Author: Grievous

Movie: Harry Potter – The Order of the Phoenix

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I never imagined the day I would watch a Harry Potter Hairy Potty movie. And perhaps there was even a time I vowed never to watch one. I won’t elaborate why, so don’t ask.

How did I end up watching it then? That’s because I had arranged to pick up the Dim Sum Dollies music CD from ‘Ah Beng’ and Alice last Saturday so I can rip the songs into MP3, and at around 1pm, Alice called and asked if I would like to watch Hairy Potty.

Of course I couldn’t say no. It’s simply rude to just ask people to meet you and pass you something and after that, you say good bye, pat your arse and go your own merry way when you are free and not up to something more important.

I have not read any of the Hairy Potty books, and I most likely won’t so I went to the movie treating it as just any other movies which my friends would invite me to. I am sad to say I was quite disappointed with it.

Don’t get me wrong! It’s not the story I didn’t like. It’s not the special effect I didn’t like. It’s also not the acting either! I simply protest because the movie has gone on to reinforce my pre-conceived dislike of the Hairy Potty series. The way the movie is presented gives me the impression that the story is very shallow and weak in nature. (Makes me wonder how on earth J.K.Rowling make it into a book so thick in the first place!)

In the movie, there was only one plot, and everything revolves around Hairy Potty. There was not very much about Voldemort – Potty’s Nemesis – and the other characters in the movie, though I suspect the story must have more depth in the book itself. (Just Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was a much better read than the movie.)

Now, I am not saying that the story shouldn’t be all about Hairy Potty. But let me take Lord of the Rings as an example. Even when the story is about the One Ring, there are sub-plots: the designs of Boromir on the One Ring; the master-servant relationship between Frodo and Gollum; the inner struggles of Frodo; Merry and Pippin meeting the Ents; Saruman and his designs on Rohan and his attempt to outwit Sauron etc.

Yet, there was nothing noteworthy in the movie that I would consider sub-plots. I suspect some of those things which might have been subplots were not allowed to fully develop. So, as I have not read any of J.K.Rowling’s books, I will not be hasty to condemn her as a bad book writer. I simply has to point out that the way the movie goes, makes it so boring that had I not slept well the night before, I would have fallen asleep in it. (Like I did in the movie Finding Neverland, or something to that effect.)

To sum it up, catch the movie at home on a DVD. It’s not so spectacular that you need to watch it on the big screen. And if you loved the story as it is told on the book, then in my opinion, you might want to just avoid it and let whatever you have read drive your imagination.

Tranquility in the City – Pearl’s Hill City Park

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I had 18.5 days of leave and I decided to do something about that half a day by utilizing it today. After all, it’s a Monday, and since Monday usually sucks, it is best to get away from work.

And since it’s no point going home where I’ll laze away anyway, I told my colleague, when I applied for leave, that I will be going to Pearl’s Hil Cityl Park, where my old Primary School used to be.

A Short Introduction: The Outram Park Estate (now demolished), Chin Swee Road, and Pearl’s Hill Terrace marks the boundaries of the park, and on the hill top sits the Pearl’s Hill Service Reservoir, which contains the purified water supplied to the vicinity (or so I was told).

So, after knocking off at around 11:45 (because I started work at 7am today), I took the MRT to Outram Park MRT, and went over to SGH to change into a T-shirt. It was a really hot afternoon, and by the time I got halfway up the stairs up to the hill, I was already drenched in my own perspiration, and panting like mad. (It must be the damned weather because I refused to believe I am unfit!)

It’s been a long time since I came by this way, and I tried to remember the way as best as I can. Part of the reason why I find it hard to remember the place was that they have put up barricades to prevent people from falling over and rolling down the slope when during the days I was a kid there were none. (It goes to show that the older generation are made of sterner stuff, or at least are more careful and certainly didn’t place the responsibility of their own safety on others! Just can’t say the same of the whiny little brats today!)

I took about a 45 minutes walk around the park, and it brought back memories from the days when I was still a child. It’s some how, sort of sad at some parts… looking at them demolishing the old school building. (I think they are demolishing it!)

I would have stayed longer had I brought with me some water but as I was thirsty, I had to make my way down to look for some drinks to quench my thirst. And by now I had to admit I am unfit since my legs are sort of wobbling as I make my way down. (Damn… I really need to do some exercises * sigh *)

So, here are the pictures taken with the Nokia 7390. I know I am not a good photographer so stop complaining already!


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Short Description of each photo:

1 – Pearl Bank Apartment (From the direction of Outram Park MRT Station)

2 – Temporary Market for Kreta Ayer Hawkers (Previously Outram Park HDB Estate)

3 – CTE: Outram Park Flyover at a distance

4 – Previously Pearl’s Hill Primary School

5 – Pearl’s Hill Service Reservoir & Guardhouse.

6 – Outram Secondary & York Hill at a distance

7 – Landmark Tower (View from the park)

8 – Road leading up to Landmark Tower

9 – Jalan Kukoh / Chin Swee Road – Where I spent some of my childhood years

10 – Steps leading up to another side of the Service Reservoir. (I am not going up this way!)

11 – The rear of San Centre & Manhattan House along Chin Swee Road (View from the park)

12 – Previously Pearl Bank Primary School & road leading to Upper Cross Street

13 – Blk 201, Pearl’s Hill Terrace (Still the Police bunks?)

14 – Path Behind Pearl’s Hill Terrace

15 – Pearl Bank Apartment (Again?!)

16 – HDB Flats at Kreta Ayer (I would like to live here!)

17 – Public Car Park behind Pearl Bank Apartment

18 – Pond near Service Reservoir (Got fish! No dengue here!)

19 – One of the shelters in the Park

20 – You are HERE! (本座到此一遊。)

21 – Dank… which way should I go?

22 – Looking down at the old CID HQ

23 – Blk 201, Pearl’s Hill Terrace (up close)

24 – People’s Park Complex (View from the park)

25 – There’s a sign on the gates that says “STATE PROPERTY”

26 – The road down from Pearl’s Hill Terrace

27 – Pearl Centre (R-21 movies, anyone?)

28 – Oriental Plaza (Ahhh.. Civilization.)

Dim Sum Dollies [点心宝贝] – The History of Singapore

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Been wanting to do a blog on this but hadn’t gotten down to it until now. A particular event at work that transpired last month has put quite a bit of lethargy on me lately, but I thanked God for being a good friend in my time of need – by putting people around me to make sure I do not feel there is no happiness in living.

Anyway, back to the topic. My friends ‘Ah Beng’ and Alice introduced me to Dim Sum Dollies and invited me to go watch Dim Sum Dollies’ Cabaret show – the History of Singapore – with them at the Esplanade quite a few months back. They told me it is good and I will like it, because they know I like satires on politics and current events.

I was originally skeptical that it would be enjoyable but wanting to try something new, I went with them to watch it last Sunday (Jul 12), after waking up from an afternoon nap with a splitting headache (thanks to the blasted weather). It was my first time at the Esplanade, and I did not regret watching it. I told them to ask me along for other interesting stuff like this in the future, as long as I don’t stand out like the lights illuminating the National Stadium.

(I took a blurry photo of the inside of the Esplanade theater with the camera of my mobile before the play starts.)

Dim Sum Dollies – the History of Singapore, is not a history lesson, and they made it very clear right in the beginning. It is actually more like a satire in songs and stage play about current events – like sarong party girls, disappearing taxis, hit-and-run driving by celebrities, parking wardens, DVD pirates, the IR, GST increase, and mini$terial pay rai$e etc.

Casting Selena Tan (you should know her from watching the movie ‘I Not Stupid’), Emma Yong, Pam Oei, and Hossan Leong, the cabaret show was 2 hours of pure fun and laughter. I laughed so hard until my headache went away and at some parts I was actually in tears from the laughter. It is worth every cent of the $80+ I paid for the ticket. I strongly recommend it to everyone.

And if you are not convinced why you should go, here is a teaser from the cabaret show itself (taken from the CD which was bought at the show). Enjoy the song, and decide for yourself if you should go and watch it yourself.


Just listen to song: Click ‘Play’ button to start

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