Sunday

Made myself some mushroom swiss sandwich for breakfast this morning. Nicer if it's toasted instead of microwaved but I haven't bought those toaster pockets so can't melt the cheese in the toaster (they use press in kind, not the tray types we use). Hmph..the lighting in the kitchen is not very camera-friendly.

Homemade mushroom swiss sandwich

Went to church down the road this morning. I happily just left house with my long sleeved top on and scarf. After leaving my house then realised I forgot my jacket! Luckily the church is just round the corner so I thought it won't be that bad. And it wasn't cos there's heaters in there, thankfully!

It's called Court Oak Methodist Church. It's a pretty small cosy church building, probably the size of a house. Today only 12 people attended including 1 lady who's visually impaired and another who is half blind and has learning disability. 12 people in a church...how small you would think right? But cos of its small congregation, people were of course very welcoming! Heard from them that there's a PT in their congregation who also stays on the same road as me but unfortunately, she informed them that she won't be here for 3 weeks cos she's on duty. Heard she's working at a children's hospice. 

Today's sermon was based on the parable of the sower..apparently is Harvest Sunday today. Sermon was easy to understand cos the preacher spoke of her experiences here and there. One take home message is that kind words should be said to the person when he/she is alive. Little things we might have said or done might have impacted on someone else but we may not know unless they tell us...and hopefully not at the funeral, like what the preacher experienced many times. At church, saw how functional  and independent people here are despite their disability. For instance, the preacher whom I guess is in her 80s or 90s had deformed finger joints and was even in a leg brace (I'm guessing RA) but she was still soooo independent. Then there's another lady in a wheelchair who did the playing of the recorded organ music with a player. I mean, what better way to encourage our folks back home to be as independent as possible than seeing for myself? It wasn't nice to take pics la..haha! Anyway, I got invited to a wedding this Sat of church members who are probably in their 40s? I mean I just know them and they were sooo excited to invite me to their wedding! Still can't decide if to go...it'll be interesting but honestly, I don't know them except that the bride to be is from Bulgaria! And I also later realise that the preacher herself was also getting married this Sat! I'm like WOW..hahah..

Oh yes, maybe I should share a conversation I overhead at church...

Groom-to-be to church in-charge: "May I have the key please?"

Church in-charge to groom-to-be: "The key to my heart or the key to the church?"

Groom-to-be to church in-charge: "The church of course though I'll very much like to also have the key to your heart" or something like that..

So after church, headed home to get my jacket. Last night did some researching for buses and realised I better not go out too far cos buses are much less frequent on Sundays (some do not operate on Suns) than weekdays. Settled for just High Street. Managed to get chicken breast fillets..460g for £3 (which works out to be about S$13.04/kg!!) But anyhow, just use these first for tonight and tomorrow so I can also pack chicken sandwiches for lunch next week. I'm just preparing that I won't have much time to cook next week cos have full day classes (usually 9am-5pm) every day. 

At least I found that Iceland (also along high street) sells frozen quick meals for only £1! So if I'm really lazy, I'll just grab one on my way home from Uni. Also bought M&S white tea and raspberry tea (same one I bought for my bosses in SG before I left) which was at  £0.99! I saw my favourite triple chocolate muesli too..it was selling for  £2.49 (SG sells S$7+ on offer)..but I shall be good and finish my healthy fruit and nut muesli first before buying others!

I guess I'll still not used to having Poppy jumping on my bed!!! I get pissed and pull her out of the room (as what L says, if I don't want her there, just throw her out). She still pounces on me when I get home, seemingly to see if I got anything for her..or maybe that's her way of welcoming me home? I know nuts about dog language..found out from L that Poppy likes rice and eats human food (except chocolate and nuts).

Packed my bag for uni tomorrow. And shall set alarm in case I don't get up at my usual time these days (which is like 6+am) and giving myself 1h to catch the bus..just in case. Our deputy programme lead did warn us that bus and train services delays are a norm here..can be due to any reason..

Cooked instant pasta with cheese and added chicken, celery, carrots and mushrooms

Added own pasta so that I can keep for another meal.

Still haven't decided if I should pack pasta for lunch tomorrow or just pack sandwich. Cos I don't think there's any microwave oven around at my uni block..so I'll be having cold pasta (hmm..don't sound v tempting). End up left quite a lot..filled my newly-bought 700ml capacity box!

Watched the Great British Bake off on tv..this week's theme was Sweet Buns..L and T joined too...and we shared about SG food and food we eat. Apparently L loves pork but haven't had pork for v long cos no one to share with..haha! I'll be her pork friend..and she prefers chicken thigh meat to breast meat..while T is other way round..how interesting..haha! She again said I've been wonderful and gave me a hug..was telling her my aussie landlady was asking if I had cooked for L yet..haah!