cHyOrK: >>

Saturday, February 19, 2011

I didn't win the S$11 million TOTO.

But like most other Singaporeans, I'm getting S$700 in Growth Dividends from the just-announced Singapore Budget 2011. It's one of the biggest payouts that I've ever received from the gahmen, thanks to the boom in economy last year.

But I still can't help but think about how long it will be, before the gahmen takes it all back. Hur hur hur.

Anyway, the Growth Dividends will be paid out by May 1st. Which means, the elections might come sometime then? May/June?

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On another note, our squad just had our annual CNY reunion dinner. We "Lo Hei" on a 正月十六, and it does feel weird, when many many many pairs of eyes were looking from all directions of the restaurant.

Better late than never though! Having a Squad Reunion Dinner has been an ongoing tradition without fail and must be preserved.

And only during squad dinners will we enjoy the teasings/ridiculous topics/grouses under the sun/gossips & updates/and more.

Old friends we are -- our fates were sealed some 11 years ago -- and till we're much much older too.

人生是黑白的.
1:58 AM <3

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Monday, February 14, 2011

Title: Kit Chan -- My Musical Journey (13 February 2011)
The star: Kit Chan and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra

This was only the 2nd time I watched a performance in The Esplanade. Coincidentally, both times were for Kit Chan. (The previous was for her musical role in Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress)

I was pretty excited before the concert, not just because of the vocals of Kit Chan, but also because it was the first time that I was listening to a renowned orchestra, in a world-class venue setting. All these, with the fact that Dunman High had trained for me a pair of accepting ears for Chinese Orchestra. Listening to the best Chinese Orchestra in Singapore, was truly something worth looking forward to.

Pieces and pieces of music played by the 80-strong SCO, accompanied by the voices of the 65-strong Choir, really blended well with Kit Chan's vocals. It was the first time that I saw, in a live concert, a stage occupied by 140+ people, all earnestly doing their bit to deliver music. That is the heartening picture I see in that 90 minutes, and I enjoyed every second of it. Pretty.

As the theme was Kit Chan's Musical Journey, it was divided into sections:

#1: "The Early Days -- Wonder Years"
She sang "Amazing Grace", "Something Good" and "Mr Turner"

#2: "Breakthrough"
She sang [喜欢你]， [担心]， [拔河]， [心痛]。

#3: "Flying High"
She sang [等了又等]， [月亮代表我的心]， [炫耀]

#4: "The Turning Point -- Journey of Discovery"
She sang [懂得]， [东湾土星]

#5: "Coming Home"
She sang [天冷就会来]， [追]， [家]

#6: Encore
She sang "Home" (Michael Bublé), "Home" (Kit Chan)

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And, she held an autograph session after the performance! So we queued, got up close with this Singaporean diva, let her sign on our booklets and thanked each other. Sweet.

人生是黑白的.
12:14 AM <3

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