Summer Summer...

Haven't been blogging for the past few days....sign of me running around doing stuff and keeping busy before summer ends. Somehow life just kicked in as if the accelerator had been revved.

The highlights of the week were...

1. The PCON Picnic in the Park



Had a nice evening with the team in the park...D made her infamous carrot cake(or rather her daughter did)...extremely yummy and chewy. C's wife also contributed with a beetroot fruit cake thingy. It was good fun and a different setting compared to the boardroom presentations and everyone let loose with a bit of frisbee on the side too


2.MSPME 2006 Reunion



Finally we made it! (at least some of us did) 7 of us from the MSPME 2006-8 batch had a mini reunion in London last weekend. We were of course missing the other 19 who are all over the world or back in their home countries. J and V stayed over mine and we met up with H, N, A, and B for a picnic at Regent's Park. Although the moment have passed, we left a little footprint of the memory here at www.mspme2006.blogspot.com


3. At Hulya's



Had a very nice cooking class and lunch with H who showed me how to make dolma biber (stuffed peppers) which I was missing. Somehow the local Turkish restaurants don't have it on the menu...True to Turkish hospitality, H prepared a feast and it was enjoyed with gusto by myself and her housemate S. Cok guzel! Tessekkur ederim H canim!

4. Ultimate Frisbee Freaks



Got hooked on Ultimate when S introduced me to the Frisbee gang. It's fun, it's addictive, keeps your fitness level up with a fun-bunch of people and cost-free - what more could one ask for? We have a core team of regulars who keep the group running...thank you guys and gals for the sportsmanship and good times!

LOVE STORY (Taylor Swift) meets VIVA LA VIDA (Coldplay) - Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt

Jon Schmidt's 7 year-old daughter loved Taylor Swift's song 'Love Story' so much that her dad covered this song with a friend.

Thank you Angie for sharing this - love it love it

The Scar

I have a scar on my upper lip. It's light brown about the size of a finger nail. I don't notice it until I face the mirror in the morning to brush my teeth and then I realise it is there, it is still there. I put Bio-oil on it every day and eat Vitamin E capsules (2 a day) in the hopes that it fades away.

I can look at it both ways:

I have a scar and I had been hurt.

or

I have a scar and I got over the hurt

Scars are a sign of health - the ability of the skin to repair itself from a wound. Scars are also mementoes of an injury - a past pain. There are the physical scars and then there are the emotional ones. That discomfiting memory of a harsh word and transgression, a betrayal. You don't realise it's there until something/someone triggers the emotion and then you remember. But then again, you are alive and well now and have survived it - thus a celebration is called for. I came across this passage which seemed appropriate:

"On the girl's brown legs there were many small white scars. I was thinking, Do those scars cover the whole of you, like the stars and the moons on your dress? I thought that would be pretty too, and I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means,"I survived".'

~The Other Hand by Chris Cleave~

Jai Ho - AR Rahman and Pussycat Dolls

Turkey Reunion 2002

2002 THEN:



It all happened in the peak of summer in Istanbul in the year 2002. There were about 50 + trainees brought together by AIESEC from all corners of the world; name a country and they had a global representative. The trainees were placed as interns in Turkish companies and organizations for a duration of 1 to 6 months. Besides the internships, they went out on excursions all around the country, partied on weekends (or sometimes week days) on Istiklal street, lived in Turkish dormitories, ate kebabs, drank ayran and even printed their own t-shirts for it. A random bunch of people from all over the world tossed together for a split second : it was a summer in Istanbul which would shape their lives in the future.

2009 NOW

7 years later, we still kept in touch and had the good fortune of meeting (just a fraction of us) in London. Although we'd lost touch and had nothing in common at present, there was something we had shared once upon a time in a land called Turkiye. We retraced the threads of our lives that crossed then that afternoon in Covent Garden. The random memories within us started popping out of the blue; bargaining with Turkish taxi drivers, so and so person who we remember the face but not the name, the dorms in Maslak and the Bursa spor stadium, the mud baths in the hamam, the snoozes at work in the library, the roof top bar where we used to party... It was strange but mysterious how we'd carried a part of that fateful summer within us across borders and time up till today.

The Ashes

Lately there'd been advertisements on TV and radio about 'The Ashes' and then came notifications around the pubs saying that 'The Ashes' will be shown. The Ashes? What's that? Some movie being publicized ? It's got as much coverage as 'Bruno' here.

Apparently 'The Ashes' is the nickname for the test cricket series between England and Australia. As it's summer and cricket being a summer game, hence the cricket frenzy in this cranny of the world. The intriguing nickname dates all the way back to 1882 when England lost to Australia on English ground for the first time. After the loss, a satirical obituary was published in the British newspaper, The Sporting Times, stating 'the death of cricket', and the body will be' cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. The English media dubbed the next English tour to Australia (1882–83) as the quest to regain The Ashes.

Apparently there's a little urn with the ashes of the cricket bale of that particular game - which is a treasured artifact for cricket fans

The urn is also featured in the science fiction comedy novel Life, the Universe and Everything, the third "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" book by Douglas Adams. The urn is stolen by alien robots, as the burnt bail inside it is part of the key needed to unlock the "Wikkit Gate" and release the imprisoned world of "Krikkit".



'The Ashes' are currently in Australia now since the last Ashes in 2006-7 but is now being contested for in the England and Wales 2009 series.

Life is..picnics and proms

What should one do before the weekend? Check the 3-day weather forecast of course. And if one of those days is fair weather, one should spread out the picnic blanket, call a few friends and bring the frisbee. Had a really nice Saturday after a few crap-rainy-days. Thanks to Y and J for organizing this...good company, talk and riddled by riddles involving midgets, potatoes, doctors, a naked man with a matchstick...bizzare but lovely.




And if the weather is not fab, one should also check out the BBC Proms held in the Royal Albert Hall. Amy spotted the free BBC Family Proms tickets (thanks girl!), I swapped mine with Adelene for a seat in the Grand Tier. It was all the classical standards i.e. Chopin, Saint Saens, Elgar, Britten- a good introduction to classical music beginners. I liked especially the solo violin by Jennifer Pike -an exquisitely intricate Holst's 'Song of the Night' and also the BBC family orchestra's 'Rough Guide to the Orchestra' a new piece played by family members of the orchestra i.e. grandparetnts, fathers, mothers, brothers, girls and boys...lovely-jobely.

And so passes yet another eventful weekend...

Yasmin Ahmad

One of the gems of the country has passed on. Yasmin Ahmad was truly an inspiration...being a woman, forging her way in the creative industry in Malaysia, one would think it was an unrewarding task. But Yasmin loved what she did and she did it well. So well in fact that she's recognized internationally with her films - something very few Malaysians directors can hope to achieve.

I watched Sepet in the GSC Mid Valley when it first launched in 2004...something unheard of because I'd never have thought of watching a local film as they were notorious for being bad. But I've heard so much about this brave movie that I had to watch it..and I'm glad I did. 'Brave' because it dealt with the sensitive themes of interracial love - a theme which would rile the bigots running the censorship board.

Here is a snapshot of an interview with Yasmin - insightful and thoughtful. Rest in peaches Yasmin (life was peachy) and God bless you!

Bloggers meet with Yasmin Ahmad from rinaz on Vimeo.

Strong Women

Celebrated the birthday of a strong woman this weekend and met another (C) who drove us around in her little 'nurse car'. Also visited a family of a few strong women posthumously in Haworth.

SISTER, you've sat there all the day,
Come to the hearth awhile;
The wind so wildly sweeps away,
The clouds so darkly pile.
That open book has lain, unread,
For hours upon your knee;
You've never smiled nor turned your head;
What can you, sister, see?

For you who are reading this, you know who you are.

Kal-Lavelle and the missed Mates

Mates of Mine didn't get the train to London from Brighton and so we missed them. But there was Olly the Octopus http://www.myspace.com/ollytheoctopus jamming with political protest melodies.

My mates S and R were there and we had a good talk over Pimms and pizza ...thank you ladies.

But the gem of the night was Kal Lavelle. Individuals like her are so bloody talented - they become THE music instrument as opposed to the singing and dancing poppets with the strings. It was plain magic listening to her tonight

Saint Swithin's Day

Today is Saint Swithin's Day - whatever the weather is like today would be the weather for the next forty days.

There's a weather rhyme which goes

'Saint Swithin's Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
Saint Swithin's Day if it be fair
For Forty Days, t'will rain no more"

Fortunately it's a myth - the Met Office tested the weather on 55 occasions and 40 days of rain did not always follow.

Or is it? As the weather forecast is rubbash for the next 16 days.

Thank you very much Saint Swithin - I'm going back to the gym tqvm

Frisbee Fat Lip, Rueda and the Concert

Getting the Frisbee Fat Lip

The disc rose up in the air with a life of it's own and instinctively I followed it. Suddenly a force pummeled me to the ground and the slab of earth pounded my face. Before I knew it, I tasted some grass and gritty sand. Dazed, I wondered if I had lost any teeth and gone blind.

Rueda

It was seamless movements riding on a beat that could never end. Feet danced in circles and eights - an invisible hand guided their bodies like a pattern on a wall-paper. Music - party-like surrounding the little brown hut in the middle of the grassy field. Hands on hands, hands on waist, hands on shoulders. Feet moving left, feet moving right, then around.

The Concert

"You gotta roll with it, you gotta take your time, you gotta say what you say, don't let anybody get in your way, cause it's all too much for me to take"

A million hands waved and a million feet jumped. A blaze of colour lit up the arena as the jackhammer of sound pumped from the black centre that was the stage. A symphony of souls, an orchestra of emotion, conducted by the man in the green jacket.

"Say it loud and sing it proud! And they...Will dance if they want to dance,Please brother take a chance,You know they're gonna go,All we know is that we don't know,What is gonna be,Please brother let it be,Life on the other hand won't let you understand,Why we're all part of the masterplan"

"Want to Dance Michael Jackson"

Jatte bra!

I'm a Londoner

I’M A LONDONER” moves to Jacksons Lane...


An improvised play
Devised by Sam Bevitt

Featuring in this years “Story of London” Festival (in conjunction with the Mayor of London)

I’m a Londoner is set to take its home city by storm. An improvised play inspired by & in celebration of London and its make-up of ever expanding diverse cultural groups. I’m a Londoner journeys through 7 different stories of 7 characters originating from widespread parts of the globe – united by their residency in this vibrant city and the fact that they share universal dreams, fears, hurdles and triumphs. The Londoner stories although familiar, are thought provoking, poignant, chilling humorous and uplifting.

I’m a Londoner will be uniquely staged in a small purpose built playground at the Tristan Bates Theatre and then transfers to Southgate where it will adjust to a larger, traditional space - giving it’s final show a totally new edge and fresh feel. Accompanied by a consistent backdrop of sound, extracted from day to day London - this play captures the essence of the City in all its glory!

Director Sam Bevitt directs the cast of 7, which boasts some of London’s finest emerging actors: Anna Afanasyev, Andrew Lewisward, Phoebe McIntosh, Pablo Olewski Diaz, Renu Arora, Ryan Mathie, Shakella Dedi, and Sheenal Kothari. The cast have been carefully selected to reflect London’s assortment of cultural backgrounds. Collectively the cast have trained at some of London’s renowned drama schools including LAMDA, Central & Mountview. Credits include performances & appearances at Royal Opera House; South Bank Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Royal Festival Hall, National Geographic, BBC TV & a winner of a BBC Carlton Hobbs Award.

Sam Bevitt is currently studying his Masters degree in Scriptwriting at City University, London. He graduated from the University of Warwick with honors, where he studied Theatre and Performance. Throughout his time at Warwick he taught community theatre, led scriptwriting courses for the local town and held drama work-shops for inmates at Swinfen Prison’s Drama Department.

Producer & founder of Palladini Productions, Saima Duhare is the driving force behind I’m a Londoner. Saima originally trained as an actress at the London Academy of Performing Arts as well as attending the New York Film Academy before going on to star in two Bollywood films with well known Bollywood actors Anupam Kher, Shakti Kapoor and Dalip Tahil. Saima set up Palladini Productions so that she could create powerful stories - her focus mainly on creating and producing Theatre, TV & Film. Forth coming projects, in collaboration with actress Shakella Dedi, include a play inspired by the Madam CJ Walker story for the Black History Month in October and a sitcom which is due for completion later in the year.

Sound design is provided by the dynamic duo Alberto Sanchez & Catarina Chaby. Alberto is a DJ at Resonance FM and a graduate of SAE Institute. He works freelance in production, post-production, live production and phonography. Caterina has worked as a freelance audio engineer since 2004 for Nostairway Music Studio and has been involved in LP and SP productions, audio and video post-production for TV and location recording for live performances.

Press coverage

* Resonance FM http://resonancefm.com/
* Remote Goat www.remotegoat.co.uk/
* Catch ‘A’ Vibe Magazine www.catchavibe.co.uk
* Flavour Magazine www.flavourmag.co.uk (Interview with Karla Williams)
o Alice Gbelia: catchavibe@googlemail.con
o Shaun Hutchinson: theatre@catchavibe.co.uk
o Karla Williams: karlawilliams22@yahoo.co.uk

Marketing: Shakella Dedi - m. 07946 552 625 - e: imalondoner@live.com.

For general info visit: www.myspace.com/imalondoner

For info on the Story’s of London Festival visit: http://www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon/

Listing information:

Thursday 9th July 2009 – 8.00 pm @ Jacksons Lane Theatre (run time 75 minutes)
Tickets £10.00/ £9.00 Concessions – Available on the box office line Tel: 020 8341 4421

p.s. I'm so proud of you S!

Covers Live by Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes and Holm

The first guy(Norway's first Pop Idol and World Idol, Kurt Nilsen's voice is amazing...

Falsa Moral (False Morals)- OBK

Thanks to S R for this video and song.

Boats, BBQ's and Brains

Yet another eventful weekend in the lazy-hazy days of summer in London.

Frank, my landlord, had the brilliant idea of going all out for the Henley Royal Regatta. Dresses, blazers, boat hat, crisps, banana cake, cider and champagne- fully confident of the equipage in tow, off we stumbled to Paddington (not fully awake as it was 7.45a.m.) to catch the train to Henley-On-Thames. Established in 1839, the Royal Regatta(not to be confused with the other Henley races i.e. Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Town Regatta), is a very 'English' thing to do in the summer where one would picnic on the bank of the river all decked-up in your best dresses and hats and have a glass of Pimms with strawberries, cucumber and mint and oh of course watch the boat races.

The festive atmosphere began even in Paddington itself as you could see almost every other person in their best togs and clogs. Train was filled with people all ready to have a good time -it was like a gigantic tea-party procession on it's way out to London all in the name of a boat race...amazing:P

The weather held out and finally turned sunny as we lounged on the bank of the river with champagne and watched the rowers speed by. Felt very posh ...



Then it was off to K's for a BBQ at her home. It was a real feast and great company in her cosy little flat. Lots of sausages, lamb in dijon mustard, chicken, vege-kebabs and such. The real fun began when K brought out the 'Cranium' -a hybrid between Ludo, Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, Charades and Spelling Bee. I must say it was hilarious especially when it came to 'Cameo' and 'Humdinger' plays where the team had to guess the mystery celebrity or song. The girl's team won of course.

Thank you K and S for the good times:)

(p.s. Sorry I had to add these but they were so funny!)

Farewell to a Legend

Rest in peace now Michael, your work here is done.

Painting by Chagall - The Weepies

Nice summer song...

Father's Day - The Living Years

Mysteriously this song somehow ended up in my MP4 player - don't remember adding it. I first heard it on Radio 4 on the way to school in mom's car - I was Standard 5 then and half awake in the Mini Minor. The dee jay (one of the old schools e.g. Alan Zechariah or someone like that) introduced it in such a way that I still remember it today. But then, the song didn't have much meaning for me - being a kid without a care in the world except for UPSR exams

I listen to the song again and it has become powerful now - now that I've gone through the trials and heartaches of relationships with the people dear to me. Especially since it's Father's Day, this song somehow screamed 'Hear me!'. Life suddenly seemed too short for grudges and resentments.



The Living Years - Mike and the Mechanics

Every generation
Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations
Come beating on your door

I know that I'm a prisoner
To all my father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage
To all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Crumpled bits of paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations
I'm afraid thats all we've got

You say you just dont see it
He says its perfect sense
You just cant get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a different language
Talking in defence

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
Its too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

So we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future
Its the bitterness that lasts

So don't yield to the fortunes
You sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective
On a different day
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be o.k.

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
Its too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

I wasn't there that morning
When my father passed away
I didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say

I think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I'm sure I heard his echo
In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
Its too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye