A Day Trip to Kent

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Regardless how stressful of school works, I am glad that Melanie came to visit us in London on Friday, so we decided to drive to visit Maidstone in Kent City, which known as the Garden of England. There are some areas dating back to beyond the Stone Age.

Maidstone is 32 miles away in south-east of London. It is a pretty historical town with many 14th century churches and museums. We walked around the town centre and drove to see the Leeds Castle.

Leeds Castle

First, we went to Lehman village for some lunches, and then drove another 3-5 miles, we arrived Leeds castle. £15 for entrance fee. It is famous for next to a lake, and it is huge, peaceful, as well as astonishing beauty of the castle and the garden. It might take you at least 2-3 hours wondering around.

The castle was a royal palace for many generations of Kings and Queens. Unusually, there are several black swans and peacocks walking around, and apparently they like tourists’ attention. We might return there on summer holiday. Here are some pictures.

肯德镇和利兹古堡

快期末了，不说学习压力如何大，约翰的妹妹（梅乐琳）周五来伦敦公干，顺便看我们。我们带她去吃点心，然后周六就开车去东南部肯德镇（自己的翻译），它离伦敦32公里，开车1个小时左右，天气很好，觉得好像小时候的春游。到了市中心，很多14世纪遗留下来的教堂，博物馆和很多古色古香的木房子。它是一个小镇，但满热闹和漂亮的，大家都很和蔼。当我在照相时候，一个青年帅哥说：要照我吗？然后就摆个姿势。超级搞笑！

先去另一个小镇吃三文治先，然后开车到利兹古堡，入门15磅。据说古堡名字起的好怪，古堡不在利兹城市，但却叫利兹古堡。古堡因它的美丽而出名，坐落在湖边，在一个超级大的花园，有一个足球场大，至少可以逛2-3个小时才走完。建于1119年，之后是很多代皇室家族的宫殿或花园。真是奢华！湖边有黑色天鹅，花园有几只孔雀。它们都自由自在的生活着，享受着人们的关注，过着明星般的生活。你可以想象得到多么诗情画意的画面。由于时间关系，我们只游走了一半，可能我们夏天再去拉。这里有最新的照片。

Recent entertainment

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After the Christmas break, school has started, and now it has become very busy with essays and exams again. The weather feels like approaching Spring. I can’t wait to see the spring and summer coming.

Despite the heavy-loaded school works, I still manage to squeeze some time to watch some TV programmes and music for relaxation.

Dexter Season 3

Dexter season three was 5 stars, and actually I love it since the season one came out. It is a cohesive drama with complex characters and stories. Each season has its theme about Dexter. First season is to find out who was Dexter, second season is that Dexter found out who is he and season 3 is what he wants to be. There is an exciting news to know that they are producing the season four. I wonder what is the theme in season four about Dexter?

Battlestar Glactica

Then following the remarkable dramma is Battlestar Galactica – the final season. It will be sad to see the end of the 5 years accompany. It has many perspectives to see different layers of people’s personalities, with political bureaucracies, power, moral choices, conflict, emotion, and the hope to survive. It was a fantastic TV series. The stories sometime are complicated, dark, even depress in season three, however it shows people never give up their hopes. And It does portray many aspects of multifaceted human being. This is one of the reason I like this TV drama. “We” are complicated.

Skins 2009

I Watched 2008 Skins last year. At the beginning, I thought it was one of those stereotypes teenage stories. However, it did surprise me that the story uses about 6 characters who is around 15 to 20 years old, describe the complex emotional problems of the modern young generation. It is a period for them to find out who they are and what they want to be. I guess everyone has the same experience when they grow up. They are passionate, energetic, and even troublesome. They sometime make mistakes, but they are still learning and the most important thing is to discover themselves. This is the story of skins. Of course, stories are basic on teenage in the UK, it might be a different culture as we grow up

Music – Lily Allen

New album “It’s not me, it’s you” 4 stars out of 5. There are only few songs I think they are ok, the rest is very nice. Recommended!

The killers – Day & Age

It’s not new anymore, few months old now. The song “human” is controversy about the lyrics, but it is a very nice song and album! Good value!

Iphone 3G

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John decided to buy the Iphone 3G from O2. He chose 16G instead of the 8G, because it is faster and have more memory. According to the rumors, the Iphone will be released a new version without 3G in China very soon. It will be interesting to see, of course, no one can ignore the big Chinese market nowadays. Some people are also saying that Iphone will have a super version this summer. John can upgrade to the new version, and then the 3G will be mine. Haha…can not wait! After using it, everything is so simple and easy to use. You can use it for google maps, ipod, Internet, messages, camera and everything can be connected with an Apple computer.

I have to say after using an Apple computer, you will become addicted and become an Apple person!

约翰终于在O2买了iphone 3G，内存16G的，他之前问我怎么样？我大力支持他买iphone，除了外形漂亮，实在十分使用，又可以讲电话，听音乐，（看来我们的黑色nano又要卖掉了），又可以上网，3G 定位系统，开车最方便。他还下载了很多使用的软件，比如走到哪里就可以查到最好吃的餐馆，就想带着小型的电脑一样。实在太方便了。对他这种超级喜欢科技的人，iphone最实用不过。听说iphone要在中国推出新的iphone，但没有3G的定位系统，当然不能忽视中国这个大市场拉，人们消费能力这么强！绝对支持！

自从用了苹果机的电脑和ipod之后，太爱苹果的东西了，从设计，功能，和使用性来说，微软远远没有能比苹果的。我们是苹果的超级fans! 听内部消息说，iphone这个夏天6-7月要升级，约翰说一升级，他再买新的，3G的就属于我的。哈哈，快点升级阿。iphone超级好用啊！我开心的又照了几张照片。

Let it snow, let it snow…

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It is unusal to have heavy snow in London. Accoring to BBC that it has been 18 years to have heavy snow and it is up to 6in (15cm) of snow. I finally waited for the the real snow.

It is so fun and exciting! What’s important, this is my first time to see the snow. Everything covers by snow. I made some snow man in our garden and the snow has not stopped so far. Because the heavy snow, all the transportation has shut down and classes were off for 2 days, so I organised my classmates to have some snow flight and went to the hill to have some sledging. However, I do feel like I was having a holiday in Norway. What is a wonderful snowing day. Some pictures are here to share to you.

昨天晚上就开始下雪，超级大的雪，因为伦敦在南部，很少有很大的雪，但因为这股俄罗斯和北欧洲的风吹来英国南部，使伦敦下起超级大的雪。据说18年来最大的雪发生在伦敦。开始我还觉得雪应该不是很厚，雪下了一天都没有停过。早上8点醒来，路面和说有的房顶都布满了厚厚的雪。雪大到我觉得像在挪威！刚走出去门外，天啊，5-10寸深。把脚一踏，覆盖了你整个鞋子！我在花园堆砌雪人。应所以的交通工具都停了，地铁，巴士都不能动，学校也关闭了。 我和约翰下午组织同学们一起去打雪球，滑雪。在学校后面有个小山，同学们拿着朔料袋就玩起滑雪。超级搞笑和好玩！这是一部分照片！

Chinese New Year Parade

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I organised our classmates to eat in Cha Cha Moon Chinese restaurant for a quick lunch. Then we walked to Chinatown and Trafalgar Square to see the dragon parade. It was so crowded and eventually we only saw some tiny little dragon. It was a little bit disoppointed but we had a good laugh with friends. Here is some pictures to share.

我组织同学们去吃中国菜和看舞狮表演，连我们的老师也加入我们团队。大家二三群吃完饭之后走去中国城。超级多人，拥挤的不得了！我比较失望舞狮表演，太多人，狮子又超级小！在trafalgar 广场，还有中国表演节目呢。由于天气太冷了，冷到下起雪花， 但大家欢欢喜喜，有说有笑的过了一天。最新照片在这里。

Gucci 2009 Spring Collections

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Frida Giannini is the designer for Gucci and her designs are sexy, feminine, simple and yet also sophisticated. She is definitely a master of colour and not afraid of using bright colours. Gucci’s 2009 Spring collections is called “Gucci Exotica,” They are mixing elements of streetwear with the beach. Giannini has the same design element as Tom Ford (an ex-Gucci designer).

The collections are so perfect and chic for daily wear to work as well as the evening dress, with simple big-wave-hair, slightly smoking-eyes, a golden neckless and a pair of high heels! Every element is spotless! It’s so my style!

You can see the picture and video from my favourite fashion web style.com

Gucci 2009年的春夏装系列

意大利设计师Giannini已经推出Guicci最新2009春夏装系列。她的每件作品都十分性感，女人味，简单但富有成熟的味道。她绝对是颜色搭配的好手！一点都不怕大红大蓝的颜色。Giannini把2009的春夏装叫做 “Gucci 的异国情调” 绝对十分适合，有街头的味道，加上海滩的休闲, 她和Tom Ford （前Gucci设计师）都把Gucci的代表元素“性感“设计的完美无瑕 – 女人穿上他们的设计都是无比的自信，性感，和富有魅力！

这个系列的衣服我实在太喜欢了 – 从休闲，上班到晚装都是完美的设计。配搭简单的大波长发，一点点熏荤眼，一条百搭简单的金色长项链，加上一双高跟鞋，简直是超级性感和有味道！爱美的我不得不介绍给你们看。大家可以在这里看到这系列的照片 和录影 。

Our Home-made Pumpkin Pie

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John bought me a recipe book for a Christmas gift. It is one of my favorite chefs’ dessert book James Martin – from the TV series ‘Sweet Baby James’. Today we decided to make one of the recipes and picked the pumpkin pie with pecan. The hard part was making the pastry with pecan, but we did it well. It only cost us a few pounds for the ingredients, but it worths at least 10 pounds in the cafe. The pie looks so amazing and tastes great – it’s not too sweet, with a top layer that could easily melt into your mouth, and pastry is crunchy and tasty with the pecan. It is exactly perfect! We are so proud and pleased with our pie. Hope we will make it for you one day. Here are some pictures

自家做的果仁南瓜派

约翰圣诞节送给我最爱的厨师James Martin的甜品书叫“占慕士的甜宝贝“ （我自己翻译的）我们在广州明珠台看过他的这个甜点专辑。今天我们终于有时间做甜点，我们选择了容易做果仁南瓜派。最难做的是打底的馅饼皮，果仁和馅饼皮一起搓，然后加5种香料，南瓜，焦糖，双层奶然后放进炬炉45分钟，出来的效果超级专业，不甜不腻，外层柔软融入你口中，馅饼皮脆而有果仁味道。超级好吃！等大家来我们家做客我做给你们吃哦！照片吸引人吧？

Goodbye 2008, good luck 2009

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Another year has passed and another year will soon arrive. As our lives fall into a routine, a day feels like a blink, and a year feels like a month. What did we remember about 2008? There were the Olympic games in China, the worldwide financial crash, and the USA’s new president Barack Obama. 2008 was not exactly a good year for some people, and not a good year to invest.

I feel my shoulder (responsibilities) get heavier every year. Personally, I think I achieved many things and challenged myself in 2008. It is my dream to live aboard and experience the life in the UK. However, I never take this for granted, because it is not easy to come so far and the road will not always be stable. I see it more interesting to walk and face challenges. Despite the fact that life is hard, let’s ‘getting some fun out of life’ like a song from Madeleine Peyroux always encourages me.

When we want to love, we love; When we want to kiss, we kiss
With a little petting, we’re getting Some fun out of life

When we want to work, we work; When we wanna play, we play
In a happy setting, we’re getting; Some fun out of life

Maybe we do the right things ; Maybe we do the wrong
Spending each day; Wending our way along

再见08，09新的开始

一年又过去了，日子过得好了，时间眨眼又一天，一年就好像一个月。08让我们最难忘的是北京的奥运，西方的金融风暴和美国新的总统奥巴马。08并非一安稳的好年，09年可能继续陷入金融复活期，但我们以积极的态度去面对，望好的方面去看。多一岁，肩膀的责任越重，但我仍然为自己的梦想奔波着，挑战新的一年。本人来说，08年完成了满多任务的，约翰和我双方见过父母，放弃7年广州的生活，到英国充实自己，学习新的东西，这是我的梦想也是我人生日记中新一页，但这所有的一切来得并不是容易，约翰和我努力着为我们的将来奋斗着，将来的路也并非容易的走下去，我把它看成多点挑战，多点惊喜给自己。我想每个人都有他追求的梦想，有他的问题要去解决，但永远不要忘记，象爵士歌曲中一首歌曲中唱得，记得在生活中 ‘苦中作乐‘, 无论生活多么不如意，这首歌曲永远鼓励我。

My First British Christmas

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Merry Little Christmas!

We are in Sheffield and Leeds and spending Christmas with John’s family. It is my first real Christmas experience in the UK and I heard there will be a lot of food in Christmas day.

Finally it is Christmas day. We drove to Leeds where John’s sister Melanie hosted the dinner this year. We prawn and salad for starters, along with some wine. Then everyone pulls crackers and exchange gifts. This is strange as I always thought it was boxing day when you exchange gifts, but it seems I was wrong. Next is roasted vegetables (potatoes, beans, carrots, and parsnips), along with some bacon wrapped sausages, stuffing (a tasty bread mix) and some carrots and sprouts with butter. The food tastes so delicious, and finally the main Christmas star – is the turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce. To be honest I don’t know why turkey comes with fruit jam, but it is said that this is tradition. I think it is a weird conbination, but actually it tasted pretty good. After the main course everyone is so full, but I still want to try some trifle and the Christmas cake. You can imagine how full I am.

The next day we visit John’s grandmother and some relatives. It is just like our chinese new year – it is all about family gather with delicious food.

I know properly some people hate Christmas just like we don’t fancy Chinese new year gathering any more. It is like a duty rather than a thing we look forward to, but this Christmas for me is special and unique. I received many gifts and enjoyed it a lot.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and good luck in 2009. Here are the latest pictures for Christmas day!

我的第一个英国圣诞节

我们又到谢菲尔德和利兹，约翰父母在谢菲尔德，而妹妹生活在利兹。这是我的第一个英国的圣诞节，很期待它的来临。记得小时候常幻想真正的西方圣诞节是什么样子，这次终于梦想成真了。

圣诞节这天到了，我们开车到利兹，圣诞大餐在约翰的妹妹-梅乐尼家里举行。所有的菜都是梅乐尼和男友准备的，我们先吃开胃菜-大头虾沙律，然后大家喝酒聊天，拉圣诞花礼炮，一拉‘嘭‘一声，然后里面有礼物和笑话题，大家一起开心的交换礼物。在我印象中，总觉得是26号boxing day打开礼物的，但实际上是圣诞节当天。接下来是很多烤蔬菜，有胡萝卜，传统一定要吃的烤土豆，香肠卷着培根，圣诞配料（有洋葱，果仁，饼干，干果）放进土鸡里面一起烤，都超级美味！主角来了-圣诞土鸡！他们说要下点果酱和肉酱一起吃才野味，也是传统的吃法，觉得怪怪的，不过吃起来还可以。我们都吃得太饱了，不过还要吃巧克力蛋糕和圣诞蛋糕哦，巧克力蛋糕吃起来像提拉米苏一样，不太甜，很多忌廉和巧克力。圣诞蛋糕里面有很多酒和果仁酝酿一起的，6个月不断的下白兰地一起酝酿的，然后可以在圣诞蛋糕上点火，超好玩！从下午1点吃到3点，你可以想象我们有多饱。

隔天我们开车去看约翰的90岁的奶奶和他们的亲戚，就像我们过年一样，都是家人亲戚聚餐和围炉！我知道很多人都不太喜欢圣诞节了，就像例行公事，像我们中国过年一样，没有什么新鲜意思。不过这个圣诞节我过得十分充实和有意义，同时也收到了很多礼物和厚爱！

希望好运在2009年，大家过一个肥厚的新年！这是我最新的圣诞的的相片，好看吗？

Friends Celebrate Christmas

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It was our last day in the first semester of the school and friends decided to celebrate in Spitafield Market in Liverpool Street last night. We went to the Latin Brazil Restaurant. The food was really good. We ordered some cocktails and had some laugh. We are glad that school was off and most friends are going to back their countries soon; so the dinner was also the celebration of the Christmas and New Year!

Christmas is coming – people are all busy preparing gifts and decorating their houses, and it feels like Chinese New Year! We will spend our Christmas with John’s family for a week, then we will back to London for new year 09. This year has been passing so quickly. Anyway, I am looking forward to experiencing my first Christmas in the UK. Here are some pictures with my friends

昨天同学说为了庆祝第一学期最后一天和提早庆祝圣诞，因为大多数的朋友都飞回家过圣诞！我们去了利物浦街吃饭，我很喜欢利物浦街的餐厅，就象香港的中环一样，时尚和充满活力。我们终于选了一个拉丁风情的餐厅，点了些鸡尾酒，小吃和正餐。我点了羊腿排，约翰点了拉丁鸡肉卷等。圣诞快到了，这段时间，大家都在忙于买礼物，装饰自己家，圣诞气氛很浓厚，就象我们的过年一样忙碌！我们会和约翰的家人一起过圣诞节，然后回伦敦过新年。还记得我姐和姐夫Marco 前年12月9号来广州，然后圣诞节在北京度过，现在又一年了。我们就放3个星期假，讨厌放假还要写论文。今年过得真快，一眨眼就过去了，很期待我的第一个英国的圣诞节。这是我和朋友一起吃饭的一些照片。