Fancy Brunch at FBC

I finally came out from my wormhole guys! Woke up early despite sleeping at 4AM to be all dolled up and drive through the bustling and hectic city traffic since I made plans with Farah for brunch. I've been giving her rain-checks for way too many times and believe it or not, it's been a year since we first met during our internship - time flies by way too fast these days! 

Anyway, at first we wanted to try this cafe/restaurant place at Plaza Damas. However, that night I decided to Facebook the place to see the reviews and they were horrible. Had to arrange something else and I've been meaning to try Fancy Breakfast Club for quite some time now, so that's where went.

Bangers and Mash Rolls (U) and Smoked Salmon Clementine Fritters (B).

So, my review?

Basically, the restaurant achieved my expectations perfectly. It's pretty new, so some of the restaurant's interior may be a work in progress but it's clean - no worries. I think they were going for a rustic, minimal interior and ambience though I thoroughly loved it. Perfect for taking Insta-worthy pictures as well since the place had so much natural light coming on.

Okay for food, I contemplated between getting something savoury (which, indeed was the Bangers and Mash Rolls) or something sweet (they have an amazing waffle dish) but since it was almost lunch time, I decided to go for savoury. The rolls were big, in fact for the price, it was a pretty huge serving! The pastry was buttery, and the mashed potatoes were just the way I liked it - mashed but with little bits of chunky potatoes in it. The gravy was delicious too - definitely a must try! Most of the dishes were priced below RM 20 - for its serving, it's worth it.

Staff was friendly! In fact, when I came in, I found out one of my old college friends was working there. He came around several times asking how the food was. The waiter who took my order definitely deserved plus points for recommending the Bangers and Mash Rolls as well. I'd rate this place 4.7/5, definitely a satisfied customer who will come for brunch again.

Saying Hello To Big Ben

Shots before my camera died due to the weather, taken on the first day we came to London. 

Syaz and I had actually been planning about our trip since early 2015. However, I bought my tickets first before she joined a few months after that. I initially planned for the trip to be around 2 weeks, but my initial flight was rebooked all of a sudden, so it ended up being three weeks. We went through whirlwinds to plan it and miraculously, we did it! Lol.

The both of us arrived Heathrow on a gloomy Christmas Eve morning. Amir and Hazim picked us up (Amir had arrived the same day on an earlier flight), we then settled in our respective accommodations all in Bayswater area and were joined by Danial at Malaysian Hall. Immediately, he was elected as our so-called "tourguide" and brought us to Westminster area to see the Big Ben, London Eye, Westminster Abbey and other tourist spots around the area.

While we were along the pathways of Big Ben, we were bombarded by street artists and people giving out flowers which we were forced to pay for. That part, annoyed me. For myself, the weather was perfect. It wasn't too cold and skies were clear and blue, unlike the hazy weather Malaysia had been cursed with for the past few months. Unfortunately for my camera, the weather affected the battery and it died on me while we were at Westminster Abbey. Thank god for my GoPro. Or else, I would have cried right on the spot. 

That night, we had GBK for dinner. Honestly, the best truffle fries I've ever tasted. By then, Aziz had arrived from Bristol and my cousins, Maryam and Razman joined us as well. Walked around Queensway area, chilled at the boys' studio before going back to mine since my eyes were red and exhausted by then. 

Through The Year & Entering 2K16 In London

Thought it would be inappropriate if I posted a New Year's post a week after the initial date - therefore, I might as well post one before the week ends! And yikes, it's already Sunday?! Haha. I have +/- two more weeks here in England, and there's still so much for me to explore and buy (coughs) but I'm going with my initial intention of coming here - to just chill, relax, and have my deserved low time with great company.

Let's go through the months of 2015 together, shall we?

In January, I landed an internship with one of the companies I had been aiming since the start of my studies. I met awesome colleagues whom guided me, taught me so much about the working life and was inspired by them to strive, work hard and somehow be where they were in the future. Some of them were so career driven, it changed my perspective in life - to chase my dreams before I had no more time to chase them anymore, lol. I also left a lot behind in January. A group of friends whom I was accustomed to hanging out with for the past year, my social media networks - my Instagram account which I built to nearly 8K followers was deleted (I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't sad, but it was for the better). For a month or so, I used other people's social medias until they pestered me to get my own, lol.

I got back together with Amir in February after our brief yet much needed break-up. Hung out a lot with my Bangi friends - surprised the boys at a wedding. In March, I left Petronas, bid goodbye to the UK and went back to Taylor's for my final semester of studies. Surprised Amir with a box from home which costed me almost half of my allowance for his birthday. Had to handle unnecessary drama from people who simply just couldn't grow up and admit their faults despite me doing nothing. Had to face some of them in college which disgusted the shit out of me. Then all the other months were basically filled with studying, being trapped in a pile of assignments and contemplating life decisions after uni: to work/continue studies. Life was a bliss.

This year, I learned about independence of travelling alone without my family. In May, I went to Yogyakarta, Indonesia with my ex-collegues. Don't think the place is my cup of tea, but I loved seeing the temples with my very own eyes. Then, in December, after months of planning, Syaz and I boarded a flight to London. Despite this being my third time here, blessed to see the city with friends - or, juniors since Amir and I were the most senior ones while the rest were batch 95 and 97 (but Anis, who's a 93 joined us on New Year's but I'll talk about that later hehe).

I remembered end of 2014, I asked God if he could help me with a big favour. To help get rid of those who will hurt me, those who had nothing good to offer and to help preserve those who would one day mean the world to me. He definitely granted what I asked for. At the end of the day, I'm still with the same group of friends from high school, blessed for helpful friends since my foundation batch (Elisha, Lysha, Jen and Kim were my saviours for my last semester of degree).

And let's not forget, family. Family. What will I ever be without my family.

I learned that my sister really does love me and can be clingy, hehe. She demanded me for attention while I was exploring Betws-Y-Coed and despite the cold which made my hands almost numb, I still tried my best to reply her text messages and even Facetimed with her till my data went zero (blimming Lebara). People may belittle your family members demanding respect when they don't show the slightest one yet. They can give you 1001 excuses saying they don't fit in when they've been prancing around with someone else. They can even play victim: posting motivational quotes about finding themselves, moving on, just to beg for attention and sympathy but the solid truth still remains, when you're at fault, just admit it. When you're wrong, just say sorry. Just like when you steal something from someone else, you've still committed a crime. There was once a time when I vowed that I would never forgive those who hurt my sister to an extent which I hope to forget. But looking at her now, strong, smiling and most importantly back to her geeky self, made me realize that whatever happened to her made her stronger, and it inspired me. It also made me more overprotective towards her.

But most of all, looking back - I'm proud of myself. So, so proud. I came back on the right track - with my internship and my studies. Yes, it's normal to have flops along the way but I finished my degree after pushing myself, being somewhere I didn't want to be for years. I grew to love Taylor's during my last semester which I thoroughly tried to appreciate every piece of the uni-life. And I actually made my decision to do my Masters, and got accepted.

S O  H O W  D I D  I  S P E N D  M Y  N E W  Y E A R ?

Well, New Year's Eve was supposed to be exploring Camden Town in the morning and then following whatever plans the boys had in store for us at night. However, Syaz and I both woke up late, decided to chill at my apartment and ended up shopping in Oxford Street instead. We both bought matching - yet in different colours, bomber jackets at Topshop and went back to Queensway after that to drop off our stuff. Chilled at Anis' room to catch up and eventually managed to drag her out to join us for New Year celebrations. Met the boys; Amir, Danial, Hazim and Najwan at Malaysian Hall for dinner and Anis came after that. We went to Whiteley's since Amir wanted to go to Zara, but the shops closed early so we took the tube to Westminster and walked around to find a spot for fireworks.

For (some) years of age gap, we all look about the same age! Lol.

Why must you boys spoil a what's supposed to be nice photo?!

Once we found one, looked at our watches - we had four more hours to kill. So we walked to Trafalgar Square which, by then was flooded with a sea of people. Stopped by Petit-A-Manger to grab some snacks, and hurried back to our spot which was starting to fill up as well. What do you do to kill three hours in the cold? Well, Amir and I's hot chocolate cup was empty by then, so we ended up playing Truth or Dare - which, ended up to being just truth.

After, the skeletons in everyone's closet were almost all out - it was time for fireworks. It was spectacular. It was beautiful. It was worth our hours in the cold. Mere silence, just "ooh's" and "aah's". We hugged everyone Happy New Year in the end and 2016 started off perfect, the way I wanted it to be. I wanted to cry at Syaz because we had been planning this trip for months, and one of the things in our bucket list was to watch the fireworks. The amount of hassles we went through for this, was worth it since in the end - the both of us got what we wanted.

Ate before we each went back to our respective houses. Blessed for kebab stores which open late night (mind you, by the time we reached Queensway again, it was already almost 2AM). As soon as I got home, I showered, packed a bit and slept. That, was my New Year's Eve. That, was my idea of a perfect ending for 2015. 

The next day, everyone went back to their universities since it was the start of exams. I moved on to my friend's house and bid farewell to my aunt and cousins. No more walking in groups and janji Melayu talks of going out early and ending up leaving in the afternoon. No more Malaysian Hall which I would do anything, anything, to have their daging rendang right now. That was the end of London, as of now - off to explore somewhere else!