It was a long long flight to London. My flight departed at KLIA 10:45am in the morning and it was a 13 hours journey in the air at altitude of 10000. I was hardly able to sleep on the plane as was seated next to the emergency exit which was located right beside the wing where the turbo engine was. It was really torturing =_="!

My plane touches down at the Heathrow airport at 4pm UK local time. It was where my nightmare started =_=" I was going through a long queue at the immigration. I waited some 30 minutes for my turn to clear the immigration. I greet the immigration officer politely but no response was given by him. I handed him my passport and arrival card and the first question from him was "what is your purpose of entry?". I answered him politely that I am coming on a business trip for meetings and knowledge sharing at my mother company. He was not convinced though after knowing that I am going to stay there for 6 weeks. Here is where the embarassing moment started.

He was asking for my invitation letter or any documents to prove that I am actually on a business trip. I was not given any letter from my company so I handed him my business card, company name and even gave him my office's number in UK. The first response from him was:"What makes you think that I should call your company? It is your responsibility to get the documents ready. You have no invitation card, no official letter and you don't have any prove that you're on a business trip. This is UNITED KINGDOM! It is not a place that you can come and go like your own house."

I was totally stunt =_=" I stoned there for a second and quickly gave him my flight ticket and hotel reservations as a prove that I am on a business trip (the accommodation reservation was arranged by my company with their details). He was not convinced though. I was out of idea. I shown him everything I have got, I told him what I am coming for but yet, he was not impressed. I felt so helpless and was thinking I am on the next flight home :) really! Surprisingly he changed his mind in the very last minute and granted me visa and thrown me backed my passport without saying a single word. I was confused as I always do. I got my beg and stuff and walk to the other side. Politely, I said thank you to him but he was not even looking at me at all. Sigh, as if i really stepped on his tail like that =_="

Phew, I cleared the custom with my luggage and walked to the arrival hall. I was greeted politely by the cab driver who was arranged by my company to come and pick me up. He was a really nice man. With lots of jokes, lots of information, we were on our way back to Nottingham. He dropped me off at the Park Plaza Hotel and these are the pictures took in my room.











Breakfast @ Hotel's Restaurant






Early morning, I work up as early as 6am. I was still adjusting to the different time zone. First Glance at Nottingham City:






I packed up my stuff after breakie down at the hotel restaurant and checked out from the hotel 11am to catch a cab to the apartment where I will be staying for the coming 43 days - The Ice House. Upon arrival, I was told by the receptionist that I will not be able to check in until 2pm as the cleaners were busy cleaning up the rooms. She was a really nice lady with a big smile on her face always. As she promised to take care of my things before the room is ready, I was heading out to the city for a walk and to take my lunch. I was heading down to Goose Street which is only 1 minute walk from my apartment.




Market Square:








Tired of walking around, I stopped at the Cape cafe and take my lunch herea.


Hot Choc!


Chicken Tikka Masala:


The color of autumn:








After lunch, I headed back to the apartment at 2pm but was told that the room was not ready yet. ARGH... I felt so tired and just wish to go to bed immediately =_=". I sat there and waited till 4pm to get my room and quickly rush into it to put my stuff before going out for last minute groceries shopping (shops close at 5pm on sunday).

My room @ Ice House (Premier Apartments):









It was a really tiring day indeed.

19/10/2009:
I woke up early in the morning to get myself prepared before going to work. This would be my first day in the Nottingham office. After breakfast, I took a taxi to the office at 8:20 in the morning. The office is actually kinda near to the city, about 2 km away. I spoke to the receptionist about my purpose of visiting to Nottingham office and she got me Julie to come down and pick me up.

First sight on Julie, she is a really nice lady in her mid 40s and she was super friendly. She took me around the office, shown me the way and even bought me a cup of coffee! Julie introduces me to people in the office and I met up with lots of familiar faces like Martins, Neil and I met our legendary team who is working on the IDAP framework - Craig, Pranav, Mike, and lots of other people who I still couldn't remember their name. Julie put me with Craig and I was just sitting next to him. He is a really nice guy and very helpful. Craig introduces me to lots of the other team members in the development team.

Anyway, I felt kinda awkward to sit among them and I felt kinda nervous when I am in a conversation with them. Maybe I am not used to talking to them at all. Just like a new boy going to the office on the first day. I remember that I had a same feeling 10 months ago when I first joined the Malaysia office. Well, I hope this kind of feeling will recede in the coming days. I was too shy to talk to them really. I don't know why =_=" I just failed. I know that I am not really good in small talk. Sigh...

Anyway, first day in the office was bombarded with tonnes of information. My brain started to turn off around 3pm as it was about 10pm Malaysia time =_=" ... I struggle till 5pm and quickly pack up my stuff and headed home. Phew, the first day is always gonna be the toughest day. I am totally agree with that! I am just wishing that I will do a lot better in the coming days to mix around with the people around in the office. "Cheer up, Michael"!