Freedom... sort-of.

It's over!!

Sort of.

I had my music history paper today, which wasn't too bad (thank God for that!). Most of what I studied came out (phew!). But I had been stressing over this subject the most, since there was so much to read, remember and understand.

Now for my Aural exam on the 13th, and final practical exam on the 15th...

This might be a bit late in coming, but happy belated birthday to both Fei and Sherissa! Meant to send an SMS to both of you, but in the midst of cramming and stress, I think you'd both understand. Lol. Hope you had a great one!

Hm... what else.

Melbourne Cup (the so-called "race that stops a nation") was held today, which is this huge horse-racing event. And yeah, almost the whole of Victoria gets a holiday, because of that - horse-racing. Most of the shops were closed, or open for half-a-day only. Like all horse-racing events, (from what I heard) the ladies all dress up, the men dress in suits and stuff as well, so it's partly a formal affair. Of course, there are the weird costumed people, too. And what's a horse-racing event without that money-throwing extra (betting). But anyway, I definitely want to attend Melbourne Cup in one of the next few years! (Not to bet lah - I know nuts about horse-racing!) It'll be cool to experience it. But apparently, it usually clashes with exam periods...

Therefore, while most of the public are enjoying their day off either at home or at Flemington (Melbourne Cup venue), suffering students like us sit inside the exam hall.

What else...


Gah. This blog has been feeling extremely one-sided recently. =P (hint, hint)

The library is my new home

It's almost 1 a.m. and I'm still in the library, studying. Or trying my best to study, anyway. (Opening hours have been extended till 3 a.m. during exam/mugging/cramming period.)


I'm ready to die... lol.

(The fact that I find that point amusing doesn't help the situation either.)

The One with the Haircut

Tomorrow is last day of semester!

We get a one week study break!

I still have so much to do!



I got a haircut yesterday ($20 for a cut-wash-blow, which is actually quite reasonable considering that Melbourne is a very expensive place to get haircuts).

The hairdresser chopped cut off almost all the lengths of my hair which had been permed.

My hair!!

My hair...!!

I couldn't see a thing while the hairdresser was mutilating cutting my hair, so what I saw through my blurred vision was just the black blob which was my hair, and the brown which somewhat resembled my face. (It doesn't sound that bad - the hairdresser, I mean. Neither is my vision. Oh fine. Yes, my vision is bad.)

So when she was done, and I put on my glasses, I was ... left speechless. I didn't know what to say. It wasn't that it's bad - it's just ... my hair... I've lived with this crazy hair for 19 years now, you'd think I'll be used to its wavy, thick, puffy texture by now.

I could rectify the damage new hair by straightening it again when I go back, but I refuse to let go through the whole straightening process again. (That, and I've had my hair straightened 4 times already!!) I rather sit through a perm, which is less painful.


Yeah, I'll be whining for the next two weeks. When I had my hair permed, and cut, and got a fringe last December, you ought to be glad you weren't with me for the subsequent two weeks. I think I drove everyone around me nuts. Literally. Especially my hairdresser aunt, since she was the one who did my hair.

But anyway, getting haircuts - anything which has to do with my hair being cut/straightened/permed, always sees me complaining and moaning about it for the next week or so, until I get used to it and accept the fact that I can't, well, uncut my hair.

And I made the decision to get a haircut anyway (so I shouldn't be complaining, really). But nooo... I ought to have waited... waited till I returned to Brunei....

My hair....

Freezing In The Land Down Under... and some.

It was freezing today. I said it before, and I'll say it again: I thought it's supposed to be spring!! Temperatures were all below 15 degrees... The day was deceptively sunny, but it felt like winter.

I hereby take back my complaints about that 36-degree-Celsius day.


Went to watch the Flare dance production (entitled 'Elements') just now with some friends from OCF. Flare is this dance club/ensemble at uni, and they put on a production every year. It was quite good. Makes me almost want to join and learn how to dance too. Lol. Halfway through, I remembered the time when Ern wanted a bunch of us to put on a performance for Teacher's Day or Speech Day or something. It wasn't only once; there were a few times, but each time, the plan never materializes, and we give up before we even started. Hahaha.

Anyway, went to Koko Black afterwards to have hot chocolate and more chocolate delicacies! Ahhh. Hot chocolate on a cold night - a beautiful combination.


On other matters, I've done my re-enrolment and put in my course transfer application; now to wait and pray.


I also lost $70+ worth of credit today.

[Insert words screams of frustration and a 15-minute rant.]

Okay, I feel better now. Gah. It was supposed to expire today, so I thought I'll recharge my credit today, but stupid Optus means it when they say it expires on 21/10/06... I thought it meant it'll expire at 00:00, 22/10/06 then. (If you follow my logic.) Maybe I'm used to what I did back in Brunei - with Easi, when the expiry date comes around, it expires after midnight on that said date (if I remember correctly). Sadly, that is not the case here.

The consolation I can have is that I am on the Turbo Recharge plan (meaning I get $120 worth of credit when I recharge $30 on my credit). Not much of a loss... I think. I didn't use a lot of credit this month (surprisingly).


I have to start studying!!

Crossroads

Re-enrolment and subject selection for 2007 has opened, and along with it, finally bringing to front a decision I've been contemplating the whole year. This is the period when course transfer applications are also open... I was chatting with Jamie the other night and telling her that it seems that the whole headache of applying to universities, choosing the 'right' courses (will it ever be right?) doesn't end once you actually enter uni and start a new chapter of your life. (Well, at least for me... lucky for those who are confident and sure of what they want.)

I'm still pretty much confused over my future. I'm doing Music (though it's doubled with an Arts degree), and I'm enjoying it. So what's the problem? I don't know. My application for a transfer to Music/Law may very well be rejected, and once I apply, there will be the agony of waiting till next year before I finally receive an answer. But is it what I want? I don't know if I'll enjoy Law. I don't mind it, but at the moment, I'll just see where things go from here. I don't really hold high hopes of a successful transfer. If that doesn't go through, I guess I'll stick with my current double degree... or I might just want to drop Arts and go with a straight Music degree. (There you go, another 'dilemma'.)

I am doing what I want right now - and sometimes, I really can't imagine myself doing another course, like, a random Science degree or even Medicine. I can probably cope with it, but I doubt I'll enjoy learning about it. All those years of studying the sciences and math, and I still turn to Arts and Humanities even after coming out of a pure science stream. It's just the stereotypical Asian mentality that the sciences are always better than arts. Well, that's pure rubbish.


Anyway, I love this website - it has the cutest games, with the cutest animation and pictures, with lovely background music. I particular like one of the links, which is titled "Rain" at the bottom - just a simple flash of rain falling to the ground, with soothing, almost melancholic music accompanying it.

Apparently, Victoria is experiencing a dry spell now, and the news is all about water restrictions, etc. etc. (I think a few other states are experiencing this drought as well.) Come to think about it, it hasn't rain for quite some time now. I kind of miss the rain that we get back home. On those days, it's lovely to just stay at home and listen to nice music, read a book, drink something warm and simply relax.

Home... I'm Malaysian, but I know almost nothing about Malaysia. Honestly, I don't really feel much 'loss' for not knowing my own motherland. In retrospect, Brunei is actually a beautiful place to live in, for all the complaints that we used to have about its lack of [insert your choice of want/desire]. We've had it easy, and thinking about it, we really do lead very privileged lives in Brunei. What it lacks in, it makes up for in the little things I've come to appreciate.

I think I might want to settle in Brunei in the later future after doing all the things I want to do.

Anyway, life goes on.

Melting in the Land Down Under

The weather today was absolutely frightful - a blistering 36 freaking degree Celsius. The weatherman told me that the max was supposed to be around 30, but then, weathermen always lie, so I should have known better. It was hot and dry, so dry that I could almost feel myself being sucked empty of moisture and reduced to a withered heap of crispy, fried skin and cracked bones.

It's supposed to be spring!!! This almost makes me long for the cold days of winter again.

Oh well.

There's two more weeks of semester 2 left before swot vac (technically study break) and then we enter those weeks which all students have come to abhor. My exam timetable this time round is a bit more hectic (read: I actually have to do some *cough* serious studying. Not that I didn't for first sem.)

I realize I still have so much to do before these two weeks are up... I have yet to present my writing piece in Creative Writing workshop, I still have 7 exercises to present for Aural Studies, I have 12 weeks of material to cover/study (tons and tons of reading and listening to do) for Baroque and Classical Music, I have to memorize my pieces for my practical exam, I still have to change my flight date, I have to settle my accommodation stuff (breaking my current contract, if that can happen, and searching for a new place before I leave)... I have to... I have to...

*runs out of breath*

It doesn't sound that bad. Really.

I know I said I wouldn't nag at you, anymore, Jerry, but seriously, it would be nice to see you update here. Even if it's once in a blue moon. =P There's a reason why the blog is what it's called. Hope things are going well for you over there.

O, How Fast Doth The Days Passeth By

Mid-sem break will be over soon as disgruntled students trudge back to university reluctantly. Exam timetables are already out; a friend was ready to kill me when I informed her that I only have one paper (Baroque & Classical Music), and a practical exam. Need to get cracking at the books and put more effort into practicing too.

Paintball

As reported previously, the soldiers had a tiring but extremely stimulating day. I'll try to get a few pictures, but as we couldn't bring any valuables onto the battlefield, you guys won't be able to see Connie in camouflage outfit and unflattering mask or any of us in action. We took some 'before' and 'after' shots, though.

One memorable incident:

Scenario: Connie is left all alone on the battlefield; her teammates have all been taken down.

Connie: (hides behind a tree)

Connie: (thinking frantically) Oh no! I can't be the only left... You've got to be joking... Ack! Who's that?? Who shot at me?! There's one there, on my left - okay, here goes - (aims gun at enemy and fires paintballs frenziedly) - Darn, I didn't get him/her!! Gaah - who was that??? On my right?? Another one?? No! (fires in the opposite direction) - What the - ?? There's another one in front of me!!

Noooo - 3 vs. 1!

I ran out of paintballs while trying to take them down - but I don't think I would have survived anyway!

Piano Stories IV

...which was actually a week ago. It was ... okay. Slightly disappointed. The songs were nice, though, but I thought that the pianist, a really talented Polish pianist who's won various competitions (but-I-can't-remember-his-name), was sight-reading most of the time. It seemed like he didn't really prepare for it. There were tons of mistakes, and that kind of ruined the songs, but ah well... The guest performer is a really beautiful Japanese violinist, who did an amazing job, but some technical issues (which are totally unrelated to her playing) ruined that, too. There are other aspects which I would love to complain about, but I shall not.

***

I can't believe it's already October. Where did all the days go?

This blog is

...dying, I tell you. It's dying.

I went paintballing today with my cell group. It was a whole day trip. The paintball place was in New South Wales, near the borders of Victoria-New South Wales, because apparently paintball is banned in Victoria (because of some firearms legislation).

Tired.

I wished we could have gotten some pictures of us in action - but there were only "before" and "after" pictures... We weren't really supposed to bring any valuables into the "battlefield".
So what have you been up to, Jerry?

Happy Birthday

Happy 19th Birthday, Jerry!

Don't think this is too late - it's still 20th September over there, isn't it? Hope you had a great one, and may God bless you abundantly! Take care over there. =)

Books...

...are one of my most favourite things. I love reading. I love books. Before I finish reading a book, I've already bought several others. That leaves me in a situation where I have several unread books left on the shelf while my compulsive behaviour keeps me buying books impulsively whenever I see a bookstore. Bookshops and I are like the opposite poles of a magnet. I just can't resist going into one.

Besides that, I have a penchant for collecting books - I'm extremely fussy when it comes to buying books. I check the book over carefully, making sure that there aren't any dents or ugly marks. Basically, as close to perfect as possible. (Yes, I know. Stop laughing.)

I would borrow books from libraries, but I'd prefer owning one myself. (I told you I'm fussy.) So even if I've read a book before which had been borrowed, I'd still go out and buy a copy for myself if I really like it. (That means I have currently a list of several books I'm still hunting for.)


I recently finished reading Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day.

It won the 1989 Booker Prize. It's one of those novels where you have to read it in one sitting, otherwise you'd lose the flow of it (and forget what's happening). I love Ishiguro's prose. It's simple, and very English, which reminds me of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (which I loved very much as well). The twist at the end left me feeling all melancholic, and wanting for more, but somehow the ending was befitting.

(Remains of the Day, incidentally, was lent to me by a friend. Does that mean I'll be buying my own copy soon? Maybe. =P)


I'm currently in the process of reading Marilynne Robinson's Gilead.

It won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It's ... ah, I'll quote from the backcover: "In 1956, towards the end of Reverend John Ames' life, he begsin a letter to his young son..."

It's basically a long letter written to his 7-year-old son. It's a bit spiritual and all (with all the Christian themes), but I think anyone can read it. It's beautiful and sad at the same time as the Reverend recalls his past, reflects on his life, and writing all that down to his son. I hope to finish it in the next few days.

(Btw, sorry for the crappy quality of the picture. And subsequent pictures. I need a better webcam. Gah.)


Today, after church, I went to Borders and after spending a happy hour or so browsing around, I finally bought (in spite of myself):

Agatha Christie's Dumb Witness, a Hercule Poirot mystery, and Edith Wharton's 1921 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Age of Innocence.

I've read almost all of Agatha Christie's books before, and I especially love the ones with Poirot. And yes, those were all practically borrowed. But it's been ages since I've read an Agatha Christie mystery.. and yes, it's part of my book-colleting fetish. (Bleh.)

I had been eyeing The Age of Innocence for awhile, and finally bought it. (I've been eyeing several other books for awhile now as well, and ... will... try to refrain myself.) And I realize that I've been choosing all these... books which have won prestigious awards and so on. Haha. I just feel like getting back into the classics and "real" stuff.

But just to show you that I'm not that serious and literary when it comes to my choice of books, (I say that it's just a phase I'm going through now), I shall show you that I am a proud and avid fan of the fantasy genre. In fact, I actually brought over with me from Brunei, Terry Goodkind's Stone of Tears, which is the second book in his Sword of Truth series.


Alas, I confess I have yet to make it past the third chapter. It is ridiculously thick, but then, most fantasy books are. (I will read it, soon!) And my heart is already set on buying Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, which is apparently, very good. A friend recommended me her books last year. And I want to get Raymond E. Feist's Magician, (!) which has been highly recommended to me. I love, love, love fantasy. I remember buying almost all of David Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean series in one go a few years ago at Kinokuniya in KL. (I know I'm nuts... I think I racked up a bill of RM$300++ that day, including some other random novels and a few of my sister's own selection of books.) And while I'm at that, you guys MUST read those series!!

On top of that, I still have Jane Austen's Emma, which I bought a few months ago. No, I haven't finished that. I have Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, as well. No, I haven't read it either. It was kind of hard to get into. But I will attempt it again after I finish my other books. *coughs embarrassedly* I think I still have a few unread books back in Brunei.. (I knowwww.. I shouldn't have bought those two books today.)

But I promise I'll finish reading them all!

Someday.


Somebody stop me from buying anymore books!

Recuperation

After eight whirlwind weeks of lectures, tutorials, assignments, etc., finally I am liberated (sort of) for two weeks. Yes, it's the mid-semester break!!

I don't really have anything major planned for the holidays. Some of my coursemates are going for the Music Camp organised by the MSS (Music Students' Society), but a few of us decided not to go. Might do some shopping, depends on circumstances. But most importantly, I need to catch up on all my readings and start studying already... plus, have to put more effort in practicing piano as well.

I do plan to go for a few concerts during this mid-sem break... There's the Spring Early Music Festival organised by one of the professors from the Music Faculty, who is the Head of Early Music department or something. Hopefully I can drag a few people to come with me! But I doubt many people would be interested in early music... (?)

And oh, oh, oh - Piano Stories IV coming to Melbourne!! I am so going for this.
There was actually Piano Stories III back in April, but since I was relatively new to Melbourne, I didn't really know about it... I did go for A Night In Fantasia back in July though!!

My friend and I were just talking about how these two weeks will probably whiz by, just like the first 8 weeks of this semester. Somehow, I think so too... sigh. Time seems to be speeding up, especially near the end of the year, and when you need time most of all!

And Jerry: okay... yeah, I guess we all have lives. Haha. Just update when you can la.

I'll try to update once a week or something... just to keep this blog from being too dead. Although I think it probably already is.

Where In The World Is Jerry Wong Sia How?

I'm running out of things to blog about... Jerry, at least entertain us with stories from your side... like... you know, life in the States, etc. etc... Anyway, where are youuuuu????

Mid-semester break after this week! Not really sure what my plans are yet, but I intend to concentrate a bit of my time on piano and studies.

Steve Irwin's dead. General reception is shock and grief. The Age seems to have extensive coverage about it. I find it ironic that he died from an encounter with a stingray - which is normally quite harmless - while he survived all his crocodile stunts and other crazy escapades. I still find it hard to believe; for some reason, I always thought him almost... invincible or something. Condolences to his family...

Last week, my week started off with the news that Pluto was no longer a planet, and that our solar system officially has 8 planets. Not that it affects my life very much, but it's a bit sad; I mean, we grew up learning about the 9 planets in our solar system, and now Pluto is a, what, dwarf planet?

Apart from changes (like the Pluto debate - which has absolutely no consequence on our daily lives, whatsoever), Irwin's death makes you realize how fleeting life is. This article pretty much sums up why the news of his death is sending such shockwaves around the world. I never realize how famous he is around the world, and finding out that he's relatively 'obscure' here in Australia, when you compare his fame locally and abroad.

Wonder what news next Monday will bring me.

My week in bullet points

• Monday. Ah, yes. I had one of the worst Piano Classes... Believe me, sitting for 2 hours, listening to an invited guest/pianist talk about Messiaen and his music is not enjoyable. I may be doing music, but I absolutely can-not understand 20th century music, nor why some people like it. It doesn't sound like music to me from any angles. Try listening to some of Messiaen's music, and you'll probably understand why. I don't have anything against the great composer per se, it's just... argh. It's just 20th century music. Moving on!
  
  
• Tuesday. Let's see.. another routine day. Oh. MUOSS (Melbourne Uni Overseas Student Society) organised this event called Festival of Nations, and OCF Parkville set up our own booth, selling Tau Suan and peanut dessert soup, so I helped out during lunchtime. Pretty cool event - a lot of stalls, with all sorts of food. My day began at 9 a.m. with an Aural tutorial; two lectures; choir in the evening; celebrating a fellow coursemate's birthday at an Italian restaurant after; before going off for a concert at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre to listen to Paul Lewis perform a few of Beethoven's piano sonatas, including the Moonlight and Appassionata Sonatas (it sounded like a real recording; only better, 'cause it was live =P. That's how good he is.). And reaching home around 11 p.m... very exhausting and full-on day.
  
  
• Wednesday. My free day... helped out for a bit with Parkville's booth. And spent my afternoon practicing piano.
  
  
• Thursday. Had a test, which was reasonably ... okay. Worth 10%. Considering that I wasn't very prepared *cough*, I think I managed to pass it.
  
  
• Friday. My other free day. Piano lesson. Went to Esther's place in the afternoon to cook the hot and sour soup for Sister's Gathering later at night. The soup was a success! And feel very blessed to have gone for it... makes you realize, God works in ways you never expect Him to, even when you feel like there's nothing left... my expectations for the night were, admittedly, low, but that's where God proved me wrong by showing and giving me new insight.
  
  
• Saturday + Sunday. Bumming around.

So much for "bullet points", where you'd suppose I'll make myself simple and concise... There you go, I'm just an extremely long-winded person.

Here's looking ahead to another week.

Jerry Wong!!! I don't like pestering you to blog... so blog, before I feel compelled to nag you some more. =P

4 months to 2007

Time flies.

I can't believe it's already September.

Ski trip

I got the pictures from Tim (yay!), and here's some of them, which ought to make this blog look more lively and colourful. A long overdue post.

In the train. Reflections in the window.

We set off from Flinders St. Station at 6.24 a.m. to Pakenham Station, where we have to take a bus from there to Warragul. Uncle Roy would pick us up from Warragul Station to Yarragon at around 9-ish.

One of many beautiful views on the looong ride up to Mount Baw Baw. Can't really see from here, but that's actually a really beautiful lake in the background - it's a spectacular view.

Blue skies with wide expanses of green, green fields were a common scenery.

Just arrived! Here we are, before...

...and after all the hassle of renting our equipment, deciding to ski or go snowboarding, getting our gear and clothes...

The snowboarders: Grace, Adrian, Yon How

The skiers: Tim, me, Calvin, Zoe

Snow, snow, snow!

Here I am! Somewhere near the top.

Blue sky, white snow. And that's Calvin's scarf.

Snowball fight!!

Skiers done for the day!

The snowboarders were still at it. The boots were really killing my feet (and Zoe's as well!) at this point in time! And... I think I really ought to get contact lenses, especially for events like this. My specs almost got killed during this ski trip.

Dinner!

The delicious food prepared by Aunt Ann. It was almost impossible to finish all that food - and dessert was truffle, which is the best. Thinking about Aunt Ann's dessert makes me wish I could have it now...

L-R: Zoe, Grace, Cal, me, Yon, Adrian and Tim
One final shot before leaving.

A herd of cows/buffaloes were watching us from the farm beside us. I thought they were buffaloes at first, because they were all black - I mean, they looked like buffaloes, so when one of them moo-ed, I asked the others, "Are they cows or buffaloes?", a question which was promptly met with laughter and exclamations of, "Connie, you are so blur!" and other sentences along the lines of me being blur.

But it seemed strange to me that if they were cows, why were they segregated like that? (I mean, by colour.) It seemed a bit unfair to me. And I still don't know if they are cows or buffaloes!! What sounds do buffaloes make anyway?? Maybe I'm just being weird.

Or maybe I am blur after all.

*
Anyway, I have to go study now. No, I'm not being a nerd. I have a test tomorrow!!

Signing out!

Ski and snow!

My arms and legs are aching all over. I just came back from a ski trip over the weekend to Mount Baw Baw, which is about an hour-plus journey from Melbourne. Went with a few other people from OCF. I'll post up pictures when I get them!

It was my first time experiencing snow!

I had my first snowball fight. (Being targeted at most of the time was not part of my plan, though. Lol.)

I ski-ed for the first time. (Well, I tried my best! ...With lots of falling down.)

I wished I could have stayed longer.. We stayed with Aunt Ann and Uncle Roy, through arrangements with a brother in OCF who had connections with them. Aunt Ann is from Sabah, but she's been here for 37 years..! And guess what, she lived in Seria!

The food was amazing as well. Aunt Ann can really cook! The countryside was beautiful, and the scenery absolutely gorgeous. It always feels so depressing coming back to the city after spending time in the country. Already I miss the peace, quiet and pristine country life.

Shall post more about it next time when I actually get pictures, so you guys won't have to keep looking at lines and lines of boring white text.

It's Monday again tomorrow... Time flies, and it's already week 5 of the semester. 7 more weeks left.

Catharsis

At the edge of the cliff, she took a deep breath and yelled, releasing pent-up emotions which had been accumulating for the past few weeks. Over and over again, she shouted into the air, the faceless wind carrying away her repressed feelings and fears.

She sank to the ground, exhausted. But the heaviness, the overwhelming feeling, was gone - replaced now, by a sense of restoration and refreshment; and together with it, a glimmer of hope for the future.





Bleh.

Rumination

It's been a year since Jerry and I started Opposite Corners of the World. Not that it's a big deal. Hopefully (?) more years to come (?), especially in the wake of recent blog-closings and decisions to close blogs. (It doesn't sound that bad, really.) Seeing that Jerry has gone MIA - again - this blog has literally become my blog instead of our blog. But anyway, for the sake of the interested people (if there is even anyone left who still reads this blog), we officially entered the blogsphere on the 4th of August, 2005.

It's too early for countdowns, but for lack of better subjects to post about, it is approximately less than five months before I find myself back in the hot and humid 'Land of Unexpected Treasures'. Ong Chi told me that apparently last week, The Age, one of Australia's national newspapers, featured an article on Brunei in their Saturday edition! I didn't catch it, but yeah, they were highlighting all the main attractions in Brunei, and it seems that there is another Brunei tourism promotion thing in 2008? Hm.



This is a capture from a video taken at my house, late November back in 2004. I can't remember who took the video. It was just the kittens playing with their mom's tail. (Yes, I can't believe I still have the video - I must have uploaded it to my laptop when I bought it the following year.)

Things have changed since then. The cats are gone. There's only the dog left (despite being very fierce, he's a really good guard dog - and I hope he still recognizes me when I return home (!) or I risk being attacked - seriously).

The pool is gone as well. When I left in late February this year, the workers were already chipping away at the edge of the pool. The wooden ledge thing at the side had already been taken away. I don't know how that area of my home looks like anymore; probably been a few months now, but I didn't ask my sister about it till last week, although I had been meaning to find out about it months ago. Apparently, it's just a garden now, often visited by birds. My sister used to throw barley seeds, but she stopped, and she said that the maid (a new one whom I have not even met yet) continued throwing rice for them after that. Probably lucky we don't have cats now! They used to love catching birds... I've seen a few of the unlucky victims, and it's not a pleasant sight!

There were a few reasons why my dad decided to demolish the pool, among which included the fact that it was under-used. When my family first moved into this house in 2000, my siblings, especially my sister, used to swim and play in it everyday. There were a few pool parties (usually mine, my brother's or my sister's), the most memorable being my sixteenth birthday. Where it was once a novelty, it just became part of the house after awhile.. I feel almost sad, really.

Probably may come as a surprise to most of you... I don't think I mentioned it at all before I left. There'll be no more pool parties again. My house is just like any other house now. Hahaha.

On other matters, I don't know what to expect when I return to Brunei in December.

But this is where my ruminations for the day end.

A Rabbit's Life III

It's routine, as usual.

Just sitting here at the table, in front of my laptop, typing this now, looking forward to the weekend, and hoping to get some work done over the weekend as well.

I've been idling my time away here, when the faint, familiar, and undeniably recognizable sounds coaxed gently and skilfully from strings, floated from somewhere outside my room, reaching my ears. At first, I thought, Nah, it can't be. But the almost haunting melody persisted. I could almost see the graceful bowings, the fingers stretching and nimble, pressing on the appropriate places on the fingerboard. I muted the random music playing from Winamp and went to my window and strained to listen for that almost fairy-like music, which hid itself among the other sounds of the city night and apartment life.

Someone is playing the violin, somewhere in the rooms above my floor.

For a moment, I reflected on the past gone by, when I took up the violin for about a year, before I gave up, mainly out of laziness. I admit, I didn't invest as much time as I should have. I did not put in much effort into practicing regularly. For me, it was just ... cool to take up a new instrument, and knowing the basics was good enough for me.

But for that moment, I almost wish I hadn't stopped. I kind of miss playing it sometimes. And I would love to take it up again sometime in the future.

And for a moment, I try to grasp the wisps of music coming into my room. I can almost envision myself living in 17th century Venice, experiencing Music as we move from the Renaissance to the Baroque period..

(The last sentence is kind of related to what I'm studying now in Baroque & Classical Music. Lol. Oops. Maybe a sign that I need to get my head out of the books and relax over the weekend. =P)