04/11/11 - This past week is my one year anniversary from leaving my job at Tesco and living in the UK to starting my new life in Malaysia. It's been quite a busy year, from spending the school holidays with Deepa, Ranjitha and Tharani, to my stressful month of teaching at Mantissa College, moving into the Boys' PETE Hostel, working for Jamel's Nike Academy football club, and starting college at Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University College. Those are just some of the main highlights, but I've had so many great memories and tough times this past year; bring on the next twelve months of it...

La Seleccio suffered from two defeats this past weekend in the Junior Football League; some of the players turned up quite late, which didn't please the coaches... Also had the suprise arrival of Shanthi to her family's house in Taman Tun, with four of her kids in tow (Hema, Ranjitha and her two sons, Rooban and Gautham). After falling out with the family, it seems there's now peace between them and Shanthi, so I hope a fresh start can do everyone some good, though I see things getting a little chaotic with seven kids in the house at once (with Deepa, Tharani and baby Dhashaini there too)...

11/11/11 - No Junior Football League this past weekend, but still had work as some coaches from Cardiff City Football Club came to see the players training, plus we had a friendly match on Sunday... Jaeskumar, one of the PETE Hostel Boys, went back home on Monday; it was a shame to see him leave, we got on quite well but I shut him out of my companionship most of the time as I couldn't bare it when Jason was around. I seriously pity him for the year he's had, been near glued to Jason everywhere he goes; he's a lot more brave than I am...

Though it was sad to lose a brother that day, I gained my father for two weeks instead. He brought me a massive stash of UK treats (above left), mostly dessert sachets (and he brought plenty, with them being so light), plus some chocolate and a few other gifts. I'm trying to keep his trip unique and interesting; we visited KLCC a couple of times, plus he organised a trip to FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia), plus he paid his first visit to Port Dickson, along with Shanthi, Ashwini, Udaiya and Tharani (right). We paid a few visits to the family in Taman Tun, and the youngest kids really like Dad; he even brought advent calendars as gifts for them. I hope next week is just as fun...

18/11/11 - Took Dad to the JFL tournament and to church over the weekend; we had a car to take us to Port Dickson, and used it over the weekend too. I've been treated to lots of nice, Western, restaurant meals whilst he's been here too, including Nando's and Pizza Hut. Was back at college after mid-term exams and break, and had Dad meet a few of my friends there. Also finally opened a Maybank account here, so I can finally keep some of my money in a Malaysian account. Also took our first ever visit to Gentings Highlands (left), and paid my first ever visit to a casino. I played a strict budget of RM60 on roulette, and despite winning one game, I ended up losing the rest, but it was an enjoyable experience...

25/11/11 - Enjoyed my last few days with my Dad before he went back to UK; went with him and Ranjitha (right) to Mid Valley and Times Square to buy Ranjitha a dress. I had wanted to bring Deepa along too, but she had to visit a temple as she had some spiritual problems. It was a nice day, despite some delays, but the time took sadly caused me to miss a last minute call of a photography appointment for Samson's 3rd birthday (a boy from church).

Delays that day were also caused by discovering that my room had been intruded again, to the point where the latch on my padlock had been unscrewed. What's even more sad is not who stole what, but how they got in, and there's a funny correlation between the days my room was broken into and the seldom visits Victoria paid to the Boys' Hostel (it's their house, so they're going to have copies of all the keys). It even got to the point of one of the boys trying to put their arm through my door to try and unlock it.

Fortunately I've been reacquainted with Shahram, who's currently living in Pandan Indah and is also looking for a new place to stay, so we've been looking for a new place for both of us and his girlfriend, Gloria, to stay in. It's not easy finding apartments when so many places will either only take Chinese, females or do room shares. It'll also be the first time I formally pay rent in Malaysia (as I've always stayed with church members before), but as long as I can get plenty more photography work, especially with La Seleccio (who played in some heavy rain during the JFL on Sunday), then hopefully I'll be fine. Regardless of how much it costs though, I know I'll be staying in a much better place...