Ready to check out...

Glad that it's Saturday and it's time to go home! I have already packed my bag, stopped by at this business center to do online check in and print my boarding pass for my flight tonight. I had a good rest last night; that water rafting really used up my energy that I didn't have left to go for shopping as I dozed off from 5.30 pm, got up at 8.15 pm for prayer and dozed off again...

Yesterday was really a fun experience. I had the chance to do water rafting at the rapids nearby. There were 10 in a boat, and we rafted, went through the rapids and at the last one, the Big John, we were supposed to jump but instead I fall off inside the boat, and didn't get to jump into the rapids. A few of our friends jumped and it was then time to rescue them!

I'd have to go as somebody needs to use this pc...Will post some pictures when I get back home...

What a relief!

I'm done with the presentatation and what a relief! My supervisor said, good job! and thumbs up too from Jay who happened to sit in my session. I had 3 or 4 good questions and the fact that my supervisor is around to back me up, is certainly a relief.

There were around 30 people attending the breakup sessions; so happen that the second speaker was also talking about match importance and it made my life easy as I can easily referred to his talk especially on the related work done on the subject matter. All in all, it was a worthwhile experience; getting to know people in the subject area is certainly an added advantage. I get to meet the authors that have been an inspiration to what I'm researching and hopefully one of the would be external examiner for my viva...

Live and kicking!

The conference is so casual; people came in jeans and even shorts! It really is different from the conference held in Malaysia with so much protocols and so on. The break up sessions are chaired by the last speaker for the session. I happen to be the last speaker for my session, but luckily somebody volunteered to be the chairperson and I'd be able to concentrate on my presentation which will be this afternoon at three. Am I scared? Of course there are butterflies in my stomach! Like it or not, it has to be done and considering lots of international people around, I think my English is quite ok...

Safe and sound in Canada!

Got here safely although our flight was delayed for 1.5 hrs because of faulty emergency lights at the isle. Reached Montreal at around 2 am UK time. It was really tiring but was really relief when I checked in the hotel. The room is so huge with double bed, a study table, TV and so on. How I wish my hubby were here; a perfect place for a second honeymoon...

The weather is fine, just like in Nottingham. I'm planning on a sightseeing of Montreal this morning. I wanted to go to downtown yesterday but have no idea on how to get there. There is a train service named Metro, but I have no idea on how to get the ticket and how much does it cost as the info was written in French! Montreal is the second largest french speaking town. I really feel like I'm in France seeing the word like sortie, bienvenue, bientot etc...

I had a few stroll nearby the area yesterday but I must admit that I'm quite scared as there are people like drug addicts hanging around and asking for money! In the end, I got back to the hotel and did what I have to do - study...

One thing I dread about if of course food...Luckily I brought instant noodles, biscuits and chocolates! You could imagine how slim I would be when I get back home...

What a relief...

The mock presentation was ok, slides are ok, pace and timing are also ok, and basically it's ready to be presented at the conference. I'd just do a few more runs infront of the mirror by myself prior to the actual one. I'll just pray that I'd get a humble crowd and will not post difficult questions.

I also bumped into colleague that will drive us to the airport on Saturday. Probably we'll leave at around 10.30 am so that we'll have ample time before the departure. That reminds me, I need to request for halal food from British Airways.

I'm very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to attend the conference. Apart from presenting the paper, I really hope that I could gain a lot of things from the conference itself. Whatever information that I have at this moment are like pieces of puzzles. I really hope that I can put some of the pieces together and start writing my thesis. I also hope that I'd meet other people of the same interest and start comparing notes towards solving my research problem...

Olympics fever...!

I have supervisory meeting tomorrow whereby I'd have to do a mock presentation for PATAT08 conference. Powerpoints slides are ready, but still, I need to rehearse it infront of the mirror for quite some times. But the Olympics fever is on and I found myself hard to concentrate! Adding up to it, this morning Rebecca Adlington from Mansfield won the gold medal in women's 400m freestyle. It's a glory day for people in Nottingham, and of course I'm also excited about it as swimming is my favourite pastime. Back home I used to do it as the university has a good indoor swimming pool and before going home after work, I'd certainly dive in when I have free time.

Back to Rebecca, she deserves the gold as the preparation for it was so intense. She practised 30 hours per week and even swam since early in the morning at 5 am when lots of people are in the comfort of their own beds.

The moral of the story, when we really work hard, the success is in our hands. I wish I had her courage and gain the gold medal; not in the olympics but my PhD of course...

08-08-08 Olympics Opening - Spectacular !

It's the opening event of the Olympics today, this very 'Ong' day 08-08-08! I've been watching it live, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/ . The internet connection is superb here in the office and TV streaming is a noooo problem.

Since I'm researching on Sports Scheduling, there is no reason why I shouldn't watch this spectacular event. It was really a grand presentation and I've never seen such event before! Bravo China... 15,000 participated in the presentation and they have prepared for it since last year. No wonder the coodination was so perfect. I bet people here in the UK might be cracking their heads really bad to think of the presentation for 2012 Olympics that will be held in London.

At the point of writing, the atheletes are marching in. Malaysian contingent is one of them! My kids spotted someone in blonde! I wonder who she is...

Come to think of it, it's good for me to watch this event as there are many countries that I've never heard of like Kiribati. Ever heard of it?