if music be the food of ....

My definition of a good album: I can listen it over and over and over again and not get tired of it.

Early in 2005, U2’s How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb became my first favorite album of the year. I was not a big on U2 during their early years but after listening to some of their music and found their lyrics meant something, I became hooked to their music. Vertigo is my favourite track from this album – something that makes me run faster when I am on the treadmill.

Craig David’s The Story Goes is another favourite of 2005. His cool R&B tracks just put you at ease and in a good mood. Forget jazz – it just puts you straight to sleep. I love all the tracks on this album with much likings to All The Way, Don’t Love You No More, Hypnotic and Just Chilling.

The Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah Carey has to be the best album of 2005, according to yours truly. I have always been a big fan of her since the release of Vision of Love in 1990 (another album which I can listen to over and over again) – so I am biased towards her then. Hence, it is no surprise if I say that I have been listening to this album almost everyday. Her music are timeless classic.

Based on my iTunes play count, in 2005, my Top 5 most listen to tracks (and they came from the albums mentioned above) are:

5. U2 – Vertigo – 94 times
4. Craig David – Don’t Love you No More – 96 times
3. Mariah Carey – Mine Again – 108 times
2. Craig David – All The Way – 144 times
1. Mariah Carey – We Belong Together – 990 times

I guess we can conclude that We Belong Together gets my vote for the song of 2005. ;-)

positive start....

It was a positive start to the first day of the working year! I think most of my team-mates are recovering from the holiday blues and were not feeling too productive. So, we chat for a little bit, went out for a nice team lunch to kick-off the working year and hell, we even agreed (all 8 of us minus da boss) to go away for a weekend together as part of team building. I don't know if this is part of their new year resolution or they had too much to drink over the holidays that they thought that this is a good idea. Anyhow, I am pleased that we starting things off well. Here's to a more pleasant working days!

2005 - the hi & lo lites..

How quickly time flies. As we say hello to 2006, let’s see what are the major and minor highlights of 2005.

The highlights would be:

My holiday to London, Paris and Dubai in May.
- Visited with Sal, Kaz and Mister D in Dubai
- Visited Kevin in London as well as making that ultimate visit to Leeds Castle in Kent after talking about it for years!
- Met up with my French colleagues in Paris, who I work closely with on a daily basis. Some of whom have become my friends (Cyrille, Steph, Pierre) and I had a great time with them in Paris. For once, I am hanging out with the locals rather with the tourists.

The lowlights would be:

The departure of my closest friends overseas.
- Sal and family moved to Dubai in February.
- Liza and son moved to Ohio in July.

It is sad to see your friends leave. I went through this the last decade when my closest friends relocated overseas. I only see Liza online once in a while. As for Sal, we have seen her returning with Mister D to Singapore a couple of times this year. However, it is not the same as seeing them on a regular basis. Now, who else is leaving the country?

Life goes on. May 2006 will be a better year for yours truly.















Me at Leeds Castle, Kent, England.















Kevin & Ger at the beach in Brighton.

















Hanging out with Cyrille, Steph, Judith, Jim & Pierre in Paris (Place d'Italie to be exact).

a brand new year has dawned...

As I am writing this, some parts of the world has yet to countdown to the new year. It is wierd that way.

Happy 2006 to all! Have a good, if not great, year ahead!