November 13, 2011

0012: The August - September 2011 Summary

The Now

November was a weird and lazy month. Did my work for university and had a few ups and downs. I think my best highlight was my haircut and the double piercings I got, all in the same day! It was something I'd been thinking about doing for a while now. I've done double piercings on my left ear but after a talk with a parent, I had to take them off. I did them again, though this time on my right. I just really like piercings… on my ears. And this short hair is the shortest I've ever gone! I'm quite happy with how it came out!


Photobucket

Probably not the best image but what the hey~

August - September 2011


Photobucket

The air train used to go from one terminal to another at
Kuala Lumpur International Airport

I spent a few days in the beginning of August in Malaysia with the parents.  When I say a few days, I mean a few short days. Approximately four. I was going to stay longer but my mother had already bought me a ticket to go to Brunei on the 5th. I didn't do much during my stay in Malaysia. Went out a couple of times and then I got sick because the people I sat next to during my flight there were coughing and sniffling in my direction.

Photobucket
The view of the house from the third floor

I landed on Brunei soil in the morning, picked up by my very pregnant sister and as soon as my other sister found out I was back she put me straight to work that day. Most of my days in Brunei was spent working in my sister's boutique. By the time August ended, I had yet to meet up with my friends who were hoping to see me that month. My days working at the shop was both great and annoying. Some of the times there were moments when we had more than five customers coming into the shop and I was the only one working.

Photobucket
Chanel, left, is the shop's cat and Bubu, right, is a gay male


Photobucket

Brought work home


Photobucket

A photo niece took when we were at the palace


Photobucket

The niece playing with her dad

Came mid-September I decided to stop working at my sister's shop and spend some actual holiday time.

Photobucket

Watched Fright Night with little sister and 2nd eldest in the mall in Kiulap

Photobucket 

A cousin's wedding

Photobucket
A cake at Secret Recipe
A couple of days after I stopped working, my little sister and I decided to go to The Philippines. We spent about five days in Makati City. During our time there we met up with our brother-in-law's friend who happened to use to work in Brunei. He's there working as an estate agent but he hopes to return to Brunei one day. I can understand. Brunei is an easy place to live in. It's so small and although crime is slowly rising it isn't as bad as most countries.

Photobucket
The Ayala Museum


Photobucket

Brother-in-law's friend


Photobucket

Around Makati City

Photobucket
Waiting at the airport for the longest of time
We returned to Brunei at around one in the morning. Later that night, I met up with my friends who have already left England after finishing their studies there. We had a bit of a laugh, drank and ate. It rained heavily that night and since we were sitting outside the main area of the restaurant, we were flooded up and cut off from the place. We felt like we were sitting on an island with a single roof above our heads.

Photobucket
Stranded
Photobucket
Left, Aziz. Right, Mardhi.
Photobucket
With Ry
Photobucket
Last person to arrive, Faris
A few days later, I returned to Malaysia. This time, it was for a lesser time than previously as my flight back to England was at the end of September. I met with my uncle and aunt who happened to be visiting my parents that time as well as my cousin who I haven't met for the longest of time.


Photobucket

Going out with uncle and aunt, at a mall that sells expensive things

Photobucket

Cousin on the right and her friend (or HER cousin?) at a fast food restaurant

During my stay in Malaysia, my parents left the house in my care for two days. Nothing to do so I spent most of my time drawing and watching a whole day of reruns on the television. I left at the end of September with my mom sending me off as my dad was working that day.


Photobucket

Bored, felt girly, girly time

Photobucket

The view I see when using the treadmill in the mornings

Well, that' it for this post! Will have the month of October and maybe November, too, some time!

Photobucket

November 09, 2011

0011: The July 2011 Summary

July,2011,2011,july

I've left you, how many ever readers I still have, for a long time now. I guess I'll begin with something more recent.

The Now

I'm sick but hopefully, it'll subside and I'll get better. I joined the gym and wish I hadn't but I joined it and now I need to be deeply motivated to go. I motivated myself but I need more than my own motivation. I need support.

July 2011

That month was full of days of packing, unpacking and a lot of traveling. It is one of the most incredible months I've had.

July,2011,2011,july
Packed and moved to the new house.

Moved my friends' stuff all the way to the new house and I actually had fun stacking the boxes up. It was as if I was playing real life Tetris without the base doing a disappearing act!

July,2011,2011,july
Favorite past time: re-assembling.

After putting all the boxes to one side of the room, I started reassembling all of my furniture in the living room. I made a deal that the only way I will accept the small, almost cupboard-like space, room was if I had half the living room as my study area. I won.

July,2011,2011,july
The little brother, Verti.

On the 19th, I went to London and met up with my little brother who was going to leave for Malaysia to visit my parents for the summer holidays. He was going to leave on the next day and I was there to escort him to the airport. I had a nice time spent with my little brother. We weren't at each others' throats at the time so that was great.

July,2011,2011,july
Cousin's graduation day.

The day next after I sent my little brother, I went to Brighton to visit my cousin who left on November 1st back to Brunei. His graduation was on the 22nd and so, I stayed over at his old place for a few nights, alone. I had the whole place to myself. By the way, the place is owned by an artist, performer as well as a proper scientist! However, my idea of a scientist may differ from yours.

July,2011,2011,july
Mochien, the cousin, being awesome.

During the time I was in Brighton, I didn't have much time to be with him as he was working. So, I got to get him out of the place after his work hours to eat at a restaurant! It wasn't the best restaurant and we will not be going there ever again.

July,2011,2011,july
The last time

The last day I was in Winchester, I walked through the path behind my old flat to say goodbye to the place. Although I could not enter the building anymore, it was nice to see the ducks there still swimming around.

July,2011,2011,july
Heathrow Airport.

I believe that day was one of the worst. Long travel to the airport, waited there for the longest time, had the worst pre-flight wait and… it was basically the worst day of my life. It was stressful, it was saddening and it was an angry day. They only let us on the plane 10 minutes before the gates were about to close! They wanted us to go in after calling out seat rows but someone of higher authority came by and whispered to one of the workers there and suddenly the screen said Gate Closing. It pissed off a lot of people because in the end, there was no use for them to call out our seat rows. They just told us to herd right in like frikkin' cattle. I hope that kind of thing doesn't happen often.

Well, I guess that's it for now! I'll continue the update in the next post!

Until then!

Photobucket

November 03, 2011

0010: Update?

I haven't updated for a while but I will soon! So look out for that! That's 3 months of stories that I'll be summarizing!

July 14, 2011

0009: Calls

Photobucket
I finished packing a few days back and now my room is boringly empty.

Today, I got a little pissed off with companies not giving me a quick reply or leaving me to hang and waiting for them(1). I dislike calling companies because sometimes they make you wait and also, they sometimes don't want to talk to you, using a tone of voice that is unpleasant(2). However, I hate waiting especially when my patience is stretched to almost a week(3).

Photobucket

I still hate calling companies on the phone whether it be a big company or even a simple delivery. I'd rather do it face to face than to speak on the phone(4). One by one I got a hold of them or I made them get a hold of me on the phone. There were some companies which I felt were rude to me even during E-mail exchanges so I didn't even bother calling them up.

After long talks, getting quotes and estimations as well as setting dates, I finally got what I needed booked. I'll be moving my stuff from the flat on the 18th of this month, which is in 4 days and I've booked a carpet cleaning company in for near the end of the month. Hopefully, they can take care of the stains in that one room(5)…

In other news… there's no news. I haven't been eating well; filling myself with sugary foods instead of proper, healthy vegetables and fruits. I've been watching dramas as well but sometimes I wonder why I even do it(6)?

Photobucket

Also, I'm getting a little too tanned.

Photobucket

/*Numbered Notes*/
(1) I don't mind waiting for my friends but when it comes to supposed professionals it's a totally different matter.
 (2) Those I-don't-really-give-a-fuck-about-you or the I'm-too-tired-to-be-doing-this-right-now tone of voice.
(3) I waited for 5 days.
(4) I just really don't trust phone calls when it concerns my money; is that weird?
(5) The stains are really bad. I'm not even kidding.
(6) Recently, I've watched 3 types of Asian drama. Romance, Crime and Sports… yes, a Sports drama.

July 11, 2011

0008: The Sickness


Life hasn't been the best these couple of days. I've been sick and just when I thought I was getting better, I got sick again today. Instead of vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and the sudden need to sleep long hours every day, I am now sneezing and coughing. I have a feeling it's because my friend's sister who is staying over is sick. However, I really shouldn't jump to conclusion.

Since yesterday, all I've been doing is wait for a reply from the removals company and browsing through this site I found out about called SHADOWNESS. I know it's a weird name for a site but the overall feel of it is nice.

Today is going to be a very short and a 'no image or gif' entry because I'm not feeling too well. I just wanted to update and let the blog know I am alright.


July 05, 2011

0007: The Rare Day

DSC_0001

Hey guys!

Yesterday was a very interesting day for me! Not only was I actually coated with a film of sweat, which is very rare and very weird(1), but I also had a strange event happen to me(2)!

In the morning, I went out to take a walk(3) after finding out that Peach was not around to chat with me. He was probably busy at that time because he usually wakes up earlier than me(4)! I looked outside and saw that the day was bright and beautiful. Usually, I'm not interested in getting sun on me as I tend to absorb it and overheat like crazy but that day, I felt like I had to go out. So I did!

I went out to get keys for my new house from the new agents and later on, with the intention of spending the day reading more of Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl(5). I thought that I'd spend a long time outside so I bought a bottle of juice but I realised half an hour or so later that I wanted to send off a package to Australia(6) for a friend of mine. Before I returned home, I bought some rice crackers(7) from the Asian store here in Winchester called China Town and also my favourite soya bean milk from Yeo's. When I reached the flat, I began feeling a little dizzy. I only had a quarter of a bowl of muesli cereal thingymajiggy but I was thinking about sending that package that I waved the feeling away.

I packed the things into a contact lens packaging box that I had lying around and even put in a manga that I got for free from TokyoPop(8)! I hope she likes it! I really enjoyed it! It was titled Summoner Girl(9) and it was the first volume. I also put in a drawing I made for her of Sailor Moon. It's so weird that after drawing that for her, I actually feel like watching that anime! In the past, I played the game not for the fighting and the story line but their transformation scene… A pervert from such a young age(10)! Anyway, after wrapping it up in a parcel paper, I drew some stuff on it for her so she could see that its hers~

Photo on 2011-07-04 at 13.49

During this time, I was chatting with Peach. When it was time to go, I even told him that I'd like to spend my time outside drawing and he agreed to let me go. Ah, such an understanding boyfriend I have! However, before I could leave, my cousin called me after I left him a text message way early in the morning(11). I received his call just after noon. We had a long conversation about things that were too personal that I cannot mention here so go ahead and make your own story on this~ It can be as crazy as you want to as long as you don't start any rumor, you hear?

By the time we were done talking, it was already around half past one! So, I quickly started packing up my stuff and sketchbook. Said good-bye again to Peach but…! As soon as I got off the chair, another call came in! This time, it was from my flat agent(12)! Turned out there was someone coming over today in the morning. I was alright with it because I'll be here the whole day today.

Looked at the time and it was almost two. Said good-bye again to Peach, finally shut the Mac down and then went out before anyone else stopped me(13).

First thing I did, of course, was to send off the package. It cost me about £15(14) to send it over, which was more than the cost of the stuff I bought for her! But that was ok! As long as she gets it, I'm fine(15). Afterwards, I went to the park in front of the Winchester Cathedral.

DSC_0044

I plopped myself down and started drawing(16). I didn't stay long, though. Probably about half an hour to forty-five minutes because there was a group of foreign students sitting behind me making so much noise and making me feel uncomfortable sitting where I was. After blasting music on full volume through my headphones, I decided to get away from there and look at the external of the cathedral a little closer. I found a few things that interested me.

DSC_0013

DSC_0015

DSC_0039

It was when it got a little too hot for me(17) that I thought it was better to go home now and spend the rest of the day drawing digitally. So, briskly, I walked home through a crowd of people. It was around four in the afternoon already and the streets have started to crowd from people going home from work and also kids visiting shops with friends. Also, more tourists. When I got back to the flat building, an old lady helped open the door for me. I thought she was helping to open the door and that was it, though, but I was wrong. She asked a request!

She was wondering if I had a friend who could help take her out for a walk in her wheelchair and I didn't know anyone who was free enough to help her out. Her slow and quivering words… made me crumble, "Oh, but it's a lovely day outside… I haven't been out for a while now."(18) So, I offered to help her out.

DSC_0052

We walked all the way to the cathedral with me pushing her wheelchair between crowds of people and then to the river. She told me about her younger days of where she worked and lived, where her husband was buried and how she used to sit at the gate by the river while she visited him. We wanted to go to the little park behind the mayor's house but it was closed off(19) due to it being prettied up and the grass being replaced with new, bright green ones. We were a little disappointed by it but we had a long walk under the sun, so the old lady was satisfied. We went back home to the flat and I helped her out with getting some of her things into her spare room. Truth be told, I felt like as if I got thrown into the past! Her flat was furnished and had an ambience of pre-war times(20)! I saw a black and white photo of her and her husband wearing an army outfit and some trunks that looked very old.

To tell you the truth, I almost felt like stealing the stuff away from her and knocking her down(21) to her feet just so I could disappear without her realising what had just happened. Of course, I did no such thing. I've just recently been into old items especially records and record players. I believe I have my father's taste(22). My mom once told me I should wear this outfit with a shine to it; some kind of silk with a reflective surface. Apparently, most girls would go crazy over the material (and it was crazy expensive!) but I said no to it. I told her that I don't like shiny clothes. She told me I was like my father.

Anyway, yes, I am interested in old things. It's not all old things, just some old things, which reminds me that I actually got a few records for free from Peach's mom! And also, I bought a record and Peach bought me one, too. He bought me a Rick Roller… So I could Rick Roll people with the record player back home(23)! Hahahaha!

DSC_0010

So, after helping her out, I returned to the flat and waited for my friend who came over when I was helping the old lady off her wheelchair. I waited for him to return to the flat (he had to grab a few more things from the university before we can go out) and received a call from my agent again. I called them back and they told me that someone else was coming over in the morning today. The plumbers this time, to check on the stupid plumbing system that I have here at the flat. We've had many problems with the plumbing system that they decided to get everything fixed. A little too late really since I'm ending my tenancy here at the end of the month(24). But it's alright. As long as the next tenants will live here in a better state than we did(25).

DSC_0004

DSC_0005

DSC_0008

When my friend arrived, we went straight out to scavenge for boxes(26). Yes, boxes. I'm going to be packing up my things so it will be easy to carry to the new place when the time comes. It looks like I need more, though. I've a feeling that I should give my stuff off to charity if not the Traid bin(27).

And that was my whole day, really. I had steak which would have been delicious if it weren't for all the oily, goopy gravy and the rubbery texture…(28) Next time, I'm gonna cook chicken instead. Steaks are best grilled and barbecued and only lightly fried to a rare or medium rare cooking(29)!

TL;DR
My life was like an RPG yesterday; full of quests and item searching.
(30)

Also, quick note because I'm writing yesterday's news today, the plumber came in to check the bathroom. Turns out, they're going to rip off the bathtub and make a new shower, except that I won't be here to use that shower. Sigh. Annoying. He was an honest guy, though, which was nice. Saying that landlords don't like to use their money to fix things in the flat and that, whatever he presents, will fall on deaf ears. Sigh again.

Well, at least I'm eating out later in the afternoon! With one of my good friends who I believe should be a model!(31)


Well, it's time to do other things now.

Photobucket


/*Numbered Notes*/
(1) Don't if I've said this enough yet but I don't sweat properly and so, I don't cool down during hot days. I sleep in a room with a temperature of 16˚C at home. Or a fan right under my head.
(2) Another rare case!
(3) I don't usually take walks but recently, I've been walking a lot.
(4) Actually, I wake up earlier but I tend to fall back asleep.
(5) Which I did not do, by the way.
(6) I used to have a strong hatred for Australia because of what happened during my two years there. I dislike it still but not as much as I used to.
(7) I love rice crackers, do you?
(8) I got it for free from Peach who got it for free from some company.
(9) I liked the ending short comics better than the actual comic itself…
(10) I ain't kidding.
(11) It was a short text message but one that sounded kinda' serious, I guess, because he called me thinking that it was. Which it was but I didn't want to worry him that much!
(12) They're Winchester's Personal Homefinders and they're good people.
(13) Someone kept leaving me messages in my Facebook, asking for help in bringing stuff over from here back to my home country. I just hope she's the only one as I've got to bring back some others, too.
(14) I wanted to do a signature one where they have to get it signed by the person who receives it but I remember my friend saying she didn't want that.
(15) Fact: I once waited for a package in Australia for more than two months only to receive news that it was sent back to the original sender.
(16) I wanted to draw the cathedral but my back got tired and painful so I only got to draw the huge window on the front of the building.
(17) I became sticky!
(18) It's really sad to see an old person wanting to go out but is not able to do it themselves and I really, totally succumbed to her plea.
(19) The last time I went there, it was really bad and rundown as well as had the temporary fences up but that day, the fences were tightly secured and the park looked really inviting.
(20) I really felt like I went back to the past. Everything about the place looked old and traditional. I almost felt bad that the floor was covered with a cheap-ass modern carpet instead of a something more themed and harmonious with her furniture!
(21) Violently.
(22) And most of his genes, too.
(23) More like a gramophone.
(24) Going to the new place.
(25) I should stop being nice and happy for strangers.
(26) All over the place! However, most of the boxes were taken away early this week because of a fair last weekend and also, the ones that were in the recycling bins were mostly damaged.
(27) I've lots of clothes that I do not intend on wearing, ever. Most were bought for me.
(28) It was just… bad.
(29) I learned, when I was in The Netherlands, that I loved the taste of rare steak.
(30) Yes. Yes, it was.
(31) She's really pretty and a nice person. A little naive and immature but she's still young so she should have fun!

June 08, 2011

0006: Early Days in The Netherlands

P6040011

I really love cats. I've been in The Netherlands from the 2nd of June and it has been a nice time. Everyone's been nice to me and have been taking care of me and that makes me all fuzzy inside. I've also been thrown into this diet thing and have lost approximately two kilograms in 6 days. I thought it was good but apparently, I learned from Ben's mom that it was not a good diet to be doing. And so, tomorrow we'll be adding some other foods into our diet and maybe that will end up pretty good.

P6040003

And I got to eat fresh strawberries from Ben's mom's garden! They were pure heaven! The taste itself wasn't strong but the juice and the freshness of it cannot be compared! The ones in supermarkets just taste really weird.

P6070035

I've also been walking for a bit in the last two days. It's 1.5 kilometers to the destination and 1.5 kilometers back. Sometimes I also end up going to a shop that's only about 600 meters from the place I'm staying at. So, on the same day, I might have gone for approximately 2 kilometers. It's a nice feeling after I've finished walking especially when I'm walking with Ben or helping out his mom.

P6030005

There was a time during the week that we went to the city center of Alkmaar and had the chance to see the markets that were out there that day. We were lucky enough to find that there was an exhibition going on in St. Laurens Church, also known as the Big Church. Some of the works were a little amateurish but there was one artist that caught my eye. Her work, although professional looking, were priced cheaply compared to the amateurs that have priced their work double hers. I feel like a lot of people should have bought her paintings. I wish she gets a lot of commissions and a lot of people buying her stuff!

P6030053

I've finished reading the book A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami. It was one of the best books I've read. I really recommend it to people. Of course, this just means I need to pick up that book I brought along to read. Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl. I've heard a lot about Anne Frank but I've never looked into her history or read anything on her. During history class, the teacher fleetingly mentioned her name but because I jumped from school to school, I never really got to learn about European history much. I'm going to have to try and finish reading this book by the next week because I'm thinking about going to Amsterdam to go and visit the Anne Frank House/Museum. Hopefully I can finish reading before we actually get there.

Photobucket

Ben's mom has been shouting from her bedroom, talking about places where we could go. Apparently, there's this place that makes chocolate out of horse milk. I'm actually intrigued. I really do want to go but Ben isn't too keen on it. There was also an opening day for a dairy farm. I know, I'm a little weird but I am really interested!

Oh, today, when we were taking that 1.5 kilometer walk to the bigger shops, we were talking about Pedobear and how he'd look like if he were kinda' human. We were so disgusting… I like that! Hehe~

And if I were to get glasses again, I want to get ones like these!

Photobucket

Maybe I should help with the cleaning again tomorrow.

Photobucket

No Numbered Notes today.