Here.

And behind his tired eyes
She sees a boy with his arms wide
Who made her feel like an angel
Oh, that's why she is loving him still
For the rest of her life
She is loving him still,
For the last of many miles
She is loving him still
After all this time.

"I don't care where we go
Let's start from Here."

God's Finger Touched Her.

Saying goodbye to a loved one is never an easy task.

Having been Mich's "left-hand man" (the "right-hand man" being Del) since the days of Temasek Junior College, James is a close confidant of Mich. I received notification of his grandmother's passing on Saturday and thereafter, her featured article in the Straits Times on Monday.

God's finger touched her, and she slept.
[ Alfred, Lord Tennyson ]

= The Straits Times : 28 April 2008 =

James' grandmother on the front page of the main paper. = Full page article on Grandmother with a picture of the entire family, including James (click on the article to read) =

= Continuation of said article (click on the article to read) =

The Good & The Bad.

At 3am, Alex drops the bomb.

Alex : I've got good news. And bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?

Mich : The bad?

Alex : I'm moving to ___________!!! ( the adjacent condominium where Mich lives)

Mich : ............ So what's the good?

Alex : I'm moving to _________ !!!

Mich : ....................

Alex : HELLO, NEIGHBOUR!

Mich : ....................

Who needs MSN Messenger thereafter?
Drinks at the kopitiam perhaps?

Whimsical Fantasies Turns 3.

Happy belated 3rd Birthday.
To Whimsical Fantasies, an extension of Mich.

A Critique of None Other.

A cheerful, sanguine lark drenched in naivete, this facade has been the epithet and bane of my existence.

Having, therefore, determined to commit to the metrical pattern I'd perceived to be flawless and that I, was, in fact the deviation of accordance, from this inspiration, I drew strength and resolve.

"Do the right thing, Mich," came the prattling disparagement from none other than myself.

Like all good intentions gone awry, however, I found myself falling slowly astern, away from the roaring chorus of blithe patterns in some measure.

If what I did was proceeded to correction, then why, pray, tell me, why, was that unobtrusive volition a pretext for disorder?

Withdrawing into my shell, I engaged notice entirely to myself. Castigation ran rampant and had a field day. For by it, a barrage of acrid reflections mounted.

And it all seems perfect.
That's how she wants it.

A sulfurous denunciation indeed.

***
I would conform to any regulations, any restrictions if they would only let me enjoy the garden.

Henry James, The Aspern Papers

***

=(

Today,
She sat.
She thought.

Then,
She wept.

藕断丝连

曾经错过的机会， 原本以为它以随风而逝。日子淡淡地过，我一心一意地尝试着重新开始。然而，往往画面中你却依稀在浮现， 使我进退两难。

空虚， 无奈，悲伤 -- 这一切包袱我都默默地承担。

“算了吧”，我尽量自我奉劝。“握不住的沙，放掉也罢。”

预料不到的是， 两人的路竟然会再度交叉在原点。

这回，是否是为了弥补以及挽回所失去的？　还是生命中的过客，在这儿休息，是为了走自己更长远的路？

机会是靠自己去掌握的。但，倘若这机会只不过是过眼云烟的，还是是虚幻的，那么，所谓的“机会”不只是虚假的幻想吗？

这个答案，你可知道吗？


吞下多少苦涩滋味，　你不会了解。

Sadness Personified.

Cleft along perforated lines, an inarticulated convulsion ripens and bursts in glorious splendour.

It wheedles a caustic prick.

Ripples splotch rancour ad naseum, its colours unrecognizable in the facade wenched.

In its wake, rancour lulls.

A curious volume of forgotten lore, it swirls and settles into the dust once more.

Same Difference

The double expressions -
Of naive fun and consequences.

"Gimme Hope Joanna" : An Anti-Apartheid Anthem

"Gimme Hope Joanna" needs no introduction with its constant emergence in clubs, movies and the like. What Mich didn't know was the political implication embedded within this infectious refrain and henceforth, as a sign of respect, will avoid dancing to its beats in clubs.

Facts ::

• A song originally by Eddy Grant, it is a well-known anti-apartheid reggae anthem from the 1980s that was forged against the apartheid South African government.
• The term 'apartheid' is the legislation of racial segregation enforced by the National Party South African government between 1948 and 1994. It advocates White supremacy and elitism against the Black, Coloured and Asian.
• Grant wrote this in honour of the South African leader, Nelson Mandela. Mandela fought against apartheid and was a political prisoner for over 20 years before the ill-fated policy was abolished. After he was released, Mandela became president of South Africa.
• ‘Joanna’ symbolizes the city of Johannesburg and the South African Apartheid Government. Soweto is a black township near Johannesburg. The apartheid army was well-known for “sneaking across the neighbours' borders” to fight in other countries.
• "The Archbishop who's a peaceful man" is a reference to Desmond Tutu, the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town who received the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his fight against apartheid. Cape Town is revered as the epicentre of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa.
• “She’s got supporters in high places / Who turn their heads to the city sun” underlines the initial unwillingness of the international community to take action against the South African government for advocating and legislating the Apartheid policy.
• “She even knows how to swing opinion / In every magazine and the journals” highlights media propaganda which contributed to the success of the Apartheid system.
• This song was banned by the South African government when it was released.

Lyrics ::

Well Jo'anna she runs a country
She runs in Durban and the Transvaal
She makes a few of her people happy, oh
She don't care about the rest at all
She's got a system they call apartheid
It keeps a brother in a subjection
But maybe pressure can make Jo'anna see
How everybody could a live as one

[chorus:]
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
Hope, Jo'anna
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
'Fore the morning come
Gimme hope, Jo'anna
Hope, Jo'anna
Hope before the morning come

I hear she make all the golden money
To buy new weapons, any shape of guns
While every mother in black Soweto fears
The killing of another son
Sneakin' across all the neighbours' borders
Now and again having little fun
She doesn't care if the fun and games she play
Is dang'rous to ev'ryone

[chorus]

She's got supporters in high up places
Who turn their heads to the city sun
Jo'anna give them the fancy money
Oh to tempt anyone who'd come
She even knows how to swing opinion
In every magazine and the journals
For every bad move that this Jo'anna makes
They got a good explanation

[chorus]

Even the preacher who works for Jesus
The Archbishop who's a peaceful man
Together say that the freedom fighters
Will overcome the very strong
I wanna know if you're blind Jo'anna
If you wanna hear the sound of drums
Can't you see that the tide is turning
Oh don't make me wait till the morning come

[chorus]

Video Clip::

Love Me Too?

A T-shirt Mich bought.
Cute? =)

Mimolette & Villa Bali

Mich loved the Pan-Seared Angus Tenderloin!

Mich was at Mimolette and Villa Bali last night.

Touted to be an exclusive secret to the well-heeled, the secluded location of Mimolette at Fairways Drive gave horror films a run for their money as the only light along the entire route off Eng Neo Avenue was that from the car! In addition, one would be humbled by the fancy cars that filled the carpark lots. (Thankfully, the presence of a few conventional Toyotas and Kias ensured our egos did not hit rock bottom.)

Ambience : 9 / 10
Food : 8.5 / 10
Service : 6 / 10

Upon arrival, we were ignored for a few minutes as a VIP guest was ushered in and fussed upon. For a while, I regretted my choice of Mimolette as customers were dressed to the nines and some were chi-chi tai-tais defined.

Thereafter, we were seated at a table next to a bunch of snobs. I suppose they couldn't bear the thought of having to be seated next to ordinary (read:poorer) folks like us, as the constant glances thrown at our table proved. Annoying as it was, this gesture was sufficient to make one squirm rather uncomfortably in the seat. As luck would have it, our orders were misplaced/forgotten/whatever lousy excuse one can come up with. Imagine having this piece of news descend upon you AFTER a very patient wait of ONE HOUR. We were somewhat placated when the palatables finally arrived - succulent, delectable, yummalicious! Mimolette had redeemed itself.

Towards closing time, we took our leave and proceeded to Villa Bali for some drinks.

Ambience : 6.5 /10
Food : What food? Chips? "Kitchen is closed at midnight." Yup, even finger food fell under that jurisdiction and Mich dug into the paltry servings of chips to curb her insatiable appetite.
Drinks : 6 / 10 ( I've had better lychee martinis.)
Service : 6.5 / 10 ( As mentioned, a query for finger food was met with a curt response that chilled to the bone. )

Nevertheless, great company triumphed and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

Mich will definitely post ALL pics within the next few days! All she needs is time to upload! =)

P/s : If anyone with a car is game to try the food at Mimolette, give Mich a tinkle in advance! =D

Uninterrupted.

Consciousness of the world suspended.

一闻此报

在我意想不到的时刻，沉默的彩虹竟然再度出现。 在我最无奈的黑暗，温暖静悄悄地陪伴着。这突如其来的转捩点， 可喜可悲。因为心中的感慨理会到今日的太阳，将会被一片雅雀无声的黑暗取代。

把烦恼都抛在后头吧！今朝有酒今朝醉，明日愁来明日愁。

好不容易面带笑容， 不好吗？ =)

【褪色】- 文海平
你不会是我的永远对吗
只不过偶然相遇之后再路过
明天会涂上更新鲜的颜色
褪色的画面让它留在昨天吧

我不是你的永远对吗
我们只不过是彼此一个过客
明天会涂上更新鲜的颜色
褪色的相片把它留给回忆吧

Let's Start From Here

Hailed as Asia's answer to Norah Jones, Joanna Wang is VERY GOOD.
Surprise Fact #1 : She's Chinese. (I couldn't tell by listening to the song.)
Surprise Fact #2 : She's only 19!
I've embedded this lovely song for your listening pleasure.

Let's Start From Here

Giving up, why should I
I've come too far to forget
We're beautiful, we just got lost
Somewhere along the way
So much was missing when you went away

Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don't need a finish line
Let's take this chance, don't think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
Let's start from here

Standing here face to face
A finger on your lips
Don't say a word, don't make a sound
Silence surrounds us now
Even when you were gone, I felt you everywhere

Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don't need a finish line
Let's take this chance don't think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
Let's start from here
Let's start from here

I've never been the one to open up
But you've always been the voice within
The only warmth from my cold heart
Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don't need a finish line
Let's take this chance. don't think too deep
Of all those promises

Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don't need a finish line
Let's take this chance, don't think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
Let's start from here

Mince-me-et

There is a limit to my patience, to what I can and cannot do.

Of which is testimony to the seemingly ceaseless threshold that yields in time to come, I speak not of that which has the horizon of, say, zilch.

Many a time have I cowered, bowed and convinced myself of such.

The slate grates in mind, plying in this hutch.

Where once the munchkin danced with piddling inertia, a new line will be now be drawn.

Surprise!

A lil gift from my cousin in Japan. =D

Bonds to Non.

I had much to blog, but I'm staring at the empty slate of perennial white and its pseudo-mockery stance.

My life is not an open book.
And I intend to keep it that way.

[ Aside : Kris, thanks for talking to me till 4am. ]