Contemplating What and What Not.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend just now... what would you like to know about your future-self if you can see into the future? Being a funny man, he suggested whether he's hitched or not. I was saying he's desperate.

I have thought this through before (I'm a daydreamer) and my answer would be the day that I will die. Knowing the time of your death is my ultimate aim if I can see into the future. That will be THE reason for me to change my lifestyle and lead a meaningful life till the day I meet my end. Being a funny man he was again, my friend said that I will be desperate to live my life to the fullest thus categorizing myself into the desperados genre. Lame statement; indeed, and he agreed so.

I don't necessarily mean living my life to the fullest but to lead a meaningful life. It might come from making a change to the world, having a profound effect on others' lives or even achieving my goals in life. Whatever it might be...

We're all just saying because there is no way anyone can see into the future let alone predicting what's going to happen tomorrow. Till then, you just have to be grateful for having a life to live and try to make the best out of it.

Sooner or Later?

Being a food aficionado, I can't help but to think of creating tasty food without having to splurge at restaurants. Of course it is always a struggle to recreate dishes when you're living alone with no one to cook and try dishes with. Oh how I miss my fellow gluttonous housemate back in Leeds!

I had a wonderful dessert at one of the most overrated pub-restaurant in the UK; The Wetherspoons. Belgian waffle with vanilla ice-cream and maple syrup. This cost me £2.30!!!


I have to admit the real joy of tasting the dessert was the MAPLE SYRUP. When I saw it on the menu I knew right on; that'd be my dessert choice.


One of the best products out of Canada... I really feel like buying a bottle now but I have no real use for it. I don't make pancakes often and the syrup reminds me of waffles.

So...
Should I get a waffle maker as well? For a reason I know when I have a house of my own and a kitchen of my own... this will be on the kitchen counter. If the price is low before I head back to Malaysia next year... I might just get one...

The Bad Times Roll.

The gap year is coming to its most challenging time yet. Yes, monetary problems have finally struck. Not that I overspent... but I fell victim to debit card fraud. Most likely to be the card skimming fraud according to the bank. Although I'm not liable for any of the losses but I'm doomed for this month. My account has been emptied (darn you bastards) and have been effectively suspended pending investigation. I have no methods of obtaining cash at all! All I have with me is £60; just enough for food and bills. Thank goodness for PayPal; I can still pay some bills online.

How do I tell my parents about this? They're going to be worried sick. Both of them must be enjoying each others' company now since my mum will be in Indonesia for almost a month till mid-May. Oh yes, a check on my credit card... valid until May!

See, it's my mum's fault for saying stuff like: "Dear, the credit card is going to expire in May. Any emergencies remember to use it before May okay?"

I was like, mum, how can I spend before emergencies occur? Now I know how...

Well I had only told like 3 friends about this and only one of the three is a friend in UK. I guess there is no point telling others and make them fret about my personal issues when the exam clock is ticking down. So, what should I do when I get past this hurdle? (I know for sure I can live with £30 a month; rent and bills non-inclusive)

The Lost Taste.

A hungry me at midnight is now nothing unusual. Often too common and being the usual good old food enthusiast, I talk about them with my friends. In the recent 2 nights; friends actually went to get supper and leave me facing the laptop screen with the thought of them gobbling down food down their stomach. I haven't been the type to take supper ever since I came to UK. I think I actually took supper for less than 3 times since I came back to Manchester! Rare feat.

So I've been lamenting about not having dim sum and my favorite Japanese cuisine for a month long. It is pretty rare considering the fact that I live 15 minutes away from these restaurants and I haven't been there. The reason? No companionship. In order to enjoy these food, I need good company because the amount I usually order is humongous.

Today is one happy day for me. A friend from Nottingham came over and I finally satisfied my cravings. I ordered so much dim sum today! We had porridge, egg tarts, radish cake, glutinous rice, siew mai, prawn dumplings, fried wantons, char siew paus and prawn cheung fan. Wow 10 dishes and two of us finished them up! Awesome guy!

Then we walked around the city checked out some stores and we actually walked into Manchester City store. Chelsea and Arsenal fans actually went into the store; if caught, I cannot imagine the consequences. Then I was checking out the 16th April Wembley semi-final jersey, a fan actually walked up to us and told us that the date is his birthday. I had to react to it while the fact being my hand held the jersey to check it's quality. Umbro made some pretty shabby jerseys.

A drop at my favorite coffee shop and we talked about some silly A-Level stuff and the cafe started playing Kylie Minogue's concert album. My friend mentioned about the sexy, scandalous video I posted on my client's wall. Oppsss, and I thought not many people saw it. Heck, guys love that kind of stuff, how could I have forgotten?

Lastly, my favorite restaurant... Tokyo Season! Quickly dropped order for my favorite fried oysters, sashimi platter and pork katsudon. Oh the moment of joy as I finally taste the succulent tuna sashimi and how it melted in my mouth... pure satisfaction. Having a person to share the huge platter and also knowing how to enjoy raw Japanese food is really what I need in Manchester. So I have been urging my friend from Sunderland to get a job in Manchester Science Park so she could be the person... oh good things don't come easy. Indeed.

Progressive Loving.

TUESDAY (correction), the final night of Kylie Minogue's concert tour in Manchester. Guess who'll be attending? Of course, YOURS TRULY -again! This time, I'll be in the Splash Zone!

Kylie, what a dance pop icon. Always true to her music and style. I have been listening to her music since young. I can still remember the first song I heard; "Before the Devil You Know" and the music video with upbeat aerobic routines (trademark dance music videos of that era). Then she made me hooked to the music video channel for this wonderfully directed music video of "On A Night Like This":

Her 2011 tour is aptly titled the Aphrodite Les Folies Tour meaning the progression of love tour. It's her love for the music and entertaining the fans that kept her performing over the years. Gosh it's already been 6 years since she battled cancer. Many speculated that this might be her last tour (taking a hiatus afterwards) as the theme for her concert ground is Ancient Greek. The direction of the concert mimicked the last days of a great empire. I hope not.

Guess how much you have to pay to be in the "Splash Zone"?
Freaking £250!!!

I will be sitting right at the back of the standing area; seated. As a big supporter of hers over the years, I cannot believe that I am reaching my 10th concert milestone with hers on Monday. Truly unbelievable. I shall upload the pictures of the concert once I return from it!