If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would have been in a culinary school. I have to admit that I did not make it through my first application to be in the architecture program, hmm, 7 years ago!! I almost gave up architecture. And so I said to my mom I dont want to do this anymore, I want to be a chef and apply to get into UiTM. I was already looking up for the forms and such when my mom gave me a definite no, go through this and finish it.
Haa well you see, I guess they were tired of me not finishing what I started. I went to boarding school when I was in form 4 and boy I hated it so much I made my parents came every weekend, on Saturday and Sunday just to visit me and made them listen to how bad it was for me with a hope that they will pity me and transfer me back to my old school. Naaah didnt work out. Had to stay till the year was over and was transferred back to old school in the fifth form.
And when I get an offer to go to Matriculation in Melaka, I immediately said yes and packed my bags. Although it wasnt for long because a couple of months was enough to make me realize my brain does not work for science. I suck at science (pity my parents, dad is physics experts and mom teaches chemistry but daughter is a dumb ass).
So I plead my parents to get me out of that science bootcamp hell haha exaggeration but yeah got a place to do architecture foundation in MCIIUM. Managed to stay for a year and finish the cert but when things didnt turn out quite like what I expected and got offered to do Urban Planning, I wanted to quit architecture school and do culinary instead. And this is when my mom said buckle up young lady appeal the course or just finish what you've started for once. Haha yeah I appealed and got accepted :D
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would have not be as outspoken as I am today. I was never a fan of public speaking and hell yeah thank you for all the individual presentations, I managed to gather a bit of confidence to speak in front of a crowd. And voice out my opinion. Architecture is all about opinion and ideas so being reserve is not an option. Blerghh.
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would have not know that I have speech dyslexic. Yeah no kidding. I suck at debating because my mind thinks slower than my mouth. And I always have to assemble words in my head that when I have finally gathered what I wanted to say in a proper sentence, the moment have passed and the group discussion have moved on to another topic. That is why I was always a bit reserve in a crowd, especially when Im with new faces.
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would have not known that I can sketch. Or, I would have not learn how to sketch and my handwriting would be doctor-like cursiv, except that this is a no brainer doc-handwriting. Yes architecture have taught me to write nicely and I still remember the wordings that I had to write in my foundation years; we had to write within the four lines like in primary school book these words- A good designer is the one who can control their handwriting. Okay tipu. Had to write this in malay and translated it but hell yeah had to write a lot of those words until my handwriting improved.
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would not be so good at team work. Because, I am a bit, well tipu, I am sangat gila kuasa that I didnt want to listen to other people and that I am always right. (Still am. What the heck??) But architecture is all about team work and you have to work as a team. And somehow it develops your leadership skill. And architects are the leader in the construction industry. When I was working at AMB, my boss used to take me to the site (mainly because I tendered my resignation because they didnt take me out. So they did) and they took me to attend site meeting and such (which I was struggling not to fall asleep pastu menyesal mintak ikut pegi site hahah padan muke aku). But I really enjoyed the fact that all the people on the site know you are from the architect's office and look up at you. And even I was only a Part 1 assistant, whenever I went to the site, Mr Song the site manager always treat me as if I was their boss too. So you see, I am a leader thanks to architecture. Back into the reign the team that I will be working with will suffer so much because I am so gila kuasa as a leader their team work is going to be to satisfy my orders. Muahahaa. Pastu bisnes aku pon lingkup memang terbaik lah!
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would not have appreciate the heritage buildings and our unique vernacular architectures. Dont they get it, all those people promoting eco sustainable buildings that buildings are suppose to respond to the climate and big glazing does not help at all and they call those buildings eco-sustainable friendly buildings but provided ac outlet for each room. What the heck is that?? Seriously, if I do not know what that means, I would have bought the ideology that theyre selling but hank you architecture for educating me how precious our heritage vernacular buildings are.
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would have not travelled so much. Architecture have taken me to places that I have not dreamt of. Well tipu. Memang selalu gila mimpi nak melancong luar negara macam kawan2 yang anak anak orang kaya semua tu tapi aku kan tak mampu. So alasan terbaik was always, I want to go there because I want to learn their culture and architecture, it fascinates me how people live and respond to their environment. It fascinates me how the built environment had to make peace and sit in the environment to cater the people and often the debate is how can these elements be happy hand in hand. Yeah more questions but no kidding, different cultures have their own ways of responding to the environment and how do you know this, travel and see these places!
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would not have come to London at the very first place. Kah kah okay maybe ade sebab lain but hell yeah architecture was a concrete reason to get my visa ready and makes me fly away. Yeah. I would have not known so much and would have not open my eyes like today. I would have viewed things the way I have always do because living abroad have really opened my eyes wide. And I love London just have a look at how all these modern building made peace with the older ones and being able to keep their heritage buildings. Look at Malaysia, they knock down all the old heritage buildings and what do we have left? Hmm very few. Shame on you really. Save the old buildings and conserve them!! Old buildings could really work well in a city, look at London people!
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would not have come to London and go to the Potters Field where they had malaysian carnival. It was my first month in London. And I would have not seek shelter under Mofaz's tent at the carnival when it was raining. Anddd.... I would have not known Jefriman Johari, the oversea representative (well, that was what written on his card haha).
If I was NOT doing architecture,
I would have not known Jefriman Johari. And would have not get the chance to get to know him personally. And would not have found my soulmate. Yes, THANK YOU ARCHITECTURE.
THANK YOU ARCHITECTURE.
For without you, I would have not found my love. Mwah! I love you architecture!!
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Sunday, 9 January 2011
The drip. (No, literally)
Yes I had not been blogging for a loooong time now. Seriously! And its already 2011! Oh how time flies!
Anyways, I have moved out from Grove Lane, a house that I have loved very much. It was a very difficult decision for me but after a year and a half I have come to realize that its time to give up on the dream that UEL will be relocated to somewhere central. And therefore the most logical way for me to cut the travelling time is for me to move to Beckton, wiithin the perimeter of my university.
Well I then sorted out to finding a place near uni. And found a room in a female house share that is reasonable priced and really close to uni, 10minutes walk. And I immediately said yes after the viewing.
Haa thats the tricky part. You must be wondering why I did not do more viewings and decided straight away to take the house. Well I had been doing a lot of viewing to rent a house with a friend. And yada yada yada after a tiring few weeks looking for a house, the person bailed out and that left me to be a homeless person in two weeks time. That was why I straight away said yes after viewing the room near uni, I was just sick of searching.
Well I might have overlooked a few things. Nope, the house was perfectly located near my uni. I can see the roof of the library building from my house, thats how close it is. Walking to the uni means I am saving a hell lot of money on transportation, a thing that Im just so glad because apparently the monthly travel card price had soared no thanks to the new VAT hike.
The room size was very reasonable. It is originally a double bedroom but because the bed used in the room is a single bed, I will have ample space to put arrange my stuff.
Well yes, overall I am happy with my room. That's after I cleaned it ofcourse. I have to admit that I found it filthy at first as they had mouldings on the skirting boards and walls. And the carpet is a bit dirty I requested for it to be steam cleaned but they declined it saying the carpet is clean, well, to no surprise considering the staircase carpet was badly soiled and visually not pleasing.
When my boss helped me move into the house, I explained to him my situation. I would need the carpet to b steam cleaned and he said he will have a look at the room size. He helped me took my stuff into my room and he had to admit that the condition of the room is bad, well, hygienically. I had to agree. It looked allright at first but when you started to spend time in the room, there is no way you can just shut your eyes from seeing the dirt and moulding on the wall. And dont let me start on the carpet!
I managed with my room. I cleaned every bit of the skirting boards and the walls. And I get the carpets steam cleaned. I thought I had to dig out my own money but my boss had been so kind to do it for free for me. Yes Im blessed and after the hardwork in the room, I am happy with the standard of cleanliness achieved. Well, in the room anyways.
And yes the toilet, as it is a communal bathroom shared by 6 people in the house, you could not imagine how dirty it is. At first I just shut my eyes and avoid looking at spots where you can see thick mouldings at the corner of the floors. Hairs cover the floor tiling and the bath mat looks like it had not been washed in months!
I did not have to stay here 10 days to decide I had to bring in the cleaner. Well I spoke to the landlady and they seem to be a bit hesitant as they said they do clean it regularly. Although, I doubt it so much as sitting in the toilet looking around is enough to make me puke. It was not until I said I will pay the cleaner as long as the toilet is cleaned that they agree to let the cleaner come. And I asked the permission to wash the mats, they said they just washed them, 2 months ago!! FAINT!!!!!
SO on Saturday, 8th January 2011 Maxine, the company's cleaner came at 2.45pm and started straight away with the bathroom. I told her I only had money to pay her maximum 3 hours and I need her help in the kitchen too. (Yes! The kitchen too!!! Dont let me start with the stove and all. No wonder they have rat sticky mat to trap the rats. Have they ever looked at their kitchen cleanlines??!!) Urghhh I am just soooo stressed out.
I thought Maxine will take about an hour to do the bath. Then she can start doing the kitchen. But boy I was wrong! She took 2 hours 15mins just to do the bathroom. And she earned every little penny I paid her yesterday! It was a hard work and believe me I knew. I spent a good an hour in the bath helping her (yes, thats two person working on a bathroom. Add the time up, the total time needed to scrub down the bathroom is 3 hours and 15 mins! Crazy right!!!)
Indeed! But she did a great job. The bath and the tilings are all shiny and the smell of the bathroom! Aaahhh so fresh its just that nice bleach smell haha I dont care, it is the smell of a clean toilet. Well obviously the time left was not enough for her to do the kitchen so I asked her to clean my room and do the windows instead. Sometimes, we wonder how bad could you be in a room that the walls, skirting boards, the window sill and the windows were just so dirty. Messy is another thing because messy doesnt always have to be dirty but trust me the room was dirty and even after I cleaned it, Maxine still managed to clean it better. And she helped me hover the carpet too. Bless you Maxine!
Well thing about the bathroom is, the tiling work was bad at the bath tub area near the water tap. And while maxine was cleaning that area, I noticed water dripping down in the entrance lobby, directly below the bathroom. It must had been from the previous dripping as the ceiling seems to be a bit cracked. Well I thought was the crack caused by Maxine, hmm no its not at all possible. All she did was pouring water at that side to clean the tiles so there must had been leaking all this while that had eventualy caused the crack in the ceiling. Well it does look like the ceiling had been replastered over some possible work done in the past. And as soon as Maxine stopped working on that side, the dripping stopped. So yeah thank you Maxine for spilling water there otherwise they would not realized the structural crack in the bathroom.
Well sadly I did not have enough money to extend Maxine's hours. I would love her to start working on the kitchen straight away but I had to send her home instead. I took her to the kitchen for the opinion and she said she will need 4 hours to clean it. Well for such a small kitchen I would have said no, 2 hours tops. But with the condition of the kitchen, and having looked at her working in the bathroom, I just nod. I said well I need to gather some money first before I could call you back. And off she goes.
Attached are the pictures of the bathroom before and after. And also the crack on the ceiling. You are welcomed to be the judge!
I now have clean bathroom. :))
Anyways, I have moved out from Grove Lane, a house that I have loved very much. It was a very difficult decision for me but after a year and a half I have come to realize that its time to give up on the dream that UEL will be relocated to somewhere central. And therefore the most logical way for me to cut the travelling time is for me to move to Beckton, wiithin the perimeter of my university.
Well I then sorted out to finding a place near uni. And found a room in a female house share that is reasonable priced and really close to uni, 10minutes walk. And I immediately said yes after the viewing.
Haa thats the tricky part. You must be wondering why I did not do more viewings and decided straight away to take the house. Well I had been doing a lot of viewing to rent a house with a friend. And yada yada yada after a tiring few weeks looking for a house, the person bailed out and that left me to be a homeless person in two weeks time. That was why I straight away said yes after viewing the room near uni, I was just sick of searching.
Well I might have overlooked a few things. Nope, the house was perfectly located near my uni. I can see the roof of the library building from my house, thats how close it is. Walking to the uni means I am saving a hell lot of money on transportation, a thing that Im just so glad because apparently the monthly travel card price had soared no thanks to the new VAT hike.
The room size was very reasonable. It is originally a double bedroom but because the bed used in the room is a single bed, I will have ample space to put arrange my stuff.
Well yes, overall I am happy with my room. That's after I cleaned it ofcourse. I have to admit that I found it filthy at first as they had mouldings on the skirting boards and walls. And the carpet is a bit dirty I requested for it to be steam cleaned but they declined it saying the carpet is clean, well, to no surprise considering the staircase carpet was badly soiled and visually not pleasing.
When my boss helped me move into the house, I explained to him my situation. I would need the carpet to b steam cleaned and he said he will have a look at the room size. He helped me took my stuff into my room and he had to admit that the condition of the room is bad, well, hygienically. I had to agree. It looked allright at first but when you started to spend time in the room, there is no way you can just shut your eyes from seeing the dirt and moulding on the wall. And dont let me start on the carpet!
I managed with my room. I cleaned every bit of the skirting boards and the walls. And I get the carpets steam cleaned. I thought I had to dig out my own money but my boss had been so kind to do it for free for me. Yes Im blessed and after the hardwork in the room, I am happy with the standard of cleanliness achieved. Well, in the room anyways.
And yes the toilet, as it is a communal bathroom shared by 6 people in the house, you could not imagine how dirty it is. At first I just shut my eyes and avoid looking at spots where you can see thick mouldings at the corner of the floors. Hairs cover the floor tiling and the bath mat looks like it had not been washed in months!
I did not have to stay here 10 days to decide I had to bring in the cleaner. Well I spoke to the landlady and they seem to be a bit hesitant as they said they do clean it regularly. Although, I doubt it so much as sitting in the toilet looking around is enough to make me puke. It was not until I said I will pay the cleaner as long as the toilet is cleaned that they agree to let the cleaner come. And I asked the permission to wash the mats, they said they just washed them, 2 months ago!! FAINT!!!!!
SO on Saturday, 8th January 2011 Maxine, the company's cleaner came at 2.45pm and started straight away with the bathroom. I told her I only had money to pay her maximum 3 hours and I need her help in the kitchen too. (Yes! The kitchen too!!! Dont let me start with the stove and all. No wonder they have rat sticky mat to trap the rats. Have they ever looked at their kitchen cleanlines??!!) Urghhh I am just soooo stressed out.
I thought Maxine will take about an hour to do the bath. Then she can start doing the kitchen. But boy I was wrong! She took 2 hours 15mins just to do the bathroom. And she earned every little penny I paid her yesterday! It was a hard work and believe me I knew. I spent a good an hour in the bath helping her (yes, thats two person working on a bathroom. Add the time up, the total time needed to scrub down the bathroom is 3 hours and 15 mins! Crazy right!!!)
Indeed! But she did a great job. The bath and the tilings are all shiny and the smell of the bathroom! Aaahhh so fresh its just that nice bleach smell haha I dont care, it is the smell of a clean toilet. Well obviously the time left was not enough for her to do the kitchen so I asked her to clean my room and do the windows instead. Sometimes, we wonder how bad could you be in a room that the walls, skirting boards, the window sill and the windows were just so dirty. Messy is another thing because messy doesnt always have to be dirty but trust me the room was dirty and even after I cleaned it, Maxine still managed to clean it better. And she helped me hover the carpet too. Bless you Maxine!
Well thing about the bathroom is, the tiling work was bad at the bath tub area near the water tap. And while maxine was cleaning that area, I noticed water dripping down in the entrance lobby, directly below the bathroom. It must had been from the previous dripping as the ceiling seems to be a bit cracked. Well I thought was the crack caused by Maxine, hmm no its not at all possible. All she did was pouring water at that side to clean the tiles so there must had been leaking all this while that had eventualy caused the crack in the ceiling. Well it does look like the ceiling had been replastered over some possible work done in the past. And as soon as Maxine stopped working on that side, the dripping stopped. So yeah thank you Maxine for spilling water there otherwise they would not realized the structural crack in the bathroom.
Well sadly I did not have enough money to extend Maxine's hours. I would love her to start working on the kitchen straight away but I had to send her home instead. I took her to the kitchen for the opinion and she said she will need 4 hours to clean it. Well for such a small kitchen I would have said no, 2 hours tops. But with the condition of the kitchen, and having looked at her working in the bathroom, I just nod. I said well I need to gather some money first before I could call you back. And off she goes.
Attached are the pictures of the bathroom before and after. And also the crack on the ceiling. You are welcomed to be the judge!
I now have clean bathroom. :))
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