Kination
It was a surreal moment, seeing Kina Grannis on that stage standing there. She has been that person in the computer that I’ve been following and watching for the past five to six years! Sounds like a stalker, but yes ever since youtube was like the main source of entertainment for my mundane uni life, I’ve been watching her videos doing covers and originals. As with many fans, love her songs, voice, natural flair in front of the camera. Lots of creativity in her very simple home made videos, music can touch people with just a voice and a guitar. Other than being an amazing performer on the net, she talks to her fans in her videos, seems like a friend after all these years. In a way, she was such an inspiration and mentor to me, because of her I was on my guitar a whole lot learning her songs, some of her originals she even has tutorial videos. I must say they were all very helpful. I remember the many hours I spent learning Valentine and Message from my heart (and many more) with my amateur and limited guitar skills 5 years ago in Uni – the period when I developed most with my instrument and she was a big part of it. Glad that she gets the recognition and support from people all over the world after working behind the scenes for many years, she is now touring and building a huge fan base. From the initial not so clear recordings, to the now really high quality music videos. Never would have thought she would come by Singapore, what a pleasant surprise!
One of the early days videos:
Recent video:
Safe and Sound
While hearing this, was thinking this is probably written by some other songwriter, since is a collaboration. It sounded so different and mesmerizing in its own way, not the usual Taylor swift jumpy, catchy tune with boyfriend lyrics.
Think her music just went up another level, indeed a talented young lady.
The Lady
The movie made me feel that the world is so big, and there are so many problems that we are not aware of because we live in such a comfortable place. We are so caught up in our ‘busy’ little world, and do not realise the many things that are happening around us. It is necessary to cultivate a habit of watching or reading the news, but I fail completely in this area. Either find excuses of no time or having something better to do. With the access to mobile news app, this excuse is not really valid.
Not only amazed by her life story, I think she is an extraordinary person. She had lived the comfortable life like me and you, but is willing to give all that up, a safe and secure home, loving and warm family, just to stand with her country men and fight for freedom and justice. Though she is not a great warrior with many power, she won hearts of her people in her own way – peace. Although living in suppression, confined and trapped, but she never felt powerless or desperate. Freedom is alive her mind. She has a most stable and strongest will power, a huge faith in what she believes in, and such positive mindset that nothing too big can make her falter. Huge admiration for this lady, small in size, but big in visions and dreams. She proves that she can change world despite being a woman.
Happy International Woman’s Day!
Not to forget, Michelle Yeoh did an amazing job portraying the role. Thumbs up!
HOGC
Officially became an Ordinary Member of HOGC today.. Didn’t have much thought about it, just accepted this naturally, since I have been here for nearly two years, and have already considered HOGC as my home church, and where I want to grow spiritually in. Looking back, its amazing how God brought me to this church and eventually got myself planted here.. I have been a member of Planetshakers in Melbourne, and NLCC in Perth.. But I eventually have to come back to Singapore, finding a church to call home was a concern back then. Before overstudies in Australia, I never really attended church in Singapore, so I was planning to visit as many churches as possible, until I find one that I like and where God directs me to go. Then I remembered I have actually attended HOGC many years ago, as a visitor.. The only problem was my first few experiences was not too good, and hence I did not consider HOGC when I returned. In short, I felt too old in a crowd of teenagers and did not agree with how Pastor preached. But these are because I did not catch the ‘heart’ and ‘spirit’ of HOGC back then. Later did I know everyone here has a common purpose, to love God with all their hearts, love others, and live out HOGC values and vision. I didn’t know why even without good impression of HOGC, God still led me back to revisit.. I loved my previous church, and it took awhile to readjust. God then placed amazing people in HOGC to really help me fit in, and understand things that I use to have misconceptions about. What is a church without its people? Jesus is the head of the church body and we are the hands and feet. It is so important that the people love the house of God in order to serve Him and grow. I now understand why God love this house and is always present, no matter how big the service is. This was the first church i visited since back from Australia, and has never left since. I am honored to be able to call HOGC home, and continues my journey to learn HOGC culture, see God’s heart and follow Him wherever He takes me to:)
Harry Potter: My moral codebook — The Straits Times Blogs
Harry Potter: My moral codebook — The Straits Times Blogs.
We grew up with Harry and friends..
It’s more than a story book.. It’s a intricately fabricated world weaved by JK Rowling, which everyone, old or young can enter and live there momentarily. I love this fantasy land of magic, somehow forgetting the real world we are living in.. Harry, Hermione and Ron seem to be born into their characters. Now that Harry’s adventure is over, his legacy never dies.. We can visit this magical place whenever it is missed, and only more people will come to know of his story..
Sometimes all we need is an unrestrictive mind for such creativity as by J K Rowling.
cuzzies
I’m blessed with cousins to grow up with, and now share life and memories with! Besides siblings, not everyone shares childhood with cousins.. But we did, and they great and awesome people.! As a person with selective long term memory, they really help ring a bell when raving about the past.. Though we are mostly separated and leading very different individual lives, meetings together are rare. But there is definitely a silent bonding in everyone – we are one family!
12月22日
大笑吧！！
今天应该是大笑姑婆最爱笑的一天，因为今天是她的世纪婚礼！！！
我最爱的杨千桦嫁人了，好为她开心。
起初还担心她会不会就这样不唱了，但是我知道她不会放弃唱歌，只是现在是个幸福有家庭的歌手！
愿祝你天天开心，被爱你的伴侣一直呵护直到永远！
Cinderella’s sister
This is the cause of many teary nights in a row!
Like the title, this drama is highly fairy-tale like, with lots of dramatic elements. This is common in Korean series, but it has the ability to drag you into emotions that you will never think of in reality. They are so good in portraying their roles and the acting is incredibly good, especially the main character with such complex personality. Both sisters with very mature acting despite their real age.
Loved the story, the acting and how it focus so much about family love, morals of life, of course the always heart melting love story. Put aside the hysterical moments of screaming at each other, its an emotionally intense but beautiful drama to watch.
F1 frenzy
It was quite a weekend! The first ever F1 I came across in my life!!
With all these years overseas, I never really bother to care about F1 happening in my own country.
Have seen huge posters of the night race in Melbourne but I had no idea what exactly is happening.. just thought “does Singapore has the space for this?” I never even bothered to find out if I am able to view it on Aussie tv.
But yes this time round, here I am right beside the race course. Looking at all the locals and foreigners getting so hyped up, all the preparation done, all the marketing effort and all the big SLR cameras people were holding, I finally knew how serious this thing is! And when the race actually starts and the noise starts ringing in my ears, I suddenly got really excited and felt proud that Singapore is able to hold such an important event.
Although this sport is not very environmental friendly – lots of petrol and tyres wasted and huge energy used on the lights, and also not very safe – cars crashes often and catches fire! It is extremely challenging for the racers & mechanics especially..
Here’s the man! F1 2010 Singapore champion – Alonso!
talents
a new face and a new voice! She is amazing!
If I own a record label, I would sign her immediately!
This is one of the hardest song to sing, ever.. and she sang it beautifully..
Alas, a talent show has found treasure.. she is going to be Huge.
The diva singing the original..
queen of vocals
my. fav. voice. simply. angelic.
海派甜心
Finally completed another show! I think I should take break from these series because these are so addictive. I loved every bit of <Hi my sweetheart>, its got its fair share of laughter and tears, amazing story, although there are lots of deliberate twists to test their love for each other. Really admire how they can stay in love for 3 yrs without seeing each other, and this love stays real and pure. This itself is a gd enough reason for them to have a happy ending!
IRIS
This is one of the most romantic love story ever! Although its meant to be an action drama with lots of political conspiracies and gun shootings, but maybe the danger that both characters were constantly in creates their highly intense love story.
All is very good, exotic and beautiful settings, actors/actress are hot, great acting, exciting plot, optimal length (20 eps).. just the very disappointing ending.. after all they’ve been through? its just s.a.d.. If not it will be perfect.
Boys over flowers
Has been awhile since I last completed a korean drama series.. My impression of korean is a predictable story line, have a particular style of acting, flawless film production, but somehow still manage to grab ppl’s interest.
If using marketing terms, I’m a laggard in watching this show.. The heatwave was probably quite sm time ago. Was hesitant whether to start watching it, but even my sister who don’t really watch korean recommended it. I admit being critical in the beginning, because its just like the same story played by different actors in a different language.
But this Japanese modern fantasy story line, produced in a Korean drama way has an unexpected chemistry. Not to forget the major selling point of the series, the four Flower boys, who of course has the ability to make females of all ages melt. It brings us to this imaginary world, because really what are the chances of being surrounded by four attractive men all the time and being in love with one of them?!
While it managed to get me after the front bit where it first seemed boring and repetitive. The story gets better as it evolves, but I still have many complains about it! haha.. too many to list.
Overall its a successful drama, considering its a third rendition of the manga. Good script, music, location settings, and of course good looking boys and girls who got the world going crazy.
Brave. Love.
There are so many things in the world that we are not aware of.. i hope we don’t get immune, but realize really just how fortunate we are..
This story touched me, and reminded me of what unconditional LOVE is. A father, Darryn is dying of Motor Neurone Disease, which will shut down every muscle in his body. His 10 yr old son, Jak, has been taking care of him all these while, because there is no mother figure in the family due to a divorce years back. It is just both of them.
Darryn was able to walk and talk normally when the crew first interviewed them, but now his speech is slurred and he can’t walk. His has difficulties in the simplest things of life and is like an infant. But his little boy, being so much smaller is there helping him whenever he needs him. Bathing, changing clothes, housework, groceries, cooking, basically things that kid nowadays don’t do.
He does not complain, but does all these out of True LoVe for his Dad. He says he will not leave his Dad and go to Mom because he has his whole life to spend time with Mom, but not Dad. So he wants to treasure the little remaining time with Dad.
Although he is only 10, I look up to him like a full grown, even more responsible than people thrice his age. His love and care for his Dad is God like. Jesus is there to pull us up when we fall, helpless and frustrated. He is there all the time, He is our constant Carer, looking out for us everywhere we go. Even when we forget about His presence at times, He does not leave us, but patiently waits for us to see Him again.
This is sacrificial Love.
1 Corinthians 13
“4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/6382672/general/inspirational-story
Dreamers…
God puts a dream in everyone of us. Big dreams, small dreams, many dreams, few dreams..
I love the part last Sun, when Ps Russell asked the kids what are the dreams they have. They are not afraid of proclaiming them out to the world, and they Dare to dream biG..
Somehow when we grow older, we don’t dream that much anymore, or start to think they are unrealistic, that we don’t have the ability to achieve them..
This little girl is an inspiration. Only 16 but already giving top class performances! Its touching to witness such a wonderful dream being fulfilled=)
M J.
Being stuck at home too lethargic to even turn on the computer, the television was my companion most of the time I was awake.. Just today footage of ‘Remembering Michael Jackson’ keep repeating in the news every channel, and then the whole event was replayed at night.
I am not a fan of his, unfamiliar with alot of his songs or performance.. but found that he was truly a gifted performer.. i was quite biased against him in the past because of some tv interview i saw long time back that portrayed him quite badly.. but seeing his only daughter mourning for him really breaks me.. Its not a King of Pop she lost, but a father so dear to her. I realized God has just given him this gift of being able to feel the pain and sufferings in the world, and a genuine heart for children. But all good intentions seems to be judged and turned around against him. All this stress is not one ordinary human being can bear.
His departure is a loss to the world, but he left behind a legacy, songs that will be passed on for generations.
God bless MJ and family.
