I caught up with an old friend Gus at the car shop the other day when Aonghas and I went in to check out car seat covers. My knowledge of cars is best summed up by this:
Calum: "Nice hub caps you got there!" (Pointing at his car outside)
Gus: "Huh??"
That's where Aonghas stepped in and corrected me, telling me they were mags! After washing our house we moved onto the car, trying to make it look a little better. Aonghas bought some polish for the tyres and the bumper, but while it made it slightly shinier, it didn't cover the scratches and rust the car had, so next we'll have to paint our car!
Our car seats have been falling apart as well, with the stitching coming out, so we had to get new covers to stop them from getting any worse.
Now our car is worth...probably not much more but at least looks slightly better!
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Friday, 4 January 2008
Medical Myths!
Some of you may have already read this in the news, but I thought I might just post these top medical misconceptions here because it's pretty interesting and changes a few things we tend to believe in. Some of them are a bit of a relief!
1. Reading in dim light hurts your eyes - There's no scientific backing for this claim. Reading in the dark can cause temporary strain on the eyes but rapidly goes away in bright light.
2. Using cell phones in hospitals is dangerous - There may be signs in hospital waiting rooms but studies have found little or no significant cellphone interference with medical devices
3. Fingernails and hair grow after death - growing fingernails and hair is a very complex hormonal task which cannot happen once you're dead. Once you're dead your skin begins to contract, which gives the impression of nails growing.
4. We use only 10 per cent of our brains - Numerous types of brain imaging studies show that no area of the brain is completely silent or inactive
5. You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day - We get enough water consumption through drinking juice, milk, caffeinated drinks and even food we eat. Drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication
6. Shaved hair grows back faster and coarser - No matter how you cut your hair, it won't change the texture or the speed at which it grows back. Leg hair may appear coarser right as it starts to grow back, but as it grows longer and is exposed to the sun it will begin to look like the hair you started off with
Vreeman, C. & Carroll, A. (2007) Medical Myths. British Medical Journal, 335(7633):1288-9
Also see Newsweek
1. Reading in dim light hurts your eyes - There's no scientific backing for this claim. Reading in the dark can cause temporary strain on the eyes but rapidly goes away in bright light.
2. Using cell phones in hospitals is dangerous - There may be signs in hospital waiting rooms but studies have found little or no significant cellphone interference with medical devices
3. Fingernails and hair grow after death - growing fingernails and hair is a very complex hormonal task which cannot happen once you're dead. Once you're dead your skin begins to contract, which gives the impression of nails growing.
4. We use only 10 per cent of our brains - Numerous types of brain imaging studies show that no area of the brain is completely silent or inactive
5. You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day - We get enough water consumption through drinking juice, milk, caffeinated drinks and even food we eat. Drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication
6. Shaved hair grows back faster and coarser - No matter how you cut your hair, it won't change the texture or the speed at which it grows back. Leg hair may appear coarser right as it starts to grow back, but as it grows longer and is exposed to the sun it will begin to look like the hair you started off with
Vreeman, C. & Carroll, A. (2007) Medical Myths. British Medical Journal, 335(7633):1288-9
Also see Newsweek
Thursday, 3 January 2008
A Fresh Start
Washing the house! Cool fun! It was the umpteenth time my mum had gone on about how dirty the house was and so I decided it was about time we did something about it so we could move on! We finally got started around midday and worked our way around the house, getting wet and dirty and wrinkly!
We also went to our old neighbour Mrs Simpson's house for a visit, like we usually do around this time each year. This year we visited a little later than usual though, as she had a fall and broke her jaw. She's getting better now though and is doing well for someone who's 84, but her hearing and her sight is deteriorating a little though. Sometimes my dad would have to raise his voice just to be heard!
So it's been a bit of a productive start to the year. I'm determined to make this year a lot different and better after a disastrous 2007 (for various reasons!). A chat with a friend along with my mum going on about how successful all her friends' kids are led me to change my focus. While relationships, personal stuff and all that jazz are important, I shouldn't get too bogged down by them and should be focusing on things that really matter (one of my New Years resolutions for this year!), and should rather be focusing on other things, like TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD! OK that's a little over-ambitious. I might have to take baby steps first.
So soon in the year and I've already been tested by a certain friend who I don't know what to do about! A sit outside at night to contemplate things did me some good as I realised I've got to get back to basics and start to think more positively! Positivity keeps people happy! I think I've been a bit too negative than usual in the past year which has affected the way I think about things, but this year = positive!
I've started working on a plan or direction for myself, as I desperately need one to get myself back on track. I've realised how I'm capable of doing much better than I have in past years as long as I'm motivated and actually take things seriously and leave no stone unturned! So I decided I'd have a look at the WHO website and what it takes to get a job there. Well...you need international experience and the ability to speak two (but preferably three!!!!) languages. I know English so that's one down, now I've just got to pick up either Arabic, Chinese or Spanish! OK slight obstacle but not impossible to get around, just...difficult! I will keep planning! I still don't know what I'll be studying at uni this year though which makes it a little hard.
I have been thinking about taking Korean as a general education paper at uni, since I can't take Chinese and I think Japanese is full, and so I've started trying to memorise the vowels and consonants of the alphabet. Now I can type something like 바나나 (banana)!! Yeah!! So I'm still right at the very beginning, but one day I might get there! When I told one of my friends about possibly studying Korean at uni, one of my friends did tell me
"Maybe you should focus on Chinese :P"
Anyway to keep up the productive start to 2008, I'm off to clean the car and buy some food for lunch!
We also went to our old neighbour Mrs Simpson's house for a visit, like we usually do around this time each year. This year we visited a little later than usual though, as she had a fall and broke her jaw. She's getting better now though and is doing well for someone who's 84, but her hearing and her sight is deteriorating a little though. Sometimes my dad would have to raise his voice just to be heard!
So it's been a bit of a productive start to the year. I'm determined to make this year a lot different and better after a disastrous 2007 (for various reasons!). A chat with a friend along with my mum going on about how successful all her friends' kids are led me to change my focus. While relationships, personal stuff and all that jazz are important, I shouldn't get too bogged down by them and should be focusing on things that really matter (one of my New Years resolutions for this year!), and should rather be focusing on other things, like TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD! OK that's a little over-ambitious. I might have to take baby steps first.
So soon in the year and I've already been tested by a certain friend who I don't know what to do about! A sit outside at night to contemplate things did me some good as I realised I've got to get back to basics and start to think more positively! Positivity keeps people happy! I think I've been a bit too negative than usual in the past year which has affected the way I think about things, but this year = positive!
I've started working on a plan or direction for myself, as I desperately need one to get myself back on track. I've realised how I'm capable of doing much better than I have in past years as long as I'm motivated and actually take things seriously and leave no stone unturned! So I decided I'd have a look at the WHO website and what it takes to get a job there. Well...you need international experience and the ability to speak two (but preferably three!!!!) languages. I know English so that's one down, now I've just got to pick up either Arabic, Chinese or Spanish! OK slight obstacle but not impossible to get around, just...difficult! I will keep planning! I still don't know what I'll be studying at uni this year though which makes it a little hard.
I have been thinking about taking Korean as a general education paper at uni, since I can't take Chinese and I think Japanese is full, and so I've started trying to memorise the vowels and consonants of the alphabet. Now I can type something like 바나나 (banana)!! Yeah!! So I'm still right at the very beginning, but one day I might get there! When I told one of my friends about possibly studying Korean at uni, one of my friends did tell me
"Maybe you should focus on Chinese :P"
Anyway to keep up the productive start to 2008, I'm off to clean the car and buy some food for lunch!
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Welcoming the New Year
This New Year's Eve was the first time I had gone out and done something different to celebrate New Years besides watching the Sky Tower fireworks. I went over to Sarena's to join her and several others (mostly from Rutherford) to hang out and count down to the new year.
It took a bit of a compromise with my mum to be allowed to go, as she wanted the family to watch the Sky Tower fireworks together as a family. Aonghas wanted to go to a sleepover with his friends and kept pushing my mum to allow him to go though, and she wasn't too happy with that. I thought I better stick with family so I agreed that I would go over to Sarena's till about 11.30pm and then my parents could pick me up and we'd watch the fireworks together.
I admit I waited till Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events had finished before leaving for her house though. I got lost on the way there though, but when I got there the guys were all around the TV playing Guitar Hero, which looks a lot like Singstar, only with a guitar! I managed to have a go at it after a while, trying the easiest song!
Soon everyone moved downstairs to play Singstar. Alex, Nick and Shrikkanth were the keenest singers, while the rest of us enjoyed their beautiful singing. Because we were played this at Sarena's birthday party at her house last year, some people kept thinking they were at Sarena's birthday party!
A while later Alex got out his poker set, and he and Lindsey taught Jacqueline and me how to play. Together with Larry, we had a few rounds. Larry was really confident and bet all his chips and Lindsey advised me to match it. Surprisingly I managed to win, which I still don't understand completely! The game died after that though!
Singstar continued for a little while longer but closer to midnight the fireworks was handed out and everyone grabbed incense sticks. My mum and Hamish came along and decided to just park outside on the road besides Sarena's house where they could see the Sky Tower. We lined up the fireworks on the grassy area opposite Sarena's house, ready to set them alight at midnight. I raced to my mum and Hamish just to let them know what was going on and encourage them to join us, when the disjointed countdown started. I dashed back to the fireworks, and as soon as we were given the sign, everyone lit their fireworks, except for Shrikkanth and me! We couldn't get ours going! Shrikkanth ran back and set us off, and I tried to get back, dodging the falling debris and avoiding inhaling the smoke. I tried to set my fireworks off again but to no avail! This time I enlisted the help of Alex, and got it going, but when it went going, the fireworks shot all over the place! Apparently it was a dud, and I since I was running away from it I had no idea. There was a car parked very close by where the fireworks were set off, so fortunately the fireworks didn't hit any houses or cars!
Once 2008 arrived, we all stood there on Sarena's drive hugging and shaking hands with each other, wishing a happy New Years to everyone. While people had casual chats and discussed whether they would go into town or not, Alex and David had an arm wrestling match on the grass while a few others just lay there staring up into the sky. I wasn't allowed to go into town (I'm still a clubbing virgin!!) and because my mum and Hamish were waiting I thought I better not hold them up for too long, so I decided I better wish everyone a Merry Chr..Happy New Year before leaving!
What a great way to welcome in the new year, with friends and family!
It took a bit of a compromise with my mum to be allowed to go, as she wanted the family to watch the Sky Tower fireworks together as a family. Aonghas wanted to go to a sleepover with his friends and kept pushing my mum to allow him to go though, and she wasn't too happy with that. I thought I better stick with family so I agreed that I would go over to Sarena's till about 11.30pm and then my parents could pick me up and we'd watch the fireworks together.
I admit I waited till Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events had finished before leaving for her house though. I got lost on the way there though, but when I got there the guys were all around the TV playing Guitar Hero, which looks a lot like Singstar, only with a guitar! I managed to have a go at it after a while, trying the easiest song!
Soon everyone moved downstairs to play Singstar. Alex, Nick and Shrikkanth were the keenest singers, while the rest of us enjoyed their beautiful singing. Because we were played this at Sarena's birthday party at her house last year, some people kept thinking they were at Sarena's birthday party!
A while later Alex got out his poker set, and he and Lindsey taught Jacqueline and me how to play. Together with Larry, we had a few rounds. Larry was really confident and bet all his chips and Lindsey advised me to match it. Surprisingly I managed to win, which I still don't understand completely! The game died after that though!
Singstar continued for a little while longer but closer to midnight the fireworks was handed out and everyone grabbed incense sticks. My mum and Hamish came along and decided to just park outside on the road besides Sarena's house where they could see the Sky Tower. We lined up the fireworks on the grassy area opposite Sarena's house, ready to set them alight at midnight. I raced to my mum and Hamish just to let them know what was going on and encourage them to join us, when the disjointed countdown started. I dashed back to the fireworks, and as soon as we were given the sign, everyone lit their fireworks, except for Shrikkanth and me! We couldn't get ours going! Shrikkanth ran back and set us off, and I tried to get back, dodging the falling debris and avoiding inhaling the smoke. I tried to set my fireworks off again but to no avail! This time I enlisted the help of Alex, and got it going, but when it went going, the fireworks shot all over the place! Apparently it was a dud, and I since I was running away from it I had no idea. There was a car parked very close by where the fireworks were set off, so fortunately the fireworks didn't hit any houses or cars!
Once 2008 arrived, we all stood there on Sarena's drive hugging and shaking hands with each other, wishing a happy New Years to everyone. While people had casual chats and discussed whether they would go into town or not, Alex and David had an arm wrestling match on the grass while a few others just lay there staring up into the sky. I wasn't allowed to go into town (I'm still a clubbing virgin!!) and because my mum and Hamish were waiting I thought I better not hold them up for too long, so I decided I better wish everyone a Merry Chr..Happy New Year before leaving!
What a great way to welcome in the new year, with friends and family!
Happy New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!!
Another year has just started! May it be a great year for you all, and an even more prosperous and special year than 2007 ever was! I certainly will be hoping that it will be! I marked the arrival of 2008 by setting off, or rather trying to set off some fireworks outside Sarena's house, which went AWOL and fortunately didn't burn a car down! I'll type up more about my New Year's Eve in the next post, but for now just a look at how my New Year's resolutions have gone:
2007 New Years Resolutions Review:
1. To get over the girl(s) I like/have liked this year and in the past, and to start afresh in 2007! Make a new close friend with a girl or even find a girlfriend if I'm lucky! haha!
Hmmm well no girlfriend (not even close!), and I have gotten over a certain girl I've liked in the past which is good! A new close female friend...well...I guess this year I've really gotten to know Angie and Alice well..
2. Continue to keep in touch REGULARLY with my friends both at uni and also the ones fortunately still at school ;) ( At least visit those lucky souls at Rutherford once a term or something!)
I've done that!! I'm sure I've visited Rutherford as well, maybe not as often as possible but I didn't want to be seen as being too attached to that place! haha
- Term 1: went back for Scholars Assembly
- Term 2: went back for school production
- Term 3: went back for Rutherford Day and Aonghas' music assessments
- Term 4: went back for Luv Musik Concert and prize-giving, to also do some filming for the Leavers DVD
3. To pass everything at uni whether I decide to do Health Sci, Biomed or Law with nothing less than B+ (and don't lose my scholarship)
Yeah sorta...
4. Make two really good close friends!
See above! Not too sure how close I am to them yet but I've made about 5-6 really good uni friends too
5. Continue to take 5 photos a week
OK not exactly 5 photos a week but I've tried to take photos when possible and not looking like some dodgy stalker
6. Get fit by doing regular exercise
FAILED
7. Find another part-time job, buy a cellphone and text people!
- Part-time job: nearly....but FAILED
- I did buy a cellphone!!
- I have been texting people occasionally but still a little lazy!
2008 New Years Resolutions:
1. To become close with another person or even closer with an existing friend (bonus points if its a female or if I find a girlfriend...need to add that in for the third year in a row haha)
2. To resume studying, practising and speaking more Chinese (either Mandarin or Cantonese)
3. To find a part-time job - anything, as long as I can get some pay! If not, find some volunteer work to get something to add to my CV
4. Join a gym and do regular exercise, or if not, do regular exercise at home, at least 20 minutes a week
5. To get nothing less than A- in ALL my papers for whichever degree I end up doing (yep I've set standards higher, thanks for the pep-talk Alice! We shall prevail!!)
6. Take more video than photos but continue to try take 5 photos a week
7. To keep in touch with all my existing friends
8. To get the right balance between studying and socialising
9. To Get more involved with at least one club (possibly moving up the ranks or networking with the right people!) and participate more in activities of clubs I join
10. To spend LESS!
Those do sound a lot like my New Years resolutions of 2007 don't they? Oh well let's make this my second attempt at them!
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