Come back to the village with us on the 12th of March.  

ditto... 

I can't upload a coloured version, I don't know why...so here I present to you, Of Bunga Raya's and Coconuts! Come home to the village this Spring... 

Take the Test! 

Take the Test!  

I'm freezing my little butt off here. Lionel says my butt isn't altogether that little, but that's not the point. The point is that the temperature has decided to dive into the deep end of the freaking ice pool in mid February! Just 2 weeks ago I was so delighted to see daffodils blooming again to mark the beginning of spring... but NO! You cruel, cruel February winds had to crush their delicate little stalks and force them to crouch, pitifully, head down towards the ground.

What's wrong with you February? Can't you at least snow angelically to make up for it?

In accordance to Lionel's 'I will not celebrate Valentine's Day because it is a commercial and expensive affair' I stayed home on the 14th, and instead of a celebration of couple-hood, Lionel and I cooked a nice all-british beef steak dinner for the Flat 1 household. Tis a far better thing to do for others... as Cher would say on Clueless.

My schedule is in shambles. The pressure is on overcook. My msn nick says 'This is a slow and painful way to die' which has caused much alarm from quite a few MSoc people. If you can't guess why I'm slowly dying, take a look at the other committee members and see if you will notice our tempers getting hotter, see if you recognise the depravity of sleep, see if you can pick out our trembling fear...

Less than a month left. One coursework due 2 days before M-nite. One compiler to program 3 days after M-nite. One literature exam to sit for 5 days after M-nite. I am doomed! Really I am!

To quote Fidel:
"Brussels and mussels... hey, that rhymes!"

Without being my usual cynical self, one weekend is too much time to spend in Brussels. There has to be more to the mussels and waffles and chocolates! (No complaints about the mussels though... I had close to 2kgs worth!) The home to the EU and NATO headquarters is surprisingly a subtly charming little cobblestone and gothic inspired town. (And I mean gothic as in 16th century architecture, not gothic as in Ozzy Osbourne). Lionel and I wandered around (in rain, sleet and hail) for two days without a proper map (the only one we had was in Dutch!) and after about 5 hours of walking, we had covered almost every touristy thing there was to do, including paying the little peeing boy, Mannekin Pis, a visit... three times! By the end of Saturday we were such experts on Brussels, we were giving other European tourists directions to the little Bronze statue (who must be dreadfully cold now that they've taken away his little costume).

Brussels is so small, we managed to bump into Fidel, Raymond, Manda and Khairiah twice! At the same spot! Belgian restaurant owners around the Grand Plaza are also the freakiest thing, as we discovered. These guys beat the Petaling Street peddlers at being completely in your face hands down! It's a good thing the schweeeet mussels totally make up for it. Also I hear that the chocolates are the best part of Brussels. I wouldn't know. I still don't like chocolates. But the displays were really pretty. And the chocolate strawberries and waffles were yummilicious. The more I think of it, the more Brussels becomes symbolic of all the best aphrodisiacs.

Our 4 star hotel was probably part of the attraction too. The best part of it for Lionel was TV (I know it sounds jakun, but we live without a TV in London!) and being able to watch BBC and football highlights. The best part for me was being right in the centre of museums galore! But we didn't enter a single one. Nope! We were for most of the day, stuck at the Grand Plaza exploring every single road and alleyway until we could map out the city ourselves!

In fact we got so good at it, we walked all the way from the Grand Plaza back to the Eurostar train station pretty much by instinct. I wasn't all too happy walking about some dodgy areas and what looked like Edgware road slums, but you just can't get lost in Brussels. And we managed to get into the shade of the station before the weather turned crazy and started sleeting like mad! To add to the excitement, Lionel had to leave his camera at Brussels immigration... which thankfully Fidel managed to pick up since he was leaving 4 hours later than us.

Now we're just waiting for Fidel to bring the camera home.

I can't stand writing this presentation for tomorrow. Stupid group project!

Just passing by to say...

Happy Year of the Rooster! Every year got fish! 1000 success!

And that Wednesday's steamboat was a really tasty way to start the new year. I must say I hate all the work that's involved in preparing the steamboat, but watching everyone tuck in after a day of preparation is all good!

Back to my presentation slides. Off to Brussels tomorrow. CL has given me a mission to find the female Manneken Pis.

And just for the heck of it... a Confucius saying for the new KFC year...

Confucius, he say - Man who put rooster in freezer get stiff cock but woman who pounce on dead rooster go down on limp cock

If you were the all true engineer type, you might be tempted to plot a graph of my blogging frequency against time and notice a consistent lapse of blogdation during times of impending coursework doom-dates (I find deadlines much too gentle a word).

This time my excuse is the second year EEE Group Project. Do you know what I love about Group Projects? It's actually fun to be researching a topic completely out of your course (in my case - legislation on electronic privacy rights in the UK and US affecting e-commerce, workplace privacy and medical privacy). Do you know what else I love about Group Projects? Nothing else!

I celebrated the end of my group project by attending the SingSoc Chinese New Year dinner and making a tiramisu cake - which was devoured by my housemates and Fidel in a day and a half. My second attempt at making another tiramisu to replace the one the almost instantly vanished was rather poor. When they say too many cooks spoil the broth, the were soooo right! In this case, Lionel, Lu and Fidel taking turns to beat eggs and whip cream resulted in what looked and tasted like egg mayo. Luckily the chocolate cheese cake I made first turned out nicely (like a gigantic chocolate chip cookie in a mixing bowl!), but I'm never letting the guys help me make tiramisu again. Lu tried making meringues out of the leftover eggwhites. Even that strangely failed.

Did I mention I've finally put to rest the M-nite script? Save for a few touch-ups here and there, it's finished! Thus after putting so much blood and sweat into it, not to mention the many nights dreaming that M-nite had only a handful of an audience and I always turned up after the show (which stank!) was over... I think it's only fair that you grace this year's Imperial College Malaysian Night. Script-writing may seem like a trivial task, but script-writing for IC's Malaysian Night (which is a one of a kind!) isn't just about writing dialogue nor story-telling. The times I had to envision how one scene melts into another as smoothly as possible, entrances and exits which didn't clash, the settings and the ability for props to build the stage, using the talents we had to the maximum, trying to fit dances in, songs, stunts, not to mention trying out several witty jokes on people before I picked the best one to put in (thank God I live in a nut-house with a stand-up comedian wannabe... and the crazy boyfriend who wants to read what I'm writing over my shoulder!), I don't think I knew what I was dealing with when I first started!

So, the point of all this is - come for Malaysian Night! All of you! Wherever you are! And only Maggie gets a free ticket for bringing me a stubbornly hard-to-find textbook from India.

By the way, I chose Brussels!

Brussels or Paris for Valentine's weekend? Isn't it horrible when life throws such tough choices at you? Like this morning I had to choose between Maple and Pecan crunch or 5 other choices of cereal. 6 choices of cereal... that's way too much luxury for a university student trying to save up money to escape the cold for a Valentine's getaway. I should get back to writing up my project report. But I want to make a tiramisu cake. I think too much, and all at once... and it's not even worth burning my brain cells over more than half the things I'm thinking about.

By the way, thanks for taking the time to click a few radio buttons on the survey below. Believe me, you don't know how grateful I am (and I'll be even more grateful if you think you have the time to do the survey again because it was fun!). 7% of the year is way too much stress on one.

Hey guys... do this for me! Pleeeeease!

http://www.my3q.com/home2/55/xangelcharl/20145.phtml

7% of the year depends on it!

and by popular demand, Charlotte takes a break from her matronly duties to provide a few selected updates.

Why only a few selected ones? Because there are only a few to select from.

Pardon the corn. Back to the pop...

... geez, I embarrass even my own self!

My birthday came and went uneventfully. I still appreciate ALL you darlings (not you, xk) for the well wishes, and forgotten birthday cards and belated birthday presents *wink wink, nudge nudge*. But sincerely, I was really touched by all the sms-es from far and away. And although my mother called three times (I'm not sure why... to make sure I properly turn 22?) and my grandmother made me call her, and my aunty called to wish me and then to ask me why Lionel is not a practising Christian, you've got to love my eccentric family on my birthday. And not just because they give generous ang pows and birthday presents. (My mother sent me 2 cards... one of which was blank. Maybe I'm supposed to save it for next year).

I had an extremely quiet birthday by all accounts. Lionel, who wanted to take me out to Belgo's for garlic mussels (say "Mm-mm-mmmmm") was hotter than the radiator on Sunday, and his fever took a turn for the worse. So, guess who ended up playing Florence Nightingle to a sick, sick boy? My godmother came around with a H-U-G-E chocolate walnut cake to make up for it. No one touched the cake till Tuesday, and even though 8 of the remaining healthier Emperor's gate occupants took a big sinful slice each... there is still more than one third of a cake still sitting in the fridge. On my birthday itself, Tao bought a delightful PURE CHOCOLATE cake from Pattiserie Valerie for me... and sounded all the more delighted when I told him I don't eat chocolate. How very gallant of him to break his low-carb diet for my birthday. We had a small (well, quite small) birthday session with the MSoc Comm and juniors in the JCR, with quite a few "who's birthday is it???" hilarious moments. That night Lionel, Lu, Yue and I had a small feast in Bugis Street. Then we came home. I put Lionel to bed... and promptly fell asleep early. On my birthday! Yes, I am growing old!

So there... I've just spent my first week as a 22 year old nursing Lionel back to health. His fever has transited to flu to cold to cough and now to sore throat... and I swear one moment I'm trying to warm him up in an attempt to arrest his cold and the next moment I'm boiling loads of barley and herbs to cool him down and lower his temperature. It's a miracle I'm not sick myself yet. But pumping myself full of vitamin C seems to be doing the job.

Alright Charm, Sher... you've got your update. And just for kicks... guess what else I got for my birthday? A HUGE pair of pinkish, flourescent greenish, yellowish fluffy shoes! They're called silent slippers for walking silently around my room. I don't know why...

Happy Birthday to me!

Who's the owner of a new Tiffany & Co. ring? I am!

It's like one of those things girls always dream of owning, apart from the sexy jaguar and Cartier diamond and Jimmy Choo shoes!

Thank you, sweetie! *beams radiantly*

And just before I turn a year older tomorrow... here's something to remind me of what I am like today...

1.B A S I C Q U E S T I O NS

[my name is]: Charlotte (...when pronounced correctly. All other forms do not apply...)
[in the morning i am]: usually very wide awake... around 2am in the morning
[all i need]: is my mummy!
[love is]: giving when you don't have to give, being there when you don't have to be, seeing what others can't or don't want to see, telling them - now, everytime, forever...
[if i could see one person right now]: it would be my little sister, because she always gets so excited about giving me a birthday present and seeing my face when I unwrap the most ridiculous thing on earth, but she thinks its just perfect for me... that's what little sisters are for...
[im afraid of]: never being able to do the things I want to do
[i dream about]: life not putting me to the test so many times... it gets abit cliche, you know

2.H A V E Y O U E V E R . .

[pictured your crush naked]: I admit I am kinda loony... but not THAT kind of loony!
[actually seen ur crush naked?]: ditto the above
[been in love]: lets be reasonable...
[cried when someone died]: actually... no. I don't really know that many people who have popped off...
[drank alcohol]: more than you can imagine... and still not drunk yet! What am I doing wrong?


3.T H I S O R T H A T . .
[coke or pepsi]: pepsi... love that gassy feeling... as long as it isn't going down south
[flowers or candy]: flowers of course!
[tall or short]: what are we talking about? mike stands?

4. W I T H T H E O P P O S I T E S E X . . . . .
[what do u notice first?]: their smile
[last person u slow danced with]: i really can't remember... i'd be damned if it was David Tai during Asean Nite. Isn't that funny? I obviously don't dance alot.
[worst thing to do]: let someone down... wickedly...


5. W H O . . . . . . . . .
[makes u laugh the most?]: there's really only one standard answer for these questions... do you REALLY wanna hear it? Like 5 times?
[makes u laugh the easiest?]: ditto
[makes you smile]: ditto
[gives u a funny feeling]: ditto
[has a crush on u?]: oh... now this is interesting, but I think it was Greg that came up with the theory that I wouldn't have the slightest clue even if whoever had a crush on me came right up to my face and told me! Girls are oblivious. Guys stop griping.
[easiest to talk to]: myself

6. D O Y O U E V E R . .
[sit on the internet all day waiting for someone special to I.M. u?]: I don't even have time to sit on the internet all day... and it's rather ridiculous to message Lionel when he's sitting in the same room...
[saved aol/aim conversations]: of course! You won't believe the amount of stuff I can blackmail Xiaokai with!

7. H A V E Y O U E V E R
[fallen for ur best friend]: eventually I guess it turned out like that...
[rejected someone]: nah!
[been cheated on] : nope!
[done something u regret]: aplenty! Got a few hours to spare?

8.W H O W A S T H E L A S T P E R S O N
[u talked to]: another one of those repetitive answers. Don't be ridiculous! you know the answer to this!
[hugged]: and this!
[sent sms]: Mum
[received sms]: Mum
[u laughed with]: and THIS!

9. D O Y O U
[color ur hair] : No. I kind of like it black. Real black!
[ever booted off in the chatroom]: no... I try not to get on people's nerves... lol! that's such an untruth! getting on people's nerves.... hahahaha
[habla espanol]: si senor, si!

10.H A V E Y O U/ /D O Y O U/ /A R E Y O U
[obsessive]: oh man, am I! And compulsive! You forgot compulsive!
[could u live without the computer?]: I sort of did, for 3 months. I should be awarded most tenacious ISE student of the year!
[what's your favorite foods?]: Japanese!
[whats ur favorite fruits?]: Longans... so sinfully sweet!
[like watching sunrises or sunset]: Sunrise... sunsets are a little depressing
[what hurts the most?]: whacking your little toe into the corner of the shower when you least expect it! Oh, that and ungratefulness...
[trust others way too easily?]: Trust no one... leads back to those X-File days...
[i want]: to know how to write a damn Literature essay properly!
[i wish]: another year of adventures... surprise me!
[i love]: you, and you and YOU and you and... no, not you!
[i miss]: awesome Char Kuay Teow!
[i fear]: hey... didn't we do this one already?
[i hear ]: Lionel snoring, or sniffling, or snoriffling
[i wonder]: how anyone can find this at all interesting


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This bored me half way through. I might delete it at some point in time... so don't get too cosy with this in case its gone in a few days

Everyone's back! Emperor's Gate is complete... with the added bonus of Amar, currently sitting in the kitchen trying to draw a Champagne bottle on Solid Works.

So much work. So little time. So much procrastinating.

Tis time I got a grip of myself and my sleeping habits. Tsk!

Another day, another destiny...
This never-ending road to Calvary...

Where did 2004 go to? What will 2005 bring?

I'm starting the year anxious and overexhausted. This is scary. Very scary.

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Anu's dinner on Thursday was a hoot! Judging from the after-taste, I'm not sure if mutton curry and a bottle of JD should ever mix. But our strange group mixture of Bbians and Amanians always will. And trust you guys to get the wrong girl wasted. Hilarious...

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Leaving on a jet plane tomorrow. With Amar. And Nadia. This will be interesting.

This is Bob. Flat 1's resident Christmas mascot. It was a Christmas present from Lionel and myself to our household... and doesn't Bob look charming, decorated with kitchen foil and paper stars and my earrings. It even has the honour of being flanked by Amar's Lord of the Rings statues and Fidel's fridge magnets from Prague are happily lining Bob's foot (feet?). Just in case you are wondering, all 3 trees are called Bob, because Lu says we shouldn't discriminate (and besides if we were to give them all different names, when we shift the basket around we won't be able to tell the left tree from the right tree)  

Last night was a great party... just a few old friends (all Bbians and just us 3 Sri Amanians and Ravi's sister), a bit of drinks, good music, and hilarious old school stories. That's the way reunions are meant to be... to celebrate Jere's coming of age... the last one of the gang.

Bbian reunions are bound to remain a model for us Amanians. The sincerity, the comraderie, the loyalty which has lasted since they were shorter than us girls, amazingly shines through between crude jokes and Amil promoting Adidas or his Rudolph Red single every 15 minutes, or Prashant and KC concocting the weirdest intellectual-wannabe stories (how does KC say particle accelerator 5 times and still not explain what it does??) or Sachpal trying to tickle Anu or Jere's climbing on the roof or Ravi trying to stop his sister from drinking... good times lah, good times.

Will have a sequel tonight. Am trying to finish my homework so that I can go there with a clear concience.

Easier said than done.

psst... Lionel's back home... Emperor's gate is only missing its one pinky, naggy, girly occupant now. Just 3 more days. The fridge and oven had better be cleaned out before that, do you hear me, Yi Shan??? And the stove too. Don't think I don't know you haven't done any cleaning for a month!

3 days left before I fly back to London. And I haven't completed a single assignment! I am sooooo digging a deep trench for myself. Buck up, Charl!

Instead I spent the whole day with Charme, just chatting in my house. We're such old, lazy pigs... we didn't even feel like leaving my comfy comfy room. Haha, but how good it is to have a good ol' girl talk with a good ol' friend. Sherene, how I wish you could have been there!!!

Leaving for Jere's birthday party soon. HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY JERE! Man... it's taken you this long to become a legitimate adult? Just have to look for my suit of armour to face the usual onslaught from Bhai, Ravi, Jere, Amil, etc. etc. Sigh...

From an estimate of 5000 deaths on Sunday, people all over the world are waking up to the news that the worldwide death toll stands at a staggering 23 thousand... and is rising yet.

My family is following the news closely, as we're still in shock at how close a call it was for us... and for our relatives. My grandparents who live in Penang, were fortunately only inconvenienced by power shortage. My aunty, in her flat along the Tanjung Bungah stretch, is well and helping with the relief aid workers at the churches and hospitals. On the evening when the news reached us, we were frantically calling another aunty, who's family was due to drive up to Penang from KL, that same day. By a stroke of luck, they postponed their beach holiday because my cousin's husband fell sick. My uncle who we believed to have been in Phuket at the time, finally rang us yesterday to say he didn't make the trip. And now that we've accounted for all that we can account for... there's only so much we can do as we watch the news on CNN or BBC and pray for them.

And I don't like the stand that is being taken. The fingers that are being pointed. The slam on the warning systems and weather stations and governments. How easy it is for affluent nations to talk and experts to give their advice when all that we can say, poor developing nations that we are, is that we have no money to buy all the latest meterological equipment they say we should have. We in the Indian Ocean region have never experienced anything like this before. In fact we have often comforted ourselves knowing we are out of the Ring of Fire. How could we prepare for what we do not know?

Perhaps it is a way of bringing the world together again, as we mourn with others in their grief. Perhaps... it's incredibly idealistic, but it's not the time to be cynical now.

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