Eat it* - Weird Al Yankovic

So Gemma has been eating everything we give her. Or at least, she tries to! Except for real food (of course!!!).

That meant no more books - not even the block books as she has tried to bite off the cupboard cover. No more stuffs that she can bite off. And mind you, even with so few teeth, she can really bite!!!

So it was to our horror the other day when we discovered this:-

The wife was pretty concerned about it while i figured it'll just come out with her poo. She heard some scary ideas from her friends of what may happen and when we asked our pediatrician friend, he was not too sure. so for the sake of having the peace of mind, we took the whole gang to the emergency ward at the hospital!

We had to wait for quite a while - and it didn't help!!! More scary thoughts came into my mind.

Finally our number was called up. Thankfully, the doctor didn't seemed too concerned. He said it probably went into her tummy and will be coming out with her poo.

It was a pretty exhausting experience especially since i had a long day and still had work to finish up that night! When we got everyone into bed, i started my work and only got to bed at 4 in the morning! But at least i had the peace of mind.

Thank God she seems to be fine.

But as a postscript, that took place two nights ago. Until now, she still has not past motioned yet!!! So yes, we are still a little worried. Thankfully, she is not showing signs of being ill but the thought of the polystyrene still inside her system is not a pleasant one. Praying that it will come out soon. Very soon!!!

*His parody of Michael Jackson's Beat It.

Try* - Debbie Gibson

And just like that, we are now in the second day of 2017!!! Is the year gonna zip by quickly???

One of the highlights of New Year's Day was re-watching Zootopia with Shona (it's her current fav show now).

I thought the closing speech by Judy Hopps (the 'rabbit police' as how my daughter calls her) is a pretty good reminder for the start of another year:-

'When I was a kid, I thought Zootopia was this perfect place where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, real life is a little bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy. We all have limitations. We all make mistakes. Which means―hey, glass half full!―we all have a lot in common. And the more we try to understand one another, the more exceptional each of us will be. But we have to try. So no matter what type of person you are, from the biggest elephant to our first fox, I implore you: Try. Try to make the world a better place. Look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us'.

What struck me was the reminder that real life is messy - and we all have limitations and we all make mistakes. But that should not stop us from trying to change. In fact, that should be the impetus for us to improve ourselves.

*Taken from her album, Anything is Possible - my fav album of hers!

I know who holds tomorrow* - LeAnn Rimes

Happy New Year!!!!

How did i spend the last minutes of 2016? I slept!!! But not before showing Shona the fireworks display at London on 1/1/2016!!!

Since she had to go to sleep, i showed her the fireworks before tucking her in. And then, after kissing both Shona and Gemma, i too went to sleep.

And i felt that it was a wonderful way to end the year. I am so thankful for the two girls - eventho they can drive me up the wall at times!!! I am thankful that they have a roof over their head, and a bed to sleep on. I am thankful that they will have breakfast the next morning when they wake up. And i'm thankful for the opportunity to love them.

2016 again put me through the biggest fear i have - that my girls will have to go through life without me. Thankfully, they got to the end of the year with their daddy still around. I have to rest in the assurance that if their earthly father is not around, their heavenly father will be there for them providing for their every need.

Things may not be great - and it sure does not seem to be getting better. Brain tumour is back (although it is benign and at the moment, not causing any problems), work is getting increasingly difficult with increased workload, income is going be less than last year, economy is supposedly going to be really bad.

But i start the year with the reminder and assurance that even though i do not know what tomorrow holds, i know who holds tomorrow - the true and living God who loves me so much that he was willing to come down and die for me. And for my girls.

*From her brilliant album, Inspirational Songs.

Sing* - The Carpenters

Yesterday was a historic day. Took Shona out for a move - just the two of us.

I was planning to take her to watch Moana but the time of the movie was not too suitable. In the end, i gave her the choice - i showed her the trailer for both movies - Sing and Moana - and she chose Sing without hesitation.

It was a good choice. I have not watched Moana but i was surprised at how much i really enjoyed Sing!!!

Before going in, i was thinking that this was just a cartoon version of the reality singing shows we see on TV - American Idol etc., shows that no longer interest me.

But this was more than that! I love it as it has heart - for want of better way to describe it. I love it because it has great songs - check out the long play list!!! I love singing, i love songs. The performances were really good and enjoyable!

But most of all, i love it because it has so many wonderful characters! And they were all developed very well - for me! No wonder the movie was almost 2 hours!!! But it was worth it as i grew to know the characters and care for them.

I was also impressed with how well the actors sang! Really really good! I went online just now to check and i believe that they all sang themselves.

The movie was funny and the supporting cast were brilliant too.

Best of all, Shona enjoyed it! I was worried she wouldn't be able to sit through the movie - but i had free tickets to redeem anyways so i was prepared to walk out before it ended.

In the end, we stayed on even until the credits finished rolling! Shona loved it and was dancing along with the songs at most parts!

Dare i say it loud? I enjoyed this even more than Rogue One!!!!

p/s - pics obtained from various places online.

*One of their classics which i listened to when i was really young and still love.

Here we go again* - Paramore

And so the English Premier League resumed last weekend! Here we go again!!!!

But what a way to start it for Liverpool.

I was at Colombo and was searching for a place to watch it - but in the end, duty called and i had to give it a miss. What a pity for it appeared to be a cracking game!!!

At least i managed to catch the highlights online.

They looked really good - and although the scoreline suggest a close game, it really wasn't so.

It is really heartening to see the fighting spirit and the sharpness of our attacking force. Mane looks like a really good buy, someone who will fit into Klopp's team and adopt his philosophy.

It was also pointed out that how many players (a newly bought player) would run to his manager to celebrate his debut goal by jumping onto his manager's back???

Pic taken from fourfourtwo.com

Klopp has really brought a feel-good factor back into the team.

This season is really interesting and quite open. Favourites are City but United is threatening. Exciting times ahead!!!

*It was the acoustic version of this song that made me fall in love with this group!

It's the same old song* - Four Tops

England got knocked out of the Euro 2016!!!

Photo taken from SkySports web site

Well, was it a surprise? On hind-side, it really shouldn't be. Sure, we have some pretty good players this time round. The addition of the fresh exciting youngsters increased the hope that this time round, it will be different.

But unfortunately, we have to weigh that in together with the fact that they had Hodgson as the manager. So in a way, i am glad that England had to suffer such a terrible and embarrassing defeat. It finally stops us from dreaming and realise that Hodgson is clearly not the man for the job.

He had so many good players to pick from - but he insisted on flops like Sterling and Wilshere. Rashford was used sparingly. Mr. Dependable Milner just had a cameo.

He had no team - it was like he was still experimenting.

So in the end, it's the same old story. England disappoints again. Perhaps there is a slightly different tune this time round - it is hard to find excuses this time round. No untimely red cards, no unlucky penalty shoot-outs, no wrong calls by the referee.

*Their 1965 hit single

Not ashamed* - Kristian Stanfill

This is what she said below the video of this song in YouTube - "JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR and i'm not at all ashamed of it".

What a voice. What a testimony.

*This song is found in the Passion: White Flag album which was recorded live in 2012

Hold me in your arms* - Rick Astley

Whenever my daughter is sad or scared, she would look up to me, open up her arms and say, "Daddy, carry?". I would then take her into my arms and softly assure her that I am there for her.

I know exactly how she feels - for when I am sad or scared, I would turn to my heavenly Father and pray, "Daddy, carry?" - and He would take me in his arms and assure me that He is there for me.


In the recent couple of weeks, I had to go through a period of uncertainty - in fact, the uncertainty is still going on now. The worst case scenario is actually very scary. And when the fear takes hold of me, it is so good to have my heavenly Father take hold of me.

It fills me with peace because with my Heavenly Father, nothing is too difficult for him.

I can rely on His love for me.

My earthly father loved me so much. And as a father now, i love my girls so so much too. But i know that my heavenly Father loves me even more than my earthly father loved me, even more than how much i love my girls now.

I have been father-less for more than 9 years now. Coming to 10 years next April when my earthly father departed. It's Father's Day today and it's one of those times in the year when I miss my eartly father very much. At times, I feel a little regret that even though I loved him very much, I could have loved him more when he was around. I am ashamed to say that it is only after being a father myself that i begin to really understand how much he loved me.

But I know that even if I had loved him less, his love for me would still be the same. I just feel sad that my daughters never got to know their grandfather who would have loved them to bits!I miss my earthly father a lot but my heavenly Father ensures that I am never in want.

*The 3rd single from his second album of the same name. Used to love this song very much. Still like it!

Love bites* - Def Leppard

Daredevil is becoming my newest favourite TV show! Season 2 has been really brilliant! Especially the first few episodes. The reason is because of the introduction of the Punisher. What a character. And portrayed brilliantly too by Jon Bernthal!

I loved the discourses he had with the Daredevil, as they talked about how different - and how alike they are.

In episode 11, the Punisher - Frank Castle has a chat with Karen in a small NY cafe.

As Frank talk to Karen about her feeling for Matt, he gives another one of his brilliant monologues:-

People that can hurt you, the ones that can really hurt you, are the ones that are close enough to do it. People that get inside you and tear you apart, and make you feel like you're never gonna recover. Shit. I'd chop my arm off right here, in this restaurant, just to feel that one more time for my wife. My old lady, she didn't just break my heart. She'd rip it out, she'd tear it apart, she'd step on that shit, feed it to a dog. She was ruthless. She brought the pain. But she'll never hurt me again. You see, I'll never feel that. You sit here and you're all confused about this thing, but you have it. You have everything. So hold on to it. Use two hands and never let go. You got it?

So good!!!! I actually paused the programme to blog this! Now back to the show!

*I'm surprised to learn that this is their only no. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100!

Against all odds* - Phil Collins

What an amazing achievement!!!!

Well done!!!! Against all odds (i read that it was 5000 - 1 chance of them winning it)!

Most of the neutrals i know are so happy for them. What a lesson for all of us too - to believe in the impossible, to aim for the stars, to achieve the unthinkable.

And I am very happy for Claudio Ranieri!!! As one headlines read - who said nice guys don't finish first?

The way how he was treated by Chelsea was really bad. I guess it is some poetic justice that it was Chelsea who prevented Spurs from winning this morning's game and thus giving the title to Leicester.

Roman - take a look at him now!!!

* This song was featured on the soundtrack of the movie of the same name.