Friday 30 November 2007

one month diary

I don’t mean to gloat but...


I’ve completed my two month’s APC diary. Woohooo!!!!

I still haven’t told AD yet, lest he will sulk at and not speak to me.

Still, I’ve finished two months of the diary.

I’m so pleased with it.

I remembered last week I was quite concerned about finishing the one month’s diary. Then I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish it. I will just try to finish one month and sit on the other one for a while. But, I did it! I finished it!

Earlier this week, I was quite worried about how am I going to fill the diary for the month of October. I was wondering what I stories I have to make up.

I find it a bit difficult trying to remember what I did in October. So I went through my Outlook Calendar. Sadly the Calendar was rather empty and having ‘Furniture Delivery’ and ‘BT Engineer’ on it didn’t help much.

After flaffing about a bit, I found a rather ingenious way to solve my problems.

I went through my Inbox and Sent Items. Everyday I spend quite a fair amount of time on the computer. The mails did help a lot trying to piece the picture together.

In the end, I am so please with the results.

Now I just have to reschedule my APC Date Planner and inform my Supervisor and Counsellor of the changes and arrange for a meeting.

Happy St. Andrews Day, btw!

schoolnightout

Met up with TS last night.

It is always good to see him.

Reminds me of all the great times we had together. Good and bad.

Reminds me of how good a friend he is to me.

Reminds me of how good our friendship is.

Was annoyed that I got caught in the traffic to meet TS. We were supposed to meet at Borders. It didn’t help that it was peak hour, plus since it was late night shopping Thursday and it is reaching up to Christmas, the traffic was heavier than usual. The bus was sitting in the traffic for quite a while.

I finally gave up waiting, got off the bus and walked to Borders.

When I arrived at Borders, it was interesting to know there were quite a number of people waiting outside in front of Borders for their friends/someone.

We had our little walkie around Glasgow. And boy, do I miss our walkies.

TS always amaze me with his vast knowledge of buildings in a city. He knows so much about the space, the architect, the history, what it looks like how many years ago, etc etc.

It was a great night of catching up.

After our wee walk, we had a nice meal at Mings in Princes Square. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We had the Special Combination Platter for starter, I had the Thai Seafood Combination Green Curry with boiled rice, and he had the Coconut Black Pepper Crispy King Prawn with fried rice.

We later headed back towards the Merchant City to the Beer Café as there was a jazz band performing.

It was really nice. Haven’t really been to anything like this for a long time. Or as long as I can remember.

We were both very tired but sitting there listening to the good music and just relaxing there, it was just so good.

I was sitting there reflecting on a lot of things that has happened in my life. Thinking about the past, present and future.

Being one who doesn’t drink beer very often I had a pint of Kirin beer, a glass of G&T and tried half a pint of cheery beer. The Kirin beer was very refreshing. I thought I wanted another pint when I first had a sip of it but then a pint was quite a lot when you have it with a meal. The cherry beer was something new. It has a little cherry tardiness to the taste but very unique, fragrant and refreshing. I would definitely have it again.

When the performance was over, we headed up to George Square to catch the bus home. George Square is beautifully lighted up with its flickering Christmas lights.

After packing up for the trip up the road today, I went to bed at 1am.

It was very naughty of me. Going out and coming back late on what TOH calls, a ‘school night’.

I didn’t want to get up this morning and had to take the later train to work. And since it is a Friday, I will be going off early before 4pm to catch the train up north. What a skivey day!

Looking forward to a fantastic weekend.

Thursday 29 November 2007

the big move: part one

This posting is long overdue.

After more than a month of flaffing and fussing about looking for a flat, I finally found a place.

And as much as I said in one of my earlier post before the move, that I will have a full on packing weekend, that, in reality did not happened.

What did happened was, I didn’t do any packing on Friday. I ended up leaving it for Saturday, I just wanted to spend time with TOH after getting off the bus.

I started some packing on Saturday when TOH was away at work. Yes, it was SOME, because I spent most of the time online and other time on the phone chatting with people.

When he came back, he was like, ‘what did you packed?!’

Then Sunday, the day before the planned move, I woke up and started packing.

I’ve arranged for some things which TOH can help me packed.

Yeah, I know I’m that bad. I’m so fussy that I have to put aside some things that he can do for me.

Those who know me, knows that I can be very pedantic about things and can possibly be very pathetic many a times, yes, I know. It was proven during this time. We had a wee incident with packing the computer speakers, which TOH will bring it up now and again, just to remind me of how pathetic I can get.


I know TOH was very kind and wanted to help, but I did not want to bombard him with too much work either. I mean, I don’t really know the guy very well and we only started going out not long at that time.

So, whilst TOH was sitting on the couch, I brought him this pile of glassware: my collection of glasses: wine glasses, pint glasses, glass serving dishes, etc. Then there was also a pile of tableware.

Halfway through wrapping up the items, TOH can’t help commenting how much kitchen stuff I have, and that was just the tableware, not inclusive of kitchen utensils and foodstuff!

And yes, I have to admit it was JUST things from the kitchen.

By the time we had everything (or rather, almost everything) packed TOH can't help commenting (again!) how much shite I have!

It has now caught on that whatever things/rubbish/nonesense that I have (or he or we have) we call them shite, unless it is totally and utterly necessary or essential.

Anyways, I managed to get TOH to go for his weekly visit to his dad’s. So I had some time alone packing.

It was then I realised that I had so much stuff that I still haven’t managed to pack!

Panic was settling in. And I mean real panic.

I. Was. Moving. The. Next. Day!

But there is just so much more that I haven’t pack yet!!!

I didn’t realise that I have so much stuff!!! There was so much storage space for a small flat like what I had, that I didn’t KNOW I have so SO much things!!! (Okay, I do know, but didn’t expect..)

TOH texted me a few times but I just told him that I was fine. Which I was actually not but I didn’t want him to worry. And I know I can do it. I have to. I didn’t have much of a choice.

It was my fault anyways.

So I kept me head down and keep on pushing and ploughing my way through. Remembering to breathe. I think I was close to having an epileptic fit. Okay, maybe I exagerrated a bit. But I did find it hard to breathe.

By the time he came back, I had made quite a bit of progress. Just quite.

Being the emotional me, I can’t help shedding some tears too.

We had some interesting conversation about life while packing. Which was good. I always love our conversations. Which, I shall leave it to another posting.

Thankfully, TOH has been helping me accumulate boxes over the weeks prior to the move.

I had some boxes but had TOH not got me those boxes week by week, I think I may just have a panic attack gathering boxes. In fact, we were looking for boxes up until the actual move!

There were these really nice people in the Co-Op on Holborn Street that gave us a couple of collapsible crates. I can’t help saying to TOH that we should come in the middle of the night and get more if we want. Hehehe…

Don’t worry, we didn’t.

In the end we had to hunt for more boxes, wine boxes to be exact.

Psychologically, one will think that wine boxes are strong, after all, they were used to carry those heavy wine bottles in them.

I particularly needed them because, sadly, I have about 30 odd bottles of wine and whatnots bottle of things. Don't you dare start with me being an alchie.

By the end of Sunday night, I think we had almost everything packed. We left some to be packed on Monday and the last remaining to be packed on Tuesday.

Wednesday 28 November 2007

winter sonata

I think I've decided to give up on Freeview, at least for now.

After all those annoyance, and even after DetJA came and have a look at my handiwork, I still can't get Freeview. *sigh*

Like I said, I think I've decided to give up.

Maybe I need an internal booster aerial.

So I thought I will just settle for council tv (a.k.a. terrestrial tv) instead. BBC1, BBC2, ITV (not the clearest), Channel 4 and Channel 5 (the fuzziest).

I was somewhat chuffed with having Channel 4 compared to not having Freeview.

However, two weeks ago, Channel 4 decided to die on me.

*sigh*

Now, I managed to live 'contently' without Channel 4. Just barely.

Last night while going through my things I found I have the 'Winter Sonata' series.

Yes, it is that Korean series.

Yes, it has been ages.

And yes, those who know, it is not mine.



As far as I know, Winter Sonata was once this huge drama series.

When the hype was on back in Malaysia, I was away in UK. And all I heard is this hype about this Winter Sonata series.

It was like 'Winter Sonata this' and 'Winter Sonata that'.

When I was back in KL working, a colleague of mine lent me her set of the series. So I happily took home to watch.

More like I took home to collect dust.

Before I left the company, my collegaue said I could keep the set instead. How kind of her!

During my last trip home, I decided to bring it over so I can watch it during my free time. Sadly, it sat somewhere and collected dust as well.

Tonight, there wasn't much to watch on tv so I thought why not.

I've only watch the first episode but it has captured my heart already.

As much as I said to myself after watching a few episodes of it in the past, that I will brush up my Korean, I never really did progress much.

Fortunately, I could still understand some of the Korean spoken in the drama. Sadly, my chinese reading ability of the chinese subtitles wasn't much help.

It was like 'read, read, read, read, blank, blank, read, read, blank, read'. Or 'read, read, read, blankblankblankblank, read, read'.

This is when imagination does come in handy.

It is interesting how drama series play with the viewer's mind. But that is what make us all hunger for it and want more of it.

It can be very corny and sappy. And sadly, like the mug that I am, I am falling for the drama and plot, hook, line and sinker.

My sister Su-Anne has warned me about the typical Korean drama plot. And as much as I'm trying not to spoil the next few episodes and the ending, I can't help have this presumption of what is going to happened next.

Wait a minute, is that not the same with any series?!

Oh well, I'm a sucker for things like that. It keeps me entertained. *bleah*

Sadly, I'm actually looking forward to the next episode. And the episode after that. And the episode after that after that...

intelligent

One of my PMs came and told me that someone from the Contractor said I'm very intelligent.

^__^

*shyshy*

Tuesday 27 November 2007

christmas preparations

It is 27 days to Christmas. Woohoo!!!

But I find myself being somewhat rather unorganised here.

Maybe I’m just complacent. I don’t know.

I must have mentioned this before, that there are some dates that are more important to me than others.

My birthday, my other half’s birthday, Valentine’s Day (mug!), anniversaries and Christmas.

And as usual, I still haven’t had my cards, gifts and decoration organised.

I roughly know what I want to be doing. But I haven’t really put them into action.

I think I’ve got enough cards to send out. I think and I hope. Bought a box of cards over the weekend and I have a good collection of leftover cards from the years before.

They are nice cards mind you!

I need to think of what I’m going to send out and within the country.

Royal Mail as usual have their
recommended posting date out months ago.

I should really have all my cards and presents (if any) sent out by beginning of December. At least I can assure that my recipients will have enough time to receive and reciprocate, where needed.

I’m very bad at this. People are nice enough to send me things but I always don’t have the time (excuses due to bad time management) to send them back something. *Smacks hand*


Then there is the thing about thinking what to get people.

Should I or should I not get something?

What should I get?


And all those questions.

Yes, I do realise that Christmas (shopping) started in August. Yes! August! I saw them with my very own eyes!!!

It’s getting earlier and earlier.

And I think I heard Christmas songs played two weeks ago! Uh huh.. you heard it right.

Forget about Halloween.

Forget about St. Andrews Day.

Forget about whatever else and focus all your effort on Christmas.

Anyways, getting out of topic as usual…

Oh yes, Christmas starts in August… and yet, I have not got any Christmas thing organised.

At least I know where I’m going to spend it and who I’m going to spend it with. The rest are a rough idea…

Still, since ‘Christmas’ starts so early, you would think that everyone have everything organised?

You’ve guessed wrong.

The last minute buying frenzy will reach up until the very last minute of whatever store closes on the eve of Christmas. People will go and buy their things last minute. And if they can’t get what they want, they get nasty. Ooooh yes, they do.

There are two groups of people. I think there are a group that push aside the notion of anything Christmas until mid November or even December up to Christmas Eve itself. And the other group that is so super organised and have everything organised since the day after Christmas!

I fall somewhere in between.


I must confess that I will think about Christmas and what I would like to do about it. But only action on it at a rather later date.

Again, if you want reasons, I can give you a plenty!

There will be some baking involved this year and I hope to get it done as soon as possible. The Christmas cake needs time to mature.

And since I won’t be in Glasgow for Christmas plus I don’t have a car to transport a live tree, I will just put up the artificial tree that I found in the store cupboard. I hope it will be in good condition. Yeah, I know, I’m such a snob…



Luckily I don’t really have to prepare Christmas meal so it’s not that bad. But it won’t be too bad either since I enjoy cooking.

Monday 26 November 2007

LBD

I’ve mentioned many times that it is great to be in my position. And since I like the social scene, which whenever I am up for, I had to think of something to wear to the work’s Christmas Dinner as well as my company’s Christmas Lunch the very next day.

Thus it is not surprising that the season of LBD - Little Black Dress is upon us. But I have to be difficult as usual. Well, more like, I don't want the boring usual LBD, so I'm going for something not from that genre.

I’ve seen this really nice dress in Jane Norman that I’ve been eying on for a long time. Tried it for size and it looks great. One thing I love about the dress is that there is a good support in the dress unlike most tube dress(?) or shoulderless dress(?) - whatever you call them.



I also saw a nice dress on a leaflet in store but I couldn’t see it in store. Maybe it was there all along but I just can’t see it.

So I thought, I will go online and find that dress before I make a decision which dress to buy.

Yes, I know it is such an excuse to buy new clothes.

Today I finally went online to look for Jane Norman’s website.

I was quite disappointed that they don’t sell clothes online and whatever they have online is just a handful of what they have in store.

I normally just walk pass Jane Norman racks in the departmental stores. Until I saw the Jane Norman boutique in Aberdeen’s St. Nicholas Shopping Centre.

I think all the clothes were really beautiful. There were quite a number of clothes that I would love to buy. And as much as I can think of a million excuses why I need more than one dress for Christmas and beyond, I have to control myself.

Short listed a few dresses.


Anyways, getting out of topic here. I went online today to find the dress that I can’t see in store. And since the official website does not sell clothes online, I did a general search on Google to see if I can find elsewhere that sells her clothes online.

Guess what I found instead? There is this website The UK High Street that I found, is like a forum where people put in their high street shopping experience.

Reading what the shoppers have to say about
Jane Norman, I’m wary and slightly put off to whether to buy the dress that I like.

From quality complaints to customer complaints, I just feel so put off by buying the dress now.

Contemplation setting in.

I will have to either go for it or look for something else. Decisions. Decisions!


As for Christmas Lunch, I think I’m getting a much needed pair (or two) of new jeans and a nice top. Or something I already have.

TOH gave me this really beautiful necklace which I’m sure to be able to match with whatever I’m going to wear and I bought a nice bag from New Look two weeks ago with a VIP 20% discount.

Anyone wants a GAP 30% voucher which is valid until this Sunday (2nd December) drop me an email and I’ll send it to you.

It will definitely be a nice beginning to the long holidays.

Christmas Dinner on Thursday night (20th December) and then Christmas Lunch on Friday before I head up the road to spend my Christmas and two weeks holiday including Hogmanay in Aberdeen.

I just hope I will be able to recover from all those drinking (and eating for that matter)!

truth

I woke up this morning lazying in bed. Can’t remember why I didn’t want to get up. Just tired I guess.

I wanted to lie in more and go in later since I don’t have much to do. So I think.

But then I realised, that I’ve a meeting at 8:30am this morning!

I should’ve set a reminder for this.

Jumped out of bed and rushed off to work. Well, sort of. Just took the normal train and walked as fast as possible from train station to office.

Along the way, I was thinking of all sorts of excuses more than reasons to cover myself.

Missed the train?

Overslept?

I forgotten?


I know I’m a terrible liar and for this very reason I don’t lie.

Went into work and saw the PM still around and asked her if the meeting is still on.

Thankfully the person in charge has another meeting and there are others who are trying to organise the meeting.

And guess what I said? I just blurted out the truth. As usual.

It’s not a bad thing I know…

Sunday 25 November 2007

another weekend

The boys were down this weekend.

We had a Domino's - DVD night on Friday. The movie of choice: Blades of Glory.

Quite a nice lighthearted movie for a relaxing Friday night. There were some very good and funny lines.


Saturday, TOH and I can't resist to bring SR to Braehead Shopping Centre.

It will be TOH and my second time there.

Braehead Shopping Centre is really big compared to most shops in Aberdeen. The selection of shops are about the same as the high street but probably each shop has more selection of things.

As usual, how can we resists not going to our favourite second favourite store, Marks & Spencer? *Sigh*

Buuuuuut...

I think the main reason we went to Braehead was for... IKEA!!!

We are such mugs sometimes...

Had a wonderful lunch there and spend money in IKEA as usual. I bought some really nice cards and who knows may just do something about it someday. In the meantime I am just happy to know I bought some really nice cards.

Honestly, I think or I can't remember what else I bought there. So bad...

Did go and sit on TOH and mine's favourite sofa
TYLĂ–SAND. One fine day... Who knows?

Then in the evening we went to
Radiance 2007. It's Glasgow's International Festival of Light. I may just write this on a separate post.

We saw probably one-third of the art works due to poor or rather non-existent sign posting.


Typically, weekends always draws to a close before you know it.

We had a nice and easy Sunday. I made Sunday Roast for lunch. TOH helped with the chopping, cutting and dicing. I'm really impressed with his cutting skills.

My first time cooking full Sunday Roast! And everyone loved it. We were so stuffed after the meal.



It wasn't long before it was time to go into town and the boys made their way home.

p.s.: This is my 150th Post! Woohoo!!!

Friday 23 November 2007

rescheduled

Just received a letter from RICS yesterday.

My application to enrol on the APC has been approved. Woohoo!

I was also informed to record my experience from 1st October.

1st OCTOBER?!

And I thought it was just from 1st November. Which I was struggling on. More like flaffing about for nothing. I guess it was because I was spending too much time worrying about writing the diary.

It isn't that difficult now I found out. So much for flaffing about... @_@

Anyways, now I have to think of what I did in October.

Which means, I have to revise my APC Date Planner.

Which means, I have missed my dateline for completing my first month's diary. But I'm going to leave it for the same date. Only now I have to complete two months for the dateline instead.

Which means, I have to inform my Supervisor and Counsellor that I will be seeing them a month ahead instead of the planned dates.

Which means, I will be meeting the various datelines a month ahead.

Which means, my final interview/assessment is a month ahead(?!). I think.

Which means, I have to stop worrying too much about it and go on with it.

Right, better go now. A gruelling meeting is about to start!

Thursday 22 November 2007

byebye

I was reading The Metro. Waited at the train carriage exit for the doors to open.

Got down and then I realised I left my lunch on the train! I turned and look into the train and I see it there!

My lunch!

I quickly pressed on the door open button whilst the door closing beeping, beeped incessantly.

There I was pressing the button, frantically.

Luckily the conductor was still standing outside of the train making sure all the doors are closed securely.

I said to him 'I left something on the train'.

With a really friendly smile, he let me back on the train.

I ran through the carriage and got out at the other end.

Thanked Mr. Friendly Face conductor profusedly.

Honestly, when I saw my lunch left on the seat in the train, a vision of my lunch moving away, with me and my puppy eyes, sulking face, waving my lunch goodbye, flashed before me.

Honestly, I swear!!!

Wednesday 21 November 2007

visiting site

Among the Commercial QSs in my team, I think I’m considered the luckiest.

I work with a great team. My Project Managers can be quite demanding and this drives me to learn more. But each one of them is very patient, nice and friendly too.

I consider myself the luckiest because there are nine QSs, not counting the Commercial Manager and I’m the only one who gets to go to site.

Out of the twenty or so projects that I have, I’ve already been to at least four sites. I missed out on going to one more site when I was locked out of my flat.

I get very excited going to site.

Just because I get the chance to be outside of the office. A change of scenery.

And it is a change indeed.

Most of the project sites are in the countryside. Often, we come upon sheep, sheep, cows, coo (shaggy brown highland cows), sheep, donkeys, oh and did I mentioned sheep?

I thought after my wee trip to Shetland, I have seen enough of sheep and Shetland Ponies.

But I guess there is just something about animals and the countryside.

Anyways, going to site helped me to understand the project more, making those numbers makes sense. Helping me understand the various issues on site as well.

And because I don’t have a car, I can only go to site with my Project Managers and sometimes with the Contractor(or in our case, we call them delivery partner)’s Contract Manager.

The long drive to site is made more bearable because we often have good chat about everything and anything.

I think it is good as well. It is a good opportunity to get to know the people I work with.

I’m so blessed that way.

It’s greener too!

This morning, I decided to ‘delegate?’ ‘dedicate?’ a bag for my site gear.


Good ol’ Ikea bag.

Now, I'm looking forward to go to Tobermory where the BBC preschool programme, Balamory was filmed in. I can't wait for the chance to see the colourful buildings in Tobermory.

And I will try my best not to sing the Balamory song. ^_^

Monday 19 November 2007

appalling

I haven’t been blogging much quality stuff lately.

Most of them have been some mumble jumble of things. Some of them a rushed attempt in writing. Some of them just blurts out from my mind without any proof reading.

My sister Suemae even commented on the appalling English that I use in my posts.

Rereading some of the posts, she is right though. I do notice it.

At least, I’m glad I know that somebody is reading my blog.

There are so many things that I would like to blog about. What has happened, what is on my mind, so on and so forth.

It doesn’t help that when I go to bed at night my mind starts thinking about all sorts of things that I can blog about.

I can’t help thinking about what has happened that lead to such bad quality writing.

With Daylight Saving days ended three weekends ago it doesn’t help that daylight is much shorter.

You wake up in the dark. Go to work in the dark. And come home in the dark.
Such is winter. I know.


And since I’m going to moan about it, the shift in moving an hour back can do weird things to your body clock. Like I still go to bed late, with the hour back, I’m actually going to bed later. Because of late to bed, I wake up late as well.

Thank goodness my work place is not strict on time. So I go in late, I leave for home late. In the darkness.

It doesn’t help. At all.

Of course with my monthly forecasting update cycle somewhere at the beginning of the month, I had been busying myself with that too.

I’m glad that after doing this three times, I’m starting to get the hang of it. I’m starting to understand why I’m doing it, what I’m supposed to and how it is done. The numbers and elements now make so much sense!

On top of that I had to tidy up a lot of the numbers within the projects, sort out necessary paperwork of each projects and at the same time find answers to questions I do know understand.

I learnt quite a lot in the last three month. And I know I have so much more to learn!


By the time I go home on most nights, I’m so tired and I couldn’t be bothered to do anything.

I just want to go home and vegetate. Watch tv. Read a book. Have a bath. Do nothing.

However, there is always thing to do. Dishes to wash, clothes to iron, flat to clean, paperwork to be filed or things to sort out.

Never ending.

Is there more to this?

I wonder.

I’m sure there is more.

I’m just too tired.

I need a break.

I moan too much.

I have plenty of excuses if you keep asking me.

Sometimes I wished that thing will just miraculously sort out itself.

Wishful thinking. I’m very certain.

Oh well, I don’t have much of a choice.

I just need to bite the bullet and do it!

Sunday 18 November 2007

since we met

Ever since I first heard this song, it is one of my favourite Tommy Emmanuel songs.

And since I just went for his concert, plus how much I love this song, it is only fittingly that this song is shared with my beloved.

Tommy, and I'm sure with all songwriter, has a story behind each song they composed. And this was no exception.

'Since We Met', was written in the back of the taxi that Tommy was travelling in. He was in love with somebody at that time and he wanted to write her a song. He only had 20 minutes to write this song. So, Tommy took out his guitar from his case and his cassette recorder that he carried with him and told the taxi driver to drive slowly while he wrote (and recorded) the song. And just as the simple title says it all, a love song written by a lovesick guy, it is such a beautiful song that I loved ever since I first heard it.


Since We Met by Tommy Emmanuel




To my wonderful bf, this song is dedicated especially to you!

I had the best three months with you.

You are the best thing that ever happened to me and I'm forever thankful of that.

A very patient person (when I don't push you overboard, but still VERY patient even when I do drive you to the edge) and a great listener, you understand me better than anyone I've known.

You are such a sweetheart.

As much as we know the distance seems unbearable but it is also amazing how well we use it to our advantage.

And as usual, weekends means more to us, and we look forward to each one of it with much anticipation.

With lots love... xx

Friday 16 November 2007

busy


I like it when my Outlook calendar looks busy.
It makes me feel important.

Wednesday 14 November 2007

locked out!

Last night, one of my fears with my wonderful flat materialised.

I have two fears of my flat.

One, the fear of slipping when coming out of the bathtub/shower. Someone commented that maybe the bathtub is a novelty for me. Since we don't have a bathtub back in KL and the last flat only had a shower tray. Not that I haven't used a shower or bathtub before...

The other fear was the fear of being locked out.

Reason being that the main door has a Yale lock, the kind that you close the door and it locks itself.

Compared to any other places I have lived in, you will need a key to lock the doors. But not this one. So what I did was that I put the keys on my beautiful M&S side table and supposed to pick up the keys on my way out.


Somehow that didn't happened yesterday.

And I didn't know until I reached home in the evening.

I reached into my bag and I was like 'oh no, don't tell me it really happened'.

Unfortunately, 'oh yes, it is happening'.

I forgotten to bring my flat keys and I wasn't even rushing yesterday morning! Arrgghhh...

I tried my very best with whatever lock picking skills I had to open the door. Whatever they show you on tv or in the movies is just rubbish.

Honestly, if I can picked my own lock I would be worried too. How safe is the flat then??!

I didn't really know what to do, since it was my first time being locked out. Called almost every single person I know in Glasgow. I was insanely prepared to even fork out money to get a locksmith.

However, getting a locksmith is the most unfeasible thing to do because it was going to cost a bomb. And I found out later that the locksmith will most likely break the lock/door and then we have to replace it. Somehow I had the notion that they will have some master key to open the door. But I may be wrong and may be they have their ways of opening the lock? I can only but wonder.

Anyhows, while waiting for my friends to get back to me, I rang my neighbours door.

Jamal greeted me at the door. And I had to explain the whole situation to him. He was really nice to invite me in. Both Jamal and his wife Nazneen was really kind to make sure I was at home, being fed and comfortable.

After many calls to and from friends and even my boss, in the end the best option was to stay at someone's and call the letting agent in the morning.

The most sensible option was to stay at Jamal and Nazneen's since they just live opposite me.

I'm not very close to the family (they have two very young children) and this time would be the second time I ever visited them.

I was very touched that Jamal said to me that 'they are lucky that I locked out so that I can be visit them/be their guest'. And Nazneen said to me that 'I'm her sister' and that 'their home was my home as well'.

Compared to the amount of things (or what TOH and I call, shite) that I have, this family does not have a lot but they gave whatever they have to me. They gave their time, showed me their hostpitality, generosity and kindness, making sure I was well taken care of.

In this time and age, you really wonder how many nice people are out there. How many of us, actually know our neighbours?

I am so very grateful to them.

The next day, I called the letting agents and went down to collect the spare keys and unlocked my flat, before returning the keys and head off to work.

Looking back at the incident, I can't help but think that there are so many blessings in disguise.

#1: I got to know my neighbours better.
I've been told not to see them only when I have troubles but drop by as often.

#2: There are many people who will help you, where possible.
I don't know many people in Glasgow, besides Jamal and Nazneen, I had three offers of friend and colleagues to come and pick me up, to crash at theirs and sort it out the next day.

#3: I managed to renew my library book.

#4: Go to the bank and bank in my cheques and more importantly get my address changed.

#5: Had a good long hours sleep.
Since the family doesn't really do much at night because they have two very young kids, the best thing to do it go to bed once the children are asleep because as you know with babies, they wake up very early.

As much as everyone know that each person should get at least eight hours of sleep, I haven't been having the luxury of doing so. But not last night.

#6: Found out that there is a SPAR (convenience store) just round the corner from where I live. And found out where bus route 44A goes.

Since I had to go back to the letting agents to return the keys, I found out that there's this bus that goes pass this particular bus stop not far from where I live. On the bus, I found out that there are quite a fair number of shops. So now I know where to go if I need anything, in an emergency.

I'm sure there are a few more things that I can think of but in some ways, I'm glad that it happened. One thing for sure, I know now to be much much more careful and make sure I bring my keys with me.

Speaking to TOH after finding out that I was locked out, he can't believed that I locked myself out since I'm very careful all the time, guess not this time.

Anyways, to those who offered your place for me to stay overnight, I'm very grateful for your offer. Thanks and I know I you will be there to help me whenever I need help. Thanks.

Monday 12 November 2007

diary

Dear Diary...

No, it is not that kind of diary.

I've finally took the plunge and start my RICS APC journey.

Meaning I have started my Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor's Assessment of Professional Competence training. *Beams proudly!*

Enrolment

The enrolment itself is a journey I would say.

During my recent appraisal, my boss and I had the convesation of me doing my APC.

I'm required by contract to do my APC and with that there are certain conditions attached. I signed my life away with regards to completing the APC when I first started the job. So there I was waiting for my boss to feed me more information or waiting from head office to send me more information (or package).

But I didn't get any. So I just sat and waited.

Of course being in a new job, you spend your initial time getting to grips with your work expectations and for me, looking for a flat and settling down as well.

At the appraisal, my boss indicated that I have to get this RICS APC thing sorted out. So within days after the appraisal, I got all the necessary paper work done.

As much as I wanted to go down the Project Management route (where my greatest interest is), I had to be more sensible and think about the support that I can get from the company as well as my day to day tasks.

In the end, I have to go down the Quantity Surveying - Civil Engineering route, which makes much Much MUCH more sense.

Then there is the membership subscriptions. My boss asked me if I could pay it first and then claim it back under expenses.

I replied 'I don't think I have £600 sitting in my account' (being at that time, I was just moving and had been very skint for the past few months). By the way, the subscription fee was £625 a year.

However, due to some glitches, AD (who is also enroling at the same time) and I had to wait for two weeks before we received the cheques to send off to RICS. The cheques finally arrived two days before the dateline!

The implication of missing the 31st October dateline was that the final assessment will be deferred by another six months.

Apparently, the cheques were sent from the parent office in London to the main subsidary office in Surrey, and then from Surrey to Glasgow office, when it was supposed to be sent from the parent office to the Glasgow office.

My boss wasn't too happy when I called and told him the news.

Anyways, RICS received our application in time and now we are on our way!

1st Training

We just had our first training this morning.

It was more like a discussion on what we are going to do. Nonetheless it was informative.

The good thing is that the parent company has a very structured training plan. They even have remote access, which means you can access files or the intranet from home. However, I still have to get that sorted. Am receiving two different stories about this.

I also found out from the RICS website a lot of useful information that I have missed out during my earlier visits there.

Anyways, I am expected to write an APC diary for at least 24 months. In the process, there will be meetings with my Supervisor every three months, and meetings with my Councellor every six months. When I am ready (in 24 months) there will be the final assessment - an interview.

I will have to balance studying on my own, meeting the various competencies set out and my day to day job. I'm excited and looking forward to this new journey and I hope it will be a very interesting one.

Tuesday 6 November 2007

visual overload

Last Sunday's weekend shopping was exactly that.

It was our first shopping trip to Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Street, two of the main and pedestrianised shopping streets in Glasgow. The other one would be Argyll Street (well, as far as my Glasgow shopping knowledge serves me right).

Anyways, there was just so much to absorb. So many shops to go. So many people shopping and it wasn't even December! Just shows you a rough idea of what the population in Glasgow is like.

Two trips to Borders in two days is quite extreme. Bearing in mind that both trips we bought books.

Borders is probably the next most impressive book shop I've ever been. The first is Kinokuniya in KLCC. I haven't been to Borders in Berjaya Time Square, and I'm sure it is possible that it is as impressive as the Glasgow store. I have a feeling that Mid-Valley Megamall's MPH is (or at least once) the biggest bookstore in KL. Possible? Hmm...

Anyways, apparently Glasgow's Borders Store is the biggest and best bookstore in Scotland (so proud!).

Although having making two trips to Borders myself, I have only been to the Ground floor, where the magazines and papers, promotional books and cashiers are; and Lower Ground floor - non-fiction, where really good selection of art, history, architecture, self help, etc. are available; and the First/Mezzanine floor, travel books, stationeries, local books, autobiographies and games section.

Had a quick glance into the Basement floor, where the media section is. There is a Starbucks in store, and I think another two or three more floors of books!

The magazine and travel section was very impressive.

In fact everything there was so impressive!!

TOH bought two books and I bought a magazine on our first trip on Saturday. And on Sunday, I bought two books.


#1: Postsecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives


And #2: Just Can't Get Enough: Toys, Games, and Other Stuff from The '80s that Rocked

The He-Man figurine was the reason I bought the book. Just because I once had that figurine!

I can't wait to visit Borders again. And I can foresee that TOH will always hold my hand very tightly whenever we pass by there!

Another shop in our favourite shops in Glasgow list!

Saturday 3 November 2007

shattered

It is rather interesting after travelling for the past two and a half hour on the train and head straight to a pub all dressed up for a night out.

Seems as though Glasgow has no pubs?

No. In fact there were two drinky poos that I was invited for. But since it was my weekend up so I had to turn down the guys at work for a team drinky poo. Sorry guys.

Instead, I travelled north 150 miles for TOH's colleague's farewell do.

Again, it is very interesting, a sad interesting note that people always get together for drinks and fellowship when someone is leaving.

But hey, again these nights can be one of the few really cool and fantastic nights.

Being one who like to meet people (can be after some persuasion at times) I had a wonderful time meeting TOH's colleagues. They are a really nice bunch of people. And I'm happy that TOH is working (or had worked, those who had left the company but was there for the night out) with really nice people.

All the best to NG. It was a great night out!

Drinks log: A number of pints of Guiness Extra Cold, a handful glasses of G&T (didn't keep count)

I am so tired having not sleep properly this whole week. Of course I only have myself to blame. Late to bed, around 1am every night and waking up at 6am. But because I've been sleeping late and my workplace is not very strict about times, I have been waking up anytime between 7:30am to 8:20am. Very bad considering I start work at 8:30am and then trains are every half hour plus travelling and walking time is about 20 minutes to half an hour!

I'm just so shattered. I should really just head to bed early.

junkie

You know you are a M&S junkie when...

Everything you have on at any one time except for your eyeliner, mascara, earrings, necklace, watch and bag (including contents all or part) are from Marks and Spencer.

Sad? I wonder...


Friday 2 November 2007

the night before

Nothing super exciting happened for Halloween.

I went home after getting my Tommy Emmanuel’s tickets. Didn’t stop at the shop as I thought I wanted to. Walking home I saw this group of trickortreating kids walking about and I was like ‘great! I didn’t buy anything’.

Went home and flaffed about the cupboards and came up with this.


Not too bad considering it is just whatever from the cupboard. You can see how much junk food I have at home. Yes, I know having Ferraro Rochers on your trickortreat tray is really a bit OTT. Considering somebody was complaining that he had to give away Mars Bars.

It was rather interesting to notice that there is less lighted window compared to usual too!

There are scrooges amongst us.

But I found out that there are good reasons to be one too!

Kids up to a certain age dressed up coming treatortreating are cute, interesting and possible conversation topics.

When you get a group of say ten or so teenagers, it is scary. But then again, would teenagers still go for treatortreating?

Why is it scary some may say?

Well, if you see the teenagers here, you would know what I mean. Heck, some who are not even of teenage age yet are already acting like one.

Then you also get kids (for whatever age I guess) asking for money instead of the usual trickortreat!!!!

I was surprised to hear that. The cheek honestly!

But honestly I was a bit afraid that night.

It is a good opportunity for people to come robbing you actually.

It was a rather quiet night. I only had two young and polite witches (unaccompanied) came trickortreating. In a way it was a relief that I didn’t go and buy more sweeties. I have enough to feed me already!