--> The Only Man Worth Thinking Of... <--
This has got to be one of the most beautiful musicals ever...
Pity I didn't get to see the original. Her Majesty's Theatre was a lot more smaller than I thought it would be but when the musical started, I was enchanted from start to finish..well, except for the part where Christine and Raoul sang 'All I Ask of You' because they sang it a bit too fast. It lost the sweet and romantic emotions I got when I heard Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton's version. The Phantom, played by Earl Carpenter, was brilliant. Rachel Barrell and David Shannon, Christine and Raoul, sizzled on stage with Barrell reaching impressive notes with her singing and Shannon's powerful voice tugging at my heartstrings.I swear, my tears started to form when Christine sang in her nightingale voice, 'Father once spoke of an angel...'
The experience was and will be quite breathtakingly unforgettable. I have finally done one of the things on my Have-To-Do-Before-I-Die list. I have seen AND heard The Phantom!!! Allow me to squeal and gush... *squeal..gush*
All this is due to my aunt, who kindly bought that highly desired ticket for me and for that, I shall never forget. BIG thanks to Ee Ee Rita!!
'Past the point of no return, no backward glances...'
Ah yes.. no backward glances. It really made my day and I shan't look back at the crap day I had yesterday. I was so frustrated and upset with the whole admin system here. Due to a tube delay, I was late for an interview for a National Insurance Number application. I spent 2 hours on the tube and the Job call centre dealing with these applications gave me the wrong directions (thus, causing me to drop at the wrong tube station). So by the time I got there, they refused to slot me back into the line and so my 2 hours travelling time AND the whopping 5 pounds I spent went down the drain. I was told to rebook the appointment and Heaven knows if I can get a slot for next week! How infuriating! They wouldn't accept my explanation and I just wanted to yell at somebody (preferably the Transport minister or the imbecile who gave me the wrong directions...)!
Still, after all this, I was comforted by the only man I could count on (albeit the next day)....and people always look at me strangely when I proclaim how in love I am with the Phantom..
Chloe Andrina
12:49 PM
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--> The Difference Between Blue and Red??? <--
Adjustments.. I guess I'm still a bit confused and am slowly regaining some sort of orientation on the English way of life. Lingo, for instance, takes getting used to. Instead of hearing the typical 'eh' or 'oi', it's now 'luv' or 'sewit-hart'. Tea and scones have replaced roti prata and dino Milo. The differences seem to good to behold sometimes. Thing is, I'm now pseudo English. I'm using words I'd have NEVER used in Singapore for fear I'd be looked upon as being 'ang-moh pai'. Examples?
Bizarre- Wah, dat's damn weird lah!
Brilliant- instead of 'wah, damn cool'.
Cheers or Ta- not 'Tankew' or 'tanks'.
Dodgy- damn off lah! or deesgusteeng.
Please- 'Can help me...?'
Oh well, in Britain, one has to do what the Brits do.. well, as far as language goes.. I still insist on bathing everyday like a typical Singaporean, even in winter.
If you ask me what the best differences are?
UK tax firm:
Boss: Degree?
Me: English Lit.
Boss: Grade?
Me: 2:1
HIRED
Singaporean tax firm:
Boss: Grade?
Me: 2:1
Boss: Degree?
Me: English Lit.
Boss: Er..sorry ah...
FIRED
Singaporean Firm induction:
Show you to your desk, give a schedule, brief outline about how the firm revolves around money and you're on your own.
UK Firm induction: A BBQ Cruise on the River Thames!!
Life is bee-yoo-ti-ful...
Chloe Andrina
10:42 AM
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--> VSOP and a really Happy Passenger <--
Oh well, I'm in London.. Wow, it felt so weird being in Heathrow. Weird and yet, I felt very much at home. When I was on the plane, I pictured myself like character from a comic book and going to London was like trying to blend into a Monet impressionist painting. When I reached Heathrow, the immigration officer looked at me as though he was taking in my unfamiliar harsh outline. But as he stamped the approval on my landing form, the outline blurred and slowly, I immersed myself with the rest of the London crowd and my awkward cartoonish outline smoothed into the pastel dotted impressionist landscape.
Everything went fine and my journey started well because some of you really sweet students decided to send me off and bestow upon me all your kind wishes and gifts. Thanks!! I really appreciate the gestures, the phonecalls and the kind wishes! I'll really miss all of you! At least I have photos with you to remember you guys!
Well, there was a shaky start- the baggage!!! I always had a problem with baggage!! Of course, my clothes seem to weigh a tonne and I had to take out some stuff from the luggage and disguise it as some more hand luggage.. that's where the problems end (for a while) because when I got on the plane, it was heaven!!! Thai Airways has the best service ever!!! They kept serving drinks and after a steady flow of red wine, white wine, VSOP, vodka and sherry, I was suspiciously waaaaaay too happy for a passenger bound on a 12 hour journey!!!
What made me sober was the cab fare to my friends' place- a whopping £75!!! that's $225!!! I almost died from a massive stroke. And of course (as though things couldn't get any worse), a wheel from one of my luggages had broken off and it was a nightmare struggling with a crippled 23kg bag!!
Lesson learnt: Alcohol can only numb your brain with happiness for a short while before reality steps in to whack you head-on like an oncoming train.
Tomorrow: Flat hunting.. sheesh.. what a chore this is going to be...
Chloe Andrina
11:47 AM
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