Who needs sleep?* - Barenaked Ladies

So after the previous post, my condition just went worse. The medication did not help at all.

By the time the weekend came, i was so unwell that i spent most of the time in bed, sleeping. It was really bad - so bad that i actually dragged meself out of bed and went to see a doctor on Sunday. Only that they were all closed - and it did not help that Monday was a public holiday for us too.

Spent so much time sleeping. I really couldn't do anything else - not even watch TV or look at my phone. The pain in my sinuses was so bad - that one day, i was lying in bed in tears, longing for relief from the pain.

I was finally diagnosed with sinus infection and put on a course of antibiotics. Thank God that my condition improved after that and by the end of last week, I was feeling good - it was a strange sensation not having my nose congested!!!

Looking bad, it was probably God's way of making me rest and sleep. The past half year has been really challenging. Last month was really tough, with the working trip to Singapore. The demands of work has been increasing and increasing, and i do not get any reprieve when i get home as then the demands from the girls come. Then when they go to sleep, it is back to work again.

I think my body was really suffering and in dire need of sleep. The sinus infection did not affect the other parts of my body - but it was enough to knock me off my feet and ensured that my body gets the rest and sleep it is craving for.

Bad time management, unrealistic expectations placed upon self - all these just made the body weaker and weaker. Who knows what would have happened to me if i did not have the sinus infection!

Some times, i don't know my limits but thankfully, i have a heavenly father who knows - and will make sure i don't push myself over it.

I was talking to some colleagues last week and they were saying that everyone had fallen ill badly this semester as it has indeed been a very trying one. I'm thankful that i have been generally well.

*Taken from their 4th full length album, their most successful which contains their popular One Week.

Unwell* - Matchbox 20

I'm sick. Been fighting it for a while but physically, i cannot take it anymore.

Thankfully, it is not so bad. After all, i am at work now - and being as productive as i possibly can. And the best thing is that the two little girls are recovering. In fact, the older one is more or less recovered and the smaller one is on the way there.

Since October, it has been really bad, though. They have been sick - taking turns or doing it together. The worst was when the older girl had to be hospitalised. Poor thing.

The good thing was that once she was hospitalised, she started to get better. She was severely dehydrated and putting her on the drip really helped. I had to stay the night with her at the hospital but everything was fine.

However, they continued to fall sick - visiting their doctor became a weekly ritual! Having said that, it was always very nice to see the grandfatherly pediatrician. He is so knowledgeable and so calm and reassuring. and the girls enjoy the playthings he has in the waiting room.

For mummy and daddy, we get to go to the nearby shopping mall and have our dinner there!

But for now, mummy and daddy are falling ill - thankfully, the girls are fine. Cannot imagine how it is to take care of the small ones who are sick when we ourselves are not well.

*One of my all time favourite songs!

Hello, Goodbye* - The Beatles

By February next year, i would have been sitting at my cubicle for 8 years. The only one from the Law School who moved in there in 2010 and still be there on the 9th floor of Block E.

The same chair, the same table. Now they ask me to move. At such short notice.

 

Some of my colleagues are not too pleased with this. Some are getting emotional.

Me? Well, it's inconvenient - but i guess being older and experiencing so much changes in life, it does't really bother me that much.

I'll miss the old place. But i guess I miss the people more - so since most of my close friends have left already, the place is just that - a place.

Trying to look at the positives! I'm facing the window now so i also have more space to keep my things. And it's way brighter - with a built-in fluorescent lamp. The people at the new place have so far seem friendly - unlike my previous place where it was all 'business' like and no one bothered to even make eye contact! I'm with the hospitality school so i guess they should be pretty hospitable!

On top of everything, i have a view at my new place!!!!! =)

Hello new place and new people, goodbye old place.

At the end of the day, it'll still be business as usual. Work, work, work.

*Their single for Christmas 1967 - 50 years ago! And still so good.

Honesty* - Billy Joel

I was reading this to my daughter a couple of months ago:-

She stopped me and asked, 'What is blubber'?

I told her as what the book says, it is fat. 

She asked, 'So whales are fat?'

I replied, 'Yes'.

She added, 'Like daddy?'

'Yes, fat like daddy', i told her. She giggled.

You can count on kids to be honest on matters like these. Brutally honest!!!

*One of his many Top 40 hits, one of my favourite songs of his.

Just the two of us* - Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers

Our kids are wonderful! Sure, there are times when they really drive us up the wall but we cannot imagine our lives without them now.

Still, it would be nice for us the spend some time together once in a while, to enjoy each other's company without being distracted by the wants and needs of the little girls.

So it was good that in recent months, we managed to spend some time alone, just the two of us.

The first was during our wedding anniversary - it was our 6th anniversary and we left the girls with my mom and went for dinner - at the very place where we hosted out wedding lunch 6 years ago.

Then at the beginning of October, just a few days ago, we actually spent 2 days and a night away on our own. It was very short but it was better than nothing. We went to Singapore. It was really nice just being with each other, not needing to be responsible parents for a short while.

Still, at the end of the day, it was nice to be back with the girls whom we missed very much!

Wonder when will we ever get to go away again like that? Doubt it'll be anytime soon as Gemma really gave my mom-in-law a difficult time.

Ah well.... better enjoy the time we get to spend with the girls for i'm sure there'll come a time when they wouldn't want to spend time with us. So while they still do, we better make the best of it!

*This song won the Grammy for the Best R&B Song in 1982. A brilliant funky jazzy song.

Don't worry, be happy* - Bobby McFerrin

Saw these flowers in the car park the other day. Reminded me of these Bible verses:-

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It was a timely reminder to take one day at a time. Everyday, i pray to God, help me through today.

*Such a brilliant song, hit the charts at the time when i was going through my STPM revision.

I will carry you* - Michael W Smith

Exactly the reason why i do not refuse the opportunity to carry my little girls. Especially the older one. I don't know when carrying her would be the last time i do so.

* A track from his 14th studio album, This is your time.

Send in the clowns* - Judy Collins

Someone sent me this after last weekend's game:-

I think it portrays the team very well! We have a bunch of clowns at the back!

After taking the lead at 3-2, we gave up 2 points by conceding another comical goal close to the end in added on time!

This morning, we performed slightly better. Our keeper was better and he even saved a penalty (albeit a poorly taken one). But the defence still leaves much to be desired.

Sigh... what is Klopp up to? Everyone knows our weakest link is in the defence but he hasn't done anything to strengthen it, has he?

*This song was written for the musical, 'a Little Night Music'. this song has been recorded by many popular artists and is considered a jazz standard

You make me feel like dancing* - Leo Sayer

I played some instrumental piano music on me phone last night for my youngest daughter. She loved it.

But the silly girl started to 'dance' - going round and round and round until she fell down on her bum, obviously feeling a little dizzy!

She sat there, with a silly smile on her face and making us all laugh.

I think music is gonna be very important to her just like how it is with her daddy!

*His first no. 1 single in the US but only managed to reach no. 2 in the UK. This song also won the Grammy in 1978 for the best R&B song.

Baby you can drive my car* - Lulu

I've read and heard a lot of good things about the movie, 'Baby Driver'. To be honest, i wasn't too keen. So he's a getaway car driver who has a baby face. So what?

But then i saw this clip as i wanted to find out what all the buzz was about:-



WOW!!!

I began reading up more about it and realised why the writer and directer's name sounded so familiar (sorry but i really couldn't remember). He wrote Shaun of the Dead - one of the best movies ever!

And he also wrote the screenplay for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World!

It also brought back to memory this scene - one of the best movie scenes ever for me:-


Then the music in the first 6 minute clip made sense if the movie was directed by Edgar Wright.

So i made my way to watch it. It was one of the most enjoyable 2 hours i've had for a long long time. It really is sooo good! From the story line, to the wonderful cast and the music that was chosen for the movie, it was so near perfect!

I had a big struggle internally after that - is this the best movie for 2017 for me? Clearly better than the ones that i was looking forward to (Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Aliens Covenant, Spider-Man) and better than the ones that critics have been raving about (Dunkirk, Wonder Woman). But is it better than Logan? Logan is definitely the best superhero movie i've seen. And it was just as good in terms of storyline and cast. But Baby Driver for now edges it into the top spot purely on the music part.

I doubt the upcoming movies that i am looking forward to will top this - Thor, Blade Runner, Kingsmen. But i hope that Star Wars will be better than this. I really do.

*Her remake of the Beatles' classic 'Drive my car'.