Imperial College Centenary

It's 100 years now for Imperial College! Today we have this Centenary Launch day! First thing I arrived in the morning at 9am, was the tower bell ringing! It rang for 1 hour :P At first, it sounded nice .... but later i found it too annoying! Nevertheless, the bell will only ring on special occassion, i.e. convocation! Few years from now, it will ring because I graduate! :D

Then the next thing was the prize draw! The college generously ditch out quite a big sum of prizes, such as: video iPod containing Imperial vodcasts (i'll delete the vodcast immediately if i win the iPod), £100 travel vouchers, £100 book tokens, £100 of membership at Ethos (IC Sports Centre), 100 chocolate bar (i'm not sure whether it's for 100 people or for 1 person), 100 free cups of coffee (again ... 100 people or 100 cups for 1 person), 10 bottles of IC Centenary wine, centenary USB sticks (i wonder how big is the capacity). Nevertheless, all you need to do it email centenary@imperial.ac.uk with your name n you are in for the draw! I wonder how many emails 1 is allowed to send.

Next one up was the one i most interested in! FOOD!! :P They are selling the main course plus a dessert for a mere £1.50 (equivalent to 30 shillings in 1907) and a glass of wine for £1.05 (equivalent to a guinea in 1907). I'm soooo excited about this! I tot of even going to have my lunch alone, since Jacey and Kian Ping were not in college today (they really missed it big time). But thank God met Mustafa, Rashed and his wife. We had a great lunch! I wish i had bigger appetite to consume another meal since it's sooo cheap!

Here's the menu:
Starters
Mixed Hors doeuvre (salami, mortadella, russian salad, stuffed tomato)
Bruniose of winter vegetables & barley in a seafood bisque
Devilled Whitebait with fresh tartare sauce

Main
Sautee of Guinea fowl on a petite pois a la francais base
Lamb Canon served on toasted brioche with sprigs rosemary & redcurrant with a red wine jus
Grilled Darne of Salmon with a cream of Lobster sauce
Roasted Chicken breast with watercress
Bean and Lentil cassoulet

Vegetables
Roasted Mushroom & Tomatoes
A selection of rustic winter honey vegetables
Chateau Potatoes
Parsley Potatoes

Dessert
Apricot Condes
Vanilla ice cream topped with maccarons
Lemon & Orange sorbet sprinkled with kirsch

I had the grilled darne salmon as main and apricot condes as dessert! Besides that, the college also gave out free cakes to everyone! I personally consume another 5 small slices of cake. I took 2 pieces for Prof Duncan! Oh .. had a nice meeting today, because i managed to finish most of my report! Seriously, thank God for this transfer report due, coz it forced me to read n really understand my research problem n think of way to tackle! It's tough though! Anyway ......

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY

IMPERIAL COLLEGE!!!!!

SNOW!!!

Finally snowing in London .. no wonder last 2 days the temperature was really really low! I even need to wear 4 layers of cloth :P Yes, u read it right! So cold until i need to wear 4 layers of cloth. Hope it will snow for the next few days, so that we can have thicker snow, to play snowball fightung and build snowman :D

Updates for Jan 07 ...

Often find it quite hard to think of a blog entry title. Probably because I'm really just wanna do a quick update. No story to tell. Probably do it in point form, easier n more chronological :P

1. I've passed my 2 years driving probabtion on 20 Jan 2007!!! Thank God here in UK, we do not need to stick up the big uply 'P' sign like in M'sia. The different here is, compare to normal 15 points driving deduction, the new drivers only get 6 points. Meaning: just 2 driving offenses, i.e. red lights, speeding, talk on mobile phone while driving; if you get caught, immediately license disqualify and need to redo everything. In UK, one of the most notorious thing is the huge amount of speed cameras, it's almost every where. Just around my house, there's already 5 speed cameras. I've been flashed 3 three times and really thank God, i've not received any parking fines (with come with point deduction). It makes me a more careful driver :D
   
   
2. I'm now doing my MPhil to PhD transfer report. It was suppose to be done at 18th months but maybe because Imperial College will no longer be under University of London starting April, IC senate introduce the changes (i think so). I'm half way thru now in preparing. 2 more chapters to go. Hope to finish one chapter by this week n another by next Wednesday, so that i can prepare for the transfer presentation. Thank God for this transfer, cause I can think deeper on my research problem and methodologies to solve it. Although it is still very very tough ... but by God's grace and His strength, i can go thru it! PRAY FOR ME!! Oh yea ... when pray for me, can 'tumpang' pray for Jacey (doing transfer as well), Adeline (2nd year PhD in pharmacy) and Janet (3rd year PhD in food tech).
   
   
3. ARSENAL BEAT MAN UTD ... 2-1!!!! How can i miss out to blog about this! How great it is! The match was on Sunday 4pm and we had service from 4.30pm-6.30pm, so i missed the whole match (i worship led that day, so need to prepare before service). When i came off stage and sat down, I heard a loud cheer outside the hall, where the residents of YMCA were watching the match, I was sooooo nervous coz i was not sure who they support! Few minutes later ... another loud cheer! Totally nerve-wrecking! Only after service, i was able to check the result! It was such a great day!!!! GUNNERS defeated the devil!!! For once, chelski fans like Henry n Jacey were rejoiced as well :P
   
   
4. I've bought my ticket back home already! YESSS!! Going home soon! Here's my itinerary:
   10 April - fly from London to Adelaide, transit in KL for 2 hours.
   12 April until 19 April - will arrive Adelaide at 6+am. My stay there will be arrange by my brothers there. So will go to Brisbane, Gold Coast ... maybe make a day trip to Melbourne or Canberra.
   19 April - 26 April - Home sweet home! I will eat till i 'explode'! Hahaha
   26 April - 4/5 May - Will attend the Thai Camp. Also will meet all the ex-Hope London ppl from Thai (Pae, Pom, Jane, Tum, Jean, Kul). Then will go to KL, JB n S'pore for few days before heading home to Kch.
   4/5 May - 12 May - Will stay in Kch ... n probably visit Betong (my grandma) n some friends!
   
   For those in KL, JB, S'pore, Kch ...who r reading this blog now .. u can book me! Well .. do hope to see most of you actually!

That's currently about it! Btw, lately, i get tired quite easily! My back get sore easily as well ... maybe lack of exercise :P

I REALLY lost my wallet .........

After the two experience of misplacing my Osyter Card, seems like I have not learnt! And now ... i seriously have lost my wallets!!

Surprisingly, I'm not so upset about it, but do feel disappointed of my carelessness though.

Things that are in my wallet:

• £40 - which Jacey has jst passed to me the day before, the surplus of money my father passed to her to buy my laptop (RM280+)
• HSBC debit card and mastercard - already cancelled. I've planned to renew them anyway.
• UK Driving licence - I need to reapply for a duplicate one, which cost me £19
• UK Blood donor card
• Subway token card - one more token then I can upgrade to a full foot sub)
• Cafe Nero - 2 more stamps i think then can get a free drink
• A booklet of 1st class stamps -probably about 10 stamps left, so about £3.5o loss
• Oyster Card - it's a spare one. Probably a few pence left inside. Deposit is £3.
• Telco IDD Card - so thank God that i have a habit to store the pin in my mobile.
• 2 guitar picks - my favorite! Now need to get new one... troublesome!

Well, this lesson I learnt cost me about £70. I'll be really really careful from now on.

In fact, now everytime i get off tube or bus or leave any place, i'll check whether i have 5 important things - 1 whole bunch of keys (house's, college's, IC's ID and van key), Oyster card, wallet and 2 mobile phones :p

ARSENAL! ARSENAL! ARSENAL! I'm going to Emirates Stadium soon!!

For those Blues or Reds or even the KOPs.... go far far away!!!!

It's just so unbelievable .... Gunners thrashed the KOP TWICE in FOUR days ... and by two different Arsenal teams (the first team and the second-string).

Anyway .... I might be able to get tickets to the 2nd-leg of Carling Cup semi-final against our arch-rival Hotspur on the 31 Jan! If really happen, it will be my first trip to Emirates Stadium! Don't worry .. will take tonnes of photos n upload later!

Well .. if possible, maybe i'll go to the 1st-leg of Carling Cup semi-final at White Hart Lane as well on 24 Jan.

Actually, I've got a chance to see Brazil vs Portugal (the likes of Ronaldino, Kaka, Ronaldo C., Deco ....) on 6 Feb, but can't take a day off from church meeting. Anyway ... rather save money to watch the Gunners in action!

For those in UK ... do contact me if you are interested in either of the matches!

• 24 Jan - White Hart Lane (Tottenham vs Arsenal) £30 max
• 31 Jan - Emirates Stadium (Arsenal vs Tottenham) £30 max
• 6 Feb - Emirates Stadium (Brazil vs Portugal) £35-40.

For those not in UK ...... wait for my photos yea! :D

'Kad Tiram' once was lost, but now am FOUND! - Part 2

Still remember few weeks ago .... how i lost my 'Kad Tiram' n how it was miracously found?. It happens again .... *sigh* .... must be getting old n clumsy.

Today I was happily in college, trying to find out information about the flight information for my trip back home (London-KL-Bangkok-Khon Kaen-Bangkok-KL-Brisbane-Gold Coast-Adelaide-KL-Kch-JB-KL-London) as well as the free airasia tickets (cun cun available the time i go backhome). Then I was teasing Jacey she came over to ask me for lunch. So we went out to BK because I have the discount voucher of BK (for those in M'sia .. BK stands for Burger King). This 1 month, i most probably gonna survive on burgers cause at the same time, McD n BK are giving out discount vouchers.

We ordered our food - i had Whopper - go large (30p more only, to upgrade from medium meal to large meal). We chatted about church, worship team, ministry house n PhD! 1 hour gone ... so came back to office. Checked my email .......

Hi Sze,

I have been handed in your travel card. I'm situated in room 370 Huxley (just along from you). I tried looking in your office but you wasn't there.

Regards,

I was stunned! I lost my 'Kad Tiram' again????? But this time even worse, I don't realise I lost it! Anyway ... it was found by one of the lecturer opposite my office and he recognizes my face. So he handed it to the student admin office! One year worth of travel card!! Thank God for His protection, even on my possession! :D

I guess i need to put a rubber band or chain to tie the 'Kad Tiram' to my jeans next time .....

2007 New Year Resolution

I really love to do new year resolution! After I reflect what I've achieve in the past year, I can again rethink what is the goal I want to achieve this year! Last night in CG, I taught from Mark 1:35-37, when Jesus got up early in the morning to pray, to commit what He is doing to God before the day breaks. The same principle applies to our life - commit ourselves into God's hand at the very beginning.

Comparatively, my 2007 resolution is almost identical to 2006's as my circumstances have not change much. But I really want to have more consistent devotional time with God this year. As well, wanna make sure I'm in good health by exercising more often (swim and tennis). Recently, I can feel the strain at my shoulder n hips easily.

Many many things ..... hereby I attached my 2007 New Year Resolution! Please help me to monitor myself yea! :D

Family photo .... except the eldest monkey

This is soooooooo creative!! :D

The photo was taken in New Zealand last month ..... wish i were there! :P

Lee Valley ... New Year .....

Lee Valley Getaway Trip

We went to Lee Valley on the 27-29 Dec. After so many days of slacking, I was thinking: 'Okie, few more days of more slacking, then i really need to work hard hard!'

Indeed, Lee Valley was really a very very nice place to be in for retreat! Enjoyed so much about the fellowship, movies (although I only watched 1 among many many dozen the others have watched), food (1st night steamboat, 2nd night dumpling) as well as the cycling expedition! Played Polar Bear (to know how the game goes, talk to Yoppy. He's so addicted to it now), Monopoly, Big-2 (chor dai ti), various card games and etc. Din get much sleep ... coz stayed up really late but woke up early to catch the breakfast. Nevertheless, it was a good trip! So we've already planned for our next trip early Feb.

Borough Market

On Saturday, we went to Borough Market, one of my favourite place at all time, simply for one reason: FOOD! :P Lamia n I ordered this steak fab (burger), and it was like the size of Lamia's face! Big ler! But it is really delicious! If you are thick-skinned, you can always ask for food-tasting! :P God is good ... coz when we were about to leave, it rained a bit! Thank God it doesn't rain while we're still strolling around the market!

New Year Eve

31 Dec, New Year eve. As it was a Sunday, as usual ... loaded the equipment to van, drove to church, unloaded, set up, sound-checked ... prayer meeting and Celebration Service! Finished service, packed up, wished Happy New Year to everyone, drove home .. n waited for Mariani, Hedya, Amber and Doris (from Cardiff) to arrive, before the 6 of us headed to Chinatown to meet up with others from our group. Had dinner at Wong Kei n finally at 10pm, met up with others of the group. All in all, there's 20 of us going to countdown! (Kenny, Yanti, Yoppy, Ah Sun, Candy, Ivon, Joshua, Hui Ping, Shawn, Pei Ying, Max, Matthew, Mariani, Hedya, Amber, Doris, Andy, Olivia, Yong Wei, Gemmy).

Knowing the size of our big group, it was really difficult to move everyone from Chinatown to Embankment. Yoppy played an instrumental role in getting everyone organized ... as I led, he made sure ppl follow! God is good! We got into Embankment, directly in front of the London Eye. We're so blessed, because not long after we got into the area, the organizer closed the entrance cause it reached its capicity! We're there around 10.20pm. Praise God! Din take any photos cause it was dark. If u wanna see the fireworks, go to youtube n do a search :P It was good to usher away 2006 and welcome 2007 with so many people!

Getting home was far better than last year ... although involve lots of pushing n squeezing. After all those, when we got on the tube, surprisingly, the it was quite empty. I really wonder .... wat's all the pushing and squeezing about .. where there's no ppl on the tube! Nevertheless, we all got home safely! :) Another sleepless night ... everyone came to our house and we played games.(Yoppy was estatic abt Polar Bear again, but since it require quite some thinking n talking, ppl was quick to show boredom :P). We played this 'Pick-a-card-Put-on-Forehead-and-DARE' game. It was sooo fun! Manage to sabo a few ppl, especially Kenny, who ironically drank twice the 'special' drink i've made (chili sauce + fish sauce + water). Everyone go home around 4.30am.

New Year Parade

Slept for 3 hours, woke up around 8am. Immediately, had a short counselling session with a friend in the church office (she turned up at our door, which was a surprise for me, cause i jst woke up). Showered and dragged myself to Picadilly Circus where I met up with Ivon, to watch the parade! I was quite sceptical because I watched The Lord Mayor's Show last year, which was quite boring! This parade is so much better than i expected, especially the marching bands from US (10++ of them, all self-funded to come here to join the parade), and the cheerleaders who performed right in front of us (jst cun-cun stop at our spot). It was really overwhelmed with new year atmosphere!