12.13.2014

Book Haul

I may just bought myself my last book stash of the year within the week. Just couldn't help myself. I tried in vain to rule myself into buying books only when I finished one, but to no avail. How can I, when every corner I turn to seem to keep troves and troves of books?

Anyway, here are the five picks of the week.

1. Q&A a Day: 5 year Journal
I am looking forward to start doing this come the new year. Everyday there is a question that you will answer. It could just be a word or a sentance, nothing presumptuous I would imagine. But I think it would be interesting to know what the answer to the same question would be every year.

2. The Miniaturist
I have posted a blog before about my favourite books of all time. (Click here to see the post.) One them is Night Circus. I am a massive re reader so this book has served me well. Which, after a long time, lead me into hunting down a book so similar that might just contend with it. The recommendation is always this, and I cannot push it any further. I am just excited to start reading The Miniaturist.

3. Illustrated Stories from Dickens.
How many of us knew Charles Dickens? Almost everyone I suppose. But how many of us knows or have read the entire story of Oliver Twist?... Exactly. Hence, I bought this book. I am actually embarrass to admit that I know not of it. To shame myself further my take on Great Expectations was all based from what Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow said to each other, nothing more. I must have seen the movie half heartedly for I cannot remember what the story was about. Anyway, this book will surely remedy my fault.

4. The Last Unicorn
Some books just call to you by its cover. Some by title. Even better if its both. Hence this book. When I paid for this the lady in the till gushed about it and told me that this is one of her favourite. The last time I got the same reaction from a bookshop staff was when I bought the book Snow Child, and surely enough it delivered. With a recommendation from bookshop staff, what could go wrong?

5. The Imaginary World of _____________
For someone who loves doodling like me a, book that was design for free reign writing is just right down my alley. I have the book Wreck This Journal which was given as a gift but sadly, it didn't resonate with me, even when I was so sure that I would love it the first time I've seen it. It is unfortunate but I might've a change of heart. Until then, lets try this book. I have high hopes for it.

I just remembered I have another book this week but since it belongs to a series that deserve a whole new post. =)

12.07.2014

Dear Diary

Ohhhhhh, its that time of the year. If you're anything like me who love diaries, year end is an exciting time for diary hunting. And I got mine ready. Unfortunately its not the journal type one where you write your innermost thoughts and stuff (as I am by far very lazy to write everyday) but rather the diary/organiser kind of sort. Yep organiser! As far back as high school I have been keeping one. I remember my very first was a Sustagen give away. Complete with Susy and Geno plastered in front of the cover. How old school is that? 90's babies would remember this brand. Anyway, I once met somebody who told me that it was preposterous to keep one if your are neither a business man nor an event organiser. Well, I couldn't care less. I think anybody can have one if its their thing. It helped me when I was active both in my high school extra co curricular activities (which was a fad on our time) and yfc. It kept me sane and organise. It's also a fun way to remind me of what I did in the past, or if I had to give a specific date for a specific event, lets say immunisation shots? It carried over my college years and now more than a decade later I still keep one. Preposterous or not.

I've searched high and low but couldn't find my 2012, but it was this one. I was on my full Anglophile mode that year, hence the the tube map diary.

12.03.2014

Walk in the Park

Every year Syon Park opens its gate for their Enchanted Woodland event. It is on for limited dates so it is worth planning ahead. I have my eyes on this event for the last three years but for some reason it never came to be. Every year I would mark the dates and every year I would fail. Well, not this year! It was sort of a planned yet spontaneous kind of thing. There were no preparation and stuff in case it gets jinxed again, rather as Reg picked me up we just decided to just as well go. Planned in a way because we agreed, if, we are to attend it this year it would most probably be on that certain day. As it happens the park was just 20 minutes away from work. So everything went well for us.

They have scattered fairies all over, which make the place even more magical. I can just imagine my 6 year old self going berserk in here.

The tiny doors and windows on the trees were everything that reminds me of my childhood fantasy.

11.23.2014

Pen Affair 2

Since this post, my pen relationship hasn't let up. In fact in all honesty it has even grown. Just the other day as I was buying yet another set of pens I saw Reg rolling his eyes. He must have been thinking that no one could possibly finish a barrel at this time and age anyway, so why bother with having more than one. But hey, it is what it is. So here are some of my top addition to my ever so growing pens.

This has one of the finest point I've ever seen. Makes any handwriting looks elegant with not so much of an effort.

Classic in our books.

Hands down this loot made my week, all 6 working days of it.

By far one of my prized one.

Erasable pen. Exam perfect?

I am trying to figure out where this pen liaison started and all I can think back on, is my then high school teacher telling us a story how she was so into pens. I can't remember why she became engrossed with it but I am quite glad that I picked it up.

11.16.2014

Saturday Safari

The temperature has finally changed. Cold is here at last, which by our definition meant more emergencies, more work. Last Saturday was one of the rare weekends that Reg and I got to be off at the same time. It has been hectic these past few weeks and it will be more in the next ones. We both agreed that we needed a breathe of fresh air. A clean country air before we get back to the next round of work grind.

So we went to Paradise Wildlife Park. The place is great for kids. With all kid friendly facilities you can think of. You can pet and feed animals which gives a very tactile experience. They have talks and feeding times show, that one can join should tiredness creeps in. They have bumper cars, sand pit, bouncy castles and the works. As I said great for kids. The Woodland Park is my favorite though. We went there twice. The closest to walking in the middle of a forest on a crisp autumn day.