I have finally broken the midnight barrier. Today, or rather yesterday, marked the first time I stayed beyond midnight to work. To be more specific, I left my office building about 62 minutes ago. And even though my eyes are killing me, I'm still on a bit of a high, having been carried through the day by a deliciously clever e-mail (intellectual stimulation has always turned me on) and just the general high of working on something which I feel is worth it.
I suppose I am addicted to work in some measure. As I told my friend over lunch today, I strongly suspect part of my workoholism stems from my premise that work generally hasn't let me down as much as people have, so to protect myself from inevitable disappointment, I choose to throw myself into something which is dependable and will always be there. But of course, as I mentioned earlier, when I work on something in a high-pressure situation and I'm able to deliver it under such circumstances, I do derive a certain amount of joy and satisfaction in a job well done. So I guess I'm not completely insane after all.
Enough of this ponderating. To bed I go.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
I am currently ploughing my way through Jose Carlos Somoza's The Art of Murder, a murder mystery set in the near future in a world where art, instead of being done on a canvas, or carved out of stone, is painted on humans.
I've not read much of it but it seems pretty interesting so far. Then again, I felt the same way about The Athenian Murders, also written by the same author, and that novel turned out to be a great dud. I don't care if it won some kind of award for great crime fiction writing; I thought it was overly convoluted and just plain pretentious. My parents read that book as well and they couldn't stand it either.
Given my time constraints, I'm really hoping The Art of Murder doesn't turn out the same way. I left the office just over an hour ago and I really should be getting some sleep instead of spending time reading books, but sometimes, working so hard makes it impossible for me to fall asleep even though I'm exhausted.
I've not read much of it but it seems pretty interesting so far. Then again, I felt the same way about The Athenian Murders, also written by the same author, and that novel turned out to be a great dud. I don't care if it won some kind of award for great crime fiction writing; I thought it was overly convoluted and just plain pretentious. My parents read that book as well and they couldn't stand it either.
Given my time constraints, I'm really hoping The Art of Murder doesn't turn out the same way. I left the office just over an hour ago and I really should be getting some sleep instead of spending time reading books, but sometimes, working so hard makes it impossible for me to fall asleep even though I'm exhausted.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
As I was leaving the office after yet another 12 hour work day, I asked myself just how much longer I could keep this up. I've been putting in relatively crazy hours for over three years now and I'm not too sure how much more endurance and energy I have left given that I'm well-known for consistently burning the candle at both ends.
Yet, I don't consider my hours all that insane, given that there are others in my industry who work longer hours, although they do get at least double what I'm getting paid now, something which makes me thing I'd be able to do if I was getting that kind of pay, so perhaps, I really should stop comparing myself with them, telling myself that what I do is not that much compared to them.
In any case, there're periods during the year in which my work tends to get rather crazy, and it always has the same effect on me. It makes me wonder whether I'll be able to ever sustain a proper life, given that I hardly have the time to meet new people, much less put in the investment needed to sustain a relationship. Most of the people I know who are in happy, steady relationships met their other halves many years ago before they even started work, which says a lot about my future.
I lamented to a friend last week that the way my career is going, the fact that I've worked for more than four years now and yet, I'm still in a position where I can't take leave because work might come in and I'll have to cancel, seemed to indicate that I'm headed down the path to eternal spinsterhood.
Of course, I don't really believe that, but I did tell my friend that the perfect relationship for me, given my circumstances, would be a long-distance one. I'd definitely put in the effort to e-mail and call, so long as I didn't have to deal with having to find the time to spend with him because the nature of my work is just so capricious. Until then, I'd just have to be content with 'flings' with strangers at wedding dinners.
Again, kidding. But you get what I mean.
Still, in spite of my exhausted frame of mind, despite my almost non-belief in love, I found myself thinking this as I was walking towards my bus-stop:
Everything I'm going through now will lead me to good things, to a career in which I'll be able to achieve a good work/life balance, where I'll be working overseas (something I've always wanted) and be doing the things I enjoy - both in the office and outside of it. And I will have found someone wonderful, someone who will love me and who I will love dearly. For all I know, I may already have met that someone. And I will be happy.
And this will all happen within the next three years.
This, I firmly believe.
Given my exceedingly practical nature, why am I writing something like this down for the whole world to see?
Simple. I believe it will happen.
It's in my power to create this future. And it all starts now.
Yet, I don't consider my hours all that insane, given that there are others in my industry who work longer hours, although they do get at least double what I'm getting paid now, something which makes me thing I'd be able to do if I was getting that kind of pay, so perhaps, I really should stop comparing myself with them, telling myself that what I do is not that much compared to them.
In any case, there're periods during the year in which my work tends to get rather crazy, and it always has the same effect on me. It makes me wonder whether I'll be able to ever sustain a proper life, given that I hardly have the time to meet new people, much less put in the investment needed to sustain a relationship. Most of the people I know who are in happy, steady relationships met their other halves many years ago before they even started work, which says a lot about my future.
I lamented to a friend last week that the way my career is going, the fact that I've worked for more than four years now and yet, I'm still in a position where I can't take leave because work might come in and I'll have to cancel, seemed to indicate that I'm headed down the path to eternal spinsterhood.
Of course, I don't really believe that, but I did tell my friend that the perfect relationship for me, given my circumstances, would be a long-distance one. I'd definitely put in the effort to e-mail and call, so long as I didn't have to deal with having to find the time to spend with him because the nature of my work is just so capricious. Until then, I'd just have to be content with 'flings' with strangers at wedding dinners.
Again, kidding. But you get what I mean.
Still, in spite of my exhausted frame of mind, despite my almost non-belief in love, I found myself thinking this as I was walking towards my bus-stop:
Everything I'm going through now will lead me to good things, to a career in which I'll be able to achieve a good work/life balance, where I'll be working overseas (something I've always wanted) and be doing the things I enjoy - both in the office and outside of it. And I will have found someone wonderful, someone who will love me and who I will love dearly. For all I know, I may already have met that someone. And I will be happy.
And this will all happen within the next three years.
This, I firmly believe.
Given my exceedingly practical nature, why am I writing something like this down for the whole world to see?
Simple. I believe it will happen.
It's in my power to create this future. And it all starts now.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
I am a big fan of Cheuk Kwan's Chinese Restaurants series. The films I have watched are Three Continents (covering Norway, Madagascar and Canada) and Beyond Frontiers (East India, Brazil and West India) which were brought in as part of the Singapore International Film Festival over the last two years.
Chinese Restaurants is a series depicting Chinese migration throughout the world. Kwan has travelled extensively and has sought out family-run Chinese restaurants across the world in order to tell their tale. Each story is captured neatly in a half-hour episode.
When I watched the films, I was fascinated by how well Kwan managed to combine the history of the cities he was filming in, the personal history of the restaurant proprietor as well as the evolution of the dishes served in the restaurants, similar to how the Chinese families themselves have adapted to the city in which they live.
And now, to my dismay, I have only just found out that ChannelNewsAsia has been broadcasting the first eight episodes of the series in August. At least I found out in time to catch the last weekend they're showing it.
Chinese Restaurants is a series depicting Chinese migration throughout the world. Kwan has travelled extensively and has sought out family-run Chinese restaurants across the world in order to tell their tale. Each story is captured neatly in a half-hour episode.
When I watched the films, I was fascinated by how well Kwan managed to combine the history of the cities he was filming in, the personal history of the restaurant proprietor as well as the evolution of the dishes served in the restaurants, similar to how the Chinese families themselves have adapted to the city in which they live.
And now, to my dismay, I have only just found out that ChannelNewsAsia has been broadcasting the first eight episodes of the series in August. At least I found out in time to catch the last weekend they're showing it.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
I'm rather excited! I've got a jam-packed September coming up. I'll be going on at three business trips (Hong Kong, India and Hong Kong again) in the span of a month, and for a while, I'll be double-hatting too. I'm being given a great opportunity to work in an even busier office with a lot of activity, and to raise my profile in the region. I've been holding my own at work so far, but now, this is a challenge.
And man, am I looking forward to acing it.
The only bad thing about this (that I can think of right now, of course) is that I may not be able to take the long break I badly need in order to recuperate from burning the candle at way more than two ends.
Ah well. I'm young. I'll survive. And in style, too.
Aside: I was both amused and a little alarmed that the first response from one of my Singapore colleagues when he heard the news was, "What will Zouk do without you? I can feel its stock plummeting even as we speak!" and the first response from one of my Hong Kong ex-colleagues was, "The clubs here suck!" I'm not that much of a huge party raver type... am I?
And man, am I looking forward to acing it.
The only bad thing about this (that I can think of right now, of course) is that I may not be able to take the long break I badly need in order to recuperate from burning the candle at way more than two ends.
Ah well. I'm young. I'll survive. And in style, too.
Aside: I was both amused and a little alarmed that the first response from one of my Singapore colleagues when he heard the news was, "What will Zouk do without you? I can feel its stock plummeting even as we speak!" and the first response from one of my Hong Kong ex-colleagues was, "The clubs here suck!" I'm not that much of a huge party raver type... am I?
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
As I've mentioned in a previous post, I absolutely adore listening to Flirty at 9.30 on Capital FM. London isn't an obviously romantic city, but that programme makes you believe that it has got to be full of life, love and other romantic things.
For this week and the next, they're running a 'Best of Flirty' while James Cannon, the DJ who hosts the show and who came up with the idea, is away.
Yesterday's rerun was an especially nice one. Mary has worked with David for three years… and has fancied him for the same amount of time. But because they've known each other for a while, and they are work colleagues, Mary asked James to ask David out on her behalf.
James went through the usual routine, describing Mary to David and when David realised who she was, the following exchange occurred.
David: You can’t be talking about Mary, can you?
James: I am talking about Mary.
D.: Oh my God!
J.: She’s asked me to ask you out on a date.
D.: Yeah, definitely! What a result!
J.: Really?
D.: Absolutely! Oh my God!
Later on:
J.: Why haven’t you asked her out in three years then?
D.: (in the cutest, most sincere shy voice ever) Oh… I’m very shy.
J.: Really?
D.: (laughs sheepishly) Yeah…
I'm a sucker for these kind of happy endings. And if you are any kind of romantic, I urge you to go to the Flirty at 9.30 podcast page and listen to the replay of this call. David's shy tone of voice made me go 'aww....' and I'm sure it'll do the same to you.
For this week and the next, they're running a 'Best of Flirty' while James Cannon, the DJ who hosts the show and who came up with the idea, is away.
Yesterday's rerun was an especially nice one. Mary has worked with David for three years… and has fancied him for the same amount of time. But because they've known each other for a while, and they are work colleagues, Mary asked James to ask David out on her behalf.
James went through the usual routine, describing Mary to David and when David realised who she was, the following exchange occurred.
David: You can’t be talking about Mary, can you?
James: I am talking about Mary.
D.: Oh my God!
J.: She’s asked me to ask you out on a date.
D.: Yeah, definitely! What a result!
J.: Really?
D.: Absolutely! Oh my God!
Later on:
J.: Why haven’t you asked her out in three years then?
D.: (in the cutest, most sincere shy voice ever) Oh… I’m very shy.
J.: Really?
D.: (laughs sheepishly) Yeah…
I'm a sucker for these kind of happy endings. And if you are any kind of romantic, I urge you to go to the Flirty at 9.30 podcast page and listen to the replay of this call. David's shy tone of voice made me go 'aww....' and I'm sure it'll do the same to you.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
One of my favourite DJs, James Zabiela, returns with the third installment of his '4' series, four mixes, featuring various genres of electronica that show how versatile James can be behind the decks.
Over the course of four weeks starting from 22nd August 2006, James will be rolling out 4.3. The mix is available for download at Proton Radio (registration required).
Over the course of four weeks starting from 22nd August 2006, James will be rolling out 4.3. The mix is available for download at Proton Radio (registration required).
Monday, August 21, 2006
I will admit this: I do miss a certain someone. And I really shouldn't, given how briefly we got to know each other. And this, combined with my work (or should that be overwork?) situation, has caused me to want to take a break to clear my thoughts before going on my third date with S.
I'm not sure if there's anything there with S. just yet; I enjoyed our first date, but felt a little stressed for the second date, as if I was searching for something, anything, which would make me think perhaps something could happen with us both. S. doesn't make my heart skip a beat, at least not just yet. But there're some people who say that if you don't feel that way, even a little, then there's really no point in pursuing the matter further.
But I will say this for S. He seems safe. Like I won't get in too deep and get hurt. And I'm not sure if that's a good thing.
All in all, I should be glad that that certain someone didn't stay for longer. I recognise that he's the kind of person who could have been very bad for me. Honestly, yes, he is nice, sweet, a great conversationalist and very good-looking. But I strongly suspect that had he stayed, I would have ended up getting hurt, instead of just being wistful and regretful as I am now.
It's not often someone makes me feel like that, definitely not within the first week of having met him, and I'm a little confused now.
Hence, the break.
When will I ever get a dating life which isn't filled with drama of one kind or the other?
I'm not sure if there's anything there with S. just yet; I enjoyed our first date, but felt a little stressed for the second date, as if I was searching for something, anything, which would make me think perhaps something could happen with us both. S. doesn't make my heart skip a beat, at least not just yet. But there're some people who say that if you don't feel that way, even a little, then there's really no point in pursuing the matter further.
But I will say this for S. He seems safe. Like I won't get in too deep and get hurt. And I'm not sure if that's a good thing.
All in all, I should be glad that that certain someone didn't stay for longer. I recognise that he's the kind of person who could have been very bad for me. Honestly, yes, he is nice, sweet, a great conversationalist and very good-looking. But I strongly suspect that had he stayed, I would have ended up getting hurt, instead of just being wistful and regretful as I am now.
It's not often someone makes me feel like that, definitely not within the first week of having met him, and I'm a little confused now.
Hence, the break.
When will I ever get a dating life which isn't filled with drama of one kind or the other?
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Three was utterly fantastic last night. His music selection was awesome and his mixing flawless.
Unfortunately, the crowd was horrible. I really couldn't stand them, from the people I encountered hanging around the entrance to Phuture to the people on the Zouk dance floor. The crowd at Zouk has been very different since the club's re-opening after its renovation last year, and not for the better. Zouk didn't just lose its underground, grungy feel when everything was freshened up; the crowd somehow became preppier, younger (read: of high school going age), and more poseur-ish.
I used to think that there was a possibility that my reacting this way was due to my growing older, but all of my regular clubbing friends expressed the same opinion last night. It's not us, it really is them.
As a result, I decided to get sloshed just so I could tolerate the crowd and not leave early and mix out on a DJ I've heard so much about. I will admit part of the reason I drank so much was because I had a long work week, and also because I was angry at myself for allowing myself to get my hopes up about something else. I danced way more aggressively than I have in a long time and it felt good when the night ended to have expended all my energy in that fashion.
Result: I slept rather well, my muscles are rather dance and I have a headache, either from the tension or the hang over, I don't know which. And I still have to work this weekend.
Unfortunately, the crowd was horrible. I really couldn't stand them, from the people I encountered hanging around the entrance to Phuture to the people on the Zouk dance floor. The crowd at Zouk has been very different since the club's re-opening after its renovation last year, and not for the better. Zouk didn't just lose its underground, grungy feel when everything was freshened up; the crowd somehow became preppier, younger (read: of high school going age), and more poseur-ish.
I used to think that there was a possibility that my reacting this way was due to my growing older, but all of my regular clubbing friends expressed the same opinion last night. It's not us, it really is them.
As a result, I decided to get sloshed just so I could tolerate the crowd and not leave early and mix out on a DJ I've heard so much about. I will admit part of the reason I drank so much was because I had a long work week, and also because I was angry at myself for allowing myself to get my hopes up about something else. I danced way more aggressively than I have in a long time and it felt good when the night ended to have expended all my energy in that fashion.
Result: I slept rather well, my muscles are rather dance and I have a headache, either from the tension or the hang over, I don't know which. And I still have to work this weekend.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Jose Nunez - Bilingual is a dirty house track with some incredible lyrics which are intelligent yet sexy.
I can't believe that a) I've not heard this tune in a club before and b) that I've only just come across this even though it was released in 2004.
Go check it out.
Jose Nunez - Bilingual
The only aphrodisiac I need is your voice
Hearing you speak my name
Beckoning me to answer
Telling me you want me
So I tell you that you're the answer to every question I've ever had about love
Without words I use my tongue to tell the tale of us
Tracing your shadowscape
Kneeling before you
My eyes feast upon your masculinity and
All its divinity and I praise you
Because all of that is for me
I begin to indulge myself of your delicacies
Digesting semi-sweet dark chocolate decadence as it melts
Dripping down my chin
Your taste is something Godiva couldn't re-create
Needing every atom of your anatomy
Necessity is placed upon me
Knowing you are the source of my serendipity
Dipping in and out of me
Stroking more than my consciesness
Subconsciously I find myself rewinding our love scenes
In my daydreams
Seeing that face you make when you're making me cum
And it makes me want you right there and then
Thinking of you in inappropriate places I get
Tingling sensations in private locations
where I wish to be caught
between a rock and your hard place
As wetness develops my legs begin to open
And my spot turns to a backdraft
And all I want you to do is extinguish it
You know my body like the back of your hands
And touch me and send me into ecstacy
My thighs quiver in anticipation
Of deep penetration which gets me high
Body rising
Sweating
Panting
Make-up melting
Pulling my hair and
Scratching my back
I get a temporary case of Tourettes
because all I can say are four letter words
In a four octave-range screaming your name
(Spanish)
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
I see your tongue pink between your lips
And I want it between mine
And I struggle
As you lick torturing me
I try to get away but
Not really
Running out of room begging for more
Up against the wall that has been scuffed by my stilletos
Again
You pry apart my thighs and tell me to be still
And I willingly submit to you because I love the way you dominate me
Demanding that I cum for you so I do as I'm told
You've molded me so I'm good to no one else but you
You've conquered this once orgasmicless world and multiplied it
Again and
Again
My face radiates with afterglow
My pillow scented by you
A fragrance which haunts me
My room smells of the best sex
I
Covered in body prints and finger prints and you above me
Your name written indelibly upon my body in your genetic history
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
I can't believe that a) I've not heard this tune in a club before and b) that I've only just come across this even though it was released in 2004.
Go check it out.
Jose Nunez - Bilingual
The only aphrodisiac I need is your voice
Hearing you speak my name
Beckoning me to answer
Telling me you want me
So I tell you that you're the answer to every question I've ever had about love
Without words I use my tongue to tell the tale of us
Tracing your shadowscape
Kneeling before you
My eyes feast upon your masculinity and
All its divinity and I praise you
Because all of that is for me
I begin to indulge myself of your delicacies
Digesting semi-sweet dark chocolate decadence as it melts
Dripping down my chin
Your taste is something Godiva couldn't re-create
Needing every atom of your anatomy
Necessity is placed upon me
Knowing you are the source of my serendipity
Dipping in and out of me
Stroking more than my consciesness
Subconsciously I find myself rewinding our love scenes
In my daydreams
Seeing that face you make when you're making me cum
And it makes me want you right there and then
Thinking of you in inappropriate places I get
Tingling sensations in private locations
where I wish to be caught
between a rock and your hard place
As wetness develops my legs begin to open
And my spot turns to a backdraft
And all I want you to do is extinguish it
You know my body like the back of your hands
And touch me and send me into ecstacy
My thighs quiver in anticipation
Of deep penetration which gets me high
Body rising
Sweating
Panting
Make-up melting
Pulling my hair and
Scratching my back
I get a temporary case of Tourettes
because all I can say are four letter words
In a four octave-range screaming your name
(Spanish)
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
I see your tongue pink between your lips
And I want it between mine
And I struggle
As you lick torturing me
I try to get away but
Not really
Running out of room begging for more
Up against the wall that has been scuffed by my stilletos
Again
You pry apart my thighs and tell me to be still
And I willingly submit to you because I love the way you dominate me
Demanding that I cum for you so I do as I'm told
You've molded me so I'm good to no one else but you
You've conquered this once orgasmicless world and multiplied it
Again and
Again
My face radiates with afterglow
My pillow scented by you
A fragrance which haunts me
My room smells of the best sex
I
Covered in body prints and finger prints and you above me
Your name written indelibly upon my body in your genetic history
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
You fucking me makes me bilingual
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
As it turns out, besides pleasant memories, a certain someone has also left me with a slightly sprained ankle although I didn't realise it at the time the injury occurred. I have been hobbling about ever since Monday.
As another friend said when I told him about this recent mishap, "So what's new? It's you."
As another friend said when I told him about this recent mishap, "So what's new? It's you."
Monday, August 14, 2006
I could write about the unexpectedly wonderful weekend I had or about the cool people I met and had to bid farewell to yesterday.
I could write about someone I met and how I'm regretful I only had less than 24 hours with him before he had to go.
I could write about how fun it was just seizing the moment and revelling in it for once, and how, in spite of all the crap I've gone through relationship-wise, I'm still more of a risk-taker than a bystander.
I could write about how much I like getting on my tiptoes to have to kiss someone.
I could write about how much I'd like the chance to repeat that soon, although I believe the odds of that happening are incredibly low.
And maybe I will write about those things someday. But not right now.
Instead, I'm just going to say this: For a few hours at least, I felt like the luckiest girl in Singapore. And the weird thing is? I didn't feel unworthy in the slightest!
I could write about someone I met and how I'm regretful I only had less than 24 hours with him before he had to go.
I could write about how fun it was just seizing the moment and revelling in it for once, and how, in spite of all the crap I've gone through relationship-wise, I'm still more of a risk-taker than a bystander.
I could write about how much I like getting on my tiptoes to have to kiss someone.
I could write about how much I'd like the chance to repeat that soon, although I believe the odds of that happening are incredibly low.
And maybe I will write about those things someday. But not right now.
Instead, I'm just going to say this: For a few hours at least, I felt like the luckiest girl in Singapore. And the weird thing is? I didn't feel unworthy in the slightest!
In a break from my usual almost-anonymous style of posting, much love and congratulations to the Chansidines on their wedding on Saturday.
Thanks a lot for inviting me to your bachelorette party, K., as well as for all the other times we’ve had chats about work, life and Singapore.
P., thanks for being so friendly and cool… and a big thanks for inviting your friends from Florida down here. ;)
And thanks to you both for always being so warm, open and loving. You guys really do give me hope for the future.
I wish I could say more, but words don't seem adequate. I love you guys and you'll be dearly missed when you move to NY.
Thanks a lot for inviting me to your bachelorette party, K., as well as for all the other times we’ve had chats about work, life and Singapore.
P., thanks for being so friendly and cool… and a big thanks for inviting your friends from Florida down here. ;)
And thanks to you both for always being so warm, open and loving. You guys really do give me hope for the future.
I wish I could say more, but words don't seem adequate. I love you guys and you'll be dearly missed when you move to NY.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Things that have occurred this week:
- I have had the most impossibly improbable ending to a wedding dinner night ever... well, for me at least.
- For this week, I think I have managed to be the one of the sweetest girls anyone will ever meet... and this time, if anyone tells me that to my face, I won't respond that they haven't met enough girls yet (inside joke: the former has been told to me by two guys I've dated and the latter has always been my response). And given how corporate I've become, this is no mean feat.
Friday, August 11, 2006
It's kind of a wonder for me that airports can be the source of so much joy and so much sorrow at the same time. Personally speaking, I don't quite like airports because I've said so many goodbyes - to people and to cities I've loved - there.
At the same time, being at the airport, if I'm the one leaving, is a great exhilaration, because I'm just so happy to be heading somewhere out of Singapore, and that there's something new and exciting waiting for me on the other side. And touching down at your destination? While I'm not usually one of those kiasu people rushing to get out, I usually find myself practically running towards immigration the moment I'm out of the airplane just because I'm so happy and excited to be where I am... most especially if that destination happens to be London, because the feeling of returning home is just so strong.
As I mentioned earlier, I do not like saying goodbye. I've not been to the airport to see anyone off since 1999, when my friends were leaving for university. And yet, yesterday night, I found myself at the airport seeing a very dear friend off, even though he'll be back in about six weeks or so. As I emerged from the Skytrain, walking rather nervously towards the departure gate where he and his family were waiting, I wondered if he knew how big a deal this was for me, going to the airport at 11 pm just to see him off given how much I dislike airport farewells. And I also wondered why it was so important to me that I go see him off.
And then it struck me. I was seeing him off because he means a lot to me. At the same time, I was seeing him off because I really want to exorcise myself of him, and that being there, watching him walk through the gates and out of my life (for the next six weeks at least), may be just what I need to let go once and for all.
At the same time, being at the airport, if I'm the one leaving, is a great exhilaration, because I'm just so happy to be heading somewhere out of Singapore, and that there's something new and exciting waiting for me on the other side. And touching down at your destination? While I'm not usually one of those kiasu people rushing to get out, I usually find myself practically running towards immigration the moment I'm out of the airplane just because I'm so happy and excited to be where I am... most especially if that destination happens to be London, because the feeling of returning home is just so strong.
As I mentioned earlier, I do not like saying goodbye. I've not been to the airport to see anyone off since 1999, when my friends were leaving for university. And yet, yesterday night, I found myself at the airport seeing a very dear friend off, even though he'll be back in about six weeks or so. As I emerged from the Skytrain, walking rather nervously towards the departure gate where he and his family were waiting, I wondered if he knew how big a deal this was for me, going to the airport at 11 pm just to see him off given how much I dislike airport farewells. And I also wondered why it was so important to me that I go see him off.
And then it struck me. I was seeing him off because he means a lot to me. At the same time, I was seeing him off because I really want to exorcise myself of him, and that being there, watching him walk through the gates and out of my life (for the next six weeks at least), may be just what I need to let go once and for all.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
In 18 hours' time, I'll be on my way to Bangkok for a much-needed break. Ever since I started my new job, I've yet to take a single day of leave. After a few weeks of not knowing whether I'd be able to make it thanks to work commitments, it now looks 99.9% certain that I'll be able to board the plane and get out of the country before any urgent calls come in.
It's my first time in Bangkok so I'm really looking forward to it, although it pains me greatly that I'll be missing DJ Shadow's gig at Zouk this weekend, especially after a friend of mine SMS'd me to tell me that I should do my very best to stay back and catch the gig if possible because his gig in Australia last week was awesome. Yes. To a certain extent, music really does rule my life.
Nevertheless, I'm certain I'll have fun whatever happens. I've already booked myself a spa appointment as I badly need a massage seeing as my shoulders have been incredibly tense over the last few weeks.
I'll be back next week, but I expect I won't be missed.
It's my first time in Bangkok so I'm really looking forward to it, although it pains me greatly that I'll be missing DJ Shadow's gig at Zouk this weekend, especially after a friend of mine SMS'd me to tell me that I should do my very best to stay back and catch the gig if possible because his gig in Australia last week was awesome. Yes. To a certain extent, music really does rule my life.
Nevertheless, I'm certain I'll have fun whatever happens. I've already booked myself a spa appointment as I badly need a massage seeing as my shoulders have been incredibly tense over the last few weeks.
I'll be back next week, but I expect I won't be missed.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
I've been inundated by good music of late. And few of the songs are the kind of music I usually listen to. It all started when I went for lunch with a 40-year-old colleague who has pretty good taste in music. He happened to mention that he had purchased Lily Allen's album over the weekend. When my only response was to look at him blankly, he took it upon himself to further my musical education, as he termed it, by recommending a couple of Lily's tracks, such as Smile, which I realised I have heard before on the radio but it hasn't really caught my attention, and LDN, which I have now fallen in love with for its happy, bouncy, Calypso-like melody and incredibly poetic lyrics. C'mon, when someone manages to rhyme 'Tesco' with 'alfresco', you've got to give them bonus points for writing. And the song encapsulates perfectly how I feel about London. It's grimy, it's crime-ridden, it's dark and grey, as the lyrics state. But London makes me happy nonetheless, just like the melody of the song.
While Googling Lily Allen, I stumbled upon an MP3 blog, Without Sound, via this entry where you can sample a couple of Lily's tunes. And after browsing through a couple of the earlier entries, I came across this post which linked to My Old Kentucky Blog, a blog I visited once before to download a whole bunch of covers of Hallelujah. To my delight, I found out that MOKB also had a couple of other delightful covers and of course, I promptly downloaded quite a few of them. My current favourites are the acoustic version of Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence and Joss Stone's cover of Beach Boys - God Only Knows. Both of them completely blew me away.
Speaking of covers, Belle and Sebastian's cover of David Bowie - Space Oddity ( a song used to great effect in C.R.A.Z.Y., I might add) is also rather endearing. You can find it at Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.
There. I've done my best to spread the love of the songs I'm currently into. I hope you enjoy them!
While Googling Lily Allen, I stumbled upon an MP3 blog, Without Sound, via this entry where you can sample a couple of Lily's tunes. And after browsing through a couple of the earlier entries, I came across this post which linked to My Old Kentucky Blog, a blog I visited once before to download a whole bunch of covers of Hallelujah. To my delight, I found out that MOKB also had a couple of other delightful covers and of course, I promptly downloaded quite a few of them. My current favourites are the acoustic version of Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence and Joss Stone's cover of Beach Boys - God Only Knows. Both of them completely blew me away.
Speaking of covers, Belle and Sebastian's cover of David Bowie - Space Oddity ( a song used to great effect in C.R.A.Z.Y., I might add) is also rather endearing. You can find it at Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.
There. I've done my best to spread the love of the songs I'm currently into. I hope you enjoy them!
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