Christmas Dinner with CF People

Right after the heavy lunch with Goodall family, here I am at Broadgate Park celebrating another Christmas gathering. These are the CF people stuck in UK and has nobody to celebrate with~ but we still manage to make some awesome dishes (basically the girl did all the cooking :P). We have pigs in the blanket, mash potatoes, brussels sprouts and roast carrot ready, while waiting for the chicken to cook in the oven. It's pretty similar to what I had for lunch, this is typical British Christmas meal~

Waiting for the maincourse to serve itself:

I was thinking if there're too many food since I just had a heavy lunch =.= So we took our time, chatting about all sorts of things and jokes while slowly eating our dinner. I've made so many nonsense jokes that are so funny that I burst myself into laughter, and I don't remember most of them now... It's like the third or fourth Sunday Roast in a week, but I can't deny that it's nice~ now I'm literally having it ALL DAY LONG!

Chicken is done, here goes dinner rumble!

My appetite didn't fail me, I'm the last man eating (as always, not because I eat slow, just that I won't stop). After resting for a while, we serve the final course~ puddings with ice cream. I have to say, I could normally finish one tub by myself, and I think the girls can easily clear up at least half by themselves. I guess the maincourse was really satisfying, we ended up sharing 1 tub among 4 of us and didn't finish it, haha.

Ending the night with ice cream:

"Abba, Father,everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
-Mark 14:36-

This is what I love about CF people, no matter what course, which campus, and which generation we are, we can still spend time together like a family. I kinda noticed that I spent most of my time with the previous gen of CF members before they left UK as well. Indeed, I don't need tonnes of good friends, but just a few that really care for each other. Treasure everyone around you while they're still around, Amen.

Christmas Lunch with the Goodall Family

Merry Christmas! It's Christmas day and I went to Cornerstone Church for the morning service. The special thing this year is, a local family wanted to adopt me for an afternoon to spend Christmas with them. Liz actually recommended me as she said the family is pretty musical, and probably could clique pretty well with me. There are another 3 girls (an Indonesian and 2 China students) that joined the family for Christmas lunch, a pretty good combination for me to utilize my language capability.

What surprises me, the big house and the music certs of violin and cello of the family:

The parents still need some time to prepare the food, so we were in the piano room having some chit chat, playing piano and singing a few carols, and some card games. As we were having fun, appetizers were served, like dried berries/grapes, homemade chips and salmon slices. As we are called into the dining room, we were really surprised by the preparation made, I felt so blessed even before meal.

Appetizer and lunch table setup:

It's the British style Christmas meal, turkey with cranberry sauce, pigs in blankets, brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and stuffing. This is like a hyper-sized Sunday Roast, I love all of them! They even made Christmas puddings for us. I'm so amazed when they told me process of making the pudding, they started making it a days ago, chilled for a night, and kept it in the oven for the whole morning. Good stuffs always come with a high price =.=

Definitely one of the best Christmas meal ever:

"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come."
-Mark 13:33-

Thank You Thank You Thank you Lord for blessing me to spend Christmas lunch with this family. Other than the good food and fellowship, I actually see another side of how local families can really love each other and also other people (outsider like me). I was amazed that the father actually spend his afternoon after lunch in the garage making his wife a customized tomato collector for gardening. It's not easy to love, but it's really overwhelming to be loved, Amen.

Kathleen's Birthday Surprise

It's Kathéen's birthday tonight and as usual we gonna give a surprise. It's gonna be the UK style where someone baked cake, and bring it over to her place surprising her at the door. Eunice and Tifani baked carrot cake, and we're gonna get a bus to Beeston. Why? Kathleen, why must you stay so far and having birthday on such a cold cold night?

Completed the cake and shaking at the bus stop:

With Elyssia's help, we managed to lure her down the apartment and give her a surprise. Funny enough, she was so locked herself outside the main door being excited seeing the cake (it's those kind of door that you need a card to enter after closing it and she left it in her room). Good enough, we found another entrance to the flat, or else we'll be seriously freezing out there.

Waiting outside her room while she's doing emergency cleaning:

Nothing too special going on, but just had a time of chatting and chilling. We also called Audrey at Durham to make her feel like she's part of the thing. The carrot cake is really awesome! I think we're really enjoying it like a mamak session, we dragged on til 2am =.= Ended up walking back because to Dunkirk coz we don't think bus will be coming any time soon.

Chilling at Kathleen's room:

"A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’"
-Matthew 3:3-

For those that just arrived in the UK, it might be kinda lonely sometimes, but it's kinda great that there are still people that you know around willing to do stuffs for each other. It's a cold and tiring night =.= but we did enjoy the fellowship, Amen.

Chocolateful Day

While spending my night listening Soundshoots, Shi Wei and Jac came in with a mug cake with blackberries and whip cream. I knew they are busy rushing for dissertation deadline, and no one else are in UK, at least no more close friends around. Haha, but still appreciate their little token of celebration.

Mug cake at midnight:

After that, it's like an ordinary Wednesday where I spent whole day being lost in Matlab, went Chapel a while to play piano, rush back to change for badminton. Finally reach home at 11pm for dinner, but the special thing is, there are Kit Kats from Zi Jian and chocolate cakes from JooLian.

Thanks a lot, guys!

Haha, although it's not any celebration or whatever, a quiet birthday with good snacks kinda suits my style. Didn't really get to eat any of them that night, since it was pretty late after dinner, but I'll save if and slowly enjoy them throughout the next few days.

Getting fat soon~

"Do not be afraid. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
-Daniel 10:12-

Oh Lord, it's been a year of ups and downs, too much to take probably. Anyway, just pray that things won't be too harsh in the near future, and if it did, bless me with the strength and heart to go through it. Also thanks for these few people who are left in Nottingham to bless me for this day, Amen.

4 Years Blogging Anniversary

It's been another year, these 12 months has probably been the highlight of my life, both good and bad. It's almost 1 year since I arrived UK, but research is not really good... I'm still stuck in numerical modelling using Matlab, there's some problems somewhere in my equations, it's like an infinite loop that has no escape! Besides, my 2nd year assessment was a nightmare.

Oh man, will you ever match the experimental graph? Please~

Although not an official member, I helped Nottingham Malaysian's Society with their annual event. A new experience doing sound effects for drama and accompanying chinese/malay/indian/english song at one go. I've also see some cool stuffs working in TEC, the best thing is entering some big events for free, but it's really tough to mix around with them.

Gostan performance and setting up for Summer Party:

As usual, I'm pretty much occupied by other activities as well. Kinda enjoyed Solid Rock which is my only opportunity to serve in worship band. Also been to Friend's International bible study, Impact and Globe Cafe. Anyway, I just join as a normal visitor, not helping much, so it's quite relaxing compare to the pass. These fellowships seriously make me busy all day, but that's what I like to do, somehow.

Fun time in Solid Rock and Globe Cafe outings:

Sometimes, when I'm checking out people in Malaysia, I often felt like I missed out a lot, especially weddings T_T. Hey, it's quite a happening year here in UK as well. I've been some other countries for tour, experienced snowing, it's the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and also Olympics!

Snowing and Olympic badminton semi-final:

I was kinda worried before I move in, but staying with girls like Sera and Ghee Vui really is the best. We cook and clean the house together, having random nights doing crazy stuffs. I really love hanging out with the Year 4 Pharmacy students and great friends from SR & frisbee people. Unfortunately, some issues with a close friend pretty much upset me for months, but I'm still praying for a miracle, hoping that things will be OK again.

Housemates and SR choir:

Oh ya, the only thing that I'm really happy about this year is, being a member of SoundShoot! I stumble upon this developer who is designing a website for musicians to contributes ideas and songs based on a weekly theme given. A really good platform for me to exercise my music arranging and creativity. I've did 14 soundshoots so far, do drop by my profile(Windranzer) occasionally to check my songs~

soundshoots.com

"Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
-Daniel 9:19-

Thank you Lord for another year of grace and mercy, though the enemies try to bring us down, but You have bless us with strength and faith to endure and persevere. I pray that our faith in You would stand firm to face the challenges. I still believes, in every hopeless situation, You will be there, Amen.

Olympics Torch Celebration

The Olympics torch is running through the whole UK, and it passes Nottingham today at the old market square. I walked there alone to avoid traffic diversions and delays, meeting some other friends there. Oh gosh, I have never seen so many people in Nottingham, looks like the while UK... probably the whole world is here.

Stage setup at old market square:

There were performances before the torch arrive, not that I am interested, I just wanna see the torch. The crowd seriously make it a lot difficult to meet up with each other. The torch finally arrived at 7 something, have been standing there long enough and rewarded by witnessing the moment of torch lighting at Nottingham.

I'm in the ocean of human waiting for a fire:

We hanged around for a while, lucky enough~ I got the LAST free coke of the day. The truck has been giving coke for hours and I got the final one~ gonna really keep this bottle. Planned to take the some Tri-campus Game friends for an English meal, too bad it's full everyday, resorting to Thai dinner.

Hang around city after the event with students from Malaysia team:

"Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them"
-Jeremiah 45:5-

It was pouring like crazy in the morning and early afternoon, but the Lord shows mercy for this great moment. It was shiny good weather and windy, perfect atmosphere for a city party. Also thank God for the fellowship with juniors from Malaysia campus, Amen.

Potluck Dinner for Sean's Birthday

Round 2 of birthday surprise, the housemates told Sean they will make him dinner, but we actually planned for a potluck party with some other more friends. Me and Sera did Tom Yam soup with seafood and lamb slice, it's basically a combo dish of our weaknesses (I don't take spicy & she doesn't eat lamb). Wow, it looks like a high class dinner, there are ribs, lasagna, cocktail, mee hoon and more.

Gathering at his house silently:

We were all prepared at the kitchen without him knowing yet, planned to surprise him when he's at the dinner table and we just come in with the dishes. Shi Wei called him down, that fella... just woke up from nap, and went for a shower =.= so we waited for an extra 15-20 minutes til he's "prepared", for a home dinner. Still a surprise anyway, except that we're all sitting around the table waiting to eat.

Wait and wait and wait for the birthday boy:

Oh ya, there are even dessert after meal, we got 汤圆! I guess staying in UK for this 3 years, Sean did find some great friends that are willing to do so much for him, despite assignments and dissertation season. It's another night of big family dinner, mostly chit chat, weird topics by the SR guyz, jokes and picture session.

Having fun whole night:

"In all our distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved us."
-Isaiah 63:9-

For a medic student like Sean, it's gonna be a whole 5 years in UK. It tough for him but also make him a blessing to prepare the way for exchange students like me. Just gonna pray that The Lord watch over the rest of his course in Nottingham, and also thanks that he found strength while being a committee for SR this year, Amen.

Midnight Birthday Surprise for Sean

It's gonna be our famous little brother's 22nd birthday tonight, I actually tricked him to spill out one of his favorite cake. None of us actually successfully made a marble cheesecake before, so this is gonna be a leap of faith. Made it in the evening and mission starts after badminton.

Preparing the cake:

Emergency!! While we're waiting the clock to strikes 12, Sean says his classmates is asking him over for games. I feel like a commander while executing plan B, asking Shi Wei go shower to delay his departure, while Jac will open the door for us, we are forced to bring forward the mission (and I haven't eat yet).

Ready to bash into his room:

Yupz, we caught him semi-surprised, the rest of the night is as usual, blow candle - cut cake - take picture - eat. He even told his friends he can't go for game since we're here =.= (I'm kinda sure that's another surprise). While we're leaving, his classmates came for a second wave of surprise, with cake and balloons~ Told ya, our little brother is really famous.

2 midnight surprises:

"As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you."
-Isaiah 62:5-

It's wonderful to make people happy and see them in joy, although it seems insignificant. The other pharmacy students even sacrifice a night of rushing dissertation for Sean, and also his classmates and housemates that make this night great for him. Indeed a blessed guy, and a blessing to others as well, Amen.