keeps us right here

It plagues my mind and it...

The whole street probably knows whenever our family gets home because the moment we open the gates for the car to drive in, Silver starts to try to dart out and someone will be yelling,

"No!

Silver, stay!

No! 

Silver!

SILVER!"

And the other dogs on the street start barking along with our yelling.

for the changing of the guards

or else your hearts must have courage....

I just love being freshly showered with my skin moisturised and my face smelling like roses from the mask I had on a few minutes ago. Then I can wrap myself up in my comforter and read until my eyes won't stay open and I'll just roll over, switch off the light and drop into sleep.

*****

I've been working for a few months now. I can hardly believe it! Look at me, part of the employed workforce. I like where I am I think. I have to make another decision within the next week, but eh let's not dwell on that; it's  distressing to my rose-scented moment right here.

*****

So recent exciting news (for me, at least) is that I've finally got my P license...for the second time! Okay explain to you, don't care whether you want to listen or not. In 2009 I got my P license. In 2010 I left to Australia so when I completed my two-year probationary period, it was in 2011 and I was in Australia. I could have sent my license back to my mum so she could help me renew it, but I was not aware that I did not have to be physically present to renew my license. So by the time I came back to Malaysia in 2012, my license was way overdue for renewal and I had to retake the road test and the skills test (the daki bukit, side parking and three-point turn) again. I took it on Monday and passed. 

That's the story of how I needed to retake my driving test. Please don't ask me why didn't I renew during my holidays back in Malaysia, because I don't have an answer for that.

*****

I'm looking forward to this weekend! Beginning my Saturday with dimsum :) I'm also very happy tonight because I found one of my camera chargers which I thought would remain unfound until the next time someone initiated a full house spring clean. 

Have a lovely weekend!

snippet

Just had an eyebrow raising exchange with my sister. She received a Facebook message from her classmate and I read it over her shoulder. 

The message said: u done ur sivik folio already?

I glanced at my sister and said, "I guess the answer is no."

She stared at her laptop screen for a few moments before saying, "Worse. I didn't know there was work to do."

*****

And again, we appear to be in a brief period of zero blog updates. Hahaha. Oh well.

long overdue photo of new hair

fronting on me

You should already know when I walk in the door, that it ain't no use in...

I really just wanted to say two things:

Firstly, I will miss Australia's milo. 

Secondly, one thing that I really liked about reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower was the how the characters exchanged song mixes or just had the habit of making mix cds. I really love mixtapes/mixcds/playlists and no one close to me has the habit of making them. So it is kinda like living through the characters, the way I eagerly soak up the description of them and their exchange of their favourite songs.

I always think twice about updating my Facebook status. I think less when updating Twitter because I personally find that Twitter is good for random drivel that you think throughout the day...it's what Twitter is made for, I think. But sometimes it feels like something you want to say doesn't fit on Facebook nor Twitter and there's where the blog comes in handy. Okay, not sure if that makes sense.

Anyway, I thought since I am here I might as well throw in some photos. I realise that my actual posts have been far too little...I write less and instead just throw in some photos to call it an update. Keeping up a blog requires effort, man. 

*****

#1 Lunch at Cookie w Sher

 Yum.

Also yum.

#2 Obligatory photo from inside a dressing room - but with a twist.

And here's the twist: I'm wearing my own clothes. Awww yeahhhh, I went in and took a photo after trying on clothes. Take that, whoever.

#3 Breakfast with Elisa @ Sally's Kitchen

 Mocha

Mocha was normal priced but food here was expensive. AUD 7 for three slices of toast served with with butter and jam. 

And I paid for it. If I would punch myself, I would. But I wouldn't.

#4 Manchester Press

Random shot across our table of six

#5 Lavender plants

Given to our student consulting team from our client as thank you gifts :) Really made my day to receive them. Each of us received two plants. One plant for the front door and one for the back door for good luck, said the very sweet girl who works as garden coordinator.

Aaaand, I'm glad I took this photo when they were both healthy and happy. One is all wilted now. I am a poor plant caregiver.

#6 Red

*****

And yes, title this time is from Busta Rhymes. Hahaha. Stuck in my head today.

turning a page

The tops of buildings are hazy with low hanging clouds. Westpac, ANZ and Commonwealth Bank logos are blurred in this early morning mist. Yes, I am awake. And this is just how seriously messed up my body clock is. I tried to sleep early today and I fell asleep at 11:30 PM - only to wake up at 1:30 AM with no sign of falling asleep again.

It's been a blessing having my mother around for the past week. My sister is here too but she is with my cousin's family in the suburbs. Figured she'd enjoy it more there since my cousin's children are her age and they have tons of games and movies over there. 

So I'm finally done with uni. That's a really scary thought, actually. I thought that choosing to stay on an extra semester would give me that little bit of extra time to prepare myself to finally leave this chapter of my life and gorgeous Melbourne. But now that I am at the end of it, I guess I still am a bit wary. Some people just can't wait to get done with studies and move on to working life. Maybe because they need a change of pace or a different style of life or just for that sense of finally moving on with life. I can't fully grasp that yet? Like when I finished my paper today I was struck by how odd it was not to think, 'Yay! A month of rest before the next semester starts again.' but instead, 'I'm done with uni and no more tutorials and assignments and lectures and studying in the library and hanging out around uni and taking notice of the cute guys and girls around campus...'. The list just goes on.

But at the same time I know that I can't keep putting this off. And despite how much I feel like I'm not ready...I am also excited and curious as to what is next in store for me. Where will I go? What will I do? Who will be in my life and how will my life change? I've heard enough horror stories about the drastic change that work is compared to a student's life. It's true in a sense I guess, but I also want to remember that life is what you make of it. Listening to stories that make working life out to be the absolute pits isn't going to be helping anyone. So yeah, enjoy uni cause student life is a joke and it's hilarious and it's fun and it's exciting and it's when you have boundless energy and free time to run about doing a million and one things. But don't be afraid of the next chapter. (Self-pep talk, go YY go.)

I keep thinking to myself, 'Oh I'm not ready! I don't know how to be an adult!'

Guess what. I don't think anyone will always be READY for every single thing in life. Sure, you can get ready for an exam, or get ready to run a full marathon or get ready to go for dinner, but some things just require you to say goodbye to the your comfort zone and step across. And as for being an adult? I don't think everyone feels ready to be an adult. You bumble into independence wondering what the hell you're doing and feeling like you're screwing things up and not getting stuff done in time...but one day you'll be paying bills, servicing your car, doing your own taxes, paying the down payment of your first apartment or house. I don't think people can pinpoint the time they became 'adults'. What they might be able to pinpoint though, is that moment that they realised that they've been adults for awhile now.

So yeah, this has been a wordy post. I guess it's just me blurting out my thoughts about turning to a new chapter in my life.  Also, my body clock is screwed up so at 4:48 AM I'm not even a bit sleepy... and I've just got to find something to do. Product: word diarrhoea. Look, I spelled diarrhoea right the first time! See, small steps into adulthood.

against the earth

Lie for a while, with your ear...

Look!

I've been wanting red heels for ages now. Then about two weeks ago Sher tells me she's considering buying a pair of heels from eBay. And when she showed me them...I fell in love immediately. I've never thought to look for red heels with buckles. It gives the shoes a Mary-Jane-all-grown-up look. Hot red, but still cute.

Minor issue with it is that one side was slightly unstable. Oh well that's the drawback of buying online, but if you've got a good seller, you can easily get another pair or a refund. I'm getting a new pair soon.

That above is my Cupcake Sweater, as Ping has dubbed it. When I took it out to show Sher, she told me that she has another sweater of a different design but with the same colours as mine! Even the arrangement of colours was the same. I got this sweater in Shanghai. I was wandering around without any real intention to buy anything while everyone else was shopping. Came across this hanging in a shop selling jumpers. I couldn't resist. I had to have it.

Yes, my hair was so messy and unkempt, I pulled off the hobo look effortlessly. Hobo who collects change to buy Chatime.

*****

I'm leaving Melbourne in a month's time. Leaving for good. I am very very sad about this. I will miss you, Melbourne. So much. I will miss your weather, your street style, your coffee, your gorgeous laneways and quirky cafes, your bicycles, your dodgy suburbs, your trams. Everything lah. Not to mention you're keeping one of my bestest friends here, among many other friends I will truly and dearly miss.