Autumn sunshine

The last couple of weeks have been rather hectic. However, I don't mind the stress because it keeps me going and it forces me out of the lazy mode (just because I'm no longer pushed like the way I was at work). For the record, I have 3 assignments that are due within the next couple of months. The first being an unassessed one of 1,500 words. This one requires an outline to be done by the end of October and the actual piece by the third week of November. Why bother since it's unassessed? This is to allow my tutor(s) to help me see if I am getting my ideas right and whether I am writing 'academically' (not blogspot.com style :p). The other 2 are the scary ones - 3,000 words each and both are due 2 January 2008. Hurrah!! In anycase, I am enjoying the process so I hope that I get something out of it.

I discovered that the Chinese supermarket sold miso paste. So I happily bought that, some bonito fish flakes and voila, I get miso soup! I also experimented the miso with rice vinegar and olive oil to make salad dressing. It certainly is no way near Sushi Tei's but it's way better than nothing.

Miso soup...my way

OK, bitch fest time. Please scroll down to the pictures if you don't want details.

One of my Chinese flatmates is doing a postgrad course in Translation. When she first moved in, we had all these 'welcome' chats.

Me: Which course are you studying?
Fm: I'm going to the computer room.
Me: Excuse me?
Fm: Huh?
Me: I asked what are you studying in university?
Fm: I will go to the computer room.
Me: (Puzzled at her lack of understanding and slightly berating self for asking a stupid question and for speaking English) I mean, what course are here in university for? As in what will you study for the next one year in university? (gesticulation, book action...)
Fm: I will do course in translation.
Me: (trying hard not to faint)

I know, it's mean but when I told that to my Mum, she laughed. She said, "Alamak! Imagine her sitting next to the Prime Minister to do translation." >> I didn't say that, my Mum did!

Anyway, the highlight of this post is about the trip I just returned from. I was at the Lake District over the weekend on a trip that was organised for the postgrad students in the School of Education. In short, it was a brilliant weekend. The weather was perfect - no rain, clear skies and sunshine, albeit the cold. Seriously, what can you ask for in a region that rains quite a lot. The company was great too. It was an international platter of characters from the Far East, to the Middle East, the Mediterranean, to Iceland and Latin America.

My biggest achievement for the weekend, along with 25 others, was to scale up Cat Bells, a mountain with a modest height of 1,481 feet (450m). It wasn't too difficult an ascent considering that there were proper tracks for climbers except that when it got to the top, it was a vertical climb that required anyone to go on fours to get to the top. You would see people stopping along the way to catch their breaths and enjoy the view. It got better as we climbed higher. I was perspiring even though it was cold. Despite that, lunch consisted of an orange and half a bag of crisps because the ham sandwich (which I had half of) wasn't exactly something nice and warm I was looking forward too after the climb. In anycase, the night before, I had decadent strawberry cheesecake with cream.

I'm sorry that you weren't able to be there but enjoy the pictures, nonetheless.

Derwent Water

Still looking a little uninspired and sleepy

The ascent

View from (nearly at) the top

Yataa!! I was there!

One other thing I forgot to mention. The skies that night was clear. So clear that all the stars in their constellation were visible. I saw the Seven Sisters, the Plough, Venus and a few shooting stars!!!

So here I am, back at my desk, trying my best to tell you what happened.