Building my Dreams from Moondust....?!

New, improved...and attempting to be a tad more mature

2010-06-08T14:32:00.001-07:00

Check out the sequel to my blog here

Same old me, different stories :o)

xXx

All things must pass....

2009-02-19T05:42:00.001-08:00

So here it is....my final blog post. It's been great to form part of this blogosphere, but it's time to move house to another blog. It's not the end, but the beginning of another era. These posts will also migrate to the other blog...

http://moondustana.wordpress.com/

So please click away to your heart's content....if there's still anybody out there...

Peace, Love, and Beatles always.

Ana, meet Johari

2008-08-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

So after over a year, here she is. Back on the blogosphere with...? Well, with a year's worth of bellyaches to spill out....Just kidding. No one wants to read about old rants...and the whole point of a rant is it helps to vent out while there's still an issue, right?

Now that I'm back on the rock, and have made an attempt at "settling in", whatever that implies, I am hoping to have more time to dedicate to painting and writing. Having signed a contract for an apartment last week, and having almost completed the write-up for my PhD, I am nearly at a point in my life when I can finally follow my heart and spend more time doing what makes me happy.

So what is it that I'm going to spend my time doing? Here's where the title of this post starts to make some sense.....I will take time to find what years of close friendship with Ana and Mia (anorexia and bulimia, for the uninitiated) have taken away. Friends, family, jobs, arts....all this was taken away, or put on the backburner, because of one unrelenting obsession. But now it's time to start over and reclaim what's mine. About time too, one may think. Well, I have always believed that if I'm going to do something, I have to do it well, or drop it altogether. So far I haven't had the energy, or courage for that matter, to face my fears. But things have been changing. All these major events going on in my life spurred me into actively wanting to close overdue chapters before starting afresh.

So here it is. My Johari window, as seen by my Ana-less and Mia-less self, and (if anyone is still out there to contribute) as seen by the blogreaders.

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Moondustana

...oh, and this time I promise, it won't take me another year to post!

XXX

Brain colour....

2007-08-05T03:32:00.000-07:00

This is hilarious!!! I didn't know brains had a colour....but, as I'm writing my thesis and any excuse for procrastination is welcome, I took the test and *drum roll* my brain is apparently purple.... Wow. My life has new meaning.....

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic.
You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense.
Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries.

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Happy Birthday, George...

2007-02-25T07:53:00.001-08:00

It was 64 years ago, in Wavertree, Liverpool, that George Harrison, notably remembered as "the quiet Beatle" was born to Harold and Louise. He joined the Beatles, then known as The Quarry Men, in 1957, intially as a fill-in when one of the regular members couldn't make it. Eventually, he became a full-fledged member of the band....and the rest is history....

Beatles songs bearing the Harrison signature include favourites such as While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something (which Frank Sinatra described as being the best love song ever written), and (my personal favourite) Here Comes the Sun. After the Beatles break up in 1970, George was the first Beatle with a successful solo career with his triple album All Things Must Pass topping the charts. Unfortunately, he was then sued by Lonnie Mack for plagiarism. "My Sweet Lord" was thought to be too similar to Mack's "He's So Fine". Mack won the case, and George was convicted for unintentional plagiarism. He made a great come-back with "This Song", which basically was a mockery of the trial.

It's hard to find an absolute favourite George Harrison song....as a solo artist (as well as with the Travelling Wilburys) he had many great hits. However, if I had to choose just one, it would have to be "I Live For You", from All Things Must Pass, Disc 1. It's not a very well-known song...but I just love it.

Anyways...this wasn't meant to be yet another Harrison biography page...merely a tribute to one of the world's best singers/songwriters of all time...a spiritual, warm man who's undoubtedly watching us from above.

Happy Birthday, George!

Help!! Not just anybody....HEEEELLLPPPPP

2007-02-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

And once again....viva l-Beatles.

Why did I not take Literature at Uni???

Literature students read the books we read for pleasure as part of their course....and they dont have to bother about crappy chemistry. AND they're not thought insane for analysing books and finding their different levels....

I chose the wrong subjects...and I should have done something about it ages ago...when I first realised. I want to study something I am actually excited about; something I actually care about and enjoy....Do I care about chemistry? If someone were to call me tomorrow and say that science stopped existing as from yesterday not only would I not be sad....I'd actually be relieved. Relieved that I wouldn't have to play the part of the geeky chemist anymore. Happy to be finally rescued from my self-inflicted confines.....It's like I enjoy making decisions that are bound to have masochistic consequences.

Nevermind. Only the last few months of science then I dont need to speak to it ever again. Unfortunately Mrs Friggieri was right....and even more unfortunate is the fact that I didn't take any notice of what she told me. Too late. I'll finish this chapter in my book of days and then it will be closed forever. Don't worry. I'm not quitting uni. Not now. Doesnt mean I enjoy science...I never did...but Malta is Malta. Unless you're a science geek, doctor or nurse, engineer, architect or lawyer (or you're blonde) you're an under-achiever or, even worse, a housewife. Or....(worst case scenario)...a blonde housewife whose only goal in life shifts from being that of grabbing yourself a potential husband, to actually making yourself his wife, to the ultimate glorious task of turning into a baby-machine. Oh the joy.

So I guess I just have to secretly frown while everyone else thinks I care about molecules....or I could stay abroad, work in a bookshop and get by, and not give a rat's ass what people think...

Sorry....had to get it all out. Makes me want to not come home...I don't like crying over things like this. I don't like crying, in general. But I've been lying all this time. I only chose Science at O'Level because a teacher once told me I paid attention during Science lessons in Form 1. That was it. That was the only reason. One comment, from one teacher. And I've regretted it ever since. I never enjoyed it and, let's face it, was never any good at it. Maths I can do, because it makes sense to me. But I can't stand Biology, I absolutely hate Chemistry, and Physics makes me want to throw up. I could have taken the advice of the other teachers who said I should write books....or those who later on in life said I should switch to languages.....and who then also said (during my Pharmacy finals) that it's never too late to unleash one's true path....But what's my path? One thing just led to another...and here I am....

HELP!

All We Need is Love?

2007-01-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

After a long break...here I am again. I've been to Malta for Christmas and New Year, met up with friends, family and cat....and did the usual "girl studying abroad visiting people" thing.

Back in Birmingham I'm basically trying to work as hard as I can to finish off this PhD as soon as possible. I officially have 8 months of lab work left... and usually people take between 3-12 months after that to write up....*sigh*

As the title may suggest, it does get a bit lonely here...what with gale force winds and all....but it also refers to the Beatles' new album...entitled "Love". :o)

Mixed feelings really. It's a cool mix of songs and it's one of those albums that you just have to sit down and listen to from beginning to end. It strikes me as the kind of mix that they would have released after a day of pissing about in the studio...which is a good thing I guess because it's an interesting take on some of the world's most influential tunes. I am still a traditionalist who loves "original" versions of songs, etc...but this is an interesting melange of unedited dialogue and songs merging into one another. Approved. I admit...I have to be in the mood for it, to enjoy it fully...but it's a good album.

The picture I put up today is a painting of mine. I copied a postcard of John Lennon in his "Give Peace a Chance" saga. Reason why I chose to copy this particular one? I don't really know...I suspect it's because he kind of resembles Jesus in this picture...so I thought it'd be funny. :o)

Take care, if there's anyone still out there!!!

Li
xXx

Panic on the streets of Birmingham....

2006-12-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

A week ago today I went to see Morrissey live at the NIA in Birmingham. The show he gave was truly fantastic. Including the part where he took his bright pink shirt off and threw it out to us. Trust me...for a man nearing 50 he is not bad!!! The Italian fresh air and Mediterranean cuisine seem to be having a positive effect on him! He sang quite an unusual selection of songs, including some Smiths ones like Panic, Girlfriend in a Coma and How Soon is Now?...but he also sang newer ones...his own, like Irish Blood English Heart and Let Me Kiss You. It was great. Not many people were there, which was a shame, but from a selfish point of view that meant that we could see him better. It was the first time I saw him in a live concert...but Sam has seen him loads and she said that this was by far his best gig ever. I'm glad we got standing tickets and not seats!!!! Good music, sarcy comments, and loads of head-bobbing!!

One hell of an experience. One hell of a show. One hell of a Morrissey.

November blues...

2006-12-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!!!

OK so the title suggest bad stuff...but that's all gone now and I apologise for delays in posting. Everything is shiny and happy now...and I've just found a new pet....

How cool is this????

Mixu was our first cat...and still considered a member of our family, even ten years after his death. He was the Emperor of cats in our neighbourhood.....a sort of Old Deuteronomy of the Jellicle tribe in San Gwann....

Anyways...

Good night!!!
xXx

The History of Halloween.....

2006-10-31T02:49:00.000-08:00

Halloween is one of the oldest holidays, with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we now know as Halloween has had many inluences from different cultures over the centuries, from the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Romans' Pomona, to the Christian celebrations of All Saints and All Souls days. Many many years ago, in Northern France, Ireland and Great Britain, lived the Celts. They worshipped nature and had many gods, but the sun was the greatest god of all. The sun was responsible for their crops, the earth's beauty, their work and rest - if the sun was happy, they got good crops; if he was sad, then they would suffer. So the Celts celebrated New Year with a festival on November 1st, which marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of the season of "cold and darkness".

On October 31st, after the crops were harvested and stored for the long winter ahead, the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Celtic priests (called Druids) would meet on hill tops to light fires out of oak trees (which were considered sacred), and offer sacrifices of animals and crops on behalf of the villagers. They danced around the fires as the season of the sun passed and made way for the season of darkness. Come morning, the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family, who would then use them to start new cooking fires. Apart from keeping the homes warm, these fires also warded off evil spirits.

This festival was called Samhain ("sow-en") and it would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals....and this festival would turn out to be the first Halloween.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!!!

xXx

Busy busy bee....

2006-10-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the previous post. I was very very disappointed after a discussion with a person and that post was my way of venting out the anger.

So...this week will be quite hectic! I have to prepare a talk (which I have to give on Thursday), write the Experimental chapter of my thesis, and finish off one of the crystals. I also have to book flights/trains for Glasgow (I'm going there on the 15th November), London (14th December) and Erice (next year). My supervisor will be in China so I'll be with the new student most of the time too. That's the work-related stuff.

At home, I have to do the laundry, prepare for Tuesday's dinner (Jim's sister is coming over), go shopping for groceries and clean my room. Oh and see what else I need to buy before my mum comes to visit....she's coming to stay for a week on the 31st October. I'm looking forward to that!!!

PLUS...gym gym gym gym gym!!

I'm sure I'm forgetting something......

xXx

Bloggata f'nofs ta' lejl...

2006-10-12T00:22:00.000-07:00

.....nazjon ta' ostricc b'rashom tant imdefsa f'sormhom li lanqas biss ixommhu l-hara taghhom stess.....

Cup of tea?

Special tool included....

2006-10-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

As most of you already know, I've recently moved back into the paradise that is Jarratt Hall....Reason being it's close to University, and MAIN reason being heating is included in the price. So I now pay a hefty £510 PER MONTH (yes...it's not a typo) for this room...and guess what? The heater in my room is out of order....and my door doesn't close properly....and I live with people whose doors close so properly they don't even need to hold them while they close. Not that I want to complain, but seriously....note to self: thou shalt not...EVER...live in shared accomodation...EVER....(Other note to self: Please keep these notes to self handy, so that you can actually refer to them)

But I digress.....

So I opted for a deluxe room this time, which means that for an extra 4 quid a week I get a room that's slightly bigger than the one I had 2 years ago....since it's got to house an extra two years' worth of crap....All for the sake of making myself feel more at home. Actually, that's a big, fat, double-chinned lie. I do have loads of crap...because I love two things. Books, and accessories (bags, shoes, hats, bags, bags......:o) ) So I figured with the extra space, rather than not buy any more books, why not buy some book shelves to house even more books??? (Yes yes ok.....not logical. Who cares? All you male readers out there have always said women are illogical. Well there you go. We may aswell live up to our reputation!) I was sick of seeing all my books packed away in boxes, so I ordered a set of stand-alone shelves online, and they were delivered a few days later. This was the week I moved in. I am ashamed to say that it was only this morning...two weeks down the line...that I actually got round to mounting them. (I am a busy woman!!! And yes, reading is work....so is writing.... :o)even if it's for blogs or magazines)

So I looked at the picture on the outer packaging and there was something very funny. The shelves were packed flat, for home assembly, and the outer label read "All shelf components included. Contains also all screws and a special tool!" So I thought "Wow...I get to use a special tool too!" It was only after I unpacked it that I realised the "special tool" was nothing more than an Allen key....so much for exciting implements....

Nevermind. I was determined to do this. So checked shirt, rolled sleeves and all, I started assembling the shelves. It was 100% pure fun. I know all you DIY experts out there would think "Yeah so you assembled a set of book shelves....big deal..." Leave me alone!! I'm proud!! It's something none of my barbie cousins would ever do! (And secretly that makes me extra proud!)

So there....my very first DIY effort....using the special tool!

xXx

NaNoWriMo...

2006-10-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

In other words, National Novel Writing Month. It's a cool event that happens every November, and has existed since 1999. The aim is to write 50,000 words in one month. It originated in the United States, but now has participants worldwide.

So why am I posting about it?

I've debated this for a while. I've always wanted to be a writer. It was always my secret (or semi-secret) dream. Ever since I was a little girl, I was told I should write books when I grew older. I have also won a few competitions and had some poems published in the past...but that hasn't got much to do with the reason why I'm signing up for NaNoWriMo.

OK. 50,000 words. I believe everything in life happens for a reason. My innate interest in writing led me to stumble upon the NaNoWriMo website. These people write 50,000 words in 30 days. 50,000. They don't have to make any sense, or be publishable, or even add up to 50,000 in reality. The point is thousands of people sit down at their computers and type away, for a whole month. It could be about anything. They could type nonsense, make up a story, write the alphabet over and over....but they do it. And they're there for eachother via a forum and blogs.

So...what exactly IS my plan??? Here I am, in my final year....But that's the point. 50,000 words is the limit for my PhD thesis. If I can write at least 50,000 words of made-up stuff in a month, that should be damn good training for when I have to write up to the same amount next year for my thesis. Even if I don't reach the 50,000 mark, the self-discipline required to make time to sit down and type away will be quite handy when I'm writing up next year....

Crazy? Yes! What's new then?! ;o)

xXx

And to your left is our tea room....

2006-09-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

So yesterday Liverpool finally managed a 2-0 win against Newcastle. About time too. So far this season they played awfully (ok ok, it's still quite early, but nevermind...frustrated supporter here!!!) Hopefully a crappy start bodes for a super ending :o)

I'm still living with my friend Sam at the moment...Blogging from the living room, which has become my den, so to speak. I found out today that I can move into my next place on Sunday as opposed to Monday - one day won't make much difference but it's a bit of a pain to have to move on a Monday and miss uni (Nerd alert! Achtung!!!) Talking of which....I wanted to sign up for Intensive German evening classes. Last year Dany and I took an eight-week taster course, and since we both enjoy learning new languages we thought we'd crank it up a notch and sign up for the intensive course this year. Thing is this: it costs £106. Student rate. For a year. OK at the end we get a diploma. And another thing is, should I really be doing stuff like that in my final year? Hmmm....in theory no. But really, I'm the type of person who gets more motivated, the more stuff I have on my agenda. Give me a day during which I have to complete 10 tasks and I'll do them all, well, and with time to spare. Then on a day when I have zero to few tasks, chances are I'll get nothing done. Weird. I know...

Anyway...So moving house on Monday, Open Day tomorrow and Saturday....fun weekend all in all. Open Day means I get to show people around the School of Chemistry, telling them how fantastic it is and how my life changed after joining, and how inspiring the surroundings are, bla-di-bla. Funny that a few minutes later, they'll be taken to Selly Oak where some of the residence halls are. Would we call that environment "inspiring"? Wow...I guess it's all relative...innit?!

Bad points about having to do Open Day:
1. You get no work done
2. You have to lie about Birmingham
3. It's boring...and looong (6 hours tomorrow and 6 more on Saturday)
4. Saturday is the WEEKEND. And I have to be at University....Moo.

Good points about having to do Open Day:
1. They pay you for wasting time and lying. And they pay well.
2. To console ourselves, we're going to eat curry on friday and sushi on saturday. MMmmmm

OK fair enough. I'm convinced.

Oh and on Sunday we're going to Cafe Soya since I'm moving out :o)

Enough now. Good night everyone!!!

xXx

Confessions of a hobo....

2006-09-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

So I'm back in Birmingham...It's actually surprisingly sunny. Transition between home and UK went smoothly...I went to Liverpool for the weekend so I had something to look forward to. I met all the Liverpool group of friends, we had dinner, and went to a few chill out places. Good stuff. Then back to Birmingham....

At the moment I'm homeless, so my nights are spent camping in Sam's living room. Poor Sam. She's too patient. The contract for my previous house ended beginning of August, and my next one only starts on the 25th September. So for the time being I'm spending my mornings desperately rummaging through a huge pile of boxes, hoping to find a suitable item of clothing for the day. By the time I've found what I was looking for, it starts to rain, so I have to repeat the procedure to find a jacket. But before I set foot on the damp path leading to University, I realise the sun has come out, meaning that the jacket I'm wearing will be far too thick. So I go back to the corner in the living room where my boxes are stacked, and look for a lighter top. Mission accomplished. And now the day officially begins. Walk to uni. Say hi to people in my lab. Be ignored. Try harder. Still being ignored. Give up and start doing something useful. Supervisor walks in and says she needs to meet in half an hour and could I please do this extra bit of work by then. Do the work. Half an hour later, meeting is postponed to lunch time. Tell friends to have lunch without me. Meanwhile I get something light from across campus. Come back in time for meeting. Told to wait for 5 minutes. An hour and a half later, see supervisor walking out. Apparently meeting was cancelled and the work wasn't so urgent.

Go back to desk, and do some more work. Have coffee. Check for any football that's on that evening. Pack stuff and go home to my hammock.

Highlight of the day: I have a suitcase full of Twistees. In cases of severe boredom, homelessness and other such conditions, eat Twistees as needed.

xXx

Hey Bab...fancy goin' to the pub tonoiiiq?

2006-09-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Bleugh....Sorry for the lack of posts! The smurfette is back...I'm in Malta at the moment. Very very good times. I miss this place so damn much I'm not recognising myself. I came down for the wedding, which was real fun. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves, too.

Met up with friends, caught up with family, spent some time with my cat, and my room....job interviews, beach, family hassles...the lot. Can be very hectic at times, but the truth is I love living here. I really do. Life is fun, and easy....and fun. :o)

Today I went to Marsaskala for a day with my dad. We fixed the plumbing so now the kitchen has water...YAY! And we went for a walk. Marsaskala is my favourite place in Malta. Not only because of the sea...there's Sea everywhere here...but also because the summer housewe have there used to belong to my great grandfather, and I remember my grandparents living there very clearly. It's well over a hundred years old!!!! I hope to live there for a while after my PhD.

Anyways...So my time in Malta was too short. I met Janice and Godwin, Sharon and Chris, Edward, Martin, Mirko, Julie...all my sixth form friends, and many other friends I made along the way. It was fantastic. I enjoyed every second of it. I'll post pictures once I have them.

Meanwhile....I'm gearing up for Friday. Yep...back to the soggy side of the world, where the "i"s are turned into "oi"s and the t's and q's are freely interchangeable. Where man's best friend is no longer the dog, but a sturdy, loyal brollie, just in case it's not windy when it rains.

Great.

I'm going to Brummy-land. 'Ere...quick!! Goq yer a seqqa ear-moofs.

Cheers mejq!!!!

A year older.....and still not one day wiser

2006-03-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

Right....so as Spring starts tiptoeing its way back into frozen Birmingham, there are 15 days until I fly back home for Easter. YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! The next few days will be quite hectic. Thank God! On Monday I have a meeting in Daresbury, then since it's Jim's birthday on Tuesday I'll spend the next day in Liverpool, returning to Birmingham on Tuesday evening. Between the 3rd and 6th of April I'm off to Lancaster for a conference, then on the 8th, early morning, I'll be on my way home!!!!

So, first off, here's a picture from my birthday weekend do in Eastbourne. James and I stayed with his mum, Jayne and the 3 cats. I had a very very good time with them - they're so kind! We went for walks on the hills by the sea, came across "Peace Path" (see picture), and on Sunday they had a surprise chocolate cake for me!!! Good times!!!

.......................

I also went to Liverpool (yes again) a couple of weekends ago...this time just for the day. Oliver had an exam there so Daniel and I took the opportunity to have a day trip. :o) What else can you do on a grey Saturday in Birmingham?!?!?!
Anyway, here we all are with John Lennon's statue, outside the Cavern on Mathew Street.

.......................

Some good news: Colin may be going to Glasgow!!! YAAAAY!!! This means we'll get to meet more often, since I will be going there to do some more work at some point.

I can't wait to go back home!! I only hope that no one will ask me about life in Birmingham or my PhD etc....I spend most of my days here, so the last thing I want is to spend the few days I have at home talking about Birmingham or any related topic!!!!

Anyways...that's all for now! Take care!!!
xXx

A Kingdom for a Bird?!!

2006-02-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

I couldn’t help but include this article here….it’s self-explanatory. I found it on the BBC headlines. The picture has nothing to do with the article...but more with the title....and yeah I am an anti-Microsoft girl....

Tower's ravens are kept indoors

The Tower of London has decided to keep its famous ravens indoors to protect them from bird flu.

Special aviaries have been created for the six birds within one of the towers of the fortress on the Thames.

Legend has it the Tower of London will collapse and the kingdom will fall if all the ravens leave.

The Tower ravens - named Branwen, Hugine, Munin, Gwyllum, Thor and Baldrick - are said to be getting used to their new surroundings.

The Tower's Yeoman raven master, Derrick Coyle, said: "Although we don't like having to bring the Tower ravens inside, we believe it is the safest thing to do for their own protection, given the speed that the virus is moving across Europe.

"We are taking advice on the vaccinations against avian flu, and in the meantime, we will continue to give our six ravens as much care and attention as they need."

EU farm ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the spread of the virus, which has now reached France.

UK ministers said it was still not necessary to lock up Britain's 20m free-range poultry, despite some experts backing it.

….no comment!

My Smurfy Valentine

2006-02-14T06:44:00.000-08:00

Yaaay….that time of year again…Joy…..I can already hear the violins and the sound of rose petals as they gently fall on the ground, showering loving couples as they walk hand in hand on this, their feast. Quick! Hand me a bucket!!!!!

OK…so as you may have gathered…I’m a non-valentine’s day sort of person. The only reason I’m writing today is because there was a special smurf episode released on the 13th of February, 1983 (yes, I was old enough to have watched it)….called “My Smurfy Valentine”. It was quite an amusing story in which Smurfette was waiting for her Prince Smurfing….so she wrote a letter to Cupid asking him to help her out. But Gargamel found the letter, and due to a great misunderstanding fell madly in love with Chlorhydris, an evil witch.

Cool episode. And yes….I have a lot of spare time…. :o)

The Return of Smurfette

2006-02-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Sorry for my long absence…I was sadly wrapped up in the day-to-day monotony of routine, and, having no internet access at home, I found little time (well….I’m sure I could have made time….) to share my daily (sometimes hourly) rants with cyberspace…..

Part 1: Birmingham

Where shall I start..? I guess where I had left off, would be a good one….

SO….Coming back to Birmingham from Malta was…ehm…painful…to say the least. I boarded the plane, found my aisle seat - I always ask for an aisle seat…that makes my regular visits to the little front room far less annoying to fellow passengers – and I looked across the seats next to me, at the blue sky outside. I distinctly remember telling myself to soak in every inch of blue sky while I still could….it could be months before I see anything remotely resembling it again…..

At that point, an announcement was heard. “Good afternoon and welcome on board this AirMalta flight. This is your captain speaking…” After all the bla-di-bla that hardly anyone ever listens to, he told us one very interesting bit of information…..”The temperature at destination is 2 degrees C”…..Great. And there I was, complaining that it was unbearably cold at home – a freezing 15 degrees. Ah well…when I bought my ticket, I knew I wasn’t going to the Bahamas…..

Pleasant flight all in all….made friends with a British couple who had been to Malta 20 times in 4 years….(and I thought I was a hero for going to Ireland 4 times in a year…) and had a good hour’s worth of reading.

When I arrived in Birmingham, it was raining. Jim was at the airport, and we took a cab to his place, only to find that there was great trouble with his housemates…not of the un-personal kind…so I thought “Right….this bodes well for my new year in the UK…”

Since I am not the type of person who believes our destinies are pre-determined, but rather everyone holds the pen and is free to write down their own destiny, day by day, I decided my pen wasn’t going to have black ink, sympathy-card style…So when I realised that I can’t hide from my house forever, and any chances of finding a replacement were long gone…..I bought myself a nice heater. Sod the electricity bill. We share all the costs equally (apart from phonecalls)…so if my housemate complains, well, that’s his problem, not mine. You have central heating and refuse to use it? Then pay for my heater bill.

Now I must admit I’m much much happier here. My room is cozy….and I even started baking again…which is a good sign. I have this inbuilt sense of “Mediterranean Grandmother”-itis, which gives me the inexplicable need to feed everyone. Ah well…better a cookie than a slap in the face, right?!

Part 2: Glasgow

So although I’m feeling much better in Brummy, I still needed to get away from the sticky pasta, grainy curries and chocolate-brown sky….So last week, during one of my regular msn chats with the weegies I made friends with when I went to Glasgow in November, I was invited to spend the weekend at Marc’s place. This was Thursday.

On Friday, at 2 o’clock, I was on my way. Sleeping bag in one hand, scones and cookies (that I baked the night before, especially) in the other, I ran to the station, and boarded the train. Fantastic.

It was a 4.5 hour ride to Glasgow, and when I arrived, it was already dark. But I met my friends and had the most fun I’d had in ages. We laughed, ate, talked, listened to cartoon songs….from our childhood, of course….ahem….On Saturday I visited the necropolis. It’s so weird for a cemetery to have such a mixed style….but it was beautiful…especially the view from the top.

We then went to Borders. :o) Oh come on! I hadn’t bought a book in absolutely AGES. Anyway….I’m not going to bore anyone with the details of my Glasgow trip, but it definitely was worthwhile.

Now I’m back in Birmingham…..writing this blog….I’ll soon have to go back to Glasgow (for work, this time), and I can’t wait. Meanwhile I’m preparing a poster, a paper, helping a student with her project, and demonstrating 2^nd year experiments on a Wednesday morning…..and reading reading reading…..

I promise I won’t take long to write again!

xXx

Happy New Year!!!

2006-01-01T09:38:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone...I hope none of you are looking like this after last night! Anyway...if any of you are, the best cure for a hangover is a couple of alka seltzer (lemon flavoured to relieve the bad stomach) in half a glass of water. I can't say tried and tested by yours truly, but whenever I suggested it at the pharmacy it always worked! ;o) The closest I came to any amount of alcohol last night was when I handed my dad a Mon Cheri chocolate. I don't drink, and even if I did, the amount of alcohol in the chocolate would be enough to make me say more rubbish than usual...yeah I'm one of those....

Anyways...so...as promised, here's my list of resolutions. I kept them to a minimum, bearing in mind that I have only a few hours a day of spare time to actually do stuff other than cooking and all the other painfully necessary tasks like eating, travelling etc...I also wanted to "learn something new" this year....but that didn't pass the audition , so it's in my list of "To do if I have time and money" stuff....OK so here it goes:

My New Year's Resolutions, 2006:-

1. Tone up
2. Thesis
3. General writing
4. Keep in contact

So, my explanation. I have been eating loads of junk lately, and although my relatives said I've lost weight....well, I haven't, so I need to do something about it. So I need to exercise more. I can't eat less, otherwise I'd die. It's so cold in Birmingham...and in my house especially, that one needs to eat to survive....I will therefore start off with 50 sit-ups a day, 5 days a week.

Next up is my thesis. Now I know I'm only in my second year, but I have heard of so many people who take ages to write up that I've decided to start early. That way, even if my supervisor scraps everything...at least I'd have started from somewhere. I'll take it slowly, starting off with not less than 2 typed pages per week. This does not include editing of previous pages. Then we'll see. That means that by the end of 2006 I'd have at least 104 pages - it's always a start.

General writing. Now this is more for pleasure than anything else, but like I'd be commited to a ballet class or a Spanish lesson, I must be commited to my writing. So, I have to spend at least 6 hours a week writing. I'll keep a log in a note book of the time I spend. Even if what I write is crap, at least it's practice.

Now for keeping in contact....I know I do...but I want to improve. So every Monday and Friday I'll write an email to one of my friends. :o)

I know it's nerdy, but I already made forms which I have to fill in weekly to monitor my achievements....It's my illness....forms, lists, organisation of thought......bleh....I wanted to include stuff like "Buying fewer books"....but hey, I remembered I have to be realistic. And besides....with all these new things to do, I'll have less time to read. Hence fewer books to buy....(yeah that's what I like to think...)

Anyway....take care, and Happy New Year!!!

xXx

Talking about a resolution....

2005-12-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

So...that time of year again....to be honest with you, I haven't really decided on my resolutions yet. I have to give them some thought before posting them here (and making them official!!). I want to make sure I don't plan to achieve anything that's not within my abilities....so it has to be given due thought.

I'll post again tomorrow...and hopefully the list will be final. I know I want to lose weight and also write more...but I need to plan the exact goals. :o)

New Year's Eve.....bleh...I hate this feast(?). Lame excuse for people to go out, drink themselves sick, and do all the dark deeds that would not be justifiable on any other night of the year. Thing is...why are they OK tonight???? It's beyond me. People paying loads to go to a party with random strangers, listening to music that sucks, having to buy a new dress/find a suit..., spending 3hours or more in a confined space whose floors will soon be covered in a mixture of puke, cigarettes and general rubbish....to celebrate the end of the year.....hmm....

Maybe I'm weird...(well...we all know I am, by now)...but I'd rather do something a bit less stressful, if anything at all. True, any excuse is good to party....but on nights like this, I like to know I'm in a place where my lips are safe from those of merry mates waiting for the clock to strike midnight for their lecherous thoughts to materialise....

Anyways....HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone....talk to you tomorrow!!!

xXx

T'Is the Season to be Jolly....

2005-12-26T07:25:00.000-08:00

Fa lalalala la la la la…..

Bongu ‘l kulhadd!!! Dan se jkun bloggin qasir hafna…ghax minn hawn u ftit iehor se nohrog……

Il-bierah kien il-Milied, u harget gurnata xemxija li kont ili ma nara minn Settembru!! Iva, bhalissa qeghda Malta ghall-btala tal-Milied. Ili hawn gimgha…u ma rrid nerga lura Birmingham b’xejn!!! Il-gimgha li ghaddiet ltqajt ma’ ftit mill-familja, ma’ xi hbieb ukoll, u qattajt hafna zmien id-dar, nitkellem m’ ommi, missieri, hija u l-qattusa….Dil-gimgha suppost li nzur xi postijiet bhall-Belt, forsi l-Imdina….u nixtieq immur Wied il-Ghajn ukoll….nipprova naghmel li nista f’dil-gimgha w nofs li fadal, qabel ma nerga naqbad l-ajruplan lura lejn l-Ingilterra.

Insomma….nzomkom aggornati bhas-soltu….Im’ghal issa daqshekk ghax se jsir il-hin, u rrid nilhaq ninhasel qabel hija!!!

Il-kumlpament tal-festi t-tajba lil kulhadd!!!!!

xXx

Eithne's Amarantine...

2005-12-06T06:38:00.000-08:00

So....after a break due to work, house-share problems, etc, I am back. This post will be divided into two parts....

Part 1: Eastbourne....

As I had mentioned in a previous blog, I spent a weekend with James, Jayne and Anne in Eastbourne....It was fantastic. Very relaxing, and also refreshing to be able to talk to pleasant people who read loads, have a good sense of humour....and who love cats! I met three lovely cats...Tilly (pictured below with me), Keavey (black and white cat) and Ripley (the little black cat). The images speak for themselves!!!!!

..................................................

Part 2: Amarantine....

OK....on to my next topic. Enya released her latest album...Amarantine....on the 21st November. Needless to say it’s brilliant. Especially tunes like Drifting, The River Sings, Someone Said Goodbye (my favourite so far) and A Moment Lost. Its sound is a mixture between Watermark, and the later album A Day Without Rain...in my opinion, which gives it an interesting feel. Not my favourite Enya album, but definitely worth a try if you’re into that sort of music.

I’m off now...have loads of work to do before going to London this weekend....plus in 2 weeks I go HOME!!! YAAAAAY

Take care!!!

xXx

Schlumpfine goes to Glasgow

2005-11-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Glasgow!!!

It's so cool here....the university is fantastic...the people are great...and I'm having the time of my life!!! I came up here on Tuesday with Diane (a project student) but she left last night and I'm leaving tomorrow. Our XRD data looks really promising too, which makes this trip even better!!!

I made so many friends, and they're all fantastic. I hope to see them all again sometime soon.

The weather is quite dull but apart from that it's really a nice and welcoming place to visit. There was a gale warning today....and in fact it IS the windiest day I've ever seen in my life!

I taught them how to say Puffetta...and in turn I found out that in German they are Schlumpf, Schlumpfine, Papa Schlumpf, Schlaubi Schlumpf (quattrocchi)...so cool!!! :o)

Anyways...this was just a very short post....to keep everyone updated!

Take care!!!
xXx

The Unforgiving Minute….

2005-11-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone….So it’s official. I’m heading back home in 42 days’ time – I bought the flight last week, and everything is paid and confirmed. Meanwhile, I’ve been busy organising trips (work-related and not), one of which just took place last weekend. On Friday Jim and I went to Liverpool again, and we returned to Birmingham yesterday. Friday was quite bad, with delayed/cancelled trains, last-minute work decisions and having to plan a work trip to Glasgow for two people and myself starting tomorrow – all in a matter of half an hour….But as soon as I set foot in Lime Street Station it was fine. I was in Liverpool!

Saturday, in fact, turned out to be one of the most brilliant days ever. In the morning we went around town and visited the official Liverpool FC store. James took me around some streets and gave me a little bit of background info (about the city itself and also a few childhood memories!). We then went to the tourist office to collect our Magical Mystery Tour tickets, and there I found a fridge magnet with my mum’s surname’s coat of arms on it, and a booklet explaining its scouse origins. In the afternoon (at 14.10), we took the MMT around the Beatles sites in Liverpool – FANTASTIC. I can’t begin to describe the feeling…Our tour guide – Eddie – was great! He’s done this for 22 years now and well, if practice makes perfect, then this tour really comes very close to that….(in my totally biased opinion, of course!). As soon as Eddie greeted us at the tourist office and announced that the MMT bus was down the road, “waiting to take us away”, my heart skipped a beat. There we were, bright yellow ticket held tightly in hand, on our way to visit the sites that formed the setting within which some very important pages of our history were written…and what’s more was that taking us away on this surreal tour was the actual vintage bus used in the Beatles video Free As A Bird!

It was all brilliant! We passed by Ringo’s birthplace, stopped in front of Paul and George’s houses to take pictures, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, etc, etc….Eddie told us Strawberry Field (a children’s home) shut its doors last May and is now for sale. He was wondering in whose hands its destiny lay…will it be Yoko, or a business man with a tractor? No one knows…so just after taking the picture you see here, I snapped off a twig from one of the branches…That way, I’ll have a piece (tiny as it is) of Strawberry Fields….Forever….:o)

Over all, I was a very good girl, until the bus stopped in front of a particular house…Mendips…here it is in the picture. Eddie pointed out that the window above the main door was John’s bedroom window, where so many familiar songs were written, and at that point, the tour guide played “In My Life”…Tears started rolling down my cheeks and I could do absolutely nothing to stop them. They weren’t at all tears of sadness…only of strong emotion…

Anyway….enough about Liverpool! So….42 days to my departure. Out of those, I’ll be spending 13 days away: this Tuesday I leave for Glasgow to run some powder experiments. I return on Saturday afternoon. The following Friday I’m going to London, then to Eastbourne where I will spend a weekend with James, his mum and Jayne, and the four cats. We return on Monday morning. Between the 10^th and 13^th December I’ll be with Janice in London….and less than a week after she leaves, I will go back home for Christmas….

When I’m not away, aside from day-to-day chores around the house, overseas phonecalls, working my way through the pile of my “To Read” books, and general playing around with my ibook, I have to analyse the data I’d have collected in Glasgow, finish my code, squeeze in some Christmas shopping, and co-organise a pre-holiday Christmas dinner with James….

………………………………..

Well, after going through a somewhat rough patch emotionally (mainly due to the fact that I was allowing myself too much free time to “Stand and Stare”) I decided to follow a different poet’s advice, and I can safely say that Kipling was right. I am definitely not managing to fill my minute with 60 seconds’ worth, but I’m doing the best I can…and I’m certainly feeling a lot better!!!

Take care!! :o)

XXX

Living life with the wrong dwarf.....

2005-10-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hmm….qanzha……dik il-kelma giet ivvintata ghall-koinkwilin tieghi. Nassigurakom. Qatt ma ltqajt ma’ xi hadd izjed qanzha minnu…..

Mela….dawk kollha li ilhom jafuni mqar sena jafu li nipprova kemm jista’ jkun ma niekolx laham….mhux ghax ma nhobbux, imma ghax jiddispjacini ghall-annimali. Mela ghandkom tkunu tafu li John (ghax hekk jismu) huwa estremist ghall-ahhar, ambjentalista fanatiku minn dawk li ma jarawx daqs pulzier ‘l boghod minn imnehirhom. Forsi tghiduli “Iva allura b’daqshekkk x’fiha? Mela qed idejqek ghalhekk?” Le….ghalija jista’ jmur jintrabat mal-kancell ta’ Buckingham Palace gharwien u jsum ghal tliet snin….ma jinteressanix….Li ma nistax nissaporti huwa l-fatt li jrid bil-fors jimponi l-idejat estremi tieghu fuq haddiehor…..

Id-darba l-ohra kont fil-kcina….u nzertajtu hemm. Lanqas bongu bhima kif int illum. Imma halliha…ahjar bla kliem milli xeba’ tgergir. Kont qed inferragh il-halib fil-kafe’ meta f’daqqa wahda nisimghu jghajjat “Is that MILK?!?!?!” Jien waqaft, tajt lemha lill-flixkun li kien ghadu f’idejja, u hsibt, bejni u bejn ruhi…”Hmmm stramba din….dan il-bniedem qieghed fl-ahhar fazi tad-dottorat tieghu, u ma jistax jaqra erb’ittri li jispellu MILK….u dan li huwa Ngliz….Imn’Alla nzommu l-prodotti li nahslu l-loki bihom gol-kamra tal-banju, li ma jmurx jitfa’ xi HyGene fit-te’….” U rrispondejtu “Apparently so….” U fil-pront qalli li jmisni nisthi ghax qed inheggeg il-konsum dizuman tal-prodotti maghmulin minn annimali nnocenti u msejknin…..Iva….inhobb l-annimali….u nithassarhom….imma izjed nithassar lili nnifsi jekk qatt xi darba jkolli nduq il-“halib” li juza John… Nippreferi nixrob l-ilma li jibqa’ fil-borma wara li nkun ghallejt hames kabocci….

Episodju iehor…Emma (toqghod maghna wkoll) halliet nota fuq il-mejda ghal James, u qaltlu li hallietlu sandwich tal-bejken fil-forn. Meta James qara’ n-nota, il-kitba t’Emma kienet ingassata, u minflok John kiteb “ghandek bicca hanzir mejjet imgezwer fil-hobz”…..

Jahasra...kieku minflok Grumpy mort nghix ma xi Happy, jew anki Dopey kien ikun ahjar....

Insomma….biz-zejjed qrid ghalissa….Issa jaqbilli mmur inkompli naghmel ftit xoghol qabel isir il-hin biex immur lura d-dar….

Oqoghdu bil-ghaqal!!! ;o)

xXx

Dik l-Art Helwa....

2005-10-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Mela...fil-blog li ktibt il-bierah m'ghidt xejn dwar il-gimgha li qattajt Malta fl-ahhar ta' Settembru. Din kienet zjara pjuttost alla rieda - imma hekk isiru l-isbah affarijiet fid-dinja....Kont ili nghid li ma niflahx nara temp griz f'nofs is-sajf izjed....u mbaghad, minghajr ma naf kif, sibt ruhi nhares lejn website li kienet qed toffri titjiriet ghal Malta bi prezz irhis.

F'temp ta' nofs siegha, kelli l-passagg lest imhallas...u kont qeghda fuq it-telefon ma' familti nghidilhom li anqas minn 48 siegha ohra se nkun maghhom!!! Dan kien l-Erbgha, xi l-hamsa ta' wara nofs in-nhar...u l-ajruplan kien se jitlaq il-Gimgha, fl-ghaxra ta' fil-ghodu! Genn, ippakjar ta' malajr, caw lil kulhadd, u malajr sibt ruhi fuq l-ajruplan, nara l-air hostess taghmel mossi b'idejha biex turina fejn huma l-bibien tal-hrug f'kaz t'emergenza.

Intfajt naqra l-ktieb li semmejt fl-ahhar blog li ktibt, u wara ftit anqas minn tlett sieghat, kont Malta.

Kienet zjara li kelli bzonn, hafna, specjalment wara skoss giri u konferenzi l'hawn u l'hemm...u wara sajf b'mhux aktar minn jumejn ta' xemx xitwija....jahasra kemm kont ingorr bis-shana meta kont ghadni Malta....issa c-cans li wicci jiehu naqra kulur jiddependi fuq kemm jien lesta ncallas imbarazz fuqu....

Insomma...gimgha mal-familja u l-qattusa....m'hemm xejn bhalu dak iz-zmien. Passiggati mal-Papa', Barbecue id-dar, l-ikel specjali tal-Mama li tant nimmisja, festini mal-kugini u z-zijiet.....U mbaghad lura lejn Birmingham.....din id-darba b'dahka fuq wicci, ghax naf li ma ndumx ma nerga lura lejn Dik l-Art Helwa....

Norwegian Wood...

2005-10-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

So...Summer is over, and after a long break here I am in blog world again. Many things happened this summer....so I'll try to list the most important stuff, chronologically....I went to Edinburgh in mid-August, just for a weekend for the Fringe. It was really good. Got to see a very good performance by a Russian physical theatre group, and a fantastic photographic exhibition of Henri Cartier Bresson. Brilliant stuff. I also got to spend some time with my best friend David, who lives there. I hadn't seen him in ages, so it was good to catch up, even though we keep in contact quite a lot.

So...next on the agenda was Florence....I can't even begin to describe how beautiful this city is.....Imagine the best landscape you've ever seen....combine it with the right dose of culture, friendly atmosphere, happy people, lovely weather, good social life and general well-being....now multiply that by twenty, and you've got Florence. It was truly the experience of a lifetime...I know I'll be going there again sometime soon....

Meanwhile...here's a picture of Ponte Vecchio....

Next I spent a weekend in Liverpool....YES!!! Liverpool!!! I went there with James, and we visited the Cavern, Beatles Experience, Mathew Street, PENNY LANE!!! (I even saw the Barber's shop and the roundabout.....!) It was so cool! Felt really good to actually be there!! We took pictures with Eleanor Rigby, the Fab Four, and also a bunch of little boys on Penny Lane. We even had hot chocolate and cake in a place called Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds...

I then went to London for a meeting with the people who are collaborating on the project at work....not bad but I didn't really feel like it. It was a good two-day science thing and all.,...got to speak to some "important contacts"....so it was good. I have to go to Glasgow at some point to collect some experimental data but that won't be till late November.....

Anyway.,...enough about work....I'm off to actually do some proper work before going to a party on the 5th floor....:)

Take care everyone!!!

xXx

Oh...P.S....This is the reason why I chose that title....I just read a fantastic book by Haruki Murakami called Norwegian Wood...it's fantastic. Murakami is becoming one of my favourite contemporary authors....when I finished the book I felt as though part of me had died with the book!!! It's so so good....OK I'll stop....Bye bye!!!

Deni u Ghanqbud...

2005-07-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Heh mela...kif stajtu tindunaw mill-isem...iva...ghandi d-deni, u ili gewwa dawn l-ahhar jumejn. Mhux haga totalment hazina, ikolli nammetti, ghax wara l-panic u genn tal-gimgha l-ohra, bejn preparamenti ghall-viva, u biza li mhux se nghaddi, ecc....kelli bzonn naqra ta' break mill-hajja universitarja...

Issa qeghda hawn...fi Flat 47....nhares 'l barra mit-tieqa tal-kamra tieghi u nahseb....Jekk m'hu tajjeb ghal xejn, zmien ta' mard veru jghinek tahseb u tfarfar dawk l-irkejjen remoti ta' mohhok li kienu ilhom jgemmghu ghanqbud. Qed nahseb fid-dar....fil-familja tieghi....fit-triq fejn noqghod...il-qattusa, hija....kollox....nostalgija? Forsi. Inhossni nqbadt ftit fi zmien pjuttost instabbli. Mhux ghax imdejqa hawn. Lanqas xejn. Hawn qeghda ghal qalbi...kemm fl-istudju kif ukoll fil-hajja socjali....Izda dejjem hemm parti minni li tghid "Kieku qeghda d-dar, bhalissa....x'inkun qed naghmel?". Kieku kieku...allahares nibqghu sejrin hekk... Zmien ta' stress kulhadd jghaddi minnu. L-importanti mhux li naharbu lura d-dar...imma li naffrontaw daz-zmien u nitghallmu xi haga...mqarr ckejkna...minn dak li jkun gara. U ija...mhux dejjem irnexxielna?! U hekk mela!

...................................................................

Haga ohra li rriflettejt fuqha kienet din. Ircevejt email minn kumpanija taz-zfin u qaluli li hemm auditions fil-15 ta' Settembru ghal grupp ta' zfin kontemporanju. Interessanti l-haga. Iz-zfin kontemporanju joghgobni hafna u nhossu soddisfacenti aktar miz-zfin jazz. Iz-zfin klassiku dejjem jibqa l-aktar ghal-qalbi....ghalkemm issa kbirt wisq u gismi nbidel b'tali mod illi huwa difficli nilhaq certu livell.

Hmm....immur jew ma mmurx? Jekk immur irrid nipprepara ruhi...fadal inqas minn xahrejn....u rrid nerga nigi flexible bhal qabel...u iva...jien billi naghmel naqra stretching ma fiha xejn...anzi taghmilli tajjeb....u mbaghad naraw. Jekk ikolli aptit immur ghall-audition imbaghad nara dak il-hin.

U hekk kif qeghdin fuq das-suggett...din hija l-istampa tal-lum. Il-pittrici Mata Wiley thobb tuza zeffiena bhala l-karattri principali tax-xoghol taghha.

Dak kollox ghal-lum. Oqoghdu bravi, u tinsewx tgawdu x-xemx Maltija ghalija!!!!

Over and out.
XXX

Confusion.....

2005-07-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

So....viva is over. I passed, and all is good....well...kind of.

I seem to have a problem understanding people....maybe it's my insecurity kicking in...I don't know...I'm just in a weird unfamiliar situation at the moment...should I run away? Should I not? What if people say stuff just to be nice...or because they think I want to hear nice stuff???? It's a very strange feeling...sometimes I get the impression people do and say things for the wrong reason...maybe to protect me? Or themselves? Who knows....this is why I am so confused. Perhaps I should just stop all form of social interaction with people....bleh....Do I really come across as such a frail helpless being???!??! I don't think I am.... I've been through quite a lot, both emotionally (seeing my father in hospital so many times, family issues, breaking up with a person who was very important to me....etc....) and physically (having gone through 2 eating disorders)....so in my opinion I am quite a strong person....Well, I am living in a foreign country. Didn't know anyone at first....just started a new chapter in my life in a new country with nothing to rely on excpet my own self....that's not being weak. I disagree.

Hmm....so now I've told you about the eating disorders...well....had to crop up at some point. I don't let it bother me anymore. Though I have a feeling that I shouldn't tell people about it. I don't want them to pity me....I don't want anyone to pity me. I am alive to tell the story...that doesn't show I'm weak....but it shows I'm strong to have overcome it. There...

And just to show that it is all part of the past...here's today's picture:

Ah well.....it will pass. Heh. I am easily confused. Will let you know the outcome hehehe

XXX

Less than 12 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-07-18T00:27:00.000-07:00

I'm freaking out!!!!!!! In less than 12 hours I have my viva.....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I want to run away!!!!! Pray for me!!!!

Bongu!!!

2005-07-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

Good morning! My apologies for the delay…but the events of the past week have made me think twice about writing in the blog…The reason is that although I feel I have to mention the atrocities that have been happening, this is a far from appropriate place to do so in a suitable manner without decreasing the brutality of the 07/07 events. So there….I will choose not to mention it any further, out of respect and solidarity.

On to some updates…..So…in the last post I mentioned my viva….it was scheduled for this week, but one of the examiners was away…so it was postponed to *drum roll* MONDAY!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I’m freaking out. So this weekend the plan is: study, study, study….As with all good study plans, one needs a reward lined up…so this evening I’ll gladly claim my prize at the cinema. Johnny Depp and chocolate….hmm…that should definitely make up for the long hours of study…

Off to hit the books now….but just before I leave….last night Sam and I mentioned the pigeons in Ireland…so here’s today’s picture. Pigeons on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin, taken in May this year.

Take care everyone!!!!

XXX

Sieq wahda gewwa......

2005-07-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

Illum sirt naf li ghaddejt mill-ewwel fazi tal-ezami....jigifieri qraw it-tezi w ghogbithom. Habbruli li l-viva se jkun il-gimgha d-diehla. Ghadhom ma jafux ezattament meta'. Probabbilment se jkun nhar il-Hamis. Ghandi biza' tal-ghageb fuqi...imma la ghogbithom it-tezi sinjal tajjeb - kieku m'ghajtulix ghall-viva. Issa naraw...itolbu ghalija!!! Ghalkemm nimmisja d-dar u gieli nixtieq naqbad l-ewwel ajruplan u nerga lura Malta, din il-PhD qeghda tassew ghal qalbi....u ghalkemm id-dar dejjem tibqa' d-dar, hawnhekk nista' nghid li ghall-ewwel darba f'hajti qed naghmel xi haga li nhobb u niehu gost naghmel, u li (nispera) aktar ma nghaddi z-zmien, aktar nitghallem fuqha biex inkompli sejra dejjem ghall-ahjar.

Il-gimgha d-diehla tigi u tghaddi...irrid jew ma rridx...m'hemmx kontroll fuqha dik il-bicca. L-unika haga li nista' nikkontrolla hi kif immur waqt dik is-siegha w nofs, meta nkun gol-kamra maz-zewg ezaminaturi......

M'hemmx x'taghmel...ikollna nistennew u naraw. Sa dan it-tant itolbu ghalija!!! Caw caw u l-lejl it-tajjeb!!! XXX

I'm Only Sleeping....

2005-07-05T16:05:00.001-07:00

So….another day has gone by, and this time I’ve decided to write something in English, after receiving a number of complaints from friends outside the Maltese-speaking community. I must add at this point, however, that I am very very impressed with Rui, who sent me an email with the words “Bongu! Kif inti? Ma nitkellimx tajjeb bil-Malti! Sahha!” (Translation: “Good day! How are you? I don’t speak Maltese very well! Bye!”) So prosit hafna Rui….kompli sejjer hekk!!! It’s always fascinating when a foreigner actually says that Maltese is “a cool language” (direct quote from the email), after all the spelling nightmares and years of blood, sweat and tears trying to decipher the contents of Qawsalla…..

Anyways…..back to how my day was….well, as the title suggests, although I physically woke up at 8 o’clock this morning, I spent the whole day in zombie-land. No particular reason why this happened…it’s just that these days I’m not managing to fall asleep immediately. And I’ve tried herbal teas, warm showers, peppermint oil, no coffee…the works. I even tried not reading (yes I did, honestly!)…..because sometimes I find I fight to remain awake when I’m engrossed in a book….so I thought that perhaps this may be the reason why I wasn’t falling asleep. No luck so far. So it comes as no surprise that I spent the whole day in a state of semi-oblivion to what was going on around me….(for a change….)….and I was humming “Please don’t spoil my day, I’m miles away, and after all I’m only sleeping…” Viva John Lennon….(again, for a change…)...which reminds me....this is today's picture. Sounds cliche I know....but today's blog is all about a Lennon song so there you go....it's all linked....

I left uni early, to try to get some sleep, and I managed to lose my ring. I always wear 4 rings with celtic symbols on them….they were all bought from different places in Ireland, and every time I go there, tradition has it that I must bring a ring back with me. The ring I lost today is the one I wear on my thumb, and it’s the one I call “Ireland 3”, because my mother bought it for me when we went to Ireland together (and that was my third visit). I had already lost this ring once before. It was when my mum was visiting in November. We had gone shopping and when we returned the ring wasn’t on my thumb anymore. I looked for it but couldn’t find it anywhere…..that night I dreamt it was by the gate at Jarratt Hall, underneath the first pot….so in the morning I looked for it there…and it was exactly where I had seen it in the dream. Talk about coincidence!!! Anyways so today I lost the same ring…but I found it after a couple of hours. It had slipped out of my thumb, and it didn’t reappear as magically as the time before….

Now it’s almost midnight, and oddly, I feel as awake as ever. I’ve just had an interesting discussion with my flatmate Nancy from Greece. We spoke about such random stuff…but sometimes you just feel you need such discussions to recharge your batteries….It was funny though…..we started talking about the Live 8 concert and somehow ended up discussing…ehm….men taking themselves on a joy ride in public….

So, moving on…..

Well…now I’m sipping my chamomile and peppermint tea while listening to Enya and writing this blog….so perhaps it’s time for bed…Lying there and staring at the ceiling…..waiting for that sleepy feeling….OK OK OK I’ll stop!!!!! Good night!!! XXX

Xita, Beatles, u Diet Coke......

2005-07-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ghadni nasal mill-universita'. Inzertat gurnata griza immens...u sirt ghasra sakemm wasalt! Issa ntfajt nisma' l-Beatles u nikteb xi haga fuq dal-blog qabel ma nibda nistudja. Illum nghidilkom storja dwar it-temp ta' Birmingham....

Tradizjonalment, l-Inglizi ghandhom ir-reputazjoni li meta jigu biex jibdew diskursata ma xi hadd li ma tantx jafu, jintefghu jparlaw fuq it-temp. Qabel ma gejt noqghod hawn, kont nghid iva possibli? M'hemm xejn t'aktar interess???! Issa li ili nghix hawn disa' xhur, skoprejt ghaliex it-temp ta' sikwit ikun punt ta' diskussjoni...Ghandhom ragun, sa certu punt. Jekk wiehed jipprova jsib xejra fit-temp Ingliz, l-unika tendenza li tista' torbot fuqha hi li dat-temp ghandu izjed burdati minni meta jkolli l-PMS...(iva possibli?!?!?!)

Mela jkollkom tkunu tafu li, ghalkemm f'Malta t-tbassir tat-temp tipikament jikkonsisti f'tahlita ta' kollox sabiex tkun giet imsemmija kull evenjenza possibli, (ez. sema msahhab, b'waqtiet xemxin, u xi halbiet ta' xita), hawnhekk ikollom ragun jghidu hekk. Inqum fil-ghodu u nhares mit-tieqa - xemx tizreg (li ghall-Brummies ifisser mhux aktar minn 25 grad f'nofs heat wave qalila) u nghid "Tajjeb...mela nista nilbes hwejjeg tas-sajf u karkur." Lanqas nilhaq nimxi pass il boghod mill-flat li ma jinzilx dulluvju....Nerga nidhol gewwa, nilbes xi haga aktar xitwija, gakketta w zarbun li jiflah ix-xita. U tlaqna lejn l-universita'.

Jasal hin l-ikel, u shabi jsejhuli biex immorru nieklu barra, fuq il-haxix tal-kampus. Haxix?? U x-xita? Nhares barra mit-tieqa.....sema car - lanqas shaba wahda - u xemx.....sa dan it-tant jien, ta' Maltija li jien, liebsa qisni sejra fuq xi muntanja silg ghax fil-ghodu ghamlet ix-xita....M'hemmx x'taghmel.

Issa tghallimt li s-sajf Ingliz huwa dan....ilbes hwejjeg sajfin kemm trid, imma QATT m'ghandek tilbes krakar, ghax ibqa' cert li dak inhar taghmel xi maltempata papali; u dejjem gorr gakketta w umbrella, ghal li jista' jinqala'...anke jekk tidher gurnata sabiha....

Darba, ghall-bidu li kont hawn, kont qed nara ftit television sakemm xrobt il-kafe' (kien xi weekend ghandu jkun). Giet wahda thabbar li se tkun gurnata "Mediterranja"....u ssuggeriet li kulhadd ghandu jmur jixxemmex, izda mhux minghajr sunblock. Il-kliem ezatt kien "Pack your bags, dig out those sunglasses and go and enjoy the sun - but don't forget your sunblock....it's a scorching 18 degrees out there...". Tajjeb wisq. Tghid din tigi minn dak li haseb li Malta m'hemmx air conditioners??

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Hassejt li ma nistax nikteb blog bla ma nsemmi l-grajjiet ta' dawn l-ahhar tlett ijiem. Ma tantx hemm xi tghid hlief j'Alla dawk it-tmien persuni li se jiltaqghu jikkunsidraw dak kollu li qed jintqal fil-marches, il-kuncerti, ecc. Tkun vera tal-biki jekk dan iz-zmien jigi mfakkar bhala z-zmien meta stajna naghmlu xi haga w m'ghamilnihiex....Insomma. Biz-zejjed paroli issa. Caw caw!!!

2005-07-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

yes ehm....this is 3 year old me....now I've grown horizontally....vertically I'm pretty much the same as then....

Merhba.....

2005-07-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

Mela....peress illi kulhadd qed jizvoga f'dawn il-blogs, iddecidejt li forsi xieraq nipprova nzomm tip ta' komunikazjoni mal-bqija tad-dinja....specjalment issa li ninsab f'post li hu l-aktar il boghod possibli mic-civilizzazjoni.....u li sikwit jissejjah Birmingham, UK.

Ili hawn minn Settembru, u fejn is-soltu (nisthi nghid), ma nikteb xejn bil-Malti, din id-darba xtaqt inzomm dat-tip ta' djarju (jew pagni bla sens mimlijin tgergir, ferh, cucati u stejjer) tal-hajja ta' tfajla Maltija qalb il-gungla ta' l-Ingilterra.....bil-Malti, ghax tqazzist nitkellem bl-Ingliz u nisma nies isejhuli "mejq".....Ridt bil-fors inzomm kuntatt mal-blata ckejkna ta' Malta, biex ma nkunx fil-periklu li nitlef l-identita Maltija....jew xi haga hekk insomma....Ghall-ewwel kont qed nikkonsidra nimporta l-pastizzi, bigilla, gbejniet u kinnie.....Imma mbaghad hsibt li Birmingham ghadha m'hix lesta ghal xokk kulturali bhal dak.....ikel li ma jinxtarah f'pakketti? Mela qed niggennu?......nahseb blog fuq l-internet hija soluzjoni aktar semplici...

Ma nafx ezatt x'tip ta' forma se jiehu dal-blog imma l-pjan hu li meta jkolli xi haga ta' interess (imqar remot), niktibha hawn...niskuza ruhi ma' dawk li gew hawn fit-tama li se jsibu xi revelazjoni, jew idejat ta' ispirazjoni....dan l-ewwel blog li ser nipprova nzomm...u mill-esperjenza li kelli s'issa ta' djarji eccetera, ma nafx kemm se jdum sejjer. Issa naraw.

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Illum inzertat gurnata pjuttost xemxija...Mit-tieqa tal-kamra tieghi, go flat 47, ma jidher xejn hlief balla sigar u ftit sema kahlani....imma m'ghandi xejn xi ngerger....ghall-inqas mhux xi skip, jew saqqu qadim, jew xi nofs karozza msadda. Izda ghal min ikun irid jara dawn l-affarijiet kollha, kemm tmorru erba' bibien l'isfel minni. Jekk tkunu xxurtjati, forsi jkun hemm mazz siringi wkoll....skond il-livell ta' disprament tal-bierah tat-tfal tant helwin li joqoghdu faccata tal-Halls fejn qed noqghod.

Illum ma fadalli xejn x'nikteb....nghidilkom iktar fuq l-'ikel' ta' Birmingham aktar 'l quddiem...imma issa ghandi l-guh!