Reflections

It's the last day of 2009.

Time to say goodbye to memories of the year.



And time to reflect upon ourselves, our actions and how we can make the upcoming new year a better one.

Happy New Year everyone!

Teehee!

I'm happy happy happy!!! ^.^

For small little random reasons, but still, it all adds up to make one happy Mel.

One happy, hungry Mel actually but oh well.

Since moi is in a good mood today, I shall showcase something to hopefully put you in a good mood as well.

Ready?

Here goes.






















I would love to share my joy with him, except he's currently too sleepy to bother much about me. Bah.

Peace Out

Someone was in a mad hatter's mood after yesterday's episode.

She spent the entire evening re-arranging her hats into a new wardrobe away from Skyla and Anya.

"Don't you think that's very selfish of you?" I chided her. "Skyla shares clothes with you all the time."

My spoilt rotten baby looked up and left me astounded with these words.

"Yes, but I love my hats and TV says love is selfish."



Guess who's banned from watching TV henceforth.

Heart Of The Matter

So, Christmas has come and gone and I have received really sweet gifts from friends. Thanks so much ye all!

The long weekend meant Megan and I got to spend some quality time together, albeit in front of the computer screen, with me multi-tasking between talking to her and trying to improve my sniping skills.

"So what did you get for Skyla, Anya, and Allie this Christmas?" I asked my darling girl.

"Oh!" came a gaspy reply. It was so out of character for my little girl that I actually took my eyes away from my computer screen to peer into her bright eyes. She caught me looking, and changed her flustered expression to that of pure rebellion.

"Well, Allie and I ain't exactly close, so I'm not getting anything for her." she said as she jutted her chin out ever so slightly.

"Fair enough," I said. "Maybe we should get you two together more often then. But what about Skyla and Anya? They are your sisters in a way."

My baby girl averted her eyes while biting her bottom lip, and I had to stifle a laugh bubbling inside me.

"Oh! I'll share with them the new hat you bought for me!" she smiled gleefully as she rummaged through her box of clothes to put on the prized headgear. Her smile soon faded however, as she thoughtfully paced the table.

"It's much too small for Skyla so she's just gonna ruin it," Megan muttered under her breath as she unconsciously thought aloud, totally oblivious to my amused prying ears. "And Anya doesn't have the right outfit to match it and Allie might want to share it too..."

"Well?" I asked as I watched her face crumple into a little frown. "So how are you going to share your new hat with them?"

My little girl pondered my question long and hard.

"I... I....," she began.



"... I'll let them play with my hat's pompoms for Christmas."

Merry Christmas

A day is only as special as you make it out to be.

While many around the world celebrate this day as the birth of their holy saviour, and my family celebrate the art of shopping 1422.51Km away, I mark this day with my two loves: Photography and my darlings.

(I was about to mention gaming but Megan is giving me the evil eye already.)


Alex wishes all who love him a Kikilicious Christmas. That's the word he uses for all things nice and beautiful.

Eve

Eve of the holy day is time for pigging out.

I just finished a tub of Dreyer's ice-cream and still feelin' rather good.

And I'm not the only one indulging.



Forbidden fruits are irresistable.

Can you blame me for making the same mistakes over and over again?

The Christmas Spirit

Lazy Wednesday's share:

Noise all around...



Yet the silence deafens.

Just about sums up my Christmas spirit.

Love Breakkie

Nothing beats a loving breakfast early in the morning to brighten up your day.



Moi is loved. <3

The Big Day

To the most beautiful bride in the world, congratulations and may your love be everlasting sweet.

I'm sorry I couldn't take a proper shot, but this was my best given the circumstances.



Weddings like this give me a lot to think about, a lot of questions to ponder, a lot of whys unanswered. But that's a discussion for another day.

Cross The Line

Sorry I crossed the line
That wafer thin divide
Of fairyland fantasy
and cold cruel reality
It was a great show
Of crash and burn
But know that she will rise



The Phoenix shalt be back again.

iWait

No fate, no destiny, no luck, no love.

It's ok, I'll just quietly watch you by the side.



Till you fade away from my sight.
Till you fade away from my heart.

unf0cused

In the road of life, we sometimes lose focus.

But it's ok, as long as we don't lose the general sight.



We are all entitled to mistakes every now and then.

Just like we are all entitled to missing someone every now and then.


Breathe - Taylor Swift
I see your face in my mind as I drive away,
Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way.
People are people,
And sometimes we change our minds.
But its killing me to see you go after all this time.
Mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm

Music starts playin like the end of a sad movie,
Its the kinda ending you dont really wanna see.
Cause its tragedy and itll only bring you down,
Now I dont know what to be without you around.

And we know its never simple,
Never easy.
Never a clean break, noone here to save me.
Youre the only thing I know like the back of my hand,
And I cant,
Breathe,
Without you,
But I have to,
Breathe,
Without you,
But I have to.

Never wanted this, never wanna see you hurt.
Every little bump in the road I tried to swerve.
But people are people,
And sometimes it doesnt work out,
Nothing we say is gonna save us from the fall out.

And we know its never simple,
Never easy.
Never a clean break, no one here to save me.
Youre the only thing I know like the back of my hand,
And I cant,
Breathe,
Without you,
But I have to,
Breathe,
Without you,
But I have to.

Its two a.m.
Feelin' like I just lost a friend.
Hope you know its not easy,
Easy for me.
Its two a.m.
Feelin like I just lost a friend.
Hope you know this aint easy,
Easy for me.

And we know its never simple,
Never easy.
Never a clean break, noone here to save me.

Ohhh

I cant,
Breathe,
Without you,
But I have to,
Breathe,
Without you,
But I have to.

Sorry (oh) Sorry (mmm)
Sorry (eh eh) Sorry (mmm)
Sorry (eh eh) Sorry (mmm)
Sorry


Him: Hey are you into those iPhone and iPod kinda stuff?
Me: No, why?
Him: Let me show you something. (-whisks out something-) This is my iSpecs.


I have an i too - iMissU.

Pain Is Addictive

Eeeps! Work overload has caused me to slip up on my postings again.

-points to boss- He's the one my miffed fans should be looking for.

Thought I'll take a break from toys after so many days of overwhelming you with them. Is that someone heaving a sigh of relief I hear?

Ah well, Tuesday's share:-



An addictive pain they call it.
Just like love.
The agony and pain that leaves you squirmin'
Are the first things you forget
When you come begging for more.

Rock N Rollin'

It's a very special day today!

Or so I think.

The lunar calendar is not an easy task to decipher.

Nonetheless, that's not stopping Paja from belting out a birthday tune to me.



Awesome. Thanks so much!

Looking at Paja makes me miss Skyla. Let's hope we can commence her operation soon, so my darling girl can be back in the scene again.

Love's Puppet

Ahhhh... finally back on track.

This week has been hell. And no, its not just work.

Tendrils of thoughts enslave me...

Thoughts of you.

Thoughts of you.

Mushmom

Busy like shit these days.

Boy, will I be glad when the week's over.

Thursday's share:-



I thought it was really sweet and cute. A pity about the lens flare and harsh lighting though.

More practice coming right up!

Aristocrat

For Wednesday:-

Close your eyes
And I'll meet you in dream land
Where opportunities and possibilities
Grow in abundance in its fertile soil
Where we can kiss, frolick and play
Without a care
Of status and class
The aristocrat and the nomad's
Social boundaries erased
And forgotten
Where only the souls linger
Of you and me.



Close your eyes baby
And I'll meet you there.

I'll be there.

Toy Story

I love this showcase. Unlike the others which featured a single figurine, this display painted a story in it's light box.



I thought it was really cool.

The Scheme

Your heart is a maze within I'm trapped
Monsters of every kind invade my mind
Confused, desperate, the exit I seek
Will I ever be released from you?
God, please show me a sign.



Love's bitter scheme is just too much for me.

Someday

The Perfect Match

In the darkness, I play alone
Fantasies of mind galore
You were perfect, an angel's halo
The answer to this empty core

The day I met you in the flesh
You turned my world upside down
That of body, mind and soul
To your presence I was bound

What is this hold you have over me
I can't seem to easily break free
I waited, cried, screamed and died
But you never hear my pleas

Reborn again, a second chance
Your lock within unlatched
I steer clear of the trap you set
You're just not the perfect match

- Melissa Wong


Because I will find you one day...



Just not today.

I'll Face The World

A new start. A huge world ahead.

But I'll take on anything that comes.



I am, afterall, the great Qi.

Dream

夢.

这是一场梦吗？

罗我们所说的一切，做的一切，都是梦幻的结果。。。

就愿我永不起来，默默地守在你身边。



I'll never want to stop this dream.

Sweet Moments

It lasted for barely 3 seconds.

But it made my day.



Thanks for that sweet moment.

I miss you.

Thinking Of You

想念那美好的时光，终是太快离开。
想念你对我的微笑，是多么的温暖。

我好想你， 太想你。

但只能静静地等待， 希望我们还可以在从来。



你回来好吗？

Haunted

You are impossibly fast, and strong
Your skin is white pale, and ice cold
Your eyes change colour
And sometimes you speak like you're from a different time
You never drink anything
And you never go out in the sunlight.

I know who you are.



And you're haunting me.

Yeah Baby Yeah

The show I wanted to catch is so insanely popular, it's beyond my simple-minded understanding.

Heck, it's been screening for 3 weeks already and still full house!

So in summary, I couldn't get the seats I wanted, at the place I wanted.

Maybe I should just strut up to the ticketing counter and do this:-



If I had a figure like hers, I can probably watch the show for free. Oh yea! ^.^

Nom Nom

Hari Raya Haji is not a time to be fasting, but that's what I seem to be doing these days.

Except my fasting includes chips, Pocky and ice-cream and nothing else. No wonder my weight doesn't seem to be going down. =(

Oh yes, I can see the frowns on your faces right now.



Which probably makes my pic of the day more apt than ever.



PS: I'm starting to love nendoroids. Shit.

Rockin'

AFA 09 was teh fun.

Thanks to all who were there with me! -hugs-

You guys ROCK!



Oh yea, be prepared for an avalanche of toy-related pictures for this week. <3

Princess

I just came back from Alice's wedding, and I must say, it is a whole different feeling to see a friend get married.

So far, wedding dinners that I've attended are mostly family members' and half the time, I don't even know them (it's a Chinese tradition to invite relatives to wedding dinner, never mind that you have never seen them before). So this dinner in particular was very memorable because:-

1) I know the bride.
2) I know the groom.
3) The feeling of happiness when you see both of them walk down the aisle.

It's so beautiful.

And Alice looked like a princess for the day.

Which brings me to the photo of the day:-



She looks rather princessy too, don't you think? Very... blue-blooded. ^.^

Drink, Drank, Drunk

It's Friday.

Time to party!



Weekends are best for boozing and snoozing.

Don't Go

Raine looked absolutely terrified when we seated her on a tree stump for a photoshoot.

"Don't stand so far ok?" she whined in a small voice when we took the shot.



Gawd, that girl has seperation anxiety issues.

Greener Pastures

The things we can't get always look so good.

As the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side.



Yes, the opposite pastures definitely look more delicious.

A Matter Of Perception

This one caught my eye for some reason. No doubt, it was hardly the most beautiful, trapped in its awkward growth stage yet to be glorified in bloom.



Surrounded by beauties, this plain jane surprisingly stood out the best. Oh, the ironies of life.

Bloom

Was scheduled to rub shoulders with CEOs, CFOs, Ministers and all kinds of big shots yesterday. Thus, you WILL excuse me for skipping Monday's post. -nod nod-

To make it all up to you, I shall present you a genre I have not been showcasing of late - nature.



I can't even remember when was the last time I took flora and fauna. Makes me miss them so much.

<3 Anya

AHHHHHHH backlogs!!!! -tears hair out-

Can't remember why I missed Friday's post. Must be too busy. And tired. And sick.

-reminds self to stop playing in the rain-

Anyway, Friday's take:-



Anya was looking forward to the weekend. Except it was a very saddening and disappointing one.

Gossip Girl

"Come closer and I'll let you in on a juicy news!"



I think the bitchy teleseries Gossip Girl should include Megan as one of their cast.

Scissors = Victory

"You're neglecting me for your stupid game!" grumbled my little princess as she sulked on my table.

"Last round ok?" I risked a kiss on her flawless cheeks while keeping a roving eye out for enemies in the dusty town of Sand Storm.

"No!" the chilli padi girl was determined to get some attention this time. "Let's play Scissors, Paper, Stone. If you lose, you're gonna quit that dumb game and play with me."

And that was the story behind this photo.



You just gotta love this fiesty baby.

Peace Out

Someone's in a bad mood, I heard.

I told Megan about it and she sent me a webcam picture of herself.

"Show it to her! It will cheer her up!"



Oh well, I hope it worked somehow. =)

Sense Of Longing

I'd decided on another thing for my photoblog. I won't be posting weekend shots from now onwards so as to minimise backlog. It's been a long time since I posted diligently on weekends anyway, so I might as well just scrap it, ease myself the pressure and hopefully, give you guys better shots during the weekdays.

Makes sense?

With this decision, I hope there will be lesser backlogs and my blog will not be so erratic. It is lagging like Blackshot these days, I know.

Now, lets move on to the picture of the day:-



Oh yikes, I know what you guys are thinking. ANOTHER CAMWHORE PORTRAIT! =P

I took this shot while I was en route to the Hong Kong airport. That day, I took this shot while my heart was aching with the forlorn sense of longing. Today, the same exact feeling emerged again while I was on the bus to work. Today, it was for a person.

DaMe

The thing about photographers is that all the time spent hiding behind the lens means you almost never get to see photos of them.

Well, not this photographer.

She enjoys being in front of the cam, as much as being behind the lens.



The mini camera is turning me into a narcissistic camwhore. ^.^

Goodbye

Drats. Just when I thought I could take a break, SOMEONE starts nagging me to post my pictures.

I didn't know this blog was so popular. LOL.

Yes my dears, I'm back from my trip... well almost. I realised I left my soul and heart in Hong Kong, and I'm not sure if they are coming back anytime soon.

Anywayz, I've decided to tweak this blog a little. As my schedule grows tighter, I realise I won't have the time to post DSLR quality shots all the time. I know it's a photo blog and all, and so I have decided on a new direction. I'll still try to maintain daily shots but some of them will be taken by my new mini camera. It's very small and compact, and I have it with me all the time, which makes it easier to lug around than my darling Nikon. Also, I've been experimenting with new styles and angles for a while now, so do forgive me if some shots come out totally buang. After all, I'm still trawling in the beginner's path yea? Besides, the camera's quality is nowhere near Nikon.

What do you expect from a gadget less than $100 bucks anyway?!

I hope you all will still support this blog nonetheless. =)

Without further ado, here's today's shot:-

Taken during my last day in Hong Kong, en route to the airport. My feelings? Totally depressed. The sunset slowly claiming the light from the land made it so apt.



The circle that never ends,
The sun that rises and sets
The next time it awakes,
I will not be in Hong Kong again.

TGIFWM

There is TGIF.

And there's TGIFWM - Thank God it's Friday with Megan.



My sweet babe shall keep you company till I am back from my overseas trip. No pictures till next week!

Muakz!

Jolly Cakeo

Thursday take:-

And yet another jolly season is around the corner to mark the end of the year soon to come.



If it weren't for cute decors like these, it would really be a rather depressing period.

Dear Deer

Such a skittish, gentle creature.



All the traits possessed by preys.

Conclusion: Being nice puts you at the bottom of the food chain.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Something happened a few hours ago.

Thank God she was there for emotional support.



My new mini camera is love. Brings out the camwhore in us. Tsk tsk.

Portrait Of A Doll

Someone's very indignant because I was too busy with work and (ahem) gaming to pay attention to her for two weeks.

So here's a simple shot to appease the little princess.



Alright darling, we'll do a photoshoot soon... after my daily dose of games. ^.^

Sniper@Werk

Sunday's share:

Snipers. I hate them when I'm playing.

Out of game however, I just love seeing them in action.



It's one of the guns I just cannot master. Noob me.

V is for Victory

I'm back after disappearing over the weekends.

I'm sure you are pretty used to it by now.

Saturday's share:

For those who do not know me well, here's a tidbit: I enjoy shooting on 2 levels - one on my DSLR, and another in the virtual FPS world of BlackShot. I have never loved a game more.

So naturally, I was there when there was a tournament held 2 weekends ago, supporting my favourite players and team.



It was my first event photography assignment. I have loads more to learn.

Bubbly

Yet another random photo today.



I don't feel very bubbly though, although its a glorious Friday.

Shagged. Too shagged.

Phallictasy

If you have been seeing random pictures on my blog these days, its because I have been trying to steer away from my usual subjects and style.

Give me brownie points for trying.



But I don't really think I'm succeeding.

-shrugs-