Birthdays

Chilling sessions, Woan Yng's 21st at Masa, Lee Wee's 21st at Brown's, which means pigging out sessions but am back on track at the gym. But it's gonna be closed for Easter week D: Gonna try running outdoors but the weather's being a beech right now! Snowing when it's Spring?!

Finals in a month's time so bring on the books and late night mugging sessions for the very last time in my degree. Then aloha summer break! The glorious sun, donning in shorts and tank tops, flowers blooming, quenching thirst with fruit punches. Ahhhhh can't wait! Meanwhile it's hot tea, maximum settings on the heater, thick duvets and jumpers.

Updates soon!

X

March

Finally handed in the last double weighted dissertation last week which I think I had 20,000+ words in total. A huge relief now I'm over and done with it, praying now that I'll do well for it! *fingers crossed* Time's passing way too quickly and it's March already?! I can still recall the day I landed over here in UK which is exactly 6 months ago. 6 months more and I'll be on that plane home, it'll be quicker than you think!

I'm sure I'll be leaving with a heavy heart as life over here has been a wonderful one. The freedom, a different environment, new friends, different culture, weather and places to visit, I wouldn't mind staying here for a wee bit longer. The thought of heading back to Malaysia really scares me with the current issues of the Lahad Datu war, snatch thefts, rape cases and political cases. Not to mention how things are so efficiently done here compared back home. You report a faulty switch and they'd get it done for you the next day!

Just sippin on some green tea right now with sun shining in on my daffodils by the window even though it's -1 outside, I really appreciate this moment now. I'm sure if I were to be back home, I would be toasted and blasting the air conditioner at its maximum capacity while taking a nap right now.

'The grass is always greener on the other side' really lives up to its name but nowhere is better than home! A little update over my past week: Caught Safe Haven right after handing up my dissertation which was mediocre in my opinion. Typical Nicholas Sparks' movie though The Vow beats it hands down. Whey Jinn's 22nd celebration at Cosmo at night with the coursemates followed by drinking session over at my place which ended up on a nauseous note for me.

Resumed eating clean after having so much junk especially since CNY. From a cheat day to cheat week to cheat month! Ughhh. Time to jump on the healthy bandwagon again. Abs come to mama!

Scrambled eggs X Strawberries X Cucumber X Green apple

Anchovy broth with chicken, mushroom and cabbage

Babybel with smoked salmon on rice cake

Grapefruit X Green tea

Cheat day lunch with the Bar students after their exam at Tikka Masala.

Sunday coffee after groceries

Baked banana cake which didn't really rise...

New found favourite!

New favourite gold collar tip haul

Attempting to do a wall mountain climbers.

Crazy weather yesterday of snow and strong wind made me turn into an eskimo

My very first blue T box which remains a mystery till I head back to Malaysia!

On a side note, after almost 3 months, I finally gave him an answer. Heh. Don't want to disclose much but all I can say is I thought that he was attractive when we had dinner with the rest on the second day I arrived in UK while we were both still attached at that time. Somehow it turned out to be a little crush. :P :P And we wouldn't have today if I never initiated a conversation which resulted us in discovering our similarities. 

To a new beginning, Xx

Last Weekend

It's already February! Seriously time is moving wayyyyyyyyyy too fast. February's my favourite month because it's my month hehehe. A line up of events this month amidst missing the CNY celebration back home. Oh well, it's only a year, nothing much to lose out except the angpows, reunion dinner, pineapple cookies, gambling.... :(

Had a pretty quiet last weekend, a few drinks with the Bar students at campus' bar and had a nice meal with Adrian and Ryan in town after our longing for pizza.

Christy my cray cray flatmate!

Szennnnnn

Lindsay!

Drunk lawyers in the making!

TGIF :)

Lunch for 3!

Best was the dessert, the lava cake though there was no lava =.= while Adrian had some cherry sundae brownie which was pretty good too. Cheat day to the maximum, went home feeling so guilty!

Pretty pots and pans for decor

Anti-socialllllllll

Anti-social 2

Still in the midst of completing my Audit assignment! Needa get it done before heading off to Cardiff this weekend for some Malaysian play. Off to the gym now, cardio day for today! :D

2012

2012 is coming to an end in 3 days. This year has been a pretty amazing year for me as I've been through the most compared to the past few years.

Post break up, I've been hitting the gym quite often as I thought to myself, instead of moping over him and drowning in sorrows, why not improve myself and believe that I can be better off without him? So for the past 2 months or so, I've been working out for 4-5 times a week and eating clean. I hated running, but now running's the most satisfying cardio I'd do everytime I visit the gym.

Early 2012

Recent

Working out doesn't give you good results without eating clean. So I gave up the love of my carbs and ate cleaner. It was so hard because I love bread and noodles. I had to settle for wholegrain cereal and wraps instead. Sometimes grabbing a fruit made me think twice as well as it's considered carbs, partly.

But for now I'm letting loose a little cause I can't be refraining myself from eating what I love for the whole year. So some days I let loose, some days I restrain. It's all about balancing.

Stir fry cabbage with minced pork and chickpeas; an example of dinner

The peak of 2012 was a new life in UK. I want to thank my parents and I love them so bits for giving me this once in a life time opportunity that not every child can have; to study abroad. Experiencing living in another country far away from home is an eye opening experience for me while being able to travel to the nearby countries. Hope I'm able to give this privilege to my kids in the future as well.

And also being in a relationship officially while falling out of it in 2 months was another climax of my life. Though nothing to be proud of but I don't regret getting into this relationship back then. I believe that behind every cloud there's a silver lining. 

This relationship taught me a lot of things and resulted in me being stronger and wiser. If not for him, I wouldn't be embarking on my gym routine back then. So I still have to thank him in some way and giving me some beautiful memories though he completely ruined the ending of it by choosing to end it in a brutal way. 

2013's resolutions would be for a fitter me and to graduate successfully. I would want to be returning to Malaysia as an improved individual. 

Au revoir 2012.

Tis' the season to be jolly!

Can't believe it's Christmas already and this time I'm spending it overseas in UK without family but friends instead. Gonna miss out dad's roast turkey this year again. Last year was due to being stuck in KL as a relative's wedding dinner was around this period.

Anyways, off to London tomorrow! Envy those who're in Switzerland, Paris, Prague, Amsterdam etc while we're only spending Christmas here. That's cause exam's just around the corner and we decided to focus more for our studies and enjoy later during summer break.

Wish I could have a white Christmas this year but it's not gonna snow in London during Christmas. And I missed the snowfall in Bristol here the other day :( :( :(

The morning after snowfall

First day of winter; in the city

Decided to make tangyuan for Winter Solstice after sis tagged me in one of the photos of Aunt's tangyuan. Made a trip to the asian supermarket to get the ingredients. First time making tangyuan and it was a success with the others' help! Colourful tangyuans were supposed to be made but after adding colouring to the dough, it became sticky and wet. :(

Finally tried Jamie's Italian, owned by Jamie Oliver after ages of wanting to dine there. Food was mediocre though. Thumbs up for freshness and uniqueness as they make their own fresh pasta everyday and a range of unique food.

Salmon bruschetta, mackerel with olives and roast potatoes, wild rabbit tagliolini, and tiramisu. 

Pre-Christmas dinner with the housemates, Wendy, Lee wee and Jenny and Darren from London

Had our first ice-skating experience in the cold too! 

First time partying with the crazy housemate, Christy and Wan Wen.

And my favourite macarons from Laduree and mini ones from Luxemburgerli. Laduree still wins hands down! Ultimate love is the salted caramel one. :D

Missing everyone at home, including Sophie the Schnauzer. Our annual family portrait over Skype, lol.

Back to the books for now. Merry Christmas all!