What was missing

It took a while to remember and eventually realize that my life here in the UK compared to the life in Canada was actually different not because of the environment, but because of one very important person that made it all different--my brother.

Andrew came 2 weeks later and we stayed in the same room for one academic year at the University of Saskatchewan's Qu'appelle Hall, Voyager Place. He is also a very good roommate. I missd being with him. After a year at Qu'appelle Hall, we lived separately and I still know that he's in town and I can look him up whenever I want to.

However, ever since I moved to live in Leeds, England, I didn't know until a few weeks back that he was actually the 'factor' that made me feel something was missing and I didn't feel complete. Perhaps I am used to being with him or having him, my big brother, around. The size of the city has to be irrelevant. When you actually know someone in a foreign city, it's going to make a lot of significant difference living in that city.

My cousins are in London and I knew I could look them up some times whenver I would go down. This, as oppose to nobody at all. I thought about it and concluded that I was once very fortunate, but not this time. I have to make it on my own... but now luckily enough, with my lady HF.

I have found both of them.
Can't help recalling the song "You light up my life"

Pictured here is myself and Kannan, the supervisor of Georgetown restaurant in Leeds. Kannan gave the most tremendous and brilliant night to both Vivian and I and it was unforgetable. I had him invited over to my place after his work to enjoy my birthday cake together. Kannan is from India on a working holiday visit. 

Vivian and I.

Just love this photo. 

You won't believe I actually blushed in this photo, which is why I look so, uhh, good? I know I look and feel happy and indeed, I was. 

Seated in a very elegant and beautiful Malaysian restaurant -- Georgetown -- with piano music in the background, toasting to my birthday with Vivian. That Singapore Sling is a compliment of Kannan, the supervisor of this restaurant who is extermely a brilliant and kind person. 

I'm the star of the evening! Check me out, it's me birthday! 

Vivian's platter who begged for a taste of Malaysian's food, I recommended her this savoury fish, a Malay's locale dish. Quite tasty but she couldn't prefer to sink her knife into my beef rendang. ;) 

My birthday dinner platter, my country's food -- beef rendang -- generousity of Vivian who made the evening ever more beautiful. 

Wine glasses and a free shot of Singapore Sling cocktail compliments from the supervisor of Georgetown restaurant who made it all possible. 

My birthday cake, a gift from Louise who runs a successful Chinese restaurant Maxi's. Very delicious! 

Here are all me friends including my beautiful Vivian beside me. Dorothy shot this photo, so, from left to right: Paul, Alfred, Torstein, myself, and Vivian. 

Torstein (pronounced as 'toousch-tainn') and myself on my double settee. 

These are the nicest people I've known during my stay in Kirkstall Brewery on Broad Lane -- a student's accomodation. They were invited by Vivian to surprise me, as it has been a long time since I last saw all of them since I moved into this new premise (background) 

Enjoyed many good times

I've been thinking if I should blog as often as before and I gathered that my blogs will, in a way, make more sense if they're recorded down once every short period of absence. This way I get to highlight significant events during the times when I'm not blogging.

To begin with, I recall the most extraordinarily moment I had with HF on my 26th birthday. Months ago when I returned from Canada for a 2.5 weeks visit, HF and I spotted a Malaysian restaurant just in the heart of city centre when we were worming our ways on the streets looking for the office where National Insurance Number can be applied. Georgetown restaurant is adjacent to the office we were looking for. I scrutinizing the menu at the threshold of their entrance, I insisted for a curry puff and that would cost me £3.50 each. I didn't get any as it was too costly. HF promised to bring me here for my birthday.

And the experience on that night was posilutely and absotively a wonderful magical experience for me. The atmosphere inside is one of which that I should never forget to give credit for. To have my home country's food on such an occasion in such a wonderful and perhaps posh place could never ever get any better. Our experience was further enhanced by a mutual friend of ours, Kannan, who works at the restaurant as the supervisor. He gave us a couple of Singapore Sling on his tab, had the chef made a special order for me (made my main course extra spicy/delicious), made special arrangement with the pianist, who perfectly blended in a birthday rhythm for me from 'When I fall in love' when Kannan served us our 'Ice Kacang'. Customers who have already been seated at this time cheered and congratulated me and wished well for me; some clapping their hands. The best of the best of all at that very particular time was the fact that HF was there to commemorate that very day with me. Her calm and peaceful smile emmanating her radiance of happiness during all those very wonderful people, musics, ambience, and warmth. There's a lot of love in the air and that is what I sensed. Desptie all and most importantly, I was able to share my happiness with HF. Without her, that day would be as good as the mysterious voidness in the dark that's full of everything except positive & constructive feelings/emotions.
At the end of the evening, Kannan showed how much he desired to share my moment with me (he can't because he was on duty) with an over generous 15% discount.

We walked back to enjoy a cake specially made for me from an extremely kind friend, Louise, who runs Maxi's Chinese restaurant at "The Light". I helped her to understand some legal issues pertaining to one of her restaurant business in town a couple of weeks ago. I was still with her when she called on to her baker to bake a birthday cake for me. Out of embarrasment I refused but I guess she was already determined to make one as a gift for me. The cake was made up of fruits and it was very delicious. In fact, that cake is my first birthday cake after a very, very long time... say, 18 years? I'm not too sure, but I know my family doesn't really believe in celebrating birthdays. The Georgetown restaurant and the birthday cake has been a complete birthday experience for me.

_________________
I've sold "grandpa" (our car) just this morning for £142.00 to a family from Northants. It's good to know that grandpa is now in good care of another owner.

Our friends came over for an evening of fun. Torstein and Ling, and Asa were here. My finally found classmate Saravanan and his lady friend Jane who are both from Malaysia (one from Kuala Lumpur and the other from Johor Bharu) are a wonderful addition to us all. I just got Settlers of Catan in and managed to convinced all of them that it is a fun game. I'm sure I've got two, if not one, persons addicted to the game on their first try to the game. It's hilarious! It's also a very good game!

Until many good times ahead, I will write again soon. Take care and thanks for finding this site an interesting read.