day 6: royal tea party

Inspired by the 1898 Royal Weekend Party we saw at the Warwick Castle yesterday, we decided to throw one ourselves. Short of dressing up as Earl and Countesses, I must say our tea party was just as grand (and very English).

After visiting Chipping Camden and Broadway Tower, we quickly made ourselves comfortable in a lovely tea room in Broadway. We had fruit scones with jam, Victorian sponge cake and Cotswold Afternoon Tea. Gavin introduced clotted cream, which went perfectly with the scones and jam. Jerrain was happy to polish off all the cream before she found out clotted cream was more fattening than butter. Actually she was still licking off the saucer after she was told the fact. You go girl!

Gavin and Serene had to peel us off the seats of that tea room before we miss our Megabus to London. We dropped by Lakeside to check out Serene's apartment and the wild geese she feeds from time to time.

Then it was time to leave Coventry with our oversized backpakcs and tuna and egg sandwiches which Gavin and Serene lovingly prepared for us. They are the sweetest!

• Location: Cotswold, Britain
• Highlight: Tea and scones with clotted cream

day 4: what do the english know about breakfast?

A lot it seems. After having a home made traditional English breakfast, I was satisfied (and stuffed) for the next nine hours.

Serene and Gavin insisted on making everything - bacon, scrambled eggs, beans, tomatos, mushrooms, and tea. They only allowed me to help toast the bread. Perhaps they knew how bad a cook I am.

That was a perfect start to the day! A visit to Oxford and dinner at Zizzi's after left me feeling very accomplished.

We dropped by to pick up some groceries for breakfast and dinner tomorrow. I'm looking forward to what is cooking!!

• Location: Oxford & Lemington Spa, Britain
• Cost: £0 (Gavin and Serene refused to let us pay for anything! Now I know, never trust the British when they say you can get the next one)
• People: met up with Nicholas from Cyprus and Dominik from Slovakia for dinner

day 3: five minutes too late

Jerrain's heart stopped twice today. It was our first (and second) misadventure. It is a little early if you ask me, considering it is just day three.

We were five minutes too late for our bus to Coventry. Jerrain thought the guy behind the counter was pulling our legs. But no, he was as serious as the rest of Europe is about keeping time.

I, rather reluctantly, went to get us new tickets. Fortunately, there was another bus leaving in two hours, giving us time for some needed lunch to calm our nerves and replenish all that we have burnt from sprinting 400 metres with our 1.5 kilograms backpack.

Just as our heartbeat returned to a regular rhythm, we realised - fifteen minutes before departure - that the ticket was for one adult! Sounds 'drama-mama', but picture me running across the coach interchange to the ticket counter to snatch up the last seat left on the bus.

Serene, whom we were supposed to meet, was delayed in Toronto due to the volcanic ashes. Fortunately, her university friend, Nicholas, came to pick us up from the coach station. So, Jerrain and I are now safe in Coventry. Finally.

• Location: London & Coventry, Britain
• Cost: £6 bus, £4 mutton curry lunch, £18 last-minute coach ticket to Coventry
• Highlight: Missing a coach ride for the first time in my life
• Other activities for the day: Portobello Market, sent a few postcards, drinks at White Horse Lemington Spa

minus 50 days: i'm coming!

Eight countries in 37 days is a lot to manage. New places to check out, new friends to make, new food to savour. Sometimes, it helps to have some familiar faces along the way to ease all the excitement.

So, with less than two months to go, I sent a shout out to my friends, saying "I'm coming!". These are the poor souls who are going to give up their bed, bathroom, and couch for the few days Jerrain and I are over.

Friend #1: Serene
Country: Britain

Where did we meet: Singapore Management University
How did we meet: Christian Fellowship
Friends since: Sept 2001

She went to Coventry to do her Masters last October, and I have been dying to go visit her. Now that she has started dating someone there, my girlies have entrusted me with the mission to check out who this lucky guy is. I heard he is a good cook, but I promise I will not be bought over with just some fancy home-cooked food.

Friend #2: Norie
Country: France

Where did we meet: Singapore Airlines
How did we meet: Worked together in the HR dept
Friends since: August 2005

A French man swept her off her feet and stole her from us in 2006. Having visited her in Paris three years ago, I can see why she left her friends behind. Joel, her hubby, is the most charming and caring guy. He showed us around and even whipped up an authentic four course French meal! I promised Norie I will go back to visit her, so it is about time.

Friend #3 (and #4): Chris and Øyvind
Country: Norway

Where did we meet: New York
How did we meet: Along the corridor of Jazz Hostel
Friends since: July 2009

My first taste of Norway and I am hooked. These crazy dudes made me fall in love with New York over and over again. Met them the first night I arrived, and we hung out every night till they had to leave. If Norwegians are all like these two, I am sure it is going to be a blast. They are the reason why I am spending almost a third of my time up North!