~Audi alteram partem~

You know your part of the story. Now hear the other side.
Cos everyone just want to be heard
.

Showing posts with label Moments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moments. Show all posts

Voila! Vikings

Look what I've done! I turned Chip and Caoimhe to Vikings:


Since both of their heads are very small, I had to modify and simplify this Viking Helm pattern from Reckless Stitches (Ravelry) [click here to directly download the PDF].

Here is my pattern version, this is based on Caoimhe's helmet. I used 40 gr threads and 4 mm hook for Caoimhe's and 3 mm hook for Chip's:

Hat

Use grey yarn. Create a magic circle.
R1: sc 6 into the circle, sl st into front loop to close circle (6)
R2: ch 4, tr 1 into front loop of 1st sc of R1, tr2 into front loop of each sc around, sl st to close
ring (12)
R3: sc into the back loop of the tr and into the back loop of the first round to make a ridge for 12,
sl st to close ring (12)
R4: ch1, sc1 into 1st st, sc2, *inc 1, sc2* repeat to end, sl st to close ring (18)
R5: ch1, sc1 into 1st st, sc2, *inc 1, sc3* repeat to end, sl st to close ring (24)
R6-14: Continue to increase by 6 stitches each round by adding another stitch between each
increase until Row 14; you will have 78 stitches around.

If you need it smaller, just stop at any lower row.

R15: sc throughout (78)
R16: tr into front loop of each sc, sl st to close (78)
R17: sc into back loop of the tr and into the back loop of the last row of grey stitches to create a
ridge (78)
R18-22: sc around, sl st to close (78)

If you need it taller, you can add more rows here

R23: tr into front loop of each sc, sl st to close (78)
R24: sc into back loop of the tr and into the back loop of the last row of brown stitches to create
a ridge (78)

Tie off and weave in any ends

Horns (make 2)

Start with white yarn. Make a magic circle.
R1: sc 4 into circle (4)
R2: sc, inc, sc , inc (6)
R3: sc, inc, sc 2, inc, sc (8)
R4 & 5: sc 8 (8)
R6: sc, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2 (10)
R7: sc 10 (10)
R8: sc, inc, sc 4, inc, sc 3 (12)
R9-10: inc, sc 4, invdec, sc 5 (12)
Change to grey yarn.
R11: sc throughout (12)

It is recommended to stuff the horns so that they keep their shape. If you don't have the craft stuffing, you can use anything from cotton, tissue, plastic bag, or scrap clothes. Just make sure it's the same colour with the horns!

The hurtful things he says

"You're too selfish."
"You have no integrity."
"You don't have the ability to care about other people."
"You only think about yourself."
"You're so childish."
"You don't plan for your life."

And my unspoken defense is just this.

I was never one for pretenders.
Everything I tried to be, just wouldn't settle in.

If I told you what I was, would you turn your back on me?


Can I clear my conscience, if I'm different from the rest?
Do I have to run and hide?

Crimson Peak

Crimson Peak Movie (2015)
Ok, first of all, DISCLAIMER: Of course this is going to be super biased, this is MY opinion of the movie.

I can't believe this movie is only 6.5 in IMDB. This movie is so beautifully shot and within the first few minutes I just knew that Guillermo del Toro is behind it (yeah I didn't read about it beforehand). The distinctive camera and lighting works are there.

Fair enough, I'm only giving it 8 out of 10. I rarely give any movie 10, because 10 is perfection and perfection is rare. I had to further minus one point because the storyline is a tad predictable. BUT it doesn't diminish how beautiful the movie is. And I'm not only talking about the cinematography. The costume, the script, the morality questions, the philosophical message... are all thought through and blended beautifully.

And the details of it, ho my, the more I think about them, the more fascinated I am. Pay attention to the background, little details of the sounds, the words chosen --the word 'beautiful' keeps popping in my mind to describe this movie.

I didn't want to watch it earlier because I'm not really a fan of Mia Wasikowska. She only has that one expression and always play that misunderstood innocence. She's also part of the -1 that I can't give the movie a 9. But Tom Hiddlesont is there, who can deny his acting skills? And I only lately realised that Jessica Chastain is a gem too. So I finally watched it (a long Easter weekend helped too). And ho boy, did they deliver. The acting, their acting is soooo underrated. Tom Hiddleston can look at a tree, tell it that he loves it, and that tree will fall in love with him.

Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska
"I feel as if a link exists between your heart and mine,
and should that link be broken, either by distance or by time,
then my heart would cease to beat and I would die."

And Jessica Chastain.. the whole time I keep thinking she's Eva Green. She carries that looming darkness so subtly yet so intensely. I get chills just remember her character. Her character is one of those that you knew something is wrong with her, your guts keep telling you to run away from her, but you can't pinpoint why. We all have such people in our real lives. But to convey this in a fictional character is another story, and to do it so convincingly is just absolutely amazing.

Jessica Chastain

(Beside acting, remember when she tricked Michael Fassbender into breakdancing? What a gem. God bless her soul).

I'm not gonna talk about the plot points of the movie. Cos I'm lazy and this post is getting too long. All I can say is, it's so seldom a movie delivers a perfect balance of horror and romance, thriller, and love.
You gotta watch the movie and experience them yourselves. There are many bad reviews that saying it's not really a horror movie, and therefore it's a failed movie. Well, it's not, cos that's not the point of the movie. Go watch it and see it for yourself. If you appreciate subtlety and beauty, you will love this movie.

Westlife wearing batik

Where has this photo been whole my life?


Ok, it's not real. But who says we can't make it real? 
Brb, going to post office, sending Kian a batik shirt.

Keep SHANE on!

Shane Filan from Westlife is coming to Singapore!
He's been doing a promotional tours, just going for interviews with local TV and radio channels.
Oh how I miss the Irish sweetness!

Here's one of the interviews he went on:


At minute 4.23, Shane said that the song My Love reminds him of Singapore.
BUT, SHANE! That song reminds me of Ireland. That's literally my Ireland anthem.

See, we have connection there.
Somehow.

Funny how life works. My Ireland song reminds Shane of Singapore. I don't know if I should cry or laugh.

A message from Unicorn Rockstar

Got a magical message from a Unicorn Rockstar the other day. Would be a shame if I don't share it.
(verse 1)
pain is forever, I feel it everyday
don't you get it boo?
i try to talk to but the words won't say
help me to help you boo

(bridge)
netflix is forever
illegally watching it to get over
youuu

(chorus)
i eat the food you left in the fridge
i turned the TV on but can't find the switch
you don't love me so i'm going to the bridge
to find the map to you heart i need a hitch

(verse 2)
i stalk you hard on your websites
trying to be romantic but i don't feel right
do you know how it feels like boo?
to love a love that don't love me, boo

(bridge)
netflix is forever
illegally watching it to get over
chuuuuu

(chorus)
i eat the food you left in the fridge
i turned the TV on but can't find the switch
you don't love me so i'm going to the bridge
to find the map to you heart i need a hitch

Birthday wish

To somebody who owns her own world. 
To somebody who’s intelligent yet insane. 
And quoting Vincent van Gogh, "however meaningless and vain, however dead life appears, the man of faith, of energy, of warmth.. steps in and does something and hangs on to that." 

2017 must have a hard year for you but never forget the sweet memories too. 
You are your own wonder woman. 
The millennial Viking that survives the apocalypse of heartbreak. 
Life is full of uncertainty. 
Uncertainty is like opening your eyes wide in the dark then closing them hard and then opening them again just to be blinded by the sparkling silver dots created from pressure on the corneas. 
Squint, roll, focus, then you’re blind again. 
But, at least you saw the light somehow. 

I'm going a bit off track right now but here I am wishing you a calming day. 
You're the friend I never asked for but a God's send. 
Thank you for being my thunder in the storm.

xoxo, 
Your Rockstar
I have a tweenage sister (TS) who told me before that she liked Justin Bieber. I almost cut off ties with her, except I still need her to get me water once in a while.
THEN my brother introduced her Taylor Swift. NOT the first few albums, but the "Look What Made Me Do" Taylor Swift. I almost cut ties with him, except we never meet anyway since he lives in Bangkok.

But this week, when I was home my TS asked me:

TS: Do you know Imagine Dragons?
Me: Yeah, I'm a big fan. Why?
TS: I like their new song *played "Believer" on her mobile phone*
Me: Oooh... my baby sister...
FAITH RESTORED

Forlorn

Alexander the Great

-Alexander the Great

Singapore oh Singapore

Singapore is known for many things, but friendly is not one of them.

Me: Can I have 2 siew mai^ and teh si gao siew dai*?
Lady: Having here or take away?
Me: Having here
Me: *thinking I can't finish the tea* Actually, can you make the tea take away
Lady: SO YOU WANT TEA OR TEH SI**?!
Me: Teh si, but I mean make it take away
Lady: BUT YOU ORDER (sic) TEH SI GAO SIEW DAI
Me: *also raised my voice* YES TEH SI GAO SIEW DAI BUT MAKE IT TAKE AWAY
Lady: Ya lah, take away
Me: ???


^ A type of traditional Chinese dumpling
* Thick coffee with evaporated milk, less sugar
** Coffee with condensed milk

Kinds of coffee in Singapore
How to order coffee in Singapore.
To order tea, change the word "kopi" to "teh".

"The world is yours. Take it."
-Olympias

Just won this in a lucky draw. Destiny is calling me. The Universe is sending me a sign.

Danish Hygge book - Meik Wiking

- : -

In the same event, I talked to a lady who studied in Sweden for 6 months. I asked her how is it there and she said it's too quiet especially compared to Singapore, "You will only meet another human being if you walked for miles." I don't see the problem?

Well, one person's hell is another person's heaven. It's perfect for me. Where do I sign?

There are no contradictions

This is a story of contradictions of a certain wise person.
Disclaimer: All quotes are indeed real and not exaggeration, in all their ridiculousness. Only the timeline is jumbled up. If it's not clear, calling the person "wise" is a sarcasm.

Me: You should watch Game of Thrones.
Wise person (WP): I don't have time. I'm working to build the perfect software to earn money so I don't have to work for the rest of my life.
Me: K
WP: Talk to you later. I gotta catch a Pokemon.

- - : - -

Me: I'm thinking to move to Europe, for a chance to settle down there.
WP: You're so childish. You're a bad planner. You're not thinking of all the aspects. You only see the beautiful things, but not considering the negative things. Like racism. Listen to me, I've read the geopolitical information, psychology of the people, and inflation and exchange rate. I know that Europe economy is going down in a few years. Do you really want to live in such a place? Believe me, you don't.
Me: K
WP: Omg, I'm late for a meeting. Which direction to this place?

- - : - -

Me: I'm changing my lifestyle, so I'm cutting back on sugar.
WP: You only want to lose weight, right? You only care about looking skinny. Losing weight is not just about cutting back sugar. Like me, now I'm jogging every night. Do you wanna know how much I lost? I've lost 8 kg. My wife has lost 13 kg.
Me: K
WP: BTW, have you tried Nutella?

Knowing all the facts doesn't make you a smart person, much less a wise person.
You can know a lot, but still be an idiot.

Don't make it too easy for me

During latest family gathering... My COUSIN (yes, my cousin), showing off her second granddaughter (yes, you read that right), hinting at me still unmarried: "See, even my daughter already has two daughters."

I was torn between being nice, "Congratulations."
Or being my sarcastic self, "My condolences."

I just smiled mysteriously, cos my mama said to always be nice, but she also said to always be myself.

Special snowflakes

English proficiency

Another interesting, thought-provoking conversation with my (other) colleague:

Her: *saying this cannot be done, that cannot be done* It's impossible
Me: Nothing is impossible
Her: Are you endorsing Nike?
Me: What?
Her: I mean Adidas
Me: Oh, you mean "Impossible is Nothing"? That one is "Impossible is Nothing".
Her: ....
Me: Yeah, that's Adidas
Her: Tit for tat, tat for tit, it's the same.
Me: ....

Limpeh clap for you

Gloom

First morning without him, and even Singapore is gloomy.


Passion

How do you know what your dream is, you ask? It's when you can't stop thinking about it, until you do something. And once you're doing something to reach that dream, you can't stop moving.

What is passion, you ask? It's when you can't stop yourself from working for it. Even when everyone doubts you, mock you. Even when you question yourself. But you can't help to keep working for it.

Conor McGregor's obsession

Six cities in six days

1. Hanoi - 19 Aug

Had to meet a kabajillion people for this trip. But that means a kabajillion food.
Vietnamese beef noodle, pho
The mandatory pho. Costs just around SGD2 (VND35.000)
Vietnamese pigeon sticky rice
Pigeon sticky rice. WHAT?! That's right, pigeon sticky rice.
If you're wondering, pigeon meat tastes like pork but with much softer texture, and minus the smell. 
Got hit by a motorcycle when I was walking in Old Quarter. That's the first. But the driver is so pro that she (yes, it's a SHE) stopped at the right time and "only" nudged on my ankle with her motorcycle front wheel.

2. Vinh - 20 Aug

Vinh, Vietnam Airlines
Yes, that's the airplane we had to take to reach Vinh.
It's by Singapore Airlines.
Homemade Vietnamese food
More food! This time all is homemade.
Can you believe they cooked all of this within a couple of hours!

3. Cửa Lò - 21 Aug

Cua Lo beach, Vietnam
Just about half an hour drive from Vinh, Cua Lo has different atmosphere being right on the side of a beach. And what a beautiful beach it is! We're here, of course, to have dinner of fresh seafood.
Not so impressed by the cookings though, not sure if it's the restaurant's fault or I'm not a fan of the cooking style. Except for the oysters. Well it's oysters. You can't go wrong with them.

4. Da Nang - 22 Aug

Danang is surprisingly clean and safe. I have the vibe of Penang, where we can walk by the roadside because there is a roadside, and because people or cars won't bother you.
Also surprisingly, there's so many Koreans! The annoying thing is, they're all eating Korean food or french fries. That's sad, when you can get these kind of food:
Central Vietnamese food
This is hands down the best meal I had in our Vietnam trip this time.
Sun-dried squid, garlic oysters, morning glory (kangkong), mi quang, and beeeeerrrrsss.

The highlight of our dinner time in Da Nang: Cha ca or Vietnamese fishcake, and mi quang or literally the noodles from Quang Nam area: 
Chả Cá Thăng LongMì Quảng
The first time I had cha ca in Hanoi, it wasn't to impressive. But this time, it's so mind-blowing, I even finished all the vegetables! Funnily, it's the first time my Vietnamese boyfriend had mi quang, and I proudly claim that I'm the one who told him about it. We liked it so much during our lunch, we just have to find it again for our dinner.

5. Hội An - 23 Aug

Hoi An at sunset

Just a half-hour drive from Danang, Hoi An is great for day trip. The UNESCO site is tiny, you can walk around it in one hour. It's very photogenic. Just in a few hours we're there, we saw at least 6 couples doing pre-wedding pictures.

Hoi An ancient city
But another highlight is of course the food scene. There's a stretch along the river that's dedicated for food stalls. Some of the things we had are dry pork noodles, mini egg pancake, and Vietnamese pancake (respectively cao lầu, bánh căn, bánh xèo), the last being my absolute favourite.

6. Hue - 24 Aug

We weren't planning to drop by here. It's our last day but our flight is at night. There's nothing much to do in Danang except eating. So we decided to visit Vietnam's ancient capital city instead.
With 2 hours drive away from Danang, it's a bit further that I expected. It feels a bit rushed since we only spent a few hours here.
Vietnamese dessert Bánh Ít Lá GaiCentral Vietnam Pork NoodlesHue Lemongrass skewer (Nem lụi)
Vietnamese steamed riceVietnamese fried chicken
Who am I kidding, we're just there to eat. Went to the old palace to take a glimpse but we spent more time to eat. Omg, ya'll. If you think Vietnamese food is nice, you should try Central Vietnamese food. I'm so upset with myself that I didn't go there earlier.

Random thoughts from this trip:

  • You have to spend at least 2 days in each city of Central Vietnam (Danang, Hoi An, Hue). Because you need at least the space of 3 meals a day to enjoy the food they have to offer.
  • That's all, that's all the thoughts I have from this trip, just food-related.

The Irish dreams

My boyfriend is being accepted to an Irish university.
It's something that he's planned for a long time, but at the same time, came unexpectedly because he didn't expect to be accepted.

The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell.
Right to the top.
Don't look back.

So this is how it feels, getting half of everything.
Going back to writing my own journal.
Queen of My Heart playing in my head.

But it's all for the better.
Soon I'll be going.
Going to the hometown I've never been.

It's time to begin, isn't it?

I cannot have a normal colleague

I'm glad to report that my colleague with the incredible thoughts have moved back to her home country, ready for spawning. She's at her 2nd spawn right now. I hope she stops at two. I don't think the world can bear any more little incredible thoughts such as hers in this world.

But I can't catch a break. Even before the first is gone, the second came. Not only this second one has some similar incredible thoughts, she's outspoken too.

One outspokenness that bother me is, she really likes to report to me whenever she's going to the toilet for a big business. Or anything that's related to her big business, really. Usually it's verbal, but here's a written evidence of her favourite past time in office:


That's not the first time too. I just didn't get to screenshot her other reports.

I'm flattered that she feels the need to report to her senior in life, but I really do not need to know that particular aspect of her life.

“Planet Earth is the insane asylum of the galaxy.”
- Werner Von Braun 
"Simplicity is underrated."
- Evan T.

Aristotle quote
I found out how Donald Trump won the presidency.