George

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was an early November morning. Cold, crisp and cloudy. Typical London weather. I was up at the crack of dawn for the arranged meeting. I’m not usually good at these things, I was anxious, nervous - slightly skeptical even. So I dragged my two housemates along for backup. I wont say there wasn’t any groaning, moaning or whinging on their part - because there was (and plenty of it!). In the end, I had to promise a nice warm breakfast to shut them up. It didn’t work.

When I first laid eyes on George I got the shivers. Not because it was love at first sight, more because he was really ugly (and also because it was really cold). He must have been a bit cold too because he was blue. I don’t think he liked me at first. He just wouldn’t cooperate, I had to use most of my strength to get him to move! But once he warmed up to me, he became my best friend and also my new housemate. We went home together that very day.

Now, one month later, George and I are like two peas in a pod. I couldn’t imagine traveling to Birmingham or around the city without George there with me. We have had many adventures together (mostly good, some bad). Along the way, we acquired Gary who gave both of us a hard time initially. He kept trying to tell us where to go! But I think it was just a matter of getting used to him because now I can’t see how I can ever live without Gary either.

Sometimes George can still kick up a fuss (especially when I get him to travel at 80mph/120kmh). Speaking of which - he is now giving me the silent treatment. I really can’t get him to start. Sigh. I tried threatening, kicking, yelling, begging etc but he refuses to budge. I am now waiting for the mechanic to come sort him out. That’ll teach him a lesson.

I still love him though.

Secret confession.

I have a secret to confess. I have never really enjoyed hot weather. Yep. That’s right. My skin cringes at the thought of hot, dry (or even humid) weather. Thank god my parents got out of Vietnam and into Australia before I was born. I'm not sure I could handle the humid weather 24/7. Even so, you will never catch me without my blanket/umbrella/sunscreen on a sunny day in Australia. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still have a clear blue sky with a bright yellow sun on the side please…but minus the heat if you wouldn’t mind.

When I first touched down in Perth (for my one month stay in OZ), it was a clear blue sky with the airplane captain reporting that it was roughly 24 - 25 degrees - a beautiful day in Perth. Nice weather I thought to myself, but by the time I got into my parents car from the airport I was perspiring profusely, red faced and blinded by the brightness. I guess you have to expect that after spending your last 6 months in grey and cooler (yes, I’ll say ‘grey’ and ‘cooler’ rather then just ‘shit’) weather.

In any case, the clear blue skies and bright bright sun really did have a positve effect on my mood. I was so happy to be home. Oh… and I guess seeing my family played a part in that too lol. For those of you who don’t know, I have since sold my car while I was in London - which meant I was carless. Which meant walking. Which meant sun. Which initially meant bliss since my skin was craving some vitamin D. Which then quickly turned into dread after the first hour of walking in the hot hot sun. Needless to say, my skin quickly got over the craving for vitamin D. It was only hour one of day one and I had nineteen days left of walking to work everyday. Slip slop slap became my best friends again.

When I touched back down in London, I was a bit scared when the captain of the plane announced that it would be 6 degrees. I noted that he did not mention that it was beautiful weather either. But my skin truly rejoiced when it felt the cold, crisp air as I was making my way up that bloody hill (with a 30kg suitcase I might add) to my home in Wimbledon. I felt so awake and so alive. When I got back to Birmingham for work the weather was even colder. Then lo and behold! It started to snow. Wonderful white snow. I know I have George now (my micra) but I still prefer my daily walk to work because I find it so refreshing. Even now as I am typing this blog - I am watching the snow fall outside my window. It is beautiful. The sky is clear. The ground is white. I'm looking forward to a white christmas.

How could you not prefer the snow over a stinkin’ hot sun?

Orrrstrayyyyliiiaa!

My one month in Australia was a blur because it really did pass in a blur. Working full time probably wasn’t a good idea and I think I had too many burgers at grilled. Never the less, it was good to be home and be reminded that you actually do have a family who loves you and that you actually do have more than 3 friends (and they are not your housemates either). Almost like being recharged for the next stint in London. But to be honest, I was ready to be back in London by the time that one month came around (By that stage I just had had one too many ‘”Minh, have you made your bed?” “Minh, clean up your room a bit” “Minh, you go out too much” etc).

Accomodation
Accomodation consisted of a single mattress on the floor at my parents place. I shared it with two cockroaches and a few spiders. I’m proud to say that I won when it came to who got the bed (I guess I should really thank my mum seeing as she helped me a little bit but I‘d still like to point out that I was the one who went to get mum to retrieve them from my room).

Family
It was like mum and dad were making up for lost time by overwhelming me with food, clothes, guilt trips and nagging. It’s no secret that my mum has a serious shopping issue - and this applies to anything and everything that is on sale. When I was still living in Australia, she bombarded me with hundreds of clothes from the bargain bin. They usually were the same design but different colours and ‘all under $5!’ (she would excitedly claim). You were screwed if you didn’t like the design. What am I to do with all these different colored shirts that have elvis imprinted on them? Apparently, this bargain clothing tradition still continued - even while I was away. Evident by my wardrobe (which takes up one whole side of my room) being completely overfilled with tens no make that hundreds of the same shirts/pants/shorts desgins but in all the colours of the rainbow. Dad, Mr. punctual, continued his ritual of waking me up at 6:30 am on the dot - something he used to do when I was still at school even though I had a perfectly good alarm to do the job. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I actually didn’t need to get up until 7:45 for work. That’s parents for you. But I soaked up all that parenting love like a sponge since it‘ll be awhile before I get the next lot.

Nephew
I don’t know what things I could say about my time with my nephew to make you guys laugh except that you can’t say the word ‘wiggles’ out loud otherwise he‘d be at the TV saying ‘more?’. All I can say is that he is beautiful.

Friends
I was a bit worried that I might be out of sync when it came to catching up with my old buddies again. But when I saw them all gathered around the Wii playing tetris ( while very dressed up in dressy clothes) I wondered what could have ever made me feel like I would ever be out of sync with these guys lol. This was further reinforced when my besties and I spent all night on the home karaoke in our pyjamas singing and dancing. A night out in town could never beat that.

So that was Orrrstrayylia in a nutshell. Gosh even this very blog sounded rushed - which is very appropriate for this topic as this is exactly how I felt during my whole time in Oz.

Ok I gotta go - Thankyoucomeagain!

Chapter 4: Missing the house. Forget the people.

We are once again moving, hopefully to a new place in Wimbledon by this weekend. I don’t even want to go into the amount of stress, anxiety, anger and delirium that both Thuy and I went through to get this place. We’re still slightly disbelieving until we actually walk into this house, plant our stuff down and then nail boards to the door of the house so that no land lord can Ever EVER drag us out!

The house it self is wonderfully located next to all the shops I like to shop at (I have on my big cheesy grin right now). It’s also close to a park where I can do my fitness thing AND close to Al forno, our favorite pasta place here in London. But it’s no place like home. As in home home.

I guess I might be a little bit more sick of the whole moving thing simply because I have made 4 moves in the last 6 months. First from Australia to a temporary 1 week stay with friends, then to Richmond, then to Birmingham (which I’m still half living at) and now Wimbledon. I hope this will be my last before I return back to Australia. I’m thinking I wont be so lucky.

I was flicking through FB the other day and saw photos of my friends partying it up at my home back in oz. I wanted to cry. There was my kitchen, small and neat and oh! my backyard patio with the 6 burner BBQ, and the brown sofa that I had got for so cheap at an auction, the amount of space! God. Even the bloody carpet bought tears to my eyes. And the people in the photos? Well forget the people, they could never shelter you the way a house can.

Anyway, the point is - I used to just miss everyone back home but now I miss everyone back home PLUS the bloody house too. Moving houses just exacerbates it all.

Cancer Research UK

As an occupational therapist, I get to work with various caseloads where my role is to essentially help patients to become independent so that they can go home, stay home and never come back (ideally I'd like to never see them again unless they come in as visitors). My work with oncology/palliative patients is quite similiar in the sense that I get them home as soon as possible and I try to maximise their independence at home. The only difference is, I'm getting them home so that they can die at home. But the worst part of living with terminal cancer does not start here.

It starts with the doctor telling them that their prognosis is not good, that treatment is not a guarantee, that it may prolong their time but at the cost of their quality of life. No matter how you look at it. It's not good. In any case, it then starts with hospital visits for symptom management. Short and sporadic vists which eventually turn into longer and more frequent hospital stays. Pain. Nausea. Loss of appetite. And the fatigue that comes with it! Hospital stays are never pleasant, there are so many pills, so many tests and so many health professionals to deal with. The worst is when they begin to lose their independence. Suddenly something that used to be so simple, like walking to the toilet, is like running a marathon. Through all of this, their family is suffering too. Then they meet me. I help the family to set up their home, I teach their family how to use the equipment and give advice to help them cope with caring for their loved one during their final days. Another person loses the battle to cancer. This happens way too often.

Wouldn't it be better if we could just find a prevention or cure to avoid all of this?
Which is what Cancer Research UK is all about - finding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer to save more lives.

I have lost both my grandma and uncle to this disease. I am so sure that if not you directly, you will have known someone who is either living with it, passed away from it, is being affected by it or has been affected by it. Afterall, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide (WHO 2004). So everyone please reach into your pockets and sponsor me by donating your money to Cancer Research UK.

Please click on the link below to sposnsor me:
http://www.run10ksponsorme.org/minhtran

Thank you Auntie

I used to call her Auntie every time I came around to hang with Jenny Tham and every time I did come - she would, without a doubt, be happy, cheery and always so welcome. Now that she is gone, all I could think about was how much I wish I had taken that extra step to get past that superficial chit chat, to be able to appreciate all the things that people have said about her, to really have just gotten to know her. But then I thought to myself, well…hang on a minute. Actually I do know her, I know her really well, I know her because I can see her in Jenny and Lisa Tham.

Those values and personality characteristics both women exhibit ? … family oriented, loving, caring, considerate, kind hearted, generous, easy going and many more… That was you Auntie. All of it. I just want you to know that you have left an incredible legacy behind. Not one, but two living and breathing representations of how a lot of us should be but are not. But that’s not all, you left us with one more gift - a reminder for us all to learn not to take our loved ones for granted, that time is not indefinite, to appreciate all that life has to offer and to love everything in it.

So thank you Auntie. You have left an amazing legacy behind, your two beautiful daughters. Through them you will always be remembered.

Chapter 3: Happy as a Chappy.

Ok so moving on from the setting up stage and moving even further past the making friends bit and getting me some moola. Where am I now? Well…my gorgeous room will no longer be affordable, I am slightly less friendless and I'm on holiday until further notice.

Gorgeous room becoming a bit of a high maintenance girlfriend
Sam, our questionable landlord, decided to drop in last Sunday. Thought he’d stop by to say hello and ramble on about his younger years and how awesome he was. Amidst all that useless chatter (and us kissing his butt so that he would extend our lease) he also briefly mentioned that the rent would increase an extra 115 pounds per person. I looked at Thuy and she looked back at me - I knew that look. We were both punching Sam in the face. Only in our minds though. Damn him. Time to house hunt again.

Just when I started to make it homey too

I’m only slightly less friendless
Making friends is hard work. I’d like to think of it as a three part process, quite similar to how men pick up women. Some boys label each stage as the “start game, middle game and end game“, which I think perfectly describes the process of friendship making. lol

Start game: This is where you either make or break. Your potential friendship heavily relies on this initial contact. Generally you would start socializing in a group. You would target the ones who you find interesting. Then, you need to make a good impression by conversing appropriately, maintaining their interest, looking like you’re interested, being funny, having a good fake laugh so that they think they’re funny, avoiding looking too eager, but most importantly being cool. Being very cool. No pressure at all. I think I have this stage down pat. I’m really good at it especially when I’m drunk. Although people do tell me that when you’re drunk your perception is greatly distorted. Ohhh maybe that’s why I never get past this stage Oh! So that's why Carmela never got back to me.

Middle game: This is where you move in for the kill. They’re interested, you’re interested. It’s time to build a foundation for the friendship to build. I think it’s at this stage you start to discuss interests and hobbies and find common ground so that you can connect without having to rely on the person who introduced you or on the group. Yes. kinda like making the cream between two biscuit bits to make a cookie. Like I said, I rarely get to this stage.

End game: Well according to boys this may mean sex is involved or getting a number. This is also the same for friendship making. Oh. Except for the sex. Have I been successful in friendship making? The answer is yes. Once. I have a friend from London and more importantly, she still is my friend today. What did I tell you? I’m only slightly less friendless.

You’re stuck now wing Lau.

On Holiday until further notice.

So my era of denying really old frail people wheelchairs is at end at the wheelchair service. Such a shame because I was, I feel, at the peak of my reign here. What? Don’t look at me like I’m cruel - you’d think that by their age (especially those 107 yr olds) they’d have learnt how to walk on their hands by now! So asking for a wheelchair is a bit much, don’t you think? Lol. I am so going to hell.

Ok, on a more serious note though. I was really lucky to have stayed here for so long. Generally, locum positions don’t last longer than 4 - 6 weeks and I was here for 4 whole months. A real blessing for my finances but damn it really sucks when you have to move on (especially when you actually start to like the people you work with). Give me enough time in a place and emotional attachment is bound to happen with me. Yuck. So… finding another locum position does not look too easy at the moment - the job market here for locums have slowed right down. Something to do with budget cuts and lack of finances - usual shit. Next plan of action? Well.. Because I have a shopping problem and because I am a bit of a pansy when I work in a place long enough, I have decided to opt for a permanent position as it will best meet my needs.

Well then. I guess I am on holiday until further notice

In summary…
I may be back in square 1 (jobless and soon to be homeless) but life has never been better :)