Current Mission Address

Just in case anyone checks here to find Vanessa's Mission Address, here it is:

Sister Vanessa Pui Sze Lau
Spring Wood Suite G5
Booths Park
Knutsford
WA16 8QZ
England, UK

This is the address of the mission home, so if you need to get letters to her and they are at all time sensitive, send the letter early.

MTC

Vanessa has arrived at the MTC and settled in.She has a companion- confusingly called Sister Lai, who is also going to the Taiwan Mission, and she has joined the choir. Beginners' Mandarin is beckoning and no doubt she will soon be more Chinese than her Dad!
Fiona Lau- Vanessa's Mum.

My MTC address!!!!!!

Sister Vanessa Pui Sze Lau
MTC Box# 243-0420
2005 North 900 East
Provo, UT 84604


If you ever want to write to me, then please do :D
I'll even try to write back :)
I hope you all have a wonderful year and a half!

A Cragun Christmas

In short, I spent this Christmas with the whole Cragun family in Minnesota and it was amazing :D
After a very last minute decision and after clearing it with the parents (who later kind of wanted to back track on their decision....but it was too late) I got on a plane and flew to Minnesota!
Once I had settled in and officially met all members of the family the real Christmas activities began....bell ringing for the Salvation Army (so much fun!), eating delicious food, building a 10 foot snowman (a lot harder than you initially think), going out for a date night, wearing layers and layers of clothing, building jigsaws, watching Avatar (in 3D, of course), cross country skiing, eagerly anticipating the result of Christian's face lump removal, shopping in The Mall of America, riding a Spongebob roller coaster, stuffing myself with a huge burger, watching Nate stuff himself with close to 1lb of food, tons of yummy Christmas cookies and treats (homemade by Nate's mum), playing many many board/card games with everyone (and getting beaten...I need to get my game skills up), and celebrating Nate's birthday!! Needless to say everybody was incredibly welcoming and made me feel as though I was right at home. Thank you, it really was perfect :)







It really was a wonderful trip and I'm so glad I got to spend time with Nate and his family. I loved getting to know everyone a little bit better :)
I hope you all had as wonderful of a Christmas as I did. Happy new year!

I'm blogging again!!! YAY!

Hello everyone!
I know, I know, it has been forever since I posted anything on my blog....my excuse being that I needed time to gather some great blogging material (or I've been off having fun and found no time to blog). But, after being inspired by my good friend Brittany Bradshaw, I am back and I'm hoping this spurt of blogging enthusiasm will at least last until I go on my mission :) (Which is less than 2 months away) Haha. And yes, for all those who didn't know...I will be serving a mission :D awoohoo!

So, first things first, let's address the mission. I have been called to the Taiwan, Taipei mission and I'll be entering the mtc on the 2nd of February, 2010 :D I will be speaking Mandarin Chinese! Right now I am attempting to find non-frumpy clothing and shoes that don't me look like an ugly cartoon character. It's actually rather fun!!

Secondly, I had the most incredible summer this year! In short, I met Nate, we dated, I came home to sort out mission stuff, Nate came to visit over Thanksgiving, and now I'm going to Minnesota to be with him and his family over Christmas! I CAN'T WAIT!!!! Obviously I will miss not being home for Christmas, as this year will actually make it 4 years since I've actually had a proper Christmas at home. But I'll be back again eventually for Christmas with the family in England :) Ohh, you should all check out my photos on facebook of Nate's trip to England....we did a lot of fun things, including: venturing out of England to visit Venice and Paris, eating in a pub, seeing the Lion King in the west end, getting some pictures by Big Ben, introducing Nate to Dim Sum, meeting my crazy friends, and enjoying some successful shopping. We didn't really give him chance to be jet lagged...we were quite busy :)

So...as of now I am working as a receptionist in the mornings and then I spend my afternoon/evenings helping out with the Bigwood kids (child minding/babysitting/nannying...I don't really know what to call it). But I LOVE IT :) and I love the Bigwood's....so it doesn't feel like work at all! Whilst being back at home I am also playing Netball again...this time I am playing for the Conquerors Gold team. It is good to be playing again and we have, thus far, won all of our matches! I have also taken 2 online classes this semester (really small ones)...in order to defer from school properly you have to be enrolled in classes for the semester right before you leave for your mission, hence the online classes. I realise that my life is slightly boring, as I'm kind of in limbo right now, but I think everyone needs a few months of boringness. It's a good opportunity to relax, spend time with my family, save some money, and prepare for when life suddenly becomes ultra exciting again :) Actually, let's not call it boring...let's call it subdued. It has been a little odd but overall I am enjoying this subdued phase of life :) Especially as Christmas is coming up....how can you not enjoy the Christmas period??! Forget presents, decorations, etc. and just enjoy the season and what it stands for. I'm really enjoying December and I'm SO SO SO SO SO excited for Christmas :D Minnesotttttttaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

I hope you're all well and having a fabulous December so far! I'll blog soon again, I promise!!

Nicolina

Back for the summer, with la bella Nicola.

Oh, the boredom

I have recently begun working again. First, working as a receptionist for Fresh Lifestyle Hair salon, near the Angel tube station. The place was great, the people were great.....but, alas.....the cost of a travelcard each day was not making my wage very worthwhile. Therefore, I then took on an office job instead. It is boring as heck, and my mind isn't challenged or simulated in the slightest bit...but it is paying me a reasonable, stable wage, and the travel doesn't cost much at all. So....I am a working girl, with a 9-5 job (definitely not a permanent fixture).....who would have thought. How boring am I :-s
Oh, so it was my birthday on Monday. It was perfect, no fuss at all and nothing too special :-D I'm not the biggest fan of birthdays...my ideal birthday is to see a few friends and family, maybe do a little shopping, and go out for a curry. No banners, balloons, excessive money being spent. I gave strict orders to my family on adhering to these rules.....therefore, my birthday was fabulous :-) I had great company, great food, and some lovely little gifts. Perfection. Thank you to ma famille et amis!