My early-ish life

rpattwell (48)in #teammalaysia • 6 years ago (edited)

I am originally from Klang in Malaysia.

^{That's me cycling in our garden. Check my Chopper out!}

I came to England to further my studies. I did ‘A’ Levels at Stafford House in Canterbury

^{Me and my hostel mates at Stafford House in Canterbury}

I then went on to read Law at Holborn Law Tutors in London.

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^{Proof that I did actually attend some lectures when I was at college!}

^{What actually happened at home.

Unfortunately there were no photographs of me asleep on my books and notes.

I do believe osmosis did play a part in me passing my exams}

I worked most of my time in London; in Pizza Hut, pubs, Malaysian restaurant, Bentalls in Kingston & selling rendition perfume door to door to help fund my living expenses while studying.

^{Hard at work!}

I went back to Malaysia to look for a job after getting a law degree. Yep! I passed! With a 2:2 I might add! I failed to find a job because I didn't try hard enough as I had left my heart in London! I had fallen in love to my then boyfriend, now husband, Richard while working at Salisbury’s at Marble Arch… ahhhhhhhh…….<3 That was 27 years ago!

^{With Alaine at Salisbury's- the Marble Arch branch}

I returned to England to surprise Richard. I stayed with my eldest sister Angel and her husband Steve for a while. I could only work for a couple of years, as that was what my visa allowed me to do. I proposed to Richard at the bus stop at Kingston after work. I basically had no choice! If I had waited for him to make a move he would still be a bachelor and I would have married someone else! LOL!

We got married on a budget! I think it was under £1000. That's roughly about RM5400 for the whole wedding; my dress, shoes, his suit, the venue. I even sewed my own veil the eve of my wedding! My family and friends were kind enough to contribute to food and drinks. I always maintained "Invest in your marriage, not your wedding!" 24 years on, we are still, mostly, happily married!

^{Our wedding day}