Visit to Nottingham

Jo and I took the opportunity to visit Nottingham on 4 November by joining City University Malaysian Society's members to the annual Nottingham Games.

We had to sleep overnight at Seng Hon's place in order to get to the uni at 4am in the morning. It was freezing cold at that time.

We arrived in Nottingham around 7pm. It was really cold all the way. There was frost everywhere.

Unlike other Nottingham Games I've been to, this one has few ministers and few other VIP guests present. So we sort of have to put up with some lame speeches by Dato' Mustapa Mohamed and the keris waving Dato' Seri Hishammuddin. The speeches were ridiculously childish for a crowd full of undergraduates and postgraduates, to the extent that I felt embarrassed for my country, especially in front of the Vice Chancellor of Nottingham University. Based on other speeches and controversies in the country lately, it is difficult to feel the sincerity of these ministers in what they were preaching.

After the opening ceremony, Jo and I proceed to the sports hall to watch volleyball and basketball before making our way to Nottingham city.

Jo loves the city a lot. She said it felt like Melbourne a lot, not too crowded and peaceful. We found the people here extremly friendly compared to London.

We browsed through the town, sent postcards to our families before finding our way to Nottingham Castle. The existing buildings are built not too long ago in place of the ancient castle which did not survive many battles and wars in the past. Robin Hood, the icon of this city, is present at every corner of the castle and the town.

The Lace Centre, outside Nottingham Castle
Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle
Lovely garden at Nottingham Castle
Johanna being cute as usual :-)

Bringing Sis to Warwick Castle

Many many weeks ago, when I haven't had internet connection at home...

My sister Jih Hoay came to visit us on 20 October. The 3rd member of my family, after my parents to visit me in London. My younger brother is the only one left. Hope he'll want to come and visit us soon.

Jih Hoay was staying in Cumberland Hotel near Marble Arch. I didn't have any classes on Friday. So we met up at the hotel around lunch time. I brought her to my flat and cooked lunch for her. Next we went to Jo and my temporary accomodation at Goodenough College to access internet before I brought her to see Cass Business School. We met up with our hometown friend Khoon Peng near Moorgate station and proceed to Angel to join my Malaysian uni mates for freshers dinner at Whitechapel. Jo could only join us a bit later as she left work late.

The next day, I took Jo and Jih Hoay to Warwick Castle. The train ticket and entrance fees only cost us GBP77 in total. I've been there with Yee Sian and Swati many years ago, during undergraduate days. The castle still looks the same. We managed to take some photos with the sun appearing and disappearing every now and then.

It rained heavily at the time we were on our way to Warwick Train Station. We had to take a shelter in a local bar. We missed the train in the end and arrived nearly 2 hours later than planned. As a result, I missed Xian's birthday celebration in Khan's. Felt really bad for that but what to do?

We had Taza Kebab - supposedly the best kebab in the world according to many of my Malaysian friends.. Jih Hoay concluded that kebab is not her thing.

Jo and I were too lazy to go back to our own flat. So we bunked at Jih Hoay's hotel room. Very nice room with 42" Plasma TV!

The next day, we managed to have duck rice at Four Seasons with Khoon Peng before we send Jih Hoay off with her SIA crew.

Missing in action

Even though I've moved in to my new place since 9 October, I have yet to get broadband access from the world class companies in this developed nation!

It took me nearly 3 weeks to arrange for a phone line installation with BT and another 2 weeks to get my broadband provider to install my broadband access. That'll be 8 November when my life gets reconnected to the world.

Until then I'll have to stick with the limited access I have in my university.

Smoking is more important than sex

Doesn't make sense to you?

Ask an actuary and he might be able to explain it to you.