July 4th - Heading Home

The earliest day that I've risen in the three months I'm here -- at four in the morning.

Last minute packing and leaving of a note to Pauline and Alf, made me leave the house at fifteen past five. I dreaded missing my bus to Heathrow, but the bus was late. It was more than half an hour late, but it got us to Heathrow half an hour earlier.

After check in, Peg came to see me. I treated her to her favourite doughnuts with the last of the Pounds I had with me. I think it was just about enough. She had wanted to pay for it at first, so I shoved all of my coins into her coin bag. I had forgotten how much I had, and I don't remember how much the doughnuts and drinks costed. Peg, was the first familiar face I see when I reach UK, and the last familiar face I see when I leave UK. Thank you, Peg!

The long journey home lasted hours to almost a day, and got me back to KLIA on the morning of July 5th, looking frazzled and dazzled. I had not sleep all along the ride, to avoid jetlag. I hope I don't get it. :-)

I am home, finally, I am home.

This blog will terminate here. Well, terminate being updated daily, at least. It will be updated to include exciting trips and events, but no day-to-day logging of what I do anymore. Be glad that you will probably never see my food anymore (to those who complained, and that's a lot).

I will soon organize a CD of non-redundant photographs, to share with family and friends. Do ask, (to my face) if you are interested to take a look but I have not shown you. Cheers.

July 3rd - Day 90

The last episode! Ha ha ha ha... Somebody was chasing me for this last post in the comment of Day 89 post. I'm sorry. Have been busy packing and preparing for flight on the last night, and have been busy arriving in Malaysia. Ha ha ha ha...

The last Friday, the last working day, the last day: The last breakfast, the last lunch, the last dinner, the last walk, the last sleep -- in Cambridge. A day filled with reminiscence. This foreign ground, why do I seem to dread leaving it for a familiar soil?

The last breakfast was the last nectarine, the last yoghurt and the last pair of pastry: Raspberry crowns. The last lunch was free, because my boss bought them. The last dinner was pasta with the last pork steak and the last of the vegetables in the last of the gravy.

Woke up extra early today to take a special walk, to see a bit of Cambridge before people wake up. Went out and post the last postcard home from the postbox nearest the place I call home in Cambridge. And took memories to last. Parker's Piece was the piece of green that I have to walk on every weekday, towards the Catholic Church, my destination every weekday. There's a crossroad that I had to pass on the green every weekday, at which stood a lamp post.

When I got to Catholic Church, it was too early, the streets were empty, so I took the road down the left of the church, which I don't usually walk. Saw some things that I don't usually see... And then turn back to the church, to take one last time of the first bus in the morning. Took a picture of me at the waiting place before anybody showed up, so they don't look at me like I'm an idiot, before I went on the de'tour. When I went back, I stood on the opposite of the road and took a picture of a line of people waiting for the bus, you should imagine that I could have been one of them, waiting in line.

Sanger, a place where I have been for weeks, and yet have never taken a piece of permanent memory. Today, on the last day, it is natural that I do, for I might never get the chance again. I love those steel balls. There were three that I could see everyday, if there were more I have never seen them. The smallest one stood just outside Morgan building. the middle one stood near the bus stop, and the largest one stood on the way to Sulston building, where I work, in Room D2-42, at the corner desk to the left of the door. On the side of Sulston, there was a wooden carving recording all the organism which Sanger has ever sequenced (or took part in the sequencing of). At the back of Sulston, there is a piece of huge green, where people assemble in an emergency.

Arnab bought me a card, and had everybody signed it. It said "Sorry you're leaving us! We miss you already..." on the front and "...and you haven't even left yet!" inside. Arnab and Adam thanked me for my work (hard work, they say), Jacqui, John, Thomas, and Uli wished me all the best for my future, and Jason wished me a bon voyage (in Chinese, way down the bottom right).

Back from work, I took the last walk along Cam River and into city center. Stood on some of the bridges and said "Goodbye, Cambridge." in my mind. I gazed beyond the river, looked up upon the gargoyles (the third gargoyle, from left, on the walls of Keys college, Paul told me the other day, is his gargoyle.), touched the brick walls and know I will miss them one day.

I got a shot of the fountain in the middle of Market Square, which I could never take during the time of the market being open when people are sitting there and being conscious that I'm taking a photo with them in it. I passed La Raza, which was the first restaurant that I had dined-in in Cambridge, thanks to Paul. I passed the flower patch at Christ's Piece and remembered that when I just came, it was blooming tulips. Now, as I'm about to leave, the flowers of summer are in full bloom, none of which I could name (except daisies).

I am going home... although not the home I would most like to go to, I am going home.

July 2nd - Day 89

That's my breakie of a sweet and sour nectarine, cherry yoghurt, a cheese twist and a maple and pecan plait danish; in that order. The other one, my dinner, consists of crinkle chips and baked rice, with tomato sauce, vegetables and pork steak. This time the baked rice passed. :-)

My shoes: First sent off the front line was that pair of Bata Blacks, peeled and torn at the seam; Second in line was North Star canvas, wore off the soles and bottom; Third and last for 3 months was Diadora New Tour Sneaker, a small tear of unknown reason. This is the proof of how much I've been walking. Ha ha ha ha...

July 1st - Day 88

The last pair of focaccia today, today's toppings was of mixed pepper and cheddar.

I wanted to buy Dave and Paul dinner tonight, but Dave is in Croatia, and Paul had plans. I tried to make plans with John and Patrick for either Thursday or Friday, but they wanted to do it today. So tell me I don't have a problem with timing.

John drove us to a far far away place. Everything was very nice: the atmosphere, the place, etc. except my dinner was too salty and my apple juice was too sour. We went back to John's house for ice cream after dinner. I had the one of yoghurt and seeds. It was a little too sweet.

I wonder if it's just me. Ha ha ha ha...

June 30th - Day 87

It's focaccia, messed up the double "C"s. Today's pair was cheddar, and there should be some ground pepper and red onions. That is a nectarine. It looks like a peach, taste quite like a peach; but it's not as hairy as a peach, and it clings to the pit stronger than a peach. Even the pits look similar, don't they?

Pasta and fried chicken for dinner again. =) I wanted to finish off the last of the mushrooms and tomatoes, so today's pasta looks a bit bigger in size. The fridge is starting to look empty now...

June 29th - Day 86

Foccacia for breakie. I hope I spelt it right, I don't want to go to the freezer and check on the bag. Ha ha ha... I'll check tomorrow.

They were a little burnt, so I can't quite make out what the toppings were. Probably tomatoes, probably... I'm really not sure.

Dinner was Paul's treat. He insisted. But I'm really grateful. It was really fun. We had Italian. =) He had medium rare steak! Burnt outside and moving on the inside, just the way he likes it. Ha ha ha... We had a nice talk. Thanks, Paul. Look forward to his visit to Malaysia again.

A few night scenes...

June 28th - Day 85

Counting down, 5 days left.

Went for laundry in the morning and more shopping in the afternoon. More souvenirs. Bed full again, but I think I'm done, at least.

Dinner and lunch -- Fried chicken with pasta, in tomato sauce with mushroom and lettuce.

June 27th - Day 84

Last weekend in UK! What am I going to do? Everybody but myself is wondering! Ha ha ha...

This week I'm only going to stay in Cambridge. I need to shop for souvenirs. The morning was spent lazing around. Packed laundry, but did not make the trip down to the laundrette. Thought I'd probably do it tomorrow. I watched a little TV, ate a lasagna lunch. Of course I didn't cook it. I microwaved it. :-p And then I started making my list. Oh boy was that list long...

I hope the people back home won't think I'm stingy, but judging by how many people made that list, if I wasn't stingy I'd be broke. I think. Anyway, I'm worried. A couple of friends who went back from attachments found that the University didn't approve the funds that they proposed in the first place. Although we get advance money for traveling, they ended up having to pay back the University. I'm a little worried and therefore must watch my spending carefully. I did lose two thousand ringgit to the bank in the past incident with ATM withdrawal, which to date, is still under investigation for refund.

When I got back from my shopping trip this afternoon, my bed was covered with gifts. But get this: I'm still not done! My case is more than a quarter filled now. I hope I don't have to leave clothes behind to bring back all those gifts! *Headache*

Dinner was a wonderful spaghetti, with lettuce, lamb burger and chips, in a onion and mushroom sauce. Mm-mmm... good. After dinner I spent the evening watching TV while updating my blogs for last weekend's travel with photographs. *Phew*, finally got to that... But there were a lot more photographs that did not make the final selection list.

June 26th - Day 83

Spelling error!!! It's called Pains au chocolat, not Au pains de chocolate. Ha ha ha ha...

I woke up with a sore throat. I think it was because I snored through the night. The vibration injured my tonsil, so it's a little inflamed. It was irritating for the whole day, and it made me feverish, tired and sleepy all day.

I soaked water up like sponge all day, and did feel better by evening. Although, I did fall asleep a lot earlier than I thought I would, and woke up a lot later than I have been waking up for two weeks! Ha ha ha ha...