The inner mumbles of the Mumbly Panda

First Day...and now.

2007-06-12T22:59:00.000+01:00

So...i had my first day at work at KPF today..cos atm, im livin in a zone 4 area and the office is in Covent garden which is zone 1...it meant havin to wake up just a little earlier than im currently used to...so out of the house by 8:45am and dashed for the oncoming bus that drove past me...I'm really lovin Oyster cards...jus how efficient and somewhat quite stylish it is to fip out ur card wallet and slap it onto the machine thus opening the train gates...

Luckily, the office is situated coveniently across from Covent garden train station so i arrived outside the doors at 9:30...a good half hour before i needed to go in...half awake..i trudged around and found a Cafe Nero where i bought a regular sized cup of tea...where i managed to burn my tongue...tea has never been so hot...and i should know..cos im a big tea chugger. So..with my numb tongue i went into the office...I did some research yesterday and the floor that i first saw was quite cool...a warm, laid-back atmosphere with maybe 20-30 or so people workin. i thought to myself "yeah..cool...not that many people...not too intimidating..this should be fun.."

fast forward today: i find out architects alone...nearly 200 of them! add on the marketers and the rest...we've got huge numbers...all on that one floor u say? ah...wise one...they occupy 3 floors! and 2 other floors on a building opposite! the image of myself as a small fish jus got even smaller when the lady told me.

So, ive been placed into a project involving LSE and their student accomodation with cafe/bar. Oddly, it seems to me that I am the only one makin this section of the model...didn't quite dawn on me till this morning considerin the other model makers are doin other projects...
Yeah, its hard atm...everyday is hard slog...not only i have to deal with the ever changing demands of my bosses on how things should look, i actually have to go and make it...properly. Originally, i thought my model was just a simple model for them to prod at and see where they can make edits..but its startin to sound like they want it to be a presentation model...more stress...

right, too tired to write...will blog more..

hope ur well...

Off to London...

2007-06-09T21:14:00.001+01:00

So... I'm off to London to do nearly 2 weeks of work experience at a company called KPF... I'm excited but at some level a little nervous because they don't usually take up first years so it will be a little intimidating...hopefully my life skill for making useless small talk will come handy..

So I will be train-ing it tommorow afternoon and stay a family friend's place till Friday then move to Adnan's place hopefully... I'm not a London freak but I like big cities so this will give me a taste of it... things will be alright...

Apologies to Bert and Phan because I do want to be around and be as much help as I can. I'll be back to help you move your "Abongaboogas" (I don't know what they are called..Ikea comes up with weird names) up your stairs in your new home. I pray everything goes alright.

So yes... London. Here we come. Treat me well. Otherwise you'll get an earful from my mom.

I'm Currently Listening to: "When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne

Floatin' On

2007-06-01T02:21:00.000+01:00

It's been awhile since i last posted on here..i dunno, with everythin thats gone on i jus havent found the time nor the space to sit down and write it out. with facebook and emails really takin up most of the time im online...especially facebook and its quick efficiencies, i guess ive found less and less reasons to blog...hmm...but to blog about what? sure...i can tell u bout my great love for pizza but i have difficulty tryin to put down words how I am with God.

I've latched onto this lyric sung by Modest Mouse; "And we'll all float on ok"

for some reason i kinda like that line. i think its not too optimistic and its not too pessimistic. i think optimistic in the way that you aren't drowning in trouble but pessimistic that ur barely surviving. i guess there is a bit of hope in it. i like it, i tell myself that everytime in in a spot of bother nowadays..heck, i even say to people who talk to me.

"Ah..you'll float on..."

i guess its jus earthly me tellin myself things will be fine when really they are more than fine. things are great. i guess i jus choose not to see it. u dont see the things u have until its gone. im startin to figure that out now. God has my back, why do i feel like im jus floating? the mind is a complex thing.

In other news, i managed to secure work experience in London from the 12th - 22nd of June which is great...Praise God for that one. I am kinda lookin forward to it cos hey, its work experience and its somethin to put down on the 'ol CV but at the same time, i do really want to see what being an architect is about..have all my late Plymouth nights drinking substitute Red Bull a similar replica to the real thing? i hope not. I guess a part of me still wants to be in brum and help Bert out with his house or somehow get more involved in church. i dont know what it is. but a part of me still wants to stay. only natural i presume. Oh, and MuteMath are in Birmingham on the 21st too..how convenient(!)

Ah well...I'll float on.

do what You will...do what You will.

2007-04-24T02:13:00.000+01:00

Verse 1:
Come like You promised You would
I want to surrender for good
I know that I need You
And I don’t want to keep living life alone

Chorus:
So take my heart
And make it new
And make it true
And make it like You
Take my hands
I lift them high
They’re Yours not mine to do
Do what You will, do what You will
Do what You will

Verse 2:
I feel like a blind man in Your sight
I know that I’m wicked in Your eyes
So wash me and make me shine like Your Son
I want to tell everyone that You’re the only One

Bridge:
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, Do what you will
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now (Do what You will)
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now, Do what you will
I’m ready now, I’m ready now
I’m ready now

...

2007-04-21T00:45:00.000+01:00

All you need to know is that im praying. hard. prayin that i can get my essay finished..praying for guidance...praying for peace...praying for the spiritual and metal war ahead.

bring it.

King of the Rodeo

2007-03-27T13:03:00.000+01:00

So...im feelin much better...mentally stronger and happier and also physically more awake..! this is the first time in a long time (6 weeks) where i can finally relax for only a little while..call it my mini holiday before the holiday.
We've had to design 3 buildings on a proposed pier which is part of the forward thinkin of re-generatin Plymouth as a city (or is town?). We were placed into teams of 3 but we were marked individually for our own buildings. 3 choices: Ferry Port, Shops and Restaturant. After much discussion with my tutor, he decided for me it would be best to take the Ferry Port as usually the building itself would be placed at the end.
The ferry port had to contain not only 4 toilets (dont ask!), a waiting area and a managers office but an exhibition area for art, a performance area for festivals and concerts and generous outdoor deck area for waiting...

the past 6 weeks have been hard...jus tryin to keep calm and jus get on with it even tho at times i cant even lift my eye lids...a prime example was last week...i spent the entire Saturday drawing all my plans,elevations,cross sections and perspectives. i completed it on Sunday morning with the thought that i could take em to the studio and photocopy them for backup. i put them in a cardboard tube and was off. the journey didnt take long. i live 5 minutes from the studio. i got there and opened the photocopier and i opened my tube..only for the tube to be hollow. my work dropped out as i was walkin to the studio! i dashed out and searched and to make things worse...it was hail stoning. that was heart wrenching. tbh, it was heart wrenching cos i dont think ive ever felt that way about my work before...throughtout my school career, i dont think ive ever cared bout work like i did when i was lying on the floor looking under the cars.
i shed a few tears..whined for a bit...bought a Whopper meal to make myself a lil happier (the first time i actually went to BK to eat cheer myself up..) and got back to re-drawing everything again on Sunday afternoon till the early morning.

I presented my work yesterday and hopefully things went well. i got very good reviews from my tutor and i pray that my grades will be ok. he said that the drawings were beautiful, the building itself was realistic enough that it was 'buildable' (any other buddin architects out there reading this...always aim to get a word like 'buildable' as a descriptive for ur building!) and privately, he said if my team as a whole worked to my work rate, our designs wouldve been one of the best designs. Praise God!

i know my spiritual life has been dry and at times i feel disconnected and at times quite angry at Him (the losing of my drawings)...He still pulls me thru...and He pulls me thru comfortably. i call losing my work "God testing and shaping me". i havent lost the faith. ive grown a little stronger for it. since that day, the work load altho just as intense, has felt effortless in my mind...thanks God. :)

PS- watched 300 yesterday...i thought it was good...a solid 8/10. the CGI was just beautiful, simply stunning. altho it is hard to look cool in tight speedos. the helmet made up for the speedos. :)

I'm Currently Listening to: "Match Box" by The Kooks

Hunting for Witches

2007-03-15T22:52:00.001Z

Dear William

2007-03-08T20:02:00.000Z

Dear William,

Balik Kampung sekarang ah?!

So..you're goin very soon...and to be honest, that sucks! But God has given you a path and you must follow for He knows whats best.

I just wanted to say "thanks man" ....here's a shortish list dude:

thank you for bein who you are

thank you for sayin things that are so "blur wan!"

thanks for bein an inspiration to me in how you cope with ur road with God...

thanks for sharin ur tactics on how to take hospital food...next time im cleanin up a hospital, i know which floor to start first..

thanks for bein that ever smilin brother of ours

thanks for "guarding" the cooked meat durin my mom's dinner parties..(!)

thanks for hangin out with me when i came back for my moms birthday by havin a 'girly sleepover' at debras..

thanks for prayin with me

thanks for playin basketball with us...i apologise for knockin u over when we play...you have poor footwork. i'll teach you.

thanks man. terima kasih abang.

i hope to see you very soon man...i wish you all the best.

God Bless,
ross.

updating.

2007-03-07T13:09:00.000Z

So...haven't been on here in awhile..i apologise for the lack of updates.

i have been busily tryin to figure out how to design and come up with valid solutions to the building i'm trying to design. our last design project of the year is to do with a Pier. we are to design a building on the Pier...im in a team of 3 so there are 3 buildings but we are marked indiidually to our respective building so my two friends are doin Shops and Cafe whilst im doin the Ferry Port. this whole year, ive played it safe and have gone with the cubes and minimalistic stylistics but this is the last chance i can get to do somethin far out without gettin hassled on it too much...ive also played it safe and used alot of concrete usually so this time round my main and eye drawing factor will be *drumroll* ..... grass. yes, im goin to try and emphasise the use of grass in my building...this is an initial concept model:
i want to use the circular structures to have a grass texture to be an ode to the cliff which the Pier connects to...hopefully old wooden boardwalks and all things like that...but yeah, im workin quite hard(ish) on this...hopefully it will be a success...not like its goin to be made but what the hey...one can dream...

aside from that, everythin else is goin ok...spiritually dry...not feelin like im connectin with people here like i did in brum...God will see to it...ill be patient...

I'm Currently Listening To: "Original Fire" by Audioslave

If I Could Write A Song Like This..

2007-02-24T01:36:00.000Z

nick,the next Jon Coulton... haha.

Bienvenue

2007-02-20T01:40:00.000Z

check it out...its worth it...i think.

Slight Pause

2007-02-10T10:46:00.000Z

So, we've managed to complete this 6 week project on the community centre. personally, i dont think i failed...but i really did hate my design and just the project in general.
i do have to say, it was poorly run and organised...we were subjected to sit through a lot of 'seminars' that were basically 'time fillers'. i cant say that i was a fan of the project leader's teaching skills...she was a nice lady, its jus that her methods were way off. i jus felt very aggrevated durin these past 5 weeks mostly at myself...im a sketcher, not a modeller. so, i spent alot of time sketching comin up with concepts but didnt get into construction till the 2nd part of last week.

so ive got a model made of perspex,wood,card,selo tape and shredded wheat..yeah, the breakfast option type.

we're goin to head into week 6, and we are doin 'presentation skills'. i hope its not another time filler cos i think the rest of the uni have reading week.

cant wait to move onto the new project with a different leader...its with my tutor Nick (who calls me 'Chinn' when he forgets my first name or calls me 'Goldfish' when he forgets both...i keep tryin to tell him "its Panda.")

I'm Currently Listening to: "Thriller" by Fall Out Boy

20

2007-02-04T01:05:00.000Z

So...its 1am on the 4th of February 2007.

This is my last day as being a teenager. honestly, thats jus hit me. my last day as a teenager. it feels weird.

now, its gonna be
"Hi"
"Hi..whats ur name?"
"Ross"
"Ah..how old are u?"
"umm..20."

20. i cant believe i will be 2 decades old. i still feel like a 14 year old.
i can actually say, altho ive had prob more downs than ups...ive loved being a teenager. all that awkward stuff you go through, all the things that u think 'depressen' you, the school boy crushes and heartbreaks...it has actually carved me makin me the person i am. God has thrown all these things in my way and ive come out with a few scratches. sure, they hurt but im here and alive.

am i ready to be 20? no. but i guess thats what we all feel when we start a new chapter.
come to think of it, im not really a kid anymore...as much as i want to be...im gonna have to be more responsible and more aware of stuff.
im in a state of disbelief that im goin to be 20 years old. hence the number "20" appearing and re-appearin every few words or so.

the twenties...what are they like? what will it be like?

actually, lets break it down..what happened from my teenage years:
- puberty (damn you spots!)
- high school and the prospective thoughts of university
- the pressure to get grades
- not gettin wedgied or bullied
- make great friends
- growing in responsibility and independence

what am i expectin from my 20s:
- the excess of puberty (spots...you guys are awful things)
- pressure from university
- pressure to get the best class i can get from uni
- a job (gulp.)
- more responsibiility and independence
- if God shows, my future wife (GULP.)
- children? ( GULP GULP.)
- money and tax (GULP.)

thats scary. God, please guide me through my twenties as You have guided me through my teenage years. may it be a blessed decade and an ever fruitful one in Your name. Amen.

20s...here i come! (mom, help me)

I'm Currently Listening to: "Forever Young" by Youth Group (the song is below)

Musical Interlude of a Gravitational Nature

2007-01-29T01:39:00.000Z

oh, and work is killin me. its worrrrrrrrrrkin against me.

updating.

2007-01-18T18:38:00.000Z

So...man, havent really been bothered to put stuff up recently...jus been snowed under with current events:

1) Work has started up again...we've been given a 5 week project to design a small community centre at this allotment in plymouth...one of their main concerns is the presence of compost toilets...yeah, they want crap to fester and be made into compost. groovy. its jus all really silly right now, cos the lecturers havent divulged much information bout the place..they sent some students to the site and come back to give us a detailed anlaysis of the place...but im not gettin dimensions..i need dimensions! otherwise ill design pandamonium! pandamonium i tell u!

some of the lectures recently have been so trying to get thru...like, i have one lecturer who jus cant help but put his own 2 cents in...even when its got nothin to do with anythin...he jus feels this huge urge to tell us somethin ridiculous. like when we were talking bout the price of timber...he butted in with:

"can i...can i....can i...can i say, lets think bout toys that are made in china...like toy boats...sure, it will cost 11 cents to make but people will pay 11 dollars for it to be exported...does it seem right? what is the point of what im tryin to say? "

yeah, what is the point sir? so we sit there in silence...and its like the end of the day, and everyone jus wants to go home...sometimes frustrating...

Got back my essay this arvo...i like my lecturer for architectural history...he wears a Casio Illuminator too! we are "Illuminator Buddies"...so, i was really frettin cos i was convinced i failed...due to bad referencing, plagarism, awful spelling, awful everything....so i walked into his office...

"Okay sir...all i want to say is....*ross sticks out his left wrist*...we are Illuminator Buddies!"
*ross and Mr. Maudlin clink their Casio watches together*

"Thats all well and good Ross but its not goin to change the mark..."

"Of course it will! Illuminator buddies!"

Turns out I got a B...which im so relieved...as i was to leave, he said;

"Oh, this is my 2nd Illuminator...my original one was liked by my friend Emily so much..that i gave her mine...and i had to buy this one"
"That is not cool Sir..."
"but im spreadin the Casio love!"
"im apalled. i say 'Good Day'..."
"but..."
"GOOD DAY!"

2) My group have found a house to stay in for our 2nd year. its been really hectic competing with other students for housing...but we've found a really nice house with a really awesome land lord...3 floors for 6 bedrooms, front porch veranda: perfect for summer BBQs, hut at the back for storage, massive rooms, clean...and for £65 a week bills included...including broadband and tv licencing and stuff...so blessed, will try and take some photos of the place and post soon...This was actually, out joint first choice house....last week, our other joint first house was snapped up from under our nose and we thought the dream was over and had to wait until the housing lists come out...but somehow, this house became available again (both houses are owned by the same land lord)...went for another viewing today, its perfect...better than we have seen. got the contract in my hand. will run it past my mom. im happy.

3) led worship at CU on tuesday...was only asked to do it in the mornin...the text woke me up...played the same songs from last time cos i had no time but i did manage to introduce "You are everything" into the mix...i think it got some good responses...was speakin to one of the older members of the CU (a architectural diploma student by the name of Ed) and he said he was all for new songs...jus to break the norm and safety barrier...which im totally for cos i dont know the old usual favourites...David Crowder anyone? :p

But yeah...jus been crazily busy with stuff...right, off to design this building now...i hope...

I'm currently listening to: "Your Sweet Voice" by Reindeer Section

Pardon Me...For I Have Gone A Lil Crazy

2007-01-06T06:48:00.000Z

its 6:47am...this is the second night in a row ive made it past 5am...the other nights have been 4:30am...and ive gone a little crazy right now.
my essay is killin me and it is drivin me insane...im here on a break...i think this is more for me to look back on remind myself of when was the exact date i started my downhill roll down the hill into being completely nocturnal...

blah blah...blah...blah...blah..

kooki mckooky is bein kooky in that circular house with bears as bodyguards...

ive gone kooky.

and ive gone nocturnal.

im batman.

good morning.

With Or Without You

2006-12-30T17:39:00.000Z

So, the curtain of 2006 is nearly drawing to a close...and how has it gone?

to be honest, this has been a major year for me on nearly all aspects...alot has happened...alot of highs and alot of lows...but ive moved along. these are some jumbled not flowed paragraphs.

I got into university! the good Lord has provided me with a place in uni doin somethin that is worthwhile and that doesnt drive me up the wall...to be honest, i never really contemplated whether or not to be an architect...but here i am. send me.
im slowly findin my way into it...i dont love buildings in that obsessive way but im learning...a very sharp learning curve...

I've always felt lost this year...even when there are certain pockets of time when things are runnin smooth, the overall general consensus has been "lost"... im very glad that uni has been here to take me away and put me into situations where for the past 19 years of my life ive been able to run away and avoid... i think im startin to grow up a little bit. not so much. maybe an inch.

im still wonderin what to say...how can u sum up 365 days in a post?

I've began to understand what hard work really means and it is HARD...

I've began to understand how far man has fallen from God...really...we are nothing...its jus hard for me to understand how we still keep gettin everythin so wrong...why do we do the things we do? say the things we say?

I'm very grateful for God's merciful hands...without it I can not be. or strive to be anythin.

I'm also very grateful to you. YOU. if u know me and uve followed my 2006 ride...thank you...you have in some way, no matter how large or small, have moulded me into the guy i am today...sure, ive come out still majorly flawed but thank you for ur input...im not mad or whatever...im glad ur in my life.

this song brings a small tear to my eye. ive re-discovered how beautiful this song is.

so i hope u have a happy new year and i hope 2007 will be a good ride...at least that what the brochure said.

Wavelengths and Comics

2006-12-25T12:40:00.000Z

So...the past few days (socially) has been bout my brothers from the KES land....finally caught up with Arpen and Pete and had another great round of Monopoly...this consists of:

1) Me winning (which I did)
2) Me making hotels on a spot where Pete will land and pay me in cash money (which I did)
3) Me making hotels on a spot where Pete will land and pay me in cash money and mortgage his properties (which I did)
4) Me making hotels on a spot where Pete will land and pay me in cash money and mortgage his properties repeatedly (which I did)
5) Bankrupting Pete (which I did)
6) Re-claiming my hometown "Old Kent Road" and "Whitechapel"

went to watch "Happy Feet" with em too...its decided...Pandas and Penguins are the best animals. Monkeys...close second but they do not compare to Psqaured.

Last and by no means least...Adnan came down to pay a visit and it was good to catch up with one of my best friends. In tribute of our favourite show "Arrested Development"...we decided to make Frozen Bananas...cos there is always money in the banana stand! No touching!
What was more inspiring was to start up of our next line of attack for our personal goals...make a comic book. but wait...this is somethin that we want to fuse together....comic books with Arrested Development humour with a twist of camp superhero satire...our pilot episode can be found on my Facebook. Major Props to the program "Comic Life"....tis so good! we are brimmin full of ideas and we cant wait to create another issue!

In conclusion: the wavelengths are gettin hella better!

I hope u guys are havin a great xmas and i will post soon...
Peace.
I'm Currently Listening to: "All Over Again" by Justin Timberlake

Home

2006-12-19T01:47:00.000Z

So...im away from the evil location that is "The PeeLai" (was thinkin of ways with Chrissy to shorten "Plymouth"....PeeLai was one...or Plym...help me) !!! Nah, im kiddin...Plymouth is a good place...but i think there is so much you can take in one go...with like thoughts of home appearing in ur head in the final week, everythin around you jus makes u wanna go home. it made it worst that my last week was actually a no-lecture-cos-term-has-ended-for-you week. so i spent a few days watchin David Dickinson's The Real Deal, Countdown and of course...Deal or No Deal. I'm very anti-contestant when i watch that show. I mean...i will on the people who are humble and nice...but when you see a loudmouth who goes on (usually sporting the latest trendy mullet) and believes picking boxes is a skill and needs a tactically equipped mind and celebrates and runs in a circle in whoop-dees...he or she needs to be brought back down to ground. fast. See...if i was working...i wouldnt have watched it.

But yeah...arrived home in bout 3 and a half hours which i was quite impressed with cos it took bout 4 last time...what impressed me further was me not missing my stop or a stranger not having to wake me up to tell me ive arrived at New Street Station. Rode the train backwards which im not a fan of...if caught on a bad day, i get dizzy pretty badly. thats why you always see me walking in a forward direction.
Saw Sam at Millie's and then was ambushed by Cat and Chrissy...it was awesome to see em cos i havent seen them since i left for Plymouth before term started..hung out with em in town for a lil while before decidin i really needed to go home and see my mommy and matt.

Actually, it has been quite busy...Saturday was the BCEC Xmas Celebrations and i was impressed...ok, the sketch was highly improvised but i laughed alot...my favourite bit was when Ros was making noises i think replicating a pair of scissors:
"Ching Ching Ching!"
"Hey..you cant say that...thats racist!" said Bert
i laughed.
Went to Khang's in the evening to give the Wii a spin and i had a fun time...what added to the fun was takeaway indian food which i havent eaten in yonks! Poppadums...so unhealthy...but so so so...SO...good.

Sunday, church and general hanging around with the iD 1.0...decided to go home at 2 to hang out with mom...only to come home...and realise she was in town with Matt shopping...and i had no keys to get in...and no money to get back into town...cue, sleeping outside the door on the steps...i felt like Zach Braff in "The Last Kiss"..i was waitin for the light to turn off and 'Chocolate' to play...

but yeah...got an essay to write this period...pray that i can find the books i need to write it! central library has no books on the Colosseum...as if.
but its great to be home....ive jus really missed the people here...im happy to be home.

I'm Currently Listening To: "What goes around comes around" by Justin Timberlake

Done...for now.

2006-12-12T10:44:00.000Z

So...after a mad few months, I've unofficially finished my term. It has been a real trying a testing time, especially this weekend...ive never worked as hard as this. yesterday, Monday, was the day we had to hand in our portfolio and projects..this would consist of the models ive done...the sketches and development ideas...photos...and of course A2 sheets of printed stuff to mount onto a display board. this will then be formally assessed. so the stakes are high.

this was how i spent my weekend:
-started at 10am on friday morning and worked the full timetabled day till 5pm.
-carried on workin till 6:30pm and went to eat a bowl of chips at Wetherspoons with my buddy Joss who had 2 meals.
-went back to work at 7:30pm and worked till 3am Saturday morning in the studio.
-walked back to my flat and worked on Photoshop on my laptop till 5:30am
-walked back to studio to print out A2 sheets on plotter. realised i mis-typed stuff on the big sheets. £$%^&* !!
-walked back to flat to edit the documents at 6:30am...had a steak pie.
-went back to studio to print at 7am
-back to flat at 7:45am
-slept at 8am Saturday morning
-awoke at 1pm Saturday afternoon
-started to work at studio from 2pm till 10pm Saturday evening (went for Match of the Day break with Nigel and Joss) till 11:30pm.
-Back to studio and worked till 3am and slept at 4am
-Awoke at 11am and went to studio at 12pm
-Worked till 3:30am Monday morning...drank a litre of Red Bull. Couldn't yawn properly for the rest of the evening.
-Did a small dance of joy at 3:45am in front of Tom who now hates me cos i could sleep earlier than him.
-Slept at 4am Monday
-Awoke at 10am to hand in
-Now await to see if i get called back for an interview on Friday in case i dont do well.

one thing ive learnt this term is really the true meaning of really hard graft and fully focused attention where sacrifices have to be made in order for this to happen. i can still remember the pain right now...but i hope my efforts will ensure me of a good grade...im still learning...im really the average one in my year but im willing to try and scare the leaders...im the Portsmouth of my Premiership department! when i say this...i hope Portsmouth wont get relegated cos uh...my analogy would be blown outta the water!

first term has actually gone quite quickly...i think the work load helped...but so far, no regrets...still doin this God...still relying on Him to carry me through even tough i really dont deserve it...
He has helped me to really focus and grow up...along the way, He has helped me to make quite a few friends and connections (im so wired right now in my department! :p it also helps that a good portion of my older year buddies are from Christian Union...but im makin great friends with non-believers too! Go God.)

still got a busy xmas period with an essay to do which im dreading and a small xmas project (this one is pathetic to all the other projects ive done....its been projected to only take 2 hours...so this really is the lowest of the low...probably less strenous than my Life Diary thingy!

but yeah...the architecture student life is growing on me...im not a clubber for a start so that gives me ample hours to work while everyone else parties...i love my studio...apparently according to Nigel, i dress like one...im beginnin to love Red Bull; in one litre portions...and i always now analyse a straight line that ive drawn. im tellin...u look closer at urs...its not straight. so rub that out, and do it again.

Up for Sale.

2006-12-05T11:54:00.000Z

I'm Currently Listening to: "King of the Rodeo" by Kings of Leon

Dweebo comes to life...

2006-11-29T22:14:00.000Z

Whats Been Goin Down...In an Earlier Round.

2006-11-23T01:20:00.000Z

So...hi.
i guess this is my first meaningful post in a long time...ive been busy and i havent really brought myself forward to write anything down for this blogspot. dunno why...i jus havent been.

so whats been goin down...for one, work is definetly piling up...like dirty laundry...like MY dirty laundry...dont worry...i havent done the "wear boxers twice to save washing" yet...i hope it doesnt come to that...my momma taught me better than that.
but yeah..work is piling up...and sometimes, i jus cant face it...design module...im totally loving...but the other aspects are jus horrible at times...like Environmental Building Science...what has really frustrated me bout this module is like, the lecturer took some time off....we didnt get taught jack-all....we were set a project to analyse a village and write about it...hand it in....she only came back like last week from her time off...lectures us bout rubbish. then...THEN...tells us we should mark each other's work!

WHAT?! im an architect student and this is not an institution where im supposed to be learning how to be a teacher! so let me get this straight...ur paid...to..lemme get this straight....to tell me to mark someone elses work..? thanks. no no really...thanks. never mind...God has got me passed that. Praise Him.

maths..wow...im really not the mathematician i should be! jus somethin bout maths that jus goes WHOOSH!

i guess im jus followin God when it comes to the course....i really am walkin by faith bout architecture...hands wide and open...God, this one is totally on You to pull me through....so far, no regrets or any backlash thoughts bout medicine! altho i do wonder whether medics actually do any work...im workin harder than my medic friends! like...i was speakin to my friend louise...and she was like
"yeah...i stayed at the library till it closed."
"oh yeah?what time?"
"6:30"
*ross silently shakes his head*

ive found im slowly bein moulded into an architecture student:
1) i love my studio
2) when i want to get away from work...im jus rechargin batteries rather than partyin
3) i look at straight lines differently...drawin a straight STRAIGHT line is hard
4) all my photos that ive taken are of models and buildings...no pics of friends.
5) i look up when im walking.
6) i bought the book "Modern House Three" for inspiration

aside from that, the other stuff is goin alright....Badminton....the B team are not doin so well in the BUSA league but i think we're doin alright in the local leagues...its alright...keeps me fit-ish.

Christain Union..its goin good...really tryin to give God my all and jus carry on what i think Hes tryin to get me to do for the Union and that is to be more involved in worship...im leadin again next week and thats cool... also thanks to bert for openin the door for me at the start.

Friends...not bad..findin a good set of friends that i call base but i do still love to venture and say hey to everyone else....im even startin to know people by walkin round the campus...my architecture friends think i know too many people...im turnin into my favourite weirdo.

but yeah...s'crazy right now...i really want my holiday. need to have more fruitful days like Jem...
hope u guys are well.

I'm Currently Listenin to: "Let Love In" by The Goo Goo Dolls

Pies..

2006-11-18T00:39:00.000Z

free pies..taken to another level.

Evan Almighty

2006-11-14T10:30:00.000Z

i wonder if Moses had the same problem...maybe not.

Loh Bak Gou

2006-11-12T14:47:00.000Z

so...my friend Jem said she can make Loh Bak Gou (white carrot cake)....and i was impressed...so, cos shes my neighbour too, she came round to make it last night...what u need is this:

-eggs
-garlic
-spring onion
-soya sauce
-water
-bread
-chilli powder

yes..."bread". that is the subsitute for white carrot! i was dazed for a few minutes...but by the end...i was impressed..sure, there is no white carrot whatsoever in there...but the texture was the same...a bit darker...but s'all good...
then we had the blackcurrant cheesecake i got from Iceland...then i remembered as i bit into it...i dont like blackcurrants. this is the 2nd time that has happened to me this month...in paris, i bought this great lookin slice of lemon meringue, bit into it to remember that i hate lemon meringue...im a fool for aesthetically pleasing food products.

I'm currently listening to: "Taylor" by Jack Johnson

Paris

2006-11-04T10:37:00.000Z

So..im back from Paris. and im tired. im also in a rush cos i now have to go play badminton for the Uni team in about an hour...joy.
but yes...Paris was awesome. Not only jus to take in the beautiful buildings and structures and try to figure out why some buildings in Plymouth or Birmingham can be as bold and fantastic as them but jus to spend time with my friends away from Plymouth and get to find out who they really are...mwahaha. i joke bout the evil laugh. i have a cough.
but yeah...for the people who loves buildings (bert), if u havent been...u should really go! jus to see these buildings up close and personal and experience them as u walk through or past....its jus great.
my favourite place probably had to be the Parc Andre Citroen...the weather only enhanced it, sunny but mild...its this huge park with greenery in the middle with relatively small channel where water flows around...the continuity...and they have built these huge blocks where u can walk through or go up and sit/stand and take in the view...jus so relaxing...was speakin to a friend, Jason and we agreed that this is the place to escape with your guitar...
Aside from that, i dunno what to say....the hotel was a lil dingy but what do u expect when ur lookin for cheap accomodation for over a 100 students...altho, the crappest part was i had to sorta look after my to friends Isaac and Joss...i think they had a bout with the flu and migraines...had to be a lil Miss Nightingale and feed em Paracetemol and water and whatnot...i think ive caught a slight sore throat...thanks guys.
theres alot to write bout but i cant desbribe these places....quite a few photos are on my flickr so have a look i spose....it is a very beautiful city i have to admit.

so yeah...must dash...Badminton!

I'm Currently Listening to: "Blinded" by Third Eye Blind

Recharging

2006-10-29T21:27:00.000Z

So...i spent this weekend back in birmingham.
after the hustle bustle, workin till no end and basic food dishes...it was time to get away and catch up with the people i love and the place i miss. i decided to come back possibly last tuesday...i really wanted to come back during the 24-26th of november cos the memrobilia exhibition was happening but i decided against cos a few of the BCECs were at the encounter weekend plus Betty wouldve left to go and start anew in Canada...so that really pushed me to come back this weekend. Fortunately, our department gave us the weekend off to take a break before we go off to france tomoro..which pushed my case even more!

so i travelled back with my friend charlotte...she gets off at bristol which is on the same track which was cool...at least if i get lost, im not alone! the trip back was not bad...had a minor headaches..but i think i get that from ridin the train...people prefer it to the coach but somehow, i prefer coaches at the moment.one train story:
so, charlotte gets off her stop..and this woman sits next to me...i talk to her for a bit...her name was nadine...she was gettin off at cheltenham..told her i was gettin off at new street...awesome...goin to get back to my iPod now..nice to meet u...zzz.
i awoke jus to see Nadine havin to get up cos she was in someones reserved seat...i offer to stand, she tells me to sit..ook...i meet the new lady...i think her name was Jane...nice to meet u..thanks...zzz.

i then was awoken by a prod...
"yes?"
"the woman who u were sittin next to wanted me to tell u when we approached New Street Station..."
"ummm...is this it?"
"yes"
"OH! THANKS!"
all i can say is that when i told mom bout that...she wasnt impressed. i was.

so, i get to new st..and i was bout to surprise sam at millies when someone shouted: "ROSS CHINN!!!"
i turn around...
"Ross....dude, is that really u?!"
"hi Ken (Wee) !!"
twas cool..seems he was ridin the same train as me...so we both went to millies to say howdy to sammy...waitin in the que...she looks up and waves and smiles at Ken...puts her head down..and then almost immeadietly springs it back up....it was funny...like a jack in the box...with a millies cap on. so i went to dinner with ken and i went back to see sam after work with tuuls...it was great to catch up with em already....only havin jus arrived. took tuuls back...saw her 'bombed out' room...then went to Sam's place to wave a hello to Sue and Oompah-kin...then went to catch up with em and they sent me back...bearin in mind, i still havent told my mom i was back..made an alibi i was still in the design studios and sam called her to tell she was comin round to return sushi mats...at 11pm..i dont mom will trust sam with stuff ever again now. so sam goes up to say hi...and then i pop my head round...mom goes really red and is shocked..matt comes runnin out and he was like "woah!" ah...twas great to see my family.

saturday, went to town with mom and matt and had a walkbout...then played hoops...then went to watch The Last Kiss with sammy....it was a good film...but i warn u bout swearing and sex scenes... "its cos they hang out with that long haired dude!" :p then..CURRY! mom's curry! DoUBLE WOO.

and sunday..back to the BCEC...didnt find it as weird as i thought it would be...everyone is lookin great...message was good today...really felt i took some timeout durin the worship to have a quiet time...which is somethin i havent done in awhile...so it was good to feel somethin...i jus knew i felt somethin..spent time with khang and debra for lunch at Caffe Gusto...then went home...conked out on the couch for 5 minutes...then back to the station...coach to glouster then a train ride back...fortunaetly, got the same train with charlotte back...she wore a big furry pink jacket thing...she looked like a pink flamingo wearin a human mask...and i dozed off on the train all the way back.

Paris next. au revoir.

I'm currently listenin to: "Evermore" by Hillsong United

My Celebrity Lookalike..apparently

2006-10-24T02:15:00.000+01:00

any resemblence?

Heart of Life...is good.

2006-10-21T11:25:00.000+01:00

Photos...

2006-10-17T01:27:00.000+01:00

One Month

2006-10-15T01:36:00.000+01:00

So..today..being Sunday, is the 15th...that means:

I have been in Plymouth for a month.

A month. A month back in birmingham would have gone *click* just like that...it would just fly by...here, its only a month but it feels like 2..maybe 3...dependent upon the mood.
i dunno...i dont feel any sadness anymore or bein mopey bout not bein in birmingham...yes, i do like the big birmingham city life...and of course i miss mom and matt...but,u jus have to get over that and adapt..like a chameleon. i havent honed those skills yet but because of the heavy daily routine..there isnt time to stop and think and take it in.

i havent found time to jus find peace...actually, i have occasionally...at night when things are quiet and settled,weather permitting...i go occasionally on a walk around The Hoe with my friend and we jus take it in and jus re-charge for the day ahead. Some nights are great cos the sky turns into this dark pinky red colour...add a little man-made lights from boats and buildings and lamp posts...and uve got this nice blend of colours.

i want to go on holiday. i want to get away from the plymouth independent livin life for more than jus a short weekend..not cos i dont like it...sure, i like it...i havent fallen in LOVE with the idea yet...a period of adjusment is still required but im doin much better than what i thought id be like...for example, i havent turned my underpants inside out in order to grant me an extra day's use. i promise.

anyway, i havent got much left to say...just been rushed off my feet.
Church tomoro...Jem is takin me...we'll see what happens.
and first Uni B'ton match is on monday...woot. i can feel someone's smile.

I'm Currently Listening To: "Stop this Train" by John Mayer

Imogen!

2006-10-12T17:48:00.000+01:00

so gutted i cant be back in birmingham to watch her tonight!
but yeah...if uve got a free evening..please go to the carling academy..shes awesome...this is one example.

My Night Off

2006-10-10T12:06:00.000+01:00

So..ive been on the work mode for the past few weeks and i decided last night, i was goin to have a small night off...it was gonna start with playin badminton, then follow my friends to The Walkabout club cos the theme was "Cowboy night" and my classmates are beginnin to think i dont do anythin but play guitar, go on the computer and breathe...they should find that out soon enough but not last night! but yeah...i dont mind goin to places like that...but ive not adjusted to the "Club Scene". but that wasnt the point...i wanted to see my classmates out of the classroom where we can jus be normal....away from our 'jobs' !

so this is how it panned out:
didnt go to badminton...i had a rough fall on sunday whilst playin at the trials where my legs stopped workin and i fell backwards and smashed a swing door nearly in half...muscles were aching.

9:00pm-walked for 10 minutes to the SU Bar to meet my friends only to find out they moved to another pub...which was across from where i actually lived! so i had to scurry back...hung out there and had a few laughs...bout to go The Walkabout at 10pm when..

10:00pm - *ross' phone rings*
"gavin (canadian star wars gavin)?"
"hey ross!"
"hey dude! hows it hanging?"
"not bad dude...hey, check it out...im in plymouth...i told u i was comin down to party with u!"
"haha...thats funny dude..."
"no im serious."
"dude...dont lie man...i gotta be honest, i want to believe u but i think ur yankin my chain..."
"no mate...im on this street called Vauxhall St"
"huh?"

So yeah...it turned out Gavin and his brother Ben were in plymouth! they were supposed to be somewhere near Exeter and stay at a Travel Lodge but missed the turnin and somehow ended up in plymouth... or as i like to call: "Rosstown" :p
joke.i dont say that.i promise.
but yea..so they crashed at mine...Ben was jus shattered and wanted to nap in the car...but i managed to tell him that he could actually crash in my room...so the Lam brothers stayed at mine.
Gav and I took a walk around the Hoe and had a good ol catch up time for bout 2 hours or so...was great to catch up with him and see how he was doin...
Gavin wanted to crash so i took him back and i went off to Walkabout at about midnight...hung out with my friends till 2:30 when it closed..
then i crashed.and i awoke at 8ish today to see of Gav and Ben..then back to sleep till 10 before meetin with my design partner to take photos of cross sectional buildings and measure sound levels...well, guesstimate.

i leave u with this..i entitle this: "Teddy Bear Rummaging Through His E-Mail"

I'm Currently Listenin To: "Dirty Little Secret" by The All-American Rejects

Scale Modelling...Sketching...Pie-ing...Imogining...

2006-10-07T19:38:00.000+01:00

so aside from scale modelling a section of plymouth...
i managed to get a call back for the sunday trials for the bton squad...went today and played a few matches..some of the players are actually quite awesome...ive got some catching up to do! but yeah..call back is tomoro...so yeah...lets see.

oh, one of the best things that happened this week...so, i have a classmate called Gabe and he is this 35 year old dude who has a wife...hopefully if memory serves me right..shes called Jen.
Anyway...Gabe brought Jen along to the carbeque last week and i managed to speak to her for quite some time...and she is the manager of the bread and pasty factory here in plymouth which ships to tescos and stuff...so yeah...spoke to her...got on well...very cool lady...
so yeah, yesterday..i was skulkin around the studio and i bumped into Gabe...and he says;
"my missus has somethin for u..."
"umm...its not a punch is it?"
"no no...*he shows me 2 plastic bags..."
"umm?"
"yeah...she felt really motherly towards u one day and decided to give u a few pastries and a pie or two..."
*ross proceeds to hug gabe*

its so cool! God has shown me some good things this week...meetin new people...gettin to know the people i know better...them actually rememberin my name...heck, one dude even started saluting to me! yes..the power of the salute!

but yeah..so far, im tired...but its not bad...God is with me. ill be fine.

Imogen Heap's new single: "Headlock" and in my opinion..the best track on her album..."The Walk" comes close..but Headlock is my favourite...its Heaplicious.

hope ur fine.

One Day We're Get Sooo Highhhhh...

2006-10-04T00:06:00.000+01:00

So..yeah...title isnt relevant..Lighthouse Family...love em.
i went with my classmates Josie,Alexandros and Emily to follow this route for our next project. basically, we are in a team of 10 to make a model scale of 1km of plymouth on a 1:200 scale...so today, we went to follow the route and take pictures and check out the landscapes and contours and prominent features...it was kinda good weather today. Nice and sunny...it was bitty rain a few days ago but the sun was out today which was nice.
at 1pm, we had a team meetin discussin possible modes of makin the thing...had an inside joke goin with emily which was quite funny..like id laugh jus a lil too loud and josie would ask if im ok...

"no no..im cool...its ok..jus the voice in my head..."
"ahh...well, dont listen to him too much..."
"cant do that right now jose...hes a lil too influential.."

our lecture in the afternoon at 4 was cancelled so basically, wasnt too rigorous..bought some cheese (ahhhh....easy like sunday morning..great song), oven ready breaded chicken fillets and a reduced box of 4 apple puff pastries for 25p.praise God for reduced food.

at 7:30..went to CU...it was alright..quite nice..people were friendly...met this girl called Jem which was quite cool...
"so are u from malaysia?"
"yeah"
"oh cool"
"are u?"
"singapore"
"cool..so what do u do?"
"im a 3rd year architecture student"
"no way...im a first year!"
"no way!"
"way."
and it went on from there for awhile..shes like 3/4 chinese and 1/4 english but 100% singaporean feelin. nice maths if u could think bout it.
"so where do u live ross?"
"umm..central point?"
"no way! i live there too!"
"no way...which number?"
"219"
"get outta here..215!"
so its cool...so after this sunday (cos hopefully ill get called back for the trials for the Uni Bton Team), hopefully i can go to her church..apparently its called the Waterfront Church and its apparently wicked...but yeah...nice to know another Christian in the buildin with a bit in common...i dont feel so alone spiritually. she holds prayer meetings at the architecture buildings too so thats cool..pray with other architecture students..should be fun. found myself signin up for another smaller group amongst the group for Bible study and further fellowship..so yeah...God blessed me today with that.

Okay..i should sleep..but i dont want to...then i realise hours later when i hit my head on the pillow; "why didnt i do this hours ago?!" but ah well..we'll see.

okey doke...must take my late shower and whatnot.
hope ur well.

I'm Currently Listening to: "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve

Through a trailer...?

2006-10-01T20:54:00.000+01:00

So, today started off pretty lamely...i was back in the studio last night...my classmate had no idea how to do it after several hours of thinking hard..so i decided to stay and help her...so i didnt get in quite till quite late...
so got up at like a ridiculous hour..somethin like 10:30 which was embarassin on my part...had a rough night...i live near the clubs so alot of rowdiness occuring outside...

decided to do a few things today...had to do my washing for the first time here! the experience was awkward...im not the conosseuir of the varieties of washing machine, so after puttin in my £2 some help from someone else who was waitin for her washin to finish...mine was underway...40 minutes later...went back to the laundry room to put in the dryer..50p. went back upstairs to eat...came down after half an hour...the clothes are still 40% wet. gee. so i put in another 50p..they are still not fully dry so if u look from the pavement at my room...u will be able to see the fine range of clothes i am wearin down the trendy streets of Plymouth (various "that shirt ross always wears" tshirts)

i also decided today, id try and have a go at some song writin...was awkward...i didnt have a subject matter...maybe a take on life? im not writin a song bout a girl cos ill leave that to Mr. Mayer and his groovy cats...maybe a song bout God? maybe a song bout my life and God? somethin!
so, i had a go...came up with somethin...but i wanna write somethin simple but not simple...a nice arrangement of simple words but not somethin...i dunno...predictable. havin said that, i will end up with a finish product that is predictable (no doubt) and it will be so in vein with Mr. James Blunt that he'll want to cover my song. I'm Overwhelmed anyone?

so..tried..took a break...jus thinkin bout my week ahead...its actually quite busy..busier than last week cos i joined the CU and Bton society...first bton practice is tomoro at 7pm to 10pm and team trials are on Saturday..and call backs are on Sunday..CU is on tuesday nights...not to mention my nearly 30 hour timetable..but i will do it.
ive been disillusioned...startin off here God-wise is hard right now...im bound down by tryin to do secular things with friends, and its hard when ur on own and u gotta do everythin else...sometimes i wanna spend time with God...but my head is not in the right place..there is always somethin to consider like my work, my washing...rubbish like that. the competitiveness between classmates is annoyin me...everyone keeps talkin bout the classes they are gettin, tryin to see who is the smarter mathematician, people who are so smug that it radiates like the sun..its hard when all u want to do is jus work hard and keep sane. im rambling. basically, its got my head runnin wild bout grades.

so, jus to kill time this evenin, i was on the apple trailer website..and i came across the film called "Facing The Giants", about a College American Football coach who is facin hard criticism from parents and havin to cope with other family issues...but there is a part where he is givin his pep talk
"winning football games is too small a thing to live for..we're not here to be born,make money and die...so im here to present you a new team philosophy..We need to give God our best..and if we win, we praise Him and if we lose, we praise Him."

the background music was "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns...readin the lyrics really spoke to me. i think the film probably jus has the same ol plot...a nothin team comes to winnin...predictable. but i jus never imagined that God would drop a little of Himself in there..

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

God,please restore my energy and faith in You.

FINISHED!

2006-09-30T01:45:00.000+01:00

So...Ive finished my cardboard chair!!!

after a very long week at the studio, a major marathon after hours last night (Thursday 7pm till Friday 2am) and a mad dash on friday to get the buildin sorted by the weekend...it is done. i know ive dedicated my last few posts to the Chair but that has been my life for the past week! and its been fun. my mind hasnt been allowed to wander in my own thoughts of whatever...jus work work work.
i've still got the instruction manual to do but that should take half a day i think...all in time for Acoustic Night at Cuba. woo.

So this is my chair:

my coursemate emily likes the "shelving" ive created...and a place for my friend Aine to hide..(cos shes wee). woo-hoo for special added extra shelves.

And the day was topped off with a PADS (Plymouth Architecture and Design Society) opening event: a "Carbeque". they've stripped the parts in the bonnet and put a barbee grill in it...hence a carbeque. who says u cant cook anythin in a car?

i'll leave u with my moment:

few more photos on my flickr.

I'm Currently Listening to: "Sparks" by Coldplay

Step Into My Office

2006-09-26T23:04:00.000+01:00

This is the first floor of the 1st year workshop..the buildin used be a Naval type base office so its got that old skool feel to it..mix in with the architecture equipment...uve got somethin thats actually quite nice...i kinda like the juxtoposition.
Spent 10am till 2.30pm in the studio...3pm-4pm was a lecture on the other side of campus..bout physics and momentum (wheres Nick?), then spent the rest of the afternoon back in the studio till 9.30pm tonight...man..im tired but i love the challenge! im not the best student on the course but man, i love the challenge.

Isaac, has cut out his real life flat pack chair..and as u can see...not as well as he had hoped (the shot before it all fell apart)...but it was so funny jus now at the studio..jus gettin to know him better whilst workin...i can see im goin to enjoy 'Studio nights'

'

I'm Working For Ikea I Think..

2006-09-25T18:14:00.000+01:00

So yeah...as some of u may know, fixing Ikea furniture at Khang's house was the first time i did some ikea work...at first, it was a lil confusing reading and lookin at what i can assume quite nastily, 2 naked sihlouttes building ikea furniture with smiles on their faces...dunno why...ask the swiss why they do that after making cheese and pen knives...But yes, by the end..it was thoroughly enjoyable tryin to see how everythin goes...how it being so simple, is not only funky lookin but quick, efficient and relatively safe unless King Kong comes over for some tea and wants to experience the magic that is "ikea".

skip to today..first REAL day of my course..we've been given a week long project..the project:

"To make a flat-pack chair made from cardboard"

i can only smile really...its tough and quite stressful when u only have a limit of cardboard u have to buy from them...its tiresome to think of funky ideas to keep up...its annoying when things dont go ur way...but i really love it and im enthusiastic bout the challenge...
my plan: Screw flair for now...jus make sure it looks like a chair and someone can sit on it...and also assemble it cos i need to write and draw out a instruction sheet...naked silhouttes maybe?

so heres what ive got so far..this is a cardboard maquette...
needs much stronger backing...i would love to be more like 'out there' but never mind...i only have a week...

on another note:
A VERY BIG THANK YOU VERY MUCH U AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME WOMAN..im talkin bout Miss Tuuli Platner...she sent me the new album by John Mayer, "Continuum"...its so awesome....thank u thank u thank u thank u....altho he has his tour again...he is comin to london..but on a monday..but its sold out...nuts. ill have to enjoy his music digitally...

new life goals: See John Mayer or Pete Yorn in a gig...ive already ticked off The Backstreetboys..

oh, and guitar freaks..check this out

I'm Currently Listening To: "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"

Rejected X-Men Characters

2006-09-23T22:18:00.000+01:00

How I Spent My Friday

2006-09-23T00:40:00.000+01:00

will try to post some more photos on flickr if ur interested...

I'm Currently Listening to: "World Spins Madly Round" by The Weepies

Aqualung

2006-09-22T01:52:00.000+01:00

i think this is an old song but its awesome

"Easier to lie" by Aqualung

My Home From Home From Home

2006-09-19T23:55:00.000+01:00

this is home from home from home...gone for the minimalistic design...
any ideas with what i should fill it with? altho i will have to say no to posters for a start...a ficus perhaps?

I'm Currently Listenin To: "Eve, the apple of my eye" by Bell x1

Baby Steps

2006-09-18T17:47:00.000+01:00

so..i landed in plymouth..well,driven to plymouth...and its monday..internet is finally connected...i realised how much time i spend on the internet usually...but yes, its here now...and so am i.
but yeah..my mom,sue and sam drove me down to plymouth and helped me unpack and stuff...ive mentally noted that sam can set up the bed sheets and clothe hang my stuff quickly and efficiently...im so nervous to un hang my stuff now since its been done so nicely..
but yeah...i thought bein homesick wouldnt really affect me but when i had to say bye to those 3..it did hurt..i didnt cry...had to be strong...the independent one...but unpackin the rest of the stuff later was hard...my flat mate martin took me to the union bar but after like an hour..i jus came back...watched arrrested development and fell asleep...altho i do admit a tear didnt rolled down my face on saturday morning when i spoke to my mom and matt...but its definetly better now...jus had to over come the first day or two..but its not too bad now...i jus want to hit the schdule to hit y'know? like get into a routine..cos this weekend was really jus feelin in limbo...not sure what to do or say...jus tryin to get by without thinking bout the people i miss back home...
but my flat mates seem to be alright...my people on the course are pretty cool...ive jus realised...this is extreme sports county/uni...nearly everyone does an extreme sport...went to a bar called Cuba and they had 2 dudes playin their guitars singing covers and stuff...very chilling...i dont get the feelin ive met alot of RnB/Hip-Hop people...ive jus met alot of typical surfer dudes...i think i may need to pick up a flower printed pair of shorts..the cool types of course...
umm, i jus realised i shouldnt have worked so hard on my project..some of them didnt even make one and one dude made his entire ten panels on a siingular panel! man...all those hours...never mind...got some good reviews bout it which was nice...i think mine was the only one to have pop out stuff so im quite like proud of that...
but yeah..everythin so far is gettin better...

i miss everyone back in birmingham so much but i guess no point looking back at times...baby steps...love u all the same equal amount (well, some a bit more than others but thats only cos some of u really do reek...) but i jus gotta smile and get on with it for the first few days..
was thinkin of gettin a part time job at MusicZone but im not sure..
anyway, got a few more things to do before my day is out..
i hope u are well...
ill post soon...or even see u online..
take care..
surf's up. but ill be watchin from the sidelines.

I'm currently listening to: "Boston" by Augustana

How To Throw A Hissy Fit

2006-09-13T02:09:00.000+01:00

Now, i dare u to do it.

Boy Wonder

2006-09-10T01:10:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Phan from your friendly neighbourhood slighly overweight colourful Boy Wonder..!

I'm Currently Listening To: "Dancing In The Moonlight" by Toploader

When It All Falls Apart

2006-09-09T00:40:00.000+01:00

by The Veronicas...kinda cheesy..but i kinda like it..

A Very Long 20 Hours

2006-08-31T10:55:00.000+01:00

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

Waiting on the World to Change

2006-08-26T01:37:00.000+01:00

RETURN OF THE MAYER-MAN! WOOT!

his new video...his album "Continuum" comes out 12th Sept...cant wait !! :D :D

Home for the next 3 years

2006-08-24T01:45:00.000+01:00

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..

I'm currently listenin to: "She Is" by The Fray

Keepin' The Faith

2006-08-20T19:22:00.000+01:00

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

The Spinto Band

2006-08-13T12:23:00.000+01:00

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?

When Did You See Me Do That?

2006-08-08T01:53:00.000+01:00

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

The Fray

2006-08-06T11:20:00.000+01:00

For those who don't know of 'em...please...lemme introduce The Fray
heard 'em a month or two ago but this i a decent quality video clip...so enjoy!

Updates

2006-08-05T07:05:00.000+01:00

Done a few things since the last post:

-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

Reunions...

2006-07-20T13:57:00.000+01:00

Reunions and old friends... :D

it's so great that even tho we see so little of each other nowadays post-KIS (my old school), we are all still the best of friends...i miss them everyday when im back in england..jus catchin up with em bout the whats with em nowadays and rememberin the old times (i forgot that Cheryl used to swim in the junior pool for all those years ago...)
even better news, my old old friend David is back tomoro...cant wait to catch up with that brother of mine..
later y'all!

I'm currently listening to: "Over my Head" by The Fray

Busy Week

2006-07-16T09:24:00.000+01:00

So..ive had a very busy week. Sam and Chris came and stayed for the weekdays and I was challenged by my dad and my uncle to run in a 7km charity run on Saturday.

Spendin time with the Ho sisters were a blast...and sometimes quite painful due to Chris' very-so-often punches towards my back and shoulders...well, i did start it...i called her a Oompah-kin...a hybrid between an Oompah Loompah and a Munchkin.

One of my good friends, Lik San hung out with us and he was hysterical...we were hanging out on Friday night near the coast on a boardwalk...the night was great...nice gentle breeze...surprisingly few mosquitoes...and we were remincisin bout the man we called "The Hulk" and the 'Tatoo of Walk: I use it sometimes'. Sam told me she has never heard me laugh like that before, i think she described it as 'girlish'.

What else...Islands...we went banana boating which was amazing...u sit on this huge banana shaped inflatable boat whilst attached to a speed boat...man, the driver...drivin with his right leg (its his more naturally abled foot) on the steerin wheel...he managed to overhaul off the banana boat at high speeds...and drive a lap of victory before pickin us up again with a wry smile.

White Water Rafting at Kulu River was good...the rapids werent as strong as the last time but it was fun to hear Christina scream at every turn...

Saturday: 7 Km charity run. Workin on 3 hours of sleep, an average of running for 1km a day only during my week of training,2 small hotdogs and an egg sandwich...i ran. gave it my best and i ran it in 48 minutes which i was really proud of.My family thought i wasnt goin to finish it! my grandmother gave me great encouragement before the race:
"How can u run this? uve sat here and played on ur playstation and never exercise...cheh!"
the first 20 minutes were horrible...sweatin loads, tryin to figure out why i said 'yes'...how come that old lady of 70 years old is beatin me...tryin to remember the last time i ran (the answer: I couldn't),concentratin on breathing (tactic: I inhale a huge volume of air then exhale quickly 3 times...thought to myself; "i can find this beat on Garageband!")..but after the 20 minutes, u jus get to the point where ur pass carin bout the pain...how wet and silly u look...and u jus trudge along...try and enjoy it...try not to lose to that grandma over there...and do it.bout 5.5km in, i looked up...and jus to add insult...there was a kid on a skateboard! @#$%^&*( ?!!!!!!!!
never mind.it was painful fun...mind over matter. sam suggested i do the 10km run when i get back to Brum...thats only if im still alive after this one. i think i might.

so yeah..day after..my thighs are killin me..they are also sun burned too...so there is a very delicate Panda here...
it's been the most active week ive ever had comin back here durin the summer...i guess its good to be busy...thats also cos my Playstation is on the blink and i need to get it fixed..otherwise u might see me do a triathalon. PAH! better go and get it fixed!

Post Soon!

I'm currently listening to: "How to save a life" by The Fray

Dweebo says 'Yes' to El Supes

2006-07-08T10:59:00.000+01:00

So yes...Thursday was the day i went to see 'Superman Returns'!! woo-hoo!! after waitin on it for five years (well,the wait for others could have been 11 years when the idea of revitalising came about...i was 8 years old so forgive me for not bein so so dedicated)...i saw it!
And i gotta say...it was awesome...story line is very good...its visually amazing..Singer has done a great job...Brandon Routh does make a good Clark Kent/Kal-el/Superman...Kevin Spacey is charmingly evil...so yes...GO SEE IT! in 6 days time...cos it comes out for y'all in england on the 14th...but the rest of you,its probably out...so go!
They are makin a trilogy so i will be makin a few more of these posts in the next few years! woo-hoo! go Supes!
ill speak soon! hope y'all are well.

i'm currently listening to: "Stay With You" by The Goo Goo Dolls

Sir, what are you doing?

2006-07-03T13:41:00.000+01:00

So...im back home.
after nearly 28 hours of travellin...matt and i are back home safe and sound...although the flight was at times turbulent and my tv stopped workin after attempts of askin the lady to reset the tv.
altho, no trip like this for me comes without silly stories...the first one came in the lounge area of the aeropuerto:

Gate 30:
so, our flight was scheduled to fly at around 5:30pm with 5:00pm as the boardin time which was fair enough...matt and i arrived at bout 1pm so we had ample time to check in and sit on our butts waitin for time to pass.fortunately,there were tvs showin the italy v ukraine match so it wasnt as bad...we sat to watch it hopin they'd show the england match which started at 4pm..this way, we'd get at least the first half before boarding...come 4pm, the match came on! woot...so watchin the match and listenin to my newly aqquired Panda Pod...everythin was goin swimmingly. completely engrossed in the match like the others, the tannoy came on;
"Will passengers of the flight from Brunei to Dubai please go to Gate 30 for immeadiate boarding."

fortunately i had only one headphone on..."excuse me?it cant be..." i proceeded to look at the clock...4.20pm...no way...got out of my seat and checked the screens...oh no...that was our flight!rushed back to our seats..."DUDE! thats us!" "no way..."
and off we dashed...where...where...where?! gate 30! move it! and that was the first time in a long time i had to sprint for my life...the last time i moved that fast was across the Bullring with bert,phan and kiet over a free donut at Kirspy Kremes...so we dashed...ran right to gates 21-34 or whatever it is..and sprinted down the lane...
"okay...gate 20...21...22...23...24..25..26..27..28..29...good...its comin...32?! #$%^&*?!!! wheres 30?!"
so, it turns out gate 30 is right at the end of the wing...i lost matt..he had to take a pit stop...screw that..at least ill get on the plane!
So, i get to gate 30..im outta breath..my feet are aching...im a lil delirious from the head rush...get me on that plane! wait...wait! the entrance to the desk has been roped off!! NO! no way!okay..the woman is still at the counter..i gotta do it..and so i did.
I jumped and hurdled over these 2 rows of chairs..jumped off the chair and landed on the floor when she said;
"Sir, what are u doing?"
"gettin on the plane?"
"We havent boarded yet..please take a seat...*she points to the seating area full of passengers waitin to get on as well...they are also staring at me wonderin who is this chinese kid tryin to cut the cue*"
"ah."

oh,and we boarded at 4:50pm.and there was a 45 minute delay.

Spicy Chicken or Omlette?:
So, this was durin the 2nd leg of out flight...from Dubai to Brunei...my tv screen kept jamming and after watchin the first 20 minutes of Ice Age 2 three times, i decided to sleep...the seats are obviously uncomfortable and i could smell stinky feet from passenger 33H but somehow, i managed to get into slumber mode very well...so, im probably a good 3 hours in my sleep..when i hear;
"sir..?"
im dreaming.leave me alone.
"Sir..?"
ur a part of my imagination.leave me alone.
"SIR"
*slap across my arm*
"uh...what...?!"
"spicy chicken or omlette?"
ARE you kiddin me dude?!try sleepin sittin up with the aroma of brunei feet in the air...
"omlette please."
"yes sir"

grr.
So im home...will post soon.
lovin my Panda Pod..matt thinks thats a crap name...i disagree.

I'm leavin on a jet plane

2006-07-01T01:50:00.000+01:00

Tonight was a good night...worship team and C'n'R came round to ours for a thank you dinner for Rob..it was mine and my mom's way of sayin thanks and stuff...but i think it quickly jus became what it usually is: a big get together where lots of meat is up for chewing...and its always fun.Bernard the cheeky man made a special request for "Siu Yuk" to my mom...and he made this great comment after before he left:
"you know u are fat when u can rest your arm on the top of your belly whilst standin" will and i were in a fit of laughter...
but yeah, it was really cool..nick and teamed up to face the Wee bros. in a few games of PES 5...i love playin against them..sure, they are not the best players but the two bros are jus so...i dunno..so,quirky together..its kinda cool...they encourage each other on in their own way....shout 'aiyah' when they punted the ball rather than shoot it on target...both can giggle at the same time and pitch....they are an awesome twosome...
had a printer problem which took ages to fix..bert and i...well, primarily bert was tuggin and pushin and pullin sheets...caught up with terence bout boston...i really wanna visit america now more than ever...
caught up with Rob for a bit which was cool...i doubt he reads this site but Rob-man..thanks for the advice and the music equipment that uve passed onto me...and when i can find some solid ground in a few years, i will come out to visit in Sweden...i gotta find that moose! :p

So..ill be flyin off tomoro...back to The KK (here we coome)...
im excited to go back at one level, catch up with family especially with my grandma...cant wait to catch up with her...umm,nice food...general gettin back to my roots type thing..but on the other, im sad that i wont get to spend it with the peeps i've grown strangely fond of back here...both church and school...but i guess ill be back in bout 6 weeks...hella shorter compared to usual...so its not too bad..

what i plan to do:

-try and conjure up a song...altho will be difficult as im not bringin home a guitar
-figure out how im doin with God...felt recently ive been a bit distant with what has been goin on
-spend quality time with familia
-try and maintain/lose weight
-try and maintain/lose pimples
-watch Superman Returns (altho it maybe alone..)
-catch up with friends who are on holiday from Australia
-try and not have panic attacks bout what will happen...
-encourage matt in his prospective voluntary work...jus to encourage him/guide him a lil before i leave (God willing!)
-take more pictures

so yeah..hope y'all who are here..have a wicked-style summer..ill keep updatin and naturally, ill run into really silly stories involving me..so, keep readin and checkin up on me...

God bless y'all

from ur jungle-friendly neighbourhood Panda

I'm currently listening to: "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol

And...Scene!

2006-06-27T08:27:00.000+01:00

So...ive finished!
after being under severe pressure cookin for however long...i finished my last exam yesterday!
im more relieved than over-joyed cos exam time is a horrible time...i'm not really myself...well, i revert back to my old habits and its not healthy...i have tons of doubts and worries...but when it comes down to it, i trust in God to give me whatever and ill work it out when the time comes...no matter if i soar or flunk. i think i gotta be ready for that...but until then,im currently deletin A-level Chemistry and Biology files from my head...shouldnt take long...

the body has gotten used to wakin up and bein sleep deprived...woke up at 5 to do some crammin before exam...sat my exam at 9.30...finished at 1.00...came home and hung out with me,myself and i and at times with matt and meems...went to meet up with adnan who arrived at 7.30 and i hung around in brum for bout an hour and fifteen minutes...altho, i ran into my old friend Bilal...i ran upto him:
"Bill!!"
"HEY!"
"Bilal my friend...how are u?!"

*offer bilal a handshake*

"im doin great...uve changed alot Jase...with ur hair and everythin! "
"well..yeah...*thinking and processin what he said*....wait a minute, i'm NOT JASON!"
"ur not? oh! whats ur name...im bad with names u see..."
"dude...guess at least?"

*5 mins later*
"it begins with ' R ' ..."

*3 minutes later*
"R....O..."
"ROSS!"
"thanks Bil (!)..."

but yeah...adnan crashed here...watched these hysterical videos...didnt sleep till 2..and im up now...i guess i dont lie in...but yeah...i like wakin up with no academic agendas on my mind...this is what it feels like to be matt...since he finished on the 8th! sheesh!
but anyway...congratulations to Chrissy as she finished yesterday too...we did it!
and the rest of u who've finished...on the other side of last weekend...
in the words of Tommy Lee (haha nick):

"Take me away..to a place where the good times good times roll..."

I'm currently listenin to: "Chapters" by Appogee

mmm...

2006-06-25T09:01:00.000+01:00

so...for no reason...well..there is...but jus to establish where i stand on this matter...i jus want to pledge my allegiance to:

"Lurpak Butter on Toast"

this occured to me as i first bit into it this morning...and it reminded me of this cookin show i watched with my mom coupla weeks ago where they tried to identify by guessing which was the most expensive butter out of three samples with Lurpak as the cheapest one and some butter in a tin as the most expensive judgin on taste...
chef takes a nibble of Lurpak and he feels disgusted callin it "cheap"...sorry, but what a ponce.

but yeah...take ur butter in a tin (altho it could be very very nice, i dunno...) and leave Lurpak and my taste buds to our own devices...

Go Lurpak!

i would come up with a song like; " O Lurpak..you came and i saw and ate u..." in the tune of 'Mandy' but i havent got time...revising today...try and cram as much in this one day for tomoro..then i finish...

"O Lurpak" will be a project of mine when i finish...

it's just a thought i had right this minute.

video editing...funny.

I'm currently listening to: "One thing" by Finger Eleven

rMusic tv

2006-06-22T18:52:00.000+01:00

So..this was discovered by Matt and his random television flicking...

but there is this channel on Sky called rMusic tv on Channel 370 which plays contemporary Christian songs from Todd Agnew,Jeremy Camp,Falling Up,Kutless..and even videos from Hillsong United, Hillsong London and Planet Shakers..they also have very soulful stuff which is so awesome..

anyway, jus a headsup for those who are interested...

Channel '370' : rMusic tv

I'm currently listening to: "Resolution" by Nick Lachey

"Jesus Christ Superman"

2006-06-22T13:18:00.000+01:00

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/14/film.supermanchristfigure.ap/index.html?eref=yahoo

for you to read...its interesting.

an excerpt:

"Superman Returns," which premieres June 28, has been drawing its own comparisons to biblical accounts, especially after the appearance of its trailer earlier this year.

The preview shows the hero with his eyes closed as the voice of his father -- Marlon Brando's, courtesy of 1978's "Superman" -- tells him he was sent to Earth because humans "lack the light to show the way."

"For this reason," continues the voice, "I have sent them you, my only son."

Online message boards and Web logs quickly latched onto the biblical resonance of those lines.

"The allusion to Jesus Christ could hardly be accidental," wrote Christian blogger Tom Gilson.

"Is this a new Superman for the new Evangelist red state America? Superman as Jesus?" asked one contributor to the Portland-based blog site Urban Honking.... "

-the full article is that link thing under the picture...i dont know how to link it so copy and paste...

Update

2006-06-20T16:19:00.000+01:00

So...everythin has gone down not so well...
im mentally bein fried right now..ive got a brief pit stop..bio exam this friday so i get to breathe a lil...ive been workin and crammin non-stop since last friday...i even missed alan's birthday party! :( which was a totaly bummer...(Happy Birthday Old Man...u get to join my club...party of one...now two...thanks man)
But uh...got a find a balance between bein sane, tryin to do well and not givin up...dunno how they will turn out...i think not so well..then i must face the audience...and think of what to do next...
im jus really lookin forward to the 2pm: 26th June . im finished...
if u know me, then ull know i go really inward and totally not be me...i know everyone is like that, but i lack any positivity whatsoever...the crazy lady has been tryin to get me to slap out of it..currently, im feelin more positive cos it is upto The Big Man Upstairs...but i dunno...im tryin my damndest right now...and i feel it slippin away.

sigh.

anyway,John Mayer's new song is liftin me up a bit...
it's called "Waitin on the World to change"...his new single from his new album 'Continuum' comin out in September..i cant wait! :)
www.myspace.com/johnmayer

to hear a stream of the single...i love it...not ur typical acousitcally i-love-u-so-much-john-mayer-sound...has a bluesy feel to it...highly chilling.

what else is there? oh..was on the BBC website...readin the news...apparently, early reviews of Superman Returns have been muchos positivos. :D :D
cant wait for that...i might shed a "guy tear" wen i watch it.
umm, thats it for now...

later y'all.

"You give me somethin" by James Morrison

2006-06-17T13:47:00.000+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen..."You give me something" by James Morrison

Caption Ended...

2006-06-15T20:11:00.000+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen...im torn.but i have to say the best caption (jus by a bit) was posted by 'anonymous':

"Simple things please Simple minds (look at Bobby)"

altho, i was a big fan of:
"So you're sure I won't need my spleen?"

"ross: what is that?
bobby: i don't know, its the strangest thing!"

ever so close...but well done anonymous...you have won nothin but my respect to post a good caption.

i'll be havin another caption contest soon...that is until i find the appropriate picture...so everyone, act weird.

"My Hero" by Foo Fighters

2006-06-15T16:18:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite songs...

It Needs a Caption

2006-06-11T23:30:00.000+01:00

If you've got 2 minutes to spare or takin a break from whatever ur doin..please...i invite you...

Insert a caption for this picture.

Sure, its not as intellectually taxing compared to other non-work related stuff such as sudoku or the highs and lows of chess,but tackles the minds of ur very weird brains...you know who u are.

anyway,back to it. the mind grind. and i don mean sudoku.

good luck...well, not good luck as i know someone is not particularly fond of that phrase...but that person is right, its not down to 'luck'...its down to God. if He wants u achievin that goal...He'll let u. If He doesn't...sure it will hurt but i guess be secure in the knowledge He has somethin bigger planned for u...so:

God Bless You and Your Exams...i pray thats what He intended for u to do all along altho we have no clue as to what His full plan is...
"I will walk by faith
even when i cannot see
but because this broken road
prepares Your will for me"

-Jeremy Camp (the man sings sense)

oh, and since its my blog:

"its the strangest thing..i dont know...the lyrics jus seems to make sense altho i had no intention to put that in when i was postin this...i dont know...its the strangest thing...maybe God wanted me to put it down...i dont know...its the strangest thing...cos, i jus wanted to put the picture in and ask y'all to insert a caption really...cos, i thought it could be a nice-ish break for y'all...its the strangest thing...i dont know...and so forth."

Hands Open

2006-06-10T07:44:00.000+01:00

"Hands Open" by Snow Patrol...they are so good...id love to seem em live...they even mention Sufjan Stevens in this song..!
that is tres loco.

hasta luego.

For the floor above me

2006-06-06T23:06:00.000+01:00

Dear Father in Heaven,
Lord...i jus want to thank You for currently guidin me through the minefields called exams.but Lord, im really stressin and gettin nervous bout what happens if this door wasnt the plan?that i was set up for a fall...?Lord, i really want to get to Dublin...but im so dang-diddly disobedient that im scared that it jus might not be given or this was a very hard lesson to learn from. Father, my only strength comes from You and im scared. I am scared of failing..miserably. I've got hopes pinned on me and days like these, it gets to me real bad. i feel like screamin and shoutin swear words but You have removed bout 98% of that particular vocabulary out of my box..
Father, please calm my nerves and guide me through these next few weeks...i know, i will still be as disobedient as anythin at times, i will still have times when i need a good kicking...but i trust in You that You will instill a good kicking when i need it.
i jus really want it God...i do...but i cant do it without You.
Praise You in Jesus' most precious name. Amen.

Gaki No Tsukai

2006-06-06T17:13:00.000+01:00

the premise...this show is bout no laughing...but these comedians are put in situations where they cant do anythin but laugh...so, they must keep a tight lip otherwise suffer punishment...
this game is set at "school", they are shown an English Language video...the point is not to laugh at the Japanese guy on tv who is talkin in english...

nick and i love it.

Strength

2006-06-05T13:15:00.000+01:00

Philipians 4:13

" I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me. "

i guess i kept repeatin that today...it made me steady...calmer...

it is christ who strengthens me.
it is CHRIST who strengthens ME.
it IS CHRIST who STRENGTHENS ME.
IT IS CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

isn't that the oddest thing?ALL OF IT...FROM HIM...from HIM to you. no such thing as inner strength..un-tapped resiliency...its all bout the Big Man Upstairs.

"Collide" by Dishwalla

2006-06-03T00:46:00.000+01:00

Good luck to y'all doin exams or hittin the exam period...lets Collide.Pray God is with you...

"Lord Give Me A Sign"

2006-05-30T23:46:00.000+01:00

lord gimme a sign
i relle need to talk to you lord
cause the last time we talked
the walk has been hard
and i no u havent left me
but i feel like im alone
im a big boy now
but im still not grown
and im still goin threw it (what)
pain and the hurt
soakin up trouble like rain in the dirt
and i no homie i can stop the rain
but just to mention im guna save ur pain
in the name of jesus
devil i rebuke you
for wat i go threw
and trying to make me do what i used to
but all that stops right here
as long as the lord in my life
i will have no fear
i will know no pain from the light to the dark
i willl show no shame spit it right from the heart
cause its right from the start
you held me down
and theres nothing they can tell me now

(chorus)
lord gimme a sign
let me no wats on ur mind
let me no wat im guna find
its all the time
show me how to teach the mind
show me how to reach the blind
lord gimme a sign
show me wat i gots to do
to get me closer to you
cause ima go threw
with watever u want me to
just let me no wat to do
lord gimme a sign

please, show me something
im tired of talkin to him
knowin he frontin
cryin about life it aint notin
would u either be the one mad
cause the other one huntin
traped in your arm ma
waitn for the lord
im huntin with the word that
cuts like a sword
the spoken word the stronger
then they stand
he carrys the whole world in his stronger hand
you never let us down (jesus)
i no u hear wit us now(jesus)
i no u still wit us now
keep it real wit us now
i wanna feel, show me how Please
let me take your hand
guide me, i walk slow, stay right beside me, the devils trying to find me
hide me,hold up, i take that back, protect me and then flip the get the f*ck back

(chorus)
lord gimme a sign
let me no wats on ur mind
let me no wat im guna find
its all the time
show me how to teach the mind
show me how to reach the blind
lord gimme a sign
show me wat i gots to do
to get me closer to you
cause ima go threw
with watever u want me to
just let me no wat to do
lord gimme a sign

life or death live or die
i will never live a lie
im guna live because i try
i wont quit untill i die
im gonna make it, wrong or right (ya)
make it threw the darkest night
when the morning comes u'll see

(Chorus)
lord gimme a sign
let me no wats on ur mind
let me no wat im guna find
its all the time
show me how to teach the mind
show me how to reach the blind
lord gimme a sign
show me wat i gots to do
to get me closer to you
cause ima go threw
with watever u want me to
just let me no wat to do
lord gimme a sign

Young Mind,Old Body

2006-05-28T20:08:00.000+01:00

So...ever thought why when you were younger...and you were playin sports with ur dad or someone around the same age as them...you play..you play...then they go;

"Oh...man...im half-dead!" and you, cos u were full of vim and vitality would be like:

"Don't be such a wuss!keep playin!" ... and ud see them, like trudgin along...restin their arms on their waists...lookin like they jus completed the marathon when in actual fact, they've only played a round of HORSE with u? i never understood that...till this weekend.
this weekend, ive been running around tryin to recapture my peak health, which was in 1988 which was when i could start walkin rather than lie on my belly all day, by playin basketball on saturday and frisbee on sunday.

now, i love basketball...been playin since i was 7 and the *swish* sound that u struggle to achieve by shootin the ball into the basket without touchin the rim is the greatest sound in the world. so natural, so delicate, so awesome. but to run around with all the guys who are only jus reachin their peak physical condition and their peak height which is anythin taller than me, you start to wonder jus how long you are goin to last for...with or without my Charles Barkley jersey. well..i survived the 2 hour session with nothin more than a dead leg, a bad back, worn out arm muscles from the shooting actions and wonderment of what it would be like if i was 2 inches taller. 2 hours later... this is when the "old man syndrome" decided to kick in. body jus shuts down...everythin is a chore...like a chore ur mom sets u on the hour after u jus finished ur last exam...u feel slightly dizzy...u want more water...then, you want to pee...so u decide u wont drink water cos it then takes an effort to move that bag of bones to the bathroom...u want to eat but u feel full from the sense uve jus played sports. ur muscles ache. but as matt tells me "dont be so fat". so i get on with it.

today, i thought id take advantage of the fact there was a frisbee game available since the weather has not been awesome recently and what the hey, i like to see gavin chase after a frisbee...there were 2 frisbees on the go...a normal old skool frisbee (which we used later) and a orange frisbee which looked like a ring so it was easier to catch...gavin gave me his best Xena Warrior Princess impression.... "YAIIYAIIYAIIYAIYAIIIIII.....!!!"

"So Take That, MIchael Flatley and Xena eh?"
"yep."

anyway, i decided because im not a great frisbee thrower (i launched Xena's ring of justice onto the tallest tree around...luckily Kenneth's Shoe of Avengence was around for it's special move), i thought i could be a good running back cos:
a) i dont wanna stand around and count blades of grass
b) no one suspects the fat guy to run
c) no one suspects ross the fat guy to run

and it worked out pretty well...got alot of great feeds from my team and scored quite a few touch downs...till "old man syndrome" came in...u know ur gettin old when u detect an injury that uve never felt before..this time...it was my butt...i have no idea what kind of spasm happened...but everytime i ran around...there was this zinger of pain...but what they hey...100% heart baby. carried on till the end..got the same after effects now...

man...the body wont move...only for food, playstation, water (if the tank aint full yet) and a few things that ive forgotten...i think the old man syndrome is catchin up with my mind too...wait, whats my name again?

I'm currently listening to: "Earthquakes and Sharks" by Brandtson

"Boston" by Augustana

2006-05-22T20:25:00.000+01:00

lovely song. i wish i could play the piano. dont let my mom hear that otherwise she'll throw me a "I told you so.."

Superman Returns: INTERNATIONAL trailer

2006-05-22T11:04:00.000+01:00

oh man...i nearly shed one tear cos it was so good...the gun bit at the end...awesome...man...

Claymation: Darth Vader & Michael Jackson

2006-05-21T17:36:00.000+01:00

its from this show called "Robot Chicken"..thanks nad, for the headsup...

I'm currently listening to: "Take Cover" (acoustic) by Acceptance

The guy formerly known as "Ross"

2006-05-19T09:08:00.000+01:00

I've had strange names and variation in my lifetime...

1) My dear old grandma who i love to pieces has no english vocabulary except for the odd word or two like "water", "hello", "bye bye" ...
So, it is understandable that it is quite difficult to say my name...she calls me "Loss"...my mom always tells me that pickin 'Ross' was better than her other choice 'Ryan' because of it...

2) My grandma's brother used to call me 'Rose' in my formative years

3) Matthew calls me 'Rosie' or 'Rosie baby' because of him

4) My friends call me sometime 'Raaassss' cos i have a slight american accent and apparently i say thats how i say my name.

5) My indian friend used to call me 'Rosmalai' which apparently means 'an indian sweet-type desert thing'

6) Othertimes its 'Rossy' or 'Rossyboy' which there are no qualms. in fact, i dont have any problems with any of em ive listed.

But today...TODAY...this morning...drinking my morning tea and watchin BBC news...the postman delivers 2 envelopes...they are face down so i didnt instantly know who they were for...
One was addressed to "M J Chinn" and the other was addressed to:

" Mr. Roff Chin"

ROFF. ROFF. ROFF? how wrong could u possibly be?! Maybe he thought 'Roff' was shortform for 'Roffaniel' or 'Roffistopher' or 'Roffanthan' or 'Roff-whos-a-good-boy-?' Told my mom and showed her the envelope...she suggested "how bout woof?"

7) The guy who sent me an envelope calls me 'Roff Chin' possibly after his family dog. its a chubby chinese lookin dog.

---edit---

this is an incredibly happy song...i love it!

I'm currently listening to: "Light and Day" by Polyphonic Spree

Last Day and Semi-illegal Barbeques

2006-05-16T18:13:00.000+01:00

So..we had our first Art Crew bbq at the back of the art block to celebrate our last full day as everyday KES students...you can tell we've been there as there are 3 singed areas of grass from our disposable BBQ kits...
after 30 sausages, 24 rashers of bcaon, bread galore, soft drinks and cheese cake...we are stuffed Art Crewans...
It was incredible..the smell of sausages could be smelt throughout the entire school..only the Art Kids would have enough tenacity to have a meat cookout.

Apart from the work, ive really enjoyed this year with the new crew...at first it was weird naturally but by now, i think i have built up really good friendships with these guys which i thought would not have happened...
the guys are a solid bunch...funny,smart and genuine...real people...no two-faceness about anythin..straight hip shooters...and thats awesome.

man...im stuffed...i detect a hint of salmonella comin up soon...watch this space.

I'm currently listening to: "Simple Design" by Breaking Benjamin

Planes, Buses and Bicycles?

2006-05-15T15:12:00.000+01:00

So...im sweatin...weird...its not the meat sweats u get from eatin meat...its not sweat that comes from my once in 2 weeks basketball session come early...its not the sweat i get from chasin the 61 bus as it starts to pull away from the bus stop...its sweatin on a weekday! its sweatin on a Monday afternoon which the rain or drizzle didn't attribute to. no ladies and gentlemen...its sweatin cos ive got a bicycle.

It all stemmed from when i was talkin to one of my classmates, Sam, and my form tutor, Brad, two weeks ago.
S: "ross, where do u live?"
R: "on the bristol road"
S: "oh...how do u get home then?"
R: "oh..sometimes i walk..most of the time..i take the bus."
S: "You take the bus?!"
B: "yeah...cos the panda is too lazy to walk."
R: "in a nutshell...thanks sir."
S: "thats a travesty...you should bike it to school."
R: "i dont own a bike dude..."
S: "Get one!"
R: "nah..im good."
B: "lazy panda."

and i thought nothin of it...until today. i bussed it to school this morning...my daily exercise comes from walkin to the bus stop...and if it need be, a light sprint to it to flag down the bus drivers who really are in Bus Grand Prix with the other drivers. i bet the other drivers at homebase are takin bets on whos the fastest. anyway, got to school....read my mornin Metro paper in my favourite spot in the art block sofa. ooo...liverpool article...page 54-55...interesting. 9 o' clock swings by, Sam enters the block with his bike.
R: "Nice bike dude"
S: "It is...listen...my uncle is gettin me a new bike cos this is gettin knackered...do u want it?"
R: "UHH!"

i later agreed this afternoon at bout 2 pm .... so, Sam, Dominic and myself went to inspect sam's bike behind the art block. i looked at it...black...a lil tattered and bruised...sam wanted to run through the basics of his bike...this was his baby...this was now my rolling wheels of death. he gave me a small talk on how the gears work...flew past my head...as long as i could balance and ride it with ease and safety, i didnt care.

R: "so...whats the rule on helmets...?"
S: "its not compulsory...you're fine mate...i rode in from Walsall this morning...one and a half hours...you'll be fine."
D: "also...'Helmet' rhymes with 'Ponce' "

So..off i rode onto the Bristol road...no cushion or suspension could support the bumps..so my butt hurts...i worried that my pants (trousers to u all) would get caught in the cogs..so i had to geekily tuck em in my socks...sweatin drippin off my nose...water mud splats flying everywhere...but amid all that...as i glided, the cool breeze on my face..imogen heap playin softly in my ears, it was fun...havent rode on a bike since i was 10...and it was awesome...

Although i can smell the meat sweats that has been produced from cycling...i smell pepperoni.

I'm currently listening toL "You're all I have" by Snow Patrol

BBC FA Cup Final Montage

2006-05-14T13:58:00.000+01:00

This i think is pretty good editing...quite moving. Great song by Sigur Ros "Hoppipolla" ...

"Believe Me" by Fort Minor

2006-05-10T17:45:00.000+01:00

Garageband people !! spot the loop in the song! i like it...not as blood pumping as "Remember the Name"

What happens inside a plane when u loop-de-loop

2006-05-08T22:14:00.000+01:00

This was alerted to me by my friend Rich...awesome...so funny.

I am...

2006-05-07T01:12:00.000+01:00

I am...

-sitting in front of my desk
-tired but not metally tired
-stressed bout what happens next
-praying for backups
-looking forward to worshipping in a few hours
-feeling like i want to be quiet and not contribute
-feeling hypocritical when i say that and somehow manage to get myself in the predicament of talkin-talkin
-thinkin bout moments that flashed by
-replayin moments in my head that didnt exist in the first place
-searchin to talk to God and re-connect with Him
-thinking bout my family and how i miss all of them
-thinking of wakin up durin the summer holidays lookin forward to do nothin
-thinkin of whether to buy the original Superman triology and Football Manager 06 from play.com after my exams
-wondering why i cant think of words and a melody of my own
-amazed at the way bert has shown me how God could work in a way that i can understand
-thinkin of missed opportunities
-gettin burned by Debra (Lil G's cousin) on why i dont have a feminine side apparently
-wonderin why i played such a bad game of basketball yesterday
-fine...for now.

I'm currently listening to: "Lenny/Man on the side" by John Mayer

Superman Returns Trailer

2006-05-03T17:00:00.000+01:00

:D !!!!

Khang's Party

2006-05-02T21:46:00.000+01:00

I had a nice time...There was a whole lotta pointing goin on..
oh, and im such a weakling...i was givin Phi a piggy back ride..then it turned into a Piggy Back Fight...woke up this morning...and my arms are killin me..the tendons..the twitching...better not affect Hoops on Saturday.

I'm currently listening to: "3x5" by John Mayer

Always Look On the Bright Side of Football

2006-04-26T20:31:00.000+01:00

i love Olivier Bernard...he's funny.

Ali G and the NBA

2006-04-25T14:35:00.000+01:00

Ali G and The Playoffs...could it be any better?

"The Adventure" by Angels & Airwaves

2006-04-24T16:21:00.000+01:00

Tom DeLonge's new band...apparently, their album is inspired by Tom's brother's time in Iraq fighting in the war...i think this is their opening single...sounds good.
been feeling jus musical recently...things in my life are still the same...relying on God to direct me...no major revelations at this moment in time..everything is...the same.

"What's left of me" by Nick Lachey

2006-04-23T20:03:00.000+01:00

So..normally..im not big on the whole 'Newlyweds' thing...but uh...i do like nick lachey's new song...its like a more grander version of a pop song...somethin i didn't think he'd try. Bein honest, its in the same vein as "Incomplete" by BSB...use of strings and stuff...maybe i fall for the odd grand pop song.

Sam's Birthday Costume Party

2006-04-22T11:42:00.000+01:00

So...its 11:40am...slept at 3ish..woke up 9.30..throat is hoarse-ish and my hair more ruffled than a Caged Chicken with it's siblings...why? Sam's Birthday...with the added extra of Costumes, which i think was a great idea..cos i had to redeem myself from the last time i went to a costume party..it was 1996..i was 9...i remember it quite well...i wanted to go as Shawn Michaels the wrestler...so i looked high and low for my mom's lycra pants if she had one...staple paper hearts all over it..wear cut off gloves and show that "im not a boy toy" but a "sexy boy". After further explorations into the unknown world that was "Mom's closet"...i went as a Ghost. So a white bed sheet wrapped around...but my mom didn't want her sheet "ruined" so no holes or anythin for my eyes..basically, it wrapped around me...so it looked like my ghost got wet..and then his mother wringed him out.And everyone came in everythin..cool..i remember this girl Georgia came as Beetle Juice! come on!

So, this time around...gotta make it right. Theme was "What you wanted to be when you were younger?"...easy peasy.

I'm sure y'all knew that already.
The night was great..Soya Cafe was good..good food..nice people...was cool...karaoke..which i thought was hysterical.I've concluded Tim loves to sing lady songs...a song that stuck in my mind is when he kept turnin round to me and phan singing "Wannabe"...

Oh,one of Sam's relatives came as Batman...so, i thought i'd say "hi" to my fellow Justice League of America member...but Batman wouldn't reciprocate...man.

I got locked outside by Anthony. Went to get fresh so left by the side door..and Anthony the Builder locked the door on me! this then proceeded to his table chargin me back in with an "entrance fee"...i showed them the 'S' emblem..thats my ticket.

Alan (Sam's dad) sang BackstreetBoys and Michael Learns to Rock with me! was awesome...
Can't remember much after..i remember laughin at Elena alot towards the end of the evening.

Pictures are on my Flickr but can people tell me where the other pictures taken by other people are? that would be super. no pun intended.

Im currently listening to: "Lenny/Man on the side" by John Mayer

The Dream Is Over!

2006-04-21T13:20:00.000+01:00

No...dreams of being the oriental Superman is over!

Batman perhaps? nah..ill wait till this guy slips up...Or settle for Oriental Superman in Europe...that seems fairer.

Jose Gonzalez

2006-04-19T10:35:00.000+01:00

"Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez ... wishing i could play like him.

Sigur Ros and Electronik Supersonic

2006-04-18T16:28:00.000+01:00

Sigur Ros playing "hoppipolla" and "mea bloanasirlive" on jools holland...sombre but beautiful at the same time.

Still Sigur Ros but the MV for "Hoppipolla"

My friend Rich showed me this song 6 months ago on his iPod...it was a Eurovision Song contender for the country of Molvania...called Electronik Supersonic..thought it was a joke..till i saw this video...my goodness.

Stuck in a rut

2006-04-16T23:34:00.000+01:00

So..stuck in a rut.

hmmm...wearin a "semi-loud" mask at the moment. but the structural make-up of the mask is actually quite frail...found, im runnin out of things to say to people in general...maybe thats a good thing for y'all. dunno...problems are still the same but on one hand, i want to spout it out..on the other, it wont solve anything...will be jus talkin in circles...want to talk to God..but my mind-set recently has been..."He knows me...He knows what i want to say...He knows what i fear..cant i jus offer it up in silence?" i know prayer is the way to talk to Him, but cant i jus sub-conciously release it? bein honest, it doesnt seem to work and it doesnt comfort me in any way but im jus findin words can't say what i want to say. the chemicals in my head are doin it for me...can God test the chemicals and dip the Universal of Unviversal Indicators and see me? It's the buildup of feelings and this throbbin u get in the back of ur head...its beating...its like alive. i think the evil is cloudiin me...when i try and connect, the mind and heart wanders and i can feel a battle arise...and i jus always literally shake my head and close my eyes to sling evil to the corner again..and get God to protect me...it's not working.

i feel things i have are jus slippin away from me slowly..like a car crash waiting to happen. im watching it...but i jus cant stop...Chemicals are overriding the system. i hate it. its slowly unstabalising me.
things i want so badly are jus slowly becoming a theory...a brief moment of pure joy...just going, going, gone.

i thought i sorta got out of the extremely pessimistic stage and now currently in "pessimistic-ville"...

wish i could fly and stay in exile for a lil while and get myself sorted..like Superman.had a spare 3 minutes...

I'm currently listening to: "Who Am I" by Will Young

Gaurav's 19th

2006-04-15T00:20:00.000+01:00

So..very eventful evening..
It was Gaurav's birthday outing last night (Friday) so the plan was:
1)Meet at Weathersoons at 8.30
2)Go to Risa

I made it up in my mind that i wouldnt go to Risa cos im not much of a clubber...pubs ill gladly do..have much more of a laugh...Plus i decided id try and get home by 10.30 ish...

So, we met at Weatherspoons at 8.30 and it went from there...yeah...Gaurav had a wee bit too much to drink as usual on his birthday...and guess who had to look after him? moi.
Dragged his vodka,aftershocked mixed butt to toilet to freshen him up if he wanted to go clubbing..slotted him to a urinal and told him to do his business...never have i been that embrassed in a toilet...

"IMPERIAL SON! IMPERIAL SON! IM A DOCTOR SON! IM GONNA GRADUATE WHEN IM 25 SON!IM GONNA BE A CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON! DONT WORRY MISTER! IM GOIN TO SAVE YOU! YEAH SON!"

20 minutes later, he got us kicked out of Weatherspoons..well, they did...i didnt..i was gettin water for gaurav..turned around, they got cleared off...shook the bouncer's hand and went to look for them..
Decided he needed to eat something...so we walked/dragged across the road to Big Bite.Proped him on a sofa seat and i sat next to him making him sip water...he repays the favour by vomiting in my direction..good thing i jumped and ducked the puke. Then we got kicked out of Big Bite.
Dragged him round the corner and sat him on a Bollard. Puking,Photos,Water,French Fries ensued. Dragged him into Mo's car and drove him to Bipan's house.
I hope he's fine.

Happy Birthday..."Son".

I'm currently listening to: "The Gift" by Seether

Garfield and Acceptance

2006-04-14T13:28:00.000+01:00

Who grew up watchin this..? its lovely.

Stumbled on this song..its quite melodic..very light emo...dunno why...dont worry, not goin to paint my finger nails black but im wonderin how quite a low form of genre of music can find quite decent hooks and melodies...? hmm.