The Boat That Rocked

I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed this. Haha. I think all these movies (ever since Zombieland) have hit my funny bone. This is a movie about Pirate Radio...and if you love music, especially the 60s...you'll like this movie. It's about a pirate radio station on a boat, about recklessness, rock 'n' roll, the 60s, about deejays and love for music. I like the end when they rolled an array of album covers. Nice. Reminded me of that book on music albums Imn bought for me. Watch it for the music!

Zombieland

Seriously just for fun!!!! loads of laughter and a feel-good movie. enjoy.

More than Just A Picture Perfect Moment....

We just met our photographers for our wedding. A family friend, which is a big plus because I'll know he'll capture a lot of special moments, better than any other photographer. We had an informal meetup with him and the partner and it was comfortable. I think it's important to be comfortable with your photographer, no? He/She has to be able to put you at ease, so you'll be camera-friendly. They both had good synergy (well, they are a couple too!), and I trust that they'll bring the best out of our wedding. We saw some samples and Andrew loves it. It's important that he does since he loves photography...... We love it that it's contemporary, and NOT DULL. None of those photoshop shit, and bling blings, stars, clouds & whatnots...

He also gave us a lot of ideas..things we have not even thought about. Like color theme....they recommended some colors that would make great photography, coz hey, they want their pictures to turn out great too! Also gave us a sense of what to prepare and how to get organized. Wow, I dont think other photographers would talk in length about things other than the service fee etc etc. Thanks Petertan&Evelyn . In you, we trust.

The Ideal Wedding

Someone told me yesterday that her wedding was from 10am to 3pm, no jip san leong, no wedding dinner, no alcohol, NO FRILLS. She didnt even had her bridal shoot, even though her husband was a professional photographer! Hah! I'm full of envy.

Truth is I wanted a no-hassle wedding. A simple ceremony. I'm not a flashy person nor an exhibitionist. Close friends would know that I hate attention and would rather be invisible most of the time. P use to tease me that I would walk in and out of the office as if I was invisible and kept a really low profile. No bridal shoot either because it just feels too artificial to me. Especially those that are extensively edited, with stars and dreamy sticker-like backdrop.

But I guess like all things in life, you can't have everything your way. I'm hoping to do the conventional chinese wedding dinner over and done with on the 1st day. The whole works. And then settle in for a fantabulous one on the 2nd night.

Jimui

It's the season for weddings... Every woman is either the bride or the jimui or the guest. Well you know how brides can get. They want the perfect wedding because it's a once in a lifetime kinda thing. Sweet. And so, a friend of mine appointed me and A as part of the jimuis entourage.

So she gave A the heads up about the dress- pink and satin. And it's free coz my friend is a clothing merchandiser and could get it done dirt cheap in China. Just the notion of pink and satin is enough to make A gag. Childish, it seems. And so my friend brought samples and even the colour board for us to choose. So i told her, seriously, I dont care, the bride chooses and I'll wear whatever color the bride wants! After all, isnt' that what being a jimui is all about?

I told A that we're just gonna be freaking wearing it for a couple of hours. Just do it. Do it for a friend. But still, A refused. She'll rather not be the jimui. People dont realize planning your own wedding can be really stressful, and it's disheartening to see my friend on the verge of crying, trying all her best to accomodate to ALL the jimuis.

someone ought to write the dos and donts of being a jimui.

Alienation....

You ever been caught in a situation where everyone speaks the same language except you? A room full of Mandarin-speaking people? Few years back, that was how it was day in day out at work.... almost till I've developed a selective hearing, as H puts it. Yeah, I've mastered the art of ignoring everyone and just go about my business without a care of what anyone is saying. I've learned to alienate myself because I am being alienated in the first place!

I was overjoyed when I didnt have to go through that anymore at the new workplace....that is until I was sent based at a client's place, where the people are mostly Chinese. Nothing wrong with that, except that there are also Indians in the same dept, and everyone just choose to speak Cantonese. I spoke to M yesterday about it. She and another colleague, G, both Indians are based at the client's place same as me. People around us who are Chinese like to speak Mandarin/Cantonese, I think that's fine, but you don't switch from English to Mandarin/Cantonese all of a sudden in the midst of a discussion with others, as if having another private discussion. As if you're alienating the Indians on purpose. As if they are not worthy of your respect.

Many would think that the rest of the minority group would just have to ACCEPT that these kind of situation happens because it's NORMAL as the majority group can't help it but to gradually converse in their mother tongue. I mean, what bullshit! I'm sure they know how to write RESPECT and MANNERS in Mandarin. Some senior manager actually said to me " aiya, you don't know Mandarin??? Work with me, must know Mandarin, if not very hard lah" How horrendous. I've proved otherwise that I can still do my job without conversing in Mandarin.

I thought we would have grown out of this. Years after our independence, we seemed to behave as if we are even more unrefined than before.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

A beautiful film by Clint Eastwood, with Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela (good cast!). The movie had me in tears, for some odd reason, seeing one visionary man who used sports (rugby) to unite his people and bring an end to apertheid, made me secretly wish that the same could happen in my own country. In the movie, Mandela taught us that we should not hold on to petty revenge, but to forgive... Truly inspiring. Malaysia in its own ways, has achieved some level of democracy and unity...and I hope one day I could watch a movie depicting our struggle too.

2010

2009 ended with much excitement. And there's been a lot of changes. For one, I'm now Mrs Yeong, technically; customary wise, I stilll need to go through the Ko Tai Lai, before it's official.

2. At work, I've embarked on something totally new, and I'm embracing the change. Some people are resistant to change, but I love change, at work at least. It keeps me excited at work and breaks the monotony.

3. 2009 was the year of me adapting to staying alone and with andrew thereafter. It's nice to play house with someone, that's something WY said to me.

4. No big purchases. Except for the trip to Melbourne. Was worth it, as it was a long overdue family trip. oh plus Andrew :) . And minus Imn.

Resolutions. I dont really have any. Maybe just embrace 2010 and make the best out of it. Find new places to explore and live, and let live, everyone!