Thursday, September 28, 2006

Happy Birthday!

Happy 27th Birthday! ... to myself from me & I, okay, from HF too.

I was born on this day at 07:59:58 in Pantai Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, 27 years ago!

I've time-stamped this post to be at 07:59.

The Winter Death and Spring Rebirth of a Frog

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

That Monday (Illustrated)

Specifically, I am referring to this post. I was in a hideout waiting for HF to discover her surprise. Without further ado, here are the pictures in choronological order.

Click Image for full-size The surprise awaits (with instructions)


Click Image for full-size Lights were out; floor were lit by candles showing a path leading to the kitchen


Click Image for full-size The Dining Hall; all set up


Click Image for full-size The Dinner layout!


Click Image for full-size Complete with a note!


Click Image for full-size Well, it's not something I wrote in a hurry, but honestly speaking, my cursive writing is not-too-good.


Click Image for full-size The 1999 Vintage Champagne... couldn't be any more perfect for the occassion!


Click Image for full-size Finally, I received my best reward -- the happiest girl with her happiest look and smile! Just for her!


Click Image for full-size "Hurry!! I can't wait to sink my teeth into the salmon! Put your camera away!"


Click Image for full-size A last look at the dinner I made. It consists of potato salad, rockets, avacado, black pepper, tomatoes, grilled salmon (own recipe), and finally a bowl of caesar salad.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

What a Monday

The first call I got yesterday's morning was an announcement of a great news from HF -- her working visa application has gone through successfully!

That meant a lot for us. We've been through a lot of arguments, stress, fights, etc. and we're all worried about her leave to remain in the country legally. However, it is never worth the experience to go underground and be exposed to the risks of getting caught by the authorities and being deported then. The air is cleared and we have one less worry to worry about.

Nevertheless, I would still loved her to work in Leeds or at least somewhere near where she does not have to spend 4 hours on commuting time to and back from work. Travelling to and back from Manchester early in the morning and returning by 8pm could just about blow up any person's head for sure. I hope to do something worthwhile that will change her perspective of commuting-boredom-syndrome.

I did put up a little celebration just for her last night. It was a walk-in surprise for her with candles lited a path leading to the kitchen where she will discover her grilled salmon steak dinner with a 1999 vintage Moet bottle of champagne all waiting for her.

It was a great celebration night, but I also intended it to change her mind so that it will be more deserving and worthwhile to return/commute. I know it's hard to spend such a long time everyday on the train. Very daunting, believe me.

SKY
We've now got Sky Sat TV set up. Everything is going really well so far and I hope it stays afloat like this.

Territorial Army
Today, Tuesday (Sept 26), I will be checking out the Carleton Barracks for TA training. It will be on Tuesdays and twice a week. I reckon it will mostly be physical trainings and their program fits me best as I will be quitting gym membership at Esporta Sports Club (44£ per month). TA will pay me just about the same to volunteer!

Looking forward!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

How to cheat a Coca-cola vending machine







Let me get this straight.

You can actually get 2 or three bottles of drinks for the price of one. The way the machine works is that it knows its job is done once it has dispensed your drink via a push-through door. There is a switch around the door in which will mark that the door has been opened, therefore drink is dispensed and job's done. If this door is stopped from opening, it will attempt twice before refunding your money. The logic is that if there's no drink, the door will not be opened and therefore, you will be refunded.

I have tried this myself and it works! I was so exhausted that I brought back two bottles of Powerade for the price of one (buy 1 get 1 free)!

Remember, it has to be a Coca-cola machine with a conveyor belt.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Freebie

As we arrived at the gate of Aspect 14 after our afternoon tea at Tung's Garden Restaurant, I whispered into HF's ear about this bloke carrying a box of Tic Tac (sealed) who was also at the gate.

Apparently, we live in the same block and I asked if he was carrying a box full of Tic Tac candies to which he confirmed my curiosity. He gladly offered us a portion (illustrated) out of 12 and explained that it's a new flavor -- Tropical Twist -- and that his marketing company he's working in is promoting the flavor.

Good stuff! The look on HF's face was that of a lottery winner bagging the loot at home. Posted by Picasa

The dressed thumb

My grated thumb as a result from grating parmesan cheese on the afternoon of Friday the 15th. The new grating tool grated a chunk of my flesh away from the side of my left thumb!

Shit! Should have just grated the bigger slice of the cheese! It wasn't my cheese anyway!

It was really annoying to get cuts on the fingers as it was difficult to stop the bleeding. A lot of blood vessels endings are at the tip of fingers and I got a deep cut! Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Opening of Bagel Nash

Today was supposed to be the official day for the opening of another Bagel Nash store in The Light (Headrow), Leeds. The store looked quite disorganized and empty a week ago and we all have been working together to put things together and only yesterday it looked more like a food store/restaurant.

On opening, we were supposed to give away free bagels sandwiches to employees of The Light (does not mean employees or tenants at The Light).

However, Rob came in at 8 in the morning and saw everything was still in a mess, thus said that we are not ready to serve. I couldn't agree with more with him. Putting our final touches didn't take long but it was Rob's meticulous and attention to details set our schedule a little back. He wants everything perfect and only then we will begin trading. I'm with him. There's nothing more important to the details that he sees (as an Executive) than to rush to serve customers only to regret at a later time saying things like "We should have done that earlier..." etc. For crying out loud, there weren't even any tables set up yet.

There was something Rob did that I didn't quite understand. Maja and I spent a total of 2-3 hours up on a 10-feet ladder wiping and cleaning display glass windows with him on the ground pin-pointing where smudged stains were for cleaning. At the same time, he did mention about a window cleaner who will be coming in the next morning to clean the same glass (and area) that we were sweating out and risking a fractured bone to clean! Alas! The window cleaner came that morning and it took like like 45 mins to an hour to clean all glass and windows... WITHOUT even using a ladder! He had this long stretchable pole/stick to reach to the top of the window, which is like around 17 feet from the ground!

Today, finally, we did get to completing everything on the to-do-lists and I believe whole-heartedly that we will be opening for business tomorrow. Everything looks perfect now... at least to me! It was a good thing that we did not open for business today. Rob made the right choice! All looks prep-ed up now!

Visit the store if you would and I can tell you which are the results of my doings. Worked and sweated like a pig for it! Look out for me! Welcome to Bagel Nash!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Oxford

Click for full-sized imageWelcome to Oxford! We visited Oxford University.


Click for full-sized imageThe Old meets the New. A very old building featuring the modern Nokia Communication store! Unique!


Click for full-sized imageModern HF of Shanghai in old Oxford seems to be having a great time! The wise old just flew in.


Click for full-sized imageOxford's high street


Click for full-sized imageA very talented street performer with his instruments playing trance! It's amazing to watch him doing it all simultaneously! We ran away before feeling obliged to donation! Yeah, we're cheapskate! *winks!*


Click for full-sized imageDid we end up in the wrong city?? Uhm... no. It is Oxford!


Click for full-sized image... Building! Old but classic building!


Click for full-sized imageHF seated being taken away by this hypnotising street performer's romantic tunes.


Click for full-sized imageUnder-the-spell-of-romantic-music look!


Click for full-sized imageHF on Oxford University ground.


Click for full-sized imageMe, on Oxford University ground.


Click for full-sized imageOxford University!

Monday, September 04, 2006

Brand New Fiat Punto

When I picked up the car from Leeds-Bradford Airport (LBA), it has only done 1,528 miles of mileage -- quite new. We were supposed to get a smaller 2-doored car, I think was a Ford Ka, but look... brand new elegant Fiat Punto and it has four doors!! We rented the car for 96 hours (4 days) for only 68.75£ from Hertz. I must say it was quite a bargain.

Key to our new ride

I found it hard to believe that I will be driving down to Manchester to pick up HF from her (she did not know about this till I told her I was lost in Manchester city centre). I was over-excited as I have not driven for over a year. I was putting myself together with the much needed confidence to be back on the road! The car was still in the parkade!!


The gear, with a pull-knob into Reverse gear.

Parked in Aspect 14 after driving from Manchester successfully without getting myself into trouble! We were loading up stuffs (especially food! (Hunger may strike!)) and getting ready for our journey! Wales, here we come!

The back of the Punto! We coined a name for it -- our food caravan! Simply because... 75% of the space we had were occupied by food! Imagine two pigs going on a vacation!

The Present

This is me, the present me.

I have indeed gained several pounds over the last 2 years but I have also toned up a few inches of muscles around the chest and arms.

I recalled the times when I was so thin during my teen years. Chopsticks, was one of the names I was known as those days.

I have only 2 sweat shirts and this is my favorite one from University of Saskatchewan's Huskies sports team. I planned to get another set for HF when we go to Canada next year and make all our pictures boring for every places we go -- we're going to be wearing the same clothings everytime. Now, that's ambitious! Posted by Picasa

In my arms, always!

 Posted by Picasa

Among the giants

Giant sunflowers around The Village Hotel's parkade.

HF is always attracted to sunflowers, not the other way round. My sunshine... just as the sunshine is to the sunflower.

Lovely pic!

ISO: 200
Shutter Speed: 1/640 seconds
Aperture: F /8
Focal length: 40 mm
Exposure Program: Manual Posted by Picasa

Complimentary fruits by The Village Hotel, Cardiff.

Shot using my newly acquired Canon 350D with its original lens.

ISO: 200
Shutter speed: 1/15 seconds
Aperture: F /5
Focal length: 40mm
Exposure program: Manual
Lighting: Incandescent/bulb lighting Posted by Picasa

Cardiff Town Hall

With much regret to even mention this, Cardiff was supposed to be the city where I should have come 2 years ago. A visit to the beautiful and lively city had made me face my sorrows and regrets with positive attributes. Thanks to HF!

I would not have met such a wonderful person as HF had I gone to Cardiff. I'm contended. Posted by Picasa

Rock of my heart

My love is steadfast for you, my love, just as the rocks of the Stonehenge, which have stood for over 5,000 years and still going strong (albeit through numerous preservation and restoration processes).

Relaxing on the grounds of the Stonehenge under an amazing weather! When we arrived, those gloomy clouds were already leaving. Unexplanable phenomenon. Lucky, I guess! Posted by Picasa

Silhouette of time

An attempt to create a silhouette of the rocks of the Stonehenge, England. The only issue I have with this picture is the numerous clouds in which otherwise would have been a better picture, I supposed. Posted by Picasa

Rhossili Bay

Arrived at Rhosilli Bay, Swansea, and was welcomed with such an amazing weather-- bright sunny with clear blue skies and not too many clouds. We parked next to a church with burial grounds (some dated way back to 1885) but thankfully, our vehicle was not spooked.

The bay, recommended by the landlord of The Rock Villa Bed & Breakfast, was indeed an amazing and spectacular. It has deep shore lines probably due to low tides and it looks as though the waters had retreated further out. It was almost half a kilometre walk to the water from the beach. It was not crowded and best of all, it is not comercialized as those of Scarborough's beach.

There are trails and tracks up along steep hills and mounts overlooking the bay. The view was breath-taking. It was very windy and I could not recall a moment without breeze.

Upon arrival, we planned to stay for only 45 minutes but because everything exceeded our expectations, we remained there for 3 hours. It was so beautiful. Posted by Picasa