New Year 2008

itunes: Grover Washington Jr, Winelight (1980)

I picked the following quote from the papers and it's quite appropriate for the time like this, in the final hour of 2007:

Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols. - Thomas Mann, German author, 1929 Nobel Prize laureate.

Chinese translation:
时间无涯，没有所谓的分界，即使新的一个月或一年开始了，自然界不会发出一声雷霆巨响或是号角，喧嚣迎接它们的到来。即使是新的世纪降临，也只是我们这些凡人在猛敲钟、乱开枪一通。- 德国作家托马斯曼，1929 年诺贝尔文学奖得主

Is 2008 going to be a good year for me? I would think so. Or perhaps it's because of the optimistic mood that's I'm in now. I've been reading the blog entries of 2007 and they are indeed good recap of my thoughts in the past 365 days. There are ups and downs, some things came to fruition while others didn't. The biggest achievement in 2007 is that I'm finally financial independent, a goal that I have for years and this is going to make 2008 significant.

Think I'm not going to have any new year resolutions for 2008. Instead I'm going to list down items that I want to do in 2008. By 31st Dec 2008, let's do a reality check of how far I have achieved. The To-Do list for 2008 (not in any particular order):

01. Lose 5kg
02. Iceland trip
03. Stay put in this job
04. 5% in returns and capital gains combined in investments
05. Get my driving license (least priority)
06. Take up sailing
07. Remove my dark eye rings and eye bags
08. Own an Iphone
09. Adore my partner more than in 2007
10. Take better care of my parents than in 2007
11. More serious in photography
12. Full body checkup

Now I have listed mine, what's yours?
Happy and fruitful 2008!

No Music No Life 12/2007

itunes: Holiday Songs and Lullabies, Shawn Colvin (1998)

Really love this album after all these years. It contained mainly traditional tunes and some Christmas standards. Accompanied by a string quartet, Shawn Colvin put up a deeply felt performances of the songs for a set appropriate for putting the children to sleep on Christmas Eve. Well, not as much as putting me to sleep but it does have a calming effect amidst in the merry making seasons. Good CD to play every night of the 12 days of Christmas.

The list of CDs that I have bought in the final month of 2007:


Jennifer Lopez, Brave (2007)
Thanks to YL who brought it back all the way from San Francisco. I can get the normal version here in town but I want the CD/DVD deluxe edition. Well, to my dismay, this edition was released here in Singapore recently. This album may not be her best to date, but definitely much better than her previous album, Rebirth. Being a JLo fan, all I can say this is a more 'traditional' pop album, of which there are still good tracks but never good enough to generate a few hits.


Jill Scotts, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3 (2007)
This one flew back from San Francisco as well because I was the CD/DVD deluxe limited edition as well. In fact, I'm surprised that this album was not officially released in Singapore at all and neither Borders imported it in. She is one of Neo-Soul R&B artiste that I loved. With her third release she continues by displaying thoughtful lyrics, a beautiful voice, and some nice tracks. Not her best but it is still a good album.


Justin Timberlake, Futuresex/Lovesounds Deluxe Edition (2007)
I thought I have decided to give this album amiss when it just released in 2006. It was until Lovestoned and What Goes Around single release and now the CD/DVD deluxe edition which makes it even more irresistable. I cant help but to relate Timberlake as a white guy trying to be black when I listen to his debut album. But this second installation really shows this guy has ambition and in fact grown up musically.


Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall (2007)
Remake of the entirety of Judy Garland's 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall. Rufus's celebrated tribute to Judy Garland. It is a live recording of his show at the legendary New York venue.


Thievery Corporation, Abductions and Reconstructions (1999)
This is a collection of Thievery Corporation remixes done for other artists. They are the one of the best remixing teams around. This completes the discography of their releases in my collection.

Various Artists, Christmas With The Stars Volume 1,2,3 (2002)
I never failed to buy Christmas CDs every year. Saw this series of CDs at Borders selling at 20% off, coincidentally I was looking for Christmas songs by the great crooners from the yesteryear as well. The great sound and vocals from Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra to Judy Garland and Doris Day.


原田知世, Music and Me (2007)
The 80s teen idol released this album in 5 years as her 25th anniversary since debut. Remake some of her old hits into jazz and bossa nova, nice and refreshing.


辛島美登里, Bouquet Garni (2007)
Another singer songwriter artist of long absence release her album in 4 years since the last one.


今井美樹, 祈り (2007)
A new single release from the most perfect woman in my eyes.

Greetings of the Reindeers

itunes: Toni Braxton, Snowflakes (2001)


This is cutest greeting card that I have received during this season. It came all the way from Hong Kong.....Thanks Eddy! Happy Holidays!

Christmas Gift Exchange Woes

itunes: Dave Koz, A Smooth Christmas (2001)



Not again, I've received 2 towels and a stuff toy from the Christmas gift exchange this year. But every year I wonder why this pointless custom persists. Yes, I do have issues with these mandatory communal gift exchange in office or friends' get-together Christmas function.

It's not that I'm against gift giving. The intention of which when one appreciates another it would be nice to show one’s appreciation with a gift. It's done out of one’s own kindness and usually comes as a surprise. That’s the beauty about buying and giving a gift especially for someone, it makes one feel appreciated. That's the spirit of Christmas.

That bring us back to the communal gift exchange. I'm calling it to be abolished because first of all, the idea of getting a good Christmas gift for loved ones is tough enough, let alone getting it for an unidentified sex and person. The most frustrating thing is the gift exchange usually comes with a small budget and it's a chore to get something that is useful or meaningful for both sexes.

Then the hour of terror arrives: the unwrapping of the gifts. It tortures me to open a gift that is pretty much useless to me and act as if it's the best gift ever in front of cordially everyone. But it's not over yet, look around, you will find now everyone in the room has to pretend to look pleased that they have gotten the greatest gift in the world. Put it this way, how can one be pleased and excited when I can actually predict what lies beneath those wrappings every year? If I can rejoice with not-much-used, not-intented-for-me kind of things like drinking mug, photo frame, confectionery, photo album, stuff toy, small desktop decor, towel, stationery and toiletries gift set; received in a yearly musical chair fashion, then I must be 101% spastic. Eventually these items will either ended up deep in the drawers or else in the bins. Really waste of money and resources.

Often I wonder, why cant one just say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to one another, if one has no intention to give a gift to that particular person? No stress about insincere gifts which one doesn't need. Truthfully, I don't need anything. If I want something, I'll buy it myself. If you want to give me something, give me cash. That's the only thing I really need. Haha :OP

First Snow

itunes: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi (1965)

It's Christmas eve.....

There is something about this picture that I adored. The quietness and the pureness of the first snow that has been frozen in time and captured eternally. Far beyond any words can describe the power of peace in this stillness.

Merry Christmas to all.
Peace on earth.



Like a child, the earth’s going to sleep,
or so the story goes.

But I’m not tired, it says.
And the mother says, You may not be tired but I’m tired—

You can see it in her face, everyone can.
So the snow has to fall, sleep has to come.
Because the mother’s sick to death of her life
and needs silence.

- Louise Glück

New T3 at Changi Airport

itunes: Jennifer Lopez, Brave (2007)

Finally, the budget was finalised and approved 2 days ago. I have completely missed the 10th Dec deadline altogether. Well, not my fault really cos my boss insisted to review and change the figures to meet what he had in mind. Whatever it is, what comes next will be the budget presentation in 2 weeks' time. At least I can take a breather to enjoy the Christmas rush.

Work aside, I paid a visit to the newly completed Changi Airport Terminal 3 yesterday and wow, the architecture and interior are magnificent.




This is the departure hall, with a 5 storey high skylight roof top. The aluminium pane design is really cool, perhaps it also have a dual purpose of reflecting excess sunlight and heat on a hot day. The highlight is the green wall that span along the whole length of the building. Beautiful.


A portion of the green wall. The plants are real and there are sprinklers which will spray water mists periodically.


The beautiful 'water-mist fall' created when the sprinklers are in action.




An open concept view of the departure hall and the arrival hall on the ground level. Did you notice where the baggage converyor belt is?




The spacious area where all the duty-free shops and waiting lounges are.




This circular dome is where the coming Crystal Jade Shanghai Restaurant will be, on the 4th floor of the building, overseeing the departure and arrival halls.


Flight info monitors on testing mode. Rare sight....


Hundreds and hundreds of test luggages to test the functionality of the baggage handling system.








My fantasy come true. A view from the check-in counter, with the conveyor belt running behind.




The electronic weights for the luggage are up and running. Sigh, see what the dreadful budget period has done to my weight? It cant possibly so much. hehe


Joining the queue for mock checking in.....

Bjork's Nomination at Grammy.....Again

itunes: Seal, System (2007)

Hurray!! Björk's Volta is nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album, up against the albums of Lily Allen, Arcade Fire, The Shins and The White Stripes. Lily Allen's well deserved norminated debut album rocks too, not quite into the rest of the nominees. Join me to pray hard to Bjork's winning next Feb, Amen. Hahaha

Take a look at the new poster of Bjork's concert in LA. Cute and beautiful right? When are you touring Singapore?

The Day I Met Honey

itunes: 森山直太朗, 新たなる香辛料を求めて (2004)

I was working in the office this morning and my colleague brought his dog into the office after he brought her for a morning swim at the seaside. His precious dog is called Honey.

I cant resist playing with her. So friendly that she kept licking my palm and face, hahaha. So docile that she simply laid by his master side while he worked, occasionally rose her head whenever someone walked past his cubicle but never ran around and barked in the office.

My colleague was sharing with me, once he and his wife went for a 3 days short trip and they left Honey with their couple friends whom she met every weekend. Since that day they left the trip, Honey never slept and kept close to the door. When they returned to pick her up, they were shocked to see her with dark eye rings. She slept soundly in the car on the way home. What a beautiful loving lady!! Perhaps I should get a similar one for myself too. But to think of the commitments and the pain of death parting, I better think twice.