of loops and stitches

I've recently started a new hobby - knitting!

Don't laugh!

Yes, it's often associated with old women/grandmas knitting ugly sweaters and jerseys that translate to unwanted Christmas presents, but it can be (not yet for me, though) quite a fulfilling task. Seeing the finished product, of course.

And so what started out as the ladies at work bringing their hand-knitted jerseys, the new postdoc at the lab recently (successfully!) knitted a lovely scarf and beanie, turned into them bringing me to the knitting shop to pick out a few rolls of yarn and a pair of knitting needles! (who knew the needles come in so many different sizes!) They're just so patient in teaching me :P

Knitting is no cheap business. The wool yarn I picked out (PURPLE!! yay) Total expenses + a 'learn-to-knit' guide book (not very helpful yet, I prefer demo) costed me over $50! (add a little more to get a Country Road scarf already!)

Knitting is no easy business too. I'm still waiting for the 'therapeutic' part that supposedly comes with knitting... During my first try, everything that could go wrong went wrong. I lost stitches, picked up extra stitches, too loose/too tight (pardon the knitting terminologies) etc. But now, after countless times of redo-ing, it actually resembles the early stages of a scarf!!! :)

So I've got about 7 rows done now, only 113 more to go to make a complete scarf! -_-

Anticipation

I was browsing through countdown widgets and decided against putting one on this blog (to remind me the days before I finally go back to Msia again, that is). Reason: it's still 130 days away! Looking at it often would raise the impatience level in me even further heheh :) I still can't believe it's going to be 2 whole years since I've been back (by end of this year)!!

Part of me misses the oily, good food. I won't even start thinking of them right now or my tummy will start growling. Another part of me wants to say I miss high school/church friends. But I have to say, I'm missing my parents the most, having last seen them last February. 2nd on the list would be looking forward to the wedding and all the chaos/fun it'll bring. And of course, food, GLORIOUS food.

Brooke Fraser tickets go on sale on Monday! Awesomeness as this time, seats are arranged in tables of 10! Ticket prices are up to almost $60 this time though, I'm blaming it on the GST increase come this October. hmph!

I've recently received my passport back from Immigration, in it proudly bearing two new stamps- one Residence permit and the other the Returning Resident's Visa (allowing me to go in and out of the country for multiple times for free). YAY! :D

I can't wait to see what next year will bring. Life in a new city, perhaps? ;)

All things beautiful

Brooke Fraser Album Trailer from Sideways Media on Vimeo.

Don't we live in exciting times?

For one, I'm glad that I'm born in the same generation as (in my opinion) one of the greatest ever singer-songwriter and live performer, Brooke Fraser. Having been to two of her concerts already here in Dunedin, and listened (and sung) her songs sooooo many times, I still find her lyrics and music so beautiful and real.

Which is why I (and a few million others) am excited for her new album "Flags" to be released on Oct 12 AND her nationwide tour, wait for it, kicking off in Dunedin on Oct 26!!! I'm so buying the tickets the minute they're out ;P And then going super early to the town hall to get front row seats teehee.

Oh, and that's the video featuring her new single "Something in the water" off the new album. Can't wait to hear the rest of the songs, which are of course, going to be equally, or not more brilliant.

Speaking of which, my bag ordered from Moop arrived yesterday thanks to the wonderful team that handcrafted this bag that I now proudly carry around :D So well-crafted and pretty! Loving all the strategically placed compartments too. Definitely worth every dollar spent.

  The Letter Bag in rosewood

Came across this website which they describe as the FML for optimists. Me likey. Go along to GivesMeHope (GMH) and its sister website Love Gives Me Hope and you're bound to feel a lot better no matter how bad your day has been and say a few "awwwww"s along the way. Truly inspiring and refreshing from the usual embarrassing stories in FML.

Thank YOU, God, for giving us creativity. Without it, the world would be so boring.

The July update

This is turning out to be a monthly thing :P 

Just finished watching "Mr. Nobody", featuring the blue-eyed cutie Jared Leto. He kind of reminded me of the used-to-be Domino Pizza's Aussie manager (incredible blue eyes gosh). Anyway, the film amazed me in every way; it has the vibe of the movie "The Fountain"- spanning centuries of time zones, beautiful visuals, confusing in every single way, yet it ties in quite beautifully (still confusing until I started reading the forums on imdb) at the end. Love the soundtrack too: 'Mr Sandman' and all the other oldies teehee- I love Buddy Holly's "Everyday" especially.

I'm itching to watch Inception. After all the raves and reviews it had gotten, and the awesome trailers on youtube. And despite the major spoiler (SIGH) someone told me and how I think Dicaprio is looking more and more like Jack Nicholson, I CAN'T WAIT!! Next Tuesday, fingers crossed.

I've FINALLY got my passport!! Well, not now as it's on its way (or already in Wellington?) to the immigration to get my residency stamp :) Turns out that the Msian Immigration wasn't too bad at all; they had in fact sent me my passport a few months ago, but had trouble getting the letter of notification to me as I had moved a few times at the beginning of this year. Oopsy.

Ooooh, and I'm getting back some income/tax rebate $$$ from the government in the next few weeks YAY. I'm limiting myself to one big buy, the rest would go into my savings account. I've been spending heaps on shoes (more specifically boots) lately, so this time it'll be my best BAG yet :P A lot of research have gone into this AHEM, and I'll get it as soon as the US currency drops (or NZD gains) even more.

Sneak peak of what my the bag looks like -->

In my defense, the current bag I'm using for work was bought during my first year of uni (2006!), and is getting too small to fit in all I need to carry around. Linings have started peeling off etc. So this is a more sturdy and roomier one and should last me the next few years. A Saben bag would have to wait- I'm opting for practicality first before I can afford a leathery Saben *drools* at their winter collection.

It's ski/snowboard season! A weekend at the slopes soon, maybe? :)

Oh how time flies by

Oh wow. I've been away from blogger long enough to not have yet seen the new design controls. Neat. About time, too, with Wordpress having the upper hand in producing cleaner, edgier templates for a while now.

The thought of never blogging again, ever, has crossed my mind, more than once actually. But I guess this is still a good platform in keeping in touch with those few that actually still read this blog. 

So, updates. 

I'm now a permanent resident of NZ! *big hooray* It wasn't THAT difficult as I'd imagine it would be; just a long and tedious process of getting all the documents, then getting them certified, filling out all the online forms and paperwork, posting and waiting. But thank God for my super kind case manager in both Christchurch and Wellington for making my life simpler by (1) not asking me to send another medical certificate as mine was about to expire soon aka past 3 months validity, (2) for speeding up my steps along the way, and (3) friendly and fast emails :)

But all that is still unofficial as I still have NOT received my new passport (which I applied like, 4 months ago!!!! darn the Malaysian Immigration) to get the stamp/resident visa on. They're certainly testing my patience. Again, I'm glad that airticket bookings online didn't require me to include my passport details.

Speaking of which, I've booked my flights back home! :D Airtickets are seriously overpriced! I've decided to stick to Singapore Airlines to collect those delicious Krisflyer points. For the first time ever, I used my own hard-earned money to buy the return tickets, costing me just under $2000. Ouch, says my bank balance. But all's good as today is pay day = $$$ = happy me :)

So I'll be heading back to Msia via SG on the 23rd of Dec, coming back here by end of January 2011. 4+ weeks, how precious they are, now that I'm at the mercy of annual leave. The big event is, of course, THE wedding. Not mine, but I think I'm more excited in planning than the actual bride herself. Agree? :P Then, if time and finances permit, a short trip somewhere to northern Asia.

I have to say, priorities have changed: from when I first started working to (now) 4 months after that. Going into the workforce, I set aside a separate "goals" savings account. Originally to save up for a grand DSLR camera + lenses (ahem) for which I was so passionate about I scoped its price fluctuation every month. Let's just say I didn't actually NEED so much as WANT that extra gadget in my possession, not right now anyway. I haven't quite figured out what to change the goal to yet, but I do want to invest in something that's going to give me reasonable return in the long run.

And that's how that (and my parents' opinion) it led to the subject of property investment. Not exactly my field of expertise, but oh well, it's never too late to learn. And to be frank, I've been thinking about venturing into that for a while now. Baby steps and more research to do for now, and we'll see where it leads from here.

I LOVE having a car to drive around (even if it's little ole' Dunedin). Ooh, especially during the uni holidays (like now) when there are no students around to steal take good parking spots. Not worrying about the weather changing from fine to hailing while I do my grocery shopping, being able to go to music practices every Thursday night without arranging a ride, not having to walk half an hour to go to church, ah well- it all leads to less exercise. Boohoo. I seriously need a knock in the head to get me motivated enough in going to the gym.

An unexpected income came as such a blessing late last week. :) I thought it would never happen. But it did! May, you know what I'm talking about. Of course that's going back into my savings account.

And of course, the World Cup. During times like these, I wish I was living in another time zone. Matches are generally 1.30am or 6.30am, and if I want to watch any game, I'd have to sleep at 10 the night before and wake up a few minutes before the match, then sleep again. Which I did, twice, to watch the All Whites games and the England vs Germany match. Bravo, All Whites for that never-say-never spirit! Now, if only the final is played during the weekend :( Another tired and caffeine-filled day at the lab it is, then.

*scrolls up* So there goes my rant (of the month?). Back to watching more LOST episodes (yeap, I'm a recent convert!)