1 More Week To 2007

7 more days…and we can say goodbye to 2006…and welcome 2007. Is your New Year resolution list out? If not…you still have 7 more days to work out the list...so start cracking. I already have a few on the list…still need to define a few more and complete the list.

Wonder what is install for me come 2007? More work…more play…more time for sports…more time for friends…more time for myself…more wedding dinners…maybe a trip or 2? Whatever it is…I’m looking forward to it…work towards my goals for 2007…and make 2007 better than 2006…I hope. For better or for worst…every year there is always ups and downs…the thing is you face it and ride on it…enjoy the process along the way…that’s life. Hmm…that I think will be my motto for next year.

Unusual Christmas Present

I was in Penang for the past few days…with 2 other ex-colleagues…attending another ex-colleague’s wedding. An all expense paid trip…including meals…could you believe…well there is a small price to be paid…we need to do some coordinating and photo taking and also video recording of the wedding.

I had a great time there…can consider it a break after a hard year’s work…mind you I haven’t gone on any vacation this year. Though there isn’t much to do there…other than visiting the places of interest and the food…but it’s the welcoming break from my everyday routine life in hectic Singapore. They’ve even arranged his little brother to chauffeur us around…what more could I have asked for.

The wedding is similar to our Chinese wedding here…maybe a little difference in the ceremonies…but basically they are the same. The dinner is slightly diverse though…they’ve engaged an acoustic 2 piece band on stage…singing unplugged songs and dedications too. Some of their friends and relatives went on stage to belt out their favourite tunes which is very interesting…those seated at the tables…they stood up…sway and clap to the songs. Can’t help but think of the songs played during dinner that I’ve previously attended…couples played their favourite songs on their burnt cds…some try to be hip and played chilled out jazz tunes…some played mushy mandarin love songs…as if anyone bother…others have Kitaro and Kenny G…spare me please. I think the dedication and singing part is pretty cool…audience can participate…and when audience participate…there is bound to be comedy…with comedy…we will be entertained…maybe next time when I receive a Chinese wedding invitation card…I won’t feel so dread.

There isn’t the “yum seng” on stage…which is good…I’ve always thought that to be sort of stupidly unnecessary and time consuming. No changing of wedding gown in the middle of the dinner…and thus no second walk in. Having attended a number of wedding dinner this year…this one is something different…something I enjoyed not to mention that I was working my ass off with the view cam.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank him…his wife and his family for having me there at the wedding…the hospitality that the family shower on us…I couldn’t have imagine. An unusual special Christmas present for me this year.

7 Episodes To 2007

As 2006 is coming to a close…it is the time to look back and see if 2006 has been fruitful. I would like to list down 7 episodes which some might think is nothing or not worth mentioning, but I think is some highlight to my 2006…and looking forward to a welcoming 2007.

1. Celebrated the new year at my new home in Jan. A place I can really truly call my own…my castle. Friends came for pot luck…steamboat…mahjong…live soccer matches…or just sit around and chill. How cool is that…more events at my place next year.
2. Started working at the current company in March. Get to know some great people and some I would love to hate. The job is more demanding than the previous one but at the end of the day…it’s the fulfillment that counts…and not forgetting the money…looking forward to that promotion next year.
3. I’ve started my blog in April which I think is pretty neat though I’m not sure how many out there is reading. I’m able to write what I feel about certain events…people…movies…music…and myself…got to keep writing whenever I can find the time next year.
4. Had the chance to vote again in May. Cast my significant vote and made my sacred choice…becoming more political haven’t I…no election next year though.
5. Attended one of my favourite band’s concert in July. A memorable performance by Coldplay…I really had a great great time…wonder who will be coming for concert next year.
6. Rediscover my friendship with a lost friend in August…a friend I’m glad to have back in my life…will be seeing a lot of this friend next year.
7. Bought my Jazzy Jazz only this month…awaiting the arrival of my Taffeta White Hatchback next Jan.

My Top 10 Albums 2006

In no particular order.

1. Beth Orton – Comfort Strangers. This English indie folksy singer-songwriter has successfully moved away from electronica elements with her folksy album. Comforting tunes for someone who needs comforting.

2. The Black Keys – Magic Potion. Low fidelity raw hard blue tunes will definitely blow you away. How can I not hear of them before…how could I miss out their song “Girls Is On My Mind” where it was used in the Sony Ericsson mobile phone advertisement…well its better late than never.

3. Badly Drawn Boy – Born In The UK. 4th album from Damon Gough…and this one is much better and poppier compare to the pervious 2. Most songs in the album are beautifully crafted with some lovely shift of beat and mood.
4. Audioslave – Revelations. A little hard rock this time…with a lot of funk and soul…very political too. With their last 2 albums…people are thinking whether they will sound like Soundgarden or lean towards Rage Against The Machines…or will they just fade away like some merger bands…Audioslave is here to stay that’s for sure...and with their own blend of music style.

5. Jarvis Cocker – Jarvis. Although the album’s just been released in November but already made it into my top ten…it really is that good. Excellent to have him back…former angry yet eloquent Pulp frontman still have some tricks up his sleeves.
6. Band Of Horses – Everything All The Time. The debut album from the American Seattle…Band Of Horses sounded like any season bands that have a few albums under their belt. Wistful… melancholic…heartfelt…emotional without ever sounding dreary…the album has it all.
7. Foo Fighters – Skin And Bones. This strip down to acoustic live album still packs a punch like their studio albums…but with a clever twist. They rearrange some Foo Fighters greats making it sounds like another different song altogether. This album proves that they are not just a hard hitting outfit…they can be soft whenever they want to be.
8. Muse – Black Holes And Revelations. Brings you to another space with encapsulating melodic ambience throughout the album. This album pushes the barrier of British music to a new height.
9. Hard-fi – Stars of CCTV. A debut album that has lots of influences written all over it…but the end product is something great…something truthful…catchy and edgy at times…something only Hard-fi is capable of.

10. The Beautiful South – Superbi. A great offering from their 11th album. Paul Heaton, David Rotheray and gang are still lyrically spot on…churning out irresistible melodies…and the trademark vocals…so very beautiful.

These 10 great albums and many others have kept my going and coming back from work everyday a pleasant one…perks me up a little when I’m feeling down…keeps me high when I feel good…reminds me that life is all so good. Looking forward to some good music in 2007.

Jarvis

Alternative pop is what I call it and is delightful to listen to…very Pulpish at times…a great album indeed. Who would have thought that the one time angry bad boy Jarvis Cocker has relocate and settled down in Paris. His infamous attack on a child performer for Michael Jackson during the Brit Award was intriguing back then. No one would have expect him to come back even stronger than Pulp…unlike Bernard Butler and Brett Anderson after Suede.

“Heavy Weather” has got to be my favourite song on the album. It started with the sound of thunder and rain…I instantly thought of A-ha’s “Crying In The Rain”…the similarity ends there…its so different once the music began. A live acoustic version can be seen at youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtYvbbLwn0g
“Tonight” will make you wanna sway…some light dancing perhaps. Other outstanding tracks include “From Auschwitz To Ipswich, “I Will Kill Again”, “Baby’s Coming Back To Me”. I’m sure any Pulp fan would love this one…as for me…I’m no pulp fan…but I sure like what I hear from Jarvis.

Jazzy Jazz

Call me silly if you want to…but I just got to have it. Knowing that the GST will be raising by another 2 percentage…knowing that the government is cutting down on vehicles on the road…and not knowing what they are going to do next…I think it’s the right time to buy…or I might not have a chance in the near future to drive one.

Also I’m sick of walking to the bus stop every morning…sick of waiting for the damn bus every morning…sick of pushing my way into the bus every morning…sick of standing in the crowded bus every morning. I’m tired of waiting for the bus every evening after work…tired of calling for cab if I was working late…tired of waiting for the damn cab…tired of the mundane conversation with the cab driver. I’m disgusted with the people blocking the entrance for the alighting passengers in the train…I’m disgusted with the rushing crowd looking for a seat in the train.

I would like to go to places where I can have cheap and good hawker food…rather than food court. I would like to go to places where there isn’t much crowd over the weekend. I would like to explore places where I haven’t been to. I would like to go to places where I have been to but haven’t been for awhile due to the inconvenience of traveling. Well the list goes on and on…

I just feel that it is the right time for me to own one…if not now…then when?