This term wasn't too exciting really... the Finals and the panic it creates played the biggest part.
However, thanks to the exams, and the fact that library's the second home of most of us, new friends were made and old friendship were being strengthened.

Ayoush's surprise birthday party:



left: balloon-loving people
right: twister!

May Day:

Magdalen College tower at 5:50am


Magda and Maria with the cow


Morris dancing under the bridge of sighs


Stole this pic from Joy's facebook

So here come Finals time...

Sunshine!
all the post-exam celebrations (a.k.a trashing) was enough to make me tanned.
The proctors have done a good job I think. After the proctors' paternal reminder on the danger it caused, the costs for the county to clear up the street, and the food that were wasted on this operation,  people have been more sensible this year in terms of the material they use for this operation... no food at least. The presence of police must have helped as well.

Old English peeps in 5th week: Lali and Ayoush finishing...

Lali, Ayoush, Kat, Sabina.
before Lali and Ayoush came out, some tourists came and asked Kat and Sabina who they were waiting for... as if there were some celebrities being anticipated.
after the pic being taken, Ayoush tore off the paper into pieces... not the thing I would expect from her

Mathematicians in 7th week:

Becky, Denise


Chiara and Rita

Engineers in 8th week:

4 out of 7 SHEs (St Hilda's Engineers)
left: Pooja, Winnie, Nirmala, Dina
right: Dina and Hind

tons of people finishing that day. merton street was full of balloons and packed with people geared up with water guns, glitters, silly strings, flowers etc to pick up their friends.


and some original and creative ideas

you can tell that they are engineers...

and also schools dinner

I've had a wonderful time that evening.  Never had a meal with all the tutors before and it was a lot more enjoyable and relaxed than I had thought.
Pity that Denise was missing.

Saying goodbyes:

Lali's last supper at Hilda's...
Due to the birthday party at the start of term, we knew each other better. For more than a month before Finals, we have 3 meals a day together, hit the library after the fun chats in the dinning hall... I'm gonna miss her a lot! oh well, Calcutta is not too far away, and facebook is one good invention that helps out in this situation to save my tears haha.


Lali flipping through the album we prepared for her -- Lali's book.
Look at the smile on her face =] All of us contributed some aspects of the making of the book, and I really enjoyed the crafty bit since that was the perfect way to wind down the tension I had from exams.

moved on to punting



Hind and Magda


the only moment when Dina's sitting down

teaching:
In the meantime, I'm enjoying my teaching placement at a secondary school in Wantage, realising that it's even more tiring than revision.
have loads more to tell, but that's that for now...

That's the slogan for World Youth Day 2008 HK Diocese.

Indeed. The 2 weeks in HK was a good break.
Thanks Mum Dad Popo Mama and all of you whom I've seen!
Saturday in London was like a dream... the Father!!!!
What a boost for my spirit!
Yes. I'm on Fire... Bring it on!
This last sprint is not long!


I can't wait.

趁死前玩晒佢

日期：2008年3月9日

二零零八年三月九日 趁死前玩晒佢 徐錦父堯神父 　　 月前看到報紙的一個大標題：「乖女學壞愛夜蒲，要玩就要趁死前玩晒佢」。 這個題目真的好震憾。雖然說這句話的女孩只有十三歲，但這話真的很有豪氣，是隱含著風雷，有義無反顧，和「揮一揮手，不帶走一片雲彩」的飄逸。我活了整整六十五年，還是第一次聽到這種話。 　　話說一個女孩在月前的一個車禍中去世了。她曾經是教師眼中的乖乖女，惟升中後誤交損友，變成不愛歸家的女孩，更向同學大談其「玩晒佢」的生活態度，務求及時行樂。怎知卻一語成讖，貪玩隨友人遊車河遇上橫禍，匆匆走完了十三載的短暫人生。 　　據說她小學時品學兼優，經常代表學校參加朗誦比賽。升中後變得反叛，甚少回家睡覺，經常在大埔海濱公園通宵達旦流連。她離世的消息傳出後，不少同學均 感難過，一些好友更趕至醫院，希望見她最後一面。其中一位男同學說「她升中後，成個人變晒，終日流連公園，又愛到旺角玩」。最教他印象深刻的是，半年前死 者曾向他訴說人生觀，直言「要玩就要趁死前玩晒佢」。 　　報載死者的母親在車禍現場路祭時，哭成淚人，不住呼喊：「乖，唔好玩，帶你返屋企」。可惜這一次愛女是永遠都不會歸家了。 　　其實「死前玩晒佢」這句話，也可以有十分積極的意義，它叫我們不要疏忽光陰中的任何一分一秒，因為一切都會一去不復返，一切都必須及時掌握，甚至要讓短暫累積成為永恆。杜秋娘在《金縷衣》便說過：「好花堪折直需折，莫待無花空折枝」。 　　耶穌更曾告誡人：「你們趁著還有光的時候，應該行走，免得黑暗籠罩了你們。」 　　其實，人生和世界都十分美麗。我曾經半開玩笑的跟我的慕道者說，當天主決定要到宇宙中旅行的時候，他什麼地方都沒有選，就選中了地球；到了地球，他沒有成為任何一種生物，卻成為人。所以至少在天主的心目中，世界應該是好地方，做人也一定很奇妙。 　　所以我們應努力認識整個世界，上至天文，下至地理，和天地間的林林種種和形形色色；我們更要享盡人生的所有快樂：成長的快樂、親情和友情的快樂、成就 的喜悅和戰勝困境的自豪……，而不是把「世界」壓縮成一個微不足道的「旺角」，把人生的豐盛和快樂簡化成一兩個小時的「遊車河」！ 　　一個小小的旺角，幾個小時的遊車河，怎能稱得上是人生的全部？怎能算是「玩盡」了人生？ (轉載自公教報 二零零八年三月九日教研之聲)