UK diary: Bicester round 2

Retail therapy is probably one of the best ways to counteract a stressful week and the dreariness of pre-Easter break. Given the fact that I've just gotten myself 2 bags from Bicester a few months back, I really should get over my penchant of spending like I can grow money in my backyard- I don't even have a backyard to begin with.

Me and my sister have been pressing our noses against the windows of every shops there were. We popped into Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors (for more bank balance torture), and then to Busaba Eathai for lunch.

With the somber mood that usually comes with the winter weather we've been experiencing lately, I always feel more inclined to wear the brightest colours to blind everyone. Speaking of winter, when is Spring really coming?

#Shopaholic101: When there is not enough room to store your goods, cook for your housemate and see if she can let you use her space.

xx,

Gluttony

Last weekend was such a weekend, one so filled with wonderful meals, snowy sights, and wonderful company that I feel I can hardly do the memories justice in simple linguistic devices. The surest way to convey the same delight and happy atmosphere would be to recreate it in more decadent lunches, suppers, and afternoon teas, of course! (yes to more good meals every weekend!)

I started off my Saturday with a much needed afternoon tea at Mrs Bridges with the usual girls and Aziimah. I had the Florentine eggs benedict complemented with a hot cuppa. 

And the prolonged wait for the lamb steak for dinner at Toro's nearly made me and Aziimah die of food-induced joy. The words 'juicy' and 'steak' are essentially bedfellows in this case. I can never fault Toro's lamb steak in any respect. 

So I am pleading guilty for not going to the gym at all last week and having to end my weekend with this...

Forever hungry,

Lessons from my father

Like my mother, my father has had an extraordinary impact on my life and has taught me more valuable lessons than I can possibly count. Many of which I have blatantly ignore (Wear sensible shoes, save money, jangan boros), some were my first life skills (how to read a book), and others remain my most vivid early memories of fond moments spent with him (learning to play golf until I cried my eyes out because I was really horrible at it, playing kaki tiga with my little siblings). 

He has lived a remarkable life (with amazing children ehem) and is a downright genius, but it is the most basic of his lessons which have left the most lasting impression on me. And because I think fatherly wisdom should be shared amongst everyone, here are my few favourite lessons from my own babah:

1. Above all, pursue intellectual enrichment. By filling your mind with knowledge, you have a thirst for life and a constant craving to learn new things.


2. You can not substitute money and material things for tenderness. Do not get caught up with meaningless consumerism that don't make us truly happy. Many people go through life just looking for material goods that will never fill the hole that loneliness creates. 

3. Explore. Wander often, and when you do, really see each new places with an open mind. Learn about other cultures and different perspectives on living. I was extremely fortunate to spend the last 4 years travelling to the most exotic countries, and each trip taught me more about humanity than an entire semester in class. 

4. Be kind, generous and charitable towards others. I struggle to think of many people more charitable than my own father. And while 'charity' in today's society mean a self rewarding act i.e. to feel good about yourself, it is far more rewarding to do good deeds simply to help others.

5. Act as you wish to be treated. The energy and behaviour you put out will be returned to you many times over.

6. Family comes first. Never distance yourself from the ones you love.

What did your father teach you?

I love you so much babah ♡
love,

Room tour in pictures

love,

Gastronomic Bliss

Because last week's persistent tutorial works and case readings have thwarted myself to partake of proper meals I thought it would be most appropriate to indulge myself with good food over the weekend. By good food I mean home-cooked Italian dinner (this tastebud of mine is missing Fratinis) on a Saturday evening and a not-so-impromptu trip to London for a lobster fix with Amal Raemi the very next day. You can not condone our love for good food, the lobster was worth the value for money!

I had put on my new black hat and trench coat for a good measure and slipped on my Zara studded slippers. It is almost impossible to frown when you have rubies on your feet. Such an outfit seemed to call for making silly jokes over tea (or Bubble tea hehe) and strolling down Portobello Road. Touristy it may be, but it seems almost fitting to wander along the great lengths of Portobello Road window shopping since the weather decided to be extra lovely last Sunday.

Have a lovely weekend! 
xx,

Pearls of wisdom... or something like that

First Year of Uni is substantially different to my A Level days. For one thing I have a lot of free time in my hands which corollary to it results in more procrastination being done rather than real work. OF COURSE I do my work or at least I try not to be underprepared for tutorials and exams. Granted this year's modules are supposedly less cumbersome than next year's but there are a few straggler modules that I have to take to graduate i.e. Tort and Contract!

While most of my fellow course mates will spend the next few weeks determinedly draining accumulated facts, statutes and legal arguments from their minds, I’m pondering some of the useful lessons I’ve learnt at law school so far:

1) As soon as your tutor knows your name do not immediately think you can get away with the tutorials easily. Do not even bother of showing up in tutorials if you haven't done your readings! 

2) Keep your mouth shut if you haven't read the cases. (I still haven't read the Donoghue v Stevenson case and it's already week 16)

3) If you are in any way a self proclaimed slacker Law School will destroy you!

5) Sometimes less is more. After having done multiple problem solving questions, I realised that sophisticated language does not equate to dismantling the thesaurus with neologisms. The key is simplicity; a trait that I’ve just learnt to appreciate.

xx

Get ready for Uni with me

                                       

Here is a peek of what products have been under heavy rotation:

On my face: L'Occitane organic Angelica water face toner, Naked 2, Bobbi Brown Espresso for the eyebrows, Sephora orange punchy sunbaked blush, Maybelline Master Precise eyeliner and Bobbi Brown Mauve lipstick.

I can't say enough good things of Urban Decay's Naked 2, they're just a dream to work and blend with!

Scarf from Zara, Printed blouse and blazer are both from H&M, F21 jeans and Kate Spade bag.

xx,