It feels like my birthday.. ^^

Hv u ever felt the feeling of anticipation? The overwhelming feeling when the day u've been waiting for has finally arrived. And ttz exactly how I felt today. Finally, the day I've been waiting for 1 semester has arrived - the day I would present her the gift. The day I would express to her how special she is to me & how much I treasure us!! ^_^ What makes it even more special was when I was presented the shoe tht I've always wanted - the brown high-cut Converse!!!!

Finally, met up w Adeline after sooooo long. Had a nice catch up @ this new Korean restaurant.. The food there is jst alright but we sat there for 2 whole hrs, updating each other! ^_^ Thurs, was the TV screening day. Almost 15 2nd yr short films were showcased. Cool huh?!.. Some of the editing skills are really professional. Some of the scripts are so creative, I never imagine a person's mind can think of something like this.. Congrats to all their hard work!!

These days, I am experiencing how God works in miraculous ways & how He has plans for us tht might not quite make sense in the beginning but it will all fall into place before u even realise it. Had a long 2hrs chat w Karen abt our past. Didn't realise tht we came fr the same circumstances. And sometimes it's jst great to be able to share experiences w ppl....

Met up w Hawch, Chit Wai & Joseph for lunch @ South Yarra on Fri.. Another bday surprise for Krystal. This time, carefully organised w tender loving care.. *wink**.. kudos to Hawch for his effort & thoughtfulness in baking 11 chocolate chip muffins. Reminded me of Brandon's cheese cake on my 19th birthday..

Spent the Fri night w Jeremy. It's so true how sometimes it is not where u went tht makes a date a special one but it is the person tht u spent it with. Spent the night relaxing & chatting @ my hse, followed my late night McD's supper @ this garden, overlooking the city. :) :) Aaaaahhhh~~ It's really amazing to see how 2 ppl w 2 completely diff personalities can come together!!

Then, after spending the whole aft packing...... finally, the excitement to go to Fiji begin to creep in. But I know after I leave today, it will never be the same again. Coz today begins the day of a memorable holiday in Fiji w the girls but also marks the last day of the presence of Krystal in Melbourne... Not to mention tht Franco will be leaving the day after I come back!! Oh well, at least we had it. ^_^

Currently feeling: weird. A mix emotion.

## Will be back in a week ##

Another big 21st birthday blast!!!

Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYY to my dearest cupcake… without u, my uni life in Melbourne wouldn’t be this exciting! Without us, your uni life wouldn’t be this exciting either… wooohooo ~~

Kickstarted the celebration w 14 of us celebrating @ Pacific House, Toorak. The food there is darn nice, with special features all over Cheap Eats, some magazines, The Age.. etc.. highly recommended for a try! Cut the first bday cake – Myer’s Cookies & Cream cake.. Yum! Yum! :) :) Continued @ Cookies Bar, Swanston St. Another highly recommended place. Reason: the cocktails are amazing though not the cheapest in town & the atmosphere & ambience for somewhere between a pub & a jazz bar! Cool~~

Next day, the real day… surprised her w a big birthday hug, a bouquet of colourful flowers & specially chosen chocs from Koko Black. Had big brekky @ this juice bar @ Elizabeth St. Very cute shop, decorated the whole place w bananas & oranges…. then, spent the aft visiting the St. John’s cathedral.. somewhere in Collins St (a place we’ve always wanted to go!) We brought her to this quaint Oriental café @ Richmond. Limited choice of drinks. Poor service. Good company! *wink** Headed to Ikea for a short stroll & started our preparation..

Startd our grocery shopping around 4pm @ Chinatown, preparing for steamboat bday dinner .. went to Franco’s place to revamp & decorate the place, went Brunetti’s to get the cake while birthday girl enjoyed herself in Dreamland… Then, around 8pm…. Kaboom! The "BIG" surprise… hehe.. not really lar! Coz she already knows tht we’re gonna have steamboat dinner & will decorate the place.. Anw, the night started with special champagne by Sze, to celebrate her newfound job. We all ate until my stomach exploded. Well, at least for me lar.. Heaps of food & desserts. My favourite: mango pudding by future chef, Sze!

Highlight of the night: pressies!!!!! Heaps… a Mimco shoe pendant, her puff’s & future sis’s surprise card, a super special CD w 10 tracks – specially coordinated by Franco & leading rock star – Nelson.. heheee.. a bday cake.. & how can we miss our special puzzle pendant?!! :)

Special thanks to Franco & biu tai & all who had contributed to the making of the CD – their late nights, hard work, effort & thoughtfulness, Val for her super innovative pig bday card, Mr. Ho Chee Chuan & his sis for being so thoughtful & making her bday an even more special one than it already is, Richie for his cold jokes & laugh bombs, Sze for her mango pudding & special cocktail & of course, myself for........... hehee… Ok! *perasan** ;P Jst being me?

The best has yet to come... :) *wink**..............................

I am officially...

A free woman.

Why? Coz I handed in my last assgn ever. Oh my gosh~~ My last 2 assgns were the worst assgns I’ve ever done. It doesn’t help when I realised a few parts of my assgn is wrong 2 hours before it’s due. Talking abt last min huh?!.. My mum & bro’s been nagging me abt my “new” attitude of leaving assgns till e very last min. aiks! Oh well, I guess I won’t be hearing them complaining abt this for a VERY looooooong time.

Due to assgns, last week has been crazy! Yet still managed to indulge in fresh salmon & sea urchins .. Oooo!! Yum~ Yum~ Had my final SLP training last Fri.. one of the best training ever.. mainly because after going through 4 stages together, everyone practically know each other makes it such a warm & friendly environment to be in.. esp when everyone’s fr a diff culture & background, which adds to the diversity & laughter.

Had a fun time “consoling” Jen on Fri & entertaining June abt her latest.. ehem! fling? Hehee.. *wink* *wink**.. cherish all those moments where we would jst sit n joke abt love & sex.. esp when our conversations made me tickle & laugh like a mad woman on the street.

Best thing of the week: Thank God for the inefficiency of Malaysian Airlines. Krystal has to postpone her flight back to KL.. meaning more time! YAY~! YAY!! *jumping* extra 4 more days to spend w her before I leave for Fiji!!!!! Woooooo~~ okayyyyy, I’d better start doing my research on Fiji.

Currently anticipating: Krsytal’s 21st birthday celebrations.. Gonna have a blast! :) :) 

My life is a drama.

Recently, many things happened around me. So many, I don’t even know where and how to begin. Starting from Ling’s sad farewell, I am still reminiscing over the lost of a good phone partner for 2 years. A good example of how true friendship cannot be separated by distance. :) To my first experience of the difference between a man who fears God. Not to mention my "brave endeavour" to finish my Ethics essay a day before it’s due and to cram a semester’s lecture notes within 4hrs for my Mass Media in Asia test. So much for playing huh?!.. ;P

While I laughed my ass off watching the 40-year-old virgin (highly recommended for anyone who craves for a good laugh), I was sick worried of my mum who was left home alone and will be home alone for the next 45 days before she comes to Melbourne. To receiving a better-than-expected results in my Mass Media essay and a 2 hours super-relaxing outing w Cupcake, jst lazing at Melbourne’s Uni lawn.. taking pics, chatting, talking abt love, life & friendship under the hot sun. Ahhhh~~

Till last week - my last day of classes EVER! And the excitement of seeing my old colleagues and SLP mates at the Student Volunteer Recognition & Awards Night and the unexpected offer fr my ex-boss to work as an Events Assistant over summer..*shock**

And of course, witnessing my dearest "goldfish" (name given because of the size of her eyes) – Jennifer, dancing and shaking her ass at her first ever dance production in Melbourne Uni.

All the way to experiencing how a small gesture of mine can changed & touched the hearts of my 2 dearest friends (Jen & Jun), who witnessed the momentous occasion of last Sat’s Women Conference. Best thing was: to hear the testimonials of 3 courageous women revealing and testifying the bare truths of their past. To realise that I am not the only broken vessel.

Most of all, the 4hrs unexpected chat I had w Jeremy last night had left me baffled with words. I never imagine the amount of trust he placed upon me & how the "unspoken" has gradually transformed into mutual trust & commitment.

Of all, the most dramatic news is still the fact that Krystal had decided to bring forward her flight 3 weeks earlier. Meaning: we’ve only got exactly 9 days left before she goes home!!!! *fainted**

But nothing beats this overriding feeling I’ve been confined with for the past week and am still feeling now. That sense of transition. That sense of... "What? You mean it’s been 2 years already?!!" That sense of a closing of a chapter of my life as a uni student and the beginning of another lonnnnnnnnnnng chapter of career as a God knows what. The fact that I’ll be leaving the country in less than 3 months and the many people that I probably wouldn’t ever see for the rest of my life. Well, at least for the next 5yrs.

And most of all, the overwhelming fact of what used to be unfamiliar has now became my comfort zone and what I had used to become familiar with, requires some new adjustments. How strange! *dazed*

My Uni Ball

I’ve always thought in order to complete my uni life cycle, 2 things is a must: a formal ball and a graduation. As much as how people wince & cringe at the thought of a ball, I’ve always thought it’s an experience of a lifetime.

We kick started the memorable night by hiring a white limousine to chauffeur us around the city. Sipping a glass of sparkling wine, we took heaps of pics as usual. I’ve always been the people who stare at the white limo passing by but this time, I was the person sitting inside being stared. Boy, it does feel different!

Reached @ South Atlantic Wharf, a beautiful place in Docklands around 7pm. With dim lights and a jazz band playing at the background, the mood was simply exciting & romantic. What adds to the night was our table, which was strategically located right next to the dance floor.

Entrée was chicken caesar salad. Yummy! Followed by grilled chicken and mushroom risotto for main and apple crumble for dessert. I guess the highlight was the free flow of alcohol. Well, at least for the aussies. Man, they sure can drink! Took more pics & hit the dance floor.. =-=...

We toasted to uni life and after just one glass of champagne, I was feeling rather tipsy & realised maybe I need to start taming my low tolerance of alcohol. Around 11pm, we were brought to an after party @ St. Kilda with a party bus. By party bus, I mean disco lights & dance music, all in a bus!! It was so amusing as all of us dance in the bus while trying to balance with our high heels.. haha..

The after party wasn’t as exciting as I thought it could be. Maybe it’s the music or maybe it’s the crowded club. Or maybe it’s jst too aussie for us. They had some band playing so we left early.

Overall, my first ever formal Communications Masquerade Ball costs me a whopping $207. Some might think it's insane to spend tt amount of money on one night. But I tell u, it was all worth it..!!

In the end, it was truly a night to remember. Not because of the limo or the free flow of alcohol. Neither was it because of the chance to look pretty. But simply, to experience this with my best uni mates and that, is what made it such an unforgettable night..

At second thought, it is the great friendships I made that had completed my uni life cycle.

Thanks guys! :)

The ring or me?

Recently, I am surrounded with friends that are getting married. And with proposals of engagements, comes along the ultimate question: "How big is the ring?" It seems to me that 0.5 carat is a minimum standard of today's market. 0.8 carat is considered lucky. 1.0 carat is a blessing.

I for one, agree to men's exasperated plea of: "Oh baby, it's just another rock!" Maybe it's because I am not experiencing it myself yet. Or maybe it's because I am yet a fan of diamonds. Or perhaps I simply think it is ridiculous to spend Aus 10,000 on a 1.0 carat diamond ring. Not to mention the upcoming wedding costs of the wedding dress, the dinner, the decorations, honeymoon, bla, bla, bla..

I'd rather spend a bomb on my honeymoon to Paris, sit the gondola boat in Venice & pamper ourselves with first-class hotel & romantic dinners.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder, is the 1 carat ring really a symbol of love and sacrifice of yr fiance or is it merely just another ring? Are we getting married to the man who we wanna spend the rest of our life with or are we getting married to the engagement ring?

My “stress-free” holiday...

Stress-free in inverted commas merely because I was thoroughly enjoying my hols while feeling that inch of guiltiness, watching Jen & June working hard on their essays & constantly being reminded.. "Hey Irene, guess wht? It’s not really meant to be a holiday but a 'catch-up-with-work' week..."

Aaaanyway, rewinding back to Wed, I had an unproductive morn of attempting to kickstart my essay and another unfruitful day of shopping @ South Yarra w Krystal, Franco, Sze & June. It’s either the price is not right or the design looks like a rag. Feeling v disappointed & suffering fr severe PMS, I met up w e girls for a nice catch up over porridge @ Supper Inn. Then at night, accompanied Jen to watch Hot Wax, one of the theatre productions she had to do a review on. My verdict: Poor music. Exaggerated acting. Corny jokes. Unnecessary intermission. Original idea. Go if it’s complimentary. Not worth $15.

Thursday, we went cycling!!! :) :) Lovveee it. Got a good bargain fr e hottie. $25 per day. Started off by exploring the Royal Botanical Garden. Oh my gosh! Didn’t know tt e garden is so huge.. so many flowers & undiscovered areas. Then, attempting to be adventurous, Richie, Franco, Krystal & I cycled to Docklands while stopping numerous times for photos... luckily, everyone loved taking photos. Otherwise, they’ll kill me. Swinging our legs by e harbour, we savoured our gelati.. v nice weather! Took the city route back to Yarra rivers to return our bikes... man! the bike trail at the city is pretty scary. Unlike KL, where I’m sure bikers are not required to cycle at restricted areas, Melbourne is quite restrictive in tt sense. Apart fr tt & e bruise in between my legs, it was a really fun outing. My conclusion: Let’s do it again eh guys?!... ;P

Met Joseph for lunch on Fri. Again Krystal & I being the "youngsters" tried to cheer up e "old farts".. hehee.. Ohhhh & guess wht? I bought a dress! 60bucks after 25% off. Quite a good bargain eh?! So excited. My first casual dress. I’ve always wanted to find a dress but can never find anything tt suits my "specially-designed curve".. if u know wht I mean.. ;P Anw, still pondering whether I can wear tt to the Ball.

At night, Krystal & I went dinner w Hawch & his whole family.. errr, felt a bit funny at first. But, his sisters are really cool so in the end, I guess I revealed my true self coz the sisters kept on stuffing me w food.. heehee.. not tt I could resist. I tell u, the pizza there is darn good! Finger lickin’ good..!! Esp the desserts.. my first time trying zucchini pizza & oooohhh.. the chocolate dessert served in a pastry tht look like curry puff is damn good. Imagine hot choc oozing out, topped w vanilla ice-cream. My verdict: definitely a good place to hang out despite a bit pricey.

Went to Gorgeous 2005 on Sat, one of e fashion events. My conclusion: Good attempt in trying to showcase young designers. Need to work harder in promotion. Poor turnout. A bit tricky in trying to fit in Melbourne’s high quality fashion events.

Met up w Jeremy for dinner @ La Porchetta. After ½ hr debating which movie we should go for, I ended up giving in & we watched Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Hmmm.. not really my type of movie but quite a relaxing one. Instead of the conventional cinema, we went for a drive-in cinema @ North Coburg. My first drive-in cinema. :) Very diff. I always thought drive-in cinemas are those tt u watch in Hollywood movies, nv thought I’d experience it myself. Silly me, I always thought they have large speakers fixed at numerous spots, only to realised u actually have to tune in to a certain frequency in order to watch it. How cool is tt! Best thing was: to cuddle up & watch a movie. Ended up with a nice stroll at the park. My verdict: Cherishing the moments. :)

There u go, my hols so far at the shortest possible entry. Oopsie!

Feeling a bit judgemental.. my verdict on my mid-sem break: Couldn’t ask for more.