Back in Singapore: THE STORY ENDS HERE

My Journey to Scotland has come to an end.  There will no longer be any further post (unless I am going back to Scotland in 2012).

Thank you for visiting my blog.  Thank you for all kind comments. 

Thank You

I am going home .....

YES! I am going home. 5 Jul, 2.15pm flight :-)

My assignment has come to an end. It has been a fruitful and wonderful experience.  In 3 months, I have come to learn many things, and that includes:

• my hair and nails grow at a much slower rate in Scotland as compare to singapore. Been here for almost 3 months but i only have to cut my nails once. My hair is not as long as i expected. thought I could have a pony tail by 3 months time. 
• my wounds/cuts clogs faster but it takes a very long time to heal. i guess likewise my skin also grow or rejuvenated at a much slower rate. 
• food last longer in scotland. i had a banana on the table for 3 days and yet it still look and taste good as when i first had it. bacteria grows slower in scotland, they also need to hibernate. -P 
• Cheers in scotland usually means "thank you" or "you have a good day" 
• people in scotland in general are very polite. Strangers will say "Hi." "Hows your day?" when you look into their eyes. They will normally finished their statement with a "please" when ordering food. hotel business/services is fairly simple in scotland. Say what you mean, do what you say: dont play with words (or lame excuse). if you really can't do it, tell them honestly and appologize.
• Czech people are very united especially in foreign land (unlike the chinese). Also be open, direct & specific in what you want to say when it comes to work, czech people (and french too) prefer it that way. 
• alcohol is much cheaper in scotland. a 440ml beer cost around 0.70 ~ 1.2 pounds. It will be twice or trice in singapore.  
• cigarette is as costly as in singapore 
• seafood is cheap in scotland. when it comes to salmon, scottish only eat the body meat, the head is discard. David collect them from the fish section of the supermart for free. it taste good whether grilled or fried (didnt have the chance to cook it in curry). 
• Scottish only eat boneless breast meat or drum of a chicken. 
• Most scottish food are cooked without seasoning. Gravy are then added to give the food the favour.  
• there are many immigrants in scotland. people in the Europe can find work anywhere without restriction. Govt has implement a min wage scheme and that all worker regardless of nationality are paid on the same scale.   
• Europe are still in a recession. unemployment rate is high in scotland despite that there are many jobs available. guess the britain does not want to do the job and most of jobs are readily accepted by the immigrants. Seem like a similar situation to singapore. recently there is a strike going on in scotland by teachers coz the govt is considering scrapping off the pension scheme for teachers  
• No fake leather products (ie. PVC leather), coz they dont last long in scotland climate.  Thats what happened to my PVC leather shoe

In this 3 months I have tried food that I have never or dare to try:

• RAW mussel and oyster:  Awesome! 
• Czech lamb/beef stew with flour dumplings: yum yum! 
• Scottish lamb stew in loch leven hotel: lamb smell/taste is strong but GOOD!
• fried roast chicken backside: ok, not that bad as i thought

Sigh!  Packing my luggage now, and having a hard time squeezing everything in.  Got to sleep early tonight as I need to catch the 7am coach to Glasgow. 

Scotland, BYE for now!  Thank You!

John Player Special Cigarette

Ooh .... have not seen this cigarette for years (since Army days).  I even formed a "kaki" group under this brand name (JPS Group). 

Brings back many wonderful memories of my army days:  going to functions (ie parties) held in hotels, community centres in a group, and smoking only JPS cigarettes.  Thats our signature.

Super Long Day, Short Night

Days are long & nights are short in Scotland.  Its already 10pm and still bright outside (just like 5pm in Singapore).   Below Pictures are taken @ 9.45pm (night time).

It only gets dark after 10.30pm.

Then early in the morning 3am, I can see the outline of the mountain outside my room's window (without lights on).

Below are pictures that I have taken at 4.18am. 

So you can imagine how much sleep I have everyday. :P

Outside the Cottage

Moving out again - Upper Cottage

Moved to Upper Cottage on the 30 May coz we had full booking on that day, and it is going to be full booking for days to come. 

It was a rush & everything is not ready.  Room is emptied & partially cleaned.  No bed, only a cupboard.  Just got to make do for the night (dragged a portable small single bed from the store).  Lucky there is electricity. 

Takes me 5 days of 3 hours job (remember I still have to work) to:  clean up the place, fix the bed frame, move & clean the furnitures (where I ka-po from anywhere in the hotel), fix the malfunctioning switch/socket, throw away the rubbish in the cottage, etc .... and Sigh!  Finally its done.  才像是个人住的地方. 

Quiet Day

Quiet day, been raining the whole day.  Managed to pick up some advance room booking and it seems like there won't be any walk-in for today too.  Again no dinner serving tonight (only 1 room, no point serving dinner).

Looks like I am going to cook again.

Well yes, indeed, with the leftover chicken from last night.  Stir fried chicken with my special sauce.  Feedback from the food taster (Laureen & Inga):  Max, you should be our new Chef!  The Chicken is good!

Ta-dah! 我还能说什么. :-)

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Only 1 walk-in today & no dinner serving at night, so decided to cook Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Turns out not too bad at all.  Peter, Laureen & Inga like it:  can tell as they finish all in their plates. 

Ivana is working evening shift & David is out of town.  Just Too Bad! :-)  You guys have no luck!

OBAN - Ferry Terminal

Late morning went to Oban with David.  An orientation trip for me to get familiar with the place (Oban) to buy grocceries for the hotel. 

Had our lunch at the ferry terminal.  Fresh scallops cook in garlic butter (think they steam it & pour the garlic butter over it, tats all).  The scallop is as big as a coke can diameter, 1 inch thick.  Huge! & scary, man. But, wait till you put it in our mouth, its totally awesome.  Sweet & juicy.  Yummy!  [More pics in facebook].





Oh wait, David decided to buy a crab.  Well he got one:  at least 3 kg.  It costs us 9 pounds (S$18).  What a deal!   This would easy cost us $90 in Singapore. 

Hmm... how shall we cook YOU.....

I bought a NEW camera

Sanyo VPC-S120 digital camera.

Yes I know, I have said earlier that I will buy a Canon camera, but ..... the offer is too irresistible. 

A 12.1 Megapixel Camera (loaded with features like smile detection, new EIS, audio guide, etc) for only 36 pounds (normal price is 60 pounds).  Can't find something similar (in Canon) for that price.

Hey! I cook!

Second time I cook.  The chicken soup with garlic, carrot & ginger that I can find in the storeroom.  Balsamic rice cook in microwave oven:  fast, easy & healthy.  Canned sardine fish fried with extra tomato source (wish i have onions).  David is back from Glasgow:  lucky him, get to have a chance to taste my cooking.  He finishes everything.  :)

Last night was fried chicken meat (left-over roast chicken from lunch) with ginger & garlic.  Also fried 2 eggs:  Scotland egg is much bigger than those I can find in Singapore.  Taste wonderfully.  Dinner was great.  Again leftover are kept for lunch the next day.  Why?  Coz I like my cooking, don't mind having it again. :-).

Well, think I going to cook more often.  Hmm.... wonderful what should I try next? 

Tour Group from "Steam Dream"

Wooh, last guest from the Steam Dream has just left at 12pm.  Time to go back to my sleep.  Been up early this morning @ 6am, to help the morning team on b/f serving; slept at 1.30am last night (after doing all the necessary paperwork).

A group of 28 people (mostly retirees) are enough to drive us crazy for the past 2 days (esp. during dinner time last night).  Well we still manage it well.  No complaints but full of compliments (about the room, the loch view, food, & service of coz).

Back to my work desk @ 2pm (earlier than the usual 3pm), all charge-up.  No bookings for today.  Unlikely to have any walk-in too coz its raining & windy (temperature about 8 degrees).  Looks like its going to be a quiet evening.  Maybe we can have BBQ in the garden again if weather permits.

Remember the "bald tree"

No longer botak .... hair even more than mine.  hehehe.

Today is my wife's Birthday

Today is my wife's birthday.

Hi Dear, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  I pray that it is a wonderful day & everyday is as wonderful as today.

Back in my room and had a bath, listening to 江惠's “家后”. 

Truly reflect Carine's importance in my life & I thank GOD that I have her as my eternal partner who is willing to walk with me through the rest of my life.

I have "fine-tuned" the lyric of 江惠's song so that it sound more chinese (than hokien).  Hope she like it:

有一日我们会老， 找没人陪我们闲聊，
你会陪我，坐在椅子上，听我诉说年少时我有多威妙
吃好吃坏你从不计较，怨天怨地你也不晓
你的手我会牵牢牢，因为你是我背后的最重要
你将青春放在我这，你是少年跟我跟到老
人情世事已经看透了，有谁会比你更重要
你的一生献于了我，我才知道幸福是吵吵闹闹
等待回去（天堂）的时间若到，我会让你先走
因为我不甘让你为我眼泪流
有一日我们会老,有子女尽孝道
我若无聊，会拿出相片看看结婚时我们有多帅到
穿好穿坏你从不计较，怪东怪西你也不晓
你的心我会永远记牢牢，因为你是我背后的最重要
你将青春放在我这，你是少年跟我跟到老
人情世事已经看透了，有谁会比你更重要
你的一生献于了我，我才知道幸福是吵吵闹闹
等待回去（天堂）的时间若到，我会让你先走
因为我不甘让你为我眼泪流

I love you, Carine.  Happy Birthday!!!!

Flowers are starting to bloom ... (part 5)

Shots taken before the camera "Kaput"

Camera "ka-put"

No pictures for the past few days, sorry about that.  Camera decided to "retire" (maybe the weather here is too cold for him).  The gear system of the lens is not working.

I am using a PowerShot A480 camera from Canon.  For a normal camera (& an amateur photographer), I must say "no complaints", truly satisfied with the outcome of the pictures.  It is easy use & no professional skill requires to take miro-view of objects.

I think I will try to "dissect" it & see what is the cause.  If cannot repair, have to get a new one & a Canon of coz.  :-)

  

Petrol kiosk where I bought "feast"

Initially walk there to buy my cigarette but end up also buying a "feast" (ice cream).  What better day to have an ice cream on a cool & sunny day. :P

A bald tree

BUT "hair" growing soooooon....

I have Feast !

Two days ago, I have Feast.  An ice cream from Walls.  Its simply awesome especially on a cool & sunny day.

Nice Polish People

Yes, I am refering to the 4 rooms' guest.  7 adults & 1 kid.  Very nice & understanding people.  When told the hot water supply is not working, all they say is "Its alright.  Can understand & today is Sunday.

I have tried to ask them if I can book another hotel for them but they say its OK.  They like the place here.

David has agreed to let them use the BBQ pit.  So they are now enjoying themselves out there, BBQing, drinking beers & smoking.  I was offered BBQ sausage.  Polish sausage.  Taste nice but (personally) find it a little salty.

Oh yes, I understand from one of them that they are from London, working there.

Happy Easter Day!  Thank GOD for helping us to pass thru' the day peacefully. 无惊无险.

PS.  David is cooking pork rib soup tonight.  Well, I will have to postpone my Hainanese Chicken Rice till tomorrow (that I promised Peter & Ivana).  Lucky me, still got time to do some online research before going into action.

Boiler is down again

Argh, last night (or shoud I say early morning) the boiler is down again.

Today is Sunday (moreover, Easter Day).  No Mechanic is going to come all the way here, not to mention that it is raining out there (around 8 degrees), to look at the boiler.  Worst still, we have 4 rooms occupied.

Lucky, the guest are very understanding.  In fact, 4 rooms' guest are going to extend their stay for another day coz they simply love this place (& my "professional" service too ;-P).

Don't ask me when am I going to bath.  Not going to tell you, though. Ha!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Today the weather is cold:  drizzling whole day.  At night  I think its about 7 degrees.  Went out to smoke a stick before retiring back to my room.  Wow!  the sky is clear & I can see lots of star.  Beautiful!  You can never get such scene in Singapore (too bad mine is a normal automatic camera, if not would definitely capture this spectacular night view).

Cheers!

Flowers are starting to bloom... (Part 4)

This used to be a pond. 

Dunno what happen. 

Guess nothing survived in the winter. 

Only weeds & wild water plants.

Tree trunk, got chop off (maybe by David). 

Can you see the plants that are growing on it?

Flowers are starting to bloom... (Part 3)

Flowers are starting to bloom... (Part 2)