cho cho train

A friend got married yesterday (Mark & Stacy), Jon & I were invited to celebrate with them at Haywards Heath. The interesting part was after the official wedding registration, we were going to have a detour lunch & more celebration in the steam train! It was called the Blue Bell Railway in East Sussex.

With much anticipation, I wasn't sure if the train was actually an operating train, or merely train models cum restaurant opening to the visitors. Another friend with us even thought it was just a name of a famous restaurant with sign posting on the main street :). When we finally got there, I was particularly so excited to see the operating steam train with elegant setup in the Lilian carriage and friendly services and smiles from the crews & stewards.

I have dreamed about boarding onto the Orient Express after having watched the movie "Romance on the Orient Express" since teenager years with my sisters and mum. Boarding onto the Blue Bell train is definitely an equivalent although much scaled down version of the sort. Interestingly, the wedding hails an element of East meets West, as the groom is a half Chinese, half English. Our seatings were pre-arranged and there was a small token of good luck charm to each guests which consists of a lotto ticket! How thoughtful of the married couple to their guests (I wished the Chinese pre-arranged seated wedding dinner will also do the same!)

We were being served with 3-course sumptuous lunch, drinks and more drinks. At first we weren't sure how long would the trip take as the track layout is only 19 miles (or less) between 3 stations. Hence you could have guessed that the steam train will run 2 return journey to make time for the wedding toasts at the other end of the station! Silly me started to associate the reality with movie when the train passed through a dark tunnel and imagined that was when all the dodgy things happened in those days. Ha!

I have to say this is one of the most interesting wedding invites I've been to (apart from my sister's of course!). The wedding ceremony was very well planned and organized. M & S even have their name printed on the front of the train. It was truly their day - relaxed, enjoyed, and most importantly they got to really mingle and enjoy the food themselves! Everyone was having so much fun, especially the children on board too.

My heartiest congratulations to M & S : "May you be blessed with lifetime full of love and happiness, all good wishes just for you!"

Circle of Life

This month has turned out to be a really different month for me. Different in the sense that I start to view things differently. Pardon me for my short sense of humor here :)

It is a month to celebrate, as well as to pay my sincere respect to a friend.

I would like to give my deepest condolence to my friend - his wife had deceased in recent accident during a work trip with the Hospital in South Africa. It was daunting learning about this as they were married only last year. One couldn't help wonder what is the reasoning to this? It torn my heart looking at the once open hearted and cheerful person to be in his lowest state. I heard his voice looking for forgiveness and only wanted another day to be with his wife. If only he was given the chance. I hope that my friend will take his time to grieve through, and learn to believe in faith and love again.

Unfortunate incident like this, is not something that one can see it coming. It somehow become second to nature that everyone would expect everyone to be there, every day. Taking things for granted is what I deem the most severe and expensive mistake one can take as a habit in life. Old habit dies hard but it's never too late to start kicking off the bad habit now, is it?

Sometimes when we start to feel that life is not treating us fairly, or not looking forward to go to work/school, or feel angry and argue over petty things - wouldn't it be more meaningful if we start to appreciate this fragile life and feel blessed to be able to wake up in the morning to welcome the rise?

It's also birthday for many whom I know this month, comprises of both of my lovely sisters, my adorable niece (turning to 1 this year), 2 good friends, 2 work colleagues, and myself. Celebration for the Cancerian :).

Apart from this, special congratulations dedicated to 2 special couples who join the wedding bells this month and may they be blessed with life long happiness in marriage.

Looking forward to another wonderful day tomorrow!

Language of the Universe

I have received an email from my sister explaining on how quickly my niece has outgrown her clothes, and now learning to stand and walk on both feet, learning to pat on her chest when she's afraid of something, and also learning to pat on her stomach when she's full.

It's a wonderful as to know that my little niece is slowly learning the language of universe and beginning to take interest to communicate to not only her parents but everyone around her. Sometimes, you can't help wonder how this miracle develops over time and I reckon as parents, they'll be capturing every single movements of their little darling and safely fold those memories in a little corner of their heart where it forever remains warmth and precious.

I wished, many times, in many ways, that family, relatives and friends are always blessed with great health and happines. These two to me are the most important essence in life and as a child, you will never know what this is all about; but as parents this is what you really wanted for your child.

亲爱的妈妈, 生日快乐

It's my mum's birthday today (Malaysia time). Through the distance I'm hoping to convey this special message to her and to feel the happiness and laughter which surrounds her and creates by her on this very special day.

Here's to you mum...

"Mi, speaking to you is always been entertaining. You wash away my anxieties and worries, replenishes them with positive and laughable energy. The main thing I admire about you is your ability to care and love us in abundance, joke about life when the going gets tough, and your sound advise of trusting the flow.

You are forever the darling of our family, of your family and of everyone who knew you at heart. You know you are the best mum I would ever dream for in this life. I am proud to have you as my mum!

Let this be another special day to add on to one of your many wonderful achievements in life.

Happy 55th Birthday Mi!

Lots of loves and hugs."

QI - Quite Interesting

Ever thinking of watching top comedians in a live show and talk everything about one thing from the past to present for 3 hours and you almost laugh your head off towards the end of the show? QI is the one show I would highly recommend especially it is a free event held in the London Studio. The one drawback is one has to start queuing up as early as 2 hours in advance even with a ticket in hand to secure a seat in this studio. A friend of mine came to getting tickets to the Apprentice aftermath and we thought it is a good event to have friends around and sharing the evening on a lighter note.

Back to QI, Steven Fry is indeed the darling host. He has managed to bring the best site out from the rest of the panels for the evening. Their conversation seems endless and entertaining. And most importantly, the questions posted to the panels are often down to simple principles - however that is what the fun begins when we start to complete the string of connection in the questions with such complicated twisted mind, and yet still got them all wrong!

After the show, it makes me wonder if I have actually learned anything from the school? Or maybe better QI is the new way to get everyone start brushing up their general knowledge :)

Mary Poppins

I've intended to watch Mary Poppins on film but never came close to finish it as it was aired midnight 6 months ago. However, watching it on stage brings a different twist to the show, and refreshing to one eyes.

There is plenty of fun watching the scenes with the well-loved melodies of the Sherman Brothers. Scenes like a few moment of magics in the "Bottomless Carpetbag" where Mary can produce her hat stand, lamp, plant and mirrors from her bag, and a solid bed out of thin air were just awesome! I almost wanted to dance with the cast on the entertaining dance routine when Mary brings the children to a sweet shop that also sell words "Supercalifragilisticexpiliadocious", Burt dancing along the wall and even the ceiling in the "Chimney Sweep", and all time children classic of "A Spoonful of Sugar". Amidst of all the excitements, there'r also moments of touchiness by watching the old lady selling crump to the crowd to feed the hungry birds, and the realm magic of how Mary manages to transform the meaning of "Anything can happen if you let it" - which eventually reunited the family of the 17 Cherry Tree Lane.

To me, it is a very meaningful yet enjoyable lesson not only to the children, but also to the adult who has long forgotten the importance of knowing when to let go of the power struggle and learn to look beyond his/her values and align themselves with the family values. If we were given a choice to hold on to our family values and learn to express our love now, wouldn't it be a good time to start doing so before the time has past? It doesn't cost a penny to do so, but it'll bring a whole different world to someone who actually cares and loves us.

With a show as captivating as this one, it is nice to put yourself into 17 Cherry Tree Lane for a while and let the magic flows.

It is supercalifragilisticexpiliadocious!