A thankful heart.

I went to Alnwick last monday to see my store manager! I would be doing a summer placement in a town, called Alnwick, where the Alnwick Castle is. I bet lots of people know alnwick castle as it's one of the major shooting site for Harry Potter. Hehe.

that's the castle and the lion bridge. nice eh?

Well well, Grace joined me!! So, we took a train to alnmouth, the place where I will be going to stay during my two month placement in Alnwick. When we were in the train, we passed by a super beautiful scenery. And the next minute, we are in Alnmouth station already. So, I was so excited, and shocked, because the beautiful scenery I saw earlier is actually Alnmouth. I know I never google map it before I came. 

That's what I saw and was totally in awe.

A peaceful place. All I see were houses. And, birds were chirping and singing so happily as though they were rejoicing with me. Then off we took a bus to Alnwick, another old, lovely town. I was quite nervous to be honest when I first went in but it was all good. My store manager and the other colleagues are all quite friendly and I was glad that I could understand the English quite well. I was a bit worried to be honest. Haha. So it was just a short chat about the whole placement, and I was really excited for this whole thing. Woohoo. I cant wait for it to start. It sounds exciting!! A whole new experience, living with a new family, working with new colleague, with a mission to complete --> get myself a position in pre-reg with boots next year. 

Grace and I then visited Alnwick Castle from far. Lol. The entry ticket is really expensive, so we thought we would go there when we both start earning money. Haha. So we are both having faith that Grace is getting  a job in the next two months! :) Haha. But we did enjoyed ourselves in the tree house in Alnwick Gardens. We didnt visit the gardens as well though people always tell me how unique the poison garden is. One day, I will be there. :) 

The hanging bridge. hehe. We both thought we were back in Bukit Aup Park back in hometown. XD

It was really awesome, just spending time talking and catching up. And to look at people, you know who I mean here. Kids!!! There's this girl who played peek-a-boo with us, and she was so friendly when she said Hello and byebye. Adorable! It was good time, just sitting down and enjoyed our hot chocolate while taking some polaroid photos. =)

Then, we went back to the town for shopping! It so happened that Alnwick is full of those small shops with interesting things to look at. I always enjoy every bit of them and we spent lots of time looking at all these little things and got excited over them until we came to the charity shops, i.e. cancer research uk. That's when the whole shopping spree starts. There're so many good stuffs in the shop!! I got myself two formal blouse and one formal skirt for only £12!!! And they were all very new and nice. I was delighted!! 

It all ended with a nice dinner over at an Italian's, Grace belated birthday treat for me. hehe. Just before I was going to go back to Sunderland, my landlady texted me her home address! I was excited, so excited that I told Grace I wanna look at the house! We didnt get to greet them cos it was quite late and I don't want to surprise them. ahhaha. 

Tidal House

I know, it's huge and it's so beautiful right. I was so excited!!! and to walk out the street, there a bus stop for me to catch a bus to alnwick and the sea is right in front of the street. How cool is that? I cant wait, seriously! I am super excited now. Hehe. I really thank God for helping me to find them through my pastor, Dave. I was really worried before this to get myself an accomodation!

Tell me, how can I not give thanks when God has been so good to me all this while? It was a superb day, full of thanksgiving. I will learn, learn to give thanks all the time, not only on good days but EVERY SINGLE DAY!

A summer to remember

Ah, it's been so long again since I last blogged. It's because my lappie broke, so tonight, (since I cant sleep) I grab my housemate's lappie and decided to blog about this really meaningful summer!

It started with Paris trip with coursemates which I had talked about earlier on. Then, it was HOME! It was great how I finally met up with the girls and old classmates and matrix mates =). It's been two years. I was welcomed with all the "OH MY, YOU HAVE GROWN FAT!" haha. I know I know. It was bad at frst but soon I got used with the expressions and responses really. Haha. I had sleepover sessions with the girls and it was awesome, catching up with lives and everything happened in the last two years. We could just stayed up talking and talking till sun rise. Haha. Girls are chatterboxes! We spent time skype dating the others who are in the different corners of the world. I really missed all the times we used to spend really and it was awesome this time that we get to catch up and just spend time! I am so happy that Grace is joining me this September! I met up with old classmates too!! We could spend the whole night talking and talking about our uni lives. HAha. And, those in India are the less fortunate ones. So, we would be listening to all the complaints really about their lives there. And, I felt so grateful about being here now! Of course, we couldnt help gossiping really.. haha, which is bad! Haha. Meeting up old friends was great, different gangs different feelings but they were all awesome. I would say almost each of us had grown to be mature. Everyone seems to have different views about lives now, compared to high school days. And, a lot of them are no longer single! haha. (that's the gossip part really!) Of course, the time spent with the family is so much treasured! Especially finally meeting up with my eldest bro and my sis in law! I really missed those moments we spent crapping, laughing and just being a family! I really do miss them and I wish they are here with us! Dad and mom had been pampering me soooo much like a princess this trip home. Haha, and also my nanny! I seriously miss it! And, I had a lot of rabbits!! ahhh!.. cruel eh? it's known to be tonic though. Haha.

Besides meeting up and catching up, this trip home was all about doctor appointments. Well, I had never mentioned really how my body had grown pretty weak over these years. I was admitted hospital and all. So, finally, I am diagnosed to have a condition called fibromyalgia after seeing a few specialists here in UK and back home. It's basically a condition with pain all over the body, with no specific causes and cure. But, thank God that I had found a really suitable medicine which manages the condition well. it's not life threatening, just affective in one way or another but I believe, by His grace, I will be all well :). I have another condition called plantar fasciitis, where I feel pain around the arch of my feet. I had got injections for the heels and so, they are much relieved too. And, I had few sessions with the "chinese doctor" too. It really helped a lot as according to the doctor, I have dislocated joints (which might have caused more pain). So all in all, I am all right now and I am all grateful! And, really thanks my parents for spending a lot on my health issues this trip!

I had to come back earlier to Sunderland as I need to do my shifts. So, luckily, Esmond came to visit me for three weeks. It was awesome three weeks. Trust me, we went hiking, picnic, canoeing, strolling around the north east. It was just plainly catching up and spending time together. It had been so long since I last met him and I really do miss him! He's still as nice as ever and he has really grown a lot, into a mature man now! But, the lame bit is never changed. Haha. We spent time doing simple things yet meaningful! We spent time praying together too and I am really touched seeing him a christian now! :) I am more than thankful for what a friend he is. I really find him a great company over the 3 weeks as we travelled together, taking it slow and enjoying His creation in the most peaceful pace. (I bet it was all good cos he carried everything for me! =P) I really thank God for the chance of the fellowship together.  Ah, I miss you and thanks! I shed tears when he left, tears of reluctance :(. We shall meet again, in Germany!

Ah, so only two weeks left now till school starts. I better cherish the time left! =) That's a long messy entry =X