tag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806lacrimae rerumspeak friend and enterSivaroobini2017-05-20T19:52:54Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:90192Bast has opinions on ASD2017-05-20T19:52:54Z2017-05-20T19:52:54Zamusedpublic1<br />This afternoon I was working on my essay on Autism Spectrum Disorder while the cats snoozed next to me, and in the living room Mark/<span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://bpambberger.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://bpambberger.dreamwidth.org/'><b>bpambberger</b></a></span> and Avalon were having their weekly SCA singing practice. <br /><br />I'd already spoken with Mark about joining them for the <a href="http://music.trickypixie.com/track/mushroom-song">Mushroom Song</a>, so he called me before they started; I set my laptop aside, made tea and joined them, and we had a great time practising it; we plan to sing it at Pencampwr, at either the Victory Feast or the Bardic Circle. We also discussed other songs (we've settled on also performing <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwil2qGymv_TAhUHUrwKHWKoDssQtwIIQDAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFozCVz0_Kpc&usg=AFQjCNEtMCn5Mf_1Zje27oVgdjUjuXoDBg&sig2=uFDsqmGP-YeOSqyLKdH9PQ">The Hunt Is On</a>, and we had a laugh at <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj3lrjZmv_TAhUDjpQKHWEsAZsQtwIIJjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVwrrPPNR5is&usg=AFQjCNFhrTba746Gx_UhNYjukbb5sBsHDw&sig2=FpNNS-TcFsJyr05hpLcuMw">The Wager</a>). Anyway, after a fun practice I went back to the theatre to get back to work, and found this: <br /><br /><a href="https://ibb.co/n3WDTF"><img src="https://preview.ibb.co/mHDSoF/Bast_on_laptop_2_2.jpg" alt="Bast on laptop 2 2" width="550" height="367" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After shooing her away I checked the damage, and found five pages of 'uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu'. Dammit Bast!<br /><br /><a href="http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Fifth_Marauder/media/Bast%20essay%201_zpsiapj1mbv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/Fifth_Marauder/Bast%20essay%201_zpsiapj1mbv.jpg" alt=" photo Bast essay 1_zpsiapj1mbv.jpg" width="550" height="389" border="0" /><br /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Fifth_Marauder/media/Bast%20essay%202_zpsopo1kco9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/Fifth_Marauder/Bast%20essay%202_zpsopo1kco9.jpg" alt=" photo Bast essay 2_zpsopo1kco9.jpg" width="550" height="372" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Could have been worse, I suppose. She could have had her paw on the Backspace button, or turned the entire laptop off. :P I love Bast dearly, but dear gods she gets into a lot of mischief. XD <3 <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=90192" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:89673Romantic photo2017-05-05T11:35:05Z2017-05-05T11:43:52ZTricky Pixie - Tam Linpublic3<br /><img src="http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/sirius_luva/8622424/45052/45052_900.jpg" alt="" height="500" width="500" /><br /><br /><blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="ZcnXtA3" lang="en"><a href="//imgur.com/ZcnXtA3">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote><br /><br />This photo of Mark and me was taken at the Barony of Aneala's 30th anniversary celebratory feast, and I love it so much. <3 In the original, you can see a truck and a house in the background, but a friend of mine got someone in a Photoshop group on Facebook to edit them out. :D <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=89673" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:87136Caveat2014-11-09T04:45:58Z2014-11-09T04:45:58Ztiredpublic0One of my SCA friends added me on LJ, and from his LJ I've been adding a couple of other SCA friends as well.<br /><br />I would like to state that I've had my LJ since I was 13 and there is a lot of stuff from my horrible teenage years - one day I will get around to changing that horrible username - so please don't laugh too much. :P <br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=87136" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:86461New experiences2014-09-25T16:54:39Z2014-11-09T04:30:43ZPaint It Black - The Rolling Stonessadpublic2<br />Today I broke up with my boyfriend.<br /><br />I was fine for most of the day, only shedding a couple of tears once or twice, and then I got home and my housemates hugged me and brought out this huge stack of chocolate and then I started crying. Partly because I'd been doing my best to keep myself together all day while at uni and in front of other people and had to let go at some point, and partly because, relationship drama aside, I was extremely touched by their gestures.<br /><br />I do think I learnt something, though. He was the first person I'd ever dated. Back before I came to Perth, whenever I tried to envison my ideal partner (assuming it wasn't one of my bad days where I felt ugly and horrible and didn't think anyone would ever want me), I felt it was important that they share at least some of my interests. Tolkien, Harry Potter, Star Trek, Gaiman, Pratchett, sci fi/fantasy in general, ancient and medieval history/archaeology, fanfic, roleplay, costuming etc. So few people in Singapore did. Obviously, I also figured that they'd have to actually like me, which I thought would be rare. And then I came to Perth and made many geeky friends and joined the SCA and realised that actually, there were a <em>lot</em> of nerds and geeks around me who shared my interests. And SCA was now one of them. And there was the uni sci fi/fantasy club and the Queer Department and the Perth Discworld fan club... being surrounded by geeks was awesome, and by that point I wasn't thinking too hard about romance or particularly <em>looking</em>, aside from vague halfhearted fantasies about Richard Armitage lookalikes. XD<br /><br />Sometimes I wonder if the reason I said yes (albeit warily) when he first expressed interest was that I was surprised by someone showing genuine interest in me. And as time wore on, I was won over by the fact that he shared my interests and would tell me fun little things about medieval culture that I hadn't known, that made me see a Tolkien scene in a new light, and stuff like that. I did have genuine affection for him.<br /><br />Anyway. The thing I learnt is that you can meet and date someone who's nearly perfect for you in a lot of ways, who has gorgeous eyes and shares your passions for a <em>lot </em>of things (Tolkien, HP, Discworld, ancient and medieval history and languages and archaeology, Egypt, SCA, swordfighting, steampunk LARP, costuming, random trivia) and introduces you to new things that you fall in love with (Stargate; I'd seen and loved the original movie, but he introduced me to the TV series, which I was aware of but had never watched until now) and shares your ideals and values (honour, chivalry, knowledge, feminism), who cares deeply for you with almost frightening intensity, who makes you feel ridiculously happy... and things can still not work out, even if you think that logically they ought to. At least we're still friends.<br /><br />I had to end things, but I also kind of hate myself for it.<br /><br />On a very vaguely related note, I'm getting professional help for stress and anxiety issues. \o/ <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=86461" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:84688Looking back at 20132014-01-06T20:46:50Z2014-01-28T18:13:12Zthoughtfulpublic0Okay, so it's already a few days into 2014, but I saw this on a friend's Dreamwidth and it looked fun.<br /><br /><strong>01. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?</strong><br /><br />So many things that I can't list them all here. I have been more outgoing and energetic though. Hmm, I wore a corset, I seriously planned to ask someone out, I started wearing tank tops in the Australian summer heat, I sledded down the Swiss Alps...<br /><strong><br />02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?</strong><br /><br />I haven't made any in years. I never keep them. XD<br /><br /><strong>03. Did anyone close to you give birth?</strong><br /><br />No, though my sister got married in July and I keep bugging her for a niece or nephew to spoil. XD<br /><strong><br />04. Did anyone close to you die?</strong><br /><br />No.<br /><br /><strong>05. What countries did you visit?</strong><br /><br />Does Perth count if I spend most of the year there at uni? XD Well, we went on a Europe tour in December and I saw France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. <br /><br /><strong>06. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?</strong><br /><br />More self-discipline, for studying, exercising and eating a bit healthier. And a laptop that doesn't give out on me during the worst part of term when I have a ton of assignments to write and exam prep to start researching.<br /><br /><strong>07. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?</strong><br /><br />Um, my 21st birthday (14th July) and my sister's wedding (6th July). My sister's wedding was a complete circus, and a headache to prepare for, but it was a beautiful day and she was beautiful and I saw family members and family friends I hadn't seen in ages (some of them came down from India, Malaysia and even America just for the wedding ♥). And on my birthday I had an amazing costume party and was surrounded by my friends and family. ♥<br /><br /><strong>08. What was your biggest achievement of the year?</strong><br /><br />Where do I start? XD Well, I ran the SCA Newcomers' Feast at the beginning of the year. It was such a headache and so stressful and a disaester behind the scenes, but all the guests, who had no idea of the drama going on in the kitchen, said it was a lovely event and really enjoyed it. <br /><br />I also pulled a Hermione in first semester, when I applied for dispensation for unit overload/taking an extra unit. The standard maximum unit load per semester is four, but I was taking five units: Greek 1, Latin 2, German 3, The Golden Age of Athens, and Religion, Gender and Society in Medieval/Early Modern Europe. I did so because I wanted to continue German and start Greek, so German was my extra unit. However, there were a lot of timetable clashes and classes I couldn't attend, so since German was the only class not related to either of my majors, I sacrificed it. I did the best I could and had been doing pretty well on assignments and class tests, but I never had time to go to the conversational German classes and the lectures clashed with my Greek tutorials so I could only attend one German tutorial a week, mostly a written German one. And I never finished/submitted my final German essay, since all my essays were due at the same time and I was freaking out. I really could have done with a Time-Turner. <br /><br />However, at the same time I was also planning the aforementioned Feast and being very heavily involved in the medieval club in general, and I also ran the Queer Department for half the semester before stepping down because it was too much. So I consider the sheer amount I got done in first semester and how I was running around like the Energiser Bunny and did pretty well in my other units an achievement. XD<br /><br />Also, in Europe I quickly picked up enough French and Italian to order food and drinks and that sort of thing, and I already knew German so I could order my own vegetarian food. :D <br /><strong><br />09. What was your biggest failure?</strong><br /><br />German, which I literally failed because see above. Also, there was this amazing friend I really liked and I was working up the nerve to ask them out (I use the pronoun 'they' because they're agendered, though when I first met them they were still identifying as female). Their last relationship hadn't ended so well and they'd said at the beginning of the year that they weren't really interested in dating at the moment so I was also waiting for a hint that that might have changed. And then JUST when I was going to ask them out, they said they were just starting to date someone else. So I was too late and I do kind of regret that, though I'm moving on.<br /><br /><strong>10. Did you suffer illness or injury?</strong><br /><br />Oh yes, I actually started 2013 with a spectacular bout of food poisoning or stomach flu. XD I've been ill at various points over the year; I actually ended 2013 with a cold/throat infection, too. And I got lots of small bruises from rapier practice/tournaments.<br /><br /><strong>11. What was the best thing you bought?</strong><br /><br />Um... the material to make my lovely Egyptian costume, the Egyptian snake arm-bangle, the ancient Egyptian <em>senet </em>gameboard <em>The Ocean At The End Of The Lane</em>, my Key to Erebor pendant, my Viking brooches, my corset, various souvenirs in Florence and Rome... lots of things. XD Also the ticket to the special premiere of <em>Thor: The Dark World</em>, which got me 3D glasses designed like Thor's armour, a poster and a Loki pop vinyl figure, and the chance to see it early with an amazingly geeky and enthusiastic energetic audience. <br /><br /><strong>12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?</strong><br /><br />Uh... lots of people? My dad, my sister, my uncle, my friends and most especially Pope Francis. That man is amazing.<br /><br /><strong>13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?</strong><br /><br />My mother and brother. My mother has early-onset Alzheimer's and is still very aggressive and defensive, and also mentally regressing to a spoilt petulant child. My brother... lots of family drama there that I'd rather not go into. Also my cousin's fiancée.<br /><br /><strong>14. Where did most of your money go?</strong><br /><br />Books, most likely, and fees for SCA events. Also rent and groceries/food.<br /><strong><br />15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?</strong><br /><br />My birthday, SCA stuff, the Europe trip (especially ROME *___* ), and food. XD And Latin poetry! And the recent Harry Potter marathon with friends. And a Lord of the Rings marathon with friends in Perth in May.<br /><br /><strong>16. What song will always remind you of 2013?</strong><br /><br />No idea, I haven't actually listened to many new songs. Though there are a few songs that will always remind me of the Europe trip because they were playing over and over and over again on European MTV in all the hotel rooms and on the radio. Also, I fell in love with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eulw5UmXM14">this </a>track from <em>Thor: The Dark World</em>, which I saw twice with amazing friends, so it might remind me of 2013? Maybe?<br /><br /><strong>17. Compared to this time last year, you are:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Happier or sadder?</strong> Probably happier?<br /><strong>Thinner or fatter?</strong> Fatter.<br /><strong>Richer or poorer?</strong> I'm not sure.<br /><strong><br />18. What do you wish you'd done more of?</strong><br /><br />Writing, studying, cleaning.<br /><br /><strong>19. What do you wish you'd done less of?</strong><br /><br />Procrastinating, daydreaming.<br /><br /><strong>20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?</strong><br /><br />My father's family grew up with this other family and they were very close and have remained very close, so every year they invite us over for Christmas dinner and we go and have a lovely time. That was what we did in 2013 as well.<br /><br /><strong>22. Did you fall in love in 2013?</strong><br /><br />No. I might have, if I had asked out that friend like I wanted to, because I really liked them. Still, I'm moving on and a friend has expressed interest. We're taking things <em>very </em>slow, but it's looking good so far.<br /><br /><strong>23. How many one-night stands?</strong><br /><br />None.<br /><br /><strong>24. What was your favourite TV program?</strong><br /><br />SHERLOCK. Also BBC Robin Hood, because it's so bad it's hilarious and also Richard Armitage in leather and guyliner. And BBC's North & South.<br /><strong><br />25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?</strong><br /><br />My brother. And my cousin's fiancée.<br /><strong><br />26. What was the best book you read?</strong><br /><br />Hmm. New books, not rereads?<em> The Ocean at the End of the Lane</em> by Neil Gaiman. And <em>The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms</em> by NK Jemisin. And a lot of fantastic fanfiction.<br /><br /><strong>27. What was your greatest musical discovery?</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22lVr2II7as&noredirect=1">Gone With The Sin</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6kS8TzR_E">Ulv Raev Hare</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTXe1ZhJ25o">Randy Dandy O</a>.<br /><strong><br />28. What did you want and get?</strong><br /><br /><em>The Ocean at the End of the Lane</em>, a chance to see Rome and Florence and the Black Forest, some Marvel comics, a costume party, various food dishes, a boost in self-esteem... lots of things.<br /><br /><strong>29. What did you want and not get?</strong><br /><br />The new <em>Sandman</em> comic, and <em>Raising Steam</em>. I will get them soon, I still have a book voucher from my birthday!<br /><br /><strong>30. What was your favorite film of this year?</strong><br /><br /><em>The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</em>. I also really liked <em>Thor: The Dark World</em> and <em>Star Trek: Into Darkness</em>.<br /><br /><strong>31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</strong><br /><br />I was 21. I had an amazing historical-themed costume party at a chalet, with friends and family, and there was a barbecue (with lots of vegetarian food for me; the whole thing was jointly organised/paid for by my dad and uncle) and a fantastic Harry Potter cake from my sister, and in general it was such a wonderful night.<br /><br /><strong>32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?</strong><br /><br />My brother moving out, my academic results being better, or getting a job.<br /><br /><strong>33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?</strong><br /><br />Medieval. XD<br /><br /><strong>34. What kept you sane?</strong><br /><br />My friends (especially Bird and Myst), the SCA and fanfiction.<br /><br /><strong>35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?</strong><br /><br />Richard Armitage, oh my goodness. *sighs and fans self* Also Tom Hiddleston and Chris Evans.<br /><br /><strong>35. What was your favorite video game of the year?</strong><br /><br />I don't play any.<br /><br /><strong>36. Who has made the most cameos in your dreams this year?</strong><br /><br />Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and the dwarves of Erebor (plus Bilbo and Gandalf). <_< <br /><br /><strong>37. Who did you miss?</strong><br /><br />Various friends. Also, I miss my Singapore family and friends while in Perth and I miss my Perth friends while in Singapore.<br /><br /><strong>38. Who was the best new person you met?</strong><br /><br />I met the Perth Discworld fan club, the Perth Drummers, and made some lovely friends there: notably Damien, Krystel and Danielle. And my classmate Chloe. <br /><br /><strong>39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:</strong><br /><br />Never bite off more than I can chew, and plan my time better.<br /><br /><strong>40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:</strong><br /><br />Can't think of any.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=84688" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:81232New garb and general garb-related rambling2013-03-24T07:23:29Z2013-03-24T07:23:29ZBear Dancepublic10<br />I am just so proud of my 12th-century bliaut. :D<br /><br /> I organised the College of St Basil's yearly Newcomers' Feast last night (to welcome all the new students who've joined us) and it was a few days of nonstop frantic cooking and sewing to get the food and the dress ready in time. XD I did not sleep at all on Friday night, I was making mushroom pasties the whole night with two others and finally finished those and got to nap a little around 7.30am while someone else took over keeping an eye on the stew and starting the beef roast and then in a couple of hours I got up again to help with chicken pottage and cloven fruit and just. x_x <br /><br />Hemming it by hand felt like it had a never-ending circumference, and it's wool so it was almost too warm (it'll be great for Pencampwr though, which is our major camping event in the middle of nowhere in winter and REALLY cold so even though I do have a thick cloak, I tend to wear layers of modern thermal wear under my medieval clothes XD). I got a lot of compliments on it at last night's feast - even though James stepped on my train while escorting me in front of the Baron and Baroness for Court and we both stumbled - and it swirls out beautifully while dancing. :D<br /><br /><img width="415" height="554" src="http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269386_10151528067711940_548592204_n.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />It was SUCH a pain in the kitchen though, I had to knot the sleeves and tuck the train into my belt and pin it there and I still definitely have to wash it. Note to self: do not wear this to an event when you're the one running it. <br /><br />Unfortunately the gold trim ceinture [the long belt], unlike the thick fake leather one I wear with most other garb, can't really handle my current pouch (which I can hide my phone and wallet and tissue and necessities in :D) and it would look odd anyway unless I make a new light 12th century style pouch, and my dagger is way too heavy for this belt, so in general this is probably going to be strictly indoor feast wear so I can hide a bag with all my stuff under the table. XD I usually wear tunics and pants for fighting and archery and general field stuff, but I might make a Viking dress next since they're pretty and sensible field wear. And my cloak already has a Viking clasp so it should all look good together. :D<br /><br />I should probably finish the half-done sideless surcote and Byzantine-style robe in my wardrobe too. <_< <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=81232" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:78418Heraldry woes2012-10-13T13:14:12Z2012-10-13T13:16:39Zaccomplishedpublic0<br />I'm the Herald of the College of St. Basil, the SCA chapter at my uni, and we have to do reports. So I was <strike>complaining</strike> chatting to Myst on AIM while typing up my report.<br /><br />Me: Writing my Herald's Report.<br />Me: Reporting on the devices Z and I have designed. I'm trying to describe them in blazon, in heraldry terms, and it's bloody hard.<br />Myst: Good luck.<br />Me: Z - Gules, in fess an Armenian eagle close Or facing sinister, the Armenian letter 'z' Or, an Armenian eagle close Or facing dexter.<br />Sivaroobini - Gules, in pale a book Argent and an ankh Or.<br />Myst: in fess? <br />Me: in a row<br />Myst: Ah. <br />Me: though I just asked him if it was in fess or one and two<br />Myst: Gules is... red? <br />Me: <a href="http://heraldry.sca.org/primer/arrangements.html">http://heraldry.sca.org/primer/arrangements.html </a><br />Me: Yes.<br />Myst: silver book and gold ankh<br />Me: White, technically, but silver in heraldry terms, yes XD<br />Me: book above ankh<br />Me: so now I'm sitting here waiting for him to reply so I can change his as required and send it in.<br />Myst: *goes to check what her phoenix would have been in heraldry, out of curiosity XD <br />Me: ... augh, his eagles are twisted, looking over their shoulders<br />Me: so now it's Gules, an Armenian eagle close regardant Or facing sinister, the Armenian letter 'z' Or, an Armenian eagle close regardant Or facing dexter, one and two. <br />Myst: *wince<br />Myst: Complicated? <br />Myst: At least yours sounds nice and straightforward<br />Me: It is. XD His looks pretty, but blazoning it is a nightmare.<br />Me: He's the Marshall, and hence only has to report on trainings and injuries, whereas as the Herald I have to keep track of everyone's SCA names and devices - whether or not they've registered either/sent in paperwork, whether it's legal, etc - and be familiar with heraldry rules and blazoning. >< <br />Me: ... good god I sound a bit like Gabriel.<br />Myst: 'A bit'? <br />Me: oh shush you :P<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=78418" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:78152Ow2012-09-28T06:16:14Z2012-10-13T13:19:42Zsorepublic0<br />I have a bruise on my collarbone, a slightly sprained little finger, a couple of very painful spots on an index finger, and a lot of other painful bruises over my chest. And some mysterious grazes on my legs despite the 4 pairs of pants I was wearing at the time. I really need to invest in a breastplate; hopefully I can find one that fits.<br /><br />I'm using less band-aids and more Nurofen gel these days. <_< (It's like Panadol, but it's an anti-inflammatory painkiller in gel form so you can rub it directly on the injury.)<br /><br /><img width="488" height="631" src="http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408360_428127887244451_2117954742_n.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />(I do medieval rapier, not fencing, and a breastplate isn't compulsory but I'm realising that I need one. And I need to start defending my chest better...)<br /><br />All these are from yesterday's rapier practice, which was admittedly more gruelling than usual. And right now I am packing for a Fri-Mon SCA camping event called <a href="http://aneala.lochac.sca.org/championship/default.asp">Anealan Championship</a>, because I'll be going up against the best rapier fighters in Western Australia - one of them is one of the best in the world - in the rapier championship on Sunday (I know I have no hope of winning, but I figure it'll be fun anyway). I'm packing the Nurofen. XD WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=78152" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:76173Home2012-06-20T17:40:12Z2012-06-20T17:40:12ZVoltaire - Goodnight Demon Slayertiredpublic3<br />It's 12.30AM on the 21st of June and I should be going to bed soon (technically I AM sitting in bed...), since I have a flight at 3.55pm to return to Singapore.<br /><br />It's weird. I've been in Australia for only five months, and only four on my own (my parents stayed here until the end of February) but it feels like <em>so much longer</em>. There've been clubs (especially the medieval club, the queer department and the sci fi/fantasy club) and making friends and lectures and tutorials and projects and assignments and learning to live on my own and university life in general and it's just been so <em>full</em>. It feels like months and months.<br /><br />I've loved it, though. I love my university, and learning things and the lessons and the library and clubrooms and I <em>really </em>love SCA, the medieval club. I've fought in my first rapier tournament (and was told that I was bloody fast; I lost miserably of course, as it was my first tournament and I've only been fighting for a few months, but held my own for a while against experienced fighters and they think I have skill, I just need more practice) and been to camps and slept in tents (I've been on tons of Astronomy camps but on those occasions the tents are there to hold our stuff and nobody actually SLEEPS much because we'd all rather stargaze and occasionally doze in folding chairs next to telescopes) and am training in sword-and-shield combat and danced and shot arrows at people and gotten an award and tried alcohol (I dislike wine, I love cider and mead) and stuff. Basically SCA = awesome. I'm apparently making friends with people in the local and university gay community, too. I Skype my family at least once a week. I did fairly well on most tests and assignments and the midterms, though I am <em>really</em> nervous about the end-of-semester exams we just had. <br /><br />On Monday, after my last exam, I went out to dinner (delicious Vietnamese) with this lesbian couple I'm good friends with, Suzie and Sam, and their friend Emilie, and then we went to Sam's place and watched queer movies (my mind has been blown, I had no idea the genre existed), and Sam lives in an area that might not be fully safe at that time of night (10pm) and plus the buses don't run late, so they felt it was safer for me and Emilie to stay the night and I crashed on her couch. That's actually the first time I've slept at a friend's house when it wasn't a huge preplanned birthday sleepover. XD And this would <em>never </em>have happened in Singapore, mostly because I wouldn't have been allowed to stay out so late anyway (my sister is 26 and when she's out late my parents still call her and I text her) and also because a) the public transport system in Singapore, I have to say, is MUCH better; the one here is near useless late at night and on Sundays and b) Singapore is much safer; several times last year I only got home from work at midnight and I walked the dark streets with perfect confidence. Admittedly I didn't live in a 'dangerous' or red light district though, in either Singapore or Australia; Northbridge, where Sam lives, is generally safe enough in the day but we're told to avoid it at night.<br /><br />I have a Facebook folder full of photos of my new place and new dishes I try and random things that I will copy here one of these days; carrying bags full of groceries back home via bus and pavements sucks, and I don't think anybody likes laundry and cleaning and washing up (also it's RAINING EVERY DAY since it's winter and my laundry hasn't dried in a week or more), but otherwise I <em>love </em>living on my own and buying groceries and <strike>experimenting </strike>cooking and just generally being mostly independent. I will however feel better when I have a job; hopefully next semester I will find one.<br /><br />And over the past couple of days I have just not felt like packing, even though normally I enjoy it, and had to force myself. I'll be home for a month, which includes my 20th birthday and my sister's engagement ceremony (she's planning that and her wedding and everything around my holidays). And even though I really miss my friends and family and am definitely looking forward to seeing them again, I'm weirdly reluctant to leave. I'm going to miss my friends here, and I'm sad that I won't be able to attend the holiday SCA training sessions that will be held at people's houses instead of the field at uni. I'm also going to miss the relative freedom and independence I have here, though my family seems to be accepting that I'm not a baby and hopefully will not smother me when I return. (I love them a lot, especially my dad and sister, but sometimes I need space and they tend to not get that.) I just... it's hard to explain. I do miss them and want to see them again, but I'm not quite as enthusiastic as expected. Or maybe I'm just tired; I haven't been sleeping well and just had exams, which stressed me out a lot, and then socialising and basically I haven't had much time to unwind before having to pack and prepare to go home.<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago I texted my sister something about being relieved to come home after a long day, by which I meant my [rented] house in Australia, and her reply sounded rather annoyed and she said she'd thought Singapore was my home, and I don't think she was too mollified by my explanation that I did feel like I had two homes now. (In the most general sense of the term 'home'; when back in Singapore I consider my paternal uncle's and grandma's house a second home in addition to the house I live in with my immediate family, but right now I'm thinking of all of it smushed up into one big concept of home.)<br /><br />... I'm not sure what my point is, except that I loved my first semester at uni and away from home and family, and I'm looking forward to going back but wasn't as homesick as everyone thought I would be. Then again, everyone at home appeared to be coming up with worst-case scenarios because apparently nobody had faith in my ability to live on my own after nineteen years of being coddled. And now it's WAY past 1AM and I really should sleep, I'll have lots of cleaning and putting things in order and last-minute packing of toiletries to do tomorrow before leaving for the airport. Also this is the first time I will be on a flight without my parents around and I am notoriously absent-minded and have a terrible sense of direction, so here's to hoping I don't board the wrong plane and end up in Timbuktu! <br /><br /><img src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/548023_10150758702786940_943957150_n.jpg" style="width: 618px; height: 409px;" alt="" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">^ I did make and print out this collage and stick it on my bedroom wall. Clockwise from top left corner, photos separated by commas: Myst/<span style='white-space: nowrap;'><a href='https://glacialphoenix.dreamwidth.org/profile'><img src='https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png' alt='[personal profile] ' width='17' height='17' style='vertical-align: text-bottom; border: 0; padding-right: 1px;' /></a><a href='https://glacialphoenix.dreamwidth.org/'><b>glacialphoenix</b></a></span> + Alvie + Gena + myself (in red), Rusty the late Golden Retriever, me + my brother + my sister about nine years ago, my paternal uncle and <strike>his </strike>the family cat + Mum + sister + me + Dad + paternal grandmother, and myself + Lakshmi.</span><br /><br /><br />ALSO, my housemate (the one I'm very good friends with, anyway; I live with three people) gave me an early birthday gift: Anton LaVey's <em>The Satanic Bible</em>! :D I've wanted a copy for <em>ages</em>. It's now in my carry-on luggage alongside <em>The Egyptian Book of the Dead</em>, <em>A Dictionary of Angels (including the fallen ones)</em> and <em>The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories</em>. I'm not leaving a country for any prolonged period of time without those first two books.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=76173" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2011-04-08:762806:74703Feasting and merrymaking!2012-03-25T10:15:40Z2012-03-25T10:25:30Zbouncypublic5<br />So, I joined the local chapter of the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Creative_Anachronism">SCA</a>, basically like a medieval club. I've been having swordfighting lessons, which are freaking AWESOME, and am working on medieval garb of my own; sadly I could not get it ready in time for the Newcomers' Feast last night and had to wear loaner garb. But you get picspam anyway. (I swear I'll upload photos of my beautiful university soon! XD)<br /><br /><img width="200" height="199" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/465472_10150707393531940_772591939_9444756_1424969002_o.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://sivaroobini.dreamwidth.org/74703.html#cutid1">Photos and descriptions of the feasting and merrymaking!</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><div class="fbPhotoTagList"><span class="fcg"><br /><br /></span></div><span class="fcg"> All in all, my first feast was AMAZING and I am so looking forward to more SCA events!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=sivaroobini&ditemid=74703" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments