A Serial Monogamist and an Insomniac.
That's all you need to know.





Thursday, November 12, 2009





Find your FaceDouble. What do you think eh? Just one of those applications on Facebook...don't mind me...




3:22 AM

Wednesday, November 11, 2009




My PGDE Posse.


Power lunches.


@ the ever trusty place for good food and good company, Al-Majlis.



The reason/s as to why I'm having a blast in NIE. Studying has never been so fun and enriching (literally).



Our drama-mama Grace with Sam.






Mates from different classes :)



English Class with Dr. Lawrence Zhang.



3 hours break = Planning for Batam, Chocolates, Girl Talk.







Afternoon Nap.



Insane craving for strawberries with thick cream&icing, Brie/Emmental/Camembert cheese with crackers and chocolates with roasted almonds. This warrants a trip to the store.




4:38 PM




Was thinking about love, relationships and all that comes with it...and I suddenly had an epiphany of sorts-
There are people that you spend your youth with; then there are people that you spend your life with.

So with whom and at which stage are you?

*

My classmates are crazy. After a seafood excursion to JB on Monday, they're now planning a Batam trip for this Thursday! Talk about efficient planning and impromptu plans at its best. That's why I love 'em!

It's tempting to splurge my cash (seafood and massages!) and just GO for the Batam getaway BUT. I've got-

(1) the KL trip (12th-14th Dec)
(2) Engagement (27th Dec), and
(3) my 11-days Jogjakarta-Solo-Bandung trip (30th Dec-9th Jan)


All the above will require an exorbitant amount of funding and until I curb my hedonistic tendencies, I'll probably have to declare myself bankrupt at the start of the new calendar.


Decisions decisions.




1:13 AM

Tuesday, November 10, 2009




A huge fight and a smashed I-phone later.....


Nora Bella says:
I'll lend u my LG phone. When do you want it?

shahran says:
When u are not mad at me.

Nora Bella says:
I love you more than I can be mad at u.
I dont want u phoneless.
How am I gona continue fighting with u?

shahran says:
hahahaha

Nora Bella says:
:)
come here
now now


shahran says:
why must u make me laff at times like this??


Nora Bella says:
Because I'm sorry for all the mean things I said.





1:08 AM

Sunday, November 08, 2009




What happened to my idea of an engagement for "close friends and family"? I really don't see the need to invite people whom I've not talked to/met up with for the last 3-5 months and people I see only once a year for Eid. Oh yeah okay, maybe at weddings too. That ups the count of meet-ups to what.... thrice a year?


Why are we talking about this? Because I really don't see the need to invite an extra number of people (that I barely know) for my engagement party. Simple as that. The engagement's an informal ceremony. Between my family and his. We exchange gifts, our families discuss details of the wedding, and at the end of the day, we mingle, eat and laugh. If I had my way, I would have invited only the family (my parents' siblings/aunts&uncles) and my CLOSEST friends and by this definition- people who are updated with the latest in my life, people I go out with on a regular basis, people I call my dearest and closest. "Close friends and family", that's the definition isn't it?


If you think I should invite distant relatives from this side of the family, and that side of the family, this aunt because she's your father's cousin's sister's daughter etc, SAVE THAT FOR THE WEDDING. I'm not saying I don't like these people, fact is I know them too little to pass judgement. Neither am I saying we shouldn't invite them at all. What I'm saying is, I don't see the need to invite people I barely know for THIS INFORMAL engagement. I want to make it a small affair, for and with my closest friends and family.


But somehow, people think this is blasphemous. "How can you not invite this grandaunt?? That uncle? This aunty??" Well let me ask you something. For instance, when that grandaunt's granddaughter got engaged, were YOU invited? No. The invitation extended only to the elders in the family. So my point is, if they're fine with not inviting every bloodline in the family tree, and we didn't mind not being invited, I don't think they would mind either. Again, "close friends and family".


I understand my stance is putting the parents in a tight spot. They understand where I'm coming from, and they agree with me. On the other hand, they're expected to conform to the usual way of doing things, even if it means inviting people we barely see more than 5 times in 12 months.


SO. To pull my parents out of this delicate situation, fine. Have it your way. Invite whoever you want. Because afterall, though this is MY engagement, my opinions don't count do they? Even though I've said we should just invite them for the wedding itself, the big day, THE day.... it's not enough.


We must always do what has always been done.


p/s: To anyone who reads this here, if you're not invited for the engagement, I hope you understand. Sorry but I'd rather be cut-throat in my decisions and honest to myself. We're just not close enough.




1:51 PM

Saturday, November 07, 2009




If everything goes as planned.......

Bandung, Solo and Jogjakarta in January! It's a good thing school resumes only on the 11th of Jan for me. We'll beat the December-holiday crowd and when everyone else is trudging back to work after New Year, I'll be touring Indonesiaaaaa. Yeah son.

Oh, and the KL extended family trip from the 12th to 14th of Dec. Can't wait for that.

And of course, the 27th of December. No guesses why ;)




3:29 PM

Thursday, November 05, 2009




Warden: The part of the brain that remembers dance steps is also the anger center. So, juveniles who know how to fox trot are 10% less likely to commit a double homicide.

Bart: Who conducted this study?

Warden: The Institute of Shut Your Fat Face!


- The Simpson, "The Wandering Juvie"



Hahahahaha.


But I do wonder if it's true. Hmm.




3:06 AM

Wednesday, November 04, 2009




Happy 25th Anniversary Mum & Dad!

<3 you two to bits :)




11:53 PM

Monday, November 02, 2009




I think everybody should just listen to songs by Lydia and mellow out, everyday. For a higher level of catharsis, plug them in on rainy days/nights and when spending time with your partner at the back of his/her car. Just the two of you.... and Lydia. I might have the boyfriend in front of me but Lydia oh sweet Lydia.....how you tease.


Being up at this time of the night always makes me a tad reflective. And tonight (starting a sentence with a conjunction? Oh what would your old English teacher say!)... where was I, oh yeah, tonight, I reckon I'll be reflecting on the human condition. Specifically, MY condition.


My condition, as at 2:19 am on the 2nd of Nov year 2009, is one of physical pain. Caused none other than the monthly gift that we women are bestowed with. Ladies, put your middle finger up if you know what I'm talking about.


Don't get your briefs in a bunch men, no blood will be spilled in this entry. We girls have it under control.


I've been moodswinging the whole day. A fatal concoction, when coupled with a tiff with the mother, a pile of work to do, unpredictable weather, CRAMPS, and the dreaful realisation you get knowing it's the end of another weekend. But the point of this entry, is how I think I'm learning(finally?) to control the mad monthly swings. Too often, the people closest will be the ones to suffer the first and deadliest blow. As much as I felt like snapping at the boyfriend when he called, I didn't...but it required SO MUCH effort! I was suddenly overwhelmed by a load of... annoyance, anger. Snappish, snarling anger. A little voice inside my head got in a state of panic- "Where;s all these anger coming from??". I had to resort to switching my phone off for abit to calm myself lest (lest??seriously??) I snap his head off for calling to ask if I'm feeling better.



Sigh. This monthly issue makes us women sound like a pack of werewolves, doesn't it? Wait for the cycle, show us the moon, and you've got a bitch snapping at your heels. You men who stick it out with us cycle after cycle after cycle deserve a medal of courage. Bless you.


Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be off to my cave, tending to my cramps with a hot water bottle.


Writer's note: Words in italics and brackets are remarks made by the writer's slightly cynical alter-ego.




1:55 AM

Sunday, November 01, 2009




Rules may be made to be broken; but deadlines are not. There's a place and time for everything- Work before Leisure. Don't procrastinate and be an inconvenience to others, especially in a group project. Urgh.

Do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do. Always.




2:17 PM

Saturday, October 31, 2009




Social Interview via Facebook.


"Do you have any recurring dreams?"

''Yes. (1) Always at the foot of the Sphinx in Egypt, in an adventure/discovery thingy of sorts.Very indiana jones-ish.

(2) A long passageway of doors in a big, wooden hall, with a fountain. I'm always running and opening the doors. Sometimes it's a shower area behind the door, other times I'll open the door and find people in there. Most times though, I'm always just walking or running along the corridor."



"If you could time travel once to any date in the future, where/when would you go?"

''10 years down the road. Hopefully I'll be happily married and living in Ghana with Shahran, doing documentaries and teaching English to the people there. ''



"Would you rather be rich or famous?"

''Rich. Don't care much about Fame...just gimme my $ and I'll mind my own biz. ''



My usual 'Superb Saturday Sleep-In' was divine. Conked out for 10 hours straight. Too damn tired from a week's worth of school, yesterday's dinner with the always fabulous ELKS+Ben (have a safe trip to Taipei!) and Shahran's gig @ Syed Alwi Rd.

Hoping to finish all my assignments by tonight so I can play tomorrow. It's surprisingly wonderful how talking and mingling with people you wouldn't usually talk to can be pretty enlightening. You learn new things about other countries, other cultures, the otherwise "normal" way of doing things... and it's really refreshing.


So here's a Saturday 'Cheers!' to networking/mingling @ gigs and parties. Lunch by my wonderful mother awaits, so here I shall bid you goodbye.





2:14 PM

Tuesday, October 27, 2009




I got my "best friend" today..... You know what they say.... ;)









:*




12:27 AM

Sunday, October 25, 2009




To save up for, for the next 3 years:

(1) Wedding + Apartment (dinner parties wooohoo)

(2) A yellow bicycle

(3) London


Big plans = < Shopping + < Indulgences. Oh if only it's that easy!




3:57 PM

Saturday, October 24, 2009




Quote of the night from 'Teachers' Night Out'-

"I love Marc Jacobs. Jewish and gay? FABULOUS."
- THE drama-mama Grace Khoo.

Couldn't agree more.

That said, cradling the Fall/Winter '09 Doc Marts(one of the only 2 pairs in SIN City!) before bed chases the monsters away.




11:57 PM

Monday, October 19, 2009




Spent the entire weekend partying and now I feel guilty like fcuk. Granted it has been ages since I've had a WHOLE WEEKEND partying, not thinking about/doing work, and while the hedonistic side of me says I deserved a break....here I am still feeling guilty and rushing assignments on the go. FML.

But anyway, here are photos from the weekend to be preserved in this humble blog for future storytelling to children and grandchildren.


Weekend Shenanigans.

p/s: there are tons of food photos.


The Birthday Duo.


Midnight.


Glad you made it!


Relek one corner, macam tak tahu.



Grillaz Killaz.


Closest I could get to a Harry Potter character- Mad Eye Moody!



ELKS.



Birthday girl with cake.


Magic Carpet on grass.





Beatty-cians.


We look smashingly happy!



Juno refused to depart with her bag. Even carried it to the grill.


And herein starts my weekend indulgence. Cocktail hour.


Melts in the mouth. Poached chicken.


Sea Bass, Chicken, Salmon.








Off to Arab St. for supper...


:*





High tea.










These were GOOD.







* * *


I've come to realize the danger of loving someone, making him your life partner, spending the rest of your lives together. Spending the rest of your life loving..... and worrying. Worrying about trivial things like sickness and death, marring the perfect picture you've crafted in your head of your lives together.

I looked at you, you with your eyes closed and I felt fear. If something were to happen to you, if you were to go, what would I do? What would I do? I've planned to give my entire life devoted to you, living with you, cooking for you, seeing the world next to you. I've made plans in my head for us and you know I can't live without a 'to do ' list with little check-boxes by the side. What if yours is a box I never want to tick?

It's tricky, this marriage business...I'm not even talking about infidelity. Every night I go to sleep with the fear that when I wake up, you won't be there anymore. What would I do then?

I'm exceptionally bad at handling deaths and the mere thought of adding one more to the list is... unbearable. When you love somebody and decide to devote your entire life together, it adds to the number of people you love that you know will die and leave you one day. Don't tell me what I already know...death is inevitable. But that doesn't make us anymore prepared, does it?


But even while writing this down, I guess I already know the answer and what I am to do. Despite my worries, my constant fear of death and losing people I love, I will still be here living, toughing it out with and for you. Living with a purpose, despite knowing it's fatality.


Is that then the Purpose, the Meaning of life?






9:04 PM

Sunday, October 11, 2009




You know you've read too much Harry Potter when a blackout happens in your house, and you--- pick up your cell (imagining it's a wand), press a button for light, and shout 'LUMOS!'




9:54 PM