Merry Chrismas

This is in fact my second time celebrating Christmas here in the UK. The difference this time is I have feel the Christmas mood, busy doing Christmas shopping, writing and sending Christmas cards. I think I just like sharing the love and happiness to people around me. Some were surprised receiving my card and present..Ha! To be honest, I am the unexpected most of the time, coz I like to give people surprise!

Christmas Shopping
This is the first time I do Christmas shopping in a foreign land. It is quite different than what I used to do back in KL. Coz those I did in KL should call Chinese New Year shopping, coz retailers will do Christmas Sale, and it is time to get prepared for Chinese New Year, buying new cloth, new lingerie, new shoes, and CNY groceries...The thing here is I am actually shopping present for others...ha! I quite enjoyed it...:)

Christmas Dinners
I was invited to a few Christmas dinners this year, which was very nice :)

Xmas dinner with Suzie on the 15th December in The China Palace restaurant, Reading.
Shame that no picture were taken, too busy eating I guess...haha

Xmas dinner with the Chinese PHD students from Informatics Research Centre (IRC) on the 16th December in the Honeymoon Restaurant, Reading. Again, I guess we were all busy eating that time. But I was amazed by how my lecturers enthusiasm in karaokeing..lol.

Xmas dinner with DP folks on the 17th December in The Bel & Dragon, Reading. The meal was very nice, just that for me, I think the portion is too little..anyway, I have enjoyed the food...hehe.

DP queen? :p

25th the Christmas Day
I love my aunt's cooking... She is a good cook. The Christmas meal was a combination of the east and west. Look at the turkey, and all different types of stuffing that we had..I especially love the gravy that my aunt made, it was a mixture of meat juices and granules...best gravy I ever had!!

The small Christmas tree at the corner...still lovely!

East + West Christmas Meal!

Highlight of the day- Mr Organic Turkey... But you are roasted now...ha!

Then it was time for Christmas present....

'Mother Christmas'...present time...

My unwrapped pressie....hehe

26th the Boxing Day
It was also my movie day. Thanks for the unnecessary tube strike which caused me not able to travel places and seeing my friends, I had to stay in at my aunt. Well, the positives was I can have loads of great food still, so I spent my time just watching movies (The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Holiday in Handcuffs, The Santa Clause)on BBC iplayer..chewing chocolates...and of course chatting around with my friends...

quite like the google interface :)

27th : Seeing Brian, Albee and their mom in Four Seasons Restaurant, Leicester Square
It was a very nice catch up, I have not see them for 2 years. Still, when we sat down, we just have unlimited topic to chat about...eat and chat, then eat again....

28th: Post Christmas Dinner with Bee
This should be my last Christmas dinner of the year. Ha! Bee was making me roast chicken, my favorite mash and sharing me the Pineau... :)

Stuffing in the corn feed chicken...

'yit lat lat' just out from the oven!! The color is nice!

Here we go...roast chicken with stuffing, yorkshire pudding, vegetables, wine and Pineau

we only remembered the crackers after finished our meal...lol

my present....the Pashmina

Christmas here gives me the feeling like celebrating Chinese New Year back home, it is time to catch up with family and friends, knowing how everyone is doing.. I have enjoyed my Christmas 2010 in the UK :)

Flashing my xmas and birthday presents...haha

Lastly, and again...to all my friends and family....

Multi-agile waitressing

Out of a blue moon, I walked in to a Chinese restaurant in Reading the other day. Perhaps this is just me, playful and always like to try new things. Since I am quite free now, so there is no harm trying something new. Seriously, and yet, it is another life experience!

It snowed quite heavily this morning. Still, I had determined to accomplish my mission, which is to work from 11am-11pm in a restaurant. I told my friends about my waitress-ing trial, and most of them were not convinced that I can bear with the more than 10 hours work.

On my way to work....heavy snow

So I have made it! Loads of first time:
First time waitress-ing
First time being scolded harshly by boss (worst than facing my project clients in my profession last time)
First time washing toilets (the best ever experience, coz i never wash toilet in my life, not until today :) )
First time serving food to customers
First time operating the restaurant without bosses around (luckily it was off peak period that time, and i fully utilised my problem solving skills)

All and all, waitress-ing is definitely not an easy job as most people think. Let me illustrate it with business terms. First, to be a successful waitress, you need to know the 'business process', ie: the process from taking order, entering details to system, until sending the orders to kitchen, then serve! Secondly, communication. You may need to know what are the specific wording for special wording, ie: serve (去餐), tidy up (收餐) etc. Thirdly, be quick and smart. Make sure a to and fro journey from the hall to kitchen is serving the most, and be smart.

It is just agile!! :)

14 December 2010: Happy Birthday to me!

AM: Destination - Abingdon

I just feel like documenting this down for some reasons. Perhaps this is something I never done before, attending interviews in the foreign land. Whether I get the job eventually or not, I take every interview experience as myself going to explore a new place. And the destination today is Abingdon! And yet on my birthday!


When the recruiter called me for an interview, he asked whether I have a driving licence. He told me that Abingdon is hopeless for public transport. Hmm. Now I am sitting in McDonald near Abingdon Business Park. I think it is not that bad really. I have to first take train from Reading to Oxford, then take x13 bus to Stratton Way bus stop, and then walk about 20 minutes to the business park. A good exercise though.

The fact is I have arrived 3 hours earlier before the interview. The reason is simple. I am not that good in direction especially when it comes to a place that has no direct public transport to take me to the destination. Some may laugh at me, but this is how things should be. If I am not familiar with the place, best to arrive early and try to locate for a place, then find a waiting place to fill in the gap time. As for preparation, I bring two pairs of shoes with me. One is my heels and another one is my walking shoes. Lol. Of course, I always have my laptop with me, so I can working on stuff ie scheduling my plans, offline blogging, blasting music and drowning into Chekie’s world, or watching movie…lol.

The funny thing was there was a lady I believed she was here for an interview and thought I am the interviewer.

PM: Birthday dinner in Giraffe Restaurant, birthday coffee in Starbucks Oracle, Reading

Own made birthday cake :)

Chrismassy birthday in the dark! Love this pic! ^^

Another Chrismassy birthday picture that I love!

birthday present and cards :)

Thank you so much to family and friends back home for remembering my birthday. Not forgetting friends here for celebrating my birthday and treating me birthday meal! I have had a wonderful birthday 2010. I love you all. xx

Fever. Cold. Flu

I have a presentation on my dissertation project tomorrow..and yet i am having fever, cold and flu since last two days.

I spent most of my time, laying on bed and trying to memorise the words..

I think medicine has lost function on my illness anymore. Now I am praying hard that at least let me have the capability to talk tomorrow. I can still present although I am ill.

Random thought '如果有一天,我学会不在跟人比较,把自己做好,我觉得那天就是我真正变成一个开心人了'

Keep Going! The unlucky one!

I never MOAN that I am always being the unlucky one!
I never BLAME anyone when things are not quite going in a right way!
I never EXPECT anyone for comfort, support or symphatise!
If things can turn around in an opposite way, it is a BONUS for me!
Keep going! The unlucky one!


PS: I thank the one from above for always showing me a way when I am down. He destined me to meet someone, to see something that reminding myself not to give up easily!

6 Dec 2010: I saw this clip on facebook!




2 Dec 10: Wayne Lai talked about his success

I watched this on youku. Wayne is one of my favorite tvb artist since I was a teenager. Remembering that time he wasn't the first line actor, always on second or third line. He started off as TV extra.
I remembered that time I told my mom, this guy has fabulous acting skills, why he just can't be as famous as the others?
Mom said, because he is not good looking enough!
But after 20 years working hard in TVB, because of one of the latest tvb drama and he has a good character in it, now he is one of the famous tvb stars!
So, never give up! Opportunity comes for those who are prepared. Whether how long the time frame, no one will know. But never ever give up!
Was blogging about him before :)

Being extremely vain!

I had completely no idea why I was being extremely vain yesterday before going out. Thought to post it on facebook, still, am feeling a bit shy to. But I want to share these pictures. Lol! So the best way to share it is through my blog. Coz I know that not many people are reading my blog. Ha!

Early Snow in December

How cold?! This cold!!! According to my landlady, it is not usual to be that cold in early December.

Cited from BBC weather today, the 2nd December 2010

Due to the internet failure this morning, I had no choice but to wrap myself, then went out to university just for the internet. It is quite a challenge for me to work without internet.

Snowy outside my home

Snowy Uni....

I could hardly feel my ears, my face, my everything walking in the condition like this....but no matter how, with my earphone on, Ill still sing along.....

Right, dinner time ~~

Related Post:
Heavy Snow

A short break to Cardiff

I wouldn't say I am having a stressful time now, but there are some decisions to make. I couldn't afford for any mistakes at this point.

Right, perhaps it is a bit inappropriate to start this post by saying this. So, I took a break off from Reading and went to Cardiff, a city break, I suppose :)

We wandered around the town. Quite a nice town though. Coincidentally there was a rugby match in late evening, Wales vs New Zealand. I will probably put my bet on New Zealand anyway. So the street was quite busy with people, stalls selling stuffs, traders selling tickets and someone was actually trying to sell me the rugby ticket for 60 quid...bloody hell... Ha!

The animal wall, Cardiff Castle

Playing snow in Bute Park, some where Cardiff Castle

Ready to throw snow at people

Snow bursting all around

Beauty and the beast? @National Museum

So first, we stopped by the Frankfurt market and grabbed something to eat. Then wandered around Cardiff Castle and also the National Museum. Ahh yes, and somewhere near the Millenium stadium before the match kicked off at 1715...

Time to go home

All and all, I quite enjoy the snow although I got sick afterwards! Lol! Enjoy my retarded video below.

Click here for more pictures! :)

I feel for you, MW!

After reading the article and watching the interview Mark Webber had with BBC, I seriously feel for him.

I quoted two statements he made.

"I'm feeling a bit low but that's inevitable with sport, you put a lot into it and you don't quite get the absolute fairytale result."
Not only sport, but it is same for life! There is not such formula saying that: Effort = Result. Somehow you just need a little bit of luck.

"You have to go away and recharge and that's when the normal desire starts to fire up again. When you get the desire and motivation to come back and compete that's the most important thing."
I have been fading away from my circle of friends (well, not a big group but quite a figure in the past), flee to somewhere, well, not new to me, but at least I can ran away from attention, and now I almost finish my study, it's seriously time to face the reality again. I have to be very honest to myself, I couldn't run away anymore. The expectations are there! Damn it!

To my dearest Chekie

I am caught in fever today. It is quite hard to focus on work, however, there are some random thoughts come across my mind. And I would like to dedicate it to myself. But feel free to share across if you find my thoughts helping.

It is autumn now.. Standing there, looking at the blue blue sky and thinking what is next?

As I am finishing my MSc soon, there are seriously loads to think about, something that I couldn't run away anymore. What I want to do etc. Of course I always have my master plan in mind. However, there are lessons learn along the way and I may have to keep my master plan flexible. That's why when people are asking how do I live my life now, I say I have a Agile lifestyle now.

1. Being an opportunist - There are opportunities every where. It is pretty much depends on whether you are ready or not. For an opportunist, he/she can turn every thing into an opportunity, for example turning a rock to a diamond. So never ever give up when you miss one opportunity. Coz sometimes it is not because you are not good enough, there may be some other reasons.

2. 'Release Management' 1 - I am not talking about software release management. But it is about how to release ourselves from unhappiness and stress in an appropriate way. Some said I always know how to make myself happy. I sing a lot. Karaoke isn't popular here compare with KL. So I use to put on songs on youtube and sing along. Retail therapy, yeah, sometimes, can't afford much with my current financial situation. Eating, oh yes! Especially the tomyum soup! Tomyum soup always make me smile. The other day a friend of mine was asking why can I feel contented with a small bowl of cereal. I said why not? When you are alone in a foreign land, every single thing, a simple meal means something for you. Thus, I have learnt how to appreciate my family, friends and whatever I am having now more!

3. 'Release Management' 2 - Here I would like to define it as letting go when I have to! Not sure about others, the more I want something to happen, usually it won't happen. However, when I keep working hard and do what I have to consistently, sometimes things just happen. It has proven in my 'track record'. Ha! It applies to all, regardless career or relationship. There is seriously no point to push things to happen. It happens when it has to happen. You never know. Therefore, never stress myself in any situation.However, it is always important that you have played your role well. Ie: as a student, you have to study well; as an employee, you have to think on how to contribute for the company sucess; as someone's partner, you have to be a good one, always be there for him whenever he needs you.

3. Damn you ego, but not too humble as you are just faking yourself - I have met with loads of different people varying from businessmen, professionals, academics, less literate, etc. I always notice that those very success people have almost zero ego, they are usually humble and very genuine. This is something I am learning. I serious dislike people especially those who always think they are always right, and faking themselves when being too humble.

4. Discipline and persistency - Whenever you have decided, write it down on a post it notes, look at it every day and stick to it! It is pointless to keep repeating something ie your goals, your commitment etc without really action on it.

5. Love myself - You are the owner of yourself. Life is too short for being depressed all the time. I know there is an obstacle hidden deep inside that you have to go through, take your time but make sure you are happy always. I wish you can smile from your heart one day!

Seems like I am now talking these to myself. Ha! Right, my Chinese herbal tea is getting cold now. My body temperature has not fully subsided.

I wish a better tomorrow for myself. Every day is a brand new day!

UoR Open Day Guide

I was helping out as the Open Day Guide in university on the 2nd and 23rd October. Loads of fun really! Meeting new people, talking for the whole day, guiding visitor around (although I wasn't sure about the places they wanted to go most of the time, ha!), learning more about the university buildings (honestly for this whole year, I am only visiting a few buildings, Palmer, Library, Student Union, Cedar Catering, Henley Business School and IRC), and SMILING for the whole day... :D

It was quite busy on the 2nd, the first open day. I had been walking non stop for 7 hours. I was stationed in somewhere quite far away from the center of university, which is near Earley gate. Visitors came from that gate were asking for the main info point which was situated in Palmer building. It was a 10 minutes walk for each return journey. This shall be the longest hours of exercise I have ever done since January this year. The compliment which made my day was when a lady came telling me 'You have a nicest smile ever, and the best 'Yellow Shirt' I have met so far, some of them just showing faces!' :)

On the 2nd October, Hopkins Building

On the 23rd, ha! I was stationed in Chancellor way, which near the University Reception Office. So mainly my job was to lead visitors who came by the university shuttle bus to Palmer building, or wherever they wanted to go. Honestly, I felt I was like a tour guide! Again, loads of talking. But this time I had to keep walking as the weather was quite chilling!

On the 23rd. Are you lost? Pls ask me for help! :)

So, the highlight of the day...ha! I have to declare here that I am not making fun of anyone, just the girls in this group (me, Gopi and Beerish) found this a bit amusing and we were laughing almost for the whole day.

chatty chatty chatty

There was this chap in our group bumped into us and saying 'Where is the student embassy?' I was puzzled, then I said 'What embassy? Chinese embassy?' He said, 'No, the student embassy! I need a tick!' Then Gopi straight away got what he was trying to say, he was actually looking for the student ambassador who was our group team leader, coz we were asked to sign in and out during our lunch time with the student ambassador! Because of his tick, we girls were being a bit devious, he was then nicknamed 'Tick Tac Toe', or Triple T? haha!

Triple T is a nice chap though!

Perhaps we were less busy after lunch as there were less visitors coming, we were chatting around. The girls asked me why I haven't got myself an English name! I have no idea how this suddenly slipped through my mouth, and now my unofficial English name is 'Twinkle Chek' haha!

hey people! Unbutton your coat! Show people our yellow shirt!!! And get ready for the group picture! HA!

This group picture is brilliant! Don't you think?

It was really a great fun! Now I have more new friends on my fb! Yay!

Click here for more pictures!!!