Going Home !!

Dublin Day 4

Listening to the Australian folks talking about their work. They are from RMIT, Sydney and Melbourne. I spotted there are more clouds in Dublin sky. My mind flied with it and hovering in this vast academy sky.

Dublin Day 3

Today is just siting, listening and eating. I have been up early and started to write in my room. It was quite a solid 2 hours plus writing and I just wish somehow there is a place like this back home that I can just write without any distraction.

Too much wine tonight as we have a conference dinner in my hotel. I feel drowsy after 2 glasses of white wine. I hope I have a good rest afterward and looking forward to going home and see my wife and children.

Too much wine as well as I started to imagine one day I am presenting my papers in conferences :-)

Dublin Day 2

Well, it is time to get serious. As a first timer going in an academic conference, I am a bit intimidated by the profs in the event, coupled with the fact that not many PhD students attending this time. I can't find my peers really.

To be frank, I am a bit disappointed to see some papers that were working around in my research area that were of no help to my research. I started to reflect the whole thinking process, I realise out of somewhere I am thinking very critically of what I heard and saw. I tended to challenge their underpinning assumptions on their work!!

Plus I am writing a paper on the philosophical issues of my research project, that 'questioning' processes had been happening throughout the whole event.

I am happy that my supervisor has 'trained' me to put rigor in my own research by this kind of thought processes, it also opens my eye and mind to see things in many angles. I started to link it with my spiritual journey, have I ever exercised such thinking process about my faith?

Jesus says come to me like a child. Yes, just like what we want our children to come to us as who they are !!!

Various places I visited in Dublin

Christ Church Cathedral

Dublin Castle

Not so impressive to me, but worth seeing :-)

Dublin Day 1

Trinity College

Europe Penang

This is a city that I have met so many Asian Chinese besides Amsterdam. The hotel I stay (Crowne Plaza) the restaurant even has Singapore and Indonesian dishes on the main menu. I have seen at least more than 3 tables ordered the Asian food. Aiyo, how come no nasi lemak !!!

Dublin Day 1

I am here for an International Conference for my study. Thanks God that I have a chance to fly out of UK to attend a conference as a first year student. Another to come in June. Full time study is no joke. I am real busy this month.

Well, my head of school agreed to let me come here a day earlier, so I can tour around the city one full day :-) Yes Dublin, the Lord Edward has touched your soil today.

Dublin Sky

The custom officer asked me whether I am here for business or vacation.
I said I came to attend a conference.
He replied: "That's definitely a vacation!"
I tend to agree :-)

Erin is 3

Erin has a special day out with dad and mummy when Adam and Eden kuo kuo were in school.
We bought her a pathetic caterpillar cake but the kids love it.
Few more months she will be going to pre-school, can't imagine how she grows - so fast !!
She is still our precious gift from God :-)

Oh Happy Day

Adam and Eden remember days back in KL - no more than 2 layers clothes anymore !!!

Cherry lady

You know what, Sig, it starts with "You have a beautiful daughter and.."
"She has a beautiful dress"

Ya, thank you for that dress and it makes us think about you :-)

Oh It is hot !!

Bristol Air Ballon - alternative air travel here.

Last post I was just complaining it was cold, now it is really hot :-P I am bare-chest and in boxer !!!
It is just 22*C but it is so unbearable compared to KL 35*C !! It is stuffy and dry, I need to apply hydrafresh everyday!! :0P Why is it so hot??The sky is so blue and cloud-less, so the sun ray hit on you directly and it scorching hot !!!
Bristorians are putting on T-shirt and shorts when they are out, oh yes, the shades and hats!! The fashion trend now is about floral theme. Erin is on the track :-)

Oh yes, we start to smell the summer breeze - oh yes BBQ I reckon :0)

Oh dear, Kangaroo flavour!!

You know the brits are crazy about football and world cup is just around the corner. We can see many World cup related items in the shops everywhere, including our favourite chips- Walkers.
This time there are about 12 flavours from 12 countries - this one is particularly odd to us.
Must ask Berrys whether the Ozs do eat kangaroo meat !!!

Summer

June is coming and we thought summer is coming soon. Dream on, mate!!
While I started to pack my winter coat, now I need to unpack them !!!
It was cold again, negative digit shown in highland and we are not any far better here in Bristol.
What a year !!

Co-Governing

Well, finally UK has its new PM. I should have a chance to vote but second thought why should I an 'outsider' dilute the political wave in UK.

It was really mind opening for me to witness this election process. 10 years ago we left Sheffield when the election campaigning was about to start. Now we are witnessing a history making day.

If you have chance to talk to the local (mostly my church members), you have some interesting insights from the. Thatcher era resulted labour party holding the parliament for so long, now UK started to embrace Conservative party again.

It was interesting to see the live debate 3 party leaders on telly for the past few weeks, as well a vacuum period (quite short really) for the Hung-parliment - where no party won the majority seats. Till now it became a co-governing parties in UK (Some called it CONDEM party - take CON and DEM separately, you will be amazed with the creativity of language - you just have to take in Brit's cynicism)

I am concerned more with the education policy and the funding with HE, another less concern but could indirectly affect us is the immigration cap they are going to impose. Will this affect our future as a foreigner?? We trust God and He has His higher way.

Who is the NEW GUY for UK? You saw him on the poster which is just outside my house :-)