A big hearty CONGRATULATIONS to Joe on the completion of his amazing dissertation! Also, many thanks to him for taking out time to comment on my CV & job application forms while he was busy with work.

It's the final week of the summer holidays, and will likely be quite a busy week. This month has been crazy, but a great learning experience for me.

When I first returned in August, things didn't look good. I applied for a 6-week long job with the University Bookshop, and didn't get it. (As it turned out the guy who got it quit 3 weeks after starting and they had to start looking again. Oh Howdy Do!) Raffles had hired someone to replace me while I was away - so I was out of that job, apart from a few days when the pianists couldn't make it in to do their shifts. A few applications to jobs through Unitemps, and you know how that normally goes, nothing. I earned a miserable grand total of £200 in August, which wasn't even enough to pay my rent, let alone expenses. It was a very trying and worrying time for me, and I felt that I had made a very big mistake.

The events of September have reassured me that it was worth returning to the UK early. I got a call to build a PC, and after getting a 2nd call, I decided to start a little computer business. Before I knew it, there were more orders than I thought I could handle. I got transferred to the Coconut Lagoon for piano work, which I wasn't quite happy with - but then my boss messed it up and I got transferred back to Raffles again. I also got a temp job with the IT services, whom I've worked with before - and they are calling me back for more work when they need me. Things are working out great. :)

Something strange happened today. I got a call from the postgraduate admissions office asking me if I could work 9am-5pm Tuesday-Friday. I declined because of my trip to London - which is a bit of a shame. However, I think it would probably been a good idea to decline anyway, because it would have made me a dead man by the end of the week.

My housemates are all back this week. Finally, some constant human interaction at home to look forward to. Hopefully, I'll find some time to hang with them and maybe catch a movie with some of the others. A slowdown will be great before the start of term!

HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY
The look on William's face when he came home and saw his new computer in his room. Now that was cool. :)

DATE
18th September 2004

WORKING HOURS
10.00am - 9.40pm (with 20 minute break for lunch)

WORK LOCATION
Living room, 33 Stare Green.

TARGET(s)

1. PC6 - Athlon XP T-Bred system - setup, hardware & software installation. (Target Met)
   
2. PC7 - Pentium 4 Prescott system - setup & hardware installation. (Target Met)
   
3. PC1 - Athlon XP Barton system - troubleshoot, problem rectification, & delivery. (Target Met)
   
4. Collection of DVD-R and CDR stock, plus cabling. (Target Met)
   

OFF-SITE LOCATIONS
Eclipse Computers, Coventry (Target 4)
Digbeth, Birmingham (Delivery of PC1)

NEW RECORD ACHIEVED
4 PCs running in the work location simultaneously.

HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY
Receiving Sheena's card in the mail. My lil' star, you're such a sweetheart. You made my day. :)

I turned 22 yesterday.

It was a really weird day to begin with! NOTHING was normal! I woke up very early and for some weird (or rather NO) reason, I decided to move all the furniture in my room around. Now that I'm done, I realise that it's not as nice as it was before I moved it. Oh well.. :P

The later events of the day were slightly more normal. I drove to Birmingham to have a my hair cut by the amazing Patrick in m.a.k. Hair. Got myself some groceries too, and in case you didn't know, Chinese supermarkets are extremely hazardous to your wallet.

Due to the fact there is no Souled Out in the Midlands, I celebrated my birthday in Thai Spice this year. What better place to celebrate? Great food, amazing service, and the whole restaurant to ourselves. The great spread of food and drink included a bottle of red wine (courtesy of Ee Lyne & Doug), a bottle of champagne (courtesy of Hikaru-San - arigato gozaimasu!), Fried Tamarind Fish (my favourite), Mixed Seafood Salad (Eizwan's favourite), Thai Green Chicken Curry, duck, and a selection of warm desserts.

I love you guys!


Hikaru-san looking mighty cool.

It was a lovely evening, which was down to Guy, the overly twisted waiter, light-hearted conversation, and the sheer volume of hilarious speak sent up and down the dinner table. Many Thanks go out to Joe, Eizwan, Zul, Janice, Hikaru, Lynn, Kuok Tim, Mark, Naomi, Ee Lyne & Doug. I love you guys - thanks for turning my 22nd birthday from quarter-life crisis into a night to remember. :)

The overly twisted waiter.

Bye.

HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY
Chatting with Debbie. :)

Earlier today, I was reading what Roy wrote about what he did on September 11th 2001.

I remember what I was doing, I was playing the piano when the phone rang at 9.10pm. (9.10am NYC time) My brother was calling from New York - where he was training for his job at Goldman Sachs. He was only a few blocks away from the World Trade Center, and thereafter was confined to his office building before being asked to go to a hotel quite a while later.

My dad was in Singapore, and my mum was severely worried. We had to go to a friend's house to see what was going on - on CNN (because we don't have Astro at home). For some weird reason, I decided to go for a drive - for absolutely NO reason at all! Everything was alright, Praise God.

After reading Roy's entry, I also remembered a conversation I had a while ago with a group of friends. They said that "you will always remember what you were doing at the time these significant events happened." They said that they will never forget what they were doing on the day of Princess Diana's death. Even though I do remember what I was doing on the day of her death, a couple of Non-British friends I spoke to today have no idea what they were doing on that day. Her death did probably effect mainly the UK, but the shock of the events of September 11th was truly one that affected mankind and the world we live in.

I might not remember this in a few days, but I can tell you what I did on 11th September 2004.

Woke up in the late morning. Reformatted a computer, and did some technical support on it. Went to the Arts Centre to steward the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Completely bizarre and unenjoyable movie starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, & Kirsten Dunst. I then rushed over to Raffles for evening piano.

HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY
Someone bought me a fruit cocktail at work. Just the ticket. :)

It's just hit me, I'm not playing in Raffles anymore. :(

Just as recognition to the place that launched my musical career, I am presenting a list of the songs I played there frequently.

• All I Ask Of You ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
• Always BON JOVI
• Angel SARAH MCLACHLAN
• Angels ROBBIE WILLIAMS
• Because You Loved Me CELINE DION
• Belaian Jiwa INNUENDO
• Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You FRANKIE VALLI
• Close To You THE CARPENTERS
• Daniel ELTON JOHN
• Endless Love DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE
• Eternal Flame THE BANGLES
• Everything I Do BRYAN ADAMS
• Eyes On Me FAYE WONG
• First Love UTADA HIKARU
• Fly Me To The Moon TONY BENNETT
• Fiona 4U2C
• Greensleeves TRADITIONAL
• Hallelujah RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
  
• Heaven (Candlelight Remix) DJ SAMMY YANOU
• Hello LIONEL RICHIE
• I Believe MY SASSY GIRL OST
• I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing AEROSMITH
• I Love You DAVID TAO
• I'll Be There JACKSON 5
• Imagine THE BEATLES
• Jessie JOSHUA KADISON
• Killing Me Softly ROBERTA FLACK
• Kumohon SHIELA MAJID
• Lady In Red CHRIS DE BURGH
• Lagenda SHEILA MAJID
• Let It Be THE BEATLES
• Let It Be Me EVERLY BROTHERS
• Londonderry Air TRADITIONAL
• Love Is All Around WET WET WET
• Masterpiece ATLANTIC STARR
• Memory ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
• Misty FRANK SINATRA
  
• Moon River FRANK SINATRA
• My Heart Will Go On CELINE DION
• My Memory WINTER SONATA OST
• My Way FRANK SINATRA
• Sheena's Song MALAYSIA NIGHT 2004
• Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word ELTON JOHN
• Trouble COLDPLAY
• Truly LIONEL RICHIE
• Yellow COLDPLAY
• Yesterday THE BEATLES
• Yesterday Once More THE CARPENTERS
• You've Got A Way SHANIA TWAIN
• Your Song ELTON JOHN
• Yue Liang Tai Pou Wo De Xin TERESA TENG

One day, I will type out a shorter list of songs which were bizarre requests I received. You will not BELIEVE what these people ask for!

Hello. Lemon.

I've just come home from work (at Raffles) and have an unbelievable tale to tell.

I got my 2nd Unitemps job - and the assignment says "Assisting IT Services with labelling ports."

For those of you who know anything about Unitemps, you'll know that it's next to impossible to get a job with them. Ever. For every job, they send an e-mail out to a good 5000 people, and you get 200 odd people applying. For one job. The other day, my ultra-amazing-pianist Big Band mate, James, said he'd given up after applying to Unitemps every day for a month and never getting anywhere. I've applied for about 10 jobs with them and been selected for 2. Looks like I'm doing quite well.

The even more amazing thing is, these people are paying me £6/hour to walk around Lakeside & Claycroft, fiddle with the computers and write down a few numbers that come on the screen. Isn't that like STEALING money? It is, but then again, so is my piano job.

When I came back to England, my objective was to make £1500 by the end of September - and by the end of August, I knew this was not going to happen. Thanks to this job, I will be closer to the initial target, and with a bit of luck, I might win the National Lottery. :)

Stephen secured a year-long internship in a 3M in Atherstone.

He went for a second interview on Monday and secured the offer. He then went for an apartment viewing on Tuesday, liked the place, and took it. He's all sorted out!

It's great how God makes things work, and makes it hard for us to not revel in the amazing grace He showers upon us.

Earlier this summer, I met with Kevin Smyth, a frequest guest at Raffles Restaurant. He spoke to me about doing an internship with his company, Volvo Logistics (UK) Ltd. , which I have always been interested in. Just imagine that, working in a company close to here, that does logistics management for the motoring industry! How cool is that? Not to forget mentioning that it's not easy for an international student to get a chance to do an internship here in the UK, let alone get a job!

As the day count towards the new academic year gradually gets smaller, it's time to make some changes. I need to make this year count, and do as well as I possibly can. With the grace of God, lots of work & management experience, an internship, and a good grade, things may be different for the future. :)

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Phil. 4:13

Stephen is a member of the Elim 18-25 cell group which I attend. He is staying with me for a few days before he moves in to his new place.

If someone were to go up to you and ask "What is a coconut lagoon?" - What would you say?

The right answer is simple - the coconut lagoon is :

• A cocktail - White rum topped with coconut juice and tinted with blue curacou
• An Indian restaurant in Stratford-Upon-Avon where I play evening lounge piano on Friday & Saturday evenings.

As exciting as it sounds, I have been relocated from Raffles to The Coconut Lagoon as of 17th September. I played there once last Saturday and really enjoyed myself.

It is a much more casual restaurant than Raffles was, and I enjoyed the delightful singing that went along with the feel-good songs that I played - something that I'm not used to - having played in Raffles for the past year. I also liked the fact that I could play songs like "November Rain", "Bohemian Rhapsody", & "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" without running the risk of getting fired. Plus, they let me order anything I want off the menu! I don't think I'll ever forget having a whole baked pomfret (fish) stuffed with prawns - and served with coconut spinach and tamarind rice - on my FIRST night! I know you all hate me, but I don't care. :)

3 more nights at Raffles, and then it'll be long drives to Stratford every weekend. It may not be easier than before, but it''ll be fun - that's for sure!

computer assembler musician person

My intentions of returning to England early this summer were mainly to play my evening piano sessions at Raffles & Georgetown, something that didn't work out as well as I expected - due to some complications that end next week. I thought this was going to cause me to be broke, bored, & depressed, but lately, it seems that I have been spending more time doing a computer 'business' - one that has never really taken off until now. As a matter of fact, I only used to build computers as a side project, but it's become an amazing mission that keeps me going!

Before summer, Kuok Tim asked me to build a computer for him. He wanted to include some parts that I have lying around, so I get to get rid of those and get some money. I'm building that tomorrow. Awesome. :)

I received an order to build a basic computer for Dhana (a friend of Jags'), which I did happily - for much less than Dell or Packard Bell (DON'T EVER BUY FROM THESE 2 COMPANIES).- and she was quite happy with it! Made some money and got a free meal. Doubly awesome!

Chett bought over £100 worth of computer parts from me. Chett is a ponce. A 6'4" leg end ponce who bought my awesome Logitech dual optical mouse.

Markoose bought a wireless card from me. Has he paid? No. Do I care? Not really. :)

My brother's housemate has asked me to build a computer for him, which, upon approval, I shall start building immediately for delivery (to London) in a couple weeks. This means a little more money, more parts gone, and a subsidised trip to London! Which I shall complete by picking up Sheena (my li'l star housemate) from the airport, thus saving her having to lug her stuff around. Isn't it great how things work out? :)

This computer business have may have turned me into a uber-geek, but it's certainly made my summer more interesting and fulfilling while I had plenty of time on my hands. My piano shifts get returned to me from next week, and that will bring a great summer to an end when term starts in 3 weeks.