Root Directory:

Huckool.Com HuckoolBlog.Com Blog 2009

Index Menu:

Index Bullet Points Photography

Entries:

January February March April May June July August September October November December

01/05/09 - Less than four weeks to go, and as Swine Flu now becomes a world pandemic, I'm really hoping it doesn't affect my trip in any way. I've waited a long time for this trip and I don't want paranoia alone to hinder anything. The Bird Flu pandemic a few years ago didn't create a huge death toll, so I doubt this one will either, but considering I'm going to a Muslim country, I don't think I'll have much to worry about as far as pork is concerned.

It's supposed to be my birthday in two weeks, but I'm more focused on packing my suitcase than caring about my birthday. I'm also having the first major tidy up of my bedroom in the four years since I inherited the larger room, and I'll be packing some unwanted clothes and toys to go with me to give away in Malaysia. I saw Elizabeth today (first time in a long while, again) and she said she would give me some clothes to send too, as everything I have is only suitable for the guys...

08/05/09 - Just two and a half weeks left, and I'm feeling a slight pre-holiday depression. I'm so desperate go back to Malaysia that I'm trying to keep myself as busy as possible. I'm still working upon the major tidy up of my room, but I seem to just be relocating things more than throwing stuff out. And when I'm not sorting my room or glued to web design projects, I've been at work, and it's been another 40+ hour week. I finally picked up my staff discount card today, which has been sitting waiting for me for six weeks; glad they were keen to remind me about it.

Palmers Green hosted their first English Service at their church, which lasts for an hour before the Tamil Service begins. They did acknowledge that they've had some non-Tamil members the past 'two or three years'; I've been at the church for two years now, and I don't know of any other members who don't greatly understand Tamil, but the English Service seemed to bring in some new faces, so it didn't seem like that bad of an idea.

15/05/09 - Less than two weeks to go till Malaysia. My birthday, which was yesterday, was nice; I phoned Victoria and Anita in the morning, who both wished me well. I went to work for six hours (three contracted, three overtime), so people there could send their regards, though I think I should have just done four hours, the day felt a bit long for one which I was supposed to be relaxing on. Then my brother came round in the evening for a meal, and had a nice time together with the whole family, something we don't seem to do as often anymore. I also got lots of messages online, so I'm very greatful.

22/05/09 - The days are slowly counting down before I go away, just four more days to go! I continued celebrating my birthday earlier in the week with the Palmers Green Sunday School, where Krishnan also celebrated his birthday. Also that Sunday, I did my first ever church bible reading during the English Service, reading Isaiah 40:25-31. That will be the last time I attend Palmers Green for over a month, as I'll be working this coming Saturday.

I also had my first ever driving lesson in the UK, almost six months after my last one in Malaysia. I didn't feel I progressed a huge deal, firstly as I had to get used to driving again, and also my driving instructor (who used to be a manager at my former work place, Sainsburys) wanted me to do everything perfectly, which made it a bit of an information overload trying to get everything right at once. I don't know if this is usual for UK instructors, but they seemed more confident and relaxed with my driving in Malaysia.

So as the days count down, and as I make my last blog entry from the UK for a short while, I continue to slowly pack my suitcase and continue trying to organise my room a bit more. Hasn't helped that I've been ill most the week, switching between headaches, coughing and aches all week, which even forced me to finish work early on Saturday. Hopefully it's not 'swine flu', or anything that provokes me being stopped at any airports on the way to Malaysia.

29/05/09 - It's been another long six month wait, but I'm now finally back in good old Malaysia. I brought so much with me (20.2kg, though I think Emirates now allow 30kg), I had to buy my suitcase a ticket on the bus. I'm staying with Jyothi again, though there's no Ranjita there (she's apparently been taken by her father), though there's a new family staying in her house now, and Jyothi now has a new baby boy too.

A few months ago, I blogged that I should use Victoria as a mother figure more, with the amount of times I get messed around in Malaysia. Well it seems the feeling is mutual, as Victoria announced me as her 'adopted son', who's come back from England. It feels quite honourable, being adopted by such a high figure in a community, I had best not let my step-mother down these next few weeks (and in the future).