睡眠不足，加上空空的肚子，就上路了。。。真的，整天，有点魂不付体，灵魂出窍。。。 哈哈。
Trying to sustain energy level... the morning started off with a long train journey that cost us almost 90 pounds per pax... Wah! That's expensive, isn't it... Anyway, it's a trip to another city in England, Birmingham, about 100 miles away. It was also the earliest trip for amongst all the days... leaving the hotel by 5.30 am... without breakfast... Oh! How miserable!!! especially for a tired body when the soul is half-gone... Yes, a bottle of mineral water and croissant (with mushroom and cheese)... there's the only energy recharger... oh yes, no coffee for that morning, too!!! That adds to the misery...
The train journey lasted for more than 1 h 30 min. Along the way, Keith turned to a tour guide, giving us the commentary from the styles of houses to the changing landscapes and trades to farming...
Oh yes, we learnt that the Georgian houses can be mostly identified through the (3X3) grid windows while the Victorian ones come with another kind of windows, and I think, also chimneys, too... We are lucky that these can be seen on the way, from hotel to Euston Train station, and on the way to Birmingham, too.
Oh yes, the plains that excited SS... we couldn't find them in Singapore... On the other hand, I just counted myself very lucky (in my heart) that I have seen more beautiful landscapes than this... when I was on my way to Bumthang... the fields and highlands filled with mustard plantation, and the animals... Hm... Bhutan is beautiful... I just wonder... probably Keith thought that we were very sua-ku??? Anyway, doesn't matter... it's asian's nature to be humble... and each individual comes with different bag of knowledge and experiences, too.
We started Birmingham with a little 'sight-seeing', oh yes, the bullring... that does not have bull fights like those in Spain... hahaha... fooled by Keith... it's simply a huge mall - like our town centre.
The light breakfast takes effect when we reach Greet Primary School... yes, a typical primary school that faces the challenges... I think, in particular, the profile of pupils - for a moment, I saw lots of muslims walking into school, children, parents, and even teachers!!! This is something I would not expect to see in an English country!!! So different from what we saw in movies, though we do see the blacks in movies, too... I'm caught in surprise... the Asian has invaded into this part of the world! Somehow, the school gives me a very down-to-earth feel and look... and yes, though we didn't see fanastic infrastructure, it's a system that we saw generated interests... the way work is monitored... we eagerly asked for photocopies of work... and yes, lots of photos were taken... they can be useful suggestions to schools next year... we see the practical values here...
Looking back, I just wonder, we were so enthused by what we saw in Greets Primary... is it because it's the very first school visit we had, or it's the things that the school has done had impressed us? The hospitality of the head teacher and the assistant head teacher? Yes, I think both...
Robin Hood Primary School is a very well-known school, with its exemplary use of ICT as an enabler to bring about creative thinking and learning, etc... Oh yes, even Poh Choo has heard of the school! Indeed, the head teacher and the other key teacher mentioned that they had specially get the teachers and pupils to put up the lessons for us to see (Hm... though wayang... but it wayanged with substance...) :D ... thanks for the effort indeed! Yes, we see the solid work that pupils have done... it's nothing more truthful and real than hearing directly from the learners! It's marvellous! Pupils indeed are very well-versed and know what they are doing... another impressive management system is the electronic work monitoring system that was used for Key stage 2 pupils. Unfortunately, it was a flat 'no' when asked if it's ok to have a print screen the checklist... anyway... doesn't matter lah...
The afternoon at Becta was the most miserable one... ok, must clarify, not the organisation, but it's ME... 'cos I was already brain-dead on the way there... !!! Remember, the lack of sleep and hunger - leading to lack of oxygen in the brain.... can't even put up an intelligent look... failed miserably... The chim chim lecture made it worse... nothing goes into the head... oh no... the time passed so slowly... Thanks to SS who saved the day...
Well, that evening went off without dinner again... again??? Oops... can't even remember!!! I think, it's a total black-out + blank-out??? No, no... half a 'curry-puff'-look-a-like and half a packet of onion rings... that's all to end the day...
Oh yes, we continued to look for cheaper accommodation, along the way... the first one, County Hotel... 41 pounds... but shared facilities!!! No! No! No! Ok, Tavistock seems reasonable... 61 pounds... set! Will move in tomorrow...
That's the night started packing again... getting ready to move house the next morning...