A wallow in nostalgia

Everyone ages eventually, inevitably, and unfortunately.

8 years ago, I was jolly young as a spring chicken.
I had the unbeatable energy that carried me through to the dawn.

Then suddenly, my life took a big turn. 
My energy level sunk to zero very rapidly. 
In fact, some nights I barely last past 9pm.

This is my energy roller-coaster these days.
For better or worse, everyone has to come to accept his ageing fate.

As I become older, I have also become more mesmerised by all the jolly good pictures taken when I was a bit younger.
They often made me laugh out loud.

My silly cousin, Rocan & I sneaked into an orchard in Renmark - April 2007

Sin Hui, me, Julie & Pei Wen were pointing at some random sky objects in Kangaroo Island - November 2007

Paint-balling with Vivian & Julie at somewhere in South Australia - Sometime in 2007

Camping with my housemates, XX (cannot recall who she was), Josie & Phuong in 1770 - sometime in 2008

After bidding fond farewell to my dear old classmates, housemates & friends, I then embarked on a "solo" journey searching for a better quality lifestyle. 

That was when my true femininity began to show as well.

March 2013

Two years after March 2013, this was how I look like:

August 2015

Once I hit 30s, my physical constraint became more apparent.

My body might be playing tricks on me, but I still try to keep my mind as active as I can. Mind over body, as they say. 

I read a lot more than before. I travel a lot more than before.

My old man often says to me:

The more you travel, the broader your mind.

He tried to send all his children to overseas for this reason.

Mia @ Wincester - June 2016

A life is made out of a great number of small incidents and a small number of great ones. 

Big or small, I wish to share more with you in the coming posts.

那 friend 过打 band 的日子

虽然这辈子没有 ‘姐妹’ 运，但有 pair 跟自己 friend 过打 band 的兄弟也很不错！



下次再补上一张和弟弟的照片好了⋯⋯

Baby Pea in Turban ♥

When I was a small girl, not only I had a cheeky brother, I also had a very contented life.

As you can see, my appetite was good and my tummy was twice the size of my brother  \(^o^)/

My brother and I often found wearing Sikhs turban fascinating and it quickly became one of our favourite things to do!

Our mum, the slim lady in the reflection, couldn't be more proud of us when she was taking this picture.

Too bad my other brother wasn't born early enough to join in our cheek (^o^)

Is She A Boy?

There is something about myself that I have always been very proud of - - - :

♥ My Remarkable Dimples ♥

But they didn't save me from looking like a boy (*^o^*)

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Reminiscence

When I was young, I grew up like a boy because of the presence of my two pesky brothers.

I climbed trees.

I blew peas in the straw.

I played toy soldiers, Lego pieces, and even the remarkable "Baling Selipar" game...

And the list goes on......

It was not until when I grew up a bit more, that I began to take more notice of my girly existence.
I then started to make a list of dainty hobbies that I feel a girl should at least learn at some point in her life time.

I was nine when I embarked on my journey of learning oil painting, calligraphy, chess and guitar. Although I would much love to be given the opportunity to learn piano or violin, lamentably it does not eventuate into my bucket list.

So when I come to know about my niece Sophie gracefully performed piano in her kindergarten concert, my chest swells with pride and my eyes are filled with rolling tears of joy ~ ♥

Such a classy setting for a kindergarten concert  ~ ♥

Why wasn't mine like that at all? 

Special thanks to my old school mate Yi Quan for reminding me of our good old time in kindergarten.

By the way, that was 1990 (^o^)

Chubby Me

Hello my Char Siew Bao!

Things have been crazy busy these days and without even realising how quick the time has gone by, my parents are already on their way (flying) here to witness our R.O.M!

Ahh... Speaking of Char Siew Bao, thought of showing you some old pictures of me (with Alex) and my Char Siew Bao face. Look at how small my eyes were compared to my chubby face ^-^

The good days! I do miss the brown hair though...

Alright. That's it for now. It is 12:03am now I think I better go get some sleep. 

I hope you have had a good weekend ♥

当少女变成熟女

2007年的一个下午，我发现放在车上的手提电脑被人盗走了。
那时候，我难过的原因不是因为东西被偷走了，
而是电脑里面存放了我很多很多刚来澳洲念书时候的照片，这些照片对我来说都很珍贵。
侥幸当年我已经有写部落的习惯，所以今天才有机会分享这一张我失以复得的旧照片⋯⋯

这是在我抵达澳洲后，第一张拍的照片，满满的青春，满满的BABY FAT ～

2006年我在阿德莱德第一次度过冬季，
刚开始因为不习惯寒冷的天气，点暖炉24小时一直都开着，
所以那一季的电费突然暴增了三倍。
我想我那时候大概年级太小，没有想过那样自私的行为会拖累了父母，
记得那次之后我被我姨丈教训了很久，说我很任性，没有替家人着想，
那次之后，我一直觉得很对不起父母，在外国念书就应该省吃省穿，没有必要让家人担心。

接下来的一年，我学聪明了，开始融入澳洲人的生活方式。
我从原本不吃牛肉、不吃羊肉、不吃起司，到后来还是硬硬学着来吃，
冬季一到我会学多穿几件衣服保暖，这样我就不必再浪费钱了。

偶尔，大学生活常常会出现很多诱惑，常常有想尝试新东西的冲动。
可是因为我对酒精特别过敏，所以大学喝过两次之后，我就没有再碰这些东西了。

大学第三年，记得班上有个很帅的老师，让女同学疯狂了一阵子。
少女时期没事好做，最厉害就是偷偷暗恋男生了。
那个帅哥老师，我都忘了叫什么名字了，是 PETER 还是 PAUL 啊？

我也是最近才发现，原来帅哥老师是男人以前的大学同班同学，
他们两个原来一直都是我药剂系里的大大大学长，世界太小了吧？

大学第四年，我在某个机缘下认识了我生平中最要好的朋友，淑盈。
多亏她，我大学最后的那一年刻下了我这一辈子最最最快乐的一年。

后来，我们终于毕业了⋯⋯

毕业前，我是一个中文很烂的半个香蕉人，
毕业后，我变成了一个中文有很大进步的半个香蕉人。

我在大学偷欢的那几年里，并没有爱上任何一个男生。
反而，跟我偷欢的那群朋友个个都是单身的，感觉十分自由，十分疯狂。
记得大学因为要省钱，不花钱的节目又很少，所以我们经常到海边吹风钓螃蟹，超开心的～

这一群好朋友大部分还是留在南澳，而我在毕业后就独自来到这个什么都没有的昆士兰了。

刚来到昆士兰的2008年。
第一年来到这里，我便遇到了好好好好好朋友ADRIAN，
因为他，我认识了今天坐在我身边的男人 ^^
交往以后，我变得更加温柔，更加小女人去了。

2009年，这个时候，很多朋友纷纷都有交往对象了，有些还计划买家、结婚、生孩子了。
我也开始对自己的生活有策划，有打算，态度比从前更认真，性格也没有从前那么爱玩了。

再来就是2010年了⋯⋯
我比从前更有冲进，跟有梦想，更有活力去探讨生活，去实现梦想！

这个年龄，工作的地位自然比吃喝玩乐更加有分量了，人也开始会爱打扮漂亮了。

出门前会更注意穿着打扮，出门后会特别注意在外的言行举动，

少女时候的粗枝大叶跟着渐渐消失了⋯⋯ 

然后一年接一年又过去了，2011，2012⋯⋯
我越来越怕老了。
我很怕没有时间去实现我之前许下的太多愿望，太多的梦想。
我开始在乎皮肤的状况，所以我会比从前更加注意饮食和健康了。

2013，我很劳累的一年，不过也是我最有成就感的一年。

八年后，再看看我自己⋯⋯

过去的大学记忆，还有少女时曾做过的那些愚蠢事，如今依然历历在目，仿佛像昨日一样。
我想不认老都不行了 ^o^

当了熟女之后，就跟原本刚来到澳洲的小妹妹不一样了。

说话需要思考，做事需要打算，

对人要诚恳，对事要认真，对家人要有交代，对感情要有责任。

少女有的是满满的勇气，熟女需要的是更大的勇气。

2014年，我变得更成熟去了。

依雯啊，依雯⋯⋯

少女又好，熟女又好，生活模式虽然不一样了，但是我一样很爱我的生活 ♥

那个还有点小肥的从前

好浑圆的过去 ～

哇 ～ 好肉的手臂，好肿的脸蛋！

好了，分享完毕，别再笑人家了，快点去睡觉，晚安 ^^

吹吹水

那天，我跟我大学时候最要好的朋友，谈到算命这回事 ⋯⋯

薯：他算算算了以后，就会给你答案了。

偶：那好了，我先给你我的时辰八字，你帮我拿去算算看。

偶：3月25号，X点X分出世。 

偶：需要性别吗？偶是女的。

薯：我应该不会不小心跟他说你是男的吧？

偶：还是小心点比较好，搞不好问到姻缘，他会说，‘两个男的最好还是不要在一起’

薯：哈哈哈！

薯：中文名？

偶：梁XX 

薯：英文名？

偶： LEONG XX。

偶：需要医院地址吗？

薯：不需要吧？

薯：难道不同地方出世会不同命！

偶：我的幽默感还在吗？

薯：很好，不错不错！

我的半个姐姐，感恩这辈子有你陪我，聊聊天，吹吹水 ～

我们的大学日子，就因为这样，才会过得如此精彩！！！

昔日

四年前的偶们 ♥



变化有大吗？

我们一同上学的日子 3

第一天到大学礼堂报告，我心里就有一种莫名其妙的不安。
因为班上的亚洲人同学，个个的中文（和福建话）都说得很流利，我怕有代沟，因为我的中文真的很不好，福建话更加不行。

好在我的同学算是还蛮有感染力的，因为到了大学第四年，我发现原来过去的四年里，我除了得到一份毕业证书，也竟然学会了怎么运用中文字，就连福建话也都会念几句了。

我们一同上学的日子 2

又是一张特别珍贵的照片。一班同学浩浩荡荡打 WAR GAME 去⋯⋯

我们一同上学的日子 1

要不是好友给我风声，我也不知道我从前的大学朋友JULIE嗓要嫁到纽西兰去了！
JULIE嗓跟我一样也是药剂师，老公好像是个非常有钱前途的⋯⋯ 验光师？

亲爱的⋯⋯ 恭喜你吖！！！

咦？话说回来，时间怎么过得这么快呢？
记得我们从前一起上学的日子，好像还挺逍遥自在的⋯⋯

白天上学，到了晚上不是来个麻将圈，就是搞什么BBQ之类的，到了半夜偶尔还会驾车到海边去钓螃蟹，隔天一早又上课去了，然后这样的节目反复重复了好多次，一直到我们毕业为止。
感觉上那时候的我们都很精力十足，好像完全不需要休息喔？

我那 "Gemilang" 的日子

呵呵⋯⋯ 这张照片很珍贵哦！

珍贵的地方是因为照片中有Jaclyn，也有我那张经典的学生look！（哇，脸好圆，好大⋯⋯）

俩人自拍照

照片是在我们恋爱早期时拍的，也算是挺完整的一张俩人自拍照，因为大部分的自拍照不是卡掉半张脸就是整张脸拍得歪歪斜斜的。记得当时候我们正准备要飞9小时长途机，所以索性素脸朝天，披头散发，只差没带墨镜而已⋯⋯

照片最近被挖出来，我就顺带取笑男人说：你当时的发型做么那么像许冠英呢？
他回我说：谁是许冠英啊？

糟了，忘了他是鬼佬捏！他怎么可能知道许冠英是谁呢？ 后来还要我孤狗许冠英的照片给他看才知道，而且还从中获悉许冠英去年逝世的消息！知道后其实还蛮难过的，因为记得我小时候很喜欢看许氏三兄弟一起合演的喜剧。

好，有点离题了⋯⋯

其实照片中的我真的有点那个欧买尬！尤其是我的粗眉毛、加扁头及暴牙look！！！是谁啊？
不过我还是会很喜欢这张照片的味道，感觉当时候我们俩真的很开心，希望未来的五六十年里还会是一样开心啦 ^^

＊白头之前一定要把自拍技术练好＊

Family in Adelaide

Hmmm... That winter. I remember.

It was my cousin Andrew's birthday we were celebrating.
It was the same cold winter I remember blowing up the power bill because I ran the heater all night every night. I remember later receiving a serious lecture from my uncle, but I was pretty lucky because my aunt and cousins were there to defend me...

I am kinda surprised that I still remember most of the details of my life in Adelaide so well, given that I have moved out from the family for so long.
Rocan my fabulous cousin has been my bestest friend throughout my uni life.
At some point in my life, I thought we might even be working in the same city together after graduation. And who knows he might even end up becoming the groomsman on my wedding!
Can't believe how great our sibling-ship was back in those days... I am seriously missing it so much!

Looking back. Time really flies.

It has been 5 years since I left my home in Adelaide.

Just look at how much I have changed since the picture was taken.
I have even found myself a family up here now!
I know everyone grows up and life moves on.
One day I will not pine after my old life anymore, but my aunt and her family will always have a secured position in my heart.

Oh my........ this picture is making me even more tearfully homesick for everyone at home!

那 “不堪回首” 的过去

那N年前，我是怎么⋯⋯ 怎么把自己搞成像包公一样黑的呐？

那时候⋯⋯ 好像是在考药剂牌照期间，硬硬被一群怪人挖出来吃饭的。

Blood Test and College Look

I went for a blood test today and sat there for ages before my name was called.
While waiting, I can't help gazing at the folks who were also waiting for their turns like me.
Most of them are fairly large in size and that really shocked me!

Suddenly I recalled Brillat-Savarin's famous adage:
TELL ME WHAT YOU EAT, AND I TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE! 
Literally that means YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!
I am no better than them or otherwise I won't be here today to test for H. pylori stomach infection.

The lady who took my blood and breath samples was very gentle, empathetic and animated cute as well.

As she told me to hold my breath, she was holding hers as well! 

And when I was blowing all the air out of my lungs, she urged "MORE! MORE! MORE!!!" 

My chest felt so sore but I am glad I didn't pass out laugh out loud... (^o^)!

After the blood test, I went home to sort out some paper works.

Then I found an old paper cut out of more than a decade ago - an ad about Taylor's college!

I wasn't sure if this was from my mum or Alex's mum but one certain thing is that - both our mums had

very high hopes for our future! They did most of our college and uni researches.

"THE STAR 15/11/1995" 

I was only in Grade 5 at that time! So... this ad must be for Alex instead! 

Check out these lovely student hairstyles at that time... blunt fringe and bushy hair!

I remember myself looking just the same or worse during my college time as well.

Well...this is it...

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My college look from almost a decade ago... (=_=|||)

Looking at these pictures, suddenly I have a strong urge to apologise to my little brother.

I should not force you to believe that I am CUTE... (^o^) hehe!

Every now and then, it is fun to explore and reminisce the past.

Without the past, it won't form a string of meaningful memories today!

I wish I could recover more of my childhood pictures to share with you soon.

Until then, have a nice day!