Commencement week!

畢業咯！！！！！

No more rushing off to classes after 5.30pm and sleepless nights discussing projects, refining reports, studying for exams.

Yay life is good. 

And then.. It's back to work the next day. Life goes on even with commencement, y'know. 

3 more commencements, 3 more chances to take photos with fellow graduates~~~ 

The best~ day~ ever~

Too much AoS and Cal~ Lol.

Best day ever with the worst sleep ever! HELLYEAH I GRADUATED!!! PASSED ALL MY MODULES YAY!!!

So 2 months down the road since my last post, I've:

1) Fully recovered from the accident (at least physically);

2) Got promoted (grade) and promoted (post); and 

3) Settled and passed exams!!!! 

Best day ever, no?

I am back to regular exercising and apart from a minor frequent headache scare (which turned out to be migraine which left me soon after), I displayed no other post-accident physical symptoms. The scare and trauma is still there, evidently, as I still don't dare to go back to ECP alone without company. But I have taken the first step and did my first solo cycling since the accident last Saturday, which is a pretty good start in my opinion! Cycling alone again takes some getting used to, but at least I can control my own speed and pace without interference. 

The promotion came with a good performance grade and had totally surprised me, given that 5 yrs is pretty fast for the next level of promotion. But the AD (now D!) and heads (and now DDs) must have fought for me and for that I am grateful that my hard work has not gone to waste and that they have seen it. And then Vincent had to surprise me by calling me in for a private meeting just before my exams, mentioning furtively an "upgrade" for which I'm involved. Only after the meeting with Director did we realise that the Section has now turned into a Branch and therefore we are the filler positions for the newly created AD positions! It is again recognition from them and I really do appreciate the chances that they have given me. :) While I am finding it awkward to deal with my ex-peers as a more authoritative figure, professionally everyone has been pretty accepting and I am glad for that! 

MT5011 was the worst nightmare of my life. I walked into the exam hall feeling pretty confident and walked out completely crushed. But CC Tang must have marked pretty leniently and woohoo we all passed the module successfully! Having an overall CAP of 4.3 is pretty self-satisfying. Part of my intention in pursuing a Master's, besides the desire for more in-depth knowledge and wanting to stimulate my brain cells before they die 1 by 1, is that it is a second chance to prove to myself that my mediocre results in Chemistry could have been better and that I really can still best myself.

And that has proved true and yes, best day ever!

I think I'm back to regular blogging

For I do (again) realise that it is a good source to vent those pent-up frustrations, and it does really help me process my emotions in a better way.

Week 11 is here and gone and 2 weeks later, the semester officially ends. 3.5 weeks later, I'll be a free woman waiting for graduation! Can't wait can't wait. It's gonna take a while before I even think about studying again, gosh, this past year has been nothing short of crazy. But I AM pretty proud that I'm almost done with it and a MSc cert to show for it. It at least shows that I can achieve more than what I did for my undergrad studies (thanks PA, thanks) and for that, it does instill some kind of confidence back into my life for which I am thankful for.

So now I am pretty much confident with my own working style at work, and I have ascertained that my brain is still working. Life is pretty fine at the moment. :) Went back to read past entries only to remember how insecure I had been during the first year of work. I've grown lots since and I'm glad to say that I'm definitely an asset to Sian at the moment and so for that, I am thankful as well, for repaying him - him who got me this job in the first place. Boss, you are awesome!

And for now it is time to sleep - this weekend is going to be a busy study weekend!

Bonne nuit. 

First week of 2015

And I got a souvenir from Boracay - virus causing gastric flu. >.<

It could possibly be my first time catching this bug and oh boy, if this is how an old woman feels aches, I do not want to age. Forever. :< It's terrible not being able to stand straight for more than 20 seconds at a time, and the constant churning of stomach (and is still churning, no thanks to the spicy stew at lunch...), and the I just want to die feeling. Terrible, terrible, terrible. 

In other news, school is starting next week again and in 14 weeks it will be all over (almost)! Let's hope for a good sem 2 for a great graduation!

And I'm still wondering what happened between twin and me. 

End of 2014

And once again, before we know it, the year has come to an end. I may not have achieved much in 2014, but I think I have managed well in terms of starting school and coping with the expansion (or lack thereof) of the team at work, when most people only started coming in in the second half of the year (while worked increased exponentially).

Oh, and I became a godmum! 

Neither resolution achieved, so let's not go there. -_-

Bye bye 2014 and I look forward to welcoming 2015 in Boracay. Not the water activities, though - Gonna sit them all out. 

I hate medicine

Medicine that aren't supposed to be groggy always make me groggy anyway. On top of that, it renders me weak and not in the mood for anything except to sleep. So yesterday, even with only an allergy causing a blocked nose and some indigestion, I slept half the day away. And decongestants are supposed to help one stay alert?!?!?!

Ok, but at least the digestive pills are working and I don't feel uncomfortably full / feeling like vomitting after every meal already. And I suppose my sleep debt is paid for. -sigh- productivity rate for these two days are low...... (even running, yes). 

Back to MT5007.........

Survived week 7 of school

Hell of a crazy week. 

I complained that I had a lot of deadlines last week. Those were internal deadlines set by our groups. This week, the deadlines were all external!! What with sleeping at 3am on Tues to submit a case analysis, group project progress presentations for 2 projects, and IP Forum at work. I'm just so glad that everything is over (for now) and this is a long weekend. I couldn't even take leave to work on projects if I wanted to, because work was simply drowning as well. There are forever deadlines that I can't clear.............. My inbox is full of red flags -sigh-.

But yes, this week is over and next week WILL be better. 

I'll be having an exam and a group presentation this month o.o Not a month to slack as well. Good grief, the stress is slowly but surely overcoming me and my emo days have been increasing (proportionately with the dark eye circles). 

Why did I sign up for all these?!???! *stares at myself in the mirror* Itchy hand, lah! Take what masters course........ It doesn't help that I feel so intimidated by one of my project groups, with 3 PhDs in the making. They grasp concepts really well in a uber short time. I've come to realise that PhD students are generally excellent at churning out stuff last minute and meeting deadlines in an extremely efficient manner. 

But we need to put that inferiority complex aside now and focus on work, man. Can't waste the long weekend away moping!! 

Mid semester

And it doesn't feel like there's a break at all. On the contrary, I have more deadlines than ever this week.

I AM SO BLOODY TIRED!!!!

Whoever told me GCIP was harder to manage than MSc was obviously bluffing me. The 3 projects, research into the technology required for these projects and the individual term papers are all piling up. I haven't even begin to start on making sense out of my notes for the two exam papers!!!

I miss waking up naturally. I know, I could have woken up slightly later during the weekends but I really want to keep up with exercise as well. At it is, the distance and # of times have been reduced, but I really don't want to stop it completely - it's a form of destress leh :(

Some days I wake up feeling emo that it's yet another long day (5.45am to 1am) but not wanting to cave in to the stress, it is normal interaction during the day except that I've started taking half days here and there to work on my school stuff. 

And seeing that this is one of those half days, I should not be wasting the time here. Let's go back to Harley-Davidson -sigh-

Back to being a student again!

2 weeks of classes have passed and I am cumulatively drowned in work (partner has left!!!) and lessons. 5 lectures in week 1 and 7 (incl one webcast) in week 2 - I am surprisingly not dragging my feet each day yet. But the past week has surely been a very long one and I am so glad it is over. After week 4, I am going to end up with a more slightly humane schedule of 2 classes per week. And week 4 = one class because half the week I'll be in Aussie!! While I'm worried about missing 3 classes, I guess I'm glad to have some time off everything!

Not sure if going ahead with MT5001 is a good idea - I hope that I can cope with the individual paper and group report (2 PhDs in the group!!! Stressed).

Anyway, juggling the splitting of tasks between 3 supporting staff equally isn't quite easy. :/

K, this is totally the most boring post ever. I shall get back to the modulessssssss.

Just another one of those days

That I have so much work to do that it's drowning me BUT I just don't feel like starting any piece of work for the moment. And two hours later, I will probably regret that I wasted this time here and start rushing the work. :/

Work has been a little suffocating, not in the sense that I am doing OT until midnight everyday, but that you know for a fact that there are never ending tasks to complete, especially when the flags in Outlook never decreases, no matter how much work I've completed. It doesn't help that the unit is still not at full strength and my partner is about to leave us -sigh-. Anyway it's quite depressing to be the last 5 to leave office everyday, even if it was only 7plus.

In other news, reality will be when I complete my registration next Tuesday and receive my matriculation card. One more year of studies and I am really worried that the tech part is going to kill. But I will just bulldoze through the modules (whether good or bad) and hopefully get that mortarboard on my head again this time next year.

And lastly, will my brother just go and get a job already!?

Just one line

JUST HALF A DAY MORE! Yippie!

OMG

I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed I'm damn stressed.

Help. *squeak*

I can't answer any of those questions without trying to tear the notes up. Spent two hours researching the differences between USPA and AIA and I still can't get a satisfactory answer for myself. 

This is the time where I truly realise how much I do not know. I think when exam comes, I won't have the ability to analyse, but only regurgitate some of the notes and hope that it is enough to pass.

Help :(

Ouch

So I have been staying in this week for lunch to get some studies done during lunch time. This being the third day in the week, I suppose the colleagues came over to see if I was interested to have lunch outside. 

So I said no, because I brought my lunch and was intending to go gym, when she said, "Aiyo, 有必要mug到这样吗？"

Thanks ah. I'm not particularly smart and this sem has been really difficult.. So pardon me if I need to take more time to study. 

Last day of March

And I am going to forfeit a number of birthday discounts/vouchers. This month was hectic to say the least, both at work and with studies. 23 days to exams. It's time to really sit down and start memorising the damned definitions!

I am oddly at peace with myself. And perhaps part of it is due to the fact that I have FINALLY finished reading that textbook. 3 May can't come soon enough. And after that, it's really time to enjoy myself in Europe. The well-deserved break that I should have!

Europe Europe Europe.. And that guidebook. 

I will receive my excellent results in Europe. I will!

And it is nearly the end of March

Exactly one more month to exams. #okay

Putting down everything to focus on the notes. 

Every.single.thing.

がんばって。

Can time stop...?

I need a breather! And I also need time to finish my 3in thick textbook. :( 

No, I am not looking forward to March. March means April is coming ahhhhhhh








Oh the other hand, just submitted my MSc application today so we shall see how it goes. Who ask me to graduate without doing honours? Zzz.

The first post of 2013 and IT IS FEB!

And so I've received complaints why there aren't any entries in Jan. So FOR YOU, I will blog! Hahahaha.

Can't help but feel a little overwhelmed in January. The officers have woken up from the Dec stupor and are coming up with a lot of funny ideas, arrows are coming fast and furious, and to top it off, I've had the craziest two weeks ever. 

One freaking module in 2.5 weeks. Oh I'm so glad that it's gonna be the last lesson tomorrow! It was like waiting for exams to finish - the state of "I already had too much of studying, just get it over and done with" mentality. Except that nothing much is pretty stuck in my head. Getting lost the first class was disastrous and the rest is history. IPA, PLEASE do not torture your next batch by flying in a visiting Prof, ok?! She may be renowned in the UK but it's of no use if classes are so rushed and we are not used to her style of teaching. The last few lessons have been really exhausting and all I want to do when I reach home is to crash on the bed.

But alas, the CNY weekend is here (even though I can't feel anything yet)! Gonna make use of the few days' break to properly rest and recharge. For the next two weeks, even if there are no classes, it's time to seriously catch up on the books and make sure I know something. 

I also had the opportunity to curate the hellofrmsg account on Twitter last week, amidst the crazy schedule but it was so much fun! With a base of 2k followers, nearly someone will respond to each tweet and it's pretty awesome interacting with them and I'm also glad I got the opportunity to share some IP knowledge with them. But hey, it's stressful trying to keep them entertained as well. Can't go silent for too long a stretch and constantly thinking of topics. But I guess I also learnt a lot from this bunch of people (of which some of them are actually followers and followees on my Twitter account now) and I was super glad that the total number of followers on the curator account did not decrease!

February is nearly a third over and I suspect it will pass by again in a jiffy. But then, that is for a later time and date to rant, for I will still have to prepare for lesson tomorrow. 終于啊！謝天謝地！

This is pretty much a boring post but with dragging myself to school 9/14 days for the past two weeks, I do not have anything exciting to update. Lol. Till next post. To whoever will be reading this before Sunday, happy Chinese New Year and have an awesome weekend!

It is December!!!

Time has passed exceptionally fast this year. 

I'm pretty sure the part-time studies has got something to do with it. But the good thing is, the first semester is over! I am pretty worried about my passes but not letting it bother me because I have learnt that no matter how much I worry nothing is going to change. My marks have been fixed, somewhere someone is collating them and preparing to send them out. So instead, I have been working very hard at going out whenever I can. Exhausting, man! I should have a more relaxing week(day) next week. 

December is again the lull period and I should make use of this time to do the stuff I normally wanted to do e.g. refining processes, introducing new items. 

December is also the gifting period! Which reminds me that I need to source for gifts pretty soon. Not much time left.. 

I love December!

Sleeping sufficiently.

At the grand old age of 26 where studying is no longer the only focus of my life, I finally realised that sleeping 4 hrs during exam period is not the way to go. 

These days, I go for ard 7 hrs of sleep a day. The reason is simple: on a work day, if I don't, I will get sleepy during the day and it is hard to focus on my work. AND when I get home, all I want to do is sleep. Big no-no when I'm supposed to be making use of the night time to study. So sleeping any less than that gives me a disadvantaged day instead of a potentially productive one. 

On a non work day, I simply cannot concentrate with the lines and lines of words if I don't have enough sleep.. This is not mathematics where I can still work with half a functioning brain. Reading the notes/cases takes up all of my energy.

So since I do not have enough time, I will choose to give up some cases instead. 

Ok, let's hope this approach works!

Countdown

That's that. Countdown.

to 26 Nov.

Randomly thinking about how friendships have changed since.

就算騙人得過全世界，但騙得了自己嗎？