I'm Not Asleep, My Eyes Are Just Closed

When I was twelve, I had a good friend who I think was way too ahead of everyone at school. She had ideas that didn't conform to the norm, talked of rebellion against teachers and of places that I've never heard of. She was a lot more mature than me, on hindsight, and her taste in men reflected it. She used to rave about an actor called Daniel Day-Lewis, son of celebrated poet Cecil Day-Lewis. At that time, I had heard of neither, nor would I have been interested in any movies that Daniel starred in or read any of the works of his father. My friend showed me a picture of him, hair all gelled up and wearing a tuxedo at some fancy awards do. She was practically drooling over him but I didn't think he was handsome at all, rather funny-looking in fact. Of course at that age, the opposite sex barely registered on my radar. If someone twisted my arm and insisted I name somebody who I thought was cute, I would probably go with Joe from New Kids On The Block, or Corey Haim.(Althoug...

I'm back in Liverpool after nearly four weeks in Ireland. It's great to be back in my own place but the house is resoundingly silent. And dusty. My housemate's on call tonight so she won't be back till late. Suddenly, it sucks to be alone, and I've never been one for disliking my own company. Anyway, I had a good time in Ireland, apart from the time my face swelled up and I leaked pus from my face, but hey, that could have happened anywhere! I've gained a kilo in weight since my sister-in-law feeds me so well and I've basically sat on my arse 90% of the time because my sinus problems have knocked the energy out of me. Okay, that's an excuse, but I need to seriously shed some pounds before I see my mother and all the skinny people in Malaysia in 3 weeks time. Nothing like being back home to make me feel like a lumbering giant. I've been to Dublin several times but I've never done the whole tourist thing properly. I did manage to go to Dublin Castl...

The thing with critics is, even if they do say some bad things, if they do it in a witty and amusing fashion, you can almost forgive them. Of course if they critique somebody else instead of you, they're even more hilarious. My niece, the early-riser, likes to come into my room if she know I'm awake, or if she's plain bored. Sometimes she just chats away, and I nod and listen and pretend I understand. Today, we were playing a 'monster' game as she climbs underneath my duvet and both of us go "RRRRRrrrrrrr!". Niece then says, "You haven't brushed your teeth." Now, I could take offence at that. Certainly if it wasn't expressed by a little girl in a pink polka dot dress. But think again on the sophistication of this comment. You are four months short of your fourth birthday. You are playing a game with your favourite aunt. While in close proximity with said aunt, you detect a sour smell. You recognise this smell as the smell of foul breath. ...

Caution: Do not read further if you are of the queasy type and/or never liked it when I discussed bodily functions. People in the health profession tend to to fall into two groups when it comes to their own health: they're either closet hypochondriacs or they are perpetually in self-denial of their symptoms and their unhealthy lifestyle. Which is why, the doctor's code of conduct does not encourage doctors to treat themselves. Most of the time it is easiest to prescribe stuff for yourself rather than go your own general pactitioner. It works for simple prescriptions like a one-off course of antibiotics. So when the eczema on my face started to deteriorate past mildly irritating to full-scale fingernail attack, I got myself some hydrocortisone cream. Worked fine for 3 days after which I stopped. I know you're supposed to continue for seven days but my skin gets horribly paper thin on steroids so I decide not to continue beyond three days. I had a few days free of problems be...

I have been playing with my nearly 4 year old niece for a good two hours now and we're having a great time. At one point I lie on my stomach next to her on the floor when she promptly stands up and goes to lie down at the opposite end of the room. "Why did you run away from Auntie?" I asked Niece looks abashed (I didn't know nearly 4 year olds can look abashed) and points to her cheek, indicating the eczematous flare up on my left cheek. I am aghast. I know that my niece has a highly developed sense of aesthetics for a kid who isn't even in school, but for her to be revulsed by my appearance is just too much. I relate this to my sister-in-law who shrugs her shoulders and sighs in resignation. "This isn't the first time she's been so blatant. The other day in the tram, she pointed to a dwarf standing near us and said loudly, 'Mummy, why is that man so short?'I tried to distract her with something else but she kept pointing and repeating her que...

I have left ole England and have safely arrived in Ireland to see my family and friend. I planned to stay here a month - the longest time I have ever spent in the company of my family since I have lived independently. As per usual, I never sleep properly prior to a trip anywhere nor could I eat breakfast this morning without feeling sick. But I eat anyway because I know I would feel worse if I get on the plane on an empty stomach. And as per usual I nodded off during the 30 minute flight. Mainly becuase I hardly slept last night, but also because I have a tendency to fall sleep when I'm sitting on any moving vehice (vehicles on water excepted). I think it has something to do with my parents putting us kids in the car and driving around till we fell asleep. I kept waking up though, because somewhere at the back of my brain I was still conscious that I was sleeping with my mouth gaping open and perpetually on the verge of drooling. I do not, however, know if I snored. I was once woke...

This month, I have been listening to: You Give Me something - JAMES MORRISON SexyBack - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE . Ooooh, Mr Trouser Snake himself. Trouble - RAY LAMONTAGNE Fill My Little World - THE FEELING I have also watched: Garden State - Ehhh. Nothing fantastic, but maybe I've been reading too many reviews and expecting too much. I can garner some sympathy for the over-anaesthetised Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) and appreciate the tension between Large and his father (Ian Holm) whenever he briefly appears on-screen, but I watched most of the film feeling like I was on all the anti-psychotics Large was on. Robin Hood: Men In Tights - Why did I rent this film? How could I forget that I watched it before and didn't find it all that funny? I returned it without watching it till the end. Spirited Away - Japanese anime is always a little weird but worth watching because they rarely fit the usual Hollywood/Western storyline. Captivating story with interesting characters, beautiful an...