Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Preening
Today is the official gwen preening day. So its moisturisers, buffs and countless shiny glittery powders. Now I am watching something interesting with that hermione girl [kate something?] called the Fossil Sisters. Its not bad, and I recommend it to my mom as she is prone to squeeze out a few tears for the telly :) Its so far about found orphaned girls who stay with a spinster, whose adopted dad is a paleontologist. The dad disappears, along with his money. The girls start taking in boarders. No not that type.
Now d is filling up the room with smells of curry from our christmas day brunch, and I shall have a bit.
Update : Don't watch the movie. It was progressing well, with a lot of helpful feminist undertones. 'The world is not kind to a girl with no education', damn right woman ! And then things fall to pieces, the matriarchy rots, the bank dries and wahey, men arrive to put everything right. Head matron recovers from tuberculosis and gets married, blonde orphan goes to hollywood after signing a contract with man from hollywood, redhead orphan goes to russia for ballet with male chekov, brunette learns how to pilot planes because of stepdad's connections. Man, men, MEN !
Rubbish pseudo feminist flick. Its for the sort of women who read the little plaques next to paintings, does a yoko-ono stunt with paint, feathers and a mummified toe, and drinks cosmopolitans in a pub.
Feh. Philistines, plebeians and proletarians !
Now d is filling up the room with smells of curry from our christmas day brunch, and I shall have a bit.
Update : Don't watch the movie. It was progressing well, with a lot of helpful feminist undertones. 'The world is not kind to a girl with no education', damn right woman ! And then things fall to pieces, the matriarchy rots, the bank dries and wahey, men arrive to put everything right. Head matron recovers from tuberculosis and gets married, blonde orphan goes to hollywood after signing a contract with man from hollywood, redhead orphan goes to russia for ballet with male chekov, brunette learns how to pilot planes because of stepdad's connections. Man, men, MEN !
Rubbish pseudo feminist flick. Its for the sort of women who read the little plaques next to paintings, does a yoko-ono stunt with paint, feathers and a mummified toe, and drinks cosmopolitans in a pub.
Feh. Philistines, plebeians and proletarians !
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
OOOOOOOOOH !
This christmas was smashing. I had curry for tea, and a turkey the sunday before, so its a two-in-one deal ! Very much like the christmas sales that are going on right about now.
One of the things I will take home [if i do come home one fine balmy hot day] is roast potatoes. There has been a yearly shortage of goose fat for christmas for the last 3 years, and thats because of roaties and nigella lawson. She is basically a tv cook with sexy lips and makes the most annoying snide comments of hosting perfection. Because of her, goose fat in thine potatoes is the only way.
Anyway, right now I am in pink flannel monkey pajamas watching an analysis of old-school christmas presents by james may. A SPIROGRAPH !!!! It is that high on the list, like the nintendo nes, mini microscopes and specimens, and lego. I need one badly. I can see now I was more of a tomboy than I thought.
And some nostalgia in the ladybird books. My favorite was sleeping beauty. Sigh. Some info on that :) Apparently the artists in the midlands [here] used to illustrate for ladybird as a sideline. I have a mind to search out my favorite now and blow it up for a canvas.
Anyway this christmas was lovely, but I am missing my folks back home. Of course, the random call in the middle of the night.
And now to go to analyse my presents. Good haul this year ! The best presents come from the heart.... and from yourself hahahahahahhahaha !!!!!!!! I got myself darling shirts from hawes & curtis, an art noveau necklace, a new work bag, new shoes, the standard white satin with lace trim pretty thing, a fabulous pink party dress and lots and lots of pretty bits and a new jumper.
Can't wait to go to the sales ! Selfridges, here I come !
One of the things I will take home [if i do come home one fine balmy hot day] is roast potatoes. There has been a yearly shortage of goose fat for christmas for the last 3 years, and thats because of roaties and nigella lawson. She is basically a tv cook with sexy lips and makes the most annoying snide comments of hosting perfection. Because of her, goose fat in thine potatoes is the only way.
Anyway, right now I am in pink flannel monkey pajamas watching an analysis of old-school christmas presents by james may. A SPIROGRAPH !!!! It is that high on the list, like the nintendo nes, mini microscopes and specimens, and lego. I need one badly. I can see now I was more of a tomboy than I thought.
And some nostalgia in the ladybird books. My favorite was sleeping beauty. Sigh. Some info on that :) Apparently the artists in the midlands [here] used to illustrate for ladybird as a sideline. I have a mind to search out my favorite now and blow it up for a canvas.
Anyway this christmas was lovely, but I am missing my folks back home. Of course, the random call in the middle of the night.
And now to go to analyse my presents. Good haul this year ! The best presents come from the heart.... and from yourself hahahahahahhahaha !!!!!!!! I got myself darling shirts from hawes & curtis, an art noveau necklace, a new work bag, new shoes, the standard white satin with lace trim pretty thing, a fabulous pink party dress and lots and lots of pretty bits and a new jumper.
Can't wait to go to the sales ! Selfridges, here I come !
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Christmas Messages
Happy Merry Hairy Christmas !
Well, the traditional greeting sounds old.
So to all my beloved, near and far,
whether you be in sunny ol singapore,
thailand, vancouver, montreal, new york,
toronto, paris, nottingham, glasgow, sydney, zurich,
tokyo, colombo, london, johannesburg,
melbourne or mauritia.
Take care.
And listen to wookies.
Well, the traditional greeting sounds old.
So to all my beloved, near and far,
whether you be in sunny ol singapore,
thailand, vancouver, montreal, new york,
toronto, paris, nottingham, glasgow, sydney, zurich,
tokyo, colombo, london, johannesburg,
melbourne or mauritia.
Take care.
And listen to wookies.
Double Standards
Disclaimer : I am merely stating a point. Artistic integrity and free speech etc. And sod it, you guys think it too.
Today on the news was more about some bombing or killing in pakistan, iran or iraq. Or maybe it was darfur. Coming from a debating background I remember how passionate I was about global conservation and world peace. I used to remember dates and how many were killed. Now I barely register these things. Actually, I skip it to read the horoscope section and a bit about diana's post-mortem. And to be fair, being in the UK makes you tired of hearing about war and famine. I am starting to integrate, and yes, I have gotten cynical, and I know I am privilidged. I know I am part of the 10% of the world controlling 70% of its wealth.
Today, yes, some school got bombed. And when I heard it was a madrasah, the first thing that came to my mind was reprehensible. 'Oh I don't mind, its the men who cause all the trouble anyway. The women are fine, if a bit brainwashed. But that can be changed' It reminded me of the time I thought about the entire middle east tirade. 'It would be a lot cheaper if we just left them to settle in the grave they dug, its none of our business. Heck, nuke em so they will learn to leave us in peace.'
Who can tell who is right ? I am in the first world, where I moan that the buses come late, I eat takeaway and will personally create an olympic-sized pool of refuse per annum. I've always thought we never ought to have a say in third world politics, simply because we don't understand it, or learn about it. And in order to solve third-world crisis, every single one of us in the first world has to stay somewhere backwater, say oh, new orleans, to get it.
We are all going in a handbasket, we are. I feel really bad.
But to be honest, I am glad its not me who is stuck in some camp with no education, no food and no rights.
Today on the news was more about some bombing or killing in pakistan, iran or iraq. Or maybe it was darfur. Coming from a debating background I remember how passionate I was about global conservation and world peace. I used to remember dates and how many were killed. Now I barely register these things. Actually, I skip it to read the horoscope section and a bit about diana's post-mortem. And to be fair, being in the UK makes you tired of hearing about war and famine. I am starting to integrate, and yes, I have gotten cynical, and I know I am privilidged. I know I am part of the 10% of the world controlling 70% of its wealth.
Today, yes, some school got bombed. And when I heard it was a madrasah, the first thing that came to my mind was reprehensible. 'Oh I don't mind, its the men who cause all the trouble anyway. The women are fine, if a bit brainwashed. But that can be changed' It reminded me of the time I thought about the entire middle east tirade. 'It would be a lot cheaper if we just left them to settle in the grave they dug, its none of our business. Heck, nuke em so they will learn to leave us in peace.'
Who can tell who is right ? I am in the first world, where I moan that the buses come late, I eat takeaway and will personally create an olympic-sized pool of refuse per annum. I've always thought we never ought to have a say in third world politics, simply because we don't understand it, or learn about it. And in order to solve third-world crisis, every single one of us in the first world has to stay somewhere backwater, say oh, new orleans, to get it.
We are all going in a handbasket, we are. I feel really bad.
But to be honest, I am glad its not me who is stuck in some camp with no education, no food and no rights.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Bridge Strike
Today I got stuck in a train back from work. Some srtike, and literally, they were calling it a bridge strike. We were a couple of meters away from the junction, and I was pissed. I am once again going to rave about the crappy transport system. I don't care if trains leaving from CTR in Mumbai go at a rate of 10 per 1.5 minutes, or 1700a day. I don't care if people are swerving off cliffs on the worlds highest and most dangerous highway, Karakoram , or stuck in torpid temperatures outdoors in my ol adopted-home city, Toronto.
The irony is, I left work 15 minutes early, just like yesterday, when I happened to catch every single connecting train, connector train and bus. I was thinking it might be a pattern.
Pffffffffff.
Otherwise, I am yes, enjoying my work, and the stability of a double income no kids lifestyle. Or well, attached girl and one big kid. Its not like we're sharing everything 50/50, its just nice to know you dont have to help anyone out. Its the bliss of trusting someone to have it all together, which admittedly, few achieve. The rest of us are in denial.
Today I also watched Russell Brand, and he is a pretty intelligent bloke. Of course he looks like a twat and all you want to do is scream at him to get his wide man-hips out of another pair of skinny tight pipe-fitted ripped jeans. But an introspective man he is. He just did a program on Kerouac [who strangely I heard about while in big TO] and I shall watch it.
Its good brain food, the BBC. Also, another UK plus is that I realise people here walk a lot slower, talk a lot slower and generally take their time. I have learnt how to do this as well. Fantastic. Coupled with my aspergers; a natural propensity to block out sound in my head, and this new skill of mucking around, I live each day like its thursday.
Another bit of useless info: Singaporeans are in the top 10 for most stressed nations, measured by walking pace. Methodology ? Walking Lahhhhh. The faster you walk, the more work you have to do. Somehow, I think they misinterpreted this observation. I think in the case of an asian context, we have a nice zen way of life. Nirvana is defined as the essence of nothing, so we are merely rushing as a nation to do nothing later on.
A funny thought just occured to me. I should sit for the O Levels again, just for the heck of it, and see what grade I get. You know, a General Paper exam. Let me run riot on any of the lampooning topics they give. I think the marker would enjoy his/herself. I always remembered what my physics teacher Mrs Ong said in primary school about teachers getting overtime during christmas to mark O level papers, while its cold out and grey, and then use the money to take a holiday in crete inbetween christmas and new year. In my mind I pitied this unknown hero who gave me my A; I wanted to make it good enough to grade by flickering candlelight.
The irony is, I left work 15 minutes early, just like yesterday, when I happened to catch every single connecting train, connector train and bus. I was thinking it might be a pattern.
Pffffffffff.
Otherwise, I am yes, enjoying my work, and the stability of a double income no kids lifestyle. Or well, attached girl and one big kid. Its not like we're sharing everything 50/50, its just nice to know you dont have to help anyone out. Its the bliss of trusting someone to have it all together, which admittedly, few achieve. The rest of us are in denial.
Today I also watched Russell Brand, and he is a pretty intelligent bloke. Of course he looks like a twat and all you want to do is scream at him to get his wide man-hips out of another pair of skinny tight pipe-fitted ripped jeans. But an introspective man he is. He just did a program on Kerouac [who strangely I heard about while in big TO] and I shall watch it.
Its good brain food, the BBC. Also, another UK plus is that I realise people here walk a lot slower, talk a lot slower and generally take their time. I have learnt how to do this as well. Fantastic. Coupled with my aspergers; a natural propensity to block out sound in my head, and this new skill of mucking around, I live each day like its thursday.
Another bit of useless info: Singaporeans are in the top 10 for most stressed nations, measured by walking pace. Methodology ? Walking Lahhhhh. The faster you walk, the more work you have to do. Somehow, I think they misinterpreted this observation. I think in the case of an asian context, we have a nice zen way of life. Nirvana is defined as the essence of nothing, so we are merely rushing as a nation to do nothing later on.
A funny thought just occured to me. I should sit for the O Levels again, just for the heck of it, and see what grade I get. You know, a General Paper exam. Let me run riot on any of the lampooning topics they give. I think the marker would enjoy his/herself. I always remembered what my physics teacher Mrs Ong said in primary school about teachers getting overtime during christmas to mark O level papers, while its cold out and grey, and then use the money to take a holiday in crete inbetween christmas and new year. In my mind I pitied this unknown hero who gave me my A; I wanted to make it good enough to grade by flickering candlelight.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
A book, a box and an umbrella.
Yes, that is what I managed to lose yesterday night. I was on the way home and david rang me while I was leaving the train. I was so tired, I totally forgot those things. I was lugging my laptop, with a file in my other hand, and talking to david with a new blackberry that I was just getting used to [got it on friday as well].
What surprises me is why people would take those things. It was really awful, because the box contained a ornament for my mum, the book was helping me and the umbrella is a pretty obvious indicator of the weather.
When I got home, I just didn't believe I had lost those things. SO much so that I went back with d's stepsis Jane to stourbridge. That is after a couple of calls to the station officers. Its unbelieveble.
We end up going, to of all paces, Que Pasa. I literally said; Jane, lets go to stourbridge town. If we find my things, we'll go get a drink. If we don't find them, we'll go for a drink. The place we ended up in was really nice though, and we stuffed ourselves with stuffed portobellos, fries and cheese, ribs and calamari. Dont forget the two rounds we got for free, and the lethal double shooter cocktail after. Yes, que pasa...
To be truthful, I was having an awful night until I went out with Jane. Work tires me out nowadays. I swotted hard enough in my last job, and I don't think I have the stamina anymore. Maybe I will build it up, but for the time being, its a pain. I had already been in london on wednesday , and at aston villa on thursday.
BUT again, in the end I have more fun equivalent to the things I lost. All I have to do is get back online and buy that book again... thank goodness I got PAID yesterday as well :) .
Unbelievable.
What surprises me is why people would take those things. It was really awful, because the box contained a ornament for my mum, the book was helping me and the umbrella is a pretty obvious indicator of the weather.
When I got home, I just didn't believe I had lost those things. SO much so that I went back with d's stepsis Jane to stourbridge. That is after a couple of calls to the station officers. Its unbelieveble.
We end up going, to of all paces, Que Pasa. I literally said; Jane, lets go to stourbridge town. If we find my things, we'll go get a drink. If we don't find them, we'll go for a drink. The place we ended up in was really nice though, and we stuffed ourselves with stuffed portobellos, fries and cheese, ribs and calamari. Dont forget the two rounds we got for free, and the lethal double shooter cocktail after. Yes, que pasa...
To be truthful, I was having an awful night until I went out with Jane. Work tires me out nowadays. I swotted hard enough in my last job, and I don't think I have the stamina anymore. Maybe I will build it up, but for the time being, its a pain. I had already been in london on wednesday , and at aston villa on thursday.
BUT again, in the end I have more fun equivalent to the things I lost. All I have to do is get back online and buy that book again... thank goodness I got PAID yesterday as well :) .
Unbelievable.
