coco avant chanel

went to watch coco before chanel last night with my wife yumei..

it was the first time we went to a cinema after our marriage, also the first time in this year.. has been so long since i stepped into one, since i get my movie fixes from my laptop, where i get to watch them online..

just wanted to enjoy cinema going, queueing up for tickets, and munching popcorns

been anticipating this show since the announcement last year that audrey tautou would be acting in this show.. being some sort of her fan since les fabuleux destins d'amelie poulain, and watching most of her shows since then like the spanish apartment; he loves me, he loves me not; the very long engagement; save for da vinci code..

i like the unique-ness in her acting, makes you seem as though it was not ficticious..

coco avant chanel retells the story of gabrielle "coco" chanel, the soul behind the international fashion name chanel.. it showcased the period before she was famous: her hardships while making ends meet, sewing clothes in the day and singing in a bar at night; how she met this rich guy who was easy with the ladies, and wanted the status and lifestyle of being associated with him; how she met the 'boy', who would be the turning point of her life, as a woman and as someone who had a vision for clothings for woman of that era.. the show ended at the beginning of her success in the high class fashion for the socialites..l

the show was slow, and not too much screen time that focused on how her childhood affected her adulthood - only went as far as to say she waited every sunday for her dad to show up at the orphanage to pick her up.. mostly it focused on her time at the rich guy, balsan's mansion, and her acquaintance with the boy.. and some snippets of her taste and discomfort with the restrictions and pompousity of the ladies clothes that time, how she felt how women clothes should be, although she had no formal designing lessons.. it was all about her rebel spirit and daringness to be different.. her acting was not disappointing, but also nothing new, claimed the critics..

despite that, i enjoyed the film.. i praised her courage and her strong will to see through all the misfortunes to become a successful designer.. there is no easy way to success, and if you are able to bear through all that, you would be able to see the light eventually at the end of the tunnel.. but how many are willing to face the uncertainties and the chances? something i ponder constantly, as one who really wanted to break through the boundaries of employementhood to pursue his entrepreneur spirit.. but talk is not enough.. i need actions!!

who knows what tomorrow brings?
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hasa comp 1.0

just bought a second-hand bicycle, introducing hasa comp 1.0..

been hunting for one on the local cycling forums for weeks, i was hoping to get a polygon or gt bike, but most were selling entry-level mountain bikes from $300 onwards..

finally saw a seller selling this hasa for $200 negotiable, and he is staying in yishun, which is a good combination because i'm living so near and is within my budget for a second-hand one..

arranged for a meeting last friday evening, but didn't meet up due to bad communication: my handphone went flat as i have forgotten to charge it that day, and so was his, so he couldn't pick up my call.. i thought we have arranged for an earlier time since i finished my tuition earlier than expected, so after waiting for some time and not seeing him coming, i left for another appointment.. but he arrived 5 minutes after i left! that was from his message sent to me when i was able on my phone after reaching home..

called immediately to apologise and arranged for another meeting the next morning.. it looked new with little scratches.. tested it: brakes and suspension are fine, gear shifting is smooth.. looked like this is it! and he is throwing in the speedometer for free..

after some haggling, managed to reduce the price to $180.. now it's resting in my place, waiting to be taken out for a ride..
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and august came..

july came and went..
and my honeymoon photos aren't up yet!!

has been very busy settling down and back to work..
i think the marriage has made me less procrastinating, and more active..
with one more person in your life to think about, you can take too long to plan..

so while coaching is fun, i don't see myself relaxing any longer..
time for a career review, and i'm seeing what's on the market right now, despite the economic downturn..
in the meanwhile, i'm enjoying it while i can..

alright, end of monday morning blubber..
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back from honeymoon

yes, i'm back to the sunny little red dot on the map, and many things to settle before i would start to write about my honeymoon trip and upload the pictures from my wedding onto facebook.. watch this space!!

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mobile blog

这是我的第一个从手机写的部落格。

- This blog was updated through my M1 mobile phone.

countdown to wedding: day 18

i am so guilty of not updating as regularly as promised eariler, too tired and too busy to keep up.. rest is more important for this period.. ha..

things i have done over the past week or so:
1. the itinerary cofirmed for the paris part of the honeymoon, including the flight to rome;
2. names of guests drawn out; the wedding invites collected, written and most sent out, save for my relatives;
3. the event sequence drafted for that day, including the night before when my brothers and i enter malaysia;
4. two more bedsheets bought from Cozy in IMM;
5. jewellery for the bride settled finally yesterday, after the purchase of the bracelet;
6. transport for the brothers, sisters and bride's family members arranged, after much rearrangement;
7. the wedding memorial booklet designed and sent for commentary.

but still much more things to do:
1. the itinerary for the rome and milan part, most likely visiting venice also, since we will be in milan;
2. the layout of the wedding ceremony venue for the buffet;
3. the sending of the invites to my relatives;
4. the delivery of the gifts to the bride's mom, happening next thursday;

more and more people are now asking me this question: are you nervous? excited?
my reply was: quite ok, too much stuff in my mind to think about that now; perhaps only when most things are settled would the feelings set in, i think..

only hope now is for my grandmom to have good health, she has not been in a good shape lately, going in and out of the hospital, weaker by the weeks.. praying everyday for her..
and now, back to work..
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countdown to W-Day: day 28

this morning was spent still on finding hostels to stay while in paris.. have sent emails to them, Le Village Hostel and Modern Hotel, regarding our very early arrival in paris, that are we able to check-in, even though their websites said after noon? well, they have replied! actually we are not allowed to check in as the rooms are to be cleaned during a certain period, but we are allowed to place our luggages in their luggage room so we can roam around sans our heavy luggages and come back and check in when the rooms are ready..

i think i would settle for Le Village Hostel, for the availability of a kitchen, and its ambience - according to the website, many poets, artists frequent its vincinity.. i will book the hostel first, then tomorrow, book the flight to rome on ryanair.com, and of course the bus ticket from pershing bus stop to beauvais airport.. thinking of this bus ride would send shiver down my spine, for i have bad memories of it.. nothing with the bus, but rather poor planning.. yet, that is a blog for another time..

with that thing settled, i can now focus on planning the itinerary for the next leg of the trip: italy.. but now, i could get some sleep.. 

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W-Day : day 29 on www.yiqingbiji.blogspot.com