sqrewloose

Ai Ping told me to update my blog.. but really, there isn't that much to update about. I've been putting updates off because I wanted to do a super organised entry with pictures and all- but to be honest, I've been really slack with photos- they're all either on my memory card or in my hard drive and I'm a lil lazy to upload them.

Highlight 1 But nevermind my laziness.. what else have I been up to? Well.. I've moved flats now and I'm no longer in the humungous flat. I'm now living a lil further away from uni and town, and I have to climb a hundred odd steps and then walk downhill to get to uni- basically I have to go over a hill to get to uni. Despite the fact that it's a 40 mins walk to the happening side of town, I'm quite liking in. The alternate route, via the Botanical Gardens is even more pretty- various-themed gardens and pretty flowers along the way certainly kicks off the day well. The only problem is that it takes a tad longer, and it's uphill all the way as opposed to the steps, which are intense but short.But anyway.. why am I debating the best routes to get to uni anyway.. haha.. Must be because I actually think about it everyday, because I have to choose whether I turn right or left when I get out of my flat!

On a different angle, it's nice to be living with less ppl for a change, and not sharing cooking is a new experience for me. It's quite nice being able to cook what I feel like eating each (alternate) night and to manage my own expenses with regard to food so I don't have to feel as if some ppl are eating more than others etc.

But the other drama is that, on the day before I moved into this place, one of the girls living here rang and told me that 2 of them have decided to move out and the third was still deciding. It was a lil annoying, since I only just moved in, but it's ok now- the 3 girls are really supportive and they helped to look for new flatmates (they're responsible for filling in their own room anyway). I felt I had to be part of the process as I will be the one living with the new ppl- and I guess I've been occupied with the whole process for the last 2 weeks. Thank God by the end of this week, we would have decided who the ppl are and things will start to settle down. Oh, and did I mention that I'll be moving rooms as well which is great cos I'll get a sunnier room! But that also means that I have been living out of boxes/suitcases for the last month and a half. No, not recommendable at all- this is what happens when I have to look for something, go through one box at a time, trying to take a stab at which box I would have stored it in, and as if religiously obeying Murphy's Law, it will always be in the last box that I searched.

Highlight 2 Alright.. so as you can tell that the whole moving, finding new flatmates is the new thing in my life... but besides that, did I mention that MY SIS IS HERE in wgtn now?! It's awesome! She bunked with me for a week which was great, we got to spend time together, though I was working most of the time. It was good to catch up with her after 4 yrs of being away from home. Then I packed her up and sent her to Vic House.. haha! You know what's weird? If you know about my rship with my sis- we communicate in Hokkien, naturally, don't ask me why. We only speak in English when we fight. And being here in NZ, it's soooo weird! I feel so weird communicating with her in English, so we normally end up talking in Hokkien anyway!

Highlight 3 I've been having more practice with the coffee machine and I'm making oh-so-yummy-coffee! Yep, I'm one of the baristas at the cafe in my church, Elim.  Mochacinno, Flat White, Latte, Long Black, Short Black, Cappucino, Hot Chocolate.. you name 'em and I'll make 'em! I'm still trying to perfect my milk pouring technique though, hopefully soon I'll be able to make those cool designs with perfectly frothed milk. The ironic thing is that I don't take coffee, most I'll go is a Mochacinno, rarely the lattes or flat whites. I told myself that I will try one of each type of coffee that I make- haven't made it that far down the list yet.

Highlight 4 I'm going to bed early tonight! Well, early enough compared to other nights!

sqrewloose

Gah.. I really should be sleeping, what with a cold that I can barely keep at bay. But.. I had to unpack.We have a flat inspection tomorrow, the new flat which we have just signed a lease for.

The last 3 weeks has been crazy- a blur. I need to stop. Put everything down. Stop making plans, stop seeing people. I need to retreat and hide. I need to do less. I need to suppress the driven-ness in me, for now. I need to give myself time to catch up physically, emotionally and mentally.

I'm so tired, tired of trying to make time for people, to please them, to do everything! Weekends end up to be more work than weekdays, and no, unfortunately we don't get extra weekends to recover from the weekend.

sqrewloose

The orange hues disappeared as the hands made 360° turns around the clock. The sunny day was gradually replaced by a still night. It was eerily quiet, not even balmy, the trees barely swaying. This is rather unusual for Wellington as most moments outdoors are spent with the wind blasting from all directions. There is a reason why my hair brush lies abandoned and rejected in the corner of my dresser. And if I may add, Mr. Wind abides by Murphy’s Law, in that you almost always receive a head wind, when you are late for some appointment and you are power-walking up a hill. It sends you walking with a 45° lean, I guess that’s what our salur separuh bulat and cerebellum interpret as the most efficient angle to gain balance and speed.

The quietness of the night lingered as the remaining people hurried along home. Actually, most people would have been home savouring dinner after a long Monday. Only a some, like the man who was walking his cute little jack russel, the lady who was heading home after a workout at the gym and the couple stepping into the fish and chips shop remained outdoors. I wonder if they noticed the unusual night.

As I soaked in the still night, my feet carried me along the now familiar route home. Dim light illuminated the intricate carving on the antique chair, while the majestic mirror peered through the glass windows, into the street. I should make it a point to visit this quaint antique shop when I have the time. The Original German Bakery bore a “CLOSED” sign, I noticed that not much old bread was left on the shelves as I suppressed thoughts of the delicious schneckenudels (cinnamon buns). Walking home at 8pm with nothing but a fruit and nut muesli bar in my belly did no good to my hunger pangs. I’ve heard that Red Tomatoes Pizzeria makes great gourmet pizzas, mental note to self- gotta try it one day. Holy Cow served Indian food I think, but the music which travels from this “restaurant downstairs” never appealed to me. Pratha 2 Go had an opposite effect though- it added to my pre-existing cravings for Malaysian mamak food.

The lady in blue overtook me, as I allowed my mind to wonder, most of the time not far from the topic of food. Then there was a blank for a moment, my brain zoned off after 12 hours of work, but snapped back into alertness as I approach the shortcut- access path to G. Street. As I turned to face the steep flight of steps going down, the blue vintage car with a soft top rolled around the bend. I wonder what the driver does in the day. I see the proud driver with a hat go past me in the mornings when I walk to work. My attention was drawn back to the steep descending cement steps. So much easier going downhill than in the opposite direction.

I recited Psalm 23. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. As if on cue, I heard a stream flow down the bank on the right, under the bridge. Even though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I shall fear no evil for you are with me. I saw my shadow projected on the ground, shrinking in proportion to each step. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. As season for discipline perhaps? You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. I saw a cat observe me from two flights of steps below. I refocused on the steps, and glanced up at the cat again, but it had disappeared. How very cat-like. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Then I scaled the 30-odd steps to an old wooden house I now call home. I caught up with flatmates over spaghetti bolognese for dinner, followed by the enviable job of taking the rubbish and recycling down to the street, in two trips. Yes a total of six times up and down those uneven steps in the span of 2 hours. Crispy dry clothes were folded and put away. Crispy dry clothes send endorphins to my hippocampus, the same way stepping on crispy autumn leaves does.

And now deeper into the quiet night, I bid it farewell as I shut my eyes and look forward to a new day tomorrow. Oh, what a blessing to be able to sleep and know that tomorrow will come!