Musical Discoveries September 25, 2008

For quite a while, music has been relegated to well, just a  background noise for me.

I got bored listening to the CDs I had so I stopped. I would mildly bob to whatever I might recognise on the radio, and mildly tolerate D’s retro/college rock band car mix.

Then I borrowed this movie from my school library. Admittedly, I had attempted to watch this on the plane earlier this year with a tiny Quantas screen and ear phones that only worked on the right side. I gave up because the characters looked too small and the first few lines in a thick Irish accent were incomprehensible to me. But I liked what I heard from the “Falling Slowly” youtube video and decided to give it a second chance (with subtitles this time). I was glad for suddenly, I remembered the magic of music. (And note, I am not exactly an Indie music person, but the passion and heart in the music for this film  was just mesmerising.)

My very generous blogger (and now real-life) friend AL had introduced me to The Frames (amongst many other good bands) a few years ago through her “AL’s Musings” CD and I particularly liked Glen Hansard’s live performance of “Heyday” where he yells out “Good night Melbourne!” with some kind of rock and roll drawl. Well, it’s about time I discover more of their music!

I also just picked up a Shanghai Jazz CD from That CD Shop (one of their fascinating in-house High Society compilations) and am listening to it every night accompanied by a cuppa tea. I love it. As some of you may know, I have always liked lao lao old big band jazz but have already listened to whatever there is already. The contemporary cover versions by sweet young things sound vapid to me. But this album, where jazzy ditties are sung in this Chinese triad 1920s speakeasy way is absolutely fascinating. I am so glad to have stumbled upon a soulful reinterpretation of my favourite genre of music.

And it’s amazing how all this music just lifts your spirits. I’d almost forgotten about that.

Congratulations Lauren! September 10, 2008

You're a winner!

Yay, my childhood friend Lauren has clinched a update: two bronzes in the Paralympics!

She is such an amazing person and you know, I can’t help but get peeved that there wasn’t much media coverage given on her before she clinched the medal (she was winning so many other medals for Singapore before this one!) . I tried by contributing an article on her in Vanilla Magazine (if you’d like to read it, just drop me a note and I’ll be happy to send you the scanned article), but it really didn’t help with the whole funding issue because there are “limited funds” for atheletes with disabilities (grrrrrrrr….).

And this is why I really couldn’t get all excited and nationalistic when there was the whole big hoo-ha with the Olympic Silver. Especially knowing there are such double standards in the way sports funding and recognition takes place here.

But hey, this is not a grousing session, but a celebratory post for a beautiful friend both inside and out with a spirit of steel. For her next event, she is performing to music (depsite being profoundly deaf). Please say a prayer and root for her! (Update: She came in third!)

Aunty Godpa Report: Nate to Date August 17, 2008

 

Male bonding (L-R: Nate, Dyson/Tai Sheng/Guy Sng?, Seng) Taken by D.

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about one of my favourite little fellas: Nate. 

We’ve actually been hanging out every now and then. Yesterday, we were over at his place and he gave us three little penguins as well as Harold the Helicopter as welcome gifts. 

The last time he was over at my place, he was playing Catch a little too enthusiastically, fell down, and cried for a loooooonnnng time. But by the time he had to go home, he still managed to give hugs. 

The other time he was at my place, Bryan hung him upside down and Nate’s mummy was a little worried something might get dislocated. He loved it though. 

Nate has very defined tastes and I must say they are rather high-brow and eclectic. But I think this will enable him to have a solid grammatical foundation and an intellectual sense of humour. He also has his own little neighbourhood posse and has even appeared in the headlines recently. 

D. and I are very proud of Nate and love him very much. 

 

Understudy

In a bid for a more open society, nanny state Singapore has decided to return parental controls to parents. To ensure a smooth transition, suitability testing has also been introduced. Couples such as Darren and Melanie Soh are closely scrutinized by government officials in a sterile playlab as they interact with test subject ‘nate’. Suitable couples will be licensed and entitled  to National Advancement Grants (NAG) plus 1 pack of free pampers. (A Parent Photo/Wong Maye-e) 

Scrapbook Therapy July 27, 2008

From www.shopsei.com

I simply could not bear to use my brains this weekend and so I spent most of my time cutting, sticking, punching bits of pretty paper, stickers and photographs. There’s something about the sound of (good quality) paper being cut, getting your fingers sticky with the glue and being surrounding by shiny stickers. The world just seems like a much nicer and fuzzier place when there’s good stationery.

I realise scrapbooking and me will go very well together since I generally  like pretty paper (Paper House stalker), sparkly pens (Popular bookshop/Kino stalker) and photographs (too many of them all over the house). I felt so soothed after completing my very first scrapbook that, I went down again to the money-sucking scrapbook shop to pick up more delightful designy papers and alphabet stickers. I am making it a point NOT to go for a scrapbooking class because I know it gets really complicated with iron-ons and embroidery and heat embossing - which my lack of artistic aptitude (and wallet) would not be able to afford.

For now, I’m just happy to just to get crafty instead of worky. Now I understand why high-strung Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls had set up a scrapbooking table at her Yale dorm to find inner calm. It does work!

More Images From Iowa June 30, 2008

My “younger Asian brother” (quite a lot of people thought we were related because we were the only yellows) has sent over some more images from Iowa. 

 

What a pretty little town when it’s dry.

And oh, this is interesting.

This was after a lovely pork tenderloin dinner after being evacuated from our hotel. (L-R) Elizabeth, Juliet, Cindy and Adele - all very lovely ladies. Adele is the one who kindly offered to share her room. She also grew up in a neighbourhood just next to Bill Bryson’s!

Photographer’s bio: ”Jaton Zulueta is a dashing young gentleman from the Philippines who’s single and ready to mingle.”  

(Seriously though, does he not look like a Randy Ang junior?)

Express highlights from 15 March April 1, 2008

Finally, a good enough Australian connection to upload this up.

Kudos to Anthony who managed to dig out some not-so-unflattering pictures and taking pictures so cleverly on the sly.

Going back tomorrow….dang.

Say chiz March 21, 2008

The jaws ache, we are still floppy with fatigue but yes, it is over. Hitched liao, phew.
The best part: much more heartwarming and fun than I thought it would be.
The worst part: Wearing such girly, frilly uncomfortable things which were constantly on the verge of becoming wardrobe malfunctions. NEVER AGAIN.

Will do the proper updating when I’m back in April. Right now am in Melbourne re-discovering love for chocolate. Till then!

Wholesome Hens March 9, 2008

My home econs teacher would be shocked to know that I actually find sewing quite therapeutic! Some of my colleagues put together a Wholesome Hen’s Night at Audwa’s place earlier this week and it was a much needed break from Excel spreadsheets and to-do lists. A crafts lady came to teach us how to make stuff toys using socks and we all had little friends by the end of the night:

(Top-bottom, L-R) Spongey Bobby, Sweet Harriet, Primrose Prudence, Goth Blackie, Valien Hunchback, Penny and Slowstripes.

They will be the in-house residents of the yellow room in my new home. Love them! (both the toys and these sweet colleagues of mine,that is)

Had another not-so-wholesome Hen’s night yesterday and still a little in shock!

Updates soon.

Happy Wall February 3, 2008

Hello, so yesterday Ee Shaun came to paint our Happy Wall and we are all very Happy indeed.

See the resemblance?

And here’s how the wall got painted

Say “ahhhhhhhhhh” December 25, 2007

I had half the mind to put this picture up since the unflattering angle so blatantly zooms in on my double chin. However, Nate doing “The Lion” was just too cute to pass up. Aunty Godpa loves you!