Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them

When I love something, I obsess about it. 

It's the same with Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika, Deepika-Ranveer, and now lemme talk about my obsession with Harry Potter.. 

With the latest movie from one of J.K. Rowling's books released recently, Harry Potter became a subject of discussion at work last week - side track a bit, I love how at work we can burst out into random topic of discussion! We typically sit at a round table and more often than not someone would open a topic (by accident) and the it'll become a roundtable discussion/ forum. Our topics have ranged from religion (so serious, I know!) to Dan Brown's novels & Harry Potter to sometimes less intellectual ones like shitting/ excretion... #peopleiworkwith... Love them anyways! Some of them I've been working with for like 2 years (basically my entire career) okay!

Anyways, back to Harry Potter (I told you my brain just jumps around these days if I try to write!), we were recapping about some of the characters (up to the 8th book/ Cursed Child) and my bosses were impressed how these minor minor facts still stay intact in my not-so-good memory..

"How do you even manage to remember all this??"
"I am re-reading the series, and sometimes I just watch the movies 1-8 for the fun of it"

I am a geek (minimal social life remember? Plus sometimes I don't have time to sit thru 3 hours of Bollywood films).

I just watched Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and I now have 4 Harry Potter Wikia page opened researching about Grindelwald, the Elder Wand and the Lestrange family. Tomorrow I shall re-read the Fantastic Beasts book to relearn about the creatures in the movie!

While watching the movie, I screamed to Zayana "ITS THE HALLOWS!" and she asked "How did you know it was the Hallow?" .. What else could it be when you see a straight line in a circle within a triangle? (Even if you only saw like half of it..)

I love how the movie had some sense of familiarity that we all know and love from the original Harry Potter series - like the use of some of the well known spells "Alohomora"/ "Accio"/ "Repero", the mention of notable names "Grindelwald"/ "Dumbledore"/ "Lestrange" and the Hallows.

In fact after learning about one of the beasts, I am now convinced that Ariana Dumbledore was an Obscurus and think I have made the connection there about some of the events mentioned in the Deathly Hallows (the book) and this movie..

Why can't Harry Potter be a university subject?!

Also apparently now you can dine at the Great Hall set at the the Harry Potter studios in London!!!

"Hi Malaysia Airlines? One return ticket to London please?"

5 Years & Counting

27 September

So Pisang has clingy friends, and I am one of them. After seeing one of her Snaps about celebrating her anniversary for her ex-EY-interning-days friends, I promptly asked her "WHERE IS OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!?!". Her answer was "You don't even know when is our anniversary" ... True! But I can always find out (I'm very good at these things backdating stuff, it should be listed as a skill..)

 See, I've always known that we met on the first week of Uni and I figured if they (Zayana & friends above) are turning 3, we should easily be 5 already because I met her two years earlier. A 5 year anniversary is a reason to celebrate no? 

So we went digging for information (cakap orang lupa, padahal dia pun sama jer.. See! You made my Malay come out), which included looking into my past emails on my term start date and etc. and landed that we met on 27 September 2011 which was also a Tuesday (Pisang was adamant that she met on Tuesday... Because she "heard" me on Monday and then mustered up the courage to tegur me the next day)!! 

That point onwards, with many mention of Cik Pisang/ Zayana/ Chanela/ Sadness/ Pocayana (eh this post is actually not up yet isn't it? Damn Aisya! You're slacking) later, here we are with 5 years of friendship! 

27 September 2016

Because our discovery was made quite early of the month, I actually forgot about it.. 

I'm telling you she's being suspicious! As much as my room is messy she has never volunteered to help re-arrange stuff (because she knows I hate it when people move my stuff.. I am perfectly fine with my own mess cause I know where things are that way).

But since I was at work and quite honestly I am easily distracted so I didn't put much thought to it. 

Eventually we settled on having Mikey's at Publika.. 

For desserts we decided to go to Ojo Coffee at Bangsar for their waffles & Nutella - where Pisang was convinced one of the strawberry tasted like bawang.. I still think she's delusional to this day.. 

I swear I spoke to her more than I played PokemonGo okay!! 

Oh how things have (sorta) changed after 5 years.. See original photo (our first photo together!) here.

When I got back home that night I saw a foreign box on my bed... 

I KNEW IT SHE WAS BEING SUSPICIOUS!!!! Because just as we got in the car she said "WAIT I NEED TO PEE!" and let's face it, between Zayana & I, I'm the one more likely to scream out of the blue that I need to urinate.. Also I must say she took quite long to "urinate"..

Inside the box is a pearl necklace and I swear it's so pretty and dainty! I love it!! I don't wear jewelry often, but when I do I always feel 10 times more girly/ feminine than usual and the necklace ups my feminine level by 100 when I put it on! 

Then I flipped the card over and the message was so beautiful!!  

She loves me... She loves me not.. SHE LOVES ME!!!! (Also she wants to say she brings out the beauty in me is it? :P)

And then of course that Percy card wouldn't come back to me for no reason (again, I swear I will update on this soonest!!), so I flipped the card and then the emotional kid in my just starting tearing :') 

(at the black-ed out part because well, I don't want others to cry too :p) 

Also I figured out why "two years" - how silly of me! Well, I must say, best of luck Pisang!!!! :p

To many more years of friendship (we must hit our Chanel target!). And now we've unlocked a new level of clinginess - PISANG IS NOW MY COLLEAGUE TOO!! Who knew when we went looking for jobs together, we'd end up working together too!

Just a friendly reminder, 

Do You Recall, Not Long Ago..

Hello!

Lately I feel like it's harder for me to sit down and pen my thoughts here as most of the time my mind is all over the place (#scatterbrain), and I fear as I write, it's just gonna jump everywhere! But let's try anyway because Pisang (*waves*) said if I don't update my blog, she starts to "wander".

1. I have discovered the joy of Google Sheets.
   
   It all started when spendthrift ol' me decided that in 2017, I wanna go on not one, but two "big trips". Then one day my colleague, Manda, told me how she just created a scenario planning (so consultant) to buy a handbag and the new Macbook Pro and said she's now broke.. Lol.
   
   So I thought, I should do the same thing tooooo!
   
   After taking account of all my monthly expenses and commitments, and projecting the monies coming in on a monthly basis, this is what I managed to come up with - an "annual budget" for my 2017 salary.
   
   Now I just have to monitor the monthly spending against the budget before I decide..
    
2. I've started reading Malay novel
   
   There's no plural in there because really, it's only 1 novel so far (and by "so far" I mean in the last 24 hours - because this really is a new thing), hehehe.
   
   It all started with the Suri Hati Mr. Pilot craze that was going on. My mother been asking me to get a copy of the book (because she's an even book worm than I am) since the beginning of the show (and now it has ended after 16 episodes). So occasionally I've been popping in to bookstores trying to see if they're in stores - but nadaaa! Damn this craze is real!
   
   So on Friday, my friend was nice enough to buy me (gotta keep to that budget guys! :p) another Malay novel instead - Isteri vs. Tunang.
   
   
   
   I can't comment on the show as I didn't watch it, but I think I would've enjoyed it because I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I finished the entire 437-pages in one sitting (sampai pukul 3 pagi.. Talk about a "wild" Friday night)! I even cried at certain parts as I can thoroughly understand how it feels to be Alana Sofea's (Scha's character) position.
   
   Though there were some parts that I thought tak masuk akal (actually its the trigger point of the entire story) but who am I to question logic after years and years of Bollywood movies?
    
3. I was in Bangkok earlier this month/ end of last month
   
   
   Spent about 3 days 3 nights in Bangkok which was filled with mainly shopping.. That was very satisfying for my wardrobe and soul. I mean how can you not enjoy spending when on average, every clothing item cost me around RM25?!
   
   I love Bangkok!!
   
   On the first day Amanda & I returned to work, we wore the clothes we bought from Bangkok and we gave each other the "I know where that's from :p" look. Throughout the entire week our colleagues would be asking "is this from Bangkok?" (we've monikered the first week we were back as "''Bangkok Fashion' Week") and even my mother is going "baju baru lagi?!" almost everyday.
   
   Would definitely try to make this into a yearly thing - I mean, my wardrobe would need a refresh no? I promise no more ZARA til at least March!
    
4. I got promoted!!
   
   After 2 years in EY, and effective from 1 October, I am now a Senior! It feels so surreal that I have remained in my job for 2 years and more.. I mean, according to Gen Y's statistics, it's time to leave my job now, but then again I don't really strongly agree with the view of most people have for the working "millennials/ Gen Ys" #rebel. Out of the people who started the journey with me back in September 2014, only 6 of us are left :(

Okaylah, I suppose you're updated with my life now.

Til next time! xx, A.

p/s: Guys, I discovered mash-up covers that combines hit English and Bollywood songs(!!!!!!). My playlist is gonna be complete now with this (it's currently 90% Bollywood songs I swear.. I need some balance..)

Not Having Control

Guys, I am having a serious case of Monday blues - and I'm being totally super dramatic about it. 

This evening, as I was resting after a long day (of doing nothing but watching Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.. *roll eyes at self*), I literally have butterflies in my stomach thinking about what a long day I'm going to have tomorrow - I need to be in office by 7.30AM... 

I slept it off for a bit before dinner and I woke up after dinner feeling even more crappier!! 

I notice lately I get anxious very easily.. And only a couple of days ago I realise what gives me anxiety.. 

Me: OMG, talking to you about me not being able to read my e-mails for the entire day just made my heart beats faster and now I'm anxious! I never knew I care so much about not being able to read my e-mails!!

Pisang: I think not having control gives you anxiety.. 

Me: Lol - I'm surprised my room is not giving me an anxiety attack everyday..

Pisang: Your mess in your room is your mess, you do have control over it - when you decide to have a spotless room, you can have a spotless room. So that's why you're not bothered by it.

IT. IS. SO. TRUE!!!!

Tomorrow seems so undecided for me - sure I know what i'll be doing from 7.30AM - 5.30PM, but it's not my usual day-to-day kind of work.. And I'm in charged of controlling the presentation, what if I screw up the order!? Omg - did I even bring back the laser pointer?! SHIT. 

I am a control freak guys :"( 

I need a break from work. Work elevates my controlling level. 

2 more weeks to my short getaway - excited is me!

May the next two weeks be smooth sailing. 

It's Never Really Goodbye With Us

It has been our tradition that before any of us leave for UK again, the last weekend would be a sleepover weekend. 

So yes, even at the age of 24 I do still have sleepover - because why not?! 

_________________________________26 August 2016_________________________________

It was one of the last weekend before Zoe leave for UK (again) so we agreed to have a sleepover. Since Zoe had dinner to go too (busy bee she was!), I went home first after work - which is good too cause then I had time to pack.. 

Once we both received the text from Zoe that she was on her way home, both Min & I left separately to Zoe's. Once at her place we just chilled with our masks and helped her pack. 

Still remember the first time Zoe was leaving and we both had to help her pack, it was a war zone. 

Me: Why the heck do you have 3 huge tubs of Cetaphil? They have it in the UK!?! 

Zoe: Well, what am I gonna use to shower when I arrive? 

Me: You don't need 3!!

Zoe: They had a promotion....

-______-

Me: Zoe, you don't need to bring all your jeans you know. Just bring two, you'll buy more there for sure!

Zoe: But they fit me... 

Me: You need more space for food! You'll shop for clothes there.

Fast forward 2 years later

Zoe: You're right Sya - I just end up shopping for clothes there and most of my luggage space are for food.

Well, she weren't kidding. She had like 3 different brands of seaweed to bring -____-' 

Of course no packing session would be complete if we didn't raid each other's closet and "borrow" (cause sometimes you never see the item back) clothes.. We also unlocked a whole new level of friendship where we literally lie on the floor and talk to each other while one of us is showering.. (Zoe's house is not a place for privacy, lol :P)

Her super belated birthday present. 

(Yes, that's right, that's a poop shape down right the middle of the shadow box.. Who can forget our "Baby I feel shitty" cycle - even til we're 23/24 is still catches up on us, sigh)

The next day, we decided to go to Dotty's for lunch and boy it was so goooooooood!

 The chocolate croissant & some blueberry pastry

Dotty's french toast - which I thought would be perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Faiz decided to join us and since he's on his diet phase, so all he got was our leftovers. So kesian.

I'm in my Harry Potter phase (after the Cursed Child I decided to re-read the entire series - still at Book #2.... That's a mirror image, so that's not me finishing the book, that's me just starting btw). I really do become more anti-social when I read compared to when I'm with my phone..

 Til the next farewell sleepover! 

xx, A.