Kids, or the nymph stage of the human life cycle otherwise known as children

Kids. Kids have to be taught. My cousin's kid just popped by for a few days and due to certain reasons has ended up sleeping over at my place, together with his maternal grandmother, who happens to be my aunt. This one's got a history behind him. He seldom stays with his parents, who I assume are busy earning money out of their hometown. (The whole gamut of them are not locals.) Instead he stays largely with his two sets of grandparents, who, being elderly, have not the energy levels to chase after the kid. It's a familiar story. After a while the kid basically gets what he wants and behaves like an emperor, is rude, and is downright detestable. If I were his direct kin I would have used the cane long ago. To hell with child abuse laws!

It's too late to change the kid now, I guess. It's not something that can be changed overnight. Parents still play the biggest role. It's not the responsibility of the grandparents. It's not their kid after all.

Meanwhile, all will be fine and my place will regain its normal peace and tranquility after the kid leaves, leaving dust and dirt over the place for us to clean up...

Career musings

A good historian is seldom just a historian.
--James Lui, 2004

Exams over

Yes, I can relax now... But do what?

The bunch of us gathered in the canteen after the final paper for food (what else) and talked and ate for about an hour plus. Then the select of us trooped down to Munchie Monkeys for beer, only to find out that they don't serve beer till after six. We were too early. So we just sat around, moping around till the holy hour when we finally got our hallowed drink.

It was fun, really. We laughed and joked, and really talked. Since when do you really sit down and talk with your coursemates as friends? Hardly. It was an enjoyable session.

The problem starts when I reach home. What do I do after today? Nearly everyone's got dates, and those who haven't got work to do. I'll stay as far away from work as possible for the next few days. Definitely no work. Or I'll kill myself. The horrible bane of loneliness suddenly hits me. Then I start to question my own affinity with people. There are times when the realisation hits you that you are not really a people-magnet. Then you start feeling really down. Down into the pits. Only then I realise much of a Gemini I actually am.