An amazing escape to Oxford

Well, I've finally had the motivation to blog. I've been having an amazing time in a summer programme and it was worth missing 2 weeks of boring Malaysian class.

Spent 14 days at St. Catherine's College in Oxford learning English Literature and Experimental Psychology and also did an afternoon workshop every other day walking around Oxford and admiring it's art and architecture. I must say, I've become a semi-expert on Classical, Gothic and Renaissance art in Europe.

Met so many people from all around the world in the ORA course and everyone's been really friendly and I don't feel like the awkward turtle. The Junior Deans and counselors have been just the most amazing people making us feel comfortable in a very unfamiliar environment.

I'll let the photos (and the mini captions) do the talking.

 A really cool London2012 ad :) 

 The Sun was out, for a while :) 

 MMMM LAVENDER <3

 Graffiti on Cornmarket Street, cool beans.

 Just a glimpse of the campus I spent 2 weeks staying at. 

 The prison-turned-hotel near St. George's Tower. 

 Radcliffe Camera. by Gibbs, built mid 18th Century 

(yes, my art&architecture knowledge flowing through)

 Looks familiar, but where? (Hint: First Year, The Sorting Hat)

 The Great Hall, without the magic ceiling. 

The Sheldonian Theatre, with a split pediment. 

 A day out in London! 

(L-R: Abbey (USA), Sophia (CHINA), Sonja [son-ia] (GERMANY) and me)

 The REAL FOOD MARKET at Convent Market yumyumyum!

 They were filming! Doesn't she look like Kate Middleton? *gasp*

 At the Disco Party! 

L-R: Sophia, Sonja, me, Tessa (DEN), Abbey & Roxy (CHI)

Front: the amazing Charlotte (DEN)

 English Literature Class Photo :) 

 Experimental Psychology Class Photo :) 

 Gothic stained glass in the Keble College Chapel.

 Our regular lunch stop. 

You'll never get sick of sandwiches. 

(Recommend: Caesar Wrap, the Salmon Bagel, any Panini and FLAPJACKS *drools*)

 Grad Night dinner! 

That's Izzy in the middle from the States 

We have graduated :) 

 So, I saw Tom Daley :) He was posing at Boswells. 

and yeah, I had to take a photo!

 Holywell Road. Lost my lipgloss and most of my weight here. 

 I really had an amazing time here. I guess I did the right thing, or at least, did the unexpected thing coming here. Would love to re-live it the same way! No regrets. 

Life should be full of unexpected things right? I just wanted to do something entirely different from the usual way of life, don't get me wrong, my usual life is interesting but getting to explore and see the world has definitely opened my eyes about the possibilities in life :) 

This was written in my cert :) Everyone got a different one and I know this is perfect for me. 

I shall do my best to live with it. :)

Hot in Water

I just had to put it here. Isn't this smokin' hot?! On the cover of The Sun's Fabulous Mag and I really wish they sell these in KK! Oh my gosh, he is really undeniably hot. Don't you agree?

Le Bronze

So I just finished my first fencing competition for 2012. Can't say I did great. It was so-so.
Got bronze, as you can see from the very awful quality photo (took it with my webcam, was lazy to get my camera.)
To be honest, it was an easy win for reasons I am too embarrassed to mention.
Tried out for the sabre event. Lost terribly at the knockout stage. No surprise there. I did improve though. Hey, I got 8th out of 14. Isn't that an achievement for an epeeist?

So, this would be the first of many championships to come this year (actually only 2 more) but still! Aiming for a shinier medal this time ;)

Speaking of medals, A HUGE CONGRATS to the awesome TOM DALEY for being the overall champ (individual and synchro) in the 2012 FINA Diving Championships, with 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze in both individual and synchro events. Same goes to his synchro partner, Peter Waterfield! :) 

Can you believe he is only turning 18 in May? This guy is a wonder.


Can't wait to catch him in the Olympics!!

Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you.

THOMAS ROBERT DALEY

Tom Daley is not only a good looking chap, but he is also the youngest person to enter the finals at the 10m Platform Indi Event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics the age of 14 and youngest World Diving Champion at the 10m Platform event at 15. He is also 3 time winner of BBC Young Sports Personality Award Year 2007, 2009 and 2010. 

Just looking at a few of his achievements, how can you be not amazed and inspired? 

He has made me believe that if I work hard enough, I can achieve my dreams, and to not let the bad times bring me down, but build me up. He is the reason why I believe I have the capability to enter the Olympics, although almost everybody think that I might have gone nuts. 

Through his video diaries on his site, I now know that training isn't always smooth sailing and even during the days when your performance isn't well, you still have to give it your best shot. 

After all, training is about improving your skills and learning from mistakes. 

So yeah, he is someone that has inspired me.

Photo Credit:

Daily Mail UK

Post Cards and Agatha Christie

So mum just came back from her worry-free trip to the United Kingdom, as expected, she brought home some gifts from the Heydons and Aunty Ruth. I nearly cried when I saw the two collections of Agatha Christie.

I got over 15 postcards! Yup, I collect postcards. :)

Finally framed the photo! :)

L.O.L. from Tom

(Lots of Love)

Look what came in the mail today... SPECIAL DELIVERY!

and inside it was...

Quoting my cousin, Dina, it's "awesome sh*t" 

So I was going through Tom Daley's website and they had this competition, so I decided to join, to see whether I could win, and sure enough, this came out on the 5th :

Of course, like any obsessed fan, I screamed, and the next thing I did was to sit by the mailbox everyday after school, two weeks passed, nothing. I started thinking that "Liza Marie" was somebody else and I started giving up hope, and what do you know? One week later, I checked the mailbox and I saw rainbows and glitters all over the envelope.

Gonna frame the photo up and laminate the envelope. Call me crazy, but yeah. I'm crazy. Deal with it.

Sorry to hold the news back for so long, but I just needed to be sure before I tell anyone about it, and now I'm sure :)

Visit his homepage! 

Excited Fan Look:

 Yes, laugh at the goofy smile and funny cartoons. But check out the photo!

The Addict.

Angry Birds. Who isn't addicted to that wingless bird flying, green pig killing, wood-ice-stone smashing game?

When the movie Rio was released, suddenly, this game got thousands and thousands of downloads from the Internet. All of the sudden, everybody is comparing scores and getting frustrated over the last pig on the screen.

Why am I writing this post again?

Oh yeah, what I was trying to say is that I am addicted to all different versions of Angry Birds. I knew it was official when I went to sleep one day and dreamt of me getting 3-stars and all the golden eggs. Yeah, that was freaky.
But I got addicted at the wrong time. I'm supposed to be doing past year questions and taking notes, and what am I doing now?? Angry Birds and blogging.

It's very complicated. 

Well then, I'm off procrastinating! I heard there's a new Tom Daley advert! Can't wait to see it! :D