble and keeps apologising for making us her guinea pigs (we are always very happy voluntary guinea pigs... heehee). I hope she is making her fabulous roast lamb today. Thanks to the great timing, it's Bank Holiday tomorrow and I will be spending the last day of my no-work weekend at Nasim's place, playing with her kids and catching up with the girls. Well, I'm really happy with the activities of the past few days and I think I'll be ready to 'chong' again on Tuesday. :)

Back to basics

When I left home at 19, all that I brought were clothes and some essential items squeezed into one backpack and one suitcase weighing a total of 37kg. That year I realized that one doesn’t need much to survive. Our basic needs are actually simple and few. Everything else I had at home can be pretty much classified as comfort items.

With years gone by, I have actually forgotten what it is like to live simply. My possessions in London has exploded to 18 boxes/packages (when I last moved 2 years ago) and I thought I’ll feel out of place if I don’t see my books, photos, cuddly sheep or DVDs when I come home.

However, for the past 2 weeks I have been living in a temporary accommodation on just some clothes, shower items, hair dryer, kettle and beddings. I realized that that’s all I really need on a daily basis, throw in a laptop for comfort, and I’m contented. I don’t even use some of the 37kg stuffs that I brought over with me in my first year. My other possessions are still in my room which is currently being de-bugged and I believe many of them are actually dispensable. How on earth did I accumulate enough things to fill up the entire room, many of which I don’t ever touch in a year?

Seems like it is time for me to do some serious spring cleaning when I get the green-light to move back.

Moto??? Grrrr....

Ok, earlier entry is just some mushy mushy song I have been listening to to lift my sprits.

The new phone is not hassle-free after all. Having sacrificed 2 hours of sleep last night to configure it and to fill it with mp3s, wallpapers, etc, I guess it went to bed too after me but but didn't manage to wake up this morning. No matter what I tried - connecting it to charger, pressing on all the buttons, pressing and holding the start button for 2, 5, 10, 30 seconds, removing and replacing the USIM and battery, pluging-unpluging all the available cables, I couldn't wake it up from its sombre sleep. If only there is such a thing as CPR for mobile phones....

Soooo, I have to send it back sometime later this week and they are going to replace my handset. But I find all that sending and resending quite troublesome. And I'm not used to Motorolla phones yet, still need some time to familiarise myself with the functions and keys. Seriously thinking whether all this is worth it.

甜蜜约定

轻轻关上我的眼睛
整个心里都是你
希望真爱能被你感应

你是月亮我是星星
陪你一起数心情
见证我俩爱情的降临

在我心里　最爱的人就是你
装上翅膀我要飞向你
爱的印记　如此坚定
这是我们的甜蜜约定

轻轻呼吸你的呼吸
心里满满都是你
你是阳光水还有空气

茫茫人海确定是你
幸福闪烁的眼睛
月亮代表我的-颗心

Lucky Day

This is my lucky day or what?

I have been a 3G customer for 2 years and I'm aware that it is probably the time to get a new handset (screen scratched, battery getting flat too quickly - actually it's my brother's phone, mine of the same model was defective more than a year ago) but because I'll be here for less than 12 months, hence I didn't want to sign a new contract.

And guess what? I just got a call from 3G customer service and they offered to replace my old handset with the new Motorolla V3x - absolutely free!!!

That's not all.... they are letting me keep my plan (which is now no longer available cos it was a promotional plan when 3G was first introduced in London... tell me where you can find 25pounds deal for 500 anytime anynetwork minutes?) and they are giving me 50% discount on my price plan for the next 3 months from June-August.

Well, this is one satisfied customer.... although my 'loyalty' with them for the past 2 years was simply because this is the only plan in the market that offers the most peak hour free minutes to any network per doller sense.

And I just did a check on the web to see what Motorola V3x has in store. I thought they're replacing mine with one of the to-be-obsolete models but this one is quite up-to-date I must say.... check out the specs...

Dimensions 99 x 53 x 19.6 mm
Weight 125 g
Memory 5 MB internal memorymicroSD (TransFlash)
Main Display TFT256k colours320 x 240 pixels
Battery up to 5 hr talktimeup to 250 hr standby
Digital Cam 2.0 Mega-pixel1600 x 1200 pixels Secondary VGA camera
Features Screensavers, MP3/MPEG4 player, Polyphonic sounds, Build-in handsfree, Build-in VGA camera, Java MIDP 2.0, USB port, Voice command, Voice memo, BluetoothCalendar, SyncML, WAP 2.0, Calculator, Calendar, Tri band, EMail, MMS, GPRS, T9

Tri-band + MPeg4 player + 2 Mega pixel camera? okay, this baby meets all my basic criteria (if i have to fork out money to get a new phone) and has more functions than I probably need. Cool. I suspect it'll be a refurbished handset (which crazy businessman will hand out new handsets for free?) but as long as it doesn't give me any problems until I graduate, I'm happy. Okay, since this is like my lucky week or something, maybe a DVD burner or a nano iPod will fall from the sky next week? ... hahaha... yeah, maybe, but everyone's entited to dream.... =)

Scenes from Nepal

MX went to Nepal for trekking a couple of weeks ago, and although it was a torturous time for me as I couldn't stop worrying about his safety (the political unrest was at its peak at that time), I am glad that he is back safe and sound and had a wonderful time on the trip.

Here are some pictures he as taken on his trip... Nepal is really a beautiful country and if there is a chance, I'll like to go trekking with him to see the sights too...

The valley... Nepal is famous for the majestic Himalayas but who would have guessed that even their river banks can be so pretty....



The trek took about 2 weeks, so a good part of it was spent on climbing the mountain and these breathtaking views are their reward when they got to the top...

Well, it started snowing quite heavily when they were in mid-ascent and although that hindered their progress, I guess the snow covered scenery more than made up for that... (the middle one is my favourite and is now my desktop wallpaper!!)



Okay, these two special guests have nothing to do with mountains but they are my favourites.... baby goats!! cute yeh? I'm born in the year of the goat but I always secretly thought that sheeps are cuter.... =P (yah yah, me big traitor to my species) but after seeing these little ones I had a change of hearts... :) I wonder if living high up in the mountains give them a more endearing fluffy look... hee hee...

Idols at this age?!?

I thought I was beyond the age of idolizing (entertainment artists).... what the hell, my current fav is 183 club... just can't get enough of their shows/songs/interviews.... =P

Here's one of their new songs that I enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3A0QIJzYSg

Seen this scale of advertising before?

Check out the new look of HongKong's 尖沙咀地鐵站
It is now fondly referred to as 'Nissin Station'...

http://www.mandom5354.com/photo/2005/f330nissin/nissin.htm

I like the painted train station entrance though.... especially the one portraying the street-side noodle shop with 2 customers.... ka-wa-ii des! (cute!!)

0505

The most important thing I have done on the first day I turn 27 is to cast my vote - for the very first time. Feels like the most responsible and grown up thing I've done in a long time. There were at least 8 staffs at HighCom running the show today, and I had a great reminder of the signature singaporean efficiency in running things... everything down to the smallest detail was thought of, from asking if I am a first time voter, from giving a personalised explanation of how to vote, name tags for bags, cell phone, etc... Like the changi airport experience, I was whisked through the rooms and completed my patriotic duty in less than 5 minutes. There was a journalist sitting at the lobby waiting to catch some 'working' person for an interview, and luckily she didn't consider me eligible because I'm still a student, although Mr.WG was trying to convince her that I am like a partially-working adult as I'm paid to study.... DUH.... anyway, it's a great start to a busy day... I'm starting my 2nd day of Latex course in 30mins and I've got free tickets to see the Michelangelo drawings at the British Muesem tonight, courtesy of Lara, a very sweet housemate of LP whom I've only met once (and yes, we met only once and she got me tickets!!) How terrific is that?? (Of course I'll be thanking her properly later) I'm just so excited thinking about the exhibition tonight.... have been dying to see it for months but the tickets need to be booked so far in advance that I could not confirm a date. Anyway, I'll like to take the oppurtunity to say thank you to YS too for (you know what) and thanks to MX for being so sweet this morning despite his busy schedule.... =) And of course CPJJ, SK, TY, VL, PS, AP, TL for your emails and ecards... =) thank you!! =)

comedians... if only there are more of them....

No time to blog. But here's a good comedian....
http://www.ascendtechnologies.net/comedy%20now!%20-%20russell%20peters.wmv
suffering from stitches now cos was trying not to laugh out loud in the office.... well, most of his jokes are racist but at least he made it a point to make fun of all races, and mostly his own... Enjoy... =)