After doing the usual random blog-hopping, I’m finally starting with my post - I wasted about an hour during which I could have finished my blog and gone off to sleep. Oh well, I actually posted last night (or rather in the wee hours this morning) but somehow, I managed to select the “Private” button under the Post Status which, I frankly never knew existed. So, what you missed was:

• I’m done with the CSS for the main page. Only that for the pages haven’t been edited yet so the page formatting may look a bit awkward for now. I’d say my site’s new look is pretty much complete. I put the tagboard back but it’s only accessible by clicking on the link in under the Navigations to the right.
• There weren’t any comments for my previous entry (note: at time of posting - now there are 4!). Not many of my offline friends (those who visit at least) use commenting systems so I guess I should have expected not to get any response.
• 4 3 more days of holidays left.
• I am going went to Miri.
• And pictures of Rita’s box which I shall post at the end of this entry.

So yes first off, thanks for all the wonderful comments on the new layout - I’m oh-so-happy that you all like it! Calm, relaxing look eh? Hmm, I should try when I’m under stress, to stare at my page and see if it gets rid off my stress. Haha, if only. Anyways, I’ve replied in the comments of the previous post itself. Oh, and credits to Unicorn Sunrise Palette @ COLOURlovers for the inspiration on the colour scheme.

Okay now on my Miri trip. For those who’ve no idea where Miri is, it’s a city in Sarawak, Malaysia and Brunei (which in case you are unaware of, is where I live) is its neighbour. Started the road journey at around 7.45 am; I slept almost the whole way through. First stop was this restaurant/coffee shop, 2020 that we’ve been going to almost every time we go to Miri. It’s always busy - the other restaurants around look so .. dead. We had dim sum and then we dropped by Servay (a hypermart). After that, we went looking for a place my mum thought was called “Techno Craft”. My mum’s colleague told her that it was “perpendicular to the petrol station, 2nd block, near Bintang Jaya”. We looked around Shell petrol station, from block to block. No sign. Then we come to a Petronas station and so you know, we thought maybe it’s this station not Shell. So we look for a shop apparently named “Techno Craft”. We almost missed it because it was a corner shop and had diagonal walls but also, it was called “Techno Graphic“.

It is one of the coolest shops ever. And I mean really; I’ve not been to a stationery shop which has so many different kinds of pretty papers and paints etc. There were coloured papers of different textures and shine. I took a long long time to choose the papers. It’s always the case when you put me in a shop which has many choices and almost all of them are nice - I take a long long time to choose because put simply, I can’t decide. After that we sent two puzzles and my eldest brother’s convocation photos for framing. Man, the way my dad bargained with the lady there was.. scary. Not scary as in “makes me want to scream and run” scary - he really bargained; I reckon if all their customers did that, they’d have to close down soon enough. Anyways, then off to Bintang Jaya (shopping mall). Looked around. We always spend a lot of time in the Popular bookstore, for some reason. I didn’t buy any books this time though; I was tempted to get this “Hand-Made Cards” book and a novel named “Attica” (which I can’t Google about because Google’s being rebellious right now) but the cards book was pricey even after a 50% discount and the novel, no real need. Got 2 magazines instead. Ate at Pizza Hut for lunch. Their new interior is really nice - somehow gets me interested in interior decorating but, let’s not go there for now…

After that it was off to Boulevard, another shopping mall. It’s not sale season - in fact it just ended - but there were signs of discounts almost everywhere. There was too much to see. My mum and I ended up getting three pieces of clothing each, mine (like always) costing a few $10’s more than hers in average. But it was fun shopping with my mum; at least I wasn’t the only one spending money and I didn’t take more time than her. Then, I got a bag too. There were two choices: one was white, cloth-kind material and nicer-looking while the other, brownish, pretty solid canvas material and average-looking. My mum preferred the latter because it won’t easily get dirty and stuff. But I liked the white one more. So, it was either practicality or personal preference/look. I got the white one because I think the other wasn’t really worth the money. Then, I realized all my bags are bright colours. My Tropicana Life bag’s green, handbag’s light pink and now a white one. Only my schoolbag’s a greyish shade. Even my pencil case’s light blue! It’s from Smiggle in Melbourne, Australia. That shop was cool too. Yes, I have this thing with colour-oriented (or however it should be phrased) shops, stationery or non-stationery.

I can go on with this entry but I think it’s too long for you readers’ good. I hope I didn’t bore you too badly - I’m sure I did bore you along the way. I’ll leave with pictures of Rita’s birthday box gift.

The outside…

.. and the inside.

Keep the comments coming: they make me happy. =D Who knows, I may just update again tomorrow at odd hours. I’ve got another box/present-project to do and I haven’t started revising though I’ve been saying I would since.. I don’t know, 2 weeks ago? =S

Happy Merdeka Day Malaysia! (Strange way to put it but I can’t think of any way better) I’m Malaysian, and proud to be one. ;p I have to be awake in less than 7 hours and will be away from home till evening. I hope I don’t fall asleep tomorrow (technically, today). There’s a party to enjoy! So I really probably should get enough sleep… but, I don’t feel sleepy, just yet.

I just finished making a collage for my netball team. I had no inspiration whatsoever to do a layout - I just drew ugly unknown stuff. Oh, today I went to watch Ratatouille: I liked it! Went with my mum so at least, I went out after exams. Saw a couple of schoolmates. Bought paper from Shabby Chic. We went in there twice - once before and then after the movie and left with 3 pieces of paper. Expensive, but really good quality and pretty too. I’m just thinking of how to use them. Last night, I slept at 4 am, staying up to finish the book, Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger (author of The Devil Wears Prada). Overall, it was very familiar - storyline was quite similar, just more drama in this. Nothing very unexpected or out of the ordinary.

Oh well, I’m going to leave with a few pictures.

6.45 pm 23rd August 2007

I love this shot, taken a minute after. The lower half is a reflection of the sky. Guess what I used as support to get that reflection?

The skies in Brunei are beautiful really. They’re different everyday. I can actually sit and watch the clouds move or just stare at the sky. I can’t recall seeing pretty skies in Malaysia - I think I’m going to miss the colours when I go back.

EDIT: I just posted less than minute and Steven has already read my blog. And I’m still editing it. Hi YOU whom I happen to be talking to at this time.