Holidays!

Sorry for the hiatus.. I've been terribly busy so all my blogging activities have been relegated down my list of priorities..

The couple of weeks prior to my holidays, I was busy getting two assignments out of the way while keeping my project supervisor happy with at least a hint of progress.. Then I went to Nice, France with my partners in crime, Rin and Nadia.. This is our 2nd winter trip together and I have to say they're the best travel buddies for me.. It was nice and sunny back there, so when our plane touched down at London Luton on a cold, foggy evening, I tried to build some rapport with the immigration guy.

Me: It's 14 degrees back in Nice.. Then I saw the grey skies here.. It's kind of depressing really.
Immigration Guy: It's been this cold for the last couple of days. Welcome back!
Me: (Grrr.)

Anyway, I'm back now and Rin was staying over at my place for about a week.. It was such a blast.. We went shopping like crazy.. OK, maybe it was ME who shopped like crazy.. Rin actually had a 50% reduction on her spending compared to last year whereas I had increased mine by.. ooh, I dunno.. 100%? :P

When she left for Birmingham, it was pretty sad.. It's the second time I've sent off someone special at that same train station.. Afterwards, I went out with friends.. One for a movie and another for hot chocolate.. For someone who likes private time, I sure go out of my way to avoid it :P

I still remember the time when I was ushering in the new year exactly 365 days ago.. It's so funny and yet surreal at the same time.. That night was the beginning of the most turbulent ride in my life..

2007 began with a promising start.. My life was peachy at that time.. I had received job offers from Malaysian companies and our team became division champions for our local chess league.. But then my insecurities got the better of me and I ended up repeating the same mistakes again..

In Easter, I went home to see my dad get married.. I can never forget what he said to me right before the ceremony:

"Having you flying home to see me get married is the best wedding gift you could ever give me."

May was terribly rocky.. I was battling my inner demons while facing my 2nd year final exams.. I was lucky that I had lots of friends to support me, which I'll always be thankful for..

I went to Poland in the summer.. Ended up in the bad books of my friend in Warsaw, but apart from that, I absolutely enjoyed my trip there.. Summer really made me grow up.. I saw and experienced so many things that I was so glad to be home by then.. I started my summer internship in July and I had a fantastic time working there.. Then I went for my sponsor's re-orientation program which taught me a lot more about life in general, especially since it taught me some nifty stuff about dealing with problems and life's pressures.. I stayed with my foster parents in a homestay program which I'll always remember.. I also happened to meet a couple of guys who decidedly added some colour into my life..

Towards the end of summer, I got involved in my 3rd car accident in my life (and I haven't even started driving yet!).. The blessed month of Ramadhan was filled with lots of soul-searching.. The highlight of the month was to see my mom get married.. It's really neat; I had 4 parents sending me off at the airport by the time I left for Soton :D

During Freshers Week, I worked as an ECS Jumpstart and Uni-Link helper.. I had an absolute blast! I finally went to the drivers' portakabin so now I know where they hang out.. And how :P

I've also been blessed because this year alone, I've gone into print twice.. One was for an ECS advert and the other was for a profile on Comp Sci students..

So yes, 2007 was an amazing year for me.. Who would've thought that I could've learned so much within a span of 12 months.. I certainly think I've grown far more in the last year than I ever thought possible.. Not to say that I've completely grown up, that is.. I still have a LONG way to go :P

I've got loads of resolutions for 2008, but let's break tradition and NOT write it down here in my blog.. They're more like methods of achieving the dreams that I've included in the list on the right hand side of this blog..

I think 2008 is going to be another life-changing year for me.. I'll be graduating this year so God knows what's in store for me.. I have so many different directions in front of me and I'm anxious no matter which way I choose to go.. All this time I've been successfully separating my life into two different worlds.. One is the carefree me who does whatever I want.. The other is the responsible me who wants to make everyone around me happy, especially my parents and brothers.. By August, I'd be facing the challenge of merging those two together and it's a lot harder than it seems..

In terms of my love life, well.. I can't really blog without saying anything about my love life now, can I.. I found someone.. Well let's just say he found me (finally!).. He makes me the happiest girl in the world.. I see a bumpy road ahead of us, especially when people start to know about us.. Even if what we have is not gonna last, at least we both know how it feels like.. And at the moment, it's all worth it.. I'm such a sucker for romantic drama :P

So yes.. If you ask me, I think 2008 is going to be pretty rough.. But hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? :D

As I was watching the colourful fireworks to bring in the New Year just now, I kept thinking to myself that God has everything already planned for me.. I have faith that He knows what's best for me..

Happy 2008, people.. I know it'll be good for us all :)