placid

Of a placid stint.

Ashley Bertram

Oct 15, 2011

Placid

Peace, Love, and Happiness
Is a pleasant thought to ponder,
Yet it's quite unlikely for we are
Known to stray and wander.
So rid yourself of worry, child,
And rid yourself of sin.
And soon you'll see the prospects
Of a placid stint.

On the placid lake

Amitav Radiance

Feb 1

A Placid Lake

Drops of passion

On the placid lake

Created a turmoil

Ripples spread wide

Under the blue sky

Nowhere to hide

Closed eyes

Helps feel every word

Left unspoken

And lips do the talking

At the confluence

Swept away

By the undercurrent

---

Hey. Was feeling rather vapid and googled some poems that hopefully resonate with my current state, call it a cathartic act. Well not the most apt but they are sure rather mind-swirling indeed.  

Movie review: Inside Out

Had an opportunity to take a break from the bizarre come-go lifestyle that I've been living lately. Oh gosh, such exhausting period. Anyways, I finally got the chance to watch Inside Out, after hearing rave reviews proliferating all over. Interesting and quite a refreshing breather from the usual cliche animations, interesting, I approve of it ahaha. 

Disclaimer: Spoiler alert, just a heads up! 

Revolving around the five emotions namely: joy, sadness, disgust, anger, fear, this movie introduces us to the workings of the internal mind, how different emotions dominate at different points of our lives, how our actions are constructed by the emotions that influence us, be it momentarily or permanently, and how distinctively, our memories constitute emotions of a range. The movie alternates between two storylines, both dependent on each other and equally important. Inside Riley's mind, we see how the different emotions interact, how they draw conclusion on actions based on their distinctive personalities of each emotion. Rather memorable was a scene of her at dinner, after her first rather crappy day at her new school where she gave a feeble introduction that escalated into tears with her reminiscing her good o days at Minnesota, she gave a rather curt reply when her mom inquired about her day, which led to her mom further probing into this issue. Gosh please don't mind my atrocious disgusting language. I needa get the hang of writing now now now fml, feeling so rusty atm. Anws it's quite a good insight into Inside Out, how different perspectives of the same issue result in different reactions, compare Riley's to her mom and dad's. Rather cute movie, oh yes, I've just said it and I'm gonna reiterate again oh wellz. 

The story began with introductions to the workings of the headquarters, how we have long-term memories, short-term and the core memories, that constitutes our character and personality, and in this case, powers the five different worlds of Riley's character: family, integrity, friendship, ice-hockey and goof-ball land. The story took off later, with how Riley struggled to adjust to her new life in San Francisco, how she had to start all over again, building new friendships, relations, a whole new way of life. This was coupled with how internally, Joy and Sadness encountered a little predicament and was sucked off to the arena of long term memories, where they struggled to make their journey back to the HQ. However, such journey is no small feat, evidently. The two realms intertwined, as how external events caused Riley's principles and ideals to sway, how slowly, individually, the five different worlds gradually collapsed, which hindered the return journey of Joy and Sadness. Throughout the course of the movie, we were also introduced to the other areas of the brain: we have imagination land, abstract thinking land, the memory dump, where things are laid forgotten and desolated, and a absolutely memorable one: dreamland, where they actually create productions for the dream of the night. Throughout this invigorating journey, I was reminded of youth again, how we have grown so far from the days of our fetal existence, how we have grown up :') Idk, the notion of growing up, with memories spread over so many years, how we were once all young and innocent, it just brings some impinging stinging spurts of wetness to your eyes, dont cha?  Aside from the exploration of emotions,  Inside Out enlightens us about the importance of family, totally family movie material :')  There's always sth magical about disney, and this is no exception. In fact, I'm pretty sure  I'm gonna rewatch Inside Out sometime again in the future. I'm just really fascinated and in awe of the their concept of inside out, refreshing. And did I mention the cute credits too? Hmm how our teachers think of us huh? 

Interesting insight to our emotions, and well, quite a cute movie tbh, rather amusing how the different emotions interact with each other, all resulting in the different actions of Riley. I won't agree entirely, the workings of this movie, how the different memories are necessarily intertwined with the emotions evoked at that point of time, sometimes emotions may not necessarily be involved?  Or perhaps it's just a fleeting moment of mine where I'm desensitized to emotions of all sorts, instead choosing to live by stoically and placidly hahaha. terribly sorry for this chunk of disoriented, incoherent writing, just like my life at the moment. Oh damn, fuck this. 

And yes, as much as I find the idea of joy very attractive, she's perpetually the ideal Utopian state of the mind, you know, how we are constantly buffered with the idea of positivity, positive vibes, positive mindset, blah blah, I still find myself relating to sadness most, even though it was a character of such great amount of detest at first. Seriously, I found her absolutely a nuisance, yet it was her that stole the show. I did mention about the disclaimer yo. Maybe its the notion that sadness is simply an underlying emotion of mine, there's akways a place for sadness huh? No matter what the occasion, sadness always have this capability of pervading every scenario huh? Oh gosh, this has slowly escalated into a bizarre emo post? Threshold has its place here, on this platform, so yup, I shan't get far about such ideas. Oh wait, anonymity provides an extra ledge of space here, doesn't it?  Anyways, personally, aside from constant underlying melancholy, disgust and anger pretty much dominate things here. Bleh. Anyways I had a great day yesterday, pleasant company too. It's been so long since I had the slightest taste of liberation, perhaps not really, since I'lll countlessly detracted from my goals and plans, mostly arising from redundant and numbed, aimless thinking. Liberation, perhaps I've lost how it really feels like. 

Oh gosh, see, feel the presence of sadness, she's smirking at you. Disgust beside her, totally. 

hmm

Hmm... Yeah.... Fuck school urgh, why do u take away people's happiness, freedom, joy, liberty, everything? Bliss comes when school goes.

an inch of freedom, or is it not?

Just finished hell week, finally, and had a mini class trip on the next day, cos school's out omfg. Speaking of profanities, all the built up frustration, exasperation, disappointment have left me sprouting profanities like no body's business, well it pretty much isnt, but urghh i've never felt that lethargic before. It's way beyond physical fatigue-- im pretty much used to it. it's more of being emotionally, mentally drained, such that I'm wholesomely sick and tired of. Wtf am I wasting my young days on? Look at those little success out there elsewhere, blossoming youtubers in LA having supposedly their time of their life pursuing their life interests, while we here, (unwillingly) enthrusted with all these little mandatory routines, that aren't half as enjoyable. gosh. I could recall me nonchalantly muttering of just let me die when minor hiccups occur, such as not being able to find sth or having gonna be late for sth. Fuck. But this is the construct of society that we're born in, ahaha look at the many options before us.
Anws class trip the next day was enjoyable, have yet to feel that relaxed since forever, sth like a well-earned break yet I know i hv so much more to buck up on. Fudge, ahh sounds more classy eh? Had steamboat and grill, quite a reasonable deal, though smelling like meat wasnt fairly pleasant. And terminator genisys was rather mindblowing, with all the time travelling and actions, quite thrilling too, all the jumpscare parts. Gosh I think the ratings were PG with slight violence, but it would be more apt if they mentioned of sudden explosive violence, i mean what will one expect with the ambiguity of 'violence'? there's many forms, explosive, thrilling, be more specific dude. k maybe it's just me being a timid tensed up chicken ahaha. Anws great movie it was.

And have I ever mentioned that alluring charm floppy hats' got? got to try one at H&M ysd and indeed, it adds this mysterious aurora to one, as what Jennim said. I'll get one some day.

Gorgeous isnt it? Blends so well with your outfit, versatile yeah, and immediately brings the whole look to the next level. and nice eyebrows she's got there too. Anws, ciao. And that commences the start of the laborious lives that we have to live again. but greater little adventures too :)

picture collage

Recall when I posted sometime ago of my new camera purchase? well I took it on a holiday a few months ago (last December), never really got the chance, more of time actually, to sit through all these and upload them, here's the chance so here's it! I went to Hangzhou, China, a really peaceful, scenic little state, mainly tourism as its purpose, and spent sometime in Hong Kong and Shanghai, so below's some pictures of my trip! This blog was originally created to share my holiday trips, itinerary, travel tips etc. but time got the better of me, so here's a little post to compensate my shortcomings! I'll post more frequently when time (and energy) allows :) feels like i'm losing touch with my pretty nonexistent writing skills, getting rusty eh? This is very bad indeed! See my use of bland words? Quite abysmal isnt it? What an upsetting sign! I do adore writing, therapeutic I would say, but just nowadays, mood, time, emotions, they awash me and just make things grey as they are, fading all colours and live in me... oh well, mock at my abhorrent state if you may ahaha. Indifference plague me occasionally, if not, constantly.
Utterly digressing from my original intention: to share the pics! Hope these little pictures brighten up your day, esp the cat pictures, who can resist the cuteness of these little cats? My innate subdued catlady-ness is being summoned hahaha. Have I mentioned I want to have a cat someday? Though the loyalty and companionship of dogs usually override such fantasies. Enjoy!

colours in brilliance 

Lucky to stumble upon such a scene~!

the vastness is certainly missed at the moment

Simply psychedelic, the little miracles in life :')

Shanghai! 

an obsolete fire hydrant of the olden days

xiaolongbao, ate an overbundance of these oh gosh 

bustling hong kong! 

Simply delicious! their speciality: fried omelette topped with hk style boluobao! literally 

hangzhou! lovely fengye

And now, here's the cat pictures! be prepared for cute-nes overload! be prepared to squeal in absolute delight, and to those nitpickers, soz for the disappoint in advance then. 

yup, its a mini cat cafe, with only three cats. but whether one or three, its sufficient to me! note the rhyming lol, little joys of life? and yup, they're absolute adorable! 

when times get tough, always life your head up and embrace it all. pain is only ever fleeting. sometimes the little unspoken stories in life is simply compelling, further probes you to think and reflect dont you think so? :)


and here henceforth concludes my untimely, impromptu picture collage. definitely missing those times of  freedom, and being unbounded to happenings and duties, alias being a carefree eagle free to expand your wings and soar. Such liberty will be dearly missed. Definitely hope these little pictures remind and shed light to the lost, confused, despaired, of the little joys in life. Embrace them all. Disoriented and incoherent, this post is definitely is.

Ciao, have a great day ahead. 

:')

people grow up, they really do. Rewatching my p6 grad night dance video really brought me down reflecting on how much we've grown, we old girls already. Gosh time flies, really, and everything's seem so evanescent and just transient. No matter how much you detest a subject, do relish in the moment too as everything's not built to last. Just some fleeting statement as I await for my pizza delivery. Did I mention? Smoked Pepperoni with Mushroom's the best! Suddenly feeling a wave of gratitude for the people around me. Life's not been smooth sailing but it could have been worse, much worse, trust me.
Here's a virtual toast to the future years ahead. I love y'all all even though this message's not distinctly conveyed, and even not so on a daily basis. Lots of love to those whom I loveeeeee~~~


Aptly, The Phantom of the Opera's Wishing you were somehow here again playing on radio 92.4FM. Love them musicals<333

Here's a happy Friday to yall! <3

Nonchalence.

Tired, feeling vapid, and simple apathetic to all that's around me. How do all these little earthlings keep their motivation going? I need some drive, desperately in need. I'm simply stagnant and at some sort of standstill in life rn, Sigh, sml. Respite, its what I'm gonna need too. Just some rambling going on here... Meh think of colours, rainbows, all that glitter aint gold. Ok gonna end my crap before more escalates and regret manifests. Ciao.

placid by nature, dont mind me.

JC

Just a breather from my usual posts- jolly happy food posts, cos who doesn't like food right? Especially good food. Gonna make this a real swift one cause I'm currently piled up with a lot of work and any further minute not doing it is simply guilty:/ speaking of relaxing.
Anyway, back to the issue:  the 2014 O Level results were released last Mon (12th Jan) and this, along with past experiences and queries from acquaintances prompted me to address some of the issues asked and to provide a better perspective of how JC life is going to be/ currently is. Just a disclaimer: I've been to only one JC, obviously, though I've heard lots from friends of other institutions. Hence undeniably, my insights and perspectives are entirely my own and are subjected to my own experiences. Good to know how one's take on JC is anyways, isn't it? :)

So some people asked me, is your school fun?

Firstly, define fun, What do you mean? The people, the events, the school itself? Kidding.

Well, definitely, JC is so much more eventful than secondary school. Plain dull secondary school where you get stucked to your classroom 24/7 except for recesses, where teachers come in to your classroom. In JC, you're practically on the run each time lesson ends, flocking to a new venue. Travel travel travel.

There's loads of events, at least one major event each month, for starters, it would definitely be the JC orientation that's being painstakingly prepared by your seniors, and let's not forget school concerts, band performances etc.

Social-wise, very much too, as you get to meet people from diverse backgrounds and personalities, schools, and generally get to know them. JC's a time to sharpen your social skills too. It's where you are exposed to new stuff and experiences, define them for yourself;).

However, the reality: the amount of work in JC is totally incomparable Now as I look back, there seems to be not much work at all? Except for mundane TYS and prelim papers, which exists in JC too FYI. The rate at they teach is significantly greater paced too, teaching a whole new chapter in 2 lectures, it's totally normal in JC. Eg: for chemistry Hydrocarbons- alkanes, where in sec school we'll probably spend a month on it? Yeah we got that covered in greater details, within 2 lectures. Yes...
And the work is simply on-going. As if loaded on a conveyor belt, it'll pile up infinitely if you're not a consistent worker.

And seriously, how fun do you expect JC to get? Party and be cray cray alldayeveryday? Obviously not! If you're bent on going on to universities for greater prospects. Hmm instead of fun, think of JC as eventful, with FUN events all year. The people there make a big difference too, and fortunately, I'm in a class of fab people! Really, and well, quite a bonded fun bunch, especially with the class girls!

Whoops, hope this helps those going to JC. You're gonna have a blast! The exact words that a senior told me. And enjoy J1 while it lasts!