It was a (relatively) warm and sunny day, so the view was pretty good.
P.S. I actually have clearer pictures, but I'm developing a fondness for the blurry ones...
Friday, March 05, 2010
Country Roads
I was feeling a little troubled, so I randomly wandered down a lane behind my house today.
It was a (relatively) warm and sunny day, so the view was pretty good.
P.S. I actually have clearer pictures, but I'm developing a fondness for the blurry ones...
It was a (relatively) warm and sunny day, so the view was pretty good.
P.S. I actually have clearer pictures, but I'm developing a fondness for the blurry ones...
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunset, Aberystwyth
So I was brisk walking down to library in order to return overdue books before the library closed, and walked into yet another glorious Aberystwyth sunset. Sunsets in Aberystwyth are generally rather glorious.
Yesterday, my friend was telling me about his trip to a waterfall somewhere in Latin America (I forget where). He was telling me how magical it was, because he was standing in the spray, totally soaked, and the sunlight was refracting off the water droplets, and it was like standing in the middle of a rainbow. His friend had tried to take pictures of everything, but they never came out. This was a memory he would carry with him to the end of his life, he said.
My campus is on top of a hill facing the sea. In front of the library, there is a large square with a beautiful view of the sea. It was Sunday evening, so the square was pretty deserted, except for a handful of people, quietly standing and looking at the sunset. This is the sun setting over the Irish Sea, and it's just one of those views that remind me how freaking beautiful our world can be. The entire sky is painted in shades of orange and purple and pink and remnants of blue. It's been a clear day, so there're only a few wispy clouds. Away from the blazing sun, in one corner of the sky, there's a crescent moon. The trees are mostly still bare, and the branches look as if they're glowing with some inner fire. The sea is shimmering, and you can see the now-familiar silhouettes of Aberystwyth town, the Old College, and castle ruins bathed in light. A flock of birds flies past, and you can hear the seagulls calling. Two planes pass by, probably heading to Ireland, with their trails catching the light and turning orange-red, and they look like two fiery comets streaking across the sky. It is a view to break your heart. I reach for my handphone to take a picture, and realise that I've left it at home.
Sometimes Aberystwyth can be a dreary town. It's cold and windy, the hill is an ass to climb, and there's really nothing much to do. But there is space here. I constantly look up at the sky because I'm always surprised by how vast the sky is. Under this sky, I could be anyone I want. I could fail and drop out and disappear if I wanted to. I could travel to any corner of the earth I liked. And there are glorious sunsets.
Except... except sometimes you can't have both love and freedom, and the most magical moments are those you fail to capture and keep.
Yesterday, my friend was telling me about his trip to a waterfall somewhere in Latin America (I forget where). He was telling me how magical it was, because he was standing in the spray, totally soaked, and the sunlight was refracting off the water droplets, and it was like standing in the middle of a rainbow. His friend had tried to take pictures of everything, but they never came out. This was a memory he would carry with him to the end of his life, he said.
My campus is on top of a hill facing the sea. In front of the library, there is a large square with a beautiful view of the sea. It was Sunday evening, so the square was pretty deserted, except for a handful of people, quietly standing and looking at the sunset. This is the sun setting over the Irish Sea, and it's just one of those views that remind me how freaking beautiful our world can be. The entire sky is painted in shades of orange and purple and pink and remnants of blue. It's been a clear day, so there're only a few wispy clouds. Away from the blazing sun, in one corner of the sky, there's a crescent moon. The trees are mostly still bare, and the branches look as if they're glowing with some inner fire. The sea is shimmering, and you can see the now-familiar silhouettes of Aberystwyth town, the Old College, and castle ruins bathed in light. A flock of birds flies past, and you can hear the seagulls calling. Two planes pass by, probably heading to Ireland, with their trails catching the light and turning orange-red, and they look like two fiery comets streaking across the sky. It is a view to break your heart. I reach for my handphone to take a picture, and realise that I've left it at home.
Sometimes Aberystwyth can be a dreary town. It's cold and windy, the hill is an ass to climb, and there's really nothing much to do. But there is space here. I constantly look up at the sky because I'm always surprised by how vast the sky is. Under this sky, I could be anyone I want. I could fail and drop out and disappear if I wanted to. I could travel to any corner of the earth I liked. And there are glorious sunsets.
Except... except sometimes you can't have both love and freedom, and the most magical moments are those you fail to capture and keep.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
More flowers from LSB!
This time instead of soft white and pink roses and lilies and carnations, they're a bouquet of many cheerful candy colours. They're on my study table now!
Monday, February 08, 2010
You know you're a post-grad with a deadline when...
You're faced with a choice between moldy bread, cooking, and starving.
Faced with a choice of moldy bread, cooking, or starving, you choose moldy bread.
(You can afford to die, but you can't afford to buy more food or the time taken to buy more food. Or cook.)
(You try to tear away the little blue spots first though. You are a highly intelligent post-grad after all.)
You're faced with a choice between expired milk and vodka.
(Red Bull ran out.)
Faced with a choice between expired milk and vodka, you choose expired milk.
(Because vodka's not a good idea when you're trying to write. Post-grad smarts again!)
Guess who's visiting the doctor tomorrow?
Faced with a choice of moldy bread, cooking, or starving, you choose moldy bread.
(You can afford to die, but you can't afford to buy more food or the time taken to buy more food. Or cook.)
(You try to tear away the little blue spots first though. You are a highly intelligent post-grad after all.)
You're faced with a choice between expired milk and vodka.
(Red Bull ran out.)
Faced with a choice between expired milk and vodka, you choose expired milk.
(Because vodka's not a good idea when you're trying to write. Post-grad smarts again!)
Guess who's visiting the doctor tomorrow?
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
I need civilization!
2 of my housemates decided to grab me and carry me out of the kitchen in a misguided attempt to get me to go work at the computer room. I haven't been manhandled like that in years! Barbarians! Argh!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Pre- (that's an assumption) work entry
Oh god, when will they kick me out for not doing any work? I think instant noodles are in order.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
[PAUSE]
I've been running around like a headless chicken high on a concoction of party drugs and a floral bouquet of many bottles of wines. And restless chicken toes.
Definitely restless chicken toes.
My mum has tried to convince me to bring a (bulb? blob? bazooka?) of garlic back to Aber/Abby.
I'm sitting back and absorbing that fact for a minute or so.
Abby has the ruins of a castle, but I don't think they're big on vampires. Can't imagine vampire with Welsh accent.
My dad bought me a humongous box of love letters, being unhappily deluded that my minuscule luggage has space for anything other than the dead cat and its resident maggots that I'm already carrying.
I dearly wanted to buy a dried lizard for my housemate. What would I say when they check my baggage though? That's the question.
"That's Robert. Kicked the bucket when a big bottle of ketchup fell on him. I dried him out and take him wherever I go. Can't do without him, the darling. Smells of tomatoes though. Good thing I like ketchup."
I like to fill my luggage with dead animals.
I was sitting in Coffee Bean trying to study, when this 3 year old girl next to me suddenly clutched at her heart, stared sorrowfully into the middle distance, and started singing. It was fairly tuneless singing, but it might have been My Way. Emo kids start young.
I traipsed all over Singapore today carrying my laptop. I got home without so much as tenderly caressing the keyboard.
I don't have time to do any work. My hair keeps falling out. I think they're abandoning ship.
[PLAY]
Definitely restless chicken toes.
My mum has tried to convince me to bring a (bulb? blob? bazooka?) of garlic back to Aber/Abby.
I'm sitting back and absorbing that fact for a minute or so.
Abby has the ruins of a castle, but I don't think they're big on vampires. Can't imagine vampire with Welsh accent.
My dad bought me a humongous box of love letters, being unhappily deluded that my minuscule luggage has space for anything other than the dead cat and its resident maggots that I'm already carrying.
I dearly wanted to buy a dried lizard for my housemate. What would I say when they check my baggage though? That's the question.
"That's Robert. Kicked the bucket when a big bottle of ketchup fell on him. I dried him out and take him wherever I go. Can't do without him, the darling. Smells of tomatoes though. Good thing I like ketchup."
I like to fill my luggage with dead animals.
I was sitting in Coffee Bean trying to study, when this 3 year old girl next to me suddenly clutched at her heart, stared sorrowfully into the middle distance, and started singing. It was fairly tuneless singing, but it might have been My Way. Emo kids start young.
I traipsed all over Singapore today carrying my laptop. I got home without so much as tenderly caressing the keyboard.
I don't have time to do any work. My hair keeps falling out. I think they're abandoning ship.
[PLAY]
Friday, January 01, 2010
Lesson of 2009
Guess what happens when you apply heavy duty sunblock everywhere except the area around your eyes?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Singapore's 'bird market'
This is a strange sort of article on Singapore. There is some social commentary there, but it's as if the themes crisscross and interweave and end nowhere except in a sort of exotic-Zen-transcendental-urban-traditional-dreamscape of Singapore... I could imagine this being made into one of those arty short films.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
the weather
They say it's going to be a cold winter. I'll be honest, I can't actually see myself surviving this.
I can hear the wind actually howling outside my window now. Sigh.
I can hear the wind actually howling outside my window now. Sigh.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Halloween
For Halloween (apart for the black shirt, which I'm guessing doesn't count), my only costume was my perfume, Mandragore, which is supposed to have mandrake somewhere in it.
I don't think anyone noticed though. Sighz.
I don't think anyone noticed though. Sighz.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Possibly my most embarrassing moment in the past 6 months
I was just about to go out to do my laundry when this insect the size of my palm, and with ONLY FOUR LEGS!!!! (how freaky is that????) flew into my room and perched on the wall above my bed.
I opened my door and asked it to leave, I switched off the lights, I even threw a ball of paper at it (a few times!). Finally, determined to get it out of my room dead or alive (the insect, not me), I went downstairs to the broom cupboard to get a broom (duh). I marched back up, then stopped and stared for a long moment at the insect.
Then the silliness of glaring at an insect, holding a broom, getting ready to wage WWIII hit me, and I started laughing. Then I realised I didn't actually dare to whack it with the broom, and then wished that LSB was here to help me get rid of it, and then I was laughing AND crying.
And that was how my housemate found me when she came out to investigate the source of the crazy giggles. I was entirely speechless, so I just pointed at the ridiculous insect (still calmly perched on my wall dammit!). She promptly went down to fetch one of the guys (who looked pretty annoyed) to pick it up with some tissue. I could only manage a choked expression of gratitude, I'm afraid.
If it only had 4 legs, was it even an insect?
I opened my door and asked it to leave, I switched off the lights, I even threw a ball of paper at it (a few times!). Finally, determined to get it out of my room dead or alive (the insect, not me), I went downstairs to the broom cupboard to get a broom (duh). I marched back up, then stopped and stared for a long moment at the insect.
Then the silliness of glaring at an insect, holding a broom, getting ready to wage WWIII hit me, and I started laughing. Then I realised I didn't actually dare to whack it with the broom, and then wished that LSB was here to help me get rid of it, and then I was laughing AND crying.
And that was how my housemate found me when she came out to investigate the source of the crazy giggles. I was entirely speechless, so I just pointed at the ridiculous insect (still calmly perched on my wall dammit!). She promptly went down to fetch one of the guys (who looked pretty annoyed) to pick it up with some tissue. I could only manage a choked expression of gratitude, I'm afraid.
If it only had 4 legs, was it even an insect?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Oh happy day!
Never mind the totally miserable bit of work I submitted to my supervisor (along with a miserable email that I thoroughly regret now). As I said, I do stupid things, so never mind that for now.
It's been amazingly sunny for Aber. I've become something of a sun fiend because seriously, I need to warm my fingers & toes. I woke early this morning to work, and ended up sitting and typing on the window ledge (which had the biggest patch of sunlight I could find.) (Also, I'm getting quite enamoured of sitting on window ledges.) Incidentally, waking up early in the morning (for me that's about 7am-ish) should always be accompanied by this, what I call 'the slowly realizing that oh shit I am conscious music':
That should always be followed by this bit of music, the 'let's build up momentum and overcome inertia - but I'm sleepy - ok let's try again - music':
Anyway, I sent my violin for repairs (for those of you in the know, in the end I didn't have to venture into the Welsh forests since the guy asked me to leave it at a music shop in town), and after that I was supposed to buy groceries, but oh, the sea... it was sunny and the sea was so pretty and blue today that I couldn't resist buying an ice-cream cone and walking on the beach (for the 1st time since coming here!). It's a rather pebbly beach, but still so pretty! No driftwood anywhere, and it's as if the sea goes on forever (well until it hits Ireland anyway), and it's miles and miles of clear, blue water (really, the water is completely clear, I guess cos there's no sand or mud). Seagulls flying far away and minimal crowd except for a few tots playing with the water, the sea shimmering in the sun, a huge expanse of clear blue sky... Ah I'm rather in love with the seafront right now.
It's been amazingly sunny for Aber. I've become something of a sun fiend because seriously, I need to warm my fingers & toes. I woke early this morning to work, and ended up sitting and typing on the window ledge (which had the biggest patch of sunlight I could find.) (Also, I'm getting quite enamoured of sitting on window ledges.) Incidentally, waking up early in the morning (for me that's about 7am-ish) should always be accompanied by this, what I call 'the slowly realizing that oh shit I am conscious music':
That should always be followed by this bit of music, the 'let's build up momentum and overcome inertia - but I'm sleepy - ok let's try again - music':
Anyway, I sent my violin for repairs (for those of you in the know, in the end I didn't have to venture into the Welsh forests since the guy asked me to leave it at a music shop in town), and after that I was supposed to buy groceries, but oh, the sea... it was sunny and the sea was so pretty and blue today that I couldn't resist buying an ice-cream cone and walking on the beach (for the 1st time since coming here!). It's a rather pebbly beach, but still so pretty! No driftwood anywhere, and it's as if the sea goes on forever (well until it hits Ireland anyway), and it's miles and miles of clear, blue water (really, the water is completely clear, I guess cos there's no sand or mud). Seagulls flying far away and minimal crowd except for a few tots playing with the water, the sea shimmering in the sun, a huge expanse of clear blue sky... Ah I'm rather in love with the seafront right now.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Cat-napping
Funny how after that really grumpy post, I had a moment of such absolute bliss. (In case you're wondering, I have an assignment due today, which explains the overwhelming blog presence.)
It's a sunny day (!!!!!) in Aberystwyth and there's a little spot of sun on the window ledge next to my table, on which I love to rest me poor achin' head. I'd sprayed a bit of En Mediterranee, and decided to nap a bit in that precious spot of sun. Such a blissful moment... the beautiful beautiful scent of tobacco & grass & soil & citrus mixed with the oily smell of cooking from downstairs and a faint whiff of fresh cow dung, all warmed by the lovely lovely sun, bumblebees buzzing outside my window, and a slight chill from the air outside, plus Beethoven's Spring Sonata on the radio...
Come to think of it, I did classify En Mediterranee as a close-to-the-sea countryside scent, though I didn't think of that when I decided to bring it along. I do love the sun (in moderate amounts), and I do love lazy luxurious habits like napping in the sun. Ah I'm a lazy bum.
It's a sunny day (!!!!!) in Aberystwyth and there's a little spot of sun on the window ledge next to my table, on which I love to rest me poor achin' head. I'd sprayed a bit of En Mediterranee, and decided to nap a bit in that precious spot of sun. Such a blissful moment... the beautiful beautiful scent of tobacco & grass & soil & citrus mixed with the oily smell of cooking from downstairs and a faint whiff of fresh cow dung, all warmed by the lovely lovely sun, bumblebees buzzing outside my window, and a slight chill from the air outside, plus Beethoven's Spring Sonata on the radio...
Come to think of it, I did classify En Mediterranee as a close-to-the-sea countryside scent, though I didn't think of that when I decided to bring it along. I do love the sun (in moderate amounts), and I do love lazy luxurious habits like napping in the sun. Ah I'm a lazy bum.
What I miss
Ok, this is going to be my 'homesickness' post that you all knew was coming up anyway.
Apart from the usual 'I miss my family/bf' rant, I also miss several things:
1. I miss my music dammit. I can't play piano OR violin in my room. I can't seem to think without my music.
2. I miss departmental stores where I can get my perfume fix.
3. I miss taking my laptop out to a cafe to study/read/surf the internet. And I miss sitting at a cafe and reading till late at night.
4. I miss regular public transport and not having to walk till my knees go bust.
5. I miss the freedom to be myself at home. There're always 'strangers' (i.e. my housemates) around, and while they're nice enough, I just feel a bit inhibited by the presence of 'other people' 24/7, ya know? I feel as if I'm a bit of a prisoner in my own house.
Apart from the usual 'I miss my family/bf' rant, I also miss several things:
1. I miss my music dammit. I can't play piano OR violin in my room. I can't seem to think without my music.
2. I miss departmental stores where I can get my perfume fix.
3. I miss taking my laptop out to a cafe to study/read/surf the internet. And I miss sitting at a cafe and reading till late at night.
4. I miss regular public transport and not having to walk till my knees go bust.
5. I miss the freedom to be myself at home. There're always 'strangers' (i.e. my housemates) around, and while they're nice enough, I just feel a bit inhibited by the presence of 'other people' 24/7, ya know? I feel as if I'm a bit of a prisoner in my own house.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
?!?!?!
Coming back from class this afternoon, I saw a herd of cows in the field behind the house.
Wtf?!?!?!
And then found out from a friend that there's a farm behind our residence.
Yes people, there are cows behind my house. Real life cows.
And yes, I took a nap just now and woke to the sound of cows mooing. Incidentally, the sound of mooing is a lot less domestic / tranquil than you might imagine. It comes out more as a desperate growl emanating from the depths of an animal-slave destined for the steak plate. (By the way, the boyfriend recently accused me of being overly dramatic. Seriously? Me?)
And yes, I came out to do my laundry and the cows looked menacingly at me and I was half-afraid they'd charge the very flimsy looking wire fence (!!!!!) and trample me to death and go off snorting 'Medium rare indeed!'. Cows are big animals. Someone should install a high security fence, probably something along the lines of those used in Jurassic Park, but without the constant malfunctions. The current fence wouldn't stop a goat.
And yes, I read an article on BBC before coming to Wales on precisely this tragic manner of death (the trampling, not the cooking).
I think I might be afraid of cows.
Wtf?!?!?!
And then found out from a friend that there's a farm behind our residence.
Yes people, there are cows behind my house. Real life cows.
And yes, I took a nap just now and woke to the sound of cows mooing. Incidentally, the sound of mooing is a lot less domestic / tranquil than you might imagine. It comes out more as a desperate growl emanating from the depths of an animal-slave destined for the steak plate. (By the way, the boyfriend recently accused me of being overly dramatic. Seriously? Me?)
And yes, I came out to do my laundry and the cows looked menacingly at me and I was half-afraid they'd charge the very flimsy looking wire fence (!!!!!) and trample me to death and go off snorting 'Medium rare indeed!'. Cows are big animals. Someone should install a high security fence, probably something along the lines of those used in Jurassic Park, but without the constant malfunctions. The current fence wouldn't stop a goat.
And yes, I read an article on BBC before coming to Wales on precisely this tragic manner of death (the trampling, not the cooking).
I think I might be afraid of cows.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Some pictures
Train to Devil's Bridge
I suppose this is Devil's Bridge? We didn't spend a lot of time here...
Dangerous looking rocks & water
View from my room
View of town & sea from bridge
Seafront!
Old College, by the sea.
Castle ruins & some monument.
National library.
View from National library.
Another view from National Library.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
"Heteroscedasticity"
... was the word I didn't understand in an article I was reading today. Was hoping it'd be something cool, but checked wikipedia and turns out it's some statistics thing. Blah.
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