Here comes the Torquil

Ahaha. It's so refreshing to read a Diana Wynne Jones story. Archer's Goon is somehow better than all the other books by her that I've read so far.

And Torquil is quite nice and so funny! I am not Awful, but I totally agree with her about him.

"Get rid of Archer! Get rid of Shine! Get rid of Dillian and everything is fine!" There's something so simple, so fun-loving about the way he proclaims that. In a way, he's like the Howell Jenkins of this story- eccentric, yet normal. Lazy, yet he thinks quite a bit. Happy and cheerful, yet he gets down at times too. He seems like a social butterfly, but he's quite a private person too.

I thought it was so cute when he almost started crying when he was talking to Hathaway again after their big fight. It's as though he's the youngest, not Venturus.

He's someone who would get bored doing the same things everyday, but yet wants the status quo to remain. In a way, he's a lot like my younger brother.

Great story. I especially liked the part of the story where Howard-Venturus was running away from Erskine and Howard called on all of his older siblings to help him. When I read that, I knew that Howard had to be Venturus. Hathaway, send a bus! Archer, money! Quick! Dillian, send police cars to stop Erskine! Shine, Torquil, help me! Oh no! Dillian, Shine's overdone it!

It's quite interesting to note that although his siblings treat him horribly when they first meet him (when he does not yet know who his true identity is), they all come to his aid when he needs them. It reminds me strongly of what Catriona said right at the beginning of the story: blood is thicker than water.

The wonderful thing about Jones' storytelling is that everything, no matter how disconnected it may seem, fits together in the end.

Speaking of which, it's amazing how Jones manages to explain such a complex past so simply, and in such an interesting way. She reveals it in bits and pieces, not all in one go. Because that would simply be such a let down.

Ah. Shiawase ^_^ Diana Wynne Jones has got to be my favourite author! Right next to Jeffrey Archer. Actually, I find I don't take as much pleasure from Archer's stories as from Jones' books. Archer's stories are intriguing in the way they develop and twist and turn, but Jones' stories are far more humourous and enjoyable, with each new development just as surprising as those in Archer's stories.

Being a little rude here, aren't I? After all, it should be Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare. What an odd name. Oh well.

I don't know if its a good thing that I can find Jones' books at second hand book fairs, going for anything from $1 to $5 each. On one hand, I can buy as many as I can find! Muahaha. On the other hand, it's kind of sad that few Singaporeans appreciate her talent as a writer.

Oh well. I myself have a story all laid out and waiting for me to write, but somehow I just can't get down to it. Maybe it's because I wrote it out once but lost it because it got deleted -.- Or maybe it's because I haven't figured out what kind of meaning I want to give to it. I think I haven't the depth or insight to write something really worth reading. I think I'll just keep updating the point-form I have to change the story, the themes, until I feel I am ready to write it.

Maybe it was a good thing the first try got deleted. I am now free to rethink it through. Looking back, I think the original plot was good, but its themes were just stupid.

So. Maybe I'll get down to it after my A levels. For now, I'll just enjoy the antics of Torquil, and of course, Howell Jenkins.

Anticlimax- noun. Definition: A let down in thought or emotion

Yet another anticlimatic Friday.

The weekend I looked forward to, the rest I longed for, the time to be spent with you...

When the end of Friday comes around, I always realize that Saturday and Sunday are days after all, and the illusion of resting and not having to do anything else is just that- an illusion.

SO tired >.<

As for you, I think there must have been some mistake. I must have screwed up somewhere somehow, and now I'm stuck in this mess. Stupid stupid. I hate situations like this.

Atashi nara daijoubu, isogashiku shiteru kara.

Bio SPA Skills C and D is tomorrow. It's the last CD SPA! Should I be happy?

My thighs and legs are tired. My head is tired. My heart is tired.

I shall not study tonight. Tomorrow, tomorrow.

Tomorrow really never comes, does it? All those MCs waiting for me in Tomorrowland (shaln't mention who but you all know who you are!), the homework and study plans to be done in Tomorrowland, and all my dreams in Lalaland.

>.<

Tomorrowland awaits. Somewhere over the rainbow, and somewhere at its end.

A Senior Moment

I know I'm not old enough, but don't I qualify? After all, I'm a senior this year :)

I keep forgetting stuff recently, like what homework's due and what's going on tomorrow... It's not really absent-mindedness, but more of too many things to remember.

*gets out planner*

I feel a certain teacher's words coming true- it's been a game of catching up with homework so far.

Oh well. Busyness is better than being bored to tears I suppose.

You agree right? Glad to know it's option 1 after all. I wish I had taken the chance to ask you just exactly what you're busy with. After all, it is what I've been dying to know... too bad I'm not good at that sort of thing. Argh >.< Perhaps I shall ask in my very forward and un-subtle way. Hahaha.

I was dying to know if you were alright, and now I'm dying to know what you're doing. I'm so weird huh. Could have asked you right on the spot. Why didn't I then? Hmmmph...

Back to senior moments. I miss Pei Pei and Hui Yan! :( It seems like just as while ago I was walking Pei Pei to school from the mrt on her very first day of school. Aww. On the brighter side, I am no longer implicated. But still, I miss you guys!

It's so weird sitting in LT 1 looking at all the juniors and thinking, most of these people aren't the same as those I saw yesterday. Can't be helped, can it? At least this is the last year the PAE will run. I think it's high time it was removed. It's so chaotic, administratively (a certain teacher looked very old today), emotionally, and it's so disruptive to learning.

A Lit teacher of mine, Mr. B, was having a senior moment today too. But I suppose it doesn't really count because he did bump his head on the carpark ceiling (another Lit teacher, E, is taller than him- gasp, what if E had bumped his head instead? I know Vanessa would be cursing and swearing at the carpark architect :D) In the aftermath (Mr. P's new fave word!), Mr. B forgot his IC no, which is quite freaky. You always read about concussions somewhere, in the newspaper, in books, but you never think it's actually going to happen to someone around you.

Anyway, the result is that Mr. B's memory of our progress in lit class extends only to last Wednesday's tutorial. Oooh. >.< Interestingly enough, he didn't forget the poem essay assignment we were supposed to do in class on Monday. Oh well.

I'd love to talk so much more about senior moments, but unfortunately I have to go practice my violin. Because my violin teacher, old as he is, rarely has senior moments about the exact spot where we stopped at in a piece.

Hitomi wa ima, anata dake o miteru.

X-Park Walk

Yesterday was X-country.

The only reason I'm bringing it up now, is because two interesting things happened during its course.

The first was all the cheater bugs who looped early and cut their distance by about half. So much for integrity. Maybe it's how you define it? Integrity is being honest when people are watching. Somehow, I beg to differ.

The second was all our long-sleeve-shirted teachers who stood and tried to movtivate us to run. Which was kind of impossible, because all the mass 'runners' had already made up their minds to be mass walkers.

Teacher: "Hurry and get moving! You're going to make the whole school wait for you!"

Eater: "But sir, we ARE the whole school." That was so impromptu, so innocently made that said teacher could be heard trying not to laugh after that.

Lol.

And yes, today is Valentine's Day. I now have 9 White Day obligations.

I came to school thinking Valentine's Day is so insincere, with people giving gifts just because of the day. But I came out of school realizing it's also a chance for usually unexpressive people to let you know how they feel about you. It's easy for some people to scream "I love you!" at a friend or even a crush, but not everyone, yours truly included, can do that. That's not to say V day is the best day of the year; I still think real love is expressed best in every single day. Just that it's a chance for people to give flowers and chocolates without being called siao or stupid, especially in an Asian context. I mean, if someone you don't feel anything for gives you something on V day, you wouldn't feel so grossed out if it had been another day, right?

So to Eater, Yokie, and Wang Huan, thanks for the flowers and sweet things. Especial thanks to Wang Huan, who made my day today with her lovely surprise.

It was also so cute to see my teachers' response to V day. It's clear a certain lit teacher related distantly to royalty has a poor impression of it, due to various reasons. One of which is money, the other of which is the inefficiency of lessons on this particular day.

Oh well. It's been an interesting day. I've never looked forward to anything on V day, which is why I always come away pleasantly surprised. I shall maintain this mindset, for V day, and try to be apply it to the other aspects of life.






That way, I can try to be more optimistic, just like you.

Happy V-day, my dear.

Hitori michiyuku kono kokoro

Studio Ghibli theme songs are always nice.

Teru no Uta- Aoi Teshima
Yuuyami semaru kumo no ue
Itsumo ichiwa de tonde iru
Taka wa kitto kanashi karou
Oto mo todaeta kaze no naka
Sora wo tsukanda sono tsubasa
Yasumeru koto wa deki nakute

Kokoro wo nani ni tatoe you
Taka no you na kono kokoro
Kokoro wo nani ni tatoe you
Sora wo mau yo na kanashi sa wo

Sometimes I feel like time's just passing me by. Like everyone's out there doing stuff and I'm here doing nothing. Well, not actually nothing. Just being alone by myself doing the things I like. And the things I like to do are best done alone, like reading. Although I confess I do like doing things like skating by myself too. For now anyway.

February the 14th is coming. I am not looking forward to it. Partly because it would mean Terms are closer. Also because the day before that is X-country (darn). And lots of work would be due before that. And Peanut Hime will be leaving the next day. And Chinese New Year holidays would be over by then. And I will have to cook waffles and crepes for food sampling that day.

Sigh. My life seems busy with so many things. But at the same time, it seems so dull. I feel left behind by some of my older friends.

It's like they changed or grew up or moved on. Without me. I once thought I was one of the lucky ones who had found best friends in this world but now it seems like I've been mistaken. Somehow I've always been a shoulder to cry on, but never more than that. Find Jane when you're sad, but if you want fun, she's no good. She can shoulder your burdens, but not share your laughter.

Which is probably true. Even I find myself such a boring person. This year feels like the loneliest time I've gone through. It isn't because there aren't people around me. It's because I can't tell any of them how I feel.

Boy, this top-in-English student has a problem expressing herself. How ironic.

February the 14th, begone. Already I have wasted too much time thinking of how I much I DON'T like you.

At least I seem to be understanding Chem and Bio again, now that we've changed lecturers. Why do good lecturers come in threes? Thanks to the new Molecular Bio lecturer, I've begun to understand lectures. The new prof is organized, structured, and tells us what we need to know and what we don't. Unlike a certain previous prof who didn't seem to know what he's supposed to teach us and happily assumed that all of us are smart a**** like students from a certain JC in central Singapore.

Oh well. Every cloud has a silver lining. After 14th Feb will be 20th Feb, which is a better day. For one, it would mean no more mass PE. To know the other reason would be to understand why I've been sitting here, on CNY Eve, in front of the computer for almost 2 hours now.

Why am I sitting here? I feel stupid. And WHAT would I do on the 20th of Feb anyway? There's nothing in particular that I can do anyway. Gee. I am stupid.

Kokoro wo nani ni tatoe you
Hitori michiyuku kono kokoro
Kokoro wo nani ni tatoe you
Hitoribocchi no samishi sa wo

There's only one cure. Off to bed Janey. Off to bed.

An ADVERTISMENT

HELLO EVERYONE who actually bothers looking this blog up.

Here is an announcement:

Anyone interested in going to see Daniel Hope play Mendelssohn's violin concerto (in E minor)?

And watch Ari Rasilainen conduct the SSO?

Eater knows which one I'm actually slightly, just slightly, more keen to hear.

Anyway, is there anyone at all?

Peanut Ohime will be Aussie already, so she can't go with me... :(

It's on the 17th of May, 7.30pm, at the Esplanade.

Programme- Mendelssohn Vln Concerto in E minor, Prokofiev 'Classical' Symphony and Sibelius Symphony No. 1 in E minor.

If not, I'll just be going by myself...

More info at sistic.com, "Masterful Mendelssohn".

:D,

Jane

P.S. Don't laugh Eater. I consider myself not as bad as you.