Quiet Nights
13 Feb 2006 – Yes, it’s been a week since Bi and I stepped foot on Aussie soil. So other than the first day which we slept away most of, he has been busy catching up with work. For a change, I’m letting him be ‘cos I reckon he desperately needs to do so considering the “havoc” month and a half he’s had in Singapore – squeezing in a couple or two hours of work at the Bukit Batok Coffee Bean as and when he can between wedding-related appointments and hanging out with Jeff and Serene. (If you are one of William’s employers and you’re reading this, I exaggerate. Of course he worked his full 8 hours every day! Sometimes even OT.)
And moi? Well, I’ve been pretty productive too, in my own ways. I’ve packed away our luggage for one, and the house is almost, almost squeaky clean now. Don’t get me wrong. Alvin, who’s been housesitting for us left it in a pretty good state actually, no major damage, unlike you know who… And guess what? He even washed our sheets for us so we’d have brand new ones to sleep in. For a single guy, that’s mighty impressive! Nonetheless I do have my standards so for the last few days I’ve scrubed, wiped, washed, pledged the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living areas, and half the study. Now all that’s left to tackle is the OTHER half of the study – William’s half. It’s been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. There’s just this corner of his that seems to be growing in monstrosity, swelling and extending with books, papers, boxes and all sorts of computer parts.
Doesn’t it pain you, just to have to look at it?
And worse, it knows no boundaries and it’s getting out of hand. Where cleaning is concerned, I have a system, and this corner, it’s just letting my system down. No, to be precise, it’s FAILING my system miserably! So two days ago, I screamed hell and fire to put an end to it. And instantly, we were down at the Moore Park IKEA, picking out a chest of drawers to house that hideous mess.
IKEA, IKEA. What can I say… Sure, the things are cheap, and reasonably usable but each time we are sent to collect the D-I-Y package that will transform into a chair, cupboard, table, whatever, I always get this stinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that something’s bound to go wrong. Most times, I just hope that whatever is amiss is small enough that I can get away with it. Well… NO LUCK this time! Having picked out the “perfect” drawers, Billie was all set to put it together so that finally we can attain some peace and order in the study. Turns out, order would just have to wait that one, more, day. URRRGH!!! The piece of wood that’s meant to be the top of the drawers is missing a piece of its “faux-wood” veneer, revealing the woodchips underneathe.
If it was the side facing the wall, we couldn’t have cared less. But ALAS! It had to be the side that’s facing the FRONT, not even the sides. Aiyah, like dat, how can? $149 leh! We wished we could, but we just couldn’t let it go. So damn you IKEA, we have to make a second trip down! YOU have failed my system miserably.
So other than housecleaning, I’ve also been busy sending out a few resumes. Very onz ah! Second day oredi start sending out. So nobody can say I slack. In fact, I’ve nabbed my first interview: naturopath at an allergy clinic/retail store. That happens tomorrow at Bondi Junction Westfield. Wish me luck! I hope the pay doesn’t suck too bad…
But the most impressive thing I’ve done since being back must be to cook. Yup, I’ve already cooked two meals so far, and will continue to 再接再厉! Actually I do enjoy cooking, it’s very therapeutic in itself. (It’s the washing up after that sucks) And in this day of modernity and hectic work schedules, frankly, a home-cooked meal is quite a luxury, and the act of cooking has definitely got to be an act of love. Especially so in Singapore, where it’s just so much more convenient, and sometimes even more economical to takeaway. So all you people there who get to eat home-cooked meals, 你是幸福的!
Oh, one thing that Billie and I have noticed since coming back is how quiet the nights are here in comparison to Singapore. Oh, and trust me, we have noticed ‘cos we’ve been insomniac for the last few nights. It figures, ‘cos back home we were hanging out with J&S until about 3am every night, by the time we got to bed, it would be about 4-5am, converting that to Sydney time, it would be about 7-8am here. No wonder we can’t sleep at 1am! It’s a good thing we don’t have to crawl out of bed in the mornings for work, at least not yet.
So other than a few sleepless nights and a week’s worth of constipation, things are slowly but surely getting back to normal. Meeting up with Amy and Sumie later on at Pancakes on the Rocks. Yum-mers!
Oh, almost forgot. For those of you who are wondering. Yes, Bodhi is very much alive and kicking. In fact, Kate and Mark did such a great job of caring for him that he’s the fattest he’s been, EVER! It’s like someone stuck a balloon pump into his mouth and just happily pumped away. Hee hee, the little rascal. Ok, talk to you soon! I miss all you girls and guys back home oredi!!!