I thought I'd regress a bit

In full blast, I'm listening to Madge's THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION to usher in the NEW YEAR. I don't know ... but she gives me this worldly experience like no other everytime I sway my head and hips to the beat of yesteryears. Two songs down and I feel young again.

Welcome 2012!

2012 AIM

I am reaching rock bottom (if not there already). Some avenues of my life are peachy but this one other is plain SHITTY. Despite the best efforts (that's a lie ... if I obviously put in more into resolving the problem then it shouldn't have been an ongoing predicament, should it?), I always see myself next to extinction two weeks before pay-day. Having just one full salary in three months is a real tight squeeze.

This coming year 2012, I WANT A BETTER LIFE. Like what I said previously, a life graph looking like spikes isn't appealing anymore. A good balance of everything is better than getting the highs and lows sporadically. Simple AIM, right?

boredom before NYE

As I patiently wait for NYE, there's always the WWW to keep me entertained.

belated xmas

We are over the moon.

Thank you Ate Alma and Family (Gelo's Sister).

seldom do I ...

post a picture of myself with my hubby so here's another one.

alone

Today, I decided to go out of the office and eat unhealthy food together with my own company. After three weeks, the office seems a lot smaller and confinement is becoming more defined. The only thing that stops me from starting my REAL job i.e. full time teaching... is the driving licence.

For now, I need air and a different view at midday.

promise

I will talk about 2011 as if the year's gone and it's time to reflect on it. I'd rather start reflecting on it now than later while the effects are fresh and the repercussions are thought-inducing. 2011 was the year of real ups and downs. If you have to look at its configuration as a graph, you'd see a lot of spikes. Just like spikes, they're sharp and astutely severe.

It's a shame that I claim to be a fast learner. However, financial matters seem to be where I stumble the hardest. This coming year, I promise to be a reasonable Mr. Scrooge.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

his and his

Getting a 10-pound voucher (John Lewis) as Christmas gift was lovely. So, off we went to John Lewis to claim and found ourselves standing in front of the clearance sale items where prices were slashed down to 50-60%. An hour later, we decided on two frames for 11 pounds and VOILA...

Behold the Mr. & Mr. Bernal-Mayor shrines.

Norfolk

I'm tired.

I toured the whole Norfolk, visiting Wymondham, Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Kings Lynn, Cranmer, Holt and back to Norwich in nearly 8 hours of driving and intermittent stops. I must say, the landscape's breathtaking and I saw Stephen Fry's mansion in East Winch. That's just one of the highlights of the trip.

... and oh, the Blickling Hall's awesome.

high time...

Less than year later and I'm ready to move on and upgrade my "head" partner to something better. This Babyliss V2 is utterly and thoroughly sexy. Gelo and I shave our heads regularly and I must say, this is one of the best gifts we've received this Christmas.

I was away for 8 hours and...

I came home to this...

FAB work hubby!

the morning person

Based on how I grumpily looked, I am obviously not a morning person.

meet Alfie Boe

OK.

I don't know him personally but imagine if I really do... I'd get free tickets every night to watch LES MISERABLES, getting front row stalls all the time. This photo was taken weeks ago (before I left London) and I was rummaging though my old photos when I came across this one. I thought I'd give my blog a bit of "less-me, more-others" feel of it.

Some of the my dream jobs require a work of consummate skills. Performing Arts was a lure when I was young but realism's harsh rousing was enough for me to steer my way to something like.... Nursing. Still, I don't have qualms about this profession. In fact, it has taken me to great lengths I could only imagine. I feel blessed and fortunate.

But back to Mr. Boe... I have selected "star-struck" moments and I tend to choose that when REAL SINGERS grace the common watering holes around London town. I'd choose Alfie Boe over the likes of Cameron Diaz. "What about meeting Ryan Reynolds?" - the suppressed voice within echoed. Hmmm.. That's a tough one.

roll a tiny marble and you'd hit a number of toes

There are lots of people everywhere. If I'm anthropophobic, I'd avoid the City Centre where the massive SALE is on. I can only imagine Oxford Street in London during this time but to be honest, it's probably everywhere. I wandered along Norwich City Centre and it's the same predicament. You have to be ready to elbow your way to the 50-60% on sale items.

I'm glad I'm broke.

unique

It's handy to have Gehrie around. From one of the many intellectually challenging conversations I had with him today, this one truly aroused my curiosity:

- If your index finger is shorter than your ring finger, you have a lower testosterone level than those with longer ring finger.

He vehemently defended this theory by quoting an article he's read sometime, somewhere. Gehrie reads a lot of science magazines and books so I wouldn't bother retrieve any information pertaining to this claim. But weirdly, Gehrie's hand is strangely different from mine. I felt unique all too suddenly.

Gehrie's hand

say it with flowers

Oh how I love flowers! That's an understatement actually and my hubby exploits that weakness within me.

Sigh!

my definition of Boxing Day

... is watching YENTL for the nth time. I know you'd frown at the idea but hey... to each his own. Barbra's inspirational!

cheers to my first London visitor

True to his words, Gehrie and Chris drove for two hours to visit me. I'm truly pleased; wonderfully pleased in fact. I hope some of my other London friends follow suit.

It isn't really wishful thinking, is it?

shallow

I received a call from HoD today reliving his ordeal of witnessing a crime along Oxford Street. I was shocked then few minutes later, I went back to my business. One of the aims of going out this boxing holiday is the SALE return of "unwanted items". Gelo didn't like his massive speaker/subwoofer I got from House of Fraser and said that it's impractical. Although I'm into watches, I also thought getting another Diesel watch would be way too much. So I asked him to swap it with another watch but of different brand. So we drove to the city and returned the items. HoD must have been in a state of shock when he was telling me the criminal event but I was so immersed thinking of what to replace my gift with.

Then Lo and Behold, this watch... like magic... showed itself in apparition behind the glass showered with blinding lights. It's on SALE for nearly 60% off. This is a Citizen Eco-Drive watch and all it needs is a beam of light to recharge. As an Earth lover, I was sold to the idea of saving the planet and lest we forget, not needing to buy battery every year means saving lots of Sterling Pounds.

I tried it on. I fondled it. Then it sang to me.

greetings

Simple words will suffice...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL.

I mean that!

moon size

So my baby got me a new toy watch...

like... home

Christmas Eve
Friends
In-laws
Music/Videoke
Lights
Children
Beer, Wine
and
Food glorious Food!

funny...

grumpy Santa

So...

My hubby didn't like his Christmas gift.

I advocate and uphold the "keeping of receipt" in case the recipient of my present doesn't like it. I don't have a problem with that. However, in as much as I'd like to think I'm more open and welcoming of criticisms, Gelo wanting to return his gift for something else had a bit of "kick" to my ego. The brighter side is... honesty overrules pretence.

more xmas greetings

merry christmas y'all

all I'm cooking for christmas is....

LECHE FLAN.

happy anniversary baby

A year later and we are still here.

(I finally found a reason to open the champagne given by my ex-boss)

the most beautiful TREE

OK.

That's a very shallow remark. I'm not saying our Tree is pretty because of the gifts/cards around it but because of the people who remembered us this holiday. It's humbling in fact.

a year later....

PROMISE.... I remembered that it's our anniversary but austerity has other plans for me. My hubby however has this sweet way of making me feel better. He surprised me with a gift accompanied by a kiss. I really have a good reason to keep optimism afloat this Christmas.

Thanks baby.

HR

Now that my job is HR, I barely get access to clinical books. All I can rely now is the internet for clinical references every now and then. On my lunch break today, I sat in the staff room and saw nothing that's quite familiar to me. I thought I'd give it a try and read one that's within my grasp. I was on the brink of boredom when I came across this mini-article.

My eyes popped out!!!!
2000 sterling pounds pay rate a day??????

Let's start the healing...

I will try to close my eyes and summon the angels of sleep. As I slump myself into foetal position, I'd let my recently donwloaded Michael Buble "Christmas" album get the upper hand of my weakening psyche. I must admit, this album is brilliant... and he has the voice that soothes. Let's see how I feel an hour later.

negative isn't always negative but most of the time, it is just that

I thought the day would never come when I'd say, "Blogging is getting tiresome, irksome and bothersome". I usually use this space for a dose or two of reflection but this is becoming more of a moaning, whining and whinging vessel. Before I get swept away by the torrent of emotional hang-ups, let me say that over the years, this avenue of self-reflection afforded me a wealth of innate strength. Today, I'm sure it's trying to weave its magic over my annihilated spirit but I would rather like to "feel" the bruising, bleeding and near-death instead of flapping my wings to safety.

"Feeling" the pain isn't always about demoralisation and destitution. It is a phase where you see that life is shit that even Christmas couldn't fix; sugar-coat, maybe. The truth is, I see a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel but patience is running thin. So for now, let me sulk.

HATING X-MAS

I HATE THIS DAY AND THE DAYS TO COME.

good strangers

OK.. a new work colleague is not a stranger but in time scale reference, she's probably not a total stranger but no higher than an acquaintance. I was trying to "work hard" when she called my attention and said, "Happy Christmas Ryan". She handed me this (see below) and I was truly moved. The conversation I've had with her these past days just wouldn't equate to being a recipient of a gift. I guess the Christmas holiday is good enough reason for this but still..... OK, I should really stop qualifying people's motives and kindness.

I just have to be grateful.

smart

It's almost two weeks that I've been wearing SMART clothes. I'm definitely not used to it but as expected from my present job, I couldn't do anything but be compliant. Still, I couldn't bring myself to the realisation that wearing shirts and ties is the norm. I'm truly moving away from the comfort and regularity of wearing a uniform. Being SMART on a daily basis is THE uniform.

What they say about this is TRUE. It's a waste of energy and washing powder with regular washing and being fashionable everyday is a tall order.

a tree full of life

A Christmas Tree without the decorative pieces is lifeless. It screams CHRISTMAS the moment its base is adorned with gifts and even more gifts. Our Tree is starting to look like it's feeling the festive season. It's really good to feel loved.

far and wide

In this day and age, sending a Christmas card by post is NOT really recommended and definitely NOT practical. We all rely upon the wonders of technology to get our messages across. However, there are those who really make an effort and make the meaning of card-giving more heartfelt. Hence, I'd like to say a massive THANK YOU to Shivaun and Anthony for taking time to buy the card, write a personal message and trek the Post Office to get a stamp and drop it off the slot.

I am in awe of your true humanistic approach to living.

not all x-mas trees are pretty

...like this one a metre away from my desk. Seriously, I am that close to donning my artistic cap on and intervene straight away. But this is not my time to shine. There's a time and place to raise my profile as a valuable member of staff. Tomorrow, maybe.

austere

My hubby endeavours to wake up on his day off to cook me breakfast and a take-away lunch. This way, we are saving a lot and hopefully, get enough money to buy this dead animal on display in TKMAXX... or just save it for the rainy days to come.

disappointment

Truly, these flowers look pretty and yes, colourful. Actually, way too colourful for me. That's why I'm not so surprised to find out that they're half fake. They're real flowers but they used multi-coloured ink instead of water to keep it alive. Saying that, I feel for the flowers. The world really... is obsessed with fake-ry.

in company

With my hubby at work, I am left with these:

- a laptop
- a cup of tea
- a jar of nuts
- a telly
- an electric fireplace

A Christmas Carol just made me cry.

snow snow snow

I do love London

I really do.

Park Plaza + London + relatives