I love you baby...but then it's quite alright

Didn't managed to upload some of the last parting photos of my piano who have left me (after 25 years) for another pair of hands the previous time. These are some last shots I took of my U1 minutes before it left me. I have since gotten over the withdrawal effects of not having him around me. I wish you live happily, and you are treated well, nor matter where you are now...

A Japanese Affair

It was a Japanese affair for us yesterday. We attended our Japanese friend's soft launch yesterday at Central, Clarke Quay. It is a kind of deja-vu feeling for us. We had a rather interesting time at Nagoya last year when I was on a music course there. Having curry udon feels like I am in Nagoya again. Wakachashiya's curry udon restaurant is traditionally Japanese and is quite a name in Japan. Food was good, ambience and service superb! And we topped the lunch with some Hokkaido green tea ice cream.

'David Copperfield' Wannabes

Went to Daiso at IMM the other day and TS bought these three pack of magic games and gamely decides to have a contest between the three of us to decide who is the best and worst magician 'wannabes'. The plan...

Each of us would pick a magic game pack (coin, card or string). We will go to our own corner to read the instructions and practice it for 10 minutes. When time's up, we will each take turns to perform our trick.

Ryan was very excited...he couldn't wait to get his hands on the game. On the other hand, I know I am going to have alot of problems...probably ending up being the worst of all. It is a kind of expected outcome. Ryan predicted that I am probably going to the the "worst magician" of all.

And yes, I was the worst of them all...but you can't really blame me cos my pack was totally in Japanese instructions! It is not fair...

I don't know how to think???

Friday, 4:55pm
Ryan and Mummy on phone






"Mummy, I practiced my violin already, but it is not half an hour yet. How?"
"Go practice more."
"okay."
"By the way, why do you call me over such matter? Can't you think for yourself?"
"But I don't know how to think."
"Argh."

Gabriel's video

Watch and be enthralled. This is when he was younger.

Gabriel Ng

"It's very meaningful for the proceeds to go to children like me because they have a chance with the money to fulfill their own potential, to do what they do best." Gabriel Ng

Well said. Last night, we went to watched Gabriel Ng in his home debut concert @ Esplanade. It was amazing. I sat at the edge of my chair for the whole concert. It is captivating to watch a 12 year old play with such maturity and sensitivity to music. Such prodigies come only once in a lifetime. Some months back, I did a study on Abigail Sin, who is a piano prodigy for my dissertation. The kind of support and training that goes into fulfilling one's potential is admirable. These children spend hours on their instrument, and their determination level, is unmatchable.

Many people asked, "What makes giftedness?" It is a phenomenon. It is something that is both nature and nurture. That means, even if you push your child to think he or she will be successful in a certain field, it will not be so if there is no innate ability to start off with.

I cannot describe fully how Gabriel Ng played, but what a master takes 20 years to learn, he has internalised it in 5 years. That's what I call a true prodigy.
Research have shown that successful musicians reach eminence at the average age of 35. Gabriel has a long way to go. The road ahead is long and gruelling for a child prodigy. Gabriel will be a highly successful musician because he has both musicianship and a charisma that will charm audience wholewide. I hope and wish that Gabriel stays grounded and prepared for the professional world, which often see a short life span for eminent musicians.

Well done, Gabriel!

Ryan Doolittle??

This scene was really cute...just when Ryan started picking water, the little dogs naturally ran to him. He was quite shocked, with the dogs nipping his butt and pants. Goodness. Everything happened so fast, they all seem to converge towards him in all directions.

Like what Ryan has always joked, "I can understand animal language, you know?", I am starting to think he has this karma for animals???

We are sunshine babes!

We had a whole day in the sun some weekends ago with another family friend. Charmaine was really looking forward to seeing Ryan. She took a whole evening packing her bag for the day and spent hours deciding which outfit to wear. Ryan was a real gentleman, getting bucket after bucket of water for Charmaine so that she won't get sunburnt. It is great to have sunshine for a day after days spent in the office from dawn to dusk.

NDP 2007 Theme Song - There's No Place I'd Rather Be

I have just discovered a new trait of Ryan. He loves to sing and he sings rather well. He likes to sing the NDP songs. I think he grew up hearing these songs on the car player when Mummy had to internalise these songs for conducting. As they grow up, you will start to notice the little quirks and fancies evolving.

These days, he is singing NDP 2007 theme song, 'There Is No Place I'd Rather Be'. I am neither pro-nation nor anti-nation. But these songs do have the capacity to draw heartstrings. Somehow, it makes you think back those memories of your childhood, experiences in Singapore and your life journey as a Singaporean. You cannot choose your nationality, right? Just like how you cannot choose your parents or the kind of upbringing you want. It is kind of fated, destined. It is something that is a part of me, whether I like it or not, wherever I go.

On a musical note, this song is er, no different from the other years...melancholic and sentimental. After a few years, you cannot really distinguish between them! This year, there is another NDP song, "I Will", which is funkier and upbeat. But I am not putting up here, cos it is, in my opinion, quite a unlikeable composition. It features one of my ex-schoolmate, Emma Yang and some other singers. But like some say, it reminds them of a group of people getting together for a gang fight.

A Day With Ryan

I spent the whole friday with Ryan last friday, yes, a whole day! He had his violin exams and I had to accompany him on the piano. So both of us, missed school and work. It went okay, except for some hiccups in the Minuet in G. Anyway, I told myself, this is the last time I am going to enrol him in an exam. I don't see the point. After the exams, we went to the Esplanade and Marina Bay area for a some shopping and eating. You would be surprised how much you can learn from and about Ryan in just one trip. He spent the whole journey talking and singing (the NDP 2007 song). I had the whole story of Spiderman 3 narrated to me during the car trip back home.

By the way, the half face shot was his idea because he wants to have a split personality as in Spidermen 3.

The Artist in him

The other day, I was quite angry with Ryan for drawing and not finishing his homework. In fact, I raised my voice at him. But right at that instant, I picked up three pieces of artwork from the floor. I asked, 'Whose are these?' Not surprisingly, it was Ryan. Immediately, I felt a sense of guilt. This boy loves to draw. Ryan can spend the whole day drawing non-stop and digs into my handbag for paper and pencil all the time. He would be happy even with a discarded receipt or a used parking coupon on hand. Just as long, he can have 3cm of space to draw on.

Well, that's Ryan for you. And each time I see his drawings, I am pretty amazed cos he can beat his mother hands down on art. He draws from photographic memory of what he sees, be it from pictures, brochures or even from movies. TS and I thinks he can be a cartoonist.

I do feel guilty about being one of those mothers who want their children to pursue their 'unfulfilled dreams'...if you know what I mean. I have since repented. I bought Ryan a scrap book and a box of magic pens the other day, and he was so happy that he started straight to work.

Confessions of a Birthday Self-Planner

I have a confession to make. I am one of those few individuals who would plan their own birthdays every year. This year is no exception.

Momo: "Guess what? I have made plans for my birthday!"
TS: "What?"
Momo: "We are going to Ritz Carlton for a weekend!"
TS: "VERY Good! I had also wanted, but you did it before me. Okay, I will plan the rest of the day."
Momo: "Er, excuse me, what else is there to plan???"

That's the problem. Not that I dislike surprises but people like me will probably not have surprises, because I plan to much, in life, including my own birthday, one and a half months in advance.

Time to reflect

I have been thinking about how Singapore is advancing so rapidly as a globalised nation, becoming one of the region's fastest growing and is on the world map for many many reasons. But 'people' as one of its reasons, I am not too sure.
Read in the news yesterday about a case in which a mom-to-be (of twins, in fact, dragon+phoenix twins, which in chinese means a boy and a girl) died because of some blood clot. The only way to save her was blood tranfusions. But the doctor needed to seek higher authorities before they could allow to use the blood. The husband also gathered all his relatives to be at the Blood Bank Singapore to donate blood. It was 10 mins before they were officially open for the day, but none of the staff is willing to speak to him. They said, "It is not time yet, 10 more minutes." But the husband was very desperate at the door.

In the end, the woman could not be saved.

How could this kind of mentality and mindset still exist in this first world nation? Isn't saving a life important? Surely there should be some compassion and understanding in such situations. People worked till they have forgotten what is compassion. It is sad. I believe the person who refused to entertained any queries 'because it is not time to work' will be guilty conscious for the rest of his or her life. Where is the big picture, people? Do we only have the hardware but no software? What we need desperately now is not the infrastructure, but matters of the heart and mind.

Have been inactive for a long while...internet connection at my temp place not set up, and I am hopeless in connecting wires to the right place, and knowing which wire goes where. Been busy settling into new job...it is strange how I feel like a student again with this job. I shouldn't be calling it a job cos it is more like studying than working. Like what my friend says, it is like being paid to conduct literature reviews. But along the way, the amount of new things you learn from gurus' writings is tremendous. The road ahead is long, but I guz there is no turning back!

Work aside, I am really looking forward to the new place. At the moment, it is the only property in the West Coast with sea view. And on the 17th floor, we can see the private yachts go by. Been also busy meeting the designer and settling the renovation, furniture and lighting. Spent a cool $2k on lights. Found a really nice place that sells affordable, beautiful accessories like mirrors, candeliers, photoframes, settees, etc...at 'Recaptured' @ Kaki Bukit. Vow to go back there once the house is ready to be accessorised!

Isn't he adorable?

I don't need to say much...this is Lucas Fong, Ryan's lil cousin, my lil nephew. Isn't he just adorable? It's kind of a deja vu feeling for me, time flies...