O Christmas Tree

Here are some of me memorable X'mas trees:-

1. This tree kept me company for the 2 X'mases when i was in Essex. Got it from Wilkinson. It is battery operated and have fiber optics which lights up! :-)

2. This huge tree was the first i saw in 2006! It was early November and i was in Paris. This was in Galerie Lafayette.

3. Ah, our campus tree on Square 3. It's lovely to just walk on campus and see it - or work at Food-on-3 and look out and see it.

4. The huge tree at Trafalgar Square - every year since 1947, a full size pine tree has been given by the people of Norway as a Christmas gift. Read about it here.

5. My "work-place" tree. This little tree has been sitting on my work table come every December for many many years - starting from me practicing days and now in me room in Uni.

6. And finally, this is the current tree we have in our house!

7. Just one more - this is no X'mas tree but both me mate Kathy and i felt that this was just one huge x'mas tree!!!!

Christmas countdown

Ok, ok, it's kinda late but better late than never!!! Well, look at it this way - it's early for Christmas 2008!!!!

Best Christmas movies!

Ok. This is tricky. What actually constitutes a Christmas movie??? What if the movie was based on something which happened in the month of December? If that's the case, then could arguably be a Christmas movie!! And then what about those which has events which took place over the Christmas season and then also the new year? Like I am legend, While you were sleeping and About a boy? Complicated-eh? Oh well... here's me list anyways, based on me own criteria of what is a Christmas movie - it must have some Christmas song/carol featured in it and the Christmas theme must be pretty central to the show!

1. Love, Actually;
2. While you were sleeping;
3. Home Alone 2;
4. Die Hard 2; (Yes!!!)
5. Scrooged

This year's new entry - The Holiday

Favourite Christmas songs/carols - this one is not much easier too!!!

1. Have yourself a merry little Christmas (The Pretenders' version);
2. Believe in him (Juwita Suwito);
3. Do they know it's Christmas time (Band Aid);
4. Oh come all ye faithful (any version);
5. That night (Bright coloured lights) - an original song by Cheryl;
6. Happy Christmas (War is over) - John Lennon

This year's new entry - The 12 Days of Christmas by Boymongoose(?)

Unforgettable Christmases

1. Receiving the BEST Christmas gift ever on 25/12/2006;
2. Caroling in the OA settlements in the jungles of Pahang in 2004;
3. A chinese Christmas - countdown with me fellow workers in a Chinese restaurant after work;
4. Staying up all nite chatting with RTG. Well, almost all nite;
5. Attending the Christmas Eve service in Edinburgh in 2005

The most unforgettable Christmas for all the wrong reasons was the one in 2004 where most nites before Christmas was spent at the hospital accompanying a fren who's husband was in ICU. It din help the spirits when the tsumani struck on Boxing Day.

Things i miss about Christmas in the UK

1. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and "folks dressed up like Eskimos";
2. The excitement and anticipation in the air!
3. Yorkshire pudding, turkey with cranberry sauce and that... that thingy... the cocktail sausage wrapped in bacon!!! Yes, i know we can get it here too but it's just not the same!
4. Carols in the Square - the caroling session in Square 3 on the UoE Campus;
5. Listening to Kost FM which plays Christmas songs non-stop all day long during the weeks before Christmas. Kost FM is an American radio station but i was listening to it while in the UK (thanks to me American flatmate, Michelle).

Special mention - experiencing the post Christmas Day sales - quite an experience!!!!

Movies to look forward to in 2008

1. Vantage Point

I've seen the trailer quite a while back and was sold immediately. The premise was so interesting - what starts of as a straightforward assassination turns out to be more than meets the eye - and we have different "vantage points" to look from. And on top of that, it stars Dennis Quaid!!!



2. Rendition

I just saw the trailer today. I guess the issues of international law and human rights (read: Guantanamo Bay) is enuf to get me into this movie. And it stars Jake Gyllenhaal!



3. Wanted

Another trailer i caught today. Yes, it's a hot Angelina Jolie that will make me head to the cinemas to catch this!!



4. The Dark Knight

The trailer looks good but i'm concerned - Batman Begins was really really good. Can this live up to its predecessor? Well, it does have Maggie Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger joining the cast!!! And check out the cool Bat Bike(?)!!!



5. But to me, the most anticipated movie for 2008 (for now) is none other than the long long awaited Narnia movie, Prince Caspian!!! And the trailer which was just released this month looks awesome!!!!



Another widely anticipated movie for me is the return of Indy Jones!!!! Yup, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opens in May 2008. Can't find any trailers yet. Then there's also the long awaited return of Stephen Chow and the sequel to Hellboy!!

Oh, a mention also about Rambo IV!!! i won't link the trailer here cuz it's bloody violent - literally!!!! And after the disappointment of Rocky Balboa, i'm also not getting my hopes up. But the trailer will sure arouse interest in anyone who wants war and violence!!!

Great time at "High Hill"

Here are the highlights which made the trip so so good!

1. Star gazing at night

It was brilliant!!!! It has been so long - too long - since i've seen so many stars in the skies. We just lie down on wooder benches outside at 2 am admiring the view - stars covering every square centimeter of the sky. Lovely!

2. Playing ping pong!

Am not good at this - due to the fact that i hardly play it. But it was fun since i got to play wif fellow amateurs!!! OK - i was slightly better so winning made it all the more sweeter! Muahahaha!

3. Deja vu in the car

On the way back, i was in the car with WS and KC. It was a reunion of some sort for our France road trip last year. I enjoyed it as we sang along to the songs on the radio.

4. Back to the nature

It was nice to get away from it all. One afternoon, KC and i went up to the open air balcony and slept. It was lovely - the breeze was constant and cooling, and the sound of flowing water and jungle insects was like lullaby to me!

5. Stephen Low's talks

It was encouraging and really down to earth!