a week in Birmingham

Today marks my first week in Birmingham!

Yes, finally I went back into Uni. Today's the course induction day. I panicked when I waited very long for the bus into Uni (later I found out that I could've taken another bus at the same bus stop too)..but anyhow, I still managed to get into Uni on time. While waiting for the bus, took some pics of the pretty flowers and autumn foliage and the blue sky!

And as we sat to wait for induction to start, all seemed quiet. So the programme lead briefed us about the course and stuff to take note. He seems v friendly. Classes start on Mon, 9.30am till 4.30pm and next week we'll be going for worksite visit already!! Anyway seems that class is limited to 18 people only and today about 12 of us turned up. We were given a treat to buffet lunch..well, ang moh style!

Ang moh buffet lunch

 Today met 5 coursemates from SEA countries namely 1 from Indonesia (Jakarta), 2 from Malaysia (Selangor) and 1 from Thailand (Chiang Mai). Only chatted more with the thai guy and seems that he's a lecturer and Doctor specialising in Family Practice. Everyone seems nice...well, at least for the Asian students..haha..somehow people will just find their kind..hahaa! As I was chatting with him, heard that his thai friends brought him to an asian (chinese) supermarket in town. Luckily he remembered the name of the shop. Thanks to uni wifi, I could google and see where exactly it was. Both the programme lead and deputy programme leads made the effort to chat with each of us. The deputy programme lead (also in charge of thesis and who originated from HK) was telling us it might get depressing in Winter cos days are short and weather cold. And yes, after chatting with the deputy programme lead, I headed to the city to find tt asian supermart.

One of the many casinos I have seen around

And I found Chinatown aka Chinese quarters!

And yes, I found the supermart!!! Pretty good variety but of course, price is so different from back home. Eg. tanghoon costs £1.95...a pack of mee sua costs £1.15 and oh..I can't believe my eyes..a packed of Eng Chye costs £2+ (which would've cost us $1+ back home)...xiao bai chye also. But people still buy. I managed to get kecap manis (what we call dao you at home) and oyster sauce (with marinating chicken legs in mind), a packet of panang curry paste (Lobo brand) for £0.45 and a packet of those instant pork ribs noodles (£2.60).

Oyster sauce (£1.50) and kecap manis (£1.95)

Cos I didn't know how to get to the nearest bus stop to take home, I just walked back to Bull Ring Shopping Centre and New Street. Wanted to use their toilet too..and oh my..their toilets seem so hard to locate!! Along the way took some snapshots of places and I even found the indoor market that resembled Central Market!!!

I found the indoor market too!!!

Also found the street market which was pretty happening!

They have people selling such household items along the street too!

St Martin's Cathedral, which I took of the other day from Bull Ring. If only I had walked to explore it

 On my way home snapped a pic of the pretty flowers at one of the houses along the way back to my place.

pretty flowers at one of the houses near my place

 And since L wasn't around, thought I'll just marinate the chicken legs. But she came back later and we chatted a little. She printed off the invoice for deposit and rent. Have to pay her in cash tmr. Then she went out to city. Anyway, I cooked only 2 of the legs and kept other 2 in the freezer. A look at the "pretty and bare" chicken legs. Haha! It was £3 only so I guess it's a pretty good value!

Thanks to mum for showing me how to do simple marinate last time, here's the yummy roast chicken legs!!

Finally meat!!!! I gobbled this plate in minutes..haaha! Ooops!

While roasting the chicken, I also portioned out the cooked ham I bought (£1.50 for 400g) to store in the freezer. I regretted not buying aluminium foil...shall buy it next time I'm out. Spent some time washing the tray..haha..but I left the kitchen neat..even opened the garden door to let the smell out. Oh, I prob didn't mention..L is on a diet now so she mentioned that the smell will tempt her cos she saw me marinating the chicken.

Kept the other chicken leg in my container and put it in the fridge. After tt L came back, of course, offered to her and she cut a bit off it and said it was good. Anyway, she also offered her carrot, onion, squash (which is pumpkin), apple soup (part of her diet which was actually v yummy) earlier on too. Told her I'll cook more for her next time..after she's off her diet..haha!

Oh yes, this morning, I realised I was sooo silly with my mobile. I had to actually text to the operator to indicate that I want to be on the Smartpack that lasts for 30 days..but I thought it was all set and used 3G a few days. Today then realised my balance was only half now! Anyway I'm v keen to change operator and have ordered for a free SIM by giffgaff (operated by O2) which offers more minutes to UK no., free to other giffgaff users and unlimited texts per month. Best of all, international calls are only 2p per minute. Now I've to just see if I can retain my no. there's this PAC that I need to find out about but shall wait for my SIM to call 0800 no. for free. If can't then prob will just change my no.

Tomorrow probably head to Moseley cos I heard they have Farmers' Market every last Saturday of the month...so checking it out. Uni is on for the whole of next week usually 9am-5pm so I better cook so that I can pack lunch else just eat a sandwich like the locals =)