The fingers remember!

Today I had orchestra rehearsal. It was this evening that I once again play on the double bass after last playing on a double bass on 10 Sep 2008. Amazingly, after a break of two weeks, my fingers remember.

Before the orchestra rehearsal and during the rehearsal break, I was playing through the second movement of Dittersdorf's Second Concerto for Double Bass and the first movement of Dragonetti's Concerto in A major. It was simply amazing how the fingers somehow unconsciously know where to place themselves and without too much conscious effot, I was playing those two movements. There were glitches yet there was a sense of spontaneity and ease with the playing. I love the feeling.

Today, I've got to learn that the orchestra is likely to play "Autumn" and "Winter" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons for its 30th anniversary concert next year. I'm looking forward to play them!

Meantime, for this evening's rehearsal, the orchestra rehearsed Smetana's The Moldau and Schumann's First Symphony. I quite like the rehearsal.

Having taken a break in Australia last week has done me good. Many thanks to my friends in Australia who have taken time to catch up with me and to show me about.

Good news from the scan

Urged by dear eastcoastlife, I went to consult a specialist to consult if there is any pathology for my frequent experiences of period pain. Today, I went for a pelvic ultrasound scan and the test results showed that 'no significant abnormality is detected', and I was discharged from further consultation and examination.

There are some nice staff at the diagnostic imagery department. The scan required me to have a full bladder to do the transabdominal scan. I think I must have drank more water than needed such that I had a challenging time holding a full bladder. Thank goodness the queue coordinator and the counter staff provided assistance when I alerted them of my challenging situation. The sonographer was also very kind in helping to divert my attention from the discomfort of holding a full bladder so that I could get the scan done quickly and get over with it. These were simple acts of kindness to be thankful for.

So the good news is that there's no pathology observed. Things look fine. I still can't explain the cause of the pain, and yes, Mistipurple would probably figure that I have declined the doctor's offer to prescribe me painkillers.

Maybe one of the most helpful medical discoveries that medical students could research on would be how to ease and stop period pain using natural way, without painkillers. Could someone give it a thought please? This would be a blessing to many ladies.

12 Sep 2008: Arriving safe and sound in Sydney

Early morning, I took a taxi to head for the airport. My dear mother helped me to load my luggage up the taxi before she headed for work. Thanks Mom. I suppose she has her simple ways to show that she cares.

At the airport, I was enjoying the moments of being alone. Yeah. I am on my own, with time to myself. This in itself was recharging. Travelling on my own on the plane has been a peaceful experience to savour. I spent some time working on the ABRSM Music Theory Examinations past-year papers for year 2007 while I was on the plane. It was delightful that I also had the time to listen to Beethoven's Piano Sonata, No. 12, in A flat while I was on the plane. I also got to listen to Schubert's Symphony No. 8 performed by the Sydney Symphony Ochestra. Good music makes life more enriching, I think. Thank goodness for good music that suits my ears.

At Sydney, I am thankful that despite my being held-up at the immigrations, the staff from immigrations have been doing their best to minimise the inconvenience while ensuring that the necessary checks are done according to the standard procedures. I cleared the immigrations despite a slight delay.

Yeah, I was glad that I managed to be in time to get the transport to the hotel. At the hotel, checking in was a breeze. Many thanks to the lady who served me at the reception. While I was trying to figure out how to use the access card to get the lift to stop at the level where my room was at, a kind lady who was one of the guests staying at the same level as me helped gave me directions on how to use the access card. That made it easier for me to orientate myself about the hotel.


As such, I arrived safe and sound in Sydney. Perhaps you would have guessed that the next thing to do was to contact my dad to let him know that I was safe, and to contact two of my friends who were in Sydney to arrange for suitable time to meet.

Being safe and sound meant that I was ready to embark on a journey to discover Sydney and to spend time catching up with friends. That was a joy in itself.

If you are reading this post, keep safe and enjoy the bliss that comes with being safe.

A step towards spreading positive energy

Sydney Opera House.

Hello everyone. How are you?

Yours truly is back from Australia. It has been a meaningful and wonderful stay for me in Australia. I am feeling rejuvenated!

Million thanks to my dear friends whom I have met in Australia for spending time with me and showing me about parts of Australia. I had a memorable visit to a supermarket in Sydney, spoke to a Chinese sinseh who practised in a supermarket and he showed me his calligraphy writings, saw a beautiful sunset, drank sangria for the first time in my life, enjoyed sunset while being driven across Anzac Bridge, hiked the Blue Mountains almost alone, toured the Sydney Opera House and its backstage, saw real koala bears in the zoo, had a chance to put my knowledge of MBTI to meaningful use, understood some of the architectural considerations that went into the designing of a few of the buildings in Melbourne, and had a wonderful mango gateau. I will remember the lovely times that we have had spent together.

While in Australia, dearest XS suggested that I write about positive things on my blog. I have been sold to her idea of consciously choosing happiness every minute. This is one way to take some actions. Starting today, I shall make a commitment to spread positive energy on this blog. Perhaps by giving positive energy, there will be more positive energy around on this world for everyone to receive and to give.

Admittedly, I have my ups and downs. A healthy outlet to ventilate and to release the negative energy that may arise would still be needed. My solution to that would be a private blog for myself where I would have my doses of healthy ventilation.

Hopefully you would like the simple yet significant change that I have committed to make on this blog. If you like it, please help me spread the positive energy around the blogosphere, and around the world. I am hoping that somehow the positive energy would make this world an even better place for everyone, including those whom I deeply care about. Cheers.

To give XS the credit that she deserves, this post is specially dedicated to her. Wishing her bliss every moment.

Heritage TV: Singapore Stone

Watch the HTV team discover more on the elusive Singapore Stone at the National Museum of Singapore! If the reviews to this experimental, trial episode of Heritage TV are good, there could be a 12-episode series next year.

I found out about this trial episode of Heritage TV from Wei Chong at National Heritage Board and fellow Friend of Yesterday.sg.



I particularly like the segment which touches on the significance of the Singapore Stone.

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On the side note, when this post is scheduled to be published, I should be on the flight back from Melbourne to Singapore.

Kampongs in Singapore

By the time that this post is scheduled to be published, I would have spent about close to a week in Sydney. I will set off for Melbourne on 19 Sep 2008 for a short stay there.

Meantime, I would like to point my readers to a post by fellow heritage blogger, Lam Chun See, of Good Morning Yesterday titled More than 1 type of kampong in Singapore.

I have been waiting for such a post from him for a while, and I am very pleased that it is finally out. In this post, Chun See shares about the difference between the various kinds of kampongs that used to exist in Singapore. I have never grown up in a kampong so it was enriching for me to read about life in kampongs.

Enjoy his post here: More than 1 type of kampong in Singapore

Four years blogging

This shall be a post that would make use of Blogger's scheduled-post publishing function to be published. At the time when this post should be published, yours truly would be in the Land Down Under for a short holiday.

When I first started out this blog, it was meant to relieve the boredom of having to be at home after a wisdom tooth surgery.

What helped was that I realised that I needed an avenue to express myself. Writing has been a much more comfortable way for me to express myself than talking. Many thanks to the supportive readers, many whom I have got to know via blogging by chance. While I don't write to gain popularity, the support from readers have provided me encouragement during many down times. Thank you very much for enriching my blogging experiences.

Here's to specially thank Mistipurple for being one of my long-time readers and supporters on this blog. She's probably one of my most faithful readers who have been reading my blog for the longest period of time.

Meantime, I have a question, which is your most memorable post on this blog? Share with us.

Public Bus Transport by Peter Chan

Image Source: Good Morning Yesterday provided by Peter Chan.

How was the public bus transport system like in the past, before yours truly was even born?

On Good Morning Yesterday, guest blogger, Peter Chan writes about public bus transport in Singapore. Please find the first and second of this series here:

Public Bus Transport - No More STC Buses in Singapore!!!! (by Peter Chan)

Public Bus Transport (Part 2) - Singapore’s First Air-conditioned Public Bus (by Peter Chan)

Do take a good read of these two posts. Meantime, this is a scheduled post that will be published on Mid-Autumn Festival. May you have a heartwarming time.

Singapore Biennale 2008

The Singapore Biennale 2008 will be held from 11 Sep to 16 Nov 2008. The theme for Singapore Biennale 2008 is Wonder.

Tickets can be purchased at any of the ticketing booths situated in the 3 main venues: City Hall, Central Promontory Site and South Beach Development. There are scheduled guided tours available on Saturdays and Sundays at 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.

By the time that this post is published, I would be in Sydney. As such, it seems like I would have to check out the Singapore Biennale 2008 after I've returned from Australia. Thank goodness that the Singapore Biennale 2008 is held till 16 Nov 2008.

Meantime, here's a TVC short trailer for the Singapore Biennale 2008:

On Vacation 12 - 20 Sep 08

Photo taken at Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore. I like the tranquil feel of this place.

Yours truly will be taking a short vacation in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) from 12 - 20 Sep 2008. It should be early spring now.

I may possibly not go online during this period. However, I have a written few scheduled posts on Blogger and these posts will be scheduled to be posted while I am on vacation.

Meantime, I wish for a safe, recharging and fulfilling trip. Please keep safe too.

Heritage Starbloggers

Here's to spread the news of this blogging contest.

"Share your thoughts on Singapore’s heritage and museums with National Heritage Board’s very first heritage star blogging contest! Drop by any of the National Heritage Board's eight museums and blog about them! Your entry could be about an intriguing artifact you encountered, or just your day out at the museum. Throw in an array of photographs, your two-cents worth and you’re about done! It’s that simple! Not only that, you stand to win attractive prizes such as a Nintendo Wii or a PSP! "

Visit yesterday.sg/heritagestars for more information.

Registration is open from 6 September to 6 October 2008.

10 Sep 2008

Photo credits: http://otterman.wordpress.com

Many thanks to the friends and supporters who have taken time to attend the concert held at The Plaza, National Library, at Victoria Street today. Thanks to those who have sent in the well-wishes too.

It has been enjoyable to play in the concert, and to play for the audience. I hope they have enjoyed the concert and the music as much as I did.

One look at the programme for this concert, and one could tell that it focuses on familiar tunes.

ROSSINI The Barber of Seville Overture
LLOYD WEBBER Symphonic Reflections
H. ZIMMER The Pirates of the Caribbean
JOHN WILLIAMS Schindler’s List
ROSSINI The Thieving Magpie Overture
A. SILVESTRI Forrest Gump Suite

I am pleased to hear that Chun See said that he has 'enjoyed himself thoroughly', and Siva rated the concert 6 out of 5! Siva has a post that he had written while the orchestra was rehearsing.

My favourite would be the Forrest Gump Suite, partly because it was a well-known movie when I was a teenager, and it was one of those few movies that I have had watched back then. I am also attracted to its simple yet captivating introduction and its rousing ending. Generally, the arrangement was good.

Schindler's List was another piece of music that touches me. Please pardon me, I generally have a love for melancholy tunes. We were playing the original orchestral compositions by John Williams himself, written for Itzhak Perlman. That meant quite some sum of money paid for the scores.

The two Rossini's overtures are very technically challenging for the double bass player. Our tutor said that even professional double bass players would need to play through those challenging parts in the Rossini's overtures before the rehearsals, simply because those challenging parts are not meant to be sight-read. Thank goodness that there were some easier parts in these two overtures so I could still have some time to relax and prepare mentally for the challenging parts. Rossini does write pretty effective overtures. I particularly like the colourful sounds that are created through his compositions.

I used not to like playing the Webber's Symphonic Reflections arranged by Bruce Chase. I like Webber's music in general, however I did not like the arrangements of Symphonic Reflections which was done by Bruce Chase. Anyway, Andrew Lloyd Webber has done a great job writing such captivating melodies that eventually, I have learnt to tolerate the arrangement and focus on the nice melody lines written by Webber. I don't know why, the tune from Webber's Memory kept ringing in my mind, after the concert while I was on my way home.

The Pirates of the Caribbean was fun to play. I tried to approach it by playing it in a rugged manner. I believe that would suit the music well.

After the concert, I managed to steal some time from keeping the instruments to catch up with Siva, Chun See, acroamatic and A. I managed to also speak with one of my colleagues SR who came for the concert.

Later the night, before I headed home, I met one of my friends, ML, by chance when I needed to take a light meal so that I could take some medications. It was a pleasure to meet her by chance.

Last but not the least, let me end this post by pointing you to a YouTube link of an snippet of an interview with Itzhak Perlman on John Williams' Schindler's List. You could also listen to Itzhak Perlman's rendition of Schindler's List: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueWVV_GnRIA&feature=related

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Updates:

And I've found a YouTube video of Katica Illenyi playing John Williams' Schindler's List on the violin. I've found her rendition pretty moving. For your listening pleasure.

I'm officially on leave from work

I am officially on leave from work starting tomorrow. It is a strange thing how the thought of being on leave from work, for more than a week, could have an effect on me.

While admittedly, I am feeling tired by now, there is a contented feeling that I have completed the work tasks that I have set to achieve before going on leave. Meantime, I shall give myself a pat on the shoulder for achieving the goal that was set. Of course, there's always work to be done even when I am away on leave. At the very least, I have done my best to attend to what I could. I felt relieved too. I felt I wore a hearty smile on my face despite the tiredness.

It has been a while since I take more than a week's leave from work to go for a holiday overseas. Most of the time, I would take leave to perform, or to prepare for music exams, to tour a part of Singapore (but usually just for a day or two), or for music-related purposes. I suppose it is a long over-dued vacation to recharge and have fun reflecting while overseas.

Tomorrow I will be performing in a performance. Do come by to support if you happen to be free and keen to listen to instrumental music. Afterwhich, I will head for Sydney this Friday's morning.

Come and listen this Wednesday

Yours truly will be performing in the following concert: Couleurs de L'arc-en-Ciel (Colours of the Rainbow).

Here are the details:

10 Sep 2008 (Wednesday), 7:00pm (Duration: About 1 -1.5 hour)
The Plaza, The National Library (The ground floor)
100 Victoria Street
Singapore 188064
Free Admission
(Nearest MRT station: Bugis)

For more details, please click this link. Hope to see some of you there.