At long last!!!!

I decided to post something in here after a 5 month hiatus as a result of laziness. Or perhaps the result of too many things that take priority over the blog.

May
- submission of linguistics assignment
- working feverishly on dissertation proposal: I still didn't know exactly the direction the dissertation was going to take. The supervisor took a rather hands-off approach. The other supervisee and myself basically struggled and worked our way through on our own.
- A visits me: late May. She went to her holy ground and the Docks by the Mersey while I stayed in to nanny 480 residents. A and I had fun. Pure hilarity - in Leeds, York & London. Too much laughing and talk of food. To this day, nothing changes

June

- STA Trips : this is work of some sort. I took 2 groups of students from Singapore who were here on their Literature fieldtrip round the UK. It took up about nearly all of June.

Met some terribly spoilt brats in one group. They came mostly from overly well-to-do families. According to the teachers, the cost of the 10-day trip (at least S$4,000, inclusive of airfare, accom, meals & spending money) was merely spare change to their parents. In fact, they were only interested in shopping and anything that had nothing to do with Literature. One girl spent £1,500 in 2 hours on a Miu Miu and LV bag. I felt sorry for the teachers who sacrificed their school holidays to accompany this bunch of kids who didn't seem very appreciative of the opportunity or their teachers. I hope that they grow up and learn the value of anything and anyone besides their own selves.

The second group was lovely, although a little annoying at times. Then again, teenagers will always be teenagers. But they didn't seem very interested in Jane Austen since Old T was the highlight of their trip (which was basically on their first day here). For me, the highlight of the trip was going to visit the Houses of Parliament. One of the students had connections with a member of the House of Lords and took us into the lovely Gothic building by the Thames. My jaw literally dropped when I went into the rooms. It was Constitutional Law and History alive.

After the 2 trips, I had 10 days to finish up a 3,000 word assignment.

July

- worked feverishly on the dissertation. Managed to complete the draft by the end of the month and planned for August

Discovered the intelligent and good-looking Dan Snow while I was browsing the history category on BBC iPlayer. He hosted a documentary on the Roman emperor, Hadrian.

History has never been more interesting. And I watch Battlefield Britain on UKHistory these days.

If only I knew him in person. I think he and I will have a lot to talk about because I am such a history buff. Such people don't come by that easily. Especially if they are fit (he used to row for Oxford) and good-looking, without the nerd factor.

If anyone knows how I can get to know him in person, I will cook dinner for you for a week!! (I put in effort in cooking ;p)

August
- went to The Netherlands. G was so super nice and accommodated me. In return, I fed her with so many useless facts...tee hee!!
- G's wedding in Gretna Green. Simple and sweet while encapsulating the significance of the union.
- submitted the dissertation a week before it was due because I was sick of seeing it floating in my laptop and reading it till I wasn't able to think
- started saying 'goodbye' to friends

September
- continued saying 'goodbye' to friends. How sad.
- moved out of the little room and moved into a lovely flat: the reward for putting up with awful flatmates (besides L) for almost a year
- Greece!!!! It was just SOOOO amazing to see history come alive. The Acropolis, the Arch of Hadrian, the Tholos at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in Delphi...I couldn't believe that I was standing in the midst of history. And the island of Santorini was beautiful. This beautiful island was the site of the Minoan civilisation nearly 4,000 years ago but an earthquake about 3,600 years ago was mostly responsible for wiping out the Minoans. Instead, it left behind a caldera which itself forms the landscape of this idyllic and picturesque island.

- working in my faculty to welcome the freshers and also sitting in the reception for the person who was away on sick leave
- marching towards the new 20 :)

Life can only get more exciting from here. The one thing that is foremost in my mind is getting a job. I have given up on getting a job in UK or anywhere in the continent because Fortress Europe is too formidable and have too many strict laws on immigration and employment. I am still miffed by the fact that so many less qualified and skilled people are getting jobs in the country. Never mind, I am sure there is something good out there for me.

Otherwise, I am comfortable with things status quo. The future is out there but I shall let it be. Sometimes, if not all the time, surprises make the unknown all the more exciting.

Here's to an exciting new decade in my life!!!