Yesterday was a long day. Woke up, did the usual packing up business in the boarding house and said some of my goodbyes before heading off to the RTA to do the DKT thing. I ended up waiting about 20 minutes before I could actually do the test. I PASSED! The test was too easy. Completed it with 100% correct. It felt too good to be true. But all right, I did study for it and practice about 5 times without failing in a row. Within the next fifteen minutes, I collected my manual, logbook, L plates and took my photo. Five minutes later, I got my card and I was out of there. Deposited some cash at the bank (like a good girl), and caught coffee with Jude and Pear after bumping into them at Charing Cross.

I waited at the airport for my friend Ray for a good hour, reading Capote's In Cold Blood. Seemed like a good book to be seen reading at an airport, I figured. I was surrounded by a tour group of Chinese people, who daunted me with their lingering and made me wish for Ray to hurry up. Twenty pages, a gazillion messages and an hour later, Ray showed up and we both checked in. Managed to get away with 26kg of luggage each, and on top of that, my 7kg guitar&case. Had some fast food, walked around and went through to the gate. After getting my L licence, I felt so tempted to exercise my rights as an eighteen year old by buying two bottles of Baileys for $47 (or any of the displayed drinks, which included Smirnoff and Glenfidditch whiskey). It was such a good deal. I didn't get it, in the end. The adult in me that wanted to save money said no.

The flight took ages. I couldn't sleep. I shut my eyes many times, but never actually fell asleep. I was sandwiched in between Ray and this strange man, who I thought had never been on a plane before. The man kept asking me random questions. I lied to him. Said I was studying at college doing graphic arts in Sydney. He asked me what the population of Malaysia was. I first didn't think he was serious, but he asked again and again. I couldn't remember what the population count was of Malaysia. I honestly couldn't. I'd remembered learning about this in primary school, and possibly Year 7 geography - but that was more than 5 years ago. I guessed, with the number 14 dominant amongst all the numbers there were in mind - "Fourteen million?" I answered. Turned out it was 22 million. I'm trying not to forget this time.

When is a good time to start studying, I wonder. Now? I don't know when. If I should start now, or maybe tomorrow. I have all these books back with me, and I'm trying to stay focused on making the most of them. Otherwise I filled my suitcase up with more books than clothes for no reason. That'd be the biggest waste.

I didn't really have a good arrival, if you asked me. Mum didn't pick me up from the airport. Instead, she asked Ray's dad, Uncle George to take me home, since we live in neighbouring apartments. I'd rang her at the airport while waiting for my luggage to announce my arrival, and I knew she was out drinking. How sad, I thought - my mum couldn't pick me up because she'd gone drinking at some party or social. She came home drunk shortly after I went to bed, and she smelled of smoke and alcohol. This morning, everyone was rushing around and doing things. I'm now at home and alone, while mum and Inday have gone to the city. What a great way to start the holidays, wouldn't you agree?

Cheers.

& turned on the lights; 10:26