Thursday, December 22, 2005
Have yourself a merry little Christmas - The Pretenders*
* the Pretenders have a brilliant version of this Christmas song!!!!
Alrite folks. This will be me last posting for the year! I'll be leaving for London later. After a couple of days there (may make a day trip up to Bath), I'll be travelling up to Scotland and around Scotland - Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Loch Ness, Ullapool, Durness, Loch Ness, Glasgow (and if time permits, Cumnock?). Thereafter, I'll be down at Manchester and at Sheffield for the New Year. Godwilling, I'll be back on the 2nd day of 2006 (which gives me just 2 weeks to complete 2 essays and prepare for a test on the 18th!). So this place here may be quite quiet for some time.
I still haven't finished packing yet - technically, I've started (chucking things that I wanna bring into one corner of the floor in me room can be considered as started packing oredi, rite?) but it's gonna take a while.
So little time...
I guess Christmas in some ways is the same here and back home. Everyone rushing from one place to another, trying to do dozens of stuffs at one time etc.
Anyways, my wish to you all (and to meself) is that we take some time away from the hustle bustle and hectic schedules, from the merry-making and partying and boozing, from the Christmas trees and mistletoes and tinsel and turtle-doves decorations, and remember that the reason for the season is none other than our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Then, I assure you that you'll really have a merry and most blessed little Christmas!
Alrite folks. This will be me last posting for the year! I'll be leaving for London later. After a couple of days there (may make a day trip up to Bath), I'll be travelling up to Scotland and around Scotland - Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Loch Ness, Ullapool, Durness, Loch Ness, Glasgow (and if time permits, Cumnock?). Thereafter, I'll be down at Manchester and at Sheffield for the New Year. Godwilling, I'll be back on the 2nd day of 2006 (which gives me just 2 weeks to complete 2 essays and prepare for a test on the 18th!). So this place here may be quite quiet for some time.
I still haven't finished packing yet - technically, I've started (chucking things that I wanna bring into one corner of the floor in me room can be considered as started packing oredi, rite?) but it's gonna take a while.
So little time...
I guess Christmas in some ways is the same here and back home. Everyone rushing from one place to another, trying to do dozens of stuffs at one time etc.
Anyways, my wish to you all (and to meself) is that we take some time away from the hustle bustle and hectic schedules, from the merry-making and partying and boozing, from the Christmas trees and mistletoes and tinsel and turtle-doves decorations, and remember that the reason for the season is none other than our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Then, I assure you that you'll really have a merry and most blessed little Christmas!
MAKE CHRISTMAS HIS STORY!!!!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
All I want for Christmas - Leann Rimes
Michelle announced the other day that she was going into town and asked around what we want for Christmas.
She turned to Alberto and asked him. Alberto, in his usual charming Italian way nonchalantly answered (almost wif a shrug of the shoulders), "Me? All I want is.... love!"
We burst out laughing and I pointed out that he sure wasn't demanding!!!!
Christmas - the time when people frantically go shop to shop buying stuffs for people whom they love - and even for those whom they dun!!!!
I used to love Christmas shopping. I'd make a list (and checked it twice) and usually spend a lot of time thinking about it. I am a firm believer of giving thoughtful gifts - not just any old crap mug or pen holder!!!! Then when the list is drawn up, I would "survey" the stores in town, comparing prices and choosing carefully. Finally, I would actually take a day off from work and spend the whole day shopping - and breaking the limit of me credit card!!!!
We all love gifts, dun we? Gifts are one of the means of how we show and express our love. Love has always been accompanied wif giving - the giving of our trust, our time, our care and concern, our valued possessions. For God so loved the world that he gave.
As I thought about it this year - and thought about the many poor and unfortunate kids in the world who not only won't be getting a gift, but they may not be getting a meal at all - I was touched by how blessed I've been. Every year without fail, I would get loads of gifts. In fact, I would almost certainly get wat I wanted. The bottom of the Christmas tree at home would be covered wif nicely wrapped gifts - most of them would be for me.
Now, as I'm older - and have worked hard for many years - I begin to appreciate more the gifts I received back then. My father and mother had to work so hard to earn money and they would spend it on stupid things like games and toys because that was wat I wanted, that was what would made me happy.
I have never lacked anything physically all my life. My parents worked hard and sacrificed their all to provide for me. And I am reminded again how much I've been loved - and how much I am still loved.
And as Christmas draws closer, I am reminded again of the greatest gift of all - the gift of Jesus.
What do I want for Christmas this year? Nothing. I oredi have so much love showered on me - wat else could I ask for???
p/s - but if some of you still insist on buying me something, let me know and I'll e-mail you my list!!!! ;-P
She turned to Alberto and asked him. Alberto, in his usual charming Italian way nonchalantly answered (almost wif a shrug of the shoulders), "Me? All I want is.... love!"
We burst out laughing and I pointed out that he sure wasn't demanding!!!!
Christmas - the time when people frantically go shop to shop buying stuffs for people whom they love - and even for those whom they dun!!!!
I used to love Christmas shopping. I'd make a list (and checked it twice) and usually spend a lot of time thinking about it. I am a firm believer of giving thoughtful gifts - not just any old crap mug or pen holder!!!! Then when the list is drawn up, I would "survey" the stores in town, comparing prices and choosing carefully. Finally, I would actually take a day off from work and spend the whole day shopping - and breaking the limit of me credit card!!!!
We all love gifts, dun we? Gifts are one of the means of how we show and express our love. Love has always been accompanied wif giving - the giving of our trust, our time, our care and concern, our valued possessions. For God so loved the world that he gave.
As I thought about it this year - and thought about the many poor and unfortunate kids in the world who not only won't be getting a gift, but they may not be getting a meal at all - I was touched by how blessed I've been. Every year without fail, I would get loads of gifts. In fact, I would almost certainly get wat I wanted. The bottom of the Christmas tree at home would be covered wif nicely wrapped gifts - most of them would be for me.
Now, as I'm older - and have worked hard for many years - I begin to appreciate more the gifts I received back then. My father and mother had to work so hard to earn money and they would spend it on stupid things like games and toys because that was wat I wanted, that was what would made me happy.
I have never lacked anything physically all my life. My parents worked hard and sacrificed their all to provide for me. And I am reminded again how much I've been loved - and how much I am still loved.
And as Christmas draws closer, I am reminded again of the greatest gift of all - the gift of Jesus.
What do I want for Christmas this year? Nothing. I oredi have so much love showered on me - wat else could I ask for???
p/s - but if some of you still insist on buying me something, let me know and I'll e-mail you my list!!!! ;-P
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Magic - Olivia Newton-John
I went thru Platform 9 3/4 today!!!! Really! See the pic on the left - it was taken at King's Cross Station in London!!!!Ok, ok. Seriously, I watched me very first movie in a cinema here in Colchester! I watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!
Yeah, hard to believe that I had gone more than 2 and a half months without watching a movie in the cinema - seeing that it was my weekly ritual back home to be found either at Summit or at Mid-Valley (for International Screen movies) every Wednesday without fail to take advantage of the RM6 (less than 1 quid!!!!) a movie.
I guess the main reason is that the movies here cost 5 quid!!! Steep-eh? Especially if you convert it back to M'sian Ringgit (RM33 for a movie????)
But I finally did it - and paid 5 quid for a ticket (see below).
I was supposed to watch it wif a mate but he wasn't feeling well this morning - so it was all by meself. but then again, what's new? i always watch movies on my own. Almost always!!The verdict? I loved it! It was magical! Maybe I've been long deprived a cinema experience but I truly enjoyed it and found the 5 quid to be well spent!
I had my reservations initially. While I enjoyed reading the book immensely, I never got over the fact how bad the story was forced out!!!!!
Look - at the end of the day, the whole Tri-Wizard Tournament was rigged for the sole purpose to get Harry to touch the Goblet of Fire - which was in actual fact, a port-key to send him to Voldemort *gasp* - ok, ok, "he-who-must-not-be-named"! If a port-key could be anything like an old boot, why go thru all the trouble? Barty Jr (under the disguise of Mad-Eye) could have easily made Harry touch almost anything to transport Harry to Voldemort. Why all the hard work to enter Harry into the competition, helped him to overcome great odds to win it so that he could touch the GOF???
The most satisfactory answer (which left me most unsatisfied) was that it wouldn't have made a very interesting story, would it? ;-P
Sorry - plenty of spoilers above and plenty more to come - if by now you haven't read the book and/or seen the movie, you prolly won't mind anyways...
But once I got over that story-flaw, I found the movie to be truly satisfying!
The negative points first (mind you, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for this!!!!):-
1. My main complaint is Mad-Eye Moody's fake eye. It was sooooo fake!!!! I mean, it looked truly like it was a fake eye planted ON to the face of Brendan Gleeson. The fake-eye was supposed to be in his eye-socket, not on top of his face!!!! After all the wonderful visual effects, couldn't they get this right???
2. The Quidditch World Cup match was not shown. Neither was the other contestants' attempts at getting the golden egg from their respective dragons. I understand that this was due to time constaint and fully justified.
3. Katie Leung has sooooooo little screen time! :-( And so few lines!!!!!! Did you hear her Scottish accent? *swoons* The brilliant Alan Rickman oso had a very small role.
4. I did not like Michael Gambon's potrayal of Dumbledore. Dumbledore has always been cool and dignified - and Gambon's performance was not that at all.
That's it. Other than that, it was brilliant. It was like how I imagined it to be. The Stadium where the Quidditch World Cup was help was excellent. The dragon was impressive. Katie Leung is so sweet! The scenery was breathtaking. The acting was competent. The editing was seamless. It did not feel like the 157 minutes that it was. The showdown wif Voldemort was all I expected it to be. I had tears in my eyes when Harry had those few moments wif his parents!
Just to complete this review - I watched it at Odeon, Colchester (the pic on the left is of Odeon, Leicester Square where the premier screening was held).The cinema was quite good. The seats were extremely comfy, the heater was brilliant, there was ample leg space, the picture and sound was fine.
Still, I'm proud to say that the standard of the cinemas back home (in particular, the new GSC at 1-Utama) is just as good!
Oh, some things are universal, I guess - a mobile phone went off, not once but twice during the movie!!!! Oh well... It din spoil the movie for me, tho. It was truly magic - and as Harry said, "I love magic"!!
Now for Kong and Narnia! Oh dear, that would be another 10 quid! Sigh...
p/s - I know certain Christians have strong views against Harry Potter. I may agree with their reasoning but I do not agree with the stand that we should NOT watch nor read such stories. Why? That's for another post, another time.
Monday, December 19, 2005
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
It's been hard not to think of anything else but my forthcoming trip to Scotland! :-)
It has been a headache for me too. I volunteered to work out the itinerary since I'm the one who's studying and who is on holiday. But it's been really difficult - so many places to see, so many things to do, but so little time!!!!!
It has been more than 10 years since I was there and it still has a special place in my heart! (You can read about it here).
This time, I'll be spending Christmas there! Woohoo! No way am I gonna stay in the deserted halls here in Colchester on the 25th!
So it looks like there's a real possibility that I could have a white Christmas!
Be prepared for wonderful pics of the Scottish Highlands, mysterious Loch Ness and the brilliant Edinburgh - and hopefully, snow pics!
Pics from me trip to Scotland in February 1994
It has been a headache for me too. I volunteered to work out the itinerary since I'm the one who's studying and who is on holiday. But it's been really difficult - so many places to see, so many things to do, but so little time!!!!!
It has been more than 10 years since I was there and it still has a special place in my heart! (You can read about it here).
This time, I'll be spending Christmas there! Woohoo! No way am I gonna stay in the deserted halls here in Colchester on the 25th!
So it looks like there's a real possibility that I could have a white Christmas!
Be prepared for wonderful pics of the Scottish Highlands, mysterious Loch Ness and the brilliant Edinburgh - and hopefully, snow pics!
Pics from me trip to Scotland in February 1994
I'll be home for Christmas - Vanessa Williams
I woke up at 9 earlier feeling pretty miserable. I dreamt of me mom. It was so real - it was hard to wake up and realise that it was a dream and that she's hundreds of miles away and I won't be seeing her til next autumn, the earliest!!!!
On top of that, I felt an emptiness - not in my life but in the halls. Ghisseh left long ago. Fuwad left on Friday. Aliz left yesterday and Tom this morning. Alberto's away in London. Michael will be leaving today. I dun even know when Yuki left!!!!
They're all going home for Christmas.
I'll miss them - but I have to admit that i dun know wat is getting me down:- the fact that I'll miss them or the fact that they are going home and I'm not!
No, no. Dun get me wrong. I'm happy for them. Excited for them. I was sad that I actually missed saying goodbye to some of them. Things have been moving so fast around here (can't believe that it's less than a week til X'mas).
Michael went around just now to say his goodbyes. I'm making it a point to wake up early to see him off later.
It's only the 2nd time in my lifetime that I'll be spending X'mas away from home.
Oh well... at least I can echo the last line of the song which is the title of this post:-
On top of that, I felt an emptiness - not in my life but in the halls. Ghisseh left long ago. Fuwad left on Friday. Aliz left yesterday and Tom this morning. Alberto's away in London. Michael will be leaving today. I dun even know when Yuki left!!!!
They're all going home for Christmas.
I'll miss them - but I have to admit that i dun know wat is getting me down:- the fact that I'll miss them or the fact that they are going home and I'm not!
No, no. Dun get me wrong. I'm happy for them. Excited for them. I was sad that I actually missed saying goodbye to some of them. Things have been moving so fast around here (can't believe that it's less than a week til X'mas).
Michael went around just now to say his goodbyes. I'm making it a point to wake up early to see him off later.
It's only the 2nd time in my lifetime that I'll be spending X'mas away from home.
Oh well... at least I can echo the last line of the song which is the title of this post:-
"I'll be home home for Christmas, if only in my dreams!"
Saturday, December 17, 2005
This used to be my playground - Madonna
I'm referring to London, of course!
I have to admit that part of the reason why I chose to do the programme here at Essex was cuz Essex is just next to London (rest assured, the main reason was cuz the Human Rights programme is reputable - probably the best around and I can vouch for that!). But no one told me that Essex happens to be the biggest county in the UK!!!!
I'm so far away from London - as such, each trip there means a lot to me - and costs a lot too!!!! Been going pretty often - but me justification is that I only go to meet up wif mates who are in London for a visit. And there has been quite a few lately. But once the new year starts, the visits will prolly stop - and so will my trips there.
Anyways, I've been taking loads of pics and have decided to start a new blog (yes, another one!!!!!) just for me London pics. You can view them by clicking at the following link:- Loitering in London.
Enjoy!
I have to admit that part of the reason why I chose to do the programme here at Essex was cuz Essex is just next to London (rest assured, the main reason was cuz the Human Rights programme is reputable - probably the best around and I can vouch for that!). But no one told me that Essex happens to be the biggest county in the UK!!!!
I'm so far away from London - as such, each trip there means a lot to me - and costs a lot too!!!! Been going pretty often - but me justification is that I only go to meet up wif mates who are in London for a visit. And there has been quite a few lately. But once the new year starts, the visits will prolly stop - and so will my trips there.
Anyways, I've been taking loads of pics and have decided to start a new blog (yes, another one!!!!!) just for me London pics. You can view them by clicking at the following link:- Loitering in London.
Enjoy!
Your cheating heart - Elvis Presley
Autumn 1993. It was the first time in London for many of us. Of course we were excited! And we had great fun. Unfortunately, for a couple of us, it was unforgettable for the wrong reason.
When we met up at our rendezvous point at the appointed time, I was surprised to see one of me mates (let's call him "W") was standing there with a large box on the ground. It was unmistakable - a TV box! He bought a television on our first day out in London???
Another mate, R, had a smaller box - he purchased a small cassette double deck player. However, from the looks on their faces, we knew that sumthing was not right.
They purchased those stuffs at an auction shop at Oxford Street. Do be warned, you potential London tourists.
These places are shops where the auctioneer auctions off goods - be it electronical stuffs, perfume, etc.
Let me say at the outset that these are pretty legal! There's nothing the authorities can do about them.
You see, the way they do things is that they basically appeal to the greedy side in you. The atmosphere - fast talking auctioneer, many people buying (me mates thinks some are "planted"), seemingly extremely good deals, everything done very quickly and in a rush so that one does not have the time to really think it over but hastily raises his hand for fear of losing out on a good deal.
After the goods have been paid for, it all sinks in. We've been had!!!! In fact, for me mates, it dawned upon them right after their bid was taken. By then, they knew legally that they couldn't wriggle their way out of it.
It din turn out that bad. I mean, the goods were in working condition. We enjoyed shows together on W's TV and oso the music from R's player!!!
And if you think me mates were guillible, think again. We warned our juniors about it - they went there with their eyes wide opened and yet they still ended up paying big money for crap stuffs!!!!!!!!
Winter 2005:- I know that W and R won't be happy to hear this but these shops are still operating at Oxford Street today!!!!!
Poor guillible tourists!
I have to confess - I almost fell for it!!!!!! Thank God for me mates' experiences and the skeptic in me which pulled me back.
I went to this place where they were selling perfume. 4 bottles of "branded" ladies perfume worth more than a hundred quid was only going for 20!!!! On top of that, you get for FREE 4 bottles of "branded" men's perfume!!!!!
What a bargain!
Perhaps it was because it was too good to be true - the cantonese have this saying "Good things are not cheap, cheap things are not good"!!! - that made me wary!
Many people purchased it - including this group of Malaysian (or Singaporen girls - I could tell from their accent as they chatted happily walking away from the shop gigling liek they got the deal of their lifetime!!).
I lingered on until the shop emptied out and I walked in closer to inspect the goods. 20 quid for 8 bottles of perfume!!!! Among the free men's perfume were - in the auctioneer's own words, "...a Calvin gift pack and a Calvin perfume." I know all about Calvin Klein's perfume so I went in closer to inspect them. It was unlike any of Calvin Klein's perfume. My suspicion increased. i inspected the boxes containing the perfume. It was stated "Calvin perfumes".
What happened to "Klein"??
I must admit that from a distance, the smaller bottle of "Calvin perfume" looked like CK One. As I moved in closer, I saw that it WAS NOT!
So that's how they con the people! I realised that when he rattled off the perfume names and brand, he never said the FULL NAME of the brand. "Calvin perfume", "Tommy cologne", etc.
You can't complain - they never said it was Calvin Klein! You assumed that! At least, I did. And I almost fell for it!!!!
Almost! Thank God!
When we met up at our rendezvous point at the appointed time, I was surprised to see one of me mates (let's call him "W") was standing there with a large box on the ground. It was unmistakable - a TV box! He bought a television on our first day out in London???
Another mate, R, had a smaller box - he purchased a small cassette double deck player. However, from the looks on their faces, we knew that sumthing was not right.
They purchased those stuffs at an auction shop at Oxford Street. Do be warned, you potential London tourists.
These places are shops where the auctioneer auctions off goods - be it electronical stuffs, perfume, etc.
Let me say at the outset that these are pretty legal! There's nothing the authorities can do about them.
You see, the way they do things is that they basically appeal to the greedy side in you. The atmosphere - fast talking auctioneer, many people buying (me mates thinks some are "planted"), seemingly extremely good deals, everything done very quickly and in a rush so that one does not have the time to really think it over but hastily raises his hand for fear of losing out on a good deal.
After the goods have been paid for, it all sinks in. We've been had!!!! In fact, for me mates, it dawned upon them right after their bid was taken. By then, they knew legally that they couldn't wriggle their way out of it.
It din turn out that bad. I mean, the goods were in working condition. We enjoyed shows together on W's TV and oso the music from R's player!!!
And if you think me mates were guillible, think again. We warned our juniors about it - they went there with their eyes wide opened and yet they still ended up paying big money for crap stuffs!!!!!!!!
Winter 2005:- I know that W and R won't be happy to hear this but these shops are still operating at Oxford Street today!!!!!
Poor guillible tourists!
I have to confess - I almost fell for it!!!!!! Thank God for me mates' experiences and the skeptic in me which pulled me back.
I went to this place where they were selling perfume. 4 bottles of "branded" ladies perfume worth more than a hundred quid was only going for 20!!!! On top of that, you get for FREE 4 bottles of "branded" men's perfume!!!!!
What a bargain!
Perhaps it was because it was too good to be true - the cantonese have this saying "Good things are not cheap, cheap things are not good"!!! - that made me wary!
Many people purchased it - including this group of Malaysian (or Singaporen girls - I could tell from their accent as they chatted happily walking away from the shop gigling liek they got the deal of their lifetime!!).
I lingered on until the shop emptied out and I walked in closer to inspect the goods. 20 quid for 8 bottles of perfume!!!! Among the free men's perfume were - in the auctioneer's own words, "...a Calvin gift pack and a Calvin perfume." I know all about Calvin Klein's perfume so I went in closer to inspect them. It was unlike any of Calvin Klein's perfume. My suspicion increased. i inspected the boxes containing the perfume. It was stated "Calvin perfumes".
What happened to "Klein"??
I must admit that from a distance, the smaller bottle of "Calvin perfume" looked like CK One. As I moved in closer, I saw that it WAS NOT!
So that's how they con the people! I realised that when he rattled off the perfume names and brand, he never said the FULL NAME of the brand. "Calvin perfume", "Tommy cologne", etc.
You can't complain - they never said it was Calvin Klein! You assumed that! At least, I did. And I almost fell for it!!!!
Almost! Thank God!
Holding out for a hero - Bonnie Tyler
Peco faces-off with the best Ping Pong player in the tournament during the semi-finals. His knee is strapped-up due to an injury and he's playing against his coach's advise. But there is a smile on his face - that very same mischievous one, almost bordering on arrogance. As he prepared to serve, he cries out "Enter the HERO!!!!!"
Movie poster
I went for the last Jap movie screening for the term last nite. "Ping Pong". The tagline read "It depicts Ping Pong like Matrix". That meant it was a must see for me!
The verdict? Brilliant! (only one minor complaint - why was the player from China speaking in Cantonese???). No, it was not like wat I expected - it was different. None of the Western Hollywood crap that we see so much these days. Sure, there were some nice shots of "Matrix-style" jumps during the games, close-up shots of the bat and the ball (including one which showed how the rubber on the paddle made contact wif the ball), bullet-time shots, high speed shots, slo-mo - you get the drift.
Call me Mr. Peco!!!!
Pic obtained from DVDTimes
But (thankfully?), those were just the side dishes. At the heart of it, one of the main messages (yeah, one of the problems on Jap movies is that they sumtimes try to focus on too many things. But then again, life is never straight-forward, is it?) is that of frenship.
No spoilers here. Read on.
It tells the tale of 2 childhood frens - Peco and "Smile" (called that cuz he never smiles - well, almost never!) who have nothing in common save for one thing - Ping Pong.
Yet, they became the best-est of frens. I liked the way how they just seem to compliment each other wif their differences in attitude towards everything. It seemed almost like they were made for each other.
You see, when they were young, Peco took Smile in as a fren and came to his rescue when no one cared for him. Peco taught Smile how to play Ping Pong. Peco is Smile's "Hero"!
But what I thought was absolutely brilliant was the point in the movie when the lines of who is the hero is blurred. Is Peco really Smile's hero or is it the other way round? Does Peco need Smile more than Smile needs Peco?
It really made me think of the frens that I have had - and how they have been heroes to me. My life has been filled wif heroes of all kinds of shapes and ages, gender and races. I thank God for them all. There were times when I assumed the role of a hero to them. It was a wonderful twist to the tale when I was in the gutter and these people became my heroes.
That's wat frenships are all about. Not so much of how much one needs the other but how the frenship remains no matter wat happens, how the frens are always there for each other.
As Christmas draws near, I am reminded of the greatest hero ever - Jesus, who gave up all his glory to come and save us who were destined to perish. And men will live forevermore because of Christmas Day. Hallelujah, what a hero!
Movie poster
I went for the last Jap movie screening for the term last nite. "Ping Pong". The tagline read "It depicts Ping Pong like Matrix". That meant it was a must see for me!
The verdict? Brilliant! (only one minor complaint - why was the player from China speaking in Cantonese???). No, it was not like wat I expected - it was different. None of the Western Hollywood crap that we see so much these days. Sure, there were some nice shots of "Matrix-style" jumps during the games, close-up shots of the bat and the ball (including one which showed how the rubber on the paddle made contact wif the ball), bullet-time shots, high speed shots, slo-mo - you get the drift.
Call me Mr. Peco!!!!
Pic obtained from DVDTimes
But (thankfully?), those were just the side dishes. At the heart of it, one of the main messages (yeah, one of the problems on Jap movies is that they sumtimes try to focus on too many things. But then again, life is never straight-forward, is it?) is that of frenship.
No spoilers here. Read on.
It tells the tale of 2 childhood frens - Peco and "Smile" (called that cuz he never smiles - well, almost never!) who have nothing in common save for one thing - Ping Pong.
Yet, they became the best-est of frens. I liked the way how they just seem to compliment each other wif their differences in attitude towards everything. It seemed almost like they were made for each other.
You see, when they were young, Peco took Smile in as a fren and came to his rescue when no one cared for him. Peco taught Smile how to play Ping Pong. Peco is Smile's "Hero"!
But what I thought was absolutely brilliant was the point in the movie when the lines of who is the hero is blurred. Is Peco really Smile's hero or is it the other way round? Does Peco need Smile more than Smile needs Peco?
It really made me think of the frens that I have had - and how they have been heroes to me. My life has been filled wif heroes of all kinds of shapes and ages, gender and races. I thank God for them all. There were times when I assumed the role of a hero to them. It was a wonderful twist to the tale when I was in the gutter and these people became my heroes.
That's wat frenships are all about. Not so much of how much one needs the other but how the frenship remains no matter wat happens, how the frens are always there for each other.
As Christmas draws near, I am reminded of the greatest hero ever - Jesus, who gave up all his glory to come and save us who were destined to perish. And men will live forevermore because of Christmas Day. Hallelujah, what a hero!
Did you ever know that you're my hero
And everything I would like to be
I can fly higher than an eagle
'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings
Larry J. Henley / Jeff Alan Silbar
And everything I would like to be
I can fly higher than an eagle
'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings
Larry J. Henley / Jeff Alan Silbar
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Again - Janet Jackson
I'm gonna miss it... AGAIN!!!!!
I'm talking about Eric Clapton Live at Albert Hall.
CD sleeve cover for Eric Clapton - 24 Nights Live From Albert Hall
When I got back here, I realised the privillege I have at a second chance on things that I din get to do here the last time. So far, so good! I got meself a trench-coat (for only 20 quid!), I'm mixing around more with the international students and getting to know them (and their countries) better and I'm going to the Scottish Highlands Godwilling next week. On my list includes a trip to Anfield, catching a Wimbledon game and going to Wales and Ireland.
It has always been my great regret back then that I missed Eric Clapton's concert. I made up me mind from the beginning that I WILL have to catch it this time round.
Sigh... I procrastinated. When I checked a couple of weeks ago, there were only standing room tickets left - which was fine with me. But I put it off til just now.
Part of the other reason was that I couldn't find the date of me exams - which is scheduled on the same month. It wasn't on the website!!! When I finally checked wif the Law Office (after much procrastination again), I was embarrassed to find out the exam date was stated in the Postgraduate Students' Handbook given to us in October!!!!
But come on - the concert is in May 2006! Surely there would be some tickets left?
Well, apparently, no!
The consolation is that Eric performs there every year (yeah, we are on the first name basis now...). So perhaps 2007?
I'm talking about Eric Clapton Live at Albert Hall.
CD sleeve cover for Eric Clapton - 24 Nights Live From Albert Hall
When I got back here, I realised the privillege I have at a second chance on things that I din get to do here the last time. So far, so good! I got meself a trench-coat (for only 20 quid!), I'm mixing around more with the international students and getting to know them (and their countries) better and I'm going to the Scottish Highlands Godwilling next week. On my list includes a trip to Anfield, catching a Wimbledon game and going to Wales and Ireland.
It has always been my great regret back then that I missed Eric Clapton's concert. I made up me mind from the beginning that I WILL have to catch it this time round.
Sigh... I procrastinated. When I checked a couple of weeks ago, there were only standing room tickets left - which was fine with me. But I put it off til just now.
Part of the other reason was that I couldn't find the date of me exams - which is scheduled on the same month. It wasn't on the website!!! When I finally checked wif the Law Office (after much procrastination again), I was embarrassed to find out the exam date was stated in the Postgraduate Students' Handbook given to us in October!!!!
But come on - the concert is in May 2006! Surely there would be some tickets left?
Well, apparently, no!
The consolation is that Eric performs there every year (yeah, we are on the first name basis now...). So perhaps 2007?
Hold me in your arms - Rick Astley
As I said my goodbyes to me mates at Heathrow last week, this lady - a motherly figure to me in Church - hugged me, saying "Let's do it (say goodbye) the British way"!
Just a couple of days before that, when I met up wif another mate, he greeted me with a warm hug.
Since back in my undergraduate days, I've appreciated the importance of a touch - of getting physical! No, dun get me wrong - you know I dun mean that!
It is nice to show your affection and appreciation physically - to hold a person's hand, to rest your head on another's shoulders, to put your arms round a good fren, to hold another person or just to sit close to each other.
Me flat-mate from Greece, Michael was telling me that it is very normal for people to show their frenship and love in a physical way. When they said goodbye, they'd kiss each other on the cheek (which I found out when we walked Stella - another Greek girl - back to her halls the other nite). Of course, now that he is here and living among international students, he is very careful. But when he is among his Greek mates, they display their comradeship openly.
I remembered back when we graduated - all us Malaysians - we were living under one roof (after being kicked out of the Halls) for a couple of weeks. When it time for us to go our separate ways - some to Malaysia but different states, others to other parts o the UK - we had an emotional time wishing our farewells (for me at least - not knowing when we'll ever get to be together like that again. As it is, til this day, we have not) at our little house in Ilford Lane where we hugged each other goodbye.
Many weeks after that, I returned home and got one of those mates to pick me up at the airport. When I saw her, I went up to her, ready to greet her wif a hug - only to be greeted by an outstretched hand, albeit accompanied by a warm smile.
I reached out and shook her hand warmly. It sank in - I was back in Malaysia!
Just a couple of days before that, when I met up wif another mate, he greeted me with a warm hug.
Since back in my undergraduate days, I've appreciated the importance of a touch - of getting physical! No, dun get me wrong - you know I dun mean that!
It is nice to show your affection and appreciation physically - to hold a person's hand, to rest your head on another's shoulders, to put your arms round a good fren, to hold another person or just to sit close to each other.
Me flat-mate from Greece, Michael was telling me that it is very normal for people to show their frenship and love in a physical way. When they said goodbye, they'd kiss each other on the cheek (which I found out when we walked Stella - another Greek girl - back to her halls the other nite). Of course, now that he is here and living among international students, he is very careful. But when he is among his Greek mates, they display their comradeship openly.
I remembered back when we graduated - all us Malaysians - we were living under one roof (after being kicked out of the Halls) for a couple of weeks. When it time for us to go our separate ways - some to Malaysia but different states, others to other parts o the UK - we had an emotional time wishing our farewells (for me at least - not knowing when we'll ever get to be together like that again. As it is, til this day, we have not) at our little house in Ilford Lane where we hugged each other goodbye.
Many weeks after that, I returned home and got one of those mates to pick me up at the airport. When I saw her, I went up to her, ready to greet her wif a hug - only to be greeted by an outstretched hand, albeit accompanied by a warm smile.
I reached out and shook her hand warmly. It sank in - I was back in Malaysia!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Friends - Michael W. Smith
To me, the best thing about my time in London last week was not the wonderful sights, the excellent food at Chinatown, the great shopping nor the wonderful weather (really! Sunny days - see my pics coming soon) but the time spent wif me mates.
It was interesting - I met up wif friends whom I've known for more than half my life, frens whom I knew in just the past couple of years... and a fren that i just got to know last week itself!
It was so nice to hang out, to have a drink, to share a meal, to cook together, to laugh, to share, to pray. Brilliant!
I've known him for so long - and not surprisingly, we've had brilliant times together as well as been at each other's throat before!!!!
It was really nice catching up wif him - and his long-winded stories were actually entertaining this time round!
He was oso extremely helpful - bringing loads of stuffs over for me and agreeing to bring back home stuffs for me! On top of that, he oso took the initiative to bring additional stuffs for me. How thoughtful!
Cheers, mate!
Jess agreed wif me when I described this next mate as "the man"!!!!! He's cool, he's funny, he's real, he's happening!
He took me out for a brilliant glass of ale at Covent Garden one nite - but it was the time spent over dinner at athis turkish eatery in Greenwich which was priceless. It was REAL fellowship - sumthing which I realised then that I have been deprived of. Of course, there were loads of laughter too (as one can expect when one is in his company).
I was so sad when he left to go back to M'sia.
Actually, I only got to know MC better this year. But she's just one of the few people that I could "click" wif easily - so much so that her mate thought we had known each other for a long time oredi!
Besides having a brilliant time exploring London together, I got to see a side of her that I never knew - her artistic side!
Of course we had disagreements - at Tate Modern, over wat is art and wat is IMHO crap!!!!! Oh well, I've got no taste, I guess...
I just met her last week - and I was thankful that it was so easy to get along wif her. She is an extremely nice person! And not just to me - I see how she relates to others and she is indeed one who goes all out to be helpful and hospitable.
I'm usually pretty slow to "warm-up" to a new person but for her case, it was pretty fast!
Nope, I din meet up wif her but I was pleasantly surprised when she called me while I was in Knightsbridge. Her timing was excellent cuz MC was shopping at that time in H&M. So thanks to her call, I din have to wait and "hover" over MC while she shops her girlie stuffs - and MC din have to worry about me getting too bored!!!
It had been a long time since i spoke to her and we had a wonderful time catching up wif news of each other as well as wif news of our mutual mates.
Oh, another plus point was that I could get to talk wif them all in Cantonese or in me M'sian accent interspersed wif Malay words!!! Praise God for wonderful frens!
It was interesting - I met up wif friends whom I've known for more than half my life, frens whom I knew in just the past couple of years... and a fren that i just got to know last week itself!
It was so nice to hang out, to have a drink, to share a meal, to cook together, to laugh, to share, to pray. Brilliant!
CCK
I've known him for so long - and not surprisingly, we've had brilliant times together as well as been at each other's throat before!!!!
It was really nice catching up wif him - and his long-winded stories were actually entertaining this time round!
He was oso extremely helpful - bringing loads of stuffs over for me and agreeing to bring back home stuffs for me! On top of that, he oso took the initiative to bring additional stuffs for me. How thoughtful!
Cheers, mate!
The man!
Jess agreed wif me when I described this next mate as "the man"!!!!! He's cool, he's funny, he's real, he's happening!
He took me out for a brilliant glass of ale at Covent Garden one nite - but it was the time spent over dinner at athis turkish eatery in Greenwich which was priceless. It was REAL fellowship - sumthing which I realised then that I have been deprived of. Of course, there were loads of laughter too (as one can expect when one is in his company).
I was so sad when he left to go back to M'sia.
MC
Actually, I only got to know MC better this year. But she's just one of the few people that I could "click" wif easily - so much so that her mate thought we had known each other for a long time oredi!
Besides having a brilliant time exploring London together, I got to see a side of her that I never knew - her artistic side!
Of course we had disagreements - at Tate Modern, over wat is art and wat is IMHO crap!!!!! Oh well, I've got no taste, I guess...
B
I just met her last week - and I was thankful that it was so easy to get along wif her. She is an extremely nice person! And not just to me - I see how she relates to others and she is indeed one who goes all out to be helpful and hospitable.
I'm usually pretty slow to "warm-up" to a new person but for her case, it was pretty fast!
BT
Nope, I din meet up wif her but I was pleasantly surprised when she called me while I was in Knightsbridge. Her timing was excellent cuz MC was shopping at that time in H&M. So thanks to her call, I din have to wait and "hover" over MC while she shops her girlie stuffs - and MC din have to worry about me getting too bored!!!
It had been a long time since i spoke to her and we had a wonderful time catching up wif news of each other as well as wif news of our mutual mates.
Oh, another plus point was that I could get to talk wif them all in Cantonese or in me M'sian accent interspersed wif Malay words!!! Praise God for wonderful frens!
Holiday - Madonna
I'm back! Missed me? ;-P
Well, there may not have been that many but it was nice to know that a couple of people did notice I have not been around!!!!
The term break only starts this week-end but I took an early "holiday" last week. Was in London from Wednesday right up til Sunday.
My second home!
Classes? Well, I only have classes on Wednesday (ILAC) and Friday (Child Law). For ILAC, I went to the other class held on Tuesday (due to the large numbers, there are 2 ILAC classes held a week). For Child Law - well, according to me lecturer, there will be a question on each of the topics this term and we only have to choose ONE question to do! I was like - "What...? Why are we attending all the classes for??"
Anyways, I had a brilliant time. I had frens over at London and met up wif all of them. I oso got to make a new fren.
I took it upon meself to be the official London guide (it was not difficult at all even after all these years) and looking back, am quite proud of the places we covered over Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Butler's Wharf, HMS Belfast, London Bridge, Monument, St. Paul's, Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe & Exhibition, London Eye, London Aquarium, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Harrods, Natural History Museum, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, 221B Baker Street, Docklands, Greenwich, Trafalgar Square....
It is no surprise that I took over 300 pics (and would have taken more if my batteries din run out daily and my camera "on" switch gave me some problems!).
I guess the only down-side was the fact that I was internet-deprived all those days!!!! But I'm glad that I could have survived so many days without it - altho I did make mental notes countless of times of the things I MUST blog about when I get back.
But I won't bore u wif the details - I'll post the pics up in due course and will blog about my experiences in smaller "bite-size" posts, leaving out stuffs like what time we woke up, where we ate, wat we ate...
Well, there may not have been that many but it was nice to know that a couple of people did notice I have not been around!!!!
The term break only starts this week-end but I took an early "holiday" last week. Was in London from Wednesday right up til Sunday.
My second home!
Classes? Well, I only have classes on Wednesday (ILAC) and Friday (Child Law). For ILAC, I went to the other class held on Tuesday (due to the large numbers, there are 2 ILAC classes held a week). For Child Law - well, according to me lecturer, there will be a question on each of the topics this term and we only have to choose ONE question to do! I was like - "What...? Why are we attending all the classes for??"
Anyways, I had a brilliant time. I had frens over at London and met up wif all of them. I oso got to make a new fren.
I took it upon meself to be the official London guide (it was not difficult at all even after all these years) and looking back, am quite proud of the places we covered over Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday - Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Butler's Wharf, HMS Belfast, London Bridge, Monument, St. Paul's, Millenium Bridge, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe & Exhibition, London Eye, London Aquarium, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Harrods, Natural History Museum, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, 221B Baker Street, Docklands, Greenwich, Trafalgar Square....
It is no surprise that I took over 300 pics (and would have taken more if my batteries din run out daily and my camera "on" switch gave me some problems!).
I guess the only down-side was the fact that I was internet-deprived all those days!!!! But I'm glad that I could have survived so many days without it - altho I did make mental notes countless of times of the things I MUST blog about when I get back.
But I won't bore u wif the details - I'll post the pics up in due course and will blog about my experiences in smaller "bite-size" posts, leaving out stuffs like what time we woke up, where we ate, wat we ate...
Monday, December 12, 2005
Mary Did You Know - Clay Aiken
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.
Monday, December 05, 2005
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Johnny Mathis
As I walked back to me halls after lecture, I was pleasantly surprised to see a large tall Christmas tree on Square 3 of the campus! :-)
Wait a minute - that wasn't there when I was going for the lectures, was it?
They have put up the deco in the library too - a huge tree, tinsel and mini trees on each PC monitor at the main desk. Nice.
I was planning to get a wreath to put on me door. The choices are plentiful (they even have wreaths made out of REAL holly!!!!). But as I was browsing for it - and debating whether I shud get silver bells instead - I saw the Christmas tree on display! And I got it without any hessitation!!!!
Silver... er... maroon bells!!! Close-up of the X'mas tree in me room!
Check out pics of it in me sunny room here.
Wait a minute - that wasn't there when I was going for the lectures, was it?
They have put up the deco in the library too - a huge tree, tinsel and mini trees on each PC monitor at the main desk. Nice.
I was planning to get a wreath to put on me door. The choices are plentiful (they even have wreaths made out of REAL holly!!!!). But as I was browsing for it - and debating whether I shud get silver bells instead - I saw the Christmas tree on display! And I got it without any hessitation!!!!
Silver... er... maroon bells!!! Close-up of the X'mas tree in me room!
Check out pics of it in me sunny room here.
More than words - Extreme
Burma re-opens constitution talks
Burma has resumed constitutional talks which critics describe as a sham aimed merely to give the ruling junta a cloak of legitimacy.
More than 1,000 government-selected delegates attended the new session of the National Convention in Rangoon.
Read the whole article here.
It din help the fact that this is taking place "...just days after Burma confirmed that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would spend a further year under house arrest." (read about that here).
I remember when I was studying Human Rights as an undergraduate in 1994 and I was concerned about the situation in Burma. It is sad that more than 11 years later, things are not improving.
Well, some might say that at least they are having the talks now. that's a good sign, isn't it?
Sure, they can talk a lot but at the day, action speaks louder than words.
Together with the news that our ex-PM had won a Human Rights award as well as the interview with the Chairman of the Malaysian's Human Rights Commission where he defended the decision to appoint Dr. M as a speaker during a Human Rights (read it here) - incidentally, he seem to forget that he's no longer the AG of the land cuz he was criticising Judges for dismissing high profile criminal cases too - I couldnt decide if I was more amused, flabbergasted or disgusted...
Burma has resumed constitutional talks which critics describe as a sham aimed merely to give the ruling junta a cloak of legitimacy.
More than 1,000 government-selected delegates attended the new session of the National Convention in Rangoon.
Read the whole article here.
It din help the fact that this is taking place "...just days after Burma confirmed that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would spend a further year under house arrest." (read about that here).
I remember when I was studying Human Rights as an undergraduate in 1994 and I was concerned about the situation in Burma. It is sad that more than 11 years later, things are not improving.
Well, some might say that at least they are having the talks now. that's a good sign, isn't it?
Sure, they can talk a lot but at the day, action speaks louder than words.
Together with the news that our ex-PM had won a Human Rights award as well as the interview with the Chairman of the Malaysian's Human Rights Commission where he defended the decision to appoint Dr. M as a speaker during a Human Rights (read it here) - incidentally, he seem to forget that he's no longer the AG of the land cuz he was criticising Judges for dismissing high profile criminal cases too - I couldnt decide if I was more amused, flabbergasted or disgusted...
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Torture - Jacksons
Since the 1st of December, I've been listening to X'mas songs!
And it has really been difficult - cuz it has been making me terribly homesick. Excruciatingly homesick (if ever it can be described as such!).
That's what I love about music - by listening to music, one can be transported thru the years and thru the miles, back to the wonderful times shared wif family and frens. X'mas has always been a special time - every year, without fail. Together wif Chinese New Year, these are the best times of the year for me - every year!
So as I listen to the carols and the X'mas songs, memories come flooding in - how we listened to that song in my car, what me mate commented about that song, how we laughed at this particular version of an old carol, how we sang another carol like crazy, what special meaning a certain song was to me and... someone-lah...
Then I started to listen to the Christmas choir pieces which we presented in the past! Wow. That was pretty painful! We used to have such a brilliant time - not just presenting the songs but also the practices we had and the places we traveled to present the piece.
One of me favourite piece that we did was "Everlasting Light". I still love the songs in that piece (and can still remember some of the bass parts) - Everlasting Light, Christmas Shines, Shine Down, The Light of a Million Mornings, Pathway of Light and People Need the Lord. The memories of the crazy times we had during practices (and the suppers after that!), the planning (costumes, slide show, choreography etc.), and the presentations itself. Of course there was the song "Everlasting Light" where all of us held candles - and a certain someone (ahem) ended up without a candle on 2 different occasions!!!! Then, there was the really touching testimony by Sin Mun about how God healed his wife from cancer and she was there in the choir wif us - that never failed to elicit spontaneous clapping from the people!
Ah... the memories.
Been so depressed as I listened to these songs.
And guess wat? Michele just told me just now about the radio station from where she is from - Kost 103.5 - how it is playing ONLY Christmas songs and carols all day long right until Christmas! Of course i couldn't resist it! I found the website - and have been listening to it since - am listening to it now!
Yes, it is killing me - but I can't stop listening...
p/s - yes this post is done deliberately in Christmas colours!!!!
And it has really been difficult - cuz it has been making me terribly homesick. Excruciatingly homesick (if ever it can be described as such!).
That's what I love about music - by listening to music, one can be transported thru the years and thru the miles, back to the wonderful times shared wif family and frens. X'mas has always been a special time - every year, without fail. Together wif Chinese New Year, these are the best times of the year for me - every year!
So as I listen to the carols and the X'mas songs, memories come flooding in - how we listened to that song in my car, what me mate commented about that song, how we laughed at this particular version of an old carol, how we sang another carol like crazy, what special meaning a certain song was to me and... someone-lah...
Then I started to listen to the Christmas choir pieces which we presented in the past! Wow. That was pretty painful! We used to have such a brilliant time - not just presenting the songs but also the practices we had and the places we traveled to present the piece.
One of me favourite piece that we did was "Everlasting Light". I still love the songs in that piece (and can still remember some of the bass parts) - Everlasting Light, Christmas Shines, Shine Down, The Light of a Million Mornings, Pathway of Light and People Need the Lord. The memories of the crazy times we had during practices (and the suppers after that!), the planning (costumes, slide show, choreography etc.), and the presentations itself. Of course there was the song "Everlasting Light" where all of us held candles - and a certain someone (ahem) ended up without a candle on 2 different occasions!!!! Then, there was the really touching testimony by Sin Mun about how God healed his wife from cancer and she was there in the choir wif us - that never failed to elicit spontaneous clapping from the people!Ah... the memories.
Been so depressed as I listened to these songs.
And guess wat? Michele just told me just now about the radio station from where she is from - Kost 103.5 - how it is playing ONLY Christmas songs and carols all day long right until Christmas! Of course i couldn't resist it! I found the website - and have been listening to it since - am listening to it now!
Yes, it is killing me - but I can't stop listening...
p/s - yes this post is done deliberately in Christmas colours!!!!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
You are not alone - Michael Jackson
I blogged previously about the electric/static "shocks" I get (see Electric Youth).
It was weird cuz after I blogged about it, it stopped. But only for a while. Lately, it has been getting worse!!!!! The other, I got "zapped" whn I touched my file! Yeah, a non-metal file!!! What's going on?????
It has become so bad that I am actually afraid to turn on the lights in my room - cuz the light switch is made of metal!!! I usually depend on my desk lamp and my laptop! Yesterday, I was using my plastic pen to turn on the light switch. Yes, it is that painful!
One night, in the dark of my room, I could actually see the sparks from my fingers to the door lock when I reached out to it to unlock the door!!!!!
I was talking to Wei the other day and I was a lil' relief to hear that he face the same thing oso (Michael doesn't!!!). I was glad to learn that I was not the only one facing that! He (Wei) said that it's prolly cuz the weather is too dry.
So, since then, I've been using the skin moisturiser (much neglected til now) for my hands. A good thing too cuz the skin on me hands are cracking due to the dryness. heck, skin all over body is cracking! O well...
So far, no zaps. Keeping me fingers crossed... and very moisturised!!!!
It was weird cuz after I blogged about it, it stopped. But only for a while. Lately, it has been getting worse!!!!! The other, I got "zapped" whn I touched my file! Yeah, a non-metal file!!! What's going on?????
It has become so bad that I am actually afraid to turn on the lights in my room - cuz the light switch is made of metal!!! I usually depend on my desk lamp and my laptop! Yesterday, I was using my plastic pen to turn on the light switch. Yes, it is that painful!
One night, in the dark of my room, I could actually see the sparks from my fingers to the door lock when I reached out to it to unlock the door!!!!!
I was talking to Wei the other day and I was a lil' relief to hear that he face the same thing oso (Michael doesn't!!!). I was glad to learn that I was not the only one facing that! He (Wei) said that it's prolly cuz the weather is too dry.
So, since then, I've been using the skin moisturiser (much neglected til now) for my hands. A good thing too cuz the skin on me hands are cracking due to the dryness. heck, skin all over body is cracking! O well...
So far, no zaps. Keeping me fingers crossed... and very moisturised!!!!
The long day is over - Norah Jones
FINALLY! Peter Crouch scores!!!!!!
Who cares if it was thru a wicked deflection? No one is gonna take it away from the tall guy!
According to the commentators (I'm listening to the match now - yeah, listening, not watching. Ironic that I watch more EPL games in M'sia than here), it has been 24 hours 8 minutes for Crouch to end his drought. The time it takes to listen to Bohemian Rhapsody 242 times!!!! (that's wat they said on the radio!!!).
I've never had doubts on Crouch and never criticised him. In fact, I've been one of his biggest defenders since he came over to Liverpool FC. I'm truly pleased for him.
Well, if Liverpool hold on to the lead, they go to 2nd place!
60 mins left... and counting!
UPDATE - 41st minute
Crouch scores AGAIN!!!!!! :-)
The commentator said that this is just like London buses - you wait for hours and finally, 2 comes in a row!!!!!!
Tribute to Crouch-ing Tiger, (no more) Hidden Goal-scorer!!!
(pics obtained from BBC News Online)
Who cares if it was thru a wicked deflection? No one is gonna take it away from the tall guy!
According to the commentators (I'm listening to the match now - yeah, listening, not watching. Ironic that I watch more EPL games in M'sia than here), it has been 24 hours 8 minutes for Crouch to end his drought. The time it takes to listen to Bohemian Rhapsody 242 times!!!! (that's wat they said on the radio!!!).
I've never had doubts on Crouch and never criticised him. In fact, I've been one of his biggest defenders since he came over to Liverpool FC. I'm truly pleased for him.
Well, if Liverpool hold on to the lead, they go to 2nd place!
60 mins left... and counting!
UPDATE - 41st minute
Crouch scores AGAIN!!!!!! :-)
The commentator said that this is just like London buses - you wait for hours and finally, 2 comes in a row!!!!!!
Tribute to Crouch-ing Tiger, (no more) Hidden Goal-scorer!!!
(pics obtained from BBC News Online)
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Love is all around - Wet Wet Wet
Thanks to Michael, I've been thinking a lot of romantic movies lately. He was asking me for me favourite ones cuz he's in the mood for such movies. Wonder why...? ;-P
So here's my list - it was quite difficult tho, to decide on which movie can be on the list. I mean, to me, "The Village" is a romantic movie!!!! What a woman would do for the man she loves!
Oh well. Here goes:-
1. While you were sleeping - without a doubt, has been the top on my list for ever (altho it now faces tough competition from no. 2)
2. About a boy - what can I say? Hugh Grant, Rachel Weitz, British!
3. Love Actually - prolly the best (and only) movie which depicts love in many different angles
4. My best friend's wedding (is this a romantic show?) - a big surprise on me list since some of u know my opinion on Ms Roberts. But the show is here on the strength of Rupert Everett's brilliant performance - mind you, as a supporting cast so it had to be really exceptional!
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - mind-blowing concept, excellent all round performances!
6. High Fidelity - John Cussack! The whole off-beat thing and tying in music wif love was excellent.
7. Before Sunset - WARNING - dun watch this if you want action. I was surprised at how a movie which just shows 2 adults talking and chatting could be so engaging and entertaining.
8. Beauty and the Beast - the Disney version, with the most delightful songs!
9. Sekai no chûshin de, ai o sakebu (Crying out love from the centre of the world) - ok, strange title - but excellent show, making wonderful use of flashbacks. A must for anyone who had a childhood sweetheart in high school (who hasn't?)
10. Tian Mi Mi (Comrades: Almost a love story) - the only Mandarin show on me list. Ok, have to admit that the person with whom I watched the movie wif had to do wif it being on this list. But really, the movie is prolly the best chinese love story I've seen.
Others which came close (but no champagne!) - Phenomenon (great story, high on feel good factor, wonderful songs, John Travolta as engaging as he ever will be! - if there was a number 11, this is it!), Moulin Rouge (tied at number 11!!!), Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Lawrence, When Brendan Met Trudy, The Phantom of the Opera, Notting Hill (purely on the strength of Hugh Grant... and Notting Hill itself!), Chiedimi se sono felice ("Ask me if I'm happy" - this is not in the top 10 cuz I'm not sure if it can be categorised as a romantic show).
ADDENDUM (2/12/2005):
Me lecturer inadvertantly reminded me today of a romantic comedy worthy to be in the top 10 list above but which I completely forgot - "As Good As It Gets" with the Academy Award winning performances of Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt!!!
Also worthy of mention but not in the top 10, there are a few high school romantic comedies like "Can't Hardly Wait" (I never get tired of watching it - esp Seth Green!!! And the Star Wars geeks) and "10 things I hate about you", an excellent adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew with Julia Stiles! Speaking of Stiles, howbout "Save the last dance"? that was pretty good too. OK. Better stop.
So here's my list - it was quite difficult tho, to decide on which movie can be on the list. I mean, to me, "The Village" is a romantic movie!!!! What a woman would do for the man she loves!
Oh well. Here goes:-
1. While you were sleeping - without a doubt, has been the top on my list for ever (altho it now faces tough competition from no. 2)
2. About a boy - what can I say? Hugh Grant, Rachel Weitz, British!
3. Love Actually - prolly the best (and only) movie which depicts love in many different angles
4. My best friend's wedding (is this a romantic show?) - a big surprise on me list since some of u know my opinion on Ms Roberts. But the show is here on the strength of Rupert Everett's brilliant performance - mind you, as a supporting cast so it had to be really exceptional!
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - mind-blowing concept, excellent all round performances!
6. High Fidelity - John Cussack! The whole off-beat thing and tying in music wif love was excellent.
7. Before Sunset - WARNING - dun watch this if you want action. I was surprised at how a movie which just shows 2 adults talking and chatting could be so engaging and entertaining.
8. Beauty and the Beast - the Disney version, with the most delightful songs!
9. Sekai no chûshin de, ai o sakebu (Crying out love from the centre of the world) - ok, strange title - but excellent show, making wonderful use of flashbacks. A must for anyone who had a childhood sweetheart in high school (who hasn't?)
10. Tian Mi Mi (Comrades: Almost a love story) - the only Mandarin show on me list. Ok, have to admit that the person with whom I watched the movie wif had to do wif it being on this list. But really, the movie is prolly the best chinese love story I've seen.
Others which came close (but no champagne!) - Phenomenon (great story, high on feel good factor, wonderful songs, John Travolta as engaging as he ever will be! - if there was a number 11, this is it!), Moulin Rouge (tied at number 11!!!), Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Lawrence, When Brendan Met Trudy, The Phantom of the Opera, Notting Hill (purely on the strength of Hugh Grant... and Notting Hill itself!), Chiedimi se sono felice ("Ask me if I'm happy" - this is not in the top 10 cuz I'm not sure if it can be categorised as a romantic show).
ADDENDUM (2/12/2005):
Me lecturer inadvertantly reminded me today of a romantic comedy worthy to be in the top 10 list above but which I completely forgot - "As Good As It Gets" with the Academy Award winning performances of Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt!!!
Also worthy of mention but not in the top 10, there are a few high school romantic comedies like "Can't Hardly Wait" (I never get tired of watching it - esp Seth Green!!! And the Star Wars geeks) and "10 things I hate about you", an excellent adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew with Julia Stiles! Speaking of Stiles, howbout "Save the last dance"? that was pretty good too. OK. Better stop.
Last Christmas - Wham!
It's December. I have been resisting listening to x'mas songs all this while - altho Michael has been in x'mas mood for the past 2 weeks oredi and when I go into his room, I hear x'mas songs!!!
Well, the wait is over. I've been listening to carols and x'mas songs for the past couple of hours. Soon, I'll be listening to the choir pieces that we sang before in the past.
It's gonna x'mas soon. And I knew that this was gonna be on of the most difficult times for me here - winter is finally here, days are getting shorter, the novelty and excitement of the new place is wearing off, memories of x'mas comes back...
I couldn't help meself but to look at me old blogs and the posts I wrote back in December last year. So many things happenned at this time last year:-
There were the sad memories too - the time spent in hospital waiting upon Ben (I actually missed x'ams service for the first time in me life cuz I couldnt wake up after staying late at the hospital), the tsunami incident...
No surprise that I got terribly homesick!!! It din help that just before all this, I was chatting wif me mom and me sis.
This time round, it's gonna be much harder here (compared to when I was in UEL and we had each other to keep ourselves company). All the European flatmates will be giong home soon, even some of the Chinese students are going home!!! Anyways, I'll be busy wif me essays...
This was sumthing I blogged this time last year, after spending a nite out wif Augustine, Ling and Stephan:-
I remember as I drifted to sleep, a horrifying thought came into my subconscious mind – when Augustine comes over again next December, I won’t be around to be wif them. And in those last few moments of consciousness, I actually felt strongly against going to UK nx year to do my masters…
Of course, when I woke up this morn, such thoughts were brushed aside – but I did realise how much their frenship means to me. and when I’m in the cold winter at Essex nx December, I’ll be warmed wif the memories of the 4 of us in the dark corner of an Irish pub (in KL), clinking our glasses, and drinking to the success of each of us.
Well, I am here in the UK. And Ausgutine did go over to KL and they met up without me. But the sweet memories indeed warmed me up.
I just read a mate's blog where she said she wished she was in London now. Well, I'll be in London for x'mas - but I'll be wishing I was back in M'sia. Yeah, wif the rain, and the humidity, and the tacky decorations - fake snow, fake holly, fake x'mas trees... cuz there's where my family and frens are.
Well, the wait is over. I've been listening to carols and x'mas songs for the past couple of hours. Soon, I'll be listening to the choir pieces that we sang before in the past.
It's gonna x'mas soon. And I knew that this was gonna be on of the most difficult times for me here - winter is finally here, days are getting shorter, the novelty and excitement of the new place is wearing off, memories of x'mas comes back...
I couldn't help meself but to look at me old blogs and the posts I wrote back in December last year. So many things happenned at this time last year:-
- I was working at UMW Toyota Capital and settling in;
- I hung more wif Weng Soon who was my office colleague!!! Yeah, we used to spend loads of time together like watching Polar Express at the IMAX theatre, leaving work together etc.;
- We had a mini UEL reunion. It was wonderful, being wif the families of Augustine, Ling and Stephan. Man, what a crazy time we had...;
- The Return of the King extended version DVD was released!!!
- We had a special carolling sessions - for the first time - in the jungles of Malaysia, among the houses of the indigenous people, singing carols in the Malay language under the stars!
- We oso went carolling at the house of a very, very rich businessman on x'mas day - and had a feast there!
- We watched the choir presentation at Mentakab Church;
- On x'mas day, as per previous year's tradition, we had indian food lunch at Darren's place.
- I liked going home and seeing the x'mas tree in the dining hall in me house!
- Having a wonderful family to spend x'mas wif - altho I was out most of the time!!!!
There were the sad memories too - the time spent in hospital waiting upon Ben (I actually missed x'ams service for the first time in me life cuz I couldnt wake up after staying late at the hospital), the tsunami incident...
No surprise that I got terribly homesick!!! It din help that just before all this, I was chatting wif me mom and me sis.
This time round, it's gonna be much harder here (compared to when I was in UEL and we had each other to keep ourselves company). All the European flatmates will be giong home soon, even some of the Chinese students are going home!!! Anyways, I'll be busy wif me essays...
This was sumthing I blogged this time last year, after spending a nite out wif Augustine, Ling and Stephan:-
I remember as I drifted to sleep, a horrifying thought came into my subconscious mind – when Augustine comes over again next December, I won’t be around to be wif them. And in those last few moments of consciousness, I actually felt strongly against going to UK nx year to do my masters…
Of course, when I woke up this morn, such thoughts were brushed aside – but I did realise how much their frenship means to me. and when I’m in the cold winter at Essex nx December, I’ll be warmed wif the memories of the 4 of us in the dark corner of an Irish pub (in KL), clinking our glasses, and drinking to the success of each of us.
Well, I am here in the UK. And Ausgutine did go over to KL and they met up without me. But the sweet memories indeed warmed me up.
I just read a mate's blog where she said she wished she was in London now. Well, I'll be in London for x'mas - but I'll be wishing I was back in M'sia. Yeah, wif the rain, and the humidity, and the tacky decorations - fake snow, fake holly, fake x'mas trees... cuz there's where my family and frens are.
Liar - The Cranberries
“If the orang asing (foreigners) think we are zalim (cruel), ask them to go back to their own country,” Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar declared during a Press conference in the Parliament lobby yesterday.
Read the entire news report here.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is reported today to have reprimanded Datuk Noh, the said Minister.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reprimanded Datuk Noh Omar for his remarks that foreigners and visitors should go home if they thought the Malaysian police were cruel.
Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, said the remarks by his deputy minister were “highly inappropriate”.
Read the entire news report here.
However, in the same news report, Datuk Noh denied making the abovementioned offensive statement. Instead, he alleged that what he actualy said was "If they found the police to be cruel and the country unsafe, surely they would have gone back a long time ago."
If that is indeed the case, the Prime Minister had wrongly reprimanded Datuk Noh and the Prime Minister should apologise for reprimanding Datuk Noh for something he allegedly did not say.
Let's wait for a couple of days. If no such apology comes forth, then one can safely conclude that Datuk Noh is a liar - is that not a fair conclusion?
Datuk Noh surrounded by reporters, all of whom whom he alleges have hearing problems - or is it just that he's a liar? We'll see.
(Pic taken from the above news report)
Read the entire news report here.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is reported today to have reprimanded Datuk Noh, the said Minister.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reprimanded Datuk Noh Omar for his remarks that foreigners and visitors should go home if they thought the Malaysian police were cruel.
Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, said the remarks by his deputy minister were “highly inappropriate”.
Read the entire news report here.
However, in the same news report, Datuk Noh denied making the abovementioned offensive statement. Instead, he alleged that what he actualy said was "If they found the police to be cruel and the country unsafe, surely they would have gone back a long time ago."
If that is indeed the case, the Prime Minister had wrongly reprimanded Datuk Noh and the Prime Minister should apologise for reprimanding Datuk Noh for something he allegedly did not say.
Let's wait for a couple of days. If no such apology comes forth, then one can safely conclude that Datuk Noh is a liar - is that not a fair conclusion?
Datuk Noh surrounded by reporters, all of whom whom he alleges have hearing problems - or is it just that he's a liar? We'll see.
(Pic taken from the above news report)
