Christmas Dinner with CF People

Right after the heavy lunch with Goodall family, here I am at Broadgate Park celebrating another Christmas gathering. These are the CF people stuck in UK and has nobody to celebrate with~ but we still manage to make some awesome dishes (basically the girl did all the cooking :P). We have pigs in the blanket, mash potatoes, brussels sprouts and roast carrot ready, while waiting for the chicken to cook in the oven. It's pretty similar to what I had for lunch, this is typical British Christmas meal~

Waiting for the maincourse to serve itself:

I was thinking if there're too many food since I just had a heavy lunch =.= So we took our time, chatting about all sorts of things and jokes while slowly eating our dinner. I've made so many nonsense jokes that are so funny that I burst myself into laughter, and I don't remember most of them now... It's like the third or fourth Sunday Roast in a week, but I can't deny that it's nice~ now I'm literally having it ALL DAY LONG!

Chicken is done, here goes dinner rumble!

My appetite didn't fail me, I'm the last man eating (as always, not because I eat slow, just that I won't stop). After resting for a while, we serve the final course~ puddings with ice cream. I have to say, I could normally finish one tub by myself, and I think the girls can easily clear up at least half by themselves. I guess the maincourse was really satisfying, we ended up sharing 1 tub among 4 of us and didn't finish it, haha.

Ending the night with ice cream:

"Abba, Father,everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
-Mark 14:36-

This is what I love about CF people, no matter what course, which campus, and which generation we are, we can still spend time together like a family. I kinda noticed that I spent most of my time with the previous gen of CF members before they left UK as well. Indeed, I don't need tonnes of good friends, but just a few that really care for each other. Treasure everyone around you while they're still around, Amen.

Christmas Lunch with the Goodall Family

Merry Christmas! It's Christmas day and I went to Cornerstone Church for the morning service. The special thing this year is, a local family wanted to adopt me for an afternoon to spend Christmas with them. Liz actually recommended me as she said the family is pretty musical, and probably could clique pretty well with me. There are another 3 girls (an Indonesian and 2 China students) that joined the family for Christmas lunch, a pretty good combination for me to utilize my language capability.

What surprises me, the big house and the music certs of violin and cello of the family:

The parents still need some time to prepare the food, so we were in the piano room having some chit chat, playing piano and singing a few carols, and some card games. As we were having fun, appetizers were served, like dried berries/grapes, homemade chips and salmon slices. As we are called into the dining room, we were really surprised by the preparation made, I felt so blessed even before meal.

Appetizer and lunch table setup:

It's the British style Christmas meal, turkey with cranberry sauce, pigs in blankets, brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and stuffing. This is like a hyper-sized Sunday Roast, I love all of them! They even made Christmas puddings for us. I'm so amazed when they told me process of making the pudding, they started making it a days ago, chilled for a night, and kept it in the oven for the whole morning. Good stuffs always come with a high price =.=

Definitely one of the best Christmas meal ever:

"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come."
-Mark 13:33-

Thank You Thank You Thank you Lord for blessing me to spend Christmas lunch with this family. Other than the good food and fellowship, I actually see another side of how local families can really love each other and also other people (outsider like me). I was amazed that the father actually spend his afternoon after lunch in the garage making his wife a customized tomato collector for gardening. It's not easy to love, but it's really overwhelming to be loved, Amen.

Birmingham Trip

Audrey came over to Nottingham from Durham to spend her winter break. So, our little CF group went to Birmingham for a day trip, mainly to visit the Christmas market. The bus trip was about 2 hours, it's kinda stuffy in the bus =.= which makes the air in Birmingham extraordinarily fresh as we arrived.

First glance of Birmingham town:

I guess it's because of weekend, the town is pretty crowded everywhere. I thought Christmas market is like the UK version of pasar malam. It is true in some aspects, they are random stalls setup in the middle of the street selling ornaments, foods and snacks, but the designs of their stalls are pretty cute. I can't believe the market is so long that it took us half a day to finish browsing the stalls.

Birmingham Christmas market:

Basically, we're just walking around enjoying the early Christmas atmosphere. There are also unique desserts and snacks from all over Europe. I really liked the German Sausage that we had for lunch, dinner was ostrich burger (my personal favourite) and kangaroo burger , wanna try something really different. It was drizzling for a while, but we're kinda blessed that it wasn't too cold to roam around the town.

Food hunting!

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
-Mark 10:14-

Thank God for journey mercy and safety as a few of us were having good fellowship at Birmingham. It really felt good to spend some time out after a whole semester of work. Probably it's because these are the CF people that I'm hanging out with, a group of people that I can really have fun with. Pray that it'll be an awesome Christmas day soon, Amen!

Globe Cafe Christmas Dinner

December might be the most happening month in UK, another Christmas dinner by Globe Cafe. As usual, it's also a gathering for the members before leaving for holidays. The Jubilee campus and city center Globe Cafe members will be joining us here in Beeston Free, it's like a big family gathering of Globe Cafe.

Reception before proceeding to the our grand table:

It's a typical British style Christmas dinner (similar to Sunday roast), but probably eye-opening for those who are new in UK. My table was quite international, but that's what makes our conversations interesting. 2 of the students in my table actually celebrated Christmas for the first time. There are Christmas puddings as desserts too!

Dinner time:

After meal, we have games like pictionary, cracker jokes and table to table caroling rally. Though we have people of various age range, everyone looked like they enjoyed it a lot. I seriously loved the food nonetheless.

The last Globe Cafe of the year:

"Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
-Matthew 5:32-

Personally, I really enjoyed going to Globe Cafe as I don't need to prepare or commit too much... and I felt useful there. More importantly, they always serve desserts! Haha, I never knew being able to speak multiple languages is actually a blessing. They do simple activities, but very effective in evangelizing, Amen.

Discipleship Group Christmas Gathering

This is the last session of Tuesday discipleship group for the year, which is also a Christmas dinner and gathering before everyone goes off for holiday. I didn't really attend any of them this semester because it clashes with Songwriting Society =.= But I decided to join this time (partly for the food). We met up in uni and drove to a church member's house, a very big and beautiful house.

A wonderful local English house:

We have lots of foods! Mostly prepared by the discipleship leaders, even though they considered it 'refreshments', they're awesome. We basically sit around and chat while having our food, good time of fellowship. Despite my long absence, I still know most of the people, surprisingly.

Finger food, the good ones:

After that, we had some pub quizzes (it's actually really fun), then singing a few carols together. I noticed that almost every English house has a piano, does everybody in UK knows how to play the piano =.=? Finally, we had some sharing and finally to pray for each other, until we meet again next year.

Pub quiz and caroling:

"His blood is on us and on our children!"
-Matthew 27:25-

It's the time of the year when I felt like another mini-stage is ending soon. The thing about being a postgrad is, you see undergrads around you going through dramatic change of lifestyle (classes - assignments - holiday - exam) but you're just staying stagnant like there's no end to this life. Pray for journey mercy for those who are travelling or returning home during the Christmas break, and hope that you guys have a good time before exam comes, Amen.

Hear Me Out

"SoundShoots is a unique music platform that challenges music makers to create a 180 second piece of music in response to a given weekly theme. The site is 100% free to use and whether you make your own music, or just like listening, there are plenty of good reasons to join!"

This is a theme that I think I can really relate to, "Lonely". According to my playing style, I'm more incline towards the sad/emo piano genre, thus making this soundshoot would pretty be 'expressing myself'. I am trying to portray a scene where, in a rainy day, a person sitting at a corner of his room, being upset of close friends leaving his life, being all alone. So much to tell, so much to share, but no one is there.

This time, I'm actually trying to record on a real instrument, instead of using midi. If anyone would have ask me to play something random on the piano, it would most likely be IV - V - vi chords. Personally, this is the most soul catching chord progression, the one that connects most with the deeper part of me and being comfortable with it.

In order resonates with the lonely theme, I'm gonna use as less instruments as possible, starting off with reverb piano solo, with emo level maximized~ Followed up is the cello at 2nd verse, which adds onto the sadness. With the bass at the 2nd chorus, adding onto the weight of atmosphere. Finally, the last touch with overdrive guitar solo, the yearning of the and the shout of the heart.

Click here to listen to:
Hear Me Out - Adam Jong

Rate the track using the ✓ icon (you need to be a member to do this, but it's free). Check out other contributors' clip under "The Shoots" tab and top tracks of previous themes under "Showcase".

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
-Matthew 25:13-

Loneliness probably sounds like a bad thing to most people, but to me... it might be the best medicine some times. People do need some space for themselves, being separated from the noisy and viscous world. Let not the loneliness drive me sad, but be a quiet time to see some hidden blessings, Amen.

Solid Rock Christmas Party 2012

The last Solid Rock session of the year, an informal Christmas Party for people to hang out and have fun together before being separated from the looooong Christmas break and exam weeks. Since Solid Rock started this semester, I have been playing in the worship team EVERY week, just to make myself clear that I'm not complaining, it's fun nonetheless, but it's just record breaking (really? I felt like I did this before).

Started off with a few simple carols:

I usually packed something simple and eat early before worship practice, or return very late after Solid Rock for dinner. For the whole semester, I finally has a Friday dinner on proper time (not too proper but still better). It's a pot luck style that everyone bring something, I'm quite amazed that we have a lot of amazing chef around.

Time to eat!

We won't go home until we had real fun, played some silly games... like stuffing your mouth full of marshmallow and sing a song. The classic SR style is still our beloved group charades where we see some people giving out their all to act something out. Well, finally SR is done for this year.

Playing various games to end the night:

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
-Matthew 23:12-

Honestly, I don't feel that the bond between SR members as strong as last year, or probably I'm just too occupied to feel the fun. Anyway, I do enjoy being in a small bible study group of 4-5 people. Oh well, I still have a little time to spend with them before really leaving, just pray that it'll be good next semester, Amen.

Reason For The Season 2012

After weeks of practices and preparations, it's finally the day for Solid Rock's Christmas event - Reason for the Season. I'm in the band and choir, just like last year, and this means double commitment. Choir already took up 4-6 hours per week, and last minute band practices that we hardly get everybody together. Anyway, it's gonna be my last event in UK.

Our band is the earliest to arrive in the hall:

It's the first time ever that RFTS is held in the Great Hall, probably my first time performing on a grand piano as well. We're just doing a medley of famous carols, my personal favorite is my new jazz arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem. Spent the whole afternoon for rehearsals, just like the previous year, the Mandarin fellowship and Christian Union are doing some performances as well.

Stage testing before audience start flowing in:

The agenda is pretty much like last year (band > choir > dance > acting > testimony > message > band > choir). The problem is, choir is right after band session, and the piano is below the stage. I ran up to join the choir after band, twice! I'm pretty surprise that we had a full house of audience. Fuh~ I finally get a proper meal at 11 pm after working for the whole day.

Too busy to take pictures during the event:

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
-Matthew 16:25-

I admit that there are still times that I complain when I'm overloaded with such stuffs. It's obvious that I can handle it physically and mentally, I'd been through worse cases, probably just need to pray for more patience and self-control. Well, at least I know I have to enjoy it while I still have the opportunity to join such events, Amen.

Prism Chamber

"SoundShoots is a unique music platform that challenges music makers to create a 180 second piece of music in response to a given weekly theme. The site is 100% free to use and whether you make your own music, or just like listening, there are plenty of good reasons to join!"

This is a theme that I don't anticipate, "Rave" is a kind of dance party which is pretty popular in the UK, with full blast techno/trance song and disco lights. I've only experienced clubbing once, and I don't like it at all =.= I don't dance and I don't drink, sat there for a few hours tortured by the loud music... Generally, the music is done by a DJ mixing beats and parts of songs with random sound effects.

I've been practicing to make tracks using synth, and after the previous theme, 'electric', this is exercise 2. I've implied rapid synth for chords, and slap base as the main riff. I kinda used a heavier pads here, synth voice. The synth lead came in after layering all the accompaniment, at the same time hype up the drum beat. It's pretty much the same style as the previous soundshoot... The only thing lacking is a dance kit for drums, but I haven't really figure out the right software to make it.

Click here to listen to:
Prism Chamber - Adam Jong

Rate the track using the ✓ icon (you need to be a member to do this, but it's free). Check out other contributors' clip under "The Shoots" tab and top tracks of previous themes under "Showcase".

"Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand."
-Matthew 12:25-

Doesn't seems like there's alot of improvement, there's still plenty of space for me to expand. Gonna spend more time to figure out how to work on this new style. Solid Rock is having a Christmas event soon, pray that everything will be fine and people will be touched by the message that we convey, Amen.

Kathleen's Birthday Surprise

It's Kathéen's birthday tonight and as usual we gonna give a surprise. It's gonna be the UK style where someone baked cake, and bring it over to her place surprising her at the door. Eunice and Tifani baked carrot cake, and we're gonna get a bus to Beeston. Why? Kathleen, why must you stay so far and having birthday on such a cold cold night?

Completed the cake and shaking at the bus stop:

With Elyssia's help, we managed to lure her down the apartment and give her a surprise. Funny enough, she was so locked herself outside the main door being excited seeing the cake (it's those kind of door that you need a card to enter after closing it and she left it in her room). Good enough, we found another entrance to the flat, or else we'll be seriously freezing out there.

Waiting outside her room while she's doing emergency cleaning:

Nothing too special going on, but just had a time of chatting and chilling. We also called Audrey at Durham to make her feel like she's part of the thing. The carrot cake is really awesome! I think we're really enjoying it like a mamak session, we dragged on til 2am =.= Ended up walking back because to Dunkirk coz we don't think bus will be coming any time soon.

Chilling at Kathleen's room:

"A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’"
-Matthew 3:3-

For those that just arrived in the UK, it might be kinda lonely sometimes, but it's kinda great that there are still people that you know around willing to do stuffs for each other. It's a cold and tiring night =.= but we did enjoy the fellowship, Amen.