I've been engrossed in a new setting; a re-setting of sorts. i did have a post before this one describing my new year. such a constrast to the year before. i told dan that i felt like dying. i think it was more of a methaphorical death. one that i've felt coming for some time.
After much emotional upheavel, I resigned (physically and metaphorically) to a new line of living. i gave up my rented room at kembangan. i quit my job and i still haven't reactivated my facebook. it feels good to be free from burden. no job, no psycho, no rents, nothing.
i don't know what possessed me but one thing led me to another, i did find that job and i enrolled in a 5 week certificate in culinary arts programme.
My culinary arts course at At-sunrice academy.
yeap, we all had to wear hair nets and the chef uniforms.
not really succulent guys and delectable gals.. some of us going to reach expiry date.
all amazed by the fire in the pan.. a sure fire way to get
a charcoal flavour on your chicken.
An afternoon in the kitchen wiping up melayu cuisine. the guy on the right was an MMA instructor.
we came from all walks of life. guy on the left.. business investor.
the process for washing a floor properly in a kitchen... yup pay $1100 for 5 weeks for sai kang work. the road to nirvana. besides floor, we had windows, table tops, walls, dishes, floors and drains.
Practiced like siao for this dish for the exam - stewed chicken with mushrooms and chestnuts.
cook until sien.
Thai pineapple fried rice.
5 weeks of hell and finally at "graduation" day.. a picture with the elected favourite instructor -
Chef Macdonald.
On graduation day with Chef Sam.
really interesting to meet these guys.
interaction on all diffferent levels and great personalities.
It was hell going thru 16 hour work days. 8am to 2pm everyday school. then 3pm to 11pm working at the cafe. wearing hair net in the morning and then safety boots in the afternoon.. work until a bone in my right wrist started popping out. jialat.
after 5 weeks, it was over. and the cafe is turning up a few funny characters too. good folk. the gossip and politics come fast and furious but discipline is pretty instantaneous too. one restaurant manager got booted out within 3 days. that's a pretty long story but it's definitely one for the books.
the jokers trying on chef bob's 4XL jacket. either they're too small
or bob's too big. and kinda gay la.
every week there's a big dose of adorable babies! all abandoned
and looking for loving families. luckily these 3 darlings were adopted within days
of each other. yeap need a hair cut. i think i'm genetically unable to maintain long hair.
our naughty boy got a taste of "captain masking tape"! sing some more aerosmith! i tape you to the tap next time.
the gang of brothers.. these darlings get walked without leashes. amazing. and there's a scottish fold that walks with them also. the border collie - sable - has some problems with his back legs.. but such a kind soul.
handsome pegeot. aaah! if only i had my own space. i would grab him and bring him home. so friendly and such a sweet heart. why can't humans be this way? look at his eyes!
so anyways, that's been a great 2.5 months of exciting experiences and interesting personalities and alot alot alot of FURRBALLS!
next on the list - my tattoo course in sukhumvit bangkok. will be a 2 week training to be a tattoo artist. of course it will take 100 times longer then that to be a proper tattoo artist but it's a start.
still pondering on a course of action for my professional life. need some soul searching. i guess probably this year will be a lot of experimentation.
for the time being, got an out of the blue request for a custom painting. will finish it by tuesday next week. too bad i've been working morning shift this past 2 weeks. not much sunlight left by the time i get home. and i'm running out of space for this monster piece of canvas. interestingly enough, the original is 1/100th of the size. good luck to me. more texture!!!
i have decided that after working as a cook that cooking per se is not my passion. working as a cook however, is rather good for me at this point. however, i will give it a little while longer to decide. cafe will be closed for 2 weeks for renovation.
will be signing up at my brother's gym to get myself in shape and hopefully in time for my birthday which is also in 2 weeks. i don't expect anything at all from anyone, and i'm sure i won't be.. just being happy with my own body and life at this point of time is more then i can wish for. being free from any kind of parasitic relationship, free from paying rent for a place i don't love, being surrounded by people that make me laugh and animals that make me feel such happiness - that's a big improvement from 2 years ago.
it's been good so far. let's hope that i will be living for the next year ahead with no ill health and plenty more experiences.
happy thoughts for an anticipated change.
