our love story.

our love story, haha it’s just that mr bf was nice and agreed to do a couple photoshoot with me thus the reason for this post.
it was part of my birthday present, so thank you bi!

i didn’t know taking photos were so tough till that day!
actually wait, i think i did suffer during my grad photoshoot too.
anyways. i think this time was worst cos we were like the focus for that straight 3 hours.
goodness!
but thank you angie from confetti peektures for being really really patient and awesomely nice with me!

for those who didn’t know (which i think only a small number)
the both of us met in university.
yes, i shall not go into details though.
thus our first location was back to school!
the sunlight was really really good that day thus we did have pretty photos!
but i got to say, it was so so hot! and we got really sticky plus there were mosquitoes there too!

haha, i made the bf colour coordinate his outfits too so yay to pretty photos!

we did a few shots outside the library too (:
i didn’t know we could get such pretty photos as well!

our next location was at botanic gardens since we wanted some nature involved scenery (:
please notice the change of outfits too!

angie came up with this idea of being in a wonderland thus the makeshift fairy-tale tent.
she was really nice to provide me with props and gave me ideas!

the classic singapore tree, and thats my favourite photos of the lot !

after two locations, i was really getting sticky and sleepy then!
but i had one more location to go!
and that’s the railway track!

by then, both of us really wanted to get over and done with!
it was so tiring but for the sake of pretty photos, endure!

and the classic kissing positions with my right leg tilted up 90 degree!
awwww.
 

mummy’s day!

a smaller affair this time round.
no flowers no pressies since she requested, just a simple dinner.
dinner was scheduled last week instead since sister had to fly off for her overseas cip last night. (:

dinner was at canton paradise (as recommended by my cousin)
the roast pork did taste awesome and that runny egg within the stir fry beef.
the other two was just so-so.
there were others that were so popular that it was sold out when we were there.
will definitely come back and give it a second try though (:

and my family (:

windermere- lake district

have been reading really good reviews about this place so we decided to make a trip down!
though it took like a 3 hours-plus drive from nottingham, its 6 hours away from london.
but its totally worth going i will say!
the bf did promised that we will be back to visit (: so thats yay.

waiting for parking to paid!
and thats the faces we had after sleeping 3/4 of the journey here!

we did stopped for lunch before heading here.
but apparently we were way too hungry thus we gobble down the food before any photos can be taken!
the girls and bf had ice cream.
me was way too full!
so it was ice cream, photos and nice scenery all at one go.!
i was totally mesmerized by this small town.
similar to what i saw in rhine valley,
such a small town yet there had such pretty nature to complement it.

with such pretty sunlight complementing nature, we couldn’t resist but snap more and more photos!
yes, even mr bf who wasn’t really keen on photos back home wanted to take photos too! (:

wanted to take the speedboat/ sampan to enjoy the view of the lakes, since its called lake district.
but bf’s uncle didn’t really fancy the idea of the kids travelling out in such a small boat,
and if i never rmb wrongly it was quite expensive.
so we decided to forgo this time and go for a leisure boat ride instead.

nothing fancy, just a slow family boat ride that we took to take in the breathtaking views of the lakes.
with such an awesome weather and the water glistening.
you could totally immerse in the nature.

we saw castles and houses in the middle of the mountains of greenery.
that mr bf did suggest that this was a good place for retirees.
hahah yesyes, even before we starting working then, we were totally looking for ways to enjoy life.
oh wells.!

there were too much nature that the kids did get a little bored so it was time for kiddos time!
peter rabbit cafe, actually it was mainly beatrix potter’s exhibition who was the writer for peter rabbit.
there were other characters too but peter rabbit was the famous of all!
we did stop by the cafe to sip some afternoon tea.
and yes the awesome scones that i fell in love with, the best i could find was still in UK!
the twg one was the best i could seek back home in singapore.

one last stop at lake winderemere (i’m not very sure) before we decided to hit the road.
since we were in the lake district, we should take a look at more lakes! (hahahha!)
it was such bumpy ride just to see this lake, but then again. nature is seriously awesome.
and then it was home sweet home before we are off to visit Shakespeare’s hometown the very next day!

off to breathe some Oxford air!

as usual, it was lunch first to fill our tum tum before the start of tour!
this time round, we had Italian food cos uncle ho has some vouchers to clear!
so yeps! say hello to pasta and pizza again!
 
we were here to breathe in some oxford air!
haha the famous oxford university town where man produces greater art pieces!
the architecture within the university were so pretty!
and the houses the students lived with compact yet cosy (yes, we peeked!)
 
we found radcliffe square! which apparently reminded me of harry potter! (i dont know why though)
it was so a pretty quiet town that i don’t mind studying here, but wait getting into the university is one huge issue!
hahah (: the main transport around campus were the use of bicycles.
we did manage to witness students rushing for classes on the bicycles with baskets full of books!
studying the English way, if only i was given a chance to experience it!
 
we did explore the town itself, besides the campus, there were proper coffee joints and shopping centres.
but it still seem like a really educated area, probably becos it’s oxford!
and we did managed to grab some hoodies!
the famous oxford hoodies, since i won’t be able to study in it, i might as well get a piece of it!

 

nottingham/ brimingham

since we are in nottingham, we decided we shld take a tour to the neighbouring cities.
actually not that near, haha you still need to take a 4-5 hours drive for some cities!
the bf’s uncle was really nice to actually take a whole week’s leave to bring us around.
thank you so much!
and there were his two children – emily and christine to accompany us too!
it was chinese food for the first few meals!
so damn awesome, although it’a lot oiler and of course more expensive.

bi’s duck rice and my wonton mee!

we always stopped by for lunch before we start our day proper!
it was so nice to be able to eat chinese and enjoy the day leisurely ((:
that’s thai chinese food in brimingham, we were totally looking for asian food i guess so anything fits the bill, we will just go ahead.
only heard of brimingham bcos of jason (RB) who studied his university there so i was rather curious to visit this town!
 |
sightseeing within the town itself, where the shopping areas are located.
oh and surprisingly, though it was a weekday, there were still a lot of people hanging out around.
thank god that the weather was so lovely!

there were always museums that are complimentary for visitors to enjoy.
so we decided to just go ahead.
the kids did went on a learning journey too!

one thing i really enjoy about this graduation trip is that uk/ europe were always surrounded with natural surroundings.
where you see clear rivers/ lakes.
unlike singapore where all one could enjoy is the high rise concrete buildings.
i guess singapore is really small as compared to the bigger countries thus everything seem really congested, and that we are very used to far pace of working life.
we did stopped for ice cream even though the weather was seemingly chilly.
but then who can even resist ice cream!
so it was ice cream time while enjoying the river scenery!

ohhhh! and i managed to satisfy my craving for krispy kreme!
hahahahha, even since i ate it in korea (2006) and thailand (2008)!
it so so different from the rest of donuts, so we decided to buy a box home!
my all time favourite of glazed original donut ((:
that did made a happy girl for that day!

we were greeted with a splendid table of chinese cuisine when we got home!
bf’s aunt will always cook a table full of yummy food to serve our tired souls!
it was really really nice of them!
and one thing i did enjoy over in uk is that we always drink (wine) while we have our meals.
yes, red wine or white wine.
it was the uncle’s culture to do so and i guess we followed.
and the bf really did enjoyed it!

chinese new year 2012

i think this post is late.
haha 3 months late i think!
im trying very hard to backtrack already….!
please bear with me uh huh.

as usual reunion dinner was eaten outside !
it’s been the family tradition to do so since i dont know when!
haha, anyways this time round we chose to do it at peony jade restaurant, a canton/szechuan restaurant!
dinner was at a later time of 8pm since we are eating with my uncle’s family (maternal side)

this time round it was different bcos we had lion dance and cai shen ye coming round to every table to send his good wishes!
it was damn noisy though, haha although it is entertaining!

the first dish of yu sheng!
as well as the photos of my table people!
the food turns out to be not bad!
of course, i think we did paid quite abit!

not favourite dish from the dinner, but it turned out to be worth the money!
the last dish of nian gao turned out to be really yummy too, very different from what we usually have at home.

 

 

 

day one started late in the morning/ early afternoon while mummy cooked up a chinese new year lunch.
yes, this is the only period she will actually cooks!
then we attempted some family shots for the first time! (i actually attempting to do it every year starting from this year)
then it was wishing our parents good health and good wishes before collecting our ang paos and off to visiting!

to my grandma’s niche –> then to chinatown granduncle  (dad’s)–> serangoon grandauntie (mum’s)
as usual, we were just fooling around.

 

day two was simpler.
it was to my uncle’s place at boon lay (dad’s) –> tampines grand uncle (mum’s) –> my uncle’s place at old airport road (mum’s)

chinese new year was truly a grow-fat period!
we just keep eating non-stop!
not just on my side, i still got mr bf’s side!
thats dinner on seventh day where my family hosting my maternal side.
which turned out really really awesome too!

all feasting ended on the 15th day where my family had a mini yu sheng session at home!
it was so hilarious cos we didn’t know what good ingredients was meant for what good wishes!
so it was such a huge mess, but it was fun fun fun!

that’s how much i love chinese new year! ((:

 

living it the British way!

we were truly very blessed that bf has an uncle living in nottingham, which was why we chose to tour europe for our graduation trip anyways!
after our awesome good night sleep, we got up to check out so that we could catch a train to nottingham!
it was 2 hours journey to nottingham.
we were totally living it the British way, slow and nice.
having to lug my luggage all the way to king cross station to catch the train.

we even stopped for a coffee break before heading for the train cos we were early.
coffee break and chocolate tart at paul’s which opened an outlet at ngee ann city i think!
chocolate tart which didn’t really turn out very satisfying though.

thank God we were early cos apparently our train (the one we book initially) was cancelled.
so we were totally stranded at the train station.
after much communication, we were offered a replacement train (which was a few hours late) or that we could hop on to any train heading to nottingham.
however, the latter didn’t allow us to get a seat on the train so it was standing all the way and that there was no direct train to nottingham, we had to change trains.!
which was totally an experience.

we had to stop over at grantham to change to our designated train.
and the train station was totally freezing…..
goodness. have never been through such an experience.

after much drama, we finally arrived at nottingham.
the bf’s uncle threw as a welcome lunch!
yes, my very first chinese food!
i totally miss it after so much days of western!

the cousins.

and with me! (:

end of euro-trip.

end of my europe trip.
a short one but really fulfilling one!
a photo with my awesome driver -Lee!

my awesome transport for the past 2 weeks!

then it was crossing the english channel but back to london!
the most expensive hotel stay we paid due to the last minute booking but it was the most awesome stay !
we didn’t do much due to our tired selfs so it was merely check in-dinner-rest and thats all!
both of us were all ready to conquer our second part of grad trip – a visit to bf’s uncle’s home : nottingham!

 

/fast forward.
a happy note to self: i received a piece of happy news. let’s hope and pray it keeps it that way! (:

paris day two!

wahahha! yes, like i mentioned in my previous post!
we were first to enter the effiel tower !

we heard stories about having to queue like a few hours just to enter the effiel tower,
so being ms fiona, i made the bf woke up early and come queue early!
if i never rmb wrongly we were there say at 8am when the ticketing counter only starts operating at 1030am.
but it was so so worth it!

we were first in queue!
look at the queue that was forming behind us say after 30mins of waiting.
goodness! haha, oh i got to mention it was cold then!
so we were like shivering in the queue as well!

apparently theres two like two tiers in the effiel tower.
the highest tier is enclosed, i guess its too high up!
the second tier is open air! it was so pretty to be able see France from such a high point.
everything was so symmetrical!

and we found singapore!
hahah so proud to claim i was a singaporean there and then!

we were so hungry waiting in the queue that we rushed to get crepes almost an hour after staying within the effiel tower.
awesome and cheap crepes! that’s something i really i really miss now that im back home!

due to time constraints, we didn’t have the chance to visit the lourve.
an art museum that holds the famous mona lisa painting.
mr tan visited it on his previous trip so this time he wasn’t very keen, moreover the both of us weren’t really art lovers.
so we only visited the vicinity of it.

met up the other tour friends for lunch!
decided to be nice to ourselves and have lunch at a proper french restaurant.
one thing to note, the french like to have coffee/ meals facing the streets, that’s their culture.
we wanted to do it the french way,but due to us being too big a group, we could only have a table indoors!
since we are in france, we ought to try the french onion soup!
not a huge fan but i guess it’s worth a try!

back to more sightseeing, this time round another cathedral -Norte Dam.
it’s another oldest cathedrals in the world so it’s worth a visit!
the candles and paint tinted windows were so pretty that you could literally find peace within the place.

we went for a river cruise this time round.
wasn’t expecting much from it but it turn out to be really awesome.
we chanced upon the sunset then!
so for the first time, we witness the full sunset glistening against the river.

one last thing before we retreated back to our hotel, was that after 8pm to 12midnight, the effiel tower will host a sparkling lights show hourly.
the effiel tower will shimmer within the dark skies.
and we did managed the glimpse of the first show.

and of course i got my first chanel ——- necklace.
the classic double c logo.
and my lv neverfull which obviously i didn’t snap picture!

our rooms for the past two nights before it was back to london the nxt day!

city of love: paris

the next country on my list – PARIS! the city of love.
always wanted to visit PARIS, its like every girl’s dream country.
so blessed to be able to visit this place, especially with the company of awesome boyfriend.

look at the awesome architecture located at the heart of PARIS.
the whole country seems to be filled with the same style and culture.
it jus makes it so surreal.

awesome crepes available in PARIS .
both sweet and savoury crepes.
but we love the banana chocolate version D

Not to forgot, what PARIS is famous for,
the effiel tower.
kudos to TOPDECK, who brought us to such a platform for a full view of the tower.
and yes the typical kissing couple photo done at the platform.
its such a pretty sight that I fell in love with my boy and PARIS over and over again.

the famous norte dam, one of the oldest churches.
and the BIGGEST art museum, the LOURVE.

the night view at PARIS was equally breath-taking.
especially with the company of our new -found friends (:

such a whirlwind introduction of paris.
will go into more details in PARIS II, where we made it to being first in line for the effiel tower.
and of course SHOPPING at the famous champ Elysée.