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| At the final annual dinner with my ex-company, we were at a fancy place high above the bustling cityscape, with Twin Towers in close view. I'd ordered lobster yee mein, which was done quite right to my taste. Throughout dinner, with the ebb and flow of conversations around me, I overheard some guys at the next table (a different function) talking about student life, internships and break. How I missed those older days. Here I was, in the company of my ex-boss and colleagues, trying to stay awake in the dim lighting and thinking about my impending end of job contract. I felt quite anxious (still am, btw), and fearful of the future (like I've always been). What kind of career do I want? What life I aspire to build? |
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| Some people like to create a private gallery in their homes. I wonder whether our generation does this any more. Washing photos, putting them in frames, arraying those frames on walls - sounds like only something restaurant owners, art gallery staff and the elderly would do. Well, in the future when I have my own place, I'll probably start a collection. The kinds of images I like tend to be evocative (see above). I have an enduring fascination with light and shadows. The interplay between light and dark says much about the duality we encounter in life. GRRM quoted Faulkner when he talked about how he approached writing: "the human heart in conflict with itself". I think that sums up most of our life struggles succinctly. Good and bad exist in us, just as there are good and bad karma. How we approach the world and how the world treats us have bearings on our life - and I think I enjoy art that has these concepts and depth. |
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| Sometime towards the end of August I accompanied my dad on a trip down to Raub. My relationship with him wasn't exactly good and healthy, to be honest. We may have our differences in personality, attitude and approach to the world, but one thing we did agree on during that father-son bonding time (haha) was this coffee at Master Kopitiam, which my dad's friend had kindly brought us to. The coffee had just the right balance of aroma, taste and texture. How happy were we to stumble on such a good find! Life may throw us some curve balls, and life may offer us small joyous moments like this. I think I got along better with my dad after that trip. |
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| It's the time of the year again when IKEA tantalises us with a new catalogue of its offerings. Ever since last January when I decided to make over parts of our house, I've turned into a big IKEA fan. Those well-thought-out show rooms and aesthetically posed furniture photos have captivated my heart, even though their "home furnishings" are quite simple and sometimes expensive. When I get bored or in want of a change of mood, I like to walk around these set pieces in IKEA. I'm gravitated towards their colour, design, cleanliness and order, which can be a sight for sore eyes for city dwellers like me who rarely travel to other places. Also, aren't we curious about what kind of spaces other people live in? Like, do they use daring colours and bold features in decorating their rooms? Do they like minimalistic, monochrome rooms, surgically clean, calm and neutral? I started out appreciating white, streamlined Nordic designs, but now I'm expanding my tastes to other areas. Can't wait to have my own pad, haha. Better start working hard, then. |
