Back safely!

Just as an ending to this blog, I have arrived safely back home and been fighting off jetlag and unpacking..very tedious. Till now, I still can't imagine how much stuff I had brought home with me that I had to ship my small luggage (19kg) back home..so some stuff will only arrive next week. Had to repack my stuff at the airport to make sure the big luggage is less than 32kg and if combined with 大陆 bag is less than 35kg. Showing Uni letter stating my course ended and flying back can help increase allowance by 5kg. So anyway handcarried some foodstuff else nothing to give people when I'm back. On the flight watched a few Mandarin and 1 Jap movie...couldn't really sleep and I finally tried Singapore Sling! Quite nice...and potent..hahaa..knocked out for a while after that..

Went to Blk 85 market for my local food dinner...the food on SQ flight was not appetising, surprisingly! Maybe cos I didn't sleep well the night before too and the long cab ride...and was panicky unpacking my luggage and rushing to make sure I get to the boarding gate on time.

Oh, for the record, L wasn't at home to bid me farewell..only said bye via C's hp. Whatever...I wasn't expecting a grand farewell anyway.

So shall try and meet my friends up soon...

ta da!

All packed and ready to go..my backpack is so fat..hahah..maybe I shld tie a grocery bag to my haversack to put my snacks..hahaha! See u all in SG!!!

Said my goodbyes and got hugs frm ppl at church..L not in now as im typing but she will prob be back before I leave. Today is quite a warm day but I will still wear my jacket..either ard my neck or on me..hahah

2nd last day in B'ham

Whoa...finally more or less packed. My goodness. Anyway, listened to my mum and opened the bag I got from Dublin airport (like 大陆 bag) to put some stuff so can check in if my big luggage doesn't exceed 30kg. Just going to use strings to tie the zip to the handle cos only have one zip. All along I was bent on just checking in DBS bag and was afraid will exceed weight limit if I put together with big luggage. I could've used my Cath Kidston bag to check in cos it's quite bulky when folded but I scared dirty it lor..scarli kena oil stain that cannot be removed then vv sayang. And I listened to mum and yi who suggested I roll up my clothes to save space..I thought rolling will take up some space but what I did was roll and put them into vacuum bag and then suck up all the air! So managed to get most into the big luggage..then put some in the 大陆 bag to buffer and put the boxed chocs in there too, surrounded by clothes. Added Mr Pig in there as well cos can't go into my dbs bag. Managed to stuff my crocs into DBS bag too after wearing it today. So tomorrow just left my pyjamas top to add to the "dirty" clothes bag in 大陆 bag and I am ready to go! Will wear my PJ pants (track pants) in the plane as what yi suggested last time..more comfy than jeans.

Managed to video call with my niece today cos my parents rendered their babysitting service..hahahaa! She ah...hyperactive la. Oh, and I called mah mah too..just to tell her I'm gg back on Mon..seems that she knows already..then probably will call ah ma tmr..since I still have credits on my hp. Plan to leave some money there in case la..I can't call just before I board the plane cos it'll be like 3+am in SG!

Met M and Ch for lunch today..M drove to my place and passed them a whole bag of my clothes and random stuff to donate..and L and C's. Then we walked to the nearby pub. I had steak and chips..and I had a great deal cos I saw online there was an offer for £4.99 with drink but nowhere on their menu had it...so I asked and they did have!! Was so happy. But I didn't take pic of it. Had it with white wine! Tried steamed treacle pudding for the first time today...not bad..quite sweet but nice.

Steamed treacle pudding

Taken by an elderly customer cos the waiter wasn't free to take!

 After lunch walked home and took the stack of notes and paper/cardboards to the recycling bins near the pub..but end up the bins were sooo full! So just left them on top...and realised they are glass bottles only and papers only. No plastic. After that took bus to Halesowen ASDA. My mission was to find and buy caramel waffles..and was thrilled when it had and it was on reduced to clear though the best before is next year! But then end up I paid more cos the stupid self-service machine had some problems. But never mind!! Got a packet of scones too but they're not the freshly made ones from the bakery...hope it's nice. Too bad I can't buy my mum's fave fruit loaf cos bulky..no space to put..if I buy sure become squashed!

Came home and continued packing stuff into my DBS bag..and L asked how I was going when she came back from work..my room door was closed..and I showed her saying it's a war zone..hahaha! Then she asked if it helps me to send me to the airport..and I told her I'm flying off from London. Then she said she didn't realise. HAHAH! V funny la...anyway, told her I left some stuff like soaps and hangers around.

Finished up my leftover frozen yoghurt as "dinner" cos I wasn't hungry..so tomorrow I'll have my leftover fried rice from yesterday before I leave for airport..then L can have the leftover frozen stuff in the freezer - not a lot also..haha!

I'm putting facial mask now as I'm typing..Hahaha..this is one of the ones that R left behind..keep so long rite? Hehehe..Just pray hard the staff at the check in counter is nice and allows my big luggage and 大陆 bag to be checked in. Have brought my uni letter in case to try if it really works as what my friends say! Anyway I'm prepared to pay for excess baggage la..bo bian rite...oh well. *Praying*

This shall be the last time I'm blogging here in B'ham! Or maybe I can blog after I am back from church tomorrow.

ARGHS! Wish I have a magic wand!

I'm soooo tired. Gosh...Was trying to fit one lot of my clothes into my big luggage..then the vacuum bag didn't work!! Air still leaked out..so used the traditional one instead. Then heng my big luggage can expand..so expanded it else scared zip will burst. Ahhhh!! I don't know how to pack! Wish my parents are here to help or I have a magic wand!!! I still have a bag of boxed foodstuff to get packed into my handcarry dbs bag and there's still some clothes hanging in the attic to dry..I really don't know how. It'll all fit if I open another bag..but if I do then I'll exceed the number of bags allowed on board. Have been praying for wisdom to pack my stuff. I'm already donating quite a lot of my clothes and boots, even my woollen PJs that I like a lot...My consolation is others who need it more than me will get to wear them.

Earlier on went to town's Primark to buy a tank top...decided to replace my current one. And as I was queuing up, I saw them selling a new design of luggage tag!! Was v happy but bought just 3. Went to the bank to close my account cos appt was at 2pm. I queued up to ask if I should just want for the staff in the room to call me (there's another customer in there). Then when it was finally my turn to see the officer in the room, the officer told me I've to queue to withdraw all my money out before she can close the account. Wah biang...she could've said so earlier so I can queue rite?! V funny system...then when I finally got all my money out, I went back to the room and the officer checked and said there's still £5 so she can't close the account..then I recalled maybe cos I used it at Primark just now. But heng I can sign a form to say I authorise the staff to close my account on Mon. So that was all lor. Went to ASDA for a while after to see if they have scones and caramel waffles (stroopwafels) but only had cherry scones. Now looking at my luggage, I also don't think I can buy them....how sad!!!

Cooked fried rice today as planned. Kept a smaller portion for tomorrow if I'm hungry. I think I might not need dinner tomorrow since I'll be going out for lunch. Else shall just keep for Sun and "donate" the left over stuff in the freezer.

Kinda forgot it's Teachers' Day today (yday for SG) and I didn't wish my ex-teachers this year..haha..maybe will do so tomorrow..if I've time!

I still put aside the papers and plastic bottles for recycling cos there's a bin near the Court Oak pub. Don't know if will have space to load into M's car tmr. Else will just come home and bring it there.

Back to Uni..for the last time this year

Watched Korean dramas this morning..then L passed me big trash bag of clothes (half filled) saying I can pass to church..then she also put some dresses and tops aside that say may fit me. Her clothes can be sold to charity shops lor..don't know if Armenians will know these are branded stuff..hahah! Anyway, then she asked to take back again cos C wanted to go through them. Whatever la..anyway now it's outside of my room door. Prob will bring into my room tmr after they say they're done with it. My room also no space to put liao lor..cos I will need some space to pack my remaining stuff.

Anyway yesterday saw that my Uni's Barber Institute of Fine Arts has a recital today for their Masters students..and so I decided to go..and I went in early cos I thought might have a queue and need tickets..but turns out only just need to go in at that time lor...so I went around Uni to take some photos and also returned the calculator manual to my admin..

Previous student undergoing assessment and her friends taking turns to snap pic with her

Taken on 30 Sept 2013

Taken today

Student Guild

St Francis Hall - where church services (or any multifaith events) are held

Then went to Aldi to buy fresh figs cos they're on offer and I haven't tried fresh ones before!

Then wanted to buy some bfast for Sat and Sun but didn't see any cheesecake at Sainsburys..then thought maybe tmr I can go to the Cafe along High St before my bank appt..shall see how. As for bfast, I'll probably eat up my choc oaties. Was deciding which day to go ASDA too..cos was counting the best before date. Hope the nearby one has fruit scones. Else might go have to go to the further one. Maybe tmr late morning can go down Primark in town. I think I wanna buy a white camisole to replace my current one I bought from Korea which kinda not white now. Had no intention to go Primark again..haha..

Did my laundry and today quite "warm"..so probably the clothes can be fully dry tmr then I can pack them in. Planning to wash my dark coloured clothes tmr. Anyway cooked my leftover braised chicken thigh and added a breast meat and ate rice tonight. Cooked all the basmati rice..so tomorrow maybe can fry rice with my leftover pork chop and maybe can add my last two pieces of bak kwa. Then I'll be only left with one chicken leg (which I think even if I can't finish, I can leave for L to cook for Poppy), 3 pork ribs and 1 bratwurst and 1 box of chicken stock. Not bad!

Oh, I've started to fill up my diary for work stuff liao *gasp* Ya, I'm only going back to work officially in about 1.5weeks but have been told of tasks and appts liao.

Back from Dublin!

Blessed Birthday, mum!!!!!!!!!

I'm back from Dublin! Was v blessed with good weather (not rainy) and nice place to stay, convenient to get to the city and planes that left on time. When going to the airport on Mon, I left my house earlier and managed to catch the earlier train to the airport cos that train was delayed. Which meant that I could have been late for the airport if I had caught the train that I had planned to. So God is good!! And it turned out well that S and I met up P on the first day..with our bags..haha..else we would have to drop our bags and head out again. VVV happy for P...she also showed us her U/S cos she just went for her Dr's appt.

V fascinated and excited by the Giant's Causeway tour!! It was really worth the trip! And I managed to drink my Irish coffee during that trip too!! It was really really good..haha..vv strong whiskey taste..hahaa! Then today though we didn't get to eat breakfast, we were lucky to get free entry to Dublin castle! And I had my hot chocolate from Butlers at the airport.

Once I touched down, walked fairly quickly to get the airlink to train station and managed to catch the 6.35pm train to get into town. Then also walked fast to the bus stop and caught the bus to the fish and chips shop. Bought my fish and chips and walked home. The fish and chips was good...for a takeaway shop..ordered medium chips and the portion was huge! Offered L some..and greedy Poppy also wanted..she stared at me when I ate my fish and chips. Oh..and i realised how well fish and chips go well with chicken rice chilli..haha..maybe cos hv lime.

Shall upload more photos tmr. Think I'll do some laundry tmr and another lot on Fri..then I shall also pack again.