11/02/2010 - LOVE from Singapore!

Weather: Grey skies yet it wasn't super cold.

Mood: Peaceful, loved.




Finished lessons at 3pm and I spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry and other miscellaneous stuffs. The amount of walking involved is such a chore, as usual.

Ran into my neighbour David on the corridor when I came back after lessons and he handed me a few letters. Apparently there's this communal letter box at the last block of the residence where it receives mails for the different floors. (this photo was taken later on when I went to check my letterbox Haha)

One thing that puzzled me was that each letter box compartment is accessible by every resident on the same floor example Room F49 - 63. When you open the letter box, you have to find your own mails with your name on it, and at the same time you can see many other hallmate's mail which says confidential, mostly are from banks. Isn't it dangerous? I think it's based on trust and integrity that each one doesn't peep or take the mail of the others. Wonder if it'll work fine in Singapore.

Oh anyway! The main thing is! I've got mail!!!

My parents have sent me a parcel for the CNY and it actually arrived last week!!!! Just that I didnt know that the communal letter box exits and so I wasn't notified to go collect my parcel from the student post room until today!!

At first when I went to the post room, I still had no idea that it was this parcel from my parents cuz I thought it wouldnt arrive so soon. I thought it was the atm card from Natwest. So when the post office staff took out this large box from the room, I was kind of surprise and elated!

It was just so heartwarming to see the word SINGAPORE Post on the box. =)

I'm not gonna reveal what's in the parcel. LOL! But whatever is in there is sure to have relieved my slight bit of homesickness. Hehe.


I feel so blessed with loving parents. ^^

10/02/2010 - Christine's Bday Celebration!

Weather: Very sunny but it was still very cold cuz it was super windy!

Mood: Excited! Shopping day at Leamington Spa, how else can I feel?! ^^


This morning I decided to wear leggings with a dress cuz I was so sick of wearing jeans. I'm never a fan of jeans from young anyway. I peeped outside my window and saw that it was so sunny so I went ahead with leggings and pumps, not even thick socks and boots! But the moment I stepped out of the residence, I regretted!!!

It actually started snowing! I seriously hope I'm not jinxed or whatsoever, but I get unlucky so often that I'm starting to doubt myself. Though the snow flakes were light, the temperature was quite low and the wind was piercing through my skin.

Actually I wouldn't consider myself to fall under the category of 要美不要命 that kind of girls, it's just that I miscalculated. LOL. So from now on, before I decide what to wear, I will make sure I open the window and stick my hands out to feel the temperature first.

Some random middle-aged angmoh guy walked past, saw us taking photos and he offered to help take a picture for the 3 of us. BUT! he's really weird. He held on to the camera for so long (close to a minute plus?) and kept making weird comments about photography. -.-" I was so afraid that he'll suddenly take flight with my canon baby and I was actually prepared to chase after him at all cost if he does. LOL!

We visited the Royal Pump Room at Leamington Spa, which is like a tourist info centre, with a museum showing the history of the local town.

There were exhibitions on why Leamington Spa is named that way, and how the town used to be really a treatment spa centre.

I love how pretty the white clouds look against the clear blue sky.

I bet you can't imagine how cold it was though.

1 pound shop with its competitor 99pence shop in the background. Haha!

Evening time, we took the bus to Coventry where we met the other girls for dinner at Pizza Express. The food was good but I can't say the same for the service though. =

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE!

It was an early celebration for Christine's birthday since she'd be leaving soon for France to spend her bday, Vday & CNY with her bf. Sweet right!

After dinner, we headed back to campus and had dessert buffet at Cryfield 3, solely prepared by Jennifer! She's really competent in baking and it's nice to know her cuz she always treat her friends to the pastries that she made and they're delicious! =D

Friends who brightened my day! ^^

08/02/2010 - Manchester

The weekend trip to Manchester was a short but memorable one.

Day 1 -Coventry to Manchester

Surviving on only an hour's sleep on Friday night, I woke up at 4.30am to prepare and walk to Cannon Park Bus Station to catch the 6am bus from Coventry to Manchester. I woke up earlier specially to warm up a few croissants so I could have breakfast in the bus but they turned all hard and cold by the time I walked the distance and boarded the bus. Inedible. -.- It was approximately a 2 hours' bus ride but I slept throughout the journey so time seemed to pass quite fast.


Arrived at Shudefill Interchange, Manchester at around 8am+. I love starting off a day early so I can have more time to explore! On the contrary, I never fail to wake up late at noon though.

Looking at the map to find our way to the hostel...

Arndale Shopping Mall, very near to our hostel!

We saw the bulding from web pictures before and was able to recognise it from a distance!

Hatter's Hostel!

The recreational area & dining hall...

We dumped our luggage at the hostel reception and wasted no time, immediately set off to explore the city centre which was just a 5 mins' walk away.

The city of Manchester was seen with tram tracks and cables running along the roads. It's interesting to see people and trams sharing the same pathway.

I asked CS: Do you think anyone would jump off the tram tracks to commit suicide like how those people died on MRT tracks?

CS said: No, because the tram is too slow...

And we joked about how the people will end up banging and sticking onto the windscreen and move together with the tram instead. Hur hur...

First thing first, to fill our stomach so that we'll have the energy to welcome the day!

We asked for directions from some pretty teenagers and it got us to the food court serving Mac!

Yeah, we were so craving for McBreakfast! And good thing, it wasn't pricey. =D

Primark! It sells a huge variety of basic clothings and accessories at low prices. If u search closely, u can actually get cheap but non-cheapo items! If u get what I mean... =)

We finally left Arndale Shopping Mall by nightfall and went to Chinatown for dinner.

This is the Wheel of Manchester which apparently is there to look pretty only, because it really isnt a profitable business. barely anyone up/ going up on the wheel.

Manchester Chinatown doesn't seem to be as 热闹 as the one in London or Birmingham. Although it's a Saturday, you don't see many people on the streets. There were minimal Chinese New Year decorations around.

We walked around for quite some time but still couldn't decide what to eat for dinner. In the end, we chose to eat at a Chinese Buffet Restaurant since it had the longest queue. So typical of Singaporeans right? LOL. Corny but true.

The chinese buffet food was quite good, either cuz I am really hungry or I haven't eaten chinese food for quite some time perhaps. But the annoying fact is that we were limited to only ONE hour for the buffet. Damn giam siap. I definitely could have eaten more if not for the time limit.

You know I love buffet. ^^

After dinner, we were so tired that we could literally fall asleep while walking, so we headed straight back to the hostel. Intending to wash up and have an early retreat.

This is how our 6-ppl mixed dorm looks like. Not bad right?

(the pair of legs belongs to Mr CS who KO-ed right after he settled down...)

BUT! The horrifying fact is that we're staying on the highest 5th level and the toilets for each gender are on the alternate floor. No prizes for guessing... but being the usual suay one, the female toilet is on the level below. AND HIDDEN AT A CORNER!

The building is so old and the toilet looks really creepy, with squeeky pipes and musty smell. For all the time I'm in there alone!, I feel like being watched. Typing this alone while recalling the experience is already giving me the goosebumps. Although I got CS to wait for me, I still think I'm really brave to go there alone in the morning to wash up. Even the angmoh girls are going in there with companion.

To make things worst, one of the angmoh roomie was snoring SO LOUD it sounded like an orchestra with other 杂音. Just when I was about to doze off, the other angmoh guy apparantly became pissed with the snores so he took out his handphone and played loud metal rock music, WITHOUT ear piece! Damn ridiculous! He totally didnt care if he was disturbing the others.

Being a light sleeper, I obviously was awaken by the stupid songs and couldnt get to sleep at all after that. I had to wake CS up and we went downstairs to the dining hall for free toasts and tea.

We ended up chatting and discussing what we should do if by the time we went back the music was still loud, we could probably check out of the hostel right away and go shopping instead. (if only the shops were open.) But fortunately, by the time we went back to our room about 1 hour plus later, the room finally regain peace. I guess the guy's hp has simply ran out of batt.

Day 2 - Visit to Old Trafford Stadium & Trafford Centre.

We woke up an hour later than what we scheduled but can't be blamed right, we couldnt get the complete rest we wanted owing to the 2 foolish angmohs. So we packed our stuffs, checked out of hostel and had free toasts again for breakfast.

We wanted to experience tram rides since it's sort of a landmark in Manchester so we got ourselves a 2 way tram fare to the stadium.

Well it just feels like a bus ride but looks like MRT... ... or rather feels like a MRT ride but looks like a bus? Hehe..

Finally! Here I am standing in front of Old Trafford, Manchester United FC Stadium!

Bought the entry tix to the museum and stadium tour but the timing was scheduled at 4.30pm, so we took a bus to the Trafford Centre - Huge shopping mall!


Big stores like Selfridges&Co...

I especially love this food centre which was modelled after a cruise setting - New Orleans!

We had KFC for a quick lunch!

And then went back to the stadium for the tour!

It was just 4pm+ but the skies were darkening quickly..as usual..

Hotspot for photographs! The players changing room!

We had dinner at some bar before returning to the hostel to collect our luggages and head for the coach terminal. I had Chicken Tikka Masala, some indian bryani with chicken and naan bread. It was nice and came in quite a big portion. But I was really really tired by then and did not have my full appetite.

We took the 9.30pm megabus and reached back campus at 12midnight sharp!

Needless to say though, all photos have been uploaded on facebook! =D

03/02/2010 -Honestly A Musical.

Weather: Chilly, slight drizzle.
Mood: Slack, relaxing.

Jennifer made sushi in Cryfield today so she invited us to have a small gathering and sushi party! I love the sushi she made but I think it requires quite a lot of effort and lazy bum like me might never get started on making it myself, unless I have all the time in the world to shake leg. But then again I'll be busy touring around instead. Haha.

CS and I went off in the evening to attend SingSoc's musical production: This Importance of Being Honest, held in the Warwick Arts Centre.

Not much photos to show. Cant possibly snap away during the performance right. I have to say that I totally enjoyed myself and the musical was better than I expected. =) It's amusing to see friends/ people that you know acting on stage.

We had supper at some random burger truck in front of Rootes Building and then here I am back in cozy little room. =)

02/02/2010

Weather: Occasional drizzle, can't feel the temperature cuz I was dressed in thick layers today. Not sure why I did that, probably just feel like keeping warm.
Mood: Happy.


Wanted to wake up earlier this morning to make breakfast before school but as usual, woke up just in time to rush off for lessons instead. =X

Lecture was fine generally but one of the Yr 4 mod is really tough and I can't really understand. It's time to read up.

Met up with Christine and Emily for dinner at Dirty Duck before the movie screening. For the 5th time I'm eating Fish&Chips since when I first arrived at UK, I still find that the standard is so-so only. Even Swensen's serve better food. I think it's just the local taste. I miss chicken chop! How weird it is that I have yet to see a menu serving chicken chop, which is like the most common western food in singapore. U have them in like over 4 canteens on NTU alone, but not here. Haha. I'm not actually complaining. Just wanted to share my experience and thoughts in case people think that I'm shouldnt be grumbling, should 入乡随俗 etc. But in the first place I don't have to care right. this is my blog. I blog it the way I like it to be. =)

So anyway, there was this movie screening by the ERASMUS society in one of the lecture halls in the humanities building. The movie titled "Les Poupees Russes" (The Russian Dolls) was approximately 2.5hrs long. Kinda draggy and boring at first but as the story builds up, it's quite meaningful. Afterall, what's there not to like about a free movie with good company. =D

01/02/2010

YAY! The clock struck twelve and it's february!

I can finally enjoy UNLIMTED free sms + internet on my mobile! I'm so happy because I've been living without phone credits for the past 2 weeks, meaning I can only rcv calls or sms but not send.

BUT, it's only for the month of Feb, I'll have to top up another 10GBP this month if I wanna enjoy these benefits for next month and so on. Damn. I'll probably just switch to 3-mobile instead.