Saturday 31 December 2011

New Year's Eve

This time last year, we were in the office cracking our heads preparing for a submission and gain an approval. Yes, we were the only team on our floor. New year's eve came early last year thanks to our Harimau Malaya boys who played so well and got us an extra holiday! :) Remember this?

No difference from the last, our team was swamped as the year reaches the end. Our final day in the office yesterday went by so fast, everyone was either running like a headless chicken or raging under pressure - rushing for a few submissions, pitchings!!, exams to complete and new deals as new year's gifts. As much as I need this break from a crazy week, I was sad that we're on a long break :(

There's always something about working with my team that leaves me wishing for more work everyday, really. If not work, just their company. 2011 has been so good to me. New experiences, new friends, new knowledge and many many happy times! Completed bond with the firm, Bestfriend's wedding, Dreamgirls and a Superman other half were some of them.

Eventhough at this age, it won't be a massive difference between today and tomorrow (yes, I feel old thanks! But it's true, no work stops at new year's eve and then becomes automatically new on new year's day, duh), today will be a day when most of us will start renewing our wish-list and want-list, renewing vows and making new ones. I'm no different either. Have a smashing holiday everyone and happy new year! :)

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Dancing through life

Good food and an even better company! Aisyah and Nouras are back for a short while! :)

A simple random-last-minute night out just the three of us, in the most comfortable christmas-y decorated italian cafe, laughing our heads off living the happy life and doing what we do best! Be silly like start counting who had the most presents in school from random admirers! :)
We're all grown up now talking about work, salary, where to in the next few years, marriage, birth, fat kids.....and the list goes on.

 Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate cake that Nouras and I had our eyes on the minute we stepped into the cafe!
OH-SO-GOOD-MUST-TRY!

I forgot how happening we were back in college. I meant silly. And tonight, we just went through our whole timeline (see picture below!) since the last time we saw each other. 
Such is my simple kinda happy. Something so simple, but comes with great happiness and love! :)
Thanks for coming home, eventhough it was for a very short time Aisyah! Have a safe flight back to London!

Monday 26 December 2011

One Short Day


...in the Singapore City


One short day in the Singapore city, one short day, for there's so much to do!
one short day in the Singapore city.
one short day, to have a life time of fun!
one short day,
and we're warning the city,
now that we're in here, you'll know we've been here,
before we are done!



*sings to the tune of One Short Day from WICKED*


WICKED was amazing I cannot even begin to describe it all! Though I thought that some parts of the1st half was slightly better when I watched it in London, they came back to blow our minds away after the intermission! I must admit that the Australian cast had amazing talent and energy, I was so super glued to the stage that's for definite. Its elaborate and intricate costumes and grand set designs made it so magical, I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that it felt like I was in another world just seated there in my chair. Really, I'd do anything to be a part of such production.

Nothing beats the happiness of witnessing a spectacular musical with these 2 favourites of mine!! The three of us came out grinning from one ear to another!
:)

Since its opening at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in 2003, WICKED has regularly broken box office records, grossing more than $US1.6 million a week, and has been seen by nearly six million people on Broadway! In London, Wicked had the highest weekly gross in West End history. Ok, I make up about 0.0001167% since this trip to Singapore was my 7th time watching WICKED! Yes, I'm still not tired of it, nor has it decreased my level of happiness by even a bit.
Hats off especially to Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Suzie Mathers (Glinda). They were fantastic, especially their acting skills. For Jemma, she played the role of socially awkward Elphaba oh-so-perfectly, whilst for Suzie, the key in portraying the cheerful and popular Glinda came out just exactly right. I only wish that one day, one of the academies will bring WICKED into Malaysia. I will surely go for audition!
Defying gravity - possibly the most iconic scene in this musical is when they defy the laws of physics and take to the skies Elphaba. Vocally, it’s a tricky part for soprano. Having watched it 6 times prior to this and have had my own go during vocal classes, I was so nervous waiting for the final high note part. Airborne stunt involved in this, you have to concentrate on the fact that the note is crazy high and at the same time fly up into the sky, hoping that the setup of the props had a perfect tech run before the show! This was when I thought, the difficulty came in, nonetheless the moment was so spectacular, it's almost as if I was in another world. A wizard's world! Heavily emotional and powerful while comical at the same time, the orchestra made everything even more magical!


Finale. Another magical specatcular scene, I had tears in my eyes. Crazy I tell you, I was too happy. Part of me felt sorry for birthday boy though because I was all over-the-moon continuously telling him "Soooo happpy la. OMG!"....before HE started singing and dancing like he knows no one in Singapore. If money really grew on trees, I'd go watch it again and again and again and again. Musicals give me such great happiness, such great motivation and inspiration. It's almost like I can do all the impossibles! I did tell Mr bestfriend that one day, I'd love to take him to witness the London production, InsyaAllah :)


*continues singing One Short Day*


we're just 2 friends,
2 good friends.
2 best friends.
sharring a wonderful one short
Dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! 



What started out as a surprise birthday gift...turned out to be a combination of Loads of love. Loads of laughters. Loads of smiles. Loads of happiness. Loads of randoms. Loads of silliness. It was only a day in Singapore, but it was definitely a perfect wicked one. Happy birthday bestfriend! :)

Friday 23 December 2011

Ho ho ho! Hello Singapore!


Last time I watched WICKED in London (even after watching it again and again), I came out like as if I’ve just received the biggest-award-ever-existed on planet earth! The happiness is mental, really!



So when I got these tickets, I was smiling and dancing in the office like as if no one was around me. Eventhough I do sit smack in front of Mr Deputy CEO and eventhough the tickets weren’t even for me! I was so caught up in the world of musical, I forgot that it was actually a surprise for my bestfriend Superman.

Only until Uncle pointed out a few days ago that we’re jetsetting like as if money grows on tree that it hit me, “What was I thinking?!”. Market crash, lending rates up, money cycle slower, access to money is not easy…yeah yeah whatever. Ok, no more next year. Cost cutting.

Anyway….. flight’s in a couple of hours and I am super duper uber excited!! By the time we get back, it finally marks the end of a month and a half of his full-of-surprises-birthday-celebration. Gosh, I’ve never done a surprise that lasted this long. Shura’s not gonna be too happy!

Musical, Singapore, best friend, London loves (guess who’s back?!), favourite Singapore colleagues/bosses and happiness fun definitely a wicked weekend! :) Singapore here we come!

Have a merry lil Christmas guys!

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Si Putih & The 7 Makciks - Malaysianising Snow White!

The queen asked:
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who in this land is fairest of all?

As far as I remember, any little girl who watches Snow White would end up uttering these words for a while, dreaming that the mirror would one day reply “You my princess”. A hardcore Disney fan (though I may not be able to answer every million and one Disney trivia), I just love Disney fairy tales! They’re always happy, and they definitely always-never-ever-fail to have a beautiful happily-ever-after endings which would leave me all tingly and happy inside! Almost as happy as walking on cloud nine :)

Snow White, pursued by a jealous queen, hides with the Dwarfs only to have the queen taking matters into her own hands after 3 failed attempts and feeds her a poison apple. She wasn’t breathing. She was dead. Magically, Prince Charming awakens her with a kiss. And then they lived happily ever after. Simple much? Disney 110%, duh!

Something about fairy tales is that, it’s unbelievable, but it is so desirable. Every girl wants to find her own Prince charming one day and have a fairy tale wedding, come on, right? In my attempt to do so, I’ve started dressing like one :P

Yellow bottom, blue top!

Well, that aside, believe it or not?! A Malaysian version of Snow White is HERE IN KL!! 
YES, I AM NOT KIDDING! From 14 December till the 23rd of December, The Actors Studio Teater Rakyat will be staging Si Putih and The 7 Makciks! 

Mak Bossy, Mak Giggles, Mak Dull, Mak Snoozy, Mak Misery, Mak Shy and Mak Style
7 right? Yes, 7! - a pantomime by Sham Sunder Binwani! If you don't know Sham, he's THE official mascot for "Mr Potato" crispy chips!!!
Sham does not settle for only one role — he writes the play, he directs it and he carries the title role, Si Putih.

Similar to Snow White, Si Putih & the 7 Makciks is set in two kampung kingdoms where an envious Queen plans to kill her beautiful and fair step daughter, Si Putih. But does Sergeant Sutera, the queen’s henchmen kill Si Putih or is she saved by the 7 Makciks, keepers of secrets from another kampong? Only time will tell. Si Putih & the 7 Makciks is a funny original adaptation of the all-time favourite classic with singing and dancing with a twist at the end; as all fairy tales have. The hardest in this production has got to be the fact that the casts had to control themselves from bursting into laughter when reading the script or doing the scenes in the play. Too funny I tell you! I had a good time laughing my tears out tonight!! I was laughing non stop!

I had the privilege of being invited to watch it tonight and I must say, IT WAS FANTASTIC! It makes me feel so proud that performing arts in Malaysia is picking up so very well. Having been in a musical production myself, I know that these cast have been working so hard and I must say, they were HILARIOUS, FUN and definitely CRAZY! Of course no fairy tale is complete without a happily ever after, huh? ;)


A must watch, I’d recommend you to go! Click here for more details!


Si Putih after being poisoned. Just waiting for the moment when Prince Charming arrives!
Third from left: Sirfan S Sulaimi as Mak Bossy
This Silver award winner at the recent Singapore Youth Festival 2011 was definitely one of the prominent star tonight! A Singapore actor/entertainer for over 15 years, he is now in KL to learn more about the performing arts here!

Well done to the whole cast for Si Putih & the 7 Makciks!

Monday 19 December 2011

Midnight that never came

and silence doesn't always mean yes. Sometimes it means "I'm tired of explaining if you don't plan to understand." 


So true


Reliving good times with my colleagues tonight made everything perfect.