Au Revoir 2006

Six more hours till the last second of 2006 strikes, I reflect on the year that has been. I started the year out easy, spending my semi-idllyic days welcoming my eighth year in Australia and cruising through my job in my sixth year. Enjoying the extraordinarily high calibre of Oscar nominated movies, like "Brokeback Mountain", "Walk The Line", "Goodnight and Goodluck", "Transamerica", "Capote", "Crash", "Munich" etc, life was fun and easy.

Making the decision to give up joining my friends again this year in Japan to watch Akina in April after enjoying wonderful concerts from K.D. Lang and Bette Midler, we decided to spend more time in theatres. Thankfully, tt was a wonderful year of theatrical drama, the main highlights being "The History Boys", "I Am My Own Wife" and "Holding The Man".

In June, we embarked on a seemingly never ending journey in looking for our "perfect" new apartment to call our true home, and our weekends were starting to laden with more stress and strain. It was not a totally unenjoyable journey though one can get a little dis-spirited after many fruitless searches. The good thing is actually knowing and recognising immediately what we don't want, and tearing those bits apart. I guess it's all part of staying sane in this mad world, and thankfully, we have the encouragement and advise of our wiser friends, who have been down this same journey, hence reminding us of our humanity.

The rest of the year looked to span out similarly until a fundamental change in me made me realise that I had to move on in life, which sparked on a spirited charge. Oh, how I hate interviews and still do. I count them as just as bad if not worst than public speaking, because at least I can control public speaking to some extent. Anyway, I was happy to get that over and done with. Though I wasn't entirely certain that it was the right move at that time, future visits to my old job gave me the affirmation I needed.

Not long after this came another obstacle where we were told to move out of the apartment that we called home for 18 months. It can be stressful because it can bring up abandonment issues, but I focused on one issue at a time, with the knowledge that if things came down to the worst, we still had generous friends whom we could rely on. Thankfully, the move was very successful and we are happy in our new abode though it has confirmed that we will not be looking for a one bedroom apartment when we purchase. Ha! Ha!

Friends ... how can we do without them. 2006 marked my 35th year and I am so lucky to still have so many generous and loving people around me in Australia that I see as part of my family. My darling John arranged for an appreciation party and I got the best presents from everyone - their kind love and heartful words which will always grace my life for as long as I live. As for my dear friend, Jack, whom I lost this month, I didn't think I would miss you as much as I did, but I do. My dearest friend, Leslie and Ryan, who are in Japan and their lovely gift - Leslie's new book SuperStars (a few photos attached) in time for my birthday. My friends in Singapore (especially my fellow VAMPires) and around the world whom I only have mostly email contact with, thank you for all your emails and love. So, to all my dearest friends, no matter where you are, Thank you for everything ...

Two of my favourites from the book: Ultra sexy Japanese ex-soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata and Wada Akiko in a pose you will never have seen her in. Ingenious! (You can also buy this beautiful book here)

And now onto my family, John and his family. I spent a most wonderful Christmas and this year in particular, it was an exceptional season and I feel that I have truly arrived and participated as part of the Jones' family. John, whom I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary, everyday is a fruitful journey of love. Thank you for this wonderous joy! For my own family, whom I only get to see once or twice (for the past two years though the second trip is always impromptu and very short), I thank you for your love and grace ... allowing me to live my dream in Australia, it is the greatest gift anyone can give me. I sincerely hope that I will get more opportunities to spend more time in future with all of you and you must all know that I will always love you, no matter where I am.

To end, I would like to share some photos (which I haven't done much of in the last few months of the year). As you can see, I am in love with babies and hopefully some day, I will have one of my own, but if not, I will always have these babies I consider children of mine. People should always be loved, so take my advice: give give give!!

Firstly, my two darlings - Joshua and Joy who teach me how to love more everday. I love them so much and they bring me so much joy just knowing that they miss having me around to play with.

Her first pony riding experience!!

I love this photo because Joy is growing up so quickly and is a master poser when it comes to photoshoots and Joshua is just so playful. Here he is striking a "what he believes to be a similar" pose to his sister.

My other bundles of joy in Sydney - the beautiful Jamie and Sophia!!

John and I with wonderous and ever happy Marley separately.

Finally, Here's wishing everyone a loving and wonderful 2007 filled with exhilarating surprises sparkling all along the way!!! Take care, stay healthy and in love ...

35才の誕生日

Another year has passed ... so many bitter sweet memories that graced the 34th year of my life that I will always remember. Since my friend has passed on so recently, the lessons on cherishing life is at the forefront of my thoughts and birthdays are always a good time to say Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to my life. My parents, especially my mother who brings up the story of being in labour for over17 hours to bring me to this world, my siblings whom I grown up with, fighting, teasing and loving, and who now accept me for who I am. My little nephew and niece who continue to such inspirations in my life teaching me how to love so much more than I thought I was ever capable of. My dear friends everywhere around the world, especially my surrogate family in Australia who create this wonderful loving world for me, and lastly, my dearest lover, John, who I am so honoured to share every day waking up next to.

Even if the world is imperfect, my world is as good as it can be and I want to remind myself to be thankful for all that I have. Spread your love everyone, make a difference in someone else's life ...

今天是我三十五岁的生日。走了这漫长的人生道路，感慨良多。除了学会珍惜家人与朋友的爱戴，也懂了爱惜自己。有了这份自爱，才能真心真意地打开心房接受与散播爱。生日不是属于我一个人的，最感激的是把我带进这世界的父母，照顾我张大的大家，与我成长的弟弟妹妹，展开友谊之手的朋友，和教我如何爱的恋人与已故的外婆。谢谢大家的爱，我是幸福的，我的生命是充实。

My Dear Friend - RIP Jack Lavery

Yesterday I was still looking at an invitation sent by him last year and now he is no longer with us ...

Jack Lavery, my dear dear friend, someone who I respected and was one of my closest friends in Sydney, died this morning. It came as an entire shock because we haven't been in close contact for the past few years but always held him close in my heart. I remember bumping into him at Chinatown, where I sat down with him and his partner, Charles, and Charles' mother for lunch. We had (always have) a great time and we talked about how we should catch up after that. We never did ... though I did mean to after coming across the card last night. Maybe that was a sign that I should have picked up on ...

I met Jack at my first independent home that I moved into after leaving my aunt's in Sydney. I was living in Redfern on top of a shop and after university one day, walked in and Laurie, the owner introduced us. Jack was an English teacher who was always happy to share. He lived a full and exciting life and I always looked forward to seeing him because I always learn so much from him. He taught me many life experiences and was always keen to inspire me to be a better person. He taught me to be comfortable in my own skin and always inspired me to write because of my love for it.

Since he was so well read, I always felt that his encouragement was priceless since I never had any idea if I could really write well. I remember his generosity when I moved out of the shop house into my first apartment and how he gave us a really nice carpet and many pieces of crockery and cutlery that they no longer needed. He always invited us to the most delicious meals and even organised my first Halloween party, which I (and everyone who attended) never forgot. He always swore by his French cookbook and taught me to make the most delicious Crème Brûlée I have ever tasted. I remember going to their apartment and he taught me how to make my first dessert. Instead of burning sugar as the topping, we did a chocolate mousse topping which really complemented and differentiated my Crème Brûlée. I still constantly laugh at his remark when there was an instruction in the cookbook to beat the eggs hard, and when I did it, he said "Now, you're hitting it like a gay man. Harder!" I swore after that I would never make it again but I just might have to do it now just for remembrance.

Jack, oh Jack, how I will miss you and your brave cheerful being. Always telling me not to listen to what others have to say if it is negative and believe in myself. How I wish I could have had one last good long conversation with you. I know you wanted us to remember you the way you were, but this is rather cruel to us, as your friends, to be able to say Goodbye. I don't like farewells so I understand and I will never forget all your stories and pearls of wisdom. I hope you are peaceful and free of pain now. I love you Jack and you will always have a special place in my heart ...

You're Gonna Love Her ...

This is without any doubt, one of the most challenging songs to sing in history. Made famous by the original Jennifer Holiday in Broadway, it is matched by this 11 year old girl Bianca Ryan, who went on to win the competition. Former "American Idol" evictee, Jennifer Hudson, sings it in the upcoming cinematic version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" and the movie is apparently, all hers. Can't wait to see the movie.

True talents have finally emerged from these mediocre competitions ...

The Original

The New