Not a very exciting title is it? Haha. Unfortunately, that is how the cookie crumbles in terms of getting everything ready for the next few weeks. February is a fairly short month true but is packed with a lot of work to be done and surprises to be prepared. But I’m stalling. Hehe.
This week officially started to add on top of my two rolling classes an interview lab (for the dissertation) and the following week will add on group meetings for dissertations. In tow, I have 3 essays due in about two weeks (from this point now) along with a formal dissertation proposal coming up, due in a week. Typing this out makes it a bit more overwhelming to look at but unlike last term where I tried to do it all in one week, I am trying to actually…plan ahead. A fairly shocking development since my plans to do this always seem to fall by the wayside. But I really am meaning it this time! I’m one week ahead in the readings and have already started outlining a couple of things off. Hopefully means for a casual week 5 (instead of a stress-induced one in my room).
Some interesting things from this week. I stopped by a Krispy Kreme Donuts shop. This was due to a friend request and yes, Krispy Kreme does exist. From what I’ve seen though, there are no actual Krispy Kreme shops. They are either donut stalls (like the one I snooped out near a train station nearby) or simply sold in supermarkets. A bit strange as I didn’t realize their presence wasn’t so big in London but yes, in the cold and in the rain, John Wie does deliver on (most) requests! The same evening, I took a stroll down to a semi-familiar pathway to choose between Wagamama, the Japanese ramen house, versus Nondo’s, a supposedly really good chicken place. I took Wagamama, for sake of price and needing some broth to bring the temperature in my body up a bit. It was better than before when I had it before I left London in December yet still, as I always seem to say in this blog, it makes me long for Cali ramen.
The weather hasn’t snowed again since that one time it did fairly heavily a week or two ago. However, the temperature has still been around 30-40 degrees with a great deal of wind chill. Although my body’s gotten used to the cold somewhat, my face dies usually on the walk home. The walk to my dorm from the train station is literally a wind tunnel. Mix that with the cold winter air and bam, it is literally like walking in a frozen ice cavern. My jaw can barely move for the first few minutes when I make it back into my room.
Ate at another new place this week called Slug-and-Lettuce, a pub chain. There was a special 50% off deal which is a lifesaver in London. Used it to buy a small steak and fries. It was…ok. Service was charming and the location is pretty close but I probably would only come back for the Monday happy hours which have a similar deal.
Another interesting bit this past weekend has been well, two bits. One is that there were walking tours all around London for a bit, encouraging people to walk off their New Year’s fat. I tried to join the one at St. Paul’s Cathedral (there was a gnarly one that was going to go through the London countryside but it was too early in the morning and a bit too long out in this type of weather). Unfortunately, I missed it due to my usual tardiness. I ate lunch at a not-so-bad place called Yo! Sushi. It has a conveyor belt system much like the one at itsu which I had a while ago but I do like Yo! better because of its variety and service. I also had a coupon for this place (40% off) and although my biggest gripe is still that the food is too pricey for the amount of food they put out, I was pretty happy with the offer. Soon after, I explored a little bit since I haven’t been to this area for a while and I came across an area where a commercial was being filmed. Was pretty cool since they can use my image because of a sign they put up. It had something to do with a lot of geese walking around the city. That’s about all I got. Definitely entertaining though. But yea, watching this procession made me late to the guided tour and they were booked. Instead, I went to go watch ‘Precious.’ Seems like one of my Top 10 movies of 2009 (which is still in the making) but a bit depressing and spastic. Heh. I really am going to finish some reviews and post them up pronto. Something I’ve been lagging on.
Oh, and I think my guitar skills have definitely become much better. Not perfect persay but able to bring out a couple songs to my delight. Hoorah.
Onto Week 4. Almost at the halfway point…