Dear pipsqueaks,
It certainly didn't feel like it had been two years since the last time
I was in the UK. Okay, Birmingham doesn't count because I was here for a
meeting and when I was out of the hotel, I was mostly at the stadium watching
All England matches. That trip brings back horrendous memories of a bloody
photographer who “threatened” to throw me out of the venue not knowing who I
was. Now come to think of it, I really should have just let him TRY to throw me
out of one of our own tournaments. Of course, I’m not going to start
stereotyping but UK peeps haven’t really impressed me of late. Therefore,
another one shouldn't be a surprise.
Anyways, SUPER off-topic. This time around, you could say I had a very
relaxing time just following a friend around. We landed in the bustling London
Heathrow, which by the way I must mention - I’m not sure what the mentality of
the immigration process is, but at least the officer I met seriously didn't
make me feel welcomed. Okay, I get that
they have a very important job of manning the security of the country, but they
are also the first faces upon arrival. Even the way the questions are asked can
be tweaked in such a way that people don’t feel interrogated. I mean, what part
of my passport and my person hint you that I could be a potential threat? No,
really. Do tell me. Honestly, I don’t agree that anyone should be treated this
way unless there are reasons to believe otherwise. Anyhow, it was definitely
two worlds from my landing for the London Games as a member of the Games Family
two years ago. Let’s just say, as much as I enjoy the look and feel of UK, I
can get the same if not better in Canada without having to deal with some snobby
locals.
We dined at quite a few restaurants - Nando’s, Harvesters, and Toby’s to
name a few – that were memorable to my friend during her studies in Leeds. We
also drove about to her university and the house that she stayed in with a
bunch of strangers who became her close friends. In a way, you could call it a
walk down memory lane. Then again, I doubt anyone could really understand how
one feels about a place or a memory. That particular slice in your timeline.
They become a standstill in my mind anyway, only to wait for me to return and
rekindle them back to life. Unfortunately, nothing in life stays completely the
same forever. Things change. Places change. Even we change, ever so slightly
and unnoticeably. We could only wish that things don’t change too much, at
least not to the point where even you can’t feel the memory anymore.
I guess that’s how I felt when I saw our old house for the first time
since we sold it. The new owner changed the color of the front door, and
replaced the old fence on the side that led to the back of the house.
Eventually, he changed the whole outlook of the house from beige to green. I
really couldn't bear to look at it anymore because it felt that someone had –
omg I’m tearing just writing this on the plane – rewritten over the recording
tape that was my sole memory of my childhood home. Whatever was there will
never be the same, I suppose. Though luckily for me, I have a very visual
memory that could allow me to walk myself through the hallways and rooms, and reminisce
those days…
We also had a very warm – still touching up – home to crash for a
couple of days. It was rather nice of her friends to have us over, despite them
having busy schedules of their own. The only thing I regret was not bringing a
housewarming gift! Maybe when one of them visits in March. I’ll have to keep my
eyes open for something suitable then.
I really should write when I’m in the mood because I had so much that I wanted to share but the computer had to die on me midway…so I’ll let the photos do the
talking. I didn't take many, but enough to do a proper highlight, I believe.
(I'm in agreement that Nando's in the UK are definitely a bigger serving than in Malaysia! Though, I can't seem to remember the size in Vancouver...)
(Our ride for the next few days - except, manual was not really appreciated during traffic jams. Warning: Calf cramps! But, it was a nice drive WITH a GPS, so nothing to complain about.)
(Fish & Chips is a must at least once in UK! I don't always have fried foods, so when I do, I make sure it counts! This one at Lowthers in York by the river was quite good.)
(The weather couldn't have been better - just clear blue skies with fluffy white clouds...I loved the scenery! But, the air much like Vancouver's brought back a bit of my allergies. I've been sneezing till my back ached! That can't possibly be normal, so doctor's visit it is when I get back to KL.)
(The must-try Yorkshire pudding! Hm, which part of it looks like pudding, I do not know. But, I do like it hot and crispy drowning in gravy! Yums~)
(Don't think I've been this spoiled since...back in Vancouver! Those days, we frequented Sun Sui Wah in Richmond for fresh Alaskan Crab catches. Now, I feast at one of the best Chinese restaurants in London - Royal China! This Lobster Noodle lives up to its reputation, I must say. Fresh lobster meats with noodles swimming in lobster juice. Nothing more needs to be said - just look at my smile! It tells all.)
(Even though we were full to the max after Royal China, the tummy can always make space for Häagen-Dazs ice-cream! It's my absolute favourite, so I left London a happy girl.)
Finally landed back in Hong Kong, this summer vacation part I has come to an end. I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way. Leeds was a perfect place to just get away from all the busyness, and just enjoy someone else's walk down memory. I may not have been there, but at least I feel somewhat caught up. London was unexpectedly another place we managed to eat our way through. Never am I so sure that the sole cause of my heel and back pain is because of me being the most lazy person in the world not exercising. Right here, right now. I'm making myself a deal. After another pigging out session in Summer Vacation Part II, I have to get back into shape.
Eat hard. Workout hard.
On our way to Vancouver in no time - praying that we'll get on the flight that is! Will recap after I return to KL :) Ciao~