Step into Sleepypanda's Dream

2010-10-01T07:58:00.003+01:00

I know I have been guilty for not updating for almost two months, but lately, a few things has happened. I am sad to announce that sleepypandazzz.blogspot.com is coming to an end. Thank you for all the beautiful memories created...and special thanks to this wonderful blog for being with me through joy and happiness, sadness and emo-ness. With that, I bid farewell to this blog. For anyone who is still following me, I have created http://www.sleepypandazzz.wordpress.com/ to mark a new beginning in my life.

2010-08-06T15:48:00.003+01:00

Setting off to the airport any minutes now...courtesy of Shelley for driving me there :)

Everyone's life has some sort of an ending...guess this is mine, huh?
Manchester, the city I called home for 3 years.
This is probably the last time I am setting foot here...at least in the mean time.

Hopefully, the way back to the real home is smooth *prays*

2010-07-26T01:39:00.003+01:00

No Cherie, convince yourself that you are not in that stage yet (well, nearly then).

You are just an exam and an essay away from graduating...(well, it helps if I have started on that essay earlier on instead of procrastinating...)

You can do it! You have done it before, so you can accomplish the feat again! (Hopefully...)

加油! (Fight-o!)

2010-07-23T00:27:00.003+01:00

Building on my last memories in Manchester...

Yesterday (Thursday) officially marked my last day as a student nurse.

Finally got all my documents signed off. I was supposed to be down for a long day (7.30am to 9.30pm) but my mentor was really nice to let me go home at 3pm (which is even earlier than an early shift). She said it is cruel for me to stay till 9.30pm on my last day and that I needed the well-deserved rest.

It was all a little too emotional towards the end when both my mentors signed in the box that declared a pass in my proficiency. With the feeling of a hard lump on the back of my throat, I am finding it a little difficult to accept the fact that I am going to be a qualified nurse in 2 weeks time and that I am accountable for everything I am going to do without the back-up of a mentor anymore.

This uniform will forever be sealed in my memory from now on...

A big big thank you to all staff in ward 37 of Manchester Royal Infirmary for providing me with the best placement ever!

Thank you Emily for being my mentor, for supporting me and providing the opportunities to fulfil my outcomes. I am very touched by the card you gave me, wishing me success in my career. You will forever be my inspiration for becoming a ward manager at the age of 28. And thank you for saying you will offer me a job in ward 37 if I ever want to come back :)

Thank you Susie for being my mentor too! Your comment about me being the best third year student you have seen has totally made my day! I will definitely think of you whenever I come across a basset :)

And thank you everyone for the hugs! You all made me smile like an idiot as I walked back home!

2010-07-17T22:40:00.010+01:00

Building on my last memories in Manchester...

I am always associated with food. My motto is "Live to eat, and not eat to live"
Must say in these three years I have not been eating out a lot because I lived in a catered hall in my first year and eating out always almost burned a hole in my pocket.
However, I enjoyed eating out a lot. Not only because I am sick of my own cooking, but also because of the company of great friends! The joy of catching up and gossiping over food....*bliss*
Here are some pictures to testify the hunt for great food in Manchester...

The must-order butterfly prawn nigiri in Wasabi Restaurant. Plenty of memories there with different group of friends :)

This is a Thai Spicy Salad with duck and Red Curry Noodles with crispy pork belly from Try Thai restaurant. First saw this place being 'liked' by someone on Facebook. Then heard recommendations from Rong. Finally got Rong and Josh to have lunch there to celebrate various accomplishments we had. Will definitely miss this place!

I think tapas will have a very special place in my heart now... because of the main events that happened on that day...

This bear is a giveaway sign *winks*

Of course there are many more moments where I did not take pictures of because I've not got my camera with me. Dim sum with Thuy, Fu Ji with Rong, Seoul Kimchi with Rong and Josh and many many more!

Until the next post, here's a cheers (that's a Spanish Sangria) to all those fond memories created over food!

2010-07-13T22:51:00.011+01:00

Building on my last memories in Manchester...

Last Saturday, I went on a day trip to Chatsworth House in the peak district with Rong and Josh. Having mixed feelings because it was our last trip together before I go back home for good.

I had to meet Josh at Oxford Road Station at 7.20am to reach Chatsworth by 9.45am. The journey was long. First a train to Sheffield (an hour+) and then bus 214 (45 minutes). But the scenery along the way was well worth the journey...

With great recommendations from Rong, the first stop was the Chatsworth farm shop in Pilsbury, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Josh and I had to walk 40 minutes from the house to the farm shop with great difficulties due to the slopes (and the moans from Josh because he got stung by a plant :P).

We had to follow signs like these along the way

But all weariness disappear the moment I stepped into the farm shop because those freshly baked produced caught my attention immediately! People who understand me know that I have no immunity to products from the bakery, therefore I went on a shopping spree on different pastry and cakes. Look at my 战利品 in the next picture :)

Cranberry and sultanas scones, butter croissant, coconut and chocolate bake, walnut bread, lime curd, devonshire moist ginger cake, and honey chicken, parmesan and grapes pie. I forgot to take a picture of the Chatsworth curd tart which is in my fridge.

What I really like about this trip is that I get to be really close to farm animals, especially sheep. They are practically everywhere!

These road signs are definitely not seen in Singapore :P

Just to reiterate my point on how close those sheeps are...

And of course, there are the impressive gardens within Chatsworth grounds which are simply too huge to finish walking...

The flowers in front of the maze. Josh challenged me to see who will complete the maze first....and I won!

To end of the day, we sat down on the grass and had a mini picnic while waiting for the bus...

The silly three of us trying to get drunk on ginger beer and this is what happens...:P

All good things come to an end...and I will most definitely miss their presence when I go back home...

2010-07-12T00:12:00.004+01:00

Building on my last memories in Manchester...

Have you met Henry? He is one of my best buddies here...
Back home, we called it a vacuum cleaner; the British called it a hoover.
I remember borrowing him for the first time in first year from the cleaner because there were no hoover in my hall yet.
Was surprised by the design, and thought the British were amusing to paint eyes on their hoovers.
Was even more surprised to see "Henry" in almost all houses I've visited.
Almost thought there were no other designs of hoovers in the UK...

2010-07-07T21:52:00.004+01:00

Building on my last memories in Manchester...
Must say one thing I will miss is the erratic and unpredictable weather here...

Such a beautiful sunset on an overcast day...
Have you ever seen the sky on fire?

2010-07-05T22:46:00.001+01:00

To add on to the World Cup mania...here is an interesting sentence I saw on Facebook...

有人说法兰熄了，意大离了，葡萄哑了，英格烂了，巴惜了，阿根停了，接下来巴拉归了，乌拉归了，西班哑了，荷烂了，难道最后真的德过了？

2010-07-04T10:47:00.003+01:00

Feeling the blues again...

Perhaps some doughnuts will do the trick?

2010-06-30T22:30:00.006+01:00

Was talking to my mum over the web-cam when she mentioned that a huge moth flew into the house the other night. My brother was talking about it on Facebook and I was curious to know how big the moth is...

Luckily, my brother managed to capture shots of it...

Can you see the moth behind the sofa? Perhaps it is not very clear in this picture but it shows you the size of the moth in proportion to the sofa...

Here is a closer picture of it:

Looks frightening?

I was at first...but my parents said it was my elder brother who came back home to visit...it was resting at the 神台 too...

For some reason, when my parents said that, I don't find the moth that scary anymore :)

2010-06-30T18:46:00.002+01:00

This came unexpected because a few days ago I was just reading about your confirmation for a lead role in a new drama. I am still reeling in shock after hearing about your death in the news.

I remembered the time when you came to Singapore and I specially went down to Bishan's Junction 8 just to take a peek at you. I've still got photos of you then, the person who made myheart skip a beat. You have definitely played a special role in my teenage years with dramas like Winter Sonata and Loving You.

Tears are welling now and what pained me was the fact that you had a lot of friends but no one to share your troubles with. I cannot imagine the anguish you were going through in hiding all that feelings from your family, your friends, and the outside world. Suicide is not a solution. I just wished that time could be turned back for you to meet someone who would lead you to the light at the end of the tunnel...

Rest in peace, Park Yong Ha...you will be sorely missed...

If there is afterlife, hopefully you would have been in a better position by now...

2010-05-10T02:54:00.002+01:00

Ok, I am a big fat liar!
This only shows how good I am at lying
At deceiving myself...

I thought I am over this
And I had to tell myself repeatedly that it was no big deal.
But when it was brought up again unexpectedly,
it felt like a scab being picked on, with salt rubbed over the fresh wound...

It hurts, it really hurts.
But where can I find a safe corner to lick my wound?
Away from people (even friends) who might step on it again...

2010-05-06T04:13:00.002+01:00

A sachet of Cafe Nova coffee + a sachet of Milo fusion + hot water...
The result is surprisingly...
Pleasant!

The aroma of milky coffee with a hint of chocolate...
Tastes just exactly like...
Mocha!

Nothing innovative...just a spark of creativity with available resources...
Now, who wants to try making their own mocha?

2010-05-06T00:18:00.003+01:00

My room feels foreign to me now...
Been staying overnight at either the computer cluster or the library these nights...

Life is a mess for the past few weeks...
This has been the closest point to almost playing with fire...

Just bear with another 40 hours....
I will eventually see light at the end of the tunnel...

2010-05-01T17:15:00.002+01:00

渐渐被卷入忧郁的龙卷风里...

应该是荷尔蒙失调吧...

这几天好累...好累...

想找个知心的人诉苦...

但无人可寻...

内心的苦也无人可诉...

抓迷藏这游戏每个人小时候应该玩过吧...

现在就想玩一玩...

把自己藏在无人可找的地方...

让自己消失吧...

2010-04-21T11:13:00.004+01:00

In view of the recent airport shutdown across Europe due to volcanic ashes eruption from Iceland, here are some jokes of the day to share...
Article from The Straits Times (21/04/2010)

Iceland turns to jokes
REYKJAVIK - ECONOMIC implosion, then volcanic explosion: not since the Viking raiders has Iceland been associated with so much tumult in Europe. There are only 317,000 people on this barren north-Atlantic island and until recently, with the exception of eccentric pop singer Bjork, they'd barely caught the outside world's attention. But now Iceland is famous - infamous, even.

The Eyjafjoell volcano on the south coast may have caused relatively little damage here since erupting last week. Only 700 people, mostly farmers, are affected and no one has been killed. Yet in Europe, ash from the hard-to-pronounce volcano has inflicted spectacular disruption, shutting down the continent's air travel network and stranding passengers around the globe. The ash cloud is the second storm from this once quiet corner in the near past.

During the 2008 world economic crisis the country's high-flying main banks collapsed, taking with them the savings of 340,000 people in Britain and the Netherlands and forcing Iceland, until then among the world's wealthiest nations, to seek an IMF bailout.

When the British and Dutch governments demanded US$3.9 billion (S$5.4 million) compensation, furious voters in Iceland used a referendum to tell their powerful neighbors to get lost unless they came back with a fairer deal. A joke gleefully repeated since the volcano erupted relates that Britain 'wanted cash, but because the Icelandic alphabet contains no letter C, they got only ash.'

Another quip goes like this: 'When Iceland's economy died, its final wish was that its ashes would be spread across Europe.' That humour is one way Icelanders are dealing with the shock of turmoil in their formerly stable country - and with finding themselves in the unfamiliar position of being cast as villains abroad.

One joke perfectly catches the absurdity of tiny Iceland, which doesn't even have a standing army, going out to bully the world. 'You mess with Iceland?' goes the gag, in full Mafioso mode: 'We shut down all your airports.' -- AFP

Just absolutely brilliant, isn't it? :D

2010-04-21T00:38:00.004+01:00

Ever experienced an incident where things have been planned before hand only to get cancelled at the last minute?

Ever felt that sick feeling in the stomach and that bitter taste in your mouth because of the turn of event?

Ever been on the roller coaster of emotions - excitement, disappointment, then anger?

Angry at yourself...

For being duped...

For being stupid enough to feel excited...

For falling into the same trap again and again...

Cherie, when are you able to learn from lessons?

To learn not to be excited ever again...

To learn that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment...

2010-04-18T11:32:00.010+01:00

Love this style of writing...
Just the kind of humour to get me crackling in the morning...
Article from The Sunday Times (18/04/2010)

Next on Liverpool's owner wish list: Bill Gates
By Tay Yek Keak

Liverpool Football Club is up for sale.

I bumped into a friend of mine at Ion Orchard, a person who doesn't give a hoot about football, and she asked me whether you could buy this thing called Liverpool at Gucci.

I told her you'd have to be Gucci himself to buy Liverpool, although if Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are not part of the sale, then you need to be only Yucci, Ducci, Stanley Tucci or any illegal imitation brand.

Now, buying Liverpool needs, of course, big money.

The current owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett - aka Most Hated Americans In Liverpool - are apparently expecting at least US$770 million (S$1.06 billion) according to one report.

That kind of dough requires the active participation of conglomerates, banks, sheikhs, Russian oligarchs, deposed prime ministers and very fat sugar daddies.

I wiki-ed the people who currently own the teams in the Premier League.

None of them stays in an HDB flat.

Fulham are headed by the fellow who owns Harrods department store.

Aston Villa are owned by an American whose source of wealth is listed as banking and investment.

Manchester City are part of the Personal Gems Collection of a Middle East gent whose legendary riches hail from the Clash Of The Titans era.

And Chelsea are run by the Russian Roman Abramovich, who, oh, I don't think even he knows what he actually does for a living.

Here's the common link, though.

Every one of these fat cats has cash to wave like a National Day flag.

I bet that if you go to any Liverpool fan from Anfield to Anfield Strip Bar in Timbuktu, he'd tell you to avoid selling his beloved Reds, by any means necessary, to joint-owners, corporations, trust funds, five-owner bondages like Arsenal's, fan clubs, Hokkien huay kuans or an alien empire headed by Darth Vader.

Just go straight to a very, very rich guy with zero, absolutely zero, debt.

Exhibit A in this ideal venture are the Glazers of Manchester United.

Man U have so much debt due to their American owners' loan deals that even window glazers are mad at the Glazers.

Exhibit B are the Red Knights.

These 'real' fans of the club are having trouble mounting a Lord Of The Rings offensive to take over the Red Devils because there are no Aragorns, Gandalfs or four little hobbits among them.

Exhibit C are Portsmouth.

It's magical that they've reached the FA Cup final, and even more magical if they win it.

But then the cup will disappear quicker than magic because, when melted down, it's worth at least a few quid more to pay off their relegation-inducing debt.

The fans had reportedly banded together as a supporters' trust to save poor hand-to-mouth Portsmouth.

Until they realised that people who've spent all their money watching football on Saturday don't normally have a lot left to spend on anything else.

No, the true-red Scouser will swear on an Evertonian's grave that what Liverpool essentially, totally, spiritually need to do is to sell to a filthily, obscenely and mythically-rich man, woman or child who's not running from loan sharks.

Ideally not American again like Hicks and Gillett.

Although Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and that nice family which runs Walmart are okay.

I'm thinking of the shamelessly rich like Mexico's Carlos Slim, Hong Kong's Li Ka Shing, the French lady who owns L'Oreal, or Osama bin Laden if he counts all his compounded bank interests while he was away in a cave.

Any of these mega-loaded people can save Liverpool.

Provided they know that Liverpool are always the team that play in the red.

2010-04-03T11:48:00.005+01:00

Came across this article while reading The Straits Times today...

A very thought provoking piece of work by Sandra Leong (ST, 3 Apr 2010)...

OVER the past two weeks, the words 'meritocracy' and 'elitism' have stirred feelings of loyalty, indignation and dismay all at once.

Just ask the old boys of St Joseph's Institution (SJI), who have been making a very public case for and against the lowering of the school's entry requirements to enable more students from its feeder schools to make the cut.

Meritocracy must prevail, argues one camp. Easing entry requirements will only cause academic standards to slip. But SJI must not become elitist, counters the rival camp. Boys from the Christian Brothers' schools, based on that affiliation alone, should qualify.

The imbroglio once again puts the focus on the uneasy relationship between meritocracy and elitism. A cynical take is that the race to the top will always leave behind stragglers, and those who cross the line first are bound to look down on their weaker counterparts. Given this attitude, it does not surprise me that some SJI alumni are campaigning fiercely against the 'E' word.

I attended Raffles Girls' School (RGS) and Raffles Junior College (RJC), both elite institutions. I confess that as a young adult, I was conceited and felt unsympathetic to the world around me. These days, when people ask me what is my alma mater, I often say I'm a Rafflesian - but a 'recovering' one.

Before I incur the wrath of Rafflesians past and present, let me say I am grateful for the all-rounded education I received. Way before the term 'holistic learning' became a Ministry of Education catchphrase, my $300-a-month secondary school fees in RGS paid for classes in speech and drama, etiquette and philosophy.

My teachers did not teach us to be snobs. But neither did they teach us not to be snobs. As a Rafflesian, one never spoke in terms of examination pass rates. It was the number of As one got that signified one's mettle.

We felt entitled to big things in a merit-driven society where mental dexterity equated strength of character and virtue. We felt so because we had trumped the system, even if it was the 'system' that had allowed us to get this far in the first place.

Intellectual snobbery can be a scary thing. A running joke when I was sitting for the A-level examinations in RJC was that the National University of Singapore law faculty half consisted of Rafflesians. The other half came from 'students from OJ' - other junior colleges.

I did not have a single friend from a neighbourhood school. In our world, we did not see a need to venture beyond what we knew.

Many of my friends came from rich families and lived in the Orchard or Bukit Timah areas. I remember a then 15-year-old friend asking me where I lived.

'Siglap,' I said. She asked quizzically: 'That's where all the Malays live right?'

I never learnt that failure was sometimes an unavoidable option. Two years ago, I sank into a funk when I did not get a scholarship. A non-Rafflesian friend jolted me to my senses when he asked: 'How many people even get to think about doing a master's?'

Growing up this way, you lose perspective. You forget that you belong to a privileged minority, that in the real world there are those for whom a C grade (and not an S-paper distinction) represents the pinnacle of academic achievement - but who may be wiser in many ways than the academically gifted.

It was only when I left the comforts of my flock that I realised how close-minded I was. Unlike some of my peers, I did not win a scholarship or study overseas. I studied at Nanyang Technological University, where classmates told me they were initially wary of me because I was a 'Raffles girl'.

I learnt that brandishing my elite school background, from the way I spoke 'proper English' to wearing my RJC physical education T-shirt around my hostel, rubbed people the wrong way. I learnt there were other ways to win respect without riding on the coat-tails of a brand-name education.

My work as a journalist also quickly brought me crashing down to earth. Loftiness goes out of the window when you have to talk to everyone from politicians to cancer patients to victims of natural disaster.

I hasten to add that for every misguided smart-aleck I encountered among Rafflesians, there were others who were humble and well-adjusted. Still, an Old Rafflesians' Association president once quoted in this paper defined the Rafflesian character as 'predominantly achievement-oriented and goal-driven' - traits I dare say which tend to create a type of ultra-competitiveness that leaves little room for empathy and humility in the absence of a countervailing value-system.

Many of my schoolmates went on to become civil servants, lawyers, bankers and doctors. They keep to the same small social circle they grew up in, married within it and will probably wish the same life for their offspring as well.

I'm not saying they grew up into mean-spirited, Ayn-Rand spouting adults just because they excelled in what they did. The pursuit of intellectual excellence is a virtue that our educational system quite correctly promotes. But the pursuit of intellectual excellence to the exclusion of character or value excellence breeds an exclusionary attitude to the rest of society. Many of the products of our top schools forget they have to give back to the society that allowed them so many opportunities.

It is especially worrying when the exclusionary attitudes bred in school become accepted life values. You judge success using markers that only you and your like-minded friends agree upon. For example, my unmarried girl friends tell me they will never date a man without a degree, a car or a 'respectable' job - and they are entirely unapologetic about it.

These are people who live for years without having to step outside their comfort zone, leading a bubble-wrapped existence.

The sooner that wrap is removed, the better.

Now, readers of this blog, how much can you relate to this article?

2010-04-03T01:20:00.002+01:00

Felt like a heavy punch in the stomach...

Like a tight slap right on my face...

I make the lousiest friend ever...

Anyone would like to contribute any testimony to that?

2010-04-02T00:04:00.004+01:00

I am so proud of my brother for scoring a GPA of 3.81 out of 4.00 for his final year exams!

Dear brother, by any chance if you are reading this...

Your big sister is very glad that you have found a subject that you are good at and you will be graduating soon!

Sorry for not being able to attend your graduation ceremony...

But you are entitled to ask for any gifts that you want from me :D

Now that you are entering another phase of your life, it seems that my little brother have truly grown up...

Hopefully you will get into the university of your choice!

PS: Do take plenty of pictures and videos of your graduation ceremony!

2010-03-30T21:55:00.006+01:00

Wow...this will definitely be a blockbuster hit!

Been waiting for this drama to air ever since they released the still shots...

Officially a Moon Geun Young fan now ^_^

Excited to see her good girl to bad girl transformation!

2010-03-30T00:16:00.003+01:00

This is how I feel now...

stunned...

Because I just realise someone I recently met share the exact same birthday as me...

And what totally blown me away is...

How can two girls with the same birthday come from such different backgrounds...

And yet met in a foreign land under strange circumstances?

Must be fate...

And till now I still cannot get my head round it....

2010-03-21T11:23:00.003Z

I must say I am very disappointed by the 68:20 ratio of votes to reject the ban on Atlantic Bluefin tuna trade.

And my anger seems to be directed towards Japan, the principal tuna-consuming country who went to great extents to convince other countries to support its opposition of the ban.

First, the atrocities of killing and raping during World War II (and the endless denying of those crimes). Then the usage of a loophole in the law to justify its whaling program, all in the name of research(and yet the sale of whale meat is so blatantly obvious). Now, throw in the bitter battle of the bluefin tuna.

Well done, Japan! I would love to see the expressions of your descendents when the bluefin tuna becomes extinct in the future. Will you play another round of denying or blaming and shaming game again?

Yet, I am ashamed of the Chinese eating shark's fins and regarding it as one of the prized delicacy. When there is a demand, there will always be supply - blame it on globalisation and consumerism. Seeing that sharks will be next on the menu for the UN Widelife meet, let's hope these species will succeed in swimming against the currents.

2010-03-10T18:12:00.002Z

This is really bad...

It is almost the end of the week...
But none of those things I am chasing has arrived yet...

I feel like a volcano with a blocked vent while magma continues to rise...

2010-03-05T11:03:00.002Z

Felt like a loanshark these days...

Chasing people about my results and allowances...

Getting frustrated now...

2010-03-04T22:33:00.002Z

Thanks Rong Rong!

Have tried the new shower gel today...and I love it!

Going to smell like subtle strawberries for the whole day now :)

(and Splodge is sitting by the window accompanying Hedgehog :D )

2010-03-04T00:06:00.002Z

Camping out in the computer cluster again.

Without the temptation of a bed, and my laptop for watching anime/dramas, I believe I might be able to work better.

Only a bottle of lukewarm coffee to accompany me, the night seems really long now...

And I bloody need to finish writing my literature review by this week!

2010-02-20T22:00:00.003Z

Prior to blogging, I was tracing a major expressway from Barcelona on Google Map...randomly choosing directions whenever I reached a crossroad...and I ended up in Toulouse!

That is when it suddenly hit me...that I LOVE maps! Wait, that is an underestimation...
More like, I cannot live without maps!

One of my favourite pastime is to go onto Google Maps and look at the world and different cities in each countries...

Perhaps I am obsessed about wanting to view all things at one glance...
Perhaps looking at maps helps fulfil my dreams of travelling around the world.
After all, there are no limits to my imagination!

2010-02-19T14:13:00.002Z

Confession of a shopaholic:

Yes, I have spent too much. AGAIN.
The power of a debit card in the world of electronic shopping is never to be underestimated.
Claiming that I have been controlled by female hormones is just an excuse.

I shall therefore promise to have more self-restraints from now on...
...At least for the next few months.

2010-02-17T18:36:00.002Z

This is who I am...

Cherie, the Queen of receiving but not replying to texts.

My friends would know...and be frustrated with me...

2010-02-16T21:26:00.003Z

This is the Korean drama catching my eyes at the moment because of a few reasons:

First, it is a medical drama.

Second, the female lead is Jang Seo Hee and I just want to see how good she is to deserve the Daesang for 2009 SBS Drama Awards (and my mum is very crazy over Temptation of Wife).

Third, Ko Joo Won and Suh Ji Suk turn out to be quite cute.

Last but most importantly, the ending theme is by K.Will (yes, the guy I want to invite to sing in my wedding....or better still, be standing beside me as my groom :P).

Watched the first two episodes (still waiting for the rest to be uploaded)....and I have already learnt something new: Harlequin Ichthyosis

For the brave hearted (and curious minded), do look up this term. I bet that you will definitely be surprised!

2010-02-13T21:57:00.002Z

I seem to have the ability to make people cry...

But I am not going to apologise for that...

Because crying is therapeutic...

So, it's okay to cry...

2010-02-11T22:52:00.003Z

Well disappointed with Internet Explorer...

Even Mozilla Firefox is starting to fail me...

That's it! I am switching to Google Chrome now...

And I'm lovin' it :)

2010-02-08T16:36:00.001Z

I know I have been really worried...

What I feared most has come true...

As fast as a lightning, it strikes you in the face...

But there is nothing I can do to reverse it now...

2010-02-06T00:46:00.001Z

OMG!!!

New drama to chase! And plenty of eye candies to look at :P

Should not have watched the first episode...because having to wait one week for each episode is killing me!

2010-02-04T13:17:00.002Z

It is only the beginning of this semester but already I can see it going downhill.

It is really bothering me (and hurting too). The dynamics and balance of things these days are not the same.

With the dissertation, supportive and palliative care module (the module I fear most), and the start of another round of placement next week, I must admit I am stressed. And perhaps so is everyone.

Maybe my behaviour these days is my way of escaping from reality and back into the comfort of my tortoise shell. Therefore, I must apologise to friends I have hurt because of what I have done (or not done).

Or maybe I should heed advice and just forget and ignore everything now.

2010-02-03T03:55:00.002Z

我喜欢这样的感觉
我站著我坐著我走著我盼望著心早已经飞了
我知道我想著有一个快乐的我就在什麼地方
在快速生活找到一些从容
在复杂世界有多一点天真
我喜欢这样的感觉
我只想要简单的快乐
希望和你一起拥有轻轻鬆鬆的享受
我喜欢开心的感觉
给好心情留一个角落
想想过去想想未来
回到最初的感动
常常欢笑嚼嚼麦当劳
我喜欢这样的感觉
我看著没表情走在那大街的人
他们在想什麼
灿烂的阳光下解放了心中的我
这一刻放轻鬆
在快速生活找到一些从容
在复杂世界有多一点天真
我喜欢这样的感觉
我只想要简单的快乐
希望和你一起拥有
轻轻鬆鬆的享受
我喜欢开心的感觉
给好心情留一个角落
想想过去想想未来
回到最初的感动
常常欢笑嚼嚼麦当劳
常常欢笑嚼嚼麦当劳

Song lyrics from David Tao 陶喆's 我喜欢（芭乐情歌版）
Very meaningful lyrics...
Exactly the kind of peaceful state I am trying to achieve...
Is that too much to ask for?

2010-02-02T00:13:00.002Z

I fell off my chair laughing again.

During Star Golden Bell, when asked what is the capital city of England, Onew of SHINee answered Manchester because of ManU....haha :D

Other classic answers:
Capital of Italy: Kahi of After School answered Greece. Narsha of BEG answered spagetti...:p

2010-02-01T15:56:00.002Z

Question: When do you know you are really tired and your brain cease to function anymore?

Answer: When you opened the cap of your facial wash and tried to squueze it onto your toothbrush. Your arms did it on reflex action and no thought process passes through your brain.

2010-01-31T00:49:00.002Z

反省, 反省, 再反省...

有谁看得出来我是多愁善感的类型呢?

2010-01-27T00:17:00.002Z

The power and temptation of internet shopping is......

just too scary o.O

Think I may have went overboard this time...

Then again, you hardly see Cherie being rebellious

2010-01-26T13:24:00.002Z

In the past, these are the reasons why I am not fond of people who smoke:

They do not know how to appreciate their own lives
They are contributing to air pollution
People around them are suffering because of their passive smoke

Now, I have a brand new reason to hate smoking behaviour....my dissertation.

2010-01-26T08:26:00.004Z

It is the first time in ages since I've woken up so early in the morning...

and I meant wee hours of the morning...

What first started was an excruciating cramp that took me two hours of constant hot drinks (and Jap drama) to get rid of...

What is left is a very awake and cheerful me...

And I must say, I really like (and miss) this feeling...

To be awake when no one else is...(:

2010-01-24T12:31:00.004Z

"the process of internally examining and exploring an issue of concern, tirggered by an experience, which creates and clarifies meaning in terms of self, and which results in a changed conceptual perspective" (Boyd and Fales 1985)

Reflections, that is what I have been doing every now and then...

but more frequently for the past few weeks...

Because snippets of the past returns to haunt me, engulf me and and to savour my bitterness slowly and deliberately...

Those more than often nightmares is an indication...

Reflections on my personality, character, behaviour and interactions with people whom I have met always end up with one question...

Have I fail as a daughter, as an elder sister, as a niece and cousin, and as a friend?

No matter how much I regret about the things done (or not done), there is no way I can turn back time and undo hurtful things...

And here I am, trying desperately to patch things up...

To be ignorant...

To pretend that those events did not happen...

2010-01-23T01:42:00.003Z

Had a very interesting topic with Rong Rong today regarding meeting the opposite sex.

Rong: Do you think it's highly likely you're going to meet the opposite sex at the workplace.
*lets not talk about the nurses all being female*
I think the only way somebody is going to talk to you and strike a friendship is when they been through certain things or events with you, so let's say.......a totally difficult patient that needs 24/7 care

Cherie: no...coz i am still uncomfortable...

Rong: And you two are like the only ones who have to slog it out
and then, of course he must be a bit more proactive as in.....
he does most of the talking at first.
as in nonsensical talking, just normal talking
will you find chatty guys annoying?
or maybe he makes you laugh
*wonders whether cherie would laugh*
*wonders what does the opposite sex have to do to make cherie laugh*
*surely appearing as a fool won't appeal*
*deadpan one-liners?*

Cherie: haha....why are u creating all these hypothetical situations...

Rong: *awesome problem solving and being efficient in whatever he does!*
*BINGO*
*but then that's just winning respect*
and it's hard for you to respect somebody right.
as in...not like super hard
but need certain qualities or certain standards.
*of course we're not talking KPop entertainers here*

Cherie: I love how u are talking to ur brain :p

Rong: *Rong has decided that this is a subject that she needs to talk to Thuy and formulate hypothetical situations with, and doing so in front of Cherie*
*has Kath ever hypothesized?*

Cherie: no....haha...

Rong: *face fell*
*i was hoping*
*evil grin*
*just like when you're hungry and you see sushi*
CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP *gulp*

Cherie: haha! speaking of it..i love food more than the opposite sex....HAHAHA

Rong: *that's obvious*
nobody rejects food, baby
*loves food more than anything. therefore, theoretically speaking, the guy must know his sashimi from his sushi - point noted*

Oh my goodness, I was hugging my tummy from laughing too hard! If I could fall off my chair laughing, it would probably happen!
Fun times when you are talking to friends! And Rong, I hope you will not mind that I posted our conversation in my blog :)

2010-01-19T13:08:00.002Z

And I thought a bit of alcohol would help me sleep better at night...

I guess not...

Feeling really tired but not able to sleep well...

Am I suffering from insomnia?

2010-01-05T22:06:00.008Z

Well, lots of things happened today...so I figured out it might be good to note them all down in my blog for remembrance :)

Received a text from Rong Rong earlier this morning at 6am saying that it was snowing crazily outside. Sadly, I heard my mobile chiming away but did not wake up to have a look at the text. So when I finally had a look at the text at 7.30am, the snow had lighten up. However, I was really shocked at what I saw outside my window. Never had I witness such abundance of snow in Manchester before...to the point that even the bare trees are white with snow! Have a look at these pictures to get what I mean...

Picture outside my window at 7.30am. Look at how the Hilton hotel is half covered in fog.

Picture outside my window at 11.00am

Guess the sky had taken a dump on Manchester..and pretty much everywhere else in the UK... just look at how thick the snow is...

Well, despite all the traffic disruptions and school closure, today is definitely a pretty day! :)

Finally removed my Mepore and washed my biopsy wounds. Not a pretty sight at all...makes me wonder if I had made the correct decision to volunteer for skin biopsy. Had to keep monitoring the wounds and get Thuy to remove the stitches next Thursday :(

And finally, I received a text from a close nursing friend. Thuy thought she was joking and went Omg OmG oMG!!! :p
Well, I doubt she knows the existence of my blog, but if you are reading this...
Rebecca, congrats on being engaged today! And be proposed to in an enchanting city like Edinburgh is too! I know you have been waiting for this day to arrive so you have my heartfelt wishes :) *party poppers*

Heading to Birmingham tomorrow...Thuy, don't forget to pick me up at the coach station! ^-^

2010-01-02T02:23:00.009Z

A pictorial summary of significant events during my winter holidays :)

On Christmas Day, Kitty invited me to her house for a Christmas lunch. Had to walk all the way from my place to her place (about an hour plus) because there was only one bus service that day and it runs every hour o.O
I thought I could do it but my confidence dropped drastically when I stepped on the ice and snow. The entire Manchester was like a skating rink. I wonder how busy the A&E would be with all those people who fell.

Michelle (her housemate) build this snowman and snowcat in the foyer of the house. Aren't they cute?

Thank you Kitty for this wonderful traditional Christmas meal! I love those Christmas trees candles and crackers!

Then later at night, I had Christmas dinner with Rong Rong, Joshur and his classmates from back home. They made a huge turkey and other yummylicious dishes :) Thanks guys for making Christmas this year one of the best!

And of course, I remembered to send a card to Katherine wishing the birthday girl a Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas :) Hope she received lots of love and presents from her family and friends!

Then time flew by and it was the last day of year 2009. Had no plans to watch the countdown and fireworks display but the sound of fireworks outside my window were simply irresistable. Managed to convince Rong Rong to come and countdown with me :P

One part of the 10.5 minutes fireworks display, shooting off at the count of 0!

The Manchester Eye on the last day of year 2009...people actually get to sit on it that night and watch the fireworks display in the cars. Awesome!

A very nice lady blocked the stream of people passing by so that both of us could have this picture taken. Thanks Rong Rong for accompanying me! It will be my last year after all :D

Overall it had been a really good night, although my toes was so cold it hurt. Did I mention that it was -3 degree celsius that night? I even had to prepare a hot water bottle to warm up my feet while I was in bed :P

2009-12-29T21:00:00.002Z

On the K.Will rage now :)

Such meaningful lyrics...such strong emotions in the song...
Have you ever been in the position where you like someone but is afraid of telling him/her?

On a side note, Brilliant Legacy rocks!
Hope Lee Seung Gi and Han Hyo Joo will win in SBS Drama awards for "Best Couple" :D

2009-12-29T03:03:00.003Z

Another video to post!

Guess who sang this song?
Of course it is K.Will! Who else has such brilliant vocals?

Been listening to it on the radio for some time.
Took me a while to find out the title of the song.
Turns out that it is from Soul Special's OST...call "Saranghandan Mareul Motaeso (They Can't Love)"

Lovin' Han Hyo Joo as the actress and K.Will as the singer :)

2009-12-29T02:44:00.009Z

Heard K.Will's Teardrops on the radio today. Knew I just had to go look for the video. And I came across this...

This is simply beautiful!
A collaboration between K.Will and Brown Eyed Girls on MBC Music Travel LaLaLa.
Love this rendition of K.Will's Miss Miss Miss and Teardrops <3

With every muscical notes plucking at my heartstrings, I am falling in love with K.Will all over again :)

2009-12-22T10:53:00.002Z

Ok, I am wrong. The scene outside my window is now progressing into a mini snow blizzard. All I can see is a flurry of white.

Luckily I did my grocery shopping yesterday when the sun was out. Wouldn't want to risk being caught in the snow like this.

2009-12-22T09:41:00.004Z

Checked the BBC website for the weather forecasr of Manchester today...disappointed that there is no snowfall predicted.

However, the weather certainly knows how to surprise. Just as I was taking a break from my laptop and turned towards the window, there it was. Snow.

Today's snowfall is different from the past few days. The snowflakes are smaller, lighter and falling ever so gently. Not blizzard-like two days ago.

Very pristine, very serene.

Now the question is, will it snow on Christmas?

2009-12-20T12:04:00.003Z

This a picture I have taken of the sign at the front gate of the Auschwitz concentration camp during Easter vacation 2009.

The reason for putting that picture in this blog now is because the German language sign 'Arbeit Macht Frei' ('Work makes you free') has been stolen from the former Nazi Auschwitz death camp. Come to think of it, I am lucky to have visited the camp when the sign was still there.

The sign was intended to delude Jews and others brought to the camp to be gassed to death into thinking they were entering a work camp. This brought back memories when I was at the Auschwitz concentration camp museum. Over there, you can see displays of suitcases and personal belongings of people who are brought there to be gassed. Some of the suitcases still have names on them. One of the most shocking thing is that bodies of those gassed were treated as 'things', meaning body parts such as fats and hair can be separated and be sold for a sum of money.

I am not surprised that the theft of the sign sparks an international outcry, especially within the Jews. The thief (as well as private collectors) should be ashamed of themselves for stealing something that bears the very presence of those outrageous war crimes of Nazi Germany.

2009-12-15T20:55:00.003Z

Was on the verge of tears because of those touching anecdotes of daily life on GivesMeHope.com

And an hour later, I had to wipe tears from the corners of my eyes because I was laughing too hard at some of the funniest things that happened to people all over the world on FMyLife.com

GMH... and FML :P

2009-12-15T18:58:00.003Z

This is really bad.
I spent more time with someone else's supervisor rather than my own.
Just felt I don't click with mine.

And placement has been really crazy this week (and it is my last week!)
Really glad I am in the balcony and not in the main ward...
Gives me more time to focus on what I am doing.
Got the chance to insert two catheters and take bloods from patients...*shivers in excitment*

2009-12-13T00:46:00.002Z

Just discovered something...

A suspicion of the past has come true...

Need to get it off my chest but no one I can turn to without brewing a storm within the family....

Shall I adopt a "wait and see" approach before taking any actions?

Or would that be too late?

2009-12-10T21:34:00.003Z

The annoying headache came back today. AGAIN. Felt really tired, as if any amount of sleep will not compensate my tiredness.

Got the wrong change for the cashier. Not being my usual self.

Today's seminar in the afternoon was funny because my seminar leader had a badge on that says "Party Animal". He told us randomly that he hated Sainsburys with a passion because of one incident. Here goes...

Mr B was queuing at the checkout counter in Sainsbury. When it was finally his turn, the cashier held a pen up, as if to signal the next customer to step forward. Mr B went up but...

Cashier: Sorry sir, but I am closing the counter now.

Mr B (looking belligerent): No, you will serve me first before you close the counter.

Cashier: But I have to leave now to do other...(got interrupted)

Mr B: You have to serve me before you close your counter to do other things.

Cashier (looking frightened): I am going to call the manager over this instant.

Mr B: Go ahead, please.

Another youth staff (the supposed manager) walked over.

Cashier: This guy is very aggressive...he said....(got interrupted again)

Mr B: No, I am intimidating AND agressive.

Manager and Cashier was discussing away when Mr B spoke up again.

Mr B: Now, if one of you can shut up and serve me, things will be settled.

Now, isn't my seminar leader simply adorable? ^_^

2009-12-08T21:48:00.002Z

Never knew I was scary...
well, I know it deep inside my heart despite my denials...
but I never knew I was THAT SCARY...

Was having a throbbing migraine on my way back to Manchester after placement in bus 192.
Then a guy board the bus and sat next to me because the bus was full.
Almost like a reflex action, I shot the guy a glare.
The guy actually said "Sorry" to me even before he sat down.

However, if looks can kill, this guy would never have made it to his stop.
His mobile was permanently stuck to his ear and his mouth was never shut. For a good half hour!
Why do some people talk forever on their mobile?
Wish I've got something offhand to stuff his mouth.

Seriously annoyed. There goes my well deserved rest. And my migraine is not helping the situation either.

2009-12-07T20:59:00.002Z

Never realise how good and nolstagic sambal belachan taste...

I could just eat them with plain white rice :D

Thank goodness for that two bottles I brought over...

2009-12-06T22:28:00.002Z

Do you think ladybird looks cute? On the contrary, it scared the hell out of me!

Just as I turned my head away from my medicines management essay to look at the reference book, it was crawling leisurely on the top page!
As a result, I squished this fella to death with a plastic container...(It was an accident, but I'm sure the vicious side of me showed up.)

Am I labelled a murderer now?

2009-12-06T00:19:00.002Z

什麼是朋友？

朋友永遠是在你犯下不可原諒錯誤的時候，仍舊站在你那邊的笨蛋！

What are friends?

Friends are those idiots that still stand by you when you make a terrible mistake!

2009-11-30T17:58:00.002Z

Looks like it's proper winter now...
Damn, I am freezing!

Been experiencing these really bad headaches during the past few nights.
It first started off in my dream. In my dream, I was experiencing a severe and dull pain in my head that I can't seem to shake off. The pain got so excruciating that I woke up from the dream, only to find that the headache was real. I could just dismissed it if it only happened for a night but that is not the case. These dream-like headaches are happening every night.

I am really reluctant to go see a doctor...what do I do?

2009-11-28T23:05:00.001Z

Have you ever read those essays you have written in the past and think "How on earth did I manage to write them?"?

Wish I can find the answer...because I am freaked out by Level 3 writing...

2009-11-27T21:49:00.003Z

It has been decided!
I have a love hate relationship with OMGKPOP SRadioClub...

Hate how when DJ OTTO (a pun from auto DJ) is on, most songs' titles always appear as ??? on my screen...
and when I heard a song I like, I have to do some investigation and digging around...

However, the immense satisfaction you get when you find the answers! That is what I love about SRadioClub. They throw in some nice ballads of artistes who are making a comeback but not actively promoting those songs. These ballads definitely know which heartstrings to pluck at... *major grin*

My latest catch: Ivy's Goodbye Tears
My heart skipped a couple of beats when she sang "Annyeong"

2009-11-26T21:58:00.001Z

Realised I've missed Subway sandwich, double chocolate chip cookies, and McDonald's apple pie a lot...

Thanks Thuy for today!

2009-11-25T23:58:00.003Z

Loved a song I heard a few times in SRadioClub...
Been trying to find the title and singer of the song but my laptop does not support the Hangul language function, so the title will appear as weird symbols.
Went to the chatroom to ask anyone if they knew what the song is but no one knew :(

Then suddenly when the song played just now, a nagging suspicion hit me.
"That is Wheesung's voice, isn't it?"

Felt like a detective there :)
Now that is one mystery solved...and one burden down :)

2009-11-22T01:40:00.002Z

One reason why I don't drink...

Because no one, not even the guys, will be able to carry me back home if I ever get drunk...

A good enough reason?

Thuy, if you ever read this,
Don't worry about how drunk you got that day...
We all still love you <3

2009-11-21T18:34:00.004Z

许欣婷, 已经哭过了就不可以再哭!
就算是气得想哭也不行!

放飞机, 谁没被放过? 自己就经历过几次...
可我气的不是被放飞机, 而是到了地点后, 朋友要我先回家然后在等她的电话再出发...
而一开始时间又是她约的...

我很多时间是吗? 这样很好玩是吗?

朋友不是这样当的...

真的很失望...

2009-11-20T17:43:00.002Z

还是哭了...
鼻子一阵酸, 眼泪突然一颗一颗落下...

不明白自己到底为什么会哭...

这种情绪起伏好陌生, 好可怕...
自己都快不认识自己了...

2009-11-15T12:44:00.002Z

This is it! She's the female panda bound for Singapore!
According to Straits Times (14/11/09), the female panda is still on a milk diet and will be weaned between two and two and a half years old. 'They are at an age where they are most active and adorable,' said the official.
The one year old female and two year old male are currently in China's panda reserve in Sichuan province.

2009-11-13T22:34:00.000Z

Went to watch the Manchester Christmas Lights Up 2009 at Albert Square in front of the clock tower yesterday...
Fabulous fireworks display...more amazing than the Bonfire Night ones :)
Rebecca told me that fireworks for christmas lights up are always better and more spectacular than the Bonfire night ones...
Darn, and to think I've missed two years of Christmas Lights Up...

And I apologise for the poor quality of the pictures...
Have to take pictures with my mobile phone because my camera ran out of batteries :P

2009-11-12T18:15:00.001Z

每个人都会长大...

许欣婷, 你再也不是小孩子了...

快醒醒吧...不要那么天真了...

毕竟不是每个人会把约定当真...

2009-11-12T14:54:00.003Z

Inner demons coming out of my heart and devouring my flesh slowly...

Scenes from J2 keep flashing across my mind.

Afraid that the same situation will repeat itself again...

2009-11-11T19:03:00.000Z

OMG!

Just read the news (see, I am a good girl...),
Singapore will be receiving a pair of pandas from China in 2011 as a symbol marking the strong ties between the two countries!

Wonder what they will be called?

2009-11-10T21:34:00.000Z

Almost forget to add this...

Am very happy today because the pharmacy technician whom I spoke to a few weeks ago remembered my request and brought in an old copy of the BNF! I have the Sept 2008 copy now! She deserves a really big hug :D

2009-11-10T21:26:00.001Z

Have always rely heavily on AZNV's radio for my dose of Asian pop. But ever since it stopped working (due to a server change), I felt like a drug addict whose supplier has run off. :(

Finally, found a thread about new radio source. One user suggested omgkpop.com although the radio isn't always reliable. Went to try and fell in love with it.

Not only are they playing all the latest Kpop fresh from S.Korea, they actually have live DJs who will come in at certain timeslots and interact with listeners. Sounds like the real radio broadcasting stations out there, except your song requests (and whatever comments with it) will definitely be played and read out! :D

Already having fun with the radio! For those avid Kpop fans reading this, do drop by and you might hear me dedicating a song to you :D

2009-11-09T20:43:00.001Z

Think I have swallowed a fish bone...
AGAIN!
But the weird thing is...
I do not have fish for dinner...
So, what have I swallowed?
o.O

2009-11-08T02:04:00.000Z

Last year, Bourbons cream...
This year, Custard cream...

At this rate, things are not looking good...

2009-11-07T16:58:00.000Z

Just saw this while reading the news...

"This handout photo courtesy of the San Diego Zoo shows the zoo's 13-week-old giant panda cub showed off his strength during his weekly exam by pushing up on his front legs and struggling against the veterinarian who was checking his limbs."(ST 06/11/09)

Ain't he cute?

2009-11-07T16:43:00.000Z

OMG!
If not for a reminder from my mum to read the news, I would have totally missed out on an important world news. The incident at Fort Hood...

This reminds me of when the 911 incident happened, I was sleeping and only got to know about it on the bus to school next day when I peeked at the newspaper someone was reading.

Cherie, you better keep up with news around the world. You are becoming too ignorant...

2009-11-04T00:26:00.000Z

At first there was no much reaction from me...coz I know that death is inevitable for him. But as more people asked me if I knew about his death back home, the truth is alowly sinking in. Yet another relative member passed away when I am abroad.

It didn't hurt as much as when I first knew that my cousin passed away. Perhaps I was not close to my uncle. Perhaps it was how he was not a very good husband and dad to my aunt and my late cousin. Perhaps...

But then at times, memories come flooding back. How he used to tease me and called me 大路妹 (mainland china girl) because of my braids when I was young. How he used to get me Yakult from the fridge even though I was not allowed any cold drinks due to my asthma. How he used to...

The second wake that I did not have a chance to attend. One more person to pray to when I get back for the 清明节 the year after.

Dear uncle, do rest in peace. I am glad that you are free from all pain and suffering now. When you see 家明哥哥 in heavens, do reconcile with him. Keep him company and be the kind of Dad he yearns for.

Christmas is almost coming, so is 家明哥哥's death anniversary. Dear cousin, if you are reading this from up there, you are still dearly missed by everyone...

2009-11-01T13:49:00.001Z

It's really nice to know that you are being appreciated by someone. A friend from NUH Cancer Centre (where I worked previously as an admin staff before Uni) told me that the sister and nursing admin asked if I would like to return to NUH Cancer Centre to work after my studies because they would love to have me back.

My friend also added that I am lucky to be spearheaded even before I graduate.

Now, wouldn't something like that totally make your day? Thank you so much for passing on that message to me :D

2009-10-31T22:56:00.000Z

I swear...

NEVER TO TRAVEL TO LONDON AND BE BACK IN MANCHESTER ON THE SAME DAY...

It is just suicidal...

2009-10-29T22:47:00.000Z

Just killed a pesky persistent flying insect.

A major sense of satisfaction flooding my heart.

2009-10-29T00:36:00.000Z

Sailor Mercury vs Sailor Mars.
The battle begins.

2009-10-25T11:50:00.000Z

Dear Cherie,
I know you love eating...and you value food more than anything...
You place "I live to eat" as your motto...and you can never say no to anything edible in front of you...
You eat not just when you are hungry, but also when you are happy/sad/angry/disappointed/lonely/grumpy/cheerful/thinking etc.
I know you like to eat more during a meal thinking just in case you will be hungry later on. However, let's face the fact. You will still be hungry and eating later on whether you ate more or not during the previous meal.

Therefore, please stop eating like there is no tomorrow.

2009-10-24T01:26:00.000+01:00

血腥味一直残留在嘴里...

VAC Therapy

2009-10-21T20:26:00.000+01:00

Finally saw something new in the ward today! Well, not exactly a NEW thing....just a therapy I've heard of so many time but never actually got around to see the REAL THING. That's right, it's the VAC therapy.

Well, I am just writing this so I will not forget what I have learnt today.
For the dressing trolley, I will need a probe or a wound swab, a Duoderm Thin, a Mepitel or Atraumen, a pair of sterile scissor and a sterile penknife.

First, check the patient's wound (and read up his notes) to make sure that the patient's wound is not connected to any fistula. Probe around the wound's wall to ensure that all surrounding wall is intact. This is to make sure that when the vacuum is applied, no other matter (such as faeces or bowels) will be sucked away.

Second, place a piece of Mepitel in the wound where there are sutures. This is to protect the sutures but do not cover up the entire wound because this will slow down granulation. Next, apply a layer of Duoderm Thin around the wound. This will help keep the suction firm and prevent air leak.

From the dressing pack from the VAC company, cover the wound with the black foam. Cut accordingly to the size of the wound. If the wound is deep, just pack the wound with several layers of foam. Then apply the thin clear dressing over the foam and wound. That thin clear dressing looks very much like a Tegaderm Film or a C-view. Ensure that the thin dressing is sealed at all ends to prevent air leakage.

Cut a small hole (about 1cm diameter) in the middle where the foam is and connect it to the suction, which will be connected to the cannister. The cannister will contain a special gel that will mixed with the exudate sucked from wound to prevent frothing.

According to research, the optimal pressure is found to be 125mmHg. For the first two days, the pressure will be applied continuously. After 48hrs, the wound will be reassessed to see if the pressure can be applied intermittently. Why is that so? If you think about yourself being slapped by someone continuously for 2 hours, your face will be numbed. However, if you are slapped by someone with a two minutes break between each slap, the impact will be stronger. The idea is to provoke the cells to regenerate faster with greater impact felt. The exudate from the wound is able to pass through those tiny pores in the foam and into the cannister when the machine is running. The reason why the pressure is not intermittent for the first 48hours is because the exudate might settle in the foam and cause stagnantion.

I always thought that the VAC therapy is expensive. The trainer told me it does cost more than other conventional dressings (it is 35 pounds a day to rent the machine) but it is more cost-effective because the wound will heal 60 times faster.

I am really impressed by these new knowledge. As for now, if the patient does not get discharged yet, I will be able to follow the progression of the wound. :D

2009-10-12T19:02:00.000+01:00

That's right...
My iconic pink BIG nike bottle has an unsightly crack on it from last week...
In other words, it broke and leaked...currently unfit for use...

Went to all sports shops and nike store in Manchester...no such bottle to be found again...:(

Just went online to buy a new one (the power of a debit card...scary if you are one with no willpower to stop!) and now waiting for it to arrive...hopefully soon...

2009-10-10T20:41:00.000+01:00

Finally had real chicken meat for dinner tonight! Can't believe that I haven't eaten any chicken for three weeks...
When my dad asked me what I had eaten ever since I came back, I was dumbfounded because other than cooking once, I don't remember what else have I eaten...
Unhealthy stuff, I guess...

2009-10-10T17:34:00.000+01:00

OMG! After having a talk with my dad, who reminded me to check the expiry date of my inhaler, I just found out that my inhaler has expired 3 months ago. o.O
I guess the drug still works...not sure about the side effects of taking an expired drug.
Luckily my parents advised me to go to the polyclinic and get a new inhaler. Maybe I shall not be that stubborn anymore!

2009-10-09T18:04:00.000+01:00

Dear body,
I am truly disappointed with your performance this time.
It hasn't been three weeks yet and you are already succumbing to those microorganisms and parasites in the air?
Because of your carelessness, I have to suffer chesty coughs day and night, so bad that I have to gasp for breath for every little distance I walked. Sleeping at night has become a nightmare because the chest feels tight and wheezy...and the lack of sleep has resulted in a continuous throbbing headache.
Please, if you can, do your very best in fighting those intruders and return my peace.

2009-10-06T22:11:00.000+01:00

I must...

REMEMBER NEVER TO STUFF MY FRIDGE WITH SO MUCH FOOD LIKE THERE IS A WAR TOMORROW!

Goodness...I think the temp in my fridge is warmer than my room o.O

2009-09-22T08:24:00.000+01:00

Life without internet Day 3 (and counting).

I am writhering inside. It's just so hard not having any internet in my room. For some reason, even after paying for the service early in the morning, the internet service is still not available in my room. AND my account keeps saying that I will need to pay for it at the reception. When the HORNET reps arrive this evening, someone will get a black face from me. SERIOUSLY.

Without the internet in my room, I am feeling more homesick than ever. It doesn't help that I do not want the third year to start, especially when acute care placement is next week. I don't feel prepared at all. Without any videocalls, all I am left is the four walls of my room to talk to.

Desperation... and jetlag equals to me bringing my laptop to the school computer cluster surfing the web...and blogging, of course!

Speaking of jetlag, when will I ever stop yawning from 4pm British time in the afternoon and start waking up at 4am British time in the morning? This is pure agony!

2009-09-20T20:02:00.000+01:00

Arrived in Manchester yesterday...thanks Rong for coming to the aiport to help me with my luggages. It was killing me, seriously! Couldn't have manage without any help...

Day 2 without internet in my room. Signed up for the service...but could not pay for it until the reception opens tomorrow. Had to use the computers in the uni's com cluster :( Feeling very handicapped without any internet in my room...could only watch animes and movies in my external hard drive.

Never realised how tired I was until I slept from 4pm yesterday till 7am this morn. Even so, I was yawning away late afternoon today. I looked at my laptop which has Singapore's time and it was about the time I sleep back at home. Talk about jetlag...I will be so dead for this week's lessons. o.O

2009-09-18T12:53:00.000+01:00

Back from Taiwan trip about five days ago. Am quite dark now because of the scorching relentless sun over there. Shall blog more about the trip the next time.

Today is the day to return back to Manchester again. 心里有些不舍. Not so much of fear this time round because I know things are pretty much settled over there. Just a little interrogation to do with the accomodation reception. But I am starting to miss my family and friends more. One year isn't long...but at this moment, it felt like eternity.

Packing my luggages always seem like a troublesome chore. The situation is always very similar to what I am experiencing now - The battle of weights. o.O No matter how much my luggage and I wish to stay slim (and light), the problem is...I continue to eat...and my luggage continues to be stuffed. Prays that the news about Emirates's baggage allowance increased to 30kg remain true. If not...*shudders* I do not wish to think of the consequences. It would tear my heart to be apart with anything from my luggage.

Till then, any further posts will be done in Manchester. When I get my internet in my room. *rolls eyes*

2009-08-24T14:30:00.000+01:00

Last Friday marked the end of my one-month placement in AH. Generally, it had a fulfilling experience because it opened my mind to the kind of nursing system we have in Singapore. With the opportunity to compare it to the nursing system in the UK, I am supposed to bring the good things of the system in the UK and see how we can implement it in Singapore. Easier said than done because I have to take into consideration the cultural aspect of patients in Singapore.

When asked which ward/dept do I like the best, I never hesitated to answer Ward 5 and DEM. Even though Ward 5 is a medical ward, where most people associate it with bringing bedpan to the patients or bringing them to the toilet most of the time, but it is in Ward 5 where I gain most knowledge. Thanks to the regular talks and nursing ward rounds they have. Very informative and thought-provoking indeed! Although I saw a lot more procedures done in MICU, such as intubation, insertion of CVP line and arterial line, CRRT etc, I am quite disappointed that students do not have the opportunity for more hands-on activities. It can be boring to just turn up everyday and observe. The attitude of the consultant in MICU is also questionable. DEM was fun with all the different stations (I love the swipecard!)though I seemed to miss all the action. During the first day in DEM, there was a resus case but the dept sister was doing orientation with me. I was so shocked when she opened the door of the resus room to find that a resuscitation was going on. Then again, on my last day in DEM, I missed out on another resus case because I had to go meet the Director of Nursing in AH. Apparently, that guy was shocked six times with futile attempts so it became a coroner's case. Bad luck, not only do I have to endure the meeting (I was really nervous meeting her!), I also missed out on the action :(

The placement this time really had a big impact because the people I met may become my future colleagues. It is different because back in the UK, if I encounter nasty staff in a placement area, at least I would not be meeting them again. However, I am not able to avoid anyone from AH, unless they are not moving to KTPH. Haiz...