I feel like blogging, or rather, I feel like talking lots and lots and lots because I’m in a very talkative mood at the moment (poor GM! He’s going to have his ears talked off once he gets out of the shower) so I am going to write a great big humongous post even though I haven’t done anything really noteworthy (except have a monstrous week at work, but I refuse to sully my pristine, uncontaminated blog with moans about work so we’ll skip that), which means I’m going to write down any mundane thoughts that pop into my head! :) Yay!
How’s that for a looooong sentence?
Today I met Mar in Dorking for a chat over a spot of lunch. I’d never been to Dorking before, and I wouldn’t really say I went there today, insomuch as I only saw the train station, the bit from the train station to the shops, and the inside of Café Rouge. Lunch at Café Rouge was quite nice though; I like it because everything in it feels really familiar as we used to eat there all the time when I was in Exeter. It’s not remarkable, but it’s comfortable, I think that’s what I’m trying to say.
On the way back to the train station after lunch (we literally spent the entire afternoon eating and talking) we had the privilege of seeing a really beautiful, glowing red sunset, backdropping the English countryside. I would have taken a photo but I was too cold to stop. In fact I spent most of today freezing and it was all my own fault as I’d gone out with too little on to combat the weather with. It was a toss-up between being padded up suitably and having to waddle round the whole day, or dressed inadequately but looking chic and light on my feet and I plumped for the latter, as a result of which I almost contracted hypothermia and was in a foul mood and really narky when I got home. Well, today has reminded me just how much the cold gets to me so from now on I will dress properly, even if it means I look and feel like a spud with legs.
I cooked a Korean themed dinner last night for Tpa and Hic. I made my favourite dish of the moment, kimchi chigae, as well as japchae and bulgogi. I was going to make pajeon, in fact I did, only it was such a disaster that I had to chuck it. It actually tasted rather good though, but unfortunately it’s not acceptable to serve uncooked pancake at the dinner table, no matter how tasty said pancake might be. Everything else was yum! Hic had three bowls of rice, I’m secretly pleased. I think I have a pic of my japchae which I will try to upload one day.
Oh no, now I’m sad because I just found out that a gig I wanted to attend has sold out. And I’d just managed to persuade some friends to go with me as well. Sigh.
January 27, 2008
I am so excited!!! (^_____________________^)
Guess what, guess what!!!
This afternoon my mobile rang and it was a private number so I didn’t pick up, thinking it was probably some stupid sales call. But then I had a voicemail and it was someone from the Sunday Times (a reputable British newspaper) asking me to call her back. Thinking, “What can the Times possibly want with me?” I duly did so.
The line rang a couple of times, after which a lady picked up and chirped, “The Times, competitions!” At this point I was thinking, “Huh?” but it transpired that I………………….. am……………….. get this………………………. THE LUCKY WINNER OF A COMPETITION!!!!!!! *__________*
Wow!!! I’ve hardly won anything my whole life!! I’m thrilled!!
I won a trip for two to Oman! :D It’s a Middle Eastern sultanate next to Dubai.
Actually when the lady first told me I said, “Where?” and asked, “Which competition is this?” and she had to remind me what I wrote in my entry. Hehe. She said, “You wrote ‘Many people tout Hong Kong as one of the most vibrant cities in the world……..’ “, whereupon I obviously recalled that I did actually write that very line sometime ago, so I stopped her and told her I knew which competition she was referring to now. Actually I didn’t because I racked my brain and really couldn’t remember entering a competition to go to Oman of all places, but it was really weird hearing someone recite some lame thing I had written so I stopped her as quick as I could. Haha.
Anyway they must have liked it because I am the proud owner (it’s coming to me in the post) of:
- 2 return British Airways Club World (business class okay!!!) tickets to Oman
- 3 nights accommodation in a 5 star resort!!
YAY!! \(^____________________________^)/
My prize includes transfers to and from the airport and meals!
If you want to see the competition I entered, here it is. (GM says “Ya lah, ya lah, we know we didn’t win New York” LOL. But honestly, I’m glad we won Oman cos it’s somewhere we wouldn’t normally have chosen to visit ourselves whereas NY is more of a common destination, so I think it all worked out very well!)
GM is over the moon too :) We’re thinking of going for his birthday! It’s going to be fab, we’re going on Club World; no longer will we have to walk past those smug prats in the spacious, comfy seats and think, “Fucking rich bastards…….” because this time WE’ll be the fucking lucky sods!!! Ohohohohohohoho~~~ ヽ(▽ ｀)ノ♪ヽ(´▽｀)ノ♪ヽ( ´▽)ノ
In other news: our boiler’s packed up so we have no hot water nor heating in the house, the man’s coming to fix it this Friday. BUT I WON A COMPETITION!! So I don’t really care! Hahaha! （●＾U＾●）
January 16, 2008
Last year I had a happy year in general. I did lots of happy things, went to many fun events and learnt to let things go. More or less anyway. And it’s very liberating!
However, one of the things I did in the past year that I’m most proud of is being there for a friend of mine.
This friend of mine, I’ve known her, or known of her for years. But we didn’t really get talking till March 2006, thereabouts. And since then we’ve become close friends really quickly. I know from March 2006 to last year is one whole year, but she lives up in the Midlands with her family even though her husband and her are both Londoners born and bred, and they only come back to London maybe about less than 10 times a year. But despite that, we’ve managed to strike up a really good friendship to the stage where she actually felt comfortable enough to disclose a really deep secret of hers to me. This deep dark secret isn’t of the scandalous variety as in something bad she’s done, but is of the painful variety as in something horrific that’s happened to her that she’s never been able to articulate properly to anyone, not even her husband. And yet one afternoon in Marks and Spencer’s cafe over cups of hot chocolate, she told it to me.
I was, and am still very moved by this. Obviously I feel her pain, or whatever part of it that a person without first-hand knowledge of the experience she endured can feel. But besides that, I am really happy that she views me as someone whom she can pour out the feelings she’s locked in the deepest recesses of her heart to. I’m glad that I was able to help her in some small way by being the receptacle of her outpouring of grief.
Which brought me to thinking, some of my friends feel like they can confide in me and I think this is because they know I will listen and be sympathetic and non-judgmental, but I don’t think my family feel the same. Perhaps because they know me so well, to the point where they know exactly what my opinion of the news they tell me will be. And they don’t want to or are scared to face my disapproval. That’s the difference between my friends and family; even if I actually say nothing to my family, they won’t think I’m non-judgmental towards their predicament precisely because they already know full well what’s going on in my head.
Which is why I’m writing this. For all my friends and family who read this, yes I have strong opinions and I can’t help but form them in my mind quick as a flash the second I hear something. That is me. But that doesn’t mean that even if I disapprove or disagree and even if I voice my shock or horror, that I won’t support you. Everyone makes mistakes and I know this more than you can imagine. I’m not saying that you should now all rush to confide in me, but rather, keep in mind that should you at any time in your lives reach a point where you don’t think anyone would understand you and you feel all alone, then please stop feeling that way and talk to me. Because I will always be on your side. Honestly, you could murder someone and I’ll still be on your side.
January 5, 2008
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