Merry Christmas

Last night was warm and we have to turn off the heater. Just as we are getting used to being a 'Londoner', we have to re-adapt. Finally, there will be a change of breakfast meal. There was a lot of cheer at the breakfast table. Everyone is anticipating and looking forward to you know what!

Looking forward to the next celebration. Merry Christmas!

Goodbye London!

It was 'snowing' at Oxford Street; for a moment, both of us were thrilled. (The shopping mall has arranged for snow-like bubbles to be blown off from the building). We spent the day roaming the street in a leisure manner. When we were tired from walking, we sat at the bus stop, drank coke and watched the world go by. GOODBYE, London.

There's a place and time for every activity under heaven - it's time to leave London. Most of us were glad because we miss home. It has been a long two weeks; at times, it felt like two years.

Shopping at Primark

Guess where's this place? ...In the London tube, underground, during morning rush hour.

It's shopping time today and we were at the doorsteps of the shopping centre at about 9 a.m early in the morning. You know how much we had enjoyed ourselves when we have to purchase an additional hand luggage each, just to keep our goodies. Message from Mrs Santa Claus(es).

Back in London!

We plan to get to sleep so that Friday will come soon the next time we open our eyes. Since there is no flight back till Sunday evening, we have one more extra day (Saturday)to roam around London . We miss home and our families dearly. Aunty Isa has a message for her family: "Don't tempt me with Singapore food. I cannot be drooling here. I will not go to Subway, McDonald and Kentucky when I get back. Meanwhile, I love you guys!" And for my Matt and Mich: "Mummy misses you so much that according to Aunty Isa, I talked in my sleep and she overheard me at 1 a.m." See you darlings at the airport on Monday evening; take care, we are coming home SOON!



We were invited to play some drums this morning. The students at the University were rehearsing for some Christmas Charity Show. I'm sure they were glad to get rid of us as we were horrible at drumming.

This was taken at Lincoln this morning. There was some time to spare after breakfast and we ran across the street to visit the 100-yr old cathedral.

Even the bathroom makes us feel at home!

We are back in London again, and we have just checked into our hotel, unpacking our stuff. Luckily we ate dinner on the bus, so we are just thirsty, not hungry. Aunty Isa 'fought' so hard and we got back our room - it has a big ward robe and long stretch of mirror; we like the convenience of the low floor too.

Home Improvement

Mom read about all the wonderful things Dad did to the house. Dad better not change any more things at home before Mom couldn't recognise it when she gets back. By the way, Mom bought some lollipops from Lincoln which the kids would love and tomorrow, Mom will be the first customer in the queue at the local shopping mall to look out for gifts for the kids!

Yippee - Another day closer to returning home

In the evening, we dropped by the same Thai outlet for tom yum soup takeaway and visited the mall. Found 2 cute shirts for Princess Michelle. She will defiinitely love them! As for Matt, already got him the Monopoly chocolate and will continue to look out for interesting things to bring back for him. So I read from their blog that they had a boring Wednesday, and they looked so cute pretending to look bored in the picture.
We are heading back to London tomorrow evening and we hope to get back the same room where we can have FREE internet access!

A picture taken at the playground with some school leaders.

Can you see the Disney Playhouse at the right corner?

Every classroom looks like a IKEA showroom or better!

Does this corridor looks like a scene from pasar malam?

The schools we visited have very nice decorations all over the schools - along the corridor and in the classroom.

See my dream house behind me? That's actually a school office where the Head Master (Principal of the School) sits.

In most schools, we have pupils taking us around to tour the school's facilities; and guess how many boys whose names are also 'Matthew' have we met? I lost count because almost every alternate boy we meet is named "Matthew" - a popular name here.

Today we started with visits to more schools. It was good learning for all of us and by the end of the day, we were all tired out BUT happy. We are one day nearer to returning home.

Hello Lincolnshire!

We ended up at a little outlet selling Thai food and we had tom yum soup, fried rice and kueh tiao!

Some shops are still open, like this candy shop

Along the street; the sky has already turned dark. It is only 5 pm in UK

The hotel is modern and cosy and the Christmas decorations are up!

It was in the early morning after breakfast that we ran out to take some pictures. The cathedral behind us is more than a hundred years old!

Arrival at Lincolnshire

We arrived at Lincoln in the late aftenoon yesterday because we were delayed by some heavy traffic on the highway. What a lovely little town with lovely brick houses - those that only exist in travel documentaries. Today we were 'locked' up in the seminar room for the entire day, only to be let out after 5 pm, which by then the sky has already turned dark. We explored the little town, saw an ice ring with people doing ice skating in it and dropped by a thai restaurant for some really nice and hot fried rice and tom yam soup. Also passed by a cathedral on the way back to the hotel, of which we tried to access the internet and waited for the past 45 minutes just to load a picture but in vain. Isa was breathless walking up the slope; (must have something to do with her age and lack of exercise - ha ha) luckily there were Gayle and Esther, the two angels watching over her and pulling her along the way.

Therefore, we would just post a short message and if possible, we'll come back to it later. Work comes first.

Signing off at 8.25 pm (UK time) and 4.25 am (Singapore time) Yahoo!

To Cambridge, the renowned University!

But before that, we dropped by Harrods for shopping before it closes at 6 p.m. Tomorrow, we will be leaving for Lincoln, that's further up north of London and we heard that it is quite a rural (countryside like) place. We will return to London on Thursday night (UK time). Will definitely try to upload our journey, if possible. If not, please do not feel disappointed and you will hear from us again on Thursday night.


We left to head back to London City for roast duck at Bayswater at about 3 pm in the afternoon.

Inside one of the colleges in Cambridge University...

covered the entire flea market in half an hour, went into Marks and Spencer and some of the shop.

Oh boy, we are in a little town... are we lost?? No 'lah', just trying to locate the market place.

Nice picture hor? With a 'Professor' from Cambridge!

Before we knew it, we have arrived. It was a short one and a half hour from London City.

The ride was relaxing...outside the window, we saw farm houses, sheep, grass, more farm houses, more sheep and more grass...

Oops, put up the wrong picture, this is not one of the best. See the next one...

Today, we took a train to Cambridge Town where the renowned Cambridge University is located. It was a ride through the countryside and we thoroughly it enjoyed it!

What a new look!

Matt and Mich look so great in their new 'Supercut'! Both of you look so fantastic that I could not recognise you. Tell Daddy that Mummy misses him very much too; guess that with Daddy around, everything will be taken care of and that the two of you are in good hands.

By the way, Happy 11th Wedding Anniversary, Dad! We will celebrate together as a family at the Equinox when I get back, or would the kids prefer Rasa Sentosa??? Yea!

A Free Weekend continued

Hey look, is that the Singapore Flyer? No, ...it's the London Eye!

Waiting in the queue for the free River Thames Cruise that came together with the Big Bus...

On top of the Big Bus; it's about 6 degrees, can you believe it? We don't show it on our faces but it's defintely Brrrrrrr... Thank goodness we were well protected by our warm clothing

We are FREE on weekends

This morning, we bought tickets for the Big Bus and went sight seeing. Everyone was queuing to get back the bus, except us because taking pictures is more important. Hee hee...

Missed my Darling Matthew and Princess Michelle

Internet signal quite good now, so quickly uploaded some pictures. Check out on Matt's blog as well, thank God I did! Dad updated blog almost daily - so glad to hear about the things my Prince and Princess are doing!
Big Gu Gu messaged me this afternoon. Asked me if I'm coping well with the weather. Of course, with the thick clothing I have brought, sometimes, it's hot! Da Gu Gu also said that Matthew has asked his friends at Sunday School to pray for Mummy; oh boy, I was so touched. I really miss home - wished next week would pass quickly, can't wait to get home!
Sometimes, it is difficult to get internet connection, sometimes have to wait quite long to upload just one picture. Next week may be worse, we are leaving for another place further up north called Lincoln; it is quite like counrtryside I was told. What are we going to do at the countryside? Milk the cows?
Tomorrow is Saturday, a free day for us. We bought tickets for the London Sightseeing Bus to go round places. Have visited London ten years ago, Big Ben, Chinatown in London, Buckingham Palace; not very excited about it actually. What excites me is the free time I have to look for presents for my Darling Matt and Princess Michelle.

On Sunday, also a free day, we are taking a train to Cambridge to visit the University on our own. Maybe the University is closed on Sunday, but we will walk around the fence and take pictures at the gate. Hah ah hha, sounds good.

Happy 11th Wedding Anniversary, Dad! Thanks for taking such good care of the kids. I MISS all of you VERY MUCH!

Strand on the Green Junior School

On other days, we have a bowl of hot noodles. This picture was taken in a Japanese restaurant in Chinatown. It was my dinner tonight.

On some days, we bought dinner back to hotel to eat. Look at the spread we have - roast chicken, salad and fruits.

A photo before bidding goodbye to the School Leaders.

What do women do when they are on a school bus and have nothing better to do? Take pictures 'loh'.

Debriefing session is held in this library most of the time. It's books, books and books everywhere but the books are not real, they are 3-D wall paper!

In the afternoon, the Principal, known as the Head Master, treated us to lunch at a pub. They serve sandwiches and sparkle blue berry juice, no beer or alcohol for lunch. This is the river outside the pub

With the class we taught this morning. Did a powerpoint presentation to this group of P4 kids. They are very well behaved in class and they know when to talk and when to listen. By the end of the lesson, every kid in class chose Singapore as the destination for their next holiday.

At Canteen of Strand-on-the-Green Junior School. There was where we spent the past 3 days. Free daily lunch provided. Simple food for kids. Just eat.

Work

Lunch hosted by British Council

With Senior Adviser at british Council

At Lobby of British Council, London

It's not all play and no work