Well, quick update.

1. Exams are over. Yes. I feel really good about them.

2. I'm having cramps, my stomach's making weird noises and I have a huge period pimple in between my eyes.

3. I am sitting on my dad's chair in the living room with Lewis nearby playing his inane F1 game on the PS3 that my parents bought him for his birthday.

I KNOW RIGHT. PS3. LIKE, I PLAYED SEGA FOR YEARS, AND IT WASN'T EVEN MY OWN IT WAS MY COUSIN'S. Kids these days. Ah well. At least he got a horrible helmet haircut that makes me feel better every time I look at him. Hahahahaha

So actually I just wanted to come here and tell you about the little trek I made yesterday. I'd gone to school for a *cough*useless*cough* meeting and went to get my cash cheques because of this muck-up in the school's finance dept and theeennn took the train to Caldecott to get my letter page prize.

On the way from school I bumped into Selina whom I haven't seen in ages! She was with her sister who was terribly shy but I was too excited to catch up with Selina to really do anything about that.

I switched trains at Buona Vista and got out at Caldecott. The station was deserted and except

for one other Malay woman I was the only one who got off. I don't know what I was expecting - for the broadcast centre to be directly outside or something, but when I emerged from the escalator there was nothing there. Some houses, long roads and the sense of isolation. Google maps came in handy and I set off along the blinking red trail on my screen.

Far off in the distance I could see that Malay woman and I suspected we shared the same destination.

I walked and walked and walked.. past florists and strange farms and some zen-looking place with a giant stone Buddha. Then the road cleared and the buildings around were all residential. There were some awesome houses and really lavish homes that I've never seen before.

Look at that! That's not a house that's like a government building or something! Anyway I trudged uphill for about twenty minutes till my skin turned moist and clammy. When I finally glimpsed the Mediacorp building I was underawed.

It looked like a hideous old school, moss-eaten, with crows circling overhead, like something out of a really bad local movie. I was not impressed. So much for TV being "glamorous"!

I finally got to the reception area - think I walked from the back of the whole compound to the front. There were cars pulling up and people walking in with hopeful faces (or maybe it's just me). I entered the air-conditioned reception area with relief and the Malay woman was just entering as well. She told the receptionist that she was there to collect a money order or something. The receptionist looked at her letter and then asked me what I wanted and I showed her my letter and explained that I was there to collect a prize.

Some murmuring ensued and the receptionists muttered to each other that they were sure all the prizes had been claimed and I arched my brow because I was way early (the deadline for collection was 30 Dec) but anyway the woman called the head of marketing or something and asked me to tell her myself what I was there to collect. Pretty shoddy work attitude if you ask me, especially for a "top-notch broadcast station".

The head of marketing or whoever she was sounded nice enough on the phone and I waited around for another ten minutes before some skinny guy in sunglasses came down and passed me the wine bottles in a bright pink Shokubutsu bag. How the hell is Shokubutsu related to Jacob's Creek.

So then I bustled home and took a picture of the beautiful dark-sheened bottles.

:) Anyway. I'm happy. I'm home nursing my periody head, the weather is nice and cool, and I have nothing due. Well.. my FYP. But I'll worry about that later. For now I can unwind and waste my time however I want.

Hope the holidays see you well!

Lydia

It was an awesome event. I was early cos my dad sent me; he was on the way to visit my sick aunt in the hospital. I went dressed from home, in my doggy bedroom slippers and lugging my stuffed dog Blue. The first hour was spent talking and laughing, taking pictures with my friends and fellow callers. I was extra delighted to see some of my old friends who've graduated - Yew Chin and friends - as I hadn't expected their presence.

There was a magician there who performed sleight-of-hand tricks. He asked David to sign on a card and then asked me to sign on another; he also asked me to write my phone number down which had everyone laughing - and miraculously it became one card which he handed to me to keep for a memory. There were make-up artists, temporary tattoo-artists and stands for awesome accessories that I haven't even seen in costume shops. Everyone could choose one to bring home and I selected a half Batman mask.

It was so awesome just to be interacting with everyone from an environment aside from the phoneroom. I really do think there's a great vibe in our workplace. Hossan Leong hosted the event; took some pics with him and he asked me onstage what the name of my dog was and when I said "Ah.. Blue," he repeated "Abdul??" which was funny. His stand-up skit was hilarious and the competition for best-dressed was sooo funny because the people were really enthusiastic. In the end Naiyun and I snagged best-dressed for our components but really it was just because the fact that we had three tables of friends meant that we'd garner the loudest applause. I lugged home the gift hamper and voucher for high tea to pass to my parents. We never seem to have a shortage of gifts nowadays.

It was great to catch up with old friends and get to know the new colleagues better.

I'm a little tired from all the excitement and perhaps that explains the strangely formal tone.

Perhaps I'll upload some pics from facebook if I have the time; nowadays my leisure time is spent on other things.

Much love,

V

The past three days, though, I've been working at the Cap and Gown graduation event, and it will continue for a few more weeks. This particular event though I did mostly with the three girls here.

Jingshi, Khai Ting and Cindy/Ah Neo. Khai Ting was really bored and asked us to make faces of "xi nu ai le" which are happy, angry, sad and super-happy?

Hahaha they crack me up.

:)

Sigh. I have quite a lot on my mind, actually.

So tired. Headache and backache.

Well. This final year will pass really quickly.

I know it.

I both welcome and am nervous with regards to the future.

I went out with Raine last night. We had dinner and watched Transformers, which was crazy long. All that metal always gives me a headache, though I do like it despite its disjointedness. Maybe that's why I had that crazy dream about being part of a gang and this guy was gonna slice me with a super-sharp long knife when my alarm rang and I woke up.

Well.

That's all for now.

V

And it is it really is.

I never thought I'd say this, but I had so much fun at the Destiny gathering on Saturday.

I was falling asleep on the sofa when I remembered I had a gathering. Rongsheng texted me to ask if Sengkang peeps wanted to meet at Compass Point at 6. So I said ok.

.

I was there at 6:10, having withdrawn money, and he only arrived at 6:40 saying he was sorry but he had to go to John's house to get a laptop charger.

During the train ride Rong went to check how to get to the place and he discovered that it was nearer to Chinatown station than Clarke Quay. However if we went to Chinatown we'd be on our own and though he claimed his "Spider-sense" would guide us I didn't trust it so I told Bernice to wait for us. Well we made it to Clarke Quay but not before meeting Pamela. I gave her a hug - she's one of those people I was never close to in Secondary school but got closer to because of Facebook. Life's like that huh?

The first thing she did was gesture to me and Rongsheng with a questioning look and we both drew apart and shook our heads frantically. Hahahaha.

Anyway we got to Wilson and Bernice and walked to the place.

Where we waited for like an hour for Leroy, Chang Ting, Masam and Shang.

Leroy drove.

I tell you Leroy is hilarious. As is Shang. His mental processor is a bit spoilt. Hahahahahah

Anyway dinner was dismissable. It was what happened after that was fun.

We went to Studio M Hotel where Gladys had a room with John for her birthday. We stayed there for a bit, watching Aliens in the Attic and just bumming around, Shang trying to charge his phone on the superslow charger there. Then we went to look at the poolside where Shang said he once saw a similar water surface and stepped on it thinking it was glass. Typical Shang behaviour.

After that Leroy offered me a ride with him to Hougang. The rest were going to play Left for dead 2 with him. So we all went to Liang Court carpark and bustled into the tiny Vios. Masam sat in front with Leroy and the four of us squeezed in the back, Shang complaining about the size of our butts.

We were at the fifth floor. Leroy started the car and made a turn down the slope, halfway down which he stopped because there was a car in front. We stayed there for 40 minutes.

It was crazy and maddening.

Leroy got madder and madder as time went by and we tried calling LTA and even the police but each directed us elsewhere.

I tried soothing him by massaging him as Chang Ting suggested but he only responded when the queue finally moved about an hour later, when we were at the third floor, saying I should work at a massage parlour my fingers had the right pressure.

Chang Ting and Rong went scouting to check out the situation downstairs as did Masam after a while. I stayed in the car with Leroy and Shang who was playing Party in my room on his phone all the while.

When we finally got out it was 12:30 and sweet Leroy sent me home first before going for L4d2 with the rest.

It was an awesome experience actually.

Frustrating as hell when you were there, but one of those things you'll talk about for the rest of the gatherings.

:)

Well. I'm doing fine. In fact I'm going to try and enter for a writing competition. Which I haven't done in years.

We'll see how it goes. ;)

Much love, Lydia

Yup, you got it. Today is a work post. Because this week is the last week that we will have this year's graduates with us, and they are all dear to me. I can't believe this - if I'm feeling like this when they are gone, how will I feel when I graduate? Because I know this now - I care for and will miss my workmates more than my coursemates.

Before I go on I have to tell you about the funny incidents I encountered today.

You see, before calling we'll usually look at the name of the alumni and some details such as whether they'd picked up before or given anything.

This alumni's first name was McDonald.

I snickered and told my friend beside me and turned back to the phonecall when a woman answered.

Me: Hello? May I speak to Mr. McDonald?

Woman: Mr who?

Me: Mr. McDonald?

Woman: *sarcastically* No, this is KFC.

And she hung up on me. I looked at the screen in shock.

Then I started to laugh and when my colleagues looked at me waiting for an explanation I couldn't stop laughing. Finally I caught my breath and told them. They laughed as well.

A while later I called this alumni called Peck Hwee. He said, "You looking for Peck Hwee or Peck Lee?" I said Peck Hwee. He said, "Peck Hwee is my brother. This is my number, it has never been his number." Trying to get a way to contact him I said, "Oh, is this your brother's email?" And proceeded to read it out. He kept quiet for a while and said, "That is my email. How did you get my email?" I was confused by now and when he said, "I don't know what you are doing because you say you're looking for my brother but you have my number and my email."

Well, it didn't end badly but it was hilarious because I was so confused by the whole thing.

Okay on to the pictures.

That's dear Alex & Ivan, both graduating and their bromance.

Alex, Weihong and Yew Chin with some face/arm cramp :P

Ivan not being an ass for once.

Ray & Alex :)

Xue Lian smiling to herself at the video shoot.

Ivan & Naiyun, who soon after this rips off his cap to show his freshly-cut hair. Which wasn't very appealing.

Weihong & I.

Ivan & his "swag".

Of course - the picture of the day: Naiyun topless. HAHHAHAHA this was hilarious.

:DDDD
iGave.

So much love, and so little time.

Forever a part of me - NTU Phonathon.

We rock.

Love,

Lydia

There isn't much to say actually. I've said what I wanted to say on my lj.

Still.

He was there and I ran up to him, slipped my arm in his and shouted, "HI I MISS YOU SO MUCH," laughing giddily.

He grinned at me and pulled me into a hug, saying hi.

We fell into step and I asked him where we were going.

He said he didn't know. He stopped and looked around, then asked if I wanted to stay there at Raffles Place or go somewhere else. I shrugged.

"But I needa pee first," I said.

He nodded and said he'd wait for me outside. It was a long queue so I texted him that and he told me, "Haha alright. I'll go to topman k!"

Then of course when I got out I couldn't find him. Cos I've been to topshop but I didn't know where topman was. I figured it'd be near so I went to look for it. Just as I was giving up and texting him "where is topman??" I looked up to see him looking at his phone.

We went up and down looking for places to eat but he said he didn't want to eat anything western, having come from the US.

So in the end we just went to the foodcourt. I went to get food and then he did.

We sat and ate and spoke.

It was really nice.

I love meeting old friends who've been away.

There's so much to talk about.

It was funny cos he doesn't care what others think and just spoke whatever came to his mind.

After that I said I wanted to get a drink. So we went around again looking for places to go. Everywhere was full so we just walked around. He bumped into his friend who was with a girl and talked to him for a bit. Then he got his bright idea to go upstairs to see what there was.

We got lost after we went up to the convention halls. Found ourselves in a series of expensive-looking hotel-type places. We went outside to try and find our way but Alex has no sense of direction and refused to let me lead.

He went to the toilet four times.

"What?? Again?? But you just went!"

"You know I drink a lot of water!"

"Yeah but you didn't drink any just now!"

After that he led me to the National Library. We walked there, a familiar path since my mom used to work nearby and we'd walk there often.

All this while we were talking.

I was so exhausted by the time I got home.

I fell into a deep sleep and didn't wake up till noon.

Ah well.

There you go.

A more fleshed-out memoir.

For the days to come.

He's staying till August so no doubt I'll see him again.

After so much time away,

and he's still the same boy I know.