Chapters (closing)


David said to us that day, that new year resolutions are all about setting goals ahead.

About looking forward to a new year, where we get to start all over again, afresh.

It was a good wake up call.

As much as we look forward to a new day, brand new morning, a great start to a new year, we mustn't forget that when we open a new chapter, it requires closing the previous chapter.

旧的不去，新的不来!

I look back at year 2o09, and its all a blur for me, just like many of the years before... that's why I keep a blog! Because I will never misplace the blog like a diary and hopefully the internet will live to a great ripe age and all my naive thoughts and rants will still be held safe on some remote server in the world.

2009 hasn't been that great a year for me. I lost a friend, and I grappled with so many issues in life, career, money, religion, friends.

I have a couple of regrets but all in all, I've been yet again reaping the blessings that my parents have sowed for me. And I still have loved ones around me although I do wish some things could remain the same without any bad feelings.

Its somewhere deep in my heart. A desire to patch things up because its been a year, and there isn't one day I look back at that incident and wished it had never happened.

And then C and I took our first steps into the new company as a group. And that's a big thing for us. As friends, as singers, as dreamers, as believers.

Going to spend the last two days of 2009 closing up the unfinished chapters and coming to terms with things and preparing my heart for the next roller-coaster twist and turn.

I hope you'll take the chance to do this with me. Reflect, count your blessings and be sure to take out any thorns that were placed in your heart in year 2009.

When you've cleaned it all up, you'll be ready for a spanking year ahead! With resolutions you can work doubly hard to keep!

Take a good look back, and then its onwards comrade!

2010 Hong Kah North Countdown 2010

Be there or Be Square!

Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 6:30pm i'll be singing 触摸 with Dr. Amy Khor and Best I ever Had(Vertical Horizon) and 月黑风高(Eason Chan). All with the lovely accompaniment of the Hong Kah North Student Chinese Orchestra. They practiced really hard for this show so do come down and make sure you make all their effort worthwhile! Before starting the new year, why not come and show some people your love? And make sure you keep the smile on your face. No point ending the year with a frown and hoping to start the next with a smile!

郭舒贤‘s imaginary boyfriend

Mesmerizing.

A timeless classic reborn with the same fuzziness.
My favourite all-time no-frills I love you in a simple let-me-sing-you-my-heart song.

Food for Thought

"What we habitually see confirms us."
- John Berger

I see you. You see me.

We are Alive!

Am i considered emo if I blog this?

Judge judge judge.

Judged Judged Judged.

怨怨相报，何时了？

Leave the judging to the heavens.

Its funny(ok not really.) how we start to judge teenagers for being teenagers, youths for being youths, when we ourselves have been there done that, and might have even been one of the few highly acclaimed pioneer batch of rebels.

And you would think having once been a rebel yourself and turned out pretty ok, you'd be able to understand what rebel, emo youths are going through these days and trust in them to turn out ok too or give them the credit they deserve.

Instead of discrediting them at every decision they make, and every bad attitude or unhappy face they give.

Why is it we always forget how hard things can get even for youths and teenagers?

Why do we often expect things from them which we always prayed people wouldn't expect from us when WE were teens ourselves?

The most inspirational leaders, the great examples of life, aren't the ones who are successful and rich, upright, or righteous. They're the ones who listen, and try to understand without judging.

They're they ones whose brain full of knowledge and heart full of grace are able to strike a balance between proper advice and precious sensitivity.

And these people are rare, but important in our lives.

Like that one teacher, who is the reason you enjoy geography.

Like that one lecturer, who gives a deadline but who without so much as doubts your lame excuses in handing up work late that you start to WANT to hand up every assignment on the dot.

Like that one friend, who is the one you can call when you have a burdened heart and know that even though deep down inside you know you're screwed, this person is the one person who's going to reach out to you without so much of discrimination in his eyes.

Like the son of God, who was sent on Earth to take away stigma, to take away judgement and to bring salvation.

The one who said to the pharisees "you who have not sinned, may stone the adulterer." and let her go without so much as a scratch, but leaving a love impression of her heart that would last forever.

That's why Christmas is so important.

Because, its a season of giving.
A season of hope.
A season of joy.
A season of forgiving.
A season of reflections.
A season of love.

A day to remember there is no greater gift,
no greater love than the one that was born from heaven to earth.

There's no better excuse than Christmas; to patch up broken relationships, to make new bonds,
to reach out to somebody you forgot, to tell that person "you were in my mind, merry christmas." and to break that cold cold silence with a jolly "Merry Christmas, my dear friend."

So here I am, wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas where the smile on your face will not just come from happiness, but from overflowing joy that fills your heart, joy that infects even the people around you.

Have a Blessed Christmas!


Don't let the Christmas Cheer only last for a day... make it last a lifetime!
If everyday is Valentine's Day for couples,
let everyday be Christmas time morphed with Children's Day for us!
Whooopeee!

The True Meaning of Christmas


Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .


"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!


Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.


Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."

taken from http://www.llerrah.com/truemeaningofchristmas.htm

My all time Christmas Favourite Songs...!

Haven't Met YOU yet.

Michael Buble is so charming in such an endearing way. Same goes for his song...
Saw this youtube on Stan's blog and fell in love with it!

and what's really sweet here is that the girl in the video is really his girlfriend, Luisana Lopilato.
And I think it really shows. =) The way he looks at her when he sings and dances, its not weird or trying too hard, its all very natural and very comfortable and yet cheeky and happy all at one time.






I'm Not Surprised
Not Everything Lasts
I've Broken My Heart So Many Times,
I Stop Keeping Track.
Talk Myself In
I Talk Myself Out
I Get All Worked Up
And Then I Let Myself Down.

I Tried So Very Hard Not To Loose It
I Came Up With A Million Excuses
I Thought I Thought Of Every Possibility

And I Know Someday That It'll All Turn Out
You'll Make Me Work So We Can Work To Work It Out
And I Promise You Kid That I'll Give So Much More Than I Get
I Just Haven't Met You Yet

Mmmmm ....

I Might Have To Wait
I'll Never Give Up
I Guess It's Half Timing
And The Other Half's Luck
Wherever You Are
Whenever It's Right
You Come Out Of Nowhere And Into My Life

And I Know That We Can Be So Amazing
And Baby Your Love Is Gonna Change Me
And Now I Can See Every Possibility

Mmmmm ......

And Somehow I Know That It Will All Turn Out
And You'll Make Me Work So We Can Work To Work It Out
And I Promise You Kid I'll Give So Much More Than I Get
I Just Haven't Met You Yet

They Say All's Fair
And In Love And War
But I Won't Need To Fight It
We'll Get It Right
And We'll Be United

And I Know That We Can Be So Amazing
And Being In Your Life Is Gonna Change Me
And Now I Can See Every Single Possibility

Mmmm .....

And Someday I Know It'll All Turn Out
And I'll Work To Work It Out
Promise You Kid I'll Give More Than I Get
Than I Get Than I Get Than I Get

Oh You Know It'll All Turn Out
And You'll Make Me Work So We Can Work To Work It Out
And I Promise You Kid To Give So Much More Than I Get
Yeah I Just Haven't Met You Yet

I Just Haven't Met You Yet
Oh Promise You Kid
To Give So Much More Than I Get

I Said Love Love Love Love Love Love Love .....
I Just Haven't Met You Yet
Love Love Love .....
I Just Haven't Met You Yet

射手座的朋友.

Jim 和 Carrie 很像

and they like to have repeat conversations even though they've had it before.

random. But random fun facts.

Its entertaining,
even when they have repeat conversations.

Recording is fun, dinner is funnier.

Carpe Diem

So many moments in my life I'm glad I didn't react reactively on.

That moment of anger,

That moment of hurt.

Its funny, when you're in that moment, you cannot imagine being anything else, feeling any other emotion, or doing anything else but passing that hurt and that anger on.

But once the moment passes, the sea is a picture of beautiful calm and peace.

So sometimes, when you feel that thorn in your heart taking over everything else good and nice that you're made off, try distract yourself with a good pot of tea, some good company and you realise the wave of calm will wash you over, leaving you refreshed and ready for the next storm and the calm after the storm.

I thank God for the good in the people. Even in the people we sometimes momentarily categorise as 'BAD'.

I do hope however, that we don't pass the hurt on.

If you're reading this. try this.

Force yourself to forgive one person each day, which includes not taking a second look at that car that cut into your lane abruptly or the service staff at the counter who got your order wrong and was not polite nor apologetic about it.

These people have had people cut into their lanes, and have had received bad service before. They're passing the hurt on. But if YOU can be above that, then ONE chain is broken.

And when ONE chain is broken.
ALOT of people receive less hurt.

Its not changing the world, but its a start.
One person at a time, one unhappy molecule at a time.

Carpe Diem!!

The day is yours to seize! Seize it the happy way!

oh yeah. And please check this out and buy a notebook if you can ...

" A visit to Siem Reap in 2007 started it all. We visited two schools in the village of Angkor Tom and had brought along school supplies, sweets and slippers to give away to the children. What we didn’t expect was that there were so many more children without food, without clothes and without footwear.

Despite that, the children still made their way to the village school that offered free primary education. It was their only chance of learning something that would hopefully be their ticket out of poverty and on to a better life.

Yet, most of them may never get the chance to further their education. It was just too expensive – to get a bicycle to get to town, to pay for uniforms, to pay for books. Besides, they are needed to help out in the farms to earn whatever they can to survive.

We felt an urgent need to do something for these children. Be it food, education, or that pair of sandals to protect their little feet as they walk the tens of kilometres (each way) to school.

That’s how we decided to start Project Happy Feet.

Today, Project Happy Feet has walked its way to more than 1,000 children, and more to come as we invite you to follow in our footsteps."

Especially touched by how the name was inspired by simply wanting to protect the fragile little feet of the little children.

Please help :)

Sailing off

Going on a cruise ship tomorrow for a performance with my company, oh boy, if feels like a long while since I last performed live and I'm actually pretty excited about it. A pity this time I won't be singing in that fantastic cruise ship auditorium which has such a wholesome sound you'll fall in love with your own voice when you speak into the mic.

A singer's dream.

That auditorium, a bath-tub in the middle and my rubber ducky, me singing in the shower.

Bliss.

Sorry for the jarring image.

So its the month of live singing with not only this cruise performance, but the GYSB event on the 9th at Zouk. The thought that Get Your Sexy Back is the brainchild of a bunch of smart and sexy people from the same batch in NTU mass comm makes this all so meaningful.

Like how the feed me! campaign was the blood and sweat of Stanley manley.

Anyhow, its the 9th of Dec, and Carrie and I will be there to get our sexy back. Hah! and Big Wind Blow (Weizhennie's band) , and JJ Lin, and a really cool band caled en(x) and Jillian Marie Thomas who's this cool girl who plays really good accoustic numbers and has a great sultry voice to boot!

here are some details....



And I'm ending off the year 2009 once again at Hong Kah North CC. This will be the third time I'm performing there... and I must say. It really is a great honour. Maybe I'll settle down in that area next time since I seem to have so much opportunities at that place!

This year I'll be singing with the Chinese Orchestra of Hong Kah North and will also be singing a duet with Mayor Amy Khor! But more details on that next time....

Before I end off. I just want to make an announcement especially since its the school holidays and lots of you will be making your way into Malaysia for road trips with the family.

Did you know? That at the malaysian customs, they don't only check your car boot for drugs or alcohol or explosives or anything dangerous or illegal, but instead, place more of their focus on looking out for objects which look TAXABLE.

Specially in this holiday season...

The malaysian custom law states that if you bring in a BRAND NEW item through the malaysian custom, THAT item is taxable for 30% of its full price.

For example, you happen to have a brand new pair of Pumas in your boot, and the person at custom enthusiastically reaches out for the box and will definitely ask you "is this new?????" And the ignorant you immediately honestly answers "Yah? nice hor?"

You, my dear friend, will bleed from your pockets for no logical reason whatsoever other than that the law states that they are allowed to draw blood from you.

Shoes cost $100.
Tax you have to pay: $30
Real cost of shoes: $130


OUCH.

So please, make sure none of you give them the chance to make you bleed for no proper rhyme or reason ok? If you really need to bring a present in for your relatives, make sure you remove the wrapping of the item and leave it in your bag looking not-so-new.

If you really have that much money to spare, Christmas is around the corner, and there are alot of places out there that better need that love.

And so, its Christmas.

The season of giving. =)

" we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crashed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; perseuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
- 2 Corinthians 4:8

Till I see you


I am not a Ashin fan.

I need the book "Artiste Etiquette" if it is ever published.

I did not read the article.

My protective friends kept the words away from me but told me what they thought I could take.

I almost once wanted to be a reporter.

I've never once knowingly hurt anyone.

If one day I wielded a pen, I could use it to stab or to defend,

That is, after making an informed decision.

Anonymity is not the priviledge slander.

Anonymity, if used well can actually be for the general good.

黑玫瑰(the real one in history.) was a heroine who stole from the rich to give to the poor.

Its one thing for people who know nothing about a person to bitch,

Its another for a friend to bitch.

Its one thing for the ill-informed to bitch,

its another for someone who holds the keys to so many things, and has probably graduated with honours from some journalism course to swing the course of things with an intent to hurt.

I'm hurt. I really am.

But now that you've given me a tight slap on my left cheek, and persecuted me left, right, up, down and centre for something like this when there are artistes out there toying exploiting their status to cheat and to dishonour music. You expect me to say "ok, noted. Repented." ??

I didn't do anything with the intent to hurt, and I know at the gate of heaven. I can still walk in with my head high in the sky. I may bleed, I may bruise. But my heart is clean, pure.

I ever once thought of being a journalist.

But now shudder at the thought of how powerful words can be, when used to hurt.

You could have written it in my defence, but you went ahead with the naysayers and wrote the lines that could cut and cause open wounds.

What a tough lesson this has been for me.

My wounds will heal, and the cuts will close up.

And then I'll say...

"here's my right cheek. take it, you pharisee."

Keep your spirits up diya. 我也廷你 ... !

Until the day worldly pain ceases to exist,
my prayer is that I'll do more than just survive.
I'm not a survivor.
I'm a fighter.