2 Nights with X-Japan ...

All it took was for Yoshiki's ivory keys to bring me tears and what was even more emotional was that after 14 years of dreaming that I finally made it to watch my first X-Japan concert live in Hong Kong.

Now listen, I watched it twice in Hong Kong in two consecutive days.

Of course, after the concert ended on the second night, reality became a dream of memories all again.

I am now looking forward to hearing news about the next concert and hopefully that'll happen in the next couple of months in either Beijing or Shanghai.

I will try all means to make the dream come true yet again. Of course, the biggest dream is to watch it on New Year's eve in Tokyo Dome. Hopefully, I'll have that dream come true by end 2009.

X-Japan sure played an important part of my life and I will always keep those memories close to my heart.

The moments I have been waiting for ...

This two weeks will surely bring me lots of unforgetable moments.

Firstly, I will be heading off to Hong Kong to watch my beloved X-Japan's concert and this has been something I have been looking forward since 1996 and my, that's a long wait of 12 to 13 years.

X-Japan has been my favourite musicians all these while and I have been waiting for this day to come whereby I can watch them right before my eyes. On Saturday, this will be a dream come true for me.

When I was younger, I used to urge my father to purchase as many LDs ( Laser discs) for me from Japan and thinking about it, at the age of 17, I already started online purchases by ordering their merchandise, CDs, books and posters. Frankly, I cannot wait to have all these displayed in my new home.

Talking about my new home, I am going to move in next Friday and wait till you hear this - I have yet to collect my house keys and will only collect it next Tuesday after I return from my trip.

Sandy and I will rush through everything. From painting to cleaning so that we can move in before the Lunar New Year and yet again, another dream come true for me because all these years I have been waiting to have my own home and my own living space.

Am happy I will be able to have a place where I can sit happily to appreciate my DVDs. I wonder if I will be able to get my hands on a Laser Disc player because if I did, I will be able to entertain myself with the numerous X-Japan concert discs.

Wish me luck and I certainly hope in two weeks time, I will be blogging about my new home and what joy it has brought me and Sandy.

Worrying ...

I just recently read a book by the name of 'Why Worry!' by K Sri Dhammananda. It isn't exactly a religious book despite it being written by a Buddhist teacher but there was a very interesting metaphor he mentioned.

He mentioned something about people with lots of worries and paranoid by nature and these were people who made the lives of others unhappy especially those in the family.

I kind of felt that this was a rather true reflection and I have learnt that one should not worry too much or show others his worries. One should not be paranoid and instead of filling the head with negative thoughts, one should try to fill it joyous thoughts that influence others.

I guess I'll share more about my thoughts on the book in another posting as Sandy is now rushing me to get off the computer as she wants to use it to watch her DVD.

ERP and transport fares ...

Just in the year 2007 / 08 and those were when times were better, the government increased ERP fares as well as public transport fares and I repeat, it was when times were good.

Articles splashed all over the papers nowadays show slow or even negative growth and yet the government has not made any adjustments to bring such living costs down.

When the bus fare hike was announced, it was mostly on the basis that oil prices have risen so much that bus transport companies were losing bits of their profits and thus a rise in fares was required but today, the explanation was different. The prices have to stay where they are now and not come down because competition was stiff and bus companies needed to expand their business and maintain the fleets of buses.

I sort of found it silly but what to do? That's life isn't it? When such fares increase, our salaries hardly increase and I wonder employees in such public transport companies, are they also not getting an increase despite profits raked in? Is this fair? I dare not comment.

After 10 years ...

I remembered reading the bible 10 years ago and I was pretty close to completing both the new testament as well as old testament. Bet you didn't know that and this might be a shocker too, I used to go to church pretty regularly too.

Anyway, don't ask me further but I thought I'll share my experience about my visit to a church after 10 years.

My mother-in-law was baptized this afternoon at a church in the eastern side of Singapore and Sandy, Beatrice and I witnessed the event.

I sat and listened to the sermon patiently and pretty attentively. I heard every word the pastor spoke but at the same time I looked all around me. It was quite a big congregation that was present at the chapel hall but I was rather disappointed with the behavior of some fellow church goers.

There were people who talked loudly on their mobile phones while some were dozing off and sending text messages. This wasn't something I experienced when I was in the previous church I attended. I felt really uncomfortable seeing the many people who were not sensitive to the people around. Perhaps, Singaporeans really don't know their manners. They don't know how to behave.

Forget the incident at the church. If such a thing can happen at a church, why not cinemas? We still experience fellow movie buffs having their phones ringing in the middle of a show. Again, I think Singaporeans really need to learn to be graceful just like what our government campaigns are about. It is sad but it is true that this happens in a country like Singapore. Maybe the government should put a hefty price tag to this - yet another fine imposed.

Back to the church event earlier, I felt like visiting old friends at my previous church at Cambridge Road. Pastor Richard, Collidear and if Timothy is still around, it'll be nice to re-visit those days with him again. Frankly, I miss that chap.

Farewell 2008 ...

2008 brought me lots of joy and it sure will be one of the years which I will remember most.

At the beginning of the year, a big party awaited us as my buddy Hanwen and Clara had their customary wedding dinner in February 08.

The months that followed were also very exciting as Sandy and I prepared for our own wedding in June 08. Wedding invites, schedules as well as work kept me busy.

On 7 June 08, Sandy and I finally tied the knot at the Amara Sanctuary in Sentosa.

Just right after our wedding, we embarked on a honeymoon that went very well. I guess it was the companion of best friends as well as a splendid choice of location in Japan that made the honeymoon a perfect honeymoon.

In the second half of the year saw a change in job for me as I explored other opportunities within the same industry and that was when I joined GMAC in August 08. It was indeed another good choice I made.

In Oct 08, my younger brother Weisheng entered the army to do his duty for the nation just like every other able bodied man in Singapore. I have to say this is going to be a rather life changing experience for him and it is only now that we all know he is a grown up and will be able to fend himself along life's journey. He is no longer that little boy we all had. He is now a soldier that will fight enemies when the time arises.

In November 08, Sandy and I found a place we'll call home at Melville Park. This is going to be the biggest investment that both of us have made together and this is also going to be the place where I can hide from the world. With peace and serenity, I am sure my new home is going to be the place I want to be most of the time. We are looking at moving in Feb 09 - hopefully.

I guess the main highlights of the year was my wedding as well as my purchase of home therefore 2008 is the best year for me despite the numerous negative news that impacted the market, causing it to fall into an economic downturn.

However, there is something which I wasn't able to fulfil in the year and that was to move into my new home before 2009 as that was one wish I had when I counted down to 2008 but nevertheless, I have found a place and that is what is really important for me and Sandy.

Ups and downs we faced together, Sandy and I will surely keep these memories of 2008 and these memories will surely last a lifetime ... but before we chuck aside these memories, I guess we would like to thank the many people who attended our biggest party in our lives - our wedding. We want to thank everyone for the well wishes as well as the many foreign guests that took the time and effort to attend our wedding.

We would also like to thank our families especially my parents and godparents for helping me out with the wedding preparations, of course not forgetting Beatrice and my other close friends who also played a part to make our wedding a success. 2008 is a highlight of our lives and we thank you for contributing postively to it.

As we bid farewell to 2008, I am sure 2009 will be a better year for us all. Let's look at it postively and walk the journey together.

Happy New Year!