0°C!

Icy roads today...and temp was abt 0°C! So wore my thick black jacket and walked extra carefully..

Morning lecture on alcohol and drug was so-so..prob cos the lecturer was a bit boring..haha..oh well, then had time for self-study so did a quick lit search on my intended assignment topic on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It seemed like so much to read and research before doing the assignment. Btw, assignment deadline has been extended to 27th Jan, 9am! Good and bad. I guess I'll spend next week doing it. Anyway then I asked A. which qns he was intending to do and he said the first on Biopsychosocial model and stress. And it's the qns that our tutor gave a bit of hints on while he went through the stress lecture. CBT will only be covered on Thu afternoon and will be done by other lecturers. After tt chatted with another classmate and he was doing CBT too..said cos hv lots of research so easier to write. I'm still undecided.

Tmr lunchtime meeting my dissertation tutor just to make sure I'm on the right track before I start on my lit review. She didn't even know who I was..ha! Cos she doesn't teach us any modules. Anyway later start of classes tmr...but I'll prob work on my assignment research.

Back to uni

And today marks the start of my final semester.

Module this week is Occupational Mental Health, which is one of those that I'm looking forward to and had it down during my scholarship application! The module lead seems vv nice - let us vote if we want to increase our word limit for our assignment...and said there's no way that we can write within 1500-2000 words...cos it's psychology..haha! He's quite funny too...so hope can pass the module. Got the assignment questions (choose 1 out of 3) and they seem tough in the sense that a lot of research has to be done..but it's really a Masters level kind of assignment..haha..and I guess after that, I'll have a deeper understanding of whichever topic I decide to do on.

These days I just aim for a pass...after that horrific Tox module results. Today a few classmates were telling the part time classmates (who will take tt module end this year) tt the tutor seemed out of this planet! So it wasn't just me! Hahaha! Anyway, got email that OERA exam results will be out by end of this week..it's now being internally moderated...fearful of the MCQs though I think I got most of the ans for my short ans qns. That was the last exam of the semester and programme.

Earlier this morning went to get the "Request for CAS" form from the Enquiry Services. The person said the earliest they can do is 6 mths before the VISA expires and best 3 mths before. I don't care...I'll do it asap cos it will take time to get a new CAS and then apply for VISA. Filled it up and tmr got to pass to my programme admin to complete the other section. Just saw reply from my HR - she says can go ahead and reimburse me. *relief*

Tmr there's self-study so will bring in laptop to read through articles and maybe decide on the assignment.

Oh ya, the grp of therapists in London (and 1 in Leicester) are meeting for CNY on 31st Jan...too bad I have full day lectures that day so can't join them...but I got tickets to watch Britain's Got Talent that following Mon!

icy weather

Thanks to my family and friends' bday greetings!

Today started with an icy morning...ice capped vehicles and icy roads.

Went to church and brought brownies along..they loved it! Then they told me about York..said I should go in Spring cos the place will be filled with daffodils - lovely sight! Will put that on my list. Anyway it was sunny and nice this morning but turned gloomy in the afternoon.

Came home and worked on my resubmission cos A. replied. V grateful for such helpful classmate. I finally resubmitted it. I believe I'll pass this time, no doubt it's just for the additional 2 marks. I thank the Lord for providing such nice people around me..and my parents' support! Tomorrow's a beginning of a new semester. Let's pray hard all will go well from tomorrow!

There's a big OT celebration at my workplace tmr! Looks exciting! Do drop by if any of u is free!

Cooked myself salmon tonight - I deserve a celebration right?

early bday gift for myself =)

As the weather forecast says, it's sunny today! Very beautiful day! Went to Harborne High Street to return books and there was a market! I was somemore checking out when the next Farmers Market is happening in Harborne or Moseley. It was quite nice..and even had this display! Mind you, they are REAL!!

then headed to Cafe Boutique..to treat myself to a slice of cake..early bday gift for myself. Had lemon cheesecake and Turkish coffee (the shop is opened by Turkish)...cheesecake was rich and not that sweet so it was lovely! The interior was quite homely too.

After that went to ASDA...bought quite a bit but "forgot" to buy Magnum minis that was on offer..haha..

Bibimbap

Stayed home today to do my resubmission. Done and still exceed word limit. Gave up trying to cut down and sent to A. to help me read through. I did away with the headings that the marks were allocated to cos it just doesn't flow when I put the points in. Shall see what A. thinks. I'm hoping to submit it latest by next Fri though deadline given is 24th Jan...but I would wanna concentrate on my next module. Quite excited abt the next module...timetable is out..most days start at 9.30am..and end at 4.30 or later. I would rather we start early and end early lor. Anyway next module is Occupational Mental Health and hv coverage of some psychological tests so should be interesting.

Cooked Bibimbap today and offered L & C. Too bad C said he has eaten while L loved it..said it's nice..but she added her sweet thai chilli sauce..haha! I can't believe it..I took 1.5hr to prepare and cook! Not surprising actually got had to slice the carrots and cucumbers with knife, not grater.

All the ingredients - modified Bibimbap

Tmr I'll head out to return the library books. Didn't get to read the last book "What If" and I doubt I have time to finish it by the due date next Sat. After that prob do my grocery shopping..decided to go ASDA instead this time. Stock up for next week when uni starts. Oh yes, I'm going to treat myself to nice cake and coffee..thinking if to have it tomorrow or Sun. Weather forecast for tmr is sunny while Sun is cloudy with chances of rain in the afternoon.

Manchester

Back from Manchester. What a long, tiring day!

Reached the bus stop to wait for the coach 1/2h before departure and the ticket guy let me in first and told the others this lady was here half past 7 (coach was supposed to leave at 8am but was 10min late)..anyway, reached Manchester bus interchange about 20min later than scheduled..the bus stand to take the bus to Trafford Centre was easy to find and I was on the bus within 10min, thanks to its 15min frequency. The bus journey there took about 50min. It's a HUGE shopping mall..but I was attracted to it when I saw online cos of its exterior architecture..and interior too..reminds me of The Venetian in Macau. Anyway, Met R's friend to pass the stuff too! Then she's quite funny...offered to drive me to the entrance of Trafford Centre to take photos but end up not sure which car park to go...so I alighted and walked my way around..heh..vv thankful for her to meet me first before running her errands..else no joke lugging the stuff. I had to carry it like a baby from my place to take bus and then to the coach stop.

Trafford Centre

 Went back to the city after abt an hour...then alighted the bus when I saw the Cathedral..unfortunately it was rainy..so didn't quite enjoy exploring much...went to John Rylands Library that has a beautiful historic interior!

John Rylands Library

After that walked around, trying to find Chinatown...and finally found it and realised how near I was actually yet I kept walking in the wrong direction (all I had was a paper map of the metroshuttle ie. city shuttle bus route)...I had to then use google maps to guide me out. My batt was running low so was trying to save it though I brought my portable charger.

Chinatown Arch

Central Library

More photos in my online photo album. End up I didn't even try the free city shuttle bus..and I spent about 2h at Manchester Arndale Shopping Mall.

Beef stew with rice - they didn't have anymore couscous

Had beef stew from a cyprian/greek cuisine stall there..good value but after that craved for water like mad..and I was just thinking how nice if I had ice kachang! Anyway, popped to Morrisons near my coach bus stop to get a bottle of juice to quench my thirst. I think is the food lor! Grrr..there's a reason why I don't eat out much! Anyway reached back Bham 20min ahead of schedule which was good!

I personally don't find Manchester that interesting...it's another city like Bham but with bigger malls and more shops and trams within the city. Some parts remind me of Adelaide actually. I still love Chester and Glasgow and the highlands, of my travels so far!

Going to spend tmr working on my resubmission. A. was so nice to give me honest comments...he msged last night but think the app lagged so only saw this morning...I guess I'll rewrite the whole assignment. My mistake for trying to put the points into the headings. That resulted in my ideas being presented haphazardly. Now I'm a bit worried abt my OERA exam (the last exam I did before my hols) but I believe I had the right points down for the short ans qns..but no confidence for MCQ..

Oh yes, just saw in my email that I got tickets to Britain's Got Talent show on 3rd Feb afternoon! Had requested for them quite some time ago and asked A. and N if they're keen and they sounded v keen. For me, I just wanna go and experience it. Maybe will meet Susan Boyle no. 2?! Anyway that week is rest break for us..according to timetable but dunno if there's any intended tutorial not stated...shall see how!

stay home

Stayed home again today...packed my stuff for tmr. Praise the Lord! R's friend agreed to meet me in the late morning, which means I'll head there straight when I reach the bus station. This will save me lots of effort lugging the stuff around while I explore the city. Phew. I'll probably end up in the shopping centre when it gets dark, an hour before I take the coach back.

I finally heard back from my course admin. I can resubmit with the feedback given from the tutor and deadline is the same as my next module deadline ie. 24th Jan. Marks will be capped at 50% no matter how well I might score. I relooked at my assignment and the feedback given by tutor and realised apart from not providing enough information, I failed most in the section to make references of the relevant authorities here in UK/EU. I stated some but not ALL..how do I know here also follows EU legislation so closely? We just used one of the Regulation more during our grp work..and didn't see how the other came in. Come to think of it, this has been the 2nd time for similar feedback..my first assignment also mentioned about need more reference to relevant organisations but I thought that was because it was my first assignment and we (yes, A and N also got same feedback) were still blur about the system here. Now I dread the "Legal Aspects" module in mid March. And there's a word limit of 1500 words!! How to fit all in?? Worked on it a bit just now but guess the remaining time I'll just be working on it. Hopefully I can finish before my next module starts. Anyway I have asked A. for some idea how he structured his...since he scored highest among us. And he replied can discuss tonight. Appreciate it so much cos he's hols in France now lor..

As for visa, the ISAS says I'll get a new CAS no. (which makes more sense) cos the Registry person said don't think I'll get a new CAS. If no new CAS, I can't apply for new visa..unless it's not needed?! I don't know. Just taking things as they come.

Earlier on, Poppy kinda made me laugh...she suddenly ran into L's room toilet (I was in my room) and I went to ask what she wanted. She kept still so I went back to my room then she kept barking and finally she wanted to climb up the sink then I asked if she wanted water then she barked. So I told us let's go downstairs and true enough, checked her water bowl and it was empty. Filled it twice for her. After that checked again and she had finished it again! When L came back, I told her..then she said she sometimes feed her with a bowl upstairs.

Will be in Manchester tomorrow. Back in Bham ard 8pm...so if I have energy then I'll blog..else will do on Fri morning instead.