dennis...

another blog post in so long

2009-05-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

Its been ages since my last post!

Would have loved to post stuff in the past few months, but alas, busy season at work meant life takes a back seat (as well as sanity, sleep, friends, family :'( )

After busy season, I went skiing with Jon and friends and it was amazing. Having not done it for almost 3 years, its amazing how fast it came back to me. Of course, being in an intermediate class helped...I did my first Red right on my second day and I've not even done a Blue the last time I skied. Needless to say, was shitting myself and my thighs were so tightly tensed - which of course hampered my turns. However, all was not lost and I could confidently do the Reds that Pamparovo could throw my way. But I'll leave the Blacks for now, what with the snow melting at an accelerated pace during my ski week.

Then it was back to London and desperately trying to get some runs in to prepare for the London Marathon, but alas, right before going on the Istanbul trip with Madeleine, I sprained my right knee ligament. Not only did it foil my plans for the London Marathon, but I was hobbling all over Istanbul. Tip - don't run and jump in leather sandals that offer NO foot support AND carrying luggage.

Then it was back to London and OUT again for an away training. It wasn't really tailored to my level in the firm, but nontheless, it was a learning experience. Then back to work, then college and catching the formidable flu. Sigh!

What's a guy under the weather to do, but to go through his uploaded photos and actually start sifting through them and processing the Raw files. Yes, I actually have photos right through from last summer that I've uploaded but not looked at ever since. It was quite fun going through them again, and mildly surprising to come across some shots that I truly like and genuinely forgot about them due to then ongoing commitments.

While things are looking to slow a bit, I feel the work isn't. I've got college and subjects to revise and this time I am well keen to pass on the first sitting! Failing exams are an expensive business and not to worry the amount of added stress on my psyche!

Here's a couple of my snaps.

fast approaching that time of year...

2008-11-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

I met up with Nan and Samir for dinner and on the walk from Bond street to Carnaby en route to Cha Cha Moon, I was suddenly greeted by the giant white santas suspended in the air. I was so enwrapped in my thoughts and to suddenly look up at woosh...it dropped me back into the here and now and I realized for the first time that we're fast approaching that time of year where we should slow down...to reflect, to spend time with loved ones, to curl up under blankets...of woolly socks.

I'm beginning to forgo the tube for the bus...and the bus for the walk home. Sure, it takes longer, but I find the quiet and the solitary crispness of the air refreshing. and calming. In those walks home, I may be outside - but I feel like I'm in a space all my own.

Jacket potato success!

2008-11-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a jacket potato for ages...but once I had it in during the away job at Derby, I realize I'm missing out!

It actually takes over an hour to bake a potato, so I popped it into the oven and went for a run before heading back to a ready potato!

Sadly all my packets of ham has gone off...was hoping for a ham and cheese, but ended with beans and cheese, which is just as delicious.

Lol, okay, not the most interesting of posts, but when you've only been making the same old things for the past 4 years, this is quite THE change.

Passed!

2008-10-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to get out of bed earlier today, because I was thinking I've probably failed it. I was so demotivated since knowing I failed FR and the fact that I didn't work as hard as I should have for the electronic papers. I got out of bed because a) I have to get ready and go to work and b) I still have to find out what my marks are and of course, c) LIFE GOES ON regardless, so what gives.

Also, the 'one beer' last night made it just that bit harder to get out of bed...and maybe something about that nippy London autumn morning air that makes it that much more appealing to get out of bed. Why stay under warm covers when you can brave the dreary cold frontier (=tube)?

Anyways, I was just awashed with an immense sense of relief when I passed on the institute site...

Let's hope this warm feeling lingers longer...till the next paper then!

exams in a few hours

2008-10-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sigh,

as it is with exams, i'm here procrastinating and updating my blog!

Well, i've still got a ways to go, but somehow will have to manage to get the necessary work done by 7.30. That's 3 hours away...

Alright, I've got to really get back to work instead of taking my constant breaks!

Alan's Commissioning Ball

2008-04-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

On Friday, the 11th, I took time off from work for a very important day. It was Alan's Commissioning Ball! I wasn't able to attend the parade for his Passing Out from Sandhurst but I sure am not going to miss the ball. The last ball I attended there (a little over a month ago) was any indication of the fun in store, hell ya! Bring it on!

That aside, it just struck me how long I've known Alan and how long I've stayed here. It happened when Alan picked me up near hall where the ball was to be held (Sandhurst Hall? Can't remember...) and we were just catching up and chatting. He was telling me who else was coming...and that I've met some of his friends from home/school before at his 21st. I kept thinking it wasn't that long ago that I went to his house party in Fenham only to realize it was already almost 3 years ago. If I've always felt guilty for always running around doing stuffs (which I now look back to be in vain and rather pointless) instead of staying close to friends, it really hit home. But I've had this chat with Alan before, and I guess what I can do now is to start realizing what's important to me and not to dwell too much on the past.

Busy schedule and all, and I've got no weekends left (or any life for that matter) as its going to be revision to get myself up to speed in time for the revision classses. I've been going on and on about it and its actually beginning to worry me that I started revision then stopped...due to work or anything else, no excuses...I've got a good month to go before the revision classes start, so a good few hours during the weekends and some here and there should do the trick. Probably have to let the manager on my next job know that I can't work too long hours so I can get home and do some revision AND sleep.

Anyways, back to the ball. Needless to say, it was an absolute blast. When everyone 'dispersed' towards the end, I was a bit bored as I was by my lonesome...but when life throws you a lemon...THROW IT AT SOMEONE ELSE! lol, but seriously, I did what anyone would have done...went and grabbed a hotdog...Hey, I was hungry and since my mates were no where to be found (I found out later they passed out at various places) I mind as well get fed.

We had so much alcohol. Free beers at the start was a fatal mistake...Almost a year out of uni, and I'm still attracted to freebies and combine that with beer - enough said! I was so happy for Alan but I couldn't say anything, so I just congratulated him. I think he know how I felt though so that's that.

Then there was the very early morning call and the incessant fire alarm...Sandhurst's very own charming way of saying, great, you're commissioned...now get up, clean up and, pack up and scram! Lol, brunch was the much needed morning after greasy british fry-up. And then it was the long toil back to London...

Sandhurst was so amazing...almost made want to sign up....ALMOST.

;)

You know you love me, XOXO

Dinner with Sham and Toy Watch USA

2008-04-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

Went to the Thai place in Soho with the large square tables...somethingamajig Eathai...lol, i still can't remember the name of the place...

Last time Nan wanted to go, she insisted that it's not on Wardour St, so we went round and round Soho, couldn't find it and ended up eating elsewhere...only to find it ON WARDOUR ST on the way back home!

So yeah, went there for dinner. Still remember it was Wui Yi who brought me there first...miss that bitch!

and before that, i went and took the plunge...got myself a ToyWatch! and Mariah was in Selfridges to do promo, but there were so many people I couldn't be bothered to follow the crowd...

Looking forward to a well deserved (?) week off

2008-03-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

Blogging at work! Oh hell, it's my lunch 'hour' anyways.

I was so torn between taking the week off as I'm already short on holidays for the year...probs would have done better to save it for later. But then again, I do want to revise for upcoming exams...

Always time for holidaying and travel when I make more money! lol...

Moving...

2007-06-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

Groan, moving out of my current place in less than a week...this Wednesday, to be exact...back to my old place! But just for a couple of months, until my uni career finally comes to an end and my professional career begin. Well, one step at a time. Going to be a slow/quick next few weeks...better get ready!

Hopefully I can finish moving in time for rugby prac this Wed as well...gosh, the sport is so addictive. Maybe I've never properly played (or at all!) a contact sport...

At least its an outlet for my frustration/anger. Sucks big time to always be calm and what not. Hey, come on, while I don't need anger management, its nice to let the aggression out.

Well, not much photos yet. Oh yea, just had last dinner with the remaining two flatmates yesterday. It was fun, wished I had spent more time with them, love them all to bits! But oh well, I will just have to try my best to keep in touch so that as we drift apart as we all do, we still stay in each others hearts. Oh dear, look at me go all sappy. Better stop before I go get any more weepy, lol.

YET another new start

2007-06-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

My Masters programme is beginning to draw to a close. In less than 3 months, after the imminent resits and handing in of my dissertation, I'll begin my move down south to London where I shall call home for at least the next 3 years.

All in all, this has been a rather tumultous year - same as always then! However, I think this is the year that I grew a lot more compared to the ones prior.

Switching career paths is as exciting as I thought it would be. Daunting as it was, and as much as I floundered, I did find the course immensely interesting. Refreshing might be a better word to use, as it is a huge departure from what I'm used to.

On the persoanl side of things, I got to know a lot more people and from more diverse backgrounds. Plenty of the usual ups and downs, of heartache and elation. Would I have wanted it all to work out another way? Maybe, but then, most likely not. Thinking this will be to live in the past and I'm done doing that. There's only now and the future. The past is only there to look back at once in a while to remind us of where we've been.

I've struggled hard against the prospect of growing up, of responsibility and of my own happiness. But I'm slowly begin to see that its all in my head. Sounds crazy, but I guess the majority of our so-called problems aren't really problems. They are to us because it seems so real, but if we stop over-analyzing and just start living...what I'm trying to say is, I'm beginning to gain perspective. The past few weeks of intense panicking and stress...in retrospect, I should have realized that everyone else faces the same as well, and just because I'm new doesn't necessarily translate to me being bad at it. So tired of feeling inferior to everyone else, of missing out on opportunities...but most of all, I'm so tired for feeling all these. The scientist in me says that there's no evidence to support that its true, and the outgoing, stronger side of me says that its just cowardice and that I've put on an outlook of modesty and humility for so long, that I've begun to start taking my own medicine as true.

Enough with being me, finding out about myself. That's a journey everyone takes and only stops when they've exhaled their last breath. Its time to live. As Sandy sang "Goodbye Sandra Dee", its time to bid farewell to Dennis. The old must go so that the new can come, as the Chinese saying goes. So now I bid you farewell, Dennis, and I don't pity you. You were what you were so I can become who I am now and who I will be in the future.

Graduation 2006

2006-08-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Summary of Graduation holiday 1...

Finished exams earlier compared to my other flatmates and was bored shitless ...

14/06/06
The holidays started of with going to Berlin (Germany) with my flatmate Jon. What did we do? I remember having to take the S-Bahn S9 (city train) then taking the U-Bahn U2(?) (underground) to the hostel (BaxPax) What we did in Berlin? We arrived pretty late, so we just went about the immediate area around the hostel, but it was in such a small suburb-ish kinda area we got bored and then headed back to the hostel and then took the trains back out into the city, just to get a few of what we're going to do the next few days. However, we did manage to head to head to the local market. It was closing, but it was so quaint...hahaha, maybe in reality it wasn't, but then again, there's nothing wrong being a romantic, is there?

Anyways, moving along from there, as we toured the city on the S-bahn, we saw a huge football and some departmental stores. I can't remember whether it was the draw of the football or retail therapy, but we got off at the following stop and walked around a bit. We saw some departmental stores (didn't go in) but we saw what the football was. It was a screen but what really got our attention was right smack next to it was a large fool's ball machine, with 'life-sized' berlin berl (bears) in place of the dummies. Me and Jon took turns playing the fool, taking pictures like the Oriental tourists that we were as well as drawing attention from the locals. Haha. Oh well, live life, right?

We then walked and walked till we found the main shopping high street (I forgot the name!) but this is the commercial area of Berlin, and flanking both sides of this street are high street stores, as well as higher end designer stores like Hugo Boss (This lable is German, did you know that?) as well as other international labels. We weren't expecting to do much, having arrived late. We were just walking around to get the hang of the place and to orientate ourselves to the layout of the city. As we were walking along, I came up with the idea to watch a movie. Having not seen The Da Vinci Code and seeing the posters EVERY where we went, I asked Jon about it and we both decided to roll with it. We happened to walk by a small cineplex and walked in. The lady was really nice to us, and reminded me of a slimmer packaged Bridget Jones - all the sweet London girl look minus the 'muffin toppin'. She spoke good English too, but alas, she's not a Londoner as previously thought. She's a German girl through and through and chatted with us for a bit. Turns out the movie's already started, but it was in German. I thought it would be a) a laugh and b) an experience to watch it in German without subtitles, but Jon thought otherwise. Anyways, the nice lady then proceeded to find us a cinema in Berlin that was airing said movie and in English and recommended us to go near the SONY centre. We didn't leave immediately and chatted a little more with her. She lamented that she'd rather be watching the German-Poland game instead of manning the cinema when there's only 3 patrons! We smiled, and told her we'd love to watch the game too. However, we have yet to find the elusive screens (we know that near the Brandenburg Gate or other tourist attractions, there were screens set up for people to watch the footie matches, but we've yet to find one yet) so we could only resort to Tom Hank's follies onscreen.

We of course then proceed through the S-Bahn to the Sony centre. However, on approaching it, we found there was some sort of commotion or crowd gathering. We saw then that it was in fact massive screens set up to watch the game! However, it seems that we needed tickets to enter, so we had no choice but to give it a miss. However, as we were walking pass the nearby bars, me and Jon could not help but sneak peaks in to see what the score was and to glean any action that was onscreen at the time. The guards around the 'stadium' (arena set up with screens to look like a stadium - trust me, the place may be fake, but the atmosphere is REAL!). Anyways, back to said guards. They must have seen us looking really sad, trying to watch TV through the glass and the mass of people in between the screen and us. One of them called out to me, and asked me something in German. Obviously, with my limitted understanding of the German language, I elicited a 'huh' expression. So he repeated in simple English "Watch football?" And did the whole Robert de Niro "I'm watching over you" act...you know, the one you place two finger shaped in a V over your eyes and then pointing at the person you're 'doing' it to? We said yes, then what do you know? He gave us tickets to enter! Apparently the tickets are free, but you need to do stuf to redeem them, or like call the radio stations up.

Anyways, we had problems finding seats at first, then when we were seated (me and Jon separated because we were late and they're weren't many seats left). The game was great, rivetting, even for a football-idiot like me. The atmosphere was spot on and the usual beer with the game was observed...a lot! But within reason, of course ;-)

Then this guy came along and sold pretzels. You must think I have against people peddling or with pretzels. Truth is, I don't with either. But it was really funny how later me and Jon talked and both of us remembered him. Jon called him Pinocchio and I called him 'sad-boy-looking-like-Master-is-going-to-whip-him-if-he-doesn't-sell-any" but for short, we just call him Pretzel guy. You'll see later why he remains a topic of interest later (and how sad me and Jon really are :'(....) Anyways, Germany won...Go, Deutcshland! and everyone was hugging and having loads of fun.

As we left the screens, we decided it was getting late and that we should head back to get some rest for an early start. However, fate has it that I must break my 'seal' then. We then walked around the massive underground in search of a WC. The guards stationed there to watchout for hooligans informed us that there was no toilets there or nearby. Not good news when you've got a good few pints in your bladder excluding water I drank earlier for hydration purposes. We went back to the place where the screens were and following a mob of ecstatic German supporters and the not-so-elated Polish to a local bar.

After that business was attended to, we finally boarded the S-bahn again. But, more and MORE people started squeezing in. This guy kept giving the others in the train crap, and was decidedly rowdy. Some guards came and tried to reason with him and then to remove him gently from the compartment. But he and his friends started attacking them. What follows is anyone's good guess. They radioed in more help and got them off...by hook or by crook. It was only a day or two later that I realized that the guys in green fatigues were not soldiers but the local law enforcers (I thought blue is a universal police colour, but oh well, it does add variety to our world).

All in all, that was a rather productive day for what we thought would have been a day lost. I also realized that the hostel operates strictly that after 8pm, the kitchen really is locked. I learnt later the janitor sleeps in a room off the kitchen on the other side, and locks the kitchen so that rowdy/drunk/noisy hostellers don't bother her. Anyways, I learnt this because I was so THIRSTY when I woke up in the wee hours. When I tossed around enough, I walked out to the lobby and found the bar was still operating, so I bought some water and chatted a bit but tiredness got the better of me, and it was back to the room again.

I can't remember what room number it was...though I can still see in my minds eye the layout of the place. It was co-ed, which doesn't bother me, having slept in another hostel before that had the same style. But I was a bit 'paiseh' because I would walk in and a female tenant would be changing. I don't stare, mind you! But I do feel awkward, because I don't want to give the impression that I was pervy and ...you get what I mean! Most of the hostels I've stayed at separates the sexes in different dorms. Oh well, that was just a separate note, random as it was...for the ending of part one for my Graduation holiday...

Stay tuned for more!

Trying to get the pictures into the same pages as well but that would have to wait as I'm not that good with all this web things yet. Please be patient...

Brand new start~~~

2006-08-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

This is my new blog! Its a new year (sort of) and what more to jump start this 'new year' but with new practises and habits - blogging one of them!

I'm going to start posting pictures of me and my friends and may our memories float around the internet forever. And yes, if you're wondering, I'm corny like that.

And when you read this after I wrote it, where ever we are, our hearts are one...

;-)