Theatre Outings ^_^

Let's see how much money I've invested:

1. Les Miserables (20th Anniversary Cast)
2. Phantom of the Opera
3. Cats (UK Tour - Wimbledon)
4. Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
5. The Far Pavillions (Original London Cast)
6. Chicago
7. Woman in White
8. Billy Elliot (Original London Cast)
9. Guys & Dolls (Cast: Patrick Swayze)
10. Avenue Q (Original London Cast)
11. Evita! (Remake - Original London Cast)
12. Wicked (Original London Cast)
13. Mary Poppins
14. A Midsummer Night's Dream (Play)
15. Some Girls (Cast: David Schwimmer)
16. Beauty and the Beast (Broadway - NYC)

Others:

• Miss Saigon (Asia Tour - Singapore)
• Saturday Night Fever (Asia Tour - Singapore)

Countries of the World

Sigh... still got so many to go!

Wicked!

Go watch the musical - it's sooooo wicked!

And I managed to catch Idina Menzel (Original Broadway Cast - Tony Award Winner for her role as Elphaba) during her final performance here in London on the 30th of Dec!!!

Also met the other lead cast members - including Helen Dallimore (Glinda the Good), and Adam Garcia (Fiyero). It was such an awesome night!

Seriously, I've been really asborbed in the musical for a fairly long time now. Bought the soundtrack from HMV, and it's been top of my iTunes ever since!

I guess what really captivates me is the enchantment the show brings across. I've seen numerous musicals since coming to London two years ago (I've seen quite a few that I've lost count - say, about 15?), but I'd say that for me, 'Wicked' ranks way up there with Phantom and Les Mis.

In a ironic way, I would call this a 'modern-epic' musical - simply because the way it's presented is so much more modern that the legendary epics to the likes of Phantom or Les Mis. And yet's it's done in such a brilliant and spellbinding way that it leaves the audience wanting for more.

Note that I'm refraining from saying anything about the story-line to avoid any unintentional spoiler comments.

Go watch it - if you don't like it, hey - you're just £30-40 short. But if you do, perhaps you could be the next person defying gravity in your neighbourhood!

MBTI Personality Test

Recently retook the MBTI Personality Test, and whoala - I'm still an ENFJ!

Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
by Joe Butt

Profile: ENFJ

ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.
ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a 'quick question.' I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!

Functional Analysis:
Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted Feeling rules the ENFJ's psyche. In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.

Introverted iNtuition
Like their INFJ cousins, ENFJs are blessed through introverted intuition with clarity of perception in the inner, unconscious world. Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining in even the most beggarly perceptions of those in their expanding circle of friends and, of course, in themselves. In less balanced individuals, such mitigation of the unseemly eventually undermines the ENFJ's integrity and frequently their good name. In healthier individuals, deft use of this awareness of the inner needs and desires of others enables this astute type to win friends, influence people, and avoid compromising entanglements.

The dynamic nature of their intuition moves ENFJs from one project to another with the assurance that the next one will be perfect, or much more nearly so than the last. ENFJs are continually looking for newer and better solutions to benefit their extensive family, staff, or organization.

Extraverted Sensing
Sensing is extraverted. ENFJs can manage details, particularly those necessary to implement the prevailing vision. These data have, however, a magical flexible quality. Something to be bought can be had for a song; the same something is invaluable when it's time to sell. (We are not certain, but we suspect that such is the influence of the primary function.) This wavering of sensory perception is made possible by the weaker and less mature status with which the tertiary is endowed.

Introverted Thinking
Introverted Thinking is least apparent and most enigmatic in this type. In fact, it often appears only when summoned by Feeling. At times only in jest, but in earnest if need be, Thinking entertains as logical only those conclusions which support Feeling's values. Other scenarios can be shown invalid or at best significantly inferior. Such "Thinking in the service of Feeling" has the appearance of logic, but somehow it never quite adds up.

Introverted Thinking is frequently the focus of the spiritual quest of ENFJs. David's lengthiest psalm, 119, pays it homage. "Law," "precept," "commandment," "statute:" these essences of inner thinking are the mysteries of Deity for which this great Feeler's soul searched.

Famous ENFJs:
David, King of Israel
U.S. Presidents: Abraham Lincoln Ronald Reagan
Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive)
Michael Jordan, NBA basketball player
Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Oprah Winfrey
Pete Sampras
Sean Connery

Avenue Q!

Brilliant musical! Absolutely fabulous! Highly recommended!



A couple of phrases that stuck in my head:

"... And you'll never know till you reach the top if it was worth the uphill climb..."
"... You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime..."

Have you found your purpose in life?

Christmas is Coming

Newsong The Christmas Shoes

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about

Repeat Chorus

Mooncakes anyone?

This is the story about mooncakes which I found off the internet:

During the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered.

The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Baked into each moon caked was a message with the outline of the attack. And since these messages were distributed as 'Cakes', they managed to avoid the detection of the Mongolians.

On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644).

Today, mooncakes are eaten to commemorate this momentous event in History.

For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Some mooncakes have one or two cooked duck egg yolk in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare mooncakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons. Nowadays, there are hundreds varieties of mooncakes on sale a month before the arrival of Moon Festival.

Mid Autumn Festival

Chinese Festivals are amazing. I was just speaking to a friend regarding the story of the Mid Autumn Festival, and figured that it's a good idea to post the legend on my blog. Read on and enjoy! :)

There are many beautiful legends about the moon in China. The most popular one tells how a goddess named Chang'er ascended to the moon.

A long, long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth. Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky like smoldering volcanoes. The trees and grass were scorched. The land was cracked and parched, and rivers ran dry. Many people died of hunger and thirst.

The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou Yi arrived, he took out his red bow and white arrows and shot down nine suns one after another. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. Life had been restored and humanity was saved.

One day, a charming young woman, Chang'er makes her way home from a stream, holding a bamboo containe., A young man comes forward, asking for a drink. When she sees the red bow and white arrows hanging from his belt, Chang'er realizes that he is their savior, Hou Yi. Inviting him to drink, Chang'er plucks a beautiful flower and gives it to him as a token of respect. Hou Yi, in turn, selects a beautiful silver fox fur as his gift for her. This meeting kindles the spark of their love. And soon after that, they get married.

A mortal's life is limited, of course. So in order to enjoy his happy life with Chang'er forever, Hou Yi decides to look for an elixir of life. He goes to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother lives. Out of respect for the good deeds the has done, the Western Queen Mother rewards Hou Yi with elixir, a fine powder made from kernels of fruit which grows on the tree of eternity. At the same time, she tells him, "If you and your wife share the elixir, you will both enjoy eternal life. But if only one of you takes it, the one will ascend to Heaven and become immortal."

Hou Yi returns home and tells his wife all that has happened and they decide to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is full and bright.

A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng secretly hears about their plan. He wishes Hou Yi an early death so that he can drink the elixir himeslf and become immortal. His opportunity finally arrives. One day,when the full moon is rising, Hou Yi is on his way home from hunting. Feng Meng kills him. The murderer then runs to Hou Yi's home and forces Chang'er to give him the elixir. Without hesitating, Chang'er picks up the elixir and drinks it all.

Overcome with grief, Chang'er rushes to her dead husband's side, weeping bitterly. Soon the elixir begins to have its effect and Chang'er feels herself being lifted towards Heaven.

Chang'er decides to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth. There she lives a simple and contented life. Even though she is in Heaven, her heart remains in the world of mortals. Never does she forget the deep love she has for Hou Yi and the love she feels for the people who have shared their sadness and happiness.

ASEAN Gathering!

Yeap yeap - we had an ASEAN Gathering today at my place! And wanna know what's the best part? There were three generations represented: 98/99, 99/00, and 00/01.

Awesome stuff! It was mainly to celebrate Conrad's departure from London (yes - he's going back to become a full-time professional "kepoh"), and to welcome Chui Hsia to pursue her Masters here in London (LSE).

We had a great time over dinner - thanks to a wonderful chef (mua) who successfully whipped up some delicious dishes (including Thai Green Curry). Yum! And for desserts, Wai Ping brought a delectable Tiramisu Cake from Marks & Spencer! You can't even begin to imagine how tasty it was... :P Not willing to be outdone, Conrad brought a lovely bottle of Chardonnay for us.

And since tomorrow (Sunday - 17th September) is the Mid Autumn Festival, Chui Hsia personally imported some mouth-watering mooncakes for us from Malaysia. Any guesses as to what the brand is? Yes, you're absolutely right!!! It's none other than the most celebrated mooncake brand in Malaysia - Kam Lun Tai!!!!! YUMMIE...........................

Seriously, I can get so engrossed with talking about food. Guess it's something that I've recently picked up since coming to London. ;)

We chatted all through the night - Old stories re-told, and college memories re-lived. Ahh... what bliss. We really should do this more often.

Perhaps when our friends in Singapore meet up for the ASEAN Gathering next month. Until next time, take care!!!!

Who is the Fourth Man?

My pastor just shared this during service today... Amazing stuff!!! He quoted from this sermon towards the end of the service, and everyone was clapping away towards the end. I was so ministered that I just had to paste it up on my blog.

Read on, my friend, and be ministered. ;)

Who is the Fourth Man?
An Oral Roberts Sermon

Let me tell you who He is in every book of the Bible:

In Genesis He is the Seed of the Woman.
In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus He is our High Priest.
In Numbers He is the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses.
In Joshua He is the Captain of our Salvation.
In Judges He is our Judge and Lawgiver.
In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
In I and II Samuel He is our Trusted Prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles He is our Reigning King.
In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah He is the Rebuilder of the Broken Down Walls of our human life.
In Esther He is our Mordecai.
In Job He is our Dayspring from on high and our Ever-Living Redemmer.
In Psalms He is the Lord our Shepard.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He is our Wisdom.
In the Song of Solomon He is our Lover and the Bridegroom.
In Isaiah He is the Prince of Peace.
In Jeremiah He is the Righteous Branch.
In Lamentations He is the Weeping Prophet.
In Ezekiel He is the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.
In Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the burning fiery furnace.

Who is the Fourth Man?

In Hosea He is the Faithful Husband, forever married to the backslider.
In Joel He is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and Fire.
In Amos He is our Burden-Bearer.
In Obadiah He is the Mighty to Save.
In Jonah He is our Great Foreign Missionary.
In Micah He is the Messenger of Beautiful Feet, of carrying the Gospel.
In Nahum He is the Avenger of God's Elect.
In Habakkuk He is God's Evangelist, crying, "Revive thy work in the midst of the years."
In Zephaniah He is the Savior.
In Haggai He is the Restorer of God's Lost Heritage.
In Zechariah He is the Fountain Opened in the House of David for sin and uncleanness.
And in Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.

Who is the Fourth Man?

In Matthew He is the Messiah.
In Mark He is the Wonder-worker.
In Luke He is the Son of Man.
In John He is the Son of God.
In Acts He is the Holy spirit.
In Romans He is our Justifier.
In Corinthians He is the Gifs of the Spirit.
In Galatians He is the Redeemer from the curse of the law.
In Ephesians He is the Christ on Unreachable Riches.
In Philippians He is the God Who Supplies All Our Needs.
In Colossians He is the Godhead Bodily.
In I and II Thessalonians He is our Soon-coming King.
In I and II Timothy He is our Mediator between God and Man.
In Titus He is our Faithful Pastor.
In Philemon He is a Friend that Sticketh Closer that a Brother.
In Hebrews He is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.
In James He is the Great Physician.
In I an II Peter He is the Chief Shepard who soon shall appear with a crown of unfading glory.
In I, II, and III John He is Everlasting Love.
In Jude He is the Lord Coming with Ten Thousands of his Saints.
And in revelation He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

He, my friend, is Jesus! Hallelujah!!!