Come, Cry With Me, Let's Cry Let's Cry Away

Songs that can make me cry:

Because this is important information that you naturally need to know.

(Note: this list is actually quite different from my 'sad songs that are good songs' list.)

Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle.


I actually don't listen to this song for this reason - because I go all OH MY GOSH GROWING UP IS SO SAD ARGH WHERE'S MY DADDY. I may or may not have this as the father-daughter dance at my wedding... probably not, because I'd be a crying mess...

Blow Up the Pokies by the Whitlams


No personal meaning in this one... it just makes me feel sad and angry about the fact that Australia sets the world record for gambling addiction and it's a government endorsed thing. Besides, the song is so sad (it was written for a friend of the band members)!

Tears of the Saints by Leeland


Do I even need to explain? *sobs*

Who Are We Fooling - Brooke Fraser and Aqualung


I have to be pretty on edge to cry at this one, but it's still pretty touching. And it's a sort of song you don't see very often, either: most sad relationshippy songs are either: 'You Left Me And Now I'm Sad' or 'I'm Sad Because I'm About to Leave You' or 'I Never Got To Be With You In The First Place'. This song is actually more encouraging than that; it describes a marriage going through a really rough time, but ends on a hopeful, faithful note. I love that.

Beauty in Me by the Whitlams


I know, I know, another Whitlams song. I guess it's because most of these are songs I've known for a really long time, which is why they can elicit an emotional response from me. (Although not really this version. I like the Whitlams and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra version, but can't find it online.)
Warning: don't listen to this song after you've had a nasty day!

(By the way: Kung Fu Panda 2 was much better than its predecessor.)

In all the excitement of watching Kung Fu Panda 2 last night I accidentally Helena-Bonham-Cartered my hair. And then I was sad because I had to take it all down to go to bed. That's not even a first world problem... I don't know what that is.

My serious photo-taking face is somewhat silly.

In other news... Josh Groban has a sense of humour? Who knew?

“It is true of course, that I have a will of iron, but it can be switched off if the circumstances seem to demand it.”

― P.G. Wodehouse

Christmas Carol CAPTION FAIL

Obligatory Christmassy video for you

Because I said I would. And this is sorta awesome.

I got up this morning... at 9.22. My alarm was going off like nobody's business - I'd slept through about six hundred automatic snoozes! A bit of a nasty head cold can drag you down in odd ways.
So delighted with all the bloggin' that's been happening - folks, you brighten up my day - you know who you are :-)
Speaking of brightening things up... I know that hating pop music has been a perfectly respectable part of my schtick for, well, forever, but lately I've been giving it a chance and I'm finally willing to admit that some of the stuff is pretty fun. I'm not about to go out and buy me a Katy Perry album any time soon - not a chance, my dears! - but I no longer feel totally repulsed when trapped in the supermarket with those awful radio stations infiltrating every aisle. And tell me that this is not totally catchy!

It's Too Darn Hot!

Cannot stand this insane heat! Cool breezes, where art thou?

I have fairy lights in my room now. I like this development :-)

Have formed ridiculously sudden adoration for Mumford & Sons - I guess it's been a while since I fell in love with a band - 'twas bound to happen! My family are already sick of my gushing about my new favourite band, so I thought I'd share with you guys. Seriously love this band.



Like, a lot. The poetry of Simon & Garfunkel; the energy and fervour of U2; folkiness to die for; they're British; THEY HAVE A MANDOLIN! Argh, and just when I thought I couldn't be any more in love, I discovered that Marcus Mumford runs a book club on their website. And he likes G. K. Chesterton.

*Dies*

Ludicrous amounts of awesome, right there.

"Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free"

Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't.

Er, hi!

I'm a bit ashamed about the previous post. I really dislike reading other people's posts in that vein, but lawks! Is it therapeutic!
I have a bit of a communication problem when it comes to negative feelings - except when it comes to close family. And even then I have to make an effort. But I have been working on that lately. Mostly just by finding out why. And it's completely fascinating to look back over patterns you've formed in your life - decisions made in childhood, attitudes that form you after you form them. I've never wanted to see a psyco-anything before, but now I understand the appeal. Although, no, I haven't seen a shrink, I've just had a few very good chats with my Mum. Who is awesome, by the way. Mums are. Go talk to your mum.
I guess that last post was a bit counter-productive.

Oh well.

I saw Megamind with J last night. It was good. Not the best kids' film I've seen all year (Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me were better) but it was cute. I liked it. And the premise was clever. I might steal that premise sometime.

Also, I've just discovered Joe Brooks. I think he's awesome. :)

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Bonsoir.

I've just discovered the Ten Tenors. Love 'em. Love that they're Aussie, particularly. Hate all the mean Youtube comments. Come on, guys, you gotta appreciate that in Australia this style of music is hardly existent (comparatively); plus we don't have as many millions of people to do this work and fund it as other countries do. So just leave the poor boys alone, please.

New Favourite Song

Just made duhlicious lemon thyme chicken with mashed potato and steamed vegetables. Nice. Starting to like this cooking for my onesie self thing.

Feeling oddly bleurgh lately - probs has something to do with not seeing much of the folks I love and being all stupid and antisocial and offensive when I do. How come my biting wit only surfaces to say something regrettable? This must change.

I love Georgia Fair - even if they do mumble into the microphone! The lead singer looks better with a less dodgy haircut...

I should organise a party like this one soon - with guitars and lanterns...

Time management is being a problem. I need to sort it out or all my time will leak out of the holes of my life without me so much as noticing.

I suppose a purist might have considered him more or less off his onion.

Listening to Simon & Garfunkel! Groooviness.

'Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo!'

'I heard cathedral bells tripping down the alleyways...'

'I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand on Bleeeeeeeeeker Street.'

Two weird looking guys with angel voices and guitar skills, singing poetry.

Nice. People should never let go of a musical heritage like that. It depresses me how music is so transient; classical survives (firstly because it is awesome,) chiefly because there are institutions to see that it does, but the brilliant pop music of the ages? The Beatles will probably last a good long while; Elvis still has a following, but how many young people now know about S&G?

I don't know if you know that sort of feeling you get on these days round about the end of April and the beginning of May, when the sky's a light blue with cotton-wool clouds and there's a bit of a breeze blowing from the west? Kind of uplifted feeling. Romantic, if you know what I mean. I'm not much of a ladies' man, but on this particular morning it seemed to me that what I really wanted was some charming girl to buzz up and ask me to save her from assassins or something. - The World of Jeeves

Grandad took me to see Rockdale Opera Company's Ruddigore, by Gilbert & Sullivan on Friday. It was so much fun! I love going to plays for the music, costumes and lighting and this had them all lavishly.
The basic storyline is that the Baronets of Ruddigore are cursed: they must commit a crime every day of their lives or perish in agony. Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, before it becomes his turn to inherit the title, runs away and becomes 'Robin Oakapple', a virtuous farmer; his younger brother Despard becomes baronet, believing Ruthven to be dead. Ten years later 'Robin' as he calls himself falls in love with Rose Maybud, but is too shy to approach her. She lives her life by an etiquette book, which tells her not to speak until spoken to, so cannot confess her love to him. Chaos ensues when, with the help of a jealous sailor, Despard Murgatroyd learns of his brother's presence in the little village...

The plot twists and turns with musical flourishes coming thick and fast right at you - the actors must have been having tons and tons of fun with the melodrama and the comedy. if I could sing opera I'd be willing to live off raw tomatoes (which, by the way, I hate passionately) to get a chance to sing Gilbert and Sullivan.


Life's such a funny thing. At such a funny place right now. I feel happy but frightened, like I'm standing on the edge of a precipice in a hang glider and there's a wind picking up. But I have a jolly good pilot in whom I trust. And I have a lineup of people holding hands with me as we take the plunge. Real life, here we come!

An Old Mate Down In Devon/Said My Idea Of Heaven/Is 47 Ginger Headed Sailors

My MP3 hates me. I (accidentally) dropped it down the gap as I got off the train yesterday - then became late for work after pondering my chances of a large fine or death if I retrieved it myself; finally got the cityrail lady who scooped it up with a long pair of rubbish collecting tong things - and now it seems to have taken up arms against me. Every second or third song (even after I pointedly turned the 'shuffle' mode off three times) is Phil Collins's You'll Be In My Heart from the Disney film, Tarzan. I don't hate the song (at least, I didn't), but it was never my favourite. I'm not a big Phil Collins aficionado. Never have been. I tolerate his music. It's only there because it was on my 'Best Disney Album In The World Ever' playlist.
I now have developed some serious hard feelings against this song, but we have a problem. I don't know how to delete music off the ruddy gadget! So I'll just be carefully going through my playlists now with my finger on the 'skip' button from now on...



Soon. Soon I shall be free of public transport. Free to fly to the ends of the Earth (or as far as my petrol budget can take me), in a car once more. Just need to find said car. My morning and evening commute has been sapping the strength from me for far too long. I figured out today that I, on average, spend twelve hours commuting and working per day. When you subtract the requisite eight hours sleep (often more, when my aching limbs have their way), this leaves me four hours. Four hours for study, chores, eating, bathing and dressing every day. I hate this state of affairs with a passionate hatred. Spending several hours every day packed in amongst zombie-faced strangers, each positioned carefully to have his/her eyes locked upon a distant (non-existant) horizon and his/her hand resting firmly on something attached to the train, without touching anything else, if possible; this lifestyle wears thin.


Ugh! This whole deal is making me grind my teeth... *seconds later*: am now flying on a cloud made of John Schmidt's Viva La Vida Meets Love Story. Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. Sighhhhhhhh...


On a cheerier note, one thing I love to do when on one of the older trains (you know the ones - they look as if they've been punched out of aluminium foil and they're flat at the front; especial notice be taken when I say that they're the only NSW trains that have opening windows) is open the window and lean my face against it so that I can see the world travelling alongside me twice - out the window and in the reflection of the inward opening glass (as shown above). When I do this for long enough it feels like flying, although eventually my eye starts feeling a bit dry and sore and I'm sure if the train hit something or had to stop suddenly my brain would be gouged out...

A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it's a whisper.

I don't particularly know why, but I think a nice follow-up to last night's post about attractive fictional blokes would be blogging about chaps with heavenly voices. So that's what I have decided to do.

In no particular order:

1. Alan Rickman



2. Geoffrey Rush (I only chose this vid coz it had the piratical melodies of Rush's Barbossa voice - I couldn't bear to watch the whole thing owing to the intensely melodramatic soundtrack...)



3. Jeremy Irons





4. Morgan Freeman (surprise, surprise! An American!)



5. John Cleese



6. Christopher Lee



And now some singers because they have to have to-die-for voices

1. Michael Buble

2. Russell Watson

3. Pavarotti

4. Nat King Cole



You'll have to look up some songs yourself I'm afraid - I've completely lost patience with the slowness of youtube on this computer... but recommedations include 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters', by Watson, 'Feeling Good' by Buble, I can't remember the dashed Italian name of my favourite Pavarotti, 'When I Fall In Love' by Nat King Cole... I have dozens of other singers and songs that I could rave about, but now I think I shall collapse on my bed and drift into dreamland on the lissome tones of my favourite crooners.

Oh, and here's something totally stupid and random. But it has two lovely voices in it so here we go: (don't bother watching to the end, the stupidity gets distracting)

An Even Deeper Magic

Work today was awesome, as always.

I love having a camera on my phone. So nifty. Still want a real camera of my own, but for now this will do - particularly for bloggifying.



Currently reading a book about C.S. Lewis and Narnia. Now I want to go and write a lot of lovely derivative fiction - ripping off my favourite myths, literature & best friends - just like he did. It seemed to work for him...

And I am also craving the 'Roar of Love' (random synthesized Christian music from the 70s based on The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe) album by Second Chapter of Acts. My favourite music as a child - which perhaps accounts for my oddness and ecletic tastes now... but I lost the tape :( It's for sale on amazon but they won't ship to Australia... 'yes we will climb on the lion's back and we will fly away!' *electric air guitar solo*





It is hereby compulsory for every reader of this blog to listen to at least one of these songs. They are made of some kind of insanity.

“Why have your followers all drawn their swords, may I ask?” said Aslan.
“May it please your High Majesty,” said the second Mouse, whose name was Peepicheek, “we are all waiting to cut off our own tails if our Chief must go without his. We will not bear the shame of wearing an honour which is denied to the High Mouse.”
“Ah!” roared Aslan. “You have conquered me. You have great hearts. Not for the sake of your dignity, Reepicheep, but for the love that is between you and your people, and still more for the kindness your people showed me long ago when you ate away the cords that bound me on the Stone Table (and it was then, though you have long forgotten it, that you began to be Talking Mice), you shall have your tail again.”
Prince Caspian – Chapter 15





"Have you pen and ink, Master Doctor?" "A scholar is never without them, your Majesty," answered Doctor Cornelius

People who work sitting down get paid more than people who work standing up.

I love pictures of people sitting on the floor:

“I don't mind not being cool.” - Chris Martin

"How could it be that we're one of the only two developed countries in the world to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol? I don't understand. I just don't get it." - Kevin Rudd



You go into a supermarket and your face is on a cake. And the other day ... I got sent ... there are now underpants with my face on them. And thats not a sentence I ever thought Id ever say on National Television ... you can now have ... my face on your crotch! - David Tennant


I'm an Asian guy growing up in London so I see myself as British, but India is part of my culture."
- Dev Patel


A weird fetish I know...

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

Hi, me here.

This morning I left my house dressed rather awfully in frayed jeans (I never need to ask 'Does my backside look like the side of a barn in these?' It does.) and a hideous tracksuit jacket with an Australia ensigna on the breast and native animal pattern lining. I felt ugly - or at least very plain - so I decided to try out a theory: will people behave differently if I am dressed differently? I don't think I got an answer to that question, but what I did find out is that, if you smile and look people in the eye as you pass them (at least people who are nearly home in Lewisham after a long days work elsewhere) you just about always get a genuine smile back. I tried this all the way to the train station, and then had to stop, because smiling sweetly at strangers doesn't come off so well when you're trapped elbow to elbow in a stifling crowd of unhappy commuters at peak hour.

It made my afternoon.

Have my laptop back from the repairshop now, after not having it for months, and I have a problem. I can't remember the password!

I have bought a ridiculous amount of books recently. Only today I bought myself Edward De Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats', which has some excellent ideology, even if it is as cheesy as anything. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_07.htm

I also bought 'An Equal Music' by Vikram Seth, because I really did enjoy 'A Suitable Boy' - all apart from the ending. And when I went to Koorong last weekend, I splurged and bought a book for each of my siblings. Which was partially selfish, since I planned to read them all myself! 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye', 'Every Young Woman's Battle' and 'Do Hard Things' for J, Woo and Jel respectively. Already read the last two and most of the first. Inspiring stuff. I have discovered that I am a rebelutionary! And have been for years, without knowing it :)


http://www.therebelution.com/index.php

I also bought a gigantic tub of The Yoghurt Of Bliss today, so I have been very happy with my blessings...





OK, just pretend this is a new blog entry, for your own convenience.
When I was at Koorong I bought another book, a book for myself. I had already read it and only bought it because it impacted me so much and I now want to lend it to everybody I know. At least, all the girls. This book is 'Captivating' by John and Stasi Elderege. It's about God's design of women and our special role in Creation. I never before would have thought that God had designed me to be beautiful! That I have an important role to play that does not just require my dutiful service. These and many other things made this book an awesome read. So read it. Please.