Back from that KIP of a town and that KIP of an audit!!! Even if its only for 4 days and there's tons of work left to do!!! 

BWBW's Musicology

Sunday morning chillin’ after the race and Binx hits me with this chain thing.. supposedly punishment I guess for not updating my blog for two weeks.

But what to do? Life as an auditor doesn’t afford me the luxury of time sometimes, more so since it’s the busy season plus the exams creeping up in three months.

As for having an exceptional taste in music, well Binx was just trying to get on my good side since I’m coming home for cuti this July…don’t worry Binx, you’re definitely getting a frap, or two…Well, here goes…

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?

1.2Gbs worth of mp3s..about 300 songs I guess...That’s small fry compared to some of the people I know. Most of my music are on CDs so the only MP3s I keep are the CDs I haven’t got. All my music are on my iPod so there’s no need to duplicate…until it crashes though (fingers crossed) and then I’ll kick myself!!

Full discology managed to obtain for Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Metallica, Counting Crows, Guns n Roses; almost there for RHCP, STP, Greenday, Hootie… rest are only the better (in my own opinion) songs for each performer.

2. The CD you last bought?

It’s been awhile… all sharewares lately… hmm, lemme see… must be the 132 CDs I bought all in one go when I was auditing Warner... heheh… just couldn’t stop ticking when I got my hands on the catalouge, it was a great opportunity to catch up on some old albums… distributor price maa… but hey, no biased favourable opinions issued!!

3. What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?

Nelly feat Tim McGraw – Over and overJust the mood of the weekend…

4. Write down five songs that you often listen to or that means a lot to you.

Aiyoo… very the toughie this one…

U2's With or Without You
One of them songs that I fell in love with the first time I heard it, one of U2’s best two songs..

U2's One
The other U2 great song, first ever U2 song that attracted me to the band.

Foo Fighter's Everlong
Favourite jamming song while in PPP… those were the days.

Pearl Jam’s Yellow Ledbetter
Eddie never sings the same lyrics each time he performs the song live… best riffs ever…

Pearl Jam’s Black
The hollowness that I feel sometimes translates through the words and the song.

Pearl Jam’s In Hiding
It's been about three days now
Since I've been aground
No longer overwhelmed and it seems so simple now
It's funny when things change so much
It's all state of mind
"nuff said...

Counting Crow’s Catapult
Different place, different time..
All of the sudden she disappearsjust yesterday she was here
Somebody tell me if I am sleeping
Someone should be with me here (cause I don't wanna be alone)

Smashing Pumpkin’s Mayonaise
Truly overwhelming song… same as U2’s One, first whiff of this and I was hooked for good… first big concert I ever went to..
And I fail
But when I can, I will
Try to understand
That when I can, I will

Was is supposed to be just 5? Oh well…

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

None, really… anyone who wants to pick it up is most welcomed!As for the alleged curse attached… it can kiss my a**…

Just one of 'em weeks

This week has been by far the laziest I’ve experienced in a while... it’s just one of them weeks where the mood is wrong, motivation gone AWOL, with concentration and curiosity down the drain. I guess events a fortnight ago still linger strong leaving me in an emotional humdrum that not even the heroics of the Blues against Barca last night could provide me with enough novocaine to drag my ass out into the world today. My inner self is in a clam and it won’t come out to play…

Last night capped an excellent period for Jose after all the shenanigans of being a sore loser. As a long suffering supporter everything now is almost unbelievable. Last night I sincerely thought our bubble of becoming a serious contender in Europe so early in Jose’s reign had burst but what a show! He once said, “In Portugal 1st there is God, and then there is Jose Mourinho”, and by the final score line you can’t find too many faults with that.

What an emotional rollercoaster of a game. 3-nil up within 20 minutes, pegged back almost immediately by that wonderful creature they call the rabbit, I can imagine every fan on the edge of their seats, hands fidgeting on anything they could find, teeth to nail, and eyes trying not to blink…’cause that’s all it takes… I blinked and that outrageous half-flick, half-toe poke went in...3-2...and we were chasing the game all over again. How befitting that JT had the final say after being magnificent during the night, and the whole season. A towering header that had been so lethal in CL games so far was served to kill off the Catalans, whom many to their disdain have dismissed us as nothing but mere peasants to their great footballing tradition.

The outpour of emotion at the final whistle displayed the solidarity, spirit and hunger that have not been seen in a while, if not at all by any of the younger fans including yours truly. Win the league and my season is complete. Any further progress in the CL is a bonus. Jose totally got everything right from the formation to the line-up. With Joe playing so well out right I dutifully eat my own words, we don’t need a right winger. From now Jose is no longer Jose Mourinho, but the Special One.

I need a PDA! And I can’t get one quick enough! Argh…missed an important meeting this morning that could’ve gotten me into Corporate Services. And all because I failed to get the meeting reminder function on my Lotus Notes set up correctly….darn, darn, darn!
Luckily CF’s a tender person and accepted my profuse apology and agreed to reschedule. And lucky also that he’s in Corporate Recovery which I don’t really mind not going into because it’s Corporate Finance that I want. Still a taint is still a taint on one’s name. And in a place like that taints spreads wide. Oh well there could be a hikmah behind it that shall show itself soon…I hope…

Malam Anak Watan…sounds grand. Time to get out the baju batik again. It’s made of lovely hand printed batik that Mak got for me from the east coast before I came here. Navy blue base with electric blue designs, you can do no wrong. I’ve worn it only twice before and the last time was ages ago at the company Christmas dinner. What a rollicking I got that night from drunken auditors and taxmen whose idea of the East is purely white beaches, wooden huts and exotic colours, hence the Malaysian in a batik shirt a classic example of the last characteristic. Luckily they were all to drunk to remember any of my reciprocation of their culture *winks*. It’s been awhile since I’ve last attended a social event so very looking forward to tonight.

Sunday’s podium read:

1. Giancarlo Fisichella
2. Rubens Barrichello
3. Fernando Alonso

Interesting...a Ferrari second (without Schumy!!!) flanked by two Renaults. The season looks promising just from that. But don’t rejoice too early, nor be fooled as the only reason Schumy’s not in the scoring is because Hedfield bumped him on lap 42 whilst in 8th. This after starting at 18th. Am glad both Red Bull drivers scored points, this bodes well for the season. As for the dominance of Ferrari it’s too early to tell. I think I will try to catch the Sepang leg. Go team Red Bull!

Reading: My Life - Bill Clinton
Listening to: Hot Fuss - the Killers

Back to school

First day of the week behind me. What a struggle. Mondays have always been difficult, and dreams of a ‘Kev Monday’ can only be induced by alcohol as the ad suggests... At least COB didn’t persist on me going to ION if only for a week. That would’ve been a disaster to do something halfway and leave it for another job.

Ah that rare joy of a third year that’s so seldom spoken…planning...and a whole week of it…take the wingtips off, kick back and relax. Although with traces of TTL and TLU still lingering in the air the week doesn’t look to bad at all. Coupled with the oh so glorious win on Sunday I am absolutely in good form. As I have touched heavily on football these last few postings I will abstain this time round and save my enthusiasm for the return leg with Barca.

The old man wasn’t too happy with my lack of communication lately. With the not so successful results it was always bound to be a source of disconcertion between us that finally broke the surface on Saturday. Surprised myself by being surprised at such an outburst of emotion, I guess it has been a while that such a thing had happen. The time apart is taking its toll on both of us and July just can’t come quick enough. I have always found this barrier of writing to my father. Since my first day at Malay College at the tender age of 13 I have been inundated with reminders to write home and inform of my progress… from then on, to the posting to South Africa, followed by Bangkok, and then of my Irish getaway have the subject of communication been a thorn in our sides… my idea of an update being a 10 minute phone call every fortnight have never been well received and my utter refusal to correspond has been attributed to my inability to fulfil my true potential these last 15 years…

I do not fully comprehend my inability, or almost outright refusal to write to him. I get a mental block each time I try, even back when they were in Pretoria and I was trying very hard to be a good son. Everything from being rebellious to the desire of not wanting to be judged, and everything else in the kitchen sink has been thrown into the ring…but one possible reason has been biting me for a long time…an accusation of arrogance… of being too big for my boots and living in my own world of self-imposed magnanimity that I slight the opportunity to share myself with people who matter and only wish to help and see me do well… This is a serious indictment and if found guilty would throw me into an emotional prison that would forever trap me unless I take steps to remedy the long-standing issue. If only it was as clear cut as that. It’s a work in progress.

On a similarly serious note, it is the 1st of March. Happy birthday D although I know you won’t ever lay your eyes on this wish. Three and a half months to go before the all important finals that would be a very significant key to the next few years of my life. A key to unlock heavy well polished doors and a key to open magic Pandora boxes in my Wunderland. Study hard! Classes starts Saturday, no more sociable weekends after this ‘till June. At least I’ll have time to come back and catch the Norwich game.

Formula 1 is back this weekend. My fervour has long waned with Schumy dominating so momentously there is just not much fun anymore. Binx is drooling over Abg Toya back with a new team. We’ll have to see. Team Red Bull sounds fun. Was a big fan of Red Bull Sauber so it’s good to see them back in the fold, even with the old Jordan and the same Honda engine. If the results are interesting without a prancing horse at the top of the podium I might revert my interest…or else it’ll be just only my West London Blue…