ONE WHOLE YEAR

Photo by Monika Grzybowska

So, I guess the best way to start my first entry of 2011 (oops..) would be with a picture. The picture above says it all. It was taken during my graduation film shoot and pretty much summarize my whole of 2011.

This year has been a busy year despite the initial thought that it will be kinda a break as a student. NO, I was very wrong..being a student is not easy at all. Following schedules, attending lectures and chasing deadlines...I totally forgotten all that.

For those who hasn't been updated, I started my MA in Filmmaking beginning of this year at Goldsmiths Uni. I made the decision last year when I submit my application and then got accepted. It was one year, and I thought I should take the opportunity.

Started the course in January, shot my first 2 min project in March, followed by a non-dialogue project in May. Had some kind of a break in July/Aug, although I spent most of the time in Uni preparing for my graduation film. It was very stressful but well worth the effort and time put in.

Despite the full time study schedule, I was lucky enough to squeeze some travelling into it. I went to Copenhagen for 3 days to celebrate Steffan's birthday with him. It was really nice to see Marian and David there as well since it was almost a year ago since we last met.

In July, we went to Barcelona. I have missed out Spain totally in my two years of travelling, so I made it a point that I must visit Spain this year. Barcelona is very pretty, has that 'vintage' air to it. However, we not only experience the aesthetic values of the city, we were also unfortunate enough to experience the typical Barcelona's visit story; we got picked pocket on the first day of arrival before we even step foot into the hotel. Sighhh...Luckily though (not really), we did not let the unfortunate event spoil our entire holiday...

For my birthday, Steffan brought me to Dublin. It was a very good short break. It took me away from sitting in front of the computer whole day, replying emails and making phone calls negotiating. Dublin is alright as a city, I wish we had more time to go outside the city though. Well, this gives us a reason to go back! :)

Yeah, I nearly forgot :p, I had a birthday BBQ surprise too...Had a beautiful delicious cake and close friends over to celebrate my birthday this year! Lots of great news this year as well, many of my close friends are pregnant and one couple getting married!

After my birthday, I was just busy with my film...back to emailing, phone calling and drafting paperworks. Now that the principle shoot is over, I have only one more essay to write and THAT'S IT for this year!

Hmm, thats my year in summary..Haha..oh well, I will post some pictures to illustrate some of the events.

So, NEXT adventure!!

It's me..actually swimming....:)

So, I had almost accepted the fact that I will never going to be able to swim this lifetime...based on my failure in learning before. However, it is also something I felt like it's a NEED to be able to swim...and thought, I should really just pay and give it another try, which I did. One of the things to do in Malaysia which I really wanted to do when I got back was to learn swimming...so, this video is basically a record of me swimming for the first time...I am still a bit wobbly and not very confident yet, but I will get there one day. :) I am very happy with myself...:)

It's never too late to learn...and don't give up trying!! :)

A blink of an eye, and it's end of October!!

Oh man...!! Like how lil Georgie would say...It's almost November and my last entry was April..haha...So, how have I used up my last 6 months...Major change..would be me back in Malaysia!!

It was a mixed feeling to be home. Well, I was weather shocked and price shocked at first..It took me quite awhile to accept that Malaysia is HOT and EXPENSIVE! Was definitely nice to see my family and friends...and the food of cos!!

Was lucky to get a job pretty quickly, otherwise it would be tough. Worked for a month and then made a trip to Phuket to see the kids. Although it was only 4 days, it was worth it...during the trip I also experienced on of the most beautiful sunset ever...by Surin beach. Both me and See Ming were mesmerised by it!!

Followed by Steffan's visit to Malaysia!! Yeay....was so happy to see him. It was 2 months plus since I left the UK, and all this while we had kept in touch through emails and skype. Brought him around to have a local taste of Malaysia. Glad that he is adventurous enough to try all the hawkers' food and like them...all except durians. Hehe..can't blame him, there are Malaysians who can't take them either. We also managed to squeeze some time out to make a short trip to Bali, which was very nice as well.

And yes, not to forget my Birthday!! Had a few gatherings for my birthday this year....cut a few cakes..haha...

Last but definitely not least..I AM SWIMMING!! Because this is such a big deal in my life, I will write one entry just for it..:)

It's SPRING in every way...:)

It's Spring....walking down the streets amongst all the blossoming flowers is just a wonderful feeling. I am smiling every waking hours..and grateful to have the joy I feel in my heart this season.

So, since my last entry, I have visited Rome and Lisbon. Rome didnot give me a good first impression on my first day of arrival but I got used to its mess after spending some time walking around the city and learnt to appreciate its amazing history. Lisbon is interesting...tried the famous Portuguese tarts in Belem. :) It was really more of a eating trip than a visiting trip...hehe

But as much as travelling is an exciting part of my current life, this chapter of my life is made extra wonderful by the fact that I met Steffan about a month and 6 days ago. :) Just before we met, I was wondering if the butterflies in the stomach feeling does really exist or is it just another mere falling in love ideals? I asked a few friends the same question I had at that time and received two kinds of responses. They were...YES, there is no such things in real life and NO, if you don't feel the butterflies, then he is not the right one. So I was left with no conclusion. Then I met Steffan. As cliche as it sounds, I had a funny feeling thinking about him after the first few dates...and it was a good funny feeling..:) We just clicked! And the fact that we could spend time just walking and talking without having a real destination and still enjoying each other's company, made me smile. I am still smiling...:)

So, YES...I think I am in love....:) It is SPRING IN EVERY WAY...LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL...:)

It's March!!

OMG..it's March...how did that happen? I have to say, in the last 2 months..I did quite a bit..of travelling..n a lot has happened too...:)

I went to Iceland in January...which was great cos it was one of the more adventurous trips which I did. Went snowmobiling on one of the glaciers, also..went to walk on the ice of another glacier...and Iceland is not as cold as I was told...it was jst like London when I went (mid-january)..In fact, there was no snow in the Reykjavik but snowing in London at that time. Then, went away in February for two weeks..to Venice, Florence and Switzerland...saw the Carnivale and Il David in Florence..which was the highlight of Florence for me! hehe....then, had a taste of skiing in Lenzerheide..n a truly relaxing holiday of 8 days..:)

So, Chinese New Year came n gone. I didnt have much of CNY this year unfortunately, just managed to go to Chinatown to see some lion dance and had dim sum with my friends..thats about it..oh, and thanks to my friends mum, I got some kuih kapit..hehe...

I have been wanting to put up my resolutions since beginning of this year..but just couldn't find the time! So, I told myself today that I MUST put it up..if not, there's not much point anymore..haha...

These would be my resolutions for 2010:

1. MAKE THE BEST OF EVERYDAY.
2. SPEND MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
3. LOVE GENEROUSLY.
4. TRAVEL AT LEAST 8 COUNTRIES.
5. READ AT LEAST 10 BOOKS.
6. FINISH 3 PAINTINGS.
7. ONE SHORT FILM.
8. EAT HEALTHIER.

I have also been thinking about my future...it's at the junction again..where I have to decide..n make choices..which I am really bad at..So, made some applications for a masters course..please help pray that I get an offer..

On another more personal note, I have also learnt something, when there's no sparks..u can't create it..!

so..what's next? :)

NEW YEAR, new journey...

Today is officially the first day of 2010...I thought I would be able to make at least one entry in December 2009 but I didn't have the time. So, I have to write on the first day of the new year...:)

For the eve of 2009.., the 31st Dec 2008, I was in company with some new friends at Blackfriars Bridge for the New Year's countdown...and at the stroke of midnight, all we could see was just some coloured sky behind a building...yeah, we were waiting at the wrong bridge.!! lol...so, yesterday, I thought I have to at least see it from the right bridge this year..to make it up for the previous one, but in the end me and my friends decided to actually see on the tv screen. Funny thing was we were there, in front of the London Eye where the main fireworks are supposed to be at about 10pm. I guess it was partly of the cold weather, the crowd and the view from where we were wasn't all that great. After about 15 minutes walking amidst the unbelievable huge amount of people..we all agreed to make our way back to watch it on the TV screen. So, we started walking from the Embankment station and slowly looking for the next closest working tube station to catch the tube back to South Kensington. (most of the tube and buses are stopped for a few hours before and after midnight). We walked and walked and walked and finally.....the closest was actually Green Park. For those of you who knows London well, that's quite a long walk...lol..Anyway, all we were hoping for was to actually get back in time to see the fireworks on screen...and phewww...luckily, we did!! Just 10 minutes before midnight, we managed to gather in front of Aurelie's tv! :) Although we weren't there at the actual place, I think the decision to leave was a good one in the end..so, after that, we just had drinks and chit chat..and learning how to swear in different languages..lol..since we were all from different nationalities..we had Korean, Japanese, French, Pakistani and Malaysian of cos..lol..and I actually can't think of a phrase in Malay to teach them...can anyone help? :p

I had some good fun for beginning of 2010, although I was quite disappointed with someone..:( I thought it wouldn't bother me much, but unfortunately it did, and that I actually teared on the bus on the way home at abt 4.30am. So who is he? erm..Sometime mid of December, I kinda met someone whom I share quite a lot in common with. I don't know what's in store for us, but I will see it in a very optimistic view and hope for the best because I believe in fate and that we met for a reason...

2009 had been a great year for me...so I will need a lot of effort and luck to make 2010 a better year! and I know it will be!! Looking forward to it...:) BRING IT ON 2010!! It will be amazing!!!

some pics to share!

guess which one is my salope? ...lol

Truly Happy at Heart...

I thought I should record this date down..not today as I am typing now, but yesterday, the 11th November. I woke up in the morning like usual, and hopped on a bus to work..everything was ordinary..weather wasn't great either. However, I was feeling truly happy..the sort of happiness you feel when you are in love and that you don't really understand why you are smiling. I was sitting in the bus, looking out from the windows and listening to some music...smiling silly. I paused once in awhile in between those feelings just to question myself why am I feeling sooo...'contented'?

After awhile, I thought to myself...stop analysing..just BE....and I did. I shared what I felt yesterday with a few friends, and I concluded that, maybe it's just the current situation where I am now, I am happy with my job, happy with the time I have for myself, happy with the friends I made, not earning alot but enough to enjoy simple nice things in life..am not chasing anything...

Moments like this don't come everyday..I hope everyone would be able to experience this feeling at least once in their life...oh well..next, I wanna be in love...:p