Friday 5 February 2016

What is love* - Haddaway

They are showing Stardust on HBO lately. Loved this show - Claire Danes was brilliant in it. And so different from her character in Homeland now.

I love this monologue of hers too (it's on my fav quote list on my Facebook profile).



In case you couldn't catch it all, here it is:-

You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain, lies, hate... It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing, and... What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you. Is this love, Tristan? I never imagined I'd know it for myself. My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me any more. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine.
*This was a hit back in 1993 - when i was in London so it brings back memories of that time!

Thursday 4 February 2016

Bitter sweet symphony* - The Verve

The sound of my daughter crying on the other side of the phone call because she misses me is truly a bittersweet symphony...

*One of their popular songs - it was also popular for the wrong reasons where there was a lawsuit on plagiarism! This song was also featured on the soundtrack of Cruel Intentions.

Tuesday 2 February 2016

All you need is love* - The Beatles

There is this lady - a foreigner. Her husband died a couple of years ago, leaving her and two young children. The elder child suffers from ADHD and she has to watch over him all the time. She is unemployed partly because of that. She has to take care of she younger girl too - and her father-in-law. Being a foreigner, she has no family support. Her late husband has two other brothers but they do not want to take care of their father so it is left to this poor lady to do that. Thankfully, fellow Christians are helping her out.

We gave her some of Shona's old clothes. Initially, to be honest, i was not too keen as we have another girl coming and we expect to pass all of Shona's clothes to her. But i did not know of her situation and when i did, i was thankful that we were able to help out in a small way. My wife contacted the other mothers in our local church and many others were also willing to give clothes to both children.

At least they will have some "new" clothes to celebrate the Chinese New Year. I remember the joy we experienced - especially Shona - when we looked through clothes given to us by other people. I hope this lady and her children will be able to feel that way too.

I feel very sad for her - and her children. But from the little i know, she is a good woman and therefore her children will experience love and have a good role model to look up to.

Everyone talks about hard times coming this year and how we will all be in financial difficulties. But these people are those who are really in need. To them, being in our position will be like paradise.

I am reminded to be thankful, and not to complain. And also be reminded of what is important. Love. Be reminded of God's love - and in turn, we love him back, and we love others.

*One of their classics, going straight to number 1 in the UK and US when released.