Revelations of Me

Day of the Dead! Woo! (and no, that not ghosts floating around, it's cigarette smoke, but blimey were we freaked out before we figured that out!)



So it turns out that I had to pay more than a pound for my tax, I actually had to pay around £180 which was more than my taxable profits, but it turns out that it was because my prevous employes didn't pay enough tax on my behalf! *shakes angry fists*

So I finally decided to upload some pictures, I'm actually really rubbish at doing updates, so it's a bit ecclectic. There's the results from the Gordan Ramsey's Cook Along Live, a bit of crafting I did for Rina.

When I came to do the cook along, I preped all day and was still running around like two headless chickens with Adrian. On the plus I learned to fillet and skin a whole side of salmon, so that was cool.

( Enjoy! )

After months and months of procrastinating, I have finally worked out my first working year's tax. And because I'm working out the tax year of April 6th 2007 - April 5th 2008, I've only technically worked 1 month and a bit. So after much calculating, scribblings and calling Adrian for silly conformations like ("half on one third is one sixth right"...yes Kumon was a hell of a long time ago) I have finally come to the amount of my first tax deductible profit as a self employed person!

Around 15 quid.

Which is a small amount, yes, but I got to deduct loads of money cause of my computer and stuff like that. So yay! I'm probably going to have to pay £1 or something ridiculously small...that is I hope so, otherwise, the tax man will cometh and see my meticulously bound tax folders with multicoloured separators and sheets of working out cross-referencing their tax guide book Monica Gellar style.

So in my glee of painstakingly filing and doing basic arithmetic, I am now going to buy ingredients for tonight's Cook Along with Gordan Ramsey on telly. I'll post a picture of the finished meal if Adrian and I don't bin/eat it first.

I went to a 'how to fill out your tax form' workshop run by Her Royal Majesty's Revenue and Customs today...it ran from 9.30 till 2.30! I went from confused to clarity several times, but have exited with a much better idea of what to do. Yay! I treated myself to a seafood pasta and a pot of tea at a restaurant with a Wilbur Smith novel to keep me company. Ah bliss...

Adrian e-mailed me this today, just thought I'd share:



more animals

The name "ferret" is derived from the Latin furittus, meaning "little thief", a likely reference to the common ferret penchant for secreting away small items.

I don't know how I feel about this. Even though I'm mixed Asian European, I cannot help but feel weird whenever I see what I deem as clearly Asian characters being protrayed as white...

I'm kinda torn with the idea that Asians are always typed cast, but when the type cast roles aren't even going to Asians, you have to think something is wrong...

Don't get me started on the whole bastardising the Journey of the West into this Hollywood peice of shit.

But *this* make me die a little inside...

Dragon Balls Up

Wow, I am so enraged that I actually have to vent this out.

I'm working at my old company again as a freelancer (and got my rates upped!) and partook in the usual lunchtime banter of rubbish. Usually entailing subjects along the silly or banal (ie. what supplements do you take and do you think they work).

But when two girls pulled out a Grazia magazine and started looking at the gossip, conversations enviably ended up in the whole 'I hate Peaches Geldof, and Amy Winehouse' type conversation. Which, to an extent I agree, lord knows I really dislike the types of celebrity offspring of celebs have if they have no actual reason to be famous other than being a spectacle, but I argued that, as much as Amy Winehouse is a bit of an idiot, hopefully she'll get off the drugs, be an amazing singer again, and just be famous for her talents no mishaps.

Anyway, one guy (who I think is younger than me) got really up on his high horse and demanded to know why she hadn't been arrested yet cause she's blatantly on drugs and has pictures of her wasted all the time. I explained that as the cops weren't actually there when said photo's of phone videos got taken or filmed, there's no direct proof that the substance is illegal. Conversation gets more heated when he goes, 'I don't believe in second chances', meaning she should just be locked up forever. I laughed and asked him to name me one artist he like that hadn't done drugs or recovered from being an addict. Apparently he had none. I then asked him whether he liked Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain or even Billy Holiday. Apparently he hates all of them. Someone tried to explain that when you're addicted to chemicals, you cannot take responsibility for your actions as you just exist as a drug zombie. He replied that 'we're all adults and we know what were getting into.'

I then asked if he had ever done anything stupid while drunk that he regretted or submitted to peer pressure. Still a stubborn reaction.

It's not the idea that drug addicts are idiots, I would agree, but people who have addictive personalities, or depression or any number of things make them more vulnerable. And even though I know it's frustrating that a lot of addicts are seemingly killing themselves because they simply don't want to get better. I know it's because they are addicted, not because they *want* to hurt the pople around them. The problem I have is, the idea of never forgiving people or giving them a second chance when they've recovered. What the hell kind of opinion is that?

And then I found out that he used to be addicted to weed, but has since recovered, meaning that he got a second chance, and that he's a massive hypocrite. One of the girls who was present at this heated debate (who actually stopped talking cause it may have got a bit out of hand), explained to me that he sounded like he had lost someone through addiction. Which I kinda get, I know Kurt Cobain's own daughter thinks he's a big idiot. So I'm torn...I feel bad that I yelled at him, but don't feel bad about what I was arguing for...

Yesterday, I almost fainted of anxiety. I lost my house keys. And on my keys was a USB stick with one of my invoices on it. So had the keys gone into the wrong hands, they would have had the address and the keys into my house!

I only went to two places. Pret for breakfast and was at work all day. When I found out that I lost my keys, I ran to Pret to ask if they found a set of keys, they said 'no'. All sorts of panic ensued. Had the robbers emptied my house? Were they copying a set of keys? I need to get a locksmith in to change all the locks! I have to make four sets of keys! We were looking at cheap house insurance last week, why WHY didn't I get it? Ohmygod, my life's work, all my photographs...

and on and on and on.

I cancelled my dinner, had an argument with Adrian cause we were both so worried, and rushed home. En route, we passed a pick 'n' mix and I stuffed my face with gummy's and coconut ice in the vague hope that I would feel better. I didn't, I felt sick. I was so worried that they would have nicked two cars, as two sets of car keys were in the house as well.

When the bus drove up, the cars were outside and everything was safe. We joked that the ferrets scared them away.

I still had to get the locks changed though, and since Lee was home all day the next day, I would arrange for someone to come in when he was home.

That night, I couldn't sleep, I kept dreaming that I was finding my keys hung up on pegs around the house! When I woke up, I called the lost and found for British transport, and passed Pret. I walked in to ask again, there was no harm, and they had them! My god, I have never felt such relief!

You know me, I am not a religious person, if anything, I'm probably Spiritualist/Buddhist, and even though I was saying to myself 'it's just a ride, material things don't really matter' I prayed to whatever god would listen to lead me back to my keys!

So yes. Today is a fantastic day, and I love the goodness of humanity and or deities that may have miraculously intervened.

My dog, Patch, just passed away today back in Hong Kong. I just found out cause my mum just called to tell me, I've had her since I was eight, so she was really quite old. She had arthritis and dementia. My mum came over to the UK a couple of weeks ago and we were hoping she wouldn't die before mum got back home. Apparently, when mum got back, she was in really bad condition, but perked up for a couple of days soon after...

Anyway, she deteriorated pretty badly and became quite disorientated cause of her dementia. Mum had to put her down so she was no longer in pain. She's now buried down the bottom of our garden, and mum will plant some flowers there so I can say hello when I get back.

Love you Patch, I'm so sorry I wasn't home to say goodbye, may you rest in peace. I'm sure we'll see each other in my dreams.

x

WHOOOP!

I just got a freelancing gig with the BBC for two weeks! *eeeehhhxcellent*

In other news, my record of celebrity spotting is amazing crap. Even when I work in a area where Keira Knightley, Kevin Spacey, Madonna and Liam Gallagher usually hang out. I have yet to see any of them, all I've seen is Peaches Bloody Geldof who cut me off in a HSBC ATM queue and Graham Norton...

Yesterday, Eva Green came into the studio, and I failed to see her. In my place of work! Lame. Apparently she was a bitch, but to be fair, I would have been all fan girled out I wouldn't have cared. Preeetty...

RAR! I'm back.

I am now a freelancer, and after cutting my new reel, launching a website, and sending off a few DVD's of my work, I have a few new projects in the pipeline!

The first is another trailer for a rival company (oooh, hssssss), another is being made the official motion graphics artist for a documentary! That's title sequence, end credits and in film graphics I need to do. Booya. It's deferred payment, cause it hasn't been sold to distributors yet, but I get a 'bump clause' in my contract. So if the documentary does well, I get more money, yay! I've also designed a flyer for a street in London that specialises in esoteric, vintage, antique things. As well as that, I'm still working a few contractual weeks with my old company, once I get those weeks out of the way they can still choose to hire me on a proper freelance basis, but when they do, I'm going to ask for more money, cause I've realised that people outside are willing to pay day rates more than double what they're offering.

All in all, I'm officially a working freelance person, and not just 'between jobs', the only thing now is waiting for money to come in. 

I have been a Busy Bee and have been making stuff for my website and showreel. But last thursday was Chinese New Year's Eve, and I made Tuen Leen Faan with Rina and Lee. Mmm...food.





Back log of photos coming soon! I'm off for a surprise birthday do/Chinese New Year gathering.

Today is my last day. A few people and I went out for Thai food, and we'll be going out for drinks afterwards. I'll be seeing my family this weekend. Oh! Here's my horoscope:


Classic.

So I thought I had till the end of January to gather my stuff and leave work, since my impending forced career change into freelance. I was told this Friday is my last day. Damn.

I had a lad of pictures to post up of Christmas and Cambodia. But I think you'd agree. There are more pressing matters at hand for me.

On a nicer note though, how about that Macbook Air? Freelancing with that will be pretty sweet.

Quite a lot has happened recently, socially anyway. No news on the impending freelancing just yet. I'll keep you posted on that front when I have a clearer idea of what's happening.

Us london KGVers have been meeting up for a few meals, Becky organised a Thai night with Tasha and Becky, and the following day we had a much larger congregation.

Adrian and I also went out with my College friend, Radha. We went to this audio and visual performance night which she warned us was 'a bit arty'.

Some pictures ( here )

Also, the annual secret Christmas party is here at work, and after months of not knowing what will be happening this weekend. An e-mail has hinted as to what to wear:

"Stilettos: Regrettably no stilettos are allowed at the venue. ie no metal heel caps, no killer heels (sorry Kapo)

Music: If you have any specific dance tunes you want Kenzie to play please give them to him.

Wardrobe: Please bring warm clothing and shoes/boots that you feel comfortable walking in (for the 5am Hike!)

And finally... Don’t forget to bring your Secret Santa gift with you."

WHAT?!

Furry, French & Naughty

I cannot believe this got made! Makes me giggle and feel so amazingly wrong at the same time. Enjoy!

So I've been working for over a year and had my annual chat (three months late)...the department I'm in, had loads of issues, and instead of a nice deserved raise of salary I get a bit of a winding.

The department will be made freelance as of next year. I had a feeling this was going to happen (through no fault of my own, may I add) and I can only bitterly laugh at the joke I only really understand until now from Disney's: The Emperors New Groove.

"Just think of it as you're being let go, that your life's going in a different direction, that your body's part of a permanent outplacement."

*fist screen*

As I was cycling to work today, I stopped by some pedestrian crossings, and I saw Ricard from work crossing the road. I smiled and said hello and he smiled and said hello back. I thought it was weird that he was going the opposite direction to work, I questioned whether or not it was even him so I looked at his shoes and they looked familiar. Maybe, I thought, he might be skiving! So I thought I keep quite if anyone asked where he was.

When I got to work, he was there! But his shoes were totally different.

"You've changed you shoes."
"What? No I haven't, these are what I always wear to work now"
"..."
"What?"
"Did I see you at the pedestrian crossing in Shoreditch today?"
"No I don't think so..."
"God it must have been your twin then, he looked exactly like you"
"It could have been my brother he works around there."
"Really?! You actually have a twin?"
"Yeah"
"God that's so weird, I was convinced it was you, cause he had those brown leather shoes you always wear"
"Oh! Haha, it could actually be him then cause I bought them for him at Christmas!"

Anyway, I was totally weirded out by this, what are the chances of that right? Richard emailed his brother his morning, and it was him indeed.

____


Subject: RE: Yo
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:09:53 +0000


Haha! Yeah, I was crossing the road so looked in her direction once, then wasn't sure if she was stopping so looked again. That time I caught her eye and she said hello!

I thought a pretty girl was giving me the eye so said hello back!

Chuckle chuckle.

____

Madness.

Rest in peace little Misha, we'll miss you.
:*(