Nottingham Malaysian Games 2012

After weeks of practices with new teammates, it's the day of the games. I thought I could arrive before the game starts, who knows we got a message the night before to come at 7am for opening ceremony =.= The weather is kinda cold, but I'm really amazed with the amount of Malaysian gathered here, more than graduation ceremony!

People coming in and opening ceremony by the Malaysian Minister of Youth & Higher Education:

Wow... I think there're almost 20+ teams for badminton. There was only men single, double and women single. We don't have enough time and courts for all the categories. Preliminary rounds are 10 min match, not the full 21 points, some teams aren't happy with that. I thought our team is not bad, especially after the Loughborough friendly match, but none of us made it to the top 3.

Badminton matches going on, while one of the minister have a trial match as well:

Was busy being volunteer (umpire and linesman) for the matches whole day. Only get to walk around Portland and Trent building to grab some food almost late noon. Most of the stalls are closed, but still managed to get some satay. Crazy! 5 sticks for 5 pounds, luckily Suvik is buying for me. Heard the there weren't as many stalls as last year, so the food fest was just OK OK...

Satay stall at Trent building:

It was a long long day, a little down because of losing, and pretty much tired rushing here and there, kinda lousy being in a hall crowded with so many people with crazy weather. But the day don't end easily, the Solid Rock choir is having a song for closing ceremony >_< Well, at least I get to see some friends from further parts of UK.

Walking around during other games and closing ceremony:

"On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar."
-Zechariah 14:20-

Just noticed that I still have a lot of things to improve, mostly on the mental part =.= I can't believe I'm not over with being nervous during competition. Thank God no trouble came to my shoulder. Phew... the long day is over, gonna get some rest after the hyper business, Amen.

Loughborough Friendly Match

The badminton team of Nottingham Malaysian Society is having a friendly match with the Bruneian team of Loughborough University. This is actually my first time travelling to some other place for badminton match. It felt so cool when our team step into the train with our badminton gear, looks like pro. It's a warm up match before Nottingham Malaysian Games, but my intention is just to visit Loughborough :P

Arrive at Loughborough University after 20 minutes of train:

My teammates just told me that Loughborough Uni is famous for sports, and their facilities are superb. They have 4 courts JUST for badminton, and it's the proper rubber floor, best grip and jumping condition for players! Our team won all the matches, seems like our pairs are doing good although we don't get to practice much.

I really enjoyed the game:

After that, the Loughborough Uni team brought is to have a walk around town (with our badminton gears). We had early dinner at a Thai restaurant, I love this gang massaman curry rice recommended by Jia Wei. Had a good chat there acting like a young student, and then head back to Nottingham by train.

Catching the train after Thai dinner:

"Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."
-Zechariah 7:8-

What a wonderful experience to do something like this in UK, but most importantly, I think it really helps to build up the friendship among team members. I really thank God that we had a safe trip back and forth, no injuries during matches (especially my shoulder) and a great time spent with both teams, Amen.

Pharmacy Graduation 2012

The long waited day for all my Pharmacy friends in UK, their graduation after 4 years of suffering. The UK campus did it differently, the number of graduates are so many that they're having graduation ceremonies throughout the whole week (it only took 2 sessions in Malaysia). They setup a large tents in front of Sports Center, the main ceremony is in the Sports Hall itself *No badminton at night T_T*.

Graduation setup:

Seems like Sera's family didn't have time to prepare gift. After they went in for the ceremony, me and Shuang Ling went Beeston for flower and teddy bear hunting. We got back before the ceremony ends, OMG... the number of graduates and parents in 1 session, so many that the Sports Center barely fit all of them.

Back to graduation with our flower:

We are really lucky that the weather is clear, it was raining for few days before this. Finally, my housemates and most friends in UK have graduated, gonna move on with our separate lives. Have been mixing this bunch of people a lot for this academic year.

Pharmacy year 4 students throwing graduation hats:

At night, for a few of them that don't dine with families or had already settled their families joined us for dinner at Hooters. They have half price ribs for £7.99, it was kinda OK. A possible last gathering before all the Pharmacies go off for home or work.

Post-graduation dinner at Hooters:

"Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."
-Ezekiel 1:28-

Once again, congratulation to all the Pharmacy graduates, it has been a fun year with all of you guys. All the best in your pre-reg life either in Malaysia, UK or anywhere else. God will guide you as you believe, Amen.

Tri-Campus Game 2012

It's time for the annual combined sports carnival of 3 University of Nottingham campuses (UK, China and Malaysia)- Tri-Campus Game. This year, they're having it in Nottingham main campus. Due to timing problem, I've actually never attended any of the games before, this is my first time watching it.

Opening ceremony and march in of the athletes:

The opening ceremony in Sports Center is not bad, get to see some friends from Malaysia. There are like total of 180 athletes this year, good participation. We have performances from Nottingham got Talent (fusion of dance, cheer leading, comedy and show choir), it's actually their rehearsal for the Olympics Torch celebration few days later. Also some kids from Nottingham Chinese School.

Chinese kids and Nottingham got Talent performing:

It's a 4 days event, I only went for the 2nd day. Too bad badminton is one of the earliest game to finish, I totally miss it :P Still fine, got to watch basketball and frisbee matches of Malaysia team. Oh ya, the cool thing is, they have this controllable helicopter camera that can film the match from mid air.

Frisbee game, Malaysia vs China:

"Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!"
-Jeremiah 44:4-

Thank God for the good weather and temperature for the mercy of the Malaysian students. At least it's not too cold and windy that will make them suffer. Hope that they enjoyed these few days here in UK, Amen.

Summer Party 2012

Finally, it's Saturday, we reach The Downs in the morning for final installment and is ready for guests to enter in the afternoon. My tent is called Detonate, with DJ rig for clubbing purpose (UK people really like loud music and dancing =.=). Thank God each of us are given an earmuff, standing near the large speakers whole day seriously gonna kill my ear.

First time being so near a DJ kit:

I'm in the afternoon shift, basically we have nothing much to do except staying in the tent playing with lighting while the DJ "serenades" the guests. Other than that, we are free to walk around and have fun. They have live band at the main stage, and food stalls all over, pretty happening.

Detonate DJ and thrill ride:

What's more amazing is, there's a thrill ride, those in the theme park. It's gonna be popular, just look at the queue =.= There's a stage show where a person performs some tricks and comedy. A real-human table football game and rock climbing. There're actually much more activities and fun, I'm impressed by how big this Summer Party is (no wonder the ticket is so expensive).

Other games:

Honestly, staying here whole day is really tiring. Luckily the weather is not too bad, at least it didn't rain. A walked around for a while after my shift and decided to go back home... can't stand still de-rig time at midnight. Finally earn myself a TEC shirt, and every TEC member who helped out gets a large Domino pizza~

Something to bring back:

"Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you."
-Jeremiah 26:13-

Praise The Lord to look upon this Summer Party, I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. The hard work of TEC team is finally paid off. May all of us have a blessed summer, regardless of vacation or continue working, Amen.

Preparation of Summer Party 2012

Summer Party is a big scale carnival held every summer after exam. It's always at The Downs, a wide down slope field of grass. TEC team is in charge of lighting and sound, so they will need as much help as possible. I'm quite amazed by their progress in just 2nd day, tents and fence are all setup.

I just came helping on the 2nd day:

According to the coverage of fence, this is really a super big scale event. No wonder they need to start setup 4 days before the event. As a fresher, I basically help setting up bars and moving equipments, also some simple lights installing. It looks very professional to me.

Installing stage and bars for hanging lights:

Most of the time, we were just standing there waiting for instructions while the experienced ones do the programming for lights. Anyway, it's not too bad to see such progress being done, although it really takes up a lot of our time. Oh, the good side about it is, meals are provided~

Lighting setup finally complete, meal place:

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord."
-Jeremiah 24:7-

The weather is making us not to expect a good party on Saturday, pray that I'll be good that day and the preparation will be done on time. Although not really into their culture, pray also that this one and only Summer Party experience will be a good one to bring back, Amen.

Second Year Report Submitted

Time has been passing too fast, I can't believe I'm submitting my 2nd annual report already. I just got the feedback from my supervisor this morning, and managed to complete and submitted it today (due tomorrow =.=). Generally it was just minor errors, not too tedious.

Feedbacks & comments on draft:

This is not as stress as the 1st annual report, where I need to do a mini thesis. With a pending journal paper, I could just write 10-20 pages of new updates and future plans for thesis writing as the report itself. However, this really makes me more and more worry, I suddenly feel like I wanna quit (again).

2nd year report printed and ready to submit:

I thought I'm gonna relax a bit after the submission, especially for a few days of Diamond Jubilee bank holidays, but somethings just bothered me. Without realizing, I really need to get some work done... and also, it's nearer to the day to leave UK, a bunch of mixed feelings.

"Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress."
-Jeremiah 16:19-

It's been a constant prayer for research, I seriously need a breakthrough and a glimpse of hope. I know you hear everything in me, it leaves me no choice but to trust that you will not forsake me. Help me again, for a greater revival, Amen.

20th Month of PostGrad

Other than keep on deriving mathematical models so that it fits the desired waveform, I've come to a stage where I face the nightmare among nightmares... bifurcation analysis. I've downloaded MATCONT, a continuation software that does bifurcation, it's gonna be tutorial frenzy again.

Derivations and Matcont website:

So, the books on my shelf are now bifurcation driven, I've tried a few examples and tutorial on Matcont... but seems like it's not very friendly with non-autonomous equations, and I have no idea why everything related that is available online is about biology population study.

Bifurcation diagram:

What worse is, it's time to write for 2nd year report that dues on 1st June. OMG, I never realize time passes so fast that it's almost the end of my 2nd year. Planning for thesis chapter outline makes me even more nervous, things are getting serious real soon!

Collecting stuffs to write for report:

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."
-Isaiah 60:1-

Time is running out, I really pray that I would have a breakthrough in this research. Also pray that I will find peace in Him, it could be kinda stress sometimes especially when others are finishing their course and heading for vacation, Amen.