Christmas update ...

Good evening . . just a short update on what has been happening....
Had a lovely weekend over the 19th Dec weekend where invited mum and dad, Susan, Allan and the kids and Haiyan upto Stirling for a dinner. Mum arrived with dad but Susan and family didnt get through the heavy snow near Linlithgow. So scaled back on the feast - where prepared potatot + leek soup, a roast of mustard / honey glazed ham - well large - with roast stuff etc and then followed with a Lime creamcake which worked very well and was remarkably easy to make. In the evening Mum and Dad got the train backwhich is certainly very unusual for them.
On the Sunday Ping, Haiyan and I went to the Wallace Monument where we went for a lovely walk and heard a good bit of history regarding William Wallace. A video of which is within this Picasa album.

Ping, Haiyan and Bob Veitch at the Wallace Monument 20th Dec 09

Christmas Ping and I in Edinburgh for a lovely dinner - very easy this year as dad bought a cook in the bag turkey from M+S and it worked well. Presents presented and received. I bought Ping a large - too large jumper from Evelyn at work as well as similar one for mum. From Ping I received a lovely jacket from Zara- though this has to go back as it is a little too small. From Allan - Barrel of beer - now finished - excellent - Thankyou, and from Susan a 6 month subscription to New Scientist which I am eagerly looking forward to seeing.

Tomorrow 28th December picking Simon up prior to going upto Stirling. Today Ping and I went to Homebase to purchase the last doors for the Hinckley kitchen units and thence onto the Chinese market in Leith for a good shop - with some stuff in preparation for New Year up in Alyth.

Links to photos ...

It is too long since I last linkled to some of my photo galleries on Picasa so here goes ..

Ping + I cycle 8 Nov 09 Sherriffmuir.	Menstrie 081109
Glasgow	Paragliders Hillend 16th Oct 09
North Berwick	Bob V at Bank 130909
Gordon Smyth Myreton 18th Aug 09	Cavalcade Holyrood Park Edinburgh 9th August 2009
Pisa	Florence
Duomo Milan	Braco paragliding

Ping and I went for a short jog ...

Hello,
This morning Ping and I went on our semi-usual jog from home, through Cambuskenneth and back - not fast or actually very far 2.44km but it certainly blew the cobwebs away as it felt quite cold.

Here is a link to the kml file (my phone playing up a bit on the tracking - as no way was it so random a run!) Best to use in Google Earth

Of course I have photos taken previously on the route which are here :-

Jogging route

North Berwick - visited on Saturday 3rd Oct

On Friday 2nd Oct Ping and I went out in Edinburgh, starting at The Cafe Royal - where we had our wedding reception and now the winner of Town Pub of the Year 2009 - so as usual excellent.

Then met Richard and wandered along to Dirty Dicks for a generally nice drink and chat which was nice.

Saturday Ping and I went to North Berwick - seriously seriously windy but nice here are some photos ... also saw a seal briefly but not long enough for photo.

North Berwick

An update at last!

As usual it is ages since I last added any info here - but here goes quickly...

Hinckley house - renovation - was down with dad during the preceding week - great progress - external painter doing a great job, kitchen sink and gas hob plumbed in. Hob has problem with staying on so struggling to contact manufacture under guarantee.
Dad fitted new skirting and picture rails in dining room and boxed in pipes in bathroom whilst I tiled and started the grouting in the same.

Hinckley house

Ping - non stop studying - for exam tomorrow.

Paragliding - had a couple of flights - just ttb`s Menstrie and Hillend.

Hi, everyone.

It has been about eight months since last time I logged on this blog. It seems a bit strange to me as I have a pulse to write something today. I guess it always will be a case when I feel down.

Today is my three years anniversary in UK since I was landed in Edinburgh in 2006. Look back these three years, my life was changed significantly - got married, graduated from Heriot -Watt and working with a career which I wished.

I have nothing to complain, I have to say. I am a lucky person. But, why I am feeling so sad today - lonely staying at home for a week, failed ST2 exam or the pressure from the coming CA2 exam. I feel so tired from every inches of my body and soul. Just like the TV program's conversation, I feel I am isolated and live with my tiredness. All my pain comse from a single one source -English which I started to learn properly when I was 34 the time I arrived in this country.

I have been over-spending my energy in these three years. I am working and studying hard. Though my lovely husband always encourage me "you have made huge progress on your English" I still feel it is hard for me to perform well in my exam preparation, actual exams and in my work. My speed is so slow . Everyday, 24 hours are definitely not enough for me I have so many things need to do. I want to be good, I want to pass all exams at the first try, I want to ............ !! Who can help me? I am so tired!!!

I know I must carry on, continue to work hard and I won't be beaten down. No pain no gain, sometimes although there are a lot of pain already, we still can't see any signs of gain. Keep trying, I believe eventually you will get you deserve!!! Only care what you have done. After you have tried your best then leave it and don't ask for anything for return. Eventually, there is a day you will be surprised by yourself. I hope I can have a such elegant soul.