:: a wake up call ::

ever since my return from the rome holidays, i have to say that i have been very busy meeting new social acquaintances from all over holland (and more). i have been attending dinner parties, drink parties, clubbing, playing chess, watching football, getting high and stoned, etc etc...

i don't know what has got over me - perhaps it comes at the time that i am feeling all FABULOUS with myself, that the realisation that there is nothing to be insecure about and that my self-confidence is finally there.

last weekend, SJ has gracefully invited me to a grand birthday party in amsterdam. the party itself was wonderful and well-organised, despite i know only very few guests there. but as the night progresses, conversations become easier with strangers-turned-acquaintances/friends and perhaps i became too reckless after that as a result - to cut the story short, i became less alert and awake.....and i lost my bag containing my iPod, Prada shades, sweater, house keys, bicycle keys and most importantly, the bag itself! it was a gift from a close friend from japan, about 7 years ago. i know that porsche design does not make that bag anymore, but it was special to me because it was a bag that had seen the world with me and a dependable bag too. it was my recklessness to get a mint from the bag (because i wanted to kiss everyone goodbye) that i just casually put it on a chair and went to say goodbye at the bar and, only to be distracted (or perhaps seduced) to a lounge upstairs for a special 'goodnight'. with my keys gone and sweater-less, i had to stay in amsterdam and wait until the next morning before i could get the spare key from my friend in the hague.

i believe that this little incident is a reminder for me. it's life way of telling me to perhaps slow down, and look around. i admit that i have been reckless with new acquaintances and didn't devote much time for myself. i am not as fit as before, since i have stopped going to the gym regularly, always not at home on weekends and didn't stop and smell the roses! it's time to stop, listen to my breathing, relax and pamper myself silly, just for me and by me!

i'm going to do that this weekend as i will be off to london. instead of the usual london shopping and sights, i guess i will spend quality time for some 'old friends' who are living there now as i have always been avoiding that and instead rather spending time by myself at bars and clubs.

it's time to wake up, or i'll be dead...x

:: hup holland ::

it's almost 3 am now, and i just can't describe the feeling.

the dutch has beaten france 4-1, and also italy 3-0 for euro 2008. unless you have been living in the cave, you would have heard the news by now.

it was crazy...the whole atmostphere was electrifying, there were orange everywhere...i felt patriotic even though i'm not dutch...but hey, i am rooting for them and i think they deserve to win - they played superb game...

we all need great news, and the mood in holland is fantastic!

x

:: Oranje meets “300" : EURO 2008 is here! ::

EURO 2008 is here....

And as a tribute to the Orange team - who I will be supporting, naturally....take a look at these photos of John Heitinga, Edwin van der Sar, Gio van Bronckhorst and Rafael van der Vaart (my favourite!) taken ala '300' movie.

This result is HOT!

What connects the Dutch football team, the testosterone fueled movie “300″ and brilliant photographer Erwin Olaf?

Oranje-fever. That’s what. It’s starting… We only need to get through the Dutch plsy-offs and the dreaded CL-finals and then Holland will turn Orange!

The AD newspaper commissioned Olaf to shoot pics of our heroes for their EC-special and the results are awe-inspiring.

Go Orange! I have set my orange clothes to wear to work on Monday (where they will match against the tough Italy)

x

:: euro 2008, football and me ::

:: me with my last soccer team...i've blurred the rest of my friends for their privacy and the fact that they don't' look like that any more now :-)::

surprisingly that this may sound - i do actually like soccer (or football...depending on which part of the world you are living). i was never good at it...just basic 'ball sense' but with no goal-scoring instincts, i was always a defender (because i have the stamina to run 90 minutes since i was a runner, and tackled other guy's leg to steal the ball, or a goal-keeper (because i am not afraid of speed balls going to my face (or balls!) since i was a volleyball player too).

and yes, i've been hit by a fast zooming ball at a free kick right up my own balls! serve me right for forgetting to 'shield' my family jewels, but i am happy to say that my 'two boys' are as good as new now :)

i grew up with 2 brothers who are fans of the opposite english teams (liverpool versus manchester united) and a dad who is neutral (arsenal) - but somehow, they all dislike everton for some strange reasons. as the youngest son, i learnt how to play it diplomatically of not taking any sides, even though i do like liverpool (partly because of ian rush when he was a player there, now coach :))


on the world soccer arena, my brothers are fans of germany, holland, brazil and england. no suprises there....since i remembered they watched almost all the live matches television in the wee morning hours in the 70s, 80s...and less by 90s since they are all married and moved to their own houses.

and without my brother's bickering and hogging the television, and having 3 TVs at home didn't help,watching football at home is no longer an activity that i used to do. on special tournaments like world cup and euro, my friends and i will watch them at a bar, pub or even a disco like ministry of sound....how bizarre. but i like it best at a coffeeshop where i could just wear my flip flops, shorts and t-shirt in the open air with all the fellow fans (or more likely soccer punters) :-)

now, in Holland, i had relieved those moments somehow...in 2006, there was a world cup and being true and integrated to my 'adopted new land', i am all orange and all for the dutch team (even though when i returned during the quarter finals in singapore)

::supporting holland in singapore @ clarke quay::

:: supporting holland at my regular bar in den haag ::

:: a documentary that made me cry ::

i simply love BBC.... whether its channel 1/2/3/4 - they have among the best english programs and documentaries that should have been shown by mediacock back home.

i watched this french documentary (ÊTRE ET AVOIR) on BBC four last night.

it was a very simple documentary - George Lopez was an educator at a small school in France's Auvergne region, where in December 2000 and June 2001, he taught students between the ages of 4 and ten - in a single classrom.

i was awed and inspired by his true dedication and passion about teaching. his love for his students and his personal and yet professional guidance to his students' life were beyond words. you could sense it by watching this documentary - and it didn't help that he has one of the sexiest male voices (and the french accent too).

i cried at the end, because shortly after that documentary was made, he retired from teaching after dedicating 35 years of his glorious life to guide and educate young children.

i didn't remember anything about my kindergarten school days when i was 5 and 6 years old. i remembered walking on a high narrow beam for the first time, some kid in school shat on his pants, my super short school uniform with tartan red and white prints and that i cheated on a school race because i don't want to balance a stupid bean-bag on my head.

but for those kids in the documentary, i am sure they will remember those wonderful foundation of a great childhood that they will forever cherish.

if you have the chance to rent this documentary, please do...you will never regret it.

x!

:: my ear worm at the moment..::

ever since i saw them at tonight's show with jay leno, i have been addicted to this song (again and again...while in singapore, rome, holland, play, work, whatever else...)

however, despite its rather repetitive lyrics, it has some hidden meanings as well ;-) and this video (although not official) is one of the best example of why apple mac rocks!