Well, that will not be until tomorrow actually but for a time outside of full term, today sure has been quite busy. Had my Tutor meeting just now, and there's Director of Studies meeting next, have to hand in my physics report, collect exam slip from the office, exchange pleasantries with friends that I haven't seen in a month, etc etc. Will have a four-hour physics lab tomorrow. I feel like being in an accident or something, one time you're just relaxing and all and then suddenly ,POW!! You're hit with all this things. Good thing I've prepared a bit for it. Some people stayed up till four last night to finish the report. I felt like laughing and dancing around in their faces.
I was using the computer this morning, and this pop up window appeared, saying that this "Windows Genuine something something" program requests access to the internet. Not knowing any better, I gave it permission. Only later that I found out that Microsoft has taken a step to "brand" illegal and pirated Windows os. Basically, a pop up will appear reminding you that you're not using a genuine copy, which will be both annoying and embarrassing. Plus, you will also not be able to download Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Defender, not that I use IE any more. The program that I gave permission to is the one that does this branding thing. My Windows is genuine, so no annoying pop ups for me, but I'm sure lots of people back home are in for a surprise.
Yaz.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Experiment chocolate caramel: FAILED!
Okay, so my latest blunder is this recipe I found on the web that is categorised as easy. Darn, you'd think I would have given up by now. There's this, plus the caramel fudge I tried a while back, toffee apples, and not forgetting the apple crumble. This is probably why I don't tell my friends what I want to bring to each weekly meal. You know, to keep from being embarrassed every time my gourmet cuisines don't work out. If I tell them, they most likely will not be able to keep their mouths shut and start teasing me about it. In fact, it has already started with some people *ahem*keste*ahem*.
Oh well, as a consolation, I did manage to make some brownies for the weekly cookout, even though it was just some instant brownies mix from Sainsbury's that you just have to add water to. Still tastes nice. I'm gonna try making some cookies next week, fingers crossed.
Should have taken a picture of the brownies.
The new term has started for Cambridge although lectures will not start until next week. It feels great to see some familiar faces of first years in the dining hall after one month of it being filled with post-graduates and phD students whom I don't recognise. I pitied them though, since they don't have breaks like we do.
Read a really emotional fiction story yesterday that made me despise the world in general. The feeling lasted a whole morning so I couldn't get any work done. I wonder if it's normal to get carried away by stories like that.
Yaz.
Oh well, as a consolation, I did manage to make some brownies for the weekly cookout, even though it was just some instant brownies mix from Sainsbury's that you just have to add water to. Still tastes nice. I'm gonna try making some cookies next week, fingers crossed.
Should have taken a picture of the brownies.
The new term has started for Cambridge although lectures will not start until next week. It feels great to see some familiar faces of first years in the dining hall after one month of it being filled with post-graduates and phD students whom I don't recognise. I pitied them though, since they don't have breaks like we do.
Read a really emotional fiction story yesterday that made me despise the world in general. The feeling lasted a whole morning so I couldn't get any work done. I wonder if it's normal to get carried away by stories like that.
Yaz.
Monday, April 17, 2006
The explorer in me
Somehow, the anime site that I always use to download from was pretty slow today. Usually it's capable of doing around 300 kb/s per file but today it was down to only around 30 kb/s. So while I waited impatiently for the neverending thing to finish downloading, I went out for a little walk.
Today was much better than yesterday. More people were out and about, and I took a slightly less usual route to the bridge near Queens College. I'm most familiar with the part of the River Cam between Magdalene and Queens since that's the usual punting route and haven't ventured much beyond these two points. Today, though, I felt inclined for a little perigrination. So I travelled down River Cam from Queens to the south.
It was a nice walk all in all. I came to a halt where the two forks of the river merged into one, stopping me to go further. But there's a nice little park and playground nearby for kids and their families. I remembered complaining to a friend once (can't remember who) that there's not really a park in Cambridge, one that has trees and all where you can sit down and just relax. Well, there's one behind the bus station but I don't like it much. There's also sort of a botanical garden at Hill's Road but you have to pay to go in. But this playground place is just nice. I think this place will see a lot of me in the near future.
It rained while I was at the park, so I had to go back. It stopped while I was at the town centre and I was probably the only one who looked wet, since at the town centre you could go into shop and all to take shelter. The magnificent English weather. Got to luv it.
Yaz.
Today was much better than yesterday. More people were out and about, and I took a slightly less usual route to the bridge near Queens College. I'm most familiar with the part of the River Cam between Magdalene and Queens since that's the usual punting route and haven't ventured much beyond these two points. Today, though, I felt inclined for a little perigrination. So I travelled down River Cam from Queens to the south.
It was a nice walk all in all. I came to a halt where the two forks of the river merged into one, stopping me to go further. But there's a nice little park and playground nearby for kids and their families. I remembered complaining to a friend once (can't remember who) that there's not really a park in Cambridge, one that has trees and all where you can sit down and just relax. Well, there's one behind the bus station but I don't like it much. There's also sort of a botanical garden at Hill's Road but you have to pay to go in. But this playground place is just nice. I think this place will see a lot of me in the near future.
It rained while I was at the park, so I had to go back. It stopped while I was at the town centre and I was probably the only one who looked wet, since at the town centre you could go into shop and all to take shelter. The magnificent English weather. Got to luv it.
Yaz.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Cacophony of Cambridge
I love the weekends. Especially when it's not gloomy, unlike today. I made a habit of going around walking randomly around Cambridge every day. Can't really pinpoint why I do it, probably because it's quite relaxing in a way,and I often go out and walk when I'm taking a break from doing work. I've had this habit since, well, forever. I'm pretty sure some of my friends would recall the numerous strolls that I had done in secondary school during prep time, weekends and in the middle of the night. I guess that sort of carries on here. Anyway, I sort of like walking around Cambridge in the weekends because that's when the denizens come out and fill the streets. At any other day it doesn't seem that there's many people around but during weekends you can see the families, kids and parents and all shopping or eating or doing whatever things they do. A nice change of scenery after being isolated from the world in the middle of nowhere somewhere in South Wales.
One thing about Cambridge is the mixture of sounds that you can hear. I live in the town centre, right smack next to a busy road and while it's endurable, sometimes it's quite annoying to hear drunk people shouting and singing off-key passing by in the middle of the night. Then there's this Big Issue magazine seller who hollers out to people to buy his mags and there's also this other guy who sings Green Day loud. VERY loud. He seems to be gone lately, not that I miss him.
Basically, as long as it's not anywhere near my place, it's fine by me. Can even be quite amusing. I mean, you're just walking and you see some chaps singing or playing the keyboard or guitar or harmonica. There was this percussion band the other day,complete with drums and tambourines and all. Yesterday there were these three guys with drums. Where did those come from? I think they just did it for the fun of it.
I recorded a video of the band but until I figure out how to embed videos in my blog, you just have to take my word for it.
Holiday's almost over. With only one week left, guess I have to work my socks off very soon. Sigh...
Yaz.
One thing about Cambridge is the mixture of sounds that you can hear. I live in the town centre, right smack next to a busy road and while it's endurable, sometimes it's quite annoying to hear drunk people shouting and singing off-key passing by in the middle of the night. Then there's this Big Issue magazine seller who hollers out to people to buy his mags and there's also this other guy who sings Green Day loud. VERY loud. He seems to be gone lately, not that I miss him.
Basically, as long as it's not anywhere near my place, it's fine by me. Can even be quite amusing. I mean, you're just walking and you see some chaps singing or playing the keyboard or guitar or harmonica. There was this percussion band the other day,complete with drums and tambourines and all. Yesterday there were these three guys with drums. Where did those come from? I think they just did it for the fun of it.
I recorded a video of the band but until I figure out how to embed videos in my blog, you just have to take my word for it.
Holiday's almost over. With only one week left, guess I have to work my socks off very soon. Sigh...
Yaz.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
It's been awhile...
Well, it's been awhile since my last blog entry. I blame it solely on the fact that it's a holiday and nothing much is going on, hehe. Reminds me of the fact that I used to keep a diary/journal, but I didn't bother writing in it during holidays since the entry "Same as yesterday" will probably crop up a lot. Of course, I did made plans for this easter break, like visiting some friends in Manchester, but I got quite the shock upon finding the train ticket price. Can't remember the exact amount but definitely more than £50. Ack, no way! I was talking with this guy from the Netherlands (Netherlands...Nether Land...Nether World...hmmm, somehow that strikes me as funny, LOL, of course, no offense to the people living there) and he mentioned that the flight ticket back home is only about £15! I mean, can you believe it. Last time I checked, UK is an island (well, Northern Ireland is on another island but you know what I mean) so The Netherlands is obviously further away than Manchester. Then what's up with the ticket price? Seems quite absurd to me.
Going by bus is definitely cheaper but there's no way I'm going to spend seven hours on the bus doing nothing. Well, at least until I buy an iPod or something. At least it's something to keep me distracted. Hmmmmm, the rational part of me keeps reminding me not to spend money recklessly but I'll probably succumb to the temptation by June. Oh well.
So I'm staying here in Cambridge in a block that currently only contains 3 people. Must be pretty lonely, huh? Somehow, even in that condition I find it hard to get my work done. I'm blaming it on...let's see.. yes, the internet. Yes, this atrocious distraction is like heroin, once you got sucked in it you won't have a life anymore.
*Sigh* I'm blaming other things again, aren't I? On a totally unsubtle jump of topic, that reminds me of the surname of somebody I know, Blamey. I teased her about it once, but I didn't dare to do it again lest I invoke the wrath of a Welshman, or Welshwoman in this case. I'm pretty sure if she read this then she will come all the way from Cowbridge to whack my head. I'm rambling, aren't I?
I did finish my work. Well, sort of. I left a few of the hard ones because I can't be bothered to crack my head for a few hours thinking about it. Might as well just let my supervisor explain it to me. I mean, why bother spending hours thinking about a problem when you can understand it all in five minutes during supervision session? Yeah, yeah, I know you're not actually supposed to do that and you should attempt each question but I should be able to get away with it as long as it's just a few. I think even though you're a Cambridge student you're not expected to be able to do it all. Last time I checked I'm still human.
Heh heh, actually I'm one lazy bugger, aren't I?
Going by bus is definitely cheaper but there's no way I'm going to spend seven hours on the bus doing nothing. Well, at least until I buy an iPod or something. At least it's something to keep me distracted. Hmmmmm, the rational part of me keeps reminding me not to spend money recklessly but I'll probably succumb to the temptation by June. Oh well.
So I'm staying here in Cambridge in a block that currently only contains 3 people. Must be pretty lonely, huh? Somehow, even in that condition I find it hard to get my work done. I'm blaming it on...let's see.. yes, the internet. Yes, this atrocious distraction is like heroin, once you got sucked in it you won't have a life anymore.
*Sigh* I'm blaming other things again, aren't I? On a totally unsubtle jump of topic, that reminds me of the surname of somebody I know, Blamey. I teased her about it once, but I didn't dare to do it again lest I invoke the wrath of a Welshman, or Welshwoman in this case. I'm pretty sure if she read this then she will come all the way from Cowbridge to whack my head. I'm rambling, aren't I?
I did finish my work. Well, sort of. I left a few of the hard ones because I can't be bothered to crack my head for a few hours thinking about it. Might as well just let my supervisor explain it to me. I mean, why bother spending hours thinking about a problem when you can understand it all in five minutes during supervision session? Yeah, yeah, I know you're not actually supposed to do that and you should attempt each question but I should be able to get away with it as long as it's just a few. I think even though you're a Cambridge student you're not expected to be able to do it all. Last time I checked I'm still human.
Heh heh, actually I'm one lazy bugger, aren't I?
Friday, March 31, 2006
Not a happy clappy day
I tried to make apple crumble tonight. Apple crumble with a dash of cinnamon. It worked well before, I remember preparing it for my dorm mates. We ate it with custard in the confines of our room while engaging in idle talk.
I promised my friends in Cambridge that I would bring them some tonight. I saw some instant crumble toppings in Sainsbury's yesterday and I thought, why not give it a try?So I spent a while in the kitchen, mixed this and that, and I popped it into the oven. Forty minutes later, I took it out.
Hmmm, not yet brown and golden. I'll put it back in.
Fifty minutes later, still not golden.
An hour and fifteen minutes later, this is SO not happening.
So I abandoned my apple crumble project and went to the friend's place feeling very very frustrated.
Setting that aside, I got an e-mail today from the International Office. I had applied to the Cambridge-MIT exchange program because I think it would be cool to go to both Cambridge and MIT. Apparently, I was not accepted. Oh well, I didn't actually get my hopes up high on that one, so I don't feel very despondent about it. It sort of shucks, but on the bright side, I'll live in a very nice room in Cambridge next year (which I have to abandon if I was accepted). A set with en-suite shower and all.
So yup, not a very good day (the apple crumble got to me the most). Not exactly sulking or anything, just need to vent a little. Sorry for ranting, guess I'll end it here.
</rant> . He he.
I promised my friends in Cambridge that I would bring them some tonight. I saw some instant crumble toppings in Sainsbury's yesterday and I thought, why not give it a try?So I spent a while in the kitchen, mixed this and that, and I popped it into the oven. Forty minutes later, I took it out.
Hmmm, not yet brown and golden. I'll put it back in.
Fifty minutes later, still not golden.
An hour and fifteen minutes later, this is SO not happening.
So I abandoned my apple crumble project and went to the friend's place feeling very very frustrated.
Setting that aside, I got an e-mail today from the International Office. I had applied to the Cambridge-MIT exchange program because I think it would be cool to go to both Cambridge and MIT. Apparently, I was not accepted. Oh well, I didn't actually get my hopes up high on that one, so I don't feel very despondent about it. It sort of shucks, but on the bright side, I'll live in a very nice room in Cambridge next year (which I have to abandon if I was accepted). A set with en-suite shower and all.
So yup, not a very good day (the apple crumble got to me the most). Not exactly sulking or anything, just need to vent a little. Sorry for ranting, guess I'll end it here.
</rant> . He he.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
A trip down memory lane
So I went to London on the 25th of March for a meeting with my sponsor. Nothing worth mentioning, unless you count the fact that we got a free lunch at the hotel afterwards, which is a welcomed break from the cafeteria food or those that I cooked (if you can call it that) myself.
Since I was already in London, I took the opportunity to visit my old school in Wales (I have to go via London to visit it from Cambridge anyway). Was looking forward to it, especially since this week is the last week that ex-students are allowed to visit (afterwards the current students will be preparing for the International Baccalaureate exam) and I have some stuffs left there that I need to take back, namely my printer.
I guess you can say it was a bit weird to go back to the place that you used to know. Somehow, quite a number of people looked different. My ex-dorm mates were sporting new hairstyles and there's this Russian kid who was really short the last time I saw him but I could have sworn that now the top of his head was reaching my eye level when I walked past him at the hall. Was it him or was I getting shorter? You think?
Anyway, my camera sort of broke down so I couldn't use it to take pictures but luckily there's my trusty N70 to the rescue, he he. So yeah, I managed to take some snapshots of my beloved Atlantic College where I spent 2 years in.
My school is a 12th century medieval castle overlooking the sea, how cool is that?
Seafront
Where I sometimes go to unwind...
Castle and the Beast Garden...
See why it's called the beast garden?
I am the protector of this castle, muahahaha!
Ooooh, another one! Warrrghhh!!
Unfortunately, the rose garden doesn't bloom at this time of the year. Otherwise, it's really really pretty.
The main drive...
We don't really live in the castle. Instead, we live in separate student houses. Some of the classes, however, are conducted in the castle, and not forgetting the dining hall. It's very Harry Potter-ish.
Usually there are some sheep around. can you spot them?
All in all, it was nice meeting old friends and faces. Gosh, I guess I really must have missed them. It's been what, almost a year? My next visit will probably be during the 10-year reunion, *sigh* that's eons away.
Stayed there for 3 days, then I took off to London. I also brought the printer with me. Ever tried carrying a box with a printer inside all the way from Cardiff to London to Cambridge? Trust me, it's no fun.
Since I was already in London, I took the opportunity to visit my old school in Wales (I have to go via London to visit it from Cambridge anyway). Was looking forward to it, especially since this week is the last week that ex-students are allowed to visit (afterwards the current students will be preparing for the International Baccalaureate exam) and I have some stuffs left there that I need to take back, namely my printer.
I guess you can say it was a bit weird to go back to the place that you used to know. Somehow, quite a number of people looked different. My ex-dorm mates were sporting new hairstyles and there's this Russian kid who was really short the last time I saw him but I could have sworn that now the top of his head was reaching my eye level when I walked past him at the hall. Was it him or was I getting shorter? You think?
Anyway, my camera sort of broke down so I couldn't use it to take pictures but luckily there's my trusty N70 to the rescue, he he. So yeah, I managed to take some snapshots of my beloved Atlantic College where I spent 2 years in.
My school is a 12th century medieval castle overlooking the sea, how cool is that?
Seafront
Where I sometimes go to unwind...
Castle and the Beast Garden...
See why it's called the beast garden?
I am the protector of this castle, muahahaha!
Ooooh, another one! Warrrghhh!!
Unfortunately, the rose garden doesn't bloom at this time of the year. Otherwise, it's really really pretty.
The main drive...
We don't really live in the castle. Instead, we live in separate student houses. Some of the classes, however, are conducted in the castle, and not forgetting the dining hall. It's very Harry Potter-ish.
Usually there are some sheep around. can you spot them?
All in all, it was nice meeting old friends and faces. Gosh, I guess I really must have missed them. It's been what, almost a year? My next visit will probably be during the 10-year reunion, *sigh* that's eons away.
Stayed there for 3 days, then I took off to London. I also brought the printer with me. Ever tried carrying a box with a printer inside all the way from Cardiff to London to Cambridge? Trust me, it's no fun.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Holiday, procrastination and sundials...
Yay! I'm on holiday!!
In my opinion, Cambridge has one of the longest holidays compared to other unis in the UK. Mine started on the 17th of March and ends on the 25th of April. That's like, what, 5 weeks? To top it all, I only have 2 assignments to finish and one of them can be done in 3-4 hours. One good thing about the course I am taking is that I never need to write any essays (yeah, go Natural Sciences!) and the closest thing is probably writing lab reports. So, being left with two easy-peasy (lemon squeezy ;p ) work, I did the only thing one is expected to do in this predicament...
...I procrastinate. He he.
Yup, the 4-hour assignment is still there fermenting on the table. It's about sundials. Didn't realise it until a few weeks ago, but my Maths (computing) lecturer is a person who goes around making sundials. Sounds odd? Well, he designed a few sundials here and there; there's one that he made for the Queen and another one in Denmark (or was it Sweden, I can't remember). Funny thing to be doing for a hobby. Anyhow, we're all expected to do the same, except we're modelling in on Excel and Mathcad, which is much easier than carving it on walls of buildings. Not that it's of much use anyway, considering the English weather =p
Anyway, I wouldn't worry much about it for the moment. Should be enough time for me to do it before going to London this weekend.
In my opinion, Cambridge has one of the longest holidays compared to other unis in the UK. Mine started on the 17th of March and ends on the 25th of April. That's like, what, 5 weeks? To top it all, I only have 2 assignments to finish and one of them can be done in 3-4 hours. One good thing about the course I am taking is that I never need to write any essays (yeah, go Natural Sciences!) and the closest thing is probably writing lab reports. So, being left with two easy-peasy (lemon squeezy ;p ) work, I did the only thing one is expected to do in this predicament...
...I procrastinate. He he.
Yup, the 4-hour assignment is still there fermenting on the table. It's about sundials. Didn't realise it until a few weeks ago, but my Maths (computing) lecturer is a person who goes around making sundials. Sounds odd? Well, he designed a few sundials here and there; there's one that he made for the Queen and another one in Denmark (or was it Sweden, I can't remember). Funny thing to be doing for a hobby. Anyhow, we're all expected to do the same, except we're modelling in on Excel and Mathcad, which is much easier than carving it on walls of buildings. Not that it's of much use anyway, considering the English weather =p
Anyway, I wouldn't worry much about it for the moment. Should be enough time for me to do it before going to London this weekend.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Flashes, sounds and explosions...
Hiya! Hmmm, my 2nd blog entry. Now, if only interesting things keep happening to me, I should be able to keep this up, he he.
So, yesterday was quite a busy day. There's this whole Science Week Festival going on in Cambridge and it was the Chemistry Open Day yesterday. I volunteered for this one. Why? Coz I think chemistry is fun ( and I have a whole bunch of balloons that I nicked *ahem* took from the open day with the words "Chemistry is fun" written on them to agree with me). Sure, I like other subjects as well, e.g Physics is quite fastinating with relativity, quantum-whatever and stuffs but when it gets down to it, for the past 3 years the lectures/classes that I enjoyed most is chemistry.
So yeah, I was supposed to be there from 1:30 to 3 p.m. only but I stayed the whole day. Otherwise, I'll miss all the lecture and experiments. And yea, the title of this post is basically the theme of the lecture (after all, why on earth would the public attend a boring ol' university lecture - you have to throw a couple of smokes and explosions in).
Dr Wothers lighting something up...
...help, he caught fire!
So I basically was in charge of the treasure hunt involving chemical elements and handing balloons to children. Yup, that's exactly what a student studying chemistry in a university is there for: giving away balloons. Definitely. Need to have a vast chemistry knowledge to handle balloons, otherwise think what would happen if a child starts untying the knot and there's no one around to help the poor kid when he inhales the helium and starts to *gasps* talk funny?
All in all, it was a pretty good day. The highlight of my day was when this kid pointed to me and said, "Mommy, mommy...ballooney." It was sooo cute the way he said it that I felt like kidnapping the child. Gosh, did I say that out loud?
Haha, I am the open day mascot, the Balloon Man!!
(a friend insisted I take this picture)
So yeah, I was supposed to be there from 1:30 to 3 p.m. only but I stayed the whole day. Otherwise, I'll miss all the lecture and experiments. And yea, the title of this post is basically the theme of the lecture (after all, why on earth would the public attend a boring ol' university lecture - you have to throw a couple of smokes and explosions in).
Dr Wothers lighting something up...
...help, he caught fire!
So I basically was in charge of the treasure hunt involving chemical elements and handing balloons to children. Yup, that's exactly what a student studying chemistry in a university is there for: giving away balloons. Definitely. Need to have a vast chemistry knowledge to handle balloons, otherwise think what would happen if a child starts untying the knot and there's no one around to help the poor kid when he inhales the helium and starts to *gasps* talk funny?
To make polyjuice potion, you need a wartroot...
All in all, it was a pretty good day. The highlight of my day was when this kid pointed to me and said, "Mommy, mommy...ballooney." It was sooo cute the way he said it that I felt like kidnapping the child. Gosh, did I say that out loud?
Haha, I am the open day mascot, the Balloon Man!!
(a friend insisted I take this picture)
Friday, March 17, 2006
Should I blog?
Hmmm...
Should I blog?
A rather silly question really, considering the thing is already here on the net. Heh, this means that I've succumbed to the temptations induced by my dear friend Keste. He kept pestering me to blog something. So here I am. Anyway, I don't really consider myself a very opinionated person ( I think Black, a friend of mine puts it down as being diplomatical) so it's not really like I can spout words of wisdom or provoking thoughts out like rain. So don't expect me dissecting the inner workings of the political government or the meaning of life anytime soon. Oh well, at least now I have an outlet for things that are going on in my life *pokes at the blog title* .
Soooooo, I think it's not bad for a first post. Heh heh. I'll be adding stuffs soon.
Should I blog?
A rather silly question really, considering the thing is already here on the net. Heh, this means that I've succumbed to the temptations induced by my dear friend Keste. He kept pestering me to blog something. So here I am. Anyway, I don't really consider myself a very opinionated person ( I think Black, a friend of mine puts it down as being diplomatical) so it's not really like I can spout words of wisdom or provoking thoughts out like rain. So don't expect me dissecting the inner workings of the political government or the meaning of life anytime soon. Oh well, at least now I have an outlet for things that are going on in my life *pokes at the blog title* .
Soooooo, I think it's not bad for a first post. Heh heh. I'll be adding stuffs soon.
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