After several months of not updating my blog, I have now reached a conclusion that I will wrap everything’s up, reflect on my 2013 year and say farewell to my blog readers. I might continue writing again in the future if I decide to have a more professional personal website.
In overall, 2013 is not a very good year for me. However, I’m still happy because I have successfully upgraded my knowledge in 2013 by obtaining two professional certifications. Ironically, this success have not yet followed with another success in terms of climbing up the career ladder as two companies rejected me after I attended their respective face to face interviews. I still suspect the complicated extension of my working visa that will expire in February 2014 as the main reason for companies to reject me even though I have tried my very best to find a support through an external visa consultancy expert. Fingers crossed that there will be an ultimate good answer in January 2014 regarding my job hunting progress.
Meanwhile, I would also like to give tribute to the managers and directors of my work place in 2013, Breeze & Wyles Solicitors LLP. They have been outstanding when I was working there, particularly by giving a generous offer to sponsor me in extending my working visa, even though I declined it afterwards because of my own intention to change my current circumstances. I remember sometimes I felt dejected and the other time I felt the necessity of getting out of my comfort zone. Overall, I worked there with fantastic and nice people, which are rarely to be found in most companies nowadays. I’m proud that I have worked there and delivered each project with P.R.I.D.E (Personal Responsibility In the Delivery of Excellence), which is the motto popularized by the main director of the company.
In terms of personal things, I feel delighted that I could still enjoy some memorable vacations in 2013. In mid-March until early April during Easter holiday, I had 2 weeks off granted by my manager to return home. It was an alienate as well as a great feeling to be back home and saw those warm smiles of my parent, brother, family, and friends, and also to drive a car again (after barely two and a half years without driving at all!) In early August, I finally visited the most beautiful place in the UK: the world heritage Jurassic Coast in Weymouth, particularly the Durdle Door. It was a 3 hours journey by train with 75% special discounted fare in August only from London Waterloo to Weymouth so I (and my friend Randy, who joined me for that trip) started early that day, at 9 AM and arrived in Weymouth at 12 PM. We ate the best Fish and Chips ever as our lunch before heading to the Durdle Door at 3 PM by riding a local bus that only run every 2 hours during summer. Thankfully it was a sunny day and the scenery was simply breath-taking and spectacular. Sadly we had to return back by 5 PM to catch the train back at 6 PM and arrived back in London at 9 PM. Another fantastic vacation that I enjoyed was my 1 week trip to Italy from 14 September 2013 until 22 September 2013. I joined my friend Andres, who is accompanied by two of his friends. I travelled between four cities, from Milan – Rome – Florence – Pisa – Venice – Milan. Among those four cities, I enjoyed Florence and Venice the most despite I visited the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan for three times because of me being a supporter of Inter Milan FC. I love how lively Florence is during the night notwithstanding being a smaller city in comparison with Milan and Rome. Pisa is just the trademark Pisa and Venice is totally amazing, as illustrated by the most beautiful picture I’ve ever taken in the photo gallery above.
Xhino 9+32 