(Erik's Webhome Online)

23 September 1999 : I did quite a lot of things today actually - except for studying. It's true. In the morning, I irritated some souls by playing my ear-deafening piece Canon in D. After that, I went to the city to have my first enchilada. It's very nice. I went alone, ate alone and enjoyed alone but it was a really good experience. Didn't get lost in the city this time. Then, I went to the city again at night. I watched The Haunting at Hoyts Cinema with two other friends. The show was quite okay, not bad actually. After the show, we had $1.00 Big Macs and also a large pizza. Well, that's all about my life for the day.

What I regret not doing : Studying.

22 September 1999 : Well, sad for me, the break which is supposed to be the most productive ever didn't have a very good start. But I still have more than half of it to wade through yet. So let's keep our fingers crossed.  You won't believe it but I've just had my first full can of alcohol. It's certainly amazing - for me at least. Boring details - for my own rememberance are :

Beer name : Emu Bitter
Volume : 375ml
Alcohol content : 4.6%
Comments : Apparently 1.4 standard drinks. I've only a vague idea of what this means.
Date I drank the first can ever : 18 September 1999

Today, I kinda woke up many times in the morning. Planned to wake up at 7.30 am but decided to sleep another 30 minutes. Did so for so many times that I ended up jumping (well, not really jumped but I've got to act alive and active) out from bed at 11.00 am. Talk about being productive. Sheesh.

And I think I'm getting the hang of the classical piece Canon in D although I keep imagining people at the common room cussing me for my bad key strokes - lots of 'em. My brother will certainly run upstairs everytime he hears me play. It's really eerie and painful for one to sit by my side while I play the song. I can imagine why my piano teacher was in such a bad mood sometimes.

I've done something unprecedented also. I've got myself a pen pal. I was surfing on the web (well actually registering my web site with The Student Homepages Centre) when I got to this site - The Worm Hole. I was so impressed that I contacted the the author and she agreed to be my pen pal. Yes, laugh at me, I don't care. One is never to old to have pen pals - "that's my (over-sensitive) demented mind talking".

I can officially announce that I'm HTML literate now. If you guys are wondering how this site came to be while I wasn't HTML literate, the answer is Netscape Composer - it makes life a little bit easier but constrains the design process. I created yet another site using purely HTML codes. But it's not for the general public but for me mum and dad. Check it out if you so desire.

That's all folks. It's been a long entry and I don't want to bore you further. Not that many people come here anyway. boo hoo...

What I regret not doing : Being more productive and not spend 6 days doing nothin'.

17 September 1999 : Today marks the beginning of my two week long break. This time, I'll try to make the break the most productive ever. Actually, it's not that I have a choice. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to The Pinnacles trip which I've arranged to go next Saturday. It's a four hour journey. Along the way, hopefully I'll get to see lots of flora and strengthen friendship ties as well. I wanted to go to Albany but (too bad) if I were to go, I'd have to go alone. I think I'll save it for next time. From start to finish, the expedition will take 11 hours. Wow! Mostly travelling. Hopefully, my darn camera will work and not fail me like last time. Besides the trip, I'll need to help complete a web site which will hopefully be launched after my two week break. Not really a break actually - more like a study break because a few weeks after that - I'll be facing my finals. Also, I really want to perfect a musical (classical) piece that I've got my hands on - Canon in D by Pachelbel. It's really lovely. And of course, study... So, it's going to be a busy but adventurous and fun break.
What I regret not doing : Can't think of anything really.

12 September 1999 : How fun it was yesterday when I spent the whole day in the city along with three of my friends. It was the closing ceremony of Multicultural Week here in WA. Things weren't interesting until the closing ceremony when they showed some performances by kickboxing and kungfu experts. After that, there was the bushdance. And lo behold, I joined in. It was my first time 'dancing' but it felt awesome as if some invisible shield has been lifted. So, no regrets this time.

28 August 1999 : I've finally bought a tv antennae that's powerful enough to allow me to enjoy tv better. But, *sigh*, it's still not powerful enough. Lately, I've been very busy. There are so many assignments, tests and topics to catch up with. Luckily, I've been able to cope with all of that. I'm also currently helping a friend of mine to develop a web site for International Student's Services UWA. Hopefully things will turn out good as this is my first non-personal endeavour in a very long time.
What I regret not doing : Going to the College Ball.

7 August 1999 : Hallo, I've just bought myself a TV but I think I need a better antennae. The reception is not really very good. At least now I can keep myself distracted. Being able to live with distractions means being more efficient and flexible so I think it's a good thing. :)

1 August 1999 : Hey, so far, I'm making progress in Java, hopefully in just a few weeks, you'll see some Java stuff popping out. I'm keen to show you what I've learn but I'm afraid they are just puny stuff currently and I still can't make animations. Sigh.... I suppose I'll have to keep on searching and maintain my interest in Java.
    This week is totally horrible. I've got two tests to prepare for and four assignments. Terrible huh? But do I feel the stress? No, not because I'm fully prepared but because I'm too lazy even to feel stressed. Funny but it happens.

12 July 1999 : Semester 2 of First Year begins at UWA... More work once more.

3 July 1999 : Went to Tumbulgum Farm (40 minutes from Perth city) and about one and a half hours ride (bus) from Kingswood College. Paid AUD28.00 but found the trip not worth it at all. There was nothing much to see considering the price tag. Brochures say that Tumbulgum farm is no ordinary farm and true it is. The farm has been turned into a tourist paradise with a shopping mall, modern toilets, and a small cafeteria (kiosk). Wonderful things I got to experience there was milking a cow, and cuddling a lamb which has not been sheared yet. I saw how sheep shearing was done and believe me it wasn't a pleasant sight. Sometimes, the shearer accidentally cuts the skin (although he assures us that it is just like a nick when we shave), the sheep thumps its hooves like mad. Apart from that, I saw (from a distance) emus, kangaroos and deers. My darn camera decided to fail me on this day, so I took no pictures. Luckily, I went with a friend of mine who willingly took some pictures (that I wanted to so much) for me. Also, I went for a hay ride (which was not very enjoyable - thanks to the dust). Saw some horses to but that was nothing to brag about. I also tried some Billy tea (just another tea) and did not get to try the damper (kind of dough that the farmers eat while shearing sheep - when resting of course). The dough went up instead of coming down to me (as we were sitting on a stage-like platform). Also saw whip cracking. I did not get to try it out, but my friend did. Lastly, we got to see an aboriginal performance, spiritual dances and the blowing of the didgeridoo (used to make all kinds of noises - including animal noises, tunes and rhythms). Apparently, the name 'didgeridoo' (a long pipe-like instrument) got its name from one of the noises it produces. Also saw boomerang throwing and spear throwing. The two aborigines from the Noonga tribe explained to us that the boomerang was designed not to fall on the thrower's hand but to fall near him so that he does not have to go far distances to retrieve the weapon. It was suppose to keep the birds down before killer boomerangs are used to hunt. Interesting... but not worth it. The only thing worth it was the burger I had, mmm....

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