Thursday, October 12, 2006
Sometimes when we touch - Dan Hill
Lincoln Rhyme surveyed the machinery. Wondered what it be like to actually close his fingers around an object again. With his left ring finger he could touch and had a faint sense of pressure. But actually gripping something, feeling its texture, weight, temperature … those were unimaginable.
The Empty Chair
The Empty Chair
I've been working this whole week They decided to put me in charge of the Coffee Cart at the LTB Building*. Me in charge of the Coffee Cart! ROTFL!!!!!! It's like asking the cat to guard the fish or putting the mouse in charge of the cheese! ;-P
I simply love it! Besides the obvious (yes, i am officially allowed to drink as much as i like), this is easy money!!!! The just desserts after last week of days when i had 6 hours straight of pot washing duties!!!
Out of the 5 1/2 hours i'm there, i prolly only work like an hour. The rest of the time, i get to sit and read!!! Yes, i get paid (6.30 quid an hour, mind you!) to sit and read and drink coffee! And when it's time to sell coffee, i get to chat with strangers. Woohoo!!!!
I'm reading this old e-book i have in me PDA. Some crime story. It reminds me a lot of "The Bone Collector" where the criminalogist (Lincoln Rhymes) is a paraplegic and he gets a lady officer to be his eyes and ears in the crime scene. It also made me miss CSI.
The above-quoted passage really hit when i read it. It made me realise how much i take for granted the ability to simply hold something and feel its weight.
Imagine how your world would be if you can't feel anything...
The wind in your hair
The weight of a gold ring
The grass under your feet
The grip of a little child's hand
The comfort of a well worn jeans
The coarseness of the sand in a riverbed
The comfort of a well worn jeans
The coarseness of the sand in a riverbed
The tickle of a tear rolling down your cheek
The strength of a hand massaging the back of your neck
The gentleness of someone's touch
The cold rain falling on your face
The comfort of the duvet
The softness of your bed
The warmth of a hug
The comfort of the duvet
The softness of your bed
The warmth of a hug
*to UoE students - ok, ok, saying "LTB Building" is like saying "NIV version" - but then how? LT Building? No one will know what is that. The LTB? Then there'll be those who'll ask, "Which one" cuz there are ... at least 10 LTBs in the LTB Building!.
Labels: Life
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The circle of life - Elton John
It's my 366th day in the UK now - but who's counting? ;-P
I must say that i'm coping better than expected. I'm happily living vicariously off me mate's Phd life by staying in his flat and meeting his flatmates - while he is out of the country. I kinda envy him cuz so far, his new flatmates(whom he has not met yet) are really nice! On top of that, there's this girl from Guangdong - and she speaks Cantonese!!!!! I can't expain how wonderful it is to hang out in the kitchen and chat in Cantonese with someone! :-) Just the other day, i bumped into a fren of an ex-flatmate who is also from Guangdong and we chatted in Canto for a while. It has been so long since i've called someone "lang looi" and she called me "lang chai" in return!
I dun know if it's my imagination but there seem to be many more people speaking in Cantonese among the freshers.
Yup, the new year has started. The freshies are here. It's noisy all nite long. Drunk undergrads roam the grounds in the wee hours of the morning. The other nite, the security guard came to our flat accompanied by a police officer. Apparently, there was a report of a stabbing in the North Towers but no other details - so the poor fellas were going to every floor, in every tower!
Still, i can feel the excitement the in air. And i cant help but envy them. A new year, new frens, new experiences.
I was thinking of all me mates i've made since i got here. I miss them. But i have to admit that seeing life goes on helps me to move on too. That was another lifetime - a brilliant one, but one that has ended. And even tho most of them are so far away, i keep them close to me everyday - and for some, every minute of the day. They may not be around here physically, but they are never gone.
Always close
Everyday
Every step along the way
Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye
I know you will be forever in my life
Never gone
I must say that i'm coping better than expected. I'm happily living vicariously off me mate's Phd life by staying in his flat and meeting his flatmates - while he is out of the country. I kinda envy him cuz so far, his new flatmates(whom he has not met yet) are really nice! On top of that, there's this girl from Guangdong - and she speaks Cantonese!!!!! I can't expain how wonderful it is to hang out in the kitchen and chat in Cantonese with someone! :-) Just the other day, i bumped into a fren of an ex-flatmate who is also from Guangdong and we chatted in Canto for a while. It has been so long since i've called someone "lang looi" and she called me "lang chai" in return!
I dun know if it's my imagination but there seem to be many more people speaking in Cantonese among the freshers.
Yup, the new year has started. The freshies are here. It's noisy all nite long. Drunk undergrads roam the grounds in the wee hours of the morning. The other nite, the security guard came to our flat accompanied by a police officer. Apparently, there was a report of a stabbing in the North Towers but no other details - so the poor fellas were going to every floor, in every tower!
Still, i can feel the excitement the in air. And i cant help but envy them. A new year, new frens, new experiences.
I was thinking of all me mates i've made since i got here. I miss them. But i have to admit that seeing life goes on helps me to move on too. That was another lifetime - a brilliant one, but one that has ended. And even tho most of them are so far away, i keep them close to me everyday - and for some, every minute of the day. They may not be around here physically, but they are never gone.
Never Gone
Never gone, never far
In my heart is where you areAlways close
Everyday
Every step along the way
Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye
I know you will be forever in my life
Never gone
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Someone to watch over me - Renee Olstead
Today was the Church anniversary service. How apt - since it's also the anniversary of me coming over here. Yeah, 1 year ago today was when i left home to come here.
In his sharing, the guest preacher referred to an old Gershwin song - "Someone to watch over me". And again, i found that it was so relevant for me too.
As i walk around campus today, seeing all the new students move in, i'm transported back to one year ago when i was one of them. Time really flies, doesn't it?
In his sharing, the guest preacher referred to an old Gershwin song - "Someone to watch over me". And again, i found that it was so relevant for me too.
As i walk around campus today, seeing all the new students move in, i'm transported back to one year ago when i was one of them. Time really flies, doesn't it?
And looking back, i was moved to tears as on hindsight, i could see so so clearly how i had someone to watch over me, every step of the way. Jesus was doing that. Whether thru the dark days or sunny ones, whether when i was worshiping him faithfully or sinning, he was watching over me.
And more than that, he was watching over me loved ones who were and still are so far away.
The autumn leaves have oredi started falling, just like it did last October, just like how it will next October. And just as sure as the autumn leaves falling next October, i'm equally sure that until then, he will still be watching over me.
Days of darkness still come o'er me
Sorrow's paths I often tread
But the Saviour still is with me
By His hand I'm safely led
Francis Rawley
Pic taken in Bute Park, Cardiff (Autumn 2006)
Labels: Life, memories, Spiritual
Saturday, September 30, 2006
All by myself - Celine Dion
I'm back!
I really din want to.
O well...
The holiday was brilliant - and me took loads of pics - so be warned!
But more than just having an excellent time and not wanting it to end, i just din wanna come back to this place. It's like an empty shell now.
I'm the only person from Flat 11 (2005-2006) left in Rayleigh at this point of time. The rest have either moved off or gone away.
On Sunday nite, the few of us who were still around said our goodbyes to Lin Lin. She left for home on Monday. I was going away on Monday too. Michael was saying that after that nite, Flat 11 (2005-2006) officially has come to an end.
I guess in a way, it was fitting - Lin Lin was the very first person i met from Flat 11. So it is only right that the last person i bid farewell to was her.
I just got back a couple of hours ago - and i was surprised at how bad it hit me. Got emotional all over again - different places on campus brought back the memories, memories of a wonderful time which seem like a lifetime away. Not just me flatmates - me other mates, me lil sister, me coursemates...
*sigh*
Well, we did have the time of our lives during the summer - and i guess that while things will never be the same again, i can always look back and say "At least we had that summer together".
I really din want to.
O well...
The holiday was brilliant - and me took loads of pics - so be warned!
But more than just having an excellent time and not wanting it to end, i just din wanna come back to this place. It's like an empty shell now.
I'm the only person from Flat 11 (2005-2006) left in Rayleigh at this point of time. The rest have either moved off or gone away.
On Sunday nite, the few of us who were still around said our goodbyes to Lin Lin. She left for home on Monday. I was going away on Monday too. Michael was saying that after that nite, Flat 11 (2005-2006) officially has come to an end.
I guess in a way, it was fitting - Lin Lin was the very first person i met from Flat 11. So it is only right that the last person i bid farewell to was her.
I just got back a couple of hours ago - and i was surprised at how bad it hit me. Got emotional all over again - different places on campus brought back the memories, memories of a wonderful time which seem like a lifetime away. Not just me flatmates - me other mates, me lil sister, me coursemates...
*sigh*
Well, we did have the time of our lives during the summer - and i guess that while things will never be the same again, i can always look back and say "At least we had that summer together".
Labels: friends, Life, memories
