Updates

Realised it’s been a while since my last update.

I’m currently in week 2 of my last set of college papers, which is turning out to be the grandfather of all exams difficulty. The first tuition phase will span over 3.5 weeks, followed by a 6 weeks break (of which we are expected to work and study), and finally another 3 weeks of revision to final exams. The main challenge with the ACA is that it’s more business than accounting centric, so one needs to be ‘good enough’ in every aspect (of which there are too many!). There will be 2 technical papers followed by a 4 hour case study. Hopefully my luck with these exams will bring me just one more step further and help me put an end to this paper chase. I don’t think I will want to can stomach another exam after this.

I will be using the first 2 weeks of the 6 weeks break for a holiday back home. It’s shocking how it’s been more than a year since my last trip and I am hardly, if ever, home sick. Main thing is to be with my family, catch up with close friends, and of course, have a lot of local food! Unfortunately, I would have to study hard during those 2 weeks too.

My trip will be transited at Dubai, where I will be spending 2 days. Until then, it’s back to books!

Filed under: Life

Pictures

Some might have noticed a slight change in my blog lay out with this little film strip on the right->

I’ve been uploading some of my favourite pictures, complete with descriptions and location tagging. With the size of the pictures compressed (instead of the much larger size format facebook and my browser uses), they also have the benefit of looking sharper and crisper! Go on, have a look and leave a comment or two.

Filed under: Photography

Tame affair

1st attempt to revive my travel blog with a new post: http://trotsnapscribe.wordpress.com/

May try to write up my travels to Morroco, Prague and Hungary before the memories went from fuzzy to non-existent.

Filed under: Life

Nostalgia of the 80′s

This is an excellent blog post about all the good things of Singapore in the 1980s.

To those relevant, you owe it a read.

Filed under: Life

Travel blog

Decided to set up a separate blog to chronicles my travels. It can be read here: http://trotsnapscribe.wordpress.com/

Filed under: Travel

Salut!

This Saturday, I will be embarking on my second big Euro trip. Country to conquer? France.

In the 2.5 weeks, I will attempt to go as many places as possible without having any of my possession stolen; perfect my handling of the phrase ‘parlez-vous Anglais?’; get real classy with the French culture, all the while dodging the influence of their general snobbery. No really, I will be most looking forward to meeting some of my friends in Paris, and absorbing some of the beautiful sights google searches seem to suggest.

The previous trip to Spain (can’t believe it’s been 10 months since then already) has left me exhausted, but well heeled (and hopefully well learned) in the land of chorizos and sangrias. I’m adopting the same mindset this time- as far as possible, no itinerary. Besides having my train to Paris booked, I do not have anything planned.

Till then, it’s all about being prepared, and to avoid having any French Baguettes in my diet in any form, shape and size.

Filed under: Life, Travel

Thor

With a costume this stupid, Thor was a hard-sell from the get go.

Though undeniably pretty on the eyes, Thor shockingly felt like a B-list action flick many a times (criminally, during the movie’s supposed climax). Suffering from the obligatory Hollywood make-up (think the love interest, the humour, the loud sound effects), the film quickly became derivative. Credits got to be due for the funny moments though- Darcy (Portman’s sister) got her timing spot on, providing some laughter to a movie that thankfully never took itself too seriously.

Thor wasn’t bad. But in a genre that has seen the likes of Christian Bale being cast as Batman, or Robert Downing Junior as Ironman, Chris Hemsworth came across as a rather insipid god of thunder. The rest of the cast didn’t add up- Natalie Portman (I have forgotten her screen name already) was replaceable, Loki was uninspired, and the brilliant Anthony Hopkins as Odin was ‘okay’ at best.

Watch Thor for all it’s worth. But among the many great superhero flicks out there, never make it a priority.

Filed under: Films, Review

Children of men

The scene where Clive Owen walked out of the war-torn building, with his companion and her baby in her arms, the fighters stood by, momentarily dropping their guns. It is a piece of cinematographic excellence that simply needs to be watched.

Alfonso Cuarón’s masterfully created Children of Men painted a picture of bleak, but perhaps only because we know of its central theme, never of despair. In a world where humans can no longer conceive, and the rest of the surviving population on the brink of self-inflicted destruction, its message of optimism even in the harshest of environment rings deep. The director’s craft adds much realism to the otherwise unimaginable (it at times, feels like watching a documentary).

The next time we are disturbed by the sound of crying babies or noisy children, wouldn’t it be worth thinking- the world could have been well worse without them?

Filed under: Films, Review

Broken

A quick reminder of why this country drives me crazy.

1. Caught an 8.30am train from London to Birmingham. Halfway through, we were all told to get off. Reason? There was a temporary shortage of staff. I mean, what?! Reached destination an hour later.
2. On my 9pm train back to London from Birmingham, we were caught up with severe delay because of signal failures at one of the rail station. Transportation signal failures are part and parcel of life. A 2 hour train ride ended up taking me 3.5 hours.
3. Reached London at 12.30am, dashed from the train to the tube station, but had missed the last trip back home. Fuck.
4. Was extremely pissed but was adamant that I will not spend 20+ quid to take a taxi home. Need to take at least 2 night buses to get home. Took a bus to from Euston to Trafalgar Square.
5. I need to then take another night bus my office at Embankment Place to Canary Wharf where I stay. First time walking down Villier’s Street (sober) at 1am, so was quite amused how the street that I take to work each day transform into a Gay-friendly clubbing street. Interesting indeed.
6. The bus along Embankment was late for about 30mins, but skipped past my stop because it was full. At this point I seriously need to punch something.
7. Finally caught on the next bus, which abruptly terminates its service at Limehouse station (here’s the thing about buses in London- it can decide to terminate for no reasons at all. I guess the bus driver just decided to get home and sleep?).
8. I will not allow myself to be subjected to further frustration by the broken transport system. Decided to walk home from Limehouse, at 2am in the morning, braving the early Autumn chill.

Filed under: Life

One year in London

Today the 7 September 2011 marks my first year anniversary in London. Thought I should do an obligatory blog on this. I am just going to type whatever comes to my mind so it’s going to be bullet points and possibly, made up of grammatically incoherent sentences.

One year on.

• Very upset over Amy Winehouse’s death. One of my to-do list in London is to watch her live. Can’t believe this is now an impossibility.
• Lost much weight I think, to the extent my business suits are a little too large now
• I don’t mistreat myself, nor am I not feeling well (quite on the contrary actually!). Only way to explain is that mum used to cook; now, I do.
• Passed my first 3 professional application papers in July. I was quite proud of my 89 score for financial accounting, and according to rumours, I am 1 mark short of being awarded a cash reward of 500 pounds from my employer (damn damn damn if it’s true)
• Approximately 2 months later, will be sitting for the next 2: Financial reporting, and Financial Management.
• And when these are done hopefully, will be sitting for the last 3 technical integration papers: Business Change, Business Integration and Case Study, of which requires knowledge learnt from all 12 papers beforehand. Many has said that these are the toughest papers they have sat in their entire life. Not feeling confident.
• When they are done, I am considered ‘qualified’. Pay rises by quite significantly. This is my motivation.
• Walking speed has increased remarkably. Everywhere seems walkable, usually when drunk
• Hates the weather, and complains about it like everyone else. Won’t fail to appear outdoors when the sun comes out, another one of a local favourite (best done during working hours). I’ve always loved the Sun, just never knew it was this much
• Became extremely comfortable with words used very frequently in British conversation- the ‘cheers’, the ‘mates’, and the ‘brilliants’
• Quite sure I have changed a little of my accent, which is fine as I always like the way they talk
• Still find it quite tough to do small talks- a vital skills in a place like Britain. Always find it quite awkward to ask ‘How are you?’ to my clients (especially when we see each other everyday) only for the next immediate response to be about work.
• Loving my pints and alcohol. Enjoy the clubbing scene (Singapore’s just sad, let’s face it), but usually only when drinks are paid for by bosses.
• Increasingly good with holding my alcohol, but still can’t do much without food (well, who does?) beforehand
• Latest love: Whiskey, which I pour myself a glass every other night. Still quite gutted I didn’t buy any Irish Whiskey the other time I was there.
• Travelled A LOT, I believe way more than anyone who came with me, and possibly, more than some who came a few years before me.
• Cities been to: 17 in UK, 1 in Ireland, 8 in Spain, 2 in Portugal, 5 in Belgium, 2 in Germany, 2 in Austria (got to love Tripadvisor for helping me keep track!)
• Upcoming travel plans confirmed: 2 more English cities (Birmingham and York) this month, 2+weeks in France next month, 2+weeks in Morroco in December, after college. And when my holidays are confirmed, Berlin in January next year.
• Upcoming travel plans not confirmed: Holland. Few weeks in Italy is a must (this will complete my big 3- Spain and France, being the other). By then I would have covered most of Western Europe, so it’d be Eastern Europe and Scandinavian countries thereafter. Most looking forward to Czech Republic, Hungary, Istanbul and Sweden. If Russia is cheap from here (doubt so), why not?
• Travel fantasy unlikely to materialise: Brazil during their crazy carnival period. Made a really good Brazillian friend here who’s going back soon and promise to be the best host if I visit her. A friend of mine is really interested in this too, saying he just want to drink, eat, party and sleep. Very enticing indeed.
• Favourite places in Europe: Lisbon, Granada, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Bath, London!
• All these travelling left me with no money. Well, I guess there’s always later.
• Nor time to go back home to Singapore. Probably in May next year. Hopefully I won’t feel too home sick before then.
• Picked up photography and tries to be better at it.
• Work has been a mix of really stressful periods and periods with nothing to do. Most challenging work so far is the audit of earnings per share for a Group, and this week, on share based payments. These are the things I want to learn and do. Not cash, intercompany or other nonsense which I have done in my first year. The point with being here in London is to be exposed to the largest and most complex work, and I need to do more of that!

Huge list. Ran out of things to say. In short, first year is great. Here’s hoping the second and third will be just as good.

Filed under: Life