Easter Break ... finally!

Firstly (and most importantly) Thanks Boobie and Babe for the Bday card! It totally made my day, cant say how it totally made the start of my easter break perfect (((:

Just back from an awesome lunch at Launceston Place to kickstart what i hope would be a great Easter break (although its only 1 pathetic break). The Gloucester Old Spot Pork was seriously one of the best pork dishes I have had in my life. The thin layer of fat under the crispy skin literally melts in your mouth. Absolutely heavenly! :D The lunch menu was really value, 20pounds for a 3 course meal (though they do add in a pre- starter and pre- dessert and free flow of bread on the house).

Gordon Ramsay is def next on my list of to try list.

Heading up to York for a couple of days, looking forward to trying out all the good food that dj has been talking about. And also shopping at the outlet! :D

Countdown to Easter Break.

The past week or so has literally been a bday celebration week (afterall, this is only whats expected for a princess).

But for those who are still vexing on what to get me for my bday, please ...

1. DONT get my any more food. Im in need of a diet.

I would however appreciated:

1. Tuning Fork sets: 512Hz +/- 128Hz ones

2. Ophthalmoscope set

Actually any form of sponsorship would do cos i know how ridiculously expensive medical equipments are!

Films, Films ... and more Films!

Why am I up at 4am and was asleep at 7.30pm?

My body clock is like officially screwed, which signifies Ive finally succumbed to following the lifestyles of most normal university students.

Im trying to decide if its quite loser to go watch movies on my own, cos there are so many shows now that I wanna catch:

1. Invictus

2. Green Zone

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

4. Crazy Heart ... on DVD maybe

And shows coming up that I would like to catch:

1. How to train your dragon ... 3D!

2. Clash of the Titans ... 3D!

3. Kick- Ass

4. Nanny McPhee

And recent films that I think are worth watching (for you Boobie):

- The Hurt Locker (there is a reason why this is a big winner at the Oscars)

- Alice in the Wonderland 3D (cos its 3D and there's Johnny Depp. But dont get your hopes up cos it really was quite disappointing)

I couldnt quite appreciate Precious too much myself, despite all the rave reviews about it.

Everyone loved Up in The Air, but other than George Clooney I didnt quite like it that much.

I liked From Paris with Love, which is not a romantic film (but a thriller) despite its title. And since Bend it Like Beckham, I havent watched a Johnathan Rhys Meyer film for quite some time.

And Im waiting for the DVDs for Valentine's Day and Percy Jackson to come out.

Ok this is not a good sign at all considering I have already been on a 2 month work hiatus. Something possibly unheard of in Singapore, or amongst Singaporeans really.

Burnt Out.

The 4h nap I just had was awesome! Though it means that it has completely screwed up my sleeping schedule, and doubly worse cos I had it after a very very huge lunch (which is not a good idea considering Im in a perpetual uphill battle to lose weight).

I was kinda feeling a little burnt out ever since I transferred to the Whit. Im not sure if Im not used to the long hours, travelling time or just a new (extremely) keen firm. They just keep going on. Or is it just me not being able to sleep well at night. And I have reached a point in time, whereby Im quick sick of trying to make friends. I like making friends, only when its comes naturally, and not having to rack your brains all the time to find conversation or laugh at in-my-opinion-not-so-funny things. 3 years on, and I still feel the culture shock sometimes. I give Stef (and some others) full credit for being able to blend in so well and so easily. Maybe its just me who's resistant to change?

And all these on top of trying to get on top of my work, which is lagging to quite an embarrassing stage, going to the gym (to lose the pounds Ive put on since ... I cant even rem when was it that i ate in moderate amts) and still having a social life.

That being said, Im still looking fwd to the fun and meals this weekend, and my bday next week. And then it would be Easter break (although its a pathetic 1wk long), when I would be heading to York :D

I was deciding between studying or going to the gym, and Ive just spent an hour online.

Ok, maybe discipline is my problem.

The Blind Side

This movie is so good that i managed to stay awake and love it although I havent had sleep for the past 36h (blame night takes).

Based on a true story, it is def one of those feel good inspirational films you'll need to get your through half- term.

There's good ol' Sandra Bullock, whom I havent seen produce a good film in quite some time, who does the thing she does best and shows us how it can be so beautiful to age gracefully. She has managed to take on a mature motherly figure role and yet, make boys fantasize about her at the same time (not that i do, but i would if i was a guy).

The performances by the others were great as well, and best of all, all these feel good fuzzy stuff is based on something that has happened around us. This is an awesome story that is born 'cos someone has a great heart to make a difference to people around her.

虽然我们相识无言中 彼此情谊不深 心灵却相通

HC Night ytd was amazing! :D The food was alright (though portions generous, which was great for hungry people like me. But not good cos we were in glam dresses and not supposed to stuff ourselves silly) but the company was really really what made the night so awesome. So many of the councillors came down from all parts of Europe (Jamie, Kailing, Gloria, Hon) and then Stef, Wenxi and Charm from Oxbridge and then there were the Londoners- Mark, Dawei, Paul, Xun. We managed one whole table, how amazing is that!

Its nice to see changes in some people (cos it was for the better), and that some people havent changed one bit (which is great too).

But the downside to these kinda events is that there are so many people that I kinda know but i dont really know, and I dont quite know what to say after the usual Hi, how have you been or Your outfit's amazing. So I just end up sitting at my table, and talking to the same few people (which is actually, to be quite honest, what i really want to do. After all, i havent seen these friends of mine for what seems like ages.)

Got woken up this morning by Kenneth at 7-ish who came barging into my room, with Mac's breakfast. It was a nice feeling being brought breakfast, and talking to him considering that though we barely live more than 10mins apart, I dont think Ive actually seen him much.

Fell asleep right after Big Breakfast, and got woken up again in time to join my flatmates for Yum Cha at Chinatown. I think amongst the 5 of us, we ordered more than 20dishes. We were literally ordering without thinking much. Added up to 70ish in all for all of us, thats how much we had. But it was def a good meal :D Its been quite some time since I have properly hung out with my flatmates, since I was so busy running about with my family and all.

But it reminded me, how much I really like them :D

Mixed Feelings

Just a quick entry 'cos Im having mixed feelings about my brother going back home. I think Im going to miss the arguing with him, listening to him talk about how cheeky he has been and the silly things that goes on in school and also about girls in general. Im def going to miss bossing him about and having fights and knowing tt at the end of the day 'cos we are sibs things will always be fine.

But i guess its time to get on track and get some work done, esp with a new term starting. Have been jetting about and been out of school more than Im in (not good since Im supposed be a full time student, and a med student as that). Oh and also, stop eating so much and get some exercise and LOSE SOME WEIGHT :( Wished I could be someone who would be able to eat loads and loads and not put on any weight.

HC Night this Sat. Looking forward to seeing the councillors. At least that would brighten up my spirits a little after my brother leaves.

Hongbaos for Haiti

Firstly, just let me explain my hiatus.

My fam was around and its been such a crazy time with all the weekend trips to Madrid and Amsterdam and what not. Then I was hit by a bad headache which pretty much left me useless for days.

My work is currently in the most devastated state. I havent clerked any patients for 1 whole week, and this has been observed by my profs, which is utterly embarrassing.

But it is CNY after all, which perks me up a bit, though I dont quite get the atmosphere here in London. But im not complaining much cos it is nice to have my brother and alvin around to spend it with this year. I wish it wouldnt be so cold here though. Just when I thought it was getting nice and warm.

Anyway, Ive decided that this year, Im going to be doing something meaningful for CNY, after reading abt the Haiti Earthquake.

So, here I am, blatantly canvassing for support for my baby fundraising project for the kids affected by the Earthquake.

Hongbaos for Haiti

Basically, my good friend Stef and I have decided that this year we would be pledging part of our Hongbao money for UNICEF, who is involved in the relief missions in Haiti, following the Earthquake country on 12th of Jan.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and half of its population are under 21years old. Although rescue missions are starting to end, funds are urgently needed for rebuilding and to provide safe water, temporary shelter systems, essential medical supplies etc. UNICEF concentrates their works on orphans, young children and their mothers. As we all know, these people are usually the ones who are most vulnerable in such disasters.

So here I am, appealing to all of you, no matter where you are in the world, to extend a little of your kindness as you enjoy this festive season to these people. Please join our FB group to help spread the msg, and you can make your donation via this website.

What we hope is that, you would not only make the donation, but leave a personal msg for your friends to do the same. No amt is too little, and telling 1 other friend is also great help! And hopefully, together all of us would be able to raise a substantial amt by the end of the CNY.

Here's wishing everyone an awesome chinese new year! 新年快乐！

Family's going to be in Town!

Part of me is super excited about my family coming tmr, but another part of me is totally not excited that my brother's friends are going to be staying in my room. Everyone that I have told me about has gone "Harrr? Your room how to squeeze another 3 more humans?"

Yar, like seriously God knows why my brother invited 2 more dudes. And my hunch is that they are not cute, which totally doesnt help. (Sorry, I am superficial.)

Had a pretty damn good weekend of superb food (celebrated Carmen's Bday at Indigo at One Aldwych), and watched tons of movies. (6 in a row.)

And if you havent watched it yet, The Hurt Locker is really quite fantastic :D

职业病

Im watching Indiana Jones now, and the first thing that I think of when I heard Scorpion Bite was ... A rare cause of Acute Pancreatitis.

Sigh, 真的患了职业病.

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Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations of any good movies? :D

Just watched Up yesterday (I know Im slow), and I feel bad for saying this but I think I only didnt like it that much cos I was truly extremely annoyed by the fat korean boy.

Staying Foolish, Staying Hungry.

Today, I think I refound my enthusiasm for medicine. Its not that Ive ever hated medicine at any point of time, but once in a while, I find it hard to remain super-keen (something that should have been built into every singaporean, much less someone from the schools ive been to) or even worse, to actually attended scheduled lessons.

But today, as I held the hand of a confused man and managed to get him to listen to me and to calm down, I am reminded that this is actually something that I really want to do. And that Im never going to be a good doctor and make a difference if I dont put in the hard work. No work, no gain.

Something that my GP said to me today really struck me- He said that sometimes, all you need to do to deal with hyperventilation, is to hold your patients hand and breathe with them.

And that was what I did with a terrified old lady with such battered hands cos so many people has failed to get blood from her tiny veins (Ken did a lovely job at finding it though), and with the aforementioned confused old man, and I actually felt like I finally did make a difference as a medical student. Not just another self- centred brat, roaming the wards so that I can pass my finals. As Steve Jobs said to Stanford, I do hope that I would be able to Stay foolish, Stay hungry for as long as possible.

Avatar!

I know I must have looked like I dropped off from the face of Earth, but I think I might just have valid excuses for it.

I finally sent my lovely sexay Mac for repair at the awesome Genius Bar 'cos it kept crashing on me. (My poor lady suffered 5mths of epileptic shocks.) They took more than 2 weeks to get back to me even though they promised 10days.

After that, it was preparation for the highly disastrous exam I look yesterday. I felt like I have pretty much wasted my time studying for the paper.

I mean I was laughing as I walked out of the hall, cos its one of those papers which Im pretty damn sure I failed. It was basically a paper which tested the whole year's work as a practice for our end of years, but there were almost like zero surgery questions, which is basically the only thing which I have done properly. Cant say how depressing it was to flip through pages after pages of rheumatology (God help me on this.), skin problems, illnesses associated with the elderly and Gen Med Spec stuff :( Oh and not to forget histology. I dont admit those pink stuff aint pretty, but after 2.5years I really still have no idea what those blobs are man.

Decided to go watch Avatar: The Movie in 3D after that. And it was pretty damn awesome! :D

It was a pity we missed the first 20mins of it though (cos we were too hungry and greedy and thought that its unforgiveable to miss dinner even if it meant missing part of the show). I think I might actually go back to watch it in 2D, and get the DVD (extra footages!) when it comes out.

Going for Indian tonight with the councillors cos Hon is popping by from Lyon. Looking forward to some curry, esp in this awfully cold weather.

And Im so going to get all those movies from my flatmates and cuddle up in bed and catch up on what I have missed for the past, what feels like almost eternity.

Not so Merry Christmas.

My holiday plans are seriously getting screwed all over by this bug of mine.

I wake up late, feel my stomach growling, have a huge meal and then start feeling drowsy and ache-y all over and then go back to sleep.

Which totally screws my revision AND diet plan.

And i hate having to breathe through my mouth, cos it makes my tongue feel like its got scalded and my lips crack. My heart rate's also racing, though I have no idea why. Im drinking so much that I going to the loo every 10mins or so, so I doubt its going to be dehydration.

What a way to spend xmas and start the new year :(

Im def going to be booking a flight back home for next Xmas.

Its not like when I stay here i do anything productive or have plans to travel anyway.

Chubby Tummy's Hols :D

I have been wanting to go to the gym for the past 1 wk or so, but the horrid weather is just making me dread the disgusting walk (although its not more than 10mins really). And now Im down to with a runny nose and bad headache. What a way to spend xmas hols.

The moaning aside, Im glad I finally settled all my travel plans for Jan and Feb :D My brother and some of his friends plus my mum and gran would be coming over! Yay. After days and days of hounding my brother to confirm with his friends on their plans on where they would like to visit and their budgets, we finally have come up with a pseudo- finalised itinerary. We have plans for 2 weekend trips to Madrid and Amsterdam, which Im pretty much very hyped about. Shopping and Hookers, what more can we ask for no? :D Oh of course, not to forget waffles, fries and TAPAS! I hope it would be a blast, thats of course, if I dont get so annoyed by the 2 extra dudes that I would want to stab their eye.

(Erns, I totally feel your pissed-at-thick-skinned-arses now.)

And then it would be off to Venice after that! Im pretty tempted to book a nice place to chill and relax in Venice, instead of staying at a shoddy old shack. But thats also depending on what Carmen have to say about it.

Im still thinking if I should take a short break and stay in London for a weekend or do another trip during the CNY/ Vday wkend. If so, Im considering either Germany, which I have always wanted to visit, or Manchester, since the latter has a huge Chinatown.

So thats one whole month of burnt weekends. Hopefully, I wont be too shattered after that.

Hols are here!

Im so thankful for holidays :D

I have been waiting for this break for a real long time. The days of being able to wake up without swearing at the alarm clock for 2 whole weeks :D This is life!

And since most people are out of town, finally Im going to start having some me time. To catch up with work (unlikely), to catch up on sleep debt, to clean up my room (unlikely, either that or its going to get messed up again)and to read all the Jeffrey Deavers and David Baldaccis that have been waiting for me.

Of course, there is going to be the Boxing Day and New Year Sale to look forward to!

And hopefully, try to go to the gym. (3kg since i came URGHS.)

I cant believe 2010 is coming, time is passing way too quickly!

OK, time to go back to check on my fish pie. 2nd attempt, hopefully it would taste better than the first which I found way too dry.

Christmas Wishlist

Christmas Wishlist:

1. Hair Straighteners

2. Foundation Brushes + Bronzers

3. Uggs

4. Winter Coat

5. Ear Muffs & Gloves

6. Wellies

7. A nice big mug

8. Shoe rack

9. Bathroom (Under- the- sink) organiser

10. A nice thick Gym mat

As you can probably tell from the last few items that Im running out of things to ask for (esp when Im asking for household items.)

But of course, I would never mind ...

More dresses, more shoes and more bags! :D

And my greatest wish of all time... LOSE WEIGHT.

Please please please stop buying me food!

Randomly, I know Ive only visited the hairstylist less than 2months ago, but I think i might need another haircut soon. This is the problem with getting an interesting hairstyle, it starts looking really odd after 0.5cm has grown.

Lie to Me

Im positively addicted to Lie to Me.

Its definitely one of the best American dramas produced in a long long time.

And i love the clothes they have inside, wished i didnt have to wear such boring stuff to work every day.

A pretty damn good week :D

The mandatory tourist shot just as we were about to leave.

With the councillors, my family away from home.

At the dubiously fast ferris wheel. (With not much safety precautions.)

The cold of the day totally didnt help in calming down my nerves. But it was memorable i suppose :D

The nougats were pretty awesome. We had the Amaretto one :D

DUTCH PANCAKES. Yums.

Random french stuff that was pretty yummy too.

Spanish Paella.

It was pretty good and quite a good serving for the price (at a fair where you would expect to be completely ripped off.)

The indoor part of the fare.

Us 自highing as usual.

We basically climbed into the emergency exit of a hotel's restaurant and pretended we were explorers.

I have had pretty good week :D

Went down to Bury St Edmund's for the xmas fare on Sat and then to watch La Clique on Sunday with the councillors. La Clique was quite ranchy and pretty awesome, I would say its really one of the best shows to watch. We had the standing seats and it gave us a real good view of all the acts (in fact it was nxt to one of the 2 stages), costing at only 15pds :D

Started Pathology week at Archway, and I would say i really quite like the whittington hospital. Its alot newer and nicer than I expected it to be (And yes, it is my first time there. Sad I know considering Im in my 3rd year.) And the food there is really just quite amazing. Muffins from muffin break are like ooooppphhhhhmmm (I dont want to think about the calorie intake). Esp the apple and cinnamon ones. Though the carrot one is pretty good as well. The cakes they do are pretty damn awesome too. Though I think going to the gym for 1hour would only help burn off like 1 muffin worth of calories, but Im choosing to be a camel and delude myself into thinking that working out allows me to eat :D I cant do without sweet stuff. And as Wenxi said, sweet stuff is meant to make you happy! Why be miserable yeah?

Staying in home over this wkend to catch up on sleep (woke up past 11am today, how shiok is that!) since we would be starting Cardio nxt wk and it does look pretty intense.

Plus meeting Charm and Esther for dinner on Monday, UCL festive fair on tues, Grease with the councillors on Wed, Dinner party with the medics on Friday, Steamboat/ KTV with HC people on Sat ... What an exciting week it is going to be!

And after this, it would be time to save up.

Thank goodnes Im not going on Hol, I will def bankrupt my parents at this rate :x

Life is good, but I still miss home :(

I miss the sun and my room and going wakeboarding and being able to run around my estate and skip in my car porch.

I miss my maid's cooking, and Sgp's so damn awesome food.

And most of all, I miss just randomly walking into my brother's room and making fun of him.

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Wilson (Season 6 Episode 10) must be one of the best House episodes ever. I was starting to get bored of the subplots and melodramas taking over the series (which should be concentrating on the medical cases yeah). I found myself bawling away at how sweet House and Wilson are (and how insensitive and annoying Cuddy is. Why rub it in, and why make someone who's into you so miserable. And why choose a loser over a smart ass doctor who is head over heels into you.)

And Im also glad that Wilson has finally stopped becoming too nice. I found it absolutely shocking that he was once willing to give his (jerk of a) patient his own blood to save his life and now part of his liver. I dont think I would ever be able to do that really. For family, yes, but for a patient, I dont even think it would ever cross my mind.

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T Mobile sent me a text recently telling me that my phone bill for the last month was 60pds. (Like what the @£%^U right!) I nearly had a heart attack there and then. Im def going to call them first thing on Monday and find out why. And I think im going to change my phone provider to O2 since they do free landline calls, which would make my skype to go really cheap :D (Since calling home is pretty much what is sucking up my talktime.)

Time to get back to trying to do some reading :D

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Sometimes I do wonder if Im more emo than I think I am/make myself out to be.

Or maybe I should just blame it on Hormones? All girls get to do that right.

I feel like I need a break, but I dont know from what.

And I do feel like going home quite terribly, sigh.

Pied a Terre

Firstly, apologies that the photos are coming up in a weird order.

And also, cos I was too excited that i didnt quite manage to get proper photos of all the food there :D

A very bad photo of the main dish, which was fowl on mash + carrots & parsnips on top.

The fowl was very very well done, loved the texture of it and like the crispiness the skin on top. And the mash was smooth, and carrots really sweet, having taken in the sauce on the chicken. Not a big fan of parsnips though.

Came complete with the tempura like cabbage, which I really really loved.

The other main dish- which was the fish. It was pretty good too.

As before, I loved the crispy veg that went with the fish.

Pre- dessert.

Had chilli in it, very interesting tasting.

My starter.

Duck hearts, sausage and foie gras. I really loved it :D

Pre- starter.

Loved the little pastry thing on the left. Forgot what it was though.
Had a pretty awesome day today.

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Slept in late, cos there was nothing but ward duties today. Didnt manage to find anyone to sign off my forms for me :( Hopefully tmr I would be able to grab hold of someone if not I would be seriously screwed.

And of course the highlight of the day was a 5 course lunch at Pied A Terre, a 2 Michelin Star Restaurant at Charlotte Street. (For about 33pds incl of additional charges.)

It was lovely that we managed to get hold of the private room, which was pretty comfy and gorgeous. Lighting was nice and romantic, which got me pretty sleepy.

However, I wasnt all that pleased with the service. Its not that the waiter serving us was rude or anything but I had feeling that it was done in a pretty slip- shod manner. Maybe cos I used to work in Banquet, but i hate it when waiters clang utensils on the plates too loudly. Although, I have to admit that we were behaving in the most unglamorous manner ever.

The food was good, I have to admit. But below my expectations of a 2 Michelin star restaurant meal. I definitely have had better food elsewhere without Michelin stars, but it might also be because we have had a meal that was on discount. It might possibly have been better if we ordered other stuff from the proper menu itself.

All in all, i still did enjoy myself tremendously there. There was good food, nice ambience, pretty good service and lovely people around. A very awesome lunch! :D

Headed down to New Bond Street for the Mulberry sample sale, but was rather disappointed by it. Didnt like most of the stuff too much anyway, so didnt get anything. I think Carmen and I were possibly the only people who left without getting anything. Ah wells.

Surgery's ending in 2 days time, and I still need to get a bloody CEX done urghs. This sucks!