Jackie Miao

Life is pretty funny. When it realizes you’re about to give a place up, all of a sudden there are a hundred and one things coming your way to deter you from doing that. For me, it was the reminder that I had (to my acknowledgment or not) built up a comfortable life in London with friends and activities that I now have to forgo.

Last Saturday night, I was reminded of the wonderful people I’ve come to know whilst in London. I went to Bodean’s for some unadulterated American-sized BBQ at Tower Hill for Alan, one of the Typhoon boys’ birthdays. Check out the size of this combo. I only ate half and already was bursting out of my seams!

Bodean's Pulled Pork and Ribs with Chilly Fries Combo - GBP 14.95

The Typhoon Tigers Dragonboating Club were the first group of people I got to know when I moved to London when I briefly joined their B-team for training in 2007. Even though I did not train with them for long, they’ve always just invited me to most of their gatherings and treated me as one of their own. Awesome club, awesome peops! Here’s a picture of me and the captains of the U.K. Premiere League dragon boating team. Just a few days ago, TT paddler Thanh nicknamed them the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天国), and rightly so!

All the captains of the Typhoon Tigers, Great Britain's 3rd ranked dragonboating team for the 200m and 4th ranked for 500m in 2008. L-R: W. Hung, Dan C, Andy L and S. Ping.

After a gorging session of porky goodness, we headed to The Refinery for the K-pop night. No, it wasn’t Karaoke or Korean pop but an R&B party. Here are the boys giving Alan the birthday boy some nookie-loving.

The Typhoon Tigers on a typical birthday celebration

Here are some more pictures from Saturday night.

Bumping into Kim after a year of not seeing her was nice!

Sam C being attacked by chicks on the dance floor! Try spotting this extra in the movie Wimbledon!

I was trying to get a picture with the birthday boy, but he couldn't get over the lipstick doodle on his chest!

It was really quite nice to see everyone again! I’m going to really miss them when I go. Hopefully I’ll catch them in Hong Kong for the Stanley Cup!

In an article published on the Edge on 31st March 2009, Emily Tan interviewed me and documented  my digital campaigning efforts for the Best Job in the World. Read the story here: Viral marketing makes ‘Best Job in the World’ campaign a runaway success.

Expatriate Lifestyle Magazine April Issue

Even though I did not make the Top 16 shortlist for the Best Job in the World, media coverage will still be popping up here and there as a result of earlier efforts that was part of my longer-term campaign strategy for Queensland.

I was notified by the Assistant Editor that the Expatriate Lifestyle April 2009 issue is currently out on the newstands. Do get a copy for your collection since my interview is in there. You can draw a halo on my head and cute whiskers from my cheeks if you like, and I promise to sign it if you bring it along the next time I am in Malaysia! Feel free to say hello and leave a comment on my blog. It would be nice to get to know my voters!

James McAvoy plays an American in Three Days of Rain

Last Tuesday I went to watch Chronicles of Narnia actor James McAvoy and British soap opera star Nigel Harman in Three Days of Rain. The tickets were courtesy of Kareen (who couldn’t make it to London) because despite being crazy about James, she received some life-altering news which caused her to forfeit about a thousand quid worth of “non-refundable” travel arrangements.

Thanks to Kareen who spent a fortune on the tickets, we had the best seats in the house… right in the middle of row 3 in the stalls! I read some reviews online and they weren’t encouraging, but don’t take their professional booism too seriously because theater critics are usually grumpy jaded obsessives with clinical standards, often looking for a new drug to turn them on!

I thought the three actors were so impressive I waited backstage to meet and speak with James McAvoy and Nigel Harman. Well okay, I also promised we’d shamelessly capture some pictures for Kareen who was pretty bummed out about not being able to make it to watch his idol perform. Check out the pics that Trinh took on my Flickr album and for descriptions, just click on the pics. Enjoy!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Sarah-Louise, James, and Jackie at SOS (3rd Apr 2009)

While I didn’t make the Top 16, the other expat in the U.K. James Hill did. I went to his farewell do at Smiths on Smithfield in Farringdon yesterday evening to give him a megahug for making it to the next stage. You can see we’re all a bit tired but James looks especially so because he hasn’t slept in two days. Wishing him all the best!