Information architecture

I was having an enjoyable chat with Laura earlier on in the evening about this new internal website project that I am currently involved with at work (which is rather a refreshing change from the normal work bore). And also how I would be keeping notes of most of the things I do day-to-day, like which movies did I catch, whom I met up with or will be meeting, and (recently) my room hunting viewings, oyster card expiry dates, etc. in my schedule. Yes I'm old fashion rather than keep a plam top or blackberry. I'm doing the planet good by recycling paper (that made my scheduler) and reducing my carbon footprint from charging my devices. Excuses! Yeah yeah. whatever.

I must say she was rather impressed at how organised I am with all my planning and jotting. Well, of course I beg to differ but a nice compliment every now and then does feel good. *smirks* She said I'm exceptional as she pointed out not everyone keeps track of their daily lives like this. I'm a perfectionist I have to admit, it's a diease I can't kill. Everything has to be pefect or at least in order otherwise I could end up being in some kinda weird cranky mood if they don't go my way. Oh yes, you don't wanna go that way with me. You don't know me! Guess that's partly why I'm mostly miserable and greatly depressed of late with so many issues going on in live for me. I've been knocked off my chair and it's been really hard trying to get back on as it wasn't on my agenda. Hopefully after sorting out my current lodging suitation - which somehow had quite a twist of lemon added in from the landlord which I shan't go into - I'll be able to get on track and start being the perfectionist I am again. Back on the chair. I would require alot of money to sort this out I foresee. (Not bribery you silly)

Well as I was saying, I was having my enjoyable chat with Laura, yah dah yah dah dah, she suggested that I should move on and try specialising in a specific field in my line of job as she can tell that I really have fun and enjoy doing these bits of (website) organising and planning stuff. And presto - Information Architeture - that's what I should go into. She also said that I'm not using my (many) hidden talents at all and since this is a fairly new field in the industry and on demand for it will be a good milestone. I think I could look into that next year! Something to add to my resolution perhaps? Apart from trying to learn french of course which just got thrown out of the window after a few months' of lessons. Shame on me! And I barely remember how to speak it now.

Oh well, guess going down the information architecture line does sound visible and a good challenge. It's time I know what I wanna do in my line of job! And even get to enjoy it (hopefully). This will definately be on my agenda. You better watch out! You better not cry! 'Cause I'm telling you why! Information architeture is coming to town!

So what is Information Architecture?
As wikipedia would say:
Information architecture (IA) is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. Among these activities are library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming, technical writing, enterprise architecture, and critical system software design. Information architecture has somewhat different meanings in these different branches of IS or IT architecture. Most definitions have common qualities: a structural design of shared environments, methods of organizing and labeling websites, intranets, and online communities, and ways of bringing the principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.

Sounds cool? Here's more if you're keen to read on.
http://www.skillset.org/interactive/careers/profiles/article_4749_1.asp

Definately something I'll try to look into next year (once my lodging hoo haa is sorted). Wish me luck folks!

All is not lost!

ALL IS NOT LOST!

PHEW!

Terrible things

[18:17] Pea: i wanna shake the world at its neck
[18:17] Pea: *shake shake shake*
[18:17] Potatoe: world got no neck
[18:17] Potatoe: its round
[18:18] Pea: that's why i can't even do that
[18:18] Potatoe: u gotta kick his balls
[18:18] Pea: haa
[18:18] Pea: if i kick the balls will it work better?
[18:18] Potatoe: maybe it will say ouch haha
[18:19] Pea: just ouch
[18:20] Pea: ok i will kick it a couple of times.
[18:20] Pea: make it shout a few ouches
[18:20] Potatoe: maybe it will be blue black
[18:20] Pea: but.. isn't the world supposed to be a SHE?
[18:20] Potatoe: erm the one i know of is a he
[18:20] Potatoe: maybe the one u know is a she
[18:21] Potatoe: she has a tough life, needs to make babies
[18:21] Pea: lol
[18:22] P0tatoe: he just sleeps around easy life
[18:23] Pea: sucker!

One of my many enjoyable msn conversations with my beloved potatoe.

This year my emotional state is like a roller coaster and poor Dan has to endure the "fun" and "thrills" of it. I get terrible and extreme mood swings. Things haven't been going well lately - work; coping with financial suitation; house rental/hunting issues - twice within a year; being ill again right after recovering from one; etc. I'll just mention one for now. It may seem minor to you but it means the world to me (on top of everything else that's been happening) - for now at least. (It might go away after a night's sleep)

Just when I've decided to brace myself for the new challenges to face, trying to induce myself with positiveness outlook, I got crumbled. Negativeness hits.

I had been so preoccupied that I'd actually forgotten to renew my web hosting and domain name services. They expire on 2nd November of every year (if I keep to the same provider that is) and it slipped my mind to renew it which I only just did. Hopefully my website/files (which I haven't backed up the latest copy) will be retrievable once my payment has been approved.

It seems 2008 doesn't feel like a very good year though the number "2008" looks nice. How deceiving. May 2009 be better.

I have to try inject some anti-negativeness into me!

*shake shake shakes the world at its neck (even if it doesn't have any)*

Movember

Here's my movember badge (for making a small donation) in support of Dan growing a mo for November.

What is Movember?

Movember (the month formerly known as November) is a charity event held during November each year. At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible. If you'd like to donate to show some support you can vist the mo site now and start donating via credit card or pay pal. Remember a little goes a long way. https://www.movember.com/uk/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink&rego=1456376&country=uk

Resolutions

Why wait for new year to set our resolutions?

I'm gonna set myself 5 resolutions now!

1] sleep earlier
2] spend when only necessary
3] start saving
4] eat more healthly
5] get into (bikram) yoga

Easy they may seem but it takes alot of effort and determination! Wish me the best of luck folks!

10 questions to ask men

Well well well.. the past couple of months had been quite a whirlwind. Lotsa ups and downs, ups and downs. Ups and downs. Very tiring. Amidst the gloomy times, there's still the occassional beams of sunlight shinning through. All is not lost yet though I am kinda very much homesick. It's not fair that I get to have so much fun here without my lovely friends back home to share those moments with. Sigh. But I'll be going home soon! Yay! Though only for a short week, it'll be worth it! If only I could be home for a bit longer.

Lovely view of the summer sky in my London neighbourhood

I now have new flatmates and they are wonderful and lovely people! It's been really enjoyable and much more a home now with them. We have so much fun together. We cook together, we joke together, we help give each other fashion tips together, we watch dvds together, we invite friends over and have a good laughter over a nice home cooked meal together. "We have to do this more often!" We kept repeating to one another. Just tonight we invited a friend over, all girls night of food and fun. I made us some oven baked chicken that had been marinated with soya sauce and oyster sauce. Samina made a lovely sweet potato and spinach curry which we all loved and couldn't get enough of. Franziska made some german speciality from potates which was just as yummy. Went well with the chicken which was mmm mmmm mmm... And there was rice with veggies too. As for dessert we had chocolate moose with ice cream and amaretto. Sweet. Oh no... You can never go without a dessert after a great meal. Not when you're with us!

Not sure if it was the food or the alcohol (we had some rosé and red wine too), but we decided to come up with 10 questions to ask men in the middle of our convesations. We were laughing while thinking up the questions or rather answers and at the same time trying to concentrate on our devouring our meals. Yes, I admit, we are rather ambitious women.

So here goes. Listen up you men out there, it's time to answer some 10 questions now! (Dan, you too. Lol)

10 questions to ask men

Q1 When you see boobs what do you think of?
1] milk
2] melons
3] support and comfort
4] sexual pleasures

Q2 When you are running, what do you feel in your lower region?
1] tennis balls
2] cotton balls
3] swinging sensation
4] squashing

Q3 Does underwear matter?
1] Bridget Jones (granny pants)
2] nothing is best, less is more
3] body suit
4] ann summers

Q4 If you really like someone how soon would you contact her?
1] immediately
2] after 1 day
3] after 5 days
4] after a month

Q5 How old do you think you'll need to be to get married?
1] early 20s because the first one for life
2] 30s, had all the fun and can do without it
3] age doesn't matter, just when it feels right
4] commitment, what is commitment?

Q6 What boobs size do you like?
1] a pinch
2] a handful
3] 2 footballs and I'm happy
4] I like suffocation

Q7 What do you like your girl to taste like?
1] burger
2] beer
3] cherry
4] chocolate

Q8 What would be the most romantic moment?
1] fish and chips and a pint
2] going to a football match together
3] a box of chocolates and a bunch of roses
4] watching the sunrise together

Q9 How intelligent does she need to be?
1] blonde bimbo in a pink track suit
2] in an apron (motherly)
3] like to look through her smudgy glasses in a dusty library
4] up the ladder (power bitch)

Q10 Fu*k these questions...
1] I just want to get laid
2] I just want to get laid and see how goes
3] I just like her
4] I just love her for the way she is

Current state of mind

I'm feeling very fragile at the moment. My heart is frail. I can't breathe and I might just break down any second. I feel like running away again. Crying non-stop for a period of time doesn't seem to pacify that feeling anymore. I need something else. I need a break - to run off into the wind. Whispering into the wind my worries and let it be carried away into the far distant, let it run away with the wind instead.

Tears of Joy

Norah Jone's "Don't know why" is playing in the background. I like having her music to chill out to. I'm in a mellow mood now. Calm. Smiling to the soothing music (only to be ending up sobbing later on down the blog as I blogged). The past month or so had been quite a nightmare, I had a load on my mind and they still are. Things have been rather too much to bear. I feel worn out. However I'm trying to relax and assure myself that everything will be alright if I take it a step at a time. I can be brave and strong again if I really try hard enough. Where has the old Angela gone to? I need her back!

Earlier on I stayed back late at work, not to do over time on a Friday night but instead to chat with my veggie friends, Potatoe (Trixy), Mushroom (Joy) and Aubergine (Adeline). Unfortunately Winter Melon (Syndy) couldn't be present. Oh man, how much I've missed the girls! And it's been ages since we last had a group chat like this online together. We're all over the world now. It was really great catching up and listening to each others lives and sharing experiences like how we would normally do at our many past gatherings. Guess internet's the best cyber hangout place for now. Till we all meet again to be able to see each other smile and laughing together, I'll be waiting, looking forward to that one day. I miss my good old veggie babes. Definately. Absolutely. Yes. It makes me sad not being able to hang out with them.

Last night I was looking at photos from Joy's trip with her boyfriend and his family in Orlando. They looked happy. She looking so happy just brought tears of Joy (pun intended) to my eyes. I'm so happy for her and yet so sad because it suddenly brought back fond memories of those happy times we had hanging out together since our polytechnic days to when we last met up back home. Oh my, and it just dawn upon me that it's exactly a decade this July that we've known each other. How time flies. How mocking life can be. I'm glad we are still in contact with one another though being thousand of miles apart.

Perhaps I'm the sort of emotional type. Getting worked up easily. I had a chat with Joy on skype while I was walking to Boots at Piccadilly Circus to get some eye gel after getting off work. The moment I heard Joy's voice, I couldn't keep it within me and I started crying softly whilst dodging people's gazes on the street. I kept repeating in mandarin "I miss you so much!" while trying to hold back my tears. It's great to be hearing her voice again and to be chatting and be myself again (when with her).

I don't know why but I'd been feeling rather homesick lately. Guess it must be the stress, and not being able to have my close friends with me in times of my need to have their ears and shoulders to borrow for comfort depresses me even more. It's not easy being a foreigner. I supposed.

I've caught it...

After staying home and watching on my laptop two animation movies - Hoodwinked, Meet the Robinsons - I begun flipping through various older journal entries over the past three years of my stay in the UK. Main ingredient of all the or rather most of the entries taste of lonliness. Time flies, I have changed. From someone who was ever so cheerful, bubbly and carefree to someone lonely, depressed, moody and very insecured. The cheery self now is fake. I wonder if that's what London is capable of. Turning innocent, naive individuals to such state. Or is it the real world that's the actual culprit? Have I been too protected back in SG? Or is it all part and parcel of growing up? But I've always been 12!

All the recent series of events - work, life, love - has drained me. I feel really tired, strained, numbed. I don't feel a thing anymore. It's like being tied down and having lotsa pins stuck into your flesh, but you don't feel a thing, you can't feel the pain. That numb. I no longer know how it is like to feel again. I don't know what emotions do I go through each day. Could this be depression taking in? I somehow won't be surprised if it is. I suspect that I've caught it...

Fake left-hander

When I get bored at work or when I'm starting to fall asleep before my screen. What I tend to do would be - to take a pen, grab some paper and start writing with my left hand (I'm a right-hander by the way). I'd be listening to a song, catching the lyrics and trying to write as much as I can grasp with my left hand. It's rather a good idea to keeping awake and myself amused.

Now, why don't you try that too! Try writing with your other hand.

Come that feeling again...

Having someone there to share one's time with; having someone there to have fun together with; having someone there to be told how special one is. Having that someone. Someone I never imagined I can be so fotunate to have.

It's almost like a dream. So afraid to wake up, for it may just disappear. There I go again. My fear of waking up and losing it all. My fear of being able to be happy for fear of losing it. Do I enjoy making others happy - seeing them happy on the expense of my own misery?

I'm such a child. Living in the fear of getting hurt again if falling deeper in. Sometimes ending up saying things that may hurt but not with the intention to harm but to protect.

Operation Lily Pad - IKEA

Code name: Operation Lily Pad
Location: Ikea, Croydon UK
Mission: To capture The Frog "MATA 4-piece eating set"
Status: Accomplished


Decided to head to IKEA to get the baby feeding set to top on to this other bath time toy I'd gotten for Michelle's adorable son's first b'day party this coming Saturday (but his actual b'day is on 1st Jan). It's either tonight or I'll never get my arse to IKEA due to my constant procrastination habits. I'm glad I did and my mission was a success. Next mission would be to get the b'day card.

The weekend

It was Dan's b'day last Friday. We decided to spend the weekend together instead so he can have a good night out - hard rocking - with his friends on Friday (the music's not really my cuppa tea). On Saturday we went to Taro - a really neat japanese restaurant which has the best jap rice I ever had in London - before heading for clubbing to Laurent Garnier at The End. At Taro, we had some hot sake, which I rather am fine with. It taste milder when warm as compared to when its cold. It feels a little like vodka but taste sweeter. Unfortunately Dan didn't really like it, so the whole bottle was mine! *evil grins*

I was so looking forward to Laurent Garnier spinning and a great night of dancing which was fun until it got too hot from the dancing in the club that we had to take a break. There should be a law in UK that all clubs have good air conditioning in them. Tsk tsk... The music turned rather relaxing trance-like (I prefer it when it was much harder trance or whatever you call it) later into the night. It was a good thing we decided to call it a night at 3am and went home.

Sunday was spent rather lazily. We didn't get up until late. We're like 2 lazy cats. Dan's lucky that the other lazy one - me that is - is cooking for the hungry cats. For lunch I quickly whipped up some pasta and salad. And for dinner, it was a great success. I made beef + pork + coriander meat balls with slight tinge of teriyaki sauce; stir fry bean sprouts + tomato + spring onions; steam salmon in chinese rice wine + ginger + mushroom; rice. Yummy, there's enough left overs to last me for the next 2 - 3 nights. Gee...

We watched some DVDs too - attempt to "force" Dan to watch High School Musical was unsucessful. First DVD watched was Seven Swords. The fighting scenes were so cool! I won't mind watching it again! Dan fell asleep for half of the movie - guess he must be really tired. Imagine 3 late nights out (drinking/dancing) in a row who wouldn't be exhausted. Next was Appleseed, I've seen this animation movie before, it has really cool battle scenes along with the music. Then it was my turn to become sleepy and nearly fallen asleep towards the end of the movie. I started blabbering and became whiny and needed sleep. So that marks the end of our chilled out weekend.

Wolfmother

I guess it's been some time since I last bought an album. About time! Once I get paid, this would be the album I be getting.

Listen to the samples

I first got to know Wolfmother last year when I went to a music festival - Isle of Wight festival 2007. Here's a quick run through: It was my first Music Festival camping experience (apart from a Dance Valley Festival in Holland back in 2006). This one was well nice but pity I was on my own most of the times. I couldn't understand what Amy Winehouse was singing - must be too drunk and mumbling instead of singing - but her voice was power! Woo hoo! And Kasabian was great too! Must say that Muse had the best crowd and visual/lighting effects! I was standing amongst the lively crowd, singing and waving with them. Way awesome! Hell of an experience.


Wolfmother is a Grammy Award winning Austrailian hard rock band from Sydney, New South Wales. Though heavy metal, hard rock may not be my taste to music but there are exceptions of course. Wolfmother is definately one of the few. Their music still has a nice rhythm and melody to it. It's not just all about screaming and metal, really nice guitar too.

Spot the difference? Tsk tsk...

a box of dark truffles

YIPPY!

I found this box of dark truffles tucked away in my drawers at work.

But here's the catch - expiry date 01 Dec 2007

GREED overcame me.

I popped one into my mouth, still taste fine. However after a few seconds...

GEE... I think I start feeling hyper!

I feel like jumping about, okay, I'm exaggerating. But my heart sure feels like it's racing!

OKAY! That's it! I'm throwing those dark truffles away!

Just not ready for work

Woke up this morning, bad hair day, but that's always the case when I wash my hair the night before. Think I've grown too attached to my hair straighteners. Bad.

I couldn't find my pink sneakers...
when they should be on the shoe rack or shoe cupboard.

I couldn't find my fav metal watch...
when it should be sitting on the shelves.

I couldn't find my keys...
when they should have been in my bag for work.

I couldn't find my coupons...
when they should be somewhere on the shelves.

One stop away on the tube. I finally remembered I had my keys by the kitchen back door and I hadn't lock it! Blimey, I had to take a detour back. Thank goodness all was fine when I got home. Rushing about in the morning isn't nice. I'll have to look for my other stuffs when I'm home.

I think the stock market is facing bigger problems than mine today.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7201812.stm

needs

I NEED to get to a beach!
I NEED to get my feet onto a snowboard!
I NEED to get roller blading again!

I NEED that sensation of the freedom of the wind blowing into my face as:

I sit by the waves;
I board on the snow;
I blade past the crowd;

A moody phase then and again

I think I'm a rather insecure person when it comes to many things, even when in a relationship. If I'm not getting enough attention my mind may begin to start wandering into thinking. I try to block the negative feelings out. Somehow in order to do that I would turn moody, into a I-just-wanna-be-left-alone mode for no reason; start letting that loneliness feeling take over and gain control.

Is this how it's supposed to be? I think it's rather unhealthy but I'm not really sure what should I do. It's been some time since this feeling took over this way, or perhaps not.

It'll be nice to be sitting by the window with a mug of hot drink, hot choco maybe in this instance, sipping while looking out at the stars shinning in the sky. Or perhaps sitting by a cafe window, reading a nice book while enjoying the hot drink. Sad yet soothing music playing in the background.

Dream hairstyles

Here's a quick preview to my current hairstyle.

- front view -

My stoopid smile.
Not quite sure I like the front view of my hairstyle.

- side view [right] -

I like the sides better. Choppy layers.

- side view [left] -

I like how the fringe flow to the sides.

And here're 2 hairstyles that I like.

- hairstyle #1 -

I'm trying to grow my hair long and hopefully to be able to get a similiar cut like this.
One that's just as funky and will look good on me.

- hairstyle #2 -

I really liked how this girl here is able to carry off this funky style, she's so cool!
Or rather the hairstyle is so cool!
This may not suit me. I have a rather long face.

The New Year

The sky's clear blue out of my window. The leaves that used to block the lovely view of the sky had gone to visit the ground (month before). All left were but bare tree branches. Winter can still be beautiful. I'm smiling. I feel relax. The sun is shinning and that makes my heart beams. Noon.

It's nice to finally have a quiet time to myself. I've spent most of my December away. I've been rushing about like crazy meeting friends during my 3 weeks holiday (December 2007) back home (in Singapore). It's a pity that time is always never enough when you're having so much fun hanging out with them. I had mixed emotions when I left the airport this New Year's day to fly back to London again. In a way I wished I could stay in Singapore but yet in another unknown way I know my time in London's not up yet. Lord knows how long before I get to settle down back home. I think my dad is definately looking forward to that day. He misses me I could tell. I remembered him telling me "You must send me emails (you've stopped doing it)!"

I never really had breakfast with my folks before. Gosh, I don't even know if we ever had one together before! It was nice to have breakfast together (at the airport). It was brief as I had to catch my flight but it was nice (if only we could do that more).

I waved goodbye to them after I passed through the gate.

I waved goodbye to them after I got my passport checked.

I waved goodbye to them after I walked past the passport check point.

I waved goodbye to them one last time as I disappeared into the bustling departure hall.

Waving away the year 2007 that's past and waving to the new 2008. But never waving away family and friends dear to me back home.