Saturday, April 28, 2007

Way back into love

So cheesy but it sticks in my head, and come on, Hugh Grant is singing!


I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not just somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love

And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration 
Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

On the daffodils

Spent the day in a nice park today, and had a really peaceful afternoon. It wasn't as worry free as when we were 3 or 4 years old, but we had some laughs and hopefully forgot about the fresh wounds we had.

I always found very soothing to be in a beautiful place when in mourning or after a loss. It feels so much devoid of all the darkness and meaness of the world around. It also gives time to rest a bit. Though I realize guys don't really get that moment and would end up playing ballgames or get bored, or sleep. I enjoy those moments where nothing is said and my mind blankly stares out to the awesome scenery.It is a selfish moment that can stretch until the sun finishes its journey across the horizon.
Treat of the day: KFC and vanilla rhum and coke (finished my bottle, sniff)
Best moments: when everyone wa slaughing out loud
Worst moment: going our separate ways
I hope one day I will be able to sit idly and do like them:

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Help! I've gone mad

This morning I woke up at 04:30 to get in line for a bag. It is a designer bag sold in Sainsbury's (a food store like Food Lion or Kroger), and there are only 20 000 of them, or so I was told by my fashionista flatmate, Miss Lyon. She has seen it in the living secction of an airport magazine months ago, and could not buy one fo the 1000 sold in the designer shop, so she convinced me to get in line with her outside a supermarket to get one of the 30 bags given away this morning at selected stores.
We got there at 05:30 and the shop opened at 08:00 (I feel very vain). But the experience was fun as we met other crazy people and their husbands there, knowing that the bag was selling on ebay for more than £400 and sold that morning for £5. There is nothing like greed. I have never heard of the designer before, but she might succeed in becoming a household name: Anya Hindmarch.





The irony though is that it was marketed as a reusable shopping bag because designed with the We are what we Do group, thus environmental friendly item, but it was sold for £5 and given inside a bright orange Sainsbury plastic bag.
I am going bag to bed...

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Today's worth

Today was quite a good day. The weather forecast was for light showers but it turned out fairly sunny and no rain at all. Wondered around the Queen's walk with a M.A.C (or is it A.M.C.?) who visited from Dubai. Apparently I have the british accent and use fancy words. But I managed to give him a decent tour of the must sees: Tower of London, Tower bridge, Tate Modern, St Paul, Millenium Bridge, Shakespeare Globe, Festival halls, London eye, Parliament, Westminster Abbaye, Trafalgar square...all by foot!

Then we met his friend in Chancery Lane who remembers me as the'popular one' which was very very nice and made me so happy. I am so vain..but I was happy I touched so many lives without knowing it, and having fun. I never thought I would be the popular one.

Later on int he evening, we hurried back to Selfridges to get an ox tongue sandwich from the food court (Brass rail), and chat about old times: Preston, Waterstreet galleries, Walmart, Christianburg, Five guys, Kabuki, University mall, and Starbucks...and where we agreed the real challenge for Tech is to rise even more in the University academic rankings, to prove how strong we are. Go Hokies!

It was also very nice to argue about where things are in Blacksburg as we all have different memories of where some venues are. A good trip back in times then, which ended up with a hunt for an open Starbucks...habits die hard, and that familiar taste was very comforting. Now I am nursing a blister on my left foot palm...On the way back, the che fof the morrocan restaurant kidnapped me for a chat, where I learned he voted bayrou, and lives in Plaistow (dunno where that is) We will call him Aladdin as he will be my conversational arabic teacher, even if he doesn't know it yet.:)
It was all worth it....

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Mechanical theatre

I was idly strolling in the market when some really cute wooden robots attracte dmy attention in the Kinetica Museum in Spitalfields market. They are having an expo on all things mechanical, powered by loads of wheels and rods and it's so beautiful and fun. The engineer in me just marvelled at the different transfers of movements and direction changes to operates those little puppets.This is a nice one, representing a boat sailing on water, with a backdrop of a big rainbow.

There were so much to see, and I only had my crappy phone with me to take pictures and videos so it's probably better to check their website

For most pieces, you push a red button and the installation moves...for small kids and wannabe grownups.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Fish or brain?

Hail the chef

Maybe not.
This evening I decided to get rid of some 2 packets of fish bought from the local market. Those are small entire fish that you usually like to eat deep fried, but I have no deep frying machine and was not about to spend a bottle of oil for some fish that will probably burn, knowing my culinary skills.
I do have some skils but i cannot follow a recipe, no matter how simple it is. I always change it somehow. So Elektra suggested earlier in the week that I do fishcakes. Those are good. But first I had to thaw the fishes...a very weird sight...so many fishes in the pot, staring at me with their dead eye..traumatizing.
So for revenge, I cut all their little heads...and only keep the body, that I mixed with potatoes, an egg, and some tempura mix (I am sure this is not the way to use tempura mix). After all that though, and some seasoning to try to get rid of the fishy taste, it wasn't dry enough to make fishballs or fishcakes, so I put them in a litle ramquin. But because I don't kow how to make the oven work (it's a gaz thing and I don't want to explode in my own kitchen), I decided to microwave them for 4min, then put them in a pot for a bain marie..now it has been boiling in there, steam cooking for about an hour,and it doesn't seem to be cooked yet..

I tasted it a bit and to be honest I won't be able to offer some to my flatmates. It is way too shameful..ahem. Next time i will buy fishfingers like everyone. Mind you, my other flatmate was not used to see real fish...kids these days!She's the one who never cooks as well.....

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Ut Prosim



The strength of my bonds to VT was painfully tested, and I admit I am very much attached to the place and people I came to know, even just meet there. I grieve for the loss of a pure space like I grieve for an innocent chil, friend and parent I know for so long. I grieve for not being among the Hokies. There will be time to move on. For the time being, I offer my condoleances and thoughts to the families of the deceased. Ignore the insensitive comments of some non Hokies.

A big Hokie hug to all the people that I ever came to know on campus and that are mainly dispersed all over the globe. My head shuts down and spell them out to form a blanket of Hokie hodies, a blur of orange and maroon, like a comforting littany that would calm me down :
John Pankaj Kezang Mohammed Sharon Felice Jen Tim Hussein Kayoko Robert Caroline Joanne Faria Ami Ati Ramy Alan Adanna Himu Sabrina Gunnar Seemant Shelly Fernando Cynthia Pedro Mohammed Ragy Katherine Kim Belinda Steve Tharapong Mookie Jonathan Jodie Jeff Aysen Kirthana Fred Enrique Shevon Svetlana Hanita Johan Stephan Guillaume Kurt Dave Paula Cornelia Kristina Zohal Wei Mischa Carolina Jens Belen Nancy June Jacob Anne-Lise Amanda Breo Jessica Mathilde Zoe .......

To the VT Memorial site.

Monday, April 16, 2007

My heart cries for the Hokies

I know I got used to the 'No news, Good news' motto. So today is a terrible day as death was spreading through my beloved campus in Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.

After the frantic panic in finding out what happened to friends, sadness and anger invade my soul. The place had a special meaning to me, a havoc of peace, happiness and invicibility. A place where everything good could be achieved. A secret garden hidden among stressful and ugly piece of this world. Now it is exposed tainted with blood, madness, grief and trauma.

I treasure the sights, the people, the smells, the light, the grass on the Drillfield, the Hokie stones. I treasure the 5 years of happy studious life. I cannot help but feel the anger and ask 'WHY?', knowing no explanation would be satisfying or acceptable. I cry...

Sunday, April 15, 2007

London, 25C

Unbelievable, yet quite true! And this is a time when a forecast is useful to plan a trip outisde the city. So adios Spitalfields market and bongiorno Windsor! Mr K. and Miss M. invited me to the countryside, not far from London, where there is a royal residence, some greens and a river runs through it. And on the river, o so beautiful graceful swans.


I quite wonder how they keep their plumage so white whent he water is so muddy. And so tidy as well. I cannot even keep my hair on my head..it keeps filling up the vacuum cleaner.

Anyway, it's one of those days when you just wander about, dragging your feet to an unknown destination.

And then out of quite nowhere, unexpectedly, a lovely sight.

That is not the Windsor castle though..this is:

Well obviously it's not just big tower. It is actually very big but not very high, so all the other buildings in town seem to crowd it a bit. But from a bend in the river Thames, it appears magnificent.

Imagine looking for a room in that castle...ahem...
"Edward, please fetch the hairdresser. I am ready for my hairdo." As if
3hours later, Edward returns with the hairdresser and his uncles, and 3 maids and dogs...pfffiou.."do you even know who lives in this place?" asked the cook. "well, I am not sure how many princes and princesses there are" says the laundry woman...

Awesome gossips!
It must be the heat, my head is talking nonsense again today....

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Lazy ssaaaturday in East London


The day started early, like 09:00 but I only managed to get out of the house at 13:00. Then it was a trip down memory lane to show all the pictures from Yemen, and a real discovery of the Chinese cities from the pictures from *Wu-shu's vacations. We didnt even have time to go to the pet farm because we were so starving at 16:00 we ran to the bagel shops to grab cheap chow.

Merely 2 hours later we finally made it to Greenwich. The Cutty Sark was under renovation and the tide was pretty low and showed up some really ugly dodgy beaches. But we found Greenwich park and had a late lie down. Managed to take som real bad quality pictures with the phone. Here is the Royal Observatory, on top of a nice mount.

*I haven't found an alias for her yet so I'm just improvising...maybe Mulan, Sayuri, Hello Kitty...not sure yet...

Friday, April 13, 2007

Tooth care

I know I will have nightmares today. I know I will hear that horrible grinding machine and grind my teeth so that it wont get into my mouth. I haven't been to the dentist since 2002...today the universe caught up with me and made me cry, with metal tools in my mouth. I did say I was allergic to ALL metals on the registration form!

I am more afraid of the dentist than hell.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Hampton court


-I heard this was the residence of Henri VII (correction, Henri VIII...typo)
-Well at least he could escape by boat
-And what's up with the trees?
-Hormone inbalance
-Do you see that hottie over there?
-Nah you have the zoom...

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Happy Easter

Ah so it finally feels like spring. My nose is constantly tickly and the sun actually warms the skin. I haven't had a proper chocolate egg and I have to work. So for infinite hours I sit watching curling on eurosport in the hope of maybe understanding the objective of the game...the attraction was to see a bunch of mine sweeping the ice.

Speaking of ice I wish some people would stay outside my ice sphere...

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Trapped

'If you desire privacy today, don't deny yourself. Solitude can be beneficial.
It's time to deal with an old habit that's on the verge of becoming an unhealthy pattern. Maybe it started during your youth, or maybe it's a recent development. Whatever the case, you need to deal with it now.'

Really, it sounds familiar. Anyway I am now physically trapped on the British islands because my passport needed to be sent to the Driver's registration office so that they can investigate my identity...don't ask me why I trust them with my passport. In return they'll have to trust me on the roads..MUAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA