Choc-Almond Delight

After a weekend of cycling, reading, studying Japanese and packing things for the upcoming move, I felt the strong urge to make a cake - as I haven't done this in quite a while. So I dug into my Austrian cookbook, found myself a nice recipe, marched down to Tesco for the ingredients and soon after I was set up and ready to go. And after 1 1/2 hours I got to taste the fruits of my labour - delicious, even though I say so myself.

Squirrels

Following a request from Joel here now some more pictures of squirrels. These little rodents are nuts!! lol

Wanderlust

On Saturday the weather finally got a bit better again - enough reason for me to escape the confinement of my own four walls and to mount my bike for a little outing. So, first the weather wasn't half bad and I decided to go to Chester which I really love in sunshine, only to get into a shower when I arrived there! Oh well, it wasn't really cold so I sought shelter under a tree and spent two hours or so reading. I know worse ways to spend a morning. And then, fortunately, the clouds broke and the sun was coming through so the rest of the day was great for strolling through the streets. Sunday then, after I got up with a slight headache, I thought I might as well take it easy and so I cycled up the River Mersey at a leasurely pace till I reached the Garston Riverside Reserve, a long stretch of green along the riverside with walkways crossing it - and immensly quiet, a good place for serious Sunday afternoon relaxation. I also took the opportunity to take some photos, as I always do.

Did you know?

Did you know that many Japanese feel the urge to hide their belly button （へそ） when getting into a thunderstorm? I heard it for the first time today, on Japanese E-Podcast. The whole thing originates in an old legend...

A little known fact (was at least to me) is that during a thunder storm, Japanese children are taught to lean forward and cup their hands over their belly buttons to protect it from the thunder. Apparently, in Japanese folklore, the god of lightning and thunder (Kaminari-sama) is thought to steal belly buttons.
(Source: http://www.vudeja.com/japan/)

You live and learn...

http://www.japanesepod101.com/

Now that I've got my work week over again and there's nothing to do for uni I've committed myself to the task of studying some Japanese independently again. I'm going to start with Japanese E-Podcast (www.japanesepod101.com), a site that offers beginner and intermediate lessons in Japanese, with lots of dialogues that are then broken down into vocab which is explained in English once and thenceforth only used in Japanese - to make you to remember it. The dialogue situations are out of everyday life - quite often concerned with student life. Pretty much the stuff I'm gonna need in my year abroad I reckon. Recommendable. おすすめです！

梅雨？？？ No...

After it's been raining incessantly for the past five days and the weather forecast has predicted another five days of rain I've already been asking myself if this is some kind of rainy season peculiar to the north west of England. But today it's finally stopped and I could enjoy bright sunshine! There you see that weather forecasts err even when predicting the weather for the next day... but fine with me as long as the sun shines :-)

Joke of the day: Doctor: "Nurse, how is the little boy doing? You know, the one who swallowed the roll of quarters?" Nurse: "No change yet."

Hmm, Pizza...

Know this pic? I thought I might as well nick it off Joel's blog since I don't have any decent pictures myself today and this 'Mt. Pizza' is awesome. lol
Anyway, today Jamie and I met to go for Pizza Hut's lunch buffet deal after he sold his TV and DVD player at Cash Converters - fatty pizza and squash with free refills for us till our bellies bulged. Later on in the afternoon Chris joined us too (not Joel though, he'd decided to move home today already) and went to see a movie. The DaVinci Code. I read the book and so I wanted to see the film too. Not exactly impressing, especially the end was quite lengthy, but pretty good nonetheless. And after two and a half hours of motion picture we finished the evening with some cider and a few episodes of South Park. After being exposed to Cartman's psychic powers we were knackered enough though and so Chris and I went home.
So, Jamie's gonna move out tomorrow and Chris sometime next week, leaving me for lone boozing for some time. Nah, I'm just gonna read more, I hardly had any time for that in the past few months anyway.
Have a good holiday guys and don't forget to post on your blogs every once in a while! And to look at mine :-)

Thursday night craziness

Thursday evenings are the classical time for vice and debauchery. We know that. And that's why we went to Scream to have some drink. As I went in I couldn't believe my eyes - the pub was more crowded than I'd ever seen it before and after I fought my way to the bar I queued for a solid ten minutes surrounded by shoving students and the stale air only to buy a pint of lager. But never mind, I managed to locate my mates soon and we had a good time.

The Scream, brimming with life

After a while Joel decided that he wanted to draw on Colin's bag and before soon we all were drawing and scribbling away. Not much in the way of artistry but anyway. This is it:

No way he's gonna forget us now :-)

While we were adorning? Colin's bag with our artwork, he got out a cigarette from his pocket, lit up and started savouring the smoke which must have had an alluring effect on Jamie who soon after asked him if he could have a draw. Joel followed Jamie's example and what could I do but join in too? lol

Smoking kills. Yes.
Even Mr. G. Reaper fancies a smoke every now and then...

Our further route led us to the Cavern Club, on the way to which Jamie and some random guys started chanting football songs? - Jamie defending the honour of Grimsby. We piss on your fish... :-D
In Cavern Club then we just stayed long enough to see the Beatles doubles - who didn't look very Beatles-like on that particular evening - get on stage, Joel soon went off because 'he could use it', Jamie ended up headbutting some guy and I found my way home too.
Not too bad an evening. Let's see if we can top it in the weekend.

'Bern Cam' - the Cavern Club in a blur :)

Word Verification

My blog's been the victim of a spam attack today, as you can see in the previous comments, which have been flooded with comments lauding this website and linking to some casino-on-the-web crap. So, although I really don't like it I saw myself forced to introduce word verification to stop this bullcrap. -Some typing exercise for you now, guys...

That's all Folks!

So this concludes this academic year. Today was phonetics exam, the last exam of all. It went fairly well considering that I was pretty cream crackered and had to rely on Red Bull power.
Thanks to the inventor of that stuff...
And this leaves me for the other plans for the near future - getting more work, moving and getting wasted. lol

We're free! Woo!

It's here!

Last week I got my new digital camera at last (and now I got my head round to writing this entry lol). Not that I really needed a new one but the lens cap of my old one was coming loose and this camera's got a couple of advantages: 1) it's not as big and heavy, 2) it doesn't have that same ridiculously high battery consumption, 3) it doesn't take it forever to autofocus and reload its flash...
I almost bought a Kodak EasyShare back in Austria but I'm glad I didn't do it. It'd have been 140 Pounds in Austria, normal price in Britain would've been 130 Pounds but after browsing the internet for some time I found a place that sold it for 95 (yea, go ahead and take the mick, I just like comparing prices and saving money - guess it's in the blood).
Anyways, since it's one of my greatest hobbys to take photos this new camera's really good to have - not at least because it's small enough to fit into my trouser's pocket.

Joke of the day - this time from my dad in Austria, originally in German, translated into English:
The English teacher asks her students in class, What tense is it if I say "I'm pretty"?
"Past tense, Mrs. Smith!"

Shenme shenme yo, shenme yea...

So, today was finally the 'long awaited' Chinese exam. The first thing that went through my mind when I saw the teacher's slightly constipated look was 'oh, shit, that's gonna be harsh' but it wasn't that bad. The listening part was a bit tough as she was spooling off her texts really quickly but the rest was peace of piss! Wooo, maaai, dongxi!!
After a bored last 15 mins or so (nothing left to do but picking my nose and writing a few rhymes in my head) we left uni and set out into a brill day. We all went down to town, Jamie needed a new mobile after he drowned his old one in beer (or done whatever to it - finally smashed it with a hammer!) and as 1) it was really sunny, 2) I was feeling like chilling out anyway and 3) I felt that overwhelming feeling of liberation that tends to follow exams urging me to waste time, I was up to it.
After going into a few mobile phone shops we went to KFC in St. Johns where I apparently said 'baaaaath' in the southern pronunciation which inevitably triggered the old conflict again - Charlie: Ooh, southerners are soo much better... - Jamie: No they're just pretending to be posh, northerners are better... and eventually resulted in Jamie KFCing Charlie - who obviously didn't find it funny. As I'd never seen it raining chicken before though, I couldn't help laughing. Sorry for that.
To make my personal stance clear: I don't think that either English is better, they're just two variations. As a matter of fact, southern accent might prove more beneficial if you wanna teach English abroad but in my opinion that's not justified. It's just the way the world would have it.
You guys should really think more cooperatingly and say things like 'Ooh, British English is soo much better than American English' in unison... lol.
Well, after Charlie going home - to wash off the chicken smell - and Joel going home to sleep, of course, Chris, Jamie and I used the rest of the day to saunter down to the docks, sit in the sun for a while and then finally going to the Maritime Museum. Jamie and I'd been planning to do so since Christmas. Entry's free, as is the case in most Liverpool museums, and so my pockets didn't get any emptier and inside we saw everything about the interesting history of seafaring, gambling, smuggling, emigration&immigration, WWII etc.
I even looked through the periscope of a submarine.
After a while though we'd seen most of it and went into separate directions, I decided to walk home and do some studying - and listen to some German hip hop again. Fette, fette Beats, fette Reime...

Scouse culture... :-)

Everyone who wants to spend a stimulating afternoon - go to Liverpool Maritime Museum

...moshi moshi?

Better photos hopefully soon on Chris's blog.

Joke of the day:
Three blondes, hiking in the woods, came upon some tracks. The first blonde asked, "Are those deer tracks?" The second said, "No, I think they are moose tracks." Before the third could answer, they all three got hit by the train!

Salon Zeilinger...

This week I finally got a decent haircut again. Long hair may look better but this definitely feels better, especially as it's gotten quite warm recently.
Today was work and tomorrow's gonna be Chinese exam - hope to be going out in the weekend though... get in touch whoever wants to go for a few!

Exam period

Exam period's going pretty well so far, after Monday's Japanese aural exam it was TESOL today, and with it only two more to go!
The exam went quite okay athough I harldy had any time left in the end to read everything again and I almost got a cramp in my right hand and apparently I was clearing my throat all the time and pretty loud - only that I didn't notice it myself...
After the exam I went out to bask in the sun for a while and now I'm listening to German hip hop. Great is the world!
Tomorrow's work and studying again tho.

To Manchester and back

Hiya, I'm back! Today I went on a trip again, to Manchester, the farthest destination so far. From one city centre to the other it's about 40 miles, one way, which I did in about three hours. That means that my average speed was around 13 mph, not bad when one takes into calculation that I had to dismount a few times and that there was also city traffic included in the journey.
Anyways, most of the way there's a quite decent cycle path which makes the whole thing much nicer, the weather was perfect cycling weather - sunny, but not too hot - a nice breeze, but not too windy - and I realised that with my frequent trips and the distances getting longer I'm getting fitter and my bum's getting tougher :-) After a total of 6 hours in the saddle I wasn't all too exhausted and my arse hardly hurt at all- すごいでしょ？　（＾ヮ＾）
Okay, so, Manchester, a city with more than 2 million inhabitants (yes, I know that officially what counts as Manchester city is only some 400000 but for me the rest counts as well) it's finally the city with the urban flair I was looking for. Chester might be beautiful but it's too boring. Yea, Mike, if you read this, Chester is boring compared to Liverpool, that's comletely true. Only Liverpool's... erm... a bit scruffy...
So, what I really like about the Manchester city centre is that it's reasonably clean, the chav rate is surprisingly low and the multitude of different architectural styles and old and new - everything from cathedrals to glass-front skyscrapers, from timber-frame architecture to brick houses... and that it's widely pedestrianised.

Interesting architectural samples can be found everywhere...




...from brick buildings to glass-front architecture...




...and even architecture that slightly (although only very slightly) resembles Viennese subway stations of the late 19th / early 20th century!




And they have a tram to boot! (According to my latest information plans for a tram in Liverpool have been cancelled as it is too costly)

First thing after parking my bicycle and drinking some water was to visit Manchester Cathedral. It's style being typically Anglican as the one in Chester, this time I also went inside and saw for the first time how the inside of such a 'typical' Anglican church looks like. At least I dare to assume that it's somewhat 'typical' but if it's not, please tell me that I'm wrong...
The one fact I remembered about it is, that it's the church with the widest nave in England, its nave even feels wider than that of Westminster Abbey which is remarkably wide as well, and in fact it is so wide that from the inside the whole building looks rather if it was a big hall than a nave and a transept. And so wide that I couldn't capture it on photo very well... 残念だなぁ。。。

Cathedral of Manchester - front...




...and the inside. Note the wooden ceiling - something quite different from the ornate Baroque churches we know from Europe

Next my stroll took me through the pedestrian areas of the city centre, past an inviting beer garden, to the town hall. Unfortunately I couldn't dig up too much information about the building - I think it looks very 'town-hallish'.

Beer's just the right refreshment on such a day - best enjoyed alfresco!




Manchester town hall




As you can see I'm enjoying myself...

The last thing I did then before my camera's batteries ran dry was walking to the Roman gardens, also known as Castlefield Park. In that park you can see remains of the Roman fort of Mamucium - from the settlements in front of which later Manchester developed. They've also reconstructed a gate and the ditches in front of the walls.

The Roman gardens...




...complete with Roman graffiti!

And what might that mean? Any idea?

View on the Bridgewater Canal flowing alongside the River Irwell

After that I walked around a bit without much of a goal, just having a look at what was coming my way and as it then began to rain slightly, I got on one of the free Metrolink buses connecting all the important places and major sights of the city. Yes, you've heard right. Free!
Forget the tram if it's too costly but that's something a Capital of Culture should definitely have! Hear that, city council of Liverpool? :-)
Finally, I walked back to my bicycle and set off for my return trip to conclude a really great sightseeing day!

Lightning in Liverpool

Today it was even hotter than yesterday, around 25 degrees (and that in the beginning of May!) but I couldn't enjoy it very much as I had to slave away at work. :p
And then, around six in the evening, I experienced my first thunderstorm in Britain. No, it's not those lighning bolts, I stole that photo from somewhere on the web. It wasn't that extreme, only two or three times a rumbling of thunder and really heavy rain.
The air always feels so fresh after thunderstorms...

Joke of the day:
As a thirsty man sat down at the bar, he overheard the man beside him order, "Another Waterloo." The bartender brought the fellow a tall, well-iced drink and then asked the newcomer what he wanted. Assuming he had latched on to a specialty of the house, he said, "I'll have a Waterloo." The bartender brought him his drink and he took a big drink. "Hey," he said, "this is no good. It's got no taste at all!" The man beside him looked at him and then said to the bartender, "Well, it is water. Right, Lou?"

And warmly it shines...

Today was the warmest day in Liverpool so far this year - it must have had well over 15 degrees and the sun was shining - and so I went down to the bank of the Mersey to study, sprawling out on the wide, spacious lawns there. If the weather stays as it is, May's gonna be a great month for studying... and relaxing!

Joke of the day:
The boss complained in a staff meeting that he didn't get any respect. The next morning he taped a small sign to his door that read, "I'm The Boss." When he returned from lunch, he found that someone had stuck a Post-It on his new sign: "Your wife called. She wants her sign back!"

Japanese exam

Today at 9:30 in the morning we had our written Japanese exam and it was really okay. 楽勝だった！ After the exam then (we all finished around the same time) I, Jamie, Joel, Charlie, Chris, Mike and Andrew went down to town checking out the shops and enjoying each other's company and finally Chris, Jamie, Joel and I ended up at Pizza Hut where we got the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet deal for four quid. Boy, that was good, gorgeing myself on pizza!!!
So, the next exam's gonna be Monday then, Japanese aural （口でやること） :D

Happy Birthday Joel!

Hehe, how'd ya like this?