It seems befitting that the most fulfilling, mentally stimulating, challenging and happiest phase of my life so far, ends on the day the nation celebrates it’s 49th birthday. A new beginning, in a way, and hopefully, another fulfilling, mentally stimulating, challenging and happy phase in itself, too. I know I’ve been whining about the move, the space, the town even; and I don’t often write personal experience pieces any more, but I figured this isn’t really all that autobiographical, plus half of Malaysia are on a long weekend and by the time they get back to the office this entry would have been pushed way down, so why not? Indulge, that is. After all, what are blogs but manifestations of one’s inner lookitme lookitme, haha.
I know I may have risked being thwacked on the head for saying stuff about the space in this flat in the tone that I did, but really, it took me a while to appreciate it all. Space needs a bit of getting used to, especially since I’ve never really had a room I could call my own until I came to Lancaster in 2000 and rented the airing cupboard of a flat at Graduate College. Sleeping communally in the living room through childhood, sharing a ‘room’ with about 50 girls throughout teenagehood, having first dibs on the comfiest couch in the living room at home, but not much else.. you get the picture.
It’s kinda overwhelming when you start off, but come day 6, I am better accustomed to the small things. Like coordinating items in the kitchen. The neeed for an oven mitt. What baking trays are for. The difference between tea towels and cleaning towels. How to make use of the airing cupboard. Yes, I am beginning to appreciate the intricacies flatpack DIY – although okay, me and Abe have been at it for quite a while now. He should really be awarded an honorary degree in flatpack instruction reading.
The people here are intresting, too. I was invited for a coffee with the man living downstairs, who gave me the lowdown. He has Multiple Sclerosis, and sometimes needs to use his wheelchair to move around. Funny, you’d think the Brits would ask you down for tea, but there you go. He is friends with a guy in another flat on the first floor, who I assume does not work either because he seems to be around during the day. Next door is the building director, a delightful gentleman in every sense of the word. They seem to all get along okay, and often pop round each other’s place for a natter and a brew.
My parents would probably flip if they knew I’d been making friends with not one but three blokes – my mom almost did when she found out I was travelling down with the removal lads last Saturday, and I ended up having to take one of my housemates down with me. After I arrived, she confessed: “Mama ni kadang-kadang ingat kamu semua ni baru 12 tahun. Baru dapat IC.” I think my heart broke a little – she ‘lost’ me not long after I got that IC, truth be told.
Now.. for tommorow. Should I turn up in a suit? That’s not good because they may expect me to turn up smartly dressed every day – I only have 2 suits! If I turn up in jeans and a t-shirt, it may send the wrong message to the big guy whom I have yet to met. So chances are it’d be a pants-jumper combo. Now excuse me while I get round to doing the ironing.
*****
I think I’ve figured out who Mr Right is – he is Science Boy – with superhuman thirst for knowledge!!!
