Bristol Day 12

Finally the body system failed a little. I fell ill. I guess it is a bout of flu trespaasing but don't worry. Am feeling better after taking a nap in the afternoon.

Headed to the pharmacy to get a thermometer and some lozenges. The throat hurts and it is time to take some ginseng tea or Eu Yan Sang's heat expulsion. Am sure it'll help.

Anyway it is the weekend and plans to head down London will be postponed till a later date. I'll stay in Bristol and get well soon. Hopefully I will be well by tomorrow night for Halloween and a visit to Bath on Sunday with Chris and family.

So did you guess what cuisine I had last night? Italian. Not Indian. I had seafood risoto and goat cheese. Was fabulous. Loved it.

Today's dinner as you can see was delicious. Nay. Not the clams. The clams were to remind me of the good food in Singapore. Well, I had tapas, the Chinese version of zi char. It was an order of various small dishes. Chicken, prawns, salmon and a plate of rice. Again, I liked the food. Oh. The first dish that came was a bowl of olives. My. Didn't finish it as it was plentiful.

It is a culture here that people take a drink at the bar before heading to the dining table. Or maybe not. The Spanish restaurant was filled up and this sick man was made to wait an hour before I got my table. While waiting I could only have a beer and wander the eyes around for pretty things. They had very nice decorations. :)

Tomorrow I might try taking a bus and head out to some place else. Cabot Circus and the vicinity has plenty of my leg hair now.I need to find new places to drop some hair if not I will be bored. Maybe it is time to head back to the casino again. Haha.

Bristol Day 11

I don't know but it is a weird feeling. Maybe because I just had two glasses of beer and a bottle of sake. I enjoyed the weather very much today. It wasn't cold but cool.

Still I miss home and my wife and I wonder if she misses me too. I am sure she does only that I miss her more than she misses me.

The day got a little busy today and that can be a good thing but work ended by 5pm and I took a walk around. I walked past the casino and didn't even bother to step in. Great job huh?

Walked to Baldwin Street and found a restaurant which seemed pretty interesting. Take a look at the photo and make a guess on what type of food is it. I enjoyed it and frankly, I have been wanting to have this dish for a very long time. The last time I had it was likely 3 years ago. Yummy.

After dinner, I headed to my 'hideout' at Masa Japanese restaurant where I took a Kirin beer and a small bottle of sake. Sake helps make me sleep better it seems. Knocks me out and allows me to sleep till at least later into the morning. I guess it is nice to be at Masa because everyone speaks to me in Cantonese. I feel a little at home there. The waitresses are friendly too and one of them sure looks like one of my crushes when I was younger. Oops. Sandy must be fuming mad. Please don't jump ok? You know you shouldn't right?

Lunch was very Singaporean. Filet-o-fish, fries and a cup of Sprite. Haven't had a soft drink for the longest time. What to do? It is always beer here.

Bristol Day 10

Finally I reached a certain milestone - 10 days. Actually, it is day 11 but never mind.

I was all excited about my tepanyaki dinner as I didnt know what to expect at a Japanese restaurant in Bristol. At least something to look forward to this evening.

I somewhat left the office pretty late today at about 545pm and headed straight for dinner. No dropping pounds today. :)

I have to say today's decision to have Tepanyaki was just the right choice. Finally I had 'company' for dinner. The Malaysian chef kept me company as I completed the whole meal followed by a family of three - Chris, Trish and Alex who kept me company for the rest of the night.

Well, we never made any arrangements to have a 'family' dinner but we started off with some casual chat as they sat across me at the Tepanyaki table. They were a friendly family and I was awed by the passion young Alex had. He has a love for engines. Old engines that were built in 1917. At the age of 15, he has a garage full of equipments for the purpose of modifying engines. See, sometimes it is good to have real passion for something.

We spoke about Bath (a nice town 25 minutes from Bristol) and how I wanted to visit. Not too sure when though but I will likely head to London this weekend if everything goes well in terms of cash and my allowances which I have yet to receive. I have already spent about 1000SGD already. Some of which was sucked in by the casinos. :)

Anyway, don't find it fun any more to visit the casino. Boring because it is just so small and always the same faces who play the same games but let's see. I might just pop in again tomorrow.

So you must wonder how much my yummy meal cost - 45 pounds courtesy of my employer which included a hot sake and a Kirin beer.

Bristol Day 9

No photos today as I totally forgot to take my camera out.

Nothing much happening in this small city except for a Japanese meal of Unagi rice and some soft shell crab roll. Nothing that special but I look forward to Tepanyaki tomorrow night. Yummy.

Well, don't be mistaken. I have no date tomorrow night except with the male boss at the Japanese restaurant. I didn't know they served Tepanyaki thus I told him I would like to try it tomorrow night. That's all so no wild guesses. Still no luck in finding friends here.

Well, actually not true. I made friends with the people at the casino, servers at restaurants and that is about all. Frankly, I guess I talk to these people more than I talk to my colleagues. Everyone is just so busy buried in their work and when it is time to knock off, we all just knock off and say our 'have a nice evening'.

The weather is now a little warmer and if this goes on I think I will have problems sleeping. I need cool or cold air to sleep. You know that don't you? Don't forget to arrange for an aircon servicing before I head home. I will be used to the weather and will need cold air in the room.

I wonder how's my car doing. It is good to know my father-in-law is driving Sandy to and from work. Sandy is spoilt now but she deserves to be spoilt. :)

Waiting for a friend to visit London and maybe might just catch up with him. If I do meet him, then it'll be the first time I have company for a meal. Phew. Tough life huh?

Off to sleep now. It is 10pm. The latest time I am falling asleep in Bristol. Looks like I will wake up a little later tomorrow morning.6am?

Bristol Day 8

The morning started with great sunlight but as I was heading home after work, it started to drizzle. And I was caught without an umbrella. The only day I decided to travel light without having additional weight of any umbrella. Bad decision.

Woke up slightly later that usual about 6 odd. Had to pack up a little because the housekeeper will be here to change the sheets. Only the sheets. I realised the toilet wasn't cleaned. Argh. I will have to check with the reception on whether full cleaning should have been performed instead of a partial.

Dinner was pizza with western 'salted fish'. Kind of weird but not too bad. Something different from the norm pizzas I eat regularly. Before dinner, I took a drink by the bar as I needed to wait for a seat. Just like in Japan, I was given a buzzer which would buzz (of course) to inform me my table is ready. Impressive isn't it? Do this in Singapore and the restaurant will close down due to numerous buzzers missing. Ha ha.

Wonder what's for dinner tomorrow. Dinner is the only entertainment I can get here even though it has to be alone. Sad isn't it?

Miss my wife and family at home. Really can't wait to have a plate of Boon Tong Kee chicken rice and some nasi lemak.

Bristol Day 7

Just one week ago at this time, I was perhaps flying across the Indian Ocean on Dutch airline KLM.

You may think time passed really quickly but the truth is the hour and minute hands crawls just so slowly here in Bristol. The weekend was nothing but a walk around the city with most hours spent losing pounds at the casino.

Looks like the past week's meal was spent all alone with my camera. I don't know if I will ever get used to it. I really doubt it because I love company and surely need company.

The weather seems a little warmer now but let's not speak too soon because the weather here can be pretty unpredictable too.

Lunch was at some English pub / restaurant along Whiteladies Road - sausage and leek on mashed potato together with a beer for only 7 pounds. Nice deal but surely weird having a beer to go along with "breakfast".

Dinner was lamb shank at Cabot Circus with a hot chocolate. The shank was tender and marinated well with red wine however I didn't finish the potatoes as I don't want to gain extra pounds the wrong way. I rather leave the gaining of pounds at the casino. :)

Am glad it is Monday tomorrow. Weird isn't it? You should know why.

Bristol Day 6

A long day because I woke up at 5am again. And why? Because I sleep darn early by 9. Nothing to do but read and I feel walking in this area at night isn't so safe. Perhaps it is due to the bright lighting we have on the streets of Singapore but here lighting aren't that efficient.

I thought I could grab a ticket to watch musical We Will Rock You but tickets are all sold out for the weekend. Am hoping I can get tickets on weekdays but I dare not purchase yet just in case I end up with some work commitment.

So I spent the day walking around town and looking every bit like a tourist. Tried to make some friends but unsuccessful. Sad isn't it? Ended up at the casino and losing some pounds. Only if it were weight loss. :)

Now, it has been 6 days and still counting since I had company for a meal. Sucks big time eating alone without having someone to chat with or share my food. Miss home so badly.

I can only hope that I will head home earlier than expected but let's see. Maybe by making some friends here I might just enjoy it a little. Let's wait and see.

Oh, I heard from some strangers I spoke to and they told me they loved the hot weather in Singapore. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side because I somewhat love the weather at least for now. It might change when the weather turns freezing cold.

Daily report on my meals now. Lunch was a 12 pound Chinese seafood hor fun with a ice lemon drink. Surely overpriced if compared to Singapore but dinner was kind of worth it. A soup of the day, a salmon pizza and a hot chocolate which cost me 14 pounds just like at Pregos.

Bristol Day 5

TGIF! Not for me. Hardly do I feel so down on a Friday evening.

It is 8 pm here and I am back at the apartment surfing. The city sleeps at 7pm. What else can I do?

Dinner was Chinese food at HK Diner and it was a plate of 'big prawn fried rice' which didn't come cheap - 12 pounds. I managed to grab a glass of luohan drink to help cool down the heaty system too.

I wonder what am I going to do to pass my time tomorrow. It is the weekend yet I am bored. Maybe head around town and take some photos then head down to the restaurants for lunch then dinner.

Sigh. Boring indeed.

Bristol Day 4 - Part 2

Even though I miss roti prata in Singapore, I don't think I would pay 5 SGD for a plain roti prata. Welcome to the United Kingdom!

Photos were taken near Harbourside at the city centre.

It is 9pm now and am off to sleep now. Will likely wake up at 4am to talk to my dearest wife as she will be on leave on Friday.

Bristol Day 4 - Part 1

For a change, I have decided to try Nepalese cuisine instead of Italian. So don't mistake me for chasing skirts at the Japanese restaurant even though the waitresses are indeed pretty Chinese.

I have attached more photos today so that you can see what I have been up to after work daily. Just walking around the city centre. Believe it or not, I don't need a map anymore.

Many things are happening in the UK right now. Swine flu with 53,000 infected, postal service employees are on strike and some other protest against some political guy called Nick Griffin. No idea who he is but he sure has a lot of publicity these couple of days.

Forget the complicated stuff. Weekend is round the corner and I just wonder what is going to help me pass time. Musicals or a trip to Bath? I have no idea but the weekend will surely be gloomy without company. Even the casinos can't cheer me up.

Anyway, enjoy the photos of my Nepalese meal. The dumpling look-alike is called MoMo while the sea bass is called Sunkoshi. Nice candle light dinner alone. Sad huh?

Lunch was a 2 pound cheese and tomato sandwich.

Bristol Day 3

A Fosters beer and a 20 pound Japanese meal helped complete day 3 in Bristol and I have to say I am getting quite good at walking around Cabot Circus and Harbourside. Walking seems to be leisure fun for the folks here. Walking half an hour to work is absolutely normal but a real dread for me.

The weather isn't that cold today and I had the opportunity to perspire this evening because I was rushing back to the apartment. Am feeling sleepy.

Looking at tomorrow's weather report, it seems it is going to be a rainy day for us here at Bristol. Equipped with my mini umbrella, I wonder if I can get myself out of the apartment to work. Thankfully it is only rain and not snow.

Can't wait for the weekend so that I can be a tourist and visit some attractions but unfortunately, all alone. Anyway, who needs company at casinos. :)

Bristol Day 2

I started my day at 4am local time. I guess the body system hasn't gotten used to it yet and it will take some time to 'convert'.

The wind was strong and the weather chilly. Nice to sleep in but too bad the body just can't be forced to rest. But it is good because I was able to call home to check out on my darling baby. :)

It is 830pm now and my brain is slowing down. Maybe due to a glass of beer I had earlier in the evening. Hope it can help me 'tune' the system.

Guess what? I managed to input some rice into my stomach. Japanese food. Looks like it wouldn't be the last time I am going to the Japanese restaurant even though the meal cost me about 20 pounds for Japanese seafood curry rice and some futomaki which had fried seaweed.

I wonder what's for lunch tomorrow. It seems most folks here actually prepare lunch and pack it in to the office to eat. Maybe they just don't like the cold. Frankly, I love the weather for now. At least I don't get sweaty after a 25 minute walk to the office from my apartment.

Oh. I took my first taxi ride in a SAAB. A private owned cab which didn't at all look like a licensed taxi and a short 5 minute ride cost me 14 pounds. I have to ask my collegues if I got ripped off.

Off to bed now since there is nothing much to do at this moment except to watch some BBC News.

You will hear from me again tomorrow.

Bristol Day 1

It was tears when I departed changi airport. It is afterall the first time Sandy and I ever parted for such long time.

Sacrifices need to be made. For me and the family.

Anyway, it was a really long flight from Singapore to Bristol via Amsterdam. Thankfully Stilnox worked well for me and during the 13 hour flight, I slept for at least 10 hours. Guess I have been overky tired from the last minute packing.

Lunch in Bristol was a simple 5 pound Chicken Avocado sandwich and dinner was KFC taste-alike. Didn't really liked the fried chicken because it was darn oily. And the cost of a three piece meal was 5 pounds again.

Looks like I really need to use the kitchen facility in my one bedroom serviced apartment - www.geometricapartments.com. Can't complain much but the bedroom has no aircon. Weird isn't it? Maybe because it is winter.

I hope there will be an opportunity for Sandy to visit me as I miss her so much and it has only been slightly more than 24 hours. Thanks to SKYPE, we still can use video call online.

It is 745pm here as I type but am feeling so tired already.Jetlag.

Let us hope all will turn out well tomorrow as I report for my first day at work in Bristol. Hope the days ahead will be a little more exciting in terms of work and leisure.