So..had a long period of activity on Wednesday & Thursday.. Turn time back to Tuesday...called the university accomodation to see if there were vacancies at Thomas Court Hall for £92.50 a week..sadly not...everythin was full but they suggested i could go online and check out some places they recommended...but thats not how my family likes to solve issues...so my mom decided we had to go down to Plymouth ourselves personally to sort it out...it was quite ridiculous...for both of us on a train, it'd have cost £200 and on coach £100...luckily Sue the Crazy Lady was kind and so so awesome enough to give us (my mom,adnan and myself) a ride down there...i tell u how awesome...4 hours drivin to Plymouth awesome.
So we set off at 6am...it didnt help that Adnan and I were watchin The Mighty Boosh till 1am...So, Sue like the great Christopher Columbus, pioneered into the unknown...like Christopher Columbus' crew members, Adnan and I went to sleep...altho noted by mom "your heads were funny...both of u were sleepin and they were swinging in the same direction!" durin the trip... We arrive at bout 10am and i gotta tell u a few things that happened during and as soon a we got there:
-stopped for a tea break...Sue and mom went into the cafe for tea...adnan and myself were left with making tea ourselves in the thermos in the parking lot...milk was already spilt...it tasted kinda funny, must be that thermos-infused flavour everyone talks bout.. -for some reason after the tea break, began to feel incredible pain in my stomach...bein honest, weird semi-serious food poisoning...felt absolutely horrible in the 2nd leg of the trip...Sue's advice "have a mint"...that totally did not work and the time between contractions were getting shorter...not cool. -everything from then on became very unfunny.
We arrived in Plymouth...yay...NOW FIND ME A TOILET! we couldnt find parking so we parked bout 10 minutes walk away from the building..jus outside a B&B..pain was buildin and if not dealt with, i would have probably been back on nappy patrol...so, i exclaimed the seriousness of the situation to the others...begin toilet hunt!i was thinkin to myself "only me eh...maybe the b&b will let me..." when i heard from my mom around the corner... "how bout there?" So, i scurry...round the corner..and she points at a blue sign...vision accuracy decreasing..must focus...FOCUS...
"THATS A SIGN FOR A PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY OR BIKE!!!!"
thats it. im done for. i will go down in folk-lore that business happened in my boxers. this is goin to be priceless for a few ppl i know. must get to b&b. So, i run across the street to this Grovsner Hotel...ring the bell...Adnan gives me a vote of confidence "dont get ur hopes up mate.." a european dude answers the door: "yiss?" "can i use ur bathroom?" there is a 5 second silence...then a chinese woman comes to the door..im saved...she'll let a fellow chinese person to use her toilet...she has too! so, she directed me in...but then, this older european dude obstructs my finish liine... "MAY I PLEASE USE UR BATHROOM?!" and he does. Chinese connection u see...thru that chinese lady...joy!
So, after that fiasco and a few chuckles from Team Pick-On-Ross-Cos-He-Had-To-Use-The-Toilet..it was sortin out accomodation time...met one of the accomodation teams and she gave us a few hits to check out. looked into a few Uni-recommended places..like houses and this company called "Unite: The Heart of Student Living" which was sorta like uni halls...there were 3 buildings but this place called Central Point seemed to be the best cos: - its in the centre of the city centre..like i exit my building and im lookin at a Music Zone - its a 5 min walk from my School whereas uni managed halls are bout 20 minutes - its en-suite - and it costs £70 a week whereas an en-suite in halls wouldve cost £92.50
so, signed up and now i have accomodation...praise God. We spent the rest of the day by the coast takin in the views and sea...was great...bought great ice cream and Adnan and I sat bout 5 metres away from the ocean on the rocks...aside from the smell of sea water...it was very relaxing..i can imagine myself goin to sit there in times of stress... Adnan and I were also easily amused that I'm studyin near The Hoe Sea Front...cos when u say it quickly...it becomes THE OC...front... so we're takin pictures with signs and saying "The OC...front" Cos its ripe for parody! props to David Cross for that quote...or when I'm feelin like 50 cent " I'm surrounded by Hoes! " but i doubt ill ever feel like that....id rather study in The OC...front. And so we returned...came back at bout 8...had dinner...went out at 9 to meet the art crew and a few others at a pub before they dragged us to Snobs...good music...jus that im not a club guy so ultimately, i looked very dorky...saw some of the kids in the year below...Rich Wilson had his birthday when the clock struck midnight so that was cool...Ad and I left with our friend Jacob to walk home whilst stoppin twice on the way back as Jacob wanted to eat...after the veggie burgers and large pizza...we were finally on the home stretch...the day has been long...we've been up since 6am...there cannot be anythin else left in this day...until Jake decides to urinate on the pavement...to avoid awkwardness, Ad and I decide to slowly walk away...then we saw one more twist to our evening: a police car drivin by. The police proceeded to stop and honk at Jake..."whos that?" asks Jacob innocently...Ad and I walk a little faster...after a serious lecture on public urination...we waved off Jacob into the sunset...
Woke up at 10am on the Thursday morning...and went to sushi buffet with our friends Jack and Rob as it has only occured to me that Adnan likes to eat sushi and has never told me that great fact...had a great time catchin up with those 2...Jack's unwillingness to try new things ie. sushi was funny...it was also funny when he tried to shut me up by eatin half a sushi dipped in pure wasabi as hes never tried it before...after a few large gulps of his regualr good ol coke...he was fine...Adnan thought that was funny till he nearly puked up the tuna sushi...which i ate bout 10 slices of. Rob kept nabbin all the salmon ones which i was quite disappointed...like, its a sushi buffet so it will come round again so u dont wanna say anythin jus to be polite...but man...i really wanted a few more of those... waved off adnan at bout 4pm and the day went back to normal...funny what u can do and experience in 2 days.
oh, and this is awesome from Ok Go:
I'm currently listenin to: "Unfailing Love" by Chris Tomlin
we went plymouth scoutin on monday...and this is the University of Plymouth School of Architecture...this is homebase for 2 years and hopefully move into the new buildin in the 3rd year...the current buildin is by the coast which has this sense of serenity to it and has this cool lighthouse...very small compared to b'ham but hopefully ill get over that in time...
posted a few Plymouth photos..pray for better weather! its supposed to be the warmest place in england...well..thats not sayin much..
so...its been a very hard emotional roller coaster ride these past few days. after spendin the majority of the summer in total internal turmoil bout results...after the back pats and the "you're goin to medical school" to the eventual near mental breakdown the night before...results are here! Here's.....RESULTS!
Now results, here are few things i watch out for or have noted throughout my years of my usually receivin bad results:
- it always rains and the weather in general is bad...! its true...apart from this year, i spent all of my results day in supposedly SUNNY, TROPICAL, LAND UNDER THE EQUATOR malaysia...and yet, on results day..it rains... - i find myself spendin at least 20 or so minutes starin at an inanimate object in analytical detail..followin the lines of a desk...starin at a ceramic tile on the floor..noticin the scratch marks on a ruler... - the playstation has no addictive bound on me - listenin to music doesnt work either
on the 17th..i did or experienced all 4 things...granted i dont have a playstation here..but still, the other things i went through. and as i expected, the results were not ones i wanted..that was it...30 minutes previous, i was sittin on 2 offers ready to leave, preferably to ireland...and just like that...*click*...gone. i had nothin. what i thought was somethin God showed me when i first had the offers...never came into fruition. i wanted my money back(!) i remember the days so clearly months back, i was talkin to bert and bein in total awe and joy at the prospect of goin to ireland or sussex to pursue a career in medicine...never mind what the world says that im not goin to make it, God found a way...scratch that...TWO ways...so world, suck on those eggs.
and then gone...what a painful curveball. i never felt so helpless...talkin to my folks was the hardest...lyin on my bed was hard too...knowin, there is no more school...crap, i gotta look for a resit place...crap, i have to face another year out...what the heck next ross?! so after a whole afternoon and evenin and night of tension and depression...i went to bed...i prayed...as u do when it all falls apart... "God...what am i doin now? God...where am i goin...? God, where are u takin me...u lead me to this door and as im bout to step through...You take it away...God, i know i dont trust You enough sometimes but please Lord...show me where i need to go next...were im headed...what You have made me to do on this earth? Lord..i dont think my parents can take any more...Lord, i cant take anymore...please show me the path i need...i want to feel truly that i know that livin by faith is all i need..."
the next day, somehow...architecture came into the frame...made some clearin calls..somehow got offers and interviews...dashed to school...raced to sort out a portfolio with my form tutor/art teacher/school mentor ... came back..made more calls..got a few more places...Nottingham Trent was first to offer..interviews at UCE and UEL...okay, thats not bad...i think im sorted. came back from dinner with the CnR folks...problem. Nott Trent is a dud uni...it only offered 3 years..not the 7 i needed...panic mode. i needed to ace UCE interview otherwise im screwed.
the next morning, decided to give a few more places a ring...got offers from Lincoln, Greenwich and Plymouth and wait for a desicion by Kent on Monday...did some research, Plymouth is actually pretty good...but my dad thought Kent could be good...so Plymouth,Kent and possibly UCE...okay, somethin has gotta fall into place right?
Today, more research...Plymouth accordin to terence's architect friend and after readin a few uni guide books...is the way forward....PLYMOUTH it is! God wants whats best for me...this is the best He can deliver me..ill go..sure, id love to stay at UCE for the BCEC but i dont think God jus lives in the BCEC right..? God is everywhere. So yes..sign me up Scotty...
So yeah...just like that, God has put me back on course...sure, its not what and where i expected to go...but i feel happy. I feel that this is it...this where im headed...this is where God has put me. i cant explain..in a weird way, it feels right...i do feel the monkey has been lifted from my shoulder...
Walkin by faith...so hard to do in times like these...but i have to keep rememberin God has got my back always...even when i feel He hasn't...He has...seriously...no no..seriously...and im sure He has yours too. You may not see it sometimes, but He does...
Okay, now where is my calculator and ruler..cos i dont think God put me on earth to kill people with a rickety building.
I'm currently listenin to: "Crest of Waves" by Coldplay
This is The Spinto Band..songs called "Oh Mandy" now does anybody want to come with me to watch em at the Academy Tuesday, August 22 at 7:00 PM for 6.50 pounds?
So...a few days ago, i went to this christian bookstore with my mom and it is owned by one of my mom's friends called Mrs Cheong...now, mrs cheong has 2 daughters and one of them is called felicia who i used to go to school with. my mom said in front of mother cheong: "dont u remember auntie, ross?" "im sorry! i dont..."
so yeah, the minute i get back in the car, i remembered she looked awfully familiar so i asked if she was feicia's mom..and it was! and i was like "Ohhh...." my mom goes: "her mom tells me felicia is good at composing music" "yeah she is good...i saw her play and sing with a guitar a few weeks ago..shes good!" "yeah! felicia used to play my daughter in all those church plays when she was younger..i know her very well!"
so fast forward to the afternoon: Location- Church service finished and i was standin at the back and mother cheong opened a table sellin cds and books from her store...u know what i mean?so i went up to her and i told her i remember who she was now and whatnot...then i moved like 5 metres away from the table then this girl came upto me with a friend's baby...i know who she is..i met her the first week i came back to church...i know u..u have a brother...but ive forgotten ur name!
"Hi ross!" " *strained for a name* Hi..." and we talk for a while and im really doin well...like,i totally dont know ur name but im not bein awkward one bit cos i dont know it..im gonna be ok!
then it happened.
my mom walks by and the girl turns to my mom "hi auntie!" cos i think the girl knows my mom... so my mom puts her arm around this girl...im like, okay... "HOW ARE U?!" my mom goes "im fine!" she says with a smile "ross tells me ur very good at composing music!"
and i said to myself: "AHHHHHHHH!!!!! WRONG GIRL MOM! THATS NOT FELECIA...THATS A GIRL WHO IVE NO IDEA BOUT WHAT HER NAME IS...STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE!!!"
the girl goes: "reeeaaaallllyyyy?! ross, when did u hear me do this?" she said with a worried rhetorical smile
I DONT KNOW!! U TELL ME AND ILL NOD MY HEAD!!
then my mom points in the direction of mother cheong, who btw isnt this girl's mother, and says: "i talked to ur mom jus now..."
*ross slaps on forehead*
such a d'oh moment man...so embarassing...even when i dont embarass myself...someone does it for me.. but the girl hasnt figured out that i dont know her name and i guess she will think my mom is a lil nuts...with pretzels.
My mom's finishing statement to me in the car:
"Well if thats not Felicia...is it Cecilia her sister cos they look similar?"
*forehead slapped*
I'm Currently Listening To: "Over My Head (Cable Car)" by The Fray
-Family trip to KL for 3 days and 4 days in Bangkok...went ok...although my dad had a slight bout of food poisonin on the last day and was sick for the next few days when we went to Bangkok.
MY NEW FAVOURITE AQUIRRED ITEM: an early to mid 1990s pair of Converse Basketball shoes! so cool man..like,when i was a kid and watchin all those NBA videos..i always wanted a pair of kicks like those...it was like 50% off too! man! woo-hoo!
-Bangkok was alright...alot of walkin around...the first few days..my gosh,it was like scalding hot...i mean, put a little oil on my arm and u got urself a nicely baked arm ready to eat on the go...sweated a great bucket...we went to this weekend market and there were like all sorts of stuff but i was a bit wary of the shoes they were sellin...i dont think they were fake, but i think there are a few hundred tourists walkin around Bangkok bare-footed lookin for this market if u know what i mean.i bought myself another Superman t-shirt if u are wonderin if Ross has lost his Superman touch. i kinda forgot that i got one earlier this year for my birthday from Sam. that makes it 4 now. sorry y'all. u can shake ur heads............Now.
-Currently hangin out with a few of my oldest friends...its so amazing. especially with David...i used to worry bout him a few years ago, not that he was in serious danger..well only health-wise with the ciggies, but hes a changed man...found himself in God and its the same but new David. im so inspired by that...my other friend Peng, whos in New Zealand atm, would be proud of Davey-boy too.
-Played nearly a whole day of futsal 2 days ago...first in the afternoon,we had 8 players and we played against a few local workers in the area...cos there was 8 of us we said we'll play 6-a-side...they said sure, but cos of the instant attraction of a football bein played, it attracted like 30 other local workers..so it was the 6 of us with 2 rolling substitues against 6 local workers and a rolling substitution of 30 players...i was beginning to think it was jus gonna be a free for all and it would then somehow turn into football bein played on the street like in that tv commerical. but who cares...we won...! but previous to that match a few european tourists saw us warmin up and challenged me and my merry men to a game that very evening. so we played a few hours later with the europeans...well,2 were surprisingly from Birmingham so they dont count...there was an italian and a frenchman, funny huh...i nearly got rugby tackled by the frenchmen cos he lost his footing...think of me as Indiana Jones and think of him as that rolling ball he gets chased by...Strained my legs totally after that. David made friends with the italian dude (eduardo) and his girlfriend (daniella) and somehow he managed to invite them to dinner the next evening (that bein a friday)..!
-yesterday (friday): in the morning, after only 5 hours of sleep...me and the guys went wakeboarding. and i gotta tell ya...it is soo hard.i mean, i dont even skateboard and u want me to hold balance on a board and get dragged around by a speedboat...but dave had that child-like "please please please" look on his face...its not that i didnt want to do it...i was kinda worried bout the price of it..so yeah, my arms ache..my back aches..my legs are now totally strained out..ive drunk my own body weight in salt water..i forgot i can get very sea-sick on small boats that rock hard. but it was fun..i think ill try it again soon..in the evening,we took out eduardo and daniella out for dinner near the beach for 'local' seafood and coconuts...twas all cool...
so yeah, update over...doesnt even feel like an update anymore... post soon. later kids
I'm currently listening to: "Oceans Will Part" by Hillsong
adnan and myself were left with making tea ourselves in the thermos in the parking lot...milk was already spilt...it tasted kinda funny, must be that thermos-infused flavour everyone talks bout..
