Oxford Street

아침에 은주와 쇼핑 2ㅃ ㅏ2 하고 은주 학교 보낸뒤 낮잠 좀 자고 영범이와 저녁에 잠깐 사진찌금..ㅋ

ㄷ ㅐ ㄸ ㅏ 추웠다.

저녁에 일식집가서 영범스와 따뜻한 사케 한잔....

Tower Bridge

비가 조금씩 오는 도중에 한컷!

London: Bird's eye view

Finally, I stepped out of the lab to do something other than work. Poor oppa's have been suffering due to my weekend hours in the lab. We booked tickets to get on the infamous London Eye. We chose the perfect night to get on the London Eye as it was not raining which was a good start and it was quite a clear and crisp night...although we were subject to a freezing freezing temperature!
Jamie and Boris were so busy trying to take some nice shots from our little pod up in the sky whilst I just took in London by night. London is so much prettier at night with all the colourful lights....and you don't get to see the horrid colour of the Thames which is masked by all the unique landmarks surrounding the Thames. We were up in the sky for about 30 minutes and then decided to end the night with dinner at SouthBank...an equivalent to Cockle Bay....definitely not as nice of course. But still an enjoyable evening with cherished company:)

Throughout the whole evening my thoughts were engrossed in the fact that I had 26 days left in this city. It has gone by so quickly. Although I have been very homesick there are elements of London I will truly miss. London is such a happening city. I feel that the city boasts confidence and the people are confident and driven. It opens your eyes to a bigger world....I don't know if this is a good thing... at times as I feel like I have become more ambitious and there are temptations that I have to deal with on a daily basis. I have enjoyed this city but the time to go home is nearing...I am definitely looking forward to it:)

Road trip - part 2

0.5 degrees in the morning....temperature I am not used to. Although it was freezing cold we got out of the car and took some snapshots of Stonehendge. This is a site world heritage listed and really quite disappointing because you can't get very close to it at all. This site was fenced off because the vibrations of people walking too close to it may cause damage/instability to the structures of these stones.
Our next stop was the city of Bath, this whole city is world heritage listed...and we could see why. It was absolutely beautfiul! Every part of the city was made of sandstone and just the atmosphere of the city was gorgeous. The city is called Bath as it is most well-known for the Roman Baths that are still retained since the rule of the Roman empire in this city. We decided not to go into the baths as it was way too expensive, Boris oppa will go next time with his mum. I think its worth it when you are a certain age!
Next stop was beautiful beautiful Oxford Unversity. The university I dreamed of studying at one point in my lifetime....we all dreamed of it I think? Thanks to the gorgeous little lady at our bed and breakfast we got free tickets on the Oxford sight-seeing double-decker bus. We sat upstairs, outside in the freezing cold and enjoyed the beautiful scenery whilst our legs and face went numb. On this tour we learnt the very very famous graduates of Oxford: CS Lewis, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, 91 Nobel Prize winners. The prestige of this place was amazing...and I salute Oxford and its graduates. Boris oppa kept raving on about how he wanted to study at Oxford....we can all dream a little, can't we??

Thanks to hubby our driver who was hungover on Sunday from too much wine and medication, and Boris oppa our GPS navigator we had a wonderful and safe trip^^

Friends

Last week we had the pleasure of seeing Jae in London. He was a little hungover from his rugby world cup weekend so he was a little groggy but still very hyped up about being in Europe. We went to our local asian restaurant and then had coffee at good old Starbucks....no GJs here unfortunately, Londong is just full of Starbucks everywhere you go. Jae told us of the exciting atmosphere of the rugby match, although Australia lost he said it was awesome. I am still being called "Aussie loser" here at work. YB oppa brought his Wallabies scarf all the way from London but could not victoriously wear it around town. I am secretly hoping England lose, everyone is driving me mad with their smugness. Anyways it was lovely seeing Jae and chatting about the English versus the Aussies. Aussies win no doubt about it....so much more laid back, easy-going...the English are kinda uptight people in general. But I have made some friends who know how to have a laugh and makes my time here really worthwhile.

I introduce you to Kate (redhead - lab manager), Florian (the only male in the lab, besides Prof - postdoctoral scientist) and Tam (my co-supervisor - postdoctoral scientist). We often go out for lunch when the sun is out....which is a rare occassion. We had lunch and wine at a local meditteranean restaurant called Balfour, a 2 course meal for 7 pounds, not too bad for London standards.
I am going to so miss these friends I have made here at the Queens Square Brain Bank. I wish I could bring them all back to OZ and show off my country to them:)

I am going home

A decision has been made....I am going back to OZ.

I spoke to Glenda on the phone for about an hour this morning. She advised that I come back home and get the thesis done and submitted. That was her advice...I just needed her bit of input as I had already half made up my mind after lots of advice and prayer from people. The thought of writing my thesis away from Glenda was a little frightening...although she is a pressure cooker she is a really good supervisor. Her advice just reassurred me that I was making the right decision.
I broke the news to Prof and he really wasn't that suprised...thank goodness. The upside of it all is that he did offer me a post-doctoral position that I could take up next year June on a 2 year contract.
So more prayer and more decisions to make.....In the mean time I want to successfully finish this project and just write this damn thesis of mine and submit. Decisions can come later....I am going home:)

Sticky situation

This morning I was called into Prof's office. I thought oh no what have I done?

Prof: I have been thinking about your project and it is turning out to be very exciting, is it not? We have been impressed with your work and would like you to stay another 6 months.

Me: (Silence...with mouth wide open)

Me: (More silence....) That is very kind of you Prof but I think Glenda will kill me. She wants me back in time to submit my thesis in June, plus my scholarship fund will run out soon.

Prof: That's ok we will give you a salary for 6 months and extend your visa for you. You can write your thesis here, and I will even help you with corrections if you wish.

Me: (still stunned and speechless). Thank you for the offer I feel very privileged but I will need to talk to Glenda and my husband.

Prof: Email Glenda and tell her we are not trying to steal you but we just want to take advantage of this project and would love for you to be a part of it. If you can't stay don't worry, don't feel like I am blackmailing you ok? But please think about it.

Dilemma is what should I do about this situation? I am homesick but at the same time to be offered another 6 months with a salary in such a prestigious lab is hard to come by, a very good opportunity for me. Hubby's work want to keep him on for longer too so it wouldn't be a problem. I don't know what to do,
I am also waiting for Glenda to respond to my email and see what she thinks. Chris if you read this don't tell mum yet ok? I think I will wait to hear what Glenda has to say.
I need prayer and advice.....

Football frenzy!!!!!

The 22nd of September 2007 was a special day for us Aussies.
Our day started with a trip to a little town about 40mins from central London called New Malden. This place is also known as Little Korea...we took full advantage and we ate till we were rolling out of New Malden. Its actually abit of a hole really...nothing like Strathfield and really not that many Koreans out and about. For lunch we had jjajang myun which was pretty nice and then we headed off to our first football match!

We were so excited on our way there....the anticipation of going to an actual English Premier League game....I was beside myself. The match fixture was Fulham vs Manchester City. We of course were supporting Fulham because of the new recruitment of our fellow Korean Seol Ki Hyun. It was love at first sight for me....he is so HOT!!!! I always thought he was unattractive on TV but seeing him the flesh was amazing. His height, physique....absolute perfection. He only came on in the second-half of the game but we were lucky enough to see him live in the action. The game ended 3-3 but he was the most highly rated player for that match. He was unbelievable.....I lost my voice screaming so hard. The atmosphere of the stadium and the fans yelling their chants will be a memory I will not forget. It was a total adrenaline rush!!!
After the game we hung around until the thousands of people left the stadium. Lucky enough Seol Ki Hyun came out onto the field again to cool down. I dragged Boris oppa and hubby down to the front of the stadium so I could attempt to talk to him. I told hubby to yell out but he was too shy so Boris oppa yelled out "Seol Ki Hyun Fighting!" and then he turned around and waved to us and I nearly passed out!
So that was our exciting English weekend.....one I will never ever forget!

Our first road trip!

This weekend having Boris oppa in town, we took the opportunity to hire a car and take a road trip to see the south-east of the UK. We left London at 6.30am which was quite a miracle for Boris oppa, but we forced him to get up and off we went. The regional parts of the UK were a stark contrast from the busy streets of London. Everything was cleaner and fresher with lots of greenery....typically English green green countryside.

Day 1 - First stop: Leeds Castle. The most famous resident of this castle was King Henry VIII, this castle was passed down something like 8 generations. It is now part of the National Trust of the UK and it was quite a sight to see. We got to see the inside of the castle, where most of the rooms and interior had been well retained. The castle was also surrounded by a small lake and a huge expanse of gardens galore. There was also a typically English maze in which we got lost....I think it took us almost an hour to get out. Two accountants and a scientist could not figure this problem out very easily!

Day 1- Second stop: White Cliffs, Dover. This place is World Heritage listed...again very impressive. White Cliffs is the very south-eastern coast of the UK, where all the ships leave to go to the nearby European countries. BUT nothing beats Australian waters. Australia wins hands-down.

Day 2: Bayham Old Abbey. We got lost getting here and I got carsick but we eventually did make it. This is another slice of history, being one of the largest and oldest existing abbeys in the UK. It was just the remains of what used to be an abbey but you could still visualise how large it once was.

Day 2 ended at a designer shopping outlet. I scored a bargain-price Ted Baker top and Boris oppa 2 Ralph Lauren Polo shirts.....hubby typically not interested in shopping.

First road trip....fantastic.
Next trip: Oxford!

Thanksgiving

My first two manuscripts from my PhD work have been accepted for publication, in two prestigious journals:
1, The American Journal of Pathology
2. Neurobiology of Disease

I thank the Lord for His strength and blessings in getting me through this. This would have not been possible without prayer and encouragement from my loved ones, believing I could acheive this. I thank everyone that prayed for me and encouraged me, it has given me immense strength. In our field of work, where it is about prestige and about academic output it is so easy to become proud and arrogrant. There are times I become so foolish and try to credit myself believing that its all about me me me. Thankfully, God makes me realise that He is the potter and I am merely the clay.

Now in my final year, the end is near... I can see the end of this journey getting closer and closer. I thank God that I made it this far without going crazy, although hubby may disagree^^??. I realise that all this has been possible through my one and only Father. I realise that perserverance and confidence in Him truly makes all things possible in Christ.

Welcome to our hood!

London is becoming home....our hood is Russell Square. The history of Russell Square is famous for its home to the literary greats Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf and TS Eliot. Our hood is becoming very much home and we are settling in very well. We are conveniently located around 3 underground tube stations and have a shopping mall called the Brunswick Centre....full of lots fashionable shops and restaurants...most of which we cannot afford...but still the atmosphere is very modern and chic.

Today we introduced our only friend in London, Mr Boris Lee to Russell Square. It was so lovely to see a familiar face, a face that reminded of us all the loved ones back in OZ. Hubby and I realised it was nice to talk to someone other that eachother...kekeke. Due to the loss of luggage and staying all night at the airport Boris oppa looked a little gaunt. We fed him some Korean food and caught up on all that we had missed out on. It is a nice to have an old friend in our new hood:)

A week full of happiness!

Firstly, I got an insight into what kind of environment hubby works in....a place full of women. Not old women but young!!?! But I am happy for him, they create a wonderful working environment for hubby as I think they welcome any bit of testosterone into the company....as the only other male is the main manager. They all went for a posh dinner and open air theatre at Regents Park....at the company's expense and had a great time. Surrounded by women, how could he not? So the week started off quite nicely and ended with a long weekend.
We took this opportunity to visit Cambridge, our first trip out of London. Two hours away from the bustling streets of London was the academic centre of excellence....Cambridge. This city is built around the colleges of the university, consisting of a total of about 8 colleges around the city making up THE famous Cambridge University. This city was nothing like London, it was soooooo beautiful...how could anyone not want to study in a city like this. Everyone had a bike with a basket and travelled with this bike as their only means of transport. I wanted to hire one but they ran out so we decided to walk instead. I actually thought for one moment if I was sent here to do my PhD I might not have returned home to OZ.
Week ended beautifully:)

British Premier League

멤버가 아니면 갈수 없다!

근데.. 잘 못하는 팀의 게임은 운좋으면 간다?!

ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.. 설기현이 팀 옮긴다 어쩐다 하는 턱에 우연히 알게된 팀.. Fulham Football Club.

마침 LG가 스폰서가 되는 바람에 여기에 거주하는 한인들에게도 조금씩 유명해지기 시작했다.

게다가 이 팀은 별루 못하는 팀이라 잘만하면 경기장에 갈수도 있던 상황...

근데 요즘 맨체스터 시티가 미쳤는지 1등.... 다행히 Fulham vs Man city경기가 General sale이길래 영범이한테 잽싸게 같이 갈껀지 물어보고 표를 구해따.ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

잘하는 팀 경기는 표구하기가 하늘에 별따기... 근데.. 돈 200파운드 정도만 있슴 갈수 이따는데.ㅋㅋㅋ
암표도 판다네.. 경기장 앞에서 ... 당일날..

암튼 이렇게해서라도 갈수 있어서 천만다행! 게다가 지금 현재 리그 1등을 달리고 있는 맨 시티...

아~~~~~~~~~~앗~ 싸라비아~~~

This one's for the family^^

I have been married for now almost 3 years and I never had to cook for my husband because I had the luxury of living with my wonderful mum, whilst doing my PhD which concurrently started when I got married. Now we are here in the UK, without mum. Just me in the kitchen trying to cook something edible for hubby. I must say I quite enjoy cooking and the anticipation of how hubby will react to my food is also another motivation to cook the best possible meal I can. My brother laughed at me when I said that I had been cooking nice edible meals. He requested I provide evidence of what I have been cooking.
This one's for the family...that thought I could never cook:)

Our first date....with the new camera

No fishing...no golf.....equates to a newfound hobby for hubby....taking photos with his new toy....an Olympus E4-10.
I am afraid to touch it, I don't know how to use and refuse to read the instruction manual. Ever since I have been in a lab I hate reading any sort of instruction manual. Before you use any type of equiment in a laboratory, it is compulsory to read the instruction manual and the Standard Operating Procedure.....SOP. I have read SOPs to death and refuse to read one in order to take photos. I will stick to the easy to use small digital camera that does everything automatically.

We went to Highgate Cemetery, to be honest it was quite an average attraction BUT had a lovely ambience. Hubby madly took photos, practicing with his new toy, whereas I spent alot of time reading all the plaques. I usually get spooked at cemeteries, but this place celebrated death in that it was a time when you go home to Jesus. Some of what was written on the plaques were really touching. There was one woman whom her husband buried and on the plaque he wrote: "my dear wife, whom Jesus called to meet, and we will be together once again in our homeland far away". It was so touching, I took a photo of the plaque, but being so old most from the 18th century, alot of the writing had faded. There were lots of monuments of the Cross, angels and statues of the people that died. This place made me think about death, how we as Christians seem to be better prepared for it, knowing that once again we will be reunited with our loved ones and our Saviour eternally. It makes me think once again how I have to pray and hope that my loved ones that are not Christian need to be saved so they too may be with us in eternal life.

Next stop: Marble Arch. Another average attraction, it was the original gateway to the first Buckingham Palace. Not that interesting but oppa took advantage and took lots of photos. On our way home we stopped by our park to visit our friends. Our furry friends, little squirrel and the many dogs we see everyday.....we have made friends in London...:)

재산 목록. 5호 공개

결혼할때 새로산 디카.. 이제는 넘 늙었다..

아빠오셨을때 블루마운틴에서 아빠가 우리 사진기로 찍었는데..

화면이 너무 쪼끔해서 안보인다고 하신말에.... 바꿀때가 됐군.... 이라고 생각



마침 올 연말 2달동안 14개국 여행을 ㄱㅖ획중이여서 1주일하고 이틀더 일한값으로 새로운 카메라를 영입했음....(참고. 영곡이의 "최강의 올림푸스"라는 말에 귀가 솔깃ㅋㅋ"

요즘 머나머나 다 들고다니니.. 나두 뒤지지 안게.. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ



우리의 재산목록 5호 올림푸스 E-410
아주 맘에 듬... 가방두 새로 구입 30파운드... Sandisk 4 Compact Flash Memory 4GB도 월요일날 도착...

근데 어케쓰는질 잘 몰르는게 문제...

2 days of summer

Then it rained of course. Now I know why they say that all the Brits ever talk about is the weather! It's because they wait for the sun so much and when it does come, there is so much happiness and exposure of skin. Due to the beaches being so far away , everybody gets into their bikinis and budgies in their local park, and just tan on the grass. We felt so sorry for them....they have no sun and sand and they are driven to strip down in local parks. We missed our local beaches...but I shouldn't complain because the sun was out...a whopping 30 degrees! I didn't think the day would come where I could wear a singlet top and shorts...but were granted a wonderfulr 2 days of this^^

We took the opportunity to go to "Notting Hill." The setting of one of my favourite chick flick movies.....hubby had no idea where and what this was. It was such a beautiful day, we ate a 2 pound home-made chicken burger and then had a bag full of fresh, delicious cherries. Added bonus was I bought a white beaded necklace for 3 pounds and put in on as soon as I purchased it....Nancy and Beks would have been proud of my purchase!
God blessed us with more sun on Sunday and after church we spent the day in our local park....Russell Square Gardens. Every night we walk around this park about 5 times, equating to about a 2km walk. Now we have joined "Money First" we will not need to burn fat in this manner.

Shopping haven

If I had alot of money, which I don't have alot of due to: a. Being a poor PhD student b. Having an accountant as a husband who is managing my scholarship funds, if only I could I would come to London and go shopping crazy!!!! I love the fashion here, the variety of clothing and prices aren't too bad either....if only I could:(
On the weekend we visited "Harrods"...way to luxurious for us...we did think of Jen..she would have loved it! I did enjoy just looking at the immaculate displays of all the designer clothing, shoes and bags..every woman's dream! We also took a snapshot of the memorial fountain of Princess Diana and Dodi in the foyer of Harrods. Quite a sight!
We are running out of things to do in London now...so we are taking each weekend very easy....spending alot of time strolling and rolling around in the grass of the endless parks here in London. Close to Harrods was the original Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens where we lay on the park bench for over an hour..imagining what dog we would buy....after we buy our house...our life once we get back to Oz....I can't wait!

The most impressive yet

The sun was out again (can you believe it?) and we decided to go to Greenwich this weekend. And I must say it was the most impressive place we had been to so far. There were several sights to see, so we basically made a day trip out of this attraction. We first went to the Royal Observatory, where the prime meridian longitude is at 0 degrees....it was amazing to learn that the Brits were the first to discover this concept of longitude because their ships kept crashing into eachother. The Brits were actually quite clever people! In linkage to this, next stop was the Maritime Museum where hubby stood proud next to Captain James Cook. One of his fave fishing destinations is at Captain Cook (Botany Bay), so he was quick to post this pic on his fishing clubwebsite.

The most impressive yet....was the Royal Naval College, comprising of two main buildings; The Chapel and The Painted Hall. The highlights were the amazing pastel paintings plastered on the ceilings and walls of these building, really really beautiful. Even the very non-artistic oppa was very impressed. We must take Boris oppa here, he will love it! Plus, all admission was free! London is slowly growing on us....cooking is slowly growing on me....we just wish you were all here with us, it would make this place so much more enjoyable.