wrote the first exam this morning...went pretty well i think! save for a few muck-ups here and there i answered pretty much everything in full. hand was cramping up a few times, there's that much writing to be done, but i feel good about it!
headed to my coffee shop afterwards for a long, relaxing lunch. a cause for alarm (somewhat): coffee shop hottie wasn't working today, and i noticed they had put up a "help wanted" sign - i hope this doesn't mean he's left??? will have to go back a few more times to see if this is indeed the case...
wandered around spitalfields for a bit before walking home. i wish i could describe to you what living in east london feels like; books like "brick lane" by monica ali, "salaam brick lane" by tarquin hall, or "the east end" by alan palmer try to invoke the sights, sounds and smells of the community but i say you just have to come here and experience it for yourself! it's chaotic, gritty, lively and real and i love it.
CET :o)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
the light at the end of the tunnel
my first exam is tomorrow, woohoo!
i'm excited because this means the end of studying, THANK GOD.
i know i shouldn't whinge so much about it as i've willingly gone back to school and thereby put myself in this situation but man, revision is torture. instead of whipping them or pulling their limbs apart, people back in the day should have just forced prisoners to read facts on emulsions, formulation of liquid dosage forms and colloids, yeah.
haven't heard from scottish guy yet so don't know if i'll be meeting him tomorrow evening after my exam. will keep you posted...
right, need to cram!
CET :o)
i'm excited because this means the end of studying, THANK GOD.
i know i shouldn't whinge so much about it as i've willingly gone back to school and thereby put myself in this situation but man, revision is torture. instead of whipping them or pulling their limbs apart, people back in the day should have just forced prisoners to read facts on emulsions, formulation of liquid dosage forms and colloids, yeah.
haven't heard from scottish guy yet so don't know if i'll be meeting him tomorrow evening after my exam. will keep you posted...
right, need to cram!
CET :o)
Friday, January 26, 2007
shisha, smoke and snog
the date went VERY well! i had such a lovely time and i'm pretty sure scottish guy did too.
spent the day chillin' with vij as i knew no work was to be done...puttered about until half an hour before i was to leave the house and then all hell broke loose! a hectic, last-minute wardrobe change, a huge surge of nerves then a quick hug from vij and i was off, flying down the street to catch the bus.
we met up and he had had a stressful day; i think we were both in one of those crazy moods where everything makes you laugh and you feel slightly unhinged inside. i liked it because we were joking lots and quickly felt at ease with each other. the photographer's gallery was pretty small so we were done rather quickly; walked around and ended up having a drink at the spice of life pub (where the sunday jazz sessions take place). again as on the first date we did nothing but talk, talk, talk - i love it when each person has so much to say to the other and the conversation's not one-sided. i did tell him about my blog - i figured the sooner he knows about it the better - and the fact that i've written a bit about him. i'm sure his curiousity peaked when i said that but he was cool about it - he didn't press me for the web address and respected my privacy. i'm sure that won't stop him from at least doing a preliminary search for this blog, but i didn't tell him anything specific so i don't know how he would even manage to find it! here's hoping anyway...
afterwards we wandered around soho for quite a long while, trying to find a restaurant i had in mind. my sense of direction, while normally pretty good, is completely shot whenever i'm in soho and i have no idea why; we finally found the place only to discover a huge line-up outside. thwarted. ended up at a burger joint stuffing our faces with HUGE hamburgers and chocolate and strawberry milkshakes, mmm...
the night was still young but i didn't want to visit yet another bar after dinner; i suggested a hookah lounge on brick lane and it was a hit - we smoked hookah/shisha with peach-flavoured tobacco, sipped our sweet mint tea and completely relaxed. we both don't smoke so it was pretty funny having two non-smokers trying to smoke a huge shisha pipe.
seeing as how brick lane is in my hood and the fact that i can walk home from there, he walked me home afterwards. ooo, i forgot to tell you - we were holding hands all evening and there were lots of little touches here and there so i knew something was going to happen (!) - so i asked if he wanted to come up to my place for a bit.
OK, OK, OK, so in "date speak" i know this type of invite usually means some sort of action is going to take place. i really HATE it when the guy assumes it's going to be action of the heavy-duty kind, because sometimes a girl doesn't want that and just wants somewhere private (instead of outside the tube station in front of the drunks and weirdos) to first kiss a guy! THANK GOD scottish guy is such a gentleman and didn't maul me as soon as we entered my flat (though sometimes mauling suits me just fine!).
i showed him around, gave him a glass of water, and we sat down to watch some telly. i KNEW some snogging action was going to take place but how do you get to that point? we chatted for a bit and then he took my hand and held it for a while; i'm glad that when he decided to lean in for a kiss i decided to lean in for a kiss too - it was warm and sweet and we spent the next ten minutes making out. it was nearing midnight and he had to dash to catch the last tube home so it cut our snogging session short; i didn't mind though because i think it was the perfect end to a lovely evening.
snogging or no snogging, i had so much fun! dates like that leave you on a high - just the high i need to carry me through exams.
CET :o)
spent the day chillin' with vij as i knew no work was to be done...puttered about until half an hour before i was to leave the house and then all hell broke loose! a hectic, last-minute wardrobe change, a huge surge of nerves then a quick hug from vij and i was off, flying down the street to catch the bus.
we met up and he had had a stressful day; i think we were both in one of those crazy moods where everything makes you laugh and you feel slightly unhinged inside. i liked it because we were joking lots and quickly felt at ease with each other. the photographer's gallery was pretty small so we were done rather quickly; walked around and ended up having a drink at the spice of life pub (where the sunday jazz sessions take place). again as on the first date we did nothing but talk, talk, talk - i love it when each person has so much to say to the other and the conversation's not one-sided. i did tell him about my blog - i figured the sooner he knows about it the better - and the fact that i've written a bit about him. i'm sure his curiousity peaked when i said that but he was cool about it - he didn't press me for the web address and respected my privacy. i'm sure that won't stop him from at least doing a preliminary search for this blog, but i didn't tell him anything specific so i don't know how he would even manage to find it! here's hoping anyway...
afterwards we wandered around soho for quite a long while, trying to find a restaurant i had in mind. my sense of direction, while normally pretty good, is completely shot whenever i'm in soho and i have no idea why; we finally found the place only to discover a huge line-up outside. thwarted. ended up at a burger joint stuffing our faces with HUGE hamburgers and chocolate and strawberry milkshakes, mmm...
the night was still young but i didn't want to visit yet another bar after dinner; i suggested a hookah lounge on brick lane and it was a hit - we smoked hookah/shisha with peach-flavoured tobacco, sipped our sweet mint tea and completely relaxed. we both don't smoke so it was pretty funny having two non-smokers trying to smoke a huge shisha pipe.
seeing as how brick lane is in my hood and the fact that i can walk home from there, he walked me home afterwards. ooo, i forgot to tell you - we were holding hands all evening and there were lots of little touches here and there so i knew something was going to happen (!) - so i asked if he wanted to come up to my place for a bit.
OK, OK, OK, so in "date speak" i know this type of invite usually means some sort of action is going to take place. i really HATE it when the guy assumes it's going to be action of the heavy-duty kind, because sometimes a girl doesn't want that and just wants somewhere private (instead of outside the tube station in front of the drunks and weirdos) to first kiss a guy! THANK GOD scottish guy is such a gentleman and didn't maul me as soon as we entered my flat (though sometimes mauling suits me just fine!).
i showed him around, gave him a glass of water, and we sat down to watch some telly. i KNEW some snogging action was going to take place but how do you get to that point? we chatted for a bit and then he took my hand and held it for a while; i'm glad that when he decided to lean in for a kiss i decided to lean in for a kiss too - it was warm and sweet and we spent the next ten minutes making out. it was nearing midnight and he had to dash to catch the last tube home so it cut our snogging session short; i didn't mind though because i think it was the perfect end to a lovely evening.
snogging or no snogging, i had so much fun! dates like that leave you on a high - just the high i need to carry me through exams.
CET :o)
Thursday, January 25, 2007
relax and be nervous...
today's not going to be a study day.
no running water in the flat from 1:30am until this morning. i wonder why? it got me all worried before i went to bed and then kept me up thinking about the consequences - buying bottled water at the store, going to a friend's house to shower, going to the library to study instead...my thoughts quickly turned apocalyptic in nature and so i had a troubled sleep! my imagination is much too crazy sometimes.
it snowed yesterday and a little bit today, though it's all melted by now. as long as i live i'll never tire of getting up in the morning, looking out the window and seeing everything covered in a lovely blanket of white. i think it's one of the most beautiful things in the world.
countdown to date time today and yes, vij and i discussed wardrobe and settled on an outfit last night. i wonder if boys think about dates as much as girls?
wish me luck!
CET :o)
no running water in the flat from 1:30am until this morning. i wonder why? it got me all worried before i went to bed and then kept me up thinking about the consequences - buying bottled water at the store, going to a friend's house to shower, going to the library to study instead...my thoughts quickly turned apocalyptic in nature and so i had a troubled sleep! my imagination is much too crazy sometimes.
it snowed yesterday and a little bit today, though it's all melted by now. as long as i live i'll never tire of getting up in the morning, looking out the window and seeing everything covered in a lovely blanket of white. i think it's one of the most beautiful things in the world.
countdown to date time today and yes, vij and i discussed wardrobe and settled on an outfit last night. i wonder if boys think about dates as much as girls?
wish me luck!
CET :o)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
human contact please!
this studying business is driving me a little nutty - it's going well overall (i think), but my days are spent chained to my desk, confined to my flat - not getting up except to eat and pee. the only time i'm physically outside is when i walk to the internet cafe to check e-mail - my only interaction with the outside world all day! argh!
thankfully this will change on thursday night when i have my second date with scottish guy! we're to meet at trafalgar square and then check out the photographer's gallery nearby. i must admit i'm excited at the prospect of kissing this fine scottish gentleman; i've been thinking about it a lot because i'm not exactly good at this whole first kiss thing. well, not good in the sense that i've never had to initiate it - the boys have always been the ones kissing me first, ha ha ha - i mean, i may not have to initiate it on thursday but a girl always likes to be prepared.
i was talking to kiwigirl about this and we realized that while i'm brave enough to approach a complete stranger (something she says she could never do), she's brave enough to kiss someone first (which i'm not sure i am); perhaps rolling the two of us into one would result in the perfect date!?!
i have a tendency to get a bit nervous and shy, especially when i realize the boy's attracted to me, and end up laughing when "the moment" approaches. laughing is bad because invariably the boy will think you're laughing at them, while in fact you're laughing at your own nervousness and the situation in general. comments/advice/tips anyone?
okay, off to the grocery store to stock up on food stuffs...
CET :o)
thankfully this will change on thursday night when i have my second date with scottish guy! we're to meet at trafalgar square and then check out the photographer's gallery nearby. i must admit i'm excited at the prospect of kissing this fine scottish gentleman; i've been thinking about it a lot because i'm not exactly good at this whole first kiss thing. well, not good in the sense that i've never had to initiate it - the boys have always been the ones kissing me first, ha ha ha - i mean, i may not have to initiate it on thursday but a girl always likes to be prepared.
i was talking to kiwigirl about this and we realized that while i'm brave enough to approach a complete stranger (something she says she could never do), she's brave enough to kiss someone first (which i'm not sure i am); perhaps rolling the two of us into one would result in the perfect date!?!
i have a tendency to get a bit nervous and shy, especially when i realize the boy's attracted to me, and end up laughing when "the moment" approaches. laughing is bad because invariably the boy will think you're laughing at them, while in fact you're laughing at your own nervousness and the situation in general. comments/advice/tips anyone?
okay, off to the grocery store to stock up on food stuffs...
CET :o)
Friday, January 19, 2007
gale force winds can't keep me away...
for those not living in the uk, we had gale force winds rock the island all day yesterday...scottish guy texted me in the afternoon asking if i still wanted to meet up. as if an 80 mph breeze can keep me away from a date!
my nerves were growing as date time drew near. as per usual there was nothing decent in my wardrobe to wear, so i end up in one of vij's concoctions. was looking pretty cute though if i do say so myself!
i was walking towards the station (our designated meeting place) wondering if i would even recognize him - i mean, we only met just briefly and that was over a month ago - i wondered if he would even recognize me! thankfully we recognized each other right away and after an awkward hug (one of those where you don't know which way to go, your arms bumping into each other) we started walking to the pub of my choosing.
he was cuter than what i remembered which was a definite bonus; he was in his suit (coming from work) and looked very handsome. we got to the pub which was packed, and found ourselves squeezed into the tiniest possible corner. from there the conversation just flowed and flowed; i was myself throughout the date, though perhaps from the nervousness i was talking a bit more than usual. he didn't seem to mind though. i must admit i got a little bit buzzed from the pint of beer, which i downed pretty quickly, followed by my usual gin and tonic; i hope it wasn't too obvious! i could tell that he was enjoying himself very much, and throughout the evening he was showing his interest in me more and more. his gazes got longer, he kept touching my back as we were walking, little things like that.
funniest part: in the middle of drinks vij calls me - she had already planned to call, to see how i was doing and if i needed a way out in case the date was going badly - instead of trying to save me, she tells me that she left her keys at home! for real! so she had to meet us in the middle of our dinner, waiting outside the restaurant for me; i quickly ran outside, handed her the keys, gave her a quick update (including squealing) and then we dashed off our separate ways. scottish guy was probably thinking it was all a set-up or something, but it really wasn't!
after drinks and dinner we went to a cafe in soho for coffee, then he walked me to my bus stop. i think it's obvious by now that i'm not a suave person at all (oh really???), so the goodbye wasn't filled with movie-like kisses or anything like that; my bus came quite suddenly so i quickly leaned in for a peck on the cheek (i can already hear your collective groan and shouts for more action!), and then i was off. i think i preferred it that way, as it leaves the both of us anticipating and wanting what's to come...
conclusion? he's smart, funny, sweet and has an accent that makes me melt a little. next week is revision week so i'll be buried deep in my books, but i will definitely come up for some fresh air and perhaps a little more kissing...
CET :o)
my nerves were growing as date time drew near. as per usual there was nothing decent in my wardrobe to wear, so i end up in one of vij's concoctions. was looking pretty cute though if i do say so myself!
i was walking towards the station (our designated meeting place) wondering if i would even recognize him - i mean, we only met just briefly and that was over a month ago - i wondered if he would even recognize me! thankfully we recognized each other right away and after an awkward hug (one of those where you don't know which way to go, your arms bumping into each other) we started walking to the pub of my choosing.
he was cuter than what i remembered which was a definite bonus; he was in his suit (coming from work) and looked very handsome. we got to the pub which was packed, and found ourselves squeezed into the tiniest possible corner. from there the conversation just flowed and flowed; i was myself throughout the date, though perhaps from the nervousness i was talking a bit more than usual. he didn't seem to mind though. i must admit i got a little bit buzzed from the pint of beer, which i downed pretty quickly, followed by my usual gin and tonic; i hope it wasn't too obvious! i could tell that he was enjoying himself very much, and throughout the evening he was showing his interest in me more and more. his gazes got longer, he kept touching my back as we were walking, little things like that.
funniest part: in the middle of drinks vij calls me - she had already planned to call, to see how i was doing and if i needed a way out in case the date was going badly - instead of trying to save me, she tells me that she left her keys at home! for real! so she had to meet us in the middle of our dinner, waiting outside the restaurant for me; i quickly ran outside, handed her the keys, gave her a quick update (including squealing) and then we dashed off our separate ways. scottish guy was probably thinking it was all a set-up or something, but it really wasn't!
after drinks and dinner we went to a cafe in soho for coffee, then he walked me to my bus stop. i think it's obvious by now that i'm not a suave person at all (oh really???), so the goodbye wasn't filled with movie-like kisses or anything like that; my bus came quite suddenly so i quickly leaned in for a peck on the cheek (i can already hear your collective groan and shouts for more action!), and then i was off. i think i preferred it that way, as it leaves the both of us anticipating and wanting what's to come...
conclusion? he's smart, funny, sweet and has an accent that makes me melt a little. next week is revision week so i'll be buried deep in my books, but i will definitely come up for some fresh air and perhaps a little more kissing...
CET :o)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
the juice
THE RANDOM SCOTTISH GUY I GAVE MY NUMBER TO BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS CALLED ME YESTERDAY!!!
how about that?
i was having an impromtu pub dinner with a friend last night when i missed a call on my mobile. i didn't recognize the number so i kept chatting to my friend. about ten minutes later my mobile rang again:
CET: hello?
SCOTTISH GUY: hello, (my real name)?
CET: yes?
SCOTTISH GUY: hi this is (his real name), we met a few weeks ago in brick lane.
CET: (long pause, as at this point i have no idea who this is as we had actually met in spitalfields, not brick lane (it's a street over) and so his statement confused me.) OHHH, HI!
talk about being bloody surprised. i actually told him that i didn't think he'd call, as it's not everyday i give my number to a complete stranger expecting a reply. he said he was really impressed with how brave i was to approach him like that, and that i seemed kind. we had a quick chat and i told him i'd call him once i got home, as i didn't want to keep talking to him while still in the pub. practically flew back to my flat and gave him a quick ring - long story short, we have a date on thursday!!! woohoo!!!
he sounded slightly nervous on the phone which i thought was sweet; he has a lovely scottish accent, sing-songy and lilting, that i already like a lot. after my conversation with him i ran into the living room and told vij everything; she launched into 'first date planning mode' - what to wear, purse checklist, where to eat, what to eat, what not to eat, etc. - i honestly don't care about any of that stuff (although i will dress so as to look as cute and sexy as possible, of course); i'm just happy that i'm meeting someone so completely new and different, and i'm excited at all the possibilites that lie ahead, friendship or otherwise.
lesson for today: GIVE YOUR NUMBER TO A COMPLETE STRANGER!
giddy,
CET :o)
how about that?
i was having an impromtu pub dinner with a friend last night when i missed a call on my mobile. i didn't recognize the number so i kept chatting to my friend. about ten minutes later my mobile rang again:
CET: hello?
SCOTTISH GUY: hello, (my real name)?
CET: yes?
SCOTTISH GUY: hi this is (his real name), we met a few weeks ago in brick lane.
CET: (long pause, as at this point i have no idea who this is as we had actually met in spitalfields, not brick lane (it's a street over) and so his statement confused me.) OHHH, HI!
talk about being bloody surprised. i actually told him that i didn't think he'd call, as it's not everyday i give my number to a complete stranger expecting a reply. he said he was really impressed with how brave i was to approach him like that, and that i seemed kind. we had a quick chat and i told him i'd call him once i got home, as i didn't want to keep talking to him while still in the pub. practically flew back to my flat and gave him a quick ring - long story short, we have a date on thursday!!! woohoo!!!
he sounded slightly nervous on the phone which i thought was sweet; he has a lovely scottish accent, sing-songy and lilting, that i already like a lot. after my conversation with him i ran into the living room and told vij everything; she launched into 'first date planning mode' - what to wear, purse checklist, where to eat, what to eat, what not to eat, etc. - i honestly don't care about any of that stuff (although i will dress so as to look as cute and sexy as possible, of course); i'm just happy that i'm meeting someone so completely new and different, and i'm excited at all the possibilites that lie ahead, friendship or otherwise.
lesson for today: GIVE YOUR NUMBER TO A COMPLETE STRANGER!
giddy,
CET :o)
Monday, January 15, 2007
the hell begins
1) my luggage has made its way home! got delivered thursday night, thank goodness; nothing was missing though someone did rummage through it, hmmm...
2) vij got back thursday, yay! glad to have her back at the flat again, as i was going a bit stir-crazy staying in at night doing homework by myself.
3) studying for exams, which are exactly two weeks away, commenced this weekend. i'm already going a little loopy and there's still two weeks to go! i hate this part of school.
4) i've been doing a lot of thinking lately about a lot of things...will need to post some of this crap swirling around in my head soon...
5) jason: you just think my secret was lame because you're not in it! HA!
gotta go!
CET :o)
2) vij got back thursday, yay! glad to have her back at the flat again, as i was going a bit stir-crazy staying in at night doing homework by myself.
3) studying for exams, which are exactly two weeks away, commenced this weekend. i'm already going a little loopy and there's still two weeks to go! i hate this part of school.
4) i've been doing a lot of thinking lately about a lot of things...will need to post some of this crap swirling around in my head soon...
5) jason: you just think my secret was lame because you're not in it! HA!
gotta go!
CET :o)
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
back...
...to a grey, wet and blustery londontown, not to mention impending, soul-killing exams. oh joy!
my luggage did not arrive with me alas, it is somewhere in the deep void known as LOST LUGGAGE HELL...i hope it finds its way home soon!
what can i say but that i NEEDED that winter break? i LOVED being home and it was great to see everyone again.
blogging might be light (as if it isn't already) because CET needs to study her ass off. i have a few things to talk about but it will have to wait until i'm a little less jet-lagged and my brain is fully functional once again. ahhh, a fully functional brain...
zoning out,
CET :o)
my luggage did not arrive with me alas, it is somewhere in the deep void known as LOST LUGGAGE HELL...i hope it finds its way home soon!
what can i say but that i NEEDED that winter break? i LOVED being home and it was great to see everyone again.
blogging might be light (as if it isn't already) because CET needs to study her ass off. i have a few things to talk about but it will have to wait until i'm a little less jet-lagged and my brain is fully functional once again. ahhh, a fully functional brain...
zoning out,
CET :o)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
new beginnings...
HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAR READERS!
after a christmas hiatus from my blog i am back! i hope everyone had a lovely holiday/christmas/hanukkah/kwanzaa/etc. and a fantastic new year!
the end of another year always brings about a bit of personal reflection; looking back on 2006, i can say that it was a very good year. i finished my first year of pharmacy school, worked a summer job that allowed me to meet wonderful people, and it even provided a bit of excitement in the romance department, albeit short-lived :o). one of my best friends got married and another six (six!) couples i know got engaged; i continued with my dragonboat racing and have made many more happy memories. second year of pharmacy school started and i couldn't be happier living where i'm living in london and with who i'm living with; i truly feel blessed!
emotionally, 2006 was much better than 2005. my heart was slighty bruised by office boy, but nothing that couldn't be mended; i continued to drool into my coffee over coffee shop hottie - he has indeed provided me with much fun and fodder for my blog :o) - and i leaped outside my comfort zone by giving a random boy my number! oh, and we mustn't forget forging new limits with french canadian :o).
anyhoo, here's to a fresh new year and clean slate of 365 days to fill with LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST!
CET :o)
after a christmas hiatus from my blog i am back! i hope everyone had a lovely holiday/christmas/hanukkah/kwanzaa/etc. and a fantastic new year!
the end of another year always brings about a bit of personal reflection; looking back on 2006, i can say that it was a very good year. i finished my first year of pharmacy school, worked a summer job that allowed me to meet wonderful people, and it even provided a bit of excitement in the romance department, albeit short-lived :o). one of my best friends got married and another six (six!) couples i know got engaged; i continued with my dragonboat racing and have made many more happy memories. second year of pharmacy school started and i couldn't be happier living where i'm living in london and with who i'm living with; i truly feel blessed!
emotionally, 2006 was much better than 2005. my heart was slighty bruised by office boy, but nothing that couldn't be mended; i continued to drool into my coffee over coffee shop hottie - he has indeed provided me with much fun and fodder for my blog :o) - and i leaped outside my comfort zone by giving a random boy my number! oh, and we mustn't forget forging new limits with french canadian :o).
anyhoo, here's to a fresh new year and clean slate of 365 days to fill with LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST!
CET :o)
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