Pretend

If you pretend long enough, would the lie eventually become a reality?

ONCE: Falling Slowly

This song is just amazing =)

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

Love me while you need me~

Found this statement on my friend's MSN status which make me think for quite some time.


If I have no need of you, why do I approach you, why do I care for you, why do I suffer for people when I put myself in pain?


Love is universal and abundant. We can give it endlessly without ever running out of it.


So is help. We help those in need that requires that assistant more than us.


The simple mind will accept that it is an unselfish act, and it is the thing to do.


The complex mind will doubt saying, why are we doing this without anything in return? There is no equivalent exchange in this.


The simple mind will argue that life will repay us back in the future (An uncertain promise)


The complex mind will try to argue that it is not true, but loses in the end as you can't argue on something uncertain.


The simple mind wins.


And the cycle repeats itself. However when people need our help, they will be nice to us. Suddenly that long forgotten 'Hi' is heard again.


And once again the heart falls down, delighted by the sound, even when the mind knows it is of the trickster's tricks.


So love me when you need me, whilst you still do.


Cause that's the only way I can get close to you, whilst the pain is yet to appear.

小

Being little, the small figure that would pass by unnoticed.
Small but with many hopes and many dreams,
Sit down in a corner,
Waiting to be crushed by the world,
Cause there is no more faith,
Nor hope in being '小'.

UK

Simple list before going to the UK

1. Clothings! Lots of them =)

- Forget about winter clothes, you can get there and its more fashionable than the one we have here

- Loads of undergarments

- Scaf if you want. I brought one but hardly use it.

- Socks! Loads of them. Nice to keep your feet warm and well, you hardly wear any flipflops!

2. Toiletries (Enough said, bring one to last you for 2 weeks to one month)

3. Money! Never forget this important bit. Your bank account might take ages to open. What I did was sign up for the Advantage Blue (For students) as Natwest so that my bank account was open on that day itself and then my cheque was cleared 6 days later. If you go through the normal route like one of my friend did, she only got her account open 2 week after my bank account was opened and she applied a week before me! And not to mention that your cheque will take some time to clear. I brought £300 with me but its advisable to bring more. Just hunt for those cheap foods and go to Tesco or Asda. Start to self cook A.S.A.P! Pasta will soon bore you thus the reason why I eat rice a lot =D.

4. Electricals?

- Bring some if you want. Just 3 pins please or get a traveller's adapter with you. My 2 Pin Hair dryer went bust 2 days after using it because of the different power supply there. 

- Rice cooker cost from  less than £10 to £15, not much difference. £10 to £15 is the family size. If you want a smaller one it will be cheaper.

5. Pots, Pans, cutleries?

- Bring them if you want. Most uni uses electrical hobs anyway (To prevent fire). I got mine there but it took a while to find them. Get some seniors to help you out in buying those stuffs.

6. Bedsheets + Blankets?

- I don't know but my hall sold duvets and bedsheets upon arrival so practically my blanket was left untouched. Duvets are much more warmer anyway.

7. Medicine!

- NHS is such a bummer that if you don't go for emergency ward, they will take weeks to set up an appointment. So pack those medicines for fever, cold, stomach ache etc.

8. Spices! 

- You can get them in Chinatown or some Pakistani area but bring some of your favourites! 

- Get a lot of perencah =)

- Chicken stocks are available there so don't worry.

9. Credit CHECK!

- Okay most of you won't be familiar with this but this gave us a heck of a problem back then. You see when you want to sign up for contract (phone especially) they will run this credit check on you. Since you have never been in the UK or at least spend in the last 3 months, your credit check will be ZERO! So they can't give you a contract at all. 

- The alternative is to go on a contract sim card plan for about 3 months before you can sign up for a contract or pay a deposit (Normally £200. Some telco provides this, so ask!) and sign the contract as normal.

- Some people didn't get those at all. Lucky them.

- Another thing to take NOTE is that they will have to run an address check. So make sure you get your address right and if you are staying in Halls, normally it won't be much of a problem. 

Thats all that I could think of for now. Will update the list soon!


-UPDATED LIST-
10. Fans
- Sometimes it can get stuffy in your room and you don't want to open the window cause its too chilly in your room. The heater has to be on otherwise you will be frozen to death.
- Get a Fan if you must or open the window slightly.
- A fan cost around £15 -£25 one at ARGOS or CURRY.


11. Money
- Well normally don't bring more than £20 unless you want to go shopping for stuffs.
- Hide it in your room (Obviously) and scatter it around different places. I know its something that you have been told repeatedly but I just have to make a note on this.


12. Snacks
- Keep snacks in your room! If you are hungry sometimes you don't want to leave your room to go out and buy stuffs since its chilly and shops closes pretty early in the UK. 
- Another thing to note that during Freshers week / Orientation week. Most people will get drunk either in your kitchen playing drinking games or by going out to the club/bar. If you want to avoid the scene in the kitchen, just keep some food in your room. Don't worry, the temperature in autumn is cold enough.
- Or avoid them coming back to the halls. =P


13. Opening a BANK ACCOUNT
- Get a letter from uni that is addressed to the bank you want to open with.
- Get multiple banks letters, normally available at the Student Service department at your uni. This allows flexibility and option for you to choose.
- What's suppose to be in that letter are: your name, term address and a statement stating you are a university student. 
- Photocopies of your passport INCLUDING the back page where your signature lies.
- Bring loads of passport size photograph of yourself. (Useful for railway card application etc, a quick snapshot at the photo booth will cost you £5)


14. Tumbler or water bottle. 
- Bits me but I can hardly find any except for flask sold in Manchester. ='( So bring a water bottle with you. I'm know I'm doing that this year.
- The water bottle that I can find is either too big or its metal like a flask. So if you aren't picky with it, then you don't have to worry.
-But if you are.... Better bring one =.=


15. For Londoners
- Get an Oyster Card asap. (Or a map of London)
- The charge for a single ticket via the tube is so expensive. I got charge £4 for a single trip from Euston to Bayswater when its only £1.80 on Oyster card. 
- You pay a £3 (I think) deposit for the card and you can get it back. Register it so you still can claim ur money if you lose it somehow.
- Public bus (Yes its those Red London Bus!) uses Oyster card so you have to have one if you want to use the bus. (Not so sure if they are any that doesn't use the Oyster card)
- Londoners prefer to walk and don't be surprise when they say its close, within walking distance and you end up walking 40 minutes! YES! That's close for them ='(


3rd UPDATE? 
16. Umbrella
- Saw a post on facebook which reminded me of the umbrella incident. Depending on where you are, I can say that umbrella vs. the british win is futile. You'll get them upside down most of the time and they will get spoil pretty quick. 
- So get yourself a hoodie. The rain doesn't last that long anyway. Just a drizzle.


17. Flu shot
- Get yourself vaccinated. During fresher's week, a lot of people tend to catch a cold coined 'fresher's flu' somehow. Its better to be prepared.=)