It's suddenly hit me how extremely routine and monotonous my life has become.
Lectures. Work. Supervisions. The occasional film or two.
There doesn't seem to be very much going on at all really.
When the parents ask if there's anything new I'd like to tell them I pause for a whole two seconds.
And say: uh, no.
Which just implies that something's seriously wrong.
I'm the 20 year old in a completely new environment who's supposed to be having a whale of a time.
How is it that my parents back home have more to say than I do??

I'm retired from boatie business for the term.
I'm quite certain that I'll miss being in the boat shouting at the boys, getting shouted at by the coach, and generally screwing things up.
But I'm also surprisingly relieved that it's all over.
I make it sound as though I've been doing this for donkey years.
When in fact I'm probably even greener than the new novices that have just uncovered the wonders of the river.
At least I don't sleep through my alarm and let 8 fellow boaties wait in the cold at 7 in the morning for a cox who doesn't show up.

Perhaps we'll finally get to watch QoS tomorrow.
Perhaps I'll even get to watch HSM3 sometime this week.
If tickets sell out again I am going to be so so so cross.

Great.
Just after I've been hailed like crazy cycling up the hill.
It STOPS.
It just stops.

There's nothing like a cup of hot tea and M&S chocolate biscuits to cheer you up on a dreary day like this.
Except colourful little notes in colourful little envelopes and an amazing chocolate snowman.

I always find myself having less to say when term starts.
Anyway I am probably taking up too many extra-curricular activities than I can handle.
Rowing 4 times a week.
Ballroom & latin classes.
June event committee meetings.
Badminton? Haven't had time to go for practices yet.
WORK.
3 essays a week.

Bollocks.

I love being back in cambridge.
Even though it's chucking down with rain at the moment.
And I have to make the trek down the hill for a DOS meeting on a sunday.

Also, I live in a hotel.
It's abit posh.

4 days to goodbye.
5 days to cambridge.
6 days to a new bike.
7 days to Wicked.
8 days to the end of vacation accommodation payment.
9 days till everyone returns.

Everyone seems to be paying that extra bit of attention to the American economy these days; the newspapers are half-filled with reports on the whole Wall Street fiasco. To be completely honest, I can't make head or tail out of all the economics-related jargon that's spilling out of the news. I don't understand what sub-prime lending is about, don't understand why Lehman Brothers ended up bankrupt and don't understand why everyone has their knickers in a twist over the whole matter. This is probably what I get from leaving my dad's economics textbook on the shelf to collect dust. It's all VERY important I'm sure, but just staring at the facts and figures in the papers just isn't going to cut it for me. All those studying economics are probably extremely concerned about the situation at the moment, considering all the companies they probably dreamt of joining are sort of stuck knee deep in mud.

Instead of concerning myself with financial problems created by a bunch of profiteering fools, I find myself paying much more attention to news such as the milk scandal in China (what sort of &#*@&*&!@ would do such a thing to children just to make a quick buck!?!?!) and the regulation of genetically engineered animals by the FDA (did I mention how annoying the bureaucracy is? they know nothing and pretend to know everything). As you can probably tell I have no pity for the people in the finance industry. They're hardly making the world a better place.

The world seems to be in abit of a tip these days. Financial crisis - enough said. Political turmoil - the number of wars seem set to increase. Russia and Georgia. Once again America steps in to stir up abit of fun. Innocent people are affected - do the governments really care? Your guess is as good as mine. Another Cold War might well be brewing on the horizon. Environmental hazards - typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes - they just seem to be increasing with number these days, it's rather worrying. Clearly if we don't destroy ourselves, mother nature will do the job for us.

Perhaps I'll go dig up that old economics booking lying somewhere around. Let's see what all this fuss is about...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26691018/

So much for the republican golden girl.
She's abit scary if you ask me.
I wonder if R euben still wants M cCain to win now.
I sure hope he doesn't.

I can't find an online copy of the score for the Schindler's List theme.
It's rather upsetting.
Also, my D and G strings are a tad scratchy.
Which is also rather upsetting.
However, I HAVE found a copy of the score for Meditation, which makes me rather happy.
The sad bit is that I keep screeching the high note.
It's rather cringeworthy.

Helped out at the CUMSA freshers's chalet yesterday.
It was good fun.
Hunting around the spooky corridors of the abandoned changi hospital looking for hidden light sticks.
Playing poker with monopoly money.
Things really get a lot less strategic when you're playing with play-money.
Bluffs just can't work.

It's been raining so often these days.
Awful for someone who wants to go swimming all the time.
I need to swim more while I'm back.
Before I have to face the severe lack of outdoor pools in england again.
There's nothing better to do on a rainy day than read.
I've borrowed a tad too many books out of the library I reckon.
Now I've got hardly enough time to finish them.
Apparently 'Birdsong' is depressing but excellent.
Should be a good read.

Only 3 and a half weeks of Singapore-time left now.
I'm not sure if I should say that that's too short or too long.
But I'm quite looking forward to the new term.
I love england so much it's disgusting.
I've sort of committed myself to another term of rowing fun.
More 6am starts.
Sometimes I wonder what I am getting myself into.
But the races are so worth it.

Time for some violin screeching.
I hope the neighbours aren't annoyed.

And so Beijing 2008 has begun.
4 years of waiting and anticipating.
It's finally here.
The opening ceremony was simply awesome.
To have the national day parade happen on the next day seemed abit of a shame.

I have a new olympic swimming hero.
Park Tae Hwan.
Despite him being unable to kick Phelp's butt at the 200m free.
You have to admit he's pretty darn good for an Asian.
But hopefully someone does ruin Phelp's 8 gold dream.
Else I'll probably be able to sing the Star-Spangled Banner by the time the swimming finals end.
The French came so so close yesterday.
Such a pity.

I am finally through with 6am starts.
It's been 3 and a half weeks.
But now it's finally time for a break.
A long lazy summer break.

Tomorrow I will attempt to drag some people out to watch 赤壁.
If you're not mandarin savvy then that's Red Cliff for you.
I can't wait to see it for the second time.
That's how amazing I think the film is.
The cinematography is brilliant.
The plot flows along at the perfect pace.
The war scenes are absolutely epic.
The theme song is beautiful.
Tony Leung is in it. Enough said.
And I am actually inspired to read Romance of the Three Kingdoms now.

WHY is part two only coming out in January.
Tis most upsetting.


心战 - 阿兰

翻天覆地攜手浪逐浪　千杯不醉只醉月光
會心一笑不必講　對看　一切都雪亮
赤手空拳心機裡攻防　鐵壁銅牆也敢碰撞
今生不枉這一躺　烈火　燒出鳳凰

把淚風乾　這一仗　心的戰場
贏得漂亮　一起上　輸也坦蕩　誰怕夜長

狂嘯當歌　相知　最難忘
滾滾長江　滾燙　依舊在胸膛
狂嘯當歌　何妨　驚濤裂岸　不枉

脫口成句意短卻情長　千杯不醉只醉月光
會心一笑不必講　對看　一切都雪亮
赤手空拳心機裡攻防　鐵壁銅牆也敢碰撞
今生不枉這一躺　烈火　燒出鳳凰

心裡交戰　這一仗　心的戰場
以戰止戰　一起上　痛快一場　誰怕夜長

狂嘯當歌　相知　最難忘
滾滾長江　滾燙　依舊在胸膛
狂嘯當歌　何妨　驚濤裂岸　不枉

這一刻在何方　這一杯我先乾
為你受過傷　是我的勳章
多少的悲歡　都盡付笑談
今夜這月光　先喝光

The school had a temperature taking exercise yesterday.
I registered 37.8 on the celsius scale.
Anything above 37.6 is classed as fever.
Had to mull about in the "isolation centre" with other ill students for half an hour.
Took my temperature again.
Still 37.8.
Of all the days to have a temperature taking exercise.

One week till Taiwan.
Maybe I'll find some cheap aviators.

I come home everyday feeling completely drained.
Collapse into bed.
Wake up for dinner.
Waste a few hours of my life doing useless things.
Go back to bed.
Wake up at six.
Despite the exhaustion, I can't say I regret the path I've chosen.
If there's a more fulfilling career besides teaching, I don't think I've encountered it.
To each his own I suppose.
Looking back, I'm not proud about the type of student I used to be.
We were quiet. Fair enough.
We did our work when told. Good.
We got the grades to keep our school on tip of the iceberg. Excellent.
Despite all that.
Despite ALL of that.
I think we seriously lacked the enthusiasm and warmth that my current students have.
For all the extra energy they have, we made up for with cynicism and a relative disdain for life.
Grades come so easily for us.
They really do.
Yet we probably don't deserve it half as much as those who are willing to work so much harder for it and want it so much more.
And still we cry over not getting enough As.
I want to help them get through their N levels so badly.
Because I think they really deserve that.

The weekend is here at last.
Time for a good break.
The weather here seems to have smacked me with a permanent cold.
I wonder if it's an allergy t something in the air.
It can't be hayfever.

用你的早安陪我吃晚餐　
記得把想念存進撲滿
我望著滿天星　在閃　
聽牛郎對織女說　要勇敢

不怕我們在地球的兩端　
看你的問候騎著魔毯
飛　用光速飛到我面前　
你讓我看到北極星有十字星作伴

少了你的手臂當枕頭　我還不習慣
你的望遠鏡望不到　我北半球的孤單
太平洋的潮水跟著地球　來回旋轉
我會耐心地等　等你有一天靠岸

少了你的懷抱當暖爐　我還不習慣
E給你照片看不到　我北半球的孤單
世界再大兩顆真心就能　互相取暖
想念不會偷懶　我的夢通通給你保管

Sick and exhausted.
There can't possibly be a worse combination.
The lyrics to this song have never been so heartfelt.

I am home!
It is bloomin' hot and humid.
But after two days I've more or less acclimatised to the weather.
The A380 was good fun.
We were seated on the upper deck.
I've never been on an upper deck of a plane before.
'twas rather exciting.
The air stewardesses just kept plying us with food.
My only complaint is the lack of yoghurt.

The post-mayweek days were amazingly fun.
We went on one mental road trip on tuesday.
Left cambridge after spending an hour trying to stuff all our luggage into the boot of the car.
It was rather sad leaving B6 for the last time.
And deleting my name off my pigeonhole.
Spur of the moment trip to the beach at Felixstowe.
Returned to cambridge for a coffee break since it was on the way to A dam's place from the beach.
Took some unknown detour because A dam couldn't stand following a slow-moving truck.
Got lost.
Ended up in Essex when we were supposed to be going to Buckinghamshire.
Finally managed to get on the motorway.
Got stuck in rush-hour traffic.
The boys started getting road rage.
Camped out in a massive tent in A dam's garden.
Fooled around with his go-kart and hammock.
Left for M argot's the next morning.
Picnic at Hampstead Heath.
King Lear at the Globe (was amazing).

3 months back home.
I think I left a part of me back in the UK.

Only 2 days now.
4 down. ONE to go.
And I've got some massive cramming to do for this one.

The cells practical paper was such a joke.
It seems to reflect the vast quantities of stashed creativity of the cells lecturers.
The entire of section B was built around a made up story about a wizard named Harry, Professor Queasy and finding out about the genetics behind the Wizard and Muggle phenotype.

I seem to have been doing loads of random things that I really shouldn't be doing in exam week.
Punting.
Dance class.
Rowing.
Watching films.
General dossing.

Had to pass through the strawberry fair to get to the boat house for rowing.
It was such a terrifying experience.
And they were playing absolutely vile music on the stage across from the boathouse.
If only it had been a real strawberry fair.
With farmers selling fruits and jams.

2 down, 3 to go.
We're getting there.

Post-physiology was incredible.
The thought of never having to do it ever again.
Dossed around the entire day after the paper.
A well deserved break I feel.
We did some extreme punting.
Punted under a footbridge that was about 1m above the water surface.
I.E. we had to lie flat in the punt while the boys clambered over the footbridge and jumped in on the other side.
It was abit ridiculous since there was obviously nothing on the other side of the bridge.
Released unbelievable quantites of methane from the riverbed in the meantime.

刘力扬+林宥嘉: 传说

宇宙洪荒那时候
第一句爱是谁说出口
当时的他 如何形容
对方 听懂不懂
开天辟地了以后
第一对恋人什麼结果
洞穴湖泊 日升月落
他们 爱了多久
如果我们那时就相遇
会不会爱得比较放心
也许分离 还没被发明
来折磨爱情

一千次轮回都不错过
一万里相随都不放手
在每个尽头 再约好碰头
再睁开眼 就认出你我

一千次轮回足不足够
一万里漂泊又算什麼
这人海辽阔 爱总被磋跎
总该 留一篇传说

我会尽我全力
抵抗时间的侵袭
不停地爱你

还好我有你
幸好你有我
一起写一篇传说

Songs like these are the reason why I have such fairy tale ideals about love.

I can't wait for may week.
I just can't.
One and a half weeks seems AGES away.
Why oh why have our exams not started when the lawyers and linguists are done??!!!
The amount of information that needs to go into my brain is unbelievable.

May week.
May bumps.
Dancers' ball.
Boat club dinner.
Garden party.
June event.
Star wars marathon.
Punting to granchester.

One and half weeks.
I. Must. Keep. Going

2 weeks to go.
Shucks.

On a happier note, I am back in a boat!
Coxing the 3rd men's this term.
It's going to be such fun with j ames and a dam in the boat too.
Even though someone doesn't listen to me.
Which is slightly annoying.
May bumps is going to be amazingly good fun.
Assuming I survive through the exams.
We're so going to win.
So I'm back to 6am starts.
I must be going crazy.

Caius hall with k et, t erence and y unxuan last night.
The food has sort of improved.
The kitchen staff are fairly amusing.
They nick your plates the minute you put your cutlery down.
And basically attempted to chase everyone out before 8pm.

We're learning the tango now.
It's amazing.
Amazingly hard too.

I have just completed my run of 1 supervision, 3 lectures and 1 examples class for the day.
With a mere 1 supervision remaining.
And some pretty zany weather going on.
Sun, rain, rain intermission, storm-like rain, hail, rain, lots and lots of sun.
At this very moment the dark clouds are looming above the top of King's chapel.
If there was a weather god it must be a she.
Because only women are that fickle.
But then again, it's a changing world.

Natsci formal dinner the night before was good fun.
The enforced seating arrangement was abit of a pain, but I suppose we wouldn't have met new people that way.
2 glasses of champagne.
2 glasses of red.
1 glass of port.
I'll have you know my usual alcohol limit is 1 glass of wine.
It was really really good port though.
And someone stole our bottle while we weren't noticing. Bah.
I was clearly not quite with it when I went and patted A dam patronisingly on the head in front of H obson.
H obson must think I am quite the nutcase.
Good thing he's not my DoS.

Right.
Time to read up on primates before the supervision.
Primate evolution and intelligence.
It all reminds me of this photo I took in korea.

The famous chimpanzee.
Our closest relatives on the evolutionary tree.

the weather was absolutely rubbish this morning.
raindrops the size of pound coins.
but I'm exaggerating. it was bad but not that bad.
the sun has come out of hiding now.
blue skies with clouds drifting past the tip of King's chapel.
this is what spring is supposed to be like.

we've been going for post-dinner walks for the past two days, it's been good.
trooping out of college like some sort of mini army.
nature trekking round the fields past the cavendish.
taking extra care not to step on tiny snails dotted all over the pavement.
telling the time by blowing dandelions.
debating the differences between rabbits and hares.
swatting midgets that are out in full force.
enjoying the wonderful freshness of countryside air.
cambridge is so beautiful in spring.

it's quarter to five and I've just finished 1 set of short questions for cells.
cells cells cells.
currently the bane of my existence.
everyone seems to be working so hard these days.
it makes you feel terribly guilty to be sitting around doing absolutely nothing.
and the mood around is just awful.
i wish work weren't such a pain.
then maybe you'd be happier. and you. and you. and you.
and then i'd be happier.
unfortunately as of last night i've been sucked into the vortex of neverending work as well.

night out at the pub/bar tonight.
time to wind down and relax for abit before the pressure builds up again.