Out of the dark...

I have disappeared from this blog for about a fortnight. Apologies to people out there waiting for my next post.

This period was the most gloomy time I have had since I arrived in London. My hair started falling out in bunches, nose bleeding got worse, my hands were flaking and I started to itch all over my body.

I became very depressed and lost a lot of my confidence over my hair issue. I went out with a cap all the time, even if it wasn't that cold.

Finally, a good friend persuaded me to see a doctor.

I went down to the school doctor yesterday at Penrhyn Road campus. It was a long wait as the doctor was behind schedule.

My doctor was a patient looking Asian lady and I really felt at ease when I was with her. I told her about all my problems and after rummaging through my hair and looking at my nose through a microscope-like instrument, she concluded that either my body is unable to adapt to the cold, or I am under a lot of stress, or maybe both. In simplified terms, my inner nose walls swelled and the blood vessels burst. I have eczema on my hands.

Unlike Singapore, consultation is free and the doctor gave a list of prescription which I had to go to any pharmacy to get the prescriptions. Prescriptions are at a flat rate of 7.20 pounds. The doctor did not give any brand, so if I was able to find the same product on the shelf at a cheaper price, I could do that. Ended up, there was only one item I could get off the shelf for half that price.

Now I have a strict regime to follow and I think I am getting the hang of it already.

It goes like this:
Hair
- Wash with Ketoconazole shampoo twice a week, leave on for 5 mins before washing off
- On the other days, wash with anti-dandruff shampoo
- Apply scalp application at least twice a day
Body
- Wash with aqueous cream
- Apply Epaderm cream at least twice a day
Nose
- Take cetirizine tablets once a day
Hands
- Hydrocortisone Cream


After one day, I felt that my hair was dropping half as much, although still a lot. I woke up in the morning to blow out a ball of dried blood from my nose.

Bathing with aqueous cream isn't the most pleasant thing to do and coating myself with loads of epaderm cream just make me dread it more. I smell like a hospital.

Overall, I feel more cheerful after seeing the doctor. I definitely improved psychologically. Now I can also concentrate on my work, thus removing some level of stress, breaking away from the vicious cycle.

Thank you to my dear friend for enlightening me through the darkest period in my life...

Kylie makes Vietnamese rolls~

The ingredients:

The rolls~

They are so good and so healthy... I must have eaten half a dozen of them...

 

A tiny bitesize one... Ohhh I'm so full...

LSO St Luke's

An old church converted into a studio for smaller scale performances and talks. I went to LSO St Luke's for a free piano masterclass. A sweet little place with a small garden... I learnt so much in the masterclass. I would probably have to pay hundreds back in Singapore to hear/watch something of this standard.


How to get there: Ten minutes walk from Old Street station. Look out for the tall clock tower in the first picture above.

Love UK

On the rail back home from Waterloo, the anouncement from the train conductor went "It has come to our notice that there has been a rise of beggars in our trains. We do not want them here. Please DO NOT give them money... I repeat.. There has been a rise of beggars in our trains. We do not want them here. Please DO NOT give them money... And... YOU ALL HAVE TICKETS, HAVEN'T YOU?"

Some people in the cabin gave a resounding "YES" while the rest probably answered in their heads. Many laughed. (imagine if everyone in the whole train went "YES~")

A minute later, "I am walking down the train now... Ooohhh, some of you look soooo scared..."

When he came into our cabin... "All happy and smiling, cant wait to get home~ I wish I can too..."

And the next moment, the guy sitting behind me stuck his head out and vomitted right beside my face."

Welcome to London~

You haven't been to London till you have watched a LSO concert...

I went to watch the rehearsal and concert by London Symphony Orchestra today. I was completely blown off. I watched numerous concerts by the SSO and thought they were really really good. But, LSO is top-notch.

On top of that, they have a really interesting resident conductor, Valery Gergiev. Watching him conduct is like putting the music onto a canvas. He transferred so much information with just two arms. I am ashamed to say, but I have to admit, it took me quite a long time during the rehearsal to figure out what he was trying to convey in each micro-action.

However, once I got it, I felt like I am part of the orchestra. It's a really strange feeling. 

I enjoyed myself a lot and I can go on all day with the descriptions, but it is time for some photos~

Barbican centre



I couldn't help but take a photo of the toilet. Each cubicle has its own sink, mirror and paper towels. Turn the tap on and off with a sensor. I must say this is way smarter than Esplanade's hand sensor tap. I am not biased. Plain truth.

How to get there: Barbican Station followed by 5 mins walk

Stupid Circle Line~ I was almost late for the concert because of it. I boarded the train thinking that I will be early but I was so wrong. It kept stopping in between stations and we were told that there was a "jam".

"We should be moving off in a few minutes. There is a Metropolitan line in front of us and we are currently second in the queue." I thought I only hear this when I am in a plane, not in a tube. Ok, I should stop complaining and just get used to it.

When I got off the tube, I ran and ran. My heart was beating so hard, it hurts. Bad idea to run in the freezing cold, especially when the concert started late, which is shocking. All along I thought concerts in London start on time. Oh well...

A long eventful day...

Dinner with the Middle Millers~

Good friends, Good food...

Yum Yum Yum... Broccoli, garlic and cheese Nachos...



 

Wrap-it-yourself chicken burritos... So delicious...

Million thanks to head chef, Margaret~ Marvellous recipe...

Ikea Wembley - Home away from home

I decided to check out Ikea Wembley to try to relive the memories in Ikea Tampines back in Singapore. Apparently, I have a very interesting boyfriend who is totally crazy about Ikea. Not surprisingly, Ikea Tampines became our frequent dating venue. (Think meatballs.)

Well, I cant say it is the most romantic place on earth, but yet it is the simplest things we did in Ikea that I always remember. (Think getting a real cheap deal on the last set of double bed frame.)

Ikea makes you feel so at home because the layout is always the same, no matter where you are. You take an escalator into the showrooms, walk through the different sections, take the stairs down to pick up your items, check-out, then Ikea HotDog buns... So familiar, it is as if you are at home.

Ikea Wembley is very very big. So big that there is a banner saying 'Entrance' just in case you were wondering where the entrance is. It has a huge open-air carpark and another huge multi-storey carpark. But, as usual, one can always take the free Ikea bus. Familiar again?

How to get there: Take the free Ikea Shuttle Bus from Stonebridge Park Station.