Music Simmers & Bathes in Moonlight

I bought the movie tickets a month ago, fearing its hit smashing the box office.

The day came and as I watched Michael Jackson's This Is It, I can't help but find my toes constantly tapping to every beat and my head nodding to his grooves.  I had the urge to clap at the end of every song rehearsed but have to remind myself I was actually sitting in a cinema!  It's sort of mixed feelings really. 

It's fascinating to watch Michael Jackson controlled every nuance of the performance, from the dancers' cues to details in the music that a layperson like me would never notice.

The most interesting part has to be the words he used to describe things: music simmers and bathes in moonlight.

Even though I'd probably never go to see Michael Jackson in concert, I can see that the show would have thrilled and amazed fans, and that this film will be one way for them to experience just a bit of what could have been.

The Dilemma of Shortening Jeans

A common problem that I come across when buying premium denim jeans is that the length often need adjusting.

I recently invested in a pair of Levi's Premium that I adore but I cannot simply have them taken up without ruining the vintage look I have just paid top dollar for.

I can't believe how lucky when I found a tailor that can shorten jeans and then reattach the original hem with an invisible seam. Don't ask me how they do it, but I guarantee you wouldn't be able to tell mine have been shortened - an investment that is definitely in the money.

Change The World

Only recently, I realised if I can raise the spirits of just one person for a few hours, I can consider changed the world.

Because of my action, this person might go on to encourage and raise the spirits of someone else, thus setting up a chain reaction. There's no knowing where this might lead, but I imagine the world will have changed for the better.


Michael Jackson once said something about changing the world we are living in,

"We're Here to Stimulate, Eliminate And Congregate,
Illuminate We Are Here To Change The World"

Eric Clapton wrote a song about it too

"If I could reach the stars I'd pull one down for you
Shine it on my heart so you could see the truth
That this love I have inside is everything it seems
But for now I find it's only in my dreams"

I guess when these great writers wrote these songs, they didn't mean we can all change the entire world forever so there be problem free everywhere. They knew this is impossible to achieve overnight, but...let it not be the mother of procrastination or our inaction.

Think about this, what you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever but in its place is something you left behind.

So...let it be something good - even the smallest change is a change worth making.

Simply Wordless

There's a woman I know who lost her beloved daughter over a year ago and she's still not over with it. She will shed a bitter tear or two all of a sudden, out of nowhere, and just like tonight, I would have thought I must have said something inappropriate to have triggered that.

After certain point, I know for a fact that a parent will never come to terms with the loss of his/her child, however long that period of time has been.

I came across this

A woman who lost her husband is called widow;
A man who lost his wife is called widower;
Kids who lost their parents are called orphans

but there's no word to describe parents who lost their child...that's how bad the loss is!

The Founding of A Republic Propaganda

The Founding of a Republic isn’t the greatest movie of all times, but as a Chinese, it’s definitely worth watching and particularly timely so, during the nation's 60th birthday.

If you are familiar with the history of the Chinese Civil War you should enjoy it even more, partly to check if they have changed anything and partly to appreciate how they portrayed what happened over 60 years ago.

If you are like me, who is cynical about the whole Communist Party of China, you will still be able to walk out appreciating the movie for not being a shameless propaganda piece but rather, a genuinely well-made film starring countless familiar celebrities.

The movie helps me remember one of the most contentious and pivotal moments of modern Chinese history. Well, for point scoring's sake, at least I know how we came up with our national anthem and the meaning to the design of our national flag.

Consider cramping 65 years of history and roll that out in just under 2.5 hours! It's not bad.

Recipe: Mussels in White Wine and Crème Fraîche

Blue Mussels from France are right now in season and I didn't realise I have passion for Mussels until this day.

Mussels can be found virtually anywhere in the world, but these one from France are the best and the fattest because the water is warmer than in Brittany and Normandy.

If you want a taste of the pure sweet delight, here's how:

1. In a wide skillet with a lid, melt butter over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion and shallot, and stir until very soft and beginning to turn gold, about 5 minutes; do not let them brown.
   
3. Add thyme and bay leaf and stir.
   
4. Add wine and 1 cup water and bring to a boil over high heat.
   
5. Add mussels, cover, and cook until open, about 4 minutes.
   
6. Transfer mussels to serving bowls with a slotted spoon and boil liquid in the pan until reduced to a sauce.
   
7. Turn off heat and whisk in crème fraîche and salt and pepper to taste.
   
8. Pour over mussels and serve with crusty bread.