Week 1: New Home, New Job, New Lifestyle…

On being a lodger…

I’ve been living at my new place for a week now. A week! And I already feel that I’ve been living there for months. MC, my landlady, has been a kind and hospitable host to me since I’ve moved in. MC works for a local college in the disability unit and does yoga in her spare time. She has four very beautiful children, 2 daughters and 2 sons and has recently become a grandmother to a half english and half singhalese girl, Skyla. Skyla is an absolutely adorable lil girl, who I can imagine will grow up to break the hearts of many, many men.

With her children grown up and moved out, she now takes care of two lovely dogs; a short haired, golden American Bulldog named Hootchie and a long haired, dark Dachshund named Sookie. Hootchie and Sookie spends most of the day asleep in the garden or on the front door mat. When they’re awake, they’ll gingerly approach you with a ‘please-feed/pet-me’ and sorrowful eyes, which melts even the coldest of hearts and you can’t help but give into their demands. Manipulative indeed! 

Just 2 days before moving into her quaint and cozy lil home, she found a part-time job for me as a carer for a 21 year old girl with cerebral palsy, B. The pay is pretty good, 7 hours every Sunday for £11 per hour. My probation day is this coming Sunday. I hope it’ll turn out fine because caring for a disabled is heavy burden; emotionally, spiritually and physically. I hope I’m strong enough (emotionally, spiritually and physically) to carry this burden. It is only once a week and the money does help.

 

On being vegetarian…

MC is also a full-time vegetarian, with semi-vegan tendencies hampered by her love for cheese. Respecting her kitchen and taking advantage her vegetarianism to alter my lifestyle, I’m attempting to be a ‘Flexitarianism‘, where I still drink milk and eat eggs and fish. Come to think of it, I haven’t had any fish in ages. I had been successful, so far. One week without meat! And also without beer, wine or hard liquor. What an accomplishment! 

 

On London transportation…

Despite the rent being £40 (per month) cheaper, my budget for transportation has dramatically increased! You can’t survive in London without a personal mode of transportation; car or scooter or bicycle!   Alright, I must say that Zone 4 is a rather large area and is considered quite far from central London (3-5 miles?). For me to leave the Whetstone area to reach campus or to B’s place takes 1.5 hours, door to door. B’s place is in Zone 3, not far at all if you look at the map. Because London’s transportation system is built as such that all underground lines run in parallel towards Central London, like a MayPole,where you need to reach the Central London to switch to other lines, even if its next to each other. A long and unnecessary way round. Am seriously contemplating on getting a bicycle. Since I’m only going to stay here for 3 more months, is it worth it? 

Despite transportation inconvenience, I’m glad there’s a green grocer, a pub, a salsa club, a park, bus stop, tube stop, train station and a greek take away within a 15 minutes walk. Its unlike living in the halls where it takes 30 minutes to walk to Asda (UK version of Walmart) and the train station, 30 minute by bus to the closest salsa club and no access to the Tube! Still alot of walking, nonetheless. 

On salsa and yoga…

I’m glad that living out of the halls has given me easier access to salsa and yoga. I followed MC last Sunday to her 3-times a week Yoga session with her guru, K. It was the most challenging yoga session I’ve gone to and it left me feeling fatigued afterwards. The yoga session does not require excessive cardio stamina of any kind, but it requires muscular strength to hold your positions, acute awareness of your body positions and unwavering focus to balance your body. My most spiritual class yet! And the fee is based upon each person’s kind-hearted contribution, roughly £2 per session. What a steal! Am going to make it a habit of going for at least 2 sessions per week (2 x £2 = £4).

As for salsa, I’m finally going tonight! Its held at a community hall, next to a church, just around the corner from where I’m staying. I haven’t asked how much the entrance fee is, but I reckon it wouldn’t cost more than £10. Apparently, the London salsa community has a reputation for being snooty and are reluctant to groom beginners into true salsa dancers. Competition? Money? Who knows? Dancing in London is an expensive hobby indeed. 

 

On free things…

I must say, it has been an eventful first week living off campus! Also, if you haven’t noticed yet, I’ve created a new page called ‘Free!’. Its a page on anything and everything free. Do have a browse and leave a comment or two.

The Law of Prosperity works!

I love the podcasts on iTunes! There are all sorts of video and radio shows to watch and listen; from learning Spanish to yoga poses to Jamie Oliver’s cooking! One particular podcast I subscribe to is Stin Hansen’s ‘My Thought Coach’. Stin believes in our thought’s power in manifesting our wishes and desires. She publishes podcasts of meditations and affirmations on specific issues, from anxiety to health and relationships.

A couple of weeks ago, Stin published an episode called ‘Affirmations on the Laws of Prosperity’. At that time, I was worried about my financial situation over the summer. Panicked, I’ve searched job sites relentlessly, sending one CV after another. After listening to this particular podcast, I felt calm and assured me that the universe will support and provide my every need. It was a deep sense of knowing, of overwhelming peace. It was a feeling I couldn’t explain and yet, deep down in my heart I know there is no need to worry. The past couple of weeks have shown just that…

1. The university’s campus club was closing down and clearing up. Just as I was walking past, my friend was told we could take anything we want from the pile of unwanted bar items piled callously in a corner. I managed to scavenge bottle pourers, drink mats, lanyards, beer glass, ice box, a flask, frisbee, sunhat, one too many bar butlers/optics and even a portable OHP!  All of which, I’ll attempt to sell off on eBay. So stay tuned for my eBay page!

2. A couple of days after the university’s insurance company called to say they’ll reimburse my stolen camera, £89! It wasn’t the price I paid for initially, but some ££ is better than none. With this reimbursement, I am thinking of upgrading to a prosumer camera, Canon PowerShot G10 perhaps? 

3. On top of that, two days before I moved into my new home in Whetstone, my landlady texted me about a part-time job to help care for a lady with cerebral palsy… £11 an hour! How awesome is that! Not only is the money good, but its also the kind of work that I would definitely enjoy! I’ve agreed to meet with the lady’s mother to hash out the work details this coming Monday.

The podcast didn’t help in making me rich overnight, but the little bits of ££ here and there does help tremendously. And hopefully, if I keep listening to the affirmation and keep thinking prosperity attracting thoughts, I might earn enough to do all the things I want to do over the summer and the many years after. 

So do give this podcast a try and tell me your experiences.

The Deadly Chocolate Cake

Living in student residence with minimal income has forced me to cook more often. Seasonal vegetables are cheaper than ready-made meals and eating out. In the spirit of my domestication, from a someone who hates cooking but now does it because its economical, I’d like to share my ‘Deadly Chocolate Cake’ recipe. This recipe is also called ‘Chocolate Cake in a mug’. After several tries, it seems much easier to eat out of a bowl than from a mug. 

I’ve received this recipe in an email forward from an old net friend. Thanks, darling! And I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

 

Chocolate cake batter in a mug!

What you need:

• a microwave, a mug/bowl
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 3 tablespoons of sugar (I’d always put 2, cause I don’t like it to be too sweet)
• 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder (or 4 squares of melted cooking chocolate by microwave)
• 3 tablespoons of oil (or 2 large knobs of butter)
• 3 tablespoons of milk
• 1 egg
• small teaspoon of vanilla essence
• Vanilla ice cream.

This is what you do:

1. If you use cooking chocolate and/or butter, place it in a mug or bowl and melt it the microwave for 1 min.
2. Otherwise, mix all the dry items together in a mug or a bowl; flour, sugar, cocoa powder.
3. Once mixed, add in all the other stuff; oil (if you’re not using butter), milk, egg and vanilla essence. 
4. Beat all the ingredients thoroughly until you get a smooth chocolaty batter. 
5. Place the bowl or mug in the microwave (on high) for 3 minutes.
6. Garnish with as much vanilla ice cream as desired.
7. Devour!

This is called the ‘Deadly Chocolate Cake’ purely because it can be done in 5 minutes and if you’re not careful it’ll be bad for your waistline. Instant chocolate cake! So… enjoy!

Deadly Chocolate Cake & Vanilla Ice Cream

Ok. So this chocolate doesn’t look particularly professional, but it tastes absolutely divine!

Hello Summer, Goodbye Spring!

 

It seems as if News Years was only yesterday; when the days started at 9am and ended at 4pm. Now, the days are much longer than before. I was told that the longest day of the year will be approaching soon.

‘Think its around the 23rd’ said a hallmate a couple of weeks ago. 

Mom told me that once you’ve passed the age of 25, every year seems to go by faster. I think she’s right. This year has gone by way too fast… because wasn’t New Years just yesterday and hadn’t I only started my masters a couple of weeks ago? 

Summer is here. No more classes. No more exams, left my dissertation to write and submit. A 12,000 word long dissertation. When welcoming Summer with open arms, we need to unclench our fists on Spring; to let go and say our goodbyes.

Thursday night was our unofficial and impromptu farewell night, the night before everyone in the hall pack up their rooms to return to their families and hometowns. We were prepared, somewhat, to say goodbye to our short time at the university halls. However, I (don’t know about the others) was caught unaware at the difficulty of saying goodbye to the unexpected family I found here. I’m going to miss my brothers’ amusing alcohol and drug induced antics and the girly talks of boys, makeup, cooking and life with my surrogate sisters. 

Yes, there were times where I wanted to wring their necks. I was mightily furious at their lack of hygiene when using the kitchen and toilets. Also, of times where food mysteriously disappeared. We reckoned that twiddle-Dee and twiddle-Dum was scurrying about our kitchen in our absence. On the other hand, it was only temporary, it was only 8 months. Emotionally tumultuous as it was, I’ve never felt less lonely than when I first arrived. I found a home among strangers in a foreign land.

Can you believe it? Its all over now.

I won’t be at the university for the next academic year, when everyone has moved into their rented homes. The university halls are only for first years and postgraduates. It won’t be the same. But I’m glad. It felt I was given another chance to relive the schooling/university life I’ve never had. 

Though, I wanted to do just this one thing before everyone leaves… to climb onto the roof to watch the sunset. Lacking upper body strength, the boys pulled me up while the girls supported and hoisted my legs, through a trapdoor on the ceiling. It was just past 10pm. We sat up there for a while, enjoying the chill night air, cigarettes and watched the distant orange light slowly fade beyond the horizon. Boy,  was it amazing! My 2MP Sony Ericsson Z610i does not do it justice. 

I survived, with a few bruises and scratches, climbing down from the rooftop with the help of my surrogate siblings. We continued the night’s merriment with more drinking and cheer, till the sky lit up again at 4am. I’m going to miss this dearly. 

But… life goes on, no? Soon, I’ll be stepping into my new life… with much confidence and assurance gained from my short time here. 

I know I’ll never be alone. 

To confirm or to ignore?

Social networking is complicated. In the mid-90s, it started off with chat-based programs, such as mirc and ICQ. This was quickly followed by more dynamic and advanced chat programs by Yahoo Messenger, MSN and eventually GChat. While chatting progressed, online networking took off simultaneously with profiles and blogging (geocities, eCircle and Friendster).

These web programs provided us the opportunity none of us had in the 90s, to create a brand new self; allowing us to become someone we’re not. It was a release for those who found it difficult to express their true selves in real life. But, how true is one’s online persona to that in real life? 

Take for example, the tacit competition for the largest number of friends among Friendster/MySpace/Facebook members. At first glance, a large number of friends on your profile implies that the person is of some level of importance or even of a particular status. Because aren’t you considered ‘popular’ when you have 2000++ friends on your profile?

To me, this unspoken competition is completely meaningless. Many friends online does not mean many friends in real life. In fact, it could be completely opposite. So, what is the point of connecting with people you’ve probably only met once?

It is said that each person has an average of 300 friends/connections. There lies the power of weak ties. The word of mouth is influential. Large network of acquaintances could be used to help spread your word, opinion, thought or idea, a bush fire during drought. A personal opinion is more credible than cheesy TV ads. What a person says about a newly opened restaurant, for example, can make or break a business. 

The problem is that there isn’t always an opinion or thought or idea to express. Even when there is something to express, its not meant for the entire world to listen. Once something is online, it stays online. I’ve read and heard countless stories of friends who got themselves into trouble for tweeting or facebooking their status, only to face the repercussions of an angered boss/girlfriend/mother.

On one hand, there is the benefit of many connections on your social network; on the other hand, there is a need to limit your online expression for privacy and protection. I’m asking this question, after 300++ words, is because I’ve decided to switch the search settings on FB from ‘Friends only’ to ‘Friends of friends’.  Under the ‘Friends Only’ search, one was only able to find me if they had my email address. I’ve switched my settings after ‘friends of friends’, who are also my (real) friends, complained that they found it difficult to add me onto their friends lists. While I do appreciate keeping in touch with (real) friends, I had somehow opened the flood gates for others to request for ‘friends confirmation’. 

Those whom I don’t know, I’d completely ignore. But what do you do with friends from a long forgotten past or with someone, who seems to know all your friends, requests for your confirmation? Do I confirm to reap the benefits of weak ties? Or do I ignore to protect my privacy?

Should I confirm or ignore?