on the way to look up the weather forecasts in London
During my childhood, I have always felt left out when fellow classmates dicussed their idols and heroes. People that they admire, look up to and mimic their actions. People that will shape their lives in the future, their dreams and ambitions. They usually comprise of sports people; movie and music celebrities; movers and shakers of history; political figures; religous leaders; lotto winners; big brother/sister or mom and dad.
For me, I didn't have one. So I'm proud to say that the person that I have become/will become is largely shaped and influenced by myself; whether this is good or bad I do not know. So through oberservation, friends and family, I have constructed my own self identity rather than having it modelled on someone else.
But now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I am able to draw on the experience and advice of others that will hopefully enrich and benefit my life. Again, I want to share this with you because it has deeply affected me as the advice is so obvious that in our daily grind of life, we fail to recognise the simplicity and absolutely truth in it and also because it is more applicable to women, but the underlying message is still universal.
The advice:
"Every woman should have four pets in her life. A mink in her closet, a jaguar in her garage, a tiger in her bed and a jackass who pays for everything." Paris Hilton.
On the way home after an evening of sightseeing and dream building
After my failed attempts of organising a farewell dinner at the famed XO, I did as any shattered person would do and sort solace and comfort in alcohol to drown away my disappointment. Due to a sudden reversion in the weather, the city streets were much too humid to stay outdoors and much to stale to stay indoors, so a couple of good friends and I did the next best thing – we got high. And high we got because for the next hour or so, I felt completely dizzy and dazed – a feeling long forgotten. Who knew the gimmicks of revolving restaurants/bars can illicit feelings of sea sickness and the biggest shock, the gimmicks of revolving restaurants/bars can actually lead to quite a classy and meaningful evening.
So I spent the evening drinking high up in the city skyline atop the famed Australia Square. After being seated by the maitre’d and awaking from the shock of the brilliantly decorated interior and service, I decided to get myself really drunk so I can forget the missed opportunity. But upon seeing the drinks menu, I quickly changed my mind and ordered the famed Moet & Chandon cocktail; something nice so I can indulge in this newly presented opportunity. So as I slowly suckled what will probably be the most expensive drink I have ever bought, I quickly began enjoying the stunning cityscape of Sydney while pointing out the major attractions: the Establishment hotel directly below; Delta Goodrem’s loft apartment; the award wining Renzo Piano building; the much lamented Harry Siedler tower; the place where I went to dinner the other night in Sans Souci; the ridiculously large and silly disco ball; my office; the Prime Minsters residence; the big pink building on Parramatta Road; a luxury yacht berthed at the mariner; the airport which will be visiting very soon; and, places where I wanted to live. And sure enough, much of the evening was spent discussing the merits of various city fringe suburbs that will serve as an ideal first home along with the virtues of LCD over plasma. As my spirits started to pick up, from the alcohol or altitude sickness I do not know, my mind raced back to my recently formed philosophy of living, built upon the three pillars of food, fashion and freedom and I started to become content; content of the dreams that I was building.
on the way to make a world class meal for some not so world class but getting there friends
While casually enjoying lunch the other day and simultaneously regretting the amount of damage the food was going to me, a friend told me something that really disturbed and upsetted me. Reproduction here would be unsavoury, but nontheless, the pain and hurt endured during this ordeal is something that I couldn't begin to understand. All I can do is listen and offer my opinion/advice/nod in agreement. And around this time of the year, I can only hope things begin to brigthen up because as the old people say, you shouldn't bring the bad luck with you into the New Year.
And this is when it struck me that for the first time that I will not be with family for New Year, which is and will always be the only day I look forward to in the year. It is a time to leave behind old habitats, to learn from past mistakes, to repay debts and generally, a time to start anew. More than that, New Year is a time that has survived many attempts of commercialisation and after all these years, remain true to its foundation and beliefs; and for me, the only time of the year where a 'celebration' does not illicit a cynical or snide remark. This is also the time of the year when everything seems attainable and affordable; the $50 ounce of shark fin or the $150 kilo of abalone or the $5 slice of truffle. Furthermore, this also happened to be the only time of the year where I had any sort of discretionary income, which really meant a lot to me while growing up. While others had Christmas, I had New Year, which will probably be the only time of the year where I consider myself lucky to be Asian. Beyond food and family, New Year also meant new things: clothes, games or even perhaps a trip to the cinemas. And being the tightass I was, I usually made New Year stretch as long as possible.
Realising this only made me more appreciativ of the things I have and the people around me. So come New Year, I will be in London, celebrating from a far and wishing everyone every success and happiness. And as I said before, New Year usually equates to new things. This new year, I'm looking forward to New York.
on the way home from work via public transport
The train ride home after work each day is usually a lonely and solitary affair. Fighting my way in to acquire a prized seat and lately, fighting just as hard to get a seat next a window so I can rest my arms and gaze out at the window while the train slowly whisks me away. I have probably said this many times, but I like train rides - it gives you time to think about the important things without interruptions. It is a time where you can reflect, muse and learn many things and on this particular day, I learnt many things. The afternoon home started out as normal and I was descending the stairs to change trains, I saw a man push through the ticket barriers and was racing across the station. Instinctively, I stepped aside as I saw he was coming in my direction and as he passed me, a couple of seconds later, I heard a rather audible "oooohhhh" amongst the afternoon peak traffic. The cause: the man had impaled himself on the stair case hand rail. Lucky it was a set of ascending stair cases otherwise my train would of been delayed while they scrapped the man off the floor. So started this journey of learning for the day: Lesson 1a - Never run for public transport because you will embarrass yourself and it is not very classy, besides, it ruins the shoes. Lesson 1b - When you injure yourself, don't fall to the ground writhing in agony, take it like a man.
So as the drowsy humming of the air conditioning drifted me in and out of uneasy slumber, I looked out at a particular station to see where I was where upon I happened to noticed a rather good looking woman walking on the opposite platform. I then noticed, trailing behind her, a boy of around 14 years. Jackpot - a yummy mummy. Anyway, the boy was playing with a rather ridiculously large novelty tennis ball which he was bouncing on the ground a la basketball style. Instinctively, I thought wouldn't it be funny if the ball went flying away and right on cue, a mistimed bounce ensured the ball missed the boy's haphazard catches and land on the tracks below the platform. The boy stared in disbelief and started to call for his mother. Noticing the ball was missing, the mother started to become quite aggressive which was quite a turn on and the train driver, sensing some drama was happening, left the train idling. Anyway, this reduced the boy to tears but being the almost-man that he is, he started to yell something at his mother and begun to walk towards the edge of the platform. Unfortunately, the mother pulled him back, which only reinforces the assertion that the boy was going after his ball after being embarrassed in public and trying to retain any sort of dignity remaining. And most unfortunately, a few seconds later, a train came screeching pass obstructing my view of the hot mother. Lesson 2a - Always hold onto your prized possessions like everyone around you is trying to usurp them. Lesson 2b - Take abuse like a man.
As the train was nearing my stop, I started to think that they day's lessons will start to diminish. But I was wrong. At another particular station, a guy in this twenties stepped onto the train. He didn't look like he was mentally disabled, but he had this rather stupid and slow look about him who wouldn't look out of place in a dole queue or worst, someone who was trying to rob you. Anyway, he stuck his head out of the opened door to look intensely at something which only just confuses me because at this particular station, there were only people - not evening an indicator board. Anyway, the door started to close and he quickly pulled his head back in. But the guard must have changed his mind because the door started to open again where upon his head was out of the door and just as quickly, the guard changed his mind again and closed the door. Sure enough, his head was caught between the doors. I didn't know what to think - was it a case of stupidity or amusement. I think it was stupidity. I can't remember how he pulled his head back him because by this time, I had looked away feeling rather embarrassed that I ended up on a carriage with someone this stupid. Anyway, he started to walk down the aisle where upon I noticed he had a big black mark running vertically along his face, a temporary scar marking his elevation to idiot of the day. Lesson 3a - Never stick a body part out of any vehicle. Lesson 3b - Always carry moist toilettes so you can quickly wipe away any embarrassing mishaps (3b is extremely handy).
So as the aphorism goes, you only learn through the mistakes of others.
on the way to buy my second latte of the day
The funny thing about this time of the year is the commitment, endurance of faith and downright stubboness that sees people adhere to so called new year resolutions. As I headed down the gym after my quick lunch, I was confronted by a sea of people eagerly pushing their way around the place. Their passion and dexterity is one that I look upon with a tinge of pity brought upon by years of life experience that has crafted by cynical outlook: all those people with their new year resolutions will not make it pass a month. So while I wait to use the weights and machines, I look forward to knowing that when I return, I will once again have the gym to myself and resume my daily ritual of self admiration in the three way mirror.
But I really don't understand why people make new year resolutions. Is human nature so weak that any process of change or betterment always involves the renewal of the calendar year? I have learnt ago that the only way to stick to goals and resoluations is to not make them into simple steps, but rather, to have grand dreams; why have an apple when you can have an apple tree or why have diamonds when you can have Tiffany's. It is this kind of mentality that will motivate people to succeed and achieve. So what is my new years resolution?
To experience fine dining.
To better understand people.
To shop at Tiffany's.
To live and walk in the heart of New York City.
So I leave you now, slighty intoxicated after three days of continuous drinking: the first at dinner with a bad ending, the second at dinner with a happy ending and the third at dinner with a heated discussion about taxation law and the frivilolity that is stamp duty.
