黑白画映 (张学友)

收拾下自己的心
说给自己听
那黑那白全都不在
那风那梦风吹进我的梦
收拾下自己的心
好让天使听
那黑那白全都不在
那风那梦风吹进我的梦
无力抱紧看着又伤心
偶尔想起我爱你
想追又自己鼓不起勇气
我心中黑白
无力靠近猜测你的心
今夜又会在那里
窗外的风起天下起小雨
我心中黑白的画映
我无力找到真爱
可怜我只剩下空白
找不到靠近的理由
也只能开不了口
静静的我守在窗口
享受这寂寞
无力证明才让你相信
有个傻子在想你
想你和我有一天相遇
我心中黑白的画映
—

This songs reminds me of the last week in Shanghai. I had just gotten the CD and I kept playing in the apartment. The apartment was quite empty as the rest of the gang had left and only mq and myself remained. We were rushing for our internship report amidst the last minute clear ups, the last minute catch up with ppl, the last minute lazing ard.

The song reminds me a little of the tranquil late nights that I stayed up to work on the internship. The feel of the song calms me down. For no apparent link to the lyrics though – never read the lyrics. Just the song played at that time reminds me of that time. This is also like another song, by Michael Jackson from his Dangerous Album which I always reminds me of the time when I was reading the cartoon version of The Water Margin. I think it is “Keep it in te closet”. So, this song at the right moment and right time is soothing and peaceful.

p.s. Now, if my program will just input correctly into the database, I would be more peaceful.

All about moods

I thought I better get this down here while I still have the feeling. I believe I am so prompted by emotions and feelings, yet I try to be so practical sometimes there is way too much internal conflict within myself. Gosh!

Anyhow, what I wanted to say was that I think I am feeling better as in on the lighter side these few days. For reasons that can be explained, of course, I am happier. I was a tad stressed out and upset for a bit last week and I think a few people knew and felt it. For now, the feeling is at a plateau. Just don’t want to get back into the mood that I was in last week. N.G.

Went to watch X-men with my mum, auntie and uncle this afternoon, though I already watched it before. Initially, my mum wanted to watch the show but my brother who had agreed to take her went to watch it. So, I told my mum I would watch it, conveniently ignoring the part that I had watched it before. (My auntie and uncle joined in later on.) I guess, as some ppl put it, small white lies might be good. In that sense, I did not lie. I don’t really like to lie, so if I don’t want people to know, then I either change the topic, refuse to answer or just don’t tell the whole truth. That way, I don’t (really) lie. right?

上海爵士

Shanghai JAZZ

I bought the CD from the That CD shop this afternoon. Had intention to purchase a few of their CDs for quite sometime due to the interesting remix of the songs that they have. It’s quite costly though ($29.90 for a CD).

Having listened to the CD, I have no regrets. It is easy listening music and it really brings out the flavour of Shanghai which are usually depicted in shows potraying 1930s Shanghai. The wonder years, the years of her glory.

Check out the website for the album: Shanghai JAZZ

Muthu’s Curry

Went for dinner at Muthu’s with my mum, grand parents and my auntie/uncle. It was my auntie’s birthday too.

My first time at Muthu’s. It’s very up market. Very well furnished and the setting is unlike and low class hawker centre, but a real restaurant that even has valet parking!!! Food wise the fish head curry was good. The masala chicken was good. The mutton curry was good. Yup, that’s about all that we tried. For staple, try their garlic naan, it’s aromatic, good and filling!!!

Cost about $110 ++ for all the 6 of us to dig in. I won’t say it’s very expensive. This reminds me of the article in the Sunday Times today about the Prata Millionaire. (People remember the Cheese Prata stall from NUS) The boss is R.I.C.H. (with all the CAPs!!!) Guess the simplest things in life are usually the stuff that brings in the most $$$, huh?!

RAS Get Together

The get together cum BBQ cum catering cum meet up was held at Professor Leong’s Condominum’s function room and there were so many students from past generations. There were almost 45 people at one time. Prof Leong’s really has a long heritage that goes way back. It’s quite a interesting gathering, with so many people. All the more academically inclined people were present. Nonetheless, they were all warm and friendly people. Very down to earth people, with no airs. It’s nice. Chatting with some of the other people also gave good insights into certain things and that was good. Even had a lift back home from a nice senior! Yea!

Wala Wala

After a week of working on my HYP at NUS and Astute, it is the weekend. The long awaited weekend to relax and not think about work. It also marks the start of the World Cup in Germany, but that’s not my story; I don’t watch soccer/football.

Had a good dinner at Fosters Steak House (I remember now that my auntie recommended it too.) and then headed down to Wala Wala. It was my first time in the pub. The previous few times, saw me going and then leaving cos’ the queue was SOOOO long.

This time around the queue was not long, perhaps, the main band EIC was not playing on their usual Friday nights. In place, they had this other guy which we thought was so-so, but by 9.45 pm, there was a change and Shirley and her band (the unexpected band) took over the stage and the atmosphere built up, and the audience started getting into the mood. It was definitely an entertaining night chilling out to the energize band. (Thanks alot to fionna for the introduction. After so many failed attempts, I have finally Wala Wala-ed!)

To all the soccer fans, don’t overtire with all the late night matches … for me, I am gg to snooze … the booze has made me very sleep.

Instinct

It is so interesting. My mum came over and gave me something. She said, “I sense that you needed it.”

I only smiled to myself.

She was so right. A women’s instinct, a mother’s instinct. (“,)

Fiona Apple

How many of you reading this have heard of Fiona Apple? I presume not very much.

Fiona is an exellent singer, I believe she won an MTV award or was nominated for a grammy with her first hit single many years ago in her debut album – Tidal. The song – Criminal – was definitely a good song.

Her style of song is not exactly the pop friendly, or radio friendly tracks that Class 95 or 98.7 will play. In fact, I do not even think they play her songs. (Not too sure on this, because I do not listen to the radio.)

Her previous album “When the pawn … ” was also an excellent piece of work as with her latest effort “Extraordinary Machine”. Her songs are a tad heavy and I mean it in the sense that it expresses alot of hurt, anger, and can be a tad heavy. Yet, the music is listener friendly, the acoustics and accompliments are simple and raw. It really is a pleasure listening to her sing, though, I find myself more often than not being affected by the mood in her songs.

I have all 3 albums, so if you would like to have a spin you can ‘get’ it from me, somehow.

Check her out at her official website too: http://www.fiona-apple.com/

Going for lunch, bye.

Internship

My second time on an internship.

This time feels so different. For starters, it’s in Singapore and everyone is the same. There is no longer the uniqueness of being a Singaporean, or merely being a foreignor. Next, I am back to square on – IT, namely programming – for this period of attachment. As mentioned time and time again, IT is not my forte. Sure, I like IT and IT excites me in ways such as IT deployment, IT usage in real life applications, IT in cool design, IT with cool features, but IT is just mundane when it comes right down to the basics of programming.

Technicalities.

They are, indeed, a hassle.

6 more months. I am not counting down to the end of my attachment. Rather, I am counting down to my graduation. I want to get out of this place. As I have mentioned so many times, there is nothing here for me, no place for me. I am not thinking too much, or planning so much, but I do hope that there will be an opening somewhere out there for me. Without an prejudice for any countries, I would go anywhere, except stay here, as long as the terms and conditions are reasonable.

带我离开这里，这里没有我要的天堂，这里只有不满的回忆。不晓得为什么，事情会就这样而改变。无话可说，无可奈何。

HYP = Honours Year Project

To the uninitiated (which seems to be everyone I know), HYP is the shoft form for Honours Year Project.

To the engineers, it is similar to what you call a Final Year Project.

To the arts related faculties, it is akin to your dissertation.

To everyone else, I am doing my HYP now. yes now. I am having attachment as part of the project to be on site at the company which I am developing a software for. I work 3 days a week. Most probably it is from Wed – Fri. The other 2 days, find me in NUS or around there. Probably won’t entertain you, so if you do find me … entertain me. =)