El Viernes de nieve

This was meant to be posted last night but the connection suddenly went down.

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I found myself smiling, walking home under the snow. Today has been the best Friday I have ever had in this term, as Friday is usually the least favourite day in a week when we all have to work from 9 to 6. I felt incredibly good that the crazy snow after my last lecture at 6ish couldn't bring my mood down but set off all those cheery feelings of the day.

Christmas is finally coming to me. Well, it may sound pathetic to say I have never enjoyed Christmas. I would lie if I said so. I, however, haven't had such Christmas feelings like this year. I used to work long hours, see Christmas as another day in a year and treat myself with a decent dinner without work. Somebody may also ask where my ex girlfriend was at that time and the answer is my other half was never around during Christmas or my birthday. It all comes down to the concept of "to have IS not to have"... :)



This year is different. I find myself smiling, playing with the snow, feeling excited to see my old friends, all of which I don't tend to express much. I still cannot understand why I keep holding back from liking/loving or following what I love. Perhaps, I am being too rational to dare doing it. I start my pro and con table as soon as I feel that I like something. I am wondering whether I can just put my head off for one moment to do something crazy and see if it's worth a try. I guess, it may be the moment that you know you are on the verge of losing it forever that you will show the true you with the most honest emotions... or, at least to me.

And again, this year is really something. A lot of things have happened; good things, bad things, friendship, betrayal, etc. Don't close the door to everybody does not mean to leave the door open to anyone. I have learned this moral through this year. I might put my trust at a wrong place before, but how could I possibly know I made the wrong choice if I didn't trust it. Nevertheless, I do know that I can trust the people I am spending this holiday with and will fill this Christmas with lots of memories :).

... To be continued...

Eat Pray Love

At last, I have found something to truly think and write about. It seems to me that the more laidback my days get, the easier I can let my thoughts wander around and come back with some new little friends.

I have had this movie in my laptop for quite a while and haven't got time to watch it until tonight. Hmm, it is definitely a movie that a guy may not want his girlfriend to watch alone. It's not about the journey of mediation and healing from a bad divorce. It's about the journey of revealing the true self that you might have been afraid of.



How many times in life, have you found a person, thought he/she is the one but refused to take the chance? 1? 2? n? Along the way, I have found myself running away from whom I truly like. Those are the times that you fear of getting hurt, of being apart and most of all, of losing a very close friend. That is when your head takes it all over and leads you to another person you claim to have feelings for. You subsequently fall into a trap that you think you love somebody else because you have prevented yourself from telling the one you're deeply in love with.

Doubt thou the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be liar,
But never doubt I love.

Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Christmas is coming

I still remember Christmas has not come to me early in this year. I still remember I said "Christmas is coming but why am I not in the mood at all". But then I guess it was only because when you do not know what to expect from this Christmas, which is no longer the case when I have things sorted out.

The online test did have wear me down not because it was hard but of the consequences of it. I am one of lucky few who did not encounter the IT problems which Business School kept denying there were. Thus, student reps have been working days and nights to cool furious students down and bridge the connection between course coordinators to students.

One assignment was due. My lovely taxation is due on Monday and I just finished it a few minutes before this entry. Another one, which we have completed 99.9%, is due next Friday. And I am good to go!

Christmas is coming in 2 weeks and I have not figured out whom I would spend with. I pretty much enjoy spending Christmas alone with some decent food, good sleep, and movies. Or perhaps I am just used to the way it is. I do feel terribly sorry for families keep spending tons of money on Christmas gifts even when they do not have that much and get annoyed at those greedy kids/teens who keep asking for more. However, I do want to fill the holidays with friends, memories, and some fun. At least, I have my Boxing Day and New Years booked for you Berta ;).

I am a bit sad that you cannot afford to come here this Christmas, Duc Anh, although I know you would never have the chance to read this. We have been trying so hard, all the applications, in order to bring you here to your lady in London but money is always the dagger.


To be honest, Christmas mood has not set off in me until yesterday. I was actually meant to be in London for an Induction Day at Accenture but the event was canceled due to the early cold spell over Europe this year and student protests over tuition fees. Thus, I woke up with the notion of a peaceful and laid-back day followed by a massive night. If you are to pull a wholenighter off, do it in a decent way and you will see how much fun you would have without having the walk of shame in the next morning. I spent a whole night out with some friends, catching up, listening to each other, going home, editing and uploading photos, and reading until I felt asleep at around 6.30 in the morning. By that, you understand how important to have close friends. And I'm glad I have a few, not many but enough to have some quality time with. I also appreciate the fact that they always talk in the best objective view they can compared to some of my friends, whose friends only take side of with them no matter what.

last year Christmas dinner :)

A little break

Tuesday has been my favourite day of the week for some reasons. I still cannot remember why it has been this way but it seems to me that most of the good things have happened on Tuesday or the early Wednesday, which I just call it Tuesday night. Obviously, there should be something to write about on these special days.

It's just nostalgic to happen to read a few emails I wrote 2 years ago during this time. I couldn't help smiling at that. It reminds me of the great time I had, the last two Christmas in the UK. This Christmas wouldn't be similar to the last two for some you-know-why reasons. However, I do have the chance to have a totally spontaneous holidays with all my friends. I've got a feeling that it'd amazing. I received a gift from mom today. She must have sent it like weeks ago so that it's managed to reach me today despite all the "we cannot guarantee the arrival day" from Royal Mail. She's always the first and one of the very few to send me these in the UK. Thanks mom.

God, what the hell I'm writing anyway? It sounds absolutely boring and listing-ish. I guess, I just want to drop something down to remember this Tuesday.

Today, I received 28 emails with regards of the issues the Accounting and Finance students encountered yesterday during the online test. I understand that I don't have to be responsible for this or make any apology. I, nevertheless, do feel really sorry for them and definitely have to respond to this as a student representative in this University.

Today, I received the news that our team didn't make it to the semi final in the IBM UBC competition. We thought we could make it after the wonderful start. I guess that's how life is. Sometimes you just need to fail to know you have to make more effort to the top.

Today, I got home at 10.45 and finished my dinner at 11.15. My tax essay is still waiting there for me and I'm here writing random thoughts. When would I be able to put up a proper entry? And even if I cannot pull it off, why bother writing this? Perhaps, the fact that you know at least somebody is still reading makes you feel that you can somehow entertain them, and let them know that you want to share these thoughts with them.

Nokia N8

Dear my new friend,

It may sound really weird to you right now but I need to tell you this story, just so you understand you are special.

Dated back in 2006, my dad gave mom a little mobile phone from Samsung. That little friend has a black-and-white screen with all basic features. Mom didn't feel the need to use it and hence I kept borrowing it. To be honest, I'm not proud.

In 2007, my cousin gave me her 'almost dead' Samsung T809 on T-mobile from the US. The phone was a big step for me since my friends had had mobile phones for ages. That was my so-called first phone with 265k screen, 1.3mp camera, slide-up design. It died after a month in the UK.

Therefore, the real phone I bought for myself is my wonderful Sony K800i. I have had this phone since 2008 and it's still superb so far. The more technology innovates, the more those tech geeks like me go crazy to insane with all high-end gadgets. Sony Satio arrived and I couldn't help falling in love with it. Satio was, however, out of my league, i.e. my pocket. I got the Nokia X6 instead as it was nearly for free when I signed the first contract of my life, mobile phone contract after a year and a half on Pay As You Go.

Things went well until some bastards stole my Nokia X6 when I was playing basketball at the court during the summer. There was only one word to describe my mood at that time, devastated. For the first time, I had no idea how I could bring this up and say 'I lost my phone'.

I started to save up and bought both the Satio, which I have wanted so far and Samsung Omnia HD, in order to cool down the pain of losing my phone. I still did not know why I bought two. It was such a waste of money. I guess it all came down to the idea that I wanted the Nokia N8 so badly that I thought the combination of those 2 would have made up.

Hence, I started my second year in the university with 3 phones; Sony K800i, Sony Satio, and Samsung Omnia HD. It does sound mental and luxurious for an ordinary student like me, doesn't it? Everyone has their own obsess, mine is basically technology and basketball. It's impossible for me to keep changing laptop, shoes, or whatsoever. Phones are the easiest thing to chase up the new technology if it's in your price range.

And here it is today, the Nokia N8. I sold my Samsung Omnia HD and got this one for a bit of difference though.

A friend once told me that there is somehow a connection between a person and a brand he/she uses. That may explain the fact that I've always been into Sony products. Nokia, nevertheless, has never appeared in my head apart from X6 and this superb phone N8. I lost X6, and I don't wanna lose you.

From me, your owner.

December and Berta

"Let it snow, let it snow."

"Snow"

These phrases have appeared on my wall updates so often recently. Some were posted with excitement, eagerness, and whatsoever as they want to see snow, probably for the first time or just enjoy it. Some, on the other hand, were put up as a spell to stop the snow.

I merely cannot pick a side.

I had my first snowy winter in Exeter staying in due to the bizarre chicken pox. I had a whole roasted dinner in Lafrowda alone, enjoying my quality time with some favourite movies. I was once, no, several times asked whether I felt lonely or sad during those days. That is obviously not the way one wants to spend his/her holidays. I'm just used to it and making the most out of it. Quite frankly, I enjoyed it.

This year, it is amazing that December has finally come. Here I am again, greeting and watching the little 2010 shaking its tail. Certainly, I'm looking for some changes in here. Let's put some new friends in the picture!

Normally, I would go straight to bed at this time but I feel the urge to put something down here. Perhaps, I haven't been here for so long. Or merely I haven't written any proper entry about things in general that I used to write about. It's funny to find out that we're growing to become a sort of different person compared to who we were.

But how different I have become, it's time to get back here, stroking my fingers through the keyboard at 3.40am as I am doing right now for some random thoughts.

Oh, another part of the title, Berta. How can I say, Berta? What about you shall I say? To be honest, I haven't known you much. In fact, we only got to talk way back in October and haven't seen each other since. Your blog, nonetheless, inspires me and puts me back here. We gotta catch up soon, time is flying and the clock is ticking...

I guess, it's always you and me then, my little friend.