Gratitude

It seems so long ago when i was still the head of department, worrying about the new teachers' performance, worrying about the examination results, worrying about my students' dating problems, worrying about everything. But i have only left my teaching professional 4 months ago. But it really feels like a long long time.

I am grateful to God because He looks after me and my family well. So that i have no worries and can pursue my dreams. I am also thankful to God for Dr. Joseph K Charles, the best mentor a person can ask for. I remembered when i was in my final undergraduate year, he once asked me if i would be satisfied with just getting a passing grade when he knew i could do better? That question kept me thinking, and now here I am doing my PhD, and fulfilling one of my dreams because of him.

God has a funny way of helping people when we least expected. The issues that happened in Feb/March happened and ended just before my internship here in oxford so that i could now fully focused on my work. The same thing happened with me getting a grant from Lady McNiece foundation. It didn't happen earlier, but it happened when i was thoroughly fed up with school, and felt so disappointed with certain people in my school. Then miracles came in the form of Dr Charles (again, he must be my lucky star. reminder to self: be nice to him..he he) who introduced me to Dr Mike Kavanagh, who then opened the road for me.

I am grateful to God for all that I have now.

Scenery from Cambridge to Oxford

After the SCCS, i proceed to Oxford for my internship on 28 March 2008. The journey from Cambridge to Oxford took about 2hr 45 min. The coach was comfortable enough. That day was a bad day for travelling. The stupid coach broken down in the middle of the road and we had to wait 45 minutes for another one to pick us up and continue on to oxford. Bloody waste of time!!! Anyway the scenery along the way was quite nice, with lots of green pastures and horses and sheeps...

To the technologically challenged person

If you want to go to any website on the section 'Websites I like' (on the leftside of the blog), just simply move your cursor (mouse) to the link e.g. ConservationEvidence, and click on that. Hopefully the link will open the webpage. Have fun trying. If it still doesn't work, then either ask one of the BIOCOP to help you or wait for my return lo.. enjoy..

To all conservation managers, policy makers, BIOCOP and anyone interested in conserving the environment

Do check out a new website called ConservationEvidence developed by Prof William Sutherland (University of Cambridge) and Prof. David Showle (University of East Anglia). The webiste provides online journals on tried and tested conservation management interventions. During SCCS, both profs gave a workshop on how this webiste might change the face of global conservation practice by sharing conservation experience globally.

I think it is neat as the website is catered for real life conservation managers that need to know what methods might work for the problems they have in hand.

Follow the link posted in my blog. Have fun..

More views from magdalen street

Snow in Oxford

It's supposed to be spring now in oxford, but why snow? God? is everything ok up there?

When i got up this morning and opened the window, i screamed!! Snow!!!! The veranda is covered by snow and snow ans snow. So excited!!
Due to my excitement, i quickly had a hot shower, do my chores at home and dashed out to take photographs. And thank God i did that because it's now nearly noon and it's becoming warm again. Unpredictable la this UK weather, just like someone i know..

Views from Magdalen street.

GROE Heart of Borneo

Hurray we won!! Brunei is the top runner in the GROE environmental pledge and won US500,000!! The money will be used for the Heart of Borneo conservation effort. This is a strong morale booster for conservation efforts in Brunei!! Great News!!

In this blog you will see some of the interesting places i've visited which will be included in the Heart of Borneo projects, with lots of photos and why i think they deserve to be in HOB.

Cambridge Part One

I was fortunate enough to be selected by Cambridge University to participate in the Student Conference on Conservation Science, and subsequently as an intern in the Edward Gray Institute Oxford University. I arrived in Cambridge on 22 March after one long day spent in the airport and plane. Horrible and yucky..





Heathrow airport is not as chaotic as i expected, and the coach ride to cambirdge took about 2.5 hrs. The crazy thing was Cambridge was experiencing a strong snow storm when i arrived!! That was amazing!!





Most oversea participants were placed in St. Chad, about 25 min. brisk walk from the coach station in Drummer street. But imagine dragging your heavy luggage with a backpack, the walk could easily take 1 hr. Why no taxi? This is not like Singapore la where taxis are everywhere!!! Anyway in the midst of walking, thank God a taxi stopped by and asked if i need one!

Food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanna eat nyonya char koay teow from nyonya rest., curry slice fish from thiam hock, sushi from misato, nasi lemak from low san flat, my mummy's curry chicken and sweet & sour pork, vegetable kofta from lotus, tian tian chicken rice, sweet & sour pork from golden leaf, laksa & ABC from KB shop, fish maw soup from may fang, mango icecream from the cake shop next to misato.

anyone who can airmail me any of the above food will be my master for one whole year. i will wash your clothes, clean your house, wash your car, analyse your results and write up any research proposal you have in mind.

Alexander Library Oxford

I'm now in Oxford, based in the Alexander Library doing literature review. What this means is i spend an average of 8 hours everyday searching through online journals for things i need for my research. Fun huh?

The library is amazing!! Online resources are so complete and they have journals that i have never even heard of all these years!! So i am thoroughly enjoying myself sitting in the library alone reading..crazy huh? i think so too..

Presented my research project to Prof. Ben Sheldon, Director of EGI yesterday. Am quite pleased that he thinks it's a good piece of work. That's a good morale booster. I know i am vain ba..

will upload all the photos from Cambridge and Oxford one of these days..