Memory (from Cats the Musical) - Elaine Paige

When my friend mentioned 'cats' as his inspiration on his FB status the other day, 'Cats' the musical by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber came to mind. To be more specific, the song 'Memory' was what I remembered. It was a song that my best friend and then housemate; Carol, played during her piano practice sessions in college about 22 years ago... yes, it was that long ago... back then, she had to practise her pieces on the piano which was located in the chapel that was converted into an indoor badminton court... during winter, it was damn chilly there... and she always end her practise with 'Memory'... 

Today, that old chapel as well as all the old school buildings many of us WAICians spent at least a year at in Claremont is no longer around... the campus has now become an upmarket residential block... the only remnants of that time are memories and photos we have... and the bell tower which has been relocated to the corner of Francis and William Streets in Northbridge... right outside of Vultures... have a look the next time you are in the area... only physical piece of WAIC left...

Macross Do You Remember Love (Final Fight)

One of my late brother's first forays into Japanese Anime is Robotech, Macross the Movie was one of his favourites... I remember he specifically played this part of the movie (which he owned in VHS format) for me and I fell in love with the song "Do You Remember Love"... it was and is such a haunting song... so you see, I was 'educated' by him in matters of anime, comics, manga and movies... all of which were his passions.... his taste varied too... we started to get to know about Japanese Anime and manga through 'Doraemon' in primary school and progressed through to titles such as Ranma 1/2, City Hunter, Samurai X, Yugioh etc.

Bujang Lapok

Why Bujang Lapok? Coz its one of my late brother's favourite childhood movies by P. Ramlee... we both grew up on a staple of P. Ramlee movies... a few bars of the songs would be hummed or sang out of the blue by him when you least expect it... ^^

A Little Remembrance (To Sir With Love)

Very few people would know that one of my late brother's favourite movie and song is 'To Sir With Love' Starring Sidney Poitier and Lulu... He saw the movie and read the book... funny enough, he never liked kids and never imagined being a teacher... but it seems he was one that was respected by the ones he had the privilege to teach... when I was sorting through his things after his death, I came across a number of teacher's day cards and gifts from his students... I can't help but feel so proud of him and that I had the privilege to be his sister...

The lyrics posted here is the complete version... I also like the version done by the Glee cast... ^^

Those schoolgirl days

Of telling tales and biting nails are gone

But in my mind

I know that they will still live on and on

But how do you thank someone

Who has taken you from crayons to perfume

It isn't easy, but I'll try

If you wanted the sky, I would write across the sky in letters

That would soar a thousand feet high

To Sir, with love

The time has come

For closing books and long last looks must end

And as I leave

I know that I am leaving my best friend

A friend who taught me right from wrong

And weak from strong, that's a lot to learn

What, what can I give you in return

If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start

But I would rather you let me give my heart

To Sir, with love

If you wanted the world, I'd surround it with a wall, I'd scrawl

These words with letters ten feet tall

To Sir, with love

Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

Whenever I am asked to name a MJ song, this one usually comes to mind along with Smooth Criminal, They Don't Care About Us and Black & White... well, these are the ones that I have on my iPod... Video Hits has been playing MJ's songs on the telly today and I thought its befitting since its 1 year since the world lost this musical genius... may he rest in peace... gone too soon indeed... These are words to live by I believe...

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Take a look at yourself and then make the change

You gotta get it right, while you got the time

'Cause when you close your heart

(You can't close your, your mind)

Then you close your mind

MJ & its a COLD Morning

Its been 1 year today since Michael Jackson passed away. I remember chatting with my bro about it that day and we were both shocked by the news. Gone too soon was what we thought... little did I know that it would be said again when my brother was taken from me and my family a few months ago. Came across this version of 'Beat It' by Fluxus Voices from Korea, its a nice take to the late King of Pop's hit.

Woke up this morning wondering why my heater was on, just found out that its been the coldest morning in Perth in 4 years. At 9am, it was 5c! Winter is definitely here.

A New PM & Socceroos out of WC

When I went to bed last night, I was expecting to wake up in the morning to learn of the score between Australia and Serbia. Instead, the news that greeted me was that we have a new PM. Mr. K Rudd had stepped down to make way for his deputy PM Ms. J Gillard to lead the country and its people into the next election.

I knew Mr. Rudd's popularity had been sliding in recent times especially with his proposed Mining Profit Tax... but I have thought that given the amount of work and changes he had managed to bring about since he came into power about 3 years ago, that he would see out his term as PM. The list was substantial and we forget that its only been 3 years and so many reforms had been made... it would have taken most governments at least 2 terms to make as much dent as he had managed. I am proud that the PM I had helped  elect into office had done so much.


http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/factsheets/article/-/article/7455270/rudds-final-speech-as-pm/


Ms. Gillard is the first female PM of Australia and she has a lot of work to do and much bridge mending too. Will she and the Labour Party be in government at the next election? Its hard to say... given that 2010 had produced so many unexpected events and results... look at the World Cup for one... or the freak weather that we have experienced around the world... 

I exercised my right to vote for the very first time in 2007 and that year, ushered in a new PM and a new vision for the nation. In the coming election, who will I be voting for? Its not easy coz according to the new PM, the government went off course and thats why she had to do what she had to do. Will she be able to stir the government back onto the right path before the next election is called?

The World Cup news was so dominant since the start of June and yet, on this day, the news of a new PM had overshadowed the news that the Socceroos won their match against Serbia but they are not going through the next round coz of the margin of goals... what a bummer...

My brother gave me this picture a while back and its the wallpaper I see, when I switch on my mobile phone... the message is so appropriate today... ^_^

Farid Ali aka Mr Gambus / 月亮代表我的心

Farid Ali is my friend, Faridah Ali Chang's brother and I fell in love with his music when she first shared his concert performance on the Gambus with me a few years ago...

When I decided to create this blog, I thought my late brother would find this version of Teresa Teng's 'Moon Represents My Heart' cool and hence I asked for Farid's permission to post his video here... to be honest, it tugs at my heart strings every time I listen to it...

I do hope you will enjoy listening to it... ^_^

The First Post

Have not blogged for the longest time... about 3 years I think... the last blog was named 'Rant 'n' Rave' and I did a lot of those though not very consistently...

Anyway, will try to keep this going... when time and mood swings permit... this will be more of what I see, hear and feel... it will also be a place where I will reflect on things gone by... as and when they come up or when I come across a photo or song that reminds me of what it used to be...

Not easy to move forward but have to... not easy to say goodbye to 20 years' worth of memories either... seems like my life is sectioned into: Brunei, Perth, Brunei, Perth and soon Brunei again... all in a span of 40 odd years... but this latest hiccup caused the biggest ripple in my life... and I thought the car crash I was in 6 years ago and its subsequent tribulations were the greatest test in my life... I was so wrong... My brother's passing made me an only child... gone is my backup, gone is my conscience's voice, gone is my calming advisor, gone is the other pea in the pod... my parents and I miss him very much... that will never change...  

Still trying to get used to this blog and its functions... not sure if I have the patience to include widgets and what not... wish my advisor is around to bounce ideas off... oh well, I need to learn to be more self-reliant...

The image below represents a myriad of my emotions and mood swings in the past year and they are still hanging around...

Till the next post...