Gratitude

感激 (梅艷芳)
作詞：林夕 作曲/編曲：倫永亮

夢裡所求仍然沒有出現
但這些年彷彿過了千萬年
形象上百變是我吧
但比起那咀臉
原來唯獨我本性不變

是這生涯能燃亮我生命
就算擔承風風雨雨的事情
情懷是永遠沒法靜
在掌聲與燈影
重尋維護著我無盡對眼睛

感激再感激
因你活著就是我驕傲
再度台上見
不必再要我孤身上路
一次又一次
仍然是你待我最好
而一生的歌只得這歌
仍未清楚要怎麼唱好

感激再感激
跟你踏著未踏過的路
再度台上見
只因我有更多可以做
不捨你同行同步
原來命運路上沒句號
天可老唯獨這歌聲不老

天可老唯獨這歌聲不老

(From 是這樣的, 1994)


It's already her 2nd anniversary...

I have always preferred Hocc's casual, natural look because I thought that it suits her personality the best. But recently, I've come to realise why Mui-jeh had always insisted that a singer should have a "singer's look" on stage and why she took so much trouble to create a different image every time she released an album. Perhaps this is the quality that differentiates a real 'superstar' from just a good singer.

I feel that Ah C is getting there...It may make her seem more distant on stage but I believe that off the stage, in her own words, "何韻詩始終係何韻詩" because her c-foo had once told her never to be arrogant even if she becomes successful in the future.

("就算將來成功，做人都一定唔可以囂張。")


感激再感激, 跟你踏著未踏過的路
再度台上見, 只因我有更多可以做
不捨你同行同步, 原來命運路上沒句號
天可老唯獨這歌聲不老

This voice will never age, and her legacy will live on...

Recollection 2005 (Serious Matters)

I devote like 90% of the time to yak so much about music and hocc and Sammi, so I thought I’ll do a ‘serious 篇’ on work and family for my “Recollection” series...

Work...I don’t talk much about this because going into details is an absolute no-no. So usually I just grumble occasionally about being stressed with this difficult case and that urgent case. But seriously, 3 years into this job, I like it. Of course there's a lot of responsibility involved but then the feeling of having solved a difficult case or helped someone is very satisfying. And the travel opportunities are exciting...I would never have had the chance to go to Montreal otherwise. Been thinking about whether I should pursue higher education. It will be good to upgrade myself...Will give it some serious thought after I get the Taiwan trip over amd done with...祝大家"事業順利"...

Family...My parents have really aged. It didn't seem that long ago when my dad still had a full head of hair but now it's really thinning. And it definitely wasn't many years ago when my mum and I went on this speed ride at some amusement park in Thailand. I felt slightly giddy afterwards but dear mum was perfectly fine! Haha...I remember that it was a month or two after the 911 attacks but mum was determined to claim her holiday subsidies and insisted on going travelling. Dad and sis wouldn't go so in the end I joined her on the trip...But now I wouldn't let mum go on roller coaster rides anymore, no way...祝大家"身體健康"...

Musical Chairs

Had a scare last night when my mum suddenly felt a very sharp pain in her abdomen. Didn’t help that we had just watched this TV series in which a patient was suffering pains which turned out to be very serious. Alarmed, we decided that she’d better go see a doctor immediately. Luckily there’s a clinic near our place that opens until midnight. We were most relieved when the doctor announced that it’s stomach flu. A bit shocking though, cos my mum is seldom ill except for mild bouts of running nose or cough. Seems like Flu Season now isn’t it? Musical chairs ar, my family all taking turns to fall ill?! 大家保重身體!

At work, my boss is on holiday until next year, while the other senior is clearing leave and away most of the week. And this other colleague also happily went on leave so her urgent case comes to me...kiak...me a bit stressed. Supposed to be going to sing K with my lab people tonight and then to my friend’s place tomorrow. But not really feeling excited at the moment...hope my mood picks up later...

Song of the moment: 圓滿 by Hocc
Did 903 ban it?! I’m playing it like mad...令人圓滿卻是你...

Recollection 2005 (Crazy Exploits)

Top of the list: HK trip in May! Many firsts – meeting Ah C, taking pic with her, holding her autographed CDs in my hands and that handshake!!! Also first time travelling with caocao, irish and fanfan...we had a good time, didn’t we? And I’ll never forget squashing into that cramped goods-lift at Olympic City, omg...There’ll probably be chances to meet Ah C again in future and I’m sure I’d be extremely excited each time, but somehow the first time is just extra special. There is a kind of 感動...don’t really know how to express properly in words. 用心感受吧! And probably for the same reason, till this day, “hocc2” still remains my favourite album of hers. It is that first time 感動 that cannot be surpassed even by the excellence of “Glam” and “Butterfly Lovers”...

Butterfly Lovers the Musical. Two more in our group...And this brilliant show is worth every cent and much more! “Fa Dip” becomes so much more special – Jumping into the hole in that elegant purple dress and the final 回眸 scene in that magnificent wedding-gown-like costume! “如何回到當時...”

Ah Mi in Sg! She looks really, really good in person and maintained a friendly demeanour throughout her short trip. And our crazy gang (wenzi, piggy, b0bble) snapping pics of ourselves at Goodwood Park, followed by eight people squeezing into a medium-sized car!

Kekeke...the things I did courtesy of Mi and C!

Lipstick

More like weekly blogging nowadays...

Let’s see, last week I was feeling off-colour...started with a bit of runny nose, then sore throat. After a few days of gargling salt-water and popping Strepsils until I’m sick of them, I was still feeling a bit sick on Saturday. Luckily my boss decided that I didn’t have to go for the workshop so I spent much of the day sleeping. The day’s rest must have done a lot of good cos by Sunday I was feeling almost normal.

Ok, Sunday was great! We celebrated dh b’day with 2 sessions at Neway followed by a DIY cake. 11plus until 6pm! I had expected my throat not to last but it wasn’t too bad. I’d never manage any of the high notes anyway even when in good health. Maybe next time should just lower the key...So yeah, we started off with a wave of hocc, followed by Eason, then a long session of Sammi, mish-mash of loads of others and rounding off with another wave of hocc. Boss and PR mgr took lots of pics including some silly shots haha! Oh yah, met up with a new friend dolores who could sing Faye Wong pretty well! Her voice is nice and bright, maybe a bit like at 17’s Eman? Hee...

Dinner was at a zi-char place recommended by ww, then we popped over her place for a short while before getting stuck for a couple of hrs (what’s new?) in the crawling traffic. Then ww drove us home as usual. (Thk u dear!)

Tuesday...finally finished my urgent cases so I can finally take leave! Still have 1 day to clear before end of 2005 or else it gets forfeited. And this weekend I’m supposed to be getting my Denise lipstick! Feeling kind of nervous...keke...

Oh yes, thanks to Jh and Wm for helping me get my new cpu together! Yeah

Short Cut

Hmmm...think my haircut has gone a bit haywire this time. It turned out shorter than I’d wanted, oops! My dad always tells me that I shouldn’t cut my hair too short so I don't reckon he likes this much. My sis is more encouraging though; she said, “Never mind, it’ll grow back very soon.”

Watched “Pride & Prejudice”, which I found a rather enjoyable movie. I agree with Ht whole-heartedly, Keira Knightley is so pretty...Haha, we were both admiring her beauty and the scenes of the beautiful countryside. Oh, I just have a soft spot for England and English stuff, and I love the British accent!

Anyway, it was years since I read the book so I only had a vague idea of the events. It was just enough for me to follow the characters and developments in the movie without feeling lost, but since I didn’t remember the details I wasn’t making comparisons to the book all the time to see which parts had been omitted in the film. Perhaps that was why I enjoyed it better than for example the Harry Potter films cos I had already read the HP books.

Ok, in the book, the eldest sister Jane was supposed to be the prettiest but Lizzie (Keira) was obviously the most beautiful in the film, together with a stern but rather handsome Mr Darcy (whom Ht says is not proud enough). I guess it would be much better as a drama series instead of a film, but at least the movie was neither too abrupt nor in bits and pieces. But the ending was kinda out of place for a story set in the olden days...

Free Lunch

Ok, so I have been ‘computerless’ (not counting office pc) for more than a week. Have decided to go for a self-assembled CPU, but still waiting for my friend...hope to settle it asap.

Nearing the end of 2005, don't think I got very far with my resolutions. I still bought loads of CDs (but whether fewer than last year or not I've yet to do a head-count! Maybe that will be the next post...haha) I've not been exercising regularly in recent months. I stopped calligraphy practice for some time but finally picked it up again recently, though results have not been drastically improved. Will I be able to write ‘fai chun’ for CNY? It's still a BIG question mark! I’ve been practising more on my guitar, yeah! But think not enough and after so long it’s still painful when I do barre chords. It’s a lot easier when you strum because you may not hear a muted string among 5 or 6 but when you pluck, then every string is obviously audible so must be pressed properly. And my French is getting nowhere...whatever little I picked up for Montreal has more or less vanished liao haha...help!

Speaking of Montreal, after my wonderful trips I’m now supposed to share my experiences with the rest next month. And that's not the only presentation, I’ve got another coming up in April. Definitely no such thing as a free lunch...