End of term and running-up to Christmas

It's the end of Michaelmas term. That means I have completed a full term in Cambridge. Yoohoo! Can't believe time passed so fast, or the length of term is just too short. 8 weeks to a term! The next term, Lent, would begin in mid-January 2007. So, does that mean that I have a holiday from now until next year? No way!

Isn't that sad... I guess we're one of the unlucky ones who have no break until the 16th of this month and have to come back by the 3rd of January. Even that, we have 2 lovely pieces of 3000-word assignments to complete within that 2-week break. So, it's not really a break for us, well at least it isn't for me. But I'll definitely not want to go through Christmas, cold and lonely here.

Apart from the grim, grey and gloomy picture that I'm painting, the fact is, it's Christmas season now!! Yeh!!

Mince pie is not what I thought to be pie with minced meat or seremban siew pau...hahaha..that was what I thought initially!
It contained plum, raisins and donno what. Taking the humble pie, perhaps?? But I heard it's vegetarian, so there may be mincemeat pies actually.



The running kaki from Wolfson College having an early Christmas party. Mulled wine, orange-ginger conconction and hors d'voures.

And it's buzzing with activities everywhere in town, with lights, sales, turkey, mince pies, wine, blah blah blah, all on sale now! You get to hear little children bugging mummy to buy their favourite toys, early teens talking about the Nintendo Wii as Christmas gifts, and the students here about flying home, their clothes, whisky, wine, liquor and more liquor. Colleges and societies are throwing early Christmas parties, musicals and carols lined up for the season, decorations hung all over the place in colleges, etc. The atmosphere created relives the early childhood fantasy of Christmas. It makes one go humming the "Jingle Bells" or "Santa Claus is coming to town" tune while strolling away, soaking in the environment.

Hanging out at the bar at St. John's College

L to R: Blaize, Ulrich and me. Blaize and Ulrich are from South Africa.

The gothic looking dining hall at St John's College

I have ended the term with a formal hall in one of the famous colleges in Cambridge, St. John's College, the place where Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India studied. It was another superb experience with the Harry Potter setting. But minus the need to wear a gown since I am not a member of John's.




3-course meal

I heard the Singapore Marathon was in the same weekend too. I wish all the runners in Malaysia or Singapore who are running for the event a safe trip and all the best in your timing! Gosh, I missed out on this big race!!!