Say It Didn't Happen.

It started as a pleasant day. You might be able to figure out from the first sentence that things didn't go that well. Still, it started as a pleasant day.

My Cultural Studies essay was done and I was glad that I finished it so soon, so I went to the library to get it printed off. There was no need to wait for someone to get off the computer because there were fewer people than usual. I decided that I shall print one of my poems out as well.

My essay was punched in, with a filled-up form in the front, and slipped onto the tray.

My Literature in History essay plan is going well after I talked to my lecturer about it (just to make sure my argument isn't too risky) and she said it sounded good. That was a relief.

I got home and happily continued writing.

Then I thought, "Ah! Where is my poem? I'll put my poem into the file now. Where IS it? Oh... OH!!!! Say it didn't happen! Someone tell me it's not behind my bibliography!"

It is.

My heart sank like the Titanic at the thought of it. And of all days. Friday. I can take it out, yes, but only next Monday.

I was pretty worked out over it in the evening, wondering if it will affect my concentration on my other essays. So I sent an email to my tutor asking her if she's collected any.

Can you hear the lifeboats floating away from the sinking Titanic? She hasn't, and wouldn't be taking any until next Wednesday.

PHEW. The pleasant day is back in order. Now back to work.

Flat Three.

This is the week most students are tied up with their work and essays for the semester. You'll see us only in our rooms. You might see us in the library at times. The corridors and kitchen are usually empty apart from the occasional hunger-stricken student.

As you might already know, I have three essays to hand up by next week, though I am determined to hand up the Cultural Studies one tomorrow. I find that getting it off my hands would stop me from editing it over and over again, which would let me focus on my other essays.

My brain food (a bar of chocolate) is beginning to run low now. I should stock up at least until I hand up my assignments.



Full circle: Jess, Amy, Ezra, Anthony, Andy, Ben, Mike.



Before I forget, here are my flatmates (and friends) of Flat 3. Anthony cooked for us that day so we had our dinner together.

Usually, this happens on Sundays when we have our weekly take away (before watching a movie) because of our eating habits.

Caroline, who is definitely living with us next year.

There's also Caroline from the flat above us who comes down often. We could very well say she's from our flat as well!

Anyway, they were the ones who helped me settle in while I was constantly in awe by my surroundings. Which is a relieved and great feeling when you're away from home.

I like that we take different subjects. Three are medical students (one in Foundation), two take film, one does maths, one does environmental science, another takes music and well, there's me! It gives us more to talk about, actually.

Now that I've given a proper introduction to the faces you see popping up in my blog, let's move on.

This Sunday we'll be having our Secret Santa gift exchange. Basically we pick a name from the hat and get a gift for that person, a good idea when there's too many of us to get presents for.

Many, if not all, would be off by next Friday. It would have been lonely winter (though I planned to organise a gathering anyway) if I was not invited to one of my flatmate's home for Christmas. It'll be good, that I know. Then I'll be in London for New Years. I suppose I can't remain in one spot for a long period of time. Especially not when I'm alone.

So now that I've taken some time off from my essays (This is why I must hand one in tomorrow - I'm still tweaking it here and there!) I should go back to it. Wish me luck!

To an Ant

Happy Birthday, Mei Yee! Wow... we were in the same class at 13 and look where we are now! (Not literally, but you know what I mean)

We haven't always been in the same class in high school, but I'm glad we're as close as Spongebob and Patrick! Marching for Green House (2nd place, no less), debating whether rodents or ruminants are better, Ice-Skating, Genting Highland trip (eek!), Taekwondo-Kungfu moments and so much more.

Missing you and our little 'gang' all the way from the UK. All the best before we meet again.

PS. If you think it's a late post, think again because it is 12.32am in UK right now.
 

Tuppence From You

With a sash hanging down from my shoulder and a donation tin in my hands, I stood in the middle of the busy street. Three hours. For a moment I had to remember why I signed up for it in the first place. And why I signed up for three hours. I already knew beforehand that most of the UNICEF volunteers had class in the afternoon while I had none.

That's besides the fact that the weather is starting to get chillier by the day.

Still I smiled at each passerby as they strolled pass while some jiggled their purses to find some change and fed it to the tin. We agreed that we won't shove the tin in people's faces but rather let them walk up.

So I did some watching.

Our designated collecting point was the Market place, which made it all the better. Almost no cars drive past the street. Only people walking into the market, or into the different stores. I was in front of Primark, by the steps to a little square with statues and resting areas. Pigeons bobbed about, making quick escapes when anyone raced past them.

Such surreal scenes indeed! There was music in the background. If I moved closer to my right, the Native American instruments played soothing tunes to familiar songs, reminding me of the musician in the local mall back home. Closer to my left was a puppeteer letting the oldies roll.

Another UNICEF member tapped on my shoulder. She said it was a last minute decision, but I didn’t mind. We talked while people stop by to drop in their coins. And as our hands started to freeze we took a break and had hot drinks.

“Do you notice,” She said, “That it is the people you least expect to have much money that comes up to us, while those that look like they have a lot of money don't?”

I agreed partially. Many a times (though not all the time) the most unexpected people came forward with pennies or a pound. Some memorable people were the students who came up saying that they’ve did this before and knew how horrible it is to endure such weather, the guy who is back from his social work in Brazil, kind people who ask us how we were, the weird man and the jolly old man who started singing Christmas songs.

She had to leave early, so I resumed my post. I had been watching a video called ‘Feed the Birds’ lately from Mary Poppins (my favourite song from that movie), and something sent shivers down my spine – This woman who resembled the bird woman in the film sharing her bread with the pigeons by the resting area.

And as it started to snow, the musicians packed up and I could only hear Disney music playing from a carousel nearby. Curious.

But three hours was three hours. When the next UNICEF members came to take over my shift, I walked pass the Market place again. Curious. Interesting. Lovely. Down the little street of Norwich.


Do watch this. The song is stuck in my head now. And drop a coin into a collection tin one day. I'd do that. I'd appreciate it.

Big City

London is enormous if you compare it to Norwich. It's hard to that Norwich used to be second largest centuries ago. Anyway, I took a train down to London to meet up with May Ling, and she brought me to different places in the city to sight see! Thank you for cooking dinner, bringing me all around through the Underground, quelling my Malaysian food cravings and watching the latest Harry Potter film with me!

Speaking of the latest Harry Potter film, I was told by my film buff flatmate that this is where a Harry Potter scene was taken in the 7th movie. I believe it is when they 'Apparated' from the Weasley Wedding onto the streets. The Sanyo sign was apparently memorable.



Well, since I DID forget to look for Platform 9 and 3/4 when I arrived at King's Cross (am not pleased but it was too late) I shall have to make do with Piccadilly Circus. Besides, being such a monumental landmark, it should have been in other films as well, no?



Piccadilly Circus



Dim Sum!



We went to Trafalgar Square and it so happened that there was a demonstration on the coalition, I believe. We couldn't stay long because they were about to walk down the same street we would be taking to the next attraction. Big Ben - I must honestly say I don't find him as big as I had expected him to be. It is also near Thames River and London Eye.



Big Ben



London Eye

We stopped by several mini stalls for some desserts. Guilt trip? Maybe. But they taste so good. Close to the river was this Pancake Stall that shouted something sweet, delicious and warm.

The Christmas Lights are not entirely up yet, I was told, but I can imagine the grandeur of it. I'll be coming back down for the New Year. Do you think they will still be up?

For dinner we had Malaysian food. This was from a restaurant in Trafalgar Square. The other one we had in Leicester Square was closer to Malaysian food in terms of authenticity, though.

Here is the group picture of the four of us who went out on Saturday to watch the movie and had our meals together. And shopping.

The morning before I left, we went to Buckingham Palace to witness the changing of the guards. I gather that they are not in red as I thought they would be because of the cold. The cold that seems to have spread all over UK dramatically.

There were a lot of visitors tourists there, so the ceremony was very much in fragments of what we've seen. What I recall is the elaborate marching within the walls of the place. And for a moment, to the open street as well.

May Ling and I

Police and what he called a 'lady-mare(man)'

That aside, we went to some other places including the Green Park and St James Park, where these birds can be seen, unfazed by human contact. Leaving was slightly disheartening because it meant that my weekend was over. Now, more than ever, I will have to focus on my courseworks due before the holidays.

So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind
~Ralph Mc Tell's 'Streets of London'~

Winter Wonderland

I woke up later than I expected today, and remembered that I had an appointment with some friends. I rolled out of bed, decided to let some light shine in and drew the curtains open.

Before I continue, let me show you the scenes I expect to see when I get myself ready for class.

Through my window.

The road leading to the Village (where I stay).

Earlham Park, on my way to campus

The morning light poured itself in as usual, immediately getting rid of the darkness hidden behind the green curtain. But what was this? What a different scene! It was impossible to miss. The whole area was covered with snow. Everything - the rooftops, the roads, the bushes, the trees - glowed with the shimmering colour of white. To me, it felt like the icing on a cake.

I like the way the tree had droplets sparkling in the light. It's as if Nature is reminding people that Christmas is coming by hanging some of her decorations.

See the difference?

I love this one - Like a postcard!

I was excited most of the time, even on my way into campus, that it didn't seem that cold after all. Or it might be because I had gone into the city centre and got myself a pair of gloves. I have several layers on now.

If you read my earlier post you can see the difference.

On the other hand, seniors told me that usually snow comes in January, and that they are bored with it. I might see it that way someday, I guess, but it won't be today. And to think that what was meant for January happened in November! Climatic effects are taking root! I can't imagine what it would be like come next year.

Snowball fight!

Well, what now can I do? Go with the flow. And enjoy the fuzzy feeling inside. And watch the scene outside my window change as the day starts to pall and part of the snow melts into slush.

Let it Snow

This afternoon I received a text message from Chiah informing me that Aberdeen is snowing while Nottingham is not. I replied saying that Norwich hasn't and I'm thankful for that because I'm not ready for it. I was going to get my gloves this Friday.

In a twist of irony, several minutes later, someone from the Creative Writing meeting cried, "LOOK OUTSIDE!! It's SNOW!!" And sure enough, there it was, the fluttering of droplets too solid to be rain right outside the window.

I feel like I'm in a movie sometimes.

Putting aside my shock and that slight annoyance that I cannot put off buying my leather gloves any longer, I was absolutely excited about watching the snow drift down. In fact, nearly everyone was fascinated by the sight. Their faces glowed mostly from the thought of being able to go home for the holidays. Mine was the pure exhilaration of the first time spotting snow drench the pavement.

It was somewhat amidst the rain, so everything dissipated once they touched the ground. It's not entirely official yet, but this only shows that winter is coming nearer and nearer, its frosty breath emitting down our necks.

Later that night, after our Asda delivery came by and we got ourselves food for the next few weeks (along with my bag of doughnuts), I went to watch 'Much Ado about Nothing' at the Drama Studio. It was good. I like that they interpreted it in a modern kind of way from the jazzy beat of 'Sigh no more, ladies' to a cute little twist in the ending, while retaining the language and ambience.  

During the break, I could not help but stare at the snowflakes outside the studio and it didn't feel as cold for just that moment. I'm not so sure if I would see it that way over the next few months, but that feeling was childlike and beautiful at the same time. I enjoyed that.