This is my shortest Singapore trip ever (only 20 hours) – Yet for some strange reasons and urge, I told myself that I need to stop by my granny’s old house to take a look. I managed to do that on my way to Changi Airport this morning. It has been more than 7 years since I last stepped into this compound. 

Everything has changed. Not just granny’s old house but the entire street looks very different now. Overgrown and untrimmed bushes and old-looking house. This place has lost its glow and warmth. It was a street that housed many generations of people. During the good old days like Mooncake Festival and Chinese New Year Eve, this place was a carnival. You see children running, adults chatting in front of the yards and neighbours greeting each other. It was a fantastic and homely neighbourhood – filled with sincere Kampong spirit.  Sadly, all these were history.

I spent about 15 minutes at granny’s old house. It was vacanted…The rusty gate (last painted by me back in the early 90s) lost its shine. The metal swing which accompanied us during our childhood stood there. Nature has taken a big toll here. The upper floor where granny used to drop down the house key for me was being recognition. Looking up at the balcony (where I spent many night sleeping), I wish I can see that familiar face again.

I pushed open the door. It wasn’t locked. Everything is neat inside. There was a black cat sitting calmly there. I saw granny’s tablet. I closed my eyes and paid my respect to her. 

Saying goodbye to this place was difficult. Granny used to walk me to the gate and waved goodbye to me. She will be standing there, looking at my departuring figure. I used to walk home from her place. A long walk to my Eunos flat – 20 minutes. Back then, I had all the time in the world. Walking was a leisure.

I tried looking around for familiar faces… my childhood friends had moved away. I spent the last 2 minutes talking photo of the "drainage expressway" where I used to catch guppies and spiders. This drain is an expressway connecting to my primary school and Malacca Hotel. Today, it is still accessible. 

For sure (and by God’s blessing), I will want to buy this place and restore it back. Not only putting back the bricks and tiles but also relive the true ties of a family gathering. This wasn’t the best looking house or of unique architecture.. For it is more than just any property estate. This is place where I spent many of my happiest moments (with my cousins and granny). It is part of my hertiage and family history. It is also the place that reminded me the very true meaning of "FAMILY" and "LOVE".   

Invented by Harley Mayenschein (http://www.idle-tyme.com/), his masterpiece has commercialised by many manufacturers (including Mattel in the 1980s). Harley was an employee of Motorola and one of his greatest works transmitted this famous 1969 quote from space "one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind". Inspired by the gumballs his granddaughter played in his home workshop, Harley invented this "Rolling Ball Clock" in 1978. First started as a hobby (and gifts for friends), Harley’s clock became a big hit amongst his community. He then quitted his job at Motorola and set up his company to start producing these clocks.

Coincidently this June 2009 (just last month!), Harley’s son (also named Joe) is setting a business to bring back his dad’s legacy. On the website, he spoke about his late father’s invention and his intention to bring back the originals! I am so thrilled that I place an order on line with him! Can you imagine it – talk about the right timing – I may be able to get the ORIGINAL WOODEN-CRAFTED BALL ROLLING CLOCK! (Just 1 hour again, Felicia was commenting that it should look good if it is made of wood)

Time roll by fast. But there are some love in life that stays strong and loyal through the test of time. Now, looking at how Elkan mesmerising by this device, it brought back the sweet good old days memories of my childhood at Katong. Surely, I wasn’t very far from Elkan’s age when I fell in love with this.

It was more than a farewell celebration of a King. No massive crowd or as dramatic like Princess Diana’s. Michael’s memorial service was filled with the most touching moments and tributes – from his friends and family. Soulful performance by his friends, mentors and his brother. Songs were well picked and performed – I’ll be There, Gone Too Soon, Smile, We’re the World. Candid and strong speeches by those Michael has touched. Like what Michael’s best friend, Brook said, this will be the night of celebration – we should all smile and not cry for Micheal. Compelling, she said that, holding back her tears on stage.

The most touching moment of his memorial came at the very final minute. The last voice who paid tribute to Michael was his daughter, Paris.  Struggling to hold back her tears, his 11-year old daughter applauded Michael for being "the greatest dad". Short simple words – Her emotional expression, tears and sadness for her beloved dad was so deep and heart-felt. A very touching moment that makes me realise Michael is more than just an extraordinary world icon but also, he is afterall a loving, doting dad.

8.25am, 26th June. I was scanning through the list of headlines on my iPhone in my daily morning routine when I read about the passing of my favourite King of Pop. It was an unreal moment – I didn’t really believe in what I just read. I went on to another news portal and read the same news about the death of Michael Jackson. For the next 5 minutes, I stood quietly under the shower head. Just don’t know why… I felt really really sad. It was like saying goodbye to an important chapter of my childhood. The hot water rained down from above….One of his songs, "Childhood", played in my mind…

Michael Jackson had an extraordinary life. Off the wall, Michael’s life was a Thriller (his battering childhood), Bad (cosmetic failure) and Dangerous (court cases about his child-molest case). He went from black to white, riches to rages and from famous to infamous. He was the King of Pop, the Peterpan of his own World. His journey from fame to shame reflected the same fate of his country, America. He was the glowing pop icon of a superior America in the 1980s-90s. And he had his darkest hours in the late 90s-mid 2000s. It just makes me wonder how closely he and his country were connected. His passing only reminded us of American’s plight today – A metropolitan losing her shine and her meteoritic star dying. He was the man who wrote his own HIStory. 

His sudden death will sparked off a wider outcry. Much bigger than Princess Diana or even the Pope himself. Turn on any broadcast device today and you will hear his songs, watch his dance footage. On the cab to work today, the radio was playing his song. He was the Original King of Pop. His music connects the world, across all religions, races and ages. Millions grew up listening his songs. For me, his concert at Kallang Stadium was the first and biggest concert I have ever attended. That was a historic concert. It was the concert when 65,000 fans sang "Happy Birthday" song for him! Michael shed tears that night at Kallang. The next night, Michael collapsed and cancelled his concert in Singapore.

Like most Legends, Michael Jackson lives on. His songs, his moon-walks will be icons for many generations to come. And like most Legends, he died young. He still have so many more good years to give. And more blissful moments to spend with his own children. And heal our world.

Just like what he sang in his song "You are not Alone", Michael left this world, accompanied by a very sexy Charlie’s Angel, Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett. It will be very difficult for many to accept the news of his death. His legacy will forever lives in our hearts. His music have engraved deeply in our minds. A sad day indeed and a night when millions will think of him before they close their eyes to sleep tonight. RIP, my King, you are Invincible.

 

If I remember correctly, this should be my 2nd birthday in Hong Kong (I spent my first one back in 2006 with Nick at LKF). I have a very different birthday celebration this year. No dramatic surprise birthday guest this year – (2005 Wahbiang Surprise in KL, 2007 Juliana Surprise in Shanghai, 2008 Duuk and Juliana Surprise in Shanghai). No JC karaoke concert… and no violent "water parade incident" like the 2008 eve.

My birthday celebration began 4 days ago. I received a very big and expensive birthday gift (Sony PS3) from 17 different friends. What was special wasn’t in the value of this gift but the effort to coordinate such a massive collaboration of good-wishes from Hong Kong to Singapore. I was indeed very touched by their gesture and excitement. Compared with what we did to poor Meijie 14 years ago (we only paid the phone deposit for him), I was indeed blessed. My friends paid the gift in full – all I need is to go to the shop and pick my favourite titles and the console. (Yeah! It is coming tomorrow!!!)

My Hong Kong Kakis (Hong Fei, Harshad, Zeph) spent lots of time with me and my family over the weekend – doing life-threatening stunts + losing good money in Macau and enduring the thunderstorm on Sunday night celebrating my birthday. Not to forget their distinctive G-String creation which will take me god-damn decades to erase from my mind.

Back in office – I have the comfort from my 3+1 (Alice, Kitty, Tracy + Nelson) angels. Living through endless hell and suffering constant "non-sexual abuses" from me – they struggled so much just to keep my record clean. Together with the jolly-good Frenchman, my angels watched my back so well that I have nothing to worry whenever I go for "break".

This must be my busiest day on FACEBOOK, MSN and SMS. Thanks for all your kind greetings and wishes (from USA to UK, Dubai to Shanghai). I have a fulfilling life – so there is really nothing much more to wish for – except wishing good health and wealth for my loved ones.

This morning, my lovely wife surprised me with her first (also mine) home-made birthday cake! She woke up quietly at 5am this morning to bake this special cake for me. It was awfully tasty! (I just found out that she has done a couple of "cake-experiments" during those days when I was not in HK. Poor Elkan – hope he didn’t have to do any lab-test for mummy!) My wife never failed to surprise me.

Also today, I received a very special (and priceless) gift from Tracy. She has spent a couple of months "laying out my online blog" into a real book! She ACTUALLY published my 1st Blog Book (2004-2009 Jo’s Thoughts)!!! It is a 100-page hard-cover book with all my blogs and pictures! Finally, my 1st COFFEE-TABLE Book! (And guess what, she actually sell this book on the internet!) This was the reason why she has been "isolating" herself in her bedroom for some nights and weekends. Now, I felt so guilty (for scolding her "anti-social"). I was very touched by her efforts.

34. Blissful. Happy. Still quite healthy. Slightly overweight. Can drive, can’t park. Still the same rude, straight-talker prankster inside.

Thank you all for being here with me on my very special day.  

It is no wonder why my Hong Kong friends mistaken our rough Hokkien phases as Jap words. Now we know… Hokkien can be so kawaii! Long Live Kanena Ninabu!