Episode 4: My first weekend in London

After settling into Alexander Fleming Hall, the next thing I knew was that the weekend was here. Yes, my first weekend in London. I had plans to attend All Souls Church on Sunday. So, what was I going to do on Saturday?

Well, the first thing that happened was to receive a call from a friend of mine whom I have known since primary school on Friday night. In those days, we sat the same school bus and I even invited him to one of my birthday parties! Well, anyway, I bumped into him while I was in the army. We were in the same camp and found out that he was doing law as well. So, with that, we re-established contact and kept in touch via email.

Anyway, I met up with him over lunch on Saturday at Ponti's @ Liverpool St Station. This friend of mine - I must say - came at a time when I needed it. Well, I had some problems with my bank account here in London. Hence, I could not withdraw any money from the cash machines (ie ATMs) here. Further, I was running low on cash and had to stretch the dollar whenever I could. When this friend heard of my situation, he gladly lent me GBP100!! This is really God providing an angel when I need it!!! Thank you Lord! Indeed, He is Jehovah Jireh!!

But, before I met him for lunch, I had a fruitful 2-hour chat with my mum and the whole family over Skype and MSN from about 5.30am to 7.30am (UK time). Over in Singapore (and Shenzhen, where my mum is right now), it is about 12.30pm. This communication would not come come through if it was not for an sms from this friend of mine to change the timing of our lunch from 1pm to 2pm!! This chain of events is just amazing, isn't it!

After lunch, I took a walk back to Alexander Fleming. While walking back, I made a detour to the Bunhill Row Burial Grounds along City Road opposite Wesley's Chapel. My family and I visited Wesley's Chapel in March when we were in London for my convocation.

This burial ground houses the graves of some famous people, like John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progess. Photos below:

I spent my Saturday evening buying some groceries at Somerfields and updating this blog.

On Sunday, I headed for All Souls Church at Langham Place. The church is a stone's throw away from the University. So, it was rather convenient. After attending the 9.30am service (which lasted for 1 hour!), I met up and wandered around for the rest of the day with some Singaporeans (some of whom are from BRMC and were on the same flight into London with me). We had some Chinese food for lunch before moving down to Trafalgar Square, the Golden Jubilee Bridge across the River Thames (where there was a Festival Walk with people selling many things) and St Paul's Cathedral before heading back home.

Photos below:

Me and the Singapore gang outside All Souls

All Souls Church (from afar)

Char Siew Rice and Chinese Tea (finally!!!)

The gang and I having Chinese food

Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column

The London Eye (taken from the Golden Jubilee Bridge)

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

(taken from the Golden Jubilee Bridge)

This is the Festival Walk

(taken as I came down from the Golden Jubilee Bridge)

St Paul's Cathedral (from afar)

St Paul's (near)

Yap, that was my first week in London.

School begins next week.