If only bad memories can truly be erased by just writing them down and burning them like wat the Yanks do on Good Riddance Day... ho hum
Nonetheless, all of us stil feel the hope of a better yr ahead!! :)
Anyw, was thinking if Marpig should write anyth on 31st Dec bcos anyth would seem cliche but heck!! Itz just another entry lah!! :P
Had a few NY resolutions over the yrs. Cannot rem if she accomplish 100% all the time but definitely sm. No particular NY resolution this yr, since itz the same as the last (Ding would noe best as shez with Marpig last yr, this time!!) However, Marpig dares herself to do 1 more th; to run a marathon!! Wil update next yr, this time, if Marpig did run 1!! hahaha
Looking at the past again *yawns* really miss playing hockey wor...
(Can u spot Marpig?! :P)Then, thinking back 1 mth to Nov when Marpig went home for 3D, met up with really long-time-no-see sec sch classmates (sm after 13 yrs!!)
Little did ML noe, her gesture is actually a swear in the UK (France and Europe too); an opp peace sign. Marpig did xplain why, si?
And of cos, the main reason for tt 3D whirlwind trip home was for Marpigz dadz 60th bdae!!Other than going back home 2 times this yr (Sept and Nov), Marpig didnt do much backpack (wot?!) xcept to Statford-upon-Avon (SUA) in July, where William Shakespeare was born and also tt Arctic trip. Hmm... quite ok ba... :P
Had always wanted to blog bout tt SUA trip way back in July but since shez like so overdue, she shal do it in this entry quickly (more pics, less write-up)
Above is the Shakespearez Xpress. Itz running, but Marpig didnt take it. Yeah, kinda touristy just like the Hogwarts Xpress!! :P
Instead, Marpig took the normal train to the SUA station
The B&B which Marpig stayed together with Marpigz sis and BIL. Stil rem back in July it was so hot, all of them were perspiring in their beds!! NOTE: no air-conditioning in the room!! *汗*
Streets in the little town where William Shakespeare was born all looked like the above. Very Shakespearean!!
Ooh~~ and this is where he was born!! Itz a museum now. Nth much inside but a fireplace, bowls, plates, notes, title deeds (cos it changed hands a gd few times)
Itz obvious!!
A very old book ttz locked in a temperature and humidity controlled glass cabinet...
Although Marpig hated literature back in sch (bcos doing xams and enjoying a skit are totally different!!), she actually loves watching plays and musicals!! Not sure bout opera though. In fact, Marpig am planning to catch 1 in Vienna smtime!! :D
Itz not the end, only the beginning!! Er... ttz Shakespearez grave. Her wifez grave is bside his although not shown here
The interesting bit bout SUA is tt therez lotsa old English cottages and buildings like the one above. Old they may be, they are occupied!!
Therez also many places of interest (5 to be xact, all need entrance fees) ttz linked to Shakespeare; his birthplace, the house his son-in-law and daughter stayed and 3 otherz which he never lived in. The above is where his wife lived, the Anne Hathaway (NOT the actress!!) Cottage
Essentially, the place is also a museum with beautiful garden and food crops. Therez also many ths bout how the English in those daes work, sleep, cook and go about on their everydae lives. Above are oldern "scarecrows"; made of potatoes with feathersMarpig learnt how sm interesting English sayings originated and 1 of them is the (in)famous, "left on the shelf"
话说, long time ago, the cottages were small but families were big. So most of the time, the children and women had to sleep together on the kitchen floor. But in those daes, men would sneak in and grab ladies for a rendezvous time (ttz how Shakespeare met his wife apparently, his was a case of 奉子成婚. He was only 17 when he bcame a father!!)
Hence, the young girls started sleeping on the kitchenz 梁. After the girls climbed onto the 梁, they would pull up and keep the ladder so tt no1 can climb up. Hence, the saying, girls are left on the shelf. Itz really for their protection but modern pple started using it to mean girls BEING left on the shelf bcos they didnt get married!! Itz wrong!! Ho hum
It just so happen tt when Marpig was there, it coincided with the River Festival in SUA
With the very English funfare!! Wow... pic seems to be straight out from an Enid Blyton book, just tt itz in colour!! :DAnd of cos, the man himself!!
And wala!! TTz SUA trip back in July done in a jiffy!!B4 Marpig ends this last entry of the yr, shez got a lovely lamp from her secret Santa when she went out in early Dec with her team for their annual Xmas dinner at an Indian rest!! (Ang mohs are tired of Xmas turkeys too!!)
Really love tt lamp!! Wonder why secret Santa had chosen to give Marpig tt... hmmm... cos she is bright?! She lights up pplesz lives with her TM smile?! *super 吐* :PIf any1 of u wonders why Marpig looked so red above, ttz bcos shez downed 2 mulled cider (her fav!!) and a glass of red wine (and she didnt even finish the wine)...
Happy 2011 to all!!
*fireworks fireworks fireworks*
