A New Year Ahead...

Mary Helen Bower

It's been over two months since I've last written. 

Since it's New Year's Eve, I thought it was rather appropriate to sit down on my bed and tap this out on my laptop whilst I can hear the constant icy breeze blowing past my slightly ajar window, occasionally interrupted by the pop and cackle of fireworks in the neighbourhood.

Reminiscing over my Instagram photos this year I realised that actually, although time has flown by, a lot of things have happened this year. Traveling to various places, meeting new people, moving offices, progressing at work, eating and trying new foods... many many things.

Just makes me think that whilst our day to day life causes us to become slightly tunnel visioned, or burdened with the daily stresses in life, we shouldn't forget what we have achieved. And most importantly, to look forward, straight ahead, and keep going. It doesn't matter if there is no clear goal, or things seem uncertain - just look ahead in a direction you feel is right.

Mary Helen Bower

I think this year, I'm becoming more and more myself, going towards a direction with confidence in being me. Knowing what I want, I need, and what I stand for. It doesn't matter how many brick walls I hit on the way, but I know that what has happened will be the reason why I am who I am. Both the good and bad things that happen will make you better if you take time to reflect and improve yourself where suitable.

Your Laws...

Sometimes I wonder if people really change that dramatically when they're apart, as they say. I entitled this post "Your Laws" because of several reasons.
Firstly I really like the song of the same title (and the TV drama Triumph in the Skies 2). Secondly, the lyrics make me wonder about friendships, relationships and so on. Is it always the same? Are promises kept? What are the 'laws'; just the things they say/promise, or indirectly, their personality too?

Once we get to know one's personality, it's like a mutual law we assume that is there... we build a rapport with them, something mutual and tacit... we become synchronised when that rapport becomes stronger. And the things you do have a natural order, or method, who leads what... Eventually we become able to predict their actions, and their way of thinking, to an extent.

But does this always stay the same?
No.. of course not. People change and evolve as a reaction to our surroundings and our experiences, so the corresponding aspect of our personality could change too. This means the things we take for granted, that rapport that has built up slowly changes too. Things that were once said may not be as meaningful or become invalid, and what were once your 'laws' become irrelevant. Also, the way they once were may not be the same story now.

It's normal that people move on and things change slightly, but it would be a sad thing if the things turn bad, don't you think? Equally it's normal that our lives have times when things are going past quickly and other times when things slow down to a steady pace... I can't wait to find a refreshing new momentum (*^-^*)

[Lyrics]

You said that if I followed you...

Things that I want would all come true.

You said you would always be true, if I followed you...

If I followed you.

You said you would show me the world.

That I would always be the only girl.

You said you would never argue if I followed you.

These are the laws that you made,

how could I change your way, baby?

Oh Baby.

These are the rules that you made,

how could I doubt you, babe?

Baby, oh baby, my baby.

Have you ever listened to a word I say?

Or am I just the one to obey?

Does it always have to go one way?

And I follow you, yes I follow you.

I don't wanna make you angry,

so I keep quiet while I agree 

'til you tell me words that you say

and I'll follow you.

These are the laws that you made,

how could I change your way, baby?

Oh Baby.

These are the rules that you made,

how could I doubt you, babe?

Baby, oh baby, my baby...

Rainy Days and Coffee...

The weather here has generally been miserable.
Much rain, icy cold days many degrees under zero, sometimes snow.

Snow day... 18th January 2013

A place I walked through near my home..

Today was beautiful.

Success comes from within...

"To really succeed, one must let go of many preconceptions and be open minded, whilst keeping ones integrity without being stubborn." ~ (Me, 2012)

Succeed, success, successful... three words that many people strive for, in various different ways and forms. What do these words mean to me?

For you, I'll be your fortress.

At the dead of night you visit, unexpectedly. 

When the stars are at their brightest you appear before my closed eyes. 

Human, I'm merely human, 

and you know I'm at my weakest during the tranquil night.

You never visit during the day, because you know. 

You know I'll be fine, I can hold my own.

From the moment I wake up I rebuild myself 

from the fragments of memories and experiences, 

to form a stronger me. 

Like a castle of sand replacing the smooth surface that was once part of the beach, 

I stand strong. 

This grand architecture holds a fragile core,

 protected by walls of the fortress. 

A core so vulnerable, it threatens to shatter just like glass.

Ballet, Music, and Polina Semionova

I found this via Nicky Lee, the famous mangaka (manga author, also known as Lee Chong Ping in Mandarin Chinese). She is the author of many beautifully drawn manga comics such as The One which I adore. It is quite amusing actually, since her name is only one kanji character away from mine, which makes us look related.

The footage below is just beautiful and mesmerising, her fluid movements and expressiveness. I was once a ballerina but after several grades I had decided to concentrate on music and much of my time was taken up by piano practise.

This video really resonates with me. It is a choreographed form of art, of expression and passion, of beauty; just as music is an audio form of all of those above, and Literature and visual arts are the visual forms respectively. 

Ballet have influenced me greatly from a young age, and even my piano playing. Often I have been told that my grace at the piano resembles a ballerina, my posture, my movements. 

So this video really reminded me of all those things.. perhaps this is the motivation and inspiration I have been looking for to re-light my fire to face the dormant beast of 88 keys that is currently hibernating in my lounge...

Ballet - H. Grönemeyer - instrumental

The fall is coming, and soon it will be Winter...

Hello world,

This is my first official post since the move of my personal posts to this new blog address. I guess it was because I felt the other blog was becoming too crowded, too busy and untidy. It just wasn't the right environment, virtual environment, for me to write properly anymore. I needed some space.

Although, there are still quite a lot of posts I have imported on here that I was wanting to throw away, such as my music recommendations and posts of things I found interesting or cute, I kept them there. I guess it's because it would make this blog a lot more livelier than just having my personal written entries. Also, all those things are part of me, so you'll probably have a better idea of what kind of things I tend to find interesting.

So here I am, at last. I found a bit of peace in my mind to sit down and write about what has been happening lately. 

How many REAL friends have you got?

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. 

A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself 

(and doesn't feel even the least bit weird shutting your 

Coke/Pepsi drawer with his foot!)

A simple friend has never seen you cry. 

A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

Random Top Tens: 10 things I Like On Men

10 things that I'd look out for or notice on guys...

My Vivienne Westwood Armour Ring / Armor Ring

Finally, my Armour Ring.

I can't believe I bought this on a whim. 

I was just passing by a boutique today; the sun was out and positive waves were soaring around happily. I guess the sun does that to you; makes everyone happy. I like this small cluttered boutique with quirky fashion items all crammed into a small shop floor; I like a lot of what I see, but I haven't bought anything. Yet.

It was there in the shop display unit, and since I know how quickly the sizes sell out, or the fact that they don't usually stock small sizes, I wasn't all that hopeful when I asked the sales assistant for this ring. Surprisingly they did have it in stock (*^^*)

I'm not usually one for gothic or large pieces of jewellery; not because I dislike it, but it simply doesn't suit me as well as other pieces, I feel. Being a rather petite/delicate looking (I really don't like it but people say so), I'm perhaps suited to finer pieces of accessories. Nonetheless, my crazy personality makes up for it and it doesn't stop me from purchasing anything I like (*^0^*).

This ring reminds me of several things:

Alice Nine Album Review 9 ~ "Afterword: Gemini vs. 9 ~ The Twin Albums"

As soon as I put the disc in and the start of Heavenly Tale began, a smirk played across my face. A very 'Saga-like' expression in fact, if only I had a mirror or camera to prove it. 

After all, even though I had no particular expectations of what sound world the boys will pull me into this time round, the instant the intro played, I thought :

"As expected of you, this is just so 'you', I knew it". 

It amused me, surprised me yet satisfied me with familiarity. This was a journey I've been waiting for, expecting, and one that would be both familiar yet completely new. 

I instantly saw, heard, felt - however you'd like to put it - the connection of this album with GEMINI. Saw, because I saw it as cascading morphing images in my head; heard, because of the sound world, the magical sounds arranged in unique combinations that were infiltrating my ears; and felt, because of the emotional subconscious message it sent out to me.

Alice Nine Album Review 「９」

This review was conducted through listening to the album over 40 hours on professional headphones 
Audio Technica Sovereign ATH-W1000

Cherry wood enclosures and gold-plated hardware

Please note that this review is a personal record of the opinions of a semi-professional Musician who has been professionally trained. It does not represent, on any account, any other persons' opinion. Please note that this review did not take 40hrs to complete but rather I didn't have time to write it up until I've listened to it for over 40hrs (*^.~*)

Beautifully produced, just as Gemini was. Perhaps less complex and experimental than Gemini, and explicitly rock. Controlled, displaying mastered technical musicianship. Confident and showy but not flashy or wild like Gemini. Not as compositionally ambitious – perhaps ambitious is the wrong word, less complex. It’s not as explicitly ambitious, but the layers of musical material are equally as demanding and well expressed. An album exuding confidence, competence and mastered musicianship – another landmark album in their discography.

DJ Yuki Weekly Recommendations [30.03.2012]: Tommy heavenly6 - Hey my friend [Lyrics]

Hey my friend... I lose my way without you...      

You know who you are. You're out there, I know you know this.

Romaji & Translation Below [Original Lyrics further down]

furitsudzuita nagai ame ga agaru
I have waited long time... yeah
iradachi wo kakushite
  The long, continuous rain stops
  I have waited long time... yeah
  I hide my irritation

kyou mo nibui zutsuu no you ni hibiku
Noisy sound out of my head phone
BEDDO ni nagetsukete
  Even today, the noisy sound out of my head phone
  echoes like a sharp headache
  & I fling myself into bed

hikizuru you ni arukidasu ashita e to
kon'ya mo utsushidasu inori no silhouette
  I begin to walk to tomorrow like I'm dragging myself
  Tonight also, there's a silhouette of a prayer that's projected out

Hey my friend
naze darou anata no koe ga kikoeru
Hello my self
kakureteta hikari ga mieta ki ga shita  ah
  Hey my friend
  I wonder why I can hear your voice
  Hello my self
  I felt that I could see the hidden light, ah

surechigai  miushinau to mou wakaranai
I lose my way without you
deguchi ga mienakute
  I didn't know that I passed it by and lost sight of it
  I lose my way without you
  The exit isn't visible

nantonaku nakisou ni naru no
I don't know where my heart is...
sunao ni narenakute
  Somehow I get teary
  I dont know where my heart is...
  I can't be straight-forward

owaranai yume ya genjitsu ga dou toka
saegiru mono ni torawarete ita kedo
  The endless dreams, reality, etc.
  I was caught up with the interruptions

Hey my friend
tsumadzukanai ikikata nado nai kara
Baby i think...
kazaru dake no PURAIDO nara iranai
ah woo...
  Hey my friend
  we stumble over life, so
  Baby i think...
  If it's just a flashy pride, I don't need it
  ah woo...

aoi sora wa soko ni aru no?
where are you babe?
I lose my way without you
kono kiri ga haretara...
  Is the blue sky there?
  where are you babe?
  I lose my way withou you
  When this fog clears...

kawaru nanka ni mune wo odorasete itai
subete ga detarame ni mieru kono sekai de
  I want to make my heart dance because of something that changes
  Everything in this world appears to be in chaos

Hey my friend
naze darou anata no koe ga kikoeru
Hello my self
michibikareru you ni mieta mirai ga aru no
dakedo  fumihazusu michi ga chikaku ni aru nara
nee my friend
anata ga kidzuita toki ni wa oshiete
  Hey my friend
  I wonder why I can hear your voice
  Hello my self
  In order to be guided, there's a future that's visible
  But, if a stray path is close by,
  hey my friend
  tell me when you realize it

Original Lyrics


降り続いた長い雨が上がる
I have waited longtime... yeah
苛立ちを隠して

今日も鈍い頭痛のように響く
Noisy sound out of my head phone
ベッドに投げ付けて

引きずるように歩き出す明日へと
今夜も映し出す祈りのsilhouette

Hey my friend
なぜだろうあなたの声が聞こえる
Hello my self
隠れてた光が見えた気がした ah

擦れ違い　見失うともう分からない
I lose my way without you
出口が見えなくて

なんとなく泣きそうになるの
I don't know where my heart is...
素直になれなくて

終わらない夢や現実がどうとか
遮るものに捕われていたけど

Hey my friend
つまづかない生き方などないから
Baby i think...
飾るだけのプライドならいらない
ah woo...

青い空はそこにあるの？
where are you babe?
I lose my way without you
この霧が晴れたら...

変わる何かに胸を躍らせていたい
すべてがデタラメに見えるこの世界で

Hey my friend
なぜだろうあなたの声が聞こえる
Hello my self
導かれるように見えた未来があるの
だけど　踏み外す道が近くにあるなら
ねえ　my friend
あなたが気づいた時には教えて

DJ Yuki Weekly Recommendation [2012.03.10]: Love Me by Yiruma

I had a dream on night of the 8th and I've gone back to listening to Yiruma... 

Something simple, pure, meaningful... bittersweet.... hopeful.
All I can do is hope, plea, yearn and dream. And I'm content being this far away. Otherwise I wouldn't know what to do....
... Please (don't)... Love Me.
(But please let me love you)

Hope you enjoy this *^^*

Real Samurai Sword Technique - Cutting BB Gun pellet by Isao Machii - Japanese Katana Kenjutsu

This is just superhumanly AWESOME (*^^*)

My Alice Nine 「９」Album Arrived!

遂に、the album arrived today (*^^*)　本当に良かったですよね〜　 I was so happy and yet indescribably nervous opening it. Although deep down I was confident in that good things will happen if you kept believing and trusting; so I in a way, I trusted whoever was on the CD cover was going to be good looking and someone I liked. *giggles* Anyways, the music mattered to me most. After all, Hiroto on the CD label never stopped me from loving GEMINI over and over.

I squealed like a true Oriental girl *giggles*, my parents were like "What's the excitement?!" since I really don't squeal over things usually o(*^0^*)o Haha.

「When Heaven Burns」(TVB Drama) ... and the meaning of true friendship

And so last night was the final episode of this drama series I've been following... and it really is a touching story. It's so engaging, and really makes you truly think "So who are my true friends?" "Am I really who I want to be?".


For those who don't know the series and the plot, I'll explain briefly.

The plot is around the lives of a group of 5 friends; 4 of which are young men in a rock band and a girl. These young adults have grown extremely close to each other through experiencing the rough tides of life, society, and aspiring to keep music alive together. No matter what happened, this quintet of friends have an unbreakable, undoubting friendship... a bond.

"A New, Ultimate Bias?" Revisted: Case Closed

I previously wrote an entry about Kim Hyun Joong being possibly the ultimate bias, but now I can officially call the case closed...

I've been meaning to write this entry but had been distracted by other things, it's really been busy lately.
But yes, I've come to realise, that although deep down I had instincts that it wasn't going to turn out as strong an admiration as I was willing to give it the chance, I doubted myself and pushed myself to give Kim Hyun Joong the chance. Surprise surprise, my intuition had told me that something was not right way before I found out for real.

He's too shy and unable to stand up for his beliefs, he's slow reacting. And although I dislike rash and rowdy guy's who just stand up for everything and anything (as if to pick a fight), I don't particularly think someone so quiet or indecisive is manly, thus he is NOT the epitome of a man despite his appearance.
Yes he's sweet, very caring and gentle and even cute at times. But it just wasn't right, not for the place he was 'fighting' for, the top of my biases.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! 2011 \(*^0^*)/

☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆ 

聖誕快樂! メリークリスマス!! 즐거운 성탄절 보내세요!!

Fröhliche Weihnachten!! 

♡ Merry Christmas!! ♡

♪(*^^)o∀*∀o(^^*)♪

Hi Everyone! Merry Christmas!! I want to thank you all for supporting this page and visiting me often *^^* and I would like to wish you all the best for the New Year and good health for the future!

Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy it with all your loved ones!

♡ Merry Christmas!! ♡

This is my Christmas Tree all lit up in the Conservatory *^^*