Iqbal
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: I Put a Spell on You (Manfred Mann)
Topic: Cinema
So, last Saturday went to see an Indian movie called Iqbal ... there weren't any 'real' stars in the show except for Naseruddin Shah ... but the movie was surprisingly quite good. I enjoyed it immensely. I think much better than the stuff that the Indian film cinema has been churning out recently. The movie is about a mute boy who wants to be a cricketer ... and the movie just follows how he become a cricketer for the Indian team. I thought it was quite nice - a very simple concept but a nice movie ... unfortunately I don't think it would be doing so well at cinemas. I was the only person in the cinema for that movie (yup the only person!).

The music in the movie was quite good too - but they didn't provide English translation for the song or is it songs (I'm not certain if it was one song or two). The movie was funded by some British council (I think) - for it to be shown here. I think it is a sweet movie on people fighting for their dream and trying to overcome problems that they are presented with. I think what I love about it - is that it showed a bit more of the 'real' India, with people who look like 'real' Indians rather than the stylicized (alright not a word but sounds better than stylized) Bollywood stars including Aamir Khan.

Its going to be spring!!
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Coward of the County (Kenny Rogers)
Topic: Milton Keynes
The weather is going to change finally!! Its going to be a whopping 13oC in MK by the weekend .... finally ... these 7s and 8s and whatever below that is going to disappear forever .. well, unless the weather decides to take a change ...and autumn and winter comes around. Never thought I would be so glad about the weather - you really have to be obsessed with the weather in this country.

I might be able to wear a dress or skirt ... been stuck in trousers for so long ... but don't know how warm a 214oC that's gonna be ... so might wait until it is declared to be a high about 16oC or 18oC before I take any chance :D.

Ecumenical Council
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Kasam Se (Jaanwar)
Topic: Lent
Well ... this is really about church - but Lent was the closest topic heading to that (and also now is Lent anyhow!)

Anyway last Sunday, it was vocation Sunday in church (couldn't remember what it meant at the time)- turns out to be finding jobs in the church so on my way out Beverly 'accosted' me and said she had a job for me, which made me very wary and apprehensive at the same time. But then she told me that Richard and her were thinking that I should join the ecumenical council, so I had to plead ignorance because I have no idea what an ecumenical council was but Richard said it was one of the better kind of meetings I could attend to and it is where I basically be myself and share my opinions and then these help shape or guide the church (I'm sure he said it much better than I and he probably actually knew what he was speaking about!). But he did say it is a good phrase to name-drop in church gatherings and I should get respect. Well before he told me all that stuff, I told Beverly yes (because I'm just bored and need to fill in my days) although she said I should go and have a think about it and prayer about it too - but didn't that much time ... :).

I bought a car!!!
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: I Won't Dance (Frank Sinatra)
Topic: Driving
Well .. on Saturday I bought a car ... a cheap one ... a black 1996 Renault Clio 1.4 RT ... for 825 pounds ... I thought that was a good price ... did beat down the price from 850 - so that's even better.

Insurance price is a bit of a killer ... given I have my licence for 2 months ... and in this country for less than 3 years ... but got a quote with the AA for 602 pounds ... so that was good - considering the other places on the internet were giving some insurance for me like 700-800 pounds, so I think that's pretty ok.

I did buy this car pretty quick, saw the advert on the OU advert sight on Thursday, saw the car on Friday with Rebecca (agreed to buy then) and got transfer of sale on Saturday.

The car came with a brand new battery and alternator ... so, that's quite alright. I asked the guy, Graham, about the brakes (he said they should be alright) and the cam belt (but according to him I shouldn't need changing that anytime soon - because it was changed - I'm guessing around 60,000 miles he must have done it). He did say there was only one previous owner besides himself (a friend of his), but when I looked up the registration plates it said 4 owners ... got me worried a bit, but when I checked the MOT, they were all at the same place from 1999-2001 ... so guessing it might have just been in the family with transfer of names.

Skimmed milk
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Blue Bonnet Lane (Don Edwards)
Topic: Pet Peeves
Well, had to drink semi-skimmed milk this morning - because on Saturday and Sunday when I went to Sainsburys there were no skimmed milk ... don't like the taste of semi-skimmed.

People find that strange that I actually like skimmed milk - but I do think it tastes so much better - Angela used to call skimmed milk "coloured water" because according to her that's how best it could taste.

I remember once when we (Amalia, Ritch and I) were staying at Margaret's house, the neighbour came across and I was going through the groceries and was whining that they bought semi-skimmed - and the neighbour she says "I know skimmed is healthier isn't it?" - and I had to explain to her I like the taste of skimmed and she look at me with surprise. So - whadya know in some stuff I actually like the healthy things.

Got my licence and phone today!!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: It's a Little Too Late (Tanya Tucker)
Topic: Internet fun things
Ok ... technically not internet fun things ... but it is a 'fun thing'.

Well, after much agonizing whether my licence and phone will come in time before I leave it arrived today... got to thank God for that ... because I did ask him to swing it my way if possible ... and I guess God does answer my prayers :D ... in most cases.

So, my licence still have that horrible picture, could change it if I want to, but need to get someone to sign the pic who knew me for 2 years or go to the DVLA (in Oxford) to get it done - just waaay too much hassle, so will settle with the horrible pic, until next year Oct, because then some people here in the OU will know me for two years.

The phone is still charging - waiting for it to charge up to connect it up and set up an internet account etc. Well, waiting on it.

Going home on Saturday :D!!!
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: This Boat (Joey Dee)
Topic: Family
So, Papa and the whole family went down to the BWEE office last Friday, and they got my BWEE club card sorted and got my ticket changed to Saturday instead of Sunday ... so, that's great for a couple of reasons:
1. I get an extra day with my family
2. Get to go to church - so, will get to sing some more Christmas Carols
3. I wouldn't have to get an early bus on Sunday but a train instead (trains don't run on Sunday mornings)

So, feeling good about all those reasons. Anyway, got a supervision this evening - not sure how that is going to pan out since I've sort of been on holiday mode since I've passed my driver's test.

Only thing is that I'm not sure if I'll get my driver's licence before I go to Trinidad, since the DVLA said it will be with me usually withing 3 weeks, but this Friday is only the 2 week mark - so problem ... besides the post office isn't the most reliable at this time of the year.

I ordered a phone on amazon, on last Sunday and was hoping to carry it with me to Trinidad - but now Amazon says it will be delivered only after Christmas ... so, wondering if I should cancel since I won't be getting to use it in Trinidad. Besides, Amalia said they bought a phone for me to use in Trinidad (this is after I ordered) ... so, may not need a phone.

I passed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mood:  incredulous
Now Playing: West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys)
Topic: Driving
I passed!!! Could you believe it? I still can't believe it ... heck, I was nervous not really during the driving but during the manouevres (parallel parking and reverse around a corner) which I really did terrible ... but was still able to pass with that (I just think the examiner was taking pity on me) ... I passed with 9 minors .. so that is great.

Driving Test Today!
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: Hero (Tasmin Archer)
Topic: Pet Peeves
Well, today is my driving test at 11:11 am exactly and I'm nervous as heck. I wish I hadn't had to do this test - I could gladly cancel right now and I won't mind losing my money :).

You see I know I'm going to fail ... because when I'm nervous my driving goes to pieces, and my already bad clutching gets worst ... at least I'm alright on the large roundabouts the mini-roundabouts are ok, but the double mini-roundabouts do throw me - so I have to remember to stop at the give-way lines. I think my two biggest problems will be to remember to check my mirrors particularly when I'm braking and ensuring I keep up to the speed of the row. But I usually can keep up to the speed of the road, but I usually have to take a breather to do that before I can go down back.

I think one of my hardest problems is traffic lights, not going when it is green etc., but at traffic lights there are other vehicles and I'm always scared of rear-ending them, that I brake harshly rather than smoothly - and I'm thinking that is not good.

My clutch control on the hills are not good so I have to remember to use my hand-brake since I won't be able to do that with my clutch and accelerator alone - well, probably can do it - if my nerves were better, but when I get anxious or panic my movements become jerky and I want to go as fast as possible so I could get the miserable test over and done with - what I have to remember is to take my time and be calm no matter what happens and not to get anxious or panic - easier said than done - probably I can chant "Ommm" in my head and it might calm me down.

Also, at zebra crossings, I've to check my mirror and see the people and stuff, yesterday didn't see the people on the zebra crossing and Lisa had to stop the car - not good :) ... oh, well the best I'm hoping from this test is that I don't get any dangerous - I can deal with majors but dangerous - will mean I'm a dangerous driver and that might break my confidence (not that I have much confidence when I'm driving anyhow - because of my panic and anxiety behaviour).

When I'm calm I drive really good - because just relaxing etc and not thinking about what the other person is thinking about my driving so much. Besides, usually I know where I'm going when I'm relaxing and driving but with these tests they tell you where to go and I am so accustomed to knowing where I'm going to drive properly, even when I'm not driving I like to know the plan that there is in for the drive unless it is Papa driving because then I know he'll take care of whatever but generally I like to know where we are going because I can then map the route in my head, since when I'm anxious or panicky, if someone says right it somehow becomes left in my head and vice versa, I think I'm going to screw up with directions. And although I might repeat right, my brain might still think it is left. Why can't they saying we are going that way, and point? At least I'll know :D.

I think this getting confused with right and left must run in the family, because Amalia only knows her right hand from her left hand, because she has a scar in her left hand, and Ritch always get confuse with left and right, since he'll say he is turning left when he is driving and then he turns right. So, it is a family thing. I've never seen mum or pa do that though ... must be two recessive genes in all of us :).

Tropical Storm Epsilon!!!!
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: If This Is It (Huey Lewis & The News)
Topic: Internet fun things
Well, here we are again ... another new storm to go look at it ... this is like Delta since it is formed in the North of the Atlantic Ocean.

Yesterday, was the official date for the tropical storm season to be over - but we still got that one hovering!

Delta strangely enough hit the Canary Islands, I wasn't aware that tropical storms could hit those islands although earlier in the year one of the depressions did hit Spain.