Part 3 - The Director's response

Dungu,

Thank you very much for that resume'.I will ask for you in KL I think getting a lady partner is much easier than the other way around. I am getting the DS to organise classes for a select group of dancers for competition as oppose to social dancers. By that I want this select to prepare for competitions. I hope you can prepare for the Grade B or C competition in January 2007. With a proper partner, I hope you can create some upset and interest in the local dance scene. Once you have your partner sorted out, your aim must be 2009 SEA or Asian Indoor or 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

Mr Director

*fingers crossed for a good partner*

my reply...

Dear Mr. Director,

I actually have only been dancing for approximately 4 years. I started dancing as a beginner when I was studying in Uni along with LKJ and received my Latin dance training from DB and LK. However, I received limited coaching from them as they were always away competing and performing.

After completing my studies at University, I moved to London to further my studies. There, I started dancing for the U of London and received my Latin dance training from the head coach, GC. I was with her for 2 years before returning to home.

During my time in the UK, I competed predominantly in inter-university dance competitions. In the 4 years I was in the UK, I competed in a total of 26 inter university competitions (including 4 National level Inter Varsity Dancesport competitions) and 3 open circuit competitions. At the Inter University competitions, dancers were split into 4 categories, namely beginners, novice, intermediate and advance. In my last year dancing on the University circuit, I was competing at the Intermediate level. I also competed in very small open circuit competitions last year and competed at the Pre champ and Amatuer levels for latin. However, it must be noted that these were very small competitions with limited competition.

In my 4 years of dancing, I have had 5 different partners, mostly due to partners completing their studies. However, I have had my fair share of unsuitable partners. I also dance ballroom, but I have always performed better in the Latin section.

From experience, I understand the importance of finding a suitable partner as Robin had indicated. My dancing is very much affected by the kind of partner I get as reflected in my results at dance competitions. I am actually quite interested in getting back onto the dance circuit in Malaysia, but I feel that finding a suitable partner will be quite a task.

Nevertheless, I will continue to try looking for a partner I am comfortable with, and hopefuly start competing soon.

I hope this brief description of my dance experience is sufficient. Thank you once again.

Yours truly,
Dungu

National Athlete?! LOL!!!

"Dungu, As sports director I want the best to represent the country. You move pretty well, your priority is to get a suitable partner now. For the Games like SEA & Asian , yes Dancesport in the Olympic family Games above, your partner must be 'sian. In the IDSFAsian series your partner may be of other Nationality, but she must elect to Dance for M'sia. Tell me more about yourself and your experience"

Email I received today... it's rather amusing! hahaha..

Hanging by a moment - Life House

desperate for changing
starving for truth
closer to where I started
chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you
letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

forgetting all I'm lacking
completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
you take all of me now

I'm falling even more in love with you
letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
and I don't know what I'm diving into
just hanging by a moment here with you

there's nothing else to lose
there's nothing else to find
there's nothing in the world
that could change my mind
there is nothing else
there is nothing else
there is nothing else

desperate for changing
starving for truth
closer to where I started
chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you
letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
and I don't know what I'm diving into
just hanging by a moment here with you
just hanging by a moment
hanging by a moment
hanging by a moment
hanging by a moment here with you

Robin Sewell Workshop

I paid RM360 for a 9 hour Latin Workshop last weekend... conducted by Robin Sewell... ex partner of Nicole Cutler. I didnt know she already retired.. I only saw them at IVDC in March performing.

The workshop was ok I guess.. Aimed at serious competitors but there were a couple of instructors who attended.. 6 Filipinos who were instructors from Brunei too. However, I dont feel I benifited much from it. Could say it was a little of a waste of time cause 80% of the time we were on our butts sitting on the floor listening to Robin talk about things I already kinda knew. I have to say, I did learn a few new things, but it still wasnt the best of workshops. Plus, there were not enough gals, I had to dance with a guy :-S!!!

ANYWAY, that's not really the story I want to share. On Sunday (the second day of the workshop), there was a gentleman walking around taking photos of the workshop being conducted. I didnt really know who he was. Anyhow, there was an hour break at 4pm. Most of the others left for some food and to get refreshed. I decided that I wasnt doing enough dancing, so I put on a CD and started dancing and working on my own technique. It was fun. Been awhile... of course I paid the price yesterday when I ached all over (in particular my feet, muscles around the knees and hips from all that gyrating).

However, I did ask the person with the camera if he could forward me the photos he had taken which he was happy to do. He asked me if I competed and I explained my situation to him. Later, during a 2 minute break, he called to me and introduced himself as the Director of the Malaysian DanceSport Berhad/Council-ish body... He wanted to introduce a girl from the workshop to try out. He mentioned he liked the way I moved, and that he wanted me to find a suitable partner as soon as possible and train for the local selection for the SEA Games team. I was quite suprised. He did say maybe try competing in the lower categories first and see what happens but still, I was quite flattered.

He emailed me today informing me of his intentions and again stressed the need for me to look for a suitable partner. Unfortunately, though I've not yet contacted the girl from the workshop, I really doubt I want to dance with her. I danced with her briefly but she's not very good and I feel I'd be downgrading too much. I'm not saying I'm good, but I'd like someone slightly better and maybe more experienced. Then again who knows.. I'll just have to try dancing with her and see what happens.

Anyway, work work work.. catch ya later!

Rain - Madonna

I feel it, it's coming

Chorus:

Rain, feel it on my finger tips
Hear it on my window pane
Your love's coming down like
Rain, wash away my sorrow
Take away my pain
Your love's coming down like rain

When your lips are burning mine
And you take the time to tell me how you feel
When you listen to my words
And I know you've heard, I know it's real
Rain is what this thunder brings
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top
Till I feel your

(chorus)

When you looked into my eyes
And you said goodbye could you see my tears
When I turned the other way
Did you hear me say
I'd wait for all the dark clouds bursting in a perfect sky
You promised me when you said goodbye
That you'd return when the storm was done
And now I'll wait for the light, I'll wait for the sun
Till I feel your

(chorus)

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say, never go away

Waiting is the hardest thing
[It's strange I feel like I've known you before]
I tell myself that if I believe in you
[And I want to understand you]
In the dream of you
[More and more]
With all my heart and all my soul
[When I'm with you]
That by sheer force of will
[I feel like a magical child]
I will raise you from the ground
[Everything strange]
And without a sound you'll appear
[Everything wild]
And surrender to me, to love

Rain is what the thunder brings
For the first time I can hear my heart sing
Call me a fool but I know I'm not
I'm gonna stand out here on the mountain top
Till I feel your

Rain, I feel it, it's coming
Your love's coming down like
(repeat)

(chorus)

Rain, I feel it, it's coming
Your love's coming down like
(repeat)

Rain

An overdue update

I'm only putting this update on for my own personal records... after all, this still is my own personal journal.

Anyway, since I'm wasting so much time in the office, I might as well waste a little more. After manchester, I went to Eastleigh with Jo to compete at the Eastleigh Open. Alison came along and Max who lives around the area met up with us. Me and Jo competed in the Students only Ballroom and latin, Basic Rumba and Foxtrot, Intermediate Ballroom, Pre Champ Ballroom and Latin, and Amatuer 5 dance Latin.

Results:

Basic Fox - 2nd (you better believe it!)
Basic Rumba - 1st
Intermediate Ballroom - 1st
Pre Champ Ballroom - 3rd
Pre Champ Latin - 1st
Amatuer 5 dance Latin - 2nd

No idea how we came 2nd in the Basic Fox... came second in amatuer latin! hehe.. of course, only 2 other couples competed.. at least we didnt come last.. and no one has to know that there were only 3 couples on the floor! hahaha..

Anyway, that was just a couple of weeks before I left my life in the UK behind to start my real life in KL. How depressing.

Went for interviews in KL. Was offered places in Lee Hish and Shearn... didnt feel too comfortable when I went to Shearn so decided to accept the Lee Hish offer. It's been alright so far I guess. My Master's been quite good to me. Intellectual Property has been... interesting.. not as boring as I thought it would be.

Just before I started work, I went on a food trip with Lyn. Was fucking great. All the food.. *drool*... After that took another trip with Jim, Amelia and Maithili. Again.. food food food!

Anyhoo, couple of weeks ago, Alison and Jo came over to Malaysia. I was real happy. Took Alison around and got her eating sea food! Jo came a little later and we took a road trip!! My fave... Went to Penang first... stayed at Paradise Sandy Bay-ish whatever Hotel... literally drove around the island the next day. Went up Bukit Bendera. Went to the night market at Batu Feringghi, and then drove back to Taiping. Following day, went up Maxwhell hill, the crazy white girls wanted to hike down the 6 mile road. That night, me and Jo gave a 5 dance demonstration to my parents and their dance class.. started with the waltz and quickstep, then a cha, jive and rumba. We were really exhausted after. The girls couldn't walk that night. Literally had to pull themselves up the stairs... It was hilarious...

Bukit Merah the next day... water themed park was good fun, then the orang utan sanctuary was not bad (though a little rushed cause we went on the last boat and had to come back right after). Karaoke on the following day... TGIFs for dinner and Steven's corner right after... these whiteys are crazy! They wanted Milo ais... Sent Alison to KLIA at 6am and came home to sleep. Took Jo for lunch at KLCC and a nice "quiet" dinner at SS2. She followed me to work the following day and I dropped her off at the coach pick up point for her to make her way back to Sg. Sighz...

[Colleague says: YOU SHLD BE WORKING! LAZY BUM!! YOU'RE GETTING FAT!!!]
[Dungu says: *gasp!* BITCH!]

So now I'm fat and lazy. I've yet to find a dance school. Been meaning to check out schools, but have been sooo busy lately. I'm always broke too, so having to watch my expenditure.. oh, I also got a car.. forgot to mention that. I think that pretty much sums up what's gone on since May. I'll put up pics some other time and I'll try to elaborate on stuff some other time. Jaring better get back to me soon about a broadband line if not I'm going to go nuts!!!

Manchester Spring '06

"Me and Yoni in the All Male Rumba... check out my rack! Pretty damn real huh?"

29th April at Owen's park... 9.58am.. me, Alison, Ming, Min Hui, Vicki, Fung and Kat come running into the hall. They had already started the Mayfair Quickstep practice and were about start the event. Just before it started Alison ran back into the hall after changing, and we hopped onto the floor. We had spent the night at Drop Inn Hotel up the road from Owen's Park.

The judge would tap you on the shoulder to indicate you were out. We managed to get into the finals. It was great. I had never made a Mayfair Quickstep final before. Was a good start to the day.

Next were the other ballroom dances. In the Waltz we were a little unprepared cause we werent very warmed up or mentally prepared having to run in just before the first event. But we got progessively better I guess. Having to dance the Foxtrot was an experience. I was barely dancing it like a foxtrot. It looked more like me bobbing up and down at the wrong points, so when we got recalled for the finals we were laughing out heads off. Same for the Tango... really just laughing our heads off. I kept screwing up the routine because I was too used to the one me and Jo do but by the finals I got it right..hehe.. but the highlight for me was the Vienesse Waltz.

In the first round, me and Alison decided to take the piss. We started in reversed roles, i.e. in the ballroom hold, I was in the woman's hold and she was the man's hold and we would swap roles in throughout the first round. It was hilarious!! I told Aaron to watch it (he, Fennie and Agnes arrived even later then we did. They missed the Mayfair Quickstep, W and QS. Oh yeah, Ramen and Fides were there too, but they had arrived earlier). He was laughing his head off... so did quite a lot of people. However, we only kept swapping roles in the first round then decided to take it a little more seriously in the second and semis rounds. We said we'd only swap roles again if we made the finals.. which we did... hehe.. we kept changing roles throughout the dance again... our skill at making that tricky swap of the ballroom hold was getting better with each swap. At the end of the final the compere actually said "Thank you very much. That comes later by the way..." tee hee... oh, we also made finals for quickstep and basic quickstep.

In between the ballroom and latin, me and Alison took part in the non acrobatic rock and roll. Our first ever participation! We used the East Coast Swing we learnt at 'Move It' last weekend. But literally right before the event, I told her, "Right, we're going to start like this, and do this, then that, then at the end we'll do this, and spin, then start again." It was so last minute. We had the basic structure but we really needed to make it much longer and we hadn't even tried practising it yet when we had to hop onto the floor. We co-ordinated our attire the night before we left for Manchester. Both in jeans, me in white shoes and she in black. Black t-shirts and white wordings. Mine said "nobody knows I'm a lesbian" and hers said "I like you, I'll kill you last." hehehehe...
It was so fun. We even made the finals! I didnt know if we were good enough cause there were plenty of seasoned rock and rollers but we made it so woo hoo!

In the latin though, we made semis for everything except the Rumba. Think by that time we were really just really exhausted. Still, as always with Alison, our routines were fabulous, with bum action in the Cha, shimmying in the jive and even in the Samba... lots of people loveed our Jive once again. Basic Jive was a mess, but we didnt care. We were having fun.

Liz was being difficult about the team though. She kept insisting me and Alison should do team Ballroom. Like.. YEAH RIGHT. It's my last Uni comp. NO WAY am I going to dance Ballroom!!! She even told Alison we're letting the team down and that "she will regret her decision". Liz isnt the most tactful person... problem is, she's too competitive... London didnt need us really. They won the A team trophy without our help. Shoved a beginner couple in as A team waltz.. hehe.. and still they won! David and Nadia won the cha, Liz and Yoni came second in Jive and Peter and Ly were placed 2nd or something like that. Me and Alison were the B team Jive. We literally carried the B team on our shoulders to win the B team (tied with Manchester but still..) The other two couples didnt get a single recall, hence they couldnt have been awarded any points (only had 3 couples in B team). Me and Alison came 3rd.. so we were feeling pretty good.. sorta like a 'in your face Liz' sorta mood... hehehahehaehaaha...

The highlight of the Manchester comp every year is the All Male Rumba. This time I was in all white.. white top, white skirt.. even my partner wore a white top. Just too bad the judge was looking more for entertainment value... still, making the finals was good and quite a few people told me that I should've won because we were miles better then the other couples. Fides came over after the male rumba and complimented me. Said that I'm still the best follower in the male rumba there is and I even dance better then some of the girls.. dont know about that but I was quite pleased. Chris said I should've won too.. heh.. but doesnt matter. I had fun. There was a dance off. Each finalist had 10 seconds to dance on their own on the floor. It was fun.. hehe.. all the attention..hahaha... oohhh.. also in the finals, this other guy in drag came up to my partner and started caressing him. So I went over to him and shoved him off my partner. hAEhAHEhAe.. it as hilarious... and the stupid compere kept playing the entire song in each round so we had to keep dancing...

Anyway, after that, there was the musical jive bumps. Jive music played and you dance. When the music stops you have to sit on the floor. Might sound easy enough, but you really gotta hit the floor when the music stops so you're not the last to sit. Think we made it as far as the 'semis' and then got knocked out.

But anyway, the results of the day:

Semis for everything except Rumba
5th for Open Tango, Foxtrot and Quickstep
4th for Mayfair Quickstep, Basic Quickstep (we even beat Peter and Ly!!!), and All Male Rumba.. hehe.. fun..
3rd for non Acrobatic Rock and Roll (woo hoo for first timers!!), Vienesse Quickstep (woo hoo for beating Peter & Ly and Ramen & Fides! Our swapping roles must've been really impressive!) and also Team Jive! (woo hoo for winning B team purely on our efforts!! :-D)

After that we went for curry with the Manchester team. tee hee... fun fun fun...

Wild goose chase for stamps

I'm getting bored and decided I'll just blog about my little "escapade". Some of you may have already heard about it but what the heck...

Last week I was at Harringey Post Office. I was sending letters back home and I was given a 44p stamp with a picture of the Queen on it.
I realised they had come out with a new line for the Queen's 80th Bday so I asked if they had mint condition stamps in forms of presentation packs. The lady behind the counter told me that I would need a bigger branch and that I should try Wood Green.
Anyway, I then made a trip to the Wood Green branch yesterday. I never knew they had one! Walked up and down Broadway where it was supposed to be but saw nothing. Decided that it had to be where the public library was and was right.
Unfortunately, the lady there told me that I needed an even bigger branch!! She suggested either Swiss Cottage or Hampstead. UghZ.. so I had to make my way to Hampstead. Swiss Cottage was just too out of the way. Luckily though they had a few packs left so I bought 2 for myself.
Very popular and very rare now. Go get your own. I'm too busy now! It's too late!!! You should have asked earlier! GAH!!

Move it, Dance London 2006

'Move it' was held at Olympia, Kensington between 21-23rd April 2006, and "offers everything you need to know about dance – an unrivalled shopping and information arcade, conveniently gathered for three days under one roof." (dance-london.co.uk)

I went with Jo, Ali and Ming. I personally had a great time. So many dancers under one roof, and you can 'shop' and try out all these different styles of dance at the 'taster classes'. There were also seminars for things like make up tips or even for those who want to pursue careers as dancers and etc. There were 3 'classes' set up with proper floors. Each class had a small stage where an instructor would conduct a taster class. Each class would be different from the other and a variety of instructors from an array of schools throughout the UK (quite a lot form London), would give participants a 45 minutes session. You pay £6.50, a one of payment, so classes inside were 'free'. Unfortunately, for each class, you'd have to queue for half an hour to an hour just to be assured a place in the class.. if not you dance on the carpet behind. There was also an exhibition. Lots of stalls for companies selling material for costumes, shoes, etc etc etc.. there was also a main stage where there were performances.

When we got there, the girls wanted to go for the Make up seminar so me and Ming decided to opt out. We attended the Lambada (a sensual dance from Brazil) class instead. It was alright. It didnt stray very far from the basic latin moves. The girls somehow wriggled in but got bored so left. After the class, we met up with the girls and joined the 'Professional Warm Up' taster class. It's meant to teach the correct warm up techniques. It didnt feel very 'professional' to me. More like a kids game actually.. hehe.. but bits of it was quite good... very ballet-ish. We were only there for half the class.

Then we went upstairs for a demonstration. Caught the 'Get together' show. Had examples of Lindy Hop, Salsa, Ballroom. The London Swing Dance Society was there and in their group, they had members from as young as 17 and an old man who was 78 performing. Quiet impressive (though overall their performance was a little dull). The Salsa couple... er.. well.. nothing much to say about them. Didnt really like them and didnt like their costumes! :-S Ballroom was performed by Stephen and Gemma-Louisde Arnold (brother and sister team), ranked 5th in the UK with the English Amateur Dancers Association (EADA). Performed the Waltz and Quickstep. They were quite good :-).

After that we went downstairs to get in line for the East Coast Swing. I only knew of the West Coast Swing which is a little like a very slow jive, but has other moves too. The East Coast Swing feels much more like a Rock n Roll and incorporates Lindy Hop moves which is said to be the roots of Rock n Roll. Lots of hopping and kicking but it was tremendous fun really. The instructor was a little weird as in he couldn't count us in properly! He'd take like a whole 15 seconds just to get the correct timing which was very weird. Still, very fun class.

Right after that class we went back into the line for the next class (Latin Jazz). "A sensational unique fusion of Latin Dance Moves and routines based on salsa, lambada, chacha, rumba and even Ballroom Latin." Again the girls didn't really like the class but I could understand why. The instructor, though a great dancer, was a little fickle. She'd keep changing some of the moves, she'd change counts and confuse us... her instructions weren't always clear... people got fed up. However, most of us stayed. I strained to listen and watch and eventually got the routine. It was actually quite nice. Fast class, but I liked the routine. Very contemporary.. not so strictly latin. Only part I had a problem with was the 'battacadas(?)'. Bloody fast.

After that was the Flamenco. Very interesting. Very different style. Thought I'd give it a go cause it might help with stylistic improvements on my Paso. Came out of the class with one improvement to think about. No straight arms. But I was complimented by an observer.. hehe... the Lambada instructor liked me too.. hehe.. *head expanding*

Anyway, all in all, it was a great day with lots of fun and exercise. By the end of the day, I started calling the 'Lambada' the 'La Bamba' instead cause the stupid song kept running through my head, and Alison was calling the East Coast Swing the East Coast West Wing, and Ming was calling the Flamenco the Flamingo.. hehaheha... imagine how tired we were...

Day trips (Part 3 - Oxford)

Ox
Definition: An adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus 2: any of various wild bovines especially of the genera Bos or closely related Bibos
Ford
Definition: A shallow place in a body of water, such as a river, where one can cross by walking or riding on an animal or in a vehicle.
(dictionary.com)
The Hertford Bridge is often called the Bridge of Sigh, like in Venice, because of it's similarities in their designs. However, many would also claim that their similarities do not stop there. In Venice, the name came from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice out the window before being taken down to their cells. In Oxford, it is suggested that students would sigh when crossing the bridge to sit for their exams...

Lincoln College

Trinity College

Christ Church College. Lewis Carroll who wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was a mathematics tutor at Christ Church from 1855-1895. His real name was in fact Charles Dodgson and he had befriended the daughters of the Dean of Christ Church, especially Alice. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass grew out of tales which the shy tutor made up to entertain the sisters. Many of the characters in the books were inspired by people and objects in Christ Church.


The wide stone staircase leading into the Dining Hall.

Visiting the Dining Hall is quite an event. Scenes for the first two J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter were shot at Christ Church in the Dining Hall. Only difference is, instead of 3 rows, the movie required 4 rows of tables for the four houses at Hogwarts. But if you look close enough, you may notice traces of its original literary association.

First, high on the left hand wall, the fifth window from the entrance shows portraits otf Alice and oher characters from the book. Click on the pic to enlarge. You'll see what I mean.


On the ground level, the brass 'firedogs' which guard the fire have long necks. If you remember the story well, Alice's neck grows long in the story. The White Rabbit was apparently based on Alice's father as he would leave dinner every night descending down a narrow spiral stair behind the raised 'High Table' (behind the panelled door, far left) - hence the rabbit hole in the book.

The Great Quadrangle

Peckwater Quad. Built on the site of a medieval inn which was run by the Peckwater family. Now students live and work in these buildings.

Magdalene College.

Radcliffe Camera. Built in 1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library, the Radcliffe Camera (camera is another word for 'room') is now a reading room for the Bodleian Library.

University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

ps. I wasnt in any of the pictures because my friend backed out at the last minute and I had to go to Oxford by myself... how sad... oohh.. I also went to Wadham College...

Day trips (Part 2 - York)

In the year 306, Constantine The Great was proclaimed Emperor in York after his father, Julius Ceaser died in Eboracum (modern York) and became the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. He initiated the conversion of the empire into a Christian state and also inspired a distinctively Christian culture that laid the foundations for the growth of Byzantine and Western medieval civilisation.

York Minster in the background. Walked in and walked out. Didnt want to pay the entrance fees.. hehe... Anyway, after the withdrawal of Roman forces in Britain and during the Pagan invasion, Christianity somewhat dissapeared in the community. However, "in 625 Christianity returned to York when Bishop Paulinus accompanied Ethelburga, a Christian princess from Kent in southern England, who came north to marry Edwin, the pagan king of Northumbria. Edwin accepted Christianity two years later and was baptised, along with his court, by Paulinus in a church built especially for the occasion - this building is traditionally regarded as the first York Minster." (www.yorkminster.com) However, through the centuries, the church was destroyed and rebuilt. A Cathedral replaced it but it too was destroyed by the Danes. It's remains can still be viewed in the exhibition in the Minster. Construction of the Minster as we know it began in the year 1220. It was decided that they would rebuild the Norman Minster on a scale to rival Canterbury. The rebuilding of York Minster that began with the transepts went on almost continuously for two hundred and fifty years.


"The Shambles is often called Europe's best preserved medieval street...The Shambles has the effect of a time machine, transporting you back to the Elizabethan period. The houses that jostle for space along The Shambles project out over the lane in their upper stories, as if trying to meet their neighbours opposite." (www.britainexpress.com)


The Castle Museum really had very interesting exhibits. The above is a recreated parlour in the home of a middle class family back in the 1870s (Victorian style). Practically everything is richly patterned...

Kirkgate, the oldest recreated Victorian street in Britain. You can wonder through the cobbled street in the museum itself. The sound system was amazing and the lights were dimmed every once in awhile to give you a feel of how it felt being on Kirkgate at night.

Inside the stagecoach garage on Kirkgate.

Tea shop...

At a garage on Half Moon Court. This is another street recreated from the Edwardian era (1901 - 1910). It was built in the half moon shaped part of the original prison yard.


Clifford's Tower. Erected by William the Conqueror in his bid to overthrow the North. However, in 1190, "the Jews of York sought refuge there after being attacked by a local mob. They were given the choice of being either baptised or killed, but they took a third option and committed mass suicide. At this time the tower was built of timber and so burned to the ground. It was rebuilt in stone." (www.cliffordtower.com)

York Minster...

Day trips (Part 1 - Stonehenge and Bath)

Stonehenge

There was a certain aura that hung around the area... the eerieness that clung to each stone.. what were they placed there for? Who placed them here? How did they erect such massive objects? These stones were brought from the Presili Hills in Wales, some 250km away... how did they transport these stones, some weighing as much as 7 adult elephants put together, to it's present location?

Legend has it that Merlin had got a giant construct the Stonehenge and then he magically moved it from Mount Killaraus in Ireland to its present location. Others say that it was the Devil who is responsible for the Stonehenge.

Definitely worth a visit I'd say...

Bath
Bath was quite a lovely town. Housemates of Endymion Rd...

Think that's the Abbey...

Pulteney Bridge in Bath... it's got shops on the bridge itself...

We had also gone to the Roman Bath Spa, but cause it was £8 + to get in we decided it wasnt worth going... people have told us it was a rip off anyway...

Depression Test

Disorder	Your Score
Major Depression:	High
Dysthymia:	Moderate
Bipolar Disorder:	Very Slight
Cyclothymia:	Slight
Seasonal Affective Disorder:	High
Postpartum Depression:	N/A
Take the Depression Test

Edited: 17th May

It's been pretty much decided... I'm flying back on the 17th of May 2006.

Good bye UK.

Hello My Life. I hope you've not been waiting too long...

Why do you think people get married?

"Because we need a witness to our lives. There's a
billion people on the planet. I mean, what does one
life really mean?

But in a marraige you're promising to care about
everything. The good things, the bad things, the
terrible things, the mundane things. All of it, all the
time, every day. You're saying your life will not go
unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not
go unwitnessed because I will be your witness."

Mrs Clark, Shall We Dance

The Birthday Extravaganza...

Let's see... it started on Thursday.. way ahead of schedule. Dinner at Giraffe with my housemates.




Spanish Pepper Soup, chicken wings, Salmon with roasted rice... Fusion food.. Very interesting. Very nice setting. Great company as usual. oohh.. and I got a water bottle... and not just any water bottle, a really good one! Oh, and also a single journey Tube ticket... :-S




Random pictures taken on the Golden Jubilee Bridge with housemates on the way home...

Last night (28th March, Tuesday), me and Jim went to Just on St James' St.

(http://www.juststjames.com)



Was a very posh place as you can see from the pics. Me standing outside the restaurant...




When you are seated the waiter/waitress lays your napkin out for you and asks if you'd like sparkling or still water (£3 a bottle!!!) Then they bring the bread and butter and also the soup (it was sweetcorn soup) in a tea cup. Was very cute and yummy.





For starters we had the Seared Scallops. It had seaweed and raisins and nuts... For the main course, Jim had the Lamb with couscous while I settled for Barbary Duck Breast with artichoke and fore gras. Was all very delicious. All in all, the service was great, the food was fantastic and the atmosphere was to very relaxing.

But it doesnt end here... clubbing on Friday, dim sum lunch on Sat and more dancing in the evening! WOO HOO! I cant wait!! :-D