I Dawdle

I HEART THE SARTORIALIST

2008-04-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you nisa for telling me bout his blog. Gawd daamn.. How come I can't come up with original ideas like that?

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, see www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com!

Oh and here's an update of my life while I'm here. Currently I'm back to procrastinating. Exams are coming up but I'm still a lazy wreck. Anyway the idea is to just bloody graduate then I'm going on a 2 week trip to Espana to soul search. Ooo.. maybe I can start taking pictures of people ala the sartorialist! Yea, we'll see how that turns out. I hope I don't run into weird men asking me to take walks with them in the park. (long story)

Till then,
Adios amigos.. si si si

Changing my mind AGAIN (woo big surprise there..)

2007-10-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

So many places to see, so little time..

I think, I really think, I've made up my mind on what I want to do after I graduate. (Well it's about time anyway!) I don't really want to jump into a job but instead travel the world!

Take a look at this --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4

This Matt guy has totally inspired me. Swimming with jellyfish, dancing in front of the Pyramids, who wouldn't want to do that?? Because once I start working I'll be working for the rest of my life. So I should enjoy my early days right? I don't want to be 40 and checking into a student hostel. I must do it! Just do it NOW NOW NOW. I wish I had the guts to just pick up and go but I'm too afraid of the unexpected. The but's and what if's I will surely ask myself when I try to be spontaneous. AIIHH..

But this is the plan. Whether I go through with it will be another question. You may just see me at the cashier of a Marks and Sparks packing your groceries into plastic bags. (Shit, that thought has just scared the bejeebus out of me!) I seriously pray not.

YEE HAA!

2007-08-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

So guess what? I've got a new passion! (Drum roll please).. It's horse riding!! I know many of you might be thinking "poor horse" right now but I assure you I do not exceed the weight limit OK?? (However the exact measure of my weight will be undisclosed, thank you very much.)

Anyway horse riding is seriously hard work! At first I thought "How hard can riding a horse be? Just sit tight and pull on the reigns whenever you want it to stop." Boy oh boy! Was I wrong or was I wrong. It takes coordination of your hands and feet, all the while trying to read the horse for any sudden movements plus keeping perfect balance. And this is just for walking. Trotting makes you use muscles that I never thought I had. It's a squatting motion that uses calve and back muscles. (No, it's not just sitting and bumping along with the horse cause that what I thought it was.) You also have to keep in motion with the horse, making sure you exercise both its right and left leg muscles by changing up and down movements with its right or left leg. (Phooo! Even talking about it makes me tired.) Oh and the hardest part is trying to make yourself look poised and professional. Yeaaa.. Not so easy...

It's all smiles at first....

Notice the tightly pursed lips and rigid shoulders? Yeaaa.. Again not so easy..

But, no matter what, I love them horses and will continue to ride till I know how to take care of my own. The plan is to buy a place in the country just to ride. Aaahh! That will be the day..

This posting is dedicated to my darling Megan, William and Honey. I'm sorry for kicking you so hard and I swear I was forced to use the strop.

PS: New possible occupation.. Equestrian? Hmmmm..

When I grow up, I want to be.......

2007-07-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Ah! I'm completely hopeless and I know it. Being ambitious is a real chore for me. While I do know what I want to be in the future (happy but not necessarily rich), I don't know how to get there. The more I think of it the more insignificant I start to feel in this world.

How do you become successful when there are millions more who are more creative, who are smarter, who have the means, who are better looking or who are just plain luckier? The people you see in the tube everyday, the people who are eating beside you, who you catch a glimpse of at the corner of your eye. They must be thinking about the same things that I am. So how can I be different? How can I come up with something someone has never done and be contented with myself at the same time? No lying, no cheating, no polluting, just good 'ol honest work. Maybe I am too idealistic but it is the only way I can sleep at night.

Right now I can't even imagine myself working in an office doing the '9 to 5'. I want an unconventional life. Not to be a doctor or lawyer or accountant. How about a potter, book-binder, antique dealer?? Are they not legitimate professions as well? (Please dismiss the monetary side of things for now OK? I'm sure I will come to my senses.. haha) Soon, I'll be taking up a shoe-making course. I can see it now.. "YI, THE COBBLER."

Anyway, anyhow, I can't.. no, won't allow myself to be boring and normal. And that's all I know right now as I approach my 21 years of this life. As for the future, who knows what it brings. I will constantly look for possibilities but please oh please do not ask my what my ambition is. Because the only answer I can give you is : to be happy.

Website Now Open!

2007-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Isn't technology great?? Especially for lazy people like me who use exams as an excuse for not opening my stall. But it's not like I have forgotten about my "business".

Check out my website!! It's www.gemsandjellies.co.uk. It comes in really handy on days like these when London weather has gone completely bonkers, sunny and sweltering one minute, 5 degrees and raining the next! Mother nature PMS-ing or what huh? However I'm yet to get more visitors on the website. How do I start spreading the word? hmm.. Oh and please don't ask about the Cosmo feature. *wink wink* haha..

In the meantime I'm going to be constantly updating the website. The new collection is very inspired by the 70's, flower power, hippy movement. So any of you tree-huggers out there, this is for you!

PEACE & LOVE!!

Grumpy Old Men

2007-04-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Oh have I mentioned that I'm now an official volunteer at the london zoo? (Sounds easy but it was a loong process.) Anyways it's great! Great team(well almost), great work, great conversation, great scenery, great coffee, great badges, great everything! But the thing that spoilt it all for me last week was my aged, drooling, thinks-he-knows-everything mentor. Time to vent! The story goes like this.

For the second time, my sadist team leader, Arfan, paired me up with Malcolm(yes the old man). I really thought that he was just another retiree without much on his hands who had a good enough heart to volunteer. But last Saturday he gave me a good telling off without me even knowing what I did wrong. Seems that he wanted me to stick to his side throughout the day to "absorb his words of wisdom". I understand that I don't know everything about the animal kingdom but I don't need to be listening to, "Did you know that monkeys are omnivorous?" and "Bats are nocturnal", the whole day. So I walk around a bit and try to look out for "offenders" by myself (it's not as sad as it sounds.. ok, maybe a little) but I guess that was VERY wrong. According to the ol' pappy I should've stuck by him and listen to information that he was giving people. I don't know bout you guys, but one of my biggest pet peeves are over-friendly salespeople, actually over-friendly anyone. It's very annoying when you're trying to have a nice afternoon with friends or family and somebody comes up to 'just chat' when you didn't even ask a question!

Honestly he can do whatever he wants cos he's an old folk and has the excuse of being partially senile or just lonely. I can't (and won't) butt into random conversation with people cos they'll think i'm just being nosy or worse a smarty-pants! oy-vaayy.. This volunteering thing suddenly doesn't sound so good anymore after re-reading this. But I will look forward to future Saturdays. Ones that do not include spattering saliva or uncalled-for telling-offs. Just sunny days, roaming animals and heck, why not throw in some squirrel monkey poo.

PS: I hope malcolm does not have a computer and does not read this. Hey, it can happen.

PPS: I will definitely try to stop all this whining and write about more important things. You know like world issues, the environment, politics, shoes, summer dresses, balenciaga bags...

A Little Holiday Never Hurt No One

2007-04-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

Boy oh boy! Talk about stalling completely. It has been 3 weeks since I last went to the market and 2 since I've opened any sort of uni-related reading material. As guilty as I do feel and as blank as my mind has been, it's been completely worth it. First the long-awaited trip to Amsterdam then the wierd and wonderful New York. Productive vacationing is such an easy task. Aaahhh.....

Amsterdam has been a real eye-opener for me and this trip can only be described as wonderfully horrible. But I guess I asked for it when I booked the cheapest bunk beds in the dodgiest part of town, thinking it might be a great experience(which it was really) for 3 female backpackers. Turns out sex and drugs everywhere isn't such a great thing. While we did do our fair share of 'legal activities', Kat came up with a theory that doing drugs isn't doing drugs if it's not against the law. Hmm.. I guess that's why we spent more time looking for fancy cafes than coffeeshops. But the most memorable part of the trip has to be the force-feeding of mushrooms. Not your average shitake mushrooms but the lethal, disgusting, blue-stemed funghi. Just a word of caution, NEVER EAT MORE THAN A BOX! Forget all those movies which tell you that drinking absynthe will make you see green fairies, if you wanna see fairies, eat some 'shrooms! I'm glad I tried it but that will definitely be the first and last time.

And New York is definitely a must-see! Everything is moving constantly as if you need to press a pause button to soak it all in. Plus everything is really like in the movies! For example a Starbucks at every corner and nail salons everywhere! Times square is just as busy as it is 2 in the afternoon as it is in the morning. 24-hour restaurants in London? Yea maybe that one place(forgot what it's called, starts with an "S" I think.) But in NY it was completely overwhelming. Great and lively as it was, London is where I feel most at home. 5 days was enough to make me miss the unpredictable weather and the English accent(whatever form it may come in; from the nasal and snooty to the "am I bovvered.") If only British guys are as georgeous as Americans. *Drooolll...

Oh well, you just can't win 'em all.

Uninspired

2007-03-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you're doing so much but not doing anything at all? That's how I've felt for the whole of last week or so. I never have time to just ponder anymore, to daydream about what I really want to achieve. My twitching eye tells me I'm tired but I don't know what from. Yes, I have been doing quite a bit with working at the zoo, opening my stall and working at Chelsea FC but I how come I don't feel rewarded? (I should at least have some extra cash to spend! But I don't.) Will doing all these really help me in the future? Because right now it has just been making me too busy to even have the usual Sunday dimsum lunches with my sister.

With easter holidays coming, I feel even more stressed instead of happy as exams are a few days after holidays end. Being the pessimist that I am when it comes to education, I know I will screw my second year up, only praying by some divine intervention I pass. So this got me thinking again, would anyone choose a zoo volunteer over a straight A scholar? Seriously.

Ah! That should be enough whining for today. I know I should just suck it up and stick with it. Hopefully by the end of the year I will see some results. For now I have a business project to hand in and multiple courseworks to finish by Monday. Gawd damn, it's a hard knock life!

New Hope!

2007-02-26T17:14:00.000-08:00

This is Mickey. Mickey also shucks oysters at Borough Market for 80 pounds a day!!

Nisa, my hairband model and Jos(pronounced joss like boss). I love you guys for supporting my silly hobbies.

Dear Jade, Mars, Danial, Pingy, Praveen, Lena and other non-existent readers,

I really don't feel like writing- or is it typing?- in my blog today. Jumping around and singing my lungs out at The Shins(5 amazingly talented guys who play mind-blowing music) concert has made me utterly exhausted. But a picture is worth a thousand words. And you could say that last Sunday was a good day. I covered my rent with profits! weeyy heeyyy...

Pictures (courtesy of Kat's camera)

2007-02-19T05:43:00.001-08:00

Here are some not-very-professional pictures of my stall on the first day! See how bare it is? Also you can see our lunch at the corner of the picture. Not very good for advertising purposes huh?

I Hate Sundays.

2007-02-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

Well another Sunday, another blog update but this time not with the same happy, thank-you-come-again attitude. This week I couldn't even cover my rent! And that's even with Mickey's help of paying 30pounds instead of splitting it 25-25. I keep telling myself that I'm doing it for the experience and not the money, which is true, but it gets very frustrating when I cannot even earn a measly 25pounds. Am I doing something wrong? Is the feng shui of the shop just not good? Maybe my products just aren't very appealing? I think that's the problem with hand-making your own products. Puting in time, energy and squeezing your creative juices just to make a hairband becomes tiresome on bad days like these. Also, there was a little girl(couldn't be more than 5) who went "ew ew ew" while pointing at my array of bags and I took it very personally. Suddenly I became very insecure all because this little brat didn't like my things. (Oh gosh, I'm so bitter writing this blog today- must be the time of the month.) Looking at Mickey's key-rings(4pounds a pop) selling like hotcakes made me feel fed up. Maybe I should just source some little gadgets and gizmos from Thailand; zero effort and sky-high profit margin! For now I am seriously contemplating this dive into the mass market, how ever much I hate the idea of becoming just another stall holder selling "made in china" trinkets. I hope a sunny and happier day will change my mind. We'll see...

No Poop Shovelling Needed

2007-02-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

I'm so lucky that Olga(our housekeeper- yes, me and my sister are really BIG slobs) woke me up in time for my interview today. If not I would not be as happy as I am because today I got a place as a volunteer at the London Zoo! OOWEE! I know what you must be thinking; "how come you're getting all excited when no one is getting paid?" I was thinking the same thing too as I was walking through Regent's Park but when I saw 3 massive giraffes basking in the sun I knew this opportunity was too good to miss.

The best thing was that I got to enter the zoo for free! I know, I'm such a cheapskate but do you know that it's 12.50pounds per adult to get in? Oh and my interviewer had the nicest name I've ever heard -Joy Jolly. Doesn't she sound like rainbows and vast green meadows? But I have to say she didn't look anything like her name. In fact, she reminded me of my probability lecturer-picture long grey hair and large gold glasses- only much more pleasant. She told me that I had to go through some biology training(God help me) and also most of the volunteers were either professionals or retirees. Not that I'm complaining but it would be nice to look forward to some eye candy. Anyway, walking around the London Zoo wasn't the worst way I could have spent my Wednesday afternoon. Actually I enjoyed it so much I would have paid the 12.50 if I had to. If I had to...

So wish me luck as I try to educate children about endangered animal species and try to handle snakes and beatles. Key word: try.

The Show Must Go On

2007-02-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

Despite every part of my body being sore, I have to say that today was a good day at the market! Actually the good news is that i managed to cover my rent. wooo hoo! But that's only because I met this guy from Taiwan named Mickey(they do love those Disney characters) who wanted to share my stall. He offered to pay half the amount of the rent which is such a relief because 50pounds is too much for someone selling hairbands. Even though I sold less than last week(a measly 5 items.. saddo), I still managed an 8pound profit and I'm over the moon. Wait... now to think bout it I had a 15pound loss last week so taking away my profit today gives me... still a 7pound loss! AARRGHH!

Okay okay, leaving money matters behind, I think a learnt a great deal about running my own business today. As I was blowing my runny nose and wiping my foggy eyes in the tube this morning, I realised all the responsibilities I, as the "big boss", have to take on. There will be no such thing as calling in sick or being late because at the end of the day, it will be me who will be at a loss. So I dragged my heavy head off my pillow and managed to set up in time for the first early birds. (Oh, special thanks to my sister who brought a friend to see the stall and bought something from me. YAY! Also to Sherri and Roy who came to support me.. xie xie ni!haha)

All in all, I am very happy that my sisters pushed me(more like shove actually) to do this. I hope after this experience I will get my internship. But you know what, it doesn't really matter anymore because I really enjoy doing this.

PS: Pictures will be coming very soon!

A song and a dance? A jig and a tune?

2007-01-28T15:58:00.000-08:00

Wooow! It's quite unimaginable the buzz that you get from doing something you've never done before. In my case it's opening my own "business", selling my own "merchandise" and talking to your own "customers". I'm not trying to be cocky but I felt truly proud when people commended my hand-lovingly-made headbands and bags; some even bought my measly oyster card holders and ipod covers! Trust me when I say that waking up at up such an ungodly hour was worth it all.
As I took the tube to Liverpool Street station my stomach was already churning with all the butterflies and I kept thinking all the most negative things that could happen like if the office forgot to appoint me a stall or forgetting something important. But upon arrival everything was as it should be even though the table was bigger than I estimated. My neighbours, especially the old man to my left who kept winking at me(more out of habit than any sexual references- he's a fashion designer), were extremely helpful as they helped me by lending me a backdrop. And I must say special thanks to Kat who kept me company the whole day( we danced, sang, gossiped, laughed, ate and danced some more). I made 7 sales and although that may seem pathetic to most, I am extremely happy. However I didn't manage to cover the cost of my rent which was freakin' 50 pounds, so that's a rough idea of how much I made. As I await the next Sunday to arrive, I will strive to improve the condition of my shop( chairs are first on the list- backache laa). Oh and I have yet to give this shop a name. Think think think...

Open and Ready for Business!

2007-01-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! Finally after the longest time, I'm opening my stall at the Sunday Up Market!! So here's an invitation for my non-existent blog readers and Jade(hi jade!) to go support me by buying my nonsense next Sunday. Already have I been day-dreaming of my items being featured in Vogue. *sigh* Tune in next time for an update of the profits made (or loss.. *gulp) from my business, .......... I have to think of a company name! Please do leave a comment if you have any suggestions.

I really DO dawdle!

2007-01-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

The love of my life..

Hearing wannabe ghost hunters from Most Haunted on TV while trying to write this blog makes me realise how much crap i actually do watch. Hi i'm Yi and i'm a tv addict! (hi yi..) I can't help but to turn on the tv everytime i'm in the house; if not for my viewing pleasure, it's to break the silence when i'm alone at home. But seriously, i think it's causing real harm to my health (bad eyesight and a permanent couch potato slouch) and my "future prospects". Instead of working on my CV, i find myself being drawn the sound of sex and the city's theme song (every tuesday, wednesday and i think thursday at 10pm) and setting my phone alarm to go off at 8pm on fridays (ugly betty night!). I have even thought of asking my sister to take the SkyTV card with her to work but i was too weak! I just know that life would not be the same without my nine hundred and ninety nine channels. But to update my non-existent blog readers about my progress, I have applied to Good Home Magazine under BBC for an internship but i doubt i will get it. While i do love the occasional read on "How to Make Tea Cosies", i'd rather be working at Glamour or Instyle but i'm just too chicken to apply because my CV looks something like this: work experience - chelsea waitress who gets lousy tips and jelly pong pong intern(yeaa roiight..), skills - i'm pretty good at ironing shirts?, exam results - don't even ask! I also just had "the talk" with my eldest sister about my future... AGAIN. This time i've been given a two week deadline to get my stall up and running. Oh did i mention i've been trying to get this stall- selling headbands and bags- open for a year now?? So tomorrow i will be showing my "products" to the manager at the Sunday Up market and hopefully he/she will like them. Fingers crossed!!

New year, new you?

2007-01-16T13:43:00.000-08:00

Is this the face of a 21-year-old?

Gee whiizz.. talk about procrastinating! It's been a week since I've set up this blog account and only now am I writing my first post. Walking to Tesco's just now really got me thinking, no actually panicking, about turning 21 this year. It's not that I'm afraid of becoming a year older, it's just becoming 21 that scares the bejesus out of me. Twenty one is THE age; the age when you are finally responsible for EVERYTHING that you do. You can vote, you can buy alcohol(and confidently show your ID if asked for), you can enter clubs in Malaysia (WOOWWW huh?), you can legally change your name and you are no longer in your "teens" but a full-blown adult. Truly scary stuff for the youngest of 4 siblings and being considered the baby of the family.
Recently my sister asked me where I see myself 5 years down the line and "Err.. something to do with PR? maybe magazine work? i think i like fashion? i want to try something artsy? how bout travel? i dunno la.." was my answer. To be honest, I've never given my future too much thought. Sure, there is the dream of me in my country house, sipping my herbal tea while watching my vine-tomatoes ripen under the tuscan sun. But dreams will stay dreams unless i pave my way to achieve it. I envy those who already know how their lives are mapped out and are more than sure about what they want to do in life because my ambition changes as often as the latest It-bag.
So I'll be setting up a mission for myself. By the end of this year I must have a secured internship. Meanwhile, I will be documenting the build-up of my currently very unimpressive CV. First up, an application for volunteering at the London Zoo. Yes, I, Cheah Chiann Yi, am ready shovel poop! Bring it on.