On the final day of 2010

It's the time of the year again for all of us to reflect on the stuff we did the whole year. However, I won't dwell much on that cos that's what everyone will say and it gets kinda boring after some time :-P

So, I'll start this reflection of mine with review of an old movie which I haven't watched before. The movie is entitled "Marley & Me"..
Yup, I know it's an old movie but I hardly have time to watch movie these days :-S

Anyway, the most poignant part (and I daresay the saddest part) is when John held on to Marley's leg while whispering that he's the best dog and everything. Tears just rolled down my cheeks though I suspect it's due to leaky airplane ceiling :-P

What does movie review got to do with near year stuff?
Well, do read on then...

To me, the movie does not only reflect on the relationship between a dog and a man but it can also signify the losses and the immeasurable pain in our heart when we're apart from our loved ones. I won't dwell too much on this also. But on this year end celebration, please spare a thought for your loved ones no matter how far they are. Most importantly, keep them in your thoughts.

Just try your best to keep in touch and bridge the distance no matter how impossible it may sound.

Well ladies and gentlemen, with that, i would like to say Bye Bye 2010 and Hello 2011 :-)

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day!

It's Christmas Eve and I am feeling excited all over.
I’m not sure why and I don’t care... I feel more excited over Christmas than Chinese New Year :-P
Perhaps it’s the environment or all the fantastical ideas (in my head at least) when listening to Christmas tunes... I wouldn’t have thought that someone in their right sane mind (in tropical country like mine) would be that excited at all...

What will I do on Christmas... hmm... that is something which I have never given a second thought of so far... I think normal stuff like going out and etc... Getting stuck in jam and fighting to get a place at eateries out there... all the usual drill...

All those stuff when the most meaningful Christmas is to spend it at home, with your loved ones within reach (physically or telepathically :-P)...
Perhaps, just perhaps if I’m crazy enough, I’ll wear my winter clothes and turning on the aircon full blast... Sipping hot chocolate and snuggles into my comfy reading chair... reading or just admiring my books... Xmas music playing at the background...

Well, I've just posted a book entitled "Home by Marilynne Robinson"... I loved the song "Home by Daughtry" and now... I just can't stop listening to another song entitled "Home by Michael Bublé"..
See the similarities? All of the above have their core hinged around the word "HOME". So, instead of counting down Christmas, which some people are wont to do, it's better to spend it with your loved ones... perhaps a simple lunch and/or dinner would suffice ;-)

So with that, I would like to wish each and every one of you... A Very Merry Christmas!
A Happy, Wealthy & Prosperous New Year 2011 (I’ve combined both New Year and Chinese New Year wishes into one) :-P


Home by Michael Bublé

HOME by Michael Buble @
Yahoo! Video

Lyrics from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaelbuble/home.html

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Home by Marilynne Robinson

Truth to be told, I nearly abandoned this book and kept it till cows come home had not I packed this book together with another new book on one of my biz trips.

The story by itself has really simple plot; albeit a lengthy one. An old dad (Rev Boughton) clinging to the hope of seeing his long lost son (Jack) before he depart from this earth. With this premise, we're introduced to Jack's sister (Glory) who undertook the responsibility of caring for their old dad. Thrown into the mix is Rev Boughton's eccentric relationship with his old friend; Rev Ames (and his family) who took over the church's pulpit upon Boughton's retirement.

However, it is with this simple chemistry that Marilynne built her characters with warts and all. From the seemingly perfect Rev Boughton's inability to denounce his fatherly love for Jack despite him leaving them and not returning for his own Mom's funeral; Glory's unsuccessful relationship with her fiancé; Ames grappling with his consistent negative outlook on Jack. All right down to the reasons Jack left his home, loitered and wasted his life before he is able to redeem himself upon meeting Della (his wife).

One point worth noting is that the whole story revolves around Jack (who left again at the end), the supposedly antagonist in this lovingly written novel. Yes, lovingly... First time I used such term to describe a novel. I surprised myself this time :-P

"Home" is essentially a story about family coming together and helping each other to go through various diversities despite any shortcomings.

By the end part of the book (last quarter of it), I was basically glued to the pages as it reveals the realization that old people will eventually leave the world for good (that got me teary eyed and getting goose bumps on flight), the vacuum of seeing your family members leaving the "home nest" one by one; and finally, the ultimate realization that no matter how close a family is, there will always be distances and other priorities in life.

I can go on with all the subtleties and hints ingrained in this novel but it won't do any good because a good book like this is worth every minute of your time to savour.

A really well written story with emphasis on human flaws; strengthening the fact that we humans are sinners and are never perfect.

P/s: The ultimate shocker of this story is revealed at the very end of the novel in which Della is actually married to Jack with a son called Robert. Not only that, Della is a well raised good Christian of Negro descent; a fact almost unheard of during the anti-black movement in America.


Personal rating: 9 out of 10 (really slow opening part)

Cons:
1) Storyline is really too slow; but it picked up towards the end.

Pros:
1) Read my review as above :-P

Have a merry little Christmas :-)

This is the season to be jolly. Well, jolly good it is because it's the end of the year and you can see Christmas tree (fake or real) everywhere.

Even Starbucks have their oh-so-cute tumblers that basically scream MERRY CHRISTMAS :-D
I’m so lucky to have a few of this year's cutest tumblers (more snowflakes) and proudly using it with glee in my heart and smile plastered on my face.

It is also the time of the year when the best thing you can do is to play Christmas songs and let your mind wander and wonder on the beauty of seeing sky filled with snowflakes and white powdery snow blanketing the whole scenery. OKOK, I know I’m staying in a yearlong hot and humid country but it’s the year end and my mind wanders everywhere; up north and down south in a blink of an eyelid. :-P

So should I look back and contemplate if I’ve completed my 2010 resolution? Hmmm... I don't think I will because I have everything I want and need right around me... family, friends and etc... plus I don’t have a resolution in the first place. In short, I am contented (as of now) and its the right moment to just sit back and savour every moment right till the stroke of midnight on 31st Dec 2010.

Have a Merry Little Christmas everyone :-)

P/s #1: just in case you're still not in the mood, try listening to the following evergreen Christmas songs:

Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra
Santa Baby by Pink Martini (very cheeky song; this one :-P)
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Barbra Streisand
Silent Night by Nat King Cole

P/s #2: Cute Mister Snowman and Mister Santa guarding my precious bookmarks. :-P

P/s #3: Cute angels pinned on the curtain of the decorative cottage windows.